a “@®ei000006900e A Vagrant Christmas Gift — [ly s— ALBERT EDWARD 3 {Copyright by Frank A. Munsey Co.) R. and Mrs. Jackson Smith understood each other mas present proposition. affairs did not come about the first year of thelr wedded life, nor even the mas was almost at hand before Mr. Smith discovered accidentally, but to his intense joy, that Mrs. Smith rel ished his selection of furs, gloves, cur- talns, rugs, and so on, no more than did he her cholce of smoking-jackets, cravats, mufflers, et cetera. That their friends could taken in on the combination wa., however, a thorn in the flesh of each of them. “The worst has happened,” said Mrs. Smith, interrupting Mr. Smith's perusal of the paper Christmas morn- ing. “A messenger just brought a pres. ent from the Snivelys, and I forgot to | put them on my list. It's a book and | we've got to send them something.” “Well, what are we going to about the Snivelys? Smith. “Jack,” said she in a moment, had an inspiration. Why couldn't we send the Snivelys the book that Ceus- in Lucy sent us? will ever know it™ “By George! We'll do it,” Smith, sition. book?” “It’s on the desk,” “Where is Cousin wrap it up neatly. ger boy. »" ed a package, addressed to Mr. Snive- iy, to a messenger boy and saw him depart with stretched out op a davenport when minutes later. “Jack,” sald Mre book in her hand, were going to wrap this book up.” Great Scott!” exclaimed Smith, jumping to his feet to him.” “How long has the boy been gone?” demanded Mrs. Smith. “About ten minutes” “Get your things on. Be quick, and maybe you can reach the Snivelys' before the boy and get that dreadful book away from him! liave been so careless? Mrs. Smith was almost frantic He had arrived at the down town district when, with a thrill of joy, he spied the messenger boy. Without waiting for the car to stop, Mr. Smith jumped off and started on a run for the boy. boy saw him, and, without knowing why he was being pursued, he obeved | his first impulse and ran too. in a moment a dozen had joined | in the chase, Down the street came | the poor messenger boy, frantically straining every muscle to get away | from the mob pursuing him. Sud denly two men from a cross street! ran in front of the boy. One threw his arms around the fugitive, hold: | ing his fast; the other man seized the package the boy was carrying. “Why, Snively! This package 1s ad- dressed to you!” he exclaimed. “Why, so it!” sald the man who had caught the boy. In a moment they were surrounded by a crowd. A policeman rushed up and took charge of the boy. “Hold on there, officer, the boy's all right!” cried Mr. Smith, who had arrived upon the scene by this time. “What do you know about this af- fair?” gaid the policeman respectfully, as he recognized Mr. Smith. But Mr. Smith was standing as one dazed. He had caught sight of Mr. Sulvely with the book under his arm. “Hello, Smith,” sald Mr. Snively. “f just now caught this boy, and found him carrying a package ad- dressed to me, 80 took charge of fit. Do you know anything about it?” “Why—why-—er-—yes,” stammered Mr. Smith, trylng to collect his wits. “You see, I seat the package’ “Well, why were you chasing the hoy?” asked the policeman, a little im. patiently. The perspiration stood out on poor Mr. Smith's forehead. “f-~1 was afraid 1 hadn't given the boy the right address, and was trying to stop him to find out” he blurted in desperation. The policeman looked at Mr. Smith curiously. He was convinced that he was lying, though with what object he could not imagine. “The package has come to the right fellow anyway,” sald Snively, laugh. ing. “I'm going right home, so I'll take it along with me.” “Oh, 1 couldn't think of allowing you to do that, old man'” cried Mr. Smith. “Just give it back to the boy; he'll take It to the nouse ror you.” “Nonsense!” sald Mr. Snively. “It's a light package and 1 don't mind carrying it a particle.” Mr. Smith ground his teeth with rage. How was he to get that book away from Snively? “Snively,” sald he, my office is only a few doors down the street. Come up and smoke a cigar with me. I've got some good ones.” A few minutes later Mr. Smith ush- ered Mr. Snively into his office. “Sit down here, Snively,” sald he, offering his guest & chair, “Let me have your package; I'll put it over here on my desk.” He took the book eagerly and put it on his desk out of sight. As he brain for a scheme to get Snively out of the room without his book. “Good morning, gentlemen. Christmas.” It was Smith's partner, Perkins, who thus addressed them as he cami out of his private office, Suddenly a brilliant scheme took shape in his mind. He proceeded im mediately to put it into execution. “By the way, Perkins, I have a Christmas present for you” As he Merry not see it, walked over the Porkins and hagded it to him. “But—-but—" Perkins protested. or I'll choke you!” fiercely. “Oh, thank you very the astonished Perkins, be getting home. Good morning.” After talking a few moments longer, | Snively rose to go. “Can I trouble you sald “Oh, yes,” sald Smith, much,” going to his - Searching First Caimiy and Then With Apparent Annoyance, | desk and searching first calmly and { then with apparent annoyance. “By George! It isn't here,” he an- Suddenly he sat laughing uproariously. “Do you know what I've done?" he | { sald as soon as he had his mirth some- ent for Mrs Perkins.” “Oh, that's all right,” said Snively, | { laughing. “It doesn’t make a particle of difference.” They parted, laughing good-natured. { ly over the blunder. “Oh, Jack cried Mrs. Smith, as “Well, I've had just about the most strenuous time [I've experienced in | many moons,” said Smith, out all right though” “I'm so sorry,” sald Mrs. Smith but you hadn't been gone but a few all some way, it had been knocked off, The only book that is missing is the one that Mr. and Mrs. Perkins sent us, so that must have been the one that you sent to the Snivelys.” Mr. Smith collapsed into the near ent chair. “Ding-alingaling” phone. Mr. Smith, still in a dazed condi tion, rose and answered it. “Hello, 1s that you, Smith?” said a voice. “This is Perkins” Smith braced himself for the worst, “l didn’t quite understand about that present you gave me down at the office. When I got home I found that it had Saively’'s name oh it.” “Oh." “1 thought there must be some mis teke about it, so I didn't open It” “You say you didn't open It?” “No.” “Thank Heaven!” “What do you say? “f sald that you did right just a little joke on Bnively.” “Is that zo? Well, I'll bring the package down to the offiee with me in the morning.” “Thank you. Goodby.” “Thank heaven,” sald Smith as be hung up the receiver and once more settled himself in comfort, “Christ mas comes but once a year!” went the tele It was TRUE SPIRIT OF DAY Christmas Giving Should Be Prompted by the Heart. Religion in the Orthodox Sense Not Necessary to Appreciate Finer Qualities of Great Christian Holiday. By PRUDENCE STANDISH. O anand with the world. Again the hel shepherds, watching flocks by night, are sore afraid at the glory which shines about them. Cilothed in blinding light, the angel speaks; the heavenly host that crowds suddenly about him sing of glory in the highest and peace and good will. The wise men who have The miracle of still new and glad and lovely, for, great joy which shall be to all people. peace, good will toward men.” This is the message mastide, vet the bigger half of Chris | tendom makes the period the pagan once was the winter solstice. for sake of the gods of custom and merriment, forgetting entirely that they are for sake of the grea! Jiritual joy “which shall be tc ail people’ of the hourt are withheld—we give gifts because we've got to, our hearts as much closed to the Christmas child as was the inn. We have our own selfish ends to gain, the rich patron to cater to, the appease. We heap litle children with dazzling tovs, and light the starry lamps of their fir trees because it is the fashion, and we do our small seem mean not to do them, We have forgotten the jovous and sublime meaning of Christmas, One not need to be religious in the quality of this great festival for what is known as Christian feeling has come to be a moral obligation at this time-—a point of etiquette, in for the heart and mind In polat of mere the social world thinks ject of Christmas gift giving—-it i= thought bad taste for a person of mod. est means to give presents of value under obligations. But some knowl Fn Tlaus BAY G: @§ A face wreathed In smiles is better than a mansion wreathed in holly. § Better broken toys than braksn hearts. § Never lock a gift object in the price tag. § Santa Claus by any other name would cost as much~—and be worth it. § Do not be satisfied with wishing people a “Merry Christmas,” help make {t one, 4 Lots of men put on long white whiskers and think they look like me when. they look more like a goat——and perhaps they are, q If Wille wants to see what Is inside the drum, for goodness sake let him. § You are living in God's own country. What more do you want for Christmas, § It is a wise Santa who keeps his whiskers away from the can dies, § Keep up the’ Cood will to man’ part of it right through until next Chriztmas. € it is more blessed to give than to receive, sxcept in the matter of offense €§ Fortunately for most of us, we won't get what we deserve on Christmas, 9) Wh er n Christmas giving becomes it ceases to be a virtee, s more joy in heaven 4 i io the poor ven 0 Song of the By Gene Morgan VE ED a forest path i Seer i DLASeE all WOT nds sre chill they wither, droop and dle w1iand hilly And antun Poor flowers Amid the » is necessary, and this may take the form of a pretty Christmas card with an appropriate greeting: or a knot of ‘mas wishes That the servant who has given her est to the home must not be forgot. but it ia | certainly bad form to make the poor servitor's gift an Inexpensive trifle when something better can be afford od. Then what a woeful want of taste it shows for us to defer buving a have found out what she means to give us, and 80 make the exchange a is undoubtedly better gift thing ten times Its value. But, then, what matters the nature | ture or cushion, s0 unbecoming to the | As for the little children, so much | infully strained’ a book on the subject. 1 beg every the eternal word that “Santa Claus won't come {If you do that any more.” The dear kiddie who forgets to be good knows better after a year or two of this harrowing threat, which makes you out a story teller Meanwhile, there is the little heart staying awake at night with its dreadful anxieties: there are the sudden storms of bitter tears, with all the glory of Christmas sureness that Santy-—dear, good old fat gentleman--won't come. We remember the poor and drop a dren. But, why do we do it—why? It is because a wide, sweet star has stopped over a stable In the far East, because the church choirs are singing of peace on earth and good will toward men. So let us never lose sight of that fact with our gifts, whether our hands tender or receive them; for the heart closed to the deeper significance of Christmas may truly be likened the inn that held no send with each heart's true gold bind ft with the of Bethlehem, and every one of our gifts as tidi sre RN Ty From every branch, sad tears I drip In rainstorm’s flerce endemvor, The Sowers may come, gO, But I am green forever A sister tree he's felling {| What can this crue! destruction mean? The winter wind Is telling “Do not bemoan thy mournful fate, Tho' axmen wield with madness, Bedecked in tinsel, bright and fine, You'll soon bring children gladness “Thou canst not die, although thy trunk Harsh hatchet blows may sever Within the little children’s hearts Trou wilt be green forever!" Origin of Christmas Tree. The Christmas tree is supposed by great numbers of people to have orig inated in Germany, but from a re liable source we learn that the Christ mas tree came In the first instance from Egypt, and its origin dates from a period much earlier than the Chris tian era. The palm tree is known to put forth a branch every month, and & spray of this tree with 12 shoot on it was used in Egypt at the time of the winter solstice as uo sym bol of the completed year SEASONABLE PRICES. ——— Now doth the Christmas shopper With happiness elate, Puy something that was forty nina . Marked up to ninsty-«clight 1 KEEP MORE FOWL Tener Proud of Public Service Commission Act. Option — Revised State Totals Made Up At Capitol-—Bpea'nr Of Btate House. Must Keep More Fowl, Boaring CREA poultry indefinitely in prices of decrease (n will continue and products this coun- is an unprecedented to M. OC of poultry according in charge Kilpat husbandry He operation of the law of sup and demand, and not the cold storage warehouse or the foot Senge, was lhe present market condition “Market reports said Mr “that the prices of poultry products have been steadily sdvancing for the last twenty years. These ad to three causes The increase in consuming popula tion, su increase in the per apita eonsumption, due both to the increased and n for pouliry prod crease in the nu From farms poultry products come.” He pointed yivania fifteenth in average farm rick, show.’ growing preference fowls the great bulk of must, of necessity out that Penns amoung the come from ranks Hintes poultry Public Service Commission Act. Ninety men, railroad brotherhoods in Pennaylyanis calied on Governor Tener and extend ed the thanks of their fellow employes for his kindness to them: during his The men met large reception room: nt Milton T. Robinson acted as spokestaan. Governor Tener made a response iu which he paid a high tribute to the Public Service Commis glon. The Governor stated that of all the legislation that has been spnacied during his administration, if he should be called upon to specify. he prouder of the law creating the Public Service Commission than &ny He charecterized this law as one that ia more than other and one under which the poor man conld gel redress as the wealthy four representing the the Gov srnor in the the { apito! fault other Revised State Totals Harrisburg from Allegheny Department of Revised official county received at ihe the the Commonwealth show correct vote of the State for Senator and Governor According to these late official fig ures more voles were cast for Juover nor than for any other position total being 1.112.207, against £8 polled In the Senatorial con flgures Hacrelary of the 1.1117 fest The revised totals are as Senator Palmer, D 266415 Palmer, scattering, 21; total, 268.4248 202546; B. M_, 43875. R P 17,765 total, 268.175. Penrose, R. 199,336 P. 1... 