davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-12-21
An Invocation to the Ncvy Year

Aureole our angel cake gcG"rou%l,y
with imported jam; teach US to fo..-
give u creditors; see to it that Tho
straight and narrow path is sn:iNki" ,
with ashes always and with hAl.i,.;t
skins never: put plenty Of silver iNS>
our wallets and not any into ~ VIA
ers; cement our ties of love ANA frio.. =
ship more closely together ANA e.. -
hearts Of our wives to 0vrrI!) r.. !.
with the freshness and enthusiasm ina,
were theirs at that divine moment
when we measured their lily finger:
for solitaire diamond rings and pre-
pared to camp out on their fathers III
comes; clip the wings Of riches AMI Of
love that they may not fly out Of our
window, but remain With US forever.
and il possible clip the cook in Die
same way and for q similar result
K. X. Munkittrick in New York World.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-12-21

Christmas gets its name from the
mass celebrated in the early days Of
the Christian church in honor of the
birth of Christ, its first solemnization
having been ordered by Pope Teles-
phorus. This was in OF before the
year 1873, for in that year Pope Teles-
phorus died. At first Christmas was
what is known as a movable feast, just
as Easter is now, and, owing to mis-
understandings, was celebrated as late
as April or May. In the fourth century
an ecclesiastical Investigation was Or
dered, and. upon the authority of the
tables of the censors in the Roman ar
chives, Dec. % was agreed upon as the
date Of the Saviour's Nativity. Tradi-
ton fixed the hour Of birth at about
midnight, and this led to the celebra-
ton of Il midnight mass In all the
churches. q second at dawn and u third
in the later morning.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-12-21
New Years on the Nile,

In all ages and all lands much i'm
portance has attached to New Years
day. In Egypt the new year fell be-
tween the 18th and the Goth of June
and was called the might Of the drop"
The sacred Nile was thought to flow
down from heaven, and at it's lowest
ebb-about the middle of June-a tear
from Isis fell into the stream and caus-
ed it to rise. Consequently at this sea-
son the priests and people kept a sleep
less vigil at the rivers shore, watching
for the miraculous rise which should
bring such riches to the whole land.
When the might of the drop" came the
priests cleared the affairs Of old ashes
and lighted the sacred fires for the new
year. Every one of the faithful car
rled a coal from the altar to light the
fire at his own hearth, and from end
to end the land was ablaze with light.
The people put off their old garments
and arrayed themselves in white,
amounting their heads With sacred oil,
browning themselves with flowers and
bearing palms in their hands. while
chants and songs and teasting and pro-
cessions filled the homes.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-12-21
Some Chriatmas Thoughts.

Lift up your eyes to the great mean
ing of the day and dare to think OF
your humanity as something so divine
~ precious that it is worthy OF being
made an Offering to God. Count it rs
a privilege to make that offering rs
complete as possible. keeping nothing
back, and then so out to the pleasures
and duties Of your life, having been
truly born anew into his divinity as
be was born into our humanity on
Christmas day.--Phillips Brooks.
May the spirit Of the sweet Christ
mas Child possess me; may the Star of
Bethlehem shine above my dwelling
place.-Thomas a Kempis.
The season Of regenerated feeling
the season for kindling not merely til
fire Of hospitality in the hall, but ii,
genial flames of charity in the heart.
Washington Irving.
We make a great deal Of peace Will
heaven; Christ made much Of peace on
earth.-Henry Drummond.
1t is good to be children sometimes,
and better than at Christmas.
when its mighty Founder was a child
himself.-Charles Dickens.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-12-21
Peter Stuyvesnnt's New Years.

The custom of celebrating New
Years day in our own country is large
~ due to the Dutch. Old Peter Stuy
vesant made much Of the day. ans
CHEEKY assemblages were held ut the
governors home in New Amsterdam
The Dutch method of kissing the WON.
en- for "a happy New year wa OLD.
served and toll taken Of all who were
young and handsome. In fact. during
the reign Of Peter Stuyvesant New
Amsterdam waS the most thoroughly
Deklssed country in all C%hristenlonl
and formed q marked contrast to the
staid Puritans, who thought the oh.
servance Of this day savored strongly
OF reverence for the god Janus and
who made no note Of their first New.
Years day in the new world save to
record, I'VE went to work betimos."-
New York Evening Post.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-12-21
New Year S Day
In Farof China
Greatest Of Festivals In the Celestial
Empire, a Happy Time For
Pigtailed Creditors.

