The Alaska citizen., 1914-12-28
Town Gossip and Stories

their hands Thus the members OF
- the A grade We're those who are per
feet in neatness. the BIS We're me-
dunn, and the C's had hands that
were ineXCusable.
Right then was when things be-
KAN to improve The members Of
the \ grade held themselves aloof
from the others and created much
envy The teacher purchased some
manicure files and left them in her
desk for the use of the pupils, who
are now competing with each other
every day in the matter of being the
neatest
Want To those people who have
Coored relatives in the war zone
News in Europe it must be an
awful disappointment
when the reports indicate that the
country in which the relatives live
is getting the worst Of it. Some
times the war censors are blamed
for the scarcity of war news, and
perhaps they are blamed by some
because the news is of one-sided
nature occasionally. Recently, how
ever some interested foreigners
went as far as to punish the news
paper they were reading for the ma
ture of the news it told.
In certain business house of
this city a crowd of men who grow
weary of resting on Sunday wait up
for The Citizen to appear after mid
night on Monday morning. These
men are foreigners. and afar away
in Europe they have relatives that
are involved in the great strife there.
Thus when the paper comes. the
first thing they want is the war
news. and if it is of nature that
favors the allies. they are ready to
celebrate. but if the Germans are
reported to be gaining, then the
crowd soon shows its disappoint-
nent.
One man who was there one
Monday morning. recently explained
that when The Citizen was receiv-
ed there was much complaint be-
cause the headlines announced that
the Germans We're gaining for that
day The story of the days war
was much in favor of the Germans,
and at last the excited men tore
the paper into small bits to show
their disapproval for its having print
ed news that did not please them.
children's Little children who have
Christmas just arrived at an age
Sayings that will permit them
to take an active in
terest in Santa Claus frequently
say some bright and original things
about the mythical old man. Some
interesting things are being told
about the bright remarks made by
children in Fairbanks on Christmas.
At the Garden Island school house
there was the usual Christmas tree
and Santa Claus this year, the at
fair being held last Wednesday night.
One of the little boys, who is less
than 4 half-dozen years of age, took
the Santa Claus very seriously and
wondered why he did not talk.
After the affair was over and he
had returned home. he kept on talk
ing about Santa Claus and the tree.
and finally after moments sill
ence. he said;
Il know why Santa Claus didn't
talk"
We'll. why was ito" somebody
asked.
why, he had a wooden face
and couldn't move it,"
Another story is being told about
bright child who was at the Christ
mas tree entertainment held Christ
mas Eve at the Methodist church.
The Santa Claus there was creating
much merriment for the children,
and had a word to say to everyone
he came near. One little fellow left
his seat and walked over near the
tree where Santa Claus was stand
ing. Santa turned suddenly, and
seeing the little boy. said
"Why. hello, Ben. Where did you
come FROM"
Without moments hesitation
the little fellow answered in loud
voice that could be heard in every
part of the room:
Il came from my seat"
Verse Little Charley McGrath.
Slightly five years old, who
Changed has been living with
Mr. and Mrs. Charles
Johnston on Garden island since
his mother died, some months ago,
is unusually bright for his age. and
many are the interesting stories
told about him.
The latest and probably the best
story involving the little fellow de-
veloped just before Christmas. He
and little neighbor child had got
ten hold of an old deck Of playing
| cards. and were SO taken up with
them that they were permitted to
make paper houses out of them on
the floor when it was too cold to
play outside the house. In this way.
Little Charley learned the names OF
the picture cards. and could readily
tell the difference between the kings,
jacks and queens.
About this time he was being
trained to recite verse for Sun
day school Christmas entertainment,
the last lines OF which had something
to say about a manger in Bethlehem
that was 1.-The cradle for the King"
When little Charley first rehearsed
the verse. he finished up by adding
hearts; that is he would say, 1.-The
cradle of the King Of hearts" The
family was Mortified, and it was with