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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 26, 1913)
THP NORTH PI ATTE PFMIAVEFKLY TBIRUNE. 4ATF1, T ATAO TATHf l I k w 1 Hk I I 1 feS? I y W 1 I I IV ) I , W $r lone In ndvnnco. Houses nro WW U .. . U viz,v,- vii- J - fcareKsarontga WnollllfWn? COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS AT NEW YORK i 1 4 OWHEHE doos Now Year's cere mony mean more than In tlio land of tho little pcoplo whoBG faces Imvo bocomo familiar to ub on pa per fans. Indeed, from a national point of view, this season la tliu greatest occasion of tho year. Elaborato preparations aro mado long In ndvanco. Houses aro cleaned insldo and out. Doorways aro decorated with rlco ropeu and Jem leavos and overgreon. Every hounowlfo buyB a pot or two of "prosperous ngo plant," a miniature plno tree, Bomt bamboo, and somo plum twigs, to win for her home by ornaments like thesu tho favor of the jealous deities that guard tho future. Tho city streets resound with tho mallet blows ot tho dough poundcra making "mochl," tho Jap anese equivalent of plum pudding., All debts nro paid. New clothes aro bought. Thoro aro toys for tho children, and picture curds that bring good fortuno and are good to dream o:i whon tied se curely to tho wooden pillow. O, happy Now Year! Day will hardly dawn bo foro each town and vlllngo will ho stirring. Thoro Is so much to do in celebration. Flrot thoro x come the coromonlnl breakfast, when tho health of all tho family must bo drunk In that rlco wluo called "zonl." Then visits must bo paid to nil acquaintance. Father will wear no more tho tra ditional coHtumo, fnntnstlc and peculiar. For him tho frock coat now, of European manufacture. Out mother, In her qunlnt kimono and elaborato head dress, will look Just us sho hns looked on New Your'a day since tlmo immemorial, Tho children will bo decked out In gorgeous colors: thoy will throng tho stroots, clattering nlonf; on the'lr wooden clogs In pigeon toed but Joyful hnBte, and shouting "Banzai!" to friends nnd foreigners. In tho streets clowns Mil per form Btrnngo antics, exclaiming loudly mean while: "Hall, hall, yo gods of heaven and earth! Hig nlflcant omons aro In tho air, and tho univorso is full of lucky signs." To accompaniment of fluto nnd drum, two legged lions will glvo tho "lions' dance" In masque Strango masiiuerudera will dart hltliot nnd thither through streets and temple gnrdons. It will bo n happy tlmo for Japanese children. For threo glad days ovory llttlo girl will oxpoct to play her favorlto game of shuttlecock and bat tledore. Tho boys will lly their brand now kltos. Tho chlldron will play games with brightly col ored balls, chanting countloss rhymeu. Grown people will play Now Yonr's curd games. Tho llromon will glvo acrobatic exhibitions on thoir laddors. Every nook and cornor of Jupnn will bo In gula dress and gala mood. Northern Franco Is not far behind Japan In ap preciation of tho significance of tho Now Yoar Thoro ChrlRtmitB, so important on our calendar, la ncarcely celebrated, oxcopt by attendnnco at mid night mass and by a festal suppor. Hut tho last night of tho yoar, tho "Vigil of St. Sllvestro," culls for observance, nnd tho first day or tho now year, "lo Jour do l'an," or "lo Jour d'otrenc," Is dedicated to tho renewal of friendship nnd to gonornl gift giving. So universal, in fact, has tho custom bocomo of giving presents and pretty little souvenirs that tho expression "bonno otrenu" means good fortuno nnd "mal otronno" misfortune. Candy and flow, ors nro acceptable glftR In Franco, but thoro Is only one real rule In tho matter a Now Year's Klft must not bu useful. In most Scotch households, ns In Franco, Now Year's day takoB tho placo of Christmas, an evi dence of nnclont sympathy whon both countries rcgnrdod England as n mutual enemy On tho last night of tho yoar, In rural district, groups of men nnd boys go dlsgulshed from house to homo sing ing curious bongs, such as this: Hlso up, good wlfo, and slink' yer foa there. Dlnnn think that wo aro beggars; Wo aro bt.irnioB como to play. Itlso up r:id glvo us hogmanay. When thfty have received tho cakos and coins they oxpect thoy go on to the next placo, llrat, however, having chalked tho house, In tokou of good luck. Next morning ull tho chlldruu got up early and vlow with wldo and Interested oyua tho Ggz&zaar gi&zjprz& cc&$i3xa&r?'J!&ur yvkr& The nppolntmont of Dudley Field, Malono as collector of customs at thei port of Now York, is fraught with po litical Interest. Malono, who Is a son- in-law of Senator O'Gormnn, is a par ticular favorite of President Wilson and also of Secretary Bryan and wa3' aont from Washington, where ho Is us-i slstant secretary of state, to Now York to speak for John Purroy Mite'.' ol during tho recent mayoralty cam palgn. Senntor O'Gqrmnn was a sup-i portor of McCall and he was not con sulted whon the name of Malono vir sent to the senate for tho New York, collectorship. Tho naming of Malono for the New, York post, which pays a salary of $12.-. 