davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Saint Paul globe., 1902-12-21

sands of children will gather about
Christmas trees in St. Paul, and those
that remain of that happy band of
children who beheld the first tree will
look upon their grandchildren enjoy
ing the same delight that was theirs
half a century ago.
The custom of New Years calling
also took firm root, and became one of
the society functions of each succeed
ing year. The following extract from
the st. Paul Daily Democrat of Jan. 2,
1856, will convey some idea as to how
the day was observed at that time:
New Years Day in 1855.
"This memorable anniversary was
celebrated yesterday with all the hon.
ors, as is said when a popular toast is
drunk. The ladies were all smileS,' as
some folks would say who looked upon
their beautiful countenances; that is
to say, they did not do all the smiling,
for they left the principal part of it to
their guests, who smiled and smiled
again. as our old friend Mr.. Shakes
peare used to remark long ago, until
they were as cheeful and happy as a
good Christian.
"The day was fine, being neither too
warm nor too cold, and everything
went merry as a wedding bell In
fact the town was all agog, and after
the shades of evening had lowered
upon the place, the effects of the smil-
ing were vividly apparent up town,
down town and all over town.
The Saint Paul globe., 1902-12-21

1t would require a whole page of our
paper to record a hundredth part of,
the funny things that transpired; but
the funniest that we had any knowl-
edge of occurred in Whitney's gallery
of the fine arts A young man who had
a smiling countenance went in to have
a daguerreotype taken of his beautiful
viSage, but while under the influence
of der machine he started up, exclaim-
ing suddenly that he had forgotten to
call on one lady of his acquaintance,
and darted down the stairs; and all
the artist succeeded in taking of his
semblance was the end of his coat
skirts as he vanished through the door.
It was rather dark and somewhat
late before the amusements closed; but
for a small city like this those said
amusements, while they did last, were
interesting in the highest degree.
Gov. German received the calls of
host of worthy citizens with his char
acteristic urbanity and hospitality.
Messrs. Clement & Parker, of the Win
slow house, kept open house in per-
son, and did the honors of the day with
grace and dignity. The gentlemanly
proprietors of the American house also
swung their doors wide open and Bro.
received many handshakes he will Long
remember. The Merchants hotel was
the recipient of many guests, and the
excellent lady of Capt. Routt enter
tained them in the most polite and
graceful manner.
The Saint Paul globe., 1902-12-21

or Fullerton's; those desiring substan-
tials for the inner man will go to Slos-
son & Douglass, Sloans, or Presley's-
the latter also keeps cigars, pipes, to-
bacco, &c, and toys for the children;
those wishing Christmas cakes and
good things generally will repair to
sBerry's or Stuart's and those that want
new coats made by frSt-rate tailors
will call upon Johnson & Brown,
Tn Upper Town,
"Or upon Mr. Tinker. Third street.
stBut If all our st. Paul dealers fail
to supply you with what you want,
just step to the suffers store at Fort
Smelling and well warrant Stephens
will be ready for you. or If you feel SO
disposed you may as we'll go there first.
That cap of ours cannot be beat in
Minnesota
ST. Paul was in those days smaller.
than the settlement at Fort Smelling
and Mendoza, and about as large as
those at Saltwater and ST. Anthony,
which is now Minneapolis. The busf-
ness center was then clustered about
the steamboat landing and extended
for a distance up Bach street, which
is now abandoned and is represented
by the alley known as Second street.
A few wooden structures were gath
cred about bridge square, while the
residence section was confined to the
district between Third street and Sew
enth street. Lower town was thinly
settled and st. Anthony hill was
farm
The Saint Paul globe., 1902-12-21

It will be interesting to note when
the first Christmas tree was set up to
the admiring gaze of children in the
territory of Minnesota. The following
extract from the st. Paul Daily Demo-
crat of Dec. 26, 1854, gives an account
of this event:
A very pleasant and happy affair
came off at the house of one of our cit
liens last evening. A number Of chill
dren were invited with their parents,
and at o'clock the door of the parlor
was thrown open, presenting to the
astonished gaze of the children a
Christmas tree, most beautifully light
ed, and adorned with all sorts of pres
ents. Each present was numbered and
drawn by the children, whose happy
faces and excited manner made the
scene happy and pleasant one to all.
This is a custom, we believe, peculiar
to some countries of Europe, and one
we would hope to see generally adopt
ed in this country
What surprise it must have been
to these children of the pioneers to see
that fir tree glittering with tapers and
weighted with gifts! What sensation
must have arisen when the account Of
this novelty was spread through the
town, and how the children must have
! been seized with longings for the bril-
liant and beautiful emblem of their
Christmas. The hope Of the writer
quoted was realized, indeed. for the
custom Immediately took root and has
remained. Christmas this year thou
The Saint Paul globe., 1902-12-21

