The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-12-24

KEoKUK. IOWA:
SUNDAY MORNING, DECEMBER "a.
CITY NEWS.

CHHIsrMAs.-Ere we come unto our read
ers again, Christmas will have come andgone
hence give we our greetings now. Santa
Claus' of the bene6cent presence and mani
fold names will have distributed his treasures
among the juveniles. The followers Of the
Prophet pray with their faces towards Mecca
So without idolsky the devout spirit Of child
hood might lead the young, to whom Santa
Claus is real and tangible being, to turn
their eyes towards Germany in their child
worship. The ideal of that age 10 found only
in the land Of Luther. How unmistakably
Tsutonic is the whole burden of names that
the little man of the long beard and the Lap
landish outfit has to bear about with him
Kneeht Rupert, Knecht Globes, Santa Klaus
and Kris Kringle. The jolly old fellow, in
sportive mood in order more completely to de-
ceive and surprise any wary little watcher who
may setSomnus at defiance, and, with sly peeps
from ont the bed-clothes, is determined to
catch the mysterious traveller at his pranks.
Well, they catch him after time, and it loses
its romance all too soon.
The poet that saw him once and wrote so
jingingly concerning him, called him "Old
Nick This was doubtless sacrilege, but
ye. doesn't the legend state that good St.
Nicholas, who was Bishop of Myra when that
story of Beihlehen.s Babe was only some
thing over three hundred years old, once
supplied three destitute maidens with marriage
portions; and as his day occurred just before
Christmas, he was made purveyor of gifts of
the season to all children in Flanders and New
Holland who put out their shoes or stockings
in full confidence that his saintship will be-
fore morning put in q prize for God conduct.
Meg the Christmas come merrily, cheerily,
happily unto a, especially unto our family of
readers. Peace on Earth, Good will to
Men SoAme the Announcement t" in the
years long STILL" This morning, it may have
been so many years ago, some other morning
it may have been, SO many years ago. We
don't know. In fact it is pretty certain that
the. Babe wasn't born in December at all.
But Pope .Julius, in the Fourth century, or
dered an examination of the various dates.
and he assembled divines from the East and
the West, and, though admitting difficulties
and uncertainties, they fixed on this day, and
Christendom has ever since obser we'd it, The
anniversary is said to owe its origin to Pope
Telosophorus, who died in A. d. 1873. 1t
don't matter, since the time cannot be known
There is the Fact, and the True Life, and
that is enough. The Benedction Of the An
nouncement has come down through the GEN.
turies, and rests upon us now. Since the be-
ginning of 1881 it was Peace expected, and
now It's Peace established. A year ago we
uttered the hope that it might be so. From
out the clouds of doubt and dread suspense
has broken the brightness of victory 1t gilds
no slave manscles, it is reflected from no
blade unsheathed, it only Furnishes the bands
that unite a preserved nation.
A happy Christmas to the little folks in that
they have life to live to the elders in that
their life is lived to the soldier in that his
work is DONE and his country saved by his
labors; to the poor, whom may God pity and
Charity provide for ; to all, for it was unto
them Christ came.