The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-23
SUNDAY, DEC. %, 1860.
LEE sANTA cLAUs,ALoxE.

LET SANTA CLAUS ALONE.
The scene which has been presented
to view on the streets of St Paul, and,
indeed, of those of every city and town
in the entire country, during the past
week, is a familiar one. At this season
every man and woman who has any Sc
cial obligation, however light, feels that
the occasion demands some material ex-
preston Of it. Day by day the shops of
every city have been crowded with the
masses in their shopping rounds No
matter how small the income, or how
heavy the burdens we have, each of us.
either personally or through those
around Us, have taken part in the uni
vcrsal disposition to buy something
which we believe will be acceptable to
our friends and will convey to them,
however imperfectly, the sense of affec-
ton or of interest which animate us
toward them.
There are those who believe that the
prevailing tendency to buy presents is
an undesirable and to some extent a dis
touch with their kind. Granted that this
man or woman that buys because he
or she does not want u be outdone or
because there may be some existing
sense Of PERSONAL obligation, or some
hope OF return, the prevailing disposition
is by that circumstance not in the slight
est measure affected People spend their
money for presents because they like
those for whom they buy them. During
the entire year they have been obliged
to let their friends pass with just such
transient expressions Of regard as the
eXigencies Of life permit of. And all too
often these expressions are utterly in
adequate TO express the genuine human
sympathy and affection which might
find expression were the opportunities
more favorable
TIE materialism of life, we are told, is
reproduced in The universal disposition to
buy something. Supposing so, what of
it? Our modes and opportunities of ex-
pressing sentiment in daily conduct are
at tie best irlperfect The highest SER
timent of friendship which can animate
the human breast is involved in the poor
tawdty little present which the poor
man, woman or child offers to friend or
nslghbor or playmate. There are still
these who value what they receive as
the Offering of friendship, apart from its
commercial cost. The season of Christ
mas is the one season which enables us
to show our friends, whether absent or
present, how kindly or affectionate a
place they occupy in our hearts.
tt is in the childrens behalf that the
present custom has grown to its vast
proportions. Santa Claus is a great char
acter among the American people How
many a young heart has been sending
zap its prayer for months past to child
hoods patron that he might bring WITH
him to these that are beloved so many of
thu things which viii carry qualification
with item? How many a glad young
heart Will become latbed from the we'll
springs of human love when on Christ
mas morning +he presence of Santa Claus
mas been made manifest in the little de-
lights which have been longed for, per-
haps fer months before?
No; the present season. in its charac-
tcristic as a .present-buying period, re-
fleets the light of love and sympathy
which shines on the lives of most of us
sc sparingly throughout the entire sue
ceeding year The strict concepts of the
Christmas season may be lost sight Of
largely in the respect that many of us
bestow but little of thought on the re.
liSious nature Of the beautiful festival;
but even, as it is recognized it is a
beautiful occasion. and every wholesome
mind should seek to promote the fullest
expression during its continuance of the
desire among the people to show to those
they love. however iluperfect,y, that they
are not forgotten, but that their lives
and their happiness are something for
which a sacrifice, however slight, is will
ling!y made.