The Sunday Bee MORN INC—EVENING—SUNDAY ____ _ the BEE PUBLISHING COMPANY NELSON B, UPDIKE. Pu blither. B. BREWER, Gen. Manager. MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 01 "hlcb Hu In tt i mam bar. la aulmftaly entitled to the um for republlcaitna of all oeva dispatches credited to tt or aot otherwise credited to Uila paper. and also the looal nova published Ssrsla All rights of reputdicstloDs of our special dispatches are alto reserved. BEE TELEPHONES Private Branch Exchange. Ask for tk« Department AT Unii. or Peraon Wanted. For Night Celle After 1# P. M.: .IJJ!,,C Editorial Department. AT lentio 1(21 or 1042. lOOO OFFICES MTin Office—171h and Farnam Co. Bluffs .... is Scott tit. So. Side. N W. Cor. 24th and N New York—280 Fifth Avenua Wasbinglon - - 422 Star Bldg. Chicago - - . 1720 Stager Bid*. Peril, France—420 Rua St. Hoaore THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS. It must have been a wonderful starlit night, and the shepherds had spent its early hours In discussing the marvelous star that shone in the east, a wonder surpassing anything living man had noted in the heavens. Then they had fallen into quiet contem plation of the marvels of the firmament. Even their simple minds felt the awe and majesty of creation as written in the vault above them, and under the spell of night’s quiet they rested, while the flocks they guarded huddled together on the hillside. Of a sudden a greater glory surrounded them, and there in his magnificence was the announcing Angel, with his message: “Behold, I bring you glad tidings of great joy.” One thousand, nine hundred and twenty-two years have passed since that night, and instead of a little group of amazed and mystified flock tenders, hundreds of millions of men and women, scattered nil over the face of the globe, will tonight in spirit bear that announcement. For it was a message of glad tidings that has spread to all the world. In it is foreshadowed the Gospel of Love, the true inspi ration for “Peace on earth, good will to men." Beils will pral forth at midnight, and great or gans will swell in harmony with the anthems of praise and thanksgiving that will go up from myri ads of worshiping hosts, joyously celebrating the ad vent, the nativity of a Savior. What need to dispute as to His divinity, or to cavil over insignificant points in His gospel? He taught one thing that holds all others in its enfolding meaning. “A new command ment give I unto you, That ye love one another!" That was Christ’s gospel; that man love God with all his mind and all his soul, and his neighbor as himself. His other teachings were explanatory of these great commandments. It was this the angel presaged in his words to the shepherds. The birth of a child was no occasion for a heavenly visitant to arouse a group so humble; but what that child meant to all the world might well call down an angel from attendance on the throne. It was given to the hum ble and the obscure, for the teacher it announced was to bring to the lowly the cheer and comfort that has been steadily operating since to raise maA to a higher plane. Not all evil has vanished, not all misery has been relieved, not all tears dried, but the world is a very paradise compared to what it was that night before the babe was born at Bethlehem. Well it was that the wise men and the rulers of the east bowed be fore His little bed in the stable. They w’ere doing homago to a king whose rule would extend over a mightier empire than ever earthly ruler had swayed by his power. For that babe was to rule over the hearts of men, to set in motion impulses of helpful ness that sweep wider and wider circles each suc ceeding year, and steadily are bringing humanity nearer and nearer to that blessed time, “When all men s good is each man’s aim." The law of love is not yet universal, but its gentle influence moves more men with each succeeding rising of the sun. Christmas Day is a most auspicious event in hu manity's calendar, but the night before Christmas still holds the solemnity of that wonderful word that came down from the skies, borne on angel’s wings and choired by angel voices, when the birth of the world’s greatest teacher and one Perfect Man was told to the shepherds, the Christ who was to break ihe bonds that held humanity down, to liberate both body and soul, to give an opportunity for true living lie re, and a promise of everlasting life hereafter. ELEVATING VAUDEVILLE TASTES. A writer in the current Issue of the Drama inter estingly discusses the serious phase of the one-act play as related to presentation on the vaudeville stage, with a conclusion that, if justified, is not es pecially complimentary to the American public. Ac cording to this writer, 25 per cent of the American public never attends a vaudeville performance, and another 25 per cent is hopelessly “low brow,” and unwilling to give its approval to anything but the .cheapest sort of drama. On what the first conjecture rests we can not say. Only a comparatively few cities in the country have vaudeville theaters, and so more than 25 per cent of the population never has a chance to enjoy this sort of entertainment. As to the other, that is a matter on which differing opinions may honestly be held. First, it