New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-23
d no vindication. but II amply deserve"
THE SEINY SIDE or CHRISTMAS.

THE SEIMY SIDE Or tHhIoiNH''
THE poets and the preachers tell us that the
dominant note Of The Christmas season u JOY
For thai matter they make the same asser''on
about all the holiday seasons of the year h"'
the tradition that Christmas Is especially joyous
or merry" to use the tlme-honorrd word has
sunk so deeply into the consciousness Oh '"'
Anglo-SaXon race that we ar" lolih 10 p'ii'N'
our experience when il informs us mat 'hiiS'-
mas is about the most careburdrncd season "l
the whole year
In making tins assertion. we have no desire
lo overlook or minimize the kindly spirit Of sym
pathy and brotherhood that fortunately sun
marks the Christmas season. But 1t is WITHIN
the truth 10 say that most people nowadays
are so tagged out, physically and mentally. hy
the time Christmas Day arrives that they are
in no condition TO enjoy IT. Indeed. their only
source Of joy is found in the thought that tn"
season is over. and they will be- able to settle
down again into the comfortable routine Of their
ordinary life We speak Of the Christmas sea
son advisedy; 70. the fcyerish turmoil Incident
TO the modern observance of the day begins Just
after THANKSGIVING AMI continues practically
until Ncw-Years Day. As soon ~ the Thanks
giving turkey is eaten The great question Of
terrifying shape II ha, come to assumc in re-
cent years Indeed. il is within bounds to say
that the modern expansion Of The custom OF
giving Christmas presents has done more 'lian
anything else to rob Christmas Of It's traditional
joyousness A large number Of the people on"
knows must now be- included among The lsl 81
Christmas benehciaries. In fact. many OF III"
So-calcd Christmas gifts are in no sense gifts
at ALL but enforced tribute. the payment OF
which is apt to leave The giyer in state
Of mind very much ont Of harmony with the
| traditional spirit Of Christmas
But that is not all. The financial burden en-
tailed by the expansion Of Christmas giving has
made 1t necessary for most people 10 buy cheap
or gifts Hence has grown up. 10 meet that
need a miscellaneous assortment of absurd and
useless articles sold as Christmas holiday goods.
Those who buy such articles, and those 10 whom
they are given rs presents would agree In call
Ing them rubbish. The money that is spent on
them and In the aggregate II i large
SUMS, 10 all intenls and purposes. absolutely
thrown away. Both parties 10 III" transaction
are fully aware Of this fact: but they both IL
more 1t, and pretend 10 be- very happy in having
helped 10 carry on the tradition Of Christmas.
But they are not really happy only relieved that
the farce is successfully played 10 a finish
or course such ndscriminaie giving totally
obscures the thought that should undcrlie all
| Christmas gifts. They ought To be- evidences Of
love and affection. and. therefore. they should
be- given only 10 the members of ones family
or to ones very near friends And jus, here We
would suggest that charity and philanthropy
ought not 10 he confined 10 the Christmas sea
son. The special Christmas appeals Of our char
liable institutions ought 10 receive Il most gca.
erols Response But their needs are H. great on
every other day ~ the year AZ on Christmas
and 50. therefore, are our obligations to MIN
lister 10 those needs To sum up what we have
| been saying. the season of Christmas needs 10
| b. dematerlsliZed. 1t has been somewhat coars-
/ ened for many people by being overloaded with
ideas and activities that do not properly belong
To II. And the only way 10 get back the Merry
Christmas Of forefathers is 10 make its
celebration simpler and less burdensome.