davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-04-04
Innovation Discourage Z.

For a new country like ours, it is
amazing how innovation has be dis
couraged, though there has seldom
been any real innovation which has no:
been triumphant At time when
nearly all the a.tors in the country
were worshipers of slavery, the play
of "Uncle Toms Cabin walked upon
the stage and made numero Is fortune :.
Only few years ago DIR. Holland and
Mr.. Smith, who had been experiment.
ing with the reading pablo both as it
ought to be and as it was, believed they
discerned taste for pictures an deco
rations, and they tried new ma sazine,
which almost Immediately struck the
general ta tie, and that taste is now o n
to be the taste of England too, because
both the leading American magazines
have large C rculations in England, based
in part upon their popular pictures
and the British publishers are seeing if
they cannot pick up American support
for similar illustrated magazines.
American humor and racy description
in at least one newspaper have resulted
in duplicate set Of forms or electro
types going abroad and being reprinted
Our press had become too enterprising
for its audience, while the British press
had endeavorel TO maintai editorial
opinion as the first standard of journal
ism. In the long run those adventurers
who find out the people the best will
do the best. The pre- 'ent tendency OF
the American mind is to ask for respect
able guidance, but thu rein must not be
drawn too tight, and facts must always
be given freely to justify strong opin.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-04-04
An Elephant Color Bearer.


During battle in India the driver Of
the elephant carrying the colors of the
army had just gwen the command to
halt when he was shot dead. The ele-
phant never stirred foot, refusing to
advance or retire. as tho conflict became
hotter and fiercer, until the Mahrattas,
seeing the standard still flying steadily
in its place, refused to believe that they
were being beaten. and rallied again
and again round the colors. And
all this while. amid the din of
battle, the patient animal stood
straining its ears to catch the
sound of that voice it would never hear
again. At length the tide of conquest
left the field deserted. Mahrattas
swept on in pursuit OF the flying foe,
but the elephant, like rock, stood
there, with the dead and dying around,
and the ensign waving in its place. For
three days and nights it renamed where
its master had given the command to
halt. No bribe or threat could move
it. They then sent to village 100
miles away, and brought the mahout's
little son. The noble hero seemed then
toremember how the driver had some
times given his authority to the little
child, and Immediately, with all the
shattered trappings changing as he
went, paced quietly and slowly away.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-04-04
FANNY FERNS" FORTUNE.

Mr.. J. c. Derby. the veteran pub
Usher. removed to New York in 1853,
and set up the publishing business
under the firm name of Derby & Jack
son, and latter of Derby Il Miller.
One of his first publications was Fern
Leaves from Fanny's Portfolio" These
leaves had been first contributed to
Boston papers. and Mr.. Derby noticed
that they were widely copied and much
talked about. With true publishers
instinct, he saw book in them and
went on to Boston to see Fanny
Fern. and, if possible, to make an ar
rangement with her.
He found her livingin in great poverty !;
for, although she had a husband, she
was obliged to support herself and chill
dren as best she could. When Mr..
Derby told her his mission she was as
much surprised as delighted. She was
tn, n contributing the Leaves to The
Olive Branch and True Flag at..S3 a
leaf" Mr. Derby told her that he
would print them in book form and pay
her 81 900 down for all right in the
book, or a royalty Of 10 per cent. From
the necessities of her case she rather fa-
vored the sale outright. but he advised
her to take the royalty, or, at any rate,
consult her friends. She did so, anil
they sustained Mr.. Derby's judgment.
The book was published, and her share
for twelve months amounted to $4,000.
Her reputation was then made, and she
never again had to fight against pow
ertv.
Strange to say, her brother, N. P.
Willis, did not see that his sister
possessed any talent for writing. and
she showed Mr.. Derby letter all
stained with her tears in which he told
her that she was wasting her time fool
ing with her pen. and that she had bet
ter go to making shirts or some other
business for which she was better fit
ted. This only shows how easy it is to
be misjudged by ones family 1t may be
that Willis was out of sorts with her
for marrying the second time and MAX
ing such a mess of it. Her first hus-
band was an excellent man, but her
second was failure, and she was di-
vorced from him. Her third was
James Parton, with whom she lived
happily to the day Of Lor death.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-04-04
W all Street Not Froiics ome.

