davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1895-02-16
The Catholic Church In The
United States.

In connection with the laying I
the corner stone of St. Patricfs
Cathedral. of which full report
will b found elsewhere, we pu-
blished yesterday very interest
ing Sketch of the rise and pro-
press of the Catholich church in
this city. No one can read that
sketch without feeling of won
der and surprise. And yet the
history of the Catholic Church in
New York is but q counterpart
of its history in the United Sta
tee. Fifty years ago there we're
! in the whole United States one
diocese, two bishops, sixty-eight
priests, eighty churches, two &C.
clesiastical institutions, ono COL
llege and two female academies.
At that time the entire population
of the country was seven millions.
Assuming the present population
of the country to be % millions
five millions more than the Gen.
sus of 1850 showed-it would fol-
low that we had quadrupled our
> population in the last half ceptu-
~. Had the progress of the Ca
/. tholic Church barely kept pace
with the progress of population
there should be at the preset day
on the basis of the foregoing sta
tement, four dioceses. eight bi'
} shops, two hundred and seventy
two priests, three hundred and
twenty churches, eight ecclssiss
teal institutions, four colleges ane
eight female academies belonging
to that denomination. But how
do the figures actually stand
Why, in this single archdiocese
they are more than doubled, a
: we showed by our article yester
day. In the whole United States
instead of four dioceses (which
= proportienate increase would hav'
I given), there arc forty-one; in
J, stead of eight bishops, there ar
thirty-nine, and two apostolic vi
cars; instead of two hundred an
seventy-two priests, there Al
eighteen hundred and seventy
two; instead of three hundred an
twenty churches, there are tw
Thousand and ffty-three, beside
eight hundred and twenty-niu
stations, instead of eight eccles
3. astical institutions, there are thil
- ty-fve; instead of four college
there are twenty-nine: and instea
: of eight female academies, the
? are a hundred and thirty-four.
other words, taking the numbe
If priests and of churches as a b
sis Of computation, the Cathol
]. Church has increased. within Il
u lAst half century, seven times
!. fast o. the population.
These are remarkable facts al
statistics, and may we'll chsllen
the establishment and consider
Is ton Il all men. To what cause
this unparalleled growth OF t
CAtholic Church in this count
attributed? This principal eau
y of.coprse, is to be found in t
immense emigration here FRONT
!. Catholic countries Of Europe; I
=. still the Catholic emigrati
~ lshould boar to that of all oth'
g the proportion of twenty-eight
The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1895-02-16
Grand Ball.

yigilant Hook and Ladder Co No ]. Will
give a Grand Ball at Duchamp's Hall
where his Majesty will Crown bis
Queen aud hold reception.
The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1895-02-16
MAKE CANE CARTS OF
THE BEST and STRONG
EST KIND.

All Repairs in my line will
be promptly made, and my
work is guaranteed. .
I solicit the patronage OF
!. the public, promising them
tho best work at reasonable
prices. L. De st. Germain.
Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-12-23
THE CHRISTMAS DINNER.

Some Pointers to the Housewife on the
Christmas Feast.
In old New England times it was
thought that the turkey must be roasted
on spit over the big Yule logs in order
to preserve the delicacy of flavor and
aroma. However, the modern epicure
pronounces his Christmas dinner quite
''comme il faut" if the turkey, cram
berry sauce and pumpkin pie are pre-
pared with more care than any Of the
other articles of diet, according to the
Cincinnati Enquirer.
If the turkey cock be young the leg
will be black and smooth and the spur
short. When fresh the feet are moist
and supple. the eyes prominent; it the
leg of a turkey hen be red and rough
it is old and unfit for the table. A tur-
key should hang from ten days to fort
night, according to the weather, taking
care it does not freeze, and the strings
or sinews of the thighs must always be
drawn out.
Cut off the neck close at the back,
leaving sufficient of the skin to turn
over toward the back. Cut the breast
bone through on each side close to the
back, and draw the legs close to the
breast Break and fatten the breast
bone to give the bird plump appear
ance Fill the breast With force meat,
leaving the legs on, passing a skewer
through the body. Score the gizzard,
dipping into the yolk of an egg and sea-
son with salt and pepper; also the liver.
Cover the turkey with buttered pa
per and dredge lightly with flour. A
turkey should be extremely we'll roasted,
and if only eight or ten pounds in weight
should be cooked ten hours. Large tur-
keys require proportionately longer
time.
AS Americans have gained reputa-
ton for being a pie-eating nation, it is
desirable that the pies, especially the
Thanksgiving pumpkin pies, should be
we'll made. Pastry is not more health
full with less shortening, but should con-
tain sufficient butter or lard to be light,
tender and faky.
For Cranberry Sauce-After washing
and picking the cranberries, cook them
in porcelain kettle with just enough
cold water to cover them; add one-half
teaspoonful soda, and let them cook until
they are thoroughly done. Add one
pound of white sugar to each pint of
berries and simmer slowly an hour and
a half
For Pumpkin Pie-One coffeecupfpl of
milk, three eggs, one teaspoonful of Gin
-namon, one heaping teaspoonful of gin
ger, a little pepper and salt, one teacup
of mOlasses and one cup of stewed pump
kim Bake with one crust
Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-12-23
MIsTLEToE BY YULETIDE.

