Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1916-12-07

holiday Ideas tree twinlded in every place that
housed German last year and though the Bel
gians will not allow their Christmas to be German
tied yet the trees appealed TO them nightly. Ger
tany the Christmas tree will be much more com
mon henceforth in Belgium whether the Germans
stay there or not.
Thousands of refugees waiting in England until
their country Is redeemed win bring back with
them many ideas of the English holiday.
Until the marriage of Queen Victoria to the
prince cOnsort, Christmas in England chiefly a
day of churchgofng 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 it is here, but q
lighted tree loaded with decorations and presents
is established as part of every English celebra-
ton. Christmas decorations of holly and mistleoe,
the ceremony of the Yule log and many of the ira
ditiona Christmas dishes, notably the plum pud-
ding all owed to English custom
But 1t is a sadder and wiser England that APP
proaches Christmas this year. Hundreds of thou
sands Of young Englishmen have died TO make
her So Today every Londoner has had graphic
lesson In what a powerful and resourceful enemy
can do in fright little tight little island" As
a further object lesson, England win pay for the
raisins for her plum buildings 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 We're farther away from home. The Christ
of 1899 in South Africa was one that she does
not like To recall, while the terrible Christmas of
1854, the Christmas of the Crimean war, when, as
a writer of the day put it, Thanks to General
Middle, things are about as bad they be-"
always a bitter memory to that generation
The year 1916 has not been good year for Eng
land, and she knows it. The knowledge has shat
tore hppp mn hos Str cd bpr
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 home celebra-
ton. In Italy it is more customary to exchange
presents ut New Years than at Christmas. Lighted
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 aud sweetmeats; wheeled traffic is
barred and the people promenade slowly up and
down, exchanging greetings. Midnight mass IL
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 in
France. In the provinces it is celebrated with pro-
cessions in the streets, which We're 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 win be
devoted to the sale of comforts for the soldiers.
Paris knows better than anyone just how black
iu1n bri tua Pan ba no hos for
gotten the Christmas of 1870. For ninety-eight
days the Germans had battered ut the city Every
sorte had failed miserably The final lombard
ment was 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 war would mean and. realizing she conse-
Grated herself utterly. She has made every sac
rihce, great and small to giving up the crusty
rolls and light white bread that are the breath
In her noStrs. When Frenchman. every French
man, eats without complaint a grayish bread mace
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 it is enormously
significant.
Last Christmas was a solemn festival In France.
million gifts gifts of wool were sent To the men
in the trenches Every soldier had a glass o..
champagne. But there was no merrymaSing.
Masses We're said at open-alr affairs erected back
of the battle lines In the old church at Thanh in
AlSaee q French Christmas was celebrated for the
first time in forty-four years, But 1t was cee.
hratiou OF prayer not OF rejoicing
This year, at least midnight masses viii be said
In the churches of Paris but afterward there viii
beno gayety in the streets as In former years. no
dancing pierrorS and harlequins leading the mask
ers, brilliant round Of restaurant suppers, the
. beloved reyeillon Of the Partisan
So Paris Christmas eve will 20 home through
darkened streets with prayer Ia her heart for all
those who have died for France and for all thoss
who must yet lie.