has been amply demonstrated that even the loftiest of “high brows’’ now and then unbends, and really enjoys humor that may be listed as coarse when measured by the exalted standard of the purely intellectual. One would have to listen closely to separate the applause of a great lawyer, for example, from that of the truck driver, when the quip from the stage happens to touch just right on both, and frequently it does. For the great lawyer is jjist as human in his attributes as is the truck-driver, and each reacts in the same fashion to a good song, a lively dance or a story with a point, whether it has a moral or ndT. The Omaha Bee has several times noted the fact that the most successful of jokes at the theaters are those with which the audience is familiar. New ones are put out at considerable hazard, because the mind is relaxed as well as the body in the comfort able seat; the patrons have gathered to be amused rather than enlightened—people do not go to a vaudeville show for instruction as much as to see the performers do their stunts. Some very good one-act plays are presented on the vaudeville stage by clever and capable actors. If the points are obvious, it is for the same reason that the jokes are fairly well known to all. Subtlety is not sought, nor the delicacy one looks for in a theate^ devoted to the higher forms of art. Mana gers in charge of the Orpheum, Keith's and the other big circuits know their business, and succeed be cause they cater to the expressed wants of their customers. They might elevate public taste, as the magazine writer suggests, through forcing a different quality of dramatic entertainment on the unwilling “loW brow,” but the chances are they would only succeed in driving mora of their patrons to the movies, where comedy is exclusively slapstick, ‘and where tb* tired business man may snooze if he wishes, THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT. The hous* is hung with holly. There are WTeaths, red ribbons and mistletoe. Festoons of evergreen and loops of tinsel make of the home a fairyland at Christmas time. Rosy lights gleam from the windows, shining Christmas cheer to all who pass that way. Such is the spirit of Christmas, the spread of good cheer, the joy of giving, the vision of love, the spirit of sharing. Of all this the wreaths in the window by day and the gleaming lights by night are symbols. It is something that cannot be closed into the house or heart without dimming its beauty, and significance. No, Christmas must be shared, be spread from heart to heart, from house to house, to bring its measure of j6y. It is a time of gathering together of families, of renewal of old friendships, of feasting, and songs and good cheer, and the laughter of little children, espe cially the laughtef of little children. When all the secrets are out and all the mys teries explained, when the stockings have been ex plored, down to the very tippy-toe, where is found the choicest plum. And when the tree wonderful, glittering thing that springs full grown, full blown each Christmas morn, “laden with fruit from tip to root,” has yielded its treasure, then is Christmas for little children, a mad, merry, shouting, joy ous time. There is a scampering of bare feet, jing ling of toys, wild whoops and shrill shrieks. A hubbub of merry making. For Christmas came with the birth of a little Child and down the ages it is kept alive by the coming of little children. There are many who be lieve that much of the significance of the day has been lost in the rites and myths and legends which have clang from pagan customs. But the story of the Christ child sinks deeply into the human heart, and from the spirit of Chris tian faith springs the joy of giving joy. The vision of peace on earth. The legend of Santa Claus finds its origin in, the wish to bring happiness to the heart iff a child. It is a symbol of giving in secret, and is no more to be considered a desecration than are the wreaths and holly and other things which help to make Christmas a day of good will to men. NEBRASKA MAID MARIAN. Nebraska is justly proud of Ethel dark'of Albion, the young prima donna who has risen so rapidly in her chosen profession, but no more so than the little city in which she has lived since babyhood. This young girl has talent, but it was not talent alone that pro moted her from the position of assistant manager of the little filling station to the leading part in “Robin Hood.” Genius alone can do nothing without the other praiseworthy characteristics which enable one to choose a goal and unfalteringly move forward, surmounting all obstacles in an effort to reach that goal. * In the same town from which this young girl comes, is another unassuming young woman whose God-given talents make her not only the pride, but the necessity of the community. The young prima donna is not the only one whom this capable young teacher has helped to find and perfect latent powers which will help her find a place in the musical world. And there will be others, for this unselfish young music instructor in the city schools is daily patiently listening, detecting and correcting false notes, the while ready to encourage and assist a promising young voice in order that the