Show J. J CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS' IN G GERMANY ol THERE THER is perhaps no country in which the very name of Christmas that is 1 devoted night ight has such a ringing sound or such a deep- deep seated influence upon the hearts of the whole nation as aR in Germany Rich and poor old and young high and low Christians and those who have strayed away from Him who was born on this holy night are all moved by His spirit In the e emperors emperor's palace and in the peasants peasant's hut the day is commemorated Standing around the Christmas tree the aged become young again and their hearts turn back to the old gone by-gone days of childhood Christmas in Germany is a festival not only of the church but is also a family festival in the strictest sense of the word To have the whole family gathered around the hearth on Christmas day is their greatest happiness A As s separation on that day is most keenly felt Many a silent tear trickles down the cheeks in remembrance of the departed departed departed de de- parted and the distant Many a sigh is heaved at the thought last Christmas our child our parent our brother our sister was celebrating with us All the thoughts that come are gentle and tender Family disputes are often settled settled settled set set- under the Christmas tree and it is no uncommon occurrence fo for a happy young couple after years of waiting to receive one another from the hands of their parents as the best Christmas gift At Christmas time many Y a prodigal son has returned home and found for for- l u. u I 0 Hope and anticipation are present in everyone the prisoner for life is dreaming dreaming dreaming dream dream- ing of liberty the condemned of pardon the sick of health The commemoration of Christmas reveals reveals reveals re re- all the deep and tender feeling of the German To rejoice and cause joy is the general tenor of this time Not only do the parents and grown people make gifts but the little tot who can hardly walk toddles s up to papa and mamma grandpa and grandma and with his face glowing with happiness and joy holds up in his little hands some trifling gift What a busy time before Christmas What secrecy What a whispering and hushing One would suppose that all the young ladies in Germany were conspiring against the welfare of the state and that all are walking on a powder To some extent America has been caught with this wonderful time of expectation expectation ex ex- yet there is one thing that we wedo wedo wedo do not have This is the so-called so Markt or Christmas fair It H is kept in the streets and is by no means means confined to the poor ven street ders The streets are lined with booths in which are exhibited all the good things that gladden the heart at Christmas Christ Christ- mas time This fair is of more or less duration In Berlin in former years it lasted for four weeks To the great chagrin of the Berliner in general this time has been cut down I believe to two weeks only What a commotion in Berlin especially in the evening Christmas Christmas- trees Christmas trees all over the city The greatest market is in the Lust 1 garten It the most beautiful place in the capital of the empire enclosed by the imperial castle the great museums and the new Cathedral that place where the greatest festi festivities of the empire take place Christmas eve approaches Th The e sun sunsets sunsets sunsets sets and a dull heavy sound is heard as from every belfry the great be bells s are solemnly rung There is a general illumination as it were No curtains are drawn From every window in street and court a light is streaming forth In the brightly lighted rooms the family is gathered In the homes of the wealthy a Christmas tree reaching to the ceiling with its generous burden of gifts and decorations with good cheer for the servants who for this night join equally in the merry In the most humble abode of the poor likewise a Christmas tree small indeed forms the center of the family festival Around this parents and children gather with singing and rejoicing in happiness For those who have nothing the wealthier prepare a celebration Large beautiful halls decorated oftentimes with witha a number of Christmas trees are the gathering places of of chil chil- dren There is singing and prayer and then an unloading of the trees In some large cities there is still in existence an old church institution the so-called so II Curren e It or choirs of poor students These generally well trained sing the old Christmas carols Thus the German heart is placed in inthe inthe inthe the proper festal mood and in accordance accordance accordance accord accord- ance with this mood the Christmas holidays holidays holidays holi holi- days are spent For those who have truly celebrated Christmas at the manger of Bethlehem it has been a foretaste of the great and eternal celebration above May there be besuch besuch besuch such a happy Christmas to all |