davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1903-11-07
A ReverSi-
BILE Motto

Very few good speeches are really
impromptu,' said a young New Or
leans lawyer, who had a reputation as
a clever of-hand talker, but it is
generally easy to produce that effect
by simply leading OFF with some local
allusion. OF course that's a trick, but
it is trick employed by good many
eminent orators. / was broken of 1t
myself by a rather peculiar incident
One day some years ago happened to
be in town where a large CONNER
cial college is located, and was invited
by the president to, make a few re-
marks to the boys during the noon
recess. 1 mentally framed little talk
on energy, and, as 1 was going in the
main hall noticed the word Push in
big letters on the outside of the door.
BY Jove,' said to myself, that's the
very thing I need for localizing my
opening sentence So, when 1 reached
the platform, 1 launched out some
thing like this: My young friends, as
approached the entrance to this
room a moment ago. I observed a
word on the panel of the door that
impressed me as being an appropriate
emblem for an institution of this emf
nently practical character. 1t ex-
pressed the one thing most useful to
the average man when he steps into
the arena of every day life. 1t was
-Pull!' yelled a dozen of the boys on
the back seats There was a roar of
laughter. and I was so thoroughly dis
concerted that 1 was unable to take
up the thread of my remarks. That
COMPOUNDED door had Push on one
side and Pull on the other. 1 had
taken my text from the outside--Lit-
tie Chronicle.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1903-11-07
School Children
in Germany

In Germany the law requires that
every child attend school from the
age of six up to fourteen Parents
are compelled to pay a fine in court
if their children are absent from
school without good cause. and the
child must make up the time by
just as many extra days at the end
of his course as he has been absent,
says an exchange. Children are
called by their last names from the
very first of their school days Their
teachers are men almost without ex-
ception. The hours for attendance
in the winter are from eight to twelve
in the morning, and from two to four
in the afternoon; and in the warmer
months from seven to eleven and
from two to four. These hours
are shortened for the younger chill
dren. On Wednesday and Saturday
afternoons the schools are closed.
What seems strange to us is that
all studying is done out of school. A
class not having recitation, there
fore, is sent home, and so it happens
that few children are all of the six
hours a day in school, as the above
hours would seem to indicate. The
very little ones, for instance, may be
in school from eight to nine, from
eleven to twelve, and from two to
three, the intervening time being
spent at home in play or study. In
consequence of this out-of-school
study, all books, pencils and station
cry are taken home at the close of
the morning and afternoon sessions.
This has given rise to the use of
knapsacks by both girls and boys.
These knapsacks are made of leather,
either dressed or with the hair on.
If boy intends to carry his educa-
ton beyond that afforded by the gram
mar school, he is expected to enter
the high school at the age of nine
or ten years, where his lower school
studies are continued and languages
are commenced in a simple way.
Girls in like manner go to a higher
school. The studies pursued in
German schools are much the same
as in our own.
If were asked what is the favorite
L should answer taking long walks
into the country. The love of nature
seems to be born with most of them.
Besides, they are sturdy young folks,
and are. perfectly willing to put up
with inconvenience. For these rea-
sons they are just the people to en-
joy walking in the country, and the
pracuce begun in childhood is kept
up during life. When the children
go on these long walks, they often
carry what we should call a botan-
ical box Chat is, tin box about a
foot and a half long. with rounded
edges, and a lid on hinges), slung
over the shoulder by a strap.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1903-11-07
Roses for Indoor
Bic Om.ng

