Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1914-12-20
Christmas Giving Should Be
 Prompted by the Heart.
Religion In the Orthodox Sense Not Necessary to Appreciate Finer Qualities of Great Christian
 Holiday.
By PRUDENCE STANDISH.

afraid at the glory which shines about them. Clothed in binding light, the angel speaks; the heavenly host that crowds suddenly about him sing of glory in the highest and peace and good will. The wise men who have seen his star in the East, kneel and spread their gifts of gold and myrrh and frankincense without question.
 The miracle of 2,000 years ago is still new and glad and lovely, for, To! in all Christendom bells peal and sweet choirs sing the message given by the blinding angel and the crowd ing host:
 "For behold I bring you tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men,"
 This is the message of the Christ mastide, yet the bigger half of Chris tendon makes the period the pagan festival it once was at the time of the winter solstice. We give gifts, for sake of the gods of custom and merriment, forgetting entirely that they are for sake of the great spiritual joy (which shall be to all people" The gold and myrrh and frankincense of the heart are withheld-we give gifts because we've got to, and keep our hearts as much closed to the Christmas child as was the inn. We have our own selfish ends to gain, the rich patron to cater to, the friend to appease. We heap little children with dazzling toys; and flight .'1sthe, starry lamps of theirHflr trees specause it is the fashion, lahd we iddQ. our small Christmas chaIftiss because 1t would seem mean not t6 ,dd therns ssSf., Sf.
 We have forgpttan, the joyous and sublime meaning aof Dhrfstmas. One does not need to be religious in the orthodox sense to appreciate the finer quality of this great festival, for what is known as Christian feeling has come to be mCfal obligation at this time-a point of etiquette, in truth, for the heart and mind.
 In point of mere etiquette-what the social world thinks on the sub ject of Christmas giS giving-it is thought bad taste for person of mod est means to give presents of value to others of wealth and influence, for this savors too much like currying to continued favor if the giver is already under obligations. But some knowl- edge of the helpful friends existence is necessary, and this may take the form of a pretty Christmas card with an appropriate greeting; or knot of flowers or winter berries may be sent with note expressing warm Christ mas wishes.
 That the servant who has given her bodily strength and hearts best inter- est to the home must not be forgot ten, goes without saying; but it is certainly bad form to make the poor servitor's gift an inexpensive trifle when something better can be afford. ed
 Then what a woeful want of taste it shows for us to defer buying a friends or sisters present until we have found out what she means to give us, and so make the exchange quid pro quo. The gift that goes to friend or relative is above all one for lave. and it is undoubtedly better taste for the recipient of the simpler gift in the exchange to appear as pleased as if she had received some thing ten times it's value.
 But, then, what matters the nature of the gift after all? The spirit is the thing-and does not this silly pie. ture or cushion, so unbecoming to the parlor, mean that the friend or sister has thought of us?
 As for the little children, so much are their feelings painfully strained at this time that would like to write a book on the subject. I beg every | mother not to threaten the poor little l heart that misbehaves sometimes with l the eternal word that Santa Claus won't come if you do that any more." The dear kiddie who forgets to be good knows better after year or two of this narrowing threat, which makes you out story teller. Meanwhile, there is the little heart staying awake at night with its dreadful anxieties: there are the sudden storms of bitter tears, with all the glory of Christmas sunk in the bottomless pit of absolute sureness that Santy-dear, abused, good old fat gentleman-won't come.
 We remember the poor and drop a few pennies gladly for the blind chil- dren.
 But, why do we do it-why? It is because wide, sweet star has stopped over a stable in the far East, because the church choirs are singing of peace on earth and good will toward men.
 So let us never lose tight of that fact with our gifta, whether our hands tender or receive them: for the heart closed to the dserer significance of Christmas may tguly Dc Mtened to the inn that hsi3 no room. Let us send with each gift some. of the hearts true gold a,ld aankincense- bind t with the cord ef some memory of Bethlehem. Ist Us receive each and every one os arr gifts as tidings of grea; toy.