The Elbert County tribune. [volume], December 19, 1919, Image 2

About The Elbert County tribune. [volume] (Elbert, Elbert County, Colo.) 18??-1920

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SANTA CLAUS: American.
of Dutch Ancestry
ANT A (i.AI'S, as most children
and nil grown-ups know. Is u nick
name for St. Nicholas. And St.
Nicholas was not a German
salat—that will please all good
, Americans. Tin* saint of children
has not come to ns from tin*
people who so wantonly abused
n
***** children of France and Belgium. When we
call St. Nicholas “Santa ClauH" we are merely
saying In onr own way “San NleolauN.” as the peo
pt»* of Holland say It. For the Hollanders, who
seiileil In New York and New Jersey .*IOO years
ago at the very beginning of our country, brought
San Nicolaus with them, and It was not long be
fore Americans were saying “Santa Claus.”
Why, St. Nicholas belongs to all the world.
Hundred* of churches In Eu«lnml hrnr Ids mime.
There lire more limn n hundred Si. Nlclmlnx
elm relies in iieluliiin. Thousitnds nf such churches
Ure scutlered nil over Euro|>e.
The queer thing uhout It Is Hint si. Nlrholns
s nmlly horn In Asln Minor. In rmithern. In the
province of I.ycln. In Hie sixth century. SI. Nicho
las of HhH. lie Is ofteuest enlleihliy Kliropenns. hill
only the hone* of SI. Nicholas reposing Iglit
centuries in (he crypt of n handsome cnthednil ut
lillri. Italy, have given him that title, lie never
lived In Bari. Itnllnti sen millers, who worshiped
him a* their especltil protector, stole hi* body
from its resting place in Myra In the twelfth eeii
lury nod brought It to the Italian seaport. Since
that time Hie celebration held there in the saint’s,
honor Is unique.
The eastern world knew and loved him Itrst. hut
It Is from western Europe that we learn of many
of (he quaint customs connected with the celebra
tion of Ids hlrth. In I.ycln lie lived lo a good old
ace. lilting Id* day* even In childhood by doing
'"nl giving lavishly lo the poor of the
foci tine he Inherited. It was Chrlstllke to give
so n* „ steward of Goil. his wealth belonged to
God's children, Nicholas believed. Finally he was
uuide bishop of Myra, where he went to live after
a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
It was not strange that after such a life of
charity lie should become a saint of the common
people, even ns xt. George was u saint of kuigbt
hood. He was Invoked by Hie laborer lo for
Ills dally bread, by mariners, by merchants. He
was protector of the weak against the strong the
poor against the rich, the captive, the prisoner,
the slave, lie was especial guardian of maidens.
schoolboys, poor. Throughout most of
Europe children lire taught to reverence him. ami
to believe if they are docile and attentive In their
duties lie will (111 the cap or stocking with dain
ties; If they are naughty or Idle, he certainly has
u rod in pickle in bring along for them.
Here is what the Encyclopedia Brltunnicn has
to khy about St. Nicholas:
“St. Nicholas, bishop* of Myra, In Lycln, n saint
honored by Hie Greeks and the Latins on the
"'•N'l' t'f I ember. Ills cult Is as celebrated us
Ills history Is obscure. All Hie accounts that have
come down to us are of a purely legendary chnr
ncter. and II Is Impossible to flail any single In
cldent confirmed historically. The main facts of
his life are usually given ns follows:
“He was bishop of Myra at the time of the
Emperor Diocletian, was persecuted, tortured for
the faith, and kept In prison until the more tol
erant reign of Constantine, and was present at
the crulnrll of Nlcaen. It should lie observed Unit
(Ids lust circumstance is Ignored by ull histor
ian* and Hull Xt. Athanasius, who knew all the
notable bishops of the period, never mentions
Nicholas, bishop of Myra. The oldest known
monument of the cult of St. Nicholas seems to be
flic Church of Sts. I’hlscus and Nicholas built ut
Constantinople by the Emperor Justinian. In the
West, the name of St. Nicholas appears In the
ninth century mnrt.vroiogles. and churches dedi
cated lo him ure to lie found ut the beginning of
the eleventh century.
