University of South Carolina Libraries
- Ar. t:.. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1950 THE NEWBERRY SUN By Leo West # m WE'VE SOMETHING FOR YOU That jolly old man with the long of Christmas Greetings. We hope whiskers is here again. As old Saint you do have a MERRY CHRISTMAS Nick makes his rounds and stops at I ✓ - your house, we hope that he will leave . . . merry in every respect. We want you to have everything you so richly with you abundant joy for the Christ- deserve and that will add full measure mas Season. We are sending along »_ somethi ng for you too — our message to your happiness through the holiday season. 1^1 m lv | i 1 AMERICAN LEGION POST NO. 24 J. D. CALDWELL, COMMANDER I B eautiful nola Hampshire was alone for the second suc cessive New Year’s eve. As the hands of her plain electric clock in rare wood neared 11. she put down the new novel by Many Jerplt and looked at the sleepy flames in the grate. Someone In the party on that New Year's Eve 24 long months ago had suggested charades. Nola’s soft grey eyes filled as she remem bered how on Impulse she had thought of reenacting a scene In Jerry Pitman's college life which had anchored him ever since, pre venting any real progress in his chosen field "Maybe.’* she thought, "it will wake him up. make him know that he can’t go on forever living in the past." The word she chose to dramatize was "hero." She could do the "he” easily, with a borrowed hat and coat, and she could pretend for the second syllable to row a boat —. Would it be too strong for Jer ry? She looked across the room at his dark, good-looking face, the black wavy hair His ready smile. That decided her. Jerry had never stopped living the moment when his Harvard oarsmen had defeated Yale and he had been in the Number 2 slot. It was simply a case of arrested development she had been fighting vainly during the year of their engagement. He couldn’t even settle down to what he claimed he wanted to do—write; Whereas she was a highly paid I I 1 m 1 When ahe had opened the door and stood face to face with him, she couldn’t believe her senses. laboratory technician in a steel plant. She flushed angrily. What he needed was a shock treatment. What he needed was a charade. When she had finished rowing madly in Jerry Pitman’s most ex hausted style, an odd electric silence built up in the small audi ence. Quietly, fighting the tension in her body, Nola slipped back to her chair. Jerry was staring at her, a weak, sickly grin on his hand some face. "Oh, forgive me, Jerr^ forgive me,” her heart cried out, wishing desperately that she had chosen another charade. Furtively, she looked around her. Everybody pres ent, it seemed, understood. Oh, it was too, too awful. She put her head in her hands. T HERE WAS the sound of a chair crashing to the floor. She looked up Jerry had risen, resent ment burning in his brown eyes. That had been exactly two years ago. She had not heard from him since. Nola Hampshire sighed and looked at the clock. Soon it would be another New Year gone. She had hoped that he might seriously take up writing but although she had watched the new writers one by one appear in print she had not once encountered his 1 name. But moved by some mystic presenti ment, she had reserved.each New Year’s Eve for him. He might not overlook the dramatics of return ing on the anniversary of his self banishment. Not Jerry Pitman! (When the buzzer sounded, and she had opened the door and stood face to face with him, she couldn't believe her senses.) This tall, hand some man with the new, purpose ful shape to his mouth and jaw couldn’t be Jerry Pitman. "Thanks for the charade. Nola.** "Come in.” she said huskily. "I want to get a good look at you.'* Something inside her built up during the two year's he’d been gone collapsed then. *T don’t care if you’re a tramp all your life, Jer ry. Life without you is no fun—no fun at all, Jerry.” She’d support Mm herself if she had to. Smiling, he turned from her and picked up the novel she had dropped. "Scramble the syllables in Jerry Pitman. What do you get?” ‘ "Pitjer Hyman," she said won- deringly. His grin widened. "Try again.’* Many Jerpit—Jerry Pitman—Oh, no, Jerry I" He nodded. Outside the night was suddenly filled with the sounds of bells and whistles. "Happy New Year, darling," they said together and watched the hands of the electric clock wuoh. * { Qrand pa 3 roi t' JUps (ttuAUan* Celebrate Midwinter 9estival Although Christmas is no long<-i * holiday in Soviet Ruf 'o.i a non religious midwinter festival is celebrated and children receive gifts from ‘Grandpa Frost." In Czarist Russia, it was custom ary for well-to-do families will, large homes to entertain lavishly on Christmas day. The invita tions were extremely formal and begged the Invited to consider that. ”. . for thousands of years it has been so; with us it has not commenced, with us it will not cease. Do not, therefore, disturb the festival; do not bring the good people to despair Without you there will be no maiden festival at Anna Karpowna’s.’’ In planning these houseparties, hostesses gave particular attention to the selection of partners for the young ladies. The selection was sometimes very satisfactory and sometimes left something to be de sired. Arrival of the "fair maidens,” each with her mother and retinue, bringing cake and sweetmeats and gifts for everyone, proceeded ac cording to prescribed ritual; the ' guests sooner freezing in their sleds before the gate than to alight before receiving the greeting of the host and hostess. Having been ceremoniously wel comed. the guests offered prayers before the icon (sacred picture) and then proceeded to the feasting and festivities arranged for them. Santa Claud. Jlit /U 'SuyaA ^baxtdtf' Ouitead o/ Saint Assailing the Santa Claus myth as foolish fiction’ and rival of the Holy Child, the Rev. John S. Mar tin, editor of the Catholic Review, declared in a 1949 editorial that Santa the saint has been lost in Santa the sugar daddy—and that the whole idea is bad psychology and bad pedagogy "Our children learn about the reindeer, but have never heard of the ox and the ass," Father Martin continued and recommended that we: "Leave the man in the red suit to those who have nothing better . . . for whom life must end in disillusion and despair." Father Martin’s sentiments are reminiscent of Martin Luther's vigorous campaign against neglect of the central idea of Christmas, which is the birth of Jesus. So, German children have been taught that the Christkind brings the presents—Christkind being depict ed as the messenger of the Infant Jesus sent earthward at Christ mastime to bring happiness to good children. The modern conception of Santa Claus is, of course, 99 per cent fic tional and strictly American. But the spirit of generosity and thoughtfulness as typified by San ta Claus is neither sugar daddy-ish nor essentially American. Unfortu nately not all chldren who await Santa have learned from their mothers’ lips the story of the Holy Child. Santa's Requests Santa Claus still gets letters from youngsters with the same cherished requests—bicycles and dolls. But Iasi year a child wanted a live* cow. He told a department store Santa so. - * Another kid wanted a new daddy because hers was "wearing out on top." "ALL HE WANTS" . . . Young Edward Hespiaa of New York makeo known to Santa his Christmas wish. He ssid, to eoin a phrase, "All 1 want for Christmas Is my two front in cisors.” Whether he’ll get them Is another story. i i ? t ? 7.1 A. ;V£S <ak ’ ™ Each day of the year we are grateful for your fine friend ship and patronage but as Christmas day grows closer, we just want to pause and say 'Thank You. /y We truly appreciate your confidence and good will. That your holiday season will afford you every happiness is our whole-hearted wish for you, SMITH MOTOR COMPANY 1109 COLLESE STREET NEWBERRY. S. C. Zhe 3tin of EMEMBER the thrill of find ing those treasures and sur prises under your tree on Christmas morning? Do you recall the supreme happiness of your first doll or train? Those were Christmas thrills so delightful they can never be forgotten. v Although you have outgrown these childhood joys, we Ye certain you recall them vividly. And that’s the kind of happi ness we’re wishing for you this Christmas time. CHAPMAN LUMBER CO. NEWBERRY. S. C.