New-York tribune., 1918-12-26
Star of Gold CLOVIS
On Tree of Light
In Madison Square
Blind Soldier Opens Annual
Festival, While Crowds
join i'm Carols: Indian
Chief Leads Procession

There was a crowding, eager throng
gathered in the twilight under the old
trees of Madison Square last night.
Men, women, boys and girls and moth
ers with little children, many of them
"earers of service pins, stood with
serious faces around the tall, dark
evergreen tree silhouetted against the
squares black frame of towering build
ings. 1t vas the annual Christmas
festival of the Tree of Light. As the
throng waited bright star leaped into
flame on The tip Of the great fir, and
While the crowd murmured it's wonder
an organ realed forth hymn of sweet
ness.
The star was of gold, the city's
cleaning tribute of love for its sons
Who viii rot return. The crowd was
nulck to catch the significance, for in
former years the tree was crowned by
a lone silver star. And there was an
other murmur when from underneath
the tree a sightless, smiling soldier,
who had lighted the golden star,
emerged. He was Sergeant William H.
Zimmerman. Californian, among the
first to be blinded in the fight again t
the Germans.
He limped on cane as he walked
toward the crowd that trimmed the
green space for the tree. His face
was wreathed in smiles, and he said to
friend: "lf had not been blind
could not have turned on the light"
He spoke of light as if he could see
the $500 jets of colored briliance that
were making the tree a dazzling glow
of BEAUTY At his side was Chief
Oskenonton. garbed in the savage re-
gala Of his reat-grandfather, a chief
Of the Mohawk tribe.
Indian Chief Leads Procession.
On the other side of the tree a large
electric sign blazed the words, peace
on Earth to Men of Good WILL" anC
the New York Community Chorus, al
most hidden in a fcstooned platform
among the crowd commenced singing
the 'hallelujah chorus from the Mes
ah. A Gordon of Boy Scouts forced
lane through the crowd and down it
procession was led by the Indian chief
Camp Fire Girls, bareheaded; red
coated Salvation Army workers, womer
of the Red Cross. g Is of the Woman:
Motor Corps Of America and member.
of the National League for Women's
Service followed, acting as an escor
for the throng of enlisted men wht
had joined in the festival.
The tree was a scintillatng mass O.
brilliance from the lowest branch tt
the gold starred tip, and as the pro
cession of marchers passed along the
walks about the evergreen it stopped
lnI
held by the Camp Fire Girls, beautiful
carrier pigeons were set free. The Ind
ian chief chanted an ancient hymn O
his race, while the white winged cou
rlers of peace circled over the heads
of the crowd and disappeared into tn,
darkness.
Christmas Throngs Sing and Cheer
The serious tone of the celebration
stopped here, for band OF jolly-facee
cid Krisses played a popular song, an(
Harry Barnhart, leader of the chorus
h&de the throng sing with the choru.
the familiar songs of camp and fire
side His enthusiasm was infectious
for when he cried out, "What do we dc
when Johnny Comes Marching Home p
the crowd yelled. "Hooray, Horray
with such vigor that it was taken VI
by the Christmas strollers alonl
Broadway. and echoed again and agaiI
by auto horns and street car bells un
til it became a miniature repetition o
the peace celebration.
There were tears. too. and sad tirec
eyes among the singers. The Christ
mas carols went deeper lIl,o the heart
than when d silver star shone on tn,
tree. But the little children, will
their simple acceptance of the com
DleXitieS of life frOlicked about anf
sang, giving full reign to their joyous
young souls. The exercises conclude,
with Taps, by a Scout bugler and a