Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-24
BEST THOUGHT OF AMERICA
Digest of the Magazines

/ last year. Nearly SO organizations Joined in
making great coordinate appeal through
q Community Christmas COMMITTEES appointed
by Mayor Baker. The COMMITTEES raised
funds through the sale of preferred stock in
Cleveland the City Of Good Will CUniin
ited)," with holly-bordered certificates. Bee
side generous newspaper publicity, teilera 81
practically all the banks received payments:
the Cleveland Stock Exchange listed Il amone
its other securities. Stock was bought by
$500 people for a total of over $4,000. This
purchased three tons of chicken, three tons
OF potatoes, 1900 mince pies etc.--cheer for
$4,000 families and individuals perma-
nent Community Christmas Committee pur-
poses to make definite capital OF the expert
ence gained in this first community ceie-
bration.
The English magazines, which always make
such a special feature Of their elaborate
Christmas ANIMALS, have resolutely kept up
appearances this year, probably more for the
sake Of being game" than for any real holi-
day spirit.
The Connoisseur comes out in a big folio,
twice its ordinary size and most delightfully."-
illustrated. It's leading editorial gives us a
glimpse Of the English spirit C6):
This year the Christmas festival comes
upon us when our hearts are not tuned for
rejoicing The Princess Mary, with that ac-
tive benevolence and practical good sense
she inherits from both her royal parents. has
afforded us a way Of helping the soldiers and
sailors at the front TO keep Christmas by
inaugurating a fund 20 send them each a
gift on Christmas Notwithstanding that
would be useful and of permanent value"
This is an excellent scheme, and we may
feel assured that the Princess and her adj
visers will only choose such articles as viii
really minister TO the comfort of the soldiers
ana sailors; and that they win have the orr
ders for them placed in those quarters where
unemployment is most rife and tlfe money
paid In wages is likely to do benefit. Thus
every gift to the fund fulhls a double act
OF benevolence.
To Stand and Wait
An article by Catherine Van Dyke, what
This Christmas Means to the Women OF
Europe" C), perhaps gives us the best sense
of the desoation that this holiday season
must only serve to deepen. She writes:
This month will be a strange Christmas to
Celeste and her baby, to Mere Marie and
Babette and little Nanon There Will be no
Christmas stocking for them Many viii
strange Christmas to all the stricken women
OF Europe. Though she keep her loved ones
closely to her, not the most alien farm woman
in the United States but will hear, vibrating
through her Christmas cheer, the sobs OF
her sisters. Theirs will be the saddest Christ
before have so many faces been missing from
lands where the Yule log has been so loved.
Whlle the soldiers Of Europe are divided
INTO many camps, the women of Europe will
nave but one country Christmas night; Il is
Gods acre. Softly the chimes win ring out
TINS holy night. To the warrior they will
ring messages of hope in victory or surcease
in suffering. To the women, not only of Eu-
rope but also of the world. these Christmas
oells VIII ring out one great message which
the dead have given us-On Earth, Peace
Good WIN to men.