St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-12-24
TIMELY CHRISTMAS TALES
TOLD IN THE CLOAK ROOMS AT THE
CAPITOL,
And Cleverly Retold for Our
Readers by Amos j. Cummings
How the Holiday Season In
Different Parts Of This Broad
Land of Ours Is Observed
Some Interesting Stories.


Correspondence of the Globe. Copyrighted. ]
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20, 1S93.--1t would
be interesting to know how all members
of congress spend their Christmas. The
house and senate are always In session
in December. The economists generally
try 10 use as much of the month for
business as possible. Sometimes con-
gress adjOurns on the 22d to meet OH
tine Sd of January. AT other times 1t
adjourns on the goth to meet on the Sd
or 4th of January. This adjournment
is what is known as the holiday recess.
1t gives all the members east of
the Mississippi an opportunity to
spend their Christmas at home.
The Pacific coast members and
others from far-off districts are
forced to remain in Washington or visit
some outlying city. The Down-East
members enjoy their Christmas in their
own peculiar way. They have plenty
of pickedup Goldfish, tongues and
sounds, pork and beans, and roast tur-
key with celery and cranberry sauce.
Some attend church, and others enjoy
prayer meetings on Christmas eve. The
Christmas dinner is family affair, and
is productive of the best cheer. Usually
there is snow upon the ground. and the
jingling of sleigh bells is heard. Oc-
casionally a representative attends 4
Christmas dance, while others listen to
scientific lectures and witness magic
lantern exhibitions.
In Boston, if Congressman O'Neil is
to be believed, they 90 TO the theaters,
where skirt dances have taken the place
of pantomimes. Formerly they shook
props for dead poultry. A prop is q
sort of shell used in the place OF dice.
With the advance of civilization, how
ever, props have disappeared.
Senator Gallinger tells a good story
concerning a Christmas celebration i'll
New Hampshire. A commodore in the
navy was invited to address a Sunday
school at a Christmas celebration. He
accepted the invitation with some trepi-
datiOn. AS he entered the lecture room
OF the church he saw the smiling and
happy faces of the children before him,
and his trepidation was increased.
Upon being introduced to the children
he said: Little children, we are as
Sembled here TO-DAY for the purpose of
celebrating the anniversary of the death
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ"
AT this an old congregational deacon
seized the tails of the commodore's en-
broidered coat and yauhed them furI-
ously: "Not death, not DEATH" he
audibly whispered. 'Birth-birth of
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ"
The commodore paid no attention to
the interruption. He began his speech
anew. Little children" he repeated,
''aS l said before, we are assembled here
today for the purpose of celebrating the
annil erSary of the death of our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ"
Again the deacon twitched the naval
coat tails furiously. ''Birth, COM
This is not Good Friday"
A third time the commodore began to
address the scholars. Little chlldreD,''
he repeated. ''as have heretofore re-
marked, we are assembled here today
for the purpose of celebrating the
anniversary of the death of our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ"
Birth" shouted the deacon, ''birth,
Sir"
The deacon's voice and attitude were
so formidable that the commodore was
compelled to reply. Turning toward
him, he said in tone of offended dignity,
"Death, sir. You seem to forget that l
am an Episcopalian."
The New Jersey, New York and
Pennsylvania members enjoy them
landers. A few attend church. Others
spend Christmas eve in raffiIng for
turkeys. The greatest rafting section in
the United States today is said to be
Sussex county, New Jersey. Besides
raffling for turkeys, they have on Christ
mas day what they call turkey shoot.
The turkey is placed in the snow some
seven or eight hundred yards away,
where his head alone is seen. Each
man pays a specified sum as anentrance
fee, and the performance begins. Rifles
alone are used. The gobbler is wary
bird. After two or three shots he seems
to scent the situation. As he sees the
flash of the gun, he ducks his head.
This is kept up until he finally becomes
victim to an expert marksman.
Congressman Tracey. of Albany, it is
said, usually spends Christmas eve
cOasting down Capitol hill. He is the
only congressman in the house who is
able to steer both single and double
ripper, steel-Shod and we'll oiled.
Christmas recalls to Congressman
Hooker, of the ChautauQua district, Wis
ions OF mince and pumpkin pies, with
currant and elderberry wine in abun-
dance. There are plenty of sermons and
10 rafting in his district. The turkeys
are large and tat,and are usually stuffed
with stale bread, sage and potatoes.
Congressman who represent the Penn
sYlvania Dutch have their turkeys
stuffed with chestnuts and drink glee
wine. Maryland congressman have