Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-12-23
WHEN ILLUMINATED IT
WILL BE BLAZE OF GLORY
Exercises Will Begin at z O'clock
Thursday Evening and All
Should Be on Hand at That
Time


join in p wonderful Christmas movement
that in two short years has swept across
the American continent and back again.
As fine a tree as the nearby woods az
ford was cut for the occasion. True It
was shorn of some of it's handsomest
limbs when 1t fell to earth and through
it's troublesome journey to Market
square. A little impromptu tree sur
gerry, however. brought II back to its
original beauty,
A tremendous task 1t proved to be
when the workmen were ready to erect
this monster Of the forest Its weight
was amazing. but with the aid of ropes.
blocks and men 1t was finally raised and
blocked firmly in place. Immediately
thereafter the work of placing the my
Rad electric lights was begun vigorously
and when this task is completed every
available spot will be decorated with
shining electric globe.
Little that has ever happened In Au-
gustas streets has attracted more atten-
ton than the erection of this great tree.
Especially 1t appealed to the children,
their hearts already full to overlooking
with the Christmas spirit. which this
tree so Wen typaHee.
AS the tree finally swung into place
yesterday afternoon one small boy tug
ged at his mothers hand and brought
her to a standstill facing the tree.
What is it. mother?" asked the boy.
Its our community Christmas tree"
answered the mother.
rs it for the poor?" the boy inquired
soberly.
well, that's the funny part" replied
his mother wisely. 1T is not especially
for the poor; it is for us all. 1t IL to
remind us. rich and poor alike. that
Christ was born on Christmas day--to
keep in our minds the memory of peace
on earth, good will to men,"
But there isn't peace on earth" the
boy objected. -
There is in Augusta" she said fer
vently land let US be thankful
And shall We come to the tree?" ask
ed the boy as he turned regretfuliy
away.
The answer was lost in the murmur of
talk but there was only one answer pos
sible.
All through the afternoon as children
passed there was ever the one question:
"Oh. may We come to the tree? May we
come to the tree?'
And surely all will be there. The may
or of the city has urged the public to be
present; society folks and those who
aren't of society have Joined hands In
this wonderful, this 'altruistic project.
Little urging will be necessary. 1t is the
wish of the children to be there and at
Christmas the child is king
The exercises at the tree Thursday
night, Christmas eve, will be simple but
pleasing. The hour has been set as Z
o'clock. The dedication was originally
planned for later hour, but because
of the children and because of the time
honored and very necessary custom of
getting young folks to bed early on
Christmas eve it was decided to begin
sharp at 7 O'Clock. AS the hour strikes
the switch will be turned and the tree
will be lighted from top to base in a
binding glow of incandescent bulbs.
And as the light comes on the singing
will begin. 1t has been found at the
Christmas trees throughout the country
that 1t needed only a touch-a note or two
to set the crowd which gathers into a
burst of singing. But since good sing
ing must necessarily be so important a
feature of successful community tree
the local tree committee has taken no
chances. Dennis Orchestra of five pieces
has been secured, not to render any set
program but merely to accompany the
singers with the carols. More than this,
a choir of trained voices has been prac-
ticing the music for several days
though little practice viii be necessary
for only the most familiar and best be-
loved of the Christmas songs will be
used; and from the experience elsewhere
it is very certain they will be sung and
sung with a will-not only by the choir
but by everyone who gathered around
the tree. For Christmas music, like the
Christmas spirit, is infectious; and peo-
pie who have come only to listen are
caught up In the enthusiasm of the in
spring event and are surprised to find
themselves taking a most willing part.
Nor will the lights ana the singing be
all that will make notable the dedication
of Augustus first community Christmas
tree for 500 bags Of candy will be dis
tributed by no less an authority than
Santa Claus himself.
ASIDE from TINS tHeT6 Will De no pres
ents-just a tree and lights and singing.
And through the holiday week the tree
will remain in position, lighted each
night. OF what 1t is meant to typify
someone said recently: Community
Trees mean that, in spite of poverty,
bloodshed. greed and despair. there are,
in increasing numbers In the world, those
who would share with all the world the
sacred beauty and hope which is the in
dividual's holy of holies;. the most difi-
cult of all ones spiritual riches to
share
The history of these community Christ
mas trees issprobably familiar to most
readers of newspapers and magazines.
Just who started the movement or why
has never been definitely settled. The
first one appeared, without much pre-
vious notice, in Madison Square in New
York. 1t created tremendous enthus-
iasm and stirred emotional New York as
little else has in many years. Wonder
full scenes were enacted around it. The
papers were full Of 1t. The magazines
soon followad and within tho war tho