davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-04-07
Fuueral Notices.

Editor OF the FREE TRADER; Perhaps
II would not DO unwelcome TO some ofy our
readers TO call attention TO q custom that
had supposed TO be peculiar 10 Ottawa. !
we'll remember the first time was In OF
tawa nothing impressed me so oddly as a
great number of funeral notices pasted up
In various conspicuous places II was not
only new but somewhat repulsive sight
though the bill was note size. Afterward
In Il residence of five years became &C
customed 10 II, but though frequently en-.
CURED It's origin and questioned Its utility II
remained an insulated and unexplainsble
fact. OF course anything connected with
the disposal Of the dead Is more Il matter
of precedent than anything else In life ex
cept, perhaps, certain matters OF religion
In the various indices of literary reference,
there are a surprising number OF articles
on the customs attending the burial OF the
dead, These are written In almost every
strain Of thought from history and philos
ophy, TO humor and ridcule. In none of
them accessible, do find any reference to
this public funeral notice.
The other day while in New Orleans,
the following funeral notice met my aston.
ished gaze, tackled up at almost every cor
ner in the French quarter. 1t may be
supertluous to add that the deceased was a
relative of Mrs James Brown Potter,
though 1t may add to It's interest somewhat:
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-04-07

Many women are prevented by feelings
Of delicacy from consulting physician In
those disorders arising from functional
arrangement of her peculiarly delicate
organism, and the most serious results are
often caused by this neglect. To such
persons DR.. Pierce's Favorite Prescription
IL an especial boon, as II offers a sure and
safe cure for all those distressing disorders
to which women are peculiarly subject,
while II saves modest girl OF woman from
the embarrassment of 9 personal consulta
ton with physician. "Favorite Pre-
scription" lie the only medicine for wO-
mans peculiar weaknesses and ailments
sold by druggists, under positive guaran-
tee from the manufacturers, that 1t will
give satisfaction In every case, or money
will be refunded. See guarantee on bottle
wrapper.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-04-07
Some one says that a remarkable INIT

Some one says that remarkable limits
ton of black walnut may be manufacture
from poor pine, the quality and appeal
ance of the article being such as to def
detection, except upon very close exsminss
ton. To accomplish this, enc part I
walnut peel extract is mixed with six par
Of water, and with thfosolution the woo.
ia coated. When the material is half dr.
A solution of bichromate of potash. vii
water, Is rubbed on 1t, and the made wa
nut Ia ready for use. .
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-04-07

License to marry has been issued to tn
following named persons: Michael Demk
and Clara Banks.
Frank LAX and Ann Mike.
Paul earns and Mary Hegeler.
Paul Lukas and Mary Buck.
Andrew Quackie and Mary Derishs.
John Gsllesath and Anna Z Friedrich.
Elmer E. Hyatt and Frances Z. Ballard.
Hiram Marquis and Kate Coax.
Leander l.. Turney and Lillian Baxter.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-04-07
Israel Mattbewsop. poor and ragged,

Israel Matthewson, poor and ragged. 81
honest, picked up two-dollar Lote 10 .
Sacramento bank seven years sgo ar,
handed II to the cashier, who was =
pleased with his honesty that he gave nj
q place to do chores around the pulling
Ma,thewson gradually rose until he to-
the place of his benefsctor, who diesi
To-day Israel Mstthewson Is the "lookou ;,
in faro bank In Montreal, and he kee'
that two dollar note as relic OF other q
happier days He mailed" 1t tie q
after he got his start.-Stdr.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-04-07