Not So Generally Used Holly-Vener-
ated by the Druids.
The connection of the mistIetOe with
Christmas is a very curious one and fa1
from being a general one. Literature is
perhaps mainly responsible for it, in that
illusions to a custom, in a great degree
purely local, have made large number
of persons interested in the plant. It.
moreover, seems to me that the custom of
using it in Christmas decorations de-
ponds on two considerations-first its
evergreen habit, and, secondly, the ven
GRAFTON in which it was held by the
Druids. In the orchards of HerefOrd-
shire and Worcestershire, in England
and in those of Normandy apple trees
may be seen covered with mistletoe to
such an extent that.in winter time, when
Invested of their natural leaves, they
present mass of green in the leaves OF
their parasite, says the Philadelphia
Press.
The reasons mentioned have no doubt
done much to secure for the miStletOe the
place which in recent times it has held
in Christmas festivities, but it is not SO
universally honored at Yuletide as the
holly. In fact, it's popularity is purely
local, and its use as an ornament, III
places where it does not grow, is due
rather to an antiquarian sentiment than
to any feeling that it's presence at the re-
joicings of the season is necessary. You
may have merry Christmas without any
mistletoe at all, but to the majority OF
the people Christmas without a sprig
or two of holly would scarcely seem to
be Christmas at all. Even that rare old
plant the ivy green cannot compete with
the holly as a necessary part of domestic
adornment for the Christmas merry
gatherings.
Still, mistletoe has certain amount of
sentiment attached to it, and therefore
farmhouses, mansions and castles of the
districts of England where it grows, and
in the dwellings of the wealthy where it
can be purchased, while here, a sprig is
bought Just for the sake of old memories.
Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-12-23
ORIGIN OF XMAS WAYS.
Christmas Observances Date
Back to Pagan Rites.
Candles Burned by Romans to Drive
Away Evil Spirits.

At this season of the year when all
the world is bent on merrymaking it be-
comes a matter of interest to trace up
the origin of some Of the customs which
make Christmas what it is.
Many pretty observances which de-
lighted the children and grown folks of
three, four and five hundred years ago
have been lost completely. Perhaps it is
just as well, for if they had been re-
tanned others which were not Of a de-
lightful or elevating character might
also be in use, to the destruction Of the
religious character of the Christmas fes-
tival.
Few mothers and fathers who will
adOrn a Christmas tree for their little
ones with many colored candles Oh
Christmas eve know that they will be
doing precisely what the Romans of old
did hundreds of years ago. 1t was Il
pagan feast which the Romans celebrat-
ed, however, the date being February 2.
In the time of the Romans this day
was sacred to Februa,- the presiding
airy, or the fructifying month, was de-
rived. On this day the Romans burned
candles in her honor to keep away the
malign spirits who were always at war
with a benignant providence; and it is
said that Pope Sergius, finding it impos-
sible to extinguish these heather can-
dies, reannlied them to the service Of
the Virgin, and instituted Candlemas,
when the light of the torches was sup
posed to brighten the devil away from
the houses or churches in which they
were burned.
Here, then. is the origin of the candle
bearing Christmas greenery which be-
+ho oil ;Cfr IF 10
day.
The First Xmas Tree.
With the exception of the Christmas
tree, few of the old customs remain.
The toy-covered fir tree was first used
by the heather Scandinavians of long
ago. Their religion was as fantastic as
the mythology of ancient Greece and
Rome and as crude in some respects as
that of the most depraved savages. But
the use of the fir tree was one Of it's
few beautiful features, and the fact that
it has survived and has given JOY to
Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-12-23

