davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1921-12-14
CUSTOMS AND THEIR ORIGINS
Numerous Yuletide Ideas Are Relics
of Pagan Observance, Especially
These of Druidism.

hTtANY Christmas customs are
5Tl relics of pagan observances,
especially those of Druidism,
the religious system of the ancient
Gauls and Britons. Groves Of oaks
were their chosen retreat, and today
the acorn is found as Christmas
symbol on some Christmas greetings
although it is not used as much as
formerly.
Druidism considered mistletoe most
sacred, and when growing on an oak
tree. parasite as it is, 1t was cut with
a golden knife by priest clad In a
white robe and two white bulls were
sacrificed on the spot.
The Yule log in England is relic
Of Druidism. Its name is considered
a corruption of wheel log" wheel
in Druidical symbolism typifying the
march of the sun. The lighting of
the Yule log barks back to the sacred
fires kindled by the Druids at mid
winter In the round towers which yet
remain in many parts of Great Brit
ain, Ireland, France and Spain. The
use Of the Christmas tree has descend
ed from the German Druids. The
dressing of the tree with candles aRd
presents was feature of their mid.
winter festival.
Ivy is not used for Christmas dec
orations, as 1t was once sacred 10
Bacchus and constituted almost the
sole leafy adornment at the Roman
saturnalia. The early Christian clergy
desiring to wean the people from their
pagan practice as far as possible, for.
babe the use of ivy, and the precedent
still obtains.
In medieval Europe a peacock was
the favorite dish for Christmas din
ner. After being skinned carefully
the bird was cooked. Then the Skin
with the plumsge intact was replaced
and the bird served In manner az
nearly as possible resembling real
life.
Mince pies are first mentioned II
1896 as in common use at Christina
times. Authorities in the matter thel
said they might be eaten as early a
December IA.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1921-12-14
CHRISTMAS CAROL
Music and Song Always Associ-
ated With the Yuletide.
Original Sacred Character Of Carols
Was Almost Lost Sight of in
Thirteenth Century.

IN USIC and song have always been
NV associated with Christmas.
In Roman Catholic countries,
as early as the Third century, II be-
came the custom to usher in the
Christmas festivities with musical
masses.
The practice of singing carols or
canticles was supposed to recall the
"In Excelsis Gloria" of the angels and
the song Of the shepherds on the
first Christmas night.
A very old carol, published In 1921,
gives an amusing description of church
revelries:
wooden child in clouts on the altar sat,
About the which both boys and girls DO
dance and timely jet
And carols sing in praise OF Christ.
The priests do roar aloud!
And round about the parents stand
To see the sport, and with their voice
Do help them, and with hand.
At first, carols were generally re-
ligious in character, and were written
with Latin and English words in al
ternate lines, or with a Latin refrain.
The well-known carol
When Christ was born OF Mary free
In Bethlehem, that fair cite.
Angels sang with mirth and glee
In Excelsis Gloria.
and another with chorus,
Christus natus hodie
The babe, the son,
The holy one
OF Mary,
are good examples of this class.
When the tendency to ribaldry be
came marked, some of the carols got
to be very peculiar in subject and
language. Joseph is treated with a
great want of respect, for one carol
runs:
Joseph was an old man.
An old man was he,
When he> welded Mary.
The Maid of Galilee.
Another relates the story Of the
shepherds watching their fiocks by
night:
A shepard upon a Aill he satt.
He had on him hys tabard and HAITI,
Hys tarbox, hys pipe and hys fiagatt;
Hys name was called Joly-Joly Watt =
Having been informed of the birth
of Christ, the shepherd sets OF for
Bethlehem, and on arriving, says:
Jhesu! off Thee my pype, q
NY skyrte, my tarbox and my scrype.
Home TO my fellows now will skype.y
And loke unto my shepe.
In the Thirteenth century the sa-
cred character of these Christmas
songs was almost entirely lost sight
Of The Puritan parliament abolished
Christmas and carols altogether, but
feasting and revelry returned with the
Restoration. g t
Carol singing which had fallen into
| disuse, was revived by collection OF
carols published by d. Gilbert, in 1872,
| but caroling, which was formerly
ushered In by the Ginning of church
bells, and the sallying forth of choirs
which chanted their way round VIII
| lagos until their throats were hoarse
| and their noses red from cold and
friendly Christmas potations, is now
almost a thing of the past.-Tit Bits.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1921-12-14
What Community Spirit Does

The fighting of the fire at st.
Joseph's school recently shows how
community experiences and dis
plays a fellow feeling in the face of
calamity. What a pity that that
fellow feeling and community spirit
are not more often aroused and unit
ed i'm aid of things that could make
our community a better place to live
in! Why do we need that threat of
destruction and distress before we
aaxt sdah4I Like brothers New Hamp-
ton Gazette. s
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1921-12-14
How About 1t?

Have you ever
Asked your girl to a show
And told her you had to
Get seats in the balcony, because
All the rest of the house was sold
out?
And then when you got there you
found
The orhestra was only half filled
and
You and she were alone in the
balcony.
Eli?
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1921-12-14
GOLD MEDAL
,NRlEM ,0 ON
RIl:e1uAR1 ~

rh. worlds standard remedy for kidney
RIVER bladder and uric acid troubles
nncs 1896; corrects disorders stimulates
s,tal organs An druggists, three sizes
49, ,or Oh. name a,old Medal IN very Don
and accept 90 iriitsto"
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1921-12-14
MANS
BEST ACE

A man is as old as his organs. he
can be as vigorous and healthy at
10 as at IS if he aids his organs IN
performing their functions. Keep
your vital organs healthy with
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1921-12-14

Love is the smallest thing in the
world--if it's the love of yourself.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-05-05
ptHsfQies of the Past,

Long befpra the war II was stated
that man was too old at forty. But
now 1t looks likely that soon the cry
will be "tpo old at flfteenr
A small boy Of eight summers re-
Gently tackled twenty or thirty Of the
best chess players In the world, set
ting theR al problems they could not
tackle; another child appears on the
scene, who at the age of seven or
eight, pens diary which the greatest
literary lights describe as wonderful I;
while wen soon have quite small
library of Juvenile novels,
1t was regarded as phenomenon
when Chatterton wrote Immortal
poems at twelve, when Mozart COM
posed In his fifth year q concerto so
difficult that only the most practical
artists could play It, when the Infant
son of Evelyn, the diarist could read
Latin and Greek at three and one-half.
when Maraulay had written poem as
long as "The Lady Of the Lake" at
eight and when Mlllais carried OF O
gold medal for painting at ninel But
now it's becoming quite the usual
thing.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-05-05
EAST CONCORD
------- r'~Sr-' u =

Miss Angie Smith of South
,:nerburg and Miss Paradis Of
Dalton were weekend guests
Of Mrs J C Warren.
The dance Saturday evening
at Halls hall was well attend
ed.
Miss Ada Grouse Of New
'ork city and Harry McDon-
ald Of Whitefeld were week
ord guests of Mr. McDonald's
father, John Mcdonald.
The / A S gave a very nice
supper at the church dining
room Wednesday evening, and
@1A,25 was added to the treas
ury.
} c Warren and Harod were
in Newbury Friday attending
an auction.
Mrs Parkey Barrows is quite
i'll. Mrs Elsi Burt is caring for
here.
Harry Morton has moved to
Fitzdale to the house recently
vacated by Harry Morse
Among those who attended
the auction at Wallis farm in
Lyndonville last Thursday were
John Folsom and Ross Folsom,
Geo Morrill,, Geo Lavature, Will
Adair, Harry Streeter, Elery
Adair and J C Warren. Mr.
Lavature purchased two nice
horses.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-05-05
yeu,p4eklcp Windows,

IN 3 email Indiana town the MerhO'
dfst church has stained glass windows
CD the bottom panels Of which ere
paanted verpes Of Scripture. One that
st0-yeap-old Wnns has been able 10
dec1pher, and from tho effort rernem-
bers we'll goes: And Lead us not
into temptation
Not long after, ks mother too4 him
to visit CD old friend who bad built
an expensive new home Now, in the
hall there we're two high windows
and both Of them were made of
orange-cOlo1ed glass When they en-
tered that room Willie stared and
stared but said nothing. But that
night when he told his father all about
the new house he remembered the
grunge windows and said: And oh,
dad. they're awfully religious. They've
got those windows that keep out temp
tation.h
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-05-05
NOT MANY FEEBLE-MINDED
Authority Shows That Only Two Per
Cent Of the Population Can Be
So Chased.

The idea that we are menaced as a
nation by illiterates and feeble-minded
is all wrong. We have illiterates and
feeble-Ihinded In our midst, but they
are q relatively negligible force numer-
ically. The reverse Idea, or Idea In the
reverse that we are short on genius,
also Is wrong, according to DR.. George
G, Chambers, director Of admissions at
the University Of Pennsylvania, and
the educators who cooperate with
him. Doctor Chambers says genius as
a national crop Is statistically as
strong as the more discussed feeble
minded and that each represents
mere 2 per cent ot the population.
But genius, says De. Chambers. Is
nOt the mere possession Of a talent
swollen to phenomenal degree, perhaps
so hypeftPophied that 1t is useless He
denies genius to the man, however
not exercise them. Genius In bis def
ntrton Is high Intelligence followed by
actual use of that intelligence IN life.
And intelligence Is tha ability TO adapt
ones self TO new circumstances, to
ones surround!ngs-in word, to be
able to know something and make use
Of ones knowledge Under this def
milton 1t is surprising that the adapt
able Yankee should not hold higher
record for genius than 2 per cent
Pittsburgh Dispatch
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-05-05
BLOOMFIELD

Mrs Myrtle Wallace of Cole
brook was a caller at Mrs Will
Ormsbys Saturday.
Stanley Smith preached at the
Bloomfield Methodist church,
Sunday morning, the regular
pastor, Rev j D Howard being
in Barre, attending conference.
Mr. and Mrs George Osgood
entertained Mr. Osgood's sister
and family over Sunday.
Roger Bergeron is i'll and
DR. P P Guertin is in attendance
A whist party was held at
the town hall last week for the
benefit of the Catholic Church
in North Stratford. The pro-
ceeds will be used in painting
the church.
A spelling contest will be
held at the Bloomfield Centre
School on Friday, May 10, in
which pupils from the other
schools in town will participate.
w. and Mrs Mjcheal Tr6moro
and family are moving to-day,
Monday TO North Shatfora
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-05-05
EAST CHARLESTON

Several friends and relatives
met in Stoddard's hall Friday
evening to help Mr. and Mrs Jas
Hinton celebrate their 36th
wedding anniversary. A tine
program was rendered and the
band played several selections,
also an interesting talk by Rev
Mr. Boles. Refreshments were
served and . social time enjoy
ed. A sum of money was pre-
sented to Mr. and Mrs Hinton as
a token of love and respect.
All joined In wishing them ma
ny more years Of health and
happiness.
Mr. and Mrs Homer Keller
of Newport were guests at Har-
ry KeyZars Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs Preston Skinner
and son of Orleans spent the
weekend at Homer Lockes'.
Echo Inn is filled with guests
for the fishing season.
The body of Stephen Hopkins
WAS brought here from Granite
yille. for burial May LIST.
Mrs Nichols and grandson Of
Morgan are guests of her son,
Howard Nichols.
Homer Locke has purchased
Buick car.
Mr. and Mrs E w Buck visit
ed relatives in McIndoes last
week.
Will Gray crushed two ing
ers badly in his printing press
last week.
Mrs Homer Locke spent a
few days with her parents in
McIndoes last week.
Oscar Davis brought the bo-
dy of his father from Orlando,
Fla, April 28. Burial was in
the Center cemetery.
Mrs Will Locke was called to
Ccaticook Thursday by the
death Of her brother-in-law.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-05-05
BROUGHT ALL he COULD FIND
Evidently George Had Had Quite a
Serious spill From Bicycle
40 Had Rented.

Bill Spokes, secondhand bicycle
man, was just nau and usually slept
the steep Of the just but one night his
sanity slumbers were disturbed by
voice hailing him below his windo9.
whats vrongT be called out,
dnowsily.
"D'you remember lending Georgia
Smith a machine this afternnonp
mped the voice.
"Thats right" said the bicycle
man; but amt going to take 1t in at
this time Of night Georgie will have
to keep the machine till mornln', and
pay By the hour"
Eyes, of course" agreed the voice
from below; that's fair. But Georgia
had a bit Of a spill through running
into motorcar, and he don't want to
pay for the hire Of mOre'n he can help.
rve brought round all we can find OF
the machine SO faE.'
At that the second band bicycle man
Jumped from bis bed end rushed CD
Er1y 70 the wtn5Oa.
And what hasa POO fonnfT he
shouted
"zrS coming ug>T pipsn TIE p0ca,
and Oh Oh can eatAeo into the eHun--
hla4on GlpbA
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-05-05

