davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-09-03
CONDENSED TELEGRAMS,

THE Presidents condition was more
favorable on the 2Sth. In the morning a
slight improvement over the previous day
was noticed, and it was retained. There
was no ground lost, which, at this stage OF
the case, is a great deal to say. 1t was then
announced that if the President could hold
his present condition for forty eight hours,
he would surely recover.
CAPT. w. w. Ross, the official re-
porter OF the Agricultural Bureau for North
ern Texas, has completed his report. 1t
shows about one fourth corn crop. Wheat is
all threshed, and crops fair and Of good
quality. Oats from forty to eighty bushels
per acre, and of best quality. Cotton will
hardly yield above one-third of an average
crop.
A DISPATCH from Tombstone, A. T.,
says Indians attacked the town of Eureka,
New Mexico, and killed the citizens, said 10
be about seventy in number.
AT Leadville, Colo. on the 9th, some
assassin placed large quantity OF giant
powder under the bay window of Judge j.
l.. Pendery's residence and fired it with a
long fuse. The front part of the house was
demolished, but fortunately no one was in
jured. No cause is assigned for the daboli-
cal deed, and no clew has been obtained TO
the perpetrators.
THREE men were killed and two 9TH
ers seriously injured In New York City the
other day. Some electric lights were about
to be tested, the hOisting gear ut the top of
the pole broke just as the lamps reached the
top and the lamps and their carriage, Il
mass of iron weighing over GOO pounds, fell
with crushing weight from a height Of more
than 100 feet.
ROBERT WARREN was killed by jump
ing from n fouth story of burning building
in Cincinnati. A number of persons were
partially suffocated and slightly injured in
effecting escape.
Mrs SMITH, a widow living near
Kaufman, Texas, several members Of her
family and some tenants, ten in all, were
poisoned by eating cooked peaches contain
ing arsenic. Medical assistance was SIm-
soned, but at last report there was little
hope Of recovery of any OF the injured par
ties.
A COLLISION on the Milwaukee, Lake
Shore and Western, near Burnham, between
gravel and wood trains, wrecked both en-
gines and killed engineer Michael Gray. fire.
man Robert Bethinger, and a brakeman
IT is said that the Government IS 60
inc to treat Sitting Bull and the warriors
who surrendered with him as prisoners OF
! war, and that their transfer to Fort Randall
has been resolved upon.
The National Prohibition Alliance
has issued a call for "a national conference OF
ProhihItionsts in New York CIry Oh the 18Th
and 18th Of September.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-09-03

Thursday evening as an eastward
bound Jefferson avenue car reached the
Woodward avenue crossing, bust
ness looking woman bounced upon the
rear platform, strobe through the car
at a go-as-you please gait and exclaimed:
"Now, driver! don't you start this
car until find out something"
"Well, ma am. what is it?"
"Will this car take me to St. Aubin
avenue?"
Yes. ma am"
"Wcll. then, you just drive ahead,
for L M in hurry. Do you know Sam
SmithP'
"No, ma'am.''
"Why, you ought to- He came here
from York State three years ago, and
he rides up and down on these street
cars night and day. He lives in big
two-story white house on the right or
left hand side, Eve forgotten which.
with green window blinds and a porch
leo in front. I'll know the place when
/ sec it, for Samanthy writ me all about
it,
Il beg your pardon, ma'am," said
the driver. interrupting, "but you
haven't put your fare in the box"
mo, nor I amt agoin' to nuther,
until you stop in front OF SamAnthy
Smiths house"
"But l don't 90 up St. Aubin ave-
nue.. ma am. I'll leave you at the cor
ner. and you'll have to walk up to the
house,
swell, you'll not get my nickel until
you drive right up in front of the house.
You can't play any of your swindling
city games on me, young man, you bet!
| haven't come clear here from York
State to cut my eye teeth, nor ysou can't
play no tricks on me if you do drive a
boss car
She was finally induced to pay her
fare, some of the passengers assuring
her that it was all right, AS the car
stopped and she stepped from the foot
board she pointed up St Aubin avenue
with her parasol and exclaimed:
There's the house where Sam and
Samanthy live. l knew I'd know it as
quick as ever l saw it. Two story white
house with green winder blinds onto it
and porchico in trout and the car
drove On.-Detro1 Free Press.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-09-03
WHY They Laughed.

1 suppose all nv little readers are oc-
casionalIy laughed at, and that none of
them enjoy it very much. When one
has made mistake, or your friends get
a good joke at your expense, you can
join in the laugh as heartily as those
who perpetrated the joke. But when
people laugh at you and you do not
know why they laugh, it is often NOR
tifying, if not vexatious. That was my
experience not long ago, and it was
quite amusing. am going to let you
enjoy it.
One afternoon n company of friends
went to the sea shore to have a good
time. and among them Il little girl and
her mother. They walked up and down
n beautiful sandy beach, sat on the
broad shaded piazza of n fine hotel,
enjoying the music from good band,
and watching the hundreds of people
enjoying the beauties of the place, like
themselves. The little folks were busy
in every direction digging wells and
making forts in the sand, bright and
happy as the sunshine that surrounded
them.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-09-03

a resolution leaving Republicans free
to vote rs they pleased, and also adj
iourned. So that now divided Re-
publican organization and united
Democratic party confront the Repu-
diationists. 1t is the death blow the of
Malone party. The entire Republican
vote was essential to its success. With
out it, there is not a shadow of hope.
In taking the course they did, the
Straight-out Republicans declared that
the honor of the State was a more vital
consideration than the defeat of the
Democracy. They expressed execra-
ton of principles born in dishonesty
and maintained in disgrace; and re-
fused to be party to any combination
which left a stain upon the reputation
ments have the ring of truest manhood
about them. They put to shame the
Administration Republicans who ia
vored any kind of coalition which prom
Used Democratic defeat But it is sig
nilicant of more important results than
this 1t stamps out Mahonism in Vir-
ginia. 1t puts period to expediency
in politics. The impression had come
to be general that any policy was fair
that could be turned against the oppo-
s;tion. The Democrats in Maine and
Virginia held to different views, and q
powerful element in the Republican
party in the latter State indorses this
opinion. The best elements in both
parties have protested against dishon-
est combinations of whatever kind. 1t
will mark a new and gratifying era in
American politics, and bring again into
prominence the issues which honestly
separate political organizations. The
wire pullers and time servers are rele-
gated to back seats. The revolving
doctrine. that the end justifies the
means, will be frowned down as the de-
vice of political tricksters and the shame
Of reputable parties. There is a line
which separates honesty and dishonesty
IN politics. The Straight out Republic
ans of Virginia have drawn it at repudi-
alton, and in SO doing have won foE
themselves higher honor than can be
found in any political success. Combi-
nations of parties representing antag-
onistic principles are invariably dishon-
est in purpose and ruinous in effect.
The leader who advises it is a shame
less politician and dishonest man.
omaha Herald.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-09-03

Senator Dawes, of Massachusetts, has
written = letter on the existing spoils
system. This is the same system which
President GarGelFs Administration be-
gan to operate vigorously SO soon as
the Republican Senators had in March
last entered into the disgraceful and
immoral bargain with the repudiator.
Malone, by which those Republican
Senators hoped to grab not only the
spoils of every committee, but the
spoils to be dispensed by the Sergeant
alarms of the Senate. Senator Dawes
alb, tains from any allusion to that fea-
ture of the spoils system in behalf OF
which, during the extra session of the
Senate. he appeared as one of the
most prominent of Republican Sena-
tors. The Sergeant-at-Arms of the
Senate and the Secretary of the body
hold in their hands a great part of the
appointing and purchasing patronage
of the upper house of Congress. The
former appoints or employs the door
keepers, messengers and pages, and, if
we mistake not, has to do with certain
purchases which may be made a source
of political plumber. The price at
which, as il is said, Senator Dawes and
his Republican colleagues agreed to
buy Senator Mahone's vote on the
Republican side was the election by
the Republican majority of Riddle
berger, Confederate rcpudiator, to
be the Republican Sergeant-at-Arms
and the dispenser of the spoils of the
Senate. 1t is to be hoped that Senator
Dawes will, in future letter, explain
how or why he justifies or excuses gen.
cral removals in the Office of Ser
geant-at-Arms of the Senate whenever
the majority of Senators changes from
one party to the other. For such gen.
eral removals, when made, Senators
are solely responsible. They cannot
throw the responsibility on the Presi-
dent of the United States.
The Senator from Massachusetts is
of the opinion that Congressman would
not worry the Executive for appoint
ments did not the voters worry their
Congressman. That may be true, put
it is only a half-truth. The voters
worry Congressman because the ave-
rage member of either house invites
the worry by the promises and pledges
he makes to voters in order to get a
and an election. The diff
Guilty exists in the fact that the Con-
gresham behaves dishonorably in the
beginning. He leads the voter into
the temptation. He suggests the con-
tract and trade by which the voter aids
the candidate for Congress to be nomi-
mated. One Republican candidate de-
feats another rival Republican candi-
date for Congress by promising the
spoils to his workers" Why did
Mr.. Dawes omit to deal with that IA
miliar aspect of the spoils systemP-
~ Y World,
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-09-03
Youths Department.
TIE =" TRY BOYS.