way from saltwater and all the way
from ST. Anthony. The sleighs go
speeding over the snow and ice through
the forests, the moon shining brightly
and the air crisp and clear with frost.
How the boys and girls, in joyful an
ticipation of the fun at the dance, sing
aloud, and how the echoes of their
lusty voices ring through the woods
and across the plains. No electric cars
had they in those days, but plenteous
fund of the Zest for simple pleasures
they were endowed with.
Go back over a half century and en-
ter the door of the Central house on
this night of Jan. 1, 1850, what is
the scene that meets your eyes? In
the dining room the tables are pushed
into the corner to serve as a stand for
the fiddler and the piper; about the
room in groups are standing, chatting
gayly, the young men and women OF
the village of st. Paul Now the fid-
dler and the piper strike up jocund
air and the room is in a whirling
maze. But bark! the sound Of sleigh
bells comes up the street, several
sleighs stop before the door and in
crowd the guests from up the river!
The music stops and the dancers rush
to welcome their neighbors. Again
the music starts, and again the dancers
whirl. So on they go till early morn
ing.
The following editorial from the
Chronicle and Register of Dec. 22, 1S49,
will give some idea of the extent Of
the commercial interests of the town,
and throw some light on the manner
in which the day was observed:
A Holiday Advertisement.
"Christmas will be with us next
Tuesday, and every one is preparing
to enjoy 1t as seemeth best to suit
them. The grave and devout will be
at church. Those who love worldly
pleasure will be at the several balls. or
out upon sleighing, and eating, and
drinking parties. The great center
of attraction for this class is the ball
at the Minnesota House, Saltwater, on
Christmas night, on which occasion
mine host Hartshorn expects to lay
himself OUT and surpass everything
of the kind yet got up in the terri
tory.
"Our merchants, tradesmen, confec-
TONERS and bakers expect call from
all their customers during this season
of festivity. Those who wish for
something nice in the fancy drygoods
line should drop into Forbes, Roberts,
Randalrs, or Elfelt's; those seeking
more substantial articles of wear will
call either upon those gentlemen or at
Tracy's, Hopkins, Simpsons. Fuller's.
The Saint Paul globe., 1902-12-21

jo1lifcation that is then to be seen
among the country folks is greater
than among their city cousins. Isolat-
ed as the ruStics are from the varied
distractions that make the lot of the
city people, the few great occasions
of the year when there is general cele-
bration make a stronger impression
and are looked for with greater eager
ness. During the autumn months
the thoughts are constantly turned in
the direction of the coming of the holi-
day season.
For weeks in advance the female
members are engaged in preparing
good things to eat on the day of fes-
tivity, and when the day has arrived
the members of the family gather
about the board and inbibe the sue
culant viands. The cheer is increas-
ed by the general sense of repose and
security induced by the feeling that the
year has been spent in honest toll and
with fair rewards. The Woodpile is
big and the cellar is filed with the
produce of the garden. The feeling
that has been growing in anticipation
during the past weeks breaks forth on
Christmas in an hilarious rejoicing.
AS it is in the country, so it is in
the villages. The general stores do
thriving business for weeks in advance
and when the day arrives their meagre
exhausted and their tills are filled
The villagers, not content with these
supplies, draw also from the surround
ing country the best of the farmers
produce. When the day arrives the
village community is as one large fam
lily.
The day is opened with the simple
but impressive services in the early
morning in the little whiteWashed
church. Without the day is yet un-
born, but the interior is Illuminated
with a dim religious light shed from
rows of candles; the walls are fes-
tooned with wreaths of misletoe; and
near the altar stands the odorous fir
tree, cut from the forest near at hand.
These crude but neat accessories to the
services have the effect OF ifnpressing
the beholders with the spirit of the
time, and the discourse of the pastor,
telling of the birth of the Savior, and
the hozannah of the choir, remind ev-
cry one that the day is set apart not
merely for jollification, but as well for
serious contemplation of the love of
the Eternal Father in sending His son
to redeem the world.
The services concluded, the villagers
leave the church and wend their vari-
GUS ways in the early dawn to their re-
spective abodes. The country folks,
who have betimes arisen and driven
The Saint Paul globe., 1902-12-21

