The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-12-22

When what was designed to be pleas
ure becomes burden, it is time to stop
and examine it carefully, and see if it is
the thing itself which has grown to be such
weight, or whether it is simply an awk,
ward manner of carrying it. Certainly
there must be something wrong in any Gel
ebration of Christmas which results in
serious fatigue of mind and body. During
the first three months of the year nothing
is more commonly given as a reason for ill
health than an overstrain during the holl-
days. "She got so worn out at Christ
mas, or "She worked too hard in finishing
her Christmas presents" or 'The week
before Christmas she waa tired out with
shopping" are excuses which appear as
surely as January and February come.
The question must occur sometimes to
every one, whether all this worry and wear
of heart and hand and brain are really
worth while. Is there not some better
way of celebrating this day of days than
for women to wear themselves out in max
ing or buying pretty trifes for people who
already have more than they can find room
for Z? Setting aside all efforts of eyes and
fingers. the mental strain is intense, Mefe=
ly to devise presents for dozen or more
people, which must be appropriate and ac-
ceptable, and which they do not already
possess, and which no one else is likely to
hit upon, is enough to wear upW the
strongest brain and when ones means are
not unlimited, and the question of economy
must come in, the matter is still more COM
plicated. The agony of indecision, the
weighing of rival merits in this and that,
the distress when the article which is final
ly decided upon does not seem as fascinat-
ing as one had hoped, the endless round of
shopping, the packing to send to distant
friends, the frantic effort to finish at the
last moment something which ought to
have been done long ago, result in relapse
when all is over into a complete weariness
of mind and body which units one for
either giving or receiving pleasure, Now,
when all that is looked at soberly, does it
paw 2 1t Is remarkable fact that, although
Christmas has been kept on the twenty fifth
day of December for more than thousand
years, its arrival seems as unexpected as if
it had been appointed by the president
No one is ready for it, although last year
every one resolved to be so, and about the
middle of December there begins a rush
and hurry which is really more wearing
than Spring moving. 1t seems to be part
of the fierce activity of our time and country
that even our pleasures must be enjoyed at
high pressure While it is almost impos-
sible, in matters of business, to act upon
the kindly suggestions of intelligent critics
that we should take things more leisurely,
surely, in matters of enjoyment, we might
make an effort to be less oyer-worked.
Cannot the keeping of Christmas, for en-
ample, be made to consist in other things
than gifts Let the giving be for children
and those to whom our gifts are real neces-
sites. As people, we are very negligent
in matter of Keeping birthdays. If these
festivals were made more of in the family
especially among the elder members, we
should not find that we were losing the
blessedness of giving and the happiness
OF receiving, even IL We ulu Hu' hIitiiu
presents at Christmas time, Ia many large
families mutual understanding that the
Christmas gifts were all to be for the
children would be an immense relief, al
though, perhaps, no one would be quite
willing to acknowledge it.
Sometimes large circle Of brothers and
sisters can unite in gift, in that way max
ing it possible to give something of more
value, and at the same time to lessen the
difficult task of selection. Above all things,
if you give presents be more anxious to
give something which supplies a want
than to send some pretty trlfe which can
only prove In the end an additional care.
A little forethought and friendly putting
of yourself in another's place will make this
possible. In the great world of books
something can be found to suit every taste.
Flowers are always graceful gift, and can
never become burdansone by lastlag after
one has grown tiF& af them, There are
numberless other things which can be pro-
cured, without wear and tear of mind
and body which make the recipient feel as
David did of the water from the well OF
Bethlehem, that what cost so much was tOf
valuable to be accepted The tsntaiy.