Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1920-11-26
CITY WILL HAVE
TREE OF LIGHT
History and Significance of
the C. ON m unity
Christmas

The municipal Christmas tree idea
is but eight years old. The idea which
inspired the original New York tree
was the impression left upon young
woman by the experience of a young
American related to her AS stu
dent he had travelled in Germany and
found himself as the holiday season
came on, in the midst Of many prepa-
ratiOnS for the German home Christ
mas tree. Everywhere there was evi-
dence of joyful celebration for others,
but as he walked the street alone he
was constantly reminded of his sepa-
ration from all participation in the
Christmas rejoicing. He found him
self thoroughly hOmesick, and this led
him to resolve that if possible he
would prevent others from having the
same experience.
The young woman who heard his eX-
perience thought-why not a Christ
mas tree in a public place with music
and light for the lonely ones in New
York? She voiced her thoughts to a
few friends and the response was i'm
mediate 1t was decided to have a tree
in the heart of the city, and Madison
Square Park, the crOssway OF thou
sands of workers and the outdoor home
of the destitute was chosen. An i'm
menSe tree, SiXty-siX feet in height was
brought from the Adirondacks. The
Edison Company was asked for an es-
innate on the decorations. The esti-
L,,% fhnit
representative asking that the lighting
be accepted as the cOmpany'S cOntribu-
ton to the program. Prominent sing
ers and ch0irs volunteered to sing
carols. The appreciative crowds the
"'Tree of Light" attracted numbered to
ten thousand on that Christmas Eve i'll
1912.
There have been many movements
of late years to organize and unity the
community interests along the lines OF
government, of health, of recreation and
of business. but there have been few,
if any, movements that had as their
object nothing more tangible than the
OF social feeling. The
tree does not aim to edu-
cate. to make more healthful or to pro
mote business of any town. 1t desires
simply to have the people feel together
that glow of kindlipess and good will
which we call Christmas spirit.
The presence of the aspect of beauty
in the Christmas celebration must not
be overlooked. Many towns through
their charity societies and other spe-
cial agencies have provided in the past
and will continue to provide very sub.
gifts in the way OF food ana
clothing Too frequently, however,
there has been entirely lacking the
element of beauty. We have perhaps
not realized enough in our country, the
place Of beauty in our lives. Material
food alone produces rather stolid |
type of individual. The beautiful
tree may nOurish many souls
that are impoverished. 1t is quite pos |
Sible that the memory OF the Tree OF |
Light may do more to help many |
people live as they would throughout |
the year than over-eating at Christ
mas dinner. which often is the only |
gift.
Ladysmith is to have a Tree OF |
Light this year. 1t will be placed III |
the driveway of the Standard Oll sta
tion. At five o'clock on Christmas Eve
the tree will be lighted. There will be |
music and there will be q distribution
of bags of good things for all the chill
dren of the city.
There will be no soliciting funds for
this enterprise, but voluntary contribu-
tions of peanuts, candy, dry pop corn,
apples or money can be used by the
committee. Such contributions can be
made to any of the following: Mrs.
f. /. Hughes, Mrs. H. Ballou, Mrs. nj.
G. Martin, Mrs. J. F. Mitchell, Mrs. Z.
Eisenach. Mrs. NJ. A. Peoples, Mrs. VIM.
Schug, Mrs. p III. Griffin, Mrs Il. nj.
.orden. Mrs. w. NJ, Vaughan Mrs. M
Ritchey, Miss Gertrude Johnson.