davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-03-03
For ns< Arkaxsrw TrsveLfr,1 AN EPISODE IN cHOCTAw
BY JAMES HAsLEY.

The Doctor had just returned from the N2tion. He had lived a long time among the Choctaws, twas familiar with many of their traditions, and knew their customs and habits thoroughly. In fact. he had become so lmbued with their Ideas, had so identihed himself with their interests that he was in heart and sym pathy true Choctaw, and, above all. very fond of relating his experiences siin them. All that evening he had been telling me incident after incident, con- eefnlns hls aeaualniances there, and his lie among them. One little story above all others impressed itself upon me The Doctor ntencea II to show the great re- gard some of them possess for their gwen word, thesT honor He assured me Of the stiiet truth of the tale and of his ability 10 prove all the ia Is Tn the care shall relate II and leave II with the reader to decide whether Dsrand was actuated by motives of honor or by mere feelings of bravado.
 In. SC of us who have mingled with various Indian tribes may entertain no oserdrawn feelings of sentimen, concern ing them. but let us give them ample d gard for honor or friendship.
 Durand (as l will call him1. with six others, had been arrested for horse steal ing from members of their own tribe. They had been arrested by the authori- ties of the Nation and were being con- ducted 10 their place of trial. During the journey one after another, knowing the fate awaiting them. attempted to es- cape and was shot down, until of the original seven. Durand alone remained. He made no effort for liberty, but stolidly accompanied the guards into the pres enee of the council. The evidence of his guilt was conclusive. He made no de nal oi the charges preferred against him. There remained. therefore. no other course but 10 pass sentence upon him. which was that forty-one days thereafter he should be shot until dead. There be- ing no place of imprisonment, he was re- leased upon his own promise to appear at the place of execution on the specified day and surresder himself to the author i,ies. On that day the tribe had assem- bled and had waited long for the coming ef Durand. They were about 10 adjourn, believing him to have broken faith with them. But no :the sound of rapidly ap- preaching hoofs was heard and Durand. upon his llttle foam-streaked pony. rode galloplns into the midst of his execution CTS. He sprang from his saddle: he hung his hat oi. the pommel, and, step- ping quickly forward, said Here am ]. There may have been hearts that thrilled with admiration at his brave con- duct. hearts that aohed with pity for him, that longed 10 see restored to him the liberty he had so honorably surrendered. If so ali was in vain. They bound him hand and foot. The rifle detail took their positions. At the command. " Fire .- they obeyed, and Durand. the noble In- dian, or Durand. the bravado (have i, as you viii l was beyond all need of pity, beyond all reach of respite or pardon.
The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-03-03
WHY HE QUIT SCHOOL.

Some time ago man from away out in the country-a man of the class un- known 10 civilization until jumped up by the shriek of the locomotive. whose advent. of course, is opposed-came to the city. lie soon realized and keenly felt that his early education had been somewhat summed. and, to recover as far IS possible the lost inheritance of trained in,c lectuallty, he began the life of stu den, at a night school. The other day he met an acquaintance and said:
 live quit that blamed establishment. don't reckon thar is much chance of my bein' governor of the state. no how. an low to bsuise along with what ed dycation can pick up on the outside. My father can't read but he can shoulder three hundred-pound hog Jes' as easy as though he could cipher like justice of the peace"
 But why did you qui, the school: :'
 Wall, Hi tell you how it was. The other night the teacher pG, me in the 'rithmetie class. didn't mind that. for l wanted to learn how 10 6gger. Well, after while he wanted to know how long ii would take hound. jumpin' 50 many
The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-03-03
About Clocks.
The Eve.1

