Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-12-15


Entered as second class matter oct
cber ~. 1908. at the postoffice, Ottum-
~, Iowa, under the Act Of Congress "
March B. 1879.
Foreign representatives: Cone; Lor-
enSen 4 Woodman, Mallers Bulioin.
Chicago; 326 Firth Ave-. New fors
CITY 50umbel Bldg, Kansas CITY, MO-
CHRISTMAS IN ENGLAND.
wish you . simple Christmas" IS %
Be tie Christmas greeting In England
this year. In other words, self denial
A-but I self denial free from dismal
ness -is to be the keynote Of the coun
try's coming Yuletide season. Festive
extravagance, riotous indulgence ann
thoughtless debauchery are to give
place to simplicity. Joy. thankfulness
and thoughts for the wounded, the SUI
ferers. and the soldiers and sailors VINO
are, lighting for their country.
The advent Of the food dictator ana
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 celeDrat.
ed according to tradition - time OF
feasting and festivity and present CIV
!ng, d period Of general relaxation;
0ed OF charity also. But conditions
han Uttered, the stern realities OF wa
have, Sr.n brought even closer to the
people. that the necessity for great.
or self dyAal is more apparent Econ
omy and ,rt,trenchment will be the
watchworc this Christmas.
Already TTes. Runciman OF the Lon
don board Of trade has told hotel pro-
prietors that they will have to elimin-
ate gala dinners and usual entertain,
ments. Some OF the leading hotels nad
already prepared elaborate dinners Tor
Christmas and New Years at from ~
to SO plate. Still others had applied
for an extension Of the closing hours
until 2 or 8 o'clock in the morning just
as they do in New York and other Dig
cities of the United States.
But the liquor control board put its
foot down on this. This body which
regulates the hours at which drinking
may be INDUCED in set its face sternly
gainst all extensions of hours. 1t re-
fused to even tilt the lid. Thus the
restricted hours in effect almost since
the beginning Of the war. namely IL
o'clock to 2:30 in the afternoon and
$3.50 to 3 in the evening. will remain
undisturbed during the Christmastide,
To say that this refusal Of the auth
critics to listen to reason as the
hotel men and caterers put 1t. has
been d!sappoint is putting 1t mild
ly and the result was frequent meet
ings at which appeals were drawn up.
nut all to no avail. Mr.. Runc.m man told
the hotelmen that unless they revised
their menus he would do it for them
and the liquor control board said some
thing about taking away licenses and
shutting up the places just as they
sometimes threaten in American cities.
The hotel men were told that it was
not a question of 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. II they do not,
others will 60 hungry.
Housewives have also planned sim
pier Christmas dinners. The prices
OF meats, turkeys, hams. the ingreti-
ents for plum puddings and mince
pies, the raisins and nuts are suficient-
" alarming and the possibility that by
buying and eating too profnsely OF
these things they will imperil the food
supply of others Is beginning to bel
realized.
Among the signs Of simpler Christ
nos Will be the abandonment OF decor
ated displays in butchers poulterers' !
and provision shops.
With the approach Of the, holiday |
season the war saving committee re-
newed it's campaign. Its mottos were:
without extravaganza: hui
NOR without hate; the best Christmas
war savings certificate.
Still another patriotic organization. in /
It's campaign for economy In meat
bread. tea. alcohol. sugar. butter ETC.. |
this placard: 1T you ar, i
hxtravagant this Christmas you will 4
waste food, put up prices and help to !
prolong the war" !;
That the churches are in hearty !
with the idea Of an econ
omic Christmas is indicated by the ).
campaigns that have been
conducted among the bishops through.
,ut the country. After expressing their t
,ppro val and willingness to cooperate,
hey invariably make special plea
against allowing depression to creep
MO the observance of the Yuletide
season.
But in depriving themselves of many
II the good things Of life at this season
he British people have not forgotten !,
o provide for the soldiers and sailors.
were made to provide
very ofYicer and man at the front
With plum pudding on Christmas
lay. Besides hundreds Of thousan
Il Christmas parcels containing
arge variety of food were sent to the
,oys at the front in all the theaters !,
Il war.
WORST BLOW VETO COME.