The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

iimms (e)Qr ^ <\ i/*AJFA*aoO msm. lllKf||| "'K'fm >*$*$* i- , . ._A^s.v , ililti! vl W*. wm* s§;' 7C4?7Z$7d C7fJZ£373>mS Z7V M. cmezsipms rjezz izzRurf jttT&ir-ifo' rj&jx?zzyr 9^^~y TRIAD are the myths and legends that cluster around _<<• • • the Christmas tree. Its origin >yH j I takes us far back into pre- ,L \--M ® • historic times when our skin- clad savage ancestors were tree worshippers and believ­ ed that a god or goddess dwelt in the evergreen Long prior to the Christian era, the fir tree was used in Rome in the December holiday festivi­ ties of the Saturnalia and its branches were decked with little yellow jeweled Images of pagan divinities, especially of Bacchus. In the Yuletlde celebrations of the Druids of ancient Britain, the evergreen had a distinctive place with ivy, holly and mistletoe. The Druids believed that the evergreens sheltered the good spirits of the air who fled to them at the approach of cold weather. There is a Scandinavian myth that tells of the tree that sprang from the blood-soaked ground where »two lovers met a violent death, and of mysterious lights that hovered about the tree at Christmas time. At the period of the winter sol­ stice, the ancient Egyptians decorated their houses with palm leaves which symbolized im­ mortality and the starry sky. At this period of the year the ancient Persians decorated the plane tree with ornaments and jewels. An old German tradition gives Saint Wilfred the credit of transforming the tree worship of the savage Teutons to a Christian ceremony. It was about the year 725 that he led a party of priests into central Germany for the conversion of the worshipers of god Thor. Prince Gregor, the grandson of a king, was with him, having been intrusted to his care by the abbess of the cloister Phalzel. On Christmas eve they were fighting their way through the snow of the forest when they came upon the heathen tribe of Geismar They were assembled under the thunder oak. Bymbolio of the power of Thor, and were pre­ pared to offer up sacrifice. The white-haired priest of the heathens had chosen the young son of the chief as the fairest possession of the tribe, and he was to be offered, for the god was very hungry and needed the utmost atonement. As the venerable priest raised his stone hatchet on high and brought it down to kill the boy, who was ready, prepared for the stroke, Winfred appeared and warded ofT the blow with his staff. The people were gratified at his saving of their favorite and allowed him speech and he gave them the Christian creed. Then he and the Prince Gregor took their axes and cut down the Thunder Oak. As It was ready to fall the light­ ning came and split it in many parts and it fell asunder. The waiting tribe then beheld In Its place a slender fir tree, green and sparkling and odorous. Winfred bade the tribesmen bear this tree to the hall of Grundhar. the chieftain, to there assemble about it and makp merry. About this first Christmas tree the wild men of the woods first heard the tale of the shepherd boy and the fields of Judah and It gripped fhelr sturdy hearts. The tribes became Christian and ever after used the fir tree as a token of the day of Christ 's birth The Christmas tree in its present style of usage cannot be traced back farther than the six­ teenth century. It then existed only in the Rhine valley, to which narrow limits it was restricted for more than 200 years. At the opening of the nineteenth century it spread to the rest of Ger­ many, and fifty years later had reached Bohemia. Hungary, Paris and England German immigrants • bad already brought the custom to our own coun­ try and here it has become so popular that the supply of trees in the city markets Is never equal to the demand. Linking the present with the dim past of un­ numbered centuries, there will this Christmas be displayed in American homes 5,000.000 evergreen trees. There are about 20,000,000 families in the I 'nited States, and one In four of these will make the Christmas tree a part of the celebration that is at hand This does not mpan that only these will participate In the festivities of the season, for there is still the stocking method of dispens­ ing gifts. But in this great number of homes It has become the custom to use the trees in ac eordanoe with the old-fashioned custom of sturdy, rural Germany. New York, the metropolis of the nation, uses far more Christmas trees than any other city in the world. Yet the city is so admirably located from the standpoint of available forests that the supply is always abundant and prices low. A quarter of a million Christmas trees are each year brought to New York, and all of them are sold during the week before Christmas Over on Riverside Drive, where are the homes of the wealthy, expensive trees a»e sold These are elaborately prepared, often being specially grown for the purpose and bring prices as high as $50 Yet the East Side gets Its due proportion, and so abundant is the supply that good shrubs may be had for 25 cents and 50 cents. The little trees grow quickly and the farmers a,re often glad to have them cleared off their land. As a result the people who count the pennies closely find the Christmas greens within their reach. Father Knickerbocker lives right in the midst of the most productive Christmas tree section The state of New York yields them abundant^ Straight down from the Adlrondacks they co»he in trainload lots. Northern Pennsylvania atae produces them without stint, and bo are all tn<> nearby cities guaranteed an abundance. All through New England there is a general use of the Christmas tree For a month past there have been hundreds of men preparing the Christmas tree harvest for the youngsters who dwell In the towns and cities In the smaller communities, provided the region produces the right sort of trees, the farmer him­ self cuts them down and brings them to market He sells these trees to market men, to grocers, to florists and decorators. They are bought from him by the wagonload and cost little Then they are properly prepared and set upon the sidewalk But preparation for the larger markets are dif­ ferent. In the hills around the greater cities making ready for Christmas is begun two ftionths before the arrival of the day to be celebrated In Maine, for Instance, the men go out in gangs of four. They know their business, for they have gathered this self-same harvest for a generation They have bought the trees as they stand in the field, paying the farmer five cents each for them The butt of the tree is sawed off smoothly and painted over in order that the sap may be re­ tained. The limbs are bound down tight so as to save room In shipping. Then they are bound together in bunches of five, this being convenient for both shipment and sale. They go to market in open cars that they may be kept cool and pos­ sibly damp. Otherwise their tips m'ght wilt and their attractiveness thus be lessened They are sold direct from the cars to retailers and these make a point of keeping them always in the open air. Throughout the southern states the supply of Christmas trees comes from the southern pine that overruns the region. Ordinarily the markets are supplied by the wagons of the farmers, but in the bigger cities they come in carload and trainload lots. The flr 1s abundant In Colorado, but it grows in high, inaccessible places, and therefore the Douglas spruce and the lodpepole pine largely take its place. This Is largely true of all the Rocky Mountain states. In California and the other Pacific Coast states the incense cedar and the young coast redwoods are quite generally used as Christmas trees The swamps of Michigan. Wisconsin and Minnesota furnish the markets of Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Detroit. When the time Is ready for the Indoor use of the tree it Is dug up and pared down to a graceful piece of earth as a base Then a piece of ran- vas or any other sort of stout cloth Is bound about the base to prevent crumbling of the earth The whole of this is then fitted into a box or tub and is ready to serve its purpose In the house It Is more solid and effective Indoors than the or­ dinary tree and never wilts or droops It is in reality a living tree. When the festivities are over the tree is taken to the point where it is to be planted. A hole is dug to fit its base This may be successfully ac­ complished even where the ground Is frozen. The tree Is lifted from its tub. the cloth Is taken from around Its base and it is fitted again into the earth from which it came. The protected roots again take hold and the tree goes on growing without even a knowledge of its holiday expe­ rience. It is In no way injured. Nurserymen specially prepare trees for Just th is purpose Individuals may do the Bame th lDg with no more explanation than that given above Trees from the native woods around any village may have their roots pruned in advance or they may be dug up with no preparation whatever There is a better chance of their flourishing when they have been prepared for the transplanting But any evergreen dug up with a bit of earth about its roots should grow. There Is also a manner of permanently marking trees without injuring them or interfering with their growth. A tag fastened to a piece of wire win remain attached to a tree for a century. This tag may be of metal and on it may be stamp­ ed the date and whatever legend is dssired The home of a growing family may thus be left with a permanent monument of all the Christmases that have passed over the heads of the children that have dwelt within It When these return to the ancestral hearth In their old age they can recall the planting of the trees and the events that hover about the occasion in question. Inci­ dentally, the landscape will have been beauti­ fied, and aside from the sentimental phase of it , much valuable timber produced. The Christmas tree Industry of the I 'nited States has assumed great proportions and Uncle Sam Is making plans to place the Industry upon a permanently profitable basis through reforest­ ing large areas Incidentally the new Industry has furnished an opportunity for hundreds of boys and girls to earn their Christmas money In a new way by harvesting the cones of evergreen trees. Of the nation's forest land, 60,000,000 acres are today covered with mature timber, while 40,000.000 acres are well seeded with young growth. This leaves 100.000.000 acres that are either non-productive or only partly productive It is for this 100.000,000 acres that seed are to be gathered, and it is upon this vast expanse that they are to be planted until the whole Is - developed into Its greatest possible yielding capa­ city making It one of the finest forests that th« world has ever known POINTED WAY TO SALVATION Preacher's Advice Was All Right but His Friend Also Had Some­ thing to Say. Senator Samuel A Ettelson, speak­ ing recently at a banquet, told the fol lowing: "A colored preacher stood up on a Sunday and said Mv text this morn- j ing. brothers and sisters, am "What j shall I do to be saved?" To me there ! seems only one way to be saved, and that am to quit this'ere extravagant living Back to the pimple life, say I The re am go ing t o t > > > no chance f o r you to be saved so long as you keep up this high living. If there is any- . thing that is going to kil l our race It is these'ere luxuries Better go hun- ; grv and cold like the wolf. Go out and face the rains and fight the j storms. Go vadi* like the crane. You ! will grow rugged and you will grow tough, but you ' l l walk l ike a man. Yes. sir, that am de way to salvation, that am de way to get saved.' "Just then a tall colored man. rls lng from his pew in the rear of the church, interrupted the preacher, shouting:., 'This am no way to be saved shouting:'This am no way to be saved You Just jump right through that back window and run just as fast as your legs will carry you, for the county sheriff am here v.ith a warrant for your arrest for stealing them chickens from Massa Martin's coop last Friday night. ' "--Chicago Tribune. RASH ON FACE FOR 2 YEARS Sioux Falls, S. D.--"My trouble of •kin disease started merely as a rash on my face and neck, but it grew and kept getting worse until largo scabs would form, fester and break. This was just on the one side of uiy face, but it soon scattered to the other side. I suffered a great deal, especial­ ly at night, on account of its Itching and burning. I would scratch it and of course that Irritated it very much. This rash was on my face for about two years, sometimes breaking out lots worse and forming larger sores. It kept me from sleeping day or night for a couple of months. My face look­ ed disgriiceful and I was almost ashamed to be seen by my friends. "A friend asked me to try Cuticura Soap and Cuticura Ointment. I would bathe my face with hot water and a lot of Cuticura Soap, then I would put on the Cuticura Ointment. In less than two days' time, the soreness and Inflammation had almost entirely dis­ appeared, and In four weeks' time you could not soe any of the rash. Now my face Is without a spot of any kind. I also tiso them for my scalp and hair. They c ured me completely." (Signed) Miss Pansy Hutchins, Feb. 6, 1912, Cuticura Soap and Ointment sold throughout the world. Sample of each free, with 32 p. Skin Book. Address post-card "Cuticura, Dept. L* Boston." Adv. 8TEP FARTHER. Important to Mothers Examine carefully every bottle of CASTOR1A, a safe and sure remedy for infants and children, and see that it Bears the Signature of In Use For Over 30 Years. Children Cry for Fletcher's Castori* This is a Duke's Mixture Umbrella "Whether you smoke Duke's Mixture in pipe or cigar­ ette, it is delightfully satisfying. Everywhere it is the choice of men who want real, natural tobacco. In each 5c sack there are one Cttld a half ounces of choice Virginia and North Carolina tobacco--pare, mild, rich--best sort of granulated tobacco. Enough to make many good, satisfying cigarettes--the kind that makes rolling popular. And with each sack you get a present coupon and a book of cigarette papers free. Get an Umbrella Free The coupons can be exchanged for all sorts of valu­ able presents. The list includes not only smokers' articles --but many desirable presents for women and children-- umbrellas, cameras, toilet articles, tennis rackets, catcher's gloves and masks, etc. During December and January only we tvill send our illustrated catalogue of presents FREE to any address. Ask for it on a postal, today. Coupons from Duke's Mixture may be assorted nnth tag! from HORSE SHOE, J. T..T1NSLFVS NATU­ RAL LEAF. GRANGER TWIST, coupons from FOUR ROSES (10c- /-n double coupcK), PICK PLUG C JT, PIEDMONT CIGARETTES. CUX CIGARETTES, and Otkcr t&£S or coupons issued, by us. ^>Onfy Premium Dept. Jf St. Louis, Mo. .j DISTFMPFSS CATARRHAL PEVCB AND Ak.0. NOU AND THROAT DISEASES' Cure* the aick and act* aa a preventive for other*. Liquid fhren on the toncue. Safe for brood mare* aod all others. Beet kidney remedy, SOc aod • (1 a bottle; S3 and $10 a doaeo. Sold by aD druniiti and horae goods' house*, or seat, eiprtM paid, by the manufacturers. SPOHN MEDICAL CO- CbomiaU, GOSHEN, INDIANA The honeymoon is on the wane when hubby quits taking wifle every­ where he goes Mr*. Wlnslow's Soothing fijrtip for Children U*thiiig, boftens the puma, reduces Inflamm Uoq,*]1aja pain,cures wind colic,25c a bottle J Get a Canadian He In Western Canada's Free Homestead Area It 's a genuine surprise party if an> one has a good time at it. Mr. Rastus--1'ze muzzled de dog. An' now l 'ze waitin' Mr. Acker--For what? ! Mr. Rastus--To see if dey's gwinter go de res' o' de way an' see to de puhtection o' us human bein's. Ef dey'll fix up some way o' muzzlin' er | hin' feet o' er mule, de'll sho'ly stop er heap o' damage. I)r.Pierce's Pleasant Pellets repulate&nd inxig- orat« stomach, liver and txiwels. 8ug*r-ooat«d, tiny £ranule6, easy to take as candy. Adv. Borrowed money often causes total loss of memory. Successful. "Is he a very successful surgeon' ' ' "Very Nearly all of his patients live long enough to pay their bills." The rich mellow quality o f I.KWIS' S i n ­ gle l ' . i rnler . V c i g a r piven t h e h i>{he«t p l e a * ure in smoking Adv. Most of the so-called theatrical stars are rockets. FOLEY KIDNEY PILLS Are Richest in Curative Qualities FOR BACKACHE. RHEUMATISM. KIDNEYS AND BLADDER Your Liver Is Clogged Up That'* Why You're Out <rf Sorts --Have No Appet CARTER'S LITTLL LIVER PILL will put you ri, in a few day T h e y d their duty CureCon-l--, . stipation, ^ Biliousness, Indigestion and Sick Headache SMALL PILL, SMALL DOSE, SMALL PRICK. Genuine must bear Signature lid Cattl mm TIE THE PROVINCC OF iilo! :as several Ni»w .e&dtDg Districts; that Word rare opportcnHjr j secure 100 acres of ex- e 1 1 e n t agriculiuml province baa no superior and '> profitable agriculture *bows an unbroken period of over a quarter vl a Oenturjr. erfret climate: good markets; ..ways convenient; soil the very . . t, and social oondlUoofc tuuet irabia. . ac&nt lands adjaoaot to : aieowads mar be part-based mid also In the older districts iunda can be booght at rea&on- ubie prices. For further particulars wi-u u.- Lllra^tM. IU Imtertt LIT. Ml >. V. McIsmi. 