davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-10-14

vote of Il for and one against. Mueller dis
centing. The clerk calling the roll.
The petition Of Jos. Wheir and Eve 9th
erS for sewer and water in 9th Ave. South
was recommended granted by the sewer
and water committee and the recommends
ton of the sewer and water committee
was on motion and by unanimous vote of
the Council, the Clerk calling the roll.
ratified and adopted, and said sewer and
water ordered put In.
The committee appointed to investigate
the proposition of selling the boiler now
owned by the City and used to operate a
steam drill in the getting out of rock from
sewer trenches reported that they were
able to sell the old boiler for $500. and
that the City could use the boiler for the
balance of the fall to finish up the fails
work, and on motion and by a unanimous
vote OF the Council the Clerk calling the
roll the committee was authorized and en-
powered TO sell the boiler.
The sewer committe and the water com
mittee both reported favorabIy on the
petition of Louis Martin and others for
sewer and water construction in and upon
18th Ave. South distance of two blocks
south from Grand Ave, and by a unanf
nous vote OF the Council, the Clerk calling
the roll, the report Of the sewer and water
committee was adopted and the work or
The petition of Joe Rybicki and Aug
trietag for a sewer in 10th Ave North
from Mcinley street south about $50 feet
was recommended granted by the Council
the Clerk calling the roll, the recommends
ton OF the committee was adopted and the
work ordered done. Provided there is no
Iegel matters in the way the same was
referred to the City Atty.
The petition of the West Side Catholic
church for a sewer in 10th Ave North was
recommended fayOrably by thesewer com
nittee and the Council by a unanimous
vote ratified the recommendation of the
committee and ordered the sewer put in
A petition was presented for Electric
Lights on Avon street and the same was
referred to the General business committee.
The petition of Reinhart, Henke and
three others for sewer and water on 18th
Ave. north between High street and Nc
kinley was referred to the sewer and water
committee.
The matter of refunding the Park Bonds
was referred to the City Atty. to ascertain
If the same could be accomplished and If
benefit would result to the City.
The bills of the Electric and Water Com
| mission for the last two months were
ratified by the Council by a unanimous
vote. the Clerk calling the roll.
An ordinance to fix schedule of Electric
rates in force of the Grand Electric and
Water Commission lighting, power and
heating was passed by a unanimous vote
Of the Council, the Clerk calling the roll,
(Same may be seen in legal form else
where.)
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-10-14

SCHEDULE OF ELECTRIC RATES IN
FORCE OF THE GRAND RAPIDS
ELECTRIC & WATER COM
MISSION. LIGHTING
HEAT POWER.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-10-14
By the Court;

w. J. Conway County Judge.
B. II. Vaughan, attorney for Exc
cutrix. P. o. Grand Rapids, Wis. 81.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-10-14

Regular Lighting Rate.
First 20 K. W. hours, 10 cents per z. W.
hour, all over 20 K W. hours cents per
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-10-14

Oct. D. Balance in bank .......s....S "a
Respectfully submitted,
jos. Wheir, Jr., City Treas.
On motion the Council adjourned.
Burton L. Brown, J. A. Cohen
Clerk. Mayor.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-10-14
WEDNESD

Mr. and Mrs. Louis Reichel and
family and Miss Catherine Reicbel
mOtOred TO Necedah on Sunday.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-16

making ends meet.
But he had turned out to be dill.
gent, earnest man. The gentle int1u-
ence of loving wife, the sisterly care
Of Eloise, had been his at all times.
Eloise, her father heard, was beloved
of worthy young engineer, at pres
ent at distance.
Old Gabriel moved about uneasily in
his luxurious armchair. He paced the
apartment for an hour, he tried to
read. His eye caught notice in the
local paper. There was to be Christ.
mas sale at the village hall, he noted,
under the auspices of ladies' club,
for the benefit of the poor. Why not
go? Sooner or later he must meet old
acquaintances.
The maddest, merriest of Christmas
groups thronged the big hall. There
were booths and counters and, near q
bewildering Christmas tree, an I'M
mense papier mache creation in the
form Of stocking. It's province simu-
lated q fishing well, for near by were
poles and line, and upon payment Of
a fee cast over into the top of the
stocking brought up q gift, fastened
on by someone concealed inside.
Old Gabriel made happy score OF
little ones by paying for their fishing
plunge. He bought several trinkets
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-16
WHY you HANG STOCKINGS
Popular Christmas Custom Said TO
Have Come Down to Us From
Old italian Practice.

