The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-12-26

@tNALE MEAd4s
 FDR enjoyed spinning this yarn: On Chrisimas Day the telephone rang in the office of the rector of President Rouseyelts church in Washington. can you tcIi me-" a voice asked. -if the PrcSldent is eX- pected to attend church today7"
 That" thc rector evniainod patiently. -i cannot prom.se. But Ne expect God io be there. and we fancy that Hiii be incentive enough Tor a Fcasonably large attendance.
 Jast before Christmas a college professor read the following on an examination paper. God only knows the answer to this question. Merry Chr1SimaS" AcroSs the paper the professor wrote: God gets an A; You get an P. Happy New Year"
 A mag editor once asked Oliver Wendell Holmes for an article on Christmas Holmes replied: My thoughts about the holiday could fll many pages. I can think of enough words 10 fin a book. But my most inspired eloquenee would merely be the repetition Of sing.e thought. What l want 10 say and what I want the people to remember Is a simple idea: The broad-minded see Ihe truth in different religions; the narTow-minded see only the dlf- lerences."
 For many years clothing shop sn Dallas, Texas, opens every Christmas day at 9 a. m. so that thousands Of poor people Of the community may choose from three 10 five articles from shelves and tables stacked high with warm clothing. It is given gratis What makes this a touching Christ mas story is the fact that the pro- prietor Of the clothing shop is Jew lsh.
 During the war American soldiers stationed on an island in the South Pacific attained the true Christmas spirit: The Brotherhood of Man The chaplain there has reported: "Their religion had no sects. Cath olic, Jew and Protestant alike went 10 one another's services" And on the flap of the chaplain's tent there was a sign reading: When you're In trouble, ask the Lord for help. He's very generous with it. While you're not in trouble, cui- ttvate His acquaintance and talk things over with Him. And when He does something for you don't for get to thank Him. He appreciates that"
 At Christmas dinner c, K. Chesterton was called upon to off, Ter a few appropriate words. His complete speech was: "This holiday reminds us to love our neighbors and also to love our enemies: probably because they are generally the same people,"
 James M. Barrie penned this tale: At Yuletide an old English family always gathered for a joyous re- union. Their personal lives may have been unhappy; the future of the world may have seemed bleak. But they forgot all their troubles While celebrating the holiday. The reunion began when they all raised their glasses for an odd and con- forting toast: Here's to our family. We are British. We were born in wedlock. We are on dry land"
 Christmas is not just tree glow Ing with pretty decorations or a gift wrapped in a gaudy package. It reaches far beyond material things. Christmas is a synonym for love and friendship. It is the spirit of justice and charity. It Is the essence of freedom and peace. Haywood Broun always stressed those thoughts in his Yuletide es- says. They rank among his most brilliant colylIms. Haywood summed it Up with the pungent admonition: Christmas is not a date. It is 8 state of mind"
 Then there's the one about the pretty-face who refused to hang n1istletoe at Christmas. With a twinkle in her baby blues she coo'd :: No sir! I've got too much pride to advertise for the ordinary cour- tesies a lady has perfect right to expect!"
 Every Yuletide, gazettes run let- ters that children have written to Santa Claus. Reading the misslves is rewarding and heart-warming experience. They reflect 8 simple faith and shining hope few grown ups can match Our favorite among the messages to Santa was a postscript to letter in which a little boy made enormous requests. The tot scrawled: "If you can't handle this deal, let me know and I'll get in touch with Henry Kaiser" 1"
 It happened during the most dreary Yuletide Londoners ever lived through: When the city was torn and shaken by the blitz In one afraid shelter youngster said her prayers. Her words in- spired misty orbs among all those