The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-12-08
The Forum
& =
Opinions of the Readers of the
EAGLE on Current Topics.
A CHRISTMAS SCHEME.

I
\ CHRISTMAS SCHEME.
To the Editor of the Eagle
Dear Sir: Did you ever lie abed night
and exert your utmost effort TO go to
sleep? Have you noticed the thousand
and one thoughts that force themselves
on you in such O time in SPITE OF your
desire to think of ABSOLUTELY nothing?
| had to comuat these conditions last
night, and with your permission. l wish
TO afflict you and your readers with some
of the thoughts that occurred to me
For years, l have been more or less OF
a wanderer. and though, to considerable
of an extent, calIoused Dy contact with
the world, yet ] do not think that senti-
ment is entirely dead or dormant within
me, nor within others OF n similar nature
Consequently the proximity of Christmas
awakens thoughts of home and memories
of the youthful pleasures that were Incl
dental to the holiday season. Ny mind
reverted to the joy l experienced as a boy
as Christmas time approached: the ex-
element of Christmas eve; how ! reveled
in delight over Santa Claus remem-
ORANGES on Christmas day and sorged my
self with turkey and trimmings TO the
point of bursting.
| thought of the change that Is made
by the weight of years and how the appe-
tite and enjoyment becomes sstiated;
how the enthusiasm leaves us as we
grow older Probably amongst the
"grown-ups'' there are as many who wish
Christmas was eleven months hence as
there are those who hail its early APP
proach with pleasure. Many OF us, think
ing with regret OF the presents We are
ashamed ont to make. many dreading the
pinch and sacrifice, before and after nee
ess2ry to conform TO the custom of Civ
ing Others dreading the contrast that
will exist, when they and theirs will have
so little and all surrounding them are
scenes of JOY and plenty, and II was only
a step from these "reminiscences TO those
regrets that we ali feel AT times. regrets
that in the midst of the joys and pleas
ures of the holiday season. there are.
aside from those bothered by selfish de-
sires and comparisons. many who are in
absolute want; many who are Ill ard
friendless. longing for word OF cheer
from some fellow being. many who are
In trouble. Think Of the number Of chill
dren To whom the merest. cheapest toy
would be more than the ownership Of Il
railroad to Rockefeller. or a new trust
10 Pierpont Morgan.
From thois point OF view : brought the
matter closer home narrowed down
10 Wichita Out Of the thirty odd thou
sands OF inhabitants. there are many
such a. I have mentioned above. Il is
true there are a number OF excellent char
tia Die organizations here. n1t IL = no re-
Fiction on fhem 10 say that they viii
only scratch the surface In their aims
No doubt there are some who contribute
70. these societies, and feel tina; they thus
do ali that they should be asked 10 do.
Others. Ike myself. perhaps. worse stili.
contribute nothing 10 these orsau.zstio---
With due apology. therefore. for SPAS
needles Ike myself. permit ne ID make
a suggestion OF inquiry which VII. at least
have the virtue OF some originality
VIII you run from row until Christmas
a Merry Christmas department say.
FOR instance. edited by Santa Claws ard
all communications atsdgssSed % hirs.
care OF the Faye VII you Invl:~
contributors from al classes through
this column % your paperg Request yozr
readers. under The cover % ceBh1eaee.
10 send IN the names Of zsv they rrsy
know that are = want. the n2r-ss 90 TeT-
sons who are sick. and - children whose
parents may be too poor - expect visit
from Santa Ciaus Tho names u those
who arr f. troupie % any kid, even /
though b reason OF ;hsir iTnproys1sz1ce-
There sre any number Of good f,>opie 4
n.-~a
-ooi feiiszx az both sexes z'so would i
no douS'. be willing 20 participate T. 4
rour Merry Christmas ieraTt--crt- eT~n +
10 the extsat OF visiting on Christmas .
bay those 10 whom such . visit vesid /