davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-13

in immense quantities. They have
proven the salvation OF Alaska and
many of those who are disappointed
in finding gold go into the reindeer an
dustry. 1t is estimated that a herd
doubles itself in three years There
are now probably a million and half
deer in Alaska. Within ten years II il
predicted that the country should De
supplying the United States with much
meat.
The flesh of the reindeer is delicious:
and there is no reason why hams ana
sides from Santa Claus land should not
come south in big trains such as now
draw out of Chicago. Meat from the
Arctic. meat raised on barren wastes
which will solve the high price OF liv-
ing. ought to be in the near future the
solution which Alaska offers.
The ideal reindeer. drawing the sled
of Santa Claus covered with jingling
bells must give place to the modern
reality. And this reality is the animal
which has pretty nearly turned Alaska
from a frozen waste on which even its
natives must starve ia land of plenty
1t is furnishing meat, milk, cheese. but
ter. clothing thread, leather, skins and
TRANSFORMATION TO the Eskimo; it is a
COW a beef a horse and sheep all
rolled into one Some day. in our mar
kets We may see the sign of reindeer
steaks" as common as the one of fresh
apps is now, for Sa MIA Claus steeds
are now one of the worlds most valu-
able assets.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-13

sionaries could get from the animals
fresh milk, meat and also 4 bit of
revenue from the sale of the carcass
and the hauling of freight.
i, X
The original object in establishing
the reindeer industry in Alaska was
purely a humanitarian one-that of
giving the native, whose animals were
disappearing, new creature which
would supply his wants in far more
perfect manner than any other creature
had ever done. But when gold was dis
covered and the rush to the Yukon and
the Klondike begun, the wisdom of
having reindeer in this arctic land was
shown at once.
Here was vast land Of almost limit
less proportions dotted with gold. Ships
could not get up the small streams. nor
a horse over the mountain trails. Dogs
could not draw the heavy loads which
the deer pull; they have to be supplied
from the same source as man, and their
best work was about twenty miles a
day. Deer can travel more than dou-
BILE that distance.
So to the reindeer is falling the work
of transportation to the mines. They
to Egypt. One deer can carry sled
weighted with 200 pounds from one end
of Alaska to the other, living solely
on the moss he finds beneath the snow.
The prospector can carry with him
larger load of supplies than burro
ing 100 pounds. a miner can spend
months away from his depot of supply.
The deer, which were at first only q
few hundred in number. have Increased
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-13

much stronger and superior in every
way to dogs. In the winter of 1902
the United States mail between Nome
and Candle, on the Arctic ocean, was
carried by these deer They had. in
addition, heavy loads of passengers
eight days, journey for which the
dogs would have required more than
twice the time. Besides, deer can
travel as well at night as in the day.
The deer find their food beneath the
snow wherever they stop, while dogs
carried on the sled
In summer these reindeer are used
as pack animals, much as the miners
in the Rockies utilize the burro A
small man can ride one as well as he
can a horse: While his winter food
consists OF the moss. the summer fare
Is or grass. twigs and mushrooms. all
Of which grow abundantly. They shed
their horns every spring, the old ones
dropping Off and new, soft, thick, furry
ones growing in their place. When the
deers horns are in this soft condition
the natives call 1t being in the velvet"
The plan pursued by the govern
ment was that of Ioaning a certain
number of deer to missions or reliable
individuals for three years, and at
the expiration of the time reclaim
ing only the original loan. One
Sam was that at Cape Prince of
Wales. This herd grew so rapidly
that at the end of a few years many
males were sold to butchers at fine
prices. while others were used in haul
ing freight into the miners. The
since 1t enabled the natives to be sup
piled with food and clothing in their
homes, instead Of having them go to
the miners villages. while the mis-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-13
Or Ant DE sTRcHERs ,oF STURDY LEAD SoLDlE.ss

away from the bird, resolved never
again to put her trust in nature.
One teacher, a middle-aged woman
with gentle, smiling face, brought
her charges to a big department store
for a day of fun. Her children were
nearly all foreign or of foreign
parentage When they reached the toy
department the whole crowd made Il
concerted dive for the American made
hobby horses and chung to them in
preference to the metal toys of Euro
pean lands
There's neutrality for you." remark
ed one clerk, who was looking out
for the youngsters-and the hobby
horses.
In another store there was a solemn
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-13

