The Young Citizen: The Magazine for Young People

Media

Part of The Young Citizen: The Magazine for Young People

Title: The Young Citizen: The Magazine for Young People
Issue Date: Volume 5 (Issue No. 12) December 1939
Year: 1939
Rights
extracted text: r t' r (I Announcement to All Writers: We Will Pay You for writing articles of merit for publication in THE YOUNG CITIZEN. \Ve want interesting children's stories from 200 to 500 words in length; also games, re3ding devices, articles of historical interest, elementary science- and health articles, putzles, iohs, and playleu. \Ve also ,,jsh to buy several good serial stories. Interesting stories leu than ZOO w'ords in length are desired for Little People. You can add to your income by writing for us. Primary Teachers: We especially desire various kinds of interesting material suitable for First. Second. and Third Grade Pupils. We will pay teachers and others for material which we can use. Each article should be written in clear, easy, correct English, on one side of the paper, typewritten if possible, or written by hand neatly and legibly. The article should be submitted with a self-addressed stamped envelope, otherwise the publishers w'ill not return it to the writer in case it cannot be used. Address all communications to: The Managing Editor The Young Citizen Care of Community Publishers, Inc. P. 0. Bo,.;: 685, Manila, Philippines t1E OUN(j ITIZtN This Magazine Is Approved by the Bureau of Education VOLUME 5 NUMBER 12 DECEMBER 1 9 3 9 • For First Graders Lilia's Christmas Toys-Quirfro A. Cna • For Second Graders Dear Old Santa Claus .... The Pretty Christmas free .... • For Third Graders 430 431 A Christmas Carol .. , . , .. , .... , .......... , ...... , , ... . 432 432 . .. ]] The First Christmas ...•. , , , , , ..•• , • , , . , ...•....... , , Christmas Reading, Writing, and Coloring , ..... • Stories' The Polite Christmas Tree-Jrtanita Cunningham . . . . . .. , , ·US The Spirit of Christmas-Mrs. Geronima C •• fnc/uta , . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-36 It Is More Blessed to Give than to Receive-Mrs. Honorato C. Cruz . . . . "'37 Santa Claus Finds Imogene-Alicll!' Franklin Bryant . . 439 Stars at Christmas-Antonia 0. Bautista ............... , . . . . . . +u A Christmas Story from Old France . , 442 • Poems The Christmas Spirit Sharing Joy ............. . My Candle ........ . The Madonna's Prayer Christmas Peace Christma.:s Shopping .. Precious Gifts ..... • Character and Citizenship Christmas-Dr. /. Panlasigui .· The Law of Reliability ...... . •· Elementary Science The Making and Use of Bdls ... • Music Appreciation Santa Land-J. A. Parlts ..•... , ........ . Christmas Carols-Birt Paul Osbon .... . • History '27 434 . .. •.• ....•......... 434 434 <34 4!4 434 426 457 . ..•......•.... 452 . .............. 444 ... Some Important Birthdays and Events of December .............. , . . . . . 448 The History of Chri1tmas Day . . . . . . . . . ..... , ....... , ..........••.. , 449 ~ • Work and Play .. ~ Recipes far the Christmas Dinner .... , , , •••. , . , •••••• , •••.••. , , • • • • • • 451 C.- What Will Santa Bring You?-Pablo M. Cuasa1 • , . , •.••.• , , , •••.•. , , . 454 i A Jumping Santa-EC1a S. MtKinst1 . , , ..... , ....•.•......••.. , . . . .•. . 454 The Funny Page . , .•... , . , .•.••• , . , • , •...•.•••••••••••.•••••• , , , • • • • 460 ~~=ts~~:~·!ree-~;~~?o~~~·?·. -~I.~~.::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::: ·~ ,,_ ollllu. ib' Publi11he1·1, Inc., 122 Crystal Arcade, Escolta. Manila, Mail Matter at the Mantia Post Office Oii lilaJ" 16, 1985. ; Manatinll' Editor: 8t1rt PGW Oell-; ContributiDI A. CT11S; Statf Artist: Pedro hov/tl: Bulneu M&llaPI': Sub1eri11tlon Price: ra.oo for one :rear of 12 illlldH: 12.00 In the United State• and forelsn countrieL SiDJ;;le copy, 30 centavo~. Su6,.riptiona are to 6e paid &o Com1uaniht Pu61N1Mre, lflfl. nu; MAGAZIN!; !=OR YOUNG P[;OPLt; THE YOUNG CITIZEN December~ 1939 THE MESSAGE THIS MONTH CHRISTMAS Another year. is about to go! Another . Christmas is with us! A day of singing · and rejoicing! Everybody-little children, young people, old men· and women all over the world--is happy. Everything m~kes Christmas .a day of gladness and happiness! The church bells ring! They are the echo of the joy in man's heart. The lanterns are lighted. They are like the smiles on the faces of children and friends. The fruits, candies, and other things to eat - oranges, nuts, ice-cream, suman - give contentment.· and good will to all and peace to everybody. The Christmas tree at the center of the sala brightens the home. It makes the parents happy and gives joy to the children. And that is not all! There are gifts, gifts, and gifts from one friend to another, from Santa Claus to everybody. Candies, toys, neckties, books, pencils, pictures, and many other things. Yes, everybody, everything gives what each has and is able to give to make <;:hristmas a day of special rejoicing. For God himself gave us the best Gift to make all people happy. On the first Christmas eve . the angels sang: "For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." And now, what do you do to make Christmas a joy to your friends, to your classmates, and" to yours.elf? -DR. I. PANLASIGUI December, 1939 THE YOUNG CITIZEN 427 A POEM FOR THIS MONTH THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT THE Christmas Spirit walks abroad, Mingling with tlte throng. Some there are who listen As he sings the Christ-Child's song. He sings of kindness and of love, He sings of peace and joy, He sings, "Make happy in my name Some little girl and boy. "Do not exchange expensive gifts With those. of high degree; Give rather to the needy In memory of Me. "I, too, was poor and lowly, Born in a stable bare, Yet they who came to worship Brought precious gifts and rate. "The angels sang in chorus 'Peace on earth, good will toward men.' Oh! may the echo of tl;leir song . Fill all hearts today, as then." The Christmas Spirit w a 1 ~ s abroad, Mingling with the throng. Some there are who listen As he sings the Christ-Child's song. -Selected. THE YOUNG CITIZEN December, 1939 FOR FIRST GRADERS LILIA'S CHRISTMAS TOYS By QUI RICO A. CRUZ• Last Christmas Lilia received these 4 toys. Draw a line' from the name to the picture. doll trumpet 1. Find the name of the toy which begins with the letter d. What is it? ball cradle 2. Which one begins with c ? 3. Which one begins with t? 4. Which one begins with b ? SOME QUESTIONS Ask big brother or sister or your teacher to read the questions to you, and you may answer them. 1. Which of Lilia's toys has hands? . 2. Which one is for Lilia's doll? 3. Which one does Lilia blow? 4. Which one is round? 5. Which one has a pretty • Assistailt Principal, GrCgorio del Pilar Elementary School, Manila. dress? 6. Which one is used for games? 7. Do you like the toys which Lilia . received last Christmas? 8. Which one do you think Lilia liked the best? 9. Which do you like the best? December~ 1939 THE YOUNG CITIZEl'I° 429 FOR FIRST GRADERS LILIA'S CHRISTMAS TOYS Next Christmas. Lilia wants these 4 toys. ·She has asked .Santa Claus to bring them to her and perhaps he will. Draw a line from the name to the picture. monkey boat 1. Find the ·name of the toy which ends with the letter y. What is it? balloon kite 2. Which one ends with t? 3. Which one ends 'with e? 4. Which one ends · with n? SOMETHING TO THINX ABOUT Ask big brother or sister or your teacher to read these questions to you. You may answer them. 1. Which of these toys has a long tail? 2. Which one is round? 3. Which one sails on the water? 4. Which one is flat? Can it go high up in the air? 5. Which one looks like a little man? 6. Would you like to have the toys which Lilia wif;!hes to receive? 7. Which one do you think Lilia will lik~ best? 8. Which one would you like the best? 9. Why would you like . it the best? 430 THE YOUNG CITIZEN December, 1939 FOR SECOND GRADERS DEAR OLD SANTA CLAUS I am Santa Claus. · I am always happy. My hair is white because I am old. All the boys and gi°rls like me. ·I bring them Christmas gifts in my bag. MAKING SANTA'S PICTURE Get some thin paper without any lines. Get your colored crayons. 1. Trace Santa's picture. 3. Color his cap red. 2. Color his bag brown. 4. Color his coat red. READ AND ANSWER Answer these questions. Your brother or sister or teacher will help you read the questions. 1. Why is Santa Claus always happy? 2. Why is his hair white? 3. Why do boys and girls like Santa Claus? 4. How does he carry his gifts? 5. Will Santa Claus bring you some presents? 6. What do you think he will bring you? December1 1939 THE YOUNG CITIZEN 431 FOR SECOND GRADERS THE PRETTY CHRISTMAS TREE This is a Christmas tree. It grew in the mountains. It has red balls on it. ~There are yellow balls and blue -ones, too. A 'star is at the top. A Christmas tree is very pretty. MAKING A CHRISTMAS TREE Use thin paper without any lines and your colored crayons. 1. Trace the Christmas tree. 3. Make red and blue balls. 2. Color it green. 4. Color the star yellow. · MORE QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED Answer these questions which your brother or sister or teacher will help you read. 1. Do you think a Christmas tree is pretty? 2. What makes a Christmas tree pretty? 3. Where does a Christmas tree grow? 4. Will Brother or Sister or Mother help you make a Christmas tree? 5. What will you put on it? 6. Will there be a star at the top? Why? 432 THE YOUNG CITIZEN December, 1939 FOR THIRD GRADERS A CHRISTMAS CAROL* LITTLE children, can you tell, Do you know the story wellEvery girl and every boy--' Why the angels sang for joy On the Christmas morning? Shepherds sat upon .the ground, Fleecy flocks lay all around, .