davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-12-23

almost entirely confined to Christmas day.
The observance of New Years day as a
holiday fell almost into oblivion, with the
exception of the few simple remembrances
mentioned above. In business life the day
is observed as a legal holiday-"bank
holiday" as they call it-but even that is
confined almost exclusively to large whole
sale houses. The retail trade is carried on
as briskly as on every other day of the
year.
The first day of the year is observed In
France in a very different way, particu.
larly in Paris, where to this day the Gus.
tom Of giving presents Is kept up with
surprising vigor. The streets of the beau.
tiful capital present very lively and pic
turesque appearance. Innumerable car
riages, from the humble one horse cab tt
the elegant landau, with liveried servants
drawn by fiery steeds, crowd every thor
oughfare. They are filled with well-dress
ed men and loaded with fragrant flowers
Large social gatherings, balls and recep-
tions, public and private, bring the aus
picious day to festive conclusion.
In Germany calls are made among rela-
tives and intimate friends only, except
that In the ponderous bureaucratic system
of Germany every Government officer is
expected to call on somebody above him
in rank. Presents are not exchanged on
New Years day-that is exclusively con-
fined to Christmas day.
AS Rome gave the name to the first
month in the calendar year, so Rome also
gave the custom of making presents on
the first day of the year. A very innocent
little pastime it was in the beginning, but
in these days of modern ideas it has ex.
panded and is expanding until now the
most valuable and elaborate gifts are used
as an exchange of friendly sentiment.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-12-23

dem pigs feet in de ashes need fcrapin'
desc two houahsi Git out O heAh! Eff
yo' des TEX yosefs off, soon's get er min
nit's peace, mex yo' fawty 'leven hngah
stalls"
As this is what the boys have all been
| waiting to hear they troop out instantly,
making mental memorandum of meek
erchers" and bandana "head banker
chers' which Aunt Maria wants for
Christmas.
By o'clock the next morning, while the
stars are still shining, the wagons rattle
off to the fields. The jolly face of the
country sun lights up myriads Of frost
diamonds hung on the sparse spears Of
yellow grass. Along the roads wagons
pass in the distance, noiselessly, silhouet-
ted against the sky like toy vehicles.
drawn by toy horses.
Inside the farmhouse everything Is In
bustling confusion. The blinds of the
spare room have been drawn up to let in
food of bright winter sunshine. Dis
trict school has closed for the holidays.
The children are in the kitchen stoning
raisins, helping pare apples, slyly steal
ing cake dough, and watching the sau-
sage as it is ground out from the sausage
mill in strings.
"Ho, hop the youngsters suddenly
shout in chorus. "Yonder comes Tom
Hawkins, riding up the lane on Ole Sor-
rel,' full tilt"
Tom dismounts by putting his arms
around 'Ole Sorreps" neck and sliding
down her forelegs to the ground. He is
riding bareback.
"Our folks is goin' to give partyw he
announced.
"WhenT shout Bob and the others, in
great excitement.
"Night fore Christmas; n I'm goin'
round to tell everybody, right this morn
imp
"Play partyT'
"Yep! Pa says he don't care fer 'em
dancin', but ma says at you have to take
up the carpets, er have 'em ruint An
then, ma says she don't know as it's right
fer church members"
Toms invitation, delivered with many
assurances that "You must be sure to
come; we'll all be a lookin' for you," Gre
ates no small commotion at the house.
Before the day Is over it Is known that
the party will be big affair.
Christmas eve finally. comes. The whole
neighborhood is agog. In the course of
the afternoon the girls in the various
homes lay out every bit of fnery to be
worn to the party. The boys are not for
gotten by their sisters. Their coats and
trousers, white satin ties, boiled shirts,
are all put out on the bed In easy reach.
Aunt Maria shines the shoes until you can
see yourself on their polished surfaces.
The boys, in homemade sleigh, are off
for the girls, sometimes FIVE or six miles
away. The girls at the house wait for
their beaux, who come likewise from the
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-12-23
Sinking of the Merrimac.

The complete story of the sinking of
the Merrimao and the capture and i'm
prisonment of her crew at Santiago
will be graphically told in an article by
Osborn W. Deignan, q. S. Navy, late
helmsman of the Merrimac. in the JAN
uary Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly,
now 10 cents. and to be published De-
cember Gath, The story will be fully
ard richly ill,stra led sss;as 81
portraits of Hobson and all the crew,
besides many new drawings especially
prepared under Mr.Deignan's personal
supervision. Other features promised
for the January Frank Leslie's are:
Bret Harte's new story "Jack Hamlin's
Mediation; Joaquin 'Miller's 'In a
Klondike Cabin"; and Thomas R.
Dawley's campaigning With Gomez.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-12-23
DR.. DARRIN, SPECIALIST.
Submits a List of Special Diseases He
Treats With Electricity
and Medicine.

