Evening star., 1923-12-23

lhLS ana Christmas are Two
subjects that are always
~ closely associated. Boys. too,
~ have a large share In Christ
mas, but the heavier part Of the burden
Of preparing for that great annual
event usually falls upon feminine
shoulders.
All Of the Washington organizations
OF girls are doing things this year In
even greater abundance than in pre-
stous seasons to carry cheer to chill
Gren and entire families in the way OF
provisions, clothing and toys. Although
the weather has remained unusually
mild, the spirit of Christmas is in the
air. and tomorrow will be one Of the
busiest Christmas ewes that local high
school girls have experienced.
MANY girls. absorbed in their own
NI plans for Christmas in American
homes, do not realize the bigger mean
ing of Christmas among the nations.
4 significant phase Of this broader and
fuller meaning to the Yuietide holiday
was expressed here recently in an In
teresting talk given by Miss Edith M.
Dabb, head of the Indian department
Of the national board of the Y. w. c. A.
Miss Dabb. who was in Washington
only a few days. has lived for many
years among the American Indians.
She was here as a member OF the
committee of one hundred on Indian
affairs.
Miss Dabb told Of the joys of the
indian children upon receipt Of Christ
mas boxes last year from members Of
the Girl Reserves. 1t seems that these
1000 Indian children were particularly
interested In noting that their Christ
mas gifts with the with love from
labels were signed by girls whose names
indicated many nationalities. including
Italian, German, French. Swedish and
Polish. as we'll as English.
For the first time these original
American children realized that their
fountry is country Of many pationali-
lies said Miss Dabb Living on land
set apart by the government and at
tending schools that are solely for In
dians, the boys and girls of the reser-
vations have hitherto felt rather iso-
lated from. the rest Of the children of
the country. When they received the
presents last Christmas they went sim
ply wild from Joy and Excitement, es.
recially over the mechanical toys.
Even the simplest Of these toys they
seem to feel Is animated with some
spirit from the earth or the air. This
Is particularly true OF the Hopi boys
and the children from remote stretches
Of the Navajo desert and mountains"
So now the Indian children have de-
cided that this year they will make the
tnterracial Christmas custom their own.
choosing for their share the very new
est of Americans, the children on Ellis
Island.
AS a result on Tuesday the little for
eign children Of immigrants detained
at Ellis Island over that day of days.
who will no doubt be soreiy missing
the quaint customs and fun OF their
home provinces and hamlets in the
strange government buildings on the
island, will receive pledges Of friend
ship from the first Americans. Dolls
dressed in Cherokee fashion and other
toys Of Indian manufacture will glad
den their eyes. The toys win be the
gift Of the Indian children Of the
cherokee Training School in Okla
homa
OF course there are many places a.
homo for enlivening cheer among
Washington children. but If any girls
club is at a loss as to where to send
Christmas box. or If any particular
girl has her childhood toys which she
would like to send where they will be
heartily appreciated. rest assured that
tEese descendants OF the earliest Amer
scans or Of the about-to-be Americans
will give them enthusiastic welcome.
It would seem especially appropriate
for gifts for these youngsters to come
from washington, the heart of the