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iuperslilions lold About New Year's In Many lands

lGood Luck Offered in Mossy‘

Ways to ‘Believers.’

New Year's Day aflordo everyone [the opportunity to bring himself good Puck throughout the year. At least that is supposed to be true accord- ring to several old superstitions con- ‘cerning the beginning of a new year.

The “First Foct"--the first person jto enter the house on New Year's

morning - plays o significant role in tho family's future for- tunes. He must be a dark man to bring good luck, but if he also brings a gift Ind “carries in" more than he “token out," then the house is os- .aured peace and plenty for a whole Year. The most auspicious gifts as ‘uck-bringers are o lump of coal and a rod herring.

Unmarried persons are advised to lock out of the window on New {Year's morning. If _you see a man, it is ‘a sign that you will be wed before the hear is out. Should you see a horse, you ‘can have a wish, and lit will be realized within the year. To

ee o dog is lucky,

ut o cat foretells worry.

A little core will make it possible lo bring oneself good luck for the

entire ear. Wear some g new. Year's Doy, but the garment must be put on when you first dress in the ~ morning. Receiptof a gift ie certain to carry luck. Wish everyone you zmcct "A Happy New Year," but re- member when the greeting is given to cross your fingers for luck. Be sure to say "rabbits” as the first word when you woke before anyone has had a chance to spook to you.

Love's progress will be aided on New Year's Day if you ore careful to put on the left stocking before tho right. The potency of this chorm iis supposed to be increased if you do all things as for as possible left- handedly during tho day.

To open o bank account on New Year's Day was considered lucky ln Old England, the custom growing probably from the belief of mony centuries that whatever you do on the first day of the year will be an indication of what will happen dur- dng the months that will follow.

In some parts of England and Scot- land it is supposed to be unlucky to leave a house until some outsider has first entered it.

TNer/r Yeafs Blessings an

Ancient Swiss Legend According to Swiss legend, tho noly Family is abroad during the hon: r-l midnight moss on Christ- 1.23.3 Eve.

Therefore, a bowl of fresh milk is placed upon the dining table and each member of the holoc- hold carefully Ioys his spoon upon the table cloth.

The person who, returning from church, finds his spoon has been moved may anticipate spoolll blessings during the coming year: for surely Mary and Joseph have rested within the abode during their Flight into Egypt and the Virgin used that spoon to feed tho l infant Jcsus.

possible, on New

Ni W’ YEAR/IS Al‘ THE CORNERS - -"'-+:

“POPP Mow Levis coiled from

the kitchen, "you got your 1:: bonoo out of thot choir and w up! Dinneflll be ready in two shakes of a lamb’: tail."

Pop managed to lift his six feet of bone and olnew to his feet and beaded for tho kitchen sink.

"Don't you go usin‘ that clean towel, neither," Maw admonished. "That's for company. Use the roller towel. Sakes alive, l do believe you'd wipe your dirty feet on the front door mot if I'd leovo it out.','

"What's o door mat fer," Pop flared, "if it ain't to wipe feet on?"

Pop gave the roller towel a vicious Jerk. "Y’know tonight bein’ New Year's Eve, Maw, you ‘nd me ought to step out somcwheres. They're having a big shindig over at the

"Jed Haley's opcnin’ o keg.”

Corners store. Jed Hafey'| open- ln' a keg."

"lf it's anything like that keg he opened Thanksgiving, you ain't get- tin‘ any nearer to it than you are right now. Pretty howdy-do, you cumin’ home six o'clock in the morn- in' and shootin’ of! the shotgun through the roof so it leaks like a sieve. No, siree, you ain't even gettin’ near enough to have a smell of any keg Jed Haley opens," Maw sold.

Suddenly Pop looked up from his plots. "Well, consent! What you cryln’ about, Maw?" "

"I ain't cryinfl" Maw denied. "I'm just thlnkiff-thlnkln’ back fifty-two years. You was payin’ attention to me and kind o’ jealous like. I couldn't tum 'round but .what you wos kis|in' me. You was jealous o‘ Jed Hafey-dealouser than any- thing."

