The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-12-25
GheGttsuiarnrer
CHRISTMAS.

CHRISTMAS.
We do not propose to affiict the read
ers of the INTELLIoRNcRR with one o
the usual platitudinarisn disqulsitionl
sbont the meaning and merits ol this day
Il is not very violent presumption 4
take for granted that its origin is pretty
well understood by this time. At al
events we feel that we have contributed
our lalr share in times past to illuminate
the public mind on the subject, and
i any still sit In darkness they canno'
shake their CORY locks at US. We shal
no, therefore re.hash ApPLEToN's Ency.
clOpedia on tho present occasion. The
Shepherds OF Bethlehem have 9 right to
this iorbearance at our hands for once.
As ye are writing these preliminary re.
marks tho small boys under our window
sre making the night hideous with their
pistols and fire crackers. 1t occurred 10
US moment ago to go out and ask them
if they had ever been to Sunday School,
and III not whether they had ever read any
Of our solemn articles in times past as to
the improperly Of ushering in the
DAY in this discordant manner. A
second thought, however, has con-
yinced us that II we should cast our
pearls before such juvenile swine as an.
aOy US below, they would be sure to turn
again and rend US. Not being fully in.
sured, we propose to take no risks Of the
kind. -..,,ays ,.pg
The incessant firing Of these Chinese
crackers that has been going on since
dark, and that at this writing is
under full hcadwsy, naturally suggests to
US whether q freshly landed "heathen
Chinee" would have the dimmest idea
as 10 what this day really means, unless
1t was previously explained to him that
we are nation Of mythologists and that
Christmas is Bacchanalian season OF
license, dissipation and extravaganza that
has come down 10 US as precious fran.
chise from our pagan ancestors. Such an
explanation would be In harmony with
the fusilade that Is going on in the streets,
even Il 1t should not be true. and would
not shock his Celestial mind.
Another idea occurs 70 US in connection
with these small boys and the day we
celebrate, and Il comes from having just
read column or two Of the Pope's last
encyclical letter, whereby our thoughts
have naturally led US into comparing these
fantastic performances Of the boys with the
still more fantastic performances Of the
noisy Carnival jewellers at Rome, who fig.
ure so ludicrously on that yearly occasion
just before they all at once become
plOus and abstemious. The difference is
that these boys who annoy US will never
become either pious or abstemious. They
are Satan's own children or they would
not thus infringe upon the liberty Of the
press. 49, sG i'sasft g.a-t -.'
However, as there is d momentary lull
in the siege below We shall say nothing
more about these boys at present, but
shall initiate the example Of the Christians
during the siege Of Jerusalem, who, when
there was a lull in the hoGtilities, slipped
out at the breach In the walls and left
TIrus and the Jews TO fight it out. We
shall therefore leave these boys in the
hands nf our readers, and In q spirit of
forgiveness, eminently betting tho day,
wish them and everybody else q Merry
Christmas.
We trust that all our readers will be