The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1884-12-11
SANTA ClAuSLAND.

AHlNNlhl lNbll'HllOuuNlANt Va tht h'hhA'As'b
1t has been truly said that one
half of the world docs not know how
the other half lives. Let me tell
your readers something of the strange
dominion of Santa Clausland, that /
have chanced to light upon. AL.
though this land was discovered
hundreds of years ago, IL has still TO
be discovered over again every year.
This is because its bounds are more
those of time than of space. Its
emperor reigns but a month at q
time, and then lays aside the sceptre
for eleven months. While he reigns
his sway is universal in Christendom,
and his rule absolute. Even the
households of the miShtiest monarchs
of earth submit to his authority
while it lasts. The name of this
imperial dignity is Santa Claus. He
always keeps out of sight, because
he believes that good deeds rather
than empty show Of regal glitter
will make his subjects love and obey
him. The revenues of his dominion
are too great to be counted, aud
although the taxes are high and
some pay much more than others,
yet there is less growing among the
taxpayers than under almost any
other government under the sun.
This is because they are allowed
both to tax themselves and to spend
the money any way they choose,
only that it must be for the objects
Of the empire. Those objects are
mainly intended TO make young pco-
pie happy, but the taxpayers are
usually made as happy in spending
the money as those for whom it is
spent. The mode of carrying out
those objects has always been for
the emperor TO go round among the
homes of the taxpayers on the night
before Christmas Day, and leave
gifts of playtbings, sweetmeats,
fruits, and often useful articles, for
the young folks. The latter must
show that lie is welcome by hanging
up their stockings to receive what
they will hold of the gifts. In cold
countries Emperor Santa Claus is
supposed to come into the houses by
the chimneys, but in the warm por-
tion5 of the empire, where there are
no chimneys, ne is supposed to creep
in through the half-opened windows.
Chimneys or windows, he manages
to get in some way, if the taxes are
only paid, whether they are paid in
gold, silver, or paper money. The
spending of Santa Claus's immense
revenues has given rise, in every
country to which his dominions ex-
tend, to a great deal of rivalry among
traders in supplying the gift goods.
Some do more business during his
months reign than all the rest of
the year. Long ago, perhaps at the
founding of the empire, grown peo-
pie, perceiving what great amount
of happiness was created by the en-
peror's system of government, in
stituted republic npon similar prin-
ciples and with the same motto,
which is, cit is more blessed to give
than to receive" The difference is
that they tax themselves to bestow
gifts upon each other, and upon
people too poor to tax themselves,
and give the presents away in waking
hours. They also make feasts for
each other, and also for the young
people of Santa Claus's dominions,
and add to the store of good and
nice things given by that mysterious
monarch. This fact compels the
traders to multiply their cxertions in
order to supply the citizens of the
Christmas Republic, as we'll as the
subjects of Santa Clausland. with
goods for their beneicent commerce.
In my next letter l shall tell you
about the shops of those traders who
do the principal part of the business
in the part of Santa Clausland in
which / have lighted.