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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 18, 1904)
THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN, PORTLAND, DECEMBER IS, 1904, ISLAND OF SANTA GLAUS How He Found the Shipwrecked Three and Made Christmas for Them. NAN and Jack and little black Topsy rubbed their eyos and stared about them. There had been a shipwreck, and a big wave had landed them, high and dry on a sandy Island. 'Lawzee. Miss Nannie," said little black Topsy, "I'm skeered," and she rolled her eyes and shivered. "So am I," whispered Nan. "I'm hungry, and It's horrid." All shipwrecks are horrid," said Jack. "But I think I can And something to cat, and If you are cold, why you and Topsy can Me down, and yot me cover you with warm sand, and then I'll go and explore." So the two little girls stretched them selves out and Jack covered them, all but their heads. "'Gee, you look funny," ho said, as he finished and surveyed the two mounds, out of one of which stuck Nan's golden bead and out of the other Topsy's kinky black wool. "Now, good-bye," said Jack; "I'm go ing to look for food." And he marched off like a man, with his hands in his pockets. "Topsy," said Nan, after he bad gone, "do yoa know it Is the day before Christ mas, and we won't get a single present to morrow?" But Topsj was not despondent "What's the mattah wld Manse Santa Claus?" she demanded. "Ain' he comin' to dis lslan', dat's what I ask, ain' he comin' to dis lElan'T' "Why, Topsy," explained little Nan, patiently, "how could he? His reindeer couldn't cross the water." "Let him conic in a boat, den. Dat's whut I say. Lot him come In a boat," said Topsy, fiercely. "He ain' got no mil to lef us out." "No," said Nan, "but I am afraid he will." They lay very still after that in their sandy bods, watching the white gulls overhead and listoning to the boom of the waves on the beach. Suddonly Topsy sat up and pointed a skinny black finger towards the sea. "Whut's dat?" she cried excitedly. Nan raised herself on her elbow and looked. '"It's a boat," she said, "a little boat, and it's coming here." Nearer and nearer came the little boat, and presently Topsy shrieked: "It's Marse Santa Claus. Miss Nannie, it's Marse Santa Claus, and he's comin' straight to dis ycr lslan'. Didn't I tole yer? Didn't 2 lole yer he'd come?" STORY OF THE HEADLESS CHRISTMAS WIZARD Amazing Tricks With a Real Head That Is Taken Off at Will. THIS Is a startling Illusion. The spectators ait before the .dosed door of a closet while the master of ceremonies explains that the magician In the closet, who is now en gaged In establishing magnetic currents between himself and the party, is a past master In the occult arts, an adept of the forty-socond degree, and that he will perform miracles that will make an or dinary medium feel like 30 cents at Del monico's. The door is opened suddenly and dis closes an astounding figure sitting on a chair in the closet, dressed in a long, red robe, upon which are embroidered all sorts of cabalistic figures. He has a most extraordinary countenance, embel lished by a pair of huge green spectacles, and he wears a high-pointed conical ehaped hat. His long, straggling locks mingle with his equally long, straggling beard. It is clear that he Is alive, for be movos his head, and all can see him wink and smile and otherwise move his features. The master of ceremonies warns everybody to keep perfectly still and to think of nothing at all, which, under the circumstances, the spectators find it dif ficult to do. They notice that the Inside of the closet door is covered with black, lusterless cloth, and the closet behind the magician is perfectly black. The light In the room is Just suillclent to allow them to see all this. The door is closed again and reopened after another interval. Great heavens! The magician has taken his head from his shoulders. There can be no mistake about that, for he holds it in his lap. The door Is shut and again opened. Now the magician Is seen, still headless, but where Is the head? It has dis appeared altogether! A fourth shutting and opening of the door discloses the head apparently hang ing without support midway between the top and the bottom of the closet. But what has become of the magician to which it bolongs? Vanished, dissolved Into thin air! Wonder of wonders, the head speaks! 