davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1908-12-17
YULET|DE FEAST|NC.
Phases of Christmas Cheer as
Observed In Denmark.
PASTRY BY THE MILE EATEN.

Whole Family In an Old Town Helped
to Make Cakes, Says Jacob A. Riis.
Continuous Eating Performance For
Two Weeks.
One of the Christmas seasons Gus
toms as observed In an old Danish
town Is described as follows by Jacob
A. Riis in his article entitled "Yuletide
In the Old Town" in the Christmas
Century:
When we were not dancing or play
ing games we literally ate our way
through the two holiday weeks. Pas
try by the mile did we eat, and gen.
eral indigestion brooded over the town
when 1t emerged into the white light
of the new year. At any rate, 1t ought
to have done so. 1t is a prime article
of faith with the Danes to this day
that for any one to go out of friends
house or of anybody's house in the
Christmas season without partaking of
its cheer is to bear away their Yule."
which no one must do on any account.
Every house was n bakery from the
middle of December until Christmas
eve, and oh. the quantities Of cake we
ate, and such cakes! We were sixteen
normally in our home, and mother
mixed the dough for her cakes In
veritable horse trough kept for that
exclusive purpose. AS much as a sack
of flour went in, l guess, and gallons
of molasses and whatever else went
to the mixing For weeks there had
been long and anxious specuations as
to what father would do" and gloomy
conferences between him and mother
over the state of the family pocket
book, which was never plethortc but
at last the joyful message ran through
the house from attic to kitchen that
the appropriation had been made,
even for citron," which meant throw
ing all care to the winds The thrill of
1t when we children stood by and saw
the generous avalanche going into the
trough. What would not come of it,
The whole family turned to and
helped make the cakes and cut the
pepper nuts" which were little
squares of cake dough we played cards
for and stuffed our pockets with.
gnashing them necessarily. Talk
about eating between meals! Ours was
continuous performance for two SOL
Id weeks. The pepper nuts were the
real staple of Christmas to us children.
We rolled the dough in long strings
like slender eels and then cut 1t a lit
tie on the bias They were good, those
nuts, when baked brown. I wish 1
had some now. ...,
1t all stood for the universal desire
that in the joyous season everybody
be made glad. l know that in the old
town no one went hungry or cold dur
ing the holidays, If indeed any one
ever did. Every one gave of what he
had, and no one was afraid of pauper-
izing anybody by his gifts, for they
were given gladly and in love, and
that makes all the difference-did then
and does now. At Christmas 1t is per-
fectly safe to let our scientific princi-
pies go and just remember the Lords
command that we love one another.
| subscribe to all the scientific princ-
pies of giving with perfect loyalty
and try to practice them till Chris
mas week comes in with its holly am
the smell of balsam and fir and tn
memories of childhood in the old town
then-well, anyway, it's only a littl,
while. New Years and the long COLI
winter come soon enough.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1908-12-17
EASY DlSHWASRING.
Tightening the Weary Work of "Three
Times Day"

One of the unnecessary things in
housekeeping is the continuous wash
ing and wiping of dishes, says wo-
man In the Housekeeper.
Methtnks l hear cry of horror from
n horde of housekeepers. but many Of
them have nevertheless ut one time or
another rebelled against the stack OF
dishes which looms up, like the school
boys hash, three times a day"
1t is queer how some women will
wear themselves out rather than step
aside from the beaten path. They
have yet to learn the joy that comes
from taking an Independent tack and
making the work subservient to the
worker. from being the master instead
Of the slave.
To many women the bugbear OF
housework is dishwashing. Why wash
dishes three times a day? Do 1t in the
morning when fresh. Scrape the din
ner dishes, stack in large pan filed
with cold water and cover
Treat the supper dishes the same
way, and do not allow your conscience
to keep you awake one single hour. 1t
will not make the task too heavy the
next morning II you try my way.
After washing each piece In hot
suds and rh.sing in hot mot warm)
water, put them, piece by piece in the
wire drainer price 10 cents as nearly
on edge or aslant as possible. and let
stand until dry.
Glasses. of course, and silver must
be wiped, but the former can be left
filled after using and the latter put
into pitcher or deep jug until some
odd minute when one is not so weary
with well doing that another turn Of
the screw seems next to impossible.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1908-12-17
The Dion Poplar.

\ traveller in France speaks of a
poplar tree that the writer saw in the
city Of Dijon. which is the oldest tree
of its kind in France Il is 122 feet
in height ard is forty-hve feet in cir
cumforence at the base. The city coun,
ell has aa authentic record of the his
tory of the tree since the year ID
The people Of Diion are proud of it,
so much SO that they nul long ago vot-
ed to levy It tax to put a railing around
II, 50 that it might he pr Jcytcd from
possible injury. It is good to see sen.
timent of this kind.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1908-12-17
INCREASE OF DIVORCES
One For Every Twelve Marriages
In the United States.
ANNUAL RATE $1,000 NOW.

More Than Twice as Common as Forty
Years Ago, Census Bureau Reports.
Divorces Now Increasing Three
Times as Fast as Population.
That divorce is two and one-half
times as common in the United States
as it was forty years ago and that one
marriage in twelve nowadays ends In
divorce are conclusions reached by of
ficials of the census bureau at Wash
ington in new compilation of stats
ties of marriage and divorce covering
the twenty years from 1887 to 1906, in
elusive.
4 previous investigation covering
the twenty year period from 1867 to
1886, inclusive, had been carried out
by the department Of labor, and Mr..
Carroll u. Wright, who was then com
missioner of labor, has been associ-
ated with the present inquiry as an
expert special agent of the census Du-
reau.
In the twenty year period covered by
the latter investigation there have
been 10 $50. .O44 marriages recorded. In
the same time there have been 945,62o
divorces. For the previous twenty
years there had been reported 32S, ZIG
divorces, little more than a third of
the number for the second twenty
wear period. When the first investiga
tlon was instituted. forty years ago.
divorces occurred mt the rate of 10000
a year. Now the annual rate is G6,OOO.
This increase, however, is to be con
Sidered I'm connection with increase in
population
The report adduccs statistic to
show that divorces are now increasing
about three times as fast as popula-
ton, while during the decade 1870
1880 they increased only about two
and two-thirds as fast. The divorce
rate for each 100000 of population in
creased from twenty-nine in 1870 to
eighty-two in 1905 In the former year
there was one divorce for every Bal
persons and in the latter year one for
every 1,21S.
But a more significant divorce rate
is that which is based not upon total
population, but upon married popula-
ton. The rate for each 100000 mar
ried population was 81 in the year 1870
and 200 in the year 1900.
Geographically Illinois leads in total
divorces granted for the last twenty
year period. with S2,209, and Ohio is
second, with 63,9S2, other states being
close up.
,.I-'a tot ,f u for fINa
twenty years ended and inclusive of
1906 was %, 12j, whereas fGf the pre-
vious twenty years it had been TO-,
800. The rate in 1900 was twenty
three for each 100000 population. In
1880 it was sixteen.
Pennsylvania total for the last
twenty years was 39,GSG and that Of
Massachusetts 22,94O. The highest
rate in the eastern states is that of
Maine, III for each 100000 popula-
ton.
Wives obtain two-thirds of the di-
vorces. Desertion constitutes $50 per
cent of the grounds for all divorces,
and neglect to provide, unfaithfulucss,
cruelty and drunkenness are other
grounds. Five divorces are granted
he VIE for cruelty to ono for The
husband. Allmouy was asked br t,,rec
wives out Of sixteen and obtained by
two out Of sixteen.
An Cdd feature OF the report is HAT
he proportion Of husbands who asked
Tor &limOny was % per cent and tltlt
= pc cent obtained It, in itch 'iy
husbands obtained divorces Tgr ut n
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1908-12-17
SLEEP CURE FOR SIN.
Clergyman Says Wives Can Keep Hus-
bands Home by Using II.

Clergyman Says Wives Can Keep Hus-
bands Home by Using II.
The sleep cure is the latest discovery
in the realm of mental suggestion.
Just who discovered 1t has not been
revealed, but its marvellous powers
were described the other day by the
Rev. Henry G. Rose, rector of the
Church of the Redeemer, in Newark,
N. ]. OF course sleep itself helps to
refresh tired mortals, but the Rev. Mr..
Rose said that by mental suggestion
when the subject is asleep husbands
can be cured of vice, crimes can be
prevented and bad habits of children
removed. AS an instance of the power
of mental suggestion when the sub
ject is asleep the clergyman cited the
case of woman who cured her hus-
band of his nightly habit of going to
his club.
AS described by the Rev. Mr.. Rose
the sleep cure is based on simple
theory. He said that while the con-
scious self is asleep the subconscious
self is awake. In fact, it never sleeps.
All n wife has to do is to sit by her
husbands bed and appeal to the wide
awake subconscious self to make the
husband good. The clergyman said he
and the Rev. Elwood Worcester. rector
Of the Emmanuel Protestant Episco-
pal church of Boston, experimental on
about a hundred children of depraved
minds and that thirty-five were cured
entirely, forty-hve were helped mate
rally and that the treatment failed
only in twelve cases.
In describing the case Of the woman
who tried the sleep cure on her hUs-
band and thereby stopped him from
neglecting his home for his club the
clergyman said that the wife sat by
her husbands bed and told him that
the next night he would not go TO his
club to drink and Carouse, but that
he would come home. have n good din
ner and spend the evening with her.
",rhe next day the husband came
home rs his wife said he would" the
Rev. Mr. Rose asserted He forgot
his club ana soon, after pcrSisting in
the treatment, the wife cured him en-
tirely. If such treatment is beneficial
to the husband it will be good for
wives too. They might be kept from
extravaganza in dress, and many un-
happy homes might be frightened"
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1908-12-17
Lambs For Spanish Children.

Directly after Lent there is observed
in Spain Il custom that is particularly
interesting to children. 1t is what may
be termed the sale of the lambs, for
on Monday morning after Easter the
shepherds have their lambs and goats
on sale in ali the cities. The animals
are kept in temporary pens, and 1t is
the rule for parents to permit their
children of from five to twelve years
Of age to purchase a pet lamb or goat.
After the animal is selected 1t is TAX
en- to the home residence and given
the freedom of the courtyard and quite
often the greater part of the house. 1t
is every childs ambition to train the
pet so that 1t will at least follow It's
owner like dog, and If few simple
tricks are added to the lambs or kids
education the master or mistress is
proud indeed. Girls especially delight
in these pets, and often the animals
are so bedecked with bows and ribbons
rs almost to hide their bodies. The
sale of the lambs is very old custom
and is supposed TO have originated
through some form of the church
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1908-12-17
Cuastians end An-Wycrs.

When could the British empire be
purchased for the lowest sum: When
Richard Ill. offered his kingdom for "A
horse.
What is the largest room in the
world? The room for improvement.
When may man be said to break
fast before he gets up? When he takes
n roll I'm bed.-Philadelphia Ledger
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1908-12-17

Copies of old tapestries, of Vatican
and other subjects, of Dutch scenes
and of simple floral patterns, are
traced on canvas and all the portions of
the design applied In the correct color
ings. The embroiderer merely works
over the lines in careful stitches. as
in the most conventional needlework.
The example given is a Louis chair
seat in rich colorings which give an
effect of perspective seldom attained
in embroidery.
Phenomena of Heredity.
1t is one of the phenomena of hered-
ity that boy wants to be what his
father was-if a shoemaker, then q
shoemaker; If an ironworker, then an
ironworker; IL an artisan of any line
then an artisan in that line-and the
father and mother who have come to
hate the smell of leather or the CRIME
of the smithy, the oil waste of the ma
chine or the sweat of downright hard
work cajole or cocrce that boy into
something that Is gen:eelly dull oil
respectfully stupid and kill the germ
that would have produced the manu-
facturer. the mechanical engineer OF
the st.-Philadelphia Telegraph
Then She Missed 1t.
Wiggs-Poor old SOUL She doesn't
believe as much in the efficacy of pray
er as she did. Waggs-You surprise
me. She has always been so extreme
ly religious. Wiggs-Yes, but the 9th
er day she got ready to go into the
city. and then she discovered that she
had only ten minutes In which tc
catch the train. So she kuelt down be
fore she started and for five minutes
prayed fervently that she might catch
it.-Catholic Standard and Times.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1908-12-17
Knew All About George.
Apt Pupil,

Friend-You took your son into your
establishment some months ago to
teach him the business. l understand.
How did it turn out?
Business Man Cwearily)-Great sue
cess! He's teaching me now.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1908-12-17
Getting His Own Back.

"The giraffe has a tongue eighteen
inches long" said Mrs. Talkmnre.
"And knows how to hold 1t, too"
growled Mr.. Talkmore. who had had q
long curtain lecture the night before
London Answers.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1908-12-17
The Tapestry Craze.

One of the most attractive forms Of
embroidery which have been revived
recently is the tapestry work used on
cushions, screens, chair backs and
seats and in smaller pieces to be
mounted on stools, blotters, box lids
etc. 1t is comparatively simple work
and the designs are most attractive.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1908-12-17
Women and Words.

Mrs Stubb-Now, women are not i'm
pulsive, like you men. They always
measure their words. Mr.. Stubb with
sigh)-Oh, If some of them would
only give short measure Chicago
News
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1908-12-17
Nothing but Cod.

Kate Field once visited the Isles of
Shoals and went fishing with a New
England skipper. During the voyage
fish question, with the following re-
suit:
Said to the skipper:
"What do you consider the best fish
for boiling?'
skipper Boiling? Why, cod, to be
sure.
I-Aud what is best for baking?
Skipper-You couldn't have no better
fish nor cod for baking.
How is it with broiling?
Skipper-I never tasted no better fish
for broiling than cod.
What is your opinion about fry
ing?
"Fryingw repeated the skipper
scratching his head. "Why, what would
you fry but cod?"
What fish is best for general pur-
poses?
Skipper-G eneral purposes! Cod can't
be beat for general purposes, tell
you!
Know All About George.
"Do you know, my daughter, that
every name means something? For in
stance. Charles means brave, William
resolute. George
"On, l know what George means.
mother"
"Well, what is itf'
30 last ght."-Chicago Inter Ocean.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1908-12-17
The Return.

Magistrate-If | remember rightly.
THIS Is not your first appearance in
court. Prisoner-No. your honor: but
! hope you cont judge by appearances
-Harper's Weekly
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1908-12-17

One and one and one make three, any
one would say upon glancing at this
picture of the fine little boys, but it is
not what you see first that is the right
answer to the question. How many
are there? Look again, and perhaps
you will be sharp enough to see that
one and one and one make not three
but more than twice thrce-seven
Look among the squirming arms and
legs, among the chubby hands and
feet, and you cannot fail to make up
the puzzling addition. And after you
have found all seven of the baby boys
take the picture and have some fun
with your friends watching them fuss
and fame that they cannot see more
than the original three babies.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1908-12-17
A MonstAr CaAlA

A cave has lately been discovered
In New Zealand which is larger even
than the Mammoth cave Of Kentucky.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1908-12-17
Would Let Folks Know 1t.

Somebody sent this to the society
editor and made affidavit that it really
happened.
Here 1t is: They were out at an aft
ernoon card party. A stout woman
dropped a card to the floor. Would
you be so kind as to pick up that card
for me?" she inquired of the little wo,
man at her right.
Certainly" said the accommodating
woman at the right, picking up the
card.
''You see," explained the stout wo
man apologetically. I've got on g
brand new fifty dollar corset, and I'm
afraid I'll strain it If lean over"
Hum" commented the other wo
man enviously. 'If l had fifty dol
lar corset I'd wear 1t on the outside
l really would" - Cleveland PlaiI
Dealer
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1908-12-17
THE BEES STING.
An Ugly Weapon Something Like a
Three BIaded Sword.

The bees sting Is made up OF three
separate lances. each with a barbed
edge and each capable of being thrust
forward Independently Of the others.
The central and broader lance has a
hollow face furnished at each side
with a rail- or beading, which runs its
whole length. On the back OF each of
the other two lances there is a longi-
tudinal groove, and into these grooves
fit the raised headings of the central
lancet.
Thus the sting is like a sword with
three blades-united. but sliding upon
one another-the barbed points of
which continue to advance alternately
into the wound, going ever deeper and
deeper of their own malice afore-
thought after the initial thrust is
made. 1t is u device of war CON-
pared to which the explosive bullet is
but clumsy brutality. Yet this Is not
all.
To make Its death dealing powers
doubiy sure this thorough minded anna
zon must fill the haft of her triple
trive its sliding mechanism that the
same impulse which drives the points
successively forward drenches the
whole weapon with a fatal Juice
From '"rhe Lore of the Honey Bee"
by Tickner Edwardes
Unavoidable.
"Do you think a man ought to be
greater than his party?"
"Well." answered Senator Sorghum.
'it isn't desirable. But sometimes you
can't prevent mans party from
shrinking. Washington Star
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1908-12-17

"You were always a fault finder?'
growled the wife.
Yes, dear" responded the husband
meekly, II found you"
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1908-12-17
Sad Termination.

Said She-Did the story you were
writing when I last saw you end hap
PLY or unhappily?
Said Unhappily. The publisher
refused to accept tt--Chicago News.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1908-12-17
Find the Seven Babies.

Here is an ancient but interesting
puzzle:
Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-19

Helen Hlndley. and 1.-THE Last March," by
William Small.
Holly Leaves" is the title OF the Christ
mas double number Of the Illustrated Sport
ing and Dramatic News and stands well
with the best OF the illustrated weeklies.
The stories are all star pieces. "a Mother
for Heroes" by Eben Philpotts; THE Race
for the Ghost Cup" by Ethel NJ. Primrose;
"The Passing Of Marcus O'Brien." by Jack
London, and 1.-The Function Of Scsntle-
bury" by Morley Roberts, constitute a
quartet OF literary excellence. The illustra-
lions and a number of very clever story
pictures by Cation Woodville, Fred Pegram,
Frank Dadd, A. Forester and others make
up a full budget OF very entertaining mat
ter. The premium plate is a companion to
that given last year, being a fine photo
gravure of Lady Buffers we'll known mas
~terpiece, THE Remnants OF an Army"
The Illustrated London News. Christmas
number. maintains its high record. There
are three splendid stories contributed by
Max Pemberton, w. ]. Locke and Mar
jorie Bowen, finely illustrated by Cyrus
Cuneo, Russell Flint and A. Forester. The
art features also include twenty full-page
pictures, among which We may mentor
1.-The Man in Possession" by Cecil Adm
Picking Off the Picket" by Lawson
Wood. and a little gem bearing he title
queen Rose in a Rosebud Garden Of
Girls" The color printing in all is ex'
eeptionally fine. The premium plate which
goes with this number IL a full-size repro.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-19
Current Literature

Among the interesting articles In the De
cember Technical World magazine is one
entitled Cheer. Cheer, the Gangs All
Here" which exemplifies the true Ameri-
can spirit of pluck. The scenes are laid In
Minnesota, near Duluth, in that district
swept by the destructive forest fires. The
author says: See the numerous small set
dement's and homesteads that We're de-
stroyed II you would know the spirit OF
the range the indomitable win power OF
the brave men and women who, In many
cases lost all. yet who in twenty-four hours
we're cheering each other. and planning
new homes as they stood in ashes still
warm from the fire"
my Soldier Lady" by Mrs. Ella Hamll-
ton Durley. is one Of the interesting books
of the season. II consists OF a series Of
witty letters written for the entertainment
Of a young missionary who has turned her
back on the old Kentucky home and gone
TO Japan for a term Of years. Her chuni
sends her long. breezy, satisfying home
letters, filled with all kinds OF gossip about
the brilliant young crowd left behind, their
-comings and gOings, their sayings and do
ings. anything, in a word. that will cheer
up the hOmesick and sometimes respondent
EirL. There are reported clever after-dinner
Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-19

ical interest the story has the attraction
always found in a narrative OF mingled
love and travel. Mr.. Henderson's nu-
merous admirers will find that this new
book more than fulfills the expectation
with which they have looked forward to
1t. Published by Houghton, Mifflin & Co..
Army and Navy Life" for December Is
a foot ball and fiction number which will
prove OF interest to the civilian as well as
the man in the service. Admiral Dewey
and Senator McCreary are contributors to
an editorial on Peace" while Hugh John
son, Mabe Wood Martin, Colonel Edwin
Emerson, May Rippey Heistand, Eugene
Francis and others are the authors of
stories.
THE grand Christmas double number
has always been the important event of the
year with the great illustrated London
weeklies, and this year they have broken
the record OF all past performances in their
editorial, artistic and mechanical excel
lence.
The Christmas number OF the London
Graphic Is the best the publishers have
ever issued. II has the spirit OF Christmas
In every page. The stories are all OF the
best, It is profusely illustrated in colors.
there are twenty full pages OF picture
stories and humorous scenes that are very
entertaining. The premium plates tina 81
with the Graphic are two fine color iitho-
graphs reproducing Lazy Bones" by Mis-
Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-19

Under the title Poems Of American His.
tory" Burton +. Stevenson has compiled
the most important and interesting poems
relating to the history OF America. It Is
arranged c~hronologically, with notes ex-
planning obscure illusions and making
whatever connections are necessary be-
tween the events celebrated in the success
sive poems. Houghton. Mifflin & Co. is the
publisher.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-19

as the prairies and their inhabitants. Much
OF this can be elassed as early history, al.
though II is a .ale of adventure. The Nc.
Clure company is the publisher.