The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-11-16

The familiar and sentimental "ho- mey" touches on most Christmas cards for 1943 remind us that we Americans are more "home-con- scious" than we have been for many years.
 Gas rationing's one reason, of course, and the all-out effort of war work is another, making us more ap- preciative of our leisure hours spent happily and restfuly with our famil- ies. There are also our Civilian De- fense activities to keep us remember ing that it's our homes and our neighbors' homes that we are pro- tecting.
 But the biggest reason why our homes now have deeper meanings for us is the boys who have left these homes to fight for them. Keeping the home fires burning" is an old phrase, but it's not worn out-not by long shot!
 This year, Home For Christmas" is impossible for millions of service men and for many civilians who have gone far afield to lend their skills at some distant war plant. Thus the favorite cards for 1943 are those that bring the beloved symbols of true old-fashioned family Christmas to those away from home.
 There are any number of such tra- ditional cards that would help bring feeling of Home Town Christi mas to the boy next door-whether he be in Italy, or aboard destroyer, or guarding Americas back door up in Alaska.
 Perhaps the very first envelope he opens at mail-call on Christmas will contain the Christmas card portray ing a snow covered Main Street, looking for all the world like the main street of any Connecticut town in It's winter wrappings. The church steeple, the drug store, the public library--all there, just as he remem- bers them.
 Another card he might receive shows rich forest deep in snow, and a red-jacketed hunter with his hound-dog beside him. What boy wouldn't remember the brisk, cold days when he hunted rabbits, and came home in the winter dusk to a warm fireside?
 Then there's a quiet church scene on another card-the sun of 8 bright Christmas day streams through 8 simple stained glass window and falls across the keys of the church organ. That might very well be the church downstreet, and that organ might be the very one that nearly broke his back when 1t was his turn to pump it as a boy. What would he give to be back here pumping 1t again-even nearly breaking his back again-this Christmas Eve?
 Here's a fat Christmas tree framed by lighted candles in a real Colonial window. Mrs. Smiths house, maybe? Could be. And here, on another card Is jaunty sprig of green and silver mistletoe. Reminds him of the time he first kissed Mary Jones at the Christmas party at her house.
 And maybe It's Mary Jones who sent him the next card he opens-a Sweetheart Christmas card, with the mistletoe again, and Q sincere, heart to-heart message from "the girl just down the block aways.
 Heres . humorous affair-a card printed In colorful patches, and top ped off with bow of ordinary twine "a Patch It Up-Make It Do" kind of card. He remembers that the hometown conservation drive was just starting when he went away and he hopes it's good.
 Another religious Christmas card next, with a subdued, reverent pic ture of the Holy Family. Might be from Mrs. Brown, who used to ask his help in arranging the Christmas pageant back at Sunday School. And