The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-01-28
Christmas.

"But is old, old, good old Christmas
gone? Nothing but the hair of his
good gray old head and beard left ?
Well, l will have that, seeing | cannot
have more of him" These are the
words, quoted from "Hue and Cry after
Christmas" which Irving prefXes to
his papers upon the holiday in the
Sketch book. Horace Binnay Wallace,
of Philadel phia, said, in his severe crit
icism upon Irving, that his works fur
nished the original and model of Dick
ems descriptive manner, and mentions
the English Stage-coachman" in the
Christmas series as the preliminary
study for the elder Weller. But is not
the same series also the prelude of the
great Christmas revival which came in
with the Christmas Carol, and all of
Dickens and Thackeray's Christmas
bOoksY Certainly Irving in a sense in
trOduced Christmas to us. That is, he
recalled and vividly reproduced the
spirit of heartiness, of universal hilarity
and hospitality and good feeling, which
are additionally associated with the
old, old, good old Christmas to which
he appeals. Thackeray says that there
is no doubt Dickens holiday stories
were the cause of all amazing cOnvivial-
| ity and good-fellOwship, and Irving's
sunny and CHEEKY description of the
| Christmas games and dinner and gen.
eral festivity immensely quickened the
observance of the day in this country.
When it was objected that his descrip-
tiOn was antiquated, and that his story
lost probability because the customs
were obsolete, Irving replied that he had
seen almost everything that he had de-
! aarihan in tho ~ N the yfrfa of
Derbyshire and Yorkshire, where he
passed the holidays of one of his years
In England.
The Puritan element in this country
long held old Christmas at bay. In Vir-
ginia, however, and wherever the es-
tahlishment was paramount, there were
relics of the traditional day. But as the
Puritan rignr relaxed, aud the national
influence of the great Irish and German
immigration began to be felt, a more
festal spirit was developed, a more evil
dent fOndness for pleasure and enjoy
ment appeared, until now New York, at
least, observes the day not less than any
other Of the great capitals of the world.
Even New England memories which
are not very long can recall the scant
honor that was paid to the day.
Now it is greet and universal hOli-
day, the happiest Of the year. 1t is the
feast of brOtherly love, which is the es-
seutial doctrine of the religion which il
cOmmemOrates. And what eating and
drinking! What immense good cheer
That comes from our Northern blood,
from the ancestors who did not figure
a heaven Of harps and hymns, but d
Walhalla of wassail- bowls and endless
. quaffing of mead; no sarsaparilla run
nings, but liquid fire burning through
immortal veins. Dickens Christmas
. has been called gross and sensual-s
feast made by the butcher and baker
the kind of Christmas that Kenny
Meadows used to draw in the Illustrated
! NetOS, where bald old gentlemen pledge
in flowing bumpers shriveled but still
gay danes in caps, and the red-faceC
cook brings in u smoking plum-pud.
ding large enough to feed a city, ant
, the whole world guZZles and gorges
But although Dickens is sympathetic
T ally just to the beef and pudding, it /:
the kind and generous heart which thC
profuse table symbOliZes that is his rea
text. The spirit of his Christmas stOrie:
; gives an appetite for doing good thingI
as well as eating them; the heart ant
: the hand are to open as well as the
house; the carol that he sings is peace
: and active goodwill to men; the chimes
{ that he rings are the accord of charity
D patience, fidelity, uRselfishness, witt
: real happiness and genuine success
There are wise critics who think tha
they have disposed of Dickens by call
: ing him a sentimentalist. What is the
: Sermon on the Mount? What is tn,
! soul Of all religion, what is morality It.
self, but sentiment ?-Editor's Edsl
: Chair, in Rayper's Magazine for Jan
| udry.