The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-12-14
Christmas In City Squares
ny GERTRUDE SEYMOUR
tExclusive service the Survey Press Bureau)

the three papers In town kept the mu-
nicipal celebration before the thought
of the people from then until Christ
mas day. featuring 1t on the first page
THE crowd that gathered at the
courthouse Christmas eve showed that
the city was ready for a get together
time at that season. When the pianist
struck the first chords of Stille Nacht'
a spirit of deepest reverence pervaded
the waiting crowd.
1.-THE solo made deep impression.
After the whole crowd had sung a num-
Der of the Christmas songs, the chords
of the Hallelujah chorus pealed forth
At the first note the hands of mon who.
carrying dinner buckets, were evldent-
iy on their way to their night shift in
mine or mill. went straight to their
hats and, In deepest reverence, they
with us all heard the whole chorus with
uncovered heads"
Baltimores first community Christ
mas festival was initiated by ono OF the
daily newspapers. Like most of the
community trees, the tree on Court
house Plaza was illumined throughout
the week from Christmas eve to New
Years and to each day was assigned
some special interest. On Christmas
eve. from the moment that the mayor
pressed the button that illumined the
tree, to the close of the concert by the
United German singers and a regi-
mental band, the celebration was def
nitely the community's.
One day was "Tiny Tim" day. In au-
tomobiles lent for the OCCASION crippled
children from all parts of the city
were brought to the plaza for a spe-
cial musicale and the illumination. On
another evening a band played chief
ly the airs of Poland, blthuanla. Bo-
hemia, Italy and the other countries
represented In Baltimore's community.
Spirit Back OF 1t All
Details of the great gatherings in
Chicago and New York have been often
told The originators of these place are
hard to find Back of the first Tree
of Light" in Madison park was the Lake
Placid club; back of the Kaleidoscope of
lights and the star. was the Edison
company. Back of the gathering place
itself was the city, for the city set up
the tree and later removed II.
The Madison Square celebration
closed with reception to Jacob A.
| Riis. whose indomitable good WIN to-
! ward men was back of all the groups.
An orchestra of 100 pieces stopped the
New Years eve clamor at 1890; 1000
singers joined in song for an hour.
words being thrown on moving pic
ture screens and finally ended Just az
| midnight with "America,"
Twelve mounted heralds last year led
| NidN VI ildFIlSOH ana the singers 10 the
portico of the art institute overlooking
the long stretch OF Grant park where
Chicagos first community tree stood
ablaze. Singers from the Grand Opera
company, famous ehoirs like that of
the Paulist Fathers and the Swedish
chorus sang first. Programmes II the
evening, with music, had been dis
tributed to 1928 city church choirs. So
| there was a splendid central leadership
| for the choruses In which hundreds
| Joined. A salute to all nations, played
| by the Chicago band, was a medley of
national anthems.
In the canal zone Christmas has been
| a-brewing since october. In that month
| the children of the zone prepared their
contribution for the Christmas ship.
| Shortly after delegates representing
| churches, civic fraternal and labor or
| CARNATIONS met in Balboa to discuss Il
community Christmas programme. This
! Is announced to be the first celebra :
ton of the kind in this part Of the
country The tree win be illumued
early Christmas evening and gifts will
be given to the children of the city.
| The Northwestern university quartet,
| now on tour In the zone. will give a
concert and then the evening celebra-
| ton will close with dance.
Interesting accounts could be given
| of successful community Christmas
| celebrations last year In Dayton. o..
| Riverside Cal, and n goodly list of
other places. For these newer attempts
| to share the Christmas cheer with a
| whole communicate make the Christ
mas tree a democratic ralying place
| no small share OF credit is due to the
great dailies of many cities.
! Such records are significant They
! are proof of a growing realization thai
| however bulging the stockings and gay
| the tree In every home, there still re-
i mains the need in every community for
| better neighborliness, common interest
cn.oparofton d,J poa1 will