davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-19
Exquisite Dolls and Wonderful Toys Fashioned By Frenchmen Recovering from Their Wounds Form Marvellous Exhibit Artistes of Old
 World Among the Contributors.
By A. R. Parkhurst, Jr.

American women who found a market for them.
 Just prior to Thanksgiving Day when that time-honored Christmas slogan is dinned into our ears and thrust into vision at every turn, which is none other than DO YOUR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING EARLY" those wealthy, hardworking and ex- tremely patriotic New York women who have collected thousands upon thousands of dollars for the La Fay cite Fund and the Relief Fund For France. conceived the idea of import ing the total output of the soldiers handiwork An exhibition, known as Soldiers in Toyland, was arranged un- der the auspices of the La Fayette Fund in the Old Knickerbocker Club building in Fifth avenue and at once it sprung into tremendous popularity among the women of wealth and fash ion. Prices far out of the ordinary were obtained and when one pauses to consider that every dollar thus spent is being appropriated to alleviate the sufferings of the victims of the war, it recalls to most of them what utter hioShSiy lidt eAQulSlIe ulotlQe greet ing, Peace on Earth, Good Will To- wards Men, is receiving in war-rent Europe this year.
 Mile. Thomson's Idea.
 The idea of this doll and toy ex- hlbition was conceived by Mile. Val entine Thomson, well known in Paris as the editor of La Vie Feminine, the celebrated newspaper for women. A commission was formed by her to pro- mote the scheme, those associated
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-19
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Each persons gifts are placed in pile on the table and the parents give them out amid wild shrieks of delight from the children. After awhile the youngsters are hustled off to bed as their elders must be in church at five in the morning to hear a sermon on the Birth of the Saviour of Mankind and to assist in the singing of the carols. New prayer books are the fashion for the morning service as these are popular as gifts After church there is one round of visiting and feasting. The poor are always remembered and every cottage has Christmas cheer. Much of this is pro- vided by the Royal Family, the muni- cipal authorities and charitable socie- ties. The Empress and Crown Prin- cess are always interested in this work and it is safe to say that even today with the country at war the poorest child will not be forgotten.
 With the Royal Family 1t will be the same, for while none of the i'm mediate family has given his life to the cause of the Fatherland some rel atives near and dear to them are sleeping their final sleep on the blood drenched fields of Europe. The Christmas feasting at the palace this year will not be as elaborate as here tofore, but the day will be celebrated by them in the usual way. The fam fly generally goes to Potsdam on &C., count of the Emperor's fondness for the New Palace. There, in what is known as the Shell Room, several huge trees are set up. The decora- ton of this room is composed solely of beautiful shells formed into diamonds, stars, etc. When the room is lighted they glitter like so many Jewels and present a perfect kaleido- scope of color. On Christmas Eve the family and the members of the house. hold gather in the room and proceed to the big dining hall where dinner is served. The gifts for the household have been arranged on large tables in the Shell Room but are kept cov- cred until dinner is finished. Dur Ing the early afternoon the Emperor and Empress have personally super v1sed the arrangement of these pres ents and have seen to it that each one is properly tagged with the name of the person for whom it is intended. The presents intended for the Elm peror and Empress are placed upon tables hidden by draperies When the dinner is over the company returns to the Shell Room and at sign from the Emperor the hundreds of electric
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-19

Many of these customs are rapidly dy- ing out although royalty still has the baron of beef brought into the dining room on Christmas Day with some ceremony, the Yule Log still burns and carols are sung. Christmas is celebrated in all the British colonies. especially among the soldiers, who never fail to have their plum puddings and beef. In Australia. where the weather is warm on Christmas, the people go out camping and have game and fish dinners in the forests, In India, the land of summer, tiger hunt ing parties are organized for the day, but the men always contrive to have some little reminder of the English Christmas for their dinner.
 Africa and Greenland.
 Away down in German East Africa the Germans have taught the negro the Christmas story, and in many homes the natives have their Christ mas trees. At the missions there is feast all day long with a tree full of gifts for the boys and girls who come to the mission school
 Also in the West Indies the Christ mas festival follows the customs of the countries of which they are colo nies. For instance, Jamaica has an English Christmas as far as possible: Cuba, although free and independent, still clings to old Spanish customs. and likewise Porto Rico; Haiti follows French customs" while the Danish West Indies cling to the Scandina- vian practices.
 In Greenland where the people for the most part are Catholic the natives shut themselves in from the snow and set up a little Christmas tree. The walls of their houses are covered with religious pictures and a candle is placed before each one on Christmas Eve to light the way of the Virgin and the Child. In many South Amer ican lands where the Spanish idea pre- vails the people hold carnivals, and in one place the curious old Spanish custom of several men going outside of town and mounting ladders to look for the Wise Men is still in vogue.
 The Servians burn a Yule log on Christmas and believe that the ashes kept in the house during the coming year will bring health and prosperity to the family. AS they are of the faith of the Greek Church the re- ligious service is the same as that of Russia.
 All over the world, rich and poor in every land welcome the coming Christ with joy in their hearts.
 At home, at sea, in many distant
 lands
 This Kingly Feast without
 rival stands
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-19

