The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-12-26

The Circle
With
McCREADY HUSTON


mas is something new. The red and
green paper wrappings have been
carried down to the cellar or burned
in the fireplace. Presents have been
praised openly and some perhaps
secretly despised. Plans have been
made for exchanges Mother is
looking anxiously at the children
and wondering if they have tenn
perature. Father, fortunate soul,
has gone back to work. There is
nothing like an Office as a refuge
after a holiday.
INDIANAPOLIS had home its most
4 distinguished literary citizen for
Christmas. While Mr.. Harrington
lives in Maine most of the time he
gets back here for occasions, and
Christmas is one of them.
Some energetic publisher should
get out book composed of essays
by writer's Mr.. Harrington has in
spired. I suspect that at least a score
Of authors now producing were led
10 per3eyere by the earlier novels
of this Indiana genius. One told me
not long ago that it was Alice
Adams" which cha lenged him. That
is a book to be challenged by.
have always thought it was the fin
est work Mr. Harrington ever did.
Il
TINE question after Christmas is
u when to take the tree down. A
more important question is what to
do with it. There is no more forlorn
sight than the skeleton Of Christ
mas tree flung on a rubbish heap or
riding dcWn the street atop trash
cart. The decent thing to do with
it. after it has served its usefulness,
is to saw it into sections and burn
them in the open fire or the furnace.
Thus it passes into nothingness
with none Of the disrespect of being
tossed out the back door.
Il It
FROM conversation and glancing
4 here end there at the society
columns, I gather that these holi-
days have brought more family re-
unions than for some years. People
have more money for travel and
families have undoubled, have more
capacious living quarters and are
ADLER to entertain. You hear less
complaint of the presence of in
laws and more hospitable invita-
lions. 1t is all part of the return
of better times-less crankiness and
fewer jagged nerves.
QUITTING "a Christmas Carol"
- on the air in dramatic YER
sion. with Lionel Barrymore as
Scrcoge was high point of yes
terday's fare. Next year, if some
sponsor wants a good number for
a similar hour he might examine
Roark Bradford's Negro story,
How Come Christnas?" This is
one Of the most illuminating
Christmas stories ever written.
Some years ago Harper & Broth
ers got out a special edition, one
of those little, light airplane books,
and sent it around to a number of
their friends as a Christmas gift.
1t would make an excellent radio
play if we'll adapted and well
acted.
GAY what you please about the
~ custom of giving father socks for
Christmas, it has it's points. Father
is in need of wearing about three
pairs at a time in such weather
underfoot as we have had this
week.
Nor am one to complain about
the necktie habit. The average re-
Calcitrant male will not keep him
self properly supplied and if turned
loose at a necktie counter will
usually come away with far more
lurid assortment than his wife and
daughters buy for him.
y
A ND SO, with slab of cold tur-
n key, cold stuffing, and some
cranberry sauce, farewell to this