davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-12-17

Money" said the philosopher
thoughtfully, "is made in cheap things.
Trif1es have laid the foundations for
most Of the great fortunes of to-day.
Young men who want to get rich should
remember that There is always field
for the resourceful man who will consent
TO give his attention to something short
of the gigantic undertakings of the
time. A patent corkscrew retailing for
a dime has made more than a fortune"
Possibly" suggested the ambitious
youth, you can tell me of some trifiing
need of the public which will give wealth
TO the man who fills it."
Easily" returned the philosopher
Just at this time the greatest need of
the greatest number appears to be
suitable Christmas present for young
lady that will cost not to exceed s1.18,
and that will look as if it's purchase had
left little out of $40 bill l."-Chicago
Evening Post.
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-12-17
ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS TREE.
Ii Is Relic of the Sun-worship OF
the Ancients and Is Older
Than History.

Most of us know that the Christmas
tree comes to us direct from Germany.
And we know of the tree worship of the
Druids which obtained in England and
France, and which probably had some
! influence on the later use of the tree in
the Christian festival. But we do not
all know that a similar festival with the
tree as a crowning feature is observed
among many heather nations, and that
1t comes from sun-worship, which is
older than history. The revival Of the
sun after the winter solstice has ever
been the subject of rejoicing and of cele-
bration by ceremonies which represent
the new light brought back,to the world.
Our tree, with its small candles, its
gilded knicknacks and toys for the
children, is direct descendant of this
old festival in honor of the sun.
Traces of it exist in Iceland, where the
'serviCe-tree" is found adorned with
burning lights during Christmas night.
The English yule-Iog is faint survival
of this festival. But it is beyond these
that | wish to draw your attention, back
further even than the Druid mysteries
of the Gallo forests It is to China,
that home of all wonders and of all his
tory. 1t has been shown that as long
ago as 247 B. c. a tree with a hundred
lamps and flowers was placed on the
steps Of the audience-hall This appears
again in the records of Princess Yang,
who lived 713-755 A. D., and who caused
hundred-lamp tree so feet high to be
erected on a mountain. 1t was lighted
during New Years night, and the il
Illumination was seen for hundreds of
miles, eclipsing the light of the moon.
This candle-tree is no longer lighted in
China, being replaced by an unusual
number of lanterns, which are hung
everywhere. A suggestion of the tree
however. still survives in Japan. At
the New Year two evergreen trees are
placed without, on either side of the |
door. Their tops are tied together with |
the sacred band of straw, and various |
objects, dried Holsters and oranges are
fastened to their branches.-Stewart |
Culin, in Woman's Home Companion.
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-12-17
BUYING HIS GIRL A GIFT.
How Ideas of the Young Man Change
as the Holiday Season
Approaches.
Chicago Daily News.

TWO young men, both of them be-
trothed, discussed over their frugal din
ner the gifts that they would give their
girls at Christmas time. The season was
early in November and one young man
decided on Swiss watch, the other on
ring of sapphires. Then they smiled
happily, thinking how pleased their fan
Gees would be with those costly remem.
brances.
A month passed, and last week thew
met again. The first, who is an illus
trater, resumed the conversation where
they had left off. Don't you think" he
asked, that the work of ones own hands
makes a more poetical gift than any
thing you buy in a shop? Don't you
think that such gift means more and
touches more nearly the heart of the
recipient?" The other answered: MAY
be so, but what of it?" "Well," the first
resumed, instead of giving my girl
watch am going to make her beau
tiful drawing. III do it in brown ink.
The subject will be maiden playing a
lutte, with a little dove on great chair
beside her listening. That, | am sure
will please her more than a common
place, bought gift. Don't you think SOP"
The other smiled and said; "Of course.
you have no other motive than this for
giving her drawing instead of a watch ?"
'Of course not, of course not" replied
the other, and winked and then laughed
feebly
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-12-17

