Wise County Messenger. (Decatur, Tex.), Vol. 31, No. 51, Ed. 1 Friday, December 23, 1910 Page: 3 of 8
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Christmas In
Christmas is
A Scotch City
A Canalboat
8.2
Coding
£
Why Not Give Us Your
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1
Cash Grocery Store
J. C. McCRACKEN
F. M. TUCKER
McCRACKEN
TUCKER
GAS HEATERS
C. V. Terrell,
P
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Aa
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DECATER,
TEXAS
1
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1
We have in stock now
a
Mcracken & Greer,
gas bill down, buy one of
We also
these heaters.
List Your Real Estate Here
No
Lillard & Co
full line of the celebrated
Direct Action” Gas Heat-
Christmas Eve
in Rural England
Attorney
At Law
Ranch Lands, Farm and City-
Property for sale or trade.
safety valve made,
others like it.
have a full line of the as-
bestos-lined back heaters,
and would be pleased if
you would call and see our
line before you buy.
Remember our “Direct Ac-
tion” heatershave the best
e
pnsez
4730
hris England,
Carpenter and
Contractor
COLECTING AGENCY.
Office in court house, first floor
e
s
5
“Plant Dat Christmas Tree.”
Linen. folks, ter me:
Plant dat Chris’mus tree!
Make de light
All roun’ shine bright-
Plant dat Chrls'mus tree!
Office in Court House in office of
the county judge.
S
)
Sam MC Shop
Tonsorial Parlor
Don't keer whar you be.
Plant dat Chrls'mus tree!
Make de woods
Show Chrls'mus goods.
Ptant dat Chrls'mus tree!
—Frank L. Stanton.
"I‘D A HEAP SIGHT RATHER LIVE DOWN
IERE."
The Professor’s Dilemma.
Beneath the mistletoe she's fairly caught.
And he perceives that she's a pretty
miss.
His favorite theory all comes to naught,
Aad hs forgets the microbes in the kisa
—Judea
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t
OFFICE with Drs. Embry & Ford,
Southwest corner square—up-stairs
Dr. Cox s Barbed Wire Liniment
does not burn or blister, relives pain
quickly, and flies will not bother the
wound. For sale by all drggist.
spaot
K4vI sup jo snd jo spanod neat
-xjs uu xom fuw jo 131 0 pnonu
ion x uqxs japan s£oq uyuds uj
NEW GROCERY STORE
3
We have bought the Snyder stock of groceries near the Fields livery
stable. We are putting in a fresh and complete stock of groceries,
also all kinds of FEED. We solicit a share of your trade. Respectfully
#
Christmas on
A Christmas Suggestion.
A book cover makes a good Christ-
mas present for the girl who is apt
to be accompanied by her book. The
covers come in natural linen.
The best artists in the profession in
Decatur are found here. Clean and
up-to-date in every particular, and
polite and courteous treatment at all
times. Drop in and see us.
Notice.
I have moved my tailoring estab-
lishment to the Rogers’ building,
west Main street, where I want my
old customers and new ones to calf.
The best of work done with prompt-
ness. HUGH GREER, The Tailor.
52.: 555— 3
A Unique Bell.
A pretty bell may be made by wrap-
ping a large sized hoop with holly or
pine. connecting this with a smaller
eized troop above by four wires or
stout cord. Hang strands of popcorn
from upper hoop to lower one. Use a
arge red apple for a clapper.
Q
“Direct Action”D
r. A. C. Bramlett,
Physician and
Surgeon
buy it in winter, and this is where we
store it."
Going to the stairs up the companion
way. she pulled out tiny drawers
Small knobs jutted out from the face
of each step with which to open the
drawers, while within there was quite
room enough to allow pint fruit jars
to stnnd upright.
A cold storage room was tucked
away in the hold, into which a small
door abot two feet in height opened
The dining table was a folding affair
which turned up against the wall of
the cabin when not in use.
When some surprise was expressed
at the presence of a sewing machine
Id the room Mrs. Boggs said: "Oli.
that's nothing! Many of the boats
have organs as well. and there is one
fitted up with a porcelain bathtub. So.
you see. we have some of the luxuries
of city bouses and plenty of good air
and sunshine. A concert is to lie
given on one of the boats here New
•Year's eve, and if you should like to
come down we’d be glad to have you
and show you a bit of canalboat bos
pitality."
ers. If you want a gas Real Estate-Rental Agents
heater that will cut your
TOM GREER TOM McCRACKEN
Estimates furnished free. Write or
see me at
It was e brilliant moonlight night,
but extremely ecld. Ourehaise whirled
rapidly over the frozen ground The
postboy smacked his whip incessantly,
and a part of the time his horses were
on a gallop. "He knows where tie is
going," said my companion, laughing,
"and is eager to arrive lu time for
some of the merriment and good cheer
of the servants' hall. My father is a
devotee of the old school and prides
himself on keeping up somethiug of
old English hospitality Ue was al-
ways scrupulous In exacting our tolt
days and having us around him on
family festivals, It was the policy ol
the good old gentleman to make his
children feel that home was the hap
piest place in the world, and I value
this delicious home feeling as one or
the choicest gifts a parent can bestow "
The squire ushered us at once to the
company, which was assembled in u
large, old fashioned hall It was com
posed of different branches of n numer
ous family connection. They were
variously occupied, and a profusion of
wooden horses, penny trumpets and
tattered dolls about the floor showed
traces of a little troop of fairy beings
that had frolicked through a happy
day.
