davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-25
Washington Society Skates
Every "Wednesday Morning

does very we'll. Suddenly. though. comes
the realization that one is way out there
on the earth at the mercy of a pair Of
frfsky skates and a strange man. Then
the feet interfere the body sways
backward. and a general chaos ensues
of feet and mind and floor.
handsome young woman who mas al
ways been a noted horsewoman ragged be-
cause she could not go the way she want
ed to.
Il have always mastered sports so
easily" she lamented. land to think those
miserable little skates should master me-
But still she went on trying. And
throughout the morning that rector was
the only man who really had a fall
lady all in gray, from one of the
embassies. skated SO beautifully that peo-
pie paused in their efforts to watch her.
1t seemed impossible that she had ever
been toted about by an instructor. And
an unusually tall young girl swept over
the floor with those long, steady glides
that come primarily from long familiar
ity with the Ice. Just why people who
are so Well versed in the art of ice skat-
Ing should forsake the frozen ponds for
indoor sport they alone know. But one
is just about as cold as the other and
Young men who think they are especial
ly clever at "crawling'' around rink cor
ners should have seen some of the over
and-Over steps society girls were doing
the other Wednesday. They would have
been consumed with jealousy. Skating
brings out that element anyway. Tha,
same rector's wife tried for the first
time; she did very well, too, and she did
not fall down. And did she remind him
Of that fact? Or, at all events, it sounded
strangely like it to the listener who did not
mean to listen. Some time during the win
ter. after the people who attend these ex-
elusive Wednesday mornings, where ad-
mission is by card only and no mere pur-
chaser of ticket can hope to eLter, have
learned to skate more elaborately, there
is a rumor that they intend to give q
carnival 1t will he great fun, and people
lucky enough to be invited will have a
pleasurable spectacle. They will see the
finished performances: they won't know
anything about the long, arduous, nerve
wracking. body-wrenching rehearsals.
AS graceful woman skater who is
graceful although she has only been ="on''
few times. expressed it: "It looks SO
deadly easy when one is not skating"
But to the madly cfawing, desperately
lettering. wild-eyed person on the skates
the one thing in life worth while seems
to be keeping the equilibrium. Social po-
sition. wealth, age and dignity are alike
forgotten. To skate is the thing, and
Washington society is either going to
achieve 1t or go to the hospital en- masse!
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-25

All the details of the revolving cere-
mony are not known, as the Druids would
not allow their history to be written. To
be eligible to priesthood the candidate
was forced to spend twenty years in
preparation. committing all the lore and
law of the order to memory.
The Druids' reign, however. was short
lived. Their political Importance ceased
by the Romans. Their religious services
were abolished by decree of Emperor
Claudius.
Their memory has been perpetuated,
however. by later-day Druids. In 1888
there was organized in New York city
the Ancient Order of Druids. That or
ganization now has more than a score of
grand groves and nearly 500 subordinate
groves. 1t has a membership Of more
than 1000 "prests' s, Its object ts is es-
disbursed more than $5.OOO.OOO in benefits.
A similar cult was organized in London
in 1871, known as the Imperial Order OF
Druids of England. There are branches
of both organizations all over the world
At the planting of the oak. under the
auspices of the English order. in Fins
bury Park, there were present 'brethren
from all over the continent from the
colonies and from the United States in
large NUMBERS.
These modern Druids were all CARRIED in
the traditional white gowns of the early
priest. They formed a long procession.
and marched to the spot selected for the
planting, with bands playing q march
composed especially for the occasion.
The tree. a young sapling, was carried
in the center of. the procession. and
when the selected spot was reached the
Druids assembled around 1t in series
of wide circles. Druidic hymns were
sung by French and German choirs: there
was a symbolic dance, weird in its fam
tasy. and then various ceremonies. found
ed on traditions preserved from the an
cient Druids, observed.
After the celebration the Druids visited
the Druidical temples and affairs in the
Iosod0As.s-lSoa Tourists
have taken the same pilgrimage. for the
temples are monuments of wonder. They
are stupendous stone structures. known
as cromlees or kistvaens They have
stood for centuries. defying the on
slaughts of the elements = stolid land
marks OF the people who claim to have
made Santa Claus possible.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-25
THE SOLDIERS CONSCIENCE.
Seldom Confesses That He Killed 8
Man o. SSSttlefield.
From the London Mail.

