The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-12-26
CHRISTMAS GIVING.

Inc pfactlcc OIL making SlItS AT
Christmas time is on the whole a
wholesome and beneficial one. The
Santa Claus myth is Il means by which
children are given much JOY There
is nobody who would destroy the
beautiful fiction which does so much
to make the little ones happy. The
time too soon passes away when we
are privileged to indulge in the hopeful
expectations and the joyous realiza
tons of a filled stocking. But after
all, adult persons are but grown-up
people, and because this is so they
also demand recognition at Christmas
time. The little things easily procured
that fill the child's mind and heart
with joy, unfortunately do not please
the grown-up children called men and
women. The latter as rule, estimate
the place which they occupy in the
esteem of their friends by the munifi
cence Of the gifts received from their
friends. This, of course, is wrong
We are all anxious to retain the re-
gard and esteem of our friends. Par
ticularly are we very anxious to please
those who are near and dear to us, the
members of our family and those to
whom we feel under great obligations
In the desire to show our esteem we
try to make the token Of that esteem
as great as possible. In doing that.
burdens are imposed upon people I'M
able to bear them. The innocent
mystery and sense of remembrance
which are sufficient to fill the child
mind with thankfulness, are INSULT
cient in the case Of grown-up people
because of the vanity and wrong
thinking Of the latter. The human
heart Graves to be remembered by
those that are loved and in so far as
gift-giving and gift-receiving awakens
or creates the love that should exist
between the participants, the practice
is to be commended When, however.
that love is estimated by the dollars
and cents involved in the transaction.
the practice is the cause of much
trouble and wrong. If the gift is not
as large or beautiful rs the donee eX-
pected there is disappointment. If
on the other hand, as more frequently
happens, the gift is more costly than
the donor is reasonably able to afford.
the result is much pinching to the
giver and often positive injustice to
those to whom he is obligated. Every
business man knows how hard it is
to collect the ordinary bills for actual
necessities during the time following
Christmas. Instead of paying their
debts people will buy expensive and
useless presents for their friends.
Thoughtless wives will insist upon
getting as much money from their
husbands as possible and with this
money they buy useless or unneces-
sary articles for the men who furnish
ed the money. The husband, Of
course, must receive the gift and ap-
pear pleased, but in many cases he
wishes he had the money to pay
pressing debts. OF course, all this is
we'll meaning, but very thoughtless.
Young men cheat their employers to
get money with which to buy costly
presents for young women whom they
think they love. The practice of pro-
miscuous and ill-advised giving has
become so universal that it extends to
every walk Of life. Even those en-
gagged in the most lowly occupations
save up for weeks before Christmas
time and pinch themselves for weeks
afterwards in order that they may buy
costly gifts and thus, as they think,
emphasize their love for the donee.
All this is wrong, people know it and
yet they continue the practice Christ
mas is a day of rejoicing for all, but
the bearing of gifts should be con-
fined to the children. If costly gifts
are INDUCED in at all it should be by
the wealthy, and the wealthy would
better fulfill the spirit Of the day by
distributing their gift money among
the needy. If you did not get as val
liable present as you expected, do