THE SEMIAVEEKLY TRIBUNE, NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA.
Warmth and Smartness in Coats
First Christmas Observance
RENEATHMISTLETOE
Kissing Custom So Old No One
Knows When It Started.
Branches WPh Greatest Number of
Berries Favored, as Kiss Must
Be Given for Each Berry
Plucked.
According to Scandinavian mythol
ogy, L'okl, the god of evil, wns tho
sworn enemy of Baldur, tho god of
light, and tried by every means In
his power to kill him, but failed be
cause he was Invulnerable to every
thing that came from the earth, air,
fire or water.
Lokl nt last conceived the Idea that
the mistletoe, springing from neither,
would serve his purpose and, having
an arrow nmde from the wood ho
helped llodl, the blind god of dark
ness, to ulm It, and Baldur fell deud
Ahot through the heart.
All the gods and goddesses prayed
Cor his restoration to life, and when
Clio prayer was granted It was de
creed that the mistletoe should never
more have power to dr harm unless It
touched the earth, ami the goddess ot
tove was appointed to guard it.
Some legends claim that the god
dess kissed all who passed under tho
plant ns a token that It was no longer
a wcaflon of death, but a symbol of
Jove, while others assert that she ex
Jracted a kiss from each as a propitia
tion, or the bough should be allowed to
work harm.
Another reason for the kissing priv
ilege conferred by the plant Is said to
be that a lovely maiden preferred
Seath to tho kisses of an nmorous old
monk who pursued her, and her
prayers for deliverance were answer
ed by transforming her Into a mistle
toe branch and placing her In a tree.
Kiss For Each Berry.
The custom of "kissing beneath tho
mistletoe" is so old that no one knows
when It originated; but when young
people nre found selecting the branches
that have the berries on, It Is fair to
suppose that they know a kiss must
be given for each berry plucked and
that the ceremony Is never completo
ontll every berry is off the branch.
There wns once a common, though
.mistaken, belief that the mistletoe grew
an oak trees only; but that wns so far
from true that the Druids, who held
the onk as absolutely sacred because
they believed it to represent the One
Supreme God, deemed the mistletoe
doubly sacred If found on one, and
carefully guarded It until the sixth day
After the first new moon of each
year.
When this time arrived, priests
robed In spotless white, surrounded
tho tree and held solemn ceremonies,
among which was the sacrifice of two
white bulls.
After the ceremonies a priest robed
m spotless white ascended the tree,
and with a golden knife cut the mis
tletoe and let It fall onto a whlto
rloth held by other priests.
The branches were then formnlly
nlesscd and divided nmong the people,
who believed the sprays given them
to have miraculous power.
Called "All-Heal" Plant.
Tho common belief in the efllcncy
of the plant wns such that It was call
ed "all-heal ;" but according to an old
legend, a certain lover searched mnny
dnys for a specimen growing on an
cak tree, that ho might secure Its
branches for tho cure of his betrothed,
who was sick unto death, but when
he found It ho touched the sap, while
cutting the branches, and fell dead
near tho tree, indicating that the sap
was a deadly poison.
Another legend accounts for tho
fact that the plant Is n parasite by the
story that the mistletoe, originally
crew as a tree, and that the cross on
which Christ was crucified was made
from mistletoe wood, after which It
was accursed and condemned to never
more grow as a tree but to exist as
a parasite, kllllug every living thing
to which It became attached.
The plant thrives In America from
New Jersey southward and westwnrd,
una those who know It only as a part
of Christmas decorations can huvo
tittle idea of how it overruns trees to
the extent of being n nuisance.
Christmas Smiles.
But Christmas Is not only tho mile
mark of another year, moving us to
thoughts of self-exumlnntion It Is a
season, from nil its associations,
whether domestic or religious, suggest
ing thoughts of Joy. A man dissatis
fied with his endeavors Is a man tempt
ed to sadness. And in the midst of
winter, when his life runs lowest and
he is reminded of the empty chairs of
his beloved, It is well that ho shouiu
bo condemned to this fashion of tho
smiling face. Stevenson.
Anticipated Pleasure.
"I don't believe the approach of
Chrlstmns brings you a single Joyous
anticipation," said the sweet young
thing.
"Don't, eh?" replied the savage bach
elor. "Listen to my secret. That
youngster on the third floor Is sure to
et n tin trumpet for n present."
"Yes."
"Then ho will get careless and leave
It on tho hall floor. And then I shall
step on It with both feet. Don't you
call that a joyous anticipation?"
