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•!•••" ' . • • . • ' "* • •' '• C'-. : . . . " . • •;. - -«v . y.v ••'. 1'i;* M;HENRY, ILLINOIS, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1932 Borrowed Plumage o r u -- Shone -- ~ ground by MaHori«3m«» (y;rc("O'?'( (y/f 'n Jc&r wanted to say Merrj|; Christmas, and tkauk* log the check, Mr. Hreen Mr. Joseph Breen pa signing * letter am smiled backatthe freckl grlifc "Merry Christmas to yo'uj Jim," be answered, "'and you're m»9f. welcome to the check. Are you goin& \ at* C*:oJiS NCE thore Jean read througl the letter which her} arrived to find her Id a mood of despondency most unusual Like a gleam of. sunshine. H had brightened the gloom.v prospect of a Christmas away from home. To he living with one's step-aunt didn't of a home, but even„that better than the deserted campus. And then had arrived this charming •note from one of the university's most •attractive graduates: _ -- "My Dear Miss Gray: - s "It will afford us possible pleasure to have you the holidays with us. We entertaining most informally will expect you Christmas "Cordially yours, "MARJORIES HOLDEN." Informally!" Jean's brow Instinct told her that thosf two words had been inserted to Intimate that her hostess did not expec*. to come equipped with evening goyvns and opera capes. Only--Jean much less than that! "I--can't)--go!" Jean winked bach unaccustomed tears and stared hard at a picture on the wall in front of her. As her vision cleared she be tame aware that she was gazing at the group photograph taken after the last Dramatic society play. What fun she had had! For one brief evening she. a "star" and worn truly b* coining clothes. . > If only--Jean sat suddenly upright with eyes that sparkled. "I'll go t® Mrs. Holden's and wear those clothes!' she cried ecstatically. Jean's inspinf : tion was born of the fact that the Dramatic society had issued a recent edict. Clothes worn in the annual plays were to be purchased and become the property of the organization and so be always available for fatarf k ^ > t - v-:-- v Cary and Jean Lagged Far Behind the Others. performances. Jean was property mils tress and held the key tp^the wardrobe tbat contained them. "If Mrs. Holden had not been abroad wben we gave 'Nancy's English Cousin,' this little stunt might have been Impossible," mused Jean as, the following day, she folded and packed the smart little serge she had worn In the third act Three changes there had been, noted respectively In the stage directions as "a one-piece serge," "a simple party frock" and "a striking outdoor costume." Jean took all three. But the following morning at tht gay, boliy-decked breakfast table Mrs Holden unsuspectingly turned Jean's happiness to ashes. "My brother, Jean, who came after you had gone up stairs last night. Why, you know each other I" "Of course, we know each other 1" smiled a singularly attractive young man. "1 coached the play in which Miss Gray played a demure little Eng lish girl--and well do I remember hei In the part I" Yes, It seemed tbat 'Cary Endlcott. who had made "Nancy's English Cousin" the success It had been, was Mm Holden's brother. On one of the very last days 01 vacation the crowd set out on snow shoes across the hills. Cary had man aged matters so tt>at be and Jean lagged far behind Ithe others. Sud denly, In a snowy but sheltered bol low, as the rest topped s distant sum mit and disappeared, Cary turned right about face and held out bis arms. "Jean, darUng. will you be my wife?" Jean flushed furiously. "I--oh-- why, bow cap yon--after--after these clothes?" Assistant Professor Endlcott's face expressed nothing beyond utter mystl ticatlon. Then he shook his head. "I'm afraid--maybe I'm dense, but--" And Jean had to explain, her slim bands clenching themselves within the odd little English muff which wss part of her "striking outdoor costume." When she bad finished Cary Just stood f*»r a moment regarding her evei so gently, ever so tenderly. Then. "Didn't yon know, you funny girl, that men can live with clothes year in and yea out and never ncrtice them? It's the people that wear them that count." And bapp. Jean, snuggling close In his arms, knew that he bad spoken the truth. / _«•*» M«C)ar« ftewapapar SraftrOht). • • vxWNU Sarvtea) Great Yule Feast Given by King Richard in 1399 CHRISTMAS in England, of course, Is an old feast day, though the Santa Claus and Christmas tree traditions come to- us from another source. William E. Mead's "The English Medieval Feast" (Houghton, Mifflin) quotes from Stow's "Survey ol London," an account of the great feast which Ring Richard gave in Westminster Hall In the year 1399, just after rebuilding the hall of William llufus: "A most royal Christmas, with dally Joustings and runnings at tilt, where unto resorted such a number of people that there was every day spent 28 or 26 oxen, and .HOC sheep, besides fowl without number; be caused a gown for himself to be made of gold, garnished with pearl and precious stones, to the value of 3,000 marks; he was guarded by Cheshire men and had about him commonly 13 bishops, besides barons, knights, squires, and others more than needed; Insomuch that to the household cache every day to meet 10,000 people, as appearetb by the messes told out from the kitchen to 300 servitors.'