davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1921-12-18

nificent pictures and poems left there
by great artists through hundreds Of
years as memorials. Instead of these
things, the scholar seated himself be-
fore the stones of the outer walls,
upon which were inscribed the politi-
cal testaments of the statesman. and
set himself to study and contemplate
and reflect. The scholar was doubt
less improving his soul, but he was
killing a tremendous amount of time
in doing it.
Som time afterward the pangs Of
hunger apprised the scholar that he
had not eaten. His lunch money had
gone to buy luck-piece. He took
the cicada from his girdle and in
spected it critically; in view of the
absence luncheon, he did not now
care so much for the thing.
A sound of clink:ng coins sharply
reused the scholar. He glanced up to
see a man at his side, gazing at the
cicada and making money-talk. The
Evening star., 1921-12-18
About MistletOe.

once more We come to the season
" Of the mistletoe. The mistletoe
is a parasite which lives off trees.
Not only does it grow on the oaks.
but it is found en- the pecan, hickory.
elm. blackberry, Usage orange, paper
mulberry, locust, sassafras, persim-
mon. ash and various fruit trees, no.
tably the apple, pear and cherry. But
it prefers the oaks and the supersti-
tious and mysterious.
Druids. the priests of the pagans
Of the British isles and the lands on
the south side of the English channel
got the idea that it was the soul of
the oak, and that, as it remained
green while the oak had lost is TO-
ltage, it was an immortal thing. and
they thought Of it as a symbol of
everlasting life. To the Druids there
was something sacred about the oak
tree. and, Of course. the soul Of the
oak tree was especially sacred. Won
derful powers and properties were at
tributed to the mistletoe, and when
paganism passed the early Christians
clung to many Of the pagan ideas
about the plant. There was good luck
in mistletoe. At Christmas, the mer-
riest day of the year, our northern
ancestors would hang a branch of
mistletoe over the entrance to the
home as sign Of good luck and well
come. Kissing was much commoner
and promiscuous then than now, and
people entering the door over which
the mistletoe hung exchanged kisses
with the host and his family. In that
way kissing and mistletoe probably
became associated. so that when men
hung mistletoe indoors as a decora-
tion it continued to be the sign of the
kiss, or an invitation to kissing. We
still kiss under the mistletoe. and
many of our people still think of this
plant as something mysterious and
as having peculiar appropriateness as
a Christmas decoration.
Evening star., 1921-12-18
Legend of the Tree.

oNE story of the origin of the
~ evergreen tree as the Christmas
tree among the people or northern
Europe is given in one Of the legends
of st. winnifred. 1t is one Of the
many thousands Of those simple and
beautiful beliefs that have attached
themselves to the great midwinter
festival 1t is related that st. Winni-
fred, a great Christian missionary
among the pagans OF the north. be-
gan cutting down sacred" oak
which had been an object of worship
by the pagans whom he was trying to
lead Alright. While he was hewing
down the huge tree it was blasted and
uprooted by sudden whirlwind. Close
beside the giant oak was a young fir
tree, which was not harmed either by
the whirlwind or by the fall Of the
oak. Then st. Winnifred is reported
to have spoken as follows:
This little tree, a young child of
the forest. shall be your holy tree to-
night. It is the wood Of peace, for
your homes to be built of. It is the
sign of an endless life. for it's leaves
are always green. See how it points
toward heaven! Let this be called the
tree Of the Christ Child! Gather about
It, not in the wild woods, but in your
homes; there it will shelter no deeds
of blood, but loving gifts and acts OF
kindness"
The fir tree, the common evergreen
tree Of the northern regions. became
the holy tree of the converted pagans
and in its honor or IN the memory OF
the thoughts 1t stood for, they deco:
rated it with lights and gifts al
Christmas.
Evening star., 1921-12-18
The Emper0rs Amuet-nther Ling BY

