davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1916-12-23
By Robert D. Burbank,

President of Washington District Epworth League.
The Christmas circle is essentially a
home circle, for Christmas is the day of
all the days in the year most sacred to
the immediate family in the home. No
home circle in all the worlds history
has exerted an influence anything like
that of the first Christmas circle 1t has
inspired the greatest and most numer-
Gus productions in both art and litera-
| influence on the lives and character of
men and women by direct inspiration.
The most beautiful pictures in the
memories and imaginations of men are
those of the first Christmas circle.
| 1t is one of the finest pieces of proph-
ecy in Scripture which we see in the
grouping around the cradle of Jesus of
representatives of all the classes of So
ciety Of that time II pictures with dis
tinctness and force the truth that
Christianity came to all classes of men
the cultured, as represented by the
wise men, well as the toilers, repre-
sented by the shepherds. At it's very
beginning it went to the top of society
as well to the bottom. 1t holds be-
fore us the inspiring vision of Christ
centered society.
AS We view in imagination those
groups about the cradle of the infant
Jesus We see the sure destiny of the
religion around which every group re-
| wolves and from which the whole of
society takes it's inspiration and pur-
/ pose. 1t is prophecy of the coming of
| that kingdom of God which Jesus
| preached and which he lived and died
| TO make possible. when all the classes
| of men shall find their true unity in
| their common obedience to the Son of
! Man.
| That first Christmas circle was COM
| posed of the infant Jesus, who was its
! center: Mary. His virgin mother, and
| Joseph. her husband, who formed the
| ring of family relationship about Him !:
| and the shepherds and the wise men,
! who formed the outer ring of relation
| ship about Him. representing the be-
I lief in Jesus as the worlds Savior and
! bringer of peace. based on the vision
/ of the angels and the direct message
| in the one case. and in the other based
| on the wisdom of science directed by
| the star of Inspiration.
| That first Christmas circle typfies
! the Christmas circle in which each one
Evening star., 1916-12-23

only a fact that Jesus was born, bat
that He was born for the salvation Of
men because, through the chliu Jesus
God was to win His conquesis f'c III"
world.
The purpose of His advent has been
revealed by the titles Isaiah gave to
Christ They are descriptive OF His
reign of justice and love. The four
titles. each consisting of two words,
Wonderful Counselor. Mighty God.
Father of Eternity. ''Prince of
Peace express the wisdom, power,
eternity and peacefuineSs of the Mes
siah and there is no real doubt about
their proper interpretation or their clear
application to Christ. They indicate
beyond question his deity" and reveal
to men the fact that man is the child
of God.
The prophet predicts as :, result Of
the rulership of Christ that peace win
come in His kingdom, because the gov
ernment will be based upon justice and
love. In an earlier chapter Isaiah pic
tured as an outcome OF the MessIanic
rule that the swords would be beaten
into plowshares and spears into prun
ing hooks. and that the nations would
not learn war any more. Although the
world has possessed the ethics of Jesus
and His gospel for more than nineteen
hundred years, this Christmas sees Eu
rope rayaged by huge armies without
any hope OF the early restoration OF
peace and prosperity to the countries
that have given upon the altar of pa
triotism greater sacrifices than would
have been needed to usher in
the rule of the Messiah The Christ OF
history must become the Christ of
personal experience before the era of
peace will come.
The triumph of Jesus is still inconl-
plete. When He is completely victo-
rious and His government is set up
among men the long-look ed for time of
permanent peace and prosperity will
come, because men will hav. ha,i born
in them the spirit of the Christ child
that was born IN BethlsheIn's S nlaHSeV
centuries ago. When He returns and
the nations of this world become the
nation of the Christ all will share the
benefit of His rule and rejoice in their
share of the spoils. All military equip
ment will then he destroyed. for the
the bloodstained cloaits of the soldiers
Will be fuel for fire." as they will 10
longer be needed because of the char
acter of Christ, whose permanent king
dom VIII be established and He will
make an end to war. The world has not
yet completely seen the Christ The
hope of humanity today is still in the
vision Of Isaiah. the babe born in
Bethlehem's manager The key to the
solution of the problem of social ms
tee. economic freedom and the de-
structlon forever of the war god alnous,
men depends upon all following the
example and precepts of the Christ who
emptied Himself of His glory to take
tne iofm or a servant. II is the duty
or all to seek to extend the power of
the Prince of Peace as the savior
Servant and Sovereign Of the world so
as to help usher in the day whose com,
ing isaiah saw and for which the sor-
row -strlcken world stiil waits when
the one that was born Il babe shall he
come King Of Kings aud Lord of
Lords"
Evening star., 1916-12-23
EPWORTH LEAGUE DISCUSSION.

of us is a part: YOU are the center,
YOUR parents and sisters and brothers
form the ring of family relationship
about you; the servants. private and
public. who minister to YOU. ana Your
fellow workmen. fellow students,
teachers. and fellow leaguerS or
church workers form the outer ring of
relationship to you.
All of those in the first Christmas cir
Gle We're turned toward the center,
Christ. and why? Not because they
We're to render Him service. but be-
cause of the service He was to render
to all men. All of those in your circle
are looking toward you. not because of
the service they are to render you. but
BECAUSE Of the service YOU are to rem
der to mankind. AS service was the
measure of Jesus value. so it is the
measure of yours. The Importance of
this symbolism of the Christmas circle
lies in this-that YOU may realize that
YOUR Importance to those in the circle
around you consists in your power to
give service to others and not merely
IN receiving service from those in your
circle The idea of gifts is inseparable
from the thought of Christmas tide, but
the real Christmas JOY is not in the re-
ceiving, but in the giving, of those
gifts. Christ came to earth, not to i'm
pose burden of service on men, but to
give them forgiveness, freedom and
peace-he himself is the unspeakable
gift of Gods love.
To many IL seems q inockery to say
that Gods gift to men through Christ
is peace, and the song the angels sang
to the shepherds on the hills of Judea
1000 years ago-'Glory to God in the
highest. and on earth. peace among
men Of good will"-seems much further
from fulfllment now than it did then.
And as We think of the thousands-nay,
millions-of homes in the old world
where grief and want and devastation
and all the conceivable horrors of war
and many that are inconceivable, have
entered or destroyed, it seems as
though peace has departed from the
earth. Yet, though the nations at war
call themselves Christian. no one can
fail to realize. if he consider the situ-
alton that the war with all it's horrors
has resulted from lack of Christianity
and not from Christianity itself. Even
now, the only peace which the men who
are doing the fighting and the women
who are doing the sacrificing have is
the peace which God gives the ind-
yidual who secures forgiveness through
Jesus. Furthermore, peace vii! only
come to the nations through Christian
ity-for is it not true that Christian
standards are the only ones on which
peace can or will be founded? What
other basis can be found than Chris
tianity, and how could any appeal like
that of our President be effective un-
less based on Christianity? There is
no name given on heaven or earth
whereby men must be saved from war
and piliage but that of Christ.
yet with the OF sin and sirif.
The world hath suffered long.
leneath III" ang"l-strain have rolled
Two thousand years Of wrong:
And man. at with man. hears not
The lOve-song which they bring:
q i;ush tn" noise, ye Of strife,
And hear the angels sing.
Evening star., 1916-12-23
ARGENTINA APPOINTS
NEW consul GENERAL
To Be Represented en- Pacihc Coast
by High Official foi
First Time.

SAN ANCISCO, cal. December %.
The Argentine Republic il to be rep
resented in western America for the
first time by IL consul general. who. in
the person of Horacio Bossi Caceras.
has established Headquarters here.
Heretofore the interests of the republic
were cared for by an acting consul.
The Jurisdiction of the consul general
will include eleven western states.
Seror Caceras announced that he was
desi-ous of promoting trade between
his country and the United States
1T is however. for North America to
say how big this trade will be-" he
said. European nations hitherto have
been the chief foreign venders In the
Argentine. They gave US credit. North
America demands cash. They sent rep-
resentatives who spoke our language.
Representatives from your country had
to deal through interpreters. The war
has opened big new market to North
america, and she can get 1t IL she goes
after II as Europe did"
Evening star., 1916-12-23
Story of Secret Alliance.

The writer maintains that it is well
known in chile that Il secret alliance
of both an offensive and defensive
character has for some time existed be-
tween Uruguay and Brazil. What will
CRISIS" he asks, and proceeds to an
swer my saying that undoubtedly his
own country would join the BRAZILIAN
Uruguayan alliance. While We have
no boundary dispute with the Argen-
tine" he continues we stili have an
unsettled question with Peru. Thirty
six years go we won by conquest their
rich territories of Tacna and africa. To-
day we hold them st!ll by force OF
arms We have not coloniZed them.
They are not yet Chileanized OF the
II. 500 iuha bitants of Tacna. 800 are
Bolivian. 100 PeruVians and 1000
ChiIeans. but Of these latter $500 form
tht. military garrison ana the remain
ing 400 are civil employees or servants
of the military. The people of the dis
tlicte call for a plehscite to determine
to which government they belong, and
the Chilean government dare not ac-
ce!e to their request. Peru knows this
and would welcome war which
would help her regain her lost prov
inces. SO in the final line-up We shall
find Argentina and Peru pitted against
Brazil. Chile and Uruguay
The views of this writer are in no
way substantiated by public opinion
throughout South America, but there
is widely expressed and almost
unanimous view that the A b. c. means
nothing and is an Impractical scheme
not workable in either South, Central
or North American relationships The
smaller countries objeC to the impliei 1
leadership Of which the plan carries
co. the Argentine. Brazil and Chile, and
ask why the y. Il. c. does not as io2i-
caliY spell Argentine, Bolivia and Co
Io,nb:a. The idea OF the American
state rpHrtment for the establish
fnent of permanent peace in South
America finds ltttle welcome in the
newspaper columns or chancellerieS Of
the southern continent.
Evening star., 1916-12-23
ora Elmer ButterfeId Dies.

NEW YORK. December 23.-Gra Ell
mer Eutterfeid, law yer, general So
licitor for the New York Central Rail-
road Company. and former general al =
torney for the Michigan Central rail-
road, has died in hospital mere. lie
was considered an authority on state
and federal regulation of railways
Evening star., 1916-12-23
CHRISTMAS LESSON:
UNTO Us A son Is GIVEN
Isaiah g2-1

Golden text-For unto us a
child is born, unto us Son is
given: and the government shall
be upon His shoulder: and His
name shall be called Wonderful.
Counselor. Mighty God. Ger
lasting Father. Prince of Pc ..-
lisa. SO.
Evening star., 1916-12-23
NEW FOREIGN MINISTER
FOR AUSTRiA-HUNGARY
Count Won Chudenitz Succeeds Baron
Won Burian, According to
Reuter- Dispatch.

LONDON. December % S:I2 am
Count Czeruin Won Chudenitz has sue
ceeded Baron Won Rurian as Austro-
Hungarian foreign minister. according
TO Reuters Amsterdam dispatch quot
ing the vienna Wiener Xeitung. Count
CZernin was also named president oi
the joint council of ministers He Was
minister to Rumania until the time that
country entered the war.
Emperor Charles. the dispatch says
has conferred on Baron Burian the bril-
liamts Of the order OF ST. Stefan tor his
great services as foreign minister and
has appointed him common finance min
lister in the place Of Prince Conrad Won
Hohtuiohe, who has resigned
Evening star., 1916-12-23
Change in Policy Run ored

Baron Won Burian has been repeat
edly reported TO have resigned as for
cign minister since he took Office in
January, 1915, succeeding Count Berch-
told. These reports have multiplied
since tn" entrance of Rumania into the
war and the accession of Enncror
Charles. They were coupled with ui.-
merors statements TO the effect that the
new Austrian ruler would very mate
rally modify the foreign polio. Of the
dual empire. Baron Won Euiian was
generally credited with being strongly
under the influence Of Beriin and il
was reported that Emperor Charles was
anxious 10 emphasize more SHARPLY the
individuality of Austria.
When Emperor Charles asrended the
throne Baron Won Burian coupled the
duties of foreign minister with those
Of finance minister He was relieved
&c the latter portfolio on December 3
ana Count Won Hohenlohe was appoint
ed in his stead Count Won Hohen!ohe
is popularity known the red prince"
because of his radical views and his
friendship with the socialists
Evening star., 1916-12-23
Cattle May Starve.

Devastated fields threaten to occasion
the starvation of many head %. cattle.
and the railways. at the request of the
government. have made a 81 per cent
reduction in the rates for the trans
portation Of live stock. to remain ef-
fectiVe until February 2S of next year.
BY this means stock can be hauled
from the devastated regi ions to prov
inces Of the south. The lives of thou
sands of thousands of animals will thus
be saved.
The progress of the swarms of flying
Iucusts is daily being telegraphed
ahead. direction and speed of flight
being given, so that the farms about to
be attack ed can prepare. These tele-
graphic notices are published IN the
press and have grown to occupy col
umns.
The linseed crop has already gone.
At times u million tons of this has been
exported annually to the United States.
The promised shortage of the wheat
crop has caused a considerable advance
in the price of bread, and the Aerarian
League has petitioned the government
for the imposition of an embargo on
the shipment of wheat. in order ito
obviate further exploitation of the pub
tic" This is the first time any such a
request has been made in Argentina.
one Of the wheat and meat storehouses
of the world.
Evening star., 1916-12-23

