davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-12-21
SOME CURIOUS BELIEFS.
Little Things Which Have Been Practiced
for Many Years.

The ancients having fully satisfied
themselves as to the different planets
that affected the individuality of infants,
it was an easy and natural step to es-
tablish basis whereby they could fore
tell in general terms what manner of
person the child would grow up into,
basing their forecasts on the relative
position of planets and stars at the time
of or Immediately preceding birth
There was no mere guess work about
these matters. The ancients saw that
Saturn, by reason of its extreme cold,
and Mars, owing to great dryness, were
very malignant; that Jupiter and Venus,
being temperate, were very favorable in
their influences, and the sun more so.
Mercury, being of an indifferent nature,
had more varying influences. The in
fluences of the moon were still more
diversified. When at it's full it promised
good fortune, but when it was horned
the ancients looked upon it as so malig
nant that a child born at such time
had very little hope of living. So con-
WINGED were they on this point that they
were apt to regard care bestowed on an
infant born while the moon was horned
as so much time and trouble wasted. 1t
is needless to add that practical adop-
ton of this theory greatly increased the
mortality of the unfortunate little crea-
lures and served to still further con-
vince the theorists of the malignant in
f1uences of horned moon.
Various peculiar customs arose out of
this belief. Something had to be done
to propitiate the evil genius who pre-
sided over the moon when horned, and
turning some article of clothing was the
Precipitation at one time favored. A
relic of this custom survived at the time
"Unheard of Curiosities" was written
(165O), when 'good-intentioned folk
thought to avert i'll from those unhappy
infants born as. the time by turning over
money in their pockets" 1t may be
added that even now, in many parts of
the world, young people turn their
money!" if they have any, on the first
appearance of a new moon. There are
many other local customs relating to the
moon which may be said to have had
their origin in astrological superstitions
Pittsburgh Dispatch.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-12-21

great iron safe-all right there. too
Money, bank bills, gold, securities, bonds
he gloated over them and petted them
with fond appreciation.
The door-bell rang and startled him
terribly; once, twice, then ting-a-lino
in rapid succession. 1t must be his man
of business He locked up his safe, cast
careful eye around the room and went
downstairs. Undoing the latch but not
the burglar chain he peered out into the
night. Nobody there. He looked down
and saw something that in the lamplight
looked like a miserable child.
"What do you want, elf" he asked,
angrily.
"Somethin' to eat, please. I'm most
starved"
Nonsense! How dare you come arou nd
here disturbin' folks at this hour of the
night?"
me mothers very sick an me little
sister has broken back"
81 don't believe it. What does your
father do?"
'Please, sir, he drinks"
Sand you expect me to help you, do
you? Well, Pm poor man myself, and
don't drink, an won't help any man
that does"
Hes blind and begs for pennies in
the saloons, an the nice gentlemen like
yourself gives him drinks to make him
sing"
Every time he tried to close the door
the elf, as he had called her, thrust a
miserable, ragged arm in and prevented
him.
''I'll ring for the police" he s<ssa, AZ
agely, "if you don't go away" i
"Oh, please, sir, give me lite some
thin to keep US from starvin'Ta bit Of
bread that's fit to eat, or dine to buy
loaf; the shops whore live are open,
sir, yit."
Late passers-by heard the curious dia-
logue and loitered. Silas Marks jerked
the door open and laid rough hand on
the child. She cringed at his touch.
''Oh, amt goin' to hurt you, We beg
gar's brat. Come inside and let me see
what's in that basket. Ill give ye
neither nickel or dime, but if there's a
crust left l may throw you that"
The~child stood inside the hall, and by
the flaring light of the candle seemed to
be about nine years old-a wan, childish
little creature, dressed In rags; her long,
thin legs encased in torn, black stock
ings, and a miserable apology for a
shawl thrown over her head; her
straight, black hair hung in ragged
locks over her white face and that
looked almost CHASTITY in its setting of
black shawl border.
"lf that bread amt no good don't
want it. All our food is n. G. You kin
keep it."
"Well, baggage, do you expect mince
pie and plum pudding?" asked Mr..
Marks, in high sarcasm.
ooh, sir, wouldn't that be bu-fne!
Wese folks don't never get nothin' like
that-we don't"
can you won't git it here, and if you
won't take loaf of bread that's good
enough for me you kin get out at once"
He opened the door cautiously, but she
made no attempt to move. Instead of
going out she dropped her wretched
baske on the floor and drew her tattered
shawl closer about her.
"You won't give me nuthin'? You, a
rich gentleman, offer me loaf of stale
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-12-21
Why the Holidays Are a Burden and a
Wear to Mind and Body.


Wear to Mind and Body.
When what was designed to be a
pleasure becomes burden, it is time to
stop ard examine it carefully, and see if
it is the thing itself which has grown to
be sIch weight, or whether it is SIM
ply an awkward manner of carrying it.
Certainly there must be something
wrong in any celebration of Christmas
which results in serious fatigue of mind
and body. During the first three
months of the year nothing is more com
monty given as a reason for ill-health
than an overstrain during the holidays
''She got so worn out at Christmas" or
'She worked too hard in finishing her
Christmas presents" or "The week be-
fore Christmas she was tired out with
shopping" are excuses which appear as
surely as January and February come.
The question must occur sometime to
every one, whether all this worry and
wear of heart and hand and brain are
really worth while. Is there not
some better way of celebrating this
day of days than for women to wear
themselves out in making or buying
pretty trifes for people who already
have more than they can find room for?
Setting aside all effort of eyes and fin
gers, the mental strain is intense. 1t is
a remarkable fact that, although Christ
mas has been kept on the 25th day of
.sseember for more than one thousand
years, its arrival seems as unexpected
as if it had been appointed by the
President. No one is ready for it, al
though last year every one resolved to
be so, and about the middle of December
there begins rush and hurry which is
really more wearing than May moving.
Above all things, if you give presents,
be more anxious to give something
which supplies want than to send
some pretty trifie which can only prove
! in the end an additional care. There
are numberless things which can be
procured, without wear and tear of
mind and body which make the recipient
feel as David did of the water from the
we'll of Bethlehem, that what costs SO
much was too valuable to be accepted
| Century.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-12-21

''Then tomorrow morning early wife,
Before the neighbors are stirring about,
Send the basket over the way with John.
Twill be heavy you say. Well, John is
stout.
Let him take a bag of potatoes along,
And 'grist' Of four-it's the staff of nfe."
That night the widow read the Psalm
1.-THE Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not
want"
And then she bowed her aged head,
While Faith took wings for an upward
mount
AS she prayed-"Give me my daily bread;
Oh, Lord, Thou knowest how poor am"
Next morn she was busy laying her plan
For little feast of her own that day;
A slice of toast and a cup of tea,
When step was heard in the passage-way
Aud CHEEKY voice saying: "It's only me;
The folks have sent you something down
To make you dinner, Widow Gray;
And best of all there's nothing to pay.
This ten-dollar bill-don't stare so hard
Squire said you could use it, he knew you
could;
Ard this isn't all, for out in the yard
There's taters and turnips and -four and
wood"
Then the widow lSnelt and mee1ly said:
Lord, have more than my daily bread"
And John, as he turned to go away
Saw her pale lips move and heard her say:
4It's just like him-God bless the man!''
That night the Squire sat in his chair
Reading a chapter before he prayed,
While an unseen One stood with book and
pen
And wrote, while smile on his visage
played:
-''BleSsed is he who loveth his fellow-men,
And sendeth an answer along with his
prayer"
j. Alpha Mullin.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-12-21

bread. There is whole family starving
in the row where l came from. What
have you to give to them?"
Silas Marks was frightened; he looked
into the face of the uncanny child and
his dry lips formed one word:
"Nuthin'."
"Your Master, yes, Mr.. Rich Man,
your Master said: The poor ye have al
ways with ye.' And He said: Feed my
lambs Have you done it?"
The voice seemed to have risen into
the air above his head. Every note was
as clear and distinct as a bell.
''Shrouds have no pockets" continued
his strange guest. when you go-and
it won't be long, Silas Marks, it won't
be long-you will have to leave all your
houses and lands and gold. And when
you go to the judgment they won't ask
for your rent-roll, but there1l be ques-
tions hard to answer. Can you ansYss
when the King shall say:
Twas a-hungered and ye gave me meat;
Twas thirsty and We gave me drink;
Twas stranger and We took me in"
NeI IlSuO OuG, Oc1l JOu! SurlekeO
Silas, but he did not lay the weight Of
his lean finger on the beggar child.
''How will you meet that dear mother
who fed the hungry and clothed the
naked, and that other-I see her now
your poor, unhappy wife?"
Silas Marks turned in such morte]
fright that the candle fell from his
trembling hand and went out on the
floor.
"You have time to repent" came the
voice, and it sounded supernatural in
the dark. "Come down to the narrow
river streets tomorrow and find the
people who have no food and no fire
the little children with not enough tc
eat and shivering in their wretched
homes-the sick and deformed and
wretched, whom God gives to you and
such as you for an offering, in the name
of Him who was once homeless child,
1t is only what you give that you can
take with you beyond this life"
The door closed and all was silent
Trembling in every limb, Silas Marks
hurried to relight the candle. Yes, she
had been there. The miserable, rickety
basket with crust of bread and sod
den potato in it was left behind.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-12-21
PULOUE AND MESCAL.
One is Comparatively Harmless. But the
Other Stronger Than Whisky.

One Is Comparatively Harmless, But the
Other Stronger Than Whisky.
Pulque is usually described in this
country as an Intoxicating beverage,
sometimes qualified by putting mildly"
before Intoxicating" Upon analysis it
will be found to contain very small
quantity of alcohol as compared with it's
other components, gluten and water.
Drunkenness is by no means common in
Mexico, but l have seen among the
lower classes, men who were said to be
inebriated upon pulque. How much
they drank, or what they took with it,
or how good was the pulque they drank,
would be important inquiries before the
fact was fully established as to the cause
of their inebriation. How one person
could possibly hold enough to intoxicate
him, could never understand. l have
heard of people being dazed by too copi-
GUS draughts of vichy. Possibly the
same result might be obtained from
pulque. Yet one would hardly call vichy
even q mildly intoxicating beverage.
The maguey produces two very fiery
intoXicants. Mescal is distilled from the
leaf juices, is colorless, and in taste is
not unlike Holland gin. From the Total
maguey, growing in the district of
Tequila, in the State of Jalisco, liquor
called tequila is distilled. 1t possesses
some of the properties of Scotch whisky.
Either mescal or tequila would admira-
bly, meet the requirements of the Indian
of our Northern plains who wanted a
liquor that would make drunk come
quick" and the intoxication produced
nv these two liuuidS iS of the oh n 20 Tor
suited to the Northern Indian tempera-
ment But there is no reason why pulque
should he made to share the reputation
of these other productions of the maguey.
-Erake's Magazine
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-12-21
Silver threads among the gold
Since the early Christmas days.

Silver threads among the gold
Since the early Christmas days.
He sat and counted the blessings over
That had come to him from the Fathers
hand;
He measured his bursting cribs of corn,
His wellflled barns and fruitful land,
And the heart in his breast grew soft and
warm
AS he thought of the helpless poor.
He thought of the widow across the way,
And said to himself: 81 have goods to spare,
The Lord has been very kind to me,
I'll tighten little her load of care;
If I'm alive tomorrow I'll see
That she has happy Christmas Day"
Then he called to his wife, in the other room
She was busy baking tarts and pies,
While turkey lay stuffed on table near,
And he said: Let US give Widow Gray a
surprise;
1t will make our dinner taste better, my dear,
Tomorrow afternoon.
Gill basket full of something good,
Christmas comes but once year;
Send what you think she will like the best;
Here's ten-dollar bill her heart to cheer;
Send pair of chickens among the rest,
And John can leave her a load of wood.
E'What we send to her we shall never miss,
For gift to the poor is a loan to the Lord,
And He's powerful prompt in paying back;
We have our security here in His word,
In the keeping Of which He is never slack
So guess we can take His promise for this
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-12-21

IT LOOKS LIKE THIS" SAID UNCLE sILAS.
paper. "See! This is one, signed and
ready to be indorsed."
"Why, Uncle Marks, that is my namew
cried Bessie.
eyes, and you must indorse it right
here, and I'll go with you to IDENTIFY
you"
"But what am to do with it?"
"Whatever you want to, miss. Here
you've badgered my life out for money
for your poor folks on Christmas trees,
an now you want to know what you've
to do with it. If that amt jest like a
woman"
"But, uncle"
eyes, l know. I'm a mean old cur
mudgeon, skinflint, a miser, but I've
got heart somewhere, and guess I've
found it. Don't ask me any more,
child"
Bessie's eyes dropped, a flush came
into her cheeks. She rose from the
sofa and put two loving arms about her
gruff old uncle's neck.
"You are dear" she said, as she
kissed his rugged cheek, land you shall
just see for yourself the happiness you
have made"
"There, there, child, get on your
things, and we'll go and get the cash.
feel as if somehow 1 want to spend the
whole day in the open air."
And wicked, wicked, designing Bes-
sic gave him another hug before she
went to get ready, singing under her
breath:
"What 1 saved l spent
What 1 spent lost,
What gave had"
n d..
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-12-21
The next day Bessie Van Pelt was laid

The next day Bessie Van Pelt was laid
up on the sofa in the library at home
suffering from slight cold when Uncle
Silas walked in.
Show bright an cherfyl you do look, "
he said, warming his numbed hands over
the light coal fire.
"What's to hinder?" laughed Bessie.
"Why shouldn't we be warm and cozy
and comfortable?"
She was reading a new book and turned
the leaves with lazy satisfaction.
"Well, that's so, s'pose; but then
observation-disclosures folks that don't
seem to have the wherewithal," drawled
Uncle Silas.
"Oh, there are lots of good people in
the world who at this time of year re-
member the poor. Let me see. Where
was reading Oh, yes! He gave
her check for fifty dollars, and told her
to buy load of coal, barrel of flour, a
quarter of beef and some bedding for the
poor family in the alley. Uncle Silas,
what does fifty-dollar check look like?
never saw one"
at looks like this" said Uncle Silas,
taking out strip of lavender-colored
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-12-21
A QUEER VISITOR.
Bessie Succeeds in Getting a Check
Out of Her Uncle.

N CT E SILAS
MARKS was eat
ing dinner with
his faverite sis
ter, Mrs. Mar
shall Van Pelt,
and her family.
AS it was nearing
the h old a US,
they had an I'M
commonly good
dinner, ana Wnon
t h Q Id m a n
pushed his chair
back from the
table and Winad
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-12-21

SHE Ia bride)-"George, darling, our
first Christmas is almost here. Will
YOU tell me what you are going to give
me?" He twice a widower)-"Well,
dear, 1 hadn't thought much about it.
How would pair of rare old steel-blue,
foil-back diamonds suit you?" Dearest
George, how can ever repay such devo-
tion?"-Jeweler's Weekly.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-12-21

WHEN you sit down to dinner on
Christmas thank the good Father that
He has helped you to make some other
family happy.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-12-21
AN ANSWER WITH HIS PRAYER.

he Squire sat in his
gown Of gray
Close to t h Q
hearth, while q
rudy glow
From the blazing
logs filed the
quaint old room,
And his thoughts
went back to the
long ago,
To many a winter
afternoon
When the snow on
the hill-tops lay.
Visions Of child
hoods pleasant
ways
Came floating in
from the dreamy
past
AS he sat and
unused on the
days Of old.
He was young no
more, for time
had cast
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-12-21
CHRISTMAS WORRY.

Mrs. L. NJ. Rayne, in Detroit Free
Press
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-12-21

bread. There is whole family starving
in the row where l came from. What
have you to give to them?"
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-10-23
Wheeling InstaIment Co.

To live and l., live we ere determined
Add "a live comfortably We haze put
withiu your reach everything necessary 10
make hons comfortable But that IL
not all. - We offer You credit advantages
chat you Cannot procure elsewhere (tl2 90
worth Of goods for 500 down and
30 cents per Nesk, or 81 90 per month -
or S2210 worth of goods tor $500 cesh,
snd s., On per week, or "a 90 per month
$500 Remember, yen csn pay ~ 70 suits
Weekly Semi-Monthly, OF Month
ly) and cur goods al Strictly CASH Prices
Then why derry yourself OF anything
in house furnishing goods oi any descrip-
lion when we offer yGu such liberal termeY
Why 30 without Furniluio-- Carpets
- Oii-Cloths Stoves Heaters tcr
coal or gas-Comforts Blankets Red,
White or Grey) and Bedding Of all kind.
-- Lanps Clocks - P.otuTes ---
Decorated OF PLAN China. Tes and Toilet
Slts, &C. &c, or any other article yOu
may stand IL need of when you can pro-
cure il from us for a smn'l cash outlay a0d
on easy Seekly or monthly payments -
Consider this well--Ask yourself the
the qQeEtion-Why 90 without those
eocds you re actually in need off?-
When the Wheeling Instslmsnt Co, 1853
Market Street, pat them within your reach
on easy psymenis?-WnY do without
them wien yOu can have tie use Of them
while payirg for them?-Wby wait to
pay cash when you can buy them on 10
stalmenia f1T .ess money than cash house
"a? - Remember this is The Wheeling
Instalment Co-We make a speciality OF
the Iustalmept husiness-Thcre "a moth
ing ycu want necessary 10 furnish ycur
home from cellar 10 attic that we haven't
got - There is 70 business scc1mmOda-
lion that you msy wan. that we will not
most ch.er'ully giys.
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-10-23

graphsd for TASTY Readers.
REGISTER TELEPHONES.

REGISTER TELEPHONES
aO5 Counting Room
400 Local aud Editorial Rooms
MATINEE at tae Grad Opera Hoale
This afternoon.
ONE deed Of trust was admitted TO rec
ord yesterday by Clerk Hook.
The Board Of County Commissioners
viii NICE, as Board Of Elus'z'ation. and
Appeals today.
GEORGE WEIsGERBER has been appoint
"a blacksmith at the gas works, by Super
ntc1dent Darrah.
R1SKHART & TATUM offer block o.
Wheeling Pottery Company stock Tor sale
To- suit purchasers.
ONE thousand acres of Lard have been
leased q; Sie0henvile, With the purpose Of
aayiag = tee, well put doFu.
Tug fas fruit farm north Of toe S.a'e
Fair Grounds, is offered for sale. See ad-
yer,isepeLt 10 another column.
NOTHING was done by the CONTEXT Com
nittee yesterday. Neither Gen. spngg
uof Mr.. Lively have yet arrived.
FRED D. SMITH was yesterday recon-
meuded TO the Department, By Surveyor
Eserte- fer the cerkship in his othos,
made vacant by the resignation OF Chris.
S.ebke.
THE Secretary Of State has Issued a GER
nHcate Of Incorporation to the Union Accl-
dent and Benefit Association Of Wheeling,
W. Va. The stock is held by Twelve
prominent business men OF Wheeling.
THE funeral OF the late Dr.. Frank P.
Cracraft took place yesterday morning at
1850 o'clock from his late residence at
Triad lphia. The funeral was one OF the
largest ever seen in Triadelphil. The IN
iermrut took place az the Stone Church
Cemetery.
20. TURNER, John B. Griffith and
Horalo G. Massey who left Wheeling at
s.x O'Clock 8ondsy morning on their bicy-
c'es owe, the old National pike, arrived IN
Colunbust at g o'clock yesterday morning
Thev had o glorious good time and made
fast speed.
TRE funeral Of the late james NJ. Ewing
took place from the family residence on
Fourteenth street, sd two O'Clock yesIer-
day afternoon There WAS a very large
attendance Of business men, and others.
who rad known and esteemed the deceased
during life, snd there was every maaiies-
tatiou of profound sorrow. The services
we're impressive. The inLsrmsnt was pri-
vate.
CAPT b. B. DOvESER says the Waah-
ioRt5u Journal, one Of the leading cumi-
nal lawyers Of Yves. Virginia, and James
E Sayers. Esq, a prominent attorney OF
Greene county, both being counsel for
James Nsf, accused Of being implicated
m the murder OF Drover McOauslsnd,
were in town Tuesday TO see Judge Nc
Ilvsine in reference TO fixing date for
tie trial Of Nsf which ia TO be brought 70
tots county on a change otvenue. Judge
NlcI.vaioe fixed November Il as the da;e
Tor the beginning ithe trial.
Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-10-23
HE WAS DRUNK.
A Striking Example OF What whisky
Wm Do.

A Striking Example OF What whisky
WIN Do.
4 drunken man succeeded in making
quite spectacle of himself on Virginia
street, Island, about hslf-past five o'clock
yesterday afternoon.
be WAS driving two horse wagon, and
crossed the suspension bridge in a manner
not calculated to attract much attention,
bat IS soon as he struck the west approach
to the bridge, he lost his head, and as the
animsls trotted down the grade be swayed
about on his high seat like a ship in gale.
When the corner of Virginia and South
Front was reached, the fellow fell back
ward of his seat. and as he still maintain
ell a hold upon the rsius, he pulled his
horses around 10 the lefi. snd they trotted
onto the sidewalk and up against q fence,
narrowly escaping running over LADY in
doing Sc. The driver lay in the bottom Of
his wagon, With his feet in the sir, for two or
three minutes, and then slowly righted
himself. rs seemed greatly astonished at
the fact that a fence and two story brick
residence were directly ahead, and looked
around for moment or so with d dszed
expression. Finally he seemed to com
preheud the situation, and after several
failures, he succeeded in backing his team
of the sidewalk. He drove in rather
complicated way to q point on Virginia
street, ju,t west Of Penn, where he stopped
his horses and calmly went 70 sleep,
while the horses looked around, once in
while, TO see what was wrong. After doz-
ing for fvs Minutes or 20, the driver sud
denly aroused himself, and drove ct break
neck speed along Virginia street to the
intersection Of Huron, wheEe he dissp-
pssred from view.
He probably reached Bridgeport all
right.