davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-09-21
LINCOLN as a Lover.

Abraham Lincolns offer of marriage was
a very curious one and, singularly enough,
it has but recently come to light. Numer-
Gus as his biographers have been, and
closely os they have CLEANED for new facts
and marlr ais, it was left for the latest
one, Mr. ia Je Weik, of Greencastle, to
discover this unique and Characteristic
production of Mr.. Lincoln's almost I'M
tutored mind. The letter is one of several,
written, presumably, to the lady he after
ward married. Addressed to My Dear
Mary" it reads as follows;
"You must know that | cannot see you
or think of you with entire Indifference;
and yet it may be that you are mistaken in
regard to what my real feelings towards
you are. II | knew you were not, ! should
not trouble you with this letter. Perhaps
any other man would know enough with
out further information; but consider it
my peculiar right to plead ignorance, and
your bounden duty to allow the plea.
want in all cases to do rig t, and most par
ticularly SO in all cases with women
want at this particular time, more than
anything else, to do right with you; and
if [ knew it would be doing right, as |
rather suspect il would, to let you alone, |
would do it. Aud for the purpose of
making the matter as plain as possible, |
now say you can drop the subject, dismiss
your thoughts-if you ever had any-from
me forever, and leave this letter unan-
swered without calling forth one accusing
murmur from me. And | will go even
further and say that if it will add any
thing to your comfort or peace of mind to
do so, it is my sincere wish that you should.
Do not understand by this that | wish to
cut your acquaintance. | mean no such
thing What do wish is that our further
acquaintance shall depend upon yourself.
If such further acquaintance would con-
tribute nothing to your happiness, | am
sure it would not to mine. If you feel
yourself in any degree bound to me, am
now willing to release you, provided you
wish it; while on the other hand, am
willing and even anxious to bind you
| faster, if | can be convinced that it will in
any degree add to your happiness. This,
indeed, is the whole question with me.
| Nothing would make me more miserable
than to believe you miserable; nothing
more happy than to know that you were
So In what | have now said | think
cannot be misunderstood and to make
myself understood is the only object of
| this letter. If it suits you best not to an
swer this, farewell. A long life and a
merry one attend you. But if you conclude
to write back, speak as plainly as / do.
There can be neither harm nor danger in
aging to me anything you think, just in
the manner you think it. Your friend,
'IINCOLN."
Probably this is the queerest love letter
on record and the most remarkable offer
of marriage ever made. 1t is love letter
without word of love, and proposal of
marriage that does not propose. Every
line of it .breathes admiration, affection,
devotion, unselfsh desire for the lady's
happiness, the writer's unworthiness and
his genuine alteration of the lady he was
addressing, but it does not mention love
indianapolis Journal.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-09-21
Ripening Pears.

Pears can be improved in quality consid-
erably by taking pains to ripen properly.
Unlike the majority of other plants, their
quality can be improved by picking from
the trees and ripening in the fruit house
or cellar rather than to allow them to re-
main on the trees till ripe. Just at what
stage they should be removed from the
trees can only be determined by expert
ence. AS rule when the earlier ripening
specimens begin to drop off the rest should
be removed. Particular care must be
taken in this respect in handling SO as not
to bruise, as bruise is almost certain to
decay, and this Injuries the sale. When
ever they can be arranged without too
much inconvenience, shallow drawers or
boxes, high enough to hold single layer
of fruit, will be found the best. A cloth
spread on the bottom and then over the
layer of fruit will be help.
By keeping cold the ripening can be re-
tarded, or by keeping warmer it is hast
ened. AS with other work, in caring for
the fruit it is quite an item to do the work
in good season and to handle carefully in
order to secure the best results. -Southeraa
L5Ue Stock Journal
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-09-21
Finding the Hog.

Herr Flurscheim told capital story at
the Henry George farewell meeting. A
gardener was instructed to SOW some beans
in his masters garden, and he faithfully
carried out his instructions. But during
the night neighboring hog, .prowling
around dug up the beans and ate them,
neither master nor man being a whit the
wiser. When the time of beans was fully
come, no beans were forthcoming. The
master accused the gardner of having neg
lected to SOW the seed, "for, said he, "the
natural law is that beans produce beans,
and the fact that beans have not grown is
a clear proof that beans were mot sown. :"
The man, positively averring that beans
had been sown there, could only explain
the non-appearance of the crop by denying
the existence of any such natural law.
Both were right, and both were wrong.
neither could convince the other. Sowith
the great social puzzle-the increase of
poverty amidst increasing wealth. Differ
emit schools of economists have given "ex-
plantations" equally contradictory and dh-
satisfactory, but the puzzle was never
really solved till Henry George came along
and discovered the hog. The wealth has
really been produced, but landlordism has
gobbled it up, and the workers ''get no
beans. London Democrat.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-09-21
Conundrums.

