The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-12-28
SANTA CLAUS
Belief In Him Is the Anchor Which
Holds the Child To Innocence.
Current Literature

tain enthusiasts, ito give them dug
nified title,) who desired to disillusion
ice the modern mind of that pretty
myth of Santa Claus. They were fond
OF taking as their motto Call spade
spade" and named themselves re
formers" Adopting the same motto
1t has always seemed to US that their
orthography was at fault. and that
they had got one letter wrong. Their
name should be ''deformers. 1t has
even been rumored that the advisable
ity OF relegRtIng the old reindeer driv-
er to the region of werewolves and
Theadless horsemen has formed the sub
pect of discussion in certain learned
coteries. The School Journal, indeed.
has thought the matter SO serious as
to give to it an editorial which most
assuredly is worth the consideration
of all who would make the child mind
as matter of fact as their own. Are
there teachers of little children so
lacking In the finer sensibilities and
so devoid of ordinary tact that they
will deliberately set out to destroy
poetic fancy which is the joy of youth
full hearts? 1t Seems incredible. Yet
there must be some For each year
brings reports of cases where unhu-
maned-they must be that--teachers
have upset their pupils by telling
them that there is no Santa Claus;
that the stories about him are not
true; that the presents received on
Christmas Day are gifts provided by
parents and friends. The usual result
is that the children are greatly stirred
up and the parents become very In.
dignant az what they regard as I'M
pardonable cruelty" on the part OF the
teacher
Are not teachers to tell the truth In
all things7 Is 1t not best for chill
iren to face realities? Do not we fail
to grasp a splendid opportunity IL we
omit to teach the children to regard
the Christmas presents as tokens Of /
the affection of their parents and to
give thanks to whom this is due? Is
t right, instead of doing this, to
cave the children in their belief of
Santa Claus?
The belief In Santa Claus may be
he anchor which holds the child to
he moorings Of the wonderland Of
'appy innocence. Snap II. and you
end them adrift on the sea OF doubts
IN which. In the wise order OF Provi-
ence. 1t is only mans lot to travel
the children be children as long as
heir childhood can be made to last.
'hildhod Is not disease. as the prac-
Ice Of many misguided educators
1ould seem to treat It. Let It be re-
arded as the Garden Of Eden, which
anishes with the first taste OF the
ruit OF the tree o6 knowledge. Once
Inside the gates of this paradise, no
eturn is possible; a flaming sword
oints out to a life of toll. The Great
'eacher's warning hand Is raised;
axe heed that you do not offend one
these little ones.
Why force the misery of disillus-
IN" upon the child? It VIM overtake
i'm early enough, anyway. And San
| Claus. alas! is one of the illusions I
rst to pass. Let pedagogic wise
cres call the myth a mistake of pro- i
'nnd ignorance: the child lover puts !
higher value upon It; he regards II
} personificati0n of the idea of love
hich is to make mankind happier,
AXE it christmas Day. The child
it'll the Santa Claus myth in his
cart, behDlding the evergreen tree
'vered with light and glory, and join Il
e in the Joyful Christmas songs. feels =
Id lives what the adults understand Isl
g cannot grasp, save in remem- IL
'ance. Shall the adult be robbed u
zen of this one remnant of reminis- -
nse of how It feels to be perfectly III
lppy? Then leave to Christmas the loI
10 of glory and mystery, leave to the X
lid the Santa Claus. 20 -,
Wise wOrds are these for those HI
10 would rob childhood Of ali pleas
es In which imagination has place o.
the girl likely to grow up q worse 4,
other because she handles a doll? tn
I'll the bay make a worse cowboy" I
he bestrides his fathers cane and VI
lis It horse? =.
" II sti