davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-06-08
ALL wERE cHEERED.

When the name Of Kansas was called
and Senator Ingalls, made Ills report as
chairman Of that delegation, he was
heartily applauded. An ovation equally
flattering greeted Hon. William War
rier, past commander in chief of the 6.
A. r., Whenlte presented the report Of
the Missouri delegation, and Governor
Mckinley, when he submitted tho re.
port Of Ohio. The announcement OF
Governor Foraker, as 0hio's member oil
the committee on resolutions also re.
ceiyed approval. Senator Quay, Of
Pennsylvania; ex-senator Malone, OF
Virginia, and Senator Spooner, Of Wis
consin, we're also received with enthu.
siasm.
Immediately after the completion Of
the call Of the states and the announce
ment Of the membership Of various
committees, the convention adjourned
until IL o'clock tomorrow. /,
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-06-08
REVIEW on we Dan.

1t Euds With Hidden secret to BE
Disclosed on the First Dptot
MlSSEAPotls, neI-Tho FIRST day OF
the Republican Nationalconvention ends
with the Republican nomination still a
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-06-08
Lbs nrosIdential raco handicapped by

the presidential race handicapped by
the certainty that in the electoral col.
.lege Of IA members 1866 votes are now
already Absolutely secured in advance
to the Democratic nominees and those
1855 votes come from the south which is
kept permanently solid through per
petual breach Of the guarantees Of the
constitution OF the United States.
sometfmeswe are told the mission OIL
the Republican party is ended, We
have met our destiny and fulfilled It.
But the destiny Of progressive party
is never fulfilled in an advancing ana
expanding national life; so long as
there remains a wrong 10 be redressed !
so long as there remains right 70 be
enforced; 90 long as all the privileges
OF citizenship are not freely enloined
under the guarantee Of the constitution
to all citizens OF this Unlon-iust 80
long will there be a mission for the he'
publican party. So long will there be a
great work before us. ~,
At the conclusion Of Mr.. Fassetts
speech the business Of the convention
began.
II was ordered that until the perma,,
nent organization should be effected
the convention should be governed by
the rules Of the last Republican eonyen'
tion.
Ex-senator sewell, Of New Jersey
presented the following: /,
Resolred, That the roll of states and
territories be read and that the chair:
man OF each delegation announce tho
names Of the persons selected TO serve
on the committees as follows: Perma::
nent organization. rules and order Of
business, credentials and resolutions.
The resolution wns adopted and the
roll OF states began.
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-06-08

within the next forty-eight hours, de
pends in q great measure the result Of
this presidential contest.
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-06-08
sIIDNIaHr OUTDOOR.
Suspense and Interchangeable Contest.
ON Hand.

Suspense and Uicertainty-rhe Contests
on Hand.
MISSRAroIIs, MINI, June 7,-Atmil-
night the prolonged suspense and un-
certainty in the presidential situation
Is having a telling effect on the ealhus.
iasm OF the crowd in attendance upon
the convention.
While frequent conferences are being
held by the leaders behind bolted doors,
the followers Of both factions gather in
knots about the lobbies and corridors OF
the hotels anxiously awaiting iniorma.
tion which may throw some light on the
situation, which appears to be hope
lessly uncertain.
Tho chief interests for the moment is
centered on the proceedings otthoco
inittee on credentials. Its decision is
executed to realize gain OF some outside
votes to the faction which succeeds in
controlling the majority Of the conYeu.
ton. So close appears the contest be.
tween the elements for control that
both sides are making a determined
fight to capture tho whole Of the dole
gates in dispute ~
The Blaine people claim that they
have everything to gain by tile post.
ponement of balloting, and for that
reason 1t Is understood they will en-
deayor to delay tho permanent organ
ization OF the convention Us far as pos
sible. The Harrison leaders deny tina /
they arc losing ground by postpone
ment, aud are disposed not to force the
organization, lest such action be con-
strued as an evidence OF weakening on
their part.
POLICY or DELAY.
The Blaine people apparently accom-
plished their purpose OF delay in twice
securing the postponement Of definite
action by the committee on credentials.
The committee is making slow progress
With its work. There seoms to be no
special haste in proceeding with the
contested cases and the hall outside the
national committee rooms Is thronRod
with about three-score Of men who
want 10 know whether they viii. have
seats In the convention or not.
The committee met Immediately alter
the adjournment OF convention this
morning pursuant TO the direction Of
tho convention and organized. A poll.
Of the committee would indicate that
Blaine men arc in the majority and con
troll affairs, though the chairman
selected 10 Gen. Cogswell, Of Massachu-
sets, one Of the staunchest Of Harrison
men.
After getting organized thocommittee
concluded to adjourn to meet at four
o'clock at the came place, from UNDER
meath the convention hall, and not
very well adapted for the purpose.
II had the advantage, however,
OF being quiet, which certainly
cannot be said OF the national
committee room. Governor Watmonth,
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-06-08

WEST VIRGINIA HEApeuARrERs-ISrERioR
was adopted after some discussion. It
was that the preparation Of the plat
form be referred 70 i've Sub.committees
OF five members each. One topic was
TO be assigned to q subcommittee, tho
division 70 be as follows;
First. tariff; second, silver; third.
elections; fourth, foreign relations /;
tifth, miscellaneous subiectS.
Governor Foraker announced that he
would name the members Of the Ave
sub-committees at 4p. m. aud the meet.
ing quickly scattered, with 8 p. M. set
for the hour ior reassemblIng.
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-06-08
VOLUME 1L--NUMBER 70

Of Louisiana, and his followers in
Louisiana, and the Lynch faction in
Mississippi, both of which delegations
were left off the temporary roll, were
present in some force, as well as also
some Of the other interested parties.
THE FrRsT CONTEST.
AT 10 o'clock tonight the first cons
test had not been taken up, and allthat
had been accomplished was to make
up the roll of the delegates in the
uncontested districts. The probabili-
ties are, that with a possible exception
or two, these contests will ho affirmed
in the committee on credentials.
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-06-08

field [applauseL Harrison and Blaine
are all great Republicans" :,
The words Harrison and Blaine
were mentioned 80 rapidly that the
friends Of the former candidate were
taken by surprise and had no epportu-
nifty to rfortheir leader. But the
Blaine men made the inost OF the
occasion, and for three minutes dele
gates waved their hats and handker-
chiefs wildly in'the air aud cheered the
great leader. 9
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-06-08

Gov. Foraker, after looking over tho
list Of members when he reached his
hotel madethe appointment Of the sub
committees as follows:
TasiG-H. W. Oliver, Pennsylvania;
J. G. Gear, Iowa; ]. W. Bourne, ir.,
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-06-08

The southern delegate is asked to OBJ.
serve the ideas Of lofty honor displayed
by these eminent leaders Of national
reputation, and the inference thrown
ont that any man that is true TO him
self and the great principles OF the Re
publican party will rellgiously observe
the instructions OF his constituents.
There is no doubt that the example Of
some OF those leading Republicans, who
were identified with the Blaine noye-
ment in years past. but who are so
loyal TO Harrison at this time, ishaving
considerable effect in restraining Ger
tain delegates in the West who are dis.
posed to leave Harrison and 70 to the
Blaine following. Upon the power OF
this restraining influence 70 withstand
the enthusiastic scenes thatthe Blame
demonstrations will certainly call for
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-18
THE TIMES-RICHMOND vAI SUNDAY DECEMBER 10 1892

OF humor twinlled in his beady eyes,
his rotund stomach spoke Of good cheer
and unrunled disposition. Among all
the brute creation he chose an ass, that
caricature of the horse, as his fayorite
charger. He always appeared with n
troop OF laughing fauns and satyrs
around him, and his advent was every
where the signal for quips and cranks
and wrcathcd smiles. Now, st. Nicholas
I'm former times always rode abroad on
an ass, and still continues TO do so in
certain portions Of Europe. and we have
already noted that In every respect save
drunkenness the traits of Silenus are re-
produced in kriss Kringle the jolly pa
gan. who is to-day the personiication OF
Christmas.
But though pagan god has this i'm
portant position In our festival every
thing that could be offensive in the old
pagan way Of celebrating the festival
has been abolished. IL was not always
so. The church which wisely sought to
retain the old heather forms, found IL
often very hard. indeed, impossible, to
subdue the heather spirit. in spite Of
clerical protest, in spite Of anathemas,
I'm spite Of the condemnation Of the more
thoughtful and the more vrtuOus, Christ
mas IN the earlier days frequently re-
produced all the worst orgies, the de-
hatchery and indecency OF the baccha-
MALTA and the saturnalia. Even the clergy
were whirled into the vortex. A special
celebration called the Feast Of Fools had
been intituted in their behalf, with a
view. said that doctors OF the church,
that the folly which is natural to and
born with us might exhale at least once
q year" Their intention was excellent.
But in practice the liberty so accorded
speedily degenerated into license. Early
in the history of the church the excuses
were 50 great that the Council Of Aux
ere was moved 10 inquire into the mat
ter. A Flemish divine got up and de-
clared that the festival was an excellent
one and quite as acceptable 10 God as
that Of the Immaculate Conception. There
was great applause among his like mind
ed brethren. Then Gerson. the most noted
fheologian of the day. made an Immense
sensation by retorting that III all the
devils i'm hell had put their heads to-
gcther TO devise n feast that should
utterly scandalize Christianity they
could not have improved upon this one"
No action was taken at the time. But
year by year the higher authorities In the
church set their faces more and more
sternly against the Feast Of Fools From
the twelfth to the sixteenth century it
was mathematical by council after
council and prohibited by bishop after
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-18

rope cut from the tapestry. The SIXTH
the king himself, led them into the man,
Their appearance created a general sem
sation. "Who are they?" was the cry.
No one could answer. At this moment en-
tered the widest OF all the wild Dukes
of orleans. "Who are they?' he echoed
between hiccoughs. "Wen, wNll soon find
out Selling a brand from oAe OF the
torch bearers ranged along the vail, ne
staggered forward. Some gentleme& at
tempted TO stay him. But ne was oo&u-
nate and Quarrelsome. Main force couN
not be thought Of against prince OF the
blood He was given his way lie thrust
his torch under the chin Of the nearest Oh
the rnaskers. The tow caught fire. In
moment the whole group was enveloped in
flames. Presence Of mind or common So
briefly might have saved them. But there
was none of the latter there and but two
instances Of the former. The Duchess OF
Berry seized the king and enveloped him
in her ample robe. Thus he was saved
Another masker, the Lord Of NantOuillet-
noted for strength and agility, rent the
silken rope with a wrench OF his strong
teeth. pitched himself like a flaming comet
through the first window and dived into a
cistern IN the court, whence lac emerged
black and smoking, but almost unhurt
AS for the other four, they whirled hither
and thither through the Mortified mob,
struggling with each other, fighting with
the flames. cursing, shrieking with pain.
Women tainted by scores. Men who had
never faltered in hundred fights sick
ened at the hideous spectacle. All Paris
was reused by the uproar and gathered,
an excited mob, about the palace. All
sorts Of reports were current-that the
princes were engaged in deadly strife
being the one most credited At last the
flames burned out. The four maskers lay
a black and writhing heap on the floor.
One was a mere cinder. A second sur
Wved till daybreak. A third died at noon
the next day. The fourth-no other than
Sir Hugonin himself-survived for three
days, while all Paris rejoiced over his
agaOnies Bark. dog. bark. was the cry
with which the citizens saluted his
charred and mangled corpse when 1t was
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-18

from December 18th to January 9Th. the
latter day being known. as IT Is still
known among their descendants. as
Twelfth Day. The Teutonic mind made
OF the active forces Of nature living per-
sOnincatiOns. 1t symbolized the conflict
between these forces by the battle or
the GODS and giants. Winter was the ice
giant. cruel. hard, incKoriblc. the enemy
Of life, Of gods and men alike. Riding
on his steed Swadilfan, the all stiIening
north wind, he constructed formidable
castles Of ice. He represented night ana
darkness and death. But the Spring God
and the south wind. the symbols Of life
and youth and light, gave battle 10 the
fee giant. and at last Thor the god Of
the Thunderstorm riding on the wings
Of the air, demolished with his thunder
bolts the castle Of the ice giant. and
Froiia, the goddess Of fccundity. re ufied
her former sway. Now, the 18th OF Do
ccmbcr. the depth OF winter. the period
when the Ice Giant was in the fun flnsh
Of his triumph, WAS also the turning
point i'm the conflict Of natural forces.
The sun God. having reached the goal
Of the winter sostice, now wheeled
around his fiery steeds and became the
sure precursor OF the coming victory Oh
light and life over darkness and death.
y liONsltlu ltutt dtAiAao IbtiN " III
fact that Christmas has incorporated
all these festivals into itself and given
them a new significance. The orgies u
the Bacchanalian feasts. Of the Satur-
MALTA and of the Twelve Nights survive
In q refined and modified form IN the
mcrriment and jollity which characterize
the season Of Christmas to-day. Our
Christmas Sits are Renaissance OF
the presents that were exchanged in Rome
during the Saturnalia. In Rome, II might
De interjectod, the presents usually took
the form Of wax tapers and dOlls-the
latter being in their turn survival ot
the human sacrifices once offered 10
Saturn. So I'm our Christmas presents we
are commemorative one Of the most
savage customs of our barbarian anc s.
tors The shouts Of Bona SatlrnaliaV
which the Roman populacc exchanged.
are the precursors of our Merry Christ
mas The decoration and illumination
Of our Christian churches recall the tenn
ples Of Saturn, radiant with burning
tapers and resplendant with garlands.
The masks and mummcrcs which still
locally survive and which were especially
prominent I'm the Middle Ages Were promi r.
nent also I'm the Saturnalian revcls. Ana
a large number Of the legends, supcrsl-
tions and ccrcmonais which have crys-
tallized around the Christian festival in
Europe and America are more or less
distorted and perverted "reminiscences OF
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-18

fed the Biblical story. 1t makes the wise
men three powerful sovereigns and gives
them the names of Caspar, King of Tar
sus; Melchior, King Of Arabia. and Bait
hasar. King of Sarda. When they beheld
the star Of Bethlehem they gathered to-
gether their retinue and set out on tnelr
tourney. They reached Jerusalem and IN
terviewed Herod who was greatly exer-
cised i'm mind over their story. Then as
they went out toward Bethlehem they
came across an old woman who was
cleaning her house. She asked them
whittier they were going And when they
teld her she besought them to tarry until
she had finished her task and she would
accompany them. But they said they could
not wait and then bid her follow. When
she had finished she did strive to follow
them. But they were lost to sight, and
ever since that day she has been wander
ing about the earth seeking for the child
Jesus And on the eve of the Epiphany
she comes down the chimneys Of the
houses, leaving gifts for the little ones
as the Kings fine gifts to the infant
Christ, and hoping against hope that sne
may find Him whom she still seeks. IN
Italy she is known 10 this day as the
Befana. and I'm Russia as the Baboushka.
In Spain, however, it is not the Befera
kings, no less pei son, indeed, than Bait
hasar, who is the purveyor Of gifts. He
is always represented as L blackamoor.
even in the pictures of the old masters.
and as such he survives In Spanish
legend. On the eve Of the Epiphany the
children leave their shoes and boots out
in some convenient SPOT near the chin
ney TO find them laden with gifts In the
morning. Boots. indeed, preceded the
stocking everywhere the superior adyan-
tage Of the latter as 81 receptacle having
been q recent discovery. In Belgium TO
this day the children give their shoes an
extra fine polish on Christmas eve. fill
them with hay, oats or carrots for Santa
Claus white horse and put them on the
table ior set them in the fireplace. The
room is Their carefully closed and the door
locked In the morning a strange thing
is found to have occurred. The furniture
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-18

Il was his pleasant habit to exercise DIS
wit upon tradcsmen and mechanics, whVm
he would accost In the street, prick WAN
his spurs and compel 20 creep on IN
fours and bark like dogs before. ne
released them Such were the traits when
endeared him to the courtiers o. us
Most Gracious Majesty ana Snrlsehi y,
King OF France. The marriage pa5seu OH
in blaze Of glory with an aceohipall-
ment Of obscene Gargatuan pioasan li
At the heighth Of the ceremonies or iiu,
gonIn quietly withdrew with the king and
four other wild ones-scions Of the nobiest
houses In France With a pot Of tar ana
q quantity of tow the six conspiraloIs
were speedily changed into very FAR mi
tations Of the dancing bears then very
common in mountebanks' booths. mask
completed the transformation. Five were
then bound together by means OF siiAeh
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-18

in October. But for unnumbered centu-
rics before the Christian era pagan
Europe through all its various tribes and
nations had been accustomed to ceie-
brate its chief festival at about the
period OF the winter solstice, the turning
point when winter having reached It's
apogee has also reached the point when
ID must begin to decline again toward
spring.
Thus the Greeks celebrated Bacchanal-
ian Tor Dionysiac) festival about the.
middle of December, when the people
gave themselves up 10 songs, dances and
phalifc professions. which frequently de-
generated into all sorts OF eXcesses' IN
Rome the Saturnalia, or festivals IN
honor Of Saturn. began on December iith
and continued for seven days. Among
the Teutonic tribes the old feast OF the
Twelve Nights was religiously observed
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-18

at last borne to the grave.
The very excuses Of the Christmas
period proved their own eventual cure.
In England the Puritans reyclted so Bit
terly that they for period suppressed
Christmas altogether. In Europe the rev.
olution was more gradual. But every
where a change OF manners and Of morals
has purified the festival over which Santa
Claus rules. and Santa Claus himself.
even II we look upon him as recrudes-
cence Of the pagan Sllenus. Is a Silenls
with all the offensive features OF pagan
ism eliminated Silenus who with his
new baptismai name has taken on u new
character.
Yet IS must be remembered that Santa
Claus does not rule ell over the Christian
world. There is even wide difference be-
tween our Santa Claus and the st. Mich
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-18

o,o. - so,,tbern France and Germany
,r 'I' latter preserves more Of The saturn
than the siIenus type. lie Is sat1rn
chrlstsan,zed and dignifed with episcopaI
veatmcnts. He distributes gifts like our
Santa claus, but in addition to sirts ios
good little boys and girls ne Carries
birch rod for offenders 80
But. even in the most primitive form OK
st. Nicholas, our good old FRIEND San,s
Claus is almost unknown In tne ias,n
countries as well as Russian IN i'ay
and in Spain not Christmas put eno
EpIphany Is the day for giving presen-s.
EnInhany. II will be remembered. COM
memorates the visit OF the wise men from
the East. who came bearing gifts OF gold
frankineense and myrrh TO the newly
born Saviour. The Bible has not very
much to say about them, but popuiar
legend has greatly filed out and masnr
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-18

The other theory assumes that the Saint
Nicholas who was Bishop Of Myra IS the
Santa Claus Of modern Christmas. whom
he reSembled in the fact that he appeared
IN the night time and secretly made valu-
able presents 10 the children OF the house
hold. Here is some semblauce OF truth.
N the first place that Santa Claus Is ST.
NichOlaS admits OF no possibility or
doubt; indeed 10 this day he is known
indiherently az Santa Claus or as ST.
Nicholas. But there seems 10 be no very
close resemblance between the attitude OF
the saint IN the legend and that OF his
modern avatar. What connection has
mere isolated case Of charity performed
et no particular time with the munlh-
cent liberality Of the good Santa Claus
VINO every Christmas Eve loads himself
nown with gifts for the little ones whom
DO loves and Ands time 10 distribute them
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-18

Is all topsy turvy. the fodder has been r..
moved from the shoes. and In its place the
good little children find all sorts OF nice
things and the bad ones only rods
made OF birch. In other localities. baskets.
dishes or woodenware are made the i'ecep-
tacles. But the elasticity OF the stock
ing. It's adaptability. and the fact that
while IL preserves the individuality OF the
owner like shoe. II may yet be cleaned
and made ready for the reception OF edi'
bic presents-these characteristics have
caused II 10 grow into general favor
among the juvenile votaries Of SAINTS
Claus.
And may they all hang out their stock
ings on the night before Christmas ana
find them on Christmas morning full 70
overlooking with the gifts Of their pssyeA
saint $500.