Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 37, Number 38, 19 December 1911 — Page 7

THE RICII3IOXD PALLADIUM AND SUX TELEGRA3I, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19. 1911.

CHILD'S BELIEF IN SANTA CLAUS BEAUTIFUL

People Should Foster the Child's Imagination Rather Than Try to to Shatter Illusions. Do Not Spoil a Gift in the Giving.

BY ESTHER GRIFFIN WHITE. He would destroy the belief of a child in Santa Claim is fit for 'treason, hfrafaxeniH and HpoilH." "I'ooh, there isn't any Santa Claus!" from Home grownup demi god- or lull grown Rod mo far at a child in concerned winoe children lake an bona fide thiiiKH their elders Kay--may cause a beautiful caHlle in Spain to topple over In a heap ingloriously. The person who shatters an illusion, whether held by a child or one with more accumulated years, in a murderer. He commits an unforgivable crime. To kill belief, to destroy faith, to puncture the bubble, is a cruelty greater than the infliction of bodily pain. The sceptic who deliberately tries to undermine the simple faith in God and heaven is fitted for nothing but outer darkness. The man who with Intent annihilates a woman's rose-hued dream of love has descended to the lowest depths of infamy. The woman who trifles away a man's honest affection is worse than a wanton. Parents who demolish the structure of a child's beautiful belief not only In themselves, but in all that charm of unreality that makes childhood exquisite, are contemptible beyond the reach of words or reproach. Those who ruin the fabric of the imagination arepiritual traitors. This is the season of the year when childish imagination is rampant. The lovely myth of Santa ClaiiB floats before the waking and sleeping vision. Pictures of the jolly, fur-clad saint, all covered with snow riding his reindeers hard through the roads of the air, stopping at every housetop to deposit his load at. the chimney-mouth then speeding on and on through the whirling snow-flakes, haunt the nightline. Dreams of Christmas-trees, all twinkling with little candles or electric lights, draped with glittering strands of gilt, festooned with ropes of cranberries and pop-corn, dangling irrldescent ornaments, swaying with every gift the heart could wiBh, conjure the days. "Do you believe in fairies?" asks Peter Pan. And the audience riBes to the spirit of the inquiry as bubbles to the Bur-face.

Everybody does. Everybody who loves children believes in fairies. Everybody with an imagination knows they come out and dance in the moonlight in their pink spangled frocks and their rose-twined hair. And if you listen hard enought you can hear the faint, delicious tinkletinkle of their fairy music. They fly in at the window with their glowing gauze wings after the lights are out and when everything is still. You can see them twirling on their toes and finally settling on the rail of your bed. And you're not a bit afraid. For fairies are friendly folk. They live in the flowers. Timid, tiny, little people who can balance on the end of a blade of grass, and who are shy of the sun. They whisper to you softly in the twilight. They tell you if you'll come out into the garden in about an hour, just as the moon, big as a plate, is peeping over the horizon, they'll dance for you. They'll dance in a ring with one little fairy in a fluttering gold dress and a diamond crown in the center. They know Santa Claus. He sleeps in the big house, with the white pillars reaching clear to the roof, all summer. He's afraid of the sun, l'ke the fairies. He's afraid it will melt him. Because Santa Claus is really all soft and thin. You can run a fairy wand clear through his head in the summer-time. Of course you believe in fairies. And if you don't you pretend to. All normal human beings love children. AH men and women like them. No matter how bad they are "bad" as it goes in the name for no-one is "bad" they love little children. To make children happy is the great Christmas cry from one end of Christendom to the other. You read it in every paper, you see it printed in every magazine. Clergymen preach about it, humanitarians talk about it, philanthropists cry it to the world. It is blazoned on the hoardings, It is sung in the cafes, it is taught in the schools make the children happy at Christmas-time. There's your own little child, of course, or little nephews and nieces, or cousins or grandchildren you've been buying things for them for weeks

and hiding them away to be given out in the name of Santa Claus. But how about the little waifs and strays? The poor little children who send letters to Santa Claus with all the divine belief in this world that they will be answered! Even here in Richmond a slumless town with a higher average of living than is often found in a community of its class even here there are children writing to Santa Claus for presents and clothes and food. One little boy writes for an express wagon, a velocipede with bicycle handles and rubber tires, a Christmas-tree, some candy, nuts and a new set of blocks. Another wants an Indian suit, a horn and two books. A little girl writes that she wants four nice dresses, four skirts, two un-der-waists, two pairs of stockings, a pair of shoes and one coat and cup all for her dolly. Her poor dolly who is in the hospital with both legs off but hopes to have them mended by Christmas. A second little girl writes for a "nice doll," a rarticoat and hair-ribbons. Still another beseeched "Santy" to send her a Dutch doll, a rubber doll, a table and, a dish. A little girl, eight years old, says her brother, three years, wants a train that will run on a track, and a hobby horse. That she would like to have a pair of button shoes with tassels and a set of dishes. That her brother, fourteen years old needs a suit of clothes, that her mama needs a newdress and her papa an umbrella. These appeals, rescued from the Christmas debris of the post office, are pathetic enough in all surety. And they will be given attention by the Salvation Army one of the most beneticent and far reaching of our religious-philanthropic institutions. It you have toys, candy, clothes, food and are in doubt how to bestow them give them to tha Salvation Army. No doubt, if you think hard enough, however, you can conjure up some one of your knowledge or acquaintance who would be delighted and grateful for "some Christmas cheer." Much spontaneous pleasure, however, can be spoiled by the spirit of the giver. Perhaps not the spirit but the manner. You can cool the most ardent thanks by a tone of patronage. You can freeze out the deepest gratitude with a condescending greeting. The most effusive response can be nipped in its beginning by a half contemptuous bestowal. You can nullify the beauty of the g'ft-season with a sanctimonious text or two. You can create resentment by a

moral platitude. You can scorch the sensitive recip ient with an indefinable demarkatior. of the social line. You can, in fact, make a detestabi. Pharisee of yourself, instead of a gocn Samaritan. A gift ungiven a thousand timrather than a sting in the giving. And let no little child within you. ken go cheerless on Christmas mori. ing.

When you have a bilious attack givt Chamberlain's Table's a trial. The. are excellent. For sale by all dealer?

An Unanswerable Argument. The poor relation had not been in vited to the formal function at th great house, but he went to the door it spite of that oversight. "Where's your card?" inquired tlx first gentleiran in waiting. "Haven't got any." responded th poor relation meekly. "Nobody can get in without a card." "Well, I'm nobody." murmured tlu

poor relation, but the first gentleman !

in waiting could not grasp the delicauhunior of it. and the poor relation was turned away. Lippincott's.

DISSOLUTION NOTICE. ' The partnership existing between j Joseph T. Conner and John T. Brooks. , operating a grocery at 228 N. 17 St. un-: der the firm name of J. T. Conner & Co., has this day been mutually dissol ved. All accounts due the firm are payable to J. T. Conner. J. T. Brooks. J. T. Conner Dec. 19, 1911. 19-it

Most Wonderful Christmas Sale That Ever Gladdened the Hearts of Bargain Lovers. Many things below cost to make this the greatest holiday business of our career. Early comers will secure the cream of our bargain offerings. The joy-forever kind of gifts are here in delightful variety presents that give pleasure every day in the year to every member of the borne. Experts on values are astounded at our tremendous reductions in every line and grade of goods. For "My Lady's Boudoir," for his den or office, for parlor, library, dining room any room in the house nothing would be more gratefully received or lastingly appreciated than a handsome new Rug, Carpet, Linoleum, set of Lace Curtains or Portiers ideal Christmas presents. Our reputation for years as the exclusive house of high quality and low prices in Floor Coverings, Draperies, etc., will be eclipsed by this, our greatest sale. Enormous and varied are the assortments. Something to suit every taste and every purse. Incomparable bargains in every line.

SURPRISINGLY BEAUTIFUL Royal Wilton Rugs MATCHLESS IN QUALITY Sizes to fit most any room. Color tones to harmonize with any furnishings. These items and prices below Indicate the remarkable values we're giving throughout.

Regular Price. Size. $ 2.25 ISxSfi inches .. 3.00 224 xH6 inches 4.0027x54 inches.... 4.00 36x36 inches .. 6.50 36x63 inches . . . 35.008-3x10-6 feet ... 40.00 xt2 feet Rt.OO 11-3x12 feet

Sale Price. 1.75 2.35 3.35 3.35 5.65 29.45 32.35 43.25

BODY BRUSSELS

Regular Price. Size. $16.50 6x! feet ... 25.00 S-.lxlO 6 feet 20.009x12 feet .. 27.50 9x12 feet .. 25.009x12- feet ..

Sale Price. $12.35 19.25 25.00 22.50 18.75

AXMINSTER AND VELVET RUGS

Regular . Price. Size. $30.009x12 feet . 2,".0v 9x12 feet . 20.009x12 feet .

Sale Price. $22.50 18.50 15.50

TAPESTRY RUGS

Regular Price. size. fCO.Oo 9X12 fert IS. 00 9x12 feet .. 16.009x12 feet .. 13.509x12 teet ..

All other Rugs at proportionate

prices.

Sale Price. $16.50 14.35 12.25

9.25

EXTRAORDINARY SALE OF Lace Curtains Gifts That Give Permanent Pleasure. Infinite variety of makes and qualities selected for their beauty and durability. Irresistably attractive in style and price, all greatly reduced for this sale. PORTIERES Unusual values in all materials. Large assortment of new styies and designs for Christmas giving. A universal favorite for presentation purposes is Bissell's Cyco ball-bearing Carpet Sweeper, $2.50, $3.50. Finer woods up to $5.00. A large line of Hassocks, all sizes. We have just received a fine line of Imported Oriental Rugs.

An Insult. "Why is May ine so cool toward Mr Downrite?" "Because he made a personal re mark she didn't like. He told he; something was as plain as the nose ot her face." "What's the matter with that?" "She thinks she's got a pretty nose." Baltimore American.

Useful Xmas articles. Dickinson Pharmacy. 19 lt

v n Reed & Son

Christmas Suggestions:

Carvers Skates Sleds

Scissors Safety Razors Scissor Cases

Plated Ware Birdcages Food Choppers Table and Pocket Knives

Irvin Rood & Son

THE STORE WITH ONLY ONE PRICE

Bo Sure and See Vs Before Buying

Emifleipestlfiimcsjs PiprjflfittfflM Miflninisj Wmf CDufffisttiniMis Stooppeips We want the next four days to be the biggest in all the records of the Boston Store's Christmas selling. To accomplish this end, in many instances not only profits but the first cost of the goods have been sacrificed. Only a few of the many Items can we quote. Read the list carefully.

SILVER PLATED SHAVING SETS MIRROR, BRUSH AND MUG $C..'M Sets, now $3.50 $7.00 Sets, now $5.00 S.50 Sets, now $5.50 $10.00 Sets, row $6.50 CUT GLASS THE NEW PANSY CUTTING $1.50 Tankards, now 75c $3.50 Tumblers, now per dozen $1.75 $-.00 Sugars and (."reams, now $1.00 $4.00 Custards, now per doz $2.00 $5.00 Stem Sherbets, now per dozen $2.50 $2.00 S-inch Bowls, now $1.00 HEAVY CUT GLASS S inch Bowl, Buzz Star Pattern $1.39 Tumblers. $5.00 value, now per dozen ...$2.98 D pint Tankard, choice of patterns $3.00 COc Toothpick Holder, now 29c CHINA See the Bargain Tables on the second floor at 10c and 20c. Goods on these tables worth double and triple. 40c German China Salad Bowls, assorted decorations, 10 inch, now 15c CANDELIERS 50c, 12-inch Candelier for table otcorations, solid brass shade of pierced brass with candle, all complete, in preen, red and pink, now 19c each; oer pair 35c. GEM ROASTERS Two more cases of our well known Gem Roasters, best quality of granite, double, 7x14 inches: 75c value, now 29c. TOYS Tomorrow we put on sale another toy attraction. This time it is a Boston Store Auto Delivery. Runs automatically for 15 to 25 feet; strong and well made. This toy is worth 75c to $1.00; our price . '

FLYING MACHINES 1 9c We think there will be enough to last several days. Every child should ht1-1 one. MEN'S HOUSE COATS V"e have left 1" of this popular gift item: regular prices $5.00 to $11.00; now half price. $2.50 to $5.50 sizes :;i, VS. : and 40. CHRISTMAS FURS liear in mind the sale on all Furs and Fur Coats; every piece bears a discount THE SILK SALE The Silk Sale Continues Until Christmas Eve. 50c. Faille Silks., now 29c "Oc Fancy Silks, now 39c f.5c and 75c Fancy Messatine 43c CG-inch Black Taffeta. $1.00 quality 68c :;;-inch Black Messaline. $1.25 quality ...,83c SG-inch Black Peau Ie Soie, $1.25 quality. .83c MEN'S SHIRTS Another large shipment of our Model Brand Dress Shirts, coat style, attached cuffs, pleated or negligee; see the new pin stripe patterns; look like $1.50 goods, sizes 14 to 18. choice $1.00 LEGGINGS Our entire stock of children's bear-skin and astrachan Leggings, most all colors, put up one pair in a box, $1.00 goods, now 69c MEN'S SETS 69c Men's Combination Sets Tie. Handkerchief and Hose, all pure silk, in Brown, Purple, Grey and Red put up in a nice box, $1 goods, now 69c MEN'S NECKWEAR We show the largest and most complete line cf 50c Neckwear in the city. French seam or fold tie, all the new cross stripes, diagonals and brocades are shown. FOR 25c we show over 50 different patterns, open ends or French seams.

SHAWKNIT HOSE We have them in fancy boxes, 4 pajrs to the box, black and colors, per box $1.00 W. L & C. RINGS Solid gold Shell Rings, guaranteed for five years. See demonstration near front door. 25c, 50c, $1.00 and $1.50. HAND BAGS l Att Velvet Bags, long cord handles, in French Grev or Gilt Frames. $1 to $1.50 value, now 79c Complete line of Leather Bags from $1.00 to $5. JEWEL BOXES Large lot of Rogers Jewel Boxes, in French Grey and (Jilt, choice of ; stjles. Special . 50c BRASS FERN DISHES Choice of two styles in 6 or 7 inch, with clay inset. $1.00 goods, choice 69c. SILK SCARFS 2 yds. hemstitched, fancy brocade, 5 good shades, $1.50 value, choice, $1.00. BELT PINS Special lot Indies' Fancy Belt Pins, regular 50c goods, big range of patterns, choice now 25c HOLIDAY STATIONERY One pound of the best linen paper and 50 envelopes, all put up in a fancy holiday box, 25c. GLOVES The glove counter is a busy place. Cashmere Gloves 25c. 50c, 75c Silk Gloves 50c, 75c, $1.00 Kid Gloves $1.00, $1.50, $3.00, $330 HAND CROCHET TIDIES See the large assortment at about half price in our linen department Now 3c, 7c, 13c 19c, 29c SWEATERS Ladies', Misses' and Childrens all sizes and prices 50c to $5X0 SILK PETTICOATS Special lines at $2.98, $3.98,9498