The sun. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1937-1972, December 22, 1950, Image 11
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1950
TAX NOTICE
After the close
of business cm
January 2,1951
A ONE
PER CENT
PENALTY
will be added
to all
unpaid 1950
State and County
Taxes
J. Ray Dawkins
\
Treasurer
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SA
THE NEWBERRY SUN
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U.S. Place Planted
Express Ckridtmad
3dea Alany Way,*
S ANTA CLAUS, INDIANA; Beth
lehem, Conn.; and Christmas,
Fla., are a few of the more familiar
post offices which each year handle
a flood of mail from sender* wish
ing to obtain yuletide postmarks.
Although the federal post
office department has new
barred extra flourishes by local *
postmasters using Christmas
symbols and mottoes, a town's
own holiday name can stUl 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 Florida—plus a Christmas
Cove, Maine.
On the other hand, seven Bethle
hem* 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. 4
mere are two moeis—in nr- .
ginia and Missouri. Last year, ;
Missouri’s Noel post office re
ported hand-canceUatlon of a
record 650,000 pieces of Christ
mas mail—800 for each of the
town’s residents.
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B. C. MOORE AND SONS, INC
NEWBERRY, S.C.
Chriilmai 'Cree
3i 150 tyeari Old
Jn 'Chid Country
A CHRISTMAS TREE will bo put
up m two out of every three
American homes this year. Yet
the trimmed Christmas tree, as it
is known today, is only about 150
years old in this country.
The Pilgrims forbade Christmas
celebrations on the grounds they
were pagan. A Massachusetts
law in 1689 subjected anyone to a
fine who observed - the day by
feasting, refraining from work or
in any other manner.
It was not until near the end
of the American Revolution
that the Christmas tree took
hold. German immigrants,
homesick for the tradition of
their native land, put them up.
The custom of the lighted Christ-
nas tree, some historians tell,
originated with Martin Luther. He
was fascinated by evergreen trees,
glistening .with starlit-snow, point*
ing to the heavens at Christmas
time. So he brought an evergreen
tree into his house and lighted it
with candles for his children.
Another old German legend cred
its St. Boniface with the origin of
the Christmas tree. Having con
verted some oak tree-worshipping
Druids to Christianity, he took
them into a forest, cut down an
oak and pointed to a stately fir
along side ‘Take this tree,” he
said, “into your homes as a sign of
your new worship. Celebrate God’s
power no more with shameful
riteai but in the sanctity of your
homes with laughter and love."
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
Start and four Shepherds. West
Virginia contributes Goodwill; Mis
souri, Peace Valley; and there is
Joy in Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri,
and Texas.
For me Christmas party, .Tur
key Is available in four aiates;
Cranberry In ttfree. Kentucky
has a Mistletoe. Six states count
an Evergreen; seven a Pine,
and three a Holly.
Louisiana comes up with Trees,
Alabama with Candle; and to top
the decorations, Psunsylvania has
its Angels.
LAST REQUEST . . . Christ
mas came early last year for
Gerald Washburn, 8. of Seat
tle. He was brought from his
sickbed to sit with Santa Claus
for a special visit before he
entered a hospital to undergo
surgery for a brain operation.
Charles Dickens'
'Life of Our Lord'
Is a Moving Story
L AST YEAR, the heretofore un
published Dickens’ manuscript
•The Life, of Our Lord" was pre
sented to the world.
Written 100 years earlier for tho
exclusive audience of the author’s
own children, it is a child’s life of
Christ—a simple, moving narra
tive, understandable even to a
child and yet touched by that in
comparable Dickens genius which
insures its place by the side of the
famous Christmas Carol’ among
the great masterpieces of Christ
mas literature.
Because be felt such deep ven
eration for the life and lessons of
our Saviour, he left instructions
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that this particular manuscript
should not be commercialized.
Thus, the manuscript was a pre
cious family secret for 85 years.
But when Sir Henry Fielding Dick
ens. the author’s youngest child,
died in 1933, it was finally brought
forth and sold for the staggering
amount of 8210,000 — or, $15 per
word.