·When the brightness filled the sky, And th.e song was heard on high On that Christmas morning. THE FIRST CHRISTMAS LONG ago an empefor said that all the people must go to their birthplace to be taxed. A carpenter named Joseph with Mary, his wife, w,ent to his birthplace at Bethlehem. The little town of Bethlehem was crowded. There was no room at the inn. · Joseph and Mary found shelter in a stable. Perhaps the stable was a cave *A Christmas carol is a jorous song to be sung at Christmas about Jesus' birth. dug out of a rock. There, in the stable, a Son was born to Mary. She wrapped the Baby in linen bands and laid Him in a manger. That night, on a hill near Bethlehem, shepherds were watching their sheep. An angel . told them where they would find the Baby Jesus. They found Him lying in a manger in .the stable. They sang songs of joy. That was the first Christmas. December, 1939 THE YOU:NG CITIZEN FOR THIRD GRADERS CHRISTMAS READING, WRITING. AND COLORING A Christmas candle A box of candy Christmas bells A Christmas cake A big cam~l · i A bright ~tar A Christmas tree Santa Claus A wooly sheep A pretty doll A Christmas wreath A poinsettia 433 Find the right name. Write it below the picture. Color each picture. 43~ THE YOUNG CITIZEN December, 1939 A PAGE OF CHRISTMAS POEMS Sharing Joy SHARE with others; this will bring Happiness to you! Spread the Christmas cheer around; It will bless you, too. For the Christ-Child came to bless All mankind as brothers. · If you want the Christmas joy, You must· share with others. * My Candle OH, candle in my window, Shine out so clear and bright; Guide the little Christ-Child To my door tonight. For there is a story That He will come once more And leave with us His blessing As He goes from door to door. * The Madonna's Prayer I THANK thee, Lord, for this infinite partFlesh of my flesh, heart of heart, Bone of my bone, forged from my all. Happy, I gaze at the ChristChild so, small. As onward He into babyhood goes, Surround Him with love in whatever he does. Let Him grow to clean manhood among mortal menThese blessings I ask Thee; amen and amen. Christmas Peace SEE the candles shining bfightly, Christmas time has come again; Hear the children's voices singing "Peace on earth, good will to men." "Peace on earth!" The chorus echoes 'Till the world takes up the lay; Peace for every home and nation On this blessed Christmas day. * Christmas Shopping I'M going Christmas shopping! have a lot to do: . A· ~all for little brother, A game for sister, too, A handkerchief for father, A book for mother dear, And a special "Merry Christmas" For everyone this year. * Precious Gifts ALL gifts are not in packages Tied with a silver whirl; Some priceless gifts are in the grasp · Of every boy and girl: Kind words will make a pleasant. dayA gift for any tree; Your smile will make another smile, A happy face, you see; A merry song with happy note Lends courage to the sad. Kind words, a smile, a merry songCan better gifts be had? December, 1939 THE YOUNG CITIZEN 435 LITTLE STORIES FOR LITTLE PEOPLE THE POLITE CHRISTMAS TREE By JUANITA CUNNINGHAM Two pine trees stood beside the road up in the mountains near Baguio. One tree was large and proud. The other tree was small, but it had a kind heart. "I don't like living here,'' said the big proud tree. "I want to go down to Manila where there are lots of people. I want to wear a shining dress of Christmas decorations." "But I like the bird friends we have here," said the little tree. Just then two birds lit on the boughs of the proud tree. "You will ruin my pretty branches,'' grumbled the unhappy tree. So the two birds fluttered to shelter under the branches of the little tree. Just then a big automobile stopped beside the road. A man and a little girl stepped from the auto and stood looking l:!t the two trees. "I think we can get a tree here,'' said the man. "Oh, Father, look at the pretty tree," said the little girl. The large, proud tree waved his branches happily in the wind, for he thought the little girl was .speaking about him. "But isn't that tree a Ii ttle large, Ana?" asked her father. "Oh, I meant this little tree," said Ana. "See! Two bird,:; are sitting on its branches. Don't they look pretty among the green pine needles?" "It is just the right size-this little pine tree. Just right for a nice little Christmas tree," said Father. "The ground is soft here, and I can dig up the tree without injuring its roots." "It will be so pretty planted in our yard! exclaimed Ana. "It will make a nice Christmas tree not only for us, but for the birds, too. I will put food on it for the birds. At Christmas time we will decorate it with colored lights. It will be a beautiful little Christmas tree." "Yes,'' said Father. "I think that is the best thing to do with a Chrismas tree. Then it can (Please turn to page 458.) THE YOUNG CITIZEN December~ 1939 THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS By MRS. GERONIM.A C. ANCHETA• LI~LE Concepcion, a little second grade girl, read about Santa Claus. , "Mother," she asked, "who is Santa Claus?" Her mother kissed her little upturned face, agd then answered. "He is a kind, jolly old man who gives gifts to children who are good." "Oh, Mother, may I sec him? I will ask him to give me pr.esents at Christmas." "Y cs, my dear, and if you will be good and obedient always, he will surely give gifts to you." ' "But how will he know me? Where is he? Is he as old a, Grandfather?" "He is everywhere, and knows every good 'child. He is much, much older than your grandfather. He is the Christmas Spirit. The Christmas Spirit is the spirit of giving and sharing with someone at Christmas to make him happy. Your father and mother play his part during Christmas. They give you· toys and clothes and things which you happen to like the most. Any one can play Santa Claus and be the Spirit of Christmas." "C~n I play Santa Claus, Mother?" "Of course you can by sharing your toys and whatever you have with your sisters a!ld ·plaY.mates." "Oh, Mother, I am going to ·be the Christmas Spirit and share with my sisters and playmates whatever gifts you •Teacher, J. Luk.ban Elementary School, Manila. give me on Christmas." "That will· be splendid, my dear. That will be the real Christmas Spirit." What do you ·think Concepcion did on Christmas? SOME QUESTIONS I. Who is San.ta Claus? . 2. Where is Santa Claus? 3. What is another name for Santa Claus? 4. Who is the Christmas Spirit at your home? 5. Can you be a Santa Claus? How? 6. How can you show the real Christmas spirit? 7. Is it right to show tho real Christmas spirit.? How do you know it is? 8. Can a selfish boy or gir I show' the ~ea! Christmas spirit? 9. Do you like to make others happy_? 10. How can you make others happy at Christmas? 11. Why do we give presents at Christmas? ·12. If you are a very poor boy or girl what present could you give to your parents? To your teacher? To your best friend? (Think a great deal a,boutthis.) 13. How can Santa Claus be everywhere? 14. Do you share your things with others? December, 1939 THE YOUNG CITIZEN 437 READING TIME FOR YOUNG FOLKS IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE By MRS. HONORATA C. CRUZ "So, children," concluded Mrs. Ramos, who had been talking to her class, "on Christmas Day let us not think of what we should like to receive. Let us think of what we can give or share with others. Remember that it is more blessed ·to give than to receive." . Such was the advice of Mrs. Ramos to her pupils that December morning. The class looked very thoughtful. Each was· busy with Christmas thoughts. Carmen, one of the pupils, for days had been thinking of the presents >he would like to receive. "Why is it better to gi,·e than to receive?" she thought. "I just don't understand it. Besides, what can I give to others?" The days passed swiftly, and soon the schools wi!re closed for the Christmas vacation. It was the day before Christmas. Carmen stood at the window of her hom.e, looking into the street. As she looked she saw two little. girls, just about her age, standing· on the walk. The children wore ragged clothing. They looked thin and undernour'ished, as if they were ill-fed. Presently a third child came along eating a piece of cake. The ragged children looked longingly at "the cake .. The younger of the two stretched out her hand ·as if. to ask for a piece, but her sister preven~ed her from so doing, although her own eyes were fixed on the cake also. Carmen went to the pantry. There, on a shelf, were two beautiful cakes which the cook had made. She cut a large piece with a thick chocolate coatin/:, wrapped it carefully in a piece of Christmas paper, and went across the street to the twci ragged little girls. "Wouldn't you like a piece of cake?''" said Carmen. "Here is a big piece . F.ach of you take half.'' · The elder of the two hungry:looking little waifs took the package. "Thank you ·very much," she said. She opened the package and gave her younger sister a Jar ge portion of the cake. While the two children stood eating their cake, Carmen began talking to them. The little girls told Carmen that their father was dead and their mother was in poor health. The mother worked as much as she could, but often there was not enough food in the house. , Carmen's THE YOUNG CITIZEN Dtttmbrr~ 1939 heart was filled with pity for the two. girls and their mother. "It is more blessed to give than to receive," she repeated to herself. After learning where th.e little girls lived, she said goodbye and went back across the street to her home. She told her mother about the pathetic discovery which she had made, and asked if she might do something for the unfortunate children and their mother. "Wha,t would you like to do?" asked Carmen's mother. "Couldn't· I give them some of my llresses? . Those which I have outgrown would fit the younger girl, and sonic of the others would fit the older sister. And mother," continued Carmen, "can't we fill them a large basket fu ti of good food and take it to them?" "Yes, Carmen, we shall do all those things," said her motlier, glad that her little daughter was developing the real Christmas spirit of giving rather than receiving. So Carmen and her mother began· to find some dresses for the two little- girls. They. found three nice ones which