davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-04-12
Honesty Rewarded.

Some time ago wealthy man died
in Brussels, leaving nearly his entire
fortune to young woman who was en-
tirely unacqnainted with him. The
American Art Printer explains that
this is how it came to pass: He was a
very eccentric man, and set ont. like
Diogenes. in search Of an honest man.
His tub was an omnibus, and his Ian
tern small coin. In the omnibus he
used to take his seat every day near the
conductor. and always showed himself
very obliging in passing up the money
of passengers and returning the change,
but to the latter he always managed to
add franc or half franc. Then he
would watch those to whom it came.
They would count it carefully, notice
the extra coin, and invariably slip it
into their pockets. No one thought of
the poor conductor, whose meager sal
airy Of three francs day could i'll sup
port such loss But at last young
woman passed hers back with. Con
ductor, YOU have given me half franc
too much" Diogenes, delighted, fol-
lowed her home, made inquiries, and.
as the answers were satisfactory, made
his will in her favor, though he never
gave her warning that her half franc
was going to bring her half million.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-04-12
A Widows Strategy.

A man of considerable wealth, who
died in New York City some time since,
made q distribution of his personal
estate which did not suit his disconso.
late widow. Among other unsatisfactory
things, he bequeathed the proceeds OF
certain land and stocks Of value to
brother, while he left to the widow the
proceeds of other stocks and lands COM
paratively valueless, as portion Of her
legacy. But the widow was sole execu.
trix Of the will, and when she came to
sell she disposed of the land and stocks
in lump, setting high valuation on
those of which she was to have the pro.
ceeds and low valuation on the others,
the valuation of the two lots taken to-
gether making fair price for the whole.
By this means she exactly reversed that
portion of her husbands will relating tc
the land and stocks in question.
The brother, not relishing such sharp
practice on the part of his sister-in-law,
brought suit to recover the actual
value of the bequest made to him,
whereupon the widow proposed that in
stead of spending the estate in law they
should marry each other and enjoy it to-
gether. This proposition "struck re.
sponsive chord" in the breast of the
brother. They were married accord.
ingly, and are said to be having jolly
time in spending the fortune which the
deceased gentleman was 50 kind as to
accumulate for them. ..
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-04-12
The Amazons Of Dahomey.

The black female warriors of the war.
like tribe of Dahomey belong to the
romance of the Dark Continent; but the
latest African discoveries are sweeping
away much of the Elusive nimbus which
has hang over this state and its terrors.
The king Of Dahomey for long time
kept the neighboring tribes in fear, and
when he with hundreds of his people
suddenly invaded peaceful land to
capture slaves, opposition was not to be
thought of; for if any one lost his head
and resisted capture with weapons, he
was pretty sure to have his head cut off.
However, of late the neighboring tribes
do not pay as much respect to the
Dahomey tribe as formerly, for the king
was recently attacked by tribe from
the North, and his renowned women
guards took to fight when the arrows
really began to whistle through the air.
This Amazonian guard of fifteen hun
bred women is the flower of the army.
They by no means resemble the valiant
Amazons of the Grecian myth; they are
negro women, nothing more nor less
the kings wives, whom he keeps under
strict discipline and craftily makes use
of as his body -guard. The cunning king
of Dehomey knows that his wives are as
indolent as all negroes are although they
are made hewers of wood and drawers OF
water the world over, and so he compels
them to work like men. The women Of
Dahomey consequently go to war, with
shield and weapon, but the heroic
courage formerly ascribed to them only
exist in legend, for they are driven into
battle by their royal and domestic
tyrant, and are nothing more than food
for n0uzdor -Del1lnTeSt
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-04-12
Ruinous Drinking Habits.

Mrs. Bigboard-John, in what con-
dition do you imagine you came home
last night, or rather this morning?
Mr.. Bigboard Gin edD-Don't bother
me, dear. If you knew how my head
"You went away last night with $75
in your pocket. I see that you've only
got IS cents left. How did you spend
it?"
well, if you must know, it went. for
champagne. 1 happened to fall in
with an expensive crowd"
John Bigboard, your Incorporate
habits will be the ruination of your
business, your family and your home.
Why can't you drink whisky?"
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-04-12

And 80 the whole matter has been inau-
spicious from the start. The Duchess found
the basement Of the castle alive with rats.
The seed-corn in the spare room had been
almost entirely carried Oh. and O can of
strawberries which had been placed too
near the furnace had worked" and blown
It's brains out all over roll OF stair carpet,
the potatoes in the donjon tower had
mostly all sprouted. and lackey had to run
lawn mower over them before they could
be cooked. Ants were in the sugar barrel,
moths In the clothes presses. and Satan in
the servants. All the help had been eating
In the ducal dining room. as the casual OBJ
server could at once discover. Not only
that. but the thinking mind Immediately
jumped to the conclusion that the servant
who had done the carving was an amateur
and that the gravy did not match the wall
paper.
That is no way for an American Duchess
to be welcomed In her own house. It is an
indignity to our flag. When one buys q
ducal coronet she does not wish to be
welted over the head with it. She does not
care to be greeted with coldness in her own
castle or fail to find the key to the front
door under the door mat according to
agreement, or to find the drawbridge tied
up and have to wade across the moat.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-04-12
TENN1E G. CLAFL1N was incarceratod

JENNIE G. CLAFL1N was incarcerated
- New York jail eighteen years ago
on charge of obscenity. Now she is a
lady by act of Parliament, or, in other
words, the wife of knight. She mar.
r1sd wealthy money broker and dealer
IN India goods in London and he was
knighted. Tennie G. Clafin, a fortune
teller and heroine of New York police
courts, has therefore become Lady
Cook.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-04-12

fraud daily taking place. In emitting
this last clause of great truth Mr..
Barnum omitted full half of his
datum. He might have said, eff had
not made this woolly horse for the
public, the public would have made
one for ITSELF"
That the self-delusion would have
taken the animal form is not certain,
but under some name it comes along
in shape and quantity to suit the age.
been the most beautiful girl of the
generation, played such practical
joke upon herself that she died in two
or three hours after the performance of
the trick. Upon fearfully hot day
she amused her delicate organism with
tumblerful of iced milk. It was q
regular arctic slush. The paradox was
complete. This drink completed in q
few hours delusion which gallons of
ice-cream, sodawater, champagne and
canned fruits, combined with many
pounds of candy and lobster-salad, had
gotten we'll under way. Instead of
having good laugh over the delusion,
the girl died; for humbug is just as
liable to end in death as in good, Jolly
laughter: What this girl did SO con
spicuously because of her fame, ten
thousand times ten thousand more
valuable girls and women are doing in
obscurity-dying by way of effective
self-delusion.
The most popular "woolly horse" of
this century is whisky-sling. Under
the many names of Sling" "eye-
opener" "nightcap" and Stonic" it
transacts business in humbugging
which dwarfs all the Peter Funk
things in the wide world. Under the
influence of these little playful pranks
all the transformations spoken Of in the
Castle of Otranto" do abundantly and
amazingly take place. Under the in
fuence Of this delusion the Prince of
Wales assumes funny rotundity; his
personal form becomes amusing. The
German man and German woman as.
sumo resemblance to tubs and tanks
while in Scotland and Ireland the nose
becomes of rosy red and as graceful
in form as potato. OF one Of these
Joking men Mr.. Thackeray said: "Ht
followed each night the lamp of hi
nose." OF course common Lantern
held in the hand would be better, but
We must all settle down to the belle
that men love to be humbugged.
One of the best poets west of tn
Hudson River was wonderfully fond o
these whisky jokes. He put on ,
"nightcap" even in the forenoon, and i
the afternoon, when within few hour
of bedtime, he put on nightcap ever
few minutes. No operate singer eve
bade SO many farewells to the public 9
this man babe of "good-nights" to eac
afternoon that came. If it had not bee
for the Intervention of death, this am
able creature would now be fixing
nightcap by his evening fire; but cruz
nature seemed to envy the rhymer
Righteousness, and SO neglected on
morning to waken the great joke
His plan failed for want of kind ce
operation on the part of nature.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-04-12

