davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-06

In a copy of Bewicks Birds lately cata-
lOgued in England were found these lines in
TennysOn's handwriting and signed by him:
gate and a field half plOughed.
y solitary COW,
y child with broken slate,
And titmarsh in the bOugh
But where. alaCk, is Bewick
To tell the meaning now?
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-06

Mr.. Anthony Hope calls his forthcoming mover
s'DoubIe Harness''-an excellent title from the
pen of a newly married man. Other stories whlch
are on the way to publication are Mr. lie
Ouetlx's Secrets of the Foreign Office /; the
late Mr. Fargeon's "Amblers" and The House
of the White Shadows" and Mr.. Frankfort
Aloore's "Shipmates in Sunshine. Lucas
MaIet's new novel is nearly ready.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-06

Mr.. w. f. Henley. who ever busy
writer and editor, left estate of something
under 5000. He left everything to his wife.
and directed her to be guided in all matters
relating to his literary property by the counsel
of his longtime friend. Charles whitley. Mr..
whitley. by the way. is clever man of letters
and the brOther-in-law of the late James Nc
Neill Whistler.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-06

The life of BeacOnsfield which Mr. WHfrid
MeyneH has been engaged is to be issued soon
under the subtitle of An Unconventional Bl-
Ography." The author says The Academy
had Unexpectedly placed at his disposal an
interesting and important collection OF letters
from Disraeli to private friend, letters OF
which the existence unknown to all but the
recipient. The inclusion of these amplifed the
plan of the work, and, while il delayed compile
ton. WILL it is expected. clarity many of the
ObScurtieS in DlSraelfS life"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-06

The Captains Toll Gate is to be brought
out in England. with the accompanying memoir
by his widow
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-06

The author of the Forthcoming book on the
life of Calico has had access to fresh dOcu-
ments in Italy which are sai5 to give special
value to his study. \ careful photography of
the astronomers writings will be included in
the book.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-06

Talking of titles. THE Daily Mali reminds
Of Mr.. w. p. James's essay pointing out that
Dickens usually wrote up to n title. He chose
his name with the utmost care, and when that
fact accomplished seemed content. The
writing was a mere matter of course. In his
memoranda were found nineteen titles for nov
els unused. AS Mr.. James remarks the English
novel began by calling itself after the hero or
heroine. such Tom Jones' or 'Clarissa,' but
presently aspired to be holder and more piCt-
ureSque. Old Mortality an excellent title,
and SCOTS publisher. who invented some OF his
titles, such as Rob Roy began to conceive OF
himself as part author of the nOveIsr'
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-06

The French Wife" is the title of Miss Kath-
arine Tynan's forthcoming novel
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-06
FICTION.
Some Stories of Modern Life.

UNOFFICIAL. A Two-Days' Drama. Ky me
Hon Mrs. Walter Il. ID. Forbes. LIMO PIP 10
ID. Appleton a. Co
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-12-25
The Mistletoe

The mistletoe is generally regard.
ed as having something to do with
love, an idea drawn from the misty
period Of Scandinavian mythology. In
this view 1t is commonly hung in the
center Of room or other conspicuous
place during our Christmas festivals,
and every maiden who strays under 1t
must submit to be kissed. But there
are two traditions connected with this
parasitic plant, which is found grow
ing on oaks, which deserve mention.
Baldur, the Good, was tormented
with frightful dreams which indicat-
ed that his life was in peril, and be-
ing the favorite son Of Frigga, the
wife Of Odin. he besought her to avert
his fate. Then Frigga, his mother,
exacted an oath from fire and water,
from iron and all other metals, from
stones, trees, diseases, beasts, birds,
poisons and creeping things, that none
Of them would do Boldur any harm.
After that, the other gods amused
themselves with using Baldur as q
mark, by casting all kinds of weapons
at him without doing him any harm.
But Loki, his enemy, desired his
death, and was very much disappoint-
ed that nothing would harm him, but
by assuming the shape Of woman,
he got from Frigga the confession that
nothing could harm her son except
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-12-25
A Silent Christmas.

