davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1917-02-12

The Netherlee, 1927 tons gross, was
last reported on her departure from
Philadelphia Jan. q, for Dunkirk,
France.
The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-22
The NIGHT Before Christmas

VIII althr
Not a creature was stirring, not even mouse;
In hopes that Nicholas would be there. Fl
The children nestled all in their beds.
While
And n kerchief
When out on the lawn there rose such a chatter
] sprang
Away to the window few like flash.
Tore open the shutters and threw the sash.
The moon, on the creast Of the new fallen snow
Gave mster of midday to objects below - #..s
When, what to wondering should appear.
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer
knew in moment it must be St Nick
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came
Now Dasher! Dancer! Prancer and Vixen
On Comet! on. Cupid! on Dunder and Bitten!
To the Of the the OF the wall!
Now dash away dash away, dash away ALL"
y,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky
So to the housetop the coursers they few Fl
with a sleigh full of toys-and st.
a twinklng I heard the roof +
The prancing and paving of each little hoof;
As drew in my head, and was turning around
Down the chimney ST. Nicholas came with bound
He dressed all in fur from his head to his foot
And clothes furnished with ashes and SCOT;
A bundle of toys he had flung his back,
eyes they tw1nkled his dimples how merry
His cheeks like his like cherry
is dron little mouth was orawn up R,t Lke DOW snow
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth
the smoke it encirced his head like a wreath
laughed him. spite OF myself
A wink Of his and twist Of his head
to know I nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word straight to his work. IS
And all he stockings; then with jerk. I
And laying his finger aside Of his nose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave q whistle
And away they all heN like the down of a thistle
ID Clement C. Moore.
The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-22

of Melbourne, an Australian, q
scholar. q student Of his country 8
history, evidently one familiar with
and having access to the sources, has
told for us the really fascinating
story. The story of discovery Is not
repetition, il Ia new account in
which we see again England's great
debt to her navy. Beginning with
Themes map (1527) a series OF TWEEN
ty-four trace the gradual evolution
of the dominion. The convict sys-
tenn is shown up, as are those, early
governors, absolute in their baili-
wick, and the final development OF
constitutional government. The
struggle with the problem Of the
rivers, which finally developed into
the great Murray system draining a
half million square miles of territory,
is one Of the most interesting chap
tiers in the history Of exploration.
More like fiction than reality are
the daring invasion OF the barren
and abuses OF the squatter Gone who
entered into occupation of land to
which he had no titlel system, and
the rush to the gold-tields. New for
us are the chapters on the movement
towards federation, the development
of democracy. the constitution, the
development of commonwealth and
imperial relations.
An excellent table Of contents, an
index, an exhaustive chronology, and
q well-selected photography by
chapters greatly enhance the value
OF the book We wish q large politi-
cal map might have been added to
the apparatus Of the volume.
The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-22
NTHE SHERIFF OF NOTTINGHAM
DIES.
] am the sheriff Of Nottingham

am the sheriff OF Nottingham.
You may search for aye,
But you win never deery
Such a wonderful sheriff as /.
What theatergoer OF the older
seneration doesn't recall The Boston
Jams, and Robin Hood" and the Gill
bert and Sullivan operas?
il. G, Barnabee, whose name was
50 closely connected with these fam
Gus old operas, died this week at the
ripe age Of 81. He had sung the part
az the Sheriff Of Nottingham in
'Robin HOOD, 1900 times.
What haicyon days Of the theater,
tho name OF Barnabee recallsl Friar
Tuck. Robin Hood. Maid Marian,
Alan A Dale, and the sheriff. are still
entertaining American audiences, al
though it is tWenty-six years since
Jessie Bartlett Davis, George Froth-
sngham, Mr.. Barnabee. Adelaide
rhiillps, Marie Stone and the rest OF
the Bostonians first gave de Koven's
delightful opera to an admirins
I Audience.
what comic opera Of the last
twenty years contained three such
songs as Brown October Ale, "The
ArnoFer's Song and "oh Promise
&ge'2 And whore are the clever lyrics
tht sparkled from "Pinafore" OF
srhs Mikado"g
xas days of tha cid Mccall opera
The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-22

sentient nation, worthy TO stand at
the bar OF history with its great
allies; or was to become that most
contemplate of things, a country
without a soul, sunk in cowardices
slkulxing for shelter behind some
drawer champion of the democratic
cause.
II took a robust faith ia the essen
tial soundness Of the Canadians to
face with serenity the test to which
the country was put. The antiyna-
tional, anti-social. reactionary and
perYerse elements OF the country
made a formidable array when they
coalesced behind Iaurier; but tie
danger called forth all that was
true and staunch in the Canadian
people. IT was inspiring TO note how
the patriotic elements rallied to the
banner of a united Canada until
they became a great and invineible
army.
Many things were settled yester-
day for all time. 1t has been demon,
strated once for all that no COM
bination OF selfish, reactionary and
sectional interests can seize control
OF CanadR's affairs. The Canadians
who conceived this to be a progress
sive, democratic, modern nation,
able and willing to take its place
and play its part on the stage Of
the world are definitely in charge OF
the affairs of their country. The
primary business OF all the malig
nant elements that were so soundly
trounced yesterday is to recognize
that fact and govern themselves ac-
corlfngIy.
The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-22
"'ERR" AND "ALF".

The "humor of the trenches may
sound like bitter irony. but since the
outbreak of the war England has
been laughing at the trials and tribu-
lations of "Erb" and "Alf'', and
America may soon be smiling at their
prototypes in the American Expedi-
tionary forces.
Captain Bruce Bairnsfather, a car
toonist is the creator Of "'Erb" and
"Alf', two English Tommies who are
almost as familiar to the people Of
England, as Field I Marshal Haig.
Capt. Bairnsfather has been able to
picture the humor Of the war without
ofEense because he was in IL, not apart
from It. He accepts all the dIscom-
forts and hardships of the trenches
with a grin. His picture Of the Eng
lish soldier, sitting in a trench with
shells bursting ali around him, and
saying: Say something to brighten
me, Alt. have the "iccups" Is a
classic. Then there Is the drawing
OF "'Erb" trying to sleep in . house
from which the walls have been
mostly blown away with shells. He
Is saying: Shut the bloomin' door,
ALI. there's a ELL Of a draft here.
And now Captain Bairnsfather has
been officially assigned by the British
army to strengthen the bonds Of
friendship between the two forces, by
depicting some OF the American fght-
ing men Ia cartoon. II he can create
the prototypes Of "'Erb" and ''Air',
he win achieve his purpose II. in-
deed, IL It has not already been
achieved
FoREsEE THE MlLLENNlUM.
The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-22

4 Judah which had the best townsite
i'm the whole section. Yet, az George
Adam Smith points out, Bethlehem
bore no token of civic promise. The
absence Of harbours, rivers, great
trunk roads. convenient markets in
Judea doomed her to the provincial.
But Bethlehem had skies and views
as glorious as any city, and the stars
played a part in her history. David
OF musical soul knew the melody of
her environs and remembered the old
well from which he had drunk as q
boy, in the fullness OF later years and
in the heat Of battle. The songs Of
the Judean hills could have only
come from the shepherd OF respons-
i've familiarity with nature and life
who had time to look out and look
up, to think and ponder, to pray and
sing.
Then greater than David was IN
troduced to the world in cave at
Bethlehem. The manger was good
enough for Him, His beautiful moth
er, and the mild Joseph as the
crowd pushed into the. best
places, too hurried to be in touch
with suffering womankind, innocent
babyhood, wondering shepherds,
angelic choirs or searching seers OF
the East. Jesus was born in Bethle
hem. Prophecy was fulfilled. After
those first days of His beginning,
Bethlehem played no conspicuous part
in His training or program. We have
no record that He ever visited Bethle-
hem in His boyhood or maturity or
ministry.
He came not to gush or to grind,
not with effusive praise of place or
condemnation Of the exigencles OF
birth, He came as a Son of Man, not
to be ministered unto but to minister
and to give His life a ransom for
many.
Gods gift is royal grant indeed.
We are not here to play, to dream,
to drift,
We have hard work to do and loads
to lift
Shun not the struggle, face it., 'Tis
Gods Gift.
The fears Of that memorable night
in Bethlehem are our fears. Pain,
loneliness, poverty, social separa-
tions and sins, taxation, cruel ruler-
ships, the uncertain future were sure
to be somewhere in the human cali
culations of Mary and Joseph.
But the hopes were being realized
that were to make the world glad.
The home, the hospital, science Of
motherhood, the new womanhood,
the child as the emblem OF the true
life, the free schools, the rights OF
toll, the universal Republic on earth,
these and many other conditions
have been or are growing out of the
hopes of the Nativity night.
I'VE hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell:
o come to us, abide with US,
Our Lord EmmanueI'.
The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-22
A FOND FAREWELL.


