The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-12-25

mas Iorebodes lat churcn yAru, We eef-
i.inly need entertain no apprehension for
The public health hereabouts when next
the sun comes north. Our Christmas this
year is not green by any means. Seldom
has it been SO white and crisp with the
irosts Of genuine winter. Not often IN this
Latitude do we see the mercury dowH;to
within six degrees OF zero during the
Christmas holidays, as was the case yes
terlay. --rI.,.Igyr,
The weather that We are having now
Is the real old-fashioned traditional
weather that We read about in the Christ
mas verses OF merry England. Such, foI
Instance, as they had in the days when
they heaped up glowing fire ofgreat logs
on the hearth, the principal log being the
famous yule block, that was oftentimes 50
bi, and solid that it would burn or.days,
like the sacred bush, and not be consumed.
Seated around this great FIRE our ancestors
are said to have consumed immense guam
titles Of strong and heating food and
drink. And this sort of festiyity they
kept up for days together. Thus
fortified they bade defiance to the severity
Of the weather, and according TO the old
stories would wade in snow waist deep to
pplenish the yule logs Itwasthe dissi-
pation Of wassail bowls and "soused
boar's head" along with music, dancing
and kissing, and also theextra amasses OF the
Catholic Church on Christmas, that led
the Pur:tAns TO trown upon. the day, and
Ruslly to interdict its observance in New
England. Hence Christmas has never
been much Of day in the land Of the Pil-
vrims. Their Christmas day Is Thanks.
gving-a day that was intended TO be sol
emnly Observed by Its oiginators, but
that like Christmas has finally become
more Of day Of feasting than Of religious
Observance. 7.I-a - -.
Away back in the early ages OF Christi
Anity they introduced the observance OF
Christmas with view Of supplanting the
hsa.hen festivals, such as the saturnalia.
Previous to that time it had not beeen set
tied upon as the natal day Of the Saviour,
and hence was not celebrated by the early
Christians. As showing that 1t was not
his natal day historians tell us that the
timeofyear forbids sthesupposition thatthe
Sbsnbard. of Bethlehem could have been
keeping watch OF their Hocks by night
But Notwithstanding this anachnonism the
day has been established as the birthday
Of Christendom. and at no time in the his
tory Of the Roman and Anglican Church
Is has it been celebrated with more splen-
dor than at present. To the world at
large it is simply a holiday-"the mad
dest merriest day" Of all the year
"A time for gifts, good cheer and
gOol will. 1t is time when the hearts Of
al good people are supposed to be Pecu.
liaHy accessible to the calls Of kindness
both inside and outside Of the family cir
Gle. The poor, as the old poets tells Us,
are ITO bf remembered for CHRIST ueAf
Uis =, n Chr;stm"s ill" !" and for the sake
0Ibrn,u;,v ha.an.e a ,he s.wintry time
oivs,r" ! Sarw snn,onr;ate text these
t,a arD,.:,;o.. r,.te pof oniy ,f,r tbe
80, sI1,O'iI =. ,' =, ,I,o & oh,sehss bu, %,
M, 81 h"naroIan.a IN tbe common 11I I,
T,Ir. n ,;ts Ts'SS
CSr.,m". a nae .osS,s,o s6mA;tS,ps ih;s Sear
Win .ooJ 6,nsr, N bs,lsr, ~ 4 nof iaf of
and ,Serato.o al " hsorts may we'll tsel
Gybs., tSsH n, =, so;,s vS.,. M. Not oniy
tssrer i TinisS =, Sst t1 I 4oISea rsaisnes en.