lANcW YIN NOI. 1uUcT OCc4ul
The day before Christmas has for
many years been devoted to frolic in
the stock exchange. Members who did
not wish to relax their dignity stayed
away, and the rest displaced the Or
binary business by proceedings of the
friskiest sort. The gallery was on
Monday filed to crOwding by specta-
tors.
"There'll be the biggest circus that
ever you saw" said friend; don't fail
to come, and bring the ladies'"
If I had paid any admission fee
should have felt like demanding my
money back. The show was q fraud.
After we had waited an hour several
young members entered with white hats
on their heads. We thought that the
floor would instantly be strewn with
struggling roysterers, in ferociously
gleeful fight over the unreasonable
hats. Nothing Of the kind happened.
There was mild, inanimate scuffle,
ending tamely in the destruction Of the
emblems of disorder. The scrimmage.
such as it was. lasted fitfully few min
utes. It had no vim or fun. It was
like play in a graveyard at twilight.
Afterward q man came in wearing o
linen duster, which was quickly torn
off. That was all. We went away feel
ing as swindled as though we had lost
81, 900 apiece by deceptive corner.
No; there isn't q frolicsome condition
of things in Wall street.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-04-04
Medical Value or Susie.
TRostou In,,rol

1t l. not singular that in . city 50
Justly famed for its love Of muso as
Boston is, the effects which are pro-
daced upon the human organism by the
concord OF sweet sounds should have
attracted the attention of such an in
telligent physician as our young friend
DIR. Pod9ers. He like, some others,
had noticed the differences in appear
ance and action which such an such
compositions excite i'll our concert
goers-the aspect of painful but heroic
endurance which is caused by Brahms
symphony; the lively wagging OF heads.
patting or feet, and beating time of
hands when a lively march is played
and the peaceful slumber that eilms
the features and attunes the snore when
a piano sololst is struggling through a
composition in five movements AMI of
three-Guarters of an hours duration.
He has consequently conceived the
idea that, by developing the theory to
which his observations in this direction
have given birth, a new school of medi-
cine may he founded, where music in
stead of physic shall be the remedy for
human ills, and already perceives him
self as the founder of q system which
shall be called the "Podgeri ian" and set
him upon the same pedestal with
Hahnemann. He is now bus.ly en-
gagged in taking lesson, upon
the ACCORDION this instrument being
easily portable and less difficult of
mastery than most others and when he
gets some patients. as he has expecta-
ton OF doing before long. he will test
his theory in practical way.
An incident which occurred the other
day confirms him in his belief that he
has hit upon great principle. A man
came into his office in search of so no re-
lief from an overmastering las ,itude
and lack of desire for exertior, and Pod
gers brought the accorded and played
Peek "a Boo" and wait I'LL the Clouds
Roll BY to him. The sufferer showed
manifest agitation while the first .elec-
ton was being performed; when Pod
gers struck into the second he began
walking the floor and swinging his
arms, and, as the player crowded all
his power of expression into the con-
cluding strain, he knocked the physi-
clan down with treatise on osteolo ~
and fled from the house with remark
able rapiditv. In view of the eviden
success of the treatment Podgers has
made out bill. but for the life of him
doesn't know where to send it.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-04-04
OSCAR WILDE ON AMERICA.
A Few Extracts From the Lecture
He Ii Delivering to His Country.
men,

Dublin Irish Times
Oscar Wilde. in the course of lect.
ure delivered last night in the Gaietv
theatre, sad that if he WAS asked W hat
most struck him on first landing he
would say IT was this. that if the Amer
leans were not the most w.ll-dres ,cd
people i'll the world and he WI, afraid
they were not-still they were the most
comfortably dressed There were
no rags Is he seen anvwhe,e.
no American ever sauntcrs or strolls,
or even walks walking was one of the
fine arts unknown in America. Ihev
are always rushing in a hurry to catch
trains, and the fact OF their always be-
ing in hurry would make people here
think they were not romantic race.
Really romantic people were never in
time for anything, and did not care
whether they caught their trains or not.
Hear, hear. But in America catch
ing trains was national amusement.
Their romance was different from ours.
1t was not the romance of Shakespeare
it was the romance of commerce.
OF course, when one went to America
he was brought to see Niagara. Every
young American when married went
and spent part of his honeymoon at
Niagara, and he thought the great
waterfall must prove the first disap-
pointment in American married life.
Laughter. Niagara was disappointing,
whether it was that the surroundings
were SO abominably vulgar, got up like
q tea garden, filled with melancholy
tourists, all trying to get up that feeling
of enthusiasm which the guide books
assured them they might have without
any extra charge laughter l-he did
not know. In order to stand underneath
the waterfall to prevent ones getting
drenched he had to wear a slit of yellow
oilskins of the most unbecoming texture,
almost as bad as that terrible mackin-
tosh, which he hoped none OF his audi.
ence ever thought ofwearipg. Laugh
ter. One of the most charming women
of modern times, Nine. Bernhardt, had,
however, got photographed in it-with
Niagara rs sort of unpretentious back
ground.
American children seemed to be pale
and precocious, and that might be
owing to the fact that the only national
game of America was the game of
euchre. which could hardly. if industri-
ously practiced, tend to create and de-
velop fine or manly physique. These
children, however. grew up into very
charming people, tho American girl
being one Of the most charming despots
that it would be thought possible to find
living in country with free republican
institutions. She was often a most de-
ightful oasis of unreasonableness in
the desert of common sense. The only
well-dress d men in America were the
miners. The men in America had very
little childhood; they left school at II,
had two or three successful bankrupt
cies by the time they were 20, and at II
were millionaires.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-04-04
An Old story.

lAcAs OiACv
Tom Corwin and Tom Ewing, being
on political tour through the state,
stopped at the house of o prominent
politician over night. A young niece
presided at the supper table. She had
never seen great men, and supposed
they were elephantine altogether, and
all talked in great languages.
"Mr. Ewing will you take condiments
in your tea, sir?" inquired the young
lady.
"Yes, miss, if you please" replied
the quondam salt boiler.
Corwin's eyes twinkled. Here was
fun for him. Gratified at the apparent
success of her first trial at talking to
big men. the young lady addressed Mr..
Corwin in the same manner:
"Will you take condiments in your
tea, sir ?"
Pepper and salt. but no mustard,
was the prompt reply of the facetious
Tom.
OF course nature must out, and
Ewing and the entertainer laughed in
spite Of themselves. Corwin essayed to
mend the matter. and was voluble in
wit and compliment. The lady, to this
day, declares that Corwin was q caurse.
vulgar, disagreeable man.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-04-04
Stopped the Talk About -Royai A..
oeatOra"
Cincinnati Enquirer Lett~.l

lCiuCiuuAti huuuiioI l<ctIV.
A few years ago one OF the million
aires OF this city, in company with his
aristocratic daughter, left Cincinnati
for visit to the scenes of his boyhood
His daughter accompanied him with a
great deal OF reluctance, rs she was in
no way interested in her fathers hum
BILE origin. She was still less int rested
when she discovered his birth place to
be broken down shanty, surrounded
by all the marks of squalor and starva
ton.
This is where l was born," said the
father proudly.
Ugh! I've seen it; let's co. replied
the girl, pulling at the governors arm
wait bit; have engaged a pho
tographer to meet us here and he il
due now. l want photograph OF this
horse, my old home, the home of my
mother"
What! you are not going to pro
serve the likeness of this old, tumble
down place and take it home to Cincin-
natl. are you?"
That's just what I'm going to do"
was the inexorable reply.
I'll he mortified to DEATH" pouted
the daughter.
The photograph was taken--a large
and elegant one. 1T has proven q
powerful weapon for me-" said the
millionaire in p-aking of it to friend
few a months later. NO more talk
about royal ancestors the Lords
anointed' and all that, now, in nv
family. No moro blue blood just
as soon as the subject is mentioned this
o.d democrat pointing to himself +
this cd democrat takes ont the photo.
graph, with the remark: There is
where your old, aristOcratic, blue
blOOded ancestor was born"
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-04-04
a Brides DOwry in India.


One of the daughters of Nicer Baba,
nawab of Surat, has Just been married,
and this is what the people saw who
gathered to watch the brides dowry car
red to the bridegroom's horse A caval-
cade Of elephants, horses. carriages and
palkess led the procession. After them
came number of female servants, oil
in snowwhite clothes, each bearing in
her hands a covered tray. About fifty
youths followed with rose water de
canters of silver on silver sllvers. Then
came 500 coolies, some with magnificent
bedsteads. with curtains, pillows, etc !;
others with swings, benches. boxes, cup
boards of various designs, sofas, chairs,
tables, and. in short, all the parapher-
MALTA of modern house. These were
followed by seventy-fve women, each
carrying tray of sweetmeats. One
hundred men with cooking utensils
brought up the rear, some OF them car
ryins on their heads basket loads of
lamps. wall-shades. chandeliers, etc.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-04-04
Chi~~s~ Weapon. N ak,nx.

4 correspondents Of The London
Telegraph who has visited the great ar
senal at Canton. now entirely under
control ~ Cinnamon, declares that it is
turning out brcech loading rifles, artil-
lsry. aud machine guns OF the bsst pat
terms and Of excellent quality and finish.
"One thing" writes the correspondent,
was evident namely: That China
mon hero knew enough TO make their
own weapons As thcro are those who
think that IN tho event of war China
would bc at loss for chloading
arms. u ~ NJ we'll to mention that at
Canton. aud Shanghai, too, saw cases
of ma 'hinery not yet put up quite suffi-
risut 10 set another arsenal or two into
working order; and that at Tisntsin
and foochow arsenals there are, as
veil n. n, tho two aforementioned
places. plenty Of Cinnamon who under
stand enough of the art of weapon
making to get all this machinery into
working order.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-04-04
''Old Builion and the Wooliy nsrse
fPittsburg Dispatch.1

One day Bsrnum noticed Q man lead
ing . peculiarly shaped horse through
the streets of Washington city. Turning
to friend. he said he would bet $500 he
could make pile of money out OF that
horse. The bet was taken, and nothing
more was thought Of il. One morning
the people Of Washington wakened 70
see the city plastered with bills, on
which was cut of q woolly horse. The
small bills said it had been captured BY
Fremont during his explorations in the
Rocky mountains. and that it would
soon be on exhibition near the capitol.
Thomas Benton, Fremont's father in
law, saw the sign out as he went to the
capitol. He Was with some congressman
when the show-bill caught his eve, and
he remarked: Il am going to put an
end to this Internal swindle," and the
two started to 60 in. The ticket-taker
stopped them and asked them for their
money. Benton handed him . quarter.
He attempted to stop them, still saying
that was not enough. but Benton
pushed him angrily aside. with II have
had enough Of this foolishness," and
striding past he went in and jumped
over the rope which separated the
woolly horse from its audience, aud with
q cut of his knife skinned half OF his
woolly cover off him. showing the same
old bony, bay steed, with the ordinary
fur on him common to horses.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-04-04
LOngfellow's Grave.

ltlnclinati commercial Gazette
Longfellow has no Tombstone, no
mound. no memorial. We found his
grave by the number Of the lot. The
whole place ia smoothly sodded and
surrounded by stone coping. 1t is on
terrace. One side OF the lot runs al.
most perpendiculsrly down to lower
road. The place seems fitted naturally
for vault, but only bank Of green
met the eye on the deep hillside. Tn.
marked an it was, it was surrounded by
visitors-young and old, home people
and strangers. No need to ask, no need
to tell who was Longfellow. There we're
people there from beyond the Rockies,
and they gathered the grass blades to
take back with them; schoolboy treas
ured a sorrel blossom that grew BY the
way; and the very dust OF the carriage
road, l believe. would have been priced
because it had been near to him. to the
body that had dwelt with that beauti.
full spirit" whose fame his friend Emer.
son in his feebleness had forgotten, but
whose beauty even death-shadows could
net dim.
On our way home We passed in front
of the queer yellow house, rather
weather-beaten and dilapidated. that
had so long been Longfellow's home.
The great trees, the shrub thickets,
were just as he had described them.
could fancy the old clock ticking
Newer! forever!" on the mansion stair !;
the chestnut chair empty, and by il the
jeweled pen that Helen" gave him the
books of manuscript verse all neatly
tucked in their corners; the souvenirs
of friends looking down from the walls
of the ancient dwelling We did not
ask to enter the Louise. Tho master
had too lately departed to have il seem
like his home without him.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-04-04
Wltchcraft In Scotland.
rSan Francisco Chronicle.1

Belief in witchcraft still exists In
some of the remote parts of the high
lands of Scotland. A lady from another
part of the country fell sick while in a
village of Rosshire, and her friends at
once set her illness down to witchcraft
and the influence Of the ''evil eye.' A
witch doctor was forthwith called in,
who subjected her to his usual course
of treatment, which consisted in taking
water before sunrise from a stream
running south, immersing . piece Of
silver in it, and splashing the face
thoroughly. Sometimes, by way Of
variation, the witch doctor breathes ali
over the patient, at the same time NUT
tering Gaelic incantation. When
practicable, tho victim has to swallow
large quantities of the prepared water.
1t is considered essential that the pa
tient should be kept in profound igno-
rance of the intended treatment, the
first intimation of which should be q
splash of cold water in the face. Some
Of these physicians" are provided with
the antique. heart shaped silver
brooches which are treasured as heir.
looms from generation to generation.
Many of the natives wear amulets as q
protestion against witches, and moles'
feet in their purses to insure them
against the want Of money.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-04-04


Masor Harrison has been represent
ing himself to the citizens as o man
sound in body and mind. noticed,
however. the other day, a certificate
purpor ing to come from him, printed
IN san Francisco newspaper, testify.
ing To the c,lca lie, of a certain patent
pnstruin Having remarked this to o
prom nent member of a commandsry
In this c,iy. he said that while they
Ncre n Europe last summer they were
invited 10 write their names upon q his
toricl rock near one of the precep-
tories they visited. He had learned
since that these had been cut into, and
over them the shrewd advertising man
had written q puff fer his medicines.
"tor instance. he said, over the sigma
turc II Norman I. tiasette is this
legend had not Wake for eleven
years. ani was wasted skeleton until
] used 5 oil.