THE OMAHA DAILY BEE : MONDAf , JDEOEMEEH 24. lS8a
How a Discouraged Drummer Found
a Lost Lovo.
SONG OF JOLLY OLD ST. NICK.
A. Novel Slpii In IS n ill ami Sam Ham-
ylo'H AHRiimncc Tlilnks It a
Gootl lliltiK Samples Ki
tlio CJrlpsnok.
Bt. Mole The OrlKlnnl Drummer.
tt'rtlrrn Traveler.
In lili liomo at tlio base of the nrctic polo ,
Where the sun gets tired and Iho weather
gets cold ,
Wlii'ro ulsters and straw haU arc never In
season ,
And the rial" man's extortions arc clear out
of reason
Tolly Rt Nick for his annual trip.
Is busily packing his monster Rrlp.
Old St. Nil-It is ono of IMP bo.vs ;
He's n traveling man and lie handles toys ;
Like ail Ills tollovvs lie claims tlio earth ,
And llko tlioin too he's full of mirth.
And ho sings Just now as no tucks away
Hooks and toys for the Christmas day.
"Oh , Tin Rt. Nick , tlio orlRinnldrummor ,
Till n hllloold , hut still I'm n hummer ;
I go on the road hut once a year.
For my route embraces this big round spliero ;
For my tratio is my own. I hnvo hold it fast
For a thousand years , and when have passed
A thousand more , it will still ho mine ,
For I've no competitor in my line.
Oil , It makes me smile to sco the bo.vs skip
H.ick to tliulr homes when 1 pack my grip ;
For they know It is usolcss for thorn to try
To take any orders when I'm on the Ily.
Bo they take a vacation and KO into town ,
And have a good tlmo whllo St. Nick i
around.
Bless the dear follows my choicest toys
Are laid aside for their girls tind boys ;
And whan inv reindeers at Christmas tlmo
Up to Iho tall dark chimneys climb ,
And 1 climb down to the hearth-stono frco ,
Where open mouthed Blockings hang wait
ing for mo ,
I always watch out for the drummer's abode ,
And give to his bablos tlio boat of my lo.id.
Ills llrlxhtcHt Christnmq.
"Ono Christmas day in my llfo" said a
drummer at the P.ixton , last woolc , "I reckon
ns the brightest of all the dajrs of all the
mouths of my llfo of thirty-five years. I had
been drumming up ; ho I'aoillo coast from
Oregon to southern California. Mv house
had an idea that Micro was a big Hold 'out
there if It was properly worked. FOB once ,
however , the house was fooled and I had not
placed orders enough to square my expense
account. To say that I was discouraged in
no sense docs Justice to my fooliags. I was
sick , nauseated no one who has not been
there can appreciate the length , breadth and
depth of my disgust with tno house , the
country , myself and the world in general.
To make matters woiso , I had made night
of it the evening before. Three or four of the
hoys had been celebrating Christmas eve
and in n spirit of reckless dcspcr.itlou I had
gone thorn one hotter and swallowed more
mixed drinks than any one white man can
successfully or conveniently accommodate.
Perhaps now you can imagine my delightful
condition , physically mid mentally , ns I
whirled along on my journey homo that
Christmas morning.
It was a hitter day. Flurries of fine snow
flashed against the car windows with a vicious
hiss. The tralu swayed and rocked as it
rushed on through the storm. The sleeping
cars were all full not n scat to be had for
love or money. The first class carriage
which I occupied was unutterably cheerless
and dismal. Half a dozen fretful bablos
kept up a continual whlno , a family of
towzlo heaikAl children smeared bread and
molasses over everything in roaoh. Near
one of the stoves si group of ugly visaged
rufllans were growing inlnuto by minute
more boisterous and offensive over a pack of
greasy cards and a pin bottlo. The car was
insufferably closo. Now and then the brakeman -
man would slam Into the door , letting a
skiftofsnow pelt down my neck , slam the
door attor him , yell out the name of the sta
tion within a foot of my car and slaui out tlio
other end.
In ono of thcso periodical gusts a female
form blow in , and in wondering where she
had come from , I forgot , to nurse my misery.
She was in widow's weeds , but the thick
coils of glossy brown hair , the firm white
hand and rounded contour told mo she wds
young. I hud not seen her face , but some
thing in the turn of the head reminded mo of
some ono I had known and lost , it seemed
to mo years ago , though it was only
eighteen short months since I had felt her
breath on my chock and her heart beating
ngninst mine.
Wo wore to have been married. Lulled by
the monotonous roar of the train and the
dreary whistling of the wind , J wont off into
n waking dream of tlio happy old dead days
nnd my lost lovo. It was nil over now , and
my bitterness had changed to pity , She was
very young , nnd I was beginning to under
stand how the ceaseless carplngs of her
father I was always his abomination and
the fretting of her mother had worn the poor
child out. You sco 1 had been away for
nearly n year , nnd all through the yellow
favor quarantine which unfortunately caught
mo. I did not write for fear I should alarm
her. I had n rival In the meantime. Ho was
rich and handsome , so I inn told , for I never
naw him myself. No doubt ho was assidu
ous in his attentions nnd he had vigorous
auxiliaries in her friends , So well , I was
on my way to claim hor. I had not written
thinking of the piqasuro of the surprise when
I should walk la unannounced. The train
seemed to crawl , my impatience ran so far
ahead. I bought a paper and tried to read.
