The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1903-01-22

ii tut puSts j nt UIybttliOuo
|I rays that led the magi-
clans from the far East 20 the cradle OF
the infant Christ have also shown as
heralds In the progress Of the world.
Not a few of the most significant events
In the worlds history have happened on
Christmas day.
Il IL q day of rejoicing In the Eternal
City. Rome has thrown open her gates
to the conqueror. Up the Via Sacra and
before the grand front OF the Capltoline
passes the chariot Of Constantine, who
BY his victory over his rival, Maxentius,
has become lord and master OF the
world. There march his victorious le-
gions. not under the famed eagles of
the Empire, but under new and more
august symbol. II Is the labarum,
which has forever supplanted the idol
atrous emblems Of old Rome-a long
spear plated with gold. with trans
verse bar forming q cross from which
depended . square purple banderole or
namented with fringes and precious
stones. The stan was surmounted by a
golden crown, set with jewels In the
midst Of which was the monogram Of
Christ In Greek.
But where arc the incantations and
the incense Of pagan worship? Rome
keeps holiday for the first time In a
ChriRtian fashion. The temples glow
with light indeed, but II Is with the
holy radiance Of the new and triumph
ant faith.
Il II the festival OF the nativity. and
not the obscene revel OF the Saturnalia,
that Constantine keeps In Rome. The
old worship has been discarded. and the
roligious Of the humble Nasarene Is for
mally established. And the date OF this
hrst Christmas held In pagan Rome: be
Il never forgotten, IL December 26th. A.
d. S12.
Let 10 take the romance of one Christ
mas day In England which will be for
ever memorable In English history.
william Of Normandy had Just won the
kingdom from the brave King Harold
who was left dead on the field Of Hast
ings. A little more than two months
after that great battle the coronation
Of the conQueror took place In West
minister Abbey. Nothing that was need
ed for . lawful crowning was lacking.
Tho consent Of the people. the oath OF
the king. the amounting by hands Of
Q lawful metropolitan. were all there.
GtigAnd, Archbishop OF Canterbury
placed the crown upon the new kings
head, and William, the duke Of the
N0rmans, was now the king OF the
English, 30 far as outward ceremonies
could make him. The acclammations
which hailed the auspIcius event were
Joined In by the English as we'll as the
N0rmans. The real history of the Eng
lish people begins from that day.
Stranger and conqueror that william
was his statesmanship won him n
warm place In the hearts Of the people
he conquered.
The history OF England for the past
eight hundred years has been what Il
has largely from three personal char
acter Of this single man.
But let us como to America for a his
toric Christmas. December. 1776. was
= gloomy month In the history OF our
country. We were In the midst OF the
revolution and the war seemed to be
going against us. Tho British held pos
session Of New York, ard their forces
were sweeping the Jerseys, driving the
Americans before them. The American
army was almost entirely destitute OF
resources. without arms, without am
munition, without food. The soldiers
were unpaid and In rags.
but the great patriot, Washington
was not dismayed.
One thousand Hessians were encamp-
"a at Trenton, where they were keep.
Ing tho Christmas season In the good
old German fashion. They had no feaI
0f the Americans who were on the 9TH
or side OF the Delewarc. Brightly tn,
lights shone and the laugh and the
song went round. The feast went on I'll
long after midnight. and the lamp be.
gan TO burn low. Suddenly the rcpor
of musketry rang out on the air: "'To
srmsl TO arms!" was the cry. But tn,
drunken. sleepy soldiers could not b,
reused in time and the Hessian com
msndsrs surrendered his whole force tc
the American general who In the dark
meas and storm OF that Christmas nigh
had cruosed the Delaware to strike
vital blow for American freedom. Thu
the tide was turned and the patriots
from that hour commenced TO gain tn,
upper hand. A glorious Christmas 70
us. indeed. r. M. G.