davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Landry democrat., 1888-07-14
BY Rail to Bagdad.

The Turks have projected railroad
from Constantinople to Bagdad the
historic city of the Caliphs, the very
heart of that romantic and magical
region which is celebrated in the
gorgeous stories of the ARABIAN
Nights = Its length is to be 1,400
miles, and it is estimated to cost some
SO, 900, 900. A thousand years ago
Bagdad was the seat of the mightiest
empire on the earth. Now it is
place Of but little Importance,
and is almost destitute of any
regular communication with the rest
of the world. To-day Bagdad has
about eighty thousand population,
composed of people of every race and
color. Arabic is the common Ian
guage. The principal commerce OF
the city is in wool and wheat, which
are exported down the Tigris river in
boats to the Persian Gulf. The coun-
try over which the railroad will pass
was once traversed by the caravans
which brought the treasures of the
East into Europe. The railway is
rapidly driving out of every country
the romance which, it appears, was
inseparably connected with tyranny,
oppression. poverty, squalor and gem
eral misery. Romance and civilization
do not co-exist ~ @. Picayusss.
St. Landry democrat., 1888-07-14
BOXES FOR POTATOES.

Convenience That Pays Usurous In
terest on Its Cost.
/ have used bushel boxes several
years to handle potatoes in and think
they have paid annually 100 per cent.
on their cost, and they are not used up
yet. They are 13x13x16 inches-all
inside measurements. This will figure
up trifle over bushel; but in prac-
tice they are just the right size. We
frequently want to get one box on an
other, when filed, on the wagon or
elsewhere. In order not to bruise the
contents at all, they sneed to hold a
bushel without being t. e least bit over
level full-just stroke measure and
no more. If one tries to fill the top so
it will look quite full, he will get in
more than bushel; but just a careless
full will be right every time.
This particular shape was decided
upon when we got our first hundred
made because two of them would just
sit end to end in common three-foot-
wide wagon-box. In our twelye-feet-
long box twenty boxes will sit on the
bottom. Two deep makes good load,
and with springs rides to market with
out trouble. There are hand-holes In
the ends, of course. They SHOULD be
made of light material and then they
will be found very valuable in han
ding apples, potatoes, etc We have
covers just plain pieces of board about
15x1S inches-to put over them when
they are standing in the field with po-
tatoes in. This keeps off sun and rair
and they can stand for some little zine
without damage. Y. B. Terry. ii. n
I. tribune.
St. Landry democrat., 1888-07-14
FULL OF FUN.

"A mule that can kick and will kick
doesn't have to BE made to kick.
so for the wings of dove!" sighed
the poet. "Boshr' said his friend the
broker 1.-The breast of a turkey is
much better to fill up on.''-Harper's
Bazar.
Wife (tearfu1ly)-"Oh, John,
John, why do you always come home
full2' Husband (soothingly)-'Don't
know, M dear, less It's Nature abhors
vacuum. y Washington Critic.
"A recently-published book on
etiquette says: "Endeavor to select
your guests with sense of fitness
That is, do not invite a fat man to a
slim dinner--Hotel Mail.
Preacher Sim Gooseberry-"De
collection will now be took up. jis'
want to express it upon you, dat de
watahs OBJ Salvation am free; but | am
de hydrant, an you got to pay TO de
hydrant- "-Puck.
-Nell-'I say, Jack, I've borrowed
y
collars, and your Elton cap. | do so
dote on masculine cut! Think look
chappie-like?' Her Brother-''Well,
| can congratulate you so far-you
don't look at all ladylike. "-London
Fun.
-Patient-.'Docto can't sleep at
night. | tumble and toss until morn
ing" Doctor-'.Hm, that's bad. Let
me see your tongue. (After dag
nosis): Physically, you are all right.
Perhaps you worry over that bill you've
owed me for the past two years. "-1id-
Bits.
The milk was not of the desired
sweetness that morning, and Bobby
set his glass away after very little
sip. Mamma" he said, presently.
What is it Bobby" Some one has
been feeding the COW on pickles. ~
Merchant TrdUeler.
WHO was the wisest man?" asked
the Sunday-school teacher. solo.
mon," promptly replied little girl.
"And who was the holiest9' Moses
Moses! What makes you think SOP
because, often hear papa speaking
of Holy Moses. '"-Boston Courier.
Judge Ito prisoner)-'You admit
the shootingo" Prisoner-"Oh, yes,
your Honor. l shot him until he
looked like slice of schweitzel
cheese" Judge-"What was the prov
| ocation?" Prisoner-"He was carry,
ing an umbrella horizontally ups the
stairway of the elevated road. Judge
-"Justifable homicide. Call the nex1
| case. IN. Y. Satn.
St. Landry democrat., 1888-07-14
THE HUMBLE DANDELiON.
A Neglected Flower Which Is Worthy
of Better Fate.

A Neglected Flower Which Is Worthy
of a Better Fate.
The dandelion is neglected flower.
1t blows and dies, returning
To the vile dust from whence it sprung,
Unwept, unhonored and unsung.
Yet it comes early, blossom freely, and
lifts so bright color to the sky that it
rivals the very sunshine that coaxed it
from the cold ground. Not the Cali
fornia poppy, the pride of the Pacific
coast, glows with a more brilliant
yellow, Or shows more delicate grada-
lions of color. The heart Of the dande-
lion is warm and fervid like the rich
gold of ripe orange, while the tips OF
each delicate calyx reflect the fainter
tints that shine on the tender leaf of a
buttercup, and so perfect is the shad-
ing we can not tell when the orange
passes into yellow, and the yellow into
palest amber.
What can be prettier than this
brave blossom set in the vivid green
of the new grass? If Oscar Wilde had
chosen the dandelion rather than the
sunfower as a type of the revival of
aesthetic sentiment, we could admire
his Judgment instead of laughing, as
now, at his queer conceit. 1t is just
as yellow, just as prolific. just as COM
pick in structure, and thousand times
more graceful. The dandelion can be
compared to the warm, sweet beauty
of a slender girl, the sunfower to the
overripe charms of a buxom matron.
Pinned to the bosom of fair woman's
gown, the dandelion nestles there as
though at home, while the sunflower
suggests shield. whose purpose is
defense, not ornament. And then the
dandelion grows OLD SO gracefully. 1t
covers it's fading charms with a mantle
of such filmy lace we hesitate to say
which is lower, the fresh blossom in
the pride of its young beauty or the
dying flower wrapped in its ethereal
shroud. It is as though its spirit was
made visible as it left it's earthly home,
and could be seen while it wavered a
moment over it's cast-off body, whis-
pering final farewell.-Des Motnes
Register.
St. Landry democrat., 1888-07-14
SHARING TREASURES.
The Noble Sentiments Expressed by q
Weil-known American Statesman.

The Noble Sentiments Expressed by q
Weil-Known American Statesman.
SelfshA1ess is by no means confined
to material goods, and many man
who will open his purse at a work of
solicitation viii deny his friends the
benefit of his experience or his learn
ing The clever boy, who translates
likely unwilling to lend the patient
plodder at his side a helping hand,
though the one would become no
poorer by the act and the other might
be cheered and benefited for more than
the moment. Still there are noble souls
who posses only to share.
Throughout the Congressional life of
George P. Marsh certain members of
the House were in the habit of visiting
him in order to talk over questions
under discussion, especially if they in
tended to take part in debate. After
one of these visits a young member of
Mr.. Marsh's family said to him, rather
impatiently:
Il wonder you allow Mr.. to
pick your brains in this way. I
thought you were going to speak on
that subject yourself; and now he will
go away, as he has often done before,
and make use of every thing you have
said to him"
oh" replied Mr.. Marsh, lightly,
"Tm not so poor that I can't afford to
bestow on - all the crumbs he can
digest" Then, with a change of man
ner betokening real earnestness. he
went on:
Il always tell every one, who asks
with an earnest purpose, all | know
about the subject of his inquiries, but
/ never do so without finding that
know more about it afterward than
| did before The more one gives the
more one has, runs the proverb, and
this is certainly true of the best of our
treasures. "-Youth's Companion.
St. Landry democrat., 1888-07-14
A PROMPT CUSTOMER.
How He Got History of the Holy Lane
for Mere Song.

How He Got History of the Holy Land
for Mere Song.
II owe you thirty-fve cents for a
magazine l got the other day" said a
man, addressing the proprietor of a
Chicago book store. Here's your
money, sir"
You don't owe me any thing the
proprietor replied.
''Yes, got magazine here on credit
the other day.
mo, you didn't
"But-"
$50 on. I understand YOU
II don't understand him." said a
by-stander. what does he mean?"
1T is pretty sharp trick that is
sometimes worked in this town.
Some time ago man came in and told
me that he owed me twenty-five cents
for some newspapers. did not re-
member him, but thinking that he
might have gotten the papers from
one of my clerks, took the money.
Several days afterward he came in,
placed quarter on the showcase, and
saying, more papers, walked out
This time did not think any thing of
it. Two or three days later he came
in. and said:
Good morning
"'Good morning, | replied.
beautiful Gather for this time of
year
eyes, very
"'I got paper-covered novel here
the other day. Twenty cents, be-
lieve. Sometimes / forget to put
money in my pocket, but never for
get that / want to read. We had
quite lively time on the Board of
Trade this morning. Well, good
morning He dropped in once or
twice more, and l found him to be
quite talker. One day he came in,
and after looking over an illustrated
history of the Holy Land, asked the
price. Twelve dollars l replied.
Would you mind sending it out on
Michigan avenue?"
"'What is your name, please?'
"'W'y, / thought you knew. Been a
customer here for quite awhile. J.W.
McFoyer, No. IS By the way,
am going out now, and can take il
along. Be in pretty SOON and he
marched off with the history. He had
been such good customer had9 been
SO prompt in paying his little debts,
that 4thought he'was all right, but
! haag never seen him since. | learned
thst he beat a number ofapther book.
selfess That<sell9 40 came in just
now h'sY heard w the trick. 1t il
hardly secessSSsiss.ssg me to say that
do not Axrf hiaScustom. ''-Arkansast
St. Landry democrat., 1888-07-14
THE DOWAGER EMPRESS.

wilhelm's Widow Watching Her Little
Observation-Disclosures at Play.
Bellevue Castle, on the outskirts of
Berlin, has again become the favorite
resort of members OF the royal family.
The aged Dowager Empress takes her
daily walks there There seems little
life in the lettering gait, little vitality
in the wrinklad, care-worn face. Yet
her vanity is still boundless, and no
man has taken her portrait for over
thirty years, fact which explains the
surprise of foreigners who purchase
groups of the imperial family and find
the hoary widow looking younger
than ex-Empress Victoria.
Near the Dowager Empress, on her
afternoon walks, is another picture
which is in bright contrast to her and
often engages Her Majesty's atten-
ton = the frolics of her great
grandchildren. A part of the park has
been laid out for their use, and here,
true to the Hohenzollern blood, they
play soldiers in peace" The eldest,
Prince Frederic William, the ruler
| of Germany in the days of some
future Bismarck, now six years old,
| is commander-in-chief, and fully i'm
| pressed with the Importance of his posi-
ton. A few days ago he asked his
mother to have fort built for his
amusement, but was compelled to con-
tent himself with a guard-house in
| stead. Here he orders one of his
! brothers to stand watch, salute him as
he passes with the little wooden gun in
regular military fashion, and relieve
| him after duty by brother No. 2. At
| other times he drills them and, dressed
in his miniature uniform, demands UNI
conditional obedience on the part of
the junior Princes.
1t is amusing to see the perfection
with which the commands are executed
and hear the sonoroMs soprano of the
commander-in-chief, the high-sound-
ing language when d stomach is too
far forward or foot out of place at
Fright, d1ess!" The youngest boy 10
just out of the cradle; still he toddles
about, in his own peculiar way, and
gives promise OF future leader. The
+. father appears among them often, and
takes command, degrading the eldest
son to the ranks for the time being.
But this he accepts with pride, desir-
GUS to show his own proficiency. He
will be well-drilled at the age of ten,
when all royal Princes receive theganls
of First T ia,,tanau+ ,Pban IL, a,..
! maEd will b. genuine. Berlin Letter.
St. Landry democrat., 1888-07-14

A Hit OF news 1nats w hAie FeEtectly Aos0~
ly, Was Awfully Surprising.
.'Oh, Kitty. I've something the best
to tell you!"
ssNo!n
''Oh, but haze, though"
s'Do tell me, quick!'
you'll never lisp it to any oae2"
mo iaadeedf'
Il wouldn't have you breathe 1t for
the world!n
'.Oh, aoont!'
..Not to any one, remember"
"No-I hope to die if do"
well, then-Oh, it seems so
funnyr'
..Oh, do hurry up and tell me-"
I'm afraid you'll tell.
s.Oh, indeed, indeed ! won't.
"I'd nerer forgive you if you did"
"Well. but I scon'tt .
HE might not like it, you know"
"Who's hep
ooh, I forgot! How foolish | amn'
ssAre you euer going to tell me?"
ES, NGG-1 SSttu ~ DOA1 ab
away that I'd tell you anyhow
well, do then"
well then-oh, you'll be agfully
surprised"
..Oh, do hurry and tell"
..Well-Irm-engaged!
s.No?"
"Yes!''
well, who top
ITO Charlie Lawson"
.'Why-LoL Brigham"
II am
.'Tee, hee, hee!'
t.Isn't it funny?a
why. you old darling"
Don't you congratulate mep"
s.Of course / do. Charles perfectly
lovely! I'm awtully glad fon YOU
both. Y
..Oh. Detroit Free Press.
St. Landry democrat., 1888-07-14
a THOUSAND SLAVES.
The Queer Stery of Rich Southern
Planters Financial Ruin.

The Queer Stery of a Rich Southern
Planters Financial Ruin.
Before the war no species OF prop
erty was more popular in the South
than slave property. The plantation
with many slaves was universally con-
sidered the leading investment. Inc
land, to be sure, could not always be-
turned into money, and there was a
tendency to hold on to an estate even
when the means of the family had van
ished. When the determination to
sell an estateshad finally, after much
sacrifice of pride, been reached, Gus
toner coild not always be found.
But slaves commanded the ready
cash at all tinTes. If the neighboring
planters were not buyers the traders
were always looking for likely negroes,
which the Mississippi plantations con-
sumed with an insatiate appetite.
Slaves being thus easily converted into
cash, the ambition to own great
many of them was quite common, and
the possessors of q roll of black chat
tells long enough to have kept Bob
Toombs busy for a couple of hours
calling off their names were consid-
cred fortunate beyond all others.
One planter living near Raleigh, N
c., had an ambition to surpass all
competitors. He fixed his limit at one
thousand slaves and bent all his ener-
gies to the rounding-up of his roll to
that figure. He bought all the likely
slaves offered. He was u rich man
and put all the money he had into
slaves Like all rich men OF the South
in those days, he was the custodian OF
the spare cash of his neighbors. That
was also put into slaves. This did not
diminish his credit, but increased it,
for the more slaves he had the more
evidence of safety for their funds his
creditors saw in his possession.
The roll grew longer and longer
Every week a family or b dozen OF III
dividual chattels were added The
natural increase was also large, us may
be judged from the factthat the writer
was told by an ex-slave woman that
she had borne twenty-five children.
When the number reached eight hun
bred the ambitious slave-owner saw
his darling project nearing success
full accomplishment. But money began
to get scare and the ratio
of increase diminished. Still the
figures mounted, and nine hundred was
passed, and the total slowly mounted
till the nineties were entered upon. AS
the war had then begun the progress
was slower. and at last only equaled
the natural decrease by death and rum
Always.
The one thousandth darby was many
times bought, but each time as he was
proudly brought to the plantation one
or two of the old ones died, or u lively
young buck escaped. And so it was
| that although the planter many times
was able at nightfall to figure up just
nine hundred and ninety-nine slaves,
| and many times added the one thou
sandth one on the next morning, he
never was able at nightfall to close the
| ber,
| This ambition proved to be the cause
| of his financial ruin AS victory after
victory crowned the Union soldiers,
| slave after slave departed, and at last
the emancipation proclamation ami
hilated all value in slaves. And so
when his neighbors asked for their
money he could only tell them it had
taken unto itself legs and walked off.
St. Landry democrat., 1888-07-14
Smiifhg Acquaintance.

20 mamma, said a little boy of four
years, rushing eagerly into the pres
enee of his mother, 1--we got ac-
guainted with the little boy that's
moved into the house next door,"
Have youpn replied the mother.
You have been playing together,
ihen?"
NO" replied the boy; "but there's
q hole in the fence, and / smiled
through it at him, and he smiled back
again; so were acquainted. ain: wea'
.-Touth's COMPANION.
St. Landry democrat., 1888-07-14
THE BEST TIME TO PROPOSE

When you have found the sweetest girl
In all the world to you,
And know that you give her love that will
last,
A love that will ever be true
When among the cluster of blooming girls
She seems the one queen rose
Then the very first chance that you can find
Is the very best time to propose.
/ met your mother one springtim boys,
And loved her in less than day;
But all the days of the summer passed
Before found courage to say
The simple words that sealed our fate,
Though oft to my lips they rose;
wanted more romantic time
Than could find to propose.
When we walked home from the village
church.
The brothers and sisters came. too;
never could find time to my TASTE
But said: This never will do;
may lose my lass If wait so long;
I will speak ere this day shall close"
So started out for my darling home,
With my mind made up to propose.
walked up the path beneath the trees,
And round to the kitchen door;
And there on the porch found the maid,
Fairer than ever before,
With the soapsuds fieckng round her white
arms.
For she was washing the clothes:
She was all alone. and said to myself:
NOW this is.the time to propose"
But what said shall not repeat
Each lover must find his own way;
But o! received an answer sweet,
Though never word did she say;
And had waited and dallied along,
Would have won her? Who knows?
I tell you, boys, when you've found your love
That then is the time to propose.
-A6be Rinne in ". Y. Ledger.
St. Landry democrat., 1888-07-14
Mamie had noticed that the duel

Mamie had noticed that the ducks
and chickens did not stay much togeth-
err. Not knowing that the ducks pre-
ferred the pond to the barnyard, she
ane day said: stAuntie, I think the
chickens treat The buckles real bad.
b'lieve they just won't 'soeiate with
them because they've got big feet and
such ugly noses. / couldn't treat my
friends that way just because they
don't look pretty. IN. I. World.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1888-11-02
4 Remedr Prnrided -Fmonrn

A Remedy Provided Frequently names
on tie poll-book are mis-spelled OF portion
Of the name left out, and in conseq vote
is lost, generally, it happens, il is a Republic
can vote The new registration law provides
a remedy by compelling the Clerk of the Cir.
cult Court to keep his office open to give GER
tilted copies from the registration books, and
the Judges are then compelled to receive the
vote upon presentation Of said certificate. The
following is the section;
Sec. 9. And be it further enacted That ia
case any error should he fognd in any Of the
poll books delivered to the judges OF election.
ia the name or address ofany voter, as the
same are set down upon the registration books,
a copy from the registration books, duly Car-
tilted by ,he Clerk Of the Circuit Court for tie
courty, or the superior court Of Baltimore
city, as the case may be, shall be accepted by
the juI ges Of election AS conclusive correc-
ton Of said error, and the voter presenting
said certificate shall be entitled to vote there
or, notwithstanding such error on the poll
books. precisely AS if aid error had not been
made, and il shall be the duty Of the said
CLERKS respectively, to issue said certificates
free Of charge 20 the parties applyiagsthefeiur,
aud the cost thereof shall sc paid 10 said clerk
by the county commissioners, OF the mayor
svd the city council of Baltimore, rs the case
NAV bc: and it shall be the duty OF the sad
clrrk to keep his office open on the day Of
election from the hour of nine m. 10 .he
hour Of five =. "a for the purpose q issu'u-
such certificates to these votecs who may APP
ply for them.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1888-11-02
ncmocrnt vs.. RepuhlIenn Rnle.

UtmVtIdN w. RtHuUAttAu hulf.-
Republican mssrule IN this county, as they
call Il, "a continually condemned BY Demo-
Gratis, and an that Is mean. vile and fraudu-
lent, is charged to members Of the Resabli-
can party. But during the whole Of the time
they were in power, there was never an in.
stance where legal voter, Democratic or Re-
publican, WAS deprived Of his right 70 vote by
any technieality. Nov that the 'tmnaen-
late have control Of both election and regis
tratiOn siscaiaerY what IS tile result Men
known to Ire Republicans are each year strick-
en- fsoan the list Of qualified voters, and Dem
ocrbts who are away under the same circum-
stances are allowed to remain on the list -
Judges OF election exclude votes clearly anqli-
Eed II Republican tenders. his ballot and
calls out only one christian naTne, should ne
have two, he is gravely Informed that his
hame does not appear Oh the list. TIE voter
may he, ald "a nearly every instance. is
knowa by the Judges to be iegal voter. vet
when he informs the judges thath Ne has. A mid
die name or that he has Bis-cailed il. he,is
still not permitted TO exercise his right OF
franchise All ksOV chat registration aud
election laws were enacted for the purpose Of
fraudulent voting, and not 10 de-
privs any qualified voter from exercising his
privilege The judges Of election have ali the
power Of judges in the courts and liza man
tenders his vote aud mis-calls his name or only
gives a portion Of the same, the Judges Of cleo
tion cad under the law receive the vote If the
party Ientcnug the same swetrs that lie made
mistake OF course the registration or cleo
ton officer who deprives any man Of his vote
by tethnicility or otherwise is guilty Of per
Jury. But there Is one consolation, If these
officers 50 act "Barnie" who 80 hates dirty
things will be too honorable to take his seat
in Congress, should he be returned, gotten
under such circumstances