davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-24
PARRY A COMPLIMENT.

Accept One Always, but Never Take
II Seriously.
The famous Nine. Recamier said that
she always found two words suficed
to make her guests seem welcome. Up
on their arrival she exclaimed. AT
last"' and when they took their leave
she said "AlreadyT If taken literally,
we should deprecate the flattery. Flat
terry Is insincere praise and wrongs
him that gives and him that takes.
1t is sometimes kinder to accept a COM
pliment than to parry it
One may say Thank you, it is pleas
ant to be seen through such kind Tor
PARTIAL eyes" or perhaps, ut is COM
fort to know that friendship is partly
blind as well as the NEUROLOGICAL boy"
or any nonsense that serves to show
that one appreciates the spirit that
prompted the kind expression, howev-
er wide the truth.
The frequent repetition of the name
Of the person addressed holds a subtle
compliment implying more complete
concentration Of the speakers thought
upon his or her personality.
De Quincy says: More is done for
the benefit of conversation by the sim
pie magic of good manners than by all
varieties Of intellectual power"
1t is the sympathetic and responsive
listeners that call forth the best efforts
of Il talker. For such are reserved his
choicest stories, his finest thoughts.
A ready smile acts as inspiration,
and interest shown in the conversation
of others stimulates and WHITES their
thoughts.
To a good listener the difident win
say what they think. and the verbose
will think what they say.
There is nothing more trying than to
find that ones conversation is receiv-
ing but a divided attention and moth
ing more rude than for a person to
pick up n book or paper and look over
it while pretending to listen to what
one is saying.-New York Herald.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-24
POULTRY POINTERS.

Ducks and geese need no grain when
they have plenty Of grass.
Chicken fatten faster on cooked food
than on raw because It is more easily
digested.
When soft feed is given to either
young or old fowls, It should never be
thrown on the ground
When closely confined, the loose grain
fed to fowls should be scattered among
litter Of some kind, so that they can
scratch 1t out
There is nothing so bad for the health
and well being Of poultry as combining
them In close quarters and preventing
them from taking needed exercise.
One OF the most important items to
insure success in the Matching Of chick
ems in winter is to get the eggs from a
flock of healthy and vigorous fowls.
There Is better health among rowing
fowls because they get the food that is
best for digestion and get the necessary
grit to help the gizZard do its work.
When necessary to administer medi-
cine by placing 1t In the drinking wa
ter. keep the birds from drink for sew
eral hours. They are then thirsty and
more apt to get good swallow.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-24
Busy, Jolly
Santa Claus
[Copynght. 1901. by Hamilton Musk


Santa Claus long white beard. his TO
fund proportions. red. CHEEKY face and
generally jolly good fellow appearances
are borrowings from pagan traditions
and art. He is the type of one who has
an abundance of the good things of life
himself or can command them by the ex-
ercise Of some magic and wants to see
them go around
The chimney and stocking business ia
all due to an accident long. long ago. but
trust one so clever as st. Nicholas to
know good thing even il it happened to
him, so he's kept up the trick and given
a sort Of sacredness to ways that are
sooty and apparel which is one degree be-
low the unmentionable This was the
original chimney and stocking incident:
st. Nicholas wanted to convey a purse OF
gold to n very worthy family which hap
pened to be in deep distress, but he didn't
wish to 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 a wide, old
fashioned fireplace. After the folks had
all retired and had time TO fall into deep
sleep the saint climbed TO the roof and,
taking the purse. dropped it down the fiue
with a sort of curved pitch which landed
il in one of the stockings
OF course the recipients OF this marvel
Gus gift didn't keep it quiet, and the good
old soul who was at the bottom of it
found out how much good he had done.
The next year he went back and saw the
stocking in place for another windfal, so
he Clipped in another purse. A third
year he repeated ii, and ALWAYS after that
the old man hung up his stocking regu-
Iarly the night OF the 24th 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 evil /.
dence with all sorts of things according 4
to the needs and deserts of the owners. /
Even birch rods, long and tough, have /
been known TO whisk from the upper air /
straight down the crooked chimney fue /
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-24

