Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, December 24, 1893, Page 12

12 'fll-‘,“i\L\llA DAILY BEE 3. ROSEWATER, Editor. PURLISHED EVERY MORNING RMS OF SUBSCRIPTION. i Mo hree M Bundng 1 Weekly Bee, One Yea OFFICES on #th Btroats. 1441 WRESPONDENC Hons relating to news and edt TISHING COMPANY PATEMENT OF CIRCULATION. t Tre BER Pub ik DAILY DER for the week 503, was a8 f010Ws 5140 231013 030 P28CHTCK e In w1 w of D Notary P! N.P.FEn Iation for Novem nbers of the ways and means promise not to talk about the January 1. Let the presi- a proclamation for another al thanksgiving e Tie price of h Tii eommi tarill dent Qay of gene m. iseu s in the Omaha mar- Kot has risen to 5 cents, with an upward tendency. The Nebraska farmer who keops his pens full of the young Ameri- can shoat is wiso in his generation. W NT elsowhere a column of ptate political history, revived for the gpecial delectation of the Dodge county | contingent. The subject is recalled by the unprovoked attempt to organize a boycott against this paper. Wonrrp's fair yeoded in curing e exposition management as balm for jnfringements upon their exclusive | priviloges. The expericnce of the con- pestionaires in the public evi- tlent in “doing” the maires 10,000 concess sue- wor 22 from loing" availed them wir manager: GOVERNOR WAITE has been induced | to reluctantly withhold his proposed c for an extra session of thoe Colorado I fslature until more people have an op- portunity to protest against his contem- plated action. The governor fears that he will not have another chance to call B legislative session after the expiration of his present term of oftice SoME of the expert testimony in the Prendergast murdor trial was intended to show that the prisoner was insane be- cause the shape of his lower jaw is not quite normal. Whereupon the Chicago JHerald pertinently asks whether the ex- perts imagine that the brain is located §n the juw. Long experienco inclines us to believe that the jaw is the seat of gome mysterious power, but whether it is the brain or not is still an open Tii asylum boodlers down at Lincoln | will sleep much more soundly hereafter, having made sure thut a nolle prosequi hasbeen formally entered against the indictments pending against them in the couris of Lancaster county. They ought to demand reparation for their injured yoputations. A verdiet for damages in a suit for malicious prosecution in their cases would be nothing surprising from u Lancaster county jury, but they prob- ably will prefor to present claims for damages to th t legislature. THE new wing of the county hospital Dbuilding has been accepted. It is said 10 be far better than the tumble down ptructure it has supplanted. It only serves to emphasize the wretched condi- tion of the south wing, the walls of which have bulged and are braced by Jieavy timbe This hospital building ought 1o be sound and in ship shape, but it already presents a dilapidated appear- ance. It is a erying shame that the con- tractors who built it cannot be held to an accountability for their misdeeas. AGITATION that Thanksgiving, changes in 5 80 rife just after demanding radical the rules under which the intercollegiate foot ball games are played, ng fruit sooner than many of the agitators had dared to hope. The :men most intimately connect with the management of college ath- letics have taken tho matter up and are proceeding with a revision of the rules in a manner caleulated to eliminate the mass plays against which the chavge of brutality was most frequently T'oot ball is hound to stay for some to come, and foot ball rules gives promise of ove immense popularity has alroady attained of Douglas tho issue is bea made. ears under revised topping the which the gamo THE voters county who authorized and sale of bonds in tno sum of $150,000 for road improve- | ments will endorse the proposition to provide work for the uncmployed. Con tractors who bid upon the work, condi- tioned thatthe county shall furnish the erushed stone needed at market prices, will strike a popular chord. Idle men | who want work will reap a positive ben- efit if permitted by the county to break the stone. They can earn a living and thus relieve the taxpayers of Douglas county from the cost of keeping them. The plan, if carried out, will furnish a ready means of determining how many ablo-bodied men now out of employment veally want work. Thoso who decline the invitation to work could be at onc run out of the county and keptout, which would be another relief to the taxpayers. Wo suggest that the unem- ployed men of this county get up a peti- tion to the county commissioners, sign- ing their names thereto and asserting their willingness to accept the work when offered by the unty. Such a petitlon could be used by the comwmis- sloners as a means of preventing new- comers from bencfiting by the meas- ures for public relief. Omaha has | enough pauperized people and does not | want to throw out a bait for more, _THE_OMAHA DAILY BEE: T T ——— T SUNDA DECEMBER 21 1 3 -SIXTEEN PAGES. on The one day of the year that is ob- sorved by the ent Christian world, al differences ficant body of is again at hand, bringing with it the usual store of hope, of axpectation, of desiro—unfortunately ot to be realized by all, for this day STAAS. regardless of denominati the relatively dissenters oxcepted insign | brings also its disappointments and r grets, and these seom r to bear at And on hard this time than at any other. this Christmas there will be more disap- pointment and in this rich and favored land than has been experienced for many years. In tens of thousands of year the voices of children made lad and the hristmas day, the hearts parents were and joy they « plated the happiness which their affec- solicitude had mght, th r be gloom and sadness and A lost of paople who on Christmas were fully employed at remunerative wages are n of them at the point of destitution, others their r steadily depleted, and all facing an outlook that seems o Another host hort time and at reduced pay. with the possibility that they may have to join the fidlers any day In the homes of these peoplo there will be little merry mi at this Christ- mas tim Their solicitude is how to get bread and fuel rather than dolls and For most of them tho Christmas dinner will at the best bo scanty, while for many there will be no dinner at all un- less it is supplied by the handof charity In these homes the hittlo ones will look in vain for the tokens of parental affec- tion which, in past years, brought them unspeskable happiness and tangcht to look to this time for the highest real- ization of ana gratification, Want and privation stalk through this land of almost boundless wealth and in- exhaustible resonrces as n re. This is the dark side of the Christas picturc. It is well not to lose sight of it, because it at lesson and @ eall to duty. Our unfortunate fellow eitizens mnust be cared for, and those who are in a position to contribute to their care will find no hetter way of putting themselves in harmony with tho it of the Christmas time than r something for relief those who are in its bright side, on which imagina- tion may picture the realization of hope and desirve, see the glad frolic of chil- dren, and note the happiness of those who give and those who receive remem- brances of affection and of friendship. If we must count by thousunds those who will find no cheer in the r of Christmas, but rather a keener sense of their unfortunate condition, we must count by millions those who are able to fulfill all the reasonable requircments of this season and to derive from it the usual fund of pleasure and gratification In the great majority of the of this city there will difference in the observarce Christmas from what there has been in the past. The holiday trade of the stores has probably not been so large as it was last year, particularly as to the more expensive class of goods, but it has been on a quite generous scale, and this s the report generally. The great ma- jority of our people, while not as pros- perons a ) are still able to meet the pleasing obligations and fulfill the kindly offices that are peculiar to this o regrot homes, where & happy gleeful and light ago of as ntem- e 1018 desponder las! w idle, som socing littlo -store be nost hopeless aroworking on rmy king toys. them gladness ver be conveys onee a true s by givir the of need, currence homes be littlo of this as asion. The highest duty imposed by Christ- mas is to make others happy. In the performance of that duty each one will find his ov her highest happiness, THE BEE hopes there is no one among its thousands of readers who will not be able to reali 1 that is meant by tho wish of A Merry Christmas.” BUILDING AND L)AN ASSOCLATIONS, The banking deparvment of Nebraska has ordered an examination of the con- stitutions and by-laws of all building and loan associations authorized to do by ness in the state. The object in view, it is announced, is to enforce an exact com- pliance with the law and eliminate such features as ave in conflict with the act of 1801, The action of the board is timely and ives promise of a much-necded re 1t is & notorious fuct that the law erning building and loan associations has been indifferently enforced. Imme- diutely after the approval of the act of 1891 the banking department issued a ecircular of instruction exvlaining the law, defining the manner of organiza- tion. and tne liines within which the business of associations should be con- ducted. This was supplemented with veports of examiners and decisions by the hoard, all of which were in accord with the spirit of the law and just to all concerned. But the vigilance of the au- thorities relaxed. The pressure of spec- ulative associations overcame rules and decisions and the state was soon overrun with adventurers of tho got-rich-quick order. When the present board took charge a year ago few of the speculative concerns approved by tho preceding board could comply with the law and were exeluded Some, however, rather than give up a promising field of opera- tion, reorganized in the state cured approval of business the jughandle variety. Tho of the law building and loan associations is to pro- vide a system of state examination and supervision which will protect the sav- ings of wmembers and preserve the mutuality of interest which is the basis of co-operation. The rights and privi- leges of all members must be on an equality, all sharing, in proportion w payments, in tho profits and expenses Favoring one class of stockholders the expense of othersshould not permitted. The growth and perma- neney of these assoc depends on confining them striet the limita- orm. Tov- and se- methods of purpose gov at be tions of the lyw and rooting out every | featuro tending to speculation and dis- honesty The state board is well aware of tho | dangerous tendency of wmany associa- tions. [thas the complaints of numer- ous vietims, sufticient in themselves to justify a denunciation almost aus strou as that directed at bogus bond invest- ment companies last summer, of all the board should promulgate spe- i But Christinas But first | | cific rutes tor vhe _guidance of sssocta- tions and then enforce compliance with- { out favor. This is all honest it is the least the board associations ask can grant | That mueh good | general overhaulin | The fact that Bank Examiner McGrew has an for the task | intelligent and examination. | Mr. McGrew | tho duty. He has of every association state, is familiar with their methods as well as the law and knows by exporience where safoty onds and danger begins. 1 CHRISTMAS GIPTY, tokens of remem- 1 brance and good will—have become an established for of Christmas cele bration and have come to form one of the most potent factors that have con | tributed toward making its observance ng all History does not discloso just how the beautiful custom arose from small baginnings and grew to its presnt ms | evidence of ful will result from a s not to be doubted n chos insares an unbiase fally qualificd the books is esy examined in the Christo gifts o 80 I am classes. nitude, but as an and thought- commended itselt to all sitable people More particularly by tho children is the Christmas time looked forward to as a time waen simj and other little indulg ladden childish hearts. The sentiment that prompts true Christmas giving only that which is noble and self-sacrificing and is one whose cultivation no one would wish to hinder or discourage. While all this is true, it must be eon- fessed that the custom of making whole- sale gifts threatens to overdo a praisc worthy practice. Giving s noble when urged by philanthropic motives—the desire to please others and to make them happy. When it degenerates into an offoring in the hope of inviting an cqually costly counter-offering it begets an abuse which has no justifica Bidding for Christmas in this way has not yet prevalent to any great extent, giving solely because the gift pected alas, becoming too common. In many cases the practice has sunk into a mere exchange of presents, an exchange which takes pla not because of any desire to ex- hange, but simply because a blindly followed custom prescribes it. T must ge ing for Henry and ‘‘John is not to be forgotten” lead up to “What a nuisance Christmas pres- ents are” and *'I[ might as well buy my own presents and be sure of getting something that [ want.” People who annot afford it feel themselves under obligations to give and ave driven to make sacrifices that they can scarcely afford because they fear that they will be accused of ingratitude or thoughtless- ness if they do not give anything. Among the causes of this state of things we find the constantly incret costliness of the gifts that arc exchanged. What at first a comparatively inexpensive way of showing a fellow interest in our friends has been trans- formed into a competition to see which could make the other feel under the greater obligation. The circle within which the exchanges of gifts take place has grown gradually wider and wider until now, instead of including members of the family only, the gift mania e tends to friends, associates and some- times even to business patrons. The e pensiveness of the indulgence threatens to swamp the original beauty of the custom, which lay in its very simplicity and innocence. It is not necessary for us to insist that Christmas gifts, 1f made at all, should be things that may be useful to the recipient. A present need not be useless in order to con- vey tho idea that it is given for purely unselfish reasons. Waste and extravagance are not to be upheld, even under tho guise of genecrosity. The abuses that huve been ingrafted upon the custom must be checked if Christ- mas giving is to continue to bo gener- ally observed. Alceady in some of - the custern cities people are declaring their intentiops of cutting down their Christ- mas expenditures and of donating to charitable institutions the sums they would have spent. This has the ring of true Christmas giving—of giving merely If we can only strip the cus- tom of its abuses its capacity for useful- ness and good will be increascd. unselfishness norosit it has includes only purely on. presents become but is ex- is, somet sing was to do good. PRACTIOAL TEMPERANCE TEACHING. Rev. Theodore L. Cuyler of Brooklyn isnot only one of the most talented, popular and beloved clergymen of the City of Churches, but he has also boen a total abstinence advocate for more than half a century. Fifty-ono ye: delivered his first temperance lecture from the same platform with the great cold water advocate of the Catholic church, Father Matthew. As editor, preacher, lecturer and author he has steadfastly preached and practiced total abstinence and has been an active par ticipant in wll the great temperance movements of this country, excepting, perhaps, the Washingtonian crusade, which oceurred before he reached American soil. His words upon the gubject of temperance reform ought to be accented by practical advocates of total abstinence as coming from a friendly source and should lead the think engaged in the work to can- vass carefully nis propositions. In un article published in last week's New York Iudependent the venerable minister of the gospel distinetly charges that the prohibition movement has re tarded the progress of total abstinence. He points to the remarkable results of tho earlicr agitation when pulpit, pross and platform thundered aganst the drinking usages of society. Societies for the promotion of total abstinenc were formed everywhere. The people were educated to abhor the deink habit and public sentiment was crystalized against the social glass as w as the saloon. The good doctor says that tho genoration which grew up under this teaching is fast passing away and the large and enthusiastic meeting whero | thousands signed the pledge to abstain | isa thing of the past. The total ab- | stinence societies, in spite of their at- | tractive secrot work and social features, are diminishing in numbers and in- “ fluonce. The Sous of Tewperauce was fifty yoars olda year ago, but the last ten years show # cbnsiderable falling off in membership. t with the Good Templars and the Temple of Honor. From these facts De. Cuyler passes to the reason and in, the pst manner shows that it is because of the diminu- tion of the moral cffort ajrainst the drink habit. THG vising generation is not educated to total abstinenco. Tem- porance meetings in these days are de- voted to discugsions of the relative merits and demerits of prohibition, low license, high licetise and local option. The prohibitionis, calls everybody who does not believe with him a “rummy,” and the effort of public speakers is directed to the legal method of closing up tho saloons and forbidding tho sale and of aleoholic liquors. On this line his words arc worth quot- “While the demand the supply will eontinue, and all the prohibitory laws will be like ad Niagara, The fact is that temperance, if it is held to be synonymous with prohibition, is makir headway. “The sanguine promisesof the prohibi- tion party have not beon realizod. Aftor twenty years of offort that party has not quite reached 300,000 votes out of a total of 12,000,000." The doctor the advocates polities, back to first and try persuasion again. The follow- ing vinging sontiments are commended to the candid consideration of the pro- hibition crusade “We never shall conquer at the ballot box until we have conguered the voters by arguments and persuasion. We never can stop the sale of intoxicants until more check is put to drinking them. God never means that a great moral warfare againsta colossal sin shall ked by His people and turned over to the tender mercies of political strategi is 80 olot manufacture , and ho says is unchecked an of rushes before g more is time for o to quit principles thinks it of tempera be sl THE COUNTRY'Ss FOREIGN SERVICE. The appointment of Mr. Wayne Mac- Veagh ambassador to Ttaly isun- questionably a distinct gain for the diplomatic service of the country abroad. It has received the commenda- tion of nowspapers of all shades of political opinion and its prompt confir- mation by the senate attests the high standing of Mr. MacVeagh in the spect of vublic men. Hois a distin- guished lawyor, a scholar of varied at- nments, and will shine equally in diplomatic and social functions. With such men reprosenting the United States at the principal convts of Europe as Mr. Bayard, Mr. KEustis, Mr. Runyan and Mr. MacVeagh, the interests of this country in the -old world should be well cared for,” its dignity main- tained and respect for it increased. It is now very generally admitted, except by the few who contend that there is no necossity for our government maintain- ing a diplomatic establishment, that songress acted wisely in authorizing the president to vaise the grade of our en- voys to correspond with the rank in which foreign countries accredit their agents here. The prompness with which Great Britain, France, Italy and Germany recognized this action by con- ferring upon their representatives to this country the title of ambassador was substantial evidence of tho high t of those nations for the Unite States, and tl can bz n> doubt that this elevation in the rank of our vep- resentatives to those governments will be found beneficial. In diplomacy, as in everything else, and to a much greater extent than in most rela- ticns, rank carries weight and influence, that with ambassadors instead of ministers plenipotontiary the United States should be more influential, as they certainly will be more respected than ever before. It would be gratifying to be ablo to say that the present administration has been as fortunate in its consuiar asin its diplomatic appointments—of course putting the Van Alen incident out of consideration—but this cannot be done. Referring to the consular servieo in his annual message the president said: “The duties and powers of consuls have been expanded with the growing re- quirements of our foreign trade. Dis- charging important duties affect- ing our commerce and Amer- ican citizens abroad, and in ain countries exereising judicial functions, these officers should be men of character, intelligence and ability.” It cannot be fairly claimed that thi principle has been strictly observed in the appointment of consuls under the present administration. The formoar as- sistant socretary of state, who it seems was appointed with special reference to replacing republicans by democrats in the consular service, was not 8o purticu- lar about the charactor and intelligence of applicants for consulships as he was about the genuineness of their democ- vacy and the pavty servieo thoy had ren- dered, and hence many of these appoint- ments would not stand the test pre seribed by the president. It is mani- festly quite as important to establish and maintain a high standard for the consular as for the diplomatic service, and this is recognizad by all the leading nations of Burope. The consular systems of Great Britain,Germany and France re- colve the most careful'and constant atten- tion from the governments of those coun- tries and the results have fully justified this vigilance and; sulicitude, for the service has been fruitful of the greatest benefits to those copntries. The con- sular representatives of these countries are men of high intelligence who have a knowledge of practicyl affairs, and they know that zeal, fidelity and efficiency in the performance of ‘their duties means advancement. Entrance into the diplo- matic and consular services of European countries s a life work with which changes in governmental administration do not interfere. It Is a matter of no moment to a British consul whether the conservative or the liberal party is in control of the gov- ernment of Great Britain, His tenure is not affected by his political opinions, aud be he tory or liberal he is as sale under rule as under the other, if only his record as an official is good. The strict observance of this | principle is an incentive to such officials % make and maintain a good record l The adoption of & like principle by this as re- respe re 50 cer- one government has long been advoeated, | but while there has boen some progress | toward it in the retention of who have shown exceptional the practice of making changes in the consular service with the | advent of every new administration, in order to provide for a classof politi- ciang,many of whom could not be clected to the position of constablo at hom s likely to be maintainod for many yoars to coma. consuls ability swoeping | voars for the complotion of & ill altog Founr federal consus is ther too long in the eyes of most peoplo who wish to make uso of its results. A time limit is | always set when the original census bill | the work that Is then outlined is just as regularly enlargod is reported to congress, but by amendments, which are made tho excuse for asking for an extension of time Not census during the last half centary haps none since the first census of 1790 has been carried through within the bounds of the initial appropriation, and few of them have com- pleted under the dicection of the same men who were placed in charge of the preliminary arrangements. It may bo a trifle early to refer to the prospects of the twelfth census, but the people should stop short of nothing that 1s likely to impress upon our representatives incon- gress the lessons which should have been learned long ago from our census experi- Promptness, accuracy and unity of supervision are at all times the in- dispensable requisites of statistical work. A permanent census bureau would be most apt to fulfill these require- ments, but if we cannot have that canat least have a census completed ossentially in conformance with a pre- arvanged plan. Additionai appropria- tions, widened scopes of inquiry, exten- sions of time limits, changes in the position of superintendents, are all sub- versive of good census result subsoquent ono per- beon ence. we IN 1718 protest against the ovder of the State Board of Transportation forbid- ding a raise in the rates on hay the Elk- horn attorn represent that the charges exacted previous to October had made disastrously low *‘for tho purpose of aiding those engaged in the industry of marketing hay.” Thoe unselfishness of Nebraska railroads has long been notorions. If we are to be- lieve their officials goods have been transported solely for tho benefit of the shippers without veference to the profits of the roads. been A Bostonian Notion. Boston ( No child who was born into this world dumb ever yet turned out to be amnoted pugilist. e, prtdes i JHSE Pleking Up. Kansas City Star, “The iron trade, which has long been called “‘tho barometer of business,” 1s picling up steadily, and the demauds for pig iron by factories are such that accumulated stocks re being encroached upon, the furnaces being unable to supply the cail. e S Remember the Poor. Providenc: Journal, Tt doosn't require nearly as much money to make a merry Christmas in tho homes of the poor as in those of the rich. Very mod- t sums spent-for food and fuel anc 1ng will do 1t, and there is no lack of oppor tunity this yoar for pr stmas giv- ing of that'so Living Up to Religious New York Herald. If brotherliness prevai were a matter of living instead of beiieving, thero are a thousand evils which could be removed. We may always hav poor with us, but it is not necessary that they should starve, and when we become more Churistian we shall sce to it that they do not starve. B nizing Inflaence of Hard Times. Lowisuille Cowrier Journal, fard times are softening tho hard shell over many a crusty heart and letting out tho milk of human kindness. Any great disaster that brings in its_wake pitéous want and widespread suffering affords some compensa- tion in the revelation it makes of the gennine oodness of the human henrt, and its ry responsiveness to the appeals of sweet charity. Hum: SRR A Striking Parallelism, Boston Adve; tiser The unemployed laborer who was invei- gled into voting the democratic ticket by the specious arguments of wily democratic stump orators, in November, 1502, mignt quote very appropriately at this time that famous simile of Lord yron: So the struck eagle, st No more through rol View'd hisown foather on the fat And wing'd the shaft that quiv heart. the plain, in, PEOPLE - NI» TUING As a specific foradministration sore throat, hoarhound candy s tabooed. 4 Uptodate the pen is mightier than the sword in the Hawaiian busincss There is some cheer for Cleveland m the fact that congress is temporarily off his hands. The attorney general of Nlinois is out after the hide of two trusts, Carry the news to Olnoy A Tennessee man is locturing in Washing. ton on *Tho Paradise of ools.” Town and text are poculiarly appropriate, St, Louis has not hud un el but the town appears Lo be A frec soup house augurated. Senator Hansbrough wauts 1,000,000 to oxterminate the RRussian thistle in’ the Du- kotas. Failure to get it insures a few sting- ing remarks. Sonator Pefier frightened a crank out of his pavlor by simply stroking nis whiskers. I'ho crank caught @ elimpse of the masked battery above them Thoso fat federal plums which threatened weigh down bourbon socks hereabouts na paintul state of suspended un- As a political Santa Claus ‘Tovias blooming succoss. At e late jubilee i Cax Labinsky, the Catholie est composed o hymn, the Protestunt wminister words and the Jewish synagoguo the singers John L. Stevens, late mimster to Hawail, is a tall, slender, loosa jointed man, 73 years old, nervous, full of strong and free gestures when he speaks, cspecially on the platform, and he is likened 1n appoarance to Abraham Lincoln Miuuie Cleghorn, a teacher in the Welln, ton, 0., schools, i3 & second cousin of ex- Quéen Liliuokalani. The relationsbip comes about through the marriage of un American missionary i the family of the ancestors of the ex-queen Thomas Smiti, pastor of a colored 4 in Cincinnati, was arraigned beforo a local court last week charged by his wife with ubusing her. Ho s a small man, and 4 8000 a8 the court got a good look at Mra, Smith he was discharged. Shois six feet in neight and over 400 pounds in welght Mrs. Harvison Ward, wife of a colored Methodist minister iu Astury park, aod known us the “voudco queen.” died last Friday night. Previous to her death sho had given orders that her body should bo placed in the casket face downward, that she bo buried *precisely as the ball tolied tho miduight hour,” and that the burial tion lately, safely demo has been in- to bad in honor of | service should be read from tho porch of her ate home and only her husbaud und their faishful dog Tray be present, | tury that QUAINT ONSERVANCES, 1t was more than four centuries ago that Thomas Tussor wroto those lnas that will boquoted ns long as the greatest of all Christian holidays is kopt For Christmas con But when 1t comes it brings good chesr. “Christmas!’ How forcefully the word suggosta a pioture of warmth and cheer and unbounded hospitality withia aoors frost-locked, snow-wreathe Christmas in_the midst of summer would scom as wholly out of place as would the coming of Decoration or Independence day in midwinter For some hundreds of years after the birth of Christ that birth, When celebratod atall, was colobrated noarly a fortnight lator than the day e now observe, and pre viously it was celebrated on dates carlier in the yoar, as in May and June, a parently taken ndom, according to th fancy of the specialordainer of the feast to his church 1t was toward the close of St Cyril permission from th investigation to be made ascertained, if possible, and Mary 'rode up to taxe: This, it was th by an examination of sors & DUt ONeo A yeAr, and & world without the fourth cen Jerusalem 1 Pope Julius for an and the real day on which Joseph Dethlehem t Dy ight, mizht be dono the tables of the cen the Roman archives, The result, howover, was not ontirely satisfactory. It was some time before the eastern church adopted the day decided on, but at length the fathers resoived to recognize December 25, to which we have ever since adhered The fact had already been accepted that the birth took place at miduight, and “the G idle of eivod firs reumstance that batwoen the i December and February there was a period of dry weather, separating the early and the later rains in Palostine, made it possible that at such o soason the shepherds might have been keeping their flocks upon th ains and have seen the splendid vision re corded by the evangelist Probably what weighed quite as much asanytuing elso with the carly fathers in fixing tho precise time was their knowledge that the winter solstico was regarded among most heathen people as the revival of dying nature, the sun turning on its path to seud renowed power through all the channels of tho universe. 1t has been truly said that there is some thing very pleasantin the thought that when we ave celebrating our Christmas fostivals the wave of revercnce and joy that has reached us, sweeping round the world from east to west, comes bringing wih it tho chant of the Koman masses, the carol of En glish villagers, the less worshipful songs of the students in the Quartior Latin, the chimes from the steeples of 10,000 churches. and the happy laughter of childrea from the beginning of the boundaries of Christen dom. As a matter of courso the early fathers in- vested the Christmas festival with many traditions and superstitions, most of which have been handed down from one generation to another with very few changes, I the remotest timesof the burniugof the Yule or Christmas log that piece of timver as had all kinds of superstitions connected with it. In some parts of Europe it must ho of o certain kind of wood. In Devonshire it consists of fagots of ash bound tozetner, nd an extra glass from the cider barrel is expected by the guest for every sharp snap made by the burning fagots. 1t is the general custom to burn log, a bit of which lways bo light the next year's Christy The fire under no circumstanc permitted to go out bofe sundown. In many home during the ceremony of lighting the fire, which must never be touched off bofore the proper time—that is, at sunset Christmas eve, The Yule, or Christmas, candles are lit soon after, but for good luck the light must be taken from the Christmas fire. 1t is very bad iuck to suuft the candles, and they should be set ou tho highest shell or tablo in the room. The oldest person preseni must extinguish them, and a bit of each can- dle must be saved to relight on Now Year's ove to sce the old year out aund the new year in. 1t 15 considered a very bad omen for ono to leave the tablé on until all aro through, and t even number of guests if all vould make friends during the year. Never refuse to take or give food and shelter at Christuas time. If one wishes to revive an old Roj tom let him_ send a holly branch to hi friends as typical of good wishes, and it may have a double meaning by adding o sprig of mistletoe, the gleaming bevries conveying a message of hope. The holly carries good wistes and foresight and forethonght, while the mistletoe says: *I surmount dificul ties." Manv a wife has boen won by this Little token of assurance. — SEASONABLE SAUCE, Fven in death there is good stuft in but ono saved Lo fire with. s must bo Christmas day at music is played e ny ‘hristmas eve re should be an n cus- tur- iremen possess an unfair advantage in the hose line Beware of the mistletoe, to family squall The provisional feast in Hawaii will doubt- less be Honolulu scale., “The wise giver of hard timo gifts should see that the price label is non est Thomas and his brother Jeremiah may be trusted to hang up a fow old sonks, The hanging of stockings large qu If your Smacks oft lead wcount for the 1Lty of yarns about Christmas. senile tooth should strike the hornéyized end of tho poker embedued in the mysterious mince keep up a cheerful countenance. Toothsome trifles must not Jawr the joy of the d. S FET LY BEY IR (L A | SECULAR SHOTS AT THE PULPIT. Chisago Post: Clergymen of other d® nominations than the Roman Catholic wil make no mistake in following Pope Leo's nd vico to study the soriptures. There is no politics in the bible. Chicago Herald: Siddhu and Jindp Ram, two Hindoo preachers, are going to try to convert the peovle of St. Louis to Buddhism It1s to bo hoped that they may succeed. The couversion of the St. Louisans to any religion is a 1audablo enterprise. St. Paul Globa: A nogro preacher down in Alabama, failing to convert his hoarer: by his arguments, commenced 10 SWeAr at thew for their hard-heartedness, and ‘'got a tead put on him" for his pains. He ap- pealed to the law for rodress, but the judge told him ho could not blame h assailants, | and dischargod thom. And now the proacher talks of abandoning & business surroundcd by 8o much hazard as that of converting tho heathen of the south: to Christianity City Star Boss g0 to Sunday Sabbath, andin his absence ant superintendent delivored petition: “Oh Lord, we beseech Th: with our absent superintendeat fortunes, Help him in his_deep trouble, Lot him feel, oh Lord, that Thou stickest to 4 man closer than & brother.” When it 18 remombered that the boss runs the church, p salaries, sottles for the Christmas tree and pienies’ and meots othor expenses nocossary to salvation, it is ad- mitted that the cloquenco and fervor were not superficial Kansas McKane did not school last tho assiste cting to be in his mis- ya all Philadelphia Times the Pacliament of Reli yestorday in New York tuezztu called the faithful Mussulmans of tho town to prayor from the minaret of Union Square hall. Thero can be no doubt of his beine a real muezzin, for he camo on purposo from the Midway plaisance, and the actors who were taking their easo in the quare and waiting for an invitation of somo kind, recognized the call atonce. It is o dramatic iiconse, of course, to speak of the minaret. 1t fact, the hall is without that wppendage and the muezzin callod frow. the second story window; but that made no difference to the fakirs or to his excellenoy, Mohammed W ebb, to the rest of tho faithful, who immediately cntored tho wosque—that is, the hall—and performed their pious devotions Tho first fruits of were offored when a genuine Ground, Globe-Democrat Chicago will be good fighting g the republicans hereafte I'he; wiped out tho beastly old-timo democ majority and have reduced_the plurality between 1,100 und 1,200, The is likely to put it in’ the list cin und for have {0 [ nexv election of republican - CHRISTM IS €1 “What, Charlo; LR, Dotroft I'reo Press off smokir Only for the holiduys, But why-—what hus happened?” that my Wite was golng to got cigars for o Christinas present.” qworn Frod." L'suspected mo a box of Chicago Tribunc: what are you looking so pleased about? Neddye™1 just made n bot with Tubers that e wonldn't daro come down town weuring tho necktio his wite will bo sure to give him for Christmas. 0, Neddyo, trariness of human naturo smarkablo phonowena pose Dr. Thirdly. “When [ [ slor my feinnle parishioners brought in on an avernge sevon palrs of slippers every Christmas. Now that T an married and havo chifldren 1o occasional need of chas= ever rocelve a single palr.” f joy you experienced when you met Miss B the mistlotoe (™ “It might have turnod out so had sho not swittly turnod about when my 1ips cumo noar, There's no fun kissing the kiotof hair at the back of & woman's hond!" Puck: Mr. Fanglo (ta Johuny Cumso—Well, Johnny, aro you praying for inany Christmas presents this year? Johnny—No, T nint't 1 prayed for last your. must have Wity under L didn't get hulf what Town Toples: Carrle—Clara says sho was almost kissed 1o death on Christuias ove, May—What wonde he put the mistletoo up Buside the punch bowl and then,sstood under it, Ricketts — In writing Christmas appropriate me 1 ding s pooms should fect. Boston Herald: “I have told my husband,' sald the young matron in whoso Hbrary the Inttor duy lyrfc class hud met, “that one thin oA Gaua o 10 Brsk - QLvOrca, AnG.§ think overy marrled woman hore ought (o pledge Lerself not to submit to thls particular form of insult this year!" SWhat s 17" they chorused “I¢ 15 the abominablo fashion men drift into of hauding thelr wives n cheek on Christmas olessly requesting those long=sut- aniels to 'buy what thoy want.' How su will pledge yourselves not to it? And on the spot a club was formed, of whell bonedicts woald hotter bewa - THE CURINTNAS BELLE, Judge. The holidays are drawing near, And marima deftly sows On slippers, ties and knittod scarfs For Maud 1o give her heaux Then when tie joyfol day arrives, And Maud is foided down With rings and bracclets, pins and p From Hulf the men in town. Her own small gifts she'll shyly bring Lwhisper low, the elf, “11%s not much, dear John, but then, T mado itall myself.” & Co. Tho lurgest makers and so & fue clothes on ot fone a0t i S WOrLH OF VOur maney bk Open Monda_y Forenoon Then closed Christmas afternoon to open again Tuesday morning with an after-Christmas STOCK-TAKING SALE to last the balance of the interesting prices. BROWNING, 1S Will pay ths express If you send _| themoney for$20 worth or more TR T | R 0L R i B week. We'll make some KING & CO., W. Cor.15th and Douglas Sts, T O M B A R o o O A o e A A o 4