Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts and Doings of Mother Jones for June 1902, Part III: On Trial Before Old Injunction Judge John J. Jackson at Parkersburg, W. V.

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Quote re Mother Jones, Most Dangerous Woman, Machinists Mly, Sept 1915—————

Hellraisers Journal – Friday July 11, 1902
Mother Jones News Round-Up for June 1902, Part III
On Trial before Judge John J. Jackson at Parkersburg, West Virginia

From the Baltimore Sun of June 24, 1902:

Mother Jones , Phl Inq p24, June 22, 1902

PARKERSBURG, W. Va., June 23.-A special car containing 25 witnesses arrived tonight from Clarksburg. They are here to appear against “Mother” Jones and the other persons charged with violating a Federal injunction by holding a meeting for the purpose of influencing miners to quit work. Their defense will be that the meeting was on private property rented by them for that purpose.

[Photograph added.]

From the Baltimore Sun of June 25, 1902:

 

“MOTHER” JONES ON TRIAL
———-
Thirty Witnesses, And The Case May Last A Week.

PARKERSBURG, W. Va., June 24.-The trial of “Mother” Jones and 11 other agitators who are accused of violating an injunction of the Federal Court in regard to interfering with working miners was begun today.

A witness testified that the woman used “insolent language” in a public speech. He said she advised miners to pay no attention to injunctions or to courts.

There are about 30 witnesses and the trial will probably last all the week.

From The Dayton Evening Herald of June 26, 1902:

 

WERE ACTING WITHIN THEIR RIGHTS
———-
Favorable Testimony Given For Mother Jones
and Strike Leaders, Arrested For Contempt.
———-

Parkersburg, W. Va., June 26.-The defense had witnesses on the stand in the “Mother” Jones and other strike leaders contempt cases this morning. They testified to the quiet and orderly behavior of the leaders in all the meetings, and said they counselled obedience to laws and proper conduct. “Mother” Jones especially counselled the “boys,” as she calls them, not to drink during the strike troubles. It was shown that the meeting which caused their arrest was on private property rented for the purpose, and that there had been no assemblage in violation of the injunction on public or company property. It is probable that the case will be concluded today.

From The Dayton Evening Herald of June 27, 1902:

 

“MOTHER” JONES CASE CONTINUED.
———-

Parkersburg, W. Va., June 27.-In the contempt case against “Mother” Jones and others, the defense announced this morning that they had no more testimony to offer. The court set the arguments for July 11, and the case was continued until that date. “Mother” Jones and the other defendants are out on bail.

From the Baltimore Sun of June 28, 1902:

 

“MOTHER” JONES RELEASED
———-
Judge Jackson Gives Her A Lecture
About Inciting Strikes.

(Special Dispatch to the Baltimore Sun.)

PARKERSBURG, W. Va., June 27.-“Mother” Jones and the other strike leaders who were on trial for alleged violation of an injunction by the United States Court were released today until July 11, when their case will come up again.

Upon being released they were given a lecture by Judge Jackson, who warned them against interfering in any way with the miners at work. He told them they had no constitutional right to come here from another State and interfere with workers. The Judge promised severe punishment if they attempt to incite a strike again.

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts and Doings of Mother Jones for June 1902, Part III: On Trial Before Old Injunction Judge John J. Jackson at Parkersburg, W. V.”

Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts and Doings of Mother Jones for June 1902, Part II: Mother Jones Arrested with Organizers of UMWA at Clarksburg, West Virginia

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Quote Mother Jones, Injunction Shroud, Bff Exp p7, Apr 24, 1909—————

Hellraisers Journal – Thursday July 10, 1902
Mother Jones News Round-Up of June 1902, Part II
Arrested at Clarksburg, West Virginia; Taken to Parkersburg

From West Virginia’s Clarksburg Telegram of June 13, 1902:

Organizers & Agitators Enjoined
———-

Judge Mason Issues State Court Injunctions
and Judge Jackson Federal Injunctions.
Some Organizers Arrested.

Mother Jones , Phl Inq p24, June 22, 1902

Last Saturday [June 7] was the time fixed for a general strike among the miners in this state. In the Clarksburg and Fairmont regions but little attention has been paid to it. The day found nearly all the men at work as usual and the mines were in operation, as if there had been no order issued for a strike.

A small crowd of people composed of miners who have been idle for months, other miners, farmers, women and children, about 150 all told was addressed at Mines’ ford, by Mary Jones, known as “Mother Jones,” Saturday morning. The meeting did not result in any definite action or change the situation.

The first of the week the miners from Flemington, who obeyed the strike order, went over to Monongah and formed a marching party. For two or three days they continued to march to and fro between Monongah and Enterprise and some disorder resulted. The Fairmont Coal Company secured an injunction Tuesday [June 10] from Judge Mason at Fairmont against several of the organizers and agitators, restraining them from entering upon the company’s property or interfering with the company’s employes. Some of the organizers were arrested upon this injunction and taken to Fairmont, among whom was Thomas Hagerty and Bernard Rice, “Mother Jones” succeeded in evading arrest.

This was followed by a federal injunction Wednesday afternoon [June 11] issued by Judge John J. Jackson, at Parkersburg, restraining them from marching around or about the company’s grounds and on the roads leading to the mines. U. S. Marshall C. D. Elliott, of Parkersburg, went down the river Wednesday night with a number of deputies to serve the injunctions.

[Marshall Elliott] had summons for Thomas Hagerty, Edward McKay, Thomas Burk, Mary Jones, alias “Mother” Jones, William Morgan, Bernard Rice, J. D. Springer, John Noon, L. D. Murphy, Clyde Hawkins, Sam’l Rogers, James Lake, Charles Ashcraft, John W. Nester, Charles Henderson, Martin Henderson, Webb Poling, Jno. Marci, Edward House, Joe Bell, Orem Brown, John Edwards, Joe Paggoni, David Grace, and Gordon Rush

[Photograph added.]

From the Danville Kentucky Advocate of June 16, 1902:

WEST VIRGINIA STRIKE.
———-
Effort Made to Enlist the Co-Operation
of the Railroad Men.
———-

Clarksburg, W. Va., June 16.-An effort is being made to induce the railroad men to refuse to handle coal mined in this district. Success in this would mean a complete suspension of mining. There is some little uneasiness among the operators. Organizers left this field Monday on the West Virginia Central to induce a strike among the miners of the Davis Elkins syndicate. Mother Jones and others addressed 300 hundred men Sunday at Willow Tree school house, near Monongahela [Monongah]. The crowd was largely composed of women, children and farmers. 

From the Parkersburg Daily Morning News of June 21, 1902:

[Mother Jones Arrested While Speaking
to Strikers at Clarksburg]

[Clarksburg, June 20]-Mother Jones’ address this afternoon was more than ordinarily bitter. She has good command of language and a powerful voice, which combined with her grey hair and commanding bearing and pleasant face give her undoubtedly much influence. She understands her power and how to use it, and while in private conversation shows a surprisingly cultivated manner and correct speech. Her language, when addressing a crowd of miners, is much after their common style and is thickly interspersed with slang and homely wit. In her speech today she denounced the mine operators as robbers, and defied Judge Jackson, placing him in the same class, and asserting that he, as well as the newspapers, and even the preachers, are in league with the interests of the mine owners against the mine workers. She was vigorously cheered at different times during her address, and especially at the close while the marshal and his deputies were making their arrests. She closed her address by urging the miners not to work, not to drink, to avoid all lawlessness and to stick together and continue to “agitate.”

—————

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts and Doings of Mother Jones for June 1902, Part II: Mother Jones Arrested with Organizers of UMWA at Clarksburg, West Virginia”

Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts and Doings of Mother Jones for June 1902, Part I: Strike Is On in West Virginia Coalfields; U. S. Judge Jackson Issues Injunction

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Quote Mother Jones, Injunction Shroud, Bff Exp p7, Apr 24, 1909—————

Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday July 9, 1902
Mother Jones News Round-Up of June 1902, Part I

Found Speaking to Striking Miners in West Virginia

From Virginia’s Richmond Dispatch of June 1, 1902:

THE MINING SITUATION.