being established. BeIisarius was re-
/ leased, and he died about a year later.
But that he ever was reduced to the
extremity of begging is declared to be
absolutely untrue.
The schoolbook tale OF William Tell
shooting an apple from his sons head
is also without foundation in fact.
Tells name doesn't even appear in the
chronicles OF Zurich. and the most an
cient writing In which the story is
mentioned bears date some 200 years
after the event It pretends to describe.
The story is a variation Of an old Scan
dinavian saga. 4 similar bit of 'his-
tory" is related OF William Of Clouds
ley in England in the twelfth century.
1t is denied also that Emperor
Charles V. Of Spain on his abdication
adopted the habit Of a monk and occu-
pied himself in the manufacture of
clocks. 1t is declared that he never
ceased to be emperor de facto, and he
never surrendered control of affairs of
state.
Coming down to later times, the peo-
pie OF three different countries claimed
three different men as inventors of the
steam engine. IN America there is a
popular belief to this day that Robert
Fulton built the first successful engine
and steamboat In England the Mar
quis of Worcester. who published an
account of a steam engine in 1868, has
received credit for the invention. In
France Solomon de Caus Q615) was re-
garded as the genius who had given to
the world a new motive power. Each
of them may have conceived and work
ed out the idea of a steam engine with
out the slightest knowledge of what
had been done In that direction before
their day, but none of them might
rightly lay claim to being the first in
the field.
On April II. 1913. Don Blasco de
Garay launched boat Of 200 tons bur
den at Barcelona in the presence OF the
Emperor Charles V. The boat was pro-
PEELED by steam and made ten miles an
hour. She was called La Sanctissima
Trinidada. The emperor gave to Don
BlasCo a handsome present. but did not
regard the invention as practicable,
and nothing came OF it. From this It
would seem that Fulton was centuries
behind the times.-New York Mail and
Express.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-24
The La,t Execution mt Tyburn.

The last execution on a permanent
gallows I'm London took place at Ty-
burn on Nov. Z. 1873. the malefactor
being one John Austin, condemned for
highway robbery with violence. For
centuries Tyburn had been the scene
of executions for criminals condemned
in Middlesex, and before the erection
Of the permanent gibbet occasional
hangings had taken place, record exist
ing of the hanging of Judge Tressilian
and Nicholas Brembre at that place as
far back as 1888.
The gallows consisted OF three posts.
and around It were open galleries, re-
sembling race stands, in which seats
were let. On account of the disgrace
full scenes on the road. executions were
transferred in 1888 to the area I'm front
Of Newgate. despite the objections OF
residents, and on Dec. 3 of that year
the first hanging took place there.
when no less than ten were executed
London Chronicle.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-24
TRICKS OF THE TRADE.
Cups. Brushes and SponEes That Are
Left In Barber Shops.

Cups. Brushes and sponEes That Are
Left In Barber shops.
"What becomes of all the old shaw
ing mugsT was the question asked the
barber.
What becomes Of the owners?'' was
the response.
Neither side seemed disposed to an
swer the query. and there was an awk-
ward silence. The barber slapped his
razor on the strOp, smeared some extra
lather on the victims mouth so he
wouldn't be inclined to interrupt ana
said in a stage whisper:
"Now, I'll tell you. but l don't want
It shouted from the housetops. We
use the mugs again"
He paused and sighed as he tossed
the questioner's head the other way.
YES" he continued, 1--WE use them
again. We don't like to lose custom
ers: but. II we must lose them. why. we
don't mind II they leave their cups.
etc. behind. It's surprising how many
do; but. then. BARRIERS do mostly a
shifting trade It's no secret that we
urge customers to have their own cup.
Most OF them are satisfied II they have
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-24
sayings About Breadcrumbs.

