University of South Carolina Libraries
WILLIAM J. BRYAN ON CHRISTMAS. "The Commonner." This Is a timely topic. Prior to Christmas day several years ago, a Cleveland. Ohio, newspaper printed the following: "Christmas was forshadowed in the county recorder's office last week. Day after day it became more evident that | December 2.* was pretty close at hand. A glance at the office force and their extra work told tho story. The num ber of chattel mortgages increased in proportion cs Christmas drew near. Yesterday they came in by the score This" week the number will probably be greater still. The mortgages tell the story of the way hundreds of fam ilies are getting their money for Christmas presents. They look upon a few 'plasters' on household effects as mere nothing, when balanced against the Joy of giving. The amount range all the way from $2r> to $'500 and some are for even more. The practtco 1? an old one. but of late years the ob servation is made that chattel mort gages are becoming more and more popular in these parts prior and dur ing the holiday season. Toys must he bought for the Children?there must be turkey and real presents for the older folks, regardless of the day of reckoning." The burdens of the Christmas sea son are becoming well night unbeara ble, Men and women are embarrassed in the selection of gifts for friends, and if one or two friends happen to be poor, while the other is rich, it is humiliating to the former not to ho able to give to his friend a present that shall equal In cost the one he receives. As a result in all too many oases, men and women plunge them selves Into debt in order to keep up with the mad pace set by some of their wealthy acquaintances. "To he remembered'' by ones friend In particularly gratifying during the Ohristmas season and the desired re sult may be accomplished just as well through some inexpensive token as by a costly gift. Some progress along this line has recently been made by individuals who. having hereto fore embarrassed themselves by the distribution of expensive gifts to a few of their friends, have made it pos sible to remember practically all of their friends by sending to each one a pretty Christmas card engraved with appropriate greetings, it would be well If this custom could grow to the end that the desired result may be attained. Nor is it necessary that the gifts to the children be expensive ones. It is well known by those having experi ence in the child's world that the lit tie one upon whom costly gifts are lavished does not derive from the oc casion m arly so much pleasure as the child who receives a few inexpensive toys and perhaps along with them a pair of gloves, a warm cap. or some otlier article which, while serving as a "remembrance" and providing for the child's pleasure, will at the same time provide substantially for the Child's necessities. Unquestionably "the time is ripe for an agitation along this line." Men and women everywhere have felt the heavy burdens consequent upon the exchange of high-priced gifts, it re quires considerable courage for men and women to break away from cus toms, hut if the press will agitate this very essential reform, and if men and women generally will resolve to re store the Christmas celebration to its real place, there Will be fewer debts incurred through the demands of the 'Christmas season while that season j will lose none of its pleasures. In deed, the pleasures will he greatly in creased heci.use while we are enjoy, ing lhem the shadow of debts that must be met will not be hanging over us. Our contemplation of the season will not he continually disturbed by thoughts of the sacrifices we must sooner or later make. We will not be continually thinking of the day of judgment to which our creditors will I certainly summon us. There will not he running continually through our minds the strains of tile negro melody Which serves well as a warning to those who would thoughtlessly incur obligations: "What ye gwiue to do when the rent conies around? What ye gwine to say, how ye gwine to pay. what ye gwine to do when the rent comes around " There are many men and women who so embarrass themselves in the ?