The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-12-23

the Christian world, and IL IL doubtless to
be season Of as much merriment and en-
ioyment as IL has always been heretofore.
From time immemorial men have de. |
manded and taken their holidays, when |
the shops are closed and care Is dismissed |
and feeling of good will to all and few
brief hours of rest and recreation are in
dulged Sayages have and enjoy their holi
days as well as civilized people, some n
dulging in one species of recreation or fun
or enjoyment, others in another species and
still others in still different kinds, but
all al stated periods or upon well.known
days, bidding work and dull care tenn
porGry adieu.
The origin Of the practice Of celebrating
certain seasons and days as holiday Is
very remote, aud opinions and his
tories thereabout may differ, but
the real cause OF this holiday 10 found
in mans own physical and mental conSti-
tuition. That "al work and no play will
make Jack a duh boy" is a homcly maxim
but ono that viii find no questioner offs
truth or wisdom among thoughtful or in
tcllipent people anywhere. Although
mans lot Is one OF toll, and hard aad cold
enough Rt best he has emotions and fan
oiol and Impulses that demand grati.lCa-
non, aud that grow cr'mpcd ard rusty
and bite q Ider continuous toi yngrant
bat passionate longings for rest and the
| qualification Of the gCnBes, that lily agree
with severe aud incessant labor In short
man is mauy-sded, myrIad.minded and
needs to have his lighter lancios and i'm.
pulses gratiied by festivals of enjoyment
as well as his physical muscles and mental
faculties strengthened by toll and eXer.
dfe.
It was demonstrated during the French
revolution that even the abolition Of Sun
day, as was then attempted, resulted only
IN rendering the people more lerocious aud
depriying them Of that activity and inter
est in passing events that constitute the
good citizen. / was alleged by the econo.
misls Of that day that Sunday Hs II holiday
was u mere waste OF time, and that the
state or the nation as whole would be the
gamer by the abolition Of Sunday. The
very reverse proved to be- the case The
people deprived OF their seventh day Of
rest failed to accomplish as much 10 seven
days as they had been accomplishing in
six, and grew FESTIVE, furious and iragcible
under their continuous toll Just as chained
dogs become more and more ferocious the
longer they are tied up. IL doesn't take
continuous labor without any season Of rest
and enjoyment very long to wear human
being out, and worn out man Is no mau
at all. Holidays are necessities from an
economic point of view, to say moth.
Ing OF what other significance they may
have and the moro frequent their occur.
rance and the heartier and moro general
tho enjoyment and celebration thereof the
better for the slate, business and society
The present season is particularly calcu.
lated TO do good in the direction above in,
dicGted, II is both famous and general,
lasts longer than other holidays, is q season
ol reunions, of interchange Of gifts, when
the generous and better impulses OF man
are most powerfully worked upon, and
"goou cheer" and merry holiday" IRE
the greetings aud teachings OF the time,
OF all seasons OF the year, therefore the
Christmas holidays are the sweetost, the
brightest, the most attractive. After the
/ long yearstoil the rest comes that is heigh
toned and rendered doubly valuable
from the happy associations, the uni
yersal enjoyment and pleasant 70.
unions ana glorious impulses that charac
ierizo and grace this season above all other.
Of the year.
The season this year finds us in tins por
ton OF the world nt least in most pros.
porous and emil en- " satisfactory coudi
tionin all respects aud ought therefore to
be one OF unusual enjoyment. All the bet
ter impulses should be gwen full play and
scope poor, tired human workers should
be accorded the opportunity Of the fullest
and sweetest rest and recreation, charity
and good will Should rule the hour and
the myrIads OF human machine.
f, should be- permitted to undergo
thorough repairs That the opening
OF another year may Gui them oiled and
strengthened aud filled ur tho la5oya that
will be required ct them, 1t is tho be
D ginning In u WORT Ut iho festival OF rest and
recreation established 10y Christian usage
and dictated by good 1und scnsa aud pol
llical economy and To deny man or beast
the fullest enjoyment u. the holiday is not
only an act Of Injustice hut the very poor
est economy. Netrust the Christmas bol
days In our city at least will prove a season
OF unaloyed pleasure, recreation and profit
, to all, the employer and the employee thr
u young aud the old, the poor as well as thu
rich.