* Saxon Words "Waes Had," Meaning "Be in Health" CHRISTMAS fare has always occupied a big part in Yuletide cele bration. Our Anglo-Saxon forefathers were excellent trencher-men, and eating and drinking were a necessary part of every gala day. Stuffed boars' heads, peacocks, geese, capons, pheasants, mince pie, plum pudding--these decked the board. The turkey wss unknown. That excellent fowl did not rater into the bill of tore until the discovery of the New world. Of course, there was drink aplenty. Punch was the customary wassail bowl. This bowl takes Its name from the Saxon words, "waes hael," meaning "be In health." It was a great bowl" of punch Into which baked ap pies were thrown to enhance Its fls •or. Mince pie originated In 1590. It first was made from mutton. The Puritans condemned it as an ungodly, dish, and the Quakers would have none of It. Om Way te Keep War* Perhaps the best of all possible ways to keep warm during the Yule rfeason la to become employed as the fullyoutfitted Santa Claus In a basement toy department Busy Codfish The codfish is one of the moot prolific of all fish, millions of eggs being produced by a single female. According to a careful scientific lnvestigs-, tion a cod of 70 to 75 pounds will proi duce more tha$ 9,000,000 eggs. la • N< fo*FB find that honest *nr£T Is •leant as aa antidote for discontent Christmas Essentially the Day of the Child DECEMBER the 25th Is the Day of the Child. It Is upon this day of days that countless men and women and little ones barely able to speak their lan guage utter the great rejoicing: For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son Is given 1 Even those who hold creeds to which there Is no Christmas feel the splendor of that cry, and those who have no formal creed at all. still know there is one of the 365 portions of the year which is essentially the Day of the Child. It Is the day when even the most unsentimental adult, long since congealed and hardened by the years, canbear In his heart the footsteps of the little ones. Today they are running about so eagerly all over the world pattering to see what good gifts may have been received, ardent with a hope that only young hearts can feel. On this day the austere scientist who has almost quit believing In the very laws of astronomy which recently seemed so sure and stable, but which now seem dissolving In a mist of relativity--this careful professional skeptic becomes as a child himself, and considers it hard Indeed If he cannot believe In Santa Claus, bearded fairy godfather of the children. On this day even those who have been the most careless feel like saying over reverently that beautiful prayer for wisdom In the rearing of children: "Almighty God, heavenly Father, who hast blessed us with the joy und care of children; Give us light and strength so to train them, that they may love whatsoever things are true and pure and lovely and of good report." For on t£ls Day of the Child we all remember tbat .the most precious gift we can bestow Opon our children ts a capacity for feeling Just such tender and generous and helpful emotions as today stir In the breasts of all good Een aiid Mm*n --S«iHl» Pnit-InMllgencer. ' S«Udu| Ckrutaui Card* We QMonsclousiy betray our tree selves when we select Christmas cards. People who live in city spartments are apt to send drawings of farmhouses that nestle cozlly among tall trees; a lawyer's holiday card Is likely to be sugary with sentiment -- Collier's Weekly. Hard to Boy--Mamma 1 Tired Mother--Well? Boy--When Santa Claus was a little boy, who filled his stocking?--The Country Home * „ --^ Sacred Ctutaaab I begin to suspect that the common transactions of life are the most sacred channels for the spread of tha heavenly leaven.--Macdonafd. <! CHRISTMAS GREENS ?! , ji HpHE custom of banging everj| * greens In the house during the Yuletide originally had a purposed fK beyond that of decoration. In jfo olden days each kind of ever- 2 J ^ green was believed to confer spe- jj cial blessings on those who "• passed beneath Its boughs.- To fj pass under holly insured good forji tune throughout the year, bay meant victory, while laurel, was '•supposed to Impart a Spirit of f! beauty tad poetry. -- Missouri (I Farmer. 1 ' . . " .. . i *•: Peacock Dinner English Custom Many Years Ago FASHIONS in Christmas dinners come and go. In olden days at a Christmas feast In England, next In importance to the boor's head as a Christmas dish was the peacock. To prepare the bird for the table was s task entailing no little trouble. The skin was first carefully stripped off with the plumage adhering. The bird was then roasted; wben done, snd partially cooled It was s?wed up again In its feathers, its beak painted with gilt and so sent to the table. Some times the whole body was covered with leaf gold and a piece of cotton saturated with spirits placed in its beak and lighted before the carver commenced operations. This "food for lovers snd meat for lords" was stuffed with spices snd sweets, basted with yolks of eggs and served with plenty of gravy. The noble bird was not served by' common hands; that privilege was reserved for the lady guests most dls linguistic* by birth oi* beauty. One of them carried It Into the dining hall to the sounds of music, the rest of the ladles following In due order. The dish was set down before the master cf the house or his most honored guest. The latest Instance of peacock eating recorded was at a dinner given to William IV, when duke of Clarence, by the governor of Grenada. UNDER THE MISTLETOE Wreaths, Garlands Gay Shout "Merry Christmas!" WHAT a Joy it is to come Into a home scented with spicy pine and hemlock, so suggestive of Yuletide that each room fairly shouts "Merry Christmas!" And what a real plensure, too, to gather the greens and dispose them so that they express all the kindliness of the hlessed season, Intensifying the delights of the "friendliest" period ol the yearl As garlands, the various types ot greens may decorate windows "snd doors, or they may be massed on mantels or tables To make a flexible rope of greenery, supply a foundation of heavy twine and to this attuch the short sprays of pine, hemlock or spruce, interspersed regularly with clusters of laurel; or for a more, decorative effect use the artificial berries with the greens. Fine flexible wire Is best for fastening the sprays In place Another use for greens li In the formation of window wreaths. Arrange the small sprays on a heavy wire foundation, taking care to keep the wreath symmetrical. Small groups of red berries, regularly placed, give character to such a decoration. Marion--Jack is getting near-sighted. Myrtle--It doesn't follow tKat there Is snything tlje matter with his eyes because he oairt oso yon under the mistletoe. Wattles Drug Store sell PlaindeaJers G3S3 "A Merry Christmas," *s Other Nations Say It TBIfl Is how the nations of the world express the wish "A Merry Christmas": France, Bon Noel; China. Tin Hao Nian; Portugal, Boas Festas; Japan, Kings Shlnnen; Turkey. Ichok Yiiara; Hungary, Boldog Karacsonyi Unnipeket; Greece, Chrysrovjena; Croatia, Sretan Bode; Holland, Een Vroolijk Kerstmis; Spain, Felices Pascuas; Germany, Froehllche Weilnachtan; Sweden, Glad Julen; Italy, Felice Natale; Rumania, Craclum Fellcltatlune; Bohemia, Vosele Vanoce; Poland, Wesolych Swiat; Denmark. Glaedellg Jul. jj THREE CELEBRATIONS| i r n p H R E E C h r l s t m a s e s a r e c e l e - 11 I brated every year In the ^ t * t Church of Nativity at Bethlehem, jj| j! The first occurs In the Roman j e f<' Catholic section on December 25; j jj 13 days later the Greek Orthodox n ** church hold their celebrations, to J| be followed by those of the Armentan church In another 13 days. "ColltUeM" The term "collation," denoting refreshment, was originally confined to the light evening refection of monks, and Is supposed to have been named from the Colationes of Casslanus, read in repast »': Ancients Gave Presents as Most People Do Now "THE custom of making presents at Christinas Is derived from very ancient usage. It was a Teutonic invention, in Latin countries gifts we«-e exchanged at New Year's, writes James Waldo Fawcett in the Wash Ington (D. C.) Evening Star. The decoration of churches with mistletoe and holly ts likewise a pagan survival. Nativity plays and pageants trace back to a prp-Chrlstian era. The sports of the Lords of Misrule In England are supposed to be an Inheritance from the $£turnalla of heathen Uome. Father Christmas or Santa Claus Is Identified with St Nicholas or Nicolas, and also with Knecht Uupercht and Robin Goodfellow. Grimm says that In some parts of Germany Knecht Nicolas is merely an attend ant on the real gift-giver, who is sometimes the Infant Christ and sometimes Dame Bertha, but who is also frequently conceived as an ugly dwarf, called Krampu& Carol singing by waifs, strolling street musicians. Is an old British custom. The first Christmas cards date from about 1846. The setting up in Latin churches of a Christmas creche Is said to have been originated by St. Francis Protect Children When Celebrating Christmas CHRISTMAS time being a season ol Joy, every precaution should be taken to prevent any untoward circumstances which might enter into Its celebration. Too often the careless placing of lighted candles has resulted In pain ful burns, and even death to those participating In t the Yuletide festivities. "Santa Claus" has been the vie Mm in innumerable cases. Tiny electric lights now are most nsed In lighting the Christmas tree, and tbat reduces the fire danger ms terially. If candles are to be used In the decoration--and they undoubtedly lend an effect not to be obtained by the electric lights--they should be placed on the mantel and in other secure locations where contact with their pretty biases Is not likely to be made In Christmas sports Involving the slightest danger, children should be directed In their play by an older per son who Is competent to effect a res cue if necessary.--Charles Frederick Wais worth. list. W«rt«rB Nvwspaoer Ualoa.) Moon's TravaU The velocity of the moon la t^a orbit Is 0.640 miles per second. last's "Holy Citjr" Benares Is the holy city of India, having 1,600 temples and 900 mosques. out to--er--blow it all In, or perlui give it to your mother for a holiday present?" "Neither." The excitement of the - moment made the lad forget that office boy was conversing quite freely with the president Of the company. • "Mothers ain't so stuck <fh checks, he continued, "they like sometbi more personal, something that sho' you really thought about 'ein. "So?" the president's eyebrows wem up in questiot). "And what," he inquired, "did yoa select that was personal?" "The sweilest scarf"--Jita was warming up enthusiastically--"all blue and gold and fringe on it, long as m '»and." "It must ' be a beauty," agreed Mr, Breen. "Yes. but tha ain't all, Mr. Breei My mother said sho hoped some folk would sing carol; outside our hon tonight, 'cause shei' loved 'etti. "And what you think? A whoVf crowd of us ar# t • going to sing carol* *""*f, : for her. Oh, boy,' • w o n ' t s h e l i k i V . that r The lad moved towards the door. *"~i "Perhaps you're going to sing carol* for your mother tonight, too." "I--I hadn't thought , of It before.* confessed Mr. Breen, "but perhaps will. Jim." His mother was Just like any other mother. How she would like to havV carols sung In front of the little whlfp house on the hill. Mr. Breen reached for his phon% "A train leaving at two, you Thank you. I can make it easily." Outside, his car waited, with JeB> kins at the wheel. "Hello, Jenkins," he greeted. "vfjl% •' "I've Just got an hour and a half t# ^ *>' ( do some last minute shopping. Theft I'll catch the train for home. • . "Take a holiday for a week. ' "if. kins, dp you get me?", "Yes, sir," gasped Jenkins, *1 get you." • And up In the white house on tb« £ V *. hill little Mrs. Breen put the guide* ^ \ ^ coffee and brown ^ * J m u f f i n s on t h e u a i i i u M S i m f c * - f ' - . - . i W i snowy table. "Supper's ready, Joe," she called. The old man came slowly, a frown on his ruddy face "Now, Joe," the woman soothed. "d^n't you go and ' \ - Z let anything spoil your Christina* spirit" "I know It, Myra." Be p a t t e d t h e wrinkled hand. "But when I saw Setli Holden's boy and Daley's girl come home for the holiday. I Just: ' couldn't help feeling a little bitter. ^ "Our boy hasn't spent a CHristma^'-' with us for five years. Why, w«. haven't even seen bim for two." "1 know, Joe, but he never forgets % • check, and such s generous one Re- ' member, Joe, our boy is s busy man. "Now, Joe," as he started to speak, „ "I hsve the most wonderful evening^, , planned. , We are too old to believe I^ Santa Claus, but we sre never too okl. - to believe In angels, 6 -V* "The young fdlka most Ukdy wiU _ come singing carols, and I hop* they J" •; will sing the one 1 love best: -i " " "Whil* ahephrrda watched their v flocka by nlfht v All Mated on tha around. The Ansel of in* t<ord came down | And (lor? shea* around.' And so the carolers, peeking. Into th* ~J windows, saw them sitting ha ad lit hand. , - Then suddenly, clear on »he evening. * air, came the sound of ma ay roice^ one deep, rich tone, apart from all tM others. The little old lady's eyes were liko stars. "He's come. Joe." she whisper**, y-p tremulously, "that's bis voice." Then the door opened, and two strong*arms held them fast. •, ••qiad to see me, dear folks?" cried , a belovetl voice. "Son." said the old nwh. solewly.- "1 think the Angel of "the Lord smkh have brought youfc; "Of course," exulted Utile Mrs. Breen. "for Just see the glory around." . HH MiCtiw M*wa>ara> SraOi Ww <WN1> Sarvtoa) 'j?*?**"