The age-herald., 1897-12-26
Events That Have Marked
 Some Former ChriStmaStideS
History Fruitful in These Happenings s--Washing Crossing of the Delaware the Best Remembered
 Records of All Times Scanned

Christmas is a day set apart for it's own peculiar joys Things may happen on that day of days, but, as a rule, only those things take place which are more or less appropriate to the occasion.
 Disasters of all kinds, marine and rail- road wlecks, fires, earthquakes, besides wars, with their preparations and battles and deaths of prominent men, include about all of the unforeseen occurrences which are common enough to have class by themselves. The events in the worlds history which are prearranged for Christ mas day are strikingly few In fact, many events which from their nature would seem to be extremely appropriate for the day devoted to Peace on earth, good will to men," have been set for any other day in the year then Christmas.
 None of the acts of governments abolish ing slavery in various parts of the world has gone into effect on Christmas. Here in the United States Lincoln's proclamation became operative on New Years, lSoS Abolition by constitutional enactment, ot course came only when the necessary number of state had ratified the amend ment Nor has any of the conventions or the peace societies been timed so as to take advantage of the significance or Christmas.
 Two of the worlds peace treaties, how over, have come with Christmastide. One, the treaty of Ghent, which ended our war of 1S12-14 with England, was signed on Dec: 24, 1874. Had the Atlantic cable been laid half a century earlier New York could have celebrated on Christmas the advent of peace, though the great victory at New Orleans would never have found It's place in history. But the news did not reach New York until the middle of February thus postponing for nearly two months that joyful celebration when Broadway was one sea of fire and one mighty shout of acclaim.
 The treaty of peace between Hungary, Prussia and SaXony was signed on Dec. 70, 1745. In all the worlds history, this is the only treaty which was signed on ChrlSt- mas Day.
 It was on Christmas, 1868, that President Johnson proclaimed unconditional pardon and amnesty to all concerned in the re- bellon.
 Two coronations and one inauguration have taken place on Christmas. Charle- magne was crowned emperor of the West by Pope Leo III. on Dec. 25, 800, and Will liam the Conquerer was crowned at West minister on Dec. 25, 1O66. Jaurez was in augurated president of the Republic .of Mexico on Dec. 25, 1867.
 Only one of the great engineering works of the world was completed and opened on Christmas Day. That was the Mount Cenis Tunnel, which connects Italy and France. This work, which will ever rebound to the skill of Italy's engineers, was finished on Dec. 25 1870
 The approach of winter is usually con sidered an unfavorable time for strikes yet on Christmas Eve, 1SS7 1000 Reading railroad employees went out on a strike which lasted two months. They wanted an increase in wages, but they lost in pay during the two months $3,62000 Of all the worlds discoveries and ex- p,orations, only one is so connected with Christmas as to take significance from the day. It was on Christmas, TIT, that Cap- tain Cook landed on island in the Pa cfic ocean which he called Christmas island. This bit of land, northeast of the Navigator or Samoan islands, belongs now to the United States.
 Christmas is a red-letter day in the his tory of the Methodist Episcopal church. Nor was It any haphaZard connection. It was on Christmas, December 25 17S4, that a Christmas Conference" was held in the meeting house in Lovely lane Baltimore, at which it was agreed unanimously that an independent church be formed, to be called "The Methodist Episcopal church. ' The new denomination started with eighty three preachers ard Is 600 me mber; American history is replete with Christ mas events. First comes Philadelphia s "tea party" On December 25, 1773. the tea ship was intercepted before it had reached
 
 This was nearly ten days after the still more famous tea party, but it is a cherished event in Philadelphia's history. The next Christmas occurrence is, per haps tn, most c,' itUs n all the annals of America. It Is that of Washington crossing the Delaware, which has been celebrated in at least two famous paintings. On Christmas night, 1776, Washington, hay ing previously gathered all the boats which were to be had on both sides of the river, crossed the stream from Pennsylvania, at McConkey's Ferry Trenton, during a snow storm. All of his troops were not gathered on the New Jersey side till o'clock in the morning. Washington surprised the Hes sians and routed them, killing their com mander. It was a complete surprise and victory; such one, perhaps, as could have occurred on no other day. unless it were New Years
 In all wars Christmas seems to have been regarded generally as a day of truce. Soldiers in the field have their poor little celebrations, and trust that the enemy is doing the same. So the day affords fine chances for surprise, though Washing ton appears to have been about the only commander who has taken advantage of ot in this way.
 General Taylor fought the battle of Oke- chobee in the Seminole war on Christmas, 1887, and nine years later, on December,