There It was , blaring mo in the face her
marriage notice. Thou I wont mad. I never
went near her , but I sat down and wrote her
a letter in which I put In black and wliito all
the concentrated bitterness that was eating
out my heart. I told her of my silence and
love and disappointment , scoffed at her con
stancy , called bar mercenary , heartless and
unworthy of u place in the hoartof an honest
'limn.
'limn.After a wlillo the answer came , a pitiful
llttla note , blurred and tear-stained. Her
"heart was broken. " she had "waited so long
to hear from me , " they had "told her lies , "
BIO had never "loved niyona else , " and
"would I forgive her , " and at the bottom of
the pagan llttlo wall of "darling , why didn't
j'ou writol" and signed "Louie , "
I had not seen her since. They had gone
out west ( iomewlieio. Her husband's money
had all been Mink In some un fortunate specu
lation , and It wus understood lhat ho had
taken to gambling and gone to ihu bad gen
erally , though If all reports wore true ho
liad not far to go. Now and than vague
runion * of unhntmlncss , and oven cruelty ,
came to me , so that now I felt for her only
un infinite pity.
1 wus startled from my dream by a llttlo
rycroani. Quo of the drunken card players ,
intlamod by the gin which ho had Imbibed ,
liud plumped his ungainly form down beside
the young widow , and In his maudlin fashion
was trying to kiss her.
1 was fortunately put up on a sufllclnutly
muscular plan to tnko rare of myself under
moot circumstances , us you can nee. I got up
nnd took that drunken brute by the collar ,
lilted him up and smashed him down on his
Dank between the seats. Ho lay there a
minute , than painfully picked himself up nnd
nlouclicil buck to Ills seatimimblinir threats of
vonguuncc. 1 looked an Invitation to the
rest of the group to "plla In , " but no ono ao-
cciitod.i
1 turned to the frightened woman to ro-
nssuro lior. She had thrown back her vail
nnd half rlMm from her beat.
"Good God. Louie I I beg your pardon ,
Mrs. Wllbon , where did you como froml"
"I am going back homo. "
Btio pulled usldo her dress nnd I sat down
posldo her , I pointed to her veil.
"Yes , ho Is dead , " nho replied to my mute
query , with a tightening of the lips. "Oh ,
Joe , It was uwful , Uu shot himself two
months ago. Please don't usk mo about it.-
The tram thundered on , tlio snow hissed
ngauiBt the window , the wind shrieked and
vrullod louder than over , the door slammed
and the children whined , but blissfully ob
livious to It nil wo sat ami talkod. At Chey
enne wo loft the train and In two hours her
hand wus nestling in mine and her lips ro.
posting after the clergyman " 'for better , for
worse , till death do us part. "
A llttlu unconventional , inuybc , but wo did
not cro much nbout the conventionalities
Just thon. I went honio wHU her tUo next
dny ntul ns her father clasped me by the
hand ho faltered !
"God forgive me , I did It for the host "
That was ray bright Christmas nnd this
my wife.
A Novel tfUjn. |
"
Commercial travelers" run across many
stranpo things , but wo doubt if any of thorn
ever found anything as novel us a sign
which , says the Montreal Gazette , Is dis
played in an English village nnd which reads
ns follows :
"Hodgors Oylos , stirgln , parish clerk nnd
skulcmastcr , grosor and hundcrtakcr ,
snectably Informs ladys and gentlemen that
ho drors tccf without n mmit , applies laches
every hour , olistcrs on the lowest tarms , and
vlslcks for a penny n po.ico. Ho sells god
fathers kordalcs , kuts kerns , hunyons , dok-
tcrs hnsses , klips donkics wunco n month ,
and hundortakos to look after eycrybodlos
nayls by the car. .losesharppj , penny wls-
sels , brass katidolstlcks , fryinspans nnd
other mooslcal Instruments iial gr.Uoly reduced -
ducod llgors. Young ladys ami genllcman
larns their grammar and their latigucdgo In
the puitiust manner , also grnto cirr taken of
their morrols and spclllu. AUo znrm zinging ,
laychlng the b.iso viol , and other
sorts of fancy work. Qundrills , polcors ,
weazlcs and all country dances tort at homo
and abroad at pcrfckshun. Perfumery ami
snuff In all its brunches. As times is kriil
bad I bog to tell ce that I has just beglnncd
to soil nil sorts of stnshonry ware , cox , hens ,
vouls , pigs and all olhor Kinds of poultry.
Hlacltin brushes , horrrans , coles , sltrubblng
brushes , traykcl , and godly bukcs and
bibles , mice traps , brick dust , whisker seed ,
morrcl pokkerankorchlofs and all sorts of
swcetmatos Including talers , sassagcs and
other garden stuff. Hakky , cigars , Iamb's
woylo , tnykettlcs and other Intoxzlkntm Ilk-
hers a daln of fruits , hats , s-ongs , hair-oyle ,
p.Utlns , bukklts , grimlln-stoncs and other
eatables koru and bunyon salvo and all
hardware as I laid up a largo assortment of
taype , dog's mate , lolipops , glngginbeer
matches and other pickles , such as Hepsum
z.xlts , hoyslors , winzer oopo alio 7otrar Old
rags bert ana sold hero and nowhcro else-
New laid eggs by me , Kodgor Gyles , singing
birds keened such ns howles , donkios , pay-
cox , lobsters ctzrear. "
*
American At-stirnncc.
Merchant Traveler : Numerous Instances
nro on record of the striking self possession ,
or In the vernacular , "norvo" possessed by
Sam Sample. Concealed under this pscu
donytn is a traveling man who has friends
from ono coast to the other.
Hcforo ho had made his success as a com
mercial traveler ho was staying In Minneap
olis for no reason whatever except that ho
happened to bo there and couldn't got away.
Ho was a man of good appearance , however ,
and going to a hotel ho registered in an im-
prcsslvo manner. In a short time ho was
well acquainted with the landlord , nnd when
ho spoke of n draft that functionary very
promptly undertook the responsibility of
ashing it.
" .lust muko out your draft , said the land
lord. "Hero , this picco of note paper
will do. "
Sam sat down nnd In a short tlmo re
marked ; "Horo'-6 n draft for Ilfty ; now , if
you will oblige mo ah , thanks I"
"Hut , " said the landlord , "you haven't
made the draft on anybody. There's no
drawer. "
"Oh , that's all right , " said Sum. "You
know more people than I do ; Just ill ! It in to
suit yourself. I loft it blank on purpose. "
It is but justice to Sam to say that ho Is
entirely square with the landlord now , and
that ho could cash n draft for five hundred
there to-day if ho desired. * .
*
A. Good Thing.
Under this caption the Merchant Traveler
says editorially : The Omaha travelers nro
agitating the question of a commercial trav
eler's club room , and the papers of that city
are giving the project their hearty support.
Such institutions nro commendable. They
afford it pleasant and convenient place of
meeting for resident travelers , and traveling
men from other cities the opportunity of
seeing local friends without being to tlio
trouble to look them up during business
hours. <
There is no denying the statement that
homo is the host place for every man to
spend his evenings , but m.my traveling men
are un-marriod , and oven those that are , enJoy -
Joy an occasional hour's social chat with
members of the craft when off tlio road. Tlio
clubs so far organized are prosperous , and
the local press speak of them , generally , as
both pleasurable and profitable institutions.
*
Samples.
J. II. Fleming , for a long tlmo a represent
ative of ICiipatrick-ICoch company , was in the
city tlio fore part of the week.
George B. Kowell , of Johnstown , N. Y. , is
in the city perfecting the details of his branch
bouso , which ho will open here the first of
tlio year.
O. II. Hrockway , heretofore with Tumor
& Jay , will ho sollcillng Irado after the 1st
of January for the now hat and cap house of
Darrow & Logan , Omaha.
A. P Dutten , formerly with Turner & Jay.
nnd a well kuown traveling salosmau , will
oscillalo through Nebraska this season for
George B. Howell company.
C. O. Lobeck , un old standby , with the
Leo , Clark & Andrcson Hardware company ,
will occupy a position iu the new firm , Omaha
Hardware company , after the ilrst of the
year. '
A. Ulush , nn old traveling man in the Now
England stales , will be in this western terri
tory selling gloves , mittens and overalls for
thq George B. Howell Glove aud Mitten
compaiiy the coming seasou.
Fred ICoohule , with the Baum Hardware
company , of this city , returned from St.
Louis a few days ago , whither ho had been
for several weeks undergoing treatment for
an abscess on ono of his eyes.
Volume I , No. 1 of the Western Traveler ,
published nt St. Louis , has arrived. Editor
ially and typographically the edition is crcd-
itnblo and It will prove n welcome recruit to
the ranks of drummers' Journals.
J. M. Jaroll. the Hnrtcr's bitters man. has
been doing Omaha the past woolc with his
white pm'i dog. It is very "poplar" whenever -
over shown. The bitters .ind the dog have
created n sensation among advertisers ,
E. B. Ovolman. an old Elkhorn traveler ,
absent for a number of years in another Hold
for n Chicago concern , has resumed his old
territory In northern Nebraska , now repre
senting the boot and bhoo Hrm of W. V.
Morse & Co. , Omaha.
D. M. Steele & Co. will next year be repre
sented in tlio Black Hills by John Guild , nn
old salesman in that country , and his popu
larity with the merchants of that mining
country insures a heavy Increased trade for
that well known Omaha grocery houso.
C. S. Brown , who has headquarters nt
Salt Lake City for the Lee , Chirk , Androsou
Hardware company , and whoso territory extends -
tends from Cheynnne west , has boon In the
city n few days looking after his welfare for
Iho ensuing year. Mr. Brown's ' experience
In the ncedB of the trarto In the oountry ho
rovers makes him a valuable acquisition to
the wall known Hrm ho represents.
It. D. Valentino , traveling salesman for
Tychcn & Lcland , Lincoln , Nob. , Is known
In the western part of the state , ins most fa
miliar territory , ns one of the liveliest boys
on the road. Ho frequents the citv of
Hastings quito often and 1s always ready to
take an nctivo part in any kind of fun or
amusement. Vnl has n peculiar knnok of
keeping the mails wall flllod with ardors en
route to'tho ofiloo of his employers.
C. 13. Sauiulors , for three years the main
stand-by for Sloole ft Walker in the Kilt-
horn vnlloy country , has resigned his posi
tion on the road and will hereafter bo found
In the ofllco of Chase Si Son , confectioners.
St. Joseph , Mo. , as ono of the managers of
that Institution. Mr. Saundcrs is hotter ac
quainted with Iho people of north Nebraska
than ho Is with his wlfo and family , and he
now proposes to give us the shake and culti
vate tboir acquaintance. His now employ
ers have made a good selection in the pnrson
of Mr. Sauudori , and the frlnndahlp and es
teem and good wishes of all his old traveling
companions go with him.
