. cream is mixed in with two

New Canadians

Observe’

Native Christmas Rites‘

Feasts Of Fifty Nationalities In Canada Present '

Many Old Dishes

T114? Slilrit of Christmas is imlver. sal, particularly fn canma; gm. the Population of Canada. Ls not mgdg "P entirely or Canadians. Thousands 0f People from every corner of the WONG have come to live in this gnu‘ cm-lmfy and in doing so have brought with them many of their an cient customs,

Most of these customs fade out and die with the influence of west- ern civilization. But not so at Christ mas time. It is the one time of the year that these many nationalities, Whose descendants will hold in they hands the future of Canada, can Cg. lcbrate the rites and customs of their native countries-and eat their own loved dishes.

There are some fifty different na-

tionalitles throughout the length and breadth of Canada, each \vith flw" 0W“ Decullar feast. In the Itul inn homcs there will be macaroni “m1 Spaghetti and the famous swcct cakes or briches, which are often eaten as a part of the regular Christ mas menu. ' Another feature of the Italian feast; is the Seminola soup. The ba- sis of this delicious soup is half a pint of cornmeal, boiled for one hour in a. quart of white stock, pre- ferably chicken stock, to which are later added mushrooms, salt pepper and a. teaspoonful of nutmeg. The mixture is strained and a quart of wcll beaten eggs and added to the chick- en stock when the mixture is boil- ing. It is thcn covcrcd with Parme- san cheese and croutons. and served in bowls. It makes a. vcry delicious soup.

V The English Dinner

Now lct us sec what the English people are eating. If they arc out from the Old Country only a short time they will serve roast bccf in- stead of turkey. Perhaps it will be prepared not in our American stylo but in. the ancient English style of broiling on a. spit and gurmshing with vegetables. And ivhczi the first two or three courses ore over, lll from the kitchen will come the plum puddiq blazing with burning brandy. (Our United States readers will here heave a hczv-jv sight. On the table occupying a placv of honor will be the wassall bowl, hallowed by tradition.

A dish with the mysterious name of Boulllabaise, is a feature of the Houmanlan celebration. Into this dish go half a pint of each shrimp, and lobster, crab, blucflsh and hali- but, mlnccd and seasoned, boiled and strained and added to half a pint of frcsh vegetable essence. Spices of every description are added and a star of toast and wise men cut from macaroni are sprinkled on the top. They remain just long enough to cook iuid the famous dish is rcudy.

GHTIHHI! Big Eaters

The Germans seem to be the big eaters at tho Christmas feast. They have enough courses to keep an ar- my of svaiicrs busy for an entire af- ternoon. Thcy will have a. large and vcry plump goose, boiled slowly and stuffed with npplcs. dried fruits of evcry cronccivubio (lcscription, raisins dates, figs, apricots and peaches, all highly spiced and mlxcd with butter.

The bird is browned in a quick oven

and served with mashed potatoes, suur liflllllsplfvfl bccr and cucum- bers. Many tlried fish precede the goose, while a very important part of the banquet ls the platter of brai- sed veal and mushrooms. Cake and coffee follow, and of course a Ger- man Christmas feast would not bo complete without a stein or two of beer.

A lfard Christmas

This year, more than ever before, ihcrc will bw thousands who can cn- joy no fczis‘: thousands who have enjoyed such n fcast in past years, but on whom fzitc has played a das- tardly trick. depriving them of their living. There will be hardships and (iisnppointmczits; sorrows and tenrs. It will be harder this year than ever before for that old phrase, “Peace on Earth. Good Will to Men" to ring out in sincerity’.

~But this year more than ever, thosc who can urn giving to chari- uiblc organizations to ‘heip the un- fortunate; to make Christmas as l‘[".ll as posmble to those who are in no position to enjoy it.

If you have not given something no nmttcr how small, to some one more needy than you, then yours will be e. very sorry Christmas in- rlecd. For is not Christmas the cele- bration of the Birthday of Him who gave His life that we might live?

Man Must Still Pray

(By Ellis V. Kllhns, Minister of First Congregational Churclngrucb- lo, Colorado.)

In writing to a friend. Thomas Carlyle declared, "Prayer and re- mains, the native and. deepest im- pulse of the soul of man." The cul- ture of prayer is a natural proce- dure, for in one way or another man has always prayed, and always will. Man ls a “praying animal." There have been communities with- out modern forms of government. without schools, without libraries, without many of the things we as- sociate with modern community life, but never a. community w;th- out its places of prayer.

The speed with which our world has been changed by science has prccipitutcd many difficulties. Not s0 long ago man seemed to live in n more stable world; one in which -hc kncw that what. took place last your would lkcly take plucc in much thc same way this year. In time of drought he prayed for rain, and when threatened with pesti- lence he cried to God for healing. Now that science has created the steamboat, telephone, airplane, re.- dlo and unmeasured enlightenment man has experienced a change from his former world, ln which he was so utterly dependent upon God. to one in which his control over nature has so vastly increased that he now fools a, great degree of inde-

pcndcnce of d.vine power. l-lis pray er for min is answered by irrigation

\ /|¥\

Kindness at Christmas

The kindness you do at ‘Christ- mas ls peculiarly blessed, so do all you possibly can. But you mustn't mention your good deeds or the spell is broken.

and his I)l‘il§'(‘l‘ for hrnlinq is aus- wcrcd by diagnosis and medical skill. What has he now lo pray for?

But cur difficulties h" glccpsr still. Since tlic opening of th: pre- sent century there has been much critical analyss of the Bible as to its inspiration, authorship and date of writing. This so-czilled highcr criticism naturally confused many people in their attitude toward the Bible. The teaching of the church and the person oi‘ Jesus Christ dd not escape the crtical mind of thc scholar in his bo!d search for truth and facts. Organized religion seem- ed to be recelydng the ‘coup de grace.’ For the shallow minded this was true. But. the devout bclicvcr could still cling to his fulth and of- fer his prayer even though many of his props were gone.

Science did not stop here. The inner sanctum of mans private thinking has been forced to admit. the scientific investigator. Wo know him as the Psychologist and we meekly submit while he dissects our mental life as a. botanist would dissect a. flower. He finally emerges from his merciless task with the doleful announcement that he finds no evidence of the soul.

Such a. conclusion on the part of science can only be regarded us hu- morously unsclcntlfic. Our friend oi high scholarship and beautiful character is a constant inspiration to our life, and yet in case of illness we will call a. physician. Prayer is still the persistent, incurable habit of the race. ' In moments of crisis and tragedy the ago-long impulse again Jnakes itself fclt, and the old cry breaks forth: "on. um I might. find Him!"

‘There is a somcwhut common at-

titude of "why Pffly?" Does not God ~

know our needs before we ask’! And is He not doing all He can for us without our askng? This is fre- quently found to bc the raosltion oc- cupied by youth. fr. is an intelligent question and calls for a rational answer.

Assuming God to be all wise we must believe He knows our needs

l, / w. WI. I I . I

clilld on.

in the huge fireplaces, filling the rooms with dancing shadows and flickering lights.

u-rrant to pack at "

$4M

is“ A Wreath or HOLLY

é}. ~~

By Blanche T anner Dlllllm llolly and pine wreaths ln the windows, Christmas greens and tinsel featoous in the shops-streams of shoppe with smiling faces and arms laden with gayly-wrapped parcels “all expressed the happy Christmas sill?“- 5 mom" "m; . bony wrath in one hand and clasplng the hand of s child with the other stopped u the child cried. "lllvlhsr- you dropped a nlwo n! holly!" "New" mum, my 4w, we have plenty more," the mother replied as she hurried the

And the holly was crushed b)’

the next one.

Nearby a mm whose clothes bespoke luxury and ease picked up the little crnlhpd thing and tried tenderly but in vain to smooth out the crumpled leaves. The childhood home of Carter Smith, now wealthy New York broker, had been surrounded by b0"! with their waxy green leaves and bright red berries, like so many tiny Christmas lights, as lit.‘ had liked l0 lilll them. _ ‘ There were always garlands 0! F0155 Pl!" "IN"!!! "w M11490"! P001115 °1 u" °|¢ Southern home and holly wreaths In every window" . Great fires of fragrant pine round

Each Christmas morn one was awakened by a black head thrust Into the room with the greeting "Crlsfinas glf‘ Mame Carter," or who ever might be occupying that room. Then the kinfolk arriving all Christmas day with gifts. Then, too,the dances and parties all wcck until New Year's, were wonderful. years had been too full of other things to even think of’ those times. It was with shame that llf‘ wmembered months had elapsed since he had mitten to his mother, who still lived in flu- old home. He must go back there some day-then the thought came, "why not go hcnr?"

He thrust the holly lnto his pocket. hailed a taxi and sped to his hotel, orderedbls ncelle a house party engagement

u’. train fr“.

and was on the midnight train speeding South. In hls heart was _a song and tucked safelyaway in hls suitcase was the sprig of holly.

l Niall v _. Z.

we

before we ask. But wiil man know his own needs as well without ap- proaching God in prayer as he will through the attitude and actual practice of prayer? And, further, can God nourish the soul of man with the spfrtual life, of which Hc knows man stands in need, unless man voluntanly seeks the intimate fellowship of the Father and yields his spirit in n. receptive mood for the divine blessing? In all his wis- dom and power and love God can- not bcstmv upon His children bles- sIlfgs which are meaningless unless they are consciously received, and for which there is no‘ desire or re- quest. This some question of “why pray?" l.\' nskad by those who say we livc under the reign 0f the laws of the univcrsc. Will praying cause God lll any wny to interrupt the operation of thcsc laws to EHISWCI‘ our prayer? Whil; our knowledge of thc laws of the universe, and their operation. is growing, we must admit that most likely it is still yiathetically limited. In all pro- bability thcrc arc 4 grcnt many laws we know little or nothing about. We know very little about tho interrelation of laws. Some arc said to be physical and sonic splitt- mil. Who knows the exact differ- ence, and the rclutlon of one to the other? Can any one demonstrate that the ‘trustful attitude of faith and prayer has not healed a sick person oltcr iucdlcul skill and of science hud exhausted its skill?

