The Winslow mail., 1924-12-26
OUR CHRISTMAS
TREE FESTIVAL
WAS BEST EVER
HELDANY PLACE

That Winslow's municipal Christ
mas tree and carols celebration We'd
nesday evening was the best ever pull
ed off by any community anywhere
in the country was the verdict Of the
hundreds of people who participated
for an hour, which hour was the cold
est of the year, in the big outdoor
festivity. The first attempt of this
city at anything of the kind was a
success beyond the expectations even
of those who first started the move
ment for it's realization and worked
the hardest to put it across.
Almost an hour before the music
and singing began, the kids had be-
gun to gather at the corner of Kins-
ley and Second, thinking possibly, that
Santa Claus might get around little
ahead of time. Grown people, too,
were just as full of anticipation, and
braved, with stinging feet, the efforts
of Jack Frost to send them home.
Just at half past five o'clock the
high school band began the rendition
of the music for the carols, the fav-
orites, "Silent Night" Gall Through
the Night "Joy to the World"
America the Beautiful" and Con
ward Christian Soldiers being sung
by the big crowd.
Just at the concluding words OF the
last song f1oated heavenward a great
jingling of bells, blowing of horns,
shrieking of sirens and shouting and
laughter, announced the arrival of
jolly Old Saint Nicholas in his gaily-
decorated snow-covered gas chariot,
which was substituted for his rein
deer sleigh some where near Flagstaff
because there was no snow down this
way He was met out by the city
limits by the big fire truck and es-
corted to the center of town where
nearly a thousand little kids and al
most as many grown-up kids were
stamping around in impatience await
ing him. His noisy approach up
Second street was the signal for
fresh and impromptu hallelujahs to
burst forth from all throats, and for
everyone to crowd in close to grasp
his hand and wish him Merry Christ
mas, a long and happy trip, and good
health until next year, and safe re-
turn.
Then began the climax of the whole
thing-the distribution by Santa Claus
himself of the toys, and big green
sacks of fruits, nuts and candy. Boys
and girls of all sizes and colors, ninOs,
muchachos, papooses and pickaninies,
and just ordinary kids, black, white,
brown, red and yellow, were lined up
a dozen or more abreast, in line ex-
tending for almost block, and march
ed past the patron saint of joy and
generosity to receive their double
gifts. Some scramble-and it lasted
for almost an hour, until some of the
townspeople lent a hand to Santa and
took gifts to the rear of the line and
worked both ways.
Not a young one in town was miss
ed.
Not a grown person in town but
who had the satisfaction of knowing
that he could go home and enjoy his
own Christmas without fear that in
some home there might be an empty
stocking.
The gift of toys added to the bags
of candy was made possible largely
by the Elks lodge, who a few days
dSO SIdC1OuSly gave up ChS11 OWh
plans for a Christmas tree that the
city tree might be made a larger
success, and who turned over to the
committee five hundred toys which
had been forwarded from Chicago, the
gift of Bernard Tempske, who is now
in the eastern city. These 500 were
supplemented by the purchase of $50
additional toys by the committee.
iorI,A 1yC nf
Christmas dainties were distributed.
When the last kid had marched past
the tree, there were not to exceed two
dozen gifts remaining, and these were
handed out to little stragglers, who
will henceforth count themselves well
paid for sticking around, as they got
double treat.
Each bag contained two pounds of
goodies. Almost ton of pretty col
ored candy, oranges and apples, were
distributed The bags were loaded
by generous hearted people at the city
hall on Monday and Tuesday even
ings of this week, people who not only
gave of their substance, but of their
time The bags were made by mem
bers of the Womens club a few days
before.
Mayor Fred B. Douglas, who was
the originator of the municipal tree
idea for Winslow, even in spite of i'll
health for the past two weeks, work
ed hard for it to be a success, and
that it was a complete success is at
tested by every one who attended
many of whom had been present at
municipal celebrations in other and
larger cities.
Among the contributors who have
not heretofore been mentioned, but
whose gift was the principal thing
to be seen, was VIM Cady, Jr., of the
Cady Lumber company of Flagstaff
and McNary, who donated the big