La Junta tribune., 1913-11-29
MUNICIPAL CnRnslaaAx rRxx
This Town HlsOaId Ensulase New
iork's Example ssd Have . Mr..
aSripal Tree.

tree. II WAS such 4 success that 4
will be repeated this year and In nj
the years to follow. The form of IN.
exercises which will be 4 part Of ths
celebration will vary. but the tree
the emblem OF the great holiday. viii
be q regular annual feature of life
. in tie metropolis. II will give ali
the residents OF New York, rich and
poor alike. a Christmas tree that they
can call their very own.
The scheme is u sp.endid one fol
this town. Let the citizens get to.
gether early and plan the most glor-
ious celebration ever held here There
are plenty OF good singers and plenty
OF public spirited people to lend help
ing voices and helping hands. Start
the movement today!
The idea OF the municipal Christ
Aas tree was originated by Mrs. J.
b. F. lIerreshoff. She was enthusi-
as,ic once she began talking OF the
project. and she communicated her
enthusiasm TO all whom she ap-
preached One man agreed to fur
nish the tree. a railroad manager
agreed to haul 4, from the forest to
the city. an electric lighting com
pany offered to wire and illuminate
the tree. hundreds OF singers yolun-
teered 10 assist In the concerts
around the tree. and funds We're
quickly raised for erecting the tree.
This was the only expense that the
promoters were called upon to meet
The tree. a handsome baisam, six
~ feet high. was transported from
its home In the Adirondack forests to
New York and was erected In Mad
ison Square park. win huge sky
scrapers. one OF them at that time.
the tallest office building In the
world. surrounding IT, Dame Ma
ture seemed to be In accord with the
plan. for after the tree WAS In posi-
tion snow began falling and oontin-
ued until the branches We're covered
crete base that held the tree In po-
sition was completely hidden.
Wires We're strung in the tree. and
hundreds OF electric lights OF var
ious colors were scattered among
the boushs and twiks. At the top OF
the tree a star composed Of electric
lights ~as suspended. and all Was In
readiness for Christmas eve. when
II Was arranged that the current
should be turned on.
The tree was first Illuminated at
5:3o y. III. on December .ath. Mrs.
Herreshoff closing the switch that
turned the star into a blaze OF light
and put the oolored bulbs among the
branches to winkinx and glowing.
The bells In the tower of the Me-
tropoli,an building. the tallest struc-
ture In the world. had begun ring
Ing from their lofty height almost
sboy. the transplanted tree = half
hour before tn. electric bulbs we're
turned into glowing bits OF light.
The chimes IN churches all over the
city took up the chorus. and for half
an hour tn. air was filled with the
-
band OF trumpeters sounded a fan
fare from "Parsifal." Simultan-
eously the lights In the tree began
to shine. and the thousands OF on
lockers In the vicinity che.rcd.
Then hundred volunteer singers
began concert that Was kept up
with no int.rmission until $40.
There was then a silence OF half an
hour. when other trained singers
took up III. concert ana continued I,
until midnight A huge band wAs
present and relieved the singers al
played My Country 'Tis OF Thee -
AS fitting termination OF what mad
proved on. of III. most popular al
fairs New York had ever known.
The fir nirht proved so popular
that the concert feature WAS contin-
ued each suc~"eding nisht for Z
week, ard N. 'r-. WAS kept tllumi-
mated from dark until dawn each
night until New Years. Various
musical organizations volunteered "a
assist In the concerts. and exception
si programs were rendered each ~
ening. All the old christoas carols
werr sung time anu asain aud were
loudly applauded. Anoas he naay
carols that were sung wsss "Ood
Rest You Merry Oestisnsa." shsp.
hsrds. Leave Year rSeeks Dshind.' .
"As WitA Oisdssss Asa - Osl" asd
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