man whose garb showed him to be
one Of the soldiery from the local
yamen. The soldier did not know
that there were two white men there,
so he naturally addressed Hanecy.
"Heavenborn, we have heard that
you buy old jade. especially Han vi.
said the man humbly enough. MY
comrade and bought from a fisher
man a jade which he took from the
belly of river fish. It is Of green
stone" y
He described the cicada minutely.
and showed the wax impression that
he carried.
"Ah" said Hanecy. "And where Is
this green insect?"
my comrade is keeping 1t. heaven
born. His duties detain him. and
promised to bring you II you would
care to see it,
Hanccy reflected. He knew that the
local mandarin was hand in glove
with Benson, and he rather suspected
Evening star., 1921-12-18

THAT is in my gird,e. Let US not
go hastily about this. If we offer 1t
to the white man"
"He will buy it. He deals in such
things"
True" The more astute robber
scratched his nose refiectively. But,
remember, there is a mandarin in the
yamen. Beyond doubt. the mandarin
will take all the money that the white
man should pay u.s."
"Ah! Quite true" assented the
other. "Stay! Is there not another
white man living at the Tu-kung
temple?"
The first bandit nodded and
grinned.
GO to that shop across the street
and buy some wax. Then come back"
The second man obeyed, keeping his
eye carefully on his comrade. When
he returned with the wax the first
man took it. divided it into two por-
tions, and into each portion firmly
Evening star., 1921-12-18

I A bedlam Of trampling feet. shrieks
= shouts and curses filled the build
ing. Hanecy did not open the door
but darted to the window that lighted
the room and dropped into an alley.
II believe I was wrong, after all,
reflected Hahecy. II don't think Ben
son was responsible for this affair In
the least. to give the devil his due
He would never have let that amulet
get into my hands. The facts prob
ably are that those two bandits back
F., there framed up a game to rob and
murder mel expect they got the
| amulet by killing some one else. ]
| don't think I need waste much pity
on them"
Anybody who knew Hanecy would
have smiled at this last, for Hanecy
| was too strictly an apostle Of efi-
! riency to waste any sympathy what
ever. He lived very largely by risk
ing his neck, and he desired to go or
living for long time.
AS soon as Hanecy emerged from
the rabbit-warren of alleys into
street he perceived that the quarter
was boiling with excitement. The
government buildings were close by
SO he made his way to the yamen and
asked questions as he went.
From those around Hanecy learned
that a, poor scholar had been wan
tonly murdered near the south gate
and that search was being made for
the murderers, who were known. This
gave him no clue. for he did not con-
meet the matter with his two soldiers,
so he determined to stick around and
see what happened next. He called
an empty sedan chair, gave the bear
ers a coin. and told them to wait for
him. Then he sauntered toward the
yamen.
Presently a surge Of the crowd gave
way before a group Of soldiers, who
bore two dead men in their midst
Those were seen to be two OF the
yamen guard. and the bodies were
placed on exhibition. There was new
excitement when a proclamation was
brought forth and posted above the
bodies.
Hanecy read that proclamation
standing back in the crowd. 1t was
to the effect that the ways of the
gods were inscrutable and very pro-
found. These two murderers had fled
to a room in the gambling house OF
Ma Jen, where they had Quarreled
One Of them had drawn a revolver
and shot one cartridge. That one
bullet had, by the inevitable laws OF
justice. pierced both the murderers-
directed by the hand Of the gods
that same bullet had shot each man
between the eyes!
In evidence. OF this supernatural
fact. the revolver was displayed.
Hanecy turned away, got out Of the
| crowd. and climbed into his waiting
! sedan chair. He directed the bearers
to the house Of Kiang. the fur dealer
| on the other side of the city. and ther
| sat back with smile on his lips.
Great is the justice of the manda'
RIM" he murmured, and patted the
| emperor's amulet with much salts.
| faction. Il don't understand all this
but I'm satisfied"
| And he tucked some tobacco into
his brier. chuckling to himself.
/ (Copyriglt, 1921
Evening star., 1921-12-18

