, 1889-12-29
THE WEEK IN SOCIETY.
The Celebration of Christmas Was
Quite Mild.
Dinner BY Mrs. Heath to Her SUM-
day School Class.
Organ Recital and Two Club Events
Next Week.
The Social Swim.

The Social Swim.
Christmas week was celebrated by So
ciety people in a very quiet fashion.
There we're several little private dinners
and gatherings of friends to exchange
hearty expressions of good will and cheer,
but no larger society events marked the
week.
The churches all made glad the hearts
of the children with Christmas trees,
whose loaded branches nodded and
beckoned and rustled mysteriously, the
little candles danced and winked and the
Jolly spirit of Christmas tide was every
where. The custom of decorating
churches and dwelling places with ever
green at the Christmas season has a
heather origin being a perpetuation of
an observance of the old British Druids,
whose belief it was that kindly spirits
sought these of living green
and lowered near them until the death OF
winter. The custom of giving presents,
now so universally observed. was derived
from the old Roman Saturnalia at which
it was customary for all the members of a
household to offer gifts to each other.
Ever since the three wise men from the
Fast ohanted their autbem of praise
upon the starlit plains of Judea, Christ
mas carols and Christmas music in the
churches had been features of each re
current anniversary of the birth of the
Christ child.
Christmas night Mrs. r. N. Heath en-
tertained her Sunday school class ofyoung
men, each being accompanied by a girl of
his choice. The party was a very merry
one, Mrs. Heath being well known for
her general social qualities.
Thursday evening Mr.. Sellick gave his
first organ recital in the Episcopal church.
Nearly all society people and lovers of
music were present. Mr.. Sellick delights
in music in a minor key and of a soft
character. All his selections except the
Wedding March and Gloria In Excelsis
were of this order. He reminds Que of a
poem which begins:
over his Keys the musing organist,
Beginning doubtfully and far away.
First lets his fingers wander as they list,
And builds a bridge from m for
his lay.
Miss Willard handled the violin bow
with considerable skill and Mrs. Brewster
as soloist did well. The recital was really
a musical treat and if Mr.. Sellick keeps
up his present standard of excellence we
predict crowded houses for him before the
end OF the season.
Next week promises to be q very gay
one. Tuesday evening Prof. Pasmore
will give a recital in the Presbyterian
church. An interesting feature of Prof.
Pasmore's sacred concerts is that the per-
formers are all his pupils. Following is
the programme;
Organ solo, Andante, and Pastorale,
Hesse.
Christmas anthem, There we're Shep-
herds" Vogrich, full choir, twelve
voices.
Solo, from Elijah, "If With All Your
Hearts, Mendelshon, Prof. Pasmore.
Christmas carol, Behold [ Bring You
Good Tidings," Glare, by the choir.
Solo, Come With Me-" Coenen, Min
ME Gillian.
Organ solo, march from Tanhhauser,
Wagner.
Grand anthem, Praise Ye The Lord
(Halleluiah, " Lambillotte.
Solo, Mrs. Pratt, There is a Green
Hill far Away" Gunod.
Chorus, Praise Ye the Father (march
Romaine), Gounod.
Finale, Gloria in excelsis, 18th mass,
Mozart.
Monday evening Mrs. Kent entertains
the Fo~rtnightly club and a few friends.
Tuesday the '2I' club will dance out
the old year and dance in the new.
Wednesday there will he several re-
cerving parties and we hope the gentlemen
will don their dress suits and call. In
large cities where society people have a
large number OF acquaintance living at
great distances, the custom of New
Years calling has fallen into disuse. So
ciety people of Cheyenne are hampered
by no such difficulty. The custom is one
of our grandmothers time, and this year
while we are wearing her gowns and serv-
ing her tea why not initiate also this old
fashioned, friendly. social reception and
keep up the ancient spirit OF New
Years day.