Bethlehem's Star Undlmmed.
Bethlehem's star shines more bright
ly today than It did when the first
Christmas authem sent Its Joyous
.greeting to all sons of men.
The first Christmas celebrated
Inside a house on the American
continent wns on December 25,
1018. Our Puritan ancestors
finished their first house at
Plymouth, Mass., having spent
more than a month in wandering
about in search of n place of
settlement. The company was
divided Into 10 families, and to
each person was assigned a lot
for houso aud garden. It was
not n very cheerful Christmas
for tho Puritans. All of them
could not bo accommodated In
side tho house, so that some of
them were left out in the cold,
but tho religious fentur of the
day were not forgotten, and It
may be said that the Babe of
Bethlehem wns prayed to and
sung to In n most fervent manner.
MAKE IT A MERRY CHRISTMAS
Cause Others to Be Happy and Feel
the Joy of Sacrifice All In tho
Front Ranks.
Christmas 1
Kvcry year It comes and every year
we love it and wonder why we haven't
made the spirit of It last nil through
tho year, writes Margaret Mott Gor
don. Perhaps wo do not have tho
time? But to what do we give our
time? And why Is It that nt Christmas
we all "take tlmo" to do the mnny lit
tle thoughtful things that we have
been postponing for months and
months?
One of the things wo seem to forget
Is that the more we give to others the
more we huve ourselves, and the more
we hnve the capacity for giving. It is
n wonderful thought nnd one thnt we
should carry around with us nil tho
time. For we nlways feel so tingling
nnd Joyous when we have made u sac
rifice or see that we have really made
someone else unusually happy.
This year for most of us Is very dif
ferent than any wo have yet lived, be-
cuuse, even though we are not all no
tually on the firing line, we nre there
In our henrts and the thought cannot
but give us n strange exultant feeling
to bo In the front ranks, marching
with the music!
After all, that is Just what the spirit
of Christmas is. During the Yulctldo
wo nro all in tho front ranks nnd tri
umphantly moving forward, for we aro
thinking, not of ourselves, but of
others. And thnt very sense which
loves and therefore serves, which un
derstands and therefore sacrifices, Is
the true spirit of Chrlstmns. It Is tho
renl thrill of life. It Is the greatest
and most fnr-reachlng emotion In tho
world, nnd Just to know thnt wo aro
capable of that feeling, even though It
should come only once n year, would
show that there Is tho right spirit with
in us, and with a little cultivation wo
might make It last all through tho
year.
BESTOWING GIFTS IN SECRET
Practice of Putting Out Shoes and
Stockings Resulted From Plan
of St. Nicholas.
Christmas stockings hnve como
down to us from the good St. Nicholas,
who was a saint of the fourth century
of tho Christian era and was horn De
cember 0, 312, in Lycla, Asia Minor.
IIo was regarded ns especially tho pa
tron saint of children, young girls and
sailors. Tho Christmas stocking cus
tom nrose ns follows:
It seems thnt St. Nicholas, who was
the archbishop of Myrn, lived in tho
sumo town with an Impoverished no
bleman who, hecauso he had no por
tions to glvo his daughters nnd, in
deed, no means with which to support
them, wns about to sell them into n
Hfo of sin. St. NIchohls, who was ac
customed to dispense his large for
tune in gifts of charity, resolved to res
cue the young women. As he np
proachod their houso, wondering how
he should proceed, the moon shone out
nnd dlsplnyeil nn open window. In
stnntly St. Nicholas threw n purse of
gold in nt this window which, fulling
at tho feet of tho father of tho girls,
enabled him to portion his oldest
daughter. The second time St. Nich
olas visited tho house he also was nblo
to throw u purse of gold through an
open window, thus providing for tho
portion of the second daughter. On
tho third visit the father, wutclilng for
his benefactor, cast himself nt the feet
of tho saint and cried:
"Oh, St. Nicholas, servant of God,
why seek to hide thyself?"
The snlnt made the father promlso
not to reveal his benefactions. From
this hnblt of bestowing gifts In secret
and under the cloak of night arose tho
prnctlco of putting out shoes or stock
lugs for tho younger members of tho
family so that the good saint would bo
able to fill them without being spied
on.
STAR-BEAMS.
"Wlille the Hturs of Christmas shine,
Lighting the skies,
Let only loving looks
Beam from your eyes.
While the bells of Christmas ring,
Joyous and clour.
Speak only happy words,
All mirth and cheer.
dive only loving gifts,
And In love take;
Qladden the poor and sad,
For love's dear sake.
