Chicago, Ill.

Come membro e presidente di questa loggia locale alla quale appartengo da tre mesi, ho letto il nostro ADVOCATE e non avendoci mai trovato nulla sulla nostro locale, mi è venuto in mente di scrivere io due righe per il nostro ADVOCATE del presente mese.

Fratelli italiani, per primo vi darò a comprendere come noi abbiamo formato questa loggia No. 142.

Ci siamo riuniti una Domenica tutti i caporali delle section gang ed extra gangs, di sopra al terminali di Chicago, della compagnia di C., M. & St. P. Ry.

A questa riunione abbiamo cominciato a parlare di affari di altre unioni che sorgono tutti i giorni, e come sono trattati quelli che appartengono all' unione e la condotta che tengono loro, e via dicendo.

Poi uno di noi, non mi rammento il nome, disse: Perchè non apparteniamo anche noi all' unione? In tutti i modi abbiamo trovata la strada anche noi di far parte alla Clybourn Lodge No. 246.

E nel breve spazio di 30 giorni, abbiamo raggiunto il numero di 35 membri. Po avendo raggiunto questo numero di membri, abbiamo fatto domanda all' organizer, Brother Peterson, che volevama formare una locale per noi sulla compagnia C., M. & St. P. Ry. detta domanda fu approvata, dalla Clybourn Lodge No. 246 di Chicago, e la prima riunione fu aperta per noi il giorno di 24 Ottobre 1910, col numero di 35 membri e nella stessa seduta abbiamo ammessi circa altri 15 nuovi membri. La seconda seduta ne abbiamo ammessi altri 26, e alla terza altri 55 Perciò, cari fratelli, in circa 4 mesi che ci siamo organizzati, abbiamo raggiunto il numero 143 di soci, fino al giorno d' oggi. E ancora voglio dire che ne abbiamo ancora 20 che lavorano senza far parte dell' unione, ma vi assicuro che per la prossima seduta, del 21 di Gennaio, 1911, saramo tutti dentro nella locale, St. P. Stars No. 142. Il luogo di riunione è 1223 Milwaukee ave. sia ogni terzo sabato del mese. Di piu vi voglio spiegare che il lavoro che hanno fatto vari soci di questa locale è grandissimo.

In circa altri 4 mesi, credo che arriveremo al numero de "Trimometor" sopra a tutti. Percio raccomando ad ogni socio della St. P. Stars No. 142, di prendersi un po di interesse, di far appartenere coloro che lavorano sopra alla compagnia di C., M. & St. P. Ry. Con stima vi saluto, vostro fratello e presidente della St. P. Stars Lodge No. 142, TONY ARGENTINO.

Riviere du Loup, Que.

Je remercie beaucoup Monsieur Lowe de la bonne lettre qu'il a écrite dans le mois de décembre, nous donnant de l'encouragement que nous aurions une bonne augmentation et j'espère que cette question de salaire va continuer plus que jamais.

Nous avons eu une belle assemblée le mois de décembre, tenue à Sait Paschal, le Frère N. Levesque a été réelu président et le Frère G. Frève secrétaire. ainsi que les autres officiers qui ont été réelus.

Je souhaite à tous une bonne et heureuse année et tout ce qu'ils désirent, la paix, la santé et le bonheur et du succès dans toutes vos entreprises. Croyex-moi, fraternellement en B. L. et U., A. DUMAS, Agent du Journal.

Alteau Sta., Greenville P. O., Me.

Je ne sais si ma lettre méritera les honneurs de la publication et peut-être suis-je téméraire d'oser l'espérer. Quolqu'il en soit je désire vous écrire du succès de notre société à la dernière réunion du 17 décembre à Brownsville Junction.

Je ne puis exprimer toute la satisfaction que nous avons eue, mon mari et moi au milieu de ce groupe choisi d'amis entre lesquels notre roadmaster et sa dame faisalent si bonne figure et dont la présence a charmé tous les invités.

Rien ne manquait à cette fraternelle rencontre qui a été une vraie fête de famille. Le souper au dinde fut des meilleurs et des plus joyeux, le beau chant avec la belle musique, les discours magnifiques et très appréciés, en un mot tout se passa dans d'excellentes conditions et chacun se retira enchanté et animé d'un nouveau courage pour reprendre son labeur quotidien.

Nos félicitations et remercîments aux vaillants organisateurs de ces réunions si encourageantes. En terminant à tous une bonne et heureuse année et mes meilleurs souhaits, je suis, bien sincèrement, MADAME WILLIAM GIRARD,

From the S. A, L.

Here it is the 13th and I am just now writing and I don't know whether I'll get in on time for the February number or not, but I'll have to risk it.

We are having regular Florida weather here in North Carolina these days and while I love warm weather above anything almost, I am having a time of it. My little boy has been troubled for two winters with bronchitis in acute form, and every little change in the weather brings on the attack, which means much anxiety and loss of sleep for yours truly, and a dreadful hurry to get breakfast ready on time for the old man to get to work in the morning and I am carrying a blister on my hand now the size of a quarter brought on by over sleep and consequent hurry. I have been at it a good while but I have never learned to cook gracefully yet, my hands always give me away.

It seems a little out of date to refer to Christmas now, but I want to tell you how nice Santa was to me this time. When I looked into my stocking Christmas morning, I found a big six-hole range, reservoir, warming closet and all, a silver baking dish, a 55-piece dinner set, a lovely leather handbag and a box of lace jabots. You can imagine that piece of hosiery was stretched somewhat. I am pretty stout, I'll admit, but Santa Claus ran the thing in the ground.

I certainly do envy you your Florida home, Brother Patten. I'm Florida crazy, have been for years, and reading your letter made me "blue." Can't you find me a job out there somewhere? I'll come "instanter." You know, I think your climate such an ideal one that I predict before long the entire state will be overrun with people and not an acre of land to be had at any price. Oh, for a land of perpetual summer! Some people claim

to love autumn and winter, but not I. Spring is so full of promise of beautiful things that are to be, my whole nature expands at that time of year, but I have never been able to see any beauty in autumn, however much poets may rave over its beauties. To me, every falling leaf suggests mortality, it is typical of the evening of life, and is the forerunner of winter, which to me, is a perfect nightmare. Nearly all my bad luck has come in autumn and I always dread to see it come. This weather makes one want to get out of doors and rake and sweep and dig, and I never miss an opportunity. The closer we get to nature, the closer we are to God. Some people seem to think it absolutely essential to go to church regularly in order to get close to Him and while I approve of church going all right, I can say truthfully that I have never felt His presence in church as I have in the woods, and in the fields alone with the birds and with the sweet voices of nature. True, I've been going to church and Sunday school and revivals all my life, and when at the latter, my headquarters were always on the "mourner's bench" so called, but more rightly termed the "scared seat.” Funny how some peoples emotions can be played upon until they feel that they are forever lost and undone unless they can get on that one special bench right near the preacher, and once having reached there they feel so much better -saved-at peace with the world, when really they are emotional, over-sensitive, and nervous, and sober afterthought finds them unchanged spiritually and disgusted for being such an emotional fool and for making such an exhibition of one's foolishness. That is scared up religion, and doesn't usually last. The most lasting sort is that which comes of sober, at-home, alone, reflection, when one can take oneself to pieces as it were,

and see the real need. And, after all, why should we allow ourselves to become over-wrought and stirred over what any minister may say? We have our bible the same as he, his opinion is only that of one man, and ours is probably just as logical and good. And while I am on this subject I want to say that a great many people do not go to church because they are not able to make as good appearance as others and are too proud or too big a fool to go unless they can, and I have often wondered why there is not a rule all over the world to adopt some simple uniform for church wear-something very inexpensive, that the humblest could afford. To prevent social distinction and much humiliation, a great many of our leading colleges have adopted this measure and it has proven successful, and if it is necessary to make young people clothe themselves so there can be no apparent social difference, no caste, is it not more necessary in the churches? Surely it is abominably bad form to wear one's smartest and most expensive garments into the house of Him who had not "where to lay His head," where all social differences should be forgotten.

Sister Jenness, you have my deepest sympathy in the illness of little Vera. I know what that means, as I sat up twenty-one days and nights with my little one who had typhoid fever when small. It doesn't seem possible, but it is nevertheless true. We had three physicians with him for three weeks and neither of them held out any hope and many days at sunset we did not expect to have him with us until midnight and all the rest I got was lying beside him and I gave every dose of medicine myself. Of course, there were loving friends who would have helped gladly, but you know how we mothers are in these cases. I sincerely hope your little one is well by this time. It is a great pity for little ones to be ill for one reason it makes them so spoiled. We have given mine everything in the house to play with, but the bible and the old man's razor, anything to keep his mouth shut.

My sympathy also is with Brother T. J. O'Donnell, It's bad to be burned out

but it ought to be some consolation to know that you had something to get burnt. My little boy often asks me what I would do if I should awaken to find the house on fire. I tell him that would be easy-just waken the family, throw the grip out doors, grab him and get.

Well, this is sufficient for your digestion until another month, so I will ring off. With best wishes to all,

EVIE SARTOR BYRD.

South Danbury, N. H.

The holidays have come and gone and we have started on a new year, but I can hardly realize it, as our baby girl was so sick that we could not pay any attention to the holidays. For days we thought we would have to part with her, but the good Lord saw fit to spare her to us, and now she is slowly recovering.

Now, as we start the new year, fet us each one strive to do all in our power to boom the Auxiliary, and I think we will be pleased with the result. I hope all will remember that under the new constitution the dues are 50 cents a year, to be paid annually instead of semi-annually, as the dues are so small that all can meet them and it saves quite a bit on postage in sending out the cards, and, as the old saying goes, "penny saved is worth more than a penny earned.

I received a good many post cards during the holidays from the sisters, and I wish to thank all who sent them, as it was impossible for me to answer them on account of little Vera's illness.

The ADVOCATE has just come and I have taken what spare time I could get in looking it over, and was pleased to see so many nice letters from the sisters, and also the brothers.

We were very sorry to read of Bro. T. J. O'Donnell's loss. It seems hard to work so long to get the crops raised and harvested and then see it go up in smoke in a very few moments.

Well, it is drawing near the time when this must be at headquarters if it goes in the next ADVOCATE, so I will close by wishing you, one and all, a bright and happy new year. Yours in L., F. and T., MRS. G. B. JENNESS.