Mother Jones , Phl Inq p24, June 22, 1902

From all that can be learned, nearly all of the miners in this field will strike on June 7th, in obedience to the order recently issued. The mine workers’ organization is making a big fight to get the men in this field to obey the order. Agitators are here in large numbers and strike talk is the principal topic of conversation.

“Mother” Jones, a strike agitator, has been in this region since Thursday and is making an appeal to the miners to quit good jobs and join the strike. Yesterday she addressed a large crowd of miners on the mountain side near Coaldale [West Virginia]. To-morrow night she will make another address to the miners at Keystone. Although there is only a small percentage of the miners in this field that belong to the union it is believed that nearly every one will come out. The miners in this field number nearly 200,000. including the Thacker field, and much trouble is feared, in case the strike order is obeyed.

[Photograph added.]

From The Dayton Evening Herald of June 4, 1902

SAYS SHE EXPECTS TO BE KILLED
———-
Mother Jones Makes Sensational Address
Before West Virginia Striking Miners.
———-

Huntington, W. Va., June 4.-“Mother” Mary Jones addressed 1,000 miners near Keystone in the Norfolk and Western coal fields last night. Her utterances were extremely sensational. She said her life had been threatened, and that she expected to be killed before she got away from the coal fields. She added:

But for every strike sympathizer that is killed, it will take the life of two operators to appease the crime.

Mother Jones is having tremendous meetings at every point in that region. It is believed the strike order will be generally obeyed on Saturday.

From Virginia’s Tazewell Republican of June 5, 1902:

“Mother” Mary Jones, the noted labor agitator, spoke to a crowd of about one thousand persons at Pocahontas last Saturday. She spoke from the porch of the residence of Col. J. S. Browning. She spoke Sunday night at Keystone, and her address was of a very incendiary character. She is urging the miners to go out on a strike.

From The Dayton Evening Herald of June 6, 1902

INDICATIONS OF A BIG STRIKE
———-
United Mine Workers in the Virginias
Go Out Tomorrow.
———-

Bluefield, W. Va., June 6-Tomorrow is the day that the United Mine Workers of Virginia and West Virginia are to strike. The indications are that a large percentage will come out. Swarms of organizers are in the field, and there is nothing but strike talk. “Mother” Jones has canvassed this field and left for Fairmount. All the companies have notices posted warning all trespassers to keep off their land, and persons trespassing upon the property or attempting by any means to induce the employes to quit work, will be prosecuted. The strike fever is high here.

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts and Doings of Mother Jones for June 1902, Part I: Strike Is On in West Virginia Coalfields; U. S. Judge Jackson Issues Injunction”

Hellraisers Journal: Mother Jones and William B. Wilson Will Brave Injunction at Clarksburg and Fairmont, West Virginia

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Quote John Mitchell to Mother Jones re WV Fairmont Field, May 10, 1902—————

Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday July 8, 1902
U. M. W. Secretary Wilson and Mother Jones to Brave Injunction in West Virginia

From the Indianapolis Sunday Journal of July 6, 1902:

WILL VIOLATE INJUNCTION.
———-
Secretary Wilson, of the Mine Workers,
Will Go to West Virginia.

Mother Jones of UMW, NY Tb p6, Image 20, July 6, 1902

W. B. Wilson, secretary of the United Mine Workers, will leave, this evening at 6 o’clock, for Clarksburg, W. Va., where, with “Mother” Jones, he will speak to-morrow night to a public meeting of miners. In taking part in the meeting Secretary Wilson puts his head in the lion’s mouth; that is to say, he will violate the injunction granted by the federal judge of the Southern district of West Virginia, which declared that he must not hold meetings with the miners within that jurisdiction.

[Mr. Wilson said yesterday:]

I realize that I am liable to be arrested, but I am not permitting that to worry me. I have made arrangements so that the financial affairs of the organization will run along smoothly in other hands should I be placed in jail. You can depend upon it that the affairs of the order will not suffer.

“Mother” Jones and I are billed to speak to the miners to-morrow evening at Clarksburg. Tuesday evening we will address another big meeting at Fairmount. As both of these towns are in the jurisdiction of Judge Keller, they may try to enforce the injunction, but, as I say, I am not troubling myself about that. We will address a public meeting of orderly men, and it would be a high-handed proceeding to attempt to interfere with it.

Secretary Wilson believes that the injunction order cannot be sustained by a fair construction of constitutional law and that Judge Keller went beyond his powers in issuing the injunction in Philadelphia, which is not within his jurisdiction.

—————

[Photograph and emphasis added.]

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Mother Jones and William B. Wilson Will Brave Injunction at Clarksburg and Fairmont, West Virginia”

Hellraisers Journal: Mother Jones Taken to Jail at Parkersburg after Refusing Offer of Hotel Room; Visited by Young Reporter

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Quote Mother Jones, Injunction Shroud, Bff Exp p7, Apr 24, 1909—————

Hellraisers Journal – Monday June 23, 1902
Mother Jones Interviewed in Jail at Parkersburg, West Virginia

From The Philadelphia Inquirer of June 22, 1902:

Mother Jones to Jail at Parkersburg WV, Phl Inq p24, June 22, 1902

From the Parkersburg Daily Morning News of June 21, 1902:

[Mother Jones Arrested While Speaking
to Strikers at Clarksburg]

[Clarksburg, June 20]-Mother Jones’ address this afternoon was more than ordinarily bitter. She has good command of language and a powerful voice, which combined with her grey hair and commanding bearing and pleasant face give her undoubtedly much influence. She understands her power and how to use it, and while in private conversation shows a surprisingly cultivated manner and correct speech. Her language, when addressing a crowd of miners, is much after their common style and is thickly interspersed with slang and homely wit. In her speech today she denounced the mine operators as robbers, and defied Judge Jackson, placing him in the same class, and asserting that he, as well as the newspapers, and even the preachers, are in league with the interests of the mine owners against the mine workers. She was vigorously cheered at different times during her address, and especially at the close while the marshal and his deputies were making their arrests. She closed her address by urging the miners not to work, not to drink, to avoid all lawlessness and to stick together and continue to “agitate.”

—————

[Emphasis added.]

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Mother Jones Taken to Jail at Parkersburg after Refusing Offer of Hotel Room; Visited by Young Reporter”

Hellraisers Journal: Mother Jones Arrested at Clarksburg, West Virginia; Taken to Parkersburg by U. S. Deputy Marshals

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Quote Mother Jones, Injunction Shroud, Bff Exp p7, Apr 24, 1909—————

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday June 22, 1902
Clarksburg, West Virginia – Mother Jones Arrested by U. S. Marshals

From the Akron Beacon Journal of June 21, 1902:

MOTHER JONES ARRESTED.

Mother Jones, Ipl Ns p11, Jan 21, 1902

Clarksburg, W. Va., June 21.-“Mother” Jones, Thomas Haggerty, William Morgan, Bernard Rice, George Baron, Andrew Lascavish and William Blakely of the United Mine Workers from different parts of the country, who were arrested here last night, were taken to Parkersburg by four deputy marshals and lodged in jail.

The miners have leased a plot of ground at Clarksburg for the purpose of holding meetings, and will make the arrest their chief defense. The arrest was made under an injunction issued a few days ago by Judge J. Jackson of the United States circuit court. The amount of their bail has not been fixed, but the men were provided with sufficient funds to secure their own releases.

This is the first time that “Mother” Jones has been arrested, although she has been served with innumerable injunctions.

—————

[Photograph, emphasis and paragraph break added.]

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Hellraisers Journal: From the International Socialist Review: “The Socialist Outlook in West Virginia” by Harold W. Houston

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EVD re Socialism v Capitalism—————

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday April 28, 1912
Socialist Party Organizing in West Virginia by Harold Houston

From the International Socialist Review of April 1912:

The Socialist Outlook in West Virginia

[-by Harold W. Houston, State Secretary]

It is impossible to write of the political situation in this state without enthusiasm. The apathy of recent years has given place to a marvelous awakening among all classes of voters. The seed sown by the early agitators has taken deep root in our soil and is bearing abundant fruit. The dues paying membership of the Socialist party is about one thousand. We have ninety-three locals in good standing. Our party press is a development of the last two years, and we now have the following papers: The Labor Argus, Charleston, edited by C. H. Boswell; the Clarksburg Socialist, Clarksburg, edited by E. H. Kintzer; the Wheeling Majority and the West Virginia Socialist, both of Wheeling and edited by Walter B. Hilton; the Plain-Dealer, Cameron, edited by William E. Lang. A movement is now on to start several other papers during the coming campaign.

Several towns in the state have elected Socialist mayors and other officials. Star City, Hendricks, Adamston, Miama and other towns have been swept into the Socialist ranks. All indications point to our carrying at least five counties in the coming election. Our state government is located at Charleston, Kanawha county, and the political piracy that always characterizes the doings of the politicians that infest the seat of government has polluted that community beyond description. The voters there are in revolt. The generals of the old parties find themselves without an army. The Socialists have set themselves the task of electing the entire ticket in that county, especially the legislative ticket. Our enemies freely admit that we have a splendid fighting chance. At Clarksburg, Harrison county, the situation is intensely interesting. It has attracted the attention of all of the lyceum lecturers. The industrial workers of that section are intelligent and progressive, and during the last two years they have been coming into the Socialist movement in battalions. This is another county that is almost certain to land a full Socialist ticket.

At Wheeling there is the same widespread response to the call of Socialism. The voters are organizing the entire county, and there is little doubt but that we will secure at least a portion of the ticket in that county. One of the most gratifying things about the West Virginia movement is the utter absence of factional strifes and disruptive tactics. Some slight differences do indeed exist as to minor matters, but there is no bitter or serious breaches in the organization. On the whole complete harmony reigns. The personnel of the movement is exceptionally high, and the movement is revolutionary to the core.

This is a war-born state, and it has a population that illy wears the collar of industrial servitude. When it seceded from Old Virginia it placed upon its coat of arms the motto: “Montani Semper Liberi” (Mountaineers are always free), and the sweep of the Socialist movement over the mountains and valleys indicates that we are going to translate those words into a reality. We send greetings to our comrades of other states, and we say to them that the coming election will show that we have been in the thick of the battle.

HAROLD W. HOUSTON, State Sec’y.

—————

[Photograph and emphasis added.]

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: From the International Socialist Review: “The Socialist Outlook in West Virginia” by Harold W. Houston”

Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for May 1901, Part II: Found Organizing Servant Girls of Pennsylvania and Miners of West Virginia

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Quote Mother Jones, re Servant Girls Organizing, Kvl TN Sntl p5, May 23, 1901—————

Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday June 12, 1901
Mother Jones News Round-Up for May 1901, Part II
Found Organizing in Pennsylvania and West Virginia

From The Muncie Daily Times of May 16, 1901:

SERVANT GIRLS’ UNION. 
———-
Mother Jones’ Rules For Kitchen
and Nursery Work.

Mother Jones, Drawing, SDH p4, Mar 9, 1901

“Mother” Jones is preparing to organize a servant girls’ union at Wilkes-barre, Pa., as well as in Scranton and has drawn up these rules, says the New York World, which the union will enforce at each, “place:”

Ten hours’ work a day and no more.

An increase in wages according to the the size of the house and the work required.

No one shall work for less than $3 a week.

Cooks shall not act as ladies maids or take care of babies.

