New-York tribune., 1901-12-22
HAS THE TINE CONE TO ABOLISH CHRISTMAS?|
A NEW SOCIETY SAYS "YES.
ITS HEAD TELLS THE TRIBUNE THE
REASONS WHY. But KEEPS THE
ORDERS NAME A SECRET.

a
It is probable that Christmas will pass this
year with little active opposition. 1t seems to
be generally conceded that for some years TO
come at least Christmas will be virtually in
eyitable It should not be supposed, however
that the antagonism to the institution which has
been more less covertly expressed in FORMER
years is dead There is, on the contrary. an
organized opposition rather remarkable for Its
possibilities than for its present power Ihis
organized opposition is in the form of a society.
founded and maintained for the purpose Of sup
pressing Christmas A Tribune reporter re-
Gently succeeded in obtaining an interview with
the head Of this society known as the High
Kicker on the methods and hopes Of the or
ganization.
Going to the address which had been given
him. the reporter expected 10 find some pare ana
cheerless place inhabited by g cantankerous
old curmudgeon who. he felt, would be rather
more likely to throw him downstairs than to
give him any information. He was somewhat
surprised, therefore. on sending up his card. to
be led to a cheerful room, with comfortable ana
artistic furniture and decorations. and pleas
ant outlook with fire on the hearth ana
number of suspicious looking packages piled IN
corner
The High Kicker his glance directed low
ard these. and said: L am sorry you ma my
room In SuCh OiSOrOeT. tHOSe are eSLiic OiiA-SN
mas presents that 1 have been buying; they VIII
all be sent away soon. and then the place VIII
look itself again
1T is Just that which surprises me-" said the
reporter Il was looking for the High Kicker
Of the Christmas society. but ] have been
nfsdirected. If you buy Christmas presents, Of
course you cannot be the man"
''Oh, yes I am" said the High Kicker but
we must not be too precipitate; Christmas is not
abolished yet. Sit down and 1 will tell you
about the society and the great work we are
doing but first push that button there behind
YOU and tell the what you will have 10
drink-or perhaps you will have something hot!
Here James, bring some hot water ana d
lemon or two-I think I have all the other
things"
You will pardon me-" said the reporter. but
you are not at all the sort of person l expected
TO see
"No. Of course not" said the High Kicker
Everybody thinks that opposition TO Christmas
must come from 'crusty old bachelors, as they
are so fond of calling them. For my own part
never knew any crusty old bachelors. / find
bachelors a particularly jolly set of men, and |
that too openly and fearessly. with none of
that hangdog air which many married men
have when they do try to be jolly for once In a
way. Moreover. the most Of the opposition to
Christmas that I have ever encountered was on
the part of married men. They groan over their
Christmas expenses in a way that is positively
unmanly. That is why we find that bachelors
make better members of our society than mar
ried men. They disinterested and phiian- |
thropic We are going to abolish Christmas
but till IL is abolished are going TO stand It,
and are not going 10 squeal about 1t. Yes,
James put the hot water over here, and just
bring me that Scotch and the sugar. Now I'm
not going ask you how many humps, pecause
/ want you try it my way; l think you1l IKE
it. 1t happens that all our members are bach
elors just now. but they are neither old nor
crusty We have regulation against married
men, but they hard to get along with. They
want everything done in a minute. They want
Christmas abolished this year. Now, we who
have our senses about u.s. know that it will take
MANY wears and we are content 10 wait"
But what are your objections TO Christmas?"
The expense is the chief one of course. Not
that we go around grunbng about 1t and MAX
ing everybody else miserable, like your Virtuous
married man. who IS fond of railing at crusty
old bachelors, but that ii is really hard
on most people and we are going to remedy It
But isn't every loss somebody's gain? What
one spends another gets, and it all evens up,
doesn't it?'
Now, there is just the wonderful thing SAID
the High Kicker "One would think that II
would work that way and I can't explain why
Il doesn't but does it? 1 never met anybody
who said that he had profted financially by
Christmas did you? Everybody talks about
how much it costs and how hard it is to pay
bills and the merchant whose shop has been
iamned with customers for month growls as
loud as nybody. SO. since it seems to hurt
everybondy and to help nobody, we are going to
abolish 1t. Then, there are the impositions ana
the swindes which it involves To how many
do I have give SpeCtal
tips at Christmas, who have done nothing spe-
cial to deserve them? There are at least three
servants and two elevator in this house;
there Is the waiter who serves me at breakfast;
there is the one downtown who serves me at
luncheon. there are the servants at three clubs
which / belong to: there are two elevator men
and about four office boys downtown; then the
barber and the laundress, and just don't know
who Oh. / could go all day showing you
what wicked institution Christmas is, but
what would be the use-is that stuff right!
Take some more hot water If you want 1t. but
think every drop spoils it after you've got
enough TO produce the heat; another finger or
whiskey will do it good Yes, youH only
go off and buy lot of Christmas presents
Just as you have been doing. But tell me
about the work of your society"
''Oh, yes: that is a more cheerful subject
Well we are beginning by creating a public
sentiment against Christmas. We are not TAX
ing a violent stand against it at first We
realize that that would only provoke enmity
and would probably do more harm than good
and if It should succeed 1t would injure trade
and that would injure labor and the poor would
suffer and there would be the deuce and all TO
pay We are going to attain our end gradually
SO as not to hurt trade or anything else, and
when it comes. the public mind will be prepared