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About The Falls City tribune. (Falls City, Neb.) 1904-191? | View Entire Issue (Nov. 27, 1908)
FEW QUIT AT XMAS • - DESERTIONS RARE IN ARMY DUR ING THE HOLIDAYS. Old Sergeant Says Home That’s Fit to Go to Wouldn’t Welcome a Run away Soldier-—A New Year’s Burial of Cavalrymen. There are few desertions from the nrmy just before Christmas, and the company commander is almost as sure of holding his men through the holi days as the Sunday school teacher is of having an overflowing class until the bespangled, candle lit tree has been pruned of its gifts. A recruiting sergeant is responsible for the statement concerning Christ mas and desertions. “Aren't men apt to desert their gar risons at this time to get to their homes for the holidyys?” he was asked. “No," replied the sergeant, whose many service stripes, several of which had the white edging to indicate actual Held service in the islands, indicated that he might be relied upon as an au thority. Then he reasoned It out this way: “You see the man who has got a home that's (It to go to on Christmas or any other time wouldn't have the nerve to go to it as a deserter, be cause his folks would be respectable and they wouldn't have any use for a man who had run away from the army. Then again the man who has a sort of hankering to get to his own home must have a streak of decency in him that wouldn't let him desert. “And the fellows who just take the holidays as a time for a lot to eat wouldn't desert now, for you can't beat a company cook on roasting turkey and baking mince pies. We're great eaters in the army on Christmas. It doesn't make much difference whether we’re round New York or on the plains, or in the islands, that is, the Philippines, every company has its holiday feast. I never happened to serve up in Alaska, but 1 bet they don't let December 25 go by just like an ordinary day. "We did miss one Christmas dinner in the Seventh cavalry, though. That was about 1890, when we had a tight with the Sioux on Wounded Knee creek. The fight wasn't on Christmas, hut two or three days later, although for a week we had been expecting it. That was In the Dad Lands, and our New Year’s day we spent in digging enough graves in the frozen ground for 29 of the cavalry who had been killed. “That wasn't a fair fight. It was treachery after surrender. We had captured about 250 bucks, and were disarming them. There were nearly as many more squaws hanging around with rifles hidden under their blankets. The medicine man was mumbling something all the time, which didn't sound well, but nobody really expect ed a scrimmage then. “But, finally, that medicine man stooped down, scraped up a handful of sand, and threw' it in the air. That was the signal. In an Instant bucks and squaws fell on us with knives ami guns. For 20 minutes it was hand-to hand, and with muskets clubbed. That's when we lost our 29 men. “So that holiday season on Wounded Knee creek wasn't much of a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year sort of a time, but take it year in and year out, the soldier hasn't any fuss to make about his Christmas.” ' V,., 9 — CHRISTMAS IN THE ARCTIC. Theatrical Performance by Crew of an Icebound Ship Sixty Years Ago. Christmas eve was tlie opening night of the theater, the first one ever known in those regions, writes Capt. B. S. Os bon, in Recreation. It opened to a full house and yet not an advertisement had appeared in any paper on the face of the globe. No flaring posters had adorned the walls of the village on shore, but the villagers were all there as "first nighters.” Promptly at eight o’clock the orchestra—the minstrel band—In lieu of an opening overture, gave us a selection from their reper toire, which was generally applauded, and to the tinkling of a bell up went the curtain. The play was "Black Eyed Susan,” adapted from a famous old song of that name, well known to all sailors in those times It was a play in three acts, interspersed with some familiar sea ditties of the day. Susan was the star of the evening and the young fellow who took her part played and looked it to perfection. His make-up was very clever, considering the material at his command. The wig had been made of fine combed yarns braided as deftly as any girl could have done It. Susan's cheeks and lips were very red—from the paint pot—and large pendant earrings dangled from her ears. Her dress was faultless in fashion and fit, her car riage graceful and she acted the girl to the unbounded satisfaction of the “vast assemblage.” The Esquimau portion of the audience was