Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, December 16, 1921, Page 15

“Is there really a Santa Claus, daddy? asked Alfred, his anxious eyes aglow as he stood by his father’s knee. It was the night before Christmas and the family was gather.d together in the living room befure the fire- place whose flashing and dancmg flames glissened on the silver and gold festuons'dccm'ating the Christ- silhouctted. ‘against the family had had a happ; ing to the Christmas ols from the phonograph and to their father who was gifted with a remarkable fund of stories. . It was now time for Alfred to go to bed, his mother had aiready left the room, lie, however, was in no hurry. = 2 MAKE MERRY ON CHRISTMAS Calabrian Minstrels of Rome, With Silvan Pipes, Started Celebration Ten Days in.Advance. HRISTMAS used to be cele- brated in Rome by the ar- | rival of Calabrian minstrels with their silvan pipes ten days before Christmas. In every street of the historic city they would play their wild, plaintive mu before the shrines of - the . Madon These minstrels or “pifferari,” as they | were ealled, became rare after the | latter part of the Nineteenth century. ; In Sieclly men came down from the mountains nine days before Christmas 10 sing a “novena” to a plaintive mel- ody accompanied by violin and 'cello, The music of chiming bells fea- tures Christmas the world over. 1In the Philippines, the dawn of Christ- mas is ushered in by ringing of bells in scores of church towers, calling the veople to service. -In the dark they flock to the churches to the-familiar notes of the “Adeste Fideles.” - 7 The music-loving world agrees with ihe stranger in Bracebridge hall, “I do not know a grander effect of music on the moral feelings than to hear the full choir and the pealing organ per- " forming a Christmas anthem in & * cathedral and filling every part of the vast pile with triumphant harmony.” Star of Bethlehem in Holland. In Holland the harbinger of Christ mas-is a huge illuminated star which is carried .through the silent, dark,' Dutch streets, shining upon the crowd of people and significant of the star | which once guided the three wise men | of the East. The young men who car- r‘y the stav through the streets gather money for the poor from the crowds who come out to watch for it. After this they betake themselves to the| burgomaster of the town, who, accord- | ing to custom, Is bound to set the, youths down to a splendid meal. This is a very great Institution in many Dutch towns. Successful Operations on Hens, | “When I was a little girl,” writes a lady in British Columbia “I assisted my mother remove poison from the crops of about a dozen chickens. Since I have been marrled, I have opened, « hen’s'crop to remove an extra large kernel of corn. I make a very small hole in the skin on one side of the middle and then slip the skin over before opening the crop. After re- moving the offending object let the skin slip back and it i not necessary to sew up the holes, I keep the bird confined a few days and feed on soft foods, Have never had a death from this class of operation.” Yuletide Season Great Time for Dis- ‘play of Green Plants; Houses Filled With Decorations. T 1S the Le Petit Jesu that brings gifts to the French children at Christmas-time. He never forgets a good child and is .sure to slip something into the wooden shoe of the child if it is left at the door. He has. however, been known to leave pebbles in the shoe of one who has been naughty, To the French, Christmas Is the great time for greens, -Iverywhere one sees the brilliant poinsetta flower displayed. The houses are filled with mistletoe and holly, and half the fun of Christmas consists in getting the greens and decorating the houses. The liouses are then ready for le Jour de | I’ An, or New Year’s day, which is the gayer of the two festivals. PAGE SEVEN b VWL “Is there a Santa Claus “Yes, my lad, there js,” responded his father. “Some folks wilt iry to, tell you _that Old St. Nick 13 Just a! story and not real at all. I feel sorry for those Xind of people. Do vou know how old Santa Claus is?” Alfred shook his yellow head. “Santa Claus,” continued his fath- er, “is as old as he can be. Santa! Claus was here long befose there were ever little bovs and girls. “Now listan real carefully and I'll tell you a secret about Santa Claus which most folks don’t know. Santa Claus is love. Yes, sir, Santa Claus is love. It is love who will fill those stockings tonight. “Course you can'’t see love a,t can you ‘see.Santa Claus but he is rcal Jjust the same.” e asked. 