davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1917-12-02

II am certainly grateful for the articles.
| am sure you spent many an hour, stolen per-
haps from the paths of pleasure in making
this for the L. S. boys and | want you to
know we appreciate them. Within the next
two weeks we are going "oyer there" and, of
course, we shall wear these articles doing ser
vice in the war zone. They will be to us
constant reminder of the loyalty of our Amer
lean women, and | am sure will inspire US to
deeds worthy of American sailors Trusting
you will continue the good work of keeping
comfortable the boys in blue, ! am gratefully
yours
"A person who has all the comforts of home
cannot begin to feel the gratitude that sol
dier boy who has left his mother, friends and
possibly sweetheart can feel at the receipt
Of such token of thought as ! to-day
presented by you" writes young officer
"0ften, while perhaps on the sea or in for
cign land, and other recipients of those care
fully gotten up comfort kits and the pains
takingly made knitted articles will give more
than a casual thought of them and their
makers We all realize that such a thing as
the sweater and scarf does not merely mean
the donation and so much money, but that
care and hard work are i'm the making of the
articles Therefore, we more fully appreciate
the gift And we have more respect and love,
if such thing be possible, for the ladies who
have donated their time and money in caring
New-York tribune., 1917-12-02

for our comfort Whoever named those out
fits comfort kits named them well. Often
we have tears to mend or minor cut, which
can be healed more quickly by the use of ad-
hrsive plaster How often have we broken
our shoelaces? Buttons have habit of sud-
denly, for no apparent reason, dropping of.
Nothing is so good as a plentiful application
Of powder after morning shave. All In all,
| really and honestly feel more gratitude for
the gift provided by you than the receipt OF
anything else it has been my good fortune to
get
"In connection with this, let me say that
will certainly appreciate any correspondence
that may receive and that | will try to an
swer all that may receive. Both my parents
are dead, and therefore | will all the more
appreciate having some one take interest
enough in me to write an occasional letter.
This time it is captain, VINO encloses
paper signed by the men of his unit who have
Just received their sweaters.
Again writes man from the radio service
"The comfort the contents Of your most gen
erous package has afforded me is beyond
words. for I've been assigned to night guard
duty. and to keep the cold, bowling winds COM
pany when not properly clothed is no easy
matter God speed in the furtherance of your
task.
These are all real letters. These and many,
New-York tribune., 1917-12-02

little orphaned children by the people Who
have pledged themselves to support them, and
that wonderful organization, the Business
Women's Overseas Relief, is sending its
Christmas offering-one hundred thousand
garments--to help to clothe them One hum
dred thousand garments are a good many and
they came almost by miracle-through the
employers Of the girls who have been working
so conscientiously all these months.
The idea originated with Mr.. Goldman, Of
the Goldman Costume Company, and soon the
men at the head Of two big industres-the
Dress and Waist Industry and the Cotton
Textile lndustry-pledged their assistance.
These various organizations give the material
for the garments and the use Of one machine
and one skilled worker for thirty days. The
result will be the one hundred thousand gar
ments to be distributed by Miss Anne Morgan
in those devastated villages in Northern
France.
And, after all this, I haven't told you half
the plans which good old Father Christmas has
in his mind for gladdening the hearts Of his
children. But from what | hare told you
doesn't it seem as if the real Christmas spirit
had come back-as if the whole country,
mindful Of the fact that there can be no peace
on earth," has determined to pour forth its
feeling of "good will to men" as it has never
been poured forth before in the celebration
of our first War Christmas?
New-York tribune., 1917-12-02

ace, with peep shows, circus, movies ride
on real elephant, shooting galleries, merry
go-rounds, ice cream, lemonade and goodness
knows what other joys for the kiddes, rich
and poor-all sorts and conditions of kiddies-
for the children of civilians may also enter
this enchanted land for nominal fee, and for
another nominal fee may patronize the vari-
Gus shows; so all classes will come together
in one grand Christmas lark.
The committee which is ARRANGING this car
niyal has hit upon unique plan which will
help to foster the real Christmas spirit among
the children of the well-todo. They have sug
cested that. wherever It is possible. these chill
dren shall give Christmas parties to their little
friends the week before the carnival opens,
and, instead of exchanging gifts with one an
other, each guest is to bring present, which
is TO he sent to the Grand Central Palace 70
be given to a child whose father is serving the
colors. Through the cooperation Of the public
school teachers each child is to be asked what
he most desires for Christmas, and, so far as
is possible, his wish is to be granted.
All this is a mere hint of the plan for Carni-
val Week. But think of the joy of it, and think
of the childish letters filled with rapture tn; d,
will gladden. the heart of that man in the
trenches or on the deck of battleship!
WHERE THIS Is THE FOURTH WAR
CHRISTMAS
And though we are thinking most of our
own fighting men and their families we are
not forgetting altogether the people in those
desoate villages in France and Belgium who
are in sore need Of every bit of Christmas
cheer that we can send to them on this, their
fourth War Christmas. Think of it-four
dreary Christmas days, each one sadder than
the last!
Christmas packages have been sent to the
New-York tribune., 1917-12-02

no other way Of helping old Father Christmas
in this tremendous undertaking Of making
Christmas happy for our fighting men, send
your donations and those of your family to
any one of the war relief associations-you
can't go wrong, for they are all working for
the same end-and thank the good Lord that
you are able to do it, for by next Christmas
WELL who knows?
After the army and navy, what next? Can't
you guess? Why, the families that these brave
fellows have left behind. Can you imagine the
feelings of the wife and children in the dngy
tenement facing their first War Christmas
without the husband and father?
Think of it for a minute-theres field of
work for you. Don't let's leave one of those
little families to NOPE by itself for the man in
khaki or blue flannel who is fighting their
battles and ours "over there" Think of the
Joy of that man when he learns that some one
back home has given his wife and kiddies
happy Christmasl That sort of thing means
a lot to the man in the trenches.
THE BIGGEST PARTY OF ALL
But when it comes 70 giving the children
of our fighting men Christmas that they will
never forget-a Christmas "as is a Christ
mas"-all honors go to the National League
for Women's Service. 1t has planned the
greatest childrens party that the world has
ever known-no more, no less-and all for
the children of men who are in the service
any kind of service so long as it is with the
colors.
A whole week of party, and such party
as has never been known since the world
began, where every blessed show is free to
the child of any man in the service. No
counting pennies and then having to choose
between the movies" and the circus, between
Punch and Judy or hitting the Kaiser's head
with a rubber bal-no, stree, everything free
to all!
carnival week at the Grand Central Pal
New-York tribune., 1917-12-02
WHAT WAS NEEDED TO BRING BACK
CHRISTMAS

TO remedy this condition, societies were
formed like the famous "Spugs" (the So
ciety for the Prevention of Useless Giving),
to help restore as far as possible the old-fash-
ioned Christmas spirit, but these were not
strong enough to stem the tide of useless
giving" which had gotten headway and was
running rampant.
It needed a big upheaval to make people
realize the utter lack Of the real Christmas
feeling in such giving. 1t needed a big world
conflict to restore the old Christmas spirit
of good will to men" The disease of use
Tess giving had become so malignant that
.othing short Of an operation would restore
,d Father Christmas to us.
The operation has been performed Father
Christmas is on the mend, and by the 25th
.of December he will be so filled with his old
time spirit that there will be no controlling
him. And so for the first time in many long
year. good old Father Christmas the real old
Father Christmas, will be with us again. For
which the saints be praised Down deep in
their hearts, I'm sure. no one ever really
loved the gentleman who has been acting so
long as his understudy.
And so. with Father Christmas again at the
helm, we are making our plans for this, our
first War Christmas. And such plans! So
different from those which we made last year
or the year before, or, in fact, any year since
1865. No more haunting the Christmas no
tion" counters in the big shops in search Of
some little thing for Annie Smith, something
that costs one dollar and looks like two. No
more rushing out before the shops close on
Christmas Eve to find something to send to
Cousin Philip in Philadelphia, whose gift to
us has Just arrived, and who has been com
pletely forgotten in our list of presents.
WHAT CHRISTMAS MONEY IS SPENT
FOR THIS YEAR
No more collections taken up in the big
stores and factories TO purchase a propitia-
tory gift for the boss" That boss is either
wearing khaki or he has issued mandate that
he will accept no gifts from his grateful en-
ployes; the money can still be collected-he
hopes it will be-but it goes to the Red Cross
Or the Y. NJ. c. A., IF you please"
AS for the family, il has been agreed long
ago that there are to be no gifts exchanged.
The money which would have been spent for
these is to be put in the family ginger jar
and devoted 20 entertaining lonesome sailors
and soldiers in that home on Christmas Day.
real home dinner and a Christmas tree and
present for every guest
SO much for the family and friends. And
New-York tribune., 1917-12-02

