davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1905-12-14

festival air; but from the pine lands
of Maine to the mistletoe haunts of
California, from the creeping ground
pines of northern Wisconsin to the
high parasite greens down in Hawaii.
we all have learned how to keep
Christmas. Poor indeed is the house
that does not show Christmas wreath
in the window, hang holly over the
picture of some beloved absent one,
sport d bit of mischief-proving mis-
tletoe.
Once the housewife was concerned
only with the gifts for her brood; now
a most important part of the prep
aration is the Christmas decorations.
But in both city and village we have
goodly store to choose from. The
markets are overfowing; greatest
strides have been made in the Christ
mas greens" industry Such oppor-
tunity as we have to make house and
church beautiful First of all, of
course is the tree, and this we may
buy very reasonably. the best of ali
fragrant, symmetrical. strong bal
sam fir; then we shall want yards and
yards of ground-pine, to loop about
chandelier to wreathe from corner to
corner to drape about pictures; holly
with its greenest of green and red
dest of red, is indispensable, and we
select many branches the mistletoe
we get in smaller quantities, but pay
much attention to quality, want little
twigs thick with waxen berries. Then
the house would not be compete. ac-
cording to present notions. unless
there were. some of the wonderful
Christmas blossoms; and we buy both
potted plant and cut flowers. A house
full Of fragrant pines and blossoms
makes an ideal Christmas atmosphere.
bespeaks rugged winter beauty. and
sweet summer promise.
Probably even middle-aged people
of the day think the Christmas tree
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1905-12-14

and all others in his employ. All told.
this broker drops something like $10,-
900 into the Christmas box.
Although wage-earners in o.her
marts of trade probably, as a rule,
do not fare as well as this, few there
are who are entirely forgotten.
A certain big department store in
one of the eastern cities has given
each of its 1000 odd employees five dol
lars apiece for several years past. 1 he
amount is not graded according to the
employees position and importance.
The members Of the firm take the
ground that they give the five-dollar
bills simply as a reminder of the good
will they bear their workers, and so
the head of the silk department is not
entitled to a gift one tithe bigger than
that received by the humblest package
wrapper in the store.
For some reason or other. five dol
lars has come to be looked on, out
side of banking and financial circles,
to employees. Inquiry among Office
workers in the sky-scrapers and he
sales-peOple in the retail and whole
sale stores has substantiated this
statement.
But many firm does not limit it's
Christmas box contributions to those
who work for it directly. This is par
ticularly true of concerns with Of
fees in the skyscrapers. The eleya-
tor men, the superintendent, the win
dow cleaners, the scrub women. all are
taken care Of And the amount of
money they get is a caution. In one
OF the lesser skyscrapers Of New YORK
the three elevator men, when they
counted up their gifts n last Christ
mas eve. found that they had received
a little over SlG0 apiece These men
had put mp box. artisticaliy painted
with holly designs in each elevator.
Quite lot of small chang, was
dropped into them. but more was
given them direct by the tenants. in
sums varying from 81 TO S25.
The Christmas pickings of this trio
are small, though, when compared
with that of the men who run etpya-
tors In the great office buildings thar
have several thousand tenants ins cad
OF several hundred as IN the r.o's
case.
Another class Of men which reaps
harvest during Christmas weeA -
thc walters IN the duwn-taWn res-
taurants of New York PHILADELPHIA
end Chicago where only lunch s
served, the walter Who does not Gear
SIS over and aboye his usual per
auisites feels sure that there Is no
"gogd will toward men on earth. Yer
h,z holiday tIIs wo4,d DO regarded
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1905-12-14

az a mere pittance by the dignf1ed
automatOn who attends to the stom-
ach5 wants in the swell hotels up
town. Five and ten-dollar bills come
his way in seemingly never-ending
stream. For your millionaire at din
ner around the mellow season finds
the chief aid to good digestion in max
ing happy those who wait on him.
Walters who ought to know, declare
That it is not uncommon for waiter
IN such place as the WaldorfAstOria
to come out $500 and $40O and even
$500 ahead during holiday week.
Another contribution of generous
proportions put into the Christmas
box is that for dinners to the poor
Hundreds of dinners of this character
are given on Christmas day through
out this broad land-dinners with
turkey and cranberry sauce and pie
and ice cream, and all the good things
associated with the day. And these
good things cost money-turkey at %
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1905-12-14
SETTING THE CHRISTMAS DINNER


In serving the Christmas dinner the
table should appeal to the eye, as
well as to the stomach, and the host
ess should look well to the setting of
the festive board and the decorations.
TO be a model dinner the hostess
requires a perfectly appointed table,
well cooked. tempting food, and the
correct serving of the same.
In selecting her decorations she
should consider the size of the table
and the number of the guests. If the
table be small every effort should be
bent toward making it appear large
and well filled. The favors can be of
good size and the decorations nu-
merous and of a nature that would
look fussy upon more sizable table.
If the table be large and the guests
numerous, the effort should be to
make it look smaller. This is cone
by keeping it plain and by arranging
the trimmings high. Avoid overcr Dwd-
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1905-12-14
CHRISTMAS GIVING
1T IS GENERAL AMONG ALL
CLASSES IN AMERICA.
Fhe Rich as Rule Give Generously
of Their Vast Means-Vast
Sums Sent to Europe by
Emigrants.

Christmastide is the time of good
cheer. The time when with a nat
ural impulse, the millionaire, banker
broker, merchant and the wage work
er remember their less fortunate
brother man. The man who would
undertake even to approximate the
millions given away at this time OF
year would set himself an impossible
task, but the following information
may aid one to form some idea.
The present-day custom of en-
ployers of giving money gifts to their
employees undoubtedly had its origin
among bankers and brokers; but it
has gradually spread until now the
employer who does not distribute
Christmas envelopes to make glad the
men and women who work for him
is the exception that proves the rule.
In New York's financial center,
Wall street, the year 1901 is still we'll
remembered for the great sums of
money given by the financiers bank
ers and brokers to their thousands of
employees; it was the record year for
good cheer. For instance, it IS a
well-known fact that the firm of ]. p.
Morgan & Co. gave to its employees
alone upward of half a million dollars.
Every clerk received an amount
equivalent to his years salary, while
the heads of departments had checks
amounting from $4,000 to $4,000 hand
ed to them with the firms best wishes
for Merry Christmas and a Happy
New Year"
But while the gifts have not been
so large since, no man who finds mis-
living in Wall street suffers for want
of generosity on the part of his en-
ployer at this season. For years. no
matter what the condition of the :aar-
ket. one well-known broker has given
500 in gold to each of his office boys
twice that sum to a few of the clerks
and $500 to the rest, the telegrapners
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1905-12-14
SENDING MONEY TO EUROPE.

thousand seven hundred and fifteen
Germans were made happy by the re-
ceipt OF S2Sf,32S.Oi among them.
Though less than G,00O Italians sent
money gifts to relatives and friends,
the average value of each gift was
thirty-three and a third dollars; while
the 81 600 Englishneu who ramem-
Lered their old associates did so to the
extent of something under ten dol
lars apiece. The Hungarians sent
the most generous gifts. each aver
aging $40. Then came the Russians,
$3.50. with the Austrians next. a few
cents less than Sl7. The Germans
sent the smallest gifts, $3.50, they be-
ing the only ones below the English
The Italian. with his pickax and
Undiscovered clothes, may seem any
thing but sentimental and warm
hearted when he is passed on the
street. but the figures prove tha- at
least al one season of the year hs
leads an Of our new citizens in lis
pensiue Christmas cheer across seas.
where bat for the immigrants con
tribuJi1n in the Christmas hoN, the
day would Dee a cheerless one in'eed
Tor many family
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1905-12-14

| cents a pound, and the other delica-
cies in proportion.
Last year the Salvation Army fed
100000 poor in our large cities, and
| over 100000 was collected for his
purpose by means of the armys pot, now
familiar sight at this season TO
every dWeller in New York. Chicago,
Philadelphia, Boston, and other cities.
| Amounts varying from one cent TO
/ 5000 are dropped into the pots. So
many pennies are contributed in New
York and Chicago that machines are
| employed in counting them.
Many millionaires there are also
who are noted for their gifts al this
time of the year to cheer the poor A
| big wholesale poultry dealer in New
York has had one of the countcys
leading millionaires for a regular Gus
toner for the last six Christma3es,
and each season he places an or1e-
for 800 turkeys-$1,2 200 for this one
item alone. John f. Andrus, mayor
of YOrkers, n Y, and owner of 500
000,000 worth of property, gives away
more than a quarter of a million dol
lars to charity every year, and BY far
the greatest part of this fortune is
distributed at this season. The Door
of YCnkers always have merry
Christmas, because of Mr.. AndruS.
Last year he sent out 1,2OO dinners
and gifts by the wagonload for the
children.
In this connection we must also
take into consideration the money
sent to Europe by Uncle Sans new
citizens just before Christmas. 1t
has amounted to about $4,000, 900 year.
Is since 1900. The Christmas boats
of 1903. the first sailing on December
-, and the last on the 10Th, carried
to the old country 161 SOB post office
money orders valued at $1.S96, ,295.23.
besides many thousands of dollars in
registered letters. OF these money
orders 81,331, calling for $3.50, ,63s.lS.
went to Great Britain. Thirty two
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1905-12-14

ing large table, for the palmer the
better, providing there be a certain
degree of prettiness.
Christmas dinners come late or
Christmas day. whether it be Il noon
day dinner, which is served at three
O'Clock. or dinner at six In either
case, the light falls before the din
ner is over, and there must be artifi-
cia light.
1t is pretty plan to set the table
with candies and to light them in the
middle of the dinner. A good time
for this is when the turkey is taken
off and the dessert brought in.
The service at each plate for an in
formal family dinner consists of a
plate, large dinner napkin, folded
square a water tumbler, two knives
one steel knife and one butter
spreader-and two forks, one shorter
than the other; also two teaspoons.
At unusually formal dinners bread
and butter is not served, and so the
butter spreader' can be done away
with The matter of individual salts
and peppers depends upon the custom
OF the household. 1t is perfectly good
form to have them on the table. and
ii it is the family custom to do so,
they need not be dispensed with on
Christmas day
Let the table be set in the family
manner. and then go about the deco
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1905-12-14

rations. 1t IS a nice practice to place
trifle at each plate in the way of
favor-a card bearing an insc"ip-
ton, little basket of flowers, rose,
pretty vinaigrette, a silver card
case, or a date book, or a calendar
for 1906.
Special Christmas souvenirs are also
good. Tiny stockings can be filed
With presents; there can be little
Christmas trees or branches of holly.
Or in the middle of the table can SET
a Christmas tree loaded with candles
and tinsel and holding little gifts for
each one.
One of the most decorative ways to
finish a table is with ribbons strung
from the chandelier in such way as
to reach the plates. To the end Of
each ribbon can be attached gift.
When the company is seated-and
in the seating there should be the
same attention to couples as at an
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1905-12-14

has been common here for many.
many years; but in reality it Is
hardly 30 years since we adopted this
feature of the day Half century
ago it was only foreigners that made
use Of 1t. children OF Americans
knowing il only as a pleasant myth.
And England in the second quarter
of the last century considered the
tree still a German institution. as
not yet fully belonging to her; to-day
The speaking nations vie with
Che Germans in love for the tree.
II Is Illustrative OF the manner in
which big things grow from tho
smallest Of beginnings. the building
up OF the Christmas tree industr, In
America. Country Lie in Amerie," "
tells the story OF les hirth. about Ia
years ago a number of duck hun sr-
cruising along the coasts of Main,
noticed the millions OF young barsam
frs which grew along the shores. ana
the brilliant idea occurred to one
mCmber OF the party that these sym
metrieal cyerrrccns would make eX-
celleut Christmas trees When tho
New York yachtemau offered to buy
lcw sblploads ~ Young frs. IA
honest Maine farmers thought 10 was
Joking But when the Eclty ma1
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1905-12-14
THE POlNSETTIA

costly orchid or rose is able A Cow
er that displays with wondrous vivid
ness the happy Christmas green and
red, is the tropic blossom called by
the name of poinsetta. It has a
center of yellowish dots. radiating
from which, in most graceful droop-
ing lines, are gorgeous pointed leaves.
more flaming than any leaf our au-
tumn puts forth. The green leaves
of the plant are vivid and polished.
the whole very, very beautiful. Tha
florists at the Christmas season sci!
both potted poinsetta and cut flowers
neither lasting many days, but most
satisfying while they last.
Cinneraria, with their lovely colors
and texture of petals, are favorite
potted blooms, and primroses vie with
cyclamen for favor Some dealers are
now forcing lilacs for Christmas offer.
ings, but they have not yet appeared
in any quantities. Roses, it is need
less to mention, are well liked, but
the Christmas prices are pretty stiff
Each year some novelty for deco
Atb'iOh 10 lhbiShiNNtt anu lIlt lOA lSl5
windows are filled with the old stand
bys side by side with the intrusive
new blossom or leaf. Beautiful bronze
and copper leaves, the galaX, are max.
ing their way in the north; it IS now
liked to put a leaf or two with the
Christmas package They come from
the highlands of the CaroIinas, anC
the demand for them is providing
considerable work for the IDLE noun
taineeTs. When they arrive in good
condition they are exquisite, and now
the greatest care is being taken in
the sorting and packing of the garax
The galax region is of wide extent
reaching from Georgia to Virginia.
The richest leaf cOlOring does not ap-
pear until late in the year, until after
the frusts. At the proper time, whole
mountaineer families will turn out to
harvest this beautiful crop. parents
and the 10 or II children climbing
about In search OF the finest leaves.
None with spot or tear will be ac-
cepted. and after home is reached
there must be another sorting. Those
that pass inspection are tied In
punches. SO many to a bunch and
then taken to the local buyer Here
they are carefully packed in layers.
moss between the layers. oiled pa1ers
ON the sides of the casea. and sent
ON TO the cities. reaching there with
their woods bronze and gold tut
slightly lcsseuCd
KATHEHINE POPE.
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1905-12-14

opened his purse and GhGwed Ine
color of his money, they fell to with
will. The first venture proved a
success, and others hurried into the
business. Ten years later nearly the
whole coast of Maine was stripped
of frs, and the business moved in
land. The trade has grown until now
over 100000 Christmas trees are sold
every year in New York and New
England, of which two-thirds come
from Maine alone"
Groundpine, SO pretty and so
much procurable for a little money,
comes from the northern lake region.
Wisconsin sends forth yearly some
thing like 200 tons. 1t is feared this
decoration may in the course OF a
few years become very scarce, it be-
ing necessary to pull the plant up by
the roots in gathering the greens. The
gay holly, more popular than the
groundpine, comes, at least the best
of it, from the two states of Della
ware and Maryland. There is some
Importation of English holly and
mistletoe, but not great deal.
People in Atlanta, Ga, do not have
to buy their mistletOe, the city au-
| thOrties are glad to give it away in
wagon loads. 1t is a parasite that
dishgures the trees on which it
grows appearing in punches from one
to three feet across. When de-
tached from the shade trees in At
lanta, anyone that cares for it may
come and cart it away.
Because of its magic, rather than
decorative ualities-though the grace
full waXen clusters have a certain
| beauty of their Own-it is not bought
in large quantities. Nevertheless, we
are said to use about 10000 pounds OF
it at Christmas time. And when VIC
call to mind all the magic that can
be worked by a single sprig, think Of
the conjuring done by 10000 pounds!
Anyone caught under the mistieeoo
must pay forfeit of a kiss. And ii
an unmarried (but still marriageaDle4
woman, place bit of mistletOe over
a door the first man walking under
it at once falls under her spell. Il:
she disapprove of him, she may let
him go, but he is unable to make
freedom for himself.
The use of flowers adds to tho
beauty of the Christmas decorations.
but never should we let go of the
Christmas green's; they carry the ira
ditions, bring up old memories, as no
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1905-12-14

Have you ever stopped to consider
where all the holly ana laurel, SO pop.
ular for decorating the homes during
the Christmas season. come from?
Comparatively few persons to whom
this question might lie put would be
able To answer II.
4 great quantity OF 20 comes from
Kentucky During practically the en-
tire month of December the mountain
GERS of eastern Kentucky with their
wives and children, are busy gathering
the boushs OF holly with their pretty
red berries ana % Is shipped 90 deaf
cra In all the principal cities through
OUT the country As q rule II takes
all the help available 20 supply the
enormous demand.
The holly Of eastern Kentucky Is
the finest In the world. n Is the most
perfect green and is usually loaded
down with the beautiful red berries.
At the same time it is the most dim
cul. 20 gather for the reason that the
little trees erov IN the most Inaeccss-
ibls places Sometimes Tree will
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1905-12-14

ordinary dinner-then comes the
serving of the feast
1t is time-honored custom to pace
the turkey on the table before the
guests come in. or to set forth the
ducks, the geese, the roast of beef, or
the loin of pork-whatever may be The
Christmas bird.
But in these later and more pam
pered days the stomach rebels against
the sudden plunge into the roast, and
the palate demands a relish-oysters,
soup, fish, and goodness knows what
all! The roast comes later, flanked
with a green salad and with veg
etables and with the mound of cram
berries.
If the turkey must be present from
the beginning to the end it is a wise
plan to place him upon a side table.
Here he can be carved and disrfib-
uted. Upon the table he is always
in the way, and there is no room nor
comfort for the carver. lie, if ne so
please, can exhibit his skill from 4
side table, and the guests can be
served by a serving maid who will
carry the plates around.
Every Christmas dinner must have
its touch of holly, every dinner its bit
OF green, every Christmas dinner its
Christmas motto in one form or an
other. and every Christmas Dime,
must have its own peculiar menu.
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1905-12-14
XMAS DECORATION
GREENS AND FLOWERS OF MANY
VARIETIES USED.
Both the Northland and the South
land Contribute Each Their
Share of Holiday Beauty
Holly and the Pine.

Far behind we are leaving the bare,
unbrightened Christmas of Puritan
ism, are making this holiday our
greatest one. Of comparatively re-
cent date is this change, of decidedly
recent date, the general custom in
America of the lavish use of special
decorations in honor of Christmas.
The south has long followed the
customs of Merrie England in the
matter of bringing in from wood and
field the beautiful Christmas greens
with which to give home and church
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1905-12-14

have only two or three good boughs
on II, the Others being scaut OF foliage
and of inferior color, and the trade
demands that the boughs shall be full.
fresh and studded with berries. The
native mountain boys are Invaluable
to the shippers of holly. They climb
The trees like squirrels. run out On the
limbs aud bend them down 10 tho
ground, where the women auu chill
dren hold IN m and strip them OF their
green boughs
Great difficulty il experienced by the
shippers In getting the holly 10 tho
shipping point after IL has heon cut
and Grated. for al this time of yeqr
a. mountain roads are almost lmpass.
able for heavy teams. The boxes OF
holly are often brought tu the station
by small boys ON crude sigds made by
their own hands
To the average mauntaineer the
holly Is not a thing ot beauty. aud as
for decorating their houses for Christ
mas. such "A thing Is not Co be- thought
Of
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1905-12-14
Qunlnt Old Cnstnl /.

In The oiien time the Yu.e log wal
always laid aside before e was burnt
out. so that on the mex. Christmas
day the new Yule log Nigh. De lighted
With the charred remains 81 It's prsdo
cessgr,
Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1905-12-14

The largest Christmas candles mads
are nearly six te.t high. weigh about
go pounds. are of pure NhIte beeswaz
and cost saa apiece
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-05-23
Many Turned Away.

II was rot because II was the open
ing nigh, at tie Star. but on account
of the immense bill being pres nte J
this week that there were two crowded
houses last night and many were
turn away. De Mora AMI Graceta
certainly scored AFT in the most mar
yelous ac.obatlc performance ever CIV
en- in the city. Nothing Ike them mas
ever been seen before and the applause
and cheers showd that their enorts
were appreciated. The Helm Children
came in for their share Of applauss ana
they nre certainly the moss wonderiu'
children performers on the stage Gre
ator proved that he was a musieai art
Is, OF ability and his efforts were APP
,reciated. Weston and Whalen pre-
sen,ed the comedy success that mas
made them popular. o'Donoyan Dunn
M p. and brought down the house
THE pictured melodies OF A. J. Eiwei
sustained that gentleman's reputation
=, belng the best vocalist ever al 'n'
| ls,ar There Is no doubt but the star
viii be crowded every night this week