Merry Christmas!
Well, actually it is Christmas Eve and at this point in time it is officially less than 24 hours until Christmas Day.
I want to keep this post short and sweet, but I also just can't bring myself to do it without providing a little historical background.
A Visit from Saint Nicholas is considered to be one of the best known American poems in history, and is also recognized and well known by people from all around the world. It was first published in the early 1820s, and nobody is completely sure who it was written by. It appeared as an anonymous poem but later on was connected to Clement Clarke Moore, the son of the famous New York bishop, Benjamin Moore.
It became immensely popular very quickly after its original publication, and it has never lost its popularity. Even today, almost 200 years later, it is still traditional in families all around the world to read it on Christmas Eve night. So here it is now, in its entirety, for your enjoyment.
"Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro' the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas would soon be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar plums danc'd in their heads,
And Mama in her kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap--
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters, and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow,
Gave the luster of mid-day to the objects below;
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and call'd them by name:
'Now! Dasher, now! Dancer, now! Prancer and Vixen!
On! Comet, on! Cupid, on! Donder and Blitzen;
To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!
Now, dash away! Dash away! Dash away, all!'
As dry leaves before the wild hurricane fly,
When the meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the house-top the coursers, they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys--and St. Nicholas too:
And then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound:
He was dress'd all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnish'd with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys was flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack:
His eyes--how they twinkled! His dimples: how merry,
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry;
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face, and a little round belly
That shook when he laugh'd, like a bowl full of jelly:
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laugh'd when I saw him in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And fill'd all the stockings; then turn'd with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.
He sprung to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew, like the down of a thistle:
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight--
'Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!'"
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Ruby worked the circuit as a chorus girl for the next 3 years until she met director Willard Mack in 1926. At the time, Mack was attempting to cast the roles for his play The Noose, and Ruby was referred to him by a friend and mutual acquaintance. She was given the part, but the play was not successful until it was rewritten with adjustments to her character. After the tweaks were made, it became an amazing success on Broadway. It was during this time that Ruby Stevens officially became Barbara Stanwyck. The name of her character was Barbara, and the last name was taken from another actress. And thus, a star was born.
