davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-01-26
Her Fan.

20 am to keep you, little fan!
"n'ie she goes tn waltz with tho eighteenth
man.
We'll, now that have you, the question sweet,
IL, whether to kiss you or batter and boatr
That you've been her accomplice, in moments
gone by,
In tricks to torment mo, you cannot denyI
How oft from hor side I've been ordered to 20,
10 hunt for your fnnship high and low.
Aud been, for not finding you. rrowncd at and
While meath her own fr,rbelows baseiy you
Il you weren't Just warm from her clasp, I fear
aoud nave hutterod your last IT sorees, my
This, too, Is the cord she cruelty twists,
In my envions sight, round her milk-whte
And this, tho edge she'd do nothing but bite,
when prayed for one word, In the soft star
light.
She's q dirt, wretched fan. from her head to
In Its dainty, supremoly absurd little bootl
Though one such wickedness wouldn't sur
mise,
From those tender lips and shy, sweet eyesl
And she looks, tonight, In that white robes
dow,
Fair and puro as a lily In snow;)
But her heart, under all, may DO deep and
true
The ocean has frivolous froth on It's blueI-
That she likes me u little can't help believ-
II only were sure of that fact, all-retrievingl
Here she comes back, at last, grown q
rose In the waltzi
Fanling! take her this kiss, and I'll pardon
your faults!
&c. r, g.. In the Century
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-01-26
A FarWest Postoffice.

The postoflice at Iron Rod, Montana,
has been discontinued, and the explana-
ton is thus given by an officer of the
department: "A postofiice agent. while
officially visiting various offices in Mon
tana territory for the purpose of cor
recting any irregularities of postmasters.
stopped ut Iron Rod. Going into the
postoffice he found the room divided
into three sections-first saloon. next
tho postoffice, ard last a faro-bank.
The mailbag was brought in, Il rough
looking customer opened it and emptied
the contents on the floor. The entire
crowd ut once got down on their hands
and commenced overhauling the letters,
among which several were registered,
and selected such as they wanted. At
ter they were through, the remaining
letters were shoveled into candle box
and placed on the bar. The special
agent thinking the office needed little
regulating, asked the bar keeper, who
received and distributed the mail, if he
was the postmaster. He answered No
Are you the assistant postmasterP
No Where is the postmaster?'. Out
mining Where is the assistant post
masterr Gone to Hclrs canon: and
by thunder Bill Jones has got to run for
Office next week; it's his turn The
government official then stated who he
was, and demanded the keys of the
office. The bar tender coolly took the
candle box from the bar. placed it on
the floor, and gave 1t kick. sending it
out of the door, saying: There's your
postoffice. and now git The agent
says: Knowing the custom of the coun-
try, lost no time in following this ad-
vice, and got This is why the post
office at Iron Rod was discontinued"
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-01-26
Work of a War Correspondent.

War correspondents lead exciting and
adventurous lives. They can never be
certain of peaceful half-hour at home,
and when one campaign is ended may
at any moment expect to be dispatched
to share the trials Of another. Nor is it
only that they are continually on the
move. While actually at their work
they must be prepared to face danger.
endure hardships and exposures. More
than all, they must. if they would give
loyal service to the journals they repre-
sent, be men of iron constitution, with
boundless energy and powers Of endur-
ance. A new proof of their value has
just been afforded by one of the most
distinguished of their number. Mr..
Cameron, who has long been on the
staff of the. Standard, which paper he
represents in India and the Transvaal,
is now in Egypt. adding fresh laurels to
his reputation. His report OF the fight
at Kassassin was one of the finest things
lie has done and rivalling the exploits of
such men asMcGahan and Forbes. With
the skillful prescience which is not the
least of the gifts Of true correspondent
he had attached HIMSELF to the cavalry
brigade underDruryLowe. 1t had already
been actively engaged at Mahsamieh.
and was SO near the next advanced post
that it was certain to come in for any
fighting in progress. Cameron was not
disappointed. He found himself on the
spot to accompany the cavalry through
all their movements on that arduous
day, and rode with them in their flank
march which so completely decided the
fight. Having witnessed the charge Of
the Household cavalry and its success
full results, he knew that the worst was
over, and that it was now his business
to get the good news home. He had
been In the saddle the whole of trying
tropical day; it was now night, and "a
miles of trackless desert interposed be-
tween him and Ismailia, the point from
which he could best telegraph to Eng
land. Nothing daunted by these tre-
mendous difficulties, he set forth 10 ride
back to the canal alone. The long
journey must have sorely tried his
strength; nevertheless at the end Of 1t
he penned one of the most mastery
and graphic dispatches ever produced
by war correspondent. -Londos Home
NeWs.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-01-26

