Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-20
Devices for Reducing Labor on Holiday
Do Not Always Produce Desired Result
BY NINA WILCOX PUTNAM.

A w. j. Bryan is alleged to once
~ have said in "a real estate
"a speech, It's a fine thing to
4 a give lots and lots at Christmas
provided there is no monkey
business about it,
The soundnesS of them sounding
sentences come home to me the other
day. when l got to wondering what l
and George, that's my husband, had
better do to celebrate, this year. And
when I remembered all that happened
last annum, why that was how | come
TO be able to reach a decision for this
coming week
Wen anyways. last year Georges
mother sent us invitation TO come
there for Christmas dinner, and
Geo. was sure surprised when l at
once turned it down. Why Jennie, he
says, for the luvya tripe, he says,
L would think you would be only
too glad to be rid of all the bother
OF getting dinner at home, he says.
And L says nonsense, dear, working
in your own kitchen amt half the
trouble 1t is to be under-chief in
another woman's, all the rest 1 would
get over to your mothers would be
resting my elbows on the kitchen sink
washing dishes, / says, without even
the satisfaction of saying now dear.
his is the way | stuff a turkey, ana
49, IL pu get what L lltdl. anu
Geo. says, no. l don't get what you
mean, the way YOU women think. no
man could. but if you won't go TO
mothers, why not have her here, she
would help you out?
Yes, says, help me out OF my mind
don't you remember she was here
last year, and loaned us six old tin
spoons to help US out, and that is all
the help she ever did give, she just
Slt around hafprN Iinna> ta1l<a1
about the lovely table she always set
FOR your father, and then sat around
after dinner and complained of indi-
gestion and her heavy expenses.
won't never forget that Christmas,
George, l says, nor how I had COM
pletely forgot to buy her a present
until l seen her coming in the front
door and hadder sneak up the back
stairs and wrap up that salad bowl
With the hand painted poison-iVy on it
that we so seldom used. and give it to
her hoping she wouldn't recognize it.
which she fortunately didn't
And Geo. says, well, even if we
don't go there, for the luvva tripe
don't forget to buy her something
this year, and l SAYS l already have.
dear, l got some splendid handker-
chiefs in the Five and Dime Store,
but they are the kinda thing a per-
son would rather send with love by
mail then give face TO face which
is another reason why l would rather
we eat at home. And what is even
further, Geo, | went on. / think
we have been selfish about Christmas
long enough. Why, | says. do we go
on feeding a bunch of relations who
are perfectly able to do same for their
selves, you know as good as | do dear,
they only come because they feel it's
their duty. Yeh, that's right, says
1oi,,
what do you suggest instead?
Well dear, ! says. how about asking
q few people to dinner which amt got
no other place to go. YOU know, the
ones who will be left neglected in their
rooming house while all the rest of
the world is gathered round the
christmas cheer safe and happy with
their families. Well. says Geo. I'll
say that is a line, generous idea.
Jennie, he says. l am with you. go to
II. l sure will enjoy doing some real
good at Christmas for little change.
VOL, il won't be Il little change, it
will be 4 considerable No. of dollars
! says, but we will get a big kick our
OF it, and the guests will have no kick
~ all, / will attend to that.
* x x
WELL naturally, although l was all
set to do good To the needy, at the
same time | preferred they should
move in our own social circle. and so
the first person come into my mind
was poor dear old Gen. Buster. That
darling old man lived all alone in d
cold and cheerless apartment hotel
and for all the big rent he paid l fully
realized where it was conner be far
from homelike there with Special
Blue-plate Christmas Dinner at S1.75
per cover. SO the next time | went
down town after ordering my 1S-pound
turkey, l took especial trouble to walk
paSt the ASsaWa Sa pah apartments and
all but run into him as he come out
for his morning exercise, snow white
hair and all. 1t certainly moved me
10 pity, and let my generous impulse
have the time of its life.
Oh Gen. Buster, l says, you are
the very one l wanted to see, | was
wondering whether you wouldn't like
10 have Christmas dinner with us we
are conner have a turkey and plum
pudding and everything and real,