davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-31

by setting fire to a huge wheel and
hurting it down the mountain side. to
go out with a hiss in a cold stream
below. thus symbolizing the plunging
of the earth into the darkness of win
ter.
This, as we'll as the ancient custom
of building bonflres on mountain
peaks. is still carried out by the peas
ants in south Germany. AS many as
thirty-seven bonfires have been count
ed on the submits of the mountains
which encircle the Chem See. while
along the Rhine, in the Harz noun
tains. and in the Bavarian highlands
midsummer fires cast q picturesque
glow against the summer sky.
The sorcery of the night centers
about the fame of the Sonnwend f1re
1t has unusual powers of prophecy and
healing, and acts as charm against
witchcraft. accident and pestilence.
Probably the most picturesque cere-
mony is the leap of the newly be-
trothed through the flame. A lad ap-
proaches the maiden of his choice and
asks her by use of set rhyme to spring
with him through the flame. If she
accepts, it shows that the sutton Is
favorably received and that the two
are as good as betrothed. They then
clasp hands and run toward the flame.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-31

bread. And the hot pancakes that
night. with delicious honey and the
sweet rich milk
81 used to feel Inundated that these
incidents stood forth in memory IN
better outline than some which would
be better worth recalling, but the child
of twelve is true to the calls OF nature.
and a good hot supper will be remem-
pero when magnificent scenery, sor-
row and bereavement have been for
gotten.
II have been blessed with many chill
dren and grandchildren. and have told
my story about that journey as others
tell fairy tales or recite heroic historic
deeds. My father is the hero of al Of his
blood. and. indeed. to all who know the
early history of California. 1 rejoiced
to find during my latest visit that his
memory is kept green. He came from a
large family from about Murfreesboro.
Tenn, and he inherited the restless
spirit of the mountains.
He tried first one and then another
location in his native state. Finally,
some ten years after he had married,
he selected Independence. Mo-, as a
place TO prepare best for the great jour
ney which he had decided to make,
namely. to California. About eighteen
young men and their families deter
mined to make the journey with him.
and when the caravan set forth that
lovely May morning there were some
sixty travellers, some of them infants,
and about forty family wagons. In the
wagons were provisions to last
throughout the journey-that is. sta
ples-sugar. tea and collector the
men had to rely often on their guns,
fishing rods and ability to trap small
game for fresh meat.
1T must be remembered that there
were no roads. no maps to guide the
adventuresome, no hospitable farm
lieve the tedium of the journey. One
intrepid explorer. Hastings. had made
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-31

the trip the year before, and he had
blazed the trees wherever there were
trees to blaze, had marked rocks. and
in every manner tried to make the road
less perilous for those who followed
him.
MY father had his directions. and
with them his party set forth into the
wilderness, following the course of the
Arkansas and La Platte, and then grad
ually making way through mountains
and through streams, west by south.
We started with fine horses, but before
we had crossed the state line of Mis-
souri, the Impractical side was made
plain. The horses could not endure the
constant strain. and the inability to
shoe them was great drawback.
II remember that cried bitterly over
in the old days In Tennessee. and my
mother grieved. too In exchange my
father got oxen. and then we began
our faltering way. making sometimes
but q few miles each day. once we
lost Hastings trail and had to make
our way back weary miles OFTEN after
painful exertions to follow the marked
path we came to impossible streams
and were compelled to go back, one
time more than fifty miles.
X
when we reached the first Of the
Rocky mountain ranges 1t was n men,
orable day: and how we would have
rejoiced had not my dear mother been
seized with what seemed a fatal ILL
ness. 1t was typhoid pneumonia,
caused by the high altitude and insult
ficient food and clothing. can recall
wildly how i'll she was and how the
entire party gathered about her,
prayed and sang the hymns she loved.
j recall that the party voted to rest
until she were better or the end came,
and how every member secured the
wilderness for dainty food which
might bring her strength.
week later. when It was announced
that he mos uxrn,o e~4,-b %o~ <S,n
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-31

