The Sunday Oregonian., December 21, 1913, SECTION SIX, Page 6, Image 72

(&he flew ifi
,EEBE are brand new elements I
I ... . . , .
that will enter Into the celebra
tion of the Christmas which will
- t.on of the Chr!tm which win
blaze forth next Wednesday night from
coast to coast and will require a week
for the waning.
In scores of great cities will appear
the municipal Christmas tree) a thing
unknown until last year. In hundreds
of smaller towns will appear the cus
tom of wandering bands of carolers for
these, also, have been tried out and
have found a new place among season
able revelers.
The Boy Ecout has made his appear
ance as the Mercury of the Christmas
Klvers and wherever there are presents
to be distributed to the poor he Is
doing the major part of the work.
Through these agencies Christmas Is
taking on a new tone. It Is becoming
more of a public function participated
In by the organized public and less the
chimney corner celebration of the fam
ily. Not that the heme Christmas is
being doce away with, but that the cele
bration which reaches "the lonesome
poor and rich. that Is participated In
by the church, charity organizations,
the municipality. Is forging to the
(ront all over the country.
Official Christmas Trees..
The biggest thing In this movement
Is the municipal Christmas tree. Last
year It broke forth for the first time.
Mrs. E. E. L, Ilerreshoff. of New York
City, was the woman of inspiration and
vision who in the East organized the
Idea. She communicated her plan to
her friends, it was taken up by the
press and finally by the city authori
ties. New York decided to have its
first municipal Christmas tree.
' Madiaon Square waa selected as the
point at which the first tree should be
set up. One from the mountains 50
feet tall was ordered. It was labori
ously put In place, elaborately hung
with decorations, daaxlingly illuminated
with electric lights.
To these trappings of man were
added a sifting down of Nature's snow,
which scattered countless crystals In
all the branches of this small park
which feels the tread of more feet In
a year than any other 10 acres of
ground In the world.
At sundown the chimes burst forth
from the lofty heights of Metropolitan
tower near by. They were taken up
by the fashionable churches of nearby
Fifth avenue, echoed by the ancient
edifices of old Washington Square, the
solemn cathedrals of Little Italy on the
upper East Side.
Soon trumpeters appeared at trie air
fnrent entrances of the aauare sound'
ing the fanfare from "Parsifal." From
poured forth the fittest choir In all
THE nursery rang with the child
ish voices.
"Hark. the herald angels
sl-lng "
"That's too high. Walt a minuter
"Hark, the herald "
"That's better. Now, Seraphtnal
Now. Thadl"
"Hark, the herald angels sl-lng.
Glory to the new-born King "
Seraphlna, can't you take that piece
cf candy out of Thad's mouth? He
nearly choked himself Just then. You
can have It back. Thad. when you've
sung two verses. Don't be such a
baby! Now, good and loud!"
"Hark, the herald angels sl-lng "
Schuyler bellowed lustily and beat
time with a drumstick: Seraphlna
sang with much fervor and many
false notes: while little Thad followed
the tune manfully, and substituted a
la-la-la" when the words proved elu
sive to his four-year-old memory.
The second verse brought to a suc
cessful issue, Schuyler dismissed the
chorus and turned to the door.
-You see 'f you can't teach Thad the
words of that second verse while I go
downstairs and get some Joss-sticks
for the censer," he told Seraphlna.
Schuyler Van Brunt was working
under difficulties. Dr. Post had told
htm of the old English custom of
singing c-irols In the streets on Christ
mas morning. It had taken a strong
hold on the boy's fertile Imagination
eo strong a hold that he had planned
to smuggle Seraphlna and Thad from
the house, when Christmas came, and
to sing a carol out-of-doors in true
English fashion.
Then. Just when he needed Dr.
Post's advice most, there had been
some vague trouble between the doc
tor and Aunt Margaret. Aunt Mar
aret no longer wore the diamond ring
on the third finger of her left hand,
and Dr. Post cams no more to the
house. It was "very disheartening,
bchuyler wanted to ask Dr. Post a
cor pf questions about the carols.
New Tors: to lead the caroling. As the
m stnlw o-Vit" hrnkfk noon
strains of "Stilly Night" broke upon
the air there filed Into the park the
from all'the metropolitan
mUUonfJ. Trom sundown until midnight
luiiQij vuca . ' ... , ul .
million. From sundown until midnight
the star of Bethlehem twinkled from
the treetop and the hordes of the peo
ple that surged back and forth absorbed
a bit of the Christmas spirit that they
might not otherwise have had.
So successful was the celebration of
last year that New York has again set
up its municipal Christmas tree and
this year the celebration is to be much
more elaborate and better organised.
Os the Bostoa Comaaoau
No sooner had Mrs. Herreahoff an
nounced her Idea of a celebration of
Christmas than the idea was taken up
In Boston. Mayor John F. Fltsgerald
himself stood sponsor for It. The tree
was set up on hlstorlo Boston Common,
made to blaze with light and again
were the enows of heaven sifted down
upon It as a benediction. The Mayor
presided over the celebration. A choir
of large proportions had been gathered
together and trained into harmony.
Under its lead the tens of thousands
of people packed into the common lent
voice to the singing of "We Three
Kings of the Orient Are." of the chant
ing hymn, "Adeste Fideles," of "Amer
ica," and of Boston's municipal anthem
loved of the masses. "Sweet Adeline."
Hartford, Connecticut, got the Idea
last year just In time for Its execu
tion. Here again waa a woman re
sponsible. She had been reading of the
new Idea that was being Inaugurated
In New York when, not a week before
Christmas, she burst forth with the
question: 1
"Why not Hartford?"
The time waa ample. A farmer de
livered the tree two days later the
largest one that had ever come to
town. It was set up in front of the
Statehouse and as Christmas eve came
on the Foot Guards awaked the echoes
with the strains of "Onward, Christian
Soldiers." The whole town turned out
to participate In the celebration be
neath the open sky. The tree stood for
a week and was the center around
which young and old gathered and
passed the greetings of the season
and brewed great amounts of the spirit
that should then be abroad in the land.
The spirit of the West which appro
priates to Itself whatever germ of good
Is afloat In the atmosphere of the times
appeared in San Francisco with an en
tire group of Christmas trees at the
same time that New York set up the
Madison Square patriarch.
In Golden Gate park on Christmas
the breezes are as balmy and the skies
as clear as oi an eastern pru. mem
gathered last year and will gather
again this Christmas the celebrators of
the holiday spirit. Seven Christmas
Did the people who sang them wear
surplices, like the choir boys In the
Christmas procession of St. Judo's?
Did they stand still or march around
while they sang? These and other
points sadly taxed his -eight-year-old
intellect But his determination to
sing that carol In the street never fal
tered. Hence the secret rehearsals In
the nursery.
After much deliberation, he decided
that surplices would lend dignity to
the occasion, and this decision was
furthered by the thought that night
gowns would make very passable sur
plices. Ttes. a tcmalo can suggesting
possibilities, he added a censer to the
properties. A tomato can. punched
full of holes, swung on the gilt cord
that comes about candy boxes, and
filled with burning Joss-sticks, would
make a beautiful censer.
It was Christmaa eve. and Schuyler's
plans were complete. He felt sure
they would put up a very creditable
carol In the morning, even if Or.
Post's advice had not been obtainable.
As he crept upstairs with the Joss
stick, which he had begged from Ag
ues, the second giri. he felt that the
last obstacle had been surmounted.
"Come on now, onca more," he said
aa he entered the nursery door. "Elsa
m ill be up with supper In a minute.
We've Just time before she comes.
