Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-12-27
The CHRISTMAS TREE.
~ MRS. BERNARD PETERS.

~ MRS. BERNARD rETERs.
Since the night when lay awake 10 hnc
out for myself whether ST. Nick came doWE
the chimney oh Christmas Eve have
never ceased 10 take an interest IN tina.
annual source of JOY aud ~gladness' th'
Christmas tree. Macaulay always pre-
faced any statement OF fact that he msd'
bv the phrase, Every school.boy knows
thus and go" aud writer's otttlmes thins
II useless to recall any historical statement,
for tear they may be repeating only VIVA
every school boy knows. find, however
that school boys often forget, so may o'
hardened for stating Il few OF the facts rela
ting to my subject. The institution O
Christ mass is attributed 10 Pope Ieles
chorus, who died A. d. l3a. AT hrst Il
WAS the most movable Of the CHRISTIAN
HOLIDAYS, and was celebrated by the East
eru churches 10 the months OF April and
Nav. Ia the fourth century St. Cy;ll, o.
Jerusalem, obtained an order from Pope
Julius |. for an investigation to be made
concerning the day of the Nativity. The
result was an agreement upon the 18th o.
December, aud throughout the world
wherever Christianity is known, thai
date has been accepted. The day
is considered in the double lghO
of a holy conmemoration and
cheerful festival. During the Middle Ages
il gss cele brated by the gay fantastic spec
tacle of dramatic mysteries and morallties.
Tbs cnstom OF singing Christmas carols
dates from the time the common people
ceased 10 understand Latin. Preparatory
10 Christmas the bells are rung at mid
night throughout England aud the Cont
nsnt In the north Of Europe Christmas
il ot,en called the "Childrens Festival,
and is devoted TO the giving OF presents by
means OF the Christmas tree. The Gus
,om of selecting a large yew bough for the
tree. and OF trimming the houses aud
churches with eyergreens. Is derived from
an ancient belief that sylvan spirits locked
TO the evergreens. Holly and ivy remain
in ENGLAND the faVorite evergreens, though
laurel is sometimes used.
In our own country Christmas was less
generally celebrated in New England than
in the Middle and Southern States owing
10 the influence Of the Puritans, but the
oopositiou Of their descendants has been
growing less aud less every year, and II
may nov be claimed that q Christmas tree
is 10 be found in almost every house IN
the laud, and Santa Claus, originally IN
troduced BY the Dutch settlers OF New
York, now shows his Jolly face in every
home and showers gifts broadcast from hi;
magic hoard, which somehow or Other
never seems 10 diminish. ! have otter
thought his store Of gifts is the cr~ystsllza
ton OF oil unselhsh aspirations which rise
from the hearts Of the mothers and fathers
sisters and brothers Of the land
A few directions may not DC amlss a. L
The best and most effective way OF deco
at.ug the tree. To those who have wealth
"a, command il need only be limited tina
money must be supplemented By gooC
taste AID gu eye for artistic effect, or th'
result may be q failure. Where the parlol
- large d high tree may De used. Let l
be as symmetrical in proportions as pcs
sible. Then deck it with the dltieren
adoruments that csu be bought at on
leading establishments, light it either will
candles or gas Jets, hang the presents on |
or law them at it's base, and If love be a
the distribution the result will be Joy
But o Christmas tree that will ius,
the whole household into one bond of Joy
business can be secured with very it'll,
money. and | proceed 20 describe TIVE
which are quite effective. Secure q tre'
about four feet 10 height. With its hranche
equally balanced have it truly lNed in
common soap box, which should be covered
with green paper; place your tree on
plain kitchen table, also covered with greer
paper. Tack anything you may hav'
around the edge Of the table 60 as TO reacl
the floor, completely hiding the legs OF tn,
table. This drapery forms a receptacle
for such gii's AZ are too large to hang up
on the tree. lake a number OF tiny wa,
candles and By holding the end Of escl
candle in the tame o. b lighted one yoI
can soften it enough to enable you 10 sticI
il irnly 10 the table, or sou can buy tor
lev cents small tin cGndlesicks about a.
inch 10 diameter which have Il tack IN tn
bottom, and the tack can be pressed dow
into the table. The more candles yo1
have the better. When lighted they form
q ylitteriGg fence, as it were, around IN
tree and can be easily e~=tingaished 1t an.
candle more ambitious than the res
should try to get up a small couiagratioi
on its own nook. Hang strings OF POI
corn in ,~aucitul f~estoous from the branch
e.. Buy q few cents worth Of alum AM
crystaliza leaves aud grasses 10 D,
disposed with taste here and there
Metallic mOsa or shaving add great.
to the glitter aud glow OF the whole affair
Bits Of cotton wool can De used as lake
OF snow. No one can imagine the amour
E, OF happiness to De obtained in a family /
all unite their efforts 10 deck the tree
The least OF the children q string tn
pop corn, the next larger ones can TX thr
candles still older oues who can reach u
high can deck the tree, while the parent
can 81; quietly By directing, advising o
assisting in case of need. After the tree
Is decked, EACH one brings toTih his or be
gifts and tries to slip them on the tree o.
under the tsble, 50 that the person 70,
whom each one is Intended may not get 6
glance at the label and so anticipate th,
important houE when 81! IS in readiness FOL
the grand distribution.
Again, a tree may De selected as high as
the ceiling o. your o will allow hsve Il
firmly planted, aGd stEew moss or place
ma urdeE it; then surround it BY a little
fence which can - : bought ehesPly or can
be msde By an ingenious lad VINO uas .
taste for carpentry. Let there be an open
gate at the side OF the fence next 10 toe
company st which you should place q fig
urs OF Santa Claus, as though he were in
vitiug & company of fairies 10 come into the
Enclosure aud climb the tree. Decorate
the tree With flowers made OF paper, and
bright gilt objects, which you can pur
chase almost snyShere Hang candles al
over the tree by means of the little arrange.
ments which are made with q hook and a