PRIVATE DISEASES-Gleet, Gonor-
thea, Structure, Syphilis, Weakness of
Organs quickly cured without pain or de-
tention from business.
LOST MANHOOD and vigor quickly re-
stored; varicocele, weak and undeveloped
parts fully restored.
LADIES who suffer from apathy, indif-
ference, nervous debility or diseases pecu-
liar to women, can consult the doctor with
perfect confidence.
BLADDER, Inflammation, Cystitis, Ca
tarrh of the Bladder. These diseases in
variably yield to this treatment.
VARICOCELE, Hydrocele, Piles, Fis-
tula, Swelling and Tenderness of Glands,
and Shrunken Organs treated with unfail-
ing success.
KIDNEYS. Inflammation of the Kid
neys. Diabetes, Congestion Of the Kidneys,
Uraemia, Gravel, Stone, all scientifically
and successfully treated.
BLOOD AND SKIN Diseases, Sores,
Spots, Pimples. Scrofula, Syphilitic Taints,
Tumors, rheumatism, Eruptions, ETC.,
promptly cured, leaving the system in
pure, strong and healthful state.
YOUNG MEN, If you are troubled with
tired feelings, gloomy forebodings, palpi-
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-12-23

back against the side of the wall to clear
the center of the floor. "Twa-ang, scr-a-
ape, tweedle, leedle, leedle, le-e," goes the
fiddle, while Uncle Ben screws his face
into a thousand wrinkles. Sometimes, of
late, the Hills boys have furnished the
music for the parties, much to the disgust
of Uncle Ben. He declares that "wen
dem boys gifts hole O. one O. dem new fan
gle gityars an anodder one on 'em goes
slap-e-ty bang on Miss Hawkins pianner,
hit 'em jis' huff ter mex yo' har stan on
en-. Tain no mo lax music dan beatin'
on er dish pan."
AS II o'clock approaches everybody is
alert to get everybody else's Christmas
gift. This ceremony being over, the party
breaks up, the young folks race home, and
big and little hang up their stockings in
front of the fireplace.
Bob is growing skeptical about Santa
Claus. He resolves to sleep with one eye
open, but weariness overcomes his bright
little eyes at last. When Tom wakes up
the hired man is putting backlog in the
fireplace, and soon the blaze is cracking
away on the hearth. He punches Tim.
Christmas gift, Tim, Christmas gift!
What do you reckon that is sticking out
in the toe of my stocking, Bob"
"'Norange, guess"
Like huff. Santa always brings or
anges."
There are raisins and oranges, rubber
ball, toy pistol, and little leather pocket
books. long wanted.
Netty and Rosy are up, hugging a couple
of china dolls, dressed In white Swiss,
with pink and blue ribbons.
Land sakes, chillun, git off yer night
gownds an put on yer shoes an stockin's
tireckly," calls out Aunt Maria, putting
her head in at the door. "Dat's all truck
Bob's tellin' 70. 'Cose dere's Santa
Claus. Seed i'm wild my own eyes. Face
all ovah white, whiskah lax you gran'pa.
'Cose dere's Santa Claus, jis' es true as
dere's ghostes, an doan 70 nebbe fawgit
hit -
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-12-23

