davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis journal., 1903-11-15

the turkey. preparing the sauces, adding a
pinch of salt here and a grain Of sugar
there-putting the finishing touches on the
substantials and the delicacies. Father, son
and the rest of the men folks have been to
church, sitting in the family pew, while
they heard the preacher uplift his voice
in thanks to God for the many material
and spiritual blessings of the twelve
months past. In the family sitting room,
with its walnut, black haircloth furniture,
Its old organ. little out Of tune but still
in condition to sound the familiar paens of
Thanksgiving, the faded carpet, once a
brilliant brussels and the family pride and
the cheerful crate, the hungry ones are
waiting the magic summons, dinner is
, ready
Father and mother lead the way to the
table, so happy that tears stand in their
eyes. The circle is formed around the
board, each one finding the old place A
moments hush and then the voice of the
rather, shaking a little, is lifted in brief
grace and then comes a babel of exuberant
voices while father. with his old-time skill.
carves the turkey and loads the plates He
remembers all the likes and dislikes Of son
and daughter and helps each to the portions
pleasure, mother receives the compliments
on her cooking that never failed to please
There never was such turkey, such cram
berry sauce. such pie and such coffee as
mother makes, and everybody eats with
hearty appetite. the grandchildren gorging
themselves until the women folks exchange
The Indianapolis journal., 1903-11-15

fessionals in New Orleans was so great
that the Board of Health interfered to
subdue them. In Washington the belief
among negroes originally from the Gulf
States. Only a few years ago, within the
shadows of the Capitol and the Washing
ton Monument, there were those among
whom the voodoo doctor was almost as
great man as the minister, though Of
the latter this city has always had rep
resentation notable alike for eloquence and
pastoral fidelity. The voodoo doctor pro-
fesses to cure everything, from wart to
what he calls "devilish conjuration." He
employs drugs of deadly power, INDUCES
words and curiously- fashioned objects, for
which he claims cabalistic qualities.
A common jargon composed of corrupt
spoken and understood by all voodoo doc
tors from Haiti to New York, and 1t is
generally believed among their patrons
that they can both cause. and cure mad
ness, paralysis, and all kindred evils. In
Africa, crime is detected by the use of
''siper wood" the gray, niottled bark Of
not affect the innocent, but causes the
guilty to fall down in fit. Ground ivory
is a milk-white root, with a dark skin.
1t effects the ruin of mind and body. Its
victims limbs swell, he becomes emaciated,
and reason deserts him. These herbs a
few years ago were both obtained In Liber-
la, and shipped to New York by way OF
Bile plant, comes from Dongola. Button
wood also is used. Not long ago Phila-
delphia furnished business enough to sup
port three of the most noted yoodoo doc
tors in this country. One of them de-
fined the leading principle of his somber
art as similar to that of every other re-
fees for it. If the sacrifice is for good,
offer dove; If for evil. snake.
About quarter 6,sof OF a, century ago @
were written for General Armstrong by
students of Hampton. The material in
The Indianapolis journal., 1903-11-15

never bites tears its victims, but COM
pels them TO 60 with IL into the bogs and
marshes TO die. The only charm by which
an unfortunate pedestrian can escape IL il
to remove his coat quickly, and put the
garment on wrong side out. This action
Is said TO disarm the little nend.
These are weaknesses OF a rsoe never
really fierce aud cruel By nature, and al
ways noted for It's gentleness. piiability OF
temperament. and quick and sincere SYM
pathy with suffering, wherever encoun-
tered. The superstitions Of the negro to a
great extent have been interviewer with his
religious beliefs. To-day the respectable.
middle-class Washington colored man. with
his responsibility In church and communi-
ty, his regard for his pastor, and his affili-
alton with numerous beneficial and secret
societies has little time or inclination for
either delusions or incantations and ridi-
cules his less advanced naighbor, who still
fears even that once terrible being. the
might DOCTOR" The small colored boy
fellowship I'm the medical profession. and
knows that In order TO become a physician
he must first. after fashion, be a might
doctor" himself.
1t is said by colored teachers IN the
public schools OF Washington that Il is al
most impossible for them to gather from
their pupils any negro folklore. So certain
are the young people that what they might
say would be laughed at that they will not
reveal, even to teachers of their own race,
the existence OF any peculiar beliefs and
habits, whence IL may be inferred that the
driftwood of African folklore will soon
be entirely log. among the solid timber Of
American intellectual advancement
The Indianapolis journal., 1903-11-15


