Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-12-22
The Santa Claus Legend.
nv Mira. 4. X. Hudson.

lisve in permitting his children to be-
lieve In Santa Claus, said, 81 wonder
why he believes in the Holy Ghost. ="
That may seem to some q sscri-
ligious way OF putting the matter
but It lie certainly Illuminating.
No Santa Claus, indeed! Where is
the grown up man or woman who was
reale ed on that beautiful myth who
does mot yet believe In Santa Claus!
He is one OF the realities OF life.
Nothing could annihilate his person
atty. Nothing could destroy bis
entity. Because we cannot see him
(though plenty Of us have), becs use
he Is not material, is that any reason
why he is mot. or why we should not
believe In himP What would life be
with only the tangible, substantial,
patent facts to sustain itP Santa
Claus is the spirit Of good cheer, gen.
crosby, child-happiness. II all the
world had tried 1t could not have
conceived more fitting and beautiful
celebration Of the Christ-maes. 1t Is
more blessed to give than receive.
That life is pitiable whose fancy
cannot scale Olympus simply because
its feet Of clay have never trod the
steep path that leads to the summit
There gathered the goda, and thence
Jupiter hurled the laws and myths
and legends that have influenced the
entire world. Wipe them out who
can. Dear old Saint Nick Is found IN
the folk lore of many lands; but it Is
to the Dutch version that the United
States is indebted. To the Dutch and
the German children Saint Nicholas
comes from the Far North,> and go he
comes to us.
Once In q life time l have seen snow
covering the fences--real snow and
real fences-but each year l see a
great white highway stretching from
Greenland's icy mountains to every
home In this broad land. 1t covers
hills and valleys, 1t crosses rivers and
lakes and plains, and upon 1t rides
Santa Claus In his big sled. He is
dressed all in fur cap, mittens, great
coat and leggings, and robes made oil
the white fur Of the polar bear cover
him and his bursting baskets and
bales of Christmas gifts. A long line
Of prancing reindeer, hung with in
Vulnerable sweet bells, are always
harnessed to this sled: and they travel
with the speed Of the wind-other'
wise how could they 60 SO far in o
single night! Pity the grown'up
mortal who cannot close the eyes and
see this sight.
do not believe that q child can be
found who has been deprived Of the
ioy Of faith in Santa Claus who will
not also feel that he has been de.
frauded by his own parents. The
rude awakening to the realization
that he has been deceived, Of which
we hear occasionally from certain
moralists, is greater myth than
Santa Claus himself. never knew
of-a single child that had q rude
awakening Of that kind. With his
increasing years he grows into the
knowledge that 1t is mother and
father who do the beautiful things be
used to attribute to Santa Claus, and
he is happy that they are 50 fond Of
him aud would do so much for him.
The child who has the least imag-
nation needs the Santa Claus legend
the most-something to spar his
minds eye to see visions that are not
all Of earth. What q Flooding life q
CHILD has before him II he cannot look
into the FIRE and see castles 10 Spain,
or turn his face in his pillow and see
troops Of soldiers marching by. and
great ships sailing on the sea. and
kites flying and swimming pools and
fishing poles In summer, and rabbits
jumping through the snow In winterl
o, let the children dreaml There
is no more harm In Santa Claus than
In the cherished hope which every
American born boy is encouraged to
hold In his heart that be will one day
be president Of these United States.
Above ali, give them something to
dream about In after years; that means