S et H fi tfo *?tn4t *7iee in ßfancA
December 24 thi» year, the tradi
tion of the Christmas tree In Am er
ican church services will be 98
years old—for it was back in 18S1
that a Lutheran minister In Cleve
land. Ohio, lighted the first tree at
such services.
The minister was the Rev. Henry
Schwan. pastor of the Zion Lutheran
Church on Cleveland's York street
and his action brought on a storm
of controversy which lasted sev
e ra l years. This was caused by the
fact that the Christmas tree had so
long been associated with pagan
observance of the season that
many conservatives believed it had
no place in Christian ceremonies
dark green tree where the tradition
was established, a light green one
where Christmas trees, at least,
were known.
Pastor Schwan made his
search for knowledge of the
Christmas tree almost a
J e n tin e l
Episcopal Kindergarten Youngsters
Present Christmas Program For Parents
But as Christmas t i m e
ap
proached in 185!. Rev. Schwan had
not found enough church support
for the tradition to light another
tree at his Christmas service that
year. So. with great regret, he re
signed himself to the end of his
hope of establishing the custom.
But on December 24, he received
from the pastor of one of Cleve
land's older churches the present
of a new tree. Rev. Schwan realised
immediately that the present meant
the acceptance of the custom by a
churchman far more Influential
than himself, and his sadness van
ished.
However, s e m e
of Rev.
Srhwas’s congregation, espe
cially the children, thought the
heautifnlly • decorated t r e e ,
slowing with candles, was Jnst
the spirit of the Christmas sea
son.
But the objectors had their way
and they were determined that Rev.
Schwan’s tree was to be the last
of the Christmas trees erected in
America.
Through the years that followed,
the minister did all in his power to
learn of the origins oPthe Christmas
tree tradition in order that he might
show that the tradition Was far
from the "heathen” ceremony it
had been called.
He wrote countless letters to
friends and acquaintances all over
the world; he questioned strangers
and made tong notes of their con
versations. And, when he learned
that a particular part of the world
already had Christmas trees, he
would mark that place on a large
map which hung in his study—a
D E C E M B E R 2t. 194».
C O Q U IL L E , O REG O N .
F ifteen, four and fiv e year old youngsters of the Episcopal church
kindergarten of Coquille staged a Christmas program for th eir par
ents and invited guests Wednesday evening at the Church Parish
house, displaying an ab ility to sing carols, remember th eir lines and
put on a presentation that was outstanding
Under the direction of M u riel angels, wise men, and the Holy
Ardath, kindergarten teacher, they Fam ily. T w o of the numbers were
sang seven Christmas carols as sung in L atin and the enunciation
the opening portion of the pro
was perfect.
gram. Representing the scene of
Following this part o f the pro
the N a tiv ity , they were dressed, as
PA G E
gram, each child appeared on the
stage, to recite one stanza of "The
F irst, Day of Christmas” which
was followed by a recitation of
“T h e N ight Before Christmas” by
R u th P ritch ard .
Clim axing the evening’s enter
tainm ent, Patty Cobb played “Jin
gle Bells" on a full-sized violin
upon which the little five-year-old
rendered the piece perfectly.
Children talcing part in the pro
gram included M ariella Harris,
Cathy Adams, Pamela Tomson,
Susan Laird, Lynn M acM urray,
Janie
M aynard, Colleen Lehi,
Penny Perkins, Tone Mae Strong,
Stormy Floten, Patrick Neal, R iith
Pritchard and Patty Cobb. “K ayo”
and "Sluggo” Strong assisted.
Each one of the youngsters sang
a solo part during the first part
o f the program w ith the rest of the
group Joining in on the chorus.
"HAVEN’T HAD A FIRE SINCE I STARTED KEEPING
MY FURNACE IN GOO D HEALTH.**
MATtQMAl BOARD OP
There was a Christmas tree
in the York street Zion Luther
an church that year—and once
accepted in Cleveland, the cus
tom spread all over the United
States.