In some of the surburbs, the same Gus
tom prevails. Only the French element
perpetuate the custom. In the American
quarter 1t is rarely observed. In France
and all Latin countries, II is customary to
10 post the notice of funeral on the church
door, and to send written or engraved no.
tees faire poot) to all the friends of the
family asking them to assist at the funeral.
1t may be that the posted public notice at
one time, before the migration Of the early
colonists OF louisiana, was used In France
At any rate 1t is unknown now In the cities
frequepted by American travellers. We
might suppose that the necessity of
speedy burial In the warm climate Of New
Orleans, and the expense and difficulty of
distributing the notices, had resulted In
this modification of the Latin custom, but
for the fact that the same custom prevails
In many parts of Mexico and other Spanish
colonies. 1t Is probable that they had a
common parent in Europe.
Now the question arises, How did the
same custom appear in Ottawa non Latin
settlement, six hundred miles away from
apy place in which the same custom now
prevails?
We can not think Of spontaneous gen.
Grafton In these days. Not even such a
simple thing as this custom can arise in q
community without precedent or cause
II is probable that it was imported from
New Orleans, but how and why? Could
II have been established by some enterpris-
ing undertaken who saw In 1t a means of
advertising his business Was 1t brought
up the river on the palace steamers with the
New Orleans sugar and molasses when o.
tawa was the head of navigation and the
distributing point TO all the surrounding
towns, including Chicago?
This latter seems to nae M re likely. New
Orleans was looked upon as the seat OF all
refinement as we'll as the commercial CEN
ire of the northwest. The railroads have
changed all this. We forget in these days
that it was only half century ago that the
Mississippi was the inlet and the outlet OF
all these central states, and that Ottawa,
like st. Paul, was the head of navigation
and great distributing point. The infiu-
ence of New Orleans then was like that of
Chicago now. How easy to import from
the commercial 'ntre little q ough, fo'-
eign. custom like this. Until some better
explanation is offered, this must remain
the answer.
am told also that there is little vagary
practiced by your sexton in interments
which q good orthodox minister has
begged to have abandoned in cases where
he officiates. Now | say. Let alone"
Why need we as nation be reduced to
the point of uniformity at which New Eng
lander cannot say, 81 never heard of such
thing"9 and psuedo-philosopher can
not apply the latest fact of science on 10
cal idiosyncrasy.
Very truly and respectfully,
BAYARp HOLMES, NJ. d.
1885 Bowen Ave-, Chicago, Ill.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-04-07

Nine Christine Nilsson will close her
public career by singing at Albert Hall,
London, May 25 and June 20.
The reigning fad In the East is anna.
teur theatricals, and since Lent has closed
the announcement Of performances appear
by the column. The Herald says: THE
alarming prevalence of tho amateur the
atrical craze seems TO render 1t probable
that Shakespeare had in mind the present
epoch when he wrote, All the worlds a
stage" At least the players are coming to
outnumber the other classes in society,
and there is general ambition to be mum.
bered among them. At the present rate of
progress 1t will not be long before the line
between professionals has entirely dissp-
pesred, and with 1t, 1t is to be hoped, the
last remnant Of prejudice against the
mimic art"
Clara Morris, speaking of actors and act
ing recently, said: THE really great actor
must be capable of doing something more
than to merely touch the biggest fool Of
the audience. He must make his audience
absolutely forgetful of itself and he him.
self the direct and not the indirect cause
of the emotional state into which 1t is
thrown. To do this the actor must be
himself person of intense feeling and
must for the time at least experience the
emotion he is seeking to portray, Really
great acting is matter of feeling rather
than of reasoning intelligence, and l doubt
whether an actor who studies and puzzles
over the subtleties of the authors meaning
is not In danger of checking the NANTES
tations of his own bistriOnic sense. No
amount of art can make up the want OF
one real touch of nature"
A country editor, clothed in the majesty
of his universal knowledge of things, and
out very little else, presumed to say OF
Mrs. Potter, "She's very beautiful wo
man, but she can't act" Then Mrs. Pot
ter replied, "You have very beautiful rec
whiskers, but you can't WRITE"
Mrs. Frank Leslie has so many offers o.
marriage that she has regular printed
blank dsclinipg them. 1t Is to the effec.
that she will never marry anyone until she
finds someone greater than her late hus..
band. This is calculated to take the starch
out of some men who are accustomed q
think that Frank Leslie never did anything
in life that was so becoming TO him as TIL
taking of and leaving widow who IN
kinked the coil he had got his bushes
into
Stories OF two bulldogs come from tha,
West. One of the dogs lives in SPRING.
held. Mo-, and when the fire burns low n
the fireplace before which he is accus
toned to lie, he goes to the woOdshed, get
a stick of wood and puts 1t on the Goals
The other dog lives in Racine, Wis, am
was not as Intelligent as the Missouri dog
He tried 10 jump through swiftly revolv.
ing fly wheel and, 1t is said, partly sue !,
ceeded. Pat of him got through, and tn
other parts went of In different directions. .
Dental ethics are peculiar but inexor,
BILE. A dentist In Penn ylvania advertise .
for a wife aud got one worth $5OOVn
without forfeiting his standing In thty
profession, while Wisconsin dentist why
advertised for customers was elected fr' IT.
the state association.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-04-07

A few years ago the swinging gates were
removed from Washington square and the
entrances left wide open for pedestrians
Now, the gates at the south west and north
east corners are replaced and firmly locked
while the other two corners are still with
out gates. This Is a careless trick. Some
fellow will discover It sooner or later and
get inside the square in spite of the au-
thorities.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-04-07

The New York Weekly Herald, containing
an impartial epitome each week Of the move
ments Of oil political parties. will be mailed
to any address in the United States or Cana
da, from June 9th until after the presiden,
tisl election, for 40 cents. After all, the
great newspaper Of America is the Herald,
and probably it has no superior in the world.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-04-07
OUR AGENTS.

TBK FREr TRADER may be obtained AT the following
,sees by tho single copy or subscriptions viii be taken
Ior any length Of ume at the regular rates
r. H. PooLER, Serena ILL.,
1RowBRIpGR, Marsees.
d. H. UNDERHILL, Seneca
GEORGE II. HfRGKE, for Troy uro,e, ophlr ana wal
ham Address, Troy Grove
Postmaster AT Leland
Postmaster at Tcnica
Postmistress at Ransom.
postInssters are authorized to receive subscriptions
Al all postotfces IN this county.
OASyAssISG A0EST1
Wanted In every town Ia l., Sale county. Liberal
90 nmissions paid In cuh. Write for terms, sending
references IN all cases.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-04-07

A private letter from Nevada, Vernon
Co., Mo, states that gardens are being
made, and grass looking fresh and green.
Nevada is only "a miles south west of Fort
Scott, and for fifteen years past, the price
of peaches there has averaged from 40c 10
SOC for heaping bushel basket full.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-04-07
CItIBBING RATES.

The following club rates will BE- made only 10 SUP
rbers 10 the FREE TRADER who pay up all arearages
and one year in advance and 10 new subscribers No
others are entitled to the "cut rates" and no others
will be given these low prices The price named below
J. for both the FKEE TRADER and the publication
tanned for one year for less than one year
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-04-07

Dogs are not allowed to pick their com
pany. That is why you often see $75
dog out WALL Ing with fifteen cent man.
Yonker's Gazette.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-04-07
An Exploded Idea.

