Weekly journal-miner., 1914-12-23
(From Tuesdays DaiIy.)

Lay
 A friendly hand, an open door;
 A blazing hearth, good cheer alway,
 And joy that ever grows the more" {"
 With Christmas but thee days off, there was great activity in the Pres colt shops and stores yesterday, which promises to increase until the last moment before Old Santa Claus peeps over the mountains and takes the city by storm.
 According to merchants there has been little regard paid to the shop early" slogan which has been work cd over time this year. They say that people have purchased about as usual. however, and while there has not been quite so much buying, the trade has been fairly good. One merchant said yesterday that people this year lad been buying more useful pres ents than usual. "I have noticed that dozens of people who heretofore have purchased more of the luXuries and frivolities of the season. have this year purchased useful articles even for the children" He says this is as 1t should be, and hoped that the "Spugs" would continue to grow in numbers until there was more com mon sense in Christmas buying.
 Prescott Festivities.
 According to the present outlook, Christmas in Prescott is going to be celebrated as extensively as it ever was. There never was a time when the stores had better Christmas stocks; when there were prettier display windows from one end of the town to the other. And there never was . time when the children were more wide-awakc and anxious. tbe older folks more determined to please them, and the different organizations more in line with entertainments and trees than this year In fact the Christmas spirit Is fairly rampant in tllis city. It permeates everything and everybody, seemingly. The stores and shops are crowded with buyers. The streets are lined with pedestrians loaded down with pack ages. The postofice clerks are fair ly showed under" with packages which go in all directions, and the express office is not much behind ;n activity. And, most interesting oI all. the children are up in arms. They stand in groups and crowds about the store windows and talk about nothing but Santa Claus, their little eyes fairly beaming with joyful an ticipation. Few hours of sleep be tween now and the day oi all days for the little ones. With Christmas music ringing in their cars and hearts fairly palpitating with thoughts of what Old Kris Kingle Is going to bring them when he swoops down of Granite mountain Christmas eve, how could they be expected to sleep -or hardly stay awake and live three days longer? They will be released from school on Thursday noon of this week, and have vacation last ing until Monday, January 4th. du-- ing which time joy will reign su- preme among Prescott kiddies.
 Holiday Entertainments.
 Entertainments and trees will be many during the week In the Lin coin and Washington schools Thurs day morning the kindergarten classes will be given a Christmas tree. Miss Hazel Stewart and Miss Eleanor Rankin, kindergarten teachers, re spcctively in the Washington and Lincoln schools. have been planning these events for some time. and all the little pupils in both departments will see Old Santa the day before vacation and receive a package of swectmeats to make their hearts glad.
 Festivities so far as the schools are concerned will begin tonight at the Lincoln building, when a lawsuit will be held to determine. "Is Santa Claus a Fraud" This is a very clever little operetta which Is to take ] place in the auditorium of the school. Dame Rumor insists that Santa is a fake, but it is understood there will be many well known witnesses at l this trial who will testify to the con trary, making those who have com mitted the crime of killing off Santa Claus in their homes feel ashamed of themselves.
 The whole forenoon Thursday will be practically gwen over to Christmas festivities in the schools. , Owing to lack Of room in the Wash ington school. however. the various departments will hold exercises III |