In the days when the bread Loaf
was dear careful mothers had a set Of
thrift sayings which are seldom heard
in this time of the big. cheap loaf.
Crumbs were regularly swept up and
kept for some useful purpose If a
child threw crumbs in the fire. the old
fashioned mother lifted warning I'm
ger and said, IF you throw crumbs in
the fire. you are feeding the devil"
Children were told that the better part
of a loaf was the crust, and when a
child was sent to the shop for bread
the order was to ask for "a crusty
loaf" If child left it's crust, came the
warning: Yes. my lady Tor my la0,
you'll want for loaf some day You'll
find hunger's a sharp thorn."-Notes
and Queries.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-24
The Stocking He Missed.

amounted almost to half his fortune as
a fee.
III take that said the doctor, if
you fetch her here. Go back and get
her, and I'll attend to the case
In an open boatp the husband ex-
claimed. He pointed out that his wife's
condition put such an arrangement be
yOnd the bounds OF reason.
Well. 1 can't do anything said the
physician. If you bring her over, I'll
attend 10 her.
when the husband got back to his
home, the child had been born, but the
woman died the next day"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-24
Good, Kind
Santa Claus

Copyright. 1901. by American Press Association-l
Santa Claus has local habitatiOn and
q name. so the only way for him 10 cover
the wide realm occupied by his dear chill
dren is to have a lively gait when the
time comes. He was born in Myra, in
Asia Minor. He grew to fame and im-
portance in Myra. and he was buried in
Myra, but the whole world pretty much
has known him a thousand years. yet not
one in a million OF his benefciaries ever
saw Myra or even heard of il. St. Nicho-
las, the original Santa Claus. was a won
derful child. He could do anything. AS
soon as he could walk he began to travel
around and pry into other peoples az
fairs. But this was not idle curiosity.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-24
NEWFOUNDLAND TRAGEDY.
A Fisherman's wild Sail to Procure
Medical Aid.

A Fisherman's wild Sail to Procure
Medical Aid.
'The lack of physicians is one Of the
horrors Of the isolation in which the
New foundlanders of this coast live"
says Norman Duncan in Ainslee's.
There is none within fifty miles OF
most harbors; none within reaching
distance of many. 1t is related Of a
well to do fisherman who was some
thing Of a merchant that his wife,
whom he fOnCly loved, lay in agony
for many days while an autumn gale
ragged. No man in the harbor would
put off in n skiff to fetch the nearest
physician. who lived fifteen miles down
the coast, for there was no possibility
that he who ventured could survive.
On the fourth day the wind moderated.
Two men volunteered to accompany
AIlerton. They set sail In the first
hours of a snOwstorm, which abated,
however. before they reached their des-
tination. Fighting doggedIy, they took
the boat safely in, after indescribable
hardship and through ever present dan
ger. The gale had gone down when
they knocked on the physicians door.
A heavy sea was running. but the dan
ger of wreck on the return voyage was
quickly passing.
What's the matter with the wom-
anT the physician asked
HE was informed
''The husband infinitely described his
wIfe's agony Then he offered what
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-24

and land in the stockings Of boys who
ought to have them. II is no easy task
for even a saint TO know what each of so
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
if 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
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-24
Odd Gifts
for Christmas
Homes for Martens Designed by Arthur Orr-Pa la ces
for Bird Pets.

Arthur Orr, the board Of trade oper-
ator who lives at Evanston. Ill, on the
bluff overlooking the lake. has solved
the problem which bothers people each
year for a month before Christmas,
says the Chicago Record-Herald. He
has found an absolutely novel Christ
mas gift with which to make his
friends happy.
Mr. Orr has contracted with a car
penter TO build a number Of martin
boxes. veritabIe bird palaces In fact,
and these homes for the feathered kind
he is going to present to many Of his
friends who live along the lake In the
north suburbs. The martin houses are
to be placed upon poles to be erected
In the grounds of the recipients In time
for the coming of the families of the
purple martins from the southland In
the spring.
Two of the most ornate birdhouses
have already been completed and have
been presented TO Hiram r. McCul-
Tough. vice president of the North
western railroad, who lives In Lake
Forest, and to Charles w. Deering Of
the Deering Harvester cotnpany. a
two presents a little ahead Of the
Christmas time Mr.. Orr told his friends
that If they wanted the pleasantest
neighbOrs possible to have they should
each get colony Of purple martins to
locate on his premises. Mr.. Orr has
had the martins now for two seasons,
and he knows whereof he speaks. As
a matter Of fact, he has so many mar
10 81 q
commOdatiOns for them all has become
a serious one, and as he does not wish
the birds to go far away he is giving
his friends the birdhouses In order that
they may get the advantage of the
feathered overflow.
The coming Of the martins to Mr..
Orr's doorstep makes a story Of inter
est. Three years ago the Chicago board
OF trade man did not know that the
beautiful purple martins ever came
north Of the Ohio river. One day when
in Wisconsin he heard the sweet twit-
tering notes Of some birds, and. look
ing up. he saw that they were martins.
He said to himself, 'If they have them
IN Wisconsin, can have them perhaps
In illinois," And he has succeeded in
getting them. When he was boy In
Louisville, KY, German neighbOr or
the Orrs put up a miniature Swiss cot
tage on a pole, and the purple martins
made a home Of IT. The memory Of the
birds chung to Mr.. Orr all through his
after life, but he never saw one In the
north, although they are plentiful In
some localities. until he met them I'm
Wisconsin.
A year and a half ago Mr.. Orr saw
an article written by one of the direct
ors Of the Illinois Audubon society
which told how certain kinds Of birds
could be attracted about the house.
Mr.. Orr wrote to the bird man and |
asked him If IT were possible for him
to get martins An Affirmative answer
was sent, and the Evanston man was
told to build his martin home and |
where to place It. 1t was pretty late In /
the season then, but the work was hur-
ried, and within a week the martins
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-24

kindness and liberality afflicted the saint
with enlargement OF the heart. and he
kept on slicing il 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 so the people OF
Bari. seaport town in Italy. took no
ton TO bring the sacred dust TO their own
shores. They sailed forth as pirates. raid
ed the cathedral OF Myru 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 ike 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 to worthy people what they lack TO 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 sor"n German countries St. Nicholas
Is known as Joseph and Klas. In Aus
tria he is a terror to the nursery and is
called Krampus. Again in Suabia. lower
Austria and in parts OF Russia and Italy
the pdAIOu VI OL dunuul EllLS - u
female bOgy variously known as Budel-
frau. Berchtel. BabOushka and Befana.
The Germans call the saint Christ
Kindlein (Kriss KringleJ and Pelznickel.
This last is because he is supposed TO 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
Aus, and his festival is Dec. g. the birth
Of ha frfnaT Nfrhn1aa
FRANK TOWNLEY.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-24

OLD SANTA on TIE ROAD.
He wanted to find out who deserved hap
piness and lacked the means OF happi-
ness. He found an old man in his native
town Of Patara who had three deserving
daughters. but had no portion to give
them in marriage. so. according 10 the
customs of the country, they would have
To- remain single. a most horrible fate
He got together a purse OF gold and PUT
II in the way OF the distressed father. who
knew just what to do with II without be-
ing told. He gave il TO 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. so St. Nicholas happen
ed around in the nick Of time to help the
other two take husbands. These acts OF
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-24
Not So Rrnrn

Blobbs-He says he would rather
fight than eat
Slobs-PugnaciOus. eh7
Blobbs-No; yspeptic.-Philadelph
Record
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-24
quits.

