^
••Dod b’ess
a ll th e fa m ily d e a r ;
D od b ’ess m a m m a , p a p a, to o ;
D od b ’ess ’lttle s is te r F a n —
A n ’ b rin g m e a sled , nic e an* n e a
X
Tuesday, December 19.
■4
The senate today accented the Pana
ma canal emergency appropriation bill
as originally passed by the bouse.
Heyburn made a new move in bis
fight on forest reserves by introducing
a resolution calling on the secretary of
► agriculture for a statement of receipts
and expenditures made by the forest
service, also the amount of school land
included in forest reservations.
Fulton inroducd a bill to relieve bona
fide settlers on Northern Pacific lands
where such settlements were made sub-
k sequent to January 1, 1898.
A large grist of appointments were
confirmed.
Senator Dolliver introdeuced his rate
bill today. It authorizes the commis
sion to fix and enforce a maximum and
reasonable rate, to go into effect 30
days after notice. The commission also
provides for seven members.
bills appropriating )25,000 for a fish
hatchery in Yakima county, and grant
ing Washington 60,000 acres of land
for the benefit of the Soldiers’ home.
Thursday, December 14.
The senate spent four hours today In
discussing the Panama canal emergency
appropriation bill and, when it ad
journed, the bill was still under con
sideration. A separate bill regulating
the issuance of bonds for the canal and
placing them on the same basis as
other bonds of the government was
passed without debate.
Senator Fulton introduced a bill ap
propriating $100,000 to erect a public
building at Baker City, another carry
ing $16,000 for improvement of the
grounds at Salem, and a third to ratify
the treaty with the Klamath Indiana
and pay them $500,000.
The pure food bill was reported by
*1 The house continued debating the Senator Heyburn.
insurance question today.
The day
The Republican members of the
was passed without legislation and end
ed with an amusing debate on the ques house caucus today unanimously de
tion of the appointment of a janitor at clared in favor of admitting Oklahoma
^ 6 0 per month to the reception room and Indian Territory as one state, and
on the minority side of the chamber. by a vote of 10 to 66 declared in favor
In the end the janitor was not appoint of admitting Arizona and New Mexico
as one state. Both statehood questions
ed.
The house committee on ways and are to be contained in one bill.
Representative Cushman introduced
means favorably reported Payne’s bill
admitting all Philippine products into a bill providing for the election of one
the United States free, excepting sugar delegate from Alaska to congress.
Representative Lacey, of Iowa, intro
and tobacco, which are to pay 25 per
cent of the Dingley rate until 1909, duced a bill granting grazing privileges
when they are also to go on the free on public lands to homestead settlers
and holders of small farms in semi-
list.
arid and arid lands.
Prices are to
range from 1 to 6 cents an acre annu
Monday, December 18.
The canal emergency appropriation ally.
A fourth Federal judge for Alaska is
bill was received in the house from the
senate. Discussion of thiB was followed provided for in a bill by Jones, of
by another debate on insurance mat Washington.
ters. The house disagreed to the
Wednesday, December 13.
amendments to the canal bill and sent
The senate was in session for only
it to conference.
one hour and a half today, and a por
Hale and Teller were named as the tion of that time was spent in the con
'■senate conferees on the canal bill.
sideration of executive business.
A
The senate in tha afternoon took up number of private bills were introduced
the house ship subsidy bill, which in the open session, and Allison pre
makes it the unfinished business before sented the leport of the committee on
that body.
appropriations on the canal bill, giving
A joint resolution was adopted pro notice that he would call it up for con
viding for adjournment from December sideration tomorrow. He said that the
21 to January 4.
committee was of the opinion that $11,-
Dolliver has a new rate bill which 000,000 would be sufficient for present
he will introduce soon as a substitute purposes and that the amount had been
afor all measures now pending.
left as fixed by the house.
«g
------- «
Senator Gal linger introduced an
amendment to the statehood bill to pro
(
Saturday, December 10.
