South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-12-25
Tea Table TALES
CHRISTNIhN
By May De Witt Talmage

CHRISTMAS
The word Christmas has as many .
definitions and interpretations as .
there are chimes and dispositions. /.
stand in a crowd OF women shop /
pers at Christmas time; watch their .
faces. listen 10 their scraps of con- 4
versattion, that you are bound to /.
Overhear as you are jostled from I
side to side, and you viii get more /
insight into character than you have |
any idea Of.
"Oh, any old thing will do for
her. she did not give me anything
much last year" Il hate Christmas
anyhow. you never get anything you
want and you spend so much time
and money" Or another type OF
woman will say. Now, what can
get for her, she has everything in
the world she wants, but love her
very much and 1 just want some-
thing personal that will show by
love for her, and that 1 thought OF
her" Again we hear: Il must get
something that makes a big show,
that is all they care for" or, 81 am
looking for some little thing-I can
not afford more than a thought, but
love the spirit of Christmas"
IN contrast to the New York
shops. their crowds Of women with
long lists and worried faces. and
tired shop girls. my mind goes back
10 a Dresden Christmas, where
found the real spirit Of Christmas.
From the time when Heilerger Mic
olas arrives on the sixth of Deem
Der. with his pack on his back fill
ed with presents and switches to be
given to the children, in accordance
with their behavior during the year,
until Christmas, the spirit Of Christ
mas is everywhere. Christmas trees
spring up like magis on all the street
corners Everyone buys a Christ
mas tree.
Christmas pantomimes are played
| in the theaters, and in the opera
house, where two children are al
lowed to sit on each seat. The little
royal children in their box join the
children in the audience as they
laugh and shout with glee. The re-
frain Of Christmas songs and an
l
/ homes as you pass. Peasants from
/ the country come in and fill the
market places with toys and Christ
mas gifts. There is special music
in the churches, special drinks. spe-
cial cakes. Pfefferkuchen Ga cake)
is as much a part of Christmas as
the tree. Christmas eve the choir
boys at o'clock sank "Heiliger
Nacht" from the church towers.
Then a trumpet is blown and all the
towers peal forth the Merry Christ
mas chimes.
Again my mind turns toward an
other Christmas in Rome, where we
had our Christmas tree and presents
early. so we could be in time for
mass at st. Peters cathedral, where
| Cardinal Rampola was to officiate.
/ Here, too, there was special music
and special professions on Christ
mas.
Heads of John the Baptist, Peter
/ and Paul-bones and pieces of wood
are shown only on that day. We
sazed at them reverentially, and
only the children had the temerity
to ask, do you think they are
real?"
II seemed strange TO be with
American friends while professions
passed us, stopping to kiss the toe
of the statue of St Peter; while the
incense burned, and a cosmopolitan
crowd of officers. nuns, monks,
priests, all nations, were crowded
together, and above all arose that
wonderful chanting and music This
was a Christmas worth remember
ing.
The real meaning Of Christmas
has been lost in many cases in this
country. We have lost the real
spirit Of it in thinking IL costs
money.