York
street
w h e re
Pastor
Schwan’s church once stood Is
changed now and long ago was re
named Hamilton avenue; and the
first tree, decorated with candles
and a gold star at its top, has given
way to trees with brighter, more
colorful decorations.
But the tradition of erecting and
lighting Christmas trees, which is
observed throughout the nation, is
the same tradition which Pastor
Schwan introduced to this country
in the town of Cleveland nearly
100 years ago.
, Dec. 19. B u rial was at the Co
q uille Masonic cemetery on W ed
Tell the'»
tfw th
about
nesday, December 21.
Surviving are the parents and
the grandparents, M r. and Mrs.
i Fred Rogers of Coquille.
•
•
See “ Spike' ueai.e lo r insurance
of all kinds, phone 5 or 95 -L . tfc
e myriad problems
Among
____ _____
which
beset parents at Christmas
time a rt the many queationa from
Ihe small-fry about Santa Claus.
And the business of telling Junior
or his little sister tha truth about
the Jolly old gentleman In tha red
suit ts really a major task.
However, the situation is bound
to arise, and when it does, it does
something to your heart strings—
so you draw the little ones close
and cast about for .tha best ex
planation.
Oddly m onth, the troe story
1» best—and the easiest to tell.
6a why not Jnst toll the little
ones this?:
St Nicholas (or Nicolas) is Santa
Claus’ real name. Ha lived In Asia
Minor and was the beloved bishop
of the Greek church of Myra in
Lycsa He is tire-patron saint of the
young, and tn some European coun
tries a person dressed as a bishop
still assembles the children and
distributes gifts of nuts, sweetmeats
and other nice things to tha good
boys and girls.
Children loved St. Nicholas and
trudged along beside him aa he
trudged the dusty roads of the
Lycie countryside, bringing fruit
and candy to the tick and needy.
One wf many stories told of
hls goodness eeneerns • peer
and honest man and hls three
good and besotlfol daughter»
The father was unhappy far
poverty prevented hls giving
the customary dowries to hls
daughters, sad fee this reason
Ihey conld never have saltoble
husbands.
One night a bag of coins wss
tossed in st the man's window. The
next night the set was repeated.
But on the third night the father
watched, and the anonymous giver
was detected The Jolly bishop stood
with the third bag of coins in his
hands. The father was very proud
and would not accept the money.
The good bishop begged the poor
man tn accept the gifts .end • use
them for hit daughters’ dowries,
requesting that his name never be
revealed.
At last, tha father accepted the
money for his daughters, but he
could not keep the name of the
generous bishop secret — so the
legend of the goodness of St. Nicho
las was further s p r e a d
and
strengthened.
The practice of placing burning
candles in the windows on Christ
mas eve is tied up with an Irish
custom which holds the thought of
the Christ child alone in the dark,
needing light for hit way.
• • •
When buying toys tor children
remember that those of the con
structive types are beat—they devei
op the youngsters' ingenuity.
• • •
--__ _ _
The wild boar has been revered
from ancient times, and was espe
c ia lly honored at Christmastime,
for r.avtng taught manitin<1, ^ e
or plowing toy
FRUIT C O C K TA IL
Libby's
Hostess Ne. 2</i
Delight
Cos 2 9 e Ne. JOJ’s 19*
G la c e F ru its
39c
1-lh. J ar
Ma. } • !
F a n cy C o rn
N ib le t s C o r n E 5
L ib b y ’s P u m pk in
15c
17c
1-th.
r*s
R itz C r a c k e r s
O cean S p ray— Your Choice— Jellied a r W h o le Berries
Mince Meat
B o rd en ’s
“if
e
35c
D ro m ed a ry D a te s
N e s t le ’s M o rse ls
M ilk C h o c o la te
62
F lou r »
Six Flavors »o Choose From. Bey S everal Packs!