The unexpected discovery in ones
ancestral book-shelves of a volume
worth anything between $4,000 and
$4,000 must be ON experience as rare as
delightful. While clearing the library
at Hopetoun House for sale at
Sotheby's, some one came upon copy
OF the Mazarin or Gutenberg Bible.
Lord Hopetoun did not know he had it;
book-collectors and experts did not
know of the existence of this copy.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-04-12

accompanied by such an example?
Now, I haven't word to say against
high temper; it is an excellent thing
to have. "What!" I hear you ex-
claim, in unfeigned establishment,
while the "bad boy" who had been
stamping with rage, stops his crying
and looks round-eyed with wonder,
the big tears still clinging to his
lashes and coursing down his plump,
rosy checks, as he turns his head to
see what / can mean by such an I'M
orthodox statement.
But repeat it,; good, high temper
is IAN excellent thing to have" So is
fast blooded horse, if he does not
run away with you. To this end you
must know how to govern him. He
must be conquered, first of all; not
"broken," but made q subject to gov
eminent in kind, firm, judicious way.
The horse-trainer would not think Of
breaking your colts leg because the
inexperienced, spirited young animal
reared, and kicked, and plunged, and
tried to run away when first he found
himself with rafting set of wheels
fastened just behind him, which kept
running after him in spite of all that
he could do to prevent it.
Nor would you advise the breaking
of limb, even though it might be set
and splinted. and become useful again
in due course of time. Why, then,
break your child's temper? Do you
not know that this very high-strung
spirit is what will, by and by, give
him vim, force, and energy in his life
work, whatever that may be, and
meantime will conduce to his becom.
ing manly, self-reliant, and indus
trious.
Don't knock, shake or beat the TEN.
per out of the lad, lest you make him
good-for-nothing, lazy and shiftless; or,
should you fail in your attempt, vicious,
brutal and ne'er-do-well. Patiently,
lovingly and gently teach him to
govern himself, invoking the Great
Trainers aid, and thus bind him to
your heart forever, while laying the
foundation of character of which you
Justly may be proud.
Nothing pays better, nothing yields
surer, steadier compound interest than
wise and tolerant treatment of the
young. Nothing tells more powerfully
on the lines and characters of your
children than the example set by your
own life-especially at home and in
your business relations. Therefore,
if you would reap a rich and
speedy reward, look carefully to your
words and ways-aye, and to the mo-
tives back of them. The parent is the
child's first book; and often it is read
through and through before father and
mother deem the letters learned.
You cannot begin too early; begin
now. Strive to give the unborn an in
heritance which shall make their futur.
task and yours the easier; and do your
best to redeem lost time with the elder
members of your little flock, and rem
edy that which it is too late to pre-
vent.
Do you say that you lack wisdom ?
Then seek of Him who has promised
to give "liberally" and without up
braiding," SO that when these years of
earthly pupilage are ended, you and
your children may both safely be gath
cred into the blessed home of "Our
Fathers" house Oh high"
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-04-12

JUSTICE KE1Gw1N of Jacksonville,
Ind, does not consider marriage fail
re. During the ten years he has acted
as magistrate he has united 1876
couples, and of these about 80 per cent.
came from Kentucky, most of them be-
ing runaway matches.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-04-12

THE medical editor of q certain Lon
don paper, who advocates a vegetarian
olet, has undertaken to live for an entire
month on nothing but whole meal and
Justified water. This meal he grinds
himself, mixes it with cold distilled wa
Ter into batter, and bakes it for an
hour and half. He allows himself one
pound Of meal and two pints of water
daily.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-04-12
ELEnRNTARY LEeERDEMA1N.
CURIOUS SURGERY.

CURIOUS SURGERY.
This trick is quite sure to cause the
gentlemen to say, That's pretty goods"
while the ladies will scream, ooh don't"
on seeing it performed.
It needs little self-sacrifce, too; but
if you are anxious TO perform neat lit
tic trick, you will not mind the slight
pain.
Previous to coming into the room,
puncture your thumb with sharp in
strument, neer the nail, in one or two
places, but not so that it will bleed
without pressure. Now come forward
and assert that you have discovered a
new method Of surgery, and will DEM
onstrate it by cutting open your thumb
and instantly healing it.
Take, next, handkerchief, and bind
the thumb tightly, keeping it straight.
Ask for O knife, and pretend to cut your
thumb, at the same time bending it.
The pressure of the knife (although the
blade does not, Of course, cut you), and
the bending of your thumb, will cause
blood to flow profusely. The blood
spreads along the blade of the knife,
and it looks as though you had cut
deeply into your thumb. Then "heal"
it by wiping the blood away and straight.
ming out your thumb.
SPINNING A HANDKERCHIEF.
Jugglers often perform the feat Of
spinning handkerchief on the end of q
stick. You can do it on the end OF your
wand, just as cleverly. Bring forward
q large handkerchief, bandanna, for
example (they can be bought cheap
now-since last November, and, tossing
it in the air, cause it to spin on the end
of your wand. The effect is very pleas
ing to the eye, and you are likely to
great credit for you apparent skill.
The secret Of your success lies in the
fact that you have needle stuck in the
end Of your wand, projecting out about
half to three quarters of an inch, point
upwards. Consequently, the handker.
chief, when thrown in the air, is caught
upon the point Of the projecting needle,
which, being very fine, cannot be seen
by the audience, but appears to them
as if the handkerchief was whirling
around on the top of the stick.
| QUEER PLACE FOR WEALTH.
Remark to your audience that, as
magician, you see many strange things
| which are not visible to the eyes OF
other people, unless you choose to make
them so.
"For instance" you say, "look in that
mans sleeve"
Thereupon, you walk up to him, shake
his sleeve, and cause literal shower OF
coins to fall out, although the audience
can observe that your fingers barely
hold the bottom Of the sleeve from
whence the coins come.
This feat is done by palming. Have
several coins palmed in your left hand.
I grasp the gentleman suddenly, forcing
your left hand inside his coat to the up.
, per opening, under his armpit. At the
{ same time, catch the lower part of his
. sleeve with your fingers, and shake. Al
4 eyes will be upon the lower part Of the
8 sleeve when you are shaking.
? In the meantime, let the coins, which
r you hold palmed, slip down inside hi
8 sleeve and fall out. If you work quickl
h and adroitly, even the subject himsel
n will not discern the way it is done.-
+ Yankee Blade.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-04-12

THE Cleveland Plain Dealer says
that Christian science gets cold comfort
from the clergy of that city. The sub
stance of their conjoined opinions is that
the delusion is neither Christian nor
scientific, and that whatever effect it
has upon people is the effect of imagina-
ton.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-04-12

Francis w. LAsAK, when he was 13
years old, walked from Prague to Berlin,
where he learned the fur business. In
1919 he came to this country without a
cent in his pocket. Recently he died at
Dobbs Ferry, N. Y, aged so, leaving
an estate Of Sc, 0O0,O 900.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-04-12

DRUGGIST awakened at 2 q. m. y
What do you wish? Voice Cat the door,
If you'll let me look in your directory
to see how to address this letter I'll
buy the postage stamp of you.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-04-12

INSURANCE companies want to know
all about it, you know. Because John
obert was blown up by 200 pounds of
nltro-glycerine in Pennsylvania, and be-
cause only a piece of one of his toes
could be found, the insurance companies
say that he might have run away to
trick them.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-04-12

ACCORDING to the Boston transcript,
1t is noteworthy circumstance that,
while the female population of Boston
Is much greater than the male popula-
ton, the statistics of marriage show that
exactly as many women as men -to-wit,
9,46l-were married in the city last
YEAR
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-04-12

