The sun. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1937-1972, December 23, 1965, Image 36
SEC. C—PAGE 4 The Newberry Sun, Newberry, S. C., Thursday, December 23, 1965
SANTA
PIERRE
By James Clyde
Pierre LeBlanc signaled wit!
his finger and the head waitei
locked the door behind the last
customers. The waiter came back
to the table where Pierre wa?
sitting and waited patiently foi
the sign to be finished.
“Do you like it, Jacques?”
“If you will pardon my saying
it, sir, you are not the best of
sign painters.”
“Indeed not, but it serves the
purpose. Place it on the door,”
The head waiter obliged ana
soon customers were turning
away after reading the message:
Pierre Closes
Tonight Only
25th Anniversary
Private Party
The party was not so private.
Old friends, customers for many
years, were entering by the back
door almost as soon as the front
was locked.
Pierre greeted each affection
ately, wishing everyone a most
Merry Christmas. They were old
friends, all of them. As Pierre
liked to put it, “We grew up to
gether.” Most of them were start
ing out, struggling artists, writ
ers, young lawyers, and actors,
when Pierre opened the small
coffee shop that he was to build
into a restaurant of international
reputation. ^
For some, Pierre had a special
greeting. Fred Addams was one.
Fred was a writer, a good one.
He had lived upstairs, over the
it should say 2 plus 5, or seven,
for seven years ago I introduced
two wonderful people one Christ
mas Eve. They fell in love, then
went separate ways. Tonight, I
shall re-introduce them . . . after
the orchestra plays and we are
led in ‘We Wish You A Merry
Christmas’ by my dear friend,
Anne Grayson. Anne has just
completed seven years of study
in the finest schools in Europe
Tomorrow she auditions for the
Met; tonight she sings for you.”
Confident, radiant, she stepped
into the spotlight and every voice
was raised in song.
Pierre leaned forward and
(vhispered into the ear of his
friend. “What happens now, who
knows? Santa only brings the
presents.”
VIETNAM
CHRISTMAS
'LOST GENERATION’
You probably don’t think it
could have happened in our coun
try but it did. An entire genera
tion of American children grew
up without Christmas! From 1659-
1681 puritan leaders banned
Christmas celebrations. The dis
putes arose over the abuses of
Christmas; these abuses reached
a fever pitch in 17th century
England and the result was the
forbidding of the yuietide cere
monies by the puritan parliament
in 1644.
This is one of numerous ex
amples to illustrate the point that
the course of Christmas celebra
tions has not run as smoothly as
one might ordinarily think.
For more than one hundred
Vietnamese orphans, Christmas
1964, will always he remem
bered as a memorable event.
It was made so by the officers
and men of the 145th Aviation
Battalion commanded by Lieu
tenant Colonel Robert K. Cun
ningham of Montgomery, Ala.
For weeks the men had been
working toward the day when
old Santa would arrive in Sai
gon, South Vietnam and they
could have a party for the or
phans they sponsor. For many
of the children it was a new
experience, but one that would
last a lifetime.
The youngsters arrived on
the scene singing '‘Jingle Bells’
in English, although most of
them neither speak nor under
stand the language. They were
given haircuts, clean clothes
and showers, but most of all
they were paired off with a
military sponsor with whom
they would spend the day.
Using the "Big Brother” sys
tem, it was difficut to tell who
was having the most fun, the
children or their sponsors.
TREE CUSTOM
Martin Luther is generally cred
ited with decorating the first
Christmas tree. The custom
spread throughout Germany and
eventually thoughout Europe.
Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s
German husband, introduced the
tree in England in 1841. German
immigrants brought the practice
to the United States in the 19th
century. A Christmas tree was
displayed in Cambridge, Mass., in
1832.
GIFT GIVING
The exchange of presents at
Christmas is not a tradition of
modern vintage. In early times,
even before Christianity, priests
urged their pagan followers to ex
change gifts at the New Year.
At first, the gifts were collected
by the priests who then distri
buted them to the poor. With
Christianity, the exchange of gifts
was changed to Christmas and the
gift-giving tradition has grown
with the progress of Christianity.
® «*c.
THE SEASON'S BEST TO EVERYONE!
THE HAT BOX
1109 Caldwell St. Phone 276-5692
Newberry, S. C.
Myrtle M. Long, Owner & Operator
“It is my anniversary,” said
Pierre. “Cannot I play Santa if
it pleases me?"
coffee shop long years ago. He
had survived on donuts and cof
fee, mostly on credit, until his
first novel had set him on the
road to becoming one of the
country’s most popular mystery
writers.
“Merry Christmas, old friend,”
greeted Pierre.
“Joyeux Noel, to you, Pierre.
And then tell me why an old
rascal like you gives up holiday
business to give a free party?”
“It is my anniversary. Can I
not play Santa if it pleases me?”
“You apparently can.”
Pierre smiled his best smile.
“Seriously, old friend, I give this
party also because I know you
will be in town this holiday. I
say to myself, ‘Pierre, you must
play Santa . . . .”
“As you did seven years ago?”
“Ah, you remember; how well
do I recall. Two people who were
meant for each other. I brought
them together. Romance, what a
wonderful thing. Would you turn
back the pages of time, old
friend?”
“I would, Pierre. I am older,
wiser. I know that there can be
love and marriage and a career as
well.”
“And Anne . . . .”
“Wherever she may be, I think
she knows it, too. I hope things
worked out well for her. She
was so eager, so anxious to be
come a great singer. v She loved
me, as I loved her, but I am
afraid we were both selfish. I
hope—and I believe—that she has
found her happiness as I still
seek mine.”
Pierre smiled again. He tapped
on the table before him until all
was quiet. “My friends,” he be
gan. “I have not been in business
25 years; only 23. I began in
August, not December. I am also
a poor sign painter. On the door)
This is our sincere wish for everyone:
May you have a Merry Christmas, the happy com
panionship of loved ones, the warm fellowship and
understanding of friends. May the Sew Year hold
for you a full measure of happiness.
FROM ALL OF US AT A&P