davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Delta independent., 1917-12-07
TheChrist,nasBird
. oAsTED swan was the Christmas

ID OASTED swan was the Christmas
IN piece de resistance in Chaucer's
day, but this dish gave place to
the peacock, and the peacock In its
turn was conquered by the turkey,
when Capt. John Smith, fresh from
his Yirginian wars, came home to tell
The amazed English folk of the bird
that he saw parading the new world
forests, exactly like a proud Turk
showing off before his harem."
When the peacock was in its glory
1T Christmastide Its plumage was gen.
orally restored to the roasted bird and
It's beak gilded. Sometimes the whole
bird was covered with gold leaf and a
strip Of cotton, saturated with spirit,
set alight In Its beak-a relic possibly,
with the English snapdragOn and
blazing pudding. Of the fire worship of
pagan days. A lady OF noble birth and
great beauty was always chosen to
bear the bird into the banqueting hail.
In the days Of tournaments 1t was
over the peacock that the knights, with
uplifted swords, swore their oaths Of
chivalry and valor. The last record of
such fare seems to have been not upon
IA Christmas. but at the banquet given
by the duke of Granada to the duke
Of Clarence, afterward William ~ OF
England.
1t must be admitted that golden pea
cocks and boars' heads have most al
Turing sounds to one with jaded ap-
petite, and the England OF old. with
its roistering carol singers. seems u
most attractive land TO have lived In.
But the Englishman Of today Is more
than well content to have his carols
sung by little cOckney lad. to laugh
at the pantomimes in his magnificent
ly comfortable theaters and to feast at
home on turkey. mince pie and The
blazing pudding.
The Delta independent., 1917-12-07
BEST CHRISTMAS GIFT

"A fountain pen." answered an en-
thusinstic young philosopher to the
question. "What was your best Christ
mas gift7"
Il had hundreddollar watch given
to me once" he added but even that
isn't us necessary as a fountain pen.
II you get the right kind you simply
wouldn't be caught dead without 1t.
1t never leaks. II never clogs. Itll
write clear. steady line on any old
paper. It'd be cheap at $40. and It
only cost $3.50"
what are you doing now?' i asked.
"Selling fountain pens" he said.-
New York World.
The Delta independent., 1917-12-07
Christmas Presents
That Please Men


l. cided his feminine friends were
not worthy of the vote simply be-
cause they sent him such foolish, in
appropriate gifts. On the other hand,
successful present makes an impress
sion that never wears off. 1t Is a lit
tie monument to the taste, intelligence
and affection of the giver.
Among the following suggestions Is
almost certain to be something which
will please any man:
II he shaves himself, one of the light.
magnifying shaving mirrors which can
be quickly and easily attached to a
window or wherever the light is good.
A trousers rack will please him great
ly, especially If he is bachelor nnd
his closet room Is limited.
The furniture and department stores
carry fiat, wide, shallow cedar chests
on wooden wheels which roll easily out
from under the bed This Is particular
ly adapted to the college boy In his lit
tie dormitory room. For him also a
sweater is a JOY.
A small kit of tools Is n good present
for almost any man unless he is car
penter or a paralytic. One to half n
dozen pairs of shoe trees are an mex
pensive but grateful present.
In case he has electricity in his house
there is no end of good things for him
coffee percolators, bread toasters. ci-
gar lighters. etc.
If he has car you may charm him
with one Of the new-fangled pneumatic
or other cushions which are now sold
to re-enforce the upholstery Of the car
A lap robe or vulcaniZer or vacuum
bottle or even n new horn may be Just
the thing for him.
Very likely he has n telephone. II
SO get a little mahogany card index
file and have some one (preferably
yOu) look up the telephone numbers Of
the people In his address book and
write them on the cards.
A fountain pen for his desk would
prove a convenience and delight.
Should yOu care to pay $40 you can
surprise and please man who has a
little bit Of accounting to do at home
by giving him a pocket adding machine.
For about the same price you can buy
him real, fool proof, portable shower
bath.
Metal wastebaskets are appreciated
by men because lighted cigar or cIga-
rette dropped into them Is not likely
to bring the fire department.
A frame for a cabinet-slzed proto-
graph Will not be amiss If you are sure
he wants your picture In 1t.
But don't send him a necktie, nor a
scarfpin, nor matchbox or he'll new
er forgive you; also restrain yourself
from infiicting pearl-handlcd pen
knife, n pocketbook (unless you are old
and richer and can put something
into it) or box Of cigars just as good
American.
The Delta independent., 1917-12-07
Here's a Merry
Christmas Game

