The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1915-12-03
A Community Christmas.


Back of any holiday that which makes
it of value is the spirit which it exem-
plifes. A holiday is valueless unless it
coexists with spirit which leaves the
participants better than it found them.
The value of any day celebrated for
any purpose is directly proportional to
the ideals which the spirit of the day
establishes.
There is but one day recognized by
Christian peoples as an international
day of celebration. 1t is day the OBJ
servance OF which has for centuries
tended to exalt mankind for few brief
hours of every year from the narrow,
selfish and sordid things of daily life to
that higher plane where all men are
brothers, where thinking and acting in
higher realm causes a persistence of
the ideals for which Christianity stands.
Christmas will be valuable to the cit
1zens of Edgerton, it will be of real
significance, if there be given to our
citizens some opportunity to exercise
the spirit which in Biblical times was
exercised by 80 Samaritan on the road
from Samaria to Jerusalem. That
question of old, ''Now which one think
est thou was neighbor to him who fell
among thieves" involved the spirit
which should prevail during the Christ
mas season. Edgerton will this year
have the opportunity of reacting this
spirit. A community Christmas tree is
planned which shall be the inspiration
designed to bring forth that cheer
and spirit of good fellowship which
should abound. There will be arranged
an opportunity to react to that time
honored ideal, cit is more blessed to
give than to receive" There will be a
collection made of the necessities of
life and these will be distributed to
those with whom fortune has dealt
with unkindly hand.
The federation of ladies clubs has
started the movement. A committee
of cooperation representing all organ
izations in the city has been constituted
and are now at work making prepare
tons. All of the details nave not yet
been worked out, but will be announced
later At this time it may be known
that committee of two, Andrew Nc
Intosh and JAS. Conway, is acting as
finance committee, to accept contribu-
tions of money. They announce that
money may be left at either bank.
The Saturday preceding Christmas
room will be opened for the storage of
clothing and food to be distributed by
the committee at later date. The
feeling is abroad that Edgerton will do
herself proud in responding to this
splendid opportunity.
Do WE want to pattern after the ma
tions of the Old World and build up
great armies and navies that the peo-
pie may be higher taxed, or shall we
adhere to that Democratic doctrine adj
vocated by great leaders in the past
and which has made America real
America? At no time have we been
dpIe W secure eHouSH meH 10 Hldl OuI
battleships or recruit up to our full
army strength and now it is suggested
to build even greater army and navy.
You will not be able to get the men
and as a result we will have to resort
to laws compelling military service and
then the America so beloved by us all
will be an America of the past. Com
pulsory military service abroad has
driven young men to America for just
that reason. If we are to have a
greater army then we must have more
men, and if we must have greater
navy, then we must have more men,
and today the department is confronted
by shortage of men. That is why
you see these recruiting stations open
ed in all the large cities and alluring
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