St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-12-24
TIE ABUSES OF CHRISTMAS.
Some Timely and Pertinent Observations From,
Ella Wheeler Wilcox.

Were all grown people to give their most in
ner thoughts regarding Christmas time express
sion. fear an overwhelming majority would
declare it a season to be dreaded. I have often
watched the faces of shoppers and pedestrians
during the weeks preceding the holidays,
and must confess that at no other time of the
year do see so many worried brows, anxious
eyes, and troubled countenances.
When the necessity for gift making comes in
to the brain, comfort flies out of the heart.
II people made gifts only to the needy, to the
deserving, and to those who are really dear to
them, it would lessen the burden on heart and
purse TO a great extent. But to make presents
to persons simply because they expect it, either
through relationship or habit, is to reduce
beautiful impulse TO an irksome necessity; and
that is what a great many folks do every
December.
a bright young lady once said to me that it
seemed a most unfortunate circumstance that
the Holy Child should have been born just the
time of the year when we needed all our money
to buy fuel, fannels and furs for our own COM
fort. She thought August would have been
better month for Christmas. " One feels more
generous in August, she said. We are all
through worrying about our summer wardrobe.
and we have not begun to think of our winter
needs. But in December, as the bleak winds
hurl about US, we are tossed between the Scylla
of our own needs, and the Charbydis OF our
duty TO others"
I think there is much truth in her words.
One reason why so many people " are glad when
the holidays are over. is because they have
worn themselves out in mind and body in this
very struggle between duty to themselves ana
their friends.
Self-sacrifice for the benefit of others, is the
key to character building and to happiness. Il
is all there is of religion. But the sacrifice
which does no one any good is very foolish
sort OF selfimmolation. il seems to me-
There is something very offensive to me in
the idea Of paying debts in the matter of
gifts. 1t savors too much of the original Amer
lean Indian.
would Just as soon my friend would ask the
price of my gift, and hand me the dollars and
cents, as to show an eagerness TO make a return
gift. l have in mind lady who made forty
presents one Christmas, and was both wounded
and angry that she received only thirty-f1ve the
next year. Five people in whom she had in
vested her capital, had failed to pay dividendsl
An acquaintance of mine begins in July to
prepare her Christmas gifts to innumerable
people. and when Christmas is over she is pros
trated with the fatigue and strain of her ex
ploits.
A great many people seem to utterly lose
their heads when trying to select Christmas
gifts. a more sensible and prudent lady last
year walked into a fashionable and high priced
shop, and bought an deliberately embroidered
smoking cap for which she paid five dollars
and presented it to a brother-in-law who never
smokes. was just distracted trying TO think
what to get for him ," she explained afterward.
6 and when L saw that elegant cap in the win
dow I decided to take that and settle the mat
ter" 1t hangs on nail in the gentlemans
wardrobe to-day, monument to a womans
folly.
1 think Christmas ought to bring us peace OF
mind, loving thoughts, and tender feelings
toward the whole world.
'' It ought to be COMMUNICATED by little acts
of kindness. little deeds of love" to all those
who come within our radius, and not by some
great effort at munidcence which strains
purse and disposition. 1t is very easy to spoil
children or servants by too generous gift Civ
ing. have seen servant who was delighted
with q new apron her first Christmas IN this
country, look contemporary on five dollar
bill and a dozen knicknacSs later on; because
she had received ten dollars the year before.
Two or three simple toys please children as
well as twenty-five.
The moment gift is expected, it loses all its
sacredness and worth, it seems to me. 1t is
often the surprise of present which makes its
charm. We ought to make an effort to sur
prise the deserving poor on Christmas in this
way; to seek them out, and tighten their needs
by some thoughtful and appropriate Offering,
when they least look for it. 1t would be an ex-
cellent training for the children who have been
reared In wealth, or even In comfort, to take
them about among the poor people the week
before Christmas, and let them decide whether
they would receive their usual load of exDen-
sive toys, or donate that amount OF money TO il.
the relief of the destitute.
It would be a practical lesson IN the beauty
of self-sacrifce.
Family parties, form a suitable and pleasant
manner in which to celebrate Christmas. It is
an excellent time to put away old grudges. and
forget the small misunderstanding which
creep into the most peaceful circles. And it is
Christian act to look about outside the blood
relatives, and see IL some solitary being, man
or woman, without family ties, cannot be
asked TO bask In the light of the home circle
and partake OF the Christmas festivities. In
fact whatever form our celebration of Christ,s
birthday takes, some phase of unseiflshness
some act OF pronounced thoughHulnesS toward
others, should be included. To merely have
presents than our neighbor, is quite forgetting
the nature Of the Being whose natal day
Christmas commentaries.
ELLA WHEELER WILCOX