davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-12-25

back home" for that day, when every
civilized human being who has roof
tree wishes to be beneath it. But
distance and business keep many of
even the moneyed individuals in
Washington and, although they accept
invitations to dine among friends and
scott at the plebian custom of max
ing such fuss about Christmas" they
cannot even deceive themselves into
thinking any substitute for the fam
lily celebration very joyful. And this
Christmas, when the Vice President
of the United States lives in hotel
and more Senators and Members are
living in what Shaw has termed
"Widowers' Houses" than for dec
ade past, the contingent of homeless
ones is especially large.
But these are merely Inconvenience
for a single Christmas Day They
know that everybody else knows that
circumstances and not necessity, have
caused them to remain at the national
capital and to partake OF turkey
carved by a country club. or city horei
chef rather than by ones own favor
lite Uncle, or Grandma. or butler.
II is tho Civil Service delegation
who come in for ones sympathy and
regret.
For more years than they care to
count, hundreds of these "outla nde
have drifted along in placid Wash
! ington, always meaning TO Ego ho,.Y
for Christmas" but never quite maxi
ing 1t. Gradually the old folks they
| left behind--to take the lob that
! doomed so large at home and grow
smaller with CHI successive mile of the
/ fptI ar1
/ farms have been sold or changed
hands, the single ones have married.
or grown callous about writing when
there was nothing in common to men
| tion.
Gradually the months have become
years and friends in the Departments
seem closer than the relations hun
dreds Of miles away. The salary
which was to pay off the mortgage
has proved just sufficient to keen its
possesSor two laps ahead of the loan
shark, or in a little moro comforta BILE
/ habitat than his or her fellows.
And then, suddenly, there is a tang
OF cedar in the frosty air of Penn
! sylvania avenue, fir trees begin pilinp
/ up like primitive barricade over
/ by the Centre Market, people are hur-
rying with bundles and children
/ they are the dominant note in the
Christmas mposium-shouting in
antlcipatory glee and the Government
clerk remembers, 1t Is Christmas and
he has nowhere to spend tho day.
| Nowhere that counts. For the Christ
mas day dinner Is the one meal of
tho year which depends for Its sue
cess mostly upon relatives. good hui
NOR and presents with love behind"
Ones Own Table is II Luxury
The heads of various Depart
ments, the married men of the Serv-
Tee, the women in 1t who have taken
thought and brought on part at least
Of their original household are exempt
from this tragedy. They have homes
and can go to market and hang up
lh"lr stockings and i'm every way du-
plicate Christmas on the farm, or in
some city or village far remote from
the national capital.
The typical Government bachelor
WidoWer, old maid, middle-aged widow
ana young girl who have to face the
loneliness ana humiliation of Christ
/, mas III uh-, Civ of Magnifiaent Dis,
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-12-25

Of dulcet musical Instruments are in
order. Before Christmas Day It is
a fast afterwards It's a feast.
For two weeks before Christmas,
even the children attend mass every
morning at four o'clock. And dur
ing the entire twenty-four hours Of
Christmas Eve, everyone fasts most
midnight, comes the great mass In
the cathedral.
As the Christmas bells peal forth
the glad tidings, the houses become
alive with lights. the children are
awak ened from their dreams, and the
people sally forth to attend the mass.
The air IS chilly though not actually
cold, of course. The streets are
crowded with worshipers on their
way to the churches.
Many prefer the early morning
mass to the midnight one, especially
the young women and girls who hest
tate to risk the crushing of their pref
~ new dresses in the crowd. Besides,
ones dress, you know. cannot be seen
to advantage in the dark. SO, as the
sun pops IN above the horizon, hun
dreds and hundreds of men, women
and children may be seen either GO
ing to or coming from church. Every
where the spirit Of Christmas is man
ifest.
when the Fun Begins.
The churches are handsomely dec
Grated with leaves, flowers and the
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-12-25

= tates.
Peace and goodwill are the pre-
dominating spirit Of the Filipino
Christmas" said Mr.. Kalaw, Secre-
tary TO the Commissioner. or dele
gate" TO Congress, the other day In
his offices In the House OF Repre-
sentauves Office building. This Is
mainly expressed, not through the CIV
ing of Christmas presents. as seems
to be the custom in America--though
q considerable number Of gifts are
'exchanged--but through the actual
warming of ones heart toward his
friends and relatives. Members Of a
family. rich or poor. living near each
other or far distant, meet for their
Christmas celebration and, whenever
too great distance does not forbid, ex-
change visits.
Within the Family Circle.
Indeed. family gatherings are the
accepted order of the day. When
one sees these informal family re-
unions; where love and affection are
| the predominating spirit; when he
| finds in the typical Filipino homes
these happy circles of friends and rel
atives-he cannot help but be i'm
of the ties which bind the Filipinos
to their homes. their relatives and
their friends.
"At such a gathering, the old folks
sit together their wrinkled faces
beaming with JOY. and rehearse with
| fond recollections their former Christ
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-12-25

one dish, which is to the Filipino
what turkey IS to the American at
Christmas or Thanksgiving Is called
unona. This consists Of chicken and
peculiar native vegetable called apo.
This is somewhat like pumpkin in
shape. only green. The filing. or in
sides, Is scooped out and mixed with
peppers, spices and chicken, The
whole is boiled and served very hot. .
Another favorite dish for the
Christmas meal is called potchero,
which means the dried skin of pig.
Chicken Is mixed with cut-up radishes
and thin slices OF bacon, the whole be-
ing baked.
suman a Fsvorife.
The devout Fnipinos fast all of
Christmas Eve, up until midnight,
Then most elaborate supper isl
served in the hospitable homes Az.
this meal, 81 IS considered essential
TO serve suman, or rice cakes, But
these cakes are not made Of the dry.i
almost tastelesS rice to which we are
accustomed in this country.
suman is Of a sticky, sweet nature
and IS favored with the Juice of COL
at these feasts. 1t must be prepared
most carefully to be tempting. After
being securely wrapped in palm or
banana leaves, IT is put into an iron
pot on the evening before Christmas
Eve and allowed to boil all night.
Strange 20 relate, but few vegeta-
bles are grown in the Islands" Rad
shes attain an unusual size there. and
potatoes and beans thrive most sat-,
sfactorily. But. to offset this appar-
emf Disadvantage. there are somethin g
over forty vorlelies of fruit that four
ish Ike the proverbs green bay tree.
They may be eaten raw. canned or
preserved and are most appetizing
either way. Most Of them are not
even known by name or sight to us IN
this country.
At the Christmas dinner, pastries
form the principal dessert. Among tho
most popular may be mentioned tarts
made of guava jelly, preserved man
, goes. and fresh or canned chico, which
! somewhat resembles q pear in ap-
pearance, being brownish yellow in
color and oval in shape. AS is true Of
nearly all Philippine fruits, it is said
to have a much more delicious fla
Vor than its kindred fruit of the tenn
/ perate zone.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-12-25

masses together, or look forward to
the future which awaits their chill
dren. The younger people, happy and
1ubilant, gather round the piano and
sting their favorite kundimans, or love
songs. Or. most likely they sing
them 70 the accompaniment of their
Sweet-toned string Instruments.
These love songs are plaintlVe in
deed and very popular In the Philip
pines The children, forming their
own groups, compare the gifts they
have received and enjoy that limo
cent bliss which Christmas always
gives to childhood"
On Christmas Day the festivities
are varied Aside from the family re-
unions, parties and banquets. there
are baseball games which are hotly
contested. Indeed, baseball seems TO
have taken the Islands" by storm.
and no Christmas day Is now com
pionship contests.
All work. except only that which Is
absolutely necessary, is suspend ed (:
even the hard-working women who
labor in the fields In the outlying dis
tTlCGS llIiS u eisy VI feS,t oilu plSeio-
ure.
In Manila a proc sssion Of masked
jewellers Is held through the principal
streets. Downing grotesaue costume
and masks, they march to the tune Of
m usical instruments Of all kinds. Con-
fetti is thrown and the fun Is almost
as fast and furious as that OF our own
Nardi Gras at New Orleans.
No Turkey For Dinner.
Bands are not needed to head the
procession for. 30 musical are the Fill
| ipinos, that nearly every one In line
of march carries a musical instrume nt
OF some sort. The procession eScites
| the utmost interest each year and
! you may be sure, the little Filipino
| boy Is to be found tagging along a,
tho head, tust as his American broth
er does when parade comes dowr
the street.
The Philippine Christmas dinner
never includes turkey, unless it be the
canned. homeless variety imported
from the United States. Chicken I:
the national domestic bird of "tht
IslandS' and II always has the place
Of honor on the festive menu. II
fact, many Of the most appetizing o,
the native dishes contain chicken a!
their chief ingredient.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-12-25
The Lucky Ones Leave Town.