The economic situation in OaXaca is
report ed to be much ameliorated. which
has been aided by the carrying out of
the decree for the payment of salaries
and wages in national specie
All state employees in Zacatecas were
paid double the usual amount of their
salaries for the month Of November In
order to aid them In tidiHG over the
temporary period OF depression-
Evening star., 1916-12-23

There will be special music by choir
of thirty-five voices at Dumbarton Ave-
nue. NJ. h. Church tomorrow morning
and evening. In the moriing. at IL
o'clock. DR.. Martin viii preach on The
Coming Of the King" and at night on
Homage to the King" Christmas
morning at $3.50 there will be Christ
mas service, and the subject of the pas
tors dfaeourse will be THE Unspeak-
able Gift.
Evening star., 1916-12-23
LATIN AMERICANS
SEE 4 WAR CLOUD
Failure of Proposed A. B. c.
Conference Rouses Some
Radicals.
STORY OF A SECRET PACT
of the Associated Press.

Correspondent nee of the Associated Press.
SANTIAGO. Chile. November III
The failure of the proposed A. B. &.
conference. which was to have met in
Rio de Janeiro on November 10. has
prompted editorial comment through
out the entire continent. and the echo
is yet reverberating.
Dr.. l.auro Muller. the prime minister
of the Brazilian cabinet, is said to hay"
invited the Chilean aad Argentine gov
ernments to send delegates to a con-
ference to be held a, Rio de .Ianeiro On
November / ). the twenj y-seVenth ann
versary of the proclamation of the re-
public of Brazil.
The exact purpose Of the gathering
was not made public. bat il was UNDER
stood that Dr. MAILER desired the ma
tions named to enter into peace pact
binding each to submit to arbitration
IN any dispute. aud in any event to
wait one year before resorting to
arms. The republic of Chile accepted
the Invitation. as did the Argentine,
tatively A change of government
in tie latter country came before the
date OF the suggested meeting, and
fh. new foreign minister strongly op-
posed the plan. As il was necessary
for the Argentine congress to r3tfN
he proposal. and as they failed to do
so. Brazil was notified that her neigh
Dor would not participate. Gnu" then
Withdrew her acceptance.
Evening star., 1916-12-23

The merchants of Vera cruS have
voluntarily contributed the sum OF
$4,000. Mexican specie. Tor the purpose
forms In that city.
Evening star., 1916-12-23

The workers in an extensive cotton
factory al Queretaro, as also those in
a similar establishment in Jalisco. have
struck for an alleviation Of conditions
and the state government is arranging
an amicable settlement, as has bee2
done in similnr cases elsewhere. n
Evening star., 1916-12-23

Permission has been granted to the
hguila Petroleum Company the Pier
son interests) to construct wharf OF
the Panuco river in the Tampico dis
trict. for the accommodate of their
export traffic.
Evening star., 1916-12-23
MEXICAN NEWS NOTES.

Stringent measures are being taken
bv the department of Fomento to pre-
vent the public from being swindled
by petroleum companies organized sole
ly forthe purpose of selling stock. but
having no actual property and doing
no actual development work.
Evening star., 1916-12-23
PLAGUE Of LOCUSTS
ASSAILS ARGENTINA
hreatens to Reduce Crops OF
South American Republic
by O1e-HaIf.
TRAINS EVEN STALLED

torr- >ponience Of the Associated Press.
BtENOS AIRES November s.--The
plague of locusts that has assai!ed the
crops of the northern provinces of the
republic is slowly working its way
southwari. These insects, together
with an unprecedented drought, threat
en- to reduce the crops by half, and in
some sections by an even greater per-
centage.
The locust comes from some part OF
I'll and pours over the country in great
streams so thick and long as often to
darken the sun. From Fena today there
comes a dispatch saying that a stream
extending over thirty kilometers has
settled upon the fields and left no green
thing in that part. The Young, Matched
from the millions of eggs deposited,
have i'll places covered the railway so
thickly as To impede traffic, and trains
have been stalled until the inse:ts have
been ShoVeled from the tracks and
burned in bitches.
The government is waSing a vigor-
Gus fight. but seems to be making little
headway. The department for aSri
cultural defense has 2o.oh0,00O meters
of metallic barriers for the purpose OF
penning SwarnlS which are then burned
trampled by farm animals or buried
This is accomplished because the young
locust is without wings 1t much re-
SembleS 4 young grasshopper except
its coloring is much brighter, red ana
yellow. black and green. predominant
Evening star., 1916-12-23

The Union of Restaurant Walters and
Employees in Mexico City is co-operat
ing with a commission appointed by
Gov Lopez de Lara of the federal dis
trict of Mexico City for the ameliora
ton of the condition of it's members
and the securing Of more adequate
compensation
Evening star., 1916-12-23
a Legislature Provided.

