Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1889-12-13
Christmas-Prennrinc For It.


Christmas-Preparins For it.
At this time of the year, when the
Christmas holidays are fast approaching
and many thousands of people are making
seerect preparations for the secular cele-
bration of the festival, it is worth while
to stop and consider the principles that
should guide one in following the Gus
toms of the season. If we could free our
selves entirely from the traditions and Gus
toms that require us to make gifts to our
| friends on Christmas Day we should
nevertheless return to the practice spon.
taneously and again establish the Gus
tom, for Christmas is the time of peace
and goodwill, and those who have
proper appreciation of the day give their
feelings natural expression when they try
to make their relatives and friends share
their own happiness during the festival
period. 1t is entirely natural, therefore,
that it should be glft-giging season.
The custom is not an arbitrary fashion,
but is founded upon the instincts of hu-
manity. 1t is possible, however, to have,
custom warp the gift.givlng from Its true
purpose by encouraging extravaganza
and leading the giver to crafty his
own vanity instead of kindly min
istering to the tastes or wants of
his friends. Between those whose friend
ship is real there can be no such thing as
sordid weighing of the intrinsic value of a
gift. Its value lies in the fact that it en-
bodies an expression of love or affection,
and whether it be large or small, costly
or simple, it has this value to the true
heart. For this reason that gift is most
highly appreciated which in some way
forms part of the giver; that which has
at one time been cherished by the g;ver,
or made by his hand, or that has been
thoughtfully and considerably selected
to meet the tastes or needs of the recip-
lent. Christmas should not be desecrated
by gift-giving felt as an obligation that is
fulfilled solely because custom demands it.
The gift should be a real expression of
affection sincerely offered. With this
consideration of the principles, says the
Baltimore San, that should guide one in
the Christmas season comes relief from
some of the perplexities that beset one
while preparation is being made for the
coming festival. 1t encourages ole to
rule out at once all merely formal gifts
and to dismiss from the mind al thought
of making presents merely for FORMS sake.
1t imposes at the same time the very
pleasant duty of preparing for each friend
some token of affection that shall show
consideration as well as kindness and leads
to the preparation of little tokens of af-
fection, inconsderable in value perhaps,
| but significant of thoughtful love.
| Christmas is thus maue real festival in
the heart, not merely formal season for
| gift-making. But one canno afford to
wait until the day itself before choosing
the gifts that shall give expression to the
kindly, generous feelings of the Christ
mas season. There must be thinking and
planning now if the gifts are to exhibit
that consideration which shall add to
their value as tokens of affection. Our
friend is to be pleased that is the first
consideration, What gift win show
him that a tender regard has been had
| for his tastes or whims that there has
been a real effort made o crafty him
If that can be determined in such a way
(