~ all Chinese festivals that Of
New Years day is the Creates.
W Being a peculiarly contradic,
tory race, the Chinese do not
reckon time by the sun, as we do in
America, but by the moon. so that The
Chinese New Years day may come at
any time between the middle of Jam
uary and the middle of February.
When the time approaches. creditor
are happy, for by the last day of the
old year all debts must be paid. The
Chinaman who ammo pay up mus,
hide his head until the festival is over.
Another preparation is Il general wash
ing up. Household belongings and per
sonal attire are put through a severe
course of soap and water in order that
the new year may be begun With clean
illness.
When the night Of New Works eve
approaches, the sound of the firing OF
crackers begins and is kept up With an
incesSant din until dawn. The first
business in the new year is the sacrifice
to heaven and earth. y table is spread
with offerings Of food and drink, can
dies and incense, and crackers are let
OFT again just outside the front door.
Then the father Of the family comes
forward and kneels down in front Of
the table, holding a stick Of incense in
his hand and knocking his head three
times on the ground. Rising to his
feet, he places the incense in the censor
on he table. More crackers are let Off,
and paper money is burned.
After this ceremony the household
gods are worshiped in the same way,
and then the ancestral tablets, after
which the living idols" have their
turn. The father and mother sit down
side by side. and all their children and
grandchildren kneel before them and
do them reverence, but offerings are
not made to the living, as they are to
the dead. Then the servants come for
ward, dressed in their best, and kneel
down, bowling their heads to the
ground before their master and mis-
tress, receiving presents when they
rise.
Long before all these ceremonies are
finished it is quite light, but in the
early hours of New Years morning the
streets look as deserted as if no one
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-12-21
Fires,

If n would revive a memory of tbs
old Iule fire, a backing of hard wood,
the largest to be had. should be chosen.
The hearth should be clean and cold
before Christmas ever and the log set
IN place with the cedar or pine or other
Eight wood kindlings at hand. As
the sun goes down fire is applied and
the big log set ablaZe. In the days Of
the Druids, whence Yule log is derived,
the priests lighted the annual log with
an ember from the sacred perpetual
fire they guarded. In the mountain re-
gions Of the south the hearth fire is
kept with an almost equal fidelity,
scarcely ever being permitted to die
out from October to March, and in the
cabins of the negroes it is no uncom-
mon sight upon q Christmas night to
see within the fireplace itself. their
heads up the chimney. p~ickaninnlcs Of
various sizes busted in warming their
toes, their bare feet resting on logs of
cedar or hickory or oak and their black
eyes rolling with anticipations Of COM
ing good things.-Harper's Bazaar.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-12-21
"A Gala Day In France.

New Years, not Christmas, is the
French day of days. Cards, flowers
and bonbons are exchanged in profu-
sion, and visits are made. In the din
ing room on New Years morning are
assembled the gentlemen Of the family
to greet the ladies with courtly bow
and CALAMITY to kiss their hands. The
gay breakfast over, the children, the
youth and those Of the family in the
prime Of life make ready to pay visits.
they start forth with pockets and
hands filled with remembrances. The
older ones, ensconced in easy chairs be-
fore the fire, wait for the younger rela-
tves and friends who will come with
light and merry talk to make good cheer.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-12-21
Where the Toys Come From.

The value Of German toys exported
to foreign countries last year was close
to S13, 100000. Of which the United
States, as the principal customer, took
about 100000 worth. ~Sonneberg is
the chief center Of the industry. The
annual report Of the chamber Of com
MERGE Of the Sonneberg district gives
the following scale Of daily wages
paid to persons working on dolls and
doll heads, the hours of labor being
ten to ten and one-half: Male adults,
"a to 60 cents; female adults. SO to AS
rents; male youths, sc to As cents;
girls. "a to 81 cents. Most of the hands
are paid by the piece, the mel earn
ing from $500 to Sc, the women from
S1.62 to $3.50 and the youths from
S1.10 to $40 per week. On piecework
some skilled males earn as high as
$3.50 and expert women up to 1892
per week.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-12-21
Christmas With Lewis and Clark.

Some rain at different times las.
night and showers of hail, with inter
walls Of fair starlight. This morning at
day We were saluted by our party I'M
der u Winders, a Shout and u Song.
After breakfast we divided our tobac-
co, which amounted 2 Carrots. one half
we gave to the party who used Tobuc-
co, those who did not we gave Il Hand
kerchief as q present. The day proved
showery all day, the Inds. left us this
evening, all our party moved into their
huts, we dried some Of our wet goods.
l received a present Of a Fleese Hos
cry fleece hosiery, vest, draws (;
Socks of Capt. Lewis, pr Mockersous
of Whitehouse, a small Indian basket
of Guterich (Goodrich) & 9 boz wea-
sells tales Of the Squar Of Shabono &
some black roots of the Indians. Gu,
Dinner to day consisted of pore Elll
boiled, split fish & some roots, q bad
Christmas dinner, warm day.-Frc.:
Newly Discovered Personal Records
Of Lewis and Clark"
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-12-21

A French Canadian Nov. Years Gus
tom now nearly obsolete was that
known as La Quote de lEnfant JeHs.s-
the collection for the infant Jesus.
n collection was managed by the
parish priest, who was driven round
among his parishioners by the senior
churchWarden or the beadle. The gifts
that he thus gathered "for the love Of
The infant Jesus on the festival Of
the circumcision were distributed
among the poor. Intimately connected
with this was another practice of col
lecting aims for the poor, known as La
Guignolee or La Ignotee. The words
signify both a custom and a song. On
the V of the new year bands Of
youthful ~masqueraders serenaded the
various residents Of the locality after
nightfall with music and song, knock
ing at doors and windows and begging
for offerings for the poor, generally
eatables, with threats of revenge if
gifts were refused. A piece of pork
with the tail adhering, called La Chi
gnee, was the traditional Offering ex~
pected.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-12-21
christmas on
An Ocean Liner
Trees For Passengers and Grew, Pres
ents, Toasts, Singing and Dane
ing Make 1t a Gala Day.
"TVHE man who spends his life o.

fs1THE man who spends his life on
board q big passenger ship
sees about as many different
kinds Of Christmases as any
body. l guess" said the captain of &
North German Lloyd steamship as he
Sat in his cabin preparing for a holiday
voyage to the Mediterranean.
with a crowd of jolly passengers
aboard who are off on i trip to enjoy
themselves Christmas is a day to be re-
membered. Friends and relatives send
gifts on ahead, so that they may be
handed to passengers at the right time,
and of course this personal remem-
brance from home makes more enioya-
BILE the celebration which is always
prepared on board the ship itself. The
24th Of December passes about as do
other days until dinner time arrives.
and then the chefs and stewards Guido
themselves in providing an elaborate
menu and in table decorations.
"If the weather is fine. as it is likely
to be. the passengers are in high spir-
its, for the Christmas feeling is infec-
Sous. no matter where you go. To-
yard the end Of the dinner speeches
are made, songs are rendered, stories
are told and toasts are given, and when
This is completed all go to the main sa-
loon, and the Christmas tree is re-
Realed, standing there in the middle,
under the big skylight. 1t is a big tree,
700, just as big as can be obtained and
put in place, and on it are hung gifts
From the ship for every passenger-not
costly at all, but remembrances that
gre likely to be long preserved as SOU
Eenirs of a pleasant occasion. Then, if
the sea is not high. the candles are
vghted. and the tree bursts into beauti-
4u1 illumination.
"After the distribution of gifts from
the tree a concert is given if the weather
is bad, but whenever Christmas eve is
pleasant and the latitude is suitable the
passengers go on deck, which they find
70 be shielded from the wind by can
Vas, brilliantly lighted and decorated
with flags and bunting. And, I tell
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-12-21

