davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-10-11
Colonel. to draw up the writings and beg

Colonel. to draw up the writings and begin
to train. You will never regret it, I am
sure. and it will be the making Of me.
I do not know your address, but trust that
this will reach you through the press, for.
as write, you are on your way toward
Canada with requisitjon and the police
reaching after you at Every town.
am glad to hear that you are not drink
ing any more, especially while engaged in
sleep. II you only conhne your drinking to
very old man. and your great massive brain
will continue to expand until your hat will
not begin to hold it.
What do you think of Browning? would
like to converse With you on the SUBJECT be-
fore the fight and get your souls best sem
wave.
I will meet you at Havre or Calais and
agree with you upon how hard we shall hit
each other. I saw. at Il low variety show
the other day. two pleading comedians who
weted each other over the stomach with
canes, and also pounded each other on the
head with sufficient force to explode per-
cussion cups on the top of the skull and yet
without injury. Do you not think that a
prize fight could be thus provided for? l
will SEQ these men. if you say 80. and learn
their methods.
Remember, it is not the punishment Of a
prize fight which yearn for. but the etful-
gent glory Of meeting you in the ring and
having the cables and press associate my
budding name with that of a man who has
done so much to make men better-a man
whose name will go down to postcrity as
that Of one who sought to amelorate and
mellow and dcsiccate his fellow men.
will now challenge you once moro with
great respect. and beg leave to remain.
yours very truly, BILL N1E.
Hon. Ferdinand de Iesseps, Paris, France:
DEAR SIR-Ihave some shares in the canal
which you have been working on and am
compelled to hypothecate them this summer
in order to paint my house: I see by q
speech of yours. made the other day, that
yon have great faith in the future of the en-
terprise. and so 1 will give you the first
chance on this stock of mine. You have
suffered SO much in order to do this work
that want to see the stock get into your
hands. You deserve it. You snail have 1t.
Ferdie. if you will send mo a postoffice
money order by return mail covering the
par value of five hundred shares. will
lose the premium because | am little
pressed for money The painters will be
through next week and will want their pay.
As say. want to see you own the canal,
for in fancy can see you as you tolled
down there in the hot sun. as you hoated
your wheelbarrow down the VALLEY with
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-10-11

to find it no task at all to run him
down. But the end was not yet. Hart
well, however, knew that they would
soon reach the southern limit of the
canebrake; then escape would be i'm
possible.
Not pausing to think again that it
might prove "out of the frying-pan into
the fire." the hunted officer dashed
forward toward the house. He leaped
over the low, we'll trimmed hedge that
surrounded the attractive grounds of
the lovely Southern home, then he
stood motionless and gazed in evident
admiration at the sweet picture which
confronted his vision.
A beautiful girl, with plump, grace
full figure, wonderful masses of dusky
golden tresses flowing in lnxuriant rip
pies all over her proud little head, and
wine-dark eyes starry with mirth and
Intelligence, was at work in the yard
near the house. She was singing in a
clear, bird-like soprano voice some
thing about brave lover wearing the
gray. Her deft, snowy fingers I'M
pinned from clothes-line, stretched
Aio1Ai eoIi iAANlAt'A PCt'Su- lCo ACd1 tuc
house to stout cherry in the corner
of the yard, miscellaneous articles Of
muslin. These she deposited into a
large, oldfashioned clothes basket
that rested on the soft, velvety grass
at her feet.
In another moment Lieut.. Hartwell
stood uncovered before this fair South
ern girl, bowling with the urbanity of
perfect gentleman.
The song ceased, and Elma Starlton
gave start when she discovered the
handsome Union officer bowling so po-
litely before her.
"Pardon me" he uttered rapidly; II
did not wish to startle you"
Then he briefly mentioned his cap
ture by the guerrillas and how he had
escaped, ending by entreating her to
show him, if possible, some secure hid
ing-place. Would she heed his i'm
port11nity?
Elma Starlton had two brothers and
father in the Confederate service.
This man was an enemy to the dear
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-10-11
DIR. Holiness Eightieth Birthday.

