Scandinavians Developed Idea Of Santa's Helper Santa's little helper came down to us from Scandanavla. Many years before Leif Ei ick ron touched American shores, the children of the North believed that a little elf with long white whisk ers?Jul Tomten ? saw that the earth was abundant with good food and (hat the animals and birds were taken care of. After the pagan Vikings were Christianized, little Jul became the giver of presents?just as Santa to- ! day. It. became a custom for chil dren to leave a bowl of porridge on the kitchen table for the little elf. who would give presents in ex- j change. Travelers picked up the legend of Julc Tomten and carried it around the world To us, he is the busy, jolly, good little elf who works happily in Santa's work- | shops. ? Then Came Three Wise Men I.egend not only has identified the Wiae Men as Gasper. Melchior and Balthasar, it has crowned them and given them the kingdoms of Tart^s. Arabia and Ethiopia. It has symbolized their gifts as sym bolic of what Jesus was to become ?gold for a king, franklnsense for a high priest and myrrh for a great physician. The Gospel test's specific wise men from the east logically identi fies them with Zoroastrianianw an ancient monotheistic religion of IV.-sia. Zo roast nan priests were called Magi; they were powerful in public and private life since they, and they alone, possessed the priestly mysteries involved in the worship of Mazda- who represent ed the lioroastrian power for good The Magi may or may not have been fabulously wealthy. St Mat thew does not elaborate their treasures nor the amount of gold, frankincense and myrrh which they presented to the ChrHit Child. The pifts may have been mere tokens of their treasures, or the sum and substance thereof. And if they were soothsayers, mystics and possibly clairvoyants tin y were als > truly wise?In as much as they did not return to llerod, but departed into their own country by a different route 1 Three Famous Americans Born New Year's Day January 1. perennial celebrated ; as the start of a new year, is also the birthdate three famous Americans. On January 1, 1735, a boy was born in Boston. Mass. He grew up to be a silversmith and engraver designed and printed the first Con tircnt.il money and the first official seal of the colonies. An amateur It ventor. he discovered a process for rolling sheet copper. But he is most famous for a horse ride he made on the night of April 18, 1773 His name: Paul Revere. Seventeen years later, in 1752, a girl was horn in Philadelphia on j the first day of the year. She was Betsy Moss?maker of the first American flag, tin the same day was born the great poet?Philip Freneau. Other events that took place on January 1: George Washington at Cambridge raised for the first time the flag of -the United Colonies, 1776; Florida adopted the consti tution, 1887; Union of Ireland and Great Britain. 1801, de-Sousa dis covered Bio de Janeiro, 1531; The United Nations Declaration signed. 1942; the first Tournament of Hoses. 1889 '-^fa Found A Home ALBUQUERQUE. N. M. (AP>? Air Force officers at nearby Kirt Und Air Force Base like where they are stationed so well they arc planning a retirement haven In the ' area. b Headed by Brig. Gen. William b Canterbury, commandant of the Kirtland special weapons center, a group of officers has purchased ( 40 acres on the northeast outskirts t of the city. Each officer plans to v mild the house of his choice on lis chunk of land after the acreage i sectioned. The walrus, a land and sea crea ure, gets its narile from a con raction of the Norse word of vhalehorse. 1 VALUABLE CHRISTMAS 'GIFTS' for residents of the Waynes ville area can become a reality through the program of the Cham ber of Commerce, according to the legends of this unique tree in the window of the Chamber ofTice on Main St. (lift boxes on the tree bear tags such as Spiritual Growth. New Housing, Full Employment, Larger Family Income, Industrial Expansion, Area Reautilication. More Farm Income. Off-Street Parking. Civic Im provement, More Retail Trade. School Improvement, New Indus tries. More Tourist Travel, Community Planning, Community Rec reation, New Highways, Closer Kural-Crban Relations, and New Library. (Mountaineer Photo). Of1, M MERRY / T CHRISTMAS r What con we say that would express all our wishes for the coming season? This is the closest thing to it we know of and we want you to believe we express these N sentiments with a genuine feeling of appreciation. r May the New Year be one which will see the realiza ^ tion of your fondest dreams and ambitions May it f be the one in which you will be the happiest and the ' most content Best wishes to you, friends JffU 5 ? * . - SMOKY MTN. SELF - SERVICE GROCERY 1012 Balsam Koad w f '.?' I (&y the old fashioned V Christmas spirit of peace and joy embrace your ?JK ?* home this glorious SR. 0 holiday season. And may the richest gifts?health, ? happiness and good will come ^ ? to you and your ? ? ^ dear ones. * A r (ty^SKAS\ 4' *' % g(. H. P. CLAY, CONTRACTOR %i Ife. ^ * JL 403 Railroad St. JjV N js?^ =^f ***?^\- %i ??*?*'; ?MM K^nttshnas \s a hush of peace falls n ever the waiting world and all eyes behold the ? silent, knowing stars a hove ... we take time out this Christmas Eve to express sincere good wishes to you all. BESOniijfl SSKSSSMSSOtL, DAVE FELDMAN