Car.men had outgrown. "These will do for the younger sister," said Carmen. "Here are two of my many dresses. Let us give them to the older sister." Then they went to the kitchen. Mother secured a large basket. Such fun to find things to put into it. First, a big ham. Then one of the cakes which the cook had made. A large package of rice. Some oranges, and three big red apples, and some nuts, and potatoes, and a big squash, and cans of preserves, and as many other things as Carmen could find. Arid last of all a fine looking turkey which. was in the refrigerator. "We cannot get all of these into our basket, Mother," said Carmen. "Then we shall take two baskets," her mother replied. So they packed the dresses and the groceries and the turkey in two. large baskets. Carmen got an envelope on which she wrote "Merry Christmas from Carmen." Mother slipped a five-peso bill in the envelope which was tucked inside one .of the baskets. Christmas morning Daddy loaded the two baskets and Carmen into his big auto, and away they went to the humble home of the two little girls. Carmen's eyes were shining as she went up the steps with Daddy who carried' the baskets. "Mother," said Carmen after she had . retu.rned home, "it made me very happy to give those things to the two little girls 3nd. their mother. Our teacher was right when she said that it is more blessed to give than to receive." Do you agree with Carmen and her teacher? Try it and see. QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS STORY I. What did Mrs. Ramos say to her class at the conclusion of her Christmas talk? 2. How did Carmen become interested :n the two poor children? 3. What did she do at once· for the children? 4. What did she learn from the little girls? 5. What did Carmen wish to do next? 6. How did she carry out her wishes? 7. Was Carmen happy when she gave the things to the poor children? Why? 8. Can you do something this Christmas to show that "it is more blessed to give than to receive?" (l!lease turn to page 458.) December, 1939 THE YOUNG CITIZEN 439 SANTA CLAUS FINDS IMOGENE By ALICE'FRANKLIN BRYANT LIKE all American children and many children of other countries, Imogene knew all the stories about Santa Claus -how the jolly old saint, so round and fat, and with a long, white beard and cheeks as red as apples, lives up at the North Pole and works hard all year with his brownies to make toys to give away at Christmas time. And then, on Christmas Eve, he hitches his eight reindeer to his sleigh,• fills it and his big sack with toys, candy, and other nice things, and, with a jingle of sleigh bells, rides through the air. When Santa reaches a house, he rides onto the roof. ·Out of the sleigh he jumps, and down the chimney he goes into the house. There he quick1 y fills with presents from his sack all the stockings that have been hung up. Then up the chimney he climbs and away he rides to another house. And so he takes presents to children and grown people all over the world, and, when they wak~ up on Christmas morning, • A sleigh is a carriage having runners instead of wheels and used for travelling over the snow. how happy they are! Imogene knew all of this. Besides, she remembered the lovely things that .Santa Claus had brou~ht her. Moreover, a •hort time before Christmas she had gone with her mother to. a big. department store in Seattle and had actually seen Santa Claus! At least it looked like the pictures of Santa Claus which Imogene had seen. He really looked just like those pictures with his w bite beard and ~arm, red suit trimmM with white fur. And Imogene shook hands with this dear old Santa Claus and told him just what she especially wanted for Christmas. But, when she found out that she and her mother were to· sail on a big boat from San Francisco the day before Christmas, she was worried. How would Santa Claus know where ~he was? Would he go to a ship far out at sea, even if he knew· she was on it? These were very serious questions indeed. Imogene's mother to!~ her that she had always heard that Santa Claus was a very wise old man, so she was certain he could find Imogene any place she THE .YOUNG CITIZEN Decem~er, 1939 might be, and would surely bring her some toys. But Imogene was still a little doubtful. When Imogene and her mother reached San Francisco, they found that the ship on which they would sail was delayed and would not leave San Francisco until after Christmas. So when Christmas Eve came-the time for Santa Claus to arrive-Imogene and her mother were in a hotel in San Francisco. Imogene was worried. There was no fireplace nor chimnev in their room. Mother kept. their r~om door locked. The windows were high up above the. ground. "How can Santa Claus get into our room?" she asked her mother. "Don't. worry, little daughter," her mother replied. "I have always been told that Santa Claus is very wise and clever. And you can· see that the transom of our room-that little window above the door-is open. He might come in through that." So Imogene went to sleep that night not terribly worried-but a little. All night long she slept. And perhaps she dreamed of brownies busily making toys, and of jingling sleigh bells, and even of jolly old Santa Claus himself. On Christmas morning, just as it was getting light, Imogene awoke. She re: membered what day it was, and immediately sat up in bed. and looked across the room to the chair where she had hung her stocking. And there it was, piled high with lovely gifts! "He did come, Mother. · Santa Clau• did come," she cried as she jumped out of bed. What fun she had opening the packages, and looking at her gifts! A new dress, a handbag, candy and nuts, and a funny Donald. Due\<. And enough story books, crayons, and coloring books to last her many happy hours. These were her Christmas gifts. "Oh, Mother, Santa Claus did find me. Didn't he?" said a very ha.ppy little girl. ANSWER THFSE l. Did you enjoy this story?· Why? 2. Do you think Imogene in this story is a little girl or a big girl? Why? 3. What did she believe about Santa Claus? 4. Where was Imogene? 5. Where were Imogene and her mother going? 6. Why was.Imogene worried? 7: What did Imogene find Christmas morning? 8. Who had been Imogene's Santa Claus? 9. Did Imogene . believe Santa Claus is a real person? Do. you? . IO. Have you ever seen a Santa Claus? ·where? 11. Why can Santa Claus find you in any place? 12. Do you enjoy stories about Santa Claus? 13. Does a Santa Claus ever visit your school? If so how is he dressed and what does he do? 14. Why does Santa Claus give present• at Christmas time? 15. Would you like to be a Santa Claus? 16. How can you be a Santa Claus? · (Read the story on page 437 in this issue of The Young Citizen.) 17. Do you think Santa Claus and the Christmas Spirit are the same? (Read the poem on page 427 in this issue of The Young Citizen.) December, 1939 THE YOUNG CITIZEN STARS AT CHRISTMAS Br ANTONIA 0. BAUTISTA IT was Christmas Eve. ·Manuel watched his mother as she put a lighted star lantern at the window. "Why do we hang up lanterns at Christmas, mother?" Manuel asked. "There must be lanterns to light the way of Mary and Joseph as they go about," his motl)er answered, as she adjusted the paper tassels hanging from the lantern. "Yes, mother, it would be hard for them to go from place to place if the way is dark," Manuel commented. Then he looked out of doors, and saw many stars hanging at the different windows. "It is a beautiful night, mother," said Manuel. "There are many star lanterns lighted at the windows but there are also many stars in the skyJ' • Manuel put on his bluegreen sweater and waited for his mothec who was getting ready to attend the midnight Christmas service at the church. He held his mother's arm as they went down the steps. Then he walked at her side as they went along the road. "Merry Christmas!" his inother said to a friend whom they met on the road to church. "Merry Christmas l" was the glad response. Everybody was exchanging greetings. fhe joy of the Christmas season was in every heart.· A group of children went down the road. Their voices rang with Christmas joy. They were on their way to ~ttend the Christmas midnight service at the church. As Manuel and his mother walked along toward the church each was happy. Manuel pointed to a star in the sky which seemed to be shining brighter than the rest. "Mother, that star shines very beautifully., Is that the star which shone over Bethlehem when Jesus was born?" "My son, that star was surely shining when Jesus was born," his mother answered. Manuel walked on in silence. He was thinking of the Christmas Storv · which his teacher had told to his clas;. "The bright star guided the three wise ~!ngs to the. place where the Baby lay. I hey took with them rich gifts. And the shepherds, also, followed a star. They went to the Holy Child to adore." Manuel felt that the star he had pointed out to his mother was guiding him. With his every step the star moved. Then ihe church spires appeared· against the starry sky. A pealing of bells aroused him from his thoughts. His heart was (PlellSe Jum Jo page 459.) 