The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-23
GOOD SAINT NICHOLAS
WHO GAVE Us
SANTA CLAUS.
VINO GAVE Us

{Hfn Ny IN WHICH CDiunOOu tHp1Siay
IN believes. none is more pleas
m N ant than that of Santa Claus.
The origin of the custom 10
as little known by the grown
up folks who have played the part OF
Santa CLAUS many a time as the mystery
how he, 50 fat and big, with bis bulky
bag OF presents. could enter through the
narrow chimney, was comprehensive to
our childish minds.
Speaking historically, Santa Claus has
no connection with Christmas. though his
waits are almost as old as that festival
ttxetf santa Claus Is the corruption OF
~ Nicholas, a bishop Of Myra, In Lycia,
who fourished In the fourth century,
ana died on December 8. s43 A. p. He
-. v,ae,v famed for his piety and char
,ty, and on HIS death became .ne ph'lo.
saint Of many classes-of cniioren' anu
more partScularly OF scnooi ooss anu
girls. parish clerks, sailors traveiels'
merchants and OF Muscovites IN genera.
~ All these classes, st. Nicholas - pes'
trown As the guardian OF chiidren. Ac,
cording to enc legend, ms p'esy wno s.tsr.s
S.osst ne tasted on Wednesdays ana
rssSavs.-wns regarded as specially mt
u,v him for the protcctorsnip OK cnh-
Srrv The fame OF his piety spread Tut
sra vide. and an Eastern iord, on SEMI
irs his two sons to be educated Al A.hehs'
made them call at Myra 70 recelve
Messing from 81. Nicnoias. Al.sins
- ~ Inn. intending~to visit the bishop
tha follpwing morning. But. attracted
W thn wealth or his guests, the landlord
.,,,yacred them during the night and cut
ssrv ttrir bodies Into small pieces threw
thern into his pork-pickling tub, intendn9
- disposc Of the whole OF It's contents
a pork. ny this means ne thought %
WI two birds with one stone, not oniy
ssttsnr I'd of his victims bodies. but
slso increasing his stock OF bacon.
NJ, ina cruel deed was revealed to st.
,r,cho,as and the next morning ne visited
the inn and accused the landlord OF the
,r,,rxser perceiving that his deed nan
heen INTERNATIONALLY made known 70 the
bishop the landlord fell on MS knees,
confessed to the murder. and besougnt the
anint'a intercession on his behalf. moved
by tbs sincere repentance OF me man
Nicholas not only assured him OF dvine
Forgiveness, but to prove II commanded
ma dead bodies Of the murdered youths
~ come to life again. Immediately ne
NAd made the sign OF the cross on the
brine the mangled fragments OF their
bodies reunited and the lads emerged
from their tub alive and none the worse
Tor their temporary decease and picking.
N remembrance Of this deed st. Nicholas
+ usually depleted as standing, arrayed
a MIA episcopal robes, beside tub IN
which kneel two naked youths.
Another story proves the love and pro-
tsctfnr uowcr Of st. Nicholas for young
maldens, md 1t Is from this that the
custom Of Santa Claus arose. The saint
heard a poor gentleman with three por-
tionless daughters was about TO commit
With dowries Seized with pity Tor the
three unhappy maideus Nicholas visited
their house by night and threw we'll
Allied nurse into the fathers room through
the open window. thus. enabling him TO
portion his eldest daughter. On the next
night he threw second purse Tor the
second daughter and on the third night
renrated the action. But, watching to
discover tho donor Of the two purses the
father saw St Nicholas throw the third.
and burst forth into loud praises or the
hlshopss generosity. Finding that Ma
secret had been discovered Nicholas com
manaed the man on no account to tell any
one from whom the purses had come.
These and other instances OF Nicholas
ea,a ana affaotian for children. parents
,,sss 10 relate TO their boys and girls In
order 10 induce them 60 rciy upon him
for guidance and protection ON tho eve
~ 81. Nicholas day, December 8, parents
used to secretly give presents 70 their
children a. st. Nicholas had given the
purses The parents denied that they
gave fhe presents and said they had
n.er Taft by the saint. who on this night
travetea up and down the earth and en-
trrsng unseen and unheard through the
wtnaowa used 80 give presents 10 all
good children.
In convent schools the love and care
that st Nicholas bore 20 all maidens was
rraved In the same manner, On Nicholas
ave the pupis We're ordered 10 hang up
their stockings outside the doors Of their
rooms. ana ~ The hose Go place written
request for the saints patronage and
protectlon THE nuns took upon them
selves the duty Of acting as his deputies
md nlleA the expeetAnt stockings with
sweeimeats and other tribes. ans In THIS
manner taught the reality OF the saints
care,
In this "A clearly seen the origin Of
she fable and ef the custom OF Santa
tsatis hltinG children's stockings on
Christmas eve. How the custom was
Transferred from ST. Nicholas day ule-
eemher 81 90 Christmas day ~ not known.
bat that che custom Il one ana the same
there IL no Doubt whatever, Probably II
arose about the time OF the reformation,
when the Worship az saints waa forbid
den. hut this 81 not a wholly satisfactory
reason, as ~ Roman Catholic France the
cn@toIn Is observed Oh New Years eve,
Perhaps the true reason Is that II econ
oray Giving prasents en- St Nicholas
day ard again only three weeks after AZ
Christmas would tie a heavy expense a.
parents. and 80 the custom was observed
on Christmas exc, and the presents took
the double form or st. Nicholas gifss and
Christmas boxes.
The reformation Put an end 70 St
Nicholas Ia England. and Santa Claus
was only introduced there within the
present century from America. whittier
Dutch enilsvantS had carried It. Like
most Christmas customs the mysteriaus
Sits % Santa Csaes have no connection
WITH tae festival 81 ChFlsts birth.
The appearance 81 Santa Claus. VIII
his stout figure warmly clad IN furs and
woelens, his cheegy old face with White
heard and hair, his large has Of presents
Ei9ug over his back. Is familiar 10 every
enc. IN America he IS depictea as trav.
cling tn siedge drawn by reindeer from