davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-12-21

Christmas matinee was confined almost
exclusively TO few Of the first class
theaters in New York city.
On the road it is different. The az
tors have 10 work just as hard as they
ever did. and opposition from local
managers will probably prevent the
elimination of the Christmas matinee
outside Of New York
With some companies Christmas is
not the disagreeable occasion that it
is with others. One or two owners
make it practice to instruct the man
ager with the company to have q
Christmas dinner prepared at the eX-
pense of the show. Sometimes cater
er is called IN. and the dinner is served
on the stage between the matinee and
the evening performance. In that event
the dinner usually proves prolific of
material for the house press agent, and
the affair is duly recorded in the daily
papers. Sometimes it is served on the
stage after the evening performance.
Other times arrangements are made at
some hotel.
1t was one of these after the per-
Torrance affairs that came pretty near
putting a travelling stock company out
of business in town out in Iowa last
Christmas. This theater. by the way.
boasts Of the only dog critic in exist
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-12-21

enee. This comes from the fact that
II the dog doesn't like a show he viii
start TO howl. and he has 10 be re
moved from the theater before the per-
Torrance can be continued.
Only month before a well known
concert singer was appearing at the
theater. She had about finished one
Of der best selections when the dog
poked his nose over the railing Of an
upper box and began to howl his dis
approval. That led TO the temporary
Punishment of the dog critic from the
theater But when the stock company
came along the manager heard about
the dog, and, willing to take a chance
that the dogs judgment Of his show
would be favorable, he suggested that
the dog be allowed to sit by big web.
which was a part of the scenic effect
in one of the acts, just for the sake OF
realism.
| Now, this same manager had con
Guided to give his company a dinner
on the stage after the performance.
In the course of the play the dog was
brought out and tied 10 the well.
Everything went all right until the
dog shifted the turkey and the other
good things at the side of the stage.
and without waiting for the finish Of
the act he made for the food. dragging
the heavy rock walled Well behind
him.
This action on the mart of the dog
critic-actor disturbed things generally.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-12-21
BEARD
The StatiOner

Has many novelties in Books.
Magazines, Finest Stationery, No
tons, &c.
Appropriate presentsfor all ages
and classes. Numerous articles for
the little ones. Finest line of Can
dies at rock bottsm prices.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-12-21
Saving Up For Christmas

A well dressed man i'll Market
street car rendered the conductor a
one dollar bill i'll payment for two
fares and, receiving his change, care
fully selected the ten cent pieces and
placed them in a separate pocket.
From the 1st of September until
Christmas l never spend a dime, he
explained to his companion. Every
time get one l keep it separate from
my other change, and when / get home
I deposit my dimes in one of those
savings banks that don't open until
they contain so. l am one of q
very large family addicted to the
Christmas present habit and some
times l am obliged to give as many as
thirty or forty gifts. BY not spending
nv dimes | create a Christmas fund
without really feeling it. l have done
this for several years and find it an ex
eellent plan" -Philadelphia Record.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-12-21

for the villain had just been arranging
with one of his confederates to rid
himself of the hero of the play by toss
ing him down the aforesaid well. The
villain, after the laughter subsidized. ar
ranged his part of the plot by cancel
down the well and instead to have
him tied TO a railroad track However,
the audience refused to take the play
seriously after the well disappeared
There Is probably more real Christ
mas sentiment in plays that have tc
carry children as part of the produc.
ton than in any of the others. With
these shows there is usually a Christ
mas tree between the matinee and the
evening performance in which every
one joins in and makes merry.
A hard lot is that of the actor who
happens to be playing what is known
as "the small time around the holi
days Small time" contracts call for
three shows day. and on Christmas
day an extra one is usually added. A
vaudeville actor on big time" prob
ably has more time to appreciate
Christmas-if Christmas really can be
appreciated away from home-than
any other because he Is usually In the
theater but an hour in the afternoon
and an hour in the evening, and the
rest of the time is his own unless the
house manager has promised to task
him TO 90 over to some club and en-.
terrain the guests ut their Christmas
reception. OF course the actor doesn't
have to do this. but If the manager is
Of any standing at all in the vaudeville
world the actor usually finds 1t expe
dent to grant the request.
But the man probably who spends
the lonesomeSt Christmas of them al
Is the poor advance agent-recognized
on the program as business manager
advance representative or manager in
advance. Unless the advance agent Is
close enough to his home town to
Jump" for Christmas he usually gets
a genuine attack of the simon pure
blues. True, the advance man who has
been on the road for any length OF
time can usually be depended upon to
meet people he knows, but they are
people who live In the town. and be
usually finds himself dining alone
when the time comes for him to eat
his christmas dinner"
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-12-21

a Fin de Steele Catastrophe.
Twas the night preceding Christmas
And Santa far away.
He lacked enough Of gasoline
To run his deerless sleigh
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-12-21
Actors on
Christmas
!. ! !. + -.
There's lots of work,
And there amt no play,
So what's the use
OF a Christmas day.

