davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Daily Alaska empire., 1932-12-18

Christmas festivities, as the mod ern world observes them, owe much of their warmth and charm to the survival of pagan customs, Prof. William Warren Sweet Of the Divinity School, told a Uni versity of Chicago group. Speaking at a noon-time service in Bond chapel on the campus, Doctor Sweet, who is professor of the Ills tory of American Christianity, an- alyzed the history of the Yuletide celebration, and asked that the small Christian element in it be kept uppermost.
 Exchanging gifts at Christmas time is practice taken over from the Romans, and the Christmas dinner, the holly wreaths, and even the Christmas tree customs can be traced back to the barbarians of Northern Europe, Doctor Sweet said. Americas contribution to the occasion has been chiefly its com mercialization.
 Tt was not until about the mid dle of the Fourth century after Christ that day was formally set aside by the church at Rome for the observation of his physical
The Daily Alaska empire., 1932-12-18

birth," Doctor Sweet pointed out. "As it was first observed by the church, Christmas was purely a spiritual festival There was no gayety; no bells announced the coming of the glad morn; there were no garlands; no tables heap ed with good cheer.
 But it was not to remain long in the upper air of pure devotion There were too many pagan influ- ences about it. one of the most inn portant of which was the feast of Saturn, which began on the 17sh of December and lasted until the 24th. Saturn was the oldest and most denign deity of ancient Italy and his fabled reign on earth was supposed to have brought peace and happiness to mankind, and so the feast dedicated to him was full
The Daily Alaska empire., 1932-12-18

grounds that there was no evidence to establish exactly the date of Christs birth and that there was nothing in the New Testament to indicate that the birthday should be celebrated. Ten years later, or about 1880. Christmas issues of church papers show decided change in their attitude Doctor Sweet said. Christmas advar- tisements make their appearance, Christmas poems, and editorials, From this time onward the re- hgious significance of Christmas has been growing in all evangelical churches.
 The Christmas with which we are familiar today is a strange combination of imported pag an and Christian traditions. Though I dislike to say it, it seems that about all America has added to Christmas is its conmercialization Certainly all of us have every hu- manitarian and Christian incentive to make Christmas less pagan, less commercializsd, more Christian"
The Daily Alaska empire., 1932-12-18

,dscked with flowers,- and presents were exchanged.
 "Another festival which influ- enced the celebration of Christmas was the feast of the Kalends of January, which marked the begin ming of the Roman civil year, and three days of merriment followed it. Mummers clad in women's clothes and animal skins paraded the streets. Presents were given to dear ones. 'Honeyed things, that in the year the recipient might be full of sweetness, lamps that might be full of light; copper, silver and gold that wealth might flow in
 Among the early colonists in Am erica Christmas was observed as a festival only by the Church of England adherents ard the Roman Catholics, Professor Sweet said. The Puritans, objecting to it be- cause of it's pagan origins, banned any observance of the day On May II, 1859, the General Court of the Colony of Massachusetts passed the following law: "Whoso- evsr shall be found observing any such day as Christmas or the like, either by forbearing of labor, feast ing, or any other way. as festival, shall be fined five shillings.'
 This statute was repealed twenty years later, but for more than one hundred years the great evan gelicar' religious groups, the Bap- tists, Congregationalists and Pres byterians officially refused to rec ognize Christmas. Professor Sweet reported that he has been unable to find any reference to the fes- tival of the nativity in the liter ature of these churches up to the Civil War. Shortly after the war q religious organ objected to the observance of the day on the
The Daily Alaska empire., 1932-12-18

ties are inherent in man. He can- not divest himself of them. They are the heritage of his divine ori-i gin. and nature. They distinguish him from the beasts.
 Christmas is his recognition of his own divine attributes. He can- not ignore the worship that is in him for those same qualities that his baser nature may often seek to overcome, to deny, to banish from human relationships. But it is the history of mans conquest of life, which often has seemed ruthless and savage, that no triumph of materialism, no pursuit of wealth, I no indulgence and greed have ever separated him finally from that first altar of his worship-from the love and mercy that have taken form in his observance of Christ mas.
 With kings and counsellors of the earth, with princes that had gold and filled their houses with silver, and with the lowliest in their huts of desolation it is ever the same; together they must wor- ship what is in the nature Of all that breathe, for without it one man would forever be a beast of burden and his brother a beast of prey.
 Christmas, then, brings home tol us our common heritage. We can- not escape it if we would As the flower holds up it's chalice to the raindrops, so does man, obeying an impulse as instinctive turn to Christmas to receive the reviving forces that are in the human love it brings. Then does he lay aside all that is unworthy of him and partake anew of the spirit that alone can give purpose and dig nity to his life on earth. As long as he turns in worship to tnis beauty that really is of himself, though often through his own fail ings removed from him and pre- served only as. an image or symbol, | he is not lost to some sense of his own divine nature. He can still bring it back and receive itl renewed and live by it.
 Thus is Christmas never out worn, nor it's reviving force ex- hausted. It cannot be while man has worship in him and gives .tl to that which he recognizes as the ultimate to which his nature as pireS.
 No, Christmas never can grow'l old-fashioned and in that is the hope of the world.--Kansas City Times.
 Promote Prosperity With Printers Inkl
The Daily Alaska empire., 1932-12-18
Y x Y < x < x < x Y EXCUSABLE FOLLY

]. It is true that men and women at Christmas time, do things which are foolish, es- pecially in the giving of presents. But when did cold wisdom ever make people happy? Who wants to see Christmas when nobody spends more than he should or when there is no giving of things that are trivial or needless or foolish? A truly sane Christmas would be a miserable one. American ! Magazine.
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The Daily Alaska empire., 1932-12-18

The hope of the world is that Christmas does not grow old-fash- toned. The world may be cynical, life may be hard, hand may be raised against hand and breast op- posed to breast in the bitter strug- gle of men for the goals that entice
 them. Looking on that struggle and the oppression and injustice that accompany it, it is easy to say that human love and charity have departed from the hearts of men.
 But it is not so. All human re- lationships are founded on the qualities that Christmas typifies in man. No human society could exist without them. Laws could not gov ern hearts that knew not love, nor force constrain the acts of men who knew not mercey. These quail
The Daily Alaska empire., 1932-12-18

z And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their ficck by night.
 And To, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shcne round about them; and they were sore afraid.
 T And the angel said unto them, Fear net: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great icy, which shall be to all peo- pic.
 For unto you is born this day in tho city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manager.
 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, ard saying,
 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.-St. Luke 2:8-14.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1932-12-18

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The Daily Alaska empire., 1932-12-18

Promote Prosperity With Printers IrkI
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The Redwood gazette., 1932-04-14
Lucan Woman Robbed
BY Masked Gunman

Miss Emma Warneka, Lucan, was
held up and robbed at the point OF q
revolver of $3.50 by masked man
Monday, evening April 4, at her home
in Lucan.
She was home alone at approxi-
mately p. m. when she heard a
knock at her back door. Upon OPEN
ing it she was faced by masked,
well dressed man with revolver. The
robber compelled her to give him all
of the money she had in the house.
She handed him $3.50 and he told her
not to yell or scream for help as ne
had three confederates in the. car :
He jumped back into the darkness,
ran around to the street and climbed
into q car which had been left idlipg
in the street and made his getaway.
Sheriff L. ]. Kise was called to Lu-
can but as yet has no important
clues on the robbery.
The Redwood gazette., 1932-04-14
$4l6,999 BID TO
PAVE HIGHWAY l4s
WEST IS ACCEPTED
Work to Start Soon; Foley
Brothers, st. Paul, Get
Both Contracts

