the* WINDOW ONCE upon a time there was a scrivener who wrote a Christ mas story without mentioning shop windows, and the people rose and slew him, saying. "It has nev er been done." Does the reader recognize this stroll ing ragged newsle? Down through the centuries he comes, the eternal poor child of Christmas, who is. by the law of the prophets, invariably hap pier than the rich man in his limousine. (This limousine, by the way, was once a coach and four, the rich man a red nosed baron and the child a golden haired page. His mud colored mon grel alone remains the same. He has not altered In 500 years.) It was a week before Christmas, and we had not yet found our rich man. At last, however, Just as dusk was falling, we found our man. He was old; he was alone in the world. His hair fell in a white fringe about his ears. His face was bitter, but sad. Surreptitiously as we grasped his wrist we felt his pulse. His heart was ready to melt. "Quick!" said we, leaping into the plum colored interior of his limousine. 'There's no time to lose. The boy is waiting three blocks farther along. Tell your man to hurry, please." The old gentleman did not seem to observe our presence. We were piqued for a moment, but soon reflected that, being a young author, we were, of course, quite invisible. He spoke sharp ly through the tube to his chauffeur: "Get on, Simmons; get on. I can't stay here all night. And, Simmons, stop at the toy shop three blocks far ther along." The car drew up to the curb. The old gentleman, clutching a copy of Dickens in one hand and his gold headed eane in the other, descended to the sidewalk. Instinctively, as though guided by some impulse of the ages, he turned toward the Christmas shop window - Vivo with a tliousaivl tiny artificial runuies. Standing just in front of the bright window, (he mud colored laourrrol of his heels, was (he little newsie, his hands In his pockets, his cap on the back of his head, his wistful eyes Looking Into the Christmas Window. fixed upon that feast of plenty. For one dreadful instant we thought we saw a look of boredom, of ennui, flash across that pale pinched face, but we could not be sure. "Humph!" said the old gentleman. "This your window?" "Yes, sir," replied the boy with a cherubic smile, "mine and Bonesy's." * "I know!" muttered the rich man. "It is Christmas. Come; I will give you anything you ask for one peep into your window! I say this in all hum bleness, knowing that you are richer than I, knowing that I have nothing that you would want, but still I beg of you to name your heart's desire." We turned to the little newsie, the eternal Christmas child. Fondly, al most tearfully, we waited for him to speak. At last he did so. glancing for inspiration at the mongrel, * * * nor did he know, wretched boy, that he had shattered the tradition of cen turies. "I'll trade y* a look in the winder," said the boy bluntly, "fer a live min ute sit in yer autymobile." A moment later pedestrians passing that particular corner saw an old gen tleman peering rather dazedly into a Christmas shop window, while in the plum tinted, nickel plated, electric light ed. luxuriously appointed limousine at the curb sat a little newsie with a mud colored mongrel hugged to his bosom and an overwhelming happiness in his eyes. As for tiie Christmas author—but he was my young and quite invisible.-- Dana Burnet in New York F"ening Sun. New Year's Morning By HELEN HUNT JACKSON ONLY a night from old to new! Only a night and so much wrought! The Old Year's heart all weary grew. But said, "The New Year rest has brought." The Old Year's heart its hopes laid down As in a grave, but, trusting, said, "The blossoms of the New Year's crown Bloom from the ashes of the dead/' The Old Year's heart was full of greed; With selfishness it longed and ached And cried, "I have not half I need; My thirst is bitter and unslaked, But to the New Year's generous hand All gifts in plenty shall return; True loving it shall understand; By all my failures it shall learn I have been reckless; it shall be Quiet and calm and pure of life. I was a slave; it shall go free And find sweet peace where I leave strife." Only a night from old to new! Night and the healing balm of sleep! Each morn is New Year's mom come true, More of a festival to keep. All nights are sacred nights to make Confession and resolve and prayer. All days are sacred days to wake New gladness in the sunny air. Only a night from old to new! Only a sleep from night to morn! The new is but the old come true; Each sunrise sees a new year born. NEW YEAR BELL IS SILENT. Famous Relic of American Independ ence Formerly Rang In the Year. Every New Year's eve citizens of Philadelphia gather round the shrine of Liberty, Independence hall, to hear the New Year rung in. Formerly this service was performed by the bell now known as the Liberty bell. Before that memorable day in 1776 when the nation's fathers gave forth to the world their Declaration of Inde pendence. whose signing was heralded by the ringing of the bell, New Year's rejoicing was started by the first peal of what is now known as the Liberty bell. After the events of July 4, 1776, made the bell one of the most price less relics of the'iintion. custodians of Independence hall restricted Its use. fearing some mishap, and after 1830 the bell was no longer used for the New Year's salute. In 1832, on the cel ebration of George Washington's birth day, it was rung and not again for three years, when on July 8, 1535. while the funeral procession of Chief Justice Marshall was paising, the bell was tolled. Suddenly the note grew discordant. An investigation was made. It was found that a crack had been started. The bell had completed its task. No more would it greet the New Year or i<ay tribute to the nation's great. Bui from the tower of Liberty's cradle an other bell always welcomes the com ing of a New Year.