in its origin, and meaningless if there is a grain of selfishness in it, was thus likely to become a sort of Clearing-house of all obligations and assume a commercial aspect that took the heart out of it—­like the enormous receptions for paying social debts which take the place of the old-fashioned hospitality.  Everybody knew, meantime, that the spirit of good-will, the grace of universal sympathy, was really growing in the world, and that it was only our awkwardness that, by striving to cram it all for a year into twenty-four hours, made it seem a little farcical.  And everybody knows that when goodness becomes fashionable, goodness is likely to suffer a little.  A virtue overdone falls on t’other side.  And a holiday that takes on such proportions that the Express companies and the Post-office cannot handle it is in danger of a collapse.  In consideration of these things, and because, as has been pointed out year after year, Christmas is becoming a burden, the load of which is looked forward to with apprehension—­and back on with nervous prostration—­fear has been expressed that the dearest of all holidays in Christian lands would have to go again under a sort of Puritan protest, or into a retreat for rest and purification.  We are enabled to announce for the encouragement of the single-minded in this best of all days, at the close of a year which it is best not to characterize, that those who stand upon the social watch-towers in Europe and America begin to see a light—­or, it would be better to say, to perceive a spirit—­in society which is likely to change many things, and; among others, to work a return of Christian simplicity.  As might be expected in these days, the spirit is exhibited in the sex which is first at the wedding and last in the hospital ward.  And as might have been expected, also, this spirit is shown by the young woman of the period, in whose hands are the issues of the future.  If she preserve her present mind long enough, Christmas will become a day that will satisfy every human being, for the purpose of the young woman will pervade it.  The tendency of the young woman generally to simplicity, of the American young woman to a certain restraint (at least when abroad), to a deference to her elders, and to tradition, has been noted.  The present phenomenon is quite beyond this, and more radical.  It is, one may venture to say, an attempt to conform the inner being to the outward simplicity.  If one could suspect the young woman of taking up any line not original, it might be guessed that the present fashion (which is bewildering the most worldly men with a new and irresistible fascination) was set by the self-revelations of Marie Bashkirtseff.  Very likely, however, it was a new spirit in the world, of which Marie was the first publishing example.  Its note is self-analysis, searching, unsparing, leaving no room for the deception of self or of the world.  Its leading feature is extreme candor.  It is not enough to tell the truth (that has been told before);