Evening star., 1908-12-25
THE POOR MADE GLAD MERRY DAY FOR ALL
Christmas Cheer Dispensed Whole Population of Washing
With Bomtfu Hand. ton Participates in Joy.
FOOD FOR MANY FAMILIES GOOD THINGS IN PLENTY
Well Filled Saliva No One Has Gone Hungry
ton Army Baskets Neglected by Fortune.
SCORES FED AT MISSIONS AND WHOLE WORLD JOINS IN
Whole Population of Washing
ton Participates in Joy.
GOOD THINGS IN PLENTY
No One Has Gone Hungry or Feels
Neglected by Fortune.
AND WHOLE WORLD JOINS IN
Santa Claus Has Been Bountiful and
Holiday Cheer Has Been Sort
That Comes With Good Times.
Merry Christmas. everybody !.

Merry Christmas. everybody,
wouldn't it make a chorus. though. il
all the waking greetings of the world
were voiced on the moment and not. as
now, scattered through this day OF DAYS
from early, breathless. gray-eyed dawn q
glowing, tinseled. candle-lighted dusk?
Wouldn't 1t be music. too this medleyed
harmony Of the one well-meaning wish.
the purr Of soft and southern vowel, the
clack Of hard and northern consonant. the
spoken words. to one effect of every race
and cline?
The Christmas spirit has no boundaries.
no limit. Wherever the Word has gone.
whether it be to the trackless wastes Of
the frozen north or to pleasant populous
Florida the fair-where, in all truth, the
seasons greetings issue from beneath
straw hats--there is accustomed. tradition
dimmed remembrance OF the day and the
occasion.
Nothing Left to Wish For.
Fared We not we'll i'm our little corner OF
the map? Is there not snow of a sort.
that lay last night, unmelted quite, on hill
and hOuSetOp. hard incrusted for tho
weightless feet of the fieeting reindeer and
the noseless runners of Santa's phantom
sleigh? Were not the stockings filled this
morning. the trees adorned. the presents
all apportioned?
Is not the turkey stuffed and baking,
the pudding ready for its burning BATH.
the air all fragrant with the mingled. pun
gent smells of Christmas time? Are Wa
no happier, If not for some reason that
dwells within ourselves. then for what We
see in those around US? And fairly said.
the answer writes itself.
And the weather-but why talk OF
weather? Isn't it just an incident OF
Christmas time: Anyhow, this MORN
ing wasn't even cold enough to worry
the most cold-blooded. and save for tho
absence of brand-new snow-which all
the little folks considered as a personal
slight-and a dull gray mist curtain over
The holiday sun, out-of-doors it was near
iy ideal.
Besides, though there's SORT OF far
north hint in the air, 1t is doubtful
whether it will be materiaiized in heecy
white. The old women up in the sky who
pick the geese fast they let the
feathers fall. worked as hard as hard
could be couple Of days ago. Now
they resting.
1t is just as WELL too. For on sds
streets and places where the sun didn't
reach. yesterday. there are just lots and
lots of snow on which to try new sl.ds.
And that's all snow is for. anyhow.
Whole World Makes Holiday.
Here in Washington peopie did about
the same thing today that they have
done in past years. and as other folks
the world over-allowing for trivial diff
terence in local customs-have done and
are doing.
Early church services were we'll at
tended this morning. Houses of worship
of all creeds and shades of belief were
crowded at later hours. Then came the
time o'-day when folks stayed indoors
to open mysterious packages and discov-
er Observation-Disclosures gifts from rela-
tives and friends. to send and receive the
little messenger-borne gifts that fly
around town all OF today. and to have
the best sort OF a holiday time generally.
All seem to fare alike on Christmas day
not it is true. in values of a financial
sort-but I'm sentiment and satisfaction Of
giving and receiving. And folks who
know say that as much money was spent
right here in our own Washington as in
any city of its size i'll the whole wide
world. Probably, too, the poor man con-
tributes here as elsewhere. more than hig
fair share of the great Christmas fund.
Everything from diamonds to doughnuts
has gone out of the stores OF the National
capital into the homes OF the rich and
the poor, to be opened and enjoyed today.
The pyramids of Egypt would look like
a little tee on the golf links OF the uni
verse. compared with the mountain OF
gifts that could be piled up right here in
Washington. And gratitude and all the
greetings that go with the day. starting
from our fair city, circle the globe.
The Needy Are Cared For.
The rich, the well-to-do and the SELF
supporting poor take care of themselves
Christmas day The poor and needy are
looked after by both.
Perhaps after all this spirit that makes
certain the days happiness of those who.
if left to themselves, would consider the
yuletidc season mockery and jest. is
the very incest as well as tie most sig
nificant attribute of Christmas. Certain
it Is that it wipes from the mind for the
moment the mastering thought of self
ami gives pause i'm the otherwise unceasing
struggle Of individual and community and
state and nation.
Here in Washington the various chari-
table organizations their efforts supple
mented by the aid of many philanthro-
pic citizens, have been busy during the
past month arranging plans to be carried
out today and tonight. No one need 90
hungry. 1t Is devoutly to be hoped no
one will.
Perhaps the evening is the most en-
joyable part of Christmas day. Then.
with breathlessness of suspense of antici-
patton at an end. with presents laid out
and the tree alight. and the navors of the
Christmas feast sweet in the mouth, there
comes the sort of enjoyment that counts.
Hustle and bust of the season is at
an end. You have remembered your
friends. Your friends have remembere0
you. And all the world seems at peace.
And perhaps, too, IL you are lucky.
there is little one you love to whom
Santa Claus is real, and who, after fight
ing off the sandman for ever and ever 50
long until the heavy eyes almost close
even in the face Of the glories Of the