davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1889-10-25
tour will we'll repay the investment of

!our VIII we'll repny the Investment of
toll and labor.
The army swore terribly in Flanders, "
says Uncle Toby in the novel; and in
this regard, as we'll as in facing death at
the call Of duty, the switchman may be
compared to the soldier. Indeed the
latter must have been we'll instructed in
the "profane langunges," and that under
the direction of u real master, to be rated
with the individual who swings the Ian.
tern, sets the brakes. and throws the
switches in one Of Chicago's great
switching yards. This will te noticed at
once, but, as the provocation often seems
great, the profanity almost a matter Of
course, and really adding emphasis to
orders and force to warnings and signals
of danger, the visitor soon ceases to re-
gard it 40 intended %wickedness and ac-
cepts 1T as u necessary adjunct Of the
business.
The first, and, after everything has
been examined, the greatest, wonder to
DO seen there is the excellent system that
prevails aud the wonderful order brought
out Of the seeming Chinese puzzle" of
mingled tracks, frogs, and switches.
Bells arc clanging in half a dozen differ
ent keys, and locomotives with from one
to twenty cars are crossing each others
tracks in n manner that would seem to
insure the destruction of some of them,
That collisions occur but seldom is
c%hargeable to the knowledge possessed
by tho members of the different switching
crews, and the watchfulness exercised by
them. The gentle lady who causes sweet
music to issue from the pianoforte UNDER
stands the black md white rows of ivory
which constitute the keyboard of that
The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1889-10-25

so vast a scale as to leave the critic in
grave fear of making All crrorif he desig-
mated any II of. them in p .%rticular. At
the same time he would hazard nothing
in pronounc,ng those of the Chicas 20.
Milwaukee, and st. Paul Railway to be
quite the equal of any and all others.
AT Western avenue, three miles back
from the lake, n great viaduct crosses
the tracks of the Northwestern and st.
Paul Roads. Here, as evening closes in
and the work of making up the trains for
the next day begins, nh animated scene
may be witnessed.
The trails left by ~light-hearted chill
eren sporting in the first snow of winter
would seem scarcely more confused than
do those lines of interesting steel rails,
which from the viaduct stretch out for
two miles and more TO the westward.
Here, mt seven o'clock, the hour when
the night gangs of switchmen go on duty,
and the heavy work begins. half a score
and more of huge engines may be seen,
while at the round house nearly us many
more are making ready to do their sh are
i'll the labors of the night.
The scene from the viaduct is at once
imposing and fascinating. The evening
eNpress.trains are arriving amid the
bright cleaning Of headlights and the
scintillating columns Of sparks tiying
upward from many smoke-stncks. Loco.
motives puff md snort, whistles blow,
bells ring. trains change places, lights
are displayed which i'll number and bril-
The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1889-10-25

wonderful instrument. and the combina-
tion of harmonious chords that may be
produced therefrom, no better than
the roughly dressed, profane-speaking
switchman does every inch of his yard,
every avenue Of communication from
point to point, the speediest possible
method of transferring a car, and the
entire code of signals which reduces ac-
cidents to a minimum.
unfortunately there is no universal
system of lights and signals, though with
but few exceptions the various roads Of
the country use the code adopted by the
convention Of freight managers held in
the city of Philadelphia a few years ago.
Before that time ench road had its own
code, which added to the s~witchman's
care and danger, since n crew from n
yard must often invade others, and must
thoroughly understand the different sys-
toms and the points at which they change.
The Philadelphia code has bettered
things and largely reduced the list Of ac-
cidents, but matters in that direction can
be still further improved, and no doubt
this will be brought about Mt no very far
distant time. 1t surely will be If the men
who do the actual work in the yards over
come to decide the matter. AS it is. the
switchman is not completely educated in
the knowledge of his craft until he knows
the meaning Of every signal light in each
and every one of the numerous Chicago
The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1889-10-25

