Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-16
Christmas Is Held Aid
To Child Mind Growth

To the Editor OF The Star:
The child and Christmas are so close
ly associated that I like to think of
the terms as being synonymous. In
fact, it would be a dull and colorless
Christmas without children.
For the past few days I have in
terrogated many children about their
desires for Christmas. Some few I
knew and others did not. But their
sparkling eyes and bright faces all
spoke that each was living in a world
of great expectation. And, too, the
many answers were as varied as the
number questioned. No two gave an
identical reply. They replied as they
should, as it proved that in each child
there was being developed individualism.
During these past weeks in which the
child has been looking forward with
much enthusiasm and anticipation, no
mental process of its little mind has
been more active than the imagination.
Each child has built up a mental pic
ture of Santa Claus and his toyland.
The picture Of Santa has been very
much the same, but the picture of toy
land has varied according to its stock
Of mental images. Naturally, the
younger children and those living in
some remote part of the globe will not
have as complex picture as the older
ones and those living In some great
metropolis.
Imagination plays an important part
in the life of the child. Though COM
monplace as the process may seem,
the future destiny of the child is de-
termined by it. AS the lights of a
moving automobile light up the way, so
does the imagination illuminate the
pathway of life. Great caution and
skill are used to guide the automobile
SS- greater Gaze, o. parents, teachers
and all, should be used to direct and
noble and useful purpose.
am sorry to say that some few
teach the child that no Santa Claus
exists and they do not want the child
TO read mythical stories. e AZ minds
were developed TIE safe, accepting
only hard, cold and concrete facts as
they appear to one of the senses, this
would be a desolate and drab world.
There would be no civilization, with its
inventions, art, literature and music.
lives.
push a button and my room be-
comes an etfulgence OF light. I re-
verse q switch, turn a knob and the
same room is filled with the harmonious
:ound Of sweet music. Likewise I can
see a beautiful painting or read some
lovely poem. Each is a product of an
imaginative mind. Some inventor or
artist, believing in Santa Claus and
having strong Imagination, through
careful training of this precious gift,
has enabled me and the inhabitants of
the world, after wrestling all day with
the actualities, to be lifted to a realm
OF celestial beauty, through our mag
nations.
Science has proved that there are
certain ripe times" or "nascent stages"
in the career of all living things
plants, animals and people; that
things can be done at certain times
better than ever before or at future
periods. Therefore, at this season, when
the child'S imagination is at white
heat" let us strike while the iron is
hot" emulating Christ, the greatest
Philosopher, whose birth we soon shall
commemorate. He knew and under
stood childhood when He said. "Suf-
Ter little children, and forbid them not
to come unto Me, for such is the king
dom of heaven"
OSCAR M. MILLER,