davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-12-24
THE CHRISTMAS TABLE.
How to Arrange 1t in an Artistic and Up
tO-Date Fashion.

There are no hard and fast rules for
setting the Christmas table-or any
other table, for that matter-but Gus
tom prescribes certain forms with
more or less definiteness.
In many private families, for in
stance, a cocked-up napkin is placed
at the left of each plate, and in the
snowy linen jaws is stuffed dainty
roll. In many others this style has
been abandoned and the napkin plain
ly folded, so as to show the monogram
is laid on the plate. The latter meth
cd is perhaps the most "up-to-date. }"
So of the glasses. Time was-and,
to a certain degree, still is-when a
little forest of crystal was ranged at
the right of every plate. "A glass for
every wine and wine for every
glass" But here again the later day
method is toward moderation. Three
glasses-ch claret and apol-
linaris-are counted in better form for
social gatherings. Indeed, the deep
drinkers and large eaters of not so
very long ago would shiver with hun
cry apprehension at the sight OF the
stylish banquet board of to-day.
Good taste, as we see it now, eluires
that no eatables whatever, except the
merest nibbles-the hors d'oeuvre5 of
the heightened menus-shall be on the
table before the guests are seated.
Daintily heaped on mounds of
cracked ice are the olives at one end
and the radishes at the other end of
the table, flanked right and left by sal
ted almonds and French candy.
How shall we be knived, and where
withal shall we be spOoned and forked
is not so easily answered.
Any hostess may have notions of her
own on these matters within rather
wide limits, and be in no wise an often
der.
But again, the best way is the short
one. The oyster fork, spoon for the
soup, and two knives at the right, and
two forks-one for the fish-at the
left, are all that are required at the
beginning of the banquet.
A butter chip and individual salts
and peppers are punched before each
plate. But butter plays a minor role
in the very pretentious dinner casts.
For the centre piece a large piece
of holly gives a Christmas-like air,
and the red and green form a pretty
bit of color contrast.
The olives and radishes carry out the
same color scheme, and add to the at
Effectiveness of the board.
For a soft, pretty light candleabra
with colored paper shades, prettily
tinted, are the thing and they are very
decorative.
All table decorations and fixtures
tend toward simplicity. The high
centre pieces of fruits or flowers-once
so prevalent-are rarely used now
When friends or intimates meet
around the social board there is no
sense in making the conversation OF
opposites so largely matter of peek
a-bOO
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-12-24

AS soon as the object leaves the
glass blowers hand it is passed to
some other member of the family.
whose duty it is to fasten an eye or
a hook, as the case may he, to the Or
nament. If to be dyed it goes to an
other who stands at the bath and dips
every object with lightning rapidity.
He or she then hands it to some child
who puts it on long stick for the dry
ing oven. If an oven is not to be had
the heat of the room or the sun has to
perform this office. Then the silver
ing, which gives additional lustre to
the object is attended to. This is
done by dropping some quicksilver So
luton through a small opening left
that for that purpose. The final touch
es are then given the ornament in the
buffing or polishing with soft cotton
batting.
In the immediate vicinity of the
Louscha in the village of Steinheid.
the people have taken up the man.
ufacture of Christmas tree ornaments.
made chiefly Of the cheapest kind of
tin. These ornaments are more dur
able and almost as cheap as the ones
made from glass The objection to
them, however, is that from an artis-
tic point Of view they do not compare
favorahly with the latter. But there
are many things to recommend them,
and the dealers predict an enormous
trade in this line. All sorts of shapes
are made-stars, crescents, suns and
all sorts of geometrical designs. They
are cast so as to have one side deeply
indented. On this side the ornamental
ton is done, which consists in lining
the depressions or intentions of the pat
tern with a wonderfully brilliant sub
stance BY skillfuly combining har-
monious Colors some very beautiful
effects are obtained,
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-12-24
New Inventors Wanted,

Duplicate heads-for the people who
"lose their heads at critical moments.
A stump-puller-for people who sud
denly become rooted to the spot
A brace-for the use of weak
kneed" persons in the hour of danger.
An anchor-for holding people who
are frequently transported with de-
light"
A grindstone-for persons who
grind their teeth" in a moment of an
ger.
Insulators-for the use of prudish
people who are frequently shocked"
by the language of their friends.
Thunder rods-for the benefit of per-
sons who are "thunder-struck" when
they receive unexpected news.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-12-24
ORIGIN OF YULE TIDE.
The Festive Season Celebrated Long Before
Christmas Came.

ShTlSbhttS ShhiC'
Once upon a time, when Christmas
was yet unknown, the northern ma
tions of the world held yearly festi-
val which they called Yule. They
wreathed with greens the temples of
their heather gods, as we wreathe our
churches to-day; they burned great
yule logs in honor of the sun, that he
might make the earth blossom into
Spring; and they gave their children
yule gifts from fir trees loaded down
with pretty things, just as we give to
our children upon Christmas Eve.
1t was not until 1870 years after Jesus
Christ, in the reign of the Roman En-
peror Commodus, that Yule became
Christmas, and it was in the fourth
century, at the time of Constantine the
Great and of Diocletian, that there
lived Saint Nicholas, whom boys and
girls know everywhere as Santa Claus.
The legend of the jolly old fellow trav-
cling with his reindeer to fill the stock
ings, or, in some countries, the shoes,
which children placed ready for him,
grew from the fact that Saint Nicholas
was regarded as the patron saint of
young people the world over. We
English-speaking nations have the
story from the Dutch.
But what shall we tell our boys and
girls of Santa Claus. Do they not
know him? Are they not looking
eagerly for his visit of this year. Let
us remember, however, the history of
the Christmas holidays; for what is
more beautiful than that the living re-
ligon of Christ should touch and vivify
one of the Oldest of the heather fes-
rivals, not only taking away nothing
that it was good to retain, but hallow
ing one particular day, the 25th of De-
cember, as the birthday of the child
Jesus?
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-12-24
NOT HIS FAULT.
An Episode That Should Warn Lovers
Against "Jollying."

Against "Jollying."
Blummer is just now in that frame
of mind when a young man VOWS that
his heart is dead; that there is nothing
to live for; that he can never love an
other woman, and all that kind of stuff.
And to think that l had her." he
groans to his confidential friends. "She
is the sweetest woman under the sun,
and she had promised to be mine. All
that l had to do was to get the old
gentleman's consent, and that was dead
easy. They live about fifty miles up
the main line and Whitley went with
me as a sort of moral support. In the
smoker we found no one but mild
faced old gentleman, reading his pa
per and smiling or frowning, just as he
was impressed by what he read. Of
course l was walking on air and too
full of good feeling to contain myself.
l engaged the old gentleman in con-
versation and we guyed him unmerci-
fully. There was nothing malicious
about it, but we were having a whole
lou Oh Iuu WIN MIN III SlOOtH way,
even taking the address of his rural
tailor and the person who made his
shirts with rundown collars attached.
Il offered him a cigar, but found
had none, and Whitley supplied the
want. I'll give you my word l didn't
know the thing was loaded. We were
laughing and chatting when there
came an explosion. 1t was not mere
puff, but an explosion. 1t filled the air
with ashes and shattered tobacco
leaves. 1t blew the old gentleraans
eyebrows off and set his beard afire,
We saved most of his whiskers and
made the best apology we could while
trying to get our breath between
laughs. When I called ON her father
that evening l found him in the old
gentleman with beard trimmed and
eyebrows BACKED. got out just ahead
of his boot Confound that Whitley"
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-12-24
He Favored the idea.

my dear" he said, as he laid down
the paper, you ought to read that ad-
dress by Mrs Mouser, the eminent lee
turer, on woman's work. She says that
whenever a wife gets angry she should
stop and carefully consider the matter
for ten minutes before saying a word
to her husband. That's grand idea I"
1T is, eh?"
Il consider it So"
And where will you be when l begin
talking?"
oh, don't know-somewhere down
town, | presume; but don't let that in
terfere with you at ALL
And she was so mad that she didn't
say a word for the full time limit.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-12-24
a CHRISTMAS CAROL.

