The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1917-12-22
MERRY CHRISTMAS
n WHY

Let the Yuletide log burn as brave
ly and as brightly as ever. Let there
be no dimming of the Christmas spirit,
no muffling of the Christmas bells,
says a writer in the Southern Pacific
Bulletin, in an editorial of unusual in
terest. Continuing, he asks: What
though at many a Christmas dinner
they will turn down an empty glass?'
What though at many a family hearth
side there will be a vacant chair Is
Christmas to be considered but j
mockery of vain hopes? Is the star
of Bethlehem a mere will o. the wisp?
Shall we lock our lips to Merry
Christmas" as inconsistent with the
times? Never let such a thing be
said.
1.-THE first Christmas commemorated
the birth of a Child. Since then the
greatest of all feasts has been of spe-
cial significance to children. We have
sought on that day. frequently through
self-sacrifce, to bring happiness to
our children. Out of the fullness of
our hearts we have bestowed pres
ents OF more or less intrinsic value
which served a temporary purpose
and then were permitted to find their
way to the rubbish pile.
Who among us realize what pre-
cious birthrights the present genera
ton is now hanging upon Times
Christmas Tree? Who can fully es-
innate the untold blessings which the
children of today have in store for
them on each Christmas of the future
as the result of the sacrifice which
their parents are making?
Peace on Earth-Good Will to
Man. Is not this Christmas slogan
the very battle cry of America today?
Does it not epitomize the reasons
which have led us into the great con-
lict? Does it not represent the sole
reward sought by America? And who
shall say that such a reward is not
worth all hat the world has suffered
and may still have to suffer before
the reward is realized?
From the wreckage of the war we
are building a Christmas tree around
which in the ages to come children
will gather to pluck the priceless
gifts of liberty, security and content
ment. On the top of the tree we will
fasten the Star of Universal Peace,
and to each branch we will append
such gifts as thrift, sobriety, recogni-
ton and the rights of small nations
industry, self-sacriice, courage and
patriotism.
What suffering will be spared to
the coming genartion by the advance
ment of sugery and medical science
under the merciless lash of war?
What amazing conveniences to the
human race will be enjoyed by the
people of tomorrow and be-
cause OF the inventions now being
born of grim necessity? What bless
ings of health and sane living will be
the property of those to come be-
cause the men of today have been
from the demoralizing coils
of the big cities and reyitalized on bat
tiefields where man learns to look un-
fraid of his God.
ut is d%iscernible now that our chill
dren will not possess the same habits
which have made America a nation
of spenders? We a see the princi-
pies of thrift, steadiness of purpose,
and lofty idealism being laid down as
the foundation stones of the Temple
Of Humanity that is to house posterity.
AC ONdA VI oSLhtSACA lCduO VII anu
on, and a struggling, weary world fol
lows the Star as centuries ago the
Wise Men of the East followed il
across the desert.
peace on Earth-Good VIII to
Man. This is the Christmas present
which we are buying with our blood.
To win it we will go on fighting until
the priceless gift is assured to our
children and to our children's chill
In the midst of all our suffer
ing we can be happy in the prospcc-
tive happiness of the little ones we
have brought into the world.
"Paraphrasing some well known
lines, 1T is a far, far better thing
hat we do now than we have ever
n