It is more especially, however, from the time
of the removal of his body to Bari, In Apulia, thuf
his cult became popular. The Inhabitants of Burl
organized an expedition, seized his remains by
mentis of a ruse, and transported them to Bari,
whore they were received in triumph on the ninth
of May. 1087, and where the foundation's were laid
of « new basilica in his honor. This was the
origin of a famous and still popular pilgrimage.
“There are nearly 400 churches in England <l*edl
cated to St. Nicholas. He is the patron saint of
Itussta ; the special protector of children, schol
ars, merchants and sailors; and Is invoked by
tmvelers against robbers. In art St. Nicholas is
represented with various attributes, being most
commonly depicted with three children standing
in u tub by his side. Of the various interpreta
tions of this, none Is absolutely certain. One ex
plauntion has been sought In the legend of St.
Nicholas miraculously restoring to life three rich
youths, who had been murdered, cut up, and con
cealed In a salting tub by a thievish innkeeper*
or butcher, in whose uouse they hud taken lodg
ing.
"A legend of Ids surreptitious bestowal of dow
ries upon the three daughters of an Impoverished
citizen Is said to have originated the old custom
of giving presents in secret on the eve of St. Nich
olas. subsequently transferred to Christmas day.
Hence the association of Christmas with ‘Santa
Claus,* and American corruption of the Dutch
form. 'Snn Nicolaus,’ the custom being brought
to America hy the early Dutch colonists.”
Many wonder tales are told of St. Nicholas.
Here are three famous adventures of the saint:
Rescue of the Stolen Boy.
There was a rich merchant who wns a Christian.
He lived near the border of a heathen land. One
day his only son was stolen hy some wicked
neighbors, who sold him to a heathen king. The
boy was handsome, so the king made him the
royul cup-bearer.
It happened that the king was giving a great
bnnquet. And as the hoy was presenting the cup
full of wine he suddenly remembered that It was
the Feast of St. Nicholas, end that his family—
futber, mother, and sisters—were happily cele
brating the day. Thinking about this, the boy
burst into tears.
"Why do you cry?" asked the king angrily.
“Do you not see that your tears are fulling Into
my cup and spoiling my wine?”
“This is the Feast of St. Nicholas," answered
the hoy. sobbing, "and evvry one at home Is eut-
Ing and is merry! And. alas! I am not there!"
“Great may be your St. Nicholas." replied the
king scornfully, “hut he cannot save you from my
hand!”
Scarcely had the king spoken these words when
a violent whirlwind tore around outside the palace,
and a Hash of lightning illuminated the hall, uml
loud thunder ronred. And, lo' St. Nicholas him
self, dressed In his bishop’s robes, and wearing his
mitre, stood before the throne. He caught the boy
hy the locks, and Hying with him through the dome
of the hall, whirled him rapidly through the air.
In u few minutes lie set him down In the midst of
his astonished family, who were keeping the feast
of the good St. Nicholas.
The Terrified Robbers.
After St. Nicholas was dead, he still cared to
help people. Once there was n man who would
not become a Christian. He heard how many kind
things St. Nicholas did for his followers, so he
stole an Image of the saint. lie placed the
linage In the best room of his house, which was
filled with treasures. The next morning, before
he left the house, he said to the image: “Guard
my treasures! If, when I return, I find anything
gone, I’ll bent you well!" So saying, he went
away.
lie hml not'been gone long when robbers broke
Into the house and stole all the treasures, and
carried them off to their den. The man came
back and saw what had happened. He was filled
with fury. lie took a whip and beat and hacked
the Image without mercy.
That very night St. Nicholas himself appeared
to the robbers. lie showed them Ids bruised and
bleeding form, and commanded them to restore
the treasure they had stolen. They were terrified,
and gathering together all the stuff, carried It
back to Its owner. They told him what had hap
pened. and he wns so astonished that he immedi
ately became a Christian.
The Boy and the Cup.
Once there was a rich man who had no son to
he heir to his wealth. He made a vow to St.
