The Indianapolis daily herald. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1865-1868, 1865-12-25

tHht~fNA~.-
.-Harki the merry bells Ginning from Trinity.
Charm the ear with their musical din.
Telling all throughout the vicinity.
Holiday gam,-ol- are now 10 begin.
A merry Christmas 10 all our rcaders-long
life and all manner Of good fortune j. our ben
c,iiction thi- morning. To-day i the eighteen
hundred aud .ixty-hfth anniversary q the
greatest event that ever occurred on earth-thc
one overlapping all other in it, eternal signid-
eance 10 human kind-the birth of the Messiah.
who. treading the wine press alone. fronted
sorrow the deepest, and iriumphed over It
and made IL holy. and built Of II a sanctuary
of sorrow for all the wrctched.r How vast,
how rapid have been the changes since first
the morning sun ushercd In the natal day Of
Him through whose martyrdom all the genera
ton Rgone and all that are b. follow must reach
their final coronation. Christianity. then con-
fined 10 the limits Of the Holy Land, has
grown and spread until almost the whole
world Ia. been brought TO a knowledge Of
the truth and repose beneath IT. broad pro-
tecting wings. The system which was first
revealed In Judea- the system which combines
and pcrfects all the doctrines that pertain to
the good Of mans estate the system conform
ing 10 reason, yet kindllng in the heart the
noblcst impulses; the system In the highest
degree theoretical. and get In the highest tie
gree praetical-at once divine and humane;
this system has prevailed throughout every
part Of the country, aud j. the rock on which
are founded our free institutions.
Let us. then. observe this day n j. meet we
sh0uld-not with moroscness nor sentimental
affectation Of sanctity for this. In our opinion.
l. poor way Of manifc,ting thankfulnes-. and
T. inconsistent with good theology or good
sense.
Let good dinners and good cheer he the pre-
yaillng conditions, and II there l. In any fami-
ly returning prodigal. let the fatted calf be
slain for his reception. The common fashion
Of Observing this day. not In fasting and prayer
but IN the more rational manner Of good din
ner-. etc. may seem 10 some too matcralistlc.
but % us u accor,ls well with the occasion,
and does not eontrasene Christianity as It GER
tainly does not wholesome physical well being.
The process Of standardization and self-muti-
lation i fast becoming extinct. and will soon
be ranked among the efictc customs Of past
ages. As In days agone
With sheep and shaggy goats the altar bled.
And the proud steer was on the marble
spread.
With fire prepared they dealt the morsols
round.
Wine, rosy, bright, the trimming gobcts
crowned"
-, We opine. to-day that an incalculabe
quantity Of things esculcnt. and things po-
table will be consumed. Let, then, Santa
/ Claus be literally patronized. His cornucopia
Is endisss and he will not esteem IL out OF
order TO levy literally upon his kindness. Let
the young folks hang up the biggest stocking
there Is in the wardrobe ID cannot be- too
large and ask Santa Claus 10 ill il with ME,
things. Let adults not be ashamed 10 lay
aside the severe gravity Of common every day
life. and mingle In the cheering festivities Of
the festal day. Too much dignity ON such an
occasion would not be dignity but alectaton
Let every one enjoy the occasion. for il is every.
body's day:
=" To high and low it, blessings low,
For Jesus died for ALL"
Again do we denounce that spirit which
would induce any one 10 segregate himself Oh
herself from the cnjoyments of Christmas n,
being afiectation and not dignity; and again
wewish our readers merry Christmas.
AT THE "SOLDIERs' IIoME."-The first
grand ball given by the officers of the 9th
United states Veteran Volunteers, at the sol
diers' Home last Thursday evening. having
been 50 successful il is the intention TO con
tinue them at weekly intervals during the win.
ter. On next Thursday evening will be the
second Of the series. The entertainment
will commence at half-past eight O'Clock
precisely, each evening. The room where
the amusements take place has been
thoroughly refitted, and will be well
warmed and rendered comfortable in
every respect. No gentleman will be
admitted without special invitation from the
committee Of invitation, which consists OF
Brgadier General Daniel Macaulay. Captain
II. Il. Burrows. and Lieutenant 4. VI. Lester
! Every attention will be given to secure the
comfort Of the invited guests and strict atten-
ton will be paid to the proper decorum hicl
should attend these occasions. Apropos Il
this subject, we will just mention that the en-.
listed men now on duty at . Ekin Barracks "
i have become emulous, if not envi0uS of the
good time had by the officers at their terpsi
chorean entertainments. and 80 have arranged
sll the preliminaries necessary for a nice little
time of their own in the shape of grand ball
which will come of this evening with du,
ecldt. IL is eminently proper that these pr
waite soldiers. who bore the burthen in the
heat Of the day who have endured all tn,
trials of war without any Of its glitter should
now. on the return Of peace, enjoy at least
some portion Of the blessings their valor ha.
| helped achieve. In this matter we learn that
they have the cordial and hearty cooperation
Of the officers. and we are assured that the en-.
tertanment will be conducted on principles
that will meet with the approval Of even the
most fastidous.
AMUsE,fTNTs.-"A rrah Ma Pogue" has
closed its successful run. and retires from the
boards in the very hight of its success 10 give
place TO other programmes. We have before
expressed our opinion a. 10 the merits Of the
Il IL. IL IL.