The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1924-12-25

Yet Christmas day has its 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 Christmas morning. Many
, colds 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, especially with food they are not used
to and that Is too rich.
Don't fail to 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 signih
canoe means much to the American people, is
shown by the unofficial estimate that they Will
spend considerably more than $5,OOO,OO0,ooO In
gifts this year. This the figure put on the
expenditures Of 1928 The Increase in 1923 over
1922 as shown by the December business OF the
Post Office department, was 16 per cent In amount
of frst-class mail handled, and 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 18.5 per cent; chicago,
8s and 81 per cent; Milwaukee, IL and Is per
cent; st. Louis and 18 per cent.
Yes, the postman is busy at the Christ
mas season. His pack is big and heavy. But he
should feel repaid, in q 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 no group OF workers in the world bet
ter qualified to give actual testimony 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-
our people And through experience 1
bring to the absolute testimony that the work
tials of life which food and clothing and shell
ter are far better off now than ever before.
Out of this situation has grown tue 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 sa1dest in the his
tory of mythology and that the cause of our gross
observance of the sacred day Is substitution
for the gracious and loving Teacher, the lover Of
all humanity. Of this chimney-elimbing dlstribu-
tor of presents, Santa Claus In other
ligion. she tells us has there been so lovely a
vision as that presented by Christianity in its be-
ginnings-"diyine love coming earth as 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
birthday should come TO be the children's festi
yal.'n But pre-Christian origins of the annual
celebration have to dominate 1t. Santa
Claus has replaced the memory of Christ The
nreyaient idea of celebrating Christmas in
country, we are told. "is roast turkey and
Christmas tree, banquet and the giving and
ceiving of presents
The .Pay-as-You Go Christmas" movement Is
now under full hes1way 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 Internationally we