The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1910-12-22


sprig of mistletoe invites kiss. A whole
population responds with smiles to glimpses
of Christmas wreaths that betoken the
coming of Santa Claus carnaval and eyes
everywhere brighten at sight of the man or
woman carrying holly bough.
Christmas is festival of the home and
of the world as we'll. 1t is the season when
the young anticipate and the aged remem-
Der, and when those in the strength and
vigor of life stretch to childhood and age
alike hands of joyous giving. tits the one
anniversary that recalls to all classes MEM
cries of perfect delight and joy, the one
festival when sons and daughters travel in
body or spirit back to childhood homes and
become once more as children in heart. It
is season of reunion of families and of
universal tenderness. No heart can resist
its inspired enthusiasm, nor escape its con-
tagious gadness. The dreariest soul may,
in truth, become gay with the mere utter
ance of merry Christmas greetings to
others.
"Life is hard enough at best,
But the love that is expressed
Makes it seem pathway blest
To our feet"
Even if we give our ourselves up to child
like fearlessness of consequences, little
consequences, we shall not err in excess.
The midwinter holidays of the old time
were a signal to make joyful noise, to
feast and sing, to tell legends of fairies
and heroes and. ghosts and fair ladies and
gallant deeds, to give generously to de-
pendents, to invite childhood's free rush
into its world of delight, to spend with lib
erality and enjoy without regret. The
Japanese put into their favorite flowers a
symbolism we may well initiate. To them
the slender flag leaf represents beauty
lifting itself out of Shiny mud and stagnant
waters. The holly may we'll suggest to US
the sturdy life which defies hardship, the
red blood which flows despite the assaults
of cold and bleakness. The mistletoe may
speak of growth and being which draw
strength for life's fruition out of even weak
ness and decay. Let the holidays be full
throated song of life's multiform cravings
for exertion. Let the gratified instinct for
social mingling send out fibres in all direc-
tons to take the sustenance which will
build up for always the healthy substance
of human existence.
What gold and corn and wine were sup
posed to he to the hero of old, weary with
travel, labors, battle and deprivation, the
unrestrained enthusiasm of holiday pleas
ure is to the child. Let him have it, his
vested right. There are not many holiday
seasons to gloriously and blessedly fulfil
weeks of anticipation. Few of the middle
aged will be hurt by trying to project their
imaginations into vision that small holiday
possessions are wide domains of delicious
enjoyment; that the bonbons are as tempt
ing as bonbons were when the taste was
not too discriminating; that all men are
good, and all children charming enfold-
ments of future nobility. The normal
holiday spirit is the spirit of the child, with
its keen enjoyment of pulsing life, it's
imaginative clothing of common objects in
the garb of bravery and beauty, its yearn-
ing for social companionship and it's in
stinct of physical demonstration. There
is recreation, recuperation and restoration
for fatigued minds when the grown people
lend themselves to the holidays in the spirit
of youth. To give gladly unrestrainedly
and accept with uncritical appreciation is
the way of wisdom. Exhaust the oppor-
tunities of pleasures and play; become
tired, if you can, and be ready for new
freshness in routine.
81 never seed nothing that could or can
Jest git all the good from the heart Of q man
Like the hands Of little child.''
The Banner commends to all it's readers
the time-honored greeting: "A Merry
Christmas and Happy New Year!"
The population Of the Territory Of Alaska
is "a 1855, an increase of 764, or IL per cent.
The population Of the Hawaiian Islands is
1e1 300, an increase Of 24.6 per cent.