amazed at the performance, but Susan was an even greater puzzle to them. None of them had ever seen a white woman. It was good as a play to watch those poor, untutored natives as they fol lowed the piece with Intense wonder ment. Extent of Their Friendship. Dimpleton—Do you still keop up your friendship with the Caterbys? Hatterson—We see them very little, but we annoy each other with Christ mas presents every year. CONCERNING CHRISTMAS. Facts Regarding Its Observance in America and Other Countries. December 25 Is a legal holiday in all the slates and territories snd the Dis trict of Columbia. General recognition of Christmas in America is of com paratively modern origin. A genera tion or two ago the Roman Catholic and the Protestant Episcopal churches observed the day by religious services, but the great body of Protestants. In New England especially, ignored it as they ignored Easter, says Youth's Companion. The Dutch settlers in New York and Pennsylvania observed the day. as did also the English settlers in Virginia, and the French and Spanish colonies farther south. As a more tolerant spirit prevailed among the descend ants of the Pilgrims, the Puritan ob jection to Christmas celebrations dis appeared. Christmas was not observed even in the Roman Catholic church till the second century after Christ, when, tic cording to tradition. Pope Telesphorus instituted the celebration of the anni versary of the birth of Jesus. The an niversary was celebrated in January, March, April, May and September, at different periods and in different parts of Europe and Asia, and it was not un til the fourth century that the east ern and western churches agreed upon December 25 as fhe proper*day. The Christmas tree is of German origin and Santa Claus is supposed to be akin to the Knecht. Rupert of north ern Germany, to whom parents gave their presents to be distributed to the children on Christmas nicht. Rupert dressed in a mask, wig, white iobe and high buskins, went about from house to house, aw-arding the presents to the young children, who supposed him to be a supernatural messenger. Kriss Kringle, another name for the distributor of gifts, is a corruption of the German Christ Kindlein. or Chrlst cliild. from whom the Christmas gifts are supposed to come. The Christmas tree was practically unknown in Eng land until after the marriage of Queen Victoria to a German prince, who in troduced German customs. Many of the ceremonies of the day are derived from old heathen customs adapted by the Christian fathers to make It easy for the worshipers of the old gods to accept Christianity. a A Mouth ■BEFOPT CHRISTMAS. I THE cJ PWEPJ VIA\E f their webs oh unit I JOHnHJE SLOV LEGS I wml HE GOES OH 1 WLRRAHLT TOP f HIS HI OTHER. J\ A VEEK. BEFORE- » CHRISTMAS. NOW ITS LITTLEjomm FA ST LEGS WHO PUNS ERRANDS FOP HIS H OTHER r (bet I GET) A DRUM I - \s^2kl^C A Christmas Discovery. Do you remember the story of (he portrait of Dante which is painted upon the walls of the Hargello at Florence? For many years it was sup posed that the picture had utterly per islied. Men had heard of it. but no one living had ever seen it. Uut pres ently came an artist who was deter mined to find it again. He went into the place where tradition said that it had been painted. The room was used as a storehouse for lumber and straw. The walls were covered with dirt.w; whitewash. He had the heaps of rub bish carried away. Patiently and care fully he removed the whitewash from the wall. Lines and colors long hidden began to appear; and at last the grave, lofty, noole face of the great poet looked out again upon the world of light. "That was wonderful,” you say, "that was beautiful!" Not half so wonderful, declares Dr Henry Van Dyke, as the work which Christ came to do in the heart of man—to restore the forgotten Image of God and bring the Divine image to the light. He comes to us with the knowl edge that God’s image is there, though concealed; he touches us with the faith that the likeness can be restored Sure Sign of Love. "I think Charlie really loves me now,” said Miss Dinsmore to her mamma. “What makes you think so, deni 7” “He hasn't, tried to break off our acquaintanceship as usual Just before the Christmas holidays.” SANTA’S BIOGRAPHY PLACE OF HIS BIRTH AND HIS PARENTS ARE UNKNOWN. Is Best Known and Most Popular In dividual on Earth—Gives Presents Worth Many Millions Yearly But is Not Classed as Rich. Santa Claus, the most widely known and popular individual on earth, was born so long ago that it would not hi1 ladylike for him to acknowledge it. so nobody knows his exact age. Neither is it