Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-26
HOLIDAY THOUGHTS.
LIVING IN A WORLD OF MAKE.
BELIEVE.
The Question Of AboIishing Santa
CInus and Fairy Stories Discussed
A Few Words to sorosis-Afton
Personals.
Correspondents of the plspatch.)

living this week IN world or mahe-pe-
lieve. The spirit OF gladness caught from
all the Christmas times of other years
is concentrated and rolled into this one,
which is. of course, the very best Christ
mas that ever was, because every good
thing grows by repetition. Really there
is something in the air Of Christmas that
changes the whole aspect OF life for
brief time / wonder IL 1t is because
the Christmas spirit is solely an I'M
selfish spirit, and that 1t is the thought-
fulness for others which makes us hap
pier. Perhaps, for We keep Christmas
in spirit and in truth only when we for
get the dominant ~" and should be APP
proximating TO the millennium If the emo
tons of the holiday season could be
made the convictions of the year.
/ know we are prone--we grown up
people-to make half apologies for our
reckless mirth these merry days, and TO
smile, little cynically, at the ''make-be-
lieve' of the children about Santa Claus
and the rest of 1t, but If ever the tender
tots are to be envied, IL is now when they
live in q fairyland of their own, hedged
in by love.
/ once heard little discussion on this
and jotted down some nice things said
about Christmas by a trio of great ladies
who have become quite noted for their
active cooperation with the patron saint
Of Christmas.
Said one-and her husband sat in the
councils of the NATIONALITY. we could
not work at all without Santa Claus. In
all our Christmas charities We are ques-
toned about him on every side. / believe
In Christmas" she smiled, land with our
family it has always been kept I'm the
good, old-fashioned way, Santa Claus
and ALL"
do you believe" she was asked, that
the idea of Santa Claus is mischievous in
the danger Of instlling falsehood into
the minds of the young?"
NO, indeed. Did you ever hear OF a
child who was made worse by believing
in the harmless myth of old Santa? No;
and you never willr'
HER CHRISTMAS.
Said another dear woman who has come
to be regarded as a Mrs. Santa Claus by
certain proteges of hers, who have little
else that is green in their desolate lives:
Il have no Christmas of my own, for
we have never had any children. l could
only tell you of the poor motherless ones
to whom L have tried to be a mother for
one day, But we were in Germany one
year, and l saw q custom there which
might be initiated with advantage. Two
or three weeks before Christmas the lit
tie ones had a call from no less a per-
sonage than Santa Claus himself, who
came to inquire all about their behavior
1NNsafV h hot - 10.
masquerading in Mr.. Claus's well-known
costume. 1t was the most astonishing
thing TO these little ones to find how
much he seemed to know about them.
He asked their mother If they had been
obedient to her. and asked them II they
had learned their catechism and prayers.
They told him very earnestly that they
had, and / remember one little faxen-
haired Gretchen fell on her knees and
claspipg her tiny hands, repeated her
baby prayer on the spot-a proof posi-
tive as to the matter. The old gentleman
expressed himself satisfied, and took his
departure. I always believed in Christ
mas she concluded. but since that de-
lightful winter abroad I see more in it
than we less thoughtful Americans dream
of. see a time each year when all may
renew their youth, and make the message
.>of peace and good will toward man a
living, loving reality
Must Santa Claus go?
what an ideaw
I knew by the tone in which Ella
Wheeler Wilcox said 1t that Santa Claus
had one defender. II believe" she says,
"ln keeping up the illusion as long as we
can. think we cheat children often I'M
necessarily. I would let them enjoy
Santa Claus. I pity children who have
never had genuine faith In the elf. l
know from experience what they have
missed"
Jennie June has written much of
Christmas and Christmas customs. "She
is quite sure" she writes. 'in the first
place, that i'm great heart-winning myth
there could be nothing but good, and that
Santa Claus was no deception"
SOROSIS THREATENS.
And yet-and yet-do you know what
Sorosis, the mighty, threatens?
Well, I'll tell you: Sorosis, you see, has
grown old and waxed strong in the land
which gave il birth. 1t is full OF hard
facts and practical sense, and II would
that all the world OF "make-believe" were
even as wise.
Sorosis threatens the. demolition OF
Santa Claus. The dashing team, ana
tinklIng. tinsel reins and silver horns
sounding merriiy with the hum and bus
tie and heart-melodies Of Christmas are
to be no more Sorosis, at one or It's
meetings, calculated" that the evil
which this delusion has wrought during
the past ages of the world is well-nigh
incalculable! Under its baneful influence
millions of children in all civilized coun-