1t is always sad to part with old
friends.
A more or less esteemed con-
temporary, The NOnpartisan Leader,
is packing its duds this week,
preparatory to fitting to the Twin
Cities, where there is a fat magnate
in every ONCE building, and where
the rotten rich" can be lambasted
more effectively, there being more
rotten rich.
1t is taking its sixteen boxes Of
cartoons showing Big Biz" and its
twenty cases Of stereotyped lines
about the kept press. the "old
gang and mouth patriots. They
are almost as good as new, scarcely
showing the effects of their steady
use.
How the boys do grow up and move
away! or course the ONCE OF the
league is there now, and it will be
handler for Mr.. Townley to earn his
800 a month as directing editor.
They really ought to raise that a
little. Almost any good newspaper
man can get more than $25 a week
these days.
Well, if you must go. old top, here's
your hat. We will try not to forget
you, but these are busy times. Some
day when we are feeling strong, we
will buy another copy Of The Leader
and try to read it for old times sake.
But may we not be permitted, as
the President would phrase it, to Of
fer a startling suggestion? Why not
set cartoonist who would draw a
picture of Big Biz" as a fat man
with a red nose, and wearing suit
checked with dollar marks?
The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-22
The War For the Week
1917. by The wheeler Syndicate. Inc

to establish their unquestioned
authority. The Ukraine, one of the
big central provinces, peopled with
about 100000 Poles and their
descendants, has declared its indie
pendence, and is aiding the Cossacks,
at least to the extent of refusing to
recognize the Bolshevil1i and permit
ting the governments troops to pass.
Odessa and Kiev have been the
scene of spirited fighting, and the
report that the Cossacks had seized
a junction point on the trans -siber-
ian railroad was most significant, as
it would cut communication with the
Bolsheviki troops sent to Hardin.
The Peace Negotiations.
Reports from the peace negotia-
tons have been meager. One un-
confirmed dispatch yesterday stated
that the Germans had refused to &C
cede to the Russian program. The
armistice has twenty-one days to
run, and will be automatically re-
newed unless formal notice is given
that such a renewal is not wanted.
The peace negotiations, evidently,
are being taken seriously by Ger
many, for Won Kuehlmann, the
foreign secretary, has gone in person
to Brest-Litovsk where the con-
ference is being held. His departure
was made the occasion for peace
demonstration in Berlin.
The presence of German officers
aiding the Bolsheviki troops to put
down disorders in Petrograd, cannot
be without its effect in both Russia
and Germany. 1t is q rather frank
confession Of the close community
Of interest between the Bolsheviki
leaders and the German military
machine. 1t may have the effect OF
rallying Russia to her real danger,
and there are even hints that It has
aroused the Socialists in Germany,
who see nothing but absolute DOM
nation by the military party, IL a
victorious peace with Russia is
achieved by the -Germanists.
Such peace would be the death OF
German Socialism for months 70
come, at least
The Shipping Situation.
Submarine figures for the week
showed a slight decrease although
the sinking Of convoy of neutral
vessels was a most unfortunate oc-
currence. Arthur Pollen. the Brit
ish shipping expert. takes a most
hopeful view Of the shipping situa-
ton. however, and says the allies
have established the fact that they
can win from the submarine, and
maintain the allied armies In France
at full strength. He calls attention
to the increased production OF the
shipyards, the increased destruction
Of submarines. and the declining toll
OF the u boats.
Meanwhile America Is very busy
with Investigations which are ex-
pected to accelerate its plans for
participation in the war. and while
this lacks some OF the spectacular
features Of actual war news. 1t il
perhaps, the most important aspect
Of the entire situation.
The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-22

and prepared to make the supremt
sacrifice aa He did, that. instead D.
human life being slaughtered on tn,
altar OF selfish tyranny. the kingdom
OF God and of human brotherhood
shall be established among men. lie
us look up and listen to the muItitud,
of the heavenly forces that are witt
us in the struggle &C this Christmas
tide!
(By Or. r. A. Beard, Pastor Of Firsi
Congregational church.l
When Christ was born in Bethle-
hem new era dawned for human
ity. So important in the worlds his
tory is this event that It Is widely
used as a reckoning point from which
to determine the dates Of all other
human events. For example, the
historians tell us that the founding
OF Rome was b. g. 753, and that the
landing Of the Pilgrims on Plymouth
Rock was A. d. 1920, meaning that
the former event occurred 753 years
before Christ was born, and that the
latter occurred 1920 years after
Christ was born.
The chief Significance, however, of
the event which we celebrate at
Christmas time is not as a date
marker, but as q joy-bringer. The
first Christmas message came to the
shepherds in the darkness Of Syrian
night; but that physical darkness
was not the blacklist darkness in the
world at that time. Everywhere de-
SPAR and doubt had taken possession
Of the race; old religions were
crumbling and superstition was
rampant. So dismal and dreadful
was the outlook that when the
Christmas message came it seemed
too good to be true. Soon 1t was
found to be gloriously true and then
1t made people very happy. Through
all the ages since that time this
message has been one of Joy to all
the world. And in this dark day
when war clouds hang heavy over
the earth 1t comes to pierce the gloom
with its shining. and I'LL our hearts
with joy and singing. Christmas day
is day OF Joy and light, and peace.
1t is the anniversary OF the day when
God revealed himself to the world in
a new way-the completest way pos
sible-and when the world had new
beginning.
10y Rev. Thomas ]. Graham, Pastor
Of The First Presbyterian Churoh,)
THE hopes and fears Of all the
years.
Bishop Phillips Brooks felt and
sang that "The hopes and fears Of
all the years" were met in Bethlehem
on the night of the nativity.
Bethlehem, meaning the House OF
Bread, was nestled in its wilderness
on the side Of a Hill, five miles south
of Jerusalem. In the midst Of a sec
ton of remarkable fertility. Here
was a little city, though too small to
be placed among the families of
The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-22

ing camp-with that boy gazing out
over the vast expanse OF ocean from
the deck OF naval or transport ship
rapidly carrying him further and
further from mother, home and coun-
try-with that boy in distant foreign
lands, ever ready to brave even death
itself for mother, home and country
that lonely mother today can turn
for consolation to another mother
who too was lonely. the Virgin moth
or Of the Babe Of Bethlehem. Her son
too went away and left the mother
lonely. She too knew what IL meant
for a mothers heart to be lonely and
longing for her boy. Did not He too
sacrifice himself not for one people
but for the whole human race? She
will plead for the consolation which
many lonely mothers need today.
(sy Rec. n. II. Frost, Pastor First
Methodist z Episcopal -Churoh.)
Joseph, the carpenter. and Mary,
his wife, had travelled from PARKWAY
Nazareth to Bethlehem of Judea, the
place of his birth, here to be enrolled
world wide tax levied by imperial
Rome. Calling, indeed, was the
thought-Subjects of world tyran-
ny! And here Bethlehem, city Of
David, the great king OF Israeli Rep
resentative Of Jehovah, God of
Hosts! A scene to bring back the
forlorn hope OF his Jewish heart that
kingdom Of the Hebrews should be
restored! Then calamity added to
announcement! The arrival at
Bethlehem on q raw winter night,
only to find the public houses full
and no place to rest excepting with
the cattle in a stable! But, worst to
be told, the over-wrought mother
gives birth to q child, which she
wraps in swaddling clothes and
places in a manger! Poor Joseph!
Poor Mary!
But listen!
While the great world il too busy
with its getting and spending. its
fighting and quarreling, its pride OF
life and lust for power, that it fails
to notice the "babe in the manger,"
there were simple shepherds out un-
der the quiet stars whose ears caught
the music Of an anthem sung by
thousands OF the hosts OF heaven,
GLORY to God in the highest, and on
earth peace among men in whom He
Is well pleased!"
But in the last nineteen hundred
years thousands OF the earthly hosts
have had their hearts ettuned to that
heavenly anthem. The babe in the
Manager has become king of the
hearts of "men in whom He is well
pleased" And just because they have
tasted the reality OF peace founded
upon righteousness upon earth in the
midst OF human struggle, they enroll
today under the banner OF the fight
ing prince of peace, conscious Of the
multitudes Of His heavenly warriors,
The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-22

