JANUARY '5, 1906
The Commoner.
THE GREAT BURDENS OP THE CHRISTMAS SEASON
a nioveland. Ohio, reader who subscribe
himself "Anti Santa Claus," writes to take issue
with the article which appeared in a recent num
ber of The Commoner and entitled "In Defenso
of a Grand Old Man."
Referring to the quotation from a New York
newspaper this deader says:
"If there were no other reasons for
putting Santa Claus out of business than those
cited in said paper, I could heartily indorse
your position. But when we take into con
sideration the heartaches caused by this
custom the question takes on an altogether
different shape. I enclose a clipping which
will give you the key to the other and more
weighty side of the matter opening the door,
so to speak, to the evil side of the show.
We say 'It is better that ten guilty escape
than one innocent suffer.' If this rule be ap
plied to Santa Claus in view of the distress,
anguish, disappointment, ill-feeling through
forced givings, etc., as caused by this Santa
CJaus custom, the percentum is sufficient to
end hi3 career at once."
The newspaper clipping referred to is from
the Cleveland Plaindealer, and is as follows:
"Christmas was . foreshadowed in the
county recorder's office last week. Day after
day it became more evident that December 25
was pretty close at hand.
"A glance at the office force and their
extra work told the story. The number of
chattel mortgages increased in proportion as
Christmas drew nearer. Yesterday they
came in by the score. This week the num
ber will probably be greater still.
"The mortgages tell the story of the way
hundreds of families 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 amounts range all the way from
$25 to $300 and some are for even more.
"The practice is an old one, but of late
years the observation is made that chattel
mortgages are becoming more and more popu
lar in these parts prior and during the holiday
season.
"Toys must be bought for the children
there must be turkey and real presents for .
the older folks, regardless of the day of
reckoning."
In a later letter this same reader calls at
tention to an article 'printed in the Literary Di
gest of December 23 and says:
"I would like to have you see the abuse
to which this once glorious custom has be-
come subjected so that you might use your
pen power to regain the lost ground and put
an end to .the evil excesses; and thus save
the day for the children proper or abolish
the custom entirely. It seems to me that the
time is ripe for an agitation along this line
by declaring gifts of intrinsic valuev to any
one but to children as improper and out of
place or in bad taste. Santa Claus, like- 'free
press, is glorious in its inception, and would
ever be if dominated by purely Christian
and patriotic sentiments. Both, however,
have become commercialized so that today
they are treacherously dangerous to general ,
welfare and future existence."
THE "CONSTITUTION" IS SAFE
So vigorous have been the protests against
Secretary Bonaparte's suggestion concerning the
disposition of the historic frigate "Constitution"
that the secretary has explained that his reconi
dation was made "in the way of suggestion only,"
adding "there was no expression of Intention on
the part of the department, and as I stated some
time since, no action will be taken with reference
to the Constitution until congress has expressed
its will."
It is safe to say that congress will not ap
prove of any plan with respect to this old vessel
that invo'lves any indignity to it. It is more than
likely that some method will be devised whereby
the "Constitution" will be preserved along with
our other precious relics.
JJJ
PUNISHING LAFOLLETTE
Word comes from Washington that tin grave
and reverend senators, have prepared to squelch
Senator LaFollette. They seem to think that ho
nns put a slight upon them and the body by his
The Literary Digest article rererred to is en
titled "Cruelties of the Christmas Season" and
is a protest against the dedication of that sacrod
season to the slaughter of dumb animals, and
a protest, also, against "the sufferings of the
shop assistants and clorks, and the overloading
of postmen and expressmen." one of these pro
testants says: "It seems that tho genius of the
people is inclined more to tho pagan ideal of
festival than to the religious, with tho result
that our observance of one of tho most sacred
of the church's festivals has been allowed to
degenerate into a species of carnival."
Because of the importance of the subject tho
protests made by the Cleveland reader and the
citations he gives are quoted liberally.
Our correspondent errs in subscribing him
self "Anti Santa Claus." The most enthusiastic
champions of "The Grand Old Man" will cheer
fully subscribe to the proposition that the Chriat
mas season should not be markeu by excesses and
that it should become the accepted rule that gifts
of Intrinsic value to any one but to children
barring, of course, food and clothing for the poor
are improper and in bad taste.
Between the New York paper's claim that
Santa Claus being "childish, irreligious, trivial,
silly and pagan" should be abolished and the
plea made by our Cleveland correspondent for a
more rational observance of the Christmas sea
son, there is no relation whatever. The one is
a proposition that would deprive the children of
some of the happiest moments of their life; the
other is a plea which, if complied with, would
relieve tired women of a great deal of unneces
sary work while it would free the pockelbook
of the father and husband from a heavy and
needless strain. It would also remove from men
and women generally great embarrassments be
cause one of the trying things of tho Christmas
season is the, selection of a gift of intrinsic value
for a friend; and if one of two friends happens
to be poor, while the other is rich, it is humiliat
ing to the former not to be able to give to his
friend a present that shall equal in cost the one
he receives. As a result in all too many cases,
men and women plunge themselves into debt In
order to keep up with the mad pace set by some
of their wealthy acquaintances.
"To be remembered" by one's friend is par
ticularly gratifying during the Christmas sea
son and the desired result 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 heretofore embarrassed themselves
by the distribution of expensive gifts to a few
of their friends, have made it possible to remem
ber 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 de
sired result well described by our Cleveland cor
respondent may be attained.