OF course the Weather classes g,
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-12-25
Government Clerks and
Others Exiled in Wash
ington Find Little Real
Christmas Cheer Sub
terfuges for Concealing
Their Loneliness.

~ACI II year at Christmas the
L. boarding houses and apartment
hotels, the cafes and fashion
~ able restaurants of Washington
ti,y are filed with an alien throng of
men and women who are there because
they cannot 90 anywhere else OF
course, they might run over to New
York" or take a "trip to some other
nearby city but it would merely mean
varying the menu and the price OF
the Christmas meal--in either event
1t would end in partaking of a paid
for dinner rather than of one proffered
IN the name of love or relationship.
For Washington is essentially a
Governmental city and its inhabitants
are largely nomads who regard it
even after twenty years Of residence
AS merely a pause in the journey
Of business life.
Thousands OF wonderland no opti-
mist would want to estimate how
many men-dwell in its fats and
rented rooms with and without
board" who have no home connections
beyond the District of Columbia.
With Congress IN session, and Just
qdtourning temporarily "over" The
festive occasion, there is a small army
of clerks, secretaries and their fam
!lics; the long distance national leg
sIators and THEIR families. and the
humorous imported chauffeurs and
their families who are compelled to
pass tho Yuletide among strangers.
The Lucky Ones Leave Town.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-12-25

smile. How many years has II been
since HER first Washington Christ
mas dinner and the promise never to
spend another like It? Somehow the
expenses always seemed to come
double at that season and she never
did go back home. Now the Day Is
Just a torment to be gone througl
with. like a disagreeahls bit OF work at
the Once.
The head Of a department for ecten-
tifc work Is a foreigner. Instinct
lively the landlady has given him the
head of the table. He Is a genius and
looks it. Also. his heart is very far
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-12-25

nam sandwich in private than tur-
KEY IN public on Christmas Day
ana she has many disciples.
Some of these people cannot afford
to go home" some have, through
neglect, reached the stage where they
are ashamed to go, and others are
the pitifully orphaned class of being
the last of their line.
Relic of the Confcleracy.
one former Confederate, who used
to boast that he never knew how
many people would sit at his Christ
mas dinner in the South, now goes to
Baltimore every Christmas morning
and spends the day-spends it in some
hotel eating alone; he simply will not
face his fellow boarders who think he
is down I'm Virginia with relatives.
Some of these derelicts--of fam
lily" be It understood-~haVe made
friends among the married element of
the Departments and sometimes are
FAXED "a spsnd the day at their homes.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-12-25

\ product OF The LIyil Service.
less pad. pad OF the leopards and
growing OF lions reminds them Of
their own caEed eXistence--and fot
them Il means only one day a year OF
rebellion. They lunch together In tho
inevitable boardinghouse evening.
however, finds them at some cheerful
hotel.
III no other American city are there
so many aged lovers trying 10 discover
Christmas contentment in a burlesqus
of the feast.
And some of these people have put
away the possibility OF cheerful
Christmases throush mere love for
material things. There Is a woman
clerk in one OF the Departments who
boasts that she has bought diamond
"A year since she entered the Service.
Diamonds are very beautiful and
the numerous ones she possesses look
very lovely on Der white hands, but
instead of poS9SHing them she could
have spent Glossy Christmas In thal
Middle WestHH home where she is
almost forSottae by the younger men,
bseS - 90 Absnily.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-12-25

prefer.
And everywhere the lack Of chill
dren
Perhaps that IS what makes tho
Washington Christmas Of the board
inghouse ana hotel such a dreary af-
fair.
Uncle Sam has a rule that no two
Government employees who get mar
ried to each other may retain their
positions in the Service. Consequent J.
ly one notes the lack Of lustre eyes
of aging, lonely men and made-up,
old-young women - with French
heeled shoes and penciled eyebr ows-
who have been for years tacitly INF
love but afraid to risk living in ex-j
pensive Washington on the output Of
one Job. and who go ploddingly about
Christmas Day together in vain
search for good cheer.
One Day of Rebellion.
They walk Christmas morning
through Rock Creek Park or &c
70 the Zoo. Something in the ceasec
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-12-25
zEE|I,A|I,yItI

across the seas and he takes no con-
! ISOLATION from this paid-for Christmas
dinner.
| The Government Civil Service is
prolific in women who have divorced
their husbands and in men who have
buried their wives; and for these the
boardirghouse takes on an added Bit
/ terness Of memory impossi ole 10 the
never married.
II the landlady has a child It may
thrive along under the title Of brat"
and uncomplimertary remarks all the
other days of the year: but at Christ
mas II Is feted and made much OF IN
the Washington boarding house. The
utter loneliness and instructive desire
to give. when cars are filled with bun
dle-laden humanity and everybody is
buying something for someone else
reveals itself IN the inmates" be-
slowing presents upon fellow employ
ees whom they scarcely bother to be
civil to in the dog days.
Sends Presents to Herself.
More than one feminine clerlk-who
has a tiny one room and bath hache-
lor apartment. well-paying position
moe clothes and a collection of lust
good friends"-saves up and buys and
sends to her own address Christmas
tokens from fruit shops. candy stores,
from the 1eweler. all tied with ribbons
and wrapped in tissue paper. Funny?
Wei, not If one could see into the
heart Of the sender
But the landlady has her Christ
mas trial, tool Her d!sgrun.led board
ers can go to a matinee after dinner
or to moving pictures. IL they like,
while she must stay at home and
figure on how many different ways
the remains of the turkey can be
served. Often she. too. is lonesome
and away from all OF her people.
For Washington Is a veritable mecca
for the distressed gentlewoman who
has been compelled to take UP room
! ing and boarding as a profession.
And sometimes she serves the best she
has only to hear muttered We'll, such
dinner and WHAT we pay herr
| Down at his hotel the rich bache-
lor statesman envies his salaried sec
rotary because the latter has a little
home. wife and child. He realizes
that Chrfs tmas is the one day when
money will not buy happiness, even
though it's lack causes misery. The
]
looks like the week after election,
the White House Is not receiving and
he can go to the country clubs or
to dine with friends, but II is not the
same as being at home.
Dinner I'm Restaurants.
Washington has many detained"
Congressman, anxious officeseekers
and homeless officeholders as well as
a continual round of tourists from
every part of the world who frequent
It's restaurants and lunch rooms on
Christmas day. The arrangements
make an especial occasion OF the
evening meal. Music plays-but never
Home. Sweet Home"--more coolers
are espied beside more tables than on
any other occasion except when
Georgetown University wins a football
victory.
There are shaded lights and deli
cious things to eat and smiling faces
and all that. But it isn't Christmas
and it isn't home! The only sort
who think II Q lark to eat Christmas
dinner in a hotel are the ones who
khsvs nis% homer 10 eat II in, " thss
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-12-25

At This same table the hard-eyed
woman, who has held her place for
years against the Onslaughts of
younger women and ambitious polit-
ical henchmen, smiles a CYNICAL little
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-16
THE ADVENTURE OF A DIME.

am a dime. was made by the
government / was first carried to A
very large bank. And there one day
man came and got me. He carried
me many days in his pocket. One
day he took some paper money from
his pocket and brought me out with
it and there he lost me. \ pretty
brown-eyed girl found me She soon
carried me to store and bought
candy with me. she kissed me before
she gave me to him. a man came one
day and got me. one morning he gave
me to his dear son. BY this time /
was well worn He was playing in
the street and here he lost me.
The next day no one found me so
there came a big windstorm and COW
cred me with sand Here lie wait
ing for someone to find me again.
Composed by
Ethel. BRIEF.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-16
LIFE.

