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

holiday ideas. tree twinkled in every place thai
housed German last year and though the Bel
CLANS will allow their Christmas TO be German
lied yet the appealed 10 them nightly Ger
tainly the Christmas tree viii be much more com
mon henceforth in Belgium whether the Germans
stay there not.
their country is redeemed will bring back with
them many ideas Of the English holiday.
Until the marriage OF Queen Victoria 10 the
prince consort. Christmas in England was chiefly
day of churchgoing. 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 intrenched in England IL is here. bur
lighted tree loaded with decorations and presents
is established part of every English ceiebra-
ton Christmas decorations of holly and mistletOe.
the ceremony of the Yule log and many Of the ira
ditional Christmas dishes. notably the plum pod
ding all owed TO English custom.
But ii is a sadder and wiser England that ap-
proaches Christmas this year. Hundreds Of thou
sands Of young Englishmen have died 10 make
her so. Today every Londoner has had graphic
lesson IN what powerful and resourceful enemy
can do even in right little tight little island" As
further object lesson. England will pay for the
raisins for her plum buildings something ike 200
per cent more than she did last year. The
with Turkey has done that TO her.
England has had other black Christ1rases but
they were farther away from home. The Christ
mas of 1899 in South Africa that she does
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-"
was 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 il and
her Christmas celebration will be chastened feast
Christmas in the Latin countries has always been
more OF religious festival than home celebra-
ton In Italy il is more customary TO exchange
presents at New Years than at Christmas. Lighted
trees 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 are
exposed the famous cribs. or presepi representing
scenes Of the birth and infancy Of Jesus. The be-
ginning OF this custom is ascribed TO St Francis /
of Assist.
Christmas eve is the great feast of the season il /
France. In the provinces it is celebrated with pro-
cessons in the streets. which were originally re-
giOus in character. bat 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 mass in feasts in all
he homes.
In Paris there are Christmas booths set I'D 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
wartime Christmas he. She has never for
-otten the Christmas Of 1870 For ninety-eighi
fbe hoT ho%-
ortie had failed miserably The final lombard
nent was inevitable. On Christmas eve 800 mer
roze 10 death in the trenches just outside the city
Better. ii seems than any of the other nations
id France realize from the beginning what this
resent would mean and. realizing she conse-
rated herself utterly. She has made every sac {
hce great and small. to giving up tire crusty
Dlis and light white bread that are as the breath
1 her nostrils. When Freuchman every French
ian, eats without complaint grayish bread made L
a mixture OF wheat and rice and entirely lack
e in golden crust. he has indeed an exalted spirit
is small thing. perhaps, but it is enormously
gnifcant.
Last Christmas a solemn festival in France
million gifts. gifts of wool were sent TO the mes
the trenches. Every soldier had a glass OF
smpagne. But there was no merrylnaking
asses were said at open-ar affairs erected back
the battle lines In the old church at Thanh Ii e
SAGE French Christmas celebrated for the $
st time in forty-four years. But it was ceIe- II
alton of prayer not of rejoicing. :
This year at least midnight masses will be saio
the churches of Paris but afterward there will =,
no gayety in the streets as N former years n, n
ncing pierrots and harlequins leading the mask tn
: no brilliant round of restaurant suppers tn. tn
loved reveillon of the Parisian. m
So Paris on Christmas viii 90 home through Su
rkened streets with prayer in her heart for ali ga
'se who hive died Cor France and for all those .e
% YET s'- &c