Evening star., 1951-12-23
In Our Time
Christmas Scenes
Of Bygone Days
By John CIogett Proctor


To many, Christmas brings fond
memories of the good old days. A
half-century-and in some cases q
few decades more-has elapsed since
the older folk now with us awoke on
Christmas morn and scrambled out
Of bed to find what Santa Claus had
brought. Many things have hap
pened since then, but our recollection
is still vivid Of the days when the
pine or cedar tree was lighted with
candles. and we well remember the
white-and-red colored candles in the
shape Of rings. canes and other forms.
then a part of the decorations, as
well as the cornucopiaS made Of
gold, silver and bright-colored paper,
which were filled with little candies,
gum drops and nuts, and the little
white candies. made in the shape Of
animals, which were hung on the tree
with pieces of string, some of which
we would "snitch" If the opportunity
presented itself.
OF course, this was not all the
trimming the tree received, for there
were the paper rings made into long
chains and the cardboard figures, also
covered with gold and silver paper.
and plenty of moss around the base,
which we had gathered in the woods.
Not far from the tree the little parlor
stove always looked SO red and
cheerful.
Every One Went to Church
There is difference between
Christmas now and what it used to
be. Many years ago. especially in
Washington. the occasion took on
more of religious atmosphere.
Everybody went to church and the
trimmings Of trees and the giving OF
presents, and making merry In gen.
eral. were of secondary considera-
ton.
In the early days Of this city all
business was suspended, and shortly
after Samuel Harrison Smith had
begun printing his National 1ntelli-
gencer he announced on December
%, 1901: "As it is usual in this place
to suspend business on Christmas
day, our next paper will not appear
till Monday" Qn that year Christ
mas occurred on Friday)
Since the turning Of the present
century there seems to have been a
gradual decline in church celebra-
tions at Christmas. Prior to this time
The Star carried columns of reports
of exercises at the different churches
throughout the city on this day.
Now, apparently, these exercises are
held by many of the churches on the
Sunday preceding or following
Christmas.
During the lives Of many still with
us Christmas was great day for
parties. balls, entertainments and the
like. all over the city, and old Prof.
Daniels usually found it opportune
to show off the advantage his star
pupils of the public schools And so
we find an account Of one OF these
entertainments being held at Carroll
Hall. then on G street, reads:
Christmas School Entertainment
''The pupils of the public schools
gave most delightful musical enter
tainment on Monday evening at Car
roll Hall, the spacious and elegant
music hall being thoroughly filled by
parents and friends to witness and
enjoy the interesting occasion. The
program, divided into two parts,
comprised some "a pieces, mostly
choruses, solos and duets.
Prof. Daniels. under whose aus
pices the children have been trained
and the whole affair conducted, la
greatly honored in the result.
I'VE hesitate in mentioning Spe-
cially the performers. All the chill
dren were pleasing in their efforts.
AS it Is impossible to mention all who
were particularly successful, we will
only mention one or two that were
prominent in excellence.
Miss Clara Vouch sang Meet Me
in the Lane very sweetly, and was
rapturously encored.
Little Miss Marion Goodall, child
of 9, sang The Irish Gentleman in a
most sweet and charming manner.
She was loudly encored and gratified
the audience with a repetition.
The affair was a complete success
and the treasury, from all appear
ances, must show a balance large
enough to procure the piano, for
which purpose the concert was gotten
up. We hope 50, at least.
THE gem of the evening was the
duet, Voices Of the Night sang by
the Misses M. Riess and J. Pugh.
Unfortunately. this old clipping Is
not dated. but the entertainment
probably was given some time be-
tween 1865 and 1875.
Today. we miss the old Center
Markethouse as one of the great
sights of Washington during Christ
mas week, with it's many stalls within.
and an army of country people lining
the sidewalk outside, selling holly.
mistletoe and other greens and de-
corations,