The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1883-12-24


THE publishers Of the LIGHT, have endeav-
ored at all times to make it a representative
paper. That they have succeeded, in a great
measure, is evidenced by the many compl-
ments given the paper by its contemporaries.
The following from the Bandera Enterprise is
particularly appreciated, and the LIGHT will
always endeavor to keep the good esteem it
has already earned: The Enterprise says:
"While we differ as widely as possible from
the political sentiments Of the San Antonio
LIGHT, we nevertheless admire its bold and
manly advocacy Of its principles and its I'M
qualified and outspoken condemnation Of men
and measures whenever, in its judgment, they
deserve it. The fact that the LIGHT has grad
ually made considerable ascent upon the hill
of newspaper respectnbility, dragging through
the debris Of heavily discounted political
party in Texas, is evidence of merit which
should not and cannot be overlooked. The
LIGHT is, in very many respects, an excellent
daily paper, and richly deserves the extensive
patronage its recent improvements indicate"
CHRISTMAS is supposed to be the anniver-
sary Of the birthday of Christ, and has for
many centuries been kept as a holy day by
nearly all Christian sects. Chaucer said in
his time during Christmas it "snowed Of
meate and drinke," abiding to the general
prevalence of hospitality and good cheer
every house being open TO all Corners. In
England Christmas lasted with each family SO
long as the yule log remained in the fireplace
unconsumed, and TO protract the duration of
this. season of joy, good cheer, hospitality and
hilarity the yule log was purposely selected
from some noncombustible wood, and was
then soaked in water, or wine, to increase its
natural incombustibility with the view Of pro-
tracing the holiday. The Puritans treated
Christmas festivities as sinful and heathenish,
and made open war against Christmas, wear
ing faces of greater elongaton and sourness
on this holy day to denote the sinfulness OF all
good cheer and iestivity, and their own near
ness to heaven. In the United States all the
Protestant sects indulge in puri,anical views
going to quarrel with these sects-they may
think as they choose provided they do not
modest us in our opinions-still, we do not
fancy religion that condemns cheeriulness
as a crime, and good cheer as the chief of
sins. Drunkenness and excess are brutal and
debasing at all times and seasons, but es-
pecially on the reputed birthday of the Savior
OF sinners, whose creed holds that no drunkard
can inherit the kingdom of heaven. Hospital
iiy, good cheer, fun mirth and enjoyment,
within the bounds of reason and decorum, are
not only innocent but commendable on many
accounts, particularly for the recreation of
mind and body afforded by them. Foreigners
visiting the United States are painfully struck
by the care-worn, haggard, prematurely old
look of our people, by their constant rush
and hurry and absorption in business cares.
The average American is steam engine in
pantaloons and frock coat; he has no time
to chew his food, and so he swallows il in
chunks. He regards repose as the complet-
est bore, recreations as a waste of time, So
ciability as unadulterated nonsense, friendship
as only fit for poets, beardless boys and bread
and butter misses redolent of the boarding
house, Getting drunk and gambling are his
only relaxations from business, the first browns
his senses and the last produces the excite
ment which he Graves. Recreation recruits
body and mind and prolongs life and should
be encouraged. CheerlulIess and mirth, fun
and laughter are better than doctors and medi-
cines. We hope every family in San Anto-
| Mo will have its Ynle log and On in for hasn't