The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-12-26
Exercises Were Held Last
Night About Tree Of
Light on Govern
ment Lawn.
lULl5 CHEER FOR ALL
Baskets Were Distributed
Thursday to Those on
List, From Com 7s'
munity Quarters.

The spirit OF Christmas prevailed in
| Keokuk yesterday, and made the sec
ond community Christmas a grand
success. Unconsciously. perhaps. the
blessings OF a land at peace brought
themselves into the minds of a peo-
pile at peace, and made more promin-
ent than ever. the old benediction
(which came rolling across the mid
night air two thousand years ago,
Peace on earth, good will towards
men"
The elimination Of the cfty's Christ
mas celebration came with the gath
ering in the early evening about the
great tree of light on the federal
lawn. The singing of the old familiar
hymns and the carols seemed espec-
tally fitting. as the singers and the
crowd stood in the very shadows of
the giant limbs of the huge old pine,
Iblossoming forth into light.
All day long, Christmas was OBJ
served in the homes and the churches
of the city. Families met together
and spent the day In happiness and
Joy. Old friends rejoiced with old
friends, and then, as fitting ending
| to a day, which has a greater sig
inificance than perhaps any other of
the holidays, the entire city gathered
about the brilliantly lighted tree and
took part in the simple little cere-
monies of the community Yule tide.
1 The Tree 10 Lighted.
/ In the clear moonlight OF crisp
winters evening the crowd gathered
/ The sharp chill to the air seemed the
Ionly regrettable feature. but 1t was
soon forgotten, when promptly at
;T:oo o'clock the great pine tree grow
Ting, seemingly. in the center of the
field Of snow covering the federal
/ building lawn, blossomef into lights.
From its very topmost peak shone and
shimmered the big star. a fit repre-
tentative of the star which centuries
ago guided the wise men with their
gifts to the little town in which the
imanger stood, where the Christ child
was lying.
/ The lights mashed on when Mayor
Noorhead touched the button con-
] trolling the current. From every
limb there was blaze of light. II
seemed as If huge candles had been
suddenly set aglow. The lights re-
lfected into the white blanket below,
and those nearest the tree were bath
led in the mellowness of the rays
The chorus which was to sing the
old songs then filed out of the opera
house and took their places about the
4 tree They were accompanied by
members of the band who were to
play the accompaniments. The sing.
ers were under the direction Of Frank
I e. Fuller and Prof. P C.. Hayden.
Every One Helps Sing.
AS they took their places they were
tsinging America The audience
about the tree and in the street join
ed in the singing. Come all Ye Faith
full was sung in the Latin, first. by
the combined choir5 Of St. Peters
ST. Mary's aad St Francis de Sales
Catholic church choirs. The refrain
was taken up. the crowd singing the
English words. at Came Upon the
Midnight Clear" and 20 Little Towr
tof Bethlehem" were the other song:
snng. The choruses were thrown or
screen ami everyone was given,
chance to sing
Although of necessity BRIEF, the
exercises at the tree were impress
sive and most beautiful.
Greer for THE other Half"
Christmas cheer was brought into