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"Hfy-rP ''Sy THE- flMPBeS,
F AN American, who
I bad not seen much
of the world, should
awake on Christmas
morn while a German,
French, English, Ital
ian, Swiss or Danish
Christmas celebration
was in progress in his
vicinity, he would imag
ine himself within the
exclusive confines of a
home for the mentally
incompetent.
The American Christ
mas is a matter-of-fact
festive occasion. People begin buy
ing presents a week before; they pre
sent them Christmas morning and the
next day return to work, the entire
affair forgotten until the following
brings the season around again.
Not so in the countries across the
water. They observe every tradition
in the mother lands; they plan for
weeks and the festivities which mark
the birth of Jesus Christ are carried
on for a week or more. The Christ
mas tree in Germany is allowed to
remain decorated far into the next
year, extending over a period of ser
eral months.
Unique ceremonies grace the Danish,
French, Swiss and Scotch Christmas
celebrations and that which the Teu
tons foster have been handed dqwn
from ages. In Mexico one of the treas
ured customs is the breaking of the
Pinata, a tradition being connected
with tbe little ceremony which ushers
in Christmas day. A queerly con
structed effigy of a woman is hung
up in a corner of a room and a child
blindfolded, armed with a stick, pro
ceeds to dislodge the old woman from
her position close to the ceiling. When
the feat Is accomplished the presents
contained under the covering of the
dress of the figure are distributed.
The beauty of that little game is
the uncertainty attending the possibility of the
woman being dislodged and second, the uncertain
ty as to whether the less favored of the family
circle will draw any presents from the treasure
store beneath the skirts of the woman.
Christmas, of course, is observed only in Chris
tian countries, but some heathen, in fact, nearly
all of them, have one day or another on which
to receive and send presents to their friends and
others who are not friends. In countries ruled
by absolute monarchies, the rulers are sometimes
afraid to open their gift receptacles for the rea
Bon that oftentimes treasonable persons inclose
fancy little bombs not marked in the invoice. Of
course such undesirable persons do not have any
more Christmases to celebrate, affairs being ar
ranged in that manner if they are caught.
While the Christmas idea is practically the
same in most countries of the globe which ob
serve the day, there is a great variety of presents
and a certain nation's desire for gifts made in
wide variance to that which the next door neigh
bor believes in. Germans as a rule give the chil
dren presents, most of which are made in this
country, while Americans are always particular
about buying the babies toys marked "made la
Germany."
A Frenchman told a clever little story at a
Christmas banquet in Paris a year ago, which ran
along on that line. He was enamoured with a
.beautiful young lady whose home was on Rue de
,Boulevarde. She was of artistic taste, so he stud
ied her desire in painting creations for three
'weeks before Christmas. At last he came to the
conclusion that probably an oil painting by a
noted French artist might please her. He took
special pains to hunt out a store where he might
procure one. He did and put several weeks'
salary into the gift.
He had it delivered Christmas morning and re
ceived a cordial note of thanks from the young
lady, who unfortunately had not thought to pur
chase anything for him. This, of course, was em
barrassing to both parties, but that evening while
fondling the creation in his presence she hap
pened to scan the back of the portrait. It said:
"Made in Hoboken, N. J." She was in the midst
of thanks and an embarrassing explanation of
why she hadn't sent him a present, when she
noticed the birthmark of the oil painting. She
stopped, and they haven't spoken to each other
since, according to the story.
All of which goes to show that the value of a
gift more than the spirit which the giver exhibits
TREE f0& CHILD
OElsS INPAm
is taken into consideration by some persons. The
young man, probably, was sorry for the abrupt
termination of his friendship with the young lady,
but perhaps it was for the best. That was his
version of it, anyhow.
Most English speaking nations celebrate Christ
mastide just as we Americans do, but each has its
little self-made variation. In Italy they celebrate
with a grand dance, as a rule, and they take great
pains to be attired in gaudy raiment. The Danish
are very deliberate about their Christmas festivi
ties and great fetes and gifts are the order of the
day. The Swiss are fervent in their worship of
the 'Saviour on that day and. the little children
dressed for gala affairs parade the streets in or
der that their parents may look at them and com
pare them with the "kids next door."
Many persons who have read much history and
who have been able to persuade themselves that
the present century is all wrong as to the date
of the birth of Christ, are skeptical as to whether
we should observe the sacred day when we do.
Estimates as to when Christ was born extend
clear from June to January 26.
Prior to the fourth century Christmas was not
observed on December 25, for there was no period
of uniformity in observing the day among the
early churches. The skeptical persons who have
studied the thing from end to end say that on
December 25 it rained in Judea and then attention
is called to the Biblical statement that shepherds
were watching their flocks when Christ was born.
Now how-could they watch their flocks when it
was raining? is the argument of the unbelievers
that December 25 is the correct day of feast.
One person who is not skeptical declared that
perhaps they didn't have sense enough to come in
out of the rain in those days. But of course that
is no argument. The chances are the calendars
have been changed so much that the original
December 25, if hunted down, would be found
flirting with May 1. Of course the correct day
upon which to worship has much to do with the
feeling of Christians in the matter, but at the
same time, if the event is properly observed the
time of observance Js but a detail.
