Paradoxes.

tell us , and none can enter into the bitterness of their souls . But it is plain they find Christmas always a disappointment , an illusion , and a positive fraud . For the matter of that , any birthday , any anniversary , any day of rejoining whatever , may be turned into sorrow , or at least have its drawbacks . Every memento of the past , indeed every reminder of the future too , has its dai-k side . It is quite plain that , unless we would render this nothing else than v . vale of tears and a valley of the shadow of death , we must learn to make the best of things , even of this much lamented , much carped at , institution of Christmas . Nature , so far as she can be interpreted by her works , evidently intends that the gay should prevail over the sad , the brightness over the gloom . "

Despite all his evident unwillingness to acknowledge the Christmas season either in its religious aspect , or its social beneficence , or its humanitarian utility , the writer has to admit that Christmas is , exists , is observed . But then he-starts this " paradox , " that it is observed with repugnance . Christmas , which is kept wherever the Anglo-Saxon race is to be found ! Christmas , which is kept in all christian nations ! Christmaswhich the gloomy Puritan

, and the Presbyterian journalist have objected to , and which is yet observed more and more year by year . In Scotland , for instance , Christmas , once looked upon with repugnance , is becoming carefully observed . Why , oh propounder of paradoxes , we may well ask ? The answer is , indeed , difficult to find or give . And then , as if fearing that such a paradox was too startling , he goes on to say : —

" It certainly is not according to the order of nature that people should break into remonstrant cries or mope with hidden melancholy at Christmas time , as dogs are wont , to howl at the sound of church bells . But there is a basis of truth in this otherwise unmanly repugnance to join a common festivity . No doubt Chi-istmas has always a sad tale to tell and sad warnings to give us . This cannot be helped , and we have to face it . We cannot abolish things by turning our heads the other way . If the family circle itself , or its enforced substitute , is duller and more broken every year , and if its interests are neither newer nor livelier from lapse of time and stress of circumstances , this may tax our spirits or our ¦ invention , but it is not a matter to ba ignored altogether . Whatever our duty was in the matter it still remains . "

If this most mysterious sentence means anything , it means this , that as Christmas is here and will be observed , let us , as contemptuous philosophers , bear with the " frailt y " of our " poor humanity , " and let us heroically resolve to accept its good things , and mix in its social gatherings . It is a great condescension on the part of such great philosophers as we are no doubt to-day , but there it is . The " role " of pure philosophof hiher methaphysicsof

y , g , expanded intelligence , of superior intellect , of "bottled moonshine , " is to demean itself to the requirements of frail mortals in this sublunary scene . As we entirely disagree with the writer , we think it right to say so , and to point out that to very many of our toiling and scattered brethren Christmas is the one rallying point of common laborious life , the centre of domestic reunion and family rejoicing ; and though it has its sadder side and its subduing memories

in that it tells us yearly how our roll-call lessens , how many are missing , how many we shall no more see amongst us , it has a most wholesome and elevating , if chastening effect upon us all , be we who we may , in the memories it recalls and the aspirations it unfolds , the associations it blesses and the traditions it reveres . We are glad , however , to be able to agree with the writer ' s peroration , in which he very eloquently and fitly points out the humanitarian

and benevolent uses to which Christmas may be put by us . We only regret that a love of paradox , very depressing and almost perverse , shall have so tainted and marred the able words of so skilled and so polished a writer . We deny once more that Christmas is " disappointing " to the " true in heart . " It may not always here bring happiness or pleasure , peace or joy to us poor mortals , but all these things often here depend on circumstances over which we have no control . Suffice it to say , that Christmas properl y enjoyed is ever a source of unfeigned happiness to many a glad heart , of reunion and intercommunion to more .