At Beverly Farm, near Boston, OIL
the 29th day of August last, Oliver
Wendell Holmes quietly celebrated his
eightieth birthday. Letters and tele
grams Of congratulation poured il
upon him from all over the country
and many ladies and gentlemen called
in person. Many beautiful floral gifts
were sent to the Doctor, and the house
was filled with sweet flowers. He also
received very handsome remembrance
in the shape Of solid silver gold-lined
cup of beautiful design from personal
friends and classmates. The Doctor
greeted each of his visitors personally
with a cordial grasp of the hand and
expressed his great pleasure at thei1
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-10-11

your .perspiration. l can see you in the
morning, with hot. red hands and tin dip.
per pail. going. to your toll, with a large
red cotton handkerchief sticking out of your
hip pocket.
80 have decided that you ought to have
control, II possible, of this great water
front. Besides, you have larger family
than have to support When 1 he ard a,
you were the father of fifteen little children
and that you are in the sere and yellow
ieal, said to myself a man with that many
little mouths to feed, at the age of eighty
snail have thelflrst crack at my stock. And
So II you will send the face value as soon
as possible, will say bong jaw, messue.
| Yours truly, Bill, NYE.
To the Seven Haired Sisters, 'Steenth street
, MEsDAMEs, HAMsELLEs AND FELLOW
say that I am we'll and hope this
great blessing. How pleasant it is
ioI sisters to dwell together in unity AMI
bsloved by mankind. You must indeed
nave good time standing in tho window
gay AFTER day. pulling your long hair
| shtousa your fingers with Pride. When ]
trst saw you all thus engaged. for the hene-
iS OF tho public, thought it was q candy
pull.
now write to say that the hair promoter
which you sold me at the time is not up to
,.e WITH. u was year ago that bought
H. and think that in year something
ought to show. It is a great nuisance for a
public man who is liable to come homo late
at night to have to top dress his head
before he can retire. Your directions in
volve great care and trouble to a man in
my position, and still have tried faithfully
TO follow them. What is the resultp Moth
ing but dtsappoiutnent, ana not 50 yers
much of that.
You said, if you remember. that your
father was a bald-headed clergyman, but
one day. with wild Shrek of "Eureka!" he
discovered this hair encourager, and the
rest of his life filled his high hat with hair
every time he put it on. You said thatsat first
fine growth of down, like the inside of a
mouse's ear, would be seen. after that the
blade, then the stalk and the full corn in
the ear. In pigs ear, I am now led to be-
lieve.
Fair but false seven haired sisters, I now
bid you adieu. You have lost in me good,
warm, true hearted, and powerful friend
Ask me not for my endorsements or my be-
fore and after picture to use in your circu-
lars. give my kind words and photographs
hereafter to the soap men. They are what
they seem. You arc not.
When u woman betrays me she must be-
ware. And when seven OF them do so. it is
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-10-11

Southern ca,1se. Would it be right to
assist him in his efforts to avoid re-
capture? Would it not be the very
height Of disloyalty in her to hide this
Federal officer on the Starlton prem
ises?
The girl thought rapidly, one l hand nd !,
beautiful and shapely, resting on the
clothes-line, the other dropped at her
side. ,
firm face of the man who had apPl1ed
to her for aid. His eyes were so blue
and manly, his whole countenance SO SO
noble, her warm heart felt throb OF
pity. His >captors were not soldiers
but swamp guerrillas-a bold, evil
disposed band. She had quite forgot
ten that he had told her that. Elma
Starlton was not in sympathy with the
ruerrillas infesting the swamps, ana
cane brakes round about her home.
But, had she been, the manly face oe-
fore her would have been sufficient 10
! shake it.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-10-11

t thu p pa! The huge canes defied
~ vne admission of any cooling breeze s
"n ml might be astir without. ('0
AZ Ere Lieutenant Hartwell had reached
, VIC southern border of the thicket ha
W. vas almost exhausted. Great heads
~ sweat stood on his face, and he
nm: ilnos trembled from fatigue. He stood
lrresolute as to what course to n1r eu,
n neA1. lie had been forced to flee in an
opposite direction from the Union
Imp I: Where would he seek refuge
LIS strength was failing He could not
Keep up the flight any longer, Then
n a1 cared not hide among the canes.
isiready, IN nearing pursuit, he could
near , the heavy boots of the guerrillas
crushing canes and brambles. LEAVING
no nook unsearched.
Just before him, through grove Of
cottonwood, walnut, and hickory, all
1lhged With autumn's russell cold. he
caught sight Of a handsome southern
nome, built of red sandstone. With
clambering vines half yelling the front
and roof, and beautiful flowers of every
variety surrounding it, lending to the
9 enIlfe place the splendid glow and
beauty OF tropical aspect. It was the
home of some abettor of the Southern
cause. Hartwell knew this, and he
1elt quite sure that if he sought refuge
there he would be handed over to his
rough captors, who, if they did not
belong to the Confederate service.
favored it, while they bitterly opposed
the Federal army.
But haste, not debate, was neces-
sary. He could hear the guerrillas
drawing nearer; their curses, too,
reached him, as non-success at every
turn batfied them. They had expected
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-10-11

fractions would be an outfit for whole
State. Here the caves of Luray, the
grottoes of the Shenandoah, and the
Natural Bridge are lavished within
! distance of 100 miles. This is record
unmatched in any other part of the
world SO far as known.
The cave is reached by drive of
mile through the quaint little town
hanging on by its very ears to ra-
vine. An ungainly house covers the
entrance
Luray is as unlike the Mammoth
Cave as the Casino is different from
the Tombs. The Mammoth Cave is
vaster, niole ir.Hpi~is>es, ena in ~
one realizes such constant possibilities
of danger and attains so much by hard
work that one feels somewhat like an
original explorer. Luray is a clean,
well-swept domain, into which you
could take a baby, and its formations
are much more attractive as decora-
tions, although less beautiful in detail.
Here are none of those exquisite,
flower-like formations that deck the
grimy heights of the Mammoth Cave,
but the wide sweep Of line, the grace
full curves and convolutions repeated
in vast masses make decoration of
wonderful effectiveness. The peculiar
ity of the formation is that Of drapery
hanging in lon graceful folds Some
times these are in laminated sheets so
thin as to be almost transparent,
barred with color and at the outer
edges turned and folded like gigantic
leaf. Here are chamber on chamber
hung with these magnificent drape1ies.
One of the most perfect of these ar
Engagements is called the "Saracen's
Tent" another is the "Wet Blanket"
behind which light shows its beauti-
full translucence and delicate bars Of
color. "Helen's Shawl" is another
exquisite bit in texture and color. In
other places the draperies appear to be
gathered back at the bottom, the folds
strangely not falling plumb
In other places the folds are so
turned that they resemble organ pipes,
and we have the cathedral. The organ
gives forth sounds and the guide plays
Days Of Absence" with the usual skill,
and then runs through rich, vibrating
chords. The quality of the sound is
Like that of a deep-toned organ. Near
by on another short series Of folds the
guide strikes chimes, bel1-lke in quail
ity and full Of melody.
Elsewhere the formations are veget-
able rather than floral There is a bed
of caulihowers and new potatoes in
glistoning GOATS. There is also I. Gsh
market, with rows of fish hung mp for
sale and long-necked geese plucketl for
market
The Imagination is not forced in
these resemblances, which would sug-
gest themselves to the most unimagi-
native In the cathedral there is a
dainty statuette which looks like an
antique Of the Madonna and Child and
a little group that is easily resolved
into Christ blessing little children. The
trouble at such. places is that these re-
semblances are too greatly insisted on,
while the charm lies in those hints
which will not bear pressing. Here
are the usual halls: The Bridal Cham
Der. the Giants Hall, Pluto's Chasm,
with shadowy Proserpine in the
gloom, Diana's Bath, the Frozen Cas-
cades, whittier than the other forlna-
tons, and the guide says later forma-
tons.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-10-11

out extra care and good feeding, while YOU
could rain down to that. judge, if you
begin o go without food on receipt of this
ehallahge. would ask that we fight un-
the Opera House in Paris. II you will de-
c1dSto accept, will engage the house now
and put few good reading notices in the
papers
you'd expect that a forfeit of $1,000 be
put up, SO that in case you are in Jail at the
me for my trip to Paris and the general up
heatal of my whole being which arises
from ocean travel.
lthallenge you as a plain American citi-
zenh an amateur. partially to assert the
rlgHs OF a simple payer and partly to
the pride OF my parents, and they wanted
me p amount to something. So far, the
results have been different Will you not
aud no. a poor struggler in the great race
Tor supremacy, to obtain that notice which
tho newspapers now so reluctantly Weld !?
YOU are said to be generous to a fault. es-
pec4lly your own faults, and plead with
upow to give me chance to share your
gfeif fame by accepting my challenge and
appearing with me in q mixed programme
Tor fhe evening. in which We will jointly
amuEc and instruct the people, while at the
same time it will give me chance to be-
featSi. e'N''' - 0'i' N''' '''i Il "ln 'o-
! Have often admired your scholarly and
spiritual expressions and your modest life
and you will remember that at one time
asked you for your autograph. and you told
me to go where the worm deth not and the
liro department is Intellectual Will you not,
Task, aid Il stru@gler and painter for fame,
NLo desires the eye of the public, even ii
IFS own be italiciscd at the time?
lmust close this challenge moro in the
nattse of an appeal to one of Americas
bestiatown men. Will you accept my hum
bic chidenge. so that can go into training
at oncj? We can leave the details OF the
fight o the Mail and Express, if you will,
and ne champion belt we can buy after
ward, All I care for is the honor OF being
miNel up with you in some way, and enough
OF th gate money to pay for arnicu and at
tendnce afterward?
vii you do it?
l know the audience would enjoy seeing
US dlessed for the fray, you so strong and
SO VIDE, [ SO pensive and so flat busted
abou the chest. Let us proceed at once.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-10-11

to find it no task at all to run him
down. But the end was not yet. Hart
well, however, knew that they would
soon reach the southern limit of the
canebrake; then escape would be i'm
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-10-11
Astronomical Intelligence.

Telescope man-Come up, gents,
and take look at the moon. Only ten
cents.
Countryman-Docsit make the moon
look any bigger?
"Look any bigger? Why, it brings
the moon so close that you can read
the signs on the board fences.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-10-11
1AsED By GUERRILLAs
A Story of the War.
BY A. H. GIBSON.

IiUT. ARTHUR
!: , Hartwell of the IN
Ilon army had re-
Ecelved a wound in
Ian e Engagement
fought b y tw o
diminishing parties
that had surprised
each other on the
White River in Ar
kansas.
How ever, the
yO11np offoor
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-10-11
NYE WRITES SULLIVAN
HE CHALLENGES TIE sRU1sER To ,
RING COMBAT.

10 Mill to Come OF in the Paris Grand
opera House-But the Pride of Boston
."ust Train Down to 1876 Pounds-yyiu-
ian's Epistle to De Lesseps and tho sutI,-
erland Sisters.
c1 n John L. Sullivan, ut large:
-; LEAR sIR-Will you permit me, without
~ Mis al to give you tho slightest o1rense,
I SU saallenge you to fight in France with
t pare knuckles and police interference, be-
tween this and the close of Navigation!
hod ave we had no real good fight with any
e 60 operate with you in that direction, pre-
10. .eiIfng, however, to have it attended to in
! s.nl' SO that can go on with my fall plow-
holier. " ~ my o"h steflA
Nv, We would have to fight at 1876 pounds. be-
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-10-11
The British Museum contains whs

The British Museum contains what
are probably the Oldest pieces of
wrought iron now known sickle
blade found by Belzoni under the base
of sphynx in Karnac, near Thebes; q
blade found by Colonel Vyse imbeded
in the masonry of the great pyramid;
and o portion Of q c:oss cut saw ex-
humed st N:mrod by Mr.. Layard.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-10-11
THE CAVES OF OLD VIRGINIA.
! Region Full of Romance-Curious and
Interesting Vegetable formations.

= The Valley Of
the Shenandoah
had been devoid
of all human in
terest, it would
still be surpass-
lngly attractive.
Nature got up this
valley with the
t o urls in her
minds eye, writes
Mary Gay Hum
phrays in the Chi
ego Inter Ocean.
,nv onocf +1a a.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-07-11
NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Strained relations are bad
enough, but President Harrison be.
gins to wish that his relatives could be
restrained, just little.-N. Y. World
Selling cheap and buying dear
never made any man rich, and the
American farmer is the only person
who seems to think otherwise.-Louis.
Vile Courier-JournaL
1t becomes palmer every day
that Harrison has no originality, nc
mind of his own except a mind to be
show superior to him by contrast
Cleveland Plain Dealer.
New Hampshire has decided te
send Bill Chandler back to the United
States Senate That quoer old com
monwealth may now put on a tall
conical paper cap and go and sit or
the three-legged stool in the corner
Chicago News
SO long as one man can &c
rich at the expense of his fellows
there will be found the man to make
the attempt. And. like Carnegie, he
will work himself into a fine FRENZY
with the believing that he is q bless.
ing to the feliow-creatures he is de
spelling. lChicago Herald.
-Instead of jeering at the dis
appointment of the political ambitionz
of young Thurman in Ohio, would II
not be we'll for the Republican organs
to reflect upon the incident as evil
dence that the Democratic party's atti-
tude toward the sons Of their fathers il
superior to its own?- Chicago Herald
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-07-11
Laying Brick in Winter.

The singular fact is mentioned that
while in Great Britain building opera
tons are suspended on the slightest
approach of frost, bricklaying is car
ried on in Norway during almost the
coolest weather that prevails for any
time. Thus. in Christiana, building
during the winter months, it is stated.
has now been practiced for at least
twelve years, but more frequently dur
ing the last five. all the buildings thus
erected having stood remarkably we'll
Experience has not shown that walls
built in winter exhibit, subsequently.
more dampness than those erected in
summer. The reverse may be the
case. since the difference between the
temperature of the air and of the NOR
tar cools the latter by evaporation and
takes away great part of the moist
ure. According to the opinion of the
principal builders in Christiana, brick
layers work, executed with due care
in winter, is really superior to similar
work done in summer-the whole art
of such work in frosty weather con-
sisting simply in tho use of unslacked
lime. the mortar prepared with which
Is to be made In small quantities inn
mediately before use, the proportion
Of lime being increased as the Their
mometer falls; the only care required
is to utilize the unsiacked lime 50
handily and quickly as to enable the
mortar to bind with the bricks before
Il cools- Another very important con-
a L.
covered On the building site--N- I.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-07-11
THE LATEST FREAK.
He Allows Curiosity Seekers to Break
Cobble stones oa His Head.

He Allows Curiosity Seekers to Break
Cobble stones oa His Head.
There is a live novelty in an uptown
dime museum that is attracting gen.
erai attention. This drawing card"
is a man who glories IN the exclusive
possession of the power to let immense
cobble stones be broken on his head.
The customary grain o: salt does not
accompany this museum statement
The man is as large as life and as plain
to the sight as day-if the established
admission fee is paid. While doing
his ''act" he wears large but frailly-
constructed helmet of iron. This is a
sixteenth of an inch in thickness. and
is placed over his head, the base or
lowest extremity resting on his shout
ders. There is an opening for the eyes
and nose. On the top is square groove
in which an ordinary cobble stone is
placed Then one Of the audience is
requested to break the stone. A
common, large-sized sledge hammer il
object of the helmet is to Offset the eff
feet of any blow that might miscarry
and land about the face or shoulders.
The man shows twelve tim es a day
twelve new and perfectly constructed
stones being used. There is no flake"
about the hammer. the stones or the
destroying blows The enemy to the
cobbie told a reporter that he first dis
covered that it was impossible to
break his skull when. on shipboard,
he fell from aloft to the deck, a dis
lance of one hundred and ten feet He
landed. according to his story, fat on
the top of his head. and got up smil-
ing. This fall was the means OF put
ting him into an easy livelihood. he
says, and he has become so accustomed
to cobbles that he actually believes the
biggest steam pile driver of the land
would have large contract on hand
if it attempted to smash his upper
quarters. Y. Mail and Express.