Nicholas that If a son were born to him he would
KLBKKT OOPIfTY TMBUBX
give the saint a cup of gold. Time went hy, and a
houutliul hoy was born. Immediately the father
had u cup made of pure gold. It was very heavy
and wrought all over with figures. In fact, the
cup was so elegant that when the goldsmith had
finished it the father decided to keep It for him
self. and have a silver one made for the good
saint.
When the silver cup wns finished, the father
took his little son, who was old enough to wulk,
and set out for the shrine of St. Nicholas- On
the way, feeling thirsty, he stopped near a river,
and giving the cup of gold to the boy, told him to
fetch some water. The child went to do so, but
stooping over, slipped on the bank and fell into
the river. And he was seen no more.
The father, weeping with grief and repentance,
hastened to the shrine and laid the silver cup
on the altar. But the cup rolled to the floor. Once,
twice, thrice, did the man place it on the altar,
but every time it fell to the ground. And while
all the people who stood hv marveled to see this
wonder, suddenly the little boy himself stood on
the altar steps, holding the cup of gold In his
hand. St. Nicholas had saved him! Full of joy
the father took the cup of gold and placed It with
the silver one upon the altar. Then thanking St.
Nicholas, ho took his son and carried him safely
home.
As the Christmas legend came down the nges
It gathered to itself the myths of all the faiths;
and wliat more natural and right than that the
religion of the brotherhood of man should contain
something of every Ideal and every form of wor
ship of man. since the human race began?
And last, but somehow most conspicuous now
among all the traditions, the legend of St. Nicho
las. or Santa Claus, straight from Holland !
Hollanders celebrate Christmas most heartily.
The Star of Bethlehem, as seen in Holland, is
the harbinger of Christinas—a huge illuminated
star which Is carried through the silent, dark,
Dutch streets shining upon the crowding people,
and typical of the star which once guided the wise
men of the east.
The young men of a Dutch town curry this
star through the streets as the signal that Christ
mas has come again. They gather money for the
p«>or from the crowds who come out to welcome
the symbol of peace, and having doue this for the
good ot those whom fortune, has not befriended,
they betake them to the head burgomaster of the
town, who Is hound to set down the youths who
form the star company to a very comfortable
meal. ’Tls u great institution, the Star of Bethle
hem. In many Dutch towns and cities.
Christmas Is celebrated In Holland as a time
for sugur plums and candles and gifts. Toward
dusk, the story goes, a white sheet Is spread In
side the door, and the family, attired in tlielr best
and bravest, await the saint. Presently he ar
rives, clad In embroidered robes, with gems, Jew
eled gloves and golden miter—and in his arms
either gifts or sweets or the dreaded birch rod for
the children according to the It - various deserts.
And these, with n little speech of scolding or ap
proval. he drops upon the sheet before he vanishes
again into the night.
Such is the kindly saint who cnine to the island
of Manhattan with the first Dutch settlers and
still lives among us changed only In name and
costume —like all the rest of the immigrants.
6,000,000 Christmas Trees.
It takes about 0.000,000 trees to supply the de
mand of the entire country, from Canada to Mex
ico, and from coast to coast.
CROPS WORTH
$191,000,000
THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF
STATE'S RESOURCES SHOW
HEAVY.
HIGH PRICES PREVAIL
WIDE COMPARISON BETWEEN
1899 AND 1919.
(Furnished by the Co-operative Crop
Reporting Service.)
The value of all farm and orchard
crops grown In Colorado In 1910, based
upon th«* prices prevailing on or about
Nov. l, was approximately $191,000,-
000, which is much the largest In the
history of the state. Revised esti
mates show that the value of crops
grown in the state in 1918 was approx
imately *16*,000,000, the largest re
ported to that date.
A fair idea of the rapid development
of agriculture in the state may he
gathered from a comparison of the
value of the output for 1919 with that
of previous years as reported hy the
federal census bureau. In 1899, the
first year for.whleh the census bureau
compiled complete data showing the
value of all crops, the farm output of
Colorado was worth a little short of
$17,000,000. Ten years later the same
bureau found the value of all crops
grown in the be somewhat
short of $51,000,000.
