davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-01-05
ELDER HUMMER.

The gentleman whose name heads this
article, was somewhat eccentric divine Of
the Presbyterian persuasion in the early
of the fact of eccentricity it is related of
him that one summers morning, about 4
o'clock he went to the general country
store of man named Miller and routed
out the proprietor, who was in sueh haste
to sell his wares that he failed to appear
behind the counter with anything more be-
coming in the way of attire than some
what voluminous shirt. He was very glad
to see Elder Hummer and very graciously
handed down from his shelves article after
ware, ETC., until pretty much all of his
stock was spread out upon the counter
Thereupon the Elder remarked: well, I
don't know that I want anything this
morning but as was going by I thought
/ would call in and see what you'd got"
You don't want anything, etc" retorted
Miller, Yes you do, you want this" and
suiting the action to the word he reached
for an AZ helve and Elder Hummer reached
for the door. Down the street like q deer
ran Elder Hummer, with the angry Miller.
clad only in one garment in hot pursuit.
Once in while he would get near enough
to the Elder to whaCk him between the
shoulders, which only caused the Elder to
redouble his speed till finally he rushed
into law Office and fastened the door
against his pursuer.
Subsequently somebody taking offense
at something in one of Elder Hammers
discourses called meeting at the school
house to insist upon his departure from
Rock Island at once. AS the accused lived
close by he was invited to be present and
! accepted the invitation. The man who en-
gineered the opposition to the preacher
called first on Mr.. Miller. who, I believe,
has something agin Elder Hummer" said
he. Mr.. Miller promptly replied eve
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-01-05
oLD.TrME SPORTS.

In early days, say along in 1869, the
only race course in Rock Island extended
from the old Rock Island House to what
was then known as the ravine, on the west
side of Court House square. "a pretty
short course, wasn't it .queried an ARGUS
reporter of an old veteran. 20, dunno, .
was the reply" The bosses in them days
was mighty poor hosses an | guess the
track from the old Rock Island House to
the Court House. was long enough for most
of em." Be this as it may it is q fact that
on every pleasant Sunday the country boys
for miles and miles around" would come
in with their old pelters and spend the day
at the tavern" named matching their
eshorses' for races over the course above
described.
There was a race once, however, on a
winters night over this course which has
never yet been incorporated into our local
history, one of the participants in which
is still living in Rock Island. Both were
tough young fellows and one challenged
the other to strip off every garment save
one and run from the hotel to the ravine
and back again. the one reaching the
starting point first to carry of the persim-
mons Both started neck aud neck, but
in turning the post at the Court House the
one who had gained on the other missed
the post and so great was his momentum
that he sat down hard upon the ice and
frozen ground and slid quite g distance,
the other profiting by the mishap easily
won the race and the wager. What the
loser said while sliding over the ground in
a sitting posture. beneath the soft. mellow
light of the moon, was not caught for
preservation but that was the end of his
racing in undress uniform.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-01-05
LOSSES ny TEE DAVENPORT FIRE.

As stated in the ARGUS of last evening
Mr.. Richter, the hat, cap and fur dealer.
OF Davenport, in whose store the FIRE orig
mated, still contends that his loss, regard
less of insurance. viii not fall short of
S25. 600. The summary of losses all
round was computed last evening at the
following figures: Ne. 32S. owned and
occupied by T. Richter. retail furrier-loss
on building. $1,000: on stock and furni-
ture, $13, 900, insurance on stock, S14. $50.
on building. So. 800. No. S25. owned by
Paul Wies, y occupied by Richter Il
Co.. wholesale furrier and halter, third
story by Robert I. Silk, boxmaker-loss TO
Wiese, SIS, 600; Richter d Co., $4,000; r.
l. Silk. 5000; insurance: Wiese. (on Nos
325 and 327) $s. 900; Richter s. Co.. $17,-
900; SILK, $500. No. 321, Fritz Berg
fields saloon and residence-dsmaged by
smoke and water about 5000: stock and
furniture insured for 1850, building for
81, 900. No. 327, owned by Paul Wlese
occupied by Henry Thode. liquor dealer,
and other tenants above-loss to Wiese.
$4,000: to Thode, 90, 500; to others, Sc, 0OO
Thode's insurance. $4,000.
Yesterday the firm of Richter q Co. fled
an assignment, (hastened no doubt by the
hre) the liabilities being placed at upward
of &c. 200.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-01-05
CIRCUIT COURT.

At the time of the closing of our court
report today the case of the Rock Island
National Bank VS. f. C. Cess s. Co. was still
on trial (Wilkinson. Kenworthy s. Boards
ley appearing for plaintiff and Connolly &
McNeal for defendant, with every prospect
in favor of its occupying the remainder Of
the day.
Since our last report the jury in the case
of Miles vs.. Harry Wolf & Co.. brought
in a sealed verdict for defendants and
Judge Smith attended to the marital dis
uniting of James f. and Ida NJ. Hall.
Divorces set for hearing are Crates B.
Rich VS. Mary B. Rich and Ottilie Floyd VS.
Charles Floyd.
The grand jury, prior to its discharge
this morning, presented the following to
the court;
To His Honor the Judge of the Circuit Court the
County of Rock Island, ILL.,
Dear Sfr:-The grand jury of this, the
January term of said court, would respect
fully report that they have visited the Jail
in a body, and made an examination of the
building and OF the prisoners therein, and
have found the building clean, safe, and in
excellent condition. And in conversation
with the prisoners we have learned that
they are well cared for. and they express
satisfaction with their food and with the
treatment they receive at the hands of the
officers in charge.
]. r. JOHNSTON, Foreman
Rock Island. Jan. 5. 1883.
The following is the
INDICTMENT LIST COMPLETE,
fifteen in all: William Wilde and Richard
orton. burglary; James Kerrigan, larceny;
John Mckinney, burglary; Gust Peterson,
larceny; George W. Boyce. burglary; John
Boyce. burglary; John F. w. Rauch, as
sault with deadly weapon; Charles Sand
strom, larceny -four indlctments) Conrad
Ward, larceny, second offense; Augustus
M. Griffith, assault and battery; James Ris-
pen, larceny; Wesley Walters, keeping
gaming house. Witnesses-George r.
Hill and Edward J. Judd
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-01-05
SAD NEWS.

The following in regard to Miss Annie
Maueker, who was sent to the insane
asylum at Jacksonville about three
months ago, was received this afternoon
and win send pangs of sorrow TO many
hearts in this city where she had many
friends
JACKSONVILLE, ILL.,. Jan. 5.
To W. @. MaucEer
Your sister died this morning. WIN
send remains tonight
q. G. GABRIEL, Superini sndent.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-01-05

nothing agin him. I've settled with him
and he might have with an ak
helve."
This was dafnper on the spirits of Ell
der Runners chief opponents and the
meeting soon afterward adjourned. AS
the crowd was leaving the building some
cue, presumably Hummer man, knocked
down one OF the chief anti Hummerites,
but this did not, happily. lead to asgeneral
conflict q
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-01-05
PERSONAL.
Rock ISLAND HOUSE.

w A Kintzle, Freeport: Mrs Trevor and
daughter Rapids City; III j Whitney, Keo-
kuk; A e Mapes, Moline; John Buffum.
Andalusia; Jack Heaney. Cordova; ] B
Spears and lady. Muscatine; L L Hollis,
Chicago; Mrs Adams and soR, Rapids City;
w d Holsapple, lie Claire; FL r Ferrm.
Watertown. N Y; Mrs e B Allen, 81
Louis; L Whelan, Moline; j g Stanton.
Dick Collard, r Frazer, j B Durham. st.
Louis; Joe Rothschieid, Muscatine; John
Black. Toulon; ] j Wall; lowe City; B
Youneerman Colona, Ill: G r Chandler
Chicago; w W. Dodd, indianapolis.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-01-05
NEW FIRM.

The undersigned. hereby, give notice to
to the public, that they have purchased
the business of Richard Champion, that
they will continue the same business under
the firm name of Champion g. Co.. and
that Richard Champion u.s., for the present,
engaged by said firm in their employ.
CHAMPION 81 COMPANY.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-01-05

mules 800. oxen $3S. Average price of
mileh cows $35. Sheep over one. year Old
$3.50, and twenty five of them are reported
killed by dogs in the last twelve months.
HOGS over one year old $16 each, all
around
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-01-05
STOCKS.


CHICAGO. Jan, 8.
STOCK.
HOGS-Receipts 29000 light 1896 80; mixed
packing 70Q5e 90; heavy packing and shipping,
6 2506 Go.
CAPTLE-Receipts 1000; dull; choice to extra
6 1906 SO; good 10 choice shipping 1905 90;
common to fair, 00d4 go; butchers 5O6l4 40:
stockers and feeders, 8 1904 60.
GRAIN.
WHEAT-Easier; regular 95z 95x January:
96z Feb; OF May spring So; winter 96k.
CORN-Weak; SIX cash; 49M year and Dec;
52A JAM; 81 May.
OATs-Weak and easy; s51s cash; IS year; s5y1
Jan. 361z May.
RYE-57-
BARLEY.-S0.
WHISKEY-1 10.
PORK-Easier; SIG 951S cash and December;
$1722h January; ST. 321S February.
LARD-Firm; so 25 cash; $40 81 Jan; SO S2la
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-01-05
PUBLIC NoTIcE .

4 report is in circulation regarding my
business which has a tendency to injure
my trade. In reply wish to state that
such report is absolutely false
MINNIE ZEIs.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-01-05

E. L. EASTMAN, Reporter
Headquarters, one door West of Reimer's
Cigar Store.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-01-05
HARD COAL.

For genuine Lehigh coal see the Port
Byron Lime association. o26tf
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-01-05
Peoria Market

PEORIA, Jan 5.
CORN-47047h mixed, 465S047.
0ATS-No. white, 371Sa3S.
RYE-561x a57.
WHISKY Is.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-01-05
Milwaukee Market.

MILWAUKEE, Jan, 5.
WHEAT-Fifm; No 2 951s cash, and Jan. 9S1z
Feb. No B, so,
CORN-Lower; Six.
OATS-Easier; 35A.
RYE-56
BARLEY-T2
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-11-09
Formation Of Character.

We do not sufficiently appreciate the
value of pressure in the formation of
character. "a child left to himself
bringeth his mother to shame" saws the
inspired proverb. And all of us are, in
sense. children all our lives through.
The best qualities which any of us pos
sess have been given to us, or have been
made effective in us, through some such
outside or inside pressure as a child
must have brought to bear on him to
keep him from growing to worthless
ness, or going to ruin. There is moth
ing that any of US can do exceptionally
well that we were not somehow forced
into, or trained into, by severe pressure.
All our powers of endurance also came
to us In that way. We learned to en-
dure by having to endure, whether we
wanted to or not. IL we had been left
to ourselves in our Misunderstanding
and training, we also should have
brought our mothers, or our mother 8
children, to shame. There is nothing
we have more reason to be grateful for
than the pressure which in one way or
another has been brought to bear sson
US for the compacting and right hard
ening of our characters. Why, now-a-
days they are actually making railroad
car wheels out of paper; pressing pulp
into strength of resistance and endur-
ance that even itself can not equal. But
for that pressure the pulp would have
remained pulp-useless, unattractive
pulp. Because of that state the COM
Pacted and solidified pulp has become q
power and obtained mission, in the
world Many a strong character was
only pulp to begin with, and but for
Providential pressure upon it, it would
have remained pulp to this day. And
there is still great deal of character
pulp which viii never amount to any-
thing unless it comes under a stronger
pressure than has ever been brought to
bear upon it thus far. Pressure upon
us IS the last thing in the world we
ought to think of fegretting-unless,
indeed, we want to remain pulp
Baptist Weekly.
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-11-09
Pitting Potatoes.

Putting potatoes in pits to preserve
through the winter was formerly more
oracticed than at the present day. Some
may be tempted to Keep their potatoes
over in hopes of obtaining better prices
in the spring, and some will resort to
pitting. There is usually more or less
risk attendant on this mode of preserv-
ing potatoes, but where successful the
potatoes come out fresher and better
than when kept, as ordinarily, in dry,
warmish cellar. Select dry, well
drained location for the pit, and ex-
cavate according to the quantity to be
kept. on ground where tie water will
run from it. Line this pit with straight.
long straw, on bottom and sides, one or
two inches thick, then put in the pota-
toes, not to exceed three feet in depth;
cover them with two or three inches of
straw, laid on in cources, and over this
throw earth, placing wisp of straw
in the apex for a yentilator. Be care
full not to cover the potatoes too deep,
or leave the pit unventilated. or there
may be a pit of rotten potatoes next
spring. Potatoes keep best when kept
at as low temperature as possible with
out freezing. If kept dry they will
stand quite low temperature before
freezing. Moisture condensing on them
will tend to their freezing or rotting.
If the pit be well ventilated the moisture
passes off and they will stand lower
temperature and yet be preserved. ~
II. White, IN Country Gentleman.
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-11-09
The Asparagus Bed.

