Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-10-20
TOO MUCH
EFFICIENCY
A CLEVER SERIAL STORY.
BY h J. RATH.
Author OF when the Devil Was
Sick" One Cylinder Sam" etc.
CHAPTER XIV.
Compliments Of the Season.

~ M CHrlStIuaS came WIN 6uCh Sill
4 \ ent and swift approach that the
three Brookes were not aware until IL
was fairly upon them. Then they
gasped at their own appropriateness
Christmas was always a ceremony In
the Brookes mansion, albeit an ex-
pensive one. But the Brookes were in
poverty, even though they were ad-
mirably filled with the spirit.
well, what are we going to give
each other?" demanded Alice whose
mind was normally of practical pur-
pose.
Greetings" said Billy, turning his
pockets inside out.
Constance frowned. AT least we
will have the usual tree" she remark
ed with finality. 1--WE have a few ira
ditions left"
Eyes, We are strong on traditions"
affirmed Billy. But we are awfully
weak on the other stuff. You can't
buy anything with tradition"
Except happiness"
you can't buy ten cents worth of
that" from Alice. I'VE can't even
buy a tree"
''E. E. cam" said Constance. HE
SS'h puJ eihJ lit WON T..
Except hat" Billy observed saw
agely.
Constance smiled reminiscehtly. She
could not deny that the hat had been
an achievement.
Tut" she counseled. Lets keep in
the spirit, anyhow"
So, always in the spirit, they ap-
preached II. Hedge on the subject of
Christmas
II do not approve Of Christmas
gifts" announced the efficiency man.
There won't be many gifts" said
Constance sadly. But there is al
ways the Christmas spirit"
Yes? What is the Christmas spirit,
Miss Brooke?"
Constance stared
What is It? Why"
The efficiency man waited patiently
for the remainder of the answer but
Constance had lost her voice in Won
derment at the question. Alice ans
wered
"A tree" she said.
80 you regard a tree as the Christ
mas spirit?"
"Symbolical," remarked Billy off
way the word rolled out that he said
1t neutrality-suspicious.
Alice nodded.
1T may symbolic something" ad-
mitted Hedge, but do not approve
of a tree"
The Brookes drew slightly away
from him.
1--WE always have a tree" said
Constance.
And 1t is always decorated with
candles and we always hangup our
stockings" supplemented Alice.
II have no objection to your hang
ing up your stockings" observed the
efficiency man judicially. 'I cannot
see that it does any harm, except to
lend encouragement to a foolish myth
and possibly to breathe the fallacy of
expecting something Tor nothing. But
as to a tree and candles-no"
What's the reason we can't have a
tree?" demanded Billy.
They're unsafe, for one thing.
There is liability to fire"
I'VE use electric candles"
"A waste of current A tree also en-
tails an unnecessary amount of clean
ing in the house. Furthermore, 1t is
wicked, because 1t represents an at
tack upon the natural resources of the
country. The decorations that are
placed on it are tawdry and without
artistic merit. Such gifts as are hung
upon 1t or placed under 1t are almost
Invariably foolish and unnecessary.
The entire custom and practice relat-
ing to Christmas trees is wasteful and
extravagant and serves no useful pur-
pose. No tree"
The Brooke children studied the
creature who had thus developed a
newly horrid aspect. Alice, still Sc
cure in her daily pittance, rallied.
Very WELL" she said haughtily. eff
you will not get US a tree, l will buy
one"
You may buy It," H. Hedge in
formed her, but 1t will not enter this
house."
Il cannot bring my own tree into
the house?"
mo-
why. we have always had tree
right in this very room! You can't
have Christmas without bne."
You can have the 25th of Decem-
Der without 1t, at any rate" answered
the efficiency man. THAT Is what we
will have-the 25th of December"
'Why-even the poor have trees!"
Sure. we're entitled to one" added
Billy with fine irony.
mo tree"
"Just a little one!" pleaded Alice.
mo-"
why, even the servants have a
tree!" |
DO they? I'm glad you mentioned
1t. said Hedge, making a memoran-
dunn, the sinister character of which
the three Brookes understood.
This is the very last straw" cried
We'll, it shows which way the wind
blows" returned the efficiency man
brutally.
He wanted to end the argument, and
he succeeded. The three Brookes. as
had become their habit under such
retired for conference