The Pensacola journal., 1909-12-19
SOCIETY
Continued from page 4s.)

| ily, perhaps, whose troubles must he
shielded and who must be heIped IN
der the rose? And why doesn't Mrs.
| SO-and-SO reflect sometimes that per
haps this family, which economies
in so many ways, could not afford 70
give her even the comparatively small
sum she asks for her charity?
But, then, why don't all the nuis-
ances who have held-up our time and
purse on various occasions do differ
emily? We cannot tell them their
faults, for politeness demands that
We observe a wellDTGd silence under
the social annoyance We can only
gain wisdom through this bad exam
pie and so arm ourselves against do
ing the same thing.
The call is not the only thing in
terdicted by taste for Christmas week.
II is thought 10y some persons OF
punctilious feeling that it is extreme
ly bad form to give anything in the
nature of a formal dinner on Christ
mas eve, as this is likely TO con-
fiiCt with the enjoyment of the family
dinner the next night Such dinners
are given and l myself have attended
some. But never once have / sat
down at these gorgeous tables with
out the choking feeling that I was
committing a Christmas sin without
the thought, Why couldn't she have
waited until after Christmas"
So when contemplating . Christ /
mas-week function it is well to find !
out first how the intended guests feel !
about galivanting abroad at this time; |
and when we ourselves receive the |
invitation it is equally well 10 look
into the heart and inquire if it vans !
to go.
II - -o--- ne. ,,,.,,-- q 49,. III,
has known grief viii be inclined to !
say, ',No. l couldn't bear it." let us
stay at home. The poor little heart |
that knows enough to give one mega
tive thUmp at such a question will /
not be painful-onIy sweetly sorrow
ful, as memories of things gone should !
be.
On the other hand, if We accept the !
invitation for Christmas-week galli- |
wanting it is up to US" to help the
moment go off with eclat, no matter ,
what troubles we may be enjoying At
the time. For the skeleton is not /
wanted at the Christmas feast and
the long face that hints We are think |
ing of other and dearer Christmases
is inexcusabIe. We have cast orr
ballot at the poll of Joy and We must
stand by the vote
Among the minor offences at this
busy and almost purely domestic time
NAV he mentioned the great nuisance
of dropping in on a friend with piles
of Christmas bundles and there man. !
aging somehow to misplace one or
more What home has not been dis
turbed by a friends lost Christmas
package, and think how embarraSS-
ing the disappearance is to the mis- !
tress of this home with one servant !
inf
that friend Mary or her poor, gentle. (
sensitive greenhorn Of a maid has one /
or the other appropriated the SAID !
paper bundle with its valuable or tTlf- |
ling contents for her own use; and u
the thing is never found the feeling /
of displeasure on both sides is last !
ing g..
Then there is the needless gay girl /
who does not know that Christmas !
week is a holy time to many per
SONS and who talks flippantly before .
the piOus old chuTCh-wOman about /
going to the theatre on Christmas
night. All this is wrong and there /
are many other annoying tTifies which
may come under the head of Christ
mas-week misdemeanors- RIt as the
possible breaks are too many to name, !
the only thing to do is to keep watch
and ward on the heart lest selfish
ness, which is at the root of all mis-
conduct, gets the upper hand.
In brief and in fact. etiquette for /
Christmas week may be summed up .
in the word consideration. Considera-
tiOn for others first, the complete un-
derstanding that this IS a period (
especially for family life. Considera-
ttOn for the more sacred feelings Jt /
our own hearts. Consideration fOr
the house that lends us its miTth and
bright lights and faaStiDU