La Junta tribune., 1915-12-18
SOME OBSERVATIONS.
These Are Contributed Ar
ucles and Record Of In
dividual Opinion Only.
THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT.

ois we're sung. houses were dec0rat-
ed with evergreen and every table
was loaded with good cheer. The
Long Parliament In 1865. during the
Puritan wave Of reform. gave orders
that the 25th OF December should be
observed Is fast day. a. an act OF
penitence for the great national sin
which they and their fathers had No
often committed on that day. BY
romping under the mistletoe. eating
boar's head. and drinking ale flavor
ed with roast apples.
The Long Parliament and the Pur-
itans have long since passed, but the
spirit Of Christmas cheer remains.
And yet Puritanism. purGed Of its in
tolerance and changed by the admix-
ture OF love into humanism. has done
much to better the manner and form
OF Christmas celebration. In the old
English Christmas there was too
much ''alc favored with roast ap-
ples." While that brought cheer Of
. certain kind. Il was not Christmas
cheer. Christmas cheer must be Of
the sober kind. that looks up to
thank God for His blessings. and that
looks out over the Christmas snow to
find those with whom these blessings
may be shared. And &c. although we
keep the boar's head and the mistle-
toe. the ale is gradually but surely
going.
The Christmas spirit Is humanix-
ing spirit. When. we think OF Christ
mas We cannot keep out Of our minds
the little children. whom Santa Claus
does not visit. Sometimes we resent
1.-THE Intrusion Of this thought. II
takes away from our enjoyment Of
the season. About the most touch
ing picture know is that Of the rag
ged little boy Who asks OF his ragged
little sister. - they look into the toy
window from the snowy street. II she
believes there IL . Santa Claus
But every year the giving Of Christ
mas gifts TO the unfortunate incfeas-
-. The Big Brother movement has
grown rapidly. and thousands Of
childish hearts ase made happy
|throssh its instrumsntalIty. All over
the land. generous mea aad women.
acting Independently Of any oreanis-
"a movement. bring happiness TO
thousands Of poor children.
"At Christmas-tids the open hand
Scatters its bounty DER sea and land.
And none are left 10 grtevc alone.
For love ia heaven and claims its
own."
But this brings another thought.
II this can be true. even II . little
corner Of the world. q Chrisemas
time. Why cannot Il - tree all he
pear through. All threusa The year
eAsss ere rssgsd. sessvias childrsa.
whe look se ths nees favoesd oass
sSdiAs ~ and wosdss vhy 0e1 naAe
~ world -. Anl I'll u ysas
through shsss eusht 10 ~ big breeh-
en- and big slseess vsitiag - tell
ths0 that 0od az ses fashioa The
vesi1 II thls wise. but that nsa h
ehslS selflshnsss. turned the E1sa
ehat 0e1 aa1s tste ths sest os thisg
thae thsy -. Ths W beeehsss snl
shs ~ sosasss eusht 70 fIll theie ovn
seuls - fall q tAs chsssenas vlssoa.
that 4 vill lest shPesgh tAs whess
'yeas. ss1 thsoush al ths ceaing
ysass: asd thsy. ~ ~ beslhsss as1
~ blg slsssss, eught. ssnesins dus.
Iag ~ ysass y - that thls vislea
= - oe1, go that thsy. belas thus
bssushe = - as1 ualssssasd. ere
~ lasesuneatallsiss through vhe0
~ vie1so = y ~ ne1s nj.
TAey oughe also y - eAat thls
vis1sa = q ~ nsse psseeseahls ~.
q oa1ls ~ juseies. sss \ pgooeses
~ y svssy eAil1 I'm inte ~
Vos1l. ehogo sAall ~ ealy ~ eQua1
ooDoge1n1etn. but thae - saal1 -
49, - onhe o1vnneaos - then. 1e
ea1oo ~ 1s1assaal Iess. IT, n ~.
Doooo ~ - ~ shan ~ . ~.
- o1voooooo - ~ ssl0hbss. ~
IN pn1Dog - ~ aslg1bssis vso.
M = sal1s ~ laeesnosieoal
oo01ovs ~ \ ~ aaslsa's - ~
Uoo11 ~ eD0Oooo1 - pesOoe 10ooo1
~ fSooDsnG1 ooso - an1nooe1 ~
- oD1g1e - )o1o1oss toosU oDa - -
~ oungyu1D omo1o one1ooa.
= Do ~ vlg1oo. NJ vheoo -
oomGo o1sooey ooonos - - sealles.
~ ~ vlg1oo oo11k = ~ 0sBu1s
unOneoo Dgoof g - evneonl goo1t
'ouc1ons - . 49, ~ lmooollooo
- - onGo oonG ~ alVnoc1no
F. 1u1111s111c ~ e.duaer = Sr,cseS