"HE old English game of tip re-
quires the use Of enough assorted
Christmas candles, nuts, raisins
and other dainties to make q small pile
spOn table, also pair Of sugar tongs.
One Of the party is chosen, who must
retire to another room, while the re-
naming players decide upon one of the
aainties In the pile to be known as
Tip" The chosen person is then re-
called and with the tongs removes
pieces from the pile, trying to avoid
the piece named Tip, of which, howev-
n, he does not know the location. All
pieces removed belong to him unless he
moves Tip" when all must be returned
10 the pile and the turn passes to the
sext player, who retires to the other
room while another "tip" Is named. A
player may pass his turn when, after
lrawing several pieces, he wants to
avoid the possibility of losing them
through drawing Tip" The game con-
hnues until the pile disappears.
The Delta independent., 1917-12-07
Reuiuing Old Time
YuLe Customs

CPECIAL efforts are being made by
women in many communities 10
spread a revival of the old GU =
toms regarding Christmas. Some years
ago a Boston woman with touch of
antiquarian spirit managed to stiInu-
late Boston to revive q pretty Yule-
tide custom by celebrating its coming,
by singing carols in the streets and b.
Illuminating the houses through the
placing of candles in the windows.
Other cities emulated Boston in this
matter. In Carlisle, Pa, a community
Christmas tree was lighted in the pub
lie square. and its glowing joy was
continued all along the streets by light
ed candles placed in the windows,
many of which showed In the middle
OF the rooms SO lighted up, displayed
to the passersby in the night, private
Christmas trees, the glitter and beauty
of which thus were shared with ALL
An objection to this attempt at glad
ness-at least so far as concerns the
use of candles-has been the risk of
fire. But these days of electricity or
even of gas seem to minimize the idea
of danger, and there are different de-
vices that may be applied to do ava.
with all risk in the carrying out OF
the friendly suggestion. 1t is advised
therefore that "the gladness and
brightness of the home on Christmas
eve be not kept behind closed blinds"
and to that end 1t is suggested that the
light from every window, whatever its
nature, be permitted to shine into the
streets until midnight. The idea of
light is associated with all that is good
in life. The glow of the cracking Yule
log betokened the hospitality ready to
greet the stranger at that time, but
there was more to It than that. Light
In days gone by was supposed to keep
off evil spirits.-Sallie Wistar In Phila-
delphia Public Ledger
The Delta independent., 1917-12-07
The Mothers
Christmas Gift

II never comes to Christmas but |
think about the times
We used to save our pennies and
our nickels and our dimes,
And we punched them all together,
even little baby brother
Putin something for the present that
we always gave to mother.
We began to talk about it very early
in December,
Twas a very serious matter to US
children, l remember,
And we used to whisper nightly our
suggestions to each other,
fes by nothing cheap and tawdry
could we show our love for
mother. ...-s
Hers must be a gift Of beauty, fit to
symbolic her ways;
Itmust represent the sweetness and
the love that marked her days.
II must be the best our money, all
combined, had power to buy,
And be something that she longed
for;nothing else would satisfy.
Then it matterednot the token, once
the purchase had been made.
Il was smuggled home and hidden
and with other treasures laid,
And we placed our present proudly
in her lap on Christmas day,
And we smothered her with kisses
and welaughedhertears away.
Il never comes to Christmas but |
think about the times
We used to save our pennies and
our nickels and our dimes,
And the only folks | envy are the
sisters and the brothers
Who still have theprecious privilege
Of buying for their mothers.
american Boy.
The Delta independent., 1917-12-07
CHRISTMAS REUNIONS

