Evening star., 1915-12-19

forestry service, and then it was that
Uncle Harry's'- friend. Fred @. Plum
mer took the lead with some of the
older employees and for several years
continued the eptertainment. calling it
Uncle Harrys Christmas party.
When Plummer died the custom had
taken hold upon the service so strong
that all felt that it must not be dis
continued
Uncle Sam cannot give Official Christ
mas parties in honor of a couple of old
gentlemen who were plain. everyday
members of the forestry service, even
for the sake of making several hum
dred children happy. but the chief OF
the service. individually. approved
and gave recognition to the course
taken by the employees. They organized
and appointed committee. when TINS
year consists of G. g. Anderson CHAIR
MANI, c. A. Kolb and A. F. Potter, to
look after the preparations. Subcom-
mittees assist in the selection or gifts.
which are kept as simple as ever, ana
in providing the candy and oranges.
All employees join now in contributing
the necessary money. 1t is an unwrit-
ten rule that no one must give more
than dollar, but this makes it possi-
BILE to do things on a larger scale than
when Uncle Harry gave everything.
All the children of the service. hum
dre,ls of them will crowd into the great
drafting room when noon hour comes
on the 24th of December. AS many OF
the older people as the room VIII hold
will be there. A Santa Claus in white
fur and red blouse will come down
real chimney into a room trimmed with
green wreaths and boughs; his bells
will ring and he will carry pack.
But. first and above everything, Will
be-not so strange. seeing that the for
est service Is concerned-a tree. the
tree which blooms at that time of year
over all civilized lands and the fruits
whereof are good.
But in all the gayety those two men
who loved children-who themselves
would perhaps be. of all there, most
surprised to think that they had been
honored by common accord-will not be
Mr.. Anderson, chairman of the com
mittee, speaking of the unique form of
memorial, said:
kindness. Uncle Harry and Christ
mas trees go together quite naturally.
One of the best things said about him
is found in this little poem written
by friend. and read at his last Christ
mas party:
Only TO think in this material day that some
grow old and. growing old. forget
Those saner joys that children cherish yet.
They 'II take the stand that santas passed away.
They are the that foster and abet.
Stern creed that makes the little eyes go wet
And call a myth the reindeer and the sleigh.
But we know better Santa Claus is here
In one with whited beard. yet one. for~Ooth,
Who knows the secret Of perpetual youth
Whose presence emanates good cheer:
Who takes the Christmas spirit through the year
And proves Kris kingle is no myth. but truth.
II have a copy of it tackled up in my
den at home" said Mr.. Anderson, "and
near 1t one may see a queer little
wooden bird with a feather for TAIL
which was found carefully wrapped
to-, ka~ln
to me.
AT our party, although we subordi-
nate the idea for the children's sake,
two chairs with wreaths and bright
flowers suggest to the grown-ups the
two men in whose memory the Christ
mas tree and the little remembrances
are given.
LAS long as those who knew these
men live and attend these anniversaries
their names will be mentioned with
love and admiration, and thereafter
every recurring Christmas time will
serve to keep their memories green"
So, after all, it Is not SO strange that
the people of the service should let
their regard find this unusual express
sion for a memorial to those men who
loved children.
The forestry service, in spite of the
alarmists over the destruction of our
timber. is the champion Of the chill
dren's right to have the green trees