South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-12-11
HUGE STAR WILL
SHINE ABOVE THE
MUNICIPAL TREE
Platform and Seats Are Now
Assured and Committee Will
SCour Woods for a Suitable
Tree Saturday.

Symbolizing the light and hope
which the Christ Child's coming
brought to earth. a huge star is TO be
placed above South Bends municipal
Christmas tree This latest feature,
which Will add greatly TO the beauty
Of the scene on the evenings when
the people Of the city gather at the
foot of the tree to sing the old Christ
mas carols, has been made possible
by the kindness of a timer, who vol
unteered to make the frame. and the
Central Electric Co, which agreed TO
furnish the lights and wiring for II.
The star will be similar TO that which
hung above the first municipal Christ
mas tree in New York city three years
ago. and which still hangs above the
spot where the Christmas tree stood.
The platform and the seats for the
singers are now assured by the kind
ness of the Indiana Lumber Co, who
will furnish all the lumber necessary,
while l.. r. Austin, architect, will draw
up the plans and specifications and
supervise the work. AS yet the labor
of building the platform and seats has
not been volunteered, but the com
mittees in charge feel certain that 1t
will be volunteered before long, as
the spirit of willing cooperation has
been marked since the municipal
festival became assured.
And Saturday a committee COM
posed of Horace Greene, A. p. Perley
and +. b. Barnes will scour the sur
rounding countryside for the tree.
When one is found which will be large
Snd beautiful enough to serve as the
central figure of the big celebration
II will be purchased and removed to
the court house lawn.
May Plant Tree.
a suggestion has come that the
tree be taken up by the roots ana
placed permanently on the court
house lawn if the permission OF the
county commissioners can be secured,
and a committee is working on the
suggestion. 1t is pointed out that the
plan would not only eliminate an an
nual expense, if the celebration be-
comes annual, but would also be an at
tractive addition TO the lawn and q
tasting symbol of a very pretty bit OF
civic sentiment.
AS souvenirs of the occasion there
will be distributed among the crowd
artistically decorated cards bearing
the words Of the songs which will be
sung around the tree. A printing
company has agreed 10 set up the type
for the songs and the vocational train
ing school will do the printing. Col
ored cards are needed upon which to
print the songs and a donation of this
nature would be greatly appreciated.
If some young man will volunteer
to play the piano at the y. NJ. c. A.
for half an hour this Sunday and next
for the Newsies' choral club. that very
interesting organization Will contrib
ute several numbers TO the musical
program. Special practice will be
necessary, however, and the regular
pianist will not be free to assist. Sure
ly| there is some talented youth who
will be willing to give an hour or so
TO help the newsies round out a few
carols TO sing on Christmas eve.
Urge All TO Volunteer.
The executive committee earnestly
urges any musical organization or
choir who may be willing to con-
tribute a selection or two to the fes-
tival, TO notify Mr. Griffith or Mr.
Barnes at his office in the high school
building, whether they receive a per
sonal invitation or not, as it is well
nigh impossible for the committee
working as il is on short notice and
under pressure TO see all
Thus far the high school chorus,
five Polish choirs. Polish band, the
choir Of German Zion church and the
choir of the First Presbyterian church
have promised their services. But
there cannot be too many, for pro-
grams are to be rendered on several
evenings if possible with different or
CARNATIONS participating each even
ing.