F. C. Wood and 0. O. Carpenter , popular
representatives of the confectionery Hrm of
Kopp , Drolbus & Co. , Omaha , the former on
the Union Pacillo lines and the latter on the
Elkhorn Vulley torritory. loft lasv Friday on
a visit to their old homo In Hoston , C/uIpep-
per county , Virginia , whore thi y will spend
their holiday vacation. They no doubt will
astonis.li tha natives by their longhair , bowlo
knives and buckskin suits , as we understand
Uiey unUl'liWtOfflvlua orlvau rssfv. _ .
to ftW rw , domoWrfttLie 'the4wayTof ' j
jf
"tho wild and woolly we < it. " Each oho ha' '
Ins grip tilled with gum drops nnd "patent ?
inlxed , " which ho will "distribute lavishly to
these fair Virginia daughter *
"Hob" Lytlo has been handling a territory
for a long time for the grocery firm of Raymond
mend Bros. , Lincoln , and so familiar is ho to
the people of the various towns ho makes
that if ho do not appear exactly on tlmo
every two weeks it is noticed by cacti nnd
every Individual of the place. Why , Hob
Lytlo ; everybody knows him ! And his
competitors realize , toothat ho Is a hard man
to get awnv with. From ono year's end to
another you will find him always the samo.
Always Jolly nnd sociable , yet reserved ,
never excited nor frustrated , but ho gener
ally gets there , and "Onoo a customer , nl-
ways a customer" is his motto. Continued
succes Hob for the now year.
No ono will bo missed with deeper regret
to tlie traveling fraternity than will our
genial companion and co-worker in the fle-M
of commerce , Mr. 12. 11. Gaze , who for a long
time has been n representative of I ) . M.
Stei-lo A : Co , of this city. A higher standard
of integrity and ability is seldom found
among any class than that which Mr. Gao
possesses. After the first of the year ho
will leave these prairies , so long his home ,
nnd seek Ui better bis condition on ttio Pa-
clllo slope , by locating In business for himself -
self in Seattle. W. T. While our ranks will
bo broken without his familiar presence , yet
what is our loss will bo somebody else's
gain , nnd wo bespeak for him an early recog
nition among the Influential business men of
the city of his chosen residence. Lot us hear
from you occasionally , Ed.
Omaha's Sunday Clients.
At the Arcade S. II. Towers , St. Louis ;
W. U. Cody , Missouri Valley : S. Lovich ,
Des Molncs ; Leonard Pry , Neoln , la.
P. U. Crowley , for some tlmo past homo
salesman for W. V. Morse & Co. , Is meeting
with good success in southern Nebraska.
At the Merchants' : A. G. Moorehouio.
Hnltlmorc ; H. A. Wallace , ToKamah ; H. G.
Haili-y , Hock Island , 111. ; K. W. Moffctt ,
Denver.
At the Murray C. H. Wilcox , St. Paul ;
T. U. 13dwards , Cleveland ; K. U. Klworth ,
Now York ; K. Foreman , Boston : E. C.
Powell , New York.
At the Millard C. II. Cone , Kansas City ;
C. H. Lester , Chicago ; ( ! . A. Ehvoll , Hoston ,
W. A. K. Cummings , Watcrtown , N. Y. ; E.
K. Ilolton , St. Louis ; Prod C. Weir , Cincin
nati ; C. Doblmor , St. Joe : H. G. Urownson ,
Elniirn. N. Y. ; Henry E. Dixoy , Huston ;
David Levy , Now York.
At the Paxton : U. G. Schmidt , Chicago ;
S. II. Katz , Chicago ; J. A. Lewis , Itookford ,
111. ; J. L. Markol , New Hloomflold , Pa. ,
.ramcs Dougherty , Chicago ; W. W. Phillips ;
Providence ; W. E. Skinner , Chicago : U.S.
Kittle , Chicago ; Miss Edith Merrill , Miss
Miss Alice Arrold , Mlgnon Arlington , Mr.
Herbert Grcham and Tom Meyers of Dixoy's
Adonis troupe.
mill Km ! > i-ol < lery.
"Yes , Lizzie , I like to do fancy work ,
but I haven't felt like trying tliut pat
tern or anything oteo for n woolc.
These awful 'ilrajrgiiifr-down *
- pains are
juat killing inol" "I know how you
fcol , ami I can tell you where to look for
relief. Dr. Piorco's Favorite Proscrip
tion is a certain euro for all those pecu
liar weaknesses and distressing ail
ments. Why ! it even cured mo of pro
lapsus , and many of my lady friends
have been cured of various grave mala
dies peculiar to our .sex by this wonder
ful medicine. " itisonly'tbo medicine
sold by druggist3uiilor a positive guar
antee from the manufacturers , that It
will give satisfaction in every case , or
money refunded. Read guarantee on
bottle-wrapper.
CHUI3TMA.9 TIMES.
Now Customs in Celebrating the Old
Festival.
For The 11(6.
