The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1903-12-24

II doubtless Will be note OF discprdF
IN the Christmas paean, butsconaposerss
say that tao much harmony pals,
That an occasional Observation-Disclosures Inns
proves the composition.
p cook applies the sar1egrulaswflens
she# serves salads and pickles ~andssothsr
things that taste good only as renshea
for the sake oil the contrast.
So why not tell hetruth, foraonees
about the Christmas gift-gtyfng
Everybody knowssthat there issagoode
deal Of fraud about ChristmaS-giNing
People give more than they IAN ffor
They give to 8peopiessfor Wloffi@@tley
don't care aflg Just beeauseit HAS be5s
come cllstonary&to exchange renaeil-s
ORANGES at the holiday time. Now, the
sentiment is all knocked out OF the
thing by that word Exchange, ystsitfs
the word used and b only one that
fills the meaning.
but 4 n IS lit. ssighed one society
woman, to Whom it u dsjjustsoceuyred
that there was q good deal OF fraud
about 1T There i am, worrying owe a
list of Christmas things. Isrnustn.t miss
anybody who will remember me, that
would never do. It's pleasant to be re-
membered, but sometimes Idoubtif ifB
worth all 1t costs" as
IL only one could give to whom hal
liked, n what he liked, never
think Of the sordid aspects Off! And
especially. lie one could give when and
as he could affordl
But the Christmas giving custom has
developed to stage where these things
seem impossible. 1t Is method of Boz
cial observance In some circles. Listen
TO our society onna again:
Giving gifts Is getting too much like
making calls, except that calls are
cheaper, Why, I keep books on my
Christmas exchanges just AZ carefully
as do on my calling list. At isn't 10
easy, because the code ISM soswell de-
fined. I can't be certain whether Z
should send remenlbrances to some peo-
pie. I generally make sure by sending
them something.
I'VE used to send Christmas cards,
and I'm SUR I would al soon receive
them now, with a bit of Christmas verse
and the compliments of the season. as 81
The Christmas served. at holiday ea-
son much the same purpose as q calls
Ing card at some other times. But
now cards are too modest and meg
penstVe. Why, Il will exchange gifts
with about sixty people this season.
None Will be very expensive, but In the
aggregate they will take all my spare
money, besides absorbing the product
OF my needle and my brush for two or
three months.'1
Gift giving has got to be o social GUS.
tom Instead of merely a family affair.
as 1t used to be. There may be objec-
tions to general giving; but there Isl no
denying that 1t is after all a beautfful5
custom. The watching for the post
man; the studying Of p~ostrnarks and
bills; the guessing who sent 1t and
what 1t contains: the joy OF breaking
open the package: the careful guard
Ing Of the right of each member Of the
family to De the first investigator OF
his own parcel.aH these are calculated
to strengthen the spirit OF revolt
against the sentiment that 1T Is more
blessed to give than to receive"
But the Christmas gifts that come
from the tree at home; the things that.
Santa Claus stuffs into stockings an
too small, always proving his knowl.i
edge of the recipients tastes and par
ticular needs; the gifts with which
father n mother and brother and SIS
ter are remembered out of the store -:
pennies and nickels saved (out of sue
Sunday school allowance, perhaps!)-
for weeks in advance-these are the,
gifts hat bring with them the real holi-
day SAVIOUR. He must be a hopeless
cynic who would abolish the Christmas
giving just because some folks don't
use good Judgment.