Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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SEC. B, PAGE 4—The Newberry Sun, Newberry, S. C., Thurs., Dec. 24, 1970 Henry VIII had two consuming passions: being the groom at weddings and eating. It was his idea to mark the Christmastide by decreeing a 12 day period of feasting, fun and games. There were twelve days of eating and revelry from Christmas Eve to Epiphany, January 6th. But the climax came on Christmas Day, when the great dinner began at three in the afternoon and lasted until after midnight. A trumpet blast summoned the King and his guests to the festive board. First to touch the royal lip was the ceremonial wassail, tradi tional drink of Christmas. Contrary to what many may think, the wassail was not with brandy or whiskey. Actually, it was nothing more than good old English ale, to which were added beaten eggs, and a custardy mixture flavored with nutmeg and sugar. Once the ritual wassail had been downed, the king and his guests settled down to serious eating and drinking. First came seafood, including such delicacies as minced her ring, porpoise and whale stew or seal pie. The main course consisted of the roasts — whole suckling pigs and calves, venison and mutton. Next came the bird dishes, in cluding such favorites as stuffed geese and swans. Claret, Rhenish and Spanish wines were served freely through out the feast, with the more potent depth charge, mead, add ing a finishing touch. Traditional English plum pud ding was more than a part of the meal, it was a part of the Christ mas legend. It was considered good luck to eat a plum pudding during the Christmastide, but never, never before the actual feast of the Yule began. Any cheater who did so was fore doomed to twelve months of trouble. Henry, a veritable eater, must have eaten everyone under the table. Historians attest to his prodigious appetite. One of them even relates that the king ate be tween courses, reaching out his pudgy hand for anything edible within, grasp. Greens and Garlands The use of greens and garlands to decorate for a festive season goes back a thousand years be fore the birth of Christ. It began with the ancient Egyptians. Traditions of pagan festivals were later merged with the cele bration of Christmas, and ever greens, because they stay green throughout the year. This came to be regarded as the Christmas symbol of eternal life. Sale Merchandise There’s nothing wrong with giving sale merchandise, if it’s fresh and something the recipi ent would really enjoy. Don’t however, use gift boxes bearing the stores name, as sale merch andise cannot be exchanged. A good way to take advantage of the after-Christmas sales is to give a gift certificate that can be used at any time. i/Vlciy joy fill your heart and enrich your life this Christmas Season. We extend our warm thanks to you. NEWBERRY AUTO SUPPLY GENERAL AUTO SUPPLIES 1211 McKibben Street Newberry The music was loud, too much, Joe Adams thought as he idly watched the dancers on the floor. Why do people think it necessary to greet the New Year with so much noise? In fact, why was he a part of it? Joe sipped gingerly on his drink. He was a part of it be cause there wasn’t anything else to do in Dale City. Especially on New Year’s Eve. Anybody who was anybody went to the Country Club, to be gay and happy, to be a part of it. But, he wasn’t gay and happy. He was bored with the raucous confusion. Until he, saw the girl in the green dress. Joe began to make his way across the dance floor. Halfway across the room he noticed that the girl was gone. He stopped, a lone figure among the whirling dancers. Imploring Then she reappeared, looking directly at him across the shoul ders of her dancing partner. Her eyes were dark, beautiful, and imploring. He made his way around the dancers and touched her partner on the shoulder, realizing that, as he did, she had effortlessly drifted into his arms. “Hello, Joe.” “Hello to you.” Joe stopped suddenly and held her at arm’s length. “Tell me, please. Do you look so lovely every New Year’s Eve?” She smiled and moved back into his arms. “Thank you, kind sir, for the compliment. I re member, perhaps, the last com pliment you gave to me. You told me that I loked like a boy, acted like a boy, but that wasn’t enough. I’d have to find a bunch of girls and build my own tree house.” "Susie. Susie Mitchell. What do you know ...” "I knew you didn’t recognize me. No reason you should. I asked someone who you were." She laughed. A gay, infectous laugh. “Well, Susie Mitchell, let me say this today, this date, this hour as we near the year of 1971. You may share my tree house, anytime.” She pulled back, looking deep into his eyes. “There’s a va cancy?” Joe laughed. “Funny thing. I haven’t been back to Dale City for five years. First thing yester day, though, I took a look. The old tree house is still there. If I gave up my job in New York, and you’d go to work to help pay the rent, we might make it. How much does it cost to feed two who live in a tree house?” “They say two can live, any where, as cheaply as one. But, sometime’s there is three, and ...” The music stopped. There was a hush, then the blaring strains of Auld Lang Syne. Joe looked at her, seriously. “You have a date?” She looked around the dance floor. “Yes, but I don’t see him anywhere. He’s probably in the lounge." “Then, I shall do his duty,” Joe said, as he kissed her a most Happy New Year. And they were suddenly caught up in the crush of people, smiling, patting shoul ders, shouting “Happy New Year, one and all.” Nervous It was almost noon on New Year’s Day when Joe called for a taxi to take him to the airport. Waiting in the lobby, he was rest less, floor pacing. Finally, he picked up the tele phone and made the call. “Susie? Joe. I have to go back to New York. But, I’m coming back, soon. Plan to make a down payment on a huge tree house. The biggest one I can find. I want someone to share it.” For a moment, there was silence on the other end of the line. “Joe? I know several Joes. Which one are you?” Joe stuttered. "Why, Joe Adams. Joe. I thought . . . last night ... I thought.” And then the voice came back, and he could picture her face as she spoke. “That Joe. Joe Adams. The man I love. I have loved you since that first tree house. Hurry home, Joe. Hurry.” Poinsettia Named The poinsettia was discovered, and later named, by Joel R. Poin sett. When he was serving as U. S. minister to Mexico in 1828. Dr. Poinsett sent a cutting of the plant to a friend. Growers became interested, but it was not until 1906 that the poinsettia was marketed. Though it is now a favorite holiday houseplant it is a relative new comer to the customs of Christ mas.