From the Farmers Review: Every
lover of flowers who is the owner of
window garden would be glad to
include rose or two in her collection.
Though it is difficult with some va
rieties, many persons succeed in grow
ing really fine roses in living rooms.
The first thing to be done is to select
your plant. Let me advise you to
make it either Queens Scarlet, Agrip-
pima, Hermosa or Clothilde Soupert.
If you can grow any rose, you can
grow these, for they are better adapt
ed to house conditions than some of
the more popular varieties. To in
sure success, give careful attention
to several things: First to SOIL All
roses like stiff, heavy soil, one that
can be made firm about the roots.
In loose, spongy soils, roses will live
indefinitely, but they will not flourish.
If you want your rose for winter
Towering, be sure to get it as soon,
as possible. Put it in a five or six
inch pot, make the soil firm and water
moderately. Give it an airy, sunny
place out of doors during the sum-
mer. If it throws out branches with
buds, cut them back within a few
inches of the main stalk. In this
way you secure a few short branches
from wn,cn growth will start when
you are ready for it In the fall it
may not be necessary to repot the
plant. but. it should be given a liberal
amount of fertilizer as soon as it be-
gins to grow; spoonful of fine bone
meal to each plant will generally be
sufficient This can be repeated at
intervals il the plant shows any in
dications Of tagging. To have good
roses it is very important to feed the
plants well.
If great care is not taken. insects
will injure the plants. Red spider
may be kept in check by spraying
daily Aphis may be controlled by
the use of ivory soap infusion once
week Dip the plants in it. If
convenient Thu Is better than spray
ing. Scale will Gave to be scrubbed
OF, but this pest is not very common
on homegrown roses. If the plants
mildew, dust them with flour of sui
phur. You will see that she who has
roses richly earns her success. but
she will be willing worker" if
she really loves them.-Eben E. Rex
ford
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1903-11-07

ahead on the trestle above there came
a shower of fiery nodules. The ash
box was OPEN In the glow of the
falling particles Hannigan saw a gray
object floating on the tide before him.
He picked it up and placed it rever-
entity in the upper pocket of his coat.
Portland Transcript
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1903-11-07

You who are not tempted rejoice not
that you are clothed in virtue; the out
come of the untried is in the nature of
things an unknown quantity
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1903-11-07

into the habit of not cooking any.
never did. l always keep my table set
just the saEe as l did when Benjamin
perfect health to three good meals
day"
Mary Ann sighed gently. you look
WELL" she answered. "a great deal
younger than 1 do, and we're about the
same age. But I've had harder time
than you, my dear I've always had
to work for what I've had
Her eyes roamed over the comfort
able room with it's wide lounge. its
white dimity curtains, its bright car
pet and easy chairs.
yes" said Mrs Priscilla, smooth
ing her white apron complacently,
benjamin was always a good pro-
wider and left me enough to keep me
comfortable. l wish you had some one
to look after you, Mary Ann"
Mary Ann shook her head. Its
too late to wish that now" she an
swered quietly. I'm not getting any
younger, and 1 never had your good
looks, Priscilla As long as 1 can work
can manage some way. When /
CAN'T
She got up YEARLY. 81 guess I'll be
getting along" she said
Hadn't you better rest awhile long
err" suggested Mrs Priscilla kindly,
but Mary Ann declined gently.
As she went down the narrow walk
in her dusty dress, her tired shoulders
dropped more than usual
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1903-12-25

In the middle Of the Forest of Dean.
England, there stands q building call
ed the Speech House, around which
grows a number of old holly trees.
They were looked upon by the folk
OF the locality with SO much venera-
tor that, so recently as 1880, boughs
were cut from them and used to take
the place Of the Testament in swear
ing In witnesses in the adjoining
court. 1t is said that the ancient Brit
n held the tree as sacred, and plant
ed it round their villages in Cornwall.
When holly came to be coupled with
Christmas other notions prevailed. In
~Rutlandshire it was thought unlucky
to bring 1t into the house before
Christmas. In the Western shires the
branches were taken home from the
churches which they had adorned and
kept for luck during the following
year. School boys used to make bird
lime by chewing the bark. Because
the leaves OF its lower branches are
more spiny than those Of the upper,
the tree escapes damage from cattle,
which cause harm 10 most trees. Deer,
however, attack little Folks.
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1903-12-25