communication with the world. There
was a store at Fort Smelling, and a few
in st. Paul and to the stocks of these
the purchases of the. settlers were lin
tied. There was general feeling of
good will, however, despite these unto
, ward conditions, and the season of
Christmas time and New Years was
observed with friendly gatherings, and
often, among the traders and trappers,
with hilarity, for the stimulating in
huence of strong drink in those days
was much in evidence.
But as the years passed, and as more
Fasteners came to the small frontier
town. as the advance guard of civiliza-
ton, the facilities became more i'm
proved, and gradually, as they began
to prevail over the stern conditions,
ST. Paul society had it's inception.
There were then among the settlers
zens of today. Business interests also
began to pick up and several stores
soon were established.
The mutual feeling of good will pre-
vailed in those days among the settlers
and early residents of st. Paul, on
such occasions as the winter holidays,
manifested itself by general celebra-
ton, at which all people of the town
were present, and in which all Joined
~ AlleihC op july SOOu Iucy
usually gathered in the principal hotel
at such times as mine host out-did
himself in providing entertainment and
pleasure for his patrons. During the
day sleigh-ride parties were organized
and crowds of merry young folks
would go to the lakes for skating, re-
turning in the evening for supper at
the hotel The jolly old traders no
doubt spent the day in their most con-
genial diversions, and when evening
came the town was a scene of revelry,
Made New Years Calls.
On New Years day, in the early Sos
the custom of calling was started, and
it had its origin. in the prevailing
sentiment of common good will, for on
the first day of the new year 1t ap-
peared appropriate to the pioneers to
go about among their friends and greet
them with expressions of kind regard
and indulge in joyful anticipations for
the coming year. In this manner was
started the custom that became an
important usage of society.
The good people in those days had
not then reached the stage when they
considered it their duty to maintain
strict exclusiveness, but admitted all
of their fellow citizens to their hospi-
tality and extended a welcome to ev-
cry one.
A vivid impression of the manner in
The Saint Paul globe., 1902-12-21
HOW THEY KEPT
THE HOLIDAYS.

many miles in the brisk morning air,
unblanket their horses. which have
been waiting, and soon away through
the snow the merry crowd flies off,
with snatches of songs and hymns.
Gatherings Small and Friendly.
There are living in ST. Paul now
many who remember the celebration of
the holidays in the times when st.
Paul was a mere village and when it
was entering on that stage of its de-
velopment when it began to assume the
proportions and dignity of a town. In
the very early days, from 1888, when
Pierre Parrant and the Jarvises erect
ed the first habitation on the banks
of the river, to the late 40s, there was
little in the way of celebration, for the
people were few and scattered and
the circumstances against which they
were contending were adverse in the
extreme. There was little money,
trading being done with pelts mostly,
and the merchandise and stores were
meagre. In winter when the river froze
up they were entirely cut off from
The Saint Paul globe., 1902-12-21
'Rahl for the Christmas cheerl

'Rahl for the Christmas cheer!
'Rah. for the good new year!
Think of the merry ways
OF the happy, good old days!
To the inhabitants of rural commun-
ities and villages the celebration of the
two great holidays of mid-winter
means more, if possible, than it does to
the masses of the cities. The joy and
The Saint Paul globe., 1902-12-21

r "reminiscences of the Days
When ST. Paul Wds Young
and Its Inhabitants Were
Neighbors---EIigh .Jinks and
Much Visiting During the
Merry Season The First
Bdll in the Young City.
The Saint Paul globe., 1902-12-21

denty Books for Boys
About 40 titles and they are selling like
hot cakes; departme ent store price, 25c.
Our price, for $f.oo, o.
or each. .......-... .2OC
~ Join our Magazine Club.
Carved Wood Novelties
Just the thing fora sden, Calendars,
Plaques, Match Safes. Pipe Holders,
Whisk Broom Holders. etc.
Burnt Wood Effects
In Posters, Mirrors. Plaques, Picture
Frames. Panels, etc. etc.
Fine Stationery
In handsome gift boxes OE
Any price up from ..........2Oc
Electrical Novelties
Night Clocks, Batteries, Surgical
Lamps, Night Lamps, Search Lights,
Canes, Scarf Pins, etc. Ask to see
them.
Calendars at Cut Prices
This years selection excels all pre-
vfous efforts as do also the discounts
from publishers prices.
a Calendars for Fancy Work.
Pictures and Framing
See our line of framed and unframed
pictures. We can still execute framing
orders for Xmas delivery. but do not
delay too long.
Leather Goods
We have an exceptionally nice line Of
Purses, Card Cases, Stamp Cases, Bill
Books Memorandum Books, Writing
Portfolios, etc.
Waterman Fountain pens
Are the, best made A complete stock
from $3.50 up to $1,000. Nothing nicer
for a. gift
Out-of-town Customers
Write for Our Mail Order Catalogue.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-09

