Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, December 20, 1918, Page 17

THIRD SECTION VOLUME XVIL. NO. 309 St. Winnifred and the Tree One story of the origin of the green tree as the Christmas tree among the people of northern Europe is given in @ legend of St. Winnifred. It is one of the many thousands_of- those sim- ple and beautiful beliefs that have at- tached themselves to the midwinter festival and which generally pass now ~-gnder the name of “Christmas myths.” It is related that St. Winnifred, a great Christian missjonary, - began cutting down a “sacred” osk which had been the object of worship by the northern pagans whom he was seeking to lead aright. While he was hewing down the huge tree it was blasted by a sudden whirlwind, Close beside it was a young fir tree, which was not harmed elther by the whirlwind or by the fall of the glant oak. Then St. Winnifred 1s reported to have spoken as follows to the pagans: “This little tree, a young child of the -forest, shall be your holy tree to- aight. It is the.wood of peace, for your homes are bullt of it. It is the sign of an endless life, for its leaves are nlwwys green. - See how it points toward heavenl” Let this be called the tree of the. _Ohlld. Gather about it; not in d woods,-but in your homes; thara!ft will shelter no deeds of blood, but loving gifts and acts of kindness.” The fir tree, the common evergreen of the northern regions, became the holy tree of the converted pagans, and 4n its honor or 'in memory of the thoughts it stood for they decorated it with lights and gifts at Christmas, CHOPPING HIM OFF. “Ah, how do you do, sir?” saluted the book agent at the door. “I am introducing ‘The Famous Orators and Poets of America,’ and— “I. am not making any new ac- quaintances,” interrupted old Ga'int N. Grimm. “G’day!”—Kausas City Star. ! BEMIDJI DAILY PIC 3EMIDJI MINN., FRIDAY EVENING, DEC. 20, 1918 WHY IT IS ‘CZECHO-SLOVAK’ §ounds Awkward, but Really Is the Only Way to Correctly Express What 1s Meant. Speaking of the awkward cognomen of ‘“Czecho-Slovak,” the Independent says it is partly due to linguistic acel- dent and partly to political exigence. The old familiar name “Bohemia” has, like the name “Serbla,” a territorial rather than a radical significapce and Is too small to cover the ethnical en- tity on - which the modern concept of nationality 1is-founded. = The :Slovak language 1is only.dialetically: different from the Czech or Bohemian, but the differences were purposely intensified during the nineteenth century to keep the Hungarian branch of the race apart from the Austrian. Even In America Slovak and Czech newspapers are distinct, although either : people can read the other langusge. ' Profes- sor Masaryk, head of the new Czecho- Slovak republic, is a Slovak. The Slovaks, being inferior to the Czechs in numbers, wealth and education, are naturally insistent upon equal rights and recognition. The spelling “Czech” 18 nelther native nor English. It is a Polish form of the word, folsted upon the world by persistence of Viennese Journalists. The True Bohetnian spell- ing “Cech” is impossible to our news- papers for lack of type with’inverted caret over the C. to represent.Ch. The final ch i8 sounded like the German guttural or the Scottish ch as in “loch,” but to the ordinary ear is hard- ly distinguishable from plain k. hese wounded Am who ha aniversal justice, are sho Breaking the News Gently. In our opinion this Higginsvilie sol- dler deserves the medal for delicately breaking bad news of two sorts to mother. His letter in the Jeffersonian says: “How Is every one at home? I am fine and dandy. Say, mother, you ought to have seen my new bed last night. It was one of the nicest white ifron beds, with springs, mattress, sheets, blankets and a soft pillow. It was In a hospital’ where I am now. The front is the only place I see any fun now. I haven't been pald for six months, and 8o you see I am near broke.”—Kansas Oity Times. More Americans in China. Foreign firms and the forelgn popu- lation of China are increasing percep- tibly. The American population in- creased n 1917 by 10 per cent over the previous year, and American firms from 187 to 216; Japanese advanced from 104,275 persons to 144,492 and the number of Japanese .firms In- creased during the year by 960; the Russian population decreased by 3,- 925, but firms increased by 1,492; the British population decreased, but{Brit- ish firms increased by 11. Thereiwas a total increase over 1916 of 84,872 in the forelgn population of China last year and of 2,331 firms. NOTHING WRONG. “I hear that you said at the club last night I was a crook and liar.” “Oh, that’s nothing! Only a few of your personal friends were pres- ent.” the past years. to turn to the real and the permanent. selection. are intact. Victrolas and New Edisons Barker's Offer No. 4—Victrola IV, $25, with 20 sclections on 10 double-facei 85¢ records, your choice................$33.50 Barker’'s Offer No. 10—Cabinet Victrola X-A, $90, with 20 selections on 10 double t'aced 85¢ records, your choice......$98.50 Barker's Offer No. 11—Cabinet Victrola XI-A, $115, with 20 selections on 10 double-faced 85c¢ records, choice..$123.50 Barker’s Offer. No. 14—Cabinet Victrola XIV, $175, with 20 selections on 10 double-faced 85¢ records, choice..$183.50 Barker’'s Offer No. 16—Cabinet Victrola XVI, $225, with 40 selections on 20 double-faced 85c rec- ords, your choice.......... $242.00 Barker’s Offer No. 17—Victrola XVII, $275, with 40 selec- tions on 20 double-faced 85¢c records, your choice, $292.00 Cash or,Monthly Payments e ———————————— THE NEW EDISON Barker’s Offer — New Edison, Model A, $120, with 20 selec- tions on 10 double-faced $1.15 records, your ; choice oocoivreneneeeennns $131.50 Barker’s Offer — New Edison, Model C, $175, with 20 selec- tions on 10 double-faced $1.15 records, your [0 T 1T —— .$186.50 Barker's Offer — New Edison, Model C, $285, with 20 selec- tions on 10 double-faced $1.15 records, your choice . .$296.50 Cash or Monthly Payments Diamond solitaire ri Gold brooches Pearl necklaces . Stone rings Veil Pins ... Lingerie clasps JEWELRY Diamond rings Emblem rings Signet rings Waldemar chains Knives for Waldema: chains Cuff links . Tie clasps ... Gold scarf pins Gifts Which Express Real Apprematlon for the Best Things Christmas this year brmgs a far greater significance than it has brought before during the lives of most of us. There is a new sentiment born of the experiences of It is an appreciation of the true value of real things. In Christmas giving it is expressed in the desire to cast aside the artificial and the temporary, and JEWELRY FOR WOMEN Fancy diamond rings Diamond brooches ... Festoon lavallieres ........ Pendants ... Diamond scarf pins. Monogram belt buckles EDISON AMBEROLAS Barker’'s Offer—An ' Edison -Amberola, with 10 selections, your ‘choice ... $41.00 Barker’s Offer—An Edison Amberola, with 10 selections, your choice ... $64.00 Barker’'s Offer—An Edison Amberola, with 10 selections, your choice .......... ...$88.50 Cash or Monthly Paymenb SHOWING NURSE THEIR SOUVENIRS ve done thelr share in the contest for ng their nurse picces of a Germun alrplane that was shot down by the Y‘nnks before Bullecourt. Rhine's Wanderings. A remarkable thing about the Rhine 1s its length for so small a river. Un- like the Nile, which contains less wa- ter at Cairo than at Berber, 1,500 miles upstream, the Rhine has numer- ous affluents, but never attains the dignity of a real river, as Americans understand such definitions, until it cnters Holland. The “German Rhife” owes Its orig- in to ‘the Swiss mountalns, wanders with apparent aimlessness—first west and then north and northwest, after leaving Lake Constance—until it en- ters Holland, where it becomes as slug- gish as any Dutchman who ever dwelt in New Amsterdam. THE NEED. “I see where Moro girls have beep graduated as war nurses.” “That’s what they want—more— oh. girls!” It is in the expression of this sentiment that our stock offers you a very wide ‘We have bought with this condition in mind, and you will find here in pleasing forms, the lasting and the permanent expressions of true friendship. - While Christmas buying began early this year, our stocks still are in excellent condition, but we urge as prompt an examination as possible while the selections still yv $12.00 to $500.00 our 18.00 to 400.00 50.00 25.00 15.00 20.00 10.00 2.50 15.00 25.00 ngs.. . 10.00 to 2.50 to 3.25 to 2.00 to .50 to .50 to 2.00 to 1.50 to with the FOR MEN .$25.00 to $500.00 5.00 to 100.00 6.00to 35.00 2.50to 25.00 250to 15.00 1.50to 15.00 r 6.00 35.00 3.00 25.00 5.00 2.00 to .50 to .50 to 1.00 to 3.00 to BARKER’S Drug and Jewelry Store PHONOGRAPHS cessation of hostilities. Many a long, weary, lone-| some day must pass before our boys can be brought back home. And they depend on you to keep up their courage with letters—— but what they want most of all is, Kodak pictures from home—pictures that will keep the home fires kindled. We will be pleased to assist you in selecting the proper model for your gift and will deliver it at any time or place you suggest. The assortment of sizes and " FORTY-FIVE CENTS PER MONTH HURLS SEEDS LONG DISTANCE | NO REASON FOR MONOPOLY Witch-Hazel Has Record of Forty Feet or More, as Shown by an Experiment. The curious manner In which the witch-hazel spreads its seeds has been described by Dr. Edward S. Bigelow in his department, “On Nature's Trall,” in Boy's Life. He says: “No other plant can shoot its seeds so far and so violently as this one hurls its seeds. I do not know just how far it can shoot, but in. experi- | ments actually made a distance. of 30 feet has been reached. - The experl- ment was made lo this manner: The fruiting branches were suspended at the end of a room 80 feet long. At the extreme farther end of the room many seeds were found. Some had been shot through an open door, but Just how far I do not know. Various other experiments suggest that the seeds may be thrown to a distance of 40 feet or more. The books say that the seed capsulé bursts and discharges its contents with great vigor. It cer- talnly does. Experiments with the bursting pods and the flying seeds may be dangerous. I never happened to be hit by the flying misslles, but I should not like to have one strike my} eye, especially if the eye were near;| the capsule, The discharge 1s accom: panled by a snap almost like that o'} a small pistol. If scouts repeat this experiment, let them not forget this warning.” Blarney Stone Tradition. The Blarney stone Inscription is get- ting dim.' It reads: “Cormach Mac- Carthy: fortls me flerl faclt, A.Dy 1449.” The tradition about the stone Is, of course, that when the Spanlards were urging the Irish chieftains to harass the Lnglish, one Cormach Me- Dermod Carthy, who held the castle, had concluded an armistice with the lord president on condition of surren- dering it to nn English garrison. Car- thy pnt ofi his lordship day after day with falr prom!ses and false pretexts, until the latter became the laughing stock of his eequaintances, and the former's honeyed and deluslve speeches were stumped with the title of Blarney. Obligations Have Not Ceased Your obliga- tions have not ceased g, 7 Price range on Brownies and Kodaks are $1.75 to $75.00 If Whales Are to Be Used for Dalry Purposes, Let Whole Country In on It An offictal of the state agricultural department of Oregon recommends the cultivation of the whale for milking purposes, says an article in Thrift Magazine. Enough whales could be raised right in Puget sound, he to supply the United States with the milk she needs. The female whala is n generous ct‘eqtnre and gives.a bar- vel of the lactedl fluld at one mum;. This is a tlmely suggestlon, but why . keep all the whales In Puget sound? Would not such a plan be selfish, sor~ did and monopolistic? If we are golng to be truly demoecratic in this country, let's be so in the matter of whales, Let every farmer keep his own whale, What would be more inspiring than t¢ see the happy husbandman arise while the King of Day was still lurking bash- fully behind the ‘eastern horizon, grab the family milch barrel and hurry out behind the barn to give old Flossie, the family whale, her morning milkin'? In the spring when the little whalelets be gin to show up, think of the gross an- e;mnl output of peetry that would be fred in the breasts of our lteratl. ould be 4 rahk and infamous in- .Jurtice to let Puget sound have & mo- nopoly of the national supply of dairy whales. Anthem Many Centurles Old. The youngest of the nations has the oldest of hymns, Such is substantial- 1y the case. For while the independ- ence of the Jewish commonwealth in Pulestine was assured by declaration of the British government more than & year ago, that commonwealth is not vet organized to the extent that the Polish and Czecho-Slovak states are. Yet its prospective citizens, though still scattered far and wide through- out the carth, cherish as the chlef of their anthems one whose weird and haunting melody dates back not mere- ly generations or centurles but thou- sands of years, It 18 said to be the fdentical melody which was sung by Miriam and her companions to cele- brate the crossing of the Red sea by the children of Israel angd the destruc- tion of Pharaoh’s pursuing hosts. prices is large enough to enable selection to suit your purse. Come here if you are interest- ed. The information we have to KODAKS offer will help you to decide.