davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-21
Euenin8 Chat
BY RUTH CAMERON.

The Turning of the Christmas Tide.
1t is the belief of many people that
the tide OF extravagant, excessive
Christmas giving has actually turned,
and that we are on the way back to
a saner, happier celebration of Christ
mas.
1t is an optimistic belief. but I am
inclined to think that the optimism is
justified. In my own circle of ac-
quaintances I know three families in
which Christmas giving has been radi-
cally simplified. In one. all giving.
except to the children, has ceased. In
another, all giving among the men,
bers of the family is omitted by mu-
tual consent. although gifts are still
exchanged with outside friends. Per-
sonally, 1 like the simpfification OF
another family better, which is to give
gifts to each other, but to Limit their
gifts to relatives and friends to an ex-
change Of cards or Christmas letters.
Incidentally, the money they used to
spend in broadcast giving is now given
to those who really need 1t.
Besides these three families, know
of several others. az told you be-
fore, in which giving among the fam
lilies of brothers and sisters-in-law is
limited to giving to the children: and
of q man who gives not formally to
each of. his relatives each year. but
now to one. now to another. as the
spirit and the knowledge Of their
needs move him.
OF course, these are but few cases.
but straws show which way the wind
blows.
We were talking this matter over
the other day and an outspoken young
person exclaimed: But what will be
left of Christmas If we stop giving
presents?'' Isn't that typical of the
materialistic spirit that has had us in
it's grip for the hast twenty-five or
fifty years?
What will be left of Christmas
Why, the spirit, Of which the gift ia
only the symbol What will be left
monies that have been obscured by
the Christmas present mania. Not
that we shall ever entirely stop CIV
ing giftS-I don't think I'd quite like
that myself. 1 only wish that we
might take some of the emphasis from
of Christmas. Christmas is nearly
two thousand years old. Gift giving,
as we practice it today. is not much
more than fifty or a hundred years
old. In the eighteen hundred years
before gift giving became the chief
ceremony Of the day. many other
beautiful ceremonies clustered about
Now. why not revive them? Why
not develop others Of our own? The
reading Of Dickens 'Christmas Carol''
is a Christmas Eve ceremony in sew
eral homes. A joke Christmas pud-
ding or Christmas tree for the Christ
mas dinner table is a distinctive fea-
ture of another family's Christmas.
While q glorious. long afternoon OF
simple. childish games with the young
folk Is never omitted in another home.
OF course we do not need to give
up the gift giving, and am sure
there IL no danger that Ne shall. but
can we not put leAE emphasis on the
Christmas Of exchange and barter and
more ON the Christmas Of homecom-
ings and reunions 81 companionship
with the children. OF kindly greetinga
for our friends and, lowing words for
our own. OF family gatherings around
the open fire, Of lighted tapers and
carol singing. of softsned hearts and
loonAer memories?
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-21

Proficiency in any line of endeavor
Is almost certain to net large returns.
The estate Of the late Richard A. Can
field. who was the peer Of American
gamblers. is valued at 100000. And
he and his family lived on a lavish
scale for many years.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-21

der the window. and then 1 stretched
my neck and looked in the window.
and there on the table. in a little
basket, 1 saw those strengthening
eggB''
Perhaps white hen il color blind. !"
said speckled hen The eggs she
saw may be white after all"
IF you doubt my word or my sight
60 and hook for yourselves," said
white hen, holding her head high.
You will find blue and q pink egg
just a. I told you.''
on ran speckled hen and brown
hen, followed by many others, and
ali the chicks In the yard.
One after another they flew to tho
top of the barrel and looked In the
window at the eggs white hen told
them Of. 1t was all too true; the eggs
weFe blue and pink.
Peep poop. poep, peop, wovWzut to
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-21

One OF Mother Natures little puz-
sIes. to the Columbus Journal, is how
the average cat, such as the neigh
boris. can leave SO many hairs on the
automobile seat and still look about
the same as usual
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-21

Christobal Pankhurst says at the
end Of the war the suffragettes may
renew militant tactics. notes the Chi
cago Herald. and it adds: She ought
to hesitate before saying anything SO
calculated to prolong the European
conflict
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-21

No matter what happens to him
these days. observes the Chicago Her
aid. John Bull consoles himself with
the philosophical reflection that it
helps recruiting II 1t doesn't do any
thing o1so
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-21

England will hardly. expect any
one Of her men to do his duty i'm
mediately after he has disposed pr
the hunk Of plum pudding to which
he is to be treated on Christmas day.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-21

And the fogs for which the coast
Of England is SO famous are more
trying now than they have ever been.
They seem to afford most service
able cover for maraudinz German
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-21

4, Present indications are that the
prophecy of nineteen snow storms for
these parts during the winter, because
the first one fell on the nineteenth day
of n month, will be more than full
fiIlod
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-21

That the Austrian expedition across
the Carpathian mountains has been
checked by the Russians is not nearly
90 surprising as that there were any
Austrian soldiers left to undertake
such a campaign
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-21

A vociferous protest is in order
from Lawyer Brandeis over the de-
cision of the interstate commerce COM
mission that permits the eastern rail-
roads to raise their freight rates. II
is contrary to his wishes and plans in
the premises
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-21

The proba abilities are that those two
Austrian army corps which were re-
Gently annihilated by the Servians will
be campaigning vigorously against the
Russians before many days have
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-21

The increase Of per cent in freight
rates that has been awarded the east
ern railroads is not so important of
itself as Is the intimation it conveys
thar the interstate commerce commits
sioners are of a mind to accord the
railroads a fair and just treatment.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-21
FULL LEASED WIRE REPORT
OF THE ASSOCIATED rRESS.

The State journal 10 q member Of the
Associated Press and receives the full day
eelegraph report Of that great news or
Sanitation. for the exclusive afternoon
puhlica ton in Topeka.
Z The news IL received IN The State Jour-
nal building over wires for this sole pur-
pose.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-21

incidentally. the great European
war Is providing the big surgeons
with countless opportunities for fancy
experiments.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-21

Presumably, the plumber is among
those who are most dissatisfied that
the zero weather did not continue. The
most delectable fruit for him is frozen
water pipes.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-21

Won't the white" Christmas en-
thusiasts be paeved if the snow disap
pears before the Joyous holiday?
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-21

Old General Snow is among thu
welcome visitors to Kansas at thi
season Of the year, even II he Is {
good deal OF a nuisance to the cityans
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-21

II "Gussie" Gardner doesn't watch
out he's likely to become SO angry
that he'll bite himself.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-21

We're the Germans as easily stopped
~ are the Austrians, the war would
not last much longer.
The Ronan pioneer., 1914-01-02
KELLEY
DONATES HISTORY

Sheriff Kelley this week do
mated to the Roman public school
three volumes of Helen Fitzger-
aid Sanders history of Montana.
This work will be a valuable ad-
dItion to the library and the gift
will be appreciated by the pupils
Of this school.
The first volume is devoted en-
tirely to the early history Of the
state, commencing with the
earliest explorations and continu-
ing to the present time. 1t gives
the origin Of the name and traces
the history from the time the
Verendryes first entered the
confines Of what is now the
Treasure State, in search Of a
route to the Pacific ocean.
The history contains much Of
value to the literature Of the
state and is full Of information
Of value to the student as well
as Of interest to anyone who may
read it's pages. Volumes II and
III contain many biographical
sketches of prominent Montan-
ans, including full page illustra-
tions Of men and places.
The author is the wife of
Lewis P. Sanders, a son Of Col.
w. +. Sanders, one Of the earl
lest pioneers and one Of the first
senators from Montana, to whom
the work is dedicated.
The Ronan pioneer., 1914-01-02
MUST TEST SEED
SAYS NEW LAW

The seed law passed by the
last legislature comes into effect
on January 1st. This provides
that on all seed sold in the state,
unless labelled as not cleaned,
there must be an attached label
showing the following: Kind of
seed, variety, purity, germina-
ton, date Of termination, where
grown, name and address of
seller.
To provide for furnishing this
information free, a state grain
labratory has been established
at the Montana experiment sta
ton at Bozeman, and samples
sent in will be tested and re-
ported without charge.
With seeds like wheat, oats,
pCdS, loi ~, GlC., oSllh Three 10
four ounces. With clover, al
falfa, grasses and other fine
seeds, one to two ounces is suffic-
lent. The reports will be re-
turned as soon as the test is
completed, which will be from
three to eight days with grains
and from ten to twenty-five days
with some small seeds.
Put your name and address on
each package, and when several
packages are sent, number these
and keep a record showing what
seed each number refers to.
State if seed is home grown or
purchased, and if purchased,
give growers name.
Address samples to State
Grain Labratory, Experiment
Station, Bozeman, Montana.
The Ronan pioneer., 1914-01-02

II. n. Savage, engineer in
charge of the reclamatior pro
iects in Montana and Northern
Wyoming, with Headquarters at
Great Falls, was on the reserva-
ton last week delivering talks to
the people ON matters connected
with the reclamation service.
He was in St. Ignatius last Fri
day night and in Roman S}atur-
day forenoon, going from here
to Poison where he delivered his
lecture. At st. lgnatius he
illustrated his talk with motion
picture slides, and again at Pol
son. He would have done 50
here but it was impossible to Sc
cure motion picture machine
for the purpose.
While here, Mr.. Savage talked
interestingly of the work being
done and had along with him
many maps which show at a
glance the progress Of the work
at this time. One Of his maps
shows every farm unit, Indian
allotment and other land now
under ditch and which could be
supplied with water the coming
season. His data is so much
more complete than anything we
have here that to hear his lee
ture would be a treat. 1t is to
be hoped he will consent to come
to Roman at some future date
when complete arrangements can
be made so that all may have
due notice of the time and be
present.
The Ronan pioneer., 1914-01-02

$40. COO TO some lumber company,
without making an effort to COM
ply with the spirit OF the law.
Thus. the government loses the
timber aud the land and does
not gain a real home-maker.
Such homesteaders add nothing
to the wealth Of the nation. The
law should punish them, in fact,
as frauds. There is a remedy
for this condition Of things, and
it lies in the selling Of the land
and the timber separately. -
Much attention is devoted in
the report to consideration OF the
reclamation of arid lands, Dis
cussion Of the subject is replete
with interest to the farmers who
locate on the various projects,
Secretary Lane suggests that
they be given a longer time than
l0years in " hich t. pay for their
lands, because they are genuine
pioneers in a new field Of work,
oa the success Of which depends
greatly the roscuing Of vast
+l,rss,i tgl,t- OF 4l1r,, ,41.lo, ,,,. e, 4 i,-..,
The Ronan pioneer., 1914-01-02
WATER WAN7ERS' CLUB"
NAME OF ORGANIZATION

A communication received by
the Pioneer Wednesday announc-
es that a Water Wanters' Club"
has been organized among the
homesteaders in the territory
west Of the Round Butte and has
been named the Water Wantcrs'
Club Of Hortc, Montana. Frank
Doser is chairman and Mat jaeger
secretary. The object Of the or
ganization is to poster the GOV
ernment into giving us water. :"
says the communication. The
work is being pushed along with
enthusiasm and determination
and the help Of every homestead
er in that vicinity is asked. There
&ilI be a meeting at the tairVieW
schoo! house on Sunday, Jan. 4,
1914, at 2 p. M, to which an in
yitation to attend is extended TO
every business man in Roman.
Poison VIII be represented at the
meeting by Jas. Harbert, presi-
dent Of the Poison chamber Of
commerce,
The Ronan pioneer., 1914-01-02
Married..

At the Catholic church in Ro-
nan on Saturday, Dec. 27, 1913,
by Rev. Father William O'Malley,
Mr.. William w. Crawford and
Miss Delphine Houle.
The bride and groom both re-
side west of town about four
miles and are we'll known in that
vicinity. The bride is a daughter
of Mr.. and Mrs. Jos. HOuIe, and
the groom has a ranch in that
neighborhood. Both have many
friends who extend congratulate
tions.
A wedding dance was given in
the GlaciervieW school house the
same evening which was attend
ed by almost everybody in that
section and about thirty from Ro-
nan, all reporting a splendid time.
The Ronan pioneer., 1914-01-02

English; his descriptions shine
with rare brilIiancy Of style; and
his account Of bis experiences
aud observations us a convict in
the federal prison at Atlanta
is told. in a manner that com
peIs the most Indifferent
reader instantly to sit up
and take sharp notice. These
narratives. IA in all, are now
running, as one Of several feat
uras Of deep human interest, in
taa Sunday issue of the Ana
G. ia Standard. This newspaper
seems to have a faculty Of seiz-
inE the best journalistic features
c0atemporaueous literature af-
fords. Last summer it published
Pr. sid mt Wilson, s plain Talks
to the People, " a series Of re-
narkable papers that were read
bN millions of Americans regard
l. Of politics.
1t goes without saying that
every community owes its first
a e@iance to its home paper. 1t
IL we'll however that INTELLIGENT
The Ronan pioneer., 1914-01-02
Behind Prison Walls

One Of the most eminent of
living American men Of letters.
Julian Hawthorne. who, as was
Lord Bacon. is a moral defective,
has about as much sense Of
honor as an elephant has wings.
Long before his conviction of
swindling in selling stock in gold
mines whose sole SUPPLY Of the
precious metal cohsintad ia gold
bricks, Hawthorne was known
among his acquaintances as a
man not to be trusted in fnar-
cial transactions Of any sort.
Just the same, he is a master of
The Ronan pioneer., 1914-01-02

Governor Lister of Washing
ton visited Seattle the other day
and while there inspected the
quarters Of the unemployed men
in that city. He found 500 men
sleeping on the bare floors of a
three story building, many Of
them without sufficient covering
and suffering With the cold. It
is said there was not Il hobo
among them, all the men being
willing and anxious to work but
unable to find employment, They
have a mayor, judge, and po-
lice In their organization and
mean to keep all the laws rs
nearly as possible.
The Ronan pioneer., 1914-01-02
With bold strokes Franklin X.

outlined in his annual report to
the president, q }'Va8 policy in
she conservation 0G Ike vast ma
tural resources the United
States, which yet within the
regulatory powe. aI the gov
5rnment and poit ed to the i'm
portant results that may be
achieved through the develop
ment Of these resources under
proper supervisor,
Com )arativel7. the report is
brief. 1t, likewise. is wholly
unique, in that it contains not q
single recommendation. Sug-
gestions for action, which Sec
netary Lane observes emphatic
ally is what the country desires
and needs, are numerous; but he
prefers to propose general pol
icies to the making Of fiat rec
concentrations.
Two notable and interesting
predictions are Indicated rather
lhan made in the report. One is
hat the time is not far distant
when coal of too low grade to
stand storage or transportation
viii be converted into electricity
1T the mouth Of the mines and
widely distributed for lighting,
neat and power;;' the other,
shat the gigantic force now
Wasting it's force in the rivers
9f the country will be so con-
:rolled by dams so as to provide
neat, light and power to the peo-
nle and that within a gener-
.tjon | believe the people will be
us alive to the value of public
ownership of hydro-eIectric pow
II plants as they are today to
municipality owned water works.
In the opening lines of the re-
l,ort. Secretary Lane takes up a
serious situation which obtains
n a great section of the country.
There exists a feeling in the
vest, " says he, that it's affairs
and needs have not been given
hat consideration at the hands
If the national government
which they merit. This feeling
IS not confined TO spectators or
aXploiters. 1t is the sentiment
If many who are without selfish
motive and regard the matter
wholly from the standpoint of
rational growth.
There is one very simple ex-
9lanation for the existence Of
his feeling. We have adven-
tured upon a new policy of ad-
ninistering our affairs and have
not developed adequate machin-
cry. We have called halt on
methods Of spoilation which ex-
]sted, to the great benefit of
many, but we have failed to sub
site methods, sane, healthful
and progressive, by which the
normal enterprise and ambitious
people can make full use of their
own resources. We abruptly
closed opportunities to the mon
opolist, but that did not open
them to the developer.
The land policy put into force,
ne says. caused dismay and
discomfort" The congress has
been most generous in it's dis
position of the public lands.
They were given to the railroads
ana to the states. 10 classify
them was to difficult task.
They would classify themselves
when they arrived in individual
ownership. And SO the door was
opened for monopoly and for
fraud.
IF the government did not
appreciate the Invaluable nature
Of its assets there were men
who did. The nation wanted
home-makers, but found its lands
drifting into the hands of cor
porations, which were withdraw
The Ronan pioneer., 1914-01-02

Roman Pioneer, Business and
pleasure has led me off my old
range and like the rest Of the
animals with which have grown
UP, am by instinct forced to
sniff the air Whin the wind is in
northwest, Although | am with
friends in a good country cannot
help but note the natural advan-
tages our country has over this.
Looking at it from q farmer or
stock -raiscrs point Of view there
is absolutely no comparison be-
tween the Flathead and any
thing | have seen since | crossed
the Rockies, TO begin with in
the thickIy settled districts here
land is 50 much higher than at
home that it would be necessary
to produce twelve to fifteen per
cent more here than there to
make the same net profits.
The cost Of production OF hay
and forage here is greater for
number Of reasons. There are
weeds and pests that the new
countries know nothing about.
There is no such a thing rs q
foot Of outside range. There is
little sale for butter or cream
and the prices are barely half
what they are at home. Most
Of the farmers raise stock for
market and their only income is
from finished beef, mutton, pork
and poultry.
The illusion that food-stuf1's
and clothing is SO much cheaper
here than in the west is a mis-
take. | have been in a number
Of the big cities here and find
very little difference in the prices
here and there. The only notice
able difference is in the rate Of
interest.
The Flatheader has the advan-
tage over the farmer here Of
knowing that his land is going to
double in value in a very short
time. | am writing this because
| believe it may be Of interest to
some and believe the back homers
have cause me to have a wrong
impression My sympathies and
well wishes are with the mer-
chants and ! am forced to give
tbem credit for being less on the
order Of pack Of robbers than |
have heretofore thought.
| want to say again that the
Flathead is a garden 50 far as
natural resources are concerned
and that its speedy development
is inevitable. | do not wish to
say one word against the east
but they have advanced into the
developed age Of middle life
while our part Of the west
would compare to youth or in
fancy with its full development
still before it.
Wishing a Merry Xmas to the
Pioneer and its readers, / remain
yours respectfully,
JOHN d. BOWDISH.
Mel LeansbOrO H.. Dec. 22. 1912.