It Is not generaiy known that Christ
mas at one time was regarded as a
superstitious festival, and put down
in England by the strong hand Of the
law. The holly and mistletoe bough
were ordered to be destroyed, root
and branch, as 'plants of the Evil
One" 1t was oliver Cromwell who
ordered that throughout the principal
towns in the country Christmas
should not be observed, ut being an
hurtful CUSTOM" In order to make
people forget Christmas, he enacted
that all markets should be held on
the 25th of December. 1t was hardly
to be expected that the people would
quietly submit to so extraordinary a
rule, nor did they. During the illness
of Henry VIII, in the first year of his
reign it was decided that the Christ
mas should be a silent one. There
were no bells, carols or merrymaking.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-12-25

cal earthen water Jar, which Is filled
with candies, nuts, fruits and small
gifts, and either hung up in the cen.
ter Of the room or made to look like
human being, with dress, mask,
artificial hair, etc. This Is the part
of the celebration which pleases the
children, for all of them have chance
at 1t. One by one the members Of
the party are blindfolded, taken near
the pinata, and armed with stick,
then, after being turned around sew
eral times so as to be uncertain Of the
location of the pinata, they grope
around and give three strokes. II
they succeed in breaking 1t, they have
the first choice Of the deluge of sweet
meats which falls as the jar is brok-
en-. If one fails to break 1t, another is
given an opportunity, and SO on until
someone succeeds.
This part of the fun over, gifts are
presented, but on the first Of the po-
sada nights, they are very triling, in
creasing in value, however, until thou
sands Of dollars are expended by the
wealthy, and the poor mortgage their
incomes for the ensuing year to keep
up the grandeur of the event.
On Christmas eve, the night Of the
last posada, there is slight change
in the ceremony Of the Journey. Then,
when Mary and Joseph are admitted
to shelter, the other members Of the
party are rigidly excluded for short
time, when they are allowed to enter
and they find lying in cradle be-
tween the figures of an OK and an ass,
an image of the infant Christ. Pray
ers are made to the child as well as
to Mary and Joseph, and the religious
ceremonies are longer than usual.
After each posada there is dancing
and merry-making, which is kept up
until daylight, the most prolonged
being after the last night. The mer-
riment is so extravagant that efforts
have been made to moderate them,
but the people pay little attention to
the priests in the matter. and there
is scarcely a family in Mexico, how
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-12-25

Although contiguous to the United
States, the customs observed by the
Mexicans are so startlingly unique
that the American who partakes Of
the continual round of jollities, re-
ligious and profane, which mark the
Christmas holidays in the sister re-
public, might well fancy himself trans
planted to another planet, for there
never existed anything like them in
the ancient history of the earth, and
there is no place on this footstool
where the festivities bear any resem-
blance. Foreigners have vainly at
tempted to introduce the Christmas
tree and other well-known customs
common among the majority of the
Icivilized nations, but the Mexican will
have none of them, he prefers his own
manner of celebrating
Christmas rejoicings begin with the
Mexicans on the nineteenth of Deem
Der and for nine days the most ex-
Extraordinary performances are INDUCED
In, growing more and more hilarious
until a climax Is reached on Christ
! mas day proper, after which, the rev.
elers, exhausted, give themselves up
to well-earned rest of utter pros
tration until the first day of January,
or New Years day, when they resume
their usual occupations, and 60 about
their regular duties.
The Mexican custom Of reveling
nine nights and nine days, arises from
the historical fact that Joseph and
Mary, in obedience to the command
Of the Roman ruler, left their home in
Egypt and travelled to their old home
at Bethlehem for the purpose of being
enumerated in the census.
This journey took nine days, and
every night the travellers put up at
some inn, or, as the Mexicans call it,
"posada."' For which reason, every
Mexican house worthy of the name is
turned into posada. or inn, at which
Joseph and Mary stop once night
for nine nights, the elimination, or
climax being the birth of the Re-
deemer in the stable at Bethlehem.
{, The expense of giving nine enter
tainments, every evening for nine
nights, being very great, it is Gus
tomary for nine families to join and
have a posada celebration once every
night at each house, the total expense
being afterward equally apportioned
among them. During the day the par
ticular house at which the posada is
to be given is decorated with flowers
and streamers Of green leaves and
branches, and about o'clock the fam
lilies begin to assemble, and wait for
the arrival of the holy family.
A burro soon appears at the en-
trance. On its back, dressed in ORR
entail robes, sits woman, who repre-
sents the Virgin Mary. By her side
In flowing robes and carrying staff,
walks man representing Joseph
They are. supposed to be travelling
toward Bethlehem, and they beg for
nights rest in the posada, or inn,
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-12-25
Christmas In Hawaii.