g The doctors had told me that unless
/ went to the hospital and had an opera
ton performed COULD not live. had
falling, enlargement, and liberation OF
the womb.
Il was in constant misery all the time;
my back ached; was always tired. It
was impossible for me to walk far or
stand long at time. I was surely
wreck / decided that would give your
Compound and Sanatiye Wash trial.
q took three bottles of Lydia E..
Pinkhanls We table Compound, and
used two packages of Sanative Wash, and
/ am now almost well. am stouter and
healthier than I have ever been in my
life My friends and neighbors and the
doctors are surprised at my rapid inn
provement. I have told them all what
/ have been taking - MRS. ANNETTA
B1cKME1ER, Bellaire, Belmont Co., O.
Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-12-23
CHEAP CHRISTMAS GIFTS.

They Can be Made at Home by Deft Fin
gers.
Something unique and convenient is
the folding waste paper box or basket,
so easily packed in the trunk when going
for a visit or a short stay anywhere.
To make this basket take heavy card
board and cut eight pieces, each about
eight inches square; cover them with
plain or figured duck or linen-a deep
golden brown fecked with dull red and
yellow is artistic. Cover the eight, pieces
and overland then finely together in
pairs, SO that the four sides of the basket
are formed. Make similar. fifth square
for the bottom. In overhanding the
pairs together leave one side of each
square open until a piece of the duck
has been slipped between. The other
edge of this piece of duck slip between
the pieces forming the bottom square
and leave enough loose 50 that the four
sides can have play to fold down on the
bottom, one square over the other. To
have the basket in readiness for use tie
the four sides together at the top corners
with bows of satin ribbon two inches
yide-Harper'S Bazaar.
Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-12-23

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 canticle, accom-
panied by the dyspeptic means of the VOL
and the ear-piercing discords of the
clarionet, with the hilarious cries of a
north wind in the old park trees joining
in, and you will have faint idea of the
beauty of this serenade.
THE CAROL.
Greet another Christmas morning!
Pass the mug of good brown ale!
Pomps and vanities a-scorning,
Christians, pull the Devils tail!
Gentles all! Come, breach barrel
To the health of our Squirrel
When you hear our Christmas carol
Don't forget the Parish choir!
when they arrived at the last line
the small boy waved the fr-tree flag; the
double bass put a tremolo into his awful
scrape; the clerk with the clarionet al
lowed himself to attempt sentiment in
his Internal blowing, and the choir gen.
orally 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 it was, they had
been expected, and were invited into the
baronial kitchen to a large bowl of
'frumety,' another relrc of the Saxon
Yule, word derived from frumenta, or
wheat-corn. This, "a kind of porridge
made of screed wheat Tin Scotland of
'sowans,' or oatmeals, sWeetened with
honey and dried currants, is to be met
with in all north of England houses at
Christmas time. It is a memory of the
offerings made to Hulda, the Scandina-
Wan Ceres, to obtain her promises for
the haryests of the coming year, as the
burning of the Yule-log was brought
down from remote ages when fre-sacri-
flee was made to the Sun-God.'
Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-12-23
TRUSTING WOMEN.
THEIR CONFIDENCE OFTEN LEADS
TO SUFFERING.
An Ohio Woman's Experience, as Here
Related, is Interesting to Every
American Woman.
tsrnClA1 TO OUR LADY Er4DErs.1

It is very sad fact that the more a
woman trusts to the skill of her physician
in treating her female complaints, the
longer she is. apt to suHer.
Lydia E. Pinkham fully realized this
fact when she commenced that exhaus-
tive study that has enabled the women OF
the world to- help themselves. She dis
covered the source of female complaints,
and produced the Vegetable Compound,
which is their absolute cure.
When such testimony as the following
is given, the woman who thinks should
act quickly, and NO longer permit herself
to trust to incompetent doctors. The
Vegetable Compound is sold by all drug
gists, and every woman should have it.
Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-12-23
A Horses Queer Predicament.

