Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1924-12-19

Yet Christmas day has its dangers for the chill
dren and DIR. Frank J. Monaghan, health commits
sioner of New York, gives out these timely "Donts'
for parents:
Don't allow children to lie only partly dressed
and in cold Christmas morning. Many
colds be avoided by needing this warning.
Don't rob the children of their proper amount
of sieep during the holiday week.
Don't overdress them with their new sweaters or
furs just because it is Christmas.
Don't overtax their stomachs with too many
goodies and especially with food they are not USED
and that is too rich.
Don't fail to be sensible during the holidays
thus saving the children much discomfort OF body
considerable mental distress to the motners'
That Christmas aside from its religious signh-
canoe means much to the American people, Is
shown by the unofficial estimate that they VIII
spend considerably more than $5,OO0000,oOO In
gifts this year. This was the figure put on the
expenditures of 1923. The increase in 1928 over
1922, as shown by the December business OF the
Post Office department, was 16 per cent in amount
of first-class mail handled and an increase of 10
per cent in parcel post The increases ranged
from to per cent in 81 widely scattered cities
Some of the increases reported were: Dallas,
Texas 20 per cent in first class and 27.5 per cent
in parcel post mail Kansas City, 5 and 10 per
cent; Louisville, 10 and 1876 per cent; Chicago,
S.3 and 81 per cent; Milwaukee, II and Is per
cent; st. Louis, and IS per cent.
Yes, the postman is busy man at the Christ
mas season. His pack is big and heavy. But he
should feel repaid in way, for his extra work,
for he carries much JOY into many household and
he is one man who knows to certainty that the
American people are prosperous. 1t was mem
Der of the Letter Carriers union who made this
statement last year.
There is group of workers in the world bet
ter quaiifed to give actual testimony as to the
standards of living among the workers of the
United States than the letter carriers. The city
letter carriers enter every home. We in init
mate contact with every phase of the daily life of
our people. And through our experience / can
bring to you the absolute testimony that work
$50 ha NIL cd n q
tials of life which food and clothing and shell
ter are far better off now than ever before.
Out of this situation has grown the Spugs-So-
ciety for the Prevention of Useless Giving-and
many somewhat similar organizations They speak
strongly against the Degradation of Christmas"
Charlotte Perkins Gilman, for example, said. in
the Century Magazine that the descent from Jesus
to Santa Claus was one of the saddest In the his
tory of mythology and that the cause of our gross
observance Of the sacred day is our substitution
for the gracious and loving Teacher, the lover of
all humanity OF this chimney-climbing dstrlbu-
tor of presents, Santa Claus. In no other
ligion she tells u.s. has there been so lovely a
vision as that presented by Christianity in its be-
ginnings-"dvine love coming on earth baby,
a little child, that child growing up to teach of
human unity, of God in man, of worship in love
and service 1t is more than fitting that such a
birthday should come to be the childrens festi-
VAL" But preChristan origins of the annual
celebration have come to dominate It. Santa
Claus has replaced the memory or Christ. The
prevalent idea of celebrating Christmas in our
country, we are told, "is roast turkey and a
Christmas tree. banquet and che giving and re-
ceiving Of presents"
The sPay-as-You Go Christmas movement is
now under full hes1way. It's advocates hold that
old-fashioned Christmas giving. the original pur
pose Of which was to impress upon children the
significance Of the day has degenerated into pro-
miscuous Christmas trading Unconsciously we