davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Decorah-posten., 1902-07-18
Dun frieoe iiol.

ct foIteIiet Srieri fonbt, frioer en-
WeoSeler til g~erisbIabet, forleoen
Ste6 / ct Sosn / 8rouberss San
Sperige.
en- 64.aarig gntemanb ifliloe uo
for at laane bunorebe &roner og be-
CAB fig / bette serinbe til en- sammel
@nfe g.: R9rbeSen. Sa, gummel oac
bun; bun bar rertIig SO aar gam,
mel, men forreiten peo ben bebite Sci
breb af 8erSen. San iatte Jig paa
aonten a. ben StoI, bun bsb BAN %
iagbe let ineen ling; bet er 10 life
ipnberIigt lpiteliet at futile gaa no %
lame Benge | bisIe Siber, men Neo
brpoer 10 ale 2ope. 90 forunSret
bIeu ban, Sa gnfen siebIiffeItg iagoe
ga til bans gesiarin9 Sum traf en-
Sfufe no / lin 8ommobe og talte
uSen 9et9nfnins bunoreoe aroner OBJ
til bam / sslp. 90 iaa iagbe bun:
"gil on babe Here9 Ser er ogiaa
Sebler." Nei, MI Debsoeoe ban life
flere.
"Suab piIbe on iise til benne
gunbt ber2 Ser er tuiiube aroner.
Soao2"
gnfemanoen lao % itirreoe paa
benbe meo aaben Wiunb, men ban fps'
itob insenting.
Sun piite bam SensfI9oer, Der bar
bIsbe % prGatise til gamle Renne'
Tier, % SsIoiteer, iom buaSe urge %
aamIe funSe globe fig peo.
@nbnu forItoO ban life BET minO'
tie. Ru oiIoe ban goa meo line BUM
brebe 8roner.
"gsei, iiO MI neb, ct Tibet @Ias faor
iea bel 2op til at bpoe paa?"
Sat Sen. iom bpber."
Sa MI ~unSerbplbt bun BAN meo
faa fager en- Gale ON alt BET 9oOe,
bum eieSe, at ban belt 8lemte, at BET
bar blepet Tent.
= Samtalens Sob iaabe bun iad:
"Eu er gnfemarb, og ieg er ente."'
SON inbrsmmeoe, at bette bar iii
fGI6et.
90 ian fom bet. n
"8il 6u gifte big meb mig , Iaa
faar gu itrar ier tiiiinO aroner gph-
ffrepne iom biae, % bin ~uSentagsto
faar set Iiee ia soot Der iom ser, bo9r
ben M er."
Ru foritob ban beree. Bel bar
bum SO gar, men life Seito minbre
uiIbe ban itrar afiteo til 8rciter, men
iaa iagbe bun:
"SSnsen 8umbeber, Sons; leg ien'
Der bare guS efter Ger, on ueb, ian
friper ban BET, Ter on"
90 iiSen bIsp ser Init for bet GAM
Ie Bar, o. 'aa blep Der SieIie % grpI.
I~upsgilSe paa ~i9boanIie Bis.
Decorah-posten., 1902-07-18
% 'zs'ss.Ss!,,,
Mi1der fra ualders

