Pike County Democrat, Volume 30, Number 30, Petersburg, Pike County, 1 December 1899 — Page 3

IN PXTRITAN New England a year bad ■" passed away, Since first beside the Plymouth coast the — English Mayflower lay, When Bradford, the good governor, sent fowlers forth to snare

io increase rue »urKey;aaa n.e whu iowi, the scanty fare:* f •“Our husbandry hath prospered, there Is corn enough tor food, Though ‘the pease be parched in blossom, and the grain Indifferent good.’ ^ Who blessed the loaves and fishes for the feast miraculous. And fitted with oil the widow’s cruse, He hath remembered us! ■"Give thanks unto the Lord of Hosts, by whom we all are fed, Who granted us our daily prayer: 'Give us our daily bread!* , By us and by our children let this day be kept for aye, In memory of His bounty, as the land’s Thanksgiving day.” Bach brought his share of Indian meal the pious feast to make, With the fat deer from the forest and the \ wild-fowl from the brake. ' And chanted hymn and prayer were raised —though eyes with tears were dim— •“The Lord He hath remembered us, let us / remember Him!’’ Then Bradford stood up at their head and lifted up his voice: “The corn is gathered from the field, I call you to rejoice; Thank God for all His mercies, from the greatest to the least; Together have we fasted, friends, together let us feast. “The Lord who led forth Israel was with . us in the waste; Sometime in light, sometime in. cloud, before us He hath paced; Now give Him thanks, and pray to Him who holds us in His hand To prosper us and make of this a strong and mighty land!” From Plymouth to the Golden Gate, to-day their children tread, The mercies of that bounteous Hand upon the land are shed; The “flocks are on a thousand hills,” the prairies wave with grain, The cities spring like mushrooms now where once was desert-plain. Heap high the board with plenteous cheer and gather to the feast, „ And toast that sturdy Pilgrim band whose courage never ceased. •Give praise to that All-Gracious One by whom their steps were led, And thanks unto the harvest’s Lord who sends our “daily bread.” —Alice Williams Brotherton, in Home Queen. •“There was great store of wilde turkles •of which they took many beside venison. . . . The fowlers had been sent out by the governor that so they might—after a special manner*-rejolce together after they had gathered the fruits of their labors.”—< Palfrey’s History of New England.

flUNT^ SARAH'S1

THANKSGIVING DINNER.**5^ 'with two tight flaxen braids was thrust hastily out of the kitchen window and as precipitately withdrawn* Aunt Sarah, who was evidently lost 4n deep thought, gave such a sudden start that the great yellow pumpkin she was lovingly caressing fell from her arm. “Well, I do declare!’/ she exclaimed reproachfully, as she hastened to recover her treasure and turn her steps towards the farm house. * “If things haven’t come to a pretty pass, Sarah Jane Smithers. You a woman of 60, and standing out here dreaming like «omeyounggirl,and leaving your mince pies to the mercy of a child. But I .guess I ought to be excused this once, things have come so terrible sudden like. This time yesterday I was living my old humdrum life, and not thinking about making a Thanksgiving dinner. 1 always said I’d have a big one when I got the mortgage paid and not before. But I haven’t seen one of my own flesh and blood for 20 years. And to think that Cousin Jim is coming and bringing his wife and children.” By this time she had reached the kitchen; and breathlessly depositing her burden upon the spotless table she proceeded to open the oven door, whence issued a savory odor. “Just one minute more, Susie Belle, and these mince pies would have been burnt to a crisp.” “Yes’m,” replied Susie Belle, respectfully, and with a shade of awe in her tone. “That was the reason why I called you. I thought you had forgotten.”, , It was such an uncommon event for thorough-going Aunt Sarah to forget anything that the rather timid child felt some hesitancy in alluding to so flagrant a breach of the good woman’s atrong point. Aunt Sarah colored alightly, but made no reply. “Now, child, you fall to work on this pumpkin while I dress the turkey. I want to get everything pretty well done up to-morrow so there won't be much on hand when Jim’s folks get here.” Aunt Sarah was the last surviving a&ember of a large and prosperous family. She lived alone with the exception of an orphan child of 12 years. Ai one by one those whom she loved, and for whom she had cheerfully sacrificed her life, passed away, and she bad ao animate object upon which to UNT SAME! Aunt Sarie! do come quick, the mince pies are burning!” And a small head

