Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-28

| we're on display the day after. Perhaps
women are getting wiser and no longer
stocking up on fiaShy neckwear, or may
| be it is the men who are growing more
canny and are refusing to wear the
neckties until a week or so later, when
no one will be interested.
Despite the snow OH the ground, the
/ first at Christmas time in several years,
there were few sleds to be seen. Small
| girls this year went in for doll car
riageS, some Of which were large enough
| to hold real babies. Indicative of the
Sophistication OF the age was the in
sistence of these small mothers on
wheeling their dollieS across the snow,
rather than upon the cleaned sidewalks.
There seemed to be a general belief
| the day after Christmas that the ex-
terror lighting of homes, trees and
| shrubs was not up to the standard set
last year. It appeared that some homes
which last season had pretty displays
! failed to put them up this year and that
those which had small electrical effects
did rot add to them.
| The after Christmas takers indicated
| too, that despite a plethora of coed
things to eat, including turkey and
candy, the great mainstays. there prob
ably was as little stufing this season as
| in the history of the holiday.
Not that there were not some persons
who ate more than was good for them!
| The temptation offered by two, three
or more big boxes Of candy is well
known. With the entire family home
| all day, and all making merry, it was
the easiest and the most natural thing
in the world for every one to take a
piece of candy every few minutes, with
the result that even 5-pound boxes
| disappeared with amazing speed.
Tho health education from manV
quarters, however, seemed to have got
| ten in its good work, with a widespread
cutting down on the intake of Christ
mas goodies. Even persons who attend
ed two or even three Christmas din
nerS, with perhaps an afternoon tea
Sandwiched in, ate lightly.
There was, therefore, a minimum OF
fter-ChriStmaS crouch. A careful in
spection of several offices showed a gen.
eral appreciation Of the peace and quiet
of Office habit, but failed 10 bring to
light any severe cases of the Yuletide
blues.
Nor did the day after Christmas show
the usual number Of disappointments
with presents. While many persons
seemed to think that not as much
money had been spent this year as last
that is matter for statistics, to be
compiled later.
What seemed sure on the surface was
that there had been better spending Of
such money as was spent. More care
seemed TO have been exercised in fitting
the present to the recipient, with the
result that there was everywhere more
satisfaction with gifts received.
A careful consideration by the donor
Of the gift and the one to whom it was
to be given resulted in pleasing him or
her with a minimum expenditure. 1t
is wonderful what brains can dol A
careful choice of present costing a
dollar often more surely results in
pleasure than the careless expenditure
of many times that amount in an i'll
chosen present.
These are facts known to every one.
What is interesting Is that more persons
seem to have acted in accordance with
them than ever before in the history Of
Christmas giving. There was a period
almost of extravagant madness. during
which money alone indicated anything.
That period seems ended-perhaps that
was why the day after Christmas
seemed so quiet and happy, rivaling
the great day itself Surely there is no
reason why Christmas should not, but
every reason why Christmas should,
carry its unique blessings into the days
that follow.