Fergus County Democrat., 1916-12-28
CHILDREN SING
ABOUT THE TREE
INTERESTING EXERCISES HELD
At COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS
TREE ON MAIN STREET,
SANTA CLAUS BRINGS many THINGS

Over one thousand children and
many adults surrounded the commun-
ity Christmas tree Saturday evening
and sang glad anthems and partook of
the general spirit of the occasion, de.
spite the fact that the mercury reg.
istered ten below zero. The exercises
started promptly at 1880 and were over
at 8. thus proving short and snappy
as had been announced. 1t was snappy
in more than one sense, for there
were no summer zephers in evidence.
However, the cold was braved, and
the temperature did not seem to cool
the ardor or enthusiasm of those in
evidence. Altogether the affair proved
to be the most successful of the kind
ever held here.
Youngsters Made Happy.
The little ones were highly pleased.
They were made happy. Therefore
Lewistown's municipal Christmas tree
for 1916 was all that could be asked
for. r.
At the opening of the exercises, in
charge of Miss Edith Foley, instruc-
tor OF music in the city schools, who
was in charge of the children and
the musical numbers rendered, several
hundred of the pupils from the fourth
and eighth grades marched down
Fifth avenue and turned on Main
street, taking places alongside the
tree. Captain Guest ably assisted
Miss Foley, accompanying with the
gOrnet.
Something for All.
After the singing proclaimed the
eladsome tidings ushering in the
Christmas observance in Lewistown,
Tom Moore, driving a span of four
horses hitched to hay rack, which
carried Santa Claus and members of
the committee, sent more thrills of
joy through the young people, by
driving up to the tree and stopping,
to permit Santa to distribute the
good things for the little tots.
Twelve hundred packages of candy
and nuts, as well as that number of
apples were given to the children.
There was lively. but orderly and
well behaved scramble to get the good
things, and not youngster was over
looked.
The Workers.
Miss Edith Foley gave personal at.
tention to her part of the work last
night. Rev. H. P. Gregg was chair
man of the committee recently ap-
pointed by the Chamber of Commerce
for this purpose. The other members
OF the committee were: A. A. Frankie.
Dan Bean, Father van den Broeck.
G. L. Cavell, Mr.. Petty, A. Rosenberg
and E. K. Matson. The Palmer &
Allen Electric company gave their
services in decorating the tree. The
very excellent Santa Claus proved to
be none other than A. B. Lehman.
Could Not Get Tree.
The committee regretted its inabil-
ity to get a larger tree. The one .se-
iected was ruined in the effort to
load, as the needles and even MANY
of the tender twigs and branches were
broken off in handling the tree, so
that it could not be used. This was
due to the cold. After the first mis-
nap to the selected tree the commit
tee was unable to get anyone to get
another. The Presbyterian church
kindly donated it's tree to the commit.
tee, and this was the tree used.
Thanks to Citizens
The committee appreciates the gen.
erous assistance given in support of
the municipal tree, and wishes to
thank all cordially. The merchants
and many others responded freely to
the good fellowship" appeal.