davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-19
CHRISTMAS IN DIXIE.
A Quaint Custom the Survival of
slavery DAYS.

slavery Days.
In some parts of the South, notably
Alabama, the observance of Christmas Is
kept up after the manner of slavery days.
Two weeks before the festival brawny
colored men in the employ Of the planta-
tion owner search out timber tract, fell
the tree of greatest size, cut off the trunk
where the circumference is greatest, big
enough to admit of it filling the space of
the open hearth, fasten heavy chains to 1t
by driving in spikes, haul it to the near
est river or pond, sink 1t and anchor 1t
well below the surface. On Christmas eve
it is drawn up, taken to the owners man
sion and in the presence of his family,
relatives and friends the dripping log is
placed on roaring fire in the hearth. To
reduce the water-soaked wood to ashes
Is slow process and sometimes week
elapses before this is accomplished. In
the meantime the plantation darkies do
not work while the incarceration is In pro-
gress. On Christmas eve the hostess
serves the company with eggnog and she
supplies them with eatables while the log
sizzles in the fire place. The banjo and
guitar are brought into play and the old
melodies are sung and jigs and other
dances are gone through with 2est. The
white folks take hand in the fun max
ing, too, and with song and story make
the colored folks happy. At some Of these
gatherings 300 persons take part, the old,
capacious mansion giving ample room for
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-19
A Hawatian,, chrI.tma..

Before the missionaries and the Amer
lean settlers went to Hawaii the natives
knew nothing about Christmas, but now
they all celebrate the day and do it, of
course, in the same way as the Ameri-
cans who live there. The main differ
ence between Christmas in Honolulu and
Christmas In New York is that in Hon
olulu in December the weather is like
June in New York. Birds are warbling
in the leafy trees; gardens are overflow
ing with roses and carnations: fields and
mountain slopes are ablaze with color,
and sunny sky smiles dream.ly upon
the glories of summer day. In the
morning people go to church, and during
the day there are sports and games and
merrymaking of all sorts. The Christ
mas dinner is eaten out of doors in the
shade of the veranda, and everybody is
happy and contented.-St. Nicholas.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-19
TIPS IN JAPAN.

There the Innkeeper IL Not Forgot.
ten When Guest Goes Away.
If you hotelkeepersy should ever be
told Of the Japanese method OF tipping,
why we would all have to take. to the
woods" said far eastern traveller, In
the New Orleans Plcayune. "In Jap
anese hotel you give the proprietor the
biggest tip of all when leaving and
grade the other tips accordingly.
when your bill is handed to you It
is customary to wrap up In separate
piece of paper an amount approximate
ing about one-flfth Of the whole account
and give that to the worthy innkeeper,
together with the regular amount re.
quired Of you by his account, which you
indorse In the folded bill. Then you
wrap up smaller sums in smaller pieces
of paper and parcel these Christmas
packages out among the servants who
have waited on you.
This tip to the boniface Is called
chodal, or tea money, and the japanese
explain its usage after this manner of
reasoning:
"All hotel charges In Japan are forced
by law to be very low, so that even the
very poor man who finds himself on
the road Of nights can get food and
shelter for nominal sum. The rich
man has to pay no more than the beg
gar.
"sinee the hotel man could not make
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-19
some .chrl.,ma. ui.torx

In 1905 the terms of peace between
france and Austria We're argued and
agreed to on Christmas. In these Aus
ira was forced to make several large
gifts OF territory to France, and Italy
to acknowledge Napoleon as king Of
Italy.
The United States forces began their
withdrawal from Charleston, S. c., to
Fort Sumter on Christmas, 1860.
Under duress from the powers, Tur-
Key, on Christmas, 1876, gave out a
new constitution for the whole Ottoman
empire, which granted Christians equal
rights with Mohammedans-a decree by
the way, which the Sultan began cheer
fully to disobey as soon as the duress
was removed.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-19

1.-THE North Pole" said Commander
Robert e. Peary before starting on his
latest expedition, "is the last great
geographical prize which the world has
to offer to adventurous man; the prize
for which the best men of the strong
est, most enlightened, most adventur-
GUS nations of the earth have been
struggling unsuccessfully for nearly
four centuries; the trophy which the
grandest nation of them all would be
proud to VIM"
Peary's hopes of the prize are found
ed upon his extraordinary knowledge
of the Arctics. He spent the greater
part of ten years in his reconnaissance
of the Great Ice Cap of Greenland.
Having conquered this immense Arctic
Sahara, he turned his thoughts toward
the attainment of the North Pole in
1897.
Following is the northernmost record
made by the various Arctic explorers:
Peary.... April, 1906 81 deg. 6 min.
Cagni. ....... May, 1000 SO deg. "a min.
Nansen 49,. April, 1895 SO deg. 10 min.
Peary. April, 1902 81 deg. IL min.
Peary May, 1900 SO deg. so min.
Lockwood. -. May, 1882 SO deg. "a min.
Mares. May, 1876 SO deg. 20 min.
Parry. July, 1927 SO deg. 45 min.
Hudson. 49,. July, 1907 81 deg. (?)
Now the farthest north falls to
Peary, who, at 81 deg. min, makes a
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-19

very air, when tempered steel and -.
soned oak and hickory become brittle.
soft iron becomes as hard a. steel, mo-
lasses and lard are cut with Ratchet
petroleum turns white and grows thick
like Ice cream, and ones breath turns
instantly to ice."
In spite Of the sufferlngs Of cold,
hunger and fatigue which beset tho
seeker of the northern apex Of tho
earth, Peary has proved that properly
organized expedition composed Of the
right sort of men may safely reach
high ATTITUDES. and perhaps even the
North Pole itself.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-19
VAST SUM SENT BY RAIL.

Postofhce Department Saved Thou.
sands at Expense of the Treasury.
Some years ago the Treasury De
partment desired to transport $25,OOO.-
900 In gold from the subtreasury In
San Francisco to the subtreasury In
New York. The way they did 1t was
simple. They sent treasury postal
frank to the postmaster at San Fran
cisco, told him to stick 1t on to the
S25 100000 in gold and deliver 1t in
New York. This that unfortunate Of
I'fcial under the law. was obliged to do.
No further effort or worry on the part
Of the Treasury Department was nee
essary.
Incredible as 1t may seem, the post
master at San Francisco carted the
$25 100000 In gold under armed guard
to the Southern Pacific Railway sta
ton. There 1t was loaded on spe-
cial train, each car Of which was
equipped with guards heavily armed.
This train was then sent across the
continent by circuitous route and
with all information concerning its
route and time sedulously concealed
from the newspapers in order to avoid
the danger OF an attack from highway
men. After certain number Of days
this train arrived at Jersey City.
The boxes containing the $25 900 900
In gold were taken across on the fer
ries, and New, Workers were mystined
by the extraordinary spectacle Of many
vehicles loaded with boxes upon which
were perched guards with rifles and
pistols. This procession finally ended
at the subtreasury, where the Postofics
Department was released from tho GUS
tody Of the coin by the receipt Of tho
Treasury Department.
The little bit Of treasury transpor-
tation cost the Postofilce Department
many thousands Of dollars and cost tho
Treasury Department nothing at ALL
San francisco Argonaut.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-19

new record in Arctic attainment. On
each Of his dashes over the polar pack
Peary has surpassed his own former
efforts. In 1902, he exceeded his own
best performance in northlng by thirty
one miles, and now dwarfs that splen-
did work by going 1871 miles nearer the
Pole than he had ever before been. and
about thirty-seven miles further than
his closest competitor, Captain Cagni.
II Peary can equal this ratio in anoth-
er dash, the North Pole, the greatest
geographical prize, will be his, for he
has put star on the Polar map show
ing that he was within about 2O3 stat
ute miles of the point where the terres-
trial axis breaks the surface of the
earth.
Attraction for Explorers.
The North Pole has been an attrac-
ton to explorers only in recent times
say within the last quarter century.
The early explorers did, indeed, dream
of reaching 90 deg. north, but that
was only half of their vision. The
other half included descent on the
other side. In brief, they sought a
short route to the Far East, which
would exclude the long Journey around
Africa. A northeast passage was first
looked for, and then passage by way
of the northwest. Although the explor.
ers encountered floating ice they do not
appear to have started out with the
same respect for the frozen barrier
tsIay subsequently admitted.
About the middle Of the sixteenth
century Edward vi. sent out Sir Hugh
Willoughby to find a northeast passage
1t appears to have reached Nova Fem.
bla, and was subsequently lost. Forty
years later Barentz reached n deg
named the great sea he discovered
Spitzbergen. had some exciting expert
ences, but failed to find an open pass
age across the North Pole. Henry Hud
son tried to find the passage between
Spitzbergen and Nova Zembla, which
would lead across the Pole, but, al
though he failed, he was the first ex
plorer to get into the SOS of north lati
tude. He reached 81 deg. north II
1907, and 22O years were to pass before
Parry surpassed this record, when, II
1927, the English navigator reached 8:
deg. As min.
The quest Of the Pole is Of compare
lively recent origin, If the early at
tempts to effect northwest passag
are not put in that category. Barentz
Willoughby. Chancellor and Hudson
we're tue alst 70 discover the difficult,
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-19

ftfully, but the silence Of the vigil was
unbroken. John Thorne raised his head
and looked at Margaret as she lay with
closed eyes. Her white, suffering face
touched his heart. How much older she
looked. 1t was only four years since she
had stood bride of nineteen and given
herself to him. Why, could it be only
four years? 1t seemed like an eternity.
The breath comes slowly. The little
hands are very still, and yet, o baby
fingers, through the solemn watches of
this night, thou'rt gathering up the tan
gled, broken threads Of these two lives,
and with touch no other hand might
use, art weaving them together, deftly,
surely, with heaven-sent skill
There was a slight stir. The mother
and father felt culver pass through the
little form. With startled faces they bent
lover her. There was gasp, sudden
throwing up Of the little hands-then oil
was still.
In an instant his arms were around her
her head on his breast.
Margaret, my wife y
20 John. John" she said.
The clock struck twelve. A New Year
had dawned.
. In the twilight of summer day man
and woman stand beside little grave.
There is an air of subdued sadness about
them that tells to whom the little mound
belongs. and yet when they speak 1t is
hopefully and cheerfully. 1t is tiny
grave-"only baby" stranger would
say-but we who have stood beside such
know that love and grief are not measured
by feet and inches.
The glory of the setting sun fills the
place. 1t lights up the faces of father
and mother as they lay, with loving
hands forget-me-nots upon the green turf,
and then, hand in hand, go forth. A stray
sunbeam falls across the white stone. We
stoop to read the inscription. 1t is very
simple one:
BABY BETH.
AGED THREE.
And little child shall lead them"
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-19
Pic ana pietx.

A well known Episcopal bishop,
while travelling through his diocese,
was entertained by New England
woman famous for her good cookins.
AS the bishop was very fond Of good
things to eat, he partook freely Of the
delicious mince pie, which was made
in his honor. Not long after. the bishop
was taken suddenly Ill, and seemed to
be undergoing great mental as well az
physical suffering. The woman went to
him and said: But, my dear bishop,
surely 80 good man as you cannot 30
afraid to de-"
"Oh, no." the bishop replied; mot
afraid to die, only ashamed to de-
Harper's Weekly.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-19

The practice of making presents on
Christmas day undoubtedly owes its
origin to general idea to carry into
practice the Biblical mandate: "Peace
on earth; good will to men," At first
the great lords made presents to their
retainers, and the season was marked
by universal charity. BY degrees the
practice of Christmas giving spread
until now everybody gives friends
presents, Detroit Free Press,
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-19
that polar research was for
Yea rs summarized hv mora nonoral Arc

remarkable that polar research was for
years supplanted by more general Arc
tic field work. Peary has been the
most successful Arctic worker who ever
sought the Pole, yet he has had terri
BILE experiences. On one of his expedi-
lions across the Greenland Ice cap one
of his party was lost in crevasse. On
another Journey northward the intrepid
explorer himself had to have toe
amputated. After the operation he
went North again and actually reach
ed, lame as he was and still suffering.
his fartherst northing-s4 deg. II min.
previous to his present splendid per-
Torrance,
Terrors of the Arctic.
To Peary the Far North has few ter
rors, yet even he is willing to admit
the terrors are there. Hunger and
starvation" he says, "have played an
important part In many Arctic expedi-
lions, yet it should be remembered that
they have played an equally prominent
part in expeditions In what are consid-
cred more favored regions. Careless
ness or acknowledgement, or inexperi-
ence. Tor carelessly considered taking
of chances, may make them serious
menace anywhere In the world. In
regard to hunger, as in regard to dark
ness, how many of my readers know
what real hunger is? l do not mean
the hunger Of the man who has slowly
starved to death inactive until he Is
semi-conscious and life is but the faint.
est spark. Such hunger have never
known,
What do mean is the hunger
which man feels who has for weeks
been working to his limit, in the biting
air Of the Arctic regions, on half ra-
lions or less, till he is only gaunt ma.
chine Of bones and sinews; the hun
ger of a man whose heart and lungs
and muscles are working overtime
whose stomach Is thin as a sheet OF
paper, but whose blood Is; still red and
hot, and every drop of 1t calling fol
meat.
"That is the hunger which leads 9
man to jump on bear or musk OK thai
he has just killed, lift the skin with hill
knife. and fill up on the delicious raw
warm meat, without waiting for tn,
useless luxuries of fire or salt. Th,
hunger which, when dog dies in har
ness, makes man stand OF the othe
dogs, till he himself has eaten"
He is just as Indifferent to the in
tense cold which seems to freeze tn
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-19

which are often found in punches of
three, We're to them a divine symbol. The
carrying about of "the wren bush" in
ireland may be traced to the same
sources. as the wren was a sacred bird
with the Druids. Most remarkable of
all Is the fact that the time of their
chief celebration was at the winter SOL
stice, which is practically identical with
Dec. 25, our Christmas day.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-19

There's going to be railroad up In Ice
In Iceland,
Ana what funny railroad It will be!
u would never think of Iceland as nice
For week ends Mt a cottage by the sea.
For the trains will very likely go on run
ners like n sleigh,
ANA they'll harness up the engine in q
Jingle bells array.
AZ least, cant imagine 1t in any other
In Iceland
You won't wont, need your Thermometers in Ice
In Iceland,
ana yon won't. have any fretful Wis Wis;
Sor up there In that anything but spice
But spice land.
Oh, they'll have to dig the sleepers out
dozen times day,
VI perhaps they'll tunnel through the great
And that win be Just bully till the ice
bergs move away,
In Iceland,
= journey will be Jolly up In Iceland.
- In Iceland.
Inc scencry's SO wonderful to see;
disc land,
Paradise land,
AZ the open cars go whirling DER the lea.
Iney won't have any schedule 80 thereIl
never be delay,
The rates will be SO low that almost any
one can pay,
For in, that curious climate It is Christmas
every day,
In Iceland.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-19
wonderful Island Of Cn.lh.

The English island Of Thanet, form.
ing a part Of the county Of Kent, is al
most wholly composed Of chalk. The
island is ten miles In length and about
five in breadth and has more chalk ex-
posed on its surface than has any 9TH
er spot of equal area on the globe. Brit
ish biologists say that there are not
less than $4,000, oOO, 600 tons of chalk
lin sight" on Thanet and that 1t would
take 10000 men and 5000 horses and
carts 10000 years to move 1t, providing
it were dug up ready to b cartsd
away.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-19
LEr,s KEEP SANTA CLAUS. !


HE memory of
happy days long
ago should ever
protect s a n t a
Claus. When your
boy looks you
squarely in the
eye and says:
Papa, Clarence
McGufy said
there isn't any
Santa Claus and
/ punched him,
for l know there
is" what are you
going to do? For
give the blow and
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-19

Mrs. sNexdoor-Aren't you always
worried half to death when it comes to
buying Christmas present for your
husband7
Mrs. Sunshine-Mr, no! 1 buy my
husband something l want for myself,
and he. buys me something he wants for
himself, and then we trade.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-19
curiou. Custom Of o.ford.hire.

In some places in Oxfordshire, Eng
land, 1t was the right of every maid SER
want to ask the hired man for bit of
ivy to trim the house. If he turned a
deaf ear to her opportunities or forgot
her request she would steal a pair Of his
breaches and nail them to the gnte in the
yard or on the highway. This was sup
posed to debar him from all privileges of
the mistletoe.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-19
Christina. and the Druid..

Chr1stmas and the DrutdN.
1t is not generally known how many
of our Christmas customs are almost
identical with those of the ;Druids In
early England. For example, the Yule
log is said to have come from the wheel
log, symbolizing the march of the sun.
Then the mistletoe was a sacred bush
among the Druids. They had a trinity
of their own, and the white berries,
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-19

the night before. In the morning be-
fore putting 1t in the cloth stir two ta-
blespoonfuls of wheat -four, beat the
cloth and sprinkle with flour. Tie tight
ly and boil four hours. Put plate turn
ed on the under part in the pot under
the pudding, add cinnamon and nutmeg
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-19

Plum Pudding.
One pound of grated bread, one and
quarter pounds of grated suet, one
pound of raisins. one pound of brown
sugar, twelve eggs, well beaten; two
wineglassfuls of brandy, one-quarter-
pound of citron, cut fine. Mix all these
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-19
Sweet Forxetfulness

Maud-You like Dick bstter than
you do Jack.
Ethel-How do you knowf
Maud-You let Jack teach ypu n
swim in two lessons, while you didn't
learn from Dick in less than ton
Boston Transcript
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-19

What makes your father look so blue
to-night?'
"s-s-sh! Somebody thoushtle.sly
mentioned the fact that Christmas is COM
,ay,r-Chicay0 Post,
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-19

Tommy Con Christmas morning.
Where does Santa Claus get all his stuff,
mamma?
Mamma Oh, he buys it.
Tommy-Well, he must be jay to let
anyone palm of tin watch on him -
Town Topics.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-19

"You don't even dress mo dscently.-
she cried. "1'm going homo to papa
All right" replied DoolitA. .Yoa
might say to him also that need Z
new suit myself"
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-19
Liked the Old Way Best.

Liked the Old Way Best.
"Pa, I've wrote Sanity Claus "a mother
letter."
what about, Georgie?'
81 tole him he mustn't come In auto
mobile; ! want him to come in sleigh"
Detroit Free Press.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-19
rha mi x..

The Old Year.
The white dawn gllmmered and he said,
TITS dayl.
The east was reddening and he sighed.
Farewell"
The herald sun came forth and he was
dead.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-19
a cHRIsrMAs coNcLusloN.


Twas the day before Christmas, and all
4. n through the land,
'fsaY fhe cry of the children that none can
ls,lS Withstand,
on Santa Is coming, rare treasures he
49, brings.
u pack loaded down with most wonderful
~ ! things!'
But old Santa, alas, like mere mortal
70 fret and to fume at his duties began
For he had been roaming about In dis
., guise,
And the state Of Affairs had caused him
surprise.
For what do you think was the FIRST thing
he learned7
Why all the bad children to good ones had
turned;
Gone all the Ill tempers and Cross, angry
looks,
Devoted each child to his work and his
books.
And he groaned as he said. "1 plainly can
see
On TIL, Christmas Eve there's no sinking
Not one naughty child in the whole merry
IT'S plain ! must work until I'VE BY the
But my dear. said his wife. 'you ought
That at I. last last there's not left child who
Said the saint, with smile and look that
was queer
They ought to expect me each day in the
-Waverley Magazine.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-19
Tart.

stella-He told me looksd swsst
enough to eat
Bella-He doubtless meant you wsrs
well preserved.-New York Sun.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-19

And ruddy health seemed laughing on his
lips;
Now he is dust, and will not breathe againl
Give him place to lay his regal head,
Give him tomb beside his brothers gone,
Give him tablet for his deed1 and name.
Hear the new voice that claims the vacant
throne,
Take the new hand outstretched to meet
thy kiss, ];
But give, tss. the past-'tis all thou canst-thy
James T. Fields.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-19

washsrwomen have I baEekaucsls
aSht Tex sxistsneA !,
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-19

AGED THREE.
And little child shall lead them"
The Housewife.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-19

HOW HOPE <
WAS BORN

. HE night was wild one. Such a
night and such weather as only
l. New England can inaict on suffer