Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-12-24
CHRISTMAS is HERE
The Gladstone Season of Peace
on Earth, Good VIII Toward
Men.
SANTA MAKES CHILDREN HAPPY
Celebrations in the Catholic
Churches.-Sunday Schools
Have Exercises.
SANTA MAKES CHILDREN HAPPY


day in the year dedicated to the for
getfulness of self and the remem-
brance of others. Tomorrow good
deeds will be especially appropriate
and bad one; will merit especially Sc
we're punishment. There is reason to
believe that tomorrow will be cele-
brated more widely and more rever-
emily than any Christmas that has
preceded it. Never have there been
SO many people in the world who
were in a position to appreciate the
Joy of freely giving, and never have
there been so many who possessed the
means to indulge themselves IN that
direction. We are in the very last
week of the most remarkable century
that, to mans knowledge, this sphere
has experienced. This fact should
stimulate US to do great deeds before
the only century whose end we shall
ever be privileged to see closes upon
US forever.
Santa VIII Make His Rounds.
Santa Claus will again be with us
tonight. When the wakeful children
have finally gone reluctantly to bed,
row of stockings of various sizes
will hang behind the stove in the
kitchen, usurping the wash rags
wonted places. Father and mother
will have something to do to keep
them out of bed till the young MEM
bers have gone to sleep. Then, from
the top of that venerated piece of
furniture, the tall family cupboard,
well beyond the reach OF young hands,
Santa Claus will hand down and re
veal the struggled articles that will
make earth heaven to certain small
people for one whole half day. When
Santa has effected distribution and,
with touch of the window decorat-
or's art, arranged few bright colors
for effect, father and mother will, too,
retire, and the spell is on.
The people of Rock Island will enter
into the celebration Of the day with
their accustomed vigor and thorough
ness. The best indication of this lies
in the extent of the holiday shopping,
which has been unusually brisk, and
that of holiday travel, which has been
very large Thus we have assurance
that there will be many family re-
unions, an abundance OF presents, big
Christmas dinners and q general good
time. Santa Claus, in the person of
the expressman, has been exceedingly
busy for several days, and many have
been sorely tested by the receipt of
packages marked do not open till
Christmas" Good roads and fine
weather have facilitated country
travel, and farmers for miles have
brought their surplus poultry and
produce to town and returned home
with big loads of Christmas cheer.
Observances In the Churches.
Christmas is prominently home
keeping holiday. Outside of the
churches the variety of attractions
offered to the citizens of Rock
Island will not be large. Most
special services with appropri-
ate music yesterday, while the
Catholic churches will have their reg
lar celebrations tomorrow. The time
of holding the Christmas exercises for
the children varies from last evening
at Sacred Heart church to Wednes-
day evening or the second Christ
mas" at st Mary's.
st. Mary's church will have high
mass tomorrow at o'clock a. M, low
mass at $50, and high mass with a
sermon at 1880. At 3 there will be
vespers and benediction. Wednesday.
second Christmas. will be celebrated
with mass and benediction at $50
a. IN. In the evening, at Columbi
hall, in the school building. there will
be play by the children, followed by
the unwilling of Christmas tree.
Exercises for the children were held
last evening at Sacred Heart church,
about 80 little ones taking part in an
elaborate program. There was a
Christmas tree and $50 children were
made happy by the distribution of
presents. Mass will be held tomor-
row at ) a. m, at $50, and again,
with sermon, at 1880
At st. Joseph's church there will be
masses at 5, $50 and 1890 a. m.
The choir will be heard in new music,
under the direction of Mrs. T. B.
Reidy. at 5 and 1880.
At Trinity Episc pal church the
Christmas celebration begins at mid
night tonight and lasts four days. |
At 10 o'clock tomorrow matin SER
vices will be held, followed by a SER
mon. At 4 O'Clock p. m. there is |
even song and children's services. |
is ST. Stephens day
and a morning celebration will be
held. with even song and children's
services at p. m. in the chapel. |
is st. Johns, the evangelist, |
day, and services will be held at 10 a.
m. Friday is Holy Innocents' day. |
Services will be held at 10 o'clock and |
again at $50 in the evening. Prof.
VI. o. Smith. of Nasbotah. viii assist |
the rector, Rev. R. +. Sweet.
Special Services sunday.
The Central Presbyterian church |
leld Christmas services Yesterday /
With special music by the regular |
,noir. Wednesday evening a can
alta will he oiyan az the church nv