South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-12-26

that had just been laid in her out
stretched arms and begged Santa 20
kiss its plump check. IL they could
have seen the eyes Of Roma's tired
mother, over whom the shadow of
a nepY responsibility even now nov
ers despite her poverty and FIVE lit
tie ones and the bitterness that only
deserted wife and mother can
know: If they could have gone with
Santa and seen all this, they would
have known for the first time IN
their lives what the spirit Of Christ
mas really means.
Many are Foreigners.
santa was very real 10 tdese ba-
ries. who stared at him at frst in
fright and finally came close % him
and followed him out with eyes that
5pariled with unacCE9tumed h1ppi-
ness And the Rcd Cross was very
real 20 the mothers OF taese babies.
sick with their hopclessness and un-
ending struggle. Some OF the peO-
pie are fOrcleneTs. bewildered by
hardship and the strangeness OF a
new land. Dumka's father. for eX-
euplC, ig dying with tuberculosis.
Her mother, a. little woman with q
smile whose quickness cannot hide
its p3thos, struggles to give him the
delicacieS his condition requires. and
20 keep the babies clothed and fed.
IN the home of a Russian family.
where there are FIVE boys. the oldest
II them explained 20 Mrs. Bauer Of
the Red Cross. I'VE are all bows but
sister" thoNe was nothing OF COM
fort or cheer A few broken sticks
of furniture. an oil cloth covered tn
bio "a little crib in the corner where
sister slept and over ot al the
murhy glare OF a smoking oil light
was all that Santa cav when hC car
ried IN his gifts. The boys, bright
faced little chaps. stood grouped
about their mother. who held bo-
by not many months older than isis
ter in her arms They called cut
"A rusty Thank you. santa" 10 the
jolly little man, whose back was
hardly turned before they made a
center rush for the boxes. chuCklinE
and WHISPERING among themselves.
Problem Is Wcighty One.
The men and women VINO under
took Mishawaka's municipal Christ
mas and personally explained the
situation TO Santa, We're exalted with
the results. Tired, hungry and cold.
they locked at each other when IL
was over and caid 1T was worth it,
The thought OF these babies happi-
ness. the gratitude and comfort or
the mothers and fathers who could
not have provided the necessary
good things. il one that Will inspire
every one Of them for many q day.
But back of the satisfaction il n
great question in every mind-how
can Mishawaka help these people cut
of their poverty and misery? How
car they be helped 10 help them
selves.
That Is q question that cannot
be arsv cred by Santa Claus 1t j.
one that must be solved by the city
itself. A greater civic consciousness
% the need is primarily roQuii ed if
the ambitions OF the Req Gross are
To be realized 10 the full. Moan
time. thanks to santa and his CO.
workers. particularly the hoyS and
girls ~ tho public schools. who laid
their gifts or the school platform
with q spirit of sacrifice us sublime
and beautiful as that Of old, when
gifts were laid on alters TO the glory
Of God, every poor hoy and sirl i'm
the city is happy today with the
knowledge that Santa did not fo--
get
With the ringing OF Christmas
bells, the singing Of anthems. the
glad voices 81 happy people. the
merriment i'm warm. bright homes
while gifts were being exchanged
there was ushared I'm q new ard
beautiful custom. MishaWalla play
ed Santa to the poor. II l. 20 bC
hopcd ti'at there VIII ueysr re au-
other Christmas in MishaWakl with
out a visit from the merry old saint
who loves all children well. but Law
ishcs his tenderness on the sick aud
unfortunate and neglected.