^^^^^v^^^^^ / ? ,it',e b*be, ? Kon,'t" babe, ?Ktu^NCn^S. jV^'V? That In a manger lies, ^-gj^^nn^vyf? \ A-listening to the choral sweet ^^^\^*/A^J^Jj We, through the year, wh? on,y bear ^""C'-^^^t* /^c3a^~ Listen that we. dear babe, with thee, y^*^ ^it^fiB^J ^* May hcaf tlu anKe,s 8,n8 . ' O little babe, O gentle babe, *. . JT .11 s//J&-- I W ho lookcst toward tlu- star, \.( ~^m Xr \j0r/f ! And seest when they bear their gifts, V*'yet}? f // Those wise men from afar; \\\^-^ f^SX' tj, /// From wandering wide, back to thy side, !1 jnfilswv Si i Weary and worn we flee; ^mrSBy^l S/i// ,u>;uts 1,1 " bleed and bunds that ne ed, A ////// ^re a" we 'iave *or thee, ?5 * vL>/{/IM ? Utt,C babc* ? ?ent,e babc? '/ Sk7ff I Mm I Our hearts wore hard and cold; ^/jn\ It Hl H ///fit 1 The star we loved, the star of fame, yjf/l A ll'rll The song, the song of gold, 7/11 1 u Mi At tne manger's side this Chrlstmastide, //a^b5J\ \ y\ We listen and we long /M ) -^"^vU To sec tbat 8,ar 8hine from a;far j$7/^??>;f/AJ'-'i .\tj And hear the angels' song. ij^^^^^^^^^^ ~R,charj F's<Mter' purchase of gifts for their friends that] thoy are unable to discharge their ob ligations to the poor. If the customs of the Christmas season were reform od there need he no empty stockings and no barren Christmas dinner ta-J hies in all this land. The expendi tures of the Christmas season could be brought within that reasonable sum that would avoid financial embarrass ment yet at the same time leaving an ample margin for the discharge of the debt every one of us owes to those of our fellows who, through sickness j or other misfortune, must depend up on outside assistance not only for their Christmas chem- but for the ac tual necessaries of life. Men and women should strive to reform some of the methods for the celebration of the Christmas season to the end that that season may he ob served In the very spirit to which that grand old man -Sontn Clans? owes Iiis existence. Tim grand old man for whom wo B|>eak is not a walking delegate for the chattel mortgage Bhop. It Is not his mission to increase the burdens of the weary mother, or to multiply the embarrassments of the father, lie gives not encouragement to the con test hot ween friends in the effort to see Which can give the costliest pres ent. He is not the sponsor for empty I stockings or barren larders, lie is the missionary of love, the representa tive of a perfect democracy where ev ery human being having the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happi ness is entitled, equal With every oth er human being, to the joys and pleas ures of the period which marks his coming. mi WHEN Christmas bellH are Wrab*? ringing merrily on Christ? ro^Wn mns eve It la pleasant to itna< t!"' wholu world "Yy* Ib celebrating, and that us * ? long as the human family has been on earth It has made merry at a midwinter feast. The lit tle children ill your house or mine, and the little children across the street, are just like other little chil dren In llussia, In Norway, in France and In Italy, or the German Father land who have made ready for their Christinns trees when the winter's sun has set and the Christina- stars are shining over head. At the tune that the Holy Habe lay in the manger in Bethlehem to b? the Christinas Hube for the Christian world the ltomans were celebrating their Saturnalia and trimming wdlow wands, as we trim Christmas treer., of course with a difference. But Just the same they were celebrating the mid winter festival. They danced and sang, gave gifts, and hung wreaths while across the Alps to the north the Wild Huntsman was chasing through the woods to be the terror of all naughty children. The Christmas tree honored be cause It was evergreen gained fresh honors when udorued with tapers. The evergreen was eternal, and the lights shed glory around. How jolly Is the raising of the Christmas 'roe! How the children love to talk about It before hand and to trim It, or to get the gifts from Its overladen boughs. In Germany tho winde household goes to church, In many villages tho church Is left in darkness, and the worshipers curry