Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1888-12-26
Christmas Festivities.

was not more or less interesting here
than on former occasions. Monday
was warm and pleasant. many persons
pursuing their avocations without fires,
with open doors and many appearing
in shirt sleeves on the streets. 1t was
more like an October day. In the after
noon. however, the cold-wave flag was
put up, and by night the wind had
started from the north and by 10 o'clock
it was really chilly. Tuesday morning
a cold, damp wind was blowing. the
ground was covered with a thin sheet
of ice and real winters day had set in
1t was too cold to be on the streets.
much, and so the day started in very
much as a Sunday. One sickly fire.
cracker was turned loose; now and then
solitary horseman galloped through
the streets; tin horn in the hands of
some enthusiastic youngster gave forth
a blast, and that was all TO relieve the
monOtony of The day.
CHRISTMAS EVE.
The Baptist and Christian Sunday
schools united in Christmas tree and
| festivities at the court house. The room
was comfortably filled with the children,
their parents and friends by 7:30 O'Clock.
An immense tree was loaded down with
gifts and besides there were tables and
trunks and boxes full of presents.
Many of these were really expensive
and all, apparently, we'll appropriate.
The exercises consisted of musical
programme carried out by the combined
schools, with Mrs. C. Q. Chandler as
organist, assisted by a well-drilled
choir composed of Mrs. Rouse, Mrs.
Runyan, the Misses Mills, Miss Cora
McClearey and Messrs. S. Palmer,
Frank Haynes, Ed. Morris and Roy
Fash; Geo. Conlisk, with a violin, and
Al McClearey, with a cornet, adding
much to the pleasure of the occasion.
Appropriate remarks were made by
Rev. Cain, pastor of the Baptist church,
and Ed. Nation, pastor of the Christian
church. Santa Claus appeared in the
person OF j. p. Hall, and then came the
distribution of the presents, and, ap-
parently, every one in the house was
remembered by one or more kind friend.
Mr.. Musgrove, on behalf of the mem
bers of the Christian church, presented
Mr.. L. A. McClearey with very hand
some family bible, This, Mr.. Mus
grove explained, was to show that his
services during the years past, had been
/ annraoiafoH. fhof ha
servant, working for wages, but a vol
untary worker i'll good cause, who
had spent so many hours and days with
out the expectation of earthly reward.
Mr.. McClearey accepted the handsome
present in an appropriate response.
AT THOMPsON's OPERA HOUSE.
The NJ. E. Sunday school held its
Christmas services in IhomDson's op-
era house. The stage was filled up
with three large Christmas trees and
even these would not begin to hold the
hundreds of presents that were provid-
ed for old and young. There were
great piles of articles that could not be
placed on the trees. 1t was a grand
sight, and to see 1t, one would not think
that hard times were ever thought of
in this community.
The children were all provided with
front seats and a joyous throng they
were. The superintendent of the Sun
day school, 2. A. Simmons, noted for
his good judgment and excellent taste,
had arranged an interesting service of
song for the opening and the array of
musical talent was never surpassed in
this city. With those two local favor
ties, Mrs. Johnston and Mrs. Peck, as
sopranos, Miss Moore and Miss Jessie
Simmons as altos, ii. b. Steck, of Haz-
elton, as tenor, A. w. Johnston and p.
y. Simmons as baSsos, assisted by Mrs.
McCracken as pianist, with an orches-
ira composed of Tom. Molloy, with a
cornet, K. G. Pollard with flute, and
j. Z. Walstead with violin, any audi
ence would have been sure of musical
treat. The one gathered Monday even
ing was not disappointed. The an
thems, choruses and solos were of high
order, the music being generally new
here. There were frequent encores and
many expressions of appreciation.
A novel feature of The evening was
the reading, at short intervals, of dis
patches from Santa Claus, announcing
his progress on his trip to Medicine
Lodge. When he had finally come as
far as Attica and stated that he would
arrive in FIVE minutes, the enthusiasm
of the children could hardly be con-
trolled. He came on time, dressed in
regulation Santa Claus style, and after
addressing his many little friends, the
big work of the evening, distributing
the presents, Was proceeded with.