davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-04-14
An Indignant Fat Man.

he was sleepy, absent-minded sort OF
barbar, too lazy to talk, with look OF
bitterness in his sad solemn face that
meant an aggricved, resentful feeling to.
ward all mankind. He stood$t his chair,
llstlessly rubbing the customers face,
and gazing woefullv into space surround
ings. It was plain to be seen that his soul
was not IN his work. He had danced all
the livelong night preceding at shin
dig IN Bucktown: and his eyes were heavy
The customer was a portly man, with q
bald head, mutton-chop whiskers and a
mind untroubled with care. The day
was warm and the soothing manipula-
ton Of the barber had an effect some
what lulling, SO he closed his eyes and
dropped into light doze. Presently
thi mouth opened with yawn and the
lather-brush dropped into the cavern.
The man spluttered and gasped, and
made such a wry face that the brush fol-
lowed the groove of wrinkle, and rext
ran into his ear OF course the man shud-
dered and shook his head, causing the
brush to fetch up In his eye, which by
this time was wide open.
The barber moved along at his work
Will VIC eSuldi1Iy anu lndlHerence OF a
Chinaman eating rice, utterly obllvious
to the troubles of the man in the chair
Again the weary eyelids closed. Once
more rising yawn raied assunder the
mans jaws, and again the lather- brush,
all wet and sloppy, fell headlong into the
gulf and filled his windpipe with soap
and water. He sneezed and gagged, and
puckered up hiss nose, and then rubbed
his eyes and gasped for breath. The
change of position gave the lather brush
an opportunity to soar all around over
the top of his head, and then tumble
down to the back OF his neck under his
colpr.
s'Confound your liver-colored skin p
yelled the tat man, splitting out mouth
fpl of lather, and crowding fowl INTO
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-04-14
4 Wooden watch.

A North Carolina paper, the Abing-
don Standard. has the following
"Some time ago Mr.. E. A. johnson, Of
johnson Brothers, jewelers., of this
place. made plain, open-face, wooden
watch that attracted great deal of at
tention, but was subsequently, ecipsed
by Mr.. Doriot, of Bristol, in watch
somewhat more elaborate in design.
Not to be outdone, Mr.. johnson put to
work on another watch, and has turned
out handsome double-case stem-win-
der and stem-setter, every piece of
which, save the main and hair springs
and crystal, are of wood and made en-
tirely by his own hands. Even the
springs to the cases are made of wood
It keeps splendid time. and lis suai-
GENTLY strong to be used as pocket
tlme-keeper. It is of ordinary size, and
when ornamented, as he expects to, it
will be handsome tribute to his skill
aud ingenuity.
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-04-14
BARGAINING in Madrid.

The following Is the way they buy and
sell in Madrid:
A nut brewn maid is attracted by bril-
liant red and yellow scarf. She asks the
sleepy merchant, nodding before his
wares:
"What is this rag worth?'
He answers, with profound indiffer-
ence:
"Ten reals" .....-
"Hombrc!" care you dreaming or
crazyp'
She drops the coveted neck. gear. and
moves on, apparently horror stricken.
"Don't be rash! The scarf is worth
twenty reals, but for the sake of Saints
sima Maria, I offer it to you for half
price. Very well! You are suited. What
will you give2'
"Caramba! Am I buyer and seller as
well. The thing is worth three reals
more is simple robbery"
"Maria! Jose! and all the family!
We cannot trade. Sooner than sell for
eight I shall raise the cover of my brain.
Go thou! tits eight in the morning and
still thou dreamest."
She lays down the scarf reluctantly,
ody 4AS. sa
"Five"
But the outraged merchant snorts scorn-
fully.
Slight was my last word! Go!
She moves away, thinking how we'll
that scarf will look in the Apollo gardens,
and casts over her shoulder Parthian
glance, ana bids
'sSix?"
"Take i'll It is madness, but I cannot
waste my time bargaining
Both congratulate themselves on the
operation. He would have taken five
and she would have given seven.
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-04-14

as comrades in battle In this regiment.
At the second battle OF Manassas, August,
1864, shell from the enemys battery
fell in the ranks Of this company, killed
these four boys, and none other in the
company. They are buried on the bat
tle-feld and sleep in the same grave.
Their names are Capers, Mcswain, Smith.
and Duncan, and are the sons of Bishop
Capers, Rev. Drs. McSwain and Smith Of
South Carolina, and Rev. Duncan of Vir-
ginia, the last being brother Of Rev.
DR.. Duncan of Randolph, Macon college.
The grave is. marked by q granite cross
and enclosed with an iron railing.
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-04-14
THE FORGOTTEN GRAVE.

Out from the city's giant roar,
You wandered through the open door,
Paused at a little pail and spade
Across tiny hillock laid.
Then noted on your dexter side,
Some moneyed magnate's 'love or PRIDE"
And so beyond hawthorn tree.
Showering it's rain Of rosy bloom,
Alike on low and lofty tomb,
You came upon it-suddenly.
How strange! The very grasses CROWN
Around it seemed forlorn and loath;
The very ivy seemed to turn
Askance that wreathed neighboring urn.
Sunk was the slab; the head declined,
And left the rails wreck behind.
No name you traced, "6," ~"
Part of "affliction," and of Heaven"
And then-O, irony austere,
You read in letters sharp and clear,
-4ustiu Do6son.
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-04-14
HELD BY BRIGANDS.
How Col Synge and His Wife Were Can.


How Col. Synge and His Wife We're Can.
s., .@r#- tured.
The French papers give details of the
capture OF Col. Synge and his wife by
Greek brigands, near Salonica, on Feb.
10. The Colonel and his companions
were returning from the frontier of Bull
garla, where they had been distributing
Clothing and food to the Moslem ref
ugees who had abandoned the Bulgarian
territory from fear Of persecution after
the Turco-R Russian war, and who are now
IN the most wretched condition. They
had reached Trlcoviste Gin the province
OF Kassaterla) on the 10th, and there
they were resting from their journey,
when theil residence was invaded and
plllaged by band of twenty brigands,
led by the dreaded Nike. After secur-
ing every object Of any value in the
house, the Greek brigands babe the Col
onel AID his wife to saddle their horses
and follow them. During the ride, the
Englishmen found the way to inform the
British Consul at Salonica of his condi-
ton. On receipt of the note Mr.. Blunt,
the Consul, knowing we'll what dangers
his fellow countrymen ran at the hands
OF such brigand as Nike, Immediately
betook himself to Katerina in order, if
possible, to negotiate at once for the sur
render of the prisoners. At he same
time he informed the local authority of
the tact. Troops were dispatched from
Janina and monastln in pursuit of the
band. Mr.. Blunt had various interviews
with Nike, with view to reduce the
ransom of $4,000 demanded by the lat
ter to more reasonable sum. Nike not
only refused to make any reduction, but
disappeared as soon as he heard of the.
approach of the troops, and all meas
ures taken to discover his whereabouts
have failed. Meanwhile another letter
from the prisoners has reached the Con-
sui, entreatlng him to suspend all hos
tilities against the brigand, as it would
only hasten the writer's death. Nike re-
fuses to set his prisoners free until he
has received the sum demanded and
free pass for the band, such in fact, as
may secure their safe withdrawal from
that region.
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-04-14
IN THE CANYON.

Intent the conscious mountains stood,
The friendly blossoms nodded.
AL through the canyons lonely wood
We two in silence plodded.
A something owned our presence good;
The very breeze that stirred our hair
Whispered q gentle greeting;
A grand free courtesy was there,
A welcome from the summit bare
Down to the brooks entreating.
Stray warblers in the branches dark,
Shot through the leafy passes,
While the long note of the meadow lark
Rose from the neighboring grasses;
The yellow lupines. spark on spark,
From the more open woodland way,
Flashed through the sunlight family;
A wind blown little flower, once gay,
Looked up between its petals gray,
And smiled message sanity.
The giant lodges, red and scanned,
The clear blue sky, tree-fretted;
The notified light that round us streamed,
The brooklet, vexed and petted:
The bees that buzzed, the gnats that dreamed,
The fitting gauzy things of June;
The plain far-of, like misty ocean,
Or, cloud-land bound, a fair lagoon
They sang Within us like tune,
They swayed US like dream of motion.
The hour went lettering in the West,
The shadows heightened slowly.
The radiant snow on mountain crest
Made all the distance holy.
Near by, the earth lay full of rest.
The sleepy foothills, one by one,
0impled their way to twilight;
And ere the perfect day was done
There came long CLEANS of tinted sun,
Through Heavens crimson sky-light.
Slowly crept on the listening night,
The sinking moon shone pale and slender
We hailed the cottonwoods, in sight;
The home roof cleaning near and tender,
Guiding our quickened steps Alright.
Soon darkened all the mighty hills,
The gods were sitting there in shadow;
Lulled were the noisy woodland rills,
Silent the silvery woodland trills-
Twas starlight over Colorado.
Mary Dodge
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-04-14

his eyes with both hands. ssLook out
what you're dong, didn't come here to
get q bath, and ! want you to under
stand young man, that though I believe
In soap as great civilizing agent, I'll be
eternally golsquashed if I want it
crammed down my throat and then he
tumbled out of the chair and kicked the
drowsy barber till he sprained both hls
ankles; he wakened him thoroughly-he
did indeed. Cine. mat. Breakfast Table,
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-04-14

OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES calls a
kiss isping consonant. He should
have added also that it usually follows
a-Yowal.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-02-09
TIE REASON OF BIRDS.

May 1 tell few facts to prove that birds
can be, like their human friends, both rea.
sonable and unreasonable? l. Several
years ago "a pair of my canaries built
while the hen was sitting the weather be-
came intensely hot. She dropped, and l
began to fear that she would not be strong
enough to hatch the eggs. watched the
birds closely, and soon found that the cock
was devotednurse Hebathed in the fresh
cold water supplied every morning, then
went to the edge of the nest, and the hen
buried her head in his breast and was re-
freshed. Without hands and without a
sponge, what more could he have done ?
2. The following spring the same bird was
hanging in window with three other cana
ries, each in a separate cage. Twas sitting in
the room, and heard my little favorite give
a peculiar cry. l looked up, and saw all
the birds crouching on their perches, para.
lyzed with fright. On going to the window
to ascertain the cause OF their terror, saw
a large balloon passing over the end of the
street. The birds did not move till it was
out of sight, when they all gave a chirp of
relief. The balloon was only within sight
OF the bird who gave the alarm, and | have
no doubt he mis.ook it for bird Of prey
3. have a green and a yellow canary
hanging side by side. They are treated
exactly alike, and are warm friends. One
has often refused to partalle of some deli
cacy till the other was supplied with it.
One day had five blossoms of dandelion ;
| gave three to the green bird, two to the
yellow one. The latter flew about his cage,
singing in shrill voice, and showed un.
mistakable signs of anger. Guessing the
cause, took away one of the three flow
ers, when both birds settled down quietly
to enjoy their feast.-[The Spectator.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-02-09
CURIOUS LAW CASES.

There IS famous case on the books, OF q
Norman hotel-keeper and the customer who
ordered six-egg omelette prepared but
went away in a hurry without paying for
it, and when he returned fifteen years later
offered the landlord six francs, being for
the original cost of the eggs and the inter-
est thereon compounded. The landlord
claimed fabulous sum, alleging that the
six eggs would have produced so many
chicks, from which would have issued so
many hens that with the. product of
these innumerable fowls he would have
bought farm, which in so many years
would have yielded so much money, which
being invested, etc. The Court, how
ever, nonsuited the landlord because the
eggs had been broken for the omelette,
and so could not have been Matched.
This case has been outdone in an Indian
Court. A, B, G and d buy cotton in part
nership and store it in warehouse which
is infested with rats. To discourage these
vermin they bny cat, of which each is to
own leg. The cat breaks that one of her
legs which is owned by A, who binds it up
with cotton soaked in OIL The wrapping
taxes fire, the cat takes refuge in the
midst of the cotton bales, and the whole
property is destroyed whereupon B, G
and d sue A, alleging that it was
his leg which caused the contiagra-
ton. The Court promptly decides against
them with costs, and orders them to
pay A for his cotton and bear their own
losses, on the ground that the cat couldn't
walk on the broken leg, SO that it was the
three sound legs which carried her into the
cotton.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-02-09

WASHINGTON AS FIREMAN.-In IVA
the Friendship Fire Company, which still
exists, was organized. 1t at first consisted
of citizens who, out of " mutual friendship"
agreed to carry TO every fire 1.-TWO leathern
buckets and one great bag of osnaburg or
wider linen" Washington was made an
honorary member, and when he went as a
delegate to the Congress of IVA, at Phila-
delphia, he examined the fre-epgines in use
there. On his return to Philadelphia to the
Continental Congress in ITS, he bought
from one Gibbs small fourth-class engine
for ESQ los, and just before he set out for
Boston Nights to become COMMANDMENT.
Chief he dispatched his little engine to the
Friendship Company. When in Alexandra
during his younger days he always at
tended at fires, and assisted to extinguish
them. In the last year of his life fire
occurred near the market He was riding
down King street, followed by his servant,
also on horseback, and he saw the Friend
ship engine poorly manned. Riding up to
a group of well-dressed gentlemen near by,
he called out: "Why are you idle there,
gentlemen? 1t is your business to lead in
these Matters Ard throwing the bride
of his horse to his servant, he leaped off and
seized the brakes, followed by crowd that
gave the engine such shaking III" as it
never knew afterward.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-02-09

REFORM IN FUNERALS.-CanonH oar pre-.
sided ut the recent meeting of the Funeral
and Mourning Reform Association, which
was formed not long ago in Sheffield under
the presidency of the Bishop of Sodor and
Man, to encourage the adoption of such OBJ
servances only rs were consistent with a
hope of resurrection to eternal life and to
discourage all feasting and treating on the
the day of interment and useless or extrav-
agant expenditure in the coffin or the
wearing of mourning. Unmeaning pomp
and dismal pageantry, the Association
holds, intiict severe hardship on persons of
limited means, and neither mitigate grief
nor manifest respect. The Association
recommended that economy and simplicity
be studied and carefully exercised by
mourners in all ranks of society; that the
coffin be of light construction and free
from unsuitable ornaments that q simple
ear and bier are preferable TO hearse
that carriages in ordinary use be engaged
instead of mourning coaches that
cloaks, scarfs, hat-bands and plumes be
dispensed with that the interval between
the decease and interment be limited when
possible to three or four days that it is
more in accordance with the words used,
"earth to earth, dust to dust, to bury, not
in vault, but in the earth itself, with no
briekwork to delay the action OF nature
and that a band of black cloth upon the
arm is a striking and sufficiently manifest
outward emblem of death having taken
place in the family.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-02-09
LUTHER on TIE PARTISAN STAGE.

An exceedingly interesting dramatic ex-
pertinent was made at the Theater DIES
Nations In Paris on a recent Sunday.
This was nothing less than the presenta-
ton of French rendering OF Zacharias
Werner's "Martin Luther or, the Con-
secration of Power" play with which
English readers are partially acquainted
through the analysis and criticism of it
which Mr.. Carlyle has introduced into a
well-known essay. The play was first
acted in Berlin in 1905, and was written
while its eccentric author was still fervid
Protestant. The playwright afterward
followed the stream of German romantic
ism, and turned Roman Catholic, was or
dained priest, became popular preacher,
and even had the august Congress of
Vienna for his audience. The French
translation of his play was the work of
Louis Halevy. Oddly enough, NJ. de
Marthold, very jealous cleric, acted as
prologue, and began sort of elucidatory
lecture upon Werner, Luther and the
play, i'll which he INDUCED in lively
attack upon Luther's wife, Katharine
Won Bora, and also upon Jules Ferry
and the new Education bill. This
was too much for the audience, who
shouted out, "Assez, Asset! jouez la
piece" until they compelled NJ de
Marthold to cut short his ill-timed philip.
pic. The drama itself was received with
rapturous applause. This seems to have
been almost as much due to the anger of
the public at the irritating lecture of Nj.
de Marthold as to their appreciation of the
play of the actors. Every time Luther
appeared upon the stage he was received
with laundering applause. When one of
the characters exclaimed, after naming the
Reformer, "Son nom remplIra tous les
mondes," the whole company broke forth
in stormy chorus of appreciation which
must have convinced the Jealous NJ. de
Marthold of the mistake he had made by
his mistimed and misplaced prolegomeaa
The appreciation was equally loud and pro-
longed when Luther, in the famous scene
at Worms, exclaimed, IF Rome had been
holy, would have remained her son "
We should add that, at these Sunday mat
inee performances, it is customary to give
a preparatory lecture, but it is the rule
that it should be short and sweet-tempered,
and be literary rather than political and
religious. London Globe.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-02-09
AARON sURR's DAUGHTER.

