davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1903-12-25
ABOUT SANTA CLAUS.
Charles A. Dana's Answer to A Child'S
Letter.

The New York Sun reprinted on
Christmas Day the following from
its files Of years ago:
We take pleasure in answering
at once, and thus prominently, the
communication below, expressing
at the same time our great gratif-
cation that its faithful author is
numbered among the friends of the
Sun:
Dear Editor: | am s years old.
Some of my little friends say there
IS no Santa Claus. Papa says, IF
you see it in the Sun it S So" Please
tell me the truth; is there a Santa
Claus? Virginia O'Hanlon.
us w. o5tn street.
Virginia, your little friends are
wrong They have been affected
by the scepticism of sceptical age.
They do not believe except they
sec. They think that nothing can
be watch is not comprehensive by
The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1903-12-25
Utah'S One LEGAL Execution.

In seven years, it is said, there
has been one instance of legal exc
cution i'll Utah, and that took place
last month, when a convicted mur-
dcrer was allowed to decide for him
self whether he should be hanged
or shot. He naturally preferred
shooting, and was speedily dis
patched. A strange feature OF his
trial was that testimony against
him was admitted which was sup
posed to be directed by revelation
from the heavens. Some parts of
Utah have evidently not shaken of
all their old traditions and Super
stitions.
The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1903-12-25
A FLAGMAN BEHEADED.
An Old White Mai at The Gervais Street
Station of the SeabOard Air Line In
Columbia.

Columbia, December all. D.
Batchmon, an old white man, a
flagman at the Gervais street cross
ing of the Seaboard Air Line Rail
road, was decapitated by being run
over by shifting cars tonight. An
engine was backing with two cars
and Batchmon was standing with
his back to it at the street car tracks.
For some reason he walked up the
middle of the railroad track towards
the opposite side Of the street. He
evidently did not know that cars
were backing on the track. A negro
ilagman was on the rear Of the last
car and seeing that Batchmon did
not leave he track, yelled al him
when within a few feet of him, but
it was too late. He was about 6s
years old and came from Lexington
County. He was tagging as a sub
stitute for the regular hagman.
The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1903-12-25
Turned Over to the Magistrate.

The case against Clarence Will
liams, Robert Long and Will Cole
man, the little negroes charged
with stealing money and goods
from Purcell & SCOTS store, has
been turned over to the magistrate
by the city authorities. The three
negroes have confessed. They say
that the three concealed themselves
in the store and when it had been
locked up they took IS out of the
money drawer and some spoons and
tobacco. The case was worked up
by Poli> eman Carter. 1t will be
remembered that the smallest negro,
Robert Long, vas seen trying to
sell the tobacco and spoons on the
street. He implicated Williams
and Williams implicated Coleman
and the three confessed.
The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1903-12-25
SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS,
Items Of More or Less Interest Condensed
In the State.

The report Of the Hampton Mon
ument commission is about ready
for the Legislature. Only SIS 900 of
the necessary $40, 900 has been sub
scribed.
Albert Thompson, who shot and
seriously injured Albert Dearman
in gambling room in Spartanburg,
has been released from custody.
The wounded man is on a fair road
to recovery and neither he nor his
family will prosecute the case again
st Thomson.
Col Thos. Taylor, one of the old
est and most prominent native male
citizens of Columbia, died on Tues
day afternoon. He had been a
member of the legislature president
of the State Agricultural society,
and master of the State Grange. He
was inspector of phosphates under
Gov. Hampton.
The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1903-12-25
GENERAL NEWS NOTES.
Items of More or Less Interest Condensed
Outside the State.

The cotton market III New York
reached 13H cents On Tuesday, the
highest in number of years.
A literary recluse Of Louisville
has bequeathed to the University
of Virginia his library worth $780,
900.
Three people were killed and six
injured by boiler explosion in a
power house in st. Louis on Mon
day night. The building was COM
pletely wrecked.
A man in the county prison at
philadelphia who had Just been
convicted of using the mails to de-
S. Aaud hanged himself with towel.
Ae had long criminal record be-
I'd him.
Five officers and instructors of
~ Columbus college laboratories,
2 Chicago, have been arrested
rged with operating, in the fash
bile shopping district, a distil-
contrary to government regu-
JUS.
@ J. Bryan was received in au-
sAe by Car Nicholas. of Russia,
An On Monday. The audience
or IS minutes. The car ex-
most emphatically his friend
for, the United States.
an spent good many hours
stoi while in Russia.
Ss eek near Godfrey, Kas.
The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1903-12-25
The Mayors Court.

