Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1942-12-24
"Chirps''
from the
Democrats Pen


was Santa Claus or not that arrived
Just little bit ahead of time or not,
but if it were, then somebody play
ed a joke on him, and put into his
bag lot of bad luck, in the way of
zero weather, frozen and burst water
pipes, and general disorder in many
households in and around this neck
of the woods.
was wondering if he hadn't slept
somewhere near that enemy of crea-
tion-Der Fuhrer-and this gentleman
had exchanged some of the good will
Christmas goods for some of the
Devils own manufactured trouble
makers. Anyhow, this sudden de-
scent of cold weather, unknown here
for decades, caused lots of argument
as to the fitness of that word, "Mer-
ry", which seems to be inseparable
from the word christmas" I know
this, I've heard some rather doubt
full ordinations when water was seen
seeping through a ceiling, and form
ing itself into pleasant little pools
on the parlor carpet.
Still, it's a big job to smother en-
tireIy the Christmas spirit. There
is still enough left, even in the hearts
and minds of those whose smile is
lost when viewing the havoc of Jack
Frost to rejoice that this side of the
world is still liable to feel something
merry in this most important of all
church festivals.
Weather seventies we experience
are but trifle when compared to those
which bite and chill, even unto death,
quite frequently, the warning hosts
treading the frozen, snow covered
wastes of colossal Russia. Whether
they be Soviet or Nazi, they must
share ones pity; human beings that,
it may be, are totally unaware of the
cause of the war, are dying by thous-
ands as the Christmas season is her
aided, the watchword of which is
Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men,"
What miscarriage of the true
meaning of this holiday time!
True it is, that we Americans are
experiencing some of the horrors of
the terrible carnage; experiencing it
in both material and an immaterial
way. Our resources are being drawn
upon to an extent never before known.
We are called upon to practice un-
usual sacrifices; we are placed in jeop-
ardy, some of us, as to our sources
of material sustenance, and many a
business has gone on the rocks be-
cause of governmental demands. In
the expenditure of billions, some greed
must exist, even in the face of ma
tional disaster; taxes which may fl
nally swamp hundreds, go into the
pockets of war explorers, and it may
be that we shall become, in time
a people of millionaires and paupers
Then, again, what heartaches rend
our souls when the call of war sum-
mons the fathers, brothers, sons, and
sweethearts into the line of battle.
Those left behind are bowed with such
grief as belittles material loss; when
scenes like Pearl Harbor are flashed
on the screen; when transports laden
with human souls become the prey OF
under-sea craft; when some miracu-
lous conqueror of the air swoops down
upon surface ships sending hundreds
to watery grave-these are deeds
that wrack the souls of those left
behind, and make sordid losses of con-
crete stuff sink in insignificance. A
mammoth steel and iron fighter on
the seas, is cheap beside the life OF
the American soldier, and the spirit
nal woe far outweighs the stress OF
war when applied to mere shot and
shell.
Still, there is consolation in thu
fact that great political issue is
&aing debated in Continental Europe
Democracy against Autocracy; Free
dom against Servitude; Brotherhood
Of Man against the Tyranny of Des.
pots; Christianity against Paganism
Honor and Virtue of Women against
Debauchery; Peace against War;
and, withal, world worth livin,
in, instead of one seething with woe.
and turmoil.
It is to be hoped that before an
other Christmas season rolls around
the clouds of war will have been dis
persed, the dove of peace will b
perched upon the banners of the uni
verse, and all nations can rejoice tina
Peace upon Earth and Goodwill t,
Men" is fact and not myth.