Pop snorted disdalnfully. "WhaVd l have to be jealous o’ Jed Haley

fer? Tell me that."

"Plenty," Maw said, “I was going to marry him."

Pop dropped his fork. a-goin‘ to marry Jed?"

"Sure. Only his folks wanted him to merry Edda Stout. She owned all the bdttom land nearly in Clarke county. He couldn't marry me un- til he was of age, on account o‘ his folks wantin' him to marry Edda. In a year he figures he can get all hor money and then divorce her and marry me. Meanwhile he said 1 might as well marry you, then when he got all Eddafs money I could di- vorce you and marry him. Said you was about the most harmless male bein’ in all Clarke county and no harm \vculd come to me morryin’ you. He said if I married anybody else I might fall in love with him and then he'd lose out."

"So that was the way o’ thlngsl I r her. Jed did divorce Edda

“You was

Miracle Plays Still Bold

/ Among more tradition - observing communities of the world, old-time miracle plays are still performed, often in the form of elaborate dances, in solemn, but lavish, set- tings against the colorful back» ground of tropical foliage.

My Daily Prayer

mead to everyone; ‘I'm like to fool ouch lay

3

. I} liiii} i

l? i?!

a year or so later. How come you never told me this before, Lil? And bow come you not to divorce me and mlrty Jed after he got his di- vorce?". .

l "flow come?" Maw sold. "Well, Pop, I guess maybe you was kind o’ responsibl for that. Ain't no tell- ln' how o woman looks at thin s un- til she's hogtied to o man. just kind o' forgot about Jed. Money dldntmatter so much, after oll. I found out it was the man that mat- tered.‘ You kind o’ had good ways about you, Pop. Dfflerout kind o’ woys, only they was tho right kind. lode o gm think twice ofore jump- ln‘ from the fryin’ pon into the fire. You woe good enough for me, I found, there woe any batter men's: you, I wouldn't halve no woy

haowin‘, o oouroo. ve

wusonlcoldidzrtthinkltrydfl bo any nicer, so I just decided to hang onto you and let Jed root for himself."

IND)‘ gum!" Pop-exclaimed after

' o moment's reflection. “Now I om

l-Ibin’ f0 fhlf h] WC!!!’ tonight kills And you're e-gola’

I won't have Jed

t cheated in the

Syria Camel of Jesus Blessed by Child Chris"

In Syria, water and wheat await the Gentle Camel of Jesus who travels over the desert on Epiph- ony-Evo bringing presents to good children.

Legend says the youngest of the camels which bore the Wise Men to Bethlehem was exhaust- ed by the pressing tourney and. u it lay moaning before the Sto- blo, the Cb of Child blessed it with immort llty.

Office or Lodge Decorated With Little Effort

Have you been chosen to arrange your otlice or lodge Christmas party this year?

Don't look at it as a chore, or something that can be done in the last few days before tho actual holi- day. Make preparations for it ahead of time-and you will see how much more enjoyment everyone will get out of it.

Christmas is the season 1'0!‘

V, parties when people spend much of

their time indoors either entertain- ing or being entertained. It is dur- ing this season that everyone is look- ing for new ideas for decorating homes, offices, recreation centers or gathering places.

Christmas greens are tho favor- ite decoration and most univer-

sally used in all countries. In America, the pines, holly and mistle- toe are displayed in wreaths _or’ hung about the room to give a holiday at;- mosphcrc.

Other natural materials may be added, such 8s pine cones, shells, seed pods, ground pine or fruits.

If color is to be added, paint the gourds or pine cones with poster paints and fasten them on the pine boughs with wire or string. Pine cones pointed in white and edged with red or blue are especially striking when hung against a dark‘ green background. -

Three dimensional posters make effective decorations, and ore easily made from cloth, stiff paper or other material. This type of decoration is particularly effective mode up in the traditional Christmas scenes such as, the bringing in the Yule log, Na- tivity scenes, or cal-cling.