II NHE small, poorly dressed boy fingered
moment as the dismissed pupils hur-
ried down the steps Of the little coun-
try schoolhouse.
Teacher" he said timidly, Il gotta stay
home tomorrow. l gotta pick cotton"
For a moment the teacher looked severe.
These country people, who lcouid put making
living before an education, tried her patience.
Then, with little shrug Of indifference,
"Very WE'LL" she replied, and, gathering up
numerous papers, she prepared to go home.
Her road lea past farm or two, and she
noted with her never failing eye for beauty the
field of white-soft, snowy whitehall meant
the fluffy cotton boil was ready for picking;
then, with sensation Of surprise, she realized
that there were no workers there.
A hearty greeting cut short her meditations.
"Evenn', teacher Wanter quit school and
help me pick cotton?"
The young lady smiled back at the kindly
farmer.
as it really as bad as that?" she inquired.
"Your son told me he would have 10 miss school
tomorrow"
Fact Can't get hand for love nor money.
Nggers all gone up North or too busy. White
men all gone to war"
Teacher had an inspiration. II would be
"doing their Bit" she reflected as she made
the proposition.
"How would it suit you, Mr.. Wade" said
she, "if give the children holiday tomorrow
morning TO help you out? | can teach them
Saturday morning to make up the lessons they
miss; and, of course, you will pay them some
thing?"
"You en- reckon on that--and glad TO do it,"
was the hearty answer Give the kids chance
to make little extra money-and help me out
Of powerful big hole"
Next morning Teacher waived the usua.
opening exercises. Instead, she made speech.
Children" she said, "these are war times.
Every one must do his part Even boys and
girls can help. We must make all the money
We can, raise all the food we can and help
each other as much as we can. The farm is the
backbone of this great nation. Each one of
your farms is as important to-day as the big
soldier brother who has left your home So we
must DO what we can to make these farms
pay. One day week | am going to give you
the entire morning to devote TO your country
This morning we will all 90 up to Mr.. Wade's
and pick cotton; he will pay you for your SER
vices. Next week we will go to the Broughton
Farm and pick peas; and il at any of your
homes you need help let me know and we will
arrange it."
The children were enthusiastic, and the re-
suit was that the farmer accomplished his
work in less tims lost no part Of his crop
through early frosts, the children we're taught
the value of helpfulness and community SER
New-York tribune., 1917-12-02


