mos rook"

TNE ONARLOTTETOWN GUARDIAN

Morning Daily (Founded tn ll")

President: Lieut. Col. W. Chester S. McLIII Vice-President: J. R. Burnett, FJJ. Secretary: Lieut. Col. D. A. MlcKlnnon, 13.5.0. Editor and ill-stinging Director: J. B. Burnet FJJ. Associate Editors; Frank Walker and Inn A. urnott

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‘The Strongest Memory is Weaker than the Weakest Ink.”

By . $3 turda y

‘TUESDAY, DECEMBER. M, 1940.

C h rislmas, I940

n cljctiis, indeed, an anomaly that we should ll" (iIllY-tllllg, at this 1011C, I116 blYlhdi-ly Pf the lh lilti‘ of 15.1160. \Ct 50 1t 15: and thcrcfne cog‘ w, ,»,,,__....n,~ why we should celebrate it all (b0 nt-r» ihanktnllv because we are at war.

\\'ht:, jlfllllllflly, are we at war for, 111d will’ _(.‘,1_\\1ld we be thankful for being m I SIMC 9f

v. u. : . have avoided

1. p mtg {or the fact that we n win-l Nil-hill calls the “Xcbuchadncszzzir curse - t : cur-e of self-complacency and self-satis-

.~n. the curse “that sends us out to grass

. .\<".'." Zllltl that sccins to follow too Closely ,.., ypc ,.-,.-,.< of continuance of material power ;.,,,| liflix"? tint of tht- (lCllllllltl for sacrifice, for illdhtif CilllVIlYOlIF, conic-s the IPSPQll-‘e- out 0t

cialni tum, the fortitudc. Out of deliverance- \\l!<‘ii it ("i‘!lt‘5""lll(‘. grateful heart; the abundant tltiili. ‘.l:~ n peoples have lt‘.'ll”ll8(l too long to 11.1‘ nmit-i- providence of laws, when they have tliiltt‘ .’i\\'.i_v with yiiolcnt and external sources of suffering, “Yhlflig gVllS seem to arise out of their

,~,-.~_ .-\Yi1< (to quote Ruslcin again) “that vex lt-"s and inortif_v' more, that suck the blood tilt-t _Y ‘hwy do not slicd it, and ossify the heart thtnigh thcv do not torture it." Pirom tlicse evils we have been freed; and though the existence of war is in itsxlf a calamity of major importance, rpiritii:illy' we cannot ignore the fact that war [n _-, rig-heron; enncg has givcn us something which. in tiincs of peace, we. scented to lack. 1t was ofion suggested, indeed, that the present generaiion~~1he post-ivar generation as we _older pcrsons called it-was too soft, too effcmlnalh too P€.“~‘~lllllSllC and sceptical about religious mat- ters-—to make proper fighting material. The war ha< completely disproved this thcory_ The heroic deeds that are being written in the skies of England today, on the high seas, in Egypt and I,il\_\';i,~—?ire, deeds done, for the most part, by youths who were what we used to call “war babies"; averaging in ages between twenty and thirty years. These young men may have been embittered about our economic system before the war; many of them were facing the prospect of an tincmploycd lifetime. Today they are our first line of defense, and a nobler generation has never left its mark on the pages of history. They, 3nd our whole generation, have escaped the '.'Nebuchadnezzar curse”, the danger greater than that of sword or sedition ;—the danger that dependence on God may be forgotten bccauq“ the bread is given and the wafer is sure, that gratitude tonLlinpmay-cease because His con- stancy of protection has taken the semblance of s. natural law, “Above the river of man's 1ife," says Ruskin again, “there is s. wintry wind, thong-h a hcavenly sunshine." It is better for a nation, at times, to face that wind than to bask eternally in the sunshine.

William James, the American philosopher, once spent a wcck at the famous assembly grounds on the borders of Lake Chautauqua. That was in the heyday of Chautauqua, and he was amazed and delighted with what he saw. All the arts of peace had been developed. There was "universal kindness and cheapness, and equal- ity; the best fruits of what mankind has fought and hlcd and strivcn for tinder the name of civ- ilization for centuries." It was, in short, "a forctaste of what human society might be were it all in the light, with no suffering and no dark corners.”

Yet James found, at the end of a week, that he had had enough of it. He grew mightily weary of that "middle-class paradise, without a sin, without a. victim, without s blot, without a tear.” He found, on analyzing his emotions, that something vital to humanity was lacking. “It was," he says, "the element that gives the wicked outer world all its moral style, expressiveness and picturcsqucness——-the element of precipiti- ousncss so to call it, of strength and strenuous- ncss, intensity and danger." What excites and interests the looltcr-on at lifc, James found, was "the everlasting battle of the powers of light with those of darkness; with heroism reduced to its bare chance, yet ever and anon snatching vic- tory from the jaws of death." When there was no potentiality of death and suffering in sight snyuihcrc, when thcre was no point of the com- pass visiblc from which danger might possiblv appear, when the ideal was s0 completely vic- torious already that no sign of any previous battle remained, and lhc place was just "resting on its oars,” the effcct, morally, was one of stag- nation. "\\"hat our human emotions seem to re- quire is the sight of the struggle going 011;” and in this judgment Henry James is in accord with ell the great minds of antiquity.

Trt us be thankful, this Christmas cvc, that In a struggle not of our making, we have found that strength of spirit which has enabled us not rmlv to "carry on”. but to take the initiative and work towards a victory WlllCll will be final and

convplctr- for all “nicu of goodwill". Qur Christ- mas annivcisziiwi, spcnt in llic shadow of this awful u-zir. takes on a dccpcr meaning because of the nmrzil issucs involvcrl. No one can di-nl-i Vi»! hnglzinvl todav is Sllll'tll(‘l‘ than at aiiv tin-z ~.lnr/~ the ihrcit of the Spanish Armada ion ill lv-r grczit spirit to ilccils that yct rc- w-nuil l'| {Hit-P and ilivmc. (if (Yiiiada loo. and :t‘l the nsitioiw nwwizitcil in the British llmyiirc, iii" sriiiiv can l><~ said. (hie recalls the magnifi-

wclll’ IitiPllltlQ of the late Sir \Villi.-un \Vatsoii's Wilt“ on thc Cironatioii of King litlward VII:

_

“Bin. we have looked on many and mighty tihlnzs In these eight hundred summers of renown Since the Gold Drfldfln of the Wessex Kins! On Hastings field went down;

And slowly in the ambiance o! this crown Have many crowns been gathered, till, today, How msny peoples crown thee, who shall say? Time. and the ocean, and some fostering star, In high cabal have made us what we are."

This Christmas season we cannot avoid

thoughts of the Empire and of our own men overseas who are fighting the battle of Empire. The angelic message has a deeper meaning for us than in times of mace. We are actually fight- ing for the existence of everything that Chris‘.- mas and Christianity means. If we fail in ivhat we have set our hands to, there will be no op- portunity of celebrating tomorrow's festival in the years to come. The fact, therefore, that the past month has been the most encouraging from the British standpoint, is a legitimate reason for observing tomorrow's anniversary with grati- tude and joyousncss. T0 our readers, as on other similar occasions, we extend best wishes for "a merry Christmas". May those especially who have loved ones in the armed forces fccl the joy and pride that comes from realization of the issues involved in this war of Christianity against the worst eruption of paganism that has been manifested in our lllllC.

Observing Christmas

In modern times when the Christmas festival is so universally observed in free Christian countries, says the National Rczienuc Ifez/iczv, it is difficult t0 realize that at one time in the State of Massachusetts the observance of Christmas was a punishable offence. The rc- cord of the General Court of Massachusetts, dated May i1, r659, reads: “Whosoevcr shall be found observing any such day as Christmas 0r the like. . . shall pay for every offence five shillings as a fine. ." A deep rooted pre- judice toward any observance of this holiday existed among the colonists, who boasted open- ly that none of the holidays of England had survived the passage of the Atlantic. The law which forbade the keeping of Christmas was re- pealed in 1681. But it was not until 1789 that a holiday was ordered in Boston schools on Christ- mas Day. From then on, Christmas celebrations steadily increased.