The fate of Theodosia, the daughter of
Aaron Burr and wife of Governor Aston,
of South Carolina, has been profound
mystery. TWAS supposed that the vessel
in which she sailed from Charleston to New
York was wrecked off Cape Hatteras. An
old sailor in a Michigan poor-house con-
fessed before his death that he was one of
the youngest of the crew of the pirate ship
which captured the Patriot, January 3,
1913. The pirates compelled the captain,
crew, and every passenger on board to walk
the plank into the sea, and all persisted.
He said there was one beautifully appear
ing, intelligent and cultivated lady en-
board, who gave her name as Mrs. Thee
dosia Aston. When her turn came to walk
the fatal plank she asked for few moments
time, which was gruffiy granted her. She
then retired to her berth and changed
her apparel, appearing on deck in
a few moments clad in pure white gar
ments, and, with Bible in her hand, she
announced that she was ready. She ap-
peared as calm and composed as if she were
at home, and not a tremor crept over her
frame, or pallor oyerspread her features
as she walked toward her fate AS she
was taking the fatal steps, she folded her
hands over her bosom and raised her eye
to heaven. She fell and sank with.
out murmur or sigh. at was
my unhappy lot" said the dying man,
to be delegated by my captain to pull
the plank from beneath her," I shall
never forget the perfect confding faith
which her eyes expressed as she gazed up
into heaven when about to take the fatal
step. Her pale face has haunted me ever
since, and l can see it now as plainly as /
could on that terrible day."
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-02-09
A LEsEND OF POPE GREGORY.

Tradition asserts that there once existed
at Rome a bas-relief representing Trajan
ON horseback in all his glory, and in front
of him woman sadly kneeling. Nothing
can be more probable, and If such was
really the case, the suppliant female would,
no doubt, represent conquered Province
just as Dacia is represented on one of
Trajan's medals as woman on her knees
However this may be, out of tradition
sprang story illustrative of Trajan's JUS
tice. On the point of starting ON cam
paign, it is said, the Emperor was suddenly
stopped by poor widow, who flung her.
self on her knees before him, and besought
him to right her wrongs. He expostulated,
but finally yielded, and did her justice be-
fore he resumed his march. This was the
first half of the story's growth. The second
seems to have followed at later period
According to the completed legend, as
Pope Gregory the Great passed through the
Forum OF Trajan one day, he bethought
himself of that Emperor's many merits,
and especially of his admirable conduct in
righting the widows wrongs. And great
sorrow came over him at the thought that
so excellent pagan should be lost eter-
nally. Whereupon he prayed earnestly
and constantly for Trajan's salvation, until
at last a voice from on high informed him
that his prayer was granted, but that in
future he was to pray only for Christian
souls. A later edition of the legend told
how Gregory learned from an angel that,
by way of punishment for his indiscreet
though successful intervention, he would
have 30 suffer from certain maladies for the
rest of his life. The question as to whether
Gregory was justified in his procedure
greatly exercised the minds of many medi-
eval casuists, one of whom solved the
problem, and escaped from the doctr'nal
difficulties which it presented, by the fol-
lowing ingenious explanation No one, he
said, can be saved unless he be baptized
But baptism is precisely what Gregory OBJ
tanned for Traian. At the Pope's prayer
the Emperor's soul returned to his body,
Gregory baptized it, land the soul, again
quitting its earthly case, went straight up
into heaven. > Nineteenth Century.