Newark post. (Newark, Del.) 1910-1969, 1910-11-30
The Gift OF Pleasure
To Our Friends

cceding Chrstmastidc finds the old
wor d busy with the practice OF giving.
We read much about the evils ut
Christmas giving!
Tor those who view the whole sea-
son from a standpoint OF economy and
cyetiue expense Of time and energy
mitch may be presented to strengthen
their arguments. There are many VINO
have d.i.ted far away from the real
Christmas spirit and have substituted
Orgy vulgar notions oil barter and eX-
change. Al such would undoubtedly
he better off to supply their own
needs and let others do the same.
But, fortunately. the word is hiled
with another kind OF folk who do not
lear out the arguments OF OLD
"Scroogs.'
The sending Of a remembrance TO
friend creates & heart cheer which is
seldom kindled at any other period Oh
the year. Every little package opened
an Christmas day breathes forth IT'S
message: Il have a friend, that sends
a glow oi feeling straight to the heart
Who can think OF the dollars and cents
represented il the right spirit is there!
A plea 4or the genuine spirit OF giving
is not plea for scrimping, work,
tired aching eyes, and hours OF over
work, as so many of these good-heart-
ed folk allow. Our giving must rep
resent sense, not nonsense. IT the
means at Our disposal only provide
gor Christmas cards lie, us give only
these, but whatever, its size or nature,
let the recipient know the gilt stands
,or fellowship and good cheer.
1,,H
our friends in our selection lar more
than by a thoughtless and lavish ex-
penditure.
The one thing it should tie our aim
to present is pleasure--no matter what
the cbiact which the concrete express
sion OF pleasure may be. In our
search tor this object which IS to be-
stow the gift OF pleasure upon otr
friend, do not let us ignore the bless
!nss which fay come from love OF
good books.
A short time ago one OF Philadel-
n phia's leading schoolmen told OF his
great desire to lead the boys and girls
OF that city into the enjoyment OF
such pleasure. He interested his
teachers in one section, and then en-
listed in the work As a means OF
handling their problem intelligently,
several hundred homes were visited
to see Just what these youngsters pos
Sessed.
One after another was found where
there was every appearance OF COM
tort, toys. both expensive and mex
nensive, every suggestion OF plenty
hat-an utter absence OF books.
Acting upon the idea that the PRIDE
Of ownership will often create an IN
.cresr which would never otherwise
have existed, many pans were inau
IS su-ated ior making them the posses
sors of books. Their efforts were fol
lowed with sSgree o. success which
proved their work had been wortl
while
We tax about book lovers. Woult
that more deserved the term. We ma,
find beside our plate next Christina
a pile Of fine new books, the owner
ship Of which will rest lightly upon las
To MANY they do not mean. the gain
ing OF some dear, new friends, yet
the selection has been wise one
end we read them well, this is til
meaning indeed.
In the old days to give a book wa
TO give precious thing. something t.
be kept as carefully as the famil
Jewels and to be read and re read. S
are those books today, which BE
LONG TO US--those that bring som
Kindred spirit whose joys and sorrow
are identical with Our own.
Many books may have our nam
written UPON their hyleai, and b.
found upon our shelves, yet Our fec
ing for them may be Slight, indeed
Such are many of the new books" {
the day They ntertain nor a fe'
hours, but soon fade from our men
ory rather than take their place as oil
friends
In these days OF numerous lbrarie
and Iabard Inns, why include al
such in our purchaser Let us aim
make Cur coliectioi-and that oil OF
friends, one that represents only sue
books a. we wish to re-read, standin
for only those things that have CON
TO stay.
In those days OF "ye olden time
when books were SO rare, all classs
Of people INDUCED i'll story telling.
Christmas was perhaps the create
season for this story telling and bails
singing.
Bands Of boys and girls would 6
SIN. urdcr the squares" window
caly OIL Christmas day
Sometimes the stories were told
plays or pantomimes. Whole tow
would go masquerading and at II
cact!es and great halls travellr
troupes would give performances am
mach applause and laughter,
Tie feeling O, the past time, wht
the people believed that the world w
moved with spirit which was par
eularly loving, generous and gent
has been preserved in many stories
some writer's OF our own and an ea
licr day 1t is pleasant to read the
now just as it used TO be to tell the
or act them where books we're We
scarce, indeed.
These afford timely suggestions {