She was Young, frivolous thing of
about thirty and she had the habit
Of knocking at the other boarders' doors
and saying, 20, just thought Id stop
on my way up stairs and say how dye
do and 'good-by.'" Then she would
at q glance take in all that was going
on. and canter off to her own room.
One day, when one of the boarders had
company, she tried 1t. The frivolous
thing thought she scented young men
inside. Little Rose went to the door.
"Ah. how do you do. Little Rosep"
"How do you do, Miss b. p' II was
Just passing by, and I thought I would
look In" When Little Rose asked her,
In all simplicity. Wont You como in
and take off your hair and stay little
whilep" the on.lookers thought she had
been suddenly taken with cramps, and
de dida't bposk altar thst
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-01-26
Il Didn't Rnst.

When Mcclellan reached Malvern
Hill in his retrograde movement he had
the Federal gunbosts at his back. They
took position in Turkey Bend, q mile
and half above the Hill. and from this
spot they sent their monster shells over
the Federals and into the woods where
the Confederates we're forming. One of
the shells fell in front of q Brigadier-
General from Georgia and two aides,
and came rolling to their very feet. Like
lightning each Of the trio threw himself
fat on the ground, rolled over once or
twice, and then Rugged the ground and
waited. They could hear the sputter OF
the burning fuse, and the chances Of be.
ing wiped out were ninety-nine in hun.
dred. In this situation one of the aides
called out:
Gentlemen, I believe secession is
wrong. and I'm sorry / took up arms"
"And I know that rebellion Is wicked
and I'm ready to resign" groaned the
other aide.
It was then the Generals turn to say
something. and while they were waiting
to hear him declare himself he suddenly
called out:
"Get up. gentlemen, get up-ths dunn
thing Isn't going to bast At AIR.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-01-26

results. especially il It happens, Us Is
sometimes tho case, to DO spot which
has remained untouched since tho early
miners left tho neighborhood, dissatis-
fed when they could no longer make an
ounce, or from fifteen to sixteen dollars
per day.
As tho dry season approaches. some
OF tho Cinnamon return to tho large
towns. where they spend their time and
money during the summer. lounging
around the Chinese quarters. while 9TH
ers form companies and repair to the
gravel-bars in the beds of the larger
rivers, which can only be worked du.
ring the dry season when the river Is
low. Here. by various methods In COM
mon use. principally by fumes and
wing dams, thoy excavate deep pits in
the gravel, and are sometimes success
fnl in reaching a portion Of the 'bed-
rock" that has never been disturbed,
from which they secure n rich harvest.
When ''strike" like this occurs it is
easily detected by the dealer to whom
they sell their dust for tho gold buyer
becomes so expert by the long familiari-
~ with the gold brought from different
places that he can generally tell at once
what canon or mine it belongs to, and
what is more, whether the ground has
been worked over before or not.
The Chinaman is the personifcation
of patience. but born gambler. He is
naturally peaceable and quiet; he never
makes an nuisance of himself by reeling
about and creating drunken brawls. He
is frugal and very fond Of chicken pie
and roast pig. not being altogether scru-
pulOus as to where they come from. His
staple article of food is rice, which he
cooks so well that each grain remains
whole and distinct.
At most of the "white" mining camps
he is the cook and laundryman; it may
be truly said that were the Chinese
driven from the State. a great many
Californians would suffer for lack OF
clean linen and properly cooked food.
In the mountains. the Chinese cook il
indispensable and is excellent when his
absurd ideas of flavor and seasoning are
overcome. Youths Companion.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-01-26
Tha BOOSTERS ''Battering Ram"