442 THE YOUNG CITIZEN December, 1939 A CHRISTMAS STORY FROM OLD FRANCE LONG ago, there lived in the land of ·France a boy whose name was Wolff. He lived with his aunt who was often very cross to him. Although his aunt's house was large, it had very poor furniture. Wolff's old aunt was not poor but she was so greedy •hat she would not' have enough fire to keep the house warm: Some people ev.en said that she kept ·much gold hidden away in an old stocking, At any rate, she never gave Wolff good, warm clothes to wear in school. In th~ q>ld. winter-it gets very c_old in France in winter-he wore the same thin coat that he had worn on warm summer. clays. One year when Christmas came around, Wolff was very sad and lonely. All the other boys had fine fur caps, heavy coats,<md warm mittens. Besides, some of them had thick, high boots to wear. Wolff had nothing but a pair of coarse woolen stockings and a pa.ir of woqd,en shoes. In addition to this, the other boys had fine stories to tell about the Christmas presents which they would have, and a-bout the great feasts that. their mothers were preparing for Christmas. When Wolff spoke to his aunt about these things, she only scolded him. She said that he must think himself lucky if he did not find a bundle of strong switches in his wooden shoe on Christmas morning. When Christmas Eve came, Wolff went with the schoolmaster and the boys of his class to hear the beautiful Christmas music at the church. It was very nice in the church. The Christmas oandles were burning. The choi~ was singing many sweet songs of Jesus Christ whose birthday was on Christmaa. It was pleasant, too, in the church, and Wolff for got for a while the '°old house in which he lived with his cross .old aunt.' "Oh, I wish I could give a Christmas present to some one tonight," thought Wolff, as he listened to the story of the Christmas angels. Bui Wolff had nothing to give away to anyo,ne. At last the Christmas service was over. Wolff marched out of the church at the end of the long line of boys. It was very cold outside. After he had passed out from the doorway. of the great church, and was walking home, ,he saw: someone lying on the snow at the side of the 'road. "Who can it be who lies out in the snow this -cold winter night?" thought Wolff to himself. As he looked, he saw that it was a little Child whose face was so sweet that it seemed as if brightness shone all ·around the head of the lovely Child, There the Child lay asleep, with bare feet touching the ice and snow. Wolff looked about, for surely some af the 01her boys could spare a warm coat, or shoes, or scarf, to warm the little stranger. But all the boys had passed on, without a look, still busy with the· ~toFies of the presents they were to receive. "I cannot leave this little Child here and give Him nothing," said Wolff. "Perhaps if I.leave one of my wooden shoes beside him, the Christmas angels will see Him, and give Him presents ond something warm." · So Wolff took off one of his own poor wooden shoes and laid it down beside the little sleeper. Then he hurried home, Duember, 1939 THE YOUNG CITIZEN 443 afraid of the scolding that he knew his aunt would give him. As soon as he entered the door, the scolding began. "\Vhere is your other shoe?" asked the ~Id aunt. Wolff told her what he had done with his wooden shoe, and when she began to :cold again, he said, "I could not leave the Child with nothing." · "For this you shall go to bed without your supper," said the aunt. "But before you go leave your other shoe here at the fireplace. In the night someone will leave a bundle of switches in your shoe to repay you for the trouble you have ·.~iven." W o If f climbed up the stairs and went to his cold bed. There he lay awake until nearly morning. Then he tell a s I e e p. He .awoke when he heard his aunt's cry of surprise. The Christmas bells in the church were ringing as he hurried down the stairs from his cold roo~. What a sight met his eyes! There, by the fireplace, were b.otli his wooden shoes. The floor by the fireplace was piled high .with all the beautiful toys nnd beautiful presents that any boy in the world could wish for. "\Vhere did they come from?" asked Wolff, while his eyes grew rounder and rounder with surprise. At .that moment a voice seemed to speak: "Just as you have done kindness to the little Child, so shall kindness be done to you."-Adapted from the French. QUESTIONS I. Why did Wolff go to church? 2. What kind of music did he hear? 3. Can you name one or more Christmas carols? · 4. Did Wolff do everything he could in order to make another happy at Christmas? 5. Was Wolff. a kind bov? Why do ·you think so? - story? Why? 6. Did Wolff expect to be rewarded · for h i s kindness? 7. When you do a kindness to any one, should you expect a reward? . 8. What is "the reward of kindness"? 9. What kind of story is A Christmas Story from Old France? (A legend.) IO" Did you enjoy 1 reading this 11. Was Wolff a selfish boy? How do you know? 12. Were the boys who pa6sed the little Child selfish? How do you know? 13. Do you ever see anyone who needs help? What do you do then? 14. Did Wolff have tire Christmas spirit? How do you know? 15. Can any person even though poor, .have the Christmas spirit? 444 THE YOUNG CITIZEN December~ 1939 HARRIET D. CASTLE SANTA LAND Tempo di valse J. A. PARKS ChYisk- mas grow so. - Det:ember, 1939 THE YOUNG CITIZEN 445 " LI. o:esc. - -~· - - - - ''~-· ~ ~ I ~ ... - • ., 'tis Chris - mas all the year, For all thli! A u. dim - ples grow. Till thli! mor-,ry dLm.:. plli!s -~ - ~ ~ ~ =~ - el ... ~ ~r - . r - .. .. . I ~sc. ·• I I " : . - . - .j1 - THE YOUNG CITIZEN December, 1939 MUSIC APPRECIATION SECTION CHRISTMAS CAROLS By BERT PAUL OSBON* THE first Christmas carol heard on earth was sung by the Angel Host on Christmas night. It was not until many centuries after that people began to sing carols. To be sure, hymns may always have been ~ung at Christmas time, but not carols. Long ago Christmas carols were purely religious hymns, expressing joy for the birth of the Saviour, Jesus Christ, out in the course of time all sorts of merry tunes, written for singing at the Christmas season, came to be known as carols. Carols are nol as solemn and stately as church hymns. For a long time they were heard only outside the walls of the church. "A carol," says Julian, a noted English hymnologist, "is a song of joy originally accompanying a dance." It was customary to accompany the. early carols with dancing, and many of them were sung to popular dance tunes. Although they were frowned upon by the Church, and were long exclqded from worship, they have always been popular, because they express the common emotions of Christmas joy in language and music which can be understood and enjoyed by all. Carol-singing at Christmas-time is, of course, a very ancient custom. In rec~nt years this custom hos been revived. Many singers, young and old, now go about in groups during the Christmas holidays and sing Christmas carols in the streets and before the houses of those who • Formerlr Head of the i\Iusic Department, Shortridge High School, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.A. wish to hear them sing. The Friendly Beasts One of the oldest carols I know is a ~uaint old English carol which dates from the 12th century. It is called The Friendly Beasts. In this carol each of the animals supposed to have been in the stable where Jesus was born speaks. The words are as follows: I esus, our brother, kind and good, Was humbly born in a stable rude, And the friendly beasts around Him stood. "I," said the donkey, shaggy and brown, "I carried His Mother up hill and down, I carried His Mother to Bethlehem town." "I," said the cow, all white and reO, "l gave Him my manger for His bed, · I gave Him my hay to pill0w His head." "I," said the sheep with the curly horn, ·'I gave Him my wool br His blanket war:TI, He wore my coat on Christmas morn .. " "I," said the dove from the rafters high, "Cooed Him to sleep that He Would not cry, We cooed Him to sleep, my mate and I." Thus, ev'ry beast, by some good spell, In the stable dark was glad to tell· Of the gift he gave Emmanuel. Fum,Fum,Fum! Every country has its Christmas carols. An interesting carol comes from •the province of Catalonia in Spain, and it is called Fum, Fum, Fum.' An English Decn11ber, 1939 THE YOUNG CITIZE" 447 tra.nslation of this Catalan carol is given. The word "furn" has no particular meaning, and is used as English-speaking people would sing "la, la, la." On December twenty-fifth, sing Furn, furn, furn! On that night a child was born Pink and white at break of morn; In a stable dark and dreary Lay the Son of Viqdn Mary; Furn, furn, furn! Holidays the good Lord gave us, Furn, furn, fum ! Christmas feasting suit~ us best, Yet, withal, His name be blest; He who doth our needs remember, Sends us Christmas in December, Furn, furn, fum ! Softly to the little stable, Softly for a moment come; Look and see how charming is Jesus, !-low He is white, His cheeks are rosy; Hush! See how the Child is sleeping! l-1 ush ! See how He smiles in dreams. In Dulci Jubilo One of the oldest carols which have come to us from Germany is called In Dulci J ubilo. The melody dates from the 14th cenfury. The words are translated from the Lati n . Regard less o f its relig10us spirit, the melody of In Dulci. )ubilo has many characteristics of a talk dance. Good Christian men, rejoice, With heart and soul and voice; Give ye heed to what we say: Jesus Christ is born today; Ox and ass before Him bow, Un Flambe(ll1, le1wette, lrnbelle There ·are a number of charming French Christmas carols. One of these, Un Flnmbe11u, ]eanelle, Isabelle, dates from the 17th centuTFhrn tllf' SfJ119 of the Angels b Sung. And He is i~ the manger now. ry. Traditional words arc sung to the melody of this old FreHch carol. A tran;lation of the French words is as follows: Bring a torch, Jeanette, Isabella! Bring a torch, to the cradle run! It is Jesus, good folk of the village; Christ is born, and l\1ary's calling; Ah! beautiful is the Mother! Ah! beautiful is the Son. Christ is born today! Deck the Hall There is a very old carol which has a merry traditional Welch tu;1e. It sets forth very clearly the jollity of the old Yuletide celebrations which prevailed for many years in England and many other sections of the British Isles. The fa-la-la chorus, abandoning. words for the jollier. neutral syllables, ·is character(Pleau turn to page 461.) THE YOUl\G CITIZE:'\ December, 1939 SOME IMPORTANT BIRTHDAYS AND EVENTS OF DECEMBER Check the five which interest you most; then go to the library and read about each of the five which you have checked. 1 : The Locarno security and arbitration treaties were signed', 1925. 2: President W i 1 son recommended Philippine autonomy, 1913. 3: The trial of Jose Rizal was begun, 1896. 4: J"homas Carlyle, author, was born, . 1795. 5: Christina Rosetti, English poetess., was .born, 1830. 