davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21
A Burglar Trap.

"A country store keeper in Connect
cut having been annoyed by robberies
of the contents of his cash drawer, late
ly contrived the following trap: He ar
ranged in the floor a trap door which
perfectly matched the boards of the
floor. In the day time the door was
securely fastened, but at night on leav-
ing the store catch was so fixed that
the moment the unsuspecting burglar
stepped on the door to operate on the
money drawer. the trap door opened
and dropped him into pit in the cellar
below. The sides of the pitwere smooth
and higher than mans head, SO that
once dropped the burglar could not es-
cape. The trap closed automatically by
a spring, ready for second burglar. A
practical trial of the trap proved sue
cessful. for one morning the store keep
er found evidence of an entrance to his
store in the night and on looking into
the pit discovered the imprisoned burg
lar. He coolly went about his business
and in due course had the burglar ar
rested.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21

England's weaithicst baronct is said to
be Sir John Ramsden, of Byram. York
shire His rent-rolls is computed at $3.50.
600 year He owns almost the whole
of Huddersield, the great manufacturing
center. The little bit he doesn't own was
a very Naboth's vineyard to bis father,
who. according TO popular tradition, once
offered to its Quaker owner to cover ii
with sovereigns if he would sell it. Edge
wise. friend Ramsden?' quoth the
Quaker: lin that case il is thine; other
wise all Huddersfield must still belong
to thee and me-" "Edgewise" was rathe r
more than the Baronet could swallow.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21

About this season OF the year man J
people are asking what 1t is that de-
termines the date of Easter. The answer
is that it is the moon of March. which
Tennyson calls 1.-THE roaring moon of
daffodils' The old rule is that Easter
shall fall on the Sunday after the full
moon which comes after the vernal
equinox. That brings Easter this year on
the 25th of March In 1918 it fell on the
22d of March-the earliest date possible.
1t viii not fall on that date again in this
or the following
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21
bur ,etta,. tls.lt1rl i b 81.

:
People who Ike IN glass houses should
pull down the blinds.
Nothing is impossible. David Davis
buttons his own suspenders. fore and
aft
Elizabeth Cady Stanton is very fond
of billiards, but doesn't say whether
she likes them best raw or in a box
stew.
The recent state treasurer, Vincent
of Alabama, was a good poker player.
He didn't seem to stay in very well,
though.
Darwin says there were no hornets
until the world was 500, 900 years old.
By Jove, then, what did Methusaleh
have to make his jokes onP
And yet Mr.. Beecher says he does
not believe man is descended from the
monkey, How. then, Mr.. Beecher, do
You account for Freddie Gebhardtp''
Olive Logan says photographers have
no love for the beautiful. Come, come,
Olive, they have, but bless you, grille,
thisty years ago is long time, remem-
Der
Medical men think that the alarming
increase of delirium tremens among
children of nine years old and under is
probably due to the continued importa-
IlOn OF Japanese COILS.
Sings an impassioned German poet:
''The night hath thousand eyes,
And the day but one"
True. But the day has the biggest
head, as usual thing.
Virgins is most awfully cut up be-
cause the Ohio flood got along before
he had time to prophesy it. This is too
bad. If Virgins had prophesied it the
storm never would have happened.
1t was mighty mean thing in Ben
Butler to go to the state penitentiary
assemble the helpless prisoners in a
large room, then and there make a
speech to them. We thought all these
inhuman punishments had been abol-
ished in the prisons.
WHO was it," writes Eleanor, '.who
wrote with all thy faults / love thee
still?' Don't know who wrote, it,
Eleanor, but it must have been about a
woman. Sweet line, that, with all thy
false eye love thee still. Hasokeye.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21

United States Commodore Whiting of
milwaukee,, claims to be direct descend
ant from Gov. William Bradford. of the
Mayfi"wer. and as such will claim share
in the fortune of 100000, 900 deposited
IN the bank of England and due the heirs
OF Gov Bradford. The Commodore Is A
very old citizen, whose grandfather was
eo2ferer of George Washington. He
has put in claim for some of the wealth,
and thinks he will undoubtedly receive il.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21

q had very pleasant time, David
Davis is reported to have said on his
returnfrom Saratoga Springs last summer
II enjoyed myself immensely. While
there made the acquaintance of several
.chaming ladies' One in particular, q
young lady from the South, was. exceed
ingly agreeable, and if were a marrying
man don't know, ha. ha. what might
do. She used to slap me playfully on
the cheek and kiss me in way that made
me quite forget my years and feel young
again There is something wonderfully
attractive in these Southern girls
won derfully attractive
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21
A N,gr1 Camn NJ ~. :.


