New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-12-14

tion have fallen in price during the last three
months to very near the lowest profitable
figures, and the vendors naturally hesitate
before going further down. There are one
or two points worth looking into this
year in this matter of holiday purchases
which we venture to suggest to our readers
The hard times of the last year have not
been hard to all classes While the labOrer
whose wages were reduced, or the capitalist,
large OF small whose money was invested In
manufactures or stocks which deprecated III
value have suffered severely, there is very
numerous class who have become much richer
by the changes i'll values. Men whose capital
was invested in mortgages, for example, re-
ceive the same secure, and in most cases I'M
diminished income while the actual cost of
living for them has fallen 80 per cent since
1876. In proof of this fact, 1t will be seen
that the ses of OIjets de lure have
steadily increased in all of the large
cities since that time. Dry goods deal
ers, for instance, taht could no longer
1--we by their trade with their for
mcr customers, who belonged to the
thrifty straItcned middle-class, have found 1t
the best policy to build snowy additions to
their shops and to import suits from Worth
or veritable Cashmere shaws.
Now, the fact that there is a class set apart
by fortunate circumstance from any share IN the
general disaster to whom, indeed. that dis
aster has only brought additional comfort and
ca &c, should make charity and friendly help
obligatory upon them, and surely at the sea-
son of the birth of Christ more than at any
other. Many of our readers belong to this
class thew enjoy their increased comforts
without remembering that each Is paid for in
the increased hardships of some unknown
man OF woman. The wealthy American,
as we often have had cause to re-
mark, is, as a rule, neither selfish nor un-
charitable The money which came easily
goes easily. But he is apt to be thOughtless;
hence we suggest this duty TO him plainly.
There IL another preparation for Christmas
which especially belongs to parents. Most
fathers and mothers are busy just now IN
planning gifts trees, all kinds of surprises to
make the children happy. But why not make
them happy by allowing them to be the plan
ners and the givcrs7 A child who has any
stuff in him worth the training, will take
kccncr delight in the few pennies he
spends to astonsh and please some play
mate than in hls own most costly gllt.
Now il the time when they must learn, if at
all. the habit Of hclpfuIncss, when they must
begin to regard it as a matter of course that
the weaker, poorer human being should be
taken by the hand. Let your children dress a
Christmas tree for some poorer nclghbor; no
matter how firmly they believe that Santa
Claus comes to themselves, they must know
the sad truth that there are houses INTO winch
he never comes. Let them know some child
of their own age for whom it shall become
habItual and natural tor them TO save their
clothes, their toys, their little gifts. One such
real object Of charity would teach them more
of Christ's meaning than al your appeals for
the heather. Begin this Christmas warning
heartily. and begin it this Christmas.