New-York tribune., 1902-12-11
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It Joins the Annual Chorus Of Talk About
Christmas Giving.

1T never make my Christmas presents Tor three
reasons" said Mrs. Quitting First don't kno"
l7ovr. secondly it's much trouble eho 1hlro4E'
f+'s too expensive Nothing costs ike the fancv
- L.Lt. 7 ,rDovv for NV sister had Il to the
extent Of g disease and It kept her short OF money
all ths year took her for solemn "arnlhs' anu
never touch an embroidery. crochet or k1lIIiis
needle. Daruing needles are enough for NE. ana
TOO much. ,, >, ,.
.7+,g all very well to talk about shopping said
w;ss Holmes 'rbut suppose you haven't nuch
money; and suppose you have no talent Ior S4op-
ming? I'm sure it takes a special talent ana l
haven't Il. Christmas Is becoming HioI7 aIiA iA0
5se7c1l+. 7 am In despair!''
.sT s,end one-haIf the year." said Miss Mer1vaIe'
in signing with relief because Christmas Is over
s,6 the other half in shiver1ng with dread because
it's coming" ..., -,.,
..sea what we have made of our beautiful Chris
+,or festival observed Mrs. Wynne. with genuine
sigh by our foolish system Of superhuous ana
rerrnctory gtvingI II completely ooscures the true
siSniacance of the time; it imposes cruel physical
burden YDop those employed IN the SHOPS ana q
- e-ancfsI burden upon families Of limited
r.sor-ces II pIeases one, for our frle1os hno"
that we send them useless Ttnkets Simply because
formal exchange of gifts has been started Oh one
side or the other, and we don't know now 10 stop
So E.a tbe children are surfeiJed with toys and
gi1lv hooks. and toys, every one knows VINO
understands child nature at all. are the last Things
that children want to make them happy!
seyvhv Mrs WynneI" exclaimed Mrs Weldon l
5tdn,t know our poet could be cynicaIE
..sbe,s right" said Miss Merivale- As things
ara now there is real pleasure IN Christmas
eivtng-only fatigue and worry ana useless eA
nenditure I give to some people for "holh care
ii44la because they give to NE don l eAcIlaiiee
s+b two of nv dearest friends because we had
sense enough TO stop it. little gilt al an o0u
+tr,es, .,unbirthday present. as Alice called 1t
ie worth dozen iII-chosen. perfunctory Christmas
gifts. You can't make q sooo Siioio7 a. ~ & ~
It's bewtldering. ,
srYou needn't wait for the time sa-o MIS-
wright .you have the whole year TO DO 1t IN
.rZs7orsa and yorsei Old Marley's three ghosts
,,,,+.ss mast present and to coule-must haunt
you all the year! -, Ia >. -.,a ,rr.
7r-,aon gently after all, we forget the unolrth-
day IN the b9d ID Gea be- e wen
friends can show their love IN some ~ @ way %
nav % snS from whom the smallest token is a
.rsssnre And the children-they nave Ioo many
tOy7 Has life ever given you anything since that
snproa ched II in pure ecSfaIlc uesi
-cse are more discretion, and have courage enough
TO spend only what We can afford or "fl4S we ] ael
is iov and a gain in it all somewhere. or II
would not go on 96g o9 t6e f6ese eoor r"F
II usIIsI you balance the subject rightly, said
zs-s Wvnne Il grow discouraged over the en-
Mrs. YSi5 on the material side OF things. But
-, ore showing US the human Signlncauce uiuer
you i1+enSed 70 add that should con1ine our
Il iraosT entirely 10 the children and the poor,
and teach own children that tns cnIed use + on
Christmas is TO give to those less fortunate tiail
not to give the @ useful nodr ta5ngg a6ge0 0y fse
49, :. is the time when the joyful things come TO
then-the dear useless iuxuLes tnaL We al 80 tuss
lust a little. unless the childhood has neen driven
ont of our hearts =.
at us decide not 10 abolish Christmas said
E a.fs,,t 70 observe it said Mrs. Weldon smiling.
,nssibIe and with due regard 20 its high signin-
cance"