The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-12-17
CHRISTMAS IN THE WEST.

s0A' IAiI; SouEtlbuu.
CHRISTMAS IN THE WEST.
Editors Intelligenoer: While in
Aspen, Colo, we spent very pleas
ant Christmas and I want to tell your
readers how Christmas is celebrated
in Colorado mining camp.
In preparing for Christmas for the
small boy Of the family, I went to o
store to get what the Southern boy
thinks an indispensable artiole-fire-
crackers. Imagine my surprise to
hear they had none. 7 asked where I
could fine some? The clerk looked at
me very much surprised and said: ST
don't think you can ind any in town.
l went home and was telling an old
resident Of the town that I could not
find 6recrsoker in town, and he
asked: what do you want with
firecrackers for Christmas? We have
them for 4th Of July" I replied:
"That is the way the boys celebrate it
in tho South" he said: "We have
good dinners, give gifts and have 9
social celebration. I never heard Of
freoraekeFs for Christmas. Then
the thought comes: "The cultivated
enlightened South might learn lesson
from the wild and woolly West"
Christmas has many mysteries for
the children. The little Southern
boy wanted to know how Santa Claus
was coming down the stove chimney,
as there were no replaces, and he
feared he would miss his visit, but
the Sunday School at the Baptist
Church the night before Christmas
solved the problem for him. A large
Christmas Tree, we'll ladened with
toys, books and many nice things to
eat, stood in the church, and when all
the children were seated admiring it,
who should come in but Santa Claus,
and he came in through the door, and
was dressed in fur and had long
beard. He made them o speech and
told them to come regularly to Sunday
School and study the lessons and help
the teachers to have good Sunday
School, and then the presents were
delivered to the delight of the chill
dren.
The Methodist Sunday School had a
snow house filed with good shiags FOR
the children.
Christmas day dawned bright and
clear, and was so quiet and still, not q
gun, frecracker, or any noise, save
the jiugling Of the merry sleigh bells,
was heard in town. The stores were
beautifully decorated with the noun
tain pine-that being the only ever
green they have. Even the meat mar
kets we're elaborately decorated. One
had large pine tree in the centre of
the room, festooned with strings Of
popcorn and other ornaments. Dim
ner was first class and much enjoyed.
All seemed happy.
After dinner comes the sleigh rid
ing, which is the chief :..nusement
there in winter. A large sleigh,
drawn by six white horses, filed with
merry boys and girls, who carried 9
violin, mandolin and other musical
Instruments, and they seemed to vie
with the merry sleigh bells in making
music, while the horses dashed over
the beautiful snow.
Many young people go to the skat-
ing pond after supper. a large lot
perfectly level is prepared by turning
water on the snow, and It will freeze
and make q smoothe 10y surface to
skate on--a beautiful amusement.
Altogether / think the Western way
more appropriate to celebrate the
birth Of our Saviour than the South
ern.
Wishing all the readers q merry
Christmas and q happy New Year, I
am very respectfully,
Betty Earle.