davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-20

began 70 draw her gently toward the
Young man and the clergyman.
And then suddenly, just when The
Clergyman WAS about 10 begin, jus
when Miss Hampton had succeeded
il iighting herself from s,n0thering q
sob, Mr.. Holiday, whose face, had YOU
but noticed il. had been growing lOnge
and longer. and Grcarier and dreare1-
gave a half-strangled cry.
Wholly 0bliyious 10 everything and
everybody but what was in his MIND
- the moment. ne dropped the brides
hand as if il had been a red-hct horse
But. strangely enough the old fac.
that had grown 80 long and drear
was now wreathed in smiles, and h.
was heard To mutter as he Went
just minute. while ! get Joiyff.
Mi. Jolyff and Mr.. Holiday lifted
their glasses. And AIr. Holiday said
So that all could hear:
4 drink to my old friends and d.
my new friends. And ! drink 10 tn
lesson of Christmas. For Christmas
said he. and he smiled j., a wonderful
way, teaches rs that in ali the worlG
there is absolutely nothing that W..
cannot forgive. "
The two very old gentlemen Clinked
their glasses together. and LOOKING
each other affectiOnaIeIy in the eve
might have been heard 10 muttel.
somewhat hrokenly, each the other
Christian name
tCopyricht 1925
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-20

service. for round it has always hung
subtle atmosphere of uncanniness.
of wtzardry. almost of unholiness, that
makes it incompatible with rejoicings
over the birth of the little Christ-child
and the belief in purity incarnate."
It's earliest appearance in human
history seems to have been in Morse
legends, where it stands as the agent
for the destruction of Balder the
Beautiful. the sun god. Balder had
dreamed that he would soon die. He
told his mother F'redga, wife of Odin,
of his dream. So she prevailed upon
all living things to promise not to
harm her son. but she forgot the tiny
Sprigs of mistletoe growing on an oak
at the gates at Nalhalla. The minor
gods, thinking that Balder was i'm
mune to danger, used to amuse them
selves by throwing missiles at him.
His enemy, Loki. had discovered the
omission of mistletoe from the oath,
and he fashioned shaft from its wood
and gave it to blind Hotter, to throw
at his brother. When it struck Bladder,
he fell to the ground dead.
This baleful history threw around
the plant a veil of Embellishments
and it became associated with pro-
fame love: which was probably the
origin of kissing under the mistletoe
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-20

car 5. She was crying. but I told her
to brace up, and | guess she S
stopped.
The young man jumped to his feet.
Mr.. Holiday chucllled.
II was right he said. I've been
right seven times of the 10 for p
years. I've kept a record
Upon an impulse the young man
checked his headlong inclination to
rush to the girl who was weeping.
IF You are right as often as that, -
he said, tell me what to do"
certainly said Mr.. Holiday.
What's the matter?'
She" said the young man, came
TO the station to see me off. She gave
me this" He touched the gardenia
gently. Il gave her some roses. Just
as the train started to pull out / dared
her To come with me . she
came
"Tut-tut," said Mr.. Holiday.
What are we to do?' cried the
young man.
Go back and sit with her" said Mr.
Holiday, and leave the door wide
open. I'm going through the train
now to see who's on board; don't
worry. Leave it all to me-
THE last car forward before you
came to the baggage car and the
express car was a common day coach.
1t was draughty. y dog must have
passed an uncomfortable night in it.
Near the rear door sat a man in
new derby hat and Il new black coat.
Farther forward on the same side
three children had stuffed themselves
into one seat. The middle child, a
Well-groWn girl of IS or IA, seemed by
her superior height to shelter the
little tots at her side. Only the blue
imitation sailor caps of these appeared
above the top of the seat; and the top
of each cap, including that worn by
the older girl. had a centerpiece of
white about the size of a gentleman's
visiting card. Mr.. Holiday promised
himself the pleasure of investigating
these later. In the meanwhile his in
terest was excited by the ears of the
man in the new derby. They We're
not large, but they had an appearance
of sticking out farther than was nee
essary; and Mr.. Holiday was about to
ask their owner the reason why, when
he noticed himself that it was because
the owners hair had been cut so very,
very short.
Il should think you'd be afraid of
catching cold in this draughty car
with your hair cut So short" said Mr..
Holiday.
Il am" said the man tersely
why did you let them cut it so
short them"
Let them" grunted the man, with
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-20