lavish her affection, she turned it all to the old house where her family had lived for two generations. Cousin Jim had spent many yean in Missouri, and his .wife and children she had never seen. ^ The one great shadow that darkened Aunt Sarah’s Kft was a mortgage lor $1,000 upon the place, the time for the payment pf which was rapidly approaching. Her usually cheerful disposition was so clouded by this trial that for several yean she had not been able to find heart for the celebration of any festivities. However, since “Jim’s folks,” those that really cared for her and were her own, were coming, she must make suitable preparations for their entertainment. So the morning before Thanksgiving found her up by four o’clock, and bustling about with a brighter face and a brighter step than she had known in years. All day she mixed and stirred and baked and tasted, regardless of the lowering clouds and steady rain without. By three o’clock in the afternoon the last pie, steaming hot, was placed beside many others in neat rows on the pantry shelves, the enormous turkey, brown and crisp, lay In regal state beside a spiced ham. Cakes, snowy loaves of home made bread, jars of preserved fruits, jellies and marmalades and pats of golden butter were arranged in tempting array. Aunt Sarah gave a

with * he»jry heart. The brightness and warmth of the sitting-room smote her with a deep sense of guilt. She tried to put the matter from her mind; but every time she looked into the glowing flames she saw a host of cold, haggard faces. Unable to bear it longer, she left the room on the pretext of seeing that all was well upstairs. She passed from one to another of the neat bedrooms. Neverbefore had the old-fashioned, high-posted beds looked so inviting. She paused in deep thought. Suddenly her eyes rested upon a faded sampler she had worked when a child. The long, uneven letters in red, green and purple silk danced before her eyes. "Inasmuch aa.ye have done it unto one of the least of these, My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.H "Done it unto Me," the words echoed in her ears. What if He were out in ! the rain hungry and cold, would she ha«-e treated Him thus? She sank beside the bed and buried her face in her hands. “Dear Lord,” she sobbed, "it is so hard, when it is the only pleasure I’ve had since mother died, five long yearsago. I wasn’t expecting it, and it all came so sudden like, and now to have it spoiled. But for Thy sake, Lord, accept the sacrifice!” “Susie Belle,” said Aunt Sarah a few minutes later as she appeared muffled from head to foot, "I’m going down

“DO COME QUICK. THE MINCE PIES ARE BURNING.”

sigh of satisfaction as she surveyed the goodly store. “Here, Susie Belle,” she said, filling the child’s hands with some of the choicest cookies. “Take these and eat them. We’ve got enough for to-mor-row. Let me see, Jim has five children. Well, I want those little ones to have a real, old-fashioned dinner for once in their lives. I don’t believe they ever had one out there in Missouri. Dear me! how it does rain!” she ejaculated; “but I’m not a mite afraid of its keeping Jim’s folks at home. Once Jim sets his head to do a thing, he always would have his way or die.” And she settled back in her armchair by the cozy sittingroojgllre “to rest a bit” after her hard day^P^ork. Just as she was dreaming of a Thanksgiving long ago when she and Jim and her brothers and sisters popped corn and roasted apples before the great open fire, a loud knock caused her to jump to her feet in alarm. “Who on earth caii.be coming on such an evening?” she muttered drowsily, as she groped her way through the hall to the door.

“Why, Mr. Stanton! what has brought you up here in such a rain as this!” she exclaimed in surprise. “Come right in.” The cashier of the Newton bank glanced down at his dripping mackintosh and muddy boots, then at the immaculate oilcloth on the hall floor. “No, thank you, Miss Sarah,” he answered. “I am in a great hurry. Haven’t you heard the news? The dam at Watertown has broken; nearly aHthe place is submerged, especially the poorest quarters near the factories. The people are flocking to Newton in droves. Every hotel, private house and public building is full and yet more are coming. It is pitiable to see them drenched and shivering after walking four miles in this dreadful rain. Many of them have had nothing to eat since early morning. We are trying to find shelter for them in the nearest farm houses^, and thought, as you haven’t much family and considerable room, you might accommodate a good number.” Aunt Sarah’s eyes grew round and her jaw dropped in dismay. At any other time, she would have made the poor wanderers welcome enough. But now—and, in imagination, she beheld the groaning pantry shelves, the shining floors and the beds with their fresh lavender-scented sheets. “Mr. Stanton,” she began, faintly, “I never hated so much to refuse anything in all iny life. It doesn’t hardly look Christian, and under ordinary circumstances I' wouldn’t think of refusing; but my cousin, that I haven't seen for years, is coming to-morrow. His children never have had a real good Thanksgiving, and I can’t think of having everything torn up before they get here. I am dreadful sorry.” Mr. Stanton was disappointed, yet he went away glad that such an unexpected pleasure was coming into Aunt Sarah’s life. He quite understood her feelings, though when he thought of the miserable unsheltered creatures in the town, he wished it might have been otherwise. 7 * Aunt Sarah turned from the door

to the village. I hate to leave you, though there isn’t anything to hurt you. I will hurry back as quick as I can, and you kindle a fire in the kitchen stove.” The child, dumb with astonishment, could only gasp: “Yes’m.” She stood watching the resolute figure until it was lost to view, and turned away with a shiver as she thought of the.distance to the village. She knew nothing of the interview with Mr. Stanton. She uhderstood, however, that only some st£rn duty or pressing necessity could take Aunt Sarah from home so late and on such a stormy evening. Notwithstanding her promise to return promptly, it was nearly two hours before Aunt Sarah threw the' doors of her sitting-room invitingly open. “Come right in,” she said, cheerily, “every one of you, just as fast as you can.” Susie Belle, who had fallen asleep after a weary watch, started at the sound of Aunt Sarah’s voice. She fell back a few steps and began to rub her eyes. What could it mean? She was surely dreaming. Pouring into the room were rough men , and miserable, drenched women, many of whom were carrying small children.

“Here, child! These poor people have • had their homes washed away. Show the men into the kitchen while I get dry clothes for the women and .children.” * . And Aunt Sarah fell to emptying chests, drawers and wardrobes, utterly regardless of her usually orderly habits. By ten o’clock that night, 20 men, women and children had been warmed, bountifully fed and comfortably bedded. Aunt Sarah felt a strange lightness of heart as she and Susie Belle sought a hard bed in the attic. True, she was at first unmindful of His command; but had she not made generous atonement? Even the garments of her beloved dead, which she had aired and treasured year after year, were put into use that night. A dry sob arose in her throat as she | thought of “Jim’s folks. “Never mind,” she said to herscif. “Perhaps they will stay over Sunday, and I can cook them another Thanksgiving din-: ner.” Morning dawned clear. Aunt Sarah and her willing little helper were up betimes preparing breakfast for their numerous visitors, and a right comfortable one it was. Many of the wayfarers set out early to return to the doomed town or to seek friends or rela- ; tives in the country. Others lingered as i thqugh they were too weary and frightened from that terrible day’s experience to think of aught else. Most of them were of the poorer class. One among them, however, was a man of kind and gentle manners, who somehow won Aunt Sarah’s confidence at once. He did not ask many questions; but before she realized what she was doing, she had told him of the expected guests, the disappointment and even the mortgage. A little later Aunt Sarah was hovering about her relatives, explaining and apologizing with tears in her eyes. “Wasn’t it grand of her to do that?” said Jim’s wife, who proved to be a plump, kind little woman. “Don’t you ' ...s £ ' -iV :

mind a bit, dear Aunt Susan. Of course well stay over Sunday, and I will help you cook to-morrow; and Saturday well bare a big dinner. I am not" at all afraid of starring in the meantime.** Although the dinner was two days late, nerer was a more tempting one placed upon a board nor erer did hap* pier people gather around it. Just aa Cousin Jim had finished asking a bless* ing, his eldest son returned from the Tillage, where he had gone upon an errand. 'I “Here is a letter for you, Cousin Sarah,** he said, handidg her, a large , envelope. “A letter?*’ she echoed. “Who «&n be writing to me?’* She broke the seal and a crisp bank* note fell upon her plate. She read aloud: “Dear Madam: “I beg that you will pardon the liberty 1 take in sending this amount. I shall never miss it. as I am a wealthy man and hare no family. One who knows how to make much good use of a home should certainly . not lose it Yours truly, “ROBERT UPTON.” “Oh, I don’t deserve it! I don’t deserve ^ to be paid in this way!” and Aunt ! Sarah buried her face in her apron.— Eleanor Norton Parker, in N. Y. Independent. ABOUT THANKSGIVING.

How the Proclamation Is Iasaed by the President—A Boy’a Composition. After Hallpwe’en is over, the next thing to look forward to in the way of a- fete day is thanksgiving. A few days before Thanksgiving the president issues his annual proclamation. There is a little form to be observed about this. It is composed by the president, himself, which, you know, is not true of all state papers, and in most instances written out in his own hand. When this is done, the document goes to the state department, where it is carefully copied in ornamental writing that is almost like engraving, on the official blue paper of that department. The next thing needed on the document is the great seal of the government. This seal is kept by the clerk of pardons and commissions, and it is very carefully guarded under lock and key. Its peeper will not get it out without a special warrant signed by the president, and an impression of the seal is quite a cerenjony in itself. When the proclamation has been thus duly signed and sealed, many copies are made of it by clerks, and one is sent to the governor of every state in the union. It is also given out then to the press agents, who telegraph it all over the United States, and in this way the day is announced. The governors, as they receive it, issue one themselves for their state. The first proclamation, issued by President Washington in 1789, was dated early in October. News could not be telegraphed everywhere in an hour then, and thq word from the executive mansion had to travel slowly, so it was got out in plenty of time? Washington’s example in the way of issuing a proclamation was not followed by all his successors. The practice stopped with him, and was not revived until Lincoln became president. Since then, however, every succeeding president has issued a proclamation. Here is that funny composition which a boy wrote about Thanksgiving, which is worth repeating, now that it is timely: “Thanksgiving was brought over froth England by the Puritan Fathers in the year 1620. It has staid here ever since. On Thanksgiving everybody goes to church, in the morning, so as to have everything out of the way be-r fore dinner. Then you come home and hang around a little w'hile and get awful hungry smelling the turkey. After dinner Thanksgiving is over.”—N. Y. Times. VERIFIED;

Oh, we And on glad Thanksgiving, When we've passed beyond the soup. That a bird upon the table Is worth two out in the coop. N. Y. World. A Welcome Day. The setting aside of a day of national thanksgiving is one of the finest customs that could grace the record of a prosperous nation, and no time in the year offers more graceful opportunity for living out the spirit of the day to its most I practical extent. All expect a good dinner on Thanksgiving. They don’t always get it, to be sure, but the day has so long been associated with the thoughts of an exceptionally good meal that the very name of Thanksgiving day almost smells like turkey and cranberry sauce.—Detroit Free Press. Each la the Market. “Wasn’t it lovely in the Jones' to ask us to eat Thanksgiving dinner with them?” “I don’t know; they waited so late 1 think they expected us to ask them.”— Chicago Daily News. Spreads Itself. Thanksgiving day makes even the dining-table “turn over a new leaf” and spread itself.—L. A. W. bulletin.

MORE LOSS THAN PROFIT. Wfeat Imperialism I» Coitlnc the People of the United States. The treasury statement of receipts and expenditures of the government for the month of October, 1899, and the four months of the current fiscal year, shows • that the people of the United States, at present, are paying at the rate of $123,000,000 a year for keeping up a foreign establishment. In other words, we are throwing away on sentiment to save the individual William McKinley the pain and mortification of having to acknowledge mistakes dangerous to the nation, made by him as president. Mr. McKinley has personally thanked the soldiers, and the widows and orphans of an unnecessary war, for their sacrifices to the grand old flag, all 6f which is tudg^Xnd^nmpombe, and he has even dfecfared it an act%of heroism for one or any number M men to lay down their lives upon thecal tar of their country for the benefit of others, the survivors. But Mr. McKinley has not made any sacrifices, is not wililng to make the slightest sacrifice, he even demands that American citizens fall down and worship'his policy; he insists upon his personality being the test of patriotism, and wrapped in the flag which is not his property, but the emblem of the nation, poses as a man who is leading the nation to greatness and prosperity. ^ Mr. McKinley, as a man, an individual, is not entitled to any more respect or consideration than the humblest American citizen. The high office he fills merits both. As an individual and as an official, the servant of the people, what has he done, what is he doing that he is bound to do under the constitution which he accepted and ratified when he took upon himself the office of chief executive? When he shall give information of the state of the union to congress in his

annual message, as be must do, bow can he limit himself to the state of the union? His whole message beyond numerous platitudes concerning prosperity, which he has repeated so often that he actually believes them, must specify matters not of, or concerning the union; matters not in any manner connected with the union, but entirely foreign to the union. He will say that he has wrung from the pockets of the people of the union the gigantic sum of $123,000,000 per annum, which will be doubled if his policy is pursued. For the first time in the history of the nation, its president will be compelled to gravel outside of the nation and place before the congress of the people a foreign policy which has increased the burdens of the people in the direction of an extravagance not contemplated by the instrument which made him president. Perhaps he will call his policy “business enterprise,” if so, whose is the profit, whose the loss? Upon whom does the loss fall when millions of cheap, crass laborers are added to our already few opportunities for American citizens to gain their daily bread ? Who gains in sugar, tobacco, rice, fruits and other products when competition is on with mililons of cheap products? Who pays the taxes on all this stupendous departure from our national existence? How shall we be rewarded for our sacrifices, our blood, our treasure poured out to rectify the mistakes Mr. McKinley is toO shamefaced to rectify himself? The only answer is; A second term of McKinley. Is the game worth the candle? COMBINATION IN RAILROADS How the Republicans Control the Vast Political Power In Them.

• Nearly every .week some new combination is reported, it does not seem an exaggeration to say that we may soon see all the railroads of the conntry controlled by five men, and these agreed that there shall be no competition between them. Practically a universal railroad trust or monopoly. The railroad freight bills of the country wijl this year exceed $1,000,000,000, over $13 for every man, woman and child, or an average of $05 for. each family. The passenger travel will amount to one-third as much. There are over 900,000 men employed by the railroad companieSy or about qne-fourteenth of the total voting population, all more or less dependent upon the officers of these railroads for their daily bread. These officers are controlled by the five financiers who form the governing power of the railroad trust or combination. What a vast political power they can wield, and they did use it in the last national election, and will again use it in the next one. All this.great political power was used for the republicans, and in addition a vast sum subscribed to the Hanna-McKinley campaign fund. ■ Why were these railroad all in favor of the republicans? And why are the republican leaders favorable to the railroads? And why do they set their faces like a stone wall against enforcing the anti-trust laws and giving the interstate commerce commission the power they have asked for? The answer to these questions is self-evi-dent. ' To pass resolutions against trusts, as Mr. Hanna did in the platform of the Ohio republican convention, or to repeat these or stronger ou^s in the next republican national platform will not blind the eyes of the voters of the United States, unless they are participating in the boodle provided by the trusts and railroad' combinations, and disbursed with lavish hand by the Hanna-McKinley political strikers.— Jeffersonian Democrat. —1—The funniest thing out is this report from Ohio that Hanna has helped himself and his party by going on the stump and showing himself to the people.—Boston Herald.

The following1 incidec ing Mr. Bryan’s tour of are good exam repartee and scathing invective: Near the close of his City, a republican in the; and denied that ~~ sires to retain the upon, without a or the least show of Mr. Bryan quoted this one of McKinley’s speeches? “I permit myself to doubt that lands will be retained under nign sovereigntyof the United The republican next declared most of the Filipinos stere in against Aguinaldo. vM; :• “Are you not flattering Aguinaldo too much,” asked Mr. Bryan, “when you assert that with a handful of men he can not only subjugate his own race, but hold in check and frustrate a great American army?” (Cheers)< A third time the man broke in to declare that the trade of the Philippines is valuable. Bryan rose fo his full height and his eyes flashed as he thundered: / “I dare you to measure the lives of American boys and the heartaches of American mothers by the paltry dollars and cents of commerce; I dare you to doit!” '• And the crowd went into a veritable paroxysm of applause. Then the man declared that Providence Was leading the United States to the Philippine islands. He had not long to await his answer:

ah, my iriena,' came tee reply, J. never yet cornered an Imperialist who did not finally lay the blame on the Almighty.” (Laughter and cheers). “If you, my friend, were half as anxious to be on the Lord’s side as you are to bring Jehovah down from Heaven to bolster up the republican party, yon wouldn’t be here advocating an abandonment of the declaration of independence. You are not ^aching the — gospel of the Prince of Peace. YSu’re * preaching the jjlfernal gospel of conquest and murder and death!” The orator’s last words were drowned in a tempest of cheers. The imperialist disappeared. And so will the doctrine of imperialism when measured by the enlightened intelligence of American citizenship.—Mississippi Valley Democrat. RELIGION ENTERS INTO IT. McKinley's Policy of IntperUlIm Will Interfere with Relictions Liberty. . W:: / - I Every man who has read history must believe that the only safety for religious liberty is in a people’s government. A liberty of right, and ^ot by toleration. It is in America that^the persecuted sects of the centralized governments of the world have found freedom of worship and liberty of conscience. If anywhere in the world there is religious tolerance to be found it Mdue entirely to the example of the United States in giving all a shelter freh from persecution. Do the good people who are charged with fulsome praise anent Mr. McKinley’s Philippine poMcy fully understand the gravity of the outcome of that policy? Admitting-that his policy will carry the Bible with tha flag to the uttermost parts of the earth and transform a civil government into an apostolate, yvhich one of the numerous sects will that apostolic Caesar accept as his own? When the limits of constitutional power have been transcended, a new Caesar will have been created, a Caesar that will not stop at crumbs, but will demand mouthfuls. With the least decline in the principle of popular sovereignty will commence an independent sovereignty not bound by any restrictions upon its own conduct. What then will become of religious liberty, a liberty sodearly bought? Is not the suggestion of.-the idea sufficient to put .religious ihinke'r» qpon the alert? To which one of the sect's*"' as a future state establishment, are the others prepared to surrender their freedom? $§&:■ .. ‘ 4

OPINIONS AND§POINTER& -The strength of the republican party in Kentucky seems to be mostly in the militia.—Kansas {Sty Timea -Mr. Hanna announces,, that he will not retire. It is not often Mr. Hanna makes superfluous statements. —Atlanta Constitution, y -.7 ^ -Senator Elkins, left bower in the McKinley deck, is forming a big coal trust. What is the law between “pards!”—N. Y. World. -No matter who may be his running mate next year,' if will be a case of Boot with Mr. McKinley to get back into the white house.—St. Louis Republic. —1—Certain prominent republicans are casting about for means to get rid of Mark Hanna as their party leader. That can be accomplished only by retiring William McKinley from the presidency.—Albany Argus. —Protective tariffs are very nice w hen they protect you, but when other nations use them they ore not so pleasant. Japan has adopted a protective tariff, and we aw losing trade, as a consequence.—Brooklyn Eagle. -The success of the republican state ticket will enable Senator Hanna to clean up some of his political debts. He hardly had » sufficient number of appointments to go round when he squeezed into the senate.—Cincinnati Enquirer. —Uneie Sam is a very complacent stock broker. When Wall street wants bonds Uncle Siam sells them and pays interest. When Wall street wants money Uncle Sam buys the bonds an<V pays a bonus. And the people pay the taxes which supplies the money for both interest and bonus.—Omaha 0