The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1946-01-13
Walter Winchel
In New York
JINGLE BELLS

mas Lay the telephone rang in the Office OF
tne rector OF President Roosevelt's church
IN washington. Can you tell me- voice
asked. If the President is expected to attend
church today?''
That" the rector explained patiently, 81
cannot promise. But we expect God to be there,
and we fancy that will be incentive enough
Tor a reasonably large attendance
Just before Christmas a college professor
read the following on an examination paper:
God only knows the answer to this question
Merry Christmas" Across the paper the
professor wrote: God gets an A; you get an
| F. Happy New Year.
A mag editor once asked Oliver Wendell
Holmes for an article on Christmas Holmes
replied: My thoughts about the holiday could
I'LL many pages. car think of enough words
TO I'LL book. But my most inspired eloquence
would merely be the repetition of a single
thought What want to say and what want
the people to remember is a simple idea: The
predetermined see the truth in different reli-
gions; the narrow-minded see only the differ
ences."
For many years clothing shop in Dallas,
lex, opens every Christmas Day at nine a. m.
so that thousands of poor people of the COM
nunlty may choose from three to five articles
rom shelves and tables stacked high with
warm clothing. It is given gratis. What
makes this touching Christmas story is the
iact mat the proprietor Of the clothing shop
is Jewish.
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. Catholic, Jew
and Protestant alike went to one another's
And t1,o
tent there was sign reading: when you're
IN trouble, ask the Lord for help. He's very
generous with it. While you're not in trouble,
cultivate His acquaintance and talk things
over with Him. And when He does something
for you don't forget to thank Him. He appreci-
ateS that
was called upon to offer a few appropriate
words. His complete speech was: '"This holt
day 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 Yule-
tide an old English family always gathered
for joyous reunion Their personal lives
may have been unhappy; the future of the
world may have seemed bleak. But they for
got all their troubles while celebrating the
holiday. The union began when they all raised
their glasses for an odd and comforting toast:
Here's to our family. We are British. We were
born in wedlock. We are on dry land"
Christmas is not just tree glowing with
pretty decorations or gift wrapped in gaudy
package. 1t reaches for beyond material things
Christmas is synonym for love and friend
ship. It is the spirit of justice and charity.
1t is the essence of freedom and peace
Haywood Broun always stressed those thoughts
in his Yuletide essays. They. rank among his
most brilliant columns. Haywood summed it
up with the pungent admonition: christmas
is not date. 1t is state of mind.''.
Then there's the one about the pretty-face
who refused to hang mistletoe at Christmas.
With twinkle in her baby blues she Good: |
mo sir! I've got too much pride to advertise
for the ordinary courtesies lady has per-
feet right to expect"
Every Yu1etide, gazettes run letters
that children have written to Santa Claus. |
Reading the nliSsives is a reWarding and
heart-warming experience. They reflect /
simple faith and shining hope few grown-ups
ian match. Our favorite among the mes
sages to Santa was postscript to letter
n which little boy made enormous requests
The tot scrawled: eff you can't handle this
leal, let me know and I'll get in touch with
Henry Kaiser"
It happened during the most dreary Yuletide
.ondoners ever lived through: When the city
vas torn and shaken by the blitz. In one air.
aid shelter a youngster said in her prayers.
Her words inspired misty orbs among all
hose who heard them. After repeating the
Usual "Now lay me down to Sleep" she add
d.: "And God, please protect Daddy and
Mummy from those German bombs. And do,
lear God, take good care of Yourself-because
f anything happens to You we're SUNK
Several years ago Monty Woolley played
Kris Kringle on department store platform
Turing bond rally. Suddenly he burped. One
woman in the crowd was shocked.
Woolley leaned forward and rasped: And
What did you expect madam-chimes?"
The litree set in Greenwich Village hold
IN annual Yuletide party. Prizes are given for {
he most unique costume. One year guests
we're invited to come dressed to represent
he title of famous book An elderly lady
vas unanimously awarded first prize. She had
large picture of the Dionne gums pinned
cross her gown. She represented Sinclair
4ewis' sit Can't Happen Here"
Some time ago Their Majesties Empire Day
vas celebrated via a worldwide radio hookup
subjects from everv corner of the Empire "
we're asked to give expression Of their loyalty
o the King and Queen. People from an walks :
# life spoke few words. =. 1eno" IN
scotland ran true to form. He began MS
nance to thank my friend in WINDSOR. Canaoa,
peech of loyalty by saying: ln1s Is gooo
or the box of annles he sent me last Christ a