The Washington herald., 1911-12-17

the cry. December! and Christmas al
most here. Do you hear any tones OF
Joy, of anticipation in the cry? No, in
deed, and why7 Because before US looms
that awful list Mother, father, John,
| Johns wife, Nell, and her husband, and
| three children, Martha, Matthias sisters
i only child, the milk man, the hall boy,
| the elevator man, the janitor's family
and oh, yes; one mustn't forget Mrs.
Smith and Mrs. Jones' because last year
they gave one a lovely dolly, and there
is Mrs. Martin! Suppose, Just suppose,
you had forgotten Mrs Martin, and you
had nothing TO give her for the hatpin
holder she always gives you! Too hor-
! rible to think about! Put Mrs. Martin
down by all means.
| But" your husband says, '1 thought
you told me you were going to cut down
| that list this year? That's it-that's the
solution, cut the list down. All right,
where will we begin? oh, yes; there's the
janitor and his family; you always give
them all something, but this year you'll
! just give to the children: and there's
Matthias mother, she's out of the city, and
you are almost certain she won't send
you anything, so cross her name on;
and just the other day you heard Mrs.
| Whitman say she didn't intend to give
any one but her own family presents this
year. so take her of; and the Ralstons
have had such miserable business all
! year that you doubt II they will be able
| to make any gifts at all, so you don't
have to count on them. But what's this
row of Mrs. Neal. Mrs. Piatt. Mrs. Morse,
and this long row of dittOs?" oh
you excIaim, II can't possibly leave
those off. They all belong to our bridge
club-the Grand Prix, you know-and We
always exchange presents
The New CampafEn.
Well. get busy then. Start in early and
get the stuff gathered together-books,
magazines, pin trays. neckties, socks,
handkerchiefs, towels, scarfs, jabots,
Iaces, suspenders shaving sets, embroid-
cred tie racks, burnt wood match safes,
hair receivers, brushbroom holders,
cigars, cigarette cases, gloves-Oh, ye
shopping gods! when will 1t end? Not
until
The last fool present is purchased.
And the purse is all twisted and dried
Unless you listen, We weary and op-
pressed Egyptians. to the voice OF the
Moses who has arisen to lead you out OF
your wilderness. The Worlds League
for a Sane Christmas stretches forth its
hand and shows you pledge you must
| take and in taking keep, and thus free
yourself from this yearly oppression. Its
members pledge that they will do all
in their power ito discourage the sense
less practice Of indiscriminate giving, to
the end that true human love and
brotherhood may reign in the hearts
of men instead OF the maudlin
insanity that now disgraces the day"
commercializing of Christmas and to
foster the true spirit Of giving-the CIV
| ing of love, and thought, and service
| throughout the entire year.
We all know in our heart Of hearts
| that this is a much needed reform. We
all know that much suffering is entailed
by this senseless giying-this barter and
| sale, as it were. We would all like to
get away from It, but the truth of the
matter has been that We lacked the
moral courage to take the initiative. But
| 1t is coming. and already thousands are
] falling into line.
The Worlds League for a Sane Christ
mas has its American headquarters in
indianapolis. Newspapers from coast to
coast have discussed the movement and
universally commended the idea. Bruce
Calvert is president OF the league, Rabbi
Joseph Lesser is secretary. Catherine
| Norris Snyder is the treasurer, and Mar
garet r. Burlingame, director of publicity.
The league, started by an article ap-
pearing in a small magazine, The Open
Road" published by Calvert has grown
until the question of handling the cor
respondence is a serious one. From all
people who are in sympathy with the
movement and who want to know more
about the league. 1t is meeting the sup
port OF all classes OF society. 1t is a
healthy, sane, and practical movement.
Lacks Spirit of Day.
1t will come as a welcome relief to
thousands, who, though long having felt
the need of such movement, lacked the
initiative to start the battle cry. 1t is
not the intention of the league to spoil
the day for the children, but rather to
teach them the true joy in the day. In
stead of teaching our children the real
joy of giving to be experienced through
out the entire year, We teach them that
there is a specially created persona
wonderful Santa Claus-whose sole busi-
ness is to give things to them. And yet
parents in later years wonder where on
earth their children got their selfshness!
Our system Of giving as It stands to-
day lacks even the rudiments of Christly
giving. 1t carries in its train hardships,
heartaches, and debt. 1t means for man
months of worry and work, followed by
weeks of illness and forced rest. while
for others who leave things to the last
moment, 1t means the mad rush and
crush of Christmas shopping days. And
for what? For fear that some one will
give a gift and there will be none to
give in exchange.
That Is the word-exchangeI Not CIV
ing, but exchange! A polite barter and ,
sale, this farce on the Christmas spirit; !
this travesty on the gold. franklin
cense, and myrrh" of the early shep- |
herd. Instead Of giving prompted by !
loving thought. it is a servile following |
of compulsory custom. a bowling down to |
the golden calf! 1t Is universal cow
ardice, and no man who secretly hates |
the thing he receives and begrudges the /
things he gives dares say otherwise. No |