The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-12-25
MERRY CHRISTMAS.


have flown and here is Christmas, az
eompanied by dust instead of snow, an
almost without frost or any other sug
gestion of winter.
But Christmas is always welcome
whether or not the weather is appro
pirate; cold or warm, clear or dusty
there is ever merriment in the Christ
mas air; the spirit of the day will b.
prevalent in palace and hovel, in family
gatherings and in solitude, in city anC
in country-everywher in fact, where
the story of the Birth has reached, anC
the influence of the Name has made
itself felt.
OF all the days in the year this is
the one for merriment at home.
1t is the festival of the
household, the holiday of the
Preside, the one time sacred to family
gatherings and domestic reunions; to
the jOllities that begin in the charming
delight of the prattler just able to steady
himself by clinging to chairs and sofgs,
and end only when the oldest and most
sedate have caught the contagion and
given themselves over to the ruling
spirit of the hour. There are those who
regard the religious obserVances of the
day as its most important feature, but
even with them it is religious rejoicing
rather than the severe phases OF sacred
formality, the religion being made to
harmonic with the common demand
which says that all shall be merry.
While the day is one of revelries it is
also one of decorum, for a rowdy DEM
Onstration would be as widely out of
place as would be a solemn, long-faced
celebration given up to prayer and the
modification of the flesh. Another and
perhaps the proudest feature of the
Christmas is that it is day of charities
and generous remembrance; of
the proudest and readiest beneyoIence
vi ich delights in bringing joy to others
and shedding the comfort which ex-
tends to demonstative pleasure among
one'- fellows. The day begins with the
noise and discoTdant notes Of JOY over
discoveries made by Youngsters in their
stockings, and ends with the pleasant |
harmonies known only at this time in
the family gatherings in the circle that |
is the strongest, the dearest, the purest
and the sweetest of al things. in life
the home.
IT'D, 40 bo--a 1,oo,, ,o,--.-a,. 900
in Utah than this one will be-merrier
for the business man, the merchant,
the laborer and for the family. The
stores and shops during the present |
month have told a tale of business
depression and scarcity of money.
which any assertions to the con-
tIary, and any putting on of a /
bold front cannot disproYe- The holi
day display has been less in quantity,
and not so rich or gorgeous in quality
as in times past, and the purchases
have been fewer. There has been q
forced practice of economy that has not
often been witnessed, and this dispose
ton to depart from the lavish course
hitherto followed has been general.
being seen among the rich and those of
incomes as well as with the
poor to whom Christmas ever is a time
of financial embarrassment and distress
Work has been scarce and irregular
and wages have been low. We do not
believe there has been want, and suffer
ing is not apprehended, but the year
has been one of depression, and its clos
ing festival viii therefore be less merry
than some o: its predecessors. Another
shadow viii hang over many an
otherwise merry gathering. The
head of the family is lviro
il filthy jail, the victim os
an unworthy hate, 8 martyr 10 a religi.
Gus belief which fastens itself upon the
very anniversary which we to-day celeb
rate and which is presumed to give iov
md peace and eeatentment and freedom
70 mankind. / nsuch houses the merri-
nent viii be tinged by sorrow. but it
will be sorrow that is attended bv pride
-ather than shame. by rejoicing rather
han mourning. +,
But whatever the wear has brought.
however severely it has dealt With some ,
'1e magic which surrounds "a merry :
lightens the care-burdened
oul, uplifts the despondent heart AMI
this blessed holiday with JOY :,
or all; its influence dispels gloom, and
IS softening warmth reaches into the
leepest sadness; it is that magic xhicl
ouches and demonstrates that human !
" has its common bonds. that Z
here is a common brotherhood which /
lsy be denied for three hundred and Il
xty-four Gays, but will assert itself $
nd be proven to-day; it is the charm n
Christmas which checks Us up in our q