The Herald-Sentinel. (Cordell, Okla.), Vol. 24, No. 14, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 14, 1916 Page: 4 of 10
ten pages : ill. ; page 20 x 14 in. Digitized from 35 mm. microfilm.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
■■
THB CORDELL HERALD-SENTINEL
OLE VMS
A
■ eli
How folks in the tidewater section of
state that mothers presidents celebrate
during Christmas season. Some of the
spirit of Merrie England 150 years ago
pervades that part of America today.
%
ZOS&SSlMrPa&CZtlR. CH7V3TTZA&
CHI.: visitor to on old plantation In tide-
wnter Virginia, at Christmas time will
no doubt be agreeably surprised to And
that many of the old customs survive
and are regularly observed, not only
(Ki the large plantations, but on the
smaller farms, and even In the negro
quarters. 80 all get their full measure
of gifts and turkey.
Perhaps the first sign of Christmas
ti the killing of the fat hogs, which have taken
on flesh rapidly since they were put up nnd hurd-
efted on good, sound ear corn. Hog-kllllng time
means a generous supply of "fresh," In other
words sausage, sparerih, chine, cheese-souse, pig's
feet, and, of course, that fresh pork ham baked
aurint; Christmas week. This Is tluuked by a
baked hum two years old and sugar-cured. It
will all furnish mighty good eating for visitors
who drop In for a little while, but have not time
to stay to the regular dinner.
Those who have spent yenrs on a tidewater Vir-
ginia, plantation know Just what hog-kllllng time
means to host and hostess. All through the coun-
trywide, from the humblest «egro holding to the
largest river estate, preparation for Christmas
begins with hog-kllllng time, for then the corn Is
gathered, the wootiplle Is rendy, and farm work In
general Is In such condition that all are In pretty
food shape for the holidays.
That Christmas Gobbler.
Two weeks before Christmas, the turkey gob-
bler (generally one of the year's raising) Is singled
ut from the llock, put up In u slatted coop In the
back yard, fed on shelled corn till he is In proper
rendition, killed the day before Christmas, hung
up on the north side of the porch and next day.
when cooked In the oid-tlnie kitchen by an old-
time negro "kitchen queen," forms the plece-de-
resi stance for the big dinner. The Chrlstmus
menu rejoices In roast turkey stuffed with oysters.
Ifrend crumbs, etc. A sugar-cured ham (from one
to two years old), crisp celery, Irish and sweet
potatoes (the latter candled), salsify and spinach
(all grown In the home "gyardin,") macaroni,
nnd, of course, cranberry sauce for the turkey.
The dessert consists of Jelly (plenty of wine for
seasoning), blanc mange, both white and choco-
late, meringues, fruits, such as Malaga grapes,
foey-cheeked apples, bananas and oranges. Wine
la served at table nnd a toddy of whisky, sugar
and water, with a dash of nutmeg, will most likely
be taken by the gentldmen beforehand at the side-
board. Roquefort cheese and cofTee end the feast.
This menu Is Indicative of a typical plantation
dinner; others will be In proportion to the taste
nnd means of the diners, but It can be safely as-
serted that nowhere would a guest or a strange^
alt down to a meager feast on this day, for even
the negroes have prepared most liberally for the
.great occasion.
Christmas Decorations.
The good old custom of decorating the houses
for Christmas still obtains, and the generous
supply of holly, running cedar and pine, growing
In the Virginia woods, Is used. Mansion, farm-
house and cottage are all decorated. Mantels,
hails, and even bedrooms are witnesses to "be sea-
son of Jollity. Family portraits of ancestors, now
long laid at rest, are honored with a wreath of
green nnd the red berries of the holly, a Christmas
greeting from the stern canvas.
What are the social customs that emphasize this
season In Tidewater. Vlrgluia? On Christina*
(morning a glass of eggnog or toddy Is taken by the
gentlemen as they go Into breakfast. After this
meal, the company will separate. It Is possible
tj|at some of the party will go to the Colonia!
church In the neighborhood for morning service.
|Tbe ancient brick edifice will always have been
decorated by loving hauds for this season.