Foley Brothers, st. Paul road
building firm, will move crews here
within the next few weeks to begin
work on the 25.1 miles of paving to be
completed on Highway IA between
Redwood Falls and Marshall this
summer.
Bids of $196,341 for the 11.6 miles
of concrete from Redwood west and
$22O,658 for the remaining 1876 miles,
total of $416, ,999 were accepted last
week. Foley Brothers were low bid
ders on both contracts.
The paving will be completed for
16,6O9.52 per mile, exclusive of cem-
ent costs. Cement is bought by the
state highway department in large
lots and furnished contractors.
The greater share of the $416,999
will be spent for labor. Many men
who will be employed by the project
will live in Redwood Falls during the
completion of the contract and leave
much of their wages here.
The Redwood gazette., 1932-04-14
Garden Club Plans
Program; Boss Talks

Andrew Boss of the University
Farm, as principal speaker at a well
attended meeting of the Better Flow
er and Garden club meeting Friday
evening, used as the subject of his
talk, personal Experiences in Gard
ening."
Rev. G. H. Ten Brock gave per-
tinent suggestions for the work to be
undertaken this year by the club
Musical selections were played by a
local orchestra and refreshments
were served at the close of the meet
ing.
One hundred packages of Petunia
seed was furnished Joseph Tyson,
president of the club, by st. Paul
nursery and are being distributed
among members. The Petunia was
selected as the city flower several
years ago.
Mr.. Tyson stated that the seeds
are very small and should be carefully
planted or they are likely to grow too
close together. One package is enough
for several gardens, he said.
The Redwood gazette., 1932-04-14
Rose Adele AslesOn
Married This Morning

Miss Rose Adele Asleson, daughter
of DR.. and Mrs. Albert Asleson OF
Redwood Falls, and Harry T. M. Mac
gregor of st. Paul, son of the late
Mr.. and Mrs. Robert Macgregor OF
Ayr, Scotland, were married at nine
o'clock this morning at St. Gather
ines church.
Miss Marie Asleson, sister OF the
bride, and Grant Hughes of st. Paul
were the attendants.
Out of town guests who came here
for the wedding were John Wald, Mr..
and Mrs. Grant Hughes, Mr.. and Mrs.
Walter Clelland of st. Paul, Mr.. and
Mrs. H. J. Asleson and Mrs. A. K.
Stenson (Fern Britton) of Minneapo-
lis, Mrs. James Millett (Helen Feely)
of Faribault and Rev. Father Troy OF
st. Paul Seminary.
The Redwood gazette., 1932-04-14
Smith Agency Sells 4,402 Acres
in 13 Months for Nearly
100000

An attest of the public's faith IN
Southwestern Minnesota land as a
wise investment, especially at present
prices, is the report of The Smith
Agency, Inc, released this week
which reveals that % farms have
been sold by ]. r. Keefe, manager OF
the real estate department from Feb
ruary 1, 1882 to March 81, 1882
A total of 4.402 acres were sold
during the period for approximately
100000. Six sales of city property
amounted to another $4,000.
The largest sale made during the
year was the $50 acre tract sold to
Pat Gaffney, live stock man of South
st. Paul. A 329 acre farm belonging
to o. D.. Streeter was sold to Henry
C. Schmidt of Gaylord.
Farms from four counties, Red
wood, Renville, Brown and Murray
are included in the list although most
of the land. is in Redwood county. The
majority of the 22 farms are f60 acre
tracts. FIJI
The Redwood gazette., 1932-04-14
FARM BUREAU men
OF 6 COUNTIES TO
MEET HERE MAY Il
State President, Other Leaders
on Program; One of Ten
Regional Meetings

