Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-12-19
Tie Abuse Of a Sentiment.

The Abuse of a Sentiment.
Was ever ! charming sentiment so
dragged IN the mire of boredom ana gai.
efai lu-feelins as the one from which
holiday gift bestowal had its rise? Count
oNeP-Say on the day after Christmas
tEe GIFTS that it was really a pleasure to
GIVE ana those given for policy to keep
up appearances or because they were ex-
pected, and see If the forced ones de nor
dutnCmber the voluntarily given ones. Is
Shefe not some other season that could
De taken to pay tribute to pretense, to
make ones self sought in desirable quar-
tefS, or to meet the expectation of the
eXacting and the greedy?
IAore IS danger. as things are now go
ng, that the beautiful custom of the
Christmas gift will follow other old clls-
toms, 50 loud are the complaints hecom-
ing Of the unjustihable eXtortions forced
upon those who observe the custom oyer
SO slightly. Il is well-to-do persons usu-
ally who complain Of what has become n
greedy tax IN many instances. but few
can De lound who have the courage 10
make a stand against il. The majority
90 on weakly yielding to Mrs. Grlndv.
Tor fear they will be regarded as penuri-
Gus, testoWlng gifts on those who have
no proper claim upon them for such
courtesy. The result is that less des;r-
a9le GIFTS must be selected for those
VINO have Il claim 10 Christmas greet
lngs OF substantial sort, and less money
N me aggregate IS spent for worthy gifts
than should be. The result is that enor-
nous quantities Of trash are purchased
ana household neceSSarieS and little luXu-
RES are done without. No more dis
heartenlng sight is to be had than mobs
OF plainly dressed and frequently INSULT
gently clad women and girls sQuandering
their little all on Il number of gifts for
acquaintances as well as relatives. Such
lll-advlsed money expenditure is as harm
fui to legitimate lines of trade as il is TO
the individual purchasers, because the i'm
pulse to give Unfortunately deprives the
majority of givers of personal necessaries
that. did they husband their income, they
could and would buy to the benefit of
trade and the Improvement of themselves
as TO decency and comfort. AS it is,
shabby things are made to do in the
house and cheap-grade goods are worn.
and meanwhile Christmas is becoming n
bugbear to poor and rich alike. and cheer
fulness is rare quality to find in a giver.
Since it is very much the fashion to re-
form all manner OF institutions and ems.
toms, and as the tendency is also to ac-
compllSh desired results by leagues and
societies, II Is suggested. in the interests
of good morals. trade and the comfort of
the individual, that some wOman'S club
or other influential body start a crusade
against Indiscriminate gift-giving The
custom Is not more prevalent nor manda-
tory than that OF kissing among women.
and this has been done away with except
among relatives and intimates: and the
other equally as foolish practice could
also be shifted out by concerted action
on the part Of some determined women:
for there is not human being but would
welcome clrtaiment of the Christmas
tax. When restricted within proper
bounds, the beautiful old custom would
once again become Il delight, and all Of
Vogue.