4 s’ Messe WMarjovie Howe Dixon ened the lad’s face, His father kaew that mother would be cailing for him, but who could resist continuing before such an enwrapt listener? fNow, then, let me tell you some- thing more about Santa Claus which most people have forgotten all about. Santa Claus is with us the whole year round and not just for Christmas only. Sure, it is love who takes the basket of jellies and pies and ‘chicken to the poor boys and. girls who have no' father or mother to tale care of them. ~ “So then whenever any folks tell you that Santa isn’t real you just tell them you know better. “Now before mother calls us again maybge I can tell you something else about Santa, He always has his mes- | | | and’it is just lots of fun.” Alfred expressed his delight with ' a perfectly kissabie smile as he nod- ded his head. | Well_sir! Tomorrow is Christmas npd it 35 the time for littie boys and girls aqd everybody too. to have a happy joyous day. Tomorrow you twill wake up early, I know. Yéu will waken too early for me but since it is.only once a year I'll forgive you.! Anyhow, after you have found ali the | wonderful things stuffed in your long | stackings and played with all the things hidden under the Christmas tree, we are all going to be messen- | gil“fvfar: Ssnm (Illnus. | ou and mother and I are going tto fix up a big basket with gguoa‘ ithmgs to eat. We will bundle up real warm and take the basket around to the_block beyond the old church. | }Vld.‘\\' ‘Mirarda lives in the little cot- ‘ tage with her iittlo girl and we are going to Surprise them with this bas- ket. Tl?ey will be so happy because ;}:)ctyfvn[l lt({low that Santa Claus has Y o] 3 g fun?”mgo en thém. Won't that be “Oh, yes, daddy,” exclaimed Al clapping his hands, “Let’s be .S‘t'\uf{:'(i messengers. Oh, I can hardly wait until morning.”, “All right.” “said his father, “the quicker to bed the sooner will Christ- mas be here. Come on.” sengers. Wouldn’t you like to be one? A light of understanding bri A\ I've tried to be one for a long time START NOW . “Try to save a little From the cost of livin'; Christmas time Is coming, With its cost of givin’. Christmas in 'Peru. A midnight mass is generally held the night Before Christmas in Peru. Christmas day is generally celebraled by = huge spectacular bull fight, and after this has taken place, a religlous | procession follows, at the head of which usually is-held a statue of-the Virgin. When this ceremony is over | people are free to enjoy themselves as /| they choose for the rest of the day. e vinage Tnat-rroms. It the interior of French Indo-China there. is a village whose location is & source of worry to captalns of passing steamers. They are unever certain where they will find it. Its name is Snok-Trou, and its lo- cation is' somewhere on the Mekong river. The village consists of 40 or 50 little huts built on rafts and Iashed “together with fattan ropes. Here dwell about 200 people, whose chief occupation Is fishing. The rear of the village.1s lashed to half-submerged - trées, but the whole town changes [ts position from time to time, according to the vagaries of the river or the whims of its Inhab- itants. Steamboats - passing up the river will find it at one spot, and on the return journey discover that it has moved elsewhere. QUEER WAYS OF MISTLETOE | chier? Popular Christmas Green Fastens Its Roots on Sturdy Trees and Re. celves Nourishment. HE. mistletoe is really a de- generate for it is a parasite. Instead of being a healthy tree itself, it fastens its roots upon the sturdy oak and gum trees, and even depends on others to have its seed carried to places where they. will grow. The numerous pearly white berries cover- | ‘ing the mistletoe all winter attract the birds. When a bird eats a cherry he swallows the meat and drops the pit, but the seed of the mistletoe is sticky and clings to the bird’s bill. The only way for the bird to rid himself of the annoylng seel is to wipe it off. This he does, on some branch of the tree on which he happens to be at the time. Later this seed sprouts, and not finding earth, which its habits have made it cease to want, it sinks it§ roots Into the bark of the tree and there receives the richest nourish- ment. It keeps its leaves all winter, and when the oaks are bare its waxy, pale-green leaves stand out promi- nently agalnst the dull brown bark.