*
The senate today passed the Panama hibit the sale of liquor in the state
emergency appropriation bill.
The proposed to be created by the admis
only change in the measure as it passed sion of Oklahoma and Indian Territory
the house is a provision which requires for a period of 21years, and then only
that congress shall be supplied with after an amendment of the state con
regular estimates of all salaries except stitution permitting liquor traffic.
those paid to laborers.
Senator Dubois, of Idaho, will retain
Speaker Cannon announced the trans-
all his present committee places and se- fir of Mondell (Wyoming) from the
, cures membership on the irrigation committee on military affairs to that of
ommittee.
public lands, and of Miller ( Kansas)
from public lands to military affairs.
The house indulged itself again to The transfer gives the two members
day to the extent of four hours of what the same committee assignments htey
was many times termer! academic dis had in the last congress.
cussion of Federal control of insurance.
Committee reference of the annual
The holiday recess was fixed from message of President Roosevelt w sb
next Thursday to January 4.
made according to the subjects treated.
The question of Federal control of in
Friday, December 15.
surance was assigned to the committee
The Panama canal was again under on ways and means. In explanation of
consideration by the senate today and this. Payne said that, in hie opinion,
Tillman occupied the entire time given the only way the United Slates can
to that subject.
He did not indicate deal with insurance companies is
any intention of opposition to the pass through the taxing power, and over
age of the appropriation bill, but he th ’S the ways and means committee has
criticized the methods of the canal com jurisdiction.
mission in many of its transactions.
Among the bills introduced in the
When the senate adjourned the bill house today were the following:
was still pending, but there was an
By Mondell, of Wyoming, providing
agreement for a vote tomorrow.
for the appropriation of not more than
In the roorganization of the senate $20,000 annually from the sales of pub
committees, now about completed, Ful lic lands to the endowment of state
ton secures the chairmanship of the schools of mines and mining or depart
committee on claims, retains his place ments of mines and mining in connec
on public lands and on irrigation, and tion with colleges already established.
is assigned membership on one or two
Bv Needham, of California, transfer
smaller committees. Ankeny becomes ring the Yellowstone, Yosemite, Se
chairman of ths irrigation committee quoia, General Grant, Mount Rainier,
and secures a place on commerce. Crater Lake and Wind Cave national
( Piles is made chairman of coast and parks from the control of the Depart
' insular survey and given a place on ment of the Interior to the Department
public lands and territories, in which of Agriculture.
^ itfer place he will be able to work for
By Delegate Andrews, of New Mexi
Alaska. Heyburn did not get a single co, providing for the admission of the
committee asked for. The only new territory of New Mexico as a single
place given him was public buildings sta e .
The fate of Dubois is not as yet settled,
A biU abolishing the Isthmian Canal
the Democrats not having completed commission was introduced by Repre
sentative Mann, of Illinois. In it dis
their siate.
cretion is given the president to put the
The house today devoted 4$^ hours work of building the canal under any
to lively debate on the possibilities of one of the executive departments, and
also to operate the Panama railroad
controlling insurance.
Jones, of Washington, introduced throngh the same means.
t
t
O ppose the Joint Bill.
Prescott, Ariz., Dec. 20. — At the
close of the annual banquet of the
Northern Arizona Bar association, a
strong resolution was unanimously
adopted declaring its unalterable oppo
sition to the joint statehood bill and
instructing the secretary to forward a
copy, with the signature of each mem
ber attached, to Speaker Cannon, Dele-
gat Mark Smith and Congressmen
Hamilton, Tawney, and Adams, and
Senators Foraker, Flint and Perkins.
8trong speeches denouncing the bill
were made.
C harter for Alaska Cable.
Waghington, Dec. 20.—Senator Ful
ton today introduced a bill authorizing
the North American Telegraph A Cable
company, incorporated in the state of
Washington, to construct telegraphic
cables from the coast of Washington to
Alaska, the Aleutian island, Siberia,
Manchuria, China, Japan and the
Philippines and requiring the operation
of the cable within five yean. Among
the directors of the company are prom
inent Nortbwea-ern men.
New Mexico Willing to Unite.
Washington, Dec. 14.—Joint state
hood for New Mexico and Arizona was
discussed by the president today with a
delegation of New Mexicans, among
whom were Solomon Luna. Republican
National committeeman ; Major W. H.
H. Llewellyn, United States District
attornev; Judge A. A. Freman and A.
M. Hove. Judge Freeman said be be
lieved the people of the two territories
would be glad to accept joint statehood.
Major Llewellyn and Mr. Luna took
up with the president some appoint
ments in the judiciary of New Mexico.
C u t Out Opposed Section.
Washington, Dec. 14. — The Santo
Domingo treaty was referred back to
the committee on foreign relations. It
is understood that it is the desire of the
administration that the treaty be modi
fied by striking out the provision au
thorizing the president to send an
armed force to Santo Domingo, if at
any time necessary. It is the belief ef
friends of the treaty that, if this pro
vision were removed, there would be
less opposition to ratification.
Chicago, Dec. 18. — The Daily News
correspondent sends the following from
St. Petersburg:
Expectation of the downfall of the
government continues to grow in this
city, insurgents still hold Riga, Reval
and other Baltic towns. The garrisons
in these provinces are insufficient to
put down the armed rebels and the ar
tillerymen refuse to fire on them.
Strikes of railroad workers and crews
of steamships prevent the forwarding
of troops and ammunition to the revolt
ed provinces.
Though the government has been
urged to dispatch a fleet to the Baltic
ports Admiral Birileff hesitates to make
any move, fearing that his sailors will
join the rebellion.
Dispatshes received from Manchuria
today report the situation of the army
as desperate. Many officers are in hid
ing from their own troops, fearing for
their lives. The men are burning and
pillaging everything within their
reach, while the civil population has
fled.
Revolutionary proclamations
have been posted about in the barracks
and in the streets. Dissensions among
the chief officers seriously complicate
matters. The soldiers accuse the com
missaries of stealing laige quantities of
supplies and have burned their houses.
W ORK DONE ON
IR R IG A T IO N .
Great Amount o f Construction
b< Reclam ation Service.
Done
Washington, Dec. 18. — A resume of
toe work performed by the Reclama
tion service to date shows that 77 miles
of main canal, 54 miles of distributing
system and 186 miles of ditches have
been constructed, including dams, bead-
works, etc. Tunnels having a total
length of three and one-half miles have
been driven, including more than a
mile of the great Gunnison tunnel.
More than 260 miles of telephone lines
have been installed and are in opera
tion; 126 miles of wagon road, many
miles of which were cut out of solid
rock in almost inaccessible canyons, 147
bridges and 50 office and other build
ings have been constructed.
The works above mentioned have
called for the excavation of 9,350,000
cubic yards of rock and earth, the lay
ing of 70,000 cubic yards of concrete,
12.000 cubic yards of riprap, 150,000
linear feet of sheet piling and 10,000
feet of bearing piles have been driven.
There have been purchased 130,000
pounds of railroad
iron, 250,000
pounds of structural steel, 600,000
pounds of cast iron, 1,750,000 feet of
lumber, and 78,000 barrels of cement.
The government has erected a cement
mill at a cost of more than $100,000,
which has already turned out 15,000
barrels of cement, and is now furnish
ing about 300 barrels a day. The saw
mills operated by Uncle Sam have cut
2.880.000 feet of lumber from the gov
ernment reserves.
H O L D U P T R A IN .
Safes o f North C o ast Limited Rifled
Near North Yakima.
North Yakima, Dec. 18. — Overland
limited No. 1, due here at 2:50 o’clock
p. m., but running almost five hours
late, was held up at Hillside, in the
Y’akima canyon, 11 miles north of this
place, at 7:16 Saturday evening. The
express car was dynamited, two safes
blown open and all contents of value
taken.