What should we do without our time pieces! Yet the world wagged on 10. centuries and knew not the luxusies of 4 watch or clock. It was not till the mid dle of the fourteenth century that clocks were invented. Or rather, the oldest clock m existence bears that date. The first time measurer was probably a poS set in the ground. The sun dial was an improvement on this. The Egyptians had an instrument called a Clepsydra. which was merely vessel full of water with>a small hole in the bottom by which the liquid escaped. Two hundred years before Christ an Egyptian made an inn prevement on this. by causing the escap- ing water 10 turn wheels which raised q rod, marked so as to point to the hour.
 Then sand was used instead of water. The hour glass was time measurer foS many countries of Europe. In I6sS Hug gen. the famous Dutch philosopher, first applied the pendulum to the clock, and thus led directly to those subtle improve ments which render our present clocks the most perfect of human contrivancc..
The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-03-03

HE Honorable James 4. Mckenk,e. ef Kentucky. recently made powerful speech in favor of free quinlnc. The speech IS attractively printed in pamphle, form, with quotation from Goldsmith on the outside. People who regard Gold smith as a wayward child of nature with oat bitterness in his composition may wonder why anything from him would be applicable in case of quinine. bu, if any questions arise from supposed misappro- priation of sentiment. they should be ad- dressed to the author of the speech. When man talks about free quini, C people who live in the swamps lend him their ears. Free quinine Is something that strikes the sounding board of the colored gcntleman's soul. The speech, however. does not go quite far enough to meet all the requirements of the shakers" If Mir. Mckenzie were to in- auence the government to add whisky. so that we could have free whisky and free quinine issued, his name would be engraved on the grateful hearts of every voter between Fort Smith and Arkansaw City.
The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-03-03

CHASfRAu has realized quite large fortune from Kit, the Arsansa@ TraSsfs CT" The play Is full of dialect never heard Tn Arkansaw. only when Mir. Chan frau sPe .ks. an upon the whole it is fair piece 0: backwoods congregation. The Arkansaw man may speak Of killing a bar but he never says stronger for stranger" The stronger appropria- ton Is hroush, from distance. far fetched. so to speak
The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-03-03
AN ARTISTIC PERFORMANCE

The most amusing theatrical perform anee ever given in AFkaasa~ @as the rem d.;;oa 0. Romeo and Juliet on the un- preteniious stage of a village theatre. The troop of .s,rollers' had not brought along the necessary wardrobe and gem
 eral fixtures for the presentation of the play, but the mayor of the town. the con- stable, the justice of the peace, under taker and other influential citizens de- clared that they must have Romeo. This IS play where moon Is necessaryto a proper understanding of swear not by the well known luminary. The manager of the troupe, an inventive gentleman, at last decided to overcome the difficulty by
 making a moon. He took broad
 wooden hoop, and boring hole for a
 candle, stretched piece of muslin over the hoop, tacklng il securely after the
 candle had been lighted. The duties of handling the moon were assigned to a
 boy. When the balcony scene vas rep resented, the moon, worked by string. came up with a jerk. Calculations for all of the astronomical troubles likely to arise had not been made. Sometimes
 the moon would twist the string. turn around and exhibit IS edge. Then Ii would swing in manner altogether un- becoming. The boy. intensely inter ested in the performance. forgot the re- responsibilities of his position and turned loose the string. The moon feii and the muslin took fire. The fire was iinally es- tinsuished. bu; such damage had been done that the moon Ms unit for duty. \ gust of wind blew oat the light and he manager, thinking that tine boy had will fully ex,insuished the moon. grasped him and attempted to strike the stage with him. The boys father, who sd, on a half bushel measure, just back of the man who represented the orchestra. though, that his soE was taking part ln the play, and applauded Justify. That ain, par, of the play. some one re- marked as the manager slammed the boy agains, the wall. Hold on there,
 shouted the father. If Moses said whale tha, boy you may whale him, but if he
 didn't. blamed If you shall What $ Moses got to do with it?" growled the manager. Why, Moses wrl the play. didn't he:' No he didn't" Are you sure:" ''l ought to know" replied the
 manager, as ke turned again to the boy. linen we'll associate" exclaimed the father. rushing forward and seizing the manager, who, struggling. confessed that Moses wrote the play and that the boy act was in representation of the bulrush scene. The father. perfectly satisfied. re- leased his hold on the manager and re- ,umed his seat. No further attempt tA represent the moon was made.
The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-03-03

The cigarette has obtained a popular fly among the schoolboys of Philadelphia tha, has alarmed the authorizes. and va nous plans for reform have been pro posed. 4 principal of grammar school estimated that 5 per sent. of the male pupils under his charge are smokers, against less than half that number before cigarettes came into common use The only measure thus far adopted IS of a persuasive nature. \ circular setting forth the hurtfulness of tobacco, and es- pecially of bad cigarettes. has been placed in the hands of every boy. and pasted in- side the cover of each tex, book.-Er- change.
The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-03-03
MARKED IMPROVEMENT.

Il like your paper very much. said a man. catering an Arkansaw newspaper office, "and 1 want to renew my subsorip- ton. did think some time ago ,ha, l would discontinue my subscription. bn, your sheet has shown such marked im- provement lately that am desirous of pa,ronizing you"
 Marked improvement" repeated the editor as he took the money
 "Yes. a decided improvement,
 In what respcc,?'
 don't know, but il strikes me ;ha, the mprovement-
 My friend, let me correc, You. The isaPes is no; improving Fer a leng time gave eight eolamRs ef eig nal matter. but two weeks ago l lcu; down lhe amount to five columns"
 By George. sir. you have explained the improvement. knew the paper as better than i, used to be. but until you pointed out the improvement; l could net specify"
The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-03-03

delighted. One afternoon went to an old closet to see if could find a pair of over-shoes. Maud was in the kitchen, singing. Happy girl unused. When straightened up in the closet. something fell l stopped to investigate Horrors, the old woman. looked closer. She was doll whose mouth could be worked by spring. drew her out. Maud still sang in the kitchen.
 What is this: asked holding up the doll.
 "Maud faInted and fell.
 "When she recovered she made con- fession. She purchased the doll of a strolling ventriloquist and had learned te ventril' l did no, marry her"
The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-03-03
Home In the City.
Boston Commercial Bulletin, :,


 It IS pleasant at about p.m., when you have got well into the newspaper and your second cigar, and madam is quietly mapping on the sofa, to have the dor bell ring. and, after you have pitched the Havana into the cuspadore, turned up the gas, and maierfamilias has rushed oil to make herself presentable to callers. to have the seHan. bring up small bun de of dirty chromos. with an accom- panying note asking you to purchase, and saying the bearer will return soon for an answer.
The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-03-03
LEGISLATIVE soBRiErY.

The Arkansaw legislature went by spe- ciai train to Arkansaw City last Sunday. The excursion no doubt had the effect of liberalizing the views of the railroad en- emy, the gentleman who lives at the end of the red lane. When the train Jeff Lit tie Rock everybody seemed to be as so- Der as judge. to say nothing of the ma lor. Men who made ter perance speeches when the prohibition bill was under discussion vent to keep the anti prohibitlonists sober. and in the ardent execution ot this pratseworthy duty, they attempted to drink all the whisky 10 keep is from those who might be injured by Iis influence. When thc train arrivea al Arkansaw City. the general assembly w@s not charaernzed by that solemnity of appearance calculated 10 inspire feeling of awe. Many corks had made many loud reports iii popping from many but Les of extra dry The man, who few days ago. in the majesty of a mighty ef- fort, exclaimed, "Oh. let me lift my voice Tn favor of temperance" stood on the bank of the Mississippi, GU, drunken dido and kicked clods of dirt into the great stream. The man who in the house declared that no one but an enemy to woman could vote agains, the bill, stood on his head and plai,ed his legs in an at temp, to amuse his friends by grotesque performances. The man who lifted his senatorial stature and shook his fist at the demon when the prohibition bill came up for final consideration, tipped a black bottle and sang:
 Saw an old nigger a standing in the road, Hilo. halo, round up corn, old Able. And hIs stomach stuck out like the bosom Of
 toad
 Hilo. halo, put The old mule Tn the stable
 During the ride home, many amend merits to the constitution were made. and when the train arrived in Little Rock. many of the gentlemen were unable to recognize their most intimate acquaint- anoes. One quiet member who prided himself on being sober. approached d mule standing in front of drugstore. and remarking let me see you mo- mcnt. ST, led the animal away.
 " Now,,9sir, have proposition to ,,f l. l. the member continued. las, wait. col onel, until you hear what I've got to say You are my colleague m the house. We have been friends from the first of the session and now want you to vote for my bill
 The mule shook his head
 You won't, eh: All right. Don't you ask another favor of me. have always treated you politely, haven't 7"
 The mule shook his head again.
 '' You are liar" exclaimed the mem Der.
 The mule did no, reply.
 Haven, you always found me to be upright and honorable!''
 The mule shook his head.
 won, stand this" and the member slapped the mule. The animal arose in majesty. and bit a handful of hair..from the members head. The affair might have been serious but for the r,ention of the police.
The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-03-03

