The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-12-20
At christmas
Elrs. John Sherwood Describes SONS
Holiday A~musen1ents toy
Young Folks.
TIow TO Make Cl.rintin0los nnd
Ornaments for the Christ
mas Trep.
National Ideas OF Santa utans-Inexpsnaiss
and Acceptable frenents for Moys
7 Rnd Girls.

Written for The HELENA IsnErssp.sr,l
r-yHRIsTINGLEs ARE MOTT MUCH
lW, known In this country. Thoy are
~ made By piercing A hole In nh ,rsfgc.
putting a piece OF quill thros or four inches
long, set upright in the hole. and usually
second piece inside this. Each quill IA
divided into several slips, oach ONO of
whion is loaded with a raisir. Tho wcight
of tho raisins bends down the little bauKsaa.
giving two circles Or pendanta. A coicfeA
taper IL placed In tho upper quill and lighted
on Christmas owe. The custom Ia a Ger
man one.
The harbineer OF Christmas In Holland
ID a star Of Bethlehem carried along
through the cities BY the young men who
pick Mp aims for thu poor, and they gather
much from thoae who at Chriatmaa como W
welcome this symbol Of peace. They then
betake themselves TO tho head burgoinastef
of the town, who ia bound 70 give these
youths a good meal.
The little Russian amid ths SHOWS looks
for the rcd candle and the Christmas tresj
the ice is all alieht with gay Examinations.
The little Roman boy watches with delight
the preparation for the Hefsta In tho pub
lie squares OF Home. For she ssefknn IN Tho
witch who rides Oh q b~roornstick. She III :
female Santa Claus who brings presents 81
o good child and u bunch OF rods 10 q bad
ono. Her worship In celebrated on Ghriat-
mas eve TO ths noisy sound Of srumpsts and
all manner Of unearthly noises. Then ttss
boy goes to the church Of ths Augustine 10
see the little Jesus child lying u tho lap
Of His holy mother. He hears the moat
charming music and singing choristera
swinging the censor hafore the host,
whilst, above his head, MDhael lights with
the dragon. He sees the splendid I,roces-
zion Of the cardinals, in their gorgeous red
and white robes ~ no kees down the broad
marble steps. on ehch side u which hean-
tiful statues ssaEd in inches, hta mother
poor Dominica, peasant cf tho Cam
pagna, knsels and makes sbs siGrs Of tho
On oss. and tell her boy that this iG Christ
mas, the day on which the Joaue child wan
born to take his sins away. Again, be van
dsra with her through the market-place.
everyone gives him p~laythtnRs, fruits md
cakes. a rich foreigner tosses him . lir6.
The little Antonio asks nor whv, and his
mother tells him II is Christmas, but mot 70
gay as when she was q little girl, for then
the "pifferari.'' the shepherds from tbs
mountains, came in their short cloaka, with
ribbons round their POINTED hats, to play
on their baRpipe6 before every image vt thu
Virgin. Then they go again to TIE ohurch.
the angel girls's make Christmas speeches
to welcome tho little Christ-child, and As he
looks at the image Of the Madopila, ALL hung
with jewels. he wishes il was Chrsstmaa MI
| the year round.
The Mayfiower, which brought much else
that was good, forgot the Christmas tree.
It was not until the beginning OF the pres
emit century that one could be seen near
plymouth Rock. Men and women now
living can remember when Washington
Iryinp's skstchbook told the frat atory Ito
them) of an English Christmas, and some
brave women determined to hang 4 few
bouohs and red berries around the cold
barren church in New England.
Then the tree began to bud and bourgeOli
with gifts; the rare glories Of color 0rept I'M
upon the SHOWS Of winter. The rod fire on
the hearth, the red berries on the rnantAl.
brought in the Light. which cut OF doorH
had grown pale in winter. the hospitality
and the cheer OF the turkey. and plum 5pua-
ding went round, and Christmas carols be-
gan to be sung by men Of Puritan antec1d-
ents. Old Christmas frightened away BY y
few fanatica before, came at last To amer
ica TO stay, and the mistlstoe. prsstiast,
most wierd, most artistic Of parasites. waSs
removed from, drsary Druidical Ass0oiA-
tions. and no longer assisted at human sac-
%ritices, unless some myaogynist may 70 con-
slider tho getting OF husbands.
The English Christmas 10 the typical one
in the art Of entertaining. In every conn
try neighborhcpd public county balls nra
conducted with great POM during the
twelve days of Christmas. From all tha
great houses within ten or fifteen miles
come large parties dressed in the latest
London fashions, the most distinguished
lights of the London world. Rural parti0s
nre also conspicuous, and for people who
live altogether in the country this III thu
chosen occasion for bringing out = dAuRh-
ter the first introduction into society. The