6: Assemblyman Agaton. R. Yaranon was born, 1892. · 7: Willa Cather, modern authoress, was born, 1876. 8: Eli Whitney, American inventor, was born, 1765. 9: Bishop McCloskey was born, 1870. ! 0: The Treaty of Paris, by which the United States gained sovereignty over the Philippines, was signed, 1898. 11: Assemblyman Jose A. Dorado was born, 1893. 12: Marconi sent the first trans-Atlantic wireless message, the letter "S", I 90 I. Assemblyman Fe Ii pe Buencamino was born, 1886. 13: Camilo G. de Pola~ieja, the governor under whom Rizal was executed, took office, 1896. 14: Amundsen discovered the South Poler 1911. 15: Assemblyman Miguel Cuenco was born, 1904. 16: Beethoven, one of the world's greatest musical composers, was born in Germany, 1770. Emilio Jacinto, patriot, was born, 1875. 17: The. first successful airplane flight was ma.de, 1903. 18: Assemblyman Tomas Buenaflor was born, 1888. 19: Colonel and Mrs. Lindbergh completed a 29,000-mile flight in which they mapped air-routes over four continents, 1933. 20: A Spanish decree was issued establishing public schools in the Philippines, 1863. 21 : Telephone service was begun between Manila and Cebu, 1935. ;!2: The Japanese volcano Asama erupt. ed, taking many .lives; 1920. 23: Major Stevenot, executive head of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company, wa> born, 1888. . 24: Attorney DeHin Jaranilla was born, 1883. 25: Christmas Day celebrating the birthday of Jesus Christ. 26: Boxing Day in England, when gifts are given to the poor. ] ose Rizal was sentenced to execution, 1896. 27: Louis Pasteur was born, 1822. 28: Former President Woodrow Wilson was born, 1856. 29: Telephone service between Manila and Davao was establish!!d, 1938: Lopez J aena, patriot, was born; 1856. 30: Jose Rizai'was executed, 1896. Rudyard Kipling, English author, was born, I 865. 31: The last day of the year. Time to get all your affairs in good condition and get ready to spend a Happy New ·Year which Tiu You.ng Citizen wishes to you. Dt'cember, 1939 THE YOUNG CITIZEN THE HISTORY OF CHRISTMAS DAY WE celebrate Christmas as the birthday of Jesus Christ; yet no one knows exactly when He was born. The first Chr istm'as celebration of which we have any record took place in May. It was in Alexandria, Egypt, about .200 years after Christ's death. Later the celebration date was moved to April, then to January, and finally, about the yea•r 300 A.D., it was fixed as December 25. The Bible story of Christ's birth tells how some shepherds who were watching been a season of merriment and rejoicing, since it is the turning point of the year. .. It was at this time that the northern peoples who lived in cold countries,' Eng. - land especially, went out into the woods and cut great Yule logs for their fires. Yule was their word for Decernbe·r. They decorated their homes \vith the red and green of the holly. They collected the sacred mistletoe from among the branches of the oaks where it grew. They drank festive drinks from wassail bowls. And after the coming of Christianity they continued these customs as part of their rejoicing over the birth of the founder of their faith. their sheep in the field> that night were told of Christ's birth by an angel, and how they went down to visit the Child in the manger where His mother had placed Him. We know that this could hardly have happened in December, because it rains almost continuously at that time of the ye a r in Palestine and shepherds would not keep their flocks out in the hills at night in such weather. The Christ-Child During ihe Mid d 1 e Ages Christmas became the greatest of popular feasts. Plays were given which enacted the birth of Christ. .Some of these may still be seen in the old cities of Spain and Italy. Of course they' were brought to the Philippines from Spain, and that Why then, do we celebrate Christmas in December? It is because December was the season of pagan festivals that had been celebrated for thousands of years before the Christian era. The early Christian churches took over many of the old festivals and gave them Christian names and associations. And so it is that our Christmas customs preserve features of the great festivals of pagan peoples, side by side with the Christian observances. The latter part of what is now December had always is why we still see such plays in some of the Philippine towns. Many of our carols and Christmas songs come from those days. In England, where the name of Christmas originated from "Christ's mass," the people have always celebrated the occasion with great pomp and mehiment. In Shakesp~are's time the festivities lasted until Twelfth Day or Epiphany, 12 days after Christmas day. All stopped working during that time, and rich and poor, old 450 1 THE YOUNG CITIZEN December~ 1939 and young, gave themselves over to feasting and merrymaking. The jovial old Dutch settlers in New York in the New World brought with them to America the joyous Christmas observances of Holland. Americans got Santa Claus from them, for this jolly old saint is none other than San Nicolas, the patron saint of children. Today the observance of Christmas is almost universal throughout the Christian world. But everywhere it is a great children's holiday. In England and America children hang up their stockings in a row before the fireplace, and Santa Claus, we are told, rushing from the north in a sled drawn by reindeer, scrambles down the chimneys and fills the stockings from the great pack on his back. In some of the Baltic lands the gifts are supposed tt> be brQught by Kris Kringle himself. In France the children place wooden shoes on the hearth and receive presents which Father Christmas brings. Almost every land of Christendom has its own Christmas carols. In England "waits" sing under windows on Christmas Eve, as they have done for countless Christmases. The French Noel songs and the German Christmas carols are hear d wherever there is Christmas music. In America choir boys and school children form groups and go about singing Christmas carols. The Christmas tree, with its golden star and lights, and its imitation frosttrimmed boughs, is as much a part of the celebration as is the Christmas song. Some trace the origin of the Christm,as tree back to Roman days, but its first appearance as an institution was along the Rhine River in Germany in the 16th century,. and now the custom of using Christmas trees has spread to the Philippines and all over Christendom. REVIEW QUESTIONS 1. When was December 25 fixCd as the date for Christmas? 2. Why do we celebrate Christmas in December?" 3. Why is Christmas sometimes called "Yule"? 4. Why is Christmas called by the name Christmas? 5. Tell how Christmas is observed in various countries. 6. Bave you seen a· Christmas play which showed the story of the birth of Christ? 7. During what time in the world's history were such plays popular? 8. In what' countries, especially, were such plays used? 9. What is a Christmas carol? (See page 432 of this issue o.f The Young Citizen.) . IO. When did many of our Christmas carols originate? 11. Tell about Christmas festivities in England in the time of S.hakespeare. 12. Can you tell the origin of the Christmas tree? 13. Why is a star used as a decoration on a Christmas tree? 14. What is a Noel? (See page 461 in this issue of The Young Citizen.) 15. Can you tell the Bible story of Christ's birth? 16. Do you share your Christmas joys with others? 17. Do you try to make others happy at Christmas time? 18. What Christmas customs are observed in your community? December, 1939 THE YOUNG CITIZEN -II PJ:INTRY I_ RECIPES FOR THE CHRISTMAS DINNER MANY people of the Philippines will follow the American cusiom of having roast turkey for the Christmas dinner. We hav.e been asked to give again the recipes for roast turkey and other things which go· with the dish. We are glad to comply with this request, and reprint some of the recipes which appeared in the November, 1938, issue of The Young Citizen. ROAST TURKEY Dress, clean, and stuff the turkey. Sew the skin together over the stuffing in the breast and neck. Rub with salt anr! flour, and dot with butier. Place in a hot oven ( 450 degrees Fahrenheit) until brown. Reduce the heat to 350 degrees, and baste occasionally with the juice and the fat in the pan. When the .breast meat is tender the turkey is cooked enough. A I 0-pound turkey should cook about two hours. OLD-FASHIONED STUFFING Get the following: 8 cups of soft bread crumbs, 2 chopped onions, one-half cup of melted fat, sage or other herbs, salt and pepper. Mince the onio~s and cook them two minutes in fat. Mix the seasoning with the crumbs and stir it into. the fat_ Cook two" more minutes, stirring constantly. , If a moist stuffing is desired, add a little water. CRANBERRY SAUCE To a can of cooked cranberries (to he secured at a first class grocery store), add two cups of sugar and the juice of two lemons. Freeze until fairly hard. Serve with the turkey. PUMPKIN PIE Necessary ingredients: one and one-half cups of cooked pumpkin (to be secured at a first class grocery store), twothirds of a cup of brown sugar, 2 tablespoons of butter, 2 tablespoons of molasses, one teaspoon of cinnamon, on~ teaspoon of ginger, one-half teaspoon of salt, 2 eggs, 2 cups of milk. To the mashed pumpkin add sugar, butter, molasses, ginger, cinnamon, and salt. Add egg yolks slightly beaten. Add the milk, and mix thoroughly. Beat the egg whites until stiff, and fold it into the mixture. Line.an ungreased pan with pie paste. Pour in the mixture, and bake in a hot oven · for ten minutes. Then reduce the temperature and bake about 35 minutes longer. Stuffed roast ·turkey, with cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie, to which have been added other vegetables, fruits, and sweets, such as the Ph iii pp iii.es produce in abundance, will make a Christmas dinner fit for a king or-you and me! 452 THE YOUNG CITIZEN December, 1939 THE MAKING AND USE OF BELLS Remot·in9 the Clar Mol'd from n Newly Cast Bell BELLS are associated with Christmas. We hear a great deal about Christmas bells, and eve_ rywhere see pictures of them. Christianity is responsible for the introduction and use oflbells in the world. We do not know much about bells before the Christian era; in fact, there is no trustworthy evidence that bells existed before that time. The earliest Latin word for bell (cnmp11na) is late Latin of the 4th and the 5th century. The oldest bells were quadrangular in shape and had square corners. They were made of thin iron plates hammered and riveted together. Such a bell as this is at present preserved in Belfast, Ireland. It is known as St. Patrick's bell. This bell is about six and a half inches high, and is decorated with precious stones and gold and silver filigree work Probably Pope Sabineapus (A.D. 604) first used church bells, but it seems clear that they were introduc~d into France as early as 550. Bells were mentioned in Italy!n the 7th century. Many church bells were hung rn the I 0th uentury, and in the i Ith century they were in Switzerland and Germany. 