Wreaths of evergreen Intertwine on walls, chancel
and pulpit.
The morning service over, the congregation ex-
change Christmas greetings outside. Some pres-
ents are taken to church for neighbors who live at
a distance; happy, inexpensive recollections of the
season, but appreciatively Indicative of the mo-
mentous occasion. Back from church, home folks
and guests are ready for dinner.
Hunting Parties.
The east Virginians hnve ever shown a penchant
fur hunting, and chasing the fox behind a good
pack of hounds lias always been a sport par ex-
cellence. This sport still exists in the country dis-
tricts. and in spite of wire fences, now almost
A JZWCHXJ QZJ> VZR&mA ZWKSZOir-o
universal, you will hear the haying of the hounds
and the cheering of the mounted hunters us they
pursue the crafty fox through fields uud woods on
a Christmas morning.
The Christmas 'dinner Is more or less a formal
function and It Is likely that the family and the
guests will be in place when the blessing is asked
by the host. Even the allurements of the hunt will
not mnke the men overlook the time-honored cus-
tom of being in place when the stuffed gobbler Is
served.
The Country Dance.
In the evening all Join in the old-time country
dunce. The very name suggests quadrilles, lan-
cers, two-steps, waltzes and even, perhups, the
scliottlsh. These delightful recreations, still ob-
served, come from the "mother country," and have
flourished In east Virginia for three centuries.
Nothiug Is more Joyous thun a Christmas dance
on a Virginia plantation, where observance of the
senson Is Inherited, where the servants are ne-
groes, the tiddlers are negroes and thoroughly fu-
mlllar with the dear old dance music so fondly re-
membered by those of nnte bellum days. Invita-
tions have brought out the countryside, whose
social position deserves the courtesy. The "great
house" Is decorated with all the evergreens of the
season. Bright fires are burning and the servants
are on hand to wait on the "wite fokes."
The night is n starry one, and a rime of frost
has settled over the landscape. Outside there is a
rumble of vehicles over the slightly frozen road
lending to the house, buggies, carriages, perhaps a
four-tnule wagon, with Its gay crowd of young
people, the black Jehu guiding his team and com-
ing In n rapid trot. There may be one or two au-
tomobiles.
The big front door Is thrown open, a blaze of
genial light welcomes the Incoming guests, who
shake hands with the host nnd hostess standing
within the portals. Upstairs go the "gyrls" to the
"ladies' room," while the gentlemen go to the room
assigned them. All is bustle and happy prepara-
tion for the coming dance.
Nine o'clock chimes from the timepiece on the
parlor mantel. The lively bevy of maidens are
trooping down the brond. stairs. What visions of
loveliness are these highbred Virginia girls!—and
they charge the very atmosphere with coquetry.
Young gentlemen offer hurried requests for tile
dance. Then the renl revelry begins with the
tiddler's rail of "Choose yo' pahdnaha fo' de fus'
quaddrlll."
"Turkey in the Straw."
There Is a graceful sweep of skirts across the
well-waxed floor, a clasp of hands ns the couples
fall In place. The scraping of violins to the tune
of "Turkey In the Straw." and the head fiddler
calls "fohwud fo'." One da;:ce follows another
with short Intermission, until supper Is announced
at 12 o'clock. Then the musicians pluy a march
for the couples as they make their way to the
big dining room.
Around the lengthened mahogany table Is
spread a feast fit for the gods. Cold turkey, tur-
key salad, pickled oysters, cold ham. celery,
olives, beaten biscuit, thin wafers, fruits, cake and
black coffee. At 1:30 dancing li resumed. There
hnve been quip nnd Jpst around the hospitable
board. Love affairs begun, and harmless jealousy
can be easily discerned. The 'lancers" is the next
figure. A couple steals off after the set Is over, a
secluded lounge In the hall offers opportunity for
the "sweet nothings." or maybe true love called
forth by the propitious time and plnce.
The negro servants stand around the hall door
and wntch with fascinated gaze the many couplei
as they go through the dances. Happiness fairly
gleams on their dark faces.
