CHRISTMAS EVERY DAY
205
gnomes and wince when the rosy-cheeked angel above their heads
whispers "Pea<:e, peace." But they carry on while, despite their
summer clothing, sweat streams down their cheeks and necks and
soaks their shirts. Or rather: they have carried on so far.
For the moment money plays no part-almost the reverse.
People are beginning to whisper that Uncle Franz has adopted
business methods, too, which can hardly be described as those of a
"Christian businessman." He is determined not to allow any ma–
terial lessening of the family fortune, a resolution that both calms
and alarms us.
The unmasking of the
bon vivant
led to a regular mutiny, as
a result of which a compromise was reached: Uncle Franz agreed
to pay the expenses of a small theatrical troupe which would replace
him, Johannes, my brother-in-law Carl, and Lucie, and it was further
understood that one of the four would always take part in person
in the evening celebration in order to keep the children in check.
Up till now the prelate has not noticed this deception, which can
hardly be described as pious. Aside from my aunt and the children,
he is the only original figure still in the play.
An exact schedule has been worked out which, in the family
circle, is known as the operational program, and thanks to the pro–
vision that one of them is always present in person, the actors
to~
are allowed certain vacations. Meanwhile it was observed that the
latter were not averse to the celebration and were glad to earn some
additional money; thus it was possible to reduce their wages, since
fortunately there is no lack of unemployed actors. Carl tells me that
there is reason to hope that these "salaries" can be reduced still more,
especially as the actors are given a meal and it is well known that
art becomes cheaper when food is involved.
I have already briefly mentioned Lucie's unhappy history: now
she spends almost all her time in night spots and, on those days
when she is compelled to take part in the household celebration, she
is
beside herself. She wears corduroy britches, colored pullovers, runs
around in sandals and she has cut off her splendid hair in order to
wear unbecoming bangs and a coiffure that I only recently dis–
covered was once considered modern-it is known as a pony-tail. Al–
though I have so far been unable to observe any overt immorality on
her part, but only a kind of exaltation, which she herself describes as
