davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1902-12-23
CHRISTMAS SEASON IN
FOREIGN COUNTRIES
How Customs Are Observed
in European Cities.

While in New York there has been
discussion as to whether the shops
should be open during the evenings OF
the last few days before Christmas 90
accommodate the people who are unable
10 purchase their gifts during the day
time. Vienna gives a whole Sunday for
this purpose. The Sunday before Christ
mas is called Golden Sunday" the
shops are all open and shopkeepers look
anxiousIy forward to the day and watch
the weather with anxiety, for II every
thing is propitious many dollars change
hands
The English custom Of decorating with
holly and mistletoe at Yuletide has been
adopted in Austria. but It has not dis
placed the German custom OF the Christ
mas tree. Enormous numbers OF these
are sold. the large trees finding their
way into the homes Of the rich. the
middle class people having smaller trees
aud the very poor man planting a twig
OF evergreen in an apple for his little
ones.
Christmas trees are placed upon tables
OF different heights. That for the EN-
peror is the highest, the Empress tabl,
is next in size. and the smallest is FOR
the baby Of the family. Carp is served
for the imperial dinner. a traditional
dish for the Christmas feast throughout
Germany.
A pleasant custom OF the Emperor is
TO make a tour Of the palace, presenting
TO the sentries and people he may chance
TO meet brand new gold and silver pieces.
In Paris crow Is Of both rich and poor
throng to the churches to hear the mid
night masses the night before Christmas
and following this comes the Reveillon
kept by some at their homes. by others
I'm famous places along the bOulevards.
This celebration has formed the subjects
of some of the most interesting stories
By prominent French writer's.
In Rome there is high festiy.ty
throughout Christmas Day. and the
streets are filled with the scent of flow
ers. The Piazza di Spagna is filled with
them. The churches are crowded
throughout the day. The exposition OF
the famous wooden doll. said to have
been carved by ST. Luke. takes place at
the Church Of Ara Coeli.
In Denmark the members of the royal
family with the lords and ladies in wait
ing meet IN a great hall where IS a large
Christmas tree filled with gifts, the
ladies' OF the royal household making
many Of these themselves.
The Washington times., 1902-12-23
WAR DEPARTMENT.

All of the appointments now being
made to the War Department are con-
fined to the Bureau OF Insulsr Affairs.
OF which Col Clarence r. Edwards, L..
s. A.. is the chief These appointments
have recently been made, Miss James
Fair. Of Maine. clerk at $3.50; Mrs. Sarah
l.. Beckwith. of Georgia. clerk at $500.
Several promotions have been made
recently among the clerical force OF the
War Department as follows: Office Of the
Surgeon General: Silas Bergman, Of
Tennessee. from $1,000 TO 81. 400: Miss
Lottie L. Bolts. Of Virginia. from 81 O0C
to $1,000; Miss Frances J. Leary. Of the
District Of Columbia. from stenographer
at $500. 10 clerk at $1,000; Graham L.
Gordon. OF the District Of Columbia.
from $40 to $500; Mrs. Elizabeth p. Her
ring, Of Pennsylvania from $500 to SS40.
Office Of the Chief Of Ordnance: George
G. Chase OF Kansas. from 5000 TO $1,000:
Mrs. Francis C. Peck, Of Illinois, from
$3.50 70 $500. Thomas NJ. Baker. OF
Georgia. a clerk in the Office OF the Ad-
jutant General at $3.50 a year. and Miss
Blanche Holbrock. Of New Jersey. a
clerk in the Bureau OF Insular Affairs at
1920 have resigned.
The Washington times., 1902-12-23
FOREFATHERS' DAY
FITTINGLY CELEBRATED
Local Congregationalists
Pass Pleasant Evening.

"Forefathors' Day" was ittingly cele-
brated by local Congregationallsts al
the First Congregational Church last
night. the anniversary Of the organiza-
tlon OF the Puritan body which later de-
yeloped into the present church.
The speakers we're The Rev. John l.
Ewell. OF Howard University. the Rev.
Church: Justice H. D. Brown. Of the
Supreme Court Of the United States. and
Commissioner Harry Litchneid West. At
o'clock a reception was held in the
church parlOrs. The receiving party was
composed Of Mrs. c. a. Merriheld, Mr..
and Mrs. A. :. Caywood. Mr. and Mrs.
George Redway. and A. 3. Chatheld.
In the hall over the church parlors a
supper was served at o'clock. The
tables we're prettily decorated. and were
laden with one OF those good old-fash-
ioned dinners which made our fore
fathers famous as good livers Or. EwelI
presided al the dinner and acted as
toastmaster. In assuming his place at
the head OF the tahier DR.. Eweu spske
briefly on "The Statesmanshlp OF Our
Pilgrim Fathers"
He introduced Commissioner II. l..
West. who spoke OF Washington as the
proper center for the country's religion
and art. as well as the country's polid-
cal center. He solicited the clubs as
sistance in making the nation Capital
a representative city.
Or. McKim referred 10 the colony Of
Virginia and It's influence in making the
Republic. He told Of The hardships en-
dured by the early settlers and Indicated
the great influence exercised by the col
ony on the Southern States.
The Garrish Quartet sang two SONGS
and the entire congregation sang a hymn
az the close of the banquet.
Following are the officers Of the club.
President. Rev John l.. Ewell. vice pres
idents. Prof j. W. Chickering Gen. FL
lis Spear. and Prof. George J. Cummings
secretary. G. A. l. Ncrriheld. treas
urer. Alfred Wood, executive committee.
Messrs. A. l. sturtevant A. B Chatneld
and J. F. Johnson: outlook committee.
Rev B. " Pond. Rev II. =. Higley.
william l. Marsh: nominating commit
tee. Messrs. william Lamborn. and NJ
W Baldwin. reception committee. Mr.
and Mrs. A S. CaywOOd; A b. Chat
field. Mr. and Mrs. George Redway. and
Mrs. g. A. Merriheld.
The Washington times., 1902-12-23
BROKE OFF WRITING TO
FALL TWELVE STORIES
Told Mother ia Letter That He Felt
Dizzy Fen Having Hit Head.
Body Terribly Mangled-

CHICAGO. Dec. 23.-whue writing a
letter OF Christmas greeting to his
moiher. Harrison s. Potter. a cripple.
from St. Joseph. Mich, dropped pen and
paper in his room at the Great Northern
Hotel yesterday afternoon in order to
take breath Of fresh air. and slipped.
and fell twelve stories to the stone pave
ment below. narrowly missing a woman
passing at the time. His body was
frightfully maugled.
Strangely enough. the young man in
the last few lines Of the letter said he
had met with an accident The last lines
traced on the paper were these.
y just hit my head such a smash Cd
the door VIII have TO lay on writing q
minute or so. II makes me dizzy 20 look.
A bit Of fresh air will'-
Here the note ended.
The Washington times., 1902-12-23
NAVY DEPARTMENT.

Fred T. Fishback. private secretary 70
the Secretary Of the Navy, Is said to re
well qualifou for the duties Of his po ii T.
tion. Mr.. Fishback has long been iden-
titled with prominent men in public life
and was employed at the Capitol for
many years before going 10 the Navy
Department with Secretary Moody
Prior TO Mr Moody being appointed
Secretary Of the Navy Mr.. Fishback was
his private secretary at the Capitol
The Washington times., 1902-12-23
PUBLIC WORK AUTHORIZED.

The District Commissioners have au-
thorized the following toms OF public
work through the Engineer Department:
That 375 feet OF 6-inch water main be
laid in the south side of Cincinnati
Street. between Columbia Road and
Nineteenth Street. and 292 feet Of s.
inch water main be laid in the north side
Of Cincinnati Street. between Nineteenth
Street and Adams Mil Road. at an esti-
mated cost Of 1867.
That catch basins be constructed on
the northeast and southeast corners Of
Twelfth and Austin Streets. Brookland.
D. c., at an estimated cost OF $40.
The Washington times., 1902-12-23
TIRED OF LAW Slit

BUTTE, Mont. Dec. 23.-For reasons
that cannot be ascertained neither the
Amalgamated nor the Heinze people de-
sire % try any more Of the big MINING
suits. Judge Clangy a few davs AGO
wanted 10 get number Of them for hear
ing. and the attorneys on both sides oh
iected, and asked that the cases De passed
indefinitely.
The Washington times., 1902-12-23
FORMER SOLDIER
COMMITTED SUICIDE

PLATTSBURC, y. Y. Dec %
Michael Halpin. former member Of the
Eleventh Infantry. L. S. A.. and lately
clerk at the Delaware Hotel in this city.
committed suicide Sunday by holding a
double-barreled shotgun under his chin
and touching the trigger with his foot
Death was instantaneous.
He leaves a widow AID two children
Dependency due 70 IN health. domestic
difficulties, and drink was the cause Of
bis rash act.
The Washington times., 1902-12-23

