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New Year Kissing Customs Saluting the Parish Pump I 1 o THERE hus nlwnys been a close and mystic association of kiss ing with the New Year. Every lover, If circumstances permit, thus salutes his sweetheart at the dawn of the New Year-and some lovers are tot particular whose sweetheart she that they thus salute on this rus cus occasion, ere is nu ancient kissing custom ited with a parish church in biro. The legend ls that any vho at the first stroke of mld l* kisses tho keyhole of the church or, and then runs right round the ?lflco In time to kiss the keyhole he re the Inst stroke of the hour, ls cer ln of good luck Aurlie the whole of - year. t requlr<w a certain amount of. MTci ve to enter this country churchyard nt the dead of night, even for such a purpose, but rumor hath lt that no new year is born without someone es saying the race round the church. The distance ls such that it ls Impossible for more than one person to thus court a year's luck. Churchyards have always been favo rite places for New Year osculations. In the Wensleydale district, In days gone by, all and sundry could kiss "without scandal" on New Year's eve In the porch of the church. It was largely availed of, too, for lt Is on record that the accommoda tion fell lamentably short of the de mand, and consequently there was even more squeezing than kissing-if that were possible. A somewhat gruesome kind of churchyard kissing used to obtain among thc Basques of the Pyrenees en New Year's eve. lt was the custom for the maidens to then repair to the churchyard, and on their fingers waft kisses to the four quarters of the uni verse. 1 A kiss was supposed to brush their lips on return, and If it was warm lt Indicated that they would marry and be happy ever after. On tho other hand, If the kiss was cold and of the enrth earthy, the Inference was that single "blessedness" would be their lot. The only means by which the omen could be broken was by repairing to the church and kissing the church bell, \ gravestone and a piece of coffin tvood. This remedy was very fre juently resorted to; and so superstl :lous were the Basque maidens that nit for the consolation afforded some rf them would have lost their reason. In these degenerate days the lot of he mayor of Durham ls far happier han that of his predecessors in as lent times. If tradition can be relied m the chief magistrate war then mi ler nn obligation to kiss the first cow. he first sheep and the first pig .rought into the first market of the iiew Year. This went on until lt occurred to a esourceful occupant of the mayoral hair to interpret1 the custom as relat ng to the first three market women, . nd henceforward they were the re Iplents of the New Year kisses until ie ancient custom vanished alto ; other. ' It Is much to be feared tha,t the abuse of kissing customs 'has been largely responsible for their fnlllng into disuse, though some of them are certainly more honored In the breach ^ than in the observance. One such, which used to obtain in Oxfordshire, concerned the tenants of certain estates which they held on condition that on New Year's morning they publicly kissed the parish pump or paid a drink fino to the assembled populace. As might be supposed, the tenants almost invariably preferred to pay the fine, but lt ls on record that one mis guided, close-fisted Individual actually kissed the pump In order to keep the fine In his pocket. The populace were so disgusted at his meanness and infuriated at the loss of the liquor that they held him under the pump and pumped tho wa ter on him until he was almost washed away. The exchange of drink for kisses was, In the bad old days, a not Infre quent New Year's day practice In pub lic houses, where It sometimes led to rows and riots among the frequenters. At one hostelry In the metropolis lt was the custom for the landlord to hand out to every member of the op posite sex who called before tho hour of noon on New Year's day n measure of ol? lo exchange for a kiss. What the landlord's better hnlf thought of this proceeding report say eth not. At another London public house lt used to be permissible for the first cus tomer on New Year's morning to kiss the barmaid by way of paying for his liquor. But only the first was entitled to this privilege, and any subsequent caller who presumed to pay In this ? fashion had to forfeit half a crown to the barmaid. One astute Hebe got her sweetheart to call first and mulcted several later callers of the customary half crown In the course of the morn ing. A NEW YEAR'S WISH. To thone my friends who hold me dear, I wish great Joy throughout the year. To other friends, who like me lesa, .A full ten months of hnpplncBB. \ For such na like mo not at all I hope they'll have good luck till fall. -Iris. CKrisii?ias dournet/ . WM* graham ?1^.. J (Posner ^_I?