Fridai/, December 18, 1926
III G II L I F E
1‘uge 5
Ci)ris>tma£i in #recnfiitioro
Section II
FEATntKS
Greensboro’s Christmas Eve
Of 1850 Contrasted to 1925
ICE 7 IN. THICK
China Dolls Only Toys In Shops
of Town in 1850.
THRONGS ON STREETS TODAY
Scores of Shops Jammed With Mar
velous Toys, All Sorts of Creations
to Delight Childish Fancies.
December 2t, 1850, the little town of
Greensboro was blanketed under an eight
inch fall of snow. 'I'lie Greensboro Pa
triot of December 21, tells us that Buf
falo creek was frozen over to a depth of
.seven Inches, and that the weather was
tlie coldest known in many years.
Sleighs glided smoothly along with a
silvery tinkle of bells over the hard-
packed snow lane that marked the short
business thorouglifare. Tliey were pulled
by jirancing horses, who seemed to be
imbued with the Christmas spirit them
selves as tiiey trotted lightly along, the
breath drifting from their nostrils in
frosty clouds. The stars twinkled out,
gleaming with a cold lirilliance, and
darkness settled over the wintry land-
scajje. IJghted lanterns were hung on
the sleighs, lamps were lit in the rival
general stores of W. J. McConnel, and
of Rankin and McLean; in the drug
store which D. A. L. Porter had just
recently sold out to Dr. D. 1*. Weir; in
the dry goods establishment of J. 11.
Sloan and J. & R. Lindsay; and in the
boot, shoe and harness sho]i of James
Kirkman & Co., which, togetlier with a
few smaller stores, comiirised tlie busi
ness section of the town. Men and
women, wrapped in heavy coats and
mufflers, came out of the stores carrying
sacks and bundles which contained ma
terial to fill the em])ty stockings that
hung in front of the big open fireplaces
in almost every home that night.
Tlic atmosphere inside the general
stores was saturated with the smell of
sperm and coal oils, of cheese and stock
feed, and with the redolent fragrance of
coffee as a clerk ground it in the rotary
handmill. Holiday shopjiing was con
fined mostly to purchases of oranges,
nuts, apples, and stick candy, with per
haps a pair of mittens or leggings to
keep little bodies warm.
In McConnel’s store a few crudely
made china dolls were on display, and
were the centers of an interested group,
who commented upon their highly dubious
beauty and life-likeness, but mostly upon
their price, which was two dollars. Only
one had been sold. They constituted the
toy stock of the town.
Over all was an air of simple, yet rev
erent and beautiful preparation for the
observance of the Birth of the Christ-
Child on the morrow.
•h —
HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS
Dec. 18—Release!
Dec. 24—Expectations!
Dec. 25—Realizations!
Dec. 26—Class of 22 banquet.
Dec. 28—Class of ’25 banquet.
Dec. 31—Farewell ’25!
Jan. 1—Resolutions!
Jan. 4—Disillusions!
LIHLE STAR LOOKS
DOWN ON GREENSBORO
Saw Figures Gazing Wistfully Into
Shop Windows of Beautiful Ob
jects. People Crowd Streets.
CRESCENT LIMITED CHRISTMAS BAND
BEARING SANTA
CLAUS ARRIVES
Large Crowds Greet Saint Nick
At Station and Accompanies
Him Down Main Street
CHILDREN LOSE FAITH
Crowd Diminishes on Finding That the
Old Fellow Has a Competitor
on Another Corner.
A little framed calendar in Will’s
Book Store window informs the passers-
by that it is Dec. 24, 1925. The redly
glowing winter sun sinks below the west
ern horizon. Dusk creeps down over the
top of the Jefferson Standard, settles on
down until it blankets the bustling
streets. Myriad lights wink on in sev
eral long costly-edifice-lined business
thoroughfareSy casting their brilliance
over the teeming sidewalks.
Automobiles smoothly roll by, horns
warningly squawking, the gases from
their exhausts floating upward in a blue
haze on the clear, cold air. Street cars
rumble along with a great-to-do of clang
ing gongs.
Throngs, laden with gayly wrapped
bundles and boxes emerge from the
scores of shop entrances. Everywhere
{Continued on 'page seven)
At C’liristinas time tlie city streets are
illuminated with beautifully decorated
and lirilliantly lighted’sho]) windows dis-
jilaying those things sucli as any heart
could wish for. Artificial snow, tinsel,
evergreen branches, children’s toys, San
ta Clauses, books, jiictures, and the like—
each has a iirominent ])Iace in the win
dows.
Outside, old King Winter is reigning
supreme. Tlie light from the stores falls
on the snow-covered streets, giving tliem
a silvery aiijiearance. Sign posts seem
but icy ghosts silently watcliing the
liroceedings.
