El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1898-12-24

but to prove il commanded the dead
bodies of the murdered youths to come
to life again. Immediately he had
made the sign Of the cross on the
brine, the manRled fragments Of their
bodies reunited, and the lads emerged
from their tub alive and none the
worse for their temporary decease and
picking. In remembrance of this deed
ST. Nicholas ia usually depicted as
standing, srrayed in his episcopal
robes. besides q tub in which kneel
two naked youths.
Another story proves the love and
protecting power of st. Nicholas for
young maidens, and it Is from this that
the custom of Santa Claus arose. The
saint heard that q poor gentlema an.
with three portionless daughters, was
about to commit q crime in order to
provide bis daughters with dowries.
Seized with pity for the three unhsrfJ
maidens, Nicholas visited their mouse
by night and threw aswell-flled purse
into the fathers room through the
open window, thus enabling him to
portion his eldest daughter. On the
next night he threw q second purse for
the second daughter, and on the third
night repeated the action. But watch
ing to discover the donor of the two
purses, the father saw ST. Nicholas
throw the third, and burst forth into
loud praises of the bishops generosi-
ty. Finding that his secret had been
discovered, Nicholas commanded the
| man on no account to tell any one from
whom the purses had come.
These and other instances of NichOl-
ass care and affection for children
parents used to relate to their boys
and girls in order to induce them to
rely upon him for guidance and protec-
ton. On the eve of St. Nicholas day
December 6-parents used to Sec
reilly give presents to their children,
rs Nicholas had given the purses The
parents denied that they gave the
presents, and said they had been left
by the saint, who on this night travel
ed up and down the earth, and, enter
windows, used to give presents to all
good children.
In convent schools the love and care
that st. Nicholas bore to all maidens
was proved in the same manner. On
Nicholas eve the pupils were ordered
to hang up their stockings outside the
doors Of their rooms. and In the hose to
place q written request for the saints
patronage and projection. The nuns
took up themselves the duty of acting
as his deputies, and filed the expect
ant stockings with sweetmeats and
other trifles, and in this manner taught
the reality of the saints care.
In this is clearly seen the origin of
the fable, and of the custom of Santa
Christmas eve. How the custom was
transferred from ST. Nicholas day
December 6-to Christmas day is not
known, but that the custom ia one and
the same there is no doubt whatever.
Probably it arose about the time of the
reformation, when the worship of
saints was forbidden; but this ia not q
wholly satisfactory reason, as in Roman
Catholic France the custom ia observed
on New Years eve. Perhaps the true
reason is that of economy. Giving
presents on St. Nicholas day, and
again only three weeks after at Christ
mas, would be heavy expense to par !
ents, and so the custom was observed
on Christmas eve, and the presents |
took the double form of ST. Nicholas |
gifts and Christmas boxes.
The reformation put AN end to ST. |
Nicholas in England, and Santa Claus
was only introduced there within the |
present century from America, whittier |
Dutch emigrsnts had carried it. Like
most Christmas customs. the mysterious
gifts of Santa Claus have no connection |
with the festival of Christ's birth.
The appearance of Santa Claus, with
his stout figure warmly clad in furs
and woolens, his CHEEKY old face with
white beard and hair, his large bag Of
presents slung over bis back, is fan1-
liar to every one. In America he is
depicted as travelling in q sledge
drawn by reindeer from his home in
the snowy north. In England children
hang their stockings &C the foot of
their beds: in America the whole fam
lily suspend their stockings from the
of the sitting room, to
save Santa Claus the trouble of ascend
cendinR the stairs and entering each
room to distribute his gifts.
In Holland on Christmas eve the
children, while INDUCING in various
games, keep casting anxious Rlances
at the door, as If expecting a visitor.
At length their play is hushed by q
cholas, clad in his episcopal robes, en-
ters. He evinces wonderful know
ledge of the fallings and virtues of
each CHILD, scolding and praising each
according to the merits of their IA
mily behavior. Finally, however. he
bestows his blessing on them all, and,
promising to give a present on the
retiring to rest that night each men,
Der of the family places one of his or
her shoes on the table in the parlor.
The door is then looked; but, neverthe-
less, the next morning proves the
ruth of Santa Claus promise, for in
zach shoe is found q present for it's own
er.
In Germany, also, Santa Claus ap-
bears In the bishops costume of his
prototype, St. Nicholas. Invading the
amtly circle, he shows how earnestly
lie has watched over it during the year
~ praising the good children and
the naughty. He then dis
presents from his bag, for in
he Fatherland stockings are not hung
Up, as the children personally receive
heir gifts from the good saint.