The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1892-12-30
CHRISTMAS.


Christmas Eighteen Hundred and Ninety
two has gone to swell the number Of those
past and gone or all the holidays, either Of
STATUTORY provision or by time honored
custom, the one that marks the birth Of the
Blessed Savior Of mankind is by far the most
important, the most joyous and fraught with
the most interest to poor fallen humanity
Wherever the hera1ds of the cross haYe
planted the standard of Christianity, this day
is festive occasion and generally marked
by religious observances. In our own favored
land and In the mother country IEngland), as
the time approaches and for weeks before
the advent OF the glad day, especially among
the younger people, from the infant who can
barely lisp the word 'tisn,us'' TO the lovely
girl of "sweet sixteen" and the youth to
whom the fit and shade of his necktie is
matter Of the utmost moment, Christmas eX-
pectations occupy large space.
To the fond and induIgent father whose
large heart is way out of proportion with bis
meogre income, and upon the tired and care
worn mother the responsibility falls with
crushing weight and forces from them each
year, as the time rolls around, the remark,
tit is well that Christmas comes but cBce
year" In our own prosperous little city
the program Of former years was simply re-
peated; but It was motto ed that as the town
gows in years, population and wealth. the
number and the value Of presents were vastly
Increased and one particular feature worthy
Of note was the fact that the trade Of the
shops did not run so much to toys as usual'
but many useful and costly gifts were made,
II e Fv1FT
rugs, mats, etc, expensive dresses and Valu-
| able jewelry.
Among the Sunday schools that celebrated
Christmas eve was the Baptist, which had
beautiful tree loaded with gifts for the little
ones. not expensive but appropriate. The
exercises were interesting, consisting of sing
ing, recitations, etc. At :be Presbyterian
1 church very much the same programme wa
carried out except that in the place of tree
yeritable brick(Ocbimney was constructed oil
| red pasieboard boxes bOrdeFed with white To
represent the mortar, each box about the
size of an ordinary brick and each filed with
CONNECTIONS, nuts etc with the name Of a
scholar inscribed thereon. The exercise
were especially interesting and appropriate
and reflect great credit upon the ladies
Of that church who spared no time, trouble
or expense in arranging The whole affair. A.
at the Baptist church, so here also the deco.
rations were very beautiful and the large aud
elegant boquets, II the affair had taken place
in one Of our northern cities, would haV"
cost many dollars At the German lutheran
church the Sunday school entertainments ol
rlo,.: ,n Sunday evening, but your reporter
! wa ans be 10 attend but learned from Other
SOURCES that u most enjoyable and happy
time was had by all who were so Fortunate as
to attend.
We learn also that our younger sistel
across the lake did not let the occasion pass
without due Observance; but as in the former
case we cannot speak from a persona
knowledge.
A vast amount of powder was burned and
the noisy aud happy crowds Of boys kept VI
defining noise until late Saturday nigh
and soon after Clark the beautiful rockets anC
Roman candles fillod the air all over the city
OF course great deal of the "ardent' wa
consumed but there was an absence of al
brCils and lighting which is apt to be feature
of these occasions,
As the years roll by he Echo hopes tina
each succeeding Christmas may be ATTENDED
with all the pleasant features that marked
this one.