unendingly. One remarkable engine of
destruction for the battles of lead SOL
dierS was a cannon made in Germany
and perfect copy, in miniature. Of a
field gun. A small wheel raised and
lowered the gun. The breech opened
and shut mechanically. A metal cup
fitting into the breech could be loaded
with cap. Then, when a small pellet
was placed in the muzzle the force of
the exploding cap was directed against
1t and the pellet could be thrown dis
lance of about ten feet.
There were soldiers in uniforms of
all the nations. camel corps, signal
corps, hospital corps and even aviation
squads. Given a large room and as
many soldiers as he wanted, a boy
could have reconstructed a section of
a modern battlefield.
\ middle-aged man, one of the kind
who puts on his Observation-Disclosures
slippers after dinner and snoozes over
his cigar and paper. led his son
through this bewildering maze of war
rorS.
himself. shaking his head. IT'S
scientific warfare these days. not the
good old Indians and cowboys"
Then his eye frightened. His son
was calling to him.
Pop" said the boy. excitedly, 81
want them
Between a company of the I'D High
landers and squad of French cavalry
he had discovered the good old Indian
and cowboy scrap of yester year. From
the haste with which father seized
upon this cherished group. it is safe
to predict that his son will not be the
only one who will be fooling with
lead soldiers on Christmas morning.
Wonders continued. In one store was
a contrivance painted red and pre-
sumably in imitation of a grain eleva-
tor. A little ear, running up steep
incline. received load of sand at the
top, and, running down, deposited it
neatly al the bottom. A leaden weight
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-13

STOPPING to view it closer The mock
ing bird continued its song. Event
ually the woman whistled to it, while
the spectators drew closer to await the
denouement.
For several minutes the woman in
dulged in what she earnestly believed
to be a loud whistle No one enlight-
ened her. They let her go on and on
to her doom. Finally. the salesgirl,
who had stepped to another counter,
returned. She began to wind up the
machinery, which is located under the
bird cage. The woman stared The
pursed lips, set for another whistle,
FORMED an amazed o. and the whistler
slowly turned the color of an Amer
lean beauty rose. She turned and went
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-13
THE. cANEL CORPS
IS A DEADLY
ENGINE OFWAR

.sld the sand furnished the motive
power.
Speaking of neutrality. there was one
American baby who furnished material
for a splendid Christmas allegory. The
child was being carried through the
store. when his rowing eye fastened
upon two little dolls, one IN the elabo-
rate red and blue Of the French SOL
der and the other in the greenish
gray of the Teuton. The baby hadn't
much command of English. but he pos
sessed a masterful mind. Reaching
toward the two soldiers. he commenced
TO squall.
Instantly the mother stopped before
them.
"AlI right. dearest she promised.
mother will get them for YOU"
Another yell from the infant. He
didn't want promises. He wanted ac-
ton The mother paid for the pair.
and they were promptly sent TO the
nearest bundle wrapper. During this
time baby continued to make il clear
that he was among those present.
The harassed mother bounced him up
and down, but that didn't get anybody
anywhere. The sales girl famed her.
self with her handkerchief and looked
as though she would IKE 10 hiahe =
few observations.
When the package returned. neatly
wrapped up. the mother preparsd to
drop 1t into her handbag Nothlhg 90
ing Baby had his ideas about those
open and the dolls taken out--the little
French warrior with his baggy req
trousers and the little German soldier
with his trim-fitting suit-and placed
in the arms of the youngster con.
tented smile overspread his face Ihe
racket abruptly ended. when last
seen the youngster was cooling ike
Young dove as he Rugged the Warriors
to his chest ...,
The dolls department of a certain Dig
store the other day when to her ears
came waiting cry. 40,
mamma" walled the voice. Mamma
The cry was rusty. amp entity the
cry that a healthy child of three or
four might utter.
"A lost child" sain the spinster. hur.
riedly, and began to look around
Nothing in sight. The perplexed woman
was about to leave when she caught
sight of doll in a crib The manni-
kin, clad in the habiliments OF infancy.
was about four inches tall. She was
standing in her crib and clutching the
sides. AS she rocked back and forth
she uttered the amazingly human app
peal for Mamma, Mamma.
Well" said the spinster as she In
spected the toy, II will say for that
doll that, for it's size. it can make the
loudest noise. | ever heard"
The afternoon in Toyland is more Tor
~ older children. 1t would seem that
when o'clock comes the children OF
the higher grades arise en- masse and
streak toward the shopping district.
There develops about O'Clock
markedly increased interest in air
rifles and foot balls and sleds and
skipping ropes and the like.
How all the vanished memories re-
turn after "A trip to ToYland There
was that memorable Christmas morn
ing when every one snea ked out or
bed at O'Clock and crepj down the
dark cold stairs to get stolen peek
at the ghostly Christmas tree. That
was the year when the nrst shotgun
hung proudly from the spangled tree
Strange how the old ghosts arise
after a trip to Toyiand.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-13