From the London Mail
In q reference to the charge of the Light
Brigade at BalaSlava. in which he took
part. Lord Tredegar has raised the ques-
ton of the soldiers conscience, Speaking
at an anniversary gathering recently,
he said: II give myself the benefit of the
doubt that / have no murder on my
conscience" He was not certain, he said,
whether he killed man in that charge
or not
Every one knows that even If he had
killed, man in action he would not be
guilty Of murder. The conscience of the
British soldier has apparently the effect Of
making him extremely reticent on the
subject. Hardly ever will an old soldier
declare that he has killed a man except
in cases where the feeling of avenging
inhumanity was added to the sense Of
duty in battle.
When the Canadian Rifles were in Eng
land a few weeks ago they had with them
veteran of the 93d Regiment whom the
young rif1emen sought to draw on his
went was to say I'm not conscious that
ever l killed a Russian, and 1 was in
maist o the fights. but 1 wish 1 had a
sovereign for every one l bayoneted in
Cawnpore." Chelsea pensioners and other
old soldiers preserved the same attitude
when questioned in connection with Lord
Tredegar's remark. The Crimean vet
CT dIiS WOulQ IlOI 90 beyond saying Il sup
pose l must have killed men,
An ex-dragoon who went through both
the Crimean and the mutiny campaigns
practically repeated the remarks of the
93d veteran. Il cannot say that
ever killed any one in the Crimea But
the mutiny was different. There we were
going to avenge the murder of women and
little children. l was at Secunderabad
when we used nothing but the bayonet.
We got them against wall and killed till
NO had N ont RI <l,o
dead SO that we could get at the living
AS we left 1 passed a man. lying dead, as
thought on the grass. 1 heard a noise
and, looking back, saw he was sitting up
and covering me with his gun. I drove
my bayonet SO hard that l had to put
my foot on him to pull it out I am an
old man and I believe 1t is wicked. but 1
still feel thrill when I think of the way
we avenged our countrywomen. Nor do
feel that I have murder on my con-
science"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-25
Lesson for Diplomats.

ELIHU ROOT at the luncheon in Provi.
- dence preceding the dedication of the
John Hay Memorial Library at Brown
University said of John Hay:
Hts diplomacy was gracious and II
was prudent as we'll I remember in an
argument about a certain international
complication how very warmly and aptly
ne once insisted on prudence.
r 1T was the Christmas season, and he
said that we might learn a lesson from a
little girl who was naughty in the early
part of December.
Dear mer her mother said. IF you're
going to be naughty I'm very much
afraid Santa Claus won't bring you any
presents
THE little girl frowned.
WELL she whispered, you neednt
say it so near the chimney"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-25
The Penalty.

MAYOR WHITLOCk in an address in
Iva Toledo. said of a proposed law:
New laws must be made to fit new
conditions
Mayor Whitiock smiled
You know how" he said. las the frig-
Id winter season congeals the streams and
ravages the woods. tramps are apt to
commit some trifing offense in order to
be locked up in a snug, warm Jail until
the time of the singing of birds is come
again, and the voice of the turtle is once
more heard in the land.
We'll. a Toledo policeman arrested one
OF these tramps the other day, and on the
way to the station house the captive WAS
so delighted that he danced. waved his
arms and sang
But the policeman said to him very
sternly:
Here. keep quiet or III let you co. I"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-25

silver in gold. Only a few days ago a
lot" Of shirt sets were confiscated and
sent to Washington. The sets were made
of Panama halfpennies gilded. Careless
ness Of the law again.
The only kind of a coin that can be
worn is that SO completely mutilated that
there can be no chance at all of passing
it, for example, the filigreed dimes that
the Mexicans make.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-25
Real Bargains.

From Pele Mele.
Il cannot marry you, have promised
my hand to some one else, SO must re-
turn all your presents
= Good gracious. whatever can 1 do with
them noW?"
my. nance would buy them OF you at
a-sl0et reduction"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-25
~T HENCE came the Yuletide sea-
w son?
w Did it have its inception hack

W son?
w Did it have it's inception back
In the humble manager at Bethlehem, as
secular and ecclesiastical lore records
nr did its beginning precede the birth
of the Christ Child by many centuries ?
The celebration of those quaint in
dviduals, known as the Druds, in
F'insbury Park, London, recently. re-
calls the fact that their progenitors
had a festive season at this time of
the year. Moreover. they claim. what
We celebrate December 25 is but a
slightly altered form of the holiday
observed before the Christian era by
them The only change which has &C.
CURED. they say, is that the nativity
Of the Savior has been substituted as
the motive for the anniversary in the
place of the beginning of the suns
journey summerward. which the Druids
solennized at this season.
Those Druids were queer people, and
II is only since 1900 odd persons in
England and the many more thousands
in other countries have undertaken the
perpetuation of their ancient rituals
that the world has known much about
them
Away hack even before the reign of
caesar, these Druids, made up entirely
the religious guides as we'll as the ex-
Founders and guardians of the law.
They existed chiefly before the Ro-
man invasion in Brittany, along the
ralley of the Loire, in the Island of
Anglesey. and in Wales and Ireland.
II is thought that they entered Brittany
from the orient with the Celtic Kymric
race. Their religious practices partook
mostly of the Hindu, Persian and
Egyptian origin.
Caesar writes of them. telling of
their administration of tine spiritual
and legal welfare of the people, He
says that they had one chief of supreme
authority. and points out graphically
the fate which awaited those who
tailed to obey this leaders, DEGREES.
The strange monks. CARRIED in white
flowing robes, ornamented with gold,
were the astrologers of their time. the
ma gicians. the lawmakers. but principal
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-25

XAk senatorial and transient sets
\" has a brand-new fad. 1t is
learning to skate, and il
isn't finding it an easy job. Every Wed
nesday morning members of the differ
ent circles within circles go in automo-
biles and electrics apd via the trolley
system to the Arcade skating rink. where
they put on up-to-date pneumatic roller
skates and go gracefully swooping or
clumsily tottering over the polished
foor-according to their previous expe-
rience or aptitude in getting the swing, -
as the instructors call it.
~
No humble plebeian' is allowed to
watch society thus humiliate itself, for
that would be too Notifying, but among
ones own sort, when nearly everybody
is displaying an average amount Of awk-
wardness, the situation is not SO dread
full Nowhere else in the country could
a spectator see such cosmopolitan as
semblage as passes over that floor in the
single morning. To the instructors they
are all alike except as they vary In skill.
wit declared the other morning that
"a skating rink is certainly great lev
eler.' and in more senses than the one
he implied.
The man who is there to instruct in
skating persuadeS a woman to get out
on the floor. She clutches him as though
he were the proverbial straw. her feet
slip out and she shrieks that she is 60
ing to fall. Very calmly, quite as a
matter of certainty. he replies, '"Oh, no.
you are not" and then they are off.
This repeats itself almost invariably, only
when the woman is very stout the in
structor has harder time to hold her
up. Some cult or other once recon-
mended roller skating as a splendid re-
ducer, so the matrons with too much
embonpoint are there in what might
jokingly be termed round numbers.
young married woman who Is rather
inclined to plumpness was the envy of
many as she swept gracefully about the
rink wearing black velvet skating cos
tune and jaunty hat, and when she
Joined hands with an exceptionally fine
skater Of the male persuasion and pro-
ceeded to "cut figures the envy of the
onlookers was so great that not even
good breeding could repress 1t.
Il just know I never will be able to
skate like that! walled a dainty young
woman whose type of light hair and
brown eyes look especially effective when
her complexion is heightened by the ex-
ercise. But the instructor soothed heI
with information that the seagull emu
lating matron- had had her days when
she, too, was merely learning.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-25