Purchased by the London Daily
Mail, the manuscript became a
literary event of the first magni
tude, destined to be read and cher
ished forever wherever thoughtful
parents, like Dickens himself, want
their children to know something
about the history of Jesus Christ.
For, according to Dickens:
“Everybody ought to know about
Him. No one ever lived who was
so good, so kind, so gentle, and so
sorry for people who did wrong, or
were in any way ill or miserable,
as He was.
“And »s He is now In heaven,
where we all hope to go, and all
meet each other after we are dead,
and there be happy always to
gether, you can never think what a
good place heaven ia, without
knowing who He was and what He
did.-
By Maud McCurdy Welch
M EREDITH HARRIS, known as.
Merry, sat at her desk in the
big insurance office and fought back
her tears.
A voice startled her. “Why are
you here working? Are . . . you cry
ing?"
It was Hugh Mallory, the agency
head. Merry said, “Just finishing
up. Everybody’s in such a hurrry
“It’s Christmas Eve. Let every
thing go.” Hugh started to his of
fice. Merry's eyes followed his tall
figure. She liked him very much.
He turned back. “You didn’t tell
me why you were crying.”
“It’s nothing. My sister and her
family have gone to California I
guess I I’m lonely.”
“That may be my good luck," he
said surprisingly.
He was alone, too, he explained
His sister-in-law who had looked
after his little daughter since the
death of his wife four years ago.
had left unexpectedly. His Aunt
“No . . . No!’’ Dee cried in
anguish. But Hilda loro the cat
from her.
Amanda was still with them, but
she was getting old. There was no
one to do the things to make a little
girl happy. Would Meredith help
him?
..It took them three hours to fin-
tsh shopping. At seven o'clock,
Hugh’s luxurious car turned on the
drive of an imposing house. .
A little girl sat in a big chair
looking lonely. She held out her
arms and cried a little. “We’re not
going to have a Christmas tree or
anything."
Hugh Mallory swung his little
daughter up in his arms. “Oh, yes,
we are.” He put her down. ‘This ia
Miss Meredith Harris, She’s going
to see to everything.'*
And it was the most wonderful
Christmas Dee had ever had and
the most beautiful tree. But Merry's
gift was best of all. A beautiful
Siamese kitten.
A FTER THE presents had been
distributed. Merry and Dee sat
in a big chair. Dee stroking the kit
ten’s head. “How did you know I
wanted a kitten more’n anything?
“Because I was a little girl once
my sell”
Hugh went uptown on an errand
in the later afternoon. Soon after $
handsome woman in rich furs and
jewels came in-
“Aunt Hilda, you . .. came back?"
“Yes. Dee, I know my duty, even
If your father and I . . .’’ Hilda
broke off staring at Merry. “Who’s
this?" -
“It’s Miss Merry Christmas . . ,
that’s what I call her. She fixed
my beautiful tree, did everything.’’
Hilda looked at Merry coldly.
“You can go now. And take that
cat with you. They’re full at germs."
’ “No . . . No!" Dee cried in an
guish.
But Hilda tore the cat from her,
thrust it in Merry’s-arms. The next
thing Merry had been ushered out
the front door.
She went to her small apartment,
sat down in a chintz chair, holding
the kitten. •*WeIL -after -all, it was
fun even if it is over,” she con
fided tearfully to the eat,
But it wasn’t over. Two hours
later Hugh Mallory knocked on her
door. “I hunted through a hundred
office files for your address and I
found you «t iast”
Merry was flushed. "Your sister-
in-law came back.”
He nodded. “She’s gone for good
now. We’d had a disagreement You
see, I found she -was (teaching my
little girl to be a snob.” He broke
oft smiled (again. “Dee wanta you
to come back and so . do 1. For
good. Do you understand, darling?
She was afraid to believe he’d
really said that But he took her
hands, drew her closer. “Look.
Merry, I’ve been searching for the
right girl for a long time. I knew
I’d found her when I saw yoy sit
ting in that big chair with Dee and
the cat Oh, my dear, say you love
me. say you’ll marry me. Dee
need you so.”
Meredith lifted her face *nd he
read his answer in the sweet sin
cerity at her eyes.
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