While the mutual greetings were go-
ing on between Bracebridge and his
relatives I had time to scan the apart-
ment. The grate had been removed
from the wide, overhanging fireplace
to make way for a tire of wood, In the
midst of which was an enormous log.
glowiug and blazing and sending forth
a vast volume of light and heat. This,
I understood. was the Yule log, which
the squire was particular in having
bro" ght in and illumined on Christmas
eve, according to ancient custom.
It was really delightful to see the old
squire seated in his hereditary elbow
chair by the hospitable fireside of his
ancestors and looking around him like
the sun of a system. beaming warmth
and gladness to every heart. Even the
very dog that lay stretched at his feet,
as he lazily shifted his position and
yawned. would look fondly up in his
master’s face, wag his tail agalust the
floor and stretch himself again to
sleep, sure of kindness and protection.
Supper was announced shortly after
our arrival. It was served up in a
spacious onken chamber, the panels
of which shone with wax and around
which were several family portraits,
decorated with holly and ivy. Besides
the accustomed lights, two great wax
tapers, called Christmas candles,
wreathed with greens, were placed on
a highly polished buffet among the
family plate. The table was abun
dantly spread with substantial fare,
but the squire made his supper of
frumenty, a dish made of wheat cakes
boiled in milk. with rich spices, being
a standing dish in old times for Christ-
mas eve. I was happy to find my old
friend. minced pie, in the retinue of
the feast.
The supper had disposed every one
to gayety, and an old harper was sum-
moned from the servants’ball. ♦ * •
The dance, like most dances after sup-
per. was a merry one. Some of the
older folk joined in it, and the squire
himself figured down several couples
with a partner with whom he affirmed
he had danced at every Christmas for
nearly half a century.
The party broke up for the night
with the kind hearted old custom of
shaking hands. As I passed through
the ball on the way to my chamber
the dying embers of the Yule log still
sent forth a dusky glow, and had it
not been the season when "no spirit
dares stir abroad” I should have been
half tempted to steal from my room
at midnight and peep whether the fai-
ries might not be at their revels about
the hearth.
I had scarcely got into bed when a
strain of music seemed to break forth
in the air just below the window. I
listened and found it proceeded from
a band which I concluded to be the
waits from some neighboring village
I drew aside the curtains to hear them
more distinctly. The moonbeams fell
through the upper part of the case-
ment. partially lighting up the anti-
guated apartment. The sounds ns
they receded became more soft and
aerial and seemed to accord with
quiet and moonlight. I listened and
listened. They became more and more
tender and remote, and as they grad-
ually died away my bead sank upon
the pillow, and I fell asleep.—Wash-
ington Irving.
nuts, fruits and cv- _6F
ery thing for your 53
fruit cake and Christmas cooking. Just
received fresh shipment canned goods,
bought before recent advance in prices.
We have just re-
ceived a fresh ship-
ment Xmas candies,
"How are we going to spend Christ-
■Ml" exclaimed tbe good natured Mrs.
Captain Boggs, seemingiy a bit sur-
prised at the question, for canalboat
folk are sensitive of any criticism aim-
ed in their direction.
"Why, we’re going to spend the day
just like other folk. Some think be-
cause we live ou canalboats we don't
have any comforts aud eat like sav-
ages. My, but I’d a heap sight rather
live down here than in a flat like wy
niece's. She’s got six rooms, and they
don't begin to be as big as mine.
"If you think there ain't room just
look here,” and Mrs. Boggs displayed
the secrets of a suit of rooms, the in-
genuity of tbe arrangement rivaling
the den of tbe New York bachelor girl
Out of tbe main cabin, w hich served as
living and dining room combined, two
alcoves jutted, besides an iutiuitesimal
corner dubbed the kitchen, but which
was even tinier than tbe modern apart-
ment house kitchenette.
While under ordinary circumstances
the kitchen was part of the cabin
proper. two doors at right angles to
each other could be drawn out, which,
meeting, formed a room by itself. A
shiny coal stove or range quite filled
the compartment, leaving just room
before it in which to work, while above
, it every inch of wall space was utilized
I with pots and kettles and kitchen uten-
b alls of every sort.
I A low cupboard opening into the
A hold contained more articles of kitchen
■ use, as well as vegetables and canned
" goods. Bunks were displayed in l be
two other alcoves, which were in opeu
{ view of the cabin. But from the re-
) cesses of the boat Mrs. Boggs pulled
. out a sliding door, which completely
• divided the space into two rooms, and
•R when curtains were drawn into the
• cabin the occupants enjoyed all the
• privacy desired.