graph his absent wife every night that ne Is
too busy to write, He can, to improvlse upon
Miles Standish, march up to the point OF
bavonet. He can even be brave where the cap
tain failed. and bring himself to the point OF
proposing. But the point of pencil? No.
When he does get himself worked up to that
stage of emotion which demands expression
on paper then he really has something TO eN
press. That is why the letters that pour IN TO
the New York County Chapter of the Red
Cross at 3s9 Fifth Avenue bring full rewards
to the millions of men and women who are
doing their hit at home. Soiled scraps OF
paper from the trenches and camps, where
paper is luxury, give eloquent testimony 10
the appreciation of officers and privates for
the comforts that are sent to them through
the Red Cross.
81 wish to thank your society for the nice
knitted outfit and comfort kit which you so
kindly sent me-" writes sergeant at Cover
nor's Island II realize the many stitches and
hours of hard, tedious labor that mothers and
sweethearts have put in making these to keep
us warm through the cold, wintry months.
Wherever am sent from here, whether in this
country or across the water, will try and re
member you with few lines. My dear mother
at home is doing work for the Red Cross, so
am in position to know the hours of hard work
that are spent making these outfits for us.
know it's as hard for the mothers and sweet
hearts who have to stay back as 1t is for us.
The women of our country are doing great
work and deserve large portion Of the credit
during this time of war;
Here again are the thanks from "on board
written by boy whose ship has doubtless
since sailed and who mot only delighted
but felt he must write"
New-York tribune., 1917-12-02

GOOD that is TO come from out the blackness
when the cloud is finally swept away. We
have only to think for a minute what it has
already done for the country in eight short
months. il has made us develop our resources
so that we are in a fair way to become in
dependen, Of other nations; it is teaching US
TO practice thrift and economy; it has shown
rs the value Of the real things of life and
made us despise the tinsel; it has brought out
amazing qualities in our women and made
monycod3les into men; and it has raised the
spirit Of self-sacrifce and patriotism to a
degree which it has not known since the days
Of the Civil War.
And now comes the latest blessing: it is re-
storing TO us the oidtime Christmas spirit
the Christmas spirit Of fifty years ago!
We have all deplored the fact that Christ
mas has ceased to be a holiday to which we
could look forward with real pleasure, that
the real joy Of giving had deteriorated into
a sordid exchange of gifts, each giver trying
to outdo the other, the real Christmas spirit
forgotten in the desire to give unto others as
much and if possible a little more than they
give unto us.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-02
By ELENE FOSTER

Tt uqs olroys said Of him that he
,refr t9r 10 keep Christmas 1celL il any
rr clrc possessed the kHowiedge. May
that BE- truly said of us and all Of us!
Charles Dickens. a Christmas Carol -
New-York tribune., 1917-12-02

ERY now and again the great
war cloud which overshadows
us is blown aside for an in
slant and we catch a brief
glimpse Of its silver lining.
During these few fleeting
minutes we cannot help but
realize the great amount of
New-York tribune., 1917-12-02
Christmas, 1917

Keep spirit Christmas alive by symbol by sacrifice by tenderness
1917 when the Christ being Recrucied by
Force by giving a single purely material useless gift
spend profits luxmies shoot the back,
while
inspired thrift into War Savings and they will march
to the front 10 do your bit for They
will help to end the wal by winning it.
We wish you a truly happy Christmas, G.u.
Of a spirit at peace with itself. CN~~~N O'> ''>>
DrecforO of The Tribnn eInshfu
New-York tribune., 1917-12-02

kept for the purposes of
courtship, man is not a letter
writing animal. He will
roam around his Office dictat-
ing fiuently and joyfully to
his stenographer. He will,
with touching fidelity, tele-
New-York tribune., 1917-12-02

ENoZ1 at abroad in Of the Child
~ ~ Bethlehem help keep alive and nournh the
f4 n tin be nothing
V "a 1 81 worth fighting for.
R2CUINSN Give at the
W frontan o many soldiers that know,
of material profit ambition and life
" to protect the of the world
who heavy toll of suffering this winter,
unless make place for them
" the manyn new and demands
Il -
New-York tribune., 1917-12-02
Community Service
By MABEL RUTHERFORD BITCH

TIME small, poorly dressed boy fingered
moment as the dismissed pupils hur-
red down the steps Of the little coun-
Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1917-03-30
Mrs. Kane added a general Auf.