A smoker viii be held by the Geologi-
cal Society Of Washington in honor OF
the follows Of the GeogolicaI Society Of
America at the New Willard December
80.
DR.. Hayes, OF the survey, IS chairman
OF the entertainment committee. and he
society. is making arrangements for the
smoker
The Washington times., 1902-12-23

Chief Wrkie, Of the Secret Service
Division, gives credit to the keen dis
cernment OF American bank tellcrs for
the discovery OF the counterfeit Bank
OF England notes nOated by Bernstein
and the Barmash brothers. The first
notes presented in this country were
held on suspicion by Mr.. Roth Of the
State Bank in New York. Bernstein,
who committed suicide after he was
sentenced last Saturday to twenty years
e3S. 900 OF such notes In England. and
the first warning the Bank OF England
received was from the Secret Service
Office in this country.
The Washington times., 1902-12-23
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

don to Thomas z. MarteIl. who was con-
victed Of stealing letters from the mail
while employed as messenger In New
York He was sentenced to two and
one-half years imprisonment. and had
served eighteen months OF his sentence.
He was pardoned on account Of I'll health.
The Washington times., 1902-12-23

J. Elfreth Watkins. superintendent.
has had many changes made in the
Museum OF late. A modern telephone
system has been adopted. new plate
glass and mahogany cases have been
installed in Reptile Hall, and many
other Improvements have taken place.
The whole electric lighting plant was
given a test last evening and Il was
found to be In perfect order
The Washington times., 1902-12-23
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

Dr. Whitman Cross has returned to
this city from the Hawaiian Islands. He
has been on the islands for FIVE months
studying their volcanoes. with reference
particularly TO his former study OF vol
canoes in Colorado. and with an eye to
future work in the islands
The Washington times., 1902-12-23

Rifles Armory, where four tons and a
half Of provisions will have been deliv-
cred. All the members OF the Temple
have been urged 10 assist in the work,
as # will require many hours 20 place
in each basket a sack Of -four, a pound
and a half OF coffee. two pounds OF su-
gar. two pounds OF beans, a large can Of
pork and beans with tomato sauce a
peek Of potatoes and turnips. two pounds
Of rice. a loaf Of bread. and a ten-pound
ham.
The candy tree will occupy the atten-
tion Of the Mobiles" Christmas after
noon from 1 TO o'clock, when Ma
tional Rifles Armory will be Transformed
into a temporary paradise for the chill
dren. Provision has been made for all,
and 1t is the desire Of the COMMITTEES
that every child in Washington that is
not otherwise provided for shall be pres
ent to partake Of the good things. Each
child viii receive a pair II stockings, a
box OF candy. and bag Of nuts. Major
Sylvester has detailed a squad OF his
best policemen not only to keep order
but to sec that children who have re-
ccived their remembrance do not return
to the line and duplicate their gift.
A Real Santa Claus.
The committee in charge Of this work
is composed Of Charles Jacobsen. chair
man Charles E. Wood, Eugene Cochran.
Emil G. Schafer. John D. Frazee. and
G. Hector Clemes. NJ. Clemes will on
this occasion lose his identity under the
burden Of his heavy pack and will as
sumo the role OF Santa Claus. Last
year he At so perfectly into St. Nicholas
boots that the children were sure that
he was the old gentleman himself.
Al enjoyable feature or the candy dis
tribution viii be the music which
noble" william A. Haley has promised
to furnish. There will be twenty-five
Of Haley's Band in attendance to add
20 the enchantmen1 Of the scene.
The entire work has been under the
Immediate care Of Frank x. Raymond.
the retiring potentate Of Almas Temple.
who has had the assistance OF his family.
as well as OF the mobiles OF the Temple.
IN making sure OF the success OF the
enterprise.
The Salvation Army.
In addition to the preparations OF
Almas Temple. the Salvation Army has
had its pots boiling for many days past,
and It is believed that by Thursday
morning Il viii have prepared a dinner
that will make the mouths OF It's guests
water The work OF this organization
Is on a national scale. but nowhere is
deeper interest taken in providing for
the poor than in the National Capital
Secretary Charles F. Weller and his
corps Of assistants In the Associated
Charities have been busy providing lists
OF names OF those in need for the various
organizations that are to send out
baskets or to invite the multitude 20 ST.
down to dinners that are provided for
them,
The Washington times., 1902-12-23
MRS. TALLEY GRANTED DIVORCE

