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Show Stella's Wonderful Christmas Tree a little girl in A father's yuletide gift brightened the holiday for 1903; , today millions bask in that gift's special glow By CHET HOLCOMBE This is the story of a Christmas tree which, with the passage of many years, has adorned the holiday with a shimmering halo of brilliant light. The story begins in a big, rambling Victorian house in Mount Vernon, N.Y., whicji was lit by gaslight and sweet with the aroma of Christmas baking. The year was 1903. The season was Christmas, d streets tinand the kled with the sound of bells as horses, their breath steaming in the nippy air, shook their harnesses and pulled the sleighs and delivery vans about the town. In the old house lived Stella Watts, seven years old and the only ctiild of Ira and Stella Watts. It was the night before Christmas, and Stella sat in the shadows of the stairs leading down to the main floor, peering excitedly through the balustrade at her father and her Uncle George Schofield who were bustling- - in and out of-t- he parlor tools. carrying boxes, wires, and Christmas was an important holiday for the Watts and the Schofield families.. They would gather at one of the families' houses, where they would light the candles of the Christmas tree, exchange presents, sing carols, and enjoy a hearty Stella soon could hear them whispering. From her stairway perch, the little girl watched the activities below till she could barely keep her eyes open. Then her mother saw her and chased her off to bed. Stella was np early the next morning. She brushed her long brown tresses and dressed in her very best: an dress, her prettiest hair ribbon, and white stockings and shoes. She joined the family for breakfast in the dining' room. Excitedly she eyed the closed reception-hall door that led into the big parlor where she knew the presents and a marvelous special surprise 'J awaited her. Stella's eyes shone with wonder as she gazed at the tree and its beautiful, new adornment, tiny electric lights! n A. . k eyelet-embroider- high-button- snow-covere- 'P ';' the time for going into came. They opened the door and Stella stepped in and Finally, was astonished. ot There stood a beautiful, pine tree from upstate New York, its ample boughs hung with tinsel, colored balls, little angels, popcorn strings, canaries with glasslike' tails and dozens of tiny electric- light bulbs strung around, the tree 10-fo- with wire! The curtains were drawn to enhance the sight Two dry-cebatteries powered the lights. Stella stood amazed before the brightness a myriad of dots of lights like stars on the branches. Candles never had been so beauti . ful and the terrible danger of their flames, which had brought death : and destruction to so many families over the years, was en'ded. Children from blocks around came in to see the marvel, which was just like a fairyland tree. "Little wonder I still love to tell theT story," says Mrs. Stella Watts who today is a grandmother ' living in Santa Barbara, Calif. That Christmas morning more than 60; years ago she was, unknowingly, taking part in ' a historic occasion. For that Chrislmas tree may well have been the first 4 Y "JS w, heater in Mount Vernon. Stella's .fatherwastheltheater'schiefen- - Hol-lowe- ll, : r-h- 'V ' T" ILLUSTRATION BY TOM SCHEUER ed ll Christmas dinner. But this Christmas Stella's fa ther, had promised her she would have a special treat. For days he had been making plans with his brother-in-lawho was his first assistant at the old' Knickerbocker gineer and had charge of its electric-bulb marquee, the first of its kind in the country. Christmas Eve, Uncle George came bustling into the Watts house, his arms laden with packages, and rushed into the parlor. Stella's father stepped out of the kitchen and disappeared into the parlor, where ed . v - " " s v;:Vv electrically lit one in the world. . 7 , v; . I " ..... , Family Weekly, December TO, 19H 11 |