"ow many families whose MEM
bers have been dispersed and
scattered far and wide in tho
restless struggles Of life are on this
day reunited md meet once again In
that happy state Of companionship and
mutual good will which is n source of
such pure and unalloyed delight and
one so incompatible with the cares and
sorrows OF the world that the religious
belief of the most civilized nations
and the rude traditions OF the rough
est savages alike number II among the
first Joys OF n future condition OF ex-
istence provided for the blest and
happy How many old recollections
and how many dormant sympathies
does Christmas time awaken Charles
Dickens.
The Delta independent., 1917-12-07
"BOXZNC DAY"

a MERICANS 60 back to the grind"
IA on the day after Christmas. srpok-
Ing the cigars that the wife chose
because of the pretty bands" but
the Englishman observes boxing dny
that day. The name would lead one
to suppose something in the nature Of
n fistic encounter. but the supposition
is wide OF the mark. The boxing"
means simply boxes-the neat little
packages presented to the housemaid.
the cook. the postman. the policeman.
the railway conductor. the dustman.
The boxes are now generally quite
round. about the size of n fifty cent
piece In the great number of cnses,
and are as much silver as the govern
ment thinks best to put into n two
shilling piece or n half crown.
The Delta independent., 1917-12-07
The First Methodist Episcopal Church Of Delta
The finest Church Ed6ce the County. And Debt
On Christmas Eve.
Oh. little babe. oh. gentle babe,
That in "a rnauPer lies

Oh, little babe. oh. gentle babe,
That in a manger lies.
A-listening TO the choral sweet
Which floats a-down the skies,
We. through the year. who only hear
The worlds harsh laundering.
Listen that we, dear babe with thee
May hear the angels sing.
Oh. little babe, oh, gentle babe,
Who looSest toward the star
And seest when they bear their gifts.
Those wise men from afar
From wandering wide back to thy side.
Weary and worn, we fee;
But hearts that bleed and hands that need
Are all we have for thee.
Oh, little babe. oh, gentle babe.
Our hearts were hasd and cold:
The star we loved, the star of samA
The song the song OF gold.
At the hangers side this Cnrisfnal Ads
We listen and we long
To see that star shine from afaT
And hear the angels song.
Richard F. Souter.
The Delta independent., 1917-12-07
A CHRISTMAS LULLABY

Enlf an hour before midnight on
Christmas eve in Mexico the "Litnny
Of the God Child" is sung. 1t is after
this that the world-famous lullaby
song Of all Mexico. the "Roro," is
heard. Every Mexican mother knows
this "Rock-a-bye" song. which is sup
posedly for the soothing of the infant
Jesus. In time and tune II is not un-
like the American song. "Old Gray
Goose"
Many other nations besides the Mex
leans have their Christmas songs, but
not many have distinctive Yulctide lul-
lnbIes.
The Delta independent., 1917-12-07

Noto jolhfy commands the floor.
And JOY comes ioffh the misflefoc.
Bring In the Yule logs ancient fame,
The soused bodr's head, a rich re-
past.
Let sorroto 90 the t1ay It came;
Let care be to obHpion cast.
The stoeef clear votces sound iotfhouf
Sdckbuts and shdpm make tchoIc-
s0me Dlee.
Ttotned Is the bodr's head round about
with 0arIdnds rich and rosemary.
And noio the tocnin0 toassdu bopI
SHAH bring US comfort and delight.
The Delta independent., 1917-12-07
Cbe Golden
CbrlStmastlde

Y Under the far blu. S2ridl sky
~ Was born the C3zQueror Of
Death,
Who bore credentials from on Nigh
In Bethlehem and Nazareth.
Then came the neio and better timer,
One lone star stOndIed far and tctde,
And noD ioe ring meIodious chimes
To mark the holy Chrisfnosftde.
Come yonn0 and old from ererv aide !:
Come rosy maid and gentle strdtn,
The Delta independent., 1917-12-07

nc yOSy W.
close at our
side
Wen kiss be-
meath the mts.
HefOe.
Deep. m C ~ o 10
b ellis salute
the air
With benisons
sent far and
Ofde,
The Delta independent., 1917-12-07

For Christmas never sbo,y gsop old
From cons neu or centuries pact.
Quaint munmers niirDle In the seem
Where pudding mates toifh ChTfst-
mas pie.
The rooms are thick totfh ereT0rees,
And Happiness H0hts euery eye.
Let Forfunafus turn hts horn
OF basket loads to fomtshed need,
For on this day the One ,ods born
Who kneto no mark Of cl0ss or creed.
Then toeIcome. merry Chrtsfrsdsftde.
Another hour before zoe 90.
The Delta independent., 1917-12-07

II 10 the holy
Chrfsf m q g.
tide
Tn at joyously
10 C m c e {
again.
The holly hdn0s
" y o n ( h e
door.
II Is no time for
The Delta independent., 1917-12-07

4 IT'S 10 INC ssU-
son Of the
soul.
Fro M golden
morn to star
RI night.
NduOht care zoe
for the picrc-
ing cold,
The d rue Z
SnOto or rag
INN JItzf
The Delta independent., 1917-12-07
Tho Sweetest Of All.

Christmas Is n jolly day. but let us
not forget that 1t Is Christs birthday
mud that to make someone else happy
Is the sweetest thing Of all.
New-York tribune., 1917-06-09
Knipe's Hospital to Stay
Twilight Sleep Institution on
Drive Wins Court Decision

Under a decision rendered yester-
day by the Appellate Division, Or.
William II. Wellington Knipc, may con-
tinue his twilight sleep hospital at
Riverside Drive, until further legal
action. This decision reversed tho ac-
tion Of Justice Donnelly. in the Su-
promo Court, in granting an injunc-
ticn restraining Dr. Knipe from pursu-
ing his profession at that address on
the allegation of Angie VI. Booth and
Mary T. Sutphen. adjacent property
owners. that the hospital was in viola
tion Of restrictive agreement
The conycnant on which the plaintiffs
brought their action provided that
houses in the neighborhood should be
used exclusively as residences. The
Appellate Division held that except Tor
the presence of a sign on Dr.. Knipe's
house there was nothing 10 distinguish
1t from private residence Until the
case is finally decided by a jury Or.
Knipc viii be unrestrained in his en-
terprisc.
New-York tribune., 1917-06-09
u. S. Embargo May
Lay Ground for Trade
Policy After the War
America Not Likely to Follow
British Policies in
Enforcement


Washington, June g. Secretary Of
State Lansing stated to-day that the
embargo measure els a war measure
for war purposes only"
The State Department is not ready
to make any announcement concerning
ITS enforcement, but 1t was said the
United States would not necessarily
follow the policies Of the British gov
ornment relating 10 the ratonlng Of
neutral European countries, as Amer
ica is "A producer and England a carrier
II was admitted that the embargo
might lay the ground for measures
after the war. although the govern
ment is concerned now only with the
problem Of winning the war. The Paris
Economic Conferences programme and
declarations were declared TO be only
tentative. the inference being that the
United States will participate IN for
mulatlng the policiSs to be adhered to
By the Entente nations and this cOun-
try affecting trade after the war
The problem Of enforcing the en-
barge was said 10 be largely "A sta
tistical one. The needs Of America and
Of the Allied nations will be first At
tended to. and then neutral countries
will be considered. Because Of the
world shortage in practically all ma
terials and In ships neutral European
countries will not be permitted to buy
freely in America, but only according
10 their needs, and there will be a
double checking system maintained
.upon them 10 prevent goods shipped
"a them from the United States reach
ing the Central Empires.
Several government departments arc
nov at work upon the details of the
embargo plan preliminary to the proc
lamation Of embargoes by the Fresi-
New-York tribune., 1917-06-09
u. S. May Build Box Cars
President Considers Plan to
Meet Shortage

Washington. June s.-0Re OF the
suggestions before the Council OF Ma
tional Defence. that the government
construct freight cars 10 help the rail-
roads meet the car shortage problem
was discussed to-day by President VIII
son and the Cabinet. No decision was
reached on the question Of asking
legislation from Congress.
The Defence Council is understood
TO consider the plan Of Importance and
value, but not to have made definite
recommendations.
The Bureau Of Public Information
issued this statement tonight:
"Mr Nauclain, chairman Of the com,
mittee on cars and locomotives, stated
that there was no authority for the
publication of the story about the pur-
chase of 100 900 railway ears, that this
was not given out By him and that he
knew nothing about il, and further,
when asked if this purchase was con-
templated. he said: The time to talk
about this is when we have the money
to spend. We have no money Mr.
Clifford does not know anything about
the story"
New-York tribune., 1917-06-09
RAISE YOUR BIT!
BY Richardson Wright.
EdHor Of HOUSe and Garden