vile, the latter part of the
week.
Miss Pearl Roundy spent the
weekend at East Haven with
her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs
Bert Amidon.
Miss Evelyn Adams Of st
Johnsbury, is q guest of Miss
Inez Crandall.
MI and Mrs VIM Wallace
spent Sunday with their son,
Porter Wallace.
Mrs Ella Woodruff Of st
Johnsbury Center and Mrs Cla-
ra Packard of St Johnsbury are
guests of Mrs Ida Powers.
MIR and Mrs Clayton Ball
and children spent Sunday at
Cordyeon Balls, in Newark.
Miss Kathaleen McFarlan of
Sutton, spent the past week
At her sisters, Mrs Ray Grays.
Mrs Sophia Gently is work
ing at Alvin Dodge's, at Burke.
Mrs Ella Woodruff of st
Johnsbyry Center and Mrs
lara Packard Of St Johnsbury
80 guests Of Mrs Ida Powers.
Chester Hinton Of East Char
.osfo. is working for John Don
eldson. ;44I,..
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-05-05
Back 70 Medicine OF Mayas.

Prof. William Gates, president Of
the Maya society, states that in Cen
trial America there have recently been
discovered the evidences Of an ancient
race Of people, with q civilization as
old and as cultured as that of the
ancient Egyptians. They were of a
lofty mental attitude and Of high
metaphysical qualities.
Among the most important discov-
cries expected to be made there are
the unearthing of native medical
works, some OF which are already in
the hands Of tho Maya society, that
viii add valuable specific pharma-
copoeia and medicinal knowledge to
that science In this country.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-05-05
BEL oraEp 70 HsIn3 Pan1LY


DurfnG o. Middle ssga oe huD
hnr0s rRk Z practice d lending
money Ct R&MEt, The Madtt family
was the Crit % t1nn the tHacthR tDtD
profeakL0.
Many yaan before, Ay1afop De Me-
dfci, q cMunRnher who served With
distinction Under Chariemaene fhe
Great killed the giant Mugeilo, whose
club had three iron balls attached to
1t In order that 1t might be q more
effective weapon. For this reason the
family Of the Medici adopted the three
balls, gilded. as the heraldIc device on
their cOat-oftarms, and the appearance
of this Insignia soon came to be rec
ognized as a symbol for money-leDd-
ing.
Incidentally, the name OF the Medtci
family has been further perpetuated
through the word medicine" q trib-
ute to the skin Of the members of
this horae tn the art Of healing
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-05-05
Now Fuel Gas.

A Swiss engineer has produced q
rich new gas, suitable for use In In
ternal-combustion engines, by first
packing sheet-metal drums with alter
nate layers of common calcium car
bide and sawdust, saturated by crude
OIL then adding water. The carbide
In combining with the water ilherates
oce,yIeue gas aud also generates % high
degree Of heat which cracks nnd vol
atl,z's' thn crude o0. Hho.oHne Ie
gases. Ih. -"r raoe chen combine
ro form Che new one.--pouu'0r Me-
chuulcs Magazine.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-05-05
PLENTY of Hair

After stumbling In q dark theater
for a few minutes fell into an aisle
seat behind n young woman. writes
o correspondent l could not see the
screen well, as the girl In front hid
most OF It from my vision. ! could
see only the outline Of her head
against the screen and / thought she
had her hat on, so politely asked
her to remove II.
She turned half way around and
said: You fatter me-"
As / got better look al her I re-
arzed that she had her hair bobbed
and Huffed out so for 1t made II APP
peaY that she wore q hat.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-05-05
WANTED, LOST, FOR SALE

LOST--Saturday P. M, April
80, 1921, a ladies' gold watch,
chased hunter case with engrav
ing inside of back of watch "F.
o. M. to K. C. B. Xmas 1896"
Has small gold chain and heart
shaped locket attached. Lost
on road between Island Pond
and West Charleston. Finder
return same to Mrs. Berry
Wright, 33 So. Ave-, Newport,
Vt, and receive reward.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-05-05

Mr. Tremore recently purchas-
ed a house of John Hutchins.
Work Is progressing rapidly
on. the tenement house being
built back Of the hall.
Reuben Fuller is working for
John Hutehins.
Supt. B e Slower ia Ill.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-05-05

GET busy, keep busy. Is your
job unsafe? Is it permanent?
You want a lifelong business,
selling more than 1877 Watkins
products direct to farmers if
you own an auto or team or
can get one, if you can give
bond with personal sureties.
We back you with big selling
helps; 81 years in business; 90
100000 users Of our products.
Write for information where
you can get territory. J. r.
WATKINS CO., Dept. Ill,
Winona, MINI.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-05-05
Prepartnu Coll for Tobacco.

FOR the purpose Of tobacco growing
the soil must be thoroughly cleared
of weeds. seeds and insect larva be-
fore the plants are set out. Old prac-
tice was to build fires over the sur
face, but the operation is now accom-
pIished by means of canvas cover
under which live steam from road
roller is projected. A high tempera.
tire is maintained for two hours
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-05-05
SEED POTATOES FOR SALE!

I have a limited quantity of
True-To-Type Seed Potatoes at
reasonable prices, grown by L.
s. Bureau methods, that are
vigorous and absolutely free
from disease.
j. E. SMITH, R. F. D. No. l,
Island Pond, Vermont.
apr FL ~,.~
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-05-05

Earn as to $40 DAY gathering
barks, evergreens and roots
from the fields and roadside.
Profitable, healthful and ed
ucational. We teach you.
Free Book. Botanical 242,
\ West Haven, Conn.
may 5
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-05-05

Pasturing for horses and cat
tie. Inquire of w. H. Garnder
Tel. 1921, Island Pond, Vt.
t f
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-05-05

For Sale--1 double Wagon
with body. Apply to H. II.
Danforth, Island Pond, Vt.
t f
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-05-05

For Sale--Berry Strain Indi-
an Runner Ducks Eggs fer
Matching. $500 per IL. Mrs
May Wallace, Tel. 45-13.
8 w
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-05-05

FOUND--a small sum of
money. Loser may have same
by inquiring of J S Sweeney
and paying for this ad.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-05-05
West Burke
MAY C. CHENEY, Cor.

vi IA 1 ". WILLIAM
Mr. and Mrs Scott Whitcher
and daughter Of Los Angeles,
Cal, are guests Of Mr. and Mrs
Dwight Cheney. =,
Mr. Elmer Smith and family
have moved to the Mrs Quimby
house and Georgia Tyler will
soon move to her tenement va
Gated by Mr. Smith.
Earl Reed has sold his farm
and moved to the Roundy house
at the north end Of the village.
Bert and Geo HaWley were
a. Hanover, N H the first of the
teek and while there Mr. Bert
taW.oy bought farm, and
lev leave town this week.
Ed Smith has moved to the
1hn donaldson farm.
Mrs Lillia Walter spent the
weekend at Lyndonville.
Our village has been greatly
improved by a new cementI
Sidewalk on Main street, and.
we earnestly hope it won't bel
lone before we have more made
as we are sadly in need of them
Mrs Harry Mathews and bro
Their, Mr. John Mathews, were
in town Friday evening to at
tend the o E S meeting.
John Donaldson is spending
q few days in Portland, combin-
ing business with pleasure.
The o E S installed the fol-
lowing officers Friday evening,
Matron, Annie Fairbrother
Patron, Burton Gray
Asst, Matron, Annie French
Secretary, ldad Powers
Treasurer, Eta Ruggles
Cen, Gertie Walter
Asst. Con. Myrtle Hall
Marshall, Emma Coburn
Warden, Cora Chappell
Chaplin, Minnie Ruggles
Pianist, Edith Abar
Adah, Edwa Ball
Ruth, Edith Forbes
Martha, Florence Humphrey
Flccta. Emma WaT
Sentinel, Elmer Walter
2. =. G. II. Minnie Rugglas
o. lr=tal'i~o o.T.a" and D. z
T.. R}on.c& 49, "~'roer as t..
aiHrr rarsha''.
Mr. and -Cr. Pert GeaNa and
1IIra~ go visiting their pa
,1ts - a. TI-c Chas Beane.
NJ .\rna'G and two children
arc n.-on@. 1T Silas Leach's
M Sarah Brockway spent
seyr,a' Gavs this past week, a.
Paesrrnn~ic.
1Ir and Mrs A D. Forg we're
ir st Torreburv to see their son
Eddie, Who IS in Brightlook hos
pital
Mrs Matte Gilman and son.
Barmcnd. visited friends at
Wells River the past week.
Mrs Mary Smith has finished
work at Simon Bartlett's and
gore To hey home.
Mrs Flora Washburn is in
town visiting relatives.
Mrs Leon Densmore of st
TrLvc,,,,-r. ,,,oc - +o,,,,, U,.;Lor-
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-05-05

Published Every Thursday by
H. ". OSBORNE, Publisher.