Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-12-09
ANCIENT STORY
HAS A PRESENT
time PARALLEL
J,owell'S @YiSion of Sir Launf@,"
applicable TO Conditions
That Exist TODAY.
HELP THOSE AT DOORSTEP
Argus Santa Claus Committee Asks
aid OF Public In Carrying
Nmas Joy TO Children

A present DAY pALAi1ei may De
found IN James Russell Lowell's
immortal poem, The Vision OF Sir
LaunfaI." wherein is related
story OF charity and humble bro
sherry love which accomplishes
success in the finding OF the Holy
Grail. "a cup OF one great sap
nLire' out OF which Jesus drank
wine at the last supper with his
disciples. Sir LauEfAI, in his Wis
ion, starts upon the guest of the
Holy Grail with his heart full of
high euprise. As he daShes from
mis- castle gate clad in shining mail.
into the light and fragrance of the
summer morning, beGgar crouch
ing at the gate shocks his dainty
sense. for as yet he sees only with
a bodily eye. He filings a piece OF
gold IN scOrn to the lepers as the
only answer TO the fellow creatures
appeal. But in the long years CT
ms vain quest. his vision IS purS-
ed and spiritUaIiZCd BY suffering;
his eyes are hathed in human sym
patty. When he returns on thTlst-
mas day. an Old, worn man, 10 ind
his earIdom seized by another, and
TO be himself driven from his pal
ace gate into the shelteTleSS storm,
Die sees no longer with the bodily
eve the husk of things, but with
the eve Of the spirit their real es-
sence Beneath the rags and sores
of the leper he sees q brother made
in the image Of God, and shares
with him his crust and his draught
Of water Then, suddenly before
his ast0nlshed eyes. the leper
rises and stands radiant, the very
Christ IN whose name the aims
are given. ~ard the wooden bowl
with which he has dipped the wat
or from the frozen stream sways
before him as a chalice of dazzling
sapphire. filled with his Lords
blood. The Holy Grail, that he had
sought through the ends OF the
earth. he finds at his own palace
gate, because there Tor the first
time he has been perfect in char
ity-
The lesson is a fine one and the
story is applicable to the present
day life. There are TO be found
at our very door steps those who
need help those the helping Of
whom viii give US the greatest JOY
in the wOrld-the fuIflIment Of the
biblical Injunction that it is more
blessed to give than TO receive.
The Argus Santa Claus commit
tee is organized for the purpose
OF helping those at the City's door
step who through misfortune or
sickness are 10 be denied the joys
Of the Christmas season. The
children are its special care. It
is the right Of every child, be he
of the family Of the rich or the
family Of the poor, to have as his
own some of the great happiness
that comes with the holiday sea
son. It is the time Of the year that
belongs TO the children for it is the
birthday Of the Christ Child
None Disappointed
There are little folks who viii
wake Christmas morning 10 find
empty stockings, where they had
expected to find them filled with
at least some of the good things
about which they have long dream
ed and for which they have long
wished. unless you assist The Ar
gus santa Claus committee in fill
ing those stockings. The children
must not be allowed TO wake to
this bitter disappointment You
no doubt remember at some time
the disappCiu tment that Won eX-
per5euceG when some special ar
-fcIo that you particularly wished
was not there Christmas morning,
even though you had a great many
other things. Can't you easily
IMAGINE the keen grief of the child
who nai expected at least one gift
and found nothing?
Such conditions really did exist; 4
not only in the poor districts of
the great cities, but right here in
Rock Island until The Argus Santa
Claus committee took up the work
of bringing happiness TO the child .
rem
VIII Won assist the committee .
10 carry the spirit of the holy morn 7.
I'D the little children, by cOntribut-
Ing YOUR shEre2 Who knows but f.
that this sharing OF your gifts viii .
bring TO you the vision t hat Sir
Lauufal saw at his palace gate, .
the fu1Gllmeut Of the quest that
has taken YOU in mind, at least, to
the ends If the earth
Tho time is getting short. Your
contribution should be sent a.
once 10 The Argus and it VIII be
turned over to the committee for
10 TO use in the purchase OF Christ /
mas gifts.
C1rF - f~Ea-