Only two cases were disposed Of
by the Mayor yesterday morning.
Dan Brown, Jr., colorcd, was SELL
fenced to pay fine Of s. or to serve
d days for cursihg, and Pink Smith
and Will Floyd, colorcd, were fined
$3 and rs cents, respectively, for
each other.
The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1903-12-25
CECIL RHODES SCHOLARSHIPS.
Prof Sloan, of South Carolina, Gives Notice
of the Examinations for the
Scholarships.

Prof. Benjamin Sloan, Of the
South Carolina College, has issued
the following in reference to the
Cecil Rhodes scholarships:
1.-The first selection Of scholars III
the United States under the Rhodes's
bequest will be made between Feb
ruary and May, 1904. The elected
will commence residence in October,
1904. In this State applications
for examination must be made to
me in January. Papers covering
the range of study exacted by the
trustees will be sent me in january,
and applicants will be notified of
the date Of the examination, which
is to be held by the committee,
which have already announced: ::
Prof. c. w. Balm, South Carolina
College: Prof. Il. B. Settler, New
berry College; Prof. A. G.. Rem
bert, Wofford College; Prof. B. T..
Geer, Furman University, and Prof
Thomas Della Tore, College of
Charleston.
1t might be we'll for each appli-
cant to provide himself with an
historical statement Of his career as
"a student i'll his college, covering
these points particularly:
!. His literary and scholastic at
tainments
2. His fondness for and Success
iii manly outdoor sports, such as
foot ball, etc.
3. His qualities of manhood,
truth, courage, devotion to duty,
sympathy for and protection Of the
weak, kiDdlnes, unselhshncss. feel.
lowship.
4. His exhibition during school
days Of moral force Of character and
OF instinct to lead and to take an
interest III his schooImates.
You will see that air. Rhodes did
not desire merely bookworm, who
is of no use in the world, but he
wanted real man; 50 let the appli-
CoptS >roxi5e t1,o,,,coI,,oe ,,,:+l, 41,o
proper certificates.
1T may be of interest to state
that each college shall select its own
representative; and it is simply my
duty to forward the recommen-
dations Of the several colleges to the
board of trustees, in whose hands
remains the power of appointing to
the scholarships"
The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1903-12-25

their little minds All minds, Vir-
ginia, whether they be mems or
children's, are little. In this great
universe of ours man is a mere in
sect, All ant, i'll Ms intellect, as conf
pared with the boundless world
about him, as measured by the in
tclligence capable of grasping the
whole of truth aud knowledge.
Yes, Virginia, there is Santa
Claus. He exists as certainly as love
and generosity and devotion exist,
and you know that they abound
and give to your life its highest
beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary
would be the world if there were no
Santa Claus! 1t would be as dreary
as If there were no Virginias There
would be no Child-likc faith then,
10 poetry, no romance to make tol-
cradle this existence. We should
have no enjoyment except in sense
and sight. The eternal light with
which childhood fills the world
would be extinguished
Not Relieve in Santa Claus! You
might as well not believe in fairies!
You might get your papa to hire
men to watch all the chimneys on
Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus,
but even if they did not sec Santa
Claus coming down, what would
that prove? Nobody sees Santa
Claus, but that is no sign that there
is no Santa Claus. The most real
things in the world are those that
neither children nor men can see.
Did you ever see fairies dancing
on the lawn? OF course not: but
that's 10 proof that they arc not
there. Nobody can conceive or
Imagine all the wonders that ae
Unseen and unSeeablc il the world.
You may tear apart the baby $
rattle and see what makes the noise
inside, but there is veil covering
the unseen world which not the
strongest man, nor even the united
strength Of all the strongest men
that ever lived, could tear apart.
Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, ro
nance, can push aside thai curtain
and view and picture the supernal
beauty and glory beyond. Is it all
real? All, Virginia. in all this world
there is nothing real and abiding.
No Santa Claus! Thank God!
He lives, and he lives forever. A
thousand years from now, Virginia,
nay, ten times ten thousand years
from now, he will come to make
glad the heart of childhood.
The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1903-12-25
STATES TAXABLE PROPERTY.
Decrease Of Assessments Of County Real
Estate, While Assessments OfCity
Property Are Increased.