From a good source it is learned that
there was little currency in the safes on
the limited at the time of the holdup.
The main contents consisted of drafts,
etc
City Marshal Curren has ordered the
arrest of every stranger seen in North
Yakima who comes anywhere near an
swering the description given of the
holdup men.
Up to midnight last
night there have been four arersts.
One man was arrested by Officer Lane
who aswered the description perfectly.
He was taken off a passenger coach on
train coming from the scene of the
holdup, and was wet to the skin. It is
thought he may be one of the men.
It is thought possible the bandits
may have crossed the Columbia and be
beaded for British Columbia.
C h ristm as Presents by Shipload.
Troops and Workmen Fight on
Streets ot Riga.
"D od b ’esa all th e c b ll’ren poor,
An* m a k e a ll th e alck fo lk s w e ll;
A n ’ d e a r D od, p ’e a se d o n ’t fo rg e t
T o s e n d a pony, big a n ’ sw ell.
*‘D od be g ra c io u s to y o u r lam b s.
An* keep sin o u t o f m y life ;
WARSHIPS TO REGAIN CONTROL
Provisional Government H as Been E s
tablished in Baltic Province*—
Public Buildings Burned.
St. Petersburg, tie Eydtkubnen,
Dec. 16.—It is Btated upon the bigbeet
authority that two cruisers and two
torpedo boats have been ordered by the
minister of Marine, acting under in
structions of Count Witte, after an
audience with the czar, to proceed from
Libau to Riga and shell the city, if the
reovolutionists refuse to surrender.
A provisional government has been
established there and the public build-
inga are occupied by representatives of
the home rule party, who have determ
ined to make Riga the capital of the
Baltic provins».
Barricades have been erected every
where, and steamers arriving at the
port are unable to communicate with
the shore. Public buildings have been
burned.
The population is fleeing
and merchants are abandoning their
business.
The new strike law provides heavy
penalties, and drastic punishment for
participators and instigators of strikes.
They may be sent to prison for from 16
months to four years for an offense.
Government Openly Defied.
Paris, Dec. 16.—The St. Petersburg
correspondent of the Matin, under date
of December 15, says the sudden re
turn of the government to reactionary
measures has aroused the interest of
the revolutionaries, who are holding
meetings and passing resolutions de
claring their determination to resist
the government. As the resolutions are
passed they are forwarded to the min
isters, who do not reply to them.
A St. Petersburg dispatch to the
Journal, dated December 15. says:
“ At a meeting of engineers tonight
it was resolved to demand the immedi
ate release of Schmidt, the leader of
the mutiny at Sevastopol.
“ Alarming reports are arriving con
cerning the troops at Moscow, who ap
pear to be thoroughy disaffected, and
who, in addition to demanding in
creased pay and shorter terms of serv
ice, ask for liberty to read all news
papers.’’
D E C R E A S E O F P O S T O F F IC E S .
Result o f Rural Delivery— Local P a r
cels Post Proposed.
Washington, Dec. 16.—The annual
report of Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General P. V. PeGraw says there has
been a decrease of 575 in the new post
masters commissioned, as compared
with the previous year.
The actual
number of postofficea in the United
States at the cloee of the fiscal year
was:
First class, 275; second class, 1,258;
third class, 4,120; fourth class, 62,-
478; total, 68,181.
This, the report says, was a reduc
tion, resulting mainly from the discon
tinuance of 3,492 fourth class postofficea
during the year by reason of the estab-
lishvent of rural free delivery. The
aggregate compensation of the post
masters thus displaced amounted to
$198,994.
City free delivery had been extended
during the year to 44 new poetoffices,
as against 69 in 1904. The gioss re
ceipts of free delivery offices during
the year had increased 8 per cent and
the cost only 2 per cent.
Mr. DeGraw renews the recommend
ation that a rate of 3 cents per pound
or any fractional part thereof be fixer!
on packages not exceeding five pounds
mailed at the distributing postoffice of
any rural free delivery route.
