The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-12-24

Many cities became interested and
asked for information. Inquiries /
came from Chicago, Baltimore, Phila-
delphia, st. Louis. Pittsburgh, Wash
ington, Indianapolis, Newark, N. j.;
ST. Paul, Austin and pther places. Now,
as consequence Of the first expert
ment with this altogether new Christ
mas" there will be public trees in
many cities besides the few that had
them last Christmas. The originators
of the movement believe that in a few
years every city and town IN the
country will adopt this means of cheer
ing the lonely rich and poor at Christ
mas.
This Years Trees in Various Cities.
The plan followed in all cases is to
select as site for the tree popular
! meeting ground for those 1t is particu-
(, larly desired to reach, and site also
i with a view to artistic effect. me
New York tree will be set up again
in Madison Square park and will be
illuminated with the same number of
electric lights as last year. 1t will be
alight beginning Christmas eve from
] sunset to dawn all through the holiday
week to mid night of December 81.
There will be more music than last
year, and one afternoon will be set
aside for the children. Uniformity Is
i the New York idea 1t is planned to
have the celebration as good one year
as the next-in other words to hold to
a standard. 80 ..A...-.4-
Chicago is to have huge tree in
Grant park, facing the lake front. II
will be sprayed with water before 1t
is lighted to create glistening spire
The Municipal Christmas Tree Asso
citation is in charge OF the arrange.
ments.
The largest Christmas tree ever
;, seen in Philadelphia will be set up IN
| independence square by, the Child Fed
Grafton. This will be the first outdoor
: Christmas celebration Of the kline
ever held in the city. Thousands o.
! vari-colored lights will be used in dec
t Grating the tree, which is seventy-fiyt
: feet high. When standing in position
: the top, from which will be suspended
? golden star six feet in diameter, VII
] he on level with the highest point o
the tower on Independence hall.
AS the star of the "communlt.
t tree" as it is called, bursts into ligh
on Christmas eve chorus of LOO
9 voices will sing one of the old-fashion
a ed carols and band OF forty-nve mt
j sicians will play. The tree will b
lighted every eveing for week. an
on New Years eve there will b
another great celebration.
d Boston's tree will stand in Bosto
# Common, as it did last year. Bosto
Il copied the idea from New York, 10
q lowing it to the letter. Baltimore
t Pittsburgh. Cincinnati and Washlngto
D are among the other cities where Their
il will be trees for the public.
Y, say Gifts Would Spoil Sentiment.
1t The giftless tree has been favore
d in the cities that followed New York
d lead last year.
% But In Kansas City they had gift
Is for the children of the poor. The spol
N sors of the New York tree held thu
gifts would spoil the sentiment an
s that the spirit of Christmas is the on
n. Gift the community tree should carr
Is to all the people, reminder of the a
% niversary we celebrate--the birthda
k. Of the Prince of Peace. The advocate
. of the gift tree contended that the
we're more practical. But this diffe
ence of opinion does not detract fro
the idea itself-making lonely folk
big and little, happy at Christina
n Wherever the idea has been tried it d
y brought pleasure to the communi
and has served its purpose we'll.
All hail the American stude
- whose pangs Of Inconsistencies and ph
:, osophy gave the inspiration viii
/, crystalized into a great Yuletide ble'
ne ing!