NEWS AND FEATURES ACTIVITIES OF YOUTH FOR BOYS AND GIRLS IN WASHINGTON AREA WASHINGTON, D. C., DECEMBER 22, 1940. F—9 Girl Scout Troop Revives Ancient European Custom of Burning Yule I*———-- Log The Story of Fireplace at Rockwood Manor Estate Makes Christmas Is Just Hobbyist Copies of Christmas in Is Scene of Interesting Program Between Mexican Tin Antiques Busy Time Other Lands For Youth Good St. Nicholas Ourselves PHILIP H. Builds Yule City in First Introduced _By LOVE,— Junior Stir Editor. Parlor, Nativity l, Yuletide Spirit Reprinted, by request from The Scene on Lawn Junior Star of Sunday, December Prize Contribution r Prixe Contribution. 17, 1939. By HAROLD SNYDER, Jr., 17, By RALPH D. JONES, 17, Anacostia High School. “What I can’t a lit- Woodrow Wilson High School. understand,” Christmas always has been a busy tle girl said to me the other day, time of the year for me, as I dec- Christmas eve is the greatest night “is how Santa Claus can be in so orate the tree in our home and help Of the year. For 16 centuries it has many different places at the same the scene on the been the of put up Nativity night mystery, anxiety time. Three girls in my class went front lawn. and enchantment for little and girls shopping yesterday. All three told For the base af the tree. I build boys throughout me today that they had seen Santa, a wired with elec- the civilized large platform, yet they all went to different de- trical connec- ! world. partment stores. They must have tions, on which j There are many seen him at about the same time, goes a complete wavs of celebrat- went 1 too, because they all down- city of street lng Christmas, town right after school.” lights, so let us see how roadways, the children in “And what you want to know is houses, gardens, | I railways, station far-away lands which one saw the real Santa?” house and c o m m e m orate asked. switches. the birth of “Yes,” the girl answered. “That An is seen Christ. and how he could be in all three army post in the Every Christ- stores at the same time.” distance, with soldiers and mas eve, little “Well, they all saw the real Red Cross work- French children Santa,” I said. “You see, he isn't ers in active await the com- an ordinary man. In fact, he isn't service. ing of Bonhom- a man at all; he’s a spirit.” Seven strands Ralph D. Jones. me Noel, their “You mean—a ghost?” of lights in blue ®»nception of Santa Claus. But he “No, not a ghost. There are no and gold are Harold Snyder is accompanied by a thin, weasel- such things as ghosts. A spirit strung on the tree, with faced old man with a long, grey is—well, God is a spirit. You’ve blue, gold and red balls. the tree beard, threatening dark eyes and a never seen God, have you?” Draping in Barbara Hauter and some of the Mexican tin antiques she silver icicles frowning forehead, called Le Pere “No, but I understand about Him makes it as pretty in has made. She is looking into a mirror with a fancy tin frame. daylight as when Fouettard. or "Father Whipper.” being a spirit. He’s everywhere, lighted. —Star Photo. The next is to Bonhomme Noel and Father Whip- even though you can't see Him.” Staff project help mv parents erect the iper often have been reported seen “Well, Santa is everywhere, too. Nativity scene on the lawn. The is a together, the former riding on a Of course, he isn’t anything like Prize Contribution setting repro- duced manger scene with life-size small donkey with his huge bag of God, but he’s a spirit, just the same By JANE WININGS, 17, figures of the holy The three toys, and the latter with his wicker A Girl —a happy, kindly spirit, who shows Bathesda-Chevy chase High School. family. group of Scouts of Troop 114 watch their yule log bum in the at Rock- wise men are filled with birch switches, fireplace himself the Old Mexico's art has come to Chevy Chase. Barbara Hauter, 13, of gathered around the casket tiny wood Manor. to Jean everywhere during Left right, Robeson, Catherine Betts, Annalee (in rearI and 713 Elm who manger, while their six camels are for every child who has been Lumpkin Christmas season. He can be right street, moved here with her family recently from New Mex- ^me Shirley Compton. Jane Graham is silhouetted the at the has with a seen in the distance maughty, cross or greedy during the against fire right.