The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1920-12-24
WHAT DOES CHRISTMAS MEAN
TO YOU?


To the average man and woman,
the season of the year that brings
tally reminders in the newspapers
TEN SHOPPING DAYS BEFORE
CHRISTMAS" and so on until con-
ffonted with the terrifying fact that
Christmas has really come, the sea-
son is a nightmare.
We may talk of the joy and good
will of Christmas all we want to, but
the fact remains that we all go thru
it exhausted. The merchant welcomes
it as stimulus to trade. But he is
worn to fragile nevertheless. The
,hildren welcome it as the greatest
day of the year. And that is the re-
deeming feature.
If Christmas did not mark the time
Of giving and sacrifice and general
softening toward the world, some
other day would. The merchant would
object to Christmas giving being done
away with. But in the end it would
not affect his trade. AS long as the
milk of human kindness flows in the
veins of men and women they are go
ing to express their emotions toward
each other. There is no more con-
vineing way to express it than by CIV
ing gifts. If we did not give them
Christmas we would give them at
other times. To the really generous
nature it is not necessary to wait for
Christmas to make some other heart
glad. ss
The evil of the present day Christ
rlas is that it has become CONNER
1ialized Thousands of gifts are re-
ceived yearly by people who had not
intended to give anything to the
sender. They are Immediately con-
fronted with the necessity of supply
ing a gift in return. Nine times out
Of ten they simply turn around and
send to that one some gift they have
received, and which they do not want.
IN itself there is no harm done. Really
there is a leveling up equity takes
place. But the fact remains that the
real spirit Of Christmas has been lost
in the transaction.
I ara personally. convinced that
Christmas giving should be restricted
to the children alone When we give
to them, we must do it without
thought of recompense. We must
give it intellectually. And they
in turn appreciate Christmas infinitely
more than their elders. To them
ChristmasTis theSheart-t hrobbing ex
pectancy of uncertainty. 1t is the
overwhelming time of joyousness in
receiving things for which they have
paid nothing and cannot return.
When the three wise men of the
east followed the star to Bethlehem,
it was to bear gifts for a babe in a
manger There could be no expecta-
ton of receiving gifts in return. From
that time it has been the loveable GUS
tom to give to the children on the day
that commentaries the birth of that
child. AS long as that spirit is con-
Jinued Christmas will be thing of
10y forever.
But the insidious custom of cold
bloodedly figuring what to send an
other at Christmas, in view of what is
expected of the other, is nothing short
of disgusting. 1t is deplorable.
To me it appears that the spirit
behind the gift or remembrance is
the thing that counts. | have per-
sonally avoided making a habit of
sending expensive gifts to my friends
in general. / have instead tried to
send them rememberances, from my
own heart and brain, which express
the abiding friendship and love / have
for them. They endure more than
the flimsy knick-knacks that are
usually given. Neckties are given
with a lavishness each Christmas that
is heart-rending! And half of them
are not worn! The givers selects tie
they like. The receiver half the time
thinks it hideous. Cigars are given
galore. Half the time they are a
brand the receiver cannot bear. Half
the gifts bought are bought on the
personal taste |of the giver, with no
thought of the taste of the receiver.
And usually there is frantic
ouandry what to give at all. In
trigues are resorted to in order to
find out what might be acceptable.
Lies are told in profusion to cover up
Christmas transactions. The spirit of
Christ is swallowed up in the negotia
tions and scheming.
Better by far that we give when we
feel the incentive, no matter what
time of he year it is! And then if
none give at all, so much the BETTER
1t Classics them. And when gifts
are received, then we know they come
from sincere heart.
But to retain the old, old idea of
Christmas in exclusive giving to little
hildren is much finer and nobler.