Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-12-14
CHRISTMAS ~ THIS AND OTHER CITIES.

\ beautiful and Il splendid idea is that Of the Ho-
nolnlu women who are planning the community
Christmas Tree in The Capitol grounds on Christ
mas Eve.
Honolulu had for several wears the ,.Mhihn
Christmas Tree" Il Christmas morning custom
founded on pretty sentiment II was abandoned for
practical reasons after series of successful years,
and since That time there has been nothing like Il
community christmas. The nearest approach was
Thai Christmas carol-singing of two Years ago con
dncied ia various parts Of The city by groups Of
young men and women
The Community Christmas Tree. idea 81 the Ont
door Circle. is in line with nationwide movement
for encouragement Of the Christmas spirit in cities
IN editorial in that well-known periodical, The
american City recently referred 10 the municipal
Christmas tree as .'thc most delightful innovation
Of the country" 1t has been Il striking success in
large cities and small
In fittsburg the president of the city council ap
pointed a municipal Christmas tree committee of
26 citizens six Of them women. 4 private firm gave
a great Vermont evergreen and donated the nse of
Il large vacant lot In Birmingham, Aab;lna, the
chamber Of commerce headed the movement, with
The invited assistance of pnbt-spirited women Of
the city. In Racine. Wisconsin, the Commercial
Club summoned the mayor cergymen, superinten-
dent Of the park board, heads of womenS clubs,
Y. w. and Y. VI. &. y. Boy Scontmasers, leading
musicians and other citizens and formed fine, ac-
tive committee. In Syracuse. y y, the local branch
OF the Consumers League, backed by the Chamber
of Commerce. the Rotary Club and the Syracuse
Herald, as we'll as many organizations and indvi-
duals, did the work--and did it well. Providence,
Rhode Island had the inspiring leadership of the
Rhode Island Congress of Mothers. In Altoona,
Pa, the movement. was headed by The Sunshine So
in putting the plan in effect public service cor
poration. the Beaver Valley Traction Company,
with a wideawake superintendent led the movement
in Beaver Falls, Pa, and this company also stood
the major portion of the expense. Organized labor
came TO the fore in Newark, Ohio, when the Newark
Trades and Labor Assembly launched the idea. And
the idea was given permanence by the fact that the
Christmas tree used was a fine Arbor Vitae nearly
40 feet high, planted the same year. and will he
used for every Christmas.
The great open-air celebrations of San Francisco,
around Lottas Fountain. which mark the holiday
seasons annually. are nation wide in their fame
Grand opera stars with the musical world at their
feet have been glad TO appear here before audiences
numbering 100000. Chicago, New York. st. Louis
Seattle. Los Angeles and other large cities have in
recent years begun the encouragement of the Christ
tree idea.
Springfield. Mass, has developed q hneiy-wrouSht
pageant, which gives TO the annual festival some
thing of the sweet and sacred spirit that ruled over
Bethlehem on the first Christmas, that of the
Nativity.
IIonoluIus first Community Christmas Tree" is
conceived for two main reasons to emphasis the
beautiful spirit of this occ;son-a spirit entirely
lacking in the r:lucous. rowdyish celebrations of
Christmas eve on the streets here-and to provide
for All lonely men and women q common gathering
place with lighted tree. embematic of hospitable