The weekly Alaska citizen., 1918-12-30
CHRISTMAS IN GERMANY

Christmas IS probably not the 1eStlVdl Ill Germany that it used to be ill the days ot peace. Then everybody celebrated the day. as the holiday of the year, with feastlng and tes- tivas and much merry making. Religious ob- servances were held also. This year, how ever, Germany is in no mood tor festivals and the Christmas spirit will doubtless be noticeable by it's absence. Her people are hun gry, even to the verge of starvatlon; her gov ernment is unstable, and untounded; the armies which were her pride have met with ignominious defeat and utter failure. She is now reaping the harvest of the crop ot am bition and ruthessness sown by her military overlords, much to her sorrow.
 The former ruler of Germany, Wilhelm Hohenzolern is not even on German soil, but is in refuge in Holland, this Christmas. lie is an old broken man, almost driven to dis traction by the prospects that he sees before him in the days to come when he knows that he must face judgment for the crimes that he prot against humanity during the war. He of the sort of Christmas that he brot to those countries that were ground under his iron heel year ago, and the year before that and the two years before that. His victims were unable to celebrate Christmas for the past four years because of the great load of sorrow and hardship that was borne down upon them thru his machlnatons. This year he is taking his turn, with this difference, however; hls suffering does not begin to compare with that caused by his cruelty; his discomfort Is noth- ing compared with the hardshlps and prlva- tions that were so bravely borne by those who opposed his hordes ot hirellngs lie IS merely paying to a slight extent tor the wrongs that were committed upon his responsibility; he IS reaping a part ot his reward, and 1t will prob ably prove to be small part.
 In direct contrast With the Christmas III Germany as 1t will be celebrated by the Ger mans, IS that of the Yankee army ot occupa- tiOn. These doubhbOyS are receiving their Christmas packages, and there will be none left out. They will celebrate with teastlng and publications. They will have all the good things to eat that even their mighty ap- petites may desire. The sweet tooth that seems to be their common lot will be given such satisfaction as 1t has not had since they lett their mothers cookie jars. They will have Christmas that approaches as nearly to what they would have at home as 1t IS possible tor Uncle Sam to arrange for them. And 1t IS not beyond belief to us who know these lads, that there will be some little German children that will benefit by their proximity to the American soldiers, for it would be beyond the soft hearts of some of them not to share ill a small way, at least, their Christmas cheer with those little fellows that have none. These soldiers are imbued with a spirit that was never evident in fighting men before, and it will doubtless be manifested to a certain ex- tent in this way, in the bringing of Christmas to those children who are suffering because of the war, but were in no way to blame for it.
 Christmas in Germany for the American soldier will be far different than that for the German, and perhaps this very fact will work for good by showing to the Germans how much better off are those who live in a dem ocracy than those who lived under the rule of militaristic autocracy. It may help to make the world safe for democracy, by demonstrat- ing how desirable democracy really is.
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