The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-11-30
is SANTA CLAUS TO CO.?
Protest Against the Adjustment of
Christmas Festivities.

Christmas Festivities.
Atlanta Constitution.
Is that genial old divinity. worshiped
under the name OF Santa Claus
destined to go the way of all the earth,
Just at present there seems tC be
something Of a crusade taking shape in
New York city against the time-hon.
ored custom Of observing Christmas
now in vogue but whether this crus.
ade springs from feeling of hostility
toward that NEUROLOGICAL old hero who
has been the author Of so much genuine
happiness in this world, or whether il
owes it's existence merely to the love OF
notoriety which is characteristic OF the
big metropolis, does not appear from
the meager Information which has
come to hand. More than likely the
dull season OF quietude which has fol.
lowed upon the recent fight for mayor
explains the present agitation. New
York is mover at a loss for something
to amuse her.
AS preteXt for routing old Santa
Claus from the world it is claimed that
the observance of Christmas according
to the immemoriul custom which has
come down to us from the iresides of our
German ancestors, is not in keeping
with the religious spirit OF the day, and
should, therefore, be abandoned. AS
the season comm mcmoratos the advent
OF the worlds Messiah, it is claimed
that religious feelings solely should
dominate the Christmastide. Is this
objection teDabie ? When the angels
announced the birth of Christ to the
shepherds who were tending their
locks on the hills Of Bethlehem, did
they not exclaim that the message
which they brought was one OF glad
tidings? Such being the case, it seems
to be wholly inconsistent with the char.
acter of this angelic message that
mirth and JOY should be excluded from
the Christmas season. But the argu-
ment does not rest solely npon this fact
On the day of the nativity, according to
the gospel narrative, wise men from the
east brought presents of gold and fran
kincense and myrrh and laid them al
the feet Of the infant Savior. This con
stitutes the warrant for the custom OF
| giving presents to the young at Christ
mas time and, in connection with the
present crusade which is being made
| against 1t, special emphasis should be
laid upon the fact that the custom was
instituted by wise men. Moreover
life and de- sublimely exempliGec
|
lection C; offered to the custom
Of bestowlns gifts upon the youne
in commemoration Of the Saviour.
birth
or course, Santa Claus himself 10
myth but IL no greater fraud than thi
Is ever perpetrated upon the world
there will be little to disturb its faith
and nothing whatever TO mar it's hap
piEess. OF all the Seasons of the calen
dar, the one most precious to the hear
and memory OF childhood is the one as
sociated with the yearly visits of oil,
Santa Claus. This world Is pros
enough already In the hcartaches an
tribulations which beseam it and VIII
rob 1T OF the few well springs whicl
gladden. its waste places? What tn
heart of man yearns for Ia more OF tn
genial warmth and cheer which come
with the Christmas season, melting tn
icicles which have found their wa
into his life and making him youn
: again. The present method OF obser,
ing Christmas is deeply rooted In tn
worlds affection /; around 1t cluste
memories OF the purest leaf and FRI
grance and though coupled with inn,
cent deceit in tue harmless superst
tion OF old Santa Claus, it Is destine
to triumph over all the crusades whic
: can possibly be waged against IT.. TIL
, New York movement savors more
! puritanism than of wholesome piet
and is not apt to survive the Chris
, mas season which Is now apprOachin