THAT little verse, paraphrased
4 from one familiar to soldiers,
just about sums up the real
Christmas sentiment existing
| among people connected with the the
atrical business. No, that doesn't
mean that the actor. the manager and
the advance agent do not appreciate
the giving and receiving of presents
from their friends. But it does mean
that people connected with the stage
have come TO look upon the Christmas
time as season of short pay and hard
work.
1t isn't generally known, but it is
none the less true, that most actors
have a clause in their contracts which
calls for half pay the week before
Christmas. This clause was inserted
in the days when the week before
Christmas really was tough" one in
the theatrical business. But nowadays
there are many productions which
pack the theaters to the doors the week
before Christmas as wei as any other
week in the wear. Nevertheless some
of the managers live up to that con-
tract and deduct the half weeks pay
That is one reason why actors aren't
particularly merry ut Christmas.
There are other managers who
make practice of laying off their
companies the week before Christmas
and some of them ten days or two
hafnra N fhaf thnrn iC
no salary at all forthcoming That,
probably. is another reason why the
average actor cannot understand why
Christmas is an occasion to be unduly
joyful.
1t was only last year that some of
the managers came to the conclusion
that stage people, like other human be
ings, might like to spend some part Of
the Christmas holiday with their
friends and relatives. Up to that year
it had been the custom of all man
ayers to give a special matinee on
Christmas day. That meant, of course,
that about all the actor had to do on
this festive occasion was to rush to
the theater almost as soon as he had
acquired his regular amount of sleep,
give an afternoon performance and
then, If fortunate enough to have
friends or relatives living in the city,
to hurry through his Christmas dinner
with them or leave before it was half
over to go back to the theater te play
the evening performance.
Put n few of the managers changed
that last year by emitting the Christ
mas matinee and giving it on the day
following. There were other managers.
however, who not only gave the Christ
mas matinee, but acted on the sugges-
ton of their more charitable competi-
tors and gave the matinee the day aft
er too. However. this omission of the
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-12-21
SWAPPING THE CRANBERRY.
Dinner Game Suggested, but Not Rec
commended.

Dinner Game Suggested, but Not nec-
commended.
This is a game to be played at the
Christmas table. When the cranberry
sauce is brought on each guest must
place a cranberry on the end of
knife. holding the knife in the left
hand with the right hand close behind
the cranberry At the word snap,
given by the hostess. the cranberry
should be snapped with the first I'm
ger of the right hand at the target.
The game shall be continued until each
PLAYER has shot away all of his cram
berries. The score is counted thus:
Hitting the hostess with cranberry
counts one.
Hitting grandpa counts two; grand
ma. three: Uncle viii, four; Uncle
Tom. five, and so on, depending on
whom the guests and those around the
table are.
A cranberry that goes on the hoor Is
out of play, but one that falls in any
nerson's lap or sticks in the hair or
on coat or dress can be picked up
and played again. Anybody that hits
ANYBODY else squarely on the nose
counts fifty to the lucky players score.
This is a highly diverting game and
one that all will enjoy, especially the
hostess.-New York World.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-12-21
Why She Shops Early.

I'm going to start my Christmas
shopping right now and get it over
with" said Mrs. Jones at the breakfast
table.
"Ah, to aid the poor, tired shopgirl
and help the movement for early de-
liveries!" her son remarked in tones of
commentator.
"Never thought of that" was the
disconcerting reply. I'm going to buy
all my presents at Smart & Co.'S, and
shops like theirs have handsome de-
livery wagons. l want all the neigh
bors to see the wagons stop at my
door. Last year l bought lot of these
things at expensive shops, and not
parcel was delivered until after dark.
Eor all the neighbors know they might
have come from those pay by the week
stores in unmarked wagons"
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-12-21
Little Jack HOrner
and
His Christmas Pie
With Variations In the STYLE
of the Poets
By CALLY RYLAND