This
rate should apply only to packages de
posited in the local postoffice for deliv
ery to boxes of patrons on routes eman
ating from that office, and not to mail
transmitted from one office to anothar.
IJ
11
Dod b oss «II m y lttle f r le n 's —
A n ’ p ’e ase d o n ’t fo rg e t u Ûfe.
“ A n ' D od b ’ess ole S a n ta C lans,
H e Is such a sp re n d ld m an!
A n’ te ll him to n o t fo rg et
To b rin g a gun, too, If he can.
“ A n ’ a box of m arbles, too.
A n’ a lot of p ic tu re b o o k s—
A ü' a to o lc h e st fu ll of tools,
W lf ta c k s, n a ils, screw s, a n ' h o o k a
‘A n’ d e a r D od, som e o th e r flngs
T o All In c o rn e rs w tf, y ou kno w ,
G in g e r c ak e s a n ' n n ts a n ’ figs
A n' a lot o f c an d y , too.
’’A n ' I w o u ld n ’t m tnd som e s k a te s ,
(I’ll give m y ole o nes to som e fríe n ')
A n ' I reckon d is Is a ll—
So d o o d -n ig h t, d e a r D od. a m e n ."
— D e tro it F r e e P r e s a
Talbot's Christmas
BY FRANCIS H A RT.
tha „on
hit a tori«— .
hit watchful c.
guests rewarded____
neous enjoyment of ell t
fore them. It waa good to a
wait upon blind Jonas, who couid
help himself, and upon lama Bet.
whoa* crippled hands mads difficult tha
use of knifa and fork.
Talbot rose to replenish a half-emptied
plate as the hall bell thrilled merrily,
ihere waa a pause; then James' quiet,
well-trained voice said: "Yea, madam;
he is at dinner in the studio."
The door swung inward. Talbot knew
that he waa not dreaming when the
came toward him with outstretched
hands and a ripple of explanation of
which he heard not one word. Indeed,
to him one isolated fact filled the world
—that »he was smiling up at him with a
great promise in her eyes.
“A little friend of mine wanted to
give her friends a Christmas dinner, and
I persuaded her to let me share it," he
explained jauntily. “It has been a great
treat to me.”
Miss Wakefield read the whole truth
for herrelf as she looked into the good,
homely faces that reflected their host’s
praises in every glance. She said noth
ing, but her eyes told what Talbot would
have given all he possessed to hear from
her lips. Then Mr. Wakefield and his
wife ventured in, and Talbot bethought
himself to ask if they had dined, which
they had not.
Lou and Talbot made room for three
plates here and there, and as there waa
a plenty of crullers and turkey and Icet
cream, all went well to the very end of
the function, when the eleven originally
invited gzuests rose and made their
adieus with glad hearts and beaming
faces.
Miss Wakefield stood before the grate
while her brother and his wife examined
a row of pictures half hidden behind the
holly wreaths.
“I was so sorry to disappoint you yes
terday,” she said, “but poor Ted’» tele
gram was so urgent that we were afraid
he waa worse, and hadn’t the heart to
refuse him. When I discovered that we
could take an early train home I made
up my mind to run in and wish you a
Merry Christmas, anyway, and ao we
came, you see.”
Talbot thought of the ring. He had
taken it from its hiding place. "For a
long while I have wanted to ask you to
accept this—and what goes with It,” he
said simply, holding the glittering bauble
toward her.
A red glow crept Into her face. She
made no audible answer, but when the
young couple at the other end of the
room Bauutered toward them they were
smiling.
C H R I 8 T M A S T R E E F IR E S .
H ow
AMES,” said Gerry Talbot sudden
ly, looking up from the letter lie
had just received, “you needn’t
mind about the rest. The dinner
will not come off, after all.”
