Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-09-13


I've not a minute TO stay. unless you
can tell me what I want 20 know. I've
: picture OF q very large man. giant
in fact. bearing the Christ-child on his
shoulder and the name St Christopher
under the picture Tonight am going
10 a party where every guest VIII be
given a post card with some celebrated
nicture on "a and some OF Us must tell
the story Of our card. know lot
Of them but ] do not know St Christie
pher. and I might be called on"
And this Is the story told her:
There are all sorts OF legends that
originally had an atom OF truth for
foundation that are told in pictures as
well as in story. The early ages had
more superstition than this one has.
and the fact that there were no books
nor manuscripts 10 hold the story teller
or those DAYS 70 the original facts gave
them latitude for many embellishments.
We cannot blame them. either, for you
know two people can hear a story and
when they repeat IL there is a marked
difference in the stories.
As you know. in olden times. hun
dreds OF years ago. IL was customary
Tor men and women 20 change their
names upon becoming Christians. the
names IN those days all had some sig
nincance I've forgotten St Christie
pliers but think he had been dedicated.
as a baby. 10 Apollo He grew into
veritable giant and said he would only
serve the bravest. With that idea he
entered the service OF a mighty king
and also the service OF Satan. as he
thought those two stopped at nothing.
But in the course OF time. he left both
81 them for he found that the king
could be Scared almost out OF his life
81 mentioning the devil. and that Satan
shlvered as with an ague whenever he
saw = cross by the roadside. Disgust
~. he knew not which way TO turn, and
~ his wanderings he met a hermit.
Tnfs good man heard his story and adj
visad him to leave earthly kings and
an the evil he had been guilty of, and
70 serve Jesus Christ. only son Of the
only true God Convinced or the beau
tv and majesty OF Christ he said he
would serve Him by helping others.
There Vas very rough and dangerous
river in that section that caused many
deaths as there was no bridge and much
passing. This man who had deserted
satan for Christ took up the passen-
gers and carried them across on his
shoulders
once 4 little child came to the river
and the good man lifted him gently 10
his shoulder. As he picked his way
anong the rocks and follower the SAT
est course to the other side. It seemed
a. him that he had the weight OF che
whole world So heavy did the burden
become he asked the child who he was
and received for an answer, Il am the
Christ Naturally he was astonished
and expressed his surprise. though there
was 10 shadow OF doubt In his mind.
The Child told him TO put his stan in
the ground (now here is discrepancy
IN the stories. some say Immediately
and others say as he was returning the
next dayl IL became a palm tree This
miracle made many CONVERTS people
from al that region fiocked there TO see
the tree and to Near the story Then
was the mans name changed TO Chris
topher. Christus-ferro. OF Christ I bear.
The king OF that country became en-
ragged about the converts and threw
Chrfstopher In prison. where he was
subjected 70 cruel tortues in his efforts
TO make him f0rsake Christianity and
failing 10 do so he was beheaded.
The most authentic records place st.
Christopher IN the third century. For
hundreds Of years his statue was at the
entrance Of dangerous passes in the
Alps. on bridges in What Is now called
Italy and he was q great favOrite with
seamhn and men engaged in various
perilous enterprises. There have been
hr0therho0ds of St Christopher and va
rIous helpful organizations rmbued with
his idea Of helping the world
These myths or legends have a les
son at the heart OF each. This man
could be satisfied with nothing but the
best and in his search for the best he
served the two forces that seemed 20
him mightiest Seeing gross imperfec-
tions On both he again started in search
~ bis ideal. which was bravery. The
hermit set him right and then he
learned that IN helping those weaker
than himself he was showing the truesr
sort Of bravery. The turbulent stream
may have meant life and with Christ
IN the heart he naturally had the weight
81 the world on him.
The Oldest painting OF this saint is
I'm the monastery on Mt Sinai and
dates from the time OF Justinian. The
saint has come TO have an interesting
place IN typography in consequence of
a wood engraving Of his figure supposed
TO date to about 1423. IL Is the earliest
known example OF the art OF wood en-
craving.
On this engraving there Is also
mill scene on one side OF a river and a
hermit holding out a lantern for the
guidance Of the saint on the other side.
The Christ child is on his shoulder
and the palm tree IS in his hand. This
engraving il said to be remarkably well /
done FOR that time.
In the Notre Dame at Paris was for
4 long time an immense statue of St /
Christopher. The story r. that two broth /
ers were In prison and just a few nights
before their trial one OF them dreamed
that 81. Christopher came to him. took
him IN his arms and bore him out OF