The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1924-12-12

Yet Christmas day has It's dangers for the chill
dren and DR.. Frank j. Monaghan, health commits
sioner of New York, gives out these timely "Donts
for parents:
and in cold rooms on Christmas morning. Many
colds be avoided by needing this warning.
Don't rob the children of their proper amount
of s-eep during the holiday week
Don't overdress them with their new sweaters OF
furs just because it is Christmas.
Don't overtax their stomachs with too many
goodies and especially with food they are not useo
Don't fail to be sensible during the holidays,
thus saving the children much discomfort OF pody
and considerable mental distress to the mothers.
That Christmas aside from its religious signin-
canoe means much to the American people, Is
shown by the unofficial estimate that they VIII
spend considerably more than $o,OO0O0OUoo IN
gifts this year. This was the figure put on the
expenditures of 1928 The increase in 1928 over
1922 as shown by the December business Of the
Post Office department, was 16 per cent In amount
OF irstclass mail handled, and an increase Of IL
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 30 per cent
in parcel post mail Kansas City, and 10 per
cent Louisville, 10 and 1875 per cent; Chicago,
s.3 and 81 per cent; Milwaukee, II and IL 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 prosperous. It was a mem
Der Of the Letter Carriers union who made this
statement last year:
There is no group of workers in the world bet
ter qualified 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 are In inti-
mate contact with every phase of the daily life of
our people And through experience can
bring to you the absolute testimony that the work.
ers Of the United States in the three great essen
tia,s Of life which are 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 distribu-
tor of presents. Santa Claus In no other re-
licion. she tells us, has there been SO lovely a
vision as that presented by Christianity in Its be-
gjnnings-"divine love coming on earth as a 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
birthday should come to be the children's festi-
VAL" But pre-Christian origins Of the annual
celebration have come to dominate it. Santa
Claus has replaced the memory of Christ The
prevalent idea Of celebrating Christmas in our
country we are told lis roast turkey and
Christmas tree, a banquet and the giving and re-
ceiving of presents"
The .Pay-as-You-Go Christmas movement is
now under full Roadway. Its 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. Uncshsciousiy we