19c
a to
19c
hs
35c
ho
39c
îiT 2 -3 5 c
«-* 39c
$ 2 .0 5
K itch en C raft F lo u r
$ 3 .9 9
G ifts
No. 2 ’/a Coes, Moonbeam Brand. Fdr B eautiful G olden Pies!
a t
Sweet
X
2 * 93C
Canned Pumpkin 3/25c
Hard Candies
HMad
C a k e F lo u r
Jell-Well Gelatins p>* 5c
29e
4 -lb. pkq.
B le a ch ed R a is in s .^ ..
For Delicious M iece M oot Pie» Th a* C o e ’» Be B eat
20
F resh M ilk
< >aart
b.
N o b H i l i * E £ - M Sag
A large variety
of Nuts you like.
29c
... P *
at
MIXED NUTS
29c
C in c h C a k e M ix
Fancy Canned Peas
15e t T 2 - 2 5 c
f v a o - tall
cans
10c
& 29c
C r a c k e r s Too T im o n
» 6 9c
C h e e s e F ood Fivowdo
S u n n y b a n k M argarine UÌ 25
C h eru b M ilk
Cranberry Sauce 2
f o r th e S m o k e r!
Cigorottos, eta I . * i 3
A lbert cos
07
EGGS I Butter
25c
Los II r n
9B
_ ßot
U ltra Fine C h oco late Drops a t This Same Price!
52
56
Meado* Wood %
Grade
ay-» t
•A’
lb. / J
$ 1 .3 5
A ir w a y
1 -» .
bag
$ 1 .2 9
E d w a rd s C o ffe e
IJ h .
caa
$ 1 .4 5
FRESH-PRODUCE VALUES!
TURKEYS
Ready to Stuff
and Roast!
When you buy a Safeway Christmas Turkey — you
pay only for the part that will roast just right. Price
is based on the oven-ready weight.
S w e e t— Seed/e ts
NAVEL
Grade A Hens
ORANGES!
Crete
2.19
Crisp Celery
n.
Grade A Toms
65c
lb.
55c
5*.,. 4.19
lb .
8c
Crisp-Luscious Apples
lUclees
Lb.
Romos
lb. 9a
Winesaps Ib. 7V4
Other ’Tan-Ready Features!
Fancy Fryers
Ducks
Roasters
Rabbits
Southern Yams lb.
Cranberries S . Ib-
Squash,
lb. 3c
rtCSR DATES, 3-lb. bag---------
GBAPEFBUIT, White. B-lh. bag
GRAPES, Red Emperor»------ lb.
DAMJOD PEABS.................. lh.
AVOCADOS-CALAVOS ___ lh.
BROCCOLI, fresh, b rig h t.„ lh .
CAULIFLOWER, solid____ lh.
is«
49«
14«
be
49c
13c
14e
CELEBT HEARTS................ lh.
ls<
CBISP LETTUCE___ . . . „ l h .
POTATOES. U S. No. l„ 1 0 -Ih .
BRUSSELS SPBOUTS .„ I0 - e x .
BIPE TOMATOES „1 4-ex . hex
49e
19e
25«
lb- 69<
luody t . »tu«
HAMS
F'A*
Ready to Stuff
Fricassee Fowl
FerFryiB, lb. 6 *
C
_ „L uysiers
AuetArr
rresn
Disjointed
lb. 6 ?
b. 69
per Ib.
Famous brands
HALF OR WHOLE
T“*
Pure Port Sausage
Pure Ground Beef
Skinless Wieners
•.
Ib. 35'
»OsalaRy ar»«*4
Assorted Luncheon Meats
Ib. 3 9
per Ib 49
gr
ib it u a r ie s
IOHN E D W A R D D A W S O N
>hn Edw ard Dawson, in fa n t
of M r. and M rs. C a rl E. D a w -
of Coquille, died at K eizer
jital, N o rth Bend, on M onday,
A H A P P Y H O L ID A Y TO Y O U
Buy T
CHRISTMAS SEALS
ALL OF US AT
FROM
SAFEWAY
Prices in this ad ore effective through Satur
d a y Dee. Î3 . We reserve the right to lmb»
quantities. No sales to dealers.