2 B THE CHARLOTTE NEWS, CHARLOTTE, N. C, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1921 CHRISTMAS IN EUROPEBETTER Children of War-Ravaged Countries Better Fed and Play Again. By DR. A. C. DURXHAM (Written for the United Press.) Paris (By Mail). Christmas this j ear will he the brightest that these countries have seen in many a Ions j-ear. Everywhere, except in Russia, condi tions are better than last year, par ticularly among the children. Mass starvation has largely disappeared, in fant health has steadily improved, and the elder children are healthier and bet ter nourished than at any time since the end of the. war. Many millions of dollars for the re lief of child-suffering have been poured into European countries during the past three years, by the American Red Cross, by the American Relief Adminis tration, and by scores of smaller or ganizations. They have had their ef fect. An American Christmas will be celebrated this year at 500 Red Cross child-health stations in a dozen European countries, but the relief work has reached its f.nal stage, exceiit in Russia and the middle of the comin? year has been fixed for the- withdrawal of the last medical and relief units of the American organization. AVhile there are still many children suffering from malnutrition and under nutrition in Central Europe, it may be said that there is practically no stava tion in the same sense as has been re 1 ortcd in Russia 'Among the' refugees who still crowd many localities, there ore still corside abie groups oc hild ren whose families have no means of support, and who) are therefore de pendent on charity. But these groups, seaking comparatively are not large. STEADY IMPROVEMENT Excluding these groups of refugees, and again' always excluding Russia, the general trend during the last three years has been cne of steady and grad ual improvement. The impressions of a trained health worker among the children even of stricken Austria or l'oland, where conditions were origin ally the worst, is that today the child ren are beginning to approach the status of children in other countires.. From 60 to 75 per cent are underde veloped, but this codition is improv ing and will gradually reach a figure comparable with that in more favored countries. Central Europe as a whole is not yet self-supporting. Most of the na tional budgets still contain large items for the purchase of food imports and thero is comparatively little food ex port anywhere in Europe at the pres ent time. But food supplies are more plentiful and reserve stocks are larger. The chief difficulty today is an eco nomic one. In the Central European countires, food prices have in many cases risen, not two or three times as in America, but 300 to 600 times, and while incomes lave increased, they have nowhere kept pace with the cost of living. It can be fairly said, that outside of Russia, there is no wide spread starvation, at present. General health conditions throughout Central Europe also provide food fori WOMRN HRFIATTY optimism. - With the exception of the j "VittfliV U AVjjjI. X xj X (Contliiiipf! T"rojii Pagro One. 5,000,000 excess males in Ameria more ordinary infectious diseases such as scarlet 'fever and diphtheria, which are nnirfiimix f 1"! TVill l ll 1 f I'll 1 IHllC thfVC iS ,.,!,.,k. i,ttin ir,ffr-timi Hispnsp. 1 than four and one-half millions are be Cholera has not crossed the Russian tween the ages of twenty and sixty, as border, except in a few isolated cases, an offset against the 13.000.000 excess Tvnhna occurred widely m oiana, wuih ai igfi m jnuivp?. Slovakia and the Balkans during the post-war period. It will be endemic in these countries for some years to come, but at the present time it is brought uncer ccntrol. y Tubercu-c-jis incresed enormoi sly during the war period. In children it is seen cheifiy in the form of bone and biand tuberculosis- There are no outstanding epi demics of smallpcx, typhoid or recur rent fever this winter,. The most serious disease, particular ly among childr n. is anemia, duo to long-continued malnutrition, but the number of children suffering from se vere grades of this disease is dfcras in . But it is a cheerful Christmas mes sage to say, as one can say truthfully, that Central - Europe is approaching normalcy as far as child-health is con- erned. Nature, we are told, will right the balance in time, but this, even if true, (Joes not help to solve the present prob lem! And it is worth while asking, is it true? Inu the countries examined it is only in the excess of females in the popula in the eveess of females in the popula tion was due to natural increase. MY MISTAKE (Continued from Vase One.) true feelings, but I must admit to you that I have more than an ordinary affection for you, and more than a sim ple feeling of friendship. Here, in the country, far away form men and their villainy I dare at last reveal something which, I hope, will not bring a smile to your lips. I love you! "But," he continued emphatically, "do not