The Crime

This is the season of hope and good cheer, when green garlands are twined around the columns in the Coop and the girl from the Salvation Army rattles her tambourine in front of Hayes-Bickord's. The spirit of this, the joyous season, made an especially strong impression upon a friend of ours who recently received a message from the laundry, or, as he expressed it, "the place where they allegedly wash my clothes." As he opened the envelope two cards dropped out. One was decorated gaily with green holly, snow-capped countryside, and shiny red ribbon. It said:

"As angel songs of

'PEACE, GOOD WILL'

Re-echo from afar,

May Christmas paths

be bright for you

Beneath His guiding star."

The other card bore the simple greeting: "Your laundry bill for the months of October and November now amounts to $17.34. If payment is not made before December 15, no further service will be given."