The census bureau report shows that
approximately 1,050,000 acres of land
was In cultivation In the state In 18J»9,
while In 1909 the area In cultivation
was approximately 2,614,000 acres. Re
ports of county assessors, as tubulated
and revised hy the State Co-operative
Crop Reporting Service, show 5,533,-
028 acres devoted to crops in the state
In 1919. exclusive of orchards. In oth
er words, the acreage In cultivation In
Colorado has more than doubled In
tin* past ten years and is now about
three and one-tlilrd times as greut as
It was in 1899.
Tin* Bureau of Crop Estimates of the
United States Deportment of Agricul
ture found the value of all livestock on
i farms in Colorado on Jan. 1, 1919, to
he about $172,000,000. Assessors’ re
ports show an increase in practically
nil classes of livestock in 1919 over
1918. so that apparently the value of
livestock on farms Jan. 1, 1920, should
be considerably greater than It was o
year ago, perhaps in the neighborhood
of $200,000,000.
The value of dairy products market
ed from the farms during tin* year ac
cording to the best information avail
able Is in the neighborhood of $25,000,-
000. while eggs and poultry marketed
from the farms have brought In ap
proximately $8,000,000. The value of
the wool clip for the year was approx
imately $4,500,000 and the honey out
put, most of which is produced on
farms, was worth nt prevailing prices
In the neighborhood of $1,500,000.
Hay bus always been Colorado’s larg
est and most valuable crop and it re
tains that position in 1919. The value
of till hay crops produced was above
$52,000,000, while dry forage, silage
and crops hogged off account for near
ly $18,000,000. Adding to these two
items the value of corn for grain we
find t.mt feed crops account for ap
proximately 45 per cent of the value of
all crops grown in the state. Since
most of these feed crops are fed to
livestock within the state their ratio to
the entire agricultural output of the
state affords n good Index to the im
portance of the livestock industry In
Colorado.
Next to liny Colorado’s most import
ant crop is. wheat. The total value of
the wheat crop for the year was near
ly $35,000,000, which is much the larg
est value ever reported for this crop
In the state. The area devoted to
wheat also was much the largest on
record, being nearly one-fourth the
area devoted to other crops. Winter
wheat Is much more popular In this
state than spring wheat, as Is shown
by the fact that nearly three times us
much winter wheat is raised as spring
wheat. The average yield of spring
wheat per acre is larger, however, not
because spring whent is a more suita
ble crop for our soil and climate, hut
because a much larger percentage of
the spring wheat Is grown under Irri
gation than winter wheat. Reports of
county assessors showed that about 12
per cent of the winter wheat planted in
Colorado for theU9l9 harvest was ir
rigated. while approximately 45 per
cent of the spring wheat was Irrigated.
No accurate data are available show
ing the value of livestock slaughtered
In the state and shipped to other
stutps during the year, hut it is esti
mated ut approximately $100,000,000.
The acreage devoted to nearly ail im
portant crops in 1919 was greater than
that for 1918, the exception being oats,
barley, rye for grain, potatoes and dry
beans. The only large decrease in
acreage for any crops was that for
dry beans, the falling off being due
vhiefly to unsatisfactory prices re
reived hy growers for pinto beans in
1918. The Increase in acreage culti
vated this year over 1918, according to
the final tabulations prepared by the
State Crop Reporting Service, was
about 300,000 acres.
BOSCHEE’S SYRUP.
A cold is probably the most com
mon of all disorders and when neglect
ed Is apt to be most dangerous. Sta
tistics show that more than three
times as many people died from In
fluenza last year, as were killed in
the greatest war the world has ever
known. For the last fifty-three years
Boschee's Syrup has been used for
coughs, bronchitis, colds, throat ir
ritation and especially lung troubles.
It gives the patient a good night's
rest, free from coughing, with easy
expectoration In the morning. Made
In America and used In the homes of
thousands of families all over the
civilized world. Sold everywhere.—Adv.
The man who attends to his own af
fairs has no time to laugh at*the mis
takes of others.
Denver Directory
Teachers in good positions.
School Officials
We can furnish you desirable teachers.
COLORADO TEACHERS’ AGENCY
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308-804 Klttredg* Bldg. Denver, Colo.
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