Mrs. Kane added a general fluff
finess to the atmosphere-fuffi-
ness and gossip. She knew every
body and everything. That, she
frequently explained, was the es-
sence of real living-that. and to
know always that men were Der
fectly and absolutely unreliable.
History" she confded to
Edith, sinking into a chair s. big
that 1T accentuated i'm an absurd
manner her chubbiness, repeats
itself in a most annoying way.
Things began to happen in this
part of the world when one John
Smith came over here from Eng
land. Now, everything that hap
pens in Washington revolves
around John Smith,
What have you heard?" asked
Edith, recognizing the generality
as an Introduction to specific in
formation.
II have heard a most wonder
i'ti lilliiS, my dear. 1T s complete
in plot, detail and thenle.n
What is it?"
"You are engaged to be mar
ried to John Smith, and, as your
father dislikes him intensely, you
see him only by stealth-at long
intervals"
Edith looked troubled.
81 hope" she said seriously,
"he will not hear it. 1t would be
too bad for such gossip to disturb
him at such a time as this when he
needs all his thought and all his
energy for his work"
"You hope it don't disturb
him." Mrs. Kane's eyes became
very round with a real astonish-
ment. Chow about its disturbing
you?"
Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1917-03-30
CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

Congress had adjourned, and q
week had passed slnce the publica-
ton of Cholliewollie's article de-
scribing in detail the plan for the
prohibition ION to Washington
movement. Every newspaper in
the country was carrying daily
stories on it now. From Washing
ton dispatches went. out setting
forth the tremendous amount Of
work Smith had to do in order to
arrange Tor IN unprecedentedly
large demonstration which va
only q little less than five weeks
Of. From other cities and tie
smaller towns came the stories Of
how the clergy and the aides Of
the mems and women's prohibi-
ton organizations were working
Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1917-03-30
Selfish.

The night is fierce and windy. all
frozen is the void: the storm kicks
up a shindv that makes my blood run
cold. My chair is lined with leather.
my fire is burning bright. and l enjoy
the weather. the long, colo winter night.
l live in peace and plenty. no famine
have I felt, and l have eight or 20 mince
pies beneath my belt. My wife is al
ways saying: How can you sit at ease.
while hungry folk are praying for VIE
nerwurst and cheese? How can you
smoke our Guilty. and read your mag
azines: while men are driven nutty by
lack of bread and greens? II help the
poor and needy" l say. WIENER I.can;
l clothe and feed the seedy. and cheer
the also ran. If any man shall holler
of want. when I'm around, I'll hand him
out a dollar. a shilling or a pound. But
when the day has vanished. and night
brings peace and rest. all painful
thoughts are banishedlI shoe them
galley west. So. Julia. please be quit
ting your wearisome harangue: sit
there and do your knitting. and let the
poor go hang"
Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1917-03-30
CONTINUED Next Week.)
WATCH ART WORKS. PRICE.

London (by ma:D-The huge amount Of
money which seems to be available for
the purchase of works of art in England
at the present time, Is attracting the at
tention of treasury officials. Competition
for works Of first, secondary, and minor
masters is keen with values soaring in
price. A large proportion of the purchases
are known to have been made on behalf
of America but in expert quarters it is
believed that quite a proportion of the
buying Is being done on German account.
Belief is expressed that from funds re-
naming in neutral lands, and wen in
this country, Germans are anxious to
make an investment in works of art which
can remain here for realization after tho
war
Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1917-03-30
CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

On Thursday of each week Miss
Mal1on put her forenoon at the
disposal of 1.-THE girls'-girls
who, for any reason, wanted her
help or advice. She believed in
personal charity-the right word
at the right time, the revival of
hope, the strengthening of pur-
pose, the taking hold again of
high ideals.
eff they want to find work."
she explained, II can often help
them. If they are in search Of
consolation, j can always help
them. Women are SO brave, but
they have so much to fight
against. Theirs is never the short,
sharp struggle, the doing Of big
and startling things. Their fate
is the little drudgeries, the heart
breaking trifes. Girls, all girls, are
wonderful"
Miss Mallon's Thursday for
girls" had become a Washington
institution. No girl was refused
admittance. None ever failed to
see her.
Her first visitor on this particu-
lar Thursday was Mrs. Griswold
name.