000, is interpreted as moaning that he. will co-operate with Mayor Mltchcl' and most probably Governor Glynn Inj tho reorganization of tho Democratic' party in tho state. This means that! tho Wilson adhorcntG will build a ma-; chine of thoir own. Dudley Field Malono Is a native Now Yorker, a graduate of St. Francisl Xavior college and of the Fordham Law school and a lawyer of considerable! talent. Ho was assistant corporation counsel during tho Gaynor admlnlstra-. Uon until last April, when President Wilson mado him third assistant secrc-i tary of state. Malono was ono of the 'original" Wilson men. PRESIDENT NATIONAL BASEBALL LEAGUE nfrrfciiM, CAr nrryti .t STirr i?mr, rr St rr ht- jcuijutsur uiyUOs , rv ifr. g-ccfiu.xjrj bluo and wlilto marks that Uecorato every dwell ing In tho vlllnge. Scotland la, vas well, tho land ot cakes, and at tills season tho bakors' shops nro filled with toothsonio dainties, sugar covered and mottocd in ico. Germany obsorvos various customs. Calls aro mado on Janunry 1, and gifts aro exchanged; delicious llttlo cakes aru oaten In honor of tho festal day. Different neighborhoods havo char acteristlc rltea and superstitions. Thus, In tho Black Forest n workman likes to work a llttlo bit nt his trado tho flral day of tho year, to coax luck In business; most plcturcsquo is tho vender of clocks, who sets out to sell onu at least of his wares. Munich drinks deep to tho hoalth of tho senson In good Hnvurlun brow. Jena, whoso people recognize descent from thoso ancient Gormnns who believed In a god that brought light and warmth each year Into tho world to overcome tho cold and dark of wlntor, builds In Ita public squuro at Now Year's tlmo n groat bontiro, which typifies this ovor now gift of tho genial old deity Umt loved warmth and gave light. Thither at midnight the pcoplo carry tho things thoy wish to cnBt out of their lives with tho old your. Flro ns a Now Year's symbol Is favored In WnloB, as woll. Thero llres aro burned on New Yonr'H day to purify tho house for tho entrance of n now and glatlBomo ora; and tho nshos aro kept sacredly from yonr to yoar, esteemed for spoclnl medicinal virtues. The ringing of bolls to announco the death of tho old yoar and tho birth of tho now ono is common In Englnnd nnd Scotland nnd In Bomo parts ot tho Unltod Stntos. In many English churchos ImproBslvo midnight services aro held. In tho dnles of Wostmorolnnd it Is usual to open tho wost door to lot tho ola-ycar out and to open tho oast door to lot the now yoar In. In England It is still an onjoynblu practice to offer a mlncu plo to every callor during tho Inst wook or the old yoar, for ovory plo oaten under a blessed by tho priest and sprinkled with holy wa ter by the acolyte who follows him. In order that that this, tho solo wealth of tho countryside, may increase and prosper during tho year to come. Tho sight of the holy hour is wonderful As the church boll tolls abovo them tho frightened ani mals bleat and bellow and try madly to escapo. First the oxen aro blessed, then the cows, next tho sheep and lambs, and finally the goats and pigs. Throughout Europe many delightful customs provnll. In Scandinavia a feast 5s always pro pared for tho little birds, which might otherwise go hungry, on account of the deep snows. In Holland, ns In Scotland, tho wind Is noted with care, because the luck of tho year will bo determined by tho direction whence It blows. The south wind brings heat and fertility, tho west wind milk and fish, tho north wind cold and storm, and east wind a fruitful season. In Italy tho Now Year is a day of grouting and good will and special feasting. Sicilian peasants tako advantage of tho feto to 'drive to town in their gay carts, so that tho country roads are merry with tho music of tinkling bolls. And Swiss folk, practical, Industrious, stop their work for tho nonco nnd visit friends, even when thoy havo to carry thoir babies down tho moun tain slopes in cradles on their heads. Bulgaria's heart history is of especial moment Just now On happy New Yenr's day in Bulgarian villages the small boys run from house to house waving branches of tho cornel troo and shouting greetings ns they tap al thoy meet with tho luck bilnging branches. Bulgarian girls go through an interesting ccre-1 mony in an effort to pry Into tho secrets of tho days to como. On Now Year's evo a queen, chosen by lot, guards a kcttlo full of water, in which both men and mnldona havo dropped linger rings or some personal trinkets. Till dawnNdio watches. Then to an open placo in tho center of tho vll Ingo sho tnkos the precious kottle, covered with a cloth, o dancing, singing crowd following her. An oracle, who has been selected for eloquence of Bpeech, proclaims succosslvo fortunes. Ho cries: "Tho lucky girl whoso ring shnll appear shall marry tho best man In tho village" Tho queen ot tho festival dips her hand into tho kottlo and brings forth a ring, and Its ownor receives it rrom her secure In tho belief that good luck betides hor matrimonially before another Now Yoar Boing a governor Is all right, but being a baseball president is hotter. There aro many more governors than big league presidents; In fact, there nro only two of tfio latter Everybody knows who tho president of tho Na tional leaguo Is, and John Klnloy Tener, when he oenses to bo governor of Pennsylvania -lo bocomo president of the National league, will bo a vastly more widely known public figure than he is now. Giving up tho gubernatorial chair In Harrisburg for iho National leaguo president's chair in Now York has its advantages', as well as being a unique happening in the history of the national games political and baseball. The Na tional league presidency is a much higher position, physically at least, for the league's headquarters aro on tho thirteenth lloor of tho Metropolitan Tower Then aj;aln. Mr. Tener will havo John HcyIler, National league secretary, for a faithful advisor, and that is another distinct advantage. Also Mr. Tener will havo his salary raised. He is to get $25,000 a year for four years as president of the National league, whereas he receives only $10,000 for governing Pennsylvania. Tho National league overs a much greater area than tho Keystone state and con tains spirits quite as turbulent. CHIEF OF CHICAGO'S POLICEWOMEN GETTING BACK. A few weeks ago the city of Chicago experienced a radical upheaval in. its police department. John McWeeny, then chief of the force, became in censed through an Imagined slight al, the hands of Carter II. Harrison, may-' or of Chicago, and resigned his posi tion without warning, leaving a body, og 15,000 policemen minus an executive! head. Then for the first time in tho"historyi of the great municipality a woman; was reckoned in tho running for tho', ofllco which had been vacated and hor. name was Mrs. Gertrude Howe Brit ton. Although when the time arrived for the mayor to make public his " choice for tho Important post, It provod to be John Gleason, a captain In the department for many years, tho fact still remains that a woman was considered as a possible incumbent for the position of chief. Mrs. Brltton, It may be interesting, io Know, is ono oi tno most prominent social workers in tho United States. Sho understands police work from tho ground up, and although sho failed to securo the coveted post of chief, Is at present tho head of Chicago's now force of policewomen. IHtir iaSSb &&M Sis" " ' 5- iWSWiimMWi '--r-vi CALLED MOSES OF CUBA "Why do you Insist on trying to sell mo beof stoak nnd benns and buckwhent cakes?" de mnnded tho barber. "I told you all I wanted was two fried oggs." "Woll, I was In your shop yesterday." retorted tho restaurant man. "All I wanted wnu a shnvo but you bulldozed me Into a shampoo, a foam fizz, and a tonic rub." A SAD AWAKENING. "Warden, where nro my (lowers? those llowors." "Thoso llowors nro for an oiubozzlcr In next cell " Glvo me tho NOT DIFFICULT. "Flowors for an embozzlnr uitii n .i wook or mo om yoar, for ovory pie oaten under a In the enma Jail? A life of crime s do what t different loot roprnsonts a happy month during was led to expect." T ino yoar to como. urton ns Janunty 1 draws near ono nonra tho oxproBSlon: "Thanks, I lmvo oaten my twelve, so please ex cuse mo." What probably Is tho strangest Now Yonr's rito Ib hold in tho Cevennua mountains, in southern Franco. At tho last evening mass or tho old yoar tho heids and Hocks ot tho jionuuntry are gatherod borore tho portico of tho llttlo stono church high up on tho mountain sido and aro "I wish I could do something startling," said GIndya Gloom, alck unto donth with ennui "Woll, Gladys, that Is oaslly accomplished" said hor close friend. Bella Blazes. "Go back to that little old-fashioned town whero you were born and smoke a clgarotto on tlio public bqliaro" I "um. It took a Cornell man to place Cuba on n bound basis and ho has done moro In six months than had been ac complished In the preceding four years. The president of Cuba is Gen. Mario Garla Menocul, who was inaugurated May 20, 1913. Ho is a progressive, capable efficient, honest man Gen. Menocnl'o uchiovoments havo boon wldo and varied. Personally ho is a man of importance, a promoter of en terprises to develop tho wealth of the island He is a man of the highest chnrncter and possesses tho confidence of all What ho accomplished in Ills private capacity gave him a wldo repu tation as an executive. What ho has done as president of tho joung repub lic of Cobn has given him a reputation through the world For this young man has proved that Cuba has a right fa' be considered a ntablo government he has discouraged big graft in high places; he has set a high standard of oluolul efficiency. keoping In ofllco mon most capable regardless of their political partj , he Is putting the Cuban army on a sound basis of efficiency, ho is developing the internal resources ot .ho Island, aiding tho farmers, building schools nnd hos pitals and in ovory way putting the countr on tho load to self-respect and high standing amoug the nations of tho world. It 1b In the development of tho resources of tho country, however, that Geneial Wenoeal is strong. It Is his particular line. Ills department of ngrl- culture Is pursuing tho enlightened mothods he know about when ho was a1 student at Cornell Tho national laboratories afford the results of experi ments for fnnnerfl. Practical teachers go about the country giving Instruction to farmers and plnntors or the newest methods ot ngrlculturo. Hegistoted stock Is being brought In by tho government to raise tho standard or tho horses, mules nnd cnttlo to tho highest grado, tho president woll recoguizinij ' I'-.nt no country Is strong except as its rarmo are productive. ' Ji