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.