The Dickson County herald. (Dickson, Tenn.) 1907-1979, 1916-12-15

holiday ideas tree twinkled In every place th.s
housed a German last year, and though the Bel
CLANS will not allow their Christmas 10 be German
lied, yet the trees appealed TO them nightly Ger
tainiy the Christmas tree will be much more com
mon henceforth In Belgium whether the Germans
stay there or not
Thousands VI refugees waiting In England until
their country Is redeemed will bring back with
them many ideas Of the English holiday,
Until the marriage Of Queen Victoria to the
prince consort, Christmas In England was chiefly
day Of churchgoing, OF merrymaklng and OF mighty
feasting The prince brought with him from his
Cferttan hnnrc ti,e customs 81 the tristmas.tFee
and Of gift giving. The latter has never become
as firmly intrenched in England us Il is here but
lighted tree loaded with decorations aud presents
is established as part OF every English celebra
ton Christmas decorations OF holly and mlstletoe,
the ceremony OF the Yule log and many Of the ira
ditional Christmas dishes notably the plum pgd
ding, are all owed 10 English custom.
But II Is sadder and wiser England that APP
proaches Christmas this year. Hundreds of thou.
sands OF young Engllshmen have died TO make
her 80. To-day every Londoner has had graphic
lesson In what powerful and resourceful enemy
can do even In right little tight little island" As
a further object lesson. England will pay for the
raIslns for her plum buildings something Ike 90
per cent more than she did last year. The war
with Turkey has done that to her
England has had other black Christmases. but
they were farther away from home. The Christ
mas Of 1899 In South Africa was one that she does
not like to recall while the terrible Christmas Of
1854. the Christmas OF the Crmean war when. as
writer Of the day put It. Thanks TO General
Middle things are about as bad as they can be"
ulu % hat
The year 1915 has not been good year for Eng
land, and she knows 1t. The knowledge has shat.
tered her complaccncy and has strengthened her
determination. But she is not happy about 1t and
her Christmas celebration will be chastened feast
Christmas In the Latin countries has always been
more Of n religious festival than home celebra.
ton In Italy II IL more customary TO exchange
presents at New Years than at Christmas. Lighted
trees are frequently seen, but they the luxury
of the prosperous and not the habit OF the people.
The day before Christmas is more OF an occasion
than the day itself.
In the cities of southern Italy booths are erected
in certain streets ny before Easter for the sale Of
odds and ends and sweetmeats wheeled traffic Is
barred and the people promenade slowly up and
down. exchanging greetings. Midnight mass Is
said In all the churches. In the churches too are
exposed the famous cribs, presepi, representing
hCeHSc W the UlTtN anu luIAnTy OK JekUS. lie be~
ginning OF this custom Is ascrbed to St Francis
OF Assist.
Christmas eve Is the great feast Of the season In
France. IN the provinces reiterated Seeh pre-
cessions In the streets, which were originally re-
lgious In character. but which have become pro-
famed by the gayety OF the maskers In Normandy
and In Provence there are elaborate puppet shows
Of scenes In the life Of the infant Christ All the
street gayety terminates after In feasts In all
the homes.
In Paris there are Christmas booths set up In
many OF the boulevards This year they will be
devoted TO the sale Of comforts for the soldiers
Paris knows better than anyone Just how black
a wartime Christmas can DE. She has never for.
gotten the Christmas OF 1870 For ninety eight
days the Germans had battered at the city. Eve$g
sortie had failed mlserably. The final lombard.
ment was inevitable, On Christmas eve QUO men
froze to death in the trenches just outside the city
Better, It seems, than any OF the other nations
did France realize from the beginning what this
present war would mean and realizing, she conse-
Grated herself utterly. She has made every sac
rihce great and small even to giving up the crusty
rolls and light white bread that AZ the breath
In her nostrtls When Frenchman every French.
man. eats without complaint a graytsh brcat; mads
Of mixture OF wheat and rice and entirely lack
ing In golden crust. he has indeed an exalted spirit
II is small thing. perhaps, but II is enormously
significant.
Last Christmas a solemn festival In France
million gifts. gifts Of wool, sent to the men
In the renches Every soidie. had glass Of
champa me. But there was no merrymak!ng
Masses said at opcn-air affairs erected back
Of the battle lines In the old church at Thanh In
Alsace y French Christmas was celebrated for the
first time In fcrty-four years But 1t eas q cele
hrntion of prayer not Of rejoicing.
This year. at least, midnight masses VIII be said
In the churches Of Paris but afterward there will
be no gayety In the streets In former years. no
dancing pierrots and hsrlequins leading The mask.
eys, no brilliant round OF restaurant suppers the
beloved rcveillcE Of the Partisan.
So Paris OH Christmas eve viii so home through
darkeued streets with prayer In her heart for all
those who have died fot France and for all those
who must yet die.