Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-19
WHOLE WORLD KIN.
ALL JOIN HANDS IN "s
EVERYONE A GOOD TIME.
no ouR NEED GO HUNGRY.
-. clan. stiu n Living Reality
=. the Children, In Spite OF the
rrort. Of ssne TO shsttes His
Personality.
ru,r,,ten fnr the pispateh.)

nails ringing. music playing, dancing.
.,ns1ny feasting, are the outward ana
,ss,n,s signs of an inward happiness tnat
,,~,ons, NV right TO Christmas. That part
az the religion OK the day every one uh-
derstands. II may be possible 10 ma
a. ,,e dark ignorance of the bis cities OF
.o-oarea Christian countries some who
amt know that the rejoicing Is supposed
70 be in celebration Of the Saviours ma
,,x1,v hut mono could be SO Indifferent
a. IN. circumstances surrounding the pres
ant day manner Of celebrating the birth-
aay OF Christ as not TO know that TOT
time at least, care should be panisheo'
ror one day the whole world may be
Kin. II any man, woman. OF chno goes
hungry on the 18th OF December, II Is the
fault OF the hungry one. for ample pro-
vision is made everywhere for the realiza-
ton OF the Scriptural promise 10 MI tho
hungry with good things.
Retween religion and worldliness there
has always been this dividing line at ths
cbristrnas season: Religion says let your
GOV be- manifested In song OF pralss 10
Inc providence that made IL possible Aor
y
while the world (and with It, ACCORDING
90 the sternly pious. goes the hesh ana
tha deyiD. says. let rejoicing take
pachanalian FORM let those VINO IKE IL
nray and sing psalms, give us coio oo',
lie and a large, fat, tender, not pnu' anu
wa will show you how 10 make merry
nm one point, however both religious
snd worldly-minded join hands ana are
thoroughly agreed-namely' that Whatever
shane the Christmas festivities take,
no one must be left shiyering IN the colo
who IS DESTROYS of coming in and sharing
the gayety. In pursuance OF this uni
.arssI snIrit of charity there will be the
usual open doors and well-filled boards
At the open sesame Of the spirit OF Christ
mas time back will turn the
holts and bars OF the oonvict's cell; out
OF the window will fly the gaunt ghost
of poverty and hunger. to Temporarily
Yoost on the roof until, with the passing
of the festive season, he is permitted TO
return again; away from hospital ward'
poor-house hail. and tramp's looglng-
house will be driven the brooding shaoow
OF care. and laughter viii everywhere
take the place of weeping. The meanest
home Will find some way OF showing APP
probation of the fact that Christs birth
gives every one a right TO rejoice.
To none does Christmas bring more
solid happiness than 10 the children. Does
not the generous hand OF Santa Claus
scatter layishly the most gorgeous pres
ents, bringing to children of rich and
poor alike an abundance Of toys? True,
he goes by different names. In England
Santa Claus is old Father Christmas,
benevolent old gentleman with white
beard and Christmas tree for walk
ing-stick; In Germany he is kindly Christ
Kind but call him by what name you
will. he is as welcome as any feature of
the Christmas festivity. Some Jealous
people OF the Church are DESTROYS OF
SCATTERING the Santa Claus dream of chill
dren and explaining that the old chap
is a pleasant little fiction emanating from
the loving desire of parents TO make
the little ones happy. but so far
these efforts have not proven very sue
cessful. Santa Claus IS a recollection Of
childhood that in after life one clings
10 as to memories of green fields and
parting brooks, and no one is quite willing
TO let the arguments against the
little fiction prevail Least of all, are
the children willing, so that Santa Claus
will fly around with as much vigor as
ever during the Christmas season OF 1897
Look for him. He forgets no one.