davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Chanute times., 1911-12-15

many of them being utterly unfit for use. Deal
ers such as these are rare, it is true; the major
ity of them honest.
To the dealers, whom the railroads designate as
the consignees come the little fellows the traders.
These also represent almost every phase Of hui
character. Many up few hundred dol
lars and visit the freight yards with their teams,
buying the trees in less than carload lots In this
way they see just what they are getting.
Most of them are shrewd fellows, and drive
hard bargain. Your upcountryman is ofttimes as
shrewd, however, as the "piker" dealer, and many
amusing hours may be spent frequenting the
freight yards in the railroads where the trees are
stacked or exhibited for sale.
Each year there are many new additions to
the company of dealers. The lure of the adven-
ture the chance to realize money upon an invest
ment that Is practically certain to bring so per
cent. return, attracts many to the business. Trees
can be purchased in half carload lots, or even In
hundred lots for about 60 cents apiece. If they
can be sold for dollar, or perhaps more, the
chance to make money quickly Is irresistible to
many investors.
Not always does the investor succeed. His
fingers are sometimes pretty badly burned The
market may be glutted, he may have rival on the
next corner perhaps his trees are not sufficient
ly attractive to cause the public to patronize him.
Perhaps he has held off, waiting for better prices,
till the last moment, and finds himself with half
a hundred spruce on his hands, which he must
dispose of as best he may.
Usually however the business is lucrative. The
wise dealer buys trees in hundred lots, peddes
them out quickly, and comes back for more. He
does not wait for high prices but sells his trees
for what he get.
The Chanute times., 1911-12-15

versary of the Nativity is in danger
of losing its loving purpose. 1t has
degenerated in many cases to a mer-
cenary exchange-a gift for a gift
The spirit is frequently absent.
This should not be. Women rep
resent the greater number of gift
givers. Let us then revert to the
underlying love and reverence that
prompted the Wise Men to lay their
offerings at the feet of the Holy
Baby. Let us give a little of our
hearts with each present, and if we
cannot give a tangible expression OF
our love, let us give a hearts wish
instead.
In your hands lies great power for
good or for evil A woman influences
thought and action. 1t is your duty.
then, to discountenance the heartless
offer and to smile your approval of
the spirit of the day.
Then, indeed, Christmas will mean
all that he would approve. The
guiding star of love and good will
that shone so clearly in the blue
night long ago should never be lost
in our minds, and the love to which
1t pointed should epitomize our eff
forts to honor this great day.
The Chanute times., 1911-12-15
II Means Health
For the Child

The careful mother. who watches close
ly the physical peculiarities of her chill
dren, will soon discover that the most
important thing in connection with
childs constant good health Is to keep
the bowels regularly open. Sluggish
bowels will be followed by loss of appe-
tte, restlessness during sleep, irrita-
bility and a dozen and one similar evil
dences of physical disorder.
At the first sign of such disorder give
the child teaspoonful of DR.. Caldwell's
Syrup Pepsin at night on retiring and
repeat the dose the following night II
necessary-more than that will scarcely
be needed. You will find that the child
will recover its accustomed good spirits
at once and will eat and sleep normally.
This remedy is a vast improvement
over salts, cathartics, laxative waters
and similar things. which are altogether
too powerful for a child. The homes of
Mrs. E. B. Jackson, Burr Oak, Kas., and
Mrs. ]. II. Walters. Mulberry. Kas.,
are always supplied with DR.. Cald-
wells Syrup Pepsin, and with them.
as with thousands of others, there
is no substitute for this grand laxative.
1t Is really more than a laxative, for 1t
contains superior tonic properties which
help to tone and strengthen the stomach,
liver and bowels so that after brief
use of it all laXatives can be dispensed
with and nature will do it's own work.
Anyone wishing to make trial of this
remedy before buying it in the regular
way of a druggist at fifty cents or one
dollar a large bottle (famlly size) can
have a sample bottle sent to the home
free Of charge by simply addressing DR..
w. B. Caldwell, POI Washington St.,
Monticello, Ill. Your name and address
on a postal card will do.
The Chanute times., 1911-12-15
THE LITTLE WIDOW
A Mighty Good Sort of Neishbor to
Have.

"a little widow, neighbor of mine,
persuaded me to try Grape-Nuts when
my stomach was so weak that 1t
would not retain food of any other
kind" writes a grateful woman, from
San Bernardino Co., Cal.
"I had been i'll and confined to my
bed with fever and nervous prostra-
ton for three long months after the
birth of my second boy. We were In
despair until the little Widows advice
brought relief.
81 liked Grape-Nuts food from the
beginning, and in an incredibly short
time it gave me such strength that
was able to leave my bed and enjoy
my three good meals a day. In 2
months my weight increased from 95
to lib pounds, my nerves had steadied
down and / felt ready for anything.
NY neighbors were amazed to see me
gain so rapidly, and still more so
when they heard that Grape-Nuts
alone had brought the change.
my 4-year-old boy had eczema very
bad last spring and lost his appetite
entirely. which made him cross and
peevish. put him on diet Of Grape
Nuts. which he relished at once. He
improved from the beginning, the &c
Eema disappeared and now he is fat
and rosy, with a delightfully."- soft, clear
skin. The Grape-Nuts diet did It win
willingly answer all inquiries. Name
given by Postum Co, Battle Creek.
Mich.
Read the little book, The Road 70
Wellville." In pkgs. There's a reason"
Ever read the above letterf A new
enc appears from time 20 time. TheT
are genuIne, true, and fun of human
interest
The Chanute times., 1911-12-15

And Ceremony doff'd his pride.
The heir. with roses in his shoes,
That night might village partner choose;
The lord, underogating, share
The vulgar game of post and pair
All halrd, with uncontrolled delight
And general voice. the happy night.
That to the cottage as the crown
Brought tidings of salvation down.
The fire, with well-dried logs supplied.
Went roaring up the chimney wide;
The huge hall tables oaken face,
Scrubbd till 1t shone, the day to grace,
Bore then upon its massive board
No mark to part the squire and lord.
Then was brought in the lusty Drawn
BY old blue-coated serving man;
Then the grim boar's head grown'd On
high,
Crested with bays and rosemary.
Well can the green-garb'd ranger tell
How. when and where the monster fell.
What dogs before his death he tore
And all the batting of the boar.
The wassail round. in good brown bowls
Garnish'd with ribbons, blitherly trowls.
There the huge sirloln reek'd; hard by
Plum porridge stood and Christmas pie;
Nor fail'd old Scotland to produce
At such high tide her savory goose.
Then came the merry maskers in,
And carols roar'd with blithesome din;
II unmelodious was the song,
II was a hearty note and strong.
Who lists may In their mumming see
Traces OF ancient mystery.
White shirts supplied the masquerade
And smutted cheeks the visors made:
But, OF what maskers, richly dight,
Can boast Of bosoms half so light
England was merry England, when
Old Christmas brought his sports again.
Twas Christmas broach'd the mightest
ale;
A Christmas gambol oft could cheer
The poor mans heart through half the
Sir walter Scott
The Chanute times., 1911-12-15

Heap on more woodl-the wind Is chill
But let Il whistle as II will.
Wen keep our Christmas merry still.
Each age has deem.d the newborn year
The fttest time for festal cheer;
And well our Christian sires OF old
Loved when the year its course had rolld d
And brought blithe Christmas back again.
with all his hospitable train.
Domestic and religious rite
Gave honor TO the holy night;
On Christmas eve the bells were rung;
On Christmas eve the mass was sung:
That only night in all the year
Saw the stoled priest the chalic rear.
The damsel donn'd her kirtle sheen,
The hall was dress'd with holly green;
Forth 10 the wood did merry men go
To gather IN the mistletoe-
Then open'd Wide the baron's hall
To vassal tenant. serf and all;
Power laid his rod OF rule aside
The Chanute times., 1911-12-15

the time that the seeding is plant
ed in the soft, friable SOIL to the mo-
ment It returns to its primal element,
the dust, as a handful Of embers on
the city lot, a Christmas tree rep
resents a money valuation of $25.
This is a total expenditure of ST.
100000 annually OF course, this
figure is purely imaginary. The trees
do not actually cause that amount
of money to change hands in sim
pie buying and selling transaction.
But there is actually that much loss
to the regions which supply trees.
If all the trees in an average load
ed fat car were TO be stood upon
their butts, in the natural way in
which they would grow. they would
cover a ten-acre lot. Multiply this
by 1000 and the amount Of timber
stripped annually from the hills will
become apparent at once.
Just at this time of the year the
Christmas tree industry is In its most
fiourishing condition. All of the trees
for this years market nave Deen
cut. Many of them are In transit, but
some Of them are even now stand
ing In the freight yards Of the rail-
roads, waiting for the retail dealers
to purchase them.
Dealers are gradually awakening
to the fact that it is better to ship
their trees early, sell them all at a
low price. and save the trouble and
expense OF remaining a long time in
the city barterihg their wares.
The dealers in Christmas trees are
types. They are all queer characters.
You cannot pick out one that has not
some peculiarly. As in all trades,
there are tricks to the business OF
buying and selling Christmas trees.
You would think that the disposal
Of q car load Of railroad ties. with
layer Of trees piled on top. to an un-
wary customer. would bar the deal
The Chanute times., 1911-12-15
A SURPRISE BOX.

Something which would delight
any little invalid is surprise box"
This may be planned to last a week
or any length Of time one wishes
and should contain a package for
each day, with the date on which 1t
is to be opened written plainly on
each one. Dolls, toys. books ano
many other things dear to the child
ish heart may be put in these pack
ages and the little one win surely re-
ioice to have his Merry Christmas"
last so many days.
The Chanute times., 1911-12-15

AS you pass some windy corner one of these
bustery nights before Christmas Eve and see
the long rows of evergreens laid against the wall,
or gnobly lying prone upon the ground, bethink
you of the place in which they first saw the light
The kindly hills, snow-covered engirdling valleys
fragrant with spicy odor; picture them BARE lit
tered with the waste of cuttings, and the unsghtly
stumps of trees.
Picture the brooding of those trees as they grew.
1t took them 20 years to reach an age and
size where they might prove marketable No
more will the wind moan and sough through
their branches The hills are bare. The snow
will melt in the spring, and the soil will not
absorb it. Water will run into the streams and
the streams become floods and the floods breed
calamities
The trees, noble fellows all Of them, will have
their tops hacked off to accommodate them to
the STIFFNESS of little box-like homes. AS
the heat of our rooms dries up their sap their
lives will go out slowly day by day. They will
end on the bonfire.
Yes buy a tree. Buy and take 1t home to
your children. When it is bravely decked out in
all its gala finery, gather your family about its
spreading branches, which are exhaling their last
breaths for you and tell them the story of the
life and death Of the tree.
The Chanute times., 1911-12-15

Fido's Mistress (sobbing)-Tve lost
my dog; my sweet little innocent
pet!
Friend-Tm so sorry. Have you
put an advertisement in the newspa-
per?
Fido's Mistress-Oh, what would be
the use? The poor darling doesn't
know how to read.-Woman's Home
Companion.
The Chanute times., 1911-12-15
Soma Undertaking..

The official undertaken of small
town was driving through the county
on one of his regular missions. A
woman came out to the gate of farm
yard and hailed him.
'T don't seem to recall your name,
madam" he said.
That's funny" she said. at amt
been more'n a year and half ago
since you undertook my first husband"
The Chanute times., 1911-12-15

may have nights pleasure by defacing natures
work with cheap tinsel and candles. After that,
what would have been the forest of the future is
discarded forever, beyond the power of man to
restore and the work of nature for years to re-
place.
The bulk of the trees from Canada.
More than 300 900 are used annually in Phadel-
phia alone. New York, Chicago, Baltimore and
hundred towns between them three times
that number every year.
In the wild hills of the Canadian provinces the
trees are still plentiful. But it is only ques-
ton of few years time, with the increased de-
mand for them, when their price will soar. No
attempt is made, apparently, to rejuvenate the for
ests.
In few scattered places throughout the coun-
try, 1t is true, one two men have started nurs-
cries in Christmas trees. Intelligent planting and
cutting within three generations may make them
useful patches from which to CLEAN hardy trees.
But elsewhere in spite Of the talk of conserva
tion which we hear so much about nowadays, the
trees are stripped ruthlessly from the hills and
valleys and no attempt is made by the greedy
marketer to replace them.
This has resulted in the present dearth of the
much-desired spruce trees. Vermont already
charges an additional stumpage of five cents. upon
trees which shipped out of the state.
Let us consider the Christmas tree situation in
Philadelphia. Each year more than 1000 fiat
freight cars, loaded with the trees, which are
piled in double tiers reach the city. The capacity
of the fiat car averages 300 trees.
Therefore, approximately 100000 trees are used
In Philadelphia annually. Sentimentality apart,
thqs is an enormous waste of material, when 1t
is recalled that the trees serve economic pur-
pose, and the majority of them furnish fuel for
bonfres vacant lots two weeks after the hol
iday
1t is an expensive proposition considered in any
light. First comes the cost of sending men into
regions where the trees grow. They are experts
They are able to size up the marketable value Of
a patch of woods after a days tramp through
them. Then comes the cost Of cutting, stump
age hauling and shipping to destination. After
that it is mainly a matter for the retail dealers,
who buy trees either they stand in the for
ests or at the freight yards in the cities to which
they are consigned.
The small dealer must make his profit He
tacks on an extra price which the consumer must
pay Then comes the expense of decorating the
greenwood with tinsel and glistening ornaments
This costs a little fortune in itself. Finally, it
is usual to pay the ashman to cart the tree away
after the holidays are over
1t has been estimated that from first to last. from
The Chanute times., 1911-12-15
THE SPIRIT OF THE DAY.

Have you time for little sermon? 1t will
take but few minutes and today, if ever, our
thoughts should be turned toward inward to the
heart of things. To you whose hands rock the
cradles of humanity and indirectly rule the world,
let us ask a question: Are you forgetting the
real spirit of the day? Gift giving on this ami
The Chanute times., 1911-12-15

supposition that within the next Is
years the supply of the evergreen
trees with which we deck our living
rooms annually at the feast of st.
Nicholas will be so small that folk
In the ordinary walks of life will not
be able to afford a tree,
Year after year the forests have
been denuded.' New England, gener-
alton ago, was thought to have an
almost inexhaustible supply. Today
her hills are bare. Nearly all her i'm
mense forests of spruce and fir have
been sacrificed to the sentiment of
Yuletide.
The middle states have been ran
sacked for their treasures. The farm
er, although he receives but two cents
apiece for the trees, is afraid to look
the future in the face and wait until
the tree is full grown. Neither does he
show any discretion in cutting, but
every year he rushes to the woods
and cuts everything that he can lay
his hands on in order that some one
The Chanute times., 1911-12-15

ers from coming again
to the spot where
they had practiced
such deception.
Yet it never does.
Year after year they
practice the most dis
honest tricks upon
their patrons. One
man last year got a
high price for 20 of
the finest trees ever
seen in Philadelphia.
He told the buyer
that the rest of the
car on which the 20
were loaded was just
like them, but when
they were unloaded
and placed for sale,
they proved to be
small and scrubby,
The Chanute times., 1911-12-15

ILL the children In
1925 have Christmas
trees? This question
is being asked by
thousands of people
t h rou 6 h t the
United States. Indi-
catinnS mint to the
The Chanute times., 1911-12-15

81 Walter soott
The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-30
RECIPROCITY VOTE AND TAFT.

one of the subscribers of this news
paper has furnished it with an express
sive view in opposition TO the critic
isms of a few that the negative vote
of the Canadians on the reciprocity
plan is a reputation of President Taft
and will have the effect of discredit-
ing him. This subscribers remarks
were brought out by an editorial in
the Kansas City Post to the effect
that in its vote defeating reciprocity
Canada had repudiated Taft and killed
his chances for reelection to the presi-
dency OF course, such a contention
is ridiculous, but let the State Journal S
correspondent speak for himself:
NOW I may be illogical, but 1 was
all the time prior to this Post blue
light, entertaining the opinion that in
that vote Canada had endorsed Taft.
Taft said that reciprocity would be a
good thing for the United States, and
that is just what Canada said. Taft
said it would increase the business of
the United States with Canada to our
advantage, and Canada said the same
thing.
"In fact, every speech made in Can
ada, every newspaper article published
there, every bit of campaign work done
against reciprocity was on the basis
that it would be all in the interests of
the United States and against the in
terests of Canada.
Now it appears to me that this is
a complete and overwhelming endorse
-nent of President Taft and clearly
demonstrates his wonderful statesman
like abilities.
And I am unable to understand how
the people can be misIed into thinking
otherwise. But perhaps the people have
been so busy listening to the noise
made by some of our near-statesmen,
who broke into congress and the SEN
ate in disguise and who are yelling
about Canada repudiating Taft-as
though Canada had not done just the
reverse-that they haven't stopped to
think about it.
Tell them about it. And maybe
some of them will begin to see a great
light and understand why little politi-
clans cannot be always relied on in
such matters
The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-30

Goethe's Faust. and Michael Angelo lay
on his back nineteen years painting the
Sistine ceiling, until, as he plaintively
records, my beard grew upwards"
Yes; all about those long, still days OF
contemplation there hung wells of mist
and mystery. Anything might be true
where so little was known and great
adventure called to men daily. At the
foot Of the rainbow might we'll be a pot
of gold, and to find II would turn one
into a prince. There on the rocks of
yonder height the gods held council,
and who overheard would be struck
dead, therefore it was well q man
should keep safe in the plains. The
opening in the near hill led down to the
cave where Frau Hole held Tam
hauser captive, and who heard the
tinkling OF her dancers bells must go
down, willy, nilly. That was a great
day for poetry and art when nothing
could be disproved. and the great per-
sonality had simply to choose his sub
jeet as it lay to his hand and brood
upon it,
The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-30
GLOBE SIGHTS.
LFrom the Atchison Globe.l

From the AtcnlSOn GlODe.
There are not as many colors as the
cry goods advertisements infer.
Neither should anyone wear part of
a uniform without wearing all of it.
Possibly the ballet dancer works
harder for her living than you imag-
inc.
Placing the blame for a railway
wreck isn't much help to the in
jured.
You can't prove you are a good talk
er by doing it all; comparisons are
needed.
Champagne is so expensive it isn't
drunks
A gasoline engine sometimes offers
the greatest demonstration of self
control.
You may also be able to explain
some of the efforts to discover long
lost kin.
Every man feels, when recovering
from a sick spell. that there is a plot
to starve him,
After a man passes SO he doesn't
care for good looks; all he wants is a
good stomach
A man just home from Jail should
MT expect the folks to be so blamed
glad to see him.
You may have observed that even
tue LTAln0U Jugs 1CCAlA o4AAAoAS ~ CAAA
the performance
Our well-known memory for names
doesn't retain that of the golf champ.
very long at a time.
While the gas meter has consider
able opposition. it continues to win
most of its arguments.
It seems to be part of a BARRIERS
business to blame it on the victim
when he carVes a customer
Doubtless you, too. sometimes say
YOU understand just to keep the other
fellow from talking about it.
The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-30
TWILIGHT.

How many things are like this sad sweet
hour,
When neither light nor darkness rules
the world
And nature Iulls to sIumber ev'ry flower
Before nights dusky banners are un-
A solemn hour when all things bright
must die,
That made the world so radiantly fair;
The suns pale crimson fades upon the
The breath of night is in the perfumed
air.
Perchance there's some desire in our
That, ike this dying day. will never
The light that hope to everything i'm
And never blossom to reality.
Some secret love that never must be
told
Some hidden wish-some thought of IN
gained fame.
All sink on iife's horizon, dark and low.
Whose life is there this twilight does not
mark,
Whose heart is there that does not
hold within
Some poor, dead hope that once burned
like a spark,
And struggled hard it's victory to win?
So struggles day against the coming
Till. weary with the shadows on her
She yields to darkness all her treasures
And slowly sinks. just like our hopes
to rest.
Joseph P. Galton. in Ainslee's Magazine.