The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-06

1--WE must not allow ourselves to forget
the true meaning of the Christmas spirit"
writes Edward w. Box of The Christi
mas That Lies Between in the Decem-
Der Ladies Home Journal. 1T will bring
happiness to US just in proportion as we
bring happiness to others. To some the
day will this year bring other than happy
thoughts or memories. Sorrow are harder
to bear on festal days than at any other
time. But no sorrow should crush the
Christmas spirit from our hearts, 1t IS
not in the amount that we do, or arc
able to do. that we shall find happiness
for ourselves and for others. The sim
plest pleasures and acts ofttimes make
the hearts of others overlooking with hap
piness. To fail to do something because
you feel that you cannot do much IS
wrong. What seems ever so trifing 20
you may make some little heart sing. all
day long, which but for you might pass
the day without a note of happiness.
Don't grow impatient of the Christmas
myth or legend. Keep it alive. God
knows that we have few enough ideals
in these Investigating days of our. Let
US not disturb the Christmas traditions.
1t is duty to ourselves to keep this day
as unlike any other. And we can only DO
| this by tanning into fame the shoulder
| ing embers of the Christmas spirit which
| is in every one of US. God implanted it
/ there. 1t was good that we should have
! it, or He would not have given it TO us.
| In childhood the fire burned brightly
! enough within us; in old age the
| light Of Christmas will reflect in our faces
! ana our natures. But in the meantime we
must keep the spirit alive so that it may
| glow the warmer and softer in old ago
! Let us have an oid-time merry Christmas
! this year: a real. old-fashioned, happy one
! Let Us make everybody forget that there
! is anything in the world but good-felfow-
! ship and happy laughter. To the sick let
| us bring forgetfulness of pain; to the sor-
| rowful, the sweet balm of a happv smile.
to the aged Loving thoughts of consider
| alton; to the poor, a suggestion of the
! greater material blessings which are ours
| Thon, as we bring light to other eyes. color
to ether checks, happiness to other hearts
we shall be happy ourselves. The Christ
mas spirit wilt keep alive within us our
! years must be spanned not with a Christ
! mas at either end, but with an unbrolSen
| bow of happy Yuletides the center bright
er even than the beginning and the end
| Living memories must intertwine and Hnl,
| together the golden curl and the snowy
lock. Then we will live in the fun rich
ness Of the Christmas that lies between:
the Yulctide of the present, the Christ
Day that is now and here"
at is quite impossible TO form any idea
as TO the value of the present made bv,
the queen or given to her" writes Lady
Jeune in an article on What Christmas
Means to Queen Victoria" in the Decem-
Der Ladies Home Journal an some
cases, when her gifts consist Of India
shawls, jewelry and the like. they arc
very valuable because they are unique
but the presents she gives to her family
or in turn receives from them. are NOT
expensive. The royal purse is not an in
eNhausttble one, and the claims on il are
enormous, so that the presents given by
royal people must always be regarded in
the light Of souvenirs and not as costly
| gifts. The queens children are not rich
and as they are not able to afford ex-
! pensive presents so we may consider the
value OF al royal gifts from the sentiment
tai, not the commercial, point OF view
and 1t is its pleasantest as well as most
! touching aspect, for it shows that simple.
ltN and depth of the family affection
which Is neither nourished nor fostered by
| any feeling Of greed or expectation. bur
which is as simple and genuine as chat
OF the poorest subject of our great queen"