WHAT YOU NEED The other fellow may have; what you have the other fellow may want. Come together by advertising in the Press. Buy Your Groceries From Your Home Grocer BARGAIN DAY Is every day with the Merchant who advertises in the Press he has some thing to sell and says so. VX)LTJ1CE XXVH1. ATHENA, UMATILLA COWTT, OREGON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1915. TsrmvmwT? i 55 Santa Clans : Jv: in tht Sttouies By GENE MORGAN I SOUR Information Is In 1 part correct," said San ta Claus, receiving the Interviewer in the li brary of his ice palace. "It Is true that I have received several flatter ing oilers to star In moving picture produc tions. But it is not true tbat I have ac cepted any one ot these propositions. .1 am still 1 in doubt as to whether it would be the proper thing, x "I have my duty to the children of this world, and I must not Impair my , health or my power of service to them by the strenuous work, demanded in the movies. No doubt I would prove a very popular star at the children's matinees. But I wonder it the chil dren who see me in their dreams do not get a better and more flattering idea ot me than they would in the picture, " t "You Bee, my dear sir, the camera does not lie. I am sure it would not lie for me when it will not tell false hoods about the appearance of kings and potentates. Every child In the world thinks of me as a very hand some old gentleman. Some ot them may have an idea that I am inclined to be a little stout but a good many others Imagine I have as graceful form as that of a young soldier. They tmnk I curl my whiskers and have a beautiful wave in my long, silky locks, Your Uncle Santa It Gstting Fat." """They are not aware that your uncle Santa is getting so fat that there isn't room in the sleigh for himself and the larger toys. Nor that my noble mane of hair isn't what it used to be. It people" ever sent me presents which, of course, does not occur to them I should like to murmur a little wish tor a bottle of hair tonic. "One moving picture firm wants to put me into a play. The plot is some- tiling like this: I am driving my rein deer over the treetops, when I am set upon by a band of aeroplane pirates. me pirates make me hold up my hands and then divest me of my stock ot toys. Just when the banditplane is about to fly away, leaving me In distress, the chief of the robbers makes a discovery. "Amid the pack of toys he finds rag doll. By the tag around its neck he sees that it has been addressed to his little daughter. My thoughtfulness in remembering his little girl, despite her father's profession, touches the bandit's heart. He weeps, and then to the astonishment of his pals, he orders them to lift me into the aero plane. . "'Now, Mr. Claus,' he says, accord ing to the subtitle, we are going to deliver your toys for you all over the world tonight. Give us directions and we will fly wherever you command.' So at my direction, the bandit's aeroplane starts . delivering the toys, making much better time, let me tell you, than my poor reindeers who were left behind. Things are going along fine. Our aeroplane toy conveyance has covered Canada, the United States, Australia and South Africa, when sud denly, to our dismay, we find that we are being pursued. . ' .. . r "'More pirates r I ask in alarm. , "No, the aero-pollce!' shouts my pi rate friend. - .... The -police 'had found my empty sleigh and motionless reindeer.' They naturally concluded that I had. 'been. robbed and kidnaped. Now they are on the trail of my captors. The pi rates are very much atrald that If arrested, they' will be hanged at once. The police craft is gaining upon us. In order that the ph-ates may escape, they decide they must throw all ot my toys overboard.' The vicious crow-de mands that your old friend St. .mete be thrown overboard too, as I am pret ty heavy, besides being the cause of all the trouble.' The race continues through the sky. ' , 'I want to raise the white flag as token of surrender. I pledge myself to the captain of the pirate aeroplane that I will plead the cause of himself and his crew and secure their release from the police. I tell them that the police will do them no harm,- after have explained their kindness in car rying my toys all over the world. "The police craft is now so close that escape Beems Impossible. " 'Give me a white flag,' I cry. " 'There isn't a white flag on board nothing but black flags.' says the pi rate. 'Hurry up and do something You have no time to lose. If you don i surrender they will shell us. And in that case, we will have to throw you overboard, St. Nick. My mind works quickly. I have no white flag. My handkerchief, like those ot the pirate's Is a red bandanna. What am I to do? jWhizl Another shell rips pa erf airship, Ah! ,J. have it It Is the scheme that saves the day." The interviewer at this point leaped to his feet and shouted in excite ment: - , , ' Well, what do you do to have your life?" "I wave my white whiskers at 'em," replied Santa Claus, proudly. "It is the signal ot truce. Our lives and our precious cargo ot toys are spared. What do you think of that idea for a play? - They want to name it, 'Santa Claus In High Life.' Do you think I would make a hit as the star? "Well, 'm glad you think so." (EffriBtmaa (Jim fj H pHRISTMASTTMEl Thy man v onus uv a muuiavupe inucai j TRIMMING THE TREE 1 -'T t . xZX i J f 3 if-K' In whose bre&st omethinsiike& twill feeling It not roused in what mind one pleasant associations are not awakened fay the recurrence of Christmas. There are people who will tell you thai Christmas it not Is them what it used to be; that each succeeding Christmas hat found tome cherished hope or happy prospect of the year before, dimmed or passed away; that the present only serves to t remind them of reducer circumstarv ces and straitened incomes- of the feut they once bestowed on hollow friends, and of the cold looks that meet them now. in adversity and misfortune, Never heed such dismal reminis cences. There are few men who have k-d long enough in the world who: cannot call up such thoughts any day in the year Then do not select the merriest of the three hundred and sixty five for your doleful recollections, but draw your chair nearer the blazing Pre fill the glass and send round the long and if your room be smaller than it was a dozen yean ages or if your glass be filled with reeking punch instead of sparkling wine, put a good face on the matter. . , . . .' Look on the merry faces of your children (if you have any) as they tit round the fire, One little teat may be empty: one slight form that gladdened the father's heart, and roused the mother's pride to look upon, may not be there, . Dwell not upon the put; Sunk n4 am Jm um im llu gj fair child now resolving into dust tat before you, with the bloom of health upon its cheek, and she sayety of in fancy in Its joyous eye, Reflect upon ---i your present 'bieningsef tatich fveiy man. baa.' many--not on your ill past misfortunes, of. which all jnen 4 have tome, Fill your glass again, S3 with -a merry face and contented heart Our life on it but your Christ mas shall be merry and your New Yesi a nappy one. tri-v. "-Qarfei Ofetent NOT A MI88. RAILWAY EARNINGS MAKE NEW HISTORY October Freight Increase Over last Year $25,000,000. PROP. NEVER. SO LARGE AS NOW Lack of Ocean bottoms for Export Only Restraining Influence to 'i Much Greater Movement. As two little girls were hurrying to school, one ot them saw a discarded Christmas tree In an ash barrel. 'Lizzie," said she, "do you think Santa Claus Is a myth?" 'Certainly not," retorted her com panion, glancing sharply at her. "San ta Claus is a mister. What makes you lisp so?" . . . . ' WHOLE WEEK'S CELEBRATION Descendants of Old Spanish Settlers Observed Christmas With Din ners and Parties, Among the descendants ot the old Spanish settlers we find that they ob serve a week In the celebration of Christmas. This begins one week be fore Christmas. In the daytime they have dinners at each other's homes, and in the evenings they give a series ot parties at the different houses. In the evening the young folk go- to the home ot one ot their number and knock, and then all begin to sing. Those within the house ask, "Who is there?" and the answer Is, "The Vir gin Mary and St. Joseph seek lodging in your house." To carry out the Bi ble story they are at first refused ad mittance, and then the door Is opened wide and they are ail given a hearty welcome. On Christmas eve the old and young all join together and have a big celebration. In a large hall they fix up one side to represent the man ger, and here they very solemnly give a little play In which many take part, the characters being Mary and Jo seph, the wise men, the shepherds and the angels. This play is very real to them, and they all play their parts with a reverent spirit A Christmas Prayer. Give me the eyee to see my brother's woe Grant me the vulon that perceives his care, That I, amid my Christmas joys, may go And take some touch of mitigation there. God point the way that I may quickly and Hit acre waiting for the clad rellel. And ope my eyes that I may not be blind To taake ot love that ease the sting of grief. -John Eendrlck Bancs. Old Custom Still Prevail. The Christmas feeding of the birds is stlU prevalent in many of the prov inces of Norway and Sweden. Bunches of cats are placed on the roofs ot honses, on trees and fences, to fur nish them with their share ot the Christmas bounty. Chicago-he rush "of export ship:' menu from Chicago, which has been necessitated on all but perishable gooda destined for the Atlantic sea board for European consignments, has enabled the railroads of the United States to show earnings greater than ever in the history of the country. Figures show that the railways of the country are piling up increases in net operating revenue with the rapid upward leap of export trade. . Settlement of the Belt Line train men's strike at the clearing yards re leased several thousand cars of East bound freight. For the month of September Ameri can railroads showed frroBS and net earnings vastly larger than any Sep tember since the advent of the steam railroad, according to official figures. An estimate based on returns by 134 roads with a total mileage of 179,000 the total mileage of the country is 250,000 place the increase -in gross earnings for October $32,000,000 in advance of the corresponding period last year. The net increase is approx imately $26,000,000. This means that for every track mile of the 164 rail roads cited, on an average, the net operating revenue increase for Octo ber, 1915, is from $401 to $537. "There can be no question of the wonderful advance of American trade, potn domestic and foreign," said E, Campbell, general traffic manager of the trie lines. Of course, the most startling growth 1b seen in the export iraae. we notinea our customers an embargo on all . export shipments otner man livestock and other perish able goods on December 15. Notwith standing that we made efforts to be ready for increased foreign shipments, we found the step necessary. I do not believe anyone expected the full ex tent of the development. Other roads are in the same position. The denlor- abie lack of ocean bottoms and the in adequacy of warehouse facilities on New York's waterfront has done most to depreciate the value of what prepar ations we have made to handle the ex port freight. xes, railroad earnings are on the upgrade," he continued, "and they have not stopped going up. I do not believe that the major portion of the domestic freight movement has begun to get under way. When it does and adding the export movement which we have no reason to believe will be re duced hiBtory will be made for Amer ican roads." Bullfights Under Ban. Washington, D. ' C. Prohibition against bull fighting in one Mexican state and sile of intoxicating liquor in another nave been decreed in connec tion with (Jeneral C&rraflza's reform programme.'. r Copies of the decree resached the Mexican embassy here Saturday. '-' . yv-s-'.v v. Governor Alvarado, of Yucatan, in addition to prohibiting liquor sales. declared effective throughout the state the agrarian reforms outlined ;.'irt the uttrranza piatiorm. ' in jauaco uovernor rJeriintra's re forms include besides abolition of bull fighting obligatory Sunday rest for la- Dorers, reduction of hours of labor, i minimum wage, regulation of the li quor iramc ana prohibition of gam bling. ,- Limburger Cheese Healthy, Monroe, Wis. Physicians of Green county, which had the lowest death rate In the state last summer, at tribute the healthy condition of the community to the eating of limburger cheese. Last year 3,041,435 pounds of tnis cheese was produced in the county. and as a staple of food it largely dis placed meat. , The quarterly report of the state board of health, just issued, gave ureen county a death rate of 7.2 per 1000, compared with 9.2 for the state at large. Five Schoolboys Killed. Berthold, N. D. Five schoolboys and a man were killed and another bov probably mortally injured when a Great Northern passenger train struck bus loaded with school children at a crossing during s fog Friday. John Ahearn, driver, was killed. The boys, all under 16, were being taken from school to their homes. Leonard and Earle Miller, Severt and Anton Hagen and Harry Arnold were killed, and the letter's brother is expected to die. Cholera Fatal to 100,000. Wahington, D. C Because native Filpino health officers failed to cope with an epidemic of cholera In the is lands within the last year, there were 10,000 deaths, Captain K. C. Helebow- er, of the army medical corps, told the senate Philippine committee. NEWS ITEMS Of General Interest About Oregon Fieltftrop and Seed Growers' Conference to Be Held Corvallis One of the most impor tant meetings during Farmers' Week, January 8 to 8, 1916, will be that of the Oregon Field Crop and Seed Grow ers' association. This association was organized last year. Ita object, on the one hand, is to bring together all of those growers in the state who are producing seed crops, such as clover seed, vetch seed, alfalfa seed, potato seed, corn, grains, etc., and, on the other hand, to effect a general organ ization of those farmers particularly interested in new crop production and allied subjects. The specialized agri cultural pursuits, such as that of the fruit grower, the dairyman, or the live stock breeder, all have their state or ganizations. As a matter of fact, or ganization of these, because of the limited number of men concerned and the highly specialized interests in volved, is a natural procedure. The great mass of farmers of the state. however, are not specializing in live stock production or dairying or fruit growing but are devoted chiefly to the production of field crops. The chief agricultural wealth of the state is produced by these crop grow ers. It is highly important that they should have an organization which will bring them together and promote their interests. It is hoped the Field Cron and Seed Growers' association will become one of the largest and strongest associa tions in the state as the years advance. All farmers interested should dron a line to the secretary of the associa tion at Corvallis and secure informa tion regarding it. The meetings of the association will occur on Wednes day and Thursday (January 6 and 61 during Farmers' Week, Thursday be ing devoted especially to the interests of the Potato growers. Prominent seea ana crop breeders and growers and seed buyers and dealers from Ore gon, Washington and California are on the program for these meetings. Thousands of Girls Are Taking Domestic Science and Art Salem "It is Impossible to tell what lines of work our school boys will pursue when they grow up: but it is pretty safe to predict that most of the girls will become housekeepers," said superintendent of fublic Instruction J. A. Churchill, of Oregon, in soeaklns or tne vocational courses offered in the high schools. Mr. Churchill con tinued saying that 7194 girls are now learning cooking and sewing in the public schools of the state. Of this number, 8840 are in the high schools and 8345 are in the grades. If one may judge by the number of students enrolled in the two courses, cooking is not quite so popular as sewing, there being 8214 girls taking Domestic Science, and 8980 taking Domestic Art. The total value of the eauio- ment lor teaching the former course. consisting of stoves, cooking utensils, dishes, etc., amounts to $24,916, while tne equipment for the latter, including sewing machines, tables, etc., amounts to $14,950. Nealry all of the teachers employed in these courses are gradu ates of the Oregon Agricultural Col lege. Mr. Churchill states that Do mestic Science is being offered in 69 standard high schools, and Domestic Art in 73. Siuslaw Valley Gets Big Shingle Mill Eugene A shingle mill on the Sius law river to employ 20 men at full ca pacity has been announced by L. C. tieynoias, formerly of Coos Bay. Con struction on the plant will be com menced as soon as a location can be elected and two are under considera tion, one on an old mill site a mile west of Florence and the other Cushman, the most western point the new railroad. Mr. Reynolds has a body of timber tne siuslaw, it is said, which will ra- on tw nanaiea. tin machinery is new located on Coos Bay. The plant Will cost approximately $10,000. His loca tion will allow him to shiD both bv water ana ran. i A delegation of Siuslaw business men is expected in Eugene at the an nual taxpayers' meeting to lobby for tne construction of more than $17,000 wortn oi road on the Siuslaw river. Liquor Patrons Stock Up, Marsbfield As January 1 approaches the determination of Marshfield liquor dealers to rid themselves of stock is noticeable in countless advertsements appearing in the local newspspers. One firm is running half-page advertise ments. Another firm, the National Bottlng Works, reports heavy business in "futures," in barrels of bottled beer and general sales in bonded goods. Dis trict Attorney Liljeavist has announced he will be looking about January 1 for infractions of the liquor law and ex pects to prosecute vigorously. Robins Visit Hood River. Hood River Hundreds of Alaskan robins are now making their winter home in the Hood River valley. The birds, while similar to the robin that nests here in the summer and seeks warmer clime further south at the close of fall, are duller in color. Orchardists welcome these winter guests, for the birds clean up any fruit left In the orchards to harbor possible disease pests. The robins also feed on insects and seeds of troublesome weeds. Buy your Heater NOW r' . ? . Cold weather will be here before you realize it. We are prepared for it with the best line of Heating: Stoves on the . market. There is nothing to equal them. Fine Heaters, easy on coal, and very clean and , very handsome in design. Come and see them NOW FOSS-WINSHIP HARDWARE CO. Barrett Building. Athena, Oregon ESTABLISHED 1865 Preston-Shaffer Milling Co. m3 ,11, " ' .'r l-i ' AMERICAN BEAUTY FLOUR la made in" Athena, by Athej& Labor, in one of the very best equipped Mills in the Northwest, of the best selected Bluestem wheat grown anywhere. Patronize home industry. Your grocer sells the famous American Beauty Flour. ' The Flour Your Mother Uses Merchant Millers and Grain Buyers Athena, Oregon. Waitsburg, Washington. v 1L. Home of gjpgi- QUALITY sfSilB Groceries Good Groceries go to the Right Spot Every Time This is the Right Spot To go to Every Time for Groceries. Try These They'll Please! ONE BEST THE MONOPOLE Monopole Vegetables Monopole Fruits Monopole Salmon Monopole Oysters DELL BROS., Athena, Or. Caterers to the Public in Good Things to Eat