Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-22
Christmas Is Not Dead

tant business in the world is done
Destinies Of industries, advancement of
education, human relief, international
relations are discussed there. 1t is one
of the points in civilizations uphill
climb where a strong hand commands
other hands and they push the world
along a bit. The man who sits at the
head Of that table is considered by
many nations one of the worlds great
est men, and the organization he heads
Is one of the most efficient.
Yet every year world affairs are
pushed into the background for two
days, while this big business" man
goes home to spend Christmas with
his mother. One year the work OF
Strengthening out the debts OF the
world had to wait while he, who was
to have the greatest part in 1t, made
that trip.
Christmas in owen Young's family
for generations has changed hardly at
all. It began many years ago in Van
Hornesville, one of the loveliest little
villages In New York State. Nestled IN
the protecting hills IL miles from the
nearest railroad station, covered by Its
Winter snow blanket, with sleigh bells
and church bells ringing. lights In WIN
dows and children singing carols, IL Is
the personification OF q Christmas
setting.
There lives a remarkable young
lady, Mrs. Ida Young, owen Young's
mother. aged 90. Her home is
sanctuary to which he returns at ire
quent intervals, especially at Christ
mas.
something she has made with her own
hands, something finely stitched, WIN
silken threads in beautiful patterns:
Something the generations to come will
place great store by. Last year the GIT
was a chair, turned out by a skilled
cabinetmaker at Fort Plain. The seat
was made by Mrs. Young and repre-
sented months Of patient work.
One of the neighbors who always
drop In to share their Christmas cheer
is Abraham Tilyou, boyhood friend OF
owen Youngs father some 30 years
ago. With him Owen Young talks over
| earnestly the problems of Van Hornes-
Vile. They discussed this question OF a
permanent Christmas tree-where IL
shall be planted and how lighted, ana
a new steeple for the church, and Gus
| ter lights up and down the one street
with q switch to Mother Youngs mouse
| to turn out the lights when she THINKS
the town ought to go to bed.
They have also during past Cnrlst.
masses, rocking backward and forward
| In their old-faShioned chairs, discussed
the schoolhouse. which they agreed
must be the finest thing in Van Hornes-
ville-"to make people realize the i'm
portance of education"-with the whole
community helping TO build 1t. At the
| bottom of q tablet on the schoolhouse,
which tells the story Of its building and
gives the names Of all those who helped
with 1t and what they did, Is a phrase
which may puzzle tablet readers a
thousand years from now. 1t reads:
Abraham Tilyou and Owen d.
| Young. rocking chair consultants."
In these consultations Christmas has
played q considerable part. Mr.. Tfyou,
| farmer of Herkimer County, and Owen
D. Young, director of world problems,
putting their heads together to make
| life right or easier for the folk Of their
own town and mindful Of some golden
rules. Anybody could learn about
| Christmas in Van HorneSville.
Thus we learned about Christmas
from many people In many walks OF
| life: We have found it hard to express
| in words. It Is a mirror into which
those of us who have lived while may
look. To the young, holiday-the
| freest, gayest holiday Of the year. To
them the mirror is clear, glistening as
| the Bethlehem star or the silver tree
balls and new tinsel. To those who
have Sesn the years take toll, the hand
that holds the glass Is not so steady;
old memories blur the sheen; scratches,
mars and smears dim the tinsel. What
Is left Is bitter dust, or the glow of an
immortal memory-the best that Is left
of Christmas spirit-losing ourselves
and finding some soul that needs US
Nothing has happened to Christmas
The trouble is with the prophets who
go shouting up and down, trying to
measure the human heart with a slide
rule and quartz crystal scale.