The County paper., January 06, 1882, Image 6

About The County paper. (Oregon, Mo.) 1881-1883

Image provided by: State Historical Society of Missouri; Columbia, MO

                
THE COUNTY PAPER.
By DOBYm A oo
KKGON,
!
:
!
MO
TIIK TIllIK STOltV OP SANTA CLAUS.
Among tho golden talcs of youth
There's none so vague and yet fo tlcir
As that of good old Santa Claus,
Who brings tbo children ChtlstmaS cheer',
jtc skims tho clear ami frosty air,
He fills tho stocking long anil while,
He blink's within the hearthstone's glow,
Laughs, and Is oft Into the night,
1 am no child, yet still I love
Above all saints old Santa Claus,
For lie has simmered down to one
The countless aces' mMiy laws;
"Do dun!," I" a" testament,
"Be gothl," Is all that he commands,
Re fills the stockings with the seeds,
And leaves the (rait to human hand.
0 ileir, 0 kind old Santa Clans,
vVe know his moods and methods well,
But where was !oni or n hero doth live,
No man of many minds ran tell;
Hut once a year we hear his sleigh,
But once a year his chirrup clear,
The good old ly, I've found him out,
lie's bom near Christmas once a year.
1 peeped one day, not o'er a roof,
N'or In a chimney's j awning mouth,
Where blasts of Arctic currents melt
Before a warm wind from the south.
I peeped with eye alert and keen
Into a fur-off secret room
Where gathered silent, qualnt-drcsscd men
Within u strange and twilight gloom.
There was a table, long and broad,
Bearing :i put of shape antique,
Ovcrwhoj hroiui and rugged side
Drooped long, dark shreds of old Perlquc.
Before each ipialnt man lay a pipe
A yard perhaps In length or more,
A ro.ter crowed and each man tapped
Ills long-stemmed pipe upon the floor.
The long shreds faded Into smoke,
A blue cloud to the celling soared,
A subtile essence tickled nil
The full-ripe noses 'round the board.
It seemed as If a pair of eyes,
Lack-lustre, dim and without gaze,
lYcrcd from their overhanging brows
Out of the bhlftlng, dreamy haw.
And then lcforo each quaint-dressed man,
As It by magic, there appeared
A glass of Holland's sweet and whlto
Tfcat'dewcd each long and streaming beard,
"Surely I've grown a little stout,
Since a year ago I went about,
Or, It may be, the chimney has narrower grown,
Tet such a tiling was never known :
I have Itl tbo fall of snow last night
Has filled the chimney and made It tight.
It might have been worse," ho said at last,
"For n llttlo smaller and I had been fast;
And the world had forever laughed o'er the
fato
Of a Santa Claus trapped by his heavy weight."
Then ho sat himself down on the soft white
snow,
To make up his mind where he should go.
"One thing Is certain, 'twill never do
To try to go down a fashionable flue,
So the rich must look out for a different way
To make themselves happy on Christmas day.
TIs a blessed day the poor can have,
Where the chimneys allow me to enter and
give."
And ho gathered together his wonderful pack,
And strapped It anew upon his back.
Then he Jumped Into his sleigh and took up his
reins,
And his reindeer ponies thought it strange,
That he dwe to tho houses where dwelt the
poor,
Instead of tbo rich man's cbecry door;
Then out in the country, o'er fields of snow,
Where the children scarce a Christmas know,
And down tho broad chimneys, a century old,
Leaving gifts that wcro better than silver and
gold.
The moon htnlled to sec him look down at his
knee,
And say to himself, "Who will mend this for
me!
Sure, for once In my life I'm a regular hero,
To go In this way when tho weather Is zero I"
When tho children awoke, thcro wcro shoutings
of Joy
Such as uevur was heard. And many a boy,
A6 well as bis sliter, said, "What can It mear,
Such beautiful things wo never have scent
I'm afraid we shall find there has been n mis
take,
Or else we aro dreaming, and not half awake."
While the grumblings and poutlugs, and mur-
uurlngs loud,
Trom the children whom Fortune had spalled
and made proud,
Were soou all forgot In thogcneral gleo
Of Christinas games, candles and a beautiful
tree.
'Old Santa drovo off to lus home at tho pole,
Delighted and Jolly; sa'dhe, "Ton my soul
'Tis tho bct Christmas work I ever have done;
To make tho poor happy Is marvelous Jun.
With ten thousand or more to Uslt next year,
I'm sure to bo busy, and sure to bring cheer.
How peoulu can live who havo but a few
Is a marvel u mo. Pray, what can they dot"
CHRISTMAS IN BETHLEHEM.
lir LVWA M. KINKKLSTEIN.
"he Independent.
Older pooplo, If not so buoyant, fool
hnpplor, and their henrts, if saddened
and hardened by tho world's trials,
soften toward oach other, and a fooling
of lovo toward all humanity is kindled
in their bosoms, whon thoy think of tho
Savior, who eighteen hundred years
ago so hamblod himself for thu loto iio
boio towntd mankind as to be born in a
manger at licthlohom, which placo is
second only in sacred interest to Jeru
salem and tho slto of tho wondrous
ovout which has glvon a nanio to our
era. Neither history nor tradition loses
sight of ho tuomorablo a villagoj there
fore, we will in imagination goto Hoth
lolinm, and msu how Christmas 's com
ninmoraleii thcro.
