Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-26
Those Who Have, Give to Those Who
Have Not This Day.
so SPIRIT OF FESTIVAL RE1GNS
DevOut Bring Their Frankincense and
Myrrh to the Altar.
WORSHIP BABE OF BETHLEHEM
IN Churches t. the Newborn King
Praised - Levity DweIis I'm
Places ee Amusement
for Many.

Omaha Christmas was ushered in with
choraIs tfrom a hundred boyish lips, with
the pealing OF merry chimes and ecstatic
cries OF children reveling over stockings
distenned with toys and games and dolls
from old 81. Nick.
Ii was not white" Christmas, but who
cares7 1t would have brought about few
nickels for the men who supplement
meagre income by shoveling sidewalks but
except for this, the absence OF snow did
not initiate against the general merriment.
After many an Omaha paterfamlllas had
risen at an earlier hour than he has for
a long time, having been reused by In
sistent children, he In many cases found
himself again surprised by attending
church. Large congregations were present
in nearly all the churches which had SER
vices, these being chiefly the Roman
\ Catholic and Protestant Episcopal denomi-
nations The Christmas concert at the
First Baptist church attracted many last
night trained chorus of seventy-five
voices. with an orchestra of twenty pieces
giving an elaborate program under the d.
rection OF r. e. Sunderland. There was a
Christmas tree for the children, whose
songs and carols were a feature Of the
program.
Some Ont of the Way.
Many families. nearly 500 in fact. had a
far merrier Christmas than they would
have had otherwise. but for the baskets
OF provisions distributed by the Salvation
Army and the Volunteers of America. In
the House Of Hope old eyes glistened with
a furtive tear as present after present was
taken from n big Christmas tree. At the
Deaf and Dumb Institute gifts were dis
tributed to the children yesterday morn
ing. and though lips were mute, happiness
shone on a hundred faces. At st. James
orphanage the knights of Columbus had
charge of the program and the distribution
of gifts to the fatheriess and motherless
There was a Christmas tree at the De-
tention school. and IA igraphophone with
twenty-five records, given by @. w. Wat
ties, made the children wild with Joy
Everyone celebrated the day as best he
might. Men and women cribbed, cabned
and confined in the Douglas county jail
found Christmas not 80 merry, perhaps, as
others more fortunate, but they did not
NOPE all day.
There were many and varied events on
the calendar. He who sought vivid
contrast might have wandered in the early
evening from the Salvation Army head
quarters, where Christmas tree delighted
numerous unfortunates to the Racquet
club where at a smoker for the Yale Uni
versity Glee club two score men sat in
mouse-colored walst-eoats, which looked
rather "ratty' according to a vile punster.
The Glee club men were also given a
supper at the Omaha club. 1t was an
active night for them They gave con-
cert at the Lyric theater and later dance
in their honor was given at Chambers by
Mr.. and Mrs. Luther Kountze.
All Theaters Full.
All the theaters played to capacity
houses or nearly so. and when Polly Of the
Circus had nabbed the clergyman, when
Camille had died, and other plays and
sketches had been concluded the actors
and actresses made merry with the best
of them. Theatrical folk are sometimes
alleged to be like children, emotionally. al
least. If true this would not hinder theiI
rising splendldly TO the spirit OF Christmas
for Christmas is a day for children par
ticularly.
A solemn service was observed at thS
Masonic Temple last night beginning a
1:SO o'clock. when the Knight Tempiari
pured their annual llbation.
Program by IEard Mission.
Sixty children from the church mission
at Twelfth and lizard streets held Christ
mas services at Westminster church yester
day afternoon at 2 o'clock. Candy and othel
refreshments were distributed and each
child was given a toy. After a program
given by the children. DIR, w. s. FultoI
addressed them briefly. The church wa
decorated with greens and two Christmai
trees.