The Dermott news., 1916-12-28
Our Christmas Tree.

Dermott's municipal Christmas tree
on Christmas eve was a decided success
every way There was not single
hitch anywhere in the arrangements,
not even in Santa Claus's arrival, for
the old chap was right on the dot on
schedule time, hugging and kissing the
children and shaking hands with the
older ones as he made his way through
the immense crowd from the sidewalk
to his log cabin beside the tree. Age
has not deprived Santa of any of his
enthusiasm and capers, for he was just
as joval az he could be and back at all
of his old time tricks. The demonstra-
ton that was accorded his arrival by
the immense crowd proved that he has
not worn out his welcome in Dermott
If any child in town was overlooked
at the tree ii was neither Santa Claus -
nor the committees fault. because
ample provision was made for many
more than were present and notice
was inserted in the News last week ad-
vsing whom should be notified in case
any child was sick and could not come
and provision would be made.
The program consisting of prayer. a
short address. and the singing of sever
al Christmas carols by some of the
school children was very good, and the
committee had an eye to business IN
arranging short program and thus
enabling the whole celebration to close
on time and the people to return to
their homes at a comparatively early
hour.
The decorations were beautiful and
complete in detail as we'll as novel.
The log cabin where Santa Claus had
his gifts stored was unique as well as
beautiful and original. Much of the
credit for the success of the whole cele-
bration was due to those committees
which wired the tree and log cabin and
which built the cabin and decorated the
tree so beautifully. No human being
could look at that whole scene without
receiving an uplift.
The Good Fellows committee
worked hard and took Christmas JOY
and happiness into a large number of
homes during the afternoon of Christ
mas eve. This committee performed
its part in a truly Christian way and
spirit as it worked quietly and faith
fully, and while its work was not as
visible to the world as some of the
others. vet the Lord saw it and the
needy felt it. and long will this COM
mittee be remembered
Space forbids our mentioning the
/ faithful and successful work of all the
/ committees We know that none of
them worked for human praise or
policy. they all worked and gave of
! their means too for the love of humani-
ty and the glory of Him whose birth
was celebrated.
We are safe in saying that the Der
mott municipal Christmas tree celebra-
/ tion was second TO none anywhere In
/ the state However. anyone who
] htONS beI liloNl II lioN SUI pa a. eH'S'
as it il the Dermott way to do big
things on big scale, so our success IN
4 this instance Is not the exception but
the rule. The citizens of the town
contributed literally and gladly for the
celebration and everybody was united
/ in the movement and we sincerely hope
that this municipal Christmas tree is
the Inauguration of a permanent Gus
/ tom in our town. We are sure the
whole town thanks the committees who
worked 40 faithfully and made this
celebration such a success.
There was only one regretable fea-
ture of the whole thing and that was
! the malicious destruction of the electri-
cal fixtures and decorations on the tree.
! 1t was the plan of the committees to
| have the tree lighted up every night
this week just as the municipal trees
are done in other towns and cities. On
Christmas day some misehievous boys
deliberately climbed the tree and stole
the lights and most of the decorations
and partially destroyed the log cabin.
This was all the private property of
those who paid for it and the boys
ought TO be prosecuted and their
parents made to pay for the destrue-
ton This righteousness is reflection