— Edwin Tarrise. v The Real Spirit. Has the real Christmas spirit been laid upon its bler by a lot of old fogies who have lived too long to sense the thrill of the holly and mis- tletoe; whose spectacles and whiskers have debsrred them from entering the kingdom of pure delight where the children wander; and whose dyspeptic spirits bhave been warped with acid bitterness until they can no longer floy.with_the sweet joy of Christmas — = CLIFFORD’S -- FOR YOUR Mixed Candies, perlb ... ... .. e CHRISTMAS CANDIES i - and "= d . NUTS J FOR ! E CHRISTMAS : -~ Hard Mixed Candy, 2 Ibs .. ... Moxed Nuts, per 1b . o . Mixed MNuts, 21bs . ... ..ot Brazil Nuts, perlb ............... Hard Mixed Cady, perlb .. ........ Walnuts, per lb Peanuts, fresh roasted, Heinz Plum Pudding Cluster Raisins, perlb .............30¢c Lingon Berries, per Ib Cider, in quart bottles, each . . Mince Meat, per pkg Pure Fruit Jam, in 5-1b pails, each. . Prunes, large and medium sizes, mix- ed, per 1b Prunes, large and Honey, in pint jars . . Honey, in half-gallon Our Leader Coffee, frash roasted, “the Memory Lasts,” per Ib : 5 1Ibs for GROCERIES CANDIES an NUTS FOR CHRISTMAS ..... 15¢ .22¢ .50c .28¢ .50c .30c perlb.......20c .......25cand 60c .....20c $1.45 jars.........$1.25 Alfred gr-cped his father’s ha and they marched «ff in respuns:fi | the mother’s insistent call, TNOY T 7Tlie - Feal hAPPILGSS and the cheer that go with red-rib- boned wreaths and twinkling candles peeping and winking from between the green of fairy Christmas trees; the thrill of myriad toys stacked in chaotie heaps; the mystery of tissue paper bundles; the secrets that fly back and forth under the grave cover of seren- ity; the smell of spicy fruitcake and the mellow aroma of hol baking are here, The re here they are always here hen the holidays are | Just before u vansville Courier. Prompt Settlement. “Indeed, Cousin Jack, we owe a great deal for helping to de the room for our Christmas party.” | “Then, as you acknowledge the debt, come over here under the mistletoe and let me collect some of the over- Your Raw Wool | Manufactured into Yarn, Wool Batting and heavy Lumberman’s Socks. Custom Work A Specialty We have now on hand a large stock of the fin- ished products for Wholesale and Retail trade. Make your Christmas Gifts practical by buyng WOOL BATTING, which will make most useful gifts. GOODS ON DISPLAY IN STORE 523 MINNESOTA AVE. Bemidji . Woolen Mills I. P, BATCHELDER, Owner. _ head charges.” § The Portable L. The cheapest and most generally ! useful «lectrical appliance and at the same time the one most seldom taken advantage of In the ordinary household | is the portable lamp. This simply con- | sists of a few yards of flexible insu- lated wire, at one end of which is fixed | an ordinary plug to screw into a wall [ or chandelier socket and at the other | a Jamp socket, The cost is very little. (F YOU WANT T0 BUY. SELL. OR TRADE. ADVERTISE IN THE PIONEER WANT COLUMN BUY A MAN'S GIFT FROM A MAN'S STORE EVERY man dence which we l that quality is one of the fundamental principles of the business. And years of association with this store has gained for us that confi- likes to receive his gifts from a store where he knows highly prize. Our Christmas stock of Clothing and accessories never was finer, never better, and never as com- prehensive as right now. Because of the usual business we're anticipating this season, we urge you to do your shopping early. SUGGESTIONS FOR CHRISTMAS: Suits and Overcoats $25.00 and up 7BATH ROBES SHIRTS NECKTIES MUFFLERS HOSIERY ' HATS CAPS PAJAMAS NIGHT GOWNS COLLARBAGS SUIT CASES TRAVELING BAGS