Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1914-12-26

fcient amity with them for such conferences
In Virginia, where the Church of England was
strong and its adherents steadfastly observed the
holidays in the home country there was al
ways more of the Christmas spirit and abundant
cneer and merrymaking than elsewhere at this
season. Here the Yule log held its place and
here were the games and the feasting that made
1T indeed the merry of the year. Later
when New Amsterdam became New York and
the English came into power the character of the
Christmas holiday changed again somewhat.
although the Dutch influence continued dominant
for many years.
Owing to the large number of Germans in Penn
sylvania Christmas there partook largely of the
nature of the festival in the fatherland. 1t
largely family affair. The children for months
before the day of the Nativity saved their pennies
and bought material from which they fashioned
their gifts for their parents and for another.
These We're presented on Christmas eve and the
next day the parents in turn spread out their pres
ents for the children large table in the best
room Stockings were hung. too, and the good
cnlldren mad them filled with sweetmeatS, pepper
cakes and other goodies. but those who had been
bad sometimes found a birch rod as a Christmas
gift There was custom that fraught
with great terror to children One Knecht Rupert
went from house to house inQuiring about the
children Christmas and recommending re-
wards punishments according to the reports
that he received of their conduct during the year
The Pennsylvania Santa Claus was popularity
known Krss Kringle, corruption of Christ
kndlein. the little Christ
Throughout the colonies in the seventeenth and
eighteenth centuries toys almost
known factor, but wherever Christmas observ-
anceS were not frOWned by religion feaSting
and good cheer were abundant, and bond and free,
rich and poor. old and young shared in the games.
abundant food and genial atmosphere. Not only
did the munifcence of those who were well sup
piled with worldly goods extend to their depend
ents and to all within reach of their charity, but
in some places even the animals had extra
allowance of food let them know that Christ
had again
In the eighteenth century toys began to make
their appearance in the colonies Some of them
were brought from overseas and had the enchant-
ing quality of novelty. Little girls who had helped
to mother their younger brothers and sisters
delighted with dolls that were all their own to
dress and undress, to fondle and coddle, punish
and reward Simple and quaint those early
dolls, like the children they belonged One
can fancy the surprise and terror of the timid
when they first beheld a Jack jump into the air
when an innocent looking box opened. toy
thing to be cherished in those days II
was indeed wondrous saint who could bring
such things in his pack. Some of the gifts
of real intrinsic value, for the shipping
ing were growing to be important factors the
colonies. and men brought treasures of all kinds
from the Far East to the seaports, whence they
we're distributed to other parts of the colonies
The war for independence interrupted this and
the children shared IN the selfsacri3ces and de-