Local leaders in organized agricul-
ture will meet at Redwood Falls, May
27, with executives of the Minnesota
Farm Bureau in one of series of ten
regional conferences called to bring
together for general discussion the
officials of the 1,1OO township Farm
Bureau units and the sixty-seven
County Farm Bureaus now serving
Minnesota agriculture.
The call to the conferences has
been issued by j. S. Jones, secretary
treasurer Of the Minnesota Farm
Farm Bureau, to the presidents, vice
presidents, secretaries, treasurers and
home and community leaders of coun-
ty and township Farm Bureau units,
and to county agents and home
demonstration agents.
Problems to be discussed will in
clude taxation, legislation, home and
community service, membership, COM
modify purchasing, insurance and
general problems affecting the well
fare of Minnesota farmers.
Speakers will include Mr.. Jones,
Mrs. E. v. Ripley, of Menahga, home
and community chairman; A. Z.
Mereness, director of organization
and D. A. Williams, manager Of the
Farn, Bureau Service company. Some
Of the conferences will be attended by
w. T. Martindale, director of field
service for the American Farm
Bureau.
The list of conferences follows:
Grand Rapids, May 16; Mcintosh,
May II; Wadena, May 1S; Morris,
May 10; Minneapolis, May 20; Fari-
bault, May %; Rochester, May "a;
Mankato, May 25; Slayton, May 26.
Lac qui Parle, Yellow Medicine,
Lincoln, Lyon, Redwood and Renvllle
counties will be represented at the
meeting here.
The Redwood gazette., 1932-04-14
Farmer Near Morgan
Hangs Self Tuesday
Is Year Old Daughter Finds
Body in Granary; Worry
Over Finances Blamed

Nels Nelson, 81, farmer living
seven miles east of Morgan commit
ted suicide by hanging early Tuesday
morning. His body was found by his
oldest daughter, girl of Is.
Financial troubles and worry over
a legal matter are believed to have
caused that act. The Brown county
coroner was called as the farm home
is in Brown county, seven miles north
of Sleepy Eye.
Mr.. Nelson, his wife and brother
who lives with them had visited at
the home of neighbor the evening
before. Next morning he arose at
five o'clock and went about his chores.
When he was first missed, his wife
believed he had returned to the neigh
boris home to borrow team OF hors-
es which the neighbor promised to
loan him to replace team recently
lost by sickness.
Later Mrs. Nelson became alarmed
and sent the daughter who discovered
the body in the granary where he had
attached a rope to scantling, loop
ed it about his neck and stepped OH
a milk can.
Mr.. Nelson has lived IN the Nor
gan community for many years ant
has rented farms near there since his
marriage II years ago to Mary
Dischef, daughter of Joe Discher at
Morgan They have five children.
Funeral arrangements were incom-
plete Wednesday. Services will pro-
baby be held at the Presbyterian
church IN. Morgan.
The Redwood gazette., 1932-04-14
OIL STATION RAID
HERE One OF SIX:
ARRESTS PROBABLE
Chain of Raids in Neighb0r
Counties Yield Clues;
Officials Believe
LONE GUNMAN HUNTED
Willmar Robbery One Night
Later Than Raid Here;
Visit Sleepy Eye

Authorities of Redwood, Lyon,
Brown, Renville and Kandiyohi coun-
ties this week were checking care
fully into a chain of "lone bandit"
filling station robberies which have
taken place during the last two weeks
and admitted, guardedly, that arrests
are probable late this week.
Robberies similar to the raid on the
Sinclair Oil station here Tuesday OF
last week have occurred at Sleepy
Eye, Marshall, New Ulm, Olivia
and Willmar and in most cases des-
criptions of the bandit and his meth
DDS have conceded.
In all cases the bandit has been
cool and fast, and in most cases ne
has walked into the stations while the
attendants have been 'dle, has flash
ed a gun and taken all the cash
handy. He has walked out and pre-
sumably has entered a car parked
nearby to make his escape.
He is described as well dressed, us
ually wearing a gray suit and top
coat. He is between 80 and 40 years
of age, of medium height and weight
At Willmar the visitor wore overalls
but in other ways fitted the general
description.
The Willmar robbery occurred last
week Wednesday, the evening follow
ing the one here, and less than $50
was taken. At Sleepy Eye, the
amount taken was not disclosed. The
robbery took place the evening OF
April 8.
The Olivia robbery was about an
an hour after the Redwood Falls
hold-up. The thief got $35 there.
The bandit is not particular about
who operates the oil stations he raids.
Here it was Sinclair station, at
Olivia, Cities Service; at Sleepy Eye,
Skelly; at New Ulm, White Eagle; at
Willmar, Shell and at Marshall,
Standard.
The Redwood gazette., 1932-04-14
MINNEAPOLIS MAN
CHARGED WITH $40
THEFT AT MILROY
Kise Makes Arrest; Garageman
Receives Bill Stolen
From Buell. Home