Turkeys viii be ripe next week. They
may be picked or p;ucked early In the
week. but must not be eaten until high
noon on Thursday. when they should be
served roasted.
Advices from the rural districts convey
the pleasing information that there is
large crop OF turkeys this fall. The trees
arc full OF them, especially the highest
limbs OF the trees. for at this season of
the year it's a wise turkey that roosts
high Thanksgiving Is at hand. and the
familiar story OF q massacre OF the Chris
tians by the terrible Turks will be re-
versed into tale OF the wholesale behead-
Ing OF the tender turks by the cannibalistic
Christians.
In every barnyard OF the Hoosier State
turkeys are fattenina for the slaughter
Big goblers strutting In all the glory of
their autumn plumage, CALAMITY escort
ing their harems OF plump hens, chortle
and gobble, little realizing that the sword
OF Damocles-the ak of Farmer Brown or
Farmer Smith-hangs; over their heads.
King Turkey does not reign alone over this
hand OF fatness. Sir Goose and Sir Cock,
lesser sovereigns. it is true. but command
Ing the allegiance OF many. scratch and
scrambling over each other to get at the
grain. Unexpectedly provided for them in
unusually generous quantities. They. too,
are walking In the valley of the shadow of
death, and wot not of their peril.
Thanksgiving would not be THANKSGIVING
without a big turkey. stuffed with sage or
oyster dressing. or with some other de-
hcious stuffin' that mother alone knows
hopelessly stricken OF poverty, need be
without fat turkey. !or at least a plump
chicken this Thanksgiving. for Indianas
poultry crop has been especially good this
year 1t IS an old saying that when there
Is plenty or corn there will be plenty Eof
turkeys. and Hoosier farmers have had no
fault to find with the corn crop this sea-
son. Crafty dealers. il is possible, and not
at all improbable, may set up plea of
scarcity or fowls in order to explain
slight increase In prices, but our country
cousins are prepared TO send in carloads
OF the great Thanksgiving chef d oeuvre.
Neither would Thanksgiving be Thanks
giving without the great American pie.
First OF all comes the mince, in whose fat
bosom reposes tribute from the orchard. the
field and the barnyardl Next is the pump
kin. close rival OF the mincc. the famous
p-u-n-k-i-n-punkin pie. Flanking the mince
and pumpkin on the pgntry shelves are ap-
pie open-faced. cross-bar and hunting
case; plum. OF several varieties; peach,
lemon. cream, cranberry and what not.
There is never an EXCISE for dearth OF
pie and so or course there will be an
abundance OF this Indispensable adjunct OF
the Thanksgiving feast. 1t takes other
the real Thanksgiving dinner. 1t Is true.
The Indianapolis journal., 1903-11-15

but they are the big half of the feast and
In Hoosier homes the other substantials
will not be lacking.
or all American holidays THANKSGIVING
touches the home the closest. 1t is almost
invariably the rounding up under the
parental roof tree of those who have been
separated during the year. Father and
mother, bent and gray. welcome back the
boy who has been carving a way for himself
in the big city and the married daughter
comes with her husband and children to
add to the happiness of the feast. The
country cousin and the city uncle find
places always ready for them at the
Thanksgiving board. Through all and over
all is the true and tender feeling Of home,
sweet home.
The failures and annoyances Of life are
forgotten around mothers table, groaning
under its load OF good home cookin'. 1t
is a good. old-fashioned dinner that the re-
united ones sit down to enjoy. 1t is served
at IL o'clock. or as near that hour as
mother can arrange It. She with the mar
ried daughter, has been toiling, rosy-red,
in the kitchen at the labor OF love, basting
The Indianapolis journal., 1903-11-15
FOLKLORE OF THE NEGRO.
Denfzens OF Darker Washington and
Some of Their Superstitions.

washington fOSt.
Occasionally a murder or other crime,
having for its motive revenge rather than
robbery, brings to mind the fact that
among a portion of Washingtons negro
population still linger traces Of the primi-
tive superstitions of the race, to say moth
ing of the lurking poison of voodooism,
witchcraft, trick-doctoring and other forms
of Obi.
The delusions and uncanny practices of
the American negro found their way to
this country through the West Indies They
had their origin on the gold coast and the
slave coast of Africa, where many centur-
les before cruel slavers, with their mourn
full cargoes, turned their prows toward the
shores of the new world, generations of
black children heard from the lips of their
elders the tales and traditions of Brer Fox,
Brer Wolf, Brer Rabbit, immortalized by
Joel Chandler Harris. From the same
source came demonolatry, now practically
unknown in the United States-least of all,
among the highly favored negroes who re-
side in Washington. Only among persons
of unmixed African descent can be found
any knowledge of the now discarded cult
known as deVil-worship. 1t was believed
that the true God, being good, needed no
worship, but there were multtudes of
malignant spirits whom IL was necessary
10 propitiate by gifts and incantations.
AS a rule. 1t is only the elder negroes,
or those who have survived the hardest
conditions, who can tell of the achieve
ments Of supernatural beings. tales suf-
ficiently weird as TO excite the younger
and more enlightened of their race to at
tempt. through some go-between in the
shape OF a voodoo doctor or "conjure"
man or woman. to rid themselves of ene-
mics or win for themselves sweethearts.
Slowly but surely the advantages which
have fallen to the lot of the colored peo-
pie since the civil war are breaking the
power of the dusky necromancer, but as
late as 1856 the number of voodoo pro-
The Indianapolis journal., 1903-11-15
WINTER TOMATOES.

New York Times.


New York Times.
The tomato season II nearly over said
Washington market dealer, apologtsing
for the poor quality Of his tomatoes.
But it's just beginning In PHILADELPHIA
said the customer.
ct always heard they were slow DOWN
there" replied the dealer. resurrectipg tho
moth-eaten Joke.
''Slow in some things." said the former
Philadelphian. but able to show New York
thing or two In tomatoes. Down there only
the poor people eat tomatoes In summer.
Then about Thanksgiving day the green
houses OF Chester and Delaware counties be-
gin TO produce tomatoes such as you seldom
see In this market
They are fine, smooth. perfectly ripened.
and without any core. They are raised un-
der glass; with scientific care OF the vines.
all the superfuous leaves being plucked or
SO as to put all the strength OF the stalk Into
the fruit
''Only two vines are allowed to grow. from
O single root, and they supported on
trellises. The vines last about six months.
and sometimes reach a length of forty or
ifty feet and become as thick as grapevines.
Branches are plucked OF. and they are kept
bare OF leaves back OF the point at which the
fruit Is forming.
''The earth around the roots is renewed
from time 10 time, and the vines are 50
trained that the fruit Is exposed 10 the sun.
The result is the production OF tomatoes
such you don't dream OF here In New
York. and the supply Is kept up until June.
when the outdoor crop begins 20 come IN.
and people who appreciate really fno
tomatoes stop eating them.
Every day from November 20 June these
tomatoes come In carloads 10 the Philadel-
phia markets. and they are all disposed OF
there At moderate prices. Twenty cents q
pound Is the prevailing cost.
These tomatoes never reach your New
York commission houses, but your best h0-
tells and restaurants buy them In Philadel-
phia and have them sent on by express.
Your Long island and New Jersey farm
ers viii learn some day that there IL good
money inFaising tomatoes In winter under
glass"
The Indianapolis journal., 1903-11-15
Hing Turkeys Hour Is Near

of Being
in Thanksgiving
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1903-01-31

l'ockhart, Texas, january 2o-In tho dis.
tibntion Of his oficial patronage Governor
hanham has remembered and rewarded the
loyalty OF Caldwell county. Captain jacob
L. Ellison OF Martindale one OF the county
commissioners Of the county and n brother
h'law Of Railroad Commissioner storey.
mas received the appointment as one Of the
ooaIu OF penltentiary commissioners The
appointment Is good one and Is uniyer-
sa.ly lndorsed In this section.
ine court Of criminal appeals 4 nsession
~ austin, has revesed aud emanded the
euse OF inc state vs.. Charles Jones. who
MAS tried and convicted az the terms OF the
ulslrict court OF Caldwell county FOR The
murder of Dan Roberts. Jones is a negro
aanq nus victim Wassa young white mau OF
ny the somewhat noted case Of Cossiapo
Jackson VS. The Galveston HARRISBURG and
Sah antonio Railway Company. which was
.r'ru az me last term OF the district court
IN Lockhart. IN which the plaintiff. negro
hoy, recovered judgment against tho road
LOT damages for personal injuries the
rou, OF civll appeals Of the Third district.
~ AuSlh, handed down an opinion revcrs.
ing ana remauding the case
MT Jesse Sanders, son OF Mr.. ] I san.
dtrs' sherlh of Caldwell county. and him.
sen q deputy. was married last night 10
MISS ethel Hackery. the daughter OF Mr..
JACK Iachery, residing a few miles west
Of Lockhart.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1903-01-31
X. & 6. Beers Letter.


