Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-12-21
It as::'la0foa Standard
OIS,sTI " SNil.
fhibiY Ndht!AG. pECEdbLG y. 1906.
The Christmas Holidays.

upon the most pleasing and hallUWcd
-t.t,On oil the year. 1t Is one that will
never grow old and will be observed
long ~ the world endures.
II was once our custom to comment
at considerable length, upon the lead
ing characteristics of this cherished
anniversary OF the winter festival sea
son, and just why it has generally, ot
late years, been passed over with barely
the reference implied in a salutation
that Is on every tongue, we scarcely
know, unless it has become a habit
acquired by age, like that of advanced
maldenhood, of simply ignoring such
mllestOnes in liie's journey as birth
days and anniversaries that remind
one OF the rapid flighe of Time. Ger.
tain 1t Is, however, that while we have
worn the theme threadbare, nobody,
young or old, will fail to retain lively
appreciation Of holiday season con.
nected so intimately with the Joys OF
childhood, and we assume the task,
therefore, without any expectation of
presenting anything new or that has
not been said in former issues OF this
paper.
There are some essentials for per-
feet Christmas, sanctioned by tradition,
which have firm hold on the popular
mind. These are clear, cold wealth
er. with holly branches in berry, din.
ncr with mince pies, blazing fire and
games and forfeits in the evening. Most
OF these requisites are attainable this
year; but, little cares childhood, whose
holiday it prominently is, for the
state of the weather, when mysteri-
GUS old Santa Claus is supposed - be
abroad with his raindeer and sledge,
and probably now with his automobile.
Trusting innocence pays no attention
to minor incongruities, such IS the in.
adaptability of q particular class Of
vehicle for hasty passage through
the mud and mire, or of the wonderful
feat performed by the portly dispenser
OF gifts when he comes down the small
fiues of modern civilization, which
have supplanted the wide chimney.
tops of the Oldentime. These are
inessentials which do not disturb the
budding intellect, wholly absorbed in
the contemplation of absolute realities,
the treasures so ardently longed for, so
literally supplied.
Nor is il to be supposed that the
children of older growth" take no in.
terest in this best holiday of tho year.
All look forward hopefully to the day
when they may live over again the
recollections of childhood. All plan
pleasing ways of making gifts and for
keeping the festival as they have OBJ
served it all their lives. 1t mustbe the
holiday OF our youth or it would not
be Christmas, and would contain no
reminders of the season of life when
all was JOY; it would not be hallowed
by remembrances of loved ones whose
kind hearts no longer throb responsive
to our temporal wants. 1t is that We
live over again the blessed period of
childhood, that we, grown people, look
forward to the dawn of Christmas
with scarcely less patience than our
youthful companions. This is why
the stockings are hung in the chimney
corner, this the life-giving germ which
causes the evergreen tree to blossom
with presents on the eve OF the day
that commentaries an epoch which
inaugurated Peace on earth and good
will among men,"
II 10 quite probable that the custom
OF making presents 1t this season OF
the year arose from a practice which
may be considered Pagan in it's origin.
It is said that Servius Tullius, the
sixth King Of Rome, instituted q festi.
val to commemorate the beginning of
the year, at which an altar was erected,
in each village, and to the box placed
upon it, every man, woman and child
was expected TO contribute a coin, to
supply the wants of those who were
subject to abject poverty. This was
nearly 600 years before the Christian
era, but the Christmas box seems to
owe its origin to this charitable custom,
and it seems proper that so beneficent
an object should have given life to an
impulse which for nineteen centuries
has been the distinctive feature of
Christmas offerings. There is an equal
propriety in the thought that by COM
memorating the advent of tho Re.
deemer, it is made the medium of per.
the generosity and charity
which flowed from the human heart
even before the golden precepts of the
New Testament were presented 90 the
revealed will.
The beautiful custom OF adjoining
the dwellings and places of worship
with evergreen boughs during Christ.
mas holidays, is ascribed by some, who
accept the Christian view, to those
expressions go frequently met with in
the prophetical writings, where green
boughs are spoken OF as ornaments OF
the sanctuary and emblems of rejoic.
ing, while others affirm that the Gus.
tom had q Pagan origin and refers to
the drudical custom of banging up in
the house boughs OF green for resorts
Of the wood spirits during the nipping
frosts of Winter. It matters little
which is nearest the truth. The ever.
green is a symbol of perpetual life and
fit emblem OF . season iraught with
sender recollections which have taken
such deep root in the heart that they
continually spring forth in perennial
freshness.
To each OF you, we say, select the
most satisfactory manner of attesting
your own joy, without msrring the
happiness of others, or violating any
obligation you owe to your own char
acter or for the well-being OF society;
and whilst you are thus enjoying your.
selves in the hilarities of the passing
hour, give one thought to US, and re.
that our most cordial feelings
are with you-that it is no mere idle
fashion of words which prompts us
now to express to each of you that
but endeared wish, "A MERRY
CHRISTMAS TO YE ALL"
THREE of the largest irrigation com.
panies have made proposition to the
Lewiston Udaho) Commercial Club, to
donate $4,000 to q fund to be used
exclusively next year for advertising
Lewiston and Clarkson, provided those
cities increase the amount to $4,000.
A GOOD smile Of the shipwrecked