Wagon loads of gifts are received at
the white house at Christmas time. They
come from all parts of the country, the
majority of them from persons unknown
to the president and his wife. These
miscellaneous articles are the private
property of the recipients, and the
numerous parcels are placed in one of
the family rooms for examination.
They generally contain the names of
the donors, and to all these notes of
thanks are sent. On Christmas eve all
the employees of the house-the clerical
staff, the ushers and the domestic serv-
ants-are given, through the established
munificence of the president, a fine fat
turkey. Fifty fowls, selected from the
best in the market, are purchased for
this event, so that everybody about the
famous mansion has reason for reioic-
ing.-Mary Nimmo Balentine, in Wom-
ans Home Companion.
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-12-17
An Exploded MYTH

do your little ones believe in Santa
CLAUSE"
mo. They did till last Christmas
when their papa played the part. | had
the children in the hall and he was to
come from upstairs with lot of pres
ents for them"
"Yes?"
well, we had the lights turned low
and he thought he was down when he
wasn't. They recognized his language"
Chicago Herald.
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-12-17
UNDER THE MISTLETOE.
Little Comedy act I'm which the
Maiden Aunt Played the Part
of Villain.

Scene-A parlor in fashionable home.
Everything on stage that can be bor-
roWed from the upholsterers on the
strength of line in the programme: "Ac-
cessories rented from Varnish & Suffers,
the popular upholsterers
Dramatis personae:
Mr.. Van Tucker.
Miss Edythe Smithers.
maiden aunt.
Crutain raises, disclosing Mr.. Van
Tucker and Miss Shithers ensconced on
Varnish & Suffers finest sofa.
Mr. Van Tucker-Nice old custom, this
Christmas business. Don y think so?
Edythe-Yes. indeed | do, Mr.. Van
Tucker. l love every one of the dear old
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-12-17
POWER OF A SONG.
A Christmas Eve ChOrus That Has Be-
come Famous in the History
of the World.

Mr.. Louis C. Elson in his book on the
music of America recalls the tradition
OF the Marienlied as for centuries it has
been sung at two o'clock on Christmas
morning in Goldberg, Germany.
1t was at the time of the BLACK
DEATH in 1853. One of the greatest
pestilences recorded in history had
swept over every country in the Old
World, claiming it's dead by scores of
thousands. Men fled in terror from
their fellow men, in awful fear of their
breath or touch, and fer weeks sus-
tanned strange, weird seise in soli-
tude. Neighbor turned against neigh
Dor. Families shut themselves up in
their own houses, and denied entrance
10 all outsiders, and as the pestilence
spread, members of the same family
turned against one another In their
terrible fear men became like wild
beasts, refusing even the cup of cold
water and the simplest service through
dread of contamination.
So it continued until Christmas eve,
when one man in Goldberg, believing
himself the only inhabitant of the city
left alive, and feeling, perhaps, that life
was not worth saving at the cost OF
such isolation, unbarred his door at
dead of night and went forth into the
air. Alone he stood in the midst of
desolation, but the memories of the past
thronged upon him. He knew that it
was Christmas, and as he recalled other
Christmases, with their sacred joys and
their festivity, he lifted up his voice in
the song:
ITO us this day is born a Child,
God with us!
His mother Is a virgin mild
God with US!
God with US! Against us who dare beo
Through barred door came another
voice in response to his own, and then
the door was flung wide, and a man
Joined him in the street and sang with
him. Together they marched through
the town, giving it its first audible
sound save walls and cries of terror
since first the plague descended upon it.
The song woke strange echoes. From
their living tombs men. women and
children came forth to the number of
25-all that were left of the town-and
4A4'N' S'4A4-S III ods5u Tie uedLu-SiTlChen
streets, they sang with new courage:
God with us! Against US who dare
be?"
Whether it was that the plague had I
spent its violence. or. which is more /
probable, that the minds of the sur /
vivors were more serene, none of this
little band died of the Black Death.
They returned to their homes. buried
their dead. and the town began to
awake.
No wonder that the incident was re-
and that for centuries the
people of the town continued to meet
each Christmas eve at midnight, and at
TWO o'clock marched through the streets
singing the same old hymn.
The sublime assurance breathed in
that song is what men need to make
them brave when earthly joys fade. 1t
lifts them back to the living world. and
the sight of Heaven, when they have
buried themselves in despair In the
darkest and most helpless hour the
sense of the presence of God will wake
l song the echoes of which come back
10 us in the new hope awakened in other
iVeS,-YOuth'S Conn ma pion
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-12-17
KEEPING CHRISTMAS
by Henry Van Dyke.