\?1K luid no children. At "WTOTm Chi 1st nuis time she espe SSWflre^ clnlly seemed to feel the oeed of Hiern. It seemed tffff?w1 "S tlu)U^n every time she w turned around she should i j seo a daughter or a son s or a small chubby child of her own-one of those she had dreamed of and who had never stepped outside of her dreams. Yes I She, Gertrude Herding, was a "born mother" to whom no children had been born. But this year she hud forgotten something most Important to be done. And lt was only several days before Christmas. She went down town, made her pur chase after quite a delay and left tho shop. Outside were three small children, their faces close against the win,dow pane, their eyes gleaming, their small Ill-clad bodies tense and quivering wi tit emotion. "Aw, gee, look at lt stop at the sta tions I There, she's off the track now I No, she ain't. She's back on again." The second child was reading a sign. "They snys that In this here shop that lt's the land where the dreams of children come ' true. D'ye suppose they's klddln'?" The third child, a little girl, who was clutching what once had been a doll was looking at ope In the shop's window. "If I could Jes' touch her hair," she sighed. "Would you like to go inside the shop?" Gertrude Harding asked the children. They looked nt her abruptly. "D'ya mean lt?" And through the shop, straight to the children's department she took them. It was a revelation to her to realize tho Joy that was derived by these children from the Intimate contact with toys they knew they could never own. They had gone Inside one of tho big shops and lind been treated ns well as anybody; they had not been afraid. They had looked to their heart's con tent. "It's true-what they's said," the children agreed afterward, "In there lt Is the land nil right, where children's drenms come true." For the reality of Fnirylnnd had been expressed by the marvelous and magical toys and games and gay decorations of the Christmas shop. If, Gertrude Hnrdlng told herself nfterward, these children had so loved a trip Into the gnyety of a children's shop, were there not others who would like to journey forth Into the world of toys, too? She thought lt over. And did not stop there. She rang up a certain number and nsked for the mntron. "You're tho mntron of the Children's hospital, aren't you? Well, I won dered If any of your children would care to go with me tomorrow and take a trip through the children's toy shops? They're most attractively fixed up this year and some oi them have special attractions, a Santa Claus and many other wondrous features I" So Gertrude Harding called for the children. There were 15 who were able to go nnd of that 15 the majority were motherless. Such an afternoon as Gertrude Harding had. And such an afternoon as the children had. Those In the shops seemed especial ly anxious to do what they could for the children who were so obviously from a home or hospital. The mechan ical toys even seemed to put more spirit Into their performances Ger trude Harding thought. As they .were coming home severn! little hands found their wny Into both of Gertrude Harding's hands. One clutched a Uttlo Unger, another had hold of her thumb ; so lt went. "Mrs.," one of them ventured, "let's pretend wo're nil children from n kin dergarten and that you're our tendi er. Don't let's pretend we'ro from a hospital, eh?" "Yes, let's pretend that," she an swered them. "Or how would lt do to pretend thnt I was your mother and thnt you were all my children?" "Would you-honest-would you pretend that?" one asked and the oth ers looked nt her engerly, hoping, hop ing, Imping she would not refuse. "That would be the best 'pretend' of all," she smiled nt them. So they "pretended" nnd so they went back very happily from their Christmas shopping trip. Once ngaln she took them, on the dny before Christmas. It was hard getting through the crowds, but lt was worth every effort. In one of the shops a gayly dressed clown led tho children In a proces sion. Once In a while he turned and winked nt them ns though to say: "We know what fun all this ls don't we? We're In the secret of thc fun that children cnn have nt Christ mas timo that tito grown ups know nothing of. They roust just let us co I a.ong and share our secret together, eh?" And then the clown beat upon his drum and the children all marched stiffly behind. When a magnificent Santo Claus asked the children to sing with him and- Ibo voices of tho hospital children sang out wl?th the rest Gertrude Hard ing felt herself swelling with pride. Later when Santa Claus perceived^ that one of the hospital children had an unusually lovely voice he asked him t sing alone. And there in thc shop he snug, sang with the thrill of happiness that a bird sings with when tlrst he feels the warmth and sweet fra g ru nee of the spring. He had never been asked tp sing be? fore like this-in a big shop where people were and where people listened to him, not because he was being vis tted In a hospital and must do lils part to entertnln thc visitors, but because somehow or other they liked his voice. It rang out true and strong. He shifted the crutch which he had never been Without and which he would nev er be without to the end of his days, and then ho was asked to si&g an en core. His face was flushed with the pleas ure of lolng something which was liked In this big outside world. He looked at Santa Claus and beamed. v He had already sung a popular song which he hnd learned from the squeak ing talking machine which someone had given the hospital when it was no longer flt for the home, and now he j thought he would sing something bet- | ter. Somehow he felt lt would be proper, and vaguely perhaps he felt lt would show a gratitude for Christmas that went deeper. Dimly he thought these tilings. Someone had taught them a hymn In thc hospital, a hymn which he hod always loved. It made one feel bet ter, stronger, happier somehow. It was a very glorious hymn he had al ways thought. And he sang: i "It came upon the midnight clear, I That glorious song of old. Prom angele bending near the earth To touch their harp? of gold; Peace on tho earth, good will to men, From heaven'8 all-^rnolous king; The world In solemn stillness lay To hear the angels sing." Right to the end of tho hymn he sang and the people thanked him and Santa Claus told him lt had been love ly and gave him a man-like clap on the back. Gertrude Harding bad felt a lump ! In her thront and had smiled with eyes that were misty. ? So the angels did bend near the earth-even In these days-and even over hospitals where crippled and ill children were. It wi the humans, not the angels, who forgot ?nd who went through life not thinking I Back to the hospita who took tho children late, late tba' afternoon. Tlx hospital was In semi* dark ness. Chtb j Their Day of Drcamcd-of Pleasure. dren who had been too recently op erated upon or who could not leave their beds sat up as best they could to hear of the news of the outside world. Little white-clad figures listened to the glowing accounts brought to them of the great lifo which went on beyond the ward. And for every little child who had to stay In the hospital, Gertrude Hard ing had brought a small present, only a trifling one, but a remembrance from the great world. v Then the hospital rules which had been lifted for a few min; tes after the ones who had been out so late had come back, were In order again, and there was silence In, the ward, and soon there would come sleep. When she got home thnt evening, tired but very, very happy, she snid to herself: "There are born mothers, yes I And there are born children, tool Chil dren who need to be loved ns much ns women who need children to love. And though there ls a difference between those of one's very own, and those who are not, lt seems as though no ono who ls a "bom mother" should go through life, walking blindly by the many motherless children. "For every childless mother there is a motherless child to whom one cnn give some of the love and Interest and tho pride which would otherwise go to waste." In her sleep she seemed to hear the Christmas carol which the hospital lad had sung and she knew what had been revealed to her She bad traveled Into the land of children at Christmas time and had smiled the smile that can bo smiled when ??ne gets a look ot the heart of a I?hud . i<e r.'JU. Wcau-in Newspaper Union.) For Torpid Liver "Black-Draught is. in my opinion, the oest liver medicine on the market," states Mrs. R. H. White side, of Keota, Okla. She continues: "I had a pain in my chest after eating tight, uncomfortable feel ing-and this was very disagreeable and brought on headache. I was con stipated and knew it was indigestion and inactive liver. 1 began the use of Black-Draught, night and morning, and it sure is splendid and certainly ? gives relief." > Thedford's BLACK DRAUGHT For over seventy years this purely vegetable preparation has been found beneficial by thou sands of persons suffer ing from effects of a tor pid, or slow-acting liver. Indigestion, biliousness, colic, coated tongue, diz ziness, constipation, bit ter taste, sleeplessness, lack of energy, pain in back, puffiness under the eyes-any or all of these symptoms often indicate that there is something the matter with your liver. You can't be too careful about the medi cine you take. Be sure that the name, "Thed ford's Black-Draught," is on the package. At ali druggists. Accept Only the Onutne.. J, 79 Even Burglar Has a Heart. . Chicago, Dec. '?'A.-"A Christmas burglar with a heart" heeded the ap peal of Ruth Mailey, aged 10, not I to take the Christmas presents when ; she found-him in her home yestor ', day noon, on her return from school ! for luncheon. The burglar was eat ing her lunch, which had been \o.ii. ' by her mother before going down ! town shopping. He took her to the 1 parlor and played little jingles and ; Christmas songs for her on the piano When tho little girl told him she would have to return to school ho said: "Tell your mother that I'll return some day and steal everything in the house," but he loft without taking anything. Ins Oulnina That Does Not ?fftet the Head Because of lt* tonic and laxative effect. LAXA Ti Vit BROMO QU INI Nit is better than ordinary Quinine and does not cause nervousnes- nor ringing in head. Remember the full name and look for the signature ol E. W. GROVS. 30c. Mohammed was left an orphan in his infancy and was brought up by his uncle. The foot or a well-proportioned woinan is normally one-fourteenth of her height. MOTHER! "California Syrup of Figs" Child's Best Laxative Accept "California" Syrup of Figs only-look for the name California on the package, then you aro sure your child is having tho best and most harmless physic for tho little stomach, liver and bowels. Children love Its fruity taste. Full directions on each bottlo. Yon must say "Cali fornia."-adv. HLUE RIDGE TAKK OFF TRAINS.' Southern io chango lt? Schedule Rc* tween Greenville and Columbia. (Anderson Mall, Dec. 22. > , Pormissi?n to discontinue trains Nos. 5*4, "?.">, 5.? and 57, bot ween An derson and Walhalla, was granted to the Blue Ridge Railroad by tho South Carolina Railroad Commission at the mooting yesterday in Columbia. This action was taken in response to a petition of the railroad asking that this curtailment, bo allowed in an effort to reduce expenses. It is a fact that the ?Hue Ridge has been losing money heavily since Hie business de pression started, and that these trains aro not paying expenses, but are a heavy expense to the line. This curtailment of service is only temporary, and If trafile conditions improve, the service will certainly bo restored. Tho trains to be discon tinued aro the uni.-.hers mentioned above, the last train leaving Ander son at 7J5 a. m., and No. 57, leav ing Andorson at 2.1*0 p. m. No. 5 4 arrives at Anderson at 1.20 p. m. and , 5G arrives here at 7.4 0 p. m. Tho regular passenger service of main passenger trains will bo main tained under tho present schedule Until changos are made in the sched ule. Southern to Change Schedule. The commission also granted au thority to tho Southern Railway to chango its schedule on trains 16 and 17, operating between Columbia and Greenville, both trains to ho moved up approximately 4 5 minutes. This will permit train 17, which now loaves Columbia at 2.110 o'clock, to make connection with the Charleston and Western Carolina Railroad at Greenwood. Train No. 16 now leaves Greenville at 5.45 o'clock and ar rives in Columbia nt 11.30 o'clock. The details of the new schedule will be arranged later, the two trains, ac cording to tho decision of tho Rail road Commission, meeting at Bolton as heretofore. This allows tho Blue Ridge train to make connections with both trains. Tho schedule of tho Blue Ridge Railway will also bo changed to meet the change In tho Southern's schedule. DEATH OF MRS. 8. O. DURHAM. Esteemed Lady Fasse? to Reward at Age of Eighty Years. Coneross, Dec. IO*.-Delayed. On Wednesday, Dec. 6th, Mrs. Sarah C. Durham, who was a resident of this community, passed peacefully from this lifo to tho great beyond. Her death was not a surprise, as her health had been gradually fail ing, and she had boen a constant suf ferer for several weeks before her death. Before the end came she talked and consoled her loved ones hy saying that she was ready to meet her Saviour, and begged them to bo ready for a reunion in that home the Saviour has gone to prepare, and when all that loving hands and med ical aid could dp to stay tho disease was in vain, angels came to relieve the patient sufferer and carry her spirit to God. Mrs. Durham was a member of tho Walhalla Baptist church. She spent the most of her lifo In this county, and her lifo was a long and useful on.S. She was nearing her 80th year. She was first married to a Mr. Rice, and after his death she married F. M. Durham, who died in 1912. He was a Confederate soldier. She is survived by three children--'Miss Liz zie Rice, of this community; Mrs. B. D. Garvis, of Charleston, and John M. Durham, of' Walhalla, all of whom were at tho bedside for tho past two weeks. Funeral services were conducted at the homo by Rov. L. M. Lyda, and her remains were laid to rest in the Baptist cemetery at Walhalla at 3 o'clock on Thurs day afternoon, Dec. 7th, the services hoing concluded nt the grave. May tho Conforter sustain tho be reaved ones and guide thom to tho Father's home In heaven, where sep aration is no more. DEFENDANTS FREED IN NOTED Case in Georgia-Even if Victim was Poisoned, Evidence Insufficient. Macon, Qa., Dec. 21.-All four of the defendants charged with poison ing Fred I). Shepard, of Houston county, for his money, wero dis charged boro lato to-night by Judge H. A. Mathews, of Superior Court. The judge hold that, even granting that.Shepard was poisoned, tho State had not presented sufficient ovldonco to convict them with the deed. Ho also declared that the testimony of tho exports regarding the alloget. poisoning was conflicting. Thoro was a mild outburst of ap plause as tho prt limlnnry hearing, which had lasted a wook, carno to a close,and thon Shopard's widow, now Mrs. Paulino Elmer, of Jacksonville, looped up, and, facing tho judgo, crlod, "Jesus did not walk alono in THE BEAUTIES OF OUR COUNTY. Sonto i tu (s About tho Ideal Location ot Long Creek Academy. . Long Crook Daptlst Academy, Doc. 2 0.-Special: 1 hopo you will allow me space enough ju your paper* for a few facta about Long Crook Acad emy. Wo wish for you ilrst lo know of tho beautiful location of this insti tution, lt is nearly tho same dis tance from throe progressive towns about 14 miles from Walhalla, our county seat, ll? miles from Westmin ster, and 15 milos from Clayton, tia. To tho cast of the academic build ing is Hound .Mountain, on the north and wost aro the foot-hills of tho higher Hine Ridge. A more beautiful location cou^ never huvo boon found, and most certainly not a moro Healthful ono. The academy itsolf is a very pretty structure, situated In a grove of oaks on a gradually sloping hill. Tho boys'* home Is joined t? tho north of the school building, while tho girls' homo is north of tho boys' homo, and these are very beautiful buildings. ' Electric lights have recently been nddod to tho conveniences of tho In stitution. There aro yot a few rooms vacant, but we hopo to have these flllod af ter tho holidays. Rev. L. H. Raines, n man of no mean ability, has put his heart and mind on this great work. No ono can ever do a-greater work for tho students than he ls doing to-day, and he can't bp boat, as a man and ioack or. He has boen a faithful loador hore for tho past four years, and ls loved by all. Wa also havo with us another groat teacher, Prof. L. L. Oglo, of Loudon, Tenn. Wo as a studont body aro making wonderful progress" to ward tho upbuilding of our school and community. Only a row nights ngo throe of tho students, Ernest Cromer, Loon Grain ger and George Nally, with a few others, gave a very interesting negro minstrel, of their own authorship. Tho play was in five acts, and created much movrimont throughout the per formance. This entertainment was the work of tho juniors. Wo hopo others will learn of our great school and tho work that is being carried on, and will Join with us in making this the host among tho mountain schools. Jj, A. G. and G. F. N. DANDERING Stops Hair Coming Out; Thickens, Beautifies. A few cents buys "Thinderino." Af tor an application of "Danderine" you cannot And a fallon hair or any dandruff; bosides every hnlr shows new lifo, vigor, brightness, moro col or and thickness.-adv. Jacksonville Has 41,470 Negroes. Washington, Dec. 22.-Tho negro population of Jacksonville, Fla., ls 41,479, an increase pf 12,186, or 41.6 per cont, the census bureau announ ced to-day. Tho white population ls 50,031, an increase of 21,702 or 76.6 per cent, and all others 4 8. Morocco in tho 13th century is said to have bad more than 700,000 inhabitants. A vast supply of sodium sulphate is represented in tho deposits of some of tho lakes In Siberia. Tho Mexican government has In creased tho salaries of Its diplomatic repr?sentatives 5 0 per cent. tho garden. I did not walk alone. God was with me." Thc woman's words drifted off In to incoherency, and suddenly she top pled over backward, but was savod from a fall by attorneys nearby. Friends crowded around tho other defendants, Mrs. Elmer's son, Ernest Hopson, her younger sister, Mrs.Iona Henry, and Mrs. Annie Cutts, of Fitz gerald, Ga. In a fow minutos Mrs. Elmer had recovered sufficiently to bo taken away by her frlonds. Tho court room, which lind/boon woll filled throughout tho hearing, was crowded to-night, and frlonds of tho defendants crowdod around to congratulate thom. As they left tho court house thoy woro haltod again on tho sidewalk to re?oive congrat ulations.