The Southern Cross PUBLISHED WEEKLY. Invercargill, Saturday, Dec. 22. Christmas '94.

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 39, 22 December 1894, Page 12

The Southern Cross PUBLISHED WEEKLY. Invercargill, Saturday, Dec. 22. Christmas '94.

Christmas has again come round, and on. all sides we hear lamentations aboht the dullness of the times, the scarcity of money, the depreciation of property, the low price of vyool and grain, and the question suggests itself —Is material prosperity to be the only thing of importance with ns ? Would it not be better rather to consider whether we as a community have increased in charity—whether we are more helpful, less carping and narrow-minded, and more tolerant in our judgment of each other ? Por surely a greater attainment than the mere acquisition of wealth is to have a high ideal, and to live as nearly as possible up to it. Even though we fail in much that we seek to accomplish, to have had the desire, to have made the effort, will count for something ; and after all, as someone has well said, “ not failure, but low aim, is crime.” Yet even if we judge by material things alone, we have good reason to be satisfied. The large area of land already under cultivation is being steadily added to, and people who landed on our shores with no capital but strong arms and brave hearts have good cause for gratulation, many of them having comfortable homes, their children settled near them, and in a fair way to prosperity. They work hard, it is true, but what better lot can fall to a man than to have a full, busy life, strong, healthy children, and the piospect of future ease and success P These well-to-do settlers and their families were very much in evidence at the recent exhibition of the Southland A. and P, Association. Oar streets were crowded and it take a good deal to crowd them — with stalwart, well-dressed, prosperous - looking country folks, and it was then borne in upon us that •ndule they could turn out in such

force and condition things were not so bad as tbe despondent would have us believe. Let us, then, have faith in ourselves and in one another, sothat of each of us it may be said—“A man, he seems, of cheerful yesterdays And confident to-morrows-” We set out with the intention of writing at greater length, but must cry a halt. The things we meant to say have been better said by some of our contributors, who seem to have entered into a friendly conspiracy to anticipate the orthodox Christmas article. “ Linda ” has given readers of the Home Circle her views on Christinas fare, and deals a blow at a custom that will notwithstanding die hard, associated as it is with memories of the old Home Land. “ Scotch Thistle ” moralises in his own characteristic fashion on the outlook social and political ; and other correspond, ents also have their references to Christmas topics. They each and all sound a hopeful note. We cannot do better than fall into line, and, at a time when friendly greetings from friend to friend aie speeding o’er land and sea, close by wishing the readers of the Southeeh Cross A MERRY CHRISTMAS and A HAPPY HEW YEAR.