years II has not been pu, Oh anything lik"
public view, hu, il has been kept none the
less carefully on that account.
The SUN presents with this "A sketch
Of the pulpit The frame is abou, . feet high
with the foor Of the pulpit about 3 feet
from the ground The wood il -aid to be
black walnut. but ag" and successive coats
of paint, stain and varnissI have done much
20 hid" it, identity.
The most striking feature of the pulpit
il the number of ha-p~, hooks and hinges
which bind il, frame Those who have
charge of IN" reiicarc quick 10 call attention
to this fact and to offer III, explanation that
the pulpit j. of the folding variety. 1t
wa~ constructed in that way - that il could
easily h. carried ~ wagon or even Nv u
strong man.
tn identity of ia" pulpit a. Whitefed's
il not questioned by those who now have
il, although they have 80 avaiiahl" data con-
corning it, movements after Whtcfeld
died in 1870 The Row D.. Charles =.
Robinson, III" fatuou. hymn writer, who
died only few years ago, said that II wac
well authenticated a. Whitefcd'- travel
ling pulpit that which IA" carried with
him and from which he was wont to address
the thousands that focked o hear his voice. =
Whitofrld'~ preaching in England a. an
evangelist. part icularlv after his dispute
with Wesley. brought to him larger audi
cnces than No got over IN the colonies in
America, and it i thought that h" did not
bring The travelling u pit here At any rate,
according to he testimony Of tn" oldest
living officer of the American Tract Society,
the pulpit was presented To the society
some time before 1880 by man who picked
il up while travelling in England.
II has been exhibited only a few times
in thia country. once at the Centennial
Exhibition at Philadelphia in 1870 and
again AZ the Worlds Fair at Chicago in
1893
Whitfield came to America seven times
in all, his death occurring on his seventh
visit while he was al Newburyport, Mass.
The first time he came here he went to
Georgia at the request of the Wcsleys.
| On his o,hrr visits he preached mainly IN
| the Now England colonies, whore. on several
occasions, he vas not allowed 10 use regl-
| larry assigned pulpits because their occli-
| pants looked with extreme di-favor on his
| evangelical ideas This fact has l.d To tho
| belief that perhaps he did bring his own
| pulpit here
| All # the sorians agree AZ to the power
| Of Whtchcld's voice. l. seems not UNI
| likely that he was accustomed TO cmpha-
| size his utterances 10y pounding the frail
structure If his pulpit for il now bears traces
| of having been used vigorously. The
| wood has been cracked aud Clipped of
| around the fastenings of the upper railing
| ~ If some heavy hand had once marked
| the time Of his creed upon II.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-09

Matthew Arnold. especially during the
time they travelled on circuit as brother
rnarshals to Chief Justice Erie Of Arnold
he says
Matthew Arnold'z was tho most evenly
cheerful disposition | have ever known.
never in high spirits. ~ | remember him,
and never in low.
ARNOLD was an amusing talker on the
subiect of the drama. caring admittedly
only for the classic. He looked upon the
cothurnus a. the truest analyst Of the per-
plcxitir~ and destinics Of life. and had small
sympathy which was odd in him, with the
laughing portraits of the Muse OF Comedy
which had in them to him something of the
nature Of mere CaricatGrc, AT best. The
plays Of Aris,ophanes were in reality hut
satire in burlesdue, and even the comedies
of Moliere were to him but az weaker imita-
tions
" saw him one day on the opposite side
OF the street, pacing along and smiling TO
himself in the way knew well. Amused
I went across 10 him and asked him what
had happened.
What = the fun ! said. Have they
been att acking you sgain in the Saturday.
For - break lances with that periodical
was an Amusement 10 both; freeman, the
historian, being rcputcd to be his adver-
sary.
oh, no. my dear boy, no! I went to
Drury Lane last night
oh. to seq Helen FAUCET in "Cymbeline"'
Didn't YOU admire herr
oh, not that poor dear lady'--in his
inmitahle loncuears. which could not be
described a. a drawl-'she was charming,
of course But it's tho play. you know,
'Cymbelne" Such an odd. broken-backed
sort of thing, II couldn't have happened
anvw here YOU know.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-09