The night is waning, already the roosters hnv«
crowed for "three o'clock." From now ou until "de
brek er day" the dancing keeps up. and when thf
first red streak appears on the horizon the violins
piny "Home, Sweet Home." It seems that the fid-
dlers fairly excel themselves as they draw their
hows for this, the last waltz. The dancers swing
to the steady rhythm of the music. The music
ceases. The dance is over and one more old-time
Virginia Christmas gathering is a memory. The host
and hostess speed the parting guests, nnd pres-
ently the "great house" Is quiet.
The Customs Inherited.
The customs inherited from English ancestors
will never be forgotten In this section of "OU
\ Irginny," where the plantation owner was a very
king, where the smaller fanners had their owl
peculiar pleasures, and where even the negroes
(following the example of "de wlte fokes") have
always made merry In the Yuletlde season, fol-
lowing the time-honored customs which have ex-
isted so long that like the common law, "the mem-
ory of man runneth not to the contrary."
Changes hnve taken place In tills favored sec-
tion, many of the oldest families have sold their
ancestral homes and moved to the cities. The
numerous well-known estates have passed into the
hands of wealthy persons from the North and
West, but In spite of changes, the spirit of Christ-
mas animates the natives of all classes and 1.
caught by the "strangers within the gates," for
the Northern and Western folks that have settled
and made their homes with us in nearly every
case enter into the social life of the communities
In which they reside, and during the holiday sea-
son Join hands with the natives—all In humor for
the week of frolicking.
MORE FRICTIOH WITH 6EMKY
LANSING TIRING OF END-
LESS "MISTAKES."
Thought Arabia Warship 80 the Cap-
tain 8unk Her and Let the Inves-
tigation Come After.
Washington—Cermaay's acceptance
of responsibility for the sinking with-
out warning of the Brtiish lir.er Ara-
bia with the explanation that her sub-
marine commander took the vessel for
an auxiliary warship, has brought the
issue over the submarine warfare to
a more serious and clear cut basis
than anything that has happened
.-.ince the threat of the United States
last April to break diplomatic rela-
tions after the torpedoing of the chan-
nel liner Sussex.
Such information as tlie American
government now has tends to show
that the Arabia was a passenger ship
of the Peninsular ft Orient line pass-
ng through the Mediterranean on a
.egular voyage. Among the many pas-
sengers was an American citizen' who
w as rescued.
The German note says that if official
data is furnished showing that the ves-
sel was ar ordinary passenger steam-
er "this, then, woulu be a care of re-
ntable mistake from which the Ger-
man government would promptly draw
Jie appropriate consequences."
It is assumed here that tlie conse-
quences would be an expression of re-
iret and an offer of reparation for any
injury or danger suffered by Ameri-
cans on board.
The note has been referred to,Presi-
dent Wilson, who is considering per-
-onally a review ofTecent German sub-
marine activities to which the Arabia
case comes a.i a climax. There prob-
ably wl'l be no Immediate action, as
the state department first must clear
up beyond question the exact status of
the liner at the time of the attack.
In official quarters the German ex-
planation is regarded as weak and un-
satisfactory, no weight being attached
to the statements that the Arabia was
painted like a transport and was fol-
lowing a route usually taken by trans-
parts and that the' submarine com-
mander 'saw many Chinese, but no
women and children aboard her.
It is realized, however, tnat if offi-
cial data finally establishes the inno-
cent character of the vessel, in view of
the Sussex note, virtually only one
course of action remains open to the
United States and that would not be
'.aken until every possible considera-
tion had been given Germany's posi-
tion.
While Secretary Lansing himself re-
fused all comment beyond the mere
publication of the note, it Is known
authoritatively that Germany's admis-
sion In the Arabia case, her similar
admission in the Marina case, when
six Americans were drowned, and the
tsarly facts in the sinking of the Ameri-
can steamer Chemung have combined
to create much anx efy. The teir.po-
ary quietude In submarine operations
which followed the pledges in the Sus-
sex case apparently has been dispelled
and officials are recalling the belief
then announced that submarine war-
fare is "utterly incompatible with the
principles of humanity, the long-estab-
lished and incontrovertible rights of
neutrals and tne sacred immunities of
uon-combaiants."
Americans On The Palermo.
Washington.—The state department
received a brief consular dispatch an-
nouncing the sinking of the Italian
steamer Palermo with twenty-five
Americans aboard Off the Spanish
coast. Details were lacking. News
dispatches, showing that the ship
armed and loaded with horses and
ammunition for the allies, was shelled
after b'ing torpedoed, led officials to
believe she had attempted to escape
after being warned, and thus had lost
her immunity from attack.
A preliminary reply from Germany
to the request for information concern-
ing the sinking of the British liner
Arabia was cabled to the department
by the American embassy at Berlin.
It said a submarine tommander who
had reported attacking the ship be-
'ieved her to be an armed transport,
• nd asking that the United States
nform the Imperial government of
any evidence It might Lave about the
Incident and the character of the ves-
sel'.
GERMANS IN CONTROL OF 150,COO
SQUARE MILES OR HALF
OF KINGDOM.
ARMY IS IN GRAVE DANGER
Four Divisions of Defenders About to
Be Enveloped by the Foe—Four
Capitals Are Now
Occupied
imMotuL
siiMm
LESSON
Bv E. O. SELLERS, Actli
the Sunda:
Bible Inst!
SELLERS. Actlna Director «
iy School Course In the Moodi
Jtute of Chicago.) 1
(Copyright. 1916, Western Newstaper t'n!<>*.]
LESSON FOR DECEMBER 1]
' THE HOLY CITY.
London—Bucharest, the capital
Rumania, is in the hands of the forces
of the central powers.
Exactly one hundred days after the
declaration of war by Rumania against
them finds the Teutonic allies incon-
trol of about 150.000 square miles of
Rumanian territory—virtually one-
half of the kingdom—running from
the Transylvanian Alps, northwest of
the capital, to the Danube, south -of
it, and a large p^rt of Dobrudja, and
probably still on the heels of the re-
treating Russian and Rumanian arm-
ies, which had been endeavoring to
hold them back,
Ploetchi Also Captured.
Simultaneously with the announce-
ment of the fall of Bucharest came
the news of the capture of the import
ant railroad junction, Ploetchi, north
of the capital, the conquest of which
places in the hands of Jhe invaders
the last railroad in the west and gives
to them the head of the line running
northward to Jassy, where the capital
of'Rumania is now situated.
With the fall of Bucharest the en-
tente allies are now in possession of
four capitals of entente states, the
others being Brussels, Belgrade, and
Cettinje.
The Germans.i with the aid of Aus-
tro-Hungarians, Bulgarians and Turks,
have battered their way through west-
ern Rumania to the present concen-
trie position around Bucharest within
a wonderfujly short time. They have
breasted the natural fortifications of
the Transylvania mountains and the
Danube river and have beaten their
way through the strongest kind of
scientific defenses obviously prepared
long in advance.
■ They have thrown the Roumanim
army numbering hundreds of thous-
ands of men back in such disorder
that even apparently impregnable po-
sitions such as'those along the rivers
Alt and nrgechu could not be he^l
mere than a few hours.
The capture of Ploetchi on the rail
way line running north from Bucha
rest cuts the main railway line of rail
of the Rumanian armies operating in
the Bucharest -cgion.
The taking of BucharesJ virtually
completes the conquest by the Teu-
tonic forces of the southern section
of the Rumanian kingdom, embracing
territory of more than 50,000 square
miles.
FISHERMEN SAVED MOOSE.
A bull moose was seen lately, pursued by a bear,
w™ .t0 th£ ° of Fined,,lt-> the state of
Wyoming. Two men, fishing in Fayette lake early
one morning, were greatly astonished to see him
emerge from the timber at a high rete of speed
and rush toward the water. A few seconds later
rr' ! y WCre "ble t0 e™!' «h* reason for
Ms singular conduct, as a large black bear came
Into view at the same spot, but on beholding the
men he at once took fright and made Into the
woods. After splashing round In the luke for
some tliue the moose came out, blew the water
from his nostrils and stood only a few yards awav
from the fishermen, eying them serenely. He was
of unusual s ze and had a magnificent set of
hoins. He skirted tlie shore of the lake at a leis-
urely gait for about a mil* and then darted Into
tb(j woous.
M'DANIEL IS^ EXONERATED
St. Joseph Prosecutor Acquitted of
Killing His Wife.
St. Joseph. Mo.—Oscar D. McDan-
iel, prosecuting attorney of Buchanan
county, was caquitted by a jury in the
criminai court here,of the charge of
having murdered Mrs. Harriet Moss
McDaniel, his wife. The verdict of
exoneration ended one of the most
- ensational trials ever held in western
Missouri.
Mrs. McDaniel was found beaten
and dying in her bed room near mid-
night on July 14. Two of her three
children sleeping in an adjoining room
had not been awakened by the attack
on their mother.
Gifts By Wireless.
Chicago.—Mere than $20,000 has
been sent by wireless as Christmas
gifts to families in central Europe
by Chicagoan3 in the last six weeks.
Julius Goldtler, secretary of the Ger-
mano-Austrian-Hungarlan society an-
nounced. Mr. Goldiier said also that
the gold to reimburse Teutonic finan-
cial institutions was being forwarded
regularly from the United States., but
declined to say whether It wan being
sent through the blockade on the mer-
chant submarine Deutschland on eith-
jr of Its-trips.
DEUTSCHLAf'iD HOME SAFE
Submarine Makes Voyage from Amei*
ica In Nineteen D^ys.
Berlin.—The Germau ccmmercla!
submarine Deutschland. completing
a quick trip home from the United
States, arrived oc the mouth of the
Wesar.
The arrival of the Deutschland at a
German port marks the successful
completion of the second round trip
of this commercial undersea boat to
the United States. On her voyage
just finished she made the passage in
nineteen days, having left Now l.on
don on November 21. Her previous
eastward trip from Baltimore took 22
days. Her two westward voyages
occupied, respectively, 16 and 21 days.
The British steamer Caledonia was
snnk by a German submarine after
she had tried to ram th<} undersea
boat, it was officially announced. Her
captain was taken prisoner.
According to reports from Stock
holm, says the Overseas News agency,
German submarines in the Arctic
have during the last few weeks sunk
sixteen ammunition steamers bound
for Russia.
ARABIA NOW REAL KINGDOM
Hrssein Ben Ali Notifies State De-
partment That He's On the Job.*
Washington.—Formation of the new-
kingdom of Arabia with Grand Sherif
Hussein Ben Ali as monarch and
Mecca as the capial was officially
reported to the state department by
Snerif Abduliah, minister of foreign
affairs.
Arabia, Abdullah sa'd, henceforth
will be an active member of the so-
ciety of nations and confidently looks
forward to recognition by the United
States. The new kingdom resulted, lie
said, from a unanimous meeting of, the
notables of the country, who definitely
threw off the yoke of the Committee
of Union and Progress at Constanti-
nople.
LESSON TEXT—Rsv. 21:1-7, 22-27
GOLDEN TEXT—Behold, the taber.
nacle of God Is with men, and he shaD
dwell with them, and they shall be hli
people.—R#v. 21:3.
Costa Rica Breaks With Nicaragua.
Washington.—American Minister
Jefferson at Managua. Nicaragua,
cabled that President Charoerro per
sonally had received reports that
Costa Rica had broken off diplomatic
relations with Nicaragua and that a
serious crisis was impending between
Salvador and Nicaragua as a reult
of the latter's >ofunal to ahldo by the
decision of the Central American
cohrt against Nicaragua's canal route
treaty with the Hulled States. The
trouble has been brewing ever sine*
the treaty was negotiated a year ago*
As we approach the end of the yetr
our minds turn from the Imperial city
where last we have any authentic rec.'
ord of Paul, to the eternal city i0
which he has so long resided. In leg.
son ten we studied Jesus Christ in bl«
resurrection glory, the source of ui
power, King of Kings and Lord ol
Lords for the redemption of tlie hu-
man race. In Lesson 11 we stud.'
the glorified Christ who is actuudy
working through his churches is the
representatives of his kingdom upon
earth. The succeeding chapters de-
scribe In symbols and pictures the dis-
cipline and training of God's people
during the long generations that fol-
lowed. In the lesson for today, we
have a vision of the final triumph of
Christianity when it shall have ac-
complished its work of redemption in
this world.
