r
&OYAT/KRIS KRINGLE
THE KING WHOSE SCEPTER IS A
HOLLY BRANCH.
Hour St. TfldioluH Itecnmo the .Santa ris.ua
of Today ClirMmuH UK It Is Cflubratod
North and .Sonlh An OJd Plantation
Scune.
1802. ]
HEREVETl it oc
curs , Chiistinns
is king of the
holidays , In the
northern home-
stead , on the
southern planta
tion , among these
who go down to
"the in "
sea ships ,
and among the people of all civilized
lands , it is the ono season of the year
marked by a , reign of hospitality , merri
ment tiud open heartedness. It recalls
to the old the pleasures of youth , and
transports many an absent ono back to
his own liresido and quiet home.
In the early annals of New York city ,
when it was Nieu Amsterdam and the
sturdy Stuyvesant was commander in
chief ; when our now crowded Broadway
was below Wall street and known enl } '
as plain Heere straat ; when our business
throttled Maiden lane was T'maagde
paatje "The Maiden's Path" where
the red cheeked Dutch girls went to
hang their clothes ; when the meat mar
ket was on Bowling Green , and the pres
ent City Hall park a public pasture out
side the city wall , the 24th and 25th of
December were dedicated to St. Nich
olas , the patron saint of the colony. It
was his imago that constituted the fig-
Tirehead of the ship that brought the
first Dutch emigrants to this shore. It
was he who gave his name to the first
church within the walls , and whose benisons -
isons were most solemnly invoked in the
hour of trouble by all Dutchmen on land
and sea.
To the Dutch boys and girls St. Nich
olas was a jolly , white bearded , little ,
old man , smoking his long stemmed
pipe , and in their fancies driving
through the air over town and country ,
oceans and deserts , sending through
space the sharpest of whistles to the
wonderful reindeer team that carried
the wonderful sleigh. These little
Knickerbockers have passed away for
ever , but the children of today still keep
up the devotion of the children of 1650
for St. Nicholas , only they now call
him Santa Glaus. He is the same friend ,
the same little , low built , chubby ,
merry , mysterious ancient who loves
children of all ages and all countries.
The manner in which his coming is
celebrated differs according to the habits
and associations of the people. In the
great cities and the country towns , for
days aud weeks beforehand , the markets
and stores , the streets and avenues pro
claim the approach of the fete. The
whole community abandons itself to for
aging expeditions. Bundles and baskets
are everywhere on men's shoulders and
in their hands , in wagons and coaches ,
filling the aisles of street cars and trun
dling through the highways in wheel-
uarrows. , "Women and children , hus
bands , bachelors and sweethearts strug
gle beneath their weight. There are
gifts for boyr and girls , presents for
men and Tvoinen , and heaps of presents
tor granaratuers anti granamotners.
"Old Scrooge" is there , crowding pater
familias in his endeavor to buy the big
gest turkey and make amends for his
meanness to his bookkeeper during the
year , while materfamilias declares to
herself that her Christmas shall be the
handsomest among all the neighbors.
Now comes Christmas eve the fairy
time of the little ones. And who shall
describe it ? The old mantel , with its
row of stockings , large and small ; the
expectant looks of the youngsters as
they linger around the fireplace won
dering what Santa Clanswill bring ; the
creeping into bed and listening , while
the grown folks are making merry over
their eggnog and mulled cider , for any
sign of the coming of the old gentleman
down the chimney ; then , when the
house is still , the mysterious movementn
of the happy parents as they produce
the Christmas gifts from their hiding
places and tie them up in the most pro
voking knots ; the commotion in the
house long before dawn when the chil
dren bounce from their beds to see what ;
the King has sent them ; the chorus of
chuckles and gabble of delight as they
gather around the bedside of the sleepy
father and mother and arouse every one
in the house to display the liberality of
the God of gifts who shall , who can
tell the story of such a happy time ?
By and by the bells in the steeples call
the good people all to church and chapel ,
and away they go , flocking through the
streets in their best clofhes and with
their gayest faces. Closed stores and a
general cessation from labor give a Sab
bath sanctity and reserve to the day out
side , very different from the Christmas
echoes of the night before. A little later
we are seated at the Christmas dinner ,
each one nervously impatient to attack
the heaped up viands. The turkeys and
geese and chickens that caused such a
stuffing of baskets on Christmas eve are
set out stuffed in turn upon the tables ,
and soon after lots of little boys and
girls are in the same condition.
The feast ended , other pleasures fol
low. The old folks gather around the
big fireplace to enjoy the outpouring of
good feeling and honest interchange of
Affectionate attachment which abound
at this season. The young people betake
themselves to the frolics of a sleigh
ride , while the children repair perhaps
to the neighboring hills and ponds to
try the new sleds and skates. This Is ,
the Christmas of the average home cir-,1
cle throughput the north and west.
The" "Christmas ofthe rich is also a'
alryiand.in which for one day at least j
nothing save the spirit of KrisKringlei
"
enters the voluptuous heaven "with [ its !
finn'Snen tgas jeteite.carpetea floor , ;
softer tfian clovei its pSrftuned air , em-
feroideredVnrtainsand gorgeous Christ- }
inas tree , all aflame with light and color ,
ore gathe'r.ejGla'.f shionable thrpng ,
'
* '
: ? - -
.
r. - - - *
oner's couch , the ' 'iand that shaded the
lamp touched him on the shoulder , and
u sweet and silvery voice a woman's
voice asked him , "Do you want eat ? "
The young Pole , awakened suddenly
by the glare of the lamp , by the touch
and worda of the female , rose up on his
couch and with eyes only half opened
Baid in German , "What do you want ? "
"Give the mail something to eat at j
once , " said CasUmos , when he heard the
result of the first experiment , "and let
him go. lie IB not a Frenchman. How
could ho have been so far master of him
self ? The thing is impossible. "
But though Leckinski was supplied [
with food he was detained a prisoner.
The next morning he was taken to u spot | I
where he could bee the mutilated corpse !
of the Frenchman , who had been cruel
ly massacred by the peasantry of Trnxil-
lo , and he was threatened with the same
death. But the noble youth had prom
ised not to fail , and not a word , not an
accent , not a gesture or look betrayed
him.Leckiuski j
Leckiuski , when taken back to his
prison , hailed it with a sort of joy. For
twelve hours he had had nothing but
gibbets and death in its most horrid
forms-before his eyes exhibited to him
b } ' men with the looks and the passions
of demons. He slept , however , after the
harrassing excitement of the day , and
Boundly , too , when in the midst of hie
deep and deathlike slumbers the dee *
opened gently , some one drew near hi.i
couch , and the same voice whispered in
his ear :
"Arise and come with me. We wish
to save j'our life. Your horse is read- . "
And the brave young man , hastily
awakened by the words , "We wish to
save your life ; come , " answered still in
German , "What do you want ? "
Castanos , when he heard of this experi
ment and its result , said the Russian
was a noble young man ; he saw the true
state of the case.
The next morning early four men
came to take him before a sort of court
martial , composed of officers of Castanos'
staff. During the walk they uttered the
most horrible threats against him , but
true to his determination he pretended
not to understand them.
When he came before his judges ho
seemed to gather what was going on
from the arrangements of the tribunal
and not from what he heard said around
him , aud he asked in German where his
interpreter was ? He was sent for , and
the examination commenced.
It turned at first upon the motive of
his journey from Madrid to Lisbon. He
answered by showing his dispatches to
Admiral Siniavin and his passport.
Spite of the presence and the vehement
assertions of the peasant , he persisted in
the same story and did not contradict
himself once.
"Ask him , " said the presiding officer
at last , "if he loves the Spaniards , as he
is not a Frenchman ? "
"Certainly , " said Leckiuski , " 1 like
the Spanish nation , and I esteem it for
its noble character. I wish our two na
tions were friends. "
"Colonel , " said the interpreter to the
president , "tho prisoner says that he
hates us because we make war like ban
ditti ; that he despises us , and that his
only regret is that he cannot unite the
whole nation in one man , to end this
odious war at a single blow. "
While he was saying this , the eyes of
the whole tribunal were attentively
watching the slightest movement of the
prisoner's countenance , in order to see
what effect the interpreter's treachery
would have upon him. But Leckinski
had expected to be put to the test in
some way , and was determined to baf
fle all their attempts.
"Gentlemen"said Castanos , "itseeins
to me that this young man cannot bo
suspected ; the peasant must be deceived.