Carl Burkhardt, Minneapolis, was
arraigned in municipal court before
Judge T. F. Reed on a charge OF
stealing $50 from the home of R. H
Buell. April 8 after being arrested by
Sheriff Kise recently. He pleaded
not guilty to the charge and pre-
liminary hearing was set for April
26 when he will again appear before
Judge Reed.
According to Sheriff Kise, Burk-
hardt was caller at the Buell. home
in Milroy on the night of April 3,
visiting one of the members of the
household and the next day, Mr..
Buell. noticed a $40 bill was missing.
He notified Mr.. Kise and after inquir-
ing around Milroy, one of the garage
men said that he had received an DID,
large sized bill.
Mr.. Buell., manager of the Milroy
telephone exchange, said he could
identify the bill. The garageman
gave the description of the man who
passed it and it fitted the man who
called at the Buell. home, according to
Sheriff Kise.
Burkhardt claims to have had
nothing to do with the deal and that
it was a friend of his who took the
money. He was released until April
26
The Redwood gazette., 1932-04-14
Ben r. Pelz, Girls Father
Brings Action; Girl
Fell From Car
FIVE NATURALIZED
Erwin Ewart Accident Case
Settled Out of Court;
White ParOled
FIVE NATURALIZED

A jury drawn late Wednesday was
prepared today to hear testimony in
damage suit arising from the auto
mobile accident in which Dolores
Pelz, nine-year-old Sheridan township
child, was killed October 10, last
year.
According to news reports at that
time, the child was riding home from
school with playmates in car driv-
en- by August Zuehlsdorf. She fell
from the car while attempting to
close the door securely.
Ben R. Pelz, the child's father, as
special administrat of the child's
estate is suing Mr.. Zuehlsdorf for
damages.
A jury was also drawn Wednesday
to try the combined cases Of William
B. Britton and Mabel Britton against
L. R. Ewart ct al, for damages result
ing from an accident at the fair
grounds entrance in which the Brit
tons and Erwin Ewart were injured
last summer. The case was settled
during the noon recess.
Seven cases were removed from the
court calendar Monday and Wednes-
day when five applicants were given
citizenship papers and one man was
sentenced for crime committed dur
ing the fall term of court.
The court adjourned after Mon
days session and was not continued
again until Wednesday morning when
the jury was called. AS there are no
cases this term which require
grand jury, none was drawn. Judge
A. B. Gislason, district judge of New
Ulm, is presiding.
Five Gain Citizenship Papers
Five residents of Redwood county
who were given citizenship papers
Monday by Judge Gislason are Erich
August Valentin, Hans Folmer,
Agnes Emilia Folmer, Christoph Lue-
bike and Hans Andreas Hansen.
M. A. White, formerly of Oklaho-
ma and a resident of Cottonwood
county at the time of his arrest, was
given a suspended sentence of 30
days in the county Jail. He was ar
rested last November charged with
slashing Alfred Jensen, garageman
at Lamberton, around the face and
body with knife. He was brought
to the Redwood county Jail where he
has been confined all winter. He was
released on parole.
The Redwood gazette., 1932-04-14
Gluth Boy, Hurt in
Cycle, Truck Mishap
Recovering Rapidly

Reginald Gluth, 15-year-old son OF
Mr.. and Mrs. R. A. Gluth of Redwood
Falls, was badly cut about the hand
Friday evening when the bicycle on
which he was riding and truck col
lided at the corner of Washington
and Third streets.
The palm of the boys right hand
was torn open to the bone. He was
rushed to the hospital Immediately
and remained there that night. He Is
recovering from cuts and bruises.
The truck, driven by Milo Palmer,
was coming from the east and was
turning the corner by the hotel to go
south. The Gluth boy was coming
from the south when the two met on
the corner.
Trying to avoid the accident, the
driver of the truck, swung over onto
the sidewalk in front of the hotel and
crashed into the lamp post, breaking
the large globe on top.
The Redwood gazette., 1932-04-14
CROW HUNT PLANS
COMPLETE; ATTACK
TO START FRIDAY
w. E. Paffrath, Fred Schmid
Head Rival Squads;
Ends May Is
ANNOUNCE RULE PACT
Weasels, Gophers, Hawks, Owls
to be Victims of Month
Long Drive

Captains, ieutenants and privates
of the Game Protective league COM
panies which will start the annual
crow hunt, Friday were announced
this week by league officers.
Fred Schmid will captain one group
with H. F. Warner as lieutenant
while w. E. Paffrath will head the
other with Ira R. Rogers as lieu
tenant. Five prizes will be awarded
and the losing team will finance a
dinner for the winners.
Ten points will be awarded for
both feet of crows, 20 for hawks and
20 for owls while weasels will count
25 points. Crow eggs and gophers
are worth five each and owl and hawk
eggs will count ten points each. The
hunt ends May Is. Each side is al
lowed to use as many boys under 10
years of age as they desire.
Members of the Paffrath company
are: Frank Theiring, R. A. Drogosch,
G. Bolland, E. L. Gallea, c. r. Hlllig,
Carlyle Jaehning, Frank Japs, DR..
j. P. Linn, Walter Marsh, C. A. Lau-
terbach, John Arnett, o. G.. Austbo,
A. L. Anderson, H. S. Aune, Glenn
Boltz, C. H. Burmeister, E. 0. Beck
strand, E. H. Bollum, Chas. Beer,
Alfred Bortz, w. S. Brammer, A. G..
Burmeister, Walter Collins, William
Charlton, E. A. Charlebois, Gilbert
Dennistoun, Harold Duncan, L. T.
Ewart, Harold Foreman, A. P. Falk,
o. A. Goetze, w. J. Hager, D. B.
Hauck, Harvey Huhnerkoch, A. F.
Hassenstab, John Herman, L. W..
Hassinger, Ed. Herman, J. H. Jack
SON, J. A. johnson, H. Kolbet, Aug.
Kraemer, J. Kaas, Mike Lauterbach,
Earl Lyslo, Morris Lamp, B. S. Lang,
B. E. Marsh, John Murset, r. 3.
Macs, Walter Nichols, Rudolph N.Y.
gren, Gus Nelson, R. v. Ochs, Fred
Pfeiffer, M. L. Pettis, Ted Pease,
Vern Roberts, J. w. Richardson,
Oscar Randgaard, 1. M. Stensvad,
Shirley Shippee, C. v. Smith, Richard
Scheunert, Louis Sommers, Harry
Swartz, H. D. Thorp, Harry Thomas,
Russell Wagner, William Kiel, R. W..
Stegner, Peter Wicknan, John Aieg-
Ter.
Members of the Schmid company
are: Ken Byram, R. F. Byram, K. d.
Byram, DIR. ]. w. Anderson, Roy Al
brecht, R. E. Anderson, DIR. j. c.
Budik, DIR. w. A. Brand, Frank Bald
win, John Brueske, d. w. Buckley,
John Billie, ]. M. Corbett, Richard
Cook, DIR. H. B. Cole, L. Dittbenner,
Continued on Page 12)