little manikins that are participat- ing in the ceremony at Hymen's altar.
 For every distinct group of dolls there is a set of furniture faithfully adhering to the period represented. There are delightful little chateaus, charmingly furnished, as well as quaint little farm houses with all ac- cessories in and out of doors.
 The human side of the exhibition is seen in the story of well-known Parisian wig maker which Mme. Le Verrier delights to relate. Like all true Frenchmen, this wig maker is an artist. He enlisted in the French army, went to the front, was in the thick of the fight until an enemy's bullet lodged in his spine. Another struck him in the eye and when he was taken back to a field hospital it was found that he was paralyZed from the waist down and the injured optic sightless. His sufferings were intense, but he bore them like the hero he was. As his convalescent period arrived he was presented with a bald-headed doll, given some hair, a curler, and a pot of paste. His joy was delight to be- hold
 Monsieur set to work and ere long his deft fingers were accomplishing miracles that never had been wrought upon a doll before. These dolls were coiffeured as no doll had ever been coiffeured before. For weeks he lay upon his back, helpless. except to dress the hair of the myriad of dolls that were laid upon his bed each day. Now he is up and able to hobble about, the master, Of a new and useful art which will return to him and his de- pendent family handsome living as long as he survives.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-19

Day, both of which are celebrated by mixture of religious services and feasting. There are three masses on Christmas Day and one at midnight of December twenty-fourth. The lat ter is well attended, almost every family being represented, servants in- cluded. In the old days the servants usually preceded the family to the church, each playing on a different musical instrument. The service is picturesque-theo organ peals and the choir chants as the priests bring from under the altar the figure represent ing the new born Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes of gold and white, while the congregation to a man fall down and cross themselves in mute adoration. The service is called the "Cock-crow Mass" At 1:30 A. M. the crowds go home. On Christmas Day the poor come to pay their rent to their landlord and he gives them a gift, usually a piece of salt fish for luck. During the afternoon the poorer
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-19
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commission set to work and diligently applied themselves to the art of doll and toy making. They mastered every detail of the craft and then returning to the bedsides of their stricken charges they imparted to them the knowledge they had thus acquired. Naturally the soldiers at first were overjoyed to find some task they could accomplish without fatiguing them selves and in this way while away the tedium of long hours in bed. Quick to seize the idea, the soldiers applied themselves diligently, for before long they were told that the time was not far distant when they could become so proficient at their new trade as to earn a good livelihood therefrom. This gave an added zest to the work and before many weeks some of the most exquisite examples of the doll and toy crafts that Paris had ever seen were being sent from the military hospitals of Paris. W
 Many of the soldiers who learned these trades in their hospitals have so far recovered as to be out again, and scores upon scores of them have been sent broadcast through the viI- lages and rural districts of France to impart their Knowledge to the af- flicted of those districts and in this way France is acquiring new indus try that before long will rival even the reputation of Germany so. long enjoyed as the toy mart of the Old World.
 It is surprising how zealously the women connected with the La Fay cite Fund are working to dispose of the myriad of beautiful toys being sold here under their auspices. No shop girl at the height of the Christi mas rush wends her way homeward more footsore and weary than these wealthy women who are working so tirelessly in humanity's cause. The spirit of Christmas is everywhere man. ifest. The good cheer and open handed generosity and patriotism of those who come to aid in the good work is proved by the lavish pur- chases they make. Many doll that Is priced at ten dollars brings fifty, sim ply because the woman making the purchase tenders a fifty dollar notd. instructing the woman in charge of that particular booth to keep the change"
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1915-03-19
Common Council Proceedings.
EDGERToN, WIS, March Is, 1916

