The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-12-19

- H.
The Mass ends in the triumphant
strains of the '"Gloria in Excelsis,"
sung by every person in the gather.
ing. This midnight shepherds mass
at Alassio is wonderfully impressive
in our modern days of lukewarm re.
ligious interest.
In Italy ones thoughts wander to
the blazing Yuletide logs, holly and
mistletoe of old England, where bur.
nam wood" seems to come to Dunsi.
name. Certainly it was happy
thought of Queen Victoria's, about 65
years ago, when she instituted that
delightful surprise at Osborne palace
for her own children, in the shape of
a beautiful Christmas tree. Prince AL.
bert brought over to England with him
this old German custom, and we are
sure every child of Anglo-saxon de.
scent should be duly grateful to Prince
Albert for it.
In ireland.
AS Christmas approaches rural Ire.
land Is all astir; the market towns
are busy from early morn till dewv
eve. From the lanes and byways come
forth early in the day the mothers and
daughters of holy Ireland, clad in their
modest cloaks and snow-white caps.
or warmly wrapped in homespun
shaWls. They make their way to the
church to do their Christmas duty.
the husbands and brothers follow later
in the day.
They return home with hope in
their hearts and pleasure at their side,
AS you meet them along the roads or
up the hillsides you hear their CHEEKY
voices and pleasant laughter; you no.
tice, also, that the big christmas
candle" is not forgotten, for every
house must be ablaze that night.
Within the cozy matched house all
Is in readiness for the great festival
that Is honored as truly in the poor
tenant homes Of Ireland as in the
castles of the landlords, or the homes
OF any land beneath the sun.
In the cottages the holly is fitted
into its place among the pictures and
other little ornamental articles on the
white-washed walls; the tables and
chairs are secured until they become
as white as when they left the car
penter's hands; the milk cans and
other utensils shine like silver in the
light of the turf fire that blazes and
crackles on the open hearth; the kettle
is grooming contentedly over the fire
ready for action, and all that skilful
hands could accomplish has been done
to make the home as cheerful and
festive looking as possible.
The big Christmas candle is lighted
in the old-fashioned candlestick and
placed in the kitchen window. The
husband, father or brother sprinkles
the holy water three times on the can
die, repeating each time: "In the name
of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Ghost. Amen" He then
sprinkles it on each member of the
family standing by. and all kneel on
the humble floor of the home, and re.
cite the Rosary for deceased relatives.
The candle is left burning until the
wick is consumed.
AS the stars twinkle all over the
heavens, SO in every house, in every
cottage, away over the valley and up
the mountain side, the great candle
burns and lights up the window, and
proclaims to the whole world the
hearth of an Irish homestead.
Stand on the top of q hill on the
night of Christmas eve; look around
you in all directions, and say If you
could wish to behold a spectacle more
beautiful and inspiring. It is here
that dear old Ireland fingers in all its
beauty and simplicity.
What joyous feeling in the crisp
air. The great event with which the
world is ringing has literally made
all things new. Old friendships are
revived. old feuds forgotten and scat
tered families are brought together.
The bells ring out; men and women
hurry, over hill and valley, over noun
tain, morass and bog, to the nearest
church to join in the universal thanks.
giving.
1t is thought in Ireland, as in many
other lands, that the brute creation
participates to some extent in the uni.
versal Joy, and that even inanimate
objects testify some appreciation of
the event.
As the day of our Saviour's birth it
was supposed that in all nature there
was a universal pause, that profound
silence reigned all over the world,
that birds rested in their fight and
cattle ceased to feed; that man became
motionless, and that whilst the angels
and shepherds Joined in a hymn of
praise and thanksgiving the stars gilt.
tered with unusual luster in the heav-
ems; so 1t was believed later on that
animals of every kind exulted and
made merry on Christmas Day in
sympathy with the event.
1t is also believed that on Christmas
night many of the old Irish bells bur-
led deep in the solid soil ara heard