"Shopping downtown yesterday – midst all the gay holly – the faery lighted castles at [Field's department store] ... the toy windows at Mandels – 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] – pictures of little children in Britain – homes bombed – helmets that could be knitted for the RAF – a noble purpose – 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."
