Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-12-24

net so much that she must give and re-
ccivc gifts; listen To and create .flatter-
les. dance and sing the hours away. as
II was that for the space of one whole
day everybody belonging to her was
content. The Christmas of the past
was full Of associations. The Christ
mas of the present is full of expects-
tons.
II do not think the change Is for the
better. 70 one recognizes improve
ment more than do. and bearing this
In mind must confess that the ccle-
bration of Christmas. like that OF mar
riages and funerals. has been run into
the ground
when l was a girl lived in Johns
town. y. Y. We had q great kitchen
tso large that it made a capital play
room for the children, and where q
colored manservant used To play the
fiddle for us 10 dance. Christmas eve
We tidicd up the room. hung our stock
ings upon the mantel and went TO bed.
In the morning we opened them with
a great hurrah and devourcd their con-
t..nts. These were usually some cam
dies. a few raisins and rosy-cheeked
apple.
Often there would be three or four
bright new pennies In the stocking,
and sometimes. but rarely. polished
dime or n quarter Of dollar. During
the morning we would get up little
presents of food for neighbors who
were in distressed circumstances and
would take them round and deliver
them In person Ia the middle Of the
day we had the dinner. which was al.
most always n great roast turkey, well
stuffed, potatoes. sweet potatoes and q
half dozen other vegetables. pumpkin
pies and occasionally mince pies
There was very little special dressing
Tor the day and there was none of the
present interrninablcl system of mals-
ing presents. We might give our IA
Their and mother one. but made none
outside 81 the family. The idea Of Civ
ing anything Ca wealthy friends was
uuheard OF. We went To bed carly
Christmas night. after. il might be,
games AMI little dancing. and woke
up the nex. morning with bright eyes
and clear heads
.Tbe modern method involves alto
rcthcr tco much labor and thought
and expense. spent considerable
time last year In winter sanitarium,
and. TO my surprise. found that nearly
oil the inmates who were there for
their health were working themselves
sick making holiday presents. They
were emEroidering. crocheting. knit
ting. tattin@, carving. sikctchin1. paint
ing and only goodness knows what not
in the knick-knack and bric-a hrae
line. ! spoke % them about II and
every ono assured me that /. hal to be
done. and that. aithough tired out and
exhausted with the labor. they
wouldn't dare % psss Christmas with
out maxine some present - every body
ON their list
Then Motto, that the cost ~ pres-
snts has increased Unfortunately.
When. for example. Christmas cards
frst appeared they were q very pretty
and ecoboglic novelty. They eost q
few CENTS apiece and enabled person
10 send = sesSonabie message 60 q
score OF friends at No great outlay.
To-day Christmas cards have become
works Of ar In themselves aud coat In
many cases S. and SIC each. The Christ
mas dinner has grown ontli IL IL a meal
large enoagh % kili an ordinary ha-
msa being ft - - bad that almost
ewer-ho-is know the ,iav after Chriss-
mas h miserable AMI slline ffssn an ia-
jsr~d stomach
The worst II al Il the srtrsssgsaes
which haA been rrossiag yesFiY al
over the issd jast before Christmas. I
ws- In large dry ge.-is stsse and
right near me Wa young and hand
seas married eeapls Thsf we're 10
lac their Cs6istmss Shopping saa 40