Gresham outlook., December 16, 1921, HOLIDAY NUMBER, Image 1

SECTION ONE. PAGES 1 TO 8
HJüliúay d u m b e r
Q r m u b r r 1G, 192:
G resham O utlook
T W IC E
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copyright
TUESDAYS
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FRIDAYS
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AUTOCAfiTEk tf a-
The Origin of Santa Claus
good boys and girls of this community we have
It’s about the origin of Santa Claus—
or good old .Saint Nicholas, who soon will be here
spreading his message of Love.
Saint Nicholas was one of the dignitaries of the
early Christian church. Of his personal history
hardly anything is known, but he is supposed to
have been Bishop of Myra, in Lycia, a long time
ago. How long ago cannot be definitely stated, but certain it
is that he lived prior to the reign of the Roman emperor,
Justinian.
The popular account has it that Saint Nicholas was a
confessor of the faith in the time of the last persecution of the
Christians, and later sat in the great assembly known as the
Council of Nice, in the year 325 A. D.
This would make Saint Nicholas upwards of 1700 years
old, but he still lives—for the good never die.
In England, in ancient times, the “Feast of St. Nicholas”
was celebrated with great solemnity in the public schools. It
is still observed in some countries.
In Germany, on the vigil of the feast, Saint Nicholas, or
some duly accredited representative of his, costumed as a
bishop, assembles the children of the family or school, and
Cl, a messa£e-
DISTRIBUTES TO TH E GOOD CHILDREN gilded
nuts, sweetmeats and other little gifts—as a reward of good
conduct. The not-so-good boys and girls, as a punishment,
get the switch, or “klaubauf.”
Soon Saint Nicholas, or “Santa Claus,” or “Kriss
Kringle,” whichever you’ve a mind to call him—for he’s one
and the same person, will VISIT us again, same as in grand­
father’ s day, same as he’s been doing once a year these
THOUSAND years—spreading JOY and LOVELINESS,
and will ever CONTINUE to do, so long as BABIES keep
coming into the world.
But this is a progressive AGE. While once he traveled
in a SLED, and whisked from place to place with the speed
of the light, drawn by his magic reindeer, nations have grown
so big, and so many CHILDREN in ’em, as to have made it
absolutely NECESSARY for the good St. Nick to ENGAGE
help in the distribution of Christmas cheer.
Branches have been established in EVERY COMMU­
NITY, and BUSINESS HOUSES have been commissioned
In Santa Claus to LSI'. THEIR STORES, their SALES­
PEOPLE, their DELIVERY WAGONS, and all kinds of
means, to enable him to cover his territory in TIM E.
Santa Claus Has Agents in Your Home Town
LMOST every Christmas season calls forth a new and
appropriate slogan. This year it is, “Do your Christmas
Buying at Home.” That is, spend all the money you can
with your home merchants in preference to going away to
spend your money.
Help your home community by helping your home mer­
chants. If they haven’t what you need, ask them about it—
give them a chance to get it for you, if possible. YOUR
A
kX:
VOL.
11,
NO. 84
Published at Gresham, Oregon, by Outlook Publishing Co.
HOME MERCHANTS WANT TO SERVE YOU. They
want to accommodate you, if within reason. You owe it to
them, to your home town, to yourself, to your family, to co­
operate with the storekeepers in developing as near you as
possible a strong community, religiously, socially, education­
ally, and financially.
Attention is called to the many fine essays by grade and
high school pupils on this subject elsewhere in this issue.
Entered as second-class matter March 3, 1911, at the postofflce at Gresham, Oregon, under Act of March 3, 1879.
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