Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-12
CHRISTMAS GIVING.
Lay Sermon on n Much Overworked
Custom.

Chicago Chronicle.
The Christmas campaign has opened
early this year People evidently have
money tc spend and the shopkeepers are
taking active measures to have them spend
il. Already the windows in the retail dis
trict are filled with objects OF "bigotry and
virtue and other articles calculated to
tempt the rich and we'll to do, while the
woolly dog, the mechanical COW and the
humble Noahs ark are set forth for the de-
lectation of the rising generation. There
will be lively times on State street during
the next four weeks and everybody will be
glad that it is so. The Joy Of Christmas
tide is one of the few sensations that never
nial-an ever-recurring proof Of the truth
that it is more blessed to give than to re-
Ceive.
Yet there is measure of truth in the
declaration OF a local clergyman that much
Christmas giving does more harm than good.
1t blesses neither him that gives nor him
that receives. When giving becomes a mat
ter OF convention or OF duty rather than of
good will it is degraded to the level of a
fashion or of a commercial transaction. The
gift that is bestowed merely because it is
"the proper thing" doesn't warm the cookies
OF the heart. The Christmas box that is
exchanged for another-both parties knowing
what is expected of them-is an article of
barter There is no element OF generosity
in either transaction.
People become cOwardly along about
Christmas time. The knowledge that some
thing il expected of them impels them to
become hypocrtes. The dread of being
thought ''stingy" or mean" drains many
a purse that cannot afford it. Emulation
likewise enters into the matter. The poor
relation is determined not TO be outdone
by his wealthier cousin. The result is that
two people make presents-for which neither
of them cares-and the Christmas spirit de-
generates into a mere exhibition of ig-
noble pride on the one side and careless
vanity on the other.
No gift is worthy which is not freely and
heartily bestowed. All gifts are unworthy
which involve extravaganza upon the part
OF tho donor No person has the right TO
rob himself or his family in order to be
ostentatously generous to others. The
man who speuds his last cent at Christmas
in order to keep hie end up" is a mere
vulgarian-a humbug who sacrifices his
comfort to his vanity. The man who incurs
debt in a similar spirit is dangerously close
to dishonesty.
We are still far enough from Christmas
to look at the matter squarely 1t is right
and proper that Christmas gifts should
be bestowed by those who can afford them.
1t is especially fitting that relatives should
remember one another at the Christmas sea-
son il at no other time. Giving with free
heart and in accordance with one's means is
one of the worthiest and most salutary OF
actions. But giving in mere osteptation,
vanity or pride-giving as duty or because
it is expected-is the most idle waste OF
money 1t blesses no one with the possible
exception OF the shopkeeper and if he is the
right kind OF a shopkeeper he will depre-
cato such gifts.
II people will be honest with themselves
they will enter into the full enjoyment OF
the holiday time and there is no better
moment than tho present to begin