The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1892-12-27
BAZOO
SeoALiA. No..
TUESDAY, DECEMBER q, 1892.
"A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL.

1t makes but little difference wheth-
er this particular day is the anniver-
aary of the Nativity or not; We are
content to know that the event. was Of
such supreme importance that some
day is set apart for its commemora-
tiOn.
Neither does it make any difference
whether Christmas rejoicings are Dor
r0wed from the Saturnalia of the RO-
mans or whether at this season of the
year we adopt a pagan custom which
stretches back to time immemOrial,
and surrender ourselves to unsup-
pressed merriment and mirth. One
may wear the clothing of peasant
and still be something more than a
peasant, and he may adopt the rites
and ceremonies which once illuminated
= pagan temple and still not be pa
gan. The surges Of time have Obliter-
ated all traces Of that inferior past,
and given lis present and future
20 grand in achievement that while
we gladly borrow from our ancestors
whatever is worthy we add something
better than they ever dreamed of.
The day we celebrate has a signiti-
=, canoe of its own. Through Chris
tianity we inherit certain ideas which
underlie human progress, and it is not
strange that we rejoice in our rich
possessions. If an Assyrian Of old
could revisit the pale glimpses of the
moon, walk the streets of repre>en-
tative city in Europe or America, OBJ
serve the general tone of public Opin-
ion, get glimpse of the charities and
philantrophies which make the times
radiant, he would naturally ask, what
new philosophy underlies the progress
YOU have made, How did yOa at
tain this high vantage ground from
which you get SO wide and generous
an outlook What principles Of po-
litlcal economy form the basis of this
general contentmen. and provide you
with larger liberty than the earlier
ages enjoyed:
To answer his questions We might
safely lead him into one of our
churches decorated from pulpit to
door with evergreenS. He would hear
Christmas music full of exaltation,
one vast throb of universal gratitude
With increasing establishment he
would: hear the to!eI preacher talk OF
brotherhood and the dvnami" force of
intermingled Providence and good
will. He would feel that the world
had been changed by some magician's
wand, that old things have passed
away and all things have become new,
and he would yield to none in the de-
voutness of his reverence for that
teacher from whose lips came the
words on which we have huilt this i'm
posing edifice.
If we have become ~ accustomed To
these great privileges that we neglect
their more serious significance and
throw ourselves with unbounded en-
thusiasm into the sports of a holiday,
watch at night tor the sly approach of
Santa Claus. sit by the blazing Yule
log, and fill the hours with laughter.
feast on the bOar's head which grace-
the banquet board, or rejoice in the
family reunion whose members are
separated by long distance. for more
than eleven months of each wear, We
can only reply that these pleasures and
pastimes. if not grave expression Of
our gratitude, are at least the expo
nents Of happy, prosperous and hope
full people.
There is alsO a certain commercial
view of the occasion which we ough
not to overlook. The custom of ex
changing presents stimulates the gen
ius ofindustry. Mills and manufac
tories have been busy to supply tn
market with novelties. New fabric: