davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
WHAT NEW ENGLAND MISSED
Not Until Late in the SOS Was On
servance Of Christmas Fes-
tivaI General.

General as are today both the re-
ligious and secular observance of the
Christmas festival, it is barely half
century since Christmas was tabooed
in large sections of the United States
as we'll as in other countries where
the old Puritan element predominated,
says an exchange. Even as late as
the eos all through New England
Christmas as holiday was ousted
by New Years, except in Catholic or
Episcopal families.
The old batreds growing out of the
wars of the Reformation, both on the
continent and in Great Britain, for
centuries practically abrogated this
annual festival wherever the Puritan
element or it's posterity was the dom
mating factor in the community. The
following from Edward Eggleston's
Transit of Civilization" will give
something Of an idea of the eclipse
which darkened the joyous holiday
history of the United States:
I'm 1870 the Massachusetts legisla-
ture ordained that the mere abstain.
ing from labor on December rs should
be a penal offense The observance
Of Christmas was held Objectionable
not only because it afforded opportun-
ity for the playing of games and pro-
family but because Christmas observ-
ance was Ubiquitous on its own &C.
count, for all honoring of days, times
or seasons other than the Sabbath
seemed to the fine spun Puritan mind
a masked idolatry. The strict Puritan
Sabbath, first rigidly enforced in Eng
land and Scotland, was early trans
planted in New England, where it's
observance was, under similar penal
ties made as strictly compulsory as
was the nonobservance Of Christmas
One of the old as we'll as the mod
ern features Of the Christmas service
was it's magnificent music. But dur
Ing the Puritan eclipse not only
Christmas music, but practically all
church music worthy the name, dis
appeared.
AS the religious prejudices and
hatreds, born in prosecutions, softened
with time, the Christmas festival grew
In favor even throughout the hostile
communities of both Great Britain and
America.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
BIRDS HOLIDAY DAINTIEs
YelIow-Leg snipe Travels Some 5000
Miles for Christmas Dinner
Robins Like Holly Berries.

The yellow-leg snipe travels mat
ter of 5000 miles to get his Christ
mas dinner. 1t is pretty nearly the
longest Journey made annually by any
living creature, and the object of 1t
seems to be to procure certain dain-
ties in the way of aquatic insects and
crustaceans appropriate for holiday
fare.
One might say, however, that the
most appropriate Of Christmas din.
ners is eaten by the robins which at
this holiday season feed largely upon
the berries of the holly-particularly
upon the berries of a kind of holly
called the black alder, which are as
bitter as quinine.
Another bird which has an interest
ing Christmas is the hooking bird.
He is planter of the mistletoe ber-
ries and mistletoe berries contribute
largely to his Christmas dinner. Be-
ing particularly fond of them he Incl
dentally, though without intention,
carries the seeds to tree branches
where they promptly fasten them
selves and sprout. In this way the
parasitic plant is widely propagated
in Texas, which Is the principal win
ter resort of the Knockers.
The canvasback duck breeds in the
far North, from Minnesota to the
Arctic circle, in the interior. But the
call of Christmas turns it southwark,
and it spends the holidays along the
southern Atlantic coast, from the
Chesapeake to Cuba. 1t feeds on vari-
GUS aquatic plants, but the piece de
resistance Of it's Christmas dinners is
wild celery-a succulent, water veg
etable which gives to it's flesh flavor
highly appreciated by the epicure.
The wild Canada goose goes all the
way to Mexico in winter, spending
Christmas among the lakes in that
far southern latitude, where nutritious
grasses and water plants are plentiful.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
Imprisonment is too good for
the thief who steals a Christmas
purse.
EARLY ROMAN CHRISTMASES
No Special Ceremonies for Christ Fig
ured More as Historic Being
Than World Savior.

