Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-19

call when the end of the year comes round.
There are fevers and unreliable natives
with bolok knives that are just fatal
of course, there are some bright spots
at Christmas even out there. I'm Just Civ
ing you an idea of the whole matter.
There's the usual looking for boxes. md
when they 1rrive-my, but there's a hus-
Ting all over the camp Sometimes,
though-and I'm glad to say that doesn't
happen often-there comes q box full of
good things and nice presents and there
isn't any one TO claim it. | tell you. the
boys don't care much about opening a box
like this. But then they know the folks of
the boy would be glad to think when they
hear that some one has enjoyed the things
that We're meant for him, so by and by the
ia comes off, and sometimes there's some
thing inside that we drink to his MEM
DRY, and you bet we do it, and with good
will. tool
Whatever comes before the 25th is
shared by everybody on that day. Those
that aren't out in a scrimmage make as
much OF the day possible, and We all
drink to the safe return of the ones that
are out but the toast that every che joins
1n-offlcers and priVateS-thats the last and
the best-'To our country, our wives and
our sweethearts. God bless EN- After all
there's one good thing about Christmas for
the soldier boys who are away from home
II makes them appreciate home leu times
more"
Cabbies and Policemen.
The cabman-"Cab, miss? Coupe? Want
a few minutes conversation? Why GER
tainly. How does Christmas look behind the
ribbons? Pretty jolly. Like the holiday
hrst-rate. do. Lots OF hustle and excite
ment, plenty Of trade. especially, If it rains
or SHOWS. The shoppers make things lively
for us, especially the out-of-town people
who take their purchases home with them;
they leave the stores loaded with bundles
and are only too glad to step into a cab
and be whislled off to the railroad station
We usually eat a big turkey dinner with our
families, spend the afternoon in making
money and then go home for game of
Santa Claus with the youngsters Yes,
Christmas is a pretty good time. to nv way
of thinking"
The policeman-''Want to know how
Christmas appeals to the bluecoat, do you?
Well he's obliged to spend Christmas day
about the same as he does every other day
OF the year-traveling his post-excepting
he may possibly be compelled to work
harder.
He finds that the sacredness of the day
hasn't much influence in preventing the
regular dealers in vice and crime from
following the bent of their natures Then
there is a picture that strikes more strongly
on Christmas day than any other because
II is such sharp contrast In one street
he sees youngsters with happy faces who
have found their stockings chock -a-block
because they have lots of doting relatives
to fill EN-. and In the next street or maybe
in the next house, there may be some peo-
pie who haven't even Christmas dinner
and the poor little ones cold and hungry,
probably sick. huddle together wondering
why Santa Claus has forgotten them.
AS to our own enjoyment of the day.
well, as l say. we have to work the same
on Christmas as any other time. and con-
slider ourselves lucky If we are off duty at
night and free to enjoy the Christmas cele-
bration with our families