Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-12-25

rooms. the women's rooms and all over
the ship. A huge piece OF mistietoe was
pendant over the stairway. and the cap
tain iaughingiy warned women passen-
gers that they must expect 70 take the
consequences ~ they failed 70 keep to
the sides OF the stairs.
i Presently. a notice appeared on the
bulletin boards saying that II any pas
sengers intended to exchange presents
with each other the Christmas tree
stewards would see to the hanging OF
the parcels; and another notice followed
asking for volunteers for a concert sun
day night A comic opera prima donna.
on her way TO I'M an engagement at
abnormal rates IN a Broadway produc-
tlon' Immediately offered TO take charge
Of the arrangements as first assistant 10
the Ubiquitous purser. BY this time, the
atmosphere Of this particular vessel.
steaming along through head seas al
speed OF twenty knots. had become very
similar to that one might expect TO find
IN some English country house or in any
well-to-do American family Everybody
was CHEEKY. everybody was smiling
everybody was looking forward to Christ
mas.
When Christmas eve was at hand. the
smoking room hsbltues decided that they
must do something on their own account
lot the cause of Yuietids cheer They be-
gan by organizing a chorus OF waits
pledged 20 gather bright and early the
next morning and wake the ship accord
Ing to the good old English custom. Then
the man who had thought himself SO IN
lucky TO have TO travel across the ocean
at Christnas time proposed a little extra
cheer for those of the ships coppanv
who perhaps needed Il most. He any.
gested collection TO purchase a SUNNY
OF daintles TO be added TO the Christmas
fare OF the steerage. His proposal was
carried enthusiastically, and q substan.
tlar sum filled the hat after Il had gone
the rounds.
The pursuer was appealed to- and that
ever-smillng person took up the proposi-
ton with enthusiasm.
OF course, we give the steeraRe a reR1i-
lar Christmas dinner. you know he
said. But this money will buv sorna
extra fruit and candy and things 10 make
Christmas a great deal more unusual for
them"
Celebrating Christmas nay.
Long before the breakfast buRle blew
the volunteer waits were assembled nm
the promenade deck. and they took I'm
their march from deck 10 deck. singing
as they went, with special pauses before
the state rooms OF the prettiest girl on
the ship and the most popular little hoy
II was dull gray Christmas morning
rather more than 1900 miles out smoky
above and somewhat choppy below. 40
that the course OF the waits was not a
very even one; but they made up for
the suspicious stagger OF their progress
by the lustiness Of their combined voices
chanting:
Come, al you merry gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ our Saviour
Was born on Christmas day.
Later when passengers had dressed
and braved the rolling In the saloon, they
found full-sixed Christmas tree. twink
Hing with electric lights. Scattered through
the branches were parcels, presents ex-
changed by various passengers who knew
each other and by the officers of the
ship Later still. they sa. down 10 a ain
ner that could only be described az"
bang-up." followed by toasts ana
speeches. with the captain as toastmaster.
and bully concert, In which the prirna
dona took leading role. Ana AFTER
ward. when some passengers went out on
the wet decks for goodnight stroll and
last cigar, they heard tho sounds Of
singing and laughter coming from the
otner parts OF the great ship The sec
U'd oaoin the Storage, the stewards
the engine room force. tho fo'c'sie. and
AT ABOARD were celebrating the Christ
mas tide.
II was the experience o my life" said
the man who had bemoaned the hard
luck OF q. Christmas crossing. I'm eli NV
nie have not had an experience like n
~ made me realize as l never had be.
lore, the real meaning OF Christmas ana
py mat l don't mean the cant talk az
the sky pilot persons you know. I mean
the realization OF Christmas In its broad.
est sense. Yea. ! think the experience
did me good" S's"0s
Preparing for ships Holiday.
on German ship the celebration wouid
nave been even mere elaborate All
dermon ships carry crates of Christ,,as
tree trimmings, OF the innunerable ,rtnd- |
that come from the toymakers OF N,,rer,.
nerg-tinsel, silt ana all colors known-
ana as general thing they also have
10Y villages which are set up about the |
tree, SO that II has typical German
setting The bigger German shlps.
which have separate playrooms for The
children also have special trees ana
special celebrations for the little ones
One OF the stewards Is dressed up as
santa Claus and distributes few good
les to make the youngsters know that
II is truly Christmas.
At dinner the different courses are
brought I'm by stewards gotten up IN
santa Claus costumes. At each plate
are little favors, together with snap
pers' containing gaudy paper caps and
such frivohties. The atmosphere OF care
free hilarity and enjoyment Is like that