davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-24
Roman Christmas.
A Season Of JOY and Merrymaking In
the Eternal City.

Although the picturesque scenes and
grand functions which formerly attracted
visitors TO Rome at this time OF the year
are in a great measure things of the
past perhaps in few other cities OF the
world is IL possible to pass moro de-
lightful Christmas than in Rome, Tor
here, i'm the venerable Caput Mundi all
the cosmopolitan usages and customs
which follow in the motley train OF old
Father Christmas seem TO concur In rem
dering it a season of JOY and merrymak-
ing. while the peculiar fascination Of the
Eternal City sheds a kind of glamour
over the most varied celebrations, and the
beautiful religious ceremonies are I'M
equaled for solemnity and impressive
grandeur.
OF all seasons this is in Rome the gay
est within the circle Of domestic life, bur
the vigil. instead of the day itself, may
be said 10 be the great occasion for Fam
lily reunions. Here. as everywhere else
the most important part of the proiane
programme is Of a purely gastronomical
nature and the cenone--i. e., 'bi-supper
takes the place Of the Christmas dinner
Of the following day, as held in England.
The appearance OF the shops is brilliant
and striking in the extreme at this time
of the year. the confectioners' windows
especiallv being full OF things the sweet
est and prettiest-sugar temples snowy
cakes called paagialh. made of almonds,
raisins and flour Ca redoubtable compost
ton. compared to which an honest British
plum pudding is as light as waiep'
longitudinal papers filled with torrone and
all sorts of other delicacles.
One of. the first Christmas trees ever
introduced into Rome was for the Ettle
Prince of Naples. heir to the Italian
throne. whose nursery goyerness was an
English lady, and since then the Teutonic
custom has gradually become la mode
in Rome. London Mail.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-24
Neeplng the Secret.

I have a secret with Santa claus,
And he will never tell;
lie knows so many secrets because
he keeps them all so well.
But. o, dear mother. If you could guess
How very surprised you'd be-
But nobody knows the leastest thing
But Santa Claus and me.
I wish could tell YOU. mother dear;
I'm sure you would love 10 know
Can you wait till Christmas, do you thinh
The DAYS are so very slow,
It's something you need for your dress
ing-case;
I made Tits all from me:
It's square and pink and covered with
lace,
And its name begins with G!
You mustn't know until Christmas day;
o. my, aren't secrets FUN
And can keep them. can't !, mammaY
/ never would whisper one
Florence Evelyn Pratt In December 81
Nicholas.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-24
The Crinoline Girl.

Walter Besant recently INDUCED IN
"reminiscences of the time when vast crin-
oline went out OF fashion. saying: How
well / remember the change of fashion,
IL was like a transformation OF things
ugly and creeping into things ethereal ana
beautiful. Suddenly the girl stood Dc
fore us without her crinoline tal0 silght
and beautiful figure. Such falling In love
az there was in those days. And such
weeping among those poor women whose
youth had been imprisoned in their crln-
olipe. Girls have been steadily growing
more beautiful every year. owing party
10 this beneficial change in their dress
party because they have developed so
much Intellectual activity. The poor
dear. smiling timid. silly, namby-pamby'
ignorant goody. dumpy maiden no longer
lives. She had a good heart and wor-
shipped her lover-but, oh, she was so
silly. and so conventional. and so proper
Farewell, dear dumpy girl OF my youth.
buffalo Times.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-24
The Yule Log.

In the scandinavian feast Of JUL, when
they burned huge bon-tires In honor oi
Thor. we discover the origin OF the A"le
log. The descendants Of the old Morse
men. who no doubt are responsible ior
the custom I'm England. carefully preserved
half of the log with which 10 DE- putie'
at next Yuletide, and so we nave the
Old English proverb. but in poetical FORM,
by HerRick.
Part must be kept wherewith to tend
The Christmas log next year,
And where It's safely kept the hend
Can do no mischief here,
The DruidicaI contribution to the MOD
ern Christmas celebration originated III
the annual feast given In honor OF the
Druid god Tutanus who corresponds 10
the Phoenician sun god Baal. His favor
tie among all trees and plants or the
forest was supposed to be the mistletoe'
The number three was held In reverence
by these ancient people, and,l because the
leaves and berries OF this parasite gre"
in clustrs OF three, this In addition 10 tne
glory of being Tutanus' favorite. maze
the plant sacred, and annually there was
A great festival given In its honor.
In the choice and selection Of the huie
log the ash tree plays a very important
part. IN ocdluiid'idh MY
Odin's tree and was most noble Tor It's
wood made the spear and the Ja'eii"'
the oar and the mast In their language
ash means man, and the legend runs 'hat
when the sons OF Bor, who were sons Of
Odin. formed the first man and woman
they were made out OF piece OF ash. This
man was named Aska. And at the pres
emit time in Devonshire. as a relic OF thls
pagan reverence for this tree, we ma ''he
Christmas fagots made OF ash sticks. bound
tightly together by green withes or pahus
OF pollard oak. AS each withe purs's d
Quart OF cider is passed around ana
healths are drunk. amid great glee anu
rejoicing. The gypsles, too, and ne "nu
hiil people Of Bavaria and Bohemia re-
yerence the ash, although their LEGENDS
attached to 1t are Christian in their o'i-
gin.--Boston Herald.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-24
ION CHRISTMAS MORNING
LONG AGO."

