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PCMHiV (WHAM pages; an m ™ * VOL. XXV.—NO. 355. Cbrisimm m It Wsii Spent Wtty Jtos 'Jfp m St Fmi - :. '7:'" '.:-■"/ .-._.. --.--- " _ • - _.;.■: ' .'-. .7-. . ' ..:■-:... t __- _ .. - -^.^ _..:-..„„ . J -..:• _ - * ..,.'. - .7 7... ss^/." "" .'_"' ~'"^ .'.-'.. . .-' ' '" --.-' HOW THEY KEPT THE HOLIDAYS Reminiscences of the Days When St.. Paul Was Young and Its Inhabitants Were Neighbors—High Jinks and Much Visiting During t»he Merry Season—The First. Ball in the Young City. 'Rah! for the Christmas cheer! 'Rah! for the good new year! Think of the merry ways Of the happy, good old days! To the inhabitants of rural commun ities and villages the celebration of the two great holidays of mid-winter means more, if possible, than it does to the masses of the cities. The joy and - ■"" ■■■■■" ■ ■ ■'■-' ■:'■ '■■'■■'■ ' . " ""'"■■ ' " ' ■■" : "■""■■ '~-:- * ■'■■ ''&:'.^"' ■ ' ■ ■■■ ■-■■■■'■:■: .^'.^->''-':-■■■■:'■'■:■..''■ \ '" :" V" £ ' ', '&-W " -"" ; ' ''■' ' ,'T* "" ' '■ V jollification that is then to be seen among the country folks is greater than among their city cousins. Isolat ed as the rustics are from the varied distractions that make the lot of the city people, the few great occasions of the year when there is general cele bration make a stronger impression and are looked for with greater eager ness. During the autumn months the thoughts are constantly turned in the direction of the coming of the holi day season. For weeks in advance the female members are engaged in preparing good things to eat on the day of fes tivity, and when the day has arrived the members of the family gather about the board and imbibe the suc culant viands. The cheer is increas ed by the general sense of repose and security induced by the feeling that the year has been spent in honest toil and with fair rewards. The woodpile is big and the cellar is filed with the produce of the garden. The feeling that has been growing in anticipation during the, past weeks breaks forth on Christmas in an hilarious rejoicing. As it is in the country, so it is in the villages. The general stores do a thriving business for weeks in advance and when the day arrives their meagre stocks of luxuries and delicacies are • exhausted and their tills are filled. The villagers, not content with these supplies, draw also from the surround ing country the best of the farmer's produce. When the day arrives th« vilage community is as one large fam ily. The day is opened with the simple but impressive services in the early morning in the little whitewashed church. Without the -day is yet un born, but the interior is illuminated with a dim religious light shed from rows of candles; the walls are fes tooned with wreaths of misletoe; and near the altar stands the odorous fir tree, cut from the forest near at hand. These crude but neat accessories to the services have the effect of impressing the beholders with the spirit of the time, and the discourse of the pastor, tellingr of the birth of the Savior, and the hozannah of the choir, remind ev ery one that the day is set apart not merely for jollification, but as well for serious contemplation of the love of the Eternal Father in sending His son to redeem the world. The services concluded, the villagers leave the church and wend their vari ous ways in the early dawn to their re spective abodes. The country folks, who have betimes arisen and driven many miles in the brisk morning air, unblanket their horses, which have been waiting, and soon away through the snow the merry crowd flies off, with snatches of songs and hymns. Gatherings Small and Friendly. There are living in St. Paul now many who remember the celebration of the holidays in the times when St. Paul was a mere village and when it was entering on that stage of its de velopment when it began to assume the proportions and dignity of a town. In the very early days, from 1838, when Pierre Parrant and the Jarvises erect ed the first habitation on the banks of the river, to the late 40s, there was little in the way of celebration, for the people were few and scattered and the circumstances against which they were contending were adverse in the extreme. There was little money, trading being done with pelts mostly, and the merchandise and stores were meagre. In winter when the river froze