its New Tear's presents as positive
proof of bis coming.
| Among the young he ranks as high^
as St. Nicholas In Russia, Germany and*
other countries; but among the old he |
Is held In great veneration as one of the '
most eminent Greek Fathers, and also
as the most eloquent promoter of mon
astlcism throughout the East. Be
sides, he was a great philanthropist,
and an ardent apostle.
IjpNI©* @0T THE, ([
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THE fi^IEW
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I AN ORIENTAL NEW YEARS. |
New Tear's flay In part of the Turk
ish Orient Is the gayest holiday of the
year, for It Is also the day of St. Ba
all's festival. The celebration of the
[two feasts has become Inseparable, so
to speak, in the minds of the Greeks,
‘and the first of January is now known
throughput, the Levant as St. Basil’s
day. „
But it Is the Greek Church only
which hon^H- the saint on that date;
the Latin'Church observes simply his
ordlnaGpn .day, some time In June,
whne ’fhi other Christian denomina
tions 'hdVe. for him merely the same
reverence as for the principal Greek
Fathers, such as St. Chrysostom, St.
Gregory Nazlanzen, etc.
The Russians, though following the
same ritual a4 the Greeks, hold no par
ticular celebration on New Year’s day
in hoop* of .Rt Basil; and the true
Hellenes, those who live on Greek ter
ritory, seldom give importance to a
saint YfsasVojn January first So St
Basil’s birthday Is distinctly celebrat
ed only by the Greeks who dwell on
Turkish territory and are subjects of
the sultan.
They are known as Greek Rayahs.
,Of their fatherland they have preserv
ed nothing, save the religion and an
. impure dialect, which varies more or
less in every vilayet, or province, and
SCENES ON THE STREET.
gi
little*' reeqptblea the harmonious and
yensshble mother tongue. This dialect
in 1th varieties la by no means the mod
ern Qreek, which Is a beautiful and
,very*'cxpresalve language, rich In con
atnwflons, poseesslng a grammar, and
also s vocabulary, almost as extensive
as that of the ancient Greek. The Ray
ah dialects on the other hand are cor
rupt patois formed with words borrow
ed from Turkish, Hebrew, Armenian.
Italltjp and French.
N<jr does the costume of the Rayahs
resemble the true Hellenic dress, but
rather that of the Mohammedans.
The Ignorance, debasement and slug
gishness of the Rayahs are extreme,
notwithstanding the efforts of tte
Greek government to supply them with
educational institutions. In the hope
that they may rise against their op
pressors and succeed In shaking off
their yoke. But It Is likely to be long
before thepe descendants of a noble
race shall appreciate the philanthropic
^efforts jpCtheif freed brethren.
At-ffesent they have adopted near
ly qil the Turkish fashions, and lack
ambWgA to improve their condition.
They** fond of their ease, love drink
4ng and smoking, and care for nothing'
beyon^ their material welfare.
Still they have remained faithful to
their nellgion nevertheless; and follow
allots rites with a respectful and blind
ly superstltlajis obedience. They ob
serve pH ttd holidays of the church, but
prefer above all St Basil's day.
J Popular tradition represents St. Ba
sil as a venerable man, clad In bishop's
vestments, carrying incense, myrrh
and other Oriental perfumes. Ka Is
supposed Jo come on the eve of his
birthday,, reputed as January 1st old
myth—January Uth according to the
Gregorian' 1 Calendar—and distribute
grpipata-ie. children. He la the patron
saint of<ih* home and of the young.
From Armenia to the Archipelago, and
Cnitt theBtaek Sea to Syria, there is
who does not regard
ja&V T
. jjiri; *
i^ueijarea, me capital ot me mriuer
province of Cappadocia, was St. Basil’s
native place. At the age of thirty
three he was made a presbyter, and a
few years later bishop of the same
city, a position which he held until
his death, A. D. 379.
Elaborate preparations are made for
hta festival, which begins at an early
hour on the evening of December 31st.
The shopkeepers adorn their windows
with an attractive medley of toys and
holiday gifts. Oranges, dried and fresh
fruit, imported and domestic tabic del
icacies, candles, cakes, are either dis
played In the bhow-cases or piled up in
front of the stores, which are extrava
gantly lighted up for the occasion, and
decorated with garlands of colored pa
per skilfully cut out In the shape of
natural flowers. From the ceilings, from
the top of the windows, they fall in
the chandeliers, from the plctures.from
grouped festoons.