20485. scattering, 519.830 McCormick, D 212.044 total, 452.882 Brum B34 R8K: K. 37.847: P LL. 294.701 follows Governor baugh, R 17.556; total Or. Dixon Meads Academy Of Sciences Atl the annual meeting of the Acad following officers were elected President Dr. Samuel (;. Dixon, re consecutive Conklin Vicepresidents, Edward 3 Secretary and librarian, Corresponding secretary, Moore Treasurer, Curators, George Vaux, Jr Dr. Samuel CG. Dixon, Dr Dr Against Sulfrage-hocal Option, Expressing the opinion that neither Jackson would have favored local option, Senator E. M would vigorously oppose woman's suf. frage and local option at the next ses sion of the Legislature. Dr. Herbst sald he thought it wrong for any fac tion to legisiate or dictate what the other showld eat or drink. On the subject of woman suffrage, the Sen stor said that the quarrel of most women seeking the franchise Is not with men, but with the Almighty for not creating them men. ——— State Free Of Federal War Tax. Attorfey General John C. Bell gave an opinion to heads of departments of the State government, im which he beld that State lcenses and certifi cates do not need to contain Federal law stamps, saying, "The Paderal Gov. ernment can pot by law impose any specific duties upon State officials with reference to the collection of the tax required by the act of Congress. It 1s no part of your official duty to re quire such certificates or licenses to be stamped or to affix or cancel such atamps.’ THE NEWS TOLD IN PARAGRAPHS From All Over the State. Scranton Merchant Dies From As sassin's Sullet — Falling Wires Start Fire In Coal Mine. Bon Kills Father, Fire of peculiar origin broke out in measures of the No. % Mine of the lLehigh Coal & Navigation Company, Mahanoy City. Falling elec lines coming in contact with the then igniting the ooal beds is the cause ascribed by the off ciads who all day directed a firefight The blaze, which is hun feet underground, is being difficulty owing to the fumes of smoke and with overpowering merchant of bullet wounds in Anthony Sylvester, a Nicholson, died from flicted at his store Sunday evening Last week the merchant received a letter threatening his 1ifs Pectin he when they failed io These boarders Virginia, are police when two ms pay their board Tony Justianna now being sought was al his up behind bill and J by the Svivester glore him Sund n came ay and shot him George Eby, wm phias & Heading Bear iner at the Philadel Teil { tia y Valley Colliers jlous escape from death number of men he was work on & timber chute when he bis balan: and plunged cavity which is almost perpendicular He fell 180 feet and fellow workmen who expected to find his lifeless bod) at the bottom found 5h $y had & mirac With a ing lost the he had escaped and lacerations Becans ew Pl Mrs. Elizabeth McQuall, of liadeiphia, bequeathed her £30 000 estate, (0 two neighbors, relatives led by her brother, Thomas McoQuafl ivil War veteran, are contesting the will maintaining that undue wai brought to bear up o it is alleged made the will the night she died in a previous will she made bequests to churches w " pres - * * BUT nm the Ge cedent, w} had vein g Yu The Board of Trustees of Easton, unanimously elected Henry MacCracken, Byndie (administrative officer) and professor of philozophy of New York » be president of the local Announcement of the made immediately after of the board to the stu uity, who had been alled together for the p Lafavetie College political University, t institution choice wa the session urpose and Custer, « Pitts N Misz Ilda Fruitigar, of Taylor, Rev. Ravmond M have been Africa, where they are serving as mis The bride and bridegroom aduates of the Missionary School at Nvack sand were sweethearts there before graduation Miss Fruitigar to Africa four months ago followed four months teen Custer later Running mad In a crowd of Christ mas shoppers, a dog bit Minnie Hor wing and Alexander Mack at Norris. town animal! was shot and {ts to the University of Penn Veterinary De tment, The head sent s¥lvania The pat} ents will be the Pasteur treat ment Riven A pair of white squirrels were shot McVeytown. Both squirrels were killed within a few hundred feet of James mates, Swigart was the first Jenkins. The saouirrels were Two men were blown through a win. dow when the waterback of a stove in the shop of a Scranton firm of picture dealers exploded. The men are Wil lain Rose, a member of the firm, and Julius Brows, a customer. The stove was blown to small pleces and the store partly wrecked. Rose and Brown were not seriously Injured. While being lowered by his son into a forty-ivefoot well that they were digging, Beajamin Wenrich, aged sixty three, of Allentown, fell to his death when his coat caught in « nail and loosened his grip on the rope. Wenrich fell nearly the entire depth and fractured his skull Derothy, four years oid, and Jerome, two, children of Andrew Spleen, of Shelby Summit, were burned to death when fire destroyed their home. Other members of the family escaped by Jumving from windows In their Aight clothes. Introducing himself as a census taker, a well-dressed young man called at the home of Peter Price, Scranton, took the names of members of the family, walked around the block and re-entered the house. This time he took valuables worth $300.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers