Christmas In the Year 2000

1895

But the evening is wearing on toward midnight. The moment must be at hand when the first sunbeam shall flash on Bethlehem and give the signal for the world round trumpet chorus which is to usher in the two thousandth Christmas dawn. Two thousand years the herald angels have waited for the answer to their song. Now at last we can echo back their benison of "Peace on earth" with "Peace indeed," writes Edward Bellamy in his optimistic view of "Christmas In the Year 2000" in The Ladies' Home Journal.

There is something that appeals to the sense of fitness in this idea of making the celebration of the day simultaneous in every land; in the thought that with the first note of the trumpets, whether it be midnight, dawn or evening, it will be that moment Christmas morning everywhere. Other feast days we may wait for as they slowly dawn around the earth, ending here ere at the antipodes they begin, but this day, sacred to the tie of universal human brotherhood, should have no moment that all mankind does not share in common.

America's Unlearned A B C

1895

Our holidays in this country are practically limited to two — the Fourth of July in summer and Christmas day in winter — writes Edward W. Bok in an earnest plea for more rest and recreation for the people of this nation in The Ladies' Home Journal.

While other holidays are more or less generally observed, as conditions make it possible, "the Fourth" and Christmas are essentially the great leisure days of the American people, when every one who can takes a holiday. It is a fact to be deplored that as a nation we have not more holidays that are really observed, but this is because as a people we have yet to learn how to rest.

That we will learn the lesson is unquestionable. Our national health will drive us to it, even if our judgment temporarily halts. The comfort of real living is something of which we in America as yet do not know the simple A B C. Some day we will wake up, cease this everlasting strife for the dollar, be content with what we have rather than reach out for more, take things a little easier, and we shall be a happier and a healthier people, but until we do reach this point we should wisely enjoy the few holidays we choose to recognize.

Three Hundred Million Red Cross Seals

1916

Three hundred million Red Cross Christmas Seals are being printed in Cincinnati for the annual holiday campaign to be conducted under the joint auspices of the American Red Cross and The National Association for the Study and Prevention of Tuberculosis.

The campaign for the sale of Red Cross Seals this year will be larger than ever before. Although in 1915 the sale reached the record total of 80,000,000 seals, bringing in $800,000, it is expected that this year at least 100,000,000 seals or $1,000,000 worth will be sold. The sale will be organized from Alaska to the Canal Zone and from Hawaii to Porto Rico. Every state and territory in the United States will have seals on sale. New organizations will be working in a number of the western states, including Montana, Utah and Wyoming. Distribution of the seals is now under way.

The Red Cross Christmas Seal for 1916 was designed by Mr. T. M. Cleland of New York City. It shows a Santa Claus in red on a green background in the center panel with a pack on his back bearing a red cross. The lettering "A Merry Christmas" and "A Happy New Year" is carried vertically up and down the sides of the seal, while the date and the words "American Red Cross" are across the bottom of the seal. The poster effect given by this seal is very striking and makes an unusually handsome design.

$100,000,000

1920

Rockefeller Makes Largest Christmas Donation in History

NEW YORK, N. Y., Jan. 1. — With his Christmas donation of $100,000,000 to public purposes, John D. Rockefeller brought the total sum which he had given to social, religious, welfare and educational institutions up to approximately $500,000,000. The Yuletide gift was the largest single philanthropic endowment from an individual in the history of the world.

Half of the $100,000,000 goes to the general education board, itself a Rockefeller creation, to be disbursed, both principal and interest, in co-operating with institutions of higher learning in increasing the salaries of their teaching staffs.

The other $50,000,000 goes to the Rockefeller Foundation, chartered "to promote the well being of mankind thruout the world." Of this sum $5,000,000, in deference to a special request of the donor, is to be expended for the development and improvement of the leading medical schools of Canada, which are to be required to raise additional sums from other sources.

Mr. Rockefeller's benefactions to date may be tabulated as follows:

To the general education board $70,000,000
To the Rockefeller Foundation $82,000,000
To the Rockefeller Institute $10,000,000
The son's estimate in 1915 $250,000,000
Religious and other unannounced benefactions, estimated on excellent authority $88,000,000
Total $500,000,000

Frightened By Santa Claus

Article from 1911

How the Dear Old Saint Carried Consternation Into an African Mission House

An amusing story of how Santa Claus frightened the black children at a mission station when he first appeared to them a few years ago, is told by the wife of a missionary stationed at Bailundu, Africa. They had celebrated Christmas at Bailundu before, but they never had had Santa Claus, so Mr. Stover, the missionary, dressed up as good Saint Nick.

"He had been padded and powdered and packed until his own mother would not have known him," Mrs Stover afterward related. "Presently we gave the signal, the door flew open and in walked Santa Claus. But dear me! "What consternation! He was greeted with shrieks and groans and cries of 'Let me out! It is the evil one. It is the day of judgment!'

"The urchins, catching the infection of terror from the older black people, fled to their bedrooms, fell down upon their faces, crept under chairs and tables — anywhere to hide themselves. Poor old Santa Claus never had such a greeting before. As soon as he realized the panic he had caused, he tore off his tall hat and white cotton beard. Then from the bags on his back he began to throw gifts right and left and to tell who he was.

"Reassured once more, everyone was soon laughing and chatting, munching the great 'red breads' (doughnuts), tasting their fruits or nibbling at the sweets from the familiar little bags.

"It seemed as though everyone tried to talk louder than his neighbor as they examined the costume of Santa Claus, whom they now no longer feared. One man said that he thought it was John the Baptist, another that it was Elijah returned. Yet another thought it was Satan himself, 'and all my sins rose up before me;' while a fourth confessed, 'My only thought was to hide myself'."

Current Turkey Models Are Bigger and Heavier

1934

Shifting of styles in turkeys is under way, according to L. E. Cline of the Nevada agricultural extension service, who recently finished a study of the present market for the holiday birds. The 1934 model will be bigger and heavier, Mr. Cline says, reflecting a consumer demand for a different type of bird which has been increasing since last Christmas.

The shift is a return to the turkey in greatest demand some time ago, the extension man says, and may be an indication of better economic conditions. In recent years the smaller birds have brought the best prices. Demands from restaurants and cabarets for larger breast meat has been an important factor in the change in consumer requirements.

A premium of one or more cents a pound is now being paid for the heavier turkeys, while for the last two or three years the price was that amount under the sum paid for lighter birds.

This condition always shows a decidedly healthy tone of the market, and if it prevails through the coming marketing season, as indications point, there will be a distinct advantage to the turkey producer.

Indians' Christmas Festival

1910

Miss Clara True, superintendent and special disbursing agent for the mission Indians in San Bernardino and Riverside counties, came to Los Angeles to purchase Christmas gifts for some of the Indians under her supervision.

The Indians near Banning are planning for their regular festivities on Christmas eve. They feast upon barbecued beef and play Indian games.

Miss True said the morals of the Indians of the reservations had improved fully fifty per cent, and that there was a noticeable improvement in their education and general condition.

"During the last century the Indians in this state have decreased at the rate of 50 per day," said Miss True. "About the time of the American occupation of the state there were about 210,000 Indians. Now we have 17,000. This amazing decrease has been caused by starvation, constant eviction from their hunting grounds, whisky and disease." — Los Angeles Examiner.


The Electric Light Dimmer

The "dimmer" system in use at the New Theater, in New York, is something new; the lights are controlled by automatic devices, whereby they may all be set at one time to any degree of candle-power, from 0 to 16, and then by the throwing in of a single switch they are all in operation at once.

Teacher Refuses Tribute to Santa Claus

1910

By Samuel Parker of Chicago

During the recent holiday season a teacher in one of the Chicago public schools was subjected to not a little criticism for refusing to pay tribute to the Santa Claus myth, declaring it to be wrong morally to teach a child a falsehood or to tell the child anything as a truth which it would discover to be false later on.

