The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-24
CHRISTMAS EVE!

ing, splendid anticipations 1t brings to all of us-'kiddies" and grown ups" alikel
 And by the way, did you happen - to know that this very Christmas Eve in the year of our Lord, 1922, is the centenary" of the writing of that beloved poem.
 Twas the night before Christ
 mas?"
 Clement Clarke Moore was the author of the poem and he origi- nally called it.
 "A Visit from St. Nicholas"
 Later changing the name, to-
 'sTwas the Night Before Christ mas"
 This poem perhaps has thrilled and delighted more generations of childish hearts than any other Christmas poem ever penned.
 It was in New York city-where so many things originate that are unusual and wonderful-that Dr. Clement Clarke Moore lived in a suburb somewhere near what is now Greenwich Village"
 The name of this suburb was "Chelsea."
 Even now the telephone directory has one of it's offices Chelsea"
 At a spot which is approximately Ninth avenue and Twenty-second street, the author of "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" lived and this man whose poem is now world famous studied for the ministry. In sketch of his life, we are told that the little poem was des- tined to long outlive the memory of the author, was written exclu- sively for Dr. Moore's own little boys and girls, to whom he had passed on the story of old Santy Claus and his reindeer, that he had heard in his boyhood. It was designed merely for the diversion of the evening; he had no thought of having it put into type; copied all over the world. Visiting some intimate friends later Dr. Moore repeated the poem and they were so elated with it's rhythm, and the swinging meter of it, that they copied it down-and later gave it to the press of the country. This was the beginning of his fame.
 Tonight-million upon millions of little tots will hear the poem re- peated by parent lips, and their little eyes will sparkle and the,r little hearts beat merrily as they listen to-
 "'Twas the night before Christmas When all thro' the house Mot creature was stirring, Not even a mouse; The stockings were hung By the chimney with care In hopes that St. Nicholas Soon would be therep' Ten thousands of thanks from ten thousands of lips for this poem of Dr. Moore's in this way will be offered tonight upon memory's grave-in honor of the centenary of the writing of the poem.
 Parodies
 Of course "'Twas the Night Be- fore Christmas" would be "paro- died"
 It was destined for that because of it's deliciously delightful meter. One of the incest "parodies'' I have ever heard of it was the Dough Boys" during the late World war. This is the way Young America rhymed it:
 Twas the Night Before Christmas When all thro, the camp Not creatureAwas stirring
 Not even a vamp.
 Another "parody'' I like is "The Old Booze Fighters" "'Twas the Night Before Christ
 mas And all thro' the house Not creature was stirring Not even Souse; For the liquor was locked In the cellar below Where the bottles forbidden Stood row upon row." Dr.. Hendrix and "The Christmas Carol'
 Charles Dickens, the peerless au- thor off"The Christmas Carol" has given nothing to the world more ap- pealing or more helpful than this legend of Old Scrooge, gloomy, mo- rose, sullen, miserly, and his trans formation into a real human being through the prayers and beautiful example of Tiny Tim and some others.
 Have you happened to hear any of the sermons on Dickens which Dr. w. R. Hendrix, the pastor of Highlands Methodist church, has preached on Sunday evenings?
 Last Sunday his subject was "The- Chimes" goblin story of some bells that rang an old year out and a new year in. This afternoon. Christmas Eve-he will talk about "The Christmas Carol"
 Just one year ago today, by the way, the beautiful "chime" that was so graciously given to High lands Methodist church by an "Un- known Friend" was heard for the first time-and the music those tuneful bells rang out and have been ringing out ever since, is the mes sage
 "Peace on Earth;
 Good Will to Men"-
 Christmas message each day in the year!
 Dr. Hendrix with his master mind of culture and comprehension, re- veals from Dickens stories the most