Maud-Kitty. do you know what
awful things people are saying about
you?
Kitty-No. dear, and I suppose you
do not know what terrible things peo-
pie are saying about you.
Maud-Perhaps. on the whole, it is
well that neither of US should be en-
DECENTRALIZATION Transcript.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-24

good old days it was a tradition that il a
miss hung up a stocking with holes in it
she would be punished for laziness. Boys
stockings shouldn't have nail holes in
them nor be frayed at the toes, for the
one is a sign of laziness in not removing
the nails from the boots and the other the
boorish habit of kicking at everything in
sight, even the new furniture
JONATHAN JOYCE
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-24

were IN possession OF the mousse, which
was palatial in dimensions and had
many snug compartments for the bird
families.
Last spring the birds came back
again and IN largely increased num-
bers. A second house was put up. and
1t was occupied speedily. The birds ere
this have left for the southland. but
there Is no question about their return
next year. They have some severe
fights with the English sparrows and,
strangely enough, with the native red
headed woOdpeckers. who insist on
poking inqulsitively into the martins
housekeeping. The birds are protected
in every way possible, and Mr.. Orr en-
joys the music Of his bOyhoOd. He has
also discarded his barometer. for he
can tell by the actions Of his pets TWEEN
ty-four hours in advance just what
sort Of weather he is to expect.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-24

Yet, though mid shadows Of the past
Fond memories may grope,
She STANDS in the effulgence cast
BY never dirnming hope.
And, peering through the gathering night,
She views the narrow way
That bridges over to the bright
Eternal Christmas day.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-24

A bachelor says that love is a combi-
nation Of diseases-an affection Of the
heart and an Inflammation OF the
braIn.-Chicago News
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-24

All time is grandma's Christmas time,
All seasons hers TO hear
The echo Of a Yuletide chime
OF voices ever dear,
OF voices hushed to all but her
AS through Z mist Of tears
She sees child faces as they were
In long departed years.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-24
a Ernir SupDasitfon.

who is that man who keeps saying
II is always the unexpected that hap
pens?"
I'm not sure-prObably an attache
OF the weather bureau. Washington
Star
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-24

Now, dreaming DER her needles flight,
She Croons a song Of joy
And weaves a thread Of heavens light
Into some Christmas toy
Now softly up the attic stair
Alone she creeps away
And Ger the Christmas treasures there
Lives in another day.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-24

Her Christmas is not like the rest,
Which last a single day
Or possibly a week at best
And then are put away
To be forgotten for a year.
Until good will toward men
Comes round. as fashions reIppear.
And is in style again.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-24
How KubeIIk FILLED ont BInnI. Check

How KubeIIk Filled Ont Blank Check.
The -Hungarians Of New York
city entertained Jan Kubelik. the vio-
lin virtuOsO. at a well known cafe one
night a short time ago. During the
evening a young lady asked Kubelik
for his autograph. Her request led to
similar requests from half hundred
others. For a quarter OF an hour Ku-
belik was kept busy writing his name
on cards. says the New York Times.
Among those who requested the young
musicians autograph was Marcus
Braun. the president of the AustrO-
Hungarian Republican club. But in
stead of handing Kubelik n card on
which to write his name Mr.. Braun
handed him a check from his check
book. 1t was blank check on the Sec
ond National bank. Kubelik took 1t
and filed it out as follows:
Second National Sand Bank
} Pay TO the Order Of the President Of the
United States
$1,000. 900, 900. 900, 600, 900.
JAN KUBELK.
x
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-24
Santa Claus In n Fix.

Santa Claus -
Don't be alarmed,
miss. I'm Santa
Claus and have
come in to fill the
stockings. / have
a ring here for you
for
Miss Ancient -
Oh, Santa Claus,
this is SO suddenl
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-24

All time Is grandma's Christmas time,
All seasons hers to hear
The thrilling Of chord sublime
OF voices coming near.
As in her simple faith she waits
The coming Of the nom
When past the open peariy gates
She'll greet the BoEly Born.