davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1915-12-16

Christmas would be almost as In
complete without It's love superstitl0ns
rs without it's holly and plum pudding.
and the maid who cannot forecast her
matrimonial fortune az least once a
year is scarcely worth lover at all
She ought 10 know. whether she does
or not that II she wants her husband
to be TO reveal himself In her dreams
she has only 10 eat the egg of a black
hen on Christmas eve aud any fears
or hesitationn she may be troubled
with will soon be dispelled when once
her head Is cozily pillowed. If she
wishes 10 make the spell as potent as
possible she will boil the egg hard. re
move the yollx and after she has filled
up the cavity with common or table
salt. will eat egg, shell. salt and all.
If she doesn't dream OF her lover then
IL will certainly not be the hens fault
If she r. not partial TO eggs our Gu
rious young lady may peel a ST. Thorn
as onion. wrap IL In handkerchief
and place IL under her pillow on
Christmas eve. reciting these mystic
lines as she does SO:
Good St Thomas. do me right
And see my true love come tonight.
That I may see him In the face
And him In my kind arms embrace.
II Is Just as natural for maid to
speculate as TO the ardor OF her SWANS
affection as TO wish TO settle the young
mans identity, and II she will she
may know to nicely how far his In
fatuation for her has gone. This is
what she must do TO gain this desira
BILE knowledge: When she retires to
bed she must place three pals OF wa
ter in her bedroom and attach three
holly leaves to her nightdress Then
let her slumber I'm full assurance that
her lover in dream form will present
himself and touch one or other OF the
three pals. And all depends on what
particular pail he touches. III II Il No.
l 1t is a sure sign that his affection Is
but skin deep; II No. 2 he worships
the very ground she treads on. but II
he touches the third pail. alas for her
expectations. for he loves her not AT
all.
But Cupid has no monopoly OF Christ
mas superstitions. Did not Shake
speare himself lend his sanction to the
belief that the cock by its Growing on
Christmas night keeps all evil in
fiuences at respectful distance?
Some say that over 'gainst that season
| comes
| Wherein our Saviour's birth IS celebrated
The bird OF dawning singeth all night
long,
And then they say no spirit dare stir
abroad.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1915-12-16

Christ aIadl His @hrahday

Christ and His BnrGh@ay.
As to his birth, Christ gave no
thought TO the manner of its celebra-
ton 10y his disciples. They do not APP
pear TO have remembered 1t during his
life. Had he ever any knowledge OF
the adorable stories begarlanding his
crib for US? II is hardly probable.
And. behold, that forgotten, neglected
birthday has conquered place of hon
or. IL is celebrated in conditions in
which the Saviour might recognize his
own purposes. To speak of one aspect
only. Jesus loved children as no one
has ever loved them. Let them come
to me-" he said 10 the lofty apostles,
anxious TO guard him from that merry,
unruly crowd suspected incapable of
edfication. No doubt those most seri
Gus ancestors of our traditions had &C.
cason that day and often I'm similar
circumstances TO believe the Master
touched with insanity.
I No matter, the intentions OF the Son
of Man have been largely realized.
His birthday has become the day of
, the children No earthly day has shed
more brightness upon their path. No
church festival gives more life to the
Unreasonable truth OF the promise. II
shall be with you to the end of the
world" None makes il sweeter TO the
heart
Christmas has a charm beyond them
all. 1t was the Christian soul. filed
full with Jesus. created this festival.
Every generation has given II some
thing of its own. There has been a
rivalry OF good will. In the Eucharist,
according TO doctrine the abuse OF
which must not make us forget its true
and sorrowful profoundness. Christ
dies from age TO age for our sins and
will suffer until the last sinner IL saw
ed. In the radiance Of Christmas
Christ smiles eternally upon the little
ones and the grownups who car
make themselves children again.
Charles Wagner. Author Of The Sim
pie Life"
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1915-12-16
GET ALL THE FUN YOU CAN
OUT OF CHRISTMAS.

Get all the fun you can out OF
Christmas. Plunge into the at
mosphere right away. Smuggle
packages up and down stairs
and hide them in the "old fash
toned" hiding places.
And remember everybody, not
with the substantial presents
you have thought il imperative
to give, but with a jar Of Jelly,
a piece of fruit cake or book or
MAGAZINE cover made from bits
Of linen your scrap bag has fur
nished, a dainty sachet made
from silk scraps or any one of
hundred other simple things you
can work on at odd times. These
are the sort OF presents which
will restore the old time thrills
that have been we'll nigh lost in
the loveIess gift giving Of recent
years.
Teach your children that
Christmas time is a giving time
as we'll as getting time.
Teach them particularly to
think Of children whose nests
are less downy than their own.
There are so many such. And
there is no more tragic thing in
a chld's life than to be forgot
ten on Christmas day. is there
any picture on earth so appealing
as to see a child at a shop win
dow with only windowpane
between his pinched nosc and
pointing finger and high piled
world 0. dolls end drums and
skates and picture bo7ks2 Can
you imagine a keener pane,
more sorrowful thing. than the
unanswered prayer of a little
child at Christmastide?
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1915-12-16
Gifts For a Man.
Gifts For the Home.
Think mistIetoe Brings Trouble.

In many parts of the United King
dom the silver berries and the gray
green leaves of the mistletoe are look
ed upon as anything but an emblem
Of good cheer. On the contrary, the
plant is regarded with dread as being
the bringer OF i'll luck and the sign OF
i'll omen. This superstition exists both
I'm Devonshire and in Ireland. and,
strange to say. in neither OF these
places does the plant flourish.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1915-12-16
Christmas Gift
Suggestions

The Christmas shopper will make no
mistake by following This list of useful
Christmas gifts
Gifts For Woman.
\ babys bottle warmer
A chatting dish
A curling iron
4 foot warmer
4 hair drier
A heating pad
A hot water kettle
\ coffee percOlator.
\ small pressing iron.
\ bedside reading lamp.
A sewing machine motor.
\ nursery sterilizer
An art glass table lamp.
A toaster
4 vibrator
Gifts For a Man.
\ cigar lighter.
4 motor for the workshop.
4 shaving mirror
\ shaving mug
\ hedsioe reading lamp.
4 vibrator
Gifts For the Home.
A small pressing iron.
4 luminous radiator.
IN electric combination grill.
IN art glass table lamp.
Piano lamps, large and small.
A corn pepper
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1915-12-16
The Christmas Dance.

When grandma danced the minuet
Some sixty years ago
The stately couples often met
Beneath the mistletoc
To waltzes now the customs veer.
But Mabel's foxy beau
That damsel doth contrive TO steer
Beneath the mistletoc
Dances change. but not the game.
AS close observers know.
For mortais net about the same
Beneath the mistietoe.
Louisville Courier J ournsl
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1915-12-16
see,u.. a Little Child Was Born.

Because little child was born
The earth is Oiled with peace.
Old wrongs, ole sorrows are forgot
In sufferings sweet surcease.
Oh, men that strain for empty gain.
Oh, hearts with hatreds torn,
There is no room for strife today
little child is born
Teresa Beatrice O'Hara In Ladies HON
Journal
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1915-12-16

The Christmas shopper will make no
mistake hy following this list of useful
Christmas gifts
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-02-20
No Actual Shortage in U. S.,
but Fear Is Felt for
the Future.

THICAGO. Ill, Feb. 20.-The rise in
the price of wheat IS laying a tax
on the people of the United States
which makes the war tax of $780,
600. coo look small The standard Give
cent loaf has gone to six and even
seven cents in many cities and predic-
lions of ten cent loaf are numerous
in responsible quarters.
What does this mean to the American
housewife?
George s Ward member of a great
breadmalling concern and one OF the
owners of the Brooklyn Federal league
baseball team, figures that Americans
consume on the average barrel of
wheat flour year. From each barrel
275 standard five cent Ioaves of bread
can be baked. For each rise of one
cent in the price of the loaf, every
American must pay S2.75 year. The
census department figures that the
population of the United States passed
the 1OO,OOO.OOO mark some time in Jan
uary. So each one cent rise in the
price of the loaf means a tax on the
country of s275,O0O.O)0, A rise from
five cents to ten cents will cost us
S1,875. 100000
But this viii not be the total cost
With the rise in the price of-wheat
there is an increased demand for other
cereals-barley, rye. oats and corn
and these rise in price too A further
tax is laid on the consumers of rye
bread, who are the very Door; and il
costs more to eat corn pone" also,
Then hogs are fed mostly on corn and
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-02-20
President Yuan of China
Gives Amnesty to Rebels

Pekin, China, Feb. 20.-As gambling
is a favorite Chinese pastime at the
season of New Year. the Pekin police
permitted it, contrary to recent orders,
for period of six days. from January
/. The object was to encourage the
people to deserve the foreign calendar
rather than the old style lunar form.
the new calendar having been adopted
by the republic in its zeal for things
modern.
All that section of the forbidden
city which is held by the government
of the republic Cthe Manchu emperor
and his court having been releEated TO
the northern sectiOn) was thrown open
to the public for the first three days Of
the new year, and military bands
played in the great Bavilions where the
emperors formerly received their trib-
utary princes in audience, and restau-
rants were temporarily established
there.
In celebration of the new year, presi-
dent Yuan Shi-Eai issued a general
amnesty to rebels. The police regula-
tons provide that any man may re-
turn to China if his family and friends
viii make themselves responsible for
his future good conduct.
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-02-20

Ii the farmers corn is worth more,
they will get more for pork and meat
prices will rise in consequence So we
are in for an era o. high prices; what
those who were Of mature age in 1851
1865 viii remember as the war prices
WIZ BE Fine for Grain -Raisers.
For the farmer it will be clover"
We raised S91.0OO,O0O bushels Of wheat
this year and a larger area viii be
from 81 to $3.50 til farmers of the
country get s445, 100000 more without
any extra effort and il prices rise 81,
the vast sum of 1891, 100000 viii drift
into the farmers stockings.
No Actual Shortage.
Here are the figures showing there
is no actual wheat shortage Exports
at the present rate of 5000. 600 bushels
e week can continue practically up to
the time Of harvesting the 1915 crop
without depicting the adequate supply
OF wheat in this country.
The United States department Of
agriculture figures there is an increase
of 4.10O. geo acres in the amount of
this year. The weather has been
good for winter wheat and last years
enormous yield Of 10 bushels an acre
may well be exceeded.
Figuring conservatiyely on IS
bushel yield, however. $780, 0O addi-
tiOual bushels of winter wheat alone
should be harvested this year Crop
experts say that with average good
fortune the spring wheat should be
increased 10000 600 bushels. The total
for 1915 should be one billion bushels
or 100000 more than last years
record crop, This is enough to supply
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-02-20

America and furnish surplus OF
about 416,00O,00O bushels for export
Demand Embargo.
in many sections of the country,
however. sentiment is growing for an
embargo act There is the precedent
Of the war of 1872 for this.
Several senators and representa- ives
have declared themCelves in favor Of
limiting the export Of wheat, among
them representative Farr of Pennsyl-
vania, who faEOrs a partial embargo on
the export of wheat and flour because
he. believes the standard loaf will 90
TO eight and then ten cents in price be
fore two months more OF the great war
have passed.
Mrs. Heath Urs7eE Embargo.
Another strong exponent Of an en-
barge is Mrs. Julian heath OF New
York city, president of the Housewives
legue, which represents ]. geo, 600 Amer
lean women Mrs Heath says that the
housewives league has realized for
some time that increased prices for
bread were inevitable and has been
sending notice to its members to make
no effort to attack the bakers, because
the latter are not responsible, but are
forced to charge more because their
flour costs them more
Suggests Com Meal.
THE average housewife would do
wen TO learn more Of the use of corn
meal says Mrs. Heath. THE price
OF cOrnmeal has not gone up to any
appreciablc extent as yet and even
though it did go up. it would remain
cheap and very nutritious food, and
could be made to take the place of a
part at least OF the weekly bread sup
ply needed by a family"
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-02-20
The Story of a Young Girls Struggles
The Fortunes Of Fanny
Fanny Receives Flowers from Joe and Feels Little Less
Cast Down
Cast Down.
BY VIRGINIA TERHUNE VAN DE WATER
Copyright, 1915, by Star Company

know her, and you will think that's
reason enough for my not being espe-
cially interested in her. And the worst
Of it is that ] don't see any way Of
knowing her better"
Nellie's face beamed with kindness
and she abandoned her teasing manner.
Yet she looked vaguely troubled.
See here, Joe" she said, so far as
Fanny's past is concerned, I know al
about her. But can't tell you any
thing about what she's doing now, for
I've not got the right to-"
Il see said Joe gravely. "Her past
and present make no difference to me.
It's her future I'm interested in"
You say" she remarked, after a mo-
ment's cogitation, that you don't care
anything about her past, but perhaps
If you knew what she's been up against
you'd realize what a hard fight she's
had. You see. she's not the kind that
a successful business woman is made
Of. Her grandmother kept her like she
was wrapped in cotton wool and never
taught her how to fight the world"
Briefly, yet graphically, she outlined
for him Fanny's career since her
grandmother's death, explaining that
the Jealousy of two unprincipled girls
at Ridettis was the cause Of her leav-
ing the Beauty parloTs.
she was too nice to be with them
anyway" Nellie remarked generously.
Il can get on all right because I've
=
enough to stand up for my rights. But
Fanny's gentle, you know"
Yes, 1 know" Joe agreed, his heart
warming at the thought.
Then, carefully. because she was on
delicate ground, Nellie told that a good
position had been offered Fanny in a
barber shop, but that the girl had not
been satisfied there and had given up
the position for reasons which her
friend could only suspect but of which
she was not sure.
Couldn't stand Forward Men.
81 guess she couldn't stand the fresh
kind of guys that go to sucl Shops"
she Opined. She's too particular and
refined for that sort of thing. And then
she got sick with grip and after that
she had a hard time getting a job. She
has one noW-but / haven't seen her to
ask her all about it."
Il see said Joe again. He was sure
that Nellie knew what her friends
present line Of work was. and he re-
spected her for her reticence with re-
gard to it. Was she ashamed of it?' he
wondered
What barber shop was Miss Hedden
imp he asked idly after a while. y
don't think you mentioned the name
Of the place"
THE Cairo" Nellie replied
BY JOvew His exclamation was so
sudden and vehement that his cOmpan-
ion jumped nerVOusly.
What under the suns the matter?''
she demanded.
'Oh, nothing" he assured her, recov-
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-02-20

a rich widow, Khadidja, was he able
7 70 devote his whole time to religfous
/ studies and meditations. After his mar
I riage, which released him from mater
/ ial cares. he spent whole days in PRAYER
/ and declared he had cOmmunfca ton
with the angel Gabriel, and that he
was hidden to preach the true gospel
I to men.
He was prosecuted by the Kore-
schites of the Temple of Mecca and
forced to fly to Medina. This was in
622 Of our era And from the hour of
his flight MOhammed became the great
religious power of the Arabs. He
lived only ten years after that date
but died leaving millions of converts
t. his faith. During his death sickness
he wrote the Koran, which contains
all the laws governing the social Do-
litical and domestic life of the Arabs.
Laws Now Seem Crude.
It is customary for the Christian
critic to think of Mohammed as a
selfish and sensual man, making laws
which permitted him and his followers
fun license.
But in truth. Mohammed gave a So
cial code which elevated the social
state of his people far above con-
dition existing among them previously.
Until he wrote the Koran there had
been no law which gave dignity or
sacredness to the family life. MO'.am-
med saw the necessity of some Kind
u pIottCLiOn lot women and children,
and for some sort of ideals regarding
the responsibility of the man as hus-
band and father
Crude and selfish as these laws seem
to us today placed beside modern So
cial systems, where woman is a prom
inent factor, they We're progressive at
the time they were formed
Protection of Women.
The Arabs were wild, untutOred and
semi savage mon. To give each man
four women to protect and care for,
and to make each man realize that any
negligence toward these women was a
sin against the one and only just God.
meant growth of character. For until
then, the women had no rights and no
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-02-20

protection from the mans transitory
impulses. She belonged to the strong
est man for such time rs he chose
TO keep her in his tent That was all
0IOhammed reasoned that with four
wives to provide for with their Off
spring. men would be made Industrious
and proyident. and knowing the fierce
passions Of the Arabs, and the ignOr-
ance Of the women, he laid much stress
upon secludinE the weaker sex, and
shielding the women from temptations.
In the year 632, among the Arab
tribes, these laws were excellent laws.
absurd and one sided.-COpyrigh 1915
Tho Star Co.
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-02-20

in paying their wives these attentions.
in this way my wife and I lived in
different worlds, which were not even
inhabited by the same people She
knew, of course, none of my business
acquaintance, and she made a circle
of friends that I scarcely knew by
sight, and of whose ideals and inflU-
ence I was totally ignorant.
AS my business grew and .prOspered,
my absorption in it became the more
intense. 1 was swallowed up in the
great game of money making, and I
gave to it literally my every thought
and interest and care. had children
but I never had time to get acquainted
with them Why, I never had a game
of marbles or pillow fight with one
of my bOys-Or a real conversation! 1
never walked with an ailing baby or
sang a baby to sleep, or told q child
q bedtime story in my life, and yet I
am a father! Think of that!
"Of course gave my family every
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-02-20
CHAPTER XIX.


0OULD Fanny Hedden have known
the state of Joe Browns mind she
~ would have been amazed and. per-
haps, less desolate. For Joe-who was
the soul Of honesty, even in his deal
ings with himself-was forced to ac-
knowledge that he was in love with
girl whom he had met but three times
and about whom he knew next to moth
ing. He had suspected that his heart
was not quite whole after his talk with
her on Christmas night
Now, as he reviewed the occurrences
of last evening, he knew that Fanny
Heddeu was the only girl he had ever
really loved. He was old fashioned and
romantic enough to believe in love at
first sight He had never believed in
it before, vet as he unused on the fact
that from the moment he had caught a
glimpse of Fanny in the theater on
Christmas afternoon he had lOnged TO
know her well, he decided that that
very desire was the beginning of the
divine passion. Then he took himself
sharply to task and tried to think that
he was q sentimental fool What did
ne know Of Fanny Hedden, anyway?
Very little. Well. that was lack that
he would soon remedy.
With this intention in mind he called
Friday evening on Nellie Benson. Al
though he liked Grace Farrell and
was fond Of his cousin, Helen, he was
glad to find them both away upon this
occasion.
1T is too bad Nellie regretted, as
she welcomed him, that I'm the only
one home. The others have just como
out TO a movie"
That suits me all right" Joe told
her, sinking into an easy chair. How
does il happen that you didn't gO?'
Il was tired" said Nellie and how
does it happen that you're glad to see
me alone? I know that it's not because
you're a bit fonder of me than you've
always been. so there's some reason
for your bein' glad I'm by myself"
Joe flushed guilty. It was difficult
TO deceive Nellie, for she was keen Of
wit and perception. He tried to laugh
at her question.
Cant you give a fellow credit for
liking to talk with you all by your
self" he parried.
Nellie at Once Guesses.
Nellie shrugged her shoulders. 81
guess perhaps you've come to ask about
the same person you asked about when
you called here last. Yes, I've heard
from her, but I haven't seen her. She's
Wen and busy, I guess"
cure mighty good friend Of
mine, Nell" he burst forth, $50 I don't
mind telling you that I think Miss He'd
den's the sweetest woman I ever met
There, now, you know the truth and
its safe with you You may call me a
fool If you like, for of course I hardly
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-02-20
my idea of having browsing with pipe and paper

ried a nice. sweet. affectionate young
girl, who was deeply in love with me,
as I was with her. She had been raised
in a small western city, and 1 brought
her East. established her in a cOmfOr-
table home, and with a perfect sense
Of having done my fun duty toward
her. went back to my business, which
I had neglected somewhat during the
days Of cOurtship.
After a hasty breakfast in the NOR
ming, L rushed jOyfully down to my Of
flee, only to return home at night The
keen competition of business in which,
minute by minute, 1 matched my wits
with the best in the trade. furnished
me with all the excitement in life that
1 wished. In the course Of my days
work I had dealings with hundreds Of
different people, each<of whom brought
his or her grist Of gossip, Of stories, Of
cOmpaniOnship, so I had had all the So
ciety that I needed, and by night 1
craved solitude by way Of contrast
so, after having been gone away
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-02-20
PROGRESS
of WOMEN
IN EAST

IT. HE Arabs, until the coming OF
Nohammed. were scattered tribes
with no religious tie and know
ing only the law of force. They fought
continually, tribe with tribe: and
Might was right
Some of the tribes were pagans some
were 1sraeliteS; some We're Christian
and some were nothing at all but hu-
man animals.
Mohammed was Of the Korischite
tribe; charged with guarding the
temple of the Kabba- Orphaned young
he became Il driver of caravans. and on
his journeys he informed himself re-
SardtnS all the different beliefs of
various tribes, became familiar with all
the sacred books, and observed the
growing dccadence Of the country, torn
with petty wars and disturbed by con-
flicting faiths
Gave Time to Deal With Problems
A natural philosopher. and OF a Sc
r1ous, meditative mind. MOhammed spent
long hours in thought on these sub
Jects, and he communicated the result
OF his meditatiOns to his companions.
He soon earned the reputation of be-
ing holy man and something akin to.
a sage But not until after he married