New Orleans. January 30 Liverpoo!i al.
vance was disappointing, market opened
to lighter. bot advanced shortly after
on fresh buying predicated on tho erpect-
cd hulHsh weekly statistics Lnter IN the
session the Visible supply statement which
was anticipated 10 be very bulllsh. was
construed hearishly covering decline Of
TO from the top, making the net loss
poiuts on the day
THE amount brought into sight for the
week was $4,000. agniust 2fl,oOO last year;
this aggregate marketed from September
I 20 dntc Is 1857. OOD, against 7,0s2,OOO last
wear The thirty leading interior towns
during tho week received l84,DOO against
i25. CO last yenr The visible supply Of
,r,crlc1n during thr week decreased 2H,
against an increase OF $1,000 last year, nnd
ihe total 10 date is 3,2o5.oOo, against 5'0sb-
Inc aggregate Increase during the week
an tho risible supply Of all kinds last year
Vas 800 II was estimated thar this
vaar n U.0uld show n decrease Of 10000, or
Teiattyc loss Of $4,000 for the week this
wear Instead the increase this yenr was
"a COO: therefore, the estimated estmators
missed tine actual facts by oyeresuma ting
me decrease by 1900. As the American
supply showed practically no loss aurllf
Inc week knowing the amount pr9usht
into eigbt 5000 less than lest year, TINS az
Inc Total gupply turned out amounted 70
~ oOO mare tlian looked for il proves that
st,inners n 70 not taking cotton as Freely ~
htg level as was generally supposed my
largo interior movement II Indicative OF
freer receipts neat week, snd ~ the amount
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1903-01-31

Heeton, Texas, january %. Mr. e Mar.
''n spent several days in Dayton this week
y" W. Ford made flying trip TO
Houston Thursday.
'here was large and Jolly crowd I'm
attendance at the party given at the new
residence Of Mr.. win Pledger last saturday
w y. Fordtran was ont Wednesday
from Houston
W. w. kempner Of Galveston spent
Wednesday at Riccton.
MI stewart the Mccormick binder man,
was out 20 see us this week.
r. c. lyth anl fnmily made an overland
Trip TO Houston this week
o. II. Seigermund, who has been confined
10 ms bed for the past i've months is grad.
uailN sinking and Is delirlous at times
WIN llttle hope of improvements
Mr LOWS and family, MIR Slate and
FAMILY OF Illinois, have moved to Rlccton
ana VIII try rice farming this year. They
are relatives OF Mr.. and Mrs ilock.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1903-01-31
Truekers Ma a calu.r.

'"IVert ieNas, January 2s.-The Caiver,
leuck Trowers' association Is constantine
growing N favor IN this section. The moot.
ing OF the association at the city hall YES.
tefday was n very enthusiastic one. The
association has decided TO buy stock on Inc
East Texas Fruit and Truck Growers OK.
cun5inEc ana therehy derive the benefit OF
SelinG theF products through the me,
uinm OF this exchange. Among other i'm.
portaht matters taken up yesterday was
the protection OF birds which are rendering
thT farluers' fruit aud truck growers such
NaIuable service in destroying insects i'm
ms section. II was decided to pptilioit
Judge John r. Crawford. Robertson com.
tvs representative AZ Austin. reguesiins.
him TO urge the passing Of bll to nre,
vent the killing OF these birds.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1903-01-31
Temple CITY COUNCIL.
Rigid Economy Is Restoring Healthy
Financial Condition.

Rigid Economy Is Restoring a Healthy
Financial Condition.
Temple, Texas, January 2S. At a regular
session OF the city council yesterday The
city attorney was directed TO call for aud
register warrant for Sj0toS in favor OF
the Eureka Hose company Of New York. as
partial payment foG Gre hose purchased hy
the city Alderman Sayrc was also In
structod ia negotiate IN hchnlf OF the city
tho calling In OF market and opera house
bonds to amount OF $500 az par and In
tcrost The strict economy Of ;hc council
for tho past few years Ia rapidly putting
the cts on It's feet financially aud allowing
the taking up of some outstanding bonds
An ordnance granting 20 the Carnegie
Library association the right to control the
building In tho park. but asserting title
thereto IN the city, was passed under Gus
pension OF the rules. The ordinance per
mits the library To charge fer admit tance
TO lectures and entertainments held In tho
building, hut no charge is permitted for the
use of books
The franchise requested by Nlcssrs Smith
or a Merrill for steam hcntinR plant, I'M
der motion, went over until next meeting,
when the council proposes to take hnal ac-
lion.
The city attorney reported the collection
Of ali back taxes for three yenrS from the
water and electric light plants. This mat
ter has been before the council for sorue
time and tho city attorney hnd entered suit
for the collection OF the taxes. All lltign-
ttou has been stopped to the satisfaction
of tho council the water and light company
aud tho qualification Of the people
AZ "a meeting Of the tre department Mon
day night IL was decided 20 give mas
queradc hHl some time I'm February. Eldon
Rogers, Snm DOll, Donald l}rice, Harper
stephens nud Frank Adams we're appointed
a committee to look after the success OF
the affair
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1903-01-31
MoRLp,s WsleLE sUPpLY
Hesters Statement Shows Increase for
the Week.

