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.1 J oL . RALEIGH NEWS AND OBSERVER HowtheFeast of the Nativity Is Cele brated from Green land to Australia. Copyright, 18 LB. bj UUruUoul SjuJlcmta IT U Interoatlnf u well a Instruct ive to know the manner In which the various Christian nations do homage to Him whose birth and mission laid the foundation of our re ligion. These celebrations reflect In a measure the conception of the countries of this glorious event as well as Indicate the traditions of the people on the subject. So curious and quaint are muny of these festivities that they may almost be classed among the folk lore of the people. Geraany. Oermany has-been called the Christ mas country, due to the faot that the celebration of the Nativity Is carried out with more feastlnc and merri ment than In ny ,oyr land, for the Germans while a brave and vigorous natloa are sentimental and childlike In their pleasures. They have pro fileed a Christmas that Is a very Paradise for children and at which arises the old delight to play at being: young again around the big Christ-1 mas tree est up In the German home. Early In life the child la taught to love the festival, and the Impression remains so permanent that no mat ter where the German may be later in life when December the twenty fifth rolls around you will find him celebrating Just aa he did In his child hood days. The German housewife begins her Christmas preparations early in No vember and makes many of the gifts with her own hands. Always thrifty, ehe Mver wastes time In Idleness, and all sort! of knitted garments are found among the presents to her friends. There Is much secrecy about certain cupboards to which Mother J ft. 1 VJi.- ,--- 11 nrZZZ. Exquisite Dolls and Wonderful Toys Faslyoned By rrenchmen Kecovenng from Their Wounds Form Marvellous Exhibit - Artistes of Old World Among the Contributors. By A. R. Parkhurst, Jr. I HEN Santa Clan start out oa his rounds on Christmas Eve hi sleigh will be filled with a bewildering aasort- aent of doll and tor such as this felly old gentleman nvr dreamed of possessing before). In not. Old Kris Krlngie has bees sorely psrp ld ever since it was evident that th terrlbl etruggl now berug waged tn all Europe would, extesd over th Chrtst mai tide, for fear That th o ureas from which h annually recruited hi tock of gifts for k Ltr Army of frisnds n this aid of th water might be cut IT. With Oermany and Switzerland ending lltu or nothing, thine looked L floomy, hot Frmne cam to th res eu and from taht country ha coma uch so ssortatBt that make va gTcwn-p"stgh with avy a w watch th . rapturous youngsters $ltchfr thM eaqutalU doUl U their Utfl boeofiU. . J est prkeav to Thank salvias Day wbcb unut tun-honored (.nnstmas alogan la dinned ,lnt oar oar and thrust Into vision at every turn, which 11 slAMA sf hsss V am.'" VAttat -avew ss sss ss -WWOBaawar . -aasaaaBT - M M JJ K CHRISTMAS SHOPPTKO JEARLT," those wealthy, hardworkln aad ex tremely patriotic New Tork women wh har) oUv-ted thinaads apoa thousands of dollars for th t Far etts Fund aad th Xl!f ru For Iwuys carries the key. The festivi ties begin on Christmas Eve at mid night when the door of a room which has been kept closed earlier In the evening so that Santa CI a us may not be disturbed at his work Is thrown open and the children run tn ami dance about the Christmas tre the common property of the famllr. Each person' gifts are placed In a pile on the table and the parents give them out amid wild shrieks of delight from the children. After awhile the ynuna-sters are hustled off to bed as their elders must be In church at Ave In the morning to hear a sermon on the Birth of the Saviour of Mankind and to aralat In the singing of the carols. New prayer books ere the fashion for the morning service these are popular as gifts After church there Is one round of visiting and feasting. The poor are always remembered and every cottage has Christmas cheer. Much of this la pro vided by the Royal Family, the muni cipal authorities and charitable socie ties. The Emrresa and Crown Prin cess are always Interested In this work and It Is safe to say that even today with the country at war the poorest child will not be forgotten. Austria, Italy and Spain. In Austria the celebration la much the same except at the palace, where the aged Emperor gathers his family about him for a reunion. The din ner, however, lacks the Jollity of the royal feast tn Germany. Frana Joseph always remsmbere the unXortanatee of Vienna, and In each city district there Is a huge tree and presents dis tributed to the poor at his pones. The Italian spends a merry Christ mas with bonfires) and fireworks on the night of the twsnty-fourta. Be goes to midnight mass after a gay time en the streets, and when the dawn breaks oa Christmas he sleeps for a while and then pay visits to his friends. Cake, candy, wises and fruits are kept on the buffet ef every household and the callers are ex pected to enjoy themselves. Their t ...V 4' j s . " J Hv' I 1 Y 4 ji j - a. , . W lDiJe? I r L "1 .ICS. Franca, conceived th Idea of Import ing the total eutput ef th soldiers handiwork. An exhibition, known aa Soldier la Toyland. was arranged on der the auspices of th L Faystts Fund la th Old Knickerbocker Oub building la fifth, avaaue aad at once It sprung Into tremendous popularity among th woman of wealth aad fash ion. Prices far oat el! th ordinary war obtained and whea oad pauses to consider that every Ovllar thaa spent I being appropriated to alleviate th sufferings of the victims of th war, u recalls to most of them what attar mockery that exquisite Tuletlde greet ing, Peace oa Earth. Good Will To wards Mats, ! receiving la war-reat Europe this year. Una. Thoenesaaa Idea. Th Idea at thla doll aad toy tn hibltloa waa conceived by Mile. Val entine Thomson, wall knowa la Part aa the editor of La Vie Feminine, the celebrated awspp-r lor woman. A commlssioa waa formed by bar te pro mote th scheme, thoi with he Inoradtar the Laamoat. . Mm a aaalerrie. Marmler, daughter of th Da 4 Mar mi er d Cholaeal; Comtesee Philippe 4 Laa Caaaia, aad Men Za TarrVsr. It to aa del agate of th Cocamkeaoa that bring Uu, W Ttatrter t Nw fp&&kssz tetter- ftfwm0;t3 jC- 3tt to th. B.mblno-lb. oU m.d. f S f Vr HJ. fiPj?-: il ' 4 CS F'r IT'li ''"T'S " to represent ihe Chrtot Child, la one V.', w cH'V " Pi tLTi't j of .ho feature, of M ,UIU ChrUt- , ' SKiXfM It411 ' I In Spain thr Im wo-Jy hoU- 4 .4 :.!cS5t''iHEV' ' - 1 V 1 'Vt 4-ChrWmu Evi and Chrtotma j J 'tAlL71f . . V? V1 !lr. both of which ar celebratod by w i-i TlV-, WOVfKfrS I . t'V 1 Christmas Day and one at midnight of December twenty-fourth. The lat ter Is well attended, almost every family being represented, servants In cluded. In the old days the servants usually preceded the family to the church, each playing on a different musical Instrument. The service la picturesque the organ peals and the choir chants as the priests bring from under the altar the figure represent ing the new born Babe wrapped In swaddling clothee of gold and white, while the congregation to a man fall down and cross themselves In mute adoration. The service Is called the -Cock-crow fcfamv" At 1:1 A. M. the crowds go home. On Christmas Day the poor come to pay their rent to their landlord and he gives them a gift, usually a piece ef salt fish for luck. During the afternoon the poorer elaasee parade the streets dressed In gaudy clothes. At Seville the fash ionable driveway Is crowded with peo ple who go there only en Christmas. Sometimes there la a bull fight In the afternoon. Korsray. The Norwegian' meat delicate compliment te a lady en Christmas Is to send her a brooch or a pair of ear rings. These presents are packed In hay and ehe must hunt them as one doee "a needle In a haystack." No Tork, where ah la taking aa aetlv part la th ashiotttoa at th Xalckttr bocker dub. Her husbaad la preel. dent ef th Chaptal College la parts, aad la the coarse of a visit ho paid to thi country four yra age h 10- Jured for th AUlaao Fraaoalaa, It waa as th gwest of Maaa V Ter rier that I visited th doll aad tor aaar aad as w approached ach groap she had teat aharmlasj story te tell la connectloa with thi or that doO or toy. adding a personal touch te th whol tear of th hug room whaah mM act aav beea obtained adr lee dellgbtTul aaepices. There la aotalag aaara tateroatlag ra th eaUaeUoa thaa th groap of hlstortcsj dolls mad after aom of th moot famotai pereona tn th world. Each I coorumed oorroctly as t the rtod It represents, aad also depicts aoearataly. la feat urea, th persons for whom they stand. Thee doUa gowned aa Msdsta Bddons, mseesss afatOa aapart. Kmpreea Bogenl aad TV ge La Bras aad othara equally l- rated, war saad nader th alraetloa mt th asaaalag dlraetar of th Bessa of Msrgatna La Croix, hlmeelf i t . I I aa W S -kw-W II -! Vi-lI W AT S-M M XI- W I Tj.i . I' . . 1 1 . rS m . m . : 1 H. (vLT i.t L.?j?j - s.?-:. - 4 Cejrvm&n C1!Ajrjarm5reT' reason can be found for this, the peo ple merely saying that It Is aa old custom. One of the prettiest estab lished usages of Scandinavia la the dinner to the birds. On Christmas morning every gable, gateway or barn door la decorated with a sheaf of corn fixed on top of k tall pole. This Is for the Birds Christmas dinner. Mum mers (Kris Krtngles) ars particularly active during the Christmas season In th north countries. Miracle Plays In France. In Northern France the Birth of the Saviour Is celebrated by eating. orlppla Th oenstruetlon of ether beagtlful doll waa avperrteed by aa warda of l. Workers from th Hon f OaUot sWoura who war thrown at of work by th war. Th Doaeot Boos la represented by aa KhibM of a group at doUa ach two aad a half fet (all aad eaoh repre eeotlng aom historical character. They ahow th actual damasks, laces, 11 ks, satins end fur worn la earlier generation. There ar still thr groups dressed after paintings by Vs laaquaa, Olaaoorjwh, Taa Dyke, Chard in aad othara. Th faience fao tortea of aevres aad Lamogee have supplied ladlvlduaJly modelled bead for these dolls, Th group of fairy Tale dolls are a tos tatertwiiag tha thaa ttaah- loa and history, jf et la aaore ap pealing than th military grous tn which ewery typ f aoldier now tn th service ef th Ailles la shown. ich la eorreet aa to uniform aad every arm aad htaaah f eervloe each eombatant la attached te la shows. Ihe wU f th 0Tanor at Algler drinking and merrymaking and In family reunlona The Christmas tree Is set up and children are given gifts by Santa Claus. In Paris ths boule vards throng with merrymakers, and turkey, plum pudding and foods pop ular tn England are on the menu cards. In Southern France the miracle plays of mediaeval times are given In the churches. They begin with the singing of the Shepherds outside the church asking If they may enter. This being granted they come In followed by the Shepherdesses, who walk three by three, carrying a tree festooned -i I . :iJ' i riL.t&H:A' f, ' Or - U r"HJ has contributed a set of dolls dressed as Arabians. This represents an Ara bian wedding In an Arabian house, and th house Is quite as Interesting and delightful In craftsmanship aa the little manikins that are participat ing la th ceremony at Hymen's altar. For vry distinct group of dolls there la a set of furniture faithfully adhering to th period represented. There ar delightful little chateaua, charmingly furnished, as well as quaint little farm houses with all ao o assarts la and out of door. The human aid of th axhibltlon la seen la the story of a wall-known Partetaa wig maker which Mm. Le Verrler delight to relate Like all true Frenchmen, this wig maker Is aa artist. He enlisted tn the French army, went to th front, waa In ths thlek of th fight until an enemy's bullet lodged la his spina Anolber track him la th eye and whea he waa taken back to a Held hospital It waa found that bo waa paralysed from the waist down and th Injured optic WghUosa. ffn Ufferingrwsrs toWrtri but h bore them Ilk th hero he was. As his sonvalsoront period arrived he waa pre anted with a bald-headed doll, given some hair, a curler, aad a pot of past. His Joy was a delight to be held. Monsteur set to work and ere long hi daft flnrer were accomplishing miracle that nsver had beea wrought wllh applca. They pass to the bap tlnaiHl fonts v.hli-h represent the pal ace of Herod. The King Is seated on a rulsed throne between his two min isters, lawyers stand about with luniks. Suddenly the Eastern star Klldoa on a strltig to the pulpit, three knocks are heard and the Magi dressed In Oriental costume sppear They make known the object of thir Mult and Herod sends tlicru to Beth lehem and they pass out as the shep herds and shepherdesses bow low. After they have proatreted themselves an angel comes to warn them that hey should return to thilr country without visiting Herod agi.ln Then the etar appears as a guide: the wicked King rtees and gives orders for the slaying of the Innocent and the play is finished. Russia and Fnclandl The Russians love to sing on Christ mas and they have a number of poems which speak of the master of the house as the bright moon, the wife la the red sun. and the stars ars the little children. Men go from door to door singing this song on Christmas morn ing and wishing the Inmates a Merrr Christmas. Mumming Is also pop ular In Russia, ths favorite disguise being that of ijjrarus, the blind beg gar. Sometimes the Mummers go from town to town In sledges singing songs and amusing the populace In general. In the churches miniature representation of the Nativity is set up wllh a wax figure of the Child In the center. All sorts 01" cruds figure were used, some mad ef paper and othere of wood and china. All day long th people prostrate themselves before this shrine. England has her Tule Log. ber baron of beef, her plum pudding, .her mistletoe, her carols and her Christ mas charades with the mummers. Many ef these customs are rapidly dy ing out although royalty still has the baron of beef brought Into the dining room on Christmas Day with aome ceremony, the Tule Log still burns and carols ars sung. Christmas Is celebrated In all th British colonies, especially smong the soldiers, who never fall to have their plum puddings and beef In Australia, where the ' rH. !"" upon a doll before. These dolls were colffeured as no doll had ever been , colffeured before. For weeks hs lay upon his back, helpless, except to dress the hair of the myriad of dolls that j were laid upon hla bed each day. Now he Is up and able to hobble about. ! th master of a new and useful art j which wlU return to htm and his do- ! pendent family a handsome living as , I long as be eurvlves. Artists Are Stricken. Score of other Incidents each as In t resting as that of th wig maker are related by Mine. Le Verrler. Vast i improvements have been made In the arts of doll and toy making through this war. Sculptors who responded to France' call to arm have been re turned to the hospital far from -th balUe fronts scarred and maimed for life. Bom have lost- thoir leg and In consequence are doomed to spend their remaining days in a wheal chair. Many famous painters sallied forth to return ao terribly Injured aa to preelttde 'a.-?lyu4thsst. touching brush or canvas again. Many soldiers whose circumstances prior te th war did not afford them th opportunity to glv veat to their artistlo talents are now deprived of th trade that heretofore put bread Into the mouths of the little ones dot pendent upon them. Those sculptors. artists and artisans now ars all coa- hi. &rViH weathor la warm on Christmas, the' I'M; ' go out camping and have gam '; an. I uan dinners In the forest. In India, the bind of summer, tiger hun-' lng parties are organised for th dayJ but the men always contrive to hV. s nie Utile reminder of the English Christmas for their dinner. Africa and Greenland. ' r. Away down In German Kast Africa th Germans have taught the negTw the Christmas story, and In many homes the natives hsve their Christ V mas trees. At the mlnslone there k a feast all day long with a tree fuU of gifts for the boys and girl wk com to the mission school. Also In the West Indies the Christ-' mas festival follows the custom aft th countries of which they are cole- J nljka. Fnr t nal inra JimfttM Km asl . English Christmas aa far as possible! ' Cuba, although free and Independent, ) still clings to old Spanish customs, and likewise Porta Rlro Haiti fnlloan 1 French custom, while the Danish -West Indies cling to the Soandlna , vtaa practice. ' In Greenland where the people for ' the most part ars Catholto the native y shut themselves In from the snow aad "' set up a little Christmas troe. Th walls of their houses are covered with " religious pictures and a candle la placed before each one on Christmas ' Eve to llxht the wav of the Virata , and the Child. In many South Amer- '.. Iran lands where the Spanish Idea pr valla ths people hold carnivals, and . In one place the curious old Bpanlah custom of several men going outside of town snd mounting ladders to look ' for the Wise Men Is still In vogue. The Servians burn a Tule log oa Christmas and believe that th ash t kept In the house during th coming j year will bring health and prosperity I. to the family. As thsy are of th J faith of the Oreek Church the re- ' Itgioua service la the earn aa that f t Russia. ' All n" tit wnvt HAk a.il - A , In every land welcome the coming I hrlil vlth In In Ih.l. t. - r "At borne, at sea. In many distant lands ; This Kingly Feast without a , rival stands." ' If-f-V hVc we2 'centrattng their highly developed, of latent talents upon th crafts of dim and toy making. ! As 1 said before, all thla lute bono brought about through a band ot no ble and self-sacrificing women, Whea train load after train load of wounded ' soldiers were brought Into Paris th , one great problem that confronted th ... ; authorities was that of providing soma) -entertainment, and later, some occu- -nation for those maimed heroes whea they sufficiently recovered to leavt.j; their beds Women I -carried Trade. - Thomson and those of he commlaalon set to work and diligently applied themselves to the art of doll ; nd toy making. They mastered every oetail of the craft and thea returning , o be bedside of their strickoa f charges they Imparted to them th knowledge they had thus acquired, v. Naturally the aoldier at first war a a . - - . I- .V-.., M.a.l.S T omww w ti -- iv .,. a ,1 mint tSM..'' accomplish without fatiguing the salve and la this way while away'; th tedium ot teas hours In bed. Quick' to sels the Idea, the soldier applied thenuelvee diligently, for before long they were told that the time we tot far distant when they oould beooma so proficient at their new trade a to earn a good livelihood therefrom. Thla gave an added Beat to th work and before many weeks some of th aaOst exquisite example of th doll aad toy crafts that Porta had ever seen war -being sent from ths inillUry boeottal of Porta " : ".'! Many of th aolAlt who learned j these trade In their hospital aav j so far recovered as to be out again, ' Ad scoxas upoTX-scorex of tfcem fcftvq Veen sent broadcast throttgh tB U-'1 la aad rural districts of Traaod to Impart their knowledge to th at- . filet ed ot the districts aad la thta . way Franc fat aeoutrlSC . tadua. , try that before long wlU rlvaj eve , the repatatio of Oermaay ao Una enjoyed aa U toy mart at. th Qtf . : World. ' ''.. ; ... ,' y-
The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.)
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Dec. 19, 1915, edition 1
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