davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
North Park union., 1901-12-27
e. STEPHEN =
Al WELLS ia
6CHRISTMASAs
JOHN cAsToN

My Lady rose from the table and
swept gracefully from the dining
room, statuesque and beautiful. as
always. AT the door she turned and
said:
"Why. certainly. have them down for
the holidays if you think they would
enjoy it. My time will be so fully oc-
cupied however. that l will not have
much of it to devote to them-and our
holiday atmosphere is not of the sort
they are accus' omed to in the country.
] fancy" This with n smile denotinS
well-bred acquiescence but absolutely
devoid of warmth.
The man behind her. gray and
trine bent with tired eyes. deep wrin-
kles in his face. inclined his head with
half sigh and replied:
THANK you, my dear. and l guess
you are right. 1t would be anything
but n merry Christmas. l fear. for the
girls here. We seem to have lost the
spirit Of the season. l thought per-
haps they might bring a little of the
holiday cheer into the house-but you
are right, it would only spoil their
season.
Insooth it was little Of the holiday
cheer that the great house had ever
known. Long, long years ago, just
after they were married and when they
had lived in the humber home in the
suburbs Christmas had been season
of holly and mistletoe, Of love tokens
and surprises. of turkey and cranberry
sauce and plum pudding. Especially
after baby came there had been some
gorgeous celebrations with Christmas
trees and Santa Claus and all the
things so dear to the heart Of child
hood. But when the little one died the
shock and sorrow and the disappoint-
ment and the heart-sickness were SO
keen that it was simply impossible to
return to the old habits and ways OF
which the little one had been SO es-
sential a part. They had even shrunk
from the ordinary manifestations of
mutual affection and companionshp,
which served as n poignan: reminder
OF the loss each felt so deeply in their
very different ways.
Something of all these things was in
the mind of each that December even
lHS ii "tth btlole NHl as NhSy
sat in the magnificent drawing room.
he half reading his newspaper and she
idly turning the pages Of n magazine.
Presently she rang for a servant and
ordered her carriage.
Are you going out?" he asked, q
shade of disappointment in his voice.
Il thought l would go to consult
with Mrs. Bogardus regarding the char
ity ball." she replied. 1T is getting
near the time and we are on the COM
mittee. However, II you have other
plans it is not at all important"
NO" he replied, 81 have no other
plans. l have trial balance to go
over, come to think Of it."
But his eyes looked more weary and
more sunken as she left the room. AS
she turned to wave him a good-na
tured adieu he arose to go to his IL
brary and she caught the expression
and her eyes contracted with puz-
xled look
1t was stormy night, and as My
Lady rode through the rain her car
riage colided with cab recklessly
driven in the opposite direction
and of the wheels was taken
North Park union., 1901-12-27
u, s, :: III THE:; IL; -, orn, Isl
5CSj.fI5lLDRb'IE o. O.
I CHRISTMAS


