davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
ELECTRIC CHRISTMAS GIFTS.
Still New Enough to Have Novelty
Element Dear to Americans.

Element Dear to Americans.
Electric Christmas gifts still possess
that element Of novelty dear to the
American heart and thus solve the
problem Of giving Christmas gifts that
are different" Imagine how pleased
most men would be to receive an cleo
trio shaving cup or electric cigar light
err instead of neckties, socks and hand-
kerchiefs las usual
A teakettle for grandmother, sam
oyar for mothers 5 o'clock teas, a
chaing dish for the college girl, disk
stove for the bachelor, flatiron or
sewing machine motor for the prac-
tical housewife all these novel and
useful gifts will be appreciated by the
recipients.
It should not be forgotten that these
electric Christmas gifts are all useful
gifts. Each of these devices is de-
signed to do some one thing better
than It can be done any other way,
whether it is to percolate coffee. toast
bread or furnish the power for run
ming q sewing machine.
The presence of an electric perco-
lator on any table adds a touch OF
something different and something
better. The electric tea samovar Is
rapidly becoming quite the thing for
the modern tea table.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
THE DANGER FREE TREE.
How Electricity Provides the Sparkling
Cheer Without Risk Of Fire.

How Electricity Provides the Sparkling
Cheer Without Risk Of Fire.
Nearly every Goth day Of December
we read in the morning papers the pa
thetic stories of Christmas play that
ends in tragedy. 1t is the annual toll
Of the Christmas tree candle. Every
city has dozens of such cases each yea.
The candle flame sets fire to the tinsel
trimming, curtain blazes up, and the
day of festivity ends in sorrow or some
member of the family is badly burned.
The little electric tree lights are dec
orative and pleasing to children, and
they are safe and convenient. Tiny
lamps, fruits, roses, dogs, birds, snow
men and grotesque little figures are
all strung together on fine, silk covered
wire and may be readily connected to
any lamp socket behind the tree.
The little lamps sparkle and glow,
They are the most effective Christmas
tree ornaments ever devised, and there
is far more fun for the Riddles, because
the lamps can burn as long as they are
wanted. They do not have to be watch
ed, and the little lamps can be used
year after year. They are suitable for
any festivity and add gayety to every
gathering of children.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23

nations holiday hill Of fare Is becom-
ing simpler with the course OF time.
An interesting comparison may be
made of the Christmas dinners former
ly served in England and in this coun-
try with those of today. albeit the lat
ter are by no means scanty.
The forbears of modern Englishmen
must have possessed magnificent ap-
petites. Their hospitality was con-
Quoted on scale that would make the
housekeeper of today shudder. The
meal with which they commenced
their Christmas day, mere appetizer
to them, was ample enough to rob the
modern gourmet of all zest for food
for several days. The sideboard of the
old English mansion groaned under its
leviathan round of beef, its corpulent
pork pie, the Yorkshire ham, the Drawn
and chine, while on the table itself
deviled turkeys legs. homemade, sau-
sages. outlets and kidneys sent up
mingled and grateful incense from an
environment of piles of hot buttered
toast. new laid eggs, honey and fru-
menti.
But this repast, substantial as it was,
was trif1ing as compared with the din
ner-the real dinner that followed not
many hours after. The feast was her
aided by the boar's head, preceded by
servitors who blew resounding -four
ishes on their trumpets. The boar's
head itself was carried, sometimes on
dish of gold or silver. into the ban
quoting hall at the head of stately
procession of guests.
Then came the peacock. which vas
served even more sumptuously than the
boar's head. with its garnishing Of rose
mary and bays and. its tusks orna-
mented with large apples. This Is how
they used to prepare the peacock for
the feast: When it had been roasted and
dressed with n stuf1ing Of sweet herbs
and spices and basted with the yolks
of eggs it was sewed INTO It's feathers
its beak was gilded, and 1t was borne
to the dining hall BY DANES of high de-
gree, accompanied by the strains Of
minstrelsy. IKE ,sS, 81 @
Other features Of the Old time Christ
mas dinner included geese. turkeys.
capons, pheasants, sirloins Of beef and
launches Of venison. That these were
washed down with gallons or ale and
wine goes without saying. Indeed, an
other story might be writtan Of the
liquid element OF the old English din.
Ders. -IJarper's Weekly. s &
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23