We may thoroughly appreciate the scientific enlightenment of our day without allowing our crcdulty to accept many of the far reaching and sweeping conclusions of many men of science.

'I‘he age long disposition and practice of prayer lift it above the plane of argument and discussion. and identify it as a refflXfltlfln 0f llfc-‘s tensions. a natural turnip! 0i the soul toward God as the flower turns toward the sun. For multi- tudes prayer is the vcry breath of life, the sustaining strength which affords unquestionable assurance of the realty and presence of a. loving heavenly Fatheix-‘Ihe Con- grcgationalist.

"What is that?" asked a would-be Christmas shopper.

"That." replied the stall-holder, scratching his head, "belongs to the Begonia family, I'm looking after it for ‘em while they're awn! for Christmas.

‘(lien “Merry Christmas"

Will Do Lois of Good

Big snow flakcs caressed the farm house of Garth Mason and lingered at the window: sills-—a frame for hollywrcziths. Inside every one but Garth cluittcredhappily. He stared through a wlndow toward a distant light.

“But, he ought to make the first move," Garth muttered stubbornly. Finally impelled by something more than will, Garth jerked on his coat and strode forth. '

In the doorway of his "hard” neighbor Garth paused self-con- sclously.

"—Just brought — Christmas Eve you know-a little present—" and he awkwardly extended a new pipe gayly wrapped. "Wanted to say. “Merry Chrlstmas—"

Garth stopped. His hollow-eyed "enemy" had only partially risen from his chaLr. John Clark was sick Long the men talked. John had been haunted, too, by the old mis- understanding.

“Felt lllfll.—lf 1 could only see you I'd get well," he faltered. Al- ready hc looked improved.

When Garth left, the fields stret ched before him in peaceful white. Above the cheery lights of his own hcmc a star shone ‘with unwaver- calni. Garth smiled-Clara. Agee lluys.

First Christmas Tree

It is siiid that the Christmas tree has its origin in this legend-in one of the German variations. A forester and his family are gathered round n. cheerful wood fire on a wild (flu-ist- mns night. when the Child comes bogging shelter. In the morning they are awakened by the singing of an angelic choir and behold their little izucst standing robed in daullni white light. He breaks a twig from the unburnt faggots and pin-ht! it

before the door. "As youhlve done. says, "so do I lb" YOU- '

to me.“ hc

fies

That had been years ago, and the intervening

. w 1

I

A Christmas Carol

"Come" said Wardle, “a song- a

Christmas song. I'll give you one, in

default of a betterP-"Pickwlck Pl-

pars.”

I care not for spring; on his fickle wing

Let the borne; v

He woos them amain with his trea- cherous rain,

And he scatters them ere the morn

An inconstant elf, he knows not himself.

Or his own changing mind an hour,

He'll smile in your face, and, with wry grimace,

He'll wither your youngest flower.

blossoms and buds be

Let the summer home run,

He shall never be sought u,- mo:

When he's dimmed by a cloud I can laugh aloud, .

And care not how sulky he be;

For his darling child is the madness wild,

That sports in fierce fevers train;

And when love ls too strong, it don't last long.

As many have found to their pain.

sun to his bright

A mild harvest night, by the tran- "quil light Of the modest and gentle moon, ll-Ias a far sweeter sheen for mc, I ween, Than the noon. But every leaf awakens my grief, Asit lleth beneath the tree;

broad and unblushing

So let autumn air be never so fair}

It by no means agrees with me.

But mylsong I troll out, for Christ- mas stout,

The hearty, the true, and the bold; A bumper I drain and with might. and main Give three cheers mas old. We'll usher him in with a merry din That shall gladden his joyous heart And we'll keep him up, while there's

bite or sup, And in fellowship good we'll part. In his fine honest pride, he scorns to hide _ One Jot ofhi s hardweather scars: There's no disgrace. for there's much the same trace On the cheeks of our bravest tars. Then again I sing till the roof doth ring, And it echoes from wall to wall- To the stout old wlght, fair welcome tonight As the King of theseasons alll

for this Christ-

This is the tree of life; it lhlll CV81‘.

l)(‘fll‘ fruit of this festival. and In abundance of all good thlnfl m5“

b0 .\‘ours henceforth 0nd forever.“

‘Fhcrc is every sign this year that _-

Christmas ls going b0 be acclaimed with as great exuberance u ever. rm world lies at peace as on the first Christmas night.

