Evening star., 1936-12-17

bought, although it was pretty steep
in price because it had such an en-
gaging face, think of the youngster
that may never have had even toy
dog to cuddle. AS you wrap the little
fur coat carefully about Mary's doll
with the real lashes and flaxen curls-
think of the child that has had to
make believe" with an old towel, with
a knot. for It's head, as a dolly. When
you search the town for handsome
barley sugar animals for the tree
think of the little one who will be
actually hungry, for bread, on Christ
mas morning. When you go to select
a tree, and turn away impatiently
from some that are only feet tall
instead of 8-think of the hopeless
child that knows Santa Claus and
Christmas trees only as fairy tales.
And when you plan to fill the over
size red flannel stocking, jingling with
bells at heel and toe-remember the
child who must endure the tragedy OF
finding his ragged sock as empty in
the morning as when he hung it by
the cold hearth the night before.
X X 4
THERE is no disappointment as
poignant as the disappointment
of childhood. The blow Is always so
harsh; there Is no adult reasoning to
come to the rescue and soften it. Chill
dren have such implicit and unques-
tioning faith that whatever skaters
it wounds them seriously.
Perhaps the greatest unhappiness
of youth comes when, for some rea-
son or another. Santa Claus loses his
reality, and takes his place with other
fanciful imaginings. 1t is bad enough
when this happens to the child whose
Christmases will continue to be bright
and replete with gifts, although he
knows now whence they come, but
when the belief in the patron saint Is
lost through actual privation, and the
youngster feels that Santa has double
crossed" him-then the matter is 10
times worse.
This year, through the efforts of
many Washingtonians and public
spirited organizations, an attempt Is
being made to see that no child with
in the city will wake to an empty
stocking on Christmas morning. Peo-
pie have co-operated, splendidly, and
gifts have come pouring in through
the various channels But always there
is room for more and still more. And
that is why I am appealing to you
mothers who have so much to give to
your own youngsters to pause in the
delicious hurry and hustle of prepar-
ing for your little ones Christmas and
give helping hand to the other babies.
Y X X
ON SATURDAY morning there will
be special shows put on at the
Warner Bros theaters here in town
TO gather toys and clothing for the
poor children I ask you to make it
4 point to attend one of these shows
yourself, or to send your own young
Sters, or some member of your house
hold, with whatever gifts you choose
as your price of admission. II you can
not go yourself telephone some store
and ask them to send a plaything or
an article of clothing to the theater
for you, charging it to your account.
But don't let the day go by without
having done your bit to make the 25th
Of December day of gladness instead
Of sorrow for some child who has not
mad the luck to be born into a safe,
warm, luxurious world.
Don't, on Christmas morning, as
you watch your own youngsters un-
lovely gifts beneath the
branches of gayly trimmed
rec, wonder if somewhere, just a few
blocks away, another little one is cry
ing its heart out before an empty
stocking. Make sure, on Saturday
to the very best of your
ability, that the birthday of Him who
Owed all children is not saddened by
, single baby tear.