world may hear, while the one who is tho main incentive remains in ob scurity. Last, though not least, is the mother, who was there to make complete the moments, which the young singer designates as the happiest of her life, by telling her she did well. This mother was or phaned in early childhood and has seen her share of the dark spots of life; but in spite of that has done her utmost to rear her little family of seven, unaided, to upright manhood and womanhood. It is not difficult to see, by the life of this bravo woman, where the daughter gets those excellent at tributes that are leading her on to success. WOMEN IN THE PUBLIC HOUSEHOLD. A great deal of the credit for electing Gifford Pinchot governor of the commonwealth of Penn sylvania goes to his wife. What does she think of politics and of the part woman should take in it? Inasmuch as she was so active in the campaign, it may fairly be expected that she will be influential also in the public life during the term of her hus band. The time may he at hand when men seeking office will be scrutinized as are pastors seeking a new church, with regard, to the ability and helpful ness of their wives. In speaking to a club in Philadelphia Mrs. Pinchot lately expressed the thought that woman, the traditional home-maker, is finding politics to be nothing more or less than home-keeping on a larger scale. “It is the duty of every home-loving woman to see what she can do politically,” she said. “It is not that woman’s work has changed, but the condi tions under which the work is done.” She explained her point of view thus: “Women will be on the job more continuously and steadily than the men. The great trouble In the past lias lain in the fact tliat the men organ ized intensively for a few weeks, and then when the campaign died down would go home and forget all about it. The women will be on the job all the time and will watch the candidates carefully, fol lowing their every move with intereat. “A woman can not know the conditions of the milk that Is served to her home, nor the meat and water, nor the influence of the schools, unless she goes outside of the home. Women of today are beginning to realize tho need of nations outside of her own. Just as they are beginning to realize the need for better homes outside of tlielr own four walls. They know that no person or nation can live ‘by itself alone.’ ’’ In the school district, in the municipality and in state and nation alike woman is as much affected as nutn. International relations which make for peace or war are as important to mothers and sis ters as to the men of their household. Mrs. Pinchot, as the wife of the governor of Pennsylvania, feels keenly the responsibility of the members of her-sex, and is altogether one of the most intercs^n^figures in public life. If Pel Barrows ever decs get his pay, he will have earned it twice, once as acting governor and once trying to collect. Maybe it is just as well that Christmas doesn’t come any oftener. Dividing the strain might help some, at that. Returns are not all in yet, but at this writing Santa Claus leads the field by several city blocks. “Fatty” Arbucklc may come back some day, but he picked a poor time to start. Day by day in every way we arc hustling to meet expenses. Among the Folks in History sT OAU5* _ cm WIUWH*-. Only Her Chains to Lose “Kscapo” for Heroine of a New Novel Was Not Into Business but Out of It, and Into Matrimony. "This freedom’’ for which the mod ern woman so zealously Is striving Is revealed In its true form by Jeffery E. Jeffery in his latest novel, "Escape." The path to its realization’ Is hard and Is beset with many obstacles, most of them caused by a misconcep tion of the worthwhile things of life. Money is not freedom, Mr. Jeffery reveals In his novel and life Is a com promise, he contends, proving hls argu ment through the tribulations of Emily, young English girl fired with the desire really to do something in tills world. But it takes Bai ty, free lance news paperman who has seen and under stands life through his career as stu dent and chronicler of human emo tions, to lead her on the right path toward this freedom. • • • "Make the most of life, Emmy. We're all too willing to be tied by circumstances. Fight against It. Ther^is a moral value In revolt." And Emily remembered her fath er's advice. Emily was different from the rest of the children In the family. She con tinually "kicked over the traces.” But her father, a middle class Eng lishman, saw in her the reincarnation of his own spark of freedom. When death claimed him life In the village palled on her and she began to dream of eseapo. Samuel Mopsted, substantial Eng lishman "with a future” in a hank, came along and she married him, be lieving through him she might escape the drab existence sho so hated. She was a dutiful little wife. Tittle Francis came and she was a loving mother. But too late, she realized she had but stepped from one color less existence into another. Then came the war. Mepsted died and Emmy saw the dour to freedom open. She decide,] to go into business, to garner an inheritance for her boy, Frankie. With another woman she formed the London Middle Class agency, de signed to free the middle class of such irksome