davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-17

one golden half sovereign to each pud-
ding. 1t is matter of pure hazard who
gets it. In families where schoolboys
come home for Chr stmas there is regu-
larly one half sovereign, two shillings, a
sixpence and suspicion that the half
sovereign goes to the most meritorious.
7 heard of one master of the house who
got it back himself. "Ie knew where
to cut said the boys.
In Paris, you are the cake.
Half the population knows where to cut
Amid the gay fracas of: The king
drinks!" creditors are busy finding gold.
Amid the good fellowship around the
bean. humble population puts in claims
that brighten visitors from other lands.
Friends and the family get the rest
France, the land of faithful habit, imi-
tates Gaspar, Melchior and Balthasar to
the extreme limit. By January 6-the
day Of the kings-the average citizen is
broke.
Melchior de Vogue, the Academician,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-17

mulus and Remus played it. boy pig-herd-
ers on the spot where, later. they were to
fight over real kingdom. The children
with -Aeneas' emigration party had
brought it from Greece, which had re-
ceived the game from venerable Egypt
When the king took a drink of water, all
the children must cry 1.-The king drnks!
If the king should scratch his head, they
must cry, The king Scratches" If the
king should climb tree, all following,
shouting. laughing. they must cry, 1.-THE
king climbs!' And so on.
The election by drawing lots with one
from real elections in old Greece, where
beans We're also used for voting in the
public assemblies. Whence the saying,
lucky beam
king of the BEAM" the visit of the three
kings mingling with Christmas AS the
feature became more and more popular
the day of the kings was shifted to
Twelfth night. celebrated with magnii-
cence in the middle ages, with mystery
plays and solemn ceremonies, connected
with gifts, presentations, reconciliation
Of enemies and compromises Of money
disputes. The election of the king of the
bean and the game of the king drinks
were celebrated alike by the royalties of
Europe and the humblest families The
court of France continued the feast of the
kings up to the last year of the reign
of the unfortunate Louis XVI Marie An
toinette, it VIII be remembered found an
ominous black bean in her slice of great
cake, by a mischance that has never been
explained
X
X *
In England Twelfth night festivities
have almost died out. January being
scarcely more than the date for taking
down Christmas holly and mistletoe The
celebration of the kings with money and
lu ky beans is shifted back to their nat
ural place in Christmas-in the plum
pudding,
Yes. in England You find money in your
Christmas pudding. 1t may be a silver
sixpence or threepenny bit; but it is
always called the beam
In good hotels and restaurants there is
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-17

fined all sorts of amounts from 81 to
5000 The total of the fines alone up
to the list of November was little over
100000 and this is a bagatelle in COM
Uarison with the amounts which have
been coliect ed through underValuatiOnS
and on merchandise, to which l refer
farther on.
These fines are almost altogether from
people VINO have tried to sneak thincs
through in their baggage from the steam
crs. The offenders of all classes from
New York nilliners and dressmakers to
some Of the richest and most prominent
of the land. One is the wife of Il for
mer governor of New England. and an
ether that of a prominent politician OF
West Virginia. Each of these ladies
tried to smuggle in jewelry and each
was fined 5000.
With others are the wives of trust
magnates whose millions have come from
the tariff protection of the things their
husbands manufacture. One such case was
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-17
~ OBSERVED THEM GO THROUGH THE TRUNKS.
ConErgat by Underwood & Underwood New Yo

as to a pearl necklace and other jewels
brought in by the wife of millionaire
making agricultural machinery. This
was the Adriance affair of which some
thing has appeared in the newspapers.
The madame was fined $1,000 and the
goods she attempted to smuggle We're
forfeited. Upon this her husband de-
nounced the government for prosecuting
travellers who sought to bring in "a few
petty things free" AS 1 remember it.
among the petty things" in this case
were some pearls valued at Sll5.OOO.
which the lady had hidden in the folds
of her straw hat. The millionaires re-
mark was reported to Mr. Loeb, where
upon Loeb said that Mr.. Adriance had
made a big fortune out of the duties
which the United States imposed upon
such machinery as he manufactured. but
that when it came to his paying any
duty himself he objected.
4 somewhat similar case Of a trust for
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-17