the vast systems of railroads which, like
Il net, spread over our broad countrv.
Most people would no doubt decide
that of the latter and numerous class
those subjected 10 the greatest perils arc
the engineer, stoker-the entire crew, in
iact-of the limited express, as with u
roar and q swish it dashes OH over
across half the mighty continent.
Yet this Judgment would be incorrect.
The railroalers subjected to the greatest
dangers, and who most frequently lose
their lives and limbs, are undoubtedly the
switchmen.
OF these the general public has little
knowledge. We all see the keen-eyed
engineer, with his hand upon the steel
bar which serves as n rein to control the
iron horse. the fireman %sloyeling coal,
the conductor making signals, and the
brakeman turning the circle which sets
or releases the clamps that retard the
movements of the wheels; but few of us
know anthing of the men who transfer
cars from truck t. -track aud from ward TO
yard: who break up incoming trains, and
who, from many sources, make up others
to go out again i'll their stead.
AS everybody with the possible excep-
ton of the New Workers, who are strug-
Cling for tho Worlds Fair we'll knows.
Chicago, the terminal point Of more than
u score of trunk lines. is tho greatest
railroad center OH tho globe. More trains
being there received and dispatched than
elsewhere, it becomes the best possible
place to study the switchman at his
task.
10 select the best hotel in Chicago, the
finest store, the largest grain elevator, or
the most imposing building. is an UNDER
taking few would care to essay. Tho
same difficulty would confront one who
desired to point out the lending railroad
switching yards. Many of t EN- are on
The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1889-10-25
THE sw1rcHMAN.

member, a finger at least, and the hands
of many Of them present a decidedly
crippled appearance.
At q great many of the railway cross
ings in Chicago flagmen are stationed to
warn people Of the approach Of trains or
locomotives. OF these, who number
more than 500. the great majority have
once been switchmen, and nearly all Of
them are crippled in some way. Many
stump about with Q wooden leg, while .
still larger number have but the one hand
with which they wave the c~autionary
signal flag. The ex-switchman who has
survived the shock of an accident to be-
come q flagman at q crossing can rival q
sailor in spinning yarns, and the little
box Of u shanty where he makes his head
quarters while on duty is seldom without
q fair quota of admiring auditors. It is
here, indeed, that many boys get the taste
for arailroading" which takes them, at
Tar too early an age, away from q COM
Portable homo and the influence Of q good
mother.
Like all railroad men, the switchman is
agood liver, not disposed to be quarrel
some, and Q hale fellow when not on
duty.
They are organized into what is known
as the Switchmen's Mutual Aid Associa-
ton, which is at present one of the most
powerful and best managed trade unions
in America. In times Of strikes it is Q
potent power. This organization is
represented by the SwitchmeM's Journal,
The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1889-10-25

fall in with the charming class, but
there are French women-even intel
lectual women-who are loud and
rude. but they do not represent the
masses. As a rule, the French woman
has more cleverness, tact, grace and
p%oliteness than the English woman
the German, or the American: but she
will insist upon her rights with quite
as much pe%rsistency, and usually wins
by the very charm of her manner.
Her clothes are adapted to her posi-.
tion, her occupation, and the occasion.
She does not adapt herself to them.
They are a part of her. Her linen is
immaculate, often exquisite. Her hat
becomes her face and is not necessarily
a walking advertisement for some mil
liner. She may wear a dress that is
old and faded, but her shoes and gloves
will be faultless. The latter she never
removes when in society, except under
the most urgent necessity. She will
dance or dine in them. apparently
without soiling, as though they, too,
were a part of herself. If she adjusts
a shawl, n scarf. IL knot of ribbons, or o
bunch of flowers, it is always with n
peculiar grace-a touch like the skill
ful stroke of a painter upon the canvas.
which no person can initiate. and
which he himself cannot reproduce.
There is something charming in a
French home. The perfect symmetry
of its arrangement, the utilization Of
every inch of space, the beauty of it's
internal adornments, very often the
results of the skill of the deft fingers
of wife and daughters; but there is
nothing tawdry.
In the garden the French woman
chats, sews, and gossips, and sips wine
with her friends. The wine is to her
what the ice-water or spring water is
to the American, something to be drunk
and passed to friends, at morning, O
and night, and between times. It is
given to the children and the babes.
A friend said to me yesterday that il
a Frenchman were given his choice be,
tween q home and a garden, and could
have but one, he would take the gar,
den. The home is scrupulously neat.
There are no back doors with foul
places and foul smells, breeding disease
and contagion. All refuse il cleared
away daily and hourly.
The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1889-10-25
She Obeyed. Orders.

Harriet Beecher Stoves son. Rev.
Charles q. Stowe, ofsssa Conn,
met with an experience tk8aOsss.ps
ing which completely nonplused him.
One evening quite recently he dined
with Mrs. j. ". Boardman. pronria.
tress of the Hotel Woodruff. VISITING
Mrs. Boardman is q cute little niece
about five years of age. She is q req
MA chatterbox and makes many bright
remarks during q day. Fearing lest
the child would astonish the preacher
by some outlandish saying her aunt
warned her to keep mum DURING .tha
dinner.
The edmonton was listened to with
awe, and at the table the little one
scarcely dared look ut Mr.. Stowe. not
Wishing to commit a supposed sin.
While the servant was absent from the
room the little girl noticed there was
no butter on her small pink dish.
She didn't mind holding her tonoua.
but to eat bread without butter-that
would never do. She took . survey Of
the table, and 10 and behold! the but.
ter dish was right in front Of the
preacher. Wistfully she gazed at both
for q few seconds. Never in her brief
existence did she appear 80 penxiye.
Then gathering all her courage aud
clearing her throat, she said: ssDesr
pastor, won't You please, for Christ,s
sake, pass the buffers
Rev: Mr.. Stowe never received such
. shock. He leaned over in his chair
to pick up q napkin, which Of cqurse
had not fallen. Mrs. Bpardman must
ct that moment arrange . window our.
tain. and the other guests were sud.
denly troubled with 4 friendly cough.
Little Mabel, self-satisfied that she
haa done the proper, ,SHper, was the
only one ct the table Who could nod
lively prove.t that she was aliys.-CAj.
cGgo Times,
The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1889-10-25

leurs. or sbsnksrs,s. pdssstAos :
tom IN notion by Ia ming s1kO6f0Go VfI
MS forennee.: and At tho same lauEoSS
tnsows into shs .csxltytn ivoty ban g. :
bottom: the bull makes several foyoln.
tons. and at last falls into D q tho
thirty.seven holes above mentioned. the
nole into which It falls determinina
the gain or loss Of the players. i
OF the thtrty-seven numbers Qncludtne The
z!ero). and shows what number or numbers
ne selects BY placing his stake upon them;
II ne has selected . number or ger0 Cor.
responding to the n Into which The ban
thiity-six times his stake-vix.sS his stake
and thirty-flve times more. Il he selected
two numbers he only receives eighteen
times; thus only winning half what he
would have done had he staked the whole
times. etc. This is called .jouer Z chsvai.s
The rectangles at the bottom Of each
OF the three columns Of numbers figured
on the table. are for the reception Of
the stake Of that PLAYER who selects .
and Il the ball enters a hole the number Of
which is found In his column, he 70 paid
three times his stake. Those who prefer
stalking their money on ant of tho chances
marked on the edge Of tho table. II they
win. receive double their stake their stake
the bali falls into q hole marked by an even
number: the impair. ii the hole il marked
odd: the -manque.s II the hole fs numbered
from I to IL inclusive: the spasse.. Il It q
numbered from 10 to SO inclusive; the
rouge" II It Is colored red; and the snoir.s
itit Is colored black. II the bali should fail
into the hole marked with tho zero. the
stakes Of those players who venture upon
the six chances last described are either
equally divided between the bank and tho
nIuVAf4. or. QQ la NINA Onnn m mile fho NAoA
they are put in prison. as It is called. and
the succeeding trial determines whether
they are to be restored to the players or
gained by the bank.
Glance round. at the players who ere
n mem 81 a asI n"es sn 81 g a,s n%at sloen; aae sCd ef g
nl professions. Next to q Russian sits Q
Frenchman: beside an Englishman is 8
German. q Turk. or q Greek. A prince
elbows y wealthy tradesman: an old magis.
The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1889-10-25

trate sits behind q thief. A beautiful young
woman comes bouncing in with an oily
looking old fellow who is old enough to be
her Rreat-grandfather.
Picture to yourself a splendid saloon
brilliantly lighted by numerous chandeliers,
The walls are magnilcently decorated. but
the sole furniture of the room consists Of
saeles ana chairs. on each table may DO
q locked box. Gradually the crowd en-.
tors, and the gaming saloon is filed. Wis.
itors OF the most varied types take their
places round the tables. the croupiers come
pile up before them heaps Of gold. The
play begins: Among scores of others, .
young couple enter. The lady is French:
the mum speaks English. but with q strong
American accent. Doubtless they are q
newly married couple who have come to
Monte Carlo for their honeymoon, Both
take their places ut the table and hegin to
pla M, ~.
day, whispers the woman In her husbands
1t Will bring us luck?"
u as you like" answers her husband.
and they, placed So on the No. 8.
Tho ball is thrown. and whirls around the
the table. awaits the result almost with in.
difIerence. The lady. somewhat less cool,
puts up her glasses to get q better view.
The ball revolves for a long time. but even
a nnnlyo. sla nc e 81 its pace. passes BY the
No.a Nv
The croupier takes $50 in gold. and.
noistly sounding the coins. places them
before the wife. who smilingly takes a
rake. n heaps up a little monument Of
If. instead Of S. says the husband. va
had risked 500. We should have gained a
small, fortune. $500. and we might have
vessel" S".
Let US risk sioo. q we have won it. It
drowne at sea with your father and moth.
or: let US put 500 ON No. H."
The S10O are placed o No. II. The ball
revolves. and quite gently. as though guided
by an invisible hand, stops at No. II.
band: gathering in the huge packet Of notes
which the croupier passes him. 1T is I who
risked the 500; the winnings should belong
to me-"
Il thought that between US all Twas In som.
mon" said his companion timidly.
SELF" AA
Our winnings are considerable. ven.
tured the lady. Let US leave the room. and
go back to .Marseilles. whore your vessel
You arc mad: don't you see that I have
q run OF luck? Imean to break the bank
In fact. the young American, excited by
wildly. f'"'
against him. He loses everything. honor
as we'll as all Of his money. Wild.eyed he
deserts his bride and his boat. It's the old
story. In Q few days his body was washed
ashore. These incidents are OF daily 90.
currence: Suicides are numbered BY the
someone ts READY to push his body asids
n tak his place. "
The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1889-10-25

Nice nd Genoa. The owner ruler. or
whatever you MAJ call him: OF this s little
adj. who 10 known as ==Prtnce
kingdom is the SMALLEST #s:S~1principal-
tty on the face OF the ~N globe. In
does not exceed some 4s0 yards. Thus the
troops-for at the present time Monaco
possessesGH An army are COM
PEELED. whel they want to exercise
s ssa @asss~ 4 @ansh t5s to S,,, face so the
sTEssps ses y | sSDer Trsasn Of t tse spiS.
cipality is barely $50 acres. and yet the
Prince coins money bearing his " image.
impressed with his por- Al. .Itrait. Heis
der. which he distrib-(.. .lutes with
s%s3|s 81 Ssa.1 to foreign sas lAaI s sIs,ss. 4:
cousins. and; happier than they.
nor revolutions. The etiquette Of
his court is of h most severe
art collection is ono Of tho best which could
be desired. In this country. so blessed by
Providence. the Finance Minister has moth
Ing whatever to do. for the simple rea-
son that all taxes have been abolished.
The Minister Of War finds 1t impossible to
take active action. Tor his ninety-two in
fantry mon are only cognizant OF two drills
those OF presenting arms to the Prince
and firing at the fishes. The Minister OF
Marine has only one duty. that OF seeing
that the twelve sailors of the Princes yacht
are ready to go to sea when needed. The
Minister OF Public Works has no work to
do. because the public property is only
composed of u garden and three streets.
The busiest OF all officials is the Minister
for Foreign Affairs. whose duty it is to as
sure all the powers that the Prince Of Mo-
naco has no intention of troubling the peace
of Europe.
This little rock has suffered many vicissi.
tudes. for the Princes Of Monaco have not
always been rolling in wealth. In order to
Keep their heads above water the Grimaldis
have been compelled In by-gone days to
seek the protection of many sovereigns.
and the Castle OF Monaco has housed i'm
turn Spanish. English. French and Pied
montese garrisons. Over the citadel vari.
GUS European flags have flonted until the
day when the real power of the state pass
ed into the hands of the gaming authorities.
The French revolution of 1883 LETT the then
ruler In q bad way. and in 1917 Monaco
passed under the protection OF the King of
Sardinia. In opposition to tho former Gus
tom OF the French king. who. while the
Prince'of Monaco was under the Protector.
ate of France. had granted largo sums for
his support. tho Sandman king gave
him nothing. Thus tho Prince was
forced to live upon the necessities
Of his subjects. and when. in the
The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1889-10-25

yards. One light only has q universal
meaning. Rod is everywhere the signal
of danger. Some systems display a green
while others use the same color as an
evidence that extra caution must be exer.
cised.
Amid tho din and clatter Of q switch
ing-yard the human voice cannot be re.
lied upon. and the lantern takes its place.
With this simple instrument conversation
is carried on without words or ears, and
with singular freedom from the errors Of
articulate speech. Swinging the lantern
above the head is termed the high ball"
signal, and signifies to go ahead, and that
in a hurry. To stop the train the reverse
signal is given, the lantern is swungacross
the track in the lower half Of the circle.
When the engineer sees the light held in
stands that he is backing up against q
train and must use caution and 20 slow.
A slight movement of the lantern up and
down means come ahead easy" This is
resorted to when q car-length separates
the car to be coupled. All trades have
their peculiaritics, aud in the parlance of
the switchman, "a car length" means Q
space Of about one hundred feet, or more
than three times the actual length of o
car.
a switching crew is comprised of three
men, of which one OF them, the foreman,
has general charge and keeps . lookout,
lending . hand to the work "a necessity
compels. OF the remaining two, one
throws the switches while the other per.
forms the dangerous task Of cutting Of
cars aud making couplings. A crew does
double duty; It breaks up" trains and
sends cars to the different 'tn-freight"
yards whore they are unlocked, and also
gather. together and makes up" trains 70
be hauled out Of the city. Many switch.
mon own lanterns for which they have
paid quite . pretty little sum, and which
they buEnish up and care er ~ tsndssly
The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1889-10-25

The Rev. Z. ID. Hammond three
years ago became pastor of a Baptist
church in Pittsburg. Since then he
has very largely increased the men,
bership of the church and has built n
S25, 600 editice. But some of the men,
bers recently discovered that he was a
smoker, and made such a fuss about it
that he was forced to resign from his
field of usefulness.
The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1889-10-25
CHARMING FRENCH WOMEN.
Their Love for the Beautiful in Nat,

IL IL Il G II e Ii
lw o m G IL n e
charming" e
claimed u young
lady no Ii n d
spent veral
years abroad and
som e time in
Paris, writes
Belva A. Lock
wood in one of
her Paris letters
to the Chicago
IN ter Ocea n.
This is undoubt-
o11v frno &c ,.,,
The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1889-10-25

revolution of 1919.
t h o opportunity
came. they threw
off tho yoke and
Joined themselves
to Pied m o n t.
From that timeto
this tho Princes
$ o 9 dominions
have been COM
prised in this rock
of Monaco. and q
few hundred sub
jects; a n i Ii l s
yearly revenue
has been but a
sum equivalent to
$1,000. Princely
dignity can hardly
be m antained
upon that sum.
and the Princes
financial embar-
The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1889-10-25

The Gar has a new train of cars to
travel iu. The cars are connected with
each other by vestibules, SO that he can
pass from one to another without being
G e from the outside. and they are
covered with iron and cork.
The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1889-10-25

A MORMON elder who lately arrived
Mt San Francisco from New Zealand.
said that he and other Mormon mis-
sionaries had been at work among the
natives for three years and a half. and
they had over 5000 members in their
churches among the Maoris.
The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1889-10-25

SOME of the Inconvenience of having
two wives are exemplitied in the case
of William Williams. late of Usage
County, Kansas, now no more. Even
If a man a manage to keep the ladies'
quiet during his life, directly he is dead
they begin to fight over his will.
The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1889-10-25

HOUSE boats are becoming SO COM
mon in England that there is talk about
taxing them. There are nearly twelve
thousand pleasure bouts, including
house boats, used on the upper reaches
of the Thames.
The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1889-10-25

1r has been estimated 10y men of
science who have Investigated the sub
ject that the rock of niagara is being
away by the waters at such a
rate that in a few thousand years the
cataract will work up to Lake Erie.