Nor is it necessary that the gifts to the chil
dren be expensive ones. It is well known by
those having experience in the child's world that
the little one upon whom costly gifts are lavished
does not derive from the occasion nearly so much
pleasure as the child who receives a few inex
pensive toys and perhaps along with them a
pair of gloves, a warm cap, or some other ar
ticle which, while serving as a "remembrance"
and providing for the child's pleasure, will at
the samo time provide substantially for tho child's
necessities.
Unquestionably "tho tlmo is rlpo for an agita
tion along this lino." Men and women every
whoro havo felt tho heavy burdens consequent
upon tho exchango of high priced gifts. It re
quires considerable courage for men and women
to break away from custom, but If tho pross will
agitato this very cssontlal roform, and if men
and women genorally will resolve to rcstoro the
Christmas celebration to Its real place, thero will
bo fowor debts Incurred through tho doraands of
the Christmas Beason while that season will lose
none of Its pleasures. Indeed, tho pleasures will
be greatly Increased because wiillo wo arc en
joying them, tho shadow of debts that must be
met will not bo hanging over tin. Our contem
plations of tho season will not bo continunlly
disturbed by thoughts of the sacrifices wo must
sooner or tutor make. Wo will not bo continually
thinking of tho day of judgment to which our
creditors will certainly summon us. There will
not bo running continually through our minds
the strains of that negro melody which serves
well as a warning to those who would thought
lessly Incur obligations: "What ye gwino to do
when the rent comes around? What ye gwino to
say, how yo gwino to pay, what ye gwlne to do.
when the rent comes around?"
There are many men and women who so em
barrass themselves In the purchase of gifts for
their friends that they are unable to discharge
their obligations to tho poor. If the customs of
the Christmas season were reformed as sug
gested by our Cleveland correspondent there need
bo no empty stockings and no bnrren Christmas
dinner tables In all this land. The expenditures
of the Christmas season could bo brought within
that reasonable sum that would avoid financial
embarrassment yet at tho same tlmo leaving an
ample margin for tho discharge of tho debt every
one of us owes to those of our fellows who
through sickness or other misfortune must de
pend upon outside assistance not only for their
Christmas cheer but for the actual necessities of
life.
As we understand It, then, our Glevoland
correspondent is not Justified In subscribing hlm
s'elf "Antf Santa Claus." In pleading for a more
sensible observance of this sacred season ho by
no means arrays himself againsc the champions
of "The Grand Old Man." Indeed, ho is "one of
us;" and we cheerfully join hands with him, not In
an effort to abolish Santa Claus, but in an effort to
celebrate the Christmas season in tho very spirit
to which tho fine old saint owes his existence.
The grand old man for whom wo speak is not a
walking delegate for the chattel mortgage shop.
It Is not his mission to increase the burdens of
the weary mother or to multiply the embarrass
ments of the father. He gives no encouragement
to the contest between friends in the effort to
see which can give the costliest present. He Is
not the sponsor for empty stockings or barren
larders. He is not the promoter of extravagance.
Pie Is the missionary of love, the representative
of a perfect democracy where every human being
having tho right to life, liberty and the pursuit
of happiness is entitled, equal with every other
human being, to the joys and pleasures of the
period which marks his .coming.
Here's, to Santa Clans again. May he witness
upon his next visit the establishment of essential
reforms In the celebration of the greatest of all
days. RICHARD L. METCALFE.
slowness in availing himself of an opportunity
to mingle with them officially. They can not un
derstand why he was not eager to at once don
the senatorial toga, and they propose to squelch
him indefinitely because he shows signs of a ten
dency to disregard sacred precedent and actual
ly try to render some service to the people. Then,
too, they have heard rumors to the effect that
LaFollette's intention is to "revolutionize the sen
ate." Senator LaFollette has made no such an
nouncement, but there are several millions of peo
ple who would rejoice mightily if ho did begin
and carry to a successful conclusion a revolution
in the senate.
But it is. not within the power of the senators
to "squelch LaFollette." They may, and doubt
1ms will try to snub him, and they may refuse to
fsten to h?m. But the people at large will listen
to what he has to say, and the people are with
LaFollette and not with the eminent representa
tives of special interests who make a pretense of
serving the people in the upper branch of con
sols Senator LaFollette may be depended up
SrHto act wisely and to adhere to precedents that
make for tho general good and not wholly to tho
gratification of the vanity of the millionaire mem
bers of tho "Great American Club." The specta
cle of senators "snubbing LaFollette" will be an
interesting one, and the would-be snubbers may
suddenly find that they are themselves enacting
the role of "snubbees."
JJJ
DISTINGUISHED COMPANY
If Mr. Roosevelt Is able to keep his profes
sions "on straight," In the light of the reasons
given by Secretary Shaw for his failure to pro
ceed against John R. Walsh, the Chicago banker
Messrs. Matthews and Baxter, the deposed
marshal and "district attorney at Omaha will soon
be able to beckon to the gentleman now holding
the treasury portfolio, while they sing in para
phrase of that fine old hymn:
Hark, from the tomb a doleful sound!
Mine ear, attend the cry!
Ye living man come view the ground
Where ye must shortly lie!
i few
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