The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1899-12-21
Christmas Giving.

The Chicago Chronicle hits the nail
the head in the following editorial:
The Christmas campaign has opened
early this year. People evidently have
money to spend and the shopkeepers
are taking active measures to have
them spend it. Already the windows
in the retail district 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
Noah's are set forth for the delectatlon
of the rising generation. There will be
lively times on State street during he
next four weeks and everybody will be
glad that it is so. The joy of Christmas
Tide is one of the few sensations tina,
never grow old. The delight of giving
is perennial-an ever recurring proof of
the truth that it is more blessed to give
than to receive. Yet there is measure
Of truth in the declaration Of local
clergyman that much Christmas giving
does more harm than good. 1t blesses
neither him that gives nor him that re
ceives. When giving becomes matter
of convention or of duty rather than of
good will it is degraded to the level of a
fashion or of commercial transaction
The gift that is bestowed merely because
it is "the proper thing doesn't warm
the cookies of the heart. The Christ
mas box that is exchanged for another
| both parties knowing what is expect
ed 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 something is ex
pected of them impels them to become
hypocrites. The dread of being thought
'stingy" or ''mean" drains many a
purse that can. not afford it. Emulation
likewise enters into the matter. The
poor relation is determined not TO be
outdone by Iris Weather cousin. The
result is that two people make presents
for which neither of them cares-and
the Christmas spirit degenerates into
a mere exhibition of ignoble 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 eXtrava-
gance upon the part of the donor No
person has the right to rob himself or
his family in order to be ostentatiously
Generous lololhe,s. The man VIII,
spends his last cent at Christmas il
,fhtf 10 Keep MS eni up Is Il HieT'
suigarian-a hnm''uL who sacrifices his
comfort to his vanity. The nun who
incurs debt in similar spirit is danger
ouSly close to dishonesty. We are
still far enough from Christmas 10 look
at the matter sqnarely. 1t is right and
prol err that Christmas gifts should bt
bestowed by thos' oc n # I'd them
1t is Isl e tally fang lhat relatives
should remember one another ut The
Christmas season if at no other lime
Giving With a fee heart AID in accord
ance with ores means is one Of the
worthiest and n salutary IT actions
But giving in mere ostenta,ion. vahii y
o. pride-giving as duty or because ii
is expected-is the most idle waste o
money. 1t blesses no one, with the
possible exception of the shopkeeper
and if he is the right kind of shop
keeper he will depreciate such gifts. L
people will be honest with themselves
they will enter into the full enjoymen
of the holiday time and there is 1T
better moment than the present to begin