less candles, l make my way to that
lowIy place into which first came the
light of the world. The gr0tto Of the
Nativity is cavern beneath the
church, long, narrow and low ceiled,
with pendent lamps Of precious metal
and rare workmanship lighting the
gloom. The floor is marble, and won
derful old tapestries, pictures and silk
hangings cover the walls A marble
cradle in one corner commentaries the
manger, and in recess on one side a
dozen or more hanging lamps are rang
ed around in Il half circle.
Before the altar there all men bend
low and kiss the ground for Christ's
sake, for it is here Il silver star is set
to mark the birthplace of him whom
his mother called Jesus. The center
Of the star is glass, and through it one
may see the original rocky floor Of the
stable. To the north of the grotto un-
derneath the floor one may also see
the cave in which st. jerome spent
many peaceful years translating the
Bible into Latin.
The effect of the whole is impressive,
but in an unfamiliar way. l am con-
scious Of feeling that is almost re-
sentiment against the lamps and tapes
tries and the marble floor. They seem
to level to the cheapness of worldly
riches spot that, of all places on
earth, should have been allowed to re-
main TRANQUILITY humble and dimly sa-
cred, true to the character of its holy,
transcendent memory.
i close my eyes for Il moment, while
mind and heart rebel against the pres
ent, until it vanishes and the atmos-
phere of the past, in all its deep and
wondrous mystery, returns to enyelop
my SOUL II am here, in Bethlehem"
whisper to myself and beyond closed
lids / see the Virgin mother with her
gentle face as the old masters loved to
picture her and eight that never
was on land or sea- in her beautiful
mother eyes, while the glory from one
low hanging star touches Baby's
hair. The fragrant scent Of new hay
is in my nostrils, l hear the soft
breathing Of nearby cattle, and above
tile murmur Of pilgrims prayers the
voice Of the Magi is saying, "Lo, we
have seen his star in the east and are
come to worship him.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
A Wish For the Holiday
Season

"VHINE own wish wish I thee in
II every place,
The Christmas joy, the song,
the feast, the cheer;
Thine be the light of love In every
face
That looks on thee to bless thy coming
NV own wish wish l thee-what dost thou
crave?
All thy dear hopes be thine. whateer
they be.
A wish fulfilled may make thee king or
slave. -.
wish thee wisdoms eyes wherewith to
Behold, she stands and waits the youth
full year!
A breeze Of morning breathes about her
brows;
She holds the storm and sunshine bliss
and fear.
Blossoms and fruit upon the bending
boughs.
She brings thee gifts. What blessing wilt
- thou choose?
LIES crown Of good in earth or heaven
above?
The one immortal joy thou canst not lose
Is love! Leave all the rest and choose
thou love.
~ ] .- Celia ThaXter.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
When Jane Fixes the
KniC kknackS

W LIKE to loaf in the kitchen While
Jane in her wifely way
IS putin the finish on knickknacks
for the dinner on Christmas day.
Say, tollible early O mornin's, When
the coffeepots simmerin' low
An the ROSTERS is CROWN for daybreaX
like nobody else didn't know
An out through the white curtained win
der the stars is beginnin' to face,
An the hills that was hid in darkness Is
atYast comm out O. the shade.
Directly a silence settles SO plain it Is
mighty nigh seen,
An me an the past stand together, with
scurcely a mint between,
Fer I feel unusually tender-in glad'
half sad sort O. way
While Jane is flxin' the knickknacks for
the dinner on Christmas day. |
A person don't never, reckon, disremem-
Der the old folks at home.
No matter how feeble he grows an no
matter Jest where he may roam,
An they show pretty clear at such minits'
true an brave as in days gone by.
Till I push my chair in the shadders-
a-hidin' the mist in my eye
I see the grave face Of my father as ne
reads by the candlestick there,
An 1 hear some hymn of my mother as
she rocks in the hickory chair:
Then the freight falls on the ceilln' with
the rose O. the old time glow
AS dream only dreams O the future 'stid
O. dreams O. the long ago.
Heigh no! What a world o changes from
the lad to the man now gray,
Watchin' Jane as she fixes knickknacks
for the dinner on Christmas day!
Then my thoughts travels on an onward
from nists where the old folks pc,
An I wonder if our own children Is think
in O. Jane ar me;
II they heard some organ sendin the
song, do They Miss Me at Homer"
Through the holy Christmas mornln'
through the holy Christmas gloam.
II they heard their children shoutln IN
pleasure beside their toys.
Would they think once more o the home
stead, where they lived when girls
The Young has the world before 'em, but
fer us it lies behind
A dim, dear land O. memories. where even
keep in mind
Wee. faded clothes in the attic, broken
toys long laid away,
As I watch Jane fixin knickknacks fer
the dinner on Christmas day.
Will r. Hale.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
s,Massail! prinkaeI!"

The wassail bowl, which is still used
in some old European families at
Christmas, succeeded the skull of the
Norseman:s foe as drinking vessel.
In these old wassail bowls, some speci-
mems Of which are of brown ware and
others of massive silver, were placed
the ale, the ginger, the sugar, the nut
meg and the roasted crab apples.
Where the old custom still prevails the
ale is served spiced and sweetened In
the VIZ ssail bowl, but the apples are
oE.vtS1.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
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&! ~,
A8GA y &s Sg

~ VERY one is familiar with the
viands that 60 to make up the
g. n Christmas dinner Of the Eng
lish speaking races-the tur-
key, goose, plum pudding ana mince
pie festivals-but how many OF us
know what they eat ut Christmastidr
in foreign countries?
The Frenchman's Christmas bill of
fare, for instance, is extensive and
varied and IN many respects quite
different from our own. The great
Gallo national dishes are trufiled tur-
key and black buildings, of which
every Frenchman who can afford such
Inquiries makes a very hearty meal at
Yuletide.
In Russia the Christmas meal consists
largely of two dishes-one Of wheat
porridge served with honey and the
other a curious compound of stewed
pears, apples, oranges, grapes and cher
rics, sweetcned with honey and served
cold.
Italians, too, are fond of rather
sweet and indigestible dishes, espe-
cially at Christmas. One of their
favorite combinations is that OF eels,
periwinkles and vermicelli, while the
inevitable nacaroni and spaghetti form,
of course, the principal articles of food
at all times.
The German Christmas dinner offers
as it's principal attraction the goose,
without which your true German
would feel that he had not had real
holiday feast. Germans, like Aus
TRANS and Italians, have very sweet
taste, as evidenced by their numerous
varieties of cake.
Notwithstanding the tendency in all
countries to offer huge dinners at
Christmas, it would seem that every
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23

from this immemoriaP belief that we
must trace the present day faith in the
virtues of the bayberry candle.
The bay is species Of laurel, and as
poets and victors were crowned with
the laurel or the bay, wishing them long
life and happiness, so is the same wish
conveyed in the bestowal of candle
made or the waxen berries borne by
the sacred tree. '~.
Bayberry dips are also made as well
as the nodded candles. These dips are
smaller and less even in shape and
show us how candles were made by re-
peatedly dipping the wicks in the melt
ed wax of the bayberries and drying
each layer till the dip was of proper
SIZE, That was before molds We're in
troduced, early in the eighteenth cen
tury. ,. -
To accompany bayberry candle one
should send in the little box in which
it is daintily wrapped d card OH which
is printed, in red and green lettering,
the legend:
ON CHRISTMAS EVE
A bayberry candle burnt to the socket
Brings luck to the house.
Food to the larder
And gold to the pocket.
When these cards are not to be found
the luck rhine may be written on the
back of ones visiting card and wrap
ped with candle, but in that case it
must not be forgotten that the in
| closure of writing necessitates extra
postage.
Their color, soft olive green, blends
beautifully with other Christmas
/ decorations, and they burn with
steady flame, emitting a delightfully."-
pungent fragrance, and they are con-
sumed evenly all around without max
ing unsightly cutters or ridges Of wax
down the sides as ordinary candles do.
From New. England comes the tradi-
ton that if lovers separated by dis
lance each lights bayberry candle in
honor Of the other at the same hour
the aroma or incense arising from the
burning wick will drift in the direc-
ton Of the absent one; hence the
, candles make strong appeal to young
people of romantic temperament.
A candle must be presented to you,
not bought by yourself, in order to In
sure good luck, and you must not light
your own; that must be done for you
BY some other person. not necessarily
the donor.
Christmas eve is the. time for burn
ing, either at dinner Of, later, and to
follow out the old idea of the laurels
and the bays to the victor a candle
should surely be bestowed on the rela.i
tive or friend who has recently
achieved some success or won dis-
tinction. -Philadelphia Press.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
The Highland Lassie on Christmas.
Grant in his "Highland Customs" tells

