Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, December 21, 1917, Page 16

Tea Visit From | St. Nicholas” ’ AT is the best known poem in ! the world? Not Gray's “Ele- gy,” nor “The Song of the Shirt,” ror “The Raven,” but .*“The Night Before Christmas.” The author 48 not so well known as his poem. One recent Christmas the name of Clement Clarke Moore was honored as never before. Above his grave in the chapel of Holy Trinity cemetery, New York, the choir boys sang carols on the night before Christmas, and a 'service of light was held. This beautifui cere- jm@nlal starts with a procession of {torchbearers whose torches are kindled from the leader’s flame, and as the line winds through the graveyard the fire is passed back from one to another un- til the lights grow in number and dis- pel the surrounding darkness. DY Tahic; TICT ITHY Giltistiias Dovn- ties, but from whomsoever it may have come we give thanks for it. There i8s to our apprehension a spirit of cordial goodness in it, a playfulness as of fancy and a benevolent alacrity to enter into the feelings and promote the simole vleasures of children which BEMIWT DAILY PIONEER - Ordinance Protecting Yards and Paric ings of City Prevents Seifish and Thoughtiess Mischief. Of course, in the business sections of a city the front parkings are im- practicable and even many shade trees are often not desirable, the attractives | ness of the streets depending entirely {| upon the architectural beauties of the The father of Clement Clarke Moore |- was once the bishop of New York. “The Night Before Christmas” was published originally without the au- thor's knowledge in the Troy Sentinel ‘two days before Christmas, 1823. Moore had written it the preceding Christmas Just for the delight of his own children, but its circulation slip- ped beyond the family circle, and an unknown friend sent it for publication. The Sentine! readers paid no attention to it, and it passed without com:: 1t until seven years later, when the saine paper reprinted it. The second recep- tion was very different from the first. “A Visit From St. Nicholas,” as it was then entitled, was copied broadcast, and its author awoke to find his work, if not himself, famous. Although Clement Clarke Moore was educated for the ministry, he never took orders. For the greater part of ‘his life he was identified with the New York General Theological seminary, being professor of Biblical learning and Greek and later of oriental lan- guages. Clement Moore's family life had many sorrows. His wife died at the early age of thirty-five, and the two little daughters, for whom he wrote “The Night Before Christmas,” both died in their childhood. His son and name- sake lived to the age of sixty-eight and 18 burled in the family plot. ' 'When “The Night Before Christmas” was first published in the Troy Senti- nel the editor wrote: “We do not know to whom we are indebted for the following description of that unwearied patron of children, that homely but delightful personifica- tion of parental kindness, Santa Claus, his custom and his equipage, as he goes about visiting the firesides of this hap- [——dll ATEOZEtRer ¢hAFmIlE.~Wé Hope our Tit- tle patrons, both lads and lassies, will accept it as a proof of our unfeigned good will toward them, a token of our warmest wish that they may have many a merry Christmas; that they may long retain their beautiful relish | for these unbought, home bred joys, which derive their flavor from filial plety and fraternal love and which, they may be assured, are the least a' loyed that time can furnish them.”— Philadelphia Press. Washington, Dec. 5.—To enable the thousands of unnaturalized citi zens in the army to obtain full civ izenship before the end of the war pabor d:partment officials will urge (longress to pass the pending bili amending the existing statute that au applicant for naturalization must iive in the same state for a year and wait for at least three months after filing kis application for naturaliza tion. Otherwise many soldiers of foreign bir‘h would remain aliens. buildings and the cleanliness and good repair of house fronts, sidlewalks and pavements, but in residence sections the beauty depends as much upou the condition of the surroundings as upon the houses themselves, and especially upon the flower beds and lawns dure ing at least a part of the year. It