agreed among the three that tho fourth
race would ho IN" one To beat
Al the post" waS he announcement
that came slowly over the ticker IN the bi,
saloon where half hundred mon stood
around and talked hpr""
Hello. Jack said Operator No. I,
high up on the telephone pole
Hello, Jim" was the response Of Operator
No. 2, who was in IN" building nc2, 70 tho
saloon.
They're Oh, Number 1855 wins Quick
%. X was the reply, AZ Operator No
looked al his card and found that 1855
correspouded to kittaning. "A 8to ! shot.
who had won by half "A length Pulling u
card numbered 1885 out Of IA bunch in hi'
pocket, Operator No. hurried into thu
saloon and showed he card 10 Operator
No "a, he passed him by. l. was all done
in less han "a minute and not IA word Of thu
race had come over the ticker As soon "a
Operator No. , caugh, the cue he got NY
quietly and bet $40 on Kittaning as d feeler
and the BET vas not only recorded but il
also was paid. Several minutes after III"
race had been actually run the result beRa',
TO appear on the tape. But the gang had
gotten 500 10y the trick
IT'S 30 easy" they said. when they got
together that night, that they decided To
lose no time. hut 10 get right to work the
next day. Tuesday, on big scale, They
picked out the fourth race again and the
same plan was put into effect.
noincemen' over the ticker. the hand
book man taking number Of bets from
| acquaintance even after he knew the
horses would b. Oft al any moment. The
three schemcrs were ready But the horses
were not. Inst cad there was a long delay Of
twenty minutes al the post while the hand.
book man and the two confederates fd-
Reted about until they were in anything
but happy mood
soon Operat or No. yelled over the phone
the number corresponding to those in the
code that Harry New. the winner at to 4.
wa, supposed 10 carry. Operator No. "
rushed into the saloon and displayed in
the palm of his hand Sis Operator No,
got up leisurely and tried 10 bet $50 or
Harry New az 20 1. The delay Of fifteen
minutes at the post had made the hand
book man suspicious that all was not right.
He refused the bet and got the hotel de-
tcctive to wat cl the fellows. The sieutl,
did his work so well tlat he got onto the
game in no time. or course. he could not
arrest anybody. as the handbook man made
the complaint but be chased operate orr
No. ? and No. 3 out Of the big Broadway
saloon. while the word was pa -,ed along
thai the trick must bo beaten of at once.
There was n -;nall-sizcd panic among the
handbook men. ard now they ill not take
a bet from anybody after the hor'.e~ have
reached the post, i il needless 10 sar
that he telephone pole outside of -" track
l. N0 longer occupied.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-09
Vie Was . Bright BOY.
From IL. V,pa5s ,ciri'ar

rom tf'' sIf w 30 NfiFftuI
Il be lirvc hail hav We IN" brightest Office boy
in tho Cjtv. " declared - gentleman 10 friend
~ certain acll-kuoWn 'af" IN tho city thM
norniI-
That i rather broad assertion 70
piled B." Friend What particular claim -
brig tners has your bow"
We'll. ! hay" had lots oi troub" with nav
ofl,oc bows oi late, and they have been -
De 'iisdly unsatisfactory AND worthless that
! have had AZ least fifteen ia the past thlTi 50
dUN-. ] have kept q sicn out On nv door
stating that I wa, - need Of Il bri ght BOYS
services Tor tn" cit tr" time. almost. and T.
reads a. follow: Boy Wanted About SIN
teen Years lh- boy haNsnow WIS secure
IN RESPONSE 10 the sian, and II Was - answ'r
more tnan ht' appearance" that secured i'm
TIE nLI,"
How was that2" uuori'd Ia" friend. WITH
some interest
"ihr TO, ,louch.d into TO oficc and -g Il
he had read ~" sirn DO Won want the
place" I asked lim 'Gur-s | do leo ie-
rli"d, but don't know thaj | would want -
Tor tho fun sixteen Nrars | emploNed Tim
on the spot Wien realized that had omit. 4
H." comma from III" -icn.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-09
VHITEEIFIDS PULPIT.
A Relic OF the Famous Preacher Now
Preserved I'm This city.

Visitors at the rooms of the American
Tract Society in Nassau street lately have
been confronted Ivy queer sort Of wooden
cage on stilt-liko legs. Those who looked
twice saw tackled on it this sign: