Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-12-24
Church Preparations Elaborate
---Governor Cummins Will
Probably Issue No Paroles
LARRABEE MAKES SUGGESTION
Writes Some Very Pertinent Questions
in Answer to Arlington Papers Re-
quest for a Christmas Article-cur-
ator Aldrich Secures Valuable
Newspaper Flo.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Dec. 24.-While the city
az Des Moines has some reputation
thruout the state for lack OF hospital
ity, perhaps for coldness and unsoc-
liability, the fact remains that Des
Moines celebrates Christmas and sim
liar events in befitting manner and
with as much heartiness and good
cheer as other sections Of the state.
The Christmas shopping display this
year has been as good as usual ana
business firms report having had good
trade. The windows of the big stores
have not been as elaborately decorated
as in some other years but the streets
have been lined with people. Church
preparations in Des Moines are always
carried on elaborately, tho the work is
so scattered that it is not always pos
sible to see it at one glance. The sale
of evergreens for Christmas trees has
been much greater this year than US
ual. showing that more of the trees go
into the homes Of the people than be-
fore. AS Christmas comes on Sunday
there will be closing on Monday in the
mercantile district and the federal,
state and county offices will generally
rest on that date.
1t has been customary for the gov
ernors to issue a number of paroles as
Christmas gift to deserving persons.
1t is believed there will be none this
year. Governor Cummins has been
sparing the use of his pen when it
comes to the signing OF paroles and
pardons.
An interesting Christmas suggestion
comes from Ex-Governor Larrabee, who
WAS asked to write Christmas article
for paper at Arlington and wrote the
following pertinent questions:
What is the greatest obstacle to our
progress in civilization?
rs there any limit to business de-
velopment and achievement?
(Which is the most potent force at
our state capital, its 1O4 saloons or its
eighty churches?
What are the greatest corrupting
influences that hover about our legisla-
tive bodies?
Should the acceptance of tips from
CORPORATIONS by public officers be per-
mitted?
Should not public officer with a
railroad pass, an express or telegraph
frank in his pocket, feel sheepish?
is there an honest or legitimate ar
gunent against President Roosevelt's
recommendations for increasing the eff
Hnfann1r -
colnmission?'
The most valuable addition to the
materials being gathered by the state
historical department has Just been
made by Curator Charles Aldrich. This
is the purchase of bound volumes Of
the Keokuk Gate City from earliest
times to the present. The Gate CITY
was established as newspaper known
as the Valley Whig, at Keosauqua. in
the '40's. 1t was continued there for a
number of years then moved to Keo-
kuk. The files secured by Mr. Aldrich
commence with the first issue and ara
complete. It covers the period when
the paper was edited first by ]. b.
Howell, later by Sam Clark, and then
by DIR. Moorhead, all great editors. The
papers are filled with historical infor-
nation that will be more valuable in
future years. 1t covers what might be
called the glorious period Of the his
tory of Keosauqua and Keokuk. 1t was
in the latter city there lived Mark
Twain for number of years and his
brother; John c. Breckenridge, of
Kentucky, Lived there for a time: Cen
Dol Nq
George w. Moray, also q cabinet Off
GER; William e. Miller and Daniel F.
Miller, great jurists; Edward john
stone, General Parrott, General Corse
and others well known in the history
of the state. The files We're collected
by the late Judge G. r. Davis, who
was pioneer collector Of historical
matter. Curator Aldrich regards him.
self as especially fortunate in being
able to secure this most valuable news
paper file in the state.
On the market in Des Moines are to
be seen q large number of opossums.
Some of these come from the far south,
but it is fact that 'possums have be-
come very common in Iowa in recent
years, and dozens Of them are caught
not far from Des Moines and sold here.
They have been on the increase stead
lily and are as good as the southern
animals and cheaper. Des Moines has
a large colored population and the use
of 'possums is growing with them.
A Christmas gift for Secretary Shaw
was ordered yesterday at the state cap
itol. A handsome portrait of the head
of the treasury department is to be
frontispiece for the official register OF
1905. The registers will have co1npiet-
ed the list of ex-governors with pup
lication of Shaw's picture and in the
future other statesmen than. the gov
ernors will be called upon to furnish
the adornment for this useful little an
nual.
It is not known what other changes