The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-20
A Plea for Simplicity of Christmas.

II isn't often woman is given an op
oortnnity of saying her say" She often
makes an opportunity, grant you. but
when a man in cold blood asks woman's
opinion on any subject-why-it shows
that men are trying To do better So
when you request my views on Xmas
customs, / make ut once my DOW TO the
editor, who is the first man in the State
to come out publicly, (many do it pri-
yately) and say Let US consult the Wo
men about it." fastening to my subject.
l say with such emphasis and force rs
/ can Let us celebrate Xmas with more
simplicity" Magazines and preachers ring
the changes for simplicity at weddings
and funerals: | would plead for a more
simple Christmas. Christmas shopping
mas been carried to such an excess in the
purchase of presents without number,
hat when the shops close at Christmas
Eve we fall down to worship not the
Lord Of the Universe but Christmas
gift! and the shop girl, exhausted, know,
no better way of celebrating the day
than by giving herself to perfect rest
and quiet The everlasting din and the
crowded shop have wellnigh cost her
her life.
Are not the characters of our children
too injured by this excess of gift-malling?
Not a few children who have popular
parents or are popular themselves, re-
ceive SO many gifts at this time that
they pail on them. They grow up with
extravagant ideas, thinking everything
comes easy. They are made selfish-pcss.-
bly, conceted-and certainly no happier.
/ honor the mother, who studies the wei
fare of her child SO unselfishly that she
requests all friends to make her no gifts
at Christmas. She values character more
than gifts. Frequently you see bunch
OF children on Christmas day actually
counting presents, thereby creating or
rather developing pride and envy. IL
Christmas is to teach us any lesson-lt is
humility. And there is no humility either
in giving or receiving many handsome
gifts at this season. The Puritan kept
Christmas day as a simple religious OBJ
seryance. They looked with horror on
ahy merry making at this time Were
they not nearer right than we? Ought
II not to be kept holy-and the presents
or gifts be to the poor-rather than so
many to the rich? l do not mean to
neglect the rich altogether Oftentmes
/ think their hearts ache as sorely as
love. But if read the rich Alright they
do not wish gifts from shops. They doubt
less guess more often than you think, that
these are Polonius gifts Have they not
their heart-aches as well as the poor?
There are some things not to be bought
with money. You have that priceless
gift-share it with your poor rich friend.
i mean that sunshine and happiness in
iob viii
that will dspel the gloom that shadows
many OF the millionaire homes. Send
your monied gifts to the poor who have
rot even life's comforts. Send your rich
friend-not something from the shop
but from your hearts riches-telling them
of real love and sympathy that makes
you wish to help them bear that burden
which God gives as He does the ram
and sunshine-to rich and poor alike.
So much for grown ups. Now for the
children When / plead for sympathy
/ do not wish to detract one thing from
the halo and glory that surrounds Santa
Claus. Let him come down the chimney
as he has always done. l pity with all
my heart the child who has no chimney
with open fireplace for Santa Claus-and
has to receive its gifts from a tree. The
tree is artificial and shows clearly that
it is the work of man. You take from
your child that you can never give 1t
back-when you do not surround Santa
Claus with all mystery-and do not read
to him until he knows by heart-""Twa
the night before Christmas. But do not
let old (Saint) Nick injure your child 5
character by unloading too many gifts
into his little stockings A few wei!
chosen presents will make the little ones
happier and better.
MRS. S. H. WINSTON.