The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-23
ST. NICHOLAS.
The Generous Old Gentleman Who In
troduced the Stocking.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.

brOuuCeu inc STOCKING.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer
The ancient heather festivals were ac-
companied by pageants on or about Dec
25, of which the presiding god was a
white bearded patriarch variously known
as Saturn, Silenus or Thor. The Romans
observed the Saturnalia the Greeks the
| Bacchanalia, the Teutons the Twelve
Nights. These festivities were IN honor
of the sun as the giver of life and light,
| and as the visible representation of the
diety. When Christianity illumined the
world the Saturnalia and its sister carni-
walls gave place TO the universal feast Of
Christmas. Many of the pagan cere
monies, more or less modified, and with
various additions, found their way into
the modern forms Of Christmas festivi-
ties. .,.er q
The Christ child, or Krist Kindlein, be-
came the dominant figure, but in time the
force of the tradition caused the revival
of the bearded patriarch as the typical
genius of testivity, He was revived. how
ever, not as pagan god, but in the per-
son of the good st. Nicholas, whose own
holy day happened to occur in December;
and as the >as9rst'tn
bel. JoHtAL cHkRio
of Christmas grew more and more pro-
nounced; the genialityof ST. Nicholas, or
Santa Claus, increased in equal ratio
The personality Of the Christ child, as
giver of gifts, became fainter and fainter
It's very name, corrupted into Kriss
Kingle, being finally identified with that
of Santa Clause. 1t is interesting to note
that st. Nicholas had for his prototype
no less person than Noah Noah was
worshipped by the pagnp Romans as the
God of tho deluGe, and al their feasts in
his honor ''all were considered on a level,
to signify the social manner in which he
| lived in the ark
St. Nicholas was Greek, born at Pa
tara, in Lycia. He became bishop Of
Myra, and died on the eighth ides of De-
cember, A. d. 343. A man OF great
sanctity, no saint on the calendar has q
wider patronage.
Here is the legend which accounts for
st. Nicholas as the good genius Of the
gift season: A certain noble of his diocese
became impoverished, and, as they had
no dowries, the future of the three fair
daughters of the house was imperiled.
The good saint resolved to succor them,
and, waiting till the small hours of the
morning. he cast through the open win
dow of the nobleman's bed chamber three
HEAVY PURSES OF GOLD.
He hoped to retreat unseen, but the
moon was bright; ST. Nicholas was dis
| covered, although trying to escape. At
the courts of Italian princes there pre-
| vailed an ancient custom called Zapata,
| the Spanish word for shoe" At Christ
mas time presents were concealed in the
| shoes or slippers of favored courtiers, in
| imitation of St. Nicholas gifts 10 the
| three maidens of Patara.
Another curious legend is that of the
schoolboys of E'ranconia, who,s on the
feast bearing his name, attired one of
their number in complete set Of bish-
ops vestments and went from door to
door collecting the ''EpiscopAT subsidy"
In return for this service ST., Nicholas
deposited gifts in their shoesy left out
over night for the purpose. yse'
Sailors are supposed TO date their reli-
ance upon st. Nicholas from this occur
renee: The holy man. en- voyage TO Pal
estine, was driven into a mighty storm,
but, on his praying TO heaven that the
elements be Gained, the vessel glided
into haven Of refuge. SimulJaneo dsly
a tempest arose great ways of. and The
hard-pressed crew of another ship prayed
for the aid Of St. Nicholas, who miracu-
lousy appeared before them, whereupon
the winds and waves subsidized.
AS to st. Nicholas having guarded the
welfare Of virgins. it seems 10 have been
in some countries a recognized Belief, for