The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1910-12-01
Che Might Of The
Children
By JAMES OPPENHEIm

Christmas was in the air. The frosty,
starry night turned golden in the city
avenues. Up and down the pavement
the crowds swept, laughing, talking,
jostl1ng, cheeks rudy with the wealth
er, eyes sparkling with the lights. AS
they moved there unrolled beside them
the endless film Of brilliant shop win
dows crammed with riches, and
through the swinging doors eddies of
people were sucked in and elected. At
the curb the toy peddlers shouted, the
chestnut stands sent up their smoke.
1t seemed as if the millions of the
city had poured out to mingle in a
street festival Of joy and brotherhood,
People laughed at one another; wine
OF good humor drenched the air. It
was as if on this night hate and strife
and greed had been sloughed off; as if
the race said: Come, let us be happy
with one another. We are all here to-
gether. Let us meet and mingle in
Joy and good will and peace!'
All For the Children.
1t was the night of the children. Far
through the sleeping city the million
children were in their beds, and it was
for them that these people met. For
their children they were sweeping the
shops, that Christmas morning might
dawn with the candles of the pine and
hanging bulgy stockings and the mys-
FERROUS new toys. And it was the
thought of the children possibly that
made these men and women so light
footed, SO bubblingly joyous, so inno-
Gently happy. 1t made children of
them, and they mingled with each
other like laughing, rollicking boys
and girls.
There was one vast department store,
nearly block square and six stories
high, which sucked in vast masses Of
the crowd. Pendent from it's ceilings
hung white moons of light, and under
these a density Of humanity slowly
sWirled about the sparkling laden coun-
tiers. The air was overwarm with
breathing and hngled with the excite
ment of shutting shoes, rattle of pack
ages and hive hum of talk and ex-
carnations. The place was electric
with the push of many wills, the clash
of desires, the impeded hurry, the
drawing near Of closing time. Ten
thirty had come and gone and yet the
crowd was unsatisfed; it hungered
and strained and clamored and strug-
gled to get its fill.
Impatient For "Snow."
One counter especially was besieged.
At this were sold five cent packages
Of ''snow'' for Christmas trees. Be-
hind this counter stood Mamie Riggs,
seventeen years old, thin, emaciated,
bloodless, her face pale and drawn and
wrinkled, her eyes bloodshot, her lips
trembling. AS she made out checks
and received and made change and
handled the envelopes her hands Wis
IDLY shook. Faces crowded near her,
leaned close, arms lifted, fingers jerked
near her eyes. -
"This snow?''
eyes, ma'am."
Glow much?"
give cents"
"Only one for five?"
"Only one.''
Elbow much in PACKAGE
II don't know, ma'am."
"Don't know?'
No Patience For shopgirl.
At least five voices interrupted:
"See here, I want a half dozen Of
these" where's my changer" Il
can't wait all night!'' isn't there any
one to wait on me?" 'Say, I'll speak
to the foorwalker if don't get proper
attention.
Mamie answered as best she could.
"Just minute! You said five -six?
Change hasn't come. I can't help 1t,
ma'am! Yes, it's five a package!