New-York tribune., 1921-12-18
UNCLE SANS FIRST CHRISTMAS PRESEN@
HILE the good folk of Trenton, N.
Af j., are in the throes of worry
wv as to the appropriate thing in
Chr;ct,,os y;f}c +hev rosSaoc a eor.


.llv shared For this cudgeling of their brains
,asv have most distinguished precedent.
The holiday atmosphere is prevalent in
Trenton Shop windows are full of substan-
hal hints for comforting the seasons greetings,
the greetings of 1921 Back in 1776, though,
Ceorce Washington was almost at loss to
tnow what to give. The fact that Christmas
vas foreign innovation and just coming in
did not help matters at all.
Nevertheless, the first father in this country
10 celebrate Christmas on large scale was
the Father of His Country, and he was the
first of a long series of deputized Santa
Clauses The gift he finally determined on
was three regiments of soldiers--Hessians to
be exact-which he placed in the fgurative
Stockings of delighted and youthful nation
which had come to the point of expecting moth
ing at all. It is safe to say that no other
"Made in Germany" offering selected in Tren-
ton or elsewhere nowadays will be half so
welcome as General Washingtons little
present.
Christmas night and the day following, 1776,
were the occasions of the presentation, so this
is a Christmas story. 1t is, however, history
which is said never to repeat itself, and that
is more than can be said for most Christmas
stories.
To accomplish his selection, Washington had
to cross the Delaware River amid cakes of ice
take long jaunt to Trenton and there en-
gage in tussle with the Hessians mentioned
1t was no light task, but then Christmas shop
ping had never been.
Let the yarn be spun as unraveled on the
scene of the exploit. Let the old stand be
routed out of the attic for the new Christ
ma. tree.
Seek out the setting Of the battle of Tren-
ton and Washington's crossing of the Della
ware River to-day, and you will find that they
have stayed put'-high explosives not being
used in those days--but the details of those
famous actions have been somewhat feeting
as Tar as casual research among present in
habltants would seem to show. AS young
gentleman put it who dspenses sundaes and
sodas at q fountain near the spot where the
Continentals distributed shot and shell. "It
all happened long time ago. Folks don't
talk much about it now" Hence it would be
just well to take along a history book on
the trip.
BY the aid of this volume it may be re-
called that the outlook was bad for the Col
onies as the so-called glad season approached
Washington, looking into the future, could
picture no such rosy vision as his own calm
profile on a two-cent stamp. Mediums of the
time, If any, might have looked far into our
future and only such visions as the
Prince Of Wales approaching on battleship
to make a political tour of America, with
few riots occurring on the East Side of New
York, or Lloyd George making terms with
an American DAHL or an arms conference in
London
Such prophecies would have been we'll with
in the range of probabilities for another look
at the history book informs one that the pre-
cedng summer at the disastrous Battle of Long
Island the Americans had lost 600 men killed
and 1000 prisoners, with $500 more taken
at the storming of Fort Washington by the
Hessians, figures which were appalling to the
patriots cause, for war in those days was
not put-and-take on such a scale as now.
BY November % Washington and his army
were retreating rapidly through the Jerseys,
and it began to appear that there would be
big armistice days celebration in London be-
/ fore long. Encountering the Delaware River
at Trenton, short distance below what later
became railroad bridge, Washington col
iscted all the small boats in the vicinity and
q ierried across. A few hours later Lord Howe
and the British entered with music. Posi-
Oy the tune was a boating song-but there
were no boats.
It is hard to appreciate Lord Howes di-
emma in modern Trenton unless one wanders
oown ON some of the water fronts and men,
uly grasses the bridges. For Trenton is al
most Venice-like with its rivers, creeks,
funs and so forth--and Washington had made
sciean sweep Of the gondolas.
The opportunity had passed for the British
"catch and crush the American army. Howe's
u us.ch had been leisurely one, and he had
Mled seventeen hours in Princeton, which
not 50 intrinsically surprising in view of
no number of hours they loaf there now.
Inc bird had flown. There appeared to be
SSa'ng to do but wait until skating was good
~ sne Delaware, when the British army might
s'ae across and capture Philadelphia. Local
sss'aer prophets gladly volunteered the in
."maton that the river might be expected
~ freeze most any time, and Howe leaned on
.aese weak reeds. It may be that those stern
ss furnished more severe winters, and
s0se had more Of basis for his childish
s's. ~as. than seemed justified by look at the
sS'nhg Delaware week ago. A freeze then
yhorr -. :~l.l