davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Der Deutsche beobachter. [volume] (New Philadelphia, Ohio) 1869-1911, 1896-09-30

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Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1896-01-10
All " as Not Well.

On board naval vessels marines are
stationed as sentries on various parts of
the upper deck. During the night they
are obliged every BALI hour, when the
ships bell is struck, to call out the name
of their station, and then add the words
"Alls WELL"
Some years ago the flag ship Brooklyn
was at anchor one stormy winters night
OF Hampton Roads, Virginia. On the
top gallant forecastle of the frigate was
stationed a German marine, whose famil-
iarity with the English language was
none too generous. For long time he
paced to and fro on the snow covered
platform, while the gale flung the big
white flakes against his face, and the
bitter cold numbed the hands that held
the musket.
At last the sentry stood his rifle against
the stay in order to beat his fingers and
arms into warmth, and while engaged in
that exercise the ship gave a lurch, the
rifle slipped and. pitched overheard
Frightened, and not knowing exactly how
to report his loss, the poor fellow waited
until the ships bell sounded and 1t came
his return to report concerning his sta
ton. AS the officer of the deck listened
to catch the hail, troubled voice floated
out of the darkness forward.
Port cathead. and al ish not very
goot!"-Harpers Round table.
Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1896-01-10
SOME CHRISTMAS SCENES
The Odd Ways and Customs Of
Santa Claus.
CHRISTMAS IN MANY CLINICS
Russia's Celebrations Are Largely Reiig.
iOus--In Some Villages Wives
Are Chosen.

Santa Claus Mas many different ways
of showering delight and happiness to
the people Of different lands. But while
the way may be different. the result is
the same, and peace on earth, good
will to men" reigns wherever the doc
trine of Christianity has been taught.
Russia is particularly replete with
odd Christmas customs. and the many
tribes which go to make up the great
nation enjoy the season in way which
puts to the lie the popular belief that
the peasantry Of Russia are miserable,
down-trodden race. If they have trou-
bles and sufferings. they forget them
when Christmas comes around and are
as light hearted and merry as any peo-
pie on earth.
The Star of the East is the pre-emi-
nent symbol of Christmastide in the
Ukraine district 1t can be seen NOV
ing across the snow-covered hills and
roads of the Ukraine in numberless pro
cessions. The star is the guide of hun
Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1896-01-10
KILLED A DEER WITH A pENkNlFe
Desperate Hand TO Hand Fight of q
Penns glvania Boy.

Desperate Hand to Hand Fight of q
Penns glvania Boy.
Such a thing as hunter having q
hand-to-hand encounter with a deer
that he has wounded and has turned on
him to fight for its life Is not unusual;
but when boy of only II years catches
and kills full-grown doe, with no other
assistance than his hands and a rusty
old pocket-knife, new mark is made
for stories of hunting adventure, says
the Philadelphia Telegraph.
Benjamin r. Slower Is well-to-do car.
penter living in Aaronsburg and work.
ing wherever his services are demanded
in that vicinity. His son, Clarence, hav-
ing reached his 18th year, Is an appren-
tice to the trade of his father. The two
left home to work on job they had
procured about a mile and a half dis
tant, and while walking along the road
they were overtaken by neighbor. AS
he was alone in his buggy, he invited the
elder Slower to ride with him, the invi-
tation being accepted and the boy left
to complete his journey by himself.
In order to shorten the walk for him
self Clarence decided to take a near cut
across some fields, and had just started
to climb the fence at the roadside when
his attention was attracted by light
"crunching hoof falls" on the frosty
ground. On looking in the direction the
buggy had taken, he was startled to see
full-grown deer trotting toward him.
1t had evidently come out OF the strip
of woods in which the two men had been
lost sight of. Crouching down in the
angle of the old worm fence, the boy
grasped large stone and waited.
In a moment the deer was directly OPP
posite him, and then he raised and
threw the stone with all his might. 1t
struck the startled deer In the side and
away 1t sped like the wind. Clarence
was able to follow its tracks, and as
they turned back in the direction he
| was going he thought he would see the
point at which 1t entered the woods at
least. Running along, with his eyes on
the ground, he reached the top OF little
knoll in a large field, and, in a cursory
way, looked in all directions. Imagine
his surprise to see the deer lying under
| a tree just few rods beyond. With an
other stone he gave it second pelt.
This time he hit it on the head. and
must have dazed it, for IT sprang to its
feet and ran directly toward him.
At this juncture the boy grew desper-
| ate, and just as the deel sped by him he
threw himself at 1t and caught 1t by one
of its hind legs. Both went down to-
| gether and fearful struggle ensued.
| Deer and boy rolled over and over
| the marks Of the combat were viewed by
many people from the village later-un-
| til finally he got his knee on Its neck
and held it while he drew his old rusty
penknife and cut it's throat. After 1t
was dead he carried 1t back home on his
shoulder, and is now the hero OF the
town.
Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1896-01-10
THE STORY OF A QUEEN
Carter Of Montana's Famous Cat
tie Queen.
WAS CAPTURED BY INDIANS
She Was a Pioneer at Virginia City and
Helena. Possesses Thousands
of Cattle.

