davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-24

him. Then hekissed his daughter fondly,
and wondered whether she would, in her
turn, be mistress of household in which he
could feel himself proper occupant Of q
chair at a Thanksgiving dinner The holida-
day was only two weeks ahead, and it would
not bring additional duties to the pastor, be-
cause the church edifce was being repaired,
and sermon services were intermitted.
"Why not let's 60 to Madawaska for
Thankseiving?" Mary suddenly exclaimed.
ssWhere is that?' he asked. SIT sounds
like missionary service in the Sandwich
Islands,"
''No, no, it is in the Adirondack region,
close BY Paulsmitts, where spent q month
last summer. Ny college chum, Martha
Pierson. lives there, and had letter only
Yesterday beseeching me to come to her and
bring you along. 1t Is delightful up there
in winter ss we'll as summer, you know, and
we would have q right good time. Be
sides" and she stopped short.
Besides? Well.
"Besides, o project flashes upon me.
There's ehanee-just the faintest glimmer
of chance-to bring an estranged family
together for Thanksgiving dinner. Why
not make the experiment and I?'
'sOh, but do you realize the difficulty Of
such a task?" said the good but cautions
clergyman. "You must know that in sue
cssslll diplomacy between alisnatsd parties
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-24
IF YOU TOUCH ME I'LL TELL.
A Wise Man Pats a Tell Tale on His
Whisky Bottle.

A Wise Man Pats Tell Tale on His
Whisky Bottle.
Boston Globe.I
"A few days before the election little
incident happened which mortified me
deeply" said business man to the writer.
SIT happened in this way" he continued.
''You see, had some business to transact
with one of the candidates for the Legisla-
ture, and, as it was something important, 1
was forced to go out to his house to see him,
It was quite late when 1 arrived there, and
I guess he had gone to bed. At any
rate the servant who opened the door
showed me into the parlor to wait for his
master. was Obliged to wait some time,
and while doing this amused myself look
ing at the pictures and other ornaments
about the room. On the center table, among
books and other bric-a-brac. stood a big
fancy decanter filed with liquor which
looked like whisky. 1t was curious look
ing decanter, and on one side was some
fancy lettering which could not make out.
Being rather curious to find out what it said
lifted the decanter up from the table and
tipped it up SO that the light fell on the
lettering. It said: ''If you touch me I'll
tell"
'Curious, wasn't it? But sure enough it
did tell, for I had scarcely had time to read
the lettering when nv ears were greeted
with the tones of Johnny, Get Your Gun
There was music box hidden in the bottom
of the decanter, and when it is tipped the
machinery starts and the music begins.
"You can Judge for yourself how sur
prised and chagrined was, for had never
seen the master OF the house before, and he
would have fine opinion of me for my
20 = a = n 2 4
the tune he walked into the parlor, and
gave me curious smile when he heard that
music box. 1t seemed as If it would never
stop. tried to make some sort Of an apol-
ogy, but made bull of it know, though
now can't think for the life of me what I
said.
HE saw how confused was and laughed
It of, saying that it was an oddity he had
found in New York"
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-24

the fire with the face downward. It is COW
cred with ghee, or clarified butter, to make
it burn, and the wood used varies with the
cost of the funeral. A rich man will send
his soul to heaven with sandal wood, while
o poor man takes what he can buy.
The domes sell everything connected with
the cremation, and to be chief dome of big
city is q money-making position. One Of
the richest men in Benares is the head of the
undertakers, and he has made his money in
this way. There is q regular charge for
burning, and the ordinary cost of crema-
ton is less than 81. Funerals in India are,
however, very expensive, and presents are
given away by the nearest relatives of the
deceased to those who come to the funeral.
A Rsjah of Calcutta not long ago spent
$3.50, 900 in burning his father. and rich
families often spend as high as 500, 900 in
this sort of fireworks.
THE GARB OF SORROW.
White is the morning garb throughout the
far East. The Hindoo sor whose father dies
must not shave nor wear shoes or shirts or
anything except piece of white cloth dur
ing the period of mourning. You see China
men dressed in white moving among the
gaily dressed throngs of every Chinese city.
And when 3 Chinaman is in mourning he
braids white silk into his hair, and has even
the soles OF bis shoes painted white. He en-
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-24