The early Roman Christmas, says j..
A Symonds, probably kept Christmas
with no special ceremonies. Christ
was as yet too close to them. He had
not become the glorious creature of
their fancy, but was partly historic
being, partly confused in their imagi-
nation with "reminiscences of pagan
deities. AS the Good Shepherd, and as
Orpheus, we find him painted in the
Catacombs; and those who thought Of
him as God loved to dwell upon his
risen greatness more than on the idyl
of his birth. To them his entry upon
earth seemed less a subject Of rejoic-
ing than his opening of the heavens
They suffered and looked forward to
future happiness. They. would not
seem to make this world permanent by
sharing it's gladness with the heather.
Theirs, in truth, was religion of hope
and patience, not of triumphant recol-
lection or of present happiness.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
The chances are that at least
the limiting for Christmas pres
ents will be done early.
A Christmas Carol.

A Christmas Carol.
Scrooge was better than his word.
He did it all and infinitely more.
: He became as good a friend,
as good a master, and as good man
as the good old city knew, or any 9th
er good old city, town, or borough, in
the good old world. Some people
laughed to see the alteration in him,
but he let them laugh, and little heed
ed them; for he was wise enough to
know that nothing ever happened on
this globe, for good, at which some
people did not have their fill of laugh
ter in the outset; and knowing that
such as these would be blind anyway,
he thought it quite as well that they
should wrinkle up their eyes in grins,
as have the malady in less attractive
forms His own heart laughed; and
that was quite enough for him.
And it was always said of him that he
knew how to keep Christmas well, If
any man alive possessed that knowl-
edge.
May that be truly said of US, and all
of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed,
God bless US every one!
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
Cheap Christmas Cake.

Dissolve q level teaspoonful of soda
in two teaspoonfuls of warm water,
add half a pint of very thick cream,
stir for a moment, then add half a
cupful of New Orleans molasses, mix
thoroughly, add half pint of brown
sugar, three and a half cupfuls Of sift-
ed -four, through which has been
mixed a tablespoonful each of CHINA
mon and tablespoonful each of
cloves, spice and nutmeg; add a ta-
blespoonful of grape juice; stir into
this a pound of sultana raisins cut
into halves and Toured, and half a
pound Of citron. Bake one and half
hours in q moderate oven.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
The Cakes Were Baked.
BY Rev. II. G. Michaei. B ..

The Cakes Were Baked.
The great Dutch feast of st. Nicho-
las the first week in December last
year was celebrated in Holland with
difficulty. For one thing, the war cut
of the supply of almonds, for CEN
turtles a constituent Of the famous
figures, or "speculaas, baked out OF
St. Nicholas cake, as we'll as Of the
seasonable CONNECTION known AS ban
ket." at the last moment, however,
a single shipload of almonds arrived
from Spain and partly saved the stu
alton There still remained the short
age of white flour due to government
restriction, and of cooks owing to the
mobilization of the troops. But the
government removed its embargo for
the festival, and the bakers called up
to arms were granted q weeks leave
at their ovens, and so the feast of st.
Nicholas held it's traditional sway.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
FRENCH CHRISTMAS OMEMS
Ancient and Curious Beliefs Regarding
the Holiday Miraculous Cures
for Various Ailments.

In France, particularly, superstition
dies hard, and there is probably no
other country where the people still
retain so many ancient and quaint be-
lefs in connection with Christmas
day Several of these relate to
miraculous cures OF all the ills which
flesh is heir to. For instance, the
chilly proceeding of bathing on Christ
mas day is supposed to insure one
against both fever and toothache dur
ing the coming year, another preven-
tive of fever being the abstention from
all meat on December 25th, a great
sacrifice for the average man; while
a remedy for ulcers could be obtained
Dy those who refrained from eating
prunes on that day.
A cure for everything, however, can
be found in the large loaf chiefly made
in Provence, and called lie pain de
calende." It is very large and very
marked with knife with three or
four crosses. This is carefully pre-
served as a remedy, and used when
required, the remainder of the loaf
being divided among the family on the
Feast Of Epiphany.
With regard to bread, it is believed
that loaves baked on Christmas eve
remain fresh for ten years, and during
the whole of the holidays a portion Of
bread was left out on the table night
and day because the Madonna might
come in to share it. But unless she
wishes to bring misfortune on the en-
tire family, it behooves the, French
housewife not to bake any bread be-
tween December 25th and the Festival
of Circumcision.
Cattle can be kept in good health
by giving them something to drink
Immediately after midnight mass on
Christmas eve before entering the
house. And a good harvest could be
insured if the corn about to be sown
is carried to its destination in the
cloth used for the Christmas dinner.
If you visit fountain or we'll on
New Years day and place in it either
an apple or nosegay, the water will
be rendered wholesome throughout the
year. No Frenchman, however, will
lend anything to anyone on January
l, for it is believed that by so doing
he would bring i'll luck upon himself
for the ensuing year.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
WHAT CANDLES Symbolic
Higher Meaning Of Little Burning
Tapers That Ornament the
Christmas Tree.

It is little wonder we cling to the
old custom of lighting the little pink
and blue and green and yellow can
dies. For we apprehend, l am sure,
not altogether dimly, as we go about
touching them into flame, the shining
potency of those things they do but
symbOlize-of goodness, of love, of
spirituality, and the far-reaching pow
er of these to tighten the world. It
cannot be but the Tinsel Star was
right. The gifts and ornaments of
Christmas, fair and fitting though they
are, might all be done away with and
we should still have a very good
Christmas indeed, if but the Christmas
candles shed their light.
Yet do not forget that the Para.
disc Bird scorned the little bits of
blackened candles that lay in the
Christmas box. We are very human
after all, and the candles of our kind
ness seem but little things sometimes
and soon burned out. Fail they may,
but there shall be. and with all the
more reason, others to take their
places.
Over again and once a year the hu-
man spirit makes for itself festival,
and under the light of the abiding
heavens which do not fail-God's glow
ing heavens Of stars that are forever
lighted, forever sure-it lifts up the
tapers of it's own lighting, tapers
which, though they burn out humanity,
yet with a touching devotion of faith
shall be replaced relighted, rekindled
each year, as the blessed season comes
around.
Types they are, these Christmas
candles, of our lives, so apt to fail and
of our purposes, so easily wasted, but
types also Of our glowing longings, our
luminous, unconquerable hopes; nor
can it be said that we have failed so
long as we relight them, year after
year, a pledge of our own faith in bet
ter things, and to do honor to that
Little Lord, whom, with touching de-
votion to the old shining symbol Of "a
light that shineth in darkness" she'd
ding blessing across our way, we still
lovingly and how appropriately call
"'The Light Of the World. Woman's
Home Companion.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
HOW He DOES 1T

k&MT1. :; COMES right down the chin
NTXSl When the Christmas bells arr
EA1ESAS rung,
N83N When little folks are fas
asleep
And stockings all are hung:
All loaded down with pretty things,
With guns and dolls and drums;
So be sure to hang your stockings
Where he'll see EN- when he comes.
YOU might hear him swiftly coming,
Riding on the wintry blast;
His reindeer team a-tiingling,
And their hoOf beats falling fast.
His furs are black with chimney SCOT,
His beard is white as snow.
His sleigh is full of pretty toys,
You ought to hear him go!
HE lights upon the sleety roof
And doesn't stop a minute;
He jumps upon the chimney top,
And down he pumps within it;
He palses on the hearthstone,
And he takes little peep
To see if all the curly heads
Are safe in bed asleep.
HE goes about on tiptoe.
Nor makes a bit Of noise,
He fills up all the stockings
With sugar plums and toys;
And then he gives a little laugh,
Pops up the chimney quick,
And off he jingles on the wind,
The jolly old st. Nick.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
Christmas Rites.

One of the charms OF Christmas is
its perpetuation Of ancient rites and
customs. The Christmas tree, the mis-
tletoe and the holly, the chants and
anthems, Santa Claus and the rein
deers-all bark back to earlier centu-
ries when life was simpler and man
kind sought it's joys on less intensive
plan. In a sense, there is no such
thing as modern Christmas, though
we may give it modernist touch here
and there
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
The CHRISTMAS GOODNESS
BY Rev. George Hodges, Dean Of the
Episcopal Theological School,
Cambridge, Mass. ~"

And on earth peace. good will toward
men.
For a few weeks at least Of every
year we take the Christmas lesson of
fraternity into our lives. Men and
women and little children have been
going about thinking what they could
do for others. The streets and shops
have been full of people whose arms
have been full of bundles. There have
been sweet domestic conspiracies in
every household. The idea has pos
sessed the community that the right:
thing to do is to make other people
happy. For little while, as the year
draws near it's close, and we look
across into a new time, it seems as if
the old manner of living we're being
put away, with all its narrowness and
pettiness and jealousy, with it's self
seeking and its vicious self-content,
and as If the dawn of the blessed
millennium were already shining upon
the SUBMITS Of the mountains.
For a few weeks the Christmas
spirit animates the churches. The
kingdom Of heaven comes. What we
want is to have this fraternal time
continued. What we need is Christ
mas every day. II that blessed king
dom is ever to be established here; II
the will of God is ever to be done by
the employer and the workman, by
the landlord and the tenant; If the
present discomfort is ever to met and
ministered to, 1t must be by the cul-
tivation in us Of the Christmas good.
ness. We must learn the lessons of
simplicity and fraternity. We must
follow more closely the blessed foot
steps Of his life who on this day for
eur salvation was bogn at Bethlehem,
and Graded in q manger.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
Cake Candles.

If you wish to place red or green
candles around your cake, take piece
Of pasteboard somewhat larger than
the cake, cover with fine white paper,
set the cake in the center; melt paraf-
fin slightly, dip candles in and set
around the cake. This keeps the cake
icing whole, and there is no danger
Of the candles falling over. Little
sprigs Of holly may be placed between
the candles.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23

ali.
the Chill.
drens Christi
mas tree
arayed with
toys and filieree,
and brilliant geW.
eaWs deity hung.
that catch the eye Of
old and young. With
fairies bright and tinted
BIRDS call forth glad
enraptured words and
merry eyes will greet the
sight when am viewed by
candle. light. Beneath my
bouehs there Hes scene of
house and yard and village eteen:
with mimic railway running through,
as railroads oft are wont to do am
alas. Christmas tree And this will be
tho death for me; for when the Yuletide
seasons past. upon the ash-heap Il be
cast However while m standing here
q host Of children will cheer, and cause their
youthful cheeks to glow. because Of Ono Child .otd
ago who came this waiting world to bless and flu
our hearts with happiness. And so. you soc
In glad to be
tho
1T
tic
chi,-
drenS
Christ
mas
tree
BY Rev H. G. Mlchaei. B 3.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23

First Boy-We've put the bureau
in front Of the fireplace?
Second Boy-Yes.
First Boy-You tied the string to
the handle of the door?
Second Boy-Yes, and tied the 9TH
err end of the string to the water
pitcher.
First Boy-Then we ought to find
out the real facts about Santa Claus.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23

Il suppose you will have merry
Christmas at your house?"
"Oh, yes,' replied the sophisticated
small boy. I'VE younger people will
endeavor to make it so. You know,
so much depends on the tactfulness
of children. always endeavor to
make the holidays pleasant by show
ing an enthusiastic interest in the
mechanical toys that afford grown
people so much amusement"
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23

Christmas Prayer


MOME Thou, dear Prince; Oh.
~ come 10 US this holy Christmas
timel Come to the busy marts
Of earth. the quiet houses, the noisy
streets. the humble lanes Come TO
US all, and with Thy love touch every
human heart that we may know that
love, and its blessed peace. bear
charity to all mankind.
--Eugene Field.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
MisTLEToE.

We two stood near
The chandelier
With mistletoe upon It.
A lovely girl,
My head awhirl,
Her wrap-1'll help her don it.
A button caught:
I surely ought
To help, when she'd begun 1t.
A pause, a hush,
A kiss, a blush,
And now, by Jove, I've done It!
-: -Lehigh Burr.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23

We spend too much time wonder
ing what the new year will bring US.
1t is better to ask ourselves what
we are going to make Of it. Life
does not come in sealed packages,
ready for use when opened. Time
is only its raw material, and from
it we can make very much what We
choose. Instead Of waiting for some
prize to drop into our hands, let US
seize the days as they pass and
mold them into forms Of usefulness
and beauty,
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
To Hano In Guest Room.

Sleep sweet within this quiet room.
o thou, whoe'er thou art,
And let no sad, dull yesterday
Disturb thy quiet heart.
z Forget myself and all the world.
Put out each Pickering light.
His star is shining overhead,
Bright Christmas, dear-good night.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
Great Process.

II am glad to see you home, John
n.y." said the father to his small son
who had been away at school, but
who was now home on his Christmas
vacation. How are you getting on
at SCHOOL,"
Fine" said Johnny. II have learned
to say Thank you and If you please
in French"
"Good!" said the father. That's
more than you ever learned to say
in English"
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
Love Essential,

Because this old world is hungry
for love, the simple art of being
kind is needed to carry Christmas
through the year. We may get along
comfortably without any further
wisdom or guile or sophistication;
but, an, sorely do we need the gentle
Offices of love as we meet one anoth-
er by the way. ..'
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
Al Christina. Time,

II the mother of the family 10 . very
busy person, and If the trimming OF
the Christmas tree seems one thing
too much, try giving the Riddles the
fun Of trimming it themselves. This,
of course, applies only to the children
who have grown out Of the baby stage.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
What He Gave Brother.

Little six-year-old Harry was asked
by his Sunday school teacher:
And Harry, what are you going to
give your darling little brother for
Christmas this year?'
Il dunno" said Harry. II gave him
the measles last year."
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
Real Luck,

Tommy" said his mother, at din.
ner on Christmas day, "do stop eat.
ing. How can you possibly eat so
much?" 4
Don't know said Tommy be.
tween bites; Il guess it's Just good
luck"
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
That. Whv.

why should they tell us there is q
Santa Claus il there isnt?"
Mother and father want someone
to lay the blame on IL we don't get
the presents we want" E.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
Kiss for Every Berry.

in olden times a berry was pulled
for every Kiss under the mistletoe,
and when they we're ali gone, no ber-
~, no kiss!
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
Zone Drawback.

At the same time, the man who does
his Christmas shopping early. viii lind
1t all the harder to hide mis- purchases
from the prying eyes OF the kids
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
A Christmas Carol.

Misunderstanding,
Embellishments,
Playing the game Of Expectancy,
Under the glare of the Christmas tree.
Blending of craft and philanthropy,
Marvellous game of humanity,
Twiddle-de-dum,
rwiddle-dum-dee
Twiddle-de-dum,
Twiddle-dum-dee,
The rules are as simple-just listen and
see:
The gift you receive should be worth
about three ..
OF the one you bestow upon--possibly me,
Annually tempting the powers that be;
Twiddle-de-dum.
TWiddle-dum-dee. Life.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
Christmas Evening.

To make the table pretty for the
evening meal, leave the shades off the
candles. Use white candles in glass
sticks. Wipe with a moist cloth and
dip the candles in diamond dust.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
Foresiehted.

Happy is the woman who das saved
out some money for the after Christ
mas bargains.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
The Morst Kicker.

1t is the man who kicks the most
about his Christmas cigars who gives
the fewest of them to the janitor.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
Observation-Disclosures
The mistletoe could tell some
funny tales had it the gift Of
speech.


Shortest Reference TO Christmas.
December 25th-Rained all day."
This is the shortest reference to
Christmas in any book. 1t is the only
entry under that date in the diary Of
our old friend Robinson Crusoe.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
Tough.

MY dear, did you make this Christ
mas pudding out Of the cookery
boOk?" &
Eyes, love- II
well, thought l tasted one of the
covers"
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
Re Thankful for This.

One Of the other nice things about
Christmas is that it marks the time
when the days begin to grow longer.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
The holly-or holy-tree Is
called Christ's thorn in Ger
many, and the early Christians
referred to 1t as "the righteous
branch" h. b q

Day for Little Ones.
Do you think enough Of the chill,
iren? After all, Christmas IS day for
the baby and the little ones.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
More Blessed to Give.

Because you give five-dollar bill
is no reason why you should expect
the same. a,
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23

Christmas comes but once
year, but we can keep the
Christmas spirit throughout the
year if we will.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
Relieue in santa.

No sound, healthy. wholesome child
is disbeliever in Santa Claus.