The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-18

the legends. superstltions and ceremoniais
Of the Twelve Nights Of ancient Ger
many.
And what bearing has all Ibis upon the
question Of the identity of our dear old
friend, Santa Claus?
am coming to that. In every one or
these pagan festivals the leading figure
was an old man of patriarchdl aspect.
In the Bacchanalia the really representa-
tive figure was not the young Dionyslu5
Tor Bacchu). but the aged, CHEEKY anu
decidedly disreputable SiaAus, the chlel
Of the Satyrs and the god Of drunkards.
In the Saturnalia it was Saturn, dig
nifed and venerable gentleman-the god
NJ time In the Germanic feasts 1t was
Thor. a long bearded and Wfite-halred
god like the others. Now, although me
central figure of the Christian iestlyal
was the Child-GOd the Chrlst-hmdlelh'
the influence Of long pagan antecedenJS
was too strong within the breast OF the
neWIy-christened world 10 be readllY SUI
perseded. The tradition Of hoary age
as the true representative or the leSuEe
period a tradition, il will be seen, IN
which all pagan nations concurred, stu
remained smouldering under the ashes OF
the past and burst out into flame again
when the past was too FAR back TO De
looked upon with the fear and antaSo-
nism of the Church, and there no longer
seemed any danger OF relapsinB into us
RELIGIOUS errors. At first. however, the
more dignifed representative was chosen
as more in keeping with the occasion
Saturn was unconsciously rebaptzed as
ST. Nicholas, the anne Of the saint whose
festival was celebrated in December and
who was in other respects most nearly
I'm accord with the dim traditions OF sat
urn as the hero Of the Saturnalla II
will be seen by reference TO our pictures
that in the general cast Of countenance
the popular conception Of ST. Nlchoias
was not unlike the ancient idea or Saturn.
And at first st. Nicholas did not always
supersede Christ, but usually accompa-
MED Him in his Christmas travels; IN
deed. he still does in certain rural neigh
borhoods of Europe, where the modern
spirit has been least felt.
In course OF time, as the idea OF mum
dane merriment rather than Of religious
sancthcation at the period of Christ
mas became the predominant one D.
Nicholas. or Santa Claus, lost his ascetl-
cism. became ruddier. Jollier, more ruDl-
clnd In aspect, while the Christ Chud
faded more and more into the background
until at last the very name or the latter
under the slightly form Of Kriss Kringle
was transferred 10 his successor. Ana
now compare the picture or santa NiduS
with that OF Silenus Is II not evident
that the former is an avatar OF the latter
changed indeed, in certain character
istics, sobered up. washed and purihed'
clad in furry garments that are more
suited to the wintry season, when ne
has made his own, but still the god OF
good fellowship representative OF Sood
humor and jollityY
Extremes meet once more. The most
modern type OF the period OF merriment
Is q return TO the most ancient The Santa
Claus OF to-day Is none other than the
Silenus Of an unknown antiquity, OF the
Yesterday OF recorded time.
Now let us learn more about Silenus.
He was the tutor OF Bacchus, and seems
TO have had so much respect for his
pupil that his life after the invention
OF wine was a prolonged jag. IL was
a merry and good-natured jag, however.
He never became mauldln or quaTrelsome
I'm his cups. He was the most Jovial
OF tipplers. His outlook upon life was
as rosy as his nose. cherry laugh
beamed over his large fat face, the light