The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-18
GIVE Us BACK OUR SANTA CLAUS
Let the IcOnoclast Spare the Myth
of Christmas Tide.
Harper's Weekly

Harpers Weekly.
We wish the reaction of feeling which
has set in over the restoration of peace
might result In the bringing back to us
matte, but spiritual With the departure
of the Christmas snowdrfft and the sub
stitution therefor of the green Christmas
minus its fat attachment, there has come
also sophistication among the young
which takes away from the celebration
of the festival much of its old-time
charm. An Inevitable result of the
changes In climate to which we have
been subjected has. of course, been the
elimination of the reindeer and the sleigh
as a part of the appanage OF Santa Claus
but there is no good reason why, for the
same cause. Santa Claus himself should
be dispensed with. That dear old gentle
man, we knew him of old had too
much adaptability properly to be rele-
gated TO the order of archaic things on
mere question Of meteorological condi-
lions. He was not a fair-weather friend ,
he was not a snow-goblin; his promise
was not that he would come to us
weather permitting; rain or shine, snow
or thaw, we knew that he would be on
hand at the proper time with his full
quota of gifts and 1t is not an achieve
ment to the century in which we can
take any pride whatsoever that In many
quarters we appear to have dispensed
with his services altogether.
II would. of course shock many sensi-
bilities IL the modern artist were to de-
pict his arrival upon the roofs of men In
an airship of the Zeppelin order; we
fancy that a picture of his rolly-poly
highness approaching the homes he was
about to bless in an automobile or a
hansom-cab would CRATE upon many
sensitive soul-but 1t IS far better that
we should accept even this than that we
should suffer that fine old symbol of the
spirit of kindness and generosity and
human sympathy to be taken from the
pedestal OF love upon which II has stood
for so many years and hidden in some
cold storage house OF q material age,
there TO he forever forgottei,
We know that there are many high-
minded and wel-meaning souls who adj
voeate the abolition of the dear old saint
from the calendar of life hut we think
they miss the real point when they do
this. That Santa claus ~ a myth. and
should therefore not he treated rs a
reality. is their Argument and they
would have as teach our children that
he Is a lie. forgetting that II & through
ideals. after ALL that We convey the
noblest. most uplifting. and most per-
manently eieYating lessons TO the minds
Of the little ones No man, snr instance
ia the great and powerful individual his
worsbipping son thinks him, and yet II
Is good that the little chaps conception
OF that paternal myth should be left I'M
disturbed. and be who would drag down
that ideal 20 tire Level az the actual facts
would he doing wrong to tie child.
and at the same time would take away
from the father one Of The great 10.
centivts 60 correct and upright living
and The iinal fulallment OF all his pow
ers. No normal hoy WAS ever harmed by
thinking his poor miserable father the
finest ming that ever was or ever could
he equally true * IL that no properly
constituted little one ever gained aunhs
that was detrimental hy q contemplation
OF the virtues and a faith Ia the reality
OF the ideal figure that symboilzes the
spirit Of the y0irtide.
Give as back our santa Claus before II
Is too Hate. and spare the children al
least that higher criticism" which da-
stroys ideals and lays bare ali the ma
teFial facts of lille without giving as any
thing in return 90 relieve or soften their
ugliueFs