Every year, Fox News commentators go on the warpath against the War on Christmas, epitomized in those horrible people who say “happy holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas,” and especially the ones who write “Xmas” instead of “Christmas.” That never happened in the good old days.
Which brings us to a handwritten letter in the Internet Archive, where you can find anything as long as you’re not looking for it, from Nathaniel Parker Willis (who died in 1867) to his publisher.
Xmas day
New York
My dear sir
Will you be kind enough to send me six copies of “Prose Works” & two of “poems,” by Express, as soon as possible, directed to me at
19 Ludlow Place
Corner of Houston &
McDougal St’s.
I suppose you will put these to me low, will you not?
Happy holidays to you, & believe me
Yours very truly
N. P. Willis