davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-15
senator Jackson's Eloody Duel

Senator James jackson of Georgia fought
a bloody duel before he came to Washington.
He was an Englishman by birth, but he came
to Savannah when lad, studied law, was
leading Freemason, and fought calamity in
the Revolutionary war. He killed Lieuten-
ant Governor Wells in 1850, in duel, and
was engaged in several other affairs of
honor" until he finally determined to accept
a challenge on such terms as would make it
his last duel. So he prescribed, as the terms,
that each party, armed with a double bar
relied gun loaded with buckshot, and with a
hunting knife, should row himself in a skiff
to designated points on opposite sides Of
the Savannah river. When the city
clock struck II each party should start and
row his skiff to a small island in the middle
of the river, which was wooded and covered
with underhrush. On arriving at the island
each party was TO moor his sliff, stand by it
for ten minutes, and then go about on the
island till the meeting took place.
The seconds waited on the mainland until
after / O'Clock, when they heard three gun.
shots and loud and angry cries. Then ali
was still AT daylight, as had been agreed
upon, the seconds went 70 the island and
found jackson lying on the ground, inseasible
from the loss OF blood, ami his antagonist "
ing across him, dead. Jackson recovered,
but would never relate his experience on that
night, nor was he ever challenged again. He
died in Washington while serving his second
term as United States senator, March u.
lS06.-Ben: Perley Poores Letter.
Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-15
Do Americans Work Too Hard?

1t is said that the American people work
harder TO obtain the "alnighty dollar" than
any other people or nation in the world,
while they are more lavish in spending when
they get it. This may be true or not, but they
certainly get mere dollars for the same work
than any other people, and they are not gem
orally penurious in spending them for their
own comfort and pleasure, or mean in ap-
propriating them for charity and all good
works.
1t is certainly true, also, that many pro-
fessional and business men, lawyers doctors,
merchants, etc, including some public Off
cials, especially in our large cities, work too
hard and destroy their health, by both mental
and physical e1ertion, protracted for too long
time without proper recreation. The
workingmen and laboring classes also COM
plain of working too hard, and the great
questions of the day are those Of "labor and
wages" which claim attention through
strikes" labor organizations, socialistic and
anarchical demonstrations.
The question, ado Americans work too
hardp requires distinction to be made be-
tween natives and foreigners who form SO
large a portion of the population
Of the United States. Foreigners prir-
cipally perform what is considered the
hardest work, building railroads. mining
cSai, and other laborious employment, and
whether they work too hard, in fact, or harder
than Americans generally in other occupa-
tions, is question which might be considered
by itself They probably do not work harder
in this than in their own country or they
would not continue to come here in such
large numbers. Both Americans and for
eigners, however, will probably claim that
they have to work too hard. City Comp
troller Loew in The Epoch.
Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-15
Buried Treasure.

Lawyer-Your uncle makes you his sole
heir, bu: the will stipulates that tie sum OF
500 must be buried with him.
Heir neelingiyl-The cid man was eccen-
tric, but his wishes must be respected, OF
course. Iii write 4 check for the amount. -
New York Sun
In paper before late meeting of tire
Seismological society of JGn2n, Professor
Milne mentioned the signs of alarm which the
lower animals often show before earthquakes.
Ponies were observed to prance in their stalls
half minute before q shock last January.
Proof has been found that pneassnts scream,
and frogs suddenly cease their croaIing,
while geese. SWINE and dogs give the clearest
indications Of On approaching earthquake i.
was suggested that the animals are probably
very sensitive 10 slight preliminary tremors.
though in volcanic districts small animals
have been not only alarmed but even killed
by gases escaping just before esrthqsakes.--.
ArhauSaw Traveller
Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-15
English and American News Gatherers


The average English reporter trusts far too
much to shorthand When he gets on a large
daily, he is apt to become mere note taking
machine, and he is treated and esteemed as
such The result is that when there comes
among reporters . man who can write "out
of his own head, " no use is made Of his capsc-
ity. The chief reporter simply uses him a
machine, and the man, if he be of any stanl-
ina, retaliates by getting himself remov ed
from the reporting staff to some other depart
ment. Then when the occasion comes that a
reporter is wanted to write original copy he
is either not there or he lacks the facility that
comes from practice.
The American reporter is different In
many cases he would be unfit to take his
"turn in the gallery" or at a large public
meeting where the paper sends corps for q
five column verbatim report. His shorthand
is shaky and, like David Copper6elds, a
puzzle to himself. But he can go to q meet
ing and write half narrative and half crit
ical report, containing not only the main
facts, but a score of little gossipy items ana
comments that people like to read He con
be told to Ego down to the depot and make q
column about the new boss"-a command at
which the average English reporter would
stare helpiessly. Finally, he can be requested
to so and get some news, and he will so and
get il. His English confrere never heard
such command, and has no knowledge that
anything ever happens save such anticipated
events as are daily entered in advance in the
chief reporters engagement book.-Satur.
day Review.
Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-15
Mrs. Macksy's Costly Cloak.

Mrs. N8ckay. the vile OF the ricn Ameri-
can, is determined 70 possess q cloak made
from the breasts Of the birds Of paradise
These birls are sold 6. thirty shiliings each
the breast Is about four inches broad and
about SIX long a. the greatest length. and
nearly heart shape: the upper portion Is about
an inch and half deep, and : Ike the finest
plush, in color deep seal brown; the color
SHADES OF below - q pin1y terra Gotta
About fiye hundred BIRDS VIII lie necessary 10
furnish enough fer the cloak. and TO secGre
them Mrs, MacAay has dispatched two skill
full marksnlen direct 10 New Guinea, ard
they are now engaged IN the wholesale
slaughter. The mantle viii he costly. but the
work Of destruction viii Ire so great thnt it Is
to lie hoped few inaitatcTs viii lie found
Sydney NIaiL
Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-15
THE WHITE ELEPHANT.

All White Animals Held in Reverence
by the Siamese-A Kings Grief.
Miss Bows at one time attended the cap
ture and reception in Bangkok Of white
elephant. Her people, being devout Bud
dhists, believe in metempsychosis. The soul
of each successive Boodha in its geological
migrations occupies in turn the forms of
white animals of c certain class-particulariy
albinos and also the constantly white animals,
as the swan, the stork, the white sparrow,
the dove, the monkey and the elephant, all
peculiar to Siam. In all the obscurity Of
their priests about the subject one thing is
agreed on-that the forms Of these noble and
pure animals are reserved for the souls of the
good and great, who find in them redemption
from the baser animal life. All white animals
are held in reverence, especially the white
elephant, which is believed to be animated
with the spirit of some king or hero The
white elephant averts calamity and brings
peace and prosperity. Salmon or flesh color
is as near as these albinos get TO white, but
still they are white enough to have caused
wars for their possession between Siam and
Burmah. The national standard is white
elephant on deep crimson ground
Discovered in the Shan country. or in
Northern Siam, the king is apprised of the
fact; the slave who finds the elephant is made
free and rich; the elephant is decoyed by a
female from the Jungle, led into bamboo
stockade, caught by ropes about his legs, and
soon subdued. The march to the royal stable
begins, and ten or twelve miles day are
Travelled, which is the average elephant speed.
He is brought to the Menam, fed with sweet
meats, put under a royal pavilion. loaded
wifi abain ND
triumph. 1t is time for feasting and O
week Of holidays.
magnificent white elephant was captured
in 1868. The nation was wild with joy The
elephant, whose body might have contained
Gaudamas' soul itself, suddenly died, and the
learned king, who knew English well and
could have discussed St Paul's writings to
the delight and edification of Matthew Ar
nold-the scientific king, who calculated with
accuracy the great total solar eclipse of 1868,
spent 100000 on the scientific expedition to
observe it, and even lost his life from expos
ure in tho noxious jungle. dying like Soc
rates, calmly and sententiously soliloquizing
on death and its inevitability; the king who,
under the tutorship of American missionaries,
made the greatest progress of all oriental
monarchs i'll his ideas of government, COM
MERGE and even religion; never hesitating to
express his respect for the fundamental prin-
cipleS of Christianity, but cutting short his
reverend teacher when pressing homo to him
what be regarded as the more pretentious and
apocryphal parts of the Bible, with the sen-
tentious statement that II hate the Bible
mostly'-the king anG high priest of Siam
wept at the death of his new white elephant.
indianapolis Journal
Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-15
DestructiveDess Of Shermau's Bummers

Destructiveness Of Shermau's Bummers.
As we advanced into the wild pine regions
of North Carolina the natives seemed won
derfully impressed at seeing every road filled
with marching troops, artillery and wagon
trains. They looked destitute enough as they
stood in blank amazement gazing upon the
"Yanks" marching by. The scene before us
was very striking; the resin pits We're on fire,
and great columns of black smoke rose high
into the air, spreading and mingling together
in gray clouds, and suggesting the roof and
pillars of vast temple. All traces of habita-
ton were left behind, as we marched into
that grand forest with its beautiful carpet of
pine needles. The straight trunks of the pine
trees shot up to n great height, and then
spread out into a green roof, which kept us in
perpetual shade. As night came on, we found
that the resinous sap in the cavities cut in
the trees to receive it had also been lighted
by "bummers" in our advance. The effect of
these peculiar watch fires on every side,
several feet above the ground, with flames
licking their way up the tail trunks, was
peculiarly striking and beautiful.
But it was sad to see this wanton destruc-
ton of property, which, like the firing Of the
resin pits, was the work of "bummers," who
were marauding through the country COM
hitting every sort of outrage. There was no
restraint except with the column or the regu-
lar foraging parties. We had no communi-
cations, and could have no safeguards. The
country wau necessarily left to take care Of
itself, and became "howling waste" The
"coffee coolers" of the Army of the Potomac
were archangels compared to our "bummers,"
who often fell TO the tender mercies Of
Wheeler's cavalry, and were never heard Of
again, earning fate which was richly de-
served-Capt. Daniel Oakley in The Century.
Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-15
WRITING REFRACTORY WORDS.

Curious Slips In the Cogs Of Mental
Machiner.-A Writer'S Experience.
DR. Holmes has written something about
it, as he has about everything else that is odd
and interesting. But it is subject that re-
mains forever with the man who has much
occasion to adjust bis thinking machinery
with the physical machinery of writing, and
who has found out that there are certain
cogs in one set Of machinery or the other that
always slip The Listener, for instance,
never writes the word "by," unless his mind
is specially upon the writing of it, and each
letter is written with a separate act of ro.-
ton, without first writing 'but" and scratch
ing it out; and vice versa, he seldom writes
"but" without first writing "by." The word
@Egypt" is invariably refractory, and will
not be written correctly the first time. So is
the word eighth"
A gentleman Of the Listeners acquaintance
has the same difficulty with ST ~ and from"
that he does with 'Iby" and 'but," and still
another is generally foored by the words
"than" and "that," writing one where the
other should be. The first gentleman always
writes "Duch" for "Dutch," going back and
putting in the afterward; and the second
invariably writes commonwealth" or "com-
monweathl" before he can get the word right.
The first cannot write the word ''nonencla-
ture" without stopping to think about it.
Still another, a man of books, has the same
difficulty with the word Egypt" that the
Listener has, except that he writes it
Egypt" while the Listener writes it
"Egupt;" and he has the additional pecu-
liarity, which is worth noting, that when he
reaches the letter which occurs in his sigma
ture, he is always compelled to stop and
think, or else he will make a superfuous
stroke which will turn it into another letter.
This regular hostile encounter with refrac-
tory letter in his own signature he finds pecu-
liarly vexatious.
The Listener has not attempted to formu-
late theory for this popularity, but is in
clined to the opinion that. in the majority of
cases, it is due to physical habit-a trick OF
the nerves or muscles, that has become prac-
tically incorrigible. In the case Of the word
Egup--there it goes again!-Egypt, the in
herent difficulty of word which has three
letters in succession involving a stroke below
the line is evidently to be blamed rather than
any physical trick; but in the invariable
writing of "by" for "but," and "for" for
"from," and vice versa, certainly the blame
is not to be placed upon the word. Perhaps
the type writer will cure us all Of the trick
when we finally give up writing with the
pen, and perhaps it will not. There are a
good many evidences that the type writing
machine simply multiplies the errors of the
hand writing. One finds involuntary ana
grams in every page Of some peoples type
writer manuscript, and one friend of tho
Listener, who writes with machine, SAYS
that he occasionally writes word exactly
ENTHUSIASTICALLY" for "bIack, for instance
and cannot imagine how in the world he
manages to do it.-Boston Transcript
Listener
Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-15
The Coinage of 1904.