Many good churchmen who seldom attend
church on Sundays find Christmas an excellent
day to attend church because it only falls on Sun
day once in seven years and it doesn't break in
on their weekly holiday morning nap.
Millions of dollars are spent every year in every
country of the globe for presents. It is declared
in mercantile circles that the United States in
proportion to population is the biggest
national distributor of gifts.
There are many concerns in Ger
many, England and France which con
fine themselves exclusively to the manu
facture of gifts such as are exchanged
only during the celebration of the
birth of Christ. Besides being a holi
day which should be devoted to worship
of Jesus Christ, it is a day which is
looked forward to by merchants as a
big source of profit.
In other countries, as in America,
there are many small Christmas trage
dies enacted because of the dislike
which some folks take to gifts and be
cause of the thoughtlessness of others
in omitting some of their friends. Some
make it a rule, and advertise it well,
that they have decided to confine gifts
to the immediate family circle, so that
none will take offense if they receive
no gifts from their hitherto cherished
friends. Of course the ones who are
notified of the change in the routine
'are careful to scratch off the names of
the friends who have eliminated them
so that when Christmas comes there is
no needless embarrassment.
The poets once sang: "It is not th
gift, but the spirit of the giver," and
also "Don't look a gift horse in the
mouth." There are dozens of little
Christmastide axioms of that kind which are used
and misused toward the end of the year. That
first saying has been cleverly shifted about in
this manner: "It Is not the gift, but the price
which the giver putteth into the gift"
The proper Christmas spirit as told from the
pulpit is far from that which many follow out in
selecting presents. Mother countries exhibit less
interest in costly gifts than does America. Travel
ers In countries of the old world have been sur
prised at the great number of Christmas presents
which are home-manufactured. Several weeks be
fore the glad event, the families sit themselves
down in their rooms and start, secretly, work upon
the Christmas gifts. In the country districts of cer
tain parts of America this custom is still retained.
Long a Temperance Worker,
"Mother" Stewart, who died recently, was 92
years old. She devoted her life to the temperance
canse. Mrs. Stewart established the first W. C. T.
U. in Ohio at Osborn in 1873. In 1876 she visited
England and organized the first W. C. T. U. in that
country. Following the civil war she lectured ex
tensively in the southern states on behalf of the
war sufferers.
Five years ago "Mother" Stewart became inter
ested in the teaching of Alexander Dowle and
visited Zlon City where she remained one year,
since which time she lived with friends at Hlcks
ville. Until five years ago she resided in Spring
field, O., where she led in many temperance cru
sades. Scarcely a woman in America could boast
of the praise from pulpit and press like "Mother
Stewart
See Great Future For Siberia.
More than 500,000 persons emigrated from Eu
ropean Russia to Siberia in 1907. Vice-Consul Chan
ter of Dalny reports, and of this record-breaking
number fewer than ever before returned to their
homes. Every colonist arriving in Siberia receives
37 acres of land free, paying no taxes the first
three years and only half the regular taxes the next
three.
Siberia imports $10,000,000 worth of goods by
caravan from China annually, almost entirely tea,
while Siberia exports to China only $750,000 worth
of articles annually, and many of these originate in
European Russia.
KIAM1L PASHA AND THE JEWS
People Feel They Have Friend in
New Turkish Vizier.
Kiamil Pasha, the leader of the
Young Turks, and the present grand
vizier, is by birth a Jew, but became
a Mohammedan when a boy through
bis father's conversion. Although
about 75 years old, he is a man with
very modern ideas, having served his
country as governor of Syria, as am.
bassador-at St Petersburg and also as
grand vizier. He is a great traveler
and a wonderful linguist, speaking
English, Hebrew. Greek, German,
.French, and, of course, Arabic and
Turkish. He is the most accom
plished statesman in Turkey to-day.
He has always been favorable to Jew
ish migrations into the Ottoman em
pire. In 1890 and 1891, when visit
ed" Turkey, he was then the grand
vizier, and I spent some time in his
company, talking to him about the
Jews and their troubles in Russia and
elsewhere. He was very sympathet
ic He told me that the sultan was
entirely willing to have the Jews mi
grate to Palestine, for they made good
subjects. It was undesirable for
many to come at one time, because
the country was' not in condition to
absorb considerable numbers rapidly.
He suggested that Syria and Meso
potamia, being less settled than Pal
estine and better able to absorb large
populations, might be more favorable
regions for settlement The only real
objection he had to the migration of
Jews or other foreigners to the Otto
man empire was their habit of retain
ing citizenship in the countries from
which they came. Thus they did not
assume any obligations to the Otto
man empire, and might, on the other
hand, involve it in dispute with other
nations. American Hebrew.
United States Barley Production.
The United States ranks third in the
production of barley.
ANNOUNCES its third annual bargain week dur
ing which subscriptions will be accepted for the
whole year or 1909 at the cut price of only $3 with
out Sunday, or $4 including Sunday. This Bargain
Rate is good only during the week of December 21 to
28 and the regular rates after that date will be $4
and $5. All new subscriptions commence January 1
and continue until January 1, 1910 at the $3 and $4
rate. All papers stopped at the end of that time
without, any effort on your part. One reason why
this cheap price can be made on such a big news
paper is that everybody pays in advance, thus having
no dead-beat bills. Tou pay only for your own paper
this way. Next, by cutting out traveling solicitors'
salaries, hotel bills and railroad fare, and doing all
business through Uncle Sam's mails at a cost of only
a couple cents. When an agent calls on you to
present a proposition, remember you pay every cent
of his salary and expenses; inmost cases the solicitor
gets more than you are making. It's a wasteful
metnod and you pay for the waste. Everybody is
trvine to dodee the middleman- here's a chance to
cut him out. The Journal does not print liquor ad- (
vertisements or unclean medical stuff accepted by
other state dailies. Why not protect your family
from impure advertising? The Journal is not under
obligations to a political clique because it has no job
to hold or none to get. It is free to treat every
subject in the interests of the people. No matter
about your politics, during the legislative session
you will find The State Journal the one newspaper
whose reports are completest, fairest and earliest.
We are right on the ground and spend the money to
get the news. Remember, just this one week of cut
price and then back to the old rate. Why not try
this big state paper until January 1, 1910, at this
low price. Send your money to
State Journal, Lincoln, Nebraska
A Santa's Biography
Santa Claus. the most widely known
and popular individual on earth, was
born so long ago that it would not be
ladylike for him to acknowledge it, so
nobody knows his exact age. Neither
la It known just where he was born,
nor who his parents were, but they
must have been eminently respectable
people, for everybody nowadays claims
kin with him. He 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, he
Is not classed with the millionaires.
Still he shows a preference for that
class and he puts more in their stock
ings than he puts in the stockings of
the poor. Perhaps he has a taste for
fine hosiery. Some bachelors do. In
any event, the fact remains that the
rich get more out of him than the poor
do. Maybe he is not altogether to
blame for that Anyway he doesn't
ride around in an automobile. This
may be 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 be never asks any
body what church he belongs to before
taking up his stocking to fill 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-
RECORD HARD TO BEAT.
I
-
Harper's Weekly Confident It Has Dis
covered Meanest Woman.
The meanest woman in the world
has been discovered. She lives at
Penatanguish, on the Maine coast
Willie Boggs, a little orphan who
works like a man and saves all he
earns In the hope of going to college,
asked her if she didn't want a mess of
clams. She did. Willie took the
basket and the clam-digger, hastened
down to the beach at low tide, and,
after two hours' hard work, returned
with a bushel of quahogs.
"How much do I owe ye?" the mean
est woman inquired. ,
"Why er" little Willie hesitated,
knowing that she wouldn't pay the
regular market price, 20 cents "why
er I guess about fifteen cents. Miss
Prudenoa."
siders their feelings in the matter. H
knows enough not to be anxious to
work a good thing to a frazzle.
Nobody knows where Santa Clana
lives in the summer, also the spring
and fall and most of the winter, bat
wherever it is it must be a healthy
place, because he always shows up at
Christmas looking so fat and jolly that
really he ought to advertise the loca
tion and take in boarders. There la
one thing certain, if he did there
wouldn't be any "No-Children-Taken'
signs around tb establishment
Santa Claus confines his attention
almost exclusively to mankind, th
lower animals, except the reindeer,
having no pull with him whatever.
This is a well-known fact in natural
history, which may be proved by pic
tures of Santa Claus and his holiday
turn-out coming over the snowy roofs.
When Santa Claus dies there will b
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?
"All right," said she, and handed
him a dime.
"But that's only ten cents." Willi
modestly objected.
"That's right," Miss Prudence reas
sured him. "I'm charging ye five
cents for the use o' the clam-digger."
, And the clam-digger was one she
had borrowed from a neighbor that
morning. Harper's Weekly.
THE RULE OF THREE.
The Men Who Work on Skyscrapers
Are a Generous Lot.
These airy crews are a generous
crowd. They earn high pay. When
working full time they make $27 a
week, and, like their rough brothers
out on the plains, they are quick to
give of their earnings. On Saturday
afternoons when they line up at the
pay window, the Sisters of Charity
are always there, and quarters and
dimes Jingle merrily into their little
tin boxes.
Behind this generous giving is a su
perstitious belief that amid risks like
these it is well to propitiate Fate all
you can. For Fate Is a relentless old
machine, and when once its wheels
begin grinding, no power on earth can
stop them. The "Rule of Three" is
centuries old. You may hear of it out
on the ocean, in the steel mills, in the
If one is sufficiently curious about
what is going to happen to-morrow he
will never commit suicide. St Louis
Globe-Democrat
railroad camps, and down in the mines.
And you find it up here on tbe jobs
in the skies.
"Believe it?' said an old foreman,
"You bet, they believe it"
"Do you?"I asked.
"Well,"-he said, "all I can say Is
this: It may be a spell or it may ss
because of the way the whole crew Is
expecting it But anyhow, when tws
accidents come close together, yoa
can be sure that the third isn't very
far off." Ernest Poole, la Everybody's.
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