davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1909-12-15
SANTA CLAUS A STRANGER.
He 10 Officially Unknown to Uncle
Sans Mail Agents.

ne 10 Ofhcially Unknown to Uncle
Sans Mail Agents.
The postotFice department does not
know Santa Claus The old saint has
no official existence SO far as Uncle
Sans mall agents are concerned. This
LIZ due entirely to the fact that Santa
Claus lives everywhere at the same
time instead Of having q single local
habitation Ike other people. 1t is very
sad, but 1t cannot be helped. Letters
which children address to Santa Claus
or Kris Kringle must go straight to the
dead letter Office
Some time ago an effort on behalf of
the children was made to induce the
postoflce department to permit post.
masters to open all letters addressed
to Santa Claus and turn them over to
the parents OF the child correspondent
or to some local organization having a
Christmas fund to spend. but the at
torney general for the department rem
dered an adverse decision, holding us
follows:
II postmasters were granted authority
to open all such letters and select thu So
which they bought proper to deliver
persons apr'Ying for them. there would
be temptation and opportunity for post
masters and other employees to open let
ters Unfortunately. some CT which con-
tain Enclosures OF value. and give US an
excuse for such action the authority
granted by the department.
The departments legal adviser also was
OF the opinion that. II permission were
granted to liver such letters to benevo- !
lent societier and individuals. Il would bs |
difficult for the department to draw the |
line where beuevolence ends and CONNER |
cialism begins. Many persona desire such |
letters Tor uss N newspapers and maya
zine stories. thu name OF the child OF
some prominent public man attached to |
such q letter making II especially valua-
BILE for that purpose and often CORE
spondingy embarrassing to the parent
OF the child. Furthermore. the opinion |
states. such q practice would violate the
principle OF the sanctity Of the seal.
which IL one of tho best features OF our
postal system. and the department would !
continually be open TO serious suspicion.
Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1909-12-15
THE TERR0R's CHRISTINA.
Turkeys Were s17 Each During tsss
Siege OF Paris.

seTSeyS WcFe SH Gach CuFiHe W.
Siege OF Paris.
When the Christmas day Of 1ST
dawned upon Paris the city had bee,
In the iron grip Of the German invest
ment for about three months. TIT
winter was a bitterly cold one, TIKI
thermometer registering 10 degrees be
low freezing point on Christmas morn
ing. The Seine was frozen over.
The poor's daily rations were few
ounces Of horse6esh and a piece Of ~
pulslve looking black bread.
By Dec. % food prices had reached
their highest point since the begin
ming of the siege. On Nov. Is pound
Of butter fetched Sl4 and a rabbit
$3.50. By Dec. 10 rabbits had risen to
S.. box of sardines brought $3.50 and
eggs % cents apiece For ones Christ
mas dinner one could buy goose fss
$40 or turkey for ST.. Pigeons were
So each. and small fowl could be OBJ
tanned for s.. Ham was $3.50 pound
AS for vegetables. carrots and turnlps
were ! cents each and bushel of Do
tatOes cost $6.25 There was hardly
any milk In Paris. and the little there
was had to he preserved for the SICK
and wounded. However, there were
oceans OF wine. and the wineshops did
roaring trade.
For some tine before Christmas the
starving people had been feeding on
cats. rats anu dogs until by Dec. %
dish Of eats flesh was hardly obtain
able. Dog was 80 cents q pound. and
fine rats fetched II cents each Many
domestic pets were killed for food
Poor Azor" said humorous citizen
as be finished a stew made from bis
favorlte dog. How he would have
enjoyed theSe bones
With true Partisan light heartednesS
the citizens tried to make the best Of
things. and The cafes and restaurants
wore almost their normal aspect. Al
half past 10. however, all order Of
Trochu closed every shop and cafe.
and by II O'Clock Paris had gone to
bed
The midnight mass of Christmas eve
was celebrated az usual in the church
es, which were crowded with pray
ing. weeping 1omen. Newspapers ap.
pearcd as usual. some Of them contain.
ing glowing accounts Of perfectly i'm
aginary French successes. The ST.
tirical sheets were even more bitter
and venomous than at other times
and published scathing caricatures
Some showed the fallen emperor. Ma.
poleon ILL.,. as q shoeblack at King
Williams boots, or as beggar with
his pockets turned inside out. or as q
traitor handing over France to muir
dercrs. or as a thief making OF with
millions Of the nations money. 9th
ers depicted Julius Favre In tears and |
pocketing Bismarck's gold and TrOchu
handing over the keys Of Paris TO q
Prussian IN exchange for bag Of |
eoin. In all the idea Of Parisians that |
France had been betrayed by those
who ought to have protected her was
prevalent.
So at this season Of peace and good
will suffering Paris was nearly at her
las, gasp. Owing to the tenacity Of
her rulers and citizens. however her
agony was to be prolonged for some
weeks longer. as II was not until
February TIT the negotiations TO- Q
eapitula,ior hspaD.
Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1909-12-15
Candles For Ckririrna..

Christmas candlemsker5 IRE busy
for many months In the year. II would
be impossible to estimate how many
hundreds o. thousands o, dozens of
pretty little colored wax candles are r,
quired FOR Christmas trees nil over Eli.
rope and America. There are also can.
dies for church decoration ut Christ
mastide. Whereas the Christmas tree
tapers are. some Of them SO tiny ~ to
require seventy-two to make pound
the great al'Tr shafts OF pure bseswa1
viii sometimes stand six feet AMI
weigh forty pounds aplece.-Tit-B
Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1909-12-15
The Elephants Trunk.

The long trunk OF the elephant II
very. very wonderful The neck Of
four footed animals Is usually long I.
enable them to reach their food with
out difficulty. but the elephant has q
short neck to enable him more easily
to support the weight Of his hug
mead and heavy t,Isls The long trunS
helps him TO get his food, and the
trunk is 10 an elephant what q long
neck is to other animals. - Chicsgo
Journal
Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1909-12-15
Dennsr,<'s Old kgs Pension.

In Denwark any person who at the
age Of tveniy.one rays to the state
sum Of f5 los. Is entitled. II he reaches
the age Of sixty-iivc to al annuity OF
s13. But II he dies before that age
the money Is forfeited. London Mail.
Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1909-12-15
A Wonder of Science.

II have been taking some moving
pictures Of life on your farm" said q
photographer to an agriculturist. did
you catch my laborers In motlon?"
asked the farmer. Il think 80" "Ah
well. science IL wonderful thlng!'-
SAk4lsdslphia Inquirer.
Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1909-12-15
tn. Mort -e.ul.r car,..r.. Poem.

The most popular Christmas poem
sver written for children YVES thea ~
niliar to the world, beginning;
Twas the night before Christmas. vxsR
all thror yn the house.
The poem WAS writtea By vsrv
learned nea. Dr. Gem sRt Csces
Moore, a pr''oane Crock ana Hebrew
scholar. IL was . professor N tie
General Thtelocical seminary h this
city. he war born IN IT'D and etss
n 1Sss.-Ee'v York GAhA
Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1909-12-15

NDOUk WunlP-1NOOIt Heine ofSwamp-Root
including many of the thousands OF testi-
monisl letters received from sufferers
who found Swamp-Root to be just the
remedy needed. In writing D.. Kilmer
& Co., Binghamton, N. Y, be sure and
mention tins paper. Don't make any
mistake, but remember the name, DR..
Kiimer's Swarnp-Root, and the address,
Binghamton, N. Y, on every bottle.
Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1909-12-15

oy druggists, IN nifty
cent and one-dollar
size bottles. You may
have q sample bottle
by mail free, also a
pamphlet telling all
obN,,x C@arO-D nNf
Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1909-12-15

child urinates too often, il the urine scalds
the flesh. or If, wien the child reaches an
age when it should be able to control the
passage, it is yet afflicted with bed-wet-
ting, depend it, the cause of the diff
Guilty is kidney trouble, and the first
step should be towards the treatment of
these important organs. This unpleasant
trouble is duc to diseased condition of
the kidneys and bladder and not to a
habit as most people suppose.
Women as well as men are made miser-
able with kidney and bladder trouble,
and both need the same great remedy.
The mild and the immediate effect of
Swamp.Root is soon realized. Itissold
Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1909-12-15

Every Studebaker buggy or sur
reg or driving wagon is set up and
carefully inspected before leaving the
factory.
In building, the greatest care Is
taken to guard against the use of de-
fective material.
Then, to make assurance doubly
sure, before any Studebaker spring
vehicle is Grated for shipping 1t is set
up ready to run and (under a strong
lght) mdergoes a final rigid inspec-
ton by an expert.
Every .Studebaker buggy we
offer for sale hss passed this rigid
inspection.
You can depend on any vehicle that
has been o. KID by Studebdker.
Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1909-12-15
Hurry Up Santa clausi

Wander Aistah Chris mus
Loafn' long de way.
HE slower than q railread"-
Dat what chillun say.
pey wants i'm fer ter hurry On
An pass de TINE or day.
preamin' bout de cenlfn or DO Chris mus,
ATLANTA Constitut isn.
Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1909-12-15

lee 1ric 90 prevalent
that It Is not uncom-
mon for O child to be
born afflicted with
Neak kidneys. 1.-THE
Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1909-12-15
AVOIDING Tsroptztian

Hsmmert - Styingham has .asva
bought a Christmas tree for II ehu-
dren.
Callahan "-sbably he Ia afraid Of
temptation.
Hammert--Temptatlon?
Callahan-I mean that he Ii afraid
that II he did buy a tree hs would bs
tempted to buy something to hang On
h-Town and Country.
Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1909-12-15

Chesapeake 6 Ohio Railway
Fast Vestibule Trains
TO-.
Louisville, Cincinnati, Chic
ago and St. Louis
Through Pullman Sleeper, Dining
Car Service
Leave Lexington. Va. AGO P. NJ. and
Buena Vista 4:25 p. NJ. connection at
Clifton Forge with fast trains. arriving
Cincinnati 500 A. M. aud Louisrilie
HOO A. NJ. Direct connections at
Cincinnati for Michigan aud all points
West and Northwest.
QUICKEST TIME 1aFxCELLED EQUIP
MENT pen fLCT RoADBED
TWO TRAINS TO RICHMOND
Lv Lexington 9:55 AN. 6;45 Pm.
Lv Buepa Vista 1920 AN. 7:10P Pm.
Ar Richmond 6:00PM. 8:3b AN.
Day train daily carrying Parlor
Car Balcony Falls to Richmond.
Night train daily except Sunday
carrying sleeper Lynchburg to
Richmond: Connects at Richmond
for Newport News, Old Point, Nor
folk.
PURCHASE TICKETS VIA G. 20.
Nov. 2s(9.tnCs
Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1909-12-15
women Is Vol Is alsn arc Mads Miserable
BY kidney and Bladder Trouble.

Kidney trouble pccys upon the mind,
discourage andlesscnsarnLition; beauty,
~or. A. vigor and cheerful
Of ness soon disappear
EyTfYrTNS when tire kidneys are
-.'"iNtf nj = .rdc- or d.
The Elbert County tribune., 1909-03-04

companion. She had known Lord
Somerset by sight the year before
and thought the man walking behind
was that nobleman. James Rapson,
owner of swamp adjoining Blenheim
swamp, was out with his men cutting
timber about one O'Clock In the after
noon. when he heard two pistol shots
fired In rapid succession in Blenheim
swamp.
Thus Murray completed his chain of
evidence to the swamp and the very
hour of the murder when the assassin
was alone in the swamp with his vic
tim. The shots were fred about one
o'clock half an hour after Miss Fallon
had seen the men pass. Birchall had
evidently pointed out land from the
car window as part of his farm, and
told Benwell they would take a short
cut through the woods to it. Benwel
was a credulous youth and inncSently
entered the swamp and started up the
winding path. 1t was an easy matter
for Birchall to drop behind moment
while Benwell was pressing eagerly on
anxious for view of the farm-the
farm he was never to see.
At half past two Charles Buck, a
young farmer living ON the road be-
tween Eastwood and Blenheim swamp.
was driving home from Woodstock
when. at the crossroads leading to
Eastwood. a man turned the corner
from tke Blenheim swamp road and
started for Eastwood The man wore
fur cap. and he stopped and asked
Mr.. Buck the way to Gables Corners.
as he wished to get to Woodstock.
Buck told him he was within much
The Elbert County tribune., 1909-03-04

tions. Birchall gave an evasive re-
ply, and under pretense OF showing his
companion the beauties OF the Niagara
river, took him down an old rotten
stairway that led over the cliffs to
the edge of the water At the bottom
of the shaky steps there stood a
stranger, the sight of whom seemed
to annoy Birchall. for without linger-
ing to admire the view he turned and
retraced his steps. Returning to their
rooms they saw a newspaper contain
ing the account of the discovery of
the body of murdered man near
Woodstock. and Birchall proposed that
Pelly should go there and see IL the
remains were those of Benwell. This
sinister remark aroused fresh sus-
picions In Pelly's mind and alarmed
him to such an extent that he slipped
to carry it in the future
On the next day Birchall persuaded
Pelly to go over to the American side
of the river with him, under the pre-
tense of looking after some missing
baggage. 1t was raining and blowing
hard when they started to walk back
to Canada across the Suspension
bridge. There We're no other pedes-
trians in sight as they neared the
center of the bridge and Birchall, halt
ing, requested Pelly to look over the
cables at the roaring torrent below.
THE view is superb he said. as
he leaned over the edge. come and
see it."
Pelly saw that 1t would be an easy
thing to thrust an unsuspecting per
son over the cable into the river. His
The Elbert County tribune., 1909-03-04
He verified the dates of arrival and

He verified the dates OF arrival and
departure at the Metropolitan hotel OF
the party of four. and their arrival at
the Stafford house. Buffalo. on Feb
ruary is. At the Stafford house he
ascertained the fact that. ON the day
following their arrHal, Pelly and Mrs.
Birchall stayed at the hotel. while
Birchall and Benweli we're called be-
fore six o'clock and went away to-
gether. Birchail returned in the even
ing but Benwell never returned.
The next step was TO follow the
course of Birchall and Benweil after
leaving the Stafford house on Febru
ary H. Conductor William II. Poole,
running on the Grand Trunk railroad
between Niagara Falls and Windsor.
asserted that he had two passengers
who got on his train at Eastwood
four miles from Blenheim swamp
Their description answered that of
Birchal and Benwell The train
stopped at Eastwood at 11:14 that
morning Matthew Virtue, bailiff of
Woodstock, was on the train. AS II
left Eastwood he saw two young Eng
lishmen walking away from the sta
ton. one of them wearing a cape coat.
A Miss Lockhart of Blandford was on
the train. A couple OF seats ahead of
her sat two young Englishmen. AS
the train approached Eastwood her at
tention was drawn to them by the
manner In which they were talking
about the land. They were admiring
fields which had nothing about them
to be admired One was easy to iden-
tify by the big astrakhan cap he wore.
She saw them alight at Eastwood and
walk north.
Alfred Hayward and his wife saw
the pair leave Eastwood station. John
Crosby. a young farmer living in
Blenheim township. was driving in
Governors road about noon when he
saw the two young men walking to.
wards Blenheim swamp. Miss Allie
Fallon. who lived with her mother a
short distance from Blenheim swamp
saw them pass the house on the road
leading past the marsh One, in a
cape overcoat, walked ahead of his
The Elbert County tribune., 1909-03-04

Oxford. saying that he was In the EN-
ploy Of Somerset G. Co., Brock street,
Woodstock, and would pay his debts
promptly. In the summer Of 1859
Birchall and his wife returned TO Eng
land and lived with Mr.. Stevenson.
Then 1t was that Birchall began ad-
vertising, under the name of J. X.
Burchall, address the Primrose Club.
for young men with money to go to
Canada and learn farming. Pelly's
father was, as he had stated, vicar of
Saffron Walden, Essex. and Benwell's
father was Col Benweil of Chelten-
ham.
At Woodstock Murray learned that
Birchall and his wife arrived there
from England in the autumn of 1888
to look over farm lands and enjoy the
country life of Canada. Birchall and
his wife passed as Lord and Lady
Somerset They lived gayly and
seemed TO have money befitting their
rank in life. They were fond of driv-
ing and picnics. and one of the spots
Lord Somerset" visited on various
occasions was Pine Pond, which was
surrounded by Blenheim swamp.
When they returned to England Lord
and Lady Somerset departed from
Woodstock very suddenly, leaving nu-
merous unpaid bills behind them
When Birchall again sailed for
America i. was not in the role OF Lord
Somerset He came accompanied by
his wife, Pelly and Benwell. and the
four arrived In New York on the Bri-
tannic on February a. From this
date Murray took up the trail and
verified the truth of Pelly's narrative.
The Elbert County tribune., 1909-03-04

cheque for el7O at the same
time. l shall look to meeting you on
February first. When you get my
steamer tickets would you be so kind
as to forward me some steamer la
bels?"
At half past eight that evening
Birchall returned TO the Stafford
house in Buffalo alone. He was In
high good humor. joking and laughing
pleasantly. In response to Pelly's in
quiry for his companion of the morn
ing he stated that he took Benwell
to the farm and introduced him to
Mcdonald, the overseer. Later Ben
well told him that he did not like the
place or the people but he had stayed
at the farm when Birchall left for
Buffalo. Birchall also said he had
given Benwell several addresses be-
fore leaving. so that he could visit
folk in the country roundabout. in
cluding Attorney Hellmuth of London.
Ontario. who had been passenger on
the Britannia. Pelly began to ask too
many questions. whereupon Birchall
declared he was tired and went to
bed. On the following day they went
to Niagara Falls. taking their lug
gage with them. They crossed to the
Canada side and stopped at Mrs.
Baldwln's. Birchall arranging for
rooms and board there.
Soon after their arrival at Baldwin's
Birchall invited Pelly to take a walk
during which the young man. who was
beginning to suspect that his astute
host was not playing an altogether
straight game. told Birchall that he
had not made good his representa-
The Elbert County tribune., 1909-03-04

mistrust of Eirchall had increased =
thousand fold and he curtIy refused to
move from where he was standing
Birchali turned white. looked around
and stepped toward his companion.
As he did so Pelly walked on. Birch
all called to him sharply: Come.
walk alongside me-, he said. Your
heavy overcoat will help keep the
rain on me-" Pelly shook his head
obsffnately and was about to take to
his heels and run when two men came
walking across the bridge Birchall
then ceased TO argue with his com
panion and the two made their way
back to Canada, keeping several PAGES
apart. The next day Birchall accom-
panied by his wife, went to Paris. On
tario. to view the body of the man
whose picture had appeared In the
papers and shortly after their return
to the Falls the arrest followed.
Murray cabled and wrote at once to
Scotland Yard. London. England. for
information about Birchall. Pelly and
Benwell. He was advised that ]. r.
Bfrchall was none other than the
younger son of the Rev Joseph Bir-
chall. late well-known vicar of church
kirk and rural dean of Whalley. After
completing his course at Oxford, young
Birchall. who had achieved a reputa-
tion for wildness during his college
days, went to London. There he
eloped with Florence Stevenson.
daughter of David Stevenson, for 80
years master of transportation of the
London and Northwestern railroad.
Birchall's favorite club at this time,
November. 1888. was the Badminton
club, 100 Picadilly, w. When he
made ready to leave England after his
marriage, he cashed cheques for G25
at the Badminton club, ard C.
Stewart Sproat, secretary of the club,
wrote him on January Z. 1890, when
he was back in England, to send the
cash without further delay.
He and his bride sailed for America
in the fall of 1883. They wrote to
David Stevenson from America. and
early in 1889 Birchall wrote from
Woodstock, Ontario to creditors at
The Elbert County tribune., 1909-03-04
Making Crime a Business
- By George r. fard1 -

True Record of the
Achievement of Fa-
mousJohnW. Murray
in Uncovering the
Guilty Parties in the
Blenheim Swamp
Slaughter-How the
Slayer Was I'm
cart h ed by TIL e
Master Sleuth.
The Elbert County tribune., 1909-03-04

OUR miles from the little
town of Eastwood. On
tario, Canada. there lies
a dark, gloomy marsh
known as Blenheim
swamp. 1t is a DESC
late, lonely spot which
The Washington times., 1909-09-30
OWNERS PROTESTS
TO Be MADE LATER
Time Is Extended in Fight
Over Property South of
the Avenue.

Because of determined protests to be
made by many OF the property owners
OF the five squares recently condemned
south of Pennsylvania avenue, Justice
Clabaugh this morning granted the
petition of several attorneys TO extend
the time for fling OF protests.
In the order passed today. October 6
is designated rs the final date on which
protests may be fled. Tomorrow was
TO have been tie final day. The order
also fixes October II as the date for
the hearing This Will be held before
Justice Stafford. who will then he sit
ting I'm District Court.
The petition this morning was fled
pursuant 20 "A meeting of several at
torneys held yesterday, AT which many
Of the awards held by them To be
unfair were discussed.
Although none of the lawyers con-
cerned care 60 make definite statements
regarding their plans for the prosecu-
gon OF their objections. IL is understood
that should the court uphold the awards
OF the five squares commission. an ap-
peal VIII be taken.
The Washington times., 1909-09-30
cHASE'S-vaudeville.

Chase's next week offers what prom
isos 10 be an exceptional program
comprising Jane Courthope and COM
many. the Clayton White-Marie Stuart
company. Gus Edwards Nine Koun-
try Kids" Imro Fox. Arthur Regby.
Nonette. Ferry. and Washington In
der the American flag-
Jane Courthope and company will be
the conspicuous 'iffering In Lucky
Jim" described as a true story of the
sierra Nevadas. in which are intro
duced the juvenile actor. Roos For
roster. and the 5000 acting St Bernard
heidelberg Prince Equally wei
known but committed to the comic side
Of amusemenfs are the Clayton White
Mario Stuart company in their new YER
sion of .Cherie.' an episode merrily
mixing bizarre types and containing In
cldents said to be humorous.
The third novelty feature VIII be the
song composer. Gus Edwards "Koun-
try Kids in their rural musical racket
Ranking as high as the others in vaude-
vile prominence VIII be the past master
of magic. lmrO Fox.