Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-12-25


farbinger Of hopes, loved and longed
for by heterogeneous humanity, Million
hearted, legend-lored, with years. an
cient and hoary, yet ever young and
Observation-Disclosures has come again to
cheer the countless hosts Of it's dotr1in-
ions, and to thaw the frozen heart of
winter.
1t may not be told how the coming Of
Santa Claus has been expected, nor the
reception that awaited him; the plan
ming, the dreaming and the hoping.
1t may not be told how the eager
bright eyes watched for the wonderful
sleigh and the sharp little ears listen
ed for the tinkling Of the silver bells;
how. weary with waiting, the watchers
fell asleep, and later, the long expected
visitor surprised them smiling in their
dreams; for as they slept across the
hills and plains, by periious and shud-
derng precipices. and over icy rivers,
With reindeer plunging through the
night to the merry music of myriad
bells, as they dragged a marvellous
sleigh, in which We're piled the pick
of the good things Of earth, Kris Kringle
was coming to reward the good little
boys and girls who had minded their
mammas through the long year, and
had not played hockey at school.
1t sounds trite and threadbare, but it
is fact that Christmas comes but once
q year: and it is, after all. the only
day. There are Easter and New Year,
and the Fourth of July, and Thanks
giving Day, and Decoration Days. but
when Christmas come they pale into in
significance beside it 1t is the day
that stands for the most beautiful of all
stories, the merriest of all memories,
the dearest Of all illusions; the fondest
OF all dreams, and the brightest Of all
hopes. Without it, the calendar would
be a dreary and desolate chronicle, and
time would lose the fairest jewel in her
diadem of days. Without it, youth
would not be young.
THE SMALL BOY RULES.
In Newport News, as everywhere
else in the world, upon which the Star
Of Bethlehem shines, the day will be
observed by all classes. ages and con-
ditions Of people. Falling as it does on
the Sabbath, of course, the observance
will be quiet, and nearly every one will
attend one or both services at the va
rious churches. The real celebra ton of
the day, from a'worldly standpoint, will
not come OF until Monday, which is a
legal holiday. Upon this date, the small
boy and the big boy may celebrate in
the manner that suits him best. Some
one said the other day that the Mayor
was contemplating so rash step as not
permitting the usual fireworks on the
streets. This is, of course, what the
ordinances require, and it might be all
very we'll if His Honor could do it: but
it is very much to be doubted if any one
is going to check the wild desire of the
small boy to make his usual Christmas
racket. 1t is in him and it has got to
come out. He will have to get it out
or he will-eXplode. That ordinance
was never framed which could repress
him upon this occasion. This is as it
should be- any way, for this is strictly
the small boys day. The older ones
rule the earth 1854 days in the year. He
rules it one
THE CULINARY FEATURE.
OF course, next to the religious ser
vices, the culinary feature of the day is
considered important. In every home,
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