davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1890-12-19
A TRICK THAT WAS DARK.
How n Kansas city Pawnbroker cleared
$500 In n shady Way.

A devious individual not long ago
presided over pawnshop on Main
street. His name was not Schmeltz.
bat that name will answer as we'll as
any other In this truthful chronicle
When trade was dull and time hung
heavy on his hands many were his
ways to trap the shy and restless dol
lar.
One day a man like himself a He
brew, who maintained secondhand
store In the Bottoms, told him that
very often men came 10 him with
witches and other jewelry for sale and
that he hesitated about buying. rs he
was no judge of such articles. He
wanted to arrange with Schmeltz to
bring the articles to him for his opin-
ion as to their value.
''All right said Schmeltz. .'if a
man brings you watch tell him you'll
show il to me for my opinion and aft
erward give him what it is worth"
Then Schmeltz evolved brilliant
business idea. The next morning. Sc
lecting watch worth perhaps $40 and
of kind of which he had about a
peck, he sent stranger to sell it to
his friend. The stranger wanted $50.
but made no objection 10 the Bottoms
dealer taking it TO his 'friend for his
opinion. and agreed 10 return it in
the afternoon. When Schmeltz was
showed the watch he told the other
that it was worth $40.
''I'll give $50 apiece for all can get
of 'em, said Schmeitz. Ask him If
he has any more III he has. YOU get
and FL pay YOU $50 for every one in
1 lOk 1s.,l- .,fs. H..
got 'em. y
Going back, the Bottoms merchant
made inquiries and found that his Gus
toner had about forty watches alto
gether-the same being furnished by
the intelligent Schmeltz-and after a
| little haggling he purchased the lot at
SIS watch. He put his wife in charge
Of the shop aud hurried to Schmeltz
with his prizes.
Those are all right. said Schmeltz,
as he carefully looked over the time
pieces, .rand I'll give $40 each for 'em;
but there's one thing l must see about
Since YOU were here. two detectives
have been in and report large num-
Der of watches stolen. don't want
to burn my fingers with these, if they
are the ones. I've taken the numbers
from the officers and we'll compare
them with these"
So Sehmeltz produced list of num-
bers. and to the horror of the Bottoms
I healer. they exactly compared with
those of his purchases. He was strick-
en- with terror sand asked Schmeltz
what course TO take.
Il wouldn't care to say," said
Schm eltz. Il don't want any peni-
tenti airy in mine for fooling in any
way with stolen property. | don't see
how you can get out of it. as the de-
tectives are dead sure to turn them
up.'n
This reduced the other to an abiect
state. At last Schmeltz professed TO
take pity on him. He reflected that
be had very good standing with the
police and might get rid of the stuff,
although he ran great risk. As favor
/ to his friend. he would take them and
| pay s. watch for them. The victim
| joyfully acceded aud Schmeltz paid
him $500, clearing in the neigh borhood
Of $500 by the enterprise.
The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1890-12-19
The Sex Are Queer.

There We're four passengers who got
off at country junction to wait two
hours for the train on the other line
two men and two women. None had
ever seen each other before. The sta
ton was little better than a barn.
with no house nearer than quarter of
mile. The women gave each other
a look and entered the waiting room,
where they sat down as far apart as
possible.
We'll. old boy.n remarked the
strange man to me. ..have a smoker"
You bet"
And IN i've minutes we were we'll
acquainted, and playing euchre under
the shadow of a box-car. He didn't
take me for a thief, and l never sus-
pected him of being a murderer, and
the two hours went by in a hurry.
Not so in the depot, however. For
the first half hour the two women
glared at each other. Neither would
speak first. Each was afraid of the
other. One looked out into the turnip
field and the other into a swamp. Now
and then one or the other mustered up
courage to approach the door and look
out, but always to return to her seat
again. Only one had watch She
consulted 1t every five minutes. but the
other dare not ask what time it was.
As an offset. however. a wooden pail,
half full of warm water, stood near
her. and though the other lady was
dying for drink she dared not 90
over to the pail. One had a novel and
the other had a bundle of shells and.
curiosities, and they could have chatted
and visited and read and had a good
time. But they dared not. They had
not been introduced. What an awful,
awful thing if they had spoken and
acted civilized. and then one had found
out that the other was only a hired
girl Chicago Journal.
The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1890-12-19
PuNlsHiNo ANIMALs.
A New-England Dog Tried and Hanged
for Witchcraft.

