davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening journal., 1901-12-20
ODD CHRISTMAS
SUPERSTITIONS
BY warrington Wayne.

Perhaps the most interesting of Christ
mas superstitions TO the young people is
that which puts the maid under the curse
of another years celibacy unless she he
kissed under the mistletoe at Christmas.
For years and years female ingenuity
struggled with the problem of finding Il
fitting place in the room for the mistletoe
A fitting place is one under which the
maiden must pass. 1t is not seemly for
her to seek kisses. The problem was
solved years ago. The mistletoe was put
over the door
In this country two mistletoe leaves are
placed together before the fire by many
an anxious lover. He or she names the
leaves secretly II they fly together as
they grow crisp, those they represent will
we'd If they fly apart, fate wills other
wise.
But the greater Christmas supersttions
concern themselves with the recognition
of the holy hour of midnight on Christ
mas eve by the lower animals.
The rooster is supposed to be the most
sapient OF these in this regard. His crow
ing, at other seasons heralding the dawn,
IS well known by all true believers in
ghosts to be a notice to proving spirits
TO HE them home. In the holy season he
crows at intervals an through the nlRnt,
the superstition says, TO keep the earth
clear of these nocturnal remblers. Shake
speare alludes TO this belief in Hamlet"
Some say that ever 'gainst that season comes
Wherein our sayiour's birth Is celebrated
This bird of dawning sngeth all night long,
And then. they say spirit dares stir abroad.
The nights are wholesome; then planets strike,
No fairy takes nor witch hath power to charm,
50 hallowed ami gracious is the time
In many parts OF Europe there is a SUI
perstition to the effect that at the mid
night hour. when Christmas day begins,
the cattle kneel in the stalls. Many can
bc round who testify that they have seen
this phenomenon. They have gone into the
dark stables with lanterns, awaking the
beasts, which usually rise after such dis
turbance. In the course of half an hour
or so the animals grow used 10 the light
and lie down again. In lying down they
kneel
The miners OF Derbyshire, England
hear masses sung by invisible chOristers
in deep and distant recesses Of Their
mines as the hour OF midnight arrives.
In other parts Of England bees, then in
their torpor, ''sing" in the hives. Sheer
Evening journal., 1901-12-20
CHRISTMAS FEASTING IN ENGLAND

When, in 1647, Puritan sentiment
caused the parliament Of England to
abolish Christmas formally, on the
ground of pagan origin and what it deem
ed pagan observance, most Of the people
grieved sorely and yearned with such
good effect for the return Of the old Gus
tom that today the season is kept as their
chief festival by English speaking people
About that period there was published
at Oxford n document entitled IAN Hue
and Cry For Christmas" which reveals
quantity the popular yearning.
ANY man or woman that
can give any knowledge or tell any It'd
ings Of an old, old, very old, gray bearded
gentleman called Christmas, who was
wont to be a verie familiar CHEST and
visite all sorts of people, both pore and
rich, and used to appear in glittcring
gold. silk and silver in the court, and in
all shapes in the theater In Whitehall and
had ringing, feasts and jollity in all
places, both in the cite and countrie Tor
his comming whosoever can tel
what is become OF him, or where he may
be found, let them bring him back again
into England "
Evening journal., 1901-12-20

log and wassail bowl, and the average bill
OF fare may be judged from this gem
from Evans collection Of old ballads;
All you that to icasiing or mrth arc inclined
Come, here Is good news for 90 pleasure your
mind
Old Christmas Is come for 20 keep open house;
Tic soons go De guilty OF starving mouse
Then come boys, and welcome, for diet the chief,
Plum pudding. goose, capon, minced pies and
roast beef.
The public pageants were masquerades,
each under the direction OF lord OF
misrule or abbot OF misrule, as he was
sometimes called, who directed the sports
and mummeries Of the maskers and all
the festivities OF the others. The lord
OF misrule who misruled In the court
had liberal appropriation from parlia-
ment FOR himself and his attendants.
The lords and barons had each their own
appointed mummers and there were other
bands Of them, self appointed. who
roamed about the country on grand
spree during the holidays. The excesses
OF these in time caused the custom 10 be
abolished by law.
Evening journal., 1901-12-20
Busy, Jolly
Santa Claus
Icopynghi. 1901. BY Hamilton Musk. ]


Santa Claus long white beard. his ro-
tund proportions. rcd, CHEEKY face and
generally jolly good fellow appearances
nre borrowing from pagan traditions
and an IIr ia tile type OF one who has
al abundance OF the good things Of life
himself or can command them by the ex-
ercisc OF some magic and wants to see
them go around.
The chimney and stocking business is
all due TO an accident long, long ago, hut
trust one so clever MS ST. Nicholas to
know a good thing even il it happened to
him. so he's kept up the trick and given
sort OF aacrcdncss 10 ways that are
eooty and apparel which is one degree he
low the urwentionable. This was the
original chimney and stocking incident:
st. Nicholas wanted to convey purse OF
sold to a very worthy family which hap
pcued TO hc in deep distress. hut he didn't
wish 10 make the charity offensive. He
reached the house on Christmas eve and.
looking through the window. saw the
gray haired mead OF the family hanging
up his stockings TO dry before n wide, old
fashioned fireplace. After the folks had
all retired and had time to fall into deep
sleep the saint climbed % the roof and.
taking the purse. dropped il down the hue
with sort OF curved pitch which landed
il Ia one of she stockings.
OF course the recipients Of this marvel
Gus gift didn't keep il Guet. and the good
old soul who was at the bottom Of it
found ont how much good he had done
The next yea he went back and saw the
stocking in place for another windfall. 50
he Clipped in another purse A third
I year he repeated it, and alwavs after that
the old man hung up his stocking egu-
larly the night of the Oath of December.
Whether or not the gold continued to
/ flow in tradition does not say. but every
child knows that Santa Claus has been
around annually each year since that
/ time and has filed the stockings in evi-
/ dence with all sorts OF things according
/ TO the needs and deserts of the owners.
| Even birch rods long and tough. have
been known 10 whisk from the upper mir
/ straight, down the crooked chimney flue
/ ana lana IN the stockings of boys who
4 ought to have them. 1t is no easy task
! for even a saint to know what each Of 50
many millions ought to have. but he
evens things up somehow so that there is
no cause for complaint. He hasn't made
any contract. and no one can reasonably
complain il the unexpected happens.
Some people profess to be able to read
character by the feet OF the subject. Per
haps the jolly old patron Of gift giving
has learned to read in the stockings put
before him the deeds Of the owners, thus
being able to reward or punish. In the
Evening journal., 1901-12-20
Good, Kind
Santa Claus

--s. y isusa.-.--s - s-sgrsss
Santa Claus has local habtation and
q name. so the only way for him 10 cover
the wide realm occupied by his dear chill
dren Is 90 have a lively gait when the
time comes. He was born in Myrn, In
Asia Minor lie grew TO fame and Inn
portance in Myra, and hc was buried In
Myra, but the whole world pretty much
has known him a thousand years, yet not
one in million OF his henciiciarics ever
saw Myra or even heard of IT, St. Nicho-
las. the original Santa Claus, was won
derful child. He could do anything. As
soon as he could walk he began TO travel
around and pry into other peoples ar
fairs. But this was not idle curiosity.
Evening journal., 1901-12-20

OLD nANAA NN Alik Nthns
He wanted 10 find out who deserved hap
pinoss and lacked the means OF happi-
ness. lie found an old man in his native
town OF Patnra who had three deserving
daughters, but had no portion TO give
them In marriage, so, according 70 the
customs OF the country, they would have
to remain single, most horrible fate.
He got together a purse Of gold and put
IL in the way OF the distressed father, who
knew just what 10 do with it without be-
ing told He gave II 20 his eldest daugh-
ter for her marriage portion. She was
wed and the household made happy.
But the good old man OF Patara had
three daughters, 40 st. Nicholas happen
ed around in the nick Of time TO help the
other two take husbands, These acts OF
Euuness ana morality afmcted the saint
with enlargement OF the heart. and he
kept on slicing It off for the good OF the
people OF Myra. He became the friend
and patron OF all who were in trouble.
and sailors would not venture TO sea on a
difficult voyage until st. Nicholas sent
his blessing. At last he died and was
buried in Myra. But even his bones
could work miracles, 30 the people OF
Bari, seaport town in Italy, took no.
tion TO bring the sacred dust TO their own
shores. They sailed forth as pirates, raid
ed the cathedral Of Myra one dark night,
stole the remains and all the sacred vest
ments and bore them TO Italy. There
they have remained.
But st. Nicholas dead is like ST. Nicho-
las alive, always looking for trouble-the
trouble Of others which he can relieve.
He goes about the earth in various dis
guises and under various names making
up 10 worthy people what they lack 10 be
happy. Children are his first care In these
days because for centuries the children Of
Bari have honored his tomb and his
| birthday This is the 9th of December
In some German countries St. Nicholas
Is known as Joseph and Klas. In Aus
/ tria he Is n terror 10 the nursery and ID
called Krampus. Again in Suabia, lower
Austria and in parts OF Russia and Italy
the patron OF children OF annual gifts is a
female bogy variously known as Budel-
frau, Berchtel, Baboushka and Befana.
The Germans call the saint Christ
Kindlein (Nriss kringlel and Pelznickel.
This last is because he is supposed 20 be
dressed in pelz. or fur. Knecht Ruprecht
Is another German name. and the Dutch
Of Holland call him knecht Globes. The
popular German name. however, is Nick
laus and his festival is Dec 8, the birth
day Of the original St. Nicholas
FRANK powEIEY.
Evening journal., 1901-12-20
THE TRUE SPIRIT
OF CHRISTMAS
By M. X. Rutledse.


had taken advantage OF the absence
Of the children on an errand TO drag the
Christmas tree out Of the cellar and set il
up in the parlor. IL was Christmas eve.
My wife had left me alone with the tree
for a few minutes while she went to get
a spool OF green silk which she thought
would be- an improvement for tying pur-
poses on the white cord which l had be-
gun 10 use.
Presently the room darkened as n filed
by cloud, and the cloud gathered into
compact mass near me. startling me.
Much more was ! frightened as II gradu-
ally assumed the shape OF tall, long
bearded old man, but when the figure
grew still more distinct and ! saw tho
benignant smile aud the hands full OF or
namenis fit for my tree my fear subsidized.
Here" said the spirit, handing me a
little box, 'is something which you should
not dress your tree without. IL is the OBJ
seryance of all good old Christmas GUS
toms. Too many have been neglected in
the past. Within are instructions for
making wassail for composing carols, for
mumming, for the game OF snapdragon
md indeed for all the ceremonies where
with good folks we're won't 10 honor
Christpns before we fell upon these de-
generate days"
Reverently took the box and hung IL
mp.
"This," said he. handing me a small
lamp, you should I'LL and trim az each
Christmnstide. but keep lighted all the
year around for your children's sake. It
rs the lamp OF good example"
With a mental vow / took the lamp and
set il lighted among the sweet smelling
fir branches.
Out OF bag he shook heap OF span
gly. shining ornaments on the floor.
"The wit. the song. the story and the
loud laughter which ought TO garnish
your Christmas" said he. do not
hang them up yet. The box OF ancient
custom will show you how 70 arrange
them on the tree. But here is something
indispensable"
Another bag was emptied. Sweetmeats
IN all forms and Of all sorts. thought.
lie read my mind. "All OF one kind" I"
he said-"all the sweets OF cheerfnlness--
though they have varied look. Yet they
never pail on the taste. Hang them up at
once. They are magical sweets, never
disappearing no matter how freely they
nre partakcn of II You only desire them
| 10 remain. Keep them in the house all
the year, Let each member OF your fam
Evening journal., 1901-12-20

lily carry some always. but never forget
to put the whole hoard on the Christmas
tree"
/ had been hanging them while he
spoke. He now stopped me with:
There is not much more time for me
to stay here. so | will trouble you 10 at
tend TO the rest OF what say, doing no
work meanwhile. Here nre the apples OF
plenty. You gather them by persistent
endeavor during the year. Never fail to
garnish your tree with them. one for each
member Of your family and one for the
wayfarer.
II give you lastly this golden taper.
You are TO set it lighted on top OF the
tree, and when the time for present Civ
ing comes you are TO present it TO your
good lady. You are both 20 keep il light
ed all the year around. IL Is the taper OF
love and loyalty"
"And who are your l asked, seeing
that he began to fade away.
"The true spirit OF Christmas" replied
he family and was gone.
Evening journal., 1901-12-20

on the continent have been observed IN
start on pilgrimages toward the east in
imitation Of the shepherds of old.
Many Of those supersttions have reach
ed North America. They thrive better in
Canada than in the United States. How
ison tells Of an Indian in upper Canada
whom he found creeping late on Christ
mas eve on hands and knees 10 get look
at the deer kneeling at the midnight hour
Sir Walter Scott tells us'that. accord
ing TO n popular belief. those who wer,
born on Christmas had the gift Of seeing
ghosts. The Spaniards attributed tn,
haggard look Of Philip IL. to this unde
sirable faculty.
Evening journal., 1901-12-20
NernfInfInna-

''I called TO see you. sir" remarked the
popular young pastor Of the Church OF
the Extended Invocation 10 the proprie
Tor Of a shoe store, TO ascertain what
you would nay for an assorted lot of slip
rCrs-s1y from one dozen 70 fve-to be
delivered immedia taly sfter Christmas"
Evening journal., 1901-12-20
One Chance Left.

"I know why you always sit up so iate
On Christmas eve. Miss Oldgal."
"And why do I. Freddy
"You think mebbe you'll see Sante
Claus and he'ii ask you to marry him."
Evening journal., 1901-12-20
The Attraction.

He fingered on, quite loath 70 90;
They sat upon the stair.
But not beneath the mistletoe;
She had that in her hair.
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1901-10-09
CLARK PERSON, Editor.
LAMBERTVILLE. N. J.
WEDNESDAY. OCT. 8, 1901.
REPUBLICAN, NOMINATIONS,
For Governor
FRANKLIN MURPHY,
or ESSEN COUNTY.
or SEX COUNTY

We have received the "New Jer-
sey Republican Campaign Text
Book. " In the main, it is well com
piled, but when the compiIers put in
such stnl1 MS this:
an the publishing, advertising, and
printing accounts of the State, it is
safe to say that more than 800, 900 Il
year has been saved through laws
passed since the Republican party
came into control,
1t is i'll order TO ask where that
800, 900 is if it has been saved? The
first year that that $4,000 was
"savod" the State expenses were
from 800, 900 10 $3.50, 900 more than
they were the last year that the laws
were published. instead of having
"saved' the money formerly used to
publish the laws 80 that the people
might know what changes had been
made and what they were to do and
what TO refrain from doing, it was used
to build palaee at Railway for Grim
nails; To pay increased salaries and for
other uncalled-for expenses. With
the same reasoning, the party could
have saved" nm additional 300, 900
or more, by cutting down the school
appropriation, or tho appropriation
for stone roads.
The people in this section of the
State, 80 far "a we have heard an ex-
preston Of opinion, want tho laws
published, aud do not want demago-
gerry under pretence of economy.
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1901-10-09

Eugene NanderpGol, n prominent
business man Of Newark and life
long Democrat, on recent occasion
said of Franklin Murphy:
have long been close personal
friend of Mr.. Murphy, and have been
associated with him in u business way,
and am thoroughly familiar with his
relations with his own employees, and
have no hesitation in saying that he
is the most generous and considerate
employer of labor that | ever knew.
He not only pays his own men liberal
wages, but he pays them by the week,
and not by the day, and while there
are times that business is dull, his
workmen never know it, for their pay
is continued the year around.
In addition to this the company Of
which Mr.. Murphy is the head gives
its workmen half holiday every
week, winter and summer. When one
of the men is sick the company cares
for him, and when he grows old and
is unable to work it pensions him. As
II result of this care and treatment Of
men, the company in all its history
has never had the slightest trouble
with its employees. In short, if /
should be asked to name the most
generous and big hearted friend Of
the workman that ! know in the whole
State of New Jersey, ! should desig-
nate Franklin Murphy. And ! have
known him all my life and nm Demo
crat.
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1901-10-09
Tuesday, Oct. 8, 1901

At 10 o'clock in the morning, at the following
places in the respective townships of said
county:
Aiexandria-At Bonnells store, Mt Pleas
ant.
Bethlehem, E-Asbury Station.
Bethlehem, W-Bloomsbury
Clinton Borough-Grandin Library, Clinton,
Clinton township-Annandale House, An
Mandate.
Delaware X Wilson's House, sergeants-
Vile
East Amwell-Holcombe Hall, Ringoes.
Franklin-Town Hall, Quakertown.
Frenchtown-Town Hall, Frenchtown
High Bridge-Apgar Building, High Bridge
Holland-Gibson House Hall, Milford.
Junction Borough-City Hall, junction.
Kingwood-G Grange Hall, BarbeftoWn.
Lebanon, E-Georee c. Apgar's, Wood Glen
Lebanon, W-township Room, Glen Gard
ner.
Raritan, E.-Opera House, Remington
Raritan, W.-Court House, Pennington.
Readington, N,-Cooks Building White
House Station.
Readington, S.-Dilts Hall, Three Bridges
Stockton Borough-Inckenbu Hall,
Stockton
Tewksbury. E-Apgar's Hall, New German
town.
Tewksbury, W.-Philhowers Hall, Calfon.
Union-Peach Exchange, Jutland.
Lambertville, LIST Ward-Hibernia Fire Co.
Building Lambertville.
Lambertvile, I'd Manufacturing H. Il l..
Co Building, Lambertyille.
Lambertville, Sd Ward-Columbia Hose Co.
Building Lambertvile
West Amwell-Holcombe Hall, Mt Airy.
Such Boards shall organize according to
law and then proceed to ascertain the names
and residences of all the legal voters i'll their
respective districts, by making actual inquiry
at every dwelling house or habitation, or OF
the head of every family residing therein,
and shall continue such enumeration of vol
ers from day to day, on successive days, until
the same be completed Sec. %, Election
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1901-10-09

A legal bnttle Is likely to follow the
crusade againet the Bloomfield saloon
keepers who keep open Sundays. The
brewers viii support the saloonkeepers
1t has been commonly supposed that
the local branch Of the Anti Saloon
Tongue was the aggressor, but il is now
sad TINT the men engaged in getting
evidence me employed by the State
league, and that they reported against
three more proprietors, for whom war
rants have been issued.
The brewers may always be depended
upon to support the aaloonkeepers'
for the reason that in most eases the
brewers practically own the saloons.
These brewers and others are going to
make nm effort to have the coming legis
lature enact n law permitting bars to
be open Sunday afternoons.
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1901-10-09

o. Il. Larson, of Bay Villa, Sun
days River, Cape Colony, conducts a
store typical of South Africa, at which
can he purchased anything from the
proverable ''needle to au anchor. "
This store is situated in valley nine
miles from tho nearest railway station
and about twenty five miles from the
nearest town Mr.. Larson says: 81
am favored with the custom of farmers
within radius of thirty miles, to
many of whom | have supplied Cham
berlain's remedies. All testify to
their value i'll "a household where II
doctors advice ia almost out of the
question. Within ono mile of my
store the population is perhaps sixty,
OF these, within the past twelve
months, no less than fourteen have
been absolutely cured by Chamber
lain's Cough Remedy. This must
surely be record. For sale by $.
w. Cochran n Co.
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1901-10-09
NOW OR NEVER is the Watchword to Parents ana Uooo
News for the BOYS
News for the Boys.

Never in the history Of Lambertyllle did
parents have such an opportunity to elothe
their boys.
For very good reasons we shall close out the
entire stock Of Boys Clothing regardless of cost
We have not the room to keep clothing f1i
consequently we are going to sell 1t awfuliy
cheap for clothing made as ours Is made
prices so low it will not pay to patch old
clothes nor will it pay to make over old gar
ments. About 500 dollars worth all pur-
chased during the last two seasons, most OF 1t
hought for last seasons selling, so you can rely
ON all of our clothing being practically up-to-
date and thoroughly well-made.
The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1901-10-09

quarterly temperance lessons in the
Sunday scnools, and in securing
Worlds universal temperance Sun
day. Many other things on the lines
of literature, protests and petitions
were mentioned.
The evening session was held at
:. 80 0 clock, Mrs Bourne presiding.
The address of the evening was de-
livered by Rev. George G. Welding,
Of Elizabeth, N. j. Among the many
good things that he said, he mentioned
the fact that the highest order Of
courage is to stand with the few for
the right. 1t takes less courage to
fight with the fists than any other
way. Among the enconragements Of
today arc That 81 out of DO of the great
railroads have decided not to employ
new man that drinks, and the first
question one of these companies ask
ia "does the young man drink?' This
part Of the battle has been won. He
asked if the rum traffic was not get
ting bigger than the American Re
public? and whether it could be con
trolled by license, which gives it all
the respectfully it has, for which it
pays II share to the government,
making it a partner in the saloon
business, and if the government can
deliberately do wrong because of the
money there Is in it. individuals
reason why not they do likewise? His
arguments showed clearly that the
whole thing was wrong from begin
ming to finish. Thus closed one of
the best conventions of the season.
Mrs. J. A. POWELL,
p.ouo Gpnt