The morning journal-courier., 1907-12-26
WRONG SIDE OF IT.

ere is 50 much more satisfaction in [ Tying than in seeming to live that the S . lghtest modification of the spirit of Christmas, by reason of tired nerves { Sand fatigued emotions makes for , final suppression which to say little is to be deplored. Overzealousness in un- dertaking good is quickly overtaken by excessive weariness which produces feeling almost, if not quite resentful A that so much should have been put ] eiorth to secure such little apprecia- &ion
 A Some one with experience or a lively #nagination to support him once wrote ' lSseelingly of the inability of the child ~ of fortune to appreciate as does the child of no fortune the ownership of a rag doll, a thing Of itself made of shreds and patches The fellowship is altogether missed by the, from the worldly point of view, more favored child: from the multiplicity of presents to choose from there must come the ~poorest delight in the festival. The point is missed. And as the story ran on, the little unfortunate hugged to her breast in fever of joyous deliri- um the rag doll and went to sleep soothing it with her wet and loosening tears. It was q story that went to the hearts of many people and to-day Imakes those ashamed of themselves, who. like ourselves, cannot recall for the moment the authors name. It searched so keenly for the depths of the human heart and realized so nice ly the things in life which actually 1puI. as distinguished - from those Wei seems to count that we may at 8bute to the oversight of it much of je heart distress which catches up Rith the human Santa Claus who un- mflertakes too much only to achieve too little. It is a pity that the discarded rag doll is not given the opportunity it deserves to demonstrate the worth lessness of extravagant generosity, if that is really the proper term.
 This may all appear to be a pessi- mistic view of Yuletide. It is not that at least It is rather an attempt, as a result of observation on the streets of the city, where the crowds gather and behind the raised curtains where the tree is, and beside the crib where the restless, muttering child lies, to suggest that unless carefully guarded and pro- tected, the generous instinct Of Yule- tide may prove in practice to be the selfish instinct of misguided valua- ton of things. To rush, in order tc make others happy, is more apt to end in general unhappiness. The enterprise will not work out in any other way Next in order of misery to child com. blaming that 1t has received fewer presents than 1t had imagined would be it's lot, is the parent who suddenly discovers he has, in undertaking too much, accomplished the very resul most to be avoided. At this point, doe the little, lean and dirty body o the rag doll raise itself in all it's dig ntty to a position of commanding pow CT? Does it not carry conviction a an influence to assure comfort and al lay apprehension The best speech for nler Secretary of the Treasury Lesli M Shaw ever made was shortly afte he reached Washington to take up tn duties of his office. It was, if we re member correctly, delivered before
 Congress of Mothers. His subject wa Don't" He pleaded for the emanc patton of the average child from tn awful drudgery of being told what nc | to do, not so much because the aver ase child is doing what it ought do Otherwise as because the rebukin parent is in no condition of mind { bear patiently the perfectly natur lldllllColdlAO4lo VI li4C S4lllO@oAi tSA4lPC
 ament. The child does not know; u parent has no excuse for not knowin
 The wrong side of Yuletide is r
 fected each year in the unjustifab tired nerves of those who voluntari and in imagination lovingly play u part of Santa Claus and in the fretfl 
 peevish conduct of their supposed be
 efciaries. It is the wrong side becau
 it is an abuse qf the good side, F
 years the observation of Independen
 Day and Good Friday and the oth
 stated holidays has been vigorous
 discussed by people whose sense
 proportion and dignity has been ot
 ragged. In each case the charge Il
 been made that the fundamental pu pose of the anniversary has been cit CT neglected or nlisapplied The poi has been we'll taken, just as the poi
 is well taken that the purpose of Kul