The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-25
CHRISTMAS CHEER.

1t is impossible to conceive of any
holiday that could take the place or
Christmas, nor, indeed would 1t seem
that human wit could invent anotner
so adapted to humanity. The obvious
intention of it is to bring together, for
a season at least, all men in the exer-
else of a common charity and feeling
of good will, the poor and the rlch, the
successful and the unfortunate, that all
the world may feel that in the time
called the truce of God the thing COM
mon to all men is the best thing IN lie
Charles Dudley Warner.
He who does not see in the legend of
Santa Claus a beautiful faith on one
side and the naive embodiment OF
divine fact on the other is not hit to
have place at the Christmas board
For him there should be neither carol
nor holly nor naistletoe; they only shall
keep the feast to whom all these things
are but the outward and visible signs
of an inward a2d spiritual grace
Hamilton w. Mabie
If ever there was an occasion when
the arts could become all but omnlpo-
tent in the service of holy thought 1t
is this of the birth of the child Jesus
Margaret Fuller Ossili.
May this haIlowed and gracious time
diffuse its innocent cheer through every
family circle, and scatter its bounties
largely among the children of want
EDWARD Everett.
Surely. happiness is reflective, like the
light of heaven; and every countenance,
bright with smiles and glowing with
innocent enjoyment, is mirror trans
hitting to others the rays of supreme
and ever shining benevolence. He who
can turn churlishly away from contem-
plating the felicity of his fellow beings,
and can sit down in his loneliness
when all around is joyful, may have
his moments of strong excitement and
selfish qualification, but he wants the
genial and social synpathies which con-
stitute the charm of merry Christmas.
Washington Irving.
II will not try today. of all days in
the year, to read the mystery of the
Incarnation. Only today feel sure that
God could not have been God, and have
seen his children cropping after him. and
not once somewhere on the earth utter
ed himself and cried, so that out of the
farthest east of mans devOut desires
his children should hear him. What
though it were a child's weak voice that
cried. All the more they heard tall
the more they hear it still. It's weak
ness seals the claim to their allegiance
with appeal for their devotion. If to-
day any soul among you who has been
looking for God everywhere, in the
heavens above, and in the earth beneath
and in the heart within. can hear that
cry and find in the faith of the Incarna-
ton, ana IN the service OF the lncarnate
One, the satisfaction and fulfllment of
his life, then for that soul the blessed
ness of the first Christmas is renewed. :
Phillips Brooks.
"A distinction is to be drawn between
Christmas and Christmas day. The
Christmas service really lasts IL days,
from Christmas eve to Twelfth Night.
And you may really give a Christmas
present at any moment up to Twelfth
Night, without being thought too late
When the 7th of January comes, You
may go to work again. You may grind
your axes, you may defend your clients.
you may buy and sell-always taking
care that the other fellow has his share
of good in the bargain You may pay
your notes if you have them to pay.
You may discount them if you have
them to discount. But do not forget
that you have lived for II days in a
world of love-where people have tried
to make each other happy. And it will
| be your own fault, as far as one person
is concerned. If you do not live in that
world for the three hundred and fifty
three DAYS which remain before Adam
and Ewes Day comes round again.
Edward Everett Hale.