Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-22

Florence and Venice are thronged with
worshipers.
Returning, the children hasten home
and hang up their stockings, so they may
be tight asleep when Santa Claus comes.
and sweetmeats and toys. 1t is a Gus
tom for the royal children to drive about
Christmas morning, leaving toys and
good things for the poor. Children of
the wealthy follow their thoughtful ex-
ample. They make a great effort to pro-
vide the many poor children with
clothes, stockings and chicken, a rare
treat among the Italian peasants.
New Year is the great holiday In
France, though Santa Claus does not
neglect them. Fir trees are very scarce,
so only fortunate few get trees laden
with toys, but the toys are 30 wonder
full and beautiful they compensate In no
small part. Several weeks before Christ
mas thousands of children visit the shops
to see the toys. There are rooms fitted
up especially for the little folks Here
they see wonderful dolls, houses fitted
up as completely as a real house. Dolls
beautiful dolls and dressed In the
latest fashions. Their gowns are as ele-
giant as though they were made by Pa
quin and Doucet The mechanical toys
include every kind, from complete
train running on track to looping the
loop. There are airships, balloons. -ex-
press wagons, trunks. dolls, trousseaus
ami what not. From then until Christ
mas Eve they wonder what their toys
will be, and have many delightful day
dreams thinking Of the beautiful toys
they have seen. Christmas Eve the chill
dren go to bed very early, for they be-
lieve Santa Claus will not bring his
ION bo de Ea nj
their stockings on the mantel. and how
ever much noise they bear In the night
they do not stir. In The morning they
are up early, to find plenty of candy In
their stockings, doll for the girls, and
interesting mechanical toys for the boys.
AS the hour of IL approaches they rush
to the churches. Immediately after they
go to the restaurants. or to their homes
for bo1llion.
The English are wonderfully enthusias-
tic about the Christmas celebration. The
bakers and mammas are busy for days
making plum cakes and tarts. The chill
dren are quite as busy writing Santa
Claus letters, anxious to let him know
what they want. On Christmas Eve
with plenty of turkey, cider and plum
cake Dinner over, they gather In the
parlor and get their first glance of tho
brilliantly lighted tree. Christmas trees
are very plentiful In England, and some
are very tall, The children show their graf
itude by singing many beautiful carols.
When Santa Claus appears he unloads
his toys and they. then often dance
round him in a circle. In some of the
smaller towns the children go through
the streets singing beautiful carols:
Others dressed as mummers knock at
friends doors and play all sorts OF
pranks.
Though Santa Claus visits little folks
In every part of the world, he does not
forget his little American friends. he
sees they are well provided with Christ
mas trees dolls. buggies, horses and
everything dear to a boys heart. In
every city throughout the country the
Christmas chimes oring words of greet
ing and love to all mankind, though the
sound of these bells means most TO the
little folks, wlfe are all eagernees to see
what Santa Claus has brought them,