you, on a moonlight night, with a calm
sea and soft, pleasant air, in the Medi-
terranean, for example, a Christmas
eve aboard a great ship is something
for most passengers to remember. I'm
sure l can't imagine anything more
charming.
1.-THE band plays lively music, and the
passengers dance o deck, but if they
Imagine they are the only ones aboard
ship who are celebrating Christmas eve
they are mistaken. If they were to
look into the forecastie they would
see another Christmas tree there, also
covered with little decorations and
gifts-the sailors tree. For. you know,
a German is only half a German with
out a tree on Christmas eve, and every
German ship has one.
Long before the ship sailed from
he home port on the Christmas voy-
age friends and relatives of each sailor
prepared some little presents, which
they sent forward in care of some &C
Quaintance in the crew so that then.
particular sailorman might have his
SuIpIlse dt ue ilBul llLle. VI course
these gifts are inexpensive, for the
sailors family has little money to
spare, but a pipe, warm stockings or
some such article is received aboard
the vessel and carefully kept until the
proper time, when all are hung on the
free. The company gives the sailors q
little wine or beer and Christmas cakes.
Ihis applies also to the firemen. who
have a tree Of their own in their room.
So, as you will see, there are usually
as many as three trees aboard the ship.
1.-THE 25th Of December we observe
as a holiday on our ships, and all work
te suspended aboard ship excepting
that which it Is absolutely necessary to
perform. If there is a clergyman
among the passengers he is requested
Ep.hold religious services for the tour
tfKS and also for the crew, and these
are fully attended. On German yes
Seys. the captain does not of1ciate. as
10 English captains, at such cere-
Hbnaes.."-Chicago Inter Ocean.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-12-21
"KUNG sHI, KUNG sHI!"

was living in the city. The shops are
all shut. and the busiest streets arc as:
quiet as if it was an ideal Sabbath OF
rest.
But the quiet does not last long. Cc-
c%asional crackers are let off, and
strings of beggars soon appear on ey-
cry hand. They are far more numerous
than usual and more importunatc.
They know they will reap a rich hur-
vest on this happy day, for it is lucky
to begin the year with good deeds, and
it is not long before the streets are
filled with a well dressed multitude
starting out to pay New Years calls.
Custom requires that all the men in
China shall call on their relations.
teachers and friends, and for three
days the visiting goes on. Women are
not expected to pay New Years call; or
to see the visitors who come to their
houses. AS these are men, of course
that would be highly improper.
When friends meet in the street for
the first time in the new year they
stand and bow very politely; they put
their hands together and shake them,
saying, "Kung shi, kune shi," which
means Il respectfully wish you joy"
and they often add, MAY you grow
rich" for that is the Chinese idea of
happiness.
For three days the New Years re-
Joicing goes on. and then all the poorer
classes begin to work again. Large
shops and places of business are closed
for q mOnth.-Brooklyn Citizen.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-12-21
TALKING DOLLS.
The Latest Production of the Clever
German ToSmnlkcrN.

The Latest Production of the Clever
German ToymalSers.
One Of the most striking Of the new
Christmas toys takes the shape Of Il
real talking doll. In the past dolly's
vocabulary has been limited to such
phrases as "Da-da" or "Ma-ma." sounds
produced by a reed and 4 pair OF
bellows. All that is to be changed. and
dolly will be able to say quite a nNm-
Der Of nice things and carry on little
conversations Of 4 hundred words OF
more and, If necessary, sing The very
latest song
The idea N from Germany and
Is really All adaptation of the principle
upon which the ~gramophonc is based.
Briefly it is this: Secretcd somewhere
in the dolls interior will be Il tiny disk
machine, which will carry Il record
about two inches in diameter. When
the doll has been made prcSentable and
feels equal to taking part In the CON
yerSation her little nurse will simply
have to place Il disk in Il crevicc some
where in doily's back. an operation rs
simple as putting a penny in u SLOT.
and the doll VIII do the rest Two
dolls, with suitable records. may easily
be made to carry on quite intelligeut
conversations.-Lnndon Daily News.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-12-21

Not many years ago it was the Gus,
tom In all countries to visit ones
friends on New Years day, and in this
country open house was kept all day
until q matter Of some ten or fifteen
years ago. 1t is questionable whether It
VIII ever become fashionable to set
New Years day aside for calling agnin.
The ancient Romans made much of
their New Years calls, and after the
empire Of Rome had passed away the
custom lived In England, France and
Germany.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-12-21
GIRDLING THE GLOBE.
How Uncle Sam Wishes All the
World Happy Now Year.