0 f course, all church bells were used as Christmas bells. in A. D. 1400 a bell was .. cast in Paris which weighed 15,000 pounds; another · was cast in Paris in 1472 which weighed 25,000 pounds ; a bell, now famous, was cast in R'.ouen, France, in 1501 which weighed 36,364 pounds. The earliest bells wer.e not cast, but, as previously stated, were made of plates riveted together. At fi.rst, bells were made' in the monasteries, but gradually . the art passed into the hands of professional 'bell makers. They gradually worked out the principles.of bell-making, learn·ed how to mix the metals to be used, and decid.ed upon the best shapes and proportions of bells. These are now generally accepted as necessa_ry for a good bell. Bell-metal is a mixture of copper and tin in the proportion of 4 to I. Zinc and lead are used in small bells. The thickness of the bell's edge is about one-tenth of its diamete_r arid its height is twelve times its thickness. Bells ~ave been made every conceivable shape within certain limits. The bell is first designed on paper acTHE YOUNG CITIZEN 453 cording to the scale of its measurement. Then the "crook" is made. This is a kind of wooden compass for making the mold of the bell. The compass is pivoted on a stake driven into the bottom of the casting pit. A stuffing of brickwork is built around the stake, leaving i'oom for a fir.e to be lighted inside it. The inside of this stuffing is then P.added with fine soft clay, well mixed and bound together with calves' hair, bringing it to the exact shape of the inside of the bell. probably owe most of the famous towers in the world to the influence of bells. Church towers at first, perhaps, scarcely rose above the roof, being intended as lanterns for the admission of light, and addition to the' height was in all likelihood suggested by the more common use of bells. Bells early summoned soldiers to arms, as well as Christians to church. .They sounded the alarm in fire or tumult, and the rights of citizens to the bells of a town were jealously guarded. The chief bell of a cathedral often belonged to the town. He who commanded the bell, commanded· t h e town. Hence a Upon this core is fashioned a .clay bell. The clay bell is baked hard. Then a mold is made the exact shape of the bell. The metal is then boiled a n d r u n molten into the mold . ·A large bell will take several weeks to cool. After the bell has cooled, it is tuned. In the illustration on page 45~ a workman is removing the clay mold from a newly cast bell. 4n Historic Bell of the Philippines conqueror com - mo n 1 y acknowledged the political importance of bells by melting them down. Many a bloody chapter in history has been rung in or out by bells. The fineness of a bell depends not only on the casting and the fineness and mixture of metals, but upon the due proportion of metal to the calibre of the bell. The larger the bell, the lower the tone. The history of bells is full of romantic interest. In civilized times they have been intimately associated not.only with all kinds of religious and social uses, but with almost every important historical event. Their influenc.e upon architecture has been remarkable, because we There are many old customs connected with the · use of church bells, some of which have died out, while others remain. The general use of clocks and watches has made bells less necessary for marking the events of daily life. On the European continent bells acquired gr.eat public importance. They were formally baptized with religious ceremonies, the notabilities of a town standing as sponsors; and they were very (Pleau turn to pa9t 456.) THE. YOUNG CITIZEN December~ 1939 WORK AND PLAY SECTION WHAT WILL SANTA BRING YOU? · By PABLO M. CUASAY • 4 ,;'5 .,6 F V 1 T 8/6 2 E S F \7 R D 4.5 s/4v7 T'Ris .ER 2 sp> AWE s , a ~. ,.7 4 /2 · 6 s 1 4 , ,: s · I ·yVF; tl' E A T N B/cv:f Ev 4 ~ 8 ·,5. ·7 4 &t-3 2 8 s .I-L./A f fol s .E ~ L H T I) 4 ,/2 7 3 8v'4' 8 1.2 s's 3 R<' E s T A S K'R E y· H ,COUNT the 'letters of your first name. If the total is 6 or more, subtract 4. If the total is less than 6, add 3. The result is your key number. Start in the upper left-hand corner of the' above table of • Principal, Cabugao Elementary Scbool, Cabu~ gao, Ilocos Sur. A JUMPING SANTA (,f Christmas Toy) By EV A S. McKINSEY ON the next page are illustrated the parts for making a "Jumping Santa:" Trace the different parts on tliin paper _without lines. 'Then color them as suggested on the pictures of the parts. After you have drawn the parts on thin paper, cut out the pieces, and paste them on cardboard. When they are dry, cut tl)em out. Run a piece of string a little more than 5 inches long through the top of the legs at I, and another piece th;ough the top of the arms at 2, but do not tie them. With paper fasteners s~ . cure arms to the body at 3, and legs to the body at 4, toes pointing out. Leave fas: teners loose to allow room for play. Stretch arms and legs straight down and · tie the ends of each string rather snugly. Tie one end· of a cord IO inches lo.ng to the middle ·of the string that holds the arms together. Extend the cord to 1he middle of the string that holds the legs together, and tie. Pull the cord to make Santa Claus jump. Little chiltlren wili enjoy this toy. figures and check each one of your key numbers. Then copy on paper, in the order given, each letter below your . key numbers. If copiA;d correctly and in order, you will find you have spelled some English words. The message will surprise you. Dea mbtr, 1939 0 ... er RED WHITE THE YOUNG CITIZEN 0 ... a: Rt D W HITE: BLACK 455 MAKING BELLS (Con~inrml from page 453) generally supposed to have the power of scaring away evil spirits. There are a few bells of world-wide ren'own. The great bell at Moscow was cast in 1733. It remained sunk in the earth for 103 years, but was raised in 1836. It was never actually hung or rung, having been cracked in ihe furnace. It is now used as a chapel. It weighs about 180 tons; the . height is 19 feet, 3 inches; the circu!Jlference is 6 0 feet, 9 inches; the thickness is 2 feet; the weight of the broken piece is 11 tons. The second Moscow bell, the largest in the world in actual use, weighs 128 tons. Bells play an important part in· the celebration of Christmas, since the observance of Christmas is an important . event in the church calendar, and the expression "Christmas bells" is widely used in all Christian countries. On page 453 there is a picture of a famous bell of lhe Philippines. This beil formerly hung in the belltower of Saint Augustine Church in Manila, the oldest church in the Philip-. pines. On page 241 of the July, 1939, 'issue of The Young Citizen there is a short history of this bell. THE YOUNG CITIZEN We read on that page: This tower contained an enormous bell weighing almost three and a half thousand kilos. This bell was rung only upon the arrival of a governor-general or when there ·was an unusually great fire in Manila. After the bell was removed it was placed at the entrance of the convent on the floor, and there it has remained to this day. REVIEW QUESTIONS I. When did bells ·come into use? 2. What was the shape of the oldest bells? 3. What is bell metal? 4. How are bells made? 5. What have been some of the uses of bells? 6. Tell about some large bells. 8. How have bells been ' used in the observance of Christmas? 9. Tell about'· a famous bell of the Philippines. . 10. Are bells as useful now as former!y? Read again the interesting article about bells, and then answer the following additional questions which you will find a little more difficult, perhaps, than -the first ten questions: 11. Why do we thi'nk that bells were not used before December, 1939 the Christian era? 12. What famous bell is in Belfast, Ireland? 13. Can you describe St. Patrick's bell? 14. Who was one· of the first persons to use church bells? 15. Can you mention some unusually large bells which were cast in France? 16. Where were bells made at first? 17. What did professional bell maker.s gradually do? 18. Upon what does the fineness of a bell depend? 19. How have bells influenced architecture? 20. What did ancient con. querors do with bells? Why? 21. What superstition was connected with bells? 22. Are there bells in the church which you attend·? 23. Do you think this article will cause you to have mote interest in bells? 24. If you would visit the Church of Saint Augustine in Manila, would you be interested in seeing the historic bell which is there? 