The mild climate permits a large
and variegated crowd to circulate
through the streets and gather In the
stores, and no sight is more pictur
esque than a street in the East on St
Basil's eve.
There are to b.e seen people of com
munities and races having nothing In
Common but the land and the sur
rounding atmosphere; there are curious
contrasts ot complexion and wearing
apparel; there the genuine attire of five
races is on constant exhibition.
You see, for Instance, the long, loose
robes of the Jews, and the bright red
or yellow silk garments worn by their
wives. There are the short, wide
breeches of the Turks, contrasting with
the long ones of the Rayahs. The small
red fez and the large vermtlllon one,
designed to hang down on one side of
the face like the Phrygian cap, are
Intermingled with the plain Derby and
black silk hats of the European gentle
men, whose simple attire is made ob
trusively plain by the bright-colored
goods used by the natives.
Conceive, too, the variety of gar
ments worn by the women. Imagine,
for instance, the Parisian dress and
bonnet of a European merchant's
daughter, side by side with the loose
yellow breeches, the lilac doublet and
me long green veil or a weaitny Ar
menian lady! Every day one sees em
broidered bosoms, long garments some
times trimmed with fur, robes, cash
mere shawls and bright red silk slip
pers, on the women.
Among men It is not uncommon to
behold bare legs and gorgeous holiday
turbans; often a gallant Mohammedan,
covered with rags and filth, carries In
his belt an assortment of Damascus
blades, yataghans and jewel-encrusted
firearms, worth a small fortune.
Two singular customs contribute to
this holiday’s particular character; one
is the making of "St. Basil’s caks," the
other the singing of a song through the
streets on the eve of the saint’s al
leged birthday.
Elaborate preparations for the
kneading of the cake begin in every
house two days, at least, before the fes
tival, for much labor Is Involved in Its
confection. All the women of the fam
ily squat on a rug, in the Turkish fash
THE NEW TEAR DINNER.
ion, around a low, circular pastry
table, and amidst gay stories and
laughter the rolling-pin runs over the
rich paste, while the housewives vie
in decorating and forming the cakes.
The commonest decorations are
Oriental ,, arabesques representing
palms, flowers, shells, or grotesque fig
ures with which to amuse the children,
while the most skilful workers make
dolls whose faces are red eggs firmly
embedded in the paste.
These would seem simple to an
American housekeeper; but in a coun
try where cooking utensils and baking
ovens are very rude, the undertaking
requires much patience.
The cake consists of butter, eggs and
»uear, ana its navormg is or certain
spices. It Is usually made very rich,
so that It may keep soft for days after
It is baked.
Housekeepers dread the task, for a
large quantity of St. Basil’s cake Is
made in each family. A large part of
It is destined for the hospitals, the
children’s and orphan’s asylums, the
prisons and the poor; another part is
given away to callers, to servants and
to the boys who come round in the ear
ly evening to sing St. Basil’s song.
New Year’s eve is a great time for
the Bayah boys. As soon as they ring
the bell of a house the door Is thrown
open and the voice of the master is
heard, saying;
"Let the boys in at once! Give them
money, fruit, and all that they can
carry of St. Basil’s cake. Come on,
servants, fill their pockets while they
give us their song!”
Then the poor children, delighted by
the warm welcome of the host and tho
profusion of dainty things given them,
sing with frenzy the romantic little tale
of S,t. Basil, which ends with the call
ing down of numerous blessings on the
generous family during the new year.
But the strangest thing of all is
neither St. Basil’s song nor St. Ba
sil’s cake; it Is a curious mistake as to
date which has prevailed among the
Greek Rayahs for many generations.
For history declares that the 1st day
of January is not the anniversary of
St. Basil’s birth, but that of his death!'
—Alcide de Andria, in Youth’s Com
panion.
NE is for New
Year’s day, my
dear,
Two for St. Val
'.V1* entine’s day;
Three for the birth
day, chilly and
drear,
When Washington came
this way.
Four is for April first, my dear,
When we fool each other in play;
Five is the time when we plant tl>1
trees,
And we call it Arbor day.
