The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-11-28

TN a Christmas message to the women
 of America, the women's committee = of the council of national defense in Washington has issued the following let ter to the various state chairmen, which is especially significant at this time;
 "As the holiday season approaches the question which confronts us all is What shall I do about Christmas? Shall l fol- low my usual plan and present to each of my friends such gifts as l have been in the habit of bestowing; or shall l refrain from doing so this year and ex- pend all that 1 can afford upon our sol diers and the needy ones across the sea?
 Tt occurs to me that there are two ways in which we may keep Chrlstmas fresh and green in the memories ot our children, and that this, of all the years of our lives. should be children Christmast year.
 "1t is our duty not only to keep the home fires burning, but also to keep the hearts of our household cheerful and drive gloom and depression, as far as possible, from those who surround our hearthfires.
 "The custom of promiscuous Christmas giving as practiced in past years has be- come q burden to many people who were unable to bear it, and no better time than this will ever present itself for the inauguration of a reform in this dlrec- ton.
 "May we not, as a womans commit tee, adopt the plainly patriotic as well as common sense position that no adult person give or receive presents of any sort which are not a real necessity, ana that all exchanging should be vigorously diseountenanced?
 Tn recent years we have robbed Christmas of it's true significance, and substituted for the great gift and sacri- flee of Him in whose name we observe the day as sacred the unworthy attltude of selfish seeking and receiving.
 Shall we not use this holiday season of 1917 to teach the older and better les son?
 My experience with children since the beginning of the war has revealed the existence of a deep and even passionate patriotism, which longs to manifest ltselI in service and sacrifice, and there could be no greater use made Of this Chrlst- mas time than to teach these little ones the sublime lesson of the wonderful Joy of giving, which is far greater than that of receiving Instead of dwelling upon the thought of gifts to be received, We should instill into their open minds the desire to make this season time when they can serve their country and it's allies and ald Ill the SuCCeSSldl Wiiihih5 of a world peace by uniting with their parents in unselfishly bestowing upon others the gifts Cor their equivalenD which in times of peace they have them selves received.
 .tOrphan children, suffering from hum ger and cold, who are helpless and home less in our own and foreign lands. are calling to us for this sacrifice of love of Him who said Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these, ye have done it unto me.
 Our children, I know, will respond to this appeal which is made not only for the sake of those who may be made glad through this sacrifice, but for their own sake.
 ..In the midst of the turmoil and the stress of war, of the discomfort and dis trust, the hatreds and bitterness Wa must use every opportunity to NDta sH- cred the deeper things ce he spiri a4d to keep our childreN ia ss atMospAsfa of the real forces which III rltspafeiy save hu,sa1Ssv and these gre faath. hope and love- the oniy sure toaeaalion ul'ga which rests ehe Yesmarent aeace ck indl- %ArDal CT nations
 sftsmighaas a G.on do all in theil 4 sseM of the Master, that it is better to rtse than to receive Faithfully yours.
 ANNA HOWARD SHAW, Chairman Woman's Committee, Council
 of National Defense
 M'DANIEL- MATHEWS PARTY
 MT. and Mrs Preston Mathews enter tained at an informal party last eve