Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-01-01
OUR CHICAGO LETTER.
Christmas in the City and Its Sugges
tiOns.

The following remark was over
heard while we stood packedin in the
solid phalanx Of purchasers in a
book store, Yesterday.
"There has been a little change In
Christmas since my day. we were
seven children 10 a Methodist pioener
preachers family and instead Of hav-
ing such rainbow illuminated books,
we used to have our pick Of the fam
ily shoes Christmas morning. These
we're all put in heap on the floor
and each selected a pair which an
other had been wearing, or ex-
changed a right for left or one with
the brass ends TO the strings. 1t
was on the principle that other peo-
ple's things always seem better than
your own"
The old man who told this tale Of
Christmas tide smiled and enjoyed
Il with the rest. And so we con-
cluded there must have been some
thing else In those old-time festivals,
to sweeten and flavor them, else he
would not remember them 80 well.
He did not mention the cheer and
mirth and joy ofthose old-fashioned
Christmases, when they had to
make up in quality and spirit what
they lacked In quantities and ma
terials. He did not mention the
homely, simple pleasures OF the old
fashioned households, where there
was magical charm about the
crackiDg Of nuts aud the glimner
aud simmer Of the fire. He did
not say anything about the hearty
goOd-wills of the parents and the
merry laughs of the little ones,
which in those days radiated from
every humble home, nor did he
hint at the deep and tender rever-
ence which pervaded and filed all
things. or these things which
worked together to make Christmas
carols and beautiful tales and Santa
Claus and the Christmas tree and
the gift Of giyer--of all these things
he said never O word as he stood
waiting TO purchase book for his
little grandchild, and wondered
whether 1t were the old shoes and
the book that he contrasted,or these
other things which then were and
are now so rare. For although this
grandfather said nothing about
them yesterday, there was a look in
his eye which said that Dickens and
Thackery and hundreds Of poets
had written true Christmas stories.
The look In his eye reflected the
glow on the hearth TO which his
mind had wandered back.
How the tone Of child's voice
grated on my ears and reused me
from putting myself into the old
mans place.
Mamma, want that engine,
and II you'll get me the one with
the red smoke stack, you won't need
to get me the book" The mamma
looked helpless for moment, and
seemed about to yield, when some
one said:
"My little man, didn't you wri te
TO Santa Claus and tell him all
about what you want?"
"Thsre amt no Santa Claus, l
know better"
"Ohl but you must be mistaken,
my little girl has written to him
and she expects him to answer her
letter In person, by way of her
stocking
The little fellow looked rather
doubtful and the questioner con-
tlnued:
"Did you ever play Santa Claus
and give people things2"
"No, but that's what ma does.
There amt no Santa Claus. She
just buys things for me-"
"But did you know that Santa
Claus, the real truly Santa, never
takes anything or keeps anything,
but just gives everything away,-he
Is the all-giverp'
Here there was n rift In the crowd
and | found myself stranded near
counter OF books for girls and boys.
| was trying to hold TO the thought
Of the All-giver, and to comprehend
grizzly Santa In his new light, when
another mother spoke out emphati-
cally.
"Is there anything of the love story
about it,-Isabel shall not read u
book of that kind. How would you
like Children OF the Abby, Isabel?"
My astonishment was rs great as
her well-intended emphasis. In the
presence Of Isabel herself, the good
mother denounced love stories, laid
down law for her child, showed
her ignorance OF one Of the oldest
books aud one Of the most deceptive
titles, ali In the presence Of Isabel
aud the public. | wonder how she
will account To Isabel, who Is now
inurteen, whom Sumo of these dnNs