East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1916-12-25
Festivities Begin at $50
O'clock When CarOIing
Youngsters are Borne
Through Streets.
SAINT NICK MAKES HIT
Merry Old Visitor Hands Ont Bags OF
Candy, Nuts and Popcorn: ChOFis-
tiers Sing Anthems; Miss Olive
Gwinn Gives Pleasant Reading.

Pendleton played Santa Claus Sat-
urday evening to whole troops OF hap
py-faced children. and her second an
nual municipal Christmas celebration
goes down in the calendar of the years
events as a huge success.
Not only were the children Of tho
city out in swarms to greet the arrI-
val of merry Saint Nick but hundreds
of grown-ups as well braved the
lowering December temperatures to
participate in the wholesome revelry
OF Yuletide
The festivities began at $50 when
snowy float began to wend its way
through the streets of the city bear
ing bevy Of caroling youngsters and
continued until past $3.50 when the last
Of the eager children had received
from the bushy- whiskered old visitor
candy. nuts and popcorn.
Until a quarter past the seven
o'clock hour, the electrically lllumi-
mated float occupied by the chorus OF
children traversed the principal bus
iness and residence streets Of the city.
and their fresh young voices lifted in
happy song gave the Christmas cele-
lration the flavor Of a Dickens story.
While yet these youthful songsters
were caroling their way about the
town, the high school cadet corps. un-
der the direction of Sergeant Young.
came marching down Main street and
maneuvered in the roped-off block
between Alta and Court. Meanwhile
a dense pack had gathered around the
tall evergreen tree at the intersection
Of Main and Alta which shone brilli-
antly with the myriad of varicolored
lights scattered among its branches.
The arrival OF the chiIdren's float
at the tree was the signal for a troop
of school girls. airly clad. to appear
in the street. Gracefully they danced
the folk dances emblematic OF the
Yuletide.
On an elevated platform built be-
meath the branches Of the Christmas
tree. a chorus of forty well trained
choristers took their place and filled in
the program with anthems. A very
reading reflecting the spirit OF the
occasion. by Miss Olive Gwinn. PEN
dleton's gifted young dramatic reader.
And last and best Of all to the ex-
rectant children came Santa Claus.
His approach from the north where
is his home was heraIded by the blast
OF trumpets blown by six relocated
trumpeteers who strode in advance OF
the old toy-maker's float Unfortu-
Eately the snOwstorm which santa
Claus had directed to precede his COM
ing was a day late in reaching PEN
dleton, and his reindeer found 1t hard
" ork to drag his heavily-laden sleigh.
To make it easier for them. the COM
mittee had provided a most appropri-
ate float to convey reindeer, Santa
Claus and all. II showed the two
deer. hitched tandem to a large sleigh,
Just drawing up to snow-covered cot
tase through the windows Of which
show lights to serve as a beacon for
the traveller from the northlands. The
H'ide-spreading antlers Of the rein
deer were tipped with tiny lights
proving that old Saint Nick keeps up
with the times. From all sides Of his
sleigh. toys and other gifts for good
little boys and girls iangled and old
Santa himself held a toy horn In his
mouth
His progress up the street to the
tee was met with shrill cries of de-
light and the merry old gentleman