INV
World Happy New Year
At midnight Dec. 81, from the white,
towering. time factory on Georgetown
heights, Admiral Chester, superintend-
ent of the National observatory, will
have sounded completely around the
earth by the cables which now span
our great spinning top and TO the con-
tincntal and inSular nations to the
north and south by asst networks of
wire ramifying in all directions from
this great girdlc n signal announcing
the birth of the year 1906 at the CAPT
tai of our republic,
AT n push Of the official button the
electric greeting will pcrmcatc our con-
tinent and leap acrosS the Pacific from
San Francisco to Honolulu. to Midway,
to Guam. to Manila and to lIongkong.
Flashing up and down the entire east
ern coast Of Asia, from AlcXandrovsk
to the Malay peninsula. 1t will cross
Sumatra and the home of the wild
man Of Borneo; will speed Over the cof-
fee plantations of Java to Australia
and New Zealand.
Hurrying over the snowdriftS of 81
beria and Russia. it will he felt in Mos
COW and st. Petersbuas and there be
taken up by the thick mesh of wires
covering northern and central Europe,
going to London and at the same time
spanning the coast of the black CONT
nent of Africa. From Alexandria it
will be shot $50 miles up the Nile into
the very heart Of Africa. Leaping out
into the sea, it will register itself in the
isles of Madagascar and Mauritius.
From Lisbon to the Madeiras and over
the Cape Verde islands it will jump to
Pernambuco, Brazil; thence down into
the wilds of central Argentina and up
into Bolivia, across the Windward isles.
the Lesser Antilles and the West In
dies and then home again to the CAPT
tai of the nation.
1t is almost inconceivable that such
a circuit Of the earth can be made in
scarcely more time than you would ex-
pend in wishing a neighbor "a happy
new y~ear!'-Washington Star.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-12-21
HAVE YOU BEEN LOOKING?"

There's packages behind the bed
In mas room. When | found them there
asst her what they was. She said.
Have you been looking3 | declared"
An now they re gone; but there's a lot
Of bundles in the cellar. though.
An ma says she won't tell me wha:
They are, for | don't need u know.
Ma hides things from my siis.e5-yes,
An sister she hides things from ma.
They're SEWN somepin not a dress,
An both Of them hide that from pal
There's somepin pokcd behind the books,
But pa he's gone an turned the lock;
An near as | can see, it looks
Like somepin's hid behind the clock.
My folks acts funny can't see
Why they should all drop everything
An pick ONE Grand out for HE
Whenever they hear our bell ring;
An | ain treated right, nohow.
1t don't seem just exactly fair
Wherever | am started now
One Of EN- says. Don't go in there!"
W. D. Nesbit in Chicago Tribune.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-12-21
In the ScOttish HiEhInnJs

IN the Scottish highlands the new
year Is ushercd in by the tolling OF the
auld XIX bell and the playing OF the
Dagplpes. In u clear, frosty night TO
near this much mallgncd instrument
plnyed by n thoroughbred highlander
me tn" hills and from n distance
inc notes are stripped OF their harsh.
ness and seem to be waited across To
you by the clear atmosphere in one
harmonious melody. 1t is beautiful
and Inspiring. Philadelphia Ledger.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-12-21
New Years In Cnes,r,s u,,,,.

AT the Roman festivals Of the god
Janus, held on the calnnds of January
glrts and good wishes were exchanged.
friends met together, and ~feasting and
dancing, masking and mumming were
the order OF the day. January derives
us name from the god Janus, who was
represented with two faces looking in
opposite directions, as the month was
considered both to look back upon the
past year and forward to that which
was coming.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-12-21
A Curious Custom of oxford.hire,

In some places in Oxfordshire, Eng
land, it was the right Of every maid
servant to ask the hired man for IL bit
of ivy to trim the house. If he turnr..
a deaf ear to her opportunities or for
got her request she would steal a pair
Of his breeches and nail them to the
gate in the yard or on the highway.
This was supposed to debar him from
all privileges of the mistletoe.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-12-21
The ChfIdren,s Day In Russia,

In Russia New Years is especially
the children's day. Among the peas
ants the old time frolics and games are
renewed. 1t is a practice among the
boys to arm themselves with a supply
or shelled wheat and dried peas and
TO go from house to house in the small
hours Of the morning. They present
themselves unbidden in a neighbours
house. where the doors are always I'M
locked, and pelt him with wheat or
peas till he offers cakes or fruit.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-12-21
Not "a Bad Idea.

Johnny-Tommy, let's put our pen
MES together and buy ma a nice Christ
mas present.
Tommy-All right.
"What shall it ber"
Il guess we had better get her a pad
ded slipper."-Texas Sift1ngs.
Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-12-21
"First Footing"

First footing is an old, old custom
which still fingers in Ireland. It is con-
sldered a lucky sign if the first foot"
Is a fair man. A dark man, a woman,
q red haired or squirting person is sup
posed to bring bad luck. In the north
of England, however, n dark man is
preferred as Il "tirst foot"