The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-12-19

In less than a week--six days, to be
exact---all of Christendom will be cell
ebrating Christmas Day.
Just 1909 years ago the first Christ
mas sun shone on the old, old world
and for the first time there was cause
for celebrating the most important fes-
tival known to Christian nations.
But 1t took many decades for the
Significance Of Christmas time to dawn
on the people OF the world.
There are many legends of the first
celebration of Christmas Day. It's
Inaugural ton is claimed by almost ev-
cry Christian nation of Europe. Per-
haps the most authentic is the story
of the celebration that developed In
the German forests early in the mid
die ages when folks met about mon
ster pine tree and gave thanks for q
bountiful harvest and that The Babe OF
Bethlehem had guarded their lives and
granted their prayers and petitions for
a year past.
The day this celebration was held
by the forest jewellers who had been
told the message OF the Cross does not
come down in history. But 1t is known
that 1t took place in midwinter when
the ground was covered with snow and
houses were made snug for the cold
days at hand and to come.
one by one the calendars that were
Invented, only to be disputed and re-
arranged by astronomers, placed the
Christmas Day at various intervals, but
always in the winter season. In the
end the discussions ceased or passed
unnoticed and December 25 became the
accepted time for celebrating the natal
day OF the Christ Child.
OF course, the Christian nations OF
the earth have differing methods OF cell
wfafs N
that even different sections OF this
country have dissimilar observanees.
But the motif Of each Is one Of hap
piness and cheer and the giving OF
gifts Is universal.
Perhaps the feature of the day here
| In Montgomery, as well as in other
places, will be the Christmas feast
Looked forward to, as 1t has oeen' 1t
holds more Of mystery and expectancy
than any other feature OF the day.
n is a big undertaking to supply the
Christmas dinner Montgomery viii eat
next Saturday. Here Is something Of
an earnest of 1t.
Everyone Expectant.
Ever since man or woman was
how or girl the annual Christmas feast
| has been one of the important things
OF life. 1t is a ten to one shot that
we're a man on desert island SUD
I 8iSttnR on nuts anu WA1h S~Do " hHA'
he might be able to bag or catch,
when Christmas time came around he
would go out for something extra fine
for his Christmas diner, and he would
probably md it.
All over the world people are busy
at this time preparing for the yule-
tide. ; Rich and poor alike are struggl-
ing to set out the finest table OF the
wear on this greatest day. The rich
man will have the finest the market
afYords, the poor will have the best
their scant supply of money can buy
and sad indeed, Is the lot of those
who will have to subsist on perhaps
a crust of bread. although this posi-
bilitv is almost remote in the days
when every heart goes out TO those
who suffer from want on the day that
ushered in peace on earth and good
will to men.
Christmas tide and good cheer. this
is the prevailing spirit and people of
all classes will have II If they posi-
bly, can. The young folks expect 1t,
and the older ones enjoy 1t, even
though with that good cheer may
come memories of the past which may
bring fieeting moments of sadness.
Just at the present time the house
keepers of Montgomery are most busy
In addition to the daily task Of pro-
yiding for the table, there is the extra
work of providing for the Christmas
spread. There are all kinds OF things