Asparagus Is not so generally cult
waited as it ought to be. This state of
affairs is due to the fact that an opinion
exists among many that asparagus is a
difficult and expensive growth to
manage, whereas the truth is, bed
once started will keep in good condi-
ton for many years with trifling labor,
provided always it be fed well.
1t has long been an open question
whether fall or spring is the better time
for starting asparagus beds. This ques-
ton may be answered in each partic-
ular case only after considering the
climate and soil. Generally speaking
more depends upon the condition of the
soil than on the time of setting out the
plants. If the soil is heavy and moist,
and the winters long and severe, spring
is the propitious season, but in sandy
Or clay loan and in moderate temper
AZURE it is as well and often times bet
ter to prepare the bed in the fall.
A rich sandy loan forms the bed in
which asparagus thrives most success
fully. The growth of the vegetable de-
ponds largely on the depth and richness
of the soil, therefore the necessity of
deep culture and plenty of well-decom-
posed manure.
When time is an object the most ex-
peditious mode is to set out two-year-
old plants, though plants that are one
year old serve well. One of the errors
in asparagus culture is crowding the
plants in the bed. Cultivators differ in
practice concerning the distance apart
the plants are set. For culture on
large scale, where horse, hoe and
cultivator are employed. three and a
half feet by two and half feet viii
prove a convenient distance In the
garden where space is a consideration,
the plants may be placed closer; still.
their planting with clean culture will
give far larger and earlier asparagus
shoots than will plants set closely to-
gether. After planting top-dressing
Of old manure is beneficial.
Old asparagus beds that have made
vigorous growth the previous summer
call for liberal manuring in the fall.
The rule is to apply manure in autumn
and salt some time during the spring.
~ y World.
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-11-09

If one sees only death in death. Death
with beautiful life on this side of it
and the glories of immortality on the
other side is not altogether dreadful. It
is cloudy weather. to be sure, but the
setting sun saturates the clouds with
splendor.
You see at glance, therefore, that I
am not advising the skeptic to be cheer
ful. If man plants briers, he must
expect to be pricked by his own crop
OF thorns. 1t is as natural for the ag-.
nostic to fume and fret at the apparent
incongruities of life, to him sadly real,
as it is for water to run down hill.
He has nothing to be cheerful about; he
has every reason to be restless and mis-
cradle. With no God, no Savior, no
Heavenly home after the WEAKNESS of
this work-day life, how can he be any
thing else than miserable and restless?
He is the plaything of ill-luck, with no
power to control or cajole good fortune,
and no optic ability to discern anything
but the shadow of events. He is to be
pitied for his forlornness, even when he
despises your pity; and though he may
christen his forlornness with the high
sounding name of science, ii is only
forlornness after all. Neither he nor
you can make anything better out of it.
One is in sorry plight if he searches
the world thoroughly and discovers no
ruling Providence. but accidentally
stumbles upon accident at every step.
and then at last gets tripped up, and
falls into the grave as the worst acct
dent of all. His laugh is the laugh of
desperation, and is wholly devoid of
buoyancy. His heroism is stoicism, a
grinding, almost gnashing of the
teeth, and a defiant clenching of the
fists, as far removed from Christian
resignation as madness is from sanity.
When man believes in God he may
grumble once in while, because he is
human; but constap: fretting is irrelig-
ion. This life at its best is a kind of
corduroy road across the lowlands to
the highway of the King; and if you be-
gin the journey by bewailing the fact.
and wondering why the Lord has not
had it macadamized, and then continue
the journey by exclaiming at every jolt
as though it was personal insult, you
will probably be so busy finding fault
with everything that you will have little
time left to enjoy the landscape. II
others seem to have an easier time than
you, it is poor policy to make bad
thing worse by fretting because it is not
better. 1t is what it is; so make the
best of it. If you try to be contented
with your lot, you will be surprised to
discover that there are many desirable
things in this world which YOU can get
on very well without Move out of
Grumbling Terrace, ard rent an apart
ment in Thanksgiving Row, and your
health, and that of your wife and chill
dren, will begin to improve at once
Geo. II. HepaOorth. in N. y. Independent.
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-11-09
Decay or the Dude.

