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About Mosier bulletin. (Mosier, Or.) 1909-19?? | View Entire Issue (Dec. 29, 1911)
CURRENT EVENTS OF THE WEEK Doings of the World at Large Told in Brief. General Resume o f Important Events Presented in Condensed Form for Our Busy Readers. Imperial forces in China are prepar ing for another big battle. Samuel and Wiliam Muncy, twins, o f New York City, celebrated their 93d birthday on Christmas day. President and Mrs. T a ft escaped their special guards and went calling on friends for two hours on Christmas eve. More than 1,000,000 gallons o f mo lasses were destroyed by fire on the wharves o f the Boston Molasses com pany. Europe is profoundly impressed by the force o f public opinion in the United States on the Russian passport question. A South Chicago newspaper which had been active against writers o f Black Hand letters was dynamited and the plant practically destroyed. General Reyes, head o f the new Mexican insurgent movement, was lo- c tted by government authorities on a r»nch, together with five o f his fol- I twers, and captured. A throng o f 100,000 people gathered on the streets and at the windows and on the roofs and balconies o f buildings in the heart o f San Francisco on Christmas eve and sang songs o f peace and good will. Russian and Persian troops have had a battle near Tabriz. Alaska delegation says that terri tory can support millions o f people. Persian officials declare the Rus sians are murdering women and chil dren in cold blood, and ignoring over tures for peace. Several hundred newsboys struggled for hours in the streets o f Portland Christmas day for coins thrown by generously inclined parties. Several hundred men are racing with dog teams to a new strike on the head o f Sixty-Mile river in Alaska. The temperature is about 40 degrees below zero. v SHUSTER READY TO QUIT. MEN OF THE HOUR IN THE CHINESE CRISIS. YUAN REMAINS STEADFAST. RF Chief Concern is for Staff o f Amer ican Assistants. Will Resign Teheran — M. W. Morgan Shuster, the American treasurer-general who has been dismissed from office by the cabinet in compliance with the de mands contained in the Russian ulti matum, has sent his reply to the cabi net, in which he stated his willingness to han3 over his accounts when his successor was named. He added that his chief solicitude was for the wel fare o f his 14 American assistants, concerning whom nothing has yet been decided. Meetings were held in the various mosques to protest against the action o f the government. The minister of the interior has issued an order that new elections be held as soon hb pos sible. The latest dispatches from Tabriz report a temporary lull in the fight ing. A telegram from Shiraz, prov ince o f Fara, where a boycott has been instituted against the Indian troops, reports another attack on the Indians near Kazeroon, in which two Sowars were killed. The situation is regarded as serious. Pekin— Yuan Sbi Kai, the premier, evidently still remains steadfast in his decision not to accept a republican form o f government for China as the price o f peace within the empire. Members o f the premier’s entourage r.-iterate that Yuan never will advise the abdication o f the emperor and thereby become a traitor. They say that if the formation o f a republic is unavoidable he will resign as prime minister. It has been suspected that Tang Shao Y i, the representative o f Yuan and the imperial government at the Shanghai peace conference, and Yuan were playing a pre-arranged game with the intention to shear the Man- chus o f power gradually and thereby prevent a Manchu uprising in Pekin, but the fact that Tang has telegraph ed friends here asking them to en deavor to persuade Yuan o f the neces sity of accepting a republic seeming ly indicates that Tang and the premier are not in accord. A fte r many conferences prior to his departmure from Shanghai, Tang evi dently believed that Yuan had been won over to the republican idea, while on the other hand Yuan thought Tang had been brought around to see the necessity for the continuance o f the monarchy. AD M IR AL DEWEY IS 74. Hero o f Manila Bay Holds Birthday Party Informal Washington. D. C.— Admiral George Dewey, celebrated the J4th anniver sary o f his birth December 26. Twelve years after all other naval officers are by law retired from active serv ice, the admiral was busy at his desk. He received a few old friends at his home in the evening, among the cal lers being President Taft. The admiral believes the secret o f good health is congenial employment. His walk is brisk, his handclasp as firm and his energy as abundant as that o f a man many years younger. He appeared at his office promptly at 9 o ’clock and plunged into his work. A t intervals he was interrupted to re ceive greetings and congratulations of almost all the senior officers o f the navy and army and then again he laid aside official papers to scan some tel egram or letter o f birthday greeting. The admiral said he would head the line o f naval officers that would pass in review before President T a ft at the New Y ear’s reception at the White- house. KIN G 'S S K U L L IS STO LE N . Senator Borah plans a new irriga Tomb o f Black George o f Senna tion loan which will help the Umatilla Desecrated; Jewels Untouched. project. Vienna— The vault in St. Mark’s Indicted packers in Chicago declare cemetery in which reposed for many the public was benefitted by their bus years the bones o f Kara-George Petro- iness methods. vitch, founder o f the Servian dynasty, C. L. Smith, newly appointed agri has been desecrated. The skull of the culturist for the O.-W. R. & N. Co., former Servian chief has been stolen, w ill visit many farms along the lire but the decorations and rings were not touched. to gather pracitcal information. The coffin o f Queen Persida was not A government engineer has ap opened. There is no clew to the dese proved the proposed expenditure of crate) rs. $800,000 for the improvement o f Til Kara-George (Black George, or lamook bay, on the Oregon coaBt. George Czerny) was a peasant, born in 1766, who in 1806 became the lead President discusses currency, army er o f the Servians in the revolt reforms, parcels post and other topics against Turkey. He defeated the in a message to congress. Turks, captured Belgrade and liber A telephone rate war has begun in ated Servia. He was driven out of California and is expected to extend Servia in 1813 and was murdered in 1817. over the entire Pacific coast. Hop interests o f America, backed Contract is Not Yet Off. by J. Ogden Armour, are planning a Washington, D. C. — American big combine to handle the cropB in fu Treasurer General Shuster’s contract ture. with the Persian government to man The powers are now trying to in age the finances o f Persia has not been duce the Chinese rebels to accept formally cancelled, so far as the State terms offered by the government and department can learn. A cable mes sage received from American Minister end the war. Russell at Teheran, however, dealt with plans being made to get Mr. PO R TLA N D M ARKETS. Wheat — Track prices: Bluestem, Shuster and his family safely out of 8 lid 82c; club, 79c; red Russian, 78c; Persia. Hence it is assumed that the for valley, 80c; forty-fold, 79iffi80c. Corn— Whole, $37; cracked, $38 ton. malities attending the termination of MillstufTs— Bran, $23 per ton; mid Mr. Shuster's activities in that country dlings, $30; Bhorta, $24; rolled bar will not he long delayed. The meagerness o f the news from ley. $37<W!88. Oata— No. 1 white, $30.60(431 ton. the Persian capital has led to the sus Hay— No. 1 Eastern Oregon timo picion that a severe censorship is be thy, $18((i!8.60; No. 1 valley, $16(4 ing exercised by the Russians, who 16; alfalfa, $13(0,14; clover, $11(412; control some o f the telegraphic chan nels o f communication. grain, $12hf 13. Barley— Feed, $36(<r37 ton. Rate Reduction Made. Fresh Fruits— Pears, 50c4$L50 per box; grapes, $1.25(41.50; cranber Seattle — Announcement was made ries, $12(o 13 per barrel; casabas, here o f a freight rate reduction o f 10 $1 .60 per crate. cents a hundred pounds on lumber Apples—Jonathans, $L50(u2.25 per shipments from Western Washington box; Spitzenherg, $l(«i2.50; Baldwin, to Denver and points in that territory. 75cu$1.60; Red Cheek Pippin, $1.26 The new rate, which will go into (<il.75; Northern Spy, $1.26(4 1.75; etfict the latter part o f January, will Winter Bananas, $2(u}3; Bellflower, increase the market for red cedar $1.10(dl.35. shingles at least 25 per cent, lumber Potatoes— Ruying prices: Burbanks, men say. The railroads have also an 90c(u$1.20 per hundred. nounced reductions ranging from 10 to Onions - Jobbing price, $1.50 per 20 |>er cent on fir lumber from the sack. Pacific Coast to points east o f the Vegetables — Artichokes, 90c per Rocky mountains. dozen; cabbage, 1(4 l } c per pound; cauliflower, $1.90(42 per crate; cu Joy Is Fatal to Woman cumbers. $1 .26(0.1.76 per dozen; cel San Jose, Cal. —Joy over the news ery, California, $4(4 4.25 per crate; egg plant, 12c per pound; garlic, 6<o that her family had won a seven 10c per pound; lettuce, $2.60 per years' fight in the courts over a right crate; peppers, 8(4 10c per pound; o f way through property near here pumpkins, lro l|c per pound; sprouts, 9 (o 10c per pound; squash, lR o lJ c ; to caused the death o f Mrs. Frank Corea. matoes, $1.76 per box ; carrots, $1 The news was told her on Thursday by per sack; turnips, $1; beets, $1; par a mounted messenger who rushed from the courtroom to the Corea home snips, $1. Butter— Oregon creamery butter, at Evergreen. Mrs. Corea was ill and solid pack, 36; prints, extra; butter in bed. She arose to kiss and congrat ulate her aged husband and fell bark fat, lc less than solid pack prices. She died Poultry— Hens, 12c; springs, 11(4 stricken with paralysis. 12; ducks, young, 17(4 18c; geese, 12 without regaining consciousness. (o 13c; turkeys, live, 20,0.21c; dressed, Funeral Chargea Go Up. choice, 22J(o23c. St. Ismis The St. Ix>uis Livery <S Eggs Fresh Oregon ranch, candled, 37Jc per dozen; case-count, 35c per Undertaking association has announced an increase of $1 on every carriage dozen. and $2 ou every hearse used in fune Pork Fancy, 8(o 8|c per pound. rals in this city. The readjustment Veal— Fancy, 14(o I4 jc per pound. Cattle — Choice steers, $5.76(o6; makes the scale uniform throughout good, $5(o 5.60; choice cows, $4.60o6; the week. "T h e automobile has just good. $4.26<o 4.60; choice spayed heif about ‘ put the cab to the bad.' said the ers. $546.26; good to choice heifers, lamia l.andvogt, president o f "W h a t the automobile $4.60(44.60; choice bulls. $1.25(04.50 association. good, $4(o 1.25; choice calves, $7(0.8; hasn't done in this line the owl car has. ' ' good, $6.76(07. Hogs Choice light hogs, $6.66(0 Lugtage Explosive Laden. 6.66; good to choice hogs, $6.26(0.1 Pittsburg -Carrying a suit case con 6.50; fair, $6(4 6.25; smooth heavy taining 72 sticks o f dynamite, a ndl hogs, $6.25 o 5.50. Sheep — Choice yearling wethers, o f fuse, and two quarts o f whisky, $3.76(o4; choice killing ewes, $3.25 George Bridges, who refuses to tell (0 3.76; choice lambs, $4.9<Ho5.10; anything concerning himself, was ar good to choice lambs, $4.75(0 4.90; rested at Moenssen, Pa., a mill town near here. culls, 33(44. Rather Than Republicans. Yield to ARM Y REFORMS PRISO NS. Deserters to Be Treated as Subjact to Good Influences. a n o vie, m i . v v r t i n « p a n g , w h o r e p r e N E G O T I A T I O N S , A N D V I A N S H I K A 1, V O R K E P I i l l . IC. HE LOW , A N O T H E It H IS F A M I L Y . TAFT SAYS WOOL DUTY EXCESSIVE Recommends Reduction, But Does Not Name Rate. Believes Difference Between Cost at Home and Abroad Is Proper Basis for Tariff. Washington, D. C.— President T a ft sent a message to congress Thursday recommending a downward revision of the tariff on wool. Accompanying the message was the report o f the tariff board. Neither the message nor the report attempts to fix the rate o f duty, but the president recommends that the proposed revision adhere to a policy of protection based upon the difference in cost o f production at home and abroad. The message says that the present method of assigning the duty on raw wool operates to exclude wools of high shrinkage in scouring, but o f fine quality, from the American market, and thereby lessens the range o f wools available to the domestic manufactur er, and that the duty on scoured wool o f 33 cents is prohibitory and operates to exclude the importation o f clean, low-priced foreign wools o f inferior grade, which are, nevertheless, valua ble material for manufacturing and which cannot be imported in the grease because o f their heavy shrink age. Such wools, if imported, might be used to displace the cheap substi tutes now in use, the president says, and continues: "These discriminations could be overcome by assessing a duty o f ad valorem terms, but this method is open to the objection, first, that it in creases administrative difficluties and s e n t s r e p u b l ic WHO CONCEDES P I C T U R E O F D it. i \ p e a c e N E C E S SITY VAX', W I T H tends to decrease revenue through un der-valuations, and, second, that as prices advance, the ad valorem rate increases the duty per pound at the time when the consumer most needs relief and the produce can best stand competition, while i f prices decline the duty is increased at the time when the consumer is least burdened by the price and the producer m >st needs pro tection. “ Another method o f meeting the difficulty of taxing the grease pound is to assess a specific duty on grease wool in terms o f its scoured contents. This obviates the chief evil o f the present system, namely, the discrim ination due to different precentages, and thereby tends greatly to equalize the duty. The board reports that this method is feasible in practice and could be administered without great expense. "T h e y should be reduced and so ad justed to the rate o f wool as to bear their proportion to the real rate levied on the actual wool imports. “ The duties on many classes o f wool manufacture are prohibitory and greatly in excess o f the difference in cost o f production here and abroad. “ The findings o f the board show that in this industry the actual manu facturing cost, aside from the ques tion o f the price o f material, is much higher in this country than abroad; that in the making o f yarn and cloth the domestic woolen or worsted manu facturer has in general no advantage in the form o f superior machinery or more efficient labor to offset the high er wages paid in this country. The findings show that the cost o f turning the wool into yarn in this country is about double that in the leading com peting countries and that the cost o f turning yarn into cloth is somewhat more than double. Under the protec tive policy a great industry, involving the welfare o f hundreds o f thousands o f people, has been established despite these handicaps. “ In recommending revision and re duction, I therefore urge that action be taken with these facts in mind, to the end that an independent and estab lished industry may not be jeopard ized.” Washington, D. C. — A sweeping change in military prison methods was instituted by order o f the War depart ment. A ll o f the short-term prison ers on Alcatraz island, San Francisco, have been ordered transferred to Fort Leavenworth, Kan. A ll o f the long-term pisoners in the latter prison are to be transferred to Alcatraz, which will thus be made the place o f confinement for the criminal element, while Leavenworth will be the place o f detention o f soldiers guilty o f purely m ilitary offenses. To save transportation expenss, a sec ond criminal jail is created at Fort Jay, Governor’s island. The effect o f these changes is to carry out the recently developed Brit ish system o f treating deserters and the soldiers guilty o f breaches o f dis cipline as subject to reformatory in fluences and o f segregating them from the absolutely criminal and vicious class. BIG PRIZES FOR M ARCHERS. Elks O ffer Great Inducements Competitors in Parade. to Portland—With prospects o f from 25,000 to 30,000 uniformed marchers in the big Elks Grand Lodge conven tion parade here in July, the local lodge o f Elks has decided to award a total o f $10,000 in cash prizes for the winners o f the different classes. This is by far the greatest aggrega tion o f prizes ever offered by the Elks or any other order in the country. These prizes will be for the lodge making the best showing, the lodge having the largest number o f men in line, the one having the largest total mileage, the best drilled marching team, the lodge bringing the greatest number o f ladies, the best band, the biggest and the littlest Elk, the tal lest and the shortes Elk, the hand somest and the ugliest, for the most comical costume and for a number of special feature classes. Happy New Year gf M any Nations EW YEAR'S day has for for generations been the occasion of revels. It has come down to us from the old German custom of di viding the year at the close of those months when It was no longer possible to keep cattle out doors. This was made quite a fete and In the sixth century was merged Into the feast of St. Martin. November 11, on which day the opening of the New Year was celebrated. While In Germany Martinmas and the New Year were identical, with the Introduction of the Roman calen dar the celebration was gradually transferred to the first of January, and with It went many of the Jolly Martin mas customs. Tracec of these old New Year ob servances and supersitlons can still be traced In the way the season Is kept in different lands. Our decorations of greens, for In stance, are a relic of the old Roman superstition of presenting branches of trees for good luck In the coming year. The giving of presents has also come to us from the Romans. They outdid even the generous Americans, for they used to ask for gifts. If not received, until one of the emperors forbade his subjects demanding gifts save on the New Year. One of the favorite New Year's gifts after pins were Invented In England, in the sixteenth century, were the rough hand-made pieces of metal that took the place of bone and wood skewers Later pin money was substituted. A gift that must never be omitted was an orange stuck with cloves to grace the wassail bowl. Apples, nuts and fat fowl were popular offerings of the season. Gloves and glove money Is a very old New Year custom which Is still kept up In the Increasing use of gloves as holiday gifts. Even more curious are the old New Year customs. Many of these are still observed by old-fashioned people who cling to the old traditions. The old-fashioned Englishman will formally open the outer door of his house on New Year's eve Just at the approach of midnight. This is to let out the old year and usher In the new. The Scotch make much ofN ety Year. It Is generally ushered in with a “ hot pint," brewed at home and drunk by the family standing around the bowl Just as midnight strikes. After hearty greetings to the New Year, the “ hot pint," with bread, cheese and cakes, is taken to the houses of the neighbors. The first to enter another's home on the first of January bestows good luck on the fam ily for the year. In many of the Scottish regiments even yet the ushering in of New Year is most picturesque. At five minutes before twelve the soldiers, headed by the oldest man in the regiment dressed as Father Time, march out of bar racks headed by the band playing “ Auld Lang Syne.” Just at the stroke of twelve there comes a knock at the gate. “ Who goes there?" calls the sentry. "The New Year,” ,s the answer. "Advance, New Year," is called back. The gates are thrown open and the smallest drummer lad In the regiment, dressed In Highland costume, Is car ried in on the shoulders of the men, and marched around the barracks to the pipers’ tunes. The rest of the night Is spent In carousing. Standard Hash Proposed. Topeka, Kan.— W ith the ultimate object o f standardizing all hash served in public places in Kansas, the State board o f health has instituted an in vestigation as to the ingredients com monly used by restaurants and hotels in the concoction o f the dish. “ This department has found,” said Dr. S. J. Crumbins, secretary o f the board, that all mixed foods must be stand ardized or the pure food law cannot be New Treaty is Considered. Commission Form Wins, St. Petersburg— H aving accepted in enforced. The board does not propose to denature hash— merely tone it Baker, Or. — Mayor Palmer made an equable spirit the notification o f down.” The wind blew there and public his first annual report under the the American ambassador that the the wind blew here. commission form o f government and treaty o f commerce and nativation en Traffic Advantages Hold, And brought from Some United States says he believes that the new form, tered into by the where the small New Washington, D. C.— “ Power has not Year. although beset with many difficulties and Russia in 1832 would be abrogated been lodged with the Interstate com It tRpped for him at each on January 1, 1913, officials o f the resulting from inexperience and reor merce commission to equalize econom door and pane ganization, has, on the whole, proved Russian government are now directing ic advantages, to place one market in And never once was a entirely satisfactory and that it is their attention to the question o f a competition with another, or to treat knock In vain! All good folks waited the better, because those in charge have new treaty. It is recognized that di all railroads as a part o f one great coming child. given constant consideration to the plomacy o f the most experienced kind whole; to apportion to each a certain Their doors they opened and on him municipal affairs. The necessary will be required, especially on the territory or to acquire all to meet up smiled. changes and improvements, have American side, if negotiations for a on a common basis at all points.” Inside he stepped, with a happy face. And softly slipped In the Old Year'i new treaty are to proceed. caused an expense o f 14.7 mills, while This important principle was laid place. for next year they w ill be 6.4 mills. down by the commission in deciding Said he: " I bring you a Box of Days, Passport Refused to Rabbi the cases o f the Ashland, Ohio, Fire Tied round wtlh tissue of rainbow rays: London — Dr. M. S. Levy, o f San Brick company brought against the l give It Joyfully, for I know. Harrington's Trip Halted. Though all days may not with gladness Albuquerque. N. M.— John R. Har Francisco, is a recent sufferer in an Southern railway and other roads. glow. Each gift bolds some precious bit of rington. the Chicago attorney who encounter with the Russian barriers cheer was employed as one o f the investiga against the admission o f Jews. The Maine Relics Are Held Up. To win your thanks.” said the sweet tors for the defense in the McNamara rabbi is now in Ixrndon on a world Washington, D. C. — Sentimental Child Year! case and who is wanted as a witness tour, which is to last several months, ists and souvenir-hunters, as well as and he has found that he cannot get before the Federal grand jury now town governments and patriotic organ probing the alleged dynamite conspir-' his passports indorsed in order that he izations have been pouring requests may travel in Russia. “ The Russian acy at lavs Angeles, was served with into the navy department recently for a subpoena by a deputy United States ambassador told W illiam Phippe. sec relics from the ill-fated Maine. The Origin o f N ew Y e a r Gifts marshal here. Harrington and his retary o f the American embassy in deptarment has no authority to dis Like the customs of Christmas, w ife were passengers on the Chicago London, that he regetted that he was pose o f any part o f the vessel, and all which. In their origin, are a curious limited. He accepted service and unable to indorse the passport o f a requests have been refused. The de mixture of poetry and symbolism and voluntarily returned to Los Angeles, Jew ,” said Dr. Levy. partment is awaiting action o f con- j of superstition, those that belong to leaving at midnight. gress before making any plans for the the observance of New Year's day are Would Change Homestead Law. disposition o f the wreck.- also relics of Ideas that date from WashinMnn. D. C. —Secretary Fish Postal to String Heavy Wires. early heathen ages. The French de Japan Ready to Intervene. New York- Minor M. Davis, who er. o f the department o f the interior, rive their term for New Year pres is not disposed to favor an out-and-out was recently appointed superintendent Tokio— Although the reports o f Jap- o f telephones for the Postal Telegraph three-year homestead bill, such as anese military intervention in China' ents from the Latin word. Strenla, the name of a goddess whom the Ro Cable company, announced that his that introduced by Senator Rorah, o f are premature, it is understood that I mans venerated as the patroness of company has issued instructions to its Idaho, but rather inclines to the view preparations have been completed to ! gifts. There was a grove In Rome construction department to proceed that the homestead period should re send an expedition to China if neces- j dedicated to this goddess, where It was with the erection o f additional heavy main five years, as at present, but sary. The belief prevails here that customary to get fresh twigs, to give copper wires between all important with the provision that the home the Shanghai peace conference is a | as presents to friends and relatives on steader need not maintain his resi points on the system o f the company pretext on the part o f both the revolu-1 New Year's day. During the sway of for the purpose o f extending the teie- dence upon his land the first two tionists and the imperialists, in order the emperors. Roman subjects made phonice use o f the same to tne inde years after initiating his entry. that they might strengthen their m ili-! New Year's gifts to their sovereign. pendent telephone companiea. tary positions. Augustus received such quantities of Dynamite Left in Garden. these that he had gold and silver Antipodean Trust Fined. Chaperonage is Urged. l.os Angeles—Twenty-two sticks o f statues made of them. Tiberius did Sydney. Australia—The prosecutions away with the usag\ because he con Chicago Better medical supervis high-power dynamite were found in ion in co-educational institutions, the shrubbery near the residence o f against the coal combine, on which sidered it too troublesome to express training in the newer vocations for Arthur Letts, owner o f two o f the writs were served on August 26. 1910, thanks for the gifts. Caligula, on the women, self-government and closer largest department stores in Los An for breaches o f the Australian anti contrary, reintroduced the custom, and A fte r an in trust law. resulted in the fining o f even made up for his predecessor’s re chaperonage o f girls were urged in geles, by a gardener. resolutions adopted at the close o f the vestigation, the police announce! that each member o f the trust $2.500 by fusal to receive presents by requir fifth biennial conference o f deans and they believed the dynamite had been the Federal court. The court granted ! ing those that had been offered to him advisers o f women in state universi placed in the yard by someone who an injunction against the continuation , to be given to himsel' as arrearage». o f the monopoly. • wanted to get rid o f iL ties. The cnafnm o' making New Tear's It A grayer for iljpNptofôpar G o d , in whom is the h ope o f all our years, remember us in T h y m ercy also in this n ew year o f our L o rd . R e v e a l T h y glory in the experience o f its joys and sorrows. Forestall its tears with the abiding com fort o f T h y presence. M a k e us strong rightly to measure all our gains and to endure with patience every loss T h y lo ve allows. S h o w us T h y meaning in the gifts and opportunities o f each n ew day. Assure us of T h y help in labor, T h y delight in our joys. Q uicken our minds to clear vision and our hearts to cheerful content. P ro v id e fo r our bodies such vigo r as shall b e needful fo r our allotted work. W e leave to T h e e the mystery o f the year’ s events, assured that T h o u w ilt guide our w a y. W it h hold from us all gifts w hich w o u ld prevent T h y purpose fo r our grow th in wisdom and in service. O n ly d en y us not T h y t e r n a l E self — T h y Spirit to instruct our hearts. T h y w ork to share, T h y p ea ce to still our restlessness. T h y iresence to resolve our doubts, n the sifting o f temptation grant that our faith fail not, and w h en our years are en d ed bring us to T h y se lf, through Jesus Christ our L o rd . Am en . i J l H appy N ew Year -t Just at the turn of midnight, When the children are fast asleep. The tired Old Year slips out by himself. Glad of a chance to be laid on the shelf« And the New Year takes a peep. 2 Jesf Gift o f ffim e The passing of years is like the coming of dawn— slow, silent, lnevlte able. The most eager cannot hasten the quiet, irresistible movement, and the most reluctant cannot forbid. Soma gifts the years bring which we would fain decline—age. sorrow, disappoint ment. Some treasures they take which we would keep forever— youth, beauty. Innocence. But there are more prec ious treasures which time cannot supply and the years cannot remove— friendship, patience, faith and love.— Herbert L. Willett. gifts, notwithstanding attempts to sup press It, was continued after Europe had become Christian. For a time pres ent making was transferred to Easter, but later It was again associated with the first day of January. “ Blowing in tbc Yule.” Blowing in the yule from the grim old tower that had stood 800 years against the blasts of the North sea was one of the customs of the old town that abide, however It fares with the Nlsse; that 1 know. At sunup, while yet the people were at break fast, the town band climbed the many steep ladders to the top of the tower, and up there, In fair weather or foul— and sometimes It blew great guns from the wintry sea— they played four old hymns, one to each corner of the compass, so that no one was forgot ten. They always began with Lu ther’s sturdy challenge. "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God," while down be low we listened devoutly. There was something both weird and beautiful about those far-away strains In the early morning light of the northern winter, something that was not of earth and that suggested to my child’s Imagination the angels' songs on far Judean hills. Even now after all these years, the memory of It does that. It could not have been be cause the music was so rare, for the band was made up of small storekeep ers and artisans who thus turned an honest penny on festive occasions. In congruously enough, I think the of ficial town mourner, who bade people to funerals, was one of them. It was like the burghers' guard, the colonel of which— we thought him at least a general, because of the huge brass sword he trailed when he marched at the head of his men—was the town tailor, a very small but very martial man. But whether or no. It was beau tiful. I have never heard mu sic since that so moved me. When the last strain died away, came the big bella with their deep voices that sang far out over field and heath, and our yule was fairly under way.— Century Mag.
