Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1907-12-15

on which hung many tiny candles
 While travelling through q SHOW covered country Oh Christmas eye, so the story goes, Luther was over come with emotion upon seeing the prllllancy of the starlight on the snow laden branches of the fir. In an effort to show his family how brilliant and beautiful the trees were he cut down small evergreen and brought it into the house and upon it were hung the candles. From this time forth the evergreen was used with the return of each Christmas eve by those who ac- cepted Luthers teachings.
 From Germany the use of tn, Christmas tree spread over Europe for the marriage of Queen Victoria to German prince led to the intro duction of the German custom into England. There were however, ever many customs of similar signi- hcance in England prior to that time. The German emmigrant brought the tree to America, and It's popularity has grown steadily With each year until there is scarcely town in which some mer- chant does not make speciality of Christmas trees.
 It is almost impossible to form an estimate of the immense number of small trees that fall beneath the unsympathetic fling of the wood man aX and are shipped to the great cities to find a place in the home and become holder of h'!rlad Of lights and be festooned and draped With little multi-colored bags of sweet meats and confections ana present the child with a reali- ztlon of the dreams his fancy had spun for him during the nights.
 Supplying Christmas trees has grown into such a great business that dozen or more large firms are engaged in felling and disnos- Ing of them to brokers and whole sale Srocers. They buy number on contract with individual lumber men and lumber companies: a time and place of delivery is agreed upon, and a few weeks before before Christmas these sections are the scene of lively work. and quick action.
 Inc trees are Of course, of varied sizes to meet the reqlfrments Of the family purchaser up to the buyer of large trees for mis- sions. churches and SundaT Schools. They are packed upon @reat cars. ltler aller tier. and it is not unus- ual to see a single train cf from thirty to forty cars hurryinG to New York to fill the demand for Christi mas trees with one hundred tnous- and trees. And many other such trains follow.
 The Christmas cards now in use are the result of the evolution of Christmas. The first ever publish ed were issued in 1S46 by a Lon- doner named Joseph Crandall. who got the idea from Sir Henry Cole, and employed J C. Horsley the fa- nous artist to make the design.
 The charities show the evolution of Christmas. The spirit of Him Who came not to be ministered un- to but to minister, is never so mark ed nor more prevailing than at Christmas time, and the charity of the world takes various forms. While the great organizations are helping the unfortunate all through the year, a special effort is made at the holiday season to give cheer and comfort to those deprived of the ordinary blessings of life as well as those in temporary distress. In New York last Christmas day 2OO,- 900 people were fed by charity, and more than half that number in Chi caSo. Aside from the churches, Nouog Mems and Young Women's Christian Associations the Salvation Army, American Volunteers, set clement centers, fraternal organiza- ttons, women's clubs, theatres and the daily papers that have regular ly organized methods of bestowing happiness upon their fellowman, there are always notable instances of individual dispensing of good cheer, such as that of the Chicago business man who for twenty-five years has given an elaborate dinner tO To O00 Strpat ,,rch;n nafro;,