Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-22
Ths Story Of the Babe Of Beth
lehem.
SOME CHRISTMAS REFLECTIONS.
r,.o pest Thing About the Great
uoliday-Au Children Together.
s.,,, Cinu. and tho old-Fashioned
,ethods-Aftou Personals.
,,,,-respondence of the Dispatch)

a.
nan has ever done. Neither king
,,- soldier nor scholar nor statesman that
,,.e- trod the earth has left upon the
-othvay OF years the impress given by
christ. Clothed with human nature,
4,srs Christ has established a kingdom
over the minds OF millions OF the human
race. which. from the smallest begin
r,nes. and founded in apparent weak
,.ss. continues 10 enlarge itself on every
ssse. 1t is a marvellous story-weird and
U.ondrous in its beauty. Time and again
q has been repeated. and yet, after
$50 years, with their miracles Of sci
ercs and startling revelations. It Is
SIN the same as when the centuries
we're new. The mind still loves TO wan
se- back into that ''hallowed Orient;
{, gaze IN fancy upon the bleak hills
~ Palestine and TO minele with the
ample shepherds as they watched their
e,-ks under the cold. December stars.
h, catch the dawn of the worlds new
era In the smile Of gentle Mary. and
4, feel the emotions OF that glad. first
CArlstnas-morn. when the angels sang,
Peace on earth; goodwill to men"
A MARVELLOUS STORY.
Ths story OF the Kingdom OF Christ Is
marvellous from 4 standpoint OF world
Is reason. After overthrowing pagan
lsoatry. enthroned in the capital by the
s.se OF the Caesars. and defylng the
raEa OF persecution to destroy IL in its
birth. IL effects a revolution in the
Roman empire, the most singular record
"a IN the annals OF history. In d.
rect opposition 10 the civil power and
wholly unaided by Il, the banner Of the
b,ood-s,ained cross. unfurled with the
birth Of Jesus, in the short space Of 800
years eies triumphant from the shores
= Africa 10 the Baltic Sea, and from
Asia Minor 10 the British Isles.
In the wake OF Constantine. the first
Christian ruler. kings and knights and
ropes have followed. Cathedrals have
pointed their tapering spires heavenward.
great churches have been reared, and
learning, eloQuence. and wisdom have
lad their best gifts at the feet Of the
lowly Nazarene
The flight OF time has only meilowed
the sacred influence OF Chrlst's natal day.
and the SHOWS OF each recurrent Decem-
her that have wrapped their garniture
about the hills have made each Christmas
only more beautiful. Every home through
out the Christian world to-day IL full Of
the music and memory OF that old story
ne first and foremost story Of civilized
childhood. Unfadng. the circlet OF glory
hat points the Christian pilgrim 10 Beth
chem. shall brighten the eastern sky
forever and will live, as revealed IN
owing. reverent hearts. long after the
worlds monarchs kingdoms. and empires
shall have perished-because II is Cod
given IN its origin, and immortal
BEST THING ABOUT CHRISTMAS.
The best thing about Christmas IS that
L IS 50 old and yet. like its patron saint,
always SO new As for Santa Claus. his
popularity is perennial He IS decidedly
ths most talked OF individual in America
this week. and he knows IL. Like most
OF big bugs" he is pompous and has
rotions He can pop up from convenient
chirnneys behind the Christmas-trees in
suntay-school celebrations and the Ike
10 distribute his gifts, but the regular
old-fashloned Santa Claus prefers line
q stockings hanging across the broad
fireplace with dim light Of smouldering
Goals Just sufficient TO guide him In his
mysterious antics.
Aha, How he can tip-toe softly about.
with a sly glance once in awhile at the
row Of curly heads safe in the Land
o. Nod, This seems 20 Santa more Ike
the real thing. and then he does 4 all
by himself. II takes dozen people 10
tx a tree. and rather sp0ils the old man s
monopoly Of JOY. Some superexcellent
solks-whom ! would not trust In a dark
corner with a stocking OF Christmas
sweets-want 10 say that the idea OF
santa Claus is michevious in the danger
o. instilling falsehOod into the minds Of
ne young. These are the poor things
who never had any mothers, nor any
Christmas, and who. as a general rule.
Ike Topsy. 'Jes' growed."
ALL BE CHILDREN.
Christmas Is the one day when we can
I'll be children together; when we re-
member the St Nicholas OF our child
hood. and recollect how hard We tried 10
believe In him when the first doubt came:
srd how we clung TO the delightful mys-
terry long after we knew pretty well who
was behind that grOtesque masquerade.
haven't heard that any OF Santa
Gauss rights" are threatened but the
very best Santa ever knew was dear
Ga lady In Charlottesville. with whom
once went a-shopplng. She had more
grandchildren than like 10 count. and
vas buying Christmas presents. in a
toy-store the ohseQuious dealer praised
h.s wares as he spread them out tempt
.lgy IS a great inducemeni he kept
fspeatlng:
These are good. strong toys. Madam
Look. You can throw them down, ana
- they break III give you another"
We'll" said the old LADY, with quiet
twinkle in her eye. they don't suit
you see the children worry until they
frd out how the toys are made: and
want some that will break easily.
-.eyre bound 10 break EN-. anyhow. you
know"
Now that dear old soul was not only
O. Philosopher. but she had the truest
iica o. a child's happiness ! ever saw.
.frra~ 20 GIG 81
p ist them be happy with them in their
own. sweet. blessed way.
The ladies' OF the Union Missionary So
Getty % Alton have made two beautiful
oei-Qullts. which they intend sending
with lot OF clothing etc, 20 the Thorn
vile Orphanage. at Clinton, s. c. The
socieiy met Monday al Mrs James Crit
7ers Tor the quilting, and we're hos
pfahiv entertained.
Professor Richard Nelson. Of Cincin-
rat Is stopping at the Alton
A. " Cramer Esq. IS visiting his
daughter al Clsrksville. Va.
Nrs J. r. Hall Miss Sophie Baier
and Miss M0llie GOOdiOe are visiting
friends IN Charlottesville this week.
Rev. =. II. Robinson IS preaching In
Basic city.
Dr. ". A. Cramer aud sister. Mrs.
: T. Sherrsrd. left this morning for
Philadelphia 10 visit relatives
Rev n. X. Hawthorn Is visiting MT.
Harry Antrim. az Ladd's. Va.
Cards are out FOR the marriage OF Miss
Margaret daughter OF Colonel William
Hall. late Of Richmond. Va. 20 Major
Charles Massie NcCue. on January 2 1895.
o. r. NJ. al '"rhe Yearm" near Alton,
Va
FREDERICKsBIRG