Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1925-11-17
z00 IyAucIl Efficiency
BY E.JG.sS&xs)Rath


ent and swift approach that the
three Brookes were not aware until
it was fairly upon them. Then they
gasped at their own unpreparedness.
Christmas was always . -cermony in
the Brookes mansion, albeit an ex-
pensive one. But the Brookes were in
poverty, even though they were
admirably filled with the spirit.
"Well, what are we going to give
each other?" demanded Alice, whoes
mind was normally of practical pur-
pose.
Greetings" said Billy, turning
his pockets inside out.
Constance frowned "At least we
will have the usual tree" she re-
marked with finally. eve have a
few traditions left"
Eyes. we are strong on tradition"
affirmed Billy. But we are awfully
weak on the other stuff. You can't
buy anything with tradition"
Except happiness"
"You can't buy ten cents, worth of
that" from Alice. eve can't even
buy tree"
"E. E. cam" said Constance. HE
can buy anything-but he won't"
Except a hat" Billy observed
savagely.
Constance smiled reminiscently.
She could not deny that the hat had
been an achievement.
"Tut," she counseled. Let's
keep in the spirit, anyhow"
So, always in the spirit, they ap-
preached H. Hedge on the subject
of Christmas.
II do not approve of Christmas
gifts" announced the efficiency man.
"There won't be many gifts, said
Constance sadly. But there is al
ways the Christmas spirit"
eyes? What is the Christmas
spirit, Miss Brooke?"
Constance stared.
What is it? Why"
The efficiency man waited patient
ly for the remainder of the answer,
but Constance had lost her voice in
wonderment at the question. Alice
answered.
"a tree" she said.
so you regard tree as the
Christmas spirit?"
"Symbolical," remarked Billy off
handedly, who was so pleased with
the way the word rolled out that he
said it again. "Symbolical."
Alice nodded.
at may symbolic something" ad-
mitted Hedge, "but / do not approve
of tree"
The Brookes drew slightly away
from him.
eve always have tree" said
Constance.
"And it is always decorated with
candles and we always hang up our
stockings" supplemented Alice.
81 have no objection to your hang
ing up your stockings" observed the
efficiency man judicially. II cannot
see that it does any harm, except to
lend encouragement to foolish myth
and possibly to breathe the fallacy
of expecting something for nothing.
But as to a tree and candles-no.
whats the reason we can't have
a tree?" demanded Billy.
They're unsafe, for one thing.
There is liability to fire"
eve use electric candles"
"a waste of current. A tree also
entails an unnecessary amout OF
cleaning in the house. Furthermore,
il is wicked, because it represents an
attack upon the natural resources OF
the country. The decorations that
are placed on it are tawdry and With
out artistic merit. Such gifts as are
hung upon it or placed under it are
almost invariably foolish and I'M
necessary The entire custom and
practice relating to Christmas trees
is wasteful and extravagant and
serves no useful purpose. No tree
The Brooke children studied the
creature who had thus developed
newly horrid aspect. Alice still Sc
cure in her daily pittance, rallied.
every WE'LL" she said haughtily.
'If you will not get US tree, Will
buy one"
"You may buy it," H. Hedge in
formed her, "but it will not enter the
house."
II cannot bring my own tree into
the house?"
mo"
"Why, we have always had tree
right in this very room! You can't
have Christmas without one"
"You can have the 25th of Decem-
Der without it, at any rate" an
swered the efficiency man. "That is
what We will have-the 25th of De-