Show THE BRITISHERS DAY The Observaftce of Christmas in England THE HOLIDAY ENJOYMENTS Wherever tboiHalo of Christmas li Seen To ere 1VJ11 Jts Effects be Felt oJ S LONDON December 1885 Correspondence of THE HERALD Christmas in England is a period with which all who have ever read Dickens are happily familiar To such as have not read his works and would like to knew something about the manner in which the English do celebrate this season sea-son the advice would be to read Dickens Dick-ens What jt is in Scotland and Ireland Ire-land is another thing In Ireland north it is observed as a holiday in the cities Friday and Saturday being given over to festivities of a very subdued nature compared with the unbounded Idvishness which characterizes its celebration cele-bration In England and America In these countries and in others the enthusiasm en-thusiasm is increasing and there is little doubt that the time wilt come when it wilt be as widely and generously observed ob-served in Scotland and Ireland as it is possible for the respective inhabitants of these countries to observe any day As it is presents are given to a limited extent while postal authorities find it necessary to make extra provisions for the distribution ofincreased mail consequent conse-quent uponthe extension bf the season s compliments through the medium ot embellished cardboards on which is printed a variety sentiments calculated calcula-ted to mtet the widest possible range of tastes among toe legion of the fastidious Little by little tho lower or poorer classes imbibe the habits and tastes of the richer and while unable to go to the same extent they nevertheless show that we are of one family J from the fact that it is very easy for tnem to imbibe of the tastes and feelings of the more educated and to enter into the sense of those delicate sentiments which bind I the human race with a feeling and re lish that does good to the heart of one who has learned to associate with the memory ofChrislmas some of the dearest thoughts and tenderest of feelings The time may come therefore when the poor people of Ireland will display more real affection for Xmas than they do now when they may view it in a light somewhat different from a mere holiday and when that time does arrive ar-rive the appreciation of the wealthier class will in all probability assume something of the nature that is displayed by those of their own level in England and in America One thing is certain no weather was ever invented for the season that could be lovelier than it has bacn the last two days The seasons seem changed about Belfast Instead Ot snow ana ice or siusn ana cola the sunshine has been incomparable and the glow and warmth which goes right through a fellows heart even in summer sum-mer has filled this part of the world with new life and makes it difficult for one to overcome the feeling that the season is sadly though delightfully out of joint There is one thing further that is the outgrowth of the season and which be cdtnes more and more pronounced with each recurrence of the time It is the public prints The Christmas holiday editions of standard publications are unusually fine hereabouts and judging from the inovations in Christmas cards it becomes quite evident that the card artists have entered the domain and been stealing some of the fire of the patent pat-ent medicine man and the fellow who gets up the illuminated cards for tobac conists The Christmas number of the London Graphic is a perfect beauty in its way Everything is suited to the occasion The same enthusiasm how eyer is not displayed here that one son in America Taste does much and art I is fast getting to be all in nil Xot only do the patJons public prints demand there matter and such as is suitable to the occasion but they scrutinize the tpographical appearance and exnmice the quality of the paper and if any of thesef U short woe bd unto the pub lishers The strides in the printing of seasonable cards has been both rapid and marked and if the tone of the senti ments used show a corresponding improvement im-provement a great objection would be overcome In addition to the cOloring which has long been used there are instances where the most perfectast is displny Th8 t1euidingof OlQfiJ titastq is worthy theartist and usthesesons go one finds those insufferable daubs which are a disgrace alikKijftnTfaste j of tha buyer and to fhe jrihter happily be coming fewer In the arrjngdment shape arid coloring of flowers this sea a sons cards the better classOf course lead one ta believe that perfection has been attained A feature that ieems to Be gamingm iavor is onethatbrines the photographers art into requisition I have noticed many cards jvithscenes tVIYr Mv ti natf11n U Tjt from nature rn on them among thesgnes being seeal with wjjJch Iamacqnai ted and they are excellent macqaain TheideaJs a very px tty one ll nd in time will doubtless develop so as to result in mall reproductions of the works of celebrated landscape artistsdbc color ing being no less a featuretham truth to nature Suck an innovation Vouldne very pleasant and wnile the cost would be considerable there seems little reason to doubtthat I jt Qu4s onoeomA renIuuort5Ve5aj tJ Well it is overChristmas day but not the holiday seasopv X theJargar towns Fndavand today arplbott > days and the1 fun is consequently bounded Everything told anHstjlL the tale of XSnkr fnd t Jone J haVOD windowgJwhereln erqrything tempting p g IDa yerj difTerent scpse averagedavs 3 Ptt but enhanced by the season is dis played not In thaf peculiar smile which I recollect fo have nateIjferred to one Tear ago as theChristma3 grin DQtrn the extraordinary crowds on the streets nor in the indefinite nUmber ol parcels which nearly every pedestrian carries ThrotiglI U lIesepointeiith u carriCi unerrine certainty to the fact that tJiig blessed day has Tjeen and Is now numbered with the past it seems to be a season devoted not only to the joy of the hour yet alive but invites contemplation on the future To those who already blessed it seems to be thcassuring omen of greater and deeper joys to those whose hearts are bowed and who more Keenly feel the pangs of parting and the losses that cannot be replaced this side of what we piacticaliy call time because of the abounding pleasures of others it Rives promises of the coming of a day When all will be yet well and however dark the gloom ray of hopes sunshine still penetrates the beclouded heart and lights up the face for a moment mo-ment at least with the radiance of a smile that may not have been known for long days past It also brings a flood of recollections upon every one Wherever the halo of Christmas is seen there will iti effects befelt It is so easy for the mind to take these Christmas steps into the past and revisit in the minds eye those scenes and once more feel in the pulsations of the heart those asperations that kindled our younger dreams To the oldest the past brings its treasures and even the hardened sinner with the recurrence oE the day must have awakened within him some regrets while the heart responds to the smile of gentle faces and the accents of loving voices that were familar long long ago i now seen and heard through the mists of years i and which come freighted with the memory of the good and bad of our lives that was then unknown un-known Christmas is a great purifier During the year Ihe fouutain of the heart cloys i the weeds of error the moss of prejudice and the dead leaves of animosity an-imosity check its free flow and were it not for the periodical cleaning which Christmas seems to give it one might fear it would dry up and be lost But for a time at least its flow is free again I and the higher impulses of our nature assert themselves and we are the better for it And this is one of the missions I of that ever blessed It be day may uncomfortable un-comfortable to think of ones misdeeds I and speaking from many individual experiences ex-periences I can emphasize the declaration declara-tion that it is but I question if one ever thinks of misspent time but it quickens his resolves fora better life in the future Even if the resolves are as fleeting as the rainbow they am none the less corrective cor-rective andbeneficial after the immediate immedi-ate remembrance of them passes away I have heard of a man who and while ober proposed in dead earnest as a Christmas toast Mothers in law If that toast is authentic no other argument argu-ment need be advanced ending to show the softening effect of this day upon the soul Such a toast is argument unanswerable un-answerable WANDEBEB |