davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1913-12-19
RZZE cMCZE2Y VNl3zz7yP
odZSES17zzS ZETZERS5

pair of binoculars In the form of two quart wine
bottles dashed together. to his eyes and makes a
pretense of getting his bearings by scrutinizing
the sailors about him. Presently he reports to
Sanity, who has deposited his basket of presents
on the quarter deck "Sir. see we are now in the
Cannibal isles"
Sanity begins then to pick up presents and
read the names aloud giving them to the crew OF
Der Prosit" and the admiras wife, and even to
the admiral himself who distributes them accord
ingly, cutting many ridiculous capers.
The presents are of a type that bring laughter.
They are gotten up and made by the friends OF
those to whom they sent. with an idea to-
wards characterzing the ambition, the within or
the standing jokes that mark the receiver II
the captain Is four striper he will probably get
an admirals star unless he has some other within
by which he Is more properly known. When he Is
presented with this he can only blush in the
presence OF everybody. and take his dose, as
Sanity Is supreme on Christmas day.
But the greatest gift that Sanity can bestow
falls to the lot OF those who, through some mis-
fortune or slip have come in line for punishment.
II is customary for Sanity to walk boldly up to
the captain and ask him to "whtewash" the
books In the face Of everybody and on Christ
mas day the captain can not very we'll refuse this
request although some captains have been seen
to vince and cough before granting the mmeas-
urable favor. The report book. in which all pun
ishable acts are entered. is swept clean and the
enjoy all the privileges held by their more for
tunate shipmates who have not fallen before the
multiplicity OF temptations that daily assail the
man-o' warsman.
The event which forms a background for all this
merrment 10 the regular big feed" as the sail
ors call 1t. For the last week this has crept into
their conversation Pie turkey and plum dun
are the three great decaces TO the sailors, and
they have more respect for them than for the
three graces.
What kind OF feed is the commssary gonna
hand u.s." one sailor asks of another. During this
time OF anticipation excitement runs high and the
commissary Is very much respected person. In
fact he Is never retired person. for his billet Is
a hard one to fill to the satisfaction of every one
who eats at the general mess. There is always
some old tar or other who imagines himself to
be sighted by the quality OF his food, and the
apprentice boys take from him the habit OF com
planning with very little reason on their side
Quarres often result and have to be referred TO
the mast where the first lieutenant (hrst lun)
settles the matter in favor of the commissary. SO
that the sailor arranges private settlement with
the commssary later on where the first luff has
nothing TO say about H.
The burden OF the repast falls naturally upon
the cooks and mess attendants. II is far from an
enjoyable affair with them. although they are an
Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1913-12-19

pose the saluting battery and heavy main battery
also, and are manned and fred by the boatswan
of Der Prosit," who Is q ponderous man in his
official garb and daring in the way he approaches
the ships whose crews throng the sides and an
swer the salute with revolver shot from the
poop
The saluting takes place before Der Prost" is
within hailing distance and all hands have q
laugh at the tiny sounds, strongly contrasted in
their minds with the salute Of the big guns which
they are accustomed to hear. Next the boatswan
gets up In the bows and resting hand almost
on top Of the foremost and lifting a megaphone
long himself to his lips calls out at the top
of his voice, ship. ahoy!" The quartermaster
answers from the bridge, Hello, hello! Der
PrositT AYE. aye" the boatswan returns
Come alongside" calls the Quartermaster. Then
the admiral Of Der Prosit' rises in the stern
some ten feet aft Of the boatswain In the bow. his
head on a level with the topmast. and bawls out
through his megaphone AL hands fur-r-l sail"
With that the crew. consisting Of one man, who
also acts In the capacity Of foghorn gets amid
ships and climbs the mainmast, which sways to
and fro as II about to capsze the entire craft
and pulls down all the sails THE vessel is
standing to-" he then calls out to the boatswain
who reports to the admiral over the crews head
who In turn reports to Santa Claus, sitting in the
stern sheets at the tiller. All these orders are
given and carried out in the most solemn man.
ner to the merriment OF the ships crew looking
on from the rail above.
The of Der prost' then gets out oars
and pulls alongside while on deck the real boat
SWANS mate pipes eight side boys to stand at the
head OF the gangway and salute the admiral and
Santa Claus when they come aboard. The presi-
dent OF the United States only rates six side boys
when he comes aboard. while Sanity has his
| eight, besides his petty officers while the pres
idents are only good-looking apprentice boys. AS
the argosy draws alongside the boatswain pipes
the long, low tune and three short blasts CHAR
acterstic OF the coming aboard OF great men.
| No less a person than the captain OF the ship
meets the admiral of Der Prost" his wife,
Sanity. laden with a huge basket full OF presents,
the boatswain and the crew, while the bugler
sounds three portentious rufies and the ships
company, asseESbled aft stands at attention. In
deed the officers are all present. for they believe
! in Sanity as well as do the crew. When the ad-
mirals wife, some fair faced sailor with Manila
rope hair and a tawdry skirt swings aboard hold
ing her train high and exposing a generous view
of red stocking TO the eyes of the sailors, a great
laugh is evoked and shout goes up. higher
higher" or "oh. you Kiddol"
| The boatswaln in command OF the crew shouts
| 10 his one man for, Attention." then puts him
! through series of gymnastics OF a peculiar and
! intensely funny character. The admiral as IL not
thoroughly taking in the landscape. lifts huge
Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1913-12-19

otber urns where steam is turned on, while an
other tub of peeled ones are being brought from
the SINNERS. .,,.
who naces to and fro in the galley all the WHILE
mounts upon the nearest urn with his ana TAX
ing a great six.foot masher proceeds TO pound
them into u white iakey mass ft for a KING
Rut this is not all he has TO do either. The
turkeys are browning in the long ovens ana ne
and his three assistants have continually 10 open
the doors probe with long forks into the swelling
breasts and ascertain when to take them out
The mess tables are all numbered so that each
sailor knows Just where to go when he gets down
through the hatchway, and he doesn't waste any
time getting there on this occasion. II Is indeed
a singular and lively scene on the gundeck at this
period Every mans plate is heaped to the bIim
before him and all apply themselves with a dar'
ing and disregard for mere stomachs that would
make dyspeptic vince and turn his head. Dozens
OF tables dangle from hooks between parallel col
umns Of sailors who seem only restrained from
eating each other alive by the fimsy, vaciilating
boards which support the food
When these ravenous appetites have been
saked and even those who have the dilating pow
ers of anaconda are put at rest, or In pain, as
the case may be, some of the 'old shelbacks" will
begin to grow reminiscent and tell OF the Christ
masses they have spent in lands where there were
no turkeys nor anything else fit for the big
feed"
Says old Pete the sailmaker's mate: II mind
the time down in Darien, when the steward had
nothin in the storeroom but ton OF crusty hard
biscuits full OF bugs when y busted EN- with
the handle We yer knife they went whimty nifty
in every drecton-under yer plate, behind yer
cup up yer sleeve and around the mess pans.
But mates that was a Christmas fer yer life! We
couldn't eat the buffalo meat. II that much
like bolt rope, SO we drunk or coffee and engaged
ourselves in bug races down the table BY tryin
all the bugs out got some speedy ones. And
they was speedy. | had one that could trot down
that table-trot, mind y'-like 1t was Maude
herself The devil of 1t the bloody bug
wouldn't keep in the course between the plates
Shed break fer hole near the finish bet big
money on err though, and after loosin' 20 bones
by her duckin' out of 1t when she was two whole
plate lengths ahead mind y. hggered could
head her off the next time and win anyhow, so
put up so bones--50 good cold punkers on that
skinny little runt of a bug, and strike me blind!
you ought that race! Co. That cussed
little bug slid down that mess table like 1t was on
ball bearings. headed er of at the hole with
a piece of tack and she clean again the bot
tom board OF the table an butted er brains out
kicked over on 'er back stone dead But thai
race! Whew! | raked In the coin from the cap
tain OF the hold Christmasl Well strike me- fel
lers! That was Christmas even II W.
didn't have any eats"
Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1913-12-19

and chocolates and gum-drope were
heaped In pyramids, with trays or
fudge and molasses-candy In between
She stopped. and, without any hes
ltation this time. gave them each q
cent.
Her chain purse was empty now,
her exhilarating occupation gone, and
she stood, a forlorn little figure In her
ermine and velvet, on the corner OF
the crowded street
She had remained thus fors 1T
tie time when she heard a quick step
behind her and she was quickly grasp
ed by strong but kindly hands and
swung on to the steps.
"So-ho!" said a big man, who had
come up the street Its Mistress
Elizabeth Rockerby! What are you up
to. Betsy Jane?"
Cousin Bob!" gasped Elizabeth.
Yes, Cousin Bob and now. cry
your trail. little slsterl'
Ill ran away" falterer Elizabeth.
"Well, come along In and I'll intro
duce you to the cousins said Cousin
Bob, cheerfully, and then I'll phone
em up and tell them that it's our
! turn to have you"
And Elizabeth snuggled her fingers
/ happily into her big cousins hands as
she stepped forward into a new life
Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1913-12-19

bounty that can be gotten To-
gether are used as adorn-
ments and no end of work
is expended on the rig OF the
boat to be used. which Is
sometimes the wherry and
sometimes the punt.
In order to hold to the ira
ditional custom used in the
time Of Paul Jones and down
through the years, the boat
is rugged like a brig, that is.
with two masts and yard
arms crossing, with jib and
staysail and spanker out
astern. On the fore and aft
er quarters they arrange
large wooden tubes, in which
are inserted small arms.
These "spiggoty guns" COM
Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1913-12-19

curiously as the
child lifted the
doll tenderly In her
arms and walked
out. forgetting. in
her delight to say
thank you," and the
baby sister toddled
after.
Out In the street
again Elizabeth saw
two small boys with
their faces glued to
the window OF the
next shop, where
sticks OF candy lay
In fascinating rows,
Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1913-12-19

sky, and, or COURSE
II was nothing but hustle and hustle.
In most places, and all the necessary
hullabaloo that makes Christmas the
adorable holiday that 1t is-but--and
here Is where my story comes In.
On a quiet street, where the better
class OF houses stood, trifie away
from the shopping district and the
street car lines, little face was
pressed against the window.pane, and
two large tears stole down over a
straight little nose. Other little girls
were joyfully looking forward to this
happy season, but Elizabeth Rockerby
felt sadly at loss and out of place
as she stood in her black velvet and
lace in her grandmothers huge draw
ing-room. She had overheard the par
lor-maid and the upper house-maid.
In whispered conversation.
THE poor darlint." Nora. the house,
maid, had said. THE poor darlinti
And is 1t Christmas the little ones
after havin'? Never bit Of III Don't
we believe i'll Oh the poor lambi
that solemn and stifflike in her black
dress"
Think OF Cooks Ruby rugged out
like that" said Ellen. do you think
she'd stand II for minute? Not on
your life; Shed be down under the
table pulling the cats tail: and she'd
be teasing her mother for goodies.
when she got tired of that! But this
pale-faced mite, she's passed from one
calculating relative to another. till
she hasn't got specS Of Zip. left
In her Do you know what Ruby'd
do? She'd run away!" and Ellen
laughed outright at the thought.
II was here that Elizabeth had slip
ped into the window recess. her pulses
throbbing. M
II Cooks little girl could run away
why shouldn't she?
Elizabeth had not known II could
be- so cold when ona got out into the
night; but the stars had friendly
twinkle, and the shopwindows looked
so pretty with their tinsel drapings
and red paper bells that she almost
forgot the cold as she went eagerly
from one gay collection OF toys to an
other, an felt the companionship OF
children, as she rubbed shoulders with
ragged newsboys and pinched-faced
little girls who gazed quite as eagerly
as she at the Christmas dolls hold
ing outstretched arms to the passers-
by.
Are they-are they to SELF" she
asked timidly, of a little girl who
held her baby sister by the hand and
stamped her feet to keep them warm.
"Sakes alive, yes!" said the other.
In establishment Amt that one with
the black curls too cute for any
thing!" she added. gazing at It with
wistful eyes. ,a
Gould we go In .apd--and buy it,"
asked Elizahth earnestly.
Course we could, II we had the
ninety weight cGnts. 49,
Come on. thenswa said Elizabeth.
and, grasping her incredulous compan-
ion by the hand. she plunged into the
store. THE doll with the black
curls!" she stammered. May ! buy
1t for this little girl?"
Sure" said the salesman.
Elizabeth fished dollar bill out Of
her little chain purse and watched
Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1913-12-19

affable lot. The preparation
OF the potatoes is the work
OF n dozen men, since they
must be extraordinarily nice.
The "skinners" arrange
themselves astride a bench
in range of a tub where one
man sits and losses potatoes
continually. The tub is kept
full by another man who
dumps in from a sack carried
down from the upper deck.
So a cycle is made. the clean
peeled potatoes going con-
stantly into another tub,
which is dragged into the gal-
ley and dumped into a great
urn through which water is
percolating. These are rims
ed around by another mess
attendant and dumped into
Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1913-12-19

he comes in a precarouslooking boat, fully arm
ed and conveyed with the boom of musketry and
the loud blowing of horns. The blowing Of horns
is universal custom with the boys Of all coun-
tries and colors and with the bluejackets too.
On Christmas day Sanity Is the highest ranking
officer OF the feet. and all flags junior to his
fur tree hosted to the masthead With his flag
lieutenant. his aide and the rest Of the stan, he
cruises about among the ships distributing the
gifts with which his argosy is laden. His method
of doing this is fraught with much red tape as
was ever the greetings OF the old admiral Of the
Dutch feet In the time of Queen Bess All the
paraphernala symbolical of austere rank and
Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1913-12-19