The prisoner may pursue his journey ,
and when he reflects , on the hazard of
our position he will find the severity
we have been obliged to use excusable. "
Leckinski's arms and dispatches were
returned , he received a free pass , and
thus this noble youth came victorious
out of the severest trial that the human
spirit can be put to. H. K. in New
York News.
Peculiarities of Nervous "Women.
Says a physician who is a specialist in
nervous diseases : ' 'The vagaries of nerv
ous women would fill a volume. I have ,
however , a profound respect for their
sincerity and a deep sympathy with
their victims. One of my patients , a
fine looking woman , with a splendid
physique , is reduced to a condition bor
dering on insanity by a high wind. If
she is out in it her misery is heightened.
She says she has a dazed , confused feel
ing that amounts to bewilderment , and
she feels as if any moment she would
lose her hold on reason and sense.
"Another of my patients cannot endure
to hear toast crunched between the teeth
of another person. She can eat it her
self , but has to leave the table if another
does , so great is her distress. In other
respects she is a woman of strong char
acter. It would be interesting to trace
the origin of such apparently causeless
conditions. " New York Times.
The Zither.
The zither is a stringed instrument
which has not as yet a very great follow
ing in New York. It has the sweetness
of the guitar and mandolin , with the
depth and richness of the harp. In the
hands of an expert performer , who thor
oughly understands the scope of the in
strument , no music can be more deli
cious. It is somewhat difficult to learn ,
is played with both hands , a shield being
worn on the thumb of the right hand ,
and has from to
thirty-one forty-four
strings. New York Press.
Fine Clothes.
"The soil of California is so 'fruitful , "
said a native of the Golden State , "that
a man who accidentally dropped a box
of matches in his field discovered the
next year & fine forest of telegraph'poles. "
"That's nothing to my state , " said a
native of Illinois. "A cousin of mine
who lives , there lost a button off his
jacket and in leas than a month he found
a brand new suit of clothes hanging on &
fenc * nearjtfce.ipot. " Texas Sif tings.
v ? . * . " ' .
ACCORDING to statistics recently
published by the census bureau
the proportion of owned farms in
Iowa is 70.413 per cent. Among
every one hundred families , thirty-
three farms are owned free oi ! en
cumbrance , and thirty-seven are
mortgaged , while thirty families
hire the farms.
PAUL BOYNTON has sailed for
Europe. Ho has been in New
York City for three weeks arrang-
ing matters so that he may become
the worthy successor of Buffalo
Bill as a novel showman. He has
leased Buffalo Bill's old quarters
in Earl's court , and next May will
bi-gin an exhibition called the
World's Water show. He pro
poses to represent all the big riv
ers of America , from the Missis
sippi down , and to exhibit every
kind of boat afloat from an Indian
canoe up. He will give a parade
on the Thames with a hundred
men and women walking on water
shoes , playing ball as choy float
up and down tho. river. He will
bring from America Indians for
the canoes and whole families of
niggers with the flat bottomed
boats of the southern bayous. He
will give old fashioned clam bakes
on the grounds , something never
heard of on this side of the ocean
aud will introduce every form of
aquatic sport known.
THE Arab's proverb rtbout let
ting a camel put his nose through
the tent door to warm it , is illus
trated by the Woman's Annex at
Harvard. That venerable institu
tion has at least been forced to ad
mit the ludicrousness of the "An
nex" and as it dares not turn the
young women out it has concluded
to let them entirely in on the same
basis as the male under-graduates.
This is eminently sensible. Bui
the tout ensemble of the affair is
marred by the rumor that the con
dition of letting these women in is
§ 250,000 , which they have under
taken to raise for the endowing
still further that insatiable uuiver-
sitOf course that would be
bribery and corruption anywhere
outside the suburbs of Boston.
Journal.
THE suggertions that the inter
state commerce law has Avholly
abolished instead of amended ,
and that a new start be taken from
the bottom is not a bad one. If
the recent decision of Judge
Greshaiu is to be regarded as a
final termination that commissiou
has no judicial functions aud can
not invoke the power of the courts
to enforce its extra-judicial func
tions , then it is evident that a
court with special jurisdiction in
sush matters and comprising a
pait of the judicial branch of the
government , is the thing that is
needed to restrict railroad combi
nation and extortion. With effec
tive and judicious laws regarding
to transportation and a court fully
empowered to enforce such laws
the interest of the people would
find protection. The public is
thoroughly tired of fruitless efforts
to enforce the present law and
would like to see a new deal
all around. Bee.
ON beginning its career the
oyster is so small that two million
oysters would only occupy a square
inch. In six mouths each individ
ual oyster is large enough to cover
a iiickle and in twelve mouths a
quarter. The oyster is its own
architect and the shell grows as
the fish inside grows , being never
to small. It also bears its age
upon its back , for on its shell are
successive layers overlapping one
another , technicallyJtermed"shots"
and each one marks a years growth.
-counting them the age of. the
oyster can be determined. Up to
the time of its maturity that is
when four years of age the shots
are regular and successive : but
after that time they become irreg
ular and are piled one upon anoth
er , so that the shell becomes bulky
and thickened. Fossil oysters
have been seen of which each shell
was nine inches thick , whence
ihey may be judged to be 900
years old. One to two million
oysters are produced from a single
parent and their scarcity is ac
counted for by the fact that man
is not the only oyster eating ani
mal. The starfish loves the oyster
and preys upon it unceasingly.
A variety of whelk is also very
: end of young oysters , to get at
which it bores right' through the
shell and sticks the fish up through
the hole thus made.
PROF. W. E. ANDREWS , who
made such a gallant and brilliant
light in the congressional race of
the Sixth district , has received and
accepted the position of private
secretary at the hands of Gover
nor-elect Crounse. Prof. Andrews
is one of the rising republicans of
Nebraska , and Judge Crounse is
to be congratulated on his first ap
pointment. Bee.
THE city of Lincoln is well
pleased to net as host to the Ne
braska State Teacher's association ,
which began its annual session at
the University Tuesday evening.
Evervthin'g that we have is at the
disposal of this useful and flourish
ing organization. Our education
al institutions especially have
open doors and a warm welcome
for the visitors. The Journal
wishes them a pleasant meeting on
the social side , and a profitable
session in all that makes for the
strengthening and upbuilding of
the educational interests of the
state. Journal.
WHETHER President Harr ison
intends , like his pn 1 r - . or , to
embody the results of his experi
ence in an extension of the civil
service rules before he goes out of
office is uofc yet apparent , but the
outcry of the democratic press
sounds as if there may bo a proba
bility of it. Why not ? If civil
service is good for one set of gov
ernment employes who knows but
it may be just as good for another
set. There is nothing like going
ahead when you have a good thing
Grover extended it to the railway
postal clerks just before he passed
off the stage four years ago , and
the president is thinking extend
ing it to fourth class postmasters.
There are only 80,000 of them ,
and it is a tolerable safe experi
ment when the service has been
put in such excellent conditions by
Mr. Wanamaker. Journal.
Children Cry for Pitcher's Castoria.
T.
( Regular Graduate. )
The Leading Specialist of the United States
In Bla Z.inc.
Private , Blood , Skin and Nervous Diseases.
Young and
Middle Aged
Men : Remark-
ahle results have
followed my
treatment Many
YEARS of var
ied and success
ful EXPERI
ENCE in the use
of curative meth
ods that I alone
S' J & 8&&SSB&s& & &l & * vl'a- and control
all disorders
sot MEN. who
shave weak or uu-
adeveloped or dls-
eased organs , or
/.whoaresuffering
3from errors of
youth and excess
or who are nerv
ous and IMPO
TENT , the scorn of their fellows and the con
tempt of friends and companions , leads me to
GUARANTEE to all patients , if they can pos-
siblv be RESTORED , MY OWN EXCLUSIVE
TREATMENT will AFFORD A CURE
lijrRE.UEMBEK , tnat thcrc is hope for
YOU. Consult no other , as you may WASTE
VALUABLE TIME. Obtain my treatment at
once.
Fcmnlo Diseases cured at home without in
struments ; a wonderful treatment.
Catarrh , and Diseases of the Skin , Blood ,
Heart , Liver and Kidneys.
'iyphUls. The most rapid , safe and effective
treatment , A complete care guaranteed.
aisin Diseases of all kinds cured where many
others have failed.
Unnatural Discharges promptly cured in a
few days. Quick , sure and safe. Thin includes
Gleet and Gonorrhoea.
MY METHODS.
I. Free consultation at the office or by mail.
2 : Thorough examination and careful diagnosis.
& That each patient treated gets the advantage
of special study and experience , and a
specialty is made of his or her disease.
4. Moderate charges and easy terms of payment.
A home treatment can be given in a majority
of cases.
Send for Symptom Blank No. 1 for Men.
No. 2 for women.
No. 3 for Skin Diseases.
SendlOc for 64-page Reference Book for Men
and Women.
All correspondence answered promptly. Bus
iness strictly confidential. Entire treatment
sent free from observation. Refer to banks in St
Joseph and business men. Address or call on
e J. N. HATHAWAY , M. E > . ,
Corner 6th and Edtaond Sts. , St. Joseph , Mo
Cares Consumption , Coughs , Croup , Sore
Throat. Sold by all DniRgists on a Guarantee.
For a Lame Side , Back or Chest Shiloh'a Porous
Plaster will give great satisfaction. 35 cents.
SHIE-QH'S VITALIZED.
Mrs. T. S. Hawkins , Chattanooga , Tenn. , saya :
"Shfloh's VttoZtasr * SAVED MY LIFE } I
consider it theoestremedy/oradeftiltfated system
f evtr used. " For Dyspepsia , Liver or Kidney
arouble it oicela. Price ? 5 eta.
- CATARRH
SHU-OtfS & ' R E M E D Y.
Have you Catarrh ? Try this Remedy. It will
relieveandCure you. Price 60 eta. Thia In-
teeter for its successful treatment is furnished
'ree. Shiloh'a Remedlea are sold by ua on a
juarantee to give satisfaction.
0. FOB A CASE : IT WILL NOT CUFIE.
It is nn agreeable Laintlvo for the IJowels ;
can bo made into a Tea for UPC In on&minute.
Prioo 23c. . Wo. and Jl.ro ptr package.
An Elejrnnt T OILET POWDER
foEtheTeethaodBreath-SSc.
What is 1
Castoria is Dr. Samuel Pitchers prescription for Infants
and Children. It contains neither Opium , Morphine nor
other Narcotic substance. It is a harmless substitute
for Paregoric , Drops , Soothing ; Syrups , and Castor Oil.
It is Pleasant. Its guarantee is thirty years' use by
Millions of Mothers * Castoria destroys Worms and allays
feverisliness. Castoria prevents vomiting Sour Curd ,
cures Diarrhoea and "Wind Colic. Castoria relieve *
teething ; troubles , cures constipation and flatulency *
Castoria assimilates the food , regulates the stomach
and bowels , giving healthy and natural sleep. Cos-
toria is the Children's Panacea the Mother's Friend.
Castoria.
* * Cutorfa Is an excellent medicine for chil
dren. Mothers hare repeatedly told ma of ita
good effect upon their children.1'
Da. a. 0. OSGOOD ,
Lowell , Maao.
" Castoria is the best remedy for children of
which I am acquainted. I hope the day Is not
for distant when mothers will consider the real
Interest of their children , and use Castoria in
stead of the various quack nostrums which are
destroying their lored ones , by forcing opium ,
morphine , soothing syrup and other hurtful
agents down their throats , thereby sending
them to premature graves. "
DB. J. F. KntcHELOE ,
Conway , Ark.
Castoria.
14 Castoria la so well adapted to children that
I recommend it as superior to any preacrlptlOB
known to me. "
H. A. ARCHER , M. D. ,
1H So. Oxford St. , Brooklyn , IT. T.
" Our physicians la the children's depart
ment have spoken highly of their expert
ence In their outside practice with Costorix ,
and although we only hara among our
medical supplies what is known as regular
product * , yet wo are free to confess that th
merits of Castoria has won us to look with
faror upon it. "
UNITZD Hospmi. AND DISPKIUBY ,
Boston , Mas.
O. Estmr , Pra. ,
The Centaur Company , TT Murray Street , No\r York City.
GEO. J. BURGESS ,
Dealer in All Kinds of First-Class
Wagons , Road Carts , Buggies.
A Square Deal. The Best are the Cheapest
COME AND SEE ME.
Yard West of First National Bank , McCOOK. NEB.
. t.
/ $ MOST DECIDEDLY IN THE
HOLIDAY TRADE
AND WITH THE fi/CHEST STOCK
AH ELEGANT LINE OF
GLASSWARE
FINE CHINA GOODS
IS RARELY TO BE FOUND
Larret
Call and Inspect His plenclid Stock
Before Making Xmas Purchases.