Hethluhiiiu is an almost entirely
Christian city, of live thousand inhabi
tant; tlio.sn Christians belong to tho
Roman Catholic, Greek, and Armenian
Churchu'i, there being only about ono
hundrod Protestants, who aro converts
to thoso churches.
As wo near tho town on Christmas
Eve, wo see tho ;oad from Jerusalem
covered with hundreds of pedostriaus
and equestrians, In almost every imag
inable uontumo. Thoy aro bound for
Ilothlehem, as it is oustomary for groat
numbers of tho residents of Jorusalom
to spend Christmas there, whoro tho
Roman Cat hollo ohuroh celebrates it
iwith grunt ceremony. .Tho Catholics
go thcro iw worshipers, whilo hundreds
..of others go a spectators of tho eero-
monlos. Thoro being no vehicles of
any kind between theso two placos,
pooplo havo to got thoro on borsos,
donkovs. mules, and camols. Numbers
of pooplo walk to Rcthlohcm, as it i
only a ulstanco of livo miles, llioro.nl
has n gay nppearaneo on this December
afternoon. Tho sun is shining brightly,
nnd tho fields aro covered with whlto
and jilnk crocuses. Thcro go a party
of European ladles and gentletnon,
mounted on horseback; a company of
doscrt Arabs, with largo yellow silk
handkorehlcfs on their heads, tied on
with black rope, mado of camol's hair;
somo Husslan nllcritus. wearing sheen-
skin dresses, with tho wool inside; thou
a largo party of nativomennnd women,
astrido donkovs without stirrup?, the
saddles having a largo cushion in front,
to Korp tho rider from Hying ovor his
head whon tho donkey stumbles, which
is often, and somo stubborn ones insist
on trotting near tho edgo of n deep
ravine, down n hill, or on slippery rocks.
Every donkey has belli round his neck,
nnd a boy to run behind and noko htm
up with n sham stick or lorn? needle.
SLOurnotlco is attracted to a long lino
or Horsemen. It la tho Catholic Patri
arch of Jerusalem going to Rotlilolioni.
I J C7
This procession is very grand, largo
nntl vnrlegatcd. A squad of mounted
policemen, gayly attired, head the pro
cession; cavalry; Rcdoulns, on their
Arabian steeds. Tho Palriarch is
ilothcd In Ids mirnlu cloak and eardinnl
hat. A great company of bishops,
priests and dc neons aro in ills suite.
Then follow a company of Jows, Turks,
iniidols and heretics, dressed in fantas
tical Orlontal garments, mounted on anv
beast they could gel hold of.
Hundreds of Rethlohemitc, of both
sexes, all in cay holiday attlro. now
meet this procession, nnd saluto them
with songs, tiring of guns and drum
ming on drums, kettles, tin nans nnd
somo bearing cymbals. They head the
procession, dancing, singing, clapping
their hnnds, till thov enter Bethlehem;
and as thoy pass through tho streots
thoy aro grcotod with cheers and with
songs from tho windows and houso-tops
oy tho womou and children.
Tho Catholic, Greek and Armenian
monasteries and tho great complox
Church of tho Nativity aro nil under
ono roof, which covors tho supposed
stablo-cavo whoro Christ was cradled.
Thoy all form a groat fortross-liko
cuiiieo, In Irontof which i3 alargo open
squaro, which is now crowded with poo
plo, almost of overy description Turk-
isn soldiers, ranged In lines; and n pro
cession of monks and nritsts. L'onrunus.
ly attired who meet tho Jerusalem Pa
triarch with a great deal of ceremony.
Then ali thu guests enter tho convent.
whoro thoy aro hospitably received.
ino Chnrcli of tho Nativity was
built by tho Empress Hcleun, in tho
fourth century. In the fifth it was de
stroyed; whon it was 'restored, in A. 1).
G!)0, by tho Emperor Justinian. It is a
magnificent building of the finest archi
tecture Tho grand sorvico begins
about midnight, tho Church being
brilliantly lit up. Flowers nnd ever
greens adorn tho altar, pillars and
chandeliers. Tho crowd is so groat
that thcro is baroly standing room
nnd most of tho pcoplo nro holding
lighted wax tapers, somo of which aro
adorned with sprays of lloword. It is n
mntvol that thoy don't set tiro to each
other. Tito service is conducted by
tho Patriarch, during which soveral
monks appear, dres d in furs, ropro
sonting tho shophordi. A song of glo
rious harmony suddenly bursts from
tho hundreds of priosts assombled,
skiing tho "Gloria in Exoclsis." It is
caught up by to worshippors nnd tho
sceno for a few moments is thrilling.
Tho service continuos till about three
o'clock, whon it is ondjd by a proces
sion, in which tho Patriarch carries k
waxen image, representing Christ in a
froldun nrlli. Tt la inl.-m. .!... t,4i...
D ...... - - wunii JUIU mu
grotto or manger, which is hewn in tho
natural rock and supposed to bo tho
manger in which Jesus was laid. Gold
and silver lamps aro suspended all
over tho placo which aro kopt burning
night and da'. Another ccromony is
portormod in tho grotto, laying tho
imago into tho mmigor, and tho Patri
arch wraps it up in swaddling clothes,
aior which a hymn of praise is sung,
and tho bells burst out in morry chimes,
announcing tho glad tidings. Tho
monks nnd priosts ombraco each other
saying, "pcaco, peace" Tho crowd of
worshippors do tho samo, and amid
songs of rejoicings, tho chimes of bolls,
ami tho rich poals of tho organ tho poo
plo disperse, wishing each othor a
Merry Christina".
Tho Protestant community also havo
a scrvieo in thoir chape, which is deco
rated with ovorgreem; and it is delight
ful to attend dlvino worship there on
Christmas Day, and Join with thu con
gregation of natives in commemorating
the birth of Christ in tho very I own ho
was born in, and sing with them tho
autlicm "Hark! tho Herald, angels
smg," whioh is sung in Arable A
great many pooplo i-pend part of tho
morning at tho Fields of tho Shepherds,
and tho "Glory to God in tho Highest,"
is sung by tho assembled worshipers.
It is a charming pieturo, being a very
tranquil and grassy spot, which aids tho
imagination to soo tho scono told in
LuUo il.
Rut it is not only ono Christmas that
is commomorafed in Rothlohom. For
twelve days later tho Grook Church com.
memoratcs it, with perhaps oven moro
pomp than tho Catholic; then two wooks
inter tllO Armmilnna i.lisnrvn
that iJothlohom is crowded with thou
sands of spectators and worshlpors for
auout lour wcoks.
1'ho best way to allonco a talkntivn
person is never to Interrupt him.
DIttFTINU.
J. missel lher.
Drifting, drifting, ever drifting,
On a wldo and open sea
Drifting down tho voiceless current,
Toward the grcit unknown, To Do.
Drifting on, at last to anchor
lust within the hat tor-bar;
Drifting on to grasp tho phantom
We havo followed from afar.
Drifting to the final ending
Of the silent, mystic river;
Drifting to tho blissful blending
Of tho over and forever I
Down the silent ages drlft n?
Hope nnd fear forever shifting.
WITH HEll OWN LIFE.
Mrs. Chrlstlo put her oyo glasses on
nnd looked long nnd critically nt Joslo
Wnrron, wnlkingnlong on the blulT. with
llttlo Lucy Grosvenor bcsldo her, nnd
I'iosslo trotting on ahead, nearly ob
scured by liur wide Leghorn hat, and
her sand pall and shovel. Mrs. Grosve
nor looked nt Josio's retreating figure
a slight Hush of consciousness on her
laeo.
"It is certainly very absurd, Mrs.
Christie, but lam actually afraid Clattdo
is falling in lovo with her."
"No! Dr. Caroy in lovo with Ids sis
tor's hired governess, nnd a nursery
governess at that! Mabel, you horrify
mol"
"Thcro is nothing so horriblo nbout It,
at least, so Claudo says," sho returned
disconsolately. "Of cou so, Joslo is a
refined; lady-llko girl, and undoubtedly
very lovely in appearance. Rut"
"I should think it was 'but.' " Mrs.
Christie said, vigorously. "Tho idea of
uinudo, with his position in soeicty, in
tho medical world -witli Ids wealth, his
popularity -turning his attention to an
obscure, nameless girl! Is your broth
er insano?"
"I am not sure I think so much
nboutsuch things, nnd, of courso, Claudo
has an undoubted right to seek Ills hap
piness whon nnd whoro ho prefers. Rut
Jotio is rather poculiar. I mean sho
not that I do not quito llko her, but sho
is sho rathor likes to afflict llttlo fright
ened airs, to appoal to pcoplo to assuro
nor everything Is all right, and partic
ularly to Claudo."
"Perhaps I don't understand vou.
Mabell You mean to say Miss Warren
Is a coward, a baby, or simply airish
and selfish! cither of which oualitios
condemn hor."
"Judgo for yourself. Tho last day
Claudo rnn down from his patients for
a day with us ho happened to leave tho
koy of that walnut caso you havo scon
in tho hall by his room in tho look, and
Lucy unfastened it, not knowing that it
contained somo rather ghastly speci
mens of human structure, things Claudo
had sent down to oblige ono of his pro
fessional friends in the vlllago and Jo
slo shrieked and fainted, and Claudo
was somo time in ro .toting her."
"A pretty piece of actitig, and very
lllmsy also."
"Sho rofuso3 to batho beoauso sho is
nfra'd of tho undertow. Sho will not
go a sailing or crabbing, for fear of
Doing upsot. Sho novcr ridc., becnuso
horses might run away with her. What
is It, Mrs. Christio fearorairishnessP"
And that wise lady answered very sol
emnly. "It is nolther norvousness or coward
ice It is disgusting affectation, becauso
) our brother happens to bo a physician,
who can bo called toalluy her agitation.
I am surprised at Claudo s-u-r-p-r-i-s-o-d
nt Claudo's fancy for her."
And while this discussion was pro
gressing Jodo Warren nnd tho llttlo
Grosvenors wcro getting further away
down tho breezy blufY, tho brisk salt air
bringing vivid roses to hor cheeks.
Sho was cortainly very lovely, and a
credit to Dr. Caroy's taste siio was
slender and graceful, with a certain
unconsolousnesi of manner that was
hor chief elinrm. There was tho most
bowilching look of appeal in h t soft
gray eyes, i.nd an air of frank depend
ence in everything sho did something
almost Indofinablc-that madoyou think
of a clinging ivy vino or tho blush roses
that needed a trellis to support their
fragrant bloom.