Even in the early Christian church, Christmas was not observed until the beginning of the fourth century. The earliest Christmas sermon of which there is any record dates from this period. It was preached by Chrysostom in An- tioch, the heathen city where “the disciples were first called Christians.”

EDITORIAL NOTES

Christmas Eve. n- o n: w

Tomorrow the Day of days. a n- : n-

Now the storekeepers’ “task” ls done until another Christmas-tide. a: w u: n There will not be Western soldiers hcre from Debert after all. What went wrong with the works? e n n s The churches and other organizations have been doing yeomen service in the interest of the poor and needy. May there be no disappointed child tomorrow morning! I! F I W George VI is King, and Winston Churchill, his prophetic Prime Minister; both let their voices be heard by some 300,000,000 people at this critical time when the future of democratic Christianity is at stake. o- » a n:

Whatever may be said about contract work elsewhere, the Government contractors at the new airport here more than lived up to the let- ter of their bond, and deserve congratulations on the fine work they hay: accomplished.

n: 1-

and churches are on the last lap with Santa Claus. Make sure no child is overlooked and disappointed Christmas morning. The Guar- dian got exactly IOI personal direct appeals bv mail, all of which have been duly complied with.

1F i! i it‘

Necessity still being the mother of inventions, with the United States smoking pipe manufac- turers cut off from their usual Italian, Al- gerian and Balkan briar wood supplies, New York concerns have ordcrcd tests made with manzanita wood from the Lassen National For- est. Should the wood prove satisfactory, it is announced it will supplant briar-root.

I 1 F l‘

Hugh Miller, Scottish geologist, poet and journalist, died this date, 1856. Served appren- ticeship as stone mason, became bank accountant published his poems, i829; edited “The Wit- ness" in I839 in which paper appeared his fam- ous articles on “The Old Red Sandstone", later reprinted in book form; wrote his equally pop- ular “My Schools and Schoolmastcrs" showing his progress in self-education: “The three R's is the foundation of all education; if that be truly laid it must necessarily follow that the as- piring youth will find ways and means of further development."

a

l!!!

How the American plutocrats do get mixed up with European royalty. Princess Maria of Greece, a sister of the late King Constaintine and an aunt of King George II, has died in Athens of a heart attack at the age of 64. She was an aunt of Marina, Duchess of Kent. Prin- ccss Maria, who was born in Athens on Feb. 20, 1876, was married at Corfu in r900 to Georges Michailoviich, Grand Duke of Imperial Russia. Bolslicvists shot the Grand Duke in St. Pctcrsburg in 1919, but Princess Maria escaped to England. Three years later she was married to a rctircd Greek admiral, Pcrcilcs Joaunidcs, and lived with him in Rome for many years. One of hcr daughters. the. Princess Xenia. was mar- ried in iozr to William B. Leeds. _lr., son of the late, (‘lcveland tin-plate executive, but was divorccrl from him in r930. Mr. Lceds's moth- er was married in I920 to Prince Christopher, Princess lifarizfs brother. She died three years later. Prince Christopher died last January, ._

The Boy Scouts, Dispensary, Salvation Army Citizen

THE CHARL GUARDIAN

ll iiorrsiii TIIE WAY‘

At this crucial stage of the wsr when so much depends on ade-

plannlng cf the most SWQBPWE 1nd discerning sort. Pleoemeal effort. is ineffectual in an ell-out. war. ‘there is no ilustlflcatlon for Canada to seek sef-siurtdency ln war sup- pihfl n’ m‘ uitimeh vlguirlligwi‘ o y come oug in e en

combination. — Regina. leader-Post

___._._.

The miurtodn who, for his ovm private £111, etals lllegially “in money secun Les aga 11st, 1e laws that have been enacted to pm- teet our exchange ls not guilty oi’ an ordinary crime. Hi5 actions ocn- stltule sabotage of the national war effort Just. as truly as if he placed a bomb in a mum km plant He must be looked ‘on as an enemy of the things we fight for, and as such, should be put in a place where he can do n0 more damage to the nation. -- Windsor Star.

