CHRISTMAS FORTY YEARS AGO - 27 Dec l906

RYAN, PATTERSON, BLODGETT, MARTIN, THARP, SANFORD, DILSAVER, PORTER, GILLHAM

Posted By: Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert (email)
Date: 11/30/2001 at 15:37:33

Decatur County Journal
December 27, l906

An Old Timer Writes Entertainingly of Early
Holiday Festivities in This
City...

The Christmas spirit is doubtless the same
today that it was forty years
ago, though manifested in different ways of
feasting and serving.

One of the first Christmas entertainments
within my recollection was
held in the old M.E. Church where the
Carnegie Library now stands. The
tree was not a graceful evergreen but a wild
crab apple from the back
yard of IRA B. RYAN's home on West Commercial
Street. The children
covered its branches with bright colored
paper and strands of popcorn.

AUNTY PATTERSON made tissue paper snowballs
with which to adorn it.

The teachers made silver paper baskets which
were filled with nuts and
candy for each scholar. Of the program, I
remember that JENNIE BLODGETT
directed the music, J.P. MARTIN made a speech
about the use of profane
language. UZZ THARP and HECK SANFORD sang a
comic song, pretty little
ALICE DILSAVER recited in trumpet tones "Hang
up the Baby's Stocking",
DAN PORTER picked a fandangle (I think that
was what he called it) on a
guitar. Rosy cheeked, blue eyed EMMA and
OLLIE GILLHAM, looking like
big "chainy" dolls, sang a song about a lost
kitten. Then J.L. YOUNG,
representing Santa Claus distributed the
presents.

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Copied November 25, 200l
*I've looked everywhere, but am unable to
find the rest of this article;
so hopefully, you'll enjoy this much. My
apologies. Nancee