3 1t is good thing to observe
z Christmas Day. The mere mark
ing of times and seasons when
3 men agree to stop work and
I make merry together is wise
= and wholesome custom. 1t helps
: one TO feel the supremacy of the
Z common life over the individual
llfe 1t reminds a man to set
! his own little watch. now and
3 then, by the great clock of hu-
Z manity.
But there is a better thing
Z than the observance of Christ
: mas Day, and that is, keeping
) Christmas.
Are you willing to forget what
you have done for other people
! and to remember what other
: people have done for you; to
: ignore what the world owes you
J and to think what you owe the
: world; to put your rights in the
( background and your duties in
; the middle distance and your
chances to do a little more than
your duty in the foreground; to
see that your fellow men are
just as real as you are. and try
to look behind their faces to
their hearts, hungry for joy: to
own that probably the only good
reason for your existence is not
what you are going to get out
of life, but what you are going
to give to life: to close your
book of complaints against the
management of the universe
and look around you for q place
where you can sow a few seeds
OF happiness-are you willing to
90 these things even for a day?
1Een you can Keep Christmas.
Are you willing to stoop down
and consider the needs and the
desires of little children; to re.
member the weakness and lone
liness of people who are grow .
ing old; to stop asking how
much your friends love you and
ask yourself whether you love :
them enough: to bear in mind
the things that other people
nave to bear on their hearts; to {
try to understand what those
who live in the same house with Z
you really want. without wait. {
ing for them to tell you; TO trim
your lamp so that it will give
more light and less smoke, and
to carry it in front so that your
shadow will fall behind you: to
make a grave for your ugly
thoughts and a garden for your {
kindly feelings, with the gate
open-s-e you willing to do {
these things even for a day?
Then you can keep Christmas.
Are you willing to believe that 6
love is the strongest thing in q
the world-stronge than hate. I
stronger than evil. stronger than Z
death-and mat the blessed life I
which began in Betulehem nine 4
teen hundred years ago is the :
image and brightness OF t. 4
Eternal Love? Z
Then Qou can keep Christmas. s
And if you keep it for a day, 3
why not always? Z
But you can never keep it q
alone.-Youth's Companion. 4
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-12-17
Method in His Action.

why doyou tramp through the parlor
in those bright red carpet slippers every
time have caller?" demanded the min
listers wife
MY dear" he replied, Christmas is
coming, and l desire to impress the fact
upon the feminine members of nv con-
gregation that I am well provided for
in this respect. Chicago Post
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-12-17

Ethel--Papa, why didn't Santa Claus
bring me a pearl necklace?
Her Papa-I suppose he hadn't
enough to go round.
Then why didn't he come here
first. jewelers. Weekly.
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-12-17
UnnllOYeh RIfsa

Aren't you going to wear that neck
tie | gave you on Christmas?" inquired
Mr.. Meektons wife.
"Of course, am. Henrietta. l was
saving 1t up. I'm going to wear that red
necktie and my nile green smoking
jacket and my purple and yellow socks,
and smoke one of those birthday cigars
you gave me, all at once. Washington
Star.
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-12-17
Friendly Advice.

yes" said the fairy prince, "you
may have whatever you want for =
Christmas present"
81 will choose said the fortunate
person, "either a wife or an automo-
bile"
How foolish" exclaimed the fairy
prince. why do you not select some
thing that you can manage ?'-Balti-
more American
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-12-17

A street urchin stood peering into the
window of toy shop one evening just
before Christmas, watching prosperous
father buying presents. Bigger and
bigger the boys eyes grew as the pur-
chasing went on. Finally, when it was
all over and the man left the store. the
lad sided up to him and with great diff
fidence said:
"Wuz all them things you bought fer
one boy, mister"
why, yes, certainly" said the man,
patiently, as he turned away with his
bundles under his arms.
The street boys eyes grew bigger yet.
Gee Whit" he whispered under his
breath. rich mems boys must wear
big stockings! s!"-Syracus News.
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-12-17
by George Macdonald.

My heart was GLAD that Christ
mas eve-just IS i. the Babe
ID been coming again to us
til. same night. Ana is He not
always coming to us afresh in
every chllduKe feeling that
awakes in the hearts of His peo-
pie?
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-12-17
Hard I,upIC.

Aunt Mae-What are you crying for,
Johnny?
Little JOHNNY belong to two Sum-
day schools and they are both going
to have their Christmas trees on the
same night.-N Y Truth
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-12-17
The Christmas Turkey.

Never buy yellow-heshed turkey. ID
is a sign of poor feeding. A fine turkey
should have firm, white flesh. Purchasers
should also notice that redness and
coarseness about the legs are the sign OF
an old bird.
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-12-17
No Use.

Mrs. Thirdly-None of the girls bave
volunteered to trim the church this
Christmas.
Rev. Mr.. Thirdly-Why not?
They are all ngaged."-Life.
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-12-17
by Hamilton w. Hrnbie.
DY Matthew EIcnrx.

We put ourselves in the way
of divine visits. when we en-
ploy ourselves in honest bust.
ness. Tidlngs of Christ's birth
were brought to the shepherds.
when they were keeping their
f1ocks.
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-12-17
The Merry Christmos r,,

This is the season when a father has a
ring engraved Mary" for his daughter
and finds on Christmas that she is Of
Tended because he didn't remember
her name is Mae. ."-Atchison GIobe
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-12-17
BY Edward Everett.

May this hallowed and gra-
cious time Giffuse its innocent
cheer through every family cir
Gle. and scatter its bountles
largely among the children of
want!
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-12-17

Good-oy, old year. good -by-eood- byl
FOR thee a tear and heartfelt sigh
Rowe er the New Year work his Will
Detroit Free Press
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-12-17
The Christians Flower of Mextco
ItlenfifHinn IL

Fair Shopper-What do you do when
in doubt about the use to which an ar
ticle is intended to be put?
Salesman-Oh, we just call it a Christ
mas present.-Town Topics
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-12-17
Two Aspects of Christmos

The approach Of set season of fes-
tiyity and merriment, like Christmas. is
promise of keener pain to the sorrow
Ing. 1t is at just such times that losses
are most severely felt The noise OF
the worlds gayety sounds like the
worlds proclamation of indifference IN
bereavement. 1t CRATES harshly on an
ear sensitized by sorrow. Yet the fes
uVity must go on-this is its right. And
sorrow must be considered-this is its
right Neither festivity nor sorrow
should rule, for each can be merciful
and generous to the Others. S. Times
The Christians Flower of Mexico.
In Mexico the red Poinsettia is the
Christmas flower. 1t holds for the Mex
lean the same sentimental significance
that the holly aud mistletoe do in north
ern countries. The Mexican Indians
have legend to account for it's brilliant
bracts of blood-red leaves that a drop
of blood, blown from the pierced side
of Christ, touched the little plant, and
ever since it has worn blood-red leaves.
N. Y. Commercial Advertiser.
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-12-17
BY Margaret Fuller ossiIi.