Instead of being a target for thoughtless ridicule that teacher should command the respect of every teacher and parent who conscientiously regards the moral training of children. The holiest thing this side of heaven is the faith of a little child and he who carelessly or purposely abuses it perpetrates a wrong from which the abused child seldom fully recovers. If parents and friends would sidetrack the heathen myth and bestow their endearing gifts in their own names the dear children would be just as happy and escape the shock of falsehood and deception at the hands of those who ought to love them too well to expose them to such danger.


Romance of the Future

"Do you see that cloud? It was behind one just like that that I first kissed you." — Town and Country.

What German Soldiers Want for Christmas

1915

The Berliner Tageblatt has published the replies of the various German armies to its inquiry of what the soldier boys would like to have sent them for Christmas.

Following is a summary of what the soldiers ask for:

Army of the Crown Prince: Red wine, cigars, cigarettes, smoking tobacco, canned milk, sewing materials, chocolate and cheese.

Army of Von Hindenburg: Honey cakes, herring, preserves, mitts, mufflers, ladies' muffs, sewing material, chocolates, mouth harmonicas, pocketknives.

Army of Mackensen: Sausage, lard or butter, dried fruits, chocolates, smoked fish, accordions or harmonicas. No woolen goods.

Army of Gallwitz: Cigars, cigarettes, chocolates, soap, sardines, fish, preserves, sewing materials, darning needles and wool, any kind of musical instrument, picture books and comic papers.

Army of Loewenfeld: Cigars, cigarettes, smoking tobacco, chocolates, stockings, handkerchiefs, canned milk.

Army of Von Kooster: Stockings, mitts, mufflers, towels, handkerchiefs, soap, chocolates, pickled meats, wine, beer, electric pocket lamps, pocketknives, funny papers.

The list offers variety for all tastes and purses.

The Ghost of the Tower

1901

Superstitious people in merry England are busy prophesying many gloomy events because it has been declared that the ghost of Mary, queen of Scots, has again made itself evident.

The story was that an officer of the guard on duty in the constables' quarters in the Tower of London on Christmas eve heard a long wail from the top of the tower. He stopped to listen and heard it again. Footsteps followed, and a third time the wail rang out over the fog bound river and the sleeping city. He went to search for a cause. but found none.

According to tradition the ghost of the unhappy Queen Mary has frequently made itself manifest in the Tower of London. Mary, queen of Scots, was imprisoned by Queen Elizabeth in the constables' tower and was led from it to execution in the tower quadrangle. Before the death of every king or queen of England since her day her spirit has been reported as having appeared.

All of this is very unpleasant for those to whom the welfare of Queen Victoria is dear and who believe in appearances after death. But apart from any supernatural auguries it would not be surprising to hear at any time of the demise of the Queen of England. It is well known that her health is far from satisfactory and that she is daily growing more and more feeble. The death of the Dowager Lady Churchill threw her majesty into a condition which is alarming to court circles. Lady Churchill was the queen's oldest and closest companion, and Victoria's grief is extreme.

Should England be unfortunate enough to lose its august ruler there would not be lacking those who would sagely wag their heads and recall the appearance of Mary's ghost. But their "I told you so" would be far from satisfactory to more materially inclined individuals.

"Miss Santa Claus" Suicide

Aug. 1909

Had Letters to "Kris Kringle" from Children Sent to Her and Sent Gifts

Philadelphia. — Miss Elizabeth A. Phillips, known widely as "Miss Santa Claus," committed suicide by inhaling illuminating gas. She was found in a room at her home with a gas tube in her mouth.

Friends of the woman say that her own tender heart killed her. Miss Phillips had been despondent since a young man whom she took from a prison cell stole the meager funds which she had reserved for her festivals for the children and then used her name to defraud trades people.

That the suicide was premeditated was shown by the fact that the cracks of the door and windows of the room had been carefully stopped by bed clothing. Pinned to the woman's clothing was a note which read:

"I have been in failing health for some time. I have always tried to do my best for mankind."

Miss Phillips enjoyed almost a national reputation by reason of her work at Christmas time among the poor children. For weeks prior to Christmas of each year she collected funds which she expended for toys and clothing for the needy and on Christmas eve she visited the homes of the children in a big automobile.

Two years ago, at her request, all the letters written by children and mailed to Santa Claus were delivered to her and the requests of the children, as far as possible, were complied with.

St. Nicholas – Patron Saint of Children Around the World

1878

St. Nicholas, as all the world knows, is the patron of children, with whom he is the most popular saint in the calendar. Bishop of Myra, in Lucia, in the time of Constantine the Great, if we are to credit the Roman breviary, supplied three destitute maidens with dowries by secretly leaving a marriage portion for each at their window. Hence the popular fiction that he is purveyor of presents to children on Christmas Eve.

He usually makes his appearance as an old man with a venerable beard, and dressed as a bishop, either riding a white horse or an ass, and carrying a large basket on his arm, and a bundle of rods in his hand. In some parts of Bohemia he appears dressed up m a sheet instead of a surplice, with a crushed pillow on his head instead of a mitre. On his calling out: "Wilt thou pray?" all the children fall upon their knees, whereupon he lets fall some fruit upon the floor and disappears. In this manner he goes from house to house, sometimes ringing a bell to announce his arrival, visits the nurseries, inquires into the conduct of the children, praises or admonishes them, as the case may be, distributing sweetmeats or rods accordingly.

St. Nicholas is the Santa Claus of Holland, and the Smiklaus of Switzerland, and the Sonnoe Klas of Heligoland. In the Vorarlberg he is known as Zemmiklas, who threatens to put naughty children into his hay-sack; in Nether Austria as Niklo, or Niglo, who is followed by a masked servant called Krampus, while in the Tyrol he goes by the name of the "Holy Man," and shares the patronage of his office with St. Luco, who distributes gifts among the girls, as he among the boys. Sometimes he is accompanied by the Christchild.

In many parts of Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands, St. Nicholas still distributes his presents on St. Nicholas eve — the 5th of December — instead of on Christmas Eve. In the Netherlands and adjoining provinces he is especially popular, and is perhaps the only saint who has maintained his full credit, even among the Protestants. For days previous to his expected advent busy housewives have been secretly conspiring with the bakers in gilding nuts, cakes and gingerbread, and torturing pastry, prepared with flour, sugar, honey, spices and sweetmeats into the most fantastical forms, from which the good saint may from time to time replenish his supplies. As to the children, St. Nicholas, or Sunder Klass is the burden of their prayers, the staple of their dreams and the inspiration of their songs. As they importune him to let fall from the chimney top some pretty gift into their little aprons, they go on singing with childish fervor,

"Sunder Klass du gode Bloot!
Breng mi Noot un Zukerbrod,
Nicht to veel un nich to mium
Smiet in mine Schorten in."

In Belgium, on the eve of the good bishop's serial voyage in his pastoral visitation of his bishoprics of chimney tops, the children polish their shoes, and after filling them with hay, oats or carrots for the saint's white horse, they put them on a table or set them in the fire-place. The room is then carefully closed and the door locked. Next morning it is opened in the presence of the assembled household, when, miribile dictu! the furniture is found to be turned topsy-turvy, while the little shoes, instead of the horse's forage, are filled with sweetmeats and toys for the good children, and with rods for the bad ones. In some places, wooden or China shoes, stockings, baskets, cups and saucers, and even bundles of hay are placed in the chimney or by the side of the bed, or in a corner of the room, as the favorite receptacle of St. Nicholas' presents.

The Wonderful Tree – Story for Christmas

The Wonderful Tree
By Christopher G. Hazard
(1922, Western Newspaper Union)

It stood in the corner of a rather needy room. It was festooned with strings of popcorn and cables of cranberries. Wisps of tissue paper and tinsel ornaments were out upon the branches, and small candles stood ready to illuminate the occasion. There were many invisible things upon the tree, too. The imaginations of the children had been as busy as their dreams. Family resources may be limited, but there are no bounds in the realms of Santa Claus and hope. In the magical Christmas time the clouds of poverty are all as gilded and beautiful as any sunset can furnish. Anything may happen then. Cinderella is as hopeful as her more favored sisters; not an urchin but has an expectant eye. So the Tanner Christmas tree was as beautiful as a picture and as full of presents as a picture could be.

But, however pictured by fancy and made of good wishes, the presents were all invisible. No one could see what was in the heads of the dreamers and the hearts of the anxious but needy providers. For weeks the mill had been closed, and now the family pocketbook was about empty. Father Tanner looked at the tree, could not see a gift on it, and shook his head. Mother Tanner was inclined to make the best of it.

Yes, the tree was one of the family. It had been the tree of last year's Christmas and the tree of the year before that. It was a tree that kept its evergreen habit and that did not seem to grow old. It was like a living tree, made to bring forth its fruit every year. It had been so good to them that they had named it Bounty. And now it stood there in the dark, all dressed up, but with nothing but blossoms, without any fruit. It could see the hurrying children running to their morning disappointment. It could hear their cries of surprise and chagrin. Silly Sam, more needy of amusement than the others, would look in vain for his expected go-cart; Sue would miss the two dress patterns for her big doll, her new hat and high chair for her little doll; Bill Tanner would not get his skates; Dick would still need a sled. It was anything but a merry tree.

But it was a wonderful tree. It had a power of making itself felt all over a neighborhood. It could summon Santa Claus by a kind of wireless message that went through walls and everything. It reached as far as the folks who were having a Christmas eve party two blocks away and made them think of Mr. Folsom's mill boss and Mrs. Folsom's laundry woman. They had been wishing for some new fun for their party that day and now it came into their heads to go over and be Santa for the Tanners. So the tree drew a very silent but very busy company to the Tanners' back door.

As the children had left directions for Santa on the table it was easy to find out what the tree was expected to do, so, presently, it did it. There was more, too, than orders for the wanted things; the merrymakers had brought with them enough to satisfy any reasonable tree; there were picture books, picture puzzles, games, a scissors grinder that could make the sparks fly, a train of cars that could go, a doll that could say "mama," and candy enough to go round. For Father and Mother Tanner there was a pocketbook with gold in it, and a note of good cheer that was better than the gold.

So the wonderful tree spent the rest of the night in trembling joy. It could not sleep for thinking of the friendly love that had provided such a happy morning to come. And when the first of the morning light brought all the Tanners downstairs the tree fairly shook with pleasure, amid the wonder and the glee of that Christmas day.

As for the servants of Santa Claus, they had never had such a merry Christmas before. Their hearts were so warm that they did not mind the frost. They sang over the pleasure of giving pleasure and relief. They said they knew that Santa Claus had to live up North so that he could cool off after his warm interest in the happiness of others. They addressed him in verses that must have made him jollier than ever, calling him:

THE MAGIC MAN
There is a man who lives up north
All clad in robes and furs,
And every year he sallies forth
As love his going spurs.

He mitigates the winter's cold
That otherwise would freeze,
And keeps himself from growing old
By tending Christmas trees.

The children for his coming wait,
So do the old folks, too;
Unhappiness goes out the gate
When Santa comes to you.

And their own presents never seemed so large and good before.

Christmas to Life Termer Empty, Black, Day of Dreams of What Might Have Been

1922

(International News Service.)

STATE PENITENTIARY. JOLIET, ILL.. Dec. 25. — Christmas to a "lifer" behind prison walls — empty, black, a day saddened by memories of what was and dreams of what might have been.

True there's a special dinner, a movie perhaps, but what's that?

Friends, relatives, loved ones make Christmas. Without them the day is meaningless. So said two convicted murderers here today. They're in for life. To them, Christmas, like any other day, means only iron bars, bleak stone walls, wasted lives.

There's prisoner No. 8383. He's 24, a farmer boy. Never before has he eaten a Christmas dinner away from his mother's table.

Last August, crazed with bad liquor, he murdered his bride of four months. Three weeks ago he was brought here. He changed his name for a number.

His face is frank, open, boyish. His hands are nervous, twitching — twitching because their owner is just beginning to realize the enormity of the crime they committed.

"I never was in trouble before," he said, thinking back over many cheerful Christmas days spent at his home near Morris, Ill., and of four happy months with his young wife, "the only girl I ever went with."

"I was raised just as well as any boy in the country," he said. "I had a good education. I never drank before. Now everything is swept away. It's sad. When I think of it I almost go crazy."

"Christmas?" queried another "lifer" convicted in 1913 of murdering an actress in a Chicago hotel. "Well, it's just about like any other day."

His voice was weak, submissive. And he laughed, a hollow meaningless laugh. Six years in prison have made him that way.

Three possessions he has in the world — his life, which is useless to him unless he can gain his freedom: a small picture, a reproduction of a hotel cash book with which be once had a faint hope he might prove he was innocent of the crime of which he was declared guilty, and $170 in money, not enough to engage a good lawyer to handle his case.

Several years ago this prisoner, then a trusty, walked away from the prison farm. His sole idea was to earn enough money to prove his innocence. He was missing three years. In Seattle he made good. But one day he was recognized by a detective, picked up and brought back to Joliet. He had $170, saved from a salary never more than $2.50 a week.

All this he confided on condition that neither his name nor his number be made known.

"I don't want to beg for sympathy," he said, "if I only had a friend outside who would do something for me. But there is no one. I am getting old. Freedom is a wonderful thing."

Tears welled into his sad eyes. He wiped them away with the back of his hand.

Then he walked away to his cell, there to contemplate another black Christmas — only another day of memories and of dreams that never come true.

—The Lincoln Star, Lincoln, NE, Dec. 25, 1922, p. 7.

Pupils of Miss Wood's School Enjoy Christmas Frolic

Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, 1912

CHILDREN HAVE CHRISTMAS FROLIC

Pupils of Miss Wood's School Hold Closing Exercises

A SILVER GIFT FOR TEACHER

"Necklace" of Unique Design Presented Miss Wood by Her Scholars — Examinations Held.

Examinations and closing exercises for the fall term of Miss Wood's school were held Thursday afternoon at the Parish house, and were enjoyed by many of the parents and friends of the little people most concerned.

The children and their visitors assembled in the school room at 1 o'clock. Each scholar was first called upon for a Christmas quotation, and responded readily, giving a series of motto verses with delightfully clear enunciation and natural intonation. Then a brief review of the various studies was taken up, both with the idea of quizzing the pupils and demonstrating to the parents the scope of the work covered during the term. Problems were worked out on the blackboard, word studies were conducted and a class in oral geography held, the results in all branches surprising and delighting the parents.

At intervals the work was varied by music, Mrs. L. A. Bishop presiding at the piano. The pretty Christmas songs were given with vim and in a manner which indicated that this branch of the children's education is as carefully looked to as are the three R's, and that a firm foundation for a musical education is being laid in Miss Wood's school.

After the examinations Were concluded the company adjourned to the parlor. Here the center of attraction was the table, about which the children were soon gathered while their teacher, assisted by Mrs. George Justin, Mrs. William Cochrane, Mrs. J. Gerhard and Mrs. L. A. Bishop, served them with refreshments.

