Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-25
A REAL SANTA CLAUS.
The Good 81. Nicholas IL Not n Myth Of
Cbiidhood's Days.
(Pittsburg Dispatch.

Cbiidhood's Days.
Pittsburg Dspatch.)
Although there are many who consider
Santa Claus myth. history discloses the
fact that 81. Nicholas was very real
parsonage. lie was Archbishop Of Myra In
500. and the name under which he enjoys
an annual popularity IN this country is
the German form, that came with the
German custom OF the Christmas-tree and
ali the rest OF II. ST. Nicholas IL n great
saint with all the Teutonic and Scandi-
navian peoples. IL was his prerogative 10
manifest his piety when at his mcNher'e
breast, for even then he Is said 10 have
tasted on Wednesdays and Fridays. AS a
matter OF course, he soon became famous
In working miracles. and here again he
appeared TO seek favor with young people.
An innkeeper having killed two young
gentlemen and put them in a pickle-tub.
Intending to sell them as picked pork,
the saint-who. In a vision. had seen the
deed done-declared he would put a stop
10 the business, and thereupon he trans
lated himself from Lycla 10 Athens and
stood before the astonished innkeeper,
and said: What hast thou done?' The
man trembled. confessed. and implored
forgiveness. Having patted the man on
his back and said. Don't do II any
more" the holy man turned to the pickle
tub. when the imitation sides, legs, and
hands OF pork began TO STIR and in quick
sticks there came forth not two boys
merely, but three, as may be proved by
reference 10 the Salisbury Missal of 1884
wherein there is a picture of the event.
and one of the peculiarities is that. as
the three boys rise complete out of the
pickle, the barbarous butcher is still busy
in cutting one of them up. st. Nicholas
established yet another claim TO be re-
garded as the friend of youth for he was
partial to boxing. and employed his skill
In the manly art" upon the heads of the
bishops.
The guardianship Of the young by Santa
Claus was of old recognized in England
by the custom OF choir-boys in cathedrals
choosing a boy-bishop on the day OF st.
Nicholas. December 9Th This was a very
important event. as may be seen in
Homes Everyday Book. /. 1884, where
there is an eftigy Of a boy-bishop from
Salisbury cathedral. The custom was in
full observance from early times until
l542. when IL was abolished by proclama-
tion OF Henry VIII. According to the old
NorthGerman custom, the happy time
for the children is the vigil OF ST.
Nicholas, the night of December 9Th. Then
II is that ne glideS abOut, putting goOu
things into lucky bags, and spying out
the merits and dement's Of boys and girls.
and sometimes unsparingly praising or re-
buking them. The North-German fashion
requires the saint to pay a visit 10 the
house where the young are assembled In
festivity on the night of his vigil. He
speaks in kindly words 10 the juvenile
throng. reproving some. encouraging
others. On retiring to rest, each member
of the party places an empty shoe on
table, and the door of the room is at
once locked; and. behold! when morning
dawns and the doors are opened in the
presence of all. the shoes are found 10
be filed with gifts for their owners, and
the table is covered with trinkets and
sweetmeats.
We have simply incorporated st. Nicho-
las s-day with Christmas-day, and made
the night Of December oath the time OF
the saints visitatons. But he is not a
myth now any more than he ever was. lie
Is a very real as well as a very good
saint, indeed. And for the sake OF the
little ones II is hoped that st. Nicholas
will always continue his visits to this
world.