The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, DECEMBER- 24, 1927. CHRISTMAS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 December 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, DECEMBER- 24, 1927. CHRISTMAS.

The festive season is with us again. The recurring Christmas season is a special stage in the yearly round. It makes a break entirely different to any other period of the year, and has associations and interests entirely to itself. Christmas suggests reunions and rejoicings; happy time for the home, all the happier where children are concerned. The juvenile has special privileges at this season, for Santa Claus makes his rounds and what small boy or girl is not on the qui vive for wliat that man of mystery will produce, beside each tiny stocking in the early morning. The children will he on the alert from the earliest hours with their trophies of goodwill, and enjoying much happiness and pleasure from the surprise gifts which are associated so much with this season of the year. Nor is the pleasure of the occasion confined only to the children. Parents and relatives interested in the young folk take a delight in maintaining all the mystery they .can about the visit of Father Christmas, and join in the early morning pleasures of their charges

when with cries of delights, the gifts which came down the chimney in the dark night, are revealed to the admiring eyes of the new possessors. The spirit of Christmas appears to he contagious in such .surroundings, and the rejoicings arc genuine and sustained. Rut the spirit of giving is not confined only to the young folk. Their seniors take pleasure in remembering old friends; in extending kindly greetings in season ; in giving the hearty handclasp; in recalling old limes ami other •genes with the friends of their youth. With Christmas there comes crowded memories of the years that are past, of other days when perhaps, the blood was young, and life wa; gayer, lint in the minds of all, there is always the present, and the message of Christmas is always in the same setting, a.iul induces a view of good humor. of Christian charity ami neighlmiirly friendliness. The spirit of Christmas in that great respect brings out m much that is best in human nature. It tutors, if it does not correct, and assists to mould character, so that each and all are, or should he the hotter for passing through, a period marked for rejoicing, yet observed not as a Irolte, hut as something earnest and pertaining to the good will which should he manifested one to the other. Alter all. life is real and life is earnest, and to make Christmas real is to respect il in the earnest spirit intended, and by putting in more than is taken out, make to others a Christmas reality. It' wouJd he hard to substitute anything else for Christmas, lit Russia, where there is the revolt against the at large, the attempt is being made. But it will tie found there is not anv real substitute, and as communism has failed in its effort to do without • tal, so must it fail to find n panacea which can take the place of all that Is so very beautiful and lasting af rit tin honoring of Gliristmastide. Wit 1 I’ observance and enjoyment of f there is so much that is natural t!ia‘ anything artificial will pall. The rejoicing of the young and the cheer of the old are two factors which are 11 foundation of that good will so readily expressed amongst Christian people. The seasonable reminder recalls the world at large to the obligation- and liei'es.sitics of life, and the out.iome is an all round lietlerinenf which makes more and more for universal peace and good will So we have an exposition if the lasting spirit, of Christmas which carries the eternal message far and wide, and which we rc-eelm again with pleasure and gratification at the privilege of doing so once more to our readers. in wishing them A MERRY CHRISTMAS.