Visitor (his first experience at DUBLIN
What a dreadful smell!
Driver-Faith. sorr. but the smell av the
Liffey's van av the sights av Dublin
Punch, -f1 $50 :
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-25

ly the theologians. They corresponded
to the magi or wise men of ancient Per-
STA.
The planting of an oak tree in Fins
bury Park recently was symbolic of
peace and virtue For its origin the cere-
mony went back centuries. Among the
original Druids. Hesus was the type of
the absolute supreme being, whose per-
sonification on earth was the oak tree.
And right here, love-lorn youth. comes
in a mighty interesting bit Of informa-
ton. 1t was the Druids to whom you
owe obeisance for the mistletoe. To the
were emblemS of good fortune.
The mistletoe. growing as a parasite
upon the oak. represented man, crea-
ture entirely dependent on God for sup
own. 1t was accorded the highest vener-
alton. Blessed was he who found the
heaven-sent gift.
Whenever the all-heal, as the Druids
termed the mistletoe because of it's al
legged curative qualities. was found grow
ing upon a tree. the white-robed priests
gathered about the oak and dismembered
the little cluster of leaves and berries
from It's support with a golden knife
Then two white bulls were slaughtered
as a sacrifice.
In these groves of reverenced oaks.
laced with sacred mistletoe, the religious
fanatics held their mystic rites. These
were their chosen retreats. Hence 1t is
that the organizations of the modern
Druids are known as groves" and that
whenever a celebration of unusual i'm
portance Is held. such as that which &C.
CURED in London to commemorate the
efforts of the late King Edward toward
the promotion of universal peace. an oak
is planted.
In the groves the priests and people
gathered once every year at this season
for the supreme religious festival Of the
order-the speeding of the SUN as it be-
gan it's revolution toward balmy skies
and flower giving CLINE.
The pomp and splendor Of this occasion
rivaled that of the most gorgeous ritual
or later day herarchies. '@s-@.--
From this festival, they say. we. in
reality. get our Christmas. The rites of
that time differed very materially from
the present gladstone celebration. They
were. as a matter of fact. barbarous In
place of the joyous giving OF love tokens
of modern Christmas. they offered up
human beings as sacrifices to Hesus.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-25
The Honorable Way.

From Life.
Will We loan me yer bike. Jimmie.''
Il daSsent loan it to We, COS ii amt
mine: but guess maybe it'd be all right
to rent it to ye."
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-25

Around the edge of the rink the other
Wednesday were continuous lines Of men
and women going alone for the first
time Anybody who has seen fly
crawling warily around the interior of a
bowl will get the picture. Such as these
have graduated from the instructors
hands. but still are afraid to essay the
open rink. Shrieks as two such novices
collided formed a regular accompaniment
to the very good music.
- A woman from one of the smaller le-
cations who has always to give prece-
dence to a feminine member Of a more
important country was there. and she was
skating beautifully. Every time she roll
ed triumphantly by the other-who was
being helped around the rink and while
not any more awkward than any be-
ginner. was painfully conscious of her
rawness-she could not resist a half back
ward glance of satisfaction. At last she
was taking precedence rather than con-
ceding 1t.
swell is the one who can best make
them. Amidst the excitement Of trying
not to keep time with the music and stay
on ones feet a particularly dignified
clergyman appeared on the floor. A
younger man accompanied him, but the
divine disdained assistance. And he really
was getting along splendidly when sud-
denly his right foot evinced that desire
to point to IL o'clock while the other in
dtcated which is the aim of the ballet
dancers and the despair of skaters.
The clergyman grasped frantically at
midair, missed it, twirled several times
In quick succession, gasped, took on a
sickly green pailor and went to the floor
He did not take the count. though, but
was up again and brushing his clothes
and joking with the instructor about
"even a churchman having a fall once
In while" before people had ceased
laughing.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-25

Men always are the hardest to teach.''
the Instructor confided. because they all
have theories. Most Of them, though,
have learned as boys. That minister is
going to get on because he isn't afraid to
fall down. The women are 1t is the one
dread which makes their skating a min
gled pain and pleasure. Somehow the
feshy ones evince more courage than
their thin sisters-the latter know the
floor and they would never assimilate.'
Starting from the tiny room where
skates are put on. a beginner travels by
tortuous, hating steps to the eagerly
sought bench alongside the rink. Here
most of the students of the gentle art of
skating insist on waiting a few mo-
ments." And the teachers wait with the
same tolerant expression seen on an in
sane asylum attendants face when TAX
ing a patient for an airing. Persistent
coaxings and good-patured gibes from
friends who have had the same expert
ence eventually prevail. Out on the floor
go the trembling, terrified victim and the
callous instructor. All down the side of
the rink he can be heard, consoling and
encouraging with, You are not going to
fall: keep your mind on the music''
Then my feet keep time to it and I
go too fast!'' is the plant.
but look how those ladies over there
skate. and they had to learn" says the
willy instructor.
For maybe fi1a minutes the beginner
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-25