To-day, as | went down the street,
passed my neighbors yard,
Where at task little lad
Was working very hard.
He tried. and failed, and tried again,
And every failure met
With n determined air that said:
I'm bound TO conquer YETI
Another boy stood idly by
With hands in pockets thrust,
And watched the little fellow work
As those who conquer must.
" Now what's the useE he said. I'm sure
You can't do that, nor L.
- Perhaps can't" the other said,
But anyway, III tIyF'
AhI that's the spirit, boys, that wins!
nont stand before your work
With idle hands, afraid of it;
The victors never shirk.
just grapple with the task, my boys:
You'll conquer by-and-by;
Those always fail who say: d" can't
Those win who say: II try
-Eben E. Re eford, IN Golden Ddps.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-09-03
Care About Things.

We have on many occasions in going
over the outbuildings upon some farms
noticed great deal of earelessness in
guarding against man-traps which might
prove very dangerous to life and limb,
if knowledge of the existence and re:
membrance of them were not at all
times borne in mind; or of contrivances
where cattle may be hurt. Passing
through friends farm buildings some
time ago, we came on a cistern for
catching water from the roof. the lid of
which opened in a frequently travelled
path. On our expressing surprise. our
friend wondered at the alarm, For"
said he, "all about us are trained to
such careful habits there really is no
danger. No one would ever think of
leaving the trap door OPEN" This rea-
soning seems correct, and yet the news
papers are filled with accidents which
occur in cases where all hands" are
supposed to exercise the greatest care.
Some one comes in with loaded gun
and does not draw the charge. He
knows how careful every body is in
handling firearms, and yet numbers OF
people die every year simply through
forgetfulness on the part of some play
full fool that the article may possibly be
loaded. A man carries the common
dangerous matches that ignite with
scratching against anything loose in
his pocket, and goes through his stables
and over his hay mows and strawstacks.
He is quite sure that his careful hab-
its will never let him drop one 50 that
something may tread or fall on it or a
mouse nibble it and a fire ensue. But
some day the whole thing "goes up"
and there is no end of wonder how such
a thing could be!
t. hot
and losses are usually the luck of those
who are the most careful. We knew a
man once who carried money loose in
his vest-pocket, as many do their
matches. No one could be more par
ticular than he in watching every time
that none fell on the ground or blew
away. lie regarded loss as impossible.
and he continued 10 think SO until one
day when about to give up his room at
n hotel, after visiting n country-falr, his
wife found n ten dollar bill lying on the
floor! CarefulneSs is very well, Study
it by all means. But in all our arrange
mcnts security should rest rather on
impossbility than on watchfulncss.
The man who lies asleep with one eye
open to guard against foes does well;
but the one who takes his rest where he
knows no enemy can come. has the best
chance of rest.
We make a note of these things now
because the season will soon be here
when fires will be necessary. and with
it the season when things take fire from
"dcfective ilucs' and other accidents.
These things never occur where people
are really careful, but the best rule is
to SO order things that no matter how
careless people may be accidents are
next to impossible. - Germantown 1efc-
graph.
An ant town in the Allegheny
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-09-03

An ant town in the Allegheny
Mountains consists of LOGO or LOO
nests, which rise in cones to height
of from two to five feet. The ground
is riddled in every direction with sub
terranean passages.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-09-03