The Free Press of Mankato. MIMI,
relates the following concerning the
Cattle Queen" of northern Montana,
much of which will be a surprise to that
lady's many acquaintances in the north
west:
THE afternoon train from the west
brought Mrs. Nat Collins, the lady
known all over the northwest as the
Montana Cattle Queen, on account OF
her almost unlimited and certainly un-
numbered herds roaming over the
grassy plains of Montana. She came to
Mankato from St. James, accompanied
by c. w. Foote, the talented former
editor of the Plaindealer, who is at
present assisting her in looking after
her property interests. Both are regis
tered at the Saulpaugh. The occasion
of this visit Is a quiet conference ar
ranged to be held in this city this even
ing by Mrs. Collins with officials of the
Burlington road, who will arrive during
the evening. The conference is on q
matter not to be made public at pres
ent, but 1t is of no local significance.
Mrs. Collins is a fine looking lady OF
so years, well preserved and with an
excellent idea of business. The story
Of her life reads like romance. She
| hoo tlNCo IA bnC WcSlcEn GOunLTy ever
since she was 10 years of age, and went
to Denver when there was only one log
cabin and few tents where now the
cable cars roar along busy Fifteenth
and Sixteenth streets. She was the first
white woman to enter busy Virginia
City, and she made her appearance In
Helena when life there was at it's Wild
est. While a young woman she made
IL round trips between Denver and the
Missouri river as cook, and was cap
tured by Indians and held by them for
IS months. She embarked in the cattle
business 20 years ago with 1870 head and
never since then has a roundup been
made, but at shipping time as many
cattle are gathered in as are desired
1t is not known how many thousand
head of cattle she possesses and her
wealth can only be estimated. Her hus.
band is an invalid and remains at home
while Mrs. Collins attends to her large
business interests, which she Is thor
oughly capable of doing. Mr. Foote has
published history of her life and ad-
ventures and it is now in its second
edition"
Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1896-01-10
chRisrMAS n1RSHE6a
IN 20 OoLIR

dreds of childish professions in honor
of the blessed festival. AS soon as mid
night is near and the blue sky blending
above the snow-fields is sown with stars
companies of boys set forth. One of
them marches ahead with the sacred
symbol in the shape of lantern cut
into star form and mounted on the end
of a stick. The transparent paper which
conceals the candle is painted with
scene from Bethlehem. A young guard,
armed with a halberd, marches beside
the holy ikon, and behind him trudges
another boy carrying small painted
theater on his back.
AMUSE THE FARM FOLK.
At each farmhouse they halt and ask
permission to give performance,which
is usually very simple A few puppets,
representing the three kings, are shown;
and some couplets are sung about the
nativity. After the spectacle and songs.
the little artists take up a collection.
In some sections Of the Ukraine, the
procession of children is less sacred in
character. A few boys disguise them
selves as animals, and, held in leash by
their companions, they go from farm
house to farmhouse, giving grotesque
entertainments.
The stork and the bear are the crea-
lures principally portrayed, and they
sometimes sing comical couplets togeth-
er. The great wooden doors of each
house are thrown open, and the whole
family assemblies in gala costumes upon
the threshold.
CHOOSING THEIR BETROTHED.
Another and a curious Christ
mas night custom in Russia is
the choosing of the fiancee,
which might, one would think
now and then lead to some serious mis-
adventures. On Christmas eve the gift
tree is set up in the house of the chief
| official of the neighborhood, and all
worthy persons in the village are in
| yited. At a giventime all the unmar-
ried women leave the festivities and &c
and take their seats on benches in q
shed. There their faces, arms and shoul-
ders are swathed in linen, so as pretty
effectually to conceal their identity and
after a time young peasants are ad-
mitted one by one in search for theiI
girls. Each is betrothed to the cir
| from whose brow he lifts the veil and
| the engagement can not be broken with
out the payment by both lovers of 9
| heavy fne to the village funds.
But SO adroit are the maideRs in Civ
ing some sign of identity to their swain.
| that the fines are rarely levied.
Armenia ordinarily Is an interesting
Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1896-01-10

place at Christmas time. but It win be n
sad festival for tens of thousands of the
people of this trouble-torn country this
year.
One of the unique Christmas customs
of the country is that practiced nv the
young girls ana women. They climb 70
the fat roofs of their houses ana Mac
ing plates of corn cakes In the ann thev
watch the crows. or ..choucas" as thew
are called. ALWAYS towering near
If a crow ulunges down on q n,eca NJ
corn cake and flies awav out of s,gbt
with the prey in its greedy beal then
the young girrs happiness Is gone for
the wear.
IN SPAIN AND ITALY
Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1896-01-10

