davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The herald., 1897-12-26

came when I was quite a young man.
There is day in August near the end
of the month, that we devote to feast
ing and rejoicing. on which men often
go out shooting. On that day, one year,
l went out alone with my gun. I start
ed early in the morning and I walked
fast, climbing mountains and crossins
valleys until I was a good distance
from my fathers home. The home OF
an uncle whom I had not visited in
long time was, in fact, much nearer
than my own; and I determined that
having gone so far, I would continue
further and take my dinner there.
A FIERCE SUMMER STORM.
IT had one more high, steep hill to
climb; then I would be at the edge Of
the plain. I was hot and moist from
my exertion and the rays of the sun,
which beat down fiercely upon me.
"As I stepped upon the level hill top
I noticed a chill blast, such as 1 had
never before experienced, save in Win
ter. Soon the blast grew fiercer, and in
! little time it was terrfically cold and
raw. Then the sky clouded over and
the sunlight was blotted out Then
came great heavy raindrops, thick and
fast, and then hail. The hail-stones
pelted me mercilessly, the rain drenched
me through and through, and I hast
ened with all possible speed in the di-
rection Of my uncle's house.
"Before 1 reached it a new feature of
the storm was upon me. The rain ami
| hail changed suddenly to snow, fine,
dry and light, that seemed to come
from every direction. almost binding
me. so that it was with difficulty that
could keep the path, and clogging my
feet as I walked. Had my way been
much longer, I am not sure that
would have reached my uncle's house
at all; as it was, managed to stumble
along. and in due time was safely I'M
der shelter.
"Of course I was warmly received,
and a plentiful dinner was soon set out.
While we were dining we forgot all
about the storm and everything else
disagreeable. But after an hour OF
more my uncle opened the outer door
and looked out over the plateau.
"'Come quickly, my children he
cried, and see There are two feet of
snow!'
"And so there were; but that was
only the beginning, for the storm ragged
a full week and more, and when it
ceased, most of the cattle. the fowl and
the sheep on the plateau, on the noun
tains round about, and in the valleys
between, were buried deep in the snow
frozen or smothered to death. And more
than one poor fellow, who, like myself
was far from home when the snow
fall began, was wrapped close in its
winding sheet and so breathed his last
"As for me, I did not reach home fol-
a good ten days. My uncles losses
were very severe. Later in the yea,
the emperor of Austria himself paid
Lika a visit, and much needed relief
was sent from the imperial treasury to
the storm sufferers"
Copyright, 1897, by Bacheller Syndicate
The herald., 1897-12-26
How Uncle Sans SailOr-BOys
Celebrate Aboard Big
BattIeships.
WARS GALA DAY.
Games in the Grim Shadow OF
Monster Guns-TOastS Ihat
Arc Cheercd.

Christmas Day has no more entnusi-
astic observers than the praVe piue
Jackets, who man Uncle Sans modern
warships. More especially is thls the
case when these floating fortresses are
at sea, or swinging idly at anchor III a
foreign port, far away from nome anu
friends
Preparations for the suitable ceiepra-
ton OF the great gala day, on poaru !.
Warship, begin weeks in advance, with
the inauguration of system Oh rlgld
economy on the part OF the crew.
Usually improvident to degree, JACK
at this time, keeps a tight grip on any
money that comes to hand, so that he
may contribute his share to the dinner
fund and other expenses OF the occa-
sion. This fund is appreciaply IN
creased by the communication Tor cash
of q portion of the daily rations allowed
each mess. Most of the men, however,
spend part &c their money in hohday
gifts for the dear ones at home, recelv-
ing in return Christmas cards ana
boxes filled with dainties from loving
mothers, wives. and sweethearts.
The night before Christmas is one OF
restless slumber for most OF the snip
crew, and there is q feeling OF reller
when the bugler sounds the reveille at
half-past five o'clock in the morning.
rs formal announcement that the day
has begun. A few minutes later comes
the shrill call of the boatswain's mates.
''Up all hammocks," bringing every
body on deck to stow hammocks, eX-
cent those who have stood the anchor
watch through the night.
At four bells &c a. NO. the first formal
recognition of the day occurs, when the
officer of the deck orders men aloft to
fasten Christmas trees to the mast
head-for every modern war ship has
at least one mast-to the spanker
boom, the spanker gaff, the jack staff,
and sometimes to the big smokestacks
that tower high over the rest OF the
great steel superstructure. This pro-
ceeding is intently watched by the re-
mainder of the crew, including men OF
the night watch, who should be SUM
bering In their hammocks. but who
prefer loss of sleep to the loss OF seeing
the ship put on her decoration.
At seven O'clock the caterers of the
various messes go ashore in the market
boats, returning an hour or two later
loaded down with a seemingly limit,
less profusion of toothsome viands for
discussion later in the day An inter-
esting ceremony Is the official "hold up
of the caterers at the gangway by the
corporal of the guard, who minutely ex-
amines everything brought aboard,
even investigating the interiors OF the
The herald., 1897-12-26
TESLA TALKS OF XMAS.
F0n0u5EleCtriiCiianS Narr0WeSt Escape
From Death.

