Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1940-12-26

CIUiCn ptlis rang NilN IN = lllldN
Day in England II they had
rung. we should have leaped from
our beds. knowing that the enemy
had landed on our shores by sea
and air. as a thousand years ago
the Danes carried our coasts and
came with FIRE and slaughter.
That invasion may happen yet
perhaps tomorrow, as we expected
il two mornings aCo-=and there is
no peace in the land
Every night there is the menace
Of death over our little homes.
over our women and children, not
only in London and the big indus
trial cities. but even in country
villages and hamlets far from any
military detectives. because the
German bombers drop their
deadly stun anywhere in the dark
ness.
Last night. like the night be-
fore. they didn't come. and for
once there was an unusual quie-
tude. l didn't hear the double drone
of those black vampires over my
chimney top. The guns were quiet
in London. For once the search
lights didn't grope through the
darkness with their white fingers.
BITTER-SWEET GLADNESS
England awoke on Christmas
Day in war time with sense of
pladneSs which was hitter-sweet
bitter because of many suf-
ferings and more TO come. sweet
because the spirit of Christmas
cannot be killed by high explosives
or buried in ruins of brick and
mortar.
In London, Birmingham, Cow
entry, Liverpool and many other
cities people walked to church this
Christmas morn and turned their
eyes. away from the heaps Of
rubble, the gaping holes and the
rags and tatters of bomb-strCck
buildings.
Christmas Eve on the radio we
heard the bells of Bethlehem, and
some of our people wept. perhaps
because they thought of their own
babes sent away from them for
safety's sake, or blown to bits in
night raids.
This is our agony in England
this is what we have to endure in
this fight for survival of the lib
critics of the soul.
COMRADESHIP SHOWN
1t would be a lie TO say that we
enjoy il. or that even the thousand
deeds of heroism. the sense of
humor which still brings laughter
to night shelters and basement
cellars. can cover up the tragedy
the war has brought US.
In spite of that-perhaps be-
cause of that-the spirit of Christ
mas came TO England with more
poignant duty than ever before.
The spirit of comradeship is more
widespread than ever among all
classes of our English folk In
the shelters Christmas Eve they
were singing: The More We Are
Together, the Happier We Shall
Be 80 81
The spirit Of good will, fellow
ship and service is. strong in Eng
land this Christmas. and in ever
town and village men and women
are vieing with each other TO bring
happiness and good cheer to their
neighbors and guests.
There are many guests, exiled
from their, own lands and homes
from which they came in defense
of liberty. Near the village whore
] live there are many Canadian
soldiers, some speaking only
French and very far away from
their own families. They are be-
ing entertained in private houses
and village halls
Almost every home in England
outside the most endangered zones
has little guests 10 whom they
brought Christmas gifts. among
which were laughter. good fun.
bang crackers. JOY and toys.
They are the children evacuated
from the great cities and sepa-
rated more than year from
their parents.
Millions Of them have entwined
themselves into the hearts Of
their foster parents who are
farmers. working folk. villagers
and the country gentry In old
ieudai houses
IMPS OF MISCHIEF
Some Of them have been bit
Troublesome. no doubt Some OF
them are imps OF mischief But
they brought much happiness to
many small homes when the wall
Of the sirens like a Pied Piper
called them out Of the slumS and
mean streets Of many cities 70 the
old hamlets Of England, where the
menace Of death : not so great.
The refugees and evacuated
children have found their way
everywhere. In a cottage at The
end of my own garden is
family Of Hungarians who nave
come down for a respite from
London's air raids They asked
me If I could find them a Christ
mas tree. and yesterday they were
lighting il with candles.
GOODIES FOR CHILDREN
In my country house are two