and dienified donkey which seemed to
be made of fluffy wool and wood. He
was perched high on counter, which
was lucky for him. Every child, boy
or girl. who passed the counter halted
and tried to persuade the grown per-
son, if there was a grown person with
him, to sneak the burro and give him
(the child, of course) a free ride. If
every youngster who desired to ride
that burro actually had had his desire
fulfilled there would have been one
stuffed donkey in Washington reduced
to state of nervous exhaustion long
before Christmas arrived.
Wars influence showed in the stores
military toys. and also upon the mill
tant boys who crowded the counters
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-13
. THE ALLIES IN T01lAND r

counter until they were awakened from
their trance and hauled away; elfin
children who futtered from place to
place, always finding something new,
yet lingering long over nothing;
ragged children whose Christmas end
ed before Christmas day arrived: petlu-
liant children. jolly children. Always
a contrast.
The contrast in children was no more
astonishing than the contrast In toys.
In the great buying campaign. lasting
for more than a year. every purse had
been considered and every childish de-
sire remembered. A horn for nickel
a lound noisy horn worthy of a par
ticularly blatant and disorderly auto
mobile. And a hooking bird from
France, marvellous creature in
golden cage that cost much as
competent stenographer earns in a
month. A popgun for a dime, a good
reliable popgun which expelled a cork,
blunderbuss fashion. An astonishingly
complicated railway system, with
switches, stations. bridges, tunnels and
go into the home of some rich man at
five hundred times the cost of the pop
gun. Games for 10 cents and games
for $40. Dolls of all the nations
canvas-painted. terra Gotta, alabaster,
wood and rubber dolls
The mocking bird from France was
one of the most astonishing bits of me-
chanism found in any of the stores
The little bird wore the brilliant
plumage which it had possessed in
real life. Its head was so contrived
that it turned nervously from side to
side. and it's little tail kept up a con-
tinuous twitching.
The birds most unusual feature was
its trill. which was absolutely lifelike.
The sound seemed to come directly
from the birds throat. and the syn
chronization of sound and motion was
absolutely perfect. When the bird
trilled its beak trembled, and when it
chirped there was the well defined
opening and shutting of the bill as
each cry was uttered.
A woman approached it.
Pretty little thing" she murmured,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-13
sTEEDs OF SANTA ARE BECOMING GREAT

chased and can be kept around the house
like cattle.
After many labors DIR. Jackson sue
cecded in getting means to bring into
Alaska from Siberia deer of the Chukches
breed. later securing those of the Tunguse
stock. the latter being a very strong,
tough animal Here in this great barren
north. with its 100000 square miles of
tundra, on which no other animal could
live. the experiment was begun in 1891.
Everywhere beneath the vast expanse of
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-13

to enforce constraint- There must be
a special kind of man and woman who
is designated by fate to serve in toy
departments. Even the floor walker.
rotund and dignifed man, needed but
red cap and a set of white whiskers
to transform him into the patron saint.
Everywhere was jollity, everywhere
one found consideration for the child
a desire to let him do almost anything
he wanted to do.
One clerk lifted a tiny youngster and
placed him on the high end of a Won
derful see-saw. Ten feet away an
age, who probably had youngsters of
his own was explaining in detail to a
little girl, just how roller coaster
worked. He picked up a fiat. painted
conveyance that reSembled a bobsled
with wheels substituted for runners.
Now said the kindly clerk. you
place this SO that the wheels nit into
the tracks. Then you climb aboard
and runs long way before it stops.
On level sround-great guns
The little girl. having received this
much instruction. carefully laid her
and before the astonished clerk could
do more than make his reference to
great guns" had started on what
may conservatively be called an abb
dominal whopper.
Followed a moment of thrills. For
twenty-five feet this young expert
menter sailed among the legs of terri
fed shoppers. Then another clerk
picked her up. wagon and all, and car
ried her back to the starting point.
Mustn't do that" admonished the
second clerk. You might upset some
nice lady
The young lady agreed, rather re-
luctantly with this suggestion. Her
attitude plainly was that elderly per
sons with inconvenient legs should
keep out of the toy department.
Children, children everywhere, Chill
dren who could not move from a single
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-13

some Siberians to teach the raising of
the animal, and few years later, Lap
landers, sixty-three in number, were
added to the colony. These Laps were
brought the 10000 miles from home at
the expense of Uncle Sam and remained
during the time of their contract Some
returned to their native SHOWS. but two
thirds remained in Alaska, making for
tunes in the gold fields of Cape Nome.
The industry proved a success from the
FIRST A young deer four years old will
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-13
A Inke.

<THE little boys Of Brussels" said
Henri Monnet, French consul to
San Francisco. played not long ago a
good joke on a German officer.
"A band of twenty or more little
boys, with carrots stuck in the crown
of their hats in imitation of the Ger
man helmet. stood in military line. AS
the German officer approached they be-
gan to do the gander parade. or goose
step. They did it we'll. too. They kept
the leg stiff, lifted il very high and
turned the toe well out. and all their
heads were bent gravely. at the same
angle, toward the German officer.
THE only trouble was they didn't sd-
vance. They brought down their feet
hard-one, two: one. two-in the goose
step, but they remained quite sta
tionary.
The officer smiled. What are you
doing, boys?' he said.
Then the leader of the Belgian
urchins saluted and answered:
1--WE are playing that were the Ger
mans marching on Paris. This is the
way to do it-keep perfectly still
isn't itf"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-13

Reindeer Imported From Siberia by the Govern
ment Have Saved Natives From Starvation
and May Yet Solve Problem of High Cost of
Meats in the United States-Work of DR..
Sheldon Jackson, Who First Planned Propa-
cation of Siberian Animals on American Soil.
Why First Reindeer Were Brought Into
Alaska.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-13

bring in from fifty to a hundred dollars
for its meat. and If trained to the sled
its price is about $50. Each doe adds
a fawn to the herd each year. and these
doe, when a fawn is by her side, will
give every day about a cup of milk SO
rich that 1t is almost pure cream. This
makes the finest of cheese and butter
and, when diluted with water, de-
licious milk
For travel, reindeer have proven
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-13

snow was a mass Of long. fbrous white
moss, which Is the food most enjoyed by
reindeer. There was room enough for
100000 of these animals. They would
give. the natives meat, milk and clothing,
and also be to him what horse is to
man. His food was to be had by dig
ging with his strong hoofs beneath the
snow What an ideal creature for the
white continent with its disheartened
natives
Along with the deer were brought
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-13

thousands of toys, exceed
ing the dreams of the imagi-
nation in their ingenuity, in
their beauty and their va
riety If there is washington eniio
who has not yet been in the shopp1hs
district of the city-and there cant oe
many-it still has the golden OPP
portunity of trip to Toyland-for IN
the children's room there Is no dis
elimination between the younSster OF
wealthy parents. on whom hundreds OF
dollars will be expended, and children
of the poor, whose worldly ambitions
are conferred on rag doll
Hundreds and hundreds of children
were making the rounds of the stores
last week. Some went with their
parents. others with the older brothers
and sisters and others with their
teachers A group of children-possi-
bly, score or more-stood in front or
Il great plate glass window and eyed
the wonderful treasures that were eX-
hibited. There were dolls as large a
some of the smaller children, dressed
in the fine linen of the aristocracy.
and sleds and strange. complicated
games and puzzles. These children
were pupils in one of the public
schools While they stood on the por
tails of Toyland. marveling at the
genius of Santa Claus, who could de-
wise so many things. one of them be-
San a wishing game
Il WISH" said a young lady of nine
years, who was evidently the little rich
girl of the class, Il could have that"
aoir. with other things a tiny brass
led with pillows. sheets and a mat
less. Several other little girls nodded
heir heads. That" had also gained a
ace in their affections.
\ shock-headed boy. whose trousers
cd in need of an immediate
I'd prolonged acquaintance with some
able tailor. grinned impishly. 1t re-
at he hoped he would be around.
tn an air rifle or a bean shooter,
hen the little girl began playing
tn the boudoir. No finer target could
There was tiny philosopher among
lie children The boy was talking to
,nself.
It's as much fun wishin' as gittin'."
Once inside the big building the
nildren seemed bewildered by the
asst. noisy. ever.moving scene which
hey surveyed. They crowded about
heir teachers and stared with wide
open eyes at the gaudy. multi-colored
display.
Then. their teachers leading them,
they made their way toward the ele-
Vator, which was to whiSk them mi
-aculously into the real of unrealities-
Even the elevator boy. gloomy look
ing negro, lost his customary taciturn-
;yi when the youngsters walked INTO
his car. His eyes opened So did his
mouth. He waved one hand feebly-
Good gracious" said ne. lis you all
de membahs of one fambly?"
continuous chatter as the elevator
ascends- Then portentous silence
as the elevator boy pronounced those
magic words. Toy department on de
right"
There was a mad scramble. though,
lew minutes later. No child could long
remain constrained in the presence of
such scene Nor did the clerks seek
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-13

CANTA CLAUS steeds. imported d
~ few years ago from Siberia by the
government. have propagated vast
herds. They saved the natives from
starvation and are now furnishing cloth
ing, food and motive power 10 the Is
kiInos. They may solve the problem OF
the high cost of meats.
Is Santa still using reindeer in spite
OF the automobile and flying machine?
Judging By the latest photographs Of that
gentleman. Donder and Bitten are still
n harness and as active as when they
started in business several centuries ago.
Nor is there any chance of these animals
50 dear to the heart OF childhood dying
out. The government experiment in
7aising them, which begun u few
ears ago. has proved a success
The reason that the government start
Cd the propagation of Siberian reindeer
"a Alaska was the fact that back in 1890
Or Sheldon Jackson. who was the gen.
eral agent o. education in Alaska, dis
covered that the natives of this vast ter
r!tory were losing their sources OF food
supply. Here was a land. an empire in
itself rich n everything. yet the people
who lived there would soon be without
food or clothing
The whales were each year going
farther north. the walrus which lad for
merly existed in great herds. were be-
coming extinct. and the seals were being
SO rapidly extinguished that an Eskimo
would have TO travel at east fifteen
miles to secure one. Even the wild carl
bou had been frightened away by mod
ern hunters. Here were thousands of
natives with their food and clothing dis
appearing before the advance Of civiliza-
lion, so DIR. Jackson resolved to remedy
the matter by importing reindeer from
Siberia. The Esk mo had been accustom-
ed to exchange seal skins, his whale oil
and his wairus tusks for these animals,
but as there were thousands of deer in
Siberia. just a few miles over Behrng
strait. where exactly the same climatic
conditions existed as in Alaska, there
was right at hand. so 1t seemed. solu-
ton Of the problem.
DIR. Jackson saw at once that the thing
to do was to import reindeer across the
strait and go at oEce into the business
Of raising them. They would serve
purpose of the animals which had disap-
peared and be, in addition. vast i'm
provement, for they do not have to be
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-13
STRIcT NEUTRALITY
tOREICN CHILDREN ON
AFRICAN HoDBY HORSEs

are here. Thousands anu
thousands of toys, exceed
ing the dreams of the imagi-
nation in their ingenuity. in
their beauty and their va