Th" Foraker act which is about to
DE replaced b, a new Porto Rican civil
gov erunent bill extending citizenship
to the people of the islands. established
n ci.il government for the islands with
a legislature consisting of an upper
and lower house and a civil governor
appointed by the President of the Unit
ed States. Before creation OF gov-
ernment for the Danish isles is under
taken. however. some senators believe
that a legislative commission may be
appointed to visit the new possessions
and confer with the people on the sub
Iect with a view to determining what
forl Of government would n- most de-
Sirahle. Whether citizenship should be
at the outset is one of the problems
involve ed.
Evening star., 1916-12-23
Topic,
THE FIRST CHRISTMAS CIR
Gle AND OURS.
Matt, 2:S-11; Luke, els, 5,16.20)

There's song in the air
There's n in the sky,
There's mothers deep prayer.
And a baby's low cry!
And the rains its fire while the beautiful
sing.
For the manger of Bethlehem cradles q King"
Evening star., 1916-12-23
A War Inevitable.

The most radical comment on the
affair was published "A few days ar" in
u chilean journal of socialistic tenden-
cies Under the caption uruguay. the
Serbia of South America the writer
claimed that = general South America II
war was as inevitable as had been the
great European conflict for years be-
for. he ;iare Of August, 1914. "Argen-
tina viii never agree to Il pea':e pact
with her neighbors while the matter of
the La Plata boundary line is in dis
pute," said the author. This line runs
tiuCoarnei where the river, be-
tween forty and, at places. sixty mit"s
''r@ truguaN&n from Arsea-
tinian territory
immense sums in dredging the river
from it's mouth off the port of Monte
vifieo to u point opposite Buenos Ares.
Il distance of nearly 200 miles. in order
that large ocean steamers might con-
,tiutl.. to dock in the Argentinian
metropolis series of islands once
claimed by Uruguay are now held on
the other side TO be Argentinian be-
cduS. Of the great expenditures in mn
proving the river channel This. to-
gether with IA boundary dispute. be-
tween Brazil ard the Argentine has.
according TO the Chilean author. made
the relations between the three c"un-
tries somewhat uncertain.
Evening star., 1916-12-23

Wireless telegraph stations have
been established in the engineering
section of the War Department for the
, instruction of officers in that branch of
the service,
; Traffic between Torreon and the city
of Durango ami the latter place and
Tepehuanes. the terminus of the line
running northWaru to the stHtn boun-
dary. is reported TO be regular. and
there has been 10 iuterrul ton from
any cause for a lengthy period
There has been appropriated for the
government OF the state CT Guiana Jun to
for the fiscal year the sum of Sil.@ 0Ga
in spec,e. or the equivalent OF $3.50
in American money. OF this S5ODooo
or $3.50. 900 American currency. is to
be devoted to educational and public
improvement purposes OF various, kinds
The state government of Vera Cruz
Is taking steps to establish kinder
2arten in the city of the same name, as
/ 1t is greatly needed for the instruction
OF children too young to attend the
higher grades of schools.
The Preparatory College in the city
of Vera Cruz. which is said to have
suffered great damage during the
American occupation. is being placed
, in suitable condition for use. The pub
lie library is also receiving similar at
tsntion.
All tne merchants OF the CITY OF San
Luis Potosi have been in consultation
with the state officials for the purpose
of determining upon some plan for the
amelioration of the situation as re-
CARDS supplies and prices of food ar
ticles Of prime necessity.
A convention of municipal officials
from every part of the state of More
los was recently held in the city of
Cuernavaca for the purpose of discuss
Ing the best means for benefting the
people. The announcement was made
that Gov. Carreon had prepared 4 plan
for a general system of education. in,
Guiding physical. intellectual and
moral culture together with agricul-
tural experimental stations and other
indust rial features. These schools Will
be for the use OF both men and women.
and others especially suitable for
women will be provided.
\ factory for the production OF -four
from bananas Is to be opened in the
city of Mexico. as also is a similar one
In the city OF Puebla.