The table, which was as pleasing to the eye as the ices and fancy cakes were to the palate, was arranged by Mrs. C. A. Galloway. A miniature Christmas tree, bright with glistening ornaments formed the center piece, and from the top to the corners of the table festoons of pine were draped.

After the refreshments were discussed the children were presented with various tempting bundles, gifts to her pupils from the teacher, and then, in a few appropriate words Rev. John Lloyd presented to Miss Wood, in behalf of her scholars, a "necklace" of unique design. This was a series of pendants on scarlet ribbons, each pendant being a gaily wrapped piece of silver. The combined "jewels" totaled $8, and an accompanying verse asked Miss Wood to buy herself a Christmas gift from her school.

The visitors were asked to remain and have refreshments, and after this the pleasant afternoon was brought to a close. Miss Wood's school reopens Monday, Jan. 6.

—The Daily Commonwealth, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, December 20, 1912, page 6.

Price of Bread Now Two Loaves a Quarter

1921

Price of Bread Drops One and Two Cents Here

The retail price of bread dropped in Madison Wednesday. Pound loaves are now selling at 9 cents and pound and a half loaves at 13 cents a piece or two for a quarter. The small loaves formerly cost 10 cents, the large ones 15c.

—The Capital Times, Madison, Wisconsin, May 13, 1921, page 8.


Vagrant Gets Ten Days At Solitary

Ten days of solitary confinement in jail was the sentence given Fred Hannigan Wednesday by Judge Hoppmann in superior court. Hannigan pleaded guilty to a charge of vagrancy. He was arrested after the police had received complaints from several women residing on the east aide. They allege he called them names and annoyed them.

—The Capital Times, Madison, Wisconsin, May 4, 1921, page 4.


ENGINEERS DISCARD CORDUROY TO DANCE

Engineers will lay aside texts, corduroys, T-squares, and slide rules on Friday, May 6, to dance. Lathrop hall gym will be used for the occasion.

The only reminder of the day's routine will be a small blue print program tied with chalk-line string and decorated with sketches showing engineering activities. Punch is to be served, and Thompson's orchestra will play. Prof. and Mrs. Richard McCaffery and Dean and Mrs. James D. Phillips are to chaperone the dance.

—The Capital Times, Madison, Wisconsin, May 4, 1921, page 6.


Oil Stove Explodes; Burns Hole in Floor

A small hole was burned in the living room floor of the Michael Erber home, 118 N. Frances St., Tuesday afternoon, when a small oil stove exploded. No. 2 fire company answered the call. The damage was slight.

—The Capital Times, Madison, Wisconsin, May 5, 1921, page 7.


100th Anniversary of Napoleon Death Observed

PARIS — Mass was celebrated in Notre Dame cathedral in observance of the 100th anniversary of the death of Napoleon.

—The Capital Times, Madison, Wisconsin, May 5, 1921, page 7.


Oklahoma, 1954

Tonkawa Music Pupils Set Vesper Service

TONKAWA, Dec. 6 — Members of the instrumental and vocal music departments of Tonkawa high school will hold a Christmas vesper service at 4 p.m. December 19, in the high school auditorium, Supt. A. J. Evans announced.

The program will be under direction of Miss June Skeels, vocal music instructor, and Bob Stephens, band director.

—The Daily Oklahoman, Oklahoma City, December 7, 1954, page 13.

Mistletoe Has Brains -- The Intelligence in Plants

1922
----------
Mistletoe Has Brains

One of the most curious illustrations of the working of intelligence in plants is offered by the mistletoe, whose sticky berry, finding lodgment on a tree branch, throws out a tiny rootlet, which tries to pierce the bark and thus obtain a foothold. If the bark is too tough, the rootlet swings the berry over to a fresh spot, and makes another trial. In this way such a berry has been known to make five jumps in two nights and three days. On one occasion a number of them were discovered by a botanist in the act of visibly journeying along a telegraph wire, trying to find places to grow.— Exchange.

--The Pointer, Riverdale, Illinois, August 4, 1922, page 4.