The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-15
HOLIDAY CELEBRATION.


a Loving Cup the GIFT of the Waco
WOmnn's Club.
The Waco Woman's club on the Tuesday
prior to the holidays cast It's programme
altogether in Christmas vein. Mrs. Ro-
tan's beautiful hall was decorated with
holly on mantel and chandelier. while "A
handsome bunch of bride and American
beauty roses was placed on the presidents
table.
The responses to roll call were answered
with quotations Of holiday sentiment.
Two very interesting and well written
papers on 'Christmas in Music and ArL
and christmas Customs in Various coun-
tries" were read by Mrs. Hale and Miss
Taylor respectively. Mrs. Rotan selected
chapter from Dickens dealing with
Christmas scenes.
A most impressive and beautiful feature
OF The afternoon was the presentation by
Mrs. j. -. Thomas OF chaste silver loving
cup To the club. Her manner In delivering
the words below marked the ceremony
with beauty and grace. She stepped to
the center OF the hall and taking the cup
tied with long ribbon streamers OF tho
club colors. white and red. said;
1T has ever been true of humanity that
the expression or principle and sentiments
shall take not only the form OF words. but
ccremonials. There is that within MS which
81, for life would lose half It's sweetness II
robbed OF all its outward adornment OF
rites aud ceremonies. A bride Is never
quite 40 ideally n bride as when we view
her through the fiimy mcshes OF the bridal
ven. And what would our Christmas les
son be II stripped OF all the material ex-
pressions of the Joy and good Will with
which our hearts are bubbiing over,
Many OF the ceremonials OF the ancients
are so satisfying as an expression Of that
~ HAD hat
through all the changes OF the centuries.
We have legend that In the long ago.
somewhere In the Fifth century Roweua,
daughter OF Hensist, founder OF the king
dom OF Kent, was ushercd into The pres
ence OF Vortigern, king OF the Britons, and
kneeltng before him, presenting a cup OF
wine saying Was hsilic.s voriigern, not
at all eomprehending Rowera'a words. de-
manded an explanation. when one OF the
Biltops said
/" This Is Their custom and her geat
When thei are ut the ale or fest
Tx man that loves aware him think
Salle Say Wosscile and to hin, drink
lie that bides sale say Wassails
me other sale say again Drink halle.
That says WOsseile drinks OF the cup.
kiss and his felaw he gives II up.'
This Is an explanation OF the usual
ceremony OF the Saxons. even before the
time q Hengist rs form OF health wish
Ing. Waes-hail' meaning be In health
Yer going even farther down the river OF
time. we find that Horace. Ovid and ear
Her ktiil. Plautus. 200 years before the
Christian era Eiyes testimonials OF cere-
mony agreeing nearly with mat VI the
snsons bene yos, bene IL. brne nostram
ethan Stephanium. Plautaus tells us WAS
an early fern or health wishing.
THE learned sclden says that the Eng.
lisi snxons In norsetshire worshipped al
idol called Helllc. which In name both
expressed the ceremony OF drinking and
the New Years exclamation. whereto In
some parts OF the kingdom is enjoying also
solemnity OF drinking out OF cup. rtusily
composed. deckt and filled With country
liquor, In the Antiquarian Rcpertory OF
the edition o. l71b ~ a wood cut OF an
ancient support OF a / chimney piece on
which 10 carved a large bowl bearing on
one side the inscrlntion. fWas-heilo' and on
the Other 'Drnc- heIle. This Ii the repre-
sanitation OF the old 'wassel bowl, so much
The delight Of the hardy ancestors OF the
English. who, In the vigil Of tho New Year.
never failed 70 assemble their neikhbors
around ~ glowing hearth aAd IN the spicy