Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1916-01-11
A RAMBLING LETTER FROM
THE RAMBLER.

Chicago, Jan l, 1916.
The echo of Christmas bells and
New Year greetings still ring in our
ears and we know many hearts have
responded to the reminder of good
will" while ''peace on earth" has be-
come prayer of portentious meaning.
Not everybody this year busted
themselves in gift-buyiDg, some there
was wondering if earth was really
filled with good-fellowship, some there
was suffering from limitations of
means that seemed to have reached
the bOrder-line of need.
Many of these were remembered
for example. the Chicago Athletic
Club "good fellows sent out one
thousand baskets to the poor, each
containing fifteen dollars worth of
food which is but one incident of the
holiday. The young people of the
church social clubs pledged from two
to four thousand loaves of bread for
the needy. These have helped to
gladden. days that have for many
years seemed those of giving and
taking, till not to give becomes a
source of pain.
THE LOOP.
Lectures, concerts, recitals and
opera lured people from the stores
yet leaving "the Loop" crowded with
people. Chicago folk are notably
good-natured when crowding in and
out of the limited spaces of the shop
ping district; but, the anxious express
sion, the stern determination of a
bargain hunter settles upon the faces
of young and old and rnbs them of
the beauty which rightfulIy belongs
to them, but we know it disappears
when hOmeward bound. "What do
you think" cried busy kindergarten
teacher. 81 wanted some toy COWS,
some real looking ones to teach my
children natural science, and they
called the manager, because l COM
planned that COWS without milk
pouch were incorrect. He assured
me Germany had always made them
that way, (Of course all toys come
from Germany and that after this
little trouble is settled he could order
some made for me-"
OF course we assured her that
Germany was modest if belligerent.
Her arms have for weeks been filled
with toys and she has climbed a ten
foot ladder hundreds of times to fit
out the electrically lighted tree with
dolls and wonderful decorations to go
with a Christmas tree.
No mother has greater cares, more
enthusiasm and endless plans to en-
terrain her children than this bright,
girlish bachelor-maid, who confesses
to twenty years or more in kindergar-
ten work, and in confidence, she de-
clares herself quite devoid of an
affectiOnate nature. We can afford
to smile at that as we murmur, Glove
begetS love-"
We wandered into the French M.
E. church stormy Sunday afternoon,
and listened to a sermon in French by
an able, nay brilliant man, who having
made fortune, has felt it a higher
duty to speak twice each Sunday to a
flock of his Americanized bretheren.
How glad we were that the last years
effort to get a new floor and cushioned
seats had been accomplished. "Where
two or three are gathered together
in Ny name" seemed very real, al
though only nineteen people were
present and we felt the hOme-like
interest of it's members, and realized
that the larger congregation attend
ing in the morning had labored all
week for the Bazaar. What a treat
to sing hymns where sound was IN
INSTRUCTED by carpets and where a
hard wood floor served as a sounding
board
Worldly? All but music is also a
religion
THROUGH A STORM.
The Saturday following, we looked
forth at the snow which was buffeted
by strong wind. Should we venture
to attend lecture? Experience had
taught us it meant one hour ahead of
the service, else we could not gain an
entrance, much less a seat. Must we
stand in that storm for an hour?
Remembering that the reading room
would be open, on went wraps, rub
bers and close-titting hat. Did any
one stay away? Not noticeably.
People were allowed to enter at once
and the twelve hundred seats were
soon filled: those who came later re-
turned home, wiser as to Science