davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-12-19

miss people to life of selfish ease?
But is that a life of selfish ease which
is being spent by millions of men and
women today in the service of their
less fortunate fellows?
If anybody thinks that Christmas
and Epiphany mean only Santa Claus
and candies, sugar and sentiment, let
him go and stand in the police courts
of New York and see a modest woman
there who Is watching, day after day
and week after week, for her hayward
and sin-stained sisters. Let him fol-
low her along the streets at night as
she hastens after some poor child of
shame who is plunging down into
some low dive, there to perish, body
and soul, amid its foul fumes. Let him
see such a one, and their name is le-
gion wherever the name of the babe
Of Bethlehem has gone, counting no
fellowship too vile, no errand of mercy
too hopeless, no life Of pover-y and
hardship too austere, If only they may
kindle in another breast that inextin-
guishable hope and joy which has
walked to life in their own. What do
they do /. for? Can money bly such
service? Can the love Of fame kindle
such an enthusiasm? Can righteous
resentment because the wrongs that
Others have endured sustain such men
and women as these? II is in vain
that We strive to account for such an
ardor until we own the spell of that
light that never was on land or sea-
that has enkindled it.
If ii be true that, though Christ
has entered II bringing into it the
light OF divine life, the world is not
growing brighter. then it n ust be be-
cause those to whom he has brought
that light are so unwilling to receiye
1T. or else SO reluctant to reflect IL.
There are those who do not receive IL
and reflect ii, even rs there are in
nature certain substances that have SUI
premely what may be called a diaphan-
Gus quality. They receive the light,
hnf they receive 1t only the more gra-
ciously and widely to diffuse II. And
like such substances are certain men
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-12-19

and Rome and as crude in some re-
spects as that OF the most deprayed
sayages But the use Of the fir tree
was one Of It's few beautiful features,
and the fact that ii has survived and
has given jOy Ia millions 81 children
for countless generations fully atones
for their Objectionable customs To
decorate the festal halls everything
that lived above the snow Was brought
in ID make the surroundings Eay and
indicate the worship 81 nature as rep
resented by Orion Bel and Frcya The
holly. which grows largely in sweden
and the north oil Germany and the
mislletoe. which obtained sacred
character from lis apparently sp0n-
taneous ana magical growth, aeted
snow and winter anu were the ever
greens most easily obtained
In Rome palmetto leaves and the
long, tapering pmmes OF the palm that
all WHO know the Riyesia have so
often admired Oil tho shores 81 tho
Mediterfane VI. were used in the win
ter festivities, aud from these the
Christmas tree or Christ tree, as Il
was originally ealiea Is derived
The season appointed hy the church
IN which 70 celebrate the birth Of
Christ without exactly being arbitrary
for there Is little doubt that the
rainy season in Judea was never
chosen BY the shepherds for open-air
watching III their foeks by night wa1
selected as many other lcasts long hc-
fore christianity WIS founded. on &c
count Of the winter solstce. wher Tho
year lad completed i revolution. on,
AZ WAS then supposed the rery wheels
NJ phoeAns's chariot had once more
rolled round the earth AZ THIS period
which The Romans first Instituted a.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-12-19