is often very annoying and dis- couraging to the owner of beautiful flower beds in the front yards, which have been cultivated to a state of high perfection by constant care and stren- uous effort, to have their beauty marred or destroyéed by mischievous children or covetous adults, who often pluck the flowers and break the plants with seeming impunity. The children should be taught to find pleasure in looking at-the flowers without plucks Ing them and an ordinance mgking it a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine, to pluck or injure flowers or plants in the yards or parkings of others, would be very useful, to restrain adults from their selfish and thoughtless mischief and keep them from being aggressive enemies of the city beautiful. The back yards, however, protected' by fences and gates, are usually safe ground in which' the lover of beautiful flowers may employ his taste, knowl~ edge and judgment and expend his ef« forts to produce results that will af- ford pleasure to himself and his houses hold, as well as to his neighbors. Christmas Song. Oh, Christmas 48 @ happy time, When human hearts are light and human hate have vanished And all the world looks bright! And Christmas s a solemn time, For back long, long ago, Christ was born to give the world The joy that we nmow know: But not alone at Christmas time Is happiness and cheer, For he who really loves the Lord Hath Christmas all the year. —H. K. Saddler, Chvistnas Gift For You From now until ,Christm‘a'is we will give a reduction of 20 per cent on all Men's and Boys’ Suits and Overcoats Except blue serges' on which we give only 15 per cent THIS IS STRICTLY A BENEFIT CUT PRIGE SALE We will not close our store and there will ‘be no changing in our price tickets. It is simply a Clean Cut Reduction “Which We Are Offering You As A Christmas Gift. Big Lind Christmas Goods Usdfdl For Men We are now showing a big line of Christmas Goods such as : Shoes Smoking Jackets Caps Gloves Underwear Mufflers Handkerchiefs Shirts Bath Robes Hats Silk Hose Hand Bags Suspenders All of which make useful Christmas presents and which are appreciated. 0. J. LAQUA THE CLOTHIER RS i s iiies b i Phone 88I1-J 206 THIRD STREET YOU! Mr. Coal Consumer. cut do'wn that swiftly-soariflg coal bill by sifting the ashes. Battles has some dandy sifters that will save 25 per cent of your-coal. And, when you come in to buy a sifter, notice the PRACTICAL XMAS CIFTS KNIVES Lodge Emblems—$1.25. Jack—175¢-$1.50 Pen-—65¢-$1.00 SCISSORS Embroidery—50c-$1.75 Cuticle—75c. Buttonhole—90c CARVING SETS . $4.00-$4.25 EVER READY - FLASHLIGHTS i 85¢-$1.90 PERCOLATORS $2.00 S = C- E. BATTLES’ HARDWARE STORE Phone 21 SKIIS 4-7 feet $1.25-$3.50 SLEDS $1.25-$2.50 SKATES 75¢-$3.25 SAFETY RAZORS $1.00-$5.00 ELECTRIC IRONS $4.00-$6.00 RAZOR STROPS 75¢ to $1.5_0 Beltrami Ave. Christmas Gifts For One Dollar Or Less Here’s the place to come. How often you have said in makinz up your Christmas list: “I want to give him something, but I don’t want to spend more than I have to.” . And when you have totaled up your list after Christmas, you find you have spent far more than you wanted:to—or should have. $1.00 Goes a Long Way Here We have this year gotten together a selection of suitable gifts for $1.00 or less that will solve your problem for you. this amount: Box of Fine Stationery. Bottle of Toilet Water. Bottle of Good Perfume. A Good Atomizer. Fine Leather Bill Fold. Ivory Pyralin Nail Buffer. Ivory Pyralin Picture Frame. A Jar of Tobacco. Metal Cigar Trays. Here are but a few of the gifts you can get for A Fine Brier Pipe. Box of Cigars, $1.25. Garrott’s Chocolates. Johnston’s Chocolates. Ever-Ready Safety Razors. Gem Safety Razors. Shaving Brushes. Drinking Cups in Case. Flast Lights. 'Hundreds of Suitable Gifts Ansco Cameras, $2.00 up. Gillette Safety Razors, $5.00. Auto Strop Safety Razors, $5.00. Universal Vacuum Bottles, $2.00 up. Tourist’s Tablets. Plioto Albums. Columbia Grafonolas, $55.00 up. Columbia Records, 75¢ up. Parker Fountain Pens, $2.50 up. Smokers’ Sets, $2.00. : Manicure Sets, $1.50 up. Mahogany Trays. A Fine Selection of Christmas Cards, Seals, Tags : Come in and let us show you what we can do for you. We w;rap up, weigh, ad- dress and mail your gifts for you. of it. This service is free. We hope you will make use City Drug Store Laliberte »&‘ Erickson . Defective