25. Would you like to inspect the.bells in a church where you live? 26. Would you like to know the history of other bells in the Philippines? Drcember, 1939 THE YOUNG CITIZEN 417 ft '. ~ /~HE LAW OF . I ~ -. .: ~ RELIABILITY ai• ~ ~THE GOOD FILI.PINO IS RELIABLE Q ~ I will be honest, in wol"d and 1n ~ ~ act.. I .w111 no~ lie.,s~ea'k, 01" pre- ~ y tend, nol" will I 'keep t.he truth \{ ~ from tho5e w'ho have a r1eht. to it. ~ \l I wm. not. do wron~ in t'he 'hope ~ ag of not be1n~ founct' out.. go ~ l will nol take wil:.hout permission' ~ o0 what. does not . belone t.o me. \ 0 I will do promptly what I hovt promised Q :0 to do. If J hav1 mode a foolish promise, I :o ~ will at once confess my mistake, and .1 ~ 00 will try to make ~ood any ha~m : ~ which my mistake ma.y have. caustd. b . u POLITE CHRISTMAS TREE (Cont;,,ued from page 435) live and be beautiful and useful for a long time." The polite little tree heard all this and was very happy. He coufdn't have wished for anything nicer. As the little tree rode away in the handsome automobile, he waved a polite goodbye to the big, proud tree, who still stood waiting for somedne down in Manila to want him for a Christmas tree. A READING TEST Fill each blank with the right word. I. This story is about the ·polite little Christmas 2. The I i tt I e g i r I is named---. 3. Two - - - found shelter in the branches of the little tree. 4. The little girl wa~ted the - - - pine tree for a Christmas tree. S. They were going to plant the tr e e in th e i r 6. The large tree was 7. The small tree had a - - - heart. 8. The big tree wanted to goto---. 9. Ana's father was going to - - - up the little tree. THE YOUNG CITIZEN MORE BLESSED TO GIVE (Continued from page 438) 9. Did you enjoy reading this story? IO. H ave you learned anything from this story? 11. Why did the two little girls have to wear ragged clothing? 12. Why was there not enough food for them sometimes? 13. Did the words of Mrs. Ramos have any effoct on Carmen? 14. Why was Carmen's mother pleased with )1er little daughter's plan? 15. How _did Carmen show that she· was not selfish? 16. Name the articles of food which Carmen found to give to the little girls and their mother. 17. Did Carmen enjoy finding things to put into the baskets? Why? IO. The little tree rode away in a large----. 11. The little tree was just the right - - - , 12. Ana wished to put - - - on the tree for the birds. 13. The little tree can live and be beautiful and 14. The big tree said the birds would - - - his pretty branches. 15. Two pine trees stood beside the road near---. December~ 1939 18. What did Carmen's, mother pl'ace ,in the envelope? . 19. How did Carmen deliver the baskets? 20. Why did Carmen's eyes shine as she went to the home of the poor little girls? 21. What did Carmen tell her mother when she returned home? 22. Repeat the important sentence three times which Mrs, Ramos told her pupils. Write this sentence. three times, so you will never forget it. 23. Do you think the words of Mrs. Ramos are true? 24. Have you ever proved that they are true? 25. Do you know of a poor family whom you could help as Carmen did? 26. If you are poor yourself, could you do anything for some poor family? What could you do? 27. How do you thi_nk the Ii ttle girls and their mother felt when they received the Christmas baskets? 28. Do you know some one 'whom you could ask to provide a basket of food and clothing for some poor family? 29. Do ally poor children attend your school whom you could help? (Talk to your teacher about this.) December, 1939 • STARS AT CHRISTMAS (Continued frOm pag_e 441) full. Manuel &nd his mother . entered the church. He heard the Christmas hymns and carols coming from the choir. The voices sounded to him like the voices of angels. He saw the star in the church move to the place where the representation of the . Child would lie. He saw Joseph and Mary standing beside the lowly bed. Rays of light streamed from the star. The beams of light from that beautiful star. lit 4p the humble place of the Child. Yes, there was the Holy Babe. Manuel could see it by the light from the Christmas star. He saw a smile on the Holy Child's fa c-e. That smile was brighter than all the stars ·-he had seen. It was the sta«smile that would always give him a better inward feeling. "The star-smile of the Batie was the brightest of the stars at Christmas," thought Manuel. QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT 1. Why was Manuel happy? 2. Where was Manuel going with his mother? THE YOUNG CITIZEN 3. Why do you think Manuel noticed the bright star in the sky? 4. What story did Manuel remember? 5. What d id Manuel hear as he and his mother walked? 6. Why did the voices of the singers sound to Manuel like "the voices of angels"? 7. Why was his heart full? What does that mean? 8. Do you like to attend the Christmas service? Why? 9. Are you happy at Christmas time? Why? 10. Do you try to make others happy at Christrvas? 11. Why do we place lighted star lanterns in our ·windows at Christmas? 12. Do you krtow any poem about stars at Christmas? Here is one; perhaps you would like to memorize it: There's a song in the air! There's a star in the sky! There's a mother's deep prayer And a baby's low cry! And the star rains its fire While the beautiful sing, For the manger of Bethlehem Cradles a King. In the ·light of that star Lie the ages impearled; And that song from afar 459 Has swept over the world: Ev'ry hearth is aflame, And the beautiful sing In the homes of the nation That Jesus is Kin_g. 13. Can you tell the Christmas Story? ( Ask your teacher to tell it to your class.) · 14. Can you tell about the three wise kings and their visit to Jesus? 15. Can you tell about the shepherds who went to adore Jesus? 16. What guided the kings and the shepherds? 17. Is there a star at Christmas in the church which you attend? What does it mean? 18. Do you !ike to watch the stars in the sky? 19. Can you name any of them? (If you cannot, ask your teacher to tell you about some of them.) 20. Do travellers now sometimes use the stars to guide them? 21. Can you name a guiding star? · . • 22. If there is an encyclopedia in the library at your school, read about some of the stars. (Your teacher will he! p you find the place if necessary.) 23. Can you draw a map of some of th~ constellations? (Perhaps your teacher will show you a map from which you can make a drawing.) THE YOUNG CITIZEN December, 1939 December, 1939 CHRISTMAS CAROLS (Continued from page 447) istic of many songs of this nature. The words of this and similar songs wer.e sung in ancient days by the wandering minstrel-harper, while the merry-makers at the festal board joined in from time to time with the fa-lala chorus. The words make no reference to the Nativity -the b.irth of Christ-but tell us much about the customs and season of Yule. Deck the Hall is one of the best known of the secular carols, and is very popular in English-speaking countries. Deck the· hall with bou.ghs of holly, Fa i'a Ia Ia Ia, Ia Ia Ia Ia; 'Tis the season to be jolly, Fa Ia Ia Ia b, la Ia Ia Ia; Don we. now our gay apparel, Fa la la la, la la la, la la la; Troll the ancient Yuletide carol, Fa la la la la, la la Ia la. See the blazing Yule before us, Fa la la Ia la, la Ia Ia Ia; Strike the harp and join the chorus, Fa la la la la, la la Ia 1a; Follow me in merry measure, Fa la la la, la la la, la la la; While I tell of Yuletide treasure, Fa la la la Ia, Ia la la Ia. THE YOUNG CITIZEN Hark! the Herald Angels Sing One of the carols sung all over the world at this happy season is Hark! the Hera Id Angels Sing. Charles Wesley wrote the words of this immortal Christmas carol in 1743. In 1850 William H. Cummings arranged the melody to the words from a composition which Mendelssohn had written ten years previously. This hymn has won the •acclaim of millions throughout Christendom. Hark! the herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King; Peace on earth, and mercy mild; God and >inners reconciled." Joyful, all ye nqtions rise, Join the triumph of the skies; With angelic hosts proclaim "Christ is born in Bethlehem!" Hark! the herald angels sing "Glory to the ·newborn King!" Hai 1 the Heav'n-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of righteousness! Light and Life to all He brings, Ris'n with healing in His wings: Mild He lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die; Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth. Hark! the herald ~ngels sing "Glory to the newborn King!" The First Nowell The term Noel is a Fr e n c h w or d meaning "Christmas," and is derived from the Latin natalis meaning "birthday." It is used not ·only to name Christmas Day, but also as a greeting, much as we say "Merry Christmas." The songs sung during the Christmas season were known as Noels, Nowels, or Nowells, these words being equivalent to "carols" in English. The Christmas carol known as The First Nowell is one of the four oldest English Christmas carols adapted from the old me-· dieval N owells; in fact, this is one of the oldest carols in the world. It was sung by the Crusaders as they marched, or rode, or sailed to the Holy Land. It was mng in the streets of French villages at Christi mas time nearly a thousand years ago. It must have sounded very fine as hundreds and thousands of soldiers passed through the villages singing it. The words and the melody of this song are traditional. It is a true folksong. The first Nowell the angel did say Was to certain . poor shepherds in fields as they lay; In fields, as they lay, keeping their Rheep, On a cold winter's night that was so deep. Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Born is the King of Israel. They looked up and saw a star Shining in the east, beyond them far, And to the earth it gave great light And so it continued both day and night. Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Born is the King of Israel. The Christmas Plainsong There is another type of Christmas song, which, although it is not a carol, is frequently grouped with Christmas carols. This is the ancient Christmas plainsong, which may be defined as "the ancient unisondus chant melody of the church service." It had its origin in the Gregorian style, the successor of Greek music. In the plainsong the one desire was for a single melodic outline to THI: YOUNG CITIZEN enforce and beautify a verbal text. That the early plainsong had a. general rhythm, often approaching regularity, was a matter of course, since all prose has some rhythm. But strict rhythm was for Gregorian melodies incidental a n d even objectionable. A very ancient Christmas plainsong is known as Of the Father's Love. It is taken from the Divinum Mysterium, attributed to Prudentius, who lived"from A.D. 348 to 413. An English translation of the Latin text was first made by John Neale in 185~. The melody dates from the 12th Century. Of the Father's love begotten, Ere the world began to be, He is Alpha and Omega, He the source, the ending He, Of the things that are, that have been, And that future years sh.all see, Evermore and evermore. 