there Is the snap of a whip. and, wav-
ing his whip and yelling to his mules, into
camp bursts the negro driver of the COM
missary wagon.
eli, dahr' he grins, "am dis Camp
Jawge Columbus Christopher Washing
toni"
"You know it is. you rascalI' roared the
Westerner, springing to his feet, aglow.
"Out with it'll the steamer is inP
"She am, sab. | waited, sab, as yo'm
dareckted Dah's pahcel foh de camp
dat Christmas consignment hab arriv-
enp'
'Whoop!'
Pandemonium breaks loose. Over the
camp spreads the news. Half-dressed men,
riotous runners, make for the campfire, as
up to it, straining nightly under the
heavy load of crates and boxes and bar
rels, puff and pant the mules with their
Christmas store of remembrances.
Even the camp dogs rally to the call of
the tumult. Then, surrounded by press
ing. eager crowd, the Westerner mounts
the load, hatchet in hand.
He prizes open those "pahcels," he be-
gins to deliver them. Hearts gladden.. lips
quiver, eyes sparkle-even in the far
away Philippines Christmas had come!
1lerCe IrlnQell -Wltu LTelAuiOuS
hands the young soldier receives his pack
age, and steps back bit from the crush
to inspect it.
There is a Bible from mother, watch
from father, a dozen handkerchiefs from
16-year-old sister Sue, a cookie, ribbon
tied, caraway-dotted, from 6-year-old
Nell-"all cooked by my own self"-and-
another parcel.
The soldier boys heart thumps nightly.
Well does he know who sent this last. 1t
is response to a question that the loneli-
ness of the camp, time to think over how
dear pretty, winsome Claire Rushton at
home is to him-a homely, blunt, "Claire.
when this Spanish war Is over, will you
have meP"
Grinnell opens the package-a pair of
dainty home-knit mitts. What in the
world does he want Of mitts in the broil-
ing Filipino countryl Still, the good in
tent is there.
Then his finger tips tingle and tremble
so as he feels a tiny note in one Of the
mitts, that he drops everything to the
ground.
Nell's cookie must have caught the sniff
of hungry camp dog. 1t makes bolt,
misses the cookie, and grabs up and runs
off with-the mitts with the note In them.
''Stop him-sto-o-op him!'
"What is it?'
"Hi, the robberp'
A crowd catches on" to the appalling
mishap. There is pursuit. They corner
the canine, but not until he has torn up
one mitt.
"Why, there's note In hereT' torments
the rescuer of half one mitt, and Grinnell
devours torn fragment Of dainty, scented
letter paper.
81 won't have"
That is what his blurred sight reads,
and his heart falls.
"Hey, Grinnell-here's the other halfv'
The poor fellow puts the two pieces of
paper together.
81 won't have anybody but your
There is the sentence, complete. De
spite himself, the happy soldier boy ut
tered a fervent, relieved yell Of delight.
whats bit you-a tarantulaT de-
mands staring comrade.
"Now shrewdly guesses the jolly West
erner, reading between the lines-"Santa
| Claus!'
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-12-23
Mistletoe and Christmas.

The connection of mistletoe with Christ
mas is a very curious one, and far from
being a general one. Literature is. per-
haps, mainly responsible for 1t, in that
illusions to custom-in a great degree
purely local-have made large number
of persons interested in the plant. 1t.
moreover, seems that the custom of using
it In Christmas decorations depends on
two considerations-frst, its evergreen
habit; and second, the veneration in which
it was held by the Druids.
The reasons mentioned have no doubt
done much to secure for the mistletoe the
place which lin-recent times Il has held Ia Ia
Christmas festivities, but it is not SO uni
versally honored at Yuletide as the holly.
You may have a very merry Christmas
without any mistletoe at all, but to the
majority of the people Christmas with
out sprig or two of holly would scarcely
seem to be Christmas at all.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-12-23

tation of the heart, hot fushes, blood rush.
ing to the head, ringing in the ears, wan
derIng mind, weak memory, dark circles
under the eyes, dizziness, poor appetite,
stupidness, dependency, loss of energy,
ambition and self-confidence, which abso-
lutely units you tor study or business, YOU
should take treatment before it is too late
MIDDLE-AGED AND OLD MEN.
There are thousands of you troubled with
weak, aching backs and kidneys, and other
unmistakable signs of nervous debility and
premature decay. Many die of this diff
Guilty, ignorant of the cause, which is the
second stage of seminal weakness The
most obstinate cases of this character
treated with unfailing success.
HEART, BRAIN AND NERVES. Diff.
fcult breathing and suffocating feeling,
fullness of the head, tired, irritable, dis
contented feeling and fear of impending
danger or death, dread of being alone, OF
the reverse-desire to be alone, if your
memory is failing, and you are gloomy and
Respondent, or if you dream much or often
and have an aversion to society, you are
suffering from a serious disease of the
nerves, brain and heart You have no time
to lose. Call at once on DR.. Darrin, at
265 Morrison street, Portland. Hours, 10
to 5; evenings, to 8; Sundays, 10 to IL.
Examination free and confidential. Cir
culars and question blanks sent free. No
cures published of private nature. Bat
teries and belts furnished when necessary.
Patients writing please mention this paper.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-12-23