Item-On New Year day the telephone
IS due.
Item-The gas is due.
Item-The electric light Is due.
Item-The rent is due.
Telephone and rent are quarterly,
while the others. though monthly, run
into the quarter)
AT New Year your tailor. who has sent
YOU only quarterly statements, expects
n heavy account, because he needs ali he
can scrape together to meet these same
colossal expenses. SO with all the others.
Add subscriptions to magazines the
booksellers account. pew rent, your
newsnaper bill and YOU will begin to see
why the French call it the day or the
year.
Oh, Gaspar. Melchior and Balthasar.
i owe these debts. l ought to pay
them? Yes but what about the little
world? l must give Louise. our servant.
one months extra salary-$l2-in cash. L
must give $40 to the janitor-a small gift
for a cheap apartment.
1t begins with the postmen, armed with
calendars; two letter men, one newspaper
man and one prospectus man Each wish
es YOU good and happy one, probably
referring to lucky bean, and each Of
fers you a calendar-1O francs to each
Dring, dring. It's the piano tuner.
"How much does he take, Louise?' Ten
francs, monsieur.
Dring, dring! Its the telegraph boy,
monsieur"
We'll. hand me the dispatch"
There is no dispatch. He has come
for his beans
You find that he represents the tele-
graph boys of your subpost office dis
trict and prudence warns you that II Is
we'll not to give them a grievance. How
much LouiSe?' lone dollar. monsieur.
bring. dring. The sewer man.
bring, dring, dring. The defile is now
in full march up and down the stairs;
the girl who brings up your bread every
morning the boy who brings the milk
fresh breakfast butter, and the man who
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-17
sTHE VISIT Of TIE THREE NNGs BIZ CRANAcH
Most OFTHE OLD TIASTERS SURIsovNpED TnEr BY ThelR
CoURTlERs AND GuARps SUPPOSED To HAVE Travelled
WITH TiErI

Tugs up the coal. 1t is only proper TO give
them 10 francs each Most fairly we'll
TODD people give them 10 francs or
more.
the sweepers!"
They are the street sweepers. and they
get a dollar each.
Last New Year day there came also Ia
my apartment-taD a boy representing
the plumber ''of the house: Do "A man
representing the firm OF electric light tit
tiers that had made the installation SIX
months previously; 1cl the man who
wakes the floors; (dD the little girl who
brings the newspapers from the stand
every morning; teD an old woman who col
lected for the scavengers of our street.
ut is the only time in the year the
scavengers mount" the slops invariably
being taken down to them). And n. x
h. three different pairs OF sisters. So
liciting gifts to charitable Institutions.
have exaggerated nothing, Gaspar
And the worst is yet to come.
Do you know why | have stopped dining
out in Paris? l could not afford To
cept their invitations.
An unmarried man in Paris, who is in
yited once or twice a week TO dinner.
ought nowadays-if he wishes to do th"
proper thing-to conSecrate 500 to his
New Year gifts. Ten years ago the usage
limited itself to a bag of chocolates ON
the day of the kings. Signed by one or
several fashionable confectioners. IL cost
s.. 40. 1t was the accomplishment OF "A
simple act OF politeness a lucky bean.
The times have changed. Today, the
man who does not send his chocolates i'm
a corbeille costing three louis or i'm a
fancy continuance of rare silk, gold braid
and lace, is looked on by pampered danes
as nothing better than n 'pignouf.'
''If this ruinouS excess cannot be check
~ antlrc sAAIf fll tor m tn
days Echo de Paris, 1.-The gallant man
will soon feel himself obliged to send his
marrons giaces or chocolates in Louis
XIV silverware costing it's weight I'm gold
Gaspar Melchior and Balthasar, this is
now Paris understands you,
STERLING HELLO.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-17

man at the head OF it, and that that
honest man have the nerve and ability to
collect what is really due to our own
Uncle Sam I believe this to be the case
with Collector Loeb. He is running the
customs as business institution and his
only requirements of his employees are
efficiency and honesty.
* X
During my talk with the collector today
l asked him as to his work. He replied:
"All I have attempted to do is to take
this place out of politics and administer
it on the plane of honesty, good govern
ment, and in accordance with the laws.
! did not make the laws. 1 am here only
to enforce them.
How about politics and political APP
pointments?"
Politics does not enter into this office.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-17

were in round numbers SASS, 600. In 1907
the passengers We're only few thousand
more, but the duties collected were more
than doubled, and in 1910. with a passen-
ger list OF about 100000, the duties were
more than s1,116000. This year they
will probably run over two millions.
When you consider that we have more
passengers, and that they ara buying less.
you will see in these increased receipts
the evidence that Uncle Sam is, to some
extent, getting his dues
FRANK @. CARPENTER.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-17

He scene is any
Paris restaurant III
holiday time.
AS dessert ar
rives at any table
the waiter brings
a broad fiat cake.
proportioned to the
number seated. He
cuts il in equal
slices, five if you
are five. or four
If you are four,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-17

and also the detection Of many frauds
that have been going on for years. oie
was that of the sugar trust. where, IN
round numbers. about S2.91.0J0 worth OF
duties were collected, and for which one
of the Investigators received a fee or
s1OO,OD from the government for his eX-
position of the frauds and the detecloh
of the criminals.
The story OF that fee was published
and since then. Mr.. Loeb tells me. many
people have sent in information as TO
other frauds, hoping to be paid for AID
ing the government in that way. The
total fines and penalties for fifteen years
preceding Loeb's appointment averaged
only S51 900 per year.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-17

HAD a big jolt a
few weeks ago. 1t
was upon landing
here in New York
after d short trip
TO Europe. l had
been travelling on
the continent, and.
k n O w Il z the
StrictneSs of the
customs house Of
icers, had care
fully figured my
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-17

came in he appointed new set of watch
men and reorganiZed the old force. He
how has the docks under inspection day
and night, and any one attempting to
take away Il trunk uninspected is arrest
ed The business has been probed to the
bottom and one of the chief sources OF
smuggling stopped.
Another means of passing the customs
was by sponging off and changing the Ia
bells and others got goods through by
bribing the officials. Not many years
ago l am told that one could lay a ten,
a twenty even a fifty dollar bill on the
tray of his trunk and the inspector who
examined it thought nothing of putting
the bill lin his pocket and closing the lid.
Even now checks are sometimes sent to
the inspectors by passengers who nave
been well treated. bat su"h checks n
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-17

" HEN All Debts Are
" Paid-Christrnas Civ
ing Carried to an Extreme
LSmit-The King of the
Bean-How Custom Origi-
notwithstanding the Ruler
The English Plum Pudding
and Its Treasures-Holiday
Time in the French Capital.
Special Correspondence OF The Star
1utJ
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-17

purchases so that they did not exceed
the one-hundred-d limit which every
traveller is supposed to have free With
head erect and the conscience of an
honest citizen, / walked down the gang
plank TO the dock, expecting TO be rush
ed through without trouble l was rush
cd through all right, but not without
trouble. My trunks were gone carefully
over. and upon the very purchases l had
declared had to pay over So in duties.
Among these was about thirty dollars
worth OF God Bless Our Home" Ger
man linens l mean the tablecIoths
and napkins with German notices en-
broidered upon them
They were for my own use. and / con-
strued them TO be on the free list The
Inspector however, told Inc that all linen
now pays Go per cent. and that on that
little item the sum of SIS was due IL
was the same upon other stuff of a SINH
lar nature, and at the end Uncle Sam got
$40 from me before L dared leave the
dock.
That was the sum the government co..
lected from one honest passengers bag
gage. 1t came from q recent construction
of the law, which has shut out presents
and certain special classes of goods. And
il had nothing TO do with the smuggling,
which. In the past. has cost Uncle Sam
millions.
Indeed the well-to-do, respectable tour
ist smuggler Is fast passing away. Col
lector Loeb has him and her on the
run, and i righteous fear has soaked into
the souls of the hundreds of thousands
who annually travel in Europe. AS 1
stood on the wharf IL seemed TO me that
the baggage OF the individual passenger
had perceptibly shrunk. Men whom /
have known to bring back fourteen or
fifteen trunks are ROW content with one
little steamer and a hat box, perhaps.
while the average woman had but little
more.
All the way over from Europe to New
York the chief conversation on board
was to the customs officials. and the
horrid way in which they went through
your baggage. / observed them go
through other trunks. The work was
rigidly done, and, rule. without
trouble to those who had made an honest
statement OF just what they had in their
baggage. Some few Jared badly, and
among these were two young ladies, who
had sewed the well worn labels of New
York oressmakers inside their new Paris
dresses. and We're trying to get them in
free
One short woman with a Dubious bosom
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-17

