Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-12-18
Jim'S Christmas
BIunder
How It Effected a Revolution In
Giving Christmas Presents
BY EUNlcE BLAKE

IKE TO some nOVelIy INTO our
festivities TO please the children. How
would you like to play Santa CLAUSE"
Il have no objection to doing any
reasonable thing to add to the chill
dren's happiness. but it seems to me
that Christmas Is losing its intent.
The result is the Spug, who thinks
we are OVERRIDING the matter and Is
becoming rebellious against the inter-
change of presents. For weeks before
the Christmas season preparations are
going on. money is being spent, and
after IL is all over there is enough
useless material accumulated to serve
for millions of b~onfires."
Il am sorry If you have become a
Spug.'
at is not the giving that | am OPP
posed 10. but the exchange. Our chill
dren must buy gifts for all the other
children with whom they are intimate
because it is expected that these chill
dren will give presents to them"
You wouldn't place our children in
a position TO receive presents without
return. would your
Certainly not. | would do away
with gifts on both sides"
How could you possibly do that?"
LET 1t be known that this year our
children will give presents only TO
those who need them. There are plen-
be gladdened at being remembered and
who cannot make a return. Let us
provide an equivalent for all the gifts
our children expect to receive and in
stead of making the return to those
who don't need presents give them to
those who do"
"Oh. Edward. how impractical you
are! Do you suppose those who give
us Christmas presents will be salts
fed with such a return"
Granted. But we will have got rid
Of the exchange method and will have
gained the pleasure of real giving"
IF you are willing that our children
should be placed in such a position
with their associates | am not. | ad-
nit that we should give to the poor,
but gifts for them should be provided
extra"
well, my dear. l will give you an
amount to spend for Christmas as you
like. How much do you think would
buy all the return gifts the children
will need?"
MAKE it $50"
"And how much for real giftsT
'The poor are not accustomed to as
much as those who are well provided
for. | think half of $50 will do"
very well. l will draw you a check
for $75."
but this novelty that / wish to intro
duce. Will you personate Santa Claus? 2"
considering that ! don't approve Of
your method Of celebrating Christmas,
don't you think it unreasonable to ask
me to take that trouble? Better let
Jim take the part"
Jim was their son. thirteen years old,
but quite large enough for a Santa
Claus. He was delighted at the op-
portunity. and it was arranged that on
Christmas even he should appear with
a bag of gifts. These were to be sole
~ for the children of the Dumont fam
lily. Mrs. Dumont, in Difference to the
wishes of her practical husband. con
scented that they should all be useful
articles. Billy needed a new oyercoat,
Jenny a dress suitable for dancing
school and ~children's parties. while
Bob, who was athletically disposed.
wanted a pair of skates.
The Dumonts lived in a row of
twelve brick houses of equal height
and finish. An end house was vacant.
Jim got permission TO dress in this
house for the part be was to play. aft
er which he would walk over the roofs
of the houses intervening between 1t
and his house. open the scuttle and go
down into a second story bedroom.
where the assembled family would be
waiting for him. OF course only the
father and mother We're to know he
was coming.
When Christmas eve came Jim gath
cred up the different articles that had
been provided for his outfit. and while
his mother attracted the attention of
the other children he stole out of the
house unseen. went to the vacant
building at the end of the block, open
ed the door with a key that had been
furnished him and. lighting a candle
the gas had been turned of-went up
stairs and put on his suit.
He made In excellent Santa Claus
He was five feet four inches in height
and fat. though he added to his flesh
by mean of a pillow. He had on the
fur cap. fur trimmed coat and high
boots that are supposed to belong to
Kriss Kringle. His mask wore a be-
nevolent grin
And with rudy cheeks like empers in
the ashes of his beard.
When Jim had got on all his clothes
he took up his bag. went up a fight Of
steps from the top floor to the scuttle.
pushed it open. set his candle on the
step. blew it out. emerged on to the
roof and started for his own home.
Passing over several intervening