Two stalwart fellows in jean trousers,
ducking coats and wooden comforters fol-
low the wagon. keeping up continuous
fire of ears of corn into the box. With
gathering thoughts of Christmas trees,
play parties, dances and taffy pullings,
the husking grows furious. and twice be-
fore noon the wagon bed Is filed. Thumb
stalls and husking pegs are much in de-
mand. The boys all around the kitchen
fire at night nursing blistered thumbs and
awkwardly sewing finger stalls of drill
ing, double in thickness and fastened on
the hands securely with leather strings.
"'Clare ter goodness hits huff ter p'voke
er saint. hit is dat" declares the old col
ored auntie. "Da's dem cookies, bu'nt to
a plum crisp an me can't git to de oven
'dout trompin on somebody's corns. Da's
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-12-23
Lord of Misrule.

Down to the reign of Henry WILL, and
occasionally since, Lord Of Misrule"
was appointed to direct the amusements
of the English court during the holidays
He presided over the festivities, prepared
the games, directed the sports, and saw
that the court was kept properly amused
during Christmas week. The Office was
considered highly honorable, and the
Lord of Misrule" was generally some
wealthy nobleman who was willing to
spend money lavishly in promoting the
gaieties of the court. 1t is of record that
during the reign of Elizabeth, Essex. as
Lord of Misrule," spent in one Christ
mas season $4,000 of his own money on
the court games.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-12-23
Hoods Sarsaparilla
Mixing His Drinks.

There is a story told of Mr.. Glad
stone which would show that the true
meaning Of the old saying: do not
mix your drinks" was unknown to the
great statesman. 1t is said to have
been his habit to let the wines which
were served in the course of dinner
mobilize at his elbow, and during a
pause in the conversation seize the glass
that happened to be nearest. On one
occasion Mr.. Gladstone, who had re-
freshed himself as usual in this hap
hazard way, inveighed against the
practice of mixing wines. 1t was re-
spectfully pointed out to him that he
had been guilty of this very act; but
he explained, to his own satisfaction,
that to mix wines was to fill up half
glass of champagne from the port de-
canterl-Cornhill Magazine.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-12-23

neighboring houses or from the little
towns near by. ''zip. sip, ha. ha, hurrah."
and up comes a sled with dozen young
folks. bound for the party. The sled is
long one, with a wagon box mounted on
the cross-beams. Three or four wagons
have been stripped of their spring seats to
equip the sleigh. The bed of the box Is
filed with hay, which keeps everybody's
feet warm. Away the sled whirls, taking
a short cut across the bottoms, running
counter to rocks and logs under the snow,
and almost spilling the whole party out.
Out in the open road another sleigh turns
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-12-23

dem pigs feet in de ashes need fcrapin'
desc two houahs! Git out O heAh!s Eff
yo' des TEX yosefs off, soon's / get er min
nit's peace, 1 mex yo' fawty 'leven tingah
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-12-23

An experiment of scientific interest
is to be tried in getting rid Of the safety
vault of the old Cincinnati CO., Deposit
and Trust Company. The walls are
constructed of layers of hard spring
steel to a thickness of one and one
quarter inches. Two operators will be
placed in the vault and wire for each
run in through vent hold. The wire
will be attached to a carbon, which
will be manipulated with heavy
handle. They will pass the carbon
over the steel walls, burning them in
intersecting lines.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-12-23
NEW YEARS IN EUROPE.
The Day Holds Prominent Place ir
the Popular Calendar,

In Europe New Years day holds
prominent place in the popular calendar.
For many centuries past it has been the
custom of northern nations to watch the
going out Of the old year and the coming
in Of the new with demonstrations of mer-
riment and conviviality. 1t is rare case
that an English family fails to sit up on
the last night of the old year with a few
intimate friends, awaiting the stroke of
the. midnight hour. The day is observ-
ed by few visits among nearest relatives
and intimate friends, but most particular
ly by festive family gatherings in the
evenings. The custom of making pres
ents on New Years day has become al
most obsolete in England. That is now
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-12-23

By local applications, as they cannot reach the
diseased portion OF the ear. There is only one
way to cure deafness, and that is by constitu-
tional remedies. Deafness is caused by an in
Eustachian Tube. When this tube gets in
famed you have rumbling sound or imper,
deafness is the result, and unless the infiamma-
tion can be taken out and this tube restored to
its normal condition, hearing will be destroyed
catarrh, which is nothing but an inaamed
condition of the mucous surfaces.
We will give One Hundred Dollars for any
case of Deafness Caused by catarrh) that can
not be cured by Halls Cetarrh Cure. Send for
circulars, free.
Sold by Druggists, 75c
HALLS Family Pills are the best.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-12-23
THE FIRST CHRISTMAS GIFT.
Make Your Gift Pure One, and Give
It with Love.

