The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-25

| cciving visits from their Greek priests
through the day they go back to church
Christmas night to enjoy the distri-
button of gifts from the tree, also
songs, REGULATIONS and frequently a
Russian folklore play acted by Sunday
schoolmates In gay costumes. In real
ity most of these miniature Russo
Americans now enjoy two Christmases,
for they share that OF their American
pIaymates fortnight before their own
comes.
Three Xmnscs Each Year.
And three Christmases Il year, you
might similarly reason 1t, are enjoyed
by your half-brothers and half sisters
from Holland.
They had the first visit from their
native "sinterklaas' (st. Nicholas)
three weeks ago tonight, for he al
ways come, to them on the eve of his
birthday, which is December G. So on
the night of the 9Th, moanted on his
fierly white horse, he rode over the
roofs of their houses, not stopping to
crawl through their chlmneys, but
throwing great handfuls down each as
he hurried past While he is riding
past the children are downstairs sing
ing his praises but when their parents
tell them that he has been along every
one scampers UP the steps to find tho
goodies lying out upon the hearth, Just
where they have dropped.
And the same night. when 1t is al
ways rule that whatever Is handed
in by neighbours servant must be
taken, all kinds and conditions of sur
prises" are brought to the door and
opened, while every one laughts hill
ariously at father as he spends half
hour unwinding miles of thread. to
find very comical thing hidden in
side the ball, or at mother as she opens
a very funny efigy, and after sitting
It's sawdust filing discovers something
equally ridiculous.
Gifts brought by Black Man.
Again st. Nick comes to these little
Dutch Americans. the next night the
night OF his birthday-this time with
his shining black servant, Jan" who
comes into the house with a big bag
from which he hands out the gifts
then the children recite poetry to him
and he goes out grinning moro than
ever. Three weeks then elapse until
those boys and girls from the land Of
dykes gather around the Christmas
trees of their little playmates in their
adopted motherland. You will not be-
grudge our little Dutchmen these three
Christmases when I tell you that II
was due to them. that Santa Claus first
discovered America, back in the days
when their people settled New York
He has been the patron saint of all
little children for centuries, and he Is
no other than that good st. Nicholas
who. 1900 years ago, when Bishop OF
Myra, is said to have brought back to
life three little boys whom cruel
thief had chopped up into small pieces
name Is also spelled Saint Nicklaas"
whence some thick tongues easily
twisted into Santa Claus
Five Strange Xmas visitors.
NO less than five strange visitors
Knocked last night at the homes OF
many of our little Norwegians They
were all boys In white mantels the
tallest carrying a large colored Ian
tern, shaped like the star OF Bethlehem,
and another bearing glass box con-
tanning two very pretty wax dolls, rep
resenting the Virgin Mary seated in
chair and the Infant Jesus lying in a
cradle.
The room is darkened and a waxen
candle placed at the head OF the little
cradle, which is very skilfully moved
by hidden wire, so that for all the
world the miniature mother seems to
be rocking her son to sleep. At the
same time the star in the lantern is
moved from side to side over the little
scene and the five boys sing Christ
mas carols. while the children In the
house look on with wonder and adj
miration. And after the carol sing
ers have departed for the next house,
the children receive their presents and
make merry around the Christmas
tree.
The "tul gran" is what the boys and
girls among our great Swedish colon
les" of the Middle West call their
Christmas tree. It is wondrous sight
with Its imitation snow. It's dozens OF
bright ribbons and lighted tapers, but
no presents left by ST. Nicholas and the
Christ Child are hung upon 1t. After
the children have been admitted to the
room, where Its gorgeousness shines
forth, have danced hand in hand about
1T and have eaten the candies and nuts
that have been passed around, another
door opens and tho present room Is re-
vealed.
Presents Fetched by Kings and Queens
here rather sits at a long table filled
and while he Is busy reading the
labels and handing the gifts around
the bell rings. Then who comes troop
Ing In but some very wondrous per-
sonage-a king very probably, and
perhaps queen with him. or a SOL
der, sailor, or maybe harlequin
bearing big baskets from friends. |
whose messengers these "mummers"
are, disguised in gorgeous trappings,
sometimes girl being dressed as a
sailor boy or as a clown Their bas- |
kets also contain surprise packages |
like those which Dutch-Americans re-
ceive, and sometimes it takes hour.
to unwrap one bundle. so complicated
are It's layers Thus, big sister, after
receiving a great box, Is disappointed
to find that 1t contains a ham, But
when this piece of meat proves to be
only sham, hiding a pretty pair OF
satin slippers, her regrets quickly |
change to rapturous delight.
Christmas Presents to the Birds.
Passing the we'll kept farms OF !
these Swedish colonies Of ours In Min
nesota and the Middle West, you will |
often find to-day a great pole erected /
here and there and supporting full 1
sheaf of wheat-the farmers Christ {
mas present to the snowbirds, which !
at this season so bounteous to us, have .
hard scratching to fill their little