the housekeepers bring in to the table the
smoking meat The musicians win take
their places, and the gay groups viii move
up and down the floor. AL the friends and
neighbors are gathered in, and extra supply
is sent out to the table Of the servants. The
father presides at the table, and says grace,
and thanks God that his long absent boy is
home again. Oil how they missed him;
how glad they are TO have him back One
brother indeed stands pouting at the back
door and says, "This is q great ado about
nothing; this bad boy should have been
chastened instead OF greeted; veal is too
good for himR' But the father says, Moth
ing is too good, nothing is good enough. !"
There sits the young man, glad at the hearty
reception; but with shadow of sorrow fitting
across his brow at the remembrance Of the
trorAle he had seen. All ready now. Let
the covers lift. Music. He was dead and
he is alive againl He was lost and he is
found.
But the chairs at the Thanksgiving table
are not always 50 easily filled; and this story
shall tell how the Rev. John Bernan and
his daughter Mary undertook to compose
family party for last Thanksgiving Day.
Mary Bernan was fair-haired and blue
eyed girl. only a year past her graduation at
Vassar; and now she was with her father In
a New York boarding house, all in all to
each other, for they had no near relatives.
To be sure, there was Arthur Mulford, who
might and might not become much to Mary.
Bnt of that later In this narrative.
"I wish we could have q real, genuine
family Thanksgiving dinner" Mary re-
marked to her father.
spThere are families enough in my congre-
CATION" Mr.. Bernan replied, ''and plenty
Of dinners to which we might be welcome,
but don't think we can command exactly
what you are longing for.
The clergyman sighed softly in memory Of
a time when 8 wife had made home for
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-24

the substantial estate Of Job Andrews
would descend to these favorite and needy
relatives. They already had in view an ad-
vantageous investment-Davy In hotel in
the Adirondacks, and Arthur in establish
ing himself as q lawyer. Their uncle
seemed disposed to aid them during his
lifetime, when all at once stroke Of apo
plexy carried him of. The neighborhood
shared the amazement Of the Mulford boys
on learning that he bequeathed all his prop
erty to his already well-to-do nephew.
Henry Pierson. The latter alone felt no
surprise. Prosperous people never are as
toDished when luck happens to augment
their success. He calmly bought land that
he had been eoTeting. He made no change
in his steady habits, but continued to
live in his house at Madawaska, an
isolated building in the edge Of the wilder
ness, and surrounded like hermitage by
huge stone wall. This property was bounded
on two Of its sides by the roadway. Pierson
used TO 20 back and forth over this road to
the railroad station and country store every
day. leaning on his hickory cane, and clad
in his unalterable and singular costume,
combining the Adirondacks Woodsman and
city man. As to the Mulfrod brothers,
the disinherited nephews, It would be un-
derstating the case to say that they were
surprised. Their disappointment at once
gave way to fury against their lucky cousin.
Arthur Is big hot-tempercd fellow and he
loudly spoke his complaints and aecusa-
tions. He talked Of intrigues. Of inveigle-
ment, in short Of everything that can be
said in such case; and he threatened pub
liclv to make it hot for Pierson; but his
better nature, and good sense, soon silenced
him, and he said no more in public about
it."
Mary might have told, also, that her own
gentle influence had been exsrted in the
matter.
ssBut Dayy Mulford is a very different
sort Of individual, !" she went on. He had
upon his conscience the shooting Of deer out
Of season, barroom brawls and other scan
daIoVs stories. He had neither the educa-
ton nor the aspirations Of Arthur. His bad
disposition betrayed itself by nl-natured
jests carefully prepared and tricks Of cool
malice to revenge his dislikes. These de-
vices were sometimes 80 droll that even his
victims felt constrained to laugh. Thee COM
munity easily pardons man who keeps it
amused, and folks said: "Oh, that's only
another joke from that loafer Davy. After
the death Of Job Andrews he became more
silent than ever and ceased to Jest He was
devouring his rage internally, thought
The two brothers used to disagree in their
chagrin. Davy would say: You are a reg
ulaf old woman How can any one submit
30 meekly TO this villainy2 II you had only
half as much courage as I have We would
make our cousin pay dear for bis inherit
anee. Complaining does no good, Arthur
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-24