Christmas cords are a good source to go to for suggestions if you need a design for a poster or bulletin board as a central piece. ~

HERE'S llllW Tll . ’ SELECT i TREE

"How can we select a Christmas tree that holds its needles?" is a question fathers and mothers ask year lfter year. ,

The onswer depends on the typo of tree you buy and the care you give it once you sot it up.

All trees tend to drop their leaves after they are cut and stored in o

dry room. But some kinds naturally hold their needles ‘ _ than others. Trees used most common- l on Christmas are t o spruces, fir, hem- lock, pine and red cedars.

Spruce are the first to shed their needles. A spruce can he identified by grasp- ing o branch tightly. Its sharp needles will

prick your hand.

The ldool C‘ lstmoo tree is the dr. It resembles the spruce except that its uoedlel ore not sharp. The needles stay on tho troo for o long time, end become o golden brown before they dually 4m cfl- N»- dlel of the Douglas s: ore dot and soft to the touch. This popular troo can be coolly identified by nomin- lng the cones which hove smell op- pendsges on each aide. t

Pinoo have never boon very in cl Christmas trees, iu to of the fact that they do not oh needles coolly. This is ost

ot closely rosem-

blo the traditional Christina mo. No motto: what kind of

treoyousalschlt wthbolditonoo- dleo longer if it u standing in we Place o little wstcs in tho bole youetroostond endyouwillbe cred less with falling needles m non,

IN THE streetcar crowded with

holiday shoppers Mrs. Weston couldn't see the couple behind he: but their words added to her mount- ing despair and fury. Overhead, tinsel-wreathed placards exhorted to buy fur coats, diamonds, perfume. She shut her eyes to them but she could not shut hcr ears.

"That was one swell party lest night," sighed the man. “Ob, boy!"

The girl squealed. Mrs. Weston crlnged. The high laughter was like the whistle in Puppo, the rubber do they'd given Harvey Jr. lls thir Christmas. Puppo had become more than a toy. lie still lived in glory, a kind of household god enshrined in the whatnot in Harvey's room. “Love to Puppo," Harvey ended his letters. Puppo always topped the

Eiéfléko. mill-defuse

"Lady, you have the wrong ougte."

Christmas tree. There'd be no tree this your. It was worse than childish of Harv to want one. She wouldn't have it. A package had been sent to Harvey Jr. overseas in October, but there'd be no Christmasing at home.

Wicked, horrible, thought Mrs. Weston, that people are going through all the old motions of a Merry Christmas. No one has a right to be merry.

"You looked super last night,” said the man. "You are super, honey. You're so beautiful." Mrs. Weston turned slightly and caught o glimpse of a flat pretty face sur- rounded by blond curls. “You rate orchids, honey," the man went on, “and you're goin’ to have them.

The constant ache in Mrs. Weston’! heart sharpened to a stab. For such fools her Harvey was risking his life. Another, block of their chatter and Mrs. Weston would say, "The money squandered on orchids, young man, would buy a good many war stamps," or, "This is no occasion for whoopee."

"Jack thinks the Army is going to get him this time." It was the lrl speaking. “And is he scar l"

The woman next her got of! and another squeezed in. "Certainly go- ing to be a big Christmas," observed

the newcomer cheerfully. "Were ‘ you downtown Saturday? Worst 1am

I ever saw."

"! was not." Mrs. Weston felt compelled to explain. “I am going to town now only to select o wreath for my mother's grave."

Behind her the ycun people were still shrllling about ack and the Army. "Tell him we'll give him o farewell party. Tell him if he gets shot he'll have a pretty nurse." The man was chortling. "Let's get of! next corner, beautiful. You con buy me a drink-""

Liqili, thought Mrs. Weston furt- cusly.‘ That explained their incu- eant giggling over nothing. She raised her voice. “l don't see how people can think about Christmas. How they can drink and lau h and waste money on silly things. lfo is so terrible-J‘ her voice broke. Hoov- ene, people were staringl "My Ion- somewhere "In the Pacific." she added hurriedly in a low voice. "I- I'm thinking of him."