r..s ~:.,- c~.-~:i cs ch:c-~~. :-.
 lating the general issue of licenses. taxes secondhand dealers fifty dollars bu, bankers are only taxed five dollars. Why this distinction should be made is not known. unless it be that the members of the council are working for the gradual abolition ot secondhand stores. It is very annoying for man 10 learn ,ha, his rubbers and overcoa; have taken their places n the :" old curiosity shop.
The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-03-03

A>f NtlI edited paper, with orlg,nal litcsa Y ( sAnte trriStlcs, nast m time make l na uonai reputation. Especially ls thls true el the American humorous press. and m the tfont Tank stanis Read X Benham's AEkAN AM rRNAEttk-.Nfss Tors Nfiet
 This. from one of the leading papers in tue country a paper whose circulation is second to none in the United States. is d compliment which the ARkANSAw TRAN tirR highly appreciates.
The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-03-03

IlANuIN" is too good for you" said a judge ,o man upon whom he was about to pass the death sentence. " Do you really think 50, judge" asked the pris- oner. ''Yes. Hdo. sir" All righ, then, don't hang me"
The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-03-03

EFERt day ar two hitherto unpub- llshcd poem of Daniel Webster comes to ,de surface lt Is not likely, though. that Mir Webster ~lll make reputation as a poet. One reason IS that his poems are somewhat below the standard, and an- other is that he has been dead loo long 10 make very decided effort.
The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-03-03
Never Too Late

Kentucky State Journal
 When Johnny wen, in his house with the seat of his pants entirely gone, his mother took him by an arm. slapped him over the head, and said:
 Why didn't you come ;o me before these pants got So bad? Now can't mend them any more"
 Cos you told me once i, is neser 10 late to mend. that's why respe nd d Johnny while lodging.
The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-03-03

WHEN eapitalis. visits town, rides around with gay party and declares that he is going to invest money toward the development of the place. you may know that he has decided to invest else where. Capitalists as rule don't parade their real intentions.
The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-03-03

THE overflow outlook is not so fear inspiring as il vas fev days ago. and the chances arc that the eolored gentle men sili not receive meal and bacon from the government.
The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-03-03

JUDGE" exclaimed a lawyer. ''l ob- ect to this Juyman.' ''On wha, ,roands asked the judge. "On the grounds that he can read Then turn him out. Mir. Sheriff He aueh, ,o be sen, ;o Iail for his ptesump- ton.
The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-03-03

THE work that am compelled to perform" said dissatisfied minister during sermon, would kill a mule, and don't believe that can stand it.
The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-03-03

THt Chicago "Cheek" is now printed from new type and is one of the hand somest publications Tn America. Under the management of Steele, it has become very popular and is fairly established as a
The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-03-03

A South Carolina editor hung himself the other day. Some editors resort 10 most extreme measures in order to inn prove the quality of the contents of their papers Reya!i.
The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-03-03

THE press throughout the north is in- iusing more life in the weather bureau than Haxen ever imagined could be in troduced into such a commonplace ai- fair
The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-03-03
TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION:

Esfere1 af me PoaeHee af LinLe Roek, drk. aT Seeosi 1i1s4 mGR rdTer.
San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-06-21
Texas Crops.
Galveston News. June 10.

No more accurate Or comprehensive
showing of the growing crops of this
state has ever been presented than
that comprised in the special crop
dispatches to the Neus in yesterdays
and to-day's issues. The entire state
has been covered; not nook or
corner overlooked; the information
has generally been had direct from the
farmers themselves; the replies are
unbiased expressions of the exact
situation Of Texas agriculture at this
date; and the distant reader, in these
dispatches, can see, as in a glass, a
faithful portrait of the crop prospects
of Texas for the current year. A
general persual of these kilograms
shows prospects in Texas seldom
equaled, probably never surpassed,
and in saying so much it is after
deliberate review of the facts presented,
and with a view to avoid anythinglike
bombast or loose assertion. 1t will be
seen that, at the date of the replies,
splendid rains had fallen over the state
and the season appears to be
particularly fine in eastern, northern
and central Texas; only few points,
among them Austin and Gonzales,
report dry weather, but these are
apparently exceptions to the rule. AS
to cotton, although reported late in
some sections, the general condition
of the plant is good and the prospects
fair and promising, and the planters
in some localities are represented as
jubilant in consequence. AS to corn,
farmers in central Texas report tnoW
about made, and that in consequence
of the late rains the yield will be
abundant. At one pointon the Brazos
the yield is put down at forty bushels
for uplands, and eighty for river and
creek bottoms. The facts point to
the heaviest corn yield ever known IN
this state. An interesting fact IN
relation to corn acreage, as shown BY
the kilograms to the Ne,cs, is that 1t
has notably increased in proportion TO
cotton, showing disposition among
Texas farmers to pay more attentlon
to raising their own bread than
formerly. Take it all in all the ne
prospects are most encouraging al
around, and with the probability OF
pocketing next fall millions upon
millions from the sale of their cotton,
Texas farmers may well be IN gooa
spirits-not only they, but all VINO no
are dependent upon the interests u
agriculture.
San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-06-21
A Joke on Cardinal Manning.

1t is Cardinal Manning who relates
this incident as having happened to
himself:
One night 1 was returning to my
residence in Westminster when 1 met
a poor man carrying basket and
smoking a pipe. 1 thought over this
Aristotelian syllogism: He who
smokes gets thirsty; hewho is thirsty
desires to drink; he who drinks too
much gets drunk; he who gets drunk
goes to hell. This man is in danger
of mortal sin. Let us save him. l
affectionately addressed him:
Are you a Catholic?"
81 am, thanks be to God"
"Where are you from?"
From Cork, your reverence"
"Are you a member of the Total
Abstinence Society,""
"No, your reverence.
Now" said l, "that is wrong.
Look at me; am a member"
Faith, may be your reverence has
need of it."
1 shook hands with Kim and left
him.
San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-06-21
You'd druther keen RIGHT nm

you are?" "nere
YES"
"Wall, that's for you to saw. and ,
hope you won't regret it. Good .Iri
Squar'. and may you weigh ton "
fore fall" WI d.
SAW A spooK.
lis this George Washington Smith On
asked the court of long-waisted co,-
ored individual who stepped out as sU =
afraid of going through the floor"
Tar, sah."
you know what sort of a place tb;,
is, I presume2" '
Yes, sab, disa whar yer gifts law.
suits fur muffin"
"very well, George, you were dis.
turbing the peace last night"
"Mebbe l was, sab. saw a snooL
in my back yard, and I reckon I maSa
Ia racket as I went down de street
Goodness save We, sah--if we'd seen
that spook wild yer own eyes a fo'
mule team could not a-held YER"
"Bosh! You had too much whisky
in your head"
Judge, l war as sober as a lamp.
post!"
well, you kicked up a great e,.
element on the street and fought the
officers who arrested you. | shall
make it thirty days."
"Doan' do it,
But I must"
I'll gin We two bits!"
Cant take EN-. Fall back"
II fall, sah," said George, as he
posed and extended his ARM fall,
but am not crushed! I shall Fenix
from de ashes, an de world shall h ar
of me agin!"