The Washington times., 1928-12-24
Christmas Ev e
Best Moment
of Year
BY Beatrice Fairfax
Noted Authority on Problems OF
Love and Marriage

TTyHE most romantic, magical
) i moment of Christmas is the
moment just before-that breath
less interlude when the whole
world listens ito hear the angels
sing"
BY the time dusk deepens into
darkness on December "a our
cards are mailed, our gifts sent,
we are keeping our gaily wrapped
packages to be opened later by
the light of the Christmas tree.
Then comes the magical moment
of anticipation.
''Tell me how you feel about
Christmas and Ill tell you how
old you are a certain genlal
philosopher has remarked. But
the test is not fair. For are we
not all of us young, all happy,
all good. for at least a while on
Christmas Eve?
Last year in the great city OF
New York. from o'clock on
Christmas Eve to 3 o'clock Christ
mas night, not one felony was
reported to the police, not one
criminal accused of felony was
brought to police headquarters---
truly a "hallowed' and gra.
z cious'' time!
There are, however, exceptions
tn ali rules--even to the rule that
every one is care1ree on Cnrls..
mas Eve. b. r. N, who writes
me the following letter, is an ex-
ception:
49, m t.Aors
During my school days had
a very good girl friend. Each
year since we left school we have
She has recently been married,
and /. also, have married.
"I have just received a Christ
mas present from her. and
feel that should give her
little gift. have known this
girl practically all my life and
we have been the best of friends.
MY wife says / should not !,
accept the Christmas present just
received, nor should I send one
In return. However. / cannot
see il in this light and think
1t is perfectly all right TO ac-
cept q little gift from friend
I have known all my life. see
no reason why one should lose
ones best friends just because
they get married.
win you kindly give me yonr
advice in this matter? do not
want to do anything to hurt
my wife's feelings"
1t seems to me, dear 3. #. N,
that your letter suggests won
derful opportunity for you and
your wife to express Christmas
generosity and good will. OF
course, you need not sacrifice a
sound. good friendship because
you marry. Merely enlarge that
friendship to include your wife
and your friends husband.
Let your wife, in this instance,
join with you in sending your old
friend and her husband a re-
membrance they can use in their
new home: something they can
share and enjoy together.
would suggest a piece of sterling
silver for the table or some fine
table linen, a lovely vase or
candlesticks. Christmas Eve is
a little late to go shopping, but
it is to meet such last-minute
emergencies that nearly all shops
are kept open on the eve of the
holiday.
Love generous, radiant, trust.
ing lovel is one thing we cannot
have too much of at anv time OF
year, but especially at Christmas
time. Love expresses itself in the
effort to make others happy. At
Christmas give love the right of
way.
Here is a chance for you and
your wife to add to the happiness
of four persons-each other and
two others-by sending this Christ
mas gift. / am sure your wife
will be delighted to avail her.
self of the opportunity. In doing
so she will add to the harmony of
two homes.
8 AS Charles Dickens says in
"The Chimes" 'I know that we
must neither doubt ourselves nor
doubt the good in one another"
Neither you nor your wife can
afford to doubt each other or the
good in your friend, who has al
ways exchanged gifts with you.
Christmas is not against any.
one; it is for everybody. So send
the kindly heart-warming gift to
your old friend and her husband
in your wife's name and your
own. Ask your wife to help you
reject the most Appropriate greet
ing. Then you arid your wife will
once more find yourself In tune
with the mystic music OF the
winter solstice, the song the
angels sing. To both of you and
TO all, Merry Christmas: