Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1905-12-16
Beautiful Reflections of First
of Americas Authors on
the Feast.
Smooth Polish Supplants More
Beautiful and Character
istic Customs.
IN GLARE OF The OLD HEARTHSTOEE

Washington Irving, the first and great
est of American writers, tells in beautiful
language the customs and manners of
the people Of England during the Christ
mas holidays. In his Sketch Book he
says:
"Of all the old festivals, however, that
of Christmas awakens the strongest and
most heartfelt associations. There is a
tone of solemn and sacred feeling that
blends with our conviviality and lifts the
spirit to a state of hallowed and elevated
enjoyment. The services of the church
about this season are extremely tender
and inspiring; they dwell on the beauti.
full story of the origin of our faith and
the pastoral scenes that accompanied its
announcement. They gradually increase
in fervor and pathos during the season of
advent, until they break forth in full
jubilee on the morning that brought
peace and good will to men. do not
know grander effect of music on the
moral feelings than to hear the full choir
aud the pealing organ performing a
Christmas anthem in a Cathedral and
filling every part of the vast pile with
triumphant harmony.
"It is a beautiful arrangement, also
derived from days of yore, that this festi-
val, which commentaries the announce
ment of the religion of peace and love,
has been made the season for gathering
together of family connections, and
drawing closer again those bonds of kin
bred hearts which the cares and pleas.
ures and SORROWS of the world are contin-
uslly operating to cast loose; of calling
back the children of family who have
launched forth in life, and wandered
widely asunder, once more to assemble
about the paternal hearth, that rallying-
place of the affections, there to grow
young and loving again among the
endearing mementos of childhood.
"There is something in the very sea-
son Of the year that gives charm to the
festivity of Christmas. At other times
we derive great portion of our pleasures
from the mere beauties of nature. Our
feelings sally forth and dissipate them
selves over the sunny landscape. and we
live abroad and everywhere. But in the
depth of winter, when nature lies de-
spoiled of every charm, and wrapped in
her shroud of sheeted snow, we turn for
our qualifications to moral sources.
Heart calleth unto heart and we draw
our pleasures from the deep wells of liv-
ing kindness which lies in the quiet
recesses of our bosoms, and which, when
resorted to, furnish forth the pure ele-
ment of domestic felicity.
"The pitchy gloom without makes the
heart dilate on entering the room filled
with the glow and warmth of the even
ing fire. The ruddy blaze diffuses an
artificial summer and sunshine through
the room and lights up each counte-
nance into kindlier welcome. Where
does the honest face of hospitality exc
pand into a broader and more cordial
smilel. Where is the shy glance of love
more sweetly eloquent than by the winter
6resideI And as the hollow blast of win
try wind rushes through the hall, claps
the distant door. whistles about the case
ment and rumbles down the chimney,
what can be more, grateful than that
feeling of sober and sheltered security
with which we look round upon the
comfortable chamber and the scene of
domestic hilsrity9
zone of the least pleasing effects OF
modern refinement is the havoc II has
made among the hearty old holyday Gus
toms. 1t has completely taken off the
sharp touchings and spirited reliefs of
these embellishments of life, and has
worn down society into more smooth
and polished but certainly less charac-
teristic surface. Many of the games and
ceremonies of Christmas have entirely
disappeared, and, like the sherris sack Of
old Falstaff, are become matters of spec
ulation and dispute among commenta-
tors.
Amidst the general call to happiness,
the hustle of the spirits and stir Of the
affections which prevail at this period,
what bosom can remain insensible? 1t is
indeed the season of regenerated feeling,
the season for kindling not merely the
fire of hospitality in the hall. but the
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