The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1891-12-24
FOUR VIEWS OF GIFT-G1vNG

the uHIOIbuIdtS5 lIOiI PARENTS 10 GILL
dren. For, says Colonel Ingersol, there
is no need of giving water to the sea, nor
light to the sun. So 1--WE should give
where return cannot be made, and when
it is not expected to be made. He who
thus gives increases his own JOY by max
ing the receiver happy"
All which is very poetical and sounds
well, but it will not stand analysis Holt
day gifts are by no means intended as
charities, though in the gift-giving time
the charitable spirit ought to be most
exercised. But it should not be idle at
any time. The gift of charity is, prop
erly, made to meet need, to relieve a
necessity, or to add to human comfort.
But the gifts of affection and friendship
spring from vastly different motives, and
have wholly different purposes. These
are so obvious that it would be an insult
to intelligence to repeat them.
We prefer the opinion of DR.. Talmage,
who,swhile emphasizing the benevolent
spirit Of Christmas time thinks 'there is
no danger of holiday gift-giving becom-
ing an evil" 1t is good fashion, as he
views it, because it is all on the helpful
and kindly side of human nature, and
revives the spirit of human fellowship
The enthusiasm Of the season may and
does lead to giving that the giver cannot
afford, and it is then evil to the giver, and
often to the recipient. But these are ex-
cesses, not evils chargeable to the Christ
mas spirit.
Rev. DIR. Collyer thinks somebody is
bilious, or, says he:
l should not be asked these questions about
christmas. Its happy interchanges of gifts
mas made the world brighter. This oift-oiyluo
fashion was not introduced by Christianity
1t IS Older than the SaXons who gave il SO
much beauty and sentiment. II is older than
Christianity itself And it needs no iustitica-
llon. like people to give me Christmas pres
ents ana IKE TO offer gifts myself. 1t is a
custom / would not like to see changed. |
suppose 1t has been abused But so has kiss
ing. This does not show that il is not q proper
practice for sensible people who act in the
right spirit. In this, as in everything else l
think people should be honest with each
other. We should not spend more than we
cAl afford on Christmas presents. But we
often spend more than we can afford perhaps
on oJner things, and it might not be a serious
crime 10 make the error at the Christmas
season. 1t makes me happy to receive q gift
III makes some one else happy to receive q gift
from me. We are neither of us any richer in
q material way by reason of the interchange
But we have increased the sum of happiness
by the thought we expended on each other.
This is sensible, witty and meets the
best thought of mankind. The debate
grew out of a dyspetic suggestion by an
Eastern newspaper writer, that there is
possible evil in the good old custom of
making Christmas presents, because,
urges the intellectual crank:
1t has been suggested that a fashion which
has its foundations in a benevolent and opera
tive sentiment has become in many respects
perfunctory and inSincere, as well as extrav-
agant and impractical. It's urged that many
people OTTER gifts because they will receive
gifts in return; that they frequently if they
40 not very generally, measure the extent of
their IT by the value OF the object exchanged;
That people even with good intentions spend
more money than they can afford to spend
because they feel obliged To conform to a fash
ion; that the gift-giving practice has, indeed,
IN more ways than one de9enerated TO q level
that seriously detracts from the simplicity
and moral distinction of the festival.
But suppose it to be true that gift-mak-
ing at Christmas-tide is sometimes, even
often, perfunctory; that the very rich
sometimes, or often, make waste of their
golden hoard and in pompous display de-
liver costly presents to crafty the vanity
of money-power. What of it? Shall we
for that reason abandon custom that in
right observance brings joy to millions
of hearts and makes glad millions of
home circles?
Because osteutation makes mockery,
and insincerity debases the spirit of the
Christmas season in certain cases, or in
certain circles, shall we refuse to plant
the token-seeds Of affectionate natures
and genuine friendship in human hearts
at this season, that will terminate and
grow and spread grateful shade over the
whole year of life?
Suppose the poor do 'scrape and pinch
TO please some one who is also pinch
ing to return the compliment" What Of
it? Are either of these, after all, injured
spiritually or materially by reason of
this output of effort to crafty desire
born of love, or regard, or friendly affec-
ton? We think not.
Every one must measure the cost of the
token that is to crafty pure desire and
give pleasure to another, by his ability.
If it happens to be mistake of measure,
we doubt if the person Will be any the
worse for the exercise; since the fear of
inability that operates to withhold the
hand of the giver, will make him more
miserable than his mistake in mismeas-
uring his ability.
OF course, no one should give beyond
his means, or live beyond his means, or
do anything else that will cripple him
for any of the round of duties of life.
But whoever viii be extravagant and
self-hurtful in gift making will be inn
provident in other matters at all times.
The good old-time custom of exchange
of tokens at this season, should not be
frowned down because the few misuse it.
There is no benevolence that is not, in
certain cases, overdone. Even for char
ity men and women rob their own, and
visit upon their families, with whom
charity should begin, undeserved suffer-
ing. But shall we all for that reason for
get the poor?
INHIBITING FOREIGN INVEST
AIENT.
Texas has an alien land law. Under it