" 1.._._ Entered in the Post Ofiice as a Newspaper FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1895. THE WEATHER—Today, clear and colder. To morrow continued cold and partly cloudy followed by slightly ris- ing temperature possibly snow at night. Saturday partly cloudy slightly warmer high winds and probably snow. .m The World’s Christmas. What shall be said of to-morrow’s sweet and hallowed anniversary, save that time and custom have made it dearer to all hearts with the passing of the years? Poets and miustrels have sung of it for nearly nineteen centur- ies. Through all that time and with ever-growing potency its name has been a word to conjure with for kind- ness, love, and sympathy. Ithas come to include within its tender bonds of practice and observance, not only the religious followers of the Christ who was born to man that day, but the dwellers in all Christian lands of what- soever faith and creed. It is more than an anniversary of the church. It isthe anniversary of a noble civilization—of a splendid and embracing charity of which Jesus said it was greater than either hope or faith. - Christmas calls us to better deeds than more religious pageantry. It ap- peals to a deeper and a more exalted sentiment than that of theologic LI ob- servance. It admonishes 'us of our duty to humanity, of our obligations of mercy, affection and beneficence. It touches the heart. It speaks to us of motherhood, of infancy, of every purifying and endearing influence that radiates from the cradle, the hearth- stone, and the family circle. It reasserts the brotherhood of man, proclaims the duty of the strong to the weak, 0 the happy to the afflicted, of the prosperous to the iriendless, destitute and forlorn. On this one day, if never again through- out the year, we put aside our feuds, our suspicious, and our animosities, the breathless quest of gain, the hard in- difference to others’ woes. Our hearts are open to every gentle prompting. We close them to every thought of harshness and intolerance. ~on. ‘WEEKLY If Christ had done nothing more than this by coming into the world—if He had not replaced the cruelty and ven- geance and barbariam of the Mosaic period with the unutterable ten- derness‘and sweetness of the message from the Mount of Olives; if He had ' left us only this softening memory, this anniversary of love—He would still be thegreatest benefactor mankind has ever known; the apostle of the most magnificent gospel vouchsafed to the dwellers of the earth. Let us all be thankful for this day. Like an oasis in the arid desert of our selfish cares and struggles, it comes to us a vision of peace, a refuge of flowers and foliage, a music of clear waters, an interlude of grace“ and kindness. We stop in our weary journey to rest be-~ neath the shade, and this hiatus in our toil and struggle we give to sympathy and love. Whether we look to the evangelists, to the New Testament or to “Eece Homo” for an identification of Christ’s chraracter and mission, at least we can all agree that He was the teacher of a beautiful and surpassing creed of sweetness; that He spoke for the tenderest compassion and the most exalted morality that has been pro- claimed to men. He was the advocate of justice, truth, forgiveness, love. and charity. Against the lurid cloud of vengeance, terror, and reprisal that overhung the human race He fiXed the radient bow of promise, hope, and mercy. Millions worship Him asaGod and a Redeemer. All honor and revere Hun as a messenger of grace. The story of His passion and His agony in Gethsemane will touch men’s hearts as long as they are open to noble and ten- der and refining influences. The pic- ture of His martyrdom will always have a meaning for the world. This is the anniversary of His birthday—the birth- any of one who, whether He were God or man, reclaimed mankind from bar- barism and made our present civiliza- tion possible. \Ve owe Him much; let us pay some slight installment of our debt by practicing the love, the charity, the human kindness of which He was the prophet and the priest! not ——Owing to the continued illness of Mr. Frank I. Jones, the crockery store No.23 Wall street will sell goods for the next 20 days at a great sacrifice. This is the place and now is the time for Bargains d17 if PIPES- THE EVENING GAZETTE nonWALn- CHECKER-BOARD BUSINESS DIRECTORY. N ORWALK Firs Insurance Co. In Successful Oper- atlon Since 1860, No Outsranding Claims. Sites For Rent. VARIABLES STORED IN Safe Deposit Vault OF THE NATIONAL BANK OF NORWALK. EMBOSSING DONEZIAT THIS OFFICE. GAZETTE ADS. BRING GOOD RESULTS 6. Ward Selleck, BEST Goons. TEAS and COFFEES 18 WALL ST. Frank T. Hyatt DENTIST, 8 West Avenue. Edgar Buttery? N u rseryman , NORWALK. CONN. Trees. Shrubs and Plants. strawber ry Plants 8. Specialty. Brandy Wine. Bio and Marshel. see other Ofiicsv, a6 Watel St. Nurs’ ys. Br oad River. ENTERPRISE Bottling Works, 7 Wall Street. m: MES AID mam Exrnnssm FOR FAM- ILY USE. Mail orders receive prompt attention. FRED A. WALTER, MAKER or AND DEALER IN HARNESS AND Herrera GOODS. Repamng of all kinds done at short notice. Harness made to or- der 9. specialty. 3 ll! NST. NORWALK, - - Coxx. TRY WEED’S SODA WATER 38 Wall St. PARLOR BABBEB-:-SHOP, H. S. LEOBOLD. 4-7 M aln Street. w. H. BYINGTOON INSURANCE. Room I. Smile Building. Painting. Pa er Hanging. Ka semin- ing and Hardwood Finishing. I}. l. PLATT, 52 Wilton Avenue, Norwalk, Conn. Send for book con- taining samples. Job Printing EVERY DESCRIPTION EXECUTED AT THE SAZETTEDFFIGE r The Greatest Display PIPES. of Pipes in the Twin dudes, At “the lowest prices ever offered- Imported, Clear Havana, Key West and Domestic Cigars. is. mm: m S'I'ililll BEFORE Puncnnsma voun onnlsms ”assumes: O E. BARKER The Finest Line of Smoking Tobaccos Mahackemo Hotel Block. SOUTH NORWALK
Norwalk Chronicler