had become an orgle and the Christ
mas carol OF that day was almost I'M
ft for publication: but with the return
of Charles II. and the Restoration,
holly, Ivy and mistletoe came back
with renewed attraction and carols
were sung BY village choirs all over
the continent Of Europe
In some Of the far-away countries
OF England, where the changing fash
ions OF London have not get pene-
trated to the yustics, the old-time Gus
tom is still continued Of the parish
choir making the rounds Of the homes
81 the gentry and singing Christmas
carols.
A well-known New York society
man who was the guest Of a titled
Englishman al the latters country
house during the Christmas season de-
scribed the doings Of the parish choir
70 the writer in this way
The carols stiil sung In the coun-
try in some parts o. England BY boys
in smoek- fr0cks, with ribbons tied to
their hats ana shoulders, are curl
Gus mixture 81 religious and profane;
and I recall verse or two OF these
noeis that are really comic. Looking
out OF my window one night was
passing 4 chrigtmas week In the
north countree--to learn what was
the cause Of a subdued muttering and
whispering in the carriage drive. in
front OF the old Elizabethan house,
saw some dozen chawbacons, most of
whom carried lanterns. arranging
themselves in half-cirele on the snow
outside. One white-haired old man.
with spectacles and knitted WOODEN
nightcap, held clarionet and seemed
TO be the precentor He was probably
the parish clerk. Another was presid-
ing over an enormous bass yi0l, while
a small boy. who was enveloped in a
worsted comforter and gloves, which
together nearly concealed him, held
aloft small fir tree on pole. with a
lantern hanging from beneath the
boughs. The clerk was so impressed
with the dignity OF his position the be
took some time TO make his prepare
tions, which period was employed by
the choir in stamping their feet and
clapping their arms across them to
keep up their caloric. There was a
keen wintry wind which carried all
sounds away, now and then, except the
few notes that the double-bass grunted
out, but / caught the most important
stanzas and have never forgotten
them. Imagine them sung to the few
notes of some monotonous old eanticle
accompanied by the dyspeptic means
Of the Fiol ana the ear-piercing dis
cords Of the rlarionet, With the hiIari-
I Gus cries Of north wind in the old
parf trees joining in, and YOU will
have a faint idea Of the beauty Of this
x serenade.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-12-19
HOLIDAY THOUGHTS.
FROM TNGERsoLL. POTTER. ABB
BoTT AND MRS. WALTON.
THE ATHEISTS NOVEL IDEA
He Applauds the Day and Very Pref
tily Calls II Voyage to Fairyiand
lis the Religious Meaning OF
Christmas Dying out?Great Men
Speak

Nes York. Dee 13. Men have diff
fered about religion since the creation
of the world. and they viii go on diff
fering as long as the earth lasts; but
On the subject Of the Christmastide
season-a season 20 replete with re-
ligious meaning men and women Of
all beliefs and no beliefs at all agree
in the main and applaud the day
which showers 50 much happiness
upon the universe.
This fact is aptly illustrated by the
following views on the Christmas sea
son made by four leaders Of religious
and anti-religious thought, Two OF the
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-12-19
A LUCKY TRAMP.
he Gets the Gifts Intended for Tw,
Others.


Il was Christmas eve and the Dol.
gets sat by the fire discussing the
probability that they would receive
presents OF greater value than thew
had sent 10 their poor relatives. and
as good as they had sent 10 their
rich ones.
Ugh, snat a night it II, said Ms
Dodgett, but it is just as weE. for
we shall have no callers, and I'm
really not it to be seen"
You certainly are not" eandialy
answered Mr. Dodgett. SITS mystery
what you have done with all The
money you have gotten for dress
Now, can go nowhere for lack d. 4
decent dress suit.
Instead OF replying warmly. Ms
Dodgett only smiled mysteriouslyr Al
that moment the maid entered. say.
ing:
Please, ma'am, a tramps at the
back door begging for clothes"
Tell him to go away and be quick
about it," said Mr.. Dodgett, who vas
suffering from neuralgia and disap-
pointment that his wife would not
quarrel
Don't leave him alone In the
kitchen" said Mrs. Dodgett: he is
most likely sneak thief"
Charitable, that remark. grunted
her husband.
sYe-es,' she replied, absently, by
the way, dear, Mr.. Blanque has given
his wife another sealskin. I shall
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-12-19

and Herewith the joy Of service and
self-denial, may we not well take one
day in the year for special rejoicing
because he has come and because he
has given such gifts to men?
LET all the church bells. then, ring
out whether in puritan or cavalier
communities. Let all the churches be
green with the emblem Of an immor-
tality which Winter cannot kill Let
all the churches repeat the Christmas
message Of peace on earth, good will
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-12-19
The Carol.
serenade

Greet another Christmas morning,
Pass the mug OF good brown ale!
Ponps and vanities a-seorning,
Christians pull the Devils tail
Gentles al! Come, breach a barrel
To the health of our squire,
When you hear our Christmas carol
Don't forget the parish choir!
When they arrived at the last line
the small boy waved the fir-tree flag:
the double bass put a tremolo into his
awful scrape; the clerk with the
clarionet allowed himself TO attempt
sentiment in mis- internal blowing, and
the choir generally took care that no
one who heard them ever could forget
them in the ewigkeit. OF course they
got their beer. That is what they
came for. Past midnight as 1t was,
they had been expected, and were in
vited into the barolial kitchen to a
large bowl OF 'frumety," another relic
of the Saxon yule, word derived from
frumenta, of wheat-eorn. This, kind
of porridge made of screed wheat Tin
Scotland OF sowans,' or oatmeaU
sweetened with honey and dried cur
rants, is to be met with in all north Of
England houses at Christmas time II
is memory OF the offerings made TO
Huida. the Scandinavian Ceres, to OBJ
tain her promises for the haryests Of
the coming year al the burning, OF
the yuie-log wes brought down from
remote ages when fire-sacrihce was
made TO the sun-God.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-12-19
sEASoNABLE SIZE.

Johnny Jones was one az the CHI
dren who still have faith in Santa
Claus. Two days before Christmas he
entered the village store and asked for
a pair ot stockings.
What Size do you want2 inquired
the salesman.
About number twenty said
Johnny.
But. my little man, YOU can't wear
anything larger than 4 four"
Yes. but amt going To wear them
Day after tomorrow is Christmas.
Youths Companion.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-12-19
RISK.

Witherby-I have invited castleo"
around to New Years dinner,
Mrs. witherby- But he was A''
Christmas TO dinner.
What Of hi ;lr
Mrs. WitherbyI am afraid AR
that turkey. Life.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-12-19
YULETIDE CUSTOMS
CHRISTMAS oBsERvANcEs DATE
BACK 10 PA6s-., RITES
USE OF THE FIRST CANDLES

Burned BY Romans TO Drive AWAY
Eva Scandinavian First
Used the Toy-Coyered Fir Tree IN q
Heather Festiyal-Holly and Ms
tletoe.
Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1894-1895, 1895-05-24

adoption Of a single standard. 1t would not
Increase the quantity OF money Since gold
must he inevitably driven OUT. the free coin
age OF silver would result in diminution of
the quantity Of money.
1T Is usually supposed that free coinage
OF silver is in the interest Of the debtor class.
! think it will be found quite the contrary.
But greater than all objections Is that OF
public dishOnOr and population. No trick
or Sophistry car make the scaling of q debt
To mean anything but dishonesty aud cheat
ing. Were free coinage 10 pass il means
that every deposit in savings bank. every in
vestOr In loan associations. every holder OF
life insurance. every recipient Of pensiOps,
would have their dues reduced one half is
il possible there is something behind this
scheme not really discovered?
The proposal for free coinage is in truth
hugh disease. born in the private Offices
Of the silver kings. nuTsed 10y s1ccula tors.
fed 10y Doodle. and as sure "a there is honesty
ana truth in the American heart. il will die
young and he barred in the same ignominous
grave wherein now lies the forgotten
infant. once famous rs the Rag Baby. Free
coinage Is grccnbackiSm galvanized into
life"
Contrary TO the expected arrangement,
tho time for the rejoindcr was divided
into three parts between Harvey and
Laughlin. This splitting up of the time
resulted in the rejoindcrs being more in
the nature of chatting each other than
serious argument. The meeting did not
adjourn until after midnight.
Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1894-1895, 1895-05-24

We're coniiscated, and great excitement
was created among owners of places
where these devices are used. In an in
teryiew the doctor said: There are up
ward of 10000 slot machines in Chicago.
L have had figures compiled as to their
probable revenue. and find that the SUN
of $4,000 daily goes into the little slots
This enormous sum of money comes out of
the pockets of people who can III afford
to lose il. and is Il very considerable in
come to the men who operate the ma
chine
The doctor is an Ohio man. and rs years
OF age. Like many other distinguished
rupitar.anS. he has Il great variety of
topics gospel. philosophy. theology. history
and sociology lie is conscientious in
his humanilarianiSm. reaching far beyond
mere dcnominational lines. Sometimes he
shocks his congregation by lack of or
thodoXy. and the ultra conservative eie-
mcnt have made several attempts TO de-
nose him
Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1894-1895, 1895-05-24