lighted candles, coin ing In one by one, u itil It is a bril liant sight. When the season is over the old hymns are sung. "Ks Ist der Tag des Herrn," und Christmas greet lugs are heard on every sldo. The Julafred, or perv j of Christinas, Is publicly proclaimed In Sweden and Norway. The churches are decorated, and the children are the first to enter in the gray of the early morning. No oi.e is forgotten. Tho poor are re membered with food and clothing, ami best of all tho llttlo brothers of the air, tho birds, have a tree hung with a sheaf of wheat for Christmas cheer. In Holland feastiug prevails as It does everywhere. Hut the children ?ct out their wooden shoes for gifts, and not one Is forgotten. The prac tloe of feeding pets and birds la gnu oral. Ill Sorvla and In Dulgarla no ona crosses a strange threshold If it cau bo avoided. Friends rejoice together, the little children dance and sing and gifts are exchanged. An ancient cero niony has to bo performed by th*j head ol every household, liefore a mouthful of food Is eaten < ally In tho morning, corn is placed In a stocking and the chief of the family sprinkles a little before the householder, saying "Christ Is born; ' to which one of tho family replies: ' He Ih bom Indeed." Then tho house father has to "Wish" and. advancing to the burning logs mi the hearth, he strikes them until the sparks My upward, with a good wish for tho borsos, another for the cat ties, the calves, and the goats, and 90 on through the entire band of stock on tho farm, com hiding with a special prayer and an oxtrn blow upon tho embers of the logs for a plentiful bar vest, in this manner the gods of na ture aro appeased. Then the nsh^s containing "the wish" are collected and burled secretly. As for tho YulS logs, they aro not penult ted to burn entirely away, but tho fire being ex tlngulshed the burnt ends are placed in the clofts of fruit trees so us to l'sure a bountiful crop. In out of the way corners of tba world, tho traveler has met proces shms going about on Christmas eve giving gifts to the earth, I?. the Btream, to fruit trees, and the pi I? st with a censor of incense Invoking blessing* on the harvests which are to com*) when the winter is over. ( The receiving of gifts seems to b? the passing of a later day. At Lyon* In France the Foundlings Home luu u beautiful custom, a handsome cru i die is placed id the door and (he for I sakon Infant laid therein is afterwards J treated with great consideration as I tho gift of the Christ child at the blessed season. The more playful customs of put. j ting huts a ho? I for presents as Fronen '. children do, of baskets which Ital.'aa children make, of gift boxen and tb? j tour of St. Nick prevail everywhere. ; Kvun in the tropics Christmas is ob j served, as If the cold snow lay round about. Mexico bus iniiny beautiful customs, and Catholic countries nov er forgot the feust of the Habe in tin* Manger in church. ? 1* M. McCAULKY. m A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL FROM m J. E. Minter m Christmas Present for Father and Brother f Tailored Suits $10.00, 12.50, 15.00, 20.00 and 25.00 Overcoats - ? 10.00, 12.50, 15.00 and 20.00 Hats . , - 1.50, 3.00, 4.00 and 5.00 Gloves - - 50c, 1.00 and 1.50 Ties ... - 25c, 50c and 75cts Silk Socks - - 50cts Linen Handkerchiefs - lOcts, 15ctsand 25cts Mufflers - - 25cts, 50cts, 75cts and $1.00 Don't Forget THE BOYS Suitable Christmas Girfts for Ladies I Fine Linen Handkerchiefs Silk Scarfs 25 cent,, i |%^3* SOcts, 1.00 and 2.50 I | 1.00, 3.50 and 5.00 | I 25cts and 50 cents | Iwt^y 1.00 to 2.50 I l&V^j 25cts and 50 cents f Good Suits from* $2.50 to $8.50 Overcoats from $3.00 to $7.00 Purses Belts Umbrellas . ?; Fancy Ties :; Belts Pines I! Furs ;; Coat Suits 0ur Store is complete with good things for the Holidays. Just what you want for a Xmas Present ||?j?|: j^jjji for each member of the family. M m m 25cts and 50 cents $3.00 to $15.00 $.5.uu io q>ia.uu t b5$?? $10.00 to $25.00 i; 1 f?iof Come to us for your Christmas Goods. Wishing all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. m m rm J. E. MINTER & BROTHER la^vif mtx?kia;vj^M.???u u.V., >nutts