Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1903-12-28
CHRISTMAS TREE
Visitors Admire Miniature Viii
lage-Beautiful Mechan-
ical Effects.

The handsomest Christmas tree in
Annapolis is that of Mr.. Charles b.
Orrell, West street. The tree has at
tracted crowds of visitors, both adults
and children, and glance at its
beauties and its mechanical effects is
sufficient to create q desire to repeat
the visit to this wonderful tree.
Mr.. Orrell is an electrician and has
brought to play upon the Christmas
tree at his home ali the skill and
ingenuity of his vacation. The work
of bringing the Christmas tree to its
present magnificence has taken just one
month. The tree and Its surroundings
are complete in the smallest detail.
The space given to the beautiful dis
play is two-thirds of the large parlor
at Mr.. OrrelI's home. The tree is set
well off from one corner of the room
and is handsomely decorated ON all
sides. Behind its glittering mass Of
colored balls, tinsel and glistening
snowfiakes, are twenty small incan-
descent hghts-red, blue, white and
green. The effect, when the room is
darkened, is most attractive.
But the tree, as handsome as it is,
is but small part of the attraction
The tree rises from the midst of a
mountain village, and near a railroad
station, and where every detail of a
thrifty town is carried out. Twenty
three feet of canvas represents a
mountain scene in snow storm on a
moonlight night. The moon beams
out in all its splendor when the cleo
trio current is turned on and dozens of
Is.wh kc n,ln
the mountain side. 1t is a snow scene
and the ground is covered with
glistening whiteness. Back of the
tree is country village with the
typical country grocery. Then, too,
there are three tunnels through
which the trains pass on a complete
miniature railroad. There is pump
ing station and a tower for the train
dispatcher. There are telegraph poles
and telegraph wires. On the poles
are the tiniest electric lights, and
regular lamps along the railroad, which
are lighted by electricity. AS the
trains pass the signal station the
signals are raised or lowered, as the
case may be, in all the completeness
of the real thing.
Two trains drawn by miniature
engines run at intervals on the double
tracks. One is handsome representa-
ton of the New York Central and
Hudson River Railroad. This engine
and the attachment cost $50. There
is city passenger electric car called
the "Interruban Railway" which
runs on another track, and there Is
also an elevated railroad, on which
another car flies back and forth over
bridges and trestles and around curves.
The cars and all attachments are
worked by electricity. In the center
of the township allotted to the tree is
large lake onr pond, on which a
miniature steamboat runs by electric
ity. Ducks swim about and fish and
Holsters, crabs and oysters float about
in the stream. A mill wheel runs near
by and Ferris wheel is not far away
with its cars in mid air filed with
people" of toyland. The wheel is
a unique display of mcdaniel skill and
genius.
Under the tree fort and soldiers
guard duty. Men and women and
and animals of all kinds suggest a
lively village beneath the Christmas
tree. The electrical effect is beauti.
full when the room is darkened, the
| tree lighted with its colored lights and
the trains with their headlights run.
ming full speed. Many people have
visited and admired the tree, which il
a credit to Mr.. Orrell and is the result
of mcdaniel genius.