are many other dishes served on tho
great Christmas festival-all the good
things, in fact, that can be devised, the
same as in America; and every one
eats as heartily as possible e,-another
point in which the people of my coun-
try and Americans are alike.
'There is always q Christmas tree
wherever there are children in my
country, and the good house-mothers
and fathers prepare and decorate them
with much loving care, to the great de-
light of the little ones. There are al
ways presents a-plenty on the trees, of
course; but, even so, gift giving is not
so much a feature of the holiday time
here as there.
"The stockings are not hung up on
Christmas eve, as here, in my country
but on st. Nicholas Day, which falls
some days earlier than Christmas. In
America the festival Of st. Nicholas, or
Santa Claus, and Christmas seem to be
combined but there they are kept sep
arate and the children have two days
of holiday rejoicing and frolic in place
of one.
"As a matter Of fact, they have more
than that, since the observance of
Christmas itself lasts two or three days
after the day itself, during all which
time the greatest jollity prevails, and
family reunions are held. There Is
much visiting back and forth, and sea.
sonable greetings fill the air.
"But sometimes" continued the cleo
| trician musingly, as If thinking of other
| days, "the reunions are not held, and
the visiting exists in the wishes of the
people only. That is when the deep
SHOWS come.
! A LAND OF MIGHTY SHOWS.
"For you must know" he went on,
chat my country is not only cold in
the winter, but subject at times to
great snowfalls, the like of which I
have never seen in the New World
snowfalls so deep that a mans head
would be far below the level of the
light and feathery substance in many
places; snowfalls that are often accom-
panied by wild, fierce winds, piling the
flakes up into enormous drifts in some
places and sweeping the rock-bound
soil clean in others; snowfalls that it is
not we'll to encounter unless shelter is
near, and that have buried many a
human victim beneath a milk-white
death mantle.
"Not all these terrible storms come
in the winter season. either.-as have
excellent cause to remember. NV
country is high above the sea level; my
home was 1000 feet and more, straigh.
up, from the tide. and many there be
who live one, two, almost three thou
sand feet higher.
j "My experience with summer storm
The herald., 1897-12-26

turkeys in his search for whlskey or
other contraband articles that might
be smuggled on board despite prohibi-
tory rules. Meanwhile the mess gear
has been spread in answer to the bug
ler's call to breakfast; and, after that
meal the men quickly dispose of what
ever work is absolutely necessary,-al
the heavy work, so far as possible, hav-
ing been done the day before.
The crew then put on "clean blue
mastering clothes" and are called to
quarters" for inspection; after which
the ship is given up to the men for
their sports, under the watchful eye
of the master-at-arms, more Familiarity
known as Jimmy Legs" The main
deck forward is cleared of everything
movable, and becomes for the time be-
ing an athletic field, enclosed by q hu-
man fence of jolly blue jackets, whose
shouts and cries urge on the strug-
Cling competitors to do their utmost.
Carefully selected teams contend in the
tug-of-war, pulling and hauling at OPP
posite ends of a big rope, until the
sharp report of the referees pistol an
nounces the close of the struggle. Then
follow three-legged races. single-stick
combats, time races to the masthead
and back, and, most enjoyable of all,
boxing bouts that make an effective
finish to the mornings sports. In bad
weather the space thus used is covered
by awnings, so that the mems fun is
not interfered with.
The great event Of the day, however,
is the Christmas dinner, in honor of
which the mess-hall is elaborately
draped with flags and bunting, while
stacks of highly polished rifles, and
shining cutlasses and other side arms,
artistically arranged about the hall,
give strong local color to the scene.
The tables are covered with costly
chinaware hired for the occasion, while
choice flowers meet the eye at every
turn. The bill of fare is a long one
with turkey, of course, at it's head; but
roast pig, with the customary lemon in
its mouth is a rival favorite. While
rabbits and other game find their way
to many plates. Mince and pumpkin
pies have a close race for first choice,
with all kinds of puddings, jelles, cake,
fruits, and nuts for those who want
them. The old-time grog is missing;
but each man can have two bottles OF
The herald., 1897-12-26

