Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Section C—Page 8 THE NEWBERRY SUN, NEWBERRY, SOUTH CAROLINA THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1962 t'lGKT BSr ' *JS BY F . L. ROWLEY m itn May the wondrous peace and joy of the newborn King abide with you and your family throughout this Christmas and forever after! LOMINACK S HARDWARE, Inc. )Y. H. Lominack J. W. Longshore Kirby Lominack Charlie Force Ida D, Underwood S TRANGE and wondrous things •.re said f o happen on the night Dei'ire Christmas. And it seemed that everyone was in a jolly mood this evening. Everyone, that is, except Ralph Woodson. He couldn’t think of a s.- j thing to be jolly about His Irani was behind schedule, the weather was all fouled up, and ais watqb had stopped! The watch that had ticked so faithfully for thirty-two years! Why couldn’t it lave waited one more week? Then they could have retired together. For the sixteenth time this eve ning he thrust it angrily into his vest pocket and called out: “Ben- ford next!” A few passengers stirred. One man struggled down the aisle carrying a tightly bound Christ mas tree. “Which way is it to the railroad station, officer?” he asked thickly. “I’m a conductor!” snapped Ralph. ‘And you’ll be in a railroad station in two minutes.” “You’re driving this bus entirely too fast,” said another fellow, shaking a lean finger at Ralph. RAIN FOR i CHRISTMAS^ BY ONA F. LATHROP “I’m the spirit of Christmas Glee,” the man said. Ralph dodged him and went to the aid of a woman who was struggling with a suitcase. Too Late A fat little man got there first. After helping the woman he turned to Ralph with a twinkle in his eye and asked: “Have you the time, sir?” “No I haven’t,” growled Ralph. “My watch stopped.” The chubby fellow clapped his hands to his jowls. “You’re watch stopped? On Christmas Eve? That’s terrible! That means you’re unhappy.” “You doggoned right I’m un happy!” roared Ralph. “Besides having everything else go wrong today I’m cooped up with a train load of nuts! If it wasn’t snowing I’d abandon this rolling booby hatch!” “Now, how, don’t get excited,” cautioned the short one. “Every one is in a holiday mood this evening, that’s all. Perhaps a few of these good people did stay too long at their office parties.” “Not long enough to suit me.” “My, you ARE in a bad way this evening. How fortunate for you that I happened to board the train.” Question “And who are you?” asked Ralph peering over his glasses. “Why I’m the spirit of Christ mas Glee, that’s who.” Ralph took off his glasses and wiped his brow. He looked up at the ceiling. “Why does every thing have to happen to me?” he groaned. “May I see your watch?” asked the little man. Ralph handed him the useless watch; then he turned and hurried into the next’car. The little man did not follow him. Perhaps things would run more smoothly after they hit Bedford, thought Ralph. The stationmaster killed that hope. “Last bus is late,” he an nounced as the train stopped. “Must be caught in the snow storm. Better light your pipe and set a spell, Woodson.” “This train’s moving on!” cried the conductor. “Don’t you realize I’m an hour late already?” “But it’s Christmas Eve,” whined the stationmaster. “So what?” “So a bus load of good people will be stranded tonight if you pull out. ” Back in Action Ralph entered the coach. The seat was empty—except for his well worn gold watch. He picked it up gingerly—then gasped. The second hand moved along at its usual merry pace. Ralph hurried to the next coach; he must thank the chubby little man. He en quired of several passengers if they had seen the fellow. Some looked blank, others simply shook their heads. Ralph never saw him again. A few minutes later he stood on the platform, watching the Bedford bus approaching through the drifts. As he fondled his watch Ralph felt like a different man. as if he had been transformed by some special magic. Could there be anything to that ‘Christmas Glee’ bit, he wondered? In the ancient land of China, where nuts and watermelon seeds are delicacies, New Year revelry used to equal our Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas and birthday parties all rolled into one. To the accompaniment of ex ploding firecrackers, everyone feasted, gave presents and cards, made ceremonial visits to friends and oaid familv debts. OATHY MEADOWS pressed her ^ nose against the window-pane and stared into the gloomy morn ing. Rain! Rain on Christmas morning! Not snow, as some folks would have for the Holiday but a sudden downpour from a leaden sky that looked as if it would never again be blue. How could this have happened to her—when she’d counted so much on her Christmas outfit to catch Richard Whittier’s coveted