Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1917-12-18
OUR FIRST WAR CHRISTMAS IN
THE PRESENT WORLD
STRUGGLE

spirit OF previous years due to tn
horrible war which we are now in.
Christmas holds a unique place a
| a yearly celebration. The Yuletid
season is not merely a period of gif
Destowal. It's significance is more
profound, which is commonwealth,
the birth of Jesus the Saviour. 1t is a
this season of the year that th,
Christmas bells chime, "On Eartl
Peace, Good Will Toward Men," whicl
| can be translated "peace to men O
good will" This version is timely a,
well as correct. For peace can ant
snail come to men of good will ant
1t cannot come to men of bad will.
Our country is this year one o.
many countries battling in the worlds
war, and for this reason the Yuletidt
festival will not be observed with
the same joyful spirit as has beer
customary in the past. Our only
thoughts are of the soldier and sailor
boys, on the high seas, in the trenches
and those located in the numerous
training camps established all over
this United States. These thoughts
force sadness upon us and we cannot
possibly celebrate the season as in
days of yore. However, there is
some encouragement, when we. think
and know that all of our boys are
going to have Christmas doings and
that they are all going to have Christ
mas gifts. Special Christmas dinners
will be provided for them, and those
IN charge of the festival are doing
all in their power to see that every
boy will have as pleasant a Christmas
as possible under the circumstances.
Mostly all of the homes in this great
country of ours will have absent ones
this Christmas, and the season will
indeed be sad one for the folks
back home" as we'll as for Americas
splendid manhood, who have answered
the call of their country We all have
an important place to fill during this
critical period, and we (the folks at
home) must demonstrate our bravery
as well as the boys who have left
us. The significance of Christmas is
generosity, charity, good fellowship
and happiness, and these are the
things for us to keep uppermost in
our hearts, and if we do, the Christ
mas season this year will be a hap
py one for all our boys at the front.
for the needy and unfortunate at home
and those who have been enriched
with worldly goods will rejoice in the
thcught that they. have been able,gS3
assist in making others happy.
A Christmas without any gifts would
be no Christmas at all, although the
giving of Christmas presents has been
cut down somewhat this year in a
sense, to enable us to furnish all our
American boys in the war with some
remembrance. The present struggle
has made us all alert this year for
the cheer and welfare of our. bows
on the sea and in the army, and the
women and girls of our land are bus
lily engaged knitting wool sweaters.
Wrlstlets, helmets, scarfs, socks, etc..
for their comfort. Comfort bags.
housewives and other articles such as
these, which are counted as priceless
by our boys, are being made and hur-
ried away. The American Red Cross
will see to that every fellow gets a
christmas packet. Homes having rep
resentatives in the war will undoubt-
edly send Christmas "eats," such as
cakes, cookies, candies, tobacco, fruits,
etc.
The stores in Wausau have all put
on their holiday attire and the hus-
ting to and fro evidences the season
OF the year. Up to this time we have
had very little snow and without a
heavy fall of snow soon and the lin
Cling of sleigh bells the season will
not seem at all Christmasy.
Wausau young people attending col
leges and universities, and others en-
gagged in work outside of Wausau are
coming to the city the latter part of
this week to spend the holidays. Rel
at1Ves from away will also spend
Christmas here. Those holding posi-
tions in this city, and not having
their homes here, will go to their
home places to spend the Yuletide.
Christmas cheer will be found in
the homes of the unfortunate in this
city as well as in those of better
circumstances. The destitute families
Will oe furnished with Christmas din
ners, funds now being raised for
that purpose and which is in charge
of the local Federated Charities.
There will be few Christmas par
ties during the season.
All business will be suspended on
day, allowing everyone to
enjoy the eyentful day at their homes
with relatives or friends.
The post Office is a busy place these
days, but the able force at that place
OF business is handling the heavy
mails nicely.
The Christmas celebrations in the
churches, schools, ETC., are published
elsewhere in this issue.
The beautiful Christmas trees are
now making their appearance in Wau-
sau and this is positive sign that the
Yuletide season is not far away.
Mayor Marquardt has withdrawn
the day designated by him for the
campaign to raise $500 in this city
for the starving Armenians. Syria and