elk, he, too, went forward.
Timidly, almost haltingly, he passed
through the gate and approached the
door. He knocked-then stood hesi-
tant as the woman faced him in the
lamplight. At last:
IL guess you know who I am?
She held the lamp closer.
1--WE seen you somewhere. But !
can't"
A child, a girl of perhaps seven. had
come to the door and was peeking
from behind her mothers skirts. The
bandit looked down at her and smiled.
Then he faced the woman again.
I'm Bart Carson. 1 guess you've
heard Of me"
"Ohw
"rm hurt. I followed that elk down
here. Mem and him's a lot alike. Can
I come in-please?
There was a moment of indecision.
The child, bolder now, edged forward
and stared up at him.
why don't you let him in
mamma!
The woman drew back. The way
was open. Bart Carson stepped
within and closed the door. The
woman set the lamp on the table
The bandit faced her.
Il reckon we kind. of belong to the
same brand, Mrs. Walker" he began
'I know about you"
| "You?
|. "Yeh." The old drawl had come
hack into his voice. Il went up to
the pen the first time to save your
husband. That isl thought he was
the brother of-of that other woman
She didn't answer-merely stood
studying him through the glow OF the
lamp.
Evening star., 1921-12-18

tions.
"Here is my comrade. heaven born"
said the first soldier hurriedly. He
has the green stone. Give US the
money and let us depart"
Hanecy extended the sheaf of notes.
The soldier tucked them away, then
I turned with an angry gesture to his
| comrade.
"The green stone, quickly! Give
him the Han yu!"
First give me my money" scowled
the other. Besides, how do know
the money is good? 1t is not sill
| ver-"
"oh, turtles offspring! Can I not
! be trusted to know good yin-piao?
Here, take your share. But, by the
WI fu, give him the jade quickly"
The scowling. hesitant bandit pro-
duced the green cicada. Hanecy took
it and slipped the stone into his
pocket. His lips clenched grimly
What went into that pocket Of his
did not come out easily. He was still
suspicious, watchful. very alert. All
this looked too good to be true.
The first soldier was turning to the
! door when his comrade. who had
been examining the notes given him
uttered an angry exclamation.
Here, vile one! There are only
thirty taels here-the price was one
hundred! Where are the other twenty
thief?"
As he spoke. knife leaped out into
his hand: The first soldier uttered q
curse and tugged at his ragged girdle
] A revolver showed in his hand and
| an explosion filed the room with
black powder fumes.
! Close upon that explosion came toe
sharp, brutal reports. Hanecy had nc
doubt whatever that this was a mock
quarrel, designed to catch him Of
guard and finish him. When the knife
showed, his hand was at the butt Of
his automatic. When the revolver
came out he ducked across the room
and fred twice.
He did not need 70 look to verify
: the result.
The Farmington times., 1921-12-23
Farm Bureau Notes

About 140 people were present at
the annual meeting of the Farm Bu-
reau, held Saturday in the court
house. A much larger attendance
would have been secured il the
weather had been favorable. Most of
the outlying sections OF the county
were represented.
Mrs. Schuttler gave an interesting
and we'll worth while address. Harry
Hensley, Assistant County Agent
Leader, also made an address.
The officers for the coming year
were elected; they are: President, 9.
C. Schuttler; Vice President, Mrs. c.
B. Denman; Secretary, Lee Roy john
son, and Treasurer, Ed Klein. Par
ticular efforts were made to have all
sections of the county represented on
the executive committee. The mem-
hers of the executive committee are:
From French Village-Alphonso Au-
Buchon. Mrs. F. c. AuBuchon, Mr..
and Mrs. D. A. Moon; from Primrose
Mrs. Morris Jones, Mr.. and Mrs. j.:
s. Cole, and Willis Moon; from Hazel
Run-Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Mostiller and
Mr.. and Mrs. l.. E. Cole; from Bis
marck-Otto West, Miss Lottie West,
Mrs. Geo. Linsley and c. H. Shaner;
from Bar Oak -Grove-Mr. and Mrs.
Lee Roy Johnson, John D. Rion, Mrs.
Chas. Hopkins and Mrs. Ed Williams;
from l. c. U.-C. c. Schuttler, Will
Counts, Mrs. C. B. Denman and Mrs:
Myrtle Gruner; from Cartee-Mr. and
Mrs. VIM. Dugal, Walter Weimer and
Miss Lena Herbst; from Libertyville--
Mr. land Mrs. N. G. Sebastian and Mr..
and Mrs. H. B. Presnell; from Bright
stone-Miss Pattie O'Bannon. Mrs.
C. C. Schuttler was elected on the
committee as a delegate at large.
The Farmington times., 1921-12-23
CIRCUIT COURT

B. F. Holley VS.. Federal Lead Co.,
damages; continued to next regular
term by agreement.
Chas. Walker VS.. Federal Lead Co.,
damages; dismissed at cost of defend
ant.
H. H. Clinton VS.. Federal Lead Co.,
damages; dismissed at cost of defend
ant.
Noah Merritt VS.. st. Francois Co,
Ry. Co., damages; dismissed for the
want Of prosecution.
Superior Motor Co. VS.. A. P. Mack
ley, account; judgment for defendant.
John Mcfarland VS.. M. r. & B. L.
Ry. Co., damages; continued to next
regular term.
Ernest Owens VS.. Federal Lead Co.,
damages; judgment entered for plain
tiff in the sum of $500.
State of Missouri VS.. w. C. Ham
NETT, burglary and larceny; tried by
jury, witch failed to agree on verdict.
E. E. London VS.. Ed. ]. Brewer,
County Collector, and others, injunc-
ton; tried by the court; injunction
dismissed.
In re Del Longgrear, special depu-
ty commission of finance in charge Of
the Peoples Bank of Bismarck. Now
at this day comes Del Longgrear and
files petition; same is at this time TAX
en- up by the court, and report of COM
missions approved as set out in petit
+ion.
John Langley VS.. Federal Lead Co.,
damages; dismissed for want of pros
ecution.
A. L. Muller VS.. Federal Lead Co.,
damages; dismissed for want of pros
ecution.
James Keay .vs. Pearl Hoy ct al,
appeal from Probate Court; appeal
dismissed.
The Farmington times., 1921-12-23
Santa Claus Again
Visits OrphanaSe

Good Old Santa Claus arrived at
the Presbyterian Orphanage in this
city yesterday morning. The weather
conditions did not permit of the use of
his sleigh and reindeers, but he used
his automobile, which is the method
he usually adopts to convey him
speedily, from place to place, especial
ly in this latitude. His automobile
was filled with all kinds of Christmas
sweets and goodies, all for the more
than one hundred children at that
splendid home, as tEis trip was made
especially for that great household,
who were so anxiously awaiting his
coming.
The Santa Claus automobile was
equipped and superintended by Park
hurst Sleeth, of Flat River, with
whom this annual visitation has come
to be a very important part of his
Christmas activity and pleasure, JOY
without which would be greatly CIR
cumscribed. The habit of preparing
for and experimenting Santa Claus
annual expeditions to that institution
has long been an obsessi0n with Park
hurst, which doubtless causes rejoic-
ing in heaven, rs well as among those
many little ones, many of whom have
never known parental love, and yet
are abundantly satisfied with the best
possible substitute this life has to
offer.
The Farmington times., 1921-12-23
Breaks Records
AS Owl Trapper

A. A. Schmidt, sandy-haired
Frenchman from French Village, is
certainly entitled to the championship
belt as an owl catcher. He brought
into the County Court Saturday
twelve heads of horned owls, which he
had captured by some sort of Sc
cret process, which he failed to di-
vulge. He also brought in with him
the heads of eight chicken hawks,
which he evidently secured in like
manner. For these heads he received
a bounty of so cents each, which net
ted him $40, which is paid by the
State.
Mr.. Schmidt is an expert in the
trapping Of outlaw birds, on whose
head the law places a bounty, and he
gets much pleasure out of his expert
ness in that Iine. And he has reason
to feel proud of his skill in that di-
rection, as the horned owl is said to
be as wary of man, and as difficult to
kill as is the chicken hawk, while its
size, and the great stretch of its
wings, causes it to be even more
dreaded by chickens, quail and other
prey, than is the greatly feared chick
en- hawk.
The Farmington times., 1921-12-23
NOTES FROM THE
DAVIS MUSIC STORE
Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas.
Eugene Williams, who is well
known to all the customers of the
Pennington Laundry, made his wife a
present of beautiful Brunswick.
A home with music is a happy home.
Have you music in your home?
Suggestions for last-minute pur-
chases for presents:
Kodaks-will give pleasure for
years.
Records present which all enjoy.
Kodak Albums-a useful gift to the
kodaker.
Framed Pictures-a cheerful gift.
A Grafonola-the gift supreme
will give pleasure to all the fam
lily.
We have been very busy finishing
portraits for Christmas presents.
Your picture is a gift that you alone
can give. We can still finish limited
number for New Years day.
Miss Rose Herbst, of Doe Run, is a
happy owner of a Grafonola.
All records sold from now until
Christmas will be wrapped in beauti-
full Christmas envelopes.
We have just received fine lot OF
pictures-most of them copies of old
masters. Any home will be better
place with some of these pictures on
the walls.
Henry Bowman, who drives the big
truck for the Guessing Mill, bought a
Brunswick this week.
THE DAVIS MUSIC STORE
W. F. Davis, Prop.
The Farmington times., 1921-12-23
Robbed His
Own Brother

Herman Yancey last Friday robbed
his brother, Tom Yancey, at the laS-
ter's home in DeI.assus Of $205, came
to Pennington, where he purchased q
suit of clothes, a cap and a suit case,
caught q bus for Flat River, where he
bought q ticket for st. Louis. From
statements he made to friends it is
thouait> he was headed for New York
StaS =. n Taxi = telegram has since
beenS eived,s apparently sent by him
from New York, stating that he would
soon return home.
Herman Yancey, who is only 81
years old, was staying at his brothers
home when lie committed the robbery.
In fact Tom Yancey has contributed
largely to the support of his brother
in the past, but he is now greatly in
terested in apprehending and turning
him over to justice, feeling that such
course is the only way out of the
trouble the young man has brought on
his family. A description has been
sent to officers in st. Louis, New York
and other places. with the request to
apprehend the fugitive. 1t is possi-
BILE he will return home when his
money is spent, as indicated in his
message. But, regardless of what his
future course may be. the law is wait
ing for him here.
The Farmington times., 1921-12-23
MEETINGS IN THE INTER
EST OF DAIRY CATTLE
FEEDING HELD

The County Agent, assisted by Mr..
Regan, of the Extension Service of the
College of Agriculture of the Univer-
sity of Missouri, Monday and Tuesday
held four farm meetings in the inter-
est of feeding dairy cattle. A total
of about twenty farmers attended
these meetings. Mr.. Regan gave
some excellent help to the farmers in
figuring out a balanced an deconomic
ration for their milk cows.
At Mr.. Schuttler's farm a demon
stration of grinding and mixing a ra-
tion was held. Three hundred pounds
of corn on the cob was ground, then
some oats were ground and enough
bran to make two hundred pounds of
oats and bran was added to the corn
cob meal. To this mixture was added
100 pounds of high grade cotton seed
meal. To those farmers just starting
to use the cotton seed meal Mr.. Regan
recommended using only 75 pounds of
the cotton seed meal in the mixture.
All the roughage the cows will eat
was recommended. This roughage
man consist of any of the legume hays,
corn stover or silage, or a mixture of
these. However, timothy hay should
never be fed to COW producing milk.
The amount of grain that cow
giving milk should receive depends up
on the amount of milk she is produc-
ing. For Jerseys one pound of this
mixture should be fed for every three
Or three and one-half pounds of milk
produced. For the Holsteins or Short
horns one pound of the mixture should
be fed for every four or four and one
half pounds of milk produced.
The Farmington times., 1921-12-23
FARM BUREAU TO
ENTER CONTEST

Believing that the improvement of
the live stock of the county is one of
the most fundamental and essential
things to the betterment of rural life
and to civic Improvement, the Farm
Bureau is backing a movement that
will have a strong and mighty influ-
ence upon the welfare of the county.
For some years the United States De-
partment of Agriculture has been be-
hind movement to improve the stock
of the country by "better sires"
campaign. Believing that the field of
endeavor should be limited and that
better results will come by directing
efforts on cattle, the College of Ag-
riculture, of the University of Missou-
ri is behind "Better Bull" campaign.
To push this work along the Kansas
City Chamber of Commerce is offering
$1,000 as premiums to the Farm Bu-
reaus or breed associations eliminat-
ing the greatest number of scrub or
grade bulls in the county. These
scrubs are to be replaced with regis
tered animals.
The st. Francois County Farm Bu-
read is entering the contest with the
one purpose in mind of eliminating all
scrubs and grades. All organizations
such as Chamber of Commerce, are
urged to get behind this movement
and help put the proposition over.
This goal is not out of reason, yet if
it is achieved st. Francois county will
perhaps be the only county in the
United States that could claim that
honor. Breeders of purebred live
stock are urged to get behind this
movement and offer to exchange a
young registered bull for a scrub or
grade on the basis of market price
for each. The advertising feature of
this to the breeder can readily be
seen. The user of the scrub bull, once
being persuaded to use registered
bull, will never go back to the using
of scrub. Hence the breeder who
sells these men the first bull will be
in line to sell him second one at a
more than beef prices.
The contest starts Jan. l, 1922, and
closes Dec. 1, 1922. Several breeders
have already said they would make an
exchange no this basis. The scrub
and grade bulls are being located with
the purpose in mind of getting the
owner of them in touch with these
breeders that are backing the PROPOSE
ton.
The Farmington times., 1921-12-23
Enthusiastically
Endorses Burks

The Democratic mass meeting which
assembled in the circuit court room at
1:30 o'clock Monday afternoon, for
the purpose Of selecting a delegation
to attend the District Convention at
Ste. Genevieve next Wednesday, Dec.
28th, was well attended, and consid-
The purpose Of the Ste. Genevieve
convention is to select candidate for
the Constitutional Convention from
this Senatorial District.
After organizing, resolution was
adopted unanimously endorsing Hon.
Jerry B. Brrks at the candidate
for the Constitutional Convention,
and according to him the priv
ilege of selecting his own delegates,
seven in number, to the District Con
vention.
The endorsement of Mr.. Burks for
that position meets with the hearty
approval of the Democrats of st.
Francois county, and it is the under
standing of The Times that he will
have splendid support from other
counties in this District. His selec-
tion for that important place would be
wise, as there is perhaps not another
man in the district who could, and
would fulfill the important duties of
that position in more efficient and
capable manner than he. Mr.. Burks
has exceptional learning of the law,
and his long and extensive practice at
the bar gives him unusual knowledge
of the weaknesses of the present State
Constitution and the best manner of
working out the necessary changes
for the good and betterment of the
whole people.
For the benefit cf those who may
desire to attend tire Ste. Genevieve
convention, either as delegates, or
spectators, we will state a train
leaves Flat River fer that place at 10
a. M, and leaves Ste. Genevieve on
the return at p. M, which will give
ample time to attend this convention.