THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1943.
THE HERMISTON HERALD, HERMISTON. OREGON.
tertainment committee. Miss Lorna
Gabriel is ill.
Mrs. Mabel Richards returned Sun
day from Portland where she went
for medical care.
Jack Rice returned Monday to the
naval training base at Farragut, Ida
ho- His mother Grayce Rice enter
tained with a Christmas party before
he left.
Mr. and Mrs. Roy Taylor went to
Portland over the week end to visit
their daughter Josephine and family.
Mrs. W. D. Gudgel visited her son
Douglas in Pendleton over the week
end and all planned their Christmas
day with her son who lives in Walla
Walla.
C. Tillory made a trip to Pomeroy
the first part of the week with a load
of hives and honey.
19-3
6ÉST WISHES
★ From Greenland's icy moun- !
tains to India's coral strand the
age-old celebration of Christmas
is in progress. In this season of
universal good will we welcome
the opportunity to thank you for
that measure of confidence you
have shown in us during 1943 and
other years. We will do our utmost
to continue to deserve it
Caesar Practical;
First to Hint of
Gifts He Wanted
Umatilla Electric Cooperative
STANFIELD NEWS
By Mn. R m « Hedriek
Mr. and Mrs. Claude Townsend and
two small daughters left this week
for Mrs. Townsend’s home at Home-
. dale, Idaho, to reside while Mr. Town-
■ send is called into the army.
Jack Lawrence and son Melvin of
Portland are here looking after their
I home.
Loren Hughes and Gilbert Smith
Junior drove to the mountains Sun
day to bring back Christmas trees.
Mrs. Walter Isackson is here to
spend Christmas with her sisters and
I father.
Mrs. Ernest Greathouse enter
tained at her home last Friday even-
ting at a three-course dinner the co-
* workers of the west area of the U. O.
K D. Afterwards they enjoyed their
■ Christmas tree and exchange of gifts
■ and then games were played. Those
K present were Nora Holiman, Zelma
E Culver, Jane Anderson, Luella Corey.
Mamie Belt. Ida Hoidin, Irene Mon
crief and the hostess.
Appointive officers that were in
stalled December 16 by H. R. Wessell
were Chaplin Frank Sloan, Senior
Deacon Harry McCormick, Junior
Deacon Roy Duncan, Senior Steward
John Heckman. Tiller James Owens,
as well as the elected officers.
Mrs. Neva LeTrace left Monday to
attend the installation of officers in
her Eastern Star chapter at Heppner
of which her sister, Mrs. Emma Ev
ans is worthy matron. She will then
go to Portland to visit relatives and
friends during Christmas tide.
The Ladies Aid will enjoy a Christ
mas tree and party at the home of
their president, Mrs. Roy Duncan.
Mrs. Rose Hedrick is assistant hos
tess on Thursday afternoon.
The Rebekahs enjoyed their Christ
mas party at the home of Mrs. Geo.
Elliott on Monday night with an ex
change of gifts. Neva Hedrick. Mary
Rhea and Frankie Lane were the en-
“%
As soon as man became sufficient
ly civilized to devise himself some
sort of a calendar, the festival of
the New Year assumed importance
and was designated as the proper
time for gaiety, hospitality, and gift
giving.
This spirit of gift-giving presuma
bly continued upon a haphazard
path until Julius Caesar hit upon the
brilliant idea of “hinting” as to the
amount of money or specific “gift”
he expected to receive from such
and such a person.
The conquering Romans carried
the custom of "ordering” precise
gifts with them when they invaded
the British Isles. Centuries later,
the kings and queens of England,
who were not as wealthy as they
were reported to be, revived the
custom of Caesar’s day. On one
New Year’s day, the money and
value of presents received by Henry
VIII amounted to nearly 800 pounds
—or about $4,000. Queen Elizabeth
used the same method upon her fa
vorites and courtiers, thereby re
plenishing her wardrobe with petti
coats, mantles, gowns, and silk
stockings, to say nothing of the
bracelets, necklaces, and caskets of
precious stones commandeered in
like manner.
In modern America, Christmas is
the gift-givingest day of all, but ev
ery child who writes a letter to San
ta Claus and every fair lady who
conspicuously mentions the name of
her favorite perfume is perpetuat
ing a New Year’s custom invented
by Julius Caesar and effectively
used by medieval royalty.
Winter Solstice
Period of Many
Ancient Rituals
Christmas is celebrated in hon
or of the Saviour’s nativity, and
while there are no records to
prove that December 25th is the
precise date, historians, astron
omers, and research authorities
have substantiated the fact that
the event must have occurred
during the time of the Winter
Solstice.
The Winter Solstice, when the
sun swings toward the earth
once more, has been celebrated
as a festival of some sort by the
various peoples of the earth
since, and even prior to, the re
cording of history.
...
Symbolic Palm Tree.
In ancient Egypt, the palm tree,
known to put forth one shoot each
month, completed its cycle of twelve
during this period and was symbolic
of the year’s fruitful harvests and
accomplishment s.
The mystic rites of the Druids
centered around toe cutting of the
Mistletoe whose branches, when cut
and distributed by the Arch-Druid,
traditionally bestowed blessings of
nature and divine favor upon the
receiver.
In the Scandinavian countries,
fires were kindled in defiance of the
Frost King, and families, gathered
about the warmth, spent the long
evenings telling weird tales involv
ing Valkyrie and Werewolves—as
well as anticipating to what distant
ports their ships would sail when
no longer ice-bound. The time was
also sacred to Thor, and the Yule
logs, great chunks of the Thunder
Oak, blazed upon the hearths amid
feasting and fellowship.
Honoring Saturnus.
Two Roman holidays—Brumalia
and Juvenlia—were combined into
one great festival in honor of Satur
nus—Saturnalia. It was a period of
general celebration lasting from
what would correspond to our De
cember the 18th on through the Cal
ends of January. Processions and
gift-giving were in order, the courts
were adjourned and no criminals
were convicted, while convention was
abandoned, equality reigning among
slaves and free men.
The earliest Christians solemnized
the Mass of Christ, whence the word
“Christmas,” during Saturnalia,
many of the faithful suffering perse
cution and martyrdom as a result.
After Constantine recognized Chris
tianity in the Fourth century, the
celebration of Christmas became an
established custom.
Indeed, Christmas is celebrated in
honor of the Babe born in Bethle
hem. And the Lord, in His Wis
dom, understands that the traditions
preserved from ancient customs and
peoples are in keeping with the an
gelic enunciation of His Birth:
“Fear not; for behold I bring you
good tydings of great joy, which
shall be to all people.”’
NOTICE OF HEARING
FINAL ACCOUNT
Notice is hereby given that Robert
C. Geer as administrator of the estate
of Ira W. Geer, deceased, has filed his
final account in said estate in the
County Court of the State of Oregon
for Umatilla County, and said court
has fixed Monday, the 7th day of
February, 1944, at two o’clock p. m.
of said day, as the time for hearing
of objections to said final account and
the settlement thereof. On or before
said dar any person interested in said
SEASONS
PAGE THREE
state may file objections to said final
Robert C. Geer, Administrator.
account or to any item thereof and W. J. Warner and A. S. Cooley,
contest the same.
Attorneys for Administrator.
Dated December 23, 1943.
(Dec. 23-Jan, 20)
HAPPY DEU YEAR
1944
========
More than a half a century ago
Robert Barry Coffin wrote:
"I hove ships that went to sea
"More than fifty years ago;
"None have yet come back to me,
"But keep sailing to and fro.”
We don't want that to happen to
you, kind friend. This year A.D.
1944 Is the year we want your
ship to come in.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Jack’s Cafe
Mr. and Mrs. M. V. Hart
Paul Revere was born on New Year’s
Day, 1735.
We hail that dayl And just
as he returned to his goldsmith’s work,
long after his historic ride, so will we
return to the normal occupations of the
ways of peace. That day we also hail,
looking forward to it with renewed hope.
On this Eve of New Year, 1944, we
salute all of our friends.
Happy New
Year to youl
Farm Bureau Cooperative
the stream-
COACH has given
has snuffed out the soft-
• sleigh bells are drowned
beamed candle.
or horns. But who will say
the
that Christmas
lost its charm? With Christ
mas at hand w<
our pledge ot devotion
ideals of honest
g, and express
appre-
ciation of your
WOOD
hristmas do
WIND
AS one hands down a good name, Christmas each I
IL year hands down its traditiona, and all are
CHRISTMAS STILL!
good. It has been a tradition here to regard the
good will of our customers as our most precious
asset. In this holiday season of 1943 we extend
to you, not as a customer alone, but as a friend,
our very best wishes for a . . . Mary
Rohrman Motor
Rohrman
Christmas.
Oregon Hardware
& Implement Co