There is something curious about the
American silver dollar and half dollars of
the coinage of 1904 In that year something
like 20, 600 of the dollars were coined: but il
is q singular fact, as is now known, that not
one of them was in circulation. Yet the
most valuable of all American coins are two
1894 dollars, which are now III we'll known
collections They are valued at $1,000 each.
Chicago Herald.
Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-15
Daily eagle
THE CANARY.

A day in June, of light, of fragrance rare,
A bride brought to home, bride as fair
As angels be, as sometimes women are.
Loud sings the blithe canary in its cage.
day in June again; what greater bliss
On earth may be, mayhap in heaven, than this
Falls faint on baby's face. a mothers kiss.
Loud sings the blithe canary in its cage.
A woman, fair and young and pale at rest,
A dead babe laid on the dead mothers breast,
preacher murnuring: "All is for the best
Loud sings the blithe canary in its cage.
Chicago Tribune.
Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-15

Nothing announces rank, education and
good breeding in women, more than the even
ness OF their disposition and the desire TO
please.
Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-15

The late Gen. Mckee Dunn left all his
fortune TO his wife His will was the shortest
ever filed in Washington, and consisted of
four lines
Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-15

He knew that she painted an6 padded, but be
The secret would never bstray,
But when SIS bride n the altar stood she,
The old fellow gave her away"
-EIchsnce
Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-15

German cattle are low being imported into
England.
Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-15

There ara twsnty-one bureaus Of labor in
the United States -Four years ago thers
were only seven
Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-15

De water milicn vine need taller fence
dan de rose BUSH. A. Macon
Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-15
THE BLOODY FALLS.

After walking about an hour and half at
q rapid pace, we stopped TO rest at a curious
waterfall which lies in narrow gorge The
water, strongly imprcgnated with sulphur
and iron, Is of rusty yellow color, and has
dyed the rocks with the same hue. The cas-
cade IS known by the natives as the Bloody
Falls, very appropriate name. The water
is cold and not unpleasant to the taste, and,
imagine, not unhealthful. At all events, !
INDUCED in deep rotations, being red hot
from my walk III the scorching sunshine Tho
ascent from the waterfall becomes sleeper
and lies along ridge covered with scattered
pine trees and overgrown with bamboo grass.
Here and there white birch appears and
beautiful hvdrangeas grow in great mass in
damp spots. Thirty minute. of quick walk
ing brought us to cool spring, flowing I'M
der luxuriant heritage, where we stopped to
fill our water bottles and then renewed the
onward march. Ny coat l found a burden,
so l left it behind, hidden under a spreading
yew tree, the branches of which pressed close
to the ground.
Grasping my bamboo stick, which has been
my faithful companion upon many an excur-
sion and has grated upon the rocks of Mt.
Washington and Mt. Mitchell, had helped me
in the tanges of the swamps of Florida, as
well as upon the slopes of the Rocky noun
tains, addressed myself to the last part Of
our ascent, over the cone of loose ashes and
stones, which for 1000 feet lowered above US.
The clouds came Up from the valley below
and shrouded Us in their cold. misty folds,
and again they parted and we.looked forth
upon magnificent mountain panorama, with
Fuli-no- ama-the peerless mountaineering
purple and grand upon the southern horizon.
We --1et a company of pilgrims in white gar
ments, each having tinkling bell at his
grdle, returning from the summit Religious
pilgrinages ere undertaken to the mountain
tops OF Japan every year by the multitudes,
ard on all high places are oratories and
shrines. The goddess resident III Asama-
Ianaa is, eccording to SEinso mythology, the
elder sister OF tie goddess resident III Full,
Rnd her favor is much sought by the devout.
-Oiwake tJapanl Cor. Philadelphia PresA
Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-15
THE MIKADO'S LAND
TRAVELS OF A NATURALIST AMONG
THE WONDERS OF JAPAN.

Glories of Country Which Abounds in
Beautiful Flowers-Forests Of tho
Middle Altitude-Asams-Yams Terri.
BILE Record-"BIoody Falls
Oiwake has the reputation Of being the
coolest inhabited spot in Japan. The atnos-
phere certainly is very refreshing and invig.
Grating after the sultry heats of the great
plain of Toxic. The profusion and magnid-
cence of the fora upon these mountains make
it appear trivial and even sinful for man Of
botanical tastes TO ride, while by walking he
may be adding every minute to the stores OF
his knowledge as well as to the treasures in
his plant presses. The first thing which l no
ticed as we began the ascent Of the Usui pass
was the fact that the coniferous trees which
are SO abundant in the great plain disap-
peared and gave way to trees of deciduous
growth naples, beeches, oaks. chestnuts,
horsechestnuts and other peculiar Japanese
trees. This phenomenon is characteristic Of
the entire country. and would serve to indi-
cate that more equable climate prevails at
the middle altitude. Hence at Oiwake, at
the summit of the pass, the conifers have re-
appeared in the form Of hardy scrubbins of q
species which does not grow upon the low.
lands.
The fora of the middle hills is strongly
Himalayan in some of its characteristics, and
the same fact reveals itself in connection with
the phenomena of insect and bud life, num-
Der Of species found here being found no
where else until the Himalayas Of India are
reached. Here and there close afinities to
the fora and fauna of the Atlantic states Of
America also present themselves, and it was
with rare feeling of pleasure that 1 recog-
nized in some Of the plants familiar friends of
my boyhood days, and l involuntarily took
of my hat more than once and saluted way
ide weed which brought memories OF "home,
sweet hOn1e -
Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-15
GkORIES OF THE FIELDS.


The glory of these upland fields and hill
sides is found in the lilies of which have
collected no less than six species here, among
them Lilium Auratum, the emperor of this
race Of regal flowers. Think, my flower low
ing friend, of walking over meadow starred
on every hand with yellow and red lilies, en-
broidered with great blooming beds of funlda,
and enameled in spots with sheeted growths
of iris, and then as YOU approach the thicket
at the foot of rising hill discovering huge
mass of the Lilium Auratum standing with
pink and yellow lined bells, seven and eight
inches across, exhaiing the odors of Eden
upon the air!
We left the native inn where l am staying
at o'clock yesterday morning for the ascent
Of Asama- Y anna, the days passed here since
my arrival having been spent in botanizing,
collecting insects and sketching.
The first part Of the ascent from Oiwake is
over a gently rising slope composed of lava
and volcanic ashes, upon which a luxuriant
growth of tall grasses and Towering plants
have taken root Here and there are scattered
huge angular blocks of stone, some of them,
no doubt, weighing hundreds of tons apiece,
which bear witness to the immense force Of
the volcanic energy stored in the mountain
which towers up grandly before US in the
blue air, with its great cloud of smoke and
steam rolling away westward before the
morning breeze.
Asama- Yama has been great destroyer in
the past, and gives every evidence of full
capacity to repeat in the near future the
horrors which have been wrought in former
days. Only as recently as 1870 considerable
eruption occurred, scattering a cloud of ashes
half ali inch i'll depth over a vast surrounding
area. In 17S3 however, occurred an eruption
which spread desolation for many leagues
around the mountain. Oiwake was blotted
out. The country round about, which was
verdant expanse of cornfields, was turned into
a desert, and no less than forty eight villages
in the vicinity and in the Agatsuma depart
ment of the province of Kodzuke were de-
stroyed, with many of their inhabitants.
Monkeys, deer, dogs and other animals were
killed by the showers Of red hot stones and
ashes, and those which had found shelter
from the missiles hurled forth by the noun
tain died of hunger, because the ashes and
stones covered the ground for miles to the
depth of from two to five feet and destroyed
all vegetation. a river of lava poured forth
on the northern side Of the crater towards
Rodzuke, aud lies today black monument
of the awful event. Still older flows Of lava
underlying this more recent one, upon which
vegetation has as yet only taken partial hold,
can be traced to a distance of thirty miles
from the crater.
THE BLOODY FALLS.