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sy* , . H _r Page Ten THE CLINTON CHRONICLE, CLINTON. S. C Thursday, De^mber 21 # 1944 CHRISTMAS DAY IN ACCOUNT WITH OUR FRIENDS OF THIS COMMUNITY STATEMENT 1 HIS DAY FINDS YOU WITH A CREDIT ° BALANCE OF 4 365 Days of HappiMss ^ For Next Year L. B. DILLARD Gent's Furnishings Tl'RKEY DINNER CHRISTMAS DAY HOTEL CLINTON COFFEE SHOPPE -o mmv cflRisimfls It is the season of the year to wish you and yours the compliments of the Yuletide and we find it a pleasant task. May we acknowledge your many kindnesses of the past... ma\ we publicly thank you for your good-will and patronage. • * t\ e pledge our best efforts to serve you efficiently in the coming year and respectfully solicit your continued friendship and patronage. PITTS SERVICE STATION PITTS COAL CO. \V. Rov Pitts Phone 75 THE GAYEST' SEASON OF THEM ALL—' May we express our sincere good wishes to each of you and your loved ones, and your friends—our friends. You have been most cordial in your relations t with us in the past and we are mindful of all past favors when we say to you—, * / / CHRISTMAS GREETINGS •/ CHANDLER & COOPER GARAGE Auto Repairing and Parts Phone 71 H. Grady Chandler T. Russell Cooper Saint Nick Lived In 4th Century On Christmas Eve, American chil dren will be tucked snugly in theii beds—while .visions of sugarplum? dance through their ..heads. „ Listen ing breathlessly, they may hear sleighbells in the snow. Santa will be about, his pack laden with doll? and drums, painted carts and pic ture books, and uni aliened good cheer for young and old. The real, live St. Nicholas wa? born in Asia Minor and lived during the Fourth century. The Dutch set tiers brought many legends center ing around him to America. He wa? an extraordinarily studious youth and, after his father died, much concerned about the fortune he had inherited. He, therefore, conceived the idea of supplying financially enp- barrassed maidens with doweries. the your.g ladies having no idea where the money came from. In his youth, Nicholas visited the Holy Land, and as a result, de sired to spend his life in a mon astery. However, he was bidden to “Go on; live among men . . .’ , Later, as the Archbishop of Myra, he was renowned for his gracious ness, kindness and understanding of children. The feast of St.- Nicholas, patron saint of Russia, is celebrated on the sixth of December. On that day, in many European countries, the children are visited by St. Nicholas and given nuts, apples, candy and small gifts, providing they have been well behaved throughout the year. The modern American conception of Santa Claus was first expressed by Washington Irving who, in 1 described him as a tubby, jolly little fellow speeding across the sky in a reindeer-drawn sleigh. In 1822, using Irving’s description and supplying additional details from his own imagination, Clement Clarke Moore told his children the story of “The Visit of St. Nicholas.” A year later, the poem was pub lished in the Troy Sentinel. Many years passed, however, before Dr. Moore, being a professor of divinity, publicly acknowledged having writ ten the now famous poem, which has been translated into several foreign languages. ' Thomas Nast, creator of the GOP elephant, the Tammany tiger and the Democratic donkey, apparently dressed Santa in his red suit through a series of sketches appearing in Harper’s illustrated weekly. Welcome Gift It is a woman’s war, too. And for Christmas Santa brought this lit tle lady the uniform of a Red Cross nurse. The cape is blue. The uni form is of white cotton with the Red Cross emblem. TWENTY CENTURIES The birth of the Saviour did not, then and there, establish peace on earth and good will among men. y Caesar did not topple from his pinnacle at the precise moment: people continued to grumble against his decrees and wonder what new law would oppress them next. Herod, king of Judea, did not join the Wise Men in adora tion of the Holy Child: but rath er, authorized the slaughter of the innocents in an attempt to destroy Him. But: There were shepherds watch ing over their flocks some two or three miles from the Stable of Bethlehem: the Angel of the Lord appeared unto them: Wise Men, having seen His Star in the East, hastened to bring symbolic gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. On this Christmas day, we re member the children in His Name —for theirs is the Peace of to morrow—and, hearing the carols of good will above the present turmoil, we are the shepherds of Bethlehem. Wandering Old Lady Is Santa in Italy Santa Claus doesn’t visit children in Italy. It isn’t because they are all ! naughty, buT because there is no , Santa Cl?ius—in Italy. No phe runs down to a well-deco tree on Christmas morning to look for presents. Brightly colored flowers decorate the room instead of Christmas trees, and presents are not exchanged until January 6. On that night, an old, old lady, La Befana, walks from house to house and leaves a present beside each little child she visits. Exactly 1,940 years ago, accord ing to the Italian legend, La Befana was very busy sweeping her kitchen when several men dressed like kings stopped in front of her cottage. They asked her where Bethlehem was, but she had never heard of it. The men told her about a baby, which had been born in Bethlehem, and mentioned a star which had been guiding them. The old lady wished she could accompany them when they left her in search of the infant Jesus. But La Befana stayed home. It was getting too dark out, and be sides,, the baby could wait until to morrow. Later that night she no ticed the sky quivering with light. The clouds seemed to take the form of angels. All thought of sleep left her. Rising, she carefully wrapped two gifts for the Holy Baby, then ran out into the night in the direc tion the kings had gone. Fast as she hurried, she had not reached Bethlehem when the star disappeared and dawn filled the sky. She frantically asked the way to Bethlehem, but no one could tell her. And so La Befana has constantly traveled since that day, searching for the Christ Child. On the Epiph any, 12 days after Christmas, she goes from house to house, looking into the faces of babies. With each she leaves a gift, hoping that at last she will give her presents to the right child. i Young Charmer This eager youngster is all set to turn her charms loose on Santa, and with results that will leave his pack considerably lighter in weight. Decorative Shadows To achieve a colorful decorative effect, take a bowl of pine branches and make it “spill” backward to ward the wall. Bright light from clear-glass Christmas lamps, either bunched in a bowl or concealed from view behind the bowl, create the lovely shadow patterns pictured The shadows may be tinted by add ing one or more larger lamps of contrasting color. Boxing Days In England, Boxing day—usually December 26—formerly was the daj when the old squires ' distributed Christmas boxes to the help on then estates. It has since become a son of legalized blackmail—an exrusi foi delivery boys, the postman an others who have served you durin ^".c ve<>r to rnll «nd rnlleo* '• tiu King for a Night at ’ Wassailing Tree Fete “Here’? .*p thee Old apple tree! Whence thou mayti bud. And whence thou mayti blow. And whence thou mays! beat Applet enow; Hats full. Caps full. Bushels, bushels, tacks full. And my pockets full too! Huxza! Huzza!" The rendering of this doggerel rhyme, followed by the passing of the cider jug;, was a popular feature of Christmas during the middle 19th century at Devonshire. This completed, the male mem- j bers of the party »discharged ©ms ! into a selected apple tree—said to result in bumper apple crops. The men would then knock at the farm house door, guess as to the kind of roast in the oven. The one who guessed correctly was king for j the night. Place Ban on Christmas Puritanism brought over with it In the Mayflower the anti-Christmas feelings. In 1659 the general court of Mas sachusetts, following the example of the English parliament, enacted a law providing: “anybody who is found observing, by abstinence from labor, feasting, or any other way, any such day as Christmas, shall pay fpr such offense five shillings.” The law remained in effect until 1681. The repeal, however, was bitter to old Puritanisms, which kept up an even protest down to the early part of the present century. Pious Custom In the west of Ireland, Christmas takes a pious note. A candle is left burning in the window as a guide to the Holy Family, should it be need ing shelter. And food is left on the table between meals in case any souls from purgatory should revisit their old homes. Hi- . * I* <5^1 £ TO OUR MANY FRIENDS AND CLIENTS WHOM \ WE HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF l SERVING IN THE PAST. S. W. SUMEREL /ETNA-IZER JACOBS BLDG. Phone 80 CLINTON, S. C. Life, Fire, Accident. Automobile and LiabUity Insurance, Bonds tv 1 Wr ITH all the sin cerity in the world and with true appreciation of the many courte sies which have been extended us in the past, we look forward to the coming year with great anticipa tion. In acknowledging your courtesies, wt wish to present our Holida/ Greeting and to wish you a Season full of good hope, good cheer and good fellowship. m&M-m COOPER MOTOR CO. Sales—DODGE. PLYMOUTH—Service Lynn W. Cooper, Proprietor At Christmos time we reolixe more than trer the value of the friendship and good will of folks like you. Tvu have been consid- t. <ute of us in the past u. .d we wish for you coniimi?d success in the future. gSfwetms A MERRY CHRISTMAS ...and... A HAPPY NEW YEAR May We Serve You Often In 1945 McMILLAN SERVICE STATION W. M. McMillan, Prop. UIISHIHG A * CHRIST It is 1 trite way of expressing; the season’s greetings to youj our friends, but we know of no, other words with which to con vey our sincere feeling toward' the people whom we have haH the opportunity to serve. It has been our pleasure, aiuT it is with these thoughts in mind that we fall back on the old familiar “Merry Christmas’’ as a sentiment not surpassed, and for which there can be no substitute. D. E. TRIBBLE COMPANY BUILDING SUPPLIES