The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-12-25
The TRUJ ID SPIRI
OF CHRISTMAS.
BY FL EANOR A I. M'.I!

III, every heart feelings Of kindness, OF (
good will Of peace and OF charity N,
b II Is a time when imp easdntness should
be forgotten strife turned to peace, enc
niles madc friends Il & al, RI 535
It Is q time for the happy reunion OF 4
families. In love md unity and concord
for the remembrance Of he poor and \
needy. the weak and unfortunate; for the
wiplng out OF old grievances andi The "
starting OF new scores. In which bitter,
ness and Observation-Disclosures and hard v
ness OF heart shall have no pla &C.
ITO be happy and to make others happy
Is to realize the true meaning OF the
Christmas festival. One can afford TO 3
indulge himself in generosity Of thought
and deed&at this timo OF the year. Il y
no other, because 1t Is an Indulgence
which pays ones sci In peace Of mind and 4
satisfaction quite as much at II pleases
others. 5s sjJ5l
Christmas giving should not BIO the I
burden which IT. often is. The faces of I
Christmas shoppers, instead Of being
tlra1 wn and dismal, and yes; sometimes i
desperate--should be Wreathed In smiles
that there Is such 10 fest nd that We &
nll have the cha nee to obsery g II. .sf
when the buying or making OF gifts
fills one with 5dlsmay, when the approach
$of the December festival brings signs /
ilnsteud Of rejoicing, when one openly de-. 4
$cInres II simply dread the thought Of
christmas" rs ! have recent " heard not
one but many people remark. hen the
time has como to take yourself on In 9 4
quiet corner and examine he sta e u tgs
your mind. ID sl5g q s # NJ q s$
fs5 There's d false note somewliere In your y
ma kc- UP. There Is d pitlflll lack Of some A
essential, G 81
n Failure to appreciate the true meaning
of the season and n half hearted interest
Gin$i observance, combined With AN ir-6
definite idea OF the course to pursue IN 4
that observance, ire the chief reasons
for unhappiness among the shoppers S
s There are certain simple rules we'll 4
worth following as tho seas draws
near. til E 4 IL IS III s5 &. I'?8 g 5S5 ID y
33 FIRST, steep yourself insthe spirit Of the
Tine Then Il list to those whom you 4
really want to remember. Study tho in-5s
adlviduals and, put real loving thought Into G
the remembrance you choose for each +
and every one. 55f 3, % sf5 XII x II 5s y
about marriage. ton, much Christmas \
giving Is on the order Of 81 must glYof
something, and n might us well give
this 8t y ff III S +
y In that way Aunt Sarah. who actually
needs n, warm dressing sacqun, gets a
REull.nleta! N lOTBHttle,3H iu b Nous'i SutulSg
who has been! an invalid for years and
never leaves her room, eceiyes5 q travel
Ing bag or3an umbrella, while Uncle j ohm, 4
who Labhors tobacco, but who would DO
delighted with some gloves, gets a. clgar
cutter or a pipe, i8 8
81 T know a. gencrogs-hearted woman, who
has plenty Of money to spend and who
believes In remembering ii tho poor mt
Christmas, who gives to peoplo Il In The z
$tenemcnts such gift az pictures and fpar'-
slor ornaments with prod gal generosty,S
when they are actually ( shlyerlng for 1
warm clothing.
can think OF no sweeter reward to the
fglyer than the sincere utterance, ltsEex- <
&aotly what I've wan ed.,' sss II
Il The world Is too much In need q giving
to let one,s gifts DE distributed thought
alessly and at random, hit or miss, Christi
mas Is q pleasing Christmas glylng q
privilege. s
Truly the opportunity Is a ,preclous one,
and not one Of us can afford, for our
Own good, 4 we are deterlnl ned to look
at AZ selfishly to let the festival pass vs. N
$uuobseyYed or unapprAciat ted