The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1911-12-22
OBSERVING CHRISTMAS.


ing made to observe Christmas
with its old fashioned customs
and traditions. But in Germany, the
historic home Of the Christmas tree
, and the source of many current Christ
mas customs and devices, In no home.
from palace TO hOvel. however Old or
poor. are the members without their
| Christmas tree ut Yuetide. Where
there are no children it is Il beautiful
sight to see gray haired old men and
women, with perhaps their married
sons and daughters and grandchildren.
standing around. greeting with undiS.
guised delight their well laden tir tree.
1t is an essential part of their Christ
mas and would not be Christmas with
out 1t.
| In refined American home In a
small city a few years ago much en-
, iOyment was derived from Christ
mas celebrated in childish style by II
family of adults During the proceed
| ing year a son-in-law and daughter
! in-law had been added to tue family
group, and the other members were Il
father, Il mother. Il dear old maiden
aunt. the two married children, two
unmarried grownup sons and their
one sister. A real Christmas tree was
purchased, and the women folk trini-
med it with popcorn, tinsel. candles
! r. nf In p,..ts an
required for genuine Old fashioned
(! Christmas tree.
On Christmas morning the house
hold assembled. and. catching the III
lection of the occasion. all sat on the
| floor around the tree to receive their
presents from bona iide Santa Claus
Among the first packages distributed
were some made to rer;ll funny hap
penings OF the year just passed. which
had been selected in order to create
mcrriment. Screams Of laughter greet
ed the opening OF package labeled
with the brides name. which was
found to contain a large leather medal
inscribed with the following: For
patience in making apple jelly" As
a novice in the culinary department
she had struggled time and again with
the task of making this delcctabIe dish
TO her husband went small slide
trombone. because in his boyhood days
he had aspirations toward learning to
play that instrument, practicing on a
large one of the ear splitting type.
TO the maiden aunt. an enthusiastic
admirer of Shakespeare and member
Of several clubs devoted to "readings.
plaster Of Paris bust Of Willie was
awarded One Of the boys had taken
pleasure trip south few months
before, accompanied by valuable
camera. lie had left 1t on the steam
boat dock when he embarked and ncv-
er recovered it. To him was given Il
photograph of Il beautiful camera cut
from an advertisement page OF q pop
ular magazine. To the father. min
lister OF the gospel and high up in &C
clesiastcal circles. a toy wutch-just a
gentle reminder of the length Of his
sermons. The mothcr's early days had
been spent on Il farm. Occasionally
she had been known to grow homesick
for familiar sight Of something re.
sembling farm lfc. and she had re-
Gently purchased few chickens, which
she housed In the extreme end Of the
back yard, much to the disgust of the
daughter Of the house. TO her was
given toy rooster with a real "crow."
The son-in-law received a dime bank.
to Indicate that his responsibilities nad
increased. and the other and younger
brother rose colored glasses, to remind
him Of his visionary ideas. To the ain
gle sister who had been tout" several
seasons ring with solitairt stone OF
real glass was given. After these had
been distributed the handsome and real
gifts of the day were exchanged. and
It was jolly. happy crowd which filed
into the dining room to enjoy the feast
which had been in course Of prepare.
ton.
During the following year the father
departed this life. followed within a
short space Of time by the married
son. The surviving members have the
memory OF that delightful Christmas
when they were all together