ElTTLE Jack Horner sat in a corner
L. Eating his Christmas pie.
He put in his thumb and pulled
out plum
And said, "What good boy am l."
If Edgar Allan Poe Had Written II.
See Jack Horner in his corner
With his pie.
Where's his ma? VIII no one warn her?
He viii die!
With a thumblet that is doting
While he's gloating, gloating gloating,
He is fishing for the floating
Plum oh, my!
All his boast of being good,
Careful of his daily food,
Wrinkles merrily within his saucy eve
eye, eye
Robert Browning Might Have Done It..
Pastry's all or nothing; it is not mere
dough
Pounded and pulled and puzzled over, sir
For whiteness or for lightness-and this
pie
Was of the very stuff O life. sir
None of your laundering bits of work, but
Infinitely eatable. Well. Horner sat there
Illuminating. Twas Christmas, ruminat-
ing titaS.
You say, ano you are right, sir.
Lazily alive and open mouthed he sat-
Feeling the pastry tickle at his lips.
Yet scarcely knowing how to fathom it,
When of a sudden-oh the fellows keen!-
Occurred his thumb 10 him, whereupon
Straightway he plunged it in the sweet
Good boy!" quoth he, and pulled out a
damp plum.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-12-21

THAT little verse, paraphrased
Il from one familiar to soldiers,
just about sums up the real
fr,sffe-f,s,oe.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-12-21
A Feel In the Christmas Air
BY JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY

By JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY
THEY'S kind o. feel in the air to me
u When the Christmas times sets in
That's about as much of mystery
AS I've ag'in.
Fer instunce. now. whilse gain in weight
And aneral health, / swear
Theys goneness somers can't quite state
A kind o. feel in the air.
They's feel in the Christmas air goes right
To the spot where man lives at!
1t gives Teller a appetite
They amt no doubt about that!
And yit they's somepn-I don't know what
That folders me here and there
And ha'nts and worries and spares me not
A kind o. feel in the air.
Theys feel as say in the air that's jest
AS blamed-on sad as sweet
In the same ra-sho as feel the best
And am the spryest on my feet
They's allus kind o. sort of a ache
That | can't locate nowhere.
But it comes with Christmas, and no mistake
kind o. feel in the air.
Is it the racket the children raise!
Why no God bless EN- no!
Is it the eyes and the cheeks ablaze.
Like my WuZ long ago?
Is it the bleat O. the whistle and beat
O. the little toy drum and blare
O. the horn? No. no! 1t is jest the sweet
The sad-sWeet feel in the air.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-12-21
Business Established i'll 1906.
The Moore Insurance
( Realty Co.
Insurance, Real Estate,
Loans & Surety Bonds
CHARLES TOWN, n. Va.

Fire Companies Represented
North British & Mercantile. Cal
eionian, Scottish Union, Continen-
tai, Fidelity Phoenix, New York
Underwriters, St. Paul and Marine
Colonial Fire Underwriters.
Connecticut Mutual Life Insur-
ance Company of Hartford.
The United States Fidelity &
Guaranty Company, issues all
forms of fidelity and surety bonds,
one of the pioneer companies in
the business.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-12-21
A Real Sa nta Claus.

ANITA CLAUS. hang for you,
II BY the mantel. stocking two.
nj One for me and one to go
Ia III To another boy | know
III There's a chimney in the town
/ You have never Travelled down.
Should you chance to enter there
You would find a room all bare.
/ Not a stocking could you spy,
Matters not how you might try.
And the shoes you'd find are such
As no boy would care for much.
In a broken bed you'd see
Some one just about like me,
| Dreaming Of the pretty toys
x Which you bring to other boys,
4 And to him Christmas seems
u x Merry only in his dreams
* All he dreams. then. Santa Claus
* STUFF the stocking with. because
When it's filed Up to the brim
* I'll be Santa Claus to him.
X Frank Dempster Sherman
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-12-21
A. |. Grandstaffs,
Headquarters
For Christmas
Goods.
Please Remember

That we carry in stock at all
times full and complete line of
Coal, We have the best grades of
Pocahontas. Egg and Nut Coal.
Georges Greek Lump and run of
Mine, Cumberland Lump and Run
Of Mine, Our personal attention
given to every order and prompt
service and courteous treatmant to
all customers.
No Long Waits.
No Short Weights.
Thanking you for your patron
age, we wish you Merry Xmas
and Prosperous New Year.
VIM. E. Reed & Son.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-12-21
This wouru ps Walt whitman's Style

