davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18

GER then turns from their jaded smiles and weary
races in which safety is writ large to her shaded
lamp, her books and the neds of asphodeI and iris
"here she walks hand in hand with the imniortals
We see 1t in the ever-hauntng eyes OF Lincoln
sorroW-sunken and heavy-shadowed with unutterabIe
WEAKNESS yet radated, when clouds drew down
around him dark and thunderous with that sudden
Wondrous smile that caught always the Jest of shaking
It's lrrepressbe bells behind the sullen draperies of
tragedy
1t is life-buoy, this sense OF humor of yours-ar
anchor to windward Into all lives storms must coma
more or less. But sometimes a word or a gestura
may turn the path of the hurricane
These are crises in warfare that our lives eiva ne
daily Nerves are keyed TO the breaking point IN
STOCK market or counting room. The air is sur-
charged with electricity The home is reached and
now Is the psychological moment for the woman who
presides there. II she be shallow or dense or
sensh' tragedy has its conception and divorce ia ts
ousprng. If she be- instead, the woman Of tact the
cyclone trembling the horizon met with the silver
arrow OF quip, the CLEAN of humorous eyes that de-
cine TO see tragedy, the pose of cool personality
that is as a tender hand on a frenzied pulse
And as upon the cool, serene peaks where rest the
eeTna SHOWS SO here does the storm waver and melt
into harmless mist flaw of vanity, a touch Of ex
asgerated ego, will bring chaos. But a little bit n,
humor OF courage, OF selfenacement will do for the
domestic altar what Kiplng's ragamufhns did for the
British army-Wrest glory out of impending defeat
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18

at Cedar Rapids, Ia, and ignores the sRnincance az
the great festival in the more absorbing topic 10 which
1t relates:
/ have Just received the painful news OF our dear
fathers death, and can hardly realize that he was
taken and left Let live in hope though know
1t Will grieve you very much; but cheer IN uotbsr
and Keep In good spirits. wish could be mn thsra
with you' but such thing getting a furlough now
Is impossible; therefore, content yourself IA we'll IA
you can and await my return, which won't ba vary
long now, for the war s very favorable I
thlnK In the course OF year will all return hornn
Mother' you shall never want for anything II TIA IN
my power TO get It, have given up nearly all Of nv
Ooylsn notions and feel now. Send tina chill
oren 10 school, Rent the mill (the elder Dewey hsd
Quilt the nrst saw mill at Cedar Rapids) but mot Sor
any longer period than three months at TINA win
Bend you $50 as soon as get paid Have an invo,c.
or STOCK made; consult good friends and ba hon.t,
as all must come out right"
There breathes tho spirit OF the voluntosr .oho,.
ana the same spirit IL apparent in the mart ohyi.,.
letter. written December 2s, 1894, from n eamn "a
Arkansas a.
Am still In the land of the living and wall Va.
leFoSy was Chrietmas and very disagreeabls day IN
csmp-rainy and mean. As we made the hast ~.
could OF 1t, remembered the good old dinner, -.
useu 10 nave at home My dinner yesterday eons.,.d
OF piece OF boiled beef, coffee and bread which No.
very good meal under the circumstances ana 7 NE.
almost as well satisfied II had an old-fasbtoD.1
Christmas dinner, but not quite
II Is our last Christmas in the army. think w.
Oil mink So Troops in winter quarters and tak,r1
tnlngs as easy as We A few more such bIov,. =.
lne rebels received from General Thomas ought -
wind up this pretty WE'LL" ="
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18
Grant Abandoned Plan.

After the plans were all made and all the arrange
ments agreed upon, General Grant reported them to
Washington but President Lincoln objected because
he was afraid If we took many troops from Chatta
nooga that Longstreet who occupying eastern
Tennessee with his army might return to Chattanooga
or middle Tennessee and undo all we had accom-
plshed in the battle of Chattanooga. Grant had no
fear OF this but he made up his mind to go immed-
ately to east Tennessee and take the forces there
under General Foster, attack and defeat Longstreet
and then come back and carry out his plans He
found, after reaching Knoxville that General Fosters
forces could not be used he abandoned the cam
paign, only sending Sherman to VicksburE, who
marched out to Meridian and returned, while the
10000 cavalry under General William sooy Smith
who was to Join Sherman overland but failed. was
badly defeated by Forrest and had to retreat"
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18
Sherman Talks Bluntly.