The frost CLEANS white on the house
tops high.
And the clouds-they look like snow;
And the plumber man goes briskly
by
Blow, little tin horns-blowi
And l view my cash with secret sigh,
And l say to my soul: Go slow"
But the children come, and can't look
grum-
Blow, little tin horns-blow!
So, I'm quite resigned to the rockets
noise,
And the Roman candle show;
It's hands all around with the girls and
boys
Blow, little tin horns-bloWi
Frank l.. Stanton in Atlanta Con-
stitution,
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-12-24

Raw Oysters.
Bouillon.
Boiled Salmon, Hollandaise Sauce.
Pickles. Boiled Potato Balls
Sailed Almonds.
Roast Turkey, Cranberry Sauce.
Celery. Mashed Potatoes,
Scalloped Asparagus. Chicken Pie.
Kirsch Punch.
Roast Duck. Currant Jelly.
Sweet Potato Croquettes.
Lettuce Salad. Sweetbreads.
Plum Pudding, Brandy Sauce.
Mince Pie. Apple Pie. Cheese.
Ice Cream. Cake.
Nuts. Raisins. Fruit.
Coffee
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-12-24
A New Turkey Dressing.

A lady from the South says that pea
nuts make far finer dressing for the
Christmas turkey than chestnuts do.
The peanuts must be parched, as usual,
pulverized in mortar and mixed with
chopped celery, a little butter and the
usual herbs, held well together with a
paste of cornmeal. The peanuts are
said to impart singularly fine flavor
to the turkey
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-12-24
A Lakeside Christmas.

"Ouch!"
The beautiful maiden withdrew her
foot hastily,
Plunging her arm into the silken
depths she took from the toe of her
stocking a fiye-pound box of candies
she had overlooked.
Need it be added that this happened
in Chicago?
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-12-24
No Reason to Make Excuses.

Come and take lunch with me to-
day." said one business man to anoth-
er.
II can't. I've an appointment"
Cant you break it?''
''No; man has promised to come
TO my office at noon and pay me some
money"
"Oh, then, that's all right. I'll order
the lunch for two. He won't come"
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-12-24

Mrs. ENPEoUE-Thomas, you must not
make any noise when you dress up as Santa
Claus and fill the children's stockings to-
night. Jimmy and Freddy have each got
an air gun and bow and arrow, and are
going to shoot you with them to see ifSanta
Claus is really alive. But you won't mind,
will you?
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-12-24
BENATH ". MNTlETgg.

7nssE r\ADeAs LHe rHaeuGHsur THE YEAR
REFUSED US FsA A NH,'
f,Usr new syl(ur,B, AID GRANT NE CHEER
or THIS ccSTATN BLISS;
THEY r,AY FAvr HELD Us ALL ALeef
HHReWHsUr TIE YEAR Win No,
OUT new NElL TAKE OUR SHEET RtYeAGs..
BeatArh The HlS7ltTee.
F,YRTlllA. TAiLAtI7NG F,IAx,
wnsse PRETTY eeyrIA6 LIPS,
WERE r\Ant BY LOVE r>F0sT kAotIlri6 WAX
TO MAKE Us. YfARh FOR SIPS,
TaevsH she Resell the SLY CeoUfTTf
.ALo BLUSH III PRETTY WEE,
WELL Mss HeA rs CUR HEARTS cshfEAT,
BENEATH The fuNttIoe.
AID r,iRAbeL, AI0 BETTY Tee
MUST fsk THE NeAte CINE M;--
610 TKe!e VINE DARE TO terNf AND Wee'.
A Mss fRer> Each SHALL Win
THAT CHRISTIANS pqTS US BLESSINGS BNAs
THESE r>AIofAS SHALL WELL KEW,
WheLeEk We (ATtH THsrt (hRISN,AS DAY
eeheATH THE MISteTee.
BfR1sAr, A r>ARsUReh
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-12-24
A CHRISTMAS GTFT.
OBJ ERT GOOD
BY c. A. PARKER.

OBJ L II L COOL D.
man, pastor of a GER
tain church in acer-
tain town, seated
himself at his study
table one morning,
and drew toward
him his writing ma
terial; then he took
a deliberate survey
of the room in which
he sat. The view
was not a very
pleasing one. The
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-12-24
| told her fairy stories
| tell her fairy stories

Almost every evening now;
But they've lost their old time glamor
And we've changed about somehow,
For we've married one another,
Yet she loves me still, although
She don't believe the stories
AS in the old days long ago.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-12-24

merry Christmas to all, my dear fellows,
say /
May you live in enjoyment, and live till you
die,
May you share in the good things the world
can afford
And never look sad at the gay, social
board.
A. happy New Year-let me drink to you
all
To the men, to the ladies, to the great, to
the small;
The ladies I'll toast in a glass of good
wine
May your phizes, when old, look as smil-
ing as miael
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-12-24

A two-dollar oyercoat will keep a
man warmer than the pawn ticket for a
tUr-lined one
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-12-24

Baggs-Well, old man, what did you
get in your stocking this morning?
Waggs-My foot.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-12-24

Christmas, monarch of the year,
Haste and spread thy wonted cheer;
Rock the steeples, bid each bell
Iron-tongued thy tidings tell;
Sorrow strange, nurse content,
Tune all hearts to merriment!
Mirth is brier, and care will wait
At the threshold soon or late,
So scare him out with song and shout
beyond the gate!
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-12-24
1 Told Her Fairy Stories.