0 that birth forever blessed, When the Virgin, full of grace, By the Holy Ghost conceiving, , Bare the Saviour of our Detember, 1939 First revealed His sacred , face, Evermore and eyermore. Perhaps this short article regarding so111e of the best known Christmas carols of the world will help you to enjoy them more; when a few of them, at least, are sung in the Phiiippines during the Christmas celebration of 1939. ·QUESTIONS IN REVIEW I. Who· sang the first Christmas carol on earth? 2. Tell about the first Christmas carols. 3. What kind of tunes were later used for Christmas carols? 4. C6mpare the music of carols and church hymns. ' 5. With what were the early carols accompanied? 6. How did the early Church r e gar d carols? Why? 7. Why have carols always been . popular? · 8. Tell about <carol-singing. 9. Tell aliout the words of the carol called The Friendly Beasts. 10. Can you name five other Christmas carols? 11. Explain the meaning of the term Noel. 12. Tell about the Christrace; And the Babe, the world's mas carol known as The Redeemer, First Nowell. Drconher, 1939 THE YOUNG CITIZEN CLUB Collecting Christmas What I Learned from The Christmas i Postage Stamps Collecting Moths at Our Schoc By FERNANDO GUTIERREZ (17 years old) I HAVE a rather good collection of stamps. Some of them show pictures about the birth and life of Jesus Christ. Mary and her Christ,Child are represented upon some of the stamps in my collection. The 1930 semi-postage stamp from the Saar shows a beautiful representation of Mary and her new-born Son. The 1899 stamps of the Virgin Islands show a design representing Mary, the mother of Jes us. The star which attracted the wise men of the East is shown on the semi-postage stamps of the Netherlands (Holland) issued in 1933. When the wise men went to adore the infant Jesus they rode on camels; that scene is shown on the airmail stamps of an Italian colony in Africa.. In going to Bethlehem the wise men passed by the tomb of Rachel which we find shown By JUANITA PEREZ ( 15 years old) DURING the Christmas vacation I am going to add to my collection of butterflies and moths. Here are some of the things I have already learned from collecting these insects: Do you know how to tell a butterfly from a moth? Butterflies have straight feelers which always end in little "clubs." Moths may have straight feelers, but they never have "clubs" at the ends. The bodies of butterflies are slender; those of moths are usually .heavy. Butterflies fly in the daytime; most moths fly at night. As a health promoter, collecting butterflies and moths cannot be excelled. on some of the 1928 stamps of Palestine. The story qf Christmas, as well as the life of Jesus, is quite well represented by the postage stamps of several countries of the world. By JOSE VILLANUE ( 12 years old) LAST Christmas i r room we had a party. Some of our p; attended the party .. course we had a beau. Christmas tree. Each in out room placed an tree a gift for our t< and a gift for some· mate. . At our party we · program which cor of Christmas songs an itations, and a. Chr playlet. After our progra played some games our teacher planned. By and by at ou~ we heard a tinkling c and a big "Whoa!" ' Santa Claus himse tered our S\hool roor had a large bag on h. from which he took fruit, nuts, .and These he distributed of the pupils in our After Santa Claus k party came ~o an enr THE YOUNG CITIZEN December, 1939 __ C_H_A_T_S_w_i_th_th_e_E_D_I_T_O_R __ l 'N that happy season of ~ar is here when we say lch of our friends • r r y Christmas and 'Y New Year." The t and the Publishers ;, Young Citizen have friends in all parts of 1ilippines-readers of Young Citizen-to it is a pleasure to rough the Chats with .Jitor, "A Very Merry >tmas and a Very HapIew Year." Boys and from the First Grade ·,es, to everyone, who The Young Citizen' teachers, all-we deed, extend to you •son's Greetings. We !ly hope that this will most joyful Christ<>u have ever expel, and the happiest lear possible. And close this Volume 5 Younq Citizen with :ood wishes for our nging the subject: e say a word or two his issue of our mag·the Christmas numIf you will glan£e ~ this issue, you will very "Christmasy" 1gh and through, from cover to cover, 'tis filled with the spirit of Christmas: Christmas stories, Christmas poems, Christmas articles, Christmas reading devices for primary pupils-everything is of Christmas. ·The Editor has tried to make the December number of The Young Citizen a real Christmas magazine for young people. Let us·know how you like this, your Christmas magazine. We will appreciate a word of comment from you. We hope y~u will like the Christmas stories in this number-six of them, and every one, we think, a good one. Each reflects a real Christmas atmosphere, we 'believe, and in each is to be found a truth similar to that which Mrs. Cruz has so beautifully expressed in her little story when she wrote, "It is. more blessed to give than to receive." A few Christmas poems, too, have been included in this issue-some of them well worth memorizing. There are also interesting articles for the older boys and girls, as well as some nice Christmas features for the youngsters of primary grades, and many other interesting things, a 11 of which go to make up a magazine for the holiday season which we think you will enjoy.· This is our Chtistmas gift to our young readers. We take pleasure in putting it in your hands, together with our wishes for a very merry Christmas and a very happy New Year. If you wi'l read the first page of this copy of The Young Citizen, you will notice that this issue which you are now reading is Number 12; this completes Volume 5 of The Young Citizen. The January issue will be Number I of Volume 6. But we shall ·have more tci say about that in the January number o.f The Young Citizen, so for the present we shall not go further. · Just a word to teachers and others: while "Christmas is in' the air," why not write an interesting Christmas story or a good Christmas ar.ticle and send it to The Young Citizenl Try it. Goodbye.-The Editor. Announcement to All Our Young Readers: Did you ever do something interesting and worth while? Have you had any experience in doing any of the followlng: U) Collecting Philippine Shells, (2) Hunting Turtles, (3) Exploring a Volcano, (4) Catching Sharks, (5) Making an Aquarium, (6) Collecting Postage Stamps, (7) Visiting Famous Churches of the Philippines, (8) Making a Garden, <91' Raising Flowers. (10) Making Candies, (11) Building a Sail Boat, (12) Hunting for Wild Animals, (13) Baking Bread or Cakes, (14) Making Articles of Clothing, (15) 111.lking Articles of Furniture, (16) Visiting the Aquarium in Manila, (17) Collecting Moths and Butterflies, (18) CoUecting , Interesting Botanical Specime:is, (19) Raising Orchids, (20) Visiting Primitive Peoples in the Philippines, or doing many other interesting things. WRITE ABOUT lT IN A SHORT COMPOSITION. Send your composition to The Young Citizen. Each month the Editor of The )' 01wg Citizen will publish as man~· of the best compositions as space will permit. If your compo~ition is accepted for publication, you will become a member of The What-Are-You-Doing? Club. The rules for securing membership are simple. OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING RULES: 1. Write about something interesti~g which you have done, such as thP above titles suggest. Do not write .a story which is not true. If your story is accepted, you are a member of the Club. 2. On your composition write your name and address VERY PLAINLY. 3. State your age. 4. Tell what you liked best in recent issues of The Young Citizen. Address all letters to: The What-Are-You-Doing? Club Care of Community Publishers, Inc. Publishers of The Young Citizen P. 0. Box 685. Manila, Philippines For service and salis/ac!ion, w rile wilhINKOGRAPH PENCIL-POINTED FOUNTAIN PEN The most practical fountain pen you can buyVersatile-it writes well on any kind of paper-rough, smooth, thin, thick, wrapping, or blotting paper. lt can easily make four carbon copies. It fits any hand- stands rough handling- draws lines,. without smearing the ruler with ink. Prices: from ¥'3.00 to 1a--1-~50 (Add 25 centavos for postage) lnkograph fountain pens are the product of well-known American manufacturers INKOGRAPH CO ~ I PA NY, I NC., New York, U.S. A. Sold exclusive/1• by COMMUNITY PUBLISHERS, INC. I 22 Crystal Arcade Escolta, l\Ianila The Uses of THE YOUNG CITIZEN Approved in Acad. Bull. No. 11, series 1935 The Director of Education, in his letters of Nov. -1-, 1937 and Jan. 14, 1939, indicated the f.ollo"·ing points: I. The YOUNG CIT IZEN is ideal for audience reading, group projects, and the like. - 2. The YOUNG CIT IZEN can be of much help in encouraging reading habits on a voluntary basis. 3. Authority is given for the placing of one or more subscriptions for every classroom (including barrio schools) of Grade II and above. -1-. In addition to subscriptions for classrooms, several subscriptions may be placed for the library, and one for the Home Economics Building and one for the shop building. 5. The YOUNG CITIZEN being the only magazine ever published in the Philippines for children , the Bureau of Education has taken much interest in its development. 6. Subscriptions to magazi ne intended for pupils should be on full year basis. Price ¥'2.30 net a year. COMMUNITY PUBLISHERS, INC. MANILA