Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-24
THE GREAT FESTIVAL
rupows IT'S GENIAL INbL'hNO"
OVER ALL.
THE EVERGREEN A SiAOOD'
ra,ctn Against ceiebration-rhe nay
of the Old Dominion an"
soutb-uov It wan BE Observed ~
Alton.



ALTON. VA, December 3.-Or an inc
festivals that civilized man ever kne"
there Is none Ike Christmas. All others
have their special significance for TINS
creed or that. for this nation or another
but Christmas throws It's gentle influence
over all and is essentially the feast OF
peace and gladness.
Even among the heather Christmas
was q festival Among the ~el-s IL was
called Yule, aud hoy the Romans satui-
naHa-celebratng the turning point OF inc
year and tho revival of nature lrom tHe
Increasing power of the sun. Among lhe
Druids there was a superstition tnal inc
houses should Doe decorated with ever
greens in December ln order mat tne
sylvan spirits might enter them ana
thus be- kept free from The blast OF lne
cold north wind and the frost unlh
mlder season renewed the Foliage oil
their usual haunts.
The evergreen tree Is a symbol. hung
with LIGHTS and offerings, the tree mas
for centuries been one OF the piln1lp.-
cnaracterIstlcs of Christmasude. Ana so
vlfh the mlstletoe b0ugh and the molly.
VINO does not know the poem Desinninb
The mistletoe hung Boz tne castle mans
The holly branch shone on the Oh oaA
wall?
Years ago. over every man door IN
ENGLAND hung "a sprig ol misiletoe at ms
season. and among the ancient BritonS
the mistlet0e that grew on an oak-tree
found highest favor. Because Ot IT'S
heather origin a. is not used often I'm
church DECORATIONS. Washington Irving,
i'm "Bracebridge Hail." refers 90 this and
has the learned parsOu rebuke the un-
learned church clerk for this very thing.
Aud who would think 10 the nght Oh
this nineteenth century civilization, thal
Christmas was once denounced!
The Puritans regarded Christmas as a
heather feast, and did not observe IT
During the commonwealth they carried
their objections into force and forbade
It's celebration. In 1914 Parliament or-
dered December 9th 90 be strictly Kept
asa solemn fast. 90 b. passed in humble
repentance for the great national sin
which the peoples forefathers bad COM
mitted ban eating boar's head, plum pud-
ding. and drinking ale Favored with
roasted apples.
! What holy horror would have bese'
! their stralsht-necNed souls with roda'
! turkey and cranberry sauce, Am edic
of 1911 abolished Christmas. Easter Whit
suntlde and all other holy days. sol
| diers were sent 10 the houses of an sls
| pected persons 90 search The ovens AND
| larders and carry away Tor their OWL
consumption an seas0nable dantes foun'
therein" which was o. Very good thn'
for the soldiers and also infera mat
wide latitude was given them for tnri
! salvation.
The restoration Of Charles, the 81 ,il
! Monarch" Was also the crownas u
King Christmas. a fine time thos kouh"'
head soldiers would have had in ih'
kitchens and pantries of the o.d \isi'h'
| cavaliers.
For these We're of The Church OF Eng
land with AN the Mother country. ad
terrence OF old customs and love OF nis'
living.
The Puritans hatred OF Christmas mad
the recognition of So very $40" ID
the New England states. The fesiiNa
belonged 10 the "Old Dominion and lh
South. with lts le-ient c9nruy masters
and happy Wel-fe3 slaves.
But the significance OF Chfistmas az
religious festival. though stlil playing al
important part. has long since been over
Swallowed by is social character IN
lights OF the Chrstmas-tTee burn NOR