Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1895-01-13
AN OLD MAIDS VIEW.
KATE sANBoRN ON THE JOYS AND
 SORROWS OF CHRISTMAS.

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 Es. for decades, oontu-
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 z uniform view of this an-
 sB nual festival--at least as given to us oonseientiously, and with unfagging voluminosity by tho uni versal public press-the editorials the l long, inevitable historical articles the cheerful, moralizing appeals for general charity and good deeds, tho last usually from 8 woinan's pen, are exactly like those ground out i'll '84, '74, '64, '51, A, and so on ad infinitum and ad nauseam. Tho lay sermons at the end of all maga- zines agree with these entirely i'll infor- nation youchsafed, in mellow reninis- cences, in rather patronizing greetings to their large clientelle Encyclopedias are searched, the same old bits from fa- vorite carols given Carols are kindly explained. The ssboar's headn they all bring is at last associated in general way with the brain that so bores me that l sympathize just little with that old tyrant, Caligula, who wished the Roman people had but one neck that he might cut it off at blow '
 "Gallinbursti" was the name of the old original bore, not boar. Let us push him once for all "down the back entry of time" and have little rest
 do not believe that theso facts, many of them doubtful; these quota tions; these gentle lessons, so many, many times exhumed and reprinted, are even read through by any one. Why feel obliged to follow on in the same old path? l am going to dare to give anoth- CT side of the subject, one that will find an answering echo in many an honest heart, for after one has arrived at mid dle age he or she, married or unmar- ried, finds the recurrence of Thanksgiv- ing and Christmas rather sad occasions when one must try to push away tho past, shut the eyes to the dear dead faces that come up so wildly, forget oneself in making the time pass pleas antly for those whose lives are still un- snllied by sin or sorrow or bitter dis illusions and try to give the children as good time as possible.
 Christmas should be exclusively ehildren's day. Let us give it to them, who can find glowing delight iii trans parent myths, Q few toys and bags of popcorn and bright colored sugar plums. i For us grownups it has degenerated in- to laborious farce that to some is ap- preaching the tragic. Presents must be exchanged through the entire family cir ele, relatives expect remembranees, and especially intimate friends, not forget ting a set of claimants who only send you greeting and cheap card, but care fully estimate the cash value of your enforced remembrance and treat you accordingly. The rich waste thousands ill endeayoring to excel each other ill
  superfluous gems, luxurious nothings, big dinners, costly wines, Illustrating that text so true, yet so difficult to ex- plain, to those less fortunate "To him that hath shall be given ' or, i'll every day parlanee, tThe Lord gives apples to those who have no teeth. , It is with such simply "a quid pro quo, '' and there is very little honest merriment in the system.
 In big, blessed, unbrozen, congenial families tho ideal Christmas is often realized, where the boys and girls return with families of their own, never forget ting the old people, return loaded with gifts and goodies, and bringing the lively music of happy, satisfied hearts. But to the starved out, tho repressed, who make brave pretense of being at peace and gladsome, it is hard part to play. In stories written expressly for such people the old lover returns faith ful and fond; the generous old bachelor carries away captive the youngest, pret- tiest maiden of the lot Alasl in real life the young fiirt captivates the aunt's most devoted standby and laughs at the ancient bachelor who tries to be gallant.
 One old bachelor confessed to mo last year that he was so forlorn at the glad Yuletide that he wished he could be made unconscious until it was over. He longed to skip it and escape from it's de- pressing horrors. As he must live right through it, however dismal the experi- ence, he would always take the cars for long trip, or even cross the ocean, armed with lot of exciting novels to drive away sad thoughts. He was fine looking, prosperous, popular fellow, and l know his generosity to others to have been unbounded. He made Christmas a day of feasting and junketing to many. All that docs not cure the aching old heart.
 Throw off the conventional shaokles and don't try to be so terribly, so un- naturally, joyial yourself, and soon the smiles on the dear faces, as yet free from lines of care and sorrow, will be reflected way down in each lonely heart. Then we shall not have to say, with Longfellow, How inexpressibly sad are all holidaysi'' KATE SANBoRN.