had searched through the aisles Of the past
Borrowed hope from the lore OF sages,
While cOnceivng this idea to last
And astonish in future ages.
longed to engrave for me q name
As gem in a coronet OF worth.
Not won by momentary flame,
But lasting dc the granite OF earth.
For saw emblazoned before me
Living gems from authors inspired;
And strange destinations crept DER me,
Till my BRAN with rythem was tired;
And my star of hope shown brighter
dreamed Of fame on gilded pages,
The clouds rolled by, my heart grew lighter,
Yes, ] would be counted then with sages
then invoked the "muses" to share
My strong desire for reputation;
Fervently prayed them to hear my prayer
And exalt me among nation.
With mental faculties all aglow
seized my pen poem to write;
Believing that from my pen would flow
Real gems Of poetical light.
so day after day worked with zeal,
Measuring each line with anxious care;
Thinking my poem nations veal,
And troubles vanished in mid air.
To the editor then quickly sped,
With this, my first inaugural;
The miserable wretch, he scratched his head
And all he said was" doggeral!"
W. d. ".
Again has the African explorer startled
the world. This time it is new poison,
called Strophantus. Its advantage over
Streator whisky is that it is painless in its
effects, though death is prolonged about an
hour.
He was from Streator, and as he seated
himself upon the bailtf 8 desk in the County
Court room, he put on reflective air and
said: 81 never stole a case but once that
was ser eral years ago. You see, was awful
hard up-hadn't red, and as sat in my
office, cudgeling my brain to raise something
at my uncle's, q bright vision Of beauty float
cd before my gaze like an autumn sunset.
"Is this Walter Reeves office ?" asked the
vision, as it changed its quid from the left
side to the right.
Here was my chance. Reeves Office WAS
across the hall "Reeves? HIM! Who the
blazes is Reeves? Nobody in Streator by
that name. Must have been misinformed."
Dunno Man down the street said he was
up here. and l wanted him to make out q
will And the vision smiled sudibly.
"No one around here named Reeves, I'm
sure"
Cant you do It ?"
Could i! Didn't /! That ten dollars
was like unto the loaves and fishes of ancient
time. paid two weeks board and reveled
in Injuries. Reeves never would have missed
it nyway.
"Hellor' it said, as it Familiarity shook
the hand Of st. Peter. What place Is this!'
This is heaven
"H'm! Can't 60 any higher than this?'
"No place any higher than heaven. Who
are you. anyhow"
"l'm the gall Of Rose"
-.
Scene-The sanctum ssnctorium Of great
Strestor daily.
Time-Springtime.
Embryo Strestor Journalist (Refectingly)
-" Boss, il it we're customary to confer
titles upon men who rank in literature, what
would bei'
Chief {, ersely y" Baron Of Ideas
A big Chicago shoe house is authority for
the statement that the sizes Of misses button
CATERS shipped to La Sale are rarely, if
ever, under No 6, but are marked Is, with
the additional character "a 212," which
means " add four"
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-04-07
To NAIL SUBSCRIBERS.

Please be certain that She date on the name isoe on
,our paper indicates the time 10 which you have p"'a
your subscription. Ifitdoes not please monty usmhe'
d,aely In keeping these accounts with somany di"er
,nt subscribers errors liable 10 occur and We 'ake
this method to keep correct accounts with n"ll SUP
scrbers 1.-THE label is not corrected within
amer We should have received payment please monty us
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-04-07

Cash In advance must be paid for both papers, or no
tention Sill be- paid TO orders for the same
Entered at he PO.t ODice at Otidnd. IHtnOts, as
Second Cldss MAJ Ndtter,
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-04-07

A big Chicago shoe house is authority for
the statement that the sizes Of misses button
CATERS shipped to La Sale are rarely, il
ever, under No. 6, but are marked rs, with
the additional character "A 2x2," which
means add four
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-11-29

Why We May as Well Confess That We
Have Been Guilty of Many.
Reader, dids't thou ever know any mortal
creature, man, woman or child, that had
really good temper? If so, you have the
advantage over the rest of mankind.
There may be good tempers, to be sure.
You, courteous reader, say decidedly that
there are; we will not dispute, but rely
upon it yours is not an example. Nothing
personal is meant, of course. Although you
have now the luster of good nature spread
over your fine features, benevolence in your
beaming eyes, and the sweetest of sweet
smiles upon your lips, depend upon it there
is little tartar about you. And you may
further depend that, if there were not,
your other qualities would be "WlShy
washy''-mere milk-and-water.
You might not choose to remember all the
pranks you have played from the hour of
your birth; but your poor mother and your
unfortunate nurse will never forget your
squallings.
How often has your mother. kind-hearted
woman, in her solicitude, made the nurse
unfasten your clothes and take all the
pins out! You yelled constantly, as if you
always had a pin in your back. But 1T was
all the same, whether you had or not; cry
you would, and you know 1t. You had no
consideration for those about you. How
many times have you pinched and scratched
you torn the unhappy kitten nearly in half,
or tried your best to pull out her tail by the
rootss Tell me that and you talk Of tenn
per, forsooth!
Did you never needIessly quarrel with
the girl that dearly loved you (and whose
heart was pierced by your unkindness) to
crafty your temper and show your poswera
Did you never make your wife miserable,
and afraid to look at youa Did you never
thump your child for the tricks you have
often performed yourself, eh? Tell me that,
or refer me to those who have known and
watched your progress.
All this and more you have done, it is
likely, but you are silent and charitable
when dear self is concerned. Tell you the
same things of another, and what will you
say thens You will be virtuously indignant
and justly severe. You viii try to deceive
yourself, and thank Heaven you have
never done the like But there are those
you can not deceive, and before whom you
could not, for very shame, deny it. If YOU
are Of the male part of the community, you
have done all that has been described; if of
the s. softer sex,'' you have done as much
only in a different way.
Who has not done it? Who is there
better than others, though all court the
reputation of being 500 Better confess
the truth that others may profit land may
be ourselves il we are not too far gomez By
the exposure Of our faults.-M +. Led0a.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-11-29
WOMAN'S PETTY SPITE.

