Laurel outlook., 1946-12-25

then only in a simple way.
A lady who came from Iowa
brought cooky cutters shaped like
animals and birds and cookies made
with them pleased the children very
much. They recall making horses
with saddles, brown, black and
pinto; little chickens, big ROSTERS,
from cooky dough. They were
made with invisible wire in them so
they could be hung on the tree. For
lighting the tree large candles were
cut in two and were placed in hold
ers made of twisted wire.
An example of a mother who
thought of her family rather than
self was related by Mr.. L. A. Nut
ting. She had fallen and broken
several ribs, but she rode to Bill
lings on a lumber wagon to buy
supplies for Christmas. Next day
she was very sore, but she got the
dinner.
Christmas ads in Billings in 1883
carried in the Billings Daily Herald
stated ladies' and children's under
(scarlet), lace collars, first
class corsets from rs cents to S1.75;
ladies' black cashmere hose rs cents
per pair; f~acinators so cents and
wrappers rs cents. Husbands also
were urged to buy new cook stoves
for their wives.
Special holiday bargains were adj
vertised in chandeliers, lamps,
and mittens.
Prices were reduced for the
Christmas trade on stoves, wagons,
buckboards, buggies, bobsleds and
cutters, gifts for the whole family.
Drug stores in those days carried
goods other than drugs as one ad
1t advertised ladies brush
and comb sets, work boxes, whisk
brooms and holders, picture frames,
plush albums, autograph albums,
Scrapbooks, vases, dolls, toys, card
Eases, feather busters, mufflers,
,uff and collar boxes and pure
A meat market offered fresh oys-
5ers in ans or by the case.
The paper stated that when home
festivities were concluded first class
entertainment which was aft for
he whole family" was booked at
he New Depot theater where the
irst appearance in Billings of the
distinguished comedian, Mr.. Geo. Hol-
and, supported by Miss Constance
1urielle, was scheduled to play in
Led Astray."
On Christmas day travellers on
he train were given one-half hour
D eat dinner at the Headquarters
otel.
The Christmas custom in Castle, a
mall mining camp where | lived
hen a child, probably was much
he same elsewhere in Montana,
hough no longer a territory. There
re had a community tree in a big
all which was decorated by the
arents with strings of popcorn,
ranberries, paper chains, apples,
opcOrn balls, and bags made of
losquito netting filled with candy;
lso gifts for all of the children.
he tree was lighted by candles.
A program by the children pre-
eded the advent of Santa. One
l recall was our school super
tendent dressed like Santa, but
it'll a black face. He brought one
his children with him, my broth
;, who also had a black face. Their
!ces were blackened by the Chin
~, Santa said.
Santa said he was sorry he could
It bring all of the family with
m, but Mrs. Santa and the other
ildren had to remain at the North
lie to work and make gifts for
xt year.
High on that tree was a big,
vely doll that opened and closed
eyes, which thrilled me greatly
when Santa called out that it be-
1ged to me; but that thrill was
thing compared to the one | felt
len he delivered a basket to a
.ppled girl who sat next to me,
: in the basket was a Newfound-
I'd puppy just a few weeks old.
of the children felt as | did
out the puppy and there was a
|, commotion for awhile until the
could get the children back
their seats.
At home we had our stockings
ed, for we faithfully hung them
even after receiving gifts from
community tree, and Santa
filled them. We often found
silver dollar in the toe of the
after emptying it of candy,
IS and fruit.
The grownups had a gay dance
the community tree, after
children were put to bed, or
would have a coasting party
n a huge bonfire at the top of
hill and oyster supper after
rds at the hotel.