Mrs Burnett is at work on new
novel of Washington lite.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-09-03
DIR. Schliemann's description of his

DIR. Schliemann's description of his
courtship is an interesting one. at is
now twelve years." he says, "since l
met her in the house of her parents in
Athens. 1t was Saturday. In the
course of the conversation l made an
astonishing discovery. The young
eightcen-year-o old girl, as the talk
turned upon the Iliad, recited for me a
long piece from that work with literal
accuracy. We were soon absorbed in
the subject. and on the same day ! was
able to tell her, Next Thursday will be
our wedding day And Thursday was
our wedding day, for important bust
ness called me at once TO Paris. We
made our wedding journey thither.
Then came the time for learning. l
recited Homer to her and she repeated
it after me. During our married life
we have not had a single falling out
not even over Agamemnon and his SIS
ter. The only dispute VIC ever had was
when we had different ideas about the
rendering of passage in Homer"
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-09-03

instruction in eating watermelon
is given by the Baltimore american,
which should be good authority, as it is
published i'll the melon region. The
hotel plan of cutting a watermelon like
tulip, and putting lump of ice in it,
is condemned, because ice should never
touch the pulp; but n burial of the I'M
cut melon in ice for two days is wise.
Then cut lengthwise, and eat between
meals. People deal unjustly with this
fruit sometimes by eating a hearty din
ner first, and then topping off with a
melon; and then if moral earthquake
sets up in the interior. they charge it
to the melon. The watermelon was in
tended as an episode interiude-a
romance without words-a nocturne in
green and rcd--not to be mingled with
bacon and greens. Its indulgence leaves
a certain epigastral expansion, but this
is painless and evanescent. The reme-
dy is to loosen the waistband, and
take another slice"
Mrs. Burnett is at work on new
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-11-21
NATIONAL THANKSGIVING.
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA,
A APROCLAMAT1oN.


1t has long been the custom of our people with
ings brought to them in the changing course OF sea
sons and to return solemn thanks to the All Giving
Source from whom they flow, and although at this
period when the falling leaf monishes US that the
time of our sacred duty is hand nation still
lies in the shadow OF great bereavement ana
mourning which has filed our hearts and still finds
Is sorrowful expression towards God before whom
we but lately bowed IN grief and suppication, yet
the countless benefits which have showered upon
us during the past tive eve months call for out Ter
vent gratitu and make it fitting that we should
rejoice with thankfulness that the LORD IN his Inn
mite mercy has most signally favored our countr.
and our people. Pease without and pr speIity
within have been youchsafed to us. No pc I'll ence
has visited our shores. The abundant priyileg Of
freedom which fathers lett us in their wisdom
are still increasing heritage and If In parts OF
our vast domain, some afftiction has visited our
brethren their forest homer yet even this calamity
has been tempered, and in a manner sanctlned py
the generous compassion for the sufferers which
has been called forth throughout our land For all
these things it is meet hat the voice he Nation
Ehould 90 up to God in deyout homage.
Wherefore Ches or Arthur, PRESIDENT or
the United States, do recommend that a | the
people observe Thursday, the Oath day of Noyem-
be- insta t. as day of nat onai thanksgiving snd
prayer BY ceasiag 50 TAR as may De ron & iaelr
of worship there to join in ascribing honor and
praise TO Almighty God whose goodness has been SO
manifest in our history and in our lives, and offer
i earnest praye s thai His bounties may continue
to us and to our childrei.
In witness whereof have hereunto set my hand
and caused he seal of the United States TO be
affixed
November in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty-one and of the inde-
pendeuce of the United States the one hundred
and sixth.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
By the President.
JAMES G. BLAINE. Secretary of State.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-11-21
Mr.. Blaine's Appearance on the
Witness Stand.