OUR Big Customs Bust
~ ness-It Equals a Mil
lion Dollars a Day-Stories
of Pearl Necklaces and Dia-
monds-How Paris Gowns
Pay Duty - The Sleeper
Trunk Frauds-Big Fines
for Big Men-Some Mighty
Undervaluations The Spy
System and How 1t Works
"A Talk With the Collector.
Copyright 1911. by Frank G. Carpcnter)
Special Correspondence of The Star.
NEW YORK CITY, December Is, 1911.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-17

During my talk with the collector
asked him whether 1t was true that the
New York customs collector had an army
of naid snies scattered over Europe and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-17

! Correspondence OF The Star
PARIS, December ., 1911
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1911-12-28
PAUwAY NOTES.

Mr.. and Mrs. Crews who live near
Haskell gave a pound party in honor
of their friends last Thursday night.
Quite large crowd were out and
number of games played, afte:
which all were called to the dining
room and a delicious supper served
which everyone enjoyed.
Mr.. and Mrs. Jessie Mercer have
returned to their home at Gardner
after a pleasant visit with home folks
at Bursner's farm.
Mr.. and Mrs. McAyers have as
their guest their daughter Mrs. Fuss
sell. Of Winter Haven, and Mrs. God
win and children of Medulla.
Misses Mary and Matte Burgner
are visiting their brother and sister.
Mr.. and Mrs. Jessie Mercer of Gard
ner.
Mr.. and Mrs. McAyers had play
at their home Friday night and a
large crowd from Carriers was out.
Mr.. Royal Ayers spent Christmas
with his parents.
There were two certain boys vino
came from Lakeland in an automO-
bile Christmas night who came very
near getting shot. See!
Miss Ada Burgner and Miss Mary
Burgner were callers at Mrs. Wom-
ble's Sunday evening.
Friends here have learded of the
arrival of Mr.. Gordon Miller. Mr.
Miller and Mr.. Hornor OF Whites.
burg, Tennessee. They seem to be
delighted with Florida and Mr.
I!ornor will work for Mr.. W. S. Dyer
of East Lakeland.
The Misses Burgners were caller.
at Haskell Tuesday evening.
We hope to see the new Clut
House which is being built on the
Highlands. completed in three Of
four weeks.
The new road is now cleared
through near Mr.. Jim McClelland'!
SC people can travel straight through
from Lakeland to Barlow.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1911-12-28

II all the money that is sent out
of Lakeland to the mail order houses
was spent with local merchants. In
five years time there would be twice
as many local merchants and all oil
them would be doing better than
those now here are doing to-day. The
stimulus to home trade thus
given would necessitate new build
lngs, new streets. additions and i'm
provements of every kind. These. In
turn, would require an army of car
penters, mechanics. and laborers, t.
consume the pro luce Of hundreds Of
farms and make Lakeland a great
home market. All these things arc
gospel truths, but it is hard to con-
vince a man who can send to Sears
Rocbuck & Co. and get Is cent
quality article for half dollar thai
il would have been wiser for him 4
pay the home dealer 60 cents in thu
first place and get something nea'
the value of his money.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1911-12-28
KoLLlNGswoRTH NEWS.

Mr.. n. II. Davis is under the care
of a doctor at this writing.
Mrs. G. W. Pearce and daughter
Ruby, were callers at the Flat Woods
Farm Tuesday.
Some one left lap robe at the last
meeting of the Farmers Club. Drop
us a card and we will take It ia
town for you. N. II. Davis. Route
|, Box %.
Mrs. N. A. Browere entertained a
few of her friends at q turkey din.
ner Christmas Day; among them was
Mrs. Johns Of Tampa.
Mr.. +. c. Elder was entertained
at the home of Mr.. and Mrs. Ed
Brown on Christmas Day.
There was candy pulling at the
home of Will Pearce on Monday
night.
Mrs. F. c. Wilcox has recovered
after few days illness.
Mr.. T. F. IiOlbroOk Ia confined Il
his room most of the time lately. We
homo for his speedy recovery.
Mrs. Ollie Burgner Mercer. form.
erly of Pauway. but later Of Gard
ner, is visiting home folks for a few
days.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1911-12-28
FLORIDA CHRISTIAN
ENDEAvoR WORK

