The climax. [volume] (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1887-1897, 1890-12-31
THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

What is naturally called the holiday
season, the week between Christmas and
New-Year's Day, covers only a part of
the period given up to the cultivation'and
manifestation Of those kindly and gener-
Gus feelings associated with the festival
There is peace and goodwill in the days
or weeks preceding Christmas, while
preparations are being made for the holi-
day, and large part of the pleasures of
the season come TO us in anticipation of
the event. Then, after the excitement of
the occasion has passed away, there ling
er with us pleasant memories of the holi-
day that more than any other brings men
together in fraternal sympathy. One of
the agreeable influences Of Christmas is
its reactionary effect upon generous
givers who have wisely used their
means, whether large or small, to make
other people happy. The feeling of salts
faction aroused in them, not for anything
they have accomplished in promoting the
happiness Of others, makes them realize
the truth Of the saying that lit is more
blessed TO give than to receive" The
true Christmas spirit is wholly unselfish :;
it is opposed to anything in the nature Of
trade or to gift-bearing as a matter of
form. The true Christmas giver is i'm
PEELED to be generous by his kindly i'm
pulses toward relatives, friends, neighbors
or humanity in general. He gives freely
within his means, with no thought of re-
turn, and not because it is a custom of
the times. And because his generosity
is spontaneous he is a cheerful giver and
brings the sunshine of warm heart into
the households he visits, with which to
bless his gifts and make them more
precious. The recipients Of such favors,
if they, too, be filled with the true Christ
mas spirit, accept the gifts with warm
and grateful heats that have no room for
selfish sentiments. They value the gifts
not for their intrinsic worth, but because
they are emblems Of the love of the Civ
ers. II they make return it is spontane-
ously, because they are inspired to do so
by similar feelings, and not because it is
a custom Of the times. Indeed. when
Christmas-givi1ag is allowed to descend to
the basis Of a trade the right spirit is alb
sent, and IT becomes a custom "mOre
hOnOred in the breach than in the OBJ
servance." But the effect of a true OBJ
servance Of Christmas does not pass away
with the holiday. Pleasant memories
linger about the reunions of the season
and help to keep alive through the whole
year the feelings of goodwill to.men that
are given special expression at that time.
There is, in fact, every reason why men
should try TO extend the happiness that
all feel during the days Immediately pre-
ceding and following Christmas to other
seasons Of the year. All that is needed
is the cultivation of an unselfish, brother
ly feeling, such as seems to he infectious
at holiday times. Franklin gave a pre-
scriptiOn by which Christmas was to be
extended throughout the year: "Let no
pleasure tempt thee, no profit allure thee,
no ambition corrupt thee, no example
sway thee, no persuasion move thee to do
anything which thou knowest to be evil A;
so shalt thou always live JOLLY, for a
good conscience is a continual Christmas. y
Franklin makes no suggestion of any
generous deed to season the good con-
science that one may enjoy who simply
does his duty and avoids evil, but per-
haps, like Goldsmith, he looked upon
generosity as a duty. Goldsmith saws
True generosity is a duty as indispensa-
bly, necessary as those imposed upon us
by the law. 1t is a rule imposed upon us
by reason, which should be the sovereign
law Of a rational being" But neither
Frankhn's good conscience nor Gold
smiths generosity treated as a duty could
make up for the spontaneous unselfish-
ness that truly characterizes the Christ
mas spirit. For the greater part of the
year men are reserved and pursue their
own purposes with little regard to other
people, but during the holidays they get
thawed out, repress their selfish instinct
and try to be kindly and sympathetic. If
with this change ofmanner they have the
good conscience recommended by Frank
lin, they can spend their Christmas JOLLY
and prolong the season as long as they
maintain the true Christmas spirit.