1? begins by saying that although by Itself It Is a mere nobody, it belongs to the groat Magician Gummygum. It apol ogises for not speaking better English, saying that Gummygum had arrived only recently in America, having been fright ened away from his home at Lhassa, where he had been living for the last 3000 years, by wicked, unbelieving Brit ish soldiers. In bidding the spectators farewell be bogs to give them a bit of advice, which la, never to lose their heads, for It is only given to the Emperor of Rus TUB MAGICIAN IS DISCLOSED I KNEW YOU WOULDN'T XEF CS OUT." The man in the boat had a long white beard. He had on a red sweater and wore a furry cap pulled well down over his ears. As. he climbed out of the boat they saw that he was very round and fat and had a jolly red face. When he had pulled the boat up out of the water he leaned over and picked up a great bag and slung it over his shoulder and came trotting up the beach. "It truly Is Santa," said Nan, breath lessly, "and he is coming straight to wards us." sia and to great Oriental adepts to do such a thing and escape the consequences. The explanation of this trick Is ex tremely simple. Its successful perform ance depends on the fact, of which all he great professional magical perform ers take advantage, that black will not show upon black. This is the basis of some of the most surprising tricks per formed In modern magic. As large a frame us the closet will allow, fitting closely against the back of 0(7D -t- snon. v. the closet, is nailed together. It is cov ered with black, lusterless cloth. Cheap black muslin, washed to take off the gloss, or white muslin stretched upon It and painted black will do admirably. The covering of the frame is slit in the middle from top to bottom so that it forms two parts. The head of the ma giclan consists of a false face, a wig of excelsior or some such matter, and a WITH II IS HEAD IX HIS IAP. gJ&ifT5 boo-hoo J.v A a dot "Miss Nan," said Topsy, faintly, "I'm skeered. 'Deed I is, Miss Nan." But Nan's face was aglow. "You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Topsy," she cried, "to be afraid of dear, good Santa. I'm going to run right down and meet him." Away she sped, her golden curls flying behind her, and when she reached the old man she slipped her hand Into his con fidingly. "I'm awfully glad .you came. Santa," she said. "We. were so frightened and lonely, conical cap, which can be made of pa per, fastened togother and so fashioned that It can be fitted over or take off of his real head. To make this head disappear, the top of the frame is tipped forward so that It rests against each side of the doorway inside, and his head comes through the slit which is then pinned together, below and above his head, with black pins. When his head thus disappears, every thing about him being black, the cloth that screens his face cannot be seen by any person a little distance in front of the closet. As for .the head in his lap, of course it Is merely the mask and the hat and Misdeeds of Dillydoll and Japlittle EVERYTHING FELL RIGHT ON CHAPTER VII. VES. Dillydoll and Japlittle saw poor Grandpa Jack Sprlngbang shoved and shoved Into the cell, and they did not feel sorry a HtUe bit. No. They laughed Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! But even as they laughed, ret-ri-butlon was on the way. It always finds out about things and gets on the wicked peo ple's trail. You may depend on this. Grandpa Jack Sprlngbang simply could not bear to be imprisoned. It went against his grain, for he was made from a piece of cedar which has a very fine grain, indeed. So, when Clubclib and Cllbclub locked the prison door and stepped back to take two long breaths and look very proud and glad. Grandpa Jack just took one long, long breath himself and knitted his spring steel muscles together and then he went bang! And down fell the door of the cell and Odd Christmas THIS last week before Christmas is a sad pne for many lovely fat pigs in Bohemia. Almost every German Bohe mian family rears a pig through the year in order to kill It for Christmas Day. All the year that poor pig has a most beautiful time. It is treated with courtesy and love and stuffed with tidbits till Its little plg,gy soul feels sure that there is no lot on earth so sacred and delightful as being a pig. But on December 19 the pig hears the wheet! wheet! of knives on whetstones, and if it had any intulUon It would turn. pale. For that is slaughter ing day. and every village resounds with, the squeals of dying porkers. In one of these Bohemian towns the children have a pretty custom in the flvo nights before Christmas. They parade at night, dressed as shepherds, and sing me lodious songs which announce the birth of the Christ Chjld. In the famous Krz Gebirge the children form small troops known as "angel troops," and wander from house to house, singing songs. One child is dressed to represent the Bishop Martin, another is Saint Nikolas, others represent angels, Jo seph and Mary, shepherds and tho good Ruprecht. In Alsatla the Christ Child Itself walks through the towns and announces its ar rival at each house by ringing a belL Th Christ Child Is represented by a grown woman, draped in white and hung fan and maybe you can tell us what to do." The old man stood still and stared at her. Then he chuckled. ""Well, well," he said, "where did you come from?" Nan explained. "And Topsy and I knew you the minute we saw you in the boat," she said cheerfully. " 'Deed we did, Marse Santa." said j Topsy, who had just come up. " 'Deed we did. I knew you wouldn't lef us out." "Of course not." said the old man, and his eyes twinkled. "I'm a pretty good old Santa Claus, after all." Just then Jack came running down the beach. "It's Santa Claus," called -Nan, as soon as he was within hearing. But Jack was older than Topsy and Nan, and he hnd his doubts. "Are you really Santa Claus?" he asked gravely. The old man winked. "Don't I look like him?" he said.. "Yes." said Jack, "you do." "Ain't I got a pack on my, back?" he asked. "Yes," said Jack, "but it looks like po tatoes, and not toys." j Then the old man leaned down and whis pered In his ear. "That's Jes what It is. but if them little dears wants to think I'm Santa, why let 'em think It. It won't hurt anybody, will it?" "No," said Jack, "it won't." "Well, then." said Santa, out loud, "that being decided, we will go and have dln nor." "Dinner?" said Jack, in surprise. "Why, where do you live?" "Follow me," said Santa; and they trotted gaily after him. Away among the sand hills they came suddenly upon a little house. Within was a glowing fire and a great pot was bub bling on the stove, and soon each of the little wayfarers had a hot bowl of soup and a big piece of bread, and when they had finished their eyes drooped. "Now hang up your stockings," said Santa, "and go to bed." And in a little while the three long stockings hung over the fireplace, while the children slept peacefully in the next room. How the old sailor found things to fill those stockings was a wonder. But there was 2. quaint sandalwood fan for Nan, a pair of Chinese shoes for Jack and a Jap anese doll for Topay. Then he filled up the corners with beautiful shells and with little boxes of dried fruit, and such things as sailors pick up in many voyages. Such a Jolly Christmas morning as it was: Tne cnudren were aeugnteu with their gifts, and afterwards Santa rowed them over to the mainland and put them on the train for home. "Santa Claus Island is a lovely place," said little Nan, when they had bidden the old man good-bye, affectionately. " 'Deed it am," said Topsy. "We'll go there again next year," said Jack. But though they hunted far and wide on the gray sea, and asked many people to take them there, they never again found the little sandy island and the jolly old Sailor Santa Claus. the wig all fastened together so as to make one structure. When the body disappears and only the head Is seen apparently suspended in mid air, the frame is brought as far forward as possible and the top of It Is tilted back. resting against the back of the closet. This makes a space behind which the performer can sit . and thrust his head through, the slit to be seen by the spec tators, while his body Is entirely behind the screen. It is well to have a short curtain hang ing from the top of the doorway. This will conceal the top of the frame when It is brought forward. This curtain need not be black. The floor of the closet should be dead black, eo as to reflect no light upon the figure or upon Its surroundings. The spectators should not be allowed to approach too near the closet door, and the light should be just sufficient to allow the performer to be plainly seen. DILLYDOLL AND J APLITTLE. apart flew the wall of the cell, and with a whole great big smash everything fell right on Dillydoll and Japlittle. They cried for help and wept and screamed thai all their bones were brok en. But nobody came to assist them. Clubclib stared with all his eyes and only said: "Look at that, would you." And Cllbclub said nothing at all. Grandpa Jack Sprlngbang said: "It serves them right!" Then he telephoned to the ark, and Noah sent the ambulance hitched to the giraffe. Dr. Monkey sat inside, and he took Dillydoll and Japlittle straight to the animal hospital and sawed them apart and put new glue on them, piping hot. and he never cared a bit how they yelled but just carved and drilled and scraped and gouged and glued away, saying: "It serves you -IghL" Then you may be sure they did not say Hahahahahaha ! THE END. Manners Abroad tastically with pure white lamb's wool. Her face Is whitened with flour and she wears a crown of gold paper with a burn. ing candle set on top. In one hand she carries a silver chain In the other she bears a basket full of candy. Just as the children wom she visits are in the midst of their glee, they hear a terrible rattling of chains and then comes -a mighty knock at the door. In comes Hans Trapp. wrapped in a bear skin, his .face coal black, with a vast beard waving down his breast and a great bundle of rods In his hand. In thunderous tones he asks which children have been bad, and advances to ward them to punish them. But the Christ Child Intercedes for them, and after they promise to reform, she leads them to a Christmas tree. In Sweden a grown woman disguised as an angel visits the houses on Christmas eve, and behind her comes the Furmartin or Furmichel, or Buzegraale, as he Is known In different localities. He Is wrapped from head to foot In straw, has a black face, wears a mighty chain around his middle, and has a basket strapped to bis back. In North Germany a tall, bearded man garbed either In furs or straw, goes around on Christmas eve asking tho chll dren if they can say their prayers. If they succeed he gives them nuts and goodies. If they fail he makes believe to punish, them by thrusting them into a large bag which he carries. THE LIVING CHRISTMAS BY ADDIE R. BEARD Illustrated by the Author. THE TREE COMES WALKING IN. NO DOUBT you will nave many charming surprises prepared on Christmas Eve; but what would you say to see a Christmas tree come walking into the room? A green Christmas tree, all covered with glittering ornaments and bright-colored toys, with little bells at the bottom that tinkle musically as it moves BETTY OF BOSTON TOWN How Her Ready Wit Beat Off a Robber A Christmas Story of 1876. ON a brisk, breezy day. the day bc .fore Christmas. 1776, Mistress Betty Reddywltte mounted her buckskin colored mare at the gate of the garden In front of her mother's house in Boston. Mistress Betty, although she was scarcely more than a child, -was well grown for her age and good to look upon. She was as brave as any lion or braver than some I have seen. Never was she known to take fright or desert a com panion. When Selectman Pettlgrew's terrier went mad and attacked her com panion, Peggy Brooks, in Marlborough street, Betty beat the dog off with her umbrella and kept the brute off until as sistance arrived. Betty Reddywltte galloped merrily and I'm juiT splendid Haust - A&id," &ad Sue I'll-1itt you why - 1 h&ve such aweepJ nevev buy soon was In the country road outside of town. Then, suddenly, she came upon a strange sight. A great yellow-bodied post-chaise con talnlng a lady and a little girl was drawn up at the side of the road. Confronting the Inmates with a long-barreled pistol was a horseman In a red cloak, with a black half-mask on his face. Betty did not need to look twice to recognize all the objects that went to make up the tableau the yellow post chaise, the Iacry anr tne cnild, its Inmates, and the black driver. She knew them all, She had set out from Boston to meet her mother on the way from Milton, and this was the meeting. Nor did she fall to recognize the high wayman in spite of his black mask. But she woujd not for the world have lot him know it. For an Instant the girl was seized with an uncontrollable trembling. She closed her eyes, feeling sick and faint. Then she had an inspiration. A plan whose very simplicity promised success came to her. Hastily pulling her hood around her face, she began screaming. The high wayman, seeing what looked to him like a country girl who had lost her wits from fright, sternly bade her bo silent. "Oh, sir," she cried, "don't kill me! I ha' but a ft' pun note to buy a Christ mas goose." "Will you be silent?" asked the robber, cursing her, "or will I have to quiet you with a tap on the head with the butt of a pistol? Don't move till I tell you." Betty ceased to scream, but began to weep. Extracting a paper from a bag fastened to her waist she held It out to the highwayman. With one eye on his helpless and unre sisting victims In the chaise, he turned half around toward Betty who, whimper ing, still held her hood tightly gathered about her face. He made a rude snatch at the bit of paper she offered him. A brisk breeze, however, that was blowing, and of which. Mistress Betty had already taken note, twitched the thing out before his fingers could close upon It and sent it across the road into a blackberry bush. On the spur of the moment the highway man dismounted. He threatened his cap tives with instant death It- they moved, and crossed the road. Betty Instantly whispered to the negro outrider to lash his horses. At the same time she caught the bridlo of the highwayman's mare and laid ber whip WISTMAe and on the topmost point a shining star that sends out tinsel rays from every point. Then, a little distance below the star, a face a laughing face witn aniti Ing eyes that Teveal the guardian angel of the tree? This. Is how you can prepare such a living Christmas tree for the surprise and delight of your family and friends: THE CAVALCADE SWEPT without mercy both upon the startled creature and upon her own faithful Buck skin. The next moment the robber saw the whole cavalcade sweeping along the road toward Boston at breakneck speed. Scarcely had all returned safely to the Reddywltte's gambrel-roofed house on Paddock's Mall, when Cousin Benedict arrived with a lamentable story