Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-12-08
British Plan To Celebrate
A Very Simple Christmas

LONDON, Dec. Swish you a sim
pie Christmas" is to be the Christmas
greeting in England this year. In other
words, self-denial-but a self-deniaI
free from dismalness-is to be the key
note of the countrys coming Yuletide
season. Festive extravaganza, riotous
indulgence, and thoughtless debauch-
cry are to give place to simplicity, joy,
thankfulness and thoughts for the
wounded, the sufferers, and the sold
iers 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 war were
celebrated according to tradition-a
time of efasting and festivity and pre-
senting, 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 great
er self-deniaI is more apparent. Econ
omy 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 elimin-
ate gala dinners and the usual enter
tainments. Some of the leading hotels
had alerady prepared elaborate din
ners for Christmas and New Years at
from s. to $40 a plate. Still others
had applied for an extension of the
closing hours until 2 or 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 it's
foot down on this. This body which
regulates the hours at which drinking
may be INDUCED in set its face sternly
against all extensions Of hours. It
refused to even tilt the lid. Thus the
restricted hours in effect almost since
the beginning of the war. namely -
o'clock to 2:30 in the afternoon and
$50 to in the evening, will remain
undisturbed during the Christmastide.
To say that his refusal of the au-
thorities to listen to reason" as the
hotelmen and caterers put it, has been
disappointing is putting it mildly, and
the result was frequent meetings at
which appeals were drawn up, but all
to no avail. Mr.. Runciman 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 hotelmen were told that it was
not a question whether or not they
would set good example to others,
but an actual matter of fod shortage.
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 buildings and mince pies, the
raisins and nuts are sufficiently alarm
ing, and the possibility that by buying
and eating too profusely of these
things they will imperil the food sup
ply of others is beginning to be real
lied.
Among the signs of simpler Christ
mas will be the abandonment Of dec
GRATED displays in butchers, poulter-
ers' and provision shops.
With the approach Of the holiday
season the War Savings Committee re-