The Christmas season is again upon
us , and the stores are filled with arti
cles made oxurossly for it , just , ns the
custom of giving wedding presents de
veloped a wedding present article. It
is to bo feared that in both the same
effort has boon made to create some
thing that shall have an expensive ,
showy air at a minimum of cost , and a
minimum of utility. This springs unquestionably -
questionably from the necessity of
meeting a want felt by a largo section
of the public. There nro many men
whose position Is such that they are in
contact with a number of persons , all of
whom look forward to the Christmas
box as a vested right , and yet would regard -
gard the olTor of a small sum of money
as an insult. The consequence
ia that the stores offer thcso
gentlemen a method of evading -
ing their tax which Is
eagerly soizcd and highly appre
ciated. Tilings are as they uro , and it
would be superfluous and useless to
point out to the victims that they need
not give Christmas boxes , because it is
impossible for them to refrain from
doi'ig what others do. Man is a bundle
of habits , and giving Christmas boxo
is ono of these habits , and cannot bo re
sisted. Yet it is an abuse , and a tax.
Every father of a family eagerly em
braces the opportunity of giving to tlio
inmates of his household outside of Itis
own family sorao little token of Hingood
will , but -extension of this to a whole
army of subordinates is a thing ridicu
lous in itself , and not called for by any
true understanding of Christianity.
\Vhntis moro , these subordinates are
anything but subordinate when the
"box" has boon received , and would bo
very much insulted if an analysis was
presented showing that their title to a
Christinas box was based upon good and
faithful sorvieo.
It seems curious to the student of his
tory that the observance of Christmas
should have dwindled to a moro giving
of Christmas boxes io ono's relations and
dependents , and to the consumption of
poisonous pica and an agreeable but
somewhat indigestible compound called
a Christmas plum-pudding. Some people -
plo , indeed , put sprigs of holly or
wreaths of ground piuo in the windows ,
nnd in places where Anglomania
prevails in nn unusually severe form ,
mistletoe is imported from England
and suspended from the chaudolior in
the parlor. The Christmas tree is sim
ply a poetic and artistic man nor of dis
tributing Christmas gifts to ono's own
household , and Americans have learned
it from German immigrants , and from
the stouthearted colonists of Now Am
sterdam , It IB , however , the only fea
ture which oparatos the gnmtost festi
val of the Christmas year from other
days , and it is so popular , and is becom
ing RO universal that it may mark the
turning of Time's mighty wlicol. With
nil duo rospeot to Puritan ideas thov
have , with all their intellectuality , cast
a dark shadow over human existence
from whohu murky gloom wo are only
just beginning to omonjc. American's
are beginning to repudiate those ideas
of English religious fanatics which cnnm
to this country in tlio Mayllowor. Long
ago tlio abuse of these ideas ns expressed -
pressed in the blue laws of Connecticut
waa broken up , and inudo the mark of
worn , but tlio ideas themselves from
which these monstrous regulations
sprung into existence , hold their
ground. In those Connecticut laws the
keeping of Christmas with any festival
observance was stonily reprobated , not
booauso the Puritans were other than
chrlsUan , butbngauso heir idcas of re
ligion were purely intellectual. Tiiero i
was another reason. They saw In thotn J
a revival of tlpo | > rjavalior fesUvltos
which Oliver. Cromwell had put doln
with his Ironsides , Tlio non-o&sorv-
nnco of high days' was n party matter ,
nnd the man who nto plum porridge on
Christmas tiny wiVs considered by other
puritans to have Compromised his party.
Ho was n backslider into the miry ways
of the wanton cavalier olcmont , And
ns the puritans wo.ro the victors in the
physical contests so were they from
their intellectual superiority supreme
in shaping the habits of the other stales
of the country.
But wo have changed all that. The
young and lusty northwest is not im
pressed with Puritan ideas nt all , nnd
there is n steady ten don cy towards do-
monstrativonofls on festival days which
may bring us back to the old times
when Christmas was a public holiday
with the grandest features of which
these epochs WOPO capable. Decoration
day anil the Fourth of July will give to
the uuliistorical reader some idea of
tlio splendor with which the birth of
the Saviour was heralded. It docs Rcom
odd to the rclleeting Christian
that wo should remember so tenderly
Iho graves of these who died to free the
slaves , nnd to protect the union , nnd
should exhibit our feelings in the most
open and unconstrained wny , and yet
that wo should hoop in a quiet family
fashion the nnnlversarv ot the stupon-
doiH mystery of Christ's coming on
earth. The morning stars sing to
gether nnd the sons of God shout for
joy , but wo to whom ho cnmc , for whom
ho came , shut our lips tightly and try
to rejoice intellectually. This is not in
the spirit of ttio northwest , nnd it is
doomed to pass away. We may hope
thnt Christmas may then bo n veritable
festival. It will be impossible to revive -
vivo the pageantry of the middle ages ,
for that would bo nn anachronism , a
perfunctory theatrical performance
without nny llfo in it , nnd ns absurd
as the knight in armor at the Lord
Mayor's show in London. These things
tc 'bo natural must grow , just as the
Fourth of July and Decoration Day
hnvo grown , and nothing could bo
moro absurd thnn the attempt made by
Dickens to revive meduuvnl Christmas.
Ho failed because , when analyzed , his
Christmas consisted mainly of giving
everybody who asked a Christmas bjx ,
nnd of eating obsolete meats and swal
lowing compounds of no particular
flavor. It was n gigantic mako-bolicvo ,
but this suited Dickens , who had a shal
low theatrical nature.
Let us look baclc into the past , nnd
BCO how Christmas was spent , not for
the purpose of imitation , but for reflec
tion. It was viewed in the double light
ot a holy commemoration nnd a joyous
merry-making. The day was opened by
the ringing of triple bob-majors nnd
chiming upon the bolls of all the
churches , and this was considered so
important that the rich man
of tlio parish was bound to
furnish a peal , at tlio least ,
or a single boll of n chime. In cities
these were generally donated by the
different guilds of trades. After tlio
boll-ringing , bands of men wont about
chanting carols , generally arranged for
three part hinging , nnd though the
fact does not directly appear yet it i
highly probable that the singers formed
associations like the gle e club of the
past-century , and the muunorchor of to
day. Otho'rwiso their music which
formed the delight of our ancestors
would not have been very acceptable.
There arc scores of allusions to those
associations for three man songs in
Shakespeare , and , it will be romem-
borcd that old Jack FalstulT when
twitted with his shortness of breath
excused himself on the ground that
ho had lost his wind hollering and
singing of anthems. The readiness
which tlio fat rogue evinces for im
promptu theatrical performances would
make us behove that the same associ
ations were performers in the dramatic
mysteries and moralities which formed
so striking a feature of Christmas day
in the olden time. No doubt Shakes
peare wrote from his own personal ex
perience , and had been a mummer and
worn a innsk in many a Christmas mor
ality before ho wont up to London to
become immortal. In many instances
tlio prior or abbot of the neighboring
monastery took the same kindly inter
est in thcso Carollor's associations ana
mummeries that a loading minister
takes to-day in a Ilandol society , and it
is known that sometimes they took part
in thorn. It is the habit of most people
to unconsciously exaggerate tbo differ
ences between their own times and me-
dhuval days , but there was a great sim
ilitude after all , and when we study
thorn rightly we are moro impressed
by | the robemhlances than the con
trasts.
Ono mystery was often represented in
the church itself , and this was what wo
would call now a tableau vivnnt. It was
also shown in the castle hall , and the
moated grange , nnd wherever there
was abundant room for spectators , for
all the world was welcome. This was
the mystery of the nativity , and was
performed by peasants and artisans
whoso expensive dresses were furnished
by the church dignitaries of the neigh
borhood. A beautiful girl wus chosen
to represent the virgin , and tlio inte
rior of a stable was shown with the divine -
vine infant lying in a mnngor. This
was usually a wax llguro. St. Joseph
was near the virgin , and the throe mngi
were in kneeling attitudes , offering
their particular gifts , whilst by a rude
contrivance the star of Bethlehem
hung suspended from the trifo-
rium of the church. Horses , and
cattle and sheep and hay were intro
duced to heighten the picture. The
spectators filou into the church to gaze
upon tlio yearly spectacle , and teen
tlioir places in darkness. Allot a HtijTJ
don , the choral song of the angels was
hoard , the star glittered , the shielding
curtains were withdrawn , and the mys
tery wus shown to their eyes by tlio
bright light of many wax tapers sud
denly lighted. TUo Mngi touched their
foreheads to the groundtho virgin tool ;
the imago from the manager , and hold
it to the pcoplo , nnd nil the bass
voices thundered out a Jubilate.
After this there were performances
of dancing such as rustle hornpipesand
morris dancing which wus very intri
cate nnd interesting , for the dnncors
all had sticks , whioh they clashed to
gether , boating out the measure an ac
curately as a drum. Then there wore
dunces for young girls , nnd the final
wind-up wns ono In which everybody
[ oincd , each one hearing a lighted
taper. What makes this mystery so
interesting is that it is still preserved
in Spanish eountrlus , where it is called
Lho naoimionto. There are some points
of difference , howovor. The dunces do
not tnko place in the church , but all
over the plnco , and though Ilioy are
very bewitching and voluptuous , they
nek tlio strong , manly character of the
old English dances. Also the virgin
ind the wax ligura of Christ are taken
upon a litter of silk and silver , homo by
six men , and are carried all over the
city. Whenever they approach a mill-
.ary quarter , the guard turns out tlio
whole gnrribon and the soldiers present
inns , ft is to bo noticed thnt invarla-
jly n blonclo is ehoson , for Spain has
naiiy blonde beauties , dcbCondnnU of
he Visigothlc conquerors , and is very
tmud of thorn.
Catarrh cured , health nnd sweet
ireuth secured by Hhiloh's Cntnrrh
. { otnddy. Prlco 60 cunts. Nasal In-
G : : u-ee. tur SttlO l y
Druir Co
500,000
Copies or the
Double New Year's Number
i OF
Sixteen Pages , Elegantly Illustrated.
Read ; Dec , 25th. Mailed to an ; address for Flto Cenls.
A NATIONAL FAMILY PAPER-TWO MILLION READERS.
Tlio rnlnnin for 1H80 will bo fmporlor to nnr provlrnn yrnr. II will ronfnln fill Rotlixl Storlrn , IrtO Short Slnrloa , pro-
ftiftFlr IHuMrAtril , Household Articles , Tnlrs \dvonturo , IIInMrnlrit Skrtrhru of Trinol , I.OOO Aiio lotv , Historical
ami Scientific Article * , Humor , 1'oetry , Timely IMUtirliiln , nnd n | mcr for thn l.lttln ( turn.
Subscription price , $1.75 n yenr. Subscribe now , nntl bi-Rtti tlio norlul story , " franz Selbcl. "
SHNI ) CltKCK , MOMRr OKDRR , OB llKOISTKnttn I.KTTKII AT OUIl W1K.
THE YOUTH'S ' COMPANION , 41 Temple Place ; Boston Mass.