In the middle ages the lower ami
mails were frequently tried convicted,
and punished for various offenses. saws
All the Year Round. Mr.. Baring-Gould
has collected some curious cases Of this
kind. In 1866 a pig was burned at
Fontaney-aux-RoSe near Paris for
having eaten n child. In 1886 Judge
at Falaise condemned sow to be
mutilated and hanged for a similar Of
Tense. Three wears later horse was sol
emnly tried before the magistrate and
condemned TO death for having killed
a man.
During the fourteenth century oxen
and cows might be legally killed when
ever taken in the act of marauding aud
asses. for first offense, had one ear
cropped; for a second offence the other
ear, and if after this they were asses
enough to commit third offense their
lives were made forfeit to the crown.
Criminal animals frequently expiated
their offeuses, like other indicators,
on the gallows, but subsequently they
were summarily killed without trial.
and their owners mulcted in heavy
damages.
In the fifteen century it was popu-
larly believed that cocks were init
IlAlel1 8SSOC1dlcu Will MlICn6Ss uuu
they were somewhat credited with the
power of laying aceursed eggs, from
which sprang winged serpents. In
1474 at Bale cock was publicly ac-
cused of having laid one of the dread
full eggs. He was tried. sentenced to
death. and. together with the egg, was
burned by the exeeutioner in the mar
ket-place amid great concourse of
people.
In 1894, during the witch perse-
cutions in New England, a dog ex-
hibited such strange symptoms of
affection that he was believed to have
been ridden by warlock and he was
accordingly hanged. Snails, dies,
mice ants, caterpillars. and other OBJ
noxious creatures have been similarly
proceeded against-mostly in ecclesias-
tical courts. And, stranger still. in
animate objects have suffered the same
tate.
In 1885, when the Protestant chapel
at Rochelle was condemned TO be de-
molished. the bell was publicly whip
ped for having assisted hereticS with
its tongue. After being whipped il
was catechized. compelled TO recant,
and then baptized aud hung up in a
Roman Catholic place of worship.
Probably similar absurdities may
have been penetrated in our own
country. for il must be rememberd that
only in the present reign was the law
repealed which made a cart-wheel, a
tree. or a beast which had killed a
man forfeit TO the state for the benefit
of the poor. 1t had been said that
punishment is not likely to be effiea-
cious unless it swiftly follows the
offense. This was improved on by a
Barbary Turk, who, whenever he
bought a fresh Christian slave. had
him hung up by the heels and bastina-
doed. on the principle, it is supposed
though the application is decidedly
singular-that prevention is better
than cure.
The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1890-12-19
The Art of Sweeping.

In sweeping, take long light strokes,
and do not use too heavy broom.
Alice. said Lois .'do you honestly
think sweeping is harder exercise than
playing tennis?n
hesitated. Il really don't know.
One never thinks of hard or easy in
tennis, the game is so interesting; and
then it's outdoor exercise, and there 5
no danger of inhaling dust"
"Well. for my part" said Marjorie
81 like doing work that tells. There
is so much satisfaction in seeing the
figures in the carpet come out bright
" under the brooml Alice. what did
you do to make your reception-room
so splendiferous? Girls look here!
You'd think this carpet had just come
out of the warehouse"
Mother often tells Aunt Hetty,"
said |, Ito dip the end of the broom in
pail of water in which she has pour
ed little ammonia-a teaspoonful to
a gallon. The ammonia takes off the
dust, and refreshes the colors wonder
fully. We couldn't keep house with
out it. y finished rather proudly.
Did you bring some from home?"
asked Marjorie. looking hurt
Why, of course not! / asked your
mother, and she gave me the bottle.
and told me to take what / wanted. :"
"A little coarse salt or some damp
tea leaves strewed over carpet before
sweeping adds ease TO the cleansing
process" said Mrs. Downing. appear
ing on the scene and praising us for
our thoroughness. The reason is
that both the salt and tea leaves being
moist keep down the light floating
=. Il -
the heavier dirt. But now YOU will all
be better for a short rest; so come into
my little snuggery. and have a gossip
and lunch, and then YOU may attack
the enemy again ''-LidrpeT's Tounq
PeoDLe
The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1890-12-19
There Was a Tableau.

Hotel Clerk-.Good morning, Col.
onel; how did you sleep?n
Colonel-'1 did sleep some, / sup
pose, but was awake most of the
night listening to the snoring of the
man in the next room. He is a good
one at it. He makes more noise than
steam-whistle.n
Another gentleman approaches.
Hotel Clerk-"Good morning. Major;
how did you sleepP"
Major-'1 got sleep occasionally
during the night, but there was = feI-
low in the next room to me who snored
as if he was filling contract to saw
forty cords of wood before daylight.
At least. that's the way it sounded
Colonel-'That's just what had to
listen to all night long. What is the
number of your roomP"
Major-"Number %. What's the
number of yoursan
Colonel-'.And mine is number "a. .
-Tezas Sif5ings.
The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1890-12-19
Within Th e Law.

eolored woman who called at the
Gratiot Avenