December 24: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

December 24, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1911, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle said, “Nearly $260,000,000 has been donated to philanthropic and charitable work in the United States this year. The announcement that this is the greatest sum ever given in one year in this country, and probably in the world, comes at a fitting time in this season of the holidays, when the hearts of all men are softened and a universal spirit of brotherhood prevails. The distribution of these mighty fortunes has been extensive. The money has covered all fields of endeavor. It may seem to the layman like an easy matter to give away money, but when one has determined to give away millions, and give them away judiciously, the proposition becomes a science. Experience has taught the almoners that the art of giving generously, wisely and well is the greatest blessing of the philanthropist. On every side where one may turn in this country are evidences of the free hands of the givers. Magnificent libraries, colleges, schools, hospitals and public institutions, donated and maintained by generous Americans, appear in many of the cities and towns. Millions are expended in providing for the poor by private means, outside of the regular work of the State and municipal governments. Schools for special and technical instruction, instructions for scientific research, homes for the blind, for the deaf and dumb, for the crippled, for the aged, for orphans ― for all classes, all conditions ― are maintained; museums of art, of education, of natural history, are founded; missionaries are sent to all parts of the globe; churches and cathedrals are built, and in every conceivable way that money can be donated it is given freely, eagerly.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1922, the Eagle reported, “AUGERS, FRANCE, DEC. 23 ― The superstitious peasants in this district, who are preparing to celebrate Christmas, are mystified by a huge bright light which has appeared in the heavens for the past two days and are asking, ‘Is this a new Star of Bethlehem?’ The light has a varying appearance, now like a luminous star and again like a small crescent of the moon. The official meteorological services are puzzled and thus far have been unable to explain its prolonged presence, though attributing it to a meteor swarm. The whole countryside watches for its daily appearance and is wondering what special significance attaches to the light.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1944, the Eagle reported, “America’s fourth wartime Christmas will be ushered in tonight with its usual carols and gaiety inspired by the thoughts of ultimate victory and supreme confidence in our fighting men who this holiday weekend are waging the greatest battle of history. General Eisenhower has said this German counter-offensive may well be the death knell of the Nazi war machine, and, to Brooklyn’s mothers and fathers and sisters and wives and sweethearts on the home front, no more hopeful Christmas message could come. This year the most joyful day on the Christian calendar, with its traditional midnight services and carol singing, takes on a more somber tone with people everywhere joining in prayer for a speedy victory and a safe return of our fighting men.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1962, the Eagle said, “Christmas card manufacturers might hesitate to admit it, but there has been a move afoot for a number of years to donate to worthy charities money that would otherwise be spent on buying and mailing cards. The brain child of a number of affluent people in the United States, this idea is catching on in some circles and may eventually help ease the almost agonizing Yuletide problem at post offices. While there is understandable hesitation to pour icy water on any plan which would conceivably assist charitable organizations at a period of the year when the needy require more than faith and hope, a suspicion persists that the plan is a lazy man’s way out of a vexing problem. To people who feel that they must send scores of Christmas cards each year, the business of obtaining accurate addresses, choosing a suitable card, addressing envelopes and stamping and mailing them is a chore to end all chores. And then there is the fear that one may have forgotten a good friend. Certainly those who can afford to buy and mail a hundred or so Christmas cards each year can also afford to donate a similar sum to charity. Not to send any Christmas cards at all, onerous as the chore may have become, is not to remember friends who should be remembered. Furthermore, how would they know you’re still alive if they didn’t get a card from you once a year?”

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Stephenie Meyer
Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons

Ricky Martin
Eva Rinaldi/Wikimedia Commons

NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include sculptor and printmaker Jonathan Borofsky, who was born in 1942; Focus co-founder Jan Akkerman, who was born in 1946; former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who was born in 1946; jazz trumpeter Michael Ray, who was born in 1952; economist Gene Sperling, who was born in 1958; “Empire” co-creator Lee Daniels, who was born in 1959; “Prison Break” star Wade Williams, who was born in 1961; 10,000 Maniacs singer Mary Ramsey, who was born in 1963; “Boston Legal” star Mark Valley, who was born in 1964; “The Drew Carey Show” star Diedrich Bader, who was born in 1966; “Prison Break” star Amaury Nolasco, who was born in 1970; “Livin’ la Vida Loca” singer Ricky Martin, who was born in 1971; “Twilight” author Stephenie Meyer, who was born in 1973; “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” host Ryan Seacrest, who was born in 1974; and N.Y. Jets wide receiver Davante Adams, who was born in 1992.

Ryan Seacrest
Glenn Francis/Wikimedia Commons

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WAR IS OVER: The Treaty of Ghent was signed on this day in 1814, ending the War of 1812 between the U.S. and Great Britain. The treaty took effect in February 1815 and ushered in more than two centuries of peace between the two nations.

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HEAVENLY PEACE: “Silent Night” was performed for the first time on this day in 1818. Composed by Franz Xaver Gruber to lyrics by Joseph Mohr, it debuted at St. Nicholas parish church in Oberndorf, a village in the Austrian empire. The 1935 version by Bing Crosby is the fourth best-selling single of all-time.

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Special thanks to “Chase’s Calendar of Events” and Brooklyn Public Library.

Quotable:

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

— Luke 2:14