American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1916-12-21
CHRISTMAS DAY.

How swiftly the years go by. 1t seems but yesterday
when the last Christmas chimes were rung; since there
were welcomes and gifts to signify the gladness in mems
hearts that the Christmas of 1915 had come. And now
the joy bells are ringing again, and the greetings and the
gifts for the Christmas of 1916 are here. The day has all
the old Joy and the old %sanctitv. II commemorates tho
birth of One whose life made such an impression unon the
earth as none other ever did; of One who, thought of as
either human or divine, has no parallel among the children
OF men. Millions, the most cultured of the earth, believe
IN His divinity, and link every hope of this life and of the
life to come with His name. His teachings and His inter-
cession. The noblest temples which they can build are
dedicated to His worship, and the day is set aside as the
anniversary Of His birth is honored by the ringing of low
bells, by all the majesty which comes of chanting choirSs,
peaIlng organs, burning incense, and the solemn splendor
OF the mass. The chants and the prayers repeat the story
of a Savior that, in His divinity, took upon Himself mems
burdens; how from the manger he emerged and walked
through a life of sorrow steadily up to a death full of igno-
miny and agony, that thefeafter men might accent their
burdens meekly because of the hope through Him of a
life which should have no burdens, but should be radiant
with everlasting light, and resonant with music more rare
than ever thrilled upon mortal ears. On the other hand,
those who, through the mysteries of science have proped
until they are certain they have probed mortality to the
bottom, and look down with affected scorn or pity upon
those who nurse a Christian faith; even those turn to the
code which He of Nazareth drafted; and-thinking that
1t is the work of one unlettered in the worlds law. that it
was framed in a rule and violent age, when the law of
might was the law Of right on earth-stand hushed and
hlled with awe in its presence. For that code counsels
peace and kindness; it commands good for evil; it holds
out a brothers hand to the poor; it Stops down and
touches with forgiveness the wicked: it lifts up women.
who ever before had been debased, to the side and on the
same plane with man, and exalts man by the act; it bids
man, if ne would be happy in this world, and if he would
have support and strength at last, when the light of this
earth grows dim, ne must be just, must be m~erciful, must
have charity and good will. 1t counsels respect for law;
warns men there is a better love than love of gold bids men
look upon their fenow-men as brothers and all the time i'm
presses the lesson that this walk on earth is but a prepar-
alton for mortal eyes to gain strength to look upon glOries
awaiting them too full of ~splendor for eyes which were
never washed and strengthened by tears to bear. Among
men, they who follow those teachings are most beloved;
among nations, they who obey those counsels best are the
most powerful and most revered. No wonder then that
the anniversary of the birth of such a Master causes a
thrill throughout the universe, that to the lips of the learn
ed and unlearned alike there spring welcomes and all halls.
Let it be so. To make hearts glad is both a human and
divine impulse, and to bring smiles to the faces of child
hood or of the poor, is mans highest privilege. 1t is good
to greet friends; it is good to waive any causeess cold
ness that has seized upon the heart; it is a renewal of af-
lection to make even trifling gifts with heartiness; it is a
Welcome thing to prepare and enjoy as savory a feast as
ones means will permit; and to cause a feast to come
mysteriously to the tables of the poor is a little blessing
to the recipients, an interest-bearing blessing to the giver.
So Christmas is good every way, and is the most humaniz-
ing day of the year.-Goodwin's Weekly.
SENATOR WORKS TAMPERING WITH DYNAMITE.