davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-11

| what her neighbors call her, is
widow who, with thirteen young chill.
dren and no money, went into the
| bush" country in 1916, cleared farm
and in ten years had made it into a
property conservatively valued at
$42, 900. When she first set foot on
| her 300-acre tract and planned for her
! farm building and stables. it contained
| nothing except geological and botani-
cal specimens. The last eleven years
| have been for her a constant daily
record of achievements calculated to
make the tired business man or the
tired American farmer go jump in the
lake. The government, realizing that
it is people with the spirit of Nine.
Croteau who are the real original
makers of a country, has caused her
story to be printed in book form and
distributed to all provincial school
children.
1t is in some ways too bad that our
own country has had no such award
hand 100 many would have been eligi-
bic for the order. How gratifying
would it be to many an American to
cap the recital Of the deeds of his or
her ancestors with the climax, And
before she died the Government gave
her the Order of Such-and Such"
There would be a medal worth cher
ishing, meriting a spot of honor among
the civil war decorations, the certiti-
cate of the Society of the Cincinnati,
the letters patent authorizing original
and parchments which are enshrined
among a modern family's lares and
penates.
Alas, the hardy and intrepid women
of our stock who cheerfully trekked
into bleak New England. the Western
Reserve, the plains or the Pacific coun-
try got no such decorations. though
often it was the woman member of the
pioneer couple who made a go of it
when a more timber backboned hus-
band wanted to lie down ON the Job.
If he faded out of the picture, she, in
many an instance, carried on and came
through with flying colors. All she
got was the Medal of the Milk Pail,
the Decoration of the Hot Skillet, the
Gordon of the Cradle, or perhaps, at
the last, the Grand Cross of the Scalp
ing Knife.
All honor to Nine. Croteau and may
all her thirteen children grow up to be
similar credits to the Land of the
Maple Leaf! And all honor in our
own hearts to those our ancestresses
who had no time and no money to be
portrayed. bewigged and beruffled by
eminent early American or Colonial
painters for the delight of their pos
terity, but who, accomplishing. COM
petent and serene in their faith. made
the bleak and bowling place the gar
den for a finer race" The poet puts
it that way, but with a little thought
he could have found a less debatable
adjective than finer" Most persons
believe in a heaven. and it is not hard
to imagine a special. de luxe portion
thereof set aside for such as Nine. Gro
teau and her predecessors of the same
caliber. That she gained recognition
while still on earth will be source of
satisfaction to a vast gone before sis
terhood.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-11

One of the purposes of the ministry
Of Jesus was to prepare men Tor
emergencies. He sought to equip them
so that in times of stress and storm
they might stand the strain. He il
Illustrated this in what is commonly
called the parable of the five wise and
five foolish virgins. The picture that
He here draws is one that is strictly
Oriental in character. Indeed, it is
quite as common to the life of the
Orient today as when He uttered the
words. He describes the scene where
in ten virgins, the attendants of the
bride, were equipped and prepared to
accompany her when the bridegroom
came to take her to her nuptials. AS
He describes the scene, there was de-
lay in the bridegroom coming. After
hours of weary waiting, as the night
drew on, the bridal attendants fell
asleep. Suddenly at the midnight hour
an alarm was heard and the cry went
forth. Behold, the bridegroom
Hastily the virgins made themselves
ready to go forth to meet him. They
had their lamps and they were still
burning, but as they issued into the
outer darkness presently five of the
group discovered that their oil needed
replenishing. Their lights were burn
ing low. Turning to their companions,
they asked them for oil to replenish
their spent supply, but the answer
came, Not so; lest there be not
enough for us and you: but go We
rather to them that sell, and buy for
yourselves" Continuing the story,
Jesus said, while they went to buy
the bridegroom came. and they that
were ready went in with him to the
marriage; and the door was shut"
In the narrative He likens those
who had a scant supply of oil to the
foolish. All ten of the attendants had
their vessels. In this respect they
were all equipped alike. They differed
only in their supply of OIL The story
has striking application to the COM
mon experiences of life. Its vital les
son is designed to emphasize the i'm
portance of the source of supply, the
source of supply that will stand us In
stead when the emergency or the crisis
arises. That we lay undue emphasis
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-11
This and That
By Charles E. TracetUen.

Nipper, little butter-and-egg cat,
comes by his title honestly.
He prefers eggs to beefsteak.
The mere production of an egg from
the cardboard container sends ! 7
into winding evolutions which
the legs of the kitchen tables. i.
and the refrigerator.
When the egg is broken into a
saucer, Nip sends up sundry meoWs
of a hearty character.
When the fork begins to play a
merry tune with the egg on the sides
Of the dish, in the well known beating
process, Nipper goes into commissions
of desire.
Standing on his hind legs, he meows
Justify, his furry body seeming round
err than usual, his tremendous tail
twice as bushy. Nipper's tail deserves
an article all to itself. which no doubt
will be forthcoming at the proper
time.
We have yet to see the hour when
Nipper refused to eat his egg.
He has been known even to desert
succulent beefsteak or veal Qeftovers
from Jack Spratt's dinner), to con-
sumo his favorite raw egg.
His taste for butter, however is an
other matter.
AS far as is known, Nipper is the
only cat that eats butter.
This fat seems to be an acquired
taste, as it were, for members of his
four-footed tribe do not eat it, as
general rule.
Beef fish, liver-these constitute
the regular dietetic trio peculiar to the
domestic house cat He-or she-is
perfectly satisfied on this fare.
Every one of these household
friends, however, has its popularity in
eating habits. Jack Spratt, he of the
gooseberry green eyes, viii eat one
brand of baked beans. but none other.
He was once known to jump up on
the table and drag to the floor a por-
ton of cottage pudding, which he held
down with one paw, while he con-
sumed most of it.
Since that day he has scorned cot
tage pudding.
A serving of pudding, handed to
him, does not possess the flavor of
the portion rustled up by his own ef-
forts. This trait is not confined to
animals.
Children-and even their elders
relish in stolen viands.
X X X X
Here is how Nipper came by the
full title of ''butter-and-egg" cat:
About a quarter of a pound of the
popular fat, with it's invisible content
of vitamins. was reposing on the
table.
Nipper was playing with a catnip
mouse.
He seemed perfectly safe. since he
had just finished a saucer of milk, one
of his favorite eggs. and several
pieces of beefsteak.
One might have thought this
amount of food would have sufficed,
but if any one thought so, he did not
know Nipper.
"Nipper's eating the butterr'
Rapid inspection showed the large
kitten sitting beside the butter plate.
calmly licking the yellow slab, which
by this time had all corners and edges
neatly rounded.
When caught, Nipper merely wink
ed n green eye, and proceeded with his
impromptu feast. as if it were the
most regular procedure in the world
1t is not necessary to inform any
reader here that Nip was permitted to
eat his fill; or that when he had fin.
ished. he licked his chops with pc.
cullar viGors
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-11
EVERYDAY RELIGION
BY THE RIGHT REV. JAMES G. FREEMAN. D. D. L. D.
Bishop OF Washington

upon life's equipment is conspicuously
trlfe. Agencies and mechanisms bulk
large in our vision. Important as
these may be, they do not transcend
in Importance that which makes them
serviceable and useful. In our re-
ligious life we stress the value of
things external; the forms or SYM
boIs that we use; indeed, we stress
these so unduly that sometimes we
seem to think of them as supreme in
themselves. Their value is unchal-
lenged where properly recognized and
used, but their value lies not in them
selves. but in what they actually rep
resent of spiritual force and power.
The lamp may serve as a symbol of
our expressed faith; it is a useful and
indispensable thing, but its useful
ness depends solely upon it's source of
supply Without this it is practically
valucless. This source of supply
comes alone from a continuing and
unbroken relationship with the SUI
preme Master Himself. After all, our
religious faith is something more than
a creed, something more than a sys-
tem-yes, something more than even
a deep seated conviction. 1t is con-
scious fellowship with Him who de-
clared Himself to be the life and the
light of men. To contend with the
difficulties that beset us, to meet
temptations as they arise, to survive
disappointments that are heartbreak-
ing, to stand serene when storm
clouds gather, and having done all
to stand, prove the efficacy of our
faith and the closeness of our fellow
ship with Jesus Christ Life at it's
best is great struggle. Repeatedly
it is put to the test. No ma tier what
it may have in the way Of external
equipment. it demands, at all times
and under all conditions. an unfailing
supply of power. None of us knows
when the hour of emergency may
come and the cry be heard, Behold,
the bridegroom! Go we out to meet
him. To go forth with confidence
and assurance means to have that
sustaining supply that will fortify us
under all conditions and carry us
through all trials.
See that your lamps are burning;
Replenish them with oil:
Look now for your salvation,
The end of sin and toll.
The watchers on the mountain
Proclaim the Bridegroom near,
Go meet Him as He cometh,
With alleluias clear"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-11

latter element boosts consumption.
Cause and effect are sadly mixed in
many minds, like two first-cousln
tones of gray.
Installment sales run anywhere
from 1000, 000, 900 to $1,000, 100000
year, according to those whose estimate
is accepted The retail credit men
want to know what the effect has been
on wages, on interest rates, on turn
over of invested capital, on losses, etc.
The credit men estimate installment
sales last year as having aggregated
Sc, 500 900 900. They regard it as good
business, If properly safeguarded. Ed
win r. A. Seligman, professor of polit-
ical economy at Columbia University
wrote book on installment selling, in
which he characterized u as one of
the most signal contributions of the
twentieth century to the potential Gre
alton of national wealth and national
welfare"
Chain stores and mail order houses
as a rule, do not extend credit to Gus
toners. Yet not all chain systems or
mail order merchants succeed in bust
ness. A recent study estimated that
40 900 chain store units, in nearly 500
systems, last year had sales aggregat-
ing $3,400 900 900, and that they sold
D per cent OL lHelI uncICHdIulSc at q
loss and 26 per cent additional at no
profit.
The last national bank statements,
called October 10. disclosed resources
of $27,213, 1924 900, the largest amount
in the history of the system, an in
crease of $793 ,000, 900 in loans and dis
counts as compared with last Decem-
Der 81, and an increase in deposits of
well over billion dollars.
Nothing in the present business sit
uatIon particularly alarms the credit
men in seeking this survey. What
| they want is not necessarily fewer
debts, but. possibly. better debts.
lCopye1Bhf 1871
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-11

ents? After all, they are the ones
who really deserve consideration
around Christmas time. A child al
ways has toys. They may be bricks,
or shoe boxes, or old tobacco tins, but
they are wondrously garnished with
Imagination. But your poor parent!
1t is only around Christmas time that
father may with clear conscience de-
vote hours to the assemblage of a
railway system; test with delectable
detail the frogs on switches; expert
ment for hours to determine a safe
speed for his express on sharp curves;
perspire in labor of love to deter
mine why Parlor Car No. 3-X is in
clined to leave the rails when APP
preaching Block Signal No. 2-B; oil
the bearings on the shiny new steam
engine, toot the whistle, test the
steam, pull back the throttle and let
her go. II is only around Christmas
time that mother may spend esoteric
moments in the selection of doll
with the proper nose tilt or shade of
hair to go" with darling Annie; or
when she feels free to ruin her eyes
to hemstitoh a tiny petticoat for An
MES doll to wear. AS a matter of
fact. Annie would rather have a pop
gun and red fire engine like Brother
Willie has.
Mother, dad and Santa Claus know
each other pretty well, And if any
beetle-domed statistician raises a hue
and cry against spending so much
good money on toys, this immortal
trio should rise as one and throw him
in the creek. Spending lot of money
on toys is pretty good sign that the
is safe and sound.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-11
Funds Asked for a
National Credit Survey
BY HARDEN COLFAX.

A survey by the Department of
Commerce to determine how much
credit the butcher, the baker and the
candleStick maker extends to their
customers. plus how and perhaps why,
is being sought by the National Re
tail Credit Association, which last
week sent a delegation before the
House appropriation committee to ask
the necessary funds.
All of which is a gentle manner
of stating that the keen-minded
gentlemen who rate posSessors of
charge accounts A, B or u as the
facts justify in retail establishments
which are of sufficient size to support
credit departments want to know how
much Mr.. and Mrs. Consumer and
family owe merchants in the aggre-
gate in year, during the average
month; in the country as a whole, by
States; what they buy most literally
when extended credit, and many other
facts. Particularly do they desire
the light of accuracy to penetrate
the mists of guesses about Install
ment sales.
There is no nervousness over the
situation in this desire for a survey
of credit conditions. 1t is the result
of the constant hunger of the scien-
tific business man of the modern day
for more facts.
In presenting to the appropriations
committee their request for an appro-
priation to enable the Department
of Commerce to undertake a credit
survey, the delegation pointed out
that an average of 80 merchants fail
every business day and that only
little more than half of all corpora
tions make net profit in year.
Much is known of wholesale credit
conditions; that is rather easily check
ed. Little is known of the vast vol
ume of consumption credit. No one
even knows how many retail establish
ments there are in the United States.
either as a whole or in any specihc
line.
The credit men themselves might at
tempt to gather data on how and why
the consumer buys. Indeed, they pro-
pose to do much of the work of the
survey, but they feel Uncle Sam
hand in the study would be helpful.
OF the retail business Of the country,
around $40, 900. 900 a year, an in
creasing proportion is done by credit.
And the ever-popular leaps and
bounds inevitably is used in describ'
ing the growth of installment buying.
Thousands of retailers lack knowl-
edge of the fundamentals of extending
credit Scores of studies have been
made of installment sales, but no ma
tional survey has been made.
Il \
What are li,e "ects of consumption
credit? Increased assumption helps
! productions mass production supports
employment and the wage scale, the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-11
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
DeliriOus DOmesticity.

DeIIrl0uS DOmeStlc1ty.
There's nothing like a Woman's heart
To soothe a weary man
Until she makes a sudden start
Upon the latest plan,
And says, "Old dear, contemplate
A union more companionater
The house was a delightful spot.
A pistol she acquired,
And at friend husband took a shot.
No more was he admired.
How many a spouse exclaims, "Ah me,
Home isn't what it used to be"'
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-11

The sooner Lindbergh gives his
plane to the Smithsonian Institution
the better an admiring but apprehen.
sive public will be pleased-unless he
insists on getting another for occa-
sional personal relaxation. 1t mas
been said, "Once a flyer always a
flyer" and it may be doubted whether
Lindbergh will ever settle down Sc
dately to continuous desk work.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-11
Drawback.

Anybody can own a car these
days." said Mr.. Chuggins.
Yes" replied his wife. But you
can't get the fullest enjoyment out
OF your auto. Every once in a while
you Lave to quit motoring long
enough to earn money for its up
keep"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-11

It is always cheering to receive
beautiful holiday literature from a
great public service enterprise. even
though the company is constantly on
the verge of an increase in rates.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-11
: Rate by Mail-Payable in Advance.
MARYLAND and Virginia.
All Other States and Canada.
Member of the Associated Press.

The Associated Press l. tvritsig Nv tntf,'
60 the use for republication Of all news dis-
...s.:ehes credited to ii or not otherwise cred
tied in this paper and also the local new
puhlIshed herein. All rights of publication
az special DISPATCHES herein are also reserved
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-11

Leave to print" demands regula-
ton. 1t offers a great temptation to
a weary audience that would not like
to undertake editorial responsibility
for all that appears.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-11
PerpIexity.

What l am telling you is history"
said the emphatic friend.
Yes" said Senator Sorghum. But
what are you going to do when some
folks insist that even history is all
wrong?"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-11

Statesmen are inclined to protest
that the Smith.Vare debate holds up
proceedings at time when filibuster-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-11

'fOn the principle that the early bird
catches the worm" says The Star OF
t,., =, December 5, 1877.
A "Shop Early in inaugurating
Campaign n siiop t to ease the
pressure on the local mercantile
establishments prior to the holidays.
some of the most sagacious dealers
in holiday goods are already arrang-
ing their displays and getting ready
to make their attractions known to
the public. 1t is a well known facI
that the best customers are those who
make their holiday selections early,
while stocks are full and fresh, and
when they can be properly waited
on. Dealers who would desire this
desirable trade should therefore be
prompt to give the widest publicity
to such inducements as they propose
to hold out to purchasers seeking bar
gains We need not add that the
advertising columns of The Star are
the recognized mediums for all com
munications of this class. but we may
be pardoned for reminding business
men that the loss of a days trade
before the holidays can never be made
up after they have gone by. Those
who commence earliest are conSe
quently least likely to have to carry
over a portion of their stock of goods
until next. season, with the risk nf
being out of style, shopworn and ulti
mately sold below cost to prevent q
total loss of the investment"
x X
In an editorial in The Star of De
cember Z, 1877, is given an outline of
the Hendee bill, which
u. Y. Fiscal it was then thought
Legislation would have the best
the basis for the expected legislation
definitely establishing the fiscal re-
lations between the Federal Govern
ment and the District. 1t was the
bill that had been agreed upon by
the special joint committee appointed
to report on District affairs. 1t pro.
vided for a Government by commits
sioners, one appointed by the Presi-
dent, one elected by the House and
one by the Senate. The Commission
ers should annually estimate and re-
port through the Secretary of the
Treasury to Congress the amount
necessary to defray the expenses and
pay the Indebtedness of the District
for the next fiscal year. To the ex-
tent 10 which the estimates should
be approved Congress should appropri"
ate the amount of 40 per cent, the
remaining go per cent to be levied and
assessed upon the property in the
District other than that of the United.
States and the District government.
The star concluded:
''It is believed in view of the formi.
dable array of facts presented to Con-
gress by the citizens committee, show
ing the extent of the burdens uDOn
the impoverished taxpayers OF the
District, that an amendment to the
bill making the amount to be con-
tributed by the Government TO Dis
trict expenses so per cent instead of
40 would be readily adopted. This
bill thus amended will, we believe,
be generally acceptable to the people
of the District. but they are not
tenacious in regard to the form of
any particular form of relief. so that
1t embodies the vital principle of fix
ing the definite proportion of Dis
trict expenses the Government will
bear"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-11

lud Tunkins says he doesn't believe
in telling children there is no Santa
Claus. Children hate to learn that
their parents are disillusioned
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-11

Even men who are agreed on tax
reduction are not unanimous in an
opinion as to who ought to get the
credit If it goes through.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-11

IL After considering numerous kinds
OF staying, psychoanalysis proves that
il can explain homicides, but cannot
prevent them.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-11

Government authorities in consider
ing an insanity plea frankly Suggest
that it is a wise man who knows when
to be crazy.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-11
Thanks Come Hard.

From the Cleveland News.
Price of beef seems to have joined
the price of poultry in making 1t as
hard as possible for Americans to feel
contaHts9 and than|<flIb KE2Ea-A---a2---
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-11
Footwear.

SO costly are the shoes we buy.
We're tempted many times to sigh,
Remove the sole and heel. / pray.
And let me take what's left away.
A simple bootleg. after all,
Might yield a profit far from small.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-11
Carving Out an Idea.

Wen have our Christmas tree alive.
On which the leaves for years will
thrive
And would 1t not be something cute
Could it bear presents same as fruit
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-11
"Source of Supply"

AT midnight there UdS cry
made, Behold. the bridegroom Go
nc ont to meet him. st. Matthew,
IED.6.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-11

"It's hard to be patient" said Uncle
Eben. Bout de best you kin do 10
to cultivate de art of sayin' Lnuftin'."
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-11
THEODORE W. MOVES. . Editor 1t
The Evening Star Newspaper company

The Evening star with the Sunday morn
ing edition Is delivered by carriers withln
the city at 90 cents per month; daily only,
as cents per month sundays only :" cents
rer month Orders may I've sent by mail OF
telephone Main 5000. Collection is made by
carrier at end NJ each month
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-11

What are tie %ects Of consumption
credit? Increased assumption helps
productions, mass production supports
employment and the wage scale, the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-11
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

ION the principle that the early bird
catches the worm" says The Star OF