She-Mother won't let me accept expensive presents ‘from boys at, "Christmas. '

He-I found that out before we got engaged.

.“”-.~:'i‘iF"~.T.?5~ ' - ~. 1-’ -_.

Fine Old Christmas

In an inunortal passage in "The Mill on the Floss" George Eliot peg. sonlfled the Christmas spirit of her clay. ‘Phat spirit has not changed with the changing years, u g N. reading of the passage referred to will make clear to» all our readers:

Fine‘ old Christians, with the

SHOW? hair and ruddy fucehad done c

lrs duty that year in the noblest fashion, and had set off his rich gifts of warmth and color with all the heightening contrast of frost and snow.

Snow lay on the croft and river- bank in undulations softer than the limbs of infancy; it lay with the neatllest finished border on every sloping roof, making the dark-red [rabies stand outwith a. new depth of colour; it weighed heavy on the laurels and flr trees, till it fell from them with a. shuddering sound; it clothed the rough turnip field with whiteness, and made the sheep look like dark biotches; the gates were all blocked up with the sloping drifts. and here and there a dis-re- garded four-footed beast stood l8 if petrified ‘in unrecumbent sad- ness;'. there was no gleam, no sha- dow, for, the heavens, too, were one still, pale cloud-no sound or mot- ion in anything but the dark river that flowed and oened like an un- rasting sorrow. But old Christmas smiled as he laid this cruel-seeming spell on the out-door world, for he meant to light up home with new brlghtnem. to deepen all the rich- ness of in-door colour, and give a. kccner edge of delight to the warm fragrance of food: he meant to pre- pare a. sweet imprisonment that would strengthen the primitive fel- lowship of kindred, and make the sunshine of familiar ‘human face; as welcome ls the hidden daygtar, His klndneq fell but hardly on the homeless-dell but hardly on the home whom the hearth was riot very warm, and where the food had little fragrance; where the human faces had no sunshine in them, but rather the leaden. blank-eyed gaze of unexpectant want. But the (in; old season meant well; and if he has not learnt the secret how to 51°55 m"! lmplrtiqlly, it is because his father-Time, with ever unrelent 111B purpose, still hides that secret fn his own mighty, slow-beating heart.

Baby Dolls are Adorable

The baby dolls are quite the moat adorable ‘of all. They come in trip- lct. twin or angle addition! Ind they are as real looking as it would 595m Pflwble to make them-Wal- llw’: Farmer.

Twas-the N587“ Bcfcréflgishvws

"I'll u» mam M!“ “l” “m” when nu mrouch the 1W1" 1m a creature was stunni- PM "W" a mouse; The 5906111188 Wei-shun: by m9 ghflpney Wll-l’! 05:90 ~ m hopulum; gum; Nicholas soon would be there- vme children were nestled all anus in their ma. f t _ a While visions ofsusfll‘ plum den"- ed mmugh their heads, Mama in her kerchief and I in my cap ' Had Just settled our brill" long winter's nap; when out on the lawn such a. chatter 1 5pm“; from my bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash. . _ ‘lore open the shutters and threw up the sash, The moon on the breast of. the new I fallen‘ snow Gave the lustre of mid-day to jects below. when what. to my wonderin! We! should 191ml‘ But a miniature sleigh and tinyreindeer. i » ~ With a. little old driver so lively and quick. . I knew in a moment that it must be Saint Nlak. _ More rapid than eagles his couriers they came, . And ho whlstled and shouted called them by name. "Now, Dasherl now, Dancfl‘. Pranoerl and Vixen! On Cometl on, cupid! on. Word" and Biltzenl To the top of the porch. To the top of the wall! Now dash away! dash away all!" . A; dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly. When they meet with mount. to the sky, so up to the house top the coursers they flew, ' With a sleigh full of toys and Saint Nicholas too. ' And then in twinkling I lntfl 01‘! the roof.’ The prancing and the PM“! a each little hoof- ' As I drew in my head and was turn- ing around. Down m; ghjmngy Bfllnb NIChOIB-S came with a bound. ~- ne was dressed all in fur fromu his head to hls foot, And his clothes were ull tarnished with ashes and $0011- A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a nsdlflr opening his pack; Hlg eyes-how they twinkledl dimples. how merry! His cheeks were like roses; his nose like a cherry! Hts droll little mouth was drawn up in a bow. And the bedrdonhlefllln W” l“ white as the snow; The stumpof a plm- he M111 W“ in his teeth, And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath; . He had a broad face and B lllllfi round belly, ‘ That shook when he laughed like a. bcwlful of jelly.