Evening star., 1922-12-24
Tomorrow, Day Of Childhood,
Should Be Day Of Conservation


the better way.
- 4 +
And 80 We come to this our
childhood's day. II We be wise
men, whether from the east or
west, We bring our gold and frank
incense and myrrh and lay them
beside the cradles that hold tho
only true kings q democracy may
justly worship. II we be right we
think OF life. liberty and the pur-
suit Of happiness in the language
Of childhood. We see they are
divine and helpless. We apprehend
that they come from the very heart
Of God and are the very essence Of
all Just human government. The
day Of Bethlehem's Child and all
tho children since compels US to
take OF our shoes and stand rever-
emily upon this holy ground.
1t II revealed to us that II IL not
the strong. the mighty and the
powerful that make life worth liv-
Ing, but rather IL is the helpless.
strips US of our years. paralyzes
our petty ambitions, takes out the
Interrogation point which time has
put into our minds. leads US back
to the dawnings of life and gives
us an unclouded vision and a
surer faith that some day men will
worship. not strength. majesty.
power. but the loving trust which
come from out Of the manger OF
Bethlehem. AZ we gase into the
eyes Of these little ones involun-
tarily our thoughts run back to
the Little One of long ago. Whether
from the religious or the patriotic
viewpoint we contemplate Him In
His lowly surroundings. there will
come to US a gleam Of the divine
into the kingdom Of God or the
kingdom Of democracy he must
become n . little child. The un-
fortunates of the world arc not
those who are in sickness, poverty.
sorrow, or In prison. but those to
whom 1t has never been given to
catch a Rleam Of what childhood
and childhood's mind, exemplified
in every babe since born. mean to
democracy and the world.
cannot even yet speak Of him
for whom grieve without a
feeling that ought not to do so.
He was and IL and ever will be so
sacred to me that I much doubt
whether his blessed memory
should be used even for a holy
purpose. For three years he SPELL
ed for me in every ripple Of laugh
ter and his every lisping word God
and democracy. with a smile
upon his lips and a gaze unafraid
he looked into the eyes Of the
Prince of wales and said, "Who
are your" 1t was the unconscious
transmission through all the CEN
turtles from Bethlehem to Wash
ington OF the one sure fact in his
tory that goodness Is not afraid of
periences Of undemocratic and
self-seeking life that teach self
consciousness. class-consciousnes
and bitterness OF soul. He has
gone from mortal sight. but the
lessons he taught me abide and
will abide until push aside the
purple curtains which thus far
life. Happier far today are those
whose children yet linger with
them. 1t is my day of memory.
1t is theirs Of realisation.
+ + + +
Would all days were chiIdhood's
days! Would men everywhere
could realize that as childhood is
the one thing in life which We love
and guard and serve. SO he comes
nearest to the divine plan who
seeks not his own good to his
brothers injury! The world has
forgotten for today its ills and
petty grievances. For the moment
it knows that Imperial Caesar
dead and turned to clay. but serves
to stop q crack to keep the wind
away" Dolly Madison was right
when she said to her niece. my
dear. after fifty, nothing mAtters.'
We have not forgotten all thu
brought upon tho world. but to-
day we Just don't think abou'
them. We have our children. oul
faith. our country. It Is the an
niversary of the Incarnation. i
Is q day dedicated and consecratei
| not to reform but to regeneration
| Do we love our brother. our coun
! try and our God as we think w,
| do. We shall let this be just tn,
Tonight let US die to every unhol!
thought and purpose which w
would not entertain toward tn,
Christ child, or: any other child
! and the morrow's morn let US b,
born again to every high and nobl,
! purpose In state and society whicl
| must arise from crystallising int
! conduct tho eternal Inasmuch.
| Copyright, 1877, ~ Thomas \. MashaI.