Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-12-08
8 "sIMPLE cHRlsTMAsv
. BEING PLANNED BY
y PeOrLE Or ENuIf<NO
Correspondence Of Associated Press,l

L
Correspondence OF Associated Press, ]
| London, Dec. 1.--"Wish you simple
Christmas" is to be the Christmas
greeting in England this year. In
other words, elf-denial---but self
denial free from dismalness--is to be
the keynote of the country's coming
Yuletide I season. Festive eXtrava-
gance, riotous Indulgence, and thought
| less debauchery are to give place to
| simplicity. JOY, thankfulness and
thoughts of the wounded, the sufferers
and the soldiers and sailors who arc
| lighting for their country.
The advent of the food DICTATOR and
the realization by the British people
that after two years of war there Is
urgent need for the. outstanding of
their, food stores is responsible for
the simplicity of the coming festival
of joy and thanksgiving. The two
previous Christmases in the war were
celebrated according toS tradition--a
tine of feasting ,,and festivity and
present giving, a period of general re-
laxation; and of charity also. But
conditions have altered. the stern
even closer to the people. SO that the
necessity for greater self-denial is
more apparent: Economy and re-
trenchment will be the watchword this
Christmas.
Already President Runciman of the
Board of Trade has told the hotel. pro-
prietors that they will have to elimi-
late gala. dinners and the usual enter
tainments Some of the leading hotels
had already prepared elaborate din
ners for Christmas and New Years at
from S. 70 $40 a plate. Still others
had applied for an extension of the
closing hours until . or 8 o'clock in
the morning just as they do in New
York and other big cities of the
United States.
But the Liquor Control Board put
its foot down on this This body,
which regulates the hours al which
drinking may be INDUCED in, set its
face sternly against all extensions of
hours. IL refused to even tilt, the lid.
Thus the restricted hours in effect
almost since the beginning OF the war,
namely ~ o'clock to >: 80 in the after
noon and $50 to 8 in the evening, will
remain undisturbed- during the Christ
mastide.
To sayrthat this refusal Of the auth
critics to listen 10 reason as the
-aoteimen ana caterers put it. has been
Disappointing as putting. 1t, mildly,
and the result was frequent meetings
at which appeals We're drawn up, but
ali 10 no avail. Mr. Runciman told
the hotelmen that unless they revised
Ia Il
and the Liquor Control Board said
something aboui taking away licenses
ana shutting upap.aces. just as they
sometimes threaten in American cities.
The hotslmeR We're tCla ihas il Was
not a quesViun of whether or not they
wCuEd set q good example Ia, others.
but an actual matter oil, food shortage
Hotel and restaurant patrons must eat
less and more ches ply. If they do not,
others will go hungry .
simpler Christmas dinners The prices
Housewives have also planned
of meats turkeys. hams the ingradi-
ens for plum pudding and mince pies
the pisinss iaad. nuts are sufficiently
alarming. eandf|he possibility that by
buying and eating. too profusely of
these things they will -imperil the food
supply of others is beginning TO! be
realized. go -ge
= Among the signs of simpler
Christmas wiz besthe abandonment OF
decorated displays in butchers poul-
.tsrers' and provision shops
With the approach OF the holiday
season the War Savings Committee
renewed its campaign. It's mottos
were: Hospitality Without Extraya-
sance; Humor Without Hate; The
Best Christmas Prcsent?-A War
Savings Certificate. Still another
patriotic organization. in its cam
paign for economy in meat, bread,
tea, alcohol, sugar. butter etc. dis
tributed this placard If You are ex-
travagant this Christmas you will
waste food, put up the prices and help
20 prolong the war ,
That the CHURCHES are in hearty sym