The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1906-12-22
THE CHRISTMAS SEASON.

Wnat H. IS cynlcS declare, the giving VI gus
has become largely perfunctory, what if it is
too much mutual, not to say calculating, ex-
change, where value is weighed against value
and a sort of ledger account has to be kept OF
gifts received and sent? Back of it all is the
fairer aspect, the nobler inspiration which
prompts to deeds of generous impulse and the
Christian temper which expands the heart,
opens the hand and seeks to extend among
men the reign of peace and good will, the OPP
portunity which at least once in the year pres
ents for deeds of kindness and thoughts of
kindness to those unable to make return
in kind, but who melted by the same spirit
respond with grateful hearts. and often with
gracious words, making it in fact season OF
good will, good cheer, hospitable sintents and
benevolent acts which in all Christian lands
show the whole world kin. No occasion like
the Christmastide to disclose behind the act
the motive, and "back of the gift the giver."
AS a people we have been amply blessed
through the year drawing to its close, and'
though there have been dire calamities and
great sorrows, the proportion of good is so
much larger than the i'll that few but can af-
ford to join with rejoicing hearts in the fes-
tivities and gatherings of the holiday time, the
highest blessing of which is for each to share
according to the measure of his ability with
those less favored in the material things which
have come to him. Even to those lacking in
concrete gifts to offer there are always sugges-
tions of sympathy and expressions of kindly
interest, the hand grasp which tells of sincerity
and the glance Of the eye betokening good will.
Sometimes, indeed, words of reconciliation
and forgiveness which drop as balm into old
wounds, allaying irritation. making strife a
thing impossible-here as in things physical,
remembering 1t is more blessed to give than
to receive.
To all its friends and readers-to its appre-
ciative and indulgent clientage ever increasing
in numbers and broadening in the field cover
ed-THE UNION extends its kindest wishes for
health, prosperity and content, and for many
happy returns of the joyful Christmas season,
with all its suggestions of good will and good
cheer, loving thoughts and kindly deeds.
INVESTIGATION of the capacity of hens to lay
eggs results in the discovery that the egg pro.
duction of hens decreases considerably after
the age of four years. Thus ben lays at the
age of one year about twenty eggs; at the age
of two years about 100; at the age of three
years 125; at the age of four years. about 115; ;
at the age of five years about eighty, and at
the age of six years about sixty. These figures
go to show that hens should never be kept in
the poultry yard more than four years, for
after the lapse of this time they do not yield a
proper return on the food they consume. Be
this as it may, it looks very much as if hens
in this country at least, regardless of age are
not doing their duty or the price of eggs would
not be SO high The hen is a contrary sort Of
fowl at best. Here we have Christmas COM
ing and incidental cake baking at hand, with
the hen taking rest. She seems to work best
in spring and summer when there are no egg
nog and cake and laughs at US when Christmas
comes and makes things culinary more expen-
sive. Out of revenge let us kill the old hens
and disguise them in chicken salad.
BISHOP c. c. McCABE perhaps the most
widely known minister in the United States
died in hospital in New York on Wednesday,
after short illness from paralysis. He had
been on lecturing tour in the North and was
on his way to his home in Philadelphia when
stricken. Bishop McCabe, who was chap
lain in the Union army during the Civil War,
was for some months confined in Libby Prison
in Richmond. One of his most famous lee
tures-and one that had been listened to by
hundreds of thousands of people-was entitled
"The Sunny Side of Life in Libby Prison."
He delivered this lecture in TorringtoD, Conn.,,
the night before be was stricken.
The CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS at Cincin-
natl has decided against the Continental Wall
Paper Company, which had brought suit
against dealer of that city to recover S57, 900
for goods sold to him, stating that this COM
pany was the most complete and unjustly or.
ganized trust that it knew anything about.
The local dealer had been compelled to buy his
goods of this company at its own price, and
the court held that the trust, being an illegal
organization, was not entitled to any aid or
support in pressing its claim.
A Model Penal Institution.