Chicago Dally r4ii?
Some people nre stepping out of
midwinter coats nnd turning their
bucks on cold weather to journey
South, and others are Just stepping
into them bound for the joys of winter
sports In the frozen North. These are
the firm believers In the tonic of tho
cold who have learned how to enjoy
urctlc weather. Then there nre all
the rest of us who intend to keep
warm and aspire to look smurt, what
ever icy blasts may blow our way. We
refuse to be shut In by the weather
and require of midwinter coats
warmth and smnrtness. And tho de
mand Is answered with coats and oth
er garments of fur and of textiles that
are as warm nnd rich as furs.
All over the country fur garments of
one kind or another are the mode.
These earliest coverings of the body
remain the most desired and rich sklim
nre rich skins, however made up.
They are the inspiration of furriers.
Here is n coat made of leopard skins
with their Incomparable nnturnl mark
For Undercoat or
Mnnv demands arc made of tin- lai
est swcillers--lhe, llilli-t lie 'iz "iinl
pretty and they must not be bulky, t
start with. They must be In lint- with
the stylos nnd nt tho same time if
they nre to be successful llu-y must
have attractive variations and original
touches to give them distinction.
Sweaters, as a part of the wardrobe,
ure us much u mutter of course as
Phoes nnd stockings nnd variety Is tho
Vplce that flavors them.
The lust arrival In slip-over sweat
ers bus mnde Its entrance on fnshlon's
stage, and Its portrait appeals to us
for consideration In the picture above.
This young aspirant for favor ran
hardly fall. It Is closely knit nnd
cozy snug fitting and easy to got on,
and It Is dainty. One can Imagine It
In any of the tlower-llke, lively colors
which nre approved for spring or In
the vivid "sweater tones" of color, or
in tin beige and gray shades If any
one denies herself the privilege of
colors thnt are bright. For. In sweat
ers, young and old alike may indulge
a fancy for live colors.
The pretty sweater above owes
some of Its charming effect to the line
lingerie bloiiM' worn under It. The
blouse Is of batiste with frills of lace at
the front, an.l It frilled turned-buck
collar simply f rut lis over mi the bright
lined vueiier. '.nuking tie- fre'he-t and
dili, i est .f 'us nid nock finish
ing. I'll" l)'. 'i ; mli lit be of net or
ings of blue); In a gold background. It
hangs straight and full from the shoul
ders, without u belt and has n wide
cape collar of beaver and deep cuffs to.
match. The big collar may bo rolled
up about the neck and curs and tho,
face snuggled down In Its warm soft
ness until only the eyes are uncov-t
cred. Such a coat carries about Runt
shine and warmth nnd almost radiates,
them. It Is fastened with three big
tortolse-sliell buttons nnd Is three,
Inches shorter than the skirt.
"Velour du nord" Is the name of the,
regal fabric that makes the other coat.
It Is one of those thick, soft wool,
cloths that ure us protecting and lux
urious as uchumols skin, but heavier
nnd softer than this. It Is In n dark
taupe color with wide cape collnr of
taupe-lynx fur and deep cuffs to
match. It is bordered at the bottom
with this fur. The collar enn bo turn
ed up about the head and the hands
find refuge In ample silt pockets. Tho
belt Is mode of the velour.
Southern Wear
' ivie iii'ot'ii' Me or of any of the sheer
' in n or rollout thai are dear to
women liecniise Ihey are so easily
kept fresh. The three knitted stripes
In white, across the front of the sweat
er fit In well with those white blouses.
There is u short, snug pcplum, not
opened at the front and the waistline
is defined with a narrow knitted bund
which seems very closo fitting, ns tho
sleeves nre. Those things Insure a
convenient gnrment toi wear under a
suit or top coat. This sweater will,
make Itself popular In Canada as well
as along the (Julf of Mexico; for It Is
really a warm garment nnd may be
more or less closely knitted and elab
orated with differing stitches, when
tho work Is done by hum!.
Blouse Fad.
The tendency to elongnto the front
part of tho blouse until It Is almost
like a small apron Is one of the Inter
esting style detnlls this season. This
Is a curious notion, but one that Is
tremendously pop'ilar at present.
Black Satin, the Favorite.
Black satin Is the winter season's fa
vorite material for nil purposes, with
wool duvctyns, cashmere velours and
velvets supporting Its advance.
iHe mom
Lovo all, trust a few,
Do wrong to none; bo able for tlilne
onomy
Itather In power tlmn use; and keep
thy friend
Under thy own life's key; bo checked
In silence,
But tiovor tax'd for speech.
Shakespeare.
A FEW ROYAL CHRISTMAS PRES.
ENTS.
rho ChrlstnniH spirit' may best bo
expressed to our friends by n gift ap
propriate and not too
exacting upon one's re
sources. We nre so apt
to think that things com
mon to us will be uu
appreciated by our
I friends. This Is often
tho reason we have gifts
Pv . so characterless that
V).fi' are unenjoyed nnd wo
O burden our friends with
gifts that are not desired.
When one is fortunate enough to
live on a farm the gifts to town friends
may represent the whole family. The
father and boys may put n fowl or
a brace of wild game, frnlt and a few
vegetables in tho Chrlstmns basket
while mother aud the girls will add a
box of cookies, a glass or two of Jelly,
a plant, or a bit of needlework.
The present coming from the farm
Is not to lie despised. A tiny Christ
mas tree taken from the woods nnd
potted will be a most welcome gift to
those who live awuy from growing
things. A walk In the woods Will dis
close many a bit of green or color to
decorate the gift basket. A tiny glnss
of Jelly In a small bnsket to fit It, tied
with a sprig of partridge berry or
wintergreen, Is such a welcome gift to
the Invalid. A quaint little Jar filled
with jam, tied up with a festive bow,
Is another.
A fern dish with a violet plnnt, ho
patlca and a little fern, will bo a joy
to a shut-In, especially If she has been
u country girl.
Wild crnbapplo Jelly Is such a de
licious one for the Christmas table, nnd
may be made In quantities where the
wild crab is plentiful.
A small Jar of real form butter or n
box of hickory nut meats, a card or
two of honey nnd a Jar of mincemeat,
are all suggestive gifts. A nice fat
mince pie tied up In tissue with a
spray of Christmas greens will be an
other most happy gift.
If one has un herb bed, a package of
assorted herbs will find u warm place
In the infections of tho town house
keeper. Honey cakes and boxen-of farin-mnde
doughnuts will make mnny hearts hap
py who havo hud to suve on sugar this
year. These are but a few of mnny
suggestions which may bo worked out,
each adding a touch of originality to
her gift nnd bringing unallowed Joy
to the recipients.
M M M
A man's fortunes nro tho fruit of his
character. A man's friends are his
magnetisms.
THE BREAKFAST CEREAL.
In most homes, especially where
there are children, the first meal of
the dny Is begun
with n dish of ce
real, usually fol
lowing a bit of
fruit. Baked ap
ple, or nny fruit Is
u safe one to pre
cede the children's
cereal. Acid fruits,
like grapefruit or oranges, If all sour,
will cause digestive trouble If followed
by a cereal with cream. Very often we
hnve such a variety of cereals on the
market these dnys that we need never
have the same one too often. The aver
age child or grown-up will eat well
cooked oatmeal oftener with enjoy
ment than any other breakfast fond.
Many of tho cereals will be eaten with
relish If served with fruit which would
otherwise be refused. The daintiness
of serving bears no small purl In tho
manner of It reception.
When serving cream of wheat or any
cooked cer.enl which molds well, pour
Into n hollow mold and servo filled
with fruit of the season. Serve It
nt the table so that the oye may ho
charmed with its nppenniiice. Such
n dish, when served with cream and
sugnr, will be happily and quickly
eaten.
For the early winter days, cornmeul
mush, hominy and grnhiuu mush may
be served, using any leftover for fry
ing. If possible, hnvo tho corn fresh
ly ground, using tho whole kernel ; It
is so much more appetizing. Such
cornmeul does not keep well, but If
obtained fresh Is fur superior to the
klln-drlcd corn.
Whole wheat fresh from tho field or
granary makes most wholesome and
nutritive breakfast food. It must be
soaked over night and cooked for half
a day to soften the grain. A tireless
cooker or double boiler makes the best
cooking utensil, ns It needs slow cook
ing nt u low temperature. Sliced fried
apples with oatmeal Is a good combina
tion. A spoonful of sliced peaches or
one of fresh berries with any cereal
served at tho sldo of the dish, is an
other. The leftover breakfast food need
not be wasted, us It Improves nlinost
nny niiillln. gem or popovcr when add
ed to the next ure before baking.
Uxperloneo tenches us whn.t fooln we.
hnvo been, but unfortunately It doesn't
prevent us from repeating.
EMERGENCY DISHES.
A most delicious pie which may bo
quickly prepared, providing you hnvo
the cooked prunes, Is tha
following: Hake a good
rich shell uutl fill It with
stewed, chopped prunes,
topped w 1 1 h whipped
cream sweetened and
flavored. Canned fruit
of various kinds may
take the place of Uio
prunes, but these make an especially
good pie.
Cabbage Salad. lut a small cab
bage head through the meat chopper.
Mince a 2-Inch square of salt pork In,
small cubes and fry a golden brown,
l'our the boiling hot fat with half of
the browned bits of pork over tho cab
bage with u small shredded onion (the
onion may be put through the chopper
with the cnbbnge) ; stir nnd mix well;
ndd plenty of suit and a few dashes of
cayenne pepper. In the frying pan
heat enough vinegar to moisten tho
salad; pour this over the cabbage boil
ing hot. Set in tlio warming oven un
til ready to serve.
Tomatoes With Corn. Stew down u
pint of tomatoes with one minced
onion nnd a sprig of parsley; season
well and put in layers In a baking dish
with canned corn. Cover with but
tered crumbs and bake until well
browned.
Flfteen-Mlnute Pudding. Just be
fore dishing up the dinner put on tho
following pudding to cook: It will bo
ready to serve In plenty of tlmo for
the dessert: Tnko one cupful of sift
ed flour, n little salt and u teaspoonful
of baking powder; mix well nnd ndd
enough rich milk to make a drop bat
ter. Butter Individual molds or cups,
drop In a spoonful of the butter, then
u spoonful of entitled cherries or struw
berries (any Juicy fruit) ; top with an
other spoonful of batter, set the cup
Into n pan of boiling water, cover and
cook on the -top of the stove fifteen
minutes. Do not rnlse the cover while
cooking. Servo with sweetened cream
or cream and sugar. They aro light,
tender nnd dcllcnto when carefully
boiled.
Onions and Cheese. Take a dish ot
cooked onions, placo In layers In a but
tered baking dish with white snuco
and cheese. Hake until well heated
through. Use a rich cream cheese, ns
otherwise tho cheese will cook stringy.
M DC SO
Know tho true value of tlmo; snatch,
seize and enjoy overy moment of It.
No Idleness, no laziness, no procrasti
nation; novor put off till tomorrow
what you can do today. Chesterfield.
DAINTY SWEETS.
A good finish for n heavy meal is
somo light nnd dainty sweet which will
neither overtnx or bur
den thu digestion, Ono
feels unsatisfied with a
flue meal If It Is not fin
ished with somo kind of
a dessert. Tills need
not take elaborate prepa
ration or expensive com
blnutioiis, In fact tho
simpler the better for
young or old.
Crcum puffs filled with any desired
lllllng, n bit of leu crenin or whipped
cream stirred with a spoonful of Jam
for flavor. Many fillings will occur to
suit this taste. Chocolate, or caramel
filling Is liked, us well ns maple.
Junket lends Itself to various flavors
and comblnntlons. A small glass of
junket may follow a hearty dinner with
no feeling of having eaten too much.
A tasty little hurry-up dessert may
be prepared by placing chocolate
creams on small round crackers, set In
the oven until tho chocolate Is molted
nnd served with coffee.
Oruhnin crackers spread with Jelly
and decorated with two iiinrsliniallows
then put Into the oven to brown and
puff tire well liked for another sweet
cracker.
A few dates or llgs stuffed with a bit
of fondant or simply rolled In sugnr
or stuffed with a nut or two makes a
most delightful dessert well relished
y all who have a sweet tooth.
Cinnamon Cream Tarts. Beat u tea
spoonful of butter with half a cupful
of powdered sugar and half a teaspoon
ful of cliinuiiioii In a bowl. Place half
u dozen split crackers hollow side up
In a baking pan, drop a spoonful of
this mixture In each and bnke In a
hot oven for two mlnutesy
If fond of peanut butter sorve some
squares of sweet chocolnto sandwich
fashion for the young folks' dessert.
This Is u most nutritive fond and would
do for n luncheon when taking n
long tramp, as It tnkos but little spueu
to curry.
Junket. Wiirm u pint of milk to tho
luke-wurm stage, add a Junket tablet
dissolved In u teaspoonful of cold wa
ter. , Flavor and sweeten to tntse, stir
ring until well blended. Pour into
sherbet cutis and let stand In u warm
room until the Junket Is set. Servo
with sweetened whipped cream or n
spoonful of marshmallow cream on
top of each cup.
k
