davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1903-12-24
Our chistmas Day.

The twenty fifth of December, one
of the shortest days in the year, has
been celebrated for msny peoples as a
time of rejoicing. On this day the
Egyptians held festival in honor of
the birth of their HOrus. The Romans
called it '.the birthday of the invinci-
bic SUM-" and dedicated it to Baccnus
rejoicing with him that the sun was
about to return and reyiylfy the vne-
yards, The Persians observed it with
ceremonies of uncommon SplendOr,
keeping it as the birthday of Aithras,
the mediator, spirit Of the sun. In
China it has long been a joyous holt
day, and in India it is day in which
homes are decorated with tipsel and
flowers and presents are exchanged
much as liz America.
Just when this day came to be cele-
brated as the birthday of Christ, his
tory does not tell us. We know that
Christmas was observed in the early
church at the beginning of the second
century; for in l3S a. D.. bishop
issued an order concerning it. 1t was
apparently already popular festival
There seems TO have been, however. a
difference in the date when it was
kept, as the eastern church observed
1t ON Jan. 6, and the western church
during the latter part Of December
Finally in the fourth century, Pope
julius assembled the principal theo-
logians to examine the evidence, and
they fixed on December % as the date
of Chrst's birth and the appropriate
day to hold the Christmas festival.
The customs which have attended
the observance of Christmas are part
pagan and part Christian, and it is
not always easy to distinguish be-
tween the two. The Christmas log is
the yule log of the worship of Odin.
The mistletoe under which the Christ
ian youth kisses the Christian maid is
a remnant of Druldism. The Clriss-
mas tree finds its pagan prototype 10
the German Ygdrasil-a great tree
whose roots were hidden in the ground.
but whose top reached TO Wanalla.
the old German paradise. where its
leaves nourished the goat upon whose
milk fallen heroes restored themselves.
The pagan origin of our jolly friend,
Santa Claus. is too well known to need
consideration here.
In this country at first Christmas
was excluded. The Pilgrim fathers re-
jected it because of its pagan connec-
tions. Thanksgiving largely occupied
its place and was nicknamed the New
England Christmas. But the Dutch
settlers brought over with them their
Christmas festival, and il soon rooted
itself in the affections of the pc jple,
till it became our most joyous and
welcome festal day. We need not
hesitate because Christian and anti
Christian elements mingle in it. What
paganism there is has been baptized
to noble service. But one thing we
do need TO guard, and that IS that our
feelings in the celebration be Christian
and not pagan, that we recognize the
religious meaning of Christmas, and
that we observe it with that spirit of
thankful gratitude which should
characterize those for whom Christ
came and died, rather than with the
wild spirit of dissipation which
characterized the Yuletide days. Cali
fornia Advocate.
The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1903-12-24
DR.. ]. n. Matthews.

DR.. j. H. Matthews. an eminent
veteranian, can be found every Friday
and Saturday at the Farmers feed
barn, on Laporte street. The La
porte Herald says: 'sDr. Matthews
has had ample training and experience
and during the years that he has been
located here we have heard many
tributes in bis praise as conscien-
tious and successful practitioner, and
he promptly attends to all calls for the
treatment OF horses, cattle and all
domestic animals. His practice ex-
tends to all parts of the surrounding
country, and be has gained an envfa-
BILE reputation as standing in the front
rank Of his profession. The doctor
likewise puts up number OF popular
remedies, such as Matthews condition
powders, heave powders. colic medi-
cine and gall cure, all OF which are
exceptionally fine for their purpose. I"
The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1903-12-24

j. III. Norman, editor of the
Starke County Republican, would be
all right for district chairman if he
was candidate on his merits In the
interest of republican success in the
district. But the men who are put
ting him forward present him as
the candidate Of. an individual and
urge his election on the grounds that
he would favor the nomination of a
certain man for congress. No man
should be chosen district chairman to
further the interests of any one per-
son 1t should be the business of the
district chairman to secure party
harmony aud see that every man who
aspires to a nomination has fair
chance to obtain it, 1t is not the
business of committees to pake nomi-
nations. Nominations should I've made
by the voters of the republican party
and no man should be chosen who will
use bis influence to prevent the nomi-
nation of Mr., Brick or any other good
republican. Let us have a chairman
who is interested in the success OF the
republican party in every county 10
the district and who is not an auto
motion in the hands Of any person or
clique. Anything that smacks of ring
rule or boss dictation will be bad for
the party this year.
The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1903-12-24

The secretary OF the interior has re-
volei the order under which final
action in entries under the timber and
stone act were suspended and all such
entries, aggregating large number,
will now be acted upon in regular or
der by the General Land Office. The
order involves several hundred thou
sand acres Of public domain in the
West, all entries Of which have been
held up because of the big frauds
perpetrated on the government under
the timber and stone act.
The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1903-12-24

The Atlanta Constitution, edited
by Clark Howell. has COME out strong
ly for the Panama canal project, That
paper protests vigorously against any
proposition to delay action in di yging
the long wished for canal. 1t serves
notice on the Democratic senators at
Washington that they must not per-
NIT themselves to assume an attitude
of hostility to this far-reacbing pro-
ject. Similar utterances have appear
ed in a number of other influential
southern papers.
The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1903-12-24

Senator German, In aspeech in the
senate Friday, virtually admitted that
he was opposing the ratification Of the
Panama treaty because the canal
would help the Republican party.
The Maryland boss intimation that
the Panama policy Of the administra-
ton would gain votes for the Repub-
lican party In the campaign of 1904
was based on fact. but it was dan
ger0uS confession for a democratic
leader to make. 1t proclaimed that
this policy has the support OF the
American people, that it is sure to be
upheld, and that the party champion
ing it will sweep the country next
year. AS a declaration and as a
prophecy all this is correct. The vast
majority OF the people OF the United
States are on the side OF President
Roosevelt and Secretary Hay on the
Panama question:. If the Maryland
man takes glance at the more prom
inent southern papers, he will find
that the Panama policy is neither sec
tional nor partisan. New Orleans,
Mobile, Chattanooga. Atlanta and the
rest OF the south 8 big towns have pa
pers which indorse the action taken
at the isthmus as heartily ss do any
journals in New York, Philadelphia,
st. Louis or San Francisco. This
ought to teach German and bis Bour-
bon associates that the party which
opposes the things which have been
done at the isthmus will pass sentence
of political death upon itself, II the
Maryland man is satisfied with this
rspect OF Affairs, the republican party
has 30 l:ght to complain
The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1903-12-24

The Elkhart Review says: ssThe cor
rection of evils in government Will
not come through desertion of party
after party caucuses have acted. The
place to begin is at the determination
OF policy and selection Of men in the
outset. The evils are begun there. -
The Review is correct, consequently
1t Is of the utmost importance that in
selecting county committees, county
chairman and district chairmen, men
be chosen who will respect the rights
Of the people and accord to every man
an equal chance to secure q nominal
tion for any Office from congressman
down to coroner. Committees should
work for the interest Of the party and
not for the nomination of any individ-
ual. Snap conventions in Indianap-
oils and South Bend deprived repuhli-
cans Of = chance to express their wish
IS in nominating . city ticket and
gave those cities to the democrats
Republicans here and everywhere
else should select committees and
also delegates to the district con-
vention who are in favor OF goveyn-
ment by the people. and nominations
Nv the ue0n1o instead NJ nv ccun
The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1903-12-24

Chinese laborers are now rushing to
Canada from every steamer that ar
rives from the Orient to avoid the
head tax of $500 which goes into effect
January /, and, as result, the COM
ing summer will no doubt show us a
notable increase in our Chinese popu-
iatIoD. With as large a business in
the grating line as this condition Of
affairs promises, it will be pretty diff
cult for our exclu sion laws TO cover
the whole border.
The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1903-12-24

The leaders of the senate have
again demonstrated their confidence
in Senator Beyeridge by continuing
him on the steering committee which
is known in the dignified parlance OF
the senate chamber, as the committee
.scn order of business. Senator Bev-
eridge's associates on this important
committee during the fifty eighth con-
gress will be Senators Allison, AID
rich, Spooner, Hale. Hanna, CulIom.
Lodge and Clark ct Wyoming.
The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1903-12-24

Ministers and cabinets continue to
give assurance that the Russo
japanese controversy is approaching
a peaceful solution, but to an out
slider it seems to be approaching war.
The report that Japan had issued an
ultimatum TO Russia may have been
somewhat premature, but that event
seems imminent.
The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1903-12-24

Hon. B. F, Shively, our 'Frank"
tells reporters that he could not think
of being a candidate for president be-
cause no poor man can afford TO run
for president on the democratic ticket.
But Bryan was poor man when he
was first nomirated. Now just look
at him. And Frank Shively is as good
a speaker as William Jennings bryan.
The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1903-12-24
Before the present session of con

Before the present session of con-
gress ends the question of the admis-
sion into the Union Of Oklahoma,
New Mexico and Arizona may be ex-
pected to become prominent once
more. The idea of the consolidation
OF Arizona and New Mexico into one
8 ate is not pleasing to either Terri
tory, although if they should consent
to 1T they might be admitted. Other
wise they will encounter much oppo-
sition from Eastern senators.
The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1903-12-24

1t is reported from indianapolis
that the democratic state committee
has decided to ATTACK the legality OF
the apportionme6t bill passed by the
last legislature. The papers have al
ready been prepared and will be filed
shortly after the first Of the year. The
outcome will be watched with deep
interest as upon 1t will depend many
important contests at next fall s cleo
ton. This county and this senatorial
district will not De affected. however,
as no change was made in this dis
trict.
The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1903-12-24

War clouds are settling over the far
East. aud London fears that Russia's
lack of diplomacy has effectually ban
ished any chance for peace with
Japan.
The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1903-12-24

In the opionion of Carroll d.
Wright, ssthe employer of the future
must consider his employe as an in
vestor and share profits with him. .
That would be all right in some COM
panies: IN others the employees would
naturally prefer the weekly envelope,
provided it came regularly. Workmen
dislike to take chances ON their wages.
The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1903-12-24

Canada is now negotiating with
Denmark for the purchase of dreen-
land to take the place OF what the
Canadians think they lost in the Alas
kan boundary decision which was so
unsatisfactory to them.
The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1903-12-24

Grave approximations are felt for the
Panama treaty, as the administration
needs live democratic votes To insure
its passage. The minority members,
however. are not United and two re-
pubncans are opposed to ratifying the
treaty
The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1903-12-24

Wage cut Of 10 per cent announced
by the United States Steel corpora
tiOn for the mills in the PittS6urg
district will be followed by the indie
pendent manufacturers. A total of
so. 900 men in the Plttsburg district
alone will be affected.
The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1903-12-24

Former Governor Allen Chandler.
OF Georgia, declares that German is
the best man for the democrats to
nominate, but that he is ''for any
Yankee who can lick Roosevelt He
shows some wisdom, however in adj
vising the democrats not To use the
Panama affair as.an issue.
The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1903-12-24

There was d time when nobody
would accept the Louisiana purchase
as a gift. 1t has been discovered that
Louis Nv once offered it to England
and the offer was rel used. Then he
gave il t, Spain, and Spain gave 1t
back. When Jefferson bought it, peo-
pie thought he had gold brick.
The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1903-12-24
With only Judge Parker and Sena-

With only Judge Parker and Sena-
tor German TO fall back on for presi-
Dental timber, the democrats are
again embarrassed because the former
is not regarded as being well enough
known to be available, and the latter
is altogether too well known to he ac-
ceptable. Lafayette Courier.
The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1903-12-24

Clark Howell, editor of the Atlanta
Constitution. says President Roosevelt
did right ia recognizing Panama and
that the Treaty should be ratified.
The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1903-12-24

Senators believe the action Of south.
ern legislatures will save the Panama
treaty. European powers will stand
by the United States.
The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1903-12-24

Senator Fairbanks has accepted in
vitations to address the Newark
Chamber of Commerce on Jan. and
the Republican club of New York on
Feb. u, Lincoln's birthday.
The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1903-12-24
Christmas Services.

There will be holy communion for
the communicates of St. Thomas
church at 7:3O a. M, and at 1880 a..
all christians are cordially invited to
the service of worship that commence
rates God S love for US in the birth of
our Lord Jesus Christ.
The following is the program of
the service:
Processinnal hvnn No II
The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1903-12-24
HORSE OWNERS-TAKE NOTICE
DIR. J. III. MATHEWS
Veterinary Surgeon and Dentist

Look your horses teeth If they sharp will them
Sideways obbe when they eat Indigestion Owners
of should neglect this opportunity having their horses
nd Free of Charge and carefully prescribed for giving them the benefit of
the treatment known in the practice of Veterinary Surgery
doubt the value of my inment.
is
was H. Mathews
horse had H.
cured his lameness and him all the
joint owned by complete
SoNDoN
H. shoulder ameness
by in
Walkerton
amenes IN H. Ind
t up. E. A. HnEy Lapore, Ind
thw lin
days to m CHRIS FREEse lapote Ind
of chronic of shoulder laneness after be-
The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-12-25
FOREIGN MISSIONS.
The American Board of Commission
ers wives Interesting Statistics
in Its Annual Report.

Boston, Dec. 1.-THE American board
of commissioners for foreign missions
made public Wednesday a summary of
Protestant foreign missions. In most
of the items there is shown to be an ad-
vance over the reports of the preceding
year. The income of societies in the
United States and Great Britain alone
shows an increase of over 81, 200, 900.
The statistics are as follows: Stations,
5,771; out stations, 22,364; total mission
aries, 1868; native workers, 1921;
communicates in churches, 1887, 042;
pupils under instruction, 1,127,S5 The
total native constituency is 3,613,3 91.
The United States is represented by
6,991 stations and out stations; 1,617
men, 1888 women; &c, sol native labor
ers; SOC, 600 communicates; 43,723 added
last year; 259,537 under instructions;
the income of the societies reported is
$~7,176,845.
The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-12-25
WRECK IN IOWA.
E%ugineer Of Trail. Instantly Killed
Near OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Re-
ceiye Shaking Up.

Malvern, Ia, Dec. 16.-Engineer
Knox, on the Denver limited, No. !,
west bound, was killed in a wreck one
mile east of this place at five O'Clock
Tuesday morning. His engine and the
forward trucks on the baggage car left
the track. The engine rolled yer on
it's side, p%inioning Knox beneath it. He
was instantly killed. The fireman, Law
renee Hayes, was not injured except for
bruises. He was On the upper side Of
the engine as it was overturned and ran
at once to the relief Of his engineer, but
was too late to be of any assistance.
The wreck occurred in the bottom
stretch one mile east of this city. What
caused the engine to leave the track is
not, known. The passengers OF the train
were given a terrible shaking up. Men
and women were thrown from their
sleepers or chairs into the aisles and a
panic followed the crash which came
when the engine left the track.
Fortunately, although the train was
heavily laden with human freight, no
one was seriously injured among the
passengers list.
Knox is one of the oldest engineers on
the road. He resided at Creston, where
he leaves a wife, two grown daughters
and a son.
The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-12-25
BIBLE SUNDAY"
Plan for World Wide Observance
March Z, 1904, Approved by
American Bible Society.

New York, Dec. ia worldwide
observance of March 7, 1904, as Bible
Sunday" proposed by the British and
Foreign Bible society, has been ap-
proved by the American Bible society.
On that date falls the centenary of the
British society, which during the cen-
fury has distributed $50, 900, 900 volumes
of the Scriptures in about $40 Ian
guages, at a total expenditure of over
$4,000, 900. The purpose of both
British and American societies is to
translate and circulate the Scriptures
at a nominal cost. Pledges of COOP
Grafton in this centenary have been
received from hundreds of Lutheran
reformed and Waldensian churches and
evangelical missions in Europe; from
the mission centers in Africa, South
and Central America, Asia and the
islands Of Polynesia, and from the
leading churches of North America.
The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-12-25
The Senate Ito Cuba)-aTake 1t; It's Yours"

Japan, and twice premier of Japan;
Count Inouye, former Japanese ambas-
sador to Corea, and at one time a finance
minister of Japan, and Marquis Oyama.
the field marshal who distinguished him
self in the war between Japan and China,
were among those who took part in the
conference Wednesday, between the
elder statesmen of Japan and Premier
Katsura, the foreign minister, the war
minister and the marine minister, last
ing three hours.
Russian officials Silent.
st. Petersburg, Dec. 18.-The reticence
of the foreign Office here has increased
since the dispatch of the reply of Russia
to Japan, and the officials decline to con-
firm or deny reports of the character OF
the reply printed abroad. The feeling
in diplomatic circles is not quite sc OPP
timistic as it has been, but possibly this
is only a reflex of the opinion of the for
eign press, as the diplomats themselves
admit they are very much in the dark.
No Foothold In Corea.
Seoul, Dec. 19.--The attitude of the
Russians here indicates a possible de-
termination to prevent Japan from gain
ing a foothold in Corea. The radicals
insist that Russia must reach the sea
to insure protection in the future and
argue that Japan in possession OF Corea
would be a constant menace.
The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-12-25
n Bank,

Sioux City, Ia, Dec. 17.-Robbers blew
open the safe of the Citizens savings
bank at Quimby, 40 miles northeast of
Sioux City, early yesterday morning,
and secured $ 3 200 in cash. Burglars also
blew the door from the safe of the post
office atPaulina and secured SIPS. While
in search of the men who committed the
latter robbery, Sheriff Price, of O'Brien,
county, captured two of the Quimby
bank robbers.
The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-12-25
AMERICAN WAYS.
The Interstate Commerce Commission
Says Slaughter of Pnssen-
gers Is ~DisSraccful.

Washington, Dec. 19.-The slaughter
of railroad passengers in the United
States sis a disgrace to the American
people," is the words of the interstate
commerce commission, which Friday
made it's seventeenth annual report to
congress. The commission supplies a
tentative draft of a bill providing for
government regulation of the railroads
which would make them safer.
The gross earnings of SO per cent. OF
railroad mileage for the year ending
June 80, 1908, amountedt to 81 800 $50, 679,
or $9,3S2 per mile of line. Operating ex-
penses aggregated 81, S,526,4 S3, or
$6,l97 per mile, leaving net earnings Oh
s641, 630,196, or $3,1S5 per mile. Fifty
included in this statement" of operating
expenses. Compared with the previous
year the net earnings are greater by
some 1874, 0O0, 900 and stock dividends are
greater by nearly $4,000, 900. In 1897
the gross earnings averaged only S6,l22
and operating expenses 81 ,106 per mile.
The Elkins law is discussed at great
length. The commission refers again
to the evils resulting from excessive
payments by railroad companies for the
use of private cars, particularly those
owned and controlled by shippers. Re-
f%rigerator cars, tank cars and stock cars
are the kinds of cars mentioned as re-
ceiying excessive mileage.
The commission recommends that the
payment of car mileage for the use OF
private cars be regulated, and says that