,double-bass grunted out; but I caught
the most important stanzas and have
never forgotten them.
Imagine them sung to the few notes
of some monotonous old canticle, ac-
companied by the dyspeptic means Of
the viol and the ear-piercing discords
Of the clarionet, with the hilarious cries
of north wind in the old park trees
joining in. and you will have a faint
idea of the beauty of this serenade.
THE CAROL.
Greet another Christmas morning!
Pass the mug Of good brown ale!
y Pomps and vanities a-scorning.
Christians, pull the DEVILS tail!
Gentles all! 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 tremolo into his
awful scrape; the clerk with the clario-
net allowed himself to attempt senti-
ment in his 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 it was, they had
been expected, and were invited into the
baronial kitchen to large bowl of
'frumety,' another relic of the Saxon
Yule, word derived from frumenta, or
wheat-corn. This, a kind of porridge
made of screed wheat Gin Scotland of
'sowans,' or oatmeaD sweetened with
honey and dried currants. is to be met
with in all north of England houses at
Christmas time. 1t is memory of the
offerings made to Hulda, the Scandi-
navian Ceres, to obtain her promises for
the harvests of the coming year, as the
burning of the Yule-log was brought
down from remote ages when fire-sacri-
flee was made to the sun-god."
Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1896-01-10
USE OF THE CANDLES
Were Burned by the Romans to
Drive Away Evil Spirits'.Toy
Covered Fir.

AZ this season OF the year when all
e world is bent on merrymaking 1t be-
5mes a matter of interest to trace up
Ia origin of some of the customs which
IKE Christmas what it Is.
Many pretty observances which de-
*hted the children and grown folks of
rec, four and five hundred years ago
I've been lost completely. Perhaps it
Xjust as well, for If they had been re-
<ined others which were not Of a de-
&htful or elevating character might
30 be in use, to the destruction of the
<Iigious character of the Christmas
|stival.
Few mothers and fathers who will
1orn Christmas tree for their little
les with many colored candles on
hristmas eve know that they will be
tdng precisely what the Romans of old
|d hundreds of years ago. 1t was a
gan feast which the Romans cele-
fated, however, the date being Feb
airy 2.
In the time of the Romans this day
rs sacred to Februa, the presiding
lily from whose name the word Feb
1ary, or the fructifying month, was de-
ned. On this day the Romans burned
indies in her honor to keep away the
lalign spirits who were always at war
Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1896-01-10
u.rm,h for The Bievcler,s Hands.

A bicyclist of Grand Rapids. Mich. has
invented and patented an odd kind Of
bicycle mitt for protecting the hands OF
a rider during cold weather and yet leav-
ing the hand free from clumsy glove cas-
ings SO that the handles may be grasped
easily and free use of the fingers be had.
The device is a kind of bell or cone OF
felt woven in one piece. the smaller end
fitting tightly ON the handle bar just be-
yond the handle proper. 1t Is loose enough
to permit of the hand being easily slipped
inside to grasp the handle. yet fits closely
enought to afford all the warmth re-
quired. The inventor claims that this
makes riding possible and pleasurable IN
the coolest weather.
Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1896-01-10

up in imitation of the manager in Beth
lehem, and is visited by hundreds or
thousands.
The carols are sung by princes and
princesses of the operate stage; the
midnight sermon is preached by one of
the most celebrated of preachers. The
singing is so fine that people often wait
many hours, standing crowded in the
aisles, rather than miss 1t. At the Made
leine all the splendors of the church
treasury are brought out, and the affairs
are agleam with dazzling wealth, ac-
cumulated through centuries.
IN PIOUS BRETON.
In the humble and pious Breton vii
lagos, also, the midnight naassni is at
tended by the faithful. Phe peasants
come trudging over the snowy roads,
and clatter in their wooden shoes into
the porch of the blackened and dilapi-
dated old church. Each leaves his Ian
tern and his wraps with the old crone
at the portal, then pushes forward to
the nave, where he leaves his sabots
and betakes himself to prayer. A few
old-fashioned carols are sung, lively
allocutlon is delivered by the country
cure; and by and by. in the gray of the
morning, the groups of men and women,
in their broad hats and long black coats,
go straying home together.
IN FRANCE LONG AGO.
In the middle ages in France it was
the custom for the burghe-s of one town
to go in procession on the eve before
Christmas to visit the neighbors In
some adjacent burg, and to represent
before them a rude mystery play Of the
nativity.
They went in procession playing upor
rebeck, viol, tabor and flute, and some
times displayed much pomp in those pa
rades, all of which were in honor, al
their old carols say, of Jesus, the flow
er of Life"
1t would sorely puzzle the average
child of the United States If he had t.
spend Christmas IN far-off Australia
Instead of snow, ice and chilly blasts
| the Australians have weather mucl
like we have on the Fourth of July.
Christmas there means great open
air picnic, celebrated in groves of euca
| lupus trees and surrounded by blossom
| ing flowers. Aside from the weather
Christmastide is observed by the Aus
| tralian the same as in the mother coun
try, topped of by a fine dinner Of IA
goose and plum pudding.
Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1896-01-10

