THE O'NEILL FRONTIER a H. CRONIN. Publisher. O'NEILL, NEBRA8KA .. r. ■ If provision Is not made for developing the railroads continuously the cost of liv ing. instead of being reduced, will go higher, declares President Howard Elliott of the Northern Pacific Hallroad Com pany “Figures furnished show that in 1918 there were 63,923,734 life insurance policies in force with the legal reserve companies. Among the assets securing these policies are marly $2,000,000,000 of ... railway securities, and a failure to protect these securities affects directly the hold ers of these policies and the beneficiaries thereof. In addition, these policy holders, Ir. common with the balance of the 106,000, •00 people In the country, need continuous development of the transportation ma chine for the purpose of increasing the food and fuel supply.” Mr. Elliott stated that the country's railroads will face a deficit for the present year that may reach $350,000,000. Frank L. Polk, head of the United States delegation to the peace conference sum moned Kurt ven Leasner, head of the Ger man representatives at Versailles on Mon day and told him that Germany should m»t interpret as being in her favor any delay that might be encountered in ratify ing the Versailles treaty at Washington, according to Paris newspapers. “Jf there can be in the United States several ways of understanding the treaty,” Mr. Polk is quoted as saying, “there are not two ways of understanding the obligations encum bent upon Germany nor the affection bind ing the United States and her allies.” The different nations of the world are trying different expedients to meet the high cost of living. In Portugal, a part of the nation's gold reserve has been placed in the banks. In Sweden the in crease has reached a figure estimated at 136 per cent, which Is higher In the cities than in the country. The Argentine Is considering doing away with Import duties cm unmanufactured food products, while Hrar.il is revising her tariff with the same end in view. A. L. De Ueouw', of New York a consult ing engineer, says: “Collective bargaining is a misleading term. Under the present conditions there can be no bargaining for the issue is brought to a conclusion by strikes or threats of strikers. This Is no more a method of bargaining than when a man points a gun at his to collect a bill.” Mr. De Leeuw says “we must drop to a large extent the Idea that wage Is the compensation for time, it should be made a compensation for product de livered.” Premier Lloyd George, addressing tha house of commons this afternoon said he hoped it would not be necessary to suspend trial by Jury In Ireland. A re port had circulated tiiat the cabinet, hail decided to suspend constitutional guar antee because of the impossibility of ob taining convictions of persons in Ireland tried for acts of terrorism. Two Americans, members of an explor ing expedition launched jointly by tha Smithsonian institution and the Universal Film Company, have been killed in a rail road wreck in the Engo forest, Belgian Congo, South Africa, and several others seriously injured. Native wood cutters extricated the injured and carried them to their huts where they remained for 16 bouit without medical aid. The Kills Island inquiry reveals the fact that, although there were 1.509 aliens de ported during the year ending July 1, 1918, only two of them were anarchists, despite the fact that the law requires tha deportation of alien anarchists no matter how long they have been In this country. November 26 was old maid’s day in Paris. On that day—St. Catherine’s day—every unmarried woman who has reached the age of 26 are decorated by their younger sisters with orange blossoms. Many of those decorate! In Paris this year wore half mourning for fiances killed in the war. Prof. William H. Pickering, of Harvard university, who recently made a study of the moon from an observatory In Kings ton, Jamaica, says there are evidenced of the existence of a race of superior be ings on the moon and that a careful study reveals vegetation in spots on the moon's surface. Of the 2,511,04* men called in the draft In New York state. 1,907,200 or 78 per cent, ware found physically fit for military ser vice. New Jersey’s average was 79.2 per cent and Connecticut 77.3 per cent. Wyom ing heads the llts of states In the highest per centage of physically fit men, boasting of 87.2. Rhode Island Is at the bottom with only 57.6 per cent fit. Myron T. Herrick, former ambassador to France, In an address at the 34th annual dinner of the Ohio Society of New York, declared the real test of patriotism was still to come and that It would mean the dedication of the lives of real Americans to the maintenance of the country In at tacks from foes within. “Our people do not understand that many leaders of union labor do not seek benefits for labor but seek to destroy the government," he said, acknowledged. Girl Scouts of New York city have, by a “gentleman's agreement,” banned paint and face powder, and the whole makeup box as well. No scout Is permitted to dye her hair or use peroxides. Short skirts and hivh heels must go tooi Warning against ''entangling alliances" with the American federation of tabor, Dr. George D. Strayer, of Columbia university, today told 500 teachers attending the teachers institute that affiliation with labor unions would “Invite suspicion and * Representatlvs Sims, Tennessee, ranking democrat has reintroduced his bill pro viding for extension of federal control of railroads until December SI, 19SL With a provision that no Increases In rates can be put Into effect without authority of congress. A co-operative society for the rich only Is being formed in Paris. "We have had enough," says M. Charles Namur, the pro motor of the schema "of throwing money away. We do not wish to be accused any more of forcing up piloes," according to a Reuter dispatch. The National Association for the Ad vancement of Colored People have pro tested to President Wilson against tho fact that colored people have been ex cluded from the public restaurant In the library of congress, and colored employers segregated in the lunch room. "The women of New York adopted .styles which come from the most Immoral women of Paris," declared Lieut. B. W. Maynard, the flying parson. The British ministry of munitions ts re leasing for sale more than 5,506,000 yards of cloth suitable for dresses, over coats, raincoats, suits and uniforms. ‘ ^ * The youngest son of Lieut. Col. Theodore Roosevelt was christened "'Quentin'' last week He wtus named for his aviator uncle who died in France. Copies of "The Star of Gold" were distributed at the cere mony. There were 7,700 Swiss killed during the war. In the service of France Bight thous and Swiss were loaned the French army, and all but 300 of them were killed In action. The Christiania department of Justice has forbidden the police to join trades anions or any national organisation which > inc v order them to be gu.'lty of disloyal ~ IKVUuCt Builders of New Constitution For Nebraska Have Many Freak Proposals Sub mitted to Them. Lincoln. Neb., Dec. 13.—The state constitutional convention is of a mind to keep on working and not take a lay off until after the holidays. Wednes day it staged a warm debate over whether »o adjourn this week until January 5, or until next Monday. The Monday advocates won. it was ar gued that until the proposals or amendments are printed and the com mittees have turned out some work, there will be nothing for the conven tion to do, but it was finally decided to wait until a better idea of the task ahead can be secured. Another batch of new proposals have been dropped into the hopper by members. Among the number were two by Kpperson, one of which pro poses to abolish the state railway commission. The other would put an end to the practice of getting around the old constitutional provisions pro hibiting the creation of new executive officers by the device of naming some state officer as commissioner of something or another, and making the real head his deputy. Oleson of Cuming had two that were evidently aimed at prohibitory enforcement. One would prevent the issuance of searcii warrants except where felony is charged, and the other that all punishments must be com mensurate with the crime. Keeping litiuor for sale on one’s premises is a misdemeanor and does not become a felony, under the present law, until after two convictions. Mr. ICvans would make void any su preme court decision declaring a law enacted by the legislature or by the referendum unconstitutional unless all judges agree. Other proposals are to elect supreme judges by districts, uni versity regents by districts, that the legislature shall meet in December in stead of January following election o< members, and that the state bar asso ciation shall nominate all supreme judges. —♦— INSURANCE AMOUNTING TO TWO BILLION IS CARRIED Lincoln. Neb., Dec. 13—"Over $2,000 000,000 of insurance was carried in Ne braska last January,” says Harvey Mllliken, chairman of the publicity bureau. This includes $039,233,516 of life insurance consisted of: Stock legal reserve.$178,315,855 Mutual legal reserve. 188.575,295 Assessment life associations. . 17,886,506 I'Yaternal beneficiary associa tions . 254,455,86! Total life insurance.$639,232,51k Property insurance comprised: Stock fire Insurance.$ 856.022,876 Mutual fire, tornado and hall 24,247,936 Assessment hall and plate glass . 309,783 Kurm and village mutual as sessment fire and tornado. 449,259,121 Total fire, tornado, hail and glass .$1,329,819,715 COMPENSATION FOR BEING KILLED IN OWN CONCERN Lincoln, Neb., Dec. 13.—The state labor department has allowed com pensation of $12 per week for 200 weeks to the heirs of Ira Lee. of Kim ball, Neb., who was killed while in the employ of his own establishment. Lee, with a partner, owned a garage at Kimball. He was killed by a gaso line explosion. The insurance com pany opposed the payment of compen sation on the grounds that Lee was in his own employ, but the commission allowed the claim on the clause pro viding that ‘‘executives and officers of a company come under the compensa tion act.” Fl/EL ADMINISTRATOR HAS PLENTY OF AUTHORITY Lincoln, Neb., Dec. 13.—H. C. Tay lor, newly appointed state fuel ad ministrator, Is back from Chicago, where he was Informed that he Is an lncegral part of the railroad adminis tration, which has been given the job of distributing the coal and enforcing conservation rules. The prescribed form Is for local agents to order cars and local committees are to distribute the contents equitably, under Mr. Tay lor's supervision. MILK PRICES BOOSTED BY DEALERS AT FREMONT Fremont, Neb., Dec. 13.—The price of milk In Fremont has been lifted again —this time to 17 cents a quart. The price'of bottles, whTcTTKas been 5 cent!, has been jloublejL It will cost, there fore, 27 cents, to tote home a single quart of milk, but the bottle, If re turned, will be redeemed for 10 cents." TECUMSEH—In order to help meet the advances In price* of all necessities, the Tecumseh board of educations has decided to give each teacher who remains at work t« the close of the year a bonus of $100 The act was volunteered by the board, and not asked for by the teachers. If a teacher ts compelled to quit for perfectly satisfactory reasons at any time, the amount is prorated to the time taught. LINCOLN—The stock judging team won second place at the international stock show at Chicago, the team consisting of W. E. Wledeburg, of Lincoln; DeLoss P. Moulton, of Wymore; M. V. Kappius, of West Point; Ira Hepperly, Norfolk; It. E. Fortna. Octavia, Earl Yates, Geneva, al ternate. FOREIGN EXCHANGE IS AGAINJ.0WER TODAY New York. Dec. 12.—Sterling demand and lire checks made new low records on the foreign exchange here today, sterling opening at $3.7125 and lires at 13.52. Francs were strong, checks be ing quoted at 11.82. Shortly after the opening sterling reacted to $3.7026. Marks were quoted at $ .098. Friends and Former Neighbors of General In Nebraska Plan Campaign to Elect Him President. Lincoln, Neb,, Dec. 12.—A state or ganization intended to bring forward General Pershing as a candidate for the republican nomination for president was created here last night at a meet ing of 200 admirers and former neigh bors of the general. Resolutions were adopted declaring the nation needs a man of his type of mind and training as president of the United States in the reconstruction work ahead. The meet ing pledged its efforts to secure Ne braska’s 16 votes for him at the repub lican national convention. General Pershing is expected to arrive in Lin coln the 23d of this month to remain several days with his son and sisters. FAILED IN SUICIDE ATTEMPT, BUT STILL WOULD DIE Fremont, Neb., Dec. 12.—After writ ing a note to his wife, who went to Denver three weeks ago to visit rel atives, informing her that when she received it he would, be dead, Bari Cunningham, truck driver in the em ploy of the Rogers Tent & Awning Co., drank two ounces of chloroform. He was found about an hour later by Harry Rogers, president of the com pany. He was rushed to the Fremont hospital, where he is resting easy., Cunningham after regaining con sciousness expressed a desire to die. He told the police he had had trouble with his wife. Cunningham served on the Mexican border with the old Fre mont signal corps until discharged for physical disability. CHURCH DEBT WIPED OUT BY PAR1SHONERS Ponca, Neb., Dec. 12.—Fifty men en joyed an elegant dinner in the parlors of Salem English Lutheran church. The pastor, the Rev. Alfonse A. Ma rohn, acted as toastmaster, delivering a stirring address. Response was the subscribing of $2,000 in cash subscrip tions, the money to be applied on the church debt, which was incurred through the building of a new and up todute parsonage. Preparations are under way to raise another $2,000 dur ing this month. —4 UPDIKE GIVES HUGE SUM TO OMAHA CHURCH Omaha, Neb., Dec. 12.—Nels B. Up dike will contribute $86,000 to the fund for the completion of the new First Congregational church, accord ing to an offer which he made. Mr. Updike volunteered to subscribe $1 for every dollar subscribed by the members at the meeting. Within a short time $86,000 had been pledged and amounts ranging from small con tributions up to $10,000. —4— COLDEST DECEMBER DAY SINCE BACK IN 1901 Norfolk. Neb., Dec. 12.—The coldest temperatures for December since 1901 were recorded in Norfolk and vicinity Tuesday night and Wednesday morn ing. The official thermometer in Nor folk registered 26 degrees below zero. Similar temperatures were reported by the Northwestern railroad headquar ters from Winner and other Rosebud country points. —4— CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS Lincoln, Neb., Dec. 12.—Not having very much to do the convention to amend the constitution is spending most of its time in debating proposi tions having to do with procedure and similar vastly important matters. Meanwhile the members are unloading their pockets, and dropping in a num ber of proposals. NORFOLK—Herman Hoffman was fined $11.26 in Judge Norvell’s court because he refused to allow his 15-year-old son to at tend school. The complaint charging Hoff man with assisting in the delinquency of liis son was signed by J. M. Showalter, su perintendent of schools, and Is the result of the truant officer’s investigations. Hoff man told the court that he needed his boy to help with work at home, but the court advised him that the boy needed an education. HART1NGTON—Even Dan Cupid is not immune from criticism in connection with the use of foreign languages in the United States. Following the marriage here re cently of a couple in which the German language was used, the Hartington post of the American Legion has adopted resolu tions condemning the use of any other than the English language for business, social and ceremonial affairs^ INMAN—bavid Douglas, old time trap ptr^of^ffs district, 'wis'^fei’d dead six miles south of Inman. Douglas was found lying in a medow north o fthe Klondyke ranch, a short distance from his traps. His death was due to heart trouble. When found his trapper's sack contained a few furs of skunk, mink and muskrat. Doug las and his brother, Albert, were batche lors and lived by themselves in their cabin on the old Geary place, five miles north of town. PUTS BAN ON I. W. W. Spokane, Wash.. Dec. 11.—A tem porary injunction forbidding 60 alleged members of the I. W. W. held in Jail here pending appeal of their convic tions on chaages of criminal syndical ism, as well as other unnamed mem bers of the organization in this coun try, from continuing with the organiza tion, was issued by Superior Judge Webster here today. CATCH JEWELRY ROBBER. Los Angeles, Cal., Dec. 11.—A man identified by the police as Leland W. Zieriok, of Seattle, Wash., escaped from a jewelry store last night with diamonds valued at more than $15,000 after he had held up the manager and a clerk with a revolver. The man was caught later. The speaker of the British house of com mnns Is obliged by custom to give seven official dinners each season to the mem bers of pm -.'Lament. MAKING POLITICS 0F|i’S CASE Omaha Bar Association Asks For Investigation—Repub lican Leaders Are Be ing Grilled. Lincoln, Neb., Dec. 11.—Judge Det.n, vice president of the state bar associa tion. has been asked by Omaha parties to order an investigation of the con duct of the attorneys who represented Byrl C. Kirk in the negotiations which secured for him a furlough from the penitentiary, where he had spent two years of a 20-yea* conviction for mur der. Judge Dean has declined to act in the matter, however, because as a member of the supreme court, he would later have to sit in disbarment pro ceedings if these were the outcome of the investigation. The president of the association is out of the state. C. Petrus Peterson, of Lincoln, one of Kirk’s attorneys, Is head of the stand ing investigating committee of the state association. The Kirk matter is now getting into politics. The democrats see in it a chance to hit at Peterson, who is one of the party leaders and in line for the governorship, while his partner, R.' W. Devoe, is chairman of the republi can state committee. —*■— NEBRASKA COLLEGE SELLS ITS KANSAS PROPERTY Fremont, Neb., Dec. 11.—The Mid land college property at Atchison. Kan., consisting of 26 acres and five buildings, including a new gymnasium erected two years ago at a cost of $40,000, was sold to Eugene Howe, of the Atchison Globe for $41,000. Dr. E. E. Stauffer, president of the Mid land college, announced. It is under stood Mr. Howe acted for the Dunk ards, a religious sect which has a col lege at McPherson. Kan. The Dunk ards plan to remove their college to Atchison, it is said. REFUSE TO ACCEPT RESIGNATION OF RECTOR Omaha, Neb., Dec. 11.—Word is giv en out that at a meeting of the bishop and vestry of All Saints the resigna tion of Rev. T. J. Mackay. the rector was not accepted, the resignation hav ing been proffered on account of fail ing health. The day before Thanksgiving Dr. Mackay was made a present of a purse of $8,500, contributed by friends and church members, later contributions having been expected to raise the amount to $10,000. -♦ BEGIN CUTTING ICE EARLY THIS SEASON Fremont, Neb., Dec. 11.—With ice eight inches thick, a local company has commenced cutting. It is said that this is the first time in the history of Fre mont that ice has been cut before De cember 15. Last year only a scanty crop was gathered, due to the brevity of the cold season. SHOT MAN IN DREAM; MUST STAND TRIAL Fremont, Neb., Dec. 11.—Tony Dnn za, the Italian who shot Elwin Mar quis, Omaha real estate dealer, on a Union Pacific train as it pulled into Fremont Thanksgiving evening, was bound over to trial in district court. At his preliminary hearing Danza pleaded not guilty of shooting with in tent to do great bodily harm, but made no defense. He claims to have done the shooting while dreaming he was about to be robbed. TO CUT WOOD ALONG THE MISSOURI RIVER Bloomfield, Neb., Dec. 11.—At a meet ing of the commercial club J. W. Dart, B. Y. High and Fred Heavrin were named as a fuel committee. Former Mayor Harm was appointed chairman of a committee to arrange for cutting wood along the Missouri river. These committees are busy. No suffering has been reported from the coal shortage here, but the shortage is extremely acute. -4 CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION COMPLETES ORGANIZATION Lincoln, Neb., Dec. 11.—The state constitutional convention is now ready for business. It has adopted the re port of the committee on committees, which finishes the f rmal organiza tion. The next in order will be the In troduction of proposals or amendments, which will be referred after being printed to the committees to which each belongs. ^ booTlegger convict is GIVEN TEMPORARY PAROLE Lincoln, Neb., Dec. 11—Howard Lee, convicted of bootlegging in Hitchcock county and serving an Indeterminate sentence, has been released from the penitentiary temporarily on an order by Lieutenant Governor Barrows, now acting governor. Lee has a wife and five small children. Mrs. Lee is very ill, and friends of the family have rep resented to the authorities that her husband is sadly needed at home for a time. He has been paroled to the county attorney, who has agreed to watch after him and see that he is returned after the Lee family crisis has passed. Lee has served more than the six months' minimum sentence, and is eligible to a parole. A kind hearted Kentucky burglar last week sent the pawn tickets he received for the jewels he stole to his victim. DEMOCRATIC CANDIDAS? IS NOT A DEMOCRAT Pierre, S. D.. Dec. 10—The democrats find themselves in the difficult posi tion of having one of their proposed candidates fail to consent to run on the state ticket. The man says he isn't a democrat, and so refuses to be on their state ticket. Ho is Claude E. Harris, of Sioux Falls, whom they proposed for lieutenant governor. - - — THE EVENING STORY. Ye Merry Gift Time. . Copyright, 1917, by W. Werner. Mrs. Bagby leaned her elbows on the table and stared down with a satisfied air, while on either side of her loomed a mountain of Christmas gifts, gay boxes and fancy ribbons and tissue paper. She sighed gently and looked about approvingly. "Now comes the work,” she thought. She moved things about for a mom ent and then drawing a silk bag to ward her announced to the assembled presents: “This bag is for Sister Ella's daughter. She has everything she needs, anyway, but a silk bag or two will never come amiss. Girls can never have too many of such things.” And she slipped in the little Christmas greeting she had written and folded and wrapped it daintily in tissue paper, tied it with the girl’s favorite color of ribbon and poked a bit of holly under the bow, saying as she held it up to view, "That makes it look more festive. How a little thing like that helps.” “I do wish I could send something to poor Mrs. Jones, but there are so many people ont has to send presents to be cause they will send to you. How I wish that 1 might send to every one. Some little remembrance, no matter how small. This little kimono cost a great deal more than I thought It would,” she thought as she laid a fluff of soft daintiness on a square of pink paper. "To begin with, the silk was more ex pensive than I supposed it would be, and it took more lace that I had count ed on, and then I had to buy a better quality of ribbon to go with the silk, so altogether it counted up; I don't dare let myself know how much." She smoothed and patted and straightened and smothed. “But Inez has every thing so lovely I couldn't give her any thing inexpensive, and then, too, we havo exchanged presents ever since we were in school together. To be sure, the little motto she sent me last year did seem very shabby by the side of the beautiful hand painted dish I sent her, but it would never do this year of all times to send her anything small, ofr fear she might thing I had thought her last year's present mean—though I never have been able to understand it, when I’ve always given her such beautiful things—but then one couldn't give Inez anything cheap, for every thing she has is the very best.” And by way of emphasizing the fact even to herself, Mrs. Bagby hunted out care fully the largest and prettiest piece of holly to tuck under the ribbon “for Inez.” one wiuie ti uuccij nine wui i.-uina.-' note and inclosed it with a motto on “The Joy of Work”, done in the latest fashion by hand, to a poor cousin whose only means of livelihood was sewing from early morning until late at night for $1.50 a day, and remarked as she tied the ribbon in a double bow, “Poor Emma has so little bright and cheery, this red ribon and the holly will help to brighten her Christmas,” and she laid the flat package by the smart one, sighing gently at the thought of Cousin Emma. “I do hope the twins will like these books,” she mused as she laboriously tied up a set of three bulkly volumes, smiling as she did so. “I’ll not waste any holly on this, the dears; they will never notice how it is wrapped, they will be so anxious to see what is inside,” and she smiled lovingly as she laid the bundle to one side. “I can't decide about those hand kerchiefs,” said she to herself in leis urely enjoyment. “I guess I will send one to each of the girls. I do wish I had time to embroider their initials, but I haven't. "Now, this doll for Lou’s baby.” She peeped into a box lovingly. “It is so sweet, but I suppose the child will get so many, like she did last year, that she will scarcely notice it. I would have liked to send one to Helen's little girl, but they cost so much, and then she needed the dress, and I couldn't send both. Oh, well, I hope some one else will send her a doll." She smoothed out a red and black plaid she had bought on sale and laid a Christmas card be CHRISTMAS MORNING. It is Christmas morning, the bright est and most joyous day of all the year, the one day that differs from all others. There was a legend of a time far distant that is told in these words: "Some say that ever 'gainst that sea son comes Wherein our Savior's birth is cele brated, The bird of dawning singeth all night long; And then, they say, no spirit can walk abroad; The nights are wholesome; then no planets strike, No fairy takes, no witch hath power to charm, So hallowed and so gracious is the time." The bird of dawning still comes to sing to the hearts of men who will take the means to listen. And still evil spirits at this season are held In chains; still ghosts that haunt men's minds are driven off and powers of evil are dissipated. The greatest gift of the season of gifts Is the gift of happiness; the greatest lesson this which the Savior taugfyt: That service and sacrifice are the road to happiness; that Goodwill Towrad Men is the wonder working spirit which destroys all demons that -— The blble is now printed in 3G more dia lects than It was five years ago. On the latest list appear Nsenga, Donga. Adam awa, Dehwali and Wukingfu. The first five are tongues of African tribes while Wukingfu is spoken by the Hakka, a people numbering 15,000,000 In southern China. _ _ Garfield’s Figures. Dr. Garfield has been careful to state that his 14 per cent formula is not an award, but the finding of an expert ac countant. It is in essence a simple calcu lation carried out to three decimal places. If prices in 1913 were 1. than they are now In the mining region 1.798. If wages in 1919 were 1, they are now 1,574. To bring the 1.574 of wages up to 1,798 of prices, the former sum must be multiplied roughl} by 1.14. Since the miners’ demands have been primarily based on the increased cost or living, the Garfield procedure was ob viously the correct one for an ascertain ment of facts. tween the folds. “I simply could not find anything nice enough for Louise, though I looked un til I was almost cray,” Mrs. Bagby so liloquized. “There is not a thing that I possibly think of that she might need, and this handkerchief is a beauty, though it cost—I burned up the bill as soon as I got home from downtown, it seemed so dreadful.” She looked at the weblike lace over her hand admir ingly. A few moments later Mrs. Bagby * came from another room with a dollar bill in her hand, and, putting it in an envelope with a little note, remarked,, as she wrote the address, “I once heard of a poor woman who said that at Christmas time everyone gave her money, and she did wish they wouldn't, for if they hadn’t she would have got along some way without it, and, as it was, she never never had anything out of it, for it always went for food or fuel, and a handfieschief would have made it seem more like Christmas. I expect that is a good deal the way Cousin Ida feels, but what could I have bought for a dollar that would do her anny good? And this way she can get what she needs.” "I certainly have spent a fortune for ribbon and paper this year,” she mur mured as she tied up a very small pres ent in a quantity of white paper and almost hid it under a large bow of green and red ribbon. A dyspeptic looking pair of varie gated golf gloves went to a cousin in the country, who would have counted a pair of kid gloves a luxury, while the kid gloves went to a city relative, who would sigh mournfully because they were not the make she usually wore and lay them away to pass on to some one else the next Christmas. Mrs. Bagby hummed and wrapped i* full enjoyment of her occupation. “Footpaths to Peace” with "Joys of j Living” and "Symphonies of Life” wero addressed indiscriminately and laid aside, each with a sprig of holly tucked | under the ribbon. A Nile green stock ! holder went to a short fat lady who I never wore stocks and who possessed a sallow complexion and pimples, and a theater record to a girl in the country who only went to the theater once on each of the two yearly shopping visits she made to the city; but Mrs. Bagby’s I Christmas spirit was in full posses I sion of her and never a shadow crossed her mind. At the end of an hour the mountain on her left hand absorbed the moun tain on her right and it only needed a little evergreen sticking out here and there, with a few candles, to look like a real Christmas tree. Mrs. Bagby leaned back in her chair and gazed with satisfaction at the result of her labors. “Now I believe I have every thing done and not a soul forgotten— not a soul forgotten," she repeated | slowly, and then she stopped abruptly and sat up quickly. “Why, I have for gotten Mrs. Leander, the president of the reading club. What shall I do? I can’t make another trip downtown and I must send her something.” And she looked at the packages as if for in spiration. "q'he women always give the president something. How did I hap pen to forget her?” Suddenly her face brightened and she began to turn packages over reck lessly until she found a flat one near the bottom of the pile. “The very thing! I’ll just send her this motto, for it really is a beautiful piece of handwork and I can get Cousin Emma a handkerchief or something and send it right after Christmas. She won't mind if it is a little late, she will be so glad to receive something." Mrs. Bagby untied the package and changed the cards and retied it, smiling joy fully. “Oh, 1 am so glad I remembered Mrs. Leander, and Cousin Emma won’t care." The simple “Merry Christmas” to Cousin Emma was laid aside until later while in its place was a dainty formal greeting to the stately Mrs. Leander. Verily, “He that hath, to him shall be given, and he that hath not, from him sail be taken even tat whhich he hath.” possess the soul. Happiest are they who have given most freely and have received most thankfully. Every Christmas season proves it. Ine needs to visit but a few homes to know it. Peace and goodwill! Strange words to speak in a world torn by hate and destruction! Yet not so strange. There can be peace of the soul amid the storm. The soul can have peace if the fight is for the right and to defend the weak. And what can equal the good will of him who gives his life that the oppressed may be free and the suffer ing defended. “erGtaer love hath no man that this.” Let there be a deep and abiding joy in those homes whence have gone strong young men to suffer and to sacrifice for a brighter day. The „ night may be long and black, but no evil spirit need be feared. "The bird of dawning singest all night long.” He foretells the glorious day by whose broad light the love and sympathy of men and nations shall be seen estab lished on a sure foundation. Envy those whose happiness la mingled with pain; those who have given most; mothers and fathers who have given most; mothers and fathers who have seen the star in the east and have brought precious gifts.—H. E. G. On petition of Martens, “soviet ambassa dor,” an injunction has been issued to the members of the Lusk committee Investi gating bolshevism, to show cause why they should not be restrained from issuing subpoenas against Russians, and why they should continue to demand the docu ments of the Russian soviets. Phonetic Reading. From the American Legion Weekly. “Where are you going,' 'the teacher wrote on the board. “Johnny, read that,” she said. Johnny did so. Then the teacher added the quee tion mark at the end of the sentence. “Now read it, Johnny." "Where are you going,” little button hook," said Johnny. One hundred representatives of the American Federation of labor of Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Arkansas are in session to promote co-operative mercan tiiing, manufacturing and banking.