Why Live Stock Should Have Warm GAR
ments In Cold Weather.
Washington Post.1
'It might sound very odd to most people
when suggestion is made that horses and
stock generally should wear clothes, - said
M. P. Key, the agent of the Humane Soci-
ETY., ''but that is one of the innovations that
is sure to be reached in time. In Norway
they now have their cattle Craze while COW
cred with blankets yet we in the United
States ignore such methods of pro-
ducing good results in the treatment
of stock. A COW that has been
giving liberal supply of milk dur
ing the summer, will continue giving the
same quantity If. when the chill air of JAN
uary comes along, she is kept warm, but if
that is not done, the supply will fall of.
There is livery stable keeper in this town
who declared to me some time ago that he
believed that horses should wear night
shirts, and that they would be just as bene-
fetal to them as they are to men,"
"What are the styles of clothing that you
would CONSIDERABLY"
"They should be made warm enough to
keep them comfortable from the time cold
weather sets in until it has passed, and
should be made to fit the animals for which
they are intended"
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-24
SUPERSTITIONs OF TIE HINDOOs.
Watching for Signs of Good and Evil
Import.

Watching for Signs of Good and Evil
Import.
The Hindoos are early risers. In the warm
season-extending from April to October
they seep either upon the housetop or in
the courtyard, or in the veranda If rain
should be threatening, and are usually up
at o'clock or earlier in the, morning. In
the cold weather, when they sleep within
doors, they rise late, but they are out before
z. Rising in the morning while but half
awake the Hindoo repeats the name of Ra-
ma several times. Happening to yawn, he
Immediately fllips his thumb and middle
finger, though he does not know why. He
prepares for his morning toilet. He plucks
a twig from the bitter Neem tree, breaks off
span length of it, crushes one end between
his teeth and extemporizes a tooth brush.
He next draws up water from the well in
the yard with an iron bucket, and prepares
to wash his hands and face. This is quickly
done. He then throws on an extra gar
ment, the thickness and texture depending
on the season and weather, lights his hooka,
takes few pulls with his euphonious hub
ble-bubble, and is ready to go out. With a
passing "Rama, Rama" to friend or ac-
quainfance. and neighborly gossip by the
way, he repairs to his place of business.
While going he will seduously avoid those
signs and sounds which may augur ill for
the day. Should one sneeze, or should he
hear the cawing of a crow, or the cry of
kite, or should he meet an oil man, or one
blind or lame, or see cat cross his path, he
would be greatly distressed as to the day be-
fore him. On the other hand, if fox
crosses his path, if he hears gong or shell
summoning him to worship, or if he meets a
Brahman with his head uncovered, he would
rejoice, hailing it as auspicious. Some are
so superstirious that if any evil portent
occurs on the way they return home, have
q smoke, or chew betel leaf, and proceed
AZ.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-24

and festivity. Something has happened in
the old homestead greater than anything that
has ever happened before. The family is re-
united, we will say. A fayorite son, whom
the world supposed would become vaga-
bond and outlaw forever, has got tired of
sightseeing, and has returned to his fathers
house. The world said he never would come
back. The old man always said his son
would come. He had been looking for him
day after day, and year after
year. He knew he would come
back. Now, having returned to his fathers
house, the father proclaims celebration.
There is a calf in the paddock that has been
kept up and fed to utmost capacity so as to
be ready for some occasion of joy that might
come along. Ahl There never will be
grander day on the old homestead than this
day. Let the butchers do their work, and
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-24

