Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1905-12-20
ChristmaS Shoppers

Nn11SuAAoS
 Nv dear: You are little country 1assie away from the Duzzing bee h.ve of the big town, and 1 am gong tei tell YOU something about Christmas as, it is, as it used to be and as it ought to be.
 When was l tile girl the week be fore Christmas was a trying period, during which I tried with ange-llke endeavor to behave myself. For seV- eral horrible days l refrained from climbing trees, dipping into Jcily Jafs' sealing the top of the bookcase, hltch- ing my sled to grocery WasoaS ana cutting my hair according to original desfens. When Christmas eve came I had the one desire of the whole year to go to bed without being told or spanked, and iA.mediately after supper retired to my footstoel ben ha
 
 my small self into despised canton flannel night garments with feet at tachments. then to steal up stairs into the dark. seeing Il thousand and four teen Santa Clauses peerinS at me from behind every shadow, all ready to say "Boo.'
 Before daylight on the great day was downstairs, brieing on an acute attack of stomach ache by the speedy consumption of an entire menaSerle ol sugar animals that walked in straight lines about the great green lounge. There was a wooden doll With laun- dry tub to match and before break fast was served the washing was out and ready to iron. The day was spent in annihilating nuts, raisins, or anees and painted jumping jacks.
 By night this angel child had a tomnerature of 1O6 and the doctor s services, but next morning she started in at her regular business Of dolnS things she shouldn't and paying the penalties therefore.
 When you stop long enough to thlhN back to the days of your childhood you realize that it is indeed a prlVl- lege to have lived. What enthusiasm over triiies, what sorrows over ho1h- lngs. what sublime heights of Joy over q iacl-in-a-boX or a jumping rope! With recollectons of those days DllD- bling through ones mind. one mas all incentive as big as a house to make banpv every child in the whole big world. When you grow up II IS dll- ferent. for you are made aware ol the fact that almost every happiness comes to YOU With a disappointment hid behind it's back. But that IS only because we understand or De ea1ise we fear or perhaps because We lin nol understand. Il is hard h'ae- ter to figure out.
 From the old days when Christina" vas snow and turkey and few hl4o nresonts. there has developed another Kind of Christmas, t da1 when one ,,..,z muse. take breath and thank heaven that 1t is over wjtE, a c7odt,i'3" oneb lsss wholesome ard much less Christian like than the old. It IS . s,n.,l.aniaa to find tbat Sansa ,g1a4. i.=4s. Il man in | red flannel A= ,.,r+.o-aea white wh s!zers. but that ne .s in reality d check book and a 1os 'of hills that fall due on January |, 1oss when you are totterins on the hisn ninnaele of bankruptcy and nervous prostation. ,..., ,,lo,,
 Nor weeks now the shops have been seething volcanoes ot shou's' pss,. coats energy and despair. ihe c'oN'' ,ro now battling on the ranpafts ''' . i, ,be morning and are still s'orlN, mo inc counters at the closing 'iii,e, yor eo down early, hoping to aNoio inc ,nsh. and find the rush fisns 's yOur elbow, tiHinS ' ,,o, fal into an eddy and are carfieo "poN bowlders of toys. the waves of shop ,ors catch you and make you oi%zS' yon are rescued minus your pof''.7 ..7 as and vour money, and possibly Wi'" broken bones.
 A funny game, surely.
 Why do We play it?
 And the authorities seem 'o eo'e'N er it legal.
 Occasionally you get out oi ,ne M cabble and walk along the stree! io. " ideas and fresh air, and then u is thot vou met the Perfect ohe' 'ne ,,,an sn, who has purchased all her