The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-12-12

running on the joys of Christmas in the home
joys which have no end For, aside from its othef
manifold aspects, Christmas Day is pre-eminently
a holiday of the home and the family. And Its
symbol is the Christmas tree, as its basic idea Is
the Christmas cradle in Bethlehem. And the sof-
tening influence of Christmas in the home radiates
its influence everywhere until he Is a queer man
indeed who does not wish In all sincerity his neigh
Dor a Merry Christmas
Yes; Christmas time is a veritable %contagion Of
happiness overlooking into merriment. Childhood
thrills at the thought of 1t. Youth halls it with
delight. Maturity gives it welcome. Old age
grows young again in its joys. Our social instincts
have fair play. for once. Hospitality comes into
its own. It is a beautiful season. Writes Shake
speaEe:
Some say that ever 'gainst that season comes,
Wherein our Saviour's birth Is celebrated.
The bird of dawning sinseth all night long,
And then they say no spirit dare stir abroad;
The nights are wholesome-then noeplanets striker
No fairy takes, no witch hath power to charm
So hallowed and 20 gracious is the time
Another picture-that of a great turkey ranch
in California-sets our mouths to watering for
the Christmas dinner. And why not? The man
or woman or hid who doesn't await It with
eagerness is not normal and should be put In soil
tary confinement for the day. Nature gave US the
joy of satisfying a healthy appetite and 1t is not
hard to believe that the good old dame created the
turkey especially for Christmas-and Thanksgiv-
ing. If anyone dare deny that cooking is a fine
art in the presence of the Christmas turkey-oh.
what's the use!
Great is the good cheer" of Christmas time.
But there is more 70 It than the Christmas tree
and the Christmas feast. AND in our heart Of
hearts we all know it-every one of US. That
is why all the world celebrates the day. The
spirit of the day is kindness. gentleneSs, forgive
ness. liberation. This spirit appeals to all of US.
1t could not appeal to US ifwe did not believe In
our capacity to respond to it. Century by century
the gospel of Jesus of Nazareth has forced home
these points, says Prof. Hartley Burr Alexander,
in Mature and Human nature:
First. refuge for the weak, aims to the poor.
freedom fer the slave; then chivalry, and all that
fine devotion TO the cause Of the helpless and the
bapless which. through the spread OF christianity
brought A raw of illumination into the barbarism
of the Dark Ages; and finally, under the caves OF
our own years. tie recognition of the rights, poiu-
cal and economic and uman- OF all men and women
and children. Z all humanity, TO participation IN
~ eraat hone of nlnkind. These things have
been affirmed by Christianity from the Gay OF us
founder; and IL is the yiger OF THIS ANIMATION
which has put into democracy d ~ P'"e
and a living fore
The World war tore away the foundations Of
onr conceits" and "stript US of our suficiencies.
But the world has attempted TO supersede the
cosnel with various articles Of reason and logic
Who shall say that man does not beieVe IN ana
want goodness and beauty and feel the dearth Of
tbem7 Who shall say that the salvation of a cha
otto world is not The Golden Rule'-the spirit
of christmas extended to every day of the year?
sovs win Irwin in Christ or Mars;
7, all the Christian sects, combining with one
another and with Judalsm on us slLs -
dsurbters in the illusion and immortality or war.
we should within a year marx the ehaNsHs my"