I. The New Heaven and the New Earth
(vv. 1-7). John In vision saw the con-
summation of the work of Christian-
ity, the visible answer to the prayer
which Jesus Christ taught his disciples
to pray, "thy kingdom come, thy will
be done on earth as in heaven."
Heaven, as well as earth, has been in-
vuded and polluted by sin, but both
alike are to be made new. (I Peter 3:10,
II,13). The true Jerusalem, of which
Solomon's was but a type, is of heav-
euly and divine origin. It comes down
out pf heaven from God. We know
nothing of the Inhabitants of the unl.
verse of which we are a part, but here
we hnve some scriptural indication of
that place where God's children are to
be with him eternally. The kingdom
of God Is among you, but It is even*
tually to be with God and Jesus in a
peculiar and beautiful way. John's
announcement caine from out of heav-
en and out ,of the throne. (1) it
was a tabernacle of God with men;
rather he shall tabernacle with men.'
He Is to pitch his tent among us (John
1:14 R. V. marg.) It Is to be done
eventually and permanently. This
dwelling of God among us lies at the
foundation of the blessedness and glo-
ries which nre to follow. (2) They
shall be his people. Israel hud teen
his people; all nations are to be his
people in the fullest sense. (3) God
himself shall, be with them, not only
his tabernacle but he, himself visibly,
personally. (4) He shall be their God,
acknowledged in all his infinite claims,
and he to them all that God is of love,
power, wisdom, holiness and glory.
(5) He shall wipe away every tear
from their eyes. There will not be a
single grief or heartache, unsutlsSed
longing or tear, fcr God shall wipe
them away, and they will stay wiped
away. (6) Death shall be no more.
Of all the enemies, death is the last
one which shall be taken from the
earth. It is sweet to know that this
last enemy Is to be conquered. (7)
There shall be no mourning, crying or
pain any more. Every sorrow, agony,
remorse, gloom, disappointment gone
forever; death, tears, mourning all
passed away. It is hard for us to com-
prehend the majesty and"sweep of this
great and glorious promise. (See I
Cor. 15).
II. The Coming Light and Glory (vv.
22-27). The intervening verses are a
wonderful description of the founda-
tion walls and gates of the city. There
will be no temple in that city for It will
not be needed. Instead of the temple
which stands for the temple of earth
there is to be the presence of God,
himself, but the Ifimb is also in the
midst of It. Nothing can more force-
fully impress ppon us the deity and pre-
eminence of Jesus Christ, the atoning
lamb, slain before the foundation' of
the world. This city is to be a city of
light nnd glory. It will not be an il-
lumination by gas nor electricity, for
the glory of the Lord shall lighten it
8ummary. What are tlie lessons for
our day from this vision of the new
heaven nnd the new earth? First:
That the golden age of the Bible has
not yet taken place. There are better
times to come than anything the world
has yet seen. Second: We have here
the positive assurance of the success
of our lender nnd 'the victory of Chris-
tianity in its conflict with evil. Third:
The golden ideal of heaven is the
means by which we can test our dally
lives ond the whole course of our con-
duct. The question we should con-
stantly ask Is, "Are we going to this
heavenly ideal?" Fourth: The gates
of that city are open; an angel is at
eaoh gate, und shall keep out all evil.
God desires that all men everywhere
should repent, and Is not willing that
any should perish.
When the final assize shall have
passed, no one will say that God did
not give him a chance nor seek to in-
spire him to a place of eternal joy at
his right hand.
Again there is to be federation of
the forces of good. Today we too
often find Christian people divided.
Invitation. "And the Spirit and the
bride sny come, let him that heareth
aay come, and let him that Is athlrst
come, and whosoever will let him take
of the water of lift freely."
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Gunsenhouser, M. H. The Herald-Sentinel. (Cordell, Okla.), Vol. 24, No. 14, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 14, 1916, newspaper, December 14, 1916; (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc169572/m1/4/: accessed June 30, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.