davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1889-08-22
Magazines.

Theodore Child has written for the september
Number Of lIArper,s Magazine an article upon
American Artists At the Pans Exhibition.
illustrated with twenty eugra,InEs-neatly all
full pages from painting by Whistler. plnnat,
Sargent Harrison, Hitchcock. MecAers. Gay.
Knight, Stewart pcJce, Weeks, Remnant,
Mosler, Millct. Beokwith, and IhaYer. Nj
Child does not hesitate Ia "a. that the American
Fine Art section at the UnIyer>a. Exhibition
was zone of the strongest and most interesting
uf all the foreign departments. He continues
TO Justify this affirmation by comparison
would be useless. There is no common meas
ure duplicated to works Of art. The important
fact 10 be noted is that in lSsY American boasts
in elite OF artists whose names are cited In com
pany with the illustrious and that men like
Whistler, T.. A. Abbey, W. /. Dammit aid
John 5. Sargent can hold their own bti liant,
in a palace OF art where the exhibitors, besides
the Grert Freuchmen, are masters OF The
cminenCe OF MuuAaesy, Adolf Mcneil Herk,
omer, Orchardson, Madra1o. boldlni' and
Alfred stephens. Harpers \ Bros y. \
Students and lovers Of music will md in the
September Cosmopolitan an interesting iu'ta'
ton into the largest musical university IN the
world. whose pupils, numbering over two
thousand two hundred each year, come from
every state in the Union and from many foreign
countries. 1t Is not generally known that the
New England Conservatory is associated with
the musical reformation Of Japan. In this AT
ticlc the curious story is told how pr. louUee.
the director, persuaded the japanese commis-
sioucr 10 send the instruments of his native
land to America for the reconstruction Of their
scales upon Western standards. A Japanese
pupil sent by the Empress last year is one Of
the results OF outstanding the music oil the
Mikadus empire. The Cosmopolitan fubilsh-
ing CO.. \. y.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1889-08-22
WATCH CLUB !

While watches have, in times past been considered luxury
these days they have become practically necessity To provide
good watch is sometimes inconvnien the whole
required at To make it possible for every
youth supply themselves with good wach propose offering
what is know the Club Plan This
c operation the larger cities years.
popular absolute
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1889-08-22

n~s H B. "M.u
Canaan G As Ferry CFm A l.
BAILEY cambridge
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-05-17
Russian Military Canal.

The work of cutting the Perekop
Canal by the Russian government is
now we'll under way. This canal is to
extend across the Isthmus of Perekop,
connecting the Sea of Azof with the
Black Sea. 1t will be seventy four
miles in length, and is expected to be
completed in about three years. AS
with most Russian works the main OBJ
ject in this case is military-namely:
to enable war steamers to pass from
the Sea of Azof to the forts and dock
yards of Odessa without circumnavi-
eating the Crimea or passing through
the dangerous straits of Kertch. The
canal has also commercial Importance,
as the bulk of the trade from the Don
river and great deal Of that from Up
per Volga goes to Odessa, so that the
new canal will much shorten the voy-
age for all vessels engaged in that bus
mess. AS the canal presents no special
engineering difficulties, the cost will by
no means be excessive.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-05-17

account Of himself. from the agent at
Hanging Rock up to the receiver Of the
road, for the deeds done in the body.
Then was shown to a small waiting.
room or ante-room with hard. hot chair
IN 1t, and small fence around it. 1t was
quiet, painfully quiet. save the short crisp
notes OF caligraph in the next room, and
few stenographic notes lying on roll
They told me that the president was
busy, also that he was away. 1 said trust
ed them most implicitly. and hoped they
would not mislead me. Once big. red
faced man. with sile-whiskers. brushed by
me and went into the presidents room.
where he remained until was sure he must
be the president himself, but aiterward
learned that he was just down there to loan
some money to the road. and which was to
be used for paying dividends.
Finally the presidents hour for going
home arrived. and 80 he went home by an
other door. When the janitor swept out
the building and locked up. decided to go
away and call again on the following day.
was shown to the same room; l often
wonder what a room thinks when man is
shown to it. For few hours sat and lis
tened to the guinea-hen song of the cali
dent would see me.
came in with that sinuous movement
peculiar to man who desires pass, and
leaned my wet umbrella up against the hot
radiator. Behind the desk sat man with
red hair. 1t was Jasper l.. Painbottom. as
the keen. far sighted reader has already
guessed. was poor and passless. He rich
pampered. feted. sued. replevined. toasted
enjoined. and courted all the way from the
| justice Of the peace Office to the court OF
last resort. He sat in an easy attitude
his feet in the upper drawer OF his escre.
toire. His head was thrown back in a hall
defiant manner. and near him was blank.
| book of trip-passes. void if detached.
knew that they had dark-red conditions or
the back. holding the company perfectly
blameless and pure in case it should by ar
oversight lose my baggage or lubricate its
road bed with my digestive economy. Blu
| / did not care for that. knew that the
| road would not take advantage of me If
| signed the conditions.
r. Mr.. Painbottom recognized me as soon a.
told him who was. and told me to draw
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-05-17

cursion train, Mr.. Nell will no doubt write
his name so that it will require mind
reader to get at the reading OF it.
l once knew boy quite we'll who went to
school with me, and in other ways had
every opportunity for refinement. He was
a boy with good intentions. and wore in
summer chip hat faced with blue bingham.
Each OF us had stone bruise on the same
foot. and our feet cracked open on the back
we went out to the well and reluctantly
bathed them in rainwater with soft soap.
and wiped them tenderly on the grass be-
fore we went to bed, we could be heard
wailing at the same moment by the prac-
ticed ear.
But he did not aspire as did. While 1
was grinding scissors in the summer
months, in order to go to college in winter.
he loitered about the depot watching the in
coming and outgoing trains, and carefully
watching the brakemen as they coupled the
day he might see an accident Of some kind.
In this way he obtained great deal OF crude
Information about the movement OF trains.
and how to unscrew the hose OF an air.
brake so as to make it pop.
He did not care very much for literature,
science, or the arts. He preferred exercise
in the open air and fruit. While was
struggling with Xenophon and Salust, he
was standing in. with Shorty Hnghitt on
second seven, and trading maverick water
melons with him for O ride up to Nc Cords
vile and back.
When was sent abroad to complete my
studies at u large and popular female SEM
mary in Munich, Jasper L. Paintbottom was
running extra over the hill on second six,
under old Flatwheel George. Every one
felt sorry for Jasper, but each and all
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-05-17
Victims of the Naphtha Habit.

The latest female vice is intoxica-
ton by naphtha. It is not drunk. The
fumes Of it are simply inhaled, induc-
ing, SO the inebriate says. particular
ly agreeable exhilaration. Not even
hasheesh, it is understood, begets more
fascinating dreams or more gorgeous
visions Of splendor. The girls in the
rubber factories, Of whom there are a
great number in Boston and it's neigh
borhood, are greatly addicted to this
novel form Of drunkenness. In such
establishments naphtha is used in en-
ormous quantities to cleanse the rub
Der, being kept in big boilers closed
against the air. To the valves Of these
boilers the young women employees
readily obtain access and breathe the
exhalations therefrom, some unlucky
accident having betrayed to q chance
eXperimenter the abominable secret.
The notion is said to have been brought
originally from Germany by immi-
grant laborers in petticoats. Now the
manufacturers propose to put a stop
to the evil by keeping the valves care
fully locked.
An overdose of naphtha fumes brings
on hysterical commissions and other
unpleasant symptoms. The habit, long
followed, causes a swelling of the face
and other parts Of the body, with
dropsy to follow, and sometimes epil-
epsy. On the whole: it is difficult to
know which Of these new-fangled vices
for women to recommend. There is
ether-drinking, laaghing-gas, and tea
eating, besides the naphtha. The con-
scientions pursuit OF any of them will
surely lead to the lunatic asylum. You
pays yonr money-as one might re-
mark-and you takes your choice
Albany Arg1ts.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-05-17

too'ed' without collar, without ruff
mes. mes, without any of the pretty things
mat other girls have to wear. and the
.ach o1 which she now felt for the first
s .;1e. When he was entirely out of
sign. Mercy Went upstairs and took
n nel !ather's shaving glass, the only
que IN the house, and looked at her
lace. She saw large brown eyes, full
ana deep, long lashes that swept her
cneeks' wavy brown hair, very
sweet mouth and snow-white teeth.
ana a rich, red color on her sun
Drowned cheeks. She thought moth
ing OF her figure or she might have
seen that it was the perfection of
Womanly grace. She laid the glass
away with sigh.
That night she went to her father
and asked him to give her some money
That she might get some clothes like
other girls. He stormed and ragged
and abused her until he was tired, and
she listened to it all, and when he was
done she turned and went upstairs
without another word.
The next morning she dill up all her
work and then told her mother that
she was going over to see Miranda
Ferris, and not to be uneasy if she did
not get back before shutdown; she had
left the mems dinner on the table and
should be back in time for supper.
She walked toward the town, with he1
head high and her cheeks and eyes
blazing, albeit that the little feet were
bare and the head covered bv a faded
sunbonnet, and straight toward the
house of Judge Peters, where there
was to be that day competitive ex
animation for school-teachers, for the
sleepy little town was now to have g
fine school, and all the young girls in
the town who had extra educational
advantages wished to obtain the posi-
ton of teacher. The young minister
was one of the examining board.
Mercy walked up, and, in spite O
the murmur that her presence called
forth, signed her name as one of the
twelve candidates, and then took hel
seat and looked steadily down at kno1
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-05-17

in the rag carpet. The young ladies
were called up in rotation, and soon
the number was diminished to four be-
sides Mercy, three of whom had grad
uated at young ladies' seminaries. It
did not take long to exhaust their fund
of information, and then it came Mer-
cy's turn.
She took her place amidst an utter
silence, and the examination COM
menced, and she answered every ques-
ton correctly, and in such choice Ian
guage that the whole board were
surprised. Then the young minister,
with his college learning still fresh in
his memory, began to question her,
with a bewildering rapidity, but she
never faltered once, and he went far
beyond the list of studies required,
and into those that are properly classed
as sciences, and there he almost failed
to find flaw. In algebra, mathemat-
les, and mental calculation, she far
surpassed himself, and then he asked
her to write. With burning heart,
she took the dainty pen between her
red, rough fingers, and wrote rapidly
and most beautifully part of Tenny-
sons "Dora" from memory.
That completed the examination, and
she was told that she should hear their
decision the next day. She bowed in
silence and went home, but when she
reached there she was pale and wan, as
if she had won victory by force Of
arms, that had left her also exhausted
and bleeding.
The next day Judge Peters and the
young minister came to Mr.. Lords
house, and Mercy would have given
worlds to have not been obliged to open
the door for them, but, with an effort
of will, she did so, and led the way to
her mothers sitting-room with firm
step and proudly carried head. 1t
took but few minutes to acquaint
Mercy and her mother Of the verdict Of
the Board, and that was that Mercy
was chosen as principal of the new
school, at a salary Of seventy-tive dol
lars month. The whole world faded
away for few moments from Mercy,
but she soon recovered to hear the min
lister, Mr.. Prescott, tell her mother all
| the story about the examination, and
heard him ask where Mercy had stud
led with such good effect.
When he heard, he turned a very ad-
n1iring gaze upon the lovely face, and,
somehow, he turned his eyes very often
in that direction many times thereaf-
ter.
When Mercys father heard the news
from his proud and happy wife, and
discovered that all these years Mercy
had been defrauding him Of the time
that she must have used studying, he
flew into terrible passion and acted
more like mailman than anything
else, but at last Mercy, driven to bay,
stood before him and said:
"Stop! have borne all l ever shall
of abuse and ill-treatment from you.
You have treated me from childhood
worse than the poorest OK you have on
YOUR farm. 1t is ended now. L am OF
age, and I shall go away from here and
take my mother. You can hire some
one to do the work have done all these
wears. I shall take mother to board
with Mrs. Ferris, and sou must 90 the
best you can"
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-05-17

The old man went out at this iunct-
ure and walked around a while, and
finally returned and came sheepishly
up to where Mercy was gathering her
mothers few clothes together, and said:
We'll, Mercy, I've been thinkin'.
I'd kinder hate to have We go away fer
good, and yer mother, too, though she
is ailin', so 1 kinder thought mebby
you'd stay here, and you could pay me
for your board, and that would .about
pay for hired gal. shouldn't charge
nothin' for yer mas board, seem as she
don't eat much, nohow. You'd better
think it over, hedn't you?"
And the old miser skunk out again.
Mercy went to her mother, and they
talked the matter over and decided to
stay. Mrs. Lord seemed to gain new
strength and life every day, and she
clothes as they could for Mercy's new
position, when, much to their surprise,
Mr.. Lord came in one morning and
laid down between them twenty dol
lars, saying:
"There, take that. you two, and buy
you some fixin's, and don't say that I
never give ye nothin'." Mercy smiled,
but she offered no caress. Indeed, her
father had never, to her knowledge, of
fered one or seemed to expect one.
So their little difficulties straight
ened out, and Mercy took her position,
clad in black cashmere dress, with
lace rufles at the wrist and throat,
dainty shoes and hat, and little white
apron, as befitted teacher, and she
looked SO sweet and pretty that it was
no wonder that the young minister
should find that the interest he had al.
ready felt in this young girl, whose
industry in the face of almost insur.
mountable obstacles had achieved such
wonderful results, grew daily, and he
tried hard to emulate her by taking UP
his own studies again, so that he might
not be shamed by her superior educa
ton. Everybody in the village declared
that it was wonder, and all, except
the parents of the disappointed candi
dates, declared they had ALWAYS known
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-05-17

my chair up closer, where could see out
of the window and so down the fire. escape.
He wished his wife was at home, so that I
could come up to the house and dine with
them.
But she was away. She had gone to
Tuxedo Park to stay few weeks, with the
Lorillards. He was sorry-1 could see that
but how long was going to be in town
/ said l had nothing special to keep me
more than day or two. 1 had intended
to go right on that day, but had been de-
tanned by some delay in my transportation.
Oh. what was it? What seems to be the
matter?
Well, I said, my passport had not arrived.
and I lad called to see him about giving
the conductor something in the way of a
note of introduction, so that would be per-
tectly safe. Then he took a blank pass and
filed it out. made it good for thirty days.
marked it issued on account of charity,
signed it with a manner that made his old
signature, whitfield on the back of our
school house. look positively beautiful.
told me to receipt for it and sign the con-
ditions. rang the bell, and told his Office
waiting. wrung my hand as he would have
toyed with u felon on his own hand. and
passed gradually out.
did not blame him at all. 1blamed my
self. Butas l looked at his signature on
the pass. could not help contrasting it
with his old one, and fancying that it had
changed Just as his manner had changed,
and so give them here to show how natur-
ally we drift into these things. and do what
other people do unconsciously.
Signature OF Jasper L. Paintbottom while
braking extra, on second six under Flat
wheel George taken from a time check:
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-05-17
A Conversation.

why, Mrs. Smashleigh," said a
Chicago lady to caller, "Ihaven't seen
you for over week. Have you been
quite well?"
Quite well, thank you"
Are you still keeping house?"
ooh, no; I am q widow now
"A widow !"
"Yes, didn't like my last husband,
so discharged him. "-Mercha7at Trav-
ellen
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-05-17

pointed to me with pride, and the general
Joy when went away to complete my edu-
cation under a maestro. and 1T was admit
ted by one and all that I might not come
back, was great and gratifying.
l was absent for many years: trayenng
through the Orient and doing the Contl-
nent on foot wherever the fare was too
high, until at last sunburnt and bilious,
but naughty and refined, came back and
sought to astonish my old neighbors.
reached the ad Looming State, and there my
money gave out. This did not surprise me,
because it had happened before. l grieyed
over it for a little time, and then, instead OF
taking to drink, as so many others would
have done. Invent to the president OF the
road. who lived there.
1 found the building first. You always
have to first find the building in which a
railroad president has his office. Do not
attempt to look up Il railroad president
without having first ldarned what building
his office is in.
then went up the stairs. It was half
holiday, and so could not ride in the ele-
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-05-17
A Pleasant Visit.

Dakota man Ito friend)-Just got
back from Drytown, hey?
Second Dakota man-Yes.
Must be pretty tame down there
since they voted no license and shut
up all the saloons"
"Oh, dunno-I enjoyed my visit
tirst-rate. %
Don't see where you could find any
fun in temperance town."
Il never had more pleasant time.
l was asked my advice on a game of
seyen-up, saw two teams run away,
and held the city marshals coat while
he dubbed man with the butt end
Of his revolver. Drytown is all o. K.
when it comes to pure enjoyment, you
bet.-Dr0kc's Magusn1e.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-05-17
that Mercy was no common girl.

that Mercy was no common girl.
Mercy's mother seemed to renew her
youth SO much that soon she was able
to go about little and supelintend
the new hired girl, and the father be-
gan, little by little, to allow light to
enter H., soul, and he came to realize
at last, before he died, that money and
Handwriting work is not all life holds
worth the living for, and before he died
he gave his daughter to the keeping of
Minister Prescott, who had found that
life would be a desert place, indeed,
without the one woman for him-the
one Lords Mercy.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-05-17
Peculiar Accident.

Oliver Tucker, whose home is at
Elderville, Pa, was climbing a tree,
when it split, allowing him to drop into
the opening, which closed upon him,
crushing him terribly. One OF his eyes
was squeezed from it's socket. At last
accounts the unfortunate man was liy-
ing, but in most critical condition.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-05-17

vator because the elevator man was away
acquiring much needed rest But heard
that the president was at work.
First went to a large office and waited
Anew weeks. thinking that was the ante.
room to the presidents Office, but it turned
out to be the room where old claims against
me company were stored away. awaiting
1ne day when the heavens will roll together
as scroll and each be required to give an
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-05-17
President

OF railroads, who had no better chance than
ne has now. He wants signature which
Will look we'll on pass.
Well. to me. most any signature looks
we'll on pass. II everyone feels as l do,
any signature that is not a forgery looks
frst-rate.
But we are to presume, in writing our
names that We are entirely unknown to the
plainly as we would desire to have them
stand out upon the cold and polished sur
lace Of our catapult after we are dead. Or
is it catapult or crematory. where a
man gets fired'for the general good?
The young man who writes signs himself
very distinctly. as follows:
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-05-17
luV1eS.
.onrscE JOSEPHINE BoYcn.

ebed to earth will rise again,
'Tr,iM ,ro q, e old, yet new
a psaolaticn, you will find,
A co.'s. trouble comes to you.
.,,,, IN of others you may hear,
Wien I.',n ii idle goesip's mind,
Dc n ~, seek the truth to find.
,,ox oddly turn from trusting friends
f9 Green ee iealousy's vile snare
snread her willy meshes oer
hss , he that once was fair.
For some time you may sy, feel the sting
,a Oh auSs in life's maturity,
Pe norchapce when life is young.
,,,on for the good you wish to do,
14 ua.d not the gossip's mind;
~ n. ensure friend nor foe before
No The truth you seek to find.
PursrlElp, Vt.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-05-17

LoNDoN's nicely paved streets are so
slippery that steps have been taken to
find means of roughening them. Two
societies--the Society for Promoting
the Safety of Horses and the Horse
Accident Prevention Society-have
oeen formed. They propose plans to
keep the streets clean and we'll sanded.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-05-17

A CURIOUS offer is made of small
-easehold property in Worcestershire
held for the residue OF term of 1000
years, created in the year 1900" It
will be sold at auction.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-05-17

THERE is a New York paper called
The Path, but as it advocates the larg-
est tolerance in religious belief it can
aot be called narrow one.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-05-17
VERY earnest and

friend writes to
know what, in the
opinion Of this de-
partment. would be
q good signature for
him to adopt. Hc is
in the railway bust
ness. and hopes to
60 on getting pro-
noted. as he has
started out in that
line, until he be-
comes the President
Of the road. 1t is
not at all unlikely.
he says. for other
bows have become
wi6o fpt procidop%e