The question as 10 what life really
is has not yet been fully decided, but
we usually speak Of It as being a
dream Life usually begins al the
birth and ends with death. Life can
not exist without immortality.
We find that the lower life is puri-
fled and transformed into higher
life. 1t is no unreal. shadowy. partial
life that lies beyond the grave. but
life in all its fullncss and perfection
Human life is a colossal enigma with
out Immortality. If death is all, then
it is folly charEeablc upon the uni!
verse. But If life goes on beyond the
grave. il those royalty endowed ones
continue their creative works under
a new and brighter condition. If these
I;aphacl's best works awaits our ad-
mirine vision, the physical death
ceases to be an ahsurdity and becomes
the highest point of wisdom Some
pass their early life in a remote dis
trict from wisdom and knowledge. and
only in middle life discover their
power.
There are some who. If this life
ends all, are, indeed. most miserable
in that they have involved in grie-
vous suffering. those dearest to them
CELIA WHITEHURST,
WollNater, Va
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-16
A FAIRY BANQUET.

There was once young shepherd
of Withsdale who. one summer night,
heard most delicious music. and adj
vancinC to the spot whence the sound
appeared to come. he suddenly found
himself tho spectator of a fairy ban
quot. y green table with feet OF gold,
was laid across small rivulet and
supplied with the finest OF bread and
the richest Of wines The music pro-
ceeded from instruments formed of
reeds and stalks of corn. He was in
vited to join in the dance and pre-
scented with a cup OF wine. lie was
allowed TO depart in safety He said
he saw several of his old acquain-
tances who had become fairy folks.
Composed by
ALMA SOPER.
r. F. y. No. l. Galnesville. Va.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-16

once when the West was infested
with bands of rowing Sioux Indians,
party of miners suddenly came up
on large band Of Indians The
miners prepared for an attack and a
fierce battle cnsued in which the In
dians were compelled to fall back
again and again. Presently time and
numbers began to tell against the
whites. At last one man volunteered
Ia try TO creep through the line Of
redskins and If he got through the
Indians 10 go to the fort and get help.
He succeeded in safely getting through
and went on to the fort.
The men were beginning to think
he would never return and as their
ammunition was almost out and half
Of the men killed or wounded. II
would not be long before Il would be
too late Just about that time party
of soldiers from the fort came In sight.
The Indians seeing the reinforce
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-16
THE TOY KING.

Why is it that all little boys and
girls look toward TO Christmas? I
think II is because Of the great Toy
King. Then YOU ask me who the
Toy King is. | think that he is n
good old man who lives on the ton OF
a cold. icy mountain which is called
Nobody Knows Where" He is well
known. IL he is hermit, and pcrha ps
better known than some Of the men
about which you have read. His name
Is Santa Claus.
He is funny old chap. He is III,
around-always jolly. There is an
other curious thing about him, that
is that when Christmas Eve night
comes he begins his journey at about
. o'clock. and when morning comes
he has made q trip around the world
filed each stocking. and is back at
his icy home.
However, there are some people
whom he does not come to see The
people are the boys and girls who mis-
behave during the year These he
neglects, and when passing these
houses in his sleigh. drawn by rein
deer he only chances at them. and
makes his steeds go faster.
On the other hand when he goes
to house where there are good boys
and girls. he comes in for YOU may
be sure that he knows that he is vel
come here, for he has received notes
which tell him where ito come and
what Is needed.
He does not slack up bit, for he
can see even in the dark. He comes
down the chimney, fills the stockings
In second. and goes away.
Let us try to be good so that he
may come to see us, for II we don't
our mothers and fathers will write to
him and tell him not to come to see
FNr fot
him and Is friendly with him.
Bells are sweetly ringing,
Snow is falling fast,
But I'VE boys don't care for this
For Santa's here at last.
EDWARD HAWKINS.
v. a. D. p.
Staunton, VT.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-16
THE ROOTS OF THE ROSES.

The leaves are fading and falling.
The winds are rough and wild.
The birds have ceased their calling,
But let me tell you. my child
Though day by day. as 1t closes
Doth darker and colder grow.
The roots of the bright. red roses
Will keep alive in the snow.
And when the winter Is over.
The boughs will get new leaves,
The quail come back to the cover,
The swallow back TO the caves
The robin VIII wear on his bosom
The vest that is bright and new.
And the iikeliest wayside blossom
VIII shine with sun and dew.
So when some dear joy loses
Its beauteous summer glow,
Think how the roots OF the roses
Are kept alive in the snow.
LOUISE RAMKEY
Monument Annex.
Richmond, Va.