Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-12-26
BELFAST
First Municipal Christmas Tree
In City's History Is a Great
Success-POor Are Made
Happy by Many Gifts
CHILDREN REJOICE IN THE
GIFTS OF SANTA CLAUS

| Belfast, Me-, Dec. 25.-(SpeciaD.-
| The first municipal Christmas tree in
the history of Belfast was a tremen-
dous success in every particular, the
only possible drawback being the in
tense cold, in spite of which, how
| ever, the immense crowd stood for an
hour while the exercises and distribu-
ton of candy to the children took
place
For the past week a corps of busy
women and men have been at work
in the City building, sorting and
marking packages to be sent out to
the children in answer to their letters
written to Santa Claus and although
order was not filled to the letter,
in every case gifts were sent to the
little ones. 1t would surprise many If
they knew of the amount of toys,
dolls, mittens, and warm clothing
that was sent out. Some rs dinners
were sent out Thursday the baskets
containing chickens or roastS of pork,
potatoes, turnips, cranberries, butter,
| oranges, nuts, candy. To the county
Jail, a quantity of tobacco was sent
for the unfortunates who are passing
Christmas there and to the city
almshouse.
The lights were turned on, illumi-
mating the square, the tree with its
hundreds of colored incandescant
lights, and the immense star of cleo
trio lights which topped the tree.
There was a murmur of delight from
old and young and loud applause as
the star burst into its light. An inter-
esting program was rendered.
In his remarks Mayor Dunton told
of the origin of the Yuletide and of
the first Christmas tree. explaining
to the boys and girls in simple Ian
guage all that il means. He then stat
! ed what the first Municipal Christmas
rtee and the community had tried to
| accomplish and asked that if anyone
| knew of a family overlooked In the
| distribution of dinners and gifts, that
| it should be made known at once to the
| committee. He then wished one and
all a Merry Christmas and Happy
New Year. The mayor was loudly ap-
plauded at the close of his speech.
The Jingle of bells then proclaimed
! the coming of Santa Claus, the one
| thing that the children had been wait
ing for most anxiously. Hello Santa
| Clause" chorused the children and
| the cry was echoed and re-echoed in
| the vast crowd. Then the children
who had taken part in the singing,
massed on the postoffice steps, were
formed into line and passed down TO
receive a stocking, filled with candy,
nuts and fruit. Each child in the city
who was present also received the
same gift and they were a happy lot.
! To add to this they We're then enter
| tanned by the management or the Co
| lonial theater at pictures Wnlcn were
| especially arranged for them. .Thls art
ernoon Manager Clifford OF the Beffast
| Opera house entertained oil the chii-
dren of the city at a matinee. with
the singing of America, in which eV-
| erybody Joined, the first Mun1c1pal
Christmas tree of Belfast came to an
END.
This morning the carol wingers or
waits" as the English call them, went
about the city singing carols ana
old songs to the people who are i'll or
infirm. The double quartet went 70
opposite parts of the city ana iater
Joined forces at the Waldo County nos
pital where they sang In the cofri-
doris much to the enjoyment OF the
| patients Those who made up the
quartet were: Mr.. and Mrs L. s.
pitcher. Rev. and Mrs. Horace Is. Sel-
lers. Miss Katherine .. Qulmpy, MISS
caro- Hatch, Miss Jessie hart Mrs'
Thomas f. Bowker, Miss lsapei 1lhh'
Miss Edith Davidson, Leon beckWieh,
Arthur Johnson, Harry Coomps'
Frank Keen, John Parker and Harry
| COMBS. Teams were kindly donated
nv w G. Preston and Amos Colcoru,
local livery men, to carry the singers
about
Miss Helen H. Kittredge gave n
Christmas breakfast this morning d.
the Kittredge cottage on the haroor
front Breakfast was served In the
sun-parlor at II o'clock, Miss Patrlc-
ia Coombs assisting the hostess. Neeo
lework was enjoyed for an hour, al
ter which there was music ana dam
ing. The guests were Miss HaZei
Doak who is home from Providence
for the holidays: MISS Gerti uuo
Coombs, home from st. Joseph Con-
vent Academy, Portland; Miss hath-
leen futile. Bates ~, home from
Islesboro where she is teaching; MISS
Belle Heating, Miss Ruth Coomns
Miss Annette Holt, Miss Marguerite
Owen and Miss Blanche Jennys.
Mr.. and Mrs Milford S. Houdlette
ard daughter of Oakland are enjoy
ing the Christmas recess with MI
Houdlette's parents. Mr.. and MIS-. -
D. Houdlette.