“Lsno felt ohhanzlth on her shoulder.

ady you ave e wron angle." The man behind her leaned! forward. Her eyes met compassionate blue ones in o face curiously polo. "It don't help your boy any for you to have no Christmas. Be o! mo u yfilh can. Lilo u not he'll be back, t as a fiddle-like me." Bo lurched to bis feet.

lontothing caught in Mrs. Woman's throat. He was limping to the door. The car jolted to o stop and the girl

o steady little hand un- der his arm. Drunk. th

‘ifs... o m" GI

I7 the owd. ‘gait?’ but they were ‘ma; do.

She woe halted by the crowds g5 the sidewalk. standing ea up“ ohosowtbeco leturninottbe dill’! IIII- A ‘I bu‘); end make love over on. mm soda. "Bo Christmas, soldier,"

bgpofld. "Io

A DRIZZLING rein looped through Mike Duncan's thread»- bare coat and soaked him to tho skin. Snow bod preceded the rain that oftomoon and the going was pretty tough. He wearlly trudged along, eudoovoring to keep out of the way of reckless herds of lost- minute Christmas shoppers who thought of him only ol o bar to their progress.

Ordinarily Duncan would not have thought of his wet akin, his tattered clothe . or even of his empty stom- e oy were all part of life on the road-but this night was differ- ent. It was Christmas Eve.

It must have been the holiday sea- son-why else would someone thrust o fifty-cent piece into his hand and

u

iumuillmlmlimwillow

"Are you sure that’: all you want?"

than vanish into the shadows? He could only murmur a grateful ,,"'I'hank you, slr, and a merry Christ- mas to you" before the donor dis- appeared lnto the swirling crowd. W Duncan reached into his left pock- ot, pulled out two dimes and flva pennies, laid thorn with the half- dollar in the palm of his other hand and stared at his entire for- tune of seventy-five cents.

He smiled sardonically when it oc- curred to hlm presently that the building in front of which ho stood was the United Stotol Mint. Ho turned and, with a laugh that had a hysterical rlngto it, jlngled his hand- ful cf coinsu His mirth attracted the cop who had been standing on tho corner watching him. The or- flcer said to-hlmin e broguo so thick that it could have been cut with a knife, "Move on, blasht yel" Mike

wandered off down a deserted side

street, cilnking his money.

'After about an hour of aimless roaming through endless alleys, he found himself directly opposite a brightly decorated restaurant. He crossed over and from sheer curios- ity looked in tho window.

There were only two patrons in-

slde-on elderly man and woman seated at o front table who were avidly devouring with much relish o whole rout turkey with all the ‘side dishes. A?‘ Dtniccfre mouth began to water- his stomach seemed hollow-ho felt his legs go week, and his ever-pres- ent hunger woo getting the best of him. Suddenly he remembered the seventy - five cents. He thought quickly. A bed for the night at o flophouse would cost fifteen conti- thot would save him sixty. He de- cided to g in and order a roast turkey sandwich. He gave his hat o few deft pats and opened the door. He hung his battered hat and coat whore he could grab them in case of on emergency, and made himself comfortable at o table in o corner. Duncan knew that his appearance was nouo to ropossnsing and that a waiter wcu not dash up to some one from whom he could not et a tip. After o while a vinegar oced mon delgned to come to him. "Whofll you bevel" he asked, eti- ding o yawn.

"A hot roolt turkey 1d " go- pliod Duncan. ‘m5! ‘ -

"On toast or rye breodf".

Raye}!

ll ‘mill I

Duncan shook lilo hood. "No, noth- ing else."

"Are you oure that's all you wont?"

"Yes, that's oll. Just o roost tur-

sandwich."

waiter returned with the or- der, placed it before him, shook his hood wesldorlngly and withdrew. Duncan v devoured the send- wtch iguthram Be delicately wiped In o flop then beckoned the waiter. a.'.‘ eck, please," b: soil.

