The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-12-25
Christmas.

IOm oil tuG luQlcdClOQS on OuI
streets the past week-the running te
and fro-the crowding of toy and can
dy stores, and other premonitions Of
the coming holidays-we conclude
that the tightness in the money mark
ct will very slightly affect the custom
of exchanging presents to-day. There
will be as many Christmas trees, and
they will be as fruitful as have been
known to any Christmas in times past.
Our fellow-eitizens of foreign birth,
especially, seem unusually active in
making preparations for their favor
lite holiday, and there will be scarcely
a house within our city limits that will
not present some evidence that the
annual return of Christmas day is
known and appreciated XEa Et
We have no disposition to moralize
over the extravaganza and wasteful
expenditure of money for trifling and
foolish objects, that will be INDUCED
in by all classes-professing chris
tians as well as non-professors--
because we are not sure that money is
foolishly spent that contributes to the
general fund of happiness and joy.
Besides, on Christmas, everybody is
expected to be in a good humor.
Critics, like dogs in danger of hydro
phobia, must be muzzled during the
holidays. If any such, slipping their
muzzles, are seen running at large,
finding fault with everybody and
everything, the police will regard
them as legitimate subjects for arrest
and confinement, and solitary confne-
ment at that. They have no right to ?
disturb the general harmony with
their disagreeable discords. We re-
peat, everybody is expected to be hap,
pier for the coming of Christmas.
From the babe with its cheap rattle
to the wife of the millionaire with
her diamonds, smiles ought to
wreath the faces of all. While there
are many homes where sorrow has
taken up her abode and where want.
and misery are hanging about the
door and often breaking in, they need
be none. the gloomier for the coming
of Christmas. On the contrary, the
festal day can hardly fail to brighten
the usual gloom with rays of joy and
pleasure. There is no mansion so
bright, there is no howell so gloomy
but that Christmas has power to add
to their beauty or soften if not ac-
tually to dispel their shadows.
But while we are dispensing with
lavish hand our tokens of friendship
and love, may we not suggest to bust
ness men, in particular, the propriety
of investing in such way as to yield
the greatest amount of happiness to
others as well as themselves. 1t costs
far less money to irradiate some house
holds with brightness and jollity than
others, The money spent for luxuries
for children raised in afluence, which
they receive with the greatest indifer-
ence, would thrill whole family Of
poor neighbors. A large turkey ju-
diciously bestowed upon family that
has gone hungry many days in the
year will occasion a greater shout of
rejoicing than the costliest jewelry
offered to those who already have
enough and to spare. A pair of shoes
to the shiYering, barefooted boy or
girl will call forth feelings of graft
tude and happiness-whose reflections
never fail to warm the hearts of those
who 'kindle them-that are seldom
aroused in the hearts of the proud and
wealthy by the most lavish prodigality.
Money is tight" exclaims the pru-
dent business man. Then say we,
spendayour Christmas money so that
the outlay,willyield the largest possi.-
bic return Remember the poorl
Our churches, most Of them, have
devoted especial attention to the
children committed to their care. An
unusual Eumber of Christmas trees
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