This Woulu 5s Walt Whitman's Style.
l sing the Christmas pie,
The flour, the lard. the butter that com
pose 1t:
The richness Of its studing
A divine nimbus eXhales from it.
It attracts with fierce. undeniable attrac-
ton.
am drawn by its breath no less than
Jack Hofuer who holds it upon his
knees.
I am one with the plum concealed in its
mammoth yastness
| loosen myself. pass freely and am at
the door Of Horner's lips, smacking
to taste its ingredients.
But he does not know how to get at you.
pie.
He sits sleepily considering the pose of
his head. his puffed out lips. betray-
ing his gluttony.
Presently a fine smile cunuas ON to his
face. He lunges INTO the pie with
firm thumb. Its crust yields
He possesses himself of It's richness.
Oh. young men. | would not have you sit
in a corner cons .dering pie stuffiRgs.
Be bold. You-whoever you are-are al
lowed the eternal purports of pie
Il loved a certain Christmas pie ardently,
and 1t gave me indigestion.
Yet out of that | have written this song)
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-12-21
Saddeninq.

"What makes little Tommy so SAD
on this happy Christmas day." asked
Fosdick. :,
"His presents are all unbreakable'"
renlied Keedick.-Town Topics.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-12-21
In the Great William onakespeare's
Style.


Sweet pastry, do not scorn me, do not
gibe
And frown at me with crusty surliness.
I know that in your haky depths is hid
den
A mammoth plum, which, DDS my little
life!
I'll have it If must swing for t." Thus
Jacques,
Who thereupon, with smashing stab Of
the thumb
Smote through the crispy lid, which erst
held tight,
And with triumphant shout, "'ods bodi-
kns.
A good lad IT, withdrew the sought for
plum.
Algernon Charles Swinburne's Style.
Here where the world is quiet
Here upon Christmas day.
With plums ard a pie for diet,
In a corner sat Horner
No feast was ever sweeter,
No finger was ever fieeter
To yank a plum with glee to
mouth that gapes Away.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1915-12-30
WHEELER.

Frank Murphy was in Saginaw
Thursday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Arthur Roof of Elwell
spent Christmas with Mrs. Roff's par
ents. Mr.. and Mrs. George Allen.
Milo jolly and family have gotten
settled here in town.
Mr.. Cornwell shipped load of stock
from here Tuesday.
Mr.. and Mrs. p. VanOrman cele-
brated their forty-ffth wedding ami
versary last Tuesday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Lyman Wood and Mr.
Foster spent the holidays in Indiana
Mrs. Jacob Price is moving 70
Bloomville, Ohio.
Mr.. and Mrs. Gunsolas spent Christ
mas with his brother in Saginaw.
Rollo Allen who has been working
in the Alma sugar plant has returned
home for few days.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1915-12-30
County Correspondent
SEVILLE CENTER.

Mrs. H. NJ. Miller is on the sick
list.
Ted Crum of Alma spent Christmas
with relatives and friends here.
Pauline Biggs visited with Hazel
White a few days last week at the lat
ter's home.
Mary Wiltshire of Elwell spent
Christmas with her parents of this
place.
Alfred Miller was a Sunday caller
at the home of Lewis Pratt.
Harry Covell visited at the home
Of j. f. Morgan Sunday
Mrs. Frank Williams and daughter.
Phyllis Jackson and cousin Alton
Pritchard spent Sunday with the form
er's aunt, Mrs. II. NJ. Miller and fam
lily.
Mr.. and Mrs. A. +. Miller returned
Thursday from an extended visit \.
Grand Rapids.
Reuben Hemtzleman of Grand
Rapids. visited relatives and friends
here last week.
Levi Pritchard called on c. b. Wilt
shire, Friday.
Mrs. q. I. Nafll ls visiting hei
daughter. Mrs Charles Humphrey.
G. G. Wonders was IN New Haven
on business. Wednesday.
J. +. Morgan was a business visitor
in Alma Thursday.
Mrs. James Covell and son Harry
were in Elwell Friday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Tommy Lucas made a
business trip to Alma, Tuesday.
Shirley Wiltshire is spending the
holidays with relatives in Perry,
Mich.
ZeIma Miller of near Breckenridge
is spending the holidays with her par
ents, Mr.. and Mrs. VI. M. Miller.
Anna Covell of Summerton, is
spending the holidays with her parents
at the Center.
Mr.. and Mrs. Dennis WEIGH of Alma
spent Christmas with her parents, Mr..
and Mrs. =. Mallory.
Misses Ruth Shong and Ethel Mill
er of Alma are spending the holidays
at home.
Henry White called on his mother.
Mrs. ID. White, Sunday.
A number from here attended the
Christmas tree and program at the
Dunn school, Friday evening.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1915-12-30

Roy Collision was in St. Louis,
Thursday.
Floyd Mcintosh spent Christmas in
Hartford.
The Misses Marguerite Allen and
Jessie Markham were in Alma Monday
evening.
Last Wednesday very pretty pri-
vate wedding took place at the home
of Mr.. Ormal Maxson when their
daughter, Esther Maxson and Mr..
Claude Stowe were united in bonds
of matrimony. The bride was dressed
in silk crepe de chine.
Rex Allen of Flint visited his par
ents, Mr.. and Mrs. Ed Allen over
Christmas.
Frank Kirkey was in St Louis,
Tuesday.
Mr.. and Mrs. f. T. Weeks spent
Christmas with their daughter, Emma
Eaton Of Merrill.
Ed. Rich was in st. Louis on bust
ness Tuesday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Walter Swope Of
Riverdale, spent Christmas with Mr..
Barney Swope.
Ed. Allen was in Riverdale Tues
day.
Mr. and Mrs. Homer Wood of Breck-
enridge, spent Christmas with her
grandmother, Mrs Phelps.
Mr.. and Mrs. Leslie and son Ronald
of Grand Rapids are visiting Mr.. and
Mrs Jessie Ellsworth for a few days.
Mrs. Wood of St. Louis spent
Christmas with her parents, Mr.. and
Mrs Amos Bradford.
Mr. and Mrs. Emerson Clark of
Alma are spending a few days with
his parents. Mr.. and Mrs. Bert Clark.
Mr.. Fry was in Alma Thursday eve
ming.
Mr.. and Mrs. Newell Bradford of
Ithaca spent Christmas with her
mother. Mrs. Poland
Mr. Mcleod Of Breckenridge was in
town on business Friday.
Mrs. William Stephenson of st.
Louis. visited her mother, Mrs. Erick
of this place Tuesday.
Miss Mildred Allen of Lansing.
spent Christmas with her grand
mother, Mrs. Bradford.
Mr.. Lowry is entertaining his
brother of North Dakota, for a few
weeks.
Russell Bradford of Flint spent
Christmas with his parents, Mr.. and
Mrs. Amos Bradford.
Mr.. and Mrs. Asher Koch left Tues
day for visit with his sister living in
Durand.
Mrs. Henry Brick left Tuesday for
Detroit to visit her daughter over the
holidays.
Mr.. and Mrs. Rowell spent Christ
mas with their parents in Sherwood.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1915-12-30
SAVED ARM.
Plucky Woman Terribly Burned
Wouldn't Allow Amputation.

Most people in Michigan will be in
terested in the case of Mrs. A. p.
Brown of Dryden, NJ Y, whose hus-
band says: my wife burned her arm
so the muscles projected like a shelf.
The arm was so stiff she could not
straighten il. Physicians failing to
heal the arm, wished to operate. We
refused and treated it with Hanford's
balsam of Myrrh. She can use the
arm extensively-Balsam of hyrrh
saved the arm."-Adv.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1915-12-30

Terms: All sums of SIS or under
cash; all sums over that amount IL
months time on good bankable paper
at 7 per cent interest No property
to be moved until terms of sale have
been complied with.
n. A. JOHNSON, Prop.
n. G. MOORE, Clerk
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1915-12-30
We will quote prices this year for the that every

We have many remarkable val
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1915-12-30

your interest if you believe in
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-02-06

matter than Roger w Babson. .:4is remarkable experience in the practi- cal study of the worlds industrial and economic problems,' says Edwin D. Mead director in chief of the World Peace Foundation, ttand his powerful penetration behind secondary ques- tions to the actual gist of things give to his presentation of the case a. most imperative reality and pith.'' One of the most striking features of the book is series of twelve charts which show graphically the alleged Justification for Germany's demands, and England's desires to continue her control of the seas. This book is
 most timely in that 1t offersaa, prac- teal solution for permane ent peace and shows what part. the United States may play in bringIng it about.