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Show ll EN one thinks of the rrnuTTnr pieas0DeaT(5aTt "Bring Us tra- ditions of Christmas celebration bt New England, the Middle states and even farther West, In the earl? part of the Nine-trt- h century, It la to JAi vision snow covered ground, sleigh rides and the Jingle of sleigh bells with Christmas trees and Santa Claus much as today tn those sections Whole families goto paring visiting In the bob-sletake of the Christmas feast built around tb turkey! Those were great times and days and their annala live In the works of famous Uteratl of the East coast when our Republic was comparatively young. But at the aarne time a mighty civilization waa being builded on the Weat coast, though bow different was the Christmas observed tn the sparsely settled and undeveloped land that la now California! And how few to leave record ! However. Albert Robinson, e clerk wbo left Boston for California in July, 1828, - and after 110 - days -reached Valparaiso, and Monterey on February 15. 1829, has left In his "Ufe in California, published In the late forties description of a Christmas celebration held at the mission In San Diego that shows the contrast between snch events m a on the east, and west coasts at that , 0 V, - IS. PENNOCK gazed wist- fully at the bower of flowers which surrounded he sick bed. Dozens of chrysanthemums, rosos, carnations, sad lilies breathed their perfume Into the room. But Mrs. . Pennock was not thinking of tn fragrance nor of the beauty this wealth of --bloom as she gazed At it She was thinking of her poor neighbors and of her Inability U) take-- - them Christmas boxes as she bad done for the past fifteen yearn ' . Not that Mrs. Pennocks neighbors were actually poor. They were poor only In comparison with her. Um Pennock loved being neighborly with snch people. In nntold ways she 'lessened their everyday expenses by sending baskets of fruit from her orchard, and vegetables from her garden. For n week before Christmas she would work with her cook making cookies. These were her specialty delicious rleh, fruit cookies. And she made puddings and pies for every household In the community. That left a few nlckela extra In every father's pocket tp wards the skates for his hoy or the ribbons for his girt Everybody counted on Mrs. goodies now. ' That was what worried her. Ths neighbors might be expecting them. They of course knew of the serious operation she had had and of her present condition. She sighed and wiped tear from her cheek. Just then she heard the .votees o young - poopin' singing Christmas carols under her windows She listened as ths old familiar songs rang out ono after the a 7 ' He s f.W- 1of - -- time Robinsons business took him to various parts of the (now) state, and while on a visit from his tn San Francisco to bis friend Don Jose Antonio Estndlllo, comandante of San Diego, wrote of the Christmas festivities he had witnessed : "Don Jose Antonio . . . was ever on ths alert seeking for some sew device for my gratification. It was nearly time for the religious festival of la noche buena' (the holy night) and be directed the customary exhibition of the pastores.' They were bead-quarte- rs I-f- Pen-moc- Ui-U- i 3 t he pleased. Christmas was to be happy. But when he called Margaret she was going away with her parents for Christmas. That In Itself was disappointing but he would see what the midnight service was like anyway. But he wasnt a bit comfortable. Mary looking at that Christ child the way she did began to annoy him. It was too much like mothers look and mother wasn't well. Oh, hang it all I" Bob muttered. "Why can't a fellow do what h wants and be happy? lie seized bis coat and dashed out There was Just time to catch the twelve-fifteen- . No use taking a sleeper. Bob entered the coach with its nodding occupants. But whrf e were those people a few seats down? Margaret! For Fetes sake! OB FARSEI.L, bem from Wherere you going?" Bob's exclam- the for college holiday!, entered one of the rear pewa of the great cathedral end nettled himself with a eatlaQed air of ex-pectancy. Bob had alwaya wanted to attend one of tbeae midnight services and at last he had made It possible forced -- the Issue as It were. Bob looked about him. ' There was. Mary, the Mother of Jesus, bending over the babe. Not far away was Joseph, the father. Mary's expression made him, think of his own mother, when she and dad started otf in the car for the hundred-mildrive to his unmarried aunts home at Wakefield. Dad had do the time wide-awak- Qjfic Floral HB polnsctta, a symbol of the Christmas season on the Pacific coast and which has become generally accepted aa such la the Eastern states also, derives Its peculiar name from Ita discoverer, Joel Roberts Folnsett (1779 1851). who found it In Mexico early In the Nineteenth century. Doctor Poinsett (for as a young man be studied medicine abroad) was Quite a fellow In various, ways. He was appointed special minis-te- r to Mexico In 1822, after be had executed tries; and aid: I Do- atton roused several of the sleepers. Why, were going to Wakefield. Dad e people 'live there and we go there occasionally for Christmas. This happens to be one cf the" oc. cations." Well, Pm more lucky than I deserve," Bob laughed a little awkwardly, Thata where Im going. Do you aupposo therell be any kind of a dancer I know there la. I was wondering who Td go with, but now 1 counIn- ternal difficulties 1 n prevailing one or two of the countries below the isthmus at the time of hla visit, his leadership was and recognized made use bt In restoring 'order aid: Well, Im More Lucky Than se rv a." for this government au Important previous mission to Chile and other South American From BaniuilXomas R3. VAN DUSEN Sim U diarltr- rredei Of V e 'Too bad your holiday Job keeps you from driving with us. Bob. But PH meet you at the station in the morning." And mother, understanding her on a little better than father, had Christmas down there. 1S2S to 1829 he adminis- 'Ton' won't miss the midnight tered the regular portfolio of mintrain, will you, BobT It would spoil ister to Mexico. Christmas npt to have you with us, r Doctor Poinsett also was a memyou know." of the South Carolina legislaber And he. Bob, had said: All right, ture, a congressman from that state not knowing himself Just what he for four years, and waa secretary of meant by It And he felt sure mothwar In President Van Buren's caber didn't either. inet from 1837 to 1S1L Bnt after they had gone he be- know." Probably ono of the world's came more and more positive he Tee, you can know that for greatest outdoor displays of the was not going to Wakefield. ChristBob grinned. polasettls Is that maintained by the mas was meant to be a happy time sure," Bob waa philosophizing to himof San Diego In Balboa park, city bad from been he and home self as he dressed for breakfast: away of the 1915 exposition. site The all the year and besides he wanted I sure would hare been a cad to planting occupies an area approxito go to the tea dance Christmas have stayed at home. Dad at the mating two acres, and as some of afternoon with Margaret Of course train to meet me and mother up the ttalki reach a height of fourho knew mother would have had so relieved and happy teen feet and a diameter of more waiting, the Christmas st home If she had when I arrived. And a date with than three Inches a foot above the been able, but she hadn't gotten over Margaret for good measure. Gee! ground, the garden Impresses one that operation yet Wouldn't I have been tore at myv ate a young forest of green with a The manager of the store had self at home? Christmas happiness brilliant red top. Full effect la attold Bob to go but Bob seized upon means thinking of others besides tained about December 10 and conthe excuse to work- until the store ourselves. Im convinced." several week tinues . closed st eleven. He was going to (A Mil. Wwtera Kkm Dika) (A Mil. Wwttfs Nwspi UkWi sat wait- ing over letter from her son. "The poor, dear boy I How frightful for him! How dreadful! Marooned up there with all those horrible people 1" A had storm, had prevented him from taking the weekly boat to the mainland. There would be no way of getting home until after Christmas. In the meantime the subject of her despair was yelling the loudest of fourteen lively boys. They swarmed up a steep hill dragging sleds. bet I Hey, Mr. Van Dusen beat you this time! Say, my ripper Is the fastest on the slide I Bet yer a herring 111 touch the goal first 1 Down they went again, sleds skimming like birds upon the Icy tracks. Feet guiding them from behind. Eyes fastened on the tricky turn st the bottom. Jtansome Van Dusen (seventh In line by that name, son and heir to an old name and vast fortune) . . . saw that someone was bound to have a nasty spllL Ha was directly abreast of two youngsters. There was room for two to squeak if they had good lock. Never by for three. Van Dusen had tobogganed In Switzerland, and ridden surf-boarin Hawaii, and climbed n few Alps In Italy, but it Is safe to say that ha had never suffered a keener moment of fear than he experienced In this faraway village of Newfoundland . . . sliding down hill with fourteen village children. was keen, but Sandy Galt was keener. He, too, saw ths danger ahead. Somebody had to be Ton couldn't stop the squeezed. sleds sow . . they were going too ... She Heard ths Voices of Young People Singing Chriitmae Carols. other. When stillness reigned again the closed her eyes and tried to sleep, but she heard whispers on the stairs, and a score of rndy faces appeared at her boudoir door. The neighbors' children stood there waiting for permission to enter. Come In," called Mrs. Pennock, and a Merry Christmas to yon all 1 Merry . Christmas," shouted a score of voices, as a score of happy hoys and girls crowded Into the room, and Jim Larkin, president of the high school senior class, stepped forward as spokesman for the rest. hope we are not Intruding, Mrs. Pennock," he said. "Tour nurse said we might come np to wish you a Merry Christmas, and s very hap-p- y New Tear. Every family In the community ! thinking of yon and wanted to tend something to make lyour Christmas happy. During te jtdany years yon brought happiness to all of ns, and we wanted to take this opportunity of expressing to you our appreciation of what a wonderful neighbor yon are. W know there la nothing we can give yon except our thanks, for yon have everything But every boy and girl and mother and father has placed hla name up this card which we present to you." Mra Pennock took In her hand the booklet which beautiful hand-mad- e Jim extended to ber. Christmas angels were singing on tbs cover of In It and under the angels appeared gold letters "Glory to God