all the little children are thinking
about Santa Claus, and some are Won
dering if he will come to their house
this time. There is hardly any rea-
son for any child to believe that he
will not come. a good many things
change in this world. but on Christ
mas Eve merry old Santa Claus is al
ways heard of-his hair as white, his
nose as red, as ever; his bag of toys
Just as full; his cry down the chin
ney of ANY good children here?' just
as loud.
Kris Kringle is another name for
Santa Claus, and a very good name
too and stockings are not the only
things that hold toys. Little German
peasant children often set their wood
en- shoes on the hearth on Christmas
eve, pretty sure of cake and a toy:
for children. however poor their par
ents may be, are made much of in
Germany. And in some places in Eu
rope a curious thing happens. The
mother. the father, and the rest of
the family sit about the fire together
on Christmas Eve.
All the room is tidy. The children.
half hopeful, half terrified. draw close
to mother, father, or grandmothcrs. as
they hear sound of trumpets or
horns outside. Then the mother says:
What can this be-" and opens the
door. AS she does so, number of
very strange looking figures come in
amongst them one person dressed in
70 J, .iy,rr lao. .l-at
In his hand. and another in black,
with bunch of rods.
God bless you ALL" says the figure
in white. Are there any good chill
dren here?"
Are there any bad children here?"
asks the black figure.
MY children are all pretty good"
the mother answers.
Il am glad to hear it," says the
white visitor. Il have gifts here for
good children"
stop! the black figure cries: they
are not good. Hans struck his broth
er yesterday. Gretchen does not know
her catechism, and Petra broke
piece from the Sunday cake as it sat
to cool on the window-sill. | will
leave rods to whip them all with"
The children begin to cry. The
white figure spreads out his hands and
says:
THE little ones will be better next
year Then he takes one of the rods
from the black visitor and drives him
out. The visitors play on the instru
ments they have brought. and the
whole family sing Christmas hymns.
The angelic visitor then empties his
basket on the table, and leaves there
a great number of iced cakes, gilded
nuts, gingerbread horses, and wooden
toys, and then departs. The mother
tells the children to be good all the
year, lest the rod should really be left
for them on the next Christmas, and
al. have supper and go to bed.
Christmas day is happy one for
most children all over the Christian
world, and l hope that because this is
SO they will remember that this day
is kept because eighteen hundred and
eighty-oue years ago. Jesus, who said,
Suffer little children, and forbid
them not, to come unto me. for of such
is the kingdom of heaven" was first
a babe in his mothers arms.-Mary
Kyle Dallas in the New York Ledger.
North Park union., 1901-12-27
YULE TIDE PROBLEMS.

Hunting for Christmas present
For each blooming friend you know
Is n task that's far from pleasant
When your funds are running low.
1t is hard to make selections
That with joy all hearts will thrill
When you've got to make twelve sections
OF lone ten-dollar bill.
Peoples wants are so extensive
That they fill you with despair.
They all hope for gifts expensive,
They don't know how ill they'll fare!
If you have "A lot of money,
Buying presents Is great sport
But it's anything but funny
When your bank account is short.
North Park union., 1901-12-27
THE NEW YEAR GIRL.

My little lady sits alone
In her boudoir. white and gold.
Waiting to greet the New Year
And bid adicu to the Old.
What is beyond the morrow?
lIark to The bells that ring):
Are there tears or smiles and sunshine?
Oh, what does the New Year bring?
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-15
AMERICA NOW A MONEY POWER
N. De Witte, the Russian Minister of
Finance, AnnIyzes the Situation

ST. PETERSBURG, Jan. in De
Witte. the Minister of Finance, in his
annual report, analysizes the general con-
dition OF affairs. retraees the tightness of
money in Europe, and speaks of the
United States as a potent factor In the
universal money market. He declares that
a succession of good crops has upllfted
the economic power of the United States,
"ho despite the Spanish war. spent less
money abroad than the European markets
spent in the United States With the
growth of capital and the development of
industrial production. the export trade of
the United States was greatly progress
ing.
Sinch 1897 more gold had been imported
by the United States than exported TIE
abundance OF money in the United States,
M. De White says, permitted the buying I'D
OF bonds issued by European States Al
though some of the money due the United
States by Europe for merchandise and
interest on bonds had been partially bal
anced by interest on American bonds and
shares which had been placed in Europe
and by the return of part of those stocks
to New York, there still remains bal
ance to the American credit in Europe.
The United States Ia attracting part CT
the resources of the Old World, where
the financial resources have been di-
minished, but signs of an amelioration of
these condition are already beginning to
appear. Russia's trade balance in her
favor in 1900 was 125. 600 roubles, as
against $780, 00 roubles in 1899.
NJ. De White. whose report is very ex-
plicit on Russia's peaceful policy. thinks
that with quiet and peace restored the
financial situation will recover quickly.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-15
Sunday School Literature

4 Chicago clergyman seems to have been
seized with rather an exceptional attack
| of common sense-not that common sense
is rare among clergymen in Chicago
or anywhere else but that this particular
variety of it is not as common as it
might be. Rev. George A Campbell.
President of the Christian Ministerial
Association CT Chicago, has been advo-
eating before the Baptist Ministerial
Union of that city. the Punishment Of
Sunday school books from the Sunday
school libraries, and the insertion of secu-
lar novels and story books in their place.
This frank expression of opinion has
5 Tired up considerable discussion.
There seems to be delicacy among
religious people in general. about attack
ing the trash which is circulated emong
the young people Of this country under
The name Of religious literature. This
Gomez from the false reverence which
hesltates 10 speak evil Of anything labeled
Christian" or condemn any work which
is ostensioly done with a good motive.
But the Truth of the matter is that tie
stuff served up in these books is fer the
nest part no more Christian than the
using of the United States flag for
trademark Is patriotism. The people
who write and publish this literature do
it for the sake of bread and butter. not
because they have any very earnest or
enlightened desire to benefit their fellow
men. II ought to be understood by this time
that a good motive does not necessarily
make a good act. Undoubtedly, some of
the pilgrims who carry germs of the bu-
bonic plague from one country to another
IN the East, are inspired with good mo-
tives, but that does not change the fact
that there ought to be q quarantine Law.
II may be said that while this immense
food OF cheap and trashy literature is not
extraordinarily beneficial, 1t is at least
harmless. But there is question to be
raised here In the first place, most CT
these worthless Sunday school books and
papers go into country towns and villages,
and cost the people OF the churches a con-
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-15
AFTER A CUBAN RAILWAY.
The Central Offers TO Purchase Car
dcnas-Jucnro BONDS.

HAVANA. Jan. 14-At meeting today
Of the directors Of the Spanish Bank. men,
tion was made of the proposed sale to the
Cuban Central Railway Company OF the
cardenas-Jucaro line. 1t is reported that
the Central Company offers to conclude
the purchase by giving Central bonds In
exchange for bonds of the Cardenss-J ucaro
Company, with 20 per cent premium in
scrip or 10 per cent In cash.
II is also reported that the municipality
OF Santa Clara has authorized the Central
Company to lay its rails across certain
streets on condition that the line be An
ished in five years. As the company has
asked for no concession, difficulty is fore
seSn regarding the crossing Of roads and in
the purchase of State lands. Sir William
Van Horne. Chairman OF the company
stated recently In Havana that he did not
anticipate any difficulty where all tho
parties realized the enormous benefit to
be derived from the line
The contracts OF the Pan-Amerlcan Ex-
press Company with certain railroads for
carrying parcels have been sustained by
the administrative council
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-15
THE BRITISH EASY VICTIMS.
Subjects Of Queen Victoria nuy Many
Gold Rrici.s

The American Legation In London has
transmitted to the State Department a
statement from R. Anderson Of the Crimi-
nal Investigation Department OF New
Scotland Yard. London, in regard to old
swindiing schemes which have been re-
vived in London and other parts of the
Kingdom. The officer says:
THE notorious Spanish swindie' and
gold brick swindle' continue to fini vic
tins both in London and throughout the
United Kingdom. In the former fraud the
bait is a share of treasure of some kind
which is alleged either to be buried in
this country or sequestered in some way
abroad A prisoner in Spanish Jail and
his motherless daughter generally though
not always, figure in the story. The other
fraud begins with the receipt OF a letter
addressed TO some one whose death has
lately been announced. referring CRATE
fully to his generosity in the past, and
telling him that the Enthusiastically
some venture in gold mining-which he
helped to inaugurate has succeeded and
that his share of the profits awaits his
sending to claim it. This leads to a cor
respondence between the swindler and the
relatives of the deceased, and ultimately
to the despatch o. an agent usually to
America) TO receive the bullion. When
that stage is reached demand for money
is on some prctence or other sprung upon
the victim. but few hundred pounds are
Of little account in presence of massive
bars or bricks of solid geld One OF
hose bricks over forty-fve pounds in
weight, for which large sum was re-
Gently paid after what seemed to be a
satisfactory test of its genuineness, now
lies before me as | write"
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-15
THE BLIZZARD AT ODESSA.
Railway Trains Now Running
Through Snow Drift Tunnels.