—St. Paul Pioneer Press. Not Alone on New Year. Of course it is customary to make New Year's day the day of new reso lutions, but there is no particular -ea son why we should courine this work to this one day in the year. In fact, the very best resolution we can make on New Year's day is to resolve that during the coming year we will use every endeavor to make each day a day of splf improvement; that not a single day shall pass upon which we have not attempted to speak a good word or do a kind deed for somebody: that not a day shall pass upon which we will not try to weed out some of the tares and brambles of character that now offend others or some of the bad habits that offend even ourselves. Pay Up Day In China. At the Chiuese New Yoar the bouses and other are decked with flowers, and the streets are thronged with people, who come out to buy pro visions, new clothes and gifts. One good New Year custom in China is that of settling up all debts before the old year has died out. A Chinaman who allows the New Year to dawn be fore he has settled with his creditors feels himself disgraced. The New Year Dawns. The new year dawns, the sun shines strong and clear, And all the world rejoices and is gav. The city loving birds from spray to spray Flit busily and twitter in my ear Their little frozen note of wintry cheer. From ruddy children with the snow at play Ring peals of laughter gladder than in May, While friend greets *riend with "Happ\ be thy year!" - Lou>e "'handler Moulton* JrW i g Q/2 bpp WEVE* ALTHOUGH many of the old cus toms have been dropped and al most forgotten. New Year's parties are not out of date. A nice one Is a pantomime of an enchant ed girl. A damp sheet must be fastened up across the room or between the folding doors of the parlor. First fasten the corners of the sheet, next the center of each of the four sides In order that the cloth may be perfectly smooth; then place a lighted candle on the floor about four or five feet from the cen ter of the curtain. When the lights In the room occupied by the company are turned out shadows of the actors be hind the curtain may be seen on the screen, some one, standing outside the curtain and facing the audience, should relate the story of the play—of how a young girl while walking out on the last day of October meets Halloween, who presents her with three gifts to try her fortune, and how, when she is about to do so, a witch enchants her, etc. After the story is finished and a lively overture has been performed on some musical instrument the panto mime is played as follows: Halloween Appeare. The young girl personating the en chanted one comes gayly forward from the side. When almost across the cur tain she meets Halloween, who ap proaches from the opposite side, ar rayed in a short dress, with wings made of newspaper folded fan fash ion and fastened on the shoulders. In her hand she carries a cane with a silhouette of a cat or two or three stars and a crescent cut of stiff brown paper and pasted on the end. Halloween shows the maiden three gifts—an apple, a hand mirror and an unllghted candle. Instead of the mir ror a crystal ball may be used. Iks t' ; - ° ° Seeking the Future In the Crystal Ball. Before presenting them she illus trates by gestures the use to be made of each. Holding the mirror or globe in front of her face, she bites the ap ple, then looks quickly around, as if expecting to see some one. and, again holding up the mirror or globe in one hand and the candle in the other, she takes a few steps backward. When a boy or young man enters bv jumping over the light, which gives the ap pearance of his having fallen from the sky. Halloween looks around, and the boy or man quickly disappears. All this time the girl stands trans fixed with her hands raised and all the fingers spread out in astonishment. She receives the presents, which are given with many nods and gestures. The Old Witch Enters. As the maiden then takes up the apple and mirror or globe her hand is stayed by a witch with flowing hair, who has approached unperceived, car rying under one arm a broom and wearing on her head an ordinary hat with a piece of newspaper rolled up and pinned on to form a peaked crown. The poor girl looks anxiously around and discovers she has been enchanted, for there are three girls instead of one. This effect is produced by two more lighted candles being placed on the floor on either side of the first candle. The candles are removed, and the Old Year, an old man, instantly appears. Discovering him quickly, the girl runs forward to tell her sorrows and finds that it is only when alone that she is enchanted, for when she attempts to point out her other selves they have disappeared. Making many guesses, she looks here and there for them, but in vain. Then as the Old Year leaver she bids him a sorrowful adieu. The Little New Year. Immediately little New Year enters, crowned with a paper star and wear ing wings of paper. The young girl rushes to meet the New Year with a hearty greeting. She then tells him of her enchantment and kneels down, and the little New Year raises both hands above her head then, kissing his hand to the maiden, departs.