suppose I needn't tell any of the
Companion boys what battering-ram
is; but want to tell them the true story
Of q polite and smart rooster that / was
once acquainted with.
In the fall no and his family Of hens
were allowed to run in the garden and
pick up all the seeds and grubs they
could find.
In the border, under stone wall, was
Q row of tall. fall flowers such as dahlias,
etc, and amongst them was one gerry
tall sun-hower.
suppose the great round heads Of
shining black seeds looked very tempt
ing to Schanticleer," for he kept perk-
ing his head on one side and looking up
at it, and then would fly up to try and
reach the seeds.
But he was heavy as well as tall
bird, and would come futtering down.
At last he did just what I've seen
boys do when they wanted to Jump over
Q brook or q wide ditch; he ran back a
dozen steps or more and then dashed at
the strong stem Of the sun.fower with
his bill,-or "battering-ram," as we
called it,-and down came shower of
the coveted seeds Youths Compan.
io1a
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-01-26
How To Be a Guest.
Why II IL saoh Pleasure 10 Entertain Some
Pcop!e.

People.
All my life have been accustomed to
q great many guests. It often puzzles
me that some people, who in many re-
spects were not as agreeable rs others,
were so much easier and pleasanter TO
entertain. It has only lately dawned
upon me that there is a talent in being
entertained just as in entertaining.
II one and all of us could cultivate this
gift we would have more and heartier
invitations. In watching one Of the most
successful Of visitors | learned these
simple rules.
l. Be always ready for everything
II you must fail in any one particular,
never let it be breakfast. When you are
late for this meal you keep back the
whole households plans for tho day.
2. Always look interested. and. If
possible. say often how agreeable you
think things. II is much easier to work
for friends pleasure If one thinks she
really is getting it and approaching the
trouble taken. Remember that often
what Is great delight to you is excess
lively stupid and tircsome to your host
ess. The SNOWY building that to you is
new and beautiful has been seen by her
many times and has lost its charm. II
you seem pleased, then she feels paid
for her trouble; but If you look as If it
was an honor for you to even glance mt
anything, then she is Disguised and dis
appointed. and goes out with much less
zest the following day to show you the
next "lion" on her list. Girls have q
great way of laughing at "the beaux."
When we stay with people we naturally
chime in with their ridicule. Never do
this. We can abuse our own friends
like pickpockets. but let anybody else
suggest that they are not perfection.
then we are up in arms.
8. II any plan is proposed always try
70 find out what the hostess thinks be-
fore you enter into it. If in any way
she seems to demur, then let it drop inn
mediately, however much you may
want it. She has some reason for her
decision which she may not care to give.
The etiquette, for instance. Of different
places is SO different that what in one
town may be very harmless, in another
may not be so well. Be always assured
that she desires you to do what you
want. She on her side is as anxious to
be considered to entertain well as you
can be to be well entertained. Socially
we all want to be as near the top Of
the ladder, in every department, as pos
sible.
If you follow these few suggestions il
will go far toward making you a charm
ing guest-a delight to everybody you
visit. Home Journal.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-01-26
Couldn't See the Analogy.

To the class In metaphysics at the
university the professor was trying the
other day to impress upon student the
theory that tho mind is always active.
even while the senses sleep. In this
connection illustrations were drawn from
certain powers possessed by the lower
animals, together with tho inference
that man, possessed of higher intelli-
gence than brutes, must be able to do
more than they.
"A turkey in tree" said the profess
sor, presently, twill sleep all night long
on twig not much larger around than
this lead.pencil in my hand. How would
such an act be possible if the intelligence
or will was not consciously active in
order to make allowance for the sway.
ing caused by the wind enabling the
turkey to strike APPOINT Of equilibrium
But, professor" put in the matter-of.
fact student, II don't think it correct to
infer that man could sleep all night
on such twig without falling OFF,"
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-01-26
True to her Trust.

