The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-12-25

A merry Christmas to all!

merry Christmas TO all!
The days have passed whom the ''yule log used
to erackls and bass in the spacious hearth, whom
each was required, standing on its CENTRE"
On his psa,sr to play
That tweet iuck may
Come while the log ia . tending
when the tTiform Christmas candles burned omincus.
~ zone so bold to provoke fate by snuffiag the
heavy wick-when over the bIim of the mighty was
sail bowl streansd the generous liquor, pregnant
with kindly feelings, wit and mrth-- when the Alb.
bet Of Msrule or Umeasou mounted the throne Of
the revels, and all bowed to his sway, % subtle
disguisings, masks and mummeries'' begu;ed the
hours and established q ssturnalian democracy
when grave judges and lawyers thought it no die
graes to sxpsnd the yexrs revenue OF their Inn in
masqae, and exhibit their surprsiDg agility in the
dance before an admiring audience-whsn men of
high degree, habitsd in green, yellow, 'sor some
other light wanton colsr," gathered their good fel
lows around them, and with "hobbe horses dragons,
and other antiques, together with their baudie ppers
and laundering droDmer:," struck up the "Deylie's
Dance on their way to church; al these quaint
old customs dead md buried and We, mors's tie
pity, can hardly tell Christmas day from any ether
Saturday We have never rerelicd In the gentle H.
censc Of the misletoe Even poor old Santa Claus is
going out Of fashion, and few years hence little
boys and eirs will be tooswse and too matter of.
fact TO hang their stockings ny in corner in hopes
Of contribution from the friendly spri.e All the
poetry Of ancestors ID fast oozing out Of our FIN
gers ends, We turn over the pages Of the ledger
OF hu1iedly count heap Of greas, dsllars.
A sorry compensation il it, in truth. for thu
warm hearted, jevial merry Christmas in olden
time, that We should preserve ghas:ly remnant Of
thar fesf;vit;os the b;rsb NJ thA NJ
we should psy one hundred and thirty Two Wits
make two hundred and sixty four bows, and wish
five hundred times ever the compliment, OF the
season, in tones fsshionably modulsted, ard deco
rously cold. We are not in general Of those Who
constantly deplore the good old times" nor are
VIC sl0wto perceive our own immense superiority in
most matters over our ancestors; but there was a
genial warmth AID adroanliness In their Christmas
observsDces, for which wcvould willingly exchange
the stiff conyentionalitios and formal propriei.s Of
our day. We envy the chorus Of old men and
young, matIons and naidens, VINO could carol In
right COED esTnest round the fire
without the cold let sorrow lie
Auo " for cold 1t hap TO die,
Ven bury Z In Christmas pie,
and eyermofe be merry
Still, it IL perhaps bat the outer mantle bark
that has changed. Letus not think tha. inwsrdly
VIC are waJm, less kindly disposed 10 the p3or,
than in those days when all were welcomed to o
place round the hearth, or stool st the groaning
table. The large hospitality Of the Eaglish barons
" who scored to DO guilty Of starving mouse"
has we pstuIne, long sinoo died out; but many q
rich mar among Us, We feel assured, viii not ALLOW
this evenings sua TO Get wihou. contributing some
taiIg 10 relieve the th0ufanas AID Thousands Of
poor, in whose homes
The FIRE In low
AnJ through The paaes Inc ksen wind. blow
Ana cld AM goang aYe cod ngeher
lev VII close their eyes this night wishout hsv
ifg 6cnc 1omcthipg to onablo tho poor man, III.
wido', the orphan, 10 enjoy s hssYy aid merry
cffis.sas