EDGERTON, WIS, March Is, 1915.
Regular meeting of the common
council, Mayor Skinner presiding. AL
dermen present: Arthur, Cleary, Dali
man, Stark.
Minutes of previous meeting read
and approved.
Following bills were presented and
allowed:
EdgertOn Telephone Co., phone use IS 81
G. M. st. P. Ry. Co. freight. .............. 80 "A
A. E. Skinner, exp. in Mike trial. ....... 50
w. Fritzke, damage to garden in laying
sewer .................. .................. III w
Aid. Cleary moved that city clerk be
instructed to draw an order in favor of
Maryland Casualty Co. for $608.65 in
full settlement of paving contract on
Albion and Rollin streets.
Roll cali on motion-Ayes 4.
Aid Arthur moved that plans and
specifications for improvement of South
Main street from city limits or at
point near thereto, north distance of
approximately so rods, drawn by City
Engineer Jones, be and are hereby ac
cepteG,. and that the same be placed on
file in the Office of city clerk.
Roll call on mOtiOn-Ayes A.
Aid Stark offered the following res
Olution and moved its adoption:
Whereas. It is deemed advisable, expedient
and necessary to extend the alley in Block
Twelve O. p. of the CITY of EdgertOn, through
all of said Block Twelve to Swift street by
purchasing such property as is necessary for
such extension, and
Whereas, The title to the alleyway now in
use in said Block as public highway is IN
question, and
Whereas. It is necessary to secure title to all
Of said alleyway by purchase or by gift now,
therefore. be it
Resolved by the Mayor and Common Coun-
ell, That the street committee be and is hereby
instructed to secure by agreement title to all
Of said alley now in use as such. and to secure
such options on property not now used as an
aley and necessary for such extension, and
make report at next meeting of the Common
Council.
Roll call on resolution-Ayes,4
Following communication from May
or Skinner was read:
March 10, 1915
Mr. H. B. Knapp, City Clerk, Edger-
ton, Wis.
Dear Sir: | herewith tender my res
ignatiOn as mayor, to take effect April
14th, 1915. l consider this is the proper
course, considering the fact that will
be away from Edgerton so much of my
time during the coming year.
Please bring this before the council
at their regular meeting of March 18th,
1915. Signed, A. E. SKINNER,
Mayor City of Edgerton, Wis.
The council took no action on tender
of resignation by the mayor.
On motion council adjourned to meet
Wednesday evening, March II, at 7:30.
H. B. KNAPP, City Clerk.
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1915-03-19
Real Estate Bargains.
MORTGAGES.

/ offer for sale this week the follow
ing gilt-edge farm mortgages:
$500 on land worth $4,000. Interest 6
per cent.
$500 on jefferson county 40 acre farm
worth Sc, ZOO. 6 per cent.
$485O, town of Fulton farm worth
$4,000. per cent.
$4,000 on we'll improved farm of 55
acres, town of Oakland. 5 per cent.
$500 on 80 acre farm, town of Oak
land, valued at ST, 900. per cent.
Also the following city mortgages:
$500 on we'll located residence worth
$500.
$500 on residence worth 81, 900. 6 per
cent.
l also have other both larger and
smaller mortgages than these.
RENT.
/ have little three room cottage for
rent. Also five room residence.
Well located 8 room house on Slough
ton road, lot 4x12 rods. $4,000.
Fine little residence on Albion street
with all modern conveniences, $4,000.
Residence with 41 lots of land, S225O.
Fine residence with acre of land,
$500.
New residence in best residence part
of city. Every modern convenience and
with garage, $4350.
/ have the finest list of residence
property. You cannot afford to buy
without looking it over.
| have a dozen or fifteen small tracts
of land about the city, some with resi-
dences and buildings on them; others
vacant and suited to farming, and
few suitable to cut up into lots. This
is all valuable property and would be
pleased to have you go over it if in
need of small tract.
ID. w. North.
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1915-03-19
StouQhton

Carl Teisberg, son of O. K. Teisberg,
Stoughton, has gone from Spokane,
Wash. to become cashier in the Re-
serve bank at Minneapolis, according
to a letter received by the father. For
eight wears he has been in Spokane
bank and the promotion comes as a
recognition of his ability and careful
attention to business.
Supervisor Elmore Tusler was Satur-
dav pronounced to be suffering with
SMALLPOX and is quarantined at his
home on Oak street. Three weeks ago
last Friday, his daughter Grace, who is
employed in Madison, came home,
broken out with what Madison physi-
clans had diagnosed as chickenpox.
Two weeks afterwards to day, Mr..
Tusler became i'll, but his ailment puz-
zled the physician in attendance until
Saturday when the eruption, which had
begun to break out the day before, had
become pronounced.
VIM. Gould is hobbling about on
crutches as the result of an accident
the other day in which he tore the liga-
ments and broke one of the bones of
his left foot. Mr.. Gould, who is af-
icted at times with sudden spells of
dizziness, was standing on the top of a
stepladder outside of the residence of
his sister, Mrs. E. H. Johnson, and
was taking measurements for window
screens when he felt that he was be-
coming dizzy, and rather than let him
self fall, he made a hurried jump which
landed him on cement walk, with the
result that he was injured as above
stated.
A marriage license has been granted
to Teno AIme and Marie Krekling, both
of Dunkirk. Mr.. Alme is son of Mrs.
Nels Alme, and the bride is the eldest
daughter of Hans Keckllng. The we'd
ding took place Wednesday afternoon
at o'clock at the home of the groom's
mother, in the presence of relatives
and few invited friends of the young
couple, Rev. J. j. Lee officiating. The
newly-weds will make their home with
the brides father in Dunkirk.
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1915-03-19
East Porter

Sid Watson spent Monday night at
Harry Boothroyd's.
Mr.. and Mrs. Albert Christian Wis
tied Mrs. Moen Thursday.
Miss Jennie Oleson spent Friday
night with Mrs. Ella Peach.
Clifford Vickers of Albion Prairie
spent Sunday with Rollin Ellison.
Miss Lillian Whey of Edgerton spent
Saturday night with Miss Irene Booth
royd.
Prof. Vaughn of Appleton college
supplied the Stebbinsville pulpit Sun
day.
Herbie Herried delivered nice lot
of steers to Carl Peters in Stoughton
on Monday
Little Clare Whey is visiting at the
home of his grandparents, Mr.. and
Mrs. Boothroyd.
Miss Susie Nelson is spending the
week visiting her sister, Mrs. Carl
Lein on Albion Prairie.
Sterel Hartzell and sons Tom and
Lester attended the Y. NJ. c. A. meet
ing in Edgerton Monday night.
Mr.. and Mrs. Chas. Zieman Jr., baby
and daughter and August Zieman spent
Sunday evening with Mr.. and Mrs.
NelS MOen
Mr.. and Mrs. John Hanson, Mr.. and
Mrs. John Jensen, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob
Furseth spent Thursday with Ed. Jen-
son and wife.
The auction sale held by Reinhold
Mas last Thursday was we'll attended
in spite of the bad roads and things in
general sold for good prices.
The Misses Alice and Emma Wright
entertained Mesdames VIM. Gilley,
Herbie Herried, Jas. Spike and Mrs.
Whey at supper Thursday p. m.
A farewell party was given Mr.. and
Mrs. Reinhold Mas at their home on
Saturday evening by about forty of
their friends. Mr.. and Mrs. Mas
moved to their new home in Edgerton
the first of the week.
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1915-03-19
Twenty-Five Years Ago.

An incendiary fire which started in
the bankrupt stock of store in the
Croft block, conducted by the Fox
Bros, totally destroyed the building
valued at $4,000, Tuesday evening,
March H. Warrants were issued for
the arrest of the Fox Bros. James
Croft occupied one of the stores IN the
block and lost nearly his entire stock.
At the P. M. church in Albion on the
18th, Rev. F. J. Vivian united in mar
riage Ben H. Cooper and Lucy c. Will
kinSon.
The supreme court has handed down
a decision in the famous Edgerton Bible
case which held that the reading of
that book or sectarian instruction
should not be permitted in the public
schools.
Ernest Drake and Miss Mable Schaf-
fer were united in marriage at Milton
Junction on the 18th inst by Rev. Hick-
man.
No sales of the 1889 crop above 8
cents. About two-thirds already dis
posed of.
Friday, March Il, 1890.
-Stappenback's lard, bacon and pic
mic hams from Jefferson, Wis, at
Conn's grocery.
For custom Matching see Howard
Wentworth. Phone 308 F13 1.
Tobacco canvas 34c yd. at Pringle
Rros
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1915-03-19
CORRESPONDENCE
Albion


Miss Cleva Touton was Madison
Saturday and Sunday.
Mr.. H. E. Schroeder of Milton Jet,
was here on business Monday.
Mrs. J. ]. Noble was sick with lum-
bago from Friday until Monday.
Mr.. Lester Kelly is making his home
with Mr.. and Mrs. o. j. Painter at
present.
Mr.. and Mrs. James Harrington took
supper with Mr.. and Mrs. L. j. Green
Monday night.
Sidney Green and Carol Coon of
Milton college visited Sidney's parents
from Friday until Sunday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Chas. Lawton of Mil
ton Junction, visited relatives and
friends here from Tuesday until Fri
day.
Miss Ruby Mccarthy visited her
aunt. Mrs. Geo. Chatfeld and family
at Milton Junction portion OF the
week.
The Academy basket ball team went
to Beloit Thursday night and played a
very interesting game with the team
there.
Elmer Dixon, a graduate of the
Academy in 1914, of Brodhead, visited
friends and schoolmates here Wednes-
day and Thursday.
Mrs. H. F. Stillman and daughter
Kathryn visited Mrs. Stillman's sister,
Mrs. w. B. Maxon and family the
first of the week.
The concert which was given here
last Wednesday night by the Chicago
Concert Co. was very interesting and
enjoyed by every one present.
The Misses Gaea Rein and Theresa
Felland, '12, of Stoughton called on
schoolmates and friends here Saturday
and took some pictures of the ruins OF
Main hall, where they roomed for four
years.
Mr.. and Mrs. E. A Drake were sur
prised Thursday night when a number
of neighbors and friends came in with
filled baskets and spent the evening
with them in honor of their 18th we'd
ding anniversary.
Rev. Halverson of Rockdale preached
a very interesting sermon to the stu
dents and faculty of the Academy Sun
day. Mrs. HalversOn came with the
Rev. to see the ruins of the fire and
visit their son Nestor who is teaching
here.
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1915-03-19
Porter

Glenn Ludden is saving wood in this
vicinity.
Karl Becker spent Sunday with his
parents here.
Mr.. M. Phillips and family are NOV
ing to Cooksville.
Mr. M. Smith of Northern Wisconsin
is visiting relatives here.
Edwin Ford has hired out to J. w.
Bates for the coming season.
Miss Loretta Boyle entertained a
lady friend from Evansville over Sun
day.
w. Spear hauled his household goods
to Leyden and shipped them to Adams
county.
Leslie Whey and Harold Peters were
through here purchasing stock on
Monday.
Mr.. Rowley and family have moved
from Marshfield and are located on the
Frank Sperry farm.
The Larkin Club met with Mrs. Owen
Boyle on Thursday, Mar. II. Delicious
refreshments were served and very
pleasant afternoon was spent.
The teacher, Miss Emma Bates and
pupils of Eagle school will give a pro-
gram and box social on Friday even
ing, March 10. Every one invited
Wards 10c cakes like home made
at Conn's.
-Becker'S Electric Weld Soldering
Wire mends graniteware. 14t2
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1915-03-19
Fulton

On Friday evening, March 18th, a
county fair social will be given by the
Fulton Social Center in ladies hall.
General admission, cents; and an adj
mittance of 1 to 5 cents for various
shows. A winter fair is unusual but
be sure not to miss this for you will
have good time.
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1915-03-19

Fancy navel oranges 15c, Zoe, 30c,
40c dozen at Conn's.
Nice eating potatoes SOC per blu. at
Conn's.
WANTED-Live agent to sell Becker's
Electric Weld Soldering Wire to farm
ers. 1t mends tin and granite ware.
Address r. H., this office.
Fancy evaporated apricots- Conn's.
New vegetables at Conn's.
Six grape fruit for 25c at Conn's.
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1915-03-19
Creased Torpedoes.

1t is not generally known that every
torpedo is covered over with fine vase
line so as to make it run easily in its
tube as we'll as to protect the valuable
weapon from rust and sea water.
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1915-03-19
Hard Luck,

Terrible predicament Jones was in. !"
What was that?"
anybody to bail him out. "-Baltimore
American
The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1915-03-19

To lose money i'll is indeed often a
crime. but to get it i'll is worse one,
and to spend it i'll is worst Of all
Ruskin