Evening journal., 1905-12-22
TWO DAYS
BEFORE XMAS
StrueeIes Under Which PeO-
pie Labor to Make Wishes
and Purses Meet
DON'T HAVE BIG IDEAS

|DON'T HAVE BIG IDEAS
4 Two more shopping days before
|ChriAmasl How fortunate are those
Swho can already say, my Christmas
Tshopning is donei" But does one wo-
Inan I'm hundred ever sly that until
pphe eleventh hour? There is always
Bone one forgotten or overlooked, or
some last packages to be sent around
by a messenger Christmas morning
With note of apology.
Not a few people are thankful that
Sunday comes the day before Christ
' mas this year. for all shopping and
8naiiing must perforce be finished on
Saturday, and the breathing space be
4 ween then and Monday is most vel
ONE
~ Besides it gives an excellent oppor
#unity for house parties as the men
iAan remain from Saturday untn Tues
4 ay
\ The weary salespeopie, too, in the
4 hops win not be sorry TO have two
q hort days of resi- after the strenuous
business Of the past few weeks.
Why do not people look at this an
sual giving Of presents in the proper
n Npirit2
"Wenp said a young woman the
(. ther day. fortunately I have a modi-
+ |um Of artistic talent hence ] have
sIucceeded in making thirty-five Christ
a has gifts for Sc, but / shall have to go
ithout shoes in consequence-un-
s lss." she added, with a laugh, some
ody gives me a pair for Christmas. 1t
worse than Lent ] keep saving
y ennies to give other people things
rhich I should like to Keep myself.
al nd in return ! get a whole load of
Rtaings don't want IF that is not self
enial. I do not know what you call
80
well says somebody else, ''my
husband always gives me money for
INV Christmas present, and, fortunate
he always gives me the same
mount. because by the time l remem-
er the butcher, the baker and the
z landlesticl1 maker to say nothing Of
larities and needy people and all the
stant connections of two extensive
Eamilies. 7 have more than used up the
honey given me for Christmas ex-
Annses. So / count upon my own
Ehristmas eift to buy presents for a
w personal friends. who, after all,
e the people I care most to remem-
ar at Christmas time"
81 hate to pass the poor people in
Freet who hold up their aims
1xes begging for Christmas gifts
ys another woman. "but really
innot give to them all. I try to spread
it my charity fund into small enough
,ciions to go the rounds, but what IS
e little pocketbook against nifty
nDty hands held out every day and
daN2"
An this sounds as though the Christ
as season were not entirely fraught
ith gladness, but after all it is prin-
Daily the fault Of the people concern
if people start ont with too large
eae regarding what they wish TO give
her people they are bound to come
grief Give a little thing. but have
the best and prettiest of its kind
lere is no blessing in a gift which
nds its donor hopelessly into debt
aere can be no real spirit of happi
s in a brilliant Christmas with a
hole black thundercloud of bills dark
ing the horizon.
It is a question after all whether
ry wealthy people enjoy Christmas
n much as those who are less fortu
he in possessing the gilded key to
mtentment. Those who have every
ing always and who can buy any
ing they may happen to desire can
b possibly know the feeling which
Il unexpected acquisition Of some
tg-coveted article can inspire The
Imam who has to plCt and plan fol
bntKlS ahead to find the means to Ouy
fvarm overcoat for her husband or Z
Atty trinket for her daughter has Z
Irm glow in her heart at seeing tn,
ihument of her unselfish little con
racy-a glow which the woman II
great palace around the eornerma,
M iver experience.
f people would and could remember
how much brighter Christmas
y would be- Il would seem that tn,
y sun would shine the brighter be
tIs0 contentment had wiped the dul
st Of dissatisfaction right out O.
tmosphere. That small micrObl
alously is one of the most insid
IS Of molecules and it Us a great pity
t someone cannot find an antitoxi.
lyentive for it.