up they were entirely cut off from Scene on Third Street* in 1849 communication with the world. There was a store at Fort Snelling, and a few in St. Paul and to the stocks of these the purchases of the.settlers were lim ited. There was a general feeling of good will, however, despite these unto ward conditions, and the season of Christmas time and New Tear's was observed with friendly gatherings, and often, among the traders and trappers, with hilarity, for the stimulating in fluence of strong drink in those days was much in evidence. But as the years passed, and as more Easterners came to the smaH- frontier town, as the advance guard of civiliza tion, the facilities became more im proved, and gradually, as they began to prevail over the stern conditions, St. Paul society had its inception. There were then among the settlers some of St. Paul's most honored citi zens of today. Business interests also began to pick up and several stores soon were established. The mutual feeling of good will pre vailed in those days among the settlers and early residents of St. Paul, on such occasions as the winter holidays, manifested itself by a general celebra tion, at which all people of the town were present, and in which all joined to make up a jolly good time. They usually gathered in the principal hotel at such times as mine host out-did himself in providing entertainment and pleasure for his patrons. During the day sleigh-ride parties were organized and crowds of merry young folks would go to the lakes for skating, re turning in the evening for supper at the hotel. The jolly old traders no doubt spent the day in their most con genial diversions, and when evening came the town was a scene of revelry. Made New Year's Calls. On New Year's day, in the early 50s, the custom of calling was started, and it had its origin in the prevailing sentiment of common good will, for on the first day of the new year it ap peared appropriate to the pioneers to go about among their friends and greet them with expressions of kind regard and indulge in joyful anticipations for the coming year. In this manner was started the custom that became an important usage of society. The good people in those days had not then reached the stage when they considered it their duty to maintain strict exclusiveness, but admitted all of their fellow citizens to their hospi tality and extended a welcome to ev ery one. A vivid impression of the manner in THE ST. PAUL GLOBE SUNDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 21, 1902.—THIRTY-TWO PAGES. which the holidays were celebrated In the early days is received from the old newspapers. From these old sheets as one peruses the lines of well-nigh faded type on the moldy and age stained paper, there arises in the mini visions of that age now past forever. There remain with us still a few of those who participated in these merry makings, but no longer have they the lithe limbs with which they danced to* the music of a creeky fiddle on a rough pine board floor. Girls then in the sweet bloom of youth are now grandmothers, aged and gray. From the Chronicle and Record of Jan. 5, 1850, is copied the following: . "On Christmas the young folks of St. Paul turned out in goodly number to attend the ball given by Mr. Harts horn, of the Minnesota house, Still water. The St. Croixans, not to be outdone in the way of courtesy, gather ed up their sweethearts and wives and came down upon us like an ava- \ lanche on New Tear's night to attend Mr. Kennedy's ball at the Central house. This addition to the numbers from St. Anthony and our own town, rendered the scene of amusement a perfect jam. Everything passed off pleasantly, however, and with the high est credit to the host and hostess of the Central." What a picture this presents! Sleigh loads of merry youths and maidens rid ing on the cold winter night all the ■/ay from Stillwater and all the way from St. Anthony. The sleighs go speeding over the snow and ice through the forests, the moon shining brightly and the air crisp and clear with frost. How the boys and girls, in joyful an ticipation of the fun at the dance, sing aloud, and how the echoes of their lusty voices ring through the woods and across the plains. No electric cars had they in those days, but a plenteous fund of the zest for simple pleasures they were endowed with. Go back over a half century and en ter the door of the Central house on this night of Jan. 1, 1850, what ia the scene that meets your eyes? In the dining room the tables are pushed into the corner to serve as a stand for the fiddler and the piper; about the room in groups are standing, chatting gayly, the young men and women o,f the village of St. Paul. Now the fid dler and the piper strike up a jocund air and the room is in a whirling maze. But hark! the sound of sleigh bells comes up the street, several sleighs stop before the door and in crowd the guests from up the river! The music stops and the dancers rush to welcome their neighbors. Again the music starts, and again the dancers whirl. So on they go till early morn ing. • The following editorial from the Chronicle and Register of Dec. 22, 1849, will give some idea of the extent of the commercial interests of the town, and throw some light on the manner In which the day was observed: A Holiday Advertisement. ""Christmas will be with us next Tuesday, and every one Is preparing to enjoy it as seemeth best to suit them. The grave and devout will be at church. Those who love worldly pleasure will be at the several balls, or out upon sleighing, and eating, and drinking parties. The great center of attraction for this ciass is the ball at the 'Minnesota House,' Stillwater, -on Ghristmas night, on which occasion •mine host' Hartshorn expects to 'lay himself out,' and surpass everything of the kind yet got up in the terri tory. "Our merchants, tradesmen, confec tioners and bakers expect a call from all their customers during this season of festivity. Those who wish for something nice in the fancy drygoods line should drop into Forbes', Roberts', Randall's, or Elfelt's; those seeking more substantial- articles of wear- will call either upon those gentlemen or at Tracy's, Hopkins', Simpson's, Fuller's, or Fullerton's; those desiring substan tials for the inner man will go to Slos son & Douglass', Sloan's, or Presley's— the latter also keeps cigars, pipes, to bacco, &c, and toys for the children; those wishing Christmas cakes and good things generally will repair to Berry's or Stuart's and those that want new coats made by first-rate tailors will call upon —Johnson & Brown, "In Upper Town, "Or upon Mr. Tinker, Third street." "But if ail our SL Paul dealers fail to supply you with what you want, just step to the sutler's store at Fort Snelling and we'll warrant Stephens will be ready for you: of if you feel so disposed you may as well go there first. That.cap of ours cannot be beat in Minnesota." St. Paul was in these days smaller than the settlenwit at Fort Snelling and Mendota, and about as large as those at Stillwater and St. Anthony, which is now Minneapolis. The busi ness center was then clustered about the steamboat landing and. extended for a distance up B?ach street, which is now abandoned and is represented by the alley known as Second street. A few wooden structures were gath ered about bridge square, while the i residence section was confined to the district between Third street and Sev enth street. Lower town was thinly settled and St. Anthony hill was a farm. :<r-; Henty Books for Boys .", ;^ AT QA|i| DflfW 0. f^flNlT ' Book Bargains About 40 titles and they are : selling like :&9 I _ £11 || ilI 5 11% All ! ."!"'"■**"" Every item a decided bargain.' Do-not hot cakes; department store price, 25c. I||. 111 llVb V V 8 » WS '_ ___.._, -' * skip one.. The are values that cannot Our price, 6 for $1.00, ".;>-. oft. Xik r''"':-:"'~'--'-'*'--'--: ■■-'"-■ -x ■■,--'?■-;■.••.--r^,---.;^-.-,.-:' >; r .-- "••-•■' '-■•'; 7VT PrTrn ~" be duplicated anywhere, •'- ' '": ' :■:*' or each /Z>\JC r» manb&* » » tat «& as tfSUFfe <01 • I LI-II Lin:; M :^c • -:-"'■-■■•":"-: -H^B^F SI TIiIISL DV^ Cm < streets $1.25 Pansy Books, 93c -.--iar Join our Magazine -Club. II fi 9£ll 11 11^ IT il W 111 I < VTRFFT^ JU r -JM; „• :<%V I I SUiltil I UUb - »'««'»■ 1 $1.50 Alcott Books, 90c «3^ STORE OPEN WElllS-T^ Plaques, Match Safes! Pipe Holders, V \':. - : ; -" ; '': :- -. — --^--.--.■■ .•-■ '■':'/■::. v : ' WinaSOr, I2mOS, ISC ™—*", Our Big Basement ««* Books. «* ■ Burnt Wood Effect? / z'^^^^^^^^ ' '''' - ■ •'- Peloubet's Notes, 88e Frames,: ; .Pariels,-4tc., etc.T^ "0. •;-■' ;; ' ' Hr ""^ "' ' *^®^ Do not fatHa we.cur ."Q Q '■"-Fine"Stktionprv- " : : • **^-■■ -<!»".