was an envelope for the ex-convict-
not with money in it, but with an
|. O. L.
Il o. L. A Good job" Mr.. Holiday
had written on card and signed his
name. And he had taken out of his
satchel a pair of wonderful black
pearls that he sometimes wore at i'm
portant dinners. And he was going
= give one of these TO Miss Hampton
and one 10 the girl who had run away.
And then there were all the wonderful
toys ard things for Alice. and Freddie.
and Euphemia, and he was going to
present them with the black trunk
too, so that they could take their gifts
off the train when il eventually got to
Painsville. And Mr.. Holiday had
thought of everybody. and had pre-
pared little speech to speak to his
guests; and for two of his guests he
had arranged one of the greatest sur
prises that can he sprung on two
guests; and he ought to have been per
fectly happy. But he wasn't
When he passed the door of Mr.. Jo-
lyff s drawing room he noted that il
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-20

ward off the evil spirits. witcheS
ghosts and demons.
Thus the mistletoe was a vital par
OF the Druids' system Of WORSHIP
when the Christians drove out the Oh
faith in Britain. This plant. assoc
ated in mems minds with idolatry
human sacrifice and witchcrafi
shared in the general fate and henc,
probably arose its non-use in Chris
mas houses of worship.
The natural history Of the miscir
toe IS of curious interest. Its floWcI
is most insignificant and its berries
are dropped on the branches of trees
by thrushes, for which they have q
great fascination, although other birds
despise them and Will rarely eat then
except in cases Of dire hunger.
Each year of its growth it puts out
new ring OF wood, so that the age OF
given mistletoe plant can always he
told by the rings which surround it,
Another strange feature OF its growth
is that its flowers are one sex alone
either male or female. and never vary
that sex. Hence the miStletoe plant
is always either male or female III
nature.
The popular impression that the
mistletoe is parasite of the GA.
alone is not strictly true. As matter
of fact, it is found but rarely on the
oak tree. Its favorite and voluntary
hosts are the apple tree and the black
poplar tree. 1t will not grow on pear
trees and it seems to have a decided
aversion to beech. alder and spruce.
In the west of England il affects
the apple orchards to such an extent
that il seriously interferes with their
development. The far-sighted St Pat
rick must have included the mistletoe
n It-l,r i,
drove the snakes out of Erin. for it is
never found in Scotland or Ireland
In America it is found principally
in the South and WSSt The Wash
lngton supply comes SC. nearby
Maryland and Virginia forests. and is
gathered at a great deal of trouble
from parent trees. The difficulty in
gathering it is accountable for its
present high market value here.
At Center Market and other mar
kets of the city its glossy white Der
ries and green leaves are a pictur-
esque foil to the crimson holly berries.
another plant filled with symbolic
Christmas interest. AS a rule 90 cents
procures only q small portion, but as
only a berry or two is necessary to
insure an ardent SWANS kissing priv
ilege, it is considered cheap at any
price.
Inc hiiSlletot IIoll IL Ileulclnal
standpoint has had its good uses, a.
though it has fallen into disuse in
modern matelfa medica. In the old
days it was thought that if a pouI-
tfce of crushed mistletoe berries We're
applied externally it would draw "hu-
mors' from the deepest and most Sc
cret parts of the human body. 1t was
prescribed by physicians up to the
eighteenth century as a cure for
epilepsy. And even to this day. in
Sweden and Germany, it is believed
that decoctions made from oak mis-
tletoe will cure epilepsy. In Japan
miStletoe is regarded as a sacred
plant to this day, and it is believed
that it viii promote fertility in WON
en-. Childless Japanese women eat it
lavishly, and they even cut it up and
SOW it with seed to improve the crops
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-20

Laugh and the teacher laughs with
you,
Laugh and you laugh alone;
The first when the joke is the
teachers.
The last when the joke is your Crn.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-20

What bank were you teller in?'
The I'reeport Bank. I'm going to
them now TOTO see if they won't let
up. The wife says that's the thing to
do-Go right to the boil of trouble and
prick it
i remember the PainsXilie busi,
ness" said Mr.. Holiday, because
own stock in that bank. You only
took about $500"
THAT was all | needed" said the
man. 1T saved the missus and the
kids-so what's the odds"
But don't YOU intend to pay it
back"
Not if the world won't let me earn
any money. | tried for jobs all today
and yesterday, and the day before.
told my story straight. The missus
said that was the thing; to do. But
guess she's wrong FOR once. What
would you do il you We're a banker
and / came to you and said: i m just
out of jail, where | went for stealing
but | meant to be honest. Won't you
give me work."
Mr.. HOLIDAY wondered what he
would do. He was beginning to
like the eX-convict's frankness.
do you know who I ann" he asked
L-HSI ' 'pNhN hiAo"S YOU ny Si6Ht,
Mr.. Holiday"
Then you know said the little old
gentleman, that I've sent. plenty of
people to Jail in my time-plenty of
them"
i've heard that said" said the man
But" said Mr.. Holiday sharply,
nobody ever tells stories about the
wrong doors l have forgiven. Your
case never came to me. | believe !
would have shown mercy"
He closed his note book and rose
Keep telling Your story straight,
my man, and asking for work.
lie paused as il waiting a reply; but
the man only grunted, and he passed
forward to the children. He eX-
amined the ViSitinEcard effects on the
tops of their hats, and noticed that
these We're paper labels Sewed down,
and bearing the names and deStina-
tons of the little passengers. Fred
die, Alice and Euphemia Caldwell,
reading, from left to right, We're con
signed in the care OF the conductor to
Silas Caldwell, Painsyille, Ohio.
Alice had her arms around Freddie
and Euphemia. and her pretty head
was bent first TO one and then to the
other. Mr.. Holiday seated himself
gently behind the trio, and listened for
some time. He learned that mother"
was in the hospital, and father" had
TO be with her. and that the children
were going to Uncle Silas' until sent
for. And Uncle SiiaS was very
"grouchy" man, and one must mind
ones T'S and Q'S. and never be
naughty, or Uncle Silas would have
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-20
HOLIDAY BEGAN DRAW HER Gently TOWARD THE
YOUNG MAN AND THE CLERGYMAN

was tightly closed. And it ought to
have pleased him to see how his enemy
had taken his exclusion from the party
10 heart. But, although he smiled
cyniCally, he wasn't altogether pleased.
And presently he made a WY mouth.
as If he We're taking sonnet hing un-
pleasant: and he began to hustle Fred
die and Eiuphemia so as to get away
from that closed door as quickly as
possible.
x 4 x
THE girl who had run away was
talking with Mr.. Holiday when
suddenly she began 10 grow conscious
and uncomfortable. She gave one
swift look about her, and saw that all
the passengers. and all the train
hands. and porters. and he express
man were looking at her and smiling
and she saw that they had ranged
themselves against the sides Of the
car and were making themselves as
small as possible. Then She SAW m"
| young man looking al her with 4 won
derful nervous, radiant look And
I then she saw that the clergym N was
standing all by himself. in space
that the crowd had just managed TO
leave open for him, and that he had on
his surplice, and that he was mark
| ing place in his prayerbook with one
| finger. Then she understood.
1nStinctively she caught Mr.. Holi.
DAYS arm and chung to il. ana Mr.
Holiday smiling, patted her hand and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-20

Toy prevails among the romantic
over the news from the Bureau
of Plant Industry of the De
. partment of Agriculture that
Evening star., 1925-06-07
Prophets at It Again.

How far ahead do the automotive
prophets actually see?
The opinion is growing that they
are not seeing very far beyond their
noses in a number of instances. A
number of them, for instance, have
announced the doom of the fours and
skies. and have even predicted that
the straight twelves must shortly su-
persede the straight eights. This Is
all very interesting. many practical
minded persons are admitting, but
with concrete roads coming into
vogue and hills gradually disappear
ing what is wrong with a return to
the slower speed engine with fewer
cylinders?
The Hotchkiss drive is the latest
thing to be slated for the discard by
automotive prophets. They say that
when the drive is taken through the
springs in this way there is less sta
bility when driving at high speeds
through sand or gravel. But where
will motorists find sand and gravel
roads 10 years from now?
Hotchkiss drive is also condemned
because the springs are said to be
carrying too many jobs at once, yet
there are all manner of devices now
on the market to protct the springs,
and the time is coming when an hon.
eSt-to-g goodness rough road may be a
novelty.
Predictions are most interesting
car owners admit, but just at present
it looks as though the automotive
prophets are forgetting that the world
moves just as rapidly as the auto
mobile.
Evening star., 1925-06-07
PARK PROF|TEER|NG'
!. DENIED BY MATHER.
Federal Director Tells OF Ac-
commodations at Ma
tional Preserves.

Investigation of the national parks
by the Senate public lands committee
.should be welcomed by all motor
tourists who propose TO visit the great
national Fairgrounds, in the opinion
.of Stephen T. Mather, director of the
National Park Service. The treat
.ment accorded visitors TO these parks,
especially as to food and shelter. is of
.prime Importance, and it is with an
idea of improving these features that
sthe investigation was proposed.
For some time, said Mr.. Mather.
.''there have been rumors to the effect
that the national parks are in the
Hands of conceSSionaires, and were
mot being operated for the benefit of
the public. An investigation of the
sentire matter by the Senate public
Glands committee is exactly what has
been wanted for a long time, and is
certain to clear up such rumors,
which if unchallenged. may result in
seriously retarding Western travel.
Never before in the history of the
national park system were the ma
7tional parks more popular with the
American people. Ten years ago the
visitors numbered less than 250000.
The 1924 season saw more than 800
900 visitors. of which approximately
20 per cent toured the parks in their
private automobiles and availed them
selves of the free public camp grounds
developed at large expense by the
Government.
Talk of excessive fees being
charged by the private operators in
fhe parks is disproved by the fact
that so great is the demand for ac-
Commodations in most of them the
department has required the operators
TO expand greatly their facilities each
year.
"All classes of visitors are welcome
in the parks. For those who demand
hotel accommodations and rooms with
bath, these are available, and for
those who want to live more cheaply
the prices charged at the permanent
camps are within the reach of the
ordinary mans pocketbook. Visitors
bringing their own camping equip.
ment are taken care of in the, public
automobile camps, no charge being
made to them.
while automobile fees are charged
in the majority of parks for the use
of the park roads, the purpose of the
fee is sometimes misunderstood. be-
cause the average citizen is not ia
miliar with the financial policy of
Congress. All revenues derived by
the collection of fees and franchise
charges are paid into the United States
Treasury and an account rendered to
Congress.
"A thorough inquiry by RESPONSE
Bile legislative body with hearings open
to the public is certain to attract wide
attention. Too little is known of the
magnificent park system maintained
by the Government and of the unlim-
tied opportunities it affords for out
door recreation at a minimum outlay
of expense such as can be obtained at
20 other place in the world"
Evening star., 1925-06-07
Stop Excessive Stopping.

It is said to cost s4O5 to stop an
average train. Stopping thus comes
rather high for the railroad COM
panies, but by economizing on the
number of stops the item of decelra-
tion expense does not figure conspicu-
ously in the annual statements. A
typical trip shows one express train
as making but seven stops during its
run. The cost of stopping an automo-
bile is not more than a quarter of a
cent per Indulgence, or perhaps a
fraction of a cent if the car is on a
slight downgrade where little gasoline
is consumed in starting it again. but
the motoriSt sacrifices such natural
advantages by stopping excessively.
On one trip of 1000 miles one driver
stopped on an average of 10 times per
mile Stopping cost him about $40.
Evening star., 1925-06-07
What's Your Vote

Where is the best road In America
Every day some motorist tells some
one that he has just been over tne
finest road in the country But there
are more than 350,000 miles OF paved
highways in the United States. ana
who is to judge which particular
stretch is the best?
From a scenic standpoint 1t is not
so difficult to make selection. Fer-
haps the Columbia River highway
would take first prize. From a purely
transportation standpoint most mo-
torists who are in a hurry would prop
ably vote in favor of the cross-state
concrete stretch from near Camden
n. J., to Atlantic City. But as Tor
the best piece of road. structurally.
that is difficult one.
New England motorists were some
what surprised recently, however, oy
the declaration of Connecticut High
way Commissioner John A. Macdon-
aid TO the effect that cement-con-
crete highway between PlainVille and
New Britain. Conn, is, in his opinion,
the best road in the United States.
'If that road does not last 25 years, =
he told members of the Connecticut
Farmers Association. ''it will prove
that no road can be built which will
last that long" The road is said to
have cost between $4,000 and s39 900
a mile to build, though it involved no
unusual engineering work.
Apparently it is a difficult matter
to tell a good road by rolling over 1t.
While this particular New England
stretch offers nothing to complain
about. it makes no more impression
on the average driver than a lot or
once equally smooth roads which are
now shot to pieces.
Evening star., 1925-06-07

the various regional boards under
system to be known as United States
Highways.
Routes Overlap.
Highway officials long have felt
that a remedy should be found for. the
present confused situation with re-
spect to interstate roads. Overlapping
of routes Is common, 1t is pointed out,
one well known route 500 miles long
overlapping other routes for 70 per
cent of its length. The use of many
names for portions of main highways
is said to be confusing to motor tour
lists and nuisance &c the localities
bordering on them.
The board also will decide upon
sta ndard shapes and colors for warn
ing and directional signs 1t has been
tentatively decided to adopt standard
round sign for marking all railroad
crossings, an octagonal sign to indi.
cate danger or stop, a diamond-shaped
sign for caution or slow, a square sign
to indicate look" or attention, and
rectangular form for directional or in
formational signs.
Evening star., 1925-06-07
ENGINEERS DISCUSS.
INTERSTATE ROADS
Highway Coordination in
Various States Is Topic
of Conference.

Coordination of highways through
the various States, Standardization of
markers and danger signals and uni
formity in other road signs are some
OF the problems being discussed at
regional conferences. of highway engi-
neers, the fourth of which will be held
tomorrow at Atlanta. The Midwest
regional conference was held last week
at chicago, and previous meetings
we're at San Francisco and Kansas
City.
As result of these conferences. held
under the auspices of the Joint Board
on interstate Highway, important
interstate roads will be co-ordinated
and designated by uniform markers,
and system of uniform highway
signs will be adopted. The board viii
meet in Washington, following the
completion of the regional confer
ences and devise means for carrying
into effect the recommendations of
Evening star., 1925-06-07
THE OLD MECHANIC
SAYS:

I've a confession to make which
ought to be of some help to a lot of
car owners who have to place their
confidence in chaps like me. who are
supposed to know how an automobile
ticks.
It's just somethin' I've discovered
lately. so don't blame me, for keepin
It a secret. 1t hasn't done me any
more good than it has my customers.
It's simply this: Whenever I've
given a lot of thought to a problem
and have finally figured it out I get
the notion that every new job that
comes my way needs the same rem
edy. In other words. / get a run on
one line of repairin, and the first
thing I know I'm tryin' to repair a
half dozen different troubles with the
same remedy.
know that a lot of us fellows have
this habit, because every now and
again two or three car owners will
come to me from some one mechanic.
each with a different complaint, yet
with the news that So-and-So pre-
scribed the same remedy for each. The
notion takes root in the mechanics
head and it's hard job to get him to
look for some other cause.
1 went all wrong with a. job the
other day because I insisted upon
lookin for the trouble in one of the
front wheels. Owner had been com.
plainin about a peculiar noise in the
chassis. He thought it had somethin'
to do with a spring bolt or a body
bolt, and so would | under normal
conditions. But | had just gone
through the job of solvin' a similar
problem and had discovered the cause
of the trouble in front wheel. That
was a funny place to find that kind
of trouble-so funny, in fact, that
every time I'm asked to locate a
chassis noise L begin examinin the
front wheels.
Every job is different. Few trou-
bes have the same cause. Just re-
mind me of it if | start fixin' your
car along the previous jobs lines.
Evening star., 1925-06-07
Lessons From Accidents.

What often passes for presence of
mind is usually manifestation OF
practice and forethought. This is
particularly well illustrated in a re-
cent accident where a machine and
ment.
The car turned over on it's side,
and while none of the occupants was
seriously injured, it required about five
minutes for them to climb out of the
machine. In the meantime the posi-.
bility of a gasoline fire was materially
lessened by reason of the driver g
promptness in switching off the en-
gine when he saw what was going to
happen. He had been trained in the
thought that a running engine in a
wreck is an unnecessary hazard.
Copyright 1882
Evening star., 1925-06-07
Locating Power Loss.

Finding a source of power loss is
not easy matter in any case. but it
can be simplified considerably by test
ing the car in the following way:
Note whether the car rolls easily in
the garage in order to learn whether
the brakes are dragging.
See whether it coasts easily on the
downgrade and level. This will often
reveal a drag in TIE differentiaI or
transmission due to using too heavy
grease. If the brakes drag, the bands
will be hot.
Test for compression (by cranking
by hand with ignition Off while motor
is cold as well as while hot. If one
or two cylinders are weak, note
whether valves close tightly before as
Stunning that the rings or cylinders are
worn.
If you suspect the pistons, rings or