The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1894-12-11
Christmas At wanamal.er,a.


-------------.----- ---------------------=
Christmas at wanamaker's.
The multiludes would feel that some
thing were missing in their Christmas if
they did not see a unique display at Wan
amaker's. This years effort outdoes all
former attempts Electricity, art, music
and mechanical device are 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 and pines grow
ing a. every turn. AS always, one great
feature of the display greets the visitor
in the main arcade. This year a giant
fountain splashes and gurgles welct me
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. In the
centre, Ioi the basin is an ideal figure Of
Winter, the work of John Boyle, the
sculptor, whose beautiful thoughts
wrought out in his own graceful and in
the beauty of many of the buildings at
the Worlds Fair Two hundred and
forty-two jets of water are thrown to
height of twenty feet and from there fall
in a prismatic 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 wilder
ness of toys in their environment of clouds
and cherubs, which is great magnet to
draw the children to the third floor, but
certain it is that both young and old alike
will go into raptures over the reproduc-
ton of Christmas in many lands, given
with that attention to detail that will
make Santa Claus and the little ones
whom be 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 precision that
requires an artist to faithfully depict.
The figures of the participants must not
be of the ordinary automaton-like order,
they Inust be alive with the spirit of
patched hitber 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 mould
ed especially for this Christmas festival,
which exemplifss the doings 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 gente-
m n, let nothing you dismay," while
within the house the old squire smiles APP
proval upon his grandchildren as they
hang up their stockings by the fireplace.
The American home scene is much the
same, but there is an expanse of roofs
showing two cats in midnight controver
sy, while an incensed would-be sleeper
is aiming boot at them from his bed
room window. A little farther on comes |
Santa Claus in his sleigh, with the tiny
reindeer, the pack of toys and the merry |
twinkle in his eye that will make every |
child feel inclined to slay the doubling
Thomas who declares that dear old Saint
Nick is a myth.
In the sunny Southland the pickanin
MES dance among the pines, the possum
and the coon add to the realistic features
of the scene, and old Nanny huns away
gladstone Groom as she looks over at
Uncle Tom strumming away at the old
banjo Just as be did down on the planta
ton befo' de wa. Christmas at the Quart
ers will prove not only interesting to the
child reared south of the Mason and
Dixon line, but to those whose only black
nanny answered to the name of Bridget.
In all these scenes are shown the joy
that Santa Claus will bring, and above
and beyond this is an added interest in
the home life of the genial saint himself
In great square room we see him among
his books. His forehead is wrinkled, for
his reading is very deep and profound
Are they novels? Are they histories
Are they the biographies of great men or
& -
ing the bookshelves of his library2 Far
from the mark are we in every guess.
Each book is filled with names, the
names of the good children whom lie
means to reward. No wonder he looks
perplexed, for there are thousands to be
He must be up and doing
and next he will be seen in his stable
rubbing down his trusty reindeer Biizen
and the rest prior to his wild dash oyer
roofs and down chimneys before the
children have a chance to wake up and
find their stocking empty. His great
mastif watches the preparations for the
start in not altogether happy frame of
mind, for when his master goes he must
remain at home to guard the library, for
in all well regulated juvenile fiction
there is no mention of dog flying
through the air with the eight sprightly
who respond so eagerly to the
crack of the Jolly saints whip.
And yet all this is but 1.-THE of what
is waiting in all sorts of hooks and cor
ners, each item being in itself an educa
ii IN and delight, while the whole forms
giant Christmas show to be enjoyed with
out money and without price.
DEV. Daniel +. Warren, d. d.,
IN Rector HolV Trinity Church.