duties as house hunting, house furnishing, and the like. Tho agency became a success, was joy fully dubbed the “London's Most Classy Advisers," and the pounds sterling began to accumulate. Tile brother of her partner made violent love to her. Put lie had made an unfortunate marriage, be told her. The news stunned her, but did not deaden tho Indescribable .attraction sho felt for him in his presence. Site fancied she was in love again. And then along came Party. “Strength of purpose, purity of motive, kindliness of heart—that was his creed.” And Frankie fell in love with him. Party tried to argue with her that money, which sho was accumulating fast, is not everything; that success in this world’s possessions Is not. the main goal in life and she sent him from her angered at ills seeming im pertinence. She had begun to suspect she loved Party. And when he was gone she knew. “For realization came to her in those empty days of waiting. She went back over 'the beginning laboriously and picked over the tangled skein of her motives, her i ambitions, lier desires. . . Tt was freedom above all else she had so passionately desired. She saw her folly now. Inexperienced, ignor ant, unthinking, slm had set out to gain freedom for herself with no notion of what true freedom was.” She set herself to the task of study ing those things for which Barty stood, argued aud fought. “She did learn and she did begin to understand. Tier labors revealed the world to her in a different light . , . She began to see mankind less as nations and classes and more as a close knit whole magnificent unbreakable, progressive hut yet pitiable, toiling, hound by its own exasperating limitations." A motor bike crushed littlo Frank ie's head. In his delirium lie cried for Party, and in her grief, she wrote. Party came and over the bed of the little fellow, his eyes met hers—and they hotli knew. • • • • “Sho lay awake in the moonlit room for long after lie had gone to sleep and tried to trace the steps which had brought her to this knowledge of what love could mean and he. “She thought of that early affair with Alec Harwln; Romance—the first conception of it in her girlish Ignorance; the glamor of secrecy; the will to defy her mother, the NET AVERAGE CIRCULATION fbr NOVEMBER. 1922. of THE OMAHA BEE Daily..73,843 Sunday .78,105 B. BREWER. Gen. Mgr. ELMER S. ROOD, Cir. Mgr. Sworn to and subscribed before me this 5th day of December, 1922. W. H. QUIVF.Y, (Seal) Notary Public hope for release from the restric tions of her home. "Then Samuel Mepsted, grave end kind but uninspired. From him she had learned—what? The crudo facts of sex. the false Idea that love was no more than affection. "And afterwards—George. The stirring of fierce desire . . .It had flared brightly for a time, that passion, but its flame had not en dured. “But now there was Barty—now and for always. “ ‘Have faith,* he had said. She had faith In him.” Emmy withdrew from the L. M. C. A. Her income had not brought her happiness. But Barty and Frankie romping together warmed her heart. "You used to talk once, I remem ber,’’ Barty told her, ’of plans to escape, of setting yourself free.’ And I sympathized with you and thought I understood. Have you for gotten that?’’ "Forgotten:’ shs cried, ’when I have escaped to you, who set me free.’ ” > J. B. L„ Jr. "Escape." by Jeffery E. Jeffery. Thornes Seltzer, New York City. The Bee Bookshelf "BLOSSOMED HOURS." by Edward Howard Orlsrs. Orchard Hill Trees, Crbton-on-Hudeon. N. Y This is a treasure book of observa tions and impressions, expressed by Mr. Griggs in prose and verse, during ills travels in this country and In Hurojie. The author is known for his optimistic and helpful writings and for his utterances on the plat form. He sees the good, the true and the beautiful. He writes of the finer things of life, with no attempt to he pedantic. It Is an Ideal book for the "quiet evening hour.” A paragraph is quoted: "Ono should make an effort for eon afructive faith. Instead of yielding to moods of pessimism and depression. Cheerfulness is a virtue that may be acquired, and it should be acquired, not only for the happiness of one’s associates, but for the capital of one's own energy. I.tfe is greatly deter mined by our moods; but our moods are, or may be, what we make them.” "Jesus of Nazareth," by John Mark is an Interesting departure in sacred literature. This biography is that written by the disciple “John, whose surname was Mark.” This Is simply the gospel according to Mark as it would be printed if it were written to day Instead of in the first century. Published by.D. Appleton and Com pany. Travel books never lose their charm; if one stays at homo one likes to read of foreign scenes, and if one has gone abroad there is pleasure in retracing the steps through the printed page. “The Spell of Sicily.” by Will S. Payne, is a handsomely gotten up volume published by the Page Co. “Three Plays.” by A. A. iCriine, com prises “The Dover ltoad,” "The Truth About Blayds,” and “The Great Broxopp.” All these have been suc cesses on the stage. For humor, high spirits and cutting character analysis these have few equals in present day drama. Published by Putnam. “RacUhouse.” by George Agnew Chamberlain, is a romance of a most popular variety. Robert W. Cham bers used to do this sort of thing. The hero, a bankrupt young society man joins up with a bootlegging syndicate and undergoes many adventures be fore the crisis that remakes hmi. Pub lished by Harper & Brothers. — AROUND NEBRASKA Gram! Island Independent: It will soon be "23" tor ’22. Wayne Herald: Leaving" the farm to multiply city consumers would seem to be a reversal of the policy advocated a few years ago when peo ple were urged to stick to agriculture. Then it was feared production would fall short of meeting the world's needs. As a matter of faet. there would be no overproduction now if products were properly distributed. Foreign countries need our products, and would have them if they had money or credit with which to buy. There In amnio demand if markets with due credit were opened. It is not so much over-production as lack of distribution that has kept prices for farm products from properly advanc ing. Pierce Call: No farmer ever wrote poetry about tlie farm and no busi ness man In town ever got up any thing romantic about his life. Fairbury News: What the fanners of the country need is not an oppor tunity to borrow money, on which they cannot pay the interest, but an opportunity to sell their products at a fair profit Instead of at a loss. En couraging a farmer to increase his debts when he cannot pay the inter est on what he now owes is no act of kindness. Grand Island Independent: Bryan wants to "die fighting alcohol.” Booze fighting has often proved fatal: but who ever suspected anything like that of Mr. Bryan! Ilomer Star: We may talk of high taxes, of poor crops, of disorganized markets, of able weather, unfairness of contracts, graft, political spoils— we may exhaust the entire stock-in trade of the professional knocker, and yet the good roads booster has a com plete and final comeback. No amount of economic theorizing about hard times and poor crops and business de pression can explain away that physi cal fact that there are owned and operated in Nebraska no less than [ 240,00(1 automobiles, valued at $288,000,000 and costing at least $60,000,000 per year to run. Of this number almut 94,000 are owned on farms. With such a sum Invested in vehicles can Nebraska afford not to maintain adequate highways? York New Teller: One matter which taxpayers, now in process of organization may well consider as coming under their jurisdiction, is the custom of lax evasion. No man has a right to complain about high taxes if he has been in the habit of de ceiving the assessor and giving in false returns. This form of law breaking is one thing which has led to Lhe increase in tax bills of which we all complain. I.ong before the present outcry against expensive gov ernment became so loud the problem of Inculcating common honesty into the minds of taxpayers was a vital one. It is still one , with which leagues formed to bring taxes down should concern themselves. Kearney-Hub: There is no place where public taxation can quit in the extension of school facilities and the operation of the public school. There is not even a point where wo cat) j stand still. We are committed to pop ular education and must go through with it. More children require ad- i ditiona! teachers and new school buildings. And that is all there is to it. Xurora Sun: Everybody is urging the reduction of taxes, but the trouble is to And the fellow who is willing to have them reduced In mat ters where his personal interests lie. Norfolk News: The Arst suggested way to reduce state taxes is to reject federal aid and pay the whole expense of building roads out. of state tax ! money, instead of letting Uncle .Sam pay half of it. Next. Christmas Greetings to Various People To a Middle-need friend: We re too old to hang stocking un der the shelf; “We're too young to be laid there to rest. Tet I know that you feel, as I do myself, That middle age really is best. Merry Christmas, my friend. Father ■ Time gives delay. There are no old people In this pres ent aJl are gone, but all is not lost. The high ball le with us yet.—Baltimore Sun. Ninety thousand letters reach the dead letter office each year with no address on the envelops. “All dressed up and no place to go."—Boston Herald. r X'Q y Greetings From The Bond Clothing Compang We taka thi* method of arp renting to the people of Omaha end aurround ing territory, our appreciation for their patronage durinj the rast year. A Merry Christmas and a Happy Herv Year THE BOND CLOTHING COMPANY 1514 Farnam Street JOHN F. CULKIN, Mgr. Merry Christmas and a Healthy, Happy ^ New Year J.ft.PWtoveH ; CHIROPRACTOR. v 205 Paxton Block . AN INVITATION TO EVERY HUNGRY MAN, WOMAN AND CHILD IN OMAHA ON CHRISTMAS DAY— ERNIE HOLMES INVITES YOU TO ATTEND HIS SECOND ANNUAL Christmas Dinner Party MONDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1922, FROM 11 A. M. UNTIL EVERYONE HAS BEEN WAITED ON. THE DAY: Monday, Christmas, December 25. THE TIME: From II o’clock in the morning until midnight if necessary. THE PLACE: Southeast corner ICth and Farnam. EVERYTHING WILL BE FREE. COME AND BRING YOUR FAMILY, If for any reason you or your friends cannot come, telephone At-lantic 0765 and your dinner will be sent to your homfc.