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Newspaper
Semi Weekly Herald
Location
Eldora, Iowa, United States of America
Date
Jan 02, 1904
Page
2
A historical reminiscence describes corn shuckin as a southern New Year ritual for enslaved communities. It covers invitations, lavish feasts, music, dances, the captaincy, crafty games with red ears, and the social structure of the event, ending with a year opening benediction and reflections on loss and providence.
The speaker notes a crowing cock and flickering shadows as night deepens. Crickets chirp and a low light frames a moment of final farewell to an old year. A stark call to action ends with a warning to speak before death.
A fragmentary verse-like passage suggests a funeral mood as a friend notes a tightened, sharper face and a new presence at the door. The rhythm implies a living return or ghostly watcher, with lines about eyes closed and a stander at the doorway.
The text recalls New Year traditions from ancient Rome to modern times. It notes January’s origin from a two faced god, proverbs about January weather, celebrating at midnight, and the historic practice of making resolutions and sharing wassail, a spiced drink with wine and fruit.
A historical note on New Year gesture of giving many costly presents, once rivaling Christmas. It describes the English custom of gloves or glove money on New Year’s day, noting gloves were expensive and handmade, reflecting the era’s fashion and economy.
A compilation notes a Pere Marquette collision east of Grand Rapids killing seventeen and injuring thirty-one as two trains destroyed. Other items warn of high Chicago hotel rates at the national convention, a near drowning in Boston harbor, and various international tensions with Russia and Japan.
Carlyle Illinois December 28 action by Thomas Ford Fred Schlafy EB A Kahlert Henry Blanke and J S Paterson representing the Carlyle Commercial club grants a franchise and authority to build and operate an electric railway for freight and passengers along the St Louis and Vincennes route. The path will pass near Trenton Aveston Breeze Buxton Carlyle Huey Clinton Switch and Shattuc with coal deposits along the line and expected revenue from mining interests.
Ripon Wisconsin December 28 Will Helden dressed as Santa Claus caught by flames when his cotton costume ignited causing severe facial and hand burns. Many pieces of furniture in the room were destroyed.
Brainerd Minnesota December 28 a jury convicted Mrs Myra Jane Williams of first degree murder for killing her two year old daughter on August 21 and then disposing of the body in the Mississippi.
Gov Van Sant fixed February 10 for the execution of Charles and Henry Nelson, brothers, convicted of murder in the first degree, their case upheld by the Minnesota supreme court.
Dana Calhoun a young colored woman died in a fire at Mound City Illinois on December 28. She rushed into a burning building to save her trunk and was overcome with her head entirely burned from her body.
Proceedings connected to a murder case were held at Mount Carmel on December 28. The defendant William Lagerig faced charges in the incident involving a mother, with actions relating to a stee and mounting evidence reviewed by the court.
A collection of quirky historical vignettes. Webster pleads not to be starved when sued by a wary shopkeeper. A Russian admirer asks Rossini for an audience, offering asparagus as payment. Kean and Macready spar over what to perform, mocking the prompter with blunt humor at Drury Lane.
Lakefield Minnesota reports Wil Mam EB Gentry, 77, declares a complete cure from long kidney trouble after using Dodd's Kidney Pills. The piece blends other ads and notes various products, medicines, and household items with brief testimonials and promotional lines.
In a colorful village scene a traveling drummer bets Uncle Jerry will answer how he is. Seven villagers pool $16 for the wager as Uncle Jerry, approached on the street, cheerfully replies that he is "Pretty well, praise God." He later earns a dollar per hour for the performance.
A New York press report says a Madison Square Garden physical culture show will feature pupils to prove sugar’s stimulant effects. The teacher claims sugar boosts nerve force, cites miners and Swiss alpinists, and notes two winters in the Klondike. A pupil’s witty return highlights sugar in diet amid debate.
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