Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-12-26
ANITA CLAUS FINDS OMAHA HAPPY
Strong Men and Fair Women Praise saViSr
of the World.
me DAY WHEN ALL LOOK TO BETHLEHEM

Never a fairer Christmas sky beamed on
Omaha than that OF yesterday perhaps
never balmier air caressed a happy earth
on the anniversary OF the savior's nativ-
ity. In the morning 1t was just cool enough
To wear an overcoat, but later I'm the day
the air became warm enough that many
were seen walking down the streets without
this garment Of winter. The sun shone
brightly all day, except when now and
then he passed for a moment behind a
patch Of cloud 80 fieecy II suggested sum
mer.
A green" Christmas, It is true. but the
pleasantness Of all nature more than COM
pensated for what was lost to the Christ
mas idea through lack Of snow and
sleighs, Snow too often brings howllng
stinging blasts, and no one would have
preferred the blizzardy Christmas of two
years ago TO the bright one Of yesterday.
The streets were not crowded. In the
forenoon was seen here and there a man
searching for a shave or shine or one
running about to find a store open at which
he might get something for gift to one he
had almost forgotten. Women were very
little in evidence.
Home, Sweat Home.
The street car lines did not do a rushing
business, for people were inclined to stay
at home The only time the cars were at
all crowded was when the Catholics and
Episcopalians were going to services in
their churches, the former having several
masses I'm the course Of the morning and
and forenoon, and some OF the latter cele-
brating the holy eucharist at 7:SO and tho
eucharist, with an address, at 1880 The
paucity Of passengers pleased the motor
men and conductors, at least, for the pre-
vious day and, in fact the previous week,
had proven very trying on them.
But there were some hardworking people
for whom Christmas did not mean rest
not until noon, anyway. Among these were
the messenger boys and expressmen. They
worked until midnight Christmas eve and
were up and at II again bright and early in
the morning, for the holiday shopping was
the biggest in Omaha's history and II was
an impossibllity to get everything delivered
on the last shopping day. BY noon the
messenger boys had practically disposed OF
their calls from the various stores and the
expressmen went home to take their turkey
dinner To be sure the boys had to run
errands in the afternoon, but the strain on
them was over
For those who did not care TO remain
home all day, street car rides to various
suburban points were popular in the after
noon. Merry groups or people visited BEN
son. Dundee, Florence and the various
parks.
Services at Some Churches.
The majority Of churches were closed all
day. Some beside the Catholic and Epls-
copal churches, however, had one service.
A few had Sunday school exercises in the
evening.
The railroad stations were scenes Of num-
erous happy meetings. While thousands Of
homecoming ones had been arriving for
the holidays for a week or more, there
were some delayed by business duties or
poor train connections, who could not reach
home until the big day itself. Happy groups
they were that welcomed the eager tray
eler as he alighted duty and grimy from
some pulling train.
1t was. in short. an altogether beautiful
Christmas, a fitting consummation of a
happy and prosperous year. Omaha's peo-
pie, in celebrating the advent Of their Lord
to this earth had also to thank Him for
the cheerful day and the era of prosperity
which 1t followed.