Alice NJ. Talley has been granted q
divorce from William g. Talley. jr. The
decree. which is signed by Justice HaR-
ner, states that the legal separation is
granted because Of the desertion OF Mrs.
Talley by her husband.
The Washington times., 1902-12-23
A JOYOUS CHRISTMAS
AWAITS THE CITYS POOR
Mystic ShrinerS and Salvation Army Will Provide
Good Cheer-ASSociated Charities Work

Perhaps never before The history Of
the nations Capital have preparationa
for bringing good cheer to the homes OF
the poor been on such al. extensive and
buslnessIike scale.
Among the churches. at the missions
at the barracks OF the Salvation Army
and in the homes OF the more fortunate
members of the city's population. prep
arations have been in progress for the
past fortnight There viii be turkeys
hams. and provisions Of all kinds by the
basketIoad FOR those in need. and candy
and nuts, and stockings by the wagon
load for the children Of those who them
selves are unable 90 provide these re-
miuders OF the Yuletide Through the
energy Of the citizens relief committee.
tons Of coal TO warm the cold hearth5
will be provided.
The Shriners' Work.
OF all the extensive preparations that
have been under way. none have exceed
ed in magnitude the work OF Almas Tenn
pie. Ancient Arabic Order OF the Mystic
Shrine with its LOO members. repre-
sentative Of the largest business inter-
ests Of the city. IL has undertaken the
work Of feeding the hungry and provid-
/ ing for the children in a way thar has
never before been attempted here. The
most difficult portion Of its task has al
ready been completed.
Ten days ago Chairman Thomas B.
/ H. .or,~,ftAr, .rt-f-f
button OF baskets. assisted by vice
/ Chairman Charles W Brown. and a
/ corps Of the MOBILES" Of the Temple, be-
gan the clerical work that with almost
continuous work has Just been com
pleted.
/ Cards had previously been sent to all
OF tie mobiles Of the Temple with the re-
quest that they supply the names Of any
persons whom they personally knew to
be in distress OF to whom a basket could
be properly sent. AS these cards were
sent in they we're indexed under the
card system. while the names and ad-
dresses were also written upon shipping
tags to be attached to the baskets Last
night this work was completed and all Of
the duplicates we're thrown out There
we're nearly 200 of them. In several
instances the same names we're sent in
by half dozen Mobiles" each without
the knowledge OF the other
Fifteen Hundred Names.
The completed list represents some
thing over 1.50O persons, TO each ci
whom a big basket containing sixty
pounds OF provisions will be sent Christ
mas morning. Nearly a hundred wagons
with drivers have been loaned by the
business men Of the city for the pur-
| pose Of delivering this good cheer. The
cards will be divided up according to
routes this evening. In this work the
committee will have the assistance OF
William J. scheyer. an experienced d.
rectory man.
Tomorrow afternoon the work Of load
ing the baskets will begin at National
The Washington times., 1902-12-23
NATIONAL MUSEUM.

W de c. Ravenel. Administrative
assistant. returned to his desk yester-
day after a ten days visit in Charles
ton. S. c. W. Fl. Kimball acted in Mr..
Ravenel's place during that oficiai's alb
sence.
The Washington times., 1902-12-23
WRIT OF ERROR DISMISSED.

The United States Supreme Court yes
terday dismissed the writ OF error in the
case Of Whitney Layton vs.. the State Of
Missouri on the ground that no Federal
point had been raised In the trial court.
The Washington times., 1902-12-23
TREASURY DEPARTMENT.

Secretary shaw has returned to this
city from Chicago. where he attended the
Bankers Club banquet He was ac-
companied by his private secretary. Mr..
Armstrong.
The Washington times., 1902-12-23
STATE DEPARTMENT.

1t is not generally known that the
embassies. legations. and consulates Of
the United States are furnished with
arms and ammunition by the State De-
partment. Each member OF the post Is
supplied with a rife and a revolver rad
a hundred rounds Of ammunition for
each The rifle now in use is the Krag-
Jorgensen. and the revolver is Of cor
responding caliber
The Washington times., 1902-12-23

Ellis II. Roberts, Treasurer OF the
United States. reports the following
large transactions by the department;
Six hundred thousand dollars were sent
20 New Orleans on the deposit OF the
same amount by a New York firm in
the Treasury. A sum amounting to
S595, 900 was sent to san Francisco. This
money is for the Philippines. and was
sent on account Of the War Department.
The Washington times., 1902-12-23

S. A. Moreland. Of the classification
division. has been promoted from a sal-
airy of 81 600 to 81 500 a year
The Washington times., 1902-12-23
WORK AM WORKERS OF
GOVERNMENT OFFICES
Appointments Made in Division of nuar Affairs War DepmenUnted
States Embassies Provided With and Ammunition
Use in EmergenCesBuIetn on Fruit Growing
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

