The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-12-21
salf- Denial is to be Keynote
Instead of Festive
Extravaganza.
CLOSE BAR ROOMS EARLY
War Has Caused People to
Save and Live
Simply.

81 LONDON, Dec. 21.-"Wish you a
sinpis Christmas" Is to be the Christ
mag greeting in England this year. In
other words, selfdepial-but self
denial free from dismalness-is to be
Gthe keynote of the conntry'S coming
Yuletide season. Festive extravaganza,
riotous Indulgence, and thoughtlcSs dc
bauchery are to give place to Simple
5ty, Joy, thankfulncss aud thought Is Tor
the wounded, the sufferers. and the
soldiers and sailors who are fighting
Tor their country.
The advent of the food dictator and
the realization by the British people
that after two years of war there Is ur'
gent need for the outstanding OF their
food stores. is responsible for the SIM
plcity OF the coming festival of JOY ami
4 thanksgiving. The two previous Christ
masses in the war were celebrated ac'
cordinR to tradition-a time OF feast
! ing and fcstivity and present.sivmG,
period of general relaxation; and OF
charity also. But conditions have al
tered, the stern realities Of war have
been brought even closer to the peo'
SpIe. SO that the necessity for greater
occidental Is more apparent. Econ
fomy and retrenchment will be the
watchword this Christmas.
Already President Runciman OF the
Board OF Trade has told the hotel pro-
tirietors that they will have TO clint
nate gala dinners and the usual ertcr'
tainments. Some OF the leading hotels
had already prepared elaborate din
ners for Christmas and New Years
at from S. to $40 plate. Still others
had applied for an extension OF the
closing hours until or 5 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 food down on this. This body which
regulates the hours at which drinking
may be INDUCED In set its face sternly
against an extensions OF hours. II re.
fused TO even tile the lid. Thus the re-
stricted hours in effect almost since
the BEGINNING of the war, namely II
O'Clock to 2:30 in the afternoon and
$3.50 to Q in the evening will remain
iindisturbed during the LIAistmastide.
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 1t mildly, and
the result was frequent meetings at
which appeals were drawn up, but all
-tofno avail. Mr. Runciman told the no.
taimen 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 cit
ie.Ls The hotelmen were told that 1t
wis not question whether or not
thy would set n good example to 9TH
en- put an actual matter of food short
aga. Hotel and restaurant patrons
must eat less and more cheaply. If
they do not, others will go hungry.
Housewives have also planned sim.
pier Christmas dinner. The prices OF
meats, turkeys, hams. the ingredients
for plum puddings and mince-pies. the
Taisins and nuts arc sufficiently alarm.
ing, and the possibility that by buying
and eating too prolusely of these things
they will imperil the food supply oi
others in beginning to be realized.
Among the signs of simpler Christ
mas will be the abandonment Of deco
rated displays in butchers, youltergrs
and provision shops.
!. With the approach of the holiday sea
Son the War Savings committee renew
ed Its campaign. Its mOttos were:
Hospitality without EXtravaganC llu.
NOR without Hate; The Best Christ
mas Present?-A War Savings Ccrtifi-
, cate. Still another patriotic organiza'
lion, in its campaign for economy In
meat, bread, tea, alcohol, sugar butter.
ETC., distributed this placard: "lf YOU
are extravagant this Christmas you
will waste food, put up prices, and help
to prolong the war"
That the churches are IN hearty sym
pathy with the idea of an economic
Christmas is indicated by tho ncwspa
per campaigns that have been conduct.
ed among the Bishops throughout tho
country. After expressing their ap.
prevail and willingness to cooperate.
they Invariably make a special plea
against allowing depression to creep
into the observance of the IulctidC sea.
son.
But In depriving themselves Of many
OF the good things of life at this sea
son the British people have not for.
gotten to provide for the soldiers and
sailors. Arrangements were made to
provide every officer and man at the
'front.' with plum.pudding on Christ.
mas day. Besides hundreds of thou.
sands of Christmas parcels containing
a large variety of food were sent 10
the boys at the front in all the theatres
ofwar.