I told her fairy stories
In the old days long ago,
AS we used to sit at evening
In the firelight's lambient glow.
She was tiny maiden
Yet she loved me then, I know,
When l told her fairy stories
In the old days long ago.
| told her fairy stories
When we had older grown;
Those tales of love and courage
That lovers long have known;
When we used to watch the shadows
Like a tides incoming flow,
And she whispered that she loved me
In the old days long ago.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-12-24

Every cottage among the mountains
is complete little factory, which
turns out just as many goods as the
numerical strength of the fam ly per-
mits. Everybody works, from the ven-
cradle grandparents, if they are alive,
to the smallest child able TO todd!e.
AS a rule the older members of the
family-the father, mothe.' and grown
sons-perform the most difficult and
hardest work, that of Blowing and
shaping the glass ornaments. The
blowers generally st three to five
around a table, each making his par
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-12-24
CHRISTMAS.
(Rhymed Acrostics.l

Christmas, come and bring again
Holly-berries all aglow,
Rowing mistrel's merry strain,
Ivy-wreath and mistletoe,
Sweet reunions, friendly faces,
Tender thoughts; bring, too, for me
My lady's kiss and fond embraces,
And thy poet l will be,
Singing oft in measures soft of love
and thee!
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-12-24
Mrs, Santa GLAUs-What's the matter
18th ro,r bon6o

SANTA GLADSTONE fresh little boy put
a steel trap in his stocking to see if there
really was such person as me.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-12-24
THE CHRISTMAS TREE.
Where the Glass Decorations
Come From.

How many of the hundreds
of thousands of children and
grown people who Lave en-
joyed the sight of and helped
to fasten the fragile ornaments
to the Christmas tree know
whence these dainty nothings
come? AT least nine-tenths
of the worlds supply of these
fiimsy little knick knacks
come from Thuringen-Wald,
the forest of Ihuringen, in
Central Germany. Nothing
could more appropriately be
called the storeroom and
workshop of Santa Claus han
these elevated, as well as iso-
lated, forest-clad mountain
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-12-24
CHRISTMAS DINNER.

BfsTsAfn A r>AReUR6n
The advocate., 1897-06-30
stones Financial Catechism.

Mr.. l.. A. Stone Of Boiling, Kas, has
sent to the ADVOCATE his little eight
page oateohism, in which he teaches that
Money, always and everywhere, is evi-
dence of debt, and consists wholly Of
credit, stamped in notes convenient FOR
business in buying and selling"
He supports this proposition by saying
that ''if all trading we're direct, one thing
for another, money could not be. But
property delivered for other, at some
future time, creates credits, due bills,
notes, all which are forms Of money, evil
dences Of debt"
Mr.. Stone asserts that "true, abstract,
ideal money is the treasury note, OF un-
failing National credit, issued directly to
the people for Government supplies or
service, receivable for all dues and taxes,
and full legal tender for all debts, pub.
lie and private"
While all his definitions may not be
clear, it is evident that he has the correct
idea about the functions Of money,
The advocate., 1897-06-30
More Republican wind.

After having worn out the 'sensa-
tlOn" about the Legislature having re-
pesled the acts for the organization Of
several District Courts, the Republi-
can papers have now discovered chat
the same bill repeals the act which
consolidated the cities Of WyandOtte,
Kansas City and ArmOurdale into the
city of Kansas City, Kas., and the
same mass of ridiculous stuff Is being
dished up again. Judge Webb Of To-
peka, who probably has clearer idea
of what sections Of law are "redun-
dant, obsolete and imperative than
any other man in the State, says that
the sections repealed were merely pre-
liminsry acts to enable the work Of
organization to be begun, and that
when the city was properly organized
these sections had 0utlived their use
fulness and occupied unnecessary space
in the statute book.
The advocate., 1897-06-30
A state Architect at Last.

