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THE 1 UiHAMiK I*KPORTER.
FRIDAY MORNING. DEC. 11, 1914
THE CHRISTMAS STAR
By JEAN DOUGLAS.
HR twilight of
Christmas o v e
crept slowly over
the city, disguis'
Ing the harsh out
lines of the house
tops with a soft
gray blanket.
The spirit of
Yuletlde filled the air, and slneo you
could not help breathing It, the Joyous
song of "Peace and good-will" Hooded
the Inner being ns well.
In the dormer window of an attic
chamber overlooking the city stood a
little child. She was thin and pule,
but even these ravugers of beauty
could not rob her features of their
loveliness, Great blue eyes and gold
en curls enhanced the falry-Hke deli
cacy of her face, and though ill clad
she possessed the hearing of a prin
cess. Now and aguln she left her
post at the window and, opening the
door, listened as If expecting to hour
familiar footsteps ascending the
stairs.
Whon It was almost dark and lights
began to appear hero and thnro ovor
the housetops, like wIll-o’-tho-wlspH In
a marshy bog, she drew a chair bo-
noath the hook driven In the closet
door from which an exceedingly
shabby coat and weather-beat on hat
■were suspended. Tly this moans she
was able to reach the garments and
Was soon attired for the street. Run
ning hack to the window she scanned
tho city and the heavens. Just above
the horizon gleamed a single star of
wondrous brilliancy, and tho child, en
raptured by Its beauty, forgot that
she Intended to go out and remained
motionless watching the resplendent
glory of heaven’s Jewel. The room
was flooded with a soft shimmering
light, and the child gave a sob of Joy
as she suddenly realised that the star
moved. As far as she could see the
same silvery radiance flooded the aky.
The great soul within that tiny body
■nng with happiness and she softly
whispered: "It Is the star of Bethle
hem. I must follow it, Ilka the three
wise men!”
She hastened from the room and
down the flights of steps to the street.
The star moved on and on, unfalter
ingly, and the tiny figure trembled In
every limb as It followed the won
drous light.
Beyond the boundary of the city,
over frozen roads and frost-whitened
Holds, tho tireless lottle feet. 111 pro
tected by their worn shoes, hastened
after the star.
At last she camo to a tiny house
nestled among a group of flr treeB.
From the windows came paths of yel
low light, whoso warmth and chearl-
ness drew hor on to the door.
She did not pause to knock, but
lifted the latch and entered. The
room was scantily furnished, but a
glowing log Are bathed the homely
surroundings with a glorified beauty.
Seated In front of the flreplaoe was
a woman who bent lovingly over an
Infant. Grouped about hor were three
children, while the father of this hap
py family stood somewhat baok of tho
mother hanging a branch of ever
green above the inantol.
As the little stranger entered and
hesitated, tho children rushed forwurd
to greet hor.
"Como In, child," said the mother.
The tired little girl moved eagerly
forward. ‘Have I found the king?”
she asked.
"The king?” questioned the proud
mother. “Yes, we think baby Is a
king.” And she placed the soft, pink
face of the infant close to that of the
Child, who reverently kissed Its
cheek.
"I have brought him a gift," she
whispered, shyly, offering a little bead
purse. The mother stooped and Im
printed a warm kins on the lips of
the tiny gift bearer.
“Ho will love It, and would thank
you If he could. See, ho reaches for
It now.” The chubby Angers, at
tracted by the brightly colored beads,
tried their best to grasp the purse.
"You have given him his first
Christmas* gift,” said the father.
"Draw near the Are—you are cold—
while I get a bowl of bread and milk.”
The child removed her hat and
coat, seated herself on the hearth
stool and was soon enjoying the
simple tare.
"How did you And us?” the woman
asked.
"I followed the star," Bhe replied.
Chance for Burbank.
"Here’s something for Burbank to
try his hand on,” said a man to his
neighbor.
"What’s that?*’
"Training a Christmas tree to
sprout its own presents."
Giving of Presents.
It was the custom among Romans
to exchange gifts at their winter fes
tival, and this custom may have de
scended to us from antiquity. But
Christians like to feel that it was be
cause the wise men brought gifts to
the Infant Jesus, and because of the
gift of God to the world. Gifts to the
poor seem from the earliest Bible times
to have been an expression of a thank.
ful heart
TRUE SPUOTOF DAY
Christmas Giving Should Be
Prompted by the Heart.
Pilgrims Entering Bethlehem on Christmas Day |, TO OUR PATRO
armkisjfa
r
Religion In the Orthodox Sense Not
Necessary to Appreciate Finer
Qualities of Great Christian
Holiday.
By PRUDENCE 8TANDI8H.
NCR more the Chrlstmastide
and Its beautiful meaning Is
with tho world. Again the
shepherds, watching their
flocks by night, are sore
afraid at the glory which shines about
them. Clothed In blinding light, the
angel speaks; the heavenly host that
crowds suddenly about him sing of
glory In the highest and pe&ca and
good will. The wise men who have
seen his star in tho Hast, kneel and
spread their gifts of gold and myrrh
and frankincense without question.
The miracle of 2,000 years ago Is
still new and glad and lovely, for,
lo! In all Christendom bells peal and
sweet choirs sing the message given
by the blinding angel and the crowd
ing host:
"For behold I bring you tidings of
great Joy which shall be to all people.
Glory to God In tho highest, and on
eurth peace, good will toward men.”
This la the message of the Christ-
niastlde, yet the bigger half of Chris
tendom makes tho period the pagan
festival It once was nt the time of
the winter solstice. We give gifts,
for sake of the godB of custom and
merriment, forgetting entirely that
they are for sake of the great spiritual
Joy "which shall be to all peopla”
The gold and myrrh and frankincense
of the heart are withheld—we give
gifts because we’ve got to, and keep
our hearts aa much closed to the
Christmas child as was the inn. We
have our own selflsh ends to gain, the
rich patron to cater to, the friend to
appease. We heap little children with
dazzling toys, and light the starry
lamps of their flr trees because It Is
the fashion, and we do our small
Christmas charities because It would
seem mean not to do them.
We have forgotten the Joyous and
sublime meaning of Christmas. One
does not need to be religious In the
orthodox sense to appreciate the finer
quality of this groat festival, for what
Is known as Christian feeling has
como to bo a moral obligation at this
time—a point of etiquette, In truth,
for the heart and mind.
In point of mere etiquette—what
the social world thinks on the sub
ject of Christmas gift giving—It Is
thought bad taste for a person of mod
eat .means to give presents of value
to others of wealth and influence, for
thlB savors too much like currying to
continued favor If the giver is already
under obligations. But some knowl
edge of the helpful friend’s existence
Is necessary, and this may take the
form of a pretty Christmas card with
an appropriate greeting; or a knot of
flowers or winter berries may be sent
with a note expressing warm Christ
mas wishes.
That the servant who has given her
bodily strength and heart’s best Inter
est to the home must not bo forgot
ten, goes without saying; but It la
certainly bad form to make the poor
servitor’s gift an Inexpensive trifle
when something better can be afford
ed.
Then what a woeful want of taste
It shows for us to defer buying a
frlond’s or alBter’s present until we
have found out what she means to
give us. and so make the exchange a
quid pro quo. The gift that goes to
friend or relative Is abovo all one for
love, and it is undoubtedly better
taste for the recipient of the simpler
gift in the exchange to appear as
pleased as If she had received some
thing ton times Its vnlue.
But, then, what matters the nature
of the gift after all? Tho spirit ts
the thtng^-and does not this silly pic
ture or cushion, so unbecoming to the
parlor, mean that the friend or sister
has thought of us?
As for the little children, so much
are their feelings painfully strained
at this time that I would like to write
a book on the subject. I beg every
mother not to threaten the poor little
heart that misbehaves sometimes with
the eternal word that "Santa Claus
won’t come If you do that any more.”
The dear kiddie who forgets to be
good knows better after a year or two
of this harrowing threat, which makes
you out a story teller. Meanwhile,
there la the little heart staying awake
at night with its dreadful anxieties;
there are the sudden storms of bitter
tears, with all the glory of Christmas
sunk in the bottomless pit of absolute
sureness that Santy—dear, abused,
good old fat gentleman—won’t come.
We remember the poor and drop a
few pennies gladly for the blind chil
dren.
But, why do we do it—why? It Is
because a wide, sweet star has stopped
over a stable In the far East, because
the church choirs are singing of
peace on earth and good will toward
men.
So let us never lose sight of that
fact with our gifts, whether our hands
tender or receive them; for the heart
closed to the deeper significance of
Christmas may truly be likened to
the Inn that held no room. Let us
send with each gift some of the
heart’s true gold and frankincense—
bind !t with the cord of some memory
of Bethlehem. Let us receive each
and every one of oar gffts as tidings
of great Joy.
SEE OUR LINE OF
BEFORE BUYING XMAS PRESENTS
LaGrange Hardware Co.
“High Jinks” a Enlightened Policy
Real "Girl Show”i of Southern Belle
Main St. Phone 155
^S^OCRAVtD CREETINC CARDS
c>5<5»- (f/hri.stmaA/ <§
These Cards are now in very general use
polite c ircles and of course are greatly iobe^
preferred over (he time worn,parish styles of
fhe past.
, VOe are now displaying an, unusually attract we
J line,also a stylish display of
MONOGRAM STATIONERY'
Zw OP2a,inA or Gift *»OAej
. The LaGrange Reporter %
- H ARQ0IIRT & CO.
Atlanta, Dec. 3—Habitues of the
“baldheaded row" are looking for
ward to the coming of the first real
“girl show” in several weeks, when
“High Jinks" reaches the Atlanta
Theater on December 7 for four
performances. Some man about
town who came down from New York
recently brought the news that there
arc more pretty girls in “High Jinks”
than one can see at a world’s boauty
congress, to say nothing of fun and
music.
Atlanta has not had so many “road
shows” as usual this year, but they
are nil above the average, so the
theater-goers are well satisfied. Some
of the most important plays of the
Now York season are billed for The
Atlanta in the near future.
“JUICY STEAKS WILL KEEP YOU
OUT OF HEAVEN,” SAYS
LEARNED PROFESSOR.
Atlanta, Dec. 3.—The newest diet
theory to be sprung on Atlanta comes
from Prof. H. G. Schenck, who says
eating meat is bad for the morals.
“Juicy steaks are good for tha
palate, but too much of them will
keep you out of heaven, “says the pro-
Atlanta, Dec. 3.—The motto “The
Public Be Pleased” is being given
more attention every day by the pub
lic service corporations, and a good
example of this is found this week in
a return post card sent to subscrib
ers by the Southern Bell Telephone
Company.
The card gives a few instructions
for getting best results from a tele
phone, and then asks a few questions.
The company wunts to know whether
your operator answers promptly and
courteously, whether your telephone
is conveniently located so you can
answer quickly, whether you are of
ten called by mistake, and if you re
port your troubles promptly and get
.them rectified. The return postal is
all ready to take this information
back to headquarters, and if there’s
any complaint it will be adjusted as
rapidly as possible.
fessor.
The scientist explains that only the
meat eating animals are slayers of
other animals, and that meat so stirs
the blood and furnishes so much sur
plus energy that it likely to be work
ed off in devilment Therefore the
high price of meat is likely to prove
a blessing in disguise.
Atlanta, Birmingham & Atlantic
Rail Road
The standard of excellence in service
SCHEDULE EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 28, 1914. FROM LA
GRANGE, GA.
No. 25, for Birmingham, daily 11:31 A.M.
No. 71, for Roanoke, Daily Except Sundays 7:40 P.M.
INo. 74, for Manchester, daily Except Sundays 10:05 A.M.
No. 26, for Manchester and Atlanta, daily 2:24 P.M.
For passenger rates and further information see
W. W. CROXTON, E. B. SECKINGKR,
General Passenger Agent, Agent,
Atlanta, Georgia. LaGrange, Ga.
i
Machine Shop and Foundry tWork
GENERAL REPAIR SHOP FOR ALL CLASSES OF MACHINERY
WE BUY SCRAP IRON AND BRASS.
ALL WORK GUARANTEED.
LaGrange Foundry and Machine Co.
Morgan Street
The Telephone
and Good Roads
The telephone goes hand in hand with good
roads.
The telephone overcomes many of the obsta
cles of bad roads and makes it possible for the
farmer and other rural residents to transact busi
ness in the city and with neighbors when the
roads are impassable.
Progressive farmers are insisting upon good
roads and telephones. These two agencies of
modern civilization are doing more than all others
toward eliminating the isolation of country life.
You can have a telephone in your home at very
small cost. Send a postal for our free booklet
giving complete information.
FARMERS’ LINE DEPARTMENT
SOUTHERN BELL TELEPHONE
AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY
12 SOUTH PRYER STREET, ATLANTA. GEORGIA.
Tax Notice
I will be at the following’ places on the dates and hoars named
below, for the purpose of collecting state and county taxes for Mm
year 1914.
Pyne, Wednesday, Dec. 2nd, 12 m. to 2 p. m.
Abbottsford, Thursday, Dec. 3rd, 12 m. to 1:30 p. m.
Gabbettville, Friday, Dec. 4th, 12 m. to 3 p. m.
Mountville, Friday, Dec. 11th 7:30 a. m. to 11:00 a. m.
Big Springs, Friday, Dec. 11 12 m. to 2:30 p. m.
Stovall, Friday, Dec. 11th, 2:30 p. m. to 5 p. m.
Chipley, Wednesday, Dec. 16th, 10:00 a. m. to 3:00 p. m.
Hogansville, two days, Mondays, Dec. 7-14, 7 a. m. to 3:00 p. m.
West Point, two days, Thursdays, Dec. 10-17, 9:00 a. m. to 3 p. m.
Will have some one in LaGrange every day.
To the voters: Examine your tax receipts and see if your poll tax is
paid.
Books close December 21st.
C. E. Poythress,
Tax Collector, Troup County, Ga.
t
(
Atlanta & West Point
Railroad Company
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE OF TRAINS AT
GRANGE, GA. EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 20 1914
SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND TY
POGRAPHICAL ERRORS.
LA-
Eastbonnd.
Leave.
No. 42 For Atlanta 5:35 A. M.
No. 88 For Atlanta ......9:45 A. M.
No. 40 For Atlaata ....11:50 A. M.
No. 84 For Atlanta ....4:25 P. M.
No. 86 For Atlanta 9;24 p. jj.
Lean
Westbound.
No. 85 For Montgomery . .8:30 A.
No. 33 For Montgomery 11:60 A.
No. 89 For Montgomery . .4:25 P.
No. 37 For Montgomery 7:18 P.
No. 41 For West Point ..8:25 P.
All trains daily. Trains Nos ir Dn j T ■— —
tween Washington and New OrlentT.: a 6 haVe tflrou gh coaches
New Orleans. Parior cars dLin^ between New York
mery and Montgomery and New OrleaimT between Atlanta and Mon
Trains Nos. 37 and 38 (New York „„
Pullman train between New Yo>k and ° rleana Limiked ) S
Trains Nos. 39 and 40 carrv wJ^,!! Oceans,
tween Washington ’and San Francis co^ily!^ caw