witch benignant providence; and it is
said that Pope Sergius, finding it i'm
nossible to extinguish these heather
indies, reapplied them to the service
Of Tie 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-
comes the elegant Christmas tree of to-
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
Tint 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 mil
llone of children for countless genera
lions fully atones for their Objectionable
customs.
no decorate the festal halls every
thing that lived above the snow was
0ro>1ght in to make the surroundings
nav and indicate the worship of nature
~ REPRESENTED by Orion Bel and Freya.
IH< holly, which grows largely in Swed-
IA 4nd the north of Germany, and the
nzisfletoe, which obtained a sacred
t6aracter from it's apparently spon-
mucous and magical growth, defied
*nou and winter and were the ever
mems most easily obtained.
ID Rome, palmetto leaves and the
l4n<. tapering plumes of the palm that
III Who know the Rivera have so often
44oired on the shores of the Medlter-
<znean, were used in the winter festivi-
<its, and from these the Christmas tree
IS Il was originally called, Is derived.
THE HOLY SEASON.
ne season appointed by the churcn
IN Hhich to celebrate the birth OF Christ
#Ithout exactly being arbitrary-for
E1ere is little doubt that the rainy sea-
SON In Judea was never chosen by the
1Itpherds for open-air watching of theil
fI11ks by night-was selected, as many
&(1er feasts long before Christianity
@4 founded, on account of the winter
&cI.fice, when the year had completed
pollution, or, as was then supposed
flery wheels of Phoebus' chariot hac
<e more rolled round the earth.
this period, which the Romans frs
4{tuted as the beginning of the year
@1< Celts and Germans celebrated, a.
IN Die Japanese at the present day. thu
<fwing of life in the dead earth, thu
Ter of nature being again on tn
I'VE beneath the snow of winter.
pr the II nights beginning Decembe
Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1896-01-10

fairy, and If the tree belongs to very
orthodox family there is usually at its
foot small toy group representing the
Savior's birth in the stable at Bethle-
hem. The tree represented, though
grown from 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 always set their faces against
Christmas observances, and indeed the
Puritan parliament, of the Praise-God
Barebones period, abolished Christmas
altogether, and made it heinous crime
of lesenationality to exhibit holly and
ivy on their walls.
CHRISTMAS CAROLS.
1t is true that the feast of that date
had become an orgie and the Christ
mss 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 countries of
| England, where the changing fashions
of London have not yet penetrated to
the rustics, the old-time custom is still
| continued 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 a titled English
man at the latter's country house dur
| ing the Christmas season described the
doings of the parish choir to the writer
in this way:
"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 a curious mix
ture of religious and profane; and re-
call verse or two of these noels that
are really comic.
Looking out of my window one night
IL was passing a Christmas week in
the north countree'-to learn what was
the cause of 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 them
selves in a half-circle on the snow out
side.
zone white-haired old man, with spec
tacles and a knitted wooden nightcap,
held a clarionet and seemed to be the
precentor. He was probably the parish
clerk. Another was presiding over an
enormous bass viol, while small boy,
who was enveloped in worsted COM
forter and gloves. which together nearly
concealed him, held aloft small mr. tree
Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1896-01-10
FIRS4 SHURCH sERvTcEs.

fNisf rlhOI SI1OHCh SE6 WEES.
AS the church in the middle ages
instituted dramatic representations of
divine legends, at time when reading
and writing were monopolized by relig-
ious orders and all impressions on a
peoples fancy had to be made through
che eye and ears, one of the most popu-
lar mysteries, 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 we'll as by, the
monks at these mysteries came the
Christmas carols, or noels, as they are
called in French.
Some of these "mangers' are produced
with care and elaboration, and though
they do not give the dialogues and con-
versations of the old times, they give the
holy representation in places with NOV
able figures, who nod and kneel, and on
the entry of the three kings or wise men
of the east offer their presents with up
lifted arms.
TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS TREE.
In all these groups there has been
from time immemorial a tree. It may
be seen outside the traditional managers
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 scroll of
illuminated paper the peace on Earth
and Good Will Towards Men," or GLORY
Glory, Hallelujah."
The correct German Christmas tree
always has an angel or Christkind on
the topmost branch, with tinsel star
at the end of a staff like pantomime