Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1922-12-29
From The Study Desk

Three events in the local celebration
of Christmas are especially noteworthy
the illumination of a community
tree, the singing Of Christmas carols
about the streets, and the reading Of
Dickens christmas Carol" at the
Community Service on Christmas Eve
The illumination of a community tree
has become quite general custom
throughout the country. The traveller
who has occasion to pass through our
larger American villages after night
fall, during the Holidays, is not infre
quently reminded of the time of year
by the bright cheer of the community
tree. 1t is a distinctly modern innova-
ton-at least in its present form-de
pendent upon modern equipment for
its success. Even the indoor tree in
church and home has been made much
more attractive, and UNNECESSARILY less
dangerous, by the substitution Of the
electric lamp for the flaming candle of
former days The tree on the village
green here in Middlebury is admirably
located to meet the holiday need The
fact that it is a permanent member of
our local family of trees, and not some
temporary sacrifice to the occasion,
adds to our satisfaction All through
the year we remember how it looks at
Christmas, and doubtless the remem-
brance helps keep the Christmas spirit
in our hearts the year around The
illumination is generous and we'll de-
signed, emphasizing the graceful
beauty of the tree itself, and bringing
Christmas cheer to the very heart OF
the town.
The singing of carols on Christmas
Eve is not, like the electrically illum-
mated community tree, an innovation,
1t is an ancient custom that singers
shall 60 about the streets on Christmas
Eve and sing carols beneath the win
dows of the villagers. Tradition de
mands that candle be lighted and
placed in the window, and outside, in
the pale candlelight, the singers
gather The Student is told that in at
least one home in Middlebury this
year the carol singers found the Christ
mas candle burning 1t is a beautiful
custom, and worthy of imitation. Let
us see to it that in many windows next
Christmas Eve the hospitable candle
welcomes our friends who bring us the
joy and blessing OF the Yule-tide
music. For blessing it is, and no less
to the sick and shut-in to have the
privilege of hearing the carols.
Surely no one who renewed ac
quaintance with Old Scrooge, and Bob
Cratchit, and Tiny Tim last Sunday
night came away without really being
better and more generous for the eX-
perience Charles Dickens made the
whole Englsh-speaking world his
debtor by writing this delightful story
Conditions and environments change
greatly with the passing of the years,
but there are certain spiritual CharaC-
teristics which are common to all the
ages. Some of these permanent values
have found expression in The Christ
mas Carol" The suggestion that the
reading OF this classic on the Sunday
night before Christmas be made a reg
ular part of our Christmas celebration
in Middlebury is worthy of unanimous
adoption.
Indeed all three of the events here
recounted should be incorporated as
permanent features of our community
celebration of Christmas. 1t would be
well if larger numbers of our local
musicians might be interested in the
carol singing, and if the reading Of "A
Christmas Carol could be given in
some hall where all the village might
come to hear These are influences
which make for the development of
worthy community spirit, and should
he heartily encouraged Meanwhile
the Student expresses the sentiment Of
the entire village when he extends to
the friends who contributed to the sue
cess of our community Christmas the
assurance Of sincere appreciation
H. c. \. /