The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-18

dered, stories are told, and toasts are
given; and when this is completed all go
to the main saloon, and the Christmas
tree is revealed, standing there in the mid
die, under the big skylight. 1t is a big
tree, too: just as big as can be obtained
and put in place, and on it are hung gifts
from the ship for every passenger; not
costly at all, but remembrances that are
likely to be long preserved as souvenirs
Of a pleasant occasion. Then if the sea
is not high, the candles are lighted, and
the tree bursts into beautiful Illumination.
The Ships Christmas Tree.
This suggestion of a tree covered with
hundreds of lighted candles on big
steamship, may sound rather dangerous
to landsman, but it is safe enough in
reality. Men are stationed close at hand,
although out of sight, with buckets of
water, fire eXtinguishers, axes, and so on;
and if it were necessary the other men
above, on deck, stand ready to snatch
tree, candles, gifts and all right through
the skylght at an instants warning; and
three seconds later a blazing tree would
be over the side in salt water But while
such extraordinary precautions are taken,
they are not needed, for ordinary foresight
would determine whether it were safe
to light the candles.
A Christmas Ball on Deck.
After the distribution of gifts from the
tree, concert is given if the weather is
bad; but whenever Christmas eve is pleas
ant and the latitude is suitable, the pas
sengers go on deck which they find to be
shielded from the wind by canvas, bril-
liantly lighted, and decorated with flags
and bunting And, 1 tell you, on a moon
light night, with a calm sea, and soft,
pleasant air, in the Mediterranean, for ex-
qara1a
great ship is something for most passen-
gers to remember. I'm sure 1 can't
imagine anything more charming for
those who enjoy dancing. The romance.
the poetry of it all must be delightful 10
the passengers, especially TO the younger
ones. But while they are gliding over the
deck some of the older ones are certain
to be contrasting this Christmas eve with
others in years gone by; and perhaps
ships officer or two off duty Will be in
his room reading again and again the let
ter that came in the Christmas parcel
which had just been delivered to him. and
wondering what wife and little ones are
doing al that hour in some German viii
lage or in an English town, or perhaps
I'm far-off Yankeeland
In the ForecastIc,
THE band plays lively music. and the
i'%'N'eAAoNA7 NAAi1t Oh htth8 BuL II IntN
imagine they are the only ones aboard
ship who are celebrating Christmas eve
they are mistaken. If they were to look
into the forecastle they would see another
Christmas tree there, also covered with
little decorations and gifts-the sailors
tree. For, you know, a German is only
half a German without tree on Christ
mas eve, and every German ship has one
Long before the ship sailed from her home
port on the Christmas voyage friends ana
relatives of eacn sailor prepared some
little present which they sent forward in
care Of some acquaintance in the crew
SO that their particular sailor man MIGHT
have his surprise at the right time Of
course, these gifts are inexpensive for the
sailors family has little money to snare
Dut pipe, warm stockings. or some such
arucie. IS received aboard the vessel ana
carefully kept until the proper time when
al are hung on the tree The roronsn,.
gives the sailors little wine or beer ana
Christmas cakes. This applies also ~ tb1
hi'meh, VINO have "a tree OF their own I'M
iheir room. So as you VIII see There a-o
usNaily ai many as three trees aboard
ine 10Th OF December we o5sfrve "a.
" u"'y Gay on our ships ana al wort \.
suspended aboard ship eAc.piinp ~,
enllh d D. absolutely neeossarv 40 tsr.
i'''u' - i'ff' ~ "a clergyman among an. |