Make Your Gift Pure One, and Give
1t with Love.
"If you had the wealth of the world you
could not equal that first Christmas gift, %
writes Ruth Ashmore in an article on
Girls and Their Christmas Giving" in
the Ladies' Home Journal. "And you can
only initiate it by making your gift pure
one, and giving it with love. You want
to share. this Christmastide, your faith,
your hope and your charity with those you
love. You want to make your very good
morning tell of that good morning that
came so many hundred years ago when
the little Child first wakened on this earth.
You want to think of the gifts that were
brought to Him and what they typifed.
You want to have your heart full of joy,
and love, and hope-so full that it will
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-12-23
Born With a Needle in His Leg.

Mrs. Oscar Stanley, of Anderson,
Ind. gave birth to a baby boy recently.
When it was placed in care of the
nurse, she found rather peculiar pim-
pie on the inside of it's thigh. She
thought nothing of it at first, but it
began to get very sore, and also became
very large. The other day when she
was bathing the child her hand came in
contact with sharp object. which
proved to be needle. The little one
had come into this thorny world with
the needle buried in his flesh.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-12-23
Popular Phone Service.

The telephone system of Paris will
be greatly popularized and extended
by the government mail and telegraph
department. Public stations will be
scattered through the city. where per-
sons not subscribers may call from or
make engagements over the wire.
Messages will te delivered from these
stations for fee of cents.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-12-23
TRY ALLEN,s FOOT-EAsE,

A powder to be shaken into the shoes.
At this season your feet feel swollen, ner-
vous and uncomfortable. If you have
smarting feet or tight shoes, try Aliens
Foot-Ease. 1t rests and comforts; makes
walking easy. Cures swollen and sweating
feet, blisters and callous spots. Relieves
corns and bunions of all pain and is GER
tain cure for Chilblains, Sweating, damp
or frosted feet. We have over thirty thou
ali and shoe IL s1sa
package FREE. Address, Allen s. Ohm
sted, Lo Roy, N. Y.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-12-23
Yule Cakes.

Yule dough, kind of baby or little
image intended to represent the child Je-
sus, made of paste, was formerly baked at
Christmas and presented by bakers to
their customers sin the same manner as
the chambers gave candles" They are
still called Yule cakes in the county Of
Durham, England.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-12-23
His Sad Fate.

"Kind SIR" said the beggar, "wiIl you
aid me? Once l was worth $50, 900, and
now | am penniless, sir"
"What ruined your" asked Hojack.
Buying Christmas presents. sir"
Thereupon Hojack gave the man dol
lar, for he knew how it was himself.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-12-23
Glue From Seaweed.

A fresh use for seaweed is claimed to
have been discovered by Norwegian
engineer. who exhibited an invention
at the Stockholm exhibition for produc-
ing paper glue, dressing gum and soap
from seaweed. The first esta ablishment
for this branch of manufacture is to be
erected in the district of Stavanger.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-12-23
Ruth white on the Now pine.

If you have one of the new dimes,
you are carrying in your pocket very
good picture of Miss Ruth White, Of
San Francisco. Miss White might
have sat to Uncle Sans artist, the re-
sem blance Is SO close. Miss White was
mem Der of the Castle Square Com
pany last season.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-12-23
Might Prevent Eating,

According to the Australian Standard
and Diggers' News, scare has been
created among the natives in Durham
by an absurd idea they have got that
in vaccination against smallpox the
throat is to be operated upon, which,
as they put it, will prevent them eat
ing. The result is that good many
have suddenly left for their kraals, as
many as 400 depositing their badges in
one day.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-12-23

The children at Bethlehem are told by
their mothers that~on Christmas Eve a
choir of angels always sings above the
place where Christ was born. Travellers
say that on this evening scores and some
times hundreds of children may be seen
in the open air looking up to the sky, wait
ing to hear the angels sing.
The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-12-23
Dear Lord, what gift thou hast sent III
Satisfying Him.

'Tshave called" said the captious critic,
"to End out what reason you can give for
representing the New Year as nude
small boy"
''That is done," responded the art edi-
tor, because the year does not get its
close till the 31st of December"
Then the captious critic went out and
broke his nice new pledge.-Indianapolis
Journal.