A PLEA FOR SANTA CLAUS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2219, 23 December 1920, Page 1

A PLEA FOR SANTA CLAUS.

We usually call St. Nicholas Santa Claus or Father Christmas. He is a mysterious person, generally pictured with a long white beard, and wearing a red furred robe. On Christmas Eve he comes down the chimney carrying a large sack full of toys, with a selection of which he fills the children’s stockings Jianging up in readiness. This is (he legend on which we have all been brought up, and no matter how prosaic (he future generations may lie, if is a tradijion that will lie probald v handed down for all (ime.

The original St. Nicholas was a famous bishop of Myra, a town in Lessor Asia, and is 1 here fore not pf German origin, as is so often imagined. He lived as far back as the fourth century, and spent his life doing good deeds, usually by stealth, which is probably why the Father Christmas of to-day distributes his gifts when everyone is in the land of dreams. Santa Claus is the Flemish and Dutch contractions for St. Nicholas, and the idea of hanging up a Christmas slocking is said to have originated in Belgium. If is always sad when children liinl out for the first time that Simla Clans is only a camouflage for their father or some other member of the family, but there are other illusions of babyhood, such as Sand Man and Bogey Man (with which no wise mother will make her children acquainted), as well as fairies, elves, and mermaids, and all (he myriad creations of (he realm of imagination, and when we were young we loved them all. Children should not become realists too soon; the longer they'can believe in fairy tales Iho better for them, and the happier thev are. So, long live Santa Claus!