Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-25
Changes Manifest in Form of
Christmas Observance.
MEMORY IS 0BLITERATED
Stores Furnish Substitutes for the
Ancient Attractions.
COOKIES NO LONGER FAv0RITE
But Santa Claus Remains and the
Spirit Of Christmas Will
Live Forever.

What Is the future OF Santa Claus ana
Christmas? That Is q question which
many persons are asking themselves. as
they see the day and the little fat man
who is symbolical of the day to millions
of children, changing gradually, but
surely, year by year
Christmas trees are becoming scarcer.
and. consequently. dearer, each year. But
prettier decorations for the trees In the
form Of tinsel, colored balls and hun
dreds of other gayly colored. glistening
articles may be purchased in great va
riety at a reasonable price.
Another change is SEEM No longer do
mothers and elder sisters busy them
selves for weeks ahead forming chains
of colored paper. stringing cranberries
and popcorn, and cutting paper angels
No more do apples, oranges and candy
find prominent place on the tree; nor
that product of the confectioner's art.
q sort of decorated near-candy, apparent
Iy made from plaster of paris and tempt
ing to gaze upon. yet regarded by many
as nothing short of poisonous.
Cookies No More.
Even the old sugar-cOvered jumbles and
the cookies which used to be handed to
the Christmas guests have long since
fallen beneath the onslaught of bakeshOp
cakes and dainties.
Electric lights are uSurpins the place
of the little wax candles, while garden
containing an electric railroad, fountains,
old mills and the like, may now be found
at the foot of the Christmas tree in nearly
every neighborhood. The Noahs ark,
with its stiff. little wooden animals, re-
mains only in memory.
Can it be that the child is changing
instead of Santa Claus and Christmas?
The child of today is not content with
the little iron wagon his father dragged
about when he was a child, nor the tiny
doll with hair and face of china which
mother nursed when she was small. The
boy must now have toys fashioned after
modern inventions and vehicles. The
doll the girl carries must have a wax
face, and real hair and eyelasheS. 1t
must be dressed at the height Of fashion,
and II 1t can say few words SO much
the better.
Exist Only in Memory.
Even the dear old rickety rocking horse.
with its staring. painted eyes and spotted
wooden sides, which one had to be ever so
careful not to rock too far backward or
forward, is among the bygones. In its
place Is modern horse, which goes back
and forth with a gentle motion in a sort
Of iron swing.
The Christmas gift also is changing
Years ago 1t was usually a homemade
aaatr. Today 1t is generally a bought
present. In many cases the spirit of the
1tver has SO degenerated that the moSIey
itself Is given, for the receiver to go
and buy whatever he wants Many folks
are feeling the strain Of giving telling
on their p0cketbOoks more and more
CnY1p fcotr 60 ~ 1I1
custom Of making the presents which
they give. Perhaps after all, in the
years to come. Christmas will get back
to Its former self again-who can say?
Santa Claus Perplexed.
One thing perplexes old Santa Claus
himself. and that is how is he going to
be able to get into the houses after all
are equipped with steam and hot water
heat. The old man can be patient under
the pictures showing him in aeroplanes,
automobiles. and even steam yachts, in
stead OF his deer-drawn sleigh, but stand
Ing before the door Of a house and knock
ing for admission? Never,
santa Claus has lived for hundreds of
years. He may live for hundreds more
perhaps forever. His steps may grow
slower. his sleigh may be relegated to
the wood pile, and his reindeer shipped
tOr the museum. He may even forget
now to climb over the housetops-but
the spirit Of the old Santa Claus Christ
mas VIII remain as long as there is a
world and children to help people it,