The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1893-12-22
Annnr SANTA CLAUS.

ing does that name awaken!
What fragrant memories of the hal
cyon days of childhood fit through
the mind with the yuletides of the
long agol
According to the strict canon of the
saint, he should pay two visits during
the festal week-first on Christmas
eve, as a congratulatory salutation of
the blissful day, then again on New
Years eve, as a parting benediction to
the feast.
What hours of hilarious revelrV have
been passed by happy children during
this memorable week between realizing
the gifts which the generous saint has
already bestowed and anticipating
those he is sure to bring on New Years
eveI
The faith of the Christian may some
times grow faint and waver, but the
trust of that child over whom Santa
Claus has once waved his double wand
is as the faith that removes mountains.
Like mist on the mountains, like ships the sea-
So quickly the years of our childhood fee
''Terque quaterque beate!" thrice
four times blessed) cried Hlneas of the
heroes who fell in defense of Troy. So
of those on whose memories are deep
ly imprinted joyous recolections of
Santa Claus.
1t may be of interest to give brief
biographical sketch of this venerable
saint who has invaded all hearts and
haunted every Imagination.
st. Nicholas, popularity called Santa
Claus, was+ bishop of Myra in Asia
Minor in an early age of the church,
when that now long lost city was I'M
der the empire of the Roman Caesars.
It is said that on one Christmas eve
as he wandered through the city at the
midnight hour, seeking like his divine
Master, those whom he could help, he
witnessed an extraordinary scene. AS he
he passed the dwelling of distingui-
shed nobleman who had been reduced
to beggary he overheard a startling
conversation. The nobleman was en-
deavoring to make to his two little or
phaned daughters as tenderly as he
could a terrible communication. He
was explaining to them that in their
total restitution and his own utter
helplessness to relieve them there was
nothing left for them but a life of
shame. The good bishop, horror-strick-
en- at what he had overheard, fastened
home and filed purse with gold
Anxiously careful not to wound the
susceptibilities of the family, he re-
turned to the nobleman's home as Sec
reilly as possible. Carefully watching
his opportunity, when all were retired
to rest and everything quiet, he silent
ly opened the window, threw the purse
on the floor and fed.
He is said to have continued this
friendly exercise as opportunity offer
ed until he had accumulated there a
sufficient quantity of gold for the per-
manent maintenance of the children.
AS his secret benefactions became
widespread, the real benefactor of the
orphans became known, with the at
tending circumstances. Hence the le-
gion of the midnight visits on Christ
mas eve.
In the course of years the beloved
bishop of Myra passed from earth and
became st. Nicholas in heaven.
With his canonization the fame of
his noble deeds flew trumpet tongued
over the world.
For those who had loved their bene-
factor and to the children of the
church everywhere in sympathy with
them it was easy to believe that the
great heart which had throbbed while
on earth with such tender solicitude
for the little ones must now in the
courts of heaven beat responsive to
every child's prayer.
The divine promise, "What things
soever ye desire when ye pray, believe
that ye receive them, and ye shall have
them," was everywhere verified until
the empire of the saint over the hearts
and minds of the children was NOR Q
absolute than Caesars.
However much the popular faith in
modern theology may be shaken up,
the realm of good st. Nicholas will not
be the least disturbed by their widest
connections, so long as the good saint
himself continues to make gift laden
visits to the homes of childhood. En-
throned in the hearts of successive
generations of children, this deathless
monarch has fourished in perennial
vigor, while the mighty empire of the
Caesars has passed away like the base
less fabric of a dream" He has pres
erved his beautiful sway and extended
his empire over
Regions Caesar never knew,
Where his eagles never flew,
while the war god with the iron hand
of battle has smitten to the dust the
.haughtiest potentates and overturned
the loftiest states
After the memory of the brightest
saint in the calendar may perhaps have
faded away and become a mere tradi-
'tion of the past, the beloved st. Nicho-
las, wreathed in garlands of child's
love, bids fair to continue to reign in
-undimmed splendor until the advent
of that other Christmas morning when