davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29
NO. 50
THE OLD YEARS LAMENT.

Low burned the fire
In glowing CRATE,
The moon rose higher,
The hour was late,
When loud and long clangor rose
In street, on housetop; and blaze
Of myriad bonfires; while the blows
On thousand anvils mingled close
In senseless jangle to amaze.
'Tis but an hour,
A short, brief space,
Ere all my power
He will displace,
Who comes in yonder with an air
Of naughty splendor, and form
Divinely shaped, with cheeks so fair
And golden, clustering, curling hair,
His ruddy countenance glowing
warm.
How with start
The old year rose,
His lips apart,
His speech nigh froze.
"They sound the death-knell of my
fate;
They gladly yield me DER to Time;
They neither pity me, nor hate,
Nor lend hand to extricate
This tottering form from depths
sublime.
Once I came so,
In radiant glee,
Twelve months ago.
All, mystery!
Why should to live beget to die,
And days add years to greedy
Time.
Who, in his turn, like you and I,
Must yield to old Eternity?
Life seems giddy pantomime!"
VIM. H. HI. Clarke.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29
The Home Merchant.

You never ordered a ten dollar
lightning rod of your home mer-
chant and then found your note for
$1,000 in the bank the next day as
the result. You never paid him $50
for range that warped out of shape,
in six months-without your wife.
getting her money back. He never
charged you SIS for trailer" bug
gy that you found out afterward
could be bought anywhere for $50.
Fellows. let us give the home mer-
chant credit for what he has done
and is doing for us. He is a teach
er whose school is open twelve
months in the year. He keeps us
informed about the progress of the
world by bringing it's latest and best
offerings to our door. While we're
occupied with our work he searches
the world over for things that will
add to our comfort or profit and
keeps them on display so that we
can see them whenever we want and
become educated to their value and
use. He protects us against deceit
and fraud. He stands for the square
deal.-Ex.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29
To Northeast Iowa Editors.

The annual meeting of the Ma
tional Editorial Association of the
United States will be held in New
Orleans, La, Feb. 1912, 1910. This
will be the twenty-ffth anniversary
meeting of the association, and spe-
cial preparations are being made for
it. The editorial party will leave
Chicago on a special train of Pull
man cars via the Illinois Central on
Feb. 7th, at noon, stopping at Vicks-
burg, Natchez and Baton Rouge,
nearly day being spent at the form
er place, with side trips.
At the close of the meeting, the
editors will be given their choice of
two splendid trips, one to Havana.
Cuba, probably via train to the south
of Florida and thence by steamer, or
to the Panama Canal via steamer.
Either trip will be most delightful
one at this time of the year, and will
probably occupy about months
time.
Editors desiring to attend the
meeting and take one of the side
trips must be properly accredited
delegates, and those in the third,
fourth and fifth congressional dis
tricts of Iowa desiring to go should
apply at once to the undersigned,
member OF the N. E. A. Executive
Committee.
III. J. GREEN, Decorah, Ia.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29
TWO BIG SHOWS NEXT MONTH.
Management of the Grand Book Two
Stellar Performances For Jam
uary 14th and 18th, Both
High Glass PrOduc-
tiOnS.
tiOnS.

Although they fully realized that
it is something unusual for Decorah
to have two high class theatrical pro-
ductions within week, yet the man.
agement of the Grand felt that they
could not let the opportunity to get
them pass, and that the people of
Decorah and vicinity would back up
their Judgment with crowded houses,
which will be necessary to make
good with the companies.
These two great productions are
"The Prince of Tonight" which
comes on Friday. Jan. 14th, and
THE House of Thousand Candles"
Jan. 18th.
The former is high class operatic
production, playing only the larger
cities. Messr. Weiser and Bear have
teen trying very hard for some time
to get this attraction, and now that
they have at last succeeded they are
elated, for it is one of the very best
some time since we have had a good
operatic production, and this one
ought to attract a full house.
The other, THE House of Thou
sand Candles" is without doubt one
of the finest dramatic productions
now touring. 1t has been playing
to packed houses in Milwaukee the
past two weeks. and nearly every
where plays to capacity business. 1t
is one of the most beautiful produc-
tions we have ever had, and will be
certain to please.
Although these attractions follow
each other closely, yet it had to be
so if they secured them, and mas
much as there has been quite an in
terval without theatrical produc-
tion, it is felt that they will both be
literally patronized.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29
THERE is A SANTA CLAUS.

Once a little girl wrote this letter
to the editor of the New York Sun:
Dear Editor am eight years
old. Some of my friends, say that
there is no Santa Claus. Papa says:
If you see it in the Sun, it's So
Please tell me the truth. Is there a
Santa Claus? Virginia o. Hanlon." !"
And the editor of the Sun, mighty
man of invective and sarcasm, be-
came ''even as little child" and
wrote the following reply:
Virginia.: Your little friends
are wrong. They have been affected
by the skepticism of a skeptical age.
They will not believe except they
see.
Eyes, Virginia, there is Santa
Claus. He exists as certainly as
love, you know that it abounds and
gives to your life it's highest beauty
and joy, and generosity and devotion
exist, and alas, how dreary would
be the world If there were no Santa
C-aus! 1t would be as dreary as If
there were no Virginias. There
WOuiQ Uc uO Cultu-iIhc ldltu IuCu,
no poetry, no romance to make toler-
able existence. We should have no
enjoyment except in sense and sight.
The eternal night with which child
hood fills the world, would be ex-
tinguished.
''You might get your papa to hire
men to watch the chimneys on
Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus
but even if they did not see Santa
Claus coming down, what would that
prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus
The most real things in the world
are those that neither children nor
men see. Nobody can conceive or
imagine all the wonders that are un-
seen and unseeable in this world
You may tear apart the baby's rattle
and see what makes the noise in
side, but there is a veil covering the
unseen world which not the strong
est that ever lived could tear apart
Only faith. fancy, poetry, love and
romance can push aside that cur
tain and view and picture the super
natural beauty and glory beyond. Is
it all real? All, Virginia, in all this
world there is nothing real and abid-
ing.
mo Santa Claus! Thank God, he
lives and lives forever. A thousand
years from now, Virginia-nay, ten
times ten thousand years from now
he will continue to make glad the
heart of childhood"
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29
Bills in Mail Boxes.

Farmers in many localities have
been compelled to pay a fine of SIC
for putting sale bills in rural mail
boxes without afflxing stamp to
bills. The federal authorities have
made a number of arrests. The
farmers arrested put up the plea
that they did not know that they
were violating the statutes but the
postoffice authorities have sent out
warning that this plea will not avail.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29
Your Name on Your Tools.

Do you know you can write your
name on the metal of your farm
tools? You can. Take little tai
low or beeswax, melt 1t and spread
it over the place on which you want
your name; write your name down
through the wax with a big needle
or awl. and pour few drops Of
nitric acid over the letters you have
made. Leave few minutes, then
wipe off the wax, and your name
will be on the iron.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29
COOKS GAME OF HIDE AND SEEK

Now that the verdict of the Copen-
hagen university seems to have set
tied the Cook-Peary row, it remains
to be seen how long the illimitable
doctor will be able to keep out of
sight. 1t can be safely said that no
stone will be left unturned to find
him. The doctor has safely gotten
away with an amount in lecture pro-
ceeds and magazine and newspaper
articles estimated at 100000. A
man capable of such marvellous high
finance as this can no more escape
the newspaper reporter than the cap
tain of industry.
Quite a neat little percentage of
this sum would be available to any
newspaper reporter of Europe or
America who can locate the elusive
doctor The prize both of money
and of journalistic prestige is going
to put the brightest minds of the
profession on the scent. We miss
our guess IL they do not locate this
prince of promoters within a short
period. The doctor will no doubt be
given every opportunity to have COM
petent witnesses to go with him to
Etah, Greenland, to locate those in
struments and records buried under
rock or in a snow drift. The move
ments of so successful an exploiter
of public opinion will impress all
live editors as high class of copy.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29
The "Need" EXamnle

What is needed most of all in
bringing up children is example.
What they see and hear and take
In by absorption in their young
years, will in most cases. become
the ruling traits of their lives. Par
ents rarely fully realize to what ex-
tent they stand as models to their
children.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29

These cute German toys are said
to be made by people who get but
25 cents a day. Perhaps If they
were better paid. the toys would
stand the racket for a bit more than
S5 days.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29

The President is taking to walk
ing stunts. 1t is no doubt good
business for this $4,000 man to
keep in good condition. but many
$1,000 men find their time too valu-
able to be wasted in keeping physic-
ally fl.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29

The newspapers that cheerfully
anted up $4,000 for polar story,
are now wondering whether clever
reporter on SIS per wouldn't serve
all purposes with a life of Sir John
Franklin before him.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29

Your gift of book to friend
would have been more acceptable If
you had not prevented exchanging it
by writing sweet message on the
fly leaf.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29

The general public would not be
particularly averse to seeing the
trainmen and conductors get their
10 per cent increase, but it does not
want to wait month for freight
deliveries while magnate and en-
ploye are scrapping over the division
of the tariffs.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29

If, after paying the present high
prices for coal, the American people
ever let the Alaska coal lands drift
into private ownership, they must
have more money than they know
what to do with.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29

$50, 100000 in Christmas gifts
went abroad this year. Uncle Sam
not merely gives all comers farm,
but he is a general Santa Claus for
Europe.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29

Kansas railroad commission gets
a reduction of so cents a berth from
the Pullman company. But it is not
yet reported that they have sue,
ceeded in modifying the porter's
scale for tipping.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29

About this time congress usually
gets the notion that if it raises the
wind to, pay the government clerks
and distributes the usual number of
public buildings, the country can
wag along another two years more in
spite of many 18th century laws.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29

Peary was vastly berated for not
taking Cooks property aboard, but
if he had Cooks friends would now
be saying that he tampered with
Cooks records.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29

The annual watch party of the
Norwegian Club of Des Moines will
he held at the Wellington Hotel on
New Years Eve, and Congressman
G. N. Haugen of this district will
be the principal speaker.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29

In the rout of the Zelayan army
600 were killed and wounded. The
rules of the game down there seem
to need revising as we'll as foot ball
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29

When a private individual gives
away money the way the government
has given water rights and coal
tracts, the usual course is to appoint
a guardian over his property.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29

A mysterious air ship with power
full search light is seen lowering over
Worcester, Mass. 1t is a strange coin
cidence that the city recently re-
versed it's mo license" policy.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29

Plenty of provision should have
been made for Christmas antidotes.
Court plaster is needed for the boys
with new knives and jamaica ginger
for oyereating.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29

The New York aldermen are talk
ing of revoking the freedom of the
city they gave DR.. Cook, but he
seems to have the freedom of the
rest of the world.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29

Carnegie offers $2O,OOO,OO0 for
peace in Central America, but the
natives will say what's the use in
being rich if you can't have any fun.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29

If reformed foot ball is not suffici-
emily homicidal to suit the crowds,
the colleges may find good substi-
tute in the popular Marathon waltz
es.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29

Some women are awful touchy.
A widow has brought ap action
against paper which said that her
husband had gone to happier
home.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29

An old red hen in New Jersey,
in digging for worms in the soil.
brought to light $1,000 worth of
stolen gems. This proves again how
that great national institution, the
American hen, when egged on, can
come up to the scratch.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29

The commercial agencies reported
holiday trade rushing. How could
it be otherwise with s. Claus the
foremost captain of industry?
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29

Now that the Cook-Peary row bids
fair to end in a general agreement,
there should be fewer assault cases
in the police courts.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29

Either the world owes DR.. Cook
the highest honors by way of repar-
alton or his name is the very highest
multiple of Dennis.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29

Times are not near so hard with
some men when they want plug of
tobacco as. when their wives ask for
a pair of shoes.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29

The only flaw in our holiday hap
piness is the interruption in that
thrilling serial, the Congressional
Record
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29

1t is encouraging that Standard
Oil finds only So errors in the cir
cult court decision. On former
case they found 29,O0O,00O errors.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29

COL Roosevelt this week enters
on the widest and most dangerous
part of his trip. Octopus stocks
will perhaps now rise.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29

Congress has to act on white
slave" bill. Will Wall Street look
on this as an attack at the busi-
ness interests?
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29

Christmas is over, but there's not
going to be much rest. Politics will
soon be here.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29

The only trouble with the people
that make New Years resolutions is
that they need to make them 365
times as often.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29

Nicaragua gets new ruler polite
ly termed president, but who is Just
as much king as ever Dick Croker
was.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29

Discovering DR.. Cook about now
would seem about as much of a
stunt as discovering the pole.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29

No use arguing against the new
woman or any other kind of wo-
man. She will have her own way.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29

1t is estimated that the cost of
taking the census of 1910 will be
100000.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29

Are politicians born or nader"
Neither; they receive their infalli-
lie authority by divine appointment
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29

A man that talks one thing one
day and something else the next is
an unstable quantity.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29

Congressman Haugen is trying tc
get 100000 postoffice buildings fol
Charles City and Oelwein.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29
Subscription Price 81. so a Year
Canadian Subscriptions $500 Year
Of7ce..3l7 West Water Street
Telephone No. IS
Current Comment.

1t isn't safe to be too much of a
popular hero. Dewey found that out.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-12-29

The bon fire season may be said
to begin with the day after Christ
mas.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-03-25
HABlTUAL CRIMINAL
 ACT TO BE INVOKED

The habitual criminal act will be in- voked in the case of James COOK, who was before the city court this morn ing on a charge of stealing a bicycle from Edward F. Kirk of 170 Black Rock avenue. Kirk left his wheel standing on the curb at 691 East Washington avenue yesterday after- noon. When he returned, 10 minutes later the wheel was gone. Patrol- man Burke arrested Cook snort time afterward with the wheel in his possession Cooks case was contin- ned until Saturday by Judge Pullman when Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Wilder will press the more serious charge. Cook has been convicted of theft four times. He has just com pleted a term of four months in jail for theft Isaac Shoheim, 513 East Main street testified that Cook tried to sell the stolen bicycle to him Thom- as Peroci a barber at 85 Steuben st., accused Cook of stealing razors from his shop. After court adjourned a woman. who was said to be a Mrs. Grey with whom Cook boarded accus- ed Peroci of enticing young girls 10 his shop by offers of candy. Peroc1 de- nied the charge and the woman was advised to make complaint to the police if her charges were true. AS no charges have been preferred there IS some doubt in the minds of the officers as to their foundation
 Jacob Toma Sko, arrested by Patroi- man Dempsey in East Bridgeport Is charged with simple drunkenness. He will be held until tomorrow when It is expected additional charges will De preferred for assaulting members of his family.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-03-25
KING FAVORS
 BEERS OPPOSES
Hearing on Proposed Change In Method of Electing Members of Edu- cational Board.

Hartford before the committee on cities and boroughs on a substitute bill offered by Senator Thomas Arnold through John T. King concerning the manner of electinC members of the board of education. The substitute provides that instead of each party nominating two candidates as at pres ent each nominate four and the two on each ticket receiving the highest vote be declared elected.
 MT. King said that the substitute was offered a basis for something the committee might work out that would improve the present system governing the selection of members to that board He said that politics now crept into the naming of candidates and that the people really had no alternative but to accept the candi- dates given them by the party conven- tions, as a nomination was equivalent to an election. A worthy former mem Der of the board he said had been denied a renomination because he had refused to carry out the wishes of party leaders.
 Attorney John c. Chamberlain agreed with MT. King that some change ought to be made whereby the electors could have some say as to who should com pose the board. He said that under the present system there was no necessity for placing the names of the candi- dates on party ballots at all as the nominating conventions settled the question.
 Judge A. B. Beers made a forceful appeal against any change in the pres ent system. He denied that politics had crept into the board in the sense that the education of the children or the management of the schools had suffered. He said that the men who have comprised the educational board in the past as well as at present were men W ho could be trusted to look after the interests of the people and instead of curing any seeming evil that exist ed under the present system if the substitute measure became effective it would only add to the imaginary dan gers for in addition to the contest in the convention there would inevitably result a contest at the polls and this would be bad for the schools.
 MT. King told Judge Beers that the latter knew that Dr. c. c. Godfrey had been denied a renomination to the board of Education because of politics and Judge Beers replied that the gen. tleman was mistaken and was draw ing upon his imagination in asserting that he Reers) knew such thing to be a. fact. Judge Beers said that mat ter was determined by 36 regularly chosen delegates to the city conven- ton. There were no other speakers for the measure.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-03-25
HIGHEST TIDE
 IN MANY YEARS
Places That Have Always Been High and Dry Under Water This Afternoon.

The tide today, in the estimation of the men along the shore and the Sea captains, was the highest ever seen in idgeport. Places that have always been high and dry were utterly sub merged. The dock of the FariSt Steel Co. was well under water, while the Mohawk Yacht Club house could be considered a house boat. Many tugs, with their tows, being warned of the approaching storm, put into the outer harbor for the day A very choppy sea was running with indications this afternoon of a possible clearing. The storm of this morning had long been expected since March 21, when the sun crosses the Tropic of Capricorn causes the line storms.