When I was but boy" he said,
There dwelt not far from here
A woman young In widowhood--
Her name was Helen We're.
"One child she had-a little boy
scarcely need to say
He was her only earthly Joy,
Her comfort night and day.
loft would she stroke his golden hair
And sigh, and say, All. me
oh, weary, weary was the day
Thy father went to seal
"One day he to his mother said
i long so much to be
A sailor, as my father was,
And sail the wide, wide sea-
she gave consent. although her heart
Was bound up in her SON
Tt may be better for us both
o Lord, Thy will be done.
"'You won't forget me, my dear boy
When far away, know,
So with my blessing and my prayers,
Go, my own Willie, CO.
Ten long, long years then rolled away,
And sorely Helen pined;
No letter from her son had come,
No news of any kind"
Here Thomas poked the fire, and
made
The flames leap high and clear
Nov / must shift the scene." he said,
"And tell of Willie We're:
when Willie left his mothers home
He shipped on board the Tyne
And all went happily and we'll
Until they crossed the line.
"Then on them burst furious storm
That fiercer grew each day,
Until upon a lonely isle
The ship was cast away.
"And when theiraging storm drew of,
It's work ofshavoc done,
or all the crew but one survived,
lille was that ona.
For two long years he strained his
gaze
Across the wide, wide wave,
But never came friendly ship
To succor or to save.
For two long years his only food
Was shell-fish from the shore,
And sea-birds' eggs, and leaves, and
fruit
The feathery palm-trees bore.
"The long third year drew near It's
close,
And it was Christmas Day,
Poor Willie sat upon the shore
His thoughts were far away.
"A hand is on his shoulder laid.
A loud voice greets his ear
Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1913-12-19

BSURD as It may sound to every one,
the bluejackets still believe in Santa
Claus. That rotund. rosy-cheeked lit
tie old man pays as much attention to
the thousands of boys on board the
warships as he does to the thousands
of, perhaps younger in years. boys and
girls ashore. Instead Of coming In
sleigh with reindeer and merry bells.
Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1913-12-19
IL {. g.sI::ssl
A LITTLE RUNAWAY
BY AVIS INGALLS,.

= COOhSB tnerd
was snow. newly
fallen - W h at
would Christmas
be without thatf
And sleigh-bells.
all q tinkle, and
CHEEKY greetings
and glads o m o
smiles on every
hand; and there
were clear twink
ling stars no W
above the house
tops looking down
from a deep blue
- 49, - --
Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1913-12-19

II . n IN .
poked the fire. and said:
again shift time and scene
IT'S Christmas Eve at Ennerdale,
The wind blows wild and Keen.
"Poor Helen crouches DER the fire
And shudders at the storm;
The latch is lifted. at the door
There stands a manly form.
"T've been a wanderer.' spoke the
man,
On many far-off shore;
I'VE travelled twenty thousand miles
To look on home once more.
"She rose up slowly from her chair.
Her lips no words expressed;
She flung her arms around his neck
And swooned upon his breast"
Here Thomas poked the fire. and
turned
His face to hide the tears
That filled his eyes. whene'er he told
The story of the Veres.
And then he said with trembling
voice
mo words can tell the Joy
Of Helen when she looked again
Upon her ,long-lost boy.
-They left the poor and humble cot
That had such sorrows seen,
And dwelt together In one homo
Down by old Hazeldean.
"Old William We're, whom knew well.
Has often said to me-
Whenever ! read my mothers gift
took with me to sea,
at feel never can forget.
That pious mothers love,
Or ever cease to render thanks
To God the Lord above"
Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1913-12-19

what, udtoI WIN
ould have
thought to find
A human being
here?
Don't cry. my
man, but come
on board,
Delay your thanks
and fuss.
We're sailing for
a land OF gold.
so come along
! with us.
The San Francisco call and post., 1913-12-20
No AUTO TAX
|F MACHINE
MEN W|N
Defeat of New Law Means
Loss of More Than Million
and No Payment for Year

