Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-12-25
HISTORIC CHRISTMAS DAYS
Events Linked with the Great Holt
day in American Annals.
SHADOWS AND SUNSHINE MINGLE
The Pilgrims First Christmas--
Gloom OF Revolutionary Christi
mas and Joy OF Latter Ones
TtdinnH OF Peace.


pilgrim colony at Plymouth. II those
people had been holiday loving. they
would surely have had merry Christ
mas on that 25th OF December, 1920 Then
they went ashore TO build their first
house, a cabin which was to be the COM
mon shelter OF them all. For nearly four
months they had been on the ocean in
their good ship the Mayflower. During
this time they had encountered heavy
storms which blew their craft up the
coast far from where they had expected
20 make a settlement. Their provisions
were becoming exhausted. Many Of their
number were weakened by enduring the
hardslnps OF life at sea. A landing 20
them meant a new home where they
might enjoy the privileges for which they
had been striving for many years.
Reaching the goal, cold and comfort
less. as q was In December. the landing
made them glad. for they were anxious
TO leave their ship. II the settlers had
been followers Of John smith they would
have undoubtedly made a merry Christ
mas They would have Toasted on the
best in their larder. They would have
sung their merriest songs, worn the best
that their wardIDbes afforded and, above
All, they would have made the time
merry holiday
The pilgrims had long since regarded
such celebrations as wicked. They had
diFdaiHed using the holly and mlstletoe
at this season for 20 them such actions
seemed pagan. The elaborate church
service OF their own English people on
Chsstmns day had become such
gorgeous display that the simpie-mlnded
religions sealots would have thought II
sin to take part In such celebrations
The little band OF about 100 stanch and
tried wanderers felt II .virture to deny
themselves the most harmless Of worldly
pleasures. They had searched m their
Bibles to find some authority for jollifi-
cation on Christmas day, but they found
nothing written there. Thinking then
that Il was their duty 20 help stamp out
such customs they marked the day as
black feast. No doubt the little chill
drrn who went ashore that Monday 20
watch their mothers 40 tho washing
Wished they were back IN the land whore
they might at least sing their Christmas
carols.
Their busy nay.
The men were ali very busy for Elder
Brewster would not have allowed the
day to be an excuse for any frivolity. In
stead Of playing the games which their
eorefathers had taught them 20 play on
Christmas day some Of the men feiied
climber, some sawed. some built, 90 that
they were proud 10 write back 20 those
left behind in England that no man
rested all that day Although these
people were harsh tasiSmasters 20 them.
selves they were a. brave company.
II they did not indulge in any eayety
70 celebrate their eladness upon starting
their settlement neither ala they complain
OF their discomfort. Landing was hap
piness TO them in establishing a new
home free from persecution, but Il was
aiso a sorrow, Tor II meant tho severlns
forever from their own loved land and
friends in PARKWAY England.
The bare fields OF Plymouth could not
have held out a very cordial invitation TO
she exiles The cold winds could not have
whispered messages OF hope and promise,
Of ease or plenty. still the Pilgrims went
about their work with an earnest purpose.
They must have foreseen that before the
coming OF spring their colony would be
decreased IN number. Yet on that first
Christmas day In a new land they Ia
bored, sharing what they had with each
other. They had no Christmas as we see
u, but the spirit OF the day must surely
have been present az Plymouth, for IN
being free from religious Interference
and IN helping each other they shared the
feeling Of Peace on earth. good win to
men.
Dark Days Of Revolution.f
The dark days before Christmas had
been literal truth 70 the continental
army In IT'S. me british had taken New
York. There the American .troops had
fesien into cohfuslon at the sight OF this
Engiish foFces.t Many Of the continental
army fled. General washington, IN his
disgust ~ such actions. asked Are
these the men With whom am 70 defend
American" In all ofsoar camps there was
areat depression. At Harlem there were
no hospitals for the troops. The sick were
laid in barns or sheds. by fences OF close
70 wehR sdAthae they miEat be protected
- much as possible from tho weather.
Regiments were falling away from the
army because 81 the expiration OF their
service.
Many deserted. but few would enlist.
Waahington's appeal 20 congress had
aided some in this matter. for that legis-
lative body offered bounty % $50 for
enlistment. and land grants were prom.
isod soldiers. At Fort washington and
Port Lee General Howe and Lord Corn.
wallis had been successful in capturing
the continental forces with their baggage
and military stores. Day after day
Drought fresh misfortunes 20 our army
ana General Washington fled from place
80 place with his diminished forces. The
convenuon az New York also moved from
place 10 place. The troops were UNITING
With the British. The American army
numbering oaiy a few thousand at the
end o. November. was retreating into an
open country where thSy would be With.
cat tents. blankets. intrsnehlaent tools
nnfflcient clothing or evsa shoes duiins
what promised TO DO q severe winter.
NeEarA, How Brunswick, Princeton and
Trenton had al been taken by tho Eng.
lirh, The American leet was bottled NJ
- the Providence riser. QOneral Lee
who rniEht have aided washington BY
bleeding his request 10 join hiHi. purposel,
Remained sway. At last. when he wa
take7 p4iaessT by taa BriliEa. hia sue
SCISSOR. oensEai sullivan hastsEad 60 IN.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS VITA he troopa. IN.
tseaans oessTal washingtoa's fersoa I,
flop Congress. sitting IL Philadelphia
f0usd 4 safsT 70 adjourn 10 Baltrnors
A. tails tine they granted Washiaato,