Nikola Tesla does not often speak at
length about himself or his wonder1ui
electrical inventions, but he sat ana
talked for an hour or two the other day
with a friend about Christmas in the
proyince of Lika, which is a part OF the
Austro-Hungarian empire and lies close
to the Adriatic sea, near Herzegovina
Dalmatia. and Bosnia. Tesla passed
much OF his boyhood in SmilJan, a town
of Lika, where his father was pastor
of q Greek church, but went from there
while yet only a boy.
christmas festivities in my coun-
try" said Mr. Tesla, differ much from
Christmas festivities here; yet there
are many similarities, too. We begin
the celebration on the day before
Christmas, by fasting. We DO not al
together abstain, being privileged to
eat freely of fish and all vegetable
foods, but we may partake of no flesh
meats, nor milk, nor eggs. This day
Is devoted largely to reflection. and its
observance lasts until late on Christ
mas eve.
1--WE rise very early in my country on
Christmas morning--as early as three
o'clock at latest-to go to church and
hear mass. All the morning until
eleven o'clock is given over to religious
services of noe sort or another, and
but little If any food is taken until that
hour. BY that time, however, every one
is hungry and liberal luncheon is
eaten, no discrimination being made
against the heartiest food.
"Eyery one in my country is fond OF
coffee, which is generally drunk in
large cups with cream or milk We may
drink coffee on the day before Christ
mas. but without milk only, and as we
are allowed to resume the use of milk
in coffee on the day itself. you may be
sure we then indulge freely in the de-
licious drink. After this breakfast, the
gentlemen are served with liquors and
little cakes.
THE CHRISTMAS DINNER.
"The Christmas dinner comes later !r
the day, and I assure you 1T is always
q meal to remember. No, we do not
serve turkey there as the chief dish
and am not sure that can name any
dish that may properly be said to take
the turkeys place,-unless it be roasted
pig.
II do not remember Christmas din
ner without a roasted pig in my coun'
try. The pig selected is always very
young and small, and is roasted entire
after dressing, the cooking being at
tended to with great care and pro-
longed until the skin is crisp and crack
ling. Besides the Christmas pig there
The herald., 1897-12-26

occasions, there are usually several in
vited guests, as it delights Jack to
show his shore friends how well he can
play the host when he tries. After din
ner there is usually boat race be-
tween the crack crews of the different
ships. Those who wish to visit friends
The herald., 1897-12-26
Christmas a Legal Holiday.

In all the States Christmas is legal
holiday, and in South Carolina the two
following days are also holidays.
The herald., 1897-12-26

beer, and tea and coffee are ready for
the more temperate. There Is plenty OF
talk, but the toasts are few,-though
some loyal hearted Jack is apt to set
the others cheering when he jumps to
his feet, glass in hand, with the cry,
ITO the absent ones at home" On such
The herald., 1897-12-26

needed for the night-watch and in the
officers quarters. In little while the
big ship has settled down into a still
ness broken only by the ripple of the
waters as they glide past the curved
steel walls of this modern monarch Of
seas; while on the bridge stands the old
quartermaster, peering intently into
the darkness ahead, as though his time
dimmed eyes might catch a glimpse of
that other world where Christ's Day
lasts through all eternity.
Copyright 1897, by Bacheller Syndicate.
The herald., 1897-12-26

Lucky and Unlucky.
Among the English common people
Christmas is regarded as lucky when
it falls on Sunday, and unlucky when
Saturday is the day of the nativity.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-02-06

Manslaughter was the verdict rem
dered by the jury in the Gouse case
Judge Edwards didn't like the verdict
and said so in a delicate way, of course,
but still in a way that left no doubt
of his meaning. But for the fact that
he would not possibly care to set up
his own judgment, judge though he is,
against that of twelve men, something
more emphatic might have been heard
from him. AS it was, he said that
while he had ordered the verdict re-
corded, he still felt that the evidence
would have warranted a verdict of Sec
Ond degree Your verdict, gentlemen,
is certainly a merciful one" he re-
marked.
Gouse looked very nervous when the
jury filed in and trembled perceptibly
while the preliminaries to the reading
of the verdict We're being gone through
with. When ii was announced that his
neck was saved and that his crime had
been fixed as manslaughter the eX-
preston on his face changed like a
flash, and his eyes which had all the
time been fixed on the paper contain
ing the verdict dropped to the floor.
He showed in every movement and fea-
ture a feeling of the greatest relief.
The jury at first stood one for murder
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-02-06
ElSTEDDF0D Ia AVOCA.
One will BE Ecld in That Place on
WashingtOn's Birthday.