glance’’ “You’re a nice wholesome-look ing kid,” her best friend, Joyce Mallory, had told her last week. Joyce was in the millinery depart ment of Mason’s where Cathy worked in Cosmetics, and she was bent on helping Cathy snare the inimitable Dick. “But you’ll never get to first base with him in those mousy clothes you wear. You always look like a refugee that’s been in a rainstorm.” “But I love rain,” Cathy pro tested, “and I always buy things that will stand walking in the rain.” She stood on the steps, rain running off her hat. “Well, for once buy yourself a real saucy hat—I’ve got just the ticket over here.” So Cathy let herself be led over to the hat-bar where Joyce fitted a froth of pur ple violets and pink veiling over her dark hair. Cathy mortgaged her next week’s wages to pay for the hat. Then she searched for the blouse. Mason’s didn’t ^.ave a thing, so she went across to the exclusive shop and there she found it—soft pure silk. It was the love of a life time, even if she did have to pay cash and go lunchless next week! All Ready She had her hair done and ner good grey suit cleaned. She buffed up her old pumps, and hung ev erything in readiness before she went to bed on Monday night. Dick’s family always sat just be hind her in church and she’d pic tured herself coming in a little late and smiling at him as she edged into the pew. But now ev erything was spoiled. She couldn’t afford to ruin the expensive hat and blouse and she didn’t own an umbrella. She couldn’t afford a cab, and she wouldn’t just stay home! . In desperation she dragged out her old yellow blouse and the black hat that must be water proof—the number of rainstorms it had weathered. Yes, she was definitely mousy now, Joyce would say. She hoped he wouldn’t be there. But he was! Big as life, and grin ning that lovable grin of his as she tried to sidle into the pew without being noticed. She’d look ed for a place in back, but every seat behind him had been taken. After Church On the steps after church, she tried to avoid him. People were dodging into cars and cabs through the rain, but she didq’t care any longer. She just stood there with the rain running off her old papery hat and dripping down her nose mingling with her tears as she thought how differ ently she had pictured this mo ment. She saw the Belknap girl, with her straight blonde hair in wisps under a fussy pink ribbon concoc tion, diving into her big limousine to keep from wetting her little fur wrap. Greeting And then she felt Dick’s arm slipped under her own. “Hi there, Beautiful! Now here’s a gal after my own heart—not caring a thing about her beautiful clothes but just standing in this nice Christ mas rain like a daffodil, drinking in the beauty of it. I’d love to walk you home in this lovely rain, if you don’t mind.” Cathy caught her breath. “You mean you like to walk in the rain too? You—you don’t mind how I look?” “How you look? 1 was just thinking you had on the most sensible outfit in the whole church. All those be-ruffled and be-rib- boned dainties look % little silly on a morning like this. Even if it is Christmas. By the way, how about having dinner some place with me this evening—even if it quits raining’’” “Even if it doesn’t!” she smiled. “After all, it’s Christmas!” STILL VALUABLE Frankincense and myrrh, aromatic resins which the Wise Men brought as gifts when they followed the Star of Bethlehem to the place of the Nativity, are still found on lists of basic perfume ingredients. South Not Included In Soldier's Wish A New Year’s greeting jotted down in a diary in the year 1863 exempted Southerners. Sam Smyth, a Union lieutenant fighting in the mud of the Civil War at Holly Springs, Mississippi, made this notation in his journal: “Happy New Year to all the world, except our Southern Rebel friends, their aiders and abettors 99 • • • Obviously, the entry was made at a time when things were going badly for the North. The entry continued: . . .” though to speak truly I think the prospect is not such as to warrant and in even hoping that the wish (of a Happy New Year) may be fulfilled . . . I had hoped to see a different state of things, and that we should enter upon the New Year with the bright prospect of a speedy ter mination of this exhausting con flict.” The journal, with human and personalized descriptions of the Civil War, is among the collection of Lincolniana and Civil War ma terials in the Wyles Collection at Santa Barbara, Calif., College. Favorite Carols In Every Country Despite the fact Christmas carols today are heard wherever the holiday is celebrated, no one is quite certain where the word “carol” originated. Some contend the word comes from a Greek word for flute player, obviously as a compliment