This poem and its illustrations are as hopelessly original as "Science and, Health, with Key to the Scriptures." When the latter was first issued, critics declared it was incorrect, contradictory, unscientific, unchristian. Those mortal opinions were without a feather's weight in the scales of God. The fact was this text-book of Christian Science was transfiguring the universe.
"Christ and Christmas" voices God through song and object lesson. It was published December 2d, and already letters extolling it, are pouring in from noble women and men, artists and poets. Best of all is this a mother wrote, — "Looking at the pictures in your beautiful, wonderful book has healed my child." There were others of similar import.
Well knowing this book would produce a pronounced mental chemicalization, I sought the judgment of sound critics familiar with the works of masters in France and Italy. From these authentic sources came unexpected replies, saying, "The illustrations of your poem is truly a work of art, and the artist seems quite familiar with delineations from the old masters." I wrote this article December eleventh; to-day, December twelfth, a letter arrived, dated the eleventh inst., from my student, the daughter of General Dodge, which I mail with this copy. I am delighted to find it in sweet accord with the distinguished artists herein named. Judge Hanna's editorial in this Journal gives no uncertain echo of the spirit and mission of "Christ and Christmas."