On Feb. %, Washington's birthday,
an eisteddfod will be held by the Welsh
residents of AVoca. The programme
arranged is as follows:
/. Chorus mot less than 50 voices), "The
Radiant Morn" QI. II. WoodwarD $50
2. Male chorus mot less than % voices),
Turkish Drinking Song" Mendelssohm,
$40
8. Quartette, I'm a Pilgrim, I'm a
Stranger Marston). $S.
4. Duet, r. and b., THE Call to Arms
OR. s. Hughes), &c.
g. soprano, Because l Love You Dear
CHawley), 81.
Alto, Daddy" Behrens), 81.
Z. Tenor, "Out of the Deep" Davies), ST.
s. Baritone, Il Fear No Foe" (PinsutD A
9. Piano, polish Dance opus 3, No. /
in b fiat minor (Scharwenka), So.
10. Duet, piano and violin, "Sonate -
Opus. "a, No. 8, first movement (Beeth.
oven), $6.
II. Sight reading Zone voice. ST.
u. Female recitation, "The Last Hymn,
from Standard Recitations No. 2, SO.
I 13. Male recitation, "Charge of the Light
Brigade (Tennyson), SO.
II. Recitation for children under - years
"Psalm of Life" Uongfellow), $1.5O.
10. Impromptu speech, 81.
16. For the best reading of few lines
of English prose, given at the time, 81.
Names of competitors to be sent tc
the secretary on or before Feb. 10.
Competitors allowed their own accompa
mist or the one furnished by the commit
tee.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-02-06

one time in the main court room. An
drew I.ukatch prosecuted John Lepuf-
ski, Joseph MatuChak, John Kruppleyuk
and Stephen Kazinski for robbery, and
preferred the charge of assault and bat
terry against the first three of the quar-
tette accused of robbery. The prose-
cutor's story was to the effect that the
last three defendants assaulted him and
with the assistance of Kazinsti, robbed
him on the 29th of last November in
Propoltovitch alley, Olyphant, while all
were returning from a ball. The de-
fense was that Lukatch was simply
Icing; that he picked up stone to as
sault them and they simply disarmed
him. Both sides had strong retinue
of very robust swearers. A jury is also
out on this case.
Capiases were issued for Michael Bur-
nett charged by Patrick Flanaghan
with robbery, and Mary Moran charged
by Thomas Hession with keeping a dis
orderly house.
Charles Burke, the 14-year-od colored
lad, who, on Monday pleaded guilty of
stealing SO from f. w. Mason's store,
on the West Side, was yesterday COM
mitted to the house of correction by
Judge Edwards.
owing to the fact that three juries
were out and another engaged in hear
box in court room No. 2 after dinner.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-02-06
VERSATILE LELAND POWERS.
He Will BE Seen at the Y. vi. c. A,
Hall Tuesday Evening.

The fourth number of the Young
Mems Christian Associations standard
course will be given on Tuesday even
ing, Feb. 8, by Leland T.. Powers, the
impersonator. This will be the fifth
appearance of Mr.. Powers in Scranton.
He was re-engaged by the committee
who have arranged the course, in re-
sponse to a very generally expressed
wish on the part of the patorns of the
course that this should be done.
In the early part of last summer the
committee found that Mr.. Powers time
was so fully taken up that it was eX-
ceedmgly doubtful whether or not he
could appear in Scranton; but a per-
sonal appeal to him to arrange a date
for us if possible, led him to do so by
arranging to cancel a date elsewhere.
Mr.. Powers will appear this year in a
new play entitled Lord Chumley,"
which is said to be one of his best
plays, and as there are ten characters in
1T, it enables him to use his remarkable
ability as an impersonator. To those
who have not yet heard Mr.. Powers it
can be said that he is beyond doubt one
of the most versatile men in the land.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-02-06
COMMITTEES STATEMENT.
Scranton Poor District,

