IN THE OLD SPIRIT

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 151, 23 December 1921, Page 11

IN THE OLD SPIRIT

"HERE'S WISHING YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS" A FEW REFLECTIONS. (For The Post.) Christmas, as Charles Dickens paints it, is a "good time, a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time, in tho long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely." Thank goodness, the Spirit of Christmas is not affected by climatic conditions— be it fair weather or foul, the hot sunshine of our Southern Christmas, or the snow and frost, of the North, the season of Good-will to all men finds warm hearts in every corner of the earth. Of , course, there are kinked individuals here and there who scoff at phristmas, and all it means to the averI age man, woman, or child. It took a curtain lecture by the ghost of his late partner, Marley, to change old Scrooge from a misanthropist to a philanthropist. Ghosts are more or less out of date now; that is, the old-fash-ioned, chain-clanking ghosts of our grandfathers' days. Our modern ghosts are called by a different name, and do not condescend to appear before every idle person who happens to stray into a nice, gloomy place; they are more particular as to the company they keep. But we're getting away from Christmas, which will never do, though we feel sure our readers will pardon this slight digression, especially as the subject of ghosts is really a "Christmassy" one after all. j As we were spying when Marley's ghost interrupted our train of thought, even the stoniest-hearted person Is affected, by the geniality of this jovial season. Who can resist the hearty greeting of "A Merry Christmas"— there's something about thesfe three words that brings cheer to the saddest heart, and, for the moment, makes dull care take a back seat. Business may have been bad all year, things generally have been going to the "demnition bowbows," everything is "umpty-doo," as our modern youth express it s but: that does not prevent you from-wishing all and sundry "A Merry Christmas." The mere repeating of these words to your friends will have a wonderful effect upon you. -Before the day is-out you'll be looking at affairs in a better light, and a feeling of optimism and determination to overcome all difficulties will pervade your whole being. - i Leave your troubles at the office or shop on Christmas Eve, especially if you are the father of wee boys and girls. You can't imagine Santa Claus (who is, I or should be, a composite of every daddy in the whole wide world) scurrying about from house to house with a face as long as a fiddle and a heart full of misgiving. No jolly fear, good old Santa is always merry and- bright, his face is beaming with the joy of giving, and his heart is brimming over with gladness. When you steal softly into the kiddies' room and act the part of Santa Claus, go as he would.

And in the morning, long before the usual getting-up time, join in the unrestrained delight of the boys and girls who tear into your bedroom to show off their gifts. Admire the beautiful hair and languishing eyes of "dolls, the wonderful construction of the toy car, the, exquisite pictures in the story books. Be a boy again, not an imitation boy, but a real dinkum boy, full of fun, yes, and mischief! A day like that will do you | more good than all the worrying you could cram into a year. As a matter of i fact, as a tonic for "tired business men," such a Christmas is miles ahead of all the patient medicines or pick-me-ups in | the world. Just try it and see if it isn't ] —you'll be telling your friends all about the great time you've had and wishing' them a belated, .but most welcome, "Merry Christmas," or a "Happy New Year." And so, as we have already observed, "A Merry Christmas" to you, and may you and -all belonging to you have a pleasant time and lots and lots of Christmas cheer.—By R. Hill.