鈥淗appiness is not the result of what we have, but of who we are,鈥� the Daily Colonist said in its editorial on Dec. 25, 1914 鈥� 100 years ago tomorrow. 鈥淗appiness is something more than smug satisfaction and content; it is something more than joy.鈥�
The newspaper acknowledged the impact of the war in Europe 鈥� 鈥渁ll the world lies under its black shadow鈥� 鈥� but did its best to be positive.
鈥淚s it not true that we know, understand and appreciate each other better than we did a year ago? Are we not a better people than we were? Have not our hearts been filled with a greater kindness than ever before?鈥�
The war was already having a huge impact on Vancouver Island, and an announcement just before Christmas confirmed that it would be a long struggle.
Two new vessels, the Princess Irene and the Princess Margaret, had been built for Canadian Pacific steamship service and were to go into service in May 1915.
Both were still at the shipyard in Scotland when they were requisitioned by the British Admiralty, and they never made it to our coast. The Princess Irene blew up and sank at Sheerneess, Kent, in May 1915, with a loss of 352 lives. The Princess Margaret survived the war, but was retained by the admiralty.
At Christmas 1914, it was bleak in Belgium, as the Victoria Daily Times reported, because of its 鈥渂right fields irrigated with blood, with its old and storied cities shattered to mere fragments of stone, with its endless lanes of hopeless refugees, and with all its clean, thrifty industrial life blasted by the barbarian breath.鈥�
But it was still Christmas. 鈥淭he soldiers of the Allied armies drank a cheerful toast to the spirit of Christmas,鈥� the Times reported. 鈥淭housands of them from every walk of life have given up home and the comforts of home, have voluntarily shattered their civil careers and prospects of advancement, for the name and sake of their country.鈥�
A Christmas truce enabled opposing soldiers to celebrate the season together before resuming their military actions. Perhaps the soldiers shared presents sent from Victoria.
鈥淕ifts of cigars and cigarettes, tobacco, wine and those Christmas edibles peculiar to the British genus鈥� had made their way to the troops, the Times reported.
In Victoria, the Belgian Relief Fund was open at 742 Fort St., raising money for necessities such as wheat by selling donated holly and other items. Gladys King ran the United Service Tobacco Fund from a desk at the Belgian office. Children donated pennies to ensure that the men at the front would be able to smoke.
Christmas Day in Victoria was rainy, but hundreds of people attended religious services.
Few went without a warm meal. About 150 women gathered at the Young Women鈥檚 Christian Association, in the former Union Club premises at 912 Douglas St., for a festive dinner. At the Young Men鈥檚 Christian Association, 1203 Blanshard St., the men had a hearty breakfast, and about 60 members spent the evening listening to a discussion on the spirit of Christmas.
About 85 men dropped in for dinner at the Strangers鈥� Rest at 1423 Government St. About 70 men went to the Women鈥檚 Christian Temperance Union mission at 1415 Store St.
Other institutions providing special meals and events were the Connaught Seamen鈥檚 Institute, the Old Men鈥檚 Home, the Aged Ladies鈥� Home, the provincial jail on Wilkinson Road, the Protestant Orphanage and the children鈥檚 ward at Royal Jubilee Hospital.
The spirit of Christmas filled the air.
The Christmas 1914 Colonist editorial had thoughts as meaningful today as they were then:
鈥淎 joyous laugh will bring no sorrow to anyone. A smiling face today will not unfit us for the strenuous life of tomorrow.鈥�
