Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1916-12-15

LSSFszSsE1z.SS the present and faith in the fu-
ture sustain everyone of the
warning peoples in their exatation of sacrifice.
But at 'Christmas-Ch the feast of the
home and of the family-exataton dies. and only
sorrow. the of the bereft individual re-
MAINS says the New York Sun.
1t is very different Christmas Europe is ap-
preaching this year from that of two years ago.
Then the shock and excitement of the beginning
OF the war were still tngling. In England the
question of munitions is today of no less i'm
portance to the popular mind than, two years ago
was the absorbing question of getting a plum
pudding TO every in the trenches. There was
still talk of the kaisers dining in Paris and dis
cussions TO which ruler should lead the tri-
amphant allies in procession through Inter den
Linden.
Victory seemed much simpler matter then
than it does today. Everyone admitted then that
victory would be bought only with sorrow and
sacrifice. Now everyone knows with the hard
knowledge of experience, that victory will be
bought only with sorrow heaped and
sacrifice heaped sacrifice. 1t is this knowledge
borne in every home however exalted or how
ever humble. that makes the Christmas celebra-
ton of 1916 in Europe solemn sacrament of
sorrow
OF all the warning peoples Christmas means
the most to the Germans and will the
sacrifice of the traditional customs of the day
fall so heavily. There is blood and iron in
the German Christmas. There is instead a ten
der and appealing sentiment that is typical of
all that is best in the German character. The
whole world is indebted TO Germany for the
Christmas tree and for many of the most delight
full of the Christmas stories and customs that
Americans have adopted their own. The Ger
Christmas is day for the home. the family
and the children. with its every custom endeared
by generations of tradition.
The real German Christmas celebration occurs
on Christmas eve About four O'Clock the dinner
is served. an elaborate and hearty feast. consist
fnu If IF trad al
in a state of wild excitement. During this meal
the Kristkind makes its appearance This figure
is a curious product of sentiment and imagina-
ton queer combination of the Holy Child. the
good fairy and our own Santa Claus. It is rep
resented in the country district by half-grown
child made up as an angel, who goes from door
TO door calling for the good children giving sweet
meats at one house and begging them at the next
After dinner comes the great moment when the
doors are opened into the Christmas room where
the lighted tree has the place of honor. The tree
is always placed window so that every
passer-by can see and share 1t. walk through
the deserted residence streets of any German
town at this hour Christmas eve leaves a men,
DRY of Christmas cheer and spirit that can never
be forgotten
Bv nine O'Clock the family Is ready 10 eat again.
a tight supper including still of the tradi-
fional Christmas dishes. Every one. rich or poor.
has Nuremberg ginger cake. It's shiny brown sur
face decorated with almonds and rasins. and
with the word 'Wehnaehten" and the year
worked out In pink and white frosting. Stolen.
sort of plum cake. and many sweet biscuits
OF various shapes and sizes, are all Indispensable
parts of this feast
But this year. with shortage of fats In her
food supply so severe as TO demand serious at
IGNITION on the part OF the government. there is in
Germany no butter milk for the Christmas
cakes. no tallow or for the Christmas can
dies To many people this little homely depriva-
ton will bring realization of the seventies OF
nall nr han AN
The sicnt OF the fast-growng graveyards. With
two million new graves in the land. with dire ne
cessty robbng her dearest holiday OF IFS dearest
symbols no triumphs of arms can make this Christ
mas of 1916 anything but sad ana sorrowiui
feast In the homes OF the German empire
In Austria the Christmas celebrations are MS
raried 20 the races and religions that make up