'
"Wo are offering special inducements to parents who are dosivona of securing practi
cal and appropriate holiday gifts for their boys ; what bolter or more sensible present
can you give them than a nice Suit or Overcoat ? Wo are showing handsome styles for
big and small boys , and our qualities and prices can not bo matched.
$2.50 buys a very nice all wool Suit or a good Overcoat with cape for small boys.
$3.50 buys an excellent Suit or Overcoat for small boys.
$5.50 buys a very good all wool Suit or splendid Chinchilla Overcoat for largo
boys up to 18 years old.
Wo call special attention to a few small lots of very choice styles of Overcoats for
little boys from 4tolOwhicli wo offer at a marvelous low price. We are anxious to close
them out ; they are extremely fine goods and' the brief season loft for the disposal of
such qualities induced us to make a big cut.on them ; they are made of very fine Ker
seys , Chinchilla and Cheviots this seasons novelties , of elegant designs and richly
trimmed , some with fur , some with plush in short they are such garments as can only
be found in first-class houses. We have marked them $6.OO , $7.25 , $7.90'and
$8.5O , and we guarantee that these prices are not ono half of what such goods usually
bring. This is an extraordinary opportunity to procure a fine garment at such a figure
and every boy will appreciate such a gift.
In our Hat Department can be found an immense line of Boy's Hats and Caps in
Plush , Felt and Cloth. We positively sell these goods at just one-half what regular
Hat dealers ask for them , and you would bo surprised to see our prices. Good little
Turbans of Plush , Chinchilla and Astraohan at 25c ; splendid Knit and Jersey Caps
at 3Oc , and very fine Cloth and Jersey Caps at 40c , 50c and 75c.
In our Glove Department we have , a large assortment of Boy's Gloves and Mittens ,
suitable for presents. As a Christmas offering wo will present this week each boy with
every purchase no matter how small , a nice paint box. Wo have opened an elegant
line of Mufllers , Silk Handkerchiefs and Scarfs , especially for holiday trade and offer
them at prices lower than asked in any other house for like qualities. Good Cashmere
Mufflers at I5c , 35c and 50c ; elegant Silk Mufflers of beautiful designs and elegantly
embroidered at 75c , $ I.OO and $1.50.
Next Thursday we shall begin to distribute our elegant holiday souvenirs and we
will "also forward one with all out of town orders.
PLAIN FIGURES AND ONE PRICE ,
Corner 1/i.th and Douglas Streets , Omaha.
For tm'Curoof nil niSOIinilllS OK THK STOMACH. LIVItlt. HOWKLS. KIDNUYS. IILAODKIt.
NUllVOIJS niSKASKS.IIKAIACHK. CONSTIPATION , COrtl'I VIINHSS , COMI'I/A I NTS I'KCUUAlt
TO IWMALKS. PAINB IN Till : HACK , DI AiINl ( ! Kr.i'.IJNKS & . < . , INMJHIUSTION , IULLIOU.S'
NI'.SH. KKVIJIC , INFLAMMATION 01'THK ll\ViiS. ( ) : I'lUM. and all ilurniiKumpms of the In
tel iial Vlbteru. Purely vegotublo , contalnlntj no mercury , mineral or UeletorloiiH drugs.
DYSPEPSIA.--
IIAI1\VAVS PILLS are a euro for this complaint. ' Tiioy tone up the Internal accretions to
licaithy nctlnn , restore strength to the Htoniarh ami ciinblelt to perform Its fnnc lions. The
Bj-mploma oil ) VSPKl'SIA dls.ippear , nnd with them Iho llnblllty to conlract ai easu .
PERFECT DIGESTIOST
Will 1)0 accomplished by taking HADH'AV'S PILLS. Ily so doing , DVBl'I'.PSIA , Biriv IIKAD-
ACIIK. KOULhTOJI ACII. IJILIOUSN'nSS will lin avoided and the food thnt IN eaten contribute its
nourishing properties or the support of the natural wusto ot the boay. Prlco 25 cants. Hold by nl
wrTjff'uAWVAy's ' UKADV UKMEV there is no nurrim IIKMHDV for FKVKU or AOUK
1 01 I > OUGIA8 STIIKKT.
Canllnl Slock $ loOflOO
Liabilities of Slorliliolilcrs iiOO.OOO
J'Vro J'ct' Cent iHtemt 1'nltl on Ue-
iwslls t'oinnnnulc < l Soinl-
CIIAKLKB F , MANnnitPON. President.
I. . M. HKNNin'l' , Vice President.
T. W. WKSSHLS , MamiKlnu' Director.
JOHN K. WILIIUIt. Cttshlur ,
RTOUKIIOhDIOUS :
J. W. OANNKTT , Huv C. HAUTOW ,
J. J. HmnvN , i , . M. IIHNNKrr ,
0. F. MA.VDKIIPO.V , Tnos. L. KIMMU.U
HKMIV PUMIT , r . L. HTONK.
OMAHA h. & T. Co. , I , . It. WIM.IAMS ,
MAX Mr.rKii , THUJIAN HUOK ,
, JASIISv : \ SAVAOK , K , W.NAHII.
V. \ \VKHfHr" I. II. CONdllO.V ,
A.NSON ( J. MCCOOIC , N.V. . W I.I.S.
. NlKMAK , JOHN U. WlMIUJl.
ISclfusf , Dublin and I/Irerpoul
From New York Every Tuesday ,
Cabin pihsage Ml and KX ) . accordlni ? to location
ot stuto room. KxcuvHlou IK > tu t. > .
btcerugo to and from iuropo : fit Lowest Kates.
