davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1946-04-24
Spotlight On Job
Spotlight On Job
Benson To Announce
Decision On Position
City Clerk Expected To Decline Offer Of City
Managership; Vacant Council
Seat To Be Studied

Todays city council session will throw the spotlight on
two emergency matters.
First the spotlight will focus on City Clerk j. r. Ben
son who has been nominated by the council to succeed c.
Nichols as city MANAGER Nichols will leave the post April
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1946-04-24
CONFER

NEW DELHI, April 23.-U.R)-
Herbert Hoover conferred Tuesday
with Viceroy Viscount Wavel OF
Cyrenaica and Winchester on the
food situation. He will leave to-
morrow for Bombay and will 60
to Bangalore Thursday. He leaves
for Bangkok April 26.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1946-04-24
FORECAST

Wilmington an, vicinity: - Mostly
cloudy and cooler with showers snd
scattered thundershowerr Wednesday and
Wednesday night. Thursday partly
cloudy and mild.
The midland journal., 1946-12-20
STATE SURPLUS FAR EXCEEDS;
SPECIAL SESSION FUND NEEDS

The sound condition of the State
Treasury will make 1t unnecessary to
levy any additional taxes in the spe-
cial session to be called, in order to
make financial provision for rising
costs in the State institutions and
agencies and, also, to cover salary in
creases granted to State employees.
Governor Herbert r. O'Conor, in
announcing his intention to call the
Special Session, indicated that the
States fiscal officers had been watch
ing developments in regard to COM
modify prices during recent months
and are now in the best position to
estimate the needs for the ensuing
six months. The Governor was inform
ed by his financial advisers that it
wuold have been unwise to have call
ed the session sooner, as it would
have resulted in miscalculations be-
cause Of changing economic factors.
Tie States healthy surplus, esti-
mated at $4,000 during the
coming year, will be several times as
great rs the total amount required to
be ALLOTTED for all State purposes in
the Special Session. After present
needs are met, the fiscal officers sta
ted, the incoming administration
will have a sizeable surplus with
which to start off the new term.
Sharp rises in the cost of food and
all other items that figure in tie bud
gets of the various State institutions
following the lifting of price controls
have created an unforeseen emer
gency, the Governor pointed out, tC
the extent that practically all of the
Hospitals, Institutions, and Depart
ments will require additions to their
present budget allotments to carry
them through until next June 80.
while our own State, like all co.
ernmental bodies, throughout tn,
country, is faced with unexpected in
creases in costs of maintaining it
various services" Governor O'Cono4
declared, 1--WE are most fortunate l.
having on hand very generous un
encumbered surplus.
Instead of having to levy any ad
ditional taxes, or to search for neN
revenues to meet this unforeseeablN
situation, we will have on hand ses
eral times as much as the amount re
quires. so that the action of the Gen
eral Assembly will be in the nature
of a bookkeeping adjustment b.
which funds on hand are merely Tt
leased for the increased current e.
penses."
The midland journal., 1946-12-20

All manner of tradesmen soon
realized that the idea was a good
one, and it became common prac-
tice for apprentices and others to
take box round to their business
acquaintances, singing carols the
while.
By the time Pepys wrote his fa-
nous diary, Christmas boxes were
we'll established, and he mentions
them several times in his writings.
Swift also has a word to say about
them in his journal to Stella"
written in ITO; "By the Lord Har-
ry, I shall be undone here with
Christmas boxes.'
One public servant, the ''bell-
man." who enjoyed the privilege of
soliciting Christmas boxes, was in
some respects the forerunner of the
postnan, often being commissioned
to deliver letters. At the approach
of Christmas he would push poems
of his own composition under the
doors of townsmen whom he had
served. They were reminders that
recognition was expected on Boxing
Day.
The midland journal., 1946-12-20
Hodening Horse OF
British Isles

Strange miracle plays were al
ways intrinsic parts of the holiday
season in the British Isles and in
many such traditional perform
ances, one of the characters rode a
grotesque hobby horse. Gradually,
the horse assumed the characteris-
tics of a star performer and in time,
stepping out of the play altogether,
began going from house to house
expecting hospitality, after frighten-
ing families half out of their wits.
Of course, the Hodening Horse
was no ordinary horse: two boys,
covered with sheets and horse
blanket, usually supplied his vital
ity; his wooden head was hideous-
ly carved with gouged eyes, hob
nail teeth, etc. The boys manipu-
lated strings to make the teeth
clank, etc., and sometimes placed
a lighted candle in the hollow Of
the head to make the mouth seem
to belch forth flames.
In Wales, it was customary for
the Hodening Horse to recite long
extemporaneous verses: if the
Horse outwitted his host, he was
invited in for cakes and cider. A less
witty procedure was followed In
some rural communities and along
lonely roads: wealthy citizens and
travellers were attacked by unknown
Hodening Horses who demanded
"fnes" from their victims.
The midland journal., 1946-12-20
MISTLETOE DISTINCT AS YULE
DECORATION

Mistletoe, that distinctive Christ
mas green so common in many parts
of America, is usually thought of as
merely good holiday decoration or as
a creator of open season on ladies
fair for otherwise bashful swains.
Mistletoe did not always hold this
position in our lives. The Druids call
ed it "all-heal" and thought it held
many miraculous virtues. The Scan
dinavians dedicated it to their god
dess of love, Friga. Probably this
goddess of love is responsible for the
custom of kissing under the mistle-
toe.
The power to heal, to protect
against sickness, to perform magic
1eeds-all these and more are the
qualities ascribed to this plant in
legends, traditions and even in an
cent histories and literature.
Mistletoe is parasite, which in
tests branches of both hardwood and
conifers, but mainly on hardwoods.
One species is found exclusively,
however, on conifers.
Among the Celts and others mistle
zoe which grew from the oak was
Considered to have peculiar magical
virtues not possessed by that from
any other trees. Some even consider
ed it so rare as to be only cut witk a
gold knife.
Another old tradition is that the
mistletoe supplied the wood for the
holy cross, as previous to that time
it was a forest tree but after the
crucifixion was condemned to exist
only as a dwarf parasite.
Mistletoe was taken over into the
Christian tradition in due course and
dedicated to the Christ Child. An old
Lyme reads:
The mistletoe bough
At our Christmas board
Shall hang to the honor
Of Christ our Lord.
The midland journal., 1946-12-20
WATER FOR THE CHRISTMAS
TREE

Keeping the Christmas tree stand
ing in plain water with no chemicals
-,dded) is about tke most satisfactory
Ind convenient method of keeping
he fire hazard low, and of checking
ne dropping or fading of color i'll the
..eedles, according to the Forest Ser
ice of the U. S. Department of Agri-
.ulture Chemical solutions have been
recommended, but plain water does
Just as we'll, costs nothing, and does
lot promote any false sense of secur-
ty that the tree has been fire-proof-
ID. Some chemicals tend to discolor
he leaves.
The Forest Service suggests get
ing a tree cut recently enough so
hat the needles have not dried. Cut
he butt on slant at least an inch
4bove the original cut. Arrange for
support and bracing of the tree so
hat the butt can remain in a con-
.ainer of water while the tree is on
display, and keep the water levei
.bove the cut surface.
An annual Christmas tree harvest
f from Is to Is million trees, ac-
ording to the Forest Service esti-
nate, provides Christmas trees for
more than half the families of the
United States. This harvest usually
,egins in October in the northern
art of the country. Spruces account
or about 35 percent of tke Christ
mas trees, Douglas fir about 80 per
ent, balsam fir about 20 percent
md other species about Is per cent
Janada usually sends about 5 mil
ION trees to the U. S. market, mainly
,aslam frs. Some three quarters of a
lillion trees are cut on National
orests annually, and these trees
epresent Trimmings or Improvement
uttings to give the remaining trees
!. better chance to develop into tim
ger trees. Most of the Christmas tree
rop comes from natural Seeding
md the wise woodland owners fol
ow the Forest Service system of pru-
dent thinning.
Some trees come from planted
Christmas tree farms. Such trees are
planted thicker than needed for for
3st growth with planned cutting OF
he excess trees to supply the holi'
day demand.
The midland journal., 1946-12-20
THE HOLY THORN OF
GLASTONBURY

In honor of the Hawthorn, which
legendarily shielded Christ while he
rested in the woods before the crucl-
fixion, Joseph of Arimathaea chose Z
thorn staff when he started on his
long journey to Britain shortly aftel
the death of Christ. Arriving at las
at his new home in Glastonbury
Joseph stuck kis walking stick intC
the ground; the staff began to grow
and soon acquired the habit of pro
ducing flowers each Christmas Eve.
The first literary mention OF the
thorn is contained in Hearne's His
tory and Antiquities of Glastonbury,
published in 1922. In this work, MI.
Eyston states: Whether it sprang
from st. Joseph of Arimathaea's dry
staff, I cannot find, but beyond ala
dipsute it sprang up miraculously.
When Britain adopted the Gregol-
ian calendar in 1853, 1900 persons
assembled at Glastonbury on Decem
ber 25-new style-to see il the Holy
Thorn would bloom in agreemen.
with the new calendar; when it die
not, many refused to participate L.
the usual observances OF Christmas
The evil of changing calendars Was
proven when the thorn biossomed o.
January 5-Christmas Eve, old style
and many ministers in the vicinitJ
of Glastonbury appeased their con
gregations by announcing tina.
Christmas would be observed accord
ing to the old calendar.
A cutting of the Glastonbury thorn
was brought to America in 1900 ana
planted near St. Albans school il
Washington, D. c., by the late RighL
Rev. Henry Gates Satterlee. The cut
ting grew into tree, blossoming fol
the first time in December, 1918;
since then, it has blossomed each
year at Christmastirhe and attracts
thousands of visitors annually
The midland journal., 1946-12-20
Open Air 'Festas"
vs.. Santa Claus


Santa Claus has firmly entrenched
himself in the hearts of Brazilian
youngsters, although his traditional
chimney had to be abandoned-very
few homes being equipped with such
things, and it never occurs to the
small fry that 1t might be fun to
spy on Santa; the children beg to
stay up, of course, hoping to partici-
pate in the grown-up festivities and
perhaps accompany their parents to
midnight mass.
Since it really is June In January
south of the equator, Christmas in
Brazil is a midsummer festival.
Midnight mass on Christmas Eve
is celebrated with greater or lesser
pomp throughout the land, preceded
by dancing ''festas" and gala late
suppers.
The midland journal., 1946-12-20
CHRISTMAS DAY

On Christmas Day we repeat the
old familiar greeting that, each year,
in some mystic way, rings fresh and
true-"Merry Christmas" Like such
words as "hello' and ''good-by, ="
there really isn't anything else to say
that pulls at our heartstrings as do
those old dear words. And so again
we say:
Merry Chrismas-to the littlest
ones who skip downstairs in the gray
dawn tc expolre their stockings and
the wondrous tree and to look a-'
Christmas with the special radiance
of youth. who lend to the rest OF
us little glimmers of the real Christ
mas glamour.
Merry Christmas-to father who'll
strain a point any day to give us ali
the things we want. who probably
works much too hard and yet keeps
younger and more alert because OF
the responsibility of a family and the
competition of busines. who makes
the gesture of tu-tutting all the fuss
and feathers, yet beams with affec-
tion and excitement.
Merry Christmas-to mother who
really calls the tune for the holidays
and does the planning and pulling to-
gether. who f1utters and bustles ra-
diantly for weeks ahead and undoubt-
edly has the best and busiest time OF
ALL
Merry Christmas-to the butcher,
the baker, the candlestick-maker,n no.
to mention all those who sold US
shoes and ships and sealing wax.
for what would Christmas be without
them? For through them we've all
been able to share our own little
prosperity in the most wholesome
way of all-by spending it.
Merry Christmas-to dear friends
far and near who've sent us greeting
and gifts. most especially we cher
ish the greetings because even more
than gifts they express the true spiri,
of Christmas.
Merry Christmas-to the droppers
in who come with holiday cheer anu
friendship.
Merry Christmas-to ourself, for
that matter But then we feel pretty
sure that we'll have one for we've
put so much work and excitement
and loving getting-ready into it. For
of course we all get out of Christmas
Just about what we put in.
The midland journal., 1946-12-20
Many Are the Legends Of
Ancient Mk Log Customs

