Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-01-26

little ones clinging to him. All
going to buy the long expected
christmas tree with its colors of
red, white and blue. The little
pine tree with its soft fresh cover
ing, its needle leaves of ever green.
The father smiles quietly and
walks slowly SO that the little
pattering feet may keep pace with
him, while the too smallest grasp
his hand for support in the journey,
the other two sport and dance
about him with Joy and their
countenance CLOVIS with delight.
The father is too full of happiness
to talk. He does not even pre-
tend to answer the thousand and
one questions impulsively coming
from each little mouth. Soon the
place is reached where the trees
stand for sale, almost an acre of
christmas trees awaiting purchas-
ers. What a pretty sight to see.
The green pine trees afrayed in
gala dress in all the varigated
colors of the rainbow with paper
ribbons, paper flowers and paper
tinsel of gold and silver sheen.
This is the acme of happiness of a
German child, the gold of all his
dreams. The little tree is selected
cheap in price but in imagination's
bower a field of wealth to the child.
1t is triumphantly borne home, set
in the best room and the best gifts
are hung on and the perfect tree is
lit up. Then mother is called with
father to see the climax of their
children's joy. The christmas
dinnerfollows to which everybody
invites everybody. The appear
ance of Vienna during christmas
week is a scene of concentrated
activity and dazzling show, The
butcher stalls full of game, rabbits,
venison, fowls and meats. The
confectionery full Of all kinds of
tempting candies. The toy shops
full ct all manner of wares and
color. They look utterly unable
to contain their treasure. The
stores and shops are ornamented
with sprigs of laurel and branches
of pine The splendor and guam
tity of shop wares is not excelled
in many cities. The city is full
and thronged with people. The
street called DER GRABEN is the
place where fashion and wealth
promenade. It is a celebrated
street and corresponds to such
streets as NUTER DEN LINDEN in
Berlin, Ofstrand in London, Rue
de Riuali of Paris and Broadway
or Fifth Avenue of New York.
Here Christmas week the people
walk in columns from 10 to IS
deep from one end of this short
street to the other. The patter
and chatter of fairy laughing
children as they gaze with Won
dering eyes into the dazzling shop
windows, makes life worth living.
The poor houses, orphans homes
and the great hospitals, all have
christmas trees and on every cor
ner were persons gently soliciting
money for the affair. In many of
the wards the grateful patients
give a few kreutzers from their
scanty purse to buy a tree to
present to the professor who had
relieved them of their ills by his
skill. Professors Billnorth and
Nothnagle each had one and Pro-
lessor Nothnagle made a little
speech on the occasion which was
responded to by two patients.
Generally treat is given to the
collected poor and afflicted, in the
form of roast beef Or something
good to eat and also often in the
form of clothing. a senseless
usage exists in which d fee or tip
is expected from the highest down
to the lowest. The fee of course
decreases from top to bottom. 1t
is called in English the christmas
box" 1t is vexatious custom to
a foreigner not only from the ex-
pence of continuous APPLICATIONS
but a stranger does not know how
much servant expects for fee.
Tips and fees differ considerable
in Berlin and Vienna.
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