Am pa1ned TO receive
later Intelligence from
d ear old Blenhe1m
which leaves me no
chance to doubt that g
cloud about the size OF
q joint school district
has obscured the honey
moon of the Duchess Of
Marlborough and t HI
eminent but n q W 8 ~
Duke. It is only o lit
tie while since they
were married in the
midst of all the pride
and grandeur Of Mayor
Hewitt's Office, sur
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-04-12

A SHERIFF in Georgia actually at
tached railroad train by running q
chain through one of the wheels of the
engine and fastening it to the track.
After while he was convinced that he
had no right to stop the United States
mails and the train was allowed to pro-
coed.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-04-12

WHAT the world wants, says some
body, is new religion. We doubt it.
Some people are not willing to ply for
what they are getting now.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-04-12
EXCELLENT THING TO HAVE.
BY MISS H. A. srE1NHAuER,

on are a bad, bad boy!"
Yes, that was what you
said as you roughly
shook him and thrust
him into the corner, there
to stand until he could
"be good" Your voice
rose loud and harsh by
reason of an unseemly
exhibition in yourself Of
the very fault for which
you fancied you were
Justly Furnishing your
son. But could it have
been justice you were
netting out to him when
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-04-12

A GENTLEMAN in Columbus, Ga, has
razor which has been in constant use
l04 years. It bears close resemblance
to broadax, but does good service yet,
and may cut many whisker before it is
finally laid away among the relics of by
gone days or used for trimming corns.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-04-12

The total vote cast for Presid ent last
November was 1881, SOB, an increase
of 1886, 578. The total Republican
vote was S, 442, 667, an increase of 594,-
1873. The total Democratic vote 5, $751;
1917, an increase of 626.38O. The total
Prohibition vote was 249,246, an in
crease of 81, 437. Cleveland's plurality
in the popular vote of 1884 was So, 6s3 (;
in 1883 it was "a, 73O, an increase of 49,
047. Two States that gave Democratic
pluralities in 1884 failed last year; ten
gave larger pluralities in '8S than in "a;
eight gave smaller. OF Republican
States eleven gave larger pluralities,
seven smaller pluralities. AL the
States but five increased their vote.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-04-12

ROBERT INeERsoLL's prayer at the
funeral service over the remains of Mary
riske, in Scottish Rite Hall, New York,
.he reference being to her adoption OF a
little waif: "We pray thee, Mother Ma
1u:e. that thou wilt take this woman and
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-04-12

JOHN W. WATSON, the principal author
Of Beautiful Snow" is a brakeman on
the New York elevated railroad at o
salary of So week. Thus the whirli-
zig Of time brings in its revenges.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-04-12

An English naval officer estimates
that there are 5000, 100000 in gold and
s;1ver under the sea, which could be
reached by good luck.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-04-12

Mrs. SENATOR STANFORD, in her
drives about Washington, rides behind
y ,o;r of magnificent black horses which
o,e valued at $4,000.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-04-12

,,,,xr follows the example of Massa-
t', ..e IN the matter of free textbooks
~. ~. the public schools.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-04-12

ST. Louis has half q dozen or more
professional clock winders. They each
have a list of time-pieces which they are
to wind on certain days. One of them
saws he attends to over 200 clocks day.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-04-12

ALos ANGELES paper says that in
helping her husband on his farm at San
Jacinto, Mrs. T. N. Meade plowed and
sowed over 100 acres of wheat, taking
care of her own four-horse team, and
she is a "city-raised" woman, too.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-04-12

rurRr is q bill before the Ohio Legis-
at,re to prevent any doctor in that
State from advertising himself as med
;oo, man. The idea is that it demeans
.bo "nnrfesh."
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-04-12
AN AMERICAN DUCHESS.
BILL NYE.s Wall FOR THE WOES
OF AN UNLUCkY CREATURE.

The Treatment of tho Duchess ut Her New
Home Subjected to the Indignity OF
Wading Across tho Moat When the
DrawbridEe IL Tied Up.