Stand up, Thad. Yea, Til let you have
a piece of the Joss-stick If you'll sing
good and loud. Now I"
IL
Very early In the gray of the Christ
inas dawn Schuyler awoke, bounced
out of bed and began to rouse his co
horts. He tiptoed to Beraphlna'e little
white cot and Indulged in a series of
vigorous shakes and punches.
"Get up! Get up, Seraphlna! It's
time to go and carol." ha whispered
hoarsely.
Ssraohina arose, and, sitting on the
side of her bed, blinked at him re
proachfully. Little Thad was already
awake and ready Tor anything which
savored of exciting novelty. The two
elder children dressed hurriedly, and
between them they managed to put on
- oiv Xir
fv. rrr-; V'V r ' if ; ft: r J
trees were set up In different parts of
. I. - 1. All . r . bKId.. nrltTl llofhrB.
tlons. All reverberated with the echoes
of bands of music, all were visnea oy
the Mayor and the members of the
City Council, who headed an elaborate
parade. All saw the Japanese daylight
fireworks, for tne lormai ceicoration
waa held in the afternoon. !
The Idea Spreads Rapidly.
And this year the municipal Christ
mas tree . Is to be set up in scores of
cities from coast to coast. In Waahlng
tln, in the Nation's capital, a great tree
is to be erected in the eclipse back of
the White House and in the shadow of
t. The Presi
dent may view the celebration from
his back porcn. Local autnonues,
members of Congress, men high in au
thority in the Government departments,
are back of the movement. It is in
tended as an Institution that is to be
established and maintained for the fu
ture. To Madison Square, Boston Common,
the White House lot. is to be added a
celebration on even more historic
In Alii InnanMlftanFII KdUare
In Philadelphia, that plot of ground
rh nh hn llfl t tl A HflJl in WHICH WfcU
written and signed the Declaration of
Tnrinnflfnce. la to do set up me .mu
nicipal Christmas tree.
little Thad's clothes. Then Schuyler
crept noiselessly to the hall below and
returned with coats and hats and mit
tens. When they had bundled them
selves into these outer garments, each
donned a "surplice." At the last mo
ment Schuyler bethought him of the
brilliant cord on his father's bathrobe,
and at the imminent peril of discov
ery he stole Into Mr. Van Brunt's
dressing-room and returned with the
coveted cord encircling his small
waist. This finishing touch, he felt
sure, made him quite like the altar
boys of St Jude's. He fished beneath
his bed and drew out the tomato-can
censer filled wtlh the Joss-stick.
"Come on!" he whispered, and led
the way down the wide stairs.
With a caution worthy of better
things he shot the bolts and opened
the front door. The three grotesque
figures stole silently out and stood on
the stoop In the cold Christmas dawn.
The air waa still and biting: the si
lence of the -ttr.iots appalling. Sera
phlna's mind reverted to the luxury
of the bed she had Just quitted.
"O-o-oh!" she chattered. "It's cold
aw-awful c-cold to be out in your
nightie!"
Schuyler snorted scornfully.
"Haven't you got enough on under
neath it?" he demanded angrily, and
Seraphlna was silenced.
"C-o-old!" echoed little Thad. and
then, evidently thinking the sooner
he caroled the sooner he would be
back In the house, he began in his
piping voice:
"Hark, or heral dangel"
Schuyler thrust a hand over his
mouth.
"Shut np!" he said disgustedly.
"Do you want Elsa to come out and
sneak us back Into the bouse? Come
on. now!"
He led the way down the steps and
around the comer, where he paused to
light the Joss-stick In the tomato can.
When they started again, little Thad
tripped on his nightgown surplice and
went sprawling Into the gutter. He
was rescued, bowling: but not until he
had been promised unlimited candy
could the march be taken up again.
"Who you going to sing your carol
tor demanded the practical Seraphlna.
"Ninny! To no one in particular,"
said Schuyler.
The lights from it will twinkle in the
windows through which flew the flies
that bit the calves of Thomas Jeffer
son and drove him in impatience to
hurrying the signers. In the belfry of
this historic building, above the
cracked old Liberty Bell, will be sta
tioned a score of trombonists who will
send forth the call for the unleashing
of the Christmas joy hounds.
The Mayor of th0 city will touch the
button that will cause the huge star
to blaze forth at the top of the tree.
A thousand trained voices will lead in
the singing of the carols. Each even
ing throughout the week the tree will
be illuminated and the best band in
the City of Brotherly Love will dis
pense music. The great chorus will
assemble again on New Year Eve and
will sing the New Year in.
Chicago, Baltimore, Pittsburg and
score of other cities are arranging sim
ilar celebrations. The idea of the cele
bration beneath the open sky goes
back to the double origin of the use
of the tree as a figure In Christmas
festivities. The Druids of Old England
met beneath the trees to worship and
celebrate occasions oi reugious juy
and the custom comes in part from
v. m Th flflvAni nf OermanT are
probably more directly responsible for
?5
"Yon ought to sing it to seme one,
she persisted.
"Well, who?" he challenged; but
Seraphlna was unable to defend her
point thus specifically. Til tell you."
ha compromised, "ire'll so t Bx.
it, and its story might well be recited
on such an occasion as this.
. There have always been a few carol
ers around on Christmas eve who have
announced in song the joy of the occa
sion, but, during the last few years,
the caroler is becoming a harbinger of
the season in many localities and is
winning great popularity. Aa such he
Is bringing a new element Into Christ
mas that is promising a big develop
ment. Mr. Ben Greet, of the Ben Greet Com
pany, lives in a little village on Long
Island. Some years back he and his
neighbors organized a band of carolers
and went forth on Christmas eve, clad
in scarlet coats and bearing lanterns.
They trooped up one street and down
another and sang their carols under
the windows of all the village. In
many places they were welcomed and
often Joined by the villagers visited,
and so their numbers grew. In other
places window sashes. were slammed
down in their faces and blinds drawn.
But that waa in the paat. Today the
institution of caroling on Christmas
eve is established, the carolers are
everywhere welcome and their vislta
Hnna lnnknd forward to.
i. tn trtwn of , Burlinsrton. N. J
n l. nlrl ,n. ft? fit M fi TV- Tn
that church, with the choir as a nu-
Post's. We'll sing It on the way and
sing it too him, too."
Through the deserted suburban
streets they marched; Schuyler In the
lead, swinging his smoking censer val
iantly; Seraphlna ambling in bis wake,
and little Toad bringing up the rear.
cleus, has been deevloped a lusty band
of carolers. They wait in the church
on Christmas eve until the toll of mid
night announces the arrival of that
time when the first word went forth
that the Christ was born. Then the
carolers go forth and beneath every
firendly window of the town they sing
the "Glory to God in the Highest, and
on Earth Peace, Good Will Toward
Men."
From such sourcea has the - Idea
grown. The caroling is more the in
stitution of the smaller towns where
men know one another. All the peo
pel gather in the various churches and
hold the old-fashioned Christmas tree
celebration. Then the various choirs
are coming to the idea of leading the
congregation forth that the stay-at-homes
of the neighborhood may yet get
a touch of the spirit of the season.
The idea is spreading like wildfire
and is forming a part of the new
Christmas. Boston, however, has taken
up the custom and the ancient Beacon
Hill district now furnishes each season
its bands of carolers who troop abroad
for the night singing. ,
Boy Scoats and Christmas.
Another element that is being exten
sively introduced Into the celebration
of Christmas is the Boy Scout. This
very handy youngster is being found
to fill a place for which there has
long been need. He is becoming the
messenger boy of the distributors of
charity, the unofficial guardian of the
Christmas crowds, the handy man
wherever Santa Claus appears.
un ... .n. nrimnlzed charity asks
n uci w-o--
the public to contribute food or cloth-Ina-
or Christmas toys and baskets,
;rB - ... . v nt detail work
tnero i " i
to be done. No one can perform ail
s.
0f
his strange surplice bearing unmis
takable evidence of the gutter from
which he had been recently fished. And
on the still Winter air rose the three
childish voices in the old, old hymn.
Dr. Post heard them caroling on the
lawn, and came to the door in his bath
these tasks like an organized corps of
boys. They turn out on Coot and on
bicyclos. Baskets that ma not other
wise be brought to headquarters will
be called for by these young aids in
the public good.
When the time for distribution ar
rives the needy poor report in great
numbers for their share of Christmas
things that have been given by people
who have something to spare and who
are made happy In sharing their good
fortune. In such an assemblage there
is need of much care in distribution.
Some are over-timid and will get noth
ing unless encouraged. Some are
greedy and seek to get more than
their share. The packages are in
numerable and many hands are need
ed. Certain of the deserving may not
come to headquarters and their pack
ages must be taken to them. A squad
of BO Boy Scouts can handle situations
of this sort as could no other organia
tion. ,
The Boy Scout as an aid in handling
crowds has demonstrated his useful
ness on many occasions during - the
past year. Th e most Important of
such occasions waa when, on the fourth
of March, he lent such material aid to
the police of Washington in handling
the great crowds that assembled in
Washington to see President Wilson in
augurated. When hosts assembled on
Madison Square around the first
municipal Christmas tree last year
there were 200 well-organized Boy
Scouts there to aid the police and to
render first aid in case of accident or
illness. The same was true of the cel
ebrations elsewhere and in all the
cities the Boy Scouts are billed for ac
tive work during tne coming;
tions. . v
(Copyright. 1813, oy w-
robe The three strangely garbed fig
ures met nis asiomaneu e-
"Good Lord! What have we here?"
he gasped. tti
"We're herald angels," piped little
We're Christmas carolers," correct
d Schuyler with much dignity. .
.... . " K 1 r-n Bora nh 1 nR.
LI IU liuacii. ...... ,w- , Vm .
The doctor made a heroic effort to
-.aintain nis gravity.
"Come in: come in and get warm,
i-e said. "Merry Christmas to you!"
They had filed up the steps Into the
varm wide hall, the tomato can send
ng out its reek of burning Joss-stick.
"I would like to ask if carolers gen
erally wear surplices and carry cen
sers?" The doctor's eyes twinkled.
"The best I ever heard did, he saio
criivcly
At that moment the telephone bell
whirred wildly, and this is what they
heard the doctor say:
Hello! Yes. this Is Dr Post talk
ing. Who? Oh, it's you. Marparetl
he lingered affectionately on the word
"Y-e-s Now don't be alarmed. They
are not lost In fact they're here with
me this minute. Yes. They came to
sing me a carol In good old English
fashion. No, don't trouble to send
Elsa: I'll send them home in the car-,
riagi as soon as I can get Dan up. Not
at all Goodbye! Oh, Margaret merry
Christmas! Perhaps, if you don't mind.
I'll drive over with them. Thanks.
Goodbye!"
Half an hour later a carriage drew
uo before the Van Brunt house and
from It emerged Schuyler, Seraphlna.
ThS and Dr. Post Mr. Van Brunt
and Aunt Margaret met the cavalcade
at the door. .
Oh' Oh!" said Mrs. Van Brunt, gath
ering the three strange little figures In
her arms, while tears of merriment
ran down her face. "
Dr Post had turned to Margaret
"I thought I'd come with the herald
angels," he said laughingly, "and let
them plead 'peace on earth and mercy
mild' for me."
Her eyes softened. A hesitating smile
trembled on her lips a moment uncer
tainly, the next moment with no uncer
tainty whatever. And then he knew
that the herald angels had accom-.
plished an unwitting mission.
.CCopyright, 1913t j