During the week that is closing,
the Russian situation has dominated
the news from the various war
theaters.
In Flanders and along the French
front, there have been heavy snow
storms, and there has been no in
fantry activity. The fighting has
been confined to the usual artillery
duels, and there have been no furth-
er indications that the Germans
were preparing for any unusual Of
fensive.
In Italy the Austrians and Ger
mans have renewed their attempts
to outhank the Italian line. Tremen-
dous attacks have been launched on
the Italian line between the Brenta
and Piave rivers, in a desperate eff
fort to break through to the Italian
plains before the SHOWS of winter
make Il impossible to undertake
artillery movements on any big scale.
The Italians have resisted these at
tacks, and turned them into costly
failures for the invaders. Such Of
fensives against entrenched posi-
tons in the mountains, must be very
costly, and during the present week
the gains Of the invaders have been
almost negligible. They made some
slight dents in the Italian line, but
most Of the positions lost were re-
captured Thursday, and the line
seems to be holding more firmly than
ever. The confidence OF the Italians
that they can save Venice, increases
with each week that passes, and Brit
ish and French assistance has now
arrived.
No News From Palestine.
No further news has come from
Palestine since the occupation Of
Jerusalem. The next drive Of the
British, unless they are content to
hold Jerusalem. will be toward
Damascus and Aleppo. With the
Turkish army in its present disor-
ganized condition, the British might
gain these detectives without heavy
losses. but whether or not 1T would
be expedient to thus lengthen the
line Of supplies, is a question. They
may be content to entrench them
selves in Jerusalem, taking only
enough territory to the north to
make it's defense possible without
danger to the city itself from bonn
bardment.
The Russian Mystery.
The vast mystery Of Russia re-
mains the chief subject for specula-
ton. The rest OF the world remains
in almost complete ignorance OF
what is really transporting in that
great country. One week ago 1t APP
peared that the revolution had been
stamped out. and the Bolsheviki APP
parently were firmly entrenching
themselves, making their sway Sc
cure by q campaign OF terrorism to
stamp out all opposition. But the
dispatches that have altered through,
show that the civil war in Russia is
far from ended, and on the contrary,
is being waged with growing in-
tensity. Even in Petrograd ITSELF
the Bolsheviki have not been able
The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-22
WHEN "HE" IS HOME FOR
CHRISTMAS.

II He" came home for Christmas,
1t is bound to be a wonderful
day.
Father will be sure to remember
to stop in and get some flowers for
the table and box of cigars.
The girls will be forgiven II they
are Unfortunately proud OF their big
brother in khaki, and make an OPP
portunity for showing him of to their
friends little.
Mother will be forgiven II she for
gets, for once. to Hooverize, and
prepares an old fashioned Christmas
dinner with all the "hxin's".
Christmas morning will be devoted
to an examination of what the tree
has yielded. and to the story Of what
life eat the camp" is really like. There
are involved problems Of tactics
( which can be explained to Father,
while Mother and the Girls listen In
awed wonder.
In the afternoon there are old
friends to be seen. In the evening
will come the quiet hour when the
little family circle draws together for
the last precious minutes that tick
or so quickly.
And when night comes, Mother
must see that HE" has enough COM
forters, and perhaps tuck him in with
the last goodnight kiss that leaves
J two moist spots on his cheeks.
The day will be over. but It will
live in memory for many q long
month.
Fortunate indeed is the little fam
lily circle in Fargo. and in many an
other city in America, If HE" got his
furlough or leave of absence.
In such . home there will be a Red
Cross in the window. Mother and
the Girls won't need to be urged to
knit and TO Hooverize. Father won't
need to be coaxed into buying Liberty
Bonds and thrift stamps to the limit
OF his resources.
For the other homes. where there
is no man in khaki, and where there
are no children. the Big Brother plan
offers a chance to get into the spirit
Of Christmas. The list OF fifty famil-
les which The Forum has, is far from
being exhausted. generous as the re-
Spouse has been. Christmas may
take on a new meaning IL you learn
again the simple. old time truth that
II is more blessed to give than to re-
ceiYe.