Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-26
The Day After Christmas
V'rom 1.-THE Circus and Other Essays,
by Joyce Kilmer)

Urom ''The Circus and Other Essays"
by Joyce Kilmer)
The day after Christmas is a very good
day, indeed. The excitement of giving and
receiving has passed away; there remains
the quieter Joy Of contemplation. And
since this year the day after Christmas is
Sunday, this contemplation will not be dis
turbed by tho arrival OF the postman, who,
relentless bilLbringer, is like the Greeks,
to be feared even when bearing gifts.
And in spite Of the remarks OF every
humorlst who ever borrowed from his
mother.ln-law two cents 10 put on an
envelope which should carry Joke about
her TO an editor, this post Christmas medi
tation nearly always Is pleasant, II Is as
sisted by the consumption OF wife.bestowed
cigars, which again despite the humorstD
are better than those man buys for him.
self IL Is pleasant meditation, for It's
subjects are things given and things re.
ceived, good deeds done and good deeds
experienced
This peaceful meditation Is one of the
most delightfully."- comfortable features OF
the day after Christmas, This day has not
the concentrated excitement OF Christmas.
II is, l think, the most restful day In the
year. 1t Is not marked. like January 2,
with the shock OF receiving bills and the
strain of keeping new resolutions. 1t is
delightfully."- lazy day, a sort OF sublmated
Sunday afternoon.
And one conclusion which you should
draw from your st. Stephens Day medita-
tlou Is that the nobility OF Christmas tradl-
tions and customs Is proved by their sur
yiving the most unfavorable. even absurd
conditions OF life. II was not difheult for
the Puritans to destroy the Maypole; Its
gay garlands never rose from the dust into
which their iron heels trod them. But the
Christmas tree-whch even more than the
Maypole was an idolatrous abOminatiOn 10
those OF our forefathers who turned "the
sword OF the Lord and OF Gideon" against
the primitive red citizens OF New England
1.-The Christmas tree blooms with new
splendor every year. 1t is set up even
IN the conventleles and New salems which
the Pilgrims established. and as its green
branches glow with their precious freight
Of scarlet and gold, around II danoe-tango.
In faet-the descendants OF John Alden and
Priscilla Mullens.
These things. / said are natural fruits
OF after-Christmas medltations And the
Christmas tree remains although the gifts
that surrounded Il have been taken away,
Il Is a pleasanter sight than Il was yes
terday, because II Is already a beautiful
old friend. a friend 70 whom We are crate
ful IL does not look ridiculous because
It's great day Is gone, as, for example a
hrecraoker looks ridiculous on July s. For
Christmas ls more than a day Il Is 3 sea-
son Of which December 25 Is only the
COMMENCEMENT And as the Christmas tree
seems pleasanter and more friendly when
some Of IFS needles have formed little green.
aromatic heaps on the carpet and when
the china angel and tive or three of the
red glass balls have been taken down Tor
the baby % play Wifh-so does the Christ
mas season seem pleaaanteF and more
friendly when its hrst sreat feaat and
pageant has come q It's Joyous Close aud
become 3 pari of times rich treasury of
golden asys