What is the difference between an apple
and a pretty girl2 One you squeeze to
get cider, and the other you get side her to
squeeze.
Why is stick of candy like race horse?
The more you lick it the faster it goes.
In what place did the cock crow when
all the world heard him? In Noahs
Ark.
If you had to swallow a man what
kind would you prefer? A little London
porter.
What is it that will give cold. cure q
cold and pay doctors bill? A draught.
Why don't they build mills on the Mis-
sissipp! river? Why, dam it they can't.
Why is the north pole like an illicit
whisky mandatory 1t is secret still.
If thirty two is the freezing point, what
is the squeezing point : Two in the
shade.
When did Caesar first go to the Irish :?
When he crossed the Rhine and went back
to bridge it.
Why is Satan always gentleman? Be-
cause, being the imp of darkness he can
never be imp-o'-light.
Why may carpenters reasonably believe
there is no such thing as stone2 Because
they never saw it.-Chicago Ledger.
From an exchange we Gull the following
opinion of a small boy: "Girls are built
some like boys, but there amt such good
material in 'em though the polish is put
on thicker and they put on new coats every
day. They like to dress nicer and play
with dolls and dishes. They don't throw
ball nor climb trees, nor stand on their
heads, and are afraid to kill cats and
things. They don't smoke pipes and cigar
stubs, but they chew gum and smoker and
make fun of the boys, but they can't get
along without 'em in their business. Girls
are funny things, but with all their faults
we love them still, but they amt still Of
ten"
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-09-21
TO THE SOUTH.
..,ol S.,1th hnlnred land !

imperial South beloved land
When sorrow marked thee as her own.
And wars relentless, bloody hand
Had hurled thee from thy beauteous throne,
Through thy dark night, when hope had hoWn'
Bravely thy children chung to thee,
To keep in tears the VOW once sworn,
That they would live or die for thee.
All. sunny land, the night has gone,
Lift up thy beauteous face and see
The whole world as she halls thy glorious dawn
Again Thou art happy, proud and free
Thy children come around thee now
And proudly gladly kneel to thee.
Swearing again their fathers VOW,
That they will ever live or die for thee
-J6nale Der, in Sunny South.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-09-21
A Wrong DIAGNOSIS.

medicine may modify some of your
symptoms, my friend" said the doctor as
he wrote prescription, "but nothing ex-
cept change in your habits will bring
permanent relief. You don't take enough
exercise"
"Don't take enough exercised" ex-
claimed the astonished visitor, with his
eyes starting from his head. ''Why, good
heavens, doctor, I've been the chairman
of the committee for collecting our pastors
salary for nearly eleven years '-CAieago
Led0er
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-09-21
The First Bridges.

The first bridges were of wood, and the
e&9liest of which we have any account was
built in Rome 500 B. c. The next was
erected by julius Caesar for the passage of
his army across the Rhine. Traians great
bridge over the Danube, 477O feet long,
was made of ti1aber, with stone piers.
The Romans also built the first stone
bridge, which crossed the Tiber. Suspen-
sion bridges are of remote origin. A
made of chains supporting a roadway $50
feet in length, was built A. D. 65, and is
still to be seen. The first large iron bridge
was erected over the Severn in TIT. The
age of railways has brought remarkable
development in this branch of engineering,
especially in the construction of bridges of
iron and steel.-MaI and ErDress.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-09-21
A FANTASY
What is a girls life, pray?
A little garden space

A little garden space
Within whose every spring
She sees her beauteous face:
Where she is sole possessor
OF all she hears and sees,
From the futing of the birds in summer
To the honey of the bees:
Rosy wreaths and strings of pearl
All belong to the happy girl.
And what is boys life, pray:
A quiet, shady nook
Where he has nothing to do but play,
Nor ever read book;
A kingdom of contentment.
Which every hour discloses
Some new delight of sense and sight.
Fresh growth of sweeter roses;
A rich Inheritance of joy
That crowns with light the happy boy.
We might be more than happy
And lead such perfect lives,
If all of us were children
And none of us husbands. wives;
But boys grow and girls grow,
Together or apart,
Till some day each discovers
The other has heart.
This halves their joys and doubles their
cares,
And ends in wrinkles and gray hairs;
In the feet that rock the cradle,
In hands that toll for bread,
The trouble about the living,
The sorrow above the dead.
What can we DO. then? Nothing more
Than those who begot and bore us;
They made our lives before us
As theirs were made before.
We must be up and doing,
Maidens flying and men pursuing;
Then hey for billing and cooling,
And no. for wooing and winning.
The world will never mend
Love was before the beginning.
And will be after the end.
R. II. ,Sto0dard, in ". 7. Independent.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-09-21

The liquor traffic is SO pernicious in all
it's bearing, SO inimical to the interests of
honest trade, so repugnant to moral sense,
SO injurious to the peace and order of soci-
ETY., SO hurtful to the hofaes, to the church,
and to the body polite, and SO utterly
antagonistic to all that is precious in life,
that the only proper attitude toward it for
Christians is that of relentless hostility. 1t
can never be legalized without sin. No
temporary service for regulating 1t can pc
come substitute for prohibition. License,
high or low, is vicicious In principle ana
powerless as remedy. board or Bsshops
Of The III. IT, Church.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-09-21
Inseparable.

Mr.. Younghusband Lucille, the
papers say the hustle must go"
Mrs. Younghusband-"Yes, Octavivs ;
but when the hustle goes the women will
go with the hustle. fudge.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-09-21

The bamboo tree does not blossom until
it attains it's thirtieth year, when it pro-
duces seed profusely and then dies. 1t is
said that famine was prevented in India
in 1912 by the sudden Towering OF the
bamboo trees, where 80, 600 people resorted
to the jungles to gather the seed for food.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-09-21

Mr.. Hyde (of Hyde & Tallow, Chicago
-"Waiter, l want dinner" Waiter
"Will re gentleman hat table d'hote, or
la carte 7" Mr.. Hyde-"Bring me little
Of both, and have 'em put lots of gravy
on it."-Puck.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-09-21
-

Over 500 houses were submerged, and
1000 people rendered homeless at Lincoln,
Neb., by food, and the Burlington and
Missouri Railroad is washed out in many
places, and must be abandoned for the
present. Only one person is reported
missing.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-09-21

Stern Parent Ito young applicant for
his daughters hand Young man, can you
support family p Young Man (meekly)
ID Only wanted Sarah. "-Bostoaa Post.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-09-21

sYou wish to marry one of my daugh-
tiers. The youngest will get Is, 900 marks,
the second 80, 1000, and the Oldest 45, 000"
"You don't happen to have one still older p
-Fyisqende Batter
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-09-21

81 think that musicians must be an
awfully conceited class of people" "What
makes you think so p "Why, their
writings. Every once in while you will
see a portion of a musical composition
marked fine I think they ought to let
other people be the judges of that don't
you 7"
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-09-21

When is birch tree like ship in q
storm? When it loses its mast.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-09-21

/
The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1889-10-12
Three Months of Tanner.

The treasury statement for Sep
TENDER reveals very clearly why it
was necessary to get rid of Tanner.
OF the increase in government ex-
penditures for the quarter ending
September 80 it appears that &c.,
56S,000 was due to increased outlay
for the pension Bureau. At this
rate the increase for pensions alone
for the fiscal year would have been
$42, 100000 and upwards, or more
than fifty per cent more than in any
former year. In other words, to the
$S0,000,000 expended for pensions
last year would have been added $42,-
600, 900 more, making a total of 1922
100000.
This sum is $30,OOO,O00 greater
than is expended for the mainten-
ance of Germany's enormous stand
ing army, $l1, 100000 more than the
annual war outlay of France and
$32, 900 more than that of Eng
land. Four years of Tanner at this
rate would have made our pension
expenditures equal to the war ex-
penditures of all three of the great
powers of Western Europe, unless
some one could have been hired to
hold him.-Tines.
The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1889-10-12
why shall We Not JubiIate?

One of these bright days this
population will be startled with the
whistle of a steamer at the bend of
the river, and the only greeting it
will have at the wharf will be the
screech Of the small boy.
We submit that that is not pro-
per and respectable manner of usher
ing in SO great an event as the per-
manent opening of navigation to
this town.
The owners of steamers and the
people below would be disguised
with such a show of stoicism, and
we would be Disguised with our
selves.
Now, the fact is that the steam
boatmen are anticipating a "big
thuze" on that occasion and are not
only ready to help it but are, we
understand, making their calcula-
tions, if not their preparations to
help it. They will come up with
their bunting and their bands, and
let loose their whistles and make all
the fuss they can, if they see that
it is appreciated.
We ought to have committee OF
the town to confer with the people
below and arrange joint pro-
gram.
Don't put this thing off too long.
We must thuze.
1t would be scandalous not to
thuze.
The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1889-10-12

When child begins to read it
becomes delighted with a newspa-
per because it reads of names and
things which are familiar, and it
will progress accordingly. A news
paper, in one year, is worth quar-
ter's schooling to a child. Every
father must consider that informa-
ton is connected with advancement.
The mother of family, being one
Of its heads, and having more i'm
mediate charge of children, should
herself be instructed. A mind oc-
cupied becomes fortified against the
ills Of life, and is braced for any
emergency. Children amused by
reading or study, are of course most
considerate, and more easily man.
aged.-Eagle.
The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1889-10-12
THOSE BORDER DEMOCRATS
HaYe Great Meeting and Pass Appro.
PIRATE Resolutions.

