Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-12-21
The Holiday Season.

If time Iun|s Us to the threSbhOld
Of n season which finds n warm place
~ the hclIt Of every civilized human
hong. 1t matters but little what
/ creed controls the head, the affections
center around the nativity of the
Messiah with peculiar fervor, and
I the CLINE Of Christmas bells fall
upon the ear with sweeter melody,
associatel with the story of Bethle-
hem, illustrative of the simple faith
of PASTORAL life eighteen centuries
! 400 and the marvellous reverence in
/ " Inch IT has been held down to the
present dute.mark of the Christian
oia.
This holiday is not confined to
any nation or country. In Germany
the gotesque procession OF we'll
wishers will make their usual round
ringing Joy to every household; in
England the yule-log will blaze as
cheerfully a. il did centuries ago; in
France the merry maskers will sa-
lutte the dawn with gladstone greet
ings, and in every Irish family, no
matter where they may be, memory
of waxen candles and incense will
fit DER the mind, as tie hour APP
proaches which commentaries the
era Of "peace on earth and good
will to men,"
In this country, the young people
have taken Christmas pretty much
into their own keeping, but still
there are many children of older
growth" who are not ashamed Of
their young hearts, as well as others
who celebrate the day for the same
reason they 90 to the circus, to give
the children a treat. Whatever may
be the motive, it is @ season OF
peculiar contentmen., time when
there seems to be harmony between
the mind and 0ody seldom attained
on other holidays. This is probably
due in some degree to that myster.
ious connection between brain and
stomach, which occasionally clothes
the world in roseate hues immedi-
ately after good dinner garnished
by enjoyable company.
A Christmas needs several essen.
tials to carry one back to the days
of childhood, and these are gener.
ally supplied by the older members
of the household. There should be
the smell of roast turkey or other
fowl, mingled with the delightful
odor Of mince or pumpkin pies; 8
cracking fire should blaze on an
open hearth, the evergreen adorr
the wall, while outside there should
be just enough Of frost to bite the
ears and make the warmth within 9
cordial welcome as we cross the
Threshold. There should be gifts
OF course; a Christmas without
these tokens of affectionate regard
would be shorne Of half its pleasure
If the Christmas tree is provided
there must be strings Of popcorn
wax tapers and tinsel, to set off thu
more substantial fruit which hangs
from its branches. Then ther'
should be music adapted special.
to the occasion. Yankee Doodle,
; however appropriate to our nationa
, holiday, will not do for Christmas
nor will that glorious anthem " Sta
, Spangled Banner" awaken any en-
thusiam Oh an occasion when it is q
much out of season. The symptom
les of the great masters likewise fai
to awaken a response, unless the,
1 appeal to the emotions which kindl,
the admiration of childhood. Til,
1 songs must be carols of joy and ex
ultation, as clear in their melody al
. ringing bells.
The night before Christmas, O.
/, Christmas eve, is quite as importan
! time for childhood, as it is for thu
8 household Santa Claus, and it re
!. mains IN undecided question wheth
Q or the dispenser or the receiver O
D gifts feels the keenest pleasure ovel
the little harmless deception prac
3 ticed upon the idols of the family
D II deceit is justifable under any cir
. cumstances, it certainly is under
: these. whom tho jolly appearance o!
! the patron saint as conjured up by
I infantile fsncy, remainsa as pleasing
0 remembrance in after years.
Appearances indicate that Christ
= mas dawn will be ushered in will
: mole than usual enthusiasm thi
t year. The shop windows present a,
. attractive array of the useful us vel
C Is ornamental gifts, which will ia,
D the pockets of poor old Santa Claus
a with more than ordinary severity
= That he may survive the ordeal ant
: bring Joy to every household is th,
prayer Of the writer while he wishe,
( one aud all "a merry Christmas AM
q happy New Year"
e The effect of the opening of through
!. traffic on the Northern Pacific rail
, road has been TO greatly decreas,
- | fba hucinaSc ~ tho ooo.- 49,.