New Britain herald., 1926-12-24

hoped that whatever reyisions are decided on this year will work for their improvement.
 "There ain't no Santa Claus"
 That expresses the attitude of the general public this Christmas. Year after year the diminution of the old fashioned Christmas spirit has been noted and bewailed, but the loss this December seems to be | greater than usual. The generally accepted opinion is that this is due to the commercializing of Christ mas, but we are inclined to attri- l bute it to the development of the ! American people along both finan- cial and intellectual lines. Once Americans had to scrape to- | gether their pennies to buy a few pathetic trinkets to give away; now they can afford better things every day in the year than they formerly could at Christmastide. Christmas is now only the 25th of December, just another of 365 gimme" days in the year.
 And not only have we become rich, but we have been disillusioned so that, as a nation, we no longer believe in Santa Claus. He has gone the way of fairies. patriotism, brownies, chivalry, and such senti- mental bunk. There is no longer any kick in dreaming of the time when your fabled ship will come in; there is more satisfaction in the more tangible thought of dragging Smith up the back alley and beat ing him till he pays back the dollar he borrowed.
 Take the average five-year- old American boy. Twenty years ago you could have asked him if Santa Claus was coming to his house and he would have shouted affirmative ly, his eyes shining at the prospect. Go out on the street tonight and ask him who Is coming to his house; without batting an eye he will come back, "Our bootlegger."
 He used 10 write to the North Pole for 8 drum, a toy horse, a pair of skates, and couple of games: now he hits the old man for miniature kit of burglars tools or a rifle range with wooden cops for targets. And his sister no longer writes for dolls; she just tells moth CT to slip her some more rouge and a couple of shorter dresses
 Young couples used to be very circumspect in their presents, a book and box of candy being about as far as they dared go. Now the boy friend and little woman crash through with a couple of pocket and garter flasks.
 Even among long married people the times have changed. Whereas they used to swap a clothes wiring CT and a reading lamp, now the husband hands his wife a check for the least amount he dares, while she thinks she is going the limit when she serves him a turkey din- pner.
 People used 10 pray for a white Christmas Now they want the snow to melt so that they can get the old bus out of the garage. The old December 18th greeting was Merry Christmas" Now it's "Blankety- blank weather we're having lately."
 Exchange of gifts between friends and relatives used to be universal, and many a generous family bank rupted itself with generosity. Now greeting cards suffice, and it is the practice to hold up sending these as long as possible 10 see whether or not your prospective correspondents are sending you any.
 There is only one feature of the old-fashioned Christmas left. It is, just as costly as ever.
 Being a believer of the movement Be a Pal to Your Boy" which means that once or twice year we must get out and play football with Junior to the detriment of our glasses and the inauguratio of a lame back. we thought we would aid him in turning out a real master piece to Santa Claus. We got a piece of paper and a pen and took the following letter with the following interruptions.
 Dear Santa Claus: l have been a good boy and"
 How about the broken cellar window and the time you ran away when Mother told you to stay home and the time you played football in your best suit and how about"
 and I wish you would bring me some nice things and not the measly things you brought last year.
 "Whaddaya mean. the measly things you brought last year?' l think Santa Claus was pretty good to you considering what bad boy you'd been and the way Florida real estate acted. Let me tell you right now"
 and pair of skates and an automobile that really burns gaso- line like I seen in the movies--"
 Now wait a minute, wait min ute. Don't expect Santa Claus to