The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-12-15

selling products of the Tyrolese home industry,
and at the concerts of Tyrolese songs they gave
the air which had become so popular back
home" Thus the melody introduced to the
North, from whence it started throughout the
world.
Thus it was, too that Josef Mohr and Franz
Gruber, two Austrians, helped make" Christmas.
Do you enjoy sending out Christmas cards to
your friends? If you do, then you should know
the name of Sir Henry Cole an Englishman, for
1t was he who originated this custom. Later
famous as social and educational reformer,
Henry Cole was a pioneer in illustrating chill
dren's books with woodcuts of famous paintings.
In 1916 he conceived the idea of sending decOra-
tive cards to his friends, bearing his good wishes
for their happiness at Christmas. So he went to
his friend, J. G. Horsley, member of the Royal
academy in London, for the design and the re-
suit was the card which is reproduced above.
This card was six by four inches, colored by
hand, and thousand copies were issued. For
some unexplained reason, Horsley issued his de-
sign under the nom de plume of "Felix Summer
ly" and the card bears the line Published at
Summerly's Hive Treasury Office, 2 Old Bond
Street, London" Since this card bears the in
scription, "a Merry Christmas and Happy New
Year to You,' it can be regarded the first holt
day greeting card ever printed and sent out as
forerunner of a custom that to become
worldwide.
But few Englishmen followed Coles lead and
the business of making Christmas cards got un-
der way very slowly In England. 1t was even
slower in getting started In this country. In 1873
Louis Prang, photographer of Boston, exhibited
samples of his lowered business cards at the
Vienna exposition and they attracted consider
able attention. He had an agency in London
and of his women employees there Cher
name is unknown) suggested to him that he put
a greeting in place of the name of his firm and
issue them as Christmas cards. This was done
the next year, so that 1874 marks the beginning
of the Christmas card in this country. 1t was
not until two years later, however, that the
Christmas card idea became widespread and this
was due to the exhibits of such cards by differ
ent printers and photographers at the Centennial
exposition in Philadelphia.
So Sir Henry Cole, the Engshman, and Louis
Prang. an American, can be added to the list of
men who helped make" Christmas.
Do your letters go out bearing a Christmas
seal well as postage stamp these days? If
they do, it's because Einar Hoboell, clerk in
the post office at Copenhagen, Denmark, while
sorting the mountain of Christmas mail in 1903
had the idea Of another stamp for letters which
should combine Christmas decoration idea with
some practical purpose.
He went with his plan to the head of the
postal service and others with influence and au-
thority. And so, when the first Christmas seal
committee was formed including, among others
six representatives from the postal department,
the interest of the postal employees was insured
from the start
In 1904 the committee met to discuss the pur-
pose and use of the possible income from the
Christmas seal, and 1t was decided that the first
object was the erection of hospital for tubercu-
lar children, and In general, the income from the
seal should always be for the fight against tu-
berculoss. in one form another
Upon application to the then King Christian
TX. Holboe secured the permission to have a
likeness of the deceased Queen Louise on the
first Christmas seal, and the king became so in