Scranton, Pa, Feb. A. 1897.
Dear Sir:-Gou are probably aware that
the Hillside Home Insane asylum has for
some years performed the functions of a
state hospital for the insane. The state
some years since adopted the theory that
the insane are the wards of the common
wealth, and it is the intention of the law
that insane persons without means of sup
port should be cared for in state hospitals
for the insane.
Owing, however to the failure of the
commonwealth to furnish a sufficient
number of hospitals for the accommoda-
ton of the insane, the state institutions
are largely overCrowded, and applications
for admission by poor directors of INDECENT
persons who are charges upon their dis
trict, have been refused, and the insane
confined in the aims houses where there
are no proper means for their treatment,
and often in the county iails.
The Scranton poor district, having its
own insane hospital has cndeavored so
far as 1t could to take the place of the
state hospitals for the counties of north
eastern Pennsylvania, and has admitted to
its hospitabe doors patients from other
poor districts in Lackawanna and from
Luzerne. Wayne, Wyoming, Susuqehanna,
Pike and Monroe counties.
At present about forty people outside of
Scranton poor district are sheltered within
its walls, and the limit of it's capacity is
now fully taxed, but the applications from
outside districts for the admission of in
sane patients continue to come in in great
er numbers than ever The alternative
presents itself to the board of poor direc-
tors of the Scranton poor district to build
a new insane wing, or refuse to admit any
| other patients living outside of the dis
| trict and to require the gradual with
| drawal of those who are already there, as
| the necessities of the district require. I'm
| der these circumstances the board has
| concluded to make application at the pres.
ent term of the legislature for an appro-
| priation to aid them in the construction
| of an insane wing.
| 1t is a just application and should meet
| with the appreciation of the legislature
| We have accommodated so far all appli
| cants who have come to us, and perhaps
we have admitted people upon your appli
cation.
| We ask as a return for our lberality II
| this respect that you use your influence
| with the legislators from your county tC
| favorably consider our application for the
appropriation, believing that if this aid is
! granted we would be in better shape tC
! help you out if the occasion should re
quire it, and there would be no danger
| that any of the patients that you may
| already have with us would be withdrawn
| We hope that you will see your way cleaI
to grant our reasonable request, and tina
you will urge upon your representative:
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-02-06

miscellaneous other unfortunates who
rely upon the boards beneticence. The
greater portion of the meeting was con-
sumed by routine business.
Among the reports that were read was
that of Superintendent Beemer of the
Hillside farm. 1t stated that for the
month ending January 81, 1897, the total
number of persons in the home to be
1I5, of which 13l are males and Al are
females. Twelve persons We're admit
ted, IL were discharged and 5 deaths
occurred in the institution
DR.. Strang, the resident physician at
the home, presented his monthly report,
which is summarized as follows: Num-
Der of prescriptions prepared, 7O9;
deaths, Z; number of patients treated,
397. In the insane asylum, on Decem-
Der 81, 1896, there We're 19S patients.
Since then eleven more have been ad-
mitted, six have been discharged, and
three have died, leaving total of 200
in the insane asylum.
OUT DOOR PHYSICIANS.
DIR. Ives and DR.. Barnstein, outdoor
physicians for the board, reported, af-
ter which a communication from Mrs
tion from the board was received. In
the communication she speaks at con-
siderable length of the harmony and
| honesty of purpose of the board and
of her pleasant relation with the MEM
bers thereof. Speaking further of the
! board she said:
Scranton poor directors can stand or
| their laurels. They are unsurpassed by
any body administering public trusts in
| city or state 1t gives me great pleasure
| to be in position where | can thus assure
| you of my confidence in your official i'll
tegrity and purpose. l esteem it an honor
| to have been associated with you on the
! board and doubly so as the only woman
who has held a similar position. l realize
| that a certain degree of success has beer
attained, through my official relationship
with your body, and yet / believe that il
! is only as tried disappointed hearts hav,
| been cheered by look, word or act; fevereC
brows have been cooled by loving touch
wayward fallen ones been encouraged tc
| higher living, or saddened homes beer
frightened by my presence-only as
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-02-06

No better medium exists, through
which the pecuniary conditions of the
city's poor can be gagged. than the poor
board, and judging from the number
of applicants before the board at it's
monthly meeting, held yesterday after
noon in it's rooms in City hall. there is
a large number of people in the city, at
present, who are suffering for want.
There was the usual run of aged and
decrept, of widows, women whose hus-
bands are in JAIL girls for whom friends
interceded that they might be rescued
from degrading surrounding and the