The farmer and the gardener are the
two true craftsmen left to US. How
ever much mechanical assistance they
may call in to help them, the bulk of
their activities are carried on by hand;
in fact, there is much garden work that
can be done by no other means; even
on the largest farms some crops must
be hand weedcd Moreover. the garden
er and the farmer do not suffer the
evil effects of trade Specialization.
they prepare the soil. they SOW the
seed, they cultivate the rows, they
gather the harvest. From start 10 fin
lsh the work is theirs and theirs alone.
The successful gardener is a specialist
IN every line and process Of gardening.
For that reason he should learn TO
know his plants thoroughly and find
the advantages Of every possible process
which will raise the efficiency OF his
work.
At various times reference has been
made in these articles to the wheel-hoe
as being one Of the gardeners most
useful implements. l. must be used
correctly. however, and with full knowi-
edge of rs possibilities II the maximum
results are to be obtained.
A good deal of experimenting IS
necessary before you can adjust a
whccl-hoe TO do ITS various tasks IN
the best possible way Also, there are
several extra attachments which you
will find good investments II you have
any use at all for one Of these lmple-
mcnts. Most important Of these IS the
disk attachment" which consists OF
two gangs of three small disks each,
adjustable as 20 distance apart and
angle. Next comes the "cultlvatlng
attachment'-two gangs Of three teeth
each so arranged that the teeth next
to the rows do not cut into the ground
as deeply as do those in the middle.
The disk attachment should he used
for the first two cultlyatlOns. as II
throws no dirt toward the rows. In
fact. you can adjust II TO shave close
up on either side and leave the centre
absolutely Undilturbcd. so that 1t may
be used even before the seedlings are
above ground. Even in a small garden
the amount of time saved b. this at
tachment will easily repay It's extra
expense.
For the third cultivation, which fol-
lows Immediately after the hand weed
ing. use the regular cultivator teeth, or,
better still, the special "cu.tivatlng at
tachment.r For still later cultivation
use the fiat hoes, which should always
he kept sharp and bright, 'first with
the heel" kept toward the row to
prevent any earth being thrown over
the small plants. and later reversed
with the point toward the row.
The wheel-hoe is a simple eontriv-
ancc. indeed, but it must be taken care
OF. Keep it urder cover when not IN
use. and always clean IL thoroughly
a tier each days job. II II IL wet or
dirty when put awav II viii soon be
come 80 rusted as TO lose much OF IT'S
efficiency. IL is perhaps needless TO
add in conclusion tnat - Is designed
FOR work only between the rows. and
cannot take the place of hand work
with small weeder in among the
plants themselves. 4
New-York tribune., 1917-06-09
Rotary Club Hears Nikal-
gen Was Used in
10000 Cases
Aided by Miss Morgan
Discoverer Says She Gave
Money for Experiments
Lasting Two Years

Nikalgen, a new local anesthetlc used
successfully in more than ten thousand
operations on the Belgian and French
fronts-the invention Of Gordon Ed
wards, San Francisco lawyer was de-
scribed to members Of the Rotary Club
yesterday by Henry c. Quinby, mem
Der of the American Defence Society.
Mr.. Quinby declared that the drug is
harmless. leaving no after-efrects, and
that it possesses possibilities which
probably will revolutionizc medical
work on the European battlefelds.
Credit for perfccting the invention. he
said, is largely due 10 Miss Anne Nor
gan, who supplied Edwards with funds
to carry forward his experiments for
two years after the medical men Of this
country had looked upon his plans
coldly.
Finding the door closed on this side
of the ocean, Mr.. Edwards went abroad
and insisted on a trial of the drug in
the field hospitals there. Mr.. Quinby
read excerpts from a letter he received
from Dir. Edwards yesterday, telling
HIM that the anasthetic had been used
by the Queen Of the Belgians in dress
ing the wounds of soldiers.
"Nikalgen Is composed of three in
gradients, quinine, hydrochloric acid
and urea" said Mr. Quinby. ut is an
piled TO the wounded surface with a
rubber bulb, much like an atomizer,
except that the liquid emerges in a
stream instead Of yapor. It takes ef-
feet within half a minute The an
aesthetic serves also as a Ccrmicide,
and is absolutely harmless. The sup
ply is practically ineAhaustible.
ut has proved effective wherever the
wound may be reached. but, of course,
it does not lend itself to internal ope-
rations.'
Mr. Quuby also told his hearers that
the Germans are building submarines
Of 1000 tons. with a cruising radius Of
5000 miles and speed of 26 surface
knots and rs submerged Each boat,
he said, viii carry nine folding aero
planes. which can be launched within
fifteen minutes after the boat comes to
the surface These planes, he declared.
have speed of so miles and a radius
Of 200 miles.
"lf al undersea craft should get of
New York and send up these aero
planes" he said. "we should be ahso-
lutely helpless, as we have no anti-air-
craft guns