The decorated end of the big, sumptu
ous studio looked oddly distasteful to
Gerry Talbot since the reading of Miss
Wakefield’s telegram, which had shat
tered nis enthusiastic pinna. He had in
vited her—and her brother anil his wife
—to a Christmas studio dinner which he
meant to make as festive as possible. Of
course, her rejection at the last hour
had been a gentle Invention prepared to
avert a greater disappointment, for he
had let her know unmistakably how It
was with him, ami he had been so hope
ful of success that he had selected a
ring for her Christmas gift—a little gold
en circlet set with a clear white soli
taire.
J
The streets were thronged with bust
ling. Christmas shoppers, glad of heart,
with merry, expectant faces, and here
and there a wistful one, too, looking on,
lilt not buying. Talbot noticed two lit
tle girls gazing wistfully into a confec
tioner's window.
“Yes, Min, I would. I’d do It fust
tiling.” said tbe taller of the two. “Oh,
my, wouldn't it tie nice to be rich an'
invite ull your friends to a big turkey
an' ice cream dinner!”
They were very poorly clad, thin-
featured and ill-nourished, hut not un
pleasant to look at. Talbot was con
scious, all at once, of an inexplicable
impulse to gratify the child’s wish.
“So you would really like to gire
your friends a Christmas dinner!” said
he, smiling down at her astonished eyes.
“I have a great mind to let you have
your wish.”
“Oh, dear me, Min!” gasped Lon. “I
can’t hardly believe It, can you? It
sounda Just like a make-believe thing.
Won’t Mia’ Posey be s’prised! An'
Jonaa an' Meg an’ Tom. Oh, won't they
be jest too pleased!”
“How many shall you invite?” Talbot
asked gravely, taking out his notebook.
“Well, there’s Aunt Katie an’ Uncle
Tim an’ the baby. Mis' Posey, Jonas
Boggs. Meg an’ Pat Kooley—Min, can
you think of anyone else?”
"Lgme Betsy an* Moll,”
“How many’s that?" asked Lou.
“Twelve, counting us three.”
“Don’t you think it would be nice
to have a little present beside each
plate?" asked Talbot.
Both girls gasped, but looked immense
ly pleased.
“Suppose you two go round with me
and pick out what you consider suitable
tor each of your guests, because I should
not know what to select.”
When Lou appeared at the studio on
the following morning she was a very
different looking girl, and any one would
have known by the pure joy of her
voire that some great and festive event
was at hand. Talbot had finished the
decorations which had been so harshly
interrupted by Mias Wakefield’s mes
sage, and the result was extremely grat
ifying. especially after Lou’s rapturous
acclamations.
At precisely 12 o'clock the bell rang
for the first time to announce tbe ar
rival of Aunt Katie and Tlin and the
baby, all polished and prinked to the
verge of painfulnesa. Next came Mia’
Posey, a little, faded, bowed, ancient
woman in ruaty black, with long gold
loops in her wrinkled ears. Lame Betty
thumped in on her crutches, closely fol
lowed by Moll, in borrowed finery, of va
rious aizea. Meg brought blind Jonaa,
and a merry little wraith of a man called
Tom Doom.
I Tallen shook hands all around with
¡a “Merry Christmas!” after which they
New York, Dec. 18.—The American
line steamer Philadelphia, which sailed
Arm y o f Strike Breakers.
from New York today for Plymouth,
Chicago, Dec. 16.—The Chicago Em
Cherbourg and Southampton, carried
3,226 bags of mail for Europe.
This ployers’ association, at a meeting to
represents the largest quantity of mail day, formulated plans for tbe establish
matter ever carried by any one stermer ment of a standing army of laborers,
out of the port of New York. The both skilled and unskilled and repre
Philadelphia is the Christmas ship senting every branch of trade to be pre
from New York this year and the major pared to go to any city in the United
portion of the mail she carries consists States to fill the places of strikers when
of presents for relatives and friends i necessary. The scope of the associa
who are on the other side of the At tion will be extended so as to include
every city in the United States with a
lantic.
population of 50,000 or more. Employ,
merit bureaus will be maintained where
Friends Will Give Aid.