Aunt Thisbc, one of the deyout wor-
shippers, told his all about the proceed
ings: 1--WE done hold pray'r meeting
from till II, and den us had silent
pray'r."
Twas not very silent, interrupted
Aunt Thisbe's nephew, who worries
along through life under the name OF
Sumpter Ahednego Paris White.
You close up, you little nigga, y
Aunt Thisbe continued; s'it was still fer
bout five seek ms, an den Aunt Hapsey
she glory d. an dat set fen all wild
shoutin', and de fust thing we done
smell de coffee bilin' ovah 2
''CoffeePo I queried.
ssYe'h. You knows after midnight
we hab preachin till 2. den 'speriences
till TO-, den we hab de big eatin' an de
coffee was a-bilin' fer dat in de fire.
place we had builded.n
''What did we hab to eatP" she con-
tinued. .'Eberyting under de can'py;
pig, chicken, hogs-head, cheese fried in
butter, hominy pie, and 'tatoe-pone and
eberyting. ] tell We twas q regular pic
mic. I sot de ministers oyah by my
bringin's. Ye see we allus eats TO
morning cause it's powerful wearin' to
pray an wrassel all night on to an
empty slhlih1iIs al W Soo hccp w
eye peeled onto de no-'count niggah
boys wat comes round an steals all de
vittles while de Christians am a-tossin'
bout in de myst' ries o. prayer an 'sper-
fence. Sometimes de people gets relig-
ion so hard dat dey jest want t. smash
tings. wus converted good many
yeah's go, an you nebber saw de like
oh de power. / wrassel'd so / scare
some o. de people inter conuulses. -
Philadelphia Press.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21
salmi Morse is uudismaved. He a.

Salmi Morse is undismayed. He asked
the mayor of New York city for license
to enable him to present the Passion
Play" The mayor asserted his discre-
tionary power in the matter, and refused
to grant the license Then Morse applied
tosthe judge of the superior court for q
writ of nvandamus to compel the mayor
to issue the license asked for. The judge
denied the application. And still the au-
thor of the Passion Play" and the
builder of'the theater TO play it in, is san
guine andhopeful of success. His lawyers
tell him that the judges reasons for the
denial of the mandamus are not good law,
and that the reverse has been established
by the courts; also that the mayor can be
compelled to grant him license in the
face of his discretionary power. So the
interchangeable Morse declareshis intention
of appealing to the. highest court for a
reversal of the superior courts decision.
and in the meantime has applied for an
to restrain the police from
interfering with the full dress rehearsals
of the passion Play"
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21

The New York Suns Wall street gossip
says: "a man who could just now figure
out and publish the exact amount OF
money loaned by banks and individuals
for the support of Wall street speculation
ought 20 be considered public benefac-
tor. Mr.. w. X. Vanderbilt alone 10 re
ported as borrowing some $40, 100000
from day to day to carry his load. This
is independent of the other members of
the 'never-speculating family.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21

before his associates. flnds his associates
lat least some of them wholly neglect
fol of the business of thai committed. =
The Boston Aldermen's junketing bills
last year amounted to over $50. coo. which
is more than their pay would have been at
reasonable per diem. An unsalaried Bos-
ton alderman, who gives his services free
to the city, is an expensive person, there
fore. after all 1t would be cheaper to
pay him for his work and force him to
find his own dinners and carriages.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21
A PROMINENT RrvoIurrorrsr DEAD

INDIANAPOLIS. Ind, March 90. Charles
soeliner. Sf., Il prominent citizen of this
city. died this morning, aged. 50. Soehner
Grand Duchy Of Baden, the highest cleo
tive oifice'in the Duohy. He became
prominently identified with the revolution
of fS49, but on the overthrow of the revo-
iutionary government his property was
confiscated, and with Carl Schurz, Gen.
Heckcr and other prominent regulation
lists he came to America and settled IN
Indianapolis. His body will be taken to
Washington. Pa, for cremation In Le-
Moyne's furnace, according to his wishes
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21

