davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22
Christmas
With Lo, the
Poor Indian.

n n ANY of the Indians who still
Wv keep up their tribal existence
are Christians. TO them as
to the white people Christmas
is an important anniversary, but they
celebrate 1t in their own way. This
way would not be approved by certain
Christian denominations of white peo-
pie because 1t includes as the chief
feature a dance.
The southwestern Indian tribes have
special fondness for all sorts of cere-
monial dances. When white people
dance they do it for the aesthetic
pleasure Of the performance, the poetry
of motion, so to speak. Not so with
the Indians. Every dance has a deep
significance to them. When they as
semble for their Christmas observance
they begin by praying for rain and
bountiful crops.
Then follows the dance This Is the
only dance in which the women are
permitted to take part. The men and
women form in opposite lines and
start up song, their bodies swaying
in rhythm. Then they break up into
groups and dance toward each other
with a hippity-hop step. holding their
bodies rigid.
The next movement is to form a cir
Gle and dance around Christmas tree
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22

hung with articles which, according to
the missionaries. are the gifts of Santa
Claus to good Indians. The Indians
kneel and pray in front of an altar
during the performance
When Santa Claus visits the Indian
papoose on the plains he does not find
stockings in which to deposit his pres
ents AS a rule, the little Indian in
the tepee does not wear stockings, for
the first yenr or two at any rate The
baby is strapped to board, its body
wrapped in warm skins and only its
head sticking out, so that it can cry
without being cramped for space.
Frequently the papoose takes It's
maps in an upright position, its mother
leaning the baby board against the
tepee pole.
On Christmas eve Santa Claus steals
into the tepee and lays beside the
sleeping papoose its Christmas pres
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22
QUEER CHRISTMAS PRESENTS.
Some of the Things Found by the
British Dead Letter Office.

Some of the Things Found by the
British Dead Letter Office.
During the ten days preceding Christ.
mas about 10000 parcels are handled
every twentyfour hours by British
postofice officials, or approximately
100000 for the entire ten days during
which the rush lasts.
The contents of many of the parcels
are, to say the least, somewhat curl
Gus. says the, Pictorial Magazine. A
hamper Of live leeches, for instance.
seems a strange sort of Christmas
gift. SO does an artificial leg. Yet
both of these were among the parcels
treated" last Christmas. Another long
coffin shaped box excited suspicion on
account of the odor emanating there.
FROM On opening it, however, nothing
more dreadful was found than young
alligator in dormant condition. An
other evil smelling hamper was found
to contain no fewer than 300 dead
mice, while yet third inclosed de-
funct puppy consigned for postmortem
purposes to an eminent surgeon.
Christmas presents of live animals
are constantly being sent through the
post Notwithstanding the fact that the
practice is strictly prohibited. Pigeons,
rabbits, white mice, rats, ferrets, silk
worms, lizards, snakes, guinea pigs
and even on one occasion pet lamb
have all been dealt with at some pc
Rod or other
No longer ago than last Christmas
eve box wns intercepted containing
$50 live frogs, and short time before
twelve healthy young adders were dis
covered in an innocent looking hamper
which was supposed to contain poultry
Some of the Enclosures are decidedly
sarcastic. OF this class was two foot
long cane bearing the Endorsement: "a
Christmas present for Johnny. For
outward application only. To be well
rubbed in"
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22
KING HERoD's ROOSTER.
The Legend of St. Stephen, First Of
the Noble Army of Martyrs.


Ever since that first Christmas eve
the cock has crowed all night long OF
the anniversary to keep away evi
spirits, for the cock is holy bird ant
knowing one. There is a pleasant
tale of him and st. Stephen, the frs
J martyr, whose day is Dec 26, close by
his dear Lords.
st. Stephen was King Herods stew
ard, it seems, who served him in the
kitchen and at table. One night as he
was bringing in the boar's head for his
masters dinner he saw the star shin
ing over Bethlehem. Immediately he
set down the huge platter and ex
claimed:
mo longer, Herod, will be thy serv
ant, for greater King than thou is
born"
What aiieth theeT" cried the king
wrathfully. do you lack meat OF
drink that you would desert my sery.
ice for another'sY
NAY" answered Stephen; 81 lack
neither meat nor drink, but the Child
that Is born this night is greater than
all of us, and him only will l serve"
That Is as true" quoth Herod smit-
ing the table with his fist, "as that this
roast cock on the platter shall crow be.
fore u.s."
Hardly were the words out OF his
mouth when the cock stretched his
neck and crowed Justify, "Christus ma.
tus est" At this proof that Stephens
words were true Herod was so angry
that he made his soldiers take Stephen
outside the walls of Jerusalem and
stone him to death. And this is the
reason why unto this day St Stephen
is the patron of stonecutters.-Abb bible
Farwell Brown in Lippincotts Maya.
Turkey Once a Side Dish.
Turkeys, mince pies and plum pud-
dings are now regarded as the chief
items in the Christmas dinner, but at
one time they We're mere side dishes in
an enormous number of courses.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22
MEXICAN POLlTENESS.
In the State CT Michoacan Chivairy 1
Compulsory.

In the State CT Michoacan chivairy /
Compulsory.
IF any man opines that the DAYS O
chivalry and the true knight erran
spirit have gone forever, let him star
forthwith on a far southwark journey
not halt his steps until he brings VI
in the town of MoreIia, which is TIL,
capital of the Mexican state Of
Michoacan," remarked travelin;
man.
Having arrived in Morelia, he vii
at once see that the chivalrous spiri
still survives. / was down there mo-
long ago, and the galIantry of the meI
and their extreme readiness to extend
courtesies to the fair sex pleased anC
surprised me. When | noticed the
alacrity with which the native males
jumped up on the crowded street cal
to offer their seats to the first senorit;
that entered, 7 thought to myself how
much more gentlemanly are these
MeXicans than many of my own coun
trymen. They do not wait to see II
1CAAS NtA.NA man 10 SOili6 W SCt VII Ou
each tries to beat the other Ia cour
teously proffering his seat to the lady
Il spoke about the matter to the pro
prietor of the hotel and immediateh
he began to laugh.
"You must understand. senor.' sale
the innkeeper. that the governor OF
our state issued a decree that If any
man keep his seat In street ear
thereby compelling woman to stand
he is liable to arrest and a fine. The
police have been instructed to execute
this order severely, and ! think this
has much to do with the prompt polite
ness OF which You speak, since none o.
our population wishes TO become in
volved with the police and to be pub
licly branded as lacking in gentility.'
Baltimore American.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22
CANADl,S CHRISTMAS STAMP.



the December Holiday.
Stamp collectors say that the great.
est Christmas gift ever made was a
postage stamp of the value OF cents
! On Christmas. 1898 Great Britain pre-
scented to all her thirty colonies
a Christmas gift In the form of two
cent letter postage in place of the rate
Of cents. which for decades had ex-
listed.
In honor of this event Canada placed
on sale on Christmas morning. 1898, a
Christmas postage stamp, the only
| stamp of the kind ever issued by any
country. In many respects it is unique
| among all postage stamps.
! 1t was larger than our Columbian
stamps and showed a map of the world
with the possessions OF the British EN-
pire printed in bright scarlet The
oceans appeared In a blush green and
the frame Of the design in black
Across the top was the inscription
Canada Posta ge,' with crown rest
ing on laurel leaves tucked in between
the words. At the extreme lower part
of the design Is the declaration. We
hold vaster empire than has been;"
above this. Xmas. 1885," and figure
''2' In each lower corner.
1t is worthy of note that this Cana
dian stamp was printed by a bank
note company IN the United States. 1t
marked a new epoch in stamp produc-
ton. having three colors. Ricolored
stamps are not uncollHoa. but up to
that time 70 country had ever attempt
ed a three co.or statap.
This Christmas stamp was probably
the naost expressive ever issued. cost
ing the Canadian government four
tines as much as the ordinary single
color stamp. Although issued on Christ
mas. 1898. the stamps availability for
postage uses IS unlimited. New York
~ II
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22
(Sioslx NIotIaer ana 5hiIeD

ents. These are not so numerous or so
costly as the white baby's presents,
but to the little bronze baby they are
just as good Nearly always the In
dian baby gets things of bright colors
Indians, big and little, are particularly
fond of garish hucs. A red necktie, a
blue ribbon, yellow scarf or a stick
of striped candy may be the selection
of Santa Claus, but q string of shells
or beads. the tooth of an elk or the
claw of bear is more likely to be the
papoose's present.
When papoose wakes up and finds
its gifts it is just as happy as the rich
est white child in the land.
When Christmas Lasted Weeks.
Our ancestors thought nothing of TAX
ing three weeks holiday at Christmas
time
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22
THE NEWSBoYs' PIE.
u Took Man Who Looked Llks Sing
ham 70 Find II.

