Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1871-12-23
THE RoLrpAY.

THE EoLIDAY.
1t is an infirmity Of poor human na-
ture that it Is selfish. But as some
perhaps most failings-"lean to vir-
side," the moral force Of selfish
ness makes the world move, as the
force of indignation Furnishes
the wrong-doer. Abstractlons have
no force with the average intellect, or
with the average conscience. Men
seldom earnestly pursue what docs not
promise them personal advantage or
nor do they avoid what
does not threaten personal discomfort.
So the selfish world tolls on, individ-
ual gains making up the great sum Of
universal progress ; and so the sum Of
private indignation Furnishes wicked
ness and vice, and rewards well-doing
and virtue. But selfish toll demands
Its hour Of rest, whom the toiler can
look beyond himself and consider the
w~ell-being Of others. Aud indigna-
ton must sometimes proclaim q day
Of amnesty, In order that man may
remember that he must forgive, II he
hopes to be forgiven. Every nation,
as It has risen above barbarism, has
found rest from toll and cessation from
strife on holidays. In the years OF the
Olympic games the participants and
spectators had safe conduct to and fro,
though q state Of war might exist be-
tween some Of the Grecisn States.
The holidays Of pagan Rome were
marked by cruelty to captives aud
aliens, and the fierce festivities of the
conquerors of the world had some
times cruel features. But the gladia.
tors were mere aliens and strangers,
and heather patriotism did not hesi'
tate to sacrifice strangers, in order thai
the people should DO amused. fet,
Notwithstanding these Inconsistencies,
the Idea Of the holiday was, at the DO
ginning, that Of rest and immunity
1t remained for the advent of Chris
tianity, spread far and wide, that ides
Of universal brotherhood, which wal
no new idea, but which, therefore, had
been taught and practiced within very
narrow boundaries. 1t remained fol-
the example Of Him who pleased no.
Himself, but went about doing good,
to teach men how TO forget then-
selves, how to promote the happiness
Of others, how to be merciful even to
tho wrong-doer, how to forgive enc
mics. Christianity found holidays al
ready established, and r~econsecrated
them with a higher appreciation OF
their objects and their meaning. It Is
now nearly nineteen centuries since
the dawn Of Christianity. Men lave
by no means yet attained to an under
standing Of its sublime lessons, but we
know that the world Is better for the
light that shone upon the shepherds of
Judea; and We hope that 1t will still
grow better, year by year, aud that
Christian observances will come nearer
and nearer to the true ideal Of a holt
day, proclaimed by Moses In the law,
and fulfilled BY Him Of whom Moses
wrote. Tho ancient Hebrew festival
notions, customs and regulations were
luminous with the light Of peace and
charity when all the rest Of the world
was wrapped In darkness. They en-
bodied rest from toll and cessation
from anger, remembrance Of friends,
and a portion for the hungry. Com
mon consent now unites all Glasses In
the land In the celebration of the
Christmas Holidays. They constitute
q jubilee, when the living rejoice to-
gether, and the happy comfort the
afflicted; when the dead, like the
brethren In the poets beautiful con-
ception, ave are seven," are present
In the spirit, though no longer In the
body. There are political holidays;
there are national anniversaries; there
arc family reunions; but the best and
happiest features Of all are found In
the union Of the Christian world, upon
the day which common consent recog-
nizes as day Of universal rejoicing.
There may be those who consclen-
tiously object to marking one day
above another ; but If they have hearts
they cannot escape the pleasant infec-
tlon, or avoid looking with pleasure
upon those who manifest holy feelings,
call the day what you will. At Christ
mastide we lay aside our peculiar no.
tions, II those notions clash with the
general heart-sunshlne. So we, with
everybody, wish a happy time to every
body else. Among Christmas games
in the old times were merry masks.
Let each man. woman and child wear
the mask which hides that crooked
Unlocking c~ountenance known
As SELF; and let each Of US survey the
with that pleasant outlook
C~hrlstlanizes tho old heathen
Homo sum-" and the rest Of
It: ~ am q man, and nothing human
can to mo be foreign" A Happy
Christmas! And may its influence and
It's spirit be kept alive until this time
next year, with all Of US who then
To date q new departure from