on Christmas morning long ago
A tender child was born:
His cradle was a manger low
1t seemed a place forlon
For such a patient little child.
So humbly sweet, so noby mild.
But never any silken dress
Contrived with royal art
Could warm with such tenderness
As wrapped his baby heart.
When from the shadow OF her crown,
His mothers love came shining down.
gracious time, o loving time,
That birthday OF the Prince
1t rings In every happy chime
on every Christmas since
1t CLOVIS i'm every deed Of love,
IL guides in every star above.
Louise Morgan Sill in Harpers Bazaar.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-24
A Siberian Superstition.

A strange superstition, which may owe
something of sits origin to the associa-
tions bound up with the Biblical narrative
of the Nativity, obtains credence TO this
day among the peasants of Siberia, BY
them II is believed that a gift of human
speech and superhuman prophecy descends
upon the beasts Of the stall and byre dur
ing the mystic hour that heralds the
Christmas dawn and that II one is bold
enough to hide beneath the straw on such
occasions he will hear his fate for the
coming year foretold by his domestic ami
mails. A betrayal of his presence. how
ever. entails certain destruction-Pall
Mall Gazette.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-24
THE KINGDOM OF THE CHILD.

There's a light of Love to-day
Failing on the worlds highway.
Tilt of song. and flow of mirth.
Glow of star. and thrill of Birth.
lust as when to Bethlehem Town
Came the holy Christ-chid down,
And DER wars and tumults wild
Rose the Kingdom OF the Chiid.
Throng of angels In the sky
Wondrous music floating hish'
Cherubim and seraphim
Teaching earth its Christmas hymn
simple shepherds hushed to hear;
Eastern sages drawing near;
Rosy clouds OF dawning piled
Round the chariot of the Child.
Der the manager stood the star
Slipped from heaven through gates agar
Iowly on a couch Of hay
Law the God who took our clay.
Rrooded by sweet breath OF kline,
Small and fair and all-Divine-
Little lovely child to be
King Ger earth's great family,
Thus, in Thee, the undeiled,
Dawned the long rule OF the Child.
There a Mother Maiden pdle
As a snow-drop, white and fran,
In her eyes such sacred thought
As LIES Angel Pain had wrought,
Bent above her Infant, sweet
Kissed the dlmples OF His feet.
In that place. serene and MUD,
Born the Kingdom of the enid.
Wide and large that Kingdom spreads,
Wheresoever golden heads
Cluster round Kriss Kringle's tree,
Grave with awe and mystery.
Still Gods Angels find the way
To our earth on Christmas-Day;
Still the seeker and the sought
Each to each are safely brought,
And-a truce to passions wild
Here's the Kingdom of the Child.
Tiny, crumpled baby's hand.
Strong to lead us and command.
Lady, Mother, full OF grace.
Queen and GRADER OF the race,
Cherubim and seraphim
Fill your cup and sing your hymn,
GLORIA in Excelsis." Hear
How it echoes, far and near.
peace on earth. goodwill to men,
Angel chorus, uttered when
Unto lowly Bethlehem Town
Came the blessed Christ-child down,
And DER wars and tumults wild
Rose the Kingdom of the Child.
Margaret r. Sangster In the Decem.
Der Woman's Home Companion.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-24
Welzar tile Semitic.

Melzar. Gentle of Lystra, buffeted
harshly by fate.
Heard. with startled wonder. Paul the
Apostle great.
Ignorant. wretched, unlettered, he lis
tened I'm awe and believed;
Christ as Messiah and Master the sim
pie Gentle received.
Pondered he long the story. the marvel
Gus Christ-childs birth,
Vision Of love incarnate coming from
heaven TO earth.
Often wished Mezar. the GENTLE that
he had beheld the star,
Following after it's cleaning to the
sacred manger afar.
Ignorant quite. and untutored, he pom
dered again and again,
Wistfully hoping the beacon once more
might appear TO men.
Seeing one eve with rapture star with
marvellous light,
Mezar, i'll with fever fastened INTO
the night.
weakened with suffering and anguish,
feebly he rose from his bed,
Following, following. whittier the star
I'm its beauty led.
Surely at length | SHAH see HIM. Mel-
Ear. rejoicing. cried:
LEAD me- oh. Star of Wonder, close to
my Masters side"
Far from his home they found him,
there on the grassy plain;
Whose seeketb the Christ-child, seeketh
Him not in vain,
Surely a star will lead them close 10
their Masters side
Melzar dead in the sunlight, never IN
truth had died
Mabel Cronise Jones In Leslle's Weekly.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-24

They bumped together in the umbrella
department and one cried TO the other.
'Oh. dear. are you, too buying umbrellas
for Christmas presents?"
Said the other slowly: why. yes; ]
thought l would give one TO my husband.
Hut with a sudden accession Of frank
ness) ] don't know about It. either. for /
have hunted all over. and l declare / can't
find single one that / would care to
carry myself Chicago Times-Herald.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-24
n Unite Nooing.

Go back with me TO Christmas Eve
A hundred years ago
And see her. through the winter WOODS
Come walking in the snow,
In fur pelsse and satin gown
Protected from the cold:
A bonnet with feather tied
Upon her locks Of gold
Oh. was II chance that led him there
Through rows OF ancient oaks.
And pines that wore their robes Of green
Beneath their ermine cloaks;
Or framed in sprays Of frosty white
A bright and girish face.
The futter of a sllken scarf
And frills Of foamy lace?
She failed TO reach the mistletoe.
1t grew an inch too high;
lie stopped TO bend the branches down
Between her and the sky.
The snowy twigs upon her sleeve
Shook off their powdered pearls,
And showers of shining diamond-dust
Were sifted on her curls.
The SHOWS were white around their feet.
The berries white above.
But In their youthful bosoms glowed
Tho summertime Of love.
His eyes We're dim, his heart was thrilled
He spoke in faltering tone.
And dared TO kiss the rosy cheek
That bloomed so near his own.
The questions low and sweet replies,
The bushes and the vows.
Are sacred To the mistletoe
That hid them with its boughs.
Forgotten on the frozen crust,
The gathered garlands lay;
Their footprints side by side returned
The same enchanted way.
rf I'm a groove OF welded bliss
Their blended futures ran
Or If he took another maid,
And she another man.
Must 81 my verse be left untold.
But IL YOU still would know.
Go with the one you love the best.
And ask the mistlotOo.
by Minna Irving. in Truth.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-24
CHRISTMAS LEGENDS OF ANIMALS

Some say that ever 'gainst that season
comes
Wherein our Saviour's birth Is cee-
brated
The bird of dawning singeth all night
long;
And then. they say. no spirit can walk
abroad:
The nights are wholesome: then no plan
cts strike.
No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to
charm;
So hallowed and so gracious is the time.
Shakespeare.
THAT the cock crowed all night long
on December oath to scare away wicked
spirits was believed long ago." says Our
Animal Friends ION that night moth
ing bad could happen to any one; no one
was even unhappy. because no one did
Observation-Disclosures and witches alike were
prevented from working harm. A tiny
child might toddle along in the streets In
safety at the darkest hour OF that holy
night Shakespeare calls the cock the
bird OF dawning,' because, as you know
II never fails to crow at daybreak. Thu
legend, then, has the added beauty that
the bird of dawning' was heard through
all the hours of the night before the dawn
OF the christian era.
Another poetical legend Is still popular
among some simple hearted country folk
OF Old England. In parts OF Devon and
Cornwall to-day the people will tell you
that at midnight of Christmas Eve the
cattle fall to their knees in alteration, as
they did at the birth OF Christ IN the
stable OF Bethlehem. In olden days a
poor beast that might often be thought
lessily abused was comfcrted at least once
year and, while you may think that
little, such kindnesses were surely steps
In the right direction.
in olden times II was customary 10
extend the charities Of Christmas and New
Years to the lower animals. Robert Burns
himself refers TO that practice in his
Aud Farmers Address to His Mare
When gtvipS The uaso IN extra feed OF
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-24
NcArvstmas Song.

Ger the wastes the crows are calling
Cav. cawl
In the hedges Of The haw,
Sparrows with their merry clatter
Cheep and chatter
Naughts the matter,
Marry! marry. naught's the matter.
Then it's hoi heigh-ho,
Ali the waking world aglow,
And the mirthful bells of Christmas
Ring across the snow.
Down the garden Collins calling
In the thickest OF the holly
Choruses the hidden startling,
Saucy darling.
You're behind her.
Kiss her. kiss her. when you find her
Then IT'S no; heigh-ho!
Who's for worryf who's for woe?
When the wooing bells Of Christmas
Ring across the snow?
Clinton Scollard, III The Criterion.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-24
CHRISTMAS WILL SOON BE HERE.

Christmas day'li soon be here
But Il won't bring eune cheer
christmas won't for me this year.
chris mas dayll soon be here.
Reason itll be that way,
Mother died las Christmas day
Mother died that day, n so
When il comes again l know
Spirits will be rurther low.
Spirits'H be low. kuz She
Mother I should said-won't be
Here L brighten up III place
With her dear OF smilin' face.
Christmas day1l soon be here
But it won't bring enne cheer'
Chris mas won't for me this year.
Won't bring nuthin' but a tear
Christina day'll soon be here,
WIN Frost in Chicago chronicle.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-24

AT Blenheim. the home Of the Duke and
Duchess Of Marlborough, ancient ana
modern Christmas customs are pleasantly
blended by the force Of the American ideas
and dollars which now revive so notably
the gala spirit of the natal season. BON
the Duke and Duchess have regard fof
the traditions Of the past and they Keep
The days of cheer with all the old-iime
hosnitaljtv. freshened with modern inno-
yations. For centuries Christmas day at
Blenheim has been notable occasion for
all the servants tenants and adherents
to the wide estates: but since the coming
Of the new chateaine Of the palace there
has been added TO the observance a genu-
inc sympathy and a personality which
lend a new spirit 10 the celebration. The
Christmas tree thirty feet in height, is
erected in the great audit-room, and on
It and about 1t are placed the multitude
OF gifts for the children Of the seven
d.mesne towns round about, over which
the Marlborough domain extends. Seven
hundred children and their relatives are
sometimes entertained at the palace. ana
vet its vast interior Is never crowded.
One year the Duchess had twelve hundred
half-uound bags of sweets put up for her
little friends and when Christmas day
was done there was not one left. You
should come out from London on CHRIST
mas morning. sir" said faithful retain
er on their estates. His Grace and the
Duchess have ready loaded up great
van heaped with all sorts OF gifts, and
they follow the van all through its rounds
in their own carriage to give out the
things themselves instead of sending them,
as YOU might think such high-born persons
would do sir. And would you believe 1t,
sir Her Grace knit with her own HANDS
a shawl for the little sick boy next door"
-Woman's Home Companion.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-24
The Queens Christmas Cards.

1t Is said OF Queen Victoria tnat she
personally selects Christmas caras ior All
her maids of honor. her Iavori,e DOCTOR,
Ministers, singers and musicians, ana on
the cards to her immediate relations she
writes special Christmas greeting. Who
ever else Is forgotten. the queen always
remembers her old servants AZ CHRIST
mas. Those who were IN ner service De-
60 IN. Death Of the Prince Consoft are
snecially favored They are allowed to
choose for themselves some articles of
silver plate. ard on Christmas day they
receive their presents. accompanied by q
Iaa~e. black boriered card. bearing the
touching Inscription: with good wishes
fran her Majesty and Prince csasosA~
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-24
inst What He Wanted.

Boston Mother-Your foolish old grand
mother In Podunk has sent you a drum
for Christmas.
Boston Son-The very object most de-
sired. mammal i have wished for some
time TO make a few simple experiments
I'm mechanical acoustics and elementary
sonorous sensations. I have wished to
analyze the progressive, sympathetic, vi.
bratory propagation OF composite sound
waves" as transmitted through an elastic
medium 10 intermediate space and thence
TO the delicate terminal fbrils OF the audi
tory nerve You may thank grandmam-
ma for her thoughtfulness. mammal
Judge,
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-24
GArse Sia,.
Thers ,~ n night which children love.
a. I.fo-., vorrfh

There il q night which children love
A time of fadeless youth. ~
A dime when tenderest legendry
EntwInes with hoiiest truth.
O happy night. o holy night! +
st.Il shines thy radiant star t.
ON shepherds watching in the fields, ~
DER wise men journeying far.
"A
There Is a tree the children love E
Whose flowers are all of light,
Whose fruitage IL a shower OF gifts
OF wonder and delight.
Beneath the branches of that tree
Care flies and pain is mute,
And hands long sundered meet again
When gathering its fruit.
There Il a Child the children love,
Couched on His mothers knee.
On Him the happy star doth shine,
And on the Christmas tree.
Out from those baby hands Of His.
Like rose leaves softly curled.
Hath come that happy. holy thing.
The Christmas OF the world.
Florence Evelyn Pratt In Harper
Bazaar.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-24

pital many miles away. She insisted at
Christmas time that no change should be
made at home There must be Christ
mas presents and the tree. The father
and some men worked at the Christmas
tree for some hours on the afternoon be-
fore Christmas.
The mother far away was well enough to
walk to the telephone In the 5pial. The
hour was arranged. Suddenly. when all
the children were around the tree. the
father reached into the tree, put the trans
mitter carefully concealed there to the
ear Of the youngest child. and the child
heard it's mothers Christmas massage
Each In turn spoke to her. and they voted
that mammals voice was the best Christ
mas present they had.-The outlook.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-24
Robinson Crusoe,s Christmas.

Perhaps the briefest reference to christ
mas contained in any novel is that IN
Robinson Crusoe." IL is a striking IL
lustration OF the fact that Christmas Is
nothing to a man in solitude for Il de-
pends for its true enjoyment not only
upon ones self. but upon the pleasure OF
others who help in celebration OF the
great festival Here is all Defoe says OF
robinson Crusoes Christmas on his desert
island:
Dec. 25-Rained all day"
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-24
Ohe Christmas Gree.
Its Origin in the Old Days Of Morse
MythOlowy

Its Origin in the Ola Days or Morse
Mythology.
It IS said that Christmas trees were
used 10 place gifts upon as early as ibil.
France adopted the Christmas tree about
1910. and Prince Albert introdu ed IL into
England the first Christmas after his
marriage The queen still keeps up tho
custom. having a tree for her own gifts,
ono for her children and grandchiihieh
and one for thehousehold. Since then mo
custom has become Worldwide. The Tree
o. Candles" is Of more ancient date mere
is an old French romance OF the thir-
teenth century in which the hero sees
tree whose branches from top % bottom
are covered with burning candles, WINE
on the top is a figure Of n child SHINING
with a still greater radiance. This tree
symboiz.d humanity-the upper lights
being the souls Of the good those be-
low. of the wicked, while the child repre-
scented Christ The poetic idea OF The
Christmas tree as symbol Of the re-
newed life OF nature which begins Win
the frightening of the days comes from
Germany From the Morse mythology
comes the suggestion Of the Christmas
tree as typical o. the newborn sun IN
that It was bedeCked with lights, ana was
an emblem Of spring on account o. It's
rich green. Probably the Morse mythology
was the origin Of the tree OF candles
more than OF the present Christmas tree.
on the Introduction Of Christianity lhe
Christmas tree. although not known men
by that name. became the Jylie OF hrlsl'
The following quotation from H. r.
Lewis gives these emblems OF me christ
mas tree.
THE tree itself stately and tan. was
syrnbolical OF His Majesty and gran
deur: the green, Of His godliness ana I'M
mortality: the lights. Of His glory and
OF the Star in the East. ana the anger
on top (Which was then never omitted
Of the angels who gave 10 the shepherds
the words still spoken each Christmas
Day, Peace on earth sood-"iii 70 men.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-24

Of the little Queen Of Holland, at christ
mas time Wilhelmina celebrates the res
tival vigorously and delightedly. She
has always had a tree on Christmas eve
always hung up her stocking ana she
loves TO give presents. There Is scarce
" a poor child in The Hague who is not
remembered by the Queen.
one Of her chief joys on Christmas morn
ing is 10 follow the ancient Dutch Gus
tom of appearing suddenly at a door
and. after flinging gift, rolled In Dig
ball Of straw, into the room running away
as fast as she can. Another christmas
habit Is that OF driving about the snowy
streets and tossing handfuls OF bonbons
wherever she sees group OF children