Old books and legends surround
the Yule Log with much mystery
and superstition.
Il Thus, it must be touched and
lighted with scrupulously clean
hands: certain types of persons
such as squirting or fatfooted-are
unwelcome while it is burning and,
should the fire go out during the
night, bad luck is portended for the
new Year.
Less superstitiously, Tyroleans
decorate their Log with paper flow
ers and bright ribbons. Wine is
poured over it by the youngest child
of the household who offers a prayer
that the fire may warm the cold,
the hungry obtain food, the weary
ind rest, and all may enjoy heav-
ems blessing and peace.
The midland journal., 1946-12-20
1947 RECOMMENDED
AGRICULTURAL GOALS FOR
.... MARYLAND

Goals for 1947 Maryland food pre-
duction were recommended by Mar
land agricultural farm leaders at
meeting of the U. S. d. A. Coune-
held at College Park last week. FIJI
ting into the Natioanl request for
larger acreage of crops in 1947 t.
meet the heavy demand for food, M
Jos. H. Blandford, Chairman of tt
U. S. D. A. Council and also Chai.
man of the goals meeting, said an j.
crease Of $4,000 acres of field crop
and vegetables were recommend
over the acreage grown in 1916.
The principal increases are in coll
recommended at 100000 acres owe
473,O0O acres in 1916; tobacco /.
creased from $4,000 to 0,000 acres
and tomatoes for processing increa,
ed from 44,300 to $4,000 acres. TIL
heavy demand and short storag
stock justify an increase in tomatoe
An increase was recommended f1
lima beans because of the deman
for quick freezing of this crop. d
creases were recommended in th
acreage of sweet corn, snap beaL
and green peas in view of the heay
storage supplies of these product
Tie production of Maryland tobacC
has not been keeping pace with tn
demand for this crop, and therefor
to meet longtime plan to increas
the acreage of Maryland tobasso
a certain extent each year, the goa
committee requested an increase {
approximately 1000 acres over 194
production. Decreases were asked 70
cucumbers for pickles, cantaloupe
and watermelons.
Another year of heavy livestool
production is recommended 70
Maryland farmers. With the CONT.
ued shortage of pork and a large sui
ply of corn on farms, farmers are eX
pected to increase the number Q
sows for spring farrowing to 5000
which is 5000 head greater than
1946. Although an increase in NIL
is desired, the shortage of dairy r.
placements may make 1t lmpoSslbl
to increase the number of milk COW
for 1947 and some reduction in tn
supply of milk is expected. With i'll
creased supplies of red meat, the de
mand for poultry and eggs is expect
ed to decrease Therefore, farmer
are advised to reduce hens kept fo
egg production by about Is % and re
duce chickens raised by about IL %
These goals are to be submitted t
the Secretary of Agriculture for con
firmation. Early in 1947 meeting
will be held in various areas of til
State where goals will be explaine
to farmers, at which time informa
tion will also be given as to tn
availability of machinery and pros
poets for labor and supplies, such a
fertilizer. feeds, etc., and price SUP
ports.
The midland journal., 1946-12-20
CORN LOANS AVAILABLE

