The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-12-16
THURSDAY. DECEMBER 10, LOG.
THE Joys or TCYLAND.

How old are you? This is not an i'm
pertinent question. nor yet query put
by the census man; it is asked for the
purpose of bringing you to a realization
that you should be only as old as you
iceland at this season of the year you
should feel young indeed! Can you
go through the crowded shopping dis
tricts of the city today and see the mg-
eyed, rosy-cheeked little folks rushing
from one gorgeous shop window to an
other "Oh-ing" and Aiming" without
feeling a few of your years drop off? If
you can, then HE yourself back to your
office or your home and spend half an
hour getting the Crouch out of your
systemi For Christmas time is child
time, and there is no place for the knit
brows and the mouth that is turned
down at the corners in the holiday
scheme of things.
Walk through the toy department and
stores some time at noon. You will be
jostled and stepped on and kicked by
small feet, poked in the ribs by eager
elbows, and hear whispered eXclama-
ton of wonder as the beauties of toy
land unrolled their fascinations before
delighted eyes. Here are thousands of
homeless little and big dolls waiting to
be adopted, here are steam engines and
electric cars, innumerable games, sleds
and wagons, animals of every descrip-
ton guaranteed city broke and perfect
gentle:) here are Noah Arks, Santa
Claus and doll houses in wonderous pro-
fusion. Clasping each others hands,
the Children parade awestruck up and
down the aisles, or rush madly from one
attractive spot to another; the ragged
and the soiled of face mingle with the
well-dressed and clean-for Christmas
time is great leveler.
Stand back and watch the passing
show of Liliputians, who hold the center
of the stage from today until the dawn
of another year. Do you har,; back in
your memory to the time when the
simpler toys brought the keenest joy to
you? When a miniature piano of eight
illy-tuned notes or doll with staring
eyes-she was the grandmother of the
one who later on opened and shut hers
obiediently meant Christmas and hap
piness to you? Do you recall the gor-
geous red sled and the skates that San
ia Claus, after many penciled appeals,
delivered the night before Christmas?
If you do if you remember what Christ
mas meant when you were Young in
years, then you understand what it
means to these little folks who get in
your way on the streets, who pressed
their noses against the eh0w-windows
(leaving numerous small grease spots
there, who are painfully good day af-
ter day, because Santa Clause is keep
ing a check on them in his home up
North
If, on the other hand, the thronged
street, the crowded stores, the glitter
ing show windows, and all the other
suggestions OF the chiIdren's Greatest
Day, do not cause q reminiscent smile
and warmer feeling in Your heart, sou
are indeed, old! Then it behooves You
to make yourself go into the highways
and gather some Of the spirit that makes
this old world worth living in.
The adage, ''Men are but children Of
a larger growth, " is merely statement
of what we ought to be; cont let it be
changed inyour particular case to Men
are but children with a Crouch If
needs be, force youj self bit ana be-
come child in spirit-a child in the
dreamy delights Of toyland!
a.ass--zs