C1A 1A 4 MIN VI AGAAOOL - OANL.
II. p. Gould, assistant pomologist IN
the Bureau Of Plant Industry. says in
a bulletin on Practical Suggestions for
Fruit Growers" The character OF the
soil influences in a decided way the
character and quantity OF the product.
This fact should be kept prominently In
mind in locating fruit plantations, and
soil selected that Is suitable for the
fruit which is to be grown. OF course
by properly handling the soil and using
great care and good judgment I'm select
ing varieties. a wide range Of soils for
any given fruit may prove satisfactory,
but a natural adoption is desirable"
Mr.. Gould farther on speaks Of the
transportation fa-ilities Of getting the
products TO market He says due con-
siderauon should he given in CONNER
c!al fruit growing"
The Washington times., 1902-12-23

A report OF the condition Of national
banks in the United States, upon which
Mr.. Catch and his division have been
at work for the past three weeks, has
been published. It shows the resources
OF the 1906 banks TO be Sc .1O4. .O91. .916. .46.
The number OF banks organized in the
United States is 6,47i; those in liquida-
tion. 1.flS; those insolvent. 3S7; and
there are in operation 1866 The alb
stract covers the reports OF the FIVE
national bank calls issued during the
year about to end.
The Washington times., 1902-12-23

A. E. Wilson. OF the stamp division
has been promoted from $1,000 to 81, ,lOC
a year.
The Washington times., 1902-12-23

First Assistant Engineer McAllister.
OF the Revenue Cutter Service. is in
Pittsburg examining some steel there
that is to be used for new cutter.
The Washington times., 1902-12-23
PosToFFIcE DEPARTMENT.

John J. Howley. private secretary OF
the First Assistant Postmaster General,
has been away from office for sew
eral days on account Of illness.
The Washington times., 1902-12-23

James A. Dumont, supervising inspec-
tor general OF the steamboat inspection
service, went 90 New York last night to
arrange some changes in the Office there.
The Washington times., 1902-12-23

A dock trial was made Of the new
revenue cutter Mohawk at Richmond to-
day
The Washington times., 1902-12-23

This rule applies equally TO the en-
bassy in London and the legation at Car
acas Each has its arsenal and each is
equally prepared 10 stand OF a mob.
The Washington times., 1902-12-23

E. S. Arnold, Of the stamp division,
has been promoted to a salary Of 81 500
from 81 400.
The Washington times., 1902-12-23

Secretary Wilson yesterday raised the
quarantine law OF Connecticut, which
has been in force for the past month
owing to the foot-and- mouth disease.
The Secretary viii not leave town for
the Christmas holidays. but will remain
in Washington
The Washington times., 1902-12-23

George II. Harris. OF the Bureau Of En-
tomology. has returned from Texas.
where he has been erstged during the
past summer experimenting upon the
cottonball weevil. This insect has
caused an estimated damage Of from
$4,000. 900 to 500. 600. 900 on the cotton
crop in the South. They are spreading.
It is said, around Red River Valley and
IT Is thought that they viii make their
way into Louisiana and Mississippi
The Washington times., 1902-12-23

W. E Kinds and ". d. Hunter. OF
the Bureau Of Entomology, are expected
in Washington this week.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-02-01
Entertained by Mrs. Meares

A most pleasant entertainment was
given by Mrs ]. f. Meares Thursday af-
ternCon at her fathers residence on
HillsEoro street. Dainty refreshments
we're served and the afternoon was hap
PLY spent in a card party. The prize, a
beautiful silver fan chain, was won by
Miss Sadie Root, and the consolation by
Mrs. II. c. Robinson
The guests were Mesdames Charles
Root. Brown Shepherd, Alex. Webb, II
A. Royster, 5. f. Telfair, II. c. Robin
son, Julian Undertake, Cameron Mac
Rae, and s. A. Ashe, Jr., and Misses Su-
san Marshall Mary Turner. Elizabeth
Hinsdale, Theodore Marshall, Florence
Jones, Frances Jones, Mary Armistead
Jones, Mary Seaton Hay, Frances Hoke,
Kate Skinner. Mamie Skinner, Minnie
Fitch Tucker, Rosa Battle, Sallie Dortch
Mary Shipp, Bessie Trapier, Lille Hicks,
Nivienne Strong, Helen Primrose, Lucy
West, Sadie Root. Annie Root, Alice
Hammond and Katharine Nelson. OF Kan
sas CITY Mo.