Havana, Dec. 18.—That the Ameri nonunion workmen can register.
cans in the Isle of Pines have friends
Prom otion for MecArthur.
in the United States who are willing to
Washington, Dec. 15.—The author*'
aid them in every way possiBle in their
efforts to have the island added to the live statement was made at the War de
Union is manifest here in letters re partment today that, on the retirement
cently received from prominent resi in September next of General Corbin,
dents of the Isle of Pines. These let who will succeed General Batee in April
ters say that friends in tbe States have next as lieutenant general of the army,
offered hundreds of thousands of dollars General MacArthnr, the officer next in
to aid in establishing a territory of the line ot succession, will be promoted to
tbe grade of lieutenant general. It
United States.
also was announced that General Wood
probably will snrceed General Corbin
Finds M illions in Ground.
Winnipeg, Man., Dec. 18.— Anthony n the Philippine division.
Blam,of Boston, principal owner of the
Horizontal Reduction o f Tariff.
Lanrentine mine in the Mamton dis
Washington, Dec. 16. — Senator Mc-
trict. 200 miles east of here, has un
earthed well* of gold that assay $400,- Creery yeeterday introduced a bill to
000 to the ton. There ere millions in reduce the tariff of tbe United S*atea
sight. It is the richest discovery ever by providing that there shall be levied
mad* in gold mining. He spent ten upon ail articlea imported from foreign
years off and on in tbe district aad ha* o< nn tr ie * a rate equal to three-fourth*
of tbe present schedule.
made much money.
all took their placet at the beautiful
the
D a n g e r o f P a r lo r C o n fla g r a
t i o n « M a y He M i n i m i z e d .
Several accidents on Christmas eve
and day each year recall the fact, appar
ent only on that day, that the Christ
mas tree is quite ns dangerous as it is
pretty, and that the proud father per
sonating Santa Claus should take the
precaution to equip himself with asbes
tos whiskers. About the usual number
of fires are recorded in the country each
year as a result of the inflammable na
ture of the Christmas tree and ita dec
orations and their careless handling.
This wnrnlng always follows Christ-
mas just as the outcry against toy pis
tols is raised after the Fourth of July.
Of course no rose Is free from thorns,
und apparently no holiday can be ob
served In the conventional fashion with
out risk of accident to the merrymakers.
Sputtering candles on a Christmas tree
are a very real danger, and the same may
be said of the trees themselves, the
wreaths of evergreen and the mistletoe.
After a day or two they become dry and
inflainniahle to a high degree, and in the
joy of the celebration risks are run and
precautions neglected. A tree thus load
ed down with presents and decorations
may become in an Instant a torch capa
ble of stnrting a disastrous tire, as many
cities discovered tbe other day, to their
great cost and to the serious discomfort
of their fire departments.
By taking preventive measures thou
sands of dollars will be saved every year.
Trees should he bought late and kept
nut doors until used. In the case of
fresh, green trees the risk will be min
imized. Candles should not be too close
together and should be constantly watch
ed. Above all, a wet blanket should
be at band, also a sponge on a pole long
enough to reach any point of the trees
nr ceiling. Bo, at least, say the fire
fighters, who every year have their own
Christmas spoiled by the neglect of these
very obvious precautions.
O ld I d e a s A b o u t C h r i s t i n a «
Even as late ns 1753 there was soma
doubt ss to the exset date of Christmas,
the old count bringing It to the 5tb of
January, the new count giving us the
25th of December, which is "the day w*
celebrate.” In Devonshire, England, it
la believed that If the sun shines at noon
on Christmas day a plentiful crop may
be looked for in the following year.
T h e T h o u g h t f u l G ir a ffe .
T h e a b su rd and long legged giraffe
R aid: “ H e re is a th o u g h t makes me
I f w e g ira ffe s sh o u ld
O ld
laugh.
Wear stockings, how could
Santa Claus even fill half?“
ORDIRLO orr.
'p i
The New Year—You’ll have to aove
on, old man.