known just where lie was horn, nor who ids parents were, hut they must have been eminently respectable pt o|de, for everybody nowadays claims kin with him. lie is the only untitled person whom nobody calls "Mister," and he is a bachelor of excellent re pute. Although he gives away more at Christmas than Mr. Carnegie and Mr. Rockefeller ever thought of giving, l\e is not classed with the millionaires. Still he shows a preference for that class and he puts more in their stock ings than lie puts in the stockings of the poor. Perhaps he lias a taste for fine hosiery. Some bachelors do. In any event, the fact remains that tlie* rich get more out of hint than the poor do. Maybe he is not altogether to blame for iliat. Anyway he doesn't ride around in an automobile. This may lie because he wants to save more to give away. At the same time he doesn't ride in the street cars. So there you are. Santa Claus is the only truly re ligious person, for he never asks any body what church lie belongs to before taking up his stocking to till it. Neither does he care a continental about politics, and he never votes He is especially fond of children, and the children are so dead stuck on him that they want him to come around every day In the year. Their parents, how ever, don’t feel so much that way about it. and Santa Claus kindly con siders l It el r feelings in the matter. He knows enough not to be anxious to work a good thing to a frazzle. Nobody knows where Santa ( laus lives in the summer, also the spring and fall and most of the winter, but wherever It is it must be a healthy place, because he always shows up at Christ mas looking so fat and jolly that really he ought to advertise the loca tion and take in boarders. There is one thing certain, if he did there wouldn’t be any "No-Chiidren-Taken" signs around the establishment. Santa Claus confines his attention almost exclusively to mankind, the lower animals, except the reindeer, having no pull with him whatever. This is a well-known fact in natural history, which may he proved by pic tures of Santa Claus and his holiday turn-out coming in over the snowy roofs. When Santa Claus dies there will be the biggest funeral ever heard of, but there is not much likelihood of that event ever happening as long as there are any children alive. When they are all gone Santa Claus will go too, for what’s the use of his monkeying with grown-ups? WHY HESPANKED THECHILDREN How the Settler Prepared the Young Ones for Christmas. On the morning of the day before Christmas I dismounted at the door of a North Dakota cabin to inquire the whereabouts of a man living in that neighborhood, and the sounds from within told me that one of the child-, reti was being spanked. When the spanking had been concluded (he set tler opened tlie door and invited me in. I saw nine children standing up in a row, and the tenth one sitting down on the other side of tile room. The man thought some explanation should be made, and he said: ''It's the way I do every Christmas time, and 1 had just begun when you rode up. Can you wait till I have spanked the other nine?” “Of course, but may 1 ask why you do it? They look to me to be nice, well-behaved children.” "They are as good children as you will find in the state, sir; but the spanking must go on." "Yes, the spanking must go on," added the wife. I couldn't say any more, of course, and I went out to Hie gate and waited. The nine were railed up one af'er an other and put through the machine, and then the man, who was breathing hard from his exertions, joined me at the gate and said: "There, the last one of ’em has been licked, and now I'll show you where Brown lives.” “Thanks, but would you take it amiss if I asked what your ten child ren had done to deserve punishment?” "You may ask, sir, and I will ex plain," he replied. "They hadn't done nothing, i was licking 'em so they wouldn't expect any Christmas pres ents in their stockings tonight'” Christmas Giving. The one feature of Christmastide that cannot be overdone Is the Riving of comfort to the needy. Sometimes it appears that the custom of ex changing gifts has its questionable side, in the increasing demands upon slender purses and tbe cultivation of a spirit of mendicancy tn servitors. These matters, however, regulate themselves, and probably little harm ib dene by the swelling of the apirtt of generosity at tbts holy time But the relief of the poor and unfortunate is a blessed work that caa aevar work IpiU'y to hips who ilTft- «. SaQta Claus’ Tree By Wallace Irvin It looked rather bare, standing starkly out there. And immy’s poor mother, the picture ol care. And Jimmy * pool grandfather , lean as a I utk. And jimmy’s poor father, who hated to work. Set eyes On the prize With unquenchable sighs. It isn t so pleasant to he a poor peasant, 1 o have to ride steerage And how to the peerage And go through a Christmas with never a present I And Jimmy remarked as he looked on his Tree: "I wish I were wealthy as well, let me see So rich 1 could rig Every branch, every twig With candy and |>eanuts anti pop corn and gum Enough (or each person who lives in a slum. With shoes that have ?olea Anti socks without hole*. With alpaca dresses for mother, and some Small purses of gold, so that poor folks could come Anti take on their hacks Sacks and packs, Stacks and stacks, Anti always walk up to the I ree for a store And never know hunger and want any more.** And (such was the speed of those magical days), No sooner the words than the I ree was ablaze With bright-hanging diamonds dropping like dew. With fairyland candles that twinkled anew, W ith toys so unstinted You’d think they were minted For all the world’s children as fast as they grew. And big hoys and small boys. And short boys and tall boys. Meek girls and sleek guls and slow girls and spry. ^ oung folks and old folks. Modest and hold folks Came flocking each stocking of Oirittmas to try. And Jimmy he stood by hrs I ree in his pride And handed out presents to all who applied 1 ill each grizzled grandsire, each babe, youth or maiden Departed with joys of the season so laden i hat some were afraid that then shoulders would crack And saved themselves trouble by hiring a hack. Here’s the strangest of all I When the winter was past. The Saint s 1 ree took root in the soil and grew Idat, And every Christmas it blossomed once more With gifts to the poor who applied at the door. And Jim grew so famous that when the King died They gave him the crown which he wore with out pride. The Kingdom improver! And he had the throne moved lo the porch of his house where he sat all the day A-talking with neighbors in quite the old way; But he always kept watch, as if kindly to guard The magical 1 ree which still grew in the yard. But just once a y'-ar, as the gossips still tell, A genial old fellow drove by in a sleigh And winked at King Jim saying: “Iree’s doing well I”. Then snapped up his reindeer and capered away. Success. THE HOUSE OF MYSTERY. Strange Actions by Father. Mother and Children at Christmas Time. The mystery began with the hus band coming home half an hour later than usual, so as to have the cover of darkness when leaving a package behind the vestibule doors, while he entered the house with a very innocent look on his. fare and told of his street car being blocked. At midnight of that night, while his innocent-hearted wife was sleeping by his side, he sneaked out of bed and down stairs and secured the pack age and hid it in a closet. The next step was taken by his wife. She took down from the pantry a pitcher in which she had been stor ing up dimes and nickels and pennies for months and months, and, after counting them over, she sneaked down stairs in the forenoon and bought and lugged a parcel home and hid It away on the top shelf of a clothespress. Then one of the children came in one day and looked and acted very mysterious, and shortly afterward might have been found hiding some thing among the rafters of the garret. Then, as the mother suddenly and unexpectedly entered the parlor one afternoon, shA* almost stumbled over a daughter who was down on her knees and reaching under the sofa. The mother cried out in her surprise, but asked for no explanations. Then desk and bureau drawers that had not been locked for a year were found closed tighter than a drum. Closet doors that had stood wide open were made fast. There was lingering bphlnd when others went to bed. There was getting up before the oth ers in the morning Kach member of the family went around trying to look as innocent as a sheep, but at the time bearing a load of guilt on his con science. The strain was intense. The mys tery could not last. The day came when the murder was solved. It was the day before Christmas. That fam ily had simply been preparing to Santa Claus each other. It always acta that way, and it always turns out happily. The Sweetest Bells. The bells ring clear at Christmastide From steeple and from tower; All hearts with love are beating high— Ix)ve Is their Christmas bower. There is no time in all the year When hearts are more atune— The Christmas bells to winter are What roses are to June. » But steeple bells and tower belle Ring not for saint or sinner, A sweeter note than bells of horns That calls to Christmas ‘dinner. No Cause for Joy. Photographer (taking family group) —Now, then, Mr. Housefull, the ex pressioms are all right but yours. Try and look happy—remember that Christmas 1s coming. Mr. Housefull (despondaptly)* Confound It, man, that's |Wl What I am tfclaklBf ah«ltl _ . . _ , 0REHM BAKING POWDER Perfectly pure, unquestionably whole some. A pure food factor ante-dating all pure food laws. Indispensable for ■ raising finest cake, biscuit and pastry. No Alum. No Lime Phosphates Be on guard against alum in your food. Prof. Johnson of Yale College says he “regards the introduction of alum into baking powders as most dangerous to health.” Read the* label. Buy only where Cream of Tartar is named. THE PERFECTLY POISED M!N!>. To Attain It, One Must Rits to Higher Realm of Thought and Fealing. People who would attain exquisite mental polio must dive between the whltecaps and the waves on the sur face of thought, down Into the depths of their beings, where there is eternal calm which no mental tempest can disturb. A perfectly poised mind must l>e In frequent communication with the di vine. Dwelling upon human qualities will never bring that perfect mental balance, that divine serenity, which makes mere physical beauty unattrac tive in comparison. There is a sweetness, a ripeness, a divine something about a serene mind which eludes analysis, but which we nil feel. No wealth ran compare witli tlic benign, satisfying influence which radiates from an exquisitely poised personality. Kmoe of our best observatories are built upon mountain tops, so that the great lens which sweeps the heavens may not be obscured by the dust, the dirt, the mists floating In the atmos phere. in order to shut out the din, the ter rible noises which distract the mind; in order to shut out the thousand and one disturbing Influences In our stren uous life, the things which warp uiul twist ami distort us. it is necessary to rise into the higher realm of thought and feeling, where we can breathe a purer air, get in closer touch witii the divine.—Success. BROUGHT OBEDIENCE AT ONCE. Mr. Drayton'* Diplomatic Way of Deal ing with Tommy. In the Drayton household It Is said that the father of the family has a way of presenting alternatives to his chil dren that never fails to bring them into line. "I wish you would speak to Bobby,” said Mrs. Drayton one night. "I've told him to take his medicine and then jump into bed, and he won't dq it. He Jtiat hops round, and says he doesn’t want to take the medicine and he doesn't want to go to bed! ’’ Mr. Drayton stepped to the door of Bobby's room and stood there, tall, grave and impressive. "Bobby,” he said, firmly, "if you don’t take your medicine at once, and •cn jump into bed, you will he put to bed, do you hear me, put to bed, with out having your medicine at all!” Upon which Bobby, alarmed and con fused, swallowed his allotted portion and meekly retired for the night.— Youth's Companion. Notice of Referees’ Sale of Rail Estate Notice isihereby iriven that by virtu ’ •>{ * judgment In partition entered on the 5th day of November IWOk, in an action pending ” the district court of Richardson County, Nebraska* ii which Myrtle Schaible Mulligan is plaintiff and Cttrri«[Sehalbh\ widow of John Sc had bit v Jr., deceased,jLatira Schaible, Roy Schaible. Edward Schaible, Etna Schaible and William Mulligan are defendants, and In pursuance of an order directing the pale of the premises entered in said cause Novt mber tl, UOH, and if. pursuance to an order of salt* issued out of said court in said cause, we, the undersigned refer cck in partition in said action, will offer for sale at public auction and sell t»»the highest bidder for cash on the 14th tiny of December, 1‘rtN, sale commencing at one III o'clockp. m„ at the West front door of the court house in Falls City in Haiti county, the following described n al estate to-wit: The south half l' I of tip* north east quarter I V\ 1 of Kt-ctiou thirly [80| in towtiship (D one m»rth range six teen 110) in Richardson Coun ty, Nebraska. The purchaser takes the real estate free of widow's dower. Dateil|Novemls*r 10th, 100K Ri avis&^Ri avis, A. R.Scorr. Attorneys for Plaintiff J. R. Wilhiti . II. 1. R KA VIS. ZZZ Z^ Z J ' RefereesJ First publication November 13, 5 times. (iEHUNfi THEATRE] TO- NIGHT Friday, Nov. 27 GEORGE ADE'S POLITICAL COMEDY The County Chairman A story|of heart interest Bristling with Bristling Wit. PRICES 35. 50. 75, $1.00 | Seats Now on Sale Cut Prices on all PHOTOGRAPHS , for The Xmas Trade SEE OSWALD FALLS CITY, NEBRASKA