davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1911-11-23

heir begins to discuss the prospects OF the
Thanksgiving day football contest The fore
thought of the president in the matter arises
from the responsibility which rests upon him for
the issuance of the official Thanksgiving day proc
lamation, which fixes the date and formally calls
upon all the people of the country to assemble
In the churches and give thanks for the blessings
OF the year.
AS 1t is. there is no surety and little likelihood
that busy president will. on his own initiative.
assume the role Of herald of the Thanksgiving.
Accordingly one Of the clerks at the White
House, whose duty It is to keep tab of the presi-
dents engagement and act as a human memo
randum pad. reminds his chief along about the
first week in November that It Is time to issue
the customary Thanksgiving proclamation. or
perhaps the proclamation. beautifully engrossed.
comes over to the White House from the state
department all ready for the presidents sigma
ture And this lets a secret out Of the bag
namely, that not all of our presidents have writ
ten their own Thanksgiving proclamations.
Roosevelt who rather prides himself on his lit
erary abilities, insisted on doing so, but most Of
the occupants of the White Hause have been only
too glad to fall back on precedent and allow this
call to be properly phrased by man named
Smith, who holds confidential position in the
state department and has been for. To- these many
years. acting as the chief executives proxy In
writing holiday proclamations and composing
those ceremonial letters of congratuation or con.
dolence which our ruler Is called upon to send
T every now and then to soveregns overseas.
With the proc .amation out OF the way the presi-
dent does not need to bother any further about
the preliminaries tor Thanksgiving not even as
to the turkey for the FEAST since kind-hearted
admirers Of the chief magistrate can always be
depended upon to send him especially choice
EobbScrs as gifts. Why. one prosperous farmer
1 In Rhode Island has not missed Thanksgiving
for considerably more than third Of q century In
the donation Of White House Thanksgiving bird
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1911-11-23
4S9E111YT 49, 1L1eNG MS A<ZTehU0W

something of blessing to the present occupant
of the White House. who Is by preference a lale
riser The White House offices are open oA
Thanksgiving. as they are on every otnel Iuas
day and night in the year. and the president may
stroll over to dispose of the most urgent mall
and kilograms but there is nothing obligatory
about this, and there have been ThanksglVlngs
ON which the chief magistrate has not set loot IN
his workshop
The one pre-eminent and invariable duty OF
Thanksgiving morning for the president is at
tendance at divine worship Having advised
other people to repair to the churches on TINS &C.
casion to give thanks 1t would be accounted ood
If he did not do likewise. matter what the
weather conditions. Very often the president mas
walked to church on Thanksgiving. and ne Is az
most certain to find his route lined with spec
tators who avail themselves OF certainty that
does not characterize presidents church-going
at other times. Almost all our presidents from
Washington to Lincoln, attended Thanksgiving
services In quaint little ST. Johns church-nlck-
named the Church of the Presidents which
stands just across the park from. the Wnite
House, but later presidents have worshipped IN
different edifces. President Taft goes to a Uni-
tartan church about one-third of mile from
the presidential mansion. but Mrs. Taft and Miss
Helen go to ST Johns. to occupy the pew that
for nearly century has been reserved for our
presidents families.
OF late years the president has on some
Thanksgiyings attended two church services IN
succession and this brings him home late for
luncheon Just here should be mentioned Sone Of
the few changes that have ever taken place IN
the White House program for Thanksgiving day.
Years ago 1t was the. invariable custom to serve
the Thanksgiving dinner at noon. but iatteriy
most presidents have preferred to have dinner
served at Z or 7S0 o'clock In the evening.
An American president Is allowed some latitude
as to the manner In which he spends the after
noon Of Thanksgiving day. He may spend It
visiting with his family Or reading but almost
invariably the later afternoon. IS devoted to a
constitutional a long walk Is an excellent appe-
tizer for the turkey and cranberry sauce. al
though some Of our later presidents. including
both Taft and Roosevelt have ridden horseback
In the twilight Of the autumn holiday.
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1911-11-23
RE MI ~ . -
III
for COUGHS q CQLps &
MAKES RATHER A BAD START
No Doubt Boy Meant Well. but His
Initial Efforts at Keeping ! Diary
Are impressive.

This is my first dry so don't mind
the spellin. wussnt goin to right it
till little while longer, only, this
morning was rainy and my ma sed.
William, why don't you begin your
dry, this will be q. good day to be-
gin, and 1t will keep you out Of mis-
chif?" sed alright, 80 | went up
stairs and got my big brother Johns
stamp album and began pulling out
the stamps SOS / could right. John
says his stamps are worth lot Of
money but / don't believe 1t cause
when he wanted to buy football the
other day why didn't he sell EN- and
get the money. Anyhow don't want
him to catch me as have started
righting in It. The first thing in a dry
is the date 30 | will now right it.
October &c, 1911 When began
this dry / forgot to tell you that /
borrowed my sisters pink hair-ribbon'
to hold the leaves together more,
and when big brother John came
home heard him yell awful when he
couldn't find his album so ran up
stairs to the attic behind big trunk
where he cant find me. ! just now
heard my sister come in and I'm SO
scared / darst not go down stairs now
and I'm afraid to right anymore so I'll
have to creep in the trunk and stay
till he goes. I'll continu my dry to-.
morrer.---Newark IN. J.) Star.
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1911-11-23
Wen Disposed.

A well-known expert in cooking en-
countered trouble in suburban com.
munity the other afternoon when she
prepared to lecture to the Mothers
club. Her subject was How to Cook. !"
She began by telling how murh a man
appreciates good cooking, and then
she proposed to give various recipes.
Among the first was one for cold
sIaw. ITO have this best" began the
lecturer, take a good-hearted cab
bage and"
At this point young matron inter.
rupted. She was eager to get all the
information possible. Tell me,
please" she spoke up. how is, one to
know the disposition pf cabbage ?"
Philadelphia Times.
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1911-11-23
Good Reaso Is
For Thankfulness

There is no one SO old nor SO young that he can
not scare up cause for thankfulness. If merely for
the pharisaica reason of not being as some one
else.
When you do not see the necessity of being CRATE
full for what you are and have, go probing for what
you have escaped From this point Of view the
national holiday will not seem hollow mockery Of
your hard luck
sued to give thanks may take another think" and
say fervently: 1T is to be grateful that for me:
The stealing of my morning paper will not ruin
my temper and belated breakfast will not put
me in crouch for the day.
There is no waiting my time for barber to
make daily sight with lather while he con-
verses at length.
There Is open enjoyment in bit Of gossip with
out feeling bound to pretend my never INDUCED
In such pernicious habit
"A mirror need not mean surreptitious glances
lest be thought vain and If happen to be loud
in my tastes l need not subdue them to somber
hues else go clad in ties. socks and vests that
are the joke of the club
There is no need for inventiyeness to explain
nights out and can take my pleasure less wearing
~ than In whooping it up
1.-THE first of the month means merely my own
bills. or some one to pay them. noS settling ac-
counts for a whole family.
A cotilon is an accustomed sensation Of waiting
to be asked, not nerve racking fear Of being q
masculine wall flower.
There mEy be dozen strings to my bow with
out achieving the reputation OF being gay de-
ceiver and running risks Of getting my hand called
pay marked attention to two fair ones at once"
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1911-11-23
A BRAIN WORKER.
Must Have the Kind Of Food That
Nourishes Brain.

II am literary man whose nervous
energy is great part Of my stock In
trade, and ordinarily have little pa
thence with breakfast foods and the
extravagant claims made OF them. But
1 / cannot withhold my acknowledge
3ment Of the debt that owe to Crate
Nuts food.
Il discovered long ago that the very
bulkiness of the ordinary diet was not
calculated to give one clear head,
the power Of sustained, accurate think
ing. / always felt heavy and sluggish
In mind as well as body after eating
the ordinary meal, which diverted the
blood from the brain to the digestive
apparatus.
Il tried foods easy Of digestion, but
found them usually deficient In nutri-
ment. experimental with many break
fast foods and they, too, proved I'M
satisfactory, till reached Grape-Nuts.
And then the problem was solved.
3rape-Nuts agreed with me per
fectiY from the beginning, satisfying
my hunger and supplying the nutri-
ment that so many other prepared
foods lack.
Il had not been using It very long
before I found that was turning out
an unusual quantity and quality OF
work. Continued use has demonstrat.
ed to my entire satisfaction that
Grape-Nuts food contains the elements
needed BY the brain and nervous sys.
4.
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1911-11-23
Revised Version.

Representative Henry of Texas, in
an eloquent and witty attack on in
ternational marriages. said the other
day in Waco:
"The Honorable Maude Eaciands.
the little daughter of the earl of Lac
lands and Chicago pork queen.
once asked her mother:
Mamma. how long does honey
moon last?'
Lady Laclands with a bitter smile
made answer:
1.-THE honeymoon may be said to
last, my dear, until your husband be-
gins to cester you for money"
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1911-11-23

deferentiaIly. with his order-slip and
pencil IN hand.
The delay was noticeable and irri'
tating to the unskiIled diner. and final
~ he pointed blindly TO the middle Of
q page with bis finger.
Give me some4ef that" he said.
The waiter looked over his shoulder
and remarked:
That's mayonnaise dressing, sir. :
+ know II can read z
But apologe ticall5 what win
you have II on. sir =
-0n : plate, You bcnehead! DO
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1911-11-23

(Ta7y/E UC1IIE-
II is pretty safe for the president of the United
States to count on house full of people on
Thanksgiving. The holiday is recognized as the
occasion for family reunions and when. as In the
case of Roosevelt and Taft. there are number
OF children, the young people have all come home
for the occasion-like as not accompanied by
school friends. who account 1t real treat to be
entertained at the White House over holiday. In
the case of presidents who. like Mckinley have
had no living children, there have usually been
nieces and nephews and other relatives to make
up merry circle, and one mistress of the White
House-the beloved Mrs Hayes-made it custom
to entertain at dinner on such occasions all the
employees of the presidential Offices and their fami.
lies. However, In justice to latter day First La
dies Of the Land it should be explained that such
hospitality would be no slight chore when there
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1911-11-23

are 0OleHS OIL employees.
to gay nothing of the
couple OF dozen police
men who are detailed
to guardN the White
House.
In some administra-
lions it has been the
custom to spend the.
evening of. Thanksgiv-
Ing day very quietly
at the White House.
but latterly with the
principal meal of the
day postponed until
nightfall.it It has been
the rule for the din
ner party to adjourn to
the spacious and his
toric East room for so
cial festivities of one
kind or another. There
is always music on
such occasions, the
SIS, 900 gold piano"
being ready to hand in
one corner of the big
room, and when young
people have been in
evidence. as at every
Thanksgiving celebra-
ton in the White
House during the past
decade. there has u.s.
ually been some dane
ing-the old=fashioned
dances such as the
Virginia reel, being the
favorites on such ac-
casions. President Taft.
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1911-11-23
The Lady ana the Mouse.

Henrietta. said Mr.. Meekton, 4
know that you have the courage to
face most kinds Of peril and fortitude
for all ordinary emergencies but
there are exceptions, and you ought
to hold one fact In grateful remem
trance.
And what Is that r
1T was one Of US mere men who
invented the mouse-trap.
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1911-11-23
A GRIM REMINDER.

Doctor" said the desperate heavyweight. give
me something to make me weigh less"
That sort OF thing merely makes you dangerously
Ill"
Il don't care II 1t does :.
Very well. Brt j can't see why you should go
to all that trouble merely to make labor a nttle
lighter for your palibearers." u
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1911-11-23
Adam Bede on Pittsburo,

Pittsburg patriots twisted their
faces awry at a Smoketown pun de-
livered by former Congressman Bede
of Minnesota.
Bede put 1t over in the climax OF
- sparkling speech at a chamber Of
commerce banquet.
After telling how dearly he loved
old Pittsburg and her fine old peo-.
pie, her rich people and her toilers. he
said:
Il like Pittsburg because IL ever
get tired of the town can wash It
on
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1911-11-23

out of bed at any particular
hour. because the president
has no office hours on
Thanksgiving. To some of
our presidents. such as
Roosevelt, who were never
tempted to oversleep. this is
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1911-11-23

1t is only those who live on low
ground who complain that. the world
is overcrowded.
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1911-11-23

Wisdom, IKE flowers. require cul.
ture.-BalIon
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1911-11-23

it may be added, however, does not neeu tne CHAT
table consideration of square dances. He Is
adent at waltzes and other round Dances. and
trips the light fantastic" with the enthusiasm Of
a man of half his weight
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1911-11-23

you feed your customers ia trousns
shere?''
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1911-11-23


dents have save under the most unusual
Of prayer and thankfulness IN pretty much
the same way. Indeed. It Is something OF
q marvel that men of widely differing tenn
peraments living at Sdinerent periods of our
history have found 1t possible to conform SO
closely to what has now almost become q
yet of unwritten rules at the White House.
None of the veteran employees OF the pres
identtai mansion has even teen able TO ad.
vance a wholly satisfactory theory as to-
why our chief magistrates have followed so
closely In one another's footsteps In the OBJ.
servance of Thanksgiving when they have
allowed themselves considerable latitude
Fourth of July. One superstition Is 10 the
effect that the religious significance Of
Thanksgiving prescribes certain form OF
observance Another theory is that 1t fs
the fact that Thanksgiving is SO pre-emt
nently a family holiday day for family
reunions. And finally. and perhaps it Is the
most plausa BILE. Is the premise that prece-
dent once firmly established at the White
House is pretty likely to be rigidiy adj
heared to.
Whereas the program Of a president OF
the United States on the last Thursday. in
November does not differ much. from that
of many an ordinary citizen the Thanks
giving event requires attention from him
earlier than from the average individual,
who, perhaps. does not give 1t a thought
until the good wife reminds him that be
had better engage turkey. or the son and
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1911-11-23

Ever Fead the aboVe ae1terf a sew
one appears xrom 1ln1e to tine. they
are genuine, trues md fgI1 or h1naan
Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1911-11-23


HE two dozen and more
men who have IN the course
Of q century and q decade
served as presidents Of the
United States have mani
Tested quite q variety Of
tastes and preferences IN
their observance of our
great national hoiidays-or.
rather. all : the holidays
save one. The one excep-
ton In the category of hol-
idays has been Thanksgiv-
to- n,-1 49, ~ $50 ,.~-,sf
The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1911-06-15
Little German Cakes.

Beat one dozen fresh eggs and three
pounds of pulverizsd sugar for s. min.
utes. then add as much soda - will
lay on the end Of knife and beat i've
minutes longer. Be sure and don't
stop beating. Add -four enough to
knead. Set 1t aside in a cool place.
Just 80 1t doesn't freeze. until eve
ming Then roll q little thicker than
pie crust. The Germans have little
fancy molds for these. but any small
cookie cutter or baking powder can
lid can be used to cut them with.
| After they are all cut spread out on a
table and cover with thick cloth and
let lay over night. In the morning
sprinkle baking pans with ca1way
seeds and place cakes in pans on
seeds and bake In slow oven for three
quarters OF an hour. These are favor
lite little cakes among the Germans
| and are excellent.
The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1911-06-15
Bookseller Fe!Ied With Book.

Tom Osborne, the bookseller. was
one of that mercantile rugged race to
which the delicacy Of the poet is some
times exposed"
Osborne, irritated by what he
thought an unnecessary delay on the
part OF Johnson. went one day into
the room where Johnson was sitting
and abused him In the most illiberal
manner.
Johnson heard him some time un-
moved; but at last losing all patience.
he seized huge folio and, aiming
blow at the booksellers head. sue
ceeded in sending him sprawling to
the floor. Osborne alarmed the family
by his cries; but Johnson, placing his
foot on his breast, would not let him
stir till he had exposed him in that
situation; and then left him with this
triumphant expression: Lie there,
thou son Of dullness, ignorance and
obscurity. "-Kearsley's Anecdotes"
The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1911-06-15
UNNECESSARY TO LEAVE FARM
Old People Not Compelled to Move to
City II Boy Wishes to Stay
and Run Thlngs.

Much has been said about keeping
the boy on the farm. But what will
become of the old folks II the boy
does stay on the farm? 1t Is not
necessary for them to give up the
farm entirely and move to town, as
many of them are doing.
Director A. M. Ten Eyck, of the Fl
Hays experiment station, In lecture
to his class In farm management at
the Kansas State Agricultural college
recently. said: Il don't believe that
one-half of tho retired farmers that
move to town are satisfied. Some Of
them know that they won't be salts
fed before they move, but they feel
that they must get out OF the way and
give the boy a chance. think they
are mistaken. The farmer can build
another home for himself or for the
boy on some other part Of the farm.
Then, while the boy Is running the
farm. his parents can take 1t easy
1T is no longer necessary to move
to town to get the modern convent
ences of living.
at is to the interest of the farming
community as whole to keep the
older men on the farm. The man
who moves to town loses sight Of the
interests of the community he lived
In and the community loses by it,
The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1911-06-15
LOYAL FRIEND Of FARMERS
Lowry Toad 10 Helpful in Fieida and
Gardens as He Eats All Kinds
Of Insects.

Don't kill the next Rufo lentigino5us
americanus you meet. In short, don't
kill the toad He Is harmless, in gen.
eral, and in the fields and gardens he
is helpful, as he eats all kinds of nox-
ious insects.
Scientists have often wondered. just
as you have done. what the toad eats.
Here Is the result Of an investigation
showing what 100 toads-slaughtered
in the interests of science-had eaten:
angle worms, thousand legged worms,
cutworms, army worms, tent cater
pillars, miscellaneous caterpillars
snails, sow bugs. spiders, grasshop-
pers, crickets, ants, beetles, flies.
The quantity Is as startling as the
variety. The amount taken every
twenty-four hours is about four times
the stomach capacity. The toads ex
The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1911-06-15
A Good Christian.

One Of those young women who take
the world and themselves so seriously
that they lapse, at times. into coma
tose mental state was in department
store making a small purchase and, as
the saleswoman was writing out
slip, proffered a dollar bill
What denomination" inquired the
sales woman, without glancing up.
"Episcopalian." admitted the young
woman on the other side OF the coun-
ter. suddenly brought back to the de-
partment store from her mental wan
dering in other lands.
The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1911-06-15
Changing Variety Of Seed Wheat.

Many farmers make the mistake of
sowing year after year a variety Of
wheat which yields several bushels
less per acre under their conditions
than some other variety would do un-
der the same conditions, says the
Maryland experiment station. Often
the only reason why a particular vari-
ETY. has become popular in certain To-
calities is because when first intro
duced 1t gave an extra high yield. due
more to exceptionally good treatment
In a favorable season than high-yield-
ing qualities of the variety. When a
new variety Is introduced in a COM
munity or on a farm 1t should always
be grown In the same field and beside
well-known or standard variety 1t
Ia dificult to determine the POSSIBLE
ity of any variety when comparing q
field on one end of the farm with an.
other on the other end. or what is still
worse. comparing one mans field with
that of his neighbor.
The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1911-06-15

amined averaged 100 bugs day, not
bad days work for the mistreated
father of the pollywog. Nearly every
bug the toad eats is injurious to plant
life.
The toad spends it's winters in the
ground. 1t chooses a mellow spot and
digs into the moist earth until 1t
reaches a point not affected by the
freezing and thawing of winter. Here
1t sleeps for four or five months, eat
ing nothing and breathing little.
The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1911-06-15

conical plate. in which the receptacle
holding the material to be heated
rests. The arm Is slidably mounted
on the chandelier, held in place by a
thumb screw, and can be adjusted to
different heights from the hame. 1t
also swings from side to side. SO that
1t can be quickly pushed away from
the flame without turning out the light
to withdraw the heat. A stop bar holds
1t parallel with the arm OF the burner.
The conical shape Of tho pan that
holds the receptacle allows the hame
to spread under 1t and distributes the
heat.
The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1911-06-15
Fried Salt Pork.

Cut in rather thin slices and fresh
on by letting lie an hour or two IN
cold water or milk and water. II IN
a hurry pour boiling water on the
slices, let stand q few moments. dry.
roll In -four and fry until crisp: drain
of most Of the grease from the fry
ing pan. stir in while hot one or two
tablespoonfuls Of -four, about han =
pint OF new milk a little pepper. saie
II not salt enough already from tho
meat; let boil and pour into gravy
dish This makes a nice white yravV
II properly prepared.
The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1911-06-15
All the Attractions.

This seems to be quite progress
i've town." said the stranger.
"Oh, yes" the native proudly r.
piled. the big cities amt got nothing
on US. We've just finished Z hotel
that has a mezzanine floor"