The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1953-12-24
FOR CRYIN' OUT LOUD
By c. GONZALEZ MENDOZA

Aud clootie, the Devils ennis.
Gary, was In 4 thoughtful mold.
Mendoza, old pal, be said 10
me, Il guess I've put you gquarely
on the horns OF > dilemma. As
Press Agent for The Devil how In
the world are you going 10 bring
over q Christmas message TO the
people 81 Key West"
II admit IT is q tough assign
menl, CIootie,' | replied, land !
am not too sure I'll get the mes
sage over to the Conch sinners we
are trying to reform. Most Of those
knuckleheadF are 50 enchanted by
Che 8 symbol that the significance
Of Christmas Is lost to them"
Clootie chuekled. &C. Gonzales, "
be said, ''you should witness how
the lost and damned souls In Hell
celebrate Christmas, your eyeballs
would pop out Of their sockets. In
stead OF a Christmas tree, Lucifer
decorates a huge mound Of gold
and silver with precious jewels.
Lucifer places this shrine Of NAM
mon in a certain precarious cor
ner, so that the only available
route to Il win have TO be through
hell and high waters. The Ids
(I0st and damned soulsl are then
told that all this wealth is theirs
If they can get 10 II, 40 holds bar
red. At the stroke Of the clock
ushering in Christmas day, the Id
S start their celebrating in a mad
rush toward the shrine Of nam.
mon.
All the imps, vampires, witches,
COLLINS, werewolves, harpies, in.
cuhl, succvhi, ogres. ghouls, and
all the other malefieent spirits are
spectators 10 this riotous display OF
human greed. They cheer the Ids
Justify, screaming Historically at
all the mayhem the Ids perpe-
trate on each other in their strug-
gle to reach the shrine Of mann
mon.
AS the Ids catapult toward their
objective through hell and high
waters over limp bodies of their
than any ever witnessed in a Ro.
man arena. They ford the high
waters over the limp bodie Of their
fallen comrades, they shield them
selves from the fires Of hell with
screaming weaker wretches, they
gouge each others eyes out, they
club insensible anyone in front of
them. IN short, they utilize all bru-
tai, vicious means at their disposal
to reach the altar which is the
Root Of All Evil.
And then comes the most hdi-
crous scene OF all, the one which
makes all the fiends laugh uproar.
iously. The remnants of the Ids
who finally reach the shrine Of
mammon learn to their dismay
that there Is no balm here for their
wounds, not even an aspirin. The
shiny heap of gold and silver, the
gllttertng gems, these symbols Of
their vain and futile struggle, Of.
fers them M comfort whatsoever. y
stop II, Clootie," gasped, visi,
bly, shaken by this sordid story of
Christmas in Hell, las Press Agent
for the Devil il Is not my intention
TO put the fear Of Hell into the
hearts Of these Conch sinners. Fear
never kept anyone out OF Hell, ii is
Love Of God and of Humanity that
keeps people out OF your internal
region. You must remember. Cloot.
ie, that my assignment is to keep
Conch sinners out Of He'll, not to
put them there. Lucifer. you must
recall, doesn't want any more
Conch sinners in Hell. And your
satire didn't fool me in the least.
Clootie, YOU really had no refer
ence to Christmas in He'll. You
were merely out,,ing activity of
Earthlirgs in thel. quest for filthy
luere. Money symbolizes power 70
these crazy, mixed.up mortals
The money symbol has replaced
the Cross OF Calvary.
That Wonderful Being who was
born in a manger in the little
town of Bethlehem is the symbol
of the only true power. The only
power that can give us mortals
peace Of mind and spiritual com.
fort. the power Of Love. Without Il
we are all lost and damned souls
no matter how much material
wealth we may possess.
Clootie laughed. &c. Gonzales. -
he said, "you sound like an evan.
gelist. What church do you belong
to-"
"What church would YOU want
me to belong tor" countered.
"Let your conscience be your
guide" Clootie came back at me.
Conscience wouldn't prove a
reliable guide, CIootie. would
rather let Jesus Christ be my
guide. His life is the example we
mortals should initiate TO the best
Of our limited understanding. Je-
suS Christ portrayed true meaning
OF life-An all-encompassing Love
and Understanding of humanity, a