Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-12-23
IN OUR
VALLEY
> BY CHARLES HALL

- BY CHARLES HALL w
4 bright sunshine Monday morn
I'D ing greeted residents OF the VAL
ley In promise Of a CHEEKY
Christmas.
But 1t is said that If 1t had not
been quite SO bright our poinsettias
etc. would really fare a little better
after the heavy frost Of this morn
ing.
IN a McAllen exchange" is found
l a little paragraph, which might
make meat for the fantastic
drawings, and passing strange in
cidents gathered by carto0nists for
American newspapers.
It offers q play Of the supposed
lucky number OF II, seldom seen. II
is to the effect that Mr.. and Mrs.
Prough Of Donna had a daughter
born II years. II months, II minutes
and IL seconds after the Armstice
was signed. And now listen 10 this,
she weighed IL pounds.
The initials Of Mr.. and Mrs.
Prough were not given, but II they
wiz kindly send US a photograph Of
the young lady. we think the rest
OF the world would like to join the
family in taking g look at, and
wishing the young lady all the luck
In the world.
rORPUS Christi today Is voting on
five city improvement projects
estimated costs of which total
&215,000. This Is divided into $4,000
for an incinerator: $4,000 for park |
improvements; $4,000 for storm Sc
wers: $4,000 for sanitary sewers:
and $1l5.OO for widening the streets.
The citizens are voting for, or
against, part, or all Of the program.
Predictions are that overwhelming |
majorities viii be shown in favor Of |
all. A campaign has been staged
with o slogan vote for Progress"
That sounds like the right spirit: |
but OF course the voters Of Corpus |
Christi will decide their own issues,
and that probably without asking
for any outside advice. as free as it
Is.
AS Christmas approaches for Rio
~ Grande Valley people TO enjoy, |
It might be well to sound here a
note. which was sounded In many
Of the churches OF Brownsville yes
terday.
This Is that the spirit Of Christmas
} stands in some danger Of losing its
original and true meaning II the |
rush OF commerce.
Buying OF presents Is all well and
good. and as 1t should be, but Christ |
mas IS considered the birthday Of the |
Christ child. the greatest gift man
kind has ever had from the Hand
that rules the universe.
Whatever one believes. IL can be
said that all can see: that born in
gnanger on that December night 1929
years ago, q man. whom millions OF
followers hold both God and man,
has so impressed his stamp upon the
world. that practically all the laws
OF the leading civilized nations. 60
verning the actions Of man, are
based upon His teachings and prin-
ciples. In fact combined with the
ten commandments Of the Old
Testament. which he upheld. 1t
might be said that all the laws OF
the leading civilized nations are
based.
It is his coming that is celebrated
on Christmas, with the giving Of
gifts a continuation Of a precedent
set when the three wise men came
bringing gifts today to add bright
ness and cheer 70 the occasion. It
should be a time Of gladness.
Many teachers and philosophers
have come after the Christ, and no
few preceded, but none with the
depth or fundamental teachings Of
the Man Of Gallilee. Born at a per-
tod, when an individual, without
power of civil office. had about as
little chance 70 be noticed as ever in |
the history OF the world, He wrought |
changes in the life OF His day really |
astonishing beyond imagination, and
which today are no less astonishing |
when considered thoughtful!y.
IL is for this hope Of a life here
after that men and women should
Be exceedingly glad next Wednesday |
morning, and even the skeptic might |
say with Cicero, when he was chided
about hts pagan belief Of hereaf-
ter 10 the effect: II had rather live |
with the hope and find after death |
that I am mistaken. Scipio, for I WI |
at least have enjoyed the hope"
MITCH reminds the engineer of
NM this column that the Herald will |
not publish on Christmas.
This follows q custom. which has
been the practice Of the Herald. To
those who viii probably miss the
paper on that day, please let US re-
mind, that by foregoing 1t on that
one day, a hundred or more en-
uIoyees are afforded the pleasure OF
being with their families. especially
during those early morning hours.
when their own kiddies are rejoic-
~ over the coming Of Santa Claus,
instead of having to rush down town
at an early morning hour to labor
on that day. It Is the wish Of those
conducting The Herald for the pa
uer 70 stand for more than a few