In the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men." On the inside waa beautifully printed "God gives us friends tnd flowers, and makes friendship more beautiful even than the gardens, and for all seasons." signaThen followed the Sixty-eigtures of Mrs. fennocki neighbors. This is the most wonderful Christmas present I have ever had." exclaimed the beautiful rich lady in thanking the young people. - 1 ht (ft ... NE of the disadvantages under which the modern child labor Is that there are too many kinds of playthings and possessions showered upon him st Christmas or on hla birthday, - or - si - other present-givin- g time. A little child Is often so bewildered by the array of gifts he receives at Christmas that he scarcely knows where to begin when It comes to opening them. A child specialist of the bureau of home economics of tbs United States Department of Agriculture believes that far fewer toys and games, and those of a very simple kind, should be given children st any time, hut especially at Christmas. A selection should bs mads among the things which wUl enable the child to prolong his enjoyment by using them constantly. To avoid some of the bad effects of too many gifts at Christmas time, an Idea might be borrowed from the "sunpopular shine package" tint la often sent to convalescents or new mother. For an Invalid, snch conpackage sists of a number of small. In- teresting gifts to be opened one st a timet dany, for equal number of Van-Duse- fast "Look out yourself r shrieked Andy, and kicked out with a foot, pilling the man sideways from hla led. Andy himself swerved to the Inside. Two more boys crowded with a crash I Bansome on top . . without hla sled. That evening he sat by Sandy's bed and told him stories, so that ths hoy partly forgot the pain In hla broken leg. It was Christmas eve tnd Bansome said hs was never happier In hla Ufa "Ive never had a better friend than you, Sandy," hs said. "Toure some fine little sport. Don't worry . . . things will he all right for you. Im going to keep all my life I Too you for Wend bad mother has to miss this. Shs doesnt knaw-if- hat It Is to have a good-timHave an applet Sandy, old fellow And thus two friends were made the day before Christmas tn a faraway village of Newfoundland. - (A MU. Wntl StwiHWt Ciltt.) e. r day. For the oi mother new baby, It should contain ten or a dozen small articles to add to the babys layette these, also, to bs opened one each day during the mothers stay la ths hospltaL Why not send the mall child a "holiday package," containing enough little gifts for the child to look forward to on each day of the ensuing vacation These need not he period? pensive articles. If possible they should provide the child with some-thin- g pleasant to do on the day that they are-- opened, something not too difficult for his abilities. Children lore to open packages. There are myriad posslbOltiee among the crayons, paints, small and large blocks, pattern or deal ro making toy, tools, sewing mate- e furnishings, rials, tiny end, of course, among ths childrens books, A pair of warm gloves or a bright handkerchief might be tucked In among the other things, according te the childs ago and the amount on wishes to spend. doll-hona- Fireworks Wert Set Off, and All Was Rejoicing. rehearsing night after night, tilt at lengtlf Christmas arrived, and I had tn opportunity of beholding the midnight mass and the subsequent performances. "At an early boor illuminations, commenced, fireworks were set off, and all was rejoicing. The church bells rang merrlly.and longbefor the time of mass the pathways leading to the presidio were enlivened by crowds hurrying to devotion. I accompanied Don Jose Antonio, who -stand where X' procured for me could see distinctly everything that took place. .The mass commenced, , Padre Vincente de Oliva (died 1845) officiated, and at the conclusion of the mysterious acrifido hs prosmall Image representing duced the Infant Savior, which be held la his hands for all wbo chose to ap. proach and kiss. "After this, the tinkling of the guitar was heard without, the body of the church was cleared, and !m-mediately commenced the harmonicas sounds of s choir of voices. Tho characters entered In procession, adorned with appropriate costumes, and bearing banners. Thera, were six females representing shepherd, esses, three men and a boy. One of the men personated Ludk ter, one a hermit, and the other Bartolo, a lazy vagabond, whilst the' boy represented the archangel Gabriel. The story of their performance Is partially drawn from the Bible, and commences with the angel'a appearance to the shepherds, hla account of the birth of our Savior and exhortation to them to repair to the scene of the manger. "A dialogue la then carried on of considerable length relative to the , attribute of the Deity, which ends In the eubmisslon of Satan. "For several days this theatrical representation la exhibited at the principal houses, end the performers at the conclusion of the play are entertained with refreshment. The boys take an enthusiastic part tn the performance, and follow about from bouse to house, perfect-V enraptured with the comicalities of the hermit and Bartolo. How different from the gay Christmas celebrations of Califor- - "" nla's present millions I And how different from what was taking place on the east coast 1 MSI. Wsatwa Nmtus Osbs. . -- a |