The Chemawa American
Printed at Chemawa, Oregon, and Devoted to the interests of Indian Education
Vol. XXIX
Wednesday, Dec. 21, 1
3
MAY
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THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
Before our readers receive another issue of The
American Christmas will have come and gone and will
have added to the innumerable pleasant memories of
1927. Christmas is in a sense a personal matter; that
is, it may mean much or little according to the attitude
of the individual. It should not be looked upon as a
day of lavish giving—or as a day for receiving things
of material value. To hold to such an idea of Christ
mas is to miss the real joy of the occasion.
Christmas stands, and will stand as long as Chris
tianity shall endure, as the birth of Jesus Christ, who is
accepted throughout the land as the Great Redeemer.
It should be a day of rejoicing—rejoicing in the knowl
edge of a Savior, of the grace that has come to man
kind through the birth in a manger 1927 years ago of
the Son of God; it is a time for prayerful joy that one
should be alive to the meaning of “Peace on Earth,
Good Will to Men.” And, by the way, is it not true
that if we hold to the tenet of “Good Will to Men”
we shall have “Peace on Earth?” Let our Christmas
be what it really stands for.
The tendency is to make a sort of international ‘ ‘pot
latch” of Christmas. Giving and receiving marks the
day—it has become the custom, and a poor custom it
is. Nearly all of us love to give, we are in the main
generous, kind, and sympathetic, and there are few of
us who are not aware that it is truly “more blessed to
give than to receive. ’ ’ In this work-a-day world there
are many poor people who are really tortured by the
hideous nightmare that obesses them—that they must
give presents to certain of their friends when they can
not afford to do so; that they must give to uphold a
certain false sense of respectability or social cast, when
in truth they are hard put to provide the necessities
of life for themselves and their families.
It is easy for the affluent to give with prodigal hands,
but does such giving bring any “joy to the world?”
We doubt it, for the true spirit of the occasion is
lacking. To give material necessities to the poor,
the sick, the harrassed of mind, brings joy both to
those who receive and those who give—the spirit is
there. Such acts represent the giving or dispensing
of joy and in them there is nothing contrary to Chris
tianity at its best. Christ was not a wasteful giver,
nor did He in a single act ever indicate that He would
sanction such an observance of Christmas as has
grown fast to many of us.
We are not trying in the least degree to write a re
buke to our friends, far from it, but we are hopeful
that we may reach a few and cause them to give heed
to the true “Spirit of Christmas.” What carries
more joy than the spontaneous and hearty “Merry
Christmas” when that joyful morn arrives? A good
wish, spoken or sent or a card, a little holly or mistle
toe, carries as great a joy to warm and appreciative
hearts as jewels that sparkle and throw forth cold
rays. Under all circumstances, may you be happy.
The American wishes you “A Merry Christmas and
A Happy New Year.”
FROM THE FAR NORTH
Young people seldom realize what the future has in
store for them. In our dear old Chemawa we have
students from all over the land, some from well
up toward the Arctic ocean, and to some of these
we are going to devote a little space. It is always a
pleasure to us to find that our students are fulfilling
our hopes and it should prove an inspiration to all
enrolled at Chemawa.
The Board of Education of Alaska (government
sei vice) issues a monthly bulletin which is of more
than ordinary interest and which really proves that
something worth while is being done in behalf of the
native population of Alaska. In the November Bul
letin just at hand we are delighted to find mention of
Chemawa students known to all of us and we are
making the following reprint:
Dolly Flynn was the name of the little Alaskan girl
who, when five years ago, was brought out of the
Iliamna lake region and placed in the Chemawa In
dian School at Salem, Oregon. She remained there
until two years ago when, at the age of eighteen, at
the request of her father, she was returned to Alaska
on the “Boxer.” It was her first experience in her
home land after so long a time, and there was some
question as to what reaction she might make on an
environment wholly strange to her. Dolly was re
cently married to William Regan, a U. S. Commis
sioner, and is living at Goose Bay, about twenty-five
miles from the head of Iliamna Lake. She has made
her re-adjustments, apparently is happy in her new
home and is intelligently and sweetly doing the
greatest work her hands find to do—that of a home
maker. The results so far are justification for all
the Government has spent on her.
Norton Sound has been well represented at Chemawa
for a number of years. At the present time this
section of Alaska is well represented at this fine
school. Emily Ivanoff, John Dexter and Chas. Fager
ström returned there this fall on the last boat out
from Nome, after a summer vacation with their folks
at home. It was Miss Ivanoff’s first visit after many
(Continued on page 4)