"Bab" Chats Instructively About mo
Weakness of Her Sisters.
The woman of to-day is not as nos
as black as she is painted, for, after
all, she has SO many things to interest
her that she does not indulge ia O.
much scandal as does her brother. IL
is my private opinion that if any wick
ed. malicious rumor is followed up Is
will be found that a man is at the boz
tom of ia man who is probably dis
liked by women and who aveeges hime
self in that way. Women say littlns
tantalizing things, just as small dogs
snap at you under the impression thai
they are doing a great deal of harm;
but men do not hesitate to tell great
big untruths that are like the bite of q
bull-dog-they cut far in and leave
scars. Most of us have heard unpleaS-
ant things of OurselveS-moSt of uss
being what the world calls supersen-
sitive. have shed bitter tears over the
yelping mongrels, that it would have
been wise for us to have scorned. Bue
until the world is made all over again
unkind words, untruthful stories are
going to hurt, and they will hurt just
so much more when the woman whom
you thought your friend repeats them
to you.
It always seems as if this were the
way: it always seems as if one wanted
to get down on ones knees and pray
to be delivered from friends and grant
ed only acquaintance. It is usually
the man in whom you believed or the
woman to whom your confidence has.
been given who has managed to
Convey a libel with a frown,
Or wink reputation down
Bah, in My Star.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-11-29
A Unique Time Table.

General Superintendent Adams. OF
the Fitehburg road, has unique time
table thatsis little more extensive
than those used on other railroads in
the country. 1t consists of a large
board, nine feet long by six feet high.
suspended on a substantial standard.
It is painted black, and is divided
lengthwise by narrow yellow lines into
twenty-four divisions, representing the
hours of the day, while other lines di-
vide it horizontally into miles. Four
inches are allowed to each hour, and
one-half inch to each mile. On one
side the names of the fifty-nine sta
tions from Boston TO North Adams,
inclusive, appear at the proper dis
tances apart. ColSred threads are
stretched across the board to repre-
senger trains, blue for express freight
trains, and white for ordinary freight.
Black-headed pins indicate each stop
ping place of the several tsains, and
small circular tags at the terminal
bear the number of the train. By fol-
lowing a thread representing any
specified train, its location at any hour
is readily seen, as well as the schedule
rate of speed per hour. Whenever it
is desired to change the running OF a
train a Encouragement of the pins is
easily made, thus showing at a glance
whether the proposed change will in
terfere with any other train--M y.
.Szu
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-11-29

Of the little troop Of heroes, foremost OF
whom was Harry Winthrop.
It was an unequal contess and could have
had but one ending when, with a wild cheer,
q squadron Of cavalry came laundering to
the rescue. Mosby's men, as usual, when
outnumbered, fed to the woods with the
Federal troopers hard q: their heels. One
man Of them, who had been leading spirit
at the train-wreckirg, separated himself
from the rest and boldly rode down the
valley; and burying his spurs in his horses
tanks Harry Winthrop sped after him.
Both pursuer and pursued were wcn-mount-
ed, and nearly two miles werc passed with
out any percepible lessening or increas-
ing difference Of the hundred yards
which separated them. Over and over
again Harry could have brought the
fleeing enemy down with his carbine,
but he saw that the man had fired his last
round Of ammunition and was defenseless