There is a story from Italy which
some suppose to be the beginning Of
the present idea of the Christmas
stocking. Years ago good old st.
Nicholas Of Padua used to throw
knitted purses with money in them in
at the windows of the poor. These
knitted purses were not unlike .
stocking without foot, and later It
became the custom of the people to
hang this knitted sack just inside the
window that st. Nicholas might put
something in as he passed. When
these purses went out Of use the
stockings were substituted. In tho
northern part Of Italy It was little
too chilly to leave the windows open
and the stockings were hung BY the
mantel place 80 that they might be
filed from the chimney.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-16
The Ten Commandment,
for Christmas Giving
Bv HARVEY. PEAkE

THOU shalt love the siver Of the gift. because
! he has sent the gift.
z. Thou shalt remember first the very young and
the very old.
,. Thou shalt buy within thy means. remember.
ing the spirit Of the gift and no. the value.
4. Thou shalt not become . party to the mere
exchange Of gifts. Let thy heart 60 with each
and every greeting OF present thou seudess out.
5. Thou shalt make such gift, as thy skill may
warrant. inasmuch a, the work Of thy hands
gives added value to the offering.
E. Thou shall. tie up no bite. membranes with
asift. but only peace and good will.
7. Thou shall. have thy gifts ready several days
before the time Of delivery. that the immediate
days before Christmas may be filled with peace
andhappiness. sed not with turmoil andfreuzy.
8. Thou shalt seek the abodes Of the poor aud
friendless with such Wholesome gifts a. may
chez, and nouri,h sheis hungry bodies and
hearts.
9. Thou shall. not eu.h oves thy gifts. Thou shah
show thy gratitude in more sincere ways.
10. Thou shalt. at earliest opportunity. give written
or verbal thanks for such kindnesses a. thy
friends may have bestowed upon thee 4
Christina.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-16
EAT REMAINS OF CANDLES
Christmas Services Among the EskI.
mos Of Labrador-Part Most En-.
loyed by the Children.

Somebody has said that when tho
world was being made the Creator
gathered up all the waste material he
had left over and made Labrador out
Of it. Some people say the Creator
never intended 1t to be inhabited. But
inhabited 1t is with sturdy, taciturn,
band of Eskimos, who, thanks to the
Moravian missionaries who have pene.
trated to that country, celebrate
Christmas in their own peculiar way.
AS service time in the church draws
near all the Inhabitants, old and
young, the men on one side and the
women on the other, are waiting IN
eager expectation. It is quite dark
by four o'clock and the bell rings. All
come trooping in clad in the best
clothes they can muster.
No one stays at home from these
services unless he is sick or lame.
and whenever It is possible sleighs
are used to bring these disabled ones
to church.
For the little children the happtest
part Of the services comes later when
each child receives lighted candle.
symbolizing the light of the world.
Each candle stands In q white turnip
which serves as candlestick. Most
of the candles are made from deer
tallow which the Eskimos bring to
the missionaries. After the services
the children eat not only the turnip.
but what is left Of the candle as well.
One year only about ten persons.
mostly men, could come from the
nearest island. The Ice had been
driven together, and rather than miss
the Christmas service they had risked
their lives in crossing over on that
moving, heaving, broken ice to the
mainland. Then they had to climb
the mountains and walk through the
deep snow until they reached the mis-
sion station after twenty-three hours
of danger and a fearfully exhausting
march through the snow.
How happy they were to be in time
to celebrate the Christmas festival In
the house Of their God! About six
days later, when the ice had formed,
all the rest of the people came. but
oh! so sad and downhearted. Like
little children they told the mission
aries their tale OF sorrow. They de-
scribed how sad they all had been
when they found that it would be i'm.
possible to- come to the mission Sta.
ton for the Christmas service.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-16
TWO TOTS IN A TOY SHOP
Little Denny Was Almost Beyond
Hope in the Eyes Of His Older
Sister, Aged Six.

She was six If she was day; she
had little fat back in a little black
coat and her wisps of red hair
matched her red tam-o' shanter. In
her firm hand she held struggling
boy about year younger, and they
were getting into the elevator at a
big department store and making for
toys"
Children are not allowed, unaccom.
panied by guardians, in most large
shops, but such was her air of re-
sponsibility, of decorum, that it would
have been bold f1oorwalker who
dared to question her.
Nor, evidently, was it her first visit.
The boy, still held in leash, ran in
front and made straight for the space
devoted to Santa Claus, his reindeer
and his sleigh, piled with toys.
There was a background Of fir and
cedar and huge Christmas tree, but
the pair sat down before the fascinat-
ing old fellow in his red robe, his
long white beard, holding his big
whip, and from his face the small boy
did not turn from worshiping in sol
emn alteration.
Across the room was creche; also
a wonderful and beautiful thing The
infant Jesus in the manger, the moth
er in her blue robes, St. Joseph, with
his staff, the three kings respondent.
The children had been perfectly
still for fifteen minutes looking at
Santa Claus, when the little girl whis-
pered to the boy. He sQuirmed. strug-
gled, but she was too much for him.
She dislodged him from his seat,
dragged him to the creche, and with
motherly, Irish piety, pressed him on
his knees.
Reverently she described the holy
group, then would incite devotion
from q more human motive.
"See the COW, Denny; you mind the
COW we used to milk last summer at
the farm when we went on the fresh
air? See the goat, Denny; you mind
the goat in our alley? It's his pitcher"
But Denny whined and pulled and
pulled to be back again to his idol.
The little girl looked up. Her sigh
was that given by every woman since
the beginning, for every man for
whose soul she holds herself respon-
sible.
Denny" she said, Denny likes
Santa Claus better than he likes Cod
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-16

board, from the usually sedate flag
officer and the more or less unap-
proachable first lieutenant, down to
"Jimmy-legs" and the ships cook and
the messenger boy, voluntarily consti-
tutes himself a committee OF, one to
see the thing through In "old navy"
fashion, and even King Neptune. when
he comes on board on crossing the
line" to douse every hayseed and
landlubber, has formidable rival in
the spirit of Christmas"
1t matters not much whether the
ship be anchored of Vera Cruz or
blowing through the Pacific ocean,
the distance from home and friends
makes it incumbent on all to do their
level best to make at least brave try
for Merry Christmas"
Routine drills are entirely suspend
ed; and, except for. cleaning ship
Cleanliness in the navy being deemed
not only akin to, but actually neck
and neck with godliness ITSELF, not a
lick of avoidable work is allowed to
be done by anybody.
"All hands" are called, to be sure, on
scheduled time, but many more men
than usual are allowed to sleep in,"
and, after the tiniest minimum Of
tidying up, preparations for the days
festivities are gotten under way.
There is a varied athletic program
that begins in the forenoon, and after
an hour or SO OF for dinner at mid
day, continues well along toward SUM-
set. Sailors are taught to be thorough.
So they 60 at their potato races and
pie-eating contests and tugs of war
and jumping contests with the same
fervor that they show when trying for
q 13-inch turret gun record or stamp
ing out Caribbean revolution. There
is no lack Of interest. That can be de-
pended on. And when call is sounded
they are tired lot.
Toward sunset the various contests
have been completed Tor not unusu-
ally called OF ION account Of dark
ness" az the baseball people say) J.,
and, after an early supper, a stage is
rugged up on the quarterback and the
browning event of the entire celebra-
ton is on. Sometimes it is minstrel
show, another time vaudeville per-
Torrance, but without exception there
is plenty Of music and near music, and
no such entertainment would be com.
plete without the inevitable and inim-
table cakewalk. Some Of the impro-
vised costumes are fearfully and won
derfully made. But they are striking
and, for the most part, very appropri-
ate, while the pirouetting and grating
of the cakewalkers themselves are
we'll worth seeing. The program IL .
long one, but interest never lags for
q moment-for American sailors are
just % thorough ct play - they are
while Ct work
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-16
A CHRISTMAS HYMN

No tramp of marching armies,
No banners flaming far;
A lamp within stable
And in the sky Star.
Their hymns Of peace and gladness
To earth the angels brought,
Their Gloria in Excelsis
To earth the angels taught;
When in the lowly manger
The Holy Mother Maid
In tender alteration
Her Babe of heaven laid.
Born lowly in the darkness.
And none as poor as he,
The little children Of the poor
His very own shall be.
No rush of hostile armies then,
But just the budding sheep,
The angels singing of the Christ
And all the world asleep.
No flame of conquering banners.
No legfons sent afar;
A lamp within stable
And in the sky Star!
Margaret E. Sangster, in Collier
Weekly.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-16
CHRISTMAS N navy
How the Festive Season Is Oh.
served Aboard Ship.
Not Much Work Is Done-Athletlo
Sports, Traditional Dinner and
Evening Entertainment Fea-
lures Of Occasion.

YOWHERE in all the world is the
IL spirit of Christmas" entered in
to more intellectually than on
board the ships OF the United States
navy.
Observance of this chief of all ma
tional holidays varies, of course, in
form with the location Of the fleet at
the time.
Into each of the continental home
ports" Headquarters of certain indi.
vidual vessels) the big gray monsters
come dropping in by twos, and threes
till, in New York and Philadelphia,
and Norfolk and Frisco, it looks al.
most like q naval review. According
to long established custom, they are
there to give the boys in blue run
on the beach CELEBRITY" as they call
it in the service), and every man Jack
who is not actually undergoing pun
ishment Is allowed and encouraged to
take his look at the bright lights go
home on leave or uptown for fun or
anything else he likes as long as his
money lasts but away from the ship
in any event. This custom applies
not alone to the enlisted men, but to
the officers as we'll and, when Christ
mas morning dawns in a home port,
there are not likely to be many more
persons on board any man-o'-war than
the regulations call for in the mini.
mum.
The few "shipkeepers'' cannot, I'M
der such circumstances, make very
successful effort toward merriment.
Rear Admiral Samuel MCGOWAN writes
in the National Monthly, but what
they lack in numbers they invariably
make up in other ways, one of these
ways being the complete satisfaction
Of the inner man.
Abroad and at sea, though, IL is al
together different. Every soul on
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-16
OF GIVING PRESENTS
Simple Little Embellishments Such 40
Ribbons, Seals and Holly Count
for Much.

At no time does the manner Of do.
ing a thing count for so much as at
the time of Christmas giving; and
while in a few instances there are
those who overdo the outward embel-
lishment of gifts, none Of us now like
to offer the simplest little remem.
brance unless wrapped in spotless pa
per, tied with gay ribbons and adorned
with bright seals expressing merry
greetings.
And this is as 1t should be for the
holiday season gains a great deal Of
cheeriness and zest from the multi.
plicity of beribboned white parcels
whisking to and fro, and we do not re-
greet the passing of the yellow paper
bundle of our grandmother's day.
But the attractive appearance of the
gift is not all that counts; we must be
careful of the how and when and
where of presenting it.
The time that custom more and
more sets apart for the exchanging Of
gifts among friends is Christmas eve,
any time from dusk to midnight; but
Christmas day itself is sacred to pre-
senting gifts within the family circle.
Some families put all the gifts in
the library or living room, in separate
piles, and then, after q deliberate
breakfast, they all walk in and open
the packages in the presence of each
other.
Never give a gift In person IL you
can contrive to send 1t or put 1t where
1t will be found awaiting the recipient
when he or she is alone, for when re-
ceived in this way the gift makes its
strongest appeal to ones appreciation.
In giving money, even to near rela-
tives, the utmost care should be taken
to give 1t in the most delicate way
possible; especially II you know the
money is needed.
One Of the cleverest ways is to take
a tiny Japanese umbrella, place the
money in paper bag and, after roll
ing and tying the bag around the up
per part of the handle underneath,
close the umbrella over it and tie with
narrow ribbon.
Another good way is to present an
attractive little booklet with a check
or q greenback for bookmark, writ
ing on the flyleaf, mote page a."
Turning to see what is noted, the
fresh new paper money is seen and
the recipient appreciates the manner
of It's presentation no less than the
material benefit.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-16
"chrlstn,as Past.''

It was indeed q gracious time, and
% we read OF the revels and cere.
monies and find foolish beliefs Of
Christmas Past. we might regret what
We have lost In this tanner. and less
picturesque age, II We did not know
that never before In history Wa
Christmas kept 20 truly and heartily;
In the spirit Of the day 90 It 10 now.
We have dropped good many rude
and some pretty customs, but We have
gained . broadening spirit Of almost
universal charity, Z feeling Of real
brotherhood, that II perhaps none the
less real that It 10 held In check o
good deal during the rest Of the year.
Charles Dudley Warner. 1,
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-16

Elkn 71fI7N'J1K A1NT7|

open in his heart for the first time in
years.
The auctioneer of the occasion be.
gan to sell of what had not been dis.
posed Of He came at last to the big
stocking. Someone started bid Of
ten dollars. Almost unconsciously old
Gabriel doubled it. Thirty forty
there was zest in helping good pur-
pose. The auctioneer nursed the ex-
element of the bidders.
"What Christmas the money Will
make for the poor!" he shouted. MAY.
be the stocking isn't half empty
stocking and all there is in it goes to
the highest bidder!"
'Forty-five!" sang out the town
banker.
Fifty" nodded old Gabriel, and
"Sold!" announced the auctioneer,
highly pleased, and then. as everybody,
excited and laughing, surrounded the
fortunate purchaser, there came a. tap
from inside the stocking and . mufled
voice sounded:
please let me Quits dreadfully
close in here!" Z
As a section Of the papier mache
contrivance moved apart, revealing
the fisher maiden" Of the occasion,
out stepped-Elois
Father" she gasped.
He started and quivered. He had
bought ''all there was In It," Upon the
impulse Of . moment hung all the fu-
ture destiny Of four souls. He opened
his arms, the tears rushed to his eyes
and Eloise was in his embrace.
It was the gossip Of all the town how
-old Gabriel Monroe met and expanded
the golden opportunity of his life that
Christmas eve.
It was like q romance-the faithful
sutton Of Eloise telegraphed for. the
discarded son, his wife, sweet little
Dolly, sent for and installed In q home
whence want and care were banished.
It was grandpa" who carried the
little one in his arms into the room
where the Christmas tree was all
ablaxe and sparkling next morning.
and, sweetest music to his storm
tossed, but now haven.found soul,
were the rapturous words:
"Oh, the beautiful the beautiful
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-16

and toys and dis
tri bu t g d them
freely. His heart
was beginning to
warm up. He met
a few old friends.
He fingered late.
s o m Q h o W his
t b u 6 h t 8 were
turned into a new
channel. T b g
flood gates Of SEN
fjuoonf woro wido
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-16
Play Santa, II you win. but
don't get your whiskers burnt. :
JuIkIapp Delivery,

This 10 an expression used in Dem
mark and Sweden and denotes their
way Of sending gifts. Before Christ
mas all the gifts are wrapped SO % to
disguise the contents. Each package
ID labeled for whom 1t is intended and
then ct odd moments during the day:
these are thrown in at the doors Of.
tn Windowa, Isl
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-16
yE<,s w <yk<.k%.,E<sx%.ke<sk <.E<
The Yuletide Dawn
Observation-Disclosures
Bu Victor Radcliffe


copyright by Western Newspaper Union.)
Joy bells were ringing out upon the
clear, frosty air, but their sweet tin.
tinabulations had little Of cheer or
comfort for Gabriel Monroe.
He had made his own life's history,
and this was what made him somber
this ideal winters day-the day be.
fore Christmas. Pride had been hum
bled by regret; he was old, wearied,
heartsick. This was his second day
home-if he could call it that-after
a five years sojourn in foreign land.
It all came back to him now, the
salient appeals to his better soul
pierced the frail armor of the heart he
tried to make iron. He recalled the
hour when his daughter, Eloise. had
come to him with the news that his
son, Gerald, had married against his
wishes. On the moment, Gabriel Mon
roe had disowned him, banished him
from heart and home. In vain had
Eloise pleaded for her brother.
He closed the old mansion at once,
announcing that he intended to live
abroad. Eloise declined to go with
him. Gerald was young. inexperi'
enced, without resources. Plainly she
recited her duty to her father as she
felt it. She would stay and help Ger
aid become man.
Since his return, after lapse dur
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-16

Il thought I'd be economical this
year and make my Christmas pres
ents myself, instead of buying them"
said Mrs. Harlem; $50 bought q
book of instructions and went ahead"
How did you make out?" asked
Mrs. Bronx.
1.-THE materials footed up to $43.5S,
and l put in a months hard sewing
and cutting"
How did that compare with last
year,"
Last year l bought all wanted for
$685."
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-16
Observation-Disclosures AAAa AAAAAH'

May each Christmas, as it
comes, find us more and more
like him who, as at this time,
became a little child for our
sake, more simple-minded, more
humble, more holy, more affec.
tionate, more resigned, more
happy, more full Of Cod. H.
Newman.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-16
after a lapse dur

ing which he had
not SO much as
written to his re.
jected children,
he had learned
that a little gold
en-haired child
had come to Ger
aid and his wife.
His son had not
made a great sue
cess in a business
way. He had been
had a hard time