‘Mimi tbs chock." Duncan raised .

u; .

"leathers is no chock." ‘NWT wlllldo you magg- M

"There on none tonight. nu; u atrium In. Didn't m; sigh in the wiflfl‘! dill.“

u

New Year's Mummers e Parade Big Event

The Mummeul’ Parade on New Year's Eve fl to hiladolpbla whet tho Tournament Rosco to to Poco- dena-only the Mummers have o orl on tradition. -

I e earliest edger‘! in tlaohvicinity o presen ay o 9 W!" English and Swedemfia lllluil cherished the tradltf 8mm: play "at. George and the Dram!- wbile the Swedes were fond of mu- quereding informally on Now ¥oor'o Eve. The two customs had merged long before the Revolution and it was customary-oven ornalhg Qyakers-to extend bospl t! the masquerodoro or give them o dole for refreshments.

After the Revolution, George Washington replaced St. George no the central figure of the festivities which continued along the path of spontaneity lmfil 188d when the po- rado was sponsored by the Silver Crown New Year's association.

The Municipal administration of- ficially recognized the parade in 1901, and representative citizenry began turning out watch and ost- tlcipate in the fe ivities.

The number of organizations spon- soring the parade, the divisions and elaborateneas thereof increased through the years. 0n New Year's Eve in 1030, 12,000 participated in the lino of march down Bond street and 300,000 spectators watched tho

' parade which lasted from early ovo- ‘ ning through the wee hours of the

New Year.

COMES OUT FIGHTING \-

Observe Hioliday In Many Ways

The name January ls derived from the two-faced god, Janus. Ho woo originally the god of light and day, however, he gradually became tho god of the beginning of things.

The beginning of the year woo sacred to Janus and a festival in his honor called Agonia was cele- brated. At the beginning of any im-

portant undertaking his old and advice xvas sought.

Hc was worshipped as the guard- ian of trade and shipping and ho was the inventor of agriculture.

I

In addition to secular celebra- tions, many religious denominations hold special services on New Year's Eve from 9 or l0 to 12 o'clock.

The Methodist Episcopal church was the earliest to adopt thil cus-

tom and they ore celled "watch- night services."

In 1944, St. George's Methodist Episcopal church in Philadelphia held its 175th watch night service. The church was founded in ill and in 1770 held what hoe been celled Ibo first ouch services in America. In other churches oro holding services today.

...J._

Dlstrtct ed otter 1018, r, that the doto become o lo- gal holiday in Massachusetts. With the exception of was time, tho dotols o legal roooeulorliboli for the sailor and soldier. Y

The Christmas Carolers Welcomed Everywhere

"Kore come the Ooroiore." '

8o it used to be. Young faces pressed against the wlndowpone. straining to hear the cheerful carols outside. Perhaps, it woo the story of the Christ child put to tune cf o boiled of love and cheer. when the singers wm done the boun- oolder invited than in for o bite or gave them a coin or two for their song.

Then on to the next house, to sing again under the stars or veiled behind sifted snow.

And then. in the early morning home again to their own firelldes.

It was o good old custom, this midnight mlnltrolsy in tho season of peace and good will. “with the beginning of Yuletide. l2 days before Christmas day. as Percival Ohubb tolls us in the Standard, publlmed l New York by the American mbical union. "am l bands of musicians went- the rounds and in the mire or on the reed or in the steps. played the old folk tuneo as a lyrical prelude to the great day. To some of the antique ballad airs, like Good King Wenceslauc," says Mr. Ohubb, "singers would odd a hymn tune or two- Once in David's Royal City or Hark, the Herald Angels slug. Punctuating the bustle of domestic preparation for the coming feast these ministra- tlons in the still night gave a breath of poetry that touched the spirit of Christmas with an en- dearing beauty. Ihy bv day the tide of joyous antl- elpatlon rose tfptil the crescendo broke into a forte of exuberance.” .