March 29, 2024

Clipper’s 1917 Christmas edition offered something for everyone

Editor’s note: This is the second in a series of articles about Christmas in Colfax 100 years ago.

At Christmastime 1917, The Colfax Clipper, the weekly newspaper which had kept citizens of the Spring City on top of world, state and local news since June 1879, had, for 10 months, been managed by the firm of J. W. Johnson & Son-J. W. Johnson and Lee E. Johnson, formerly of Des Moines and Pilot Mound, respectively. A seven-column paper, it was Republican in politics, partly home and partly outside make-up.

On Dec. 13, an 18-page Christmas number of the paper appeared, which makes for interesting reading.

Editor Johnson incorporated numerous and varied articles into this special edition ranging in subject matter from “The Christmas Bird” to “One Historic Christmastide.”

He reprinted articles from many other sources, including inspirational items such as “Best Christmas Gift,” from the New York World; “A Christmas Gift That Could Not Be Bought,” by Dolly Wayne in the Philadelphia Ledger; and “Peace to Men of Good Will,” by Charles F. Thwing.

On a page of Yuletide Greetings sponsored by The Mason House, H. A. Thomas, Proprietor; The Victoria Sanatorium, Mrs. Loretta Cappellar, Supt.; The Anspach Sanitarium; and The Grand Hotel and Mineral Spring, C. V. De Witt, Manager, appears “The Peace of the Heart: A Christmas Thought,” by the Chicago poet Douglas Malloch.

“Passing Christmas Eve Outdoors,” from “The Heart of the Veld,” by Madeline Alston, appealed to the sensibilities of those less inclined to observe the holidays at hearth and home. There is also an article on the subject of “Christmas Gifts From The Woods.”

“How to Adorn The Church For The Holiday,” from the New York Sun, gives instruction on just that subject, even to the point of dictating when to start.

Laura Jean Libbey’s “Christmas – and Old Loves” appealed to Clipper readers of romantic tendencies.

And there are Christmas carols of long ago - such as “Good King Wenceslas” - as well as “A Christmas Lullaby,” the Mexican “Litany of the God Child.”

“Here’s a Merry Christmas Game,” too!

“Reviving Old Time Yule Customs,” by Sallie Wistar in the Philadelphia Public Ledger, is reproduced for Clipper readers’ information, as is an item on “How Animals Figure In Christmas Customs.”

And what would Christmas be without the transforming influence of the British writer Charles Dickens? Dickens’ thoughts on “Christmas Reunions” are found here, as is an article titled “With Dickens At Christmas.”

Poetry abounds in these pages, offerings such as “The Mother’s Christmas Gift,” from the American Boy; “It’s Christmas Time Again,” by Lalia Mitchell in the Ladies’ Home Journal; “The Wondrous Season,” from the Baltimore Sun; and “Mr. Santa Claus Man,” from the Pittsburgh Press.

And the local advertising is voluminous!

In addition to the hoteliers, full-page ads were taken out by The Colfax Mercantile Company (The Big Store) and Fenner’s Dry Goods and Groceries.

“We herewith offer you some Christmas Suggestions to help you select a useful gift from our complete stock,” The Big Store announced. Besides a number of dry goods and grocery specials for 10 days, a visit to the store’s toy section was recommended for toys, dolls, sleds, and skates.

“Don’t Forget the Boys in Uniforms when you read this ad. We have a goodly number of things he can use.”

Fenner’s also heralded all manner of Christmas suggestions such as blankets, silk fabrics, knit goods, gloves, dress skirts, waists, Turkish towel sets, men’s sox, men’s holiday neck ware, and ladies’ silk hosiery.

Kline’s Jewelry Store and H. W. Wood, optician and jeweler, established 1892, sprung for half-page ads.

“Never before have we had the pleasure of offering such a splendid line of Holiday Gift Goods,” R. R. Kline advised the readers of his ad. “Our stock has been purchased with great care and cannot fail to please all desiring gifts with individual merit.”

“We also have the Christmas Gift for the Whole Family, The New Edison Diamond Amberola and the Columbia Disk,” the latest in phonographs.

Wood offered his customers the “well known” Howard, Hamilton and Elgin watches, as well as Ingersoll’s for the boys. During the war, soldiers realized that wrist watches, originally designed for women only, were more practical than pocket watches.

Forsyth’s Hardware and Furniture Store, “The Home of Practical Christmas Gifts,” offered a selection that promised to “gladden the heart and prove a reminder for years to come.” This included a new selection of fiber Reed furniture, a Wear-Ever aluminum roaster, and a Brussels carpet and vacuum cleaner.