Before the missionaries and the
American settlers went to Hawaii, the
natives knew nothing about Christ.
mas, but now they all celebrate the
day and do it, of course, in the same
way as the Americans who live there.
The main difference between Christ
mas in Honolulu and Christmas in
New York is that in Honolulu in De-
cemDer the weather is like June in
New York. Birds are warbling in the
leafy trees; gardens are overlooking
with roses and carnations; fields and
mountain slopes are ablaze with color;
and sunny sky smiles dreamily upon
the glories of summer day. In the
morning people go to church, and dur
ing the day there are sports and
games and merrymaking Of all sorts.
The Christmas dinner is eaten out of
doors in the shade of the veranda, and
everybody is happy and contented.-
From Clifford Towards How Uncle
Sam Observes Christmas" in Christ
mas st. Nicholas.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-12-25
The First Christmas.

Very quaint and curious are some OF
the old monkish stories about the first
Christmas. One of these charming
legends relates that at the moment OF
the Nativity everything and every
body stood STILL The birds paused for
an instant in mid-air, rivers ceased for
the time to flown short, all the
movements of men and things every
where were suspended for brief
space. The spells of witches and wiz
ars became suddenly Intellectual, an
idea which was, no doubt at the root
of Shakespeare's reference to Christ
mas time as being so holy that then
mo fairy takes, nor witch hath power
to charm"
When All the World RejoIces.
There is no celebration IN all the
year so worldwide as that of Christ
mas, and none that differs so much In
the various methods by which it Is
observed. In some countries, notably
Catholic Spain, Italy and most Of the
South American republics, the OBJ
servances of the day circle almost en-
tirely round pageants and services OF
the deepest religious significance.
while In others, joyous merrymaking.
almsgiving and thousand publlcAex-
pressions Of good will and fellowship
have made the anniversary peculiarly
their own.
People who live in lands that at
Christmastide are wrapped in a
mantle OF, snow, whose car, Of greet.
ing are bordered with glazed icicles,
and who sit down to the family re-
union close to blazing stoves or steam
filed radiators, would hardly recog-
nize Christmas in SUMMER Countries.
with its beautiful wild flowers, its
picnic parties and it, straw hat street
promenades.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-12-25

Where Bach Was Born.
house into which Beethoven's parents
removed after his birth also bears an
inscription.
The greater part of Beethoven's life
was spent in Vienna, where he died in
his 57th year. A monument OF him.
sitting on a lofty granite pedestal,
stands in the Beethoven Platz; and
outside the city is shady path called
after the composer, because it was
his favorite walk.
The one great composer native to
Vienna was Franz Schubert. His
grandfather was Moravian peasant,
his father a parish schoolmaster, and
his mother a cook. Franz was the
youngest of fourteen children and was
born on Jan. 81, 1897, in the district
called Lichtenthal, at the house which
is now numbered 81 of the Nussdor-
fer-Strasse, on the right going out
from the city.
Schubert's life was spent principally
in his native city in house not far
ulolduL lIOL IHdI VI DCCIhONOhs ~
worldly prosperity as result Of his
genius, Franz Schubert knew little. 1t
is stated that the highest price he
ever received for one of his songs was
SIS, and for some of his best only rs
cents. Moreover, after his death, at
the early age of 81, all his possessions
were valued at the sum of $10.zo. He
died less than two years after Bee
thoven, for whom he had great ad.
mlration, and the graves of the two
musicians lie within few yards of
each other.
The birthplace of Richard Wagner,
the great dramatic composer, was an
old house called the Red and White
Lion" in the north part of the town Of
Leipsic. His parents were not at all
well off, and his father, who was a
police magistrate, died shortly after
the birth of their ninth child, Richard,
which took place on May %, 1913. In
spite of the struggle against poverty
which the boy had to face, his perse-
verance and ambition led him to take
his place eventually in the ranks of
the great masters.
The immense success and popular.
ity of Wagner's operas in the present
day is striking contrast to the oppo.
sition experienced by the composer
when they first appeared before the
public; indeed, he had considerable
difficulty in finding conductor who
would undertake the risk Of the per.
Torrance of his works.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-12-25
On the Range.

The wind bellows loud in the canyons;
the. snow swirls in clouds on the
plain,
And the clasp of the blizzard Is deadly.
the touch of Its fingers Is pain;
But the cattle are down from the noun
tains and corralled close under the
hill.
And the men at the ranch are rejoicing
and singing wild songs with will.
Hark! a shrek from the ke'leagured
chimney, then the squeak of fiddle
drawn high:
A Jest on the lips of a cowboy who never
was known to say die:
On the hearth something warm for the
heart-strings, on the board some
thing rich to the TASTE
For the Christmastide's coming Is CHEEKY
cen here on the desolate waste.
But. alas. while they dream of their old
home. and deep In their hearts shed
tear,
Lost, lost. on the storm harried prairie.
this night of all nights in the year.
A youth with letter from mother"
that burns in his bosom like flame,
Remembers the Bible she gave him. and
dies as he murmurs her name!
Charles w. Stevenson.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-12-25
THE .BlPTHPIzACES.
WA OF.:GPEAT.
4 ~. MUSICIANS
and both parents are reported to hav
Especial Correspondence

and both parents are reported to have
been very good-looking. which &C.
counted for their sons beauty. Wolf
gang was their youngest child, and
was born on Jan. 81, 1855, in the third
story Of a house in the Getreide Case,
which is now most interesting Mo-
cart museum, containing the piano,
portraits and manuscripts of the must
clan.
The next celebrated composer was
Beethoven. His parents, who were
very poor, lived at Bonn, and Ludwig
was born on Dec. 16, ITO, in a garrett
in the back part of house in the
Bonn Case, No. 20. His father held
some insignificant musical post in the
town, but, being man of dissipated
habits, the family income was very
small and the early life Of the COM
poser was rough one.
The house has been bought by sew
eral of his admirers. and is now fitted
up as Beethoven museum. 1t con-
tains numerous portraits Of the musi-
clan, his family and contemporaries,
his piano, quartet instruments, ear
trumpets. scores, letters, etc. The
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-12-25
Intoxicants in Old Days.

Before Intoxicating liquor was made
dear by taxes and it's sale was regu-
lated by licenses the use Of it in Eng
land was astonishingly common. Not
only were there in London six or
seven thousand regular dram shops,
but cheap gin was given by masters to
their work people instead of wages,
sold by BARRIERS and tobacconists,
hcwked about the streets on barrows
by men and women, openly exposed
for sale on every market stall, forced
on the maid servants and other pur-
chasers at the chambers shop, until.
as one contemporary writer puts 1t.
"onehalf of the town seems set up
to furnish poison to the other half"
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-12-25

(which is refused them. The holy fam
lily turns away sorrowfully and pro-
ceeds to the next posada, all the fam
ilies following in procession with
lighted candles. At eight houses they
are refused admission, but at the
ninth, the door is opened to them, and
they are taken in. In this last house
is erected an altar, before which all
kneel and chant the "Litany Of Loret-
to-" after which the DISCUSSES are
thrown off and the fun begins. This
travelling of the holy family in search
of hospitable inn is repeated every
night for nine nights, and at the break
ing up of the religious part of the eel
sSration, various sports are INDUCED
<. one of them being the breaking
the pinata."
Me pinata is huge ola. or spheri,,
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-12-25
Remember the Poor and Needy.

Let us once again make the Old
probably an nnecessary-appeal to
those who feast on Christmas day to
remember others who, but for timely
cha ity must fast while they feast. We
shall dine more comfortably possess
ing the consciousness that we have
ministereH to the poor and needy, hav-
ing in thought those sacred words,
and believing in their implied prom
ise-'Inasmuch as ye have done to
the least Of these - have done 1t
unto me-"
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-12-25

one little shrub that grew on the east
ern side of Valhalla, the Mistletos,
too young and too feeble to harm any
body, and for that reason an oath had
not been exacted from it.
Loki cut off the mistletoe and re-
paired to the place where the gods
were amusing themselves by throwing
weapons at the invulnerable Baldur.
He persuaded one of them to throw
the small mistletoe branch at Baldur,
and 1t pierced him through and
through, he falling down lifeless.
Among the Druids the mistletos
which grew on the oak was sacred
plant possessing peculiar virtues. The
finding of it was an occasion of re-
joicing and solemn worship. They
called it by word in their language
which means heal all" and having
made solemn preparations for feast
ing and sacrifice under the tree, they
drove thither two milk-white bulls,
whose horns were then for the first
time bound. The priest, robed In
white, assembled the tree and cut OF
the mistletoe with golden sickle. 1t
was caught in a white mantle, after
which they proceeded to STAY the vic
tins, at the same time praying that
God would render his gift propitious
to those to whom he had given it.
An infusion was made Of the plant
and given as a remedy for all dis
eases. The oak represented the idea
of the Supreme Being. and the Mistle-
toe found clinging to it signified mans
dependence upon Him.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-12-25
Uncle Remus RIGHT In Line.

Uncle Remus was driving white
mule hitched to an ancient gig.
"That's a very old affair in these
days of progress" remarked the
stranger.
"Doan' matter wild me-" drawled the
old man, contentedly putting his pipe.
dis heah gig kin jolt es much as de
finest automobile, en- dat der mule
kin bray loudah den de biggest hoha.-
Chicago Daily News.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-12-25

used to sit as a child and listen to
hie parents simple songs; as we'll as
a monument, with bust Of himself
upon it, standing near the cottage.
Unfortunately fire occurred in the
village on the 7th Of March last and
the matched roof Of the house was
destroyed; it has since been replaced
by tiles, which, although not so rustic
In appearance, will at least preserve
this most interesting place.
Mozart, like Bach, came OF musi-
cal family, his father being court mu.
sician and composer at Salsburg. His
mother was the daughter Of a steward.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-12-25
savinu TO Farmers.

It has been estimated by an expert
in the employ Of the government that
agricultural machinery reduces the
number Of men employed to do .
given amount to one-third, while man
ufacturing machinery reduces the
number one-fiftieth.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-12-25

ever poor, that does not have some
kind of posada for the nine nights.
From Christmas until New Years
day, there is very little done by the
people, who are overcome with the
fatigue of their nine nights reveling,
but, as has been said, on the day af-
ter the beginning of the new year.
they resume their usual duties and oc-
equations.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-12-25
How to Keep a Cellar Dry.

It is very hard to make dry cel-
lar. When the soil is not porous the
ground about must be well drained.
Then the walls must b. covered with
good cement, while sometimes 1t 10
necessary to cover walls and floor with
hot asphalt.-Country Life In America.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-12-25

"Now that I've met Browns wife
l quite understand why he is SO dicta-
torial at the Office. He has to have
some place where he can show bis
authority"
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-12-25
Army Vacancies.

After the appointments to the army
from the class at Fl. Leavenworth,
there remain ninety-two vacancies In
the grade of second lieutenant.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-12-25
Glass Houyea.

Glass houses Of very substantial
kind can now be built. Silesian glass;
makers are turning out glass bricks
for all sorts of building purposes.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-12-25

Cooperative Knitting Mill.
Locked-out knitting girls of Dover,
N. j., have organized cooperative
knitting mill company.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-12-25

National Bank Notes.
National bank notes are one-sixth
of the money in circulation.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-12-25

Enemies Of Old Age.
Fresh air and sunshine are two OF
the worst enemies that old age has.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-12-25

Scotch Make l-ish Shawls.
A London paper gives away the Sc
cret that Irish women's native shawls
are wholly made In Scotland.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-12-25

Discover Tin Oxide.
Veins of tin oxide have been discov-
cred in the Transvaal which yield 67
per cent tin.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-12-25
SLAUGHTER of Rats

AS the result of the efforts of Lon.
don dock and shipping companies 49,.
GIL rats were killed in the port of LON
don In 1902
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-12-25

Weight Of Rails.
A single modern rail, sixty feet, 100
pounds to the yard, weighs one ton.