Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-20

" NE NndEkt - frequently hAa1o
T from the pulpit and rostrum
that the true Christmas spirit
- in gift-making has been cor
iEL6INI rupted in this age Of CONNER
- ciaiism has occasioned an in
curry among some of the public
spirited women Of Omaha regarding what
theme they have in mind when they make
Christmas presents.
One of Omaha's wealthiest women. Who
makes everything that she gives, said: Il
make gifts to those for whom l really care
and because 1 love these friends 1 find
pleasure in doing with my own hands some
thing that 1 believe will give them pleasure.
/ always give things that can be used and
/ truly wish used. My Christmas list in
cluded less than forty names. but l devote
most of my odd minutes during the year to
making these annual remembrance for
them. 1 believe that these little things
give more pleasure than anything that 1
do. More important than gifts, however.
! count the Christmas letters. Ny letter
list is much longer than my gift list.
These I do not write during the few weeks
Immediately preceding Christmas, but all
through the year and 1 date them az I
write them. At Christmas time / mail them
attaching then only the wish for a Merry
Christmas. This plan 1 have followed for
years and it enables me to express apprecia-
ton that l would hesitate to express in one
letter after another. / write when the in
spiration comes and 1 car truthfully say
that every letter is from my heart"
I believe the American people put too
great a commercial value upon Christmas
giving. I can only compare II TO the spread
OF an epidemic. sapping one mentally and
physically. as wen as draining the pocket
book. I believe we should simplify Christ
mas giving. and that our gift should ex-
press individuality. We should make it a
pleasure rather than a task. remembering
that He gives naught but worthless gold
who gives from a sense Of duty.
MRS. CHARLES w. HAYES.
1 feel that the right or perfect spirit in
Christmas giving was instituted nearly 1000
years ago, when the infant Jesus was given
to the world. The gift was Himself, thereby
showing us that unless we put ourselves,
that is, our whole hearts, in the giving,
we fail in the first principles. The Christ
mas gift that the Magi worshipped brought
happiness and peace to the desert stained.
sun scorched wise men. and we in turn
should have these feelings uppermost in our
remembrances The Magi in presenting
the gold, frankinscence and myrrah. gave
with loving hearts. which should ever ac-
company a gift. Not even from a sense OF
duty, but because love prompts the action.
/ believe that parents. children, friends
and Sunday schools should promote more
strongly the doctrine OF being more
blessed to give than to receive"
When we remember our dear ones. let
us not forget the one outside our hearth
side who, though weighted down with
precious gifts may be yearning for one
loving word or thought and the poor to
whom Christmas always brings a heart
ache; let us remember some one less for-
tunate than ourselves in worldly goods, II
only with a loaf of bread and a hearty
hand clasp, given with a happy. loving
spirit.
II cost only time to write a word or two
of praise and commentator to some soul
who has been doing his or her level best