The sun. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1937-1972, December 23, 1949, Image 8
THE NEWBERRY SUN
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To greet you at Christmas and with
Sincere Thanks
for your Patronage, Friendship and
GoodWiil.
GROCERY
Phone 428
SPOTTS
1251 Hunt Street
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C. PHILLIPS, Memorials
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Slat ofSetkhk
Continues to Puzzfe
WoJern ScUc
lard
Once again Christendom sees the
Star of Bethlehem and, like the
Wise Men of old, rejoices with ex
ceeding great joy.
Astronomers have discounted pos
sibilities that the star may have
been a natural phenomenon since
such phenomena occur too far from
the earth to serve as any sort of
local guide. Modern opinion is, how
ever, inclined to hold that there was
a Star — although the story prob
ably has been touched by Oriental
imagery.
St. Matthew suggests that even
the Wise Men may have lost sight
of the star while they were in Je
rusalem. hence, they rejoiced when
it reappeared to their vision as
they approached the Manger of
Bethlehem.
Come to think of it. astronomers
have sought an astronomically au
thentic star —and found it not;
historians have sought an historic
ally human Jesus of Nazareth
—and are still arguing whether or
not they have found Him: even
zealous theologians, striving to
harmonize messianic and eschato
logical theories with the illusive
historical and human Jesus, have
sometimes lost sight of the Babe
in the Manger Who from His lowly
stable draws unto Himself all who
are weary and heavy-laden.
Pressing close to that sacred'
Manger, Christendom glimpses the
Star of Bethlehem once more and
rejoices in the light of righteous
ness and peuce which has con
quered every tyranny that evil men
could think of. the light that
shlneth in the darkness and shall
not fail.
Finns See Evergreen
As Mourning Symbol
Evergreens are never used as
decorations in the homes and
churches of Finland because the
finns regard them as symbols of
.nourning
At Christmas most homes where
there are children suspend a
"heaven from the living room or
dining room ceiling Such "heav
ens” consist of a cord framework
covered with straw and different
colors of papei ribbon, etc., and
decorated with paper stars and
silhouettes cut in various designs.
The effect, when reflecting the fire
light and th^ candles' glow, is mys
terious and fascinating.
Candles are used profusely in the
churches; the alters are banked
and the win^iws are filled wKh
them, so that in the pre-dawn dark
ness (Christmas morning services
begin at, 6 A. M.) the churches
beckon approaching worshippers
like brilliant lanterns.
After the early church services,
the gayly decorated sleds race for
home, bright robes flying and
sleigh bells a-jingling. Breakfast is
festive, and then everyone takes a
long nap. Christmas Day is not dj-
Vi'.ed to play or gift-giving; it is
religiously observed, with intervals
of carol singing and Bible readings
The day after Christmas is St.
Stephen's day. and from then until
New Year's parties and general
festivity are in order. Although
gift-giving is not an integral part
of the observances, in some parts
of Finland trinkets and useful gifts
of wearing apparel are presented
to children by Wainamoinen, the
Kalevala hero of Finnish legend.
Legend relates that the crown of
thorns which was placed on the
head of Jesus was made of holly
and that before the crucifixion the
berries were white, but turned
crimson like drops of blood.
The practice of placing burning
candles in the windows on Christ
mas eve is tied up with an Irish
custom which holds the thought of
the Christ child alone in the dark,
needing light for his way.
• • •
When buying toys for children
remember that those of the con
structive types are best—they devel
op the youngsters' ingenuity.
• X •
The wild boar has been revered
from ancient times, and was espe
cia'.ly honored at Christmastime
for having taught mankind the ar*
>i plowing by rooting into the
’-ound 'viih hi, "neks
BACKED UP . . . What would
Christmas be without bright new
dollies for little girls to cherish?
Giving promise of a goodly crop
of dolls for this Christmas are
these finished heads on racks in a
toy factory, ready to be given
odies and limbs.
In Virginia, the old Dominion,
storied land of early American his
tory. there Is an old tradition of
the origin of the Yule log that is
retold every Christmas.
As the family sits around the
Yule log and sips their Christmas
eggnog on Christmas eve, the an
cient legend is recounted again.
One very cold Christmas eve,
when the frosty wind howled across
a world of snow, an old man was
sitting in his little cabin wishing
that he had a fire to warm him.
Suddenly be heard the cry of a
Utile child away out in the cold. The
old man hobbled to the door and
gazed out across the snow. The wind
and the snow came rustling in and
the old man shivered until his
"onliest two teef" chattered with
cold.
The plaintive cry of the child
came again above the whistle of
the wind. It went straight to the
old man's heart and he wished with
all his power of longing that he
might have the strength to go out
and find the unfortunate babe.
The cry came a third time — and
then a wondrous thing happened. A
miraculous power filled the old man's
veins. His muscles became strong and
tense, his crutch fell back into the
cabin and he stepped from his thresh
old out into the snow.
Hurrying over the snow with a
speed he had not owned since boy
hood, by and by he came to
a little child lying in a snow bank.
He bent down and touched the
child and a great new strength
flowed over him, a strength which
seemed to give him wings as he
sped back to his cabin.
Arriving there, he placed the
child upon the bed, tenderly drew
the ragged coverlet about it and
then looked to see if there were a
bit of furniture he could use to
make a fire with whiclf to warm
the little one.
At that precise moment a great
log rolled across the threshold and
into the fireplace. The. little child
looked at the log with eyes like
stars—stars which sent gleams of
light that kindled the log with the
most brilliant fire the old man ever
had seen.
The dingy Uttle room immediately
was filled with radiance and warmth,
and at the light enwrapped the child
he laughed and laughed with a mel
ody like a song from the heart. The
old man turned his eyes to where the
fire burned and watched the flames
leap in beautiful rainbow tints over
the log, and as his old eyes watched,
the colors seemed to form the shape
of the Cross in the fire.
The flames of the Cross leaped
higher and higher, blue, red, yel
low and white, and as the old man
watched this display, suddenly and
magically there appeared a table
in the center of the room, covered
with a Christmas feast such as
never before had been spread be
fore his eyes And never again was
the old man hungry or cold, and
never after that was there a Christ
mas in old Virginia without the
Yule log and the Christmas Child
to give light and warmth.
And that is the story of the Yule
log as it is told in Virginia every
Clu-istmas eve.
How did you choose thfe toys for
your youngsters this Christmas?
A New York toy manufacturer
declares that only a few parents
will select the proper playthings for
their children each Christmas.
Most, he said, buy toys that
please themselves, rather than the
children.
The man, who owns a company
that makes creative playthings,
warns that "gadgety” toys may be
harmful and frustrating. And, he
adds, children quickly tire of them.
‘‘The best toy a parent can buy,”
he said, ‘‘is a set of plain un
painted, wooden unit blocks. Chil
dren will use and enjoy them from
age 18 months to nine years.”
He said that girls between age,
S and 7 should have a "doll corner.”
He said the corner should be sup
plied first with a large wooden
stove, bed and cupboard.
"The doll comer will become the
most treasured play place in the
little girl's life,” he said.
He contends buys from ages 2 to
7 mostly enjoy "transportation"
play—trucks, cars and boats.
There was no statement about
what parents should choose at
Christmas for the young teen-age
boy or girl—in the 13-16 year-old
group, whose interests already are
deeply grained in social activities,
and who prefer parties and dances
to play-at-home activities.
Perhaps by next year, this manu
facturer, or some child psychologist
will have solved this problem.
/s you and your loved ones gather 'round
your cheerful Christmas tree, with its sparkling
lights and shiney tinsel and gay ornaments, we
want you to know our thoughts are with you
this Christmas morn. It is our way of express
ing our appreciation for your generosity during
the past year.
mM : .
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NEWBERRY,
J N. BURGESS
W. S. ARRANTS
MARGARET FOLK
DOT WOOD
BENNIE BURTON
MABEL CALDWELL
LOUISE BERRY
BETTY DERRICK
ERNEST McDOWELL
CYRIL ABRAMS