Corn prices in parts of Maryland
are, according to reports received i'll
Mr.. Blandford's Office, considerably
lower than the current loan rate.
Loans based on $1.30 per bushel for
No. corn in all Maryland countie-
are available for either shelled OF
ear corn which is stored on the farm.
Loans have been available since the
first of December and will be throug-
July 81, 1947, maturing on demanO
but not later than September /, 1947.
The midland journal., 1946-12-20
CONOWINCO
POWER COMPANY
Name of Jesus Found
Carved in Palestine

Urns recently discovered in a
cave cn the Observation-Disclosures
road, believed to be the oldest ar
theological record of Christianity,
dating back to 10 A. D., contained
the name Of Jesus carved on them.
1t is believed that the carving was
made by an eyewitness to the cru
cifixion. They were found on II
early Christian burial urns.
A sect of Hebrews, who followed
Jesus, denounced Pontius PLATE,
and mourned the crucifixion of their
leader was believed to have left the
writing on the ossuaries in the
cave.
The midland journal., 1946-12-20
MARYLAND BEEF CATTLE All
JUDGING TEAM PLACES HIGH AT
INTERNATIONAL

Maryland's All Club beef cattle
Judging team placed fourth among
he teams from 22 states competing
It the International Livestock Expo
,ition in Chicago this month. Men,
1ers of TIE team are George Frye,
4aytonsville; James King, Gathers
1urg, and William Dorsett, Sellman.
his team. representing Montgomery
ounty, was trained by Roscoe Whipp
ssistant county agent, and UraI G..
ZEE, assistant livestock extension
specialist.
The midland journal., 1946-12-20
Romans Started
Christmas BOres

Boxing day has been a day of
gifts to public servants since Ro-
man times. 1t originated as pa
gan custom, for the Romans OBJ
served the rite during their winter
feast of Saturnalia. Later, when the
people became Christians, the gifts
were handed during Mass to the
priests, who placed them into
boxes. The feast was then known
as Christ'Se Mass and the boxes as
Christmas boxes, not to be opened
except by being broken
The midland journal., 1946-12-20
NoIa Birthplace
Of Church Bells

The use of church bells is said to
have been inaugurated during the
fifth century by Bishop Palinius of
Nola, in Campania.
Although the derivation Is doubt
ed by some authorities, it appears
that the Latin word for bell Cam
panula - was derived from the
bishops town, Nola, and district,
Campacia.
The midland journal., 1946-12-20
When the htant Jesus
Selected His PLAYMATE

According to various legends, the
Holy Family travels about on Christ
mas Eve. Long ago-in England
sick babies were carried to the
threshold at midnight. II the child
recovered, it had been healed by
the passing Christ; il the baby died,
the Holy Child had chosen the in
FAINT to be His playmate in heaven.
The midland journal., 1946-12-20
custavus Franklin Swift. found

Gustavus Franklin Swift, founder
of Swift & Company, left school when
he was IA years old to work for his
brother, butcher, at 81 week, ac-
cording to the Encyclopedias Britain
MICA. At 16 he entered the business
world with $40 borrowed capital
When he died at 63. Swift was head
of the meat-packing firm which hau
a capitalization of $25,000,000.
The midland journal., 1946-12-20
Southern Customs Have
Remained at Christmas

Negro families of Virginia have
their own traditional method of gift
giving.
On Christmas Eve a large sheet
is spread over the dining room ta-
ole with box placed here and
there to raise the sheet above table
level. Each member of the house.
hold writes his name on a slip of
paper and pins it to the sheet.
The midland journal., 1946-12-20
Lyons First Born
Welcomed Warmly

a.. But the Son of Man hath
not where to lay his head."-St.
Matthew $3.50.
At Founding hospital in Lyons,
France, the first infant received on
Christmas Day is luxuriously well
coined with great ceremony: the
tradition contrasting the lot of the
nfant Saviour and that of one of
His most helpless little ones.
The midland journal., 1946-12-20

Ulysses s. Grant, 18th President of
he United States. took SO little in
.erest in politics for many years that
he only voted for one Presidential
andidate before he was As years old.
men he was AZ he was elected Pres
ident on the Republican ticket,
The midland journal., 1946-12-20

The imperial State crown, made
for Queen Victoria in 1888, is the
most valuable crown in the world, ac-
cording to the Encyclopaedia Britain
MICA. 1t contains a ruby as large as
small mems egg. diamond weighing
30s carats and more than 2,500
smaller diamonds, in addition to euar
esslds, sapphiEes and pearls.
The midland journal., 1946-12-20

Gifts are sneaked in during the
night and placed under the names
of the persons for whom they are
intended: even the youngest chill
dren forbear to "snoop" until the
morning. and removal of the sheet
reveals all the presents.
Years ago, eggnog was served
while breakfast was being pre-
pared-such a breakfast that no one
paid much attention to Christmas
dinner. When friends dropped in,
everyone had something to eat so
that families just sort of "pieced"
all day.
The midland journal., 1946-12-20

AS promoter of interracial UNDER
standing Joe Louis gets medal for
being knockout.
Mexican President proves himself
a good neighbor by asking credits
from the United States.
The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1946-08-17
Vets Get Permits

Ten Negro war veterans We're
granted licenses go operate taNi
cabs Nv Mayor Edward J Jcl-
fries Tuesday
Tho colcrcd Veterans dpplca-
iiuu. we're approved by Police
Commits ioncr John = Ballcnscr
and the Allied Veterans Council
The ten men viii operate The
cabs under the name Of me
WAYNE Overseas Cab Company
The officers OF the firm arc Ar
thur Bowman. president Norbert
Docket first vice president AZ
bert Mckinney. second vice presi-
dent. Robert r Robinson. cor
responding secretary Robert ]
Gaitskill recording secretary:
Louis Boddie. treasurer The 9th
err members are Earl NJ Cocker.
William Steward Lucien Italia
fcrro and Henry c. Brown.
The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1946-08-17
Say FBI Knows
Three Lynchers

-
w ASltlND ~ y. -
(NNPA Al ~ FBl lNNeStlga-
tors are believed 20 nave
identified al least three
members OF the armed mob
that lvnched four Negroes
near Monroe. Georgia, on
Julv %
>rrofdine no me Washington
post evidence MIA soon d. laid be-
for. Governor IlH, 4rualI and
Arornev Gep.f,t Tam Clark.
which wiD make pos,ible Tho
rounduc M of tie entire gang
The FEI was believed a. b., tying
Ill.,. o,4
The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1946-08-17
Jail ATHENS RIOTERS
lnest Whites
b Race Roit

tWHENS Ala Speedy action
\ police in this north Alabama
snn htcd a riot OF whites
sdn- Negroes and resulted in
ae arrest oC ton white men Oa
Sunday Local officials esti-
trd nd 20 to loo Negroes.
Minded several oldslers and
pmsste were beaten or tram
ITO disturbance started on SAT
fda} slieuoOn with fight be-
Yen Negro and white. \
@. hout 2OoO white mon
Ddnd and drove all Negroes
'rm ile streets
pa guard troops. STATE high
ptrolmen and local police
|'rl into Inv situation almost
pr FIFTY Highway Police
no town within so minutes
be- START OF the outbreak
im leaders ~ tho mob who
F. arrested ranged in age from
10 q They were described by
puny Judge y l.. Rosenau. Jr.
1oodium leaders,
pccial grand Jury has been
hal O. investigate The rio T.
convene on Monday lm-
Ifda'c rial Of any persons in
tlrd hy the jury viii be pressed
irruit Solicitor George G.
pan"on II will not tolerate
loh rule IN Limestone County"