The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-12-18
CHRISTMAS GREETINGS

Table Talk; Again with carols hymns
grand anthems, Joyous greetings,
and exchange of gifts, the
great festival In colnmemora-
tion of the birth of our Lord and Saviour
Is kept Throughout Chrstendom. The
very atmosphere Is sweet with the mes
sage, GLORY to God in the highest;
peace on earth good will TO men" Not
until almost century and half'after
the Christian era was this sacred day
observed, and for many years thereafter
continued movable feast OF the church,
In the fourth century st, Cyril OF Jeru-
salem insisted so urgently that a day
should be fixed for its celebration, that
Pope Julian J. ordered careful inVestiga-
tion to be made in reference to the act
ual date of the birth of the Babe Of
Bethlehem" Scant but seemingly au-
thentio evidence pointed to December %,
which was finally accepted by both the
eastern and western churches, and tho
world In general, to be kent heneeforth
as The natal day OF the Saviour.
II Is curious to note how many GUS
toms connected with the celebration OF
the Christian Christmas are of ancient
and pagan origin, Since the beginning,
the human race have evinced strong
tendencies to be worshippers OF the sun
as the source Of light and heat Among
all ancient nations great festivals were
held Just after the winter solsticc, when
the lengthcnlng days heralded the ap-
proach of spring. The yule log which
burns and glows upon the hearths of
English homes at Chrlstmas-tlme Is
supposed TO come from the old Morse
and Druidic bonlires kindled on these
occasions to signify thanksgiving and
rejoicing.
From Roman customs during the Sat
urnalla probably descend the glfl-mak-
Ing and evergreen decorations of
churches and homes in celebration OF
the modern Christmas. As the story
goes, even the mince pie OF the present
holiday menu was, few hundred years
ago, emblematlc. Baked In oval form
the crust represented the manger whore
Christ was born, and the fragrant spices
and fruits of Its filling the costly gifts
brought by the MaEi to the infant Jesus,
All Christmas observances We're con-
demned under Puritan rule, and found
little favor in the bones of early colon
lists In New England. Gradually how
ever, the festival has taken root, until
now II Is kept both rellglously and so-
cially with the same fervent JOY there as
elsewhere.
Having considered the usages Of the
great and sacred holiday what should
he us spirit? Not one Of debt and
credit; but as has been sweetly written,
to keep the Yulc-tlde as loves calendar
Of opportunity" II is not the moncycd
value of a gift, but the fitness Of II, the
delicate thought and interest Cvinced In
Its selection or fashloning, that renders
II precious. The folly and ostcntatiOn
OF giving beyond ones means is 100 APP
parent to make comment necessary,
Far more welcome and priced the little
book, bit of embroidery, or offering OF
sweet flowers than the gift which i'm
presses from It's cost Il weight of oblga-
tion and regret In remembering fami-
ly, friends or the Lords poor, let love
and tender thought go with Christmas
tokens. that they may he blessed and
approved In the sight of Him whose
natal day Is thus commemorated. How
true the words:
"The gift without the givcr is bare;
Who gives himself with his gift, gives
to three
Himself, his hungry nelghbor, and Ne"
with the hope that this may the spirit
of the Yule-tide in every heart and
home.
"A Merry Christmas is the wish send
thee from my heart
A life all full Of love, in which no sorrow
finds part.
Or II some pain fall to thy lot, love-
guarded though 1t be,
May He who came at this glad time then
make II blessed to thee"