The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1905-12-21
CHRISTMAS.


Next Monday throughout Christendom, the an
nyersary of the birth of Christ will be celebrated
bv Christian peope. This is the chief holiday Oh
all the world 1t represents the gospel OF peace on
earth and good will to The essential grace OF
this gospel is charity.
In every part of Christendom and Wherever
Christian wanders in strange lands under strange
consellations-even if the realm where he travels is
bevond the influence Of Christianity-the spirit OF
the day will descend upon all who have been taugnt
in the schools of Christian culture. There IS no.
darkness o dense that is impenetrable by the per-
yasye spirit in which this delightful anniversary IS
celebrated.
Christmas, the flower among winter holidays,
peryades the home with the fragrance OF hearts
neace and souls comfort. Christmas is and Will
remain halowed occasion because it vltallzes
mans tenderest and sweetest ideals-the ideals OF
love for love, good will for good WILL forgiveness
for forgiveness friendship for friendship, and the
most precious of all earthly boons, charity.
To attempt to frame any novel and improved YER
sion of Christmas sentiments would be an lntoler-
able irreverence. AS well might we try to find new
words to take the place of &C Home, Sweet Home,
or to set those dear old words to new and better
tune Thinking the same old Christmas thoughts,
using the same time honored Christmas forms OF
speech, and still more to the purpose, doing the
same generous and amiable things that have always
made Christmas a feast of hearty, whole souled
happiness are fashions that though they are stere-
otyped as the procession of the seasons, cannot be
improved upon. The best that we may hope to DO
is to make the old welcome to Christmas hearter
and more universal as the years roll on. And that
we are Glad To believe. is being done.
With every Christmas that passes the world grows
better. The sources of human comfort increase
year by year. and even during single generation
are multiplied beyond estimate. The poor, even the
very POOR enjoy to-day comforts which surpass all
the dreams of luxury which their ancestors cher
ished two centuries ago.
The American people surely have good cause to
gather with cheerful hearts around their Christmas
boards and give merry farewell to the passing
year. There is peace throughout our broad domain
and larger measure of general prosperity than
we have known in many years. The crops OF 1905,
while not as magnificent in sections as in past
years, especially in the South, have been marketed
at good prices. The trade winds have been blowing
strongly in our favor The first ntallment of better
times for all classes is being enjoyed and there is
a fair prospect of still greater improvement in
1906. These are solid grounds for national good
humor truce, then, to all that is depressing and
sad, and hearty welcome to all that is hopeful and
CHEEKY.
Languidness and dissatisfaction flee from the
world on Christmas morning. As the white robed
angels descend in myriads from the reckoning Star,
separate and hover over humble cottages and
stately mansions and imposing churches, sorrow
and discomfort and doubt are borne away, like
wasted leaves winters blow before the current
of what is truest and best. The presence of the
messengers of peace and good will realizes the
meaning of the event which was new years and
years ago and is just new now.
Christmas is day of charity, of love, of home.
of family, of man and woman; day of giving by
receiving; day which the greatest happiness is
felt, and mankind responds to the very highest
sentiments of civilization. A day on which every
thing is forgotton-everything except the spiritual
ideals of the race. And the wish for GA Merry
Christmas" is the expression of the sincerest and
most inspiring happiness.