Show kathleen N norris L 0 r r i s S says a y s do something about christmas bl bell syndicate features feature 42 1 51 I they hey arm or small children remember they love to dress up and make co lor for them sll all cowboy cowboy and policeman suits are r simple cooks and pirates simpler still hill girls odor dr hoop cop skirts ins and ballet ruffles a poke bonnet or a grownups grown ups shortened skirt by KATHLEEN NORRIS UR first peace christmas 0 OUR in a long time is rushing toward us and its time to do something about it ft do something to remind our discharged servicemen that we forgotten what they did for us get in touch with the nearest redcross or service club or government hospital and ask planned and needed build up a real christmas by having a few strangers at your table or taking part in canteen or hospital preparations there be a single bed among all our thousands of newly filled hospital beds that has not its heap of gaily wrapped packages beside it on christmas morning let us solve the christmas problem by an extended hospitality and by ingenuity in planning tor for the great family day this be an extravagant christmas save your money tor for the long pull of the year or two immediately ahead prices are high just now commodities are scarce and often inferior in quality small inexpensive presents and a plotted christmas program will be in far better taste and much mare more tun fun costumes for children if there are small children and heaven fleaven help the tha family where there are hotl remember how they love to dress up and make costumes tor for them all cowboy and policeman suits are simple cooks and pirates simpler still the girls adore hoop skirts and ballet ruffles but a poke bonnet a grownups grown ups shortened skirt and a shawl will keep any girl from 4 to 10 absorbed tor for delightful hours on christmas day small canvas traveling cases at a cost of about 50 cents apiece add greater glamour to any costume that andl indicates the tourist and to name the sitting room as italy and the playroom as china adds some zest pencil games for young and old are always good charades charales cha rades or a ten ien play home movies or the manu ac turing of a home record to send t to 0 someone far away are all delightful and dont cost as much as ne me modern toy one old man I 1 used to know would 0 o into our small town post office vry very day during the week before christmas to pay the postage on en mall packages held beld tor for postage hortage hor tige scores of these went on heir way because of his bis generous and he never was thanked ind never wanted to be one rich woman here went to the ild id peoples home a week before a few years ago found hat there were hi inmates and aid down her check for 1 I 1 vant every on one e of them to have a ittle money tor for gifts she said A kindly aunt of my acquaint ince sent a niece at boarding school ner ier usual present but a week before that she sent this same niece a b box containing five or six small wrapped gifts tor for the niece to give to her tri friends ends A day of freedom another gift that always has seemed to me a marvel of thoughtfulness and sweetness was the one 4 feasting playing laughter horn honn 10 lovs vo SHARE JOY WITH OTHERS this christmas should be the happiest for many years after the dark years of depression and the anguished years of war we have suddenly emerged victorious and prosperous while there is still much sorrow this is the best christmas for most people in a long long time in our gladness we should not lose sight of those less fortunate there are many whose sad days we could brighten a little those in hospitals and homes for the aged orphans and cripples most of all those for whom we can never do enough the wounded veterans of this and the other wars ivars I 1 possible we can invite some of these men to our homes at least we can go and visit them and perhaps give them small gifts my sister made to a friend of hers for many successive years it was the gift of a day margaret married before my sister did and presently had a b baby a by on the saturday before christmas my sister was at her house at nine and margaret was off itte a swallow tor for a day in tm town h 1 shopping lunch with a friend c calls a lis dinner with her husband downtown and a leisurely return were margarets tor for that one day next year there was another baby and the year after that my sister brought her own and presently her own two and always it was margarets miracle day the day of complete freedom from anxiety and responsibility as a present from rom teresa to put that sort of imagination and tenderness into the holiday that reminds us all of the infinite love of god for or man is to achieve several all important things one is that the january bills will not be a nightmare another is that unpleasant discoveries as to the poor quality of toys and frocks will be avoided and the most important of a all 11 will be that traditions of home tun fun home service feasting playing laughter home love will be built into the hearts of everyone who comes within reach of that warmth and some of the sadness and change of these strange days will be turned into sweetness and light |