consider my love for you as an of- sole ambition is to make you my wife." I would be telling a lie if I did not pinarwfl with criminal assault on an admit that I had foreseen this confes- 11-vear-old negro girl, Lavan Harden, sion. However, I offered, in reply some negro, was arrested and lodged in the ! unintelligible words, in which he seemed city jail Saturday morning at o'clocK ; "J see me snaaow ot a retusai. He ap- bv Officers Earnhardt ana iuames. w uuueniy uisappoimea .MihmiPh theattack occurred some NEGRO IS CHARGED WITH CAPITAL CRIME m Greetings m 111 TO YOU Ips :fl i AND YOURS j jB J. N. McCausland & Co. ! I "IN THE BUSINESS 37 YEARS" I . jj 221 South Try on St. Phone .314 j Among our assets we like to count the only one that money cannot buy your good will. And so, at this Holiday Season we extend to you, not as a cus; tomer alone, but as friends a thousand good wishes for a i Happy Christmas Day Th eMnnerriirniiiireto. 305 East Trade St. Low operating cost CHAS E. LAMBETH MOTOR CO. 8-10 West First Street t rharint is: r Associate Dealers W. H. WHAT, Gastonia, N. C. PLONK and NEAL, Kings Mountain. N. C. UNION MOTOR CO. Monroe, N. C. M. H. IIOYLE, Lincolnton, N. C. CLEVELAND MOTOR CO., Shelby, N. C. CONCORD MOTOR CO.! loncorci, i. v. Dodbe Brothers MOTOR CARS . i . - - i nights ago, it had not been reported to police headquarters until early Sat urday morning. Soon after receipt .of the report, however, officers succeeded in apprehending Harden and bringing him to jail "Perhaps," he said in an altered voice, "you think me too old?" I made a gesture of protestation. "Think it over," he said. "Up till now I had managed to contain myself. I am able to wait a little longer. But, I beg you, in all conscience, to weight up the The assault was committed on Kail- pros and cons and consider this, that in road avenue last Saturday nignt, accord-, exchange for your beauty and your ing to relatives oi me neym b" "llu reported the crime to the police. The girl was attacked shortly after dark in the neighborhood of her home and was eft in such a condition that she is still critically ill. Harden will probably get a hearing at the Monday morning session of the police court. His crime marks one of the few such cases that 'have been youth which are great, I grant you I bring you a position of comfort and the deep affection of a love-smitten hearty which might all seem very little to you. I prefer you not to reply at once. I have no wish to influence you, and I shall be extremely sorry if you decided rashly. Do not let us talk any more about it today, my dear little friend. I do not want to spoil this glorious even ing of dying July. Let ua enjoy life and PROPOSAL OF MARRIAGE eoorted implicating a negro girl, ac cording to the police. Since his brutal sing with the bgirds of the forest city and had in no way concerned him self about the critical condition of the girl. Officers experienced little difficulty in finding him within a few hours after the report had been turned in and a warrant for his arrest made out. CAPITAL MEN (Continued from Page One.) but he is not likely at any time soon to lfr ncluded in the circle of glofing intimates of the Chief Executive. El mer himself tells the reason why. When he moved to Tacoma, he took up the royal and ancient game, but the more he attempted to improve his style, his stance and his swing, the worse he got. One day he was par ticularly exasperated, and naturally the caddy was looking at him with su?h a look as only a caddy can give. "Son," said Elmer, "did you ever in all your experience see a worse golfer than I am?" "No, sir," replied the lad promptly, "but Johnny Brown tells me he cad died for one yesterday." "What in the world was the man's name?" asked Elmer, a gleam of hope in his eye. "I'm not sure, sir," said the boy, "but I think it was Dover." Steven Hunter Love, of Salt Lake City, prominent in the beet sugar in dustry of Utah and a member of Mr. Hoover's food administration during the war, was in Washington the past week for the' sugar hearings before the finance committee of the Senate. Mr. Love has a great gift for story telling and is particularly fond of Swedish stories, his imitation of the Scandinavian-dialect being well-nigh perfect. It seems that recently a picturesque old Swede employed in one of the sugar mills thought to himself that he would not mind having a little drink or two after a particularly hard day's work. So he hied himself to a boot legger of his acquaintance. "You got any that squirrel whiskey, Yohn? ' he asked. ' "No, I haven't Sven," replied the liquor merchant, "but I can give you a little Old Crow. How 'bout that?" Sven thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Nay-da," he said, "ay, don't want to fly, ay yust want a hop a little." And without any anxiety a sto my thoughts, he began to sing one of his favorite ballads. On leaving me perhaps he thought his hopes were slight; he went away a little contrite and did not even turn away his head, as was his custom when I left. From the day the pseudo Guillet risked his first confession, he did not utter a word or allude in any way to the subject of a possible marriage be tween us. It was only in the month of December, 1917. on the anniversary of my birthday, that he began to urge this particular question more strong ly. On that occasion he asked permis sion to give me a present. I had scarcely time to reply before he pulled a small case from his pocket. This he opened carefully, and I saw at con tained a very pretty watch and a St. Andrew's cross. When I told him that he had no right to offer me such a present, he replied without hesita tion: "These jewels were left me by my mother, and I should be extremely grateful if you would accept them, for, with my mother, you are the person in the world I have loved most." As he had told me several times that, in his memory, his mother was a sort of idol, I found it very difficult to refuse. He thought this a propi tious moment to hint: "Besides, .at home, I have many more jewels which belonged to my mother, and which shall be yours-"on the happy day you become my Avife." Then he began a most passionate speech. He pictured to me the attrac tion of a vtry comfortable position, giving me to believe that he would pay me the most assidious and fervent attention, and became so persuasive that my first resolve was shaken. It was then that I let him understand that I was not a very gcd match for him, and that 1 was in a position to bring a dowry to my husband. He began to smile, and replied: "My dear little friend, it is you alone that I want, and nothing else. I have enough money for us both, and have sufficient energy to provide myself for ,our immediate needs without any ne cessity for you to work." He then spoke to me of numerous great schemes which were to give im petus to his business and which would benefit him considerably financially. But all that was vagde, indefinite, and he did not enter into details. Never theless, I must confess I willingly let my imagination play with the idea of marriage. MAKING MY MOTHER'S ACQUAINT. ANTE. I was the victim of the apprehen sions of a time when the war gave young girls small hopes for the future. I did not discourage him then, but I asked for a few days' time to enable me to see my first fiance's father, to whom I wished to announce the break ing off of my engagement with his son. He agreed, and said that that would not prevent him coming to my home to ask my mother's official per mission, and it was then that we de cided that this visit should take place in the beginning -of January. About 2 o'clock in the afternoon of January 4. 1918, the pseudo Guillet called at our , house. Some minutes be fore, the messenger of one of the big Parisian florists had handed in a mag nificent basket of white roses. At once h put us all at ease by his good humor and the cheerful turn he gave his most unimportant remark. He confirmed to my mother the details he had already given me of his fam- r .I.J ily, and estimated navmg sumeuiuig like 50.000 francs in ready money and material. "In this total," he said, "I am not including what the State will hand over to me, I hope, some day, to in demnify me for the loss I have sus tained in Rocroi." My mother then questioned him on his Paris connections.- "I scarcely know any one there," he replied. "I live entirely alone, and. since I left Rocroi my dearest friends" are scattered and lost sight of. Be sides." he confessed. "I am of rather a primitive disposition and reticent nature. I prefer to live apart from men. I have got to know society to my cost." As he spoke in the bitter tone of a man wno has suffered cruel deceptions in life, my mother Avas moved to pity and her sympathy for him grew. He toltr us several amusing anec dotes and little spicy tittle-tattles of gossip, and, not wishing to OA'erstay his welcome, but to rest content Avith the excellent impression he felt he had ! created, he got up and took his de parture most courteously, and prom ised to come back again within a week's time. After he left I asked my mother what .-he thought of him. She replied that Guillet seemed to her to have the best intentions, and that all in, on first impressions, he seemed to be a good match for me. Ma- mother, however, put me on my guard against the mistakes of first im-J pressions. and was of the opinion tnat it would be better to Avail, before judg ing him, until he had paid his court for a little longer time. MARRIAGE FIXED FOR EASTER. A Aveek later Landru returned. That day mother thought it better to giA'e him some information regarding o;r family, and as he showed the most ar dent wish to become engaged i0 she announced at once that ho .,'ft-' suitable match. Then Landru rose "P. kiss "I "- . l uci ri nnssio! give ma the engagement ring . r 1 same time, from a pretty 'litt Va'? oearing me name or Detouol cas--. , . I . . T ...... 1 . - luun uui a, iuvtij line, srt , mohds, and gently takin? inv'V i placed the ring on my fingrr. We spoke of the date" of tV rlage. He spoke of his anxHv'u, the ceremony in the near future 'L proposed Raster avcoU. declarim- v v much truth that my brothers, then'11 tho army, would be able to be n.n m then. 1 -n'- "Will you have your AvitncsppT- r asked him. ' ' 1 He thought for a moment an.i , plied the Mayor of Rocroi, who Jac," an intimate friend of his. won;, j pleased to do him that service' it added that he would bear t lie rx'L. J of the ceremony himself, :inl that mother need not Avorry on tli3t''nnil',' T7i;.- i, ; i ., , i "in,. rt,-iirvtr nic, iiv ftriiti, What 1 doing is for the best, and I want an-rhiiir to mm- tho i, . imiipiijos of this marriasre. and I hnno n-,.,. r Miir. j m day, for my young fiancee. Avin h tiJ daAA-n of eA-erlasting happiness." s The following Wednesday wo vp, all seated with him round' thr. f;,nij,,1 table. My grandfather was with n and I could already see from his '5tll;V ing face hoAv much he annreniatiu Guillet's impulsive conversation, how sensible he Avas to the ninny a'r tentions his neighbor at table l;iv'iilf,j on him. That evening Guillet was aon-'!-ingly full of animation and rnCUA Without ever departing from tha: gnn.j taste which my presence demand l bubbled over with jokes ami s-jiii did a iittl? conjuring, interspersing v,.:" patter Avith the most amupins )'Un To Be Continued Next tinrtay. - GTttraimas i Here's wishing you hap piness on the glorious Christmas Day. And the same goes for many more to come. Arcade Pharmacy Inc. PHONE 777 324 South Tryon St. - MATHESON IPM. Hdw. & Paint Co. VJ U fvV THE GOOD SERVICE STOKE . yM E God has blessed our nation. Let us thank Him on the birth day of His Son. CO TO CHURCH TODAY A Merry Christmas May Happiness and Countless Gifts bo yours on this festive occasion. SEVEN DAYS (Continued From Page On. third story window and landed on his feet, unhurt, in time to be sent to a hospital for observation. But a truce to levity. This, my mas ters, is a serious Avorld. Gotham is in the clutches of reform. No less an au thority on social welfare than Alderman Peter J. McGuiness introduced at a board! meeting a new city ordinance, Avhich, if passed he believes Avill do a lot toward snuffing out sin. The ordin ance provides that no hotel or restaurant or public resort in the City of New York, "in which people meet for refresh ment or entertainment, shall allow any female to smoke in any such place." Take that. And again a truce to levity. William Mohrman himself arises to repeat that this is a serious Avorld. Mohrman has an income of $200 a month, $4,000 in savings, and an apartment house. He liA'es in a shack on his house lot and, Avhen summoned to court the other day, he arrived in an army suit of khaki and: campaign hat. Most of his Avealth, Avrap ped in a bit of newspaper, Avas secured by nine safety pins. Asked concerning his living expenses, Mohrman said they were "about a dollar a month." Living in New York on 25 cents a week is more than an - accomplishment. It's a miracle. To George Berry we are indebted for a parting holiday sentiment these zero days. Berry was charged? Avith threaten ing to kill a park commissioner. Officials told Berry they Avere sending him to an observation Avard. "Go as far as you like," said Berry cheerfully, "the world is full of nuts." BERLIN BANKS (Continued from Page One.) as a bank of the middling type until its Board of Directors quite recently had the luck idea of cooptating a small rrivate banker, Goldshmied by name. The said Goldshmied has in the couise or a few years developed into one of the first men of finance in Germany. He is a man of ideas, and his brain continually produces plans for indus trial combinations of every order. Among the banks of Germany, the Berlin banks play a special part. By the network of branches extending ail over 'The country, they .have managed to get hold of nearly the entire busi ness of the State. A lively exchange of effects takes place between them and. the German trade. It is very interesting to compare the conditions of banking in Germany with the entirely different conditions obtaining in the United States. At the present moment, these banks dance merrily on the paper waves of infla tion. They are- literally flooded by money. The- eight principal Berlin banks now have . a capital of about three and a half milliards marks, 80 milliards of strange money being da posited with them. They swim on the waves of inflation. The price of the American dollar 240 marks is a trood life belt. Christmas Greetings Wishing our friends and those whom we wisli to make our friends A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR God blesses all nations that worship Christ. Today we celebrate the birthday of Christ. GO TO CHURCH TODAY Galling Dry Goods Co. 39 East Trade St. Phone 515 Ready-to-Wear Department operated by the Wise Ready-to-Wear Company. C. W. WISE, Manager. (Second Floor)

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