Plateau gazette and east Tennessee news. (Rugby, Tenn.) 1883-1884, 1884-01-10
CHRISTMAS I'm RUGBY.


qniries were made and vague surmises
INDUCED in on the momentous ques-
ton, "What is to be done at Christ
masP That something might, could,
would, should or ought to be done. was
the opinion of all. AS coming events
cast their shadow before, so the divn-
ers of portents began to read the signs
of the times and to prophesy. The
Commissary displayed its Christ
mas wares; candies of every color and
design were tastefully displayed, but
cunningly placed in safe keeping. Toys
from Germany and Japan, dolls of won
derful capacity; musical instruments,
from Jews harp to'a banjo; scents,
extracted from all the flowers in Ten
nessee; eau de Cologne, and Florida
water additional Hair restorers for the
old, hair beautifer for the young. Pow
der and paste for the mountain maids,
and rattles and bottles for the babies.
While the drug store with its selection
of Christmas cards and children's hooks
on the one hand, aud the excellent
materials for the Christmas pudding on
the other emptied the pockets of the
trusting youth and astute matron with
a CELEBRITY that was affecting to witness.
Now and again wanderers from the
woods appeared laden with. holly, hem
lock and other varieties Of evergreen
and toward evening II wagon laden with
shrubs quickly discharged its load into
the Commissary Hall. The decorations
fthis room were tasteful and abundant.
Its windows were uncovered in leaves.
welcome" wreathed in holly, and hem,
lock greeted the visitors as THY entered,
while on the stage, covered by a curtain
until Santa Claus appeared, was u
very effective design ly Mr.. AZ. Taylor.
This was the word Xmas formed of
leaves and rendered more striking by II
series of conical baskets, in red and
blue, being tastefully hung in the hooks
and corners of the word. These dec
orations were the joint work of COM
mittee consisting of Mr.. and Mrs. F.
Taylor, Mr.. amt Mrs. Dakyns, Mr.. and
Mrs. Peck, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Mrand
Mrs. e. NJ. Berry, Mrs. Percival, MIR.
Tucker, Miss Houston, and Messrs
Potbury and Darie. Rugby invariably
appears yo advantage on al festive oc-
casionsy and for the simple reason that
somehow or other its festivals are more
or less associated with children. Our
excellent Sunday school is popular in
stitution, and whatever relates to it in
terests the entire population. Its man
agelneEt is excellent. and the resulta
reiiect the greatest cttu--upon tnv,o'
d perintendent, Mr.. Tucker, the teacher
e and scholars Christmas Eve, Their,
;. fore, was devoted to the children.
was their gala night, par eacel'ence, all
everybody crowded to the hall, to st
the entertainment and hear the fun.
IS The proceedings of the evening wi
be gathered from the following pr
y gramme:
Band-Quickstep--"Semplice."
:, Song-Mr. f. Taylors singing class.
u = Band-Wsltz Victor"
~ Grand rableau.
Band -Polka-"Forest."
Song-Singing class. tN
9. COrnet trio-'Hark to the Rolling Drum
--Messrs. Wilson, Moore and Rogers.
i. Santa Claus.
The Grand Tableau," the suggestic
e. of Mrs. Gatrell, late of Marshall, Mich
! who has recently taken up her residen,
:. here-was very effective The id,
nd embodied was-of Il company of voyage
~ to the North Pole discovering sever
n. human remains frozen 20 death, viii
to each was performing a specific &C
These by the application of the Gel
mt brated Bustopopperiwi elk
~ of life, were restored to temporal
t; animation and continued the operati,
n until the power Of the elixir cease
+ The scenic effect Of the pale and sheet,
It, figures. apparently transtixed to the i
!, II floor, was very striking. Here sat tt
r. troze0 mother hugging her babe TO h
icy breast, and by her side a girl in t
", act of sewing; to the rear stood thr
st. figures, the central one evidently mi
ao OF mark, for gathering his flowing r.
ng he seemed to stand, in act to speak al
ay graceful waved his hand" He was t
ha beau ideal of noble Roman, an Arc
ost Cicero discoursing on law; to his |,
~ were two ladies. who appeared to H.
been touched to death by the Ice Hi
ON of the North while singing Hon.
3 Cor Sweet Home Mr.. Uatreli, who act
tbe us Professor b mfoozle, gave hum
GUS account Of the several figures 4,
in in illustrated his remarks by temporar
md terminating the Silent, uIotionless cl
around hun; the hapleos maiden C,
ard tinued her sewing, the fond mott
lew crooned her babe to rest; one hgu
nm evidently an ancient laborer, warm
his hands after the fashion Of IL 'navv
lon Clcern's eloquenco was loud, long n
P Impressive; the acrobat continued
hop, and the young ladies couclu,
~ the strains of "Home, Sweet HON
al y The impromptu was successful, Il
md the acting good. MIR. and Mrs. Gatl