The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-12-24
HOW THE NEW
CHRISTMAS WAS BORN

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FIorence Kelley in Harper's Bazaar.
Out OF the sorrowfui Christmas expert
ersces OF a little cash boy IL years old In
Now York city grew the Consumers
League. more than 20 years ago. II has
9cnal movement.
That little boy spent January on hos
pftai cot III with pneumonia because he
hed worked six days from early morning
% midnight in bad air, without regular
mneals and. on one day, with no luncheon
or supper. He was brought by the sym
pathetic nurse to the attention of Mrs.
Charles Russell Lowell. then serving an
ne FIRST woman member OF the New York
state commission OF lunacy and charity.
Mrs Lowell saw the point She was CIV
fng the best years OF her life to the service
ef the sick poor In the public institutions.
Meanwhile. honest working people were
being made sick by overwork In the serv-
boo OF the Christmas shopping mob. Mrs.
Howell proceeded, without loss of time, to
fnvfte to her home some leading retail
merchants who were her friends. and
some working people acquainted with the
effects OF long working hours She, her
self. represented the shopping public.
An that winter they discussed plans for
eniisting the shoppers In a long campaign
COR considerateness. There was then no
Aw. no public opinion, no standard of any
Mind for conduct In relation TO Christmas
shopping In New York city or elsewhere.
Today throughout the length and
breadth OF this continent there Is
standard OF Christmas conduct. Out or
those modest conferences in Mrs. Low
ems home has grown the National Con-
Suners' League, with Sc branches In ID
states, besides 81 branch leagues I'm col
isges and universities, Among its. many
halpful activities Is the annual, nation
wide SHOP Early" campaign. Merchants,
ministers, editors, cartoonists. story VIII
srs. city boards Of trade ana chambers OF
commerce, women's clubs, surface car
Zines, and many other agencies now an
nually help on the good work.
An invaluable step was taken when
Arthur kellogg, an editor OF the Survey.
and member of the committee on pub
ncAtion In the National Consumers
League, some years ago conceived the
idea OF asking Robert Ogden and other
tsading retail merchants to sign letter.
Suggesting to the retail merchants and the
press that they make this effort their own.
The response was instantaneous and most
generous, and has continued ever since.
Merchants now arrange their Christmas
supplies with a view to the early shopping
campaign. In Little Rock. Ark, in the
frst week of October this year, the writer
saw In the leading hotel posters OF two
chicago dealers in books and other Christ
mast wares, calling attention of the mer-
chants of Little Rock to the fact that
early October Il the time to select Christ
mas stock.
Our country Is 30 vast, however, and
me process OF organizing the social con-
science Is so slow, that there Is still need
az much legislation to bring up the Jag
cards who form the rear Of the process
sion. ..... ..#. ....
Thus. In the holiday season OF 1911, after
more than % years of effort by the Con-
surners' league, a Sunday school teacher
asked the secretary OF the Pittsburgh
Ra.) Consumer league to verify the
statement OF a Sunday school pupil who
had been missing from her class. The
boy was working on q delivery wagon
Tor a perfectly reputable department store
IN Pfttsburgh, and was on his way home
between and 4 In the morning. when a
policeman asked him to explain his pres
ence Mt such an hour. The officer refused
20 accept the boys explanation until the
lad produced card showing him to be,
at II years of age, member OF the
stores mems club.
From Thanksgiving to Christmas all the
asiivery men and boys In the employ Of
that atore were kept at work Ave nights In
a. m. Con cots or carpets) until 2, when
they were called and, in due time, sent
forth 70 buy breakfast at their own ex-
pense Gas they bought supper at midnight).
and then return to the regular days work.
The boy was paid time and a half" for
hts extra hours, and his wage for the week
q his encounter with the policeman was
sfz.eo compared with S. for a normal
wcel's work No momentsry increase In
wage, however, can compensate for
whole winter of feeble health preluded by
q violent attack OF tonsilitis, which fol-
lowed his cruel overwork. '.. .
In 1sso the boy sufferer in New York
was II years old. and In 1911 the young
ffttsburgher had passed his nth birth
AAy.
But why should the holiday season be
o time OF torturing overwork. for any
man, woman, or child? .. .....
ny personal forethought, by public opin-
lon, and by legislation, let US transform IL
Into time or peace on earth, good will to
men. including those who make, sell. and
deliver our holiday gifts! Z"