The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-04

~, MARIE WiDMEW.

the advent Of the traditional fes-
~ tive days. 1t clings TO the noun
tiinsidc. like an erminc mantl, of
eieau;Ic proportions: cushionlkc IL rests
or ts.. dark brown roofs aud the familiar
road. which our eyes were wont to see
girll- their way through TIE G.lds and
ros.u,,s are no more Every bush and
,r., 'as been decorated for the occasion
AM ',..ons of snow maidens and Ice caris
fiji I.tl,r ana thither to add some last
$, ing touches to the fairylike scene.
'.' r.ost has'closed the turquoise eyes
nj . Nn.c alpine lakes ard great sheets
Of t....i lrcrt. POLISHED Ice cover the spa
cio., inks There Is skating of course.
hut many games compete now with this
old. Of sports on the ice. which has.
hov,v,r. been developed into an art
which charms the onlookcr by the grace
fun,ss II its movements. now astonishes
ty th. cool daring OF the swift rushes As
IN summer Over the lawn flies the tennis
ball So dies the puck over the lee In the
game of hockey. Curriers' are frantically
sweeping their 'stanes' toward the COW
,t,d goal and the unlimited diversity of
Gyukhana stunts offers constant amuse-
ououk,rs.
I'll. spirit W sport Is prevalent every
who. TohogEans and bobsieighs OF
moIr.u construction have ousted the Old
fashioned h,rdsmans sled which Is now
only OCCASIONALLY used by timid begin.
nerS The Up to date vehicle Is the SO
called skeleton. a low. yard long tobo
gal on which the tobogganst lies Nat
.,.it.y the craft with hahds and feet
Liz, tu arrow II darts up the iced walls
Of th, curves and as tie bewildered spec
;,tor fearfully anticipates an accident.
the toboggan shoots down into the fur
row and around beautifully shaped
curve.
Ruhslvighng is the social way Of tobog
gaming and there Is scarcely a more pic
turrspue sight than bob. with its white
clad burden of six. flying through the
Wirtr> world by swa,ing to the right
or LETT the closely crowded crew are
gudts their sleigh by letting their arms
drop on the snow they apply brake and
by l., uding forward they increase the
speed \ rope hung with many colored
steamers. stretched across the road.
marks the end OF the run. where. glow
ing f'om warmth and excitement. the
merry hohbers finish their brdlik" flight
ski rs are having their fun ON every
Shop. and every hill. for the wooden wings
Of Norway have for many years occupied
IN h"h"r"fH pace III every peasant
home. The p"stmen now ski swiftly over
the dazzling snow and instead Of having
To remain NJ home sn"wbound. the chill
dren are actually enjoying n SKI race tn
lt
foot would sink up t" III" hips in the
finely grained snow, the ski runner climbs
his path almost free from exertion.
Races. competitions. sleigh drives ski
excursions. ice carnivals and indoor en-
tei'ainm,nts In the evening are daily oc-
currences during the winter season Age
ries with Youth in the merrymaking and
the wonderful sunshine and delicious air
implant sort of reckless happiness into
every heart.
Christmas entails Of course an extra
amount of festivities in homer Of the visi
tors IL also means. however, n succession
al delightful and interesting days for the
natives. II IL the time when fairyland
becomes reality to the youngsters: when
the ",'hristkindli" dwells on earth In or
der to distribute fragant Christmas trees
and heaps Of good things to the children
VIII" have been obedicnt.
Some twenty or thirty years ago Il
used to be Santa Claus whom the chill
dr,u hailed ms the mystic donor of their
various presents. consisting of apples.
nuts dried prunes and small home baked
,nl-s They were simple sensible little
gifts. hut nevertheless highly appreciated
by tn" gladhearted recipi.nts Later on
III. ,'hristkindlr'-a lovely angel with
wings gradually started To take old
Santu's place i'm many districts OF Swift
z.rlard ChristkindIe brought n wonder
ful. brilliantly lit Christmas tree. deco
.,i.d witb pli,,.riny threads or .iIver
.,ud gold and heavily laden With manifold
gifts
Many ,nci.n, md o,,i,, cus,oms o,.
SIN u,.vnl.n, In Sv;,,.ri,,,d ,,,,,,n,, ,his
t.,ind .f tho y.ar
If an ,,an, Tnr ;n,,,,o a., A., o,,
how ,h.. w.ath.r ,,.,,, ~. .I,,r,u. ,h'. ,.u,
,.,r inc, en-, an onion In h,Ir na.i ~