inb, % ioo Ioebe ban beeee fine San.
Der paa mine SfuIore, % iaa ingoe
ban til mig: Oil bu enonii tiene ct
sor hos mig, iaa ifal BIZ faa ct Hor
9aIer mere | 2sn, END bu bar bobt,
og ian ffaI ieg Iare big op, iaa BIZ ifal
bIipe Iiseioa flint smeb, iom ieg er,
% Iigeiaa flint Sfptter, Tom leg err,
% Iigeiaa flint til at ipile paa 5eIe,
iom ieg err. Seq Ia, of bette ittIbe
Timan babe Taf foi, % ian baanoTo-
geS pi poa Gorliget. Slab bar ieg,
os iaa iatte leg mine Snger fra mig
igien % git no pna 9oapen os l9s-
ieoe ct SsI9s al en- SlGoe, og ian tog
leg Sl9ben og ffisp ben neo ODER
2aopebrcen. Deb bet fomme fom
Simon og Manben fra 2ineifro no.
De banbe NOT let rioget, for ieg bsrte
2ineifringen iige: Sci bet Der bar
rart, en- al % TO niaa bore feig, enten
on eler ies. Gn ieg fom inS % ban'
be ipiit Wibbos, fom ban Siman
igien til mig % tog mtg | bepge Sful.
orene. Ru bar hi p9ret iammen |
mango sIar, fan Eiman, og pi bar
albrie prspet at BRACES, iaa ineen peo,
bpem Der er ben It9rfeite al os to, Jan
Simnn. Ga, BET er bel Oct iamme,
ON ingen neb, bpem at % TO er ben
itarfeite, Ia ieg. Rei ian Eiman.
M ifal hi BRACES, for M ptl ies oibe,
ON bu nirfelis er it9rfere eno ieg,
ian Giman. San tog fut ! mig, og
leg bar iaa iaaIet, at ies oeiaa tog fat
| bam, og iaa tiimlebe Ri runbt @ul.
bet nosIe @ange. gnbeIig fit ieg
Spertaget og lagoe BAN unber mig,
men ban ramte Stabben meb 8ritgen
fin, og BET giorbe iaa forf9roelig onbt,
at ban ntnatte gaa tiliengs, % @lo
mig osbe ban life ire Gage
Gilman goIo maa bore bso for ooer
90 aar fiben. @noers Spansruo
beSe for oper 40 aar iioen.
Decorah-posten., 1902-07-18

8. u. 8rrns lutheran seapsmn. Sea-
tdIpp for 1902-190S. Nlbion, Wis.
Decorah-posten., 1902-07-18

mango geretnineer frn e. 8. ON
Stcrm % EoeIrseeIier pifer, piI en-
Del Of bore Vrefter os Mcnigbcosr
beritbe iaa S9noerne fnIbe nieb al
iamIe pense % opbpsae fine Strife.
buie ieien.
paitor SnIborien, Enp Gcimtp.
2. O., bar formeeen aisrins | III
aaIb. iaa at BON M ntao cpgioe noele
Wenigbeber. 9na 3 Aor bar ban
fisrt 10000 Weil.
Baitor 3. g. CIien meooeIer
at 5randes WenisbeS, Bloomington.
3. 9. miiteSe I'm airfe | Stormen
ben 24be SUM. greiteboIiaen bIep
iparet. Saskatchewan of ~gubb9reren'
minoer ! BERNIE anIebnins ON, bpcr
bel be. bnooe b9ret ON Snmfun6ets
Wenigbeoer bapoe bnpt ct eget gsiu.
RANGES eIfab.
gaitor Srbers, gonfton Co.,
g, O., beretter ON en- Stcrm
Charles mir Co., g. o., Tom sbeIas.
De 8 airfer / bans BreftefalS. 8ions
airfe bIeo ipnret. On ManS bIep
or9bt unSer airfen, bpcr ban bapbe
iegt 2p unber stormen.
Baitor 8. GarIfen beSer ON
Si9lp for getbIebems 1eniebss,
SCOOTER Go, g. g., en- une os fattiJ
Iioen Wenigbeo af 5 5omiIier, iom
mifteoe fin airfe I Stormen.
5rifirfen.
gaitor anton aarien bIep ben
25oe SUM 9gtepiet til getrine Gnber.
al aod @apiSs, So. 8aitor G.
geoerien forrettebe.
- Baitor G. 8erIie bIeu operraffet
Den 2oen Slili Of fine Wenigbeoer,
iom bapSe inmIet $t0t til BAN.
8aitor 6Iagitab bIep 9stepiet til
arnie apalbeim al arenbal. Winn..
ben 22be sunni Of Baitor 9reibobIit.
Gtafonisierne aarpliue llno.
biem og Serriette HiIien toe gfifeo
Ssrbae meo gmerifa for at
bragg til Rooagaifar Wisiiorsmarf.
On Set afbolbtes | SreforbisbeSsfir.
fen, bpor Brof. Sperbrup taIte.
Decorah-posten., 1902-07-18
SGrere suneS.