Cordial greetings at holiday time
TO The Evening Telegram.
Soon we will hear from almost
every friend met. Il wish you a hap
py New Year" And the same kindly
thought We will likewise express. on
January l. 1912. But words count Of
small lasting value unless they come
with helpful actions, therefore if We
wish our families and acquaintance
to really have a happy time in the
year almost here. let us never forget
that with us lies the possibility of
helping to make happy Or unhappy
our friends by the sunshiney or
cloudy weather lives We individually
f, live each day.
There came 10 the State Secretary
many gifts and card remembrtnces
| at holiday time from Endeavorers OF
Florida, the other State Unions. and
from Canada. For all these favors
is given a hearty thank you"
Letters are being sent from our
Office this week to the seven district
secretaries and six presidents, ona
less of the latter because Miss Maud
Clark, is serving in double capacity
of secretary and president for South
eastern district until there can be a
full election of officers in some called
meeting for the purpose of closer
uniting the forces of Endeavor in the
vicinity of West Palm Beach, Miami
and Stuart.
! The district presidents are be!ne
asked to push the Efficiency Cam
paign in their respective fields of la.
Dor. 1t might be interesting to here
note the list Of presidents all Of
whom but the first mentioned were
newly elected in the fall convention
For northeastern district, Frances
Coffin. Jacksonville: East Central
Rev. c. II. Ferran, De Land; South.
western, DR.. A. NJ. jackson, OF Lake.
land; Central district. Rev. c. v. AL.
bertson. Chandler: Orange and Osce.
ola. Rev. 8. s. Sander. Kiss'mmee
and for North Central district, Mrs
II. w. Bruce. appointed by called
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1911-12-28

We are not in any mood to be
disguised with anything just at this
season, but IL we were inclined to
hunt up something with which to be
disguised. we would soon fall afOul
of certain disagreeable practice
which some persons fall into--an un-
conscious practice, perhaps, nut none
the less rcprehensible. We refer to
the case of man or a woman, or 4
boy or girk who goes off on little
trim of two or three hundred miles,
and perhaps makes a brief stay in
city, and comes back educated just
utterly beyond the things at home
lust can't tolerate the rural institu-
lions of the home town, because they
are not so large and grand as 1--WE
been used to, donehcr know" They
compare the stores, the amusements,
the business enterprises of the place
with those of "A city of two OF three
hundred thousand population, and al
feet contempt of their surroundings
because they do not equal those en-
countered in their travels-though
it's the first time they've ever ben
from horne probably. At the same
time people who have lived in large
cities all their lives come here and
are delighted with the things theS"
Rubes profess to disdain. The
writer went all over the National
Capital with Park Trammell on one
occasion. and near the close of our
rounds that gentleman remarked.
Il haven't seen a better cold drink
parlor up here than those of our up
to-date drug stores at Lakeland.
That's the kind of spirit that makes
person OF some account TO any COM
muniiy. large or small. We've got
the bes; town for its size in the eoun-
try. II has advantages all its own,
which cannot be equalled in any city
of any size. Its institutions are
away head CT the average town OF
twice its population. Only people of
questionable mentality will attempt
to advertise their wide CD travel by
affecting a blase contempt of the city
unfortunate enough to be called
"home', By them.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1911-12-28
further sukesss l would like to see
ithaca n0norc havn q 0Stf0a 3nAn3p3u y

further sukesss l would like to see
these papers have q little inspiring
poetry mebbee. and some special ar
ticle such as We have lots of peple
able to write about the growing Of
oranges and the raising of vegeta-
bles. articles writ by the peple that
has done these things, and a good
nanny facts and figgers such as the
hOmeseeker is anksous to find all
writ out together
Well, l will try not to be mad II
you don't like this idee, but it Is just
this way with me, I | get a idee that
| think somebody had ought to know
cant sleep good till | have got il
told. So no more at present from
your sincere friend and we'll wisher,
UNCLE HENRY.