The Courier News from Blytheville, Arkansas • Page 3

DECEMBER 17, 1958 BLYTHEVlLLB (ARK.) COUH1KR NEWS PAGE THREB Christmas Behind the Iron Curtain: Misery By RICHARD io'RKGAN VIENNA It looks like this going to be the most miserable Christmas yet for 70 million Bust Europeans living behind the Iron Curtain. No Simla Claus. no Christmas trees, few presents, nothing special to cut. Almost evevywhcre In Eastern Europe, Christmas used to be the great Christian festival of the year. Now the Communists are doing their best to wipe it out.

In fact, families who nuke a the traditional festivities will run the risk of trouble with the Reds. There will be no LWlem for millions of In choosing toys that will suit junior best. First of nil, the exchange ol gifts Is frowned upon. Second, the Communists ndmll that what toys there are are likely to fall apart. There may be community par- tics for the kids, but they will be on New Year's cay instead of Christmas.

And a typical party game they will pluy In Poland is called "How well do you know the six-year plan?" Christmas trees, with red iilnrs Instead of angels on top of them, have new mimes. They are called "winter trees," or "trees of the republic," or Year's trees." Santa Clnus ai.cr all his equiva- lents have disappeared. Now it's "CirimdfnthM Frost." who comes by special express train from Moscow. Kids think of "Grandfather" in Russia, instead of Santa til the North Pole. Chechoslovakia's President An- louln tfapotocky summed up the new altitude on Christmas behind the Iron Curtain: "The story of (he bliih of the Christ child Is only an exploiters' myth Times have changed.

The little Jesus has grown np ami now Is Grandfather Frost, He no Ioniser is in tatters and naked, but well dressed in a fur hat and coat." In Poland. lluiiKary, Romania and Bulgaria, Communist leaders have made Identical statements, Wlmt they mean 1,1 that throufhout all East Roman religious Big- niflcance of the holiday ts being suppressed and a drive is under way to eliminate it entirely. The aim is to substitute New Year's Day as a celebration of the economic planning year. DREIFUS Kf BBW Of tOUSt Greatest SAVES so CREDIT BOJJMJ Onyx Diamond Initial Kins: WEEKLY FOR HER! 10 Diamond Set EASY TERMS Fiery Diamond Onyx Ring SI .00 WEEKLY Baby Set with Toy CHARGE IT! 2 00 Ladies 17-Jeivcl Watch 1.00 WEEKLY Mans Watrfi II $1 QO WEEKLY 50-Picce Service for Eight $1.00 WEEKLY Dnrmeyer Mixer 4 Grinder $1.00 WEEKLY $1.00 WEEKLY up Compleicly Automatic Percolator Sl.OO WEEKLY Ronson Ligliters $1.00 WEEKLY Speidel Photo Idcnt. WEEKLY 95 WEEKLY Baby Cups CHARGE III Exquisite Manicure Sets WEEKLY Federal tax on some Items only.

Diamond illustrations enlarged to show detail. Pay as as I DOWH I A WEEK Samsonlte I I Sl.OO WEEKLY DREIFUS Meel Dreifus Diamnnds 31G WEST MAIN ST. NIGHTS UNTIL CHRISTMAS.