If ever there was an occasion
when the arts could become all
but omnipotent in the service of
a holy thought it is this of the
birth of tie child Jesus.
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-12-17
For British RovoItx

The first Christmas tree in a British
royal palace was in the reign of George
". Lord ]. Russell was present and
speaks of the tree being covered with
colored candles
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-12-17
CHRISTMAS SENTIMENTS
by Charles Dickens.

z Christmas time! That man
Z must be a misanthrope. indeed
= In whose breast something like
Z a Joyial feeling is not rouscd-
: IN whose mind some pleasant
. associations are not Awakened
Dy the recurrence of Christmas.
> lhere are few people who will
tell you that Christmas is not
TO them what it used to be: that
; each succeeding Christmas has
round some cherished hope or
nappy prospect of the year be.
, fore, dlmmed or passed away:
that the present only serves to
remind them of reduced circum.
stances and straitened incomes
OF the feasts they once be-
slowed on hollow friends, and
OF the cold looks that meet them
now, in adversely and misfor.
tune.
; Never heed such dismal rem.
I lniscences. There are few men ,
who have lived long enough in :
, the world, who cannot call up
such thoughts any day in the 4
year. Then do not select the I
; merriest of the three hundred :
and siXty-five, but draw vour
chalr nearer the blazing fire. :
and thank God it's no worse.
Our life on it, but your Christ.
mas shall be merry, ana your
New Year happy one.
Hy Charles Dudley Warner.
) 1t is impossible to conceive Of J
any holiday that could take the
pace OF Christmas. nor, indeed
would 1t seem that human W.T. }
could invent another so ADAPTED
10 humanity. The obvious in.
tentlon of it is to bring togeth. Z
er for season at least, all men
IN the exercise OF a common :
charity and a feeling of good \
VIII, the poor and the rich tho
successful and the unfortunate
that all the world may feel that
IN the time called the truce of
God the thing common to all <
men is the best thing in life. I
by Hamilton w. Mnbie.
He who does not sec in tho q
legend of Santa Claus a beauti. 9
ful faith on one side and the =
naive embodiment of divine !
fact on the other is no. fit to 2
have a place at the Christmas 4
board. For him there should be 3
neither carol nor holly nor mis-. 9
tletoe; they only shall keep the x
feast to whom all these things 3
are but the outward and visible 9
signs of an inward ana spiritual !
grace. :
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-12-17

Dearborn-Going to receive callers on
New Years day at your house?
La Salle-No; the bill collectors don't
begin to get around till the 2d.-Chicago
Daily News.
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-12-17
First Christmas CeIebrnt,o,

christmas was first celebrated as a
Feast of the Christian church about the
ear 100 A. d.
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-12-17
He wns

Rude Molly-You remind me of a
Christmas tree.
Dude Cholly-What kind of a one9
"A spruce evergreen. Life.
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-12-17
KIND HE WANTED

Salesman-Toy drums, sir? Yes, sir.
of the best sheepskin, that will last a
year.
The Boys Father-Have you some of
less robust constitution that won't last
over Christmas ?--Chicago Daily News.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-07-13
THE SLEEPING SICKNESS
New York Mail and Express.

sss.,, New YQrk, Mail and Express.
DR.. C. 1Chrfsty of the liverpool School
of Tropical Medicine, one OF the members
Of the commission dispatched to8 Uganda
by the British foreign office and the Royal
society to ascertain the causes Of the
mysterious disease Known as sleeping
sickness, has returned to England after an
interesting journey ; among many little
known tribes. Sleeping sickness was sup
posed to be connected with filaria, or
small worms in the blood stream. 1t was
imperative to prove or disprove this the
Dry. This was his special work. and 1t
involved great deal of travelling in order
to map out the areas in which sleeping
sickness as we'll as the filaria were preva-
found a. large district. In which sleeping
sickness ragged, but in which there was nc
sign of fllaria. and it is now considered
certain that sleeping sickness is In no
way connected with the small blood worms
referred to. DR.. Castellant. the bacteri-
ologist Of the commission, has discovered
that it is due to certain minute bacillus,
apparently unknown to science, altho this
is not yet absolutely certain. Meanwhile
the disease is making tremendous ravages
thru South Kavirondo and along the
shores of the Victoria Nyanza. DR.. Chris
ty passed thru villages in which from one
half to two-thirds of the people were suf-
fering from it. The scourge shows nc
tendency to spread far from the shores
of Victoria Nyanza, and apparently is not
infectious in the ordinary sense Of the
word, seldom being conveyed by one per.
son to another. iLs- - t..=