For they do laugh! That is one of the
necessary features of the morning. Every
body laughs at everybody else and is
good natured and conscious Of stupidity.
and yet. underneath. each wants to be
praised for having done better than any
one else. 1t is merely human nature in-
tensified. AS the roll of a ship makes
people thaw out, so does the roll of the
skate. Nobody can possibly maintain any
hauteur while careening around a rink
At an angle of forty five degrees, praying
inwardly to be allowed to make the turns
safely and wishing one minute the in
structor would not hold so tightly, then
begging him not to let go.
1t is funny to see women whose social
word Is law acting as docile as little
lambs In their eagerness to do just as
they are told. The element that learned
years ago, when skates had to be pushed
instead of held back. finds it doubly hard
to learn. But nobody seemed very eager
the other Wednesday morning to admit
such earlier experience. And for once
women had the advantage in sport, for
the teachers really gave the men very
little assistance. An average man, any
way, would rather break leg than be
dure the smiles of amused females.
So the instructor would start them off.
holding them in half-hearted way until
they finally made a burst of speed for the
railing and chung there moved along
by holding it with one hand. a certain
young army officer made the efforts of
such amateurs especially noticeable,
since he skates as though the skates and
he were one, and, incidentally, he is per-
fectly well aware that he does. But why
shouldn't he be?
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-25

TT WASHINGTON society, as rep
resented by the diplomatic,
M senatorial and transient sets
w has brand-new fad. 1t is
The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1910-10-20
HIS HANDS CRACKED OPEN

Il am man seventy years old. MY
hands were very sore and cracked
open on the insides for over year
with large sores. They would crack
open and bleed, itch, burn and ache
SO that could not sleep and could do
but little work. They were so bad
that | could not dress myself in the
morning. They would bleed and the
blood dropped on the floor, called
on two doctors, but they did me no
good. could get nothing to do any
good till I got the Cuticura Soap and
Cuticura Ointment. About a year
ago my daughter got cake of Cuti-
cura Soap and one box Of Cuticura
Ointment and in one week from the
time I began to use them my hands
were all healed up and they have not
been a mite sore since. would not
be without the Cuticura Remedies.
"They also cured a bad sore on the
hand of one of my neighbours children,
and they think very highly Of the Cuti-
cura Remedies. John W. Hasty, So. Eff
fingham, N. H., Mar. 5, and Apr. II, 'O9."
The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1910-10-20
chiIdIike Ignorance.

Laura Jean Libbey, discussing in
Brooklyn her successful appearance
ON the stage, said:
II talk in my monologue about love,
marriage and the other interests of
the heart On these subjects women,
especially young women, are strangely
ignorant
"They really make me think, you
know. of the little girl who was asked
by her teacher:
"'What can you tell us about Solo
n.>S2,
rs ,olomon,' replied the little girl,
was very fond of animals
"'And how, my dear, said the teach
or, do you. make that out?'
Because. answered the little girl,
the Bible says he had 500 porcu.
Ipines.'"
The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1910-10-20
Popularity Of That's.

Every other young actress Is call
ing herself That's" said Henry q, Dix
ey at dinner at Mauquin's. "Thais
McGinnis, That's Endicott, That's
Schmidt-the thing Is universal.
Universal and ridiculous; for they
who have read Anatole Frances story
of That's know that she was a very
naughty little girl. indeed l am quite
sure that no real reader of That's
would ever, under any circumstances,
consent to be called such name.
1T makes me think Of a man who,
taking his infant daughter to be bap-
tized, told the clergyman to call her
Venus.
"But | refuse to call her Venus,
said the clergyman, Indignantly. We.
nus is the name of pagan goddess.
well, how about your own girl,
Diana?' said the man."