Tramp. Tramp. Tramp. Two hun
dred and fifty pairs OF little feet keep
ing step. are marching TO dinner In tn,
New York newsboys' lodging house
Five hundred pairs more are restlessl,
awaiting their turn upstairs. In prison
hospital and aimshouse the grea
city 10 host and gives Of her plenty
Here an unknown friend has spread q
generous rspast fer TIE waits who all
the rest OF the days shift for them
selves as best they can-turkey. COT
fee aud pie, with vegetables to I'll in
As the file Of eagle eyed youngsters
passes down the long tables there are
swift movements of grimy hands. and
shirt waists bulge, ragged coats SAG
at the pockets Hardly is the file seat.
ed when the plant rises: Il amt got
no pie. 1t got swiped on me,' Seven
despoiled ones hold up their hands.
The superintendent laughs-it is
Christmas eve. He taps one tentative
ly on the bullying shirt. What have
you here. my lad?'
Me pie, responds he, with an limo
cent look. Il was scarf it would get
stole"
A little fellow who has been eying
one of the visitors attentively takes his
knife out of his mouth and points it at
him with conviction.
Il know your he pipes. You're a
p'lice- commissioner seen yer picture
In the papers. You're Ringhamm
The clatter Of knives ana forks
ceases suddenly. Seven pies creep
stealthily over the edge of the table
and are replaced on as many plates
The visitors laugh. 1t was case Of
mistaken identity
What Worried Marks Mother.
was always told that l was a slck-
ly and precarious and tiresome and
uncertain child and lived mainly ON
medicines during the first seven years
of my life. | asked my mother about
this in her old age-she was In her
eighty-eighth year-and said:
Il suppose that during all that time
you were uneasy about meT'
Eyes, the whole time"
Afraid | wouldn't live?"
After reflective pause, ostensibly to |
think out the facts:
NO - afraid you would" - Mark |
Twain in North American Review.
Where Bells Ring Underground.
Near Raleigh. in Nottinghamshire. |
England, there is valley said to have
been caused by an earthquake several
of years ago, and 1t is now
usual on Christmas morning for old
men and women to tell their children |
and young friends to go to the valley,
stoop down and hear the bells ringing
merrily in the ruins of the church un
der the ground. Bits.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22

Thank heaven. it isn't only the arts
tocrat who can have a family tree a
Christmas
Be Christmas white or Christmas green
It's all The same to you
If Christmas finds you all serene
And doesn't make you blue
1t doesn't take magician to trans
form small boy into turkey COB
bier.
When Santa Claus comes down the
chimney he chases many man up the
spout
It's the vanity of the sex thai
prompts the female turkey to wonder
how she is going to be dressed for the
Christmas dinner.
An Odd Legacy.
Thomas Jefferson, the founder of the
Jefferson family Of actors. was re-
membered curiously In the will of
Weston, who was himself an esteemed
member of Garrick's company. Yves.
tons viii contained this item:
Il have played under the manage
ment of Mr.. Jefferson at Richmond and
received from him every poitencss.
therefore leave him all my stock Of
prudence. it being the only good quail
ty think he stands in need Of"
a Heated Discussion.
whats the matter with the fire
eater? Been swallowing too many
Hames?'
Nope. He's been drinking too much
drewater cleveland Plain Dealer.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22
CAUSE eRAMpA's SEEN IT MANY TIME.
AT AIferd Brown, at lives mex door
To LIS [ hon,t Ike him ,Ihcausa

AT AIferd Brown, at lives mex door
To US, | don't like him, 'uhcause
He say at he don't think no moro
AT there can be a Santa Claus,
But erampa whisper in my ear
AT Santa will find me all right,
Cause he has seen his sleigh an deer
An pack O. piaythines many night
My grampa knew Boy Blue an all
TIL children at live in tn shoe.
When Humpty Dumpty had at fall
He's standin' close as me an you'll
An he say ist to don't buhIieve
Tn folks at say there amt no chime
o. reindeer bells on Christmas eve,
Cause he has heard 'em many time
Chicago Tribune.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22
What Grandpa
KNOWS.

e ONE folks say at Red Riding Hood
~ She didn't live at all nor go
Down where tn wolf was in at wood
But granpa says at il is sol
An some folks say. at GoIdiIocks
Don't meet tn bears an run away,
A-bumpin' into trees an rocks,
But srampa's seen her many a day.
My grampa takes me on his knee
An tells me all bout Puss in Boots
An bout tn fairies you can't see
For their in-vis-ther funny suits.
An he knows where the besnstali< is
AT Jack tn Giant Killer climb
To get at gold an things O. his,
Cause srampa's seen it many time.
An Cinderella, too, my pa
lst laugh an say at he don't know,
But grampa-w'y, my erampa saw
Her slip at slipper on her toel
An Simple Simon--wouId you think
He never was like some folks say?
But Srampa only laugh an wink,
Cause he has seen him many Gay.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22
She Had Rad Burns.

The philanthropic lady was visitin,
a Glasgow Stun and had just been
ushered into house where the gooc
wife was engaged washing. Her en-
deayor was TO elevate the minds of tn,
poor. and she asked, Have you read
Burns.''
In answer the good wife barred hel
brawny arm and displayed a large rec
mark. saying. There's wan ! got thi.
morn vii the steam o the pot bilin
over. But, efter "a. burns aye red!'
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22
Good He Didn't Accent.

During the second Dreyfus court
martial NJ. Quesnay de Beaurepaire,
ex-president of the civil section of the
cour de cessation, who was bitter
against the accused captain. received a
very polite letter dated from the Cha.
teau de Prefargier, near Neuchatel, In
Switzerland, and signed "a de Prefar-
gier" praising him for his efforts in
the Dreyfus case and inviting him to
come and stay ut the writer's resi-
dence.
NJ de Beaurepaire replied In his usu.
al iowery style. saying he would con
tinue the struggle as long as he had
strength and that he would remain at
the breach like valiant soldier to set
an example OF duty exen should he
stand alone. He did not positively de
cline the invitation, holding out hopes
that some day he might be free to ac.
cept it.
The Chateau de Prefargier Is the ~
matte asylum for Neuchatel
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22
Must Have Had Experience.

Never mind, dear" he said reassur-
ingly rs she raised her sweet face
from his shoulder and they both saw
the white blur on his coat; st will ali
brush or"
"Oh, Charlie" she burst out, sobbing,
hiding her face again upon his whitley
shoulder, "how do you Y-Som-
erville Journal.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22
oriuIn Of Myths.

The human mind, whether that OF
the savage or the civilized man, is
naturally a thinking machine. In early
times, before science was born, the
phenomena of nature required an ex-
PLANTATION, and the savage beholder
shaped the myth, which satisfied his
untutored mind. 1t IS out Of mans
natural craving to know the reason
why" that all myths are born. As
the distinguished anthropologist. Tylor
In the myth making stage of intellect
Is drawn to any phenomenon which
has to him an obvious reason, he In
vents and tells story to account for
it." In such way all mythology orig
mated
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22
The Literary smeatshon.

Fair Visitor Why. | had no idea tho
novels were written In this way. Fore
man of Six Best Seller Factory-Oh.
yes. At these machines they punch In
the plots, across the room they stitch
in the description, the dialogue Is put
In by hand. and the whole then goes
to the finishing room, where II is sawed
into chapters.-Puck.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22
A Bit of Tact.

DO you say you paid compliment
to that hldeous and spiteful baroness
| didn't think You could be so insin-
cerer
Il merely told her that her face was
as beautiful as her hear" Fliegends
Hiaiss--.
A good head and industrious hans
are worth gold In any land. Dutci
Proverb
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22

If you cannot obtain what You want
the most, be as happy as you can with
second choice. which is perhaps the
best you can et.-Manchester Union.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-12-22

GEO. A. McGLONE.
Attorney and Counsellor At Law
Practices in the Courts of New
York and West Va. Office with
Moore & Son.
, 1908-08-19
French Economy.

"A man doesn't have to go to Paris
to learn something about the econo-
my Of French co,ks," said n janitor.
"An he has to do is to get a job like
mine In a house occupied mostly by
French families, and he'll learn some
astonishing lessons In the art OF sav-
Ing. Up to two months ago l was
working in q building Of that kind.
So far as attending to the garbage
was concerned, l had the easiest tina
of my life. There was practically no
garbage. The people lived we'll
enough, guess. Anyhow they re-
ceived packages from the butcher and
grocer. but they never seemed to
throw anything away. About the only
thing they didn't eat was coffee
grounds and potato skins and tomato
cans. and there was precious little
waste of even that.
where | am working now the fami-
lies are all American. That is where
the food goes to waste. The people In
that house throw away enough pro-
visions every day to feed all those
French families a week."-San Fran
cisco Chronicle.
, 1908-08-19
Mysterious Green.

To those who believe in the influence
Of color the shades OF green afford an
interesting study. not only because OF
the large number Of green things
found in nature. but the scale Of greens
Is so varied.
Green Is, or was, the chosen color OF
Venus or the Scandinavian goddess
Freya and should be worn upon Fri
day. her name day.
The color has always been consider
ed mysterious in its influence. All
green creatures, such al snakes OF
birds, are weird, and people with what
are known as green hazel eyes need
to be carefully considered. and among
clairvoyants green stands for intellec-
tual power. just as they speak of the
'blue of peace. rose of love and scarlet
Of anger"
, 1908-08-19
Made the Juds. P.r.pir..

Sir John Charles Day. the knglish
Judge who earned the title of the
"h~ooligan's terror" died at the age Of
eighty-two. In the nineteen years Sill
John was a judge of the high court
from 1882 to l0Ol-he was noted fol
his gift of solemn humor and for hi
drastic fiogging sentences. In fourteen
years he sentenced 1877 criminals to
3, I66 strokes of the cat. Once he said
to II gang of Liverpool ruffians: Il an
10 going to give you men long terms
of Imprisonment. but when you 20 In
yon get twenty lashes Of the cat; when
you. have been In nine months you gel
twenty lashes Of the cat: before you
come out you get twenty lashes Of the
cat And then you can show what you
have got to your friends" He was per
haps the only English Judge who evel
did ''hard labor" While on a visit to q
prison he tried the treadmlIl, but when
be asked to be set free the guard pre-
tended not to hear his request. Tho
Judge was persI,iring freely BY Thu
time he raj permitted to abandon hi
experiment.
, 1908-08-19
CHANGING cosTuMEs
WITHOUT THE CURTAIN.

At the Players club In New York q
prompter said of the late Peter Daley;
He had the suniest oAeeriest dfS.
position. Once l toured with him. The
accommodations were sometimes rath.
er rough, and on such occasions the
true gold in the man showed forth.
In a little southern town the dress
Ing rooms were awful. Everybody
swore and ragged. But Daley restored
them to good humor. Said he: !
why, this is nothing to what have
been up against at times. l played
once in a theater where at the end OF
every act, the stage manager had to
come forward and say:
81 must ask the ladies and gentle
men in the audience to be good enough
to turn around. The players are about
to change their costumes. New
York Times.
, 1908-08-19
BR1EFLY MENTIONED,

Cloudy and cool today.
Bellamy 4 Son. the engineers.
No police court cases this morning.
More rain last night and this morn
ing.
The bank barometer today marked
23.40.
1t was Gabe Larsen instead of Jacob
Larsen whose oats fields were badly
damaged by hail a few days ago.
Harry Cordlner, the druggist, who
has been confined to his bed for sew
eral days, was able to be up q little to
day.
President Merica, his secretary, Nj.
LeCron. his son, Paul. Merica, Prof.
Ridgaway and other members of the
faculty had planned a trip to the
maneuver camp today, but the light
rain and the lowering clouds caused a
postponement. Clouds hung low on
the mountains and the gentlemen
could see no cheer through the mists.
, 1908-08-19
was to be found on the rsle OF Cos

was to be found on the Isle Of Cos,
on the. coast OF Asia Minor, was esti-
mated to be considerably more than
$500 years cid and hadr a Mrculffer-
9nce OF thirtystwoAa and d hair feet In
a letter to the Tribune. Ivy Z. Lee.
head OF the publicity departmentsof the
Pe~nnsylvania railroads disputeeI.tAe
Globes statements. 1T ia evident.
says Mr.. Lee, that the writer of thu
note was not familiar with the BIZ
trees of California. asiEfge numher Of
which r probsblymo than $500
years old, and it Is certain that the
largest and Oldest OF them-namelyt
the Grizzly Giant In the Mar.pos1
grove lear Yosemite parks upward
Of 5000 years old. Calculations to this
effect have been made by eminent
scientists, and there IL probably ma
doubt as to their correctness. Not
only is this great treerand many Of
its companions Of sus1rDreat age, but
it shows no tendency toward decay,
The trunk Of this tree is nor than;
100 feet In circumference.
AL :