Evening star., 1916-12-25
SIMPLE CHRISTMAS
PLAN IN ENGLAND
Self Denial Keynote of Coun-
try's YuIetide Season
Throughout Land.
ALL JOIN TO SAVE FOOD
Of the Associated Press.

Correspondence Of the Associated fress
LONDON December 11.-"Wish you
simple Christmas" is to be the Christ
mas greeting in England this year In
other words. self-denial-but self
denial free from disma lnesS-is to be
the keynote of the countrys coming
yuletide season. Festive extravaganza.
riotous indulgence and thoughtless de-
bauchery are to give place to SIM
plicity. joy. thankfulneSs and thoughts
for the wounded. the sufferers and the
soldiers and sailors who are fighting
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 We're celebrated
according to tradition-a time of feast
Ing and festvity and present-giving.
period of general relaxation, and of
charity also. But conditions have
altered: the stern realities of war have
been brought even closer to the people.
so that the necessity for greater self
denial is more apparent Economy and
retrenchment 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-
nate gala dinners and the usual enter
tainmentS. Some of the leading hotels
had already prepared elaborate menus
Tor Christmas and New Year at from
10 to $40 plate Still others had ap-
pNed Tor an extension of the closing
hours until or o'clock in the morn
Ing, Just as they do in New York and
other big cities of the United States
Refuses Even to Tilt the Lid.
But the liquor control board pu, it's
foot down on this This body, which
regulates the hours at which drinking
may be indulsed in, set its face sternly
against all extensions of hours 1t re-
fused even TO tilt the lid Thus the re-
stricted hours in effect almost since the
beginning of the war, namely l2i
o'clock to 2:30 in the afternoon and
s:3V TO in the evening, will remain
undlsturbed during the Christmastide
To say that this refusal of the au-
thorities to listen to reason" as the
hotelmen and caterers put it, has been
disappointing is putting il mildly and
tne result was frequent meetings at
W. hirn appeais We're drawn up; but all
70 no avail Mr. Runciman told the
hotelmen that unless they revised their
menu he would do it for them and the
liouor control board said something
about taking away license and shutting
W the Places just as they sometimes
threaten in American cities The hotel
men We're told that it was not "A aues-
tioh whether or not they would set a
good example TO others. but an actual
matter of food shortage. Hotel and
restaurant patrons must eat less and
more cheaply. If they do not others
Will go hungry.
Housewives Must Economic.
Housewives have also planned sim
pier Christmas dinners. The prices Of
meats. turkeys. hams. the ingredients
for plum puddings and nnince pies the
Faisins and nuts are sufficiently alarm
ing. and the possibility that by buying
ana eating 10 proiusely of these
things they Will imperil the food sup
ply OF Others is beginning to be realized
mas will be the abandonment of deco
rated displays in butchers poulterers'
and provision shops.
With the approach of the holiday sea-
son the war savings committee renewed
It's campaign. Its mottos We're: Hos
pftality without extravaganza, humor
without hate, the best Christmas pres
enf q war savings certificate Still
another patriotic organization. in its
campaign .or economy in meat bread
tea. alcohol. sugar, butter. etc. dis
tributed this placard: IF you are ex-
travaeant this Christmas you will