davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-12-20
JOHN D. AS SANTA CLAUS.
How the Worlds Richest Man CeIe-
brates Christmas.

brates Christmas.
Not to be outdone by the scores of
others who contributed to the happi-
ness Of the younger generation last
Christmas, John ID. Rockefeller assum-
ed the part of generous Santa Claus
to the children about Pocantico Hills
and provided them with an entertain
ment and Christmas treat at the Lyce-
um there.
Mr.. Rockefeller visited the hall aft
er the decorations were In place and
pronounced everything "fine." Mrs.
Ramsay, a trustee, conducted him,
and he inspected the tree, which was
electrically lighted in many colors.
A large star in evergreens above the
platform attracted his attention.
Doesn't that star remind you of
the good old song-let me see, 'Oh, Star
of Bethlehem, Guiding StarT" he said,
singing the words to the hymn. Then,
not readily recalling the words, he
whistled the refrain to the end. He
inquired whether fire would be light
ed In the fireplaces to add to the COM
fort of the children and expressed a
regret, when asked, that he would not
be able to witness the distribution of
the gifts.
Mr. Rockefeller recognized young
man there whom he had not seen for
five years.
"My, how you have grownw he ex-
claimed. Il distributed the prizes at
your school when you stood at the
head of your class. That was four
years ago, wasn't it?"
The Lyceum trustees sent to the pro-
WIDER of their Christmas cheer mes
sage wishing him "a merry Christmas
and many years of good health and
happiness" At the conclusion Of the
entertainment Mr.. Rockefellers reply
was read to the audience:
II am deeply grateful for the words
| Of cheer that you have conveyed to
me and hope that you will feel the up
lifting of The season commemorative of
the birth of him who said, Peace on
earth. good will to men,"
The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-12-20
How Would You Like to Be a KING

How Would You Like to Be King?
For King Edwards Christmas table
the swankeeper has selected some thir-
ty cygnets. Some of them will weigh
as much as twenty-five pounds. The
king will make presents of O few of
his cygnets to members of the royal
family. The kings poulterers, Messrs.
Bellamy Bros. of Jermyn street, will
probably have about half a dozen
young swans for sale. The price, about
40 shillings pair, makes them lux
ury even for the rich. For centuries
the cygnet has been royal dish, and
King Edward is very fond of 1t. The
favor is like that of goose. Queen
Alexandra and two of the city COM
panies maintain swans and cygnets on
the Thames, protected by special laws.
The largest swannery In the country Is
kept by Lord Ilchester.-M. A. P.
The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-12-20
"BIe TINS" BOUNTY.
Six Thousand Bowery Waits Eat Sui
livan,s Turkey and Fixin's.H

Six Thousand Bowery Waits Eat Sui
livan's Turkey and Fixin's."
More than 6,O00 unfortunates OF
Bowery existence were fed last Christ
mas day out of the bounty Of 'Big
Tim" Sullivan. The feast was spread
at the rooms of the Timothy D. Sulli-
can association at POT Bowery, New
York city.
Before sunrise the crowds began to
gather. BY 10 O'Clock the throng
reached from block to block, and then
the feast began. The men were al
lowed in by relays of 300 each, and
while these were feeding the others
waited their turn.
While there were all sorts Of men in
the line-old, young, middle aged, the
blind, the lame and the halt--the domi-
nant note which all proclaimed was
poverty In it's most pinching form. The
majority of them had no overcoat, and
the biting cold made them shiver and
stamp their feet TO try to keep warm.
There were thirty policemen on hand
to keep the line, but they had little to
do. The cripples were given the prefer
ence with no word Of protest. from
| their more fortunate fellows.
The dinner was the personal gift Of
"Big Tim," and out of his purse there
were provided 5000 loayes of bread
1900 pounds of turkey, 1000 pounds Of
chicken, 1000 pounds of duck, 7.0Ot
pies, eight barrels of potatoes for sal
ad, 10000 cups of coffee and thirty
kegs of beer.
As each man filed out he was handet
a pouch of tobacco, pipe and a ticke
for q pair Of shoes.
"Little Tim" Sullivan was the maste
| OF ceremonies.
The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-12-20
FORTY-F|VE YEARS AGO
Christmas Day In Dixie When
War Was on the Land.
Joy AND SADNESS MIXED.

Turkey Dinner Under Difficulties.
Party Dresses of Old Lace Curtains.
Dancing to Single Fiddle Played
by Old Uncle Ben.
Christmas day of 1907. Dear me-"
said little Virginia lady, II cannot
realize 1t has been forty-fve years
since Christmas day of 1862.
"The winter had been unusually Sc
we're, very cold and heavy fall of
snow during November, so that both
armies lay in winter quarters, but with
no great distance between. Hamptons
legion lay near my old plantation
home, but many of the boys were well
come guests not only In our home. but
in those of neighboring plantations.
The matter of suitable presents, little
tokens of remembrance. was source
of anxious thought not only to us, but
the soldier boys also. And finally we
settled down on the practical and knit
warm woolen socks and mufflers and
made caps wadded with WOOL OF
course tiny pineushions made of scraps
of silk and little books found their
way to some favored ones pocket,
while watch charms carved from the
ivory of fine tooth combs and the pal
metto cut in lead, beaten and ham,
mered fiat from bullet, were treas
ures.
MY mother had invited General AL
len. the commanding officer, and his
staff to dine with us, and many of his
boys as he called them, for they We're
friends and neighbors in his southern
home, would also come, and by night
the young people would gather for a
dance. Nanny, our old cook, tossed
her turbaned head when my mother
suggested cake made of brown sugar
and cookies of sorghum, for luxuries
We're not to be had and necessities
hard to get after two years of war;
"The cakes looked rich and brown,
though, when taken from the Dutch
ovens, and we dressed them with hol-
ly berries and popped corn, laid over
closely like icing.
'The long table in the dining room
held substantial meal that Christmas
day.
''The big turkey held the place Of
honor assigned especially to that bird
on such day, but was none the less
juicy and luscious for being stuffed
with raised corn bread minus raisins
The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-12-20

and almonds, but we'll filled with
roasted chestnuts. At the other end
of the table a roasted shote knelt
gracefully on the broad platter, hold
ing a red apple In his mouth. A pair
of ducks lying cozily together was
fanked by an old Virginia ham rest
ing in dish Of cabbage. Big pones
of corn bread and brown beaten biscuit,
homemade pickle and red currant
jam filed in the spaces, while from
the steaming silver urn my mother
drew the fragrant coffee made of dried
sweet potatoes and toasted rye and
sweetened with sandy brown sugar.
"To the homesick soldier boys, whose
rations were often parched corn and
bacon, such a dinner was feast, and
they did it justice. But all during the
evening as they came from the camps
my mother served the hot coffee and
sent none away without their Christ
mas dinner.
"Our dressing, too, had got to be q
study. Old silks we're treasures, but
were often combined without regard
to color. A fayorite evening dress was
unbleached muslin and not infre-
auentIy lace curtains gracefully drap-
ed over an old evening silk, while the
dainty fan was made of paper. Gloves
were priceless. No matter how soiled,
they were carefully preserved and kept
as neat as possible by rubbing with
meal and soft soap.
1--WE danced this Christmas night
until the wee small hours, Uncle Ben's
scraping fiddle and rosined bow max
ing sweet, enlivening music for trip
ping feet.
.sThe cold weather had given place
to a warm, sultry spell, and the oper
low windows often tempted couples
out to promenade on the broad piaz
"a which almost surrounded our spa
cious house.
sThere was clinging sadness, borr
of the turbulent times. or perhaps th'
reality Of war, with its stern disci
pline, that lent a dignity to men ane
bravery to women. for there was a.
intense earnesfness in every face, aat
The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-12-20
THE OLD MANS CHRISTMAS
PRESENTS.

The old man had six daughters 1--WE
wuz his hired hands,
An we wuz six, an all the year we
pIowed an hoed his Iands),
An every single gal o. them wuz purity
as peach.
(An', hein' six an six, we said,
"Thar's one apiece fer eaohl")
But how could any folks like us that
walked the cotton row
An made an marked the mslons an
coaxed the corn ter grow
Think that he'd LET gal o. his come
steppin' down so fer
To hear poor chap askin' fer the hand
an heart o. herr
An SO we jest said nuthin', but KEEP
a-feeiin' blue
An thinkin' tiiI II 'peared ter US the
gals wuz thinkin' too!
An sometimes when they'd walk our
way, though nuthin' hiaeh wuz
said,
They'd smile the sweetest kind O.
smiles an blush rosy red.
The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-12-20
Feast 10 1zaoo Newsboys.

At the forty-sixth annual dinner OF
the Newsboys' Lodging House. II New
Chambers street. New York city, 1,400
newsboys and their guests were sery-
ed with Christmas turkey. The BAN
quet was given By William III. Fleiss'
following an observance by his father
who entertained the newgboys each
Christmas for forty-three years.
The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-12-20
A Christmas Fantasy.

Softly agieam was the mistletoe
Where we stood from the rest apart
And clung together In mad embrace,
Regardless of people or time or place
And vowed that we never would part
All, the mad. glad riot that through us
ran
Defied the restraining art
OF comb and brush. for we were the pair
That stood for the last Of an old beau's
hair
We would have been hard to partl
Harvey Peake In Bohemian.
The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-12-20
What Did she Tell Him7

Mabel-That near sighted Mr.. Wheth-
erno actually asked me on Christmas
night if the wreath of wintergreen in
the parIor was mistietoe.
Alice-What did you tell him?
Mabel-Why, what could I?
The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-12-20
The Waters Christmas.

Customer suppose you make out
very well around Christmas?
Waiter-Not so good, boss. Some
folks is JUS mean 'nuff ter go to new
restaurant Jest to void de waitahs dey
know.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-10-05
Select Food carefnIIu.

A writer in Die Woche warns tour
lists against the temptations of the bill
of fare and commends the old German
adage, What the peasant. knows not
he wifi not eat" Special or national
Dishes" he says, Should be avoided
because, in order to appreciate them,
one must be accustomed to them. We
always form an idea as to what these
dishes should taste like, and our first
experience with them is always disap-
pointing. If you must eat these ma
tional products of the kitchen, order
them in the best hotels or at the first
class restaurants, for there they are
idealized by careful preparation and
superior ingredients" The writer
gives special warning against the
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-10-05
JOKE ON THE CONGRESSMAN.
Water Drew Wrong inference from
Guests Attitude.

A Georgia congressman gleefully
tells OF an experience during his last
visit to New York.
The representative had put up at an
American-plan hotel. When, upon sit.
ting down at dinner the first evening
Of his stay, the waiter obsequiously
handed him a bill of fare, the con-
gresham tossed it aside, slipped the
waiter a dollar bill, and said, Bring
me good dinner"
The dinner proving satisfactory, the
southern member pursued this plan
during his entire stay in New York.
AS the last tip was given, he men,
toned that he was about to return tc
Washington
Whereupon, the waiter, with an e4
preston of great earnestness, said:
We'll, sir, when you or any of your
friends that can't read come to New
York, just ask for Dick."-Harper's
Weekly.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-10-05
TO TELL REAL PEWTER,
Simple Test That Will Expose At
tempts at Deception.

There is such demand for pewter
lust now that it is well to have a few
pointers in determining whether it is
real or alleged. Antique specimens are
in great demand and bring fabulous
prices, and the modern bits are much
coveted by those who are DESTROYS of
keeping up with each fad as it appears
One of the most famous collections
If old pewter to be found in this coun-
Try is at Salem, Mass. The following
Jules for selecting this ware are given
by an expert who says: Pewter is
capable of very high polish, is soft
In tone, and pleasing to the eye. The
best of the metal has a curious con-
sistency, the test of which is pressing
the thumb and finger upon it, as one
.ries the ripeness of an apple. 1t
Ghould feel soft, or perhaps elastic is
= better word. The hall-marks are
Earious; a common one is two pigs
18th the makers name, Hamm of Lon
on. Also the initials of sovereigns,
. V. R.. G. R.. w. R., and the royal
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-10-05

coat of arms; often these marks are
scarcely distinguishable"
On old pieces there will frequently
be found marks made by knives, dents
from teeth on tankards and pots, and
sometimes the rudely cut initials of
individual owners.
In olden days communion sets were
Of pewter and occasionally collector
is fortunate enough to run across
whole set,
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-10-05

Friday, from just before sunset, the
bride sits thus like a statue for an
hour OF two, while the bridal chamber
is examined, the viands discussed and
much hilarity prevails among the as
sembled women. The father of this
particular bride had had but four
wives, and there had been but so chill
had died young, so the poor man had
not married into very extensive con-
nection. But he was grateful for even
so many relatives-in-law.
The most really interesting figures
in all this wedding party were group
of Bedouins, who had come up from
the desert, strange, bright-eyed wom-
en-, with the great Sahara spaces
breathing from their weird personal
ity. They were draped in silver
chains and bangles, their dark robes
being held together by splendid old
silver clasps and buckles. Their ear
rings were SO heavy that they had to
be attached to the head covering as,
WELL These were the real essence of
the east, the breezy embodiment of
free air, but showing, too, a shy dis
trust CT ways other than their own
Saturday, too, the little bride sits
for hours in state, but afterward the
ceremonies proper are over, though
she is dressed and waited upon and
made the guest of honor in her hus.
bands house for month. After that
practical life begins.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-10-05

Grotesque as are some customs, con-
fused as are nationalities and races,
there is yet a strange and inexplicable
charm about Tripoli. It took a perma-
nent hold upon my heart and magma
ton, and when l saw it's white minar-
cts and domes grow less upon the
horizon, fading almost into the blue
of the Incompatible Mediterranean, l
was glad to remember that I had sure
1y stepped upon the little plate of
brass 1T the sea gate as came away,
which by a native superstition means
certain return to Tripolitan joys.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-10-05

dishes with queer names which are
served in Austria and advises tourists
to ask what these preparations are be-
fore ordering and eating them. AS an
example he quotes Hungarian part
ridge" which may be found on nearly
all bills of fare. This is really dish
made of pork 'Ieavings," namely, ears,
tails, muzzles, ETC., land as little like
the name as the Englishman's cheese
preparation is like a Welsh rarebit."
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-10-05
Sion of Literary Genius.

That's literary woman sitting di.
rectly in front of u.s." said he as they
rode downtown in the open work car.
"Why?" asked his companion. do
you think she looks like such smart
woman? Is that how you know"
Not at ALL" said he. Half the
buttons are unbuttoned on the back OF
her waist. That's how I know"
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-10-05
Elinh lime 10 Ra Cautious.

He-so you insist in breaking on
the engagement?
she-Most decidedly. What do you
take me for?
He--0h, about forty. Better think
it over; it may be your last chance.
Harper's Weekly
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-10-05

In Tunis the Arabian women hide
their faces, except the eyes, by a
tightly strapped black veil, otherwise
completely wrapped in a white bur-
moose. In Tripoli no veil is worn, but
half of the left eye only is permitted
to remain unshielded, and the bar
racan is put ON differently l took
several lessons in adjusting it, attain
ing at last quite a degree of profcien-
cy. But I fear the right manipulation
of all the complicated, If graceful,
folds would not be possible in a coun-
try of tailor-made suits and sealskin
coats. Ones mental fitness varies
with environment. The peeping ad-
vantage of one bright black eye, or a
small part of it, is rather an advantage
than otherwise, for one may imagine
all sorts of concealed beauty behind
the white folds. A suggestion of
something too choice and lovely for
casual gaze envelops them, though
in all my Tripoli experience actual
sight of the street shrouded faces
never failed to disenchant. American
adoption of the barracan might en-
nance the attractiveness of our street
parades.
Looking out of my window one
morning-an entertaining employment
hardly to be resisted witnessed an
alteration which promised to turn
into a genuine encounter. The COM
batants were apparently a jet-black
vender Of bottles carried about in a
little push cart, and lighter colored
and more fully clothed and befezzed
person with table on his head. A
crowd of all the nations of the earth
speedily collected, and the conversa-
ton reached pitch that suggested
the tearing out of eyes and hair at
once. But Arabic is curiously en-
phatic, voices at best loud and hoarse
with cultural catch" in the throat
quite ininlitable; and this street fight
turned out to be merely an amicable
difference of opinion soon adjusted by
a laugh from bystander
Maltese women in the black head
cover and cloak combined, several
one-eyed Moslem danes and two anx-
Ious-looking Roman Catholic sisters
with q small brood of children whom
they seemed to be initiating into the
1iff1cult art of wearing European
clothes, were among the spectators;
4 Franciscan monk in brown robe and
'ope girdle stopped moment as he
passed, while heavily turbaned Turk
n gorgeous red robe looked scorn-
July upon these inferior persons play
ing at emotions.
If these ordinary street scenes were
picturesque, hGw much more the great
Tuesday market or fair on the beach
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-10-05
In U1spoi1ed
7rijpoh
BY Mabel LOOMS Todd q

:" BY Mabel LOOMS Todd q
Tripoli Most Enchanting of ORR
entail Cities-Quaint Characters
and Costumes on the Styeets-A
Silver City inthe Moonlight-Life
in the Harem- Inmates Heavily
JeWeled and Tatooed-Weird
Wedding Celebration-Bride a
Concentrated Nightmare of Color
Hands Covered with Gold
Leaf-Guests from the Desert.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-10-05

next night, Thursday, 3 favorite night
for weddings, a large procession
passed up and down through the mar.
row streets for hours. Arab men
closely wrapped in white barracans
| like ghosts marched ahead of a com.
pany of black men, beating drums,
burning red fire and exploding rockets
and fire crackers. Behind came Mos
lem boys swinging lanterns and occa-
sionaliy singing. In the midst walked
the expeetant bridegroom, taking this
emphatic farewell of bachelorhood
Until two o'clock in the morning he
paraded the streets, entertaining his
friends and giving them a fine supper
at the end Meantime, the little bride
would be brought by her relatives to
his house, with somewhat less flourish,
and placed in charge of his mother.
Some time during the day he has been
to the mosque, but it is not necessary
for the bride to go.
The next day, Friday, was invited
to the wedding festivities. The fam
lilies we're of a far higher class than
those Of the harems l had previously
seen. The pleasant courtyard was
lined with fine green tiles in good de-
signs, the rooms opening directly upon
it and also from gallery above. In
the center fiat on the floor sat dozen
black women with coarse tambOurines
and small drums, keeping up an in
cessant though intermittent noise Of
on platform slightly raised sat the
chief female relatives and friends Of
the high contracting parties, and their
effect was so Electrically dazzling that
it was some time before l discovered
which might be the bride. The love
of aniline dyes rather than the lovely
old soft oriental colors had infected
all ranks, and as each Arab lady in
TripoI when indoors appeared in all
the seven colors of the spectrum and
a good many more not recognized by
the rainbow, the effect of 40 or so to-
gether~ was overpowering. Jackets,
blouses, short skirts, Turkish trousers,
silk stockings, gold slippers and Grim
son, pink, cobalt blue, scarlet, yellow,
silver gauze and gold brocade distrib-
uted literally on each woman-Words
convey little of the effect. Each face
was painted dead white, with startling
crimson triangles accurately set upon
the cheeks; eyebrows were heavily
outlined in black and connected over
the nose and yards of gold sequins and
beads were Topped around neck and
arms and forehead.
In the center of all this gorgeous
ness sat the little bride, rigidly erect
and immovable, with two especially
resplendent friends on each side to
fan and otherwise attend her. For
hours she must neither move nor
smile. nor even wink Her hands
We're spread stiff1y upon her knees,
the fingers black with henna and gold
leaf thickly laid on up to her wrists;
while as to costume, she was a con-
centrated nightmare of color. Her
hair vas braided down with blue silk
and silver, her vest was gold brocade.
her trousers were of blue velvet; scar.
let and crimson disported bewildering.
ly among yards of gold coins and
chains of some white-petaled flower.
Half : dozen holes in each ear sup
ported an immense weight of orna-
ments, Brace1ers reached the Shout |
der. in every detail her decorations
were bigger and brighter and more
than those of the others.