Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1902-01-02

seemed to hold the world beneath its
Influence last week. and everywhere.
at all times aud among all people
peace on earth and good will to
men" was the rule. To rich and poor
and high and tow alike the sweet
spirit sent its messengers OF kindly
remembrance laden with Joy. content
and hope. II Is the time for happi-
ness-vhen homes are brightest,
hearts are tenderest. and even the
crnstiest nature huds itself thawing
under the cordial grasp Of a friendly
hand, or the eager eyes Of child. IL
Is at this time that families come to-
gether. friends are united and all the
world delights to do for those who
are poor and needy. Few. indeed. are
the homes Of poverty not frightened
by some helping hand. and few the
hearts that must needs dwell in lone
illness. The widow is helped. the or
pnsn is remembered, and wherever
earth's unfortunates are gathered to-
gether the Christmas spirit comes and
sheds its radiance
Il is infinitely to the credit OF our
State that all Of her institutions make
so gala a day OF Christmas. Even the
convicts are freed from work and
given great feast. while at the
schools for the blind and the deaf
mutes the week Is turned into fes-
tival and a time Of rejoicing is had
At the blind institution a splendid
Christmas dinner was spread and
each Of the children who are deprived
Of the great blessing OF sight was
given a useful and attractive gift.
Music their chief deIight) was en-
ioyed at special hours during the day.
and all Of Or. Sims wards spent the
week happily.
At the big home OF the deaf and
dunno pleasure reigned supreme. and
the pupils the happiest body OF stu
dents We have ever known in any
SCHOOL, had many surprises and many
delightful plans with which to pass
the days and evenings. The culmina-
ton OF all their JOY was the splendid
Christmas tree, on which was boun
tIful crop OF fruit. candy and gifts
Of all sorts. Games and other diver
sions followed the tree. and on Christ
mas night some of the little deaf and
dumb children closed their eyes on the
happiest day Of their young lives. Il
was at the state Hospital for the In
sane. however. that greatest prepara-
tons were made TO give a happy
Christmas to the tmore than one thou
sandJ people who dwelr wiyhin those
great white buildings. with the iron
barred windows on every side. To the
insane. Christmas is a time of great
rejoicing. Most Of the inmates of the
hospital evinee a fondness for the good
things to eat. and "a soon as orders
are issued for extra help IN the great
kitchen. the patients begin to hope and
plan for Christmas Fully two weeks
before Christmas, each ward must sur
reader one OF its attendants for a GER
under the matron's direction, in the
monster work rooms, to begin to get
ready for Christmas. The store room,
before - Is invaded by the culinary
army looks as II 1t were stocked
against a seven years famine. How
ever. it does not take long TO reduce
and utterly demolish the crates Of
fruit. barrels Of eitr,n. raisins. cur
rants. etc. that are used in the big
fruit CAKES And the eggs, Judging by
the dozens and scores of hundreds Of
eggs that were hourly beaten for the
big cakes. the asylum had -eornered"
all the hens in Kinds county and al
lowed no outsider to enter the pre-
steady work in kitchens and bakery, In
slaughter pen and barn yard. 'mongst
garden and orchard products (put up
during the summerl the great day ar
rived 1t last. and lie tired attendants
were repaid for all their labor by the
undisguised delight Of their patients.
In almost every ward there are women
and girls. skilled in fancy work. and
10 these IL is a great delight 70 decorate
the long halls (always agiisten with
cleanliness and in beautiful order)
with wreaths Of Christmas greens. and
masses OF paper flowers. The dining
room is. however. TIE point Of special
interest 20 each ward. and it is here
that the work and the talent Of the pa
tients is concentrated And the result
Is most pleasing. Few public fnsitu-
tons can show brighter dining rooms.
arranged more tastefuIly than are
some Of those in the hospital. for
Christmas day And the pride Of the
poor insane woman is pathetic In the
extreme
Each wants to do her part, and down
into their few precious possessions
they go, for something to add to the
general effect, or for some bit Of bright |
ribbon. a new handkerchief, an apron,
or. sad to tell. fanatic decoration of
paper or rags. with which to adorn
themselves in honor Of the day. At 12
o'clock the doors are thrown open and
the safe" patients who have been al
lowed 10 neip the attendants arrange
the tables. beam as gracefully and
speak as cordially to the long line Of
entering diners. as though they were
the most approved reception committee
on duty at some great function And is
It not a great function, Has not a
great State provided for il? Have not
master minds. after arduous training
planned II successfully. Have not
willing hands worked eeaseIessly for
weeks that it might be worthy the day
and last Of all, was it not the bright
est day in q long. weary year. to
thousand men and women Of feeble
bodies and Of beclouded brains? Yes.
1t was a great function-no one could
doubt it. after one glance down the
long, snowily draped tables. with their
great clusters Of flowers, their superb
rvranfdu nf fwxxfk If~Haz - ialfv nro