The highland Eassie on christmas.
Grant in his Highland Customs" tells
how the Scotch lassie rose with the
Christmas sowans, or sour scenes, hard
oat cakes, soft cakes and pannich
paron. The days enjoyment always
consisted Of trials of skill and games
and wound up with grand evening
meal. In some parts Of Scotland, as
in England, it became customary to
hang branch Of mistletoe in the mid
die of the room or over the door, and
if by accident or otherwise girl pass
ed under it any young man was priv
ileged to give her as many kisses as
there We're berries on one Of it's sprays.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
To Liaht YuIe Log Properly.

There are thousands who still firmly
believe that to light the Yule log with
the charred, remains of its predecessor
Of a year ago means twelve months Of
good luck for the provident household
err and his family. But it has always
been considered an evil omen If a
squirting person, barefooted person
or, worst Of all, flat footed woman
enters the room while the log is burn.
ing. Az s.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23

ALTHOUGH we live in Guney-
~ wamp,
Which isn't on the map,
An. though our town hez settled
down
To take its winter nap
Our thoughts 60 out to friends afar,
Friends north, south. east an west.
We hope an pay this Christmas day
Will be their happiest !.
We live here quiet on the farm.
Irene an ma an me;
We have two pens NV noisy hens
An cats, no less'n three!
We raise our garden sass an SIGH,
Make cider ev'ry fall;
Wish we could fit cask NV it
Out to you, one an all
We amt no hands fur style an'sicb.
Bat we Jest wanter say
Well use you white BY day Or
night
Ell You should come. our way.
Accept this freetin,, which i FULL
Nv food Of cunty ckser,
Anspsace. good will 81 JOY until
We Sc you III next year!
-Jos Cess.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23

An Austrian Christmas DeIicacy.
The Austrian affects at Christmas
time delicacy known as fruchtbrod.
made Of raisins, currants. figs and
chopped dates. This constitutes a sort
Of cake. baked hot.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
Still srinu In the Bears Head.

The ancient Christmas ceremony Of
bringing In the boar's head is regu-
larly performed on Christmas after
noon in the hall Of Queen college, Ok
ford. England. The head is borne In
on a silver dish, shoulder high, at the
head az i procession formed by the; col
lege ehoaP augmented for the occasion
singing XlSet Bears Head Song"
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
Oh. to Have DWeIt In Beth
lehem!
II, to have dwelt in Bethlehem
When the star of the LORD
shona BRIGHT.

~ II, to have dwelt in Bethlehem
T. When the star of the LORD
shone bright;
~ To have sheltered the holy wan
dererS
On that blessed Christmas night;
To have kissed the tender, way worn feet
Of the mother undefiled
And with reverent wonder and deep de-
light
To have tended the Holy Child!
Hush! Such a glory was not for thee,
But that care may still be thine,
For are there not little ones still to aid
For the sake Of the child divine?
Are there no wandering pilgrims now
TO thy. heart and thy home to take?
And are there no mothers whose weary
hearts
You can comfort for Jesus sake?
Adelaide Proctor.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23
nA -=fs.. kzzsz@
: 1 RS ! :
4Ret1,(ttiistl!$,
31l@i6fl''fllipIace

tivity, marking the holy, low
~ birthplace, says writer in Army
and Navy Life. There is only one en-
trance from the street, and it Is so low
that in entering one is forced to bow
the head and assume posture of rev.
erence When once inside l raise my
eyes feel the lashes wet.
The ceiling is lofty, the walls white.
washed and bare, while the ancient
dark beams and rafters add to the air
Of extreme simplicity. There are long
rows OF marble pillars, once adorned
with paintings, that are all but faded
now, and of the once glittering mo-
sales Of the clerestory only fragments
remain. Coming into the choir and
apse, the scene is suddenly changed.
There are numerous affairs of divers
ownership under a constant and jeal-
GUS guardianship of Latin, Greek and
Armenian. Over these various claims
there has been much and bitter dissen.
sion; blood has been spilled more than
once. In fact, as all the world knows.
the Crimean war began with mob riot
in the Church Of the Nativity-sacrilege
Of sacrilege!-and here was born the
Prince. of Peace! -
Down the dark and winding stairs,
slippery with the drippings Of count
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-23

9q0L ,!;]E I : :
On 49, By lIs1
& : mARiAN W .1
- DORSEY -
~ VERY year the little green bay
berry candles are sent as luck
H. bringing gifts to an even
greater extent than during
the past few holiday seasons. The rea-
son for this is that the people who re-
ceived them the past year or two-ana
who did not ?-thought that they really
did seem to bring them good fortune;
hence this increasingly rapid growth of
the candies popularity as q substitute
for the conventional Christmas card
or as constituting in itself an unpre-
tentiors little gift symbolizing every
good wish.
But, while a great many people both
send and receive bayberry candles as
gifts there are but few who know
whence they come or why the luck su-
perstition is inseparable from them.
The candles, or dips as they were
first called, are the product Of re-
vived industry started few years ago
in the old Massa chusetts towns of Deer
field and bingham and in the Kitchens
of the Cape Cod people, all Of them
using the old pewter or tin molds that
have descended in the families from
colonial times. Old southern villages
have not as yet realized the opportuni-
ty offered its women in this revived in
dustry, although the bayberry candles
were made by the early settlers in all
the coast colonies where the berries
grew, never being found inland.
AS to the origin Of the good luck
idea, we seek it in vain among colonial
chronicles as applied to the candle
itself. Yet from times far earlier the
bay tree and the laurel were consider
ed sacred to good fortune, and it is
Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1915-01-29
BY Peter Radford
Lecturer National Farmers Union

The farmer gets more out Of the
fair than anyone else The fair to q
city man is an entertainment; to
farmer 1t is education. Let us take
stroll through the fair grounds and
linger moment at few of the points
of greatest interest. We will first
visit the mechanical department and
hold communion with the worlds
greatest thinkers.
You are now attending a congress OF
the mental giants in mechanical sci
ence OF all ages. They are addressing
you In tongues Of iron and steel and
in language mute and powerful tell an
eloquent story of the worlds progress.
The inventive geniuses are the most
valuable farm hands we have and
they perform an enduring service TO
mankind We can all help others for
a brief period while we live, but 1t
takes a master mind to tower into the
realm Of science and light torch of
progress that will illuminate the path
way of civilization for future genera
tions The men who gave us the
sickle, the binder, the cotton gin and
hundreds of other valuable inventions
work in every field ca earth and will
continue their labors as long as time
Their bright inteilects have conquered
death and they will live and serve
mankind on and on forever, without
money and without price. They have
shown us how grand and noble 1t is
to work for Others; they have also
taught us lessons in economy and eff
cheney, how to make one hour do the
work of two or more: have length
ened our lives, multiplied our
opportunities and taken toll OFF the
back Of humanity.
They are the most practical men
the world ever produced. Their In
ventions have stood the acid test Of
utility and efficiency. Like all useful
men, they do not seek publicity, yet
millions Of machines sing their praises
from every harvest field on earth and
as many plows turn the soil in mute
applause of their marvellous achieve
ments.
Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1915-01-29
Roswell I'm Military
Institute Leads
A Washington, d. G. dispatch

A Washington, ID. G. dispatch
says:
Sixteen military schools and acad-
emies began rifle shooting tourn-
ament this week for war depart.
ment Workmanship trophy. Re-
suite of the first matches were an
non nc,d here last night as fol
lows
New Mexico Military Institute
963, vs. Kemper, Bonneville, $50;
ST. Johns DE Lafeld 922, vs.. Hard
vatd, Los Angeles, Calf, 864;
New York Military Academy 900,
Va. Bordeniown, N. j., 903; ST.
johns, Manllus, New York 863,
vs.. Northwestern, Highland Park,
H., ,80S; Sbaituck, Fairbault, MINI.
1913, vs. Miami, Germantown, Ohio,
$50; Hitchcock, San Rafael, Calf,
799 vs. Nazareth, Pa. .,644; Morgan
Park, ILL.,, 872 ys. Bingham, Ashe-
vile, N. O., 3l1; Tennessee, $40, W.
Wentworth, Lexington, Mo, dc.
faulted.