"You promised to take us Lily Island
Miss Warren," Lucy said, coaxiugly,
Can't wo go now?" "I'm afraid not,"
sho said pleasantly. "I did not ak your
mother if sho would allow us to walk so
far, and besidos, Lucy, I think sho would
enjoy going too. Supposo wo go back
and soy about UP"
"To Lily Island? I'm not suro you
had bettor go, children," Mrs. Grosve
nor said undecidedly. "It's a longwalk
and tho sun is hot."
"Hut wo needn't walk, mamma," Lu
cy said eagerly. "Ilertlu Howland bald
ho would row you nnd Flossio and ids
Aunt Annie in his boat, and Miss War
ren nnd I can walk can't wo, Mis
Warien? Wo don't mind tho sun; wo
Hue it don't wo Miss WarronP"
"Aunt Annio," otherwise Mrs. Chris
tl , looked pointedly nt Joslo, "I dure
say Miss Warrcnfavorssueliauarrnngo
mont, but if there should como up a
sudden shower, as wo had about tills
tlmo yostonlay, what would you do with
hor, Luoy?"
Joslo lauglio ', and turned palo, nov
ortholoss; for sho was oxtromoly sensi
tive to oven well-bred rldiculo on hor
woak point. "I think we'll go, slneo
Rortio Is so kind and Lucy is so nnxious.
I'hoy say Lily Island is woll worth i
visit. If you will bring my shado hat
nuil parasol, Miss Warren, I think we'll
start as soon as Mastorllortlo Is ready."
And whilo Mrs. Grosvenor and baby
Flo.Io woro rowod down over tho love
ly bay by Rortio Howland's strong,
skillful hands, gallant llttlo Luoy escort
od Miss Wamn to tho walk that led to
tho narrow sandy isthmus that connect
ed Lily Island with tho mainland. Of
courso tho boating party had roaohod
thoro first, nnd congtntulatcd Joslo nnd
Luoy on having arrived safely in that
way, although sho know It was mcro
badinage that cut Josio's sensitive nn
turo to tho very quick. Rut sho put tho
painful feeling away as well ns sho
could, nnd joined in tho llttlo ones'
search for shells with a .t fiat com
manded oven Mrs. Clirlstio's respect
nnd admiration, until all at onco Rortio
sprang up from tho sands with a low
horrified cry.
"Tho tide Is coming in! Auntio, Mrs,
Grosvenor, Miss Warren, jump into tho
boatns quick as you can! Como, Luoy,
Flosslo! Oh, how could wo nil havo
forgotten tiiat the Island is submerged
overy day nt this hour, when tho lleod
tldo como3 In I"
Josio stood still, whlto ns a ghost,
while Mrs. Chrlstlo sprang up wl li nn
ngility amazing for ono of licr years aud
nvoirdupois, her fnco blanched. "Sub
merged! Of course, it is under water
soveral hours overy day, but I did not
know whon tho tldo camo in to-day!
Got In Mabol, quickly. Tho tldo is fear
fully strong! I doubt if Rortio can row
us in tho fnco of it." Rut Mrs. Grosve
nor, snt ns if bowlldorod, whilo Mrs.
Christio climbed frantically in tho bont,
rocking it each minute. Jrsio touched
hor on tho shoulder.
"Plenso loso no time, Mrs. Grosvenor,
It is truo tho tldo is coming in with ter
rlblo force Thcro is not a moment to
ose I will ns: ist you in tho boat." And
sho hulf supported, half forced her into
tho boat, while Flossio nnd Luoy, with
hushed, terrified faces, en uolied down
between the two ladles, leaving scarcely
any room for Rerllo to wield his oar,
certainly no space for hor.
"Thcro's no room for Miss Warren,"
ho shouted frantically. "Miss Wnrron,
can you row? Can you tako tho boat
ovor? I'll stay."
"I cannot row, Rortio," sho snid in n
low hushod volco, that did not scorn to
hor liko hor own. "Got in quick aud
got thorn homo! Don't you seo thoro is
a squall coining up?"
Mrs. Grosvenor lifted her hca whlto
nnd horrified. "You mun't leavo Miss
Wnrron," sho whispered feebly. "Climb
In nnd I will tako Lucy on my lap."
And then Josio's stra'ngo, awfully
calm answor;
"You nro already overloaded. My
added woight might swamp tho boat
Go out I can bo bettor spared than any
of you, If God so will. If thero is tinio"
and hero her sweet voico qulvorcd
"you can sond tho boat back for me,
Hertlo; if not I am not afraid to dio!"
Tho llttlo boat cicpt laboriously to
ward land r.nd safety and happiness;
and Joslo Warren know with a deathly
thrill of something at hor heart, that
boforo it reached tho shoro, tho cruel,
crushing, seething wavo would havo
swept rclcntlcssy over L"lv Island.
That night! And whilo ho would bo
thcro among them all, sho would bo
lying dead drowned; with seaweeds
in her lir.ir.
And a cold. Jce-eold shudder crept
nearer nnd nearer hor heart, tlict beat
so feobly. Tiio surf tiiundored all
around tho llttlo spot of land that was
growing smallor so perceptibly. 'J ho
skies grow blacker and darker; tho wind
howled nnd shriek id, liko a demon.
Sho dragged herself up off tho sands
whoro tho water had already mat hor
foot, and walked dazedly to a wretched
little rock a fow feet hlghor.
Tho waves rose, and rose nnd rose,
and sho wa3 alono with tho bitternossof
death,
Whilo tho littlo boat mado tho shoro,
and Mrs. Grosvenor staggered out' on
tho bench with ashen lips nnd horror
stricken oyos.
"Got somobody to go back for Miss
Warren, quick!" sho gasped. "Sho is
on Lily Islind! I'll givo you 8100 if
you can bring her back! Sho turned
imploringly to n wentlier-boaton old
fisherman who had watched tlit-in land.
"Lily Island!" May God rostliorsoul!"
and iio lifted ids ragged cap rovorcntly.
"Lily Island is iivo foot under wator by
tliU timu!" And Mrs. Christio's faco
grow uslion with horror, while Mrs.
Grosvenor stood clasping nnd unclasp
ing iter hands in a panio of frenzy.
,'Josle! Josio!" sho cried in agony.
"You havo givon your life for mo and
mino, and I dared to think you woro a
coward!"
"Sho will not dio," Dr. Caroy said,
quietly, with a throb of rapturous, rever
ent thanksgiving in his volco, as ho laid
Josio's splendid hair back on tho cov
erlet of Mrs. Grosvenor's bed. "Sho
has been very uonr tho gato of death,
but God will not demand tho awful sac
rifice Sho will livo!"
And J'.slo did llvi to learn that a
party of iishermoii had soon hor on tho
rocky point on tho island, tho waters
within a yard of its summit, and found
hor in n deep faint so liko death that it
was hours before sho was restored to
life and lovo.
Never again, oven whon Claudo's wife
grew while and agitated ovor trillos, did
any onu make light of it, for thero woro
thoso who loved her doarly, who real
ized sho had elected to givo her bright,
swcot young life for theirs.
Tho Government and the Mormons.
Jlarpcr's Magazine for January.
,In tho last ten years oflbrts havo boon
mado at nearly ovory session of Con
gress to provido 3uch regulations for tho
administration or law In that Territory
as to onablo oiloetivo stops to bo taken
for tho punishment of polygamy, and
particularly with a viow to tho preven
tion or discouragement of further no-
lygamous marriages. Rut very llttlo
success has at,toudod such efforts. For
ono causo or nnothor, nuts that would
havo gono far toward tho accomplish
ment ol this end havo beon repeatedly
dofoatod, and tho dlfnoully in procuring
convictions tor polygamy uudoroxisting
laws has boon found almost irsupcr
able This difficulty lies mainly in two
points of legal procoduro. Tho firit is
in tho nnttiro of tiio constitution of
juries. On tho thoory prevalent tti tho
United States, a jury must l unani
mous in ordor to convict. If, t roforc,
n stnglo Mormon bo n member f a jury
in a given case it is imposdb'o to ob
tain n vordlct, for ho believes, or pro
fesses to bcliove, that polygamv is a dl
vino institution, and Unit thoy who pric
tlco it nro rondorlng obcdleneo to God,
and so ho thinks, or profosses to think,
that prosecutions for hat offonso nro
tho most wicked tyranny, and Iio will
not find a otdietof guilty under any
circumstances. And it. lias been found,
too, naturally oncugli, that tho process
of challenging for bias is goncrnily in
effectual In such enscs. Rut if in somo
rnro instances it has been found posslblo
to obtain nn impartial jury in tho only
correct sense that is, a jury who, ns
responsible members of tho community,
boliovo in tho necessity of tho execution
of its laws, nnd who nro willing to find
verdicts accordingly upon fair proof
a second difficulty litis at onco presented
itself In tho inability of tiio prosecution
to provo tho fact of polygamous prac
tice, although overy Mormon privately
nnd publicly out of court ndmils its ex
istence nnd defends it. This difficulty
of proof grows out of tho rule of tho
law of procedure, which it has boeil in
sisted required rccoid or other direct
eldeneo of the two or more mnrrlages.
Tho Supremo Court lias lately held,
however, that proof of tho admissions.
etc., of tho accused can bo given in
evidence, whioh may raako convictions
possible. Theso marriages, it seems.
aro matin by tho Mormons, latterly nt
liast, In secret; and however august
may bo the ceremonial, nnd however
numerous tho wltnosses, tho event tnkes
placo with closed doors and under the
most stringent obligations of seeroov.
so that when a Mormon witness is called
to provo tho fact, ho has no scruplo
usually in denying nny knowlcdgo of it.
Under such circumstances tho insti
tution continues to flourish, and tho
proportion of polygamous rnnrrinrrs Is
probably now considerably greater than
it was nnccn years since Tho Mormon
population of Utali in 18GG is estimated
to linvo boon nbout GO.OOO. In that
population tho proportion of "plural
marriages" is believed, from certain
testimony tnkon in that yoar by a com
nilttco of Congress, to havo been not
less than ouc-tliird of tliowholo number
of married males.
From the evidence taken by this com
mittee, nnd from tho wholo courso of
events in that Territory siucu tho tvis-
sago of ttionct of 18G2donouncing nolv
gamy as a ciimo, thcro is st'-ong reason
to boliovo 'hat tho institution has been
moro nnd moro promoted bv tho Mor.
mon leaders, and lias becomo almost a
cardinal test of Mormon faith. Thu
present population of Utah purports,
uy tho census returns of 1880, to bo
113,'JG;), more than 73,000 of which aro
under eighteen years of ago. Tho offi
cial statistics do not show tho number
of polygamous marriages, or tho num.-
uor of person-, practicing polygamy, or
tho numbor of children of such marri-
ages, but carefully collected unollleial
it formation furnishes good reason to
believe that tho number of polygamists
nnu tnoir children In tho Territory
greatly exceeds tho whole anti-Mormou
population. Tho render will, it is
thought, soon bo able to correct this
eslimato by data of substantial precis
ion.
Down to tho docision of tho Sn
Court of tiio United States in tho caso of
Reynolds; in tho winter of 1878-9, tho
Mormons professod to vindicato iholr
o'.position to tiio law against polygamy
nnd t lieir rcf us.t 1 to oboy it on tno gt omul
of Its unconslutiou'.ilit, as prohibiting
tho Ireo exorciso of religious faith.
That caso having finally exploded this
pretension, it might have boon expected
that tho Institution of nni
marriages would bo abandoned, but
sucli does not appear to linvo been the
case. Dulcutlllons of Mormons v-IjIi,,,!
Washington for tho purposo of anneal-
ing to Congress for suoh legislation as
annul or mitigate tho effect of tho law
as doclared by that decision, nnd somo
committees of Congress woro disposed,
lor tuo protection of Innocent women
nnd children, to tako suoh measurers as
would legitimize tho children of such
marriages born within a year after tho
promulgation of this dooision, aud to
ameliorate tho condition of tho unfor
tunato females who had been tho victims
of thoso practices, but ucccmpanied by
provisions adequate, so far as legislation
could go, for tho absolute suppression
punishment of future polygamous
marriages. Hut theso nieusuw were
not at all satisfactory to tho Mormon
interest, which secxiod to domand not
only "Indemnity for the past," but
"security for the future;" and. for
leasonsnot easy I o explain, Congress
failed to mako any provision upon tho
subjoot.
Thoro is no reason to sunnoso that
tho final settlement of tho rightful power
of Congress to provido tor punishin?
polygamy, notwithstanding it may bo
exorcised under a claim of religious
duty, lia3 had any offect to dotor Mor
mous from a continuation or oven in
oreaso of tho practice
Notwithstanding tho difficulties at.
tending prosecutions for tills crlmo
growing out of tho laws regarding tho
lormatlou of jurios, tcohnioal rules of
ovldcnco, and tho falsehood of witness
es, thoro is fair reason to supposo that if
Congress should ohoojo to enact suita
ble legislation to moot tho oaso, and tho
Executive dopnrtmont should pndoavor
to enforco suoh logistatioawlth tho samo
vigor that it oxo-oises in punishing illi
cit distilling, tho practice of polygamy
might in a vory fow years bo entirely
brokon up. Dut, Judging from a dozon
years of effort and failure to pass laws
In this direction, thoho;,o of Immodiato
legislation can not bocontderod as very
tPftll frrnllmlnfV Rvi.ti wWI. llm Inm ne
w f.wuuv.... A, . I. ,11111 .iiu it.,. t,a
it now stnnas, a sincoro and ptrjistont
jixocuiivo pouoy, and witu judicial
courts in tho Territory that will hold It
In lift tlin Onnin rllttvf in nlnitiitainn lirt
law ngalnst polygamy ns against other
uiiiaua, il g prouaoiu inai a (icciucu
cheek to tho trrowth of Ihn Institution
could bo established. If thu pcoplo of
tho United States aro really in earnest
in desiring to prevent tho estu'illshmont
of a powerful polygamous Stale in tho
heart of tho continent, whoso chief in
stitution is so in opposition to tho social
institutions nnd moral idoas of all tho
other Stains, nnil wlitnl, TTtnli nnnn lm.
coming n Stato with it) can novcr bo
laivfully brokon up by tho national pow
er, it will bo easy to accomplish tho ox-
uMiiicuon oi polygamy oy lawnu an:t ivy
just menus.
Tho oncourngemont of non-Mormon
Immigration, nnd tho discouragement of
tho appropriation which has been nr.
tonsivoly practiced of largo tracts of
ino most vaiuao.o minis to or lor tuo
bonolit of tho Mormon Church, would
hnvn n. vnlimliln nft'.'rt In tlinrlrrlit .llrnn.
Hon. Another effectual disposition of
uio suujcctmigut oo mauo in tno nnnox
nlion of different pnrts of tho Territory
In tlm pntltlmimiaSttntna nnil Tnrrtfn. na
by whioh tho concentrated strength of
A. At All .
mo voting poworoi tno uicrureny would
bu brokon, and political Mormonlsm
U-nlllll find tfanlf tn ft mtnnytltt tn 4lm
making nnd administration of local laws.
if no measures of legislation are to bo
rnertrtml fn .mil it tfin nflM,(titalt.n4ln., nf
existing laws continues to bofcobb, lax,
and Intormlltcnt, Mormonlsm in Utiih,
with its cardinal doctrine polygamy,
may no doubtcount on a pretty longca
roor. Tho American Christmas.
Boston Traveler.
Tho old "Merrio Christmas" of Eng
land, witli nil its clad fun and wild
revelry, takos on n dlu'oront character
when filtered through tho Amorlcan
mind. Retaining its mirth and glee,
it takes on a moro substantial texture,
so to speak. Through nil tho gladno33
thrills a tondor, sacred sadnoss that is
not sorrow, but which just touches tho
day witli holy momorlos. In England,
whoro Christmas carols aro sung from
door to door, whoro tho first sounds of
tho morning como in music as tho chil
dren go about and sing
God rest you all, good ccntlemcn,
Let nothing you dismay;
For Jesus Christ our Savior
ViTas born on Christmas day,
tho song becomes a part of tho morn
ing, liko tho chiming of bolls or tho
throngs of peoplo on tho street. Hut
whilo tho piotty enrols aro not a fonturo
of the American Christmas, tho spirit of
thorn is deeply and univorsnlly folt.
There is a utilitarian sido to our Christ
mas too, but it is redcomod from tho
materialistic by tho insight of lovo, or
of truo neighborly kindnoss. A gift has
not less of sympathy bocauso it may bo
of uso, ct tho thought, tho remmu
branco, is moro than any intrinsic val
ue Phojbo Cary, in hor llttlo poem of
"Tho Wife's Christmas," touclilngly
expresses this when tho young wife only
asked
A trifle of a ll'owcr to hold,
Or a rlbtjou for my hair.
Ilul to he forgotten Charlie,
It is that which brings a tnar,
And just to tlihiK that 1 haven't been
Your wife hut a single year.
Tho selection of Christmas gifts is n
matter so delicate, so complex, so mod
ified by invislblo circumstances, that it
is a subject impossible to outline nnd
yet thero is an ovor applicablo rulo,
which Is. after all, only a modification
of tho Golden Rulo that it shall In
ovory souso gratify tho receiver and
giver, nnd that it shall not wound tho
most dolleato feelings. Tho only real
reasons for oflering a Christmas gift is
tho spirit that prompts it. Unless you
havo given your friond words and loving
regard moro precious than nil outward
tokens, you havo no right to ofl'er him
a Christmas gift. This day is ospecially
tho festival of the family, tho homo and
tho church, and this manifold charactor
may bo observed in gifts. The ideal
Christmas is to havo mado somo ono
hippy, nntl for this tho moans aro ns
different ns are tho individuals. Tho
gifts should bo adapted to tho circum
stances of both tho giver and tho recip
ient. To recoivo a costly gift which
ono know his friend could not afford,
and which will entail on litm many a
sorifico of needed comforts, is a sourco
of pain only, and tho more so that it is
khnrdly of a nature to bo expressed. A
gift that bi Ings with it a porpotual souso
of obligation, is worso than valuoless.
Again, luxurious presents whioh the
giver can afford, but which tho recipient
cannot word to havo, aro utterly out
of taste and botrny an nbsoncoof thought
rather than tho vorv dolleato d vlnntlnn
lould determine tho cfl'erlngs, It
It first, eeem nn anomaly that ono
really aflord to possess an aril
luxury, freoly given, but it i
Iio less true. Wo nil roraombor
blister's silk stoekings, which ab-
oly compelled him to refurnish his
iroiio, which ho eouid illy afford:
olng tiio gift of a wealthy parlsh
ho dared not ofl'end hor by not
using hgift tiio hose of thoso days
beinT n prominont article of costume.
Andlwo all romombor, too, tho now
cnrpll of Clirlstonlior Crowliold. whioh
ultlirjhtejky ontallod upon that gonial
gentlomaa tho entire refurnishing of
ni3 house by way of preserving harmo
ny in its nppcarnuoo. To n young mar
ried cwiplo who nro housokeoplng on a
llraiteti hut tasteful and comfortable
scnlo, the gift of n diamond pin or ring
would bo far less appropriate, becauso
it would atlont far loss ploauro. than
would a gift of a sot of books, of n lino
pieturo, or somo rare and boautiful en
gravings.
At tho first rovorso of fortune tho
diamonds would bo tho first thing to
nnu tnoir way to tho "unolo," In his
mystoilous proolnots of tho throo cllt
balls, whilo books and pictures nro a
y forever in the simplest of homos.
To a boy fall of fun and frolio tho gift
of a pair of skates would doubtlosi af
ford far moro pleasure than tho gift
of that splondld now volurao of
Longfellow's poems. A gift need not,
cither, bo purely ornnment.d. Articles
of uso nro quito as npptoprlato whon
mutual circumstances Indicate them.
Wo nro accused of bolng a vory practi
cal nation, nnd tho American Christ
mas partakes of this character. Whilo
wo bring rnro flowers to tho chnnool
nnd tho altar in church, whilo wo
wrontho our homos in Christmas grons,
nnd oven havo our holly nn'd ourmistlo
loo bough; whilo wo mnko gifts of raro
and boautiful things from all parts of
tho world, wo do not yet forgot to sond
tho substnntials of a Christmas dlnnor
to thoso who might not rcjoico in ono
olhorwiso, nor forgot tho cheap toys
that mako glad tho hearts of tho poor
and desolate little ones of earth. Tho
American Christmas Is a complex sub
ject aftor all. It has ns many different
phnsos ns it has peoplo who colobrntolt.
From nn obsorvnnco of tho church it
has como to bo a national holiday, and
its Infiuonco is toward tho development
of all thnt is highest and most unsolfish
in humanity.
Christmas offorings havo thoir reac
tionary offect upon ohnractor. Liko tho
quality of morcy, thoy nro n blcsssng to
him who gives nnd to him who takes.
Tho truo spirit of Christmas Is tiio cul
ture of all that is finest, nnd sweetest,
and highest in life Far boyond nny
greatness of achievement; boyond nny
flash of material success, nro tho silont
sure graces of character which trans
form llfo, itsolf, into ono grand and Im
mortal success. And, nttor nil, wo can
cling to but ono unerring rulo for Christ
mas joy to mako somo ono happy,
somo llfo gladder tnan it was boforo.
for tho sake of Hi in In whoso namo wo
colobrato Christmas.
Why America Was Not Colonlied in The nth
Century.
Tho star of Eurooo at that time
not ono whioh afforded surplus onorgy
tor distant enterprise In tho yoar
1000, whon white mon first wintered In
Massachusetts, tiio Dano.Swcon Fork-
board was wiostini tho lordshln of
En-rland from tho foeblo grasp of
iEtholred, tho Unready, ltobort tho
Debonair, unwarllko son of ilio saga
cious Hugh Capot, King of tho Frcnoh
m namo, but In reality mnstor of very
llttlo territory boyond tiio immodiato
neigiioornood of t'nrls, was waging a
doubtful struggle with unrulv vassals.
somo of wliom quito surpassed tho
crown in wealth and power. Tho
youthful Otto III., tho "wondor of tho
world," had just mado his weird visit
to tiio tomb of his miglitv nrodocossor
at Anchcon, boforo, before stattlnf on
that last visit to Rome, whioh in loss
than two years was to cost him his
life Gorborr. most crudllo of Pnnns
too loarnod not to havo had dealings
with tho devil Gorbort.oloctod thrnnn-h
Otto's Iniluenco to tho headship of tho
Church, was but beginning to raiso
the papaoy out of tho abyss of infamy
into wnion tho preceding ago had scon
it sink, nnd so to nron.iro tlm w.iv fnr
tho far-reaching reforms of Hildobrand.
in this year Stophon, first Christian
K'm- of tho Hungarians, bejrnn in
reign, and tho powor of horotioal Rul
garln, which had throatonnd tn
wholm tho Eastern Empire, was brokon
oy tno attack of tho Macedonian flasil.
In this yoar Olnf Trvggvosson win nmr.
thrown, and tlto Kingdom of Norway
iiivnieu ior a timo botwoon tho Swodo3
and Danes. In this yoar tho Christlnn
of Spain mot defeat at tho hands of
Almnnsur, nnd tho Mohammedan do
minion thoro still saomod to endure
I'rom ondto ond Europe was a sccno of
di o confusion, nnd thoupli tn lis. Innlr.
ing baok upon it, tiio time seems
not devoid of promise, thorn wno
w Ting uu
eheoring outlook then. Nowhoro
woro tho outlinosof kingdoms or tho
ownership of crowns dofinitoly sottlod.
Pdvato A-nr was both universal and In
cessant; evon tho Truoo of God had
uotyot boon proclaimed. As for tho
common pooplo, their hardships were
woll nigh inorodlblo. Th nrn ivna Mn
commorco worthy of montion, and but
muo lining of tho -oil, oxcopt in surf
ago, and famines woro fwnnont
terriblo, as to-day in India. In tho
otuonlclos of tho timo wo find many ro
ports of cannnbalism.
- iu oi
ghoulism, tho horrid aocompanimonts
of a soason of starvation. Amid all
this anarchy nnd misery at tho oloso of
mo luousanotn yoar from tho birth of
Christ, tho boliof Was rrnnnral I.
O . . . miwilLfll-
outEuropo that tho day of judgment
was at hand-that tiio world, grown
old in wiokodnoss. w.is nt hmi. ..!
fordostntetion. "
A. poriod liko this wai nnt min.i
colonial ontorpriso, becauso nil tho vital
unoryy in luiropo was consumed In ef
forts for tho adjustment of Europonn
nilairs. Roforo it pooplo can fourd
colonies it must jiavo solvod tho prob
lorn of political lifo at homo, at least to
far as to soeuro stability of trade m is
tho morcantilo spirit whioh has supmrt
ed modern colonlzatloj flfe.i by10
spirit of roumntlo advonturo, and tho
spirit oi mtoiiectunl curiosity. In tho
olovonth century thoro waino intellect
ual curiosity oulsldo of tho monastery
walls; nor had this feeling becomo any
whufcypnllstod in tho sorvioo of com
morceaRomaulio advonturo, suoh as
thoro was, eonsistod mostly in brutal
bucoanecrlng. Thoro wai no suoh a
thing as a commercial marino, and on
land tho enroor of tho trador was ro
strained by tho robbor baron. In thoso
days tho fushionnblo mothod of com
pounding with your creditors was, not
to offer thorn thirty cents on tho dollar
but to Inveigle thorn into a castlo and
broil them oyer slow firo.
4