GIVING AND RECEIVING

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17223, 14 December 1923, Page 14 (Supplement)

GIVING AND RECEIVING

THE FIRST CHRISTMAS PRESENTS. Research has revealed the fact that the earliest Christmas gifts were proffered nearly two thousand years ago, and were received probably with the utmost perplexity. They consisted principally .or gold and frankincense and. myrrh, and were laid at the feet of a tiny baby lying in a manger in a stable in Jtidaa*. the givers being three wise men—some say even kings--from the East —Melchoir, C aspar and Balthasar. The baby can have had nothing to •ay, and how its mother, who had been in a state of surprise for some months, and her husband, who also had not a few thoughts to carry, behaved, we shall never know. But those wore the first Christmas presents and for over nineteen hundred years the custom of giving them has been growing; but whether the art of giving them is any nearer perfection is a question . All children born since then on December ‘2o have felt it to be an injustice that their birthday and Christmas Day, by coinciding. should deprive •them of half their proper meed of presents ; but a witty and fanciful friend of mine makes the startling suggestion that in selecting this day to be born on Christ gives yet another proof of His unselfishness. As to what He thought as the grave strangers laid the offerings at His teet w e also are in ignorance ; but we know that later, at any rate. Ho gave some attention to the question of gifts, for did He not bewilder all children (especially at Christmas) and puzzle not a few of their elders bv enunciating that astonishing proposition that it is more bloused to give than to, receive ' CARELESS GIVERS. Even tho.-e, however, who require tune to take in the full significance of this saving will readily agree‘that giving is usually simpler—so much simpler indeed that there is almost no comparison between the two actions. Giving can be so easy as to be almost automatic, whereas receiving can make demands on every nerve. and most givers think too little -can to practice any of the facial* contortions ancl the tactful verbal insincerities which recipients of their generosity must be continually calling to their aid; whereas if the art of giving were rightly understood and practised. the only expression to be seen on the features of the receiver of presents should be one of surprise and joy mingled, and that phrase, which is almost as common at this time of vear as • to you** -"Oh. thank you *0 much: it’s exactly what. I wanted,” should ring with the bell-likc tones ancl c ibrations of genuineness. As it is—wholly, because giving is so simple; an affair ot ; a shop-assistant's advice—of the writing of a cheque—as it is. most elephants* are white. TV HERE HISTORY "IS SILENT. Profane as well as sacred history ♦ alls us more of the giviug of presents than of their reception. Tn fact, to enumerate the offerings of kiigi to king is one of the historian's simple pleaeifi 01 su Jaipia uonatiuoj 111 ou *[!U B SC ■.* \• q aw iu a semis made by the recipient who* appraising

I eye clucks oft the apes and the ivory j and the peacocks or the consultations i '»t the Ministers of as the couI sign meat of generosity is being made j up. Only one can see them in com- | mittee: •• Don't T ou think ” (the Chancellor ot the Exchequer is speaking) I ** two hundred milk-white steeds ex- : cess ire? Wouldn't one hundred do!'” "Or even fifty?” <{ Yes, or even I fitty. It isn't as it we were visiting a really first-class Power''—and so i. with the bars ot gold, the precious stones, the spices (such as the Queen ! ot Sheba carried to Solomon), all would have to he carefully measured according to the importance of the other monarch o r the need of his friendship. And then there is his side of the trausaction : Well I must sav I think thev might have been a little less mingy. Only five hundred bales of silk ! Not enough for more than half the ladies .of the Court; for you can’t expect , any two to wear the same colour. And only thirty palfreys I Distinctly on the mean side. ’ One roav have forgotten what Tlenrv the Eighth ggre l ian.cis the First at the Field of the ClotTi of Cold, but the odds are that not a little criticism resulted And I yet the odds also are that Francis, in excellent French said that it was exactly what he had been wanting. In those old days the first thought of the receiver of a present was to return it in kind : which has a certain crudity, and indeed imports an element of calculation into the act of giving at all. Ft was impossible for the visiting monarch not to speculate on what he was going to receive on his departure; and that is had. A small child intently preparing, under what she conceives to he conditions of oroi'onnd secrecy, a gift for another is o n< of the prettiest |ot sights. It would lose half its charm : at least if it were the rule that on , presenting it she was instantlv to be i handed ono for berselt. VNWELCOME GIFTS. Proverbial philosophy warns us not to look gift-horses in the mouth; but the lessons of the past point in the other direction. Troy would still be j standing had the advice of the old saw ! been disregarded. None the less, it j might do a world of good if one Christmas we all decided to tell the truth aud sav exactly what we thought of our presents. “ Thank you for nothing. I can see where you’ve erased your own name and put mine in.” “Surely T was worth ihan three-and-eleren ! J saw these at Marker’s last week and noted the price".” ” What’s the use of giving me a diary when you must know I never keep one?” I ” Good heavens, you don't really ex--1 P ert me to wear n tic of that colour !” | But in spite of the salutary effect I upon givers which might result, I doubt if we could go so far. The human lamily is held together so largely by compromise and lack of candour that' its total disintegration might follow : and do we want that