Scandinavia scaesmp asioeiatipu snTtrr
10 S9rere-eu ION 9rtucipal os en- iom
eGrsr ! Spot'asepina Yeumanihip. Sbori.
hans Dir,
Yrinetpolen niaa bare Goleas .llosou
nellie. besss ma pGre 2uiberanere % BELT
norlte, men nioa flnne eusellt III Saiotpm.
menpeo. N~nlsantnaer ienDes I'll unber.
'egneee. DR.. T. ]. THoRsoN,
Secy. Board of Directors. Scandinavia
Academy Assn, SCANDINAVIA. Wis.
Decorah-posten., 1902-07-18

Spoe anaaar 5smaitirsu "Susosuusu,. ID
q lea aoof tlIirees nleo ben. Zen bar ar.
beioet nIireosltnsaoe I euhuer Senieenne {
ben 3in, lea bar bart ben. 6raeien tostsos
81 So 3ar5 Glen, Rerel. Soma.
Decorah-posten., 1902-07-18
Den nsrife spmpoe.

ratter, lda maa Oct lte oeo al peDIl9e'
boISs bort uorte Spros peo at no
6onne SfoIeI9rere baobe / 3orff %
ReIigior. Get sr en- goo gegpuoeIic
iom @Ieupooo RorFforenina, Ror'
BEN. bar siort meS Rrof. @ierietb
Tom Sorrnanb Tom bar til Speaoe IT
benare oct uorife Sproe babe / bet
Rationale og airfetiss. :. Cite fOm.
mer ggrnene til OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
rebeIie og raa begpnbe meb q. 9 g.,
bporle6es fan man oerte at De psO at
meSe for Rre'ten 90 O 80 Sarge tan
foo go6e Observation-Disclosures; IL
geiaa boab fan en- &eli8iorslRrer
giere en- Raaneos SiS meO ianSarne
q. 9. 6. 9err, Tom iuger llr0erOi3'
ming faar eIIers.
- GHsaaenbe ReIigiorfonsresier
uotaLsr grof. DIoisafer: Deb be itbite
Observation-Disclosures Dor Ser oGret ah'
boI6t acknowledgements huor man
paa beipotteIig Wao6e bar rebuGro:'
get Sriitenoommen oeo al itoeiTtte
cen msb andre ReIigiouer, Tom ogiaa
fan bare I'm @erettige!ie Gette uoGiea
itaI Ser f~ortfRttes meO, % oct er Oes.
barre trtitne, iom ganr / SptSien.
g2nu tPrfer pna at fao iitanO ct inter.
natioraIt Msbe for ben iporteIifcnhe
llngoom. Get ffnI bIioe Ell SIa9s
G~iterIigning Of De berGmte oIpmpiFc
Gese / @rRferIarb. ghi bar @tifop
SellotpS I Chicago lat fig / SpiOieH
for er 9eppgeIie meb oct WnaI for
Sie, at unSer 6iSie 2ege iom ifnI
pore Here Tiger, ifaI Der b3er SsnOng
BoIoes acknowledgements. gan
rOier zig nlerebe al, at oe.l aorgre3,
ban aeter at fna iitnu6, ifaI title
eubog Acknowledgements ! Gbicago
! 1898 Sfp9ser. Rer Sub IaScr
Zig Dog life ipotts.
- @isfionpr q. GItrup ffaI orSi.
reres til 9iifop / Rorge al Sron6.
bierns 9iffop; ban ifaI barre giifop
S6reuSers GfterfsIger.
Stanley TsuigbeSs 9irte, go.
tor s. RieIiens Sab, bIeo ben t5Se
Suui irboiet Of Gnitor ~. Sborien.
Batter Salaueer bIep npIig
/ fit Hpe anIS / 9itae Sails,
Of Bait q. @raroe.
Raitor Roies ItaI pifariere fox
Sfatte5E ct gnrs lib.
gaitor StattebsI oiI opboIbe fla
Sborshn. alabama et Mars Sib for
iuE SeIbreSE StpIS.
-sunOSeNg Suiserfaoer" fables
Sait. @uIfsberg. b 6 Of bans 9etre
ere sifts utsb 9rsfter / spnoSen;
btsIe ere 9aitorsrne gopb, GrodhL
Srof. Sore, Sboen, SatnSabI o. 6.
Ger er isisn en- ugift Sat.
Ter ! 6aniIien.
-Broi. Stltbs charlottesville i
g~PtHneo2oIis oeo S GnRoiSoters Or.
biHation Ct aitrptt / "Gp. 2utb. air.
pi nftrptte et Tibet Stptte:
gt'trot oil en- Brett oISrig bIioe fulo.
tommer. Sgian ban bar, tiItroSg
for, Of ban er en- triIten. ben gamle
aoam. San bar sen iamme Ratur,
be 'arme 9rageIier, Sc iamme 9pIter,
be iomme Ssmperamentsfei!. Sc lam.
me annpe, De inmme SpgepeIier, &c
Inmme 9LPoer, be iamme Soraer
ION fine StIberere. Ren ban bar og.
'ao ooo @runo al oet. ban er lat til @.
bore, tiioI0ig Gpfororins til at Gne
BEN itrengeite aortroI ouer fla ielu,
til at otie ber rctte SeIobcherFeIie /
ale Sirg. San IfaI oIti0 minoes sen
famine GpoiteIS Orb: Seq unoer.
toinger nit 9egeme % boI6er Set /
SrpI0Om. at life lea, icm prroifer for
andre, itoI ie.o b.ipe f%orifuot."
Roitor 9uSIce bIco forIc5cr
SenOoo inSfert / fit aoIb ! "a omfrins
gnIiour. q. I, al 4aItor q. q. Gar.
ZEN.
- . SjahLorb Qrairie WeniabeS
ofhoIb:es QrenSmeAc iro 24hp til
Decorah-posten., 1902-07-18
4umclpelie.