lost a horse and carriage about three
weeks ago and supposed the same to
have been stolen He advertised and
made diligent inquiry, all to no purpose
While in the woods near his home he
discovered the team standing with the
carriage jammed between two trees.
The horse was a mere skeleton from
it's seventeen days, fast and had nearly
eaten off large gum tree, which was
the only thing edible within reach. The
animal was taken home, cared for and
will likely recover, despite it's terrible
experience. Mr.. MARITIME thinks the
horse strayed away, with the carriage at
tached, and became prisoner by the
ENHANCEMENT of the vehicle between the
trees. Philadelphia Record.
Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-12-23

call verse of two of these noels that
are really comic.
Looking out of my window one night
II was passing a Christmas week in the
north countree'-to learn what was the
cause of subdued muttering and whis-
pering i'm the carriage drive, in front of
the old Elfzabethan house, saw some
dozen chawbaeons, most of whom carried
lanterns, arranging themselves in a half
circle ON the snow outside.
Zone white-ha1red old man, with spec
tacles and a knitted wooden nightcap,
held clarionet and seemed to be the
precentor. He was probably the parish
Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-12-23

clerk Another was presiding over an
enormous bass yiol, while small boy,
who was enveloped in a worsted com
forter and gloves, which together nearly
concealed him, held aloft a small fir tree
on pole, with lantern hanging from
beneath the boughs.
''The clerk was so impressed with the
time to make his preparations, which
period was employed by the choir in
stamping their feet and clapping their
arms across them to keep up their caloric.
There was keen wintry wind which
carried all sounds away, now and then,
Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-12-23

monks at these mysteries came the
Christmas carols. or noels, as they are
called in French.
Some of these managers are produced
with care and elaboration, and though
they do not give the dialogues and con-
yersations of the old times, they give
the holy representation in places with
movable figures, who nod and kneel, and
on the entry of the three kings or wise
men of the East offer their presents with
uplifted arms.
The Traditional Christmas Tree.
In all these groups there has been from
time immemorial tree. 1t may be seen
outside the traditional hangers in the
missals and early paintings of the pre-
Raphaelite Italian school. In this tree
or near it are seen angels in flowing
robes singing out of a scroll of illumi-
mated paper the ''Peace on earth and
glory, hallelujah.''
The correct German Christmas tree al
ways has an angel or a Christkind on
the topmoSt branch, with tinsel star at
the end of staff like any pantomime
fairy, and if the tree belongs to a very
orthodox family there is usually. at it's
foot small toy group representing the
Savior's birth in the stable at Bethle-
hem. The tree represented, though
grown from a heather root, is no doubt
still the tanebaum which from Germany
has become naturalized in America,
France and England.
The extreme Puritans, originating with
the Presbyterians of Scotland, have al
ways set their faces against Christmas
observances, and indeed the Puritan Far
lament Of the Praise-God Barebones
period, abolished Christmas altogether,
and made it a heinous crime of lese
nationality to exhibit holly and ivy on
their walls.
1t is true that the feast of that date
had become an orgie and the Christmas
carol of that day was almost unfit for
publication; but with the return of
Charles II. and the Restoration, holly,
ivy and mistletoe came back with re-
newed attraction and carols were sung
by village choirs all over the continent
of Europe.
The Parish Choir.
In some of the far-away counties of
England, where the changing fashions of
London have not yet penetrated to the
rustics, the old-time custom is still con-
tinued of the parish choir making the
rounds of the homes of the gentry and
singing Christmas carols.
A well-known New York society man
who was the guest of titled English
man at the latter's country house during
the Christmas season described the do
ings of the parish choir to the writer in
this way:
1.-THE carols still sung in the country
in some parts of England by boys IN
smock-frocks, with ribbons tied to their
hats and shoulders, are curious MKT
ure of religious and profane; and l re-
Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-12-23

