The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1897-12-21
GOOD ST. NICHOLAS.
(By Mary Diefendorf.

(By Mary Diefendorf)
AS the merry Christmas tide APP
proaches there is often present in our
thoughts the vision of the guardian
spirit of the season. At the time when
the name Of ST. Nicholas, or the more
familiar nickname, Santa Claus, is so
often upon our lips, it is surely fitting
that we should spend a few minutes in
the study of that well-beloved saint,
and of the traditions in which he holds
SO prominent place.
The birthplace of the subject of our
sketch was the city of Patava, in Asia
Minor. There he was made abbot, and
won renown by his religious devotion
He afterward became Archbishop of
Myra. At the latter place, in course
of time he died, and was duly buried
In May, 1887 his remains were carried
by some pious Italians to Bari, on the
Adriatic coast. There they now rest
in the splendid church that bears his
name.
Every year a pilgrimage is made to
his shrine by the people for miles
around No one seeking food on that
occasion is refused it by the priests,
while shelter is given to as many as
the edifice will hold.
On st. Nicholas Day, Dec. 6, there
is a great celebration. Early in the
morning the sailors, who, as well as
maidens and children, claim to be
under the peculiar protection of the
saint, take his image from the priests
and parade with it through the town.
Then they sail away with it, returning
and bringing it back at nightfall amid
the general illumination of the city
Now, this same pious bishop, who
beams so family upon our vision
through the vistas of the past, yelled
in dim, religious light" is to us of
the present day, perhaps, the most be-
loved saint on the calendar. More
over, to all Americans he should be
peculiarly dear, and invested with
great historic interest as the guardian
genius of our metropolis.
In that wonderful book, "Knicker-
bocker's History of New York." that
work so quaint in humor and rich in
the perpetuation of old traditions, we
find many edifying references to our
hero. The Dutch ship, the Goede
Vrouw, so runs the story, came over
from Holland three or four years after
the return of Hudson, bringing settlers
for the new world, who located at
Communipaw. At the bow of the good
ly vessel stood an image of st. Nicho-
las, smoking a long-stemmed pipe and
wearing a broad brimmed hat. To his
guiding care all attributed their pros
porous voyage. In due time prophet
among them dreamed a dream, which
was that st. Nicholas appeared and di-
rected him to seek another abiding
place. Thereupon Heer Van Kortland
the dreamer, and selected band of
men went in search of another habita-
ton, and were stranded on Manhat-
tan island. There, after RECALLING them
selves on oysters, they rested a little
time Meanwhile the dreamer dreamed
again. Again st. Nicholas appeared,
and sitting down at the foot of tree,
smoked his pipe. And as the smoke
rose, it spread over a vast extent Of
territory, and resolved itself into
many peculiar shapes, as of spires and
steeples, after which it finally cleared
away. "And when ST. Nicholas had
smoked his pipe, he twisted it in his
hatband, and laying his finger beside
his nose, gave the astonished Van
Kortland very significant look; then
mounting his wagon he returned over
the tree-tops and disappeared.
"And Van Kortland awoke from his
sleep greatly instructed; and he reused
his companions and related to them
his dream and interpreted it that it
was the will of St. Nicholas that they
should settle down and build city
here" That spot was Bowling Green.
Now, when these voyagers had re-
turned to their homes and related this
incident, all 'sthe people lifted up their
voices and blessed the good st. Nicho-
las"
After these Thrifty folk had become
settled in their new abode, they con-
strueted a fort, and within the fort
they built the first church erected in
the future city of New York. 1t was
made of stone, and named after st.
Nicholas, who, as Irving tells us, i'm