—Nel lie F. Morris In Pittsburgh Dispatch. A Christmas Carol By HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW I HEAR along our street Pass the minstTel throngs. Hark! They play so sweet On their hautboys Christina* songs. Let us by che fire, Ever higher, Sing them till the night expire. In December ring Every day the chimes; Loud the glee men sing In the streets their merry rimes. Let us by the fire, Ever higher, Sing them till the night expire Shepherds at the grange, Where the babe was born, Sang with many a change Christmas carols until morn. Let us by the fire, Ever higher, Sing them till the night expire. These good people sang Songs devout and sweet. While the rafters rang There they stood with freezing feet. Let us by the fire, Ever higher, Sing them till the night expire. Who by the fireside stands Stamps his feet and sings, But he who blows his hands Not so gay a carol brings. Let us by the fire, Ever higher, Sing them till the night expire. THE CHRISTMAS STORY. It's All Real to Bobby Boy, Who'd Like to Ride With Santa Claus. Bobby Boy was sitting in his wee brown chair so close to the great bunch of Christmas holly that he could stretch out his fingers and touch the shiny red berries whenever he wanted to make believe that he was far away in the great forest in Santa Claus land. He had only to close his eyes and "shiver his shoulders," as if he were cold, when the warm, quiet room would vanish and he would be walking with Merry Bell in the story. "By and by," said the sweet voice of Sister Marjorie, who was reading from the book, so she couldn't shut her eyes [ and make believe she was in the for- I est too. Bobby L,oy remembered that he must tell Sister Marjorie just what it looked like when they reached home. "By and by they came to a part of the forest where there were tall trees, green and fragrant,. Just like the trees one sees in the markets before Christ mas. "Merry Bell clapped her hands. "'Hurrah!' she cried. 'We're almost there! See; here are the Christmas tree woods. Fretty soon we'll find the reindeer feeding on the evergreen vines.' fisr cl u jl \ Is If 3 Lff |CJ v &L %*3 %a -?. u v jji £* '* 5 •* <r> « <» « I , ~- &a Ti ":c . ?•> t,» j i F ACT ic c vczZ ctate of things. FALLACY is en appiv ently genuine but really iiicgiccl si lenient or argument. il 4 : j S INCE the ediwi of the Czar of Russia, that the manu- f ( "*• - jjli facture an<J cafe ©£ a vicious drink called Vodka should j I ( jl cease in that country I rohioition papers end lecturers in •'^i America hav? been loudly proclaiming FALLACIT, 0 to "L\ ■■ show success of the Czar'n Prohibition order. But fn ?.d- .fay**. "l-'-s ; dition to contradictory testimony from the Russian Duma t , ' "*T :■>"' ■ or Congress, from the Czar's Secretary of W<ar, and from j | that country's press and hospital heads that have been Q- SiAN LsUMA. j ; orinted in this series of articles to certify failure of Prohi- v 7' " ijvJS ' bition lav/ in Russia, an article by Maxim Gorky, that p ' "iON '• Uij country's most famous living author, in the New York v'? d 1 U "American." of Sunday, August 20, gives further FACTS, r> ArAILJRE , zj as follows: fca <<CINCE the day when w~ were deprived, oi Vodka we |g 3 " began to be intoxicated with words. P pi W "L° VE £ ° r 1( ? U( ?' weil - sou^ in S wcrds lias always been T, ||j Maxim characteristic cf but; the abuse of words <! i v has never spread o-cr Russia in s tch a wide stream as it (m has spread sinte the of the war, * * * "N lt has teccrne clear > beyond the shadow of | ! ! * 1 doubt, that in the world misfortune, which is the j most tragic for Russia, we demonstrated and are now dem- j onstrating the least amount of feeling and virtue as | $ 4 PLUNDER is everywhere in Russia; the most shame -1 less thievery. DEBAUCHERY, WILD ORGIES— | everybody knows about these excesses. Making enormous ■* I | sums of momy, without work, THE DRAM SHOPS and \ k jj| the theatres ARE PACKED TO OVERFLOWING." ..