Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 73, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 December 1910 — SANE CHRISTMAS NEXT. [ARTICLE]

SANE CHRISTMAS NEXT.

Why Should Indiscriminate Gift Giving to Grownups Continue? Is the movement for a safe and sane fourth of Jiilj' to be followed by one for an economical Christmas? Do the majority of people feel that the Christmas present has been as much overdone as the firecracker, the toy cauuon and the pinwheel? It must be understood in the outset that the movement to curtail Christmas giving has bo relation to the children. The joy of the little ones in their Santa Claus and bis bounty is too beautiful a thing to disturb. It is only the presents to the grownups, to every Tom, Dick and Harry with, whom one happens to be acquainted, the presents that are a burden and a bore both to giver and recipient, that it is proposed to abandon. - Frequently these are given through a sense of duty and cannot be afforded by the donor. Just as frequently they are not needed by the one on whom are bestowed. Thus the outlay is not justified. It is a deprivation to one without any corresponding benefit to the other. The recipient in turn'‘feels it a duty to make presents to tjie giver, presents that perhaps he can as little afford and that his friend as little needs. Thus both have had to make sacrifices for which they have received no‘equivalent good. It is this sort of giving when we expect a return, this giving through a sense of past or prospective obligation, against which there is widespread revolt. It is not in harmony with the Christmas spirit. If is commercial, onerous and lacking in spontaneity. It makes us dread the return of the holiday when we should welcome it with jpy. ~ Fortunately the habit -is -dying out. Without any preconcerted movement to that end it is still being dropped by mutual consent. A has reached the point of insurgency where he doesn't give a hang, whether B remembers him or not. He will not rack his brain and deplete his pocketbook buying unwelcome things for B. ®nly to cause B in torn to hurl,. perhaps grudgingly, equally unwelcome things at his own head. All unknown to A tfie same insurgency has been working in the heart of B. and thg irrational custom falls of its own weight. In consequence the day oh which we celebrate the b ; *rtli of tbe Son of Man ceases to be a far.- ric counter exchange. V";b. ’ J drer. it i : different.- We give to tb: i for the pure joy of it without riy bepe pf retuni. We enter into theii’ Joys sir.d partake of the Christmas spirit* by sharing it with them. Thus we unconsciously fulfill the command of him in w hose (honor tbe day is celebrated and Veritably become as liilie children.

J. A. EDGERTON.