Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1883-12-27
CHRISTMAS.
CHRISTMAS IN DODGE CITY.

Nk1QkOA MAO AN OODOD NAA 4 .
All civilized and christian people
commemorate Christmas day. 1t is =
holiday wherever exists christianity.
The observance of the day in Dodge
City was like in other towns Of no more
proportion or significance. Why do
we commemorate this day, would be
simple question; but do we 90 back in
history-l883 years ago-and find u
reason. The birthday of christian
thus gives day upon which we frster-
nize. What good cheer Christmas
brings. The exchange of small tokens
of friendship or the ordinary salutation
upon meeting revive all the better feel
ing of our nature. It is the character
of good man that We commemorate.
If it were not for the character of
Jesus Christ humanity would be in
deplorable condition. The simple self
sacrificing Christ is emulated every
year, and in Dodge City-no longer
wicked the day brings forth the
kind impulses of our nature. In some
manner or other the day is observed.
The observance must in some manner
thus give color or truth to the history
of the day. As Dodge progresses in
years and goodness so do the pleasant
feelings grow. Whether we are pro-
fessedly good or bad, we exemplify the
character of the man of the day which
We celebrate. We arc therefore, all
believers in Christ, to deny Christ is to
deny Christmas. To deny Christmas is
to deny christianity. No man having
common sense wishes to deny his own
better nature. So we are all christians
in Dodge City, for every one of US in
some way or another celebrated Christ $
day. We gave a friend a present, or
we attended the Christmas tree enter
tainment, or we attended the Fireman 8
ball, or ate dinner at the Presbyterian
church tables, or ate supper at Menden-
hall & Reudy's restaurant, or ate at the
house of friend, or we drank glass
of egg-nogg-in some way according to
the custom of the civilized world-we
acknowledge the day which gave birth
to christianity. No, we didn't all
mean to do it-that is, we wouldn't all
of US acknowledged that there ever was
a Christ born, only we fell into the
habit, as custom has made the habit.
But take away Santa Claus and Christ,
and only New Years day, with its stu
pendous DRINKS, would be left to COM
memorate the character of humanity.
Instead of blessed Christmas there
would be deyilish hell.
But we must state what occurred in
Dodge on Christmas eve and Christmas
day. The number of presents given
away from the Christmas tree, and the
number of presents sent by mail indi
Gated the truly good character of the
people of Dodge City. The large num-
Der of presents exchanged indicated the
prosperous condition of our people and
the good feeling existing here.
The entertainment in the opera house
was a very fine affair. The fremen's
ball was grand and we'll attended. The
supper given by Mendenhall & Reudy
was choice and excellent. In fact
everything was of the most pleasant
character-quite in harmony with the
christian character commemorated.
Just think if it were not for Christmas
day the world would sink into barbar-
ism. While we trespass and trans
gress, yet Christmas day admonishes US
of the goodness of a character like
Christ, however much We may differ
about his divinity.