Six is the day when we take the llowert
On the soldiers’ graves to lay;
Seven’s the glorious Fourth of July,
Eight is for Labor day.
Nine's for Thanksgiving day, puddings
and pies.
Turkeys and nuts beside;
And ten is the last and the dearest and
best,
The beautiful Christmas-tide.
—Jane Gray.
Ancient nnd Modern New Year'* Feitlral
The first day (calends) oI January,
as marking the beginning of the year,
was observed as a public holiday in
Rome from at least the time of the
Julian reformation of the calendar.
Ovid alludes to the abstinence from
litigation and strife, the smoking al
tars, the white-robed processions to
the capitol; and later writers describe
the exchanges of visits, the giving and
receiving of presents (strenae), the
masquerading, and the feasting with
which the day was in their time cele
brated throughout the empire. Liba
uius (c. 346 A. D.) speaks of it as being
in his day the one great holiday com
mon to all under the Roman rule.
When, about the fifth century, the 25th
of December had gradually become a
fixed festival commemorative of the
nativity, the 1st of January ultimately
also assumed a specially sacred char
acter as the octave of Christmas day
and as the anniversary of the circum
cision of our Lord, and as such it atlll
figures in the calendars of the various
branches of the eastern and of the
western church, though only as a fetst
of suhordineie imnorunce.
)
THE INTELLIGENT JURY.
Enn the Court Htmaelf Got Up and
Swore.
"I don’t believe everything t hear
about the ignorance of the average
j jury,” said an old lawyer in reminis
cent mood, relates the Detroit Free
Press, “but once, when 1 visited a
backwoods court in the mountains of
North Carolina, I did happen on an in
cident that shook my faith for a time.
The case was before a squire and the
prisoner was up for hog stealing. It
was the rudest court and surroundings
I ever got into and I should not have
been surprised at anything, but I was.
After a couple of jack-leg lawyers had
got in what they had to say the court
turned the case over to a Jury and it
adjourned to a barn to decide the inno
cence or guilt of the prisoner. And
such a jury! I can never forget what
a motley gang that Jury was. In half
an hour it came back and resumed its
place in court.
“ ‘Have you found a verdict?’ asked
tho squire.
“ ‘What’s that?’ responded the fore
man.
“ ‘Have you found a verdict? That’s
what,’ replied the squire.
“ ‘Why, squire,’ hesitated the fore
man, with a foolish grin, ‘we didn't
know thar wuz one lost; did we, boys?’
And even that court couldn’t stand it,
but got up, and swore.”
He Stopped the Car.
He was young and neatly dressed,
but ho retained the biggest half of a
last night’s jag. Making his way up
the Bowe.'y as steadily as he could, he
suddenly decided to take a cable car.
Unfortunately, he was in the middle
of the block, and cable cars stop only
at corners, but the gentleman was too
much absorbed in whisky and thought
to realize the fact. The first car re
fused to stop, of course. So the gen
tleman retired .to the sidewalk, and
entered the car's number with great
care and deliberation in a memoran
dum book. Then he essayed a second
car (about four cars had passed while
he had been putting down the num
ber), but the second and equally a third
car likewise did not stop. In each case
he entered the number of the sinning
car in his book. Finally, with an ex
pression that said, “I’ll make this car
stop,” he clutched the hand rail on
the rear platform of a fourth car and
pulled back as if stopping a team of
horses.
The car went on.
uiu mb gcuireman wun tne jag, a
sort of human pennant to the car. A
passenger on the rear platform rang
the bell wildly to stop the car. After
the car came to a standstill the pen
nant climbed aboard and calmly put
down in his notebook the number of
the conductor, gripman and car, then
he dropped asleep triumphantly.
The man next to him saw the num
ber of the car, as he had written it
down. This was it: “Carnumber
321,147776,8X1.”—New York Sun.
}
! * 1 Fun at the White House.
The humors of the White House, it ia
the testimony of everyone who has re
sided there, would fill many volumes.
Many of them are found in the daily
mall bag. At a dinner the other day
Mrs. McKee told of a letter Mrs. Gar
rison received while i!rst lady of the
land. It ran:
“Dear Maddam—I would like a pres
ent from Washington City, and so I
will locate on you for it. Please send
me a dress pattern and (here followed
a list of several other things)
please pay the express, as I have made
a vow never to pay anything on an
express package, as I never know what
it is until I have opened it.” Mrs.
Harrison, according to the relator,
was much amused at this missive, and
“I’ll locate on you for that” became
a standing phrase in the family ever
after when some object was coveted.
Another letter received by Mrs. Har
rison ran:
“Dear Madam—Please send me som*
sheet music, as I have a daughter that
has some tallents.”—Ohio State Jour
nal.
Ever Popular.
Shaded chrysanthemums, yellow
and brown, have been used at one,or
two autumn weddings as bridal bou
quets.
JOSH 'BILLINGS’ PHILOSOPHY
A gentleman iz the party who Iz all
wuss honest, and allwuss polite, and
keeps his boots shined up, and his fin
ger nails clean.
Mi dear fellow, yu k&n’t git enny
thing out ov this world unless you ask
tor it, and yu ain’t a going to git mutch
eftiiyhow. unless you insist upon It. •
When yu settle with yurself, insist
I upon 10;) cents on the dollar; when yu
Battle with the world, take haft price
If yu kant git enny more.
Mi dear boy, don’t let enny man git
| the drop on yu. This iz a vulgar say
I tng, but If yu have got branes enuff,
yu will use it for a moral purpose.
There are no doubt plenty ov peo
ple in the world who are abuv sus
pishun, but I never hav known enny
J one (not misclf) whom it wasn’t safe
| to watch.
| Thare iz a mighty sight ov odds be
: tween knowing everyboddy, and hal
ing everyboddy kno yu; but thare is
lots ov folks who never diskover the
j difference.
! There iz sumthing funny about this,
but 1 have notissed that yu could sell a
man a kake ov sweet scented sope,
at the same price, with less talk, th£.a
yu could a koppy of the nu testament.
The odds izz just what makes the
difference—to wit: Wnat yu learn hi
yu*re own experience allwuss kosts al.
it iz worth, and sometimes a grate deal
more; but what yu learu bl the experi
ence ov others don’t kost nothing, and
b worth just as mutch.
I The Success of Henry G. Thorelk
Henry G. Thorell, whose postoffice
address is Holdrege, Neb., was at one
time a carriage maker in Chicago. He
removed to Nebraska in 1877. That he
has reason to be satisfied is proven by
the fact that he is today worth 830,000,
every cent of it made on his farm.
I-iast year (1890) he had 250 acres in
corn,250 acres in small grain, 20 horses,
60 head of cattle and 150 hogs.
In our “Nebraska Book” (40 pages
with maps and illustrations), are doz
ens of statements like that of Mr. Thor
rell. They are made by farmers who
have made u success of farming. They
show that Nebraska is as good a state
as any in the Union.
| The book in which they appear is as
different from the ordinary agricul
tural pamphlet as day is from night.
It is interesting, practical and truthful.
In a straightforward, simple fashion,
it tells you everything you need to
know about Nebraska—its climate,
people, schools, churches, railroads,
markets, soil and crops. It explains
why. the Nebraska farmer makes mon
ey in spite of low prices and hard
times. Why land is cheap And how
it is ns easy for an intelligent and in
dustrious man to BUY a Nebraska
farm as it is to rent one in any state
east of the Missouri river.
Every farm renter who wants to be
come a farm owner; every farm owner
who is tired ot trying to make money
off high-priced land; every father who
wants to give his sons a start on the
high road to independence, should write
for a copy. Free.
J. FRANCIS,
Gen’l Pass'r Agt., Burlington Route,
Omaha, Neb,
A woman can pick out a bride as far as
she can see her.
Lions and tigers aro too weak lunged to
run more than half a mile.
Piso's Cure for Consumption has saved
me largo doctor bills.—C. L. Baker, 4228 Re
gent Sq.. Philadelphia, Pa., Dec. 8, 1895.
The fatter a woman is the less hair she
has.
The best time for exercise is about two
hours after a meal.
Gladness Comes
With a better understanding of the
transient nature of the many phys
ical ills, which vanish before proper ef
forts—gentle efforts—pleasant efforts—
rightly directed. There is comfort in
the knowledge, that so many forms of
sickness are not due to any actual dis
ease, but simply to a constipated condi
tion of the system, which the pleasant
family laxative, Syrup of Figs, prompt
ly removes. That, is why it is the only
remedy with millions of families, and is
everywhere esteemed so highly by all
who value good health. Its beneficial
effects are clue to the fact, that it is the
one remedy which promotes internal
cleanliness without debilitating the
organs on which it acts. It is therefore
all important, In order to get its bene
ficial effects, to note when you pur
chase. that you have the genuine arti
cle. which is manufactured by the Cali
fornia Fig Syrup Co. only and sold by
all reputable druggists.
If in the enjoyment of good health,
• and the system is regular, laxatives or
other remedies are then not needed. If
; afflicted with any actual disease, one
may be commended to the most skillful
physicians, but if in need of a laxative,
one should have the best, and with the
well-informed everywhere. Syrup of
Figs stands highest and is most largely
Used and gives most general satisfaction.
•n;-;:,','' " • KTKH OF CENTURY OT.P,
1N~S - ;
vf/i
SI
No Hl'riT *;«>r
A n«i Hoitf* ;**it
U rI,'} ProcA *i
VHM A !•*)•••• ' .. 1
Sic FA*1 ‘
Kotnircctcd
_I by gases,
'i'l'Tf/M. OutT<i*ts tin nr iron.
for Plaster on wall?,
i tiling of same material, the
market. Write fortjimples.ctc.
R! BUSWfSS AND SHORTHAND COLLEGE
D‘ Actual Business From Tub
Btakt Teaches business t>y doing business.
Also tlioro igli instruction in ail branches
by tnaii. Life < liolarship S4 , six niomhs
course $30. * orner ltith and Capitol Avenue,
Omaha, Nebraska.
I A rBjiV Manasfer and Affeuts wanted
!»#■* iLA ¥ for Dr Kuv’s Uterine Tonic. no
mo ey rc<iuii-ocl is n’t I . oods are sold “Woman
hood “ ii valuable boo i et on female diseases
K.-i'uIr, for n«iy Ltml of ctovt made.
! 1X0? X><> AS ST., OJ1ADA, HUB.
( If afflicted with
) Bore fc>'cs, use
''■'Jlbwyii. &•> hay till
iJ&fcAlitt*. OH MV.
: %i*In ibfoQO iioys. S*> >>37*111
jK.J,L.ti/£PHENS..
^Thompson's Eye VVaier.
Life
Is misery to thousands of people who have the a
taint of scrofula In their blood. For this ter
rlble affliction there Is no remedy equal to '
Hood's
Sarsaparilla
the Best—In fact the One True Blood Pnrlger,.
HnnH’a D]|le cure Liver Ills; easy to;
*,uuu ® nils take, easy to operate. 25q.
Sharing a Log With a Bear.
Incidental to the recent great storm,,
many stories will undoubtedly get into.
circulation that will exhibit heroism,
romance and ludicrous incidents dove
tailed with the accounts of loss of prop
erty and the wreckings of fortunes.
John Baker came down Miller river on
a big fir tree. Mr. Baker seated him
self at the butt end of the tree, and af
ter going down about a half a mile he
had company. A huge black bear,'
swimming for his life in the seething
water, climbed on the tree and station
ed himself about thirty feet from the
man. In addition to his already preca
rious situation, that bear nearly fright
ened Mr. Baker to death. But Mr.
Bear was about as badly frightened as
the other fellow, and when the current
finally drifted the tree to dry land, the
bear took to his heels with as much
alacrity as Baker.—Seattle Post.
A 50-Cent Calendar Free.
Perhaps the most beautiful calendar Issued for
the year’07 Is The Youth's Companion Art Cal
lendar. which Is given to each subscriber to the
paper for the year '97. It Is made up of four charm
ing pictures, beautifully reproduced In twelve har
monious colors. It Is In form a four-page folder,
which, when extended. Is 10x24 Indies In size. The
subjects are delightfully attractive. This calendar
makes a desirable ornament for a mantle, centre
table or writing desk. It is offered for sale only
by the publishers of The Youth's Companion at
50 cents per copy. Only because of the enormous
number published is It posslnle for the publishers
of The Companion to send it free to all Com
panion subscribers.
A Gneat ltlsk.
Two impecunious Scotsmen come up
on a saloon. They had only “sax
pence” between them, so they ordered'
“one nip o’ whuclcy. ” They were hesi
tating' who should have the first drink,
when an acquaintance joined them.
Pretending that they had just drank,
one of them handed the whisliy. re
questing him to join them in a drink.
He drank, and after a few minutes of
painful and silent suspence, said:
| “Sow, boys, you’ll have one with
! me?”
“Wasna that weel managed, mon?”
said one to his pal afterward.
“Ay, it was,” said the other solemn
ly, “but it was a dreadfu’ risk.—Argo
naut.
YOU WANT « FARM and we have,
50 miles west of Houston, at CHESTERVILLE.
the best tract in Texas. High prairie, well
drained, abundant rainfall, good soil, low
’ prices and easy terms. Don’t fail to post
yourself. Write and receive our book "Fer
j tile Farm Lands” FREE and information as
to cheap excursion and FREE FARE. Address
Southern Texas Colonization Co , John
Linderholm.Mgr., lloP.ialtc Bldg.,Chicago
A Slippery Spot.
A short time ago an old lady went on
board Nelson's flagship, the Victory.
Tin , ifferent objects of interest were
duiy shown her, and, on reaching the
spot where the great naval hero was
wounded (which was marked by a
raised brass plate), the officer remarked
j to her:
“Here Nelson fell!”
' “And no wonder!” exclaimed the old
| lady. “I nearly fell there myself!”—
| London Answers.
Merchants Hotel, Omaha.
CORNBR FIFTEENTH AND FABNAM STS.
Street cars pass the door to and from
! both depots; in business center of city.
Headquarters for state and local trade,
! Rates S3 and S3 per day.
PAXTON & DAVENPORT, Prjp’s.
To Keep Violet a Fresh.
To keep violets fresh when wearing
them on the person, wrap the stems
first'in cotton dipped in salted water,
the! tops sprinkled and the whole
covered closely with confectioner’s pa
i per, and put in a cool place. In this
way the blossoms may be preserved for
saveral days.—New York Tribune.
Cheap Lands and Homes
Are to be had on the Frisco Line in
Missouri, Arkansas and Kansas. The'
I best route from St. Louis to Texas and
i all points west and southwest. For
1 maps, time tables, pamphlets, etc., call
upon or address any agent of the com
pany, or, D. Wishart, CJen’l Passenger
i Agent, St Louis, Mo.
Dr. Kay’s Lung Pa m is the safest, surest
and pleasantest cure for all coughs.
Naturalists say that a healthy swallow
will c onsume a! out 6,0U0 swaJows a day.
F* T S stopped free and permanently cured. No fits
Jitter first day s use of Hr. Kline’s Great Nerve
iRestorer. Free $2 trial bottle and treatise.
beud to 1>K. Klinu, lJ3i Arch St., Philadelphia, Pa,
] It is youth, not learning, that makes
i young j eo-jle smart.
Sforecnnirs Camiihor Ice with Glycerine.
The original and only genuine. Cures Chapped Hands
and Face, Cold Sores, «Stc. C.G.Clark & Co.,N.Haven,Ct.
! No one can tool a man as easily as he
' fool- hirnse'f.
I A Thumbscrew Torture to the BIGGEST NERVE is
i
I SCIATICA. St. Jacobs Oil |
1 It turn* beck thescrew.—It unwinds thr twist.—IT SOOTHES.—IT CURES, 1
f NO FURTHER PAIN. *
'JTKAT Listless, Aimless, Doll, Lack- <
Lustre feeling; cf yours shows that your <
internal machinery is running; too slowly. I
tpu LIVER IS LAZY j
Ex-r BOWELS are languid ,
BLOOD is sluggish j
Get amDvc on w ithout delay, or you’ll be a very sick J
person. Cascarets Candy Cathartic make your liver *
| lively- your bowels regular, your blood pure, move your i
mav . fiery. liny a box to«d»y,any drug store. ioc., 25c., C
5 >• ., or mailed lor price. 13TWrite lor booklet and free i
sample. C
UaiNUY
CATHARTIC
CURE CHRONIC
CONSTIPATION.
mjobim STERLING REMEDY COMPANY, CHICAGO: USNTREAL. CAN,: NEW YOAK.