the Week
New Orleans January 10 Secret ry
Hcstcr's statement Of the worlds visible
SIMPLY az cotton comparcs the figures OF
thia week with last week, last Senr and tn
wear before II shows mn increase for thN
ucoR iust closed Of %, 7t3 bales, ng Inst an
increase ~ ~ 1G+ last wear ana an lncrc'a >
uf 10 3ol ihe ycnr before last The tai
visible Is 409I 100 bales, against 4W4,2t2
last wrrh 4.jG33TT last year and 4.294.IuO
yeur before last az this the total OF Amer
lean Is 3, 2Ol 9,sj bales, ngaiust 32o5 2l2 last
work 3GS3,377 last year and 3,36l7OD q +
before last, Gnd 81 al other kinds ilclun
lag Egypt Brazil, India, etc. $4,000 bales,
upalnst $4,000 last week, $1,000 list year
aud S63 eco wear before last
The total worlds visible supply of cotton
as above shows an Increase camp red with
Inst week uf 437a9 bales, dccreas' CON
pared with last year Of Az, A22 and De-
crease compared with year before last 0t
i2a,7f5.
Of the worlds visible supply OF cotton
ms above there is now ahoat and hc'd In
Grrnt Britain and continental Europe
lG44 ,0OG. against 2.361 900 Inst year ma
i.NI5,OcU wear before last, IN Egyrt i31,Opl
against 2IS,0oO last year md 1000 car
before laet. iu India 100000 bales against
9s9 600 last year and $4,000 year hoforc
last and In the United states 100000.
against t,5fT.oGO last yenr and $4,000
pear before last.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1903-01-31
Bryan Cotton Mil Discussed.

Bryan, Texas, January 20 The commit.
tee from tie business league having ia
charge the establishment OF cotton mill
here, held n meeting last night and dis
cussed the situation at length. They have
not yet decided as TO whether or not they
win accept the proposition Of Judge Hatch
or or Houston A subcommittee composed
~ ". Il. Saunders. Ed Hall, s. NJ. Win
tiers and j ~. Butler, was appointed 10
visit the various cotton mills In Texas and
secure all the information possible. As
soon as this committee returns and makes
lis report dehute action VIII be taken on
Judge Hatchers proposition,
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1903-01-31
s,,sllnox DANCER over at Rosebud.

Rosebud. Texas. January IS The small
pox patients have about all been discharged
and the public schools will open again
next week. No services have been heiu
On onv Of the church for two sundays al
the request Of the health Office ne u nan
ssc!riUe tbcir usual services next sabbath
M. constable and two doctors went down
in Niggertovn Monday and yaecl .l,snat
a 40 ~, 5jscase from that quarter.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1903-01-31
niuersIfioation In Eanettn.

ia Grange. Texas, January 90 The
farmers along the Colorado river, near
La Grange. are In many instances diver
styling their crops for 1903 The West
Point Canning company is Offering good
Inducements to farmers to raise tomatoes
and other truck and many acres Of land
heretofore planted In cotton viii this year
he used for truck farming, Jake Wolters
aud WIN Taylor of this city have leased
the Henry FARES place, one Of the best
plantations gu The river and win plant tho
same I'm corn cane, pumpkins and peas
and extensively raise and fatten hogs for
the market. The venture Of these gentle
men Is tho first departure on largo scale
from the old method Of farming in Fayette
county.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1903-01-31

gry t DAY SO Tar as Beaumont IS concerned
week and the new PARK sfsr,ef u a,i next
t se uays more. The street car pooplc ma
lalr asSoclauon have made agreements tbnt
mean the park win be n beauty.
me corner stone I'm the new Rants,
h,gldin,, VIII nc laid February a. mo
,. ii,su'"s WIZ cost approximately SJouu
when completed and viii be- pcrhans w,
hnnusomest in the city. ''"aps inc
INC county teachers institute win ma,
,onl1rr29w morning at 10 o'clock In ny
=, M Mos. ucrrinkiud & Culbcrt are said 10
mont Ice and Brewing cor,,.nn pSau'
hhoephcr the manager. states t6ot 49,.
nope TO have the brewery compIsto1 ~