General Granger was the commander of the post
at Nashville and the next day were invited to his
house for dinner. The generals mother was at the
table and she objected very to the methods NJ
our making war. She belonged to the old army. She
the acts OF my forces in middle Tennessee
living off OF the country taking the supplies from
people and so forth got out Of It by simply saving
was obeying orders She then turned on General
Sherman for the depredations OF his troops in march
Ing from Chattanooga to the relief of Knoxville tax
Ing the shoes from their feet the clothing from their
backs and the provisions out OF their mouths leaving
most Of them starving ..
I'VE could see that Sherman was very uneasy under
the attack but she did not let up on It until sherman
turned to her and said
Madam, my troops have marched from Memphis
to Chattanooga without supplies and had no oppor-
tunty to obtain any clothing and when they sent me
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18

we nnd In 1t this abuse" Of the Aforesaid clerk,
winch mas Just touch Of up-to-date favor I'VE
are satisfied the clerk of the weather is drunk and
Oy mistake has sent what he intended for the north
ern END OF the universe to Omaha. The storm con-
unues oat II the said clerk compelled to drive
an OK team across the plains burn green cotton
WOOD ne would take pity those engaged in the
same business and in future conduct himself accord
ing to the principles of humanity"
In the same column appears this shiverv story.
Passing up Douglas street yesterday, we observed
one OF the genus homo in snow drift up to his vest
pockets; and as we passed we heard him saw with
surprising cheerfuness Long legs are a good thing
IN pile of snow six feet deep"
further along is the original kick on the rapa-
clousness OF theSfuel man: Wood was sold vester-
gay In the streets Of Omaha for frozentodeab price
ms wood swindle is getting beyond all decent endur-
ance' II some enterprising gentleman would estab-
ilsh wood yard in Omaha there is no doubt but be
would md 1t paying business and this will be at No
distant day; and then these gentlemen instead ~
having buyers running after him, will be running
after buyers. Every dorg has his day"
In this protest "all decent" and "dorg" are Italia
lied, la Roosevelt.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18
Of Shoppers
When earth's last Christmas is over

When earths last Christmas is over
And the last exchange has been made,
When the last duty note has been written
And the very last bill has been paid
We shall rest; indeed, we shall need it,
Buy no more for an aeon or two;
Till model department stores opening
Shall set US to shop anew
And she that was poor shall be happy
She shall find what she wants in a trice:
She shall make a no-duplicate purchase
AT middle-aisle-counter price;
She shall find all the bargains to pick from
For husband and baby and all;
She shall shop from morn until midnight.
And never get stung at all.
And all the salespeOple shall hurry,
And all the transfers shall be right.
And no one shall trumpet us homeward.
For the store will be open all night.
And each in the Joy OF the shopping.
And each in her separate aisle
Shall buy the thing as she sees It,
To suit the lords OF the style
Mary Katherine Woods.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18
Campaign Plans Made.

ION the second day all assembled In a large
room at the headquarters of Grant to hear what he
had to say to He took up with the plan for the
winter campaign. He proposed himself to take about
$4,000 Of the troops concentrated at Chattanooga and
transport them by the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to
New Orleans and from there take with him the troops
of General Candy and go thence to Mobile and attack
that place General Sherman was to go to Memphis
gather up all the forces along the Mississippi river
including the troops at Vcksburg and Natchez, to-
sether with the Seventeenth corps march from Vicks
burg to Meridian, and thence Join Grant at Mobile
l was to take the Sixteenth corps, which then
located on the line OF the Nashville & Decatur road
together with about 10000 cavalry that General Will
lam sooy Smith had concentrated near Nashville and
sweep down through Alabama northern Mississippi
and western Tennessee attacking any forces of the
enemy that might be met and destroying all the rail-
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18
Found Cause for Rejoicing.

In the 1863 Christmas edition of the PIattsnor,n
herald published by the father Of Mrs Harriet Ma
Murphy OF Omaha, appears this greeting:
In many respects Nebraska has great reason -
rejoice Looking back but few short months ana
we all can remember the gloomy prospect Thought -
De ahead The red locust swarmed over The 80
several years of low prices and had cron - emu
ceded this one; and now to be Cleaned ont, on,,rI
Dy the little Wingless devils of grasshoppers IooLaI
cruel and meant utter ruin to many. Lost 49,
steads. endeared by years OF hard toll and ,ha 10
yes oh yes! Of the sheriff seemed to sound IN
ear by wonderful interpOstlon of some overrn,,ra
avoid ae'e Sa'astToPhes have been in great meas
uie avoided The fields bore abundantIy the $50
Slelded as OF yore' prices have been good on a.
ana except those who persistently and wIt,1 "Hole
IN ueot' the new year will open with brirbtar Iun
peCts than Tor many day; and although n
an old' old story yet the good Tins .iAs
% 0ns prophesied' is almost at our door"
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18

Byron Reed collection and the shelves of the
Omaha public library interesting little hints touching
Christmas time-and other things-are found
One such item records that The day was beauti-
iul Immense quantities of poultry Of all kinds was
devoured."
Another iauds the Trinity church Christmas fes-
tiva held at the house, and after rhapsodz,ng
to some length the editor wrote: THE good things
provided were enough make us forget we are 600
miles from the center of civilization"
In third paragraph in the same issue a loud kick
made because THE mails are from twenty-four to
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18

thirtysix hours late account of the excessively
muddy roads. Eleven days from New York is a little
more than ordinarily patient human nature can bear
Even the telegraph line is out of order part of the
time"
Here are two sharply contrasting pictures Of
Christmas day in the sos two years apart the first
being from the Pattsmouth Herald and the second
from the Weekly Nebraskan, printed in Omaha:
Who ever saw such a winter3 Well may a Chi
eago paper ask, is IT slice of unripe spring or
chunk Of old fall left to diet? Christmas and no fires
necessary! Furs abandoned, frost unknown the hens
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18
Ordered Out of Eating House.

General Sherman Immediately suggested that We
should find oyster house get something to eat
and General Rawlins put forward as guide and
spokesman. He led to a very inviting place where
we went in and found there but one large table
in the place. One man sitting at it and Rawlins
In hts modest way, without informing the man who
his party was, asked him If he would change to A
smaller one and let US have that one The man said
the table was good enough for him and kept on eating
Rawlins backed out into the street again and sher
man said II we depended Rawns we would get
nothing to eat and said he would see what he could
do. Sherman hailed a man who pointed out another
saloon kept by To this Sherman took us
and she served with what we then considered a
very nice oyster stew AS around the table We
talked more than ate and by the time we had half
finished our supper the woman came in and asked
for the and said we would to leave as under
the military rules her house must close at 10 o'clock
midnight, and 1t was then a few minutes past that
hour. So out we got and took our way to Grants
headquarters, where bunked down the best we
could during the night.
Some of the staff heard about our evenings adj
venture and gave the to the press and the next
morning before breakfast all the parties were present
TO apologize to Grant, that they did not recognize him
as we were out Of own Jurisdiction and in that NJ
the Army Of the Cumb erlsnd but Grant in his mod
est fashion, satisfied them that he had no complaint
However there poured in him for all OF uA
mentary tickets and invitations to almost everything
in Nashville
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18
Letters From the Field.

Frank Dewey, deputy county clerk has a series of
letters written from the field by his brother Robert
Dewey now of San Francisco, who is also brother
OF MIS- w. l. Kerstead. Two are given here as being
typical Of the spirit in which the soldiers Of the union
accepted the work of war. The first letter written
in Texas, the day before Christmas of 3d. has hole
burnt in the paper, but writing material was too
precious to throw away. 1t was sent to his mother
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18

on this march to Knoxville many Of my men were
barefooted and many more were barebacked; and we
struck country full of those things You ought to
know me well enough that when a question came up
of soldier having supplies blankets and clothing
as against the citizen who doing nothing in be-
half Of his country should stand up for the soldier
and my soldiers took those things under my orders
There was perfect silence at the table the incident
put cold blanket on that Christmas dinner
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18
A Close View of Andrew Johnson.

Governor johnson was then very radical man
and was very emphatic in informing us that while bs
was military governor of Tennessee no rebel wouId
receive much consideration from him In SAYING this
he brought his fist down a piano in the room with
such force that the sound from it startled us ALI and
we left there with the idea that rebels in Tennessee
Rad better get out but we found that his words
we're much stronger than his acts for hardly ever
got my hands on rebel stock of supplies that did
not find Johnson trying to pull them on
AS the men Of my corps were rebuilding the De-
catur Nashville railroad. had to live off the
country. I remember 1 took from the plantation
owned by Gideon Pillow large number of mules and
supplies and Immediately received protest from Gov
ernor Johnson who had given protection to the plan
taton. OF course, held onto the mules and supplies
as was acting under orders Of General Grant
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18
Sherman Theatrical Critic.

After our visit to the governor. General Sherman
suggested that we should ali go the theater that
evening, and under his we went to the principal
opera house to hear the play, Hamlet We we're all
strangers in Nashville; General Grant was not
well known. We paid our way in and found the the
ater crowded with soldiers going to and returning
from veteran furloushs. General Sherman, who was
great lover OF the theater sat alongside Of me and
soon began oriticsing the play earnestly protesting
that was being murdered had to check him. sew
era times and tell him that unless he kept quiet the
soldiers In the audience would recognize him and
there would be scene.
We had entered late and soon there came on the
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18

roads and provisions that had been stored in tnat
country. This with view to making it difficult
for any of the Confederate armies to again occupy
the territory so as to enable Sherman and Grant
when the spring and summer campaign came on, to
utilize all the union troops that had been occupying
that country.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18


correctly invaluable assets says New York World
Minus their front teeth, Venus and Apollo would win
neither golden apples OF Paris NEUROLOGICAL fame
In the beauty class and ones Of humor will ex-
tend pontoon bridge over the uncertain-looking
quagmires of LIES highway, where gold would fail to
build roadbeds
Guard your teeth and your sense Of humor and It
must follow, the night the day. that your digestion
Is invariably above par, the consequence being that
your mental attitude is optimistic with the additional
sequence that life laughs with YOU instead of frown-
ing at you.
And If this is true in business life It is equally true
and even more important in the domestic territory
1t is mistake to take ones self ones world too
seriously Our tragedies, national and domestic
brush elbows with LIES comedies and if the smile OF
the stole ofttmes hides tears tears that life exacts
as tribute often CLINT with the CALAMITY struggling
smile of the philosopher.
We see this CLINT in the eye of Dogenes in his tub
as he politely but firmly requests the magnificent
Alexander to get out of his sunshine We could see
In the Quzzical OF the silent society reporter as
she slipped from box TO box at the Horse show The
AexandeTs and their gorgeous In the blaze
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18
Cracking the Weather and Fuel Men.

"old Muddy is about closed tight Vehicles
crossed today on the Ice We regret our abuse be-
slowed so lavshy the clerk referred to yesterday
II he will bridge the river, don't care cuss if he's
drunk all winter"
Referring back to the issue of the week previous
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18


M here ever since, says the Christmas Of
@<sANg the old time not much different
R&NSH%4 than II Is today except that we were
&AIAAAokH more neghbory and had more fun /"
twinkle. --'''"'o'OuS
zone Christmas time I was scared r,.D+, - =,
came over from Council Bluffs on the ice with b,g
load OF corn on the cob. The ice was our bridge IN
winter time and this particular day the thaw bad
softened the river much that water covered the ice
10 the height OF the hubs. The continual travelling
mad packed the roadway across the river until u was
as hard as ice and snow could be- 40 stucr 20 .ha
beaten track and held my team in It as near ss 7
could Another man sought little higher driveway
but 1t was honeycombed and he broke throuVb 10
TOOK hard work to save him When reached this
sac win my load friend told me was white in the
race and admitted 1t without any argument"
Game Was Plentiful.
MT Grimm recites how wild turkeys were plenti-
fpi In the woods below South Omaha when the
spFesent Omaha was a mere mudhole. and how
pear meat and deer meat were as common
Fat the big feasts as beef is now And he recalls an
old-time shoot for turkeys that ia embalmed i .h
printed history OF the early times The match was
melody the Omaha Sporting club, and the target was
placed at 100 yards. with an s-inch circle every
member throwing shot In the board to draw n tur
Key W. Miller G. Hoagland and J. Chandler won
one turkey apiece; H. B. sackett and Thomas Acha
son. two EACH C. B, Lake and D. C. Smith three COR
We sometimes had great feasts in those davs I"
SAID MI Grimm, Nothing too good that could
De mad, and We have nothing so really good TO-DAY
ne was no proper operator at table who eouId NOT
clean up everything in reach Why we lived ONT
doors mostly and We could eat saw logs warmed NV
friction II We had to. Cooks? Say. the women who
came with theNpioneers knew so much about cooking
tnat has been forgotten it's a shame to think of n
some OF them could fry sole leather and make vo,,
mus II was porterhouSe steak They could take any
sort OF pick-me-up stun and make man swear the
resulting dish was what old Luculus went into costa
cies over" S'"
Memories In Old Files
In some OF the very old nles of newspapers in III.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18

all cackng and the grass all green! Did Venus kick
up the Robbery the other night? Was that kiss on
the moon SO hot 1t drew all the frost out of Mother
Earth or what's the matter2 Arise, oh ye scientists
end explain"
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18

OF tne eiectrcs are but so much fuel her for her
pot-ooilers" She rams their gowns and their Jewels
down the ravenous Jaws of the landlord ana the GRO
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18

scene where Hamlet soioquizes over the skull Of
Yorick. The audience perfectly STILL endeavorins
to comprehend the actors words, when a soldier far
back in the audience up and in a clear voice
called the actor held up the skull, Say, pard
what is it; Yank Reb?' The house appreciated the
point and was instantly in an uproar General Grant
said had better leave, 50 went quietly out, no
discovering the identity Of Grant or Sherman.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18
Good Teeth and Sense of Humor Save Worry

YOUTH has gone a-glimmering," said
the honorable gentleman from Pennsyl-
vania, but have retained two things
for which," he added, solemnly. Il am
profoundly grateful-my sense of humor
and my front teeth" ....
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18

@ALKlNG Of Christmas memories as they
relate to war time, General Grenville NJ.
Dodge Of Council Bluffs most interest
ingly reviews his experiences in 1863,
H0ANfINH when he was one OF q company OF gem
49, erals called into a conference with
Grant.
I'm December, after the battle Of Chickamauga"
said General Dodge, 'the Army Of the Tennessee
camped along the railway from Columbus, Tenn, to
Decatur and Huntsville Ala General Grant returned
to Nashville and called there to meet him several
corps commanders Of the Army Of the Tennessee and
General Sheridan Of the Army Of the Cumberland II
remember rightly there present Generals Grant
Sherman, Sheridan, Granger, Logan and myself All
OF us OF the Army of the Tennessee were hard look
ing crowd None of us had Nashville or any base
Of supplies since had marched from the Mississippi
riveruto Chattanooga and we had been hard at work
building railways and foraging
1--WE arrived in Nashville late in the afternoon and
General Sherman took us to General Grants head
quarters. General Grant suggested that we should
call upon the military Of Tennessee Andrew
johnson, and pay respects to him. We of course
followed General Grant and introduced to Gov
etuor Johnson. remember that our uniforms were
greatly worn, one or two of wearing blouses with
army overcoats and the governor looked at us with
very quzsical until General Grant asked that he
excuse us; that he had not given US time since wa
reSched the city to change SUITS but Grant knew
we had others.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18

'BL GRIFFIN, who came to Omaha in
1865 with his parents and has lived
here ever since, says the Christmas of
the old time was not much different
than It is today, except that we were
more neighborly and had more fun"
said Mr.. Grimm, with a mischievous
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18

Memories In Old Files
In some OF the very old nles Of newspapers in IN.
The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1910-10-14
MAN 88 YEARS OLD
SPLENDID WRITER
WELL PRESERVED IN EVERY
wAY-MADE LONG TRIP
ALONE.

P. L. Derryberry has letter writ
ten by his uncle. Shepherd Spear, on
the latter's S8th birthday. The letter
is remarkable by reason Of the fact
that it is plainly written, shows no in
dication whatever of nervousness, and
has the appearance of having been
written very rapidly. To look at the
letter without knowing who wrote 1t,
one would suppose it had been writ
ten by young man.
The letter was written to Mrs. Der
ryberrys mother at Lasea. She and
Mr.. Spear are brother and sister.
The old gentleman is well preserv-
ed both mentally and physically. He
now lives al Guthrie, Okla, and Wis
tied this city four years ago, making
the trip from Oklahoma alone.