davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-20
CONCERNING CHRISTMAS.
Facts Regarding its Observance II
America and Other Countries.

December 25 is a legal holiday in all
the states aud territories and the Dis
trict OF Columbia. General recognition
OF Christmas in America is Of com
paratively modern origin. A genera
ton or two ago the Roman Catholic
and the Protestant Episcopal churches
observed the day by religious services.
but the great body OF Protestan's. in
New England especially. ignored II as
they ignored Easter, says Youths
Companion.
The Dutch settlers In New York and
Pennsylvania observed the day. as did
also the English settlers In Virginia.
ard the French and Spanish colonies
farther south. AS more tolerant
spirit prevailed among the descend
ants OF the Pilgrims the Puritan OBJ
lection 10 Christmas celebrations dis
appeared.
Christmas was not observed even in
the Roman Catholic church till the
second century after Christ. when. ac-
cording to tradition. Pope Telesphorns
versary OF the birth of Jesus. The an
niversary was celebrated in January.
March. April May and September, at
different periods and In different parts
of Europe and Asia, and II was not I'M
I'll the fourth century that the east
ern and western churches agreed upon
December 25 as the proper day.
The Christmas tree Is OF German
origin and Santa Claus Is supposed 10
be akin to the knecht Rupert OF north
ern Germany, to whom parents gave
their presents to be distributed to the
children on Christmas night. Rupert
dressed In a mask. wig. white robe and
high buskiIs, went about from house
to house. awarding the presents to the
young children. who supposed him to
be a supernatural messenger.
Kr!ss Kringle. another name for the
distributor OF gifts. Is a corruption OF
the German Christ Kindlein. or Christ
child, from whom the Christmas gifts
are supposed to come. The Christmas
tree was practically unknown in Eng
land until after the marriage Of Queen
Victoria to German prince. who in
troduced German customs.
Many OF the ceremonies Of the day
are derived from old heather customs
adapted by the Christian fathers to
make 1t easy for the worshipers OF the
old gods to accept Christianity.
Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-20
A Christmas Discovery.

Do you remember the story OF the
portrait OF Dante which is painted
upon the walls Of the Barge!lo. at
Florence For many years it was sup
posed that the picture had utterly per
ished. Men had heard Of IL. but no
one living had ever seen IT, Bnt pres
entity came an artist who was deter
mined 10 find IL again. He went into
the place where tradition said that II
had been painted. The room vas used
rs q stcrehouse for lumber ana straw.
The walls were covered with dirty
wbitewash. He had the heaps OF rub
bish carried away. Patiently and care
fully he removed the white~ash
from the wall Lines and coiors long
hidden began 20 appear; and AT last
the grave. lofty. noble face Of the
great poet looked out again upon the
world Of light, That was wonderful"
you say. that was beautiful Not
half so wonderful. declares DR.. Henry
Van Dyke. as the work which Christ
came 20 do in the heart Of man-'o
restore the forgotten image 81 God
and bring the Divine image to the
light. He comes TO US with the Enovi-
edge that Gods image - there. though
concealed: he touches us with the
faith that the likeness can BE- restored
Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-20

scsted they had better SO" Mr.. TaU'
Hsrt,cr; Janvin Brown. tho d"tec-
tive upon who's" report the President :
messace to Congress. few da;s ago.
ON The brownsville AFFAIR. WIS based.
conferred with the President. SecTe-
tary wright also was with n" Fr"si-
dent and thev discussed tn" answer
that will he made 10 the FORAKER re-
solution asking for all the dc ails D.
"a what detectives and Others had
been employed on the case.
NIL, adcIinc Gene. the Danish
dancer touring With IN" Soul Kiss
company. was received by Pr"'id"nt
RooscvCt by sprcla! appointment
She has danced before manS -! The
crowned heads Of Errop'. an! pTohah-
J. will appear privately a; the Whit"
House this week.
Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-20

or old Panama company. h" took
huge share of the proceeds OF IN"
sale 10 the United States. For he
was the legal representative Of those
who negotiated the transaction with
our government And the devourlng
Tess tradi sOu since that sort of pro
fessioaaI capacity has found employ
ment. We guess Mir Cromwell hah
% see som, of ;he remuneration Tor
services 90 into other pockets ihan
his own: Cor At sch which Carrion
more than one greedy vulturr insists
mon feastiug-NPw York Press.
Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-20
'SANTA'S BIOGRAPHY
PLACE OF HIS BIRTH AND HIS
PARENTS ARE UNKNOWN.
10 Best Known and Most Popular In.
dividuai on Earth-Gives Presents
Worth Many Millions Yearly
But Is Not Chased as Rich.

Santa Claus. the most widely known
and popular individual on earth. was
born 50 long ago that II would not De
ladylike for him to acknowledge II. so
nobody knows his exact age. Neither
is il known just where he was born.
nor who his parents were. but thev
must have been pminently respectable
people. for everybody nowadays claims
kin with him He is the only untitled
person whom nobody calls Mister
and he Is q bachelor OF excellent re-
pute Although he gives away NOR" Al
Christmas than Mr.. Carnegi" and MI.
Rockefeller ever thought OF giving. ne
Is not classed with the miilionaires.
still he shows a preference for that
class and he puts more IN their stock
ings than he puts in the stockings OF
the poor. Perhaps he has taste Tor
fine hosiery Some bachelors do. In
any event. the fact remains that the
rich get more out OF him than the poor
do. Maybe he is not altogether 20
blame for that. Anyway he dotsh
ride around in an automobile. rms
may be because he wants to save
more TO give away. AT the same 'ime
he doesn't ride in the street cars. So
there you are.
Santa Claus Is the only truly re,
lgious person. for he never asks any
body what church he belongs 10 before
taking up his stocking to NIL IT.
Neither does ne care continental
abon, politics, aud he never votes II" Is
especially fond of children. and III"
children are so dead stuck On him that
they want him To come around every
day in the wear. Their parents. how
ever, don't feel so much that way
about it. and Santa Claus kindly CON
siders their feelings in the matter. l'e
knows enough not to be anxious I"
work good thing to FRAGILE.
Nobody knows where Santa Claus
lives in the summer. also ,h" Snrlng
and fall and most of the winter. but
wherever it is il must be- healthy
place. because he ALWAYS shows up At
Christmas looking so fat and jolly that
really ne ought to advertise the loca-
ton and take in boarders. There is
one thing certain il he did there
wouldn't be any "NolChildrcn, Taken
signs around the establishment.
Santa Claus confines his attention
almost exclusively to mankind. the
lower animals. except the reindeer.
having no pull with him whatever.
This Is a welknown fact in natural
history. which may he proved by pic
lures OF Santa Claus and his holiday
turnout coming in owe. the snowy
roofs.
When Santa Claus dies there will be
the biggest funeral ever heard OF, but
there is not much likelihood Of that
event ever happening as long as there
are any children alive. When they
are all gone Santa Claus will 90 TOO.
for what's the use OF his monkeyinS
with grown-Ips?
Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-20
agsg@AIAgAseA
Why HE SPANKED THE CHILDREN
How the Settler Prepared the Young
Ones for Christmas.

On the morning o! the day before
Christmas dismounted at the door OF
q North Dakota cabin to inquire the
whereabouts of man living in that
neighborhOOd. and the sounds froT,
within told me that one OF the child
rem was being spanked. When III"
spanking had been concluded the set
tier opened the door and invited me
In. saw nine children standing up in
a row, and the tenth one sitting down
on the other side Of the room. The
man thought some explanation should
be made. and he said:
Its the way do every Christmas
time. and I had just begun when you
rode up. Can You wait till | have
spanked the other nine
OF course. but may !! ask why you
do IT, They look 20 me to be nice.
well-behaved children
They are as good children as you
vii. ind in the state. sir; but the
spanking must go on"
Yes, the spanking must go on.
added the wife
couldn't say any more OF course.
ard went ont to the gate and waited
The nine were called up one after an
other and put through the machine.
aud then the man, who was breathing
hard from his e1ertioEs iored me al
the gate and said:
There the last one 81 EN- has
been licked. and now III show You
where Brown lives"
Thanks. but would you take IL
amiss II I asked what your tea child
rem had done to deserve punishment? -
You may ask, sir. and will ox-
plain be replied They hadn't doe
nothing. was licking en- so 'hey
wouldn't expect any Christmas pres
ents in their stockings tonight"
Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-20
GNZa
Christmas Giving.

The one feature OF ChriS;masiide
that cannot BE- oveTdone 10 the giving
OF comfort 10 the needy Sometimes
II appears that the custom ~ cX-
changing gifts has It's questionable
side. 10 the Increasing demands upon
slender purses and the cultivation 90 .
spirit 81 mcndicancy 10 servitors
These matters. however. regulate
themselves. ard probably little harm
Is done nv the swelling Of "a. spirit
Of generosity at this holy time BIT
the relief Of the poor and unfor' innate
r. a blessed work that cau never work
injury 10 tit, who gives. ~.
Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-20
SPOILED By A COOK
enAisrMAs EXPERIENCE IN A
WoMeN's soARpiRc HOUSE.
New . Famishsd Tablefui Had to WaH
Tor Their Turkey Until the BEL
/ iissrsnt Female Could Be-
! Coaxed from the Room.

my most unpleasant and yet most
coMical experience Of Christmas keep
ing," said the concert singer. dates
hack to the time when lived for
economy's sake in home for working
women. The cook We had was good
, one, and SO. when Christmas day came.
We all felt assured that at one O'Clock
We should have our orthodox turkey
and-plum.pudding dinner.
"But one bottle Of whisky. Snug
Kied into a Christian kitchen. will up
set the expectations OF 80 hungry
boArders. Just how many drinks the
cook had that morning. I cannot say.
but when dinner time came she was
belligerently drunk. The turkey was
a. well roasted as though she had
been sober, but what was that to the
boarders In general. when she stood
over 1t, carving knife in hand. declar'
ing that not soul In that dining room
should have q mouthful Of 1t but
mamma and myself!
s.vainly did the matron threaten and
eAtreat. The determined cook was not
10 be disarmed Mamma and were
Beautifully helped. but the others sat
and waited. wondering what would be
the outcome Of the trouble. Finally.
the defeated matron came out OF the
Kitchen. and with tears in her voice.
said to me:
I can do nothing. with her. Will
you 90 in and see what you can do
..And SO went in. and in my most
aRable manner invited intoxicated
Bridget to sit down and have friend.
~ cup OF tea with myself. She COM
piled. though with an eye still on the
turkey After We had had our tea. by
exerting all Of my arts and wiles per
shaded her to go up stairs and to bed,
II was not until she was safely out OF
the kitchen that dinner was served to
the other boarders.
''of course the next day there was a
bad quarter Of an hour for that cook,
one that ended with her getting her
duds together and skipping Many.
ID fact, all Of us. were ready to plead
for her, knowing that she could not
easily be replaced: but the matron
Vas adamant. protesting that In her
experience with the creature she had
Already forgiven her until seventy
times seven, and she wasn't going to
forgive her again. And heard after
ward that 1t was really n year or
more before the woman was taken
back again into that kitchen.
NATURALLY. 1t was easieS for the
other boarders, who. you may be sure.
resented that invasion Of their wit,
Ga to forgive the cook than to make
friends with mamma and me-. and from
4Aat time on We we're the most unpop-
ular persons In the house. We had
bsen ruined by = cooks favor. 1t
would not have mattered SO much
about the boarders. but the detection
Of her kitchen head was too much for
the matron's magnanimity. and as she
managed the lady managers OF that
institution. It was not very long before
Ne too. In our culinary friends Ian
k,,ase. had to get our buds together
and skip"
>aena.n1sk@MzA&.
Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-20
This II Worth Reading.

Leo p. ZcIinski. Of 6S Gibson 81.
Burfs1o y. v. says: Z cured the mos
annoying cold sore I over had. with
HuckIen's Arnica Salve. applied
this saIve once a day for two days
when every trace Of the sore vas
zone" Heals all sores. sold under
guarantee at Ali Druggists. &c.
Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-20
As 70 Mr. Cromwell.

We think 20 highly Of Mr. Cromwell
that II We met him IN a dark aIi"y
~. should feet like irving 10 climb III"
wall Of a house 10 escape. We hav"
no douIr that. WIZ her or no. h" had
any proprietary interest in the new
Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-20
~4Rs& sAgAa&
HOW ST. NICK FOOLED JOHNNY
The eoy's Parent Bought Useful Pres
ents When Santa Passed Him BY

'T'n lay for st. Nichola Johnny
said to his little sister. SUE.
why" she asked.
III he wants to leave useful pres
ents IN Just stop him." was his
boAstful answer.
~You'd best not" Sue said-giris
haSe these premonitions.
He said: "Pshaw. I'm As foxy as st.
Njcholas!" and while his little sister
lay asleep he watched
Time passed. The clock struck mid
naxht. Then he saw his papa and his
mamma entering silently with certain
bundles.
whats up" he called to them.
sWhere's st. Nicholas? I've been lay
M for him SOS to head him OF from
jsaying clothes and things as he did
last year!"
sfaash boy" said his father. after q
Doment OF reflection Your mamma
overheard your audacious plan
which almost kept St. Nicholas from
de house! assure you l would not
have interviewed but for the sake Of
your sister"
How! whatr asked John.
Hush! Yes. St. Nicholas was very
aAeTy you should dare to cri'icise his
11fts. He would have passed US alto
eUghR bad not gone TO the roof and
Saad: 81. Nicholas. don't go on like
tAnl ] have . little daughter who Is
1noocsat. Give me her presents"
~Dsl be give them. papa" asked
- boy.
"For sure"
nea what are those store bundles
They are your gifts. answered
-. SPREADING ont the useful oh
{ 1sess-I think thst II was a new hat
Ovessboss and m umbrella. As 81
1egeAolas left nothing for you. your
DaDua and went out and bought
49,"
AsRsaSk&Asah
a psspssssi chr:ssmss prssen.
1rr1- CaIser-You surely don't give
Ssse hasessd . seckue every Christ.
~
III. AthoWe-oh. yes. Z Do. And
- peor dear never seems 10 know
- & , tAe nne oss!
- -~-->.- s--s=--s 49, -a-.r.
Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-20
xxASs4Ss&
Sure Sign os Love.

7 think Charlie really loves me
now" said Miss Biusmore TO her
mamma
VIA. makes Won think 50. dear"
lie hasn't tried 10 break OF our
scqusiutapccShip a. usual Just before
he Christmas holidays
Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-20
Society.

Society Is always being condemned
nv those who are unable 10 break in
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-12-29
Eatind Test For Cooks,

In a certain employment agency ten
cooks out of job waited one after:
noon last week for situation to turn
up. Presently we'll gowned woman
who was short of servants applied at
the desk for the desired help. The
manager referred her to the ten cooks.
The woman interviewed each Of them
In turn with unsatisfactory results.
"Not one Of them," she explained to
the manager of the agency, "likes to
eat the things that we like"
':But what difference does that
maker" asked the manager. "They are
no doubt good girls for all that"
''Yet they wouldn't suit me-" the wo-
man replied decisively. my family
have very pronounced tastes in cook
cry, and my experience has taught me
that only cook who likes the same
dishes that we like can prepare them
satisfactorily. That is matter Of SIM
pie common sense. It stands to reason
that any dish a cook likes will turn
out better than one she doesn't like;
consequently I will do the work N.Y.
self till find girl whose tastes agree
with ours" --Philadelphia Ledger.
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-12-29
The senate. Hole il Tie IL, Wall 70

When the nineteenth century was as
vet only half grown, senators applied
scustomarily for their toddies at the SO
called Hole in the Wall, a small circu-
lar room just off the postoffice Of the
upper house. The latter body then
occupied what is now the chamber Of
the supreme court, and the postofice
was across the maiE corridor Of the
building on the same floor. When a
wearer Of the toga found himself in
need Of a "snifter" he had only to
cross over to the mails department
and pass through it to the little cir
cular room aforesaid, which was about
the size Of pantry. The Hole in the
Wall was the first senate restaurant,
and the bill Of fare for edibles was
short, though to the point. There was
ham, guaranteed to have been smoked
for six months, a Veritable sublimation
Of the pork product; there were corned
beef and bread and cheese, but very
little else. They served, however, as
an accompaniment for the fluids, aid
when the Hole was crowded, as was
often the case, senators ate their sand
wiches outside, in the postofce. =
Washington Post. @.s,<, RI ...:.
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-12-29
The Funeral SPONGE,

IF you attend Persian funeral they
hand you at the door small, fine
sponge" The speaker, popular un-
dertaker, smiled.
1T is amusing to think Of" he said.
Imagine it-by means Of these sponges
all the mourners' tears are collected
and preserved in tiny vases of crystal.
They are used afterward as medicine,
for they are thought to have wonder
full healing power. During the serv-
Ice each mourner keeps bis sponge
ready, and every tear that wells into
his eye is sopped up before it has a
chance to escape. The undertaken tip
toes politely about, he extends tenta-
lively the crystal vase, and those who
have anything to add to it's contents
squeeze their sponges solemnly there
In. Then, with bow Of acknowledge
ment the undertaken tiptoes on his
way, extending the vase politely, now
to the right, now to the left, murmur>
ing In his gentle and soothing voice:
"'Have you shed, sir? Madam, have
you shed?'"
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-12-29
A ROYAL Snake SIauuhterer,

The Secretary bird" is one Of the
most precious birds in, South Africa.
It is royal game, and any person de-
stroying one is liable to fine Of ESQ.
Majestic. looking birds, they stand
about three feet high and generally go
in pairs. They are Of drab color, with
black, feathery legs, and are valued
for their propensity for killing snakes.
Where the secretary bird is seen there
are sure to be many reptiles about.
The bird beats down its adversary
first with one wing and then with the
other, at the same time trampling on
it with it's feet until the snake is sufi-
GENTLY stunned to catch it by the
head with its claws. Then the bird
rises far up in the air and drops its
victim to the ground, to be killed. By
this means thousands Of venomous
reptiles are destroy ed:-London Scraps.
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-12-29
Nature and the Barnacle,

In the barnacle we have unique
and wonderful case of a creature that
can afford as age comes on to dispense
with the eyesight that was so useful
I'm youth. For the young and old
barnacle are as different one from the
other as fishes from seaweed. In the
heyday Of life the barnacle swims
about the sea, seeking its food with the
aid Of its eyes and generally leading a
roaming existence. Later in life, how
ever, 1t grows tired Of this aimless
wandering and settles down to worry
ships captains by attaching itself to
the keel of their craft and defying the
much advertised powers Of various pre-
ventive paints. Once, then, the barna-
Gle has become fixture, whether on
ships or sharks, its eyesight Is Of no
more use. It cannot seek its food, and
It cannot shun its foes, for it never
more will move. Therefore its eyes
become superfuous and, according to
natures invariable rule in such cases,
disappear. -.---.----
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-12-29
The Aurora RoreaIis.

The aurora borealis, or northern
light, is something that we have all
heard about, but very few, perhaps
can give any explanation of it. Nc
one definitely knows what causes it,
but the scientists are pretty well
agreed that it is due to electricity
They believe that the light is made by
the decomposition Of the positive and
negative electricity always in the up.
per and lower strata Of air, respec.
lively. M. Lenstrom made an inter.
esting experiment in Finland in 1882
his object being to determine the ma.
ture of the aurora. He had the peak
of a mountain surrounded by a cop
per wire, pointed at intervals with
tin nibs. When he had charged the
wire with electricity yellow light
appeared on the tin tips, and an ex-
animation Of the light by the spec
troscope revealed the greenish yellow
ray that is a marked feature Of the
aurora. This evidence among sci
entists is almost convincing, for 1t
is by means Of the spectroscope that
we discover the constituent parts of
the sun and the stars.-Exchange.
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-12-29
Death and Snuff.

A certain Margaret Wilson of West
minister, who was an 1nveterate snuff
taker, enjoined that quantity Of
Scotch snuff should be placed in her
coffin. She alsos ordered that the. ar.
engagements connected with her funer
al should be as follows: "Six men to
be my bearers who are known to be
the greatest snuff takers in the parish
Of st. James, Westminster. Instead of
mourning, each to wear a snuff colored
beaver hat, which I desire may be
bought for the purpose and given to
them. Six maidens Of my old &C.
quaintance to bear my pail, each to
carry box filed with the best Scotch
snuff, to take for their refreshment
as they go along" Snuff was also to
be thrown on the threshold of de-
ceased's dwelling before the cortege
passed out, snuff was to be strewn on
the ground at every twenty yards in
advance of the coffin, and the offciat-
ing clergyman's fee was to be proper
tionate to the quantity of snuff he
consumed during the ceremony.-Lon-
don Globe.
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-12-29

the charges growing out Of the death
by shooting on Oct. 6 of Captain Erb
at: his country home, Red Gables, at
Village Green, Delaware county. Me-
dia is the county seat of Delaware
county. TT = >s'...-
It is charged by the prosecution
that Captain Erb was shot by Mrs.
Beisel after bitter family quarrel at
Red Gables following long series of
domestic dissensions.. Captain Erb
had forbidden his sister-in-law to visit
the house, but she was admitted by
Mrs. Erb. Returning to his home un-
expectedly Captain Erb found his sis
ter:in-law there and ordered her from
the house. A quarrel and the shoot
ing followed. The charge against
Mrs. Erb is that. of being an acces-
sorry to the shooting. 49,. =, ! -
Mrs. Beiseps plea is selt-defense
and Mrs. Erb denies any completely
in the shooting. Servants will be
called upon to testify to the relations
of the deceased and the two defend
ants and to the occurrences on the
day of the shooting. 49, -
Since the tragedy Mrs. Beisel has
been confined IN Jail, bus Mrs. Erb
has been out on bail. The latter is a
beautiful young woman, fine eques-
trienne and has been prominent in
society = -'.zs2>. <. ,s2@ -, -