The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1867-01-09

We have received the following from a
cynical dlsbelievcr in Christmas heather,
and, W, neel not say, an old bachelor---an
print it in order that our young readers
may see how much wicaada3ss there is still
in the @erld:
How old Santa Claus ever came 70 be the
patron saint Of the Christmas holidays, is
inexplicable and difficult to determine. He
is fellow Of notoriously unprerossesslng
appearance; anil it seems passing strange
tina, not only children, bnt even hlushing
Young ladies should permit such hideous
old cormudgeon, with hunchback and bull
bous -e1 nose, to have free access to the
privacy Of their bodchambers. especially in
the dead hour Of night. Indeed his pedi
gree is altogether doubtful; so much so
that am inclined to believe that the real
Santa Claus is wholly traditional he
belonged to primitive age, and that the
little grizzled oh chap who now bears his
name, anu upon whose shoulders his man
tie seems to have fallen. is not Santa Claus
at all, but only "Old Nick" in the guise of
gentleman. This opinion is born oat by
the fact that he is often spoken of as St
Nicholas, which is only gcntecl circum-
locurion for Old Nick" Moreover, it j.
we'll known that children from their very
infancy have an instructive dread of him
which is only modified and propitiatcd By
the pleasurablc anticipa ions of the good
t.ings which they cxprct to find in their
stockings.
Thi.. is proof positive of his character. -
Beside, he has clanestn. way of enter
ing peoples houses through the chimney,
WHICH none but a thief would do; and ds for
the miscellaneous wares which he carrie in
4 bag slung over his shoulders. | am more
than half inclined to think they are stolen
The imaginary catter of little deers'
hoofs' over tho roof is only the sound of
the cloven foot, easily betrayed by the
Stiffness of the unreasonable hour which
he selects for his visltations. CreiuIous
people, who haze char ced to get a Eli npsc
of him as he stopped for an Instant to toast
his toes in the red hot Goals Of the fire place
have fnnced that he wore an amiablc look /;
hut this was only u lcer Of satisfaction at
discovering temperature IL some degree
like that OF his native climate.
As | have intimated, his frey red nose is
a sufficient indication of his habits, and |
feel convinced tEat all rational persons must
agree with me that Santa Claus is only a
corruption OF Santa Cruz, which isthe name
of a fiery brand of West India RUN. This
will account for his numerous devotee. who
are always found in large numbers upon
Christmas Eve (properly caves, and in the
CUTTERS too while the patron saint con.
tents hinself with merely pcrching up m
| the apHx OF tho roof
anu aware that shall incur the ennity
or proyoks the upbraidings of hosts Of
young fllk1 BY thus iraducing their favorite.
They will rally in a Lody to his defense and
call me acoustic old cynie who has no love
for Chri.tmas. boxes AMI oil that sort Of
thing, but this only COOS to prove how
kissing goes by favor and the world by
contFarics, and whata malign influence cal,
he exerted over the pure and innocent. by
just such crafty cid knaves ls Santa Claus,
who knows how 10 worm himself into their
affections by Haioling and fattfring, and
panderiny to tn ir appetites. 10 all such
shall only say, beware Of the tockings you
hang in tho chim.leyl You may, some
day, ''get your foot in it.