The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-12-09

holiday ideas. tree twinkled in every place that
housed a German last year, and though the Bel
gians will not allow their Christmas to be German
lied, yet the trees appealed to them nightly Ger
tainly the Christmas tree will be much more COM
mon hencefOrth in Belgium whether the Germans
stay there not
Thousands of 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 q
day of churchgOng. of merrymaking and of mighty
feasting. The prince brought with him from his
German home the customs of the Christmas tree
and of gift giving. The latter has never become
as firmly ntrenched in England if is here. but
lighted tree loaded with decorations and presents
is established part of every English celebra-
ton Christmas decorations of holly and mistletoe,
the ceremony of the Yule log and many OF the ira
ditional Christmas dishes, notably the plum pud-
ding, are all owed to English custom
But it is a saddeF and wiser England that ap-
prOaches Christmas this year. Hundreds of thou
sands of young Englishmen have died to make
her Today every LOndOner has had graphic
lesson in what powerful and resourceful enemy
do in fright little, tight little island As
a further object lesson. England will pay for the
raisins for her plum puddings something like 200
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
of 1899 in South Africa was one that she does
not like recall, while the terrible Christmas OF
1854 the Christmas of the Crimean war, when,
a writer OF the day put it, Thanks to General
Middle, things about bad they be-
always bitter memory to that generation
The year 1916 has not been good year for Eng
land and she knows it. The knowledge has shat
tered her cOmplacency and has strengthened her
determination. But she is not happy about it and
her Christmas celebration will be chastened feast
Christmas in the Latin countries has always been
more of a religious festival than a home celebra-
ton. In Italy it is more customary to exchange
ar Yea 'S t1aO at briS ted
trees are frequently SEEN but they are 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 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,
exposed the famous cribs, or preseDi, representing
scenes OF the birth and infancy of Jesus. The be-
s ginning Of this custom is ascribed to st. Francis
of Assist.
Christmas is the great feast of the season in
France In the provinces it is celebrated with pro-
cesSiOnS in the streets, which originally
ngiOus 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 I'D in
! many of the bouIevards. 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 be. She has for
gotten the Christmas OF 1870 For ninety-eight
days the Germans had battered at the city. Every
sortie had failed miserably. The final lombard
ment inevitable On Christmas eve 800 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 would mean and, realizing, she conse-
Grated herself utterly. She has made every sac
rifce, great am small, giving up the crusty
rolls and light white bread that the breath
in her nostrils. When Frenchman. every French
man, eats without complaint grayish bread made
of a mixture of wheat and rice and entirely lack
ing in golden crust, he has indeed exalted spirit
1t is small thing perhaps. but it is enormously
significant.
Last Christmas solemn festival in France.
million gifts, gifts of wool, were sent to them
in the trenches. Every soldier had e glass Of
champagne. But there no merrymak king.
Masses were said at Open-air affairs erected back
of the battle lines. In the old church ar Thanh in
Alsace French Christmas celebrated for the
first time in forty-four years. But it was ceie-
bratiOn OF prayer, not OF rejoicing.
This year, at least midnight masses will be said
in the churches OF Paris. but afterward there will
be no gayety in the streets as in former years no
dancing pierrots and harlequins leading the mask
ers no brilliant round of restaurant sIippers the
beloved reveillon of the Partisan
So Paris on Christmas eve will go home through
darkened streets with prayer in her heart for an
those who have died for France and for all those
who must yet die.