greeting TO all my readers, Il lnFlJe
their attention to the wondrOus story
OF the incarnation and it's accompany
ing events.
Not until the sixth century did the
church undertake to set forth author
itatiyely the year in which Jesus was
born in Bethlehem" Then the work
was undertaken by Dionysius Exiguus.
Exiguus means little" but Dionysius
was little only in stature. In mental.
ity he was a giant. He was a Scythlan
by birth, one Of a race classed by IT.
self in st. Paul's Technology: Greek,
Jew, Barbarian, S~cythian, bond, free
(Col. iii:11). 1t may be interesting to
note that the cid name for the irish,
Scuit. SCOTS, Scot. is derived from
Scythia. between which and Ireland
there was regular communication
early in A. D. No doubt the irish
would be quite willing to claim such
& noted scholar as a kinSman. lie
would be a fit cOmpatriOt with the
celebrated Duns Scotus (from whom,
by the way, Ounce" is derived on
the law of contrarieties), the most
learned man of his day, and a true
born freshman. Dionysius, who was a
monk, was an expert mathematician
and versed in astronomical knowledge.
The data on which he based his cal
culations led him to fix on the year Of
Rome 754 as that in which Christ was
born. This year, 754, he counted as
A. D. /, the first year OF the Chris
tan era. This reckoning came grad
ually to be accepted and Is still re-
tanned in use.
"The Star in the East" or. as it 10
hem, that guided the Wise Men, or
Magi, to Jerusalem, afforded another
hem, that guided the wise men, or
basis for calculation. The celebrated
astronomer, kepler, who tiourished in
the end of the sixteenth and beginning
of the seventh century, found there
was a conjunction of the three planets,
Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. in the sign
Pisces, which Is the sign Of Judea, in
A. u. C. 748. This conjunction he as
sumed to be the Star Of Bethlehem,
and accordingly fixed the year OF
Christ's birth at the date Of the con-
junction. Other calculations on the
same basis followed by such astron-
omers as Ideler, Wieseler, Pritchard,
etc. Wieseler arrived at the date $50
A. u. c.. or B.. c. 4.
But If there are slight differences
and consequent doubt in the exact
year in which the Savior of mankind
was horn, there appears to be no
doubt as to the day of the month on
which the miraculous event occurred,
viz, Dec. 25.
That the day was observed from
the very first is beyond question
not universally observed, however.
But the exceptions do not in the least
inyalidate the date Of Dec. rs. 1t Is
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1903-12-25
wrists Birthplace.

.ns 10 an article by Paul
IN The Open Court, Chicago, the
spuai gospels tell a somewhat
story of Christ's birth from
ouicai books. According to the
onrlst was born In a cave and
~ aasierred to a stable, where
ano ass worshiped him, while,
Na, us 70 the canonical gospels,
i'y takes place in a stable.
~ apocfyphal legends proved so
II, wa. IN spite of the canonical
" the story, a cave near Beth
nam. ahe to be finally regarded as
rsh the Nativity, and a
pmor "as erected on the spot to
~, d'e the event and still
. lasting monument of this
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1903-12-25
Christmas in the South.

lreWorks are being shipped into all
8 OF the South for the Christmas
New Year holiday celebrations,
Inc New York Tribune. Large
slgnments have been going out
Gay during the past three or
weeks, and these shipments will
1nue until after Christmas. 1t
estimated by two prominent local
lerS last week that not less than
!VVpW worth of Roman candles,
Aets, %pinwheels, crackers, torpe-
ana colored fire powder will be
Oh south of the Mason and Dixon's
aurlng the last week of the dying
!. IN the South the Christmas
eOratlon takes the place of the In
enuence day celebration, there bo-
nlte demonstration there on the
Fl'n Oh July. This has been true
many years, both of the cities and
Jury districts, but since the Span
american war the people of the
u nave entered more heartily into
uolsy observance of the Fourth.
"ea lolks will spend their last
y TOT firecrackers and rockets.
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1903-12-25

In Silesia there is a superstition
that a boy born on Christmas day
must be brought up a lawyer or he
will become a thief.
Christmas mince pies IN the seven
teenth and eighteenth centuries were
made with crust so shaped as to rep
resent the manger.
In the fourth century the celebration
Of Christmas was fixed by the Latin
church for December 25th. Before
that time it had been q movable festi-
val like Easter.
In France It Is a common practice to
celebrate Christmas by giving an ex-
ira ration to domestic animals, on the
theory that all creatures should unite
in rejoicing at this season.
Mince pies are first mentioned In
1896 as in common use at Christmas
time. Culinary authorities declared
that they might ne eaten as early As
December IA. They were made of
mutton. mixed with ~raisins, cloves, all.
spice. nuts, and other ingredients.
The children at Bethlehem are still
told by their mothers that on Christ
mas eve a choir OF angels always sing
above the place where Christ was
born. Travellers say that on this even.
ing scores, and sometimes hundreds
OF children may be seen In the open
air, looking up into the sky. waiting
to hear the angels sing.
In Sweden there is a superstition
that the men OF the extreme northern
regions become wolves during Christ
mas week.
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1903-12-25

Thousands this Christmastide will
be Slad to read something about Him
so humble as to be born of a lowly
maiden, and yet so mighty as to be the
pivot on whom the universe resolves,
and the Lord Of All. Graded in a
nanger and wrapped in swaddling
slothes, He was yet ~worshiped by
sages and adored by angels. Sleeping
in the crevice Of the limestone rock.
He was yet bathed with the light Of
hea zen through the cleft in the mid
night sky. Emptying Himself of in
effable glory. He yelled His Deity in
flesh that He might make poor human
ity to be partaker Of His Divine Image.
In His Name send cordial Christmas
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1903-12-25

ChrisG to the Gentiles in the person
of the hagi, or Wise Men, through the
interposition Of a star. The fact that
there was a h~esitancy on the part Of
some in accepting Dec. 25, and a con-
final adherence of the whole Eastern
church, show conclusively that the
date was not blindly accepted. The
intelligent adherence of the whole
church proves that the observance
was based upon reliable data, sufi-
cieDt to satisfy the inquiry Of indie
pendent minds To sum up: The re-
ception of Dec. 25 from the very first
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1903-12-25

true that the local churches Of Pales-
tine, Egypt, Cyprus. Antioch, etc, OBJ,
served IN Jan. 6 a festival called TheO-
rhania God Manifest), a name equal
ly applicable to the Nativity and
Epiphany, as Gregory Nazicnzen point
ed out. This custom prevailed only
for a comparatively short time eve
in the countries mentioned. But these
exceptional celebrations in reality
strengthen the observance of the Ma
tivity on Dec. 25.
The Eastern church celebrated for
a time their Epiphania on Jan. 6. But
the Epiphania was not the Natalis.
The festival is still held on Jan. 6 as
the Epiphany, or Manifestation of
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1903-12-25
Celebration At Lima, Peru.

Probably the most gorgeous Christ
mas spectacle in the world takes
in Lima. Peru, where a wonderful pro-
cession several mlles long winds
through the streets, bearing figures
OF hundreds Of saints and the sacred
pictures of the cathedral. Many thou
sands OF soldiers in their bright uni
forms, Indian women, decked with
ribbons ard flowers, and asses heavily
laden with choice fruits and harness
ed with strings of golden bells all ap-
pear in lins. and IN stands passed
by the parade are representations OF
scenes from the Nativity. At night
the whole city makes merry with gui-
tars, castanets and weird native
dances, ard the celebration ends with
great public feasls where rich and
poor exchange greetings.
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1903-12-25
True Meaning of Christmas.

In all the mirthmaking and the hap
piness OF the coming holiday time we
should not get too far away from the
fact that Of all the celebrations Of the
year 1t Is the one that unquestionably
belongs in its higher meaning to the
humble and the poor.
And this shall be a sign unto You.
Ye shall find the babe wrapped in
swaddling clothes. lying in a manager.
And suddenly there was with the
angel a multitude Of the heavenly
host, praising God and saying:
GLORY to God In the highest, and on
earth peace, good will toward men"
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1903-12-25
S"r'stmas in Bohemia.

conr,ne' among all the Chris
., ,ales' makes Christmas a
u. orous fasting. Even child
bod ,sppected to deny themselves
,,.o om Sunrise to sunset. This
sorkm.a veritable collection day
uAr Of M OF every class, and the
Aaaey ~ mousse needs a pocketful
\ uuo, satisfy all the demands
ID pot.n uam by the artisans. must
pssseps eaa' bell-ringers, chin.
houss t%sOooiers. etc., who throng
| al., rom early dawn to wish
Nm christmas" and receive
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1903-12-25

90 Mary, maid, prepare"
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1903-12-25
Merry Christmas.

In the rush Of early morning.
When the red burns through the ray
the wintry world lies waiting
For the glory of the day,
Then we hear a fitful rustling
Just without upon the stair.
See two small white pEantoms coming.
Catch the CLEAN of sunny hair.
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1903-12-25

Eager faces peeping through,
with the first red ray of sunshine
Chanting cherubs come in view:
Mistletoe and cleaning holly.
Symbols Of. a blessed day,
In their chubby hands they carry.
Streaming all along the way.
Well we know them. never weary
OF this innocent surprise;
Waiting, watching, listening always
With full hearts n tender eyes,.
While our little household angels,
White and golden in the sun,
Greet us with the sweet old welcome
Merry Christmas, every one!"
@ AicOtt.
The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1903-12-25

Rows of little socks to FIJI?
Are they angels floating hither
With their message of goodwill?
What sweet spell are these elves weaving.
AS like larks they chirp and sing?
Are these palms of peace from heaven
That these lovely spirits bringr
The Washington times., 1903-06-14

driveways with the parking along the
river front
1t is Colonel Symons' plan that the
speedway shall be fifty feet wide, and
soft well-rolled roadway, which will
make it possible for horses to be driven
over it at full speed. without danger of
injury. The river bank is in such con-
diticn that but little work will be nee
essary to transform it into an ideal road
way.
Between the edge of the river and the
speedway Colonel Symons would have a
walk ten feet wide, row OF trees, and
parking space about ten feet wide Be
yond this parking he would construct the
speedway. Then he would have another
parking space twelve feet wide, and
beyond this a park roadway fifty feet
wide, from which the speeding of the
horses might be seen to advantage by
persons who do not care to indulge IL
fast driving. This roadway would also
be open to bicycles and automobiles
THE construction OF the speedway it
The Washington times., 1903-06-14

White House. The call of a bird to its
mate can be heard over the wide rayine.
and the electric bell is not needed here.
The trees form an arch above me
and the leaves fiutter in thu breeze until
in fancy they seem like fairies dancing
The leaves turn until the underpart
looks like sea green velvet touched by
a misty moonlight Here are stones that
are filed with sparkling bits of glory
from the cavern of Gods storehouse.
!. !. =
Everything in nature grows more
beautiful the nearer you approach.
while in mans work closer inspection
increases the defects. l remember when
I foated little boats on a stream when
a child and pushed them from some
sheltering eddy out again into the water.
/ am now in an EDDY and would stop
here longer on my journey-my life's
boat-but on and on are We pressed
into the river Of time. While here
am going to enjoy this. there is room
for us ali and a welcome in this June
world of mine
1 extend an invitation to you, the
hours are free and no special time
table, the banquet is here, the table
The Washington times., 1903-06-14

self would be inexpensive" said Col
onel Symons, but the parking. walk,
and roadway necessary to enable all
persons to enjoy the drive would add
greatly to the cost. The speedway might
could be added later. Nc speedway Is
complete without roadway adjoining
it from which persons in heavy convey
ances may watch the sport. In Buffalo
the number of persons who watch the
speeding from the parkway far exceeds
the number of drivers OF fast horses.
This is true of all speedways I know Of"
View of Proposed Potomac Park.
The proposed speedway would COM
mand a fine view of the proposed Po-
tomac Park, On the island between the
two divisions of the river. and could
easily be connected with the driveways
which viii doubtless be constructed on
TIE island in a few years. There is no
feature Of the speedway which would
conflict with the general plans for the
Identification of Washington In fact,
it would fit admirably into the general
scheme set forth by the Park Commits
SIGN
Col Theodore A. Bingham favored
the proposed speedway during his years
of service as officer in charge OF the
public buildings. and MS enthusiasm is
shared by Colonel Symons. his success
scr. who has assured local horse lovers
CT his desire to have Congress set aside
tho funds necessary to transform the
iver front into one of the most beauti-
ful drives in the world.
The Washington times., 1903-06-14

o. green and nature will furnish all
you can least rpan. There are flowers
and song and spicy odors, messy seats.
branches that hover near and give one
the feeling of a mothers protection
II only the day would last longer;
1 wish I could live here another life,
not mixed with memory of the sorrow
of The world
I am reused by a night bird and the
frogs; how strangely still the leaves
are; a little chirp now and then as
if some bird had perched too far out
on the limb, and tried to get nearer
the others, so much like the human
desiring companionship and finding
themselves far from the center OF
love.
Now the stars are out, the moon comes
up, and we are reminded that there is
a place for us. l have had day OK
gladness. I have been nearer the Over
Soul today, than yesterday and l am
going home thankful for q day in the
woods. 1 must have many more in this
spring time.
Who will come with me and remain
silent and give ear to the voice OF
Nature and OF God? NJ