The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-12-25
Never Before Has "Peace or
Earth" Meant So Much.
Celebrations Here Ring True
With Happy Cheer.
SANTA CLAUS SHY THIS YEAR
But He Visited Every Home IN
City Just the Same.
Poor Remembered and More
Fortunate Give Literally.

Peace on earth. good will toward
men,"
Never before have these divine
words rung with a deeper meaning In
the ears OF Topekans and the Ameri.
can people of every city and state than
before have they sounded SO sweetiy
in the ears of bleeding France and
devastated Belgium; never before have
they carried such a blessing to war-
land than at this period Of universal
rejoicing and hearty Thanksgiving at
the ending OF the bloodiest war Of All
time. Truly. the Significance of this
DAY should be felt by old and young
alike; by all ages. sexes. conditions
and nationalities thruout the realm OF
Christendom.
Topeka is observing Christmas az ik
mas not been observed here before In
years. 1t Is true, there were not many
church services. owing to the danger
or lurking germs. but there was re-
3oicing in every heart and thanksgivs
ing In every home. Following the
beautiful custom inaugurated by those
VINO came to the Manger in Bethlehem
on that glorious night, Topeka- made
gifts in profusion. The~reactfun fol-
lowing the sudden termination OF two
years OF tensity and the general ffnan4
cfal relief afforded by higher wages to ,
meet the high cost Of living have led
the city to almost break down the bar.
riers of conservation that have sur,
rounded this feature of the season in
former years.
Presents in Profusion.
Johnny has received the gold watch
that Dad and Mother have long prone
ised him: Mary is delighted with her
new set of furs; Mother has received
the diamond brooch she has coveted
for years. and even Dad-dear old
Dad, who is usually put off with pair
a na fof t1o
not wear on a bet-is- rewarded ina
more substantial manner than uerfSi
On an average, Topeka is more pros
Porous today than she has been for
! years. -
But the greatest gift Of all in many
a home today is that boy returned
safely from the service. He may be
discharged for good or he may merely
be home on furlo, but his presence
at the dinner table brings happiness
to all the family.
Nor can we forget those who are
absent from our fireside and will
spend this day far across the seas;
who have fought SO bravely in true
Yankee style and acquitted themselves
so gioriously in bringing about this
peace on earth and a lasting triumph
Tor the right. Long leagues -separate
| them from their loved ones, but thetr
hearts are here and we can at least bS
thankful that the great danger is past
home coming in the near future.
True. there are those who shall not
| return; those who have made the su-
preme sacrifice for humanity's sake
| and sleep beneath the lilies of Franco:
! but their honor marches on before 4
people whose eyes are still wet with
! tears of a pride that shall not die and
| tl.eir memory shall forever be cher.
ished in the righteous hearts OF civi.
lized nations.
| Unfortunate Remembered.
Nor did Topekans forget those At
home who were less fortunate, whose
| floors are bare and whose table il NOT
i burdened with the variety of food and
| the little delicacies that make tho
| eyes dance with joy; those whose chill
dren Santa Claus has forgotten in hio
| haste and to whom Christmas, SO far
as festivities go. is like any other day
How much better 1t makes us feel
who have followed the dictations OF
! our heart--to know that we have
| added just little ray of sunshine to
this day for them by dropping a few
ccins in those kettles we see hanging
along Kansas avenue where the little
bells have been ringing constantly for
a month. The Salvation Army has
done a great work this Christmas a.
they have always done. and thanks to
them. the needy families of Topeka
t have been benefited by their unselffah
But, speaking of old Santa Claus,
| where has he been this year? Has
anyone seen him in Topeka? Small
boys and girls have searched in vaiH
for a glimpse of his CHEEKY old face:
he has been missing from the big de-
partment stores where he usually well
comes all the little ones who eagerly
crowd about him to shake his hand
and whisper their Christmas wishes
| in his ear. This morning he was mis-,
ing from the churches and not onco
| has he been seen racing thru the
streets. either in his sled drawn ~
the prancing reindeer with the ling
ling bells, nor in his great auto with
the honking horn-for you know he
| sometimes comes that way when there
/ Is no snow.
But He Came just the Same.
In fact there is only one bit Of evis
| dence that Santa has visited Topeka
at all this year, and that Is the won.
derful number of fine presents he has
crammed into the stockings that were
hung up on Christmas eve. But here'6
the secret of his shyness-.ies afraid
of the flu. Nor is his fear Q selfish
one. for had he appeared in .he de-
partment stores several days befon0
Christmas assis his custom, the chil-
dren would have crowded in to see
him. with the result that the epidemic
now under control might have broken
out again and many little boys ana
girls have been too ill to enjoy the
presents he brought them. So the
health department request Sa nta
please not to show himself. but slip
} down the chimney at night unoh.
= . xurtr M