Artemus Ward, returning to the
"buzzum ov his family, at Baldwins-
vile, Inieanny," found his daughter
seated at the piano singing "Why Do
the Summer Roses Fade?'' and he
hazarded the opinion" bekoz it's
thare little biz-let 'em fade"
Whether this is the correct answer
to the conundrum or not, it is certain
that all fresh, tender young things must
wilt away and vanish.
So we are now notified that the Dude
must 90.
Just as we have really learned to
know him, to become familiar with his
simple little ways and his harmless
idiocies of manner and costume, we
are informed that fashion has decreed
his extinction. He has had his little
day of bud and blossom, and is now
fading into the sere and yellow leaf.
Already the major part of the true
Dudes have abandoned most of the dis
tinctive garb and uniform of the order.
The rolled-brim hat, the white CATERS,
the tooth-pick shoes, and the abbrevi-
ated "top-coat," are no longer signs
whereby we may know with any de-
gree of certainty the youth of between
twenty and twenty-seven, whose in
heritance of money and brains is clear
ly out of proportion.
The impecunious dry-goods clerk, and
even the low salaried elevator-boy has
"caught ON to these peculiarities of
personal attire, and now appear arrayed
as erstwhile were the listless and languid
young drones, whose daily bread and
fine raiment were provided for them
by their fathers frugality and thrift.
This is sufficient. The Dudes COM
placency was never ruffied in the least
by the merciless flood of ridicule poured
out upon him, but he fades like morn
ing frost at the first sun, when he finds
his little peculiarities successfully imi-
tated by " csds'' who commit the crime
of earning their own living.
Not that we are rid of the young man
himself. We shall always have him, as
long as rich men 90 on doing as they
have done since the beginning of time.
that is, expanding al their brains in
getting wealth, and having none LETT to
communicate to their offspring. The
only difference will be that next wear
they will not be called Dudes, but be
designated by some other bit of slang.
just as they will be distinguished by
some other extravagances of dress and
department. Toledo Blade.
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-11-09
The Kitchen.

There are housekeepers who seem to
regard the aspect of the kitchen as not
OF the smallest Importance, so long as
the dinner is well cooked and the rest
OF the house kept in order; no matter
how begrimed the ceiling, if that of
the drawing room is in good condition;
no matter how rude the floor. if that
has velvet carpet; or how cheap and
ugly the wallpaper, if their own par
ncular apartments are soft and harmo-
NOUS in tone. Perhaps they think that
the servant will not waste her time look
ing out the window if the view is not in
teresting, but as the kitchen is the place
where Nora spends the greater portion
OF her days, it seems a pity that her
drudgery could not be alleviated. at
least, by cheerful prospect, by an
aesthetic wallpaper, which need be. no
dearer than an ugly one, and which she
may not be able to appreciate all at
once, but which may yet help to edu-
cate her, in a manner, to good taste I'M
awares. Of course. after the kitchen is
suitably furnished and garnished, it de-
ponds upon her whether it shall be kept
tidy and inviting; but if the mistress
show an interest in making it attractive,
in making it as coy, comfortable and
pretty as her means and the object for
which it is used will permit. the servant
will speedily catch the spirit, in most
cases, and lend hand in preserving
order and prettiness. Why should there
not be shelf in the kitchen for plants,
or hanging pot in a window, where
the moist atmosphere and uniform heat
are so beneficial for growing things?
And when Nora sits down to her sew
ing of an evening, may not a rocking
chair be as great necessity for her as
for one whose bones do not ache with
use; or whose muscles have not been
OvertaXed? Would we not like it if the
kitchen were our own orbit? Perhaps
the mistress might say: 'That is quite
another thing. We have been bred to
a certain amount of luxury and COM
fort; she, being unused to it, does not
miss it; and if we concede these things
she will only be the more miserable and
discontinued in her next place, where
they may be denied. Besides, we will
be making it difficult for those mis-
tresses who are not in position to rem
ovate and improve their kitchens at
every hands turn" But we have NO
responsibility about Nora's next place.
and if pleasant surroundings are ben.
eft to character, we are really prepar-
ing her to fill that place more accept
ably, and doing her next mistress a good
turn.-Hdrper'S Bazaar.