Seretning ON Bet 26be orbentIisc
Srucbcmebs al Spuoben for ben rorf'
60 sIutb. Sirte / gmeritu. diboIbt | gtius
~ucapolis, Riun.. fra 23be I'll 29oe Ntdr
1902. lutheran SlIbI. Souie, 9eccrab,
"a. SriS % Gents.
Decorah-posten., 1902-07-18
Snuses Spnuor.

SaugeS 3enigbeS / SerauS
Sails, Eaitor RenoabIs aalo, fol op.
tsre en- aIrfe / Ssit.
~SuobGrereu" Ifriper: Som be
Decorah-posten., 1902-07-18

Sultan ben 5raiaione af Benedict
RorScutoit. SfSbenbaou. 2ebmauu 4
StageS SorIn9.
Decorah-posten., 1902-07-18

RaSurreu. SuSIebriussforebrae peo
SreSsmeSet / @oreIauo. Chicago. ben
Ste, Ste % Toe IartS 1901. VT Vait.
". Gctmdun. augsburg Subl. Souie.
RtuueapoIis, Riun. Yris 8 Gents.
Seretuius fra Iiuusiota SntaIafs
boIesieIiIabS 17pe aarsmshe. aiboIst I
Seu, Riuu.. lite iii Sbie Supi 1902.
llbsjoet al 8uitap gtbe, SefretGr. Yris
10 Gents. "SuI,ebIaost." IinneapoIis.
Minn.
Decorah-posten., 1902-07-18

5nutafsnS sriNuS % SibeIenS Sri'
inns. SorcNra9 AZ .. Sttp Suncte.
Gperiot fra Sbt al Salt. g.. .. Sbpcot,
MORT Iutbcrit Brett. Gen Sor. Striss
ScrIng, 9%tiuneapoIiS, Ifim. Sris Sc.
Evening star., 1902-08-16
THE FADING GLACIERS.
Curious Notes by a Swiss Scientist
Among the Alps.

Correspondence Paris Messenger
well-known Swiss naturalist, NJ. II.
Correvon, writes from Arolla, Canton
Valais:
The glaciers seem to be fading into shad-
ows of their former selves, real skeletons
encircled by their white or black moraines
They are diminishing everywhere
Il remember in July. 1856, Prof F. A..
Forel the famous expert in geology, took
us to glorious ice grotto which he had dis
covered twenty minutes walk away from
the hotel at Arolla. We were able to walk
there without difficulty as in an ice corri-
dor. Now not only has the grotto disap-
peared, but II takes an hour and a quarter
TO reach the glacier from the hotel
During the first days of October twenty
five years ago / traversed with two guides
the glacier Of Bertol from Zermatt to
Arolla; it then reached deep down into the
valley. nearly touching the glacier of Aroi-
la. Today We mounted up 10 500 meters
beneath the Pass Of Bertol without any
difficulty
M. Anzeoug. who has STAYED at Arolla
every summer since 1860, believes firmly
that the glaciers which separate this terri
tory from Italy will disappear as the wears
go by, and that the cattle of the VaIaisa n
peasants Will be sent to market to Aosta
Utaly) across passes which are now COW
cred with ice.
The one curious advantage in this dimi-
mutton OF the glaciers is that the moraines
OF Arolla are now producing veritable for
ests, the seeds of which must have been
blown up by the wind from the valley
Evening star., 1902-08-16

In the morning drain off the vinegar. ada
one teaspoonful of curry powder. again
prlng to the scalding point and pour over
the pickles. Let stand until cold, pack in
small jars or bottles and seal tight
Picked Gherkins.
Select small, firm gherkins, put them in n
stone jar, and cover with a strong brine
Placing a plate on top to keep them from
noatlng, and stir them up well from the
bottom every two days until the expiration
OF two weeks. At the end of that time drain
on the brine, throw away any of the rher-
kins that may have become soft, and cover
the remainder with fresh water. Let stand
Tor tWenty-four hours, change the water
ana let stand again for another day Cath
er iresh' green grape leaves. and with them
me the preserving kettle. Drain the gher-
klns Tree of water, and place them in the
Kettle, sprinkling each layer with tsnv
DIT OF alum. Cover the gherkins with cold
water, spread two layers of grape leaves
over the top and place them over a moder-
ate flre. Let them heat slowly and simmer
gently TOR five hours. Then throw them
INTO very cold water and let stand while the
vinegar is In preparation. Measure yineRar
enough to cover the gherkns and put ft
INTO a porcelan-lined kettle. Fill a muslin
bag with large cupful of mixed spices
wnole cloves, whole allspice. pepper corns.
STICK cinnamon, mustard seeds and a few
blades of mace. Drop the bag into the
vinegar and let 1t boil for two minutes
Drain all the water of the gherkins- mach
them in jars and pour over them the hot
vinegar Cover and store In a COOL dark
place. They should not be disturbed m
eaten for six months.
Evening star., 1902-08-16
{
HOLD
lINTS

In nearly every home the Sunday night
tea is more or less movable feast, de-
pendent upon family custom and individual
circumstances. A pretty idea that bears
passing on comes from a California home
"here quartet of active small boys form
the major part of the household.
Alter the 2 O'Clock dinner in summer the
COOK goes out for the afternoon and even
ing. BEFORE she leaves, however, she makes
ready two large platters of sandwiches
covering them with a damp napkin to keep
moist; mas the tea made and in the ice box
the eggs, cheese, cake, fruit, milk or lemon
ade set out in the pantry, together with
the necessary dishes, bibs and napkins
weather permitting-and in that genial land
cloudless skies are the rule and not the ex-
cept1on-the supper is always taken al
fresco under the wide-spreading branches
of live oak
Here are hammocks and comfortable
chalrs, swing for the restless little ones,
movable stands for books, papers and
games, a bookcase and store cupboard
fastened to the trunk Of the tree, besides
stout table on trestles When lunch time
comes (and If there are guests, as there
usually are. SO much the better) the older
boys, assisted by one of the elders, bring
out the picnic" tablecloth and dishes, the
1000 already prepared and the beverages,
anu tHe IdDle is spread.
The smaller children have q bench and
sit at one end of the table, where they eat
lhelr cereal and milk, their fruit, ,sa ndwiches
and cake. The older people-have a rather
NOR more s eiaporate menu from which to draw
converse, including anecdotes or personal
"reminiscences in which all are interested
When the meal is CONCLUDED the dishes are
packed into basket, carried back to the
kltchen, piled in the dishpan and covered
with water so that they viii wash easily
the next morning while breakfast is prepar-
ing. Inc 1000 Is put away apd covered, the
refuse refuse ana crumbs brushed Off for the
chlcken pail" and in ten minutes every
thlng Is cleared up and all oare settled for
the "childrens hour" ~ +,
+ me program for this varies, but there
oth is always story told or read by father or or
then some of the sweet old hymns Of the
cnurch-classics every one OF them-Keble's s
Song of My Soul.'' Lyteso abide With
Day Is Over" and that dear old vesper
hymn, Savior. Breathe an Evening Bless
ing
Even the baby soon has the words by
members Of that family may be scattered
Iar over land and sea the seed Is sown,
the impression stamped and the influence
aye.
disappointment seems to be the lot OF the
tEahsatiantlc voyagers this summer Close
on the postponement of the coronation
comes the word that the .'potage" has been
apoilsned from the Partisan menu. Only a
cold consomme served in cups or bowls, Is
now In order, and the traveller who has
counted on tasting the delectable velantes.
creams and bouillabaisse. to whose con-
coction the French chef has formerly de-
Voled MS most conscientious energies, Is
again bereaved Iss-9
The distinction between bouiilon and con-
s0mme is not always clearly understood in
Evening star., 1902-08-16
MUD BOUQUETS.
How Flowers May Be Arranged in
Plates Of Damp Earth.

From the Scotsman.
This does not sound very elegant title
but I assure you that the finest effects 1
have ever seen have been the result of flow
ers arranged in moist earth. The work is
most pleasing, too, and invalids would find
1t very healthful way of disposing of some
of those tedious hours which are some
times extremely wearying to the GONZALES
cent.
Before you commence the earth used
must be finely sifted, or-at least, freed
from stones; then having provided your
self with soup plates or oval pickle dishes,
fill them with the earth, pressing it firmly
with the hands, and raising it in the center
quite two inches higher than the Sides
When it is nodded to your fancy din a
brush into water, and very gently wet
every part, but avoiding anything like slop-
plness-a little experience will very soon
teach you the exact consistency needed to
support the stems of the flowers You will
find 1t a good plan to take knife and press
the earth back to within half an inch of the
edge of the plate-this will prevent any un-
even or slovenly appearance.
Now commence your decorative work bv
arranging border Of leaves round the edge
Ivy and black currant leaves are the best.
as they do not wither quickly Lay those
on, horizontally, letting them overlap each
other slightly, and make hole for the sem
with hatpin or knitting needle; the stems
of all flowers and leaves should be about
an inch long. Insert little SPRAYS of deli
cate grass here and there among the leaves
using your taste and judgment as to the
length of the grass-so as to impart a
feathery appearance-yet not making it top-
heavy.
AS to the flowers. novices had better con-
tent themselves with one color at first: aft
erward combinations can be attempted In
any case small blossoms or those which can
be picked to pieces are to be used. 1 saw
the other day very pretty arrangement
made with the common yet beautiful dande-
lion. the border being composed of brown
foliage-copper beech, 1 think-and a few
feathery grasses mixed with the blossoms.
Nasturtiums give a very handsome effect.
especially if some of the rich browr-red
blossoms are mixed with the lighter shades
No specific rule can be given as to the ar
rangement of the blooms.
Taste and experience will soon enab YOU
to produce beautiful ornaments for The
drawing or dining room and wild flowers,
which, in my opinion. are even more lovely
than many of our high-priced cultiva ted
blooms. lend themselves charmingly to this
style of table decoration.
Evening star., 1902-08-16
Deepest Mine Shaft.
From Industries and Iron.


1t is claimed. and with reason, that the
hed jacket shaft of the Calumet and Hecla
copper mine, in northern Michigan, is the
deepest in the world. 1t has taken nine
years of day and night work to sink ana
has cost 50 100000. This shaft is vertical,
but all the other shafts of the Calumet and
Hecla follow the dip of the lode. Work on
1t was started in 1889, Immediately after
the last of the three great underground
hres in the older workings of the mine,
which did damage of more than $1,000 CO.,
work has been continued upon II since that
time and the shaft stands without a paral-
lei in mining. 1t is 49o0 feet in depth or
$50 feet less than a mile. II contains six
compartments, each equal in size to an or
dinary mining shaft, four of which. are
used for hoisting rock and lowering timber.
One shaft is utilized for the ladderways,
and the sixth and last compartment carries
the wires and pipes for telephones light.
power, water and compressed air.
Evening star., 1902-08-16
"THY PILLOW SHALL BE EARTH. ,,
An Ancient Custom Still Continued by
Orthodox Hebrews.

OTtnOQOX deDreWS.
From the New York Evening Post
One branch of the orthodox Jews still
keeps up the custom which seems more
than thirty centuries old 1t is the LAYING
of dead mans head upon pillow filed
with earth. and placing upon his face of
an earthen plate or saucer broken into
three pieces. one for the nose and one for
each eye. Where family is very wealthy
the earth is brought from the Holy Land,
and the mortuary plate from potter's kiln
not far from Jerusalem. 1t is made of a
reddish clay, and is similar to those now
dug up by the Palestine exploration fund
laborers. To make the pillow and to break
the plate into the three conventional pieces
demand considerable practice if not skill,
and give steady employment to a little
wizened-up long-bearded Polak rabbi, who
lives down in the Bend between Park
Row and the Five Points. For the opulent
he has earth which he claims to have i'm
ported from Palestine and odd plates which
look as if they might have been made by
the potters of King Solomon. But the we'll
to-do who follow out the old customs are
few in number and the majority Of the
faithful are not blessed with an excess of
worldly goods.
For them he has clean earth taken from
a field Of growing grain and plates made in
some pottery not far from the city. There
is no set rule respecting the earth 1t may
be laid in the coffin beneath the head of
the dead man, and so form the pillow,
which is usually provided by nature herself
Or 1t may be the filling of linen or silken
case on which is inscribed a line from the
Torah or figure Of King Solomon's SEAL
How he breaks the plate is a secret which
has come down to him through many gen.
erations. 1t formerly was done by sword
afterwards by a trowel, but today by a
small hammer. When the blow is struck
the fractured pieces should not be of the
same size. Two should be small and some
what circular in outline SO as to cover the
optic orbit while the third should be rather
long and reach at least from the eyebrows
to the end of the nose. The first part of
the ceremony is easily understood It ex-
presses the traditional saying, "Thy pill
low shall be EARTH" but what the meaning
or origin Of the three pieces of plate is is
not known to the official himself He saws
ut is the law of our fathers, and 1 follow
the law.
According to one of their scholars. there
was a superstition once that the pieces of
earthenware protected the soul when il
made it's final exit from the body, which
was supposed to occur within a short ne
riod after physical death, but there seems
more reason for believing that the custom
was Of the same nature as the practice still
extant among some people Of laying coins
upon dead mans eyes.