Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-12-13
CHRISTMAS AT WANAMAKER'S.

The multitudes would feel that some.
thing were missing In their Christmas
If they did not see unique display at
Wanamaker's. This years effort out.
does all former attempts. Electricity,
art, music and mechanical device are all
brought TO bear upon the great general
result.
Each post has blossomed forth into a
monarch of the forest. No indication is
there that but an ordinary pillar is the
heart of the spicy cedars aud pines
growing ateyery turn. As always, one
great feature OF the display greets the
visitor in the main arcade. This year u
giant fountain splashes and gurglas u
welcome that will be no less hospitable
because it changes its tone every few
seconds This fountain is in the form Of
an enormous basin, supported by iron
pillars II the centre of the basin is an
ideal figure Of winter, the work Of Mr..
John Boyle, the sculptor, whose bcauii-
full thoughts wrought out in his own
graceful and individual style did SO
much to enhance the beauty of many
of the buildings at the Worlds Fair
Two hundred and forty.two jets of
water are thrown to a heigh. of twenty
feet and from there fall in q prismatc
shower into the basin. The changing
colors are produced through the agency
OF search light brought to bear upon
the jets from the top Of the building
To the elders this will probably prove
more potent in attraction than the
wilderness of toys in their environment
of clouds and cherubs, which is great
magnet to draw the Children to the third
| floor, but certain 1t is that both young
| and old alike will go into raptures over
the reproduction of Christmas in many
lands, given with that attention to detail
| that will make Santa Clause and the
little ones whom he delights to honor
very real and very near indeed to every
| onlOoker.
In its completeness but little idea can
be formed of the many steps that had to
| be travelled over before the perfect goal
was reached. Scenery, the background
| OF woods, the perspective of many
houses, all must be painted with a pre-
| cision that requires an artist to faithfully
depict The figures of the participants
must not be of the ordinary aptomaton-
like order they must be alive with the
spirit of Christmas, therefore messengers
are dispatched hither and thither to
secure those that are most lifelike. The
| Eden Musee, of New York, contributes
some; Nine. Tussaud, Of London, sends
others across the ocean, while many are
moulded especially for this Christmas
festival, which cxompliiies the dotngs AT
this glad season in many homes.
The stately English mansion shows its
cold exterior, with the quaint gothic
church adjacent. From the belfry
peals forth the Christmas chimes. Three
Waits are seen standing in the snow
singing out the Carol, "God rest you
merry gentlemen, let nothing you dis.
may" while within the house the old
squire smiles approval upon his grand.
children as they hang up their stockings
by tine fireplace. The American home
scene is much the same, but there is al
eXpanse Of roofs showing two cats il
midnight controversy, while an incensed
would-bc sleeper Is aiming boot a
them from his bed room window. A
little farther on comes Santa Claus ii
his sleigh with the tiny reindeer, the pack
of toys and the merry twinkle in hi
eye that will make every child fec
inclined to slay the doubling Thoma
who declares that dear old Saint Nick il
myth.
In the sunny Southland the pickanin
mics dance among the pines, the possun
and the coon add to the realistic feature
Of the scene and old Nanny huns ava.
a gladstone Groom as she looks over a
Uncle Tom strummiug away at the ole
banjo Just as he did down on the planta
ton befo' de wa. Christmas at til,
(lturtnrs Nuill nntNr nj III in
TO the child reared south Of the Maso
and Dixon line, but TO those whose onl
black nanny answered to the name Q
Bridget.
In all these scenes are shown the 10
that Santa Claus will bring, and abOv
and beyond this is an added interest j
the home life of the genial saint himself
; In great square room we see hir
among his books. His forehead
] wrinkled, for his reading is very dee
5 and profound. Are they novels? Ar
) they histories? Are they the Geographic
G OF great men or the stories oil travel tina
? I'LL to OVERLOOKING the bookshelves q
his library? Far from the mark are W
> in every guess. Each hook is filled wit
: names, the names of good childre
i whOm he means to reward, No wondc
he looks perplcSed, for there az
II thousands to be remembered lie mu,
!, be up and doing and next he will b
d seen in his stable rubbing down hi
9 trusty reindeer Bitten and The res
y prior to his wild dash over roofs M
o down chjmniss before the children hay
chance 10 wake up and find the
stockings empty, His great masti
watches the Preparations for the start i
8 not altogether a happy frame of minl
o for when his master goes he must RENAL
at home to guard the library, Tor in u
I wcll-reguiated juvenile fiction there
+ no mention of a dog flying through ii
y air with the eight sprightly courser
e . who respond SO eagerly to the crack {
Il the jolly saints whip.
n And yet all this is but 1.-THE of VIII,
/, is waiting in all sorts of n1oks an
d corners, each item being in itself a
4 education and delight, while the whoi
y forms giant Christmas show to /
enjoyed without money and witho,
price.
= Court of Chanccry.