Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-21

Finn is a serious-minded Individual and
is ideals are more social tnan reiigloCs-
so the Christ Child and His mission e.
earth are given the preponderance OF al
tention."
Mrs. Thomas j. Sem, wife OF Con-
mander Sem. L. S. n. who accompanied
her husband TO his station In Sitka- Alas
ka. a bride has some pleasing men,
cries OF Christmas in the far north
land, where all Christmas observance was
unknown except among such of the ma
tives as had been under missionary In
fuence
Christmas In Sitka without drawing hb-
orally upon home resources would have
cen no Christmas at all. But, as IL tho
case with Americans the world ever. the
little band of not over Atty white people
there. comprising the Christian element
q the town exclusive OF the native con-
verts were drawn closer together by
honds OF race and nation in the frozen
wastes Of Alaska than would have been
he case In their native land When tho
iiTe came for ho'idav preparations. they
anded together to rake the ceieora-
t'nn as Jolly and homelike as possible.
The gift problem for the home people
ras the first problem to be settled A.
there were no shops In Sitka where
Christmas novelties OF toys might be puf-
chased, the women OF the party made 10
their lists of friends and relatives To
many Indian baskets. paddles. blankets.
etc, were sent. For the others there was
but ore thing to do. and that was to get
catalogues from big stores In the states.
Every magazine was searched and every
likely advertisement that suggested pos
sibiIities was clipped. For weeks the
mails both coming and GOING. were enoe-
nous with samples, pamphlets and pack
aces
Then the question of a Christmas tree
and decorations was taken up They had
decided upon Q sort OF community tree
and all were 20 cooperate In providing It's
trappings. This was for the men on ship
board and the few children scattered
among the different families.
The tree was secured easily enough. but
10 ornaments were to be had: so every
one had to contrive something. No
Christmas greens were TO be found. but
yards and yards Of cranberries were used
to festoon IL with equally as many yards
of popcorn. also on strings Popcorn
balls. colored and white. and all tho
homemade contributions that ingenuity
could devise were added with most fiat
tering results The tree. hfe the dinner.
was on board ship for the United Safes
shiu Pinta was anchored In the harbor
and doubly anchored. as the harbor was
frozen.
Dinner was a normal American affair
with turkey and accompanying deiicacies.
which had been supplied BY the delight
and solace OF the foreign sojourner-the
box from home. Such things as turkey.
celery, fresh tor atoes and lettuce could
not be had for love or money In Sitka nor
its environs but venison. grouse and
fresh salmon were among the compensa-
tions offered from the larder.
Sitka had no theaters no amusement
places no lights nor any convevances;
so there was no matinee, nor foot ball
Vt -f..., xUvftl ~ 80.
to celebrate a holiday. Not even 2 eign
ride was possible for there were but two
lone horses in The whole place and they
were not available for seigh'ng.
Daylight during the holiday season be-
ing at its most abbreviated period both
nine-o'ciock breakfast and two-o'clo
dinner were eaten by lamp !ght- To on
set the pleasure and amusements which
they lacked. the little American colon
managed to have delightful times not only
for Christmas. but also during their entire
STAY. Their Yuietide celebration. with its
elaborate dinner. dancing, calling. gift
giving and card playing. was fully en-
joyed.
Christmas seems very queer in the
tropics" said Mrs. Morgan Ghuster. wife
of the former secretary of public instruc-
ton of the Philippine commission. II
seems as though the seasons. time. and
even the universe itself had all gone awry
when Christmas day descends upon one
without any sign Of ice and snow. and
other wintry aspects.
Imagine Christmas. driving around in
an open carriage. with white dresses.
slippers and paraso's, making Christmas
calls, and exchanging gifts. when your
driver seeks a shady spot while you're
making a calf I never could get used
to the idea Of that sort Of Christmas.
THE Filipinos observe the day ac-
cording to the way they have been taught:
some follow the Spanish customs, others
the tenets Of the Catholic faith. while
there are certain tribes that as yet know
nothing of the day or the Christ child and
His story.
"Our Christmas in Manila was spent
much as Is the case In the average Amer
lean home In any foreign land. The home
traditions are observed with a patriotic
precision as far as circumstances will
permit and in Manila We managed TO
have a regular holiday dinner with all OF
the proper dishes and their trimmings.
The plum pudding came al the way from
England.
After dinner there were more calls
to make and more gifts to distribute: egg
nog at the club and dancing, and the
same sort of a time that would prevail
in America except for the climate
1.-The customs house officials were really
splendid. All the week before December
% had been expecting box from home
and at IL oc ock Christmas eve the tele-
phone call came from the customs house
that trunk had arrived. I shall never
forget the fun and pleasure of that trunz
from home. with its dolls, and all of the
other dear American home things that
mean SO much more when one is living
so far from the home people"