Too much cannot he said OF the ever
faithful wife and mother, constantly
watching and caring for her dear ones,
never neglecting a single duty in their
behalf. When they are assailed by
disease. and the system should have n
thorough cleaning, the stomach ami
bowels regulated, biaod purified, and
malarial poison exterminated, she must
know that Electric Bitters are the only
sure remedy. They are the best and
purest medicine in the world and only
cost fifty cents, Sold by John A. Sam
bora,
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-01-26

,tIDIi

JON $50. .anII,.
The rustic arbors perched up on the
steep sides Of the canons are striking
feature Of the landscape.
The part used for sleeping is made of
limbs and brush matted into the form
Of shelter tent. In front is an awning
Of withcred boughs laid upon stout
stakes. on which are hung Johns heavy.
thick soled walking shoes, his broad.
basket-brimmed hat and waterproof
cape made of rushes or corn husks.
The cape Is q curiosity, and looks like
o matched roof. It 10 perfectly water
proof and affords free circulation of
mir, and though it appears so clumsy, it
Is really more comfortable 10 wear than
the common rubber coat.
At the end of the awning is generally
to be seen fireplace carefully laid with
stones. brought from the bed of streams,
as there are few or no stones on the hill
sides.
The principal cooking utensils are
made OF tomato and kerosene cans
One of the latter serves rs a water cis-
tern. into which falls tiny stream
which these patient toilers try to divert
from its channel and lead to their camp.
A Chinaman will never rest until he has
managed to bring stream Of running
water from the canon TO his resting
place.
However unpleasant some OF their
habits and practices may be, the Chinese
are uniformly clearly about their per-
sons. Frequent bathing is not a char
acteristic of the white laboring popula-
ton, and n years observation of the
Chinese in the mines afforded the writer
more examples Of personal cleanliness
than he had seen in twenty-five years
of experience among common white
labOrers.
They are rarely molested in these
camps, except by the tax-gatherers, who
collects the tax of six dollars which each
male inhabitant of the state is presumed
to pay, and which the Chinaman is
forced to pay. AS two dollars of this
tax is highway tax, and two dollars
more a school tax, from either of which
he derives no benefit, it seems n hard
ship TO exact it, more particularly when
we consider that the white man can vote
whether he pays his tax or not, while
buC NptSs vi
himself TO become voter.
CHINESE CHARACTERISTICS.
The Chinese readily learn the use of
mining tools and appliances, and the
pumps which they rig up with piece
of sail-cloth, few blocks, trough and
a wheel, have become the favorite de-
vice of all river miners where economy
has to he considered.
How much of good fortune rewards
the labors of these companies cannot be
ascertained, as they are very crafty in
concealing and selling their gold; but
they work diligently and very thor
oughly.
Sometimes in riding along the bed of
stream in deep, precipitous canon,
a place will be seen where the surface
of ledge. or big rocks" has been
laid bare and clearly swept for the space
of a quarter Of an acre..
Upon close inspection twill be seen
that every little crevice and hole has
been carefully dug ont and scraped with
q knife. This is called ''crevicing." and
the dirt SO extracted Is collected in u
pan and washed, often giving surprising
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-01-26

The other day the czar was discovered
standing In one corner Of his palace
lodging big rubber footballs which his
attendants were throwing at him. lii,
supposed that be was praeticing for hi,
coronation.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-01-26
De Weak Side of Great Men.

Hon. Skyfustus Goggins, Of Athens,
Ga. thus addressed the Lime Kiln Club
on the above subject: :.
My friends. dis am one of de great
est occashuns of my life. [Cheers. /
has come 243 miles outer my way to
pear befo' dis club. ISighs. OWN
TO my sore froat, shall not detain you
long. Applause.l In speakin' Of de
weak side of great men shall first re-
fer to Nero. the great philosopher of
Greece. / reckon none of You knOwed
him. His orashuns thrilled the public
heart; his philosophy guided dc world;
his wisdom governed dc State; his de-
cisions made him hero. An yit dis
great man befo' whom thousands
bowed in admirashun. licked his plate
at de table. crossed his legs in de street.
kyar an nebber had his toe nails cut in
his life. [Agitation.1
Oar was Damon and Pythias. Dey
was in partnership in de grocery biz
ness. Dey gin sixteen ounces fur a
pound. made good dc bad eggs, took
back de frowy butter, an forgot to wet
down DER Goldfish and sugar. Zap
plause.l Sich honesty won de .respeck
an admirashun of all Rome, an if Da-
mon wanted boss to take his gal out
on Sunday. or Pythias presented HIM
self at de doah of I circus, dar' was
muffin tall to pay. wild cheers.] DE
publick emagined dat dc two great
men war perfexun itself. but de pub
lick was deceived. Damon wore socks
wild holes in 'em to spite his wife. an
p"'h'ss could play poker all night an
cry game. Terrific yells.
come higher home" continued
aker as his voice grew husky,
take de lives of Washington.
r. Henry, Calhoun an Jackson.
lex saw only de hero; yit WASH
snored. Webster was mad be-
couldn't play de fiddle, Patrick
eber returned pocket-knife.
would cheat in a boss trade,
raj Jackson would walk out in
itchen an boss de hired gal.
81 All great men have weak
one it may be fondness fur
% watch-chains to once; in an
lay be desire to beat de street.
or fare; in third you may dis
,.a. he doan' pay his milk-bill.
My advice to you am to be great to a
sartin extent. If you kin comman' ad-
mirashun an keep from de vanity of
ha'r-dys at de same time 60 in for ad-
mirashun. If you kin be known in
publick as great statesman an in pri-
vate rs a man who returns borrowed
money, be a statesman. If you can't
be great an honest ut de same time you
had better be unknown to fame an take
yer chances OBJ gittin' away wild de
chickens"
As the orator stepped down the hall
resounded with the most enthusiastic
applause, and for five minutes the gro
Ger down stairs was in wild terror for
fear the whole business was coming
down upon his stock in trade. After
order had been restored and the Hon.
Skyfustus had been taken out and wet
rag tied around his marble brow, the
rules were suspended and he was made
an honorary member. with the privilege
Of IN. ID. +. Pho dues to pay.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-01-26
THE CHINESE IN THE MINES.

The number of Chinese miners i'm Cal
ifornla Is uncertain and constantly
changing, but it is variously estimated
to be between six thousand and eight
thousand.
As rule no Chinaman is allowed to
work in the underground quartz mines.
nor in the drift or deep-placer mines.
One reason Of this is the opposition of
the white Miners Union. Another
reason, and more valid one, is that en-
perience has shown that the Cinnamon
are deficient in judgment, constructive
skill and in presence of mind. without
which man underground is liable at
any moment TO imperil his own life and
the lives of his comrades.
The Chinese, however, are often en-
ployed above ground to handle ores. cut
and prepare fuel. or in doing other Ia
Dor which is considered drudgery by
white men.
In the large hydraulic mines they are
employed i'll running the powder-drifts
which are used to break up and shatter
the lofty banks of hard gravel that can
not by other means bo sufficiently loOs-
ened to yield TO even the powerful
streams OF water that are directed
against them. This kind of drifting is
not dangerous, and the Chinese become
quite expert ut it, cqualing the best
miners and making fair wages.
STARTING FOR THE MINES
But the Chinese find their greatest
profits in working independently in the
placer mines, which have been aban-
doned by white men. Their activity
begins with the wet SEASON between the
middle of November and the early part
of December. With the first rains they
start from San Francisco. where the
most OF them have spent the summer in
idleness, for the mining districts.
Each party. rs it sets out, seems to
have an intelligent leader and definite
plan. The
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-01-26

pan. Inc.
nearest tn,
bors. and
hang their
ends of the
they bear
they wend
trail into t
cession.
One of I
be found ,
canon, or
rude tent,
they soon
u, Iu.iE'
OH TIE sui
iicrr.. heal
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-01-26

MONEY ~ LOAN.-At Lowest Rates Of
IVA Interest =. l.. OSBORN,
Real Estate and Loan Agent.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-01-26

~cc q week In your own town. Terms and IS
pVV outfit free. Address II. HaLLErT & Co..
Maine.