davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-01-04
When
The Year q
Begins
Newton MacTavish

One of the queerest features of the
first day of the year is the fact that it
has been celebrated On many different
dates. With us the year begins on
January I, according to the calen-
dar prepared by order of julius Gaze
sar, and later revised from time to
time as necessity seemed to require.
Hardly a month in the year but what
has been regarded at some time, by
some people, as the first of the II,
and consequently the beginning of the
new year. Sometimes the date was
logical, determined by the position of
the sun in the heavens
Sometimes it was fixed by agricultu-
raj or industrial conditions, sometimes
by a great historical event, and occa
sionally it was merely arbitrary, de-
termined without any special reason
being assigned. At one time the
Greeks began their year September 1;
at another on the first day of July,
the beginning of the Olympian games.
In what is called the ,Alexandrian era
the year began on August 20. One
Jewish chronology assigns October 1
as the date on which the creation OF
the world began, and consequently
adopts that New Years day. At one
April "a, at another on March 1, and
finally as we do now.
According to the meteoric cycle, the
year began on July Is. During the Pc
rfod of Alexander's empire the COM
mencement of the year was on Sep
TENDER 1; the era of the Maccabees
was dated from November "a. The
people of Tyre began their year on
October 10, while the so-called Sido-
MAN era commenced on October 1.
and the Augustan era made February
IA the first day of the new year. The
ancient Egyptians began their year
with the overflow of the Nile, when
ever that might occur, while in India
the annual flood of the Ganges fur
nished a date for popular chronology,
and the MexicanS, although they had
complicated system of calculating
time, popularity reckoned their year
to begin with the spring planting
The Jewish rabbits had four begin
nings of the year, the first of the
month Nissan, supposed to be the date
of the Exodus; the first of Tishri,
which began the agricultural year;
the first of Flu, the day on which the
cattle were numbered, and the first
of Shebat, which was called the new
year for trees. Christmas day, East
er, the beginning of each solstice and
many other dates have been observed
at different times by various nations
even now in Russia the day of the
new year is IL days behind that OF
our calendar, the Russians having
never adopted the Gregorian calendar
which, indeed, did not come into gen
eral use until about the middle of the
eighteenth century
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-01-04

ST Basil's eve. The city is decorated
and the shops TEEN with toys, sweet
meats and festoons. Women, days be-
fore, squat and joke around a low
table making ST. BasiTs cake, of which
they bake great quantities. On New
Years eve the Rajah boys in droves
go on the rounds of houses, knocking
at doors, until the master of the
house responds, according to the Gus
tom:
Let the boys in at once. Give them
money, fruit and all that they can
carry of st. Basils cake. Come on,
servants, fill their pockets while they
give us their song The boys then sing
a customary song, ending by calling
down blessings upon the household
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-01-04
THE NEW
YEAR WHAT WE
MAKE IT
By Ada c. Sweet

1.-THE only consistent peSSimist is q
dead pessimist," but unfortunately
there are a good many of these hap
less brethren of ours alive. Never are
they more active, and happily unhap-
Ply, than toward New Years day, when
all the rest of the world is looking
hopefully and cheerfully forward, in
expectation of good luck and kind for
tune during the next 365.
The pessimist delights in derision
of the good resolutions which mark
the celebration of New Year in the
minds of many people. Shame upon
the man or woman who would dull the
bright ambitions and desires for the
better of any human being, But
there is little time to give to habitual
mourners and augurs of evil. The
new year will be what we make it,
so far as our individual lives are con-
cerned, and the man or woman who
resolves to be happy in healthful,
unselfish way, is taking the first road
toward happiness.
We are all after happiness, in one
way or another. Even the recluse,
even the martyrs of old, were on the
endless search for happiness, though
the joy of heaven rather than that
OIL edrCn was the goal uAeQ upon III
the eyes of those who sacrificed the
present for the future. Eternal hap
piness was what they desired.
Unselfsh happiness is always wait
ing, right around the corner, if we will
only take our eyes off the far distance
and look nearer home. The resolve
to make next year happy one for
those nearest US will bring a good deal
of real joy and satisfaction to the
maker of the resolution, if he holds
out well.
Silent resolve is a good thing, too.
Sometimes ones enthusiasm evapo-
rates when it is much spoken of. But
don't let US allow the enemies of the
race of man to discourage us in max
ing good resolutions; and then don't
let us fail to keep those that we make
to the best of our ability
There is room for improvement in
all of us, and when we have acknowl-
edged that, and set ourselves to i'm
prove, why, we are on the nearest
road to success and happiness
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-01-04

caught wearing tall silk hat The
victim is greeted by the cry, Hut alb,
Hut ab," and ere he is aware his fine
hat is smashed down over his ears
by a crowd of jokers who surround
him. This custom had its origin in the
riots on Sylvester's day, 1848. when
the lower classes resorted to this
method of displaying their hostility to
the bourgeoisie, most of whom wore
the high hat.
The salutation, "Prosit Neujahr,''
however, is more universal and better
characteristic of the New Year ce1e-
bration by the Germans Thus greet
ed, one is made a captive by custom
and must pay a ransom, not, however,
until he has acknowledged his captor's
sovereignty by the answer, "Meister."
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-01-04

THE season of social gayeties which
1 was ushered in by the opening of
congress again calls attention to an
eminently useful parsonage in the
realm of Fashionable social secretary.
Although the. social secretary is
creature of modern development, and
most interesting one at that, her
place in the fashionable universe of
the national capital has become firmly
fixed and there are more positions at
good salaries than there are social Sec
retaries to fill them. The demand is
so great and the pay is often so al
Turing that a number of Washington
girls whose social status is near the
upper edge of the top crust, but who
are not as we'll favored financially as
some of their sisters in society, are
preparing to take up this as their life
work
Some one has said that good social
secretaries are born, not made" and
there is much truth in the observation.
She must be a natural born diplomat
or she will not be a success, but she
must be more than that. 1t is neces-
sary that she shall know intimately
the society with whom her patron will
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-01-04
Noticed the Omission.

Some dramatic authors seem to re-
gard construction as unnecessary
frills. On the first night of the only
drama that the novelist, Miss Bradden,
wrote, a scene was introduced in which
a child was kidnapped from its mother.
At the end, when all were made happy,
so much had been left to the general
imagination that no pains had been
taken to effect the restoration of the
stolen child. OF course it was an I'M
workmanlike lapse on the part of the
dramatist, and it seemed to have
passed unnoticed until a god leaned
over the gallery rail and solemnly in
CURED: Hi, What about that kid ?''
The piece was swamped in a flood of
inextin guishable laughter.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-01-04

of veneration of the Roman god, Janus,
he of the two faces-the one looking
back in retrospect and the other look
ing forward in hope and anticipation
Yet the mythology of the new world of
Father Time, falling and dying and a
newborn personif1cation rising out of
his decreptitude. is no less pagan in
Its essentials. Both are nevertheless
beautiful and expressive and worthy of
perpetuity.
Watch night" is probably the most
distinctive feature of the coming of
the new year. Religious services are
held in almost every church and some
times three or four sermons are
preached There are also many gath
erings in clubs and homes 'to watch
the old year OUT and they are occa-
sions of much revelry and the repeat
ing in humorous ways the supersti
tons believed in in olden times. Much
of the social prestige of the day re-
mains, such as calling and exchanging
gifts, is due to the early Dutch set
tiers, who kept the old customs alive
until the middle of the last century.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-01-04

and this song is sung:
wassail, Wassail over the town
Our toast it is white; our ale it is brown;
Our bowl it is made of the maplin tree.
We be good fellows all: drink to thee.
In parts of England the old year is
swept out" by men and boys who
black their faces to resemble sweeps,
and in other places it is ''rung out" by
muffied bells until the midnight hour,
then allowing the clear notes to sound
thereafter. The hot pint" of the was
sail drink at the midnight hour is still
quite common. The front and back
doors are opened at IL o'clock also, to
let the bad spirits out and the good
spirits in, while all peacock feathers
are thrown away before this event lest
i'll luck follow during the year Also
bundles of bits of money, bread. wood.
coal and salt, are placed on the door
steps and if any one calls whose mi
tials may be formed by straight lines.
like A or r, he is admitted given a
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-01-04
BROTHERS IN OPPOSITE
PARTIES In CONGRESS

w ASHINGTON-The Fulton family
W is well represented in the Sixtieth
congress. There is a Fulton among
the Republicans in the senate and a
Fulton among the Democrats of the
house. The senator is Charles Will
liam Fulton, of the state of Oregon,
the member of the house, Elmer L.
Fulton, who comes to Washington as
a member of the first congressional
delegation from the state of Oklahoma
The Oldest officeholder at the capital
fails to recall another case just like
that of the Fultons. Brothers have
served in congress before. In the last
congress Charles B. Lands and his
brother, Frederick Lands, represented
districts in Indiana But both are Re
publicaps.
Some years ago there were two
brothers in congress at the same time,
one in the senate and the other in the
house They, too, belonged to the same
political party. But the Fultons are
the only brothers who have come to
congress together but divided against
themselves politically.
Senator Fulton was born in Lima
Ia 1t was there, too, that the future
Representative Fulton was born
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-01-04

dOuSed with the peas, Wh1Ie tney
shower the wheat upon their friends.
A curious custom also is festooning
the handsomest horse in the village
and leading him to the house of a
nobleman. The pea and wheat shoot
ers follow in droves- Both guests
and horse are admitted to the parlor
of the lord and the guests receive pres
ents of small coins. The origin Of
the custom is not known, but it is
interpreted to mean a greeting OF
the peasants to their lord. While
the horse is being entertained in the
parlor, there comes to the house a
drove of oxen, goats, hogs, ETC., gayly
decorated and led by the children
These are not admitted, but admired
from the window by the lord. Next
appear old women with barnyard
fowls, decorated with evergreens and
berries. These are given to the lord
as present.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-01-04

, From there the family went to Paw
nee City, Neb., where the brothers
studied law and were admitted to the
bar. Charles later went to Oregon
and was elected to a lot of Offices as
a Republican.
Elmer went first to Saltwater. Okla,
then to Pawnee, and finally settled
down at the practice of law in Okla
homa City. In 1903 the term of Sem
ator Joseph Simon, of Oregon, expired
and Charles Fulton came to the SEN
ate as his successor.
When congress passed the bill ad-
hitting Indian Territory and Okla
homa to statehood Elmer was
announced as candidate for the
house in the Oklahoma City district.
He was nominated by the Democrats
and was elected, defeating exGov. T.
| B. Ferguson in what was supposed to
be Republican district. He was as
sisted in his campaign by William J..
| Bryan. Pawnee City is Mr.. Bryan's
district, and he had known Elmer Full
ton there. Bryan made five speeches
for him in the campaign, in each
speech emphasizing the fact that Full
ton stood well with the people of the
Nebraska town.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-01-04

was issued granting Col. Davis leave
until February when he would be ye-
tired by age.
Too fat, as fat as Taft, is the charge
that the Davis board has brought
against Col w. L Marshall, of New
York, in charge of the Ambrose chan
mel work. The preliminary exania-
ing board could find nothing the mat
ter with Col. Marshall, but Gen. Fred
Grant excused the big fellow from the
ride out of sympathy for the horse.
The last board to examine him could
find no disability except his corpu-
lency- His retirement has been held
in allegiance until Taft's return. The
secretary and the president will decide
how fat a man can be and yet be serv-
iceable in constructing a big channel.
Meanwhile Col Marshall is said to be
reducing his weight by the delicate
process of rolling on the floor. OFF,
GERS are scarce in the engineering
corps and a retirement of half dozen
would create havoc.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-01-04
ROOSEVELT AND TAFT TO
DECIDE OFFICERS WEIGHT

ONFLICT of expert opinions as to
- what kind of army officer should
ride a horse has brought about such
a state of confusion, especially in the
engineer corps, that the president and
Secretary Taft will be compelled to
solve the problem. For instance, one
board appointed to determine the fit
ness of off GERS to take the equestrian
test prescribed by President Roose-
welt, decided that the exercise would
cost Col. Charles E. L. Davis, other
wise known in the army as Alpha
bet Davis his life. He was accord
ingly ordered here from Detroit, where
he was in charge of river and harbor
improvements. Try as hard as it could
it appears the board which has been
known as the Davis retirement board,
found no physical disabilities which
would warrant his retirement.
Oddly enough testimonial from the
Lake Carriers association came along,
telling what wonderful work Col.
Davis has been doing. Then an order
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-01-04

in calling on friends and the giving OF
"awabi, a kind of mussel shell, as
emblem of times long ago when their
forefathers were of necessity very fru-
gal This is also interpreted as a
warning against luxury. In China the
people meet in the streets on New
Years day and salute each other
with: "Kung-h, Kung-hi,"-s1 hum
bly, wish you joy" or 'Sin-hi,"-s.May
joy be yours The cities are gaSly
decorated with lanterns and artificial
flowers, with red paper notices on
the houses. Where blue paper is
seen it is sign that there has been
a death during the year
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-01-04

There is, however, striking exception
to this rule in France. New Years is
the chief festival of the year, and the
gift" is the chief feature of the festi-
val. 1t is believed that the French OBJ
servance of the day combines the an
cient customs of the Druids, Romans
and Christians, since it involves the
highest homage to womanhood, sa-
turnalian effect in liberties to bonds
men, and the gala day of romping free
dom to children New Years day is
everybody's day. Each one of these
features has its special history which
would require the space of a special
story to tell.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-01-04
YOUNGQ QUENTIN A TRUANT:
IS FOUND BY DETECTIVE

QUENTIN ROOSEVELT, aged eight,
~ one time the protector Of Pete, the
White House bulldog, and charmer Of
snakes that terrified cabinet members
and sent chills up and down the spines
of diplomats, gave the White House
another jar the other day.
When time came to dress for dinner,
which is seven O'Clock, Quentin was
nowhere to be found. Garret and
cellar were searched, hut no Quentin
Then the grounds and the Offices were
hunted for traces of snakes or bull
dogs or boufires, but never a trace.
The secret service squad was called
out next, and search of all Wash
ington was begun for the truant-
With knowledge born of experience,
a couple of men were dispatched to
The humble homs where lives pretty
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-01-04
Eattenina the Bride.

In Tunis, when a man wants to take
another wife. he picks out a girl. and
then carries to her father a pair of
bracelets and pair of anklets from
one of the other ladies of his house
hold. The bracelets and anklets are
slipped on the young woman, and sew
eral months are allowed for her fatten-
ing She must fatten until she com
pletely fills the four ornaments, or
otherwise the man has a right to re-
fuse her. For in Tunis fat is beauty
and permanently slender girl has no
chance OF marriage.-Philadel Bull
letin.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-01-04

nay" But what this means, no one
seems to know. The application of the
term is in a custom of children to en-
robe themselves in street and go ths
rounds of houses on New Years eve,
knocking at the doors and crying
~Hogmanay." In response they al
ways get an oat cake, rich with fruit,
and sometimes, in addition, some
cheese and goodies. This is their
''Hogmanay." Housewives are kept
busy days in advance preparing little
cakes for their ghost-like visitors and
it is regarded as something of a bad
omen to run short and not be able to
supply the demand. While Hog
manay'' is the usual cry it is often sup
plemented by ''trollolay' and the more
daring will add the privileged rhyme:
Rise up, guide wife, and shake your fea-
theirs.
Dinna think that we are beggars;
We are BARNS come to play
And to seek our Hogmanay.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-01-04
RUSSIA.

Y T H E country
town of Russia
New Years is the
great feast day for
the children. Boys
fill their pockets
with dried peas
and wheat and go in
bands from house
to house. People
they have a n y
grudge against are
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-01-04
TURKEY.

QUAINT New Year
custom is observed
in the Turkish orr
ent, where t b e
Greek subjects of
the sultan live. 1t
is the special event
in Caesarea, where
st. Basil was born.
New Years eve
is more often called
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-01-04
ENGLAND.

JSTOMS in Eng
land are very SINH
lar and in many
cases interchan ge-
able with those of
Scotland Even to
this day the an
Gle mt salutation,
"Wass hael," or
ITO your health"
is jovially given
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-01-04
-W wAp =. o+t

EW YEAR is not
the day in the
United States that
it is in foreign
countries. In early
New England days
It received quite q
setback by the Pill
grims, who believed
that its observance
was a recognition
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-01-04
THE FAR EAST.

Years day of the
Gregorian calendar
is observed. 1t is
a universal rule
there and in China
that all debts must
be settled at the
end of the year.
But the feature OF
the day in Janau iS
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-01-04
GERMANY.

n MANY German
cities, and especial
ly in Berlin, New
Years eve, or other
wise known as Syl-
westerns Nacht, is
the occasion of a
rough yet ludicrous
onslaught upon in
nocent and unwary
persons w no are
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-01-04
FRANCE.
g EUROPE it was

~ L - nOI 4 IL W as
the custom, until
the time of Oliver
Cromwell, of ex-
changing presents
on New Years day.
But in the western
world generally the
practice has been
absorbed by the
Christmas festival.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-01-04
The Happy Man.

Happy is the man who has nothing
to swear on and therefore swears on
nothing He will not have to invent
reasons for smashing his pledge . few
days hence.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-01-04
New Year Day
The World Around -.
Copyright. 1901. By Wright a. Patterson.
By DANIEL CLEVERTON

present and passed out the back door.
To admit one having curved initials,
like c or o, means bad luck for q
year.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-01-04

little dark-haired, dark-eyed lass of IL
or IA years, the object of Master Roose-
veft's affections. But he was not there;
he had left two hours before, bound,
SO the girl said for snake and bird
emporium. Bur he was not at the EN-
porium-
Quentin was finally found playing
in Massachusetts, avenue, couple OF
blocks from the home of his little
sweetheart and near the school Thss
detectives hustled him home.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-01-04

Alfred G. Vanderbilt has given his
check for $4,000 to St Mary's Prot
estant Episcopal church. in Ports
mouth R. l., near his Oakdaie farm.
Half is for the endowment fund and
che other half is to be used for any
purpose the officials deem uecsssary.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-01-04
Tbe Turnt1g of the @lass

TT has come once Che turning Of Ae glass.
The sand is all but spent. and he days of Che old
year are as chaff In Ae wake OF he wind By
ae gray light in Ae western shack. at ae heaped
tables of e rch within e great places of exchange
and even amongst those who go out upon Ae high
seas. men will give pause. For it is ae time Of
reckoning. and sober thought must 60 to Ae balance
against mirth and merrymakine. 1t is ae supreme
hour of resolution. May Ae trend of worship be
not towards the god of gold. May not overlean
towards Ae side of materialisn. May there be
reverence for simple things. for a,e young babe
In Ae cradle and he old nearing he valley.
May Ae milk of human kindness and the good
hand Of common sympathy 60 forth to Ae natal
feast. Then might a,e New Year dawn bright.
and people ae world could repeat with Ae poet
Turn again Ae wasted glass.
kinsy and
Are not worth ae blade Of grass
God fashion. for Ae swallow > nest
Newton MacT avish
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-01-04
x-Rays and Pearls.

An interesting application of the K.
rays is for the detection of the pearl
inside the closed shell of the mullusk
In a paper contributed to the Complies
Rendus of the Biological society OF
Paris R. Dubois gives an account OF
photographs which he has made, show
ing a pearl inside a species of pearl
bearing mussel. He notes also that a
similar photograph of pearl inside a
shell was made by Auguste Lumiere
and exhibited at the Colonial exhihi.
ton at Marseilles in 1906.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-01-04
SCOTLAND.

S IN France, so in
S C o t l a n d, N e W
Years is the chief
festival of the year.
The eve of the day
and the day itself
are called Daft
Days" or CT a z Y
days. And the eve
separated from it's
daft" associate is
C all e d "Hogma-
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-01-04
Ihe MornIna After,

Up to Date Child-Did you and papa
enjoy the party last night. mamma?
Mother-Yes, darling.
Up to Date Child-Which Of you
won the most Judge.