davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-04-11
n c..

The newspaper of to day is the chief dis
seminator of information Op criminal mat
ters It's the thief's text book and every rob-
berry it details is a new lesson to him. 1t is
true that the public is to some extent fore.
warned against the danger of being duped
by the methods which the newspapers ex-
pose; but honest people do not read the
accounts of criminal transactions with as
much avidity as do dishonest persons. con-
seQuently do not absorb nearly so much in
formation. When bank robbery occurs
the most minute particulars are given of the
modus operandi. and in many instances the
cracksmen's whole kit of tools is accurately
delineated by illustrations The banker.
having little use for such information, soon
forgets all he has read about It,; but on the
other hand, the aspiring burglar stores the
minutiR away in the secret recesses of his
memory for future use.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-04-11

What is all this talk about "bOOdle?"
Does it mean that the lawmakers are sell
ing their votes to the highest bidder for
cash in hand? That is serious charge to
make against the representative men of the
state. The heralding of such accusations,
whether true or false, has demoralizing
effect and tends to confirm the idea of the
skeptic that real integrity does not exist,
and that all men have selling price set
upon their honor. No doubt but there are
a few rascals in the legislature, for where
will you find body of one hundred and
fifty men-politicians especially-without
them? We prefer to believe the ninety
and nine are conscientious men who are do
ing what they understand to be their duty.
If they will pass some OF the cOmmendable
prison bills now before them THE MIRROR
will never cease defending and praising
their purity and statasmaIship.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-04-11
Justice Should he for All

The men Of wealth, the men who control
these great corporations-these great mills
give millions away in ostentatious charity.
They send missionaries to foreign lands.
They endow schools and universities and
allow the men who earned the surplus to
die in want. l believe in no charity that
Is founded on robbery. have no admira-
ton for generous hiahwaymen or e1travA-
CANT pirates. At the foundation of charity
should be justice. Let these men whom
others have made wealthy give something
to the workingmen-somethi to those
who created their fortunes. This would be
one step In the right direction. Do not let
1t be regarded a. ehasity-let 1t be regarded
as justice. Robert G. 1ngersOil.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-04-11

Judging from the heat of the opening de-
bate on the prison labor question, the whole
subject will receive thorough shaking up
Public Account is sure to be adopted in part
if not in whole. Mr.. WilIrich is champion
ing Public Account, but it seems there is
no one willing to stand up for the contract
system alone.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-04-11
TWO comes.

r. S. McClaughrey. one Of the Chicago
bOOdlers, who was sentenced to two years
at Joliet, had his sentenced committed and
was released on the 10th inst. one month
before his time expired. He is an old man
aud had borne an honorable name previous
to his conviction.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-04-11
The Midway News says:

The Midway News says: THE board
of pardOns scheme is simply a change for
changes sake. That official authority
which involves life and liberty should be con-
centrated so as to place all the responsibility
under one hat. To divide and lessen the
responsibility is to correspondingly endanger
life and liberty. If our governors don't Ike
that fare, they don't have to board at our
house"
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-04-11

The Mystic Breeze waited its way to our
exchange editors table and after briefly
dome found favor and will hereafter be a
welcomed weekly visitor. The Breeze
comes from Mystic, Iowa. at 81 per fifty
two comes.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-04-11

The putfed-up. unweldy morning dailies
of the Twin Cities have despised our hum
BILE please k We don't much care, but
it shows a lack of courtesy and judgment
on their part. Their less ostentatious but
more newsy contemporaries, the evening
papers. have accorded us the most courteous
treatment. We are not langushing for the
inflated morning sheets. So long as we
have the terse evening journals from which
to learn the worlds happenings, the purse
proud party organs may go to pad carpets
and supply bedding for tramps
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-04-11

fortune or circumstance has cast them Here
is our hand. and if it will lift them Just one
inch nearer to the smile of heaven and the
light of day. we shall feel gratitied and
amply repaid. Orphans Friend, Oxford.
n. G.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-04-11

We never fail to read THE PRISON MIR
ROR. To do so would be to overlook one
of our brightest exchanges. For the edit
cation of old and young it is worth many
Morris Sun.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-04-11

We are pleased to welcome to our table
THE PRISON MIRROR, neat, little four
column sheet published by the inmates of
the Saltwater penitentiary. The perusal
OF its well filled and pathetcally bright
pages, cannot fail to arouse the best feel
ings of the reader, and to fill his heart with
sympathy and compassion for these poor,
erring, but nevertheless, fellow mortals; who,
though under the cloud" are striving to
rise from the slough into which crime, mis-
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-04-11

Alex Mckenzie of Bismsrk, John Simons
of Valley City, John Z. Haggart of Fargo,
Hon. L. McHugh of Lsngdon and Editor
futile of Mandan are the board of peniten-
tiary commissioners as constructed by
Gov. Mellette. Fargo OAK Daily Sun.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-04-11

The fruit Of wisdom Is peace, and the
fruit of riches is fatigue.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-04-11

knowledge without good deeds Is like
tree without fruit
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-06-27
A GREAT SPEECH.

A "Reminiscences of the Blaine COnklink
Quarrel.
Il was present, as sergeant-at-arms Of
the House, when the famous speech of Mr..
Blaine was made assailing Mr.. Conkling
The scene has never been fully described
says Ex-Governor Ordway, of Dakota Mr.
Conkling was a master of invectiye, and
many members had sweltered under the
stings of his quips and jeers. No man in
the House was Q match for him in that par
ticular. He had several times alluded tc
The man from Maine in a patronizing
manner. No one imagined that Mr.. Blaine
had either the ability or the temerity to
measure swords with the Goliath of New
York. He had not yet asserted himself
When he arose to reply to Mr.. Conkling his
mouth was twitching in a nervous manner
and his big eyes were blazing. We oughl
to have known that something startling was
coming; but at that time Mr.. Blaine was
not known to be the truly courageous
and masterful man that he is. OF course
he had intimate friends who understood
that he was giant intellectually, but the
House had not felt his power. Neverthe
less, there was an uncommon hush anG
stiffness when he commenced his deliberate
utterances.
aS EO moScu dIOHg, ldSteT, more Vene
mently, like a whirlwind of eloquence, his
magnetism was felt in thrilling wave all
over the Hall of Representatives, and when
he had finished his terrific arrangement OF
Mr.. Conkling, flung the gage of battle anG
lifetime bitterness full at the feet Of the
great New Yorker, there was burst of sp
plause such as had never before heard In
that chamber. It was not intended as an
added weight to the flaunts made at Mr.
Conkling, but in commentator Of the
brilliancy Of the newly-risen star. looked
we all looked, to see Mr.. Conkling arise and
meet the occasion With superior effort;
but he did not. Every one liked and ad
mired Conkling, but their cheers for Blaine
amazed him, and in bitterness of spirit he
became angered with all. None of US realtesd
it; but that days forensic contest ultimately
defeated two Of the greatest men of our
generation for the Presidency. II they
could have pulled together, each could have
reached the White House. After that day
neither of them could attain that GOAL
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-06-27

committed to the oblivion of his mental
rubbish heap Then he looked intently for
some moments at the shabby woodcut which
Dennis father regarded as grand
Next morning the impecunious Truegate,
who still was in default OF interest and
principal, was terribly frightened by receiv-
ing call from his creditor in person, but
amazement replaced his dread when he
learned that the visit was made To him, not
In his character of debtor but as a men,
Der of the Committee of Arrangements for
the celebration CT the Fourth. Swingleton
asked many questions, waived the intima-
ton that perhaps he ought to have been
consulted earlier, and finally he completely
astounded Truegate py asking, with an
affectation of modesty quite unusual to
him as the founder of the village, to have a
place on the programme so that he might
say a few words. Then he inquired whether
any preparation had been made to regale
the more material part of the inner man
and for fireworks and he again startled the
committeeman out of his small remnant OF
composure by offering TO provide, entirely
at his own expense a grand breakfast on
the green, to be eaten Immediately after the
ceremonies, and to give display of fire.
works in the evening.
Mercy. Sdlu 1ruegaUc, "nlle reporting
the interview to his wife, 'he knocked me
clean daft by saying he'd give me as much
additional time as 1 might need to catch up
on the mortgage nobody's mind should
be troubled on the Fourth, if he could help
it. What do you suppose has got into him."
Religion, may be-" suggested Mrs. True
gate. Il don't know what else could make
man of his kind care any thing for the
Fourth Of July, or any thing else but his
property and money"
Truegate's amaZement was quietly but
quickly distributed among the villagers,
and augmented almost daily in the week
that preceded the Fourth. One day the
villagers were excited by the arrival of the
caterer, who came from the city twenty
miles away, to prepare the promised break
fast; then an unused brick store from
which tenant had recently been ejected)
became the receptacle Of many fire works,
some of which were distinguishable to the
native eye, while others were strange and
fearful combinations of framework and
fuse But strangest and most exciting Of
all was the information, which had its
source in the humble home of little Dennis,
that Swingleton had paid the boy quarter
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-06-27

to join with me in making this anniversary
day, and all that follow It, full of warm
feeling and earnest resolve. Let us con-
stantly bear in mind Washingron's words,
Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty
they mean q hundred times as much now
as when they were first spoken, for trick
sters and thieves are a hundred times
harder to watch than open foemen with
guns and swords That Is all wanted to
say"
Three cheers for the bossi" shrtlly
piped little Dennis. There was a loud IS
Spouse, and then, before the crowd sep
arated, a citizen who apparently had begun
his Fourth in q rumshop the night before
began singing For he's jolly good fell
low" the music Of which the band took up.
being assisted by quite an uproarions
chorus, and Swingleton INDUCED in
pleased, expansive smile-the first of the
kind that Cliff Edge had ever seen on his
face.
The breakfast was so successful that
there was very little appetite for dinner in
the town that day. The giver of the feast,
however, had very little opportunity to
personally partake Of it, for he was con-
tinually interrupted by congratulations on
his speech, and on. what one good old
preacher termed his change of heart. He
accepted it all pleasantly; indeed, he was
as cheerful and hearty as new converts
generally are, and seemed to need only
night and fireworks to fill his cup of Joy.
Darkness was long in coming. but when it
did arrive the villagers admitted that it was
worth having waited for; certainly such q
quantity of fireworks had never been seen
before, even by those who had lived in the
neighboring city. Swingleton lighted them
all himself, except when some small boy
begged the privilege; the solid man seemed
to enjoy asoaring rocket or whirling pin
wheel as keenly as any child on the
ground But besides these familiar pyro-
technics there were set pieces"-stars.
anchors, American eagles, a portrait of
Washington, etc. The last of these was the
Red White and Blue"-an enormous re-
production, in colored fire, of our National
flag. 1t cost fifty dollars, and blazed only
two minutes by the watch, but Swingleton
said he never in his life had got more salts
faction out of a fifty-dollar bill. And as the
crowd slowly dispersed and Swingleton
strolled to the outside of the throng DO And
his own family little Dennis, who reverent-
ly followed behind, heard the great mans
voice rumbling and growing and squeak
ing, in his attempts at tune:
"Hurrah! for the morning OF mornings has
come;
Unfurl every banner and beat every drum"
John Habberton, In St Louis Globe-De
ocrat
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-06-27

personal interests to obtrude upon the at
tention of John Swingleton was unusual,
and very annoying beside The great nah
finally exclaimed:
Dennis If you must talk 20 yourself,
wish you would do it in whispers can't
have my mind distracted by such a con-
founded racket"
Il beg your pardon, sir" the small boy
replied II didn't mean to disturb you.
butPve got to get that whole song by heart
before the Fourth, cause I'm to be one of
the crowd of singers"
Singers What sfngers-what
Fourth?" asked Swingleton, dropping
pencil with which he had been figuring,
and bringing large-sized frown to bear at
short range upon the boy. The little fell
low met his employers gaze with look of
establishment and answered:
Why, the Fourth of July, of course.
There amt any other fourth that l ever
heard of, Mr.. Swingleton. An the singers
is lot of boys an gals that's goin' to sing
the songs on the village green when the
flag gifts h'isted at sunrise"
The Cliff Edge Company's head had no
time to spare, for he had intended that
very day to enlarge the companys bounds
by grasping the estate of an fmpecunious
farmer, and also by foreclosing a mortgage
VI du GCO Sel-COQuQenG
chaser of villa site; nevertheless, he
was. after being startled, somewhat
amused by the boys earnestness, so he
said:
Fourth of July? Umph. 1t seems to
me once heard of such a day, but it's
escaped my mind What is it, anyhow. and
why should it bring lot of young ones to
the green at sunrise when they ought to be
asleep"
The boy looked in amazement at his en-
ployer, but Swingleton's face had not been
in training for thirty years for nothing,
aud not line of it changed, the little
fellow said:
Why, it's the day of the Declaration;
more'n hundred years ago lot of fellers
got together down to Philadelphia an
made up their minds they wouldn't
knuckle under to the Britishers any longer,
so they said it in writin' an put their
names to ii.
rs that sos" asked Swingleton, still
maintaining questioning countenance.
Yes sirl" said the boy, with so much
emphasis that the nearer smiled in spite of
himself You needn't b'lieye me if you
don't want to I'll run home an fetch you
my school history an you can read for YOUR
self"
''No," said the head of the company, I'm
take your word for it. But what good did
it dor If 1 remember rightly, that Declara-
ton made great deal OF trouble. There
was fighting for five or six years. and the
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-06-27
FOURTH OF JULY POETRY.

A Record of tho Day.
I was wide awake little boy
Who rose at the break Of day;
. were the minutes he took to dress
- Then he was of and away.
. were his leaps when he cleared the stairs
- Although they were steep and high;
A was the number which caused his haste,
L Because 1t was Fourth Of July.
= were his pennies which went to buy
- A package of crackers red;
e were the matches which touched them OF
" And then-he was back in bed.
y big plasters he had to wear
To cure his fractures s9re;
. were the visits the doctor made
~ Before he was whole cree more.
q were the dolorous days ne spent
- In sorrow and pain: but then,
n are the seconds he'll stdp 10 think
" Before he does it again.
Lillian Dynevor Ktcs, in st. Nicholas.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-06-27
A VALUABLE REMEDY
GurJun OIL Successfully Used In Bad Case
of Leprosy,

ofLeprosy.
Mr.. Edward Clifford. writing about
Father Damien in the Nineteenth Cen
fury, says: Il think he had not much
faith in the gurjon oil, but at my request
he began using it, and after a fort
nights trial the good effects became
evident to ALL His face looked greatly
better, his sleep became very good in
stead of very bad. his hands improved.
and last Sunday he told me that he
had been able that morning to sing
orisons-the first time for months. One
is thankful for this relief, even if it
should be only temporary; but it is i'm
possible not to fear that after several
years progress the disease has already
attacked the lungs or some other vital
organ, and that the remedy comes too
late.
Il may mention here that gurjon oil
is the produce of fir tree which grows
plentifully in the Andaman Islands.
Its efficacy was first discovered by DIR.
Dougall, and l am assured by Sir
Donald Stewart, who was then Gov
ernor of the Islands, and who has sent
me the official medical report, that
every single case in the place was
cured by it. The lepers were convicts,
and it was therefore possible to enforce
four hours day of rubbing ointment
all over their bodies and the taking Of
two small doses internally. In some of
the cases the disease was of many
years standing, and the state to which
it had reduced its victims was indis-
scribably dreadful; yet of the eight
months the sufferers were able to use
heavy pickaxe, and every symptom
of leprosy had disappeared. The oil is
brown and sticky in its raw condition,
but when mixed with three parts OF
imewater it makes an ointment as soft
and smooth as butter. 1t can be OBJ
tanned in London. The real difficulty
in the cure lies in the fact that lepers
are too inactive and too callous to take
the exertion of sufficient rubbing in OF
the oil, and it is difficult both in Hawaii
and in India to force them to do so. In
Molokai there are three Franciscan sis
tiers who take charge Of the leper girls,
and who are now using the oil. think
that their quiet systematic endeavors
are likely to produce important results,
and that children will be more obedi'
ent patients than adults.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-06-27
Plantation Philosophy.