LONDON, Jan. 15.-The Odessa CORE
spondent OF the Daily Mail" says that
the last of the trains that were snow
bound in the recent blizzard has arrived
at Odessa. The snow drifts for miles
hardened into ice. Through one of them
which was 400 yards long and thirty eight
feet deep, il was necessary to cut a tun-
mel. Seven hundred of the passengers,
mostly peasants. who quilted the trains
before they were dug out. have arrived by
sleighs, which they obtained at a point
twenty-five miles north of Odessa.
Many of them we're more dead than
alive. Several who were unable to get
sleighs attempted to trudge the whole dis
lance into the city. Many of these were
exhausted by cold and hunger and sank
into the drifts, where they froze to death.
There is a great outcry against the rail-
road authorities, whose alleged niggardli-
ness in refusing to pay snow diggers two
shillings for a days work of twelve hours
is regarded as the cause of the suffering
and death.
1t is asserted that three days we're
wasted in Geographically negotiating
with St Petersburg on this question.
When the demands were ultimately grant
ed the drifts. thirty and forty feet deep,
extended for miles. The railroad COM
pany's loss through the blizzard is stated
to amount to more than s250,000. Bust
ness in OdessS has been stopped for days
The poor in many OF the outlying parts
OF the country are starving. The prices
OF provisions have risen 800 per cent.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-15
FORCED OUT BY MRS. STANFORD
Prof. Howard Pays the Penalty for
Freedom of Speech.

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 14.-Dr. George
e. Howard, heed OF the department of his
tory at Stanford University. and recog-
nized as the ablest and most popular
member of the faculty was today forced
to resign because last November he cham
pioned the cause of DR.. Edward A Ross in
public address. Prof. Ross, it Will be
remembered, was compelled to resign by
President Jordan, under orders from Mrs.
Stanford, because in public address he
had attacked the management of the Mar
ket Street Railroad and other large cor
porations in which she was interested.
Ross forced resignation from the chair OF
economics created a great sensation at
Stanford, and the day following the an
nouncement Prof Howard, before his
class, delivered an address in which he
severely denounced this attempt to muz-
Gle free speech in the university. In the
course of his address he said:
81 do not worship Saint Market Street;
do not reverence Holy Standard Oil; nor
do l doff my hat to the Celestial Six Com
paRies."
His address was warmly applauded. but
his friends feared that when report of it
reached Mrs Stanford, who is now in
Switzerland, she would insist upon his
resignation as she insisted upon DR.. Ross
retirement.
That result has now come to pass. Sat
urday DR.. Howard received a letter from
President Jordan asking for public
apology for his address at the time of the
Ross resignation, OF his resignation.
Howard replied that he saw no ground for
an apology and he also called President
Jordans attention to his own assurance
given him last November, that Howard's
resignation would not be demanded. Jor-
dan reDlfed asking what date Howard
would fix for his resignation and hoping
that he could continue in harmonious re-
lations through the present term.
Howard replied that he regretted to be
obliged to leave his classes at the opening
of the semester, but under the circunl-
stances he could not remain without free
dom OF speech, so he made his resignation
take effect at once. The forcing out Of
Prof. Howard has created even more
feeling among the students than the loss
of DR.. Ross, because Howard is more per-
sonally popular. He came here from the
University of Nebraska, in 1879. being the
first professor called by President Jor-
dan.
Everyone ascribes this demand for How
ards resignation to Mrs. Stanford. and
deplores it. for carried out to its logical
end, it kills free speech at Stanford.
Prof. Howard has made a reputation as
singularly clear lecturer and ne Is widely
known by his Local and Constitutional
History of the United States"
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-15
BARELY ESCAPED DEFEAT.
A Clerical Interpolation Postponed
by the French Chamber.

PARIS, Jan. 14.-In the Chamber OF
Deputies today the Government narrowly
escaped defeat on a motion respecting the
interference OF clergy at elections. The
chamber postponed discussion OF the sub
ject until Friday. by vote of 259 to 255.
The action of the chamber was, how
ever. merely an Incident in the prelimi-
nary skirmish in reference to the asso-
Citations bill, which 1t was expected would
be reached today. Discussion of the meas
ure was not begun. as all the time was
occupied with an Interpolation submitted
by NJ. Sembat, regarding the interference
OF the Vatican in French politics. based
on the Pope's recent letter to the Arch
bishop Of Paris.
Prime Minister Waldeek- Rousseau de-
clared that it would be a mistake to at
tach oyermuch Importance to the letter.
which was merely offered as counsel. 1t
contained no threat. The tenor of the dis
eussion indicated the depth OF feeling on
the part OF the members of the chamber,
and the whole subject foreshadowed lively
scenes. II ended in the adoption of the
order of the day expressing confidence in
the Government. the vote being 313 to 10.
The associations bill is down for discus
sion tomorrow
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-15
NEW CABLE LINES LAID.
Extension of the Telegraph system
In the Philippines.

General Greedy has received from Lieut..
Col. James Allen cablegram announcing
that the Signal Corps has laid cables from
Oslob. Island OF Cebu. to Duma guete, ISL
and of Negros, and thence to Misamis and
Lintogo, Island of Mindanac
This extension Of the military telegraph
system connects for the first time the
very large and important island OF Min
danac with Manila and the rest of the
world. The War Department hopes that
the extension of the cables from Tucuran
to the Jole group. via Zamboaga will be
competed within the next month. Colo
mel Allen reports that in November, the
last month for which complete data has
been received, more than 100000 military
messages were transmitted over the mill
itary telegraph lines Of the archipelago.
The extension of this system will facili-
tate military control CT the southern ISL
ands and thus obyiate some inconven-
fences which otherwise would have arisen
from reducing the force at the present
time.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-15

The Southern Relief Society gives its
annual ball tonight and those who like
to combine kindliness with pleasure will
find this a good occasion for doing so.
This association is not one of those which
are formed to minister TO social ambition
under the guise of charity; its object is
real work, and work which needs to be
done TIE funds of the society are distrib-
uted by its members, so that no money
leaks into the hands Of paid agents on the
way One of the objections which many
people have to certain philanthropic So
cieties is that so much of the money
placed in their hands is spent in salaries
and Office rent, instead OF reaching those
who are supposed to be the beneiciaries.
In the case of the Southern Relief Society
aid is distributed by these directly inter-
ested in the work, whose concern it is
10 make their limited amount of money
go as FAR as possible.
From the report OF the society for the
past year. it is evident that two very SEN
sible methods OF giving aid have been
adopted by its officers. 1t is stated that
not quite four hundred dollars were spent
on the Industrial bureau, which enabled
needy people to earn some fourteen hun
bred dollars. This is obviously most sa-
gaclous management. and the effect both
on the treasury ard on the people helped
Is much better than If each had been
given the small sum of money which it
would have been possible to give.
Tho ethar vFicn NIL odnrtad b,.
ciety is that of sending stranded South
erners. when possible. 10 their homes.
There is a peculiar wisdom in this pro-
ceeding. on account Of the social and eco
nomic conditions prevailing in the South.
There is perhaps no part Of the country
where social bonds are 80 close as in the
Southern States. Ia very many cases needy
Soatherners have been freely helped, and
even supported, BY old neighbors who
were not in any way bound to assume
such care. In Southern towns families are
likely to have been friends or acquain-
:ances fer many generations. and that is
The next thing to blood kinshlp By which
1t is frequently accompanied. There is &.
freemagcnTy among the Southern people
which does not exist between those Of
Gny ether section in high 4 degree
Thus. the man or woman who. in WASH
ing;on. is friendless and alone. AID whose
friends at home may be too poor TO send
money for railroad fare, will be cared for
waen once among old neighbors. More
over. the cost Of living is less in South
ern towns and. villages than in a big city
and the needy caa generally find some
place in which 10 bsstow themselves. with
out great trouble. The two items of rent
and fuel. which of necessity loom SO large
before the poyerty-stricken dweller in
Northern city. are In the South reduced
TO minimum Finally, while the very
POOR In the city may get better care than
In the country. large town is no place
for the refined poor, the people whose one