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Fife Eight THE CLINTON CHRONICLE Thursday, December 14, 1950 HOLY NIGHT U.s. place JYanzcS CxpreA3 Christina3 JJea Many Way3 S ANTA CLAUS, INDIANA, Beth- leherr^ Conn.; and Christmas. Fla., are a few of the more familiar pest offices which each year handle a flood of mail from senders wish ing to obtain yuletide postmarks. Although the federal post office department has now barred extra flourishes by local postmasters using Christmas symbols and mottoes, a town’s own holiday name can still give that festive touch to a greeting or package of toys. Indiana's Santa Claus is the only town so designated in the United States. The privilege is reserved to its post office by congressional act. There is, however, Santa. Idaho. There is also only one Christmas —the one in Flcrida—plus a Christ mas Cove, Maine. On the other hand, seven Bethle- hems answer the seasonal roll call: they can be found in Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Mary land, New Hampshire, and Pennsyl vania. The Bethlehem, Conn, post office was one of several stations that figured in headlines recently on the use of especially-designed cancellation stamps bearing the now-forbidden Christmas tree dec oration. The town’s population is about 350. There are two Noels—In Vir ginia and Missouri. Last year, Missouri’s Noel post office re ported hand-cancellation of a record S54.000 pieces of Christ mas mail—MM for each of the town's residents. *++*•-**„ Besides specific Christmas names that dot the land there are dozens that call up Biblical or holiday as sociations There is Advent, W. Va., for the Nativity. Kentucky has a Mary, and Oregon and Utah a Joseph each. One Wiseman is found in Alas ka and another in Arkansas. The third, it may be assumed, is in Wisemantown. Ky. There are five This painting of the first Christmas was done by Feuer- stein, an Alsatian who taught at the Munich Academy of Art. Tradition of Poppy The poppy loaf, traditionally a part of Christmas Eve supper in Lithuania, is a small loaf made of bread dough and baked hard in a bread pan. When cool, the loaves are dipped in a solution made of water and sugar and ground poppy seed which is also used as a tradi tional holiday beverage. Tradition prescribes that the poppy seed should be ground in an iron kettle using an ax han dle as a mallet, and no Lithu anian would think of grinding seeds for the Christmas poppy loaves by any other method. 9t IcJhA Kncuu-Jtoiu *lo a 'IjuL Jtoy YULE LOG ia a tradition of * Christmas, but due to central heating and gas stoves it ia becom ing a lost tradition in this country. Few city dwellers have open grates or desire a log fire. And those living in the country find coal more efficient and lesa trou ble However, for those who hava a place to burn the yule log and wart one. tradition says it should be oak. ash. olive, apple or pine. Further, the fire on which it is placed should be kindled from a brand saved from last year's log. and that it should not be allowed tc go out during the night. For those determined to have the yule log. the voice of exper ience says get hold of all the wood you can. Some kinds bum better than others, but reject none these days. Ash is highly praised by some and can be used without being stasoned. It bums quickly, but throws off great heat. Poplar, on the other hand, should be seasoned or it will spark badly. Elm is condemned as undesir able. but can be used. It ia slow to get burning, but lasts a long time and brightens up when it gets going. A few logs of birch, pine or fir will help it along. Beech and oak are among ffie best logs. Beech is especially good, having a pleasant aroma and a steady glow. Oak haa the outstanding merit of burning slow- *y- If none of these are available, wood from all kinds of fruit trees are prime favorites for the yule log because of their pleasant smell when burning. ' Stars and four Shepherds. West Virginia contributes Goodwill; Mis- i souri. Peace Valley; and there ia Joy in Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, I and Texas. For the Christmas party. Tar- key la available ia four states; Cranberry ia three. Kentucky haa a Mistletoe. Six states eoant aa Evergreen; seven a Pine, and three a Holly. Louisiana comes up with Trees. Alabama with Candle; and to top the decorations. Pennsylvania has its Angels. America Has Provided World With Poinsettia W7HILE IT SEEMS rather odd, it certainly is interesting that America has given the world its me st beloved Christmas plant—the poinsettia. This plant, like so many others of our best flowers, is na tive to tropical America. The flor ist has been able to propagate it and grow it in a small pot, so that, with its flaming red bracts or leaves, it makes a most desirable Christmas plant. There is a sentiment that goes with most Christmas plants — we hate to throw them away. What can be done with the poinsettia?. Most of us figure that it is easier and cheaper to throw it away. However, if properly handled, it will bloom for you a second or even a third or fourth year. You can even propagate it, if you wish, and have more plants. Give the plant a resting period around the middle of February. The florist simply lays it under the benches, but you will probably put it in your basement. Water it oc casionally — enough to keep the wood from wilting, but no more. Then, around the latter part of May or early in June, bring it out, cut it back rather severely, r and re pot it. You can then put it outside if you wish in the shade, of a tree cr shrub, and water it enough to keep it growing. Of course, if you have a nice, warm, sandy spot, you might plant it right in the ground, but most of us prefer to leave it in the put. Kris Kringle Isn't Really Santa Claus Popular notion seems to imply i that Kris Kringle is a German term of endearmenf for Santa ' Claus. Just what motivates this l idea is not at all clear, since Kris Kringle is really a modification of Cnristkind who, although endowed by German legend as a gift-giver, resembles Santa Claus not in the least. Santa Claus, as we know him in America, never really caught on in Germany. St. Nicholas comes around on his liturgical feast day —December 6 — with his pockets bulging with esndy and nuts and trinketif. Well and good, but Ger man parents maintain, as did their predecessors of the Reformation era, that the central idee of Christ mas, the birth of Jesus, should dominate the observances. Nor is Christkind depicted as the Infant Jesus himself, but rather as his messenger and gift-bearer who comes to earth at Christmastime to bring happiness to good chil dren. The Christkind is usually represented as a child dressed in white robes, wearing a golden crown and having big, golden wings. DOLLIES ALL- . . . Barbara Johnson (left) i n d Patricia Abel, both orphans, are in a virtual paradise, seated amid so many playmates. The dolls, more than 800 of them, - c-e dressed by vo'untirr vor'ers for distrib. tlon to organizations as gifts. chari 4 .'J'e Christmas i LACY RAYON CREPE SLIPS 2.98 And that’s low for slips as love ly as these, with their lace trimming, fine embroidery L Full cut for fit and comfoim in white, blue or pink. 32-42™ COSTLY LOOKING LACE CLOTHS JC*M" 4.98 A gift that lasts! See the intri cate deaign. the dainty picoted scalloped edges! The price is so very low! Comes already boxed! EMBROIDERED PILLOW CASES 1.98 pr. Jaot like hand embroidery! Two fine quality muslin pillowcases decorated with colorful stitch ing and hemstitched for that every note of luxury! Gift boxed! RAYON CREPE PAJAMAS 2.98 Contrast-piped solids in lots of colon . . . polka dots, Chinese, geometric or paisley prints . • . in well-made man-tailored pa jamas. Sixes 32-40. QUILTED RAYON SATIN ROBE RAYON SATIN ROBES 9.90 Warm and beautiful robe of deep-quilted gleaming rayon satin with fresh scalloped de tail. Pink, fuchsia, royal, light bine, turquoise. Sixes 12-20. 90% COTTON, 10% WOOL BLANKET 7.90 Beautiful raysn slipper satin in a wraparound with quilting . . . a sipper style with man darin neckline. Carmen rose, blue, dusty rose, turquoise. 12- 20. MEN'S PLAID BEACON ROBE 7.90 Look! Wide rayon satin binding sn all four sides! Extra luxur ious! Wonderfully soft pastel colon! Good looking! Measures 72 iu. by 90 iu. DRESSED TWIN DOLLS 5.96 set So gay in their red or blue vel veteen outfits with candy strip ed sweaters! Rubber latex bed- lea. Both boy and girl for this thrifty price. 12 in. talL 6.90 Warm double woven cotton blanket cloth. Sharp clear plaids. Handsomely styled and full eut for comfort Maroon, brown or blue plaids. S.MJVL LJLL. SHEER 51 GAUGE 15 DENIER 1.15 The stockings you’re proud to give . . . perfect Gaymode ny lons! She’ll love their sheer flattery, sleek fit ... the way they wear and wear. Mist Dawn, Dusk, Shadow . sizes to 11. FUR LINED DRESS GLOVES 3.98 Fine imported capes kin gloves with soft, warm rabbit fur lin- ing. Top quality gloves at a low’, low rice. Slip-on style. Brown, black, cork, tan. MEN'S RAYON NECKTIES 98c Rajpn satins, rayon foulards and top favorite rayon Jac quards! They are all here now on Penney’s racks. Every tie perfect Every design right up- lo-the-mlnute. New colors! SMART SOLID COLOR SHIRTS 2.98 Long - wearing end-to-end broadcloth dress shirts in hand some soft tones. Fine Sanfor ized body, perfect fitting eon- tour design collar, button cuffs. MEN'S WASHFAST ARGYLE SOCKS 49c Knitted from 4 ply mercerised cotton iu handsome aryyle pat- tenm Colors stay bright after laundering. Elastic tops. In dark and U*ht argyle patterns. Sisco 19-13. i at....PENNEY I I