Comptroller General Jones has
prepared some interesting figures
showing the assessed value of prop
erty for 1903 as compared with
1902. There is an increase of over
eight and half millions, but the
value of country real estate shows
a decrease Of $535, $40. Comptrol-
ler General Jones says the only ex-
planation Of this is that some coun-
ty auditors must have enormously
included country property i'll cities
and towns. Following are the fig
ureS:
Real estate not in cities and
ItOWns, 1908 NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. S 68, ,485, 962
Real estate not in cities and
and towns, 1902.............. 69,O2l, ,442
Decrease. se...................... S 535, $40
Real estate in cities and
towns l9O3. Observation-Disclosures. s 38, 855, 1923
Real estate in cities and
towns, 1902. ......... ....... $4,000, 1OS
increase .................. ) S55, 220
Railroad property, 1903..... S 9,489,312
Railroad property, 1902...... 27,7O5, 453
Increase. ......... ...............$ 1,7S3, $50
Personal property .............. SGT, SIS, ,277
Personal property............... 61,O49,2 273
increase NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 6, 1926, Goa
Total property, 1903 ..........$ 204 ,4O5, ,S79
Total property, 1902 2........... 1876, 776, 316
Net reaSc..................$ $500, 563
The increase in personal property Of
$6, SIG, 0O4 covers the increase of
Textile industries s............$ 1.249, 19l
FertlllZer factories. 81, $50
Cotton seed oil mills. ....... GLASS;
Telephone and telegraph
companies........ ........ -. 1873, 597
Southern Express Com
pany y.-.......... l1l, ,dSS
Pullman Palace Car Com
pany.,....... ..............".. 20, SOB
Building and loan associa-
tions estimated. ..,... -. 5000
---------
Total. l.........................". $1,984, O94
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-17

not necessarily three consecutive times.
J. G. Davidson has held the champion
ship twice. J. P. Paret, of New York.
has also held 1t twice, and the present
champion. J. S. Little, Of New York,
has been twice the victor. All OF these
noted players will compete, and the In
terest therefore will be particularly
acute. Mr.. Little has the advantage
this year as he will play only the win
ner. Other prominent players who will
take part In the tournament are Lewis
Grant, Wiley Grant, Robert lie Roy, and
Marion Wright, the best of the old
players who have returned to the game
this year, and a number of men from
Princeton, Baltimore, and Norfolk,
whose names have not been sent In. IN
addition to the out-of-town players and;
the members OF the Bachelors Club, AZ,
number of local players who are not
members Of the club, will participate
in the tournament. Besides this cham ]
pionship event In singles the game will
also be played in doubles, which promises
to be a novel feature.
One of the most interesting contests
for lookers-on will be the championship
for women The Bachelors Club Is
one of the oldest organizations of the
kind in the country, and one OF the
most exclusive. It's membership is
limited to only sixty players and on its
waiting list now are a number OF
prominent men. 1t has encouraged. the
best women players of the country TO
compete for the championship in the
women's club. They have this year
purchased a trophy which will be play
ed for for the first time, and on the same
terms as the mems trophy.
Among the prominent women players
who will take part in the game are Miss
Marion Jones, daughter OF Senator
Jones of Nevada, who Is the present
woman champion of the United States:
Miss Bessie Moore, Of Brooklyn, who
won the Southern tournament last year.
and who has played In Washington a
number of times, and was, on account OF
illness, forced to default the champion
ship to Miss Jones.
Besides these two prominent young
women there will be Miss Closterman,
of Cincinnati, and Miss Winner, OF
Washington These two women are
looked upon as the best tennis players
in the country. SO with these four ex-
ceptional contestants on the list the
trophy viii be doughtily fought for. In
addition to the champions a number OF
Washington young women will take
part in the game. There will also be
mixed doubles.
Heretofore the accommodations for
visitors have been limited. but this
year the managers have arranged ade-
quate accommodations.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-17
The Bachelors Tournament.

The seventeenth annual meeting Of the
Southern Lawn Tennis championship.
under the National Lawn Tennis Associ-
alton, will be held on the courts OF the
Bachelors Club in NJ Street. between
Seventeenth Street and Connecticut Ave-
nue., from May % to the Both inclusive.
This tournament will be of more than
ordinary interest this year as the pres
ent trophy has been in competition for
twelve years. The bowl, in order to re-
main in possession OF the champion,
must be won by him three times, though
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-17
Notes of Wimodaughsis.

The twelfth annual meeting of the
stockholders of Wimodaughsis will be
held May 19 and 20, at 1903 New York
Avenue. The principal business of this
meeting will be the election of three
directors for three years to fill the
places of Mrs. Annie NJ Edgar, Mrs
Margaret c. Lohr, and Mrs Ida NJ. COL
ford. whose terms expire. The order
of business Will be as follows: An ad-
dress on The Higher Education OF
Women" Tuesday evening, by Mrs Ellen
Spencer Mussey. The program will close
with music. On Wednesday. at 1920,
nominations for members of the board
of directors win be made. The polls will
be opened from IL a. N. to D. NJ Lunch
con will be served for the benefit of
the refurnishing fund. Reports of the
president, secretaries. committees, and
others Will begin at 4 o'clock Tues
day evening. May 26, Charles F. Weller
Continued on Eighth Page.)
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-17
SOCIAL AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS

stances in which, to women, a knowl-
edge of law Is imperative. in order that
they may successfully carry on business
or protect fortunes left in their care.
Above all, she said, is the well-train-
ed mind, the judicial mind, of value to
the mother in the management of her
household and in the training and edu-
cation of her children.
The paper was favorably discussed by
Mrs Belva A. Lockwood, Mrs Cynthia
Cleveland and Mrs. NJ. S. Lockwood,
Madame Davenport, a well known expo
nent Of the art of physical and men
tai training was present. and made a
few remarks On the subject of correct
modes of thought and living.
Among those present were Miss Fran
els Graham French, president; Mrs. Ell
len S. Cromwell, first vice president;
Mrs. Hannah B. Sperry, second vice
president; Mrs. B. A. Lockwood, past
president; Mrs. Pealer, corresponding
secretary; Mrs. Hopkins, recording sec
rotary; Mrs. Stillman. treasurer; Dr.
Portman, auditor; Miss Ellen B. Foster,
librarian; Mrs. NJ. S. Lockwood, dele
gate-at-large; Miss Abraham, Miss
Cleveland. Miss Mabel L. White, Mrs.
Parker, Mrs. Brinton, Mrs. Davis, Mrs
Hamilton, Miss Hickey, Mrs. Hinton,
Mrs. Messenger, Mrs. Pepper, Mrs. Set
tie, Mrs. Wither.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-17
ART AND SCIENCE.
Columbia Heights Art Club.

The Columbia Heights Art Club met
on Thursday at the home OF Mrs. A w.
seip. Mrs. NJ. D. Lincoln Bessie Beech)
presided Mrs Evelyn Clark Morgan
was elected vice president. Mrs. Fannie
B. Ward was made an associate mem
Der, and Mrs. Garner and Mrs. Gibbs.
whose names had been for some time on
the waiting list. were elected as active
members. AS unfinished business con-
sumed considerable time, the art
notes" were omitted.
The topic for the day was Modern
French Painting" This was ably
treated by Miss Mary L. Hadley, whose
work at the Art League few years
ago won for her the scholarship prize.
The number of reproductions of the
works of the great French masters
used by Miss Hadley to illustrate her
subject proved so interesting and in
we're dispensed with.
Miss Clemens rendered a piano solo.
by Pierrette. Air De Ballet" with
much skill Mrs. Slaughter recited
"Rienzi's Address to the Romans" in a
fine dramatic manner. and as an en-
chore "A Supercilious Nabob." Among
the number of guests present were Mrs.
Slaughter, Mrs Birney. Mrs. Pyles. Mrs
Bittenger, Mrs. Conroy, Mrs. Brown,
and Mrs Baldwin. Ices and sweets were
served. and the club adjourned to meet
next Thursday, at the home of Mrs. NJ.
c. Fisher, at Belair, Va.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-17

for three candidates. but the present in
eumbent. Miss Belva A. Lockwood. was
reelected by a large majority Three
new names were offered for vice presi-
dent. William c. Lee receiving the
largest number of votes. All the minor
officers, recording secretary, correspond
ing secretary, treasurer, and auditors.
as we'll as ten delegates to the Equal
Rights Association. were elected unani-
mously.
A paper was read by the president,
Mrs Lockwood. urging universal suf-
frage for the District. giving clear and
cogent reasons for the same. She closed
her argument by saying the District
gave the ballot to the slave now let
her emancipate her women. Announce
ment was made of a meeting in interest
OF peace, to be held at the Friends
Meeting House today, and addressed by
able and eloquent men and women.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-17
"The Charity Ball"

Tomorrow evening the Homeopathic
Hospital will have a benefit perform
ance at the Lafayette Square Opera
House. when the Berger stock company
will give the old favorite. THE Charity
Ball" A fashionable and appreciative
audience Is already assured for the oc-
casion. The patrons are Mrs. Stephen
B. Elkins, Mrs. John Dalzell. Mrs.
Letter, Mrs. Thomas Nelson Page. Mrs
Thomas F. Walsh. Mrs. Archibald Hop
kins, Mrs. George HUFF. Mrs. Robert An
derson, Mrs Frank Moss. Mrs. Ralph
Jenkins. Miss Kibbey, and Mrs. Cleye-
land Perkins
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-17
WOMENS CLUBS.
District Woman's Suffrage Association.

District Woman's Suffrage Associate
The District Womans Suffrage Asso-
citation met in regular session at Scot
fish Rite Hall, 1907 G Street northwest,
on Thursday. An interesting program
was carried out, showing that the women
of the District OF Columbia are still in
the harness, battling for equal rights
ever.
The election of officers for the ensu-
ing year took place. Ballots were cast
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-17

by United States Minister Dudley on
Friday The President was much inter
ested in MIR. Peppers mission.
The many friends of Mrs. Mary Schaf-
hirt will be panied to learn that she is
i'll at the Johns Hopkins University
Hospital in Baltimore. Mrs. Schafhirt
has been in poor health for year, suf-
fering with paralysis of the optic nerve.
She lost the use of her left eye during
the last three months, despite the best
efforts OF physicians here.
1t was finally decided to place Mrs
Schafhfrt under the care of one of
the most distinguished specialists in the
country, and she went to Baltimore last
Sunday
While there has, of course, been
no decided Improvement in her condi-
ton, the specialist is very hopeful that
the case will yield to treatment She Is
receiving every attention that modern
medical science and trained nursing can
give.
Adjutant General Corbin has pur-
chased twelve acres from the Patten
estate, near Chevy Chase, and will build
a country house there.
Mrs Grace P Jennings and son Harry
are at Atlantic City with Mrs. Jennings
parents.
Mrs. Maud L. Newman, formerly Miss
Ketcham, will attend the national en-
campment in August at San Francisco,
en- route 10 Manila, P l.
Mr.. and Mrs. J. D. Markley left today
for the West and will spend two weeks
in Denver, Col. On their return they
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-17
Lawn Fete.

Thursday will bring a lawn fete for
the benefit of the House Of the Good
Shepherd, in the garden of the Misses
Riggs. on Street. The women in charge
of the entertainment are Mrs. McKenna,
Mrs. White. Mrs. Bayne. Mrs. James F.
Barbour, and the Misses Riggs, who will
have a corps Of charming young as
sistants
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-17
White House.

President Roosevelt has accepted an
invitation to attend the wedding of Miss
Ruth Hanna. the daughter of Senator
Hanna. TO Medlll Mccormick, which will
be solemnized at Cleveland, Ohio, on
June 10. 1t is probable that Mrs. Roose-
welt will accompany him. The Presi-
dent viii return to Washington on June
5, and make trips 10 Baltimore and
Charlottesville, Va, soon after he ar
rives from Cleveland.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-17
RECREATION.
The Congenials.

I IIC NUASOIIIdIo.
The regular meeting of the Congenials
was held Tuesday evening last at the
residence of the Misses Murphy, 401 o
Street. where the installation of off,
GERS for the ensuing term took place.
After a short business meeting vocal and
piano solos were given, and refresh
ments served. Those present were the
Misses Murphy, B. and l. Mcintyre. G.
and H. Bowling, Day, Riordan, Slattery,
and Mrs. Simms, and Messrs. Battley.
Laws, and the newly elected officers, !.
E. Simpson, president; NJ. A. Cord, vice
president; ]. G. Bright, secretary. and
L. A. Spiess, treasurer.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-17
Audubon Society Field Meeting.

The second weekly field meeting of the
Audubon Society OF the District of Co
lumbia was held yesterday at Falls
Church. The attendance was large and
the party had some excellent opportuni-
ties for observing birds in their native
haunts.
Henry Oldys and Prof. W w. Cooke,
of the biological survey of the Depart
ment of Agriculture, accompanied the
members of the society and gave them
practical instruction in the history and
characteristics of the birds that were
noted.