The Dolores star., 1924-12-12

Yet Christmas day has its dangers for the chill
dren and Or. Frank J. Monaghan, health commits
sioner of New York, gives out these timely "Donts'
for parents:
Don't allow children lie only partly dressed
and in cold rooms on Christmas morning Many
colds can be avoided by needing this warning.
Don't rob the children of their proper amount
Of sleep during the holiday week.
Don't overdress them with their new sweaters or
furs Just because 1t is Christmas.
Don't overtax their stomachs with too many
goodies. and especially with food they used
to and that is too rich.
Don't fail be sensible during the holidays.
thus saving the children much discomfort of body
and considerable mental distress to the mothers.
That Christmas, aside from its religious sgniii-
means much to the American people, is
shown by the unofficial estimate that they will
spend considerably more than $50OO0GO.000 in
gifts this year. This was the figure put the
expenditures of 1928 The increase in 1923
1922 shown by the December business of the
Post Office depar ment. was 1G per cent in amount
of tirst-cass mail handled, and an increase of IS
per cent in parcel post. The increases ranged
from ) to per 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, and 10 per
cent; Louisville. 10 and 1S.5 per cent: Chicago,
S.3 and 81 per cent Milwaukee, u and IS per
cent !; St. Louis, and IS per
Yes, the postman is Il busy the Christ
season. His pack is big and heavy. But he
should feel repaid, in Il way for his extra work.
for he carries much Joy into many "A household and
he Is one man who knows to a certainty that the
American people are prosperous II was II mem
her Of the Letter Carriers union who made this
statement last year:
There IS group of workers in the world bet
ter qualified to give actual testimony 10 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-
vvi;h every phase of the daily life of
our people. And tnrough experience ! can
bring to YOU the absolute testimony thar tho yorl.
ers Of the United States, in the three
tials Of life which food and clothing and shell
ter, far better off than before
out Of this situation has grown the Spugs-So
cety for the Prevention Of Useless Givng-and
many somewhat similar organizations They speak
strongly against the 'De"radatiOn of Christmas"
Charlotte Perkins Gilman, for example said in
the Century Magazine that the descent from Jesus
to Santa Claus 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 distrlbu-
tor of presents. Santa Claus In no other re-
llgion, she tells us, has there been so lovely a
vision that presented by Christianity in its be-
ginnngs-"dvine 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 than fitting that such n
birthday should to be the chiIdren's festI-
VAL" But pre-Chrlstian 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. sis roast turkey and n
Christmas tree. a banquet and the giving and re-
ceiving of presents"
The "Pay-as-You-Go Christmas'' movement is
under full headway. Its advocates hold that
Old-fashioned Christmas giving, the original pur-
pose of which to impress upon children the
Significance of the day, has degenerated into pro-
mlscuous Christmas trading. Unconsclously we