the go-between must be characterized bv
wisdom, tact and delicacy. You sometimes
have seen very good man go in and try to
settle dispute, and he has bIundered in the
matter, he has made dreadful failure. and
if there were ten degrees Of violence before,
after his work there were hundred degrees
OF violence between the parties. There must
be wisdom, tact and delicacy for q media
tor"
'Then victory would be all the more tri-
umphant."
Mr.: Bernan was taken with the idea, and
especially because he remembered that his
father had been famous peacemaker. II
do not think 1 put 1t too strongly be
mused, "when say that my father never
attempted to settle dispute but he settled
1t. remember how he would bring the two
antagonists to our house, and would hear
conversation in the adjoining room, and
there would be imprecation and loud talk
ing, and it seemed as ii the parties were
about to annihilate each other. Then there
would be quiet, and then would hear
my fathers voice in prayer, and then the
door would open and the two contestants
would walk out arm in arm. He had
wisdom, and he had tact, and he had deli
cacy."
'.But my grandfather had no good quality
which my father has not" and MarySs
gentle aattery was very convincing.
We'll. tell me all the circumstances, and
we will see."
"When the will Of Job Andrews was
opened there was q surprise, so Mary be-
gan to narrate. Mr.. Andrews owned some
lands In the Adirondacks, and not long be-
fore his death the discovery Of iron ore on
It made the property valuable. He had
three nephews. One Of them, Henry Pier
son, came to New York, made q fair fortune.
and then went back to the edge Of the
Adirondacks to live. His health was Door.
and so he concluded to give up business. do
q little farming and find recreation in the
hunting and fishing which the region of his
boyhoOd Afforded He is now 90 years old.
1t was his daughter who roomed with me at
Yassar, and whom visited last summer.
Mr.. Pierson is not a charming man, yet he
loves his wife and daughter, and is very
good to them. To outsiders he is ant to be
gruf and repeIlant.
The other nephews Of Job Andrews were
the brothers, Mulford, Arthur and David.
They were sons of the younger sister. They
had tried all sorts Of occupation. but had
not prospered. Davy Mulford was shiftless.
He liked to hunt and fish, and his principal
employment was that of an Adfrondaeks
gu1ues DIS uncle used TO overlook his esca-
pades and seemed to have a weakness tor
him. AS to Arthur MulfordN"
Here Mary stopped, and gave q quick
glance at her father; but if he discerned in
her hesitancy any evidence of the girls
particular interest in Arthur Mulford he
did not show it.
THAT is the young man who was here
last winter?" Mr.. Bernan said. II liked
him. He seemed fine fellow"
About 26, or i've years older than
Davy."
An educated young man, and with good
aspirations. He told me, remember. that
he was about to go % Utica to settle down
to the practice Of the law, which he had
studied"
"And I'm sure he viii succeed. But he
was greatly disappointed by his uncle's will.
Nobody at MadaWaska felt any doubt that
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-24
PAGES 10 20.

would argue, and We may as well Be quiet
But am afraid that he hated PisEson in
tensely
s'After the completion Of the legal formal
tiles the Surrogate at Ogdensburg sum-
moned the legatee to his Office to take pos
session of the property Of the testator. Il
was on Saturday, and the town was full Of
people. Toward evening Henry Pierson,
who had just finished the business Of h1s
inheritance entered village oyster house.
He took his seat at an unoccupied table and
called for something to eat. Dsvy Mulford
was in the same restaurant for meal.
"sWell, there Is one individual who has
nothing to trouble him. remarked .
lounger, referring to Pierson. 7 met him
not long ago at Squire Moore's Office, get
ting the deeds TO the old Homer tract. He
is investing his new wealth promptly
"Davy, with eyes diIated BY wrath, looked
ixedly at his cousin. Without removing his
glance an instant, he forced his hearers 70
listen to an enumeration OF insulting aIlu-
sions and scarcely disguised abuse, the OBJ
ject Of which It was easy to comprehend.
Finally the exasperated heir interrupted
him with
, "You are a liarP'
'Davy was only waiting for this proyoca-
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-24