there were many things to make the chill
dren feel sad as they wound their way
around the sunken, grass-grown graves.
Uncle Jack" asked Gertrude, why
do people put pieces of broken glass and
white shells on these graves"
1T is because they are poor people,
Gertrude" was the answer. 1T is the
only way they can show that they have
not forgotten their dead. There are none
of them but would like to do more. but
they have no money TO buy even the
simplest tombstone"
Finally they came to neglected grave
over which shabbily dressed child was
STOPPING As she turned on hearing foot
steps. Gertrude and Meth recognized one
of their poor schOolmates Elsie Tan
ncr
II didn't know Elsie's father was . sol
der" said one of the boys in half
whisper.
''Yes, and Il brave soldier he was. too
l happened to know him in the war" an
swercd Uncle Jack
The child Elsie Tanner. was yainly
trying TO revive Il bunch Of wild violcts
which she had placed on the mound that
morning.
The hearts of the Flower Brigade were
touched by her simple Offering of love,
and they Immediately decided to leave "a
double allowance of flowers on this
mound I'm fact, the grave was literally
covered with an artistic arrangement of
blossoms.
With fearful eyes Elsie stammered out
her grateful thanks and the Flower Bri-
gade. after lingering, sympathetic glances
at the figure bending lovingly over the
flower mound continued their labor oe
love.
Every soldiers mound in pOtter's field
was veritable bower of blossoms when
The Flower Brigade had completed their
work. And the members were Il happy
crowd of little people, you may be sure
They felt more than repaid for their
| work and the happiness iii their hearts
found expression in their faces
IL move that we adjourn to meet May
the twenty ninth, ninety-six, To gather
flowers for potter's field" suddenly de-
clared Gertrude, us the band was about
10 separate.
Second the notion" fairly shouted
Irwin Valentine, who always agrees with
| everything Gertrude Tallman says.
AT eight o'clock in the morning, under
| the biggest apple tree in our back yard"
| put in Meth Iannaman.
Eyes. ut nine o'clock sharp" added
Moss Leyison who always thinks what
Meth Hannaman says is just right.
After Il happy little speech by Uncle
Jack, he stated the question and said, "All
| in favor of the motion say aye.
And every member of the Flower Bri-
gade said AYE"
Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1894-1895, 1895-05-24

flowers ought to be given unreservedly TO
honor the memory of brave soldiers,
known or unknown.
The housekeeping duties proceeded IN
der the apple tree. Finally Gertrude said
in a burst of childish patriotism, Il won
der if we couldn't put our flowers on the
graves of poor soldiers this year,"
That was happy thought. And the
two maidens put their two heads together.
and after an interested discussion of the
plan it was decided that they should get
all the boys and girls in the neighbOrhOod
to help them.
1t is to be feared that the royal family
went hungry that day, for Gertrude and
Meth suddenly hurried off to tell their
little neighbor friends of their plan to re-
member the soldiers in potter's field. And
before nightfall the Flower Brigade as
Meth named the youthful company of
flower gatherers-had been formed.
And such n happy time they all had
collecting the bright blossoms. Every
body listened attentively as the blossom
beggars stated their mission, and Miss
Tuttles, who was never known to give
away one of her precious flowers. actually
gave the children big bunch of yellow
roses. And heaps of red roses and purple
lilacs and white peonies and blue violets
in fact, every kind of flower that grows
in the little town-soon filled the baskets
full to Overi;owing.
Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1894-1895, 1895-05-24
OUR POSTAL SERVICE.
\ Conn par;sou of Postofiiccs Here and
in Other Countries.