Nursegirls shall not be required to act as cooks.

It shall not be necessary to stay in nights while the mistress goes out.

If more than ten hours work a day shall be required, a double shift must be employed.

An amusement room shall be furnished for the girls so that they shall not be required to sit in the kitchen all the time.

Visitors shall be allowed to call upon them any night they are off duty.

Wages must be paid every week.

They shall have the privilege of putting their clothes in the family wash.

Their meals shall be the same as those of the family.

Bedchambers shall be large, airy and well heated.

—————

[Photograph added.]

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for May 1901, Part II: Found Organizing Servant Girls of Pennsylvania and Miners of West Virginia”

Hellraisers Journal: Mother Jones Comes to West Virginia, Will Organize Miners of Clarksburg and Fairmont Districts

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Quote John Mitchell, re Mother Jones, UMWC PM Session, Jan 25, 1901—————

Hellraisers Journal – Thursday May 30, 1901
Mother Jones Arrives in West Virginia to Organize Coal Miners

From the Bluefield Daily Telegraph of May 29, 1901:

Mother Jones, Drawing, SDH p4, Mar 9, 1901Mother Jones to Organize Miners

Wheeling, May 28-Mother Jones, who has been sent here by the United Mine Workers to try to organize the miners in the Clarksburg and Fairmont districts, held a big meeting at the opera house tonight. All previous efforts to organize the miners have failed.

———-

[Drawing and emphasis added.]

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Mother Jones Comes to West Virginia, Will Organize Miners of Clarksburg and Fairmont Districts”

Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for September 1918 -West Virginia Miners and Families Hold Massive Labor Day Celebrations

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Quote Mother Jones, Fear Not Organize, Rkfd Mrn Str p3, Mar 19, 1918
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hellraisers Journal, Friday October 18, 1918
Mother Jones News for September 1918
-Mother Found in West Virginia’s Fairmont Coal Field

From the Fairmont West Virginian of September 2, 1918:

On September 2nd Mother Jones spoke to 10,000 West Virginia miners and their families of the Fairmont Coal Field who gathered at Traction Park for a massive Labor Day Celebration.

DAY DEDICATED TO LABOR OBSERVED
BY MINE WORKERS
—–
Thousands of Them Attending
Six Big Picnics.
—–

TRACTION PARK CROWDED
—–
Many Organized Miners Walked
There From Monongah.
—–

Mother Jones, Ft Wy Jr Gz p3, Dec 17, 1917

More than fifteen thousand organized miners of the Fairmont coal district are today celebrating Labor Day at six picnics held in this section of the state. Celebrations are being held at the following points in the Fairmont region: Traction Park, Enterprise, Jamison Mine, Flemington, Reynoldsville and Clarksburg.

Practically all of the United Mine Workers locals in this region are participating in the big celebration at Traction Park, which is expected to be the biggest Labor Day celebration in the state. It is estimated that fully ten thousand miners will attend the celebration at Traction Park today. In addition to the miners there will be many families, because practically all of the miners have made arrangements to attend the celebration with their families, taking with them filled baskets prepared to spend the entire day.

Miners from the Dakota, Rivesville, Robinson and Barnesville shaft mine assembled this morning at 7:30 o’clock, marching all the way from Rivesville to Fairmont, arriving here about 9:30 [a.m.] As they marched up Main street, accompanied by the Ira L. Smith drum corps, each miner carried an American flag, some carrying United Mine Workers flags. The body departed for Traction Park on special cars leaving for Traction Park at 10 o’clock. Reports from Dakota are to the effect that there will be 800 members of that local attend the Traction Park celebration, more than 300, from the Shaft mine, and a proportionate number from the other miners in that section. The mines along the Minnington line and between here and Clarksburg will be represented as well, each local attending in a body and making an effort to have a fine showing. The Monongah local, of about 800 members, the Everson local and other organizations only a short distance from the park will have a full attendance.

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for September 1918 -West Virginia Miners and Families Hold Massive Labor Day Celebrations”