davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening journal., 1915-12-07

soldier TO his mother. one tree was
decorated with paper chickens made
from the colored papers that had been
wrapped around tho candy kisses"
sent from home. He also described
how during the afternoon he wore his
new sheopskin coat during a run back
OF the lines. This type Of coat. bv the
way, was one OF the most popular
gifts TO the men at the front and hun
dreds were received. They are made
OF sheepskin and are very warm. OF
course, they make an excellent target
for the enemy unless there Is snow on
the ground in which case they are
ideal and man wearing one can move
about freely without being seen by the
enemy. They are also useful when a
waiting game is played. as the trenches
are cold, damp places. and last year
these coats saved many men from
freezing to death. The-Rarments arc
counterparts Of the coats worn by the
motormen who operate the trolle,
cars In Boston, with the exception OF
the color. as the Boston coats are dyee
brown or black. Boxes OF German
cakes cut into grotesque figures o,
soldiers caused the men much merri.
ment among the troops when they SCI
the gingerbread men up in rows ant
then knocked them down with can
dies. Finally. they made a feast o.
their targets. In many places the mel
managed 10 serve regular Christina
dinners where, TO use the expression
OF a German who spoke English. "the,
made pleasant with addresses an,
conversation"
French And English Christmases.
! Along the lines OF the Allies tn
Evening journal., 1915-12-07

same scenes we're enacted except there
were fewer Christmas trees, the Brit
ish and French contenting themselves
by hanging branches of evergreen
about the trenches. The Christmas
box was in evidence as we'll as the fur
coat, warm mittens. muffiers and
sweaters. Down in the French
trenches there were several Christmas
vaudeville shows 1t is a well known
fact that hundreds Of French players
are fighting in the ranks OF the French
army. and wherever they could be
found on Christmas day they were
pressed into service to do a turn,
and for time the horrors OF war were
forgotten in the peals of laughter
which resounded throughout the long
ditch. I'VE had plenty to eat and a
good time" wrote Frenchman TO his
mother. Your cake--well, can't tell
you how much we enjoyed It. one OF
/ the men from the old Moulin Rouge in
Paris Is In our regiment and he gave
us a fine show. Two or three times
he ran out OF the trenches and waved
his hat at the Germans but they did
not shoot at HMM fact, they did moi
bother us at all. ! expect they were
celebrating Just as we were"
In the English trenches the mer
were fairly overloaded with gooc
things. and It seemed that every mar
had his plum pudding. mullins and
jam. 10 say nothing of the new, warn
clothing. Hundreds of cases OF mill
were sent by friends. An Englisl
dairy made speciality OF sending mill
to the trenches for Christmas and on
Evening journal., 1915-12-07

early days the mistletoe was tabooed
as a church decoration on account of
custom which sprung up-that
every young woman who came under
the spray being kissed by a young
man who happened to catch her
there. The kissing became so general
that the Church feared a return of the
customs OF the Saturnalia when riot
and license ran loose. Early in the
sixteenth century the use of mistletoe
as a Christmas decoration was revived
and soon came to bo regarded en-
blematc OF the mystery of Christ's
birth on account of its springing into
life from a branch and being nurtured
by no parent stock. The custom OF
hanging mistletoe over the doorway
or to the chandeliers, which often car
ries with it the osculatory privileges,
is clearly a relic of paganism.
The Christmas Tree.
The most widespread and most de-
lightful of all festal institutions is the
Christmas tree. While many coun-
tries have their legends claiming for
them the honor of having given the
Christmas tree to the world, the ma
! jority OF authorities on the subject
are Of the opinion that Germany is
responsible for this never ending Joy
to the child and that it is probably a
remnant of the splendid dancing pa
geants of the Middle Ages. There As a
pretty legend which ascribes its origin
to Martin Luther and tells how after
wandering about through a pine for
est on Christmas eve he conceived tn,
idea of setting up a pine tree in hi
D home to represent the Tree of Lif
5 and decorating It with candles as al
3 image OF the starry heavens from
r which Christ came down. The frs
r historical mention OF the Christina
: tree is found In the notes OF a certaii
> Strasburg citizen OF unknown name
Evening journal., 1915-12-07
How Our Christmas Customs Came
About Their Curious Mixture
of Paganism and Religion.
Copyright 1915 BY The Intcrnatonal snydicate'

practiced by the ancient Germans and
scandinavians--a strange medley OF
the Christian and pagan which go to
make up the festivities OF the modern
Christmas.
The Yulc Log.
Tho Yule log, so famous i'm the Eng
lish Christmas celebration, Is OF Scan
dinavian origin, and IS the modern
idea OF the huge Ere kindled at the
feast OF JUL at the winter solstice in
honor Of their god Thor. In the days
of feudal lords OF England the cere-
mony OF bringing in the huge. gnarled
oak was carried out with great cere-
mony. Men went into the woods and
hauled It In, singing carols as they
dragged It through the wood. When
they reached the entrance TO the great
ball a quartette of minstrels hailed Il
with music. Early the next morning
It was lighted and II IL burned we'll it
was. and is still. regarded as an omen
that prosperity will reign over the
family during tho coming year. In
rural France and among the southern
slavs tho Yule log is one OF the solemn
ceremonies OF Christmas. In these
countries. especially among the slavs,
the log is believed TO possess the same
magical properties as It did in the
pagan days.
Decorations With Evergreen.
The custom OF decorating our houses
and churches with evergreen 3 a
! Christmas comes from the old Roman
fcasts. especially the Saturnalia, whei
all Roman houses were turned int,
bowers OF green"-another evidence
OF the anxiety OF the Church TO pleas,
their heather converts by permitting
Evening journal., 1915-12-07
CHznz5I1z5o1 Cz7xo0/SS~ C>zZz7~7sz7 S7Er7SIz7r70
-Rx 02aG9SZkoA czr5xNzz -9A17es27NaIRwxEz(

clamation of Joy. The practice ap-
pears to be as old as the celebration
of Christmas itself as Church history
shows records of how the bishops
were accustomed to sing carols on
Christmas Day. also that in the early
days the shepherds left their focks
and came to Rome to sing and play
on musical instruments before the
shrines and churches. During the If
teenth century the carol was at the
height of its popularity as Just about
that time a number OF beautiful
Christmas hymns were written. In Ger
many the people always went to the
balconies or tops Of the churches and
chanted their carols-a custom still
carried out in some of the smaller
towns of Germany. In many countries
the carol singing is done by children
who go from house to house with a
Christmas greeting.
The Christmas Card.
The Christmas card is OF compara-
lively recent origin and seems to be
one Of those new methods OF remem-
bering friends without going to very
much trouble or expense to do so.
Inc AnIlhlAld5 IttIu - a ltblNlLldle
descendant of what was known about
1880 as christmas pieces" They
were sheets of writing paper on which
elaborate drawings we're made, some
times headed by copper plate engrav-
| ings, and used by school boys to show
their parents the progress made in
their chirography. About 1s46 a Lon
don publisher put out number oil
cards decorated with tiny colored
wreaths of holly with the words "A
Merry Christmas" engraved undei
the decoration. Hundreds we're solo
and the Christmas card sprang int
use and has been steadily growing II
favor ever since. 1t is a sort of at
tenuated present.
Gifts and Feasting.
The giving of gifts originated in th'
days of ancient Rome when the citi
Evening journal., 1915-12-07

written in the year 1906. AT Christ
mas" he writes. they set UP fir trees
in the parlours at Strasburg and hang
thereon roses cut out of many col
CURED paper, apples, waters and
sweets"
However, in an account OF Christ
mas customs written in 1897 by a Ger
man student, he speaks OF the candles
which Illuminated the tree. Here
again we must go back to the pagan
days IN Norway when the Yule candle
was burned for the god Thor at the
winter solstioe. Later, when these
people began to celebrate the Nativity
the candles we're burned as Of old, but
called the Candles of Publication.
Quite recently there has been a re-
vival of the Christmas candle custom,
and today 1t is no uncommon sight to
see the windows of houses lighted by
them on Christmas night. The fash
ion of sending bayberry candles is in
vogue, and this year thousands of
these olive green candles will be sent
out as gifts. They are made from a
berry which grows on the Atlantic
Coast from Massachusetts, to the Caro-
linas and have delicate odor, burn
ing without making ridges of wax
down the sides. A bayberry candle is
said to protect its owner from all
harm II It is lighted on Christmas. As
the legend runs, its incense will be
waited through the air to friends in
distant lands and thus their thoughts
will turn to the far away owner of the
Publication Candle.
N Carols.
Amid 50 many popular customs a
Christmas there is none more charm
ing than that OF the Christmas carol
which celebrate in Joyous yet devou
strains the Nativity of the Saviour
The word is derived from the LatiI
cantare-to sing, and rola-an ex
Evening journal., 1915-12-07
How the Men Who Are Fighting Spend
Christmas, and How for Time the
Soldiers ofthe w airing Nations For
get That They Are Enemies.
Internationai syndicate.

international syndicate.
there is firing. for the monotony OF
idleness 50 works upon their nerves
that every bush or tree becomes an
imaginary enemy. the cracking OF a
twig, the signing OF the wind OF the
moan OF a sleeping soldier will set
their nerves ajingle Cheer up, boys,
Christmas will soon be here and we
will have all sorts OF good things."
cries out one of the men as he looks
at his comrades wan face, and the
two begin to talk Of the coming fes-
tival as the one bright spot in the
trench fighters life Christmas brings
gifts and good wishes from relatives
and friends who they know are pray
ing for the safety OF the brave boys
fighting for the land OF their birth.
Early in December the Christmas
boxes for the trenches are sent out
as Il takes a long time to get anything
but ammunition and the necessary
food supplies to the front. The sol
der must wait for his luxuries.
Germans Celebrate.
Those who are acquainted with the
German people know that wherever
a German happens to be at Christmas
he Will ind some way to celebrate the
/ festival, and the German soldier in the
trench is no exception, for he is al.
ready gathering in the pine branches
to decorate his underground quarters
Last year. although the weather wa
bitter, the men managed to brini
Christmas cheer into the very theatr,
OF war by actually setting up Christ
mas trees in the trenches and deco
rating them with bright colored band
and ribbons taken from the cigar
and cigarettes which had been sent I,
them Every scrap OF colored pape
that could be found was utilized. an
/ according TO letter from a Germai
Evening journal., 1915-12-07

the harmless elements of the pagan
feasts TO become part of the celebra-
ton of the Nativity All sorts Of trees
and shrubs were used by the Romans
but gradually IL became the custom Of
Christians 20 use only tho evergreen
and to look upon Il as the symbol Of
eternal life. Then these plants took
on certain religious meanings until
every branch of Christmas decoration
has some significance peculiar 70 the
day. The holly with its red berries is
the modern Burning Bush. the Holy
Mother and the Holy Child. This
shrub is really an evolution in plant
life from the wild myrtle. the oily red
berries of which will burn like candles
"a sign that tho Divine Fire shall
spread over the world.
The laurel is the emblem OF St.
Joseph, and is often called st. Joseph's
staff. The ivy IS known as the Herb
of St. John--a fitting touch to all
Christmas decorations for John was
the Disciple whom Jesus loved. The
different pines. cedars and spruce are
green throughout the year-emblems
OF everlasting life.
Misuetoe.
The mistletoe-that queer parasite
plant so much used at Christmas. was
the favorite decoration of the Druids
at their winter solstice festival; in
fact It was held in a sort of venera-
ton by that sect. History tells us how
II was gathered with great ceremony
the white robed priests cutting the
mistletoe from the great oaks with Z
golden scythe while hundreds of peo
pie. all clad in white garments, chant
ed The people after obtaining sprig
OF the plant from the priests hung tn
branches over the entrance OF thei
houses as a propitiation and an offe
OF shelter 70 the sylvan dleties durin
the season Of frost and cold. In tn
Evening journal., 1915-12-07

~HE origin OF Christmas and by
whom a was celebrated IS TO a
certain extent shrouded in mys-
- terry, and II is by no means cer-
tain that December the twenty-nfth is
the correct anniversary Of the nativity
Of Christ. This uncertainty is due to
the fact that IN the early days the cele-
hration OF birthdays was regarded as
heathenish, but after tho triumph OF
Christianity the prejudice died out and
the date OF the Saviour's birth became
n matter OF ecclesiastical investigation.
1t is recorded that Pope Julius had st.
Cyril make strict inquiry as to the
date. when It was iearneddhat a num-
Der OF varying days were kept I'm differ
ent sections. These included January
the sixth, which was kept as a Joint
commemoration OF the Nativity and
Baptism Of the Redeemer. March
twenty-ninth, April twentieth. May
twentieth and September twenty ninth
were respectively accepted in different
places. Pope Julius finally decided on
December the twenty-fifth as the cor
rect date, and the first mention OF its
celebration as the birthday OF Christ
occurs in a Roman document known
as tho Philocalian Calendar. dating
from the year s54. II is the opinion
Of several Church historians that this
day was set apart because It was tho
3ato OF the Winter solstice-the da,
on which for centuries before thl
Christian Era pagan Europe had hei,
tsychief festival
Some of our present day Christmas
customs arc the evolution OF mixtur,
of the Roman Saturnalia and Druid
Rites with smattering OF ceremonies
Evening journal., 1915-12-07
Copyright. 1915. by The

4; :;. @ 4: : !. s.: ; : 4 /: s. ';; ::: a ~: :
Evening journal., 1915-12-07

IN FACE on earth. good will TO
men," is heard all over Chris
tendon on Christmas morning,
~ and the spirit OF charity It
teaches is not without its influence
even among those who may seem to
hate each other.
The Christmas OF 1915 will find
Europe as it did in 1914-an armed
camp, the only difference between the
days will be that millions OF killed and
wounded have been offered up as a
sacrifice to the lust Of power during
the year and yet whatever bitterness
and hatred there may be among those
engaged in this terrible confict, II
there is any personal bitterness or
hatred, will probably be forgotten and
the day celebrated as IL was last year
by the men themselves declaring a
truce and fraternizing with each 9TH
er on the ground before the trenches.
While much has been written of life
IN the underground dens where mon
have burrowed like rats into the earth
to escape the guns OF the enemy ana
yet be able to pick of this same enemy
az will. these accounts show that there
Is little that is picturesque or romantic
about trench warfare Last winter
nerve racked men lived for days in
muddy bitches wondering how much
longer It would last-this awfu
slaughter Of men. this terrifying com.
bat OF long opposing lines OF heav,
artillery and howitzers. the shriekin,
OF shell. the whistling OF shrapnel an,
the tearing roar of guns, the savag
efforts to take and retake trenche
with always the slaughter Of brav
men.
Gifts For Men In The Trenches.
When there is a lull in the hghtin
trench life is even worse than whe
Evening journal., 1915-12-07

~HE origin OF Christmas and by
al whom It was celebrated Is TO n
certain extent shrouded in mys-
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-09-27
DEMONSTRATIONS
AT GREEK CAPITAL

Athens. Sept. 27-Great crowds pa
raded the streets in war demonstra-
tions while automobiles dashed about
the capital carrying officers respond
ing to the call for mobilization of the
Greek armies.
Demonstrations occurred before the
French, English and Italian legations
The crowds carried Greek flags and
those of the allied nations. Bulgarians
and Turks were not molested.
General Danglis. minister of war,
conferred with some of his subordi.
mates and later was closeted with
Premier Venizelos. The latter's ap
pearance outside the foreign office
was the signal for outbursts of cheer
ing from the crowds.
The newspapers comment cautious
ly upon Bulgaria's move and express
hope the Bulgarian mobilization does
not mean that Car Ferdinand in
tends to start a third Balkan war.
They inform the people that the min
istrv has no present intentions of
plunging Greece into a bloody con-
fiict. but desires the support of every
good citizen in resisting any attack
by bulgaria to upset the peace of the
Balkans
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-09-27
CARRANzA BOTTLED
UP AT VERA CRUZ

Washington, Sept. 27.-The likeli
hood of the United States recognition
OF General Carranza is lessened. A
sharp turn of the tide of official sen
timent against Carranza is evident.
Unless events are more favorable
for the first chief before the next Pan.
American conference it is believed
the conferees will hesitate to urge
Carranza's recognition under existing
circumstances.
Attacks on United States soldiers
at Brownsville by Carranza troops
was a factor in the change. The war
department is awaiting report from
General Funston, who was asked to
investigate and determine whether
Carranzaistas officially took part in
the attack.
Zapata, attempting to capture Mex
leo City, has bottled up Carranza in
Vera Cruz, cut of all railway com
munication with the capital and so
demonstrated Carranza's lack of con-
troll In the south.
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-09-27
TOBACCO MEN TO ORGANIZE
End of Reckless Competition One of
Objects Sought.

New York, Sept 27.-More than a
hundred retailers, manufacturers and
jobbers of tobacco met to organize a
tobacco merchants association. The
total capital represented was estimat-
ed at $1,500.00 900.
1t was proposed to form first an or
ganization covering Eastern territory
and later to extend it to Chicago, San
Francisco and other Western cities.
The object is to prevent revenue
frauds and the refilling of cigar
boxes, to protect trade marks and to
obtain legislation to protect the to
bacco industry.
Promoters of the movement assert
ed that reckless competition among
retailers and ruinous price cutting
could be dealt with only by an active
and progressive association.
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-09-27
THREATENS TORECAlLF UNDS
German Savings Bank of New York
Opposed to Loan to Allies.

New York, Sept 27.-The German
Savings bank of this city, holding
s92,754,4S9 belonging to 153.505 de-
positors, announced that It has sent
a demand to all banks and trust com
panies in which IL keeps funds for q
statement as to their attitude toward
the proposed Anglo-French loan. The
statement reads:
"The finance committee of the Ger
man Savings bank of New York city
authorizes you to say that they are
communicating with all the banks
and trust companies who have any OF
their money on deposit, asking them
for their positive answer as to their
position in reference to the proposed
loan to the allies and furthermore
beg to state that in case of an unsat-
isfactory answer the deposit will be
Immediately withdrawn"
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-09-27

Ambassador PenfieId Instructed to
Make II Clear to Ausria That lt1
Representative Must Be Stripped
of All His Crede entiaIs.
Washington. Sept. 27.--Ambassador
Penfield at Vienna has been instruct
ed to make clear to the Austrian gov
ernment informally that the United
States must insist on the recall of Dr.
Dumba, the Austrian ambassador
here, and that his departure ION leave
of absence" would not be satisfactory.
From messages exchanged between
Ambassador Penfield and the state de-
partment il is apparent that the Aus
trian government misunderstood the
desires of the United States.
1t was intimated at first to Ambas-
sador Peniield that the Austrian gov
crnment might recall DR.. Dumba on
leave of absence and might desire
safe conduct for him. DR.. Dumha
himself telegraphed for such safe con-
duct a few days later. informing the
state department that he had been
granted leave of absence. No action
was taken on his request, but 1t was
forwarded to Ambassador Penfield.
Dumba's Usefulness Has Ceased.
Instructions sent to Mr.. Penfield
were not disclosed, but he had been
authorized to make 1t clear that DIR.
Dumba's usefulness as the Austrian
ambassador to the United States has
ceased and that If given merely leave
of absence" he nevertheless would
still remain accredited.
The right of a government to de-
mand the recall of an ambassador be-
cause of his personal acts is unques.
toned under international law and
according to officials II the Austrian
government persisted in refusing to
recall DIR. Dumba passports could be
handed to him.
There is no indication as yet that
this will be necessary, the delay In
the Austrian governments decision, II
is said being due TO difficulties In
cable transmission.
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-09-27
FREE TRADERS WILL FIGHT
To Battle Chancellor Mckenna on
New Import Duties.

London, Sept. 27.-The new budget
has brought up the free trade issue
once more Certain of the uncompro-
missing free traders in the house of
commons are organizing a fight
against the new import duties pro-
posed by Chancellor McKenna. basing
their opposition on "the violation of
the principles of free trade" and
"the infinitesimal returns which the
taxes will bring into the exchequer."
Sir Alfred Mond, chairman OF the
Free Trade union, is heading the
movement He has called meeting
of Radical members of the house to
take action against what he charac-
terizes as protection.
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-09-27
BAG WITH $1,000 IS STOLEN
Duluth Railway Cashier Robbed In
Bank Building.

the Duluth Street Railway company
turned away from a window at the
First National bank he was jostled by
two men and the leather sack con-
tanning the $1,000 drawn from the
bank to complete the company's pay
roll was snatched from his hand. 1t
was handed to third man, who dis
appeared.
The street railway man grappled
with the man who snatched the sack
and held him until the police came.
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-09-27
TWO DIE IN MONTREAL FIRE
Third Man Is Missing and Several
Are Overcome.

Montreal, Sept. 27.-Two men were
burned to death and a third is miss
ing as the result of a fire which de-
troyed the sash and door factory of
Benoit Sons Seventy other workmen
escaped with difficulty.
The factory, a three-story building.
was filed with lumber and the flames
spread rapidly, destroying the build
ing and stock within thirty minutes.
Several fremep were overcome
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-09-27
ENGLISH BLOCKADE RELAXED
Merchandise Held Up in Neutral Ports
Worth S167, ,ooo, 900.

Washington, Sept 27.--Great Britain
has relaxed the blockade against the
transportation of American owned
goods from German territory.
The British embassy notified the
state department that II was prepared
to receive applications for permits to
export such goods in cases where
American exporters had either paid
for them or made themselves liable
for the purchase price before March
I, 1915.
II is said that the aggregate value
of the merchandise of this character
which has been held up in neutral
ports of Europe by the British order
In council is 1857 900, 900.