ton. With one bound, 50 I was told, he
rushed at the table Of Pierson, disgorging
in hot words all the anger which had been
choking him. As his cousin, . rather COW
ardly man, made motion as If to seize his
cane. Davy attacked him with his two stout
fists. After some moments Of pugilisiie *
ercise; poor Pierson was borne of the field,
bruised and mangled, splitting ont tssth, and
bleeding from the nose, mouth and ears.
They put the victim into the train and sen.
him home, though not until after he bad
made 3 complaint Of the circumstances b.
fore justice Of the peace.
"DaVY decidedly relieved By this perform
ance, went home with lighter heart than be
had known for many aday.
ssDo you know" said be to his brother,
"that rascal Hank Pierson has been after
the old mans money to-day, but have just
finished little piece Of work for him which
he viii have reason to remember"
Arthur shrugged his shoulders. "A
great gain you have made, too he said.
''Yon don't find him rich enough as be il,
but you want to pay him damages. into the
bargain. When people rsVengs themselves.
my boy, they mustn't do things By halves "
He didn't mean to incits Davy to reVenqc.
am sure, but warned him. when be told
me OF it, that mischief might come Of T.
Well, Plerson had to keep to his room for
some days. and did not appear outdoors IN
til the end Of the following week; and that
was just before came away. So you see
how ugly the situation was Wh8n LEFT i
and Mary sighed over it
You are right, Mr.. Bernan responded
s,Itseems hard case. Are you sure W
would be welcome guests 70 the Eiel1oh1l"
''Martha's letter viii oonVinos You. She
declares that she and her mother are lone
some, and that her father joins heartily il
the invitation"
'Very we'll We viii go--seffshly. for
holiday. but also with the good mission q
peacemakers."
We are to try TO seat the three cousins
amicably at one Thanksgiving table2''
"Yes; but We must recognizes the lact that
in order to accomplish successfully dipIom-
acy there must be perseverance, and deter
mination amid all obstacles. II you have
ever tried it you have found out thal the
toughest thing to do is 10 settle dispuis.
You 90 to one Of the parties and yoa make
q proposition. He says never, neTerf You
60 to the other party and y0u propose
reconciliation. He says: i viii die first,
You give up the attempt But man With
q Christian perseverance, and determina1Ion
comes and he keeps at il. So We wiz ~.
Three days later the Rev. John Bernan
and his daughter Mary started for Mada.
Waska.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-24
cred up and tied up in a rag to be kept as
relics.

ered up ana tleo up In rag 70 De KEPT as
relics.
A SCENE OF HORROR.
The most horrible of funerals are those of
the very poor Of Bangkok. The bodies of
these are taken to temple known as the
Wat Sab Kate. Imagine an inclosure OF
many acres, filed with bushes and whisper
ing palms, at the feet of which are piles of
cotins, and along the roots of which skulls
are lying. Enter this garden if you dare.
There are no men to stop you, and you wan
der in and out through the trees snarled at
by lean, hungry looking dogs, until at last
you come to a number of low brick build
ings, Here you will meet lean, toothless.
parchment-skinned old hag who has hair as
white and stiff as the bristles of Chester
white pig, and who smiles at you
through her toothless gums, and with
long, withered fingers beckons you
in. 1 remember her well, and 1 still
see her in my dreams. Vultures by the
hundreds sit upon the trees over her, and as
you go in, you hear the snarling Of dogs.
You look toward them, they are fighting
over the half eaten bodies of men, and the
vultures swooping down, flap their wings
and attempt to seize part of the prey. Be.
sides the bloody corpses are mass OF hall
dried skulls and the odd legs and arms OF
the day before, and the old woman laughs
through her toothless gums as she points
you to them. Some of the Buddhists be-
lieve that their chance of Nirvana or
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-24

Pittsburg, Detroit, Cincinnati, St. Louis
and Los Angeles. All OF these institutions
have been opened within the last three
years, and the one at New York cremates
hundreds yearly. Without doubt more
than 1, 900 persons have been cremated in
this country since the building of the Gre
matory at Washington, Pa, and those who
desire such means of decomposition are
said to be on the rapid increase.
The home of cremation is in the East.
Siam disposes of most of its bodies in this
way, aud saw dozens of corpses frying and
sizzling on the banks of the Ganges. 1
visited great crematorY in Japan, where
the men in charge told me they burned be-
tween 800 and 400 bodies month, and at
tended big cremation in Burmah. This
japanese cremstory was on the edge of
Kiota. In going to it drove through the
streets Of shops filled with the beautiful
blue china for which that city is so noted,
and out through fields of rice and tea to a
large brick building on the side of hill.
As I went I passed many funeral pro-
cessions, consisting of stalwart Japs in blue
gowns and bowl hats, four of whom carried
box swung on pole which rested upon
their shoulders. This box was much like
child's playhouse, and it had its roof and
its curtRIDed windows. I was told that il
was s coffin, and tnat each party carried q