De quickest takers is sometimes do
Stoves thinkers.
Some folks likes er thing case it's new,
an udder folks likes er thing case it's old,
1t amt so hard ter down er raskil, but
keepin' him down is whar de trouble comes
in
One cowslip CROWN by itse'f viii tract
mo- ertention den er beautiful rose in ar
garden full o. flowers.
In dis life er heep depen's on knowin' de
truth when you finds it De lie Is fcn' q
wcarin' bright ribbons, while de truth il
often tented wild brown jeana.-Arkanssu
Traveller.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-06-27

National finances were disarranged; the
greenbacks of the day became worse and
worse, until you could buy a hatful for a
silver dollar. don't suppose in all that
time 4 man could get a clear title If he
bought a piece of real estate"
The boys eyes opened wider and wider;
his employer was taking him entirely be-
yond his mental depth lie soon recovered
himself, though, and said:
Il don't know nothin' about all them
things Ali knows is that our teacher ex-
planned to us last year, when / hadn't left
school yet, that twas the Declaration that
made this country such mighty good place
70 live in He said If it hadn't been for
that we'd been all bossed by the Britishers
TO this day, an nobody would have got
along as well as they do now, an all our
x5ch folks that's maxim such piles of money
on town lots, an villa plots, an water pow
er, an such like, would have been lust a.
Lvfn' from hand to mouth, an diggin' ia
tens for Twin, like my old daddy did fore
he come from Ireland,n
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-06-27
Moro Serious Than He Thought.

An old man was arrested on Champlain
street the other day for kicking up dis
turbance, and on the way to the station be
said to the officer:
II don't want to be locked up, and IN
give you ten cents to let me go.''
mo, sir-no, siri"
''I'll make it twenty"
''No, STRIP
''Say twenty-five"
''No, sir-not for fifty"
''Whati Fifty centsi Say, this must b
a mighty serious matter, old fellow. Bet
you three to one you think you have got the
fellow who stole Charlie Ross Detroit
Free Press.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-06-27

HESE lines, repeat
ed over and over
again one morn
ing in low but
earnest tones by a
small, thin faced,
rather ragged boy
in the Office of the
Cliff Edge I'm
prov ement Com
pany, finally forced
tn e m selves upon
the attention of
John Swingleton,
who was president,
managing director
and almost every
thing else in the
company. For any
thing but his own
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-06-27
In 1866 Henry Irving stood on tn

In 1866 Henry Irving stood on the
stage of a theater at Liverpool won
dering what he should do in the sum-
mer months, when he would be left
without an engagement or shilling.
A letter was brought to him from Dion
Boucicault. offering him a part in a
new play and asking his terms. six
pounds a week" he wrote, and added
that he hoped the part was a good
one. The anwer was characteristic:
Dear Sir: The part is good one-
The salary is more than / intended
giving, but / never bargain with an
artjzt Yours. Dion Boucicault"
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-06-27
The BOYS Resolve.

Breathes there a boy with soul so dead
Who never to himself hath said
Away along in May:
"Tll save my cash that may buy
Some crackers loud and rockets high,
To wake the echoes in the sky
On Independence Day?'
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-06-27
SWINGLETON'S FOURTH.
His Change OF Heart, and How 1t
Came About.

Hurrah! for the mornln' of mornin's il come;
Unfurl ev'ry banner and beat ev'ry drum
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-06-27

Its blue and stars and crimson bars
Reflected on the sky.
Then while bells clang and anvils bang
And cannon thsnders roar,
Wen give a cheer that slaves may hear
Upon the old worlds shore.
Wen yell and screech and make speech
About our glorious Nation,
And brag that we on land or sea
Can wallop all creation.
With sogers gay well march all day
And stuck % them like candy,
Ard, quite sublime, keep step in time
To Yankee Doodle Dandy.
The maidens fair will bang" their hair
And dress red, white and blue,
For each will be OF Liberty
A pretty goddess true.
Wen crackers pop and gaily drop
Torpedoes on bald heads,
And burn, no doubt, some patriots out
OF houses, barns and sheds.
And when it's night the sky Well light
With Freedoms living fire,
And tnen each one, with duty done,
May to bis couch retire.
H c. Dodge, in Detroit Free Press.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-06-27


EFT ready, boy S, 10
make a noise
On hide p e n d G n G
Day,
For we're about to
have il out
In grand, old-fash-
Toned way.
At dawn Well raise
our flag ablaze,
And watch it proud
lv 6v