171 l*l»«.t. C'.iJadiac Government Afreet a er address Superintendent i>f i u^xulffration. Ot ta «• •». I UJUMENT .rare YULETIDE. The wind across the snowclad hills, A restless spirit, roves. The murmur of the frozen rills Still echoes In the groves. The stripped trees, bending to the earth. Their tale of sorrow tell; HilBhed are the sounds of recent mirth That peeled In every dell. Old winter breathes along the plain Its chilling breath of snow; The billows bounding o 'er the main A n added fury know; Th" sky Is frowning, gray an<* cold. The earth Is brown and Fere. Ye: on each barren waste and wold The Yuletlde bells ring clear. TIRED BLOOD SHATTERS THE NERVES (Copyright 1912 by the Touitivee Co.) Nervous Strain tires the blood, and Tired Blood starves the nerves, pro­ ducing Neuralgia, ^eurltls. Brain Fag, Nervous Headache, Melancholia, Hys­ teria, Sleeplessness, NWVOUB Prostra­ tion, Neurasthenia, Muscle Twitching, Nervous Debility, etc. The rational mm a & imm course ot tr^£&t~ TONUIVES m«u t-10 he ,p nerve, must be t(?TIRED BLOOD to revive the normal activity of the blood. In no other way can & nerve be reached, or a cure accomplished. Treatment should be carried out by the use of i Tonitlves, bringing back the red j blood to (Is normal condition. 75c. per j box of dealers or by maiL The ! Tonltives Co., Buffalo, N. Y. LIVE STOCK AND MISCELLANEOUS (€51 IN QRKAT VAJOKTT RORj SALE cAT THB LOWEST PRICES BT WESTE1N NEWSPAPER UNION Su-531 W. Aduat 8l^ Chicago Be '.Ddependent. Grow si I FLORIDA grapefruit on !*ID* \ froon County, Missouri. H a v e some H o n a J b a r g a i n * i n l a r ^ e a n d f a r m * Address G. 8. Jolmson, Scbfll Oitj. Mo. PATENTS Wa (MB K.ColfSISB.WMb' Ui<too,l>C !-kxik-« I rwe. Hi*b- tstt rafereoum iieel rasaits. "•AflSDFfllKEJILI Coras, Bunions, Cal­ lous Bunches, Tired* Aching, Swollen Feet- It allays pain and takes out soreness and inflam­ mation promptly. HealingJ and soothing -- causes a better circulation of the blood through the part, assisting Datura in building new, healthy tissue and eliminating the old. Alex Ahl, Tobinsport, Ind., writes Nov. 15, 1905. "No doubt you remember mv getting two bottles ot your ABSORBINE, JR., for a bunion on my foot. My foot is well ." Also valuable for any swelling or painful affliction, Goitre, Enlarge*! Glands, Varicose Veins, Milk Leg, Strains, Sprains. Heals Cuts, Bruises, Lacerations. Pr ice $i.00 and $ 2 . 0 0 at all drug­ gists or delivered. Book 4 G Free. WJ.Toung,P.0.F.,310T8fflpleGt,S<>fiBgfieid,M«s. n m c n K v U * f r « * . JOHN LTBO*1SO> SOMS4 CO^Xruj.M.K*' a W. N. U.. CHICAGO, NO. 50-1912. PECULIAR MARK OF REGRET Tortoises, Appropriately Marked, Lib­ erated at Death of the Emperor of Japan. In connection with the funeral of the late emperor of Japan, a strange Seremony was performed. A Japanese correspondent writes: "Following the custom of carrying birds in large cages at Buddhist funerals, to be lib­ erated over the graves, the Tokyo city and the Tokyo branch of the Red Cross society Joined together In the oeremony of freeing three lfvrge tor­ toises as a mark of regret at the death of Emperor Meljl. The shell of the largest specimen was three feet five Inches long, and upon the shell were engraved the characters: 'We humbly beg leave to show our deepest regret nt the death of our Meiji Tenno. Let free in the 6ea off Ogasawara island j on the day of the p t a t e f i n e r a l . Sep­ t ember 1 2 . 1 9 1 2 . Hlros l i l A b e , g o v ­ ernor of Tokyo. On the back of another t o r t o i s e w a s s igned the name o f t he p r e s i d e n t o f t he Tokyo b ranch o f t he Red ( r o e s soc ie ty . A t f i r s t I t was p l a n n e d t o I n ­ l ay t he cha rac t e r s on tbe h a c k of t h e tortoises In gold, but. fear! : ig that they migh t be cap tu red aga in f o r t he s a k e of t he gold , t he cha rac t e r s were d o n e In b l ack l acque r On the even ing o f September 13, Just as the gun gave the signal for the starting of the Im­ perial funeral, official who had been waiting In a boat off Ogasawara Is­ land gave the tortoises their free­ dom. "All three of the creatures appear­ ed to be delighted to be once more at large In the ocean, and put their heads out of the water as much as to say 'thank you,' and then disapp**red from sight." Hirth and ancestry, and that >»hich we have not ourselves achieved, can scarcely call our own.--Ovid.