The Executive Council has desig.
mated I. II. LeScher Of Topeka as State
Architect. John Yonkers and w. A.
Rose were leading candidates. Mr..
Leacher was elected two years sgO by
the Republicans, but when it was dis
covered that he was q Populist they
dropped him and named J. G. Holland.
John Yonkers and j. f. Burgess have
been appointed drsUghtsmen In Che
office. Mr.. Yonkers made creditsble
fight for the place, but accepts the SIT
uation gracefully. The new force is q
good one.
The advocate., 1897-06-30
New Text Books.

The Text Book Commission has just
completed It's special session and has
announced that the following selection
of books has been made: Student
First, Second and Third Readers, IA,
II and % cents respectively, Scott,
FOTesman s. Co., Chicago; ExCelslOr
Fourth and Fifth Readers, 30 and 40
cents respectively, George w. Creme s.
Co., Topeka; Hotzes Physics and
HOtze's Physiology, so cents each,
BechtOld Company, st, Louis; WTight's
Constitution, 30 cents, Crane h Co.,
Topeka. Another short session will
be held to select the Physical GeOg-
rsphy, and the work will be done.
The advocate., 1897-06-30

Pittsburg PENN press dispatch; "a
5O-cent silver dollar is better than no dol.
lar, and 1t is poor protection that means
police protection for mills against Amerl-
can citizens That was the utterance Of
one Of the Jones e. Laughlin strikers, and
the remark was cheered by a thousand
men. These are the men who have rolled
up the great msioritles in Allegheny
County since the time Abraham Lincolu
called II The State Of Allegheny
The advocate., 1897-06-30

the receipts of the office will be more
than doubled In the next year on &C
count of the transfer of the packing
house butterine factories from Chicago
to Kansas City, Kas.
A Columbus Republican paper says
Senator Householder replenished his
excheqUer to the amount of $l07 as a
member of the bribery committee.
This leads the Modern Light to call
attention to the fact that Grimes (Rep.)
got $2O8 and rode on a pass, while
Householder paid his fare.
The Kansas City Journal says that
Nat Barnes, who has just been sp-
pointed postmaster at Kansas City,
Kas., and Tom Hayes, who resignedss
steward of the OsswatOmie Asylum to
accept a Federal job, made Mckinley
a present of $50 each when he became
a bankrupt few years ago.
Governor Leedy has named the fol
lowing delegates to the Trans Missls.
slppi Commercial Congress at Salt Lake
City, July IA: John W. Breidenthal,
H. b. Flehsrty, w. J. Fitzgerald, 0.
+. Comstock, Claude Duval, Charles
Barnes, B. P. Mcdonald, Robert Rug
giles, A. J. Eastman, j. S. Collins.
There are several hundred spplics-
tions for positions in the offices Of the
new United States Marshal and ReVe-
nue. Collector. The Republican papers
insist that the office-seekeTs are all in
the POpulist party, buC it is not likely
that any POpullst would be foolish
enough to ask a Republican for a job.
In Montgomery County test case
has been made and will be submitted
to the Supreme Court to determine
whether the repeal law abolishes that
Judicial District. The case will likely
be taken up at once. In the meantime
courts are taking their summer Vacs-
tiOns and little business will be done.
Phillips County Populists met In
convention June 21 with ex-Bepresen-
tstlVe Wagner in the chair. Resolu-
tiOns approving the record of Judge
Geiger, and instructing the delegates
for him were adopted. F, G. johnson
headed the list of delegates. The nom
mating convention was ordered held
August "a.
A mass convention of Populists and
silver men will be held at Yates Center
July 10 to reorgsnize the committees,
to set a time for nominating conVen-
tion and to agree on plan for the
campaign. Everyone who voted for
Bryan is invited to participate in the
primaries to elect committeeman and
in the convention.
Judge Geiger has been renOminated
by the Populists. His district is com
posed Of Phillips, Norton, Decatur,
Rswlins and Cheyenne Counties. He
has made model Judge, fair to friend
and foe alike, impartial in sll things.
His splendid record was Endorsed by
denomination without opposition. His
election is assured.
Mrs. Kedzie, who was professor Of
household economy at the Agricul-
tursl College, denies the story that she
was forced out of that institution.
She infnrma Governor Elder OF the