The New York World correspondent thus
describes Secretary Blaines appearance as a
witness:
Mr.. Blaine took the witness stand with grace
full modesty. The hold he has upon the Amer
ican people did not seem to be Illogical He
stood in the witness box to-day with the man
ners of Chesterfield and the command OF a
Rcheleu. Keen, urbane, dignihed, reposeful,
bowling cordially to journalistic and other
friends In the neighborhood, deferentlY to the
slightest officer of the Court, aud deferring to
the examining officer Of the Government as
though he were the humblest witness in the
case, Secretary Blaine was impressive and ad-
mired as a witness. He was asked his name
and occupation, and he answered as simply as
though he had been an ordinary carpenter in
stead of q constructor Of the foreign and do
mestic policies of the Government. The Dis
trict Attorney was more embarrassed than the
witness, though all eyes were fixed ON the lat
ter.
After two or three formal questions Colonel
Corkhill asked the Secretary to tell the jury
what he knew about the murder. With courtly
courtesy to an officer Of the Government, Mr.
Blaine asked in what form the District Attor-
ney desired the statement to be made. In
narrative FORM" was the reply. "Where do
you wish the narrative to begin?" asked the
Secretary while a witness without sensibiities
would have begun the narrative where he
chose. And when the Secretary told the story
"a passionless, clear, graphic. eloquent, Sim
ple story OF the murder of the President-he
made the great argument for the Government
in this great case. By the most delicate indi-
rection only did he touch the pathos Of the
tragedy. He remembered that he was in the
witness box, but he did not fail TO say that
from the midst of so horrible scene he only
bore away impressions as to some of the details.
His pardonable argument at this was finely
concealed. His ststement was gloved, but the
iron hand OF justice was there. With splendid
eyes, young in spirit, disnifed and modest in
bearing, he was more than captivating as a
witness He was so lucid and conclusive in his
testimony that when plan OF the depot was
brought for the better information OF the jury,
the map seemed to obscure the evidence rath-
er than add to it. The Government could we'll
afford to rest their case upon the conclusion of
his testimony.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-11-21

The New York Sun says that "Miss ida
Peteet of Troy, returned from church the 9TH
er Sunday and in putting on pair of shoes
found a snake in one Of them" A Chicago
man came home the other night and found
several snakes in his boots. The effete east
cannot head of the boundless west when 1t
comes to snake stories.-Chicago Tribune.
Queen Victoria once wrote a leader for the
London Times. As she has never written an
other, it is supposed that the type-setter made
her say, instead of "the sun never sets on the
British domnions," "Ihe gun never rests on
The man who was rocked in the cradle OF
the deep" must have slept between sheets Of
water.-Oi City Derrick.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-11-21

SOME idea of the pension list may be OBJ
tanned from the fact that it now requires ov-
er one-fourth of the entire revenue of The
government to pay it annually. The reven-
ues of the government have been running
about three hundred and fifty millions, and
the call Of the commissioner of pensions
this year is for deficiency of twenty odd
millions for the remainder Of this year, and
one hundred millions for next year.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-11-21

THE Burlington Hawkeye has not allowed
the post office of that city go out of the
family. The former postmaster and editor,
Frank Hatton, having been transferred to
Washington, as first assistant postmaster
general, John L. Waite, managing editor OF
the same paper, succeeds him as postmaster
at Burlington.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-11-21
Thursday. Nov. gath. A, d. 1881.

as day of Public Thanksgiving and Praise to God,
the Author or all good and the liver of every good
gift: and d. commend to the people OF our state,
as most suitable 10 the occasion, the recoamen a.
tions of the President, whose Proclamation is here
to annexed.
Given at the Council Chamber at Augusta, this
fifteenth day Of November, in the year our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty
States OF America the one uudred and six h.
HARRIS M. PLAISTED
By the Governor:
JosEpH o. SMITH, Secretary of State.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-11-21

FoRTY-SIx railroads, operating a total of
81, 800 miles-nearly one-half of the entire
mileage in the country-report gross earn
ings amounting to $195, 5,172,776 during the
months of 1881 ending with September.
For the same period last year the mileage of
these roads was 32,2S4, and the earnings
$167, ,779, 1874. The increased earnings this
year keep pace with the increased mileage,
the average earning per mile being $5,2 ,206
this year against $5, 1877 in.18S0.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-11-21
THE PRESS.
MONDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 81.

We do not read anonymous letters and communi-
cations. The name and address of the writer are in
all cases Indispensable, not necessarily for pubca-
ton but as guaranty Of good faith.
We cannot undertake to return or preserve com-
munications that are not used.