found in some form or other In Ger
man life, with weird rite and ghostly
ceremony as component parts of their
Observance.
<
Valpurgisnacht. which comes on the
LIST of May. and is given over to mis-
chief-working fairies and to sport of
demons, is practically the same as the
old English All HalloWs Eve. Freya-
once the goddess of love and beauty.
but since the advent of Christianity a
witch or demon-then comes down
from ner haunts in the mountain peaks
of Norway, Sweden and Germany. and,
with her witches train, works havoc
among the abodes of men.
1t is well for husbandmen that night
to have all tools put away, as the
feet of her myriad train may scatter
thern abroad. The housewife should
be ca reful to remain close within doors,
to b. out of reach of the malevolent
spell cast by the black cat which al
ways accompanies the demon goddess.
The second Druidic festival, now de-
voted to the memory of St John the
Baptist, and called Johannistag. was
at midsummer, the day of the year
which marked the turning of the sun
away from the earth and the beginning
of the return of cold, dark winter. The
ancient Teutons celebrated this event
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-31
Y 4 I

every SCHOOL OOy ana girl, rev
people are aware that this witches an
niversary is celebrated. in spirit. at
least. in the land of the Teutons The
war undoubtedly will curtail such eel
ebrations this year, but it is safe to
assn that neither country will al
low the occasions to pass entirely IN
noticed.
While there is no day in the land OF
rhe kaiser which bears the name of
the British feast day, the giving over
OF one night in the year to witches
and divinations is nevertheless much
part of German life of Irish or
English folk observance
In fact, the root of this uncanny
night when ghosts and COLLINS disport
through town and country runs deep
INTO Morse and Teutonic mythology;
and. though it did not blossom in the
kaiser's land as Halloween, it is trace
able in Nalpurgisnacht. in Johannistag,
In ST Thomas night and a number Of
fete and festal days peculiar to GER
tain localities.
Germany is particularly rich in lore
of hobgoblin. sprite and elf. and it is
small wonder that elf-haunted ami
versary is commemorated on several
nights during the year. rather than on
one. The same Druidic tradition which
underlies the British Halloween tells
Of three main festivals during the
year. Those festivals were observed
on May 1, the time of sowing
June 81. the season Of the ripening of
the grain. and October 81, the harvest
season
The autumn festival has chung to the
life of Britain in All Hallow's Eve, but
all OF the old Druid festivals may be
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-31


sled, What is the best thing in the
o-ld and what is the WORST" said
Irs. Napoleon Bonaparte Stoneroad.
lne venerable mother of Mrs. Andrieus
Jones, wife of the first assistant sec
letary of the interior.
The best thing In the world is to
feel that you have been guided by q
heavenly hand to fulfill that which
was allotted as your portion-a hand
that has led you safely over perilous
places and still leads you toward the
setting sun. And the worst thing is to
miss that loving care and go through
life haphazard. as it were, and to be-
lieve that things just happened.
Il have lately returned from Cali
tornia, where 1 saw the great exposi-
ton and all the wonders which the
western coast can show, and my mem
ory goes back to my first glimpse of
California and my first years there,
gan to pour IN from every part of the
universe.
Il first set eyes on the glorious land
of California on October 2. 1886, at
point named In the old maps as John
sons ranch. about thirty miles from
the present boundaries of the state and
of Nevada and within a few miles Of
the Sierra Nevada. due south of the
on our journey on May 6, IL was ex-
actly five months and two days since
any OF our party had enjoyed the lux
Try Of sleeping between sheets or par
'aking Of food at 4 properly set ia
nie
And though we had tragedies, real
and threatened. during the long and
painful exodus, nothing can rob me
Of the ecstatic Joy / felt when our
kindly host and his good-hearted wife
invited me to eat some hot ginger
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-31

party to move. So we started one
morning in midsummer, seemingly out
of the clouds, so far up we seemed,
with the grand panorama spread out
before us. Many years after my ia
Their and mother. well and prosperous.
visited this spot which came near hav-
ing SO tragic a history.
ut was part of the famous gold
fields near Cripple Creek, and my
mother wept when she saw how prog
ress and civilization had transformed
the desert. Soon after occurred an
episode In my life which is quite
favorite with my grandchildren. as it
was years before with my own little
flock.
whenever have been away from
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-31

MRs. NAPOLEON BONAPARTE STONEROAD, Mother
W. of Mrs. Andrels A. JONES' Wife of the First Assistant Secre
ary of the Interior Child of Twelve Crossed the Continent
From independence No. Monterey Ca in 1846-She Is the
Sole Survivor of That Intrepid Band Led by Her Father Gallant
Duncan Dcnso-n Her Eighty Year She Retains Her
Memory and Can Paint Vivid Picture of That First immigration to
the Golden West.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-31

my sons little group in California. or
my daughter and her sturdy little son,
I have not fairly removed the stains of
travel and settled back for a rest, but
tell us when the panther nearly got
you"
ut was about week after we had
resumed our journey and we were
pressing on with feverish haste to make
leader of the party went before to try
the trails and then signal the others
on. We had passed a dreadful preci-
pice, 1t seemed to me, and in going down
tree and tie it to the back of the wagon.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-31

This time the wheels had broken. Sc
my father lifted me out of the vehicle
to a bank, and went down a hundred
yards or more to cut a young sapling
A shrek from me brought him running
back.
Opposite me on a bank across the
ravine a great panther was about to
spring. But shot from his trusty rine
brought the enemy low. 1t was an eX
qusite animal. and we brought the skin
with US to California, where for years 1t
adorned our home.
MY dear father and mother lived
long past seventy years of age in the
home which they had founded with
such heroism and privation. 1t is my
mother She was born Isabel McCreary,
and she came of gentle. cultured peo-
pie, who had abundance in the old
home in and wh no. w b,sns and
on what they believed would be a fatal
journey. Not alone does her courage
stand forth on the journey, but all her
life in California is typical of the pio-
neer woman to whom this nation owes
so much.
my father. after trying out many
places. finally located for that winter
of 1876 in the picturesque little ham,
let of Santa Clara. There was a well
established civilization all about. for
the padres had worked diligently and
with direct results. although / never
came under the actual influence of their
propaganda The following spring
mother and l went to what is now the
city of San Francisco with father. and
l smile as / compare the city as she is
today and as she was when / first saw
her.
ct remember father was offered city
lots at S14 apiece, and they were great
in dimension. like everything in that
wonderful country. each lot being al
most half an acre. Less than ten years
later, when the gold fever was at it's
height, this same amount of land sold
for several thousand dollars. some of 1t
for ten thousand.
I'VE had moved then to Monterey.
which was for many years happy
and dearly loved home. How l can
wildly recall my mothers kindness to
the crowds of boys bitten by the gold
mania. 1t will be remembered that SC
wild was the rush to the gold fields
that many colleges of the east were
partially depleted. My mother felt such
a sympathy for these poor boys and
she sheltered them whenever she could.
Nearly all came laden with lace, dry
goods and other gewgaws readily OBJ
tanned on the eastern coast, but diff
cult to get in California.
81 remember when l was getting
ready to be married-and we married
early out on the coast-nearly all my
trousseau was purchased from stu
dents, some of whom afterward made
large fortunes and who never failed to
thank my mother for securing them
grubstake She would often give them
a home for months until fortune smiled.
For some, when they found the prom
fsed gold only a false hope, she would
secure funds for their return home.
My father built the first hotel In Stock
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-31

ton, and my younger sister was the
second girl of Anglo-SaXon blood to be
married in that flourishi city.
:: =
"she was Elizabeth Margaret Dick
inson. and she was married in 1s49 to
Amos Giles Mowry Her daughter, now
Mrs. Hill. was the first white child of
Anglo-Saxon blood born in that Sec
ton of California. My marriage to
Charles S. Peck in 1850 was the third
in what we called the immigrant pop
uiation. ! was pleased to find all these
records faithfully kept and set forth
in the annals at the Panama EXPOSE
ton.
Another great achievement set down
~ ather was that he gave the
land and at his own expense. erected
Tue II. ST Methodist church in all Cali
fornia. Everything he touched seemed
to prosper. He and his wife were hon
ored as few are. and they left a goodly
inheritance to their many children. 1
nave but one brother surviving, George
winchester Dickinson of Monterey,
and he-the Benjamin of the family
was born in California. All other sis
ters and brothers have Joined my
dear parents beyond the dark waters.
and all the friends and neighbors and
their children, so far as / can dis
cover. have also started on the long
journey. l look back on that excursion
and with a faith that the same loving
care which guided me through these
eventful years will never fail me-"
Mrs. Jones is a daughter, by the sec
ond marriage of her mother, of Napo-
leon Bonaparte Stoneroad, one of the
pioneer stockmen of Arizona and New
Mexico. This marriage took place in
1881 and, like the first, was exception
ally happy. Mr.. Peck was a Methodist
minister and it was for him Mr. Dick
inSOn erected the church edifice Mr.
Stoneroad was a successful business
man. and had been associated with the
brothers of his wife for years prior to
the marriage. For many years he and
his family resided at Las Vegas, n.
Mex.
x <
There is another incident in my life,
said Mrs. Stoneroad. and that con-
Germs the wreck of the stanch brig the
Inconstant, which had carried Napoleon
when he made his escape from Elba.
This brig was a Spanish fruit vessel,
and was lying at anchor when it was
seized to convey the emperor to France.
Mr.. Stoneroads parents were fervent
admirers of the great Corsiean, and
besides naming their son for their hero
they brought him up to think Napoleon
the greatest of all mortals.
when, therefore, the brig was
wrecked outside the Golden Horn, and
news was brought to us. there was con-
siderable excitement in our family My
husband employed divers, who brought
up large pieces of the submerged ship.
My daughter. Mrs. Jones, was at that
time an infant. and her father had
relic. 1 have a polished square of the
wood, and it is a memento which brings
up poignant memories"
Mrs. Stoneroad is passing the even
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-31

Though Germany
Does Not Observe the
English Halloween,
Valpurgisnacht, Which
Comes on the 1st of
May, Is Practically the
Same - Witches and
Demons Come Down
From the Mountain
Peaks - Johannistag
Another Occasion.
The Flame of the Sonn-
wend Fire - On the
Eve of St. John-Mys-
teries of St. Thomas
NIGHT - Cutting the
Kletzen Ghost Sto-
ries.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-31

HRR 81 S7ITH almost eighty-two
90 " LNU years to boast of, / be
WV lieve I can answer those
" " old questions SO often
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-31

lille the British Halloween,
its origin and observance, is
the common property of
The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1915-09-02
{3o, ooo, 40 HDRN CAx 70
n MT 10 PaOIt(I COTTON

Washington, d. G. Treasury OH
ciain hmye mads public an announce
n4nt BY Secretary McAdoo, that II
view Of The action of tbs allies In put
ting cotton o. The contraband list, h<
would. X II became necessary, deposit
$50, 600. 900 On more In gold In the
Federal Reserve banks It Atlanta,
Dallas md Richmond for ths purpose
of enabling this reserve banks to re-
discount loans ON cotton secured by
warehouse receipts, msde by national
and state banks belonging TO the Fed
eral reserve System.
The gold would be Deposited tempo
rsrIly, 1t least. without interest
charge,
II was explained that II II appeared
that the object could be accomplished
with greater efficiency thsreby, the
deposits woud be made directly with
National banks agreeing to lend the
money on cotton At = rate not TO ex-
coed sIx pr cent.
Secretary McAdoo authorized the
announcement from his summer home
1T North Haven. Maine. II came at
the closs of days speculation In off,
siaI circles ~ to the nature Of the
steps which the entente powers have
Indicated they will take to uphold the
sotton market In the face Of their com
.rsband order.
The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1915-09-02

Openine the letter box on the dool
she took out dozen or 80 enyeIopea
One ret she inspected cri< sally the'
were all ia feminine handwriting
and then rather u1wi1lfngly laid then
aside. The others she tore briskl,
open, each received keen, shrew<
look. They we're filed or thrown away
Little and whimsical and odd. Flo
dies appearance bad something OF the
humor OF ! puppy, the sad wisdom o.
monkey. The combination made her
face pathetic. Crinkly, colorless hair
and hazel eyes had Flodie. Her hne'
regular teeth were her best asset, and
when she smiled, her main relief from
plainness. From her costume, which
was careless. to her gestures, which
were queer, Flodie Fisher was an orig
inaI. She had charm and magnetism.
Whether she made one laugh or weep,
eccentric little Flodie was distinctly
IovabIe.
Mr.. Smallish now reappeared with a
loaded breakfast tray.
Put him on that table in the stu
do" Flodie commanded.
Have those giddy green garlands
come for tonight?" she asked.
why, yes, they're out in the hall,
Miss Fisher What time does the
party begin"
"One minute past ten"
VIII there be many here. Miss
Fisher?"
"Oh, don't know, Alfred, about
twenty, suppose-men, ladies' anc
women. Especially women! They
don't usually refuse Mr.. Bonistelle's
studio invitations, notice Therel
be too many anyway. There won't BIZ
half of 'em come till the theaters are
over, though. We've invited squad
OF actresses"
Alfred stopped, his arms loaded will
garlands. What. real ones?'
mo. only half-ripe, guess. No
nearly SO real as the other womel
who'll be here, anyway. There ar
more good actresses OF the stage thai
on, Alfred! It'll be good as a pla
| for MEL
Alfred gazed longingly from tn
threshold. his eyes afire. Say, Mis-
Fisher, are you going to be dresse
up like you was the last timer"
She dropped fantastic courtes.
Precisely the same, Alfred; our goo
old friend Crepe de Chine. Now yo
gallop along with those evergreens b
fore your eyes drop out, Mr.. Sinai
ish!"
Alfred left. with the love light u
Il extlnguished.
Flodie went into the studio ar
pounded at the chamber door agai
, "Mr. Bonistelle! Hurry upl Yor
The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1915-09-02

MANUFACTURE Or MUNITIONS lRiiaD


FIsttsburg, N. r. More than 5000
persons, inluding 1900 members p
The military instruction camp, burt
into wild and prolonged applause hers
Thursday when, In the course Of an
address on military preparedness,
Thsodora Roosevelt, former president
at the United States, snapped At them
these words:
Don't applaud unless you feel >
burning sense Of shame because the
United States hns not stood up Tor Bel
gium.
In his address Colonel Roosevelt
censured the administration for Its
attitude In the European situation and
strongly urged preparedness for war.
1.-THE surest way for nation to In
vite disaster IL to be- rich, aggressive
The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1915-09-02

breakfast is awfully impatient Come
along! That old coffee is swearing
Already
Han opened the door. grinning.
And suppose those eggs are feeling
rotten about it," he offered iauntily
Flodie giggled delightedly and hov.
cred over the table. giving 1t few
Anal touches.
Hall Bonistelle was attired In a
purple dressing gown. too evidently
the gift OF loving, tasteless female,
He showed himself. now. as really
handsome. even to that cleft chin
which women seem to fancy, and
most right-minded men to loathe. On
his face was the touch of humor. care
lesslys joyous. rather than intellectual
and with his artistic" temperament
1t was easy enough to account TOR his
popularity with women, popularit,
that gave him spoiled air, was no,
offensive. and enabled him to do much
| forbidden to other men Always ex
cepting poor Flodie. who Rugged .
precious secret to her breast, women
1t might be added. liked rather thar
loved him The obvious proof Nigh
| lie In the fact that, at twenfy-seven
Hall had not yet been entangled n
serious affair OF the heart. He con
sidered that he knew too much abou
women to be seduced from his anus
The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1915-09-02
Huauenos Relies.

Henry M. Lester. president of the
Huguenot association OF New Ro-
chelle. N. Y. is. ha- ing the estate OF
Miss Eliza Moulton dug up in search
for the foundation of the first Hugue-
not church. which the women of the
Huguenot settlement there helped to
build in 1888.
Under the chancel. history says, the
bodies of three pastors of the church
were buried. There is also a tradi-
ton that some of the residents OF
the town buried money and plate un.
der the church during the Revolution.
airy war and that it was never recov.
cred The property faces Huguenot
street.
The old church. because of its
shape, was called the stone jug.
The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1915-09-02

Little Rock. Ark. - Five thousand
people In the town Of Newport, Ark.
are msrooned by tho flood waters OF
White River.
According to a telephone message
received here. the populaee In In des-
perate straits. Eight persons are re-
ported to have lost their lives.
The town 10 inundated to depth
ranging from TO Ia feet and most of
the population has sought refuge ir
the upper floors Of the hotels ard the
courthouse.
Because OF recent heavy rains, this
river roae to such am extent that al
| the levees protecting the town gays
way. letting loose one Of the most dis
astroua floods In the history Of TIL,
community.
trips up and down the river In the vi
entity OF Newport and succeeded Il
reseuing number of families from
tho roofs OF houses. whittier they ha'
gone to escape the flood. Finally Thu
tlood became too great, and the boat
had to withdraw.
All means Of communication will
the town. save the telephone wires
has been destroyed. and II was fesre'
that even the telephone wire would b
destroyed.
Several passenger trains are stslle'
at Newport.
With food and water supplies almos
| a. kmuafs al uus{ xg{fb xy~unv r@fnyAaa b
the town from other points along tn
river, the situation was one which AL
thorities here considered grave.