—Star Staff Photo. here in this room, or down the ico, brought her hobby which has an interesting background waiting near and future a palm tree, The stands year. Bonhomme Noel, of course, street, or even in another part of possibilities. shepherd Prize Contribution with his flock of bowed comes only to those children who try the world, all at the same time. He Making copies of Mexican tin antiques is her unusual hobby. Her sheep, in By JANE GRAHAM. 13, and ANNALEE whole works adoration of the new-born to be good. LUMPKIN, 13, Prizes Totaling $5 can be wherever he wants to be, family with tin in their spare time. King. Eliot Junior High School. A pure white and he wants to be wherever people While in New Mexico, Barbara met a Spanish girl, Angeline Delgado, dove, symbol of love, Decorate Evergreens. Santa Claus! Christmas trees! bells! is perched above on Sleigh These things and many Offered for Best want him to be—wherever people whose grandfather introduced the a beam. A their others make the of America ; large star is Little German children have people think of Christmas, but in other coun- have the real Christmas spirit.” tin antique duplicates from old Mex- hung high to repre- a tries the Yule log custom is as familiar. Cuddles and Tuckie sent the Star of Kris Kringle. kindly old gentle- equally Contributions The girl thought the matter over ico, and whose family engage in the Bethlehem, to with his This year the Girl Scouts of No. Trademark Reg. U. S. Pat. OB. guide the to man who comes around fa- Troop 114, of which we are members, for a few moments. "I can under- production of them. She taught people the scene. revived and I miliar of toys in one hand and this old Yule log custom, which started in Norway and Sweden Boys girls of all ages up to Barbara the By FRANCES ROYSTER install special lighting and am- bag i stand all that," she finally said. long ago, in honor of one of their WILLIAMS plification and we a bundle of switches in the other. many gods, Juul. Later the Yule log and including high school age are "It's just like when I sit down in method by which play every night, the whole fam- .•custom to from Christmas to New Year On Christmas eve, spread England and invited to write and draw for The my room and make believe I'm they are made. Day, tree, Christmas carols ily sits around the decorated France. somewhere sort Among the ar- which are carried Junior Star, Prizes each are else—you know, just the beloved "O Tan- Birds and A nimals In those countries the of $1 to the outside the singing hymns. whole fam- of day dreaming. Sometimes I pre- ticle s Barbara through amplifier. nenbaum" and "Stille Nacht.” The would out in the woods the awarded for the best five contribu- < This means a great deal of Woodland ily go i tend I'm in Oz, or in Wonderland, has made are &8X work, trees Enjoy tions published each week. The fol- «8SX,* but we because we custom of decorating evergreen night before Christmas and the men and if I think real hard, it’s al- sconces, towel T ^ * a enjoy it, know in a thousand would cut down a it into lowing rules must be observed. we are giving to originated Germany Christmas Tree tree, cutting most the same as if I were really and tie racks, pleasure thousands Some German families a as as the of The scene years ago. log large fireplace would 1. All contributions must be orig- in one of those places. Only with trays, book Washingtonians. gives have two or three Christmas trees. Prize hold. This the would one the Christmas of Contribution. family drag inal. Santa, I guess he can be any place stands, rocking spirit good will the sea- toward men. of In China, Christmas is EDMONIA S home and start with a piece of the at blotters, ash which we are so By KEARNY, 12 2. Name, age. address, telephone all without thinking very much son of festivals and celebration. from the which piuch in need today. Potomac School. | log previous year, number (if any) and school of the about it. Is that it?" trays, jewelry The cities the mes- had been for the occasion. large proclaim One kept author must "That's it. all I and stamp will day when I was walking in appear at the top of right,” agreed, “Heel and toe, away we go!" sage of “Peace on earth, good Before Christmas our Girl Scout to be boxes, I the woods. I kept seeing poor little the first page of every written con- i "Except that Santa has picture The little stocking said.