III
1t costs the people OF the United States
about $6,0000O0 year 10 maintain the
postal service No other country IN the
world has so large Il deficiency in postal
revenues. England makes Sl3.5nN3
from it every year. France makes pro-
fit of S9,00O.000. Gcrmany'S profit j.
more than S5,0O0.000. Twenty OF the
countries of the Postal Union have sur
pluses and fourteen of thcm have def
cicncies. The Argentine Republic loses
S2.000.OG0 n year; Russia. S1.75o.Ooo;
Canada. SSSO,0O0. and Japan. Queens
land. Bulgaria. Salvador. truguay. New
South Wales. Siam. Luxerlurg. Greece
and Bolivia pay smaller sums for the con
veEionce Of those who write letters and
those who receive them.
The Post Office Department of the
United States employs las S:,5 workers
Germany comes second with 1-,1. 42i:
Great Britain third. with 131 .4J9; France
fourth. with 57,S2S.
The United States. with limited free
collection and delivery. has an average of
less than one letter box To each post Office.
Only Ga OF the pest Offices in the United
States have free delivery less than one
per cent. Germany has an average Of
three letter boxes 10 each posi- o.licc. and
France. with her 1.}t9 los; Offices. has e.
600 letter boxes. There * a very remark
able difference in The character OF the
accommodations given in these countries.
The number of letter boxes in thc United
States is ;l3.;,56; in Germany. 92.212; in
Great Britain. 44.G97. or more than two
10 each Office; il British India. -. Si2. But
Japan makes a remarkable showing in
this particular. There are only 3.776
post Offices in Japan. but there are 31.243
letter boxes TO receive tie mail for these
Offices. IN average Of moro than eight IL
each Office The whole number of letter
boxes in use in the world is 424.2i7.
But the real value OF postal service is
shown largely 10y the number of post Of
fees in proportion to the population. or
the area covered. And here the United
States fails short. Switzerland has n
post Office to every IL square miles of
territory. ard Queensland has a post
Office for every 42S Inhabitants. These
are the leaders in these two classes. Tie
United States holds the fifteenth place in
the list of post Offices in proportion to area.
and the seventh place in the list of post
Offices in proportion to population There
is a post Office in this country 10 every 5Sla
square miles, and post Office to every o.;
inhabitants.
In the sending and receiving of foreign
mail Germany comes first and the United
States second. Germany receives CO.
100000 foreign letters. 100000 foreign
postal cards. 2l.15O0 600 prints and com,
nercial papers and 3.1J0.000 samples
every year. The United States receives
5i.50o.ooo letters. 100000 postal cards.
44.2Jo, 600 papers and 10000 samples
every year.
Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1894-1895, 1895-05-24

Wales, by the way. are among the very
disnified paper ladies who make up the
rather extensive household of these two
playmatcs.
The blossoms doubtless suggested the
coming of Decoration Day, for suddenly
Gertrude said, 'Oh, Meth. are you going
10 march Decoration Day.
II is the custom in the town in which
they live for the school children to march
in body to the city Of the dead and to
carry flowers to lay on the graves of the
brave soldier dead.
'To be sure" was the ready answer
Aunt Margaret has promised me all of
her beautiful red roses, and our white
lilacs will be out. and am going to make
b0uquets-cyer so many of them
80 am |. too" said Gertrude as she
rearranged the rather heavy train TO the
morning gown of Queen Victoria, who
had taken sudden and unqucenly tum-
bic from her bark throne near the foot of
the apple tree. Then after a moments
silence, "Unclc Jack says that people are
apt to forget poor soldiers on Decoration
Day-soldicrs who are buried in potters
field, | believe that is what it is called.
Uncle Jack says tina people fairly shower
blossoms on the graves of their friends,
and sometimes the fricndless soldiers in
potter's field are not remembered even by
one flower. Uncle Jack was in the war
amd-he knows"
1t really does seem sometimes that the
true meaning of the day is forgotten.
The hallOwed spot where a noble hero
has found a resting place in potter's field,
Is often only marked by flag. On one
day out Of the $50 days of the year our
Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1894-1895, 1895-05-24

subsequent 10 the
granting Of this that the interview con-
tanning the objectionable remarks was
published.
The naval regulations expressly flrhid
officers from discussin. public matters
through the press or from criticsng or
commenting upon the acts and policy Of
those in authority. The duty of officers.
both in the navy and the army, is to obey
orders unQuestioningly and TO refrain
from criticism upon their supcrors. 1t
would seem that these regulations were
violated by Admiral Meade and surprise
has been expressed in naval circles that
an officer of Admiral Mcade'S rank and
experience, entirely familiar. of course,
with the regulations. should have COM
mitted so grave an infraction of them
and manifested such spirit of insubordi-
nation. Secretary Herbert, in speaking
of the matter the other day. stated that
the President WAS shocked at The recent
prevalence of INSTRUMENTATION among
naval officers. At no time for thirty -iive
years, it is said. have there been so many
cases of this character. The Secretary
said that there were more indictments
pending now against naval officers for
offenses against the discipline and good
order of the navy than at any time since
before the civil war.