- *^S3 ■^gn^n^^^™^^^™^-''' uDOICS eurpriee OOI■ ycu .-••••■ •• t* tit t ;In^ndsomeYgifiiboxesT^"^---'<>'w'^ Is full of delight for the children. Dolls, Doll Houses, Engines. Trains, Hose ■ ,; . l ~- ;. A pEW TITLEg,' r Any price up from-V.^.v.v.v.-J<>G:r Carts,'-Coal Wagons, Rooking Horses, Mechanical and Musical Toys, Stuffed :_ - .-. r A Vi--^ c Vr ;PI IM txV —:-:-"^:' Animals, etc. Not the "worn-out-in-a-day sort," but the dependable kind. All ; Eg™?- CrQ^-. ■': Atoancsnea ;:V--' -7- IL-leCtriCal -novelties -^ ': - kinds of. Fancy Papers and Card Boards, cut to your order. Picture Framing, ! unclg Tarry, ':;: Km--' Fpasj, Gie^r _,_. . . -j, „,. . o . . Kindergarten Supplies, Children's Books, etc., etc., all at lowest prices. Truth Pextf?, D jPffH.' x , Night Clocks, Batteries, Surgical 6 X " Bight of Way. Ritey tj-ftes. Lamps, : Night Lamps, Search Lights, P ;-- •-^sv .'. "■' t^.^'^ : *. r 1 •*■ T* •,!=-: ■ ■'' :>: Wolfville. ..-. - . •- Have Rn4 Jfoia", Canes, Scarf Pins, etc. Ask to see i S ;; Ne\V : rICIIOII at lUt PrlCeS ;- V- "^ Your .. Uncle Lew, -Lords of th§ NQrtp, $1.50 Books, $1.08 $1.25 Books, 90c $1.00 Books, 72c Jffig. of Cra"' 1% ffia^ T^' : Calendars at Cut Prices ;- ?V feTf n F frf ha" :S'^:^SJSB^J^SS^SS^SSS- : Bero e oda: ywt?Y ■»»»»»*. This year, selection excels all pre- ™^' ?S S^ite Bir, S^n JSSSSS." - vlous , efforts, as do also the discounts ";The. : Arms.'; ■..-- Temporal Power. Song of a Single Note. .. , B^" Store nen Evenings. from publishers' prices. • ,-■-- : -:r- Bob,: Son of Battle.: ■: The Leopard's: Spots. :« Thoroughbreds. - r? *=" <... • ■ Calendars for'Funcy Work. ' SnfJsTo°n WBfc J! B^rbaS Ladd. ;. : I Cas^e^Cr^crJw. . I < Gift Books ::. ; [ - Pictures and Framing ;; .- :-" - ' rfc-:~*-» rt«» R««L-^ i n c o .; flc ,-« Here are a few of the many illustrated v; ..:-^ v .:- y ,j- j^v^ira Vv - '.^SOC- Dainty Ullt BOOKS in defies ISC " " r rr holiday books we have. - It is worth a See our.line: of framed and unframea : IS?Zi--i_7-" ■-'t-;V'?_ v-' -"''-""'- •^'b~*i*:>"V' ' , '-'"'" '-'v"'-'--'" --"':.'."-^-v — _____ trip ; down' town to : see our stock of pictures. We "can still execute: framing- '1^ iNew/y«demMum J , ; .Petlt,.Tralnon .and Beauxalt^s -^. m ; : books In fine binding, alone.. . orders for. Xmas delivery, but-do not"- rSerles,-containing over. 200. titles printed _ O ni good- paper BS| B^^ff^k- ?■ > ,v—^——-..:. -~ ■ .delay too long. Z S-ffonSce^eSM IOC A^^X^r fe: By. Ja-,53 Leather Goods 6°C- see Them. Store Open Evenings. ~ By ;Wef have Isj\\ exceptionally;nice:, "line''of :'; ■t^^'-'-'.i^"- «■ --■ --- --- ---.---i-- ■-- J-:-':--','-'.>,'. -_. -1^ . ~' :'rtii^^"ini«e-:- ITivVTr^neth-'rirnii!i'm''-":i ; avkfdcaS! nca e S esneBni Good Books for Boys and Girls D7^D^r^ G^^%^^2.5 o ?orJ?niin?Tto randUm B°°kS' WritiDS ; Th^ ' table contains books of four popular series, viz.: .:' 7V '.;; " ;;_.:— A Christmas 1 Greeting. 1-^ By ■ Marie -'' .roruonos, etc.- - ■ , ..-..•■ 'Copyright. Henty Books, titles never before put in cheaper:;-^^^■|k __~__ .-. Corelli r.::^.:.\;;::;i:-..:-;:..'r.^£$1,501 -.■■■■-■■■-■■• •"":.-',<j -"-V; -■■--* .:*:. -■■..>,■:,■.,-, _-r-.- >- editions; Alger Series, such authors, as Ellis, Alger and '■ M BUB j^ Th Social adder By C D Gibson Waterman Fountain Pens Otis; Series^b^y B^augorsa^ Castleman, fVP H is iatest and best work. / $5.00 Are the best made. A complete stock " Series, by such authors as --. Optic, May and. Kellogg. De- yaißr,*m& V Social Life In the Early Republic. : -fWim-«9 «in'>rri^+^"i«in'nft^:TMAn,in^v-iA«i*; apartment store special sale price . 45c. < Our price :.......:; .- : , :.-■- • ... .' % By ' Anne '• H. . wnarton. r me ; most • *-■ Jot a ift ? ' Nothing nicer » ; Includlng guc^ tltles aa J' * --*-"-: p V :.^. . -:, , Important colonial book of the J year.s3.oo B ' - '- " - "■"';-:"-".->, Joe's Luck. ;^^;3. Tom, the Ready. . . . " Battles at Home/-^^-^ Under the Trees. By J Hamilton Ma- ".-. *;.-:.'■ ". ' •':?-•- '' ' "— \ z '>" -^ '• "'''■■ Lost In the Rockies. Tony, the ;Hero.*.-;-::?itf>^ Pizarro. .;.-:,^;v-'-;,L: ' rbie.^ Illustrations and > photograv- - ~~ r -; " • v^/'^^y:^^"*-^---:;;; The Slate Picker. : The Young Scout. Marco Polo. r '^.- ; ures by Hinton.V;:.;r"..:v;t:r.'.; $2.00 :■ Out-of-town Customers J u hs e t"lSftSr iBSF-ISf Pluck. haSd^ffi! it "'<*-« of, R B omancSon a ens d Wonder-ssoo . '-,"•- /.-- :^--.:^^v--: •-:->•■' : The Young Hero. >} H Young Adventurer. vi.CAYoungi Circus E Rider. ..a, > By Edward Burne-Jones ...^. :-l . 55.00 i Write s for ;. Our i Mail Order Catalogue. -Young: s Explore*. 1" -\ ■' Do and Dare.r^ ':^''K±?:*+:>z Kangaroo' Hunters. -i_,^. W Fancy ; Papers and Card Beards, t-^' r; It will be interesting to note when the first Christmas tree was set up to the admiring gaze of children in the territory of Minnesota. The following extract from the St. Paul Daily Demo crat of Dec. 26, 1854, gives an account of this event: "A very pleasant and happy affair came off at the house of one of our cit izens last eyejiing. A number of chil dren were invited with their parents, and at 7 o'clock the door of the parlor was thrown open, presenting to the astonished gaze of the children a Christmas tree, most beautifully light ed, and adorned with all sorts of pres ents. Each present was numbered and drawn by the children, whose happy faces and excited manner made the scene a happy and pleasant one to all. This is a custom, we believe, peculiar to some countries of Europe, and one we would hope to see generally adopt ed in this country." What a surprise it must have been to these children of the pioneers to see that fir tree glittering with tapers and weighted with gifts! What a sensation must have arisen when the account of this novelty was spread through the town, and how the children must have ,been seized with longings for the bril liant and beautiful emblem of their Christmas. The hope of the writer quoted was realized, indeed, for the custom immediately took root and has remained. Christmas this year thou- Scene on Summit Avenue Today. \iffifl PHliff^ t sands of children will gather about Christmas trees in St. Paul, and those that remain of that happy band of children who beheld the first tre.e will look upon their grandchildren enjoy ing the same delight that was theirs half a century ago. The custom of New Year's calling also took firm root, and became one of the society functions of each succeed ing- year. The following extract from the St. Paul Daily Democrat of Jan. 2, --1855, will convey some idea as to how the day was observed at that time: New Year's Day in 1855. "This memorable anniversary was celebrated yesterday 'with all the hon ors,' as is said when a popular toast is drunk. The ladies were 'all smiles,' as i some folks would say who looked upon their beautiful countenances; that is to say, they did not do all the 'smiling,' for they left the principal part of it to their guests, who 'smiled and smiled again,' as our old friend Mr. Shakes peare used to remark long ago, until they were as cheeful and happy as a good Christian. "The day was fine, being neither too warm nor too cold, and everything went 'merry as a wedding bell.' In fact the town was all agog, and after the shades of evening had lowered upon the place, the effects of the smil ing were vividly apparent up town, down town and all over town. PRICE FIVE CENTS. "It would require a whole page of our paper to record a hundredth part of- the funny things that transpired; but the funniest that we had any knowl edge of occurred in Whitney's gallery * of the fine arts. A young man who had a 'smiling* countenance went in to have a daguerreotype taken of his beautiful visage, but while under the influence of der machine he started up, exclaim ing suddenly that he had forgotten to call on one lady of his acquaintance, and darted down the stairs; and all the artist succeeded in taking of hia semblance was the end of his coat skirts as he vanished through the door. "It was rather dark and somewhat late before the amusements closed; but for a small city like this those said amusements, while they did last, were interesting in the highest'degree. *'Gov. Gorman received the calls of a host of worthy citizens with his char acteristic urbanity and hospitality. Messrs. Clement & Parker, of the Win slow house, kept 'open house' in per son, arid did the honors of the day with grace and dignity. The gentlemanly proprietors of the American house also swung their doors wide open and Bro. received many handshakes he will Long remember. The Merchants hotel was the recipient of many guests, and the excellent lady of Capt. Routt enter tained them in the most polite and graceful manner.