Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-12-27
CHRISTMAS, 1904.

Christmas this year fell upon the Sab
bath day and the oldest inhabltant
cannot remember one in this frozen
northland that has ever opened SO
pleasant and balmy. Until about ten
O'Clock, the sky was without cloud,
the wind was from the south and it was
more like a September morning than
the Yule Tide, for, besides the extreme
ly temperate weather, there was no
sleighing, and there was an absence OF
sleigh bells, and only wheeled vehicles
were used After ten o'clock the sky
| covered with clouds and it grew slight
~ colder. The city was awake by day
| light and messengers were hurrysng
about with great spirit, and Merry
Christmas" was shouted at every step.
Holly and mistletoe, the emblems of
but the latter is never plentiful in this
section of the globe. Holly and
mistletoe still hold the place CT chief
favor, though they have had to admit
many humber plants to their company.
At every place the charming weather,
the presents received and the incidents
of the day were topics of conversation.
Elegant dinners were prepared at the
hotels, but outside of regular guests
there were not many to enjoy the col
lation There were many family
dinners and private parties about the
city. On the whole, the Christmas of
1904, will be remembered as one of the
most pleasant in the holiday annals of
our city.
Monday was generally observed
throughout the county as Christmas day
and nearly all places of business were
closed during the day in Wausau and
our city had very much of a holiday APP
pearance. In the evening there were
dances at the Wausau Club house.
CHRISTMAS TREES.
About all of the Christmas exercises
and trees were given previous to
Christmas day.
On Friday evening the Universalist
society held its Christmas tree exercises
at the church. The younger children
of the Sunday school rendered an ex-
ceedingly entertaining program, after
which the Christmas tree was lighted
and Santa Claus appeared and dis
tributed presents.
Christmas exercises at the west side
Presbyterian chapel on Friday evening,
was success in every way and largely
attended.
On Christmas eve the Christmas ex-
ercises of the M E. society were held in
the church and consisted of giving
festival" A fee of one apple or more
or two or more potatoes and all, togeth-
er with the gifts of the classes, were
given to the needy of the city. The
members of the Sunday school carried
out an excellent program.
The Christmas tree services at the
Baptist church were held on Saturday
evening and consisted of a cantata en-
titled Christmas at Grand-pa's." At
the conclusion of the cantata, presents
were distributed by Santa Claus.
The German Lutheran churches were
crowded with parents and their chill
dren. There were large trees at st
Stephens, Zon's and St. Paurs church
es, and programs rendered by the chill
dren of the Sunday schools of those
churches.
There Was a Christmas tree at st.
Johns Episcopal church and song
program on Saturday afternoon which
delighted all present. Many Christmas
presents were distributed to the little
ones.
The Presbyterian society held Christ
mas tree exercises at the church on
Saturday evening. There was Christ
mas tree, and program carried out by
the children of the Sunday school.
Santa Claus appeared at the close and
distributed presents. The church was
crowded and the exercises were greatly
enjoyed.
THE POOR.
The poor of the city were provided
for in manner that was very thor
ough. The Daily Record, about two
weeks before Christmas, started fund
for the poor and this amounted to
about $4,000. This was turned over to
a committee consisting of Hon. Neal
Brown, Dr. B. H. Conlin and Neil
Camphell, secretary of the T. M. G. A.
Taey were ably assisted by Mesdames
e. E. Parcher, F. Kelly, j. HI. Farral, S.
NJ. Quaw, R. Goodrich, W. G. Dickens,
Elmer Miller, Fred. Becker, Misses
Isabel Baker and Della Thayer.
The provisions and clothing were
sent to the Y. NJ g. A building and
there put into bundles and sent out.
All of the churches contributed much
for the poor and this was also sent to
the Y. NJ. G. A. building. 1t can be
said that the poor never were taken
care of better than on this Christmas