of how his horse had been taken from him by the American military authorities be cause Its services were needed in the army. Mistress Betty addressed the young man: "Cousin Benedict, mother, as you know, buried-, 50) pounds sterling in the hill side under the pear tree in tho back garden, because the state of the country is so disturbed that she was afraid to put It Into a bank." "You're going to tell me the money has disappeared." said Cousin Benedict. "Well. I know nothing about it." "Why. how hasty you are. Cousin Benedict!" replied Betty. "I was going to- tell you that mother is thinking of putting the other half of her money, 500 pounds more, in the same place. What think you, Cousin Benedict?" "So," he 6ald. as a relieved expression came Into his face, and he smiled, for a happy idea occurred to him. "What do I think? Why, she couldn't do better than bury it all. Ecod, Cousin Betty, it tho Yankees take my nag, what will prevent them from taking your bag? No, Coz, be lieve rac. There Is no bank so safe now adays as a clay bank." - - -- -- -------------------- -- -7 i 1 r "V 1 ; BETTY BEAT THE DOG OFF WITH HER UMBRELLA. I The angel of the tree should be quite a tall girl. From dark green, undressed cambric cut a long, plain cloak that will reach from neck to feet. Make a peaked hat, like a large cornucopia, or of light weight cardboard. Cover the hat with some of the green cambric, allowing a cape of tlie material to fall from hat to shoulders at the back. Get three quires of moss-green tissue paper. Cut it into strips six inches wide, and cut each strip Into a rather coarse fringe, leaving a beading at the top 2$ inches wide. Beginning at tho bottom, sew the fringe around the cloak, allowing it to reach jusl to the edgo of the cloth. Above the first row of fringe, and over- lapping it, sew the second row. bringing its lower edgo within two inches of the bottonvedge of the first row. In this way put on row after row ol fringe, always overlapping it. until the cloak is entirely covered, then cover the hat and its cape in the same manner. Take a light wooden hoop one of those that Is rolled on the pavements in "hoop time," and, turning the edge of the cloak up once, fit the hoop In the fold and hem the edge over it. This will hold the cloak out firmly at tho bottom, and it should hang smooth and straight from tho shoul ders with a generous lap where it closes In front. Sew the fronts together, leaving an opening only largo enough to slip over th head. Now suspend the cloak on a waist-hanger in such a way that you can, reach 11 from all sides, and proceed to decorate. Around the bottom a row of small bells, and here and there all over the cloak; sew large dress hooks, on which hang tho fragile glass ornaments and small presents. Pin on the tinsel decora tions and strings of popcorn with safetj pins and leave the finishing touches until the angel has entered her tree. The tall hat. tipped by Its bright star, may be completely trimmed and put safe ly away until needed. All decorationi and presents must be light in weight. On the eventful night let the Christmai tree angel slip into the tree. and. aftei it is nicely adjusted, hang around hei neck strings of colored glass balls, and suspend from the hooks the glass orna ments and presents. Put the peaked hal on her head, and the living Christmas tret will be ready for her first appearance. AXON'G THE BOAD TO BOSTON. "Then we will do it," said Betty de cidedly. "We will bury the second 50C pounds alongside of the first. But don't speak of it to any one. Cousin Benedict." "Not I," replied Cousin Benedict' "I'll lay heavy odds you'll be talking of it be fore I do." A few hours later Betty, who had hid den herself near the clay bank, saw Cousin Benedict stealthily going into the back garden and replace 500 pounds In th hole in the bank under the pear tree, from which he had taken It. This was just what Betty had expected he would do. She had discovered that tho money had been stolen and she suspected Cousin Benedict. She immediately calculated that, if he saw a chance to steal another 500 pounds, ho would replace the first sum, so that it might not be missed when the additional money was placed there. Then he could steal it all at the first convenient opportunity. You may assure yourself it was not long after Cousin Benedict had replaced It before that 500 pounds was In the pos session of shrewd Mistress Betty Reddy wltte. And what a jolly Christmas the Reddy wlttes had tho next day, to be sure! And was anything ever known like the rejoic ing when tho man of the house (heaven help the poor child, there was none to take her place) presented her mother with the treasure that had been lost and found again! They were all happy together all but one. Cousin Benedict, after a brief but pointed conversation with Mistress Betty, had gone away never to return.