The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-15

As early as the fifth century. the s5th day of December had been generally agreed upon, In Christian communities, as g day for commemorating the birth of Christ
 our time of the dificulty in accepting this as the date of the Nativity, for that December is of the rainy season in JgSss ts0S whsR echs faGe would have been at night in the fields near Bethlehfm. This. however. Is immate' rial, since now on the same day all ufe's laborious tread-min, puts away its trials, it's misfortunes and its respon- sibiFties; becoming, as it were, the child again, both in simple sportive joys, ana edges the redemption of world In the incident of the manager, and the tragedy of the crucifixion.
 For a time Christmas was tnird Tn m portance of the religious festivities; soon, however it became first; standing as it does for the kinding of the light of re- vealed religion; standing for the sorrow, the agony the sweat of blood in the shades of Gethsemane, and for the hu- initiation, the suffering. the trial, the ex- pistion for the sin of others on Cavalry.
 The joyous doing at Christmas times lands have been, and always will be, of national interest. Whether it be the King or Emperor with his family as the husband and father, or their titled cnlI- dren, as other children of like ages. in- dulging the same childish joys before the fiickering, kindly warmth of the blazing YuIe Log or whether grave company of Oxford professors and students ceie- brating the old Germanic Yuledde cus- tom of the Boar's Head Dinner, We are interested and our hearts are toucned through the bond of universal sympatny'
 In our own great country leading Jonrs hs nals will make space to speak or tne wife of this nations Chief Executive do- ing the seasons social duties; or, what is better still. making glad saddeneo hearts by thoughtful hndnesses. The ever busy reporter will not be too much engaged as not to peep into the privacy of home for something from the family fireside of the Christmas eve at the White House. when pressing cares or state will be driven out by. the merry prattle of thoughtless, playful children that he may glean something with which to impress the minds or our mll- lions the mighty truth that Christmas really should and does mean the same here and there and everywhere in Chris tian homes, in Christian lands, and to touch their hearts by the noble lessons given to humanity on Judean hill and Galilean plain, in the life and teachings of the Divine Law-giver:
 The measure uf a noble life, after all, Is a comparative standard The un- taught savage looks with veneration to the brutish doings of the warlike chief tain. and from the same motive the big-hearted English people breathed a prayer at the announcement of the seri- ous illness of that Christian leader al Hawarden and the very nations were clothed in sorrow. and the children oi London streets shed tears at the close oi Fictoria's reign.
 If our standard of fitness be imperfect, can we do other than err? How import ant, then. that we seek right ideals, and emulate good examples?
 It was Hawthorn who said that "to take in the meaning of a picture, you must be alone with 1t. There, in the speaking solitude, on the blended beau stood; there. the full conception. the thought, the emotion and noble aspira- ton that stirred the artists soul and drew thence its divine harmonies, are revealed to the loving student. But. however beautiful the ideal of a human artist, and executed thought 1t be by the master-hand of a Raphael, yet meagre is the scope. meaningless the lesson, and mean the comparison. when contrasted with the splendid outlines revealed by reverent study of a noble' human life.
 To open the door of great soul, and then to see duty finding pleasure in its ministry to other lives lifts us out o self. broadens contracted views and making brighter and better our lives.
 Little mental or spiritual progress i! made if we do not hold in our minds and hearts true ideals and having such strive to that perfection. The goal oi success, in its highest. best and broad est sense, Is not attained by accident but by the strict application to eacf life the weight of a sterling worth, tht square of common honesty. the compass of exact regard for our duty to. and tn, rights of. others, and the constant watci for timely action, both to individua welfare, and the rights. convenience anC pleasure of others. We can but see tn application of these necessary, fnit ideals in the lives of the great and goo who have gone before us, leaving thei examples as a benediction and a herit age to those who consider and folio, that same way.
 On another occasion I have pointed t the life and memory of him who not lon since filled the responsible position O Governor of our State. and the closin of whose life was a glorious sunset, fad ing from fruitful autumn day, for tn more resplendent dawn of the morrow And if you will now go with me, I vii take you to the Christian home of oU lamented Governor, William James Sam ford, that you may see him celebrat Christ's birthday.
 During the thirty-five years of a happy married life, that drew around him. 1T due time a large concourse of childreI and grandchildren, he never missed spending every Christmas day at hi home. He was a lawyer of much busi ness and was carried often and unex pectedly away from home. but it wa always arranged that he was not talk away on that to himl sacred day. Or