The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-20
DIR. TALMAGE's VIEWS.

Ibelieve in Christmas Ialways have be-
lieved in Christmas and all that Christmas
stands for. 1t is a glorious festival, rich in
Significance TO every Christian and full of
inspiration to the whole human race. More
over, believe tu Santa Claus Ihave never
thought that we could spare him, and |
cannot see any reason now why we should
think him too old-fashioned to retain a
popularity among us. Until a few years ago
i always hung up my stocking on Christ
mas eve Long, very long after it got to be
a full-sized stocking / kept right on hang
ing it up. / can tell you that there is one
person whom l have found it hard to for
give, if, indeed, ever have entirely for
given him. This is the man who first told
me that there was no such person as Santa
Claus. 1t hurt me then TO hear 1t and re-
sented it. have resented it ever since, and
l have taken revenge by never really be-
lieving that there is no such person as Santa
Claus.
This is why l do not believe that this
comfort should be taken from children.
They are entitled to this cheerful and COM
fortlng illusion. They are the better for
believing in this benevolent spirit OF
Christmas time, and have never thought
that any good could come out of disenchant-
ing them on this and SO many other points.
/ suppose that children at two years know
more now than they used to know at two
years; but are they happier or better for
this greater quantity of hard factss Pm
afraid this is doubtful. Lst them have
their Santa Claus and their fairy tales, aud
let us have our older Santa Claus and our
fairy tales of mutual good cheer and help.
Perhaps this is an old-fashioned view of
the matter, but some oldSfashionsd things
are worth keeping. The old-fashioned spirit
OF Christmas time seems to me one of the
things that are worth keeping. 1t is like
the case of the Puritan Sabbath. People
talk of the Puritan Sabbath aud the mod
ern Sabbath 1t is little fashionable to
speak with light respect of the Puritan
Sabbath, as il we had outgrown all that
and had come into something very much
better. Well, the Puritan Sabbath seems
to me to have turned out pretty good men.
Ii the modern Sabbath could turn out moro
men that were like the men turned out by
the despised Puritan Sabbath Ii would do
very well indeed
IL there is any danger that Cbristmes
giftgiving should become an evil, the
danger is so slight that do not think it
worth worrying about. Gift-giving Is a
good fashion, and is all on the side of
benevolent feeling and common helpfulness.
1t has pleasant significance. The recUr-
renee OF the period when the practice be-
comes general, revives the spirit of human
Fellowship. 1t warns the hearts of men and
prepares them for better start in the Few
year. It is an especially welcome fashion in
tne home. hope no change Of ideas will
ever rob the home of this stimulous and
children Of this innocent Joy. l don't be-
heve that any change of ideas ever will. Ii
Is impossible to think of it.
People may some times give gifts that
tney cannot afford to give. 1t is quite posi-
Die TO believe that in the enthusiasm of the
seasons or that in Difference to some idea of
proprlety, people often spend more upon
CUTS than they should spend. But, after
al, this is erring on the safe side.
T. DEWITT rALMAeE.