a clear saving of s1,000.o00 to
$1,000 eco to automobile owners and
a loss OF the same sum to the state,
hangs on the outcome of the motor
lists fight to invalidate the new tax,
based on horsepower If their fight
IS successful the state will have no
tax on autos and viii be unable to
establish a new tax for a year, the
legislature not convening till 1915.
The total tax is expected to make
more than $1,000. 600 annually.
At the Office of Attorney General
Webb it was said today that the elm
ination of the tax provision of the
new auto law will remove all posi-
bility OF a tax on motor driven vehi-
cles for the time being. as the law
contained no saving clause.
The tax is only one phase of the
law, which goes into effect January l,
but il is the only article attacked.
The tax VIII become delinquent the
first OF the year. Only few motor
lists have Yet paid it. and those under
protest.
Il is alleged by the Automobile as
sociation leaders that the law is un-
constitutional, providing double
tax-state as well as county A test
case is TO be made soon by the Cali
fornia State Automobile association.
through Attorneys John L. McNab and
Timothy Healy. The southern Cali
fornia association has already asked
an Injunction.
The San Francisco call and post., 1913-12-20
WALL ST. To D. K.
CURRENCY
ACT

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20.-Passage
of the currency bill finds the New
York banking community, which was
none too kindly disposed toward the
measure, more or less ready to accept
the salient features of the bill. The
measure passed the senate last night,
"a to "a.
1t is not thought that any national
bank of Importance will carry ut the
threat heard few weeks ago to re-
linquish its federal charter and oper-
ate under a state charter. In fact,
the president of large Wall street
bank said today. that all of the 36
national banks of New York could be
depended on to enter the new banking
system as soon as the law took effect.
Final work of preparing the bill for
President Wilson's signature was be-
gun today when house and senate
conferees met to compose differences
between the "Owen substitute" as the
measure was known as it passed the
senate. and the Glass bill, which was
the administration measure in the
house.
Senators Owen, Reed O'Gorman,
Pomerene. Shafroth and Hollis, demo-
Gratis, and Senators Nelson, Bristow
and Crawford, republicans, will rep
resent the senate in the conference.
Chairman Glass of the house banking
committee, who was sponsor for the
bill in the house, will head the house
conferees. who will include Represen-
tatives Korbly and Hayes.
An effort will be made to agree on a
report which both houses of congress
can accept, so that the bill may be
finally engrossed and taken to the
white house to become a law with
President Wilson's signature by Tues
| day
The San Francisco call and post., 1913-12-20
THREE NAMED MAN
SUED FOR DIVORCE

Mrs. Mary f. Cole today filed suit
for divorce and for annulment of her
marriage. In the former she alleges
desertion. though the husband was
ordered out of town by Police Judge
Weller al her request in 1909.
The defendant. is Martin S. Cole.
alias John Francis Farrell, alias Jo-
seph Thornton. They were married
in San Francisco March IA 1908 She
says she believes his right name is
Farrell and he is living at rs East
One Hundred and Eighth street, New
York.
The wife. who lives at 1925 Steiner
streets. wants to resume her maiden
name. Brown.
According to her attorney, Francis
M. Colvin, the husband was In police
court when ordered to leave town on
a charge of theft.
Joseph Thornton, according to police
records, was arrested in 1909 for pas
ing two forged checks A year before
he was Jailed on three forgery
charges.
The San Francisco call and post., 1913-12-20
Winter Garden Star Rival to
HonorS Accorded Mrs.
Thomas

If Paris on Mount Ida rendered his
judgment that the apple for the fair
est belonged equally TO Venus and
Juno and Minerva. he would be about
in the position of Paul Helleu. the
Partisan painter of portraits
For some years he awarded the
palm OF beauty to Mrs. Leonard NJ.
Thomas of New York, young matron
of society. formerly Miss Blanche Oel-
richs, and there is no doubt that she
was and is the most beautiful woman
in the four hundred.
Now Mr.. Helleu says Vera Maxwell.
beauty of the New York Winter gar
den. is the most beautiful.
But how about Mrs. Thomas?
She's sure the most beautiful also"
is the diplomatic reply OF the artist.
But which is more beautiful than
the other?
Search me-" says Helleu. in the
idiom of the Quarter Latin.
Fact is he has painted Miss Vera s
portrait as well as Mrs. Thomas. II
is Helleus forte to paint any beauti-
full woman and make her the most
beautiful that ever was.
America is full of the most beauti-
full women If you let N. Paul paint
EN- first.