davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-12-24
CONCERNING SANTA CLAUS.
Where He Originated and Why Rep
resented as an Old Man.

Santa Claus is of German origin.
This is true if only because that is the
Dutch name of St. Nicholas. That he
lis an old man is because in the
ancient pagan feasts in celebration Of
the decay of the old year and the birth
of the new and old man played the
principal part. Among the Greeks
and Romans it was Saturn. the father
of all the gods, and among the Ger
mans it was Thor, who was long beard
ed and white haired. The tradition
of hoary age is appropriate, for repre-
sentation of the dying year was too
strong to be driven away by the new
figure of the early church obser-
Vances.
That the saint is st. Nicholas is due
to the fact that venerable per-
sonage's feast-day was celebrated at
about that period. st Nicholas was a
bishop of Myra who fiourished early in
the fourth century. He is the patron
saint of children and schoolboys. and
hence it was natural that he should be
a part of celebration when the chill
dren received gifts and when they
were allowed to be heard as we'll as
seen
The practice of making presents on
that day undoubtedly owes it's origin
to general idea to carry into prac-
tice the Biblical mandate. peace on
earth; good will to men," At first the
great lords made presents to their
retainers, and the season was marked
by universal charity. BY degrees the
practice Of Christmas giving spread
until now everybody gives his friends
presents
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-12-24
New kipiing Story.

Here is an amusing story which is
told of Kipling by Cecil Rhodes. After
the siege of Kimberley they were both
staying at beautiful little Dutch
farm, the home of one of Mr.. Rhodes
managers. One morning early the
flag was hauled down from the flag
staff, probably by some rebels, and the
manager was so afraid lest Rhodes
keen eye should notice it that he hur-
riedly begged the privilege of showing
him round the fruit farms before
breakfast. Mr.. Kipling, who was in a
dreamy mood, stayed behind But
dreaminess presently gave place to
hunger as time went on.
and Mr.. Rhodes did not ap-
pear. On their way home Mr.. Rhodes
and the manager were surprised to
come across, on every tree they passed
big placards, bearing in bold, black
letters such sentences IFS Famine"
eve are starving" Feed U.s." and
this sort of thing went on until they
got to the front door, where they
found written in still more startling
type:
Fore the Human Race
Breakfast
Purifes the Mind-Invigorate the
system! 1t Has Sustained Thousands.
1t Will Sustain You.
See That You Get It.
And inside, too. on every available
wall and door there were placards get
ting stronger and stronger, until
they came to ''Why Die When Little
Breakfast Prolongs Life?" cit Is
Late" "It Is Still Later" Until at last
they came to the little room where
Kipling sat waiting for his breakfast,
innocent but hungry. 1t was. of
course, the CHARACTERISTIC work of the
author Of "Stalky and Mainly
About People.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-12-24

work table, just as telegrapher taps
his keys.
But or Christmas day he talks.
An Interchangeable Menu.
And the Christmas eating! Here is
the regular fare of Sing Sing for each
day in the week. and it is the same
every week in the year except on
Christmas day, Thanksgiving and the
fourth Of July. The breakfast menu
for each day in the week is as follows:
Sunday, hash. bread and coffee; Mon
day, bread. hash and coffee; Tuesday,
coffee, bread and hash; Wednesday,
coffee, hash and bread; Thursday,
bread, coffee and hash; Friday, hash,
bread and coffee; Saturday the same.
There is a little more variety for
dinner, which is as follows: Sunday,
boiled rice. milk and sugar. stewed
apples, sweet buns, bread and coffee;
Monday, pork and beans; boiled pota-
toes, bread and coffee and vinegar;
! Tuesday, boiled fresh beef. vegetable
soup made of cabbage, tomatoes, par
ships, carrots. turnips, rice or barley,
bread and coffee; Wednesday. mutton
stew or clam showder. tomatoes. pota-
toes, parsnips. carrots. with pork en-
tree and turnips; Thursday, corned
beef and cabbage and bologna
sausage, with pea or bean soup,
boiled potatoes, mustard, bread and
coffee; Friday, fresh fish, boiled pota-
toes, brown and white bread and
&C. CT annciCtinO
of potatoes. tomatoes, parsnips. car
rots and turnips. bread and coffee.
Supper every day in the week, except
Sunday, consists of bread and coffee.
There is no supper on Sunday.
Like with other folks, Christmas at
Sing Sing begins On the night before
that is, the convicts can go to sleep in
their 4x7 cells with the happy feeling
that they can sleep an hour and half
later than usual Ordinarily the get
up bell rings at $3.50, but on Christmas
it won't jingle out it's disturbing sum-
mons until o'clock. And that is
something. When Fred Ward, the
railroad wrecker and Napoleon, was
released he said that his greatest
happiness in his new freedom would
be to turn over and go to sleep again
when he was called in the morning.
That was the single ambition of a
man who had once had $20,0O0,000 to
60 with as he pleased.
A Very Early Dinner.
To give the convicts their Christmas
pleasure early in the day the great
dinner is served for breakfast at 7:30
a. m. Heretofore the long lines of
each division were formed. each man
with his hands on the sides of the man
in front. as shown above. and at the
word from the guard the lock-step
march began The big, dark mess
room, with it's great rows of tables,
each 80 feet long, and with 1900 tin
mugs and 1000 plates in place, is not
inviting to the average eye or stom-
ach, but on Christmas day it has
wonderful attractions to the convicts.
During the present year this famous
lock-step has been abolished-another
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-12-24
Christ's Birthplace

According to an article by Paul
Carus in The Open Court, the apoc-
,ryphaI gospels tell a somewhat diffen-
'ent story Of Christ's birth from the
Fcanonical books. According to the
former, Christ was born in a cave and
thence transferred to a stable, where
the OK and ass worshiped him. while
according to the canonical gospels,
the nativity takes place in the stable.
The apocrypal legends proved so
strong that. in spite of the canonical
version of the story. a cave near Beth
Iehem came to be finally regarded as
the place of the Nativity, and church
was erected on the spot to commem-
crate the event and still stands as
lasting monument of this belief
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-12-24

There will be many queer Christmas
Hastings in this broad land of ours,
but the one that will outrank all
others will be the celebration in the
grim gray stone fortress, that prince
of prisons, Sing Sing in New York.
The dull granite walls are terribly
thick there, and poor Santa Claus
could not break it if he came armed
with a sleigh full of dynamite bombs.
Sour-looking guards with sleek Win
chesters dot the tops. of the walls,
others with bullying hip pockets
swarm over the grounds, moving
slowly and never seeming to see any
thing, but seeing everything. Iron
gratings, iron doors, stone floors,
stone walls, everything iron and stone
small wonder that the holiday spirit
permeating the rest of the world has
hard time soaking through this mass
of granite and metal into the 1900
hardened hearts within.
Thieves, murderers, forgers, black
legs, thugs, rufians, scoundrels, from
malefactor of the slums. from A to 2
of the criminal calendar, all huddle to-
gether, jumbled into one mass by the
drag net sweeping hither and thither
over the State. but mostly in the city
of New York. Sing Sings guests are
80 per cent the product of New York
city. They are the cream of the
villainy of the metropolis, skinned
by the cold hand of the law. When
they get out-some of them never
will-they will return to the city, and
in few months many will be back
again behind the iron and stone
Three Great Gifts.
Christmas is not an empty thing to
them, and many are looking forward
to it with the nervous eagerness of a
four-year-old child True, Santa
Claus does not bring fine gifts there,
but he does make change in the
dreadful routine of the place. and that
is a blessed gift to the old convict,
greater and grander than jeweled
baubles, money or riches. He does
things on Christmas day that he can
do on no other of the 365 days in the
year. He eats different food. he can
talk to his fellow men. he can walk
without folding his arms on his chest
These may seem small blessings, but
the old-timer in Sing Sing appreciates
them at their true worth
He knows what it is to go day after
day, week after week and month after
month without saying word to his
fellow men. 1t is true he communi-
Gates with them. but not in the free
way of opening the mouth and talking
naturally. That would mean a stay in
the dark cell. perhaps on bread and
water, and bad marks, which would
deprive him of shortening his term by
good behavior. He uses the lip
language, subtle, quiet, but effective.
If he is an adept in crime he can
tick out message by knocking the
hardened ends of his fingers on the
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-12-24
Christmas Carols.

It takes Santa Claus long time to
fill the girls stockings in Chicago, but
he makes up for lost time when he
gets to Boston.
Don't try to make yourself happy at
Christmas by doing the things you
will swear off at New Years.
If you should see anyone coming
down the chimney don't think it is
Santa Claus, but go at once and sound
the burglar-alarm.
If you are going to be married at
Christmas, light the Yule-log with the
other girls letters.
Don't call yourself unlucky just be-
cause you fail to pull the gold watch
out of the Christmas grab-bag.
Judge.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-12-24
Facts About Christmas.

Christmas means Christ's mass.
The Greek church celebrates Christ
mas on Dec. 25, old style, which is Jan.
6, new style.
The Armenian church celebrates
Christmas on Jan 16.
Christmas island was discovered by
Captain Cook on Christmas day in
1777.
In all the states and territories
Christmas day is observed as a legal
holiday
The custom of giving Christmas
gifts on Christmas day is general
among all Christian nations.
In the Philippines Christmas day is
celebrated by mass in the morning
and cockfght in the afternoon. both
services being we'll attended.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-12-24
Kissing Under the MistIetoe.

While we must thank the Druids for
suggesting the mistletoe as a Christ
mas decoration. we are not indebted
to them for the pretty custom of kiss
ing under the mistletoe. That had it's
origin with the ancient Babylonians.
The Babylonians, however, did not
restrict the license Of the mistletoe to
mere kissing. A man who was forum
ate enough to catch a maiden under a
suspended branch of this mystic plant
was privileged not only to kiss her,
but to make her his wife. It would
seem from the remarks of the old
historians that the girls of those days
took very kindly to the custom.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-12-24
Plum Pudding Soup.

Plum pudding is a purely English
dish. Originally the dish was plum
porridge. There is a story that King
Henry " of France once, wishing to
do special honor to the English am
bassador, ordered plum pudding for
dinner on Christmas day. Unfor-
tunately the cook forgot the cloth, and
the dish was SCI we'd as soup.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-12-24
Praying to kriss kringIe.

In some parts of Germany. Scandi-
navia and Holland the custom if for all
children to say prayer at the chin
ney corner on Christmas eve to Kriss
Kringle, asking him to fill their
stockings for Christmas morning. and
many hopes and fears are confined to
him. Kriss Kringle is a corruption of
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-12-24
Mister Christmas.

Come long. Mister Christmas!
Wish you come ter stay;
OATS de time I feelin' prime
GIFTS my dram dat day!
Den my hat | liz.
En- boiler, "Chris'mus Gift"
OATS de time
[ feelin' prime
Amt no time like Christmas time.
Come long, Mister Christmas.
Turkey-'possum meat;
Bells a-ringin'- fiddle singin'-
Swing dem gals so sweet.
Den my hat I lif'.
En- boiler. ''Chris mus Gift"
Clar de way,
Dat what I say.
GIFTS my dram on Christmas day.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-12-24
for Joy on the part of the

circumstance for JOY on the part of the
convicts.
From hash, bread and coffee, always
without milk and sugar, for 1854 days
in the year, to roast chicken. boiled
! onions, mashed potatoes, bread and
butter and tea, with milk and sugar,
is a terrific leap in an epicurean way.
And the 1900 can eat as much OF 1t
as they pleased. Every time man
wants a second helping in Sing Sing
he raises his hand. schoolboy fashion,
and the nearest guard sees that his
wants are attended to. The number
of hands which go up at this Christ
mas banquet is uncountable. They
shoot up from the same place with
lightning-like rapidity Each man OF
the 1000 tries to eat enough chicken
to last him a year, and he gorges
himself with the tea graced with milk
and sugar, for that is another annual
rarity.
And when at last the signal has
been given to rise, they march out to
the yard, there to receive two cigars,
another treat of gigantic proportions.
They can loiter about the yard until
10 O'Clock. when Christmas services
are held in the two chapels, one for
the Catholic convicts and the other
for the Protestants of all denOmina-
lions. At IL o'clock they are re-
turned to their cells. and on the way
each man gets a great piece Of mince
pie, a chunk of ginger bread, two
apples and an orange. A bowl of tea
with sugar and milk is sent to each
cell at IL o'clock. and the convict can
eat these danties at his pleasure.
TWO Hours for Talk.
At o'clock the guards march the
men to the yard. and then comes the
great event of the year. From to 4
o'clock the 1000 convicts can talk to
one another just as other people do.
No need of looking hurriedly around
to see if the guard is watching, no
''sub-chinning," no tapping our of mes
sages, but good, straight-out words,
loud or soft, at the pleasure of the
talker. Some of the men do not
recognize their own voices. The
vocal cords are rusty, and to talk is an
effort. Two hours go by like flash,
and half of the messages which had
been saved up for the year are left
unsaid when the silence signal is
given.
But there is another treat in store
for the more fortunate prisoners with
friends or relatives who send them
Christmas boxes. These are carefully
searched by the prison authorities be-
fore they are handed to the owners.
There is more feasting fer all hands,
for the prisoner who receives a box
has enough of the milk of human kind.
ness till in him to divide with his less
fortunate brother.
On the whole Santa Claus does good
work in Sing Sing on Christmas day,
and more than one convict will lie
down on his Get next Tuesday night
thankful and mellow with the Christ
mastide spirit: "Peace on earth, good
will to men,"
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-12-24
An Inventive Genius.

Alice-Yes, Jack Hastings kissed
me several times yesterday and really
I had no redress.
Maud-HoW was that?
''He had a sprig of mistletoe fast
ened on his umbrella, and then insist
ed on keeping it hoisted whenever no
body happened to be near
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-12-24
Mosher in Jail.

La Crosse, Wis, Dec 12.-Earl
Mosher, the self-conressed assailant
of aged Carl Grover, was taken before
Justice Gipple at Galesville and plead
ed guilty. Mr.. Gipple had no juris-
diction to sentence the prisoner and
he was taken to Whitehall. He will
be held to the circuit court and is in
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-12-24
Beet SUGAR.

Consul Diedrich of Bremen esti-
mates the beet-sugar production of the
world in the year 190O-19O1 at $780,
900 tons, against 5,523,446 in the previ-
GUS year and 4,916,586 tons in 1896
81. All countries show an increased
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-12-24
A Grecian Custom.

In the Greek island of Chios on
Christmas day tenant farmer takes
a pole, decorated with fruit and
flowers, as a present to his landlord.
The offering is expressive Of good will
and typical of good crops for the COM
ing year.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-12-24
Song for Christmas Morning.

Up, up, 0 heart. and sing!
The grewsome night has gone:
With it's glad beaconing
Behold the dawn!
Put grim old Sorrow by
She of the sigh and tear
Doubt, of the dropped eye,
And spectral Fear!
Back to his sanguine lair
Insatiate War has flown;
Peace, with her calm sweet air.
Sits on her throne.
And by her side. to aid
In her benign employ,
A boon to man and maid.
Are Love and JOY!
Clinton Scotland in Home Con
oanion.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-12-24

production except Austria, the share
of each being as follows: Germany,
1875, 700 tons; Austria, 100000 tons;
France 100000 tons; Russia 94O,-
900 tons; Belgium, 100000 tons; Hol-
land, 100000 tons; other countries,
$4,000 tons. France, Germany, Austria,
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-12-24

Christ Kindlein, who is supposed to
descend the chimney with gifts for all
good children. and has in Germany
quite superseded st. Nicholas or Santa
Claus, the patron saint Of children.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-12-24
Santa's Automobile,

Santa Claus is up to date,
And he laughs in glee
All aglow
Ger the snow
Gliding merri-lee.
Why is Santa up to date?
Why is Santa gay?
TITS because
Santa Claus
Runs a deerless sleigh.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-12-24

England and other countries are un-
derstood to be concerting a measure
for the abolition of bounties on ex-
ported beet sugar.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-12-24

The shah of Persia made the trip co
Tehran on an automobile.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-12-24

William Awkward, slayer of w. z.
Larkin in Chicago, was convicted Of
manslaughter.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-12-24

work table, just as a telegrapher taps
The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1900-12-20
Order OF Publication.
STATE or MISSOURI, .s.


County OF Bates.
In the circuit court OF Rates county. Missouri
Nov term. 1900. The state OF Missouri At 81 E
offciO collector of the revenue of Bate county
~ the state Ct Missouri, plaintiff, ys. ;. q.
ka-h, q, attendant.
Now at tHIs day comes ths plAintin by her
attorney before the circuit court of BAtes
county IN the state OF Missouri and Il appear
ing 10 the court that summons mas been Issued
In the abov' entitled c.use against the defend
ant, :. Il kash. directed 10 the sheriff az
Ba-es county, Missouri, and hat SAID sheriff
moos was diresred. Fas made return thereon
that the defendant Is. hash, can not be
fouud. and the court. being hrst satisfied N at
process can MT Le sersed on sAid dt =
frndant. hash. i: Is therefore -,
publIcat. on tnat pIaiDtin has commenced a
AuIt against him IN this court Dy petition
The OlJccs and general nature OF which
+ TO enforce the lien Oh the state OF
Missouri. for he de!inquenE taxes Tor the
ear is97, amounting IN The aggregate To
she sum OF : o. together wLh inteTeht,
costs commissions. AMI fees. upon the fol
lowing described tracts o. land situated la
Bates rOuHty Missouri. to-wtI-
Inc east three fOurths ofthe north
east quarter of The southeast quarter OF
section thirt Two a. township forty one @
IAnge twenty (-gj, Rnd That unles the
said defendant be aId appear at the next term
OF this curt to he begun and holden IN the
city of Bu,ier, Bater count, MtesOuTl, on The
nrst IursdaS alter the second 3ohdA2 In Feb-
ruA-y. 1870. and on before the third DAY
Thereon II the Term email ~ long COuttnuF.
And II not then before the end OF the term
and plea to raIi petit, according &" Jaw
lhe came viii he taken D. COT tt bscI and jung
nsBt rendered according IL The prayer OF sAId
p"Iltiou and the above uetcTiOed real estate
4 o q TO satisf, the same
AND 10 - further ordered by the
court that copy u, reOt he pubIit he'd Ia the
BUILAE AhEKLN IIMEs. u weekly newspaper
printed anu published IN Bats county. Mts-
tourt. Tor four weeks sucCrssiSeiy, the Iast
il sertion 10 be ut IeA-t thirty day before the
m 81 DAY Of the next term OF said court.
true copy OF the record Wit
lsEALl ntEs my hanu a. CLERK Aforesaid
with she s. al of SAID court beTeuDto
affixed. Done at Office In Butter this the
>th day OF December, 1890 P.HURMAS.
G-4t Circuit Clerk
The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1900-12-20

The TINES has no desire to make
"a holiday ont Of the execution of Me
Ginnis. 1t is an event that We would
much prefer TO have seen gone to
some other town. 1t is a very I'M
pleasant duty COR the sheriff and all
she court officers and a very sad
event in the life of the poor old
father who has had much sorrow
from his hayward boys. The faith
Eul attorney. Hon. L. W. Si!vers has
fnnde hard and persistent fight to
save his client from the gallows, and
that without cJmpensation He mas
nothing To regret or reproach him
sell for. Prosecuting attorney, Har-
vey Clark has done his whole duty
III the premises and deserves the com
mendations oi all law hiding citizens
IL is no reflection on Bates county
that she never had but one hang
ing, neither Is it now that the laws Of
the land will again be enforced. The
TIMES will endeavored to give a full
and fair report of the proceedings.
This our readers have a right TO ex-
poet OF Ms.