M i A big divan could be opened up at
m . night into a roomy double bed. and an-
HM Other bunk, "just under the eaves."
m was sufficiently large to tuck two
m small youngsters away. Chests of
• drawers built In. wardrobes and cup
• boards in out of the way places sup
E piled room for bedding, clothing and
• the boots and shoes of a family of
Echildren
• One of the biggest surprises in the
•boat, one wbich conveyed a hint that
H^Binlgbt be applied in small houses where
Erooun is at a premium, was the pre-
• served fruit lockers.
R "We all do up our own fruit.” went
Eon Mrs. Boggs "You see, while we
mgo up the canal we are in the country
•most of the time, and it is much
•cheaper to put up our own fruit than
Glasgow, the commercial metropolis of
Scotland. with its well nigh million in
habitants, can be chosen as an Interest-
lag illustration of the manner in which
one-fourth of the people of the country
spend the holidays Many days before
the store fronts on Argyll street—a
thoroughfare as busy as any in the
land—are gayly and profusely dero
rated with holly and evergreens. Above
nearly every entrance signs of wel-
come and the compliments of the sea
son are exhibited in hotly leaves On
Christmas eve the stores keep open
late. Either side of the thoroughfare
is a mass of blazing, cheerful light,
and there is a moving mass of bunan
ity between. But when the stores
close they close until boxing day. All
the working people now get their
Christmas holiday.
On Christmas forenoon tbe lord pro
cost or mayor presides at the animal
meeting and breakfast given by the
directors nt the royal infirmary. His
lordship makes a speech, after which
there is a distribution of good things
to all tbe patients in the large Institu-
tion Then he visits sundry other in-
stitutions for the care of the sick and
poor, where there are Christmas treeing
and feasting. By the way, Christmas
da is one of the lord provost’s busiest
days. At 2 o’clock, according to an-
nual custom for years past, he pre-
sides at the annual dinner given to
from 5.000 to G.000 poor men, women
and children in the city ball. Albion
Street. His lordship and the city
magistrates occupy the stage and take
dinner with the poor. During the re-
past. which consists of soup. beef, an
entree. plum pudding, tea or coffee and
fruit, stirring Scotch airs are played
on the big organ by the city organist.
At the close his lordship makes a
speech, which is reported verbatim in
the newspapers It is usually a mas-
terly production.
Outwardly the aspect of the city
resembles that of Sunday. Neverthe-
less thousands of people are moving
about The myriad of riveters in the
miles of shipbuilding yards along the
Clyde have come to the city with their
wives and families and are attending
the matinees or evening pantomime
performances that have already been
running. These pantomimes are a fea-
ture of city life In Scotland during
the winter. Usually three open at
the big theaters in Glasgow Christmas
eve. They are rehearsed for weeks
before. The playwright usually chooses
as his theme a fairy tale. "Jack the
Giant Killer.” "All Baba and the For-
ty Thieves” and "Aladdin and the
Wonderful Lamp" have been favorite
themes. As a rule. the playwright re-
tains enough of the tale so that the
young folks can recognize the char-
acters. but taken altogether the pro-
duction becomes really a dramatic
burlesque of local life and character,
interesting, entertaining and even ele
rating to old and young Actors and
actresses of renown take the leading
parts, while I here are dazzling cos
tunics, magnificent scenery and a got
geons ballet thrown In No wonder
it is that often until the middle of
spring the pantomimes enjoy a con
tinuous run Latterly they trome
in a sense classics, for their libretti
undergo weekly improvement at the
suggestion of local wits tinted for thr
pungency of their sayings and the
fund of dry Srote h humor they pos
sess. It is no exaggeration to say rhat
these pantomimes are visited by some
persons each night all the season
through and by others fully :i score of
times.
Then there is the usual exodus of
young men to the country nt Christ
mastide. It is a common saying among
Scotchmen that all roads lead to Lon
don. This is rhanged to Glasgow in
some cases There is scarcely a Tam
ily of note in the Highlands that has
not a son at the universities of Glas-
gow or Edinburgh studying for t be
professions of law, medicine, the pul
pit. the army or the home or foreign
civil service. With what hope and
pride the advent of the young student
is looked for at the little railroad sta
tion up in the mountains on Christ
mas eve or morning! If be lives on
an estate the next day he is given a
side by his rustic countrymen in tbclr
annual Christmas day football match
The game is usually a stoutly contest-
ed one, umpired and refereed by the
laird and heads of the estate. At the
corner of the field is placed a cask of
good Scotch ale, from which tbe play
ers regale themselves at half time.
Then the game resumes, and the sec-
ond half is fast and furious. Around
the ropes are the young women of tbe
estate looking on with pleasure and
discussing their choices Id tbe dance
list of the evening.—Brooklyn Eagle.
Christmas Lill 22222
BW
We are prepared to take care of your orders,
and save you money on your purchases. All
Kinds of Fire Works. Yours for a merry Xmas,
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Collins, Dick & Smith, Marvin B. Wise County Messenger. (Decatur, Tex.), Vol. 31, No. 51, Ed. 1 Friday, December 23, 1910, newspaper, December 23, 1910; Decatur, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1581356/m1/3/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; .