Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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-• v -I t Tmge F#ar THE CUNTON CHRONICLE Tft«irsd»y' r Ppecmber 24 r 1963 Small Towns First to Light Outdoor Trees It was a small town that first thought of lighting an outdoor com munity Christmas tree. Four communities are believed to have thought of the idea about the same time—as early as 1913 Two of them. McDonald and Ger mantown. were in Pennsylvania Salem, Ore., decorated a large Sitka spruce. Riverside. Calif., illuminated a large evergreen, an Aracuria. The first national Christmas tree was in 1924 and was sponsored by the American Forestry associa lion. The event is now televised every year for all parts of the country to see. The most spectacular outdoor displays in the United States are at the White House and Rocke- ff Her Center .in New York. The New York display is possibly the most elaborate in the world. But it was the small towns that first thought of the idea. Today, nearly every community mi the land has some kind of Christmas decorations. Many com- muhities string colored lights across the street and decorate light posts with evergreens. Many suspend bells and stars at street intersections and have dazzling community trees. CHRISTMAS SPIRIT . . . Full •f Yule good fellowship, ‘‘Bingie’’ tries to arouse some ditto in the feline heart of “Ginger.” Ginger, goodwill season or not. can't get over her distrust of dogs. Yule Seal Idea Was From Denmark This year millions of Amer icans have received a letter from their local chapter of the National Tuberculosis association contain- i»K Christmas seals, the seasonal /eminder of the never-ending fight to stamp out the disease. The idea was conceived b> a Danish postal clerk He trc . the idea in 1903 while* n . g Christmas packages and le.tc: > The clerk was Einar Hoi ;oeli He mentioned it to his fellow work ers and they decided it would o- a great help in defraying the co-t of fighting tuberculosis The id • t reached King Chrisian. who a > croved. and the image of O. t .oil's-? was i>a< el on the fi> <t <>•*! •n 1904 Jacob Rus. Danish l orn Am - Man. heard about the dea an s*ild it to the American public in 1907 through a magazine article A Red Cross worker. Miss Emily Pissell. started the first American sales that year. Door Decorotions ’^n the last few years it nas be come more and more popular to decorate doors and doorways with tells and tree ornaments instead vf the conventional wreath. Your door and window frames •ran be made bright and cheerful ny framing them with ribbon and sprigs of holly. You can hang the ribbon in festoons across the cur tains and tie at the sid - in wide sash bows for colorful effect ANGELS WITHOUT WINGS . . In the Children's Aid Society Swnes Center, nil was calm as Ae call for rehearsal of carols •ms sounded. The little angels without wings took their places, with one moppel sporting a black eye. He couldn't resist reaching ■nder his cassock to be sure his treasured gun and holster were ' still there. PAINTED SURFACES To clean paint mix common wdbiting in warm water to the tlwTrni—i of paste. Rub briskly with ai piece of flannel and then wash .m cold water. HEMSTITCHING Try rubbing some dry soap on the jp>rrl~ where the threads are to be 4cawn. The threads will pull out easily and wiU not injure, the goods. | Double * Santa Clau^ a r ~ "Yi “I’ll second the boy’s «ues- tion,” George said. “Just what is going on here?" seen and. although he couldn’t see them at that distance, he would have bet she had blue eyes. Her hair was shining blonde. When George turned his atten tion back to the toy counter, a little girl, wearing neat but worn clothing, was eyeing a doll almost as large as herself. He raised his hand. With a slightly bewildered expression, the clerk picked up two dolls, wrapped them, and handed them to the child. The actions of the clerk puzzled George. He was certain he had only signaled once. George turned his head to look at the blonde girl again. The girl caught him staring at her and she smiled. A very nice smile George would have liked to have a smile like that, just for himself, every day. With an effort he brought his gaze back to'the toy counter. A small boy was wistfully look ing at a train. George could pic ture the kid at home, on the floor, playing with it. It would be nice to help a boy like that assemble the toy. He' raised his hand This time the clerk seemed more puzzled than ever. He started to reach for the train, then instead, he motioned for George io come to the counter. George had been about to go over, anyway, to see what was behind the man's strange actions. • - Do you know'that blonde girl standing over there by the pillar?” the clerk asked him. •No,” George told him. “but I’d sure like to. Why?” “Did you notice I gave the little girl two dolls, when you sig naled?" ‘Why yes,” George answered him, “and I wondered about it. However. I figured you knew the child and she probably had a sis ter that you thouglT should have a doll too.” "No. that wasn't the reason.” The toy salesman motioned to the blonde girl She had been watch ing them with irnerest .ni at the clerk's wave, she ‘c^rr.e over. Miss Marvin." the man behind the counter in'roduced them, "this is George Brancicn. George, this is Joan Marvin. I think all nice people, such as you two, should know each other!” The girl extended her hand eagerly and George took it just as • quickly. He saw that he would have won his bet—her eyes were the bluest of the blue! “Say, what's going on here?” The small boy had turned away from the glistening train and was looking at the trio wonderingly. ‘Til secondOtuTboy's question. George said. "Just what is goins on here”’ The salesman laughed. "The rea son I thought you two ought tb get together, is that you're giving me signals on the same kids." "You see.” he told George. "Miss Marvin made the same ar rangement this year, in regards to giving the kids toys, that you’ve been making for years!" One Christmas, a few years later, Joan Brandon said to her husband, "Remember the Christ mas we met, George?” “Of course,” he answered, ‘Til never forget it. Why?” "Well,” she laughed. ‘Td seen you in the store the previous Christmas and it took me a year to figure out that scheme to meet you. One little girl got a double Christmas out of it, anyway!" By Royce Fields / A S WAS his custom during * Christmas week of each year, George Brandon leaned against a pillar in the toy department of the big store, and watched the kiddies. Whenever, with a particularly hungry look, a child picked up a toy or eyed one longingly, George raised his hand. This was a signal to the clerk that the price of the toy was on him. George was no millionaire. It was just that, not having folks of his own to buy Christrrtas presents for. he spent his gift money on the kids. It gave him a satisfac tion to see their faces light up. A girl had entered the store and was standing by a pillar near the one George was propped against. He had noticed her, with more than casual interest: when she came in. She had a complexion that was the clearest he had ever . , ~• ' r Citizens Federal Savings & Loan Association B. HFBERT BOYD, President J. SLOAN TODD, Sec.-Treas. D. E. Tribble Company BUILDERS SUPPLIES