"Shopping downtown yesterday 鈥� midst all the gay holly 鈥� the faery lighted castles at [Field's department store] ... the toy windows at Mandels 鈥� all the streets lighted up... Bing Crosby singing 'Adeste fideles' on The Voice of State Street.... a phonograph in Woolworth's playing 'Happy Birthday, Dear Jesus.' Everything holiday and gay.... Then on Michigan Blvd., I passed suddenly the [British shipping company] Cunard window. An exhibit for the [British War Relief] 鈥� pictures of little children in Britain 鈥� homes bombed 鈥� helmets that could be knitted for the RAF 鈥� a noble purpose 鈥� but it's making war in our hearts. The little German children are bombed and hungry, too.... And all the sudden, in an emotional intensity, I thought, 'This may be the last Christmas we shall have.' I should be wise and know the world will never end."