Stars are twinkling cheerfully over
head, while below “the great tidal wave
of human life” hastens uj) and down the
city streets. Some gay iieople go into
the shops and jiurchase beautiful gifts,
laughing, chattering, joyous, and blithe
all the wliile. Sucli luqqiincss becomes
our Christmas tide. Yet—
One small star looked from the
sky and saw some jiathetic figures
jiassing slowly by the dazzling shop win
dows, gazing wistfully at the beautiful
objects of Christmas cheer within.
These poor persons will have no joyful
Christmas with Santa Claus, feasting,
and all the other countless things that go
with the celebration. 'I’lie little star
wondered, and is still wondering, wheth
er or not the world would be happier if
most of the contents of the Christmas
shop windows could grow wings and fly
to the places where they are needed the
most.
“I want to see Santa Claus.”
It appeared as if all Greensboro want
ed to get a view of that “grand old man”
when a line nearly two blocks long
marched down to meet liim. Santa came
in on tlie Crescent Limited Saturday,
November 28, and when he arrived there
was a mixture of scouts, loyal citizens,
clowns, and even animals to greet him.
'I'here was a roar of applause and yells to
which even the animals added their lusty
voices as the old fellow came into view.
Mr. Claus was given a jilace of honor;
that is he sat on a throne. A real mov
able tlirone was this, placed on a truck
(for it was a truck though it could
scarcely be told with its gaudy colors
and decorations.) But alas—the truck
refused to start. A dark complexioned
youth, (very dark, indeed) cranked and
twisted and groaned, but tlie truck de
fied all efforts.
Finally, after laborious toil, tlie grand
parade was on its way. Amid cheers
and hurrahs. Santa doffed his hat and
boweci and grinned. (Ever see Santa
grin before?) Crowds tlironged the side
walks, and dashed into tlie streets.
When the brass band had finished it’s
first jiiece and small feet were growing
tired, Santa Claus seemed to lose his
personality. Several members of the
tlirong wishing to investigate the cause
followed the now, rajiidly darting citi
zens. On arriving at the next street, to
their dire amazement and astonishment
they beheld anotlier Santa (’laus. One
little fellow remarked, “Now I know
they ain’t no Santa Claus.”
MAKE GAY MUSIC
Distant Lullabies Soothe the
Weary City of Greensboro
On Christmas Eve.
As the corner clock struck twelve
C’liristinas Kve, along the dimly lighted
Elm street could be seen a truck slowly
moving northward. As it apiiroached
the square music was heard—C’hristmas
music—ha]))iy music.
In the truck, well wrapjied in furs
and mufflers was the Greensboro Band,
out in the chill of tlie night, merrily play
ing to the .sleeping city—to the restless
cliild tuid tlie tired fatlier. And if such
be awake tlie distant music conies as a
sootliing lullaby and soon they fell
asleeji.
Thus tills merry band roams tlirough-
out the weary city leaving behind it
peace and quiet for all its peojile.
IN AULD SCOTLAND
NEW YEAR IS BIG DAY
“First-Footing” Is Popular Dance
Among Lads and Lassies at the
Many Gay Parties.
TOY BATTLESHIP
RECALLS BY-GONES
Mother Remembers Christmas
10 Years Ago—Little Black
Finger-prints Summon Past
BOGART’S PLACE SCENE
OF BY-GONE REVELRIES
Many years ago on Christmas Live in
the small village of Greensboro a
great celebration was held. “Bogart’s
Place” on the corner of Elm and Mar
ket streets w'as filled with laughter and
gaiety. There young “shieks” and ladies
would square-dance until late into the
night. This was the period during the
Civil War. Everyone looked forward to
the Christmas Eve and New Year’s
dances held at the dance hall called “Bo
gart’s Place.”
Miss Fannie Logan, great aunt of
Roberta Porter, G. H. S. alumni, was
probably the most popular damsel at
these dances.
Long ago there was no Main street;
there were no brilliantly lighted white-
ways; and after the dances the girl’s
and their “specials” took a stroll or
found some shady alcove.
To be a well favored man is a gift of
fortune, but to read, and write comes by
nature. —Shakespeare.
The other day, a mother here in
Greensboro, w'as rambling through the
plunder of the attic; stopping here and
there with each jirecious reminder of the
jiast, to think over for a few fleeting
moments, the sweet memories clustered
about these relics.
Soon, she came across a little toy bat
tleship, somew'hat dilapidated and bat
tered up and covered with little black
fingerprints. Each scar represented to
her a joyful moment of play for her
little boy; every finger-prit was en
deared by loving memories. She thought
of the Christmas ten years ago when
Santa had brought this little gray bal-
tleship to her little boy. How he had
enjoyed playing with it!
Now, her little boy was a college stu
dent, and no longer cares to play with
the little gray battleship and so it is
jiiled away in the attic. The mother
clasped it in her arms! A tear trickled
down her faded cheek. It was a token
of loving memories, precious to her!
As many mince pies as you taste at
Christmas so many happy months will
you have.
In “bonnie auld Scotland” the celebra
tion of the advent of the New Y'ear is
far more romantic and interesting than
is the rather jirosaic manner in which it
is observed in y\mericu. 'I'o the Scots,
New Year’s Day is jiroliably tlie most
important holiday of tiie year excelling
Ciiristmas.
On Hogmanay, which is the name
given to the last day of the year, the
liouscwives make everytliing siiick and
sjian in readiness for the coming of the
New Year. A sujijffy of cakes, known
as currant buns, and shortbread is laid
in, along with several flavors of wine.
One of the most interesting customs
relative to the celebration is that of
forming parties of friends and relatives
for the ])urpo.se of “first-footing”. After
tlie stroke of twelve tolls tlie la.st dying
breath of the old year, these jiarties,
laden with cake, short bread, and wine
(since it is .sujipo.sed to be unlucky to
enter the Iiouse emjity handed), rival
in each other being the first ones to set
foot that year in the houses of their
friends. The “first-footer” is generally
dark-haired, as there is a superstition
that a brunette brings good fortune and
hajiiiiness for the rest of the year, while
if he is a blonde he is sujiiiosed to bring
bad luck. After an exchange of hila
rious greetings and the disposal of the
cake and wine, the party goes to some
other house and rejicats the jirocedure, if
the hour is not too late.
On New Year's Day every shop, school
and business house is closed. Many jiar-
ties are held on that day, and every vis
itor must not be allowed to go away
without receiving a glass of wine and a
piece of cake or shortbread.
ERIC NAU TELLS
G.H.S. STUDENTS
OF GERMAN XMAS
Carols and Music Express Joy
and Gladness on the Eve
of the Birth of Christ.
SANTA CLAUSMAKESVISIT
Knj>land and (Jerinany Cnitribiite.s
Many Hymns and Carols Which
Have Lived Through Ages.
THE CHRISTMAS BOX
FROM GRANDMOTHER
Side by side in the Greensboro po.stof-
fice two packages sat ready for mailing.
They were very different, these pack
ages, in size, shape and content, yet
both were Christmas gifts.
One was very large and .square and
was dotted with gay bright seals.
Across the front in brave bold letters
was written its destination, a place
somewhere on Riverside Drive, New
York.
If one could have raised the top and
peered inside at the contents he would
have seen a handsome silver bowl. If
{Continued on page eight)
A few of the stuednts of G. H. S. have
been interesled in hearing Eric Nau tell
about the observance of Christmas in
Germany. In most resiiects it is very
much like that in America. 'There are
only two big differences: (’hristmas Kve
in (iermany is “the big night,” while here
the excitement reigns suiireme Christmas
Day, ))Hrt icularly Christmas morning
about six o'eloek; Santa visits the Ger
man homes Christmas Eve, probably at
(irandma's after church, and iilays games
and sings carols with the children, while
Santa visits our American homes In the
wee, small hours of the morning when
“Not a creature is stirring.
Not even a mouse.”
Eric says that the dominant note of
the Christmas celebration in Germany is
the singing of (’hristmas carols and
hymns. From (»errnany comes much of
the world’s Christmas Music.
'Throughout the ages ])eoi)le have giv
en exiiression to their .sorrow through
tears and to their joy through songs.
Hence, it is only natural that Christmas,
tlie most joyful day of the year, should
be and is a day of songs.
'I’o England and Germany the world is
indebted for a goodly number of the
beautiful carols and hymns which echo
from every Church and Christian home
on the Birthday of the Savior.
In the Elizabethian jieriod in England
were created, “God Rest You, Merry
Gentlemen,” “I Saw 'Three Shijis Come
Sailing In,” and “As Joseph Was a-
Walking.” T’.ngland has also given us
Milton’wS “Hymn on the Morning of
Christ’s Nativity,” Wither’s “As On the
Night Before this Hajijiy Morn,” Her
rick’s “What Sweeter Music Can We
Bring?” Charles Wesley’s famous “Hark
the Herald Angels Sing,” “Joy to the
Worlfl, the I.ord Has Come” and nu
merous others.
Rejiresenting Germany we have the
“sweete.st of all songs,” “Stille Nacht”—
“Silent Night,” and his “Cradle Hymn”
which is one of the first (Jiristmas hymns
taught a clpld.
“Away in a manger.
No crib for a bed,
'rhe little Lord Jesus
Ivay down his Wee head.”
We have Phillijis Brooks, and Ameri
can contributor, to thanks for that “im
mortal hymn”—
“O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see the lie.
Above thy deep and dreamless sleei),
'The silent stars go by.”
Edmund Sears, the well-known hymn
writer is resjionsible for that beautiful
creation “It came upon a midnight
Clear,” which portrays the true sjiirit
of Christmas in the lines
“'The whole earth give back the song,
Which now the angels sing.”
Christmas is almost here—Christmas,
the saddest, sweetest time of the year.
It is a period for entertainment and
family reunions and a time when one
remembers how old he is; how worth
less and liow little he has really ac-
cornplisUed. —I. E. Avery.