In s "total" war such s: we are now forced to conduct, mothers and children are in the front line, through actual bombing or through economic strain and pressure. In- evitably they: suffer. Our American friends are ind, generous, warm- heartnI. Their instinctive urge to relieve suffering does them credit. But war is what their own sol- dier, Sherman, said it was. and the best way to terminate suffer- lnE is to end the war as quickly as pzsslble. The British blockade is a sure way to defeat the enemy, and must be maintaincd for tllie sake of these who hope to live in Europe after the wai- in peace and i.n freedom. - London free Press.

_ Plans announced for the estab- lishment, cu January 1, next of a nattnal radio ncws service, operat- ed by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, appear to be ccmpre- henslve. This seiylce will be. prac- tically speaking, an amplification of the national news summaries and bulletins supplied at present by The Canadian Picss. It will be carried by all corporation stations and by such private stations as are needed to extend coverage thrcugliout the country. In addi- tion it will be available to all other private stations desiring lt.-—Brant- ford Expositor,

'As_wZth several Ontario muni- cipalitlis in financial difficulties during the depression, this Pro- vincial commission plan appeared 1-0 offer the best prospect. for Min- trcalks rehabilitation of its clvlc affairs. The clty is paying the price always consequent upon foolish ex- penditure. In this respcct Montreal iS not alone, though its civic ad- ministration appears to have been even mcre sllpshod than elsewhere. With so large a council and Pr-o viucial supervision, it ls hoped the activities or local ward-heelers will be checked. And if there be c0- operation betiwcen t-he commission and this truly representative coun- Cll. future legislation should be for the benefits cf the Canadaln metropolis. -_ Globe and Mall (To. ronto).

if’ the Iural of "goose" is "geese", why l5 he plural of “m0ose" not

"nieese7” That. is an old poser. And what about. "beaver"? The Bault Ste. Marie Star. the other day, headlin- ed an editorial "Algoma Beaver Are Getting Busy." Perhaps The Star has some authority for this. It. may be that it was re ying on the fact that the little broadtalled rod- ent is amphibious and so l; entitled to the same sort of plural s; Wish". But in that case why write "cows," "horses," “cats? etc. No wonder foreigners think the migilsj; she are a. peculiar languages. - Brantfoid Expositor.

Canada has several other 5g;- worthy destroyers, originally built for th¢ British Navy but taken over by the Canadian naval service. Some of the former United States destroyers have also been convert- ed into serviceable Canadian war- ships. but the need is greater than ever to set to wcrk on the construe. tlon of larger warships of the cruis- er class, to give Canadian lads a fighting chance against the lurking enemy underwater, the sudden at. tack from the all‘, and even more against German raiders with heav- 10f‘ g-uns. Canada has no warship at present with anything like the gun- Dowcr needed to engage one of Gennairs new raiders on the At- lantlc paths of commerce-Ottawa

Ab. welL. say the, end-of-every- tlllngfxlhool. what i5 the use of worrying? Everybody is going broke, anyway- We might. as well spend while we have the money. I; this school prevails we certainly shall e9 broke. and it will not be the r1011 who will stiffer chlcfly. It will be the great, middle class. the vast majority of Canadians, the four million men and wcmen who have Savings in lhe bank, the three and a half millions who have life ln- surancq holes. They will be the chief vic lms of this end-of-every- thing theory, for that theory, if it captures our gwernments, will surely mean the end of savings, of fixed incomes. of life insurance. Bill l9 new Mt be the end of every- thing if we keep our heads and élshwn our belts- - Vancouver

un.

