The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1897-01-01
THE JOYOUS FESTIVAL.
Christmas was never more generally or
more happily celebrated in
lola than this year.
sNIOE BRIEF REPORTS.

1t was a perfect day to begin with.
Dry and crisp and sunshiny. Just
cold enough to make your dinner
taste good. And when the night
came,-the wonderful christmas
eve" that bears such a charmed sound
in the ears of all childhood, 1.-The stars
came out so bright and clear that we
know of at least one little twOyear-
old who sang all the way to the
church, awhile the stars are shining
Mamie" The churches were filed
early with the eager excited children
and their hardly less interested psr-
ents, and for one hour at least every
body was perfectly happy.
AT THE U. b. CHURCH
There was a program of sOngs and
recitations for about an hour, and
then Santa Claus, personated by
Frank Hodges, entered and began to
distribute the presents from the great
tree which was loaded with gifts for
every body in the house. This was
the first Christmas service in the new
church and it was a most gratifying
success.
AT THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The pulpit platform was set to rep
resent bed chamber with big red
brick chimney and fire place. There
was some recitatiOns and songs first,
then "Annie's and Willie's Prayer"
was acted out, and then there was a
great jingliDg of bells and shouting
of "Whoa"! and Old Santa came
clambering in at the window, shout
ing to his reindeer to stand still.
After talking about how far he had
come and how few presents he had
left, Santa suddenly saw the whole
church full of children before him and
was in despair. He surely hadn't
presents enough to go around. But
he called the fairy Good Cheer, to his
aid, aud with her magic wand she
converted the red bricks of the CHM
ney into red boxes of candy, and so
all the children got gift after all.
Maynard Bush played Santa, and
did it so we'll that great many peo-
pie thought they had never seen so
good one.
AT THE BAPTIST CHURCH.
There was a splendid tree, beauti-
fully decorated and loaded with gifts
in the good old way. In addition
there was the treat to all the children
of the Sunday School. The program
consisted of music by the school and
recitatiens by the children.
AT THE NJ. E CHURCH.
Early in the evening the children
began to gather, thinking of course
that it would be better to be on hand
in time to see Santa Claus and family
come in, but much to their amaze
ment and delight they found Mrs.
Santa Claus had arrived earlier in the
evening and was comfortably seated
in her sleigh upon the rostrum with
presents, candy and oranges on all
sides. 1t was learned later that Santa
had unfortunately met with an acct
dent and could not be present.
Some of the children of the S. s.
rendered aD excellent program, suit
ed to the occasion, while the choir
furnished good and appropriate music.
Near the middle of the program
message was received direct from
Santa himself stating that he expect
ed to be in about $50 o'clock. This
called forth burst of applause
from the children. Sure enough at
the appointed time Santa came march
ing triumphantly up the isle amidst
the cheers and laughter of the little
ones. After his usual greeting to the
children he proceeded to unload the
sleigh of its contents of good things
and with the assistance of five or six
others succeeded in supplying the
wants of every child in the house.
The exercises were considered the
best ever had in the s. s., and Mrs.
Pulliam and Mrs. Park deserve much
credit for their excellent manage
ment in making them such a success.