Christmas SHOWS are on the moor,
Sing, sweet Robin!
And the Christmas star burns gold,
Sweet Robin, sing
Hungry birds are at the door,
Sweet Robin, sing!
And their feathers puffed with cold,
Sweet Robin, sing!
There's babe sleeps in the stall,
Sing, sweet Robin!
With the grass for blanket warm,
Sweet Robin, sing!
Him the beasts have given their all,
Sweet Robin, sing!
Sheltering him from winter storm,
Sweet Robin, sing!
Ope the door and call them in,
Sing, sweet Robin!
Newborn babe and starving birds,
Sweet Robin, sing!
And all children cold and thin,
Sweet Robin, sing.
To the best our house affords,
Sweet Robin. sing!
London Sketch.
Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-12-23
A New York Beverage.

Curiosity led me to visit Division street
the other night. There were many pc
culiar things to be seen. What interest
ed me most was the beverage drunk by
the old women and children with their
meals In pot Of very strong tea
they squeeze the juice of a lemon. A
lump of sugar is then passed around,
each taking a bite and holding the piece
in the mouth till sip of tea has dis
solved it when all is swallowed together.
It is an exceedingly pleasant drink.-New
York Letter.
Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-12-23
Mr.. squiggs' Queer Eye.

The friends and relatives of Trelawny
Squiggs of Peapack, Pa, are much dis
turbed over the peculiar aff1iction that
has overtaken him. His left eye, which
is large, brown and expressive, pops out
unexpected and inopportune moments
He has embarrassed actors and public
speakers to such an extent that he has
been requested to keep out Of the Lyce-
ur.-Springfeld Republican.
Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-12-23
Wassailine the Trees.

A custom once practiced at Christmas
time was one entitled ''wassailing the
trees" A pail filled with cider, in which
a cake had been immersed, was fastened
to an apple tree. the ceremony being
accompanied by much dancing and in
cantation. calculated to increase the
The merrymakers retired singing:
Our toast. it is white; our ale, it is brown
WSsail. wassail, all over town.
Our bowl, it is made of maple tree,
We sc good fellows all; drink to thee
Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-12-23

millions of children for countless gen
erations fully atones for their objection
able customs.
To decorate the festal halls every
thing that lived above the snow was
brought in to make the surroundings
as represented by Orion Bel and Freya.
The holly, which grows largely in Swe-
den and the north of Germany, and
the mistletoe, which obtained sacred
character from it's apparently spontane-
Gus and magical growth, defied snow
and winter and were the eyergreens
most easily obtained.
In Rome, palmetto leaves and the
long, tapering plumes of the palm that
all who know the Riviera have so often
admired on the shores of the Mediterra
mean, were used in the winter festivities,
and from these the Christmas tree, or
Christ tree, as it was originally Called.
is derived.
The season appointed by the church
in which to celebrate the birth of Christ
without exactly being arbitrary-for
there is little doubt that the rainy sea
son in Judea was never chosen by the
shepherds for open-air watching of their
focks by night-was selected, as MANY
other feasts long before Christianity
solstice, when the year had completed a
revolution, or, as was them supposed,
the fiery wheels of Phoebus' chariot had
once more rolled round the earth.
At this period. which the Romans
first instituted as the beginning of the
year, the Celts and Germans celebrated
as do the japanese at the present day,
the renewing of life in the dead EARTH
the power of nature being again on the
move beneath the snow of winter.
For the twelve nights beginning De-
cember % and ending OH January 8
(the English Twelfthnight and the
French Fete des Rois, or Feast of the
Kings, the ancestors of the Siegfrieds
and the Lohengrins, held their Yule fes-
tival in honor of the fiery wheel of the
sun-god. For the root of our word
wheel and Of the Scandinavian ''yule"
are one and the same.
Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-12-23
First Church Services.

AS the church in the early middle ages
instituted dramatic representations of di-
vine legends, at a time when reading and
writing were monopolized by religious
orders and all impressions on peoples
fancy had to be made through the eye
and ears, one of the most popular mystic
ries. as these early stage plays were
called, was the Christmas story-the
birth of Christ.
These representations of the Christ
cradle. as they were called in France
and Germany. are still exhibited in
churches. Catholic and Lutheran. all
over Europe From the early hymns
sung by the peasants as well as by the