^ I f-1 ERE we have through FACTS furnished by one of rM < " j | - Russia's foremost writers a complete refutation of the " . '3 I FALLACIES circulated in the United States that the ' V<T Czar's Prohibition edict in Russia has brought about j //'' ~ " sobriety or betterment ifJl J jit , J Pennsylvania State Brewers* Association "They walked softly through the snow paths. " 'Sh! said Merry Bell; 'don't fright en them. When they see us the Christ mas reindeer will know us and come running to us to let us kiss them. That's how we know which are the good reindeer that will carry dear old Santa safely over the world on Christ mas eve. Just think—if a reindeer was bad and tipped poor Santa out!' " Bobby Boy opened his eyes wide.. I "Ho! I wouldn't care if they did t'p him out. I'd wun wight out in the snow an' help him put all the toys back, an' nen maybe he'd give me a >ide." Sister Marjorie laughed and went on with the story which dealt with the enchanted country behind the picture books. Christmas Long Drawn Out. It has become the custom to imagine that every ceremony connected with the Christmas holidays in old England was observed on the holiday itself. Nothing could be further from the real facts. It should be remembered that in England of old, and to some extent ' even in industrial England of today, Christmas does not refer only to the holiday Itself, but to the twelve days and nights Immediately following the feast of the Nativity. It would easily be discovered by anybody who took the trouble to give a few moments' thought to the subject that It would be nigh physically impossible to fol low all the ceremonials and customs connected with the Christmas season on one day. Ths Bsaion of Joy. The festival of Christmas Is grate fully unique because of the predomi nant note it contains—the note of Joy, of a rapture, an abandon of delight, which carries all before it—and, while It surcharges the hearts of those who are naturally gay, it also invades the gloomiest and the most sorrowful and creates for them a rift In the constant clouds of the heart.—Rev. S. P. Cad man. Fitness In Gifts. The Ideal consideration In making a Christmas gift is fitness. What would be an ideal present for one person would be a mockery for another. It isn't the cost—it isn't even the beauty of a gift that must be first consider ed—it is the need and the tastes of the recipient. A box containing Christmas gifts donated by citizens was shipped from Norristown to its soldiers on the Mex lean border, and each wearer of the khaki was sent a check for $5. while families of the soldiers will also be remembered in a money way. Fire in sawdust, originating from a blaze kindlfi by skaters, worked its way around a storage icehouse belong ing to J. M. Detweiler, of Perkasie, but failed to ignite the fruxne work, since it stood on a wall ava vhe skaters will lose their winter pit/ground. Two cars, contolsang 600 cases ol beer and a small t-anount of whisky shipped into Waauington county fo> distribution by agents, were seized ai Hills Station, near Washington, by County Detective Bvron Knestrick and shipped back to the consignors. Joseph Murphy, seventeen years old of Seek, near Coaldale, one of the he roes of the Foster tunnel disaster at Coaldale, a year ago, in which eleven men were imprisoned a week, has died of a recent accident, when a "lokie" he was riding went over an embankment SAFETY DEMANDS FEDERAL CONTROL OF THE RAILROADS Only Way to Meet Emergencies ot Nation, Says A. P. Thorn. STATES' RIGHTS PRESERVED Prinoiplee Which Railways Hold Should Govarn Regulatory System Jn Inter* eets of Public and the Roade—Com pulsory Bystem of Federal Incorpo ration Favored. Washington, Dec. a. —That- the Inter net® of national defense require that control of railway lines should rest with the federal government and not with the states was the claim ad vanced by Alfred P. Thom, counsel to the Railway Executives' Advisory Committee, in concluding his prelim inary statement of the case for th« railways before the Newlands Joint Committee on Interstate Commerce. "We must be efficient as a nation If w# are to deal successfully with oar national emergencies," said Mr. Thom, "and we must appreciate that efficient transportation is an essential condition of national efficiency. If we are to halt and weaken our transportation systems by state lines, by the perma nent Imposition of Infnlens T>y iTnwTsa regulation, we will make national effl" ciency Impossible." . States' Rights Would Not Buffar. Mr. Thom cited many instances in which shippers in one state were in juriously affected by selfish regula tions imposed on the railroads by neighboring states. He pointed out that federal regulation would be no in vasion of the rights of tue states but would be the means of preserving the rights which they acquired when they entered the Union, one of which waa the right to the free i. ovement of their products across state boundaries. State game" wardens sav that during the open season for deer, seventeen buck deer were killed in Carbon coun ty, and three does —one by a passengei train at Hickory Run, and two illegal ly shot by hunters. Superintendent of Schools Frank W Wright, of Unlontown. resigned to be signed to become assistant deputy state commissioner of education of the state of Massachusetts. He will as sume his new duties next January 15. Rev. E. H. KeEogg, for seven years pastor of the Second Presbyterian church, Carlisle, and former head of the Carlisle Presbytery, has left for Hartford, where he will be on the faculty of the Hartford Theological seminary. Boys "playing in the woods near Le high mountain stumbled over the body Df John Dagnau, aged forty, a well known resident of Northampton Heights—probably losft while gunning, he lay down to sleep and died of ex posure.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers