East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-12-25
1ST MUNICIPAL
XMAS TREE is A
GRAND SUCCESS
Crowd Of Many Hundreds Gather
Last Evening to Take Part in the
Holiday Festivities.
PROGRAM DELIGHTFUL TO ALL
Singing of Children is Feature
Drawn on Float Through Streets
They Render Christmas Carols
Santa Claus Distributes Gifts to Lit
tie Ones.

santa Claus Distributes Gifts 70 lit
tie Ones.
Pendleton's first municipal Christ
mas celebration was a success huge
I success. From the caroling OF chill
dren choristers to the impressive ap-
pearance OF Santa Claus in his cleo
tric-lighted sleigh" it delighted the
crowd of many hundreds who had
gathered at the intersection Of Main
and Court streets to witness the fes-
tivities
There was not a hitch in the entire
program. Even the weather gods
who, in the late afternoon had threat
ened to mar the evening with wind
and rain, stayed their mischief dur
ing the celebration. The square a.
the intersection was densely packed
with the throng that had gathered for
the exercises and faces peered from
the windows Of every nearby build
ing.
There was no delay in starting the
celebration Shortly before seven
o'clock a big white float came down
Alta street bearing fifty white-robed
children whose voices were raised in
the beautiful Christmas carols They
had been spIendidly trained by Miss
Eleanor Vincent and Eugene Molitor
and their clear young voices carried
/ a message OF Christmas cheer to many
hearts.
For a half hour their carOlius con-
tinued through the streets and as they
finally reached the big Christmas
tree, twinkling with many colored
lights. the large choir of the com
bined churches mounted the elevated
platform and the musical program
began.
Hal Bishop. who directed the choir
during the evening, opened the pro-
gram with a trombone solo, The
Holy City" the choir sang several an
thems Walter Rose sang a beautiful
tenor solo. Miss Olive Gwinn gave an
appropriate dramatic reading, a quar-
tet number was sung by Mrs. Ben l..
Burroughs, Miss Edna Zimmerman.
and Messrs Bishop and Peters, a vo-
cal selection was sung by Miss Mayree
Snyder and closing the program.
bevy Of high school girls. dressed ia
domino costume and directed by Miss
Cecil Boyd. danced a folk dance uu-
der the reddish glow of the Christ
mas lights, their graceful movements
being one Of the prettiest features of
the evening
The program close just as the clock
was striking $ and from up Main
street came the blast of horns an
nounciug the approach Of old Kris
Kringle All eyes turned in the di-
rection of the sound and children
fairly went into rapture at what they
saw. Old santa was riding in an il
Illuminated sleigh" which In reality
was an auto completely enyeloped in
white On projections in front stood
two beautiful antlered deer. stuffed
of course. but very lifelike in appear
ance. Each point of the antlers was
tipped with a tiny incandesceut light
and the sleigh" too was brilliauuy
Illuminated High In the back stood
old Santa acknowledging the wild 5c.
claim that greeted him with bows and
salutes. Around him were four Tiny
Brownies who heralded his coming
with blasts Of their horns As driver
Santa had Jack Robinson who was
responsible for the beautiful convey
ance in which the old gentleman
made his appearance.
Through the crowd the rendser9
drew the sleigh, going north 90 Wa
ter and then returning 90 the tree A
hundred children led by the white
robed ch0risters followed close n tHe
wake. AS the car came 70 stop ty
the Christmas tree. great boxes uf
candy and nuts We're uncovered and
quickly sautas helpers began dIau.H-
uting it among the children Thars
was plenty for au and al #arf
treated alike. Some fifteen hundred
sacks OF the confecuous werr Istf.h-
uted among the little folks and There's
was candy left when the hst had
been supplied
II was near 9 o'clact uhrn Hab
crowd dispersed AI business haI
practically been suspended during
the entertainment an streets udlat.
ing from the tree had been f0pa8 lft
So that they were clear nf aH vehicles
and half the population af fhr city
had turned out tn UIfuH. the usu-
viues In every deuH .H. e-l.HmHos
was success and h.#1 ur. being