AUSTIN IIALDWIN' & ( X ) . . ( len'l Agents ,
Bl llroanway. Now York.
JOHN IlLr.OUN , Oen'l Western AgVnt ,
HAHHV .
Itcdueod Cabin Rates to Glasgow Ex *
lilbltlon.
Iur return mail run nonrrmtive
rfrniliirg of > IOlj > Y'fe Nf
Tnylpr SMII-MI of DrrHn flat.
I Inn. Any Iiulyrjdmllnary lm-lllK iiCei'aii eajllV
and quickly li-urn to cut anil make an ? garment ,
In any atylo , to nny measure ( or liulr or cullil.
\f \ f tojll ri'f'Jt yVhrnit trying
MCtf v'w , , CJSCluuStf
NO. 308 S. 13TH ST. , OMAHA , NEB.
CAPITAL , - - $300,000 ,
Loans Made on Real Estate ,
School , County and Municipal
WM. A. PAXTO.V. President.
\V.M. ( J. MAI'L. Vlco Pro3ld < mt.
HOIIIIUTL. QAItLll 119 , fierretnr/ .
AI.Flti ; ! ) MILLAIUJ , Treeaiuror
JJIUKCTOKSi
\"M. A. PAXTON , Hr.MivT. CMIIKI : ,
W.d. MAIJI , , .losKi'il HAIIKKK ,
HOIIT. li , CiAIIMCim. Al.KUKI ) MU.L.AHII ,
( ICO. K. liUIKIIIt.
Bellevuc Hospital Medical Col
lege , N. Y. City , Class 187 , ] .
Will , by hi * own method , guarantee to perfectly
and permanently euro nil raws of
PILES FISTULA FISSURE ETC
, , , , ,
without use of KNIFE. LiaATURIi.
Gnrlxjllo AcidornnyCnustio Ir ) , Aluxwoll hut
neon localpd In Oniuhn morathiin a- year , nnd 1 > >
heiupcrmnnuntlx. Tlierii HI 0 ninny In tlio city
iind vicinity who ImvBbenrimredrjy him , who
testify to the truth of the nb.iyj. Ills trfutirient
Is mild ; no ilotontlon from limlnoiB , und no
dmnjerfrom trtfiitment Ollice , j'lixton lllocl ; ,
rooms 4 fi-to : . Olilce IIOIIM , : i.m. to is in.,311 in.
to . ' . p. in. Iteisldunco , Shunnftii Ave. between
Ccrby and Locust sts ,
IRE INSURANCE BROKER ,
IIooiu ns Trader * ' ntillillni ; ,
CHICAGO.
iulltan Nuti"nnl r.nk.
tt , 0. Uuu & Cg. 'J'tiu JJraUfcl/ ( Oft
V. S. DEPOSITORY.
OMAHA , - - NEBRASKA.
Capital $500,000
100,000
III5KMAN KOUNTZR , Prwldont.
JOHN A. CltincJIITON , Vlco President ,
V. II. DAVIS , Cashier.
W. II. MCUQIJIIJU Asilstaut Cashier
OF OMAHA.
Nortlicnal Corner Fiininiii nntl IJHh Sts ,
1'nid Up Cnpltul 9500,00ft
Surplus Fund 100,000
THANK MUIIPHV. Presldont.
SAMUIII , I ! . IIOOIIHS , Vlco-Prosldont.
HUN II. WOOD , Cwihler.
MJ'I'IIKH DKAKi ; , AH3lstiint Cashier.
Accounts solicit pel and nrompt attention il rou
to buuinosa iutru teU to IU cute.
Corner ot 10th and Kirn.im . Struun , Chamber of
Cnplliil Stock . $100,000
lliilrillly of SftHiklmMcrs . 800,000
I'lvo pcn'diit pnul nn dopo.-lu , loans muila on rust
iihcl iiomniiiil krciirlij , iiulej , ivnrruita , ttuclil
JOHN 1. . MII.KS , I'roililfiiil.
AMllli\V JIOSI'.WATKIt , Vl ( rroslclont.
IIHXTKIlii.'nillMAriUniililar ,
BOA III ) IH' ' IllllKUTOKS
John I. Mile. ,
Himuel ( 'otritr , .toliii II. Krnni.
Andruwuaowi ( Aiurrm .Murrlmu ,
W. A.UOIUbon , tlun.'K. lliirkor , *
1
lior. AlTln hJniindun , Doxler U'l'liuiun. .
Norman A Ktllin , .Unu > i 'Iliomuaou ,
K. II. Joliniiin , Jdhri llu'll ,
( loo. C. HutiUlo
, Cor , Famai anil 15lli sis ,
I'ald in Capital i500OOU ?
i > nticTois : : ;
UKO. n. IIAIIKKIt , 1'roaldent.
i : . L. IIUJHIlOWKIt. Vlrnl .
F. II .lOIINHON. ( iiIJor.
L. n. WII.I.MUS , J. II. MCC'O.S.SKI.L ,
K. II , JlJIINbON ,
WM yiKVKii ,
AlJ.HKT. liROTHII ,
V A. IlKNHON. . .i.J , OOIINISII ,
Oto. 1'ATiKnao.v , s.t , ( , 'uov ,
J. L. MII.KH ,
Acfonnti'if llaiikitrx , MoiclialtU anil
UKtitrgc lr a VU tilt ) uiosl fuvuiublti tu ;