The Daily News SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23. CHRISTMAS GREETINGS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8011, 23 December 1905, Page 2

The Daily News SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23. CHRISTMAS GREETINGS.

O.nce more the festive season —the : season of gladness and goodwill—is 1 with us, and the time-honoured greetings of " A Happy Christmas" are heard on all sides. It is a poor heart that cannot rejoice once a year at least, and it is well that there is a particular period at which cares may for the time being be laid aside, and existence brightened with glad smiles and cheery words. To most of us it recalls the happy days of our youth with its innocent revelry and eager expectation as to what Santa Ohms or Father Christmas would bestow on \is out of his bounteous store of good things, and in the joy of the young folk to-day we live our life over again. To those who pause to think the season recalls the centuries that have elapsed since the joyful news was proclaimed of the birth of the "Prince of Peace." Wars have not ceased, nor have they been shorn of their terrors, but the blessings o' Christianity have spread and increased, and to-day the result is seen on all sides. Tho key-note of th e festival is happiness, and the dominant note is unselfishness. If we are too well on in years to join in the exciting and exhilarating merriment of the younger folk, we can still be happy by miking others happy. No matter how we are' Circumstanced, it is always possible to cirry out the ruling sentiment of the Christmas season. All Cluistiin countries observe tile festival, though noli in the same way, yet it is universality that gives additional significance to the " time of joy," because it brings home to us the common bond of brotherhood that unites humanity. It is not the ringing of bells or the singing of carols that makes Christmas what 1 it is, nor is it the gathering round

the festive board by .scattered units of families. The lonely pioneer in the backblocks can feel the influence of the season as keenly as the. dweller in the city, and can be just as happy, if not more so. The reason is that, in a world of strife and stiiving we have a, break, and for one day at least can realise that there is " Peace

on and good will to men." If there is one country where Christmas should be nil actual period of re. joieing it is Now Zealand, where the people br.ve many blessings aud privileges that are denied to others. Peace and goodwill should be a reality here if anywhere. A happy and prosperous community can far more genuinely exchange the season's greetings than whore the wail of the starved and tattered rings in tho ears of the wayfarer. Wo have our poor, but no starvation, atid this should add to our pleasure at this season of the year. It is then with hearty goodwill that we wish our readers, in the fullest acceptation of the phrase, " A Haiti Cheistmas."