davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-20

Those who moan the passing of some
old-time Christmas traditions overlook the
fact that for every custom that passes
into diSuSe a new one arises.
Changed conditions produce new forms
of observances
l. is true that the boar s head of the
early English days is no longer carried
in with old time ceremony. for the rea-
son that there are no longer as many
boards as there used to be. The GUS
tom of wassailing has grown into dis
favor. because the modern tendency is
to drink less all the time.
Minstrelsy that used to be the basis
of a number of the Yuletide celebrations
is no longer the factor it was. for the rea
son that the great public has theatrical en-
tertainment the year round and there
is no longer any novelty in the perform
ance of the buffoon i'll motley. with his
cap and bells. his songs and his merry
quip and jest.
For the same reasons persons making
homecoming trips for The enjoyment of
the greatest of holidays no longer make
the journey with IA christmas fool on
the front seat. because the habit of riding
on wagons for long trips is now only 4
memory, and on the fast-Spcedin2 Pull
man the christmas fool would cost an
extra fare and there would be no place
for him.
Here are Il few practical reasons why
many OF the customs. ObServances and
traditions famed in song. in poem and in
painting no longer figure i'll the manner
in which people of today give themselves
over TO the celebration o: the Ynletide.
But for every custom that falls into dis
new springs up.
Naples doesn't know anything about
the boars head for example. but ii would
regard Christmas without the ''prese-
pio as u calamity indeed.
The .'presepio'' IS model of the natiV
ity made in cork. or some other mater al
that can be readily carved or fashioned
into the desired shape. Sometimes it is
of soft wood, sometimes it is nodded out
of SOFT clay. but in every instance the
artisan brides himself on his skill and
feels that in making Il good job of that
which he attempts he is deserving of Il
kindly remembrance on the part of the
great mother of the Christian Church.
The presepio is especially favored in
hous IS where there are children For IT
is felt that in its simple way of pictur-
ing the greatest event for the worlds
good that history records it will come
within the comprehension Of tile little
of the day in manner which no other
agency could.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-20

mtted to the National Rifle Association
for its approval. Such clubs when adj
mtted to affiliated membership are pre-
scented annually with medal for COM
petition among its members.
Combination targets and score sheets
are also furnished free to the club for
the purpose of giving its members an
opportunity to qualify on the indoor range
as junior marksinen. Competitions for
the National Rifle Association medal must
be held on an outdoor range at 200 yards
on what is known as the "a target.
Any military rifle and any ammunition
may be used and there are two sighting
shots and ten shots for record In the
standing and prone positions. Where
the club has no range of its own the Ma
tional Rifle Association secures permits
sion to use the nearest range of tile reSu-
lar army. National Guard or rifle club.
The junior marksman's medal Is given
only to schoolboys under eighteen years
of age. 1t is contested for with any 80
callber rifle. with sights i'll front of the
firing pin. glass barred. Any ammunition
may be used. The distance is fifty feet
and the target the regular National Rifle
Association fifty-foot gallery target with
one-incll bull s-eye. Ten shots are fired
offhand and ten prone. with no sighting
shots. To qualify competitor must
A. points prone. or a total of 81 out of "A
possible 100.
:. x
II is possible also for boys To qualify
az junior marksmen on what is known as
IA Subtarget gun machine. where am
munition is used, but where the shots
are recorded electrically on a target. TO
qualify on this machine Il competitor must
make d score of Ii or better in ten shots
standing. There are also junior marks
mems medals which may be won by boys
the outdoor ranges. United States
Army rife or military rifle approved by
the National Rifle Association being used
with any ammunition preferred. The
distance is 200 yards, with ten shots
standing and ten shots prone and two
sighting shots al each position. Not less
than 40 points standing and IL points
prone, or a total of 81 points out Of a pos
sible 100, must be made in order to
qualify.
:;
Systematic effort is being made to Sc
cure the formation of such rifle clubs IN
all agricultural colleges receiving support
schools where regular army officers are
detailed as instructors and at high schools
which have cadet companies. A large
number of such schools have already al
filiated with the National Rife Assocla-
ton. The association gives medal an
nually for competition among the menu
bers of each schoolboy club.
If YOU want work read the want col
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-20
CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS OF THE LONG AGO.

fessional merry makers who used to pick
up a little money by singing their songs
and doing their dances for the Yuletide
pleasure seekers of a half dozen genera
tons ago.
The faker does not sing. he does not
dance; the pleasure he sells is to be found
in his stacks of toys. and as far as the
happiness of the children goes he is a
far bigger man than any OF his progeni-
tors in the dispensing of Christmas cheer,
and since the happiness Of the little ones
is really the handspring of holiday happi-
ness the faker can justly claim place
as one OF the great modern institutions Of
the day.
London thinks 10 such a point that
it made fight for its hawkers.
1t used to be that one of the great sights
Of the English capital was the phalanX
of hawkers standing shoulder to shoulder
in Ludgate Hill and ST. Pauls church
yard.
Here they cried all the latest novelties
in Christmas toys. and 10 this place came
an army of adults and children, the rich
and the poor. 10 admire and to buy.
But the commissioners OF police de-
creed that these picturesque merchants
must move on. They would no longer be
pei iiiAteu " JUN up u oiiS a. ms
point.
They did move on, but they promptly
came 10 stop and made new head
quarters at Holborn.
There they drove as brisk a trade as
ever, and the population that had ad-
mired them in the old habitat at once
moved over TO the new.
Police authorities were al first disposed
to drive them again. but the feeling OF
that ii was decided that they had become
one Of the features OF the great holiday
that could not be dispensed with Hence
the stand at Hol6orn will not be dis
turbed.
Germany has Christmas and New
Year custom that grows yearly In favor
and is the excuse for many merry gather
ings. 1t is called the walnut shell
party" and Is a sort Of first cousin to
some of the observances that in the
United States mark Halloween day.
The popular amusement Is TO tell the
fortunes by floating walnut shells in
bowl of water.
The shells either come together or drift
apart. or they go TO the side OF the bowl
and decline to move about any farther.
According to what they do the fortune,
good or bad Of those whose names are
marked on the shells is supposed to be
Indicated
1t is surprising and amusing the varied
capabilities the shells display. Life tt
self IL no more uncertain than they are,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-20

the new world is accustomed in repre-
sensations of the nativity that figure in
the presepio. The simple minded Neapoli
tans alter the history of the event enough
to make it come within the compr2hen-
sion of the little ones, and the figures OF
the ZampOgn3Hi are always included.
There are the musicians of Italy and
pipes in hand they are playing a tribute
not with the doctrine of autocracy, but
according to the laws Of love.
The representation of the solemn event
is not disapprOved of by the clergy. In
fact. they encourage it. because the atti-
tude of the people Is entirely one of rev.
, erence.
Neishbors come from long distance to
see presepio that is regarded as es-
pecially good, and the Child adult who
fashions one that is regarded beng
especially skillful becomes d person of
l. distinct local fame.
Not many persons in the new world
would care to have swimming regarded
as a Christmastide sport.
But the annual contest in the Serpen-
[ tine is now invariably held on Christmas
day. and so great has the interest become
that for this years contest there are al
ready forty-three entries. They will com
pete for q cup offered By j. NJ. Barrie.
the novelist and playwright. 1t is known
as the Peter Pan cup. and those who will
contend for It include the picked swim
mers of Europe
Christmas OH summer seas Increases in
popularity. and it is a fact worthy Of
note that ali lines making tours during
me holiday season 10 points in the tropics
always look for big increase of trade at
the Yuletide season
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-20

mtted to the National Rifle Association
for it's approval. Such clubs when adj
mtted to affiliated membership are pre-
scented annually with medal for COM
petition among its members.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-20

If you want work read the want col
unnS of The Star.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-20

The answer is not hard to seek There
are persons without number who fear the
Iigors of cold weather in the northern
countries. Many people have predilec-
ton for those ailments TO which cold is
the ally.
Hence they plan TO get away Just as
soon as the cold weather comes. Christ
mas is the time TO which they look for
ward. for by that rime the cold weather
has really landed.
An ocean trip under smiling skies with
the temperature at midsummer warmth
suggests itself to these as the ideal set
ting for Christmas celebration.
And even if there be no snow. none
OF the natural setting to which the world
of the north ever looks forward it is
nevertheless still Christmas. and none of
the observances are forgotten But in
stead of the close-drawn curtains. the
great fires and the atmosphere of cOziness
associat I'd with the Christmas of tradi-
ton there IS the glory of the warm trop-
cal night and the feeling of a summer
fcte.
The street faker has come TO point
where he is an institution. He really
takes the place OF the buffoons and pro-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-20

fessional merry makers who used to pick
up a little money by singing their songs
and doing their dances for the Yuletide
pleasure seekers of a half dozen genera
tons ago.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-20

1t 10 not exactly the figures 10 which
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-11

most eloquently expressed by his, refusal
to shield her. He knows she must find
herself, must fight her own fight in
order really TO win. His faith is high
that she will win. and this confidence
inspires her TO return to London and
confront Duplessis. Possibly Mary Ger
main would have yielded even with all OF
her new-found strength had she not at
the critical moment been summoned to
the death bed of her husband, poor. loyal.
disappointed gentleman. Needless or
gossipS, she hastens to her home with
Duplessis as her escort. and in the last
hour tells John German all there is TO be
told. and knows that he dies forgivng,
even as he has forgiven in life.
What comes to Mary in her widowhood
is for Mr.. Hewlett TO relate. He does so
with all his subtlety and power and con-
vincing force. He draws his story to
climax strongly and dramatically. and
with psychological truth.
Strong contrasts abound in Halfway
House The three men who love Mary
are at the points of the moral triangle.
The women are variouSly interesting.
Mary herself is the awakening soul. She
becomes the woman of true love through
trial and test. But supreme above all
looms Senhouse. the wanderer, whose love
all England Scotland and Wales his
garden. planting rare bulbs and seeds
and roots in suitable places. and thus
decorating the island with the most
glorious hues of nature. This is man Of
great worth. a scoffer at convention. the
friend of all humanity and an inspiration
for righteousness. In Senhouse Mr.. Hew-
lett scores one of the greatest successes
of his career Of Interpretation.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-11

letters went home less frequently, while
his liking for his trade became less and
less as he continued to win
And then he made his big winning
HIS big day came at Sheepshead, when
more than $1,000 came romping into his
pocket when an unknown won out against
the field.
Although he sent back to Italy almost
half of that winning, the luck was too
big for him and the call of the ponies too
insistent to be resisted.
He left the little barber shop where
he had from week to week drawn SIS or
SIS and plunged into tn. game for good
He became one of that great army Of
''pikers" which hangs about the tracks at
the big race meets.
He came to know the game as we'll as
a man handicapped by his know edge of
English could know-and, more to the
point, he Won-won more than he lost-as
fortune at first allows those to do who
make of her their only god.
But the day came here in Washing
ton when he found that this goddess who
seemed for so many years to know him
well. had at last turned her back upon
him. He was down and out.
Then. perhaps, he remembered the old
home in Italy. although he hadn't writ
ten to them for years, and he decided in
that first hour or two of downheartedness
to quit the game forever and once more
ply his trade.
For months the steady grind of the
work was hard, but he stuck to it, an
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-11

swering only infrequently the call to
PLAY, play once more Once he won
500 on one race. and felt again that for
tune had not forSaken him, but had been
coquetting. The $500 went quickly, how
ever, and then he settled down.
Possibly he was too proud % let them
know back in Italy how he had Jared;
possibly the letters that another Italian
had written to friends of his family had
their influence upon him, for he remained
silent and the heart of the mother con-
tinued to yearn for something. if only a
few words, from her first born.
The yearning grew too great at last.
and she left Italy. bringing her younger
children, and leaving behind the husband.
who was to stay until she called to him
to come
She knew from others who had written
to her where Pietro was to be found. The
i'll reports of these same informers had
made her undertake the journey, and
straight to Washington she came. ready
to greet him with forgiveness. have a
good cry with her arms about his neck
and forget 1t all.
It was almost midnight on the Sd Of
July when she reached Washington, COM
ing into the big Union station. confused
and wearied, but still unafraid. with her
purpose keeping UP her spirits.
Finally she found the place where Pie
tro boards. But he was not at home. So
there upon the steps of that boarding
place. in strange American city. with
the noise OF the coming Fourth just
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-11

is a handicap. Broad English dialect
fiction Is difficult. Some American read
ers like it sincerely. Others affect to
like it. but more frankly are displeased
by the difficulties encountered in reading
and understanding. For example. just
why Mr.. Booth should persist almost
without exception in calling his hero
"spawer." meaning boarder, when his
own name is artistically available. is
mystery to the average American mind.
There is much that is similarly uncouth
unnecessarily about the story. Yet there
is no denying it's charm. Perhaps the
of his own style. for he loves to turn a
situation over and over. to deal subjective
ly with his people until the action is Sc
riously delayed. more straightfor-
life. reaching to.a dramatic climax. might
have been more effective. The writer
deals with the affections of a young girl
who carries letters and a composer who
goes into the Yorkshire coast country in
order to find the quiet necessary for his
work Complications OF course exist,
else there would be no story The au-
thor's power of character drawing is I'M
mistakable In Father Mostyn, the vicar
of the parish. he offers a figure of COM
manding proportions. If he will consent
to modify his rather unctuous manner of
narration Mr.. Booth will undoubtedly
carry far in the world of letters.
FUN AND PATHOS OF ONE LIFE. BY
James T. Dubois. New York and
Washington: The Neale Publishing
Company.
One cannot read this little story with
out feeling that possibly Mr.. Dubois has
been. to some extent, photographed
He tells his story so intimately and so
well that the reader, especially if located
here in Washington. will be inclined to
feel that he has drawn from his own ex-
periences to some extent. He presents
the figure Of young man. with abundant
energy and confidence, ready like the men
Of the battleship fleet for fight or a
frolic. selling Bibles. attending seances,
aspiring to public place, and finally pass
ing the examination for the consular serv-
ice, into which he is indicted at the close
of the book. 1t is typical, wholesome,
energetic. successful career that is out
lined, and in the telling of the story of it
Mr.. Dubois, himself a wide traveller and a
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-11
MOTHERLOVE SENDS WOMAN 5000 MILES TO FIND HER SON

New York called to Pietro bred as he
was in a city Of some size; perhaps he
loved the crowds of Mulberry Bend and
the lower East Side. Finally he turned
away from the big city and journeyed to
Baltimore. where he had relatives.
There for while Pietro piled his trade
boy though he was. He was a good bar
Der. but in hing yet was the rowing spirit
that had called him west and he could
not always stick to the razor and the
brush
And the ponies! They, too. called
him-called him only as the racing game
can call a man who has in him the love
of chance.
Getting Into the Game.
Perhaps it was only a few dollars at
first that Tony put up with a friend or at
a poolroom. but the love of the game
grew on him as it has on many another
man. and he began to make it the bust
ness Of life and not the play which one
talks over lightly in cafes with friends
from home.
But for many months the letters were
sent back to Italy regularly. Words OF
encouragement he wrote to his mother.
then still young woman. He told of the
wonders of this land and of the way
in which fortune had smiled upon him
or rather not the way in which she smil-
ed, but the fact that she had smiled
often and we'll.
But the game grew upon him and the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-11

breaking about her and filling Ter with
fear. the mother sat, waiting, waiting.
with belief growing in her soul that
those friends of hers who had written Ill
of her son were. after all, right.
Possibly Pietro had looked long upon the
Chianti that night. Had he not been
long in this country? Did he not intend to
stay here forever? Was not the next day
the great day of the Americans, his
adopted people? Then. too. did he not
have a holiday on the morrow-why should
he not drink little wine to that Goddess
of Liberty about whom he had heard
much?
But at last he started homeward, and
his thoughts were not upon Italy.
When a woman, not very old, but un-
familiar. jumped out from the steps of
his home, and with great sob threw her
arms about his neck. murmuring a soft
language which he knew as Italian, he
was surprised and little indignant, but
not near to comprehension.
'-"Oh. my boy!'' sobbed the woman in
Italian. ''Why have you not written
why have you not let US know how you
are getting on in this big new country?
Why have you not told me the ruth?
Why have you not answered when wrote
you that Giovanni said you were
gambler and thought of nothing but wine
and the dice?"
But upon the impassive face Of Pietro.
with the fair dreams called up by the fine
wine, there was no ray OF understanding
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-11
to welcome the little bit Of nonsense as
a pleasant diversion.

to welcome the little bit of nonsense as
a pleasant diversion.
HALFWAY HOUSE; a Comedy of De
grees. BY Maurice Hewlett. New
York: Charles Scribner's Sons.
Washington: woodward & Lotnrop.
1t is dificult to accept Maurice Hewlett
at first thought, as the portrayer OF moo
ern society. He has heretofore dealt Win
themes in a long historical or romantic
perspective, and his style has formed
under the influence Of such works as
Richard Yea and Nay The Queens
QUAR-" THE Forest Lovers. and the
like. Now he comes with distinctly
nresent-day offering, a story of English
upper class life There will be many 10
deplore the lack of color and vivid action.
which may be founc SO aoundantiy IN
the earlier Hewlett stories. Yet IN some
respects Halfway House is the strong
est 81 his ,oyels. because the most i'm
mediately significant. It treats of propo-
sitions which can be intimately under
stood today. With all his freedom ana
courage Hewlett attacks the problem OF
matrimony. An elderly widower whose
first marriage has been unhappy falls in
love with a governess. pretty girl with
shy. furtive eyes. and distinctly middle
class He marries her. although he
knows that she has been wooed by man
whose
woman he approaches. Mary is type
Of the love-seeking woman whose heart
is easily swayed That she goes to her
elderly husband unsullied is rather the
chance OF circumstance than the result
of substantial principle. She grows to
her full stature under three influences.
Her husband is the essence Of kind mega
ton Her former lover. Duplessis. is per-
sistent temptation incarnate. The third
factor in her life is the true Hewlett
tct firla
tramp, botanist, unconventional in his
outlook and his mode of living. Senhouse
first rescues Mary from a wire hare trap
into which she stumbles in the dark and
then, long after. saves her from the man
trap set for her by Duplessis. Love comes
to her in the hour Of her greatest temp
tation, and she fees from her peril far.
far into the north, where she knows she
will find the man she can trust. He
guides her back to face her danger anew.
urges her to face 1t down. to seek no
false shelter. but to be her own bulwark.
The man loves her, and his devotion is