KIRBY, Penn, Oct. 3.-The Border
Democratic Association had an immense
turn out of both sexes on the Sd inst. !,
at their Harvest Home at the Free
Church in Perry township.
The meeting was called to order by the
Hon. John Blair, who after some appro-
pirate Introductory remarks, introduced
the Hon. Matthias Brant, who held the
undivided attention of the audience for
over an hour, while he fairly discussed
the questions at issue between the two
great political parties. He was followed
With short but appropriate addresses by
j. A. B.Martin, ESQ.,, and Prof. Martin,
of West Va.
Quite number of Republicans were
present, whose good behavior and close
attention to the speaking, assured the
are now closely investigating the causes
that are cursing the country.
martial band, which enjoys the high
band in the Mountain State, discoursed
some soul-stirring music-but when the
glee club, led by Prof. Martin and COM
POocu VI ocNcidi young iduico, dppedreu
in front of the stand and sang some of
their splendid pieces, the vast audience
rose to their feet enraptured with such q
musical treat.
At the close of the speaking and mu-
sic the association convened, and after
the admission of large number of new
members, making it now the largest
democratic association in southwestern
Do 81 L.,
tons were unanimously adopted:
ResolUed, That the thanks of this as
ISOLATION be rendered to the Hon.
and Prof. Martin, for their sound demo-
cratic addresses.
I'd, That the thanks OF this associa-
ton be rendered to the following men,
bers of the Usage band: S. z. T. Mar
tin, j. Lee Martin, E. 7. Martin, J.Kus
sart, w. T. Ryan, G. M. Martin, N.
Wharton, and G. V. Harrington, and to
the following members of the glee club:
Miss Cora May Martin, Miss Emma
Martin, Miss Lizzie Martin, and Messrs.
S. q. T. Martin and j. E. Martin.
Sd, That Hon. Matthias Brant, Hon.
J. Blair and DIR. s. Morris be appointed
delegates to represent this association at
Tic CouftutiOu Vi DtlilOCTdtiC sOClclltS Vi
Pennsylvania which convenes in Phila
delphia on the 18th inst.
4th, That this association meet in the
Free church in Perry township on Thurs
day, Nov. 9TH, at 2 O'Clock p. m.
Messrs Blair and Brant will address the
9Th, That the proceedings of this meet
ing be signed by the Secretary and pub
lished in the Democratic papers of Mon
ongalia and Greene counties.
+. WADE, Sec'y.
The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1889-10-12
A PLACE FOR GEN. GOFF.
The President Wants Him to Wheel
West Virginia Into line.

The Presidents new "slate" as
now understood, does not put Secre-
tary Tracy into Mr.. Miller's place,
when the latter ascends the Supreme
bench, but makes Gen. Golf, the de-
feated candidate for Governor, Of
West Virginia, the Attorney Gener-
al. The Department of Justice has
an immense amount of powerful po-
litical machinery, and Mr.. Miller
will never be able to handle it sue
cessfully, being nothing of a prac-
teal politician. Mr.. Golf is thor
oughly trained in politics, and
widely popular in the South.
The Presidents idea is that Mr..
Golf could so arrange things as to
steer West Virginia, and possibly
some other Southern State into the
Republican column in 1892. This
would satisfy pet scheme of his for
making Republican supremacy sure
without placing further dependence
on New York, for West Virginia's six
electoral votes would do the business
at pinch, he thinks.
The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1889-10-12

The New 8l6ee Hleeelomn.
The returns from the elections
held Inst week in the new States re-
veal no surprises. The two Dakotas
and Washington we're carried BY the
Republicans. While Montana has
gone Democratic by email ma
jority.
The chief significance of these
elections, SO far as they have any
national significance, is that they
settle the political complexion of the
next Congress. The number Of Sen
ators will increase TO eighty-four,
and the Republican majority in that
body will be six, instead of two, az
at present. The membership Of the
House will be increased from 325 to
$50, requiring 166 members to form
quorum. The Republicans had
164 members or one more than a
quorum, before these elections, and
will now have 1873, or two more
than a quorum, and a majority oil
three. With margin so narrow ii
will be almost impossible to pass
any violently portisan legislation.
The admission of these States will
also add not less than ID votes to
the Electoral Colleges, and they will
thus become important factors in
the next Presidential election.
State Constitutions have been
adopted and State officers elected.
The President, in accordance with
the terms Of the enabling act passed
by the last Congress, will now issue
his proclamation declaring North
and South Dakota, Washington and
Montana to be States and entitled
to all the rights and privileges of
other States in the Union. They
will be heartily welcomed by the
citizens of the older States regard
less of political affiliations, and will
doubtless grow and prosper as muck
as the other Northwestern States
have done under similar circum
stances. Times.