to the musicians who played for the Christmas ring-dances. It is also believed to have origin in tasty s GIFT IDEAS While food is a great part of the family Christmas observance, many of us overlook the fact that food products offer an endless va riety of holiday gift possibiliti. o. Cheese, of course, is an old fav orite. Ready-made gift packages are available, or one can make up a variety package, placed in a wooden basket or on a small chopping board, or surrounding a cheese knife. Baskets of colorful fruits, Long a gift favorite, may also be “ordered” or prepared at home. It’s much more fun to prepare, using as a final touch unshelled nuts of the type or types avail able locally. Vegetables may also be used— as decorations for a presentation of canned fancy vegetables—arti choke hearts, asparagus, picked onions, etc. Good gift for a gour met. And, in the meat line, who wouldn’t appreciate the gift of a baked ham?, First-Foot Tradition The “first-foot” tradition harks back to merry England, where a glass of wine and slice of bun loaf rewarded visitors who ar rived first at a home following the birth of a new year. A “first foot,” also known as a lucky bird, brought with him the traditional symbols of warmth and prosper ity—coal, bread and salt. He was welcomed because he “let in” the New Yea/—but he also repre sented the old year, always leav ing by the back door. TREE HISTORY Everyone has heard the story of how Martin Luther, im pressed by the beauty of the heavens and a wintry land scape under a star-lit sky, brought a small evergreen into his home and decorated it with lighted candles. Luther lived from 1483 to 1546, in Germany. Until about 1700, it is believed, the Christ mas tree custom was confined to the Rhine River district, at which time its popularity be gan to spread and lights were generally accepted as decora tions. It has been established that Hessian soldiers, fighting in the American Revolution, did much to popularize Christmas trees in this country. A descrip tion of Christmas festivities at Fort Dearborn, HI., in 1804 mentions a Christmas tree. SWISS CHRISTMAS Switzerland begins celebra tion of Christmas on December 6, the birthday of St. Nicholas of Myra, the first Santa Clans. Although celebrations are pret ty much the same, each vil lage has its own way of cele brating the good Saint's birth. Typical customs include bell ringing contests and “Stern- singen,” or star singing, carol ing under the stars, and the appearance of Christkind, per sonified by a girl in snow-white garb, who passes from house to house bearing gifts for lit tle children. Good Health-Idea For Welcome Gift Would you give your family— and yourself—the gift of “guaran teed” good health during the com ing year? Wouldn’t this be a wonderful Christmas present? You cannot of course, get such a guarantee, anywhere. But, have you been procrastinating about taking the kids to the doctor for their vaccinations? How long has it been since you have had any shots? Each year, many children and adults become seriously ill—even die, because they or their parents neglected to take advantage of protective vaccines that have been in common use for many years and are available in every family doctor’s office. For years, diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus have been pre vented by a triple vaccine rou tinely given to babies. A vaccine against polio has been available for several years. Smallpox vac cination has just about wiped out the disease. The gift of health is available at Christmas—and all year long. HOLIDAY WINDOWS With a little ingenuity and imagination, the homemaker can use white and colored snows in “spray painting” sim ple Christmas designs on win dow panes or glass surfaces. Cut-out paper or cardboard masks can be made for each color area. For best results, the aerosol snow should be sprayed from a distance of about 24 inches— the greater distance, the fluf fier the deposit of simulated snow. •.. and we're bringing loads of good wishes to all our friends at this Christmas Season •»• Loads of Good Cheer, and appreciation, loads of happiness, and friends and all the good things that make Christmas so wonderful. We count ourselves fortunate to have enjoyed your friendship the past year, and after Christmas, through the many days that lie ahead, well look forward to greeting you again and serving you. The State Building & Loan Ass’n 1117 BOYCE STREET NEWBERRY, SOUTH CAROLINA OFFICERS DIRECTORS THOMAS H. POPE RALPH B. BAKER, President RALPH B. BAKER J. DAVE CALDWELL, Vice-President J. DAVE CALDWELL PINCKNEY N. ABRAMS, Sec'y-Treas. LOUIS C. FLOYD MRS. DORIS S. SETZLER, Asst. Sec'y-Treas. R. AUBREY HARLEY MRS. ALIENE A. REEVES, Teller PINCKNEY N. ABRAMS