Silicate of soda mixed with whiting.
and tinted with ordinary dry colors,
will give paint that is iire-rcsisting; it
is also cheap. If used for woodwork.
give it two or three coats of the silicate
of soda as preparation, and for the
last coat mix with whiting to get a
body, and color to any desired tint OF
shade. In general practice the paint
should be of the same consistency as
ordinary paint, and is applied in exact
" the same manner, Tungstate of soda
is rather better than the silicatc, but
is more expensive. - on and Paiast
Re7UeH,
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21
Richard Powell's Twenty Sons.


1t was at Baklev's Run that old Rich
ard Powell and his family. famous for
its numbers, lived over century ago
During his life, Powell took great pleas
ure in Boosting of his large family. 1t
was his habit to remark: Il have TWEEN
ty sons and each one has sister -
Those to whom he used to relate this
naturally asked: What Forty child
ren? Can it be pOssible?' Then9the old
man would langhingly explain that he
had twenty sons and one daughter, so
each boy therefore had sister
Eighteen of the sons were in the war
of the Revolution, and were noted for
their bravery and good fighting quail
ties. Many were wounded at various
times, and three of them, as far as now
known by the descendants, were killed.
Previous to the war the sons resided
with their parents on large farm at
Bakley's Run, and aided in working the
farm under the direction of their father
They are described as having been large,
wei developed and strong men, and
their appearancein the field was a sight
wellw0rth seeing. The daughter wan
dered off into the woods one day when
only years old. She lost her way and
for three days and nights nothing was
seen of her. The brothers and their
friends industriously searched for the
child, and when she was discovered she
had lost her reason. She remained an
imbecile all her life. In time the sons
married Some remained at the old
homestead, while others took up resi-
sdences in other parts of the State. Their
descendants are now scattered all over
New Jersey in large numbers. Bsita-
delpbin Record
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21

President Arthur has received letter
from Berlin. Germany, inclosing con
tribution of 1000 marks from a number
of prominent bankers of that city for the
flood sufferers of this country. The let
ter was referred to the state department
Tor sproper acknowledgment, and the
money turned over to the representative
at Washington of the order of the Red
Cross for distribution.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21

den sherman has invited Chief Justice
Waite and Associate Justice GRAY. of The
supreme court, to accompany him on his
annual tour of inspection to the Pacific
coast this summer, and it is understood
that they have accepted. Co.'s. TourteI
lotto ana Bacon, of Gen. Sherman's staff.
VAL also be of the party As this will he
Sherman's last trip of this Character he
will visit good many points, and make
1t as interesting as possible TO himself and
friends.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21

Cetywayo is again In hrs own country
as king, but he certainly was chucked on
to that solid shore in manner hardly in
consonance with the dignity of king.
A grieved Anglo-Zulu trader describes the
affair. Look here said he. eff we
bEoaght back Getty @ayo and made him
king again, we were bound to treat him
decently and properly-isA't that so?
Well. what do we go and do7 We moor
a surf boat with her stern to the shore
and we scramble the king on board just
anyhow. with his indunas [eaptainsl and
those girls of his. and then he's got to
jump cut six feet or more and be caught
by the soldiers and handed ashore like a
bag of biscuit. That's dfgnified kind Of
a way for a king to land in his own
country, ain't it? Well, then they hand
the presents aud baggage ashore, and let
half of 'em fall into the water and get
spoiled and they hand the girls ashore.
and every time they slip and begin to
scream the soldiers all burst out roaring
and laughing What do you think of that
as sample of English good taste, eh?
It'll please the Zulus. won't it?"
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21

The Yellowstone park Is located in the
northwest corner OF Wyoming territory.
Its present limits are parallels of latitude
A and As degrees north and meEidians of
longitude 80 and 81 degrees west of
Washington. 1t contains about $500
square miles of the grandest and most
beautiful scenery on this continent 1t is
the home of all the finest game of the
Rocky Sfountains, and as yet tie pot
hunter has not made serious inroads up
on the animals. 1t abonnds in hot and
cold springs, streams mountains from
900 to 10000 feet high
canons. waterfalls, geysers and more
natural curiosities than can he found in O
similar tract anywhere on the globe. II
is in reality wonderland that no pen has
or can describe. On this account it was
set apart by thesgovernment in 1912 as a
park and resort for Che people, and will
remain so to delight all who are able
to visit it aud enjoy its marvellous scenery,
unless these designing money kings in the
end get away with all of it. They have
already acquired rights wirich may
gradually be enlarged
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21

Pools and -rivuleis of tobacco Juice
were found dcfiIing the rooms of an Os-
wego On. " young ladies' seminary
Intellectual efforts to solve the mystery
were made by the family. who suspected
one male biped after another Chance at
length lei to the discovery that the guilty
person was a young lady STUDENT OF re-
fined and gentle manners and appearance.
and she was summarilv expelled.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21
THE SUPREME COURT.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, March 2O.--The
supreme court met this morning. Opin-
ions in several unimportant cases were
filed. Hon. G. q. Wright. of the anti
amendments case, gave notice that writ
ten arguments were being prepared for
the amendment rehearing cases at the Dcs
Moines term. No decision on the motion
has yet been rendered.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21
DETROIT FREE PRESS HUMOR.
IT ENDS THAT WAY.

Thirty dollars -fifteen dollars for 3
spring bonnet" gurgled Jones as he
looked from the bin TO his wife. Mrs.
Jones, it's an outrage gross imposi-
ton"
Yes, but that's the price"
I'D better have married a milliner
instead of a society lady"
Yes. that's what all my friends seem
to Think she demurely replied.
He got red in the face and growled
and kicked the foot stool across the
room. but by and by looked up and said;
And by the way, darling, you'd bet
ter get one of those $40 hats, which be-
come you SO, too. | want you to look
pretty, no matter what the cost.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21

Churches finding difficulty in select
ing minister can perhaps get hint
ffom theway which the congregation of
a Mennonite church at Weaveryille, Pa,
selected wnen their pulpit was to be filled
TT names of the candidates were an
noun led. and rs many books as there
were candidates were placed in a row.
Oae of these books, contained slip of
paper, and the candidate who drew it
was the selected preacher.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21

a gentleman in India. pulling on his
boots. felt q horrid object. like d cent?
pede, in one of them. With great pres
ence of mind, instead of withdrawing
his foot. he forced it violently down and
stamped furiously, though enduring ex-
qnlsite agony in the process. But it
was not q centipedr. only small black
ing brush left there by a careless serv-
gnt
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21

Dubuque Telegraph: The cost of sa-
loon licenses is being raised in nearly all
the towns of the state. Creston charges
dealers 81 600, Jefferson 500, Storm
Lake $500. Davenport $500, Council
Bluffs 300, Keokuk $500, and Carroll Is
discussing whether it shall fix the rate at
$500 or $500.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21

A Washington paper publishes a story
to the effect that Lieutenant-General
Sheridan, when boy. applied to Judge
Stewards printing Office in Somerset o.,
to be printers devil. giving his name rs
Mickey Sheridan.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21

Judgment for $7S,239, including inter
est and costs, was entered yesterday in
New York, in favor of Mary Alice Al
mont Livingstone against Henry Fleming,
for breach of "a marriage promise. The
parties are well known In fashionable So
ciety circles in Gotham
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21

Oscar Wilde has got new wrinkle.
He now makes his appearance in Lon
don drawing rooms in nm open-work-em-
9broiGered shirt. showing black silk lining.
II large yellow silk handkerchief thrust in
the breast of the coat, and high shock
of the past ages
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21

A western paper says Robson will
present melancholy sight as he walks
alone on the Jersey coast watching Tor
fragments Of the ship OF state, which he
is certain will 90 to wreck now that he
has been discharged from the crew.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21

Z Ia is said that the only con u tug
United States that strictly conforms 70
the law is the $50 gold piece o'nei
coins lack something prescribed or bear
something Unauthorized by law.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21
The Ohio editor is terror. A Colum. |

The Ohio editor is a terror. A Colum-
Sunday paper there to get misstatement
corrected the other day. was carried away
on stTetcher and revived only to be ar
rested on "A charge of assault with intent
To kill, for it seems that in the course of
the proceedings he flourished ii pistol
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21

The Syracuse Journal says that over two
tons of hair pins are made daily IN thls
country. Who is the slanderer that says
women do nothingg II is no little JOB 10
get away daily with two tons OF mar
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21
''Can you sharpen my WitsP
SHE DIDH'T GIVE.

Madam. he began as he lifted his
hat at the front door, Il am soliciting
for home charities. We have hundreds
of poor, ragged and vicious children
like those at your. gate, and our object
IS
Sir! those are my own childreni"
she interrupted, and the way that front
door slammed his toes Jared every hair
on his sc:llp-lock
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21

In a fit If morality. just before al
iourning. the Kansas legislature passed
bill to prevent corners, options ana ga'no
ling. and declaring absolutely void all
cabling contracts.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21

The Philadelphia Times starts our ny
saving something about the reshrrec.ioh
of the dead. Further along IN the af'icie
the name of Rutherford B. Hayes occurs
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21

wednesday March 81, 1888.

- is Cents per Week
DAi1I :: : i. 4, 50 per year, not IN
advance s. 90 win be chars0U'
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21
HE. DREW

''Hew's trader he asked of dealer
on Michigan avenue.
''Rather dull just now!' was the re-
ply.
''Do you want ssmething for a draw
during dull timesp'
Il might go into it. y
Give me fifty cents and I'll give you
the greatest draw on the books"
''Tll go twenty-five.
The money was handed over, and the
grocer was presented with q ten-cent
corkscreW
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21
HE TOOK souE.

do you keep coffee here?'' he asked
as he entered a Woodward avenue
grocery.
Yes sir"
do you roast it yourself?"
1--WE do"
lis the adulterating all done ON your
premises?"
''It is. We have clean. airy adulter-
alton room, free from ash-heaps, old
hats, broken bottles and oyster cans,
and tho man who mixes in the beans,
peas, ground cocoanut shell and parch-
ed corn, uses nothing but the best hair
oil and toilet soap How much will you
have?''
1.-TWO pounds, was the bland reply,
and he walked off apparently well
pleased
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21
DOUBTFUL

A scissors grinder was ringing his bell
'sto grind, on Brush street, when q
young man called to him and asked:
Say, can. you sharpen everySthingP''
Yes, eafery tings-'
'sCan you sharpen my witsP'
Your vitsp Well, / guess you hat
to go und get new handle und back
spring put in firstl / must haf some
tings to hang on pyi''
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21

A DN ERTISERS by addressing GEO. p. ROW
= ELI dSCO.. 10 Sprnee St, New York can IL arm
the exact cost of any proposed line of ADVFp-
Using in American Newspapers ssE-l0o
page Pamphlet 25 cents. NH -20-dw4w
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21

x,D ILLINOIS.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21
CON IBMp TTON.

have positive remedy for the above disease, ly ia
ass thousands Of cases of the kind Of Irn.
stadlng have been cured Indeed strong u nav faith
an rs efficacy, that win send TWO BOTTLES FREE
Together with VALUABLE TIRE aTISE an this q soar,
10 any suil.-fer. Tive Express and r. o.
DR.. r. A. SLOtUai. Pearl 81 New York
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21
New Advertise men. s

O. A Leading London
M M WM W Physician establishes
W u an Offfce I'm New York
Ter the cure Of
- - EzzE ~ From Am. journal OF afodieins
pr. Ao Meserole date of London), who makes a spe-
e1aity0 Epilepsy, has without doubt treated and crc
more cases than other living physician Ills sue
cess mas simply been astonishing; have heard Of
cases Of oyer 20 years standing successfully BY
him. He has published work this disease. which
be sends with large bottle wonderful csIrs fe
20 any sufferer who may send their express and r. q
Address. va advise wishing 10 ali,lrass
Or. ABB MESEROLE No o6 John ST Eexe Va IS
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-21
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
WILKINSON, KEEw0RTHY BEARDs1 Ell
E.l2S

Have formed co-partnership for the pcneralnyac-
ttce Of the law. Office in Fries Block No, 1eqr
Second Avenue, Rock Island, III.
l. div