The Tribune has hsd plenty of disagreements with the Honorahlel James G. Gardiner, Minister of’ Agriculture. Speaking as Minister of National War Services. Mr. Gardiner made s:me remarks re- cently which the Tribune is ha y to applaud. He said that a. fer, Britain and tier Allies have dc. feated Nazlism. peace-loving mm-racles would have to pol ce world-would have to retain a suf- ficient. force to call potential gang- sters to time. There is sound sense in this. Here is somet/nln which critics of the League cit? Nations and league enthusiasts. Imperial. lsts, lsolatlonlsts, realist; and ideai. fsts can readily agree upon. The experiment of a. toothless League has proved disastrous. more can be no world order unless there are the force and authority behind it to maintain that order. - Winnipeg 'I‘rIbune.

Ruthless slaughter of civilians and the destruction of ancfent land- lnflfks and rtcelesa historical bulld- ings undou tmdly have some mill- tnry value, but; it won't win the war. The war will be won only by acquiring military supremacy. It is quiue obvious that the blowing up of an on dump in Germany or ln Italy is more important than de- sfrzylnll the Pantheon. obliterating llhk Coliseum or upsetting the lean- ing Tower of Pisa. though there may be something to be sold for

8' I

quacy of supply, there is need for _

PUBLIC FORUM

Qlseelnnnlsolenlell‘.

not

sultan lens next!) alone the opinions: alcoh-

GRATITUDE AND FAITH

Sin-The spirit. of Christmas will reach even into war ravaged Eng- land, next Wednesday. when men throughout the Christian world will celebrate the greatest day in the year. Here in North America the people will hold reverential cere- monies in humble gratitude to God for their peace and freedom. In sharp dlsslmilitude to the gloomy blackouts of other continents, lights will glow on Christmas eve in a. blazing tribute to the glories of lib- erty in the New World, where, out of the mffhla?! tyranny of dictat- ors in the Old, there has sprung e. profound appreciation, heretofore unequalled, of the privileges its peo- ple enjoy.

Surely then, the amazing ’ .‘ bedng carried on for life itself by the English and the Greeks — the last remaining protectors and de- fenders of our way of life in half a. world defiled by totalitarianism- deserves our best Not only for one survival of their courageous peoples should we extend all we can so Britain and to Greece, but actually -1perhaps a seemingly selfish motive but a necessary one -to keep war‘: ghastly reality from these shores. When on Christmas Day, 1n our comfort and security, we pay trib- ute to the living memory of the birth of our Saviour we must all join in earliest prayer, with faith undlmmed, that Christmas, 1941, will find the two thousand- year- d song of the angel of the Lord, "....0n earth peace among men". forever fulfilled.

I am, Sir, etc.

.1. M. WHEATLEY

Montreal.

C AROL

on the Axis side; and while that possibility seems more remote now titan it did some time ago, the Brit.- ish domination of the

plates by an assault on the famous naval sage whtchhasbeer-ln Brit- ish hands for more than two cen-

WCSiETD tunes»

The Ox said to the Ass._said he. all

on a Christmas niizht:

"Do you hear the blue of the shen-

herds a-whlstllniz over the hill?

That ls the angels’ music thev play for their delight.

‘Glorv to God in the hlizhest. and peace upon earth. Rood-will’ . .

my masters. God

in And the poor labouring 0x was here v before you all."

The Ass said to the OX.

Mediterranean entrance will be more certain if the Royal Canadian Eri- glneers now engaged 1n tunnelling operations can place the garrison in a Position to withstand a siege of unprecedented proportions.

tunnelling rain into great; concrete catchments on the Rock, and these would be vulner-

ped from airplanes. The water- sborage tanks, magazines and other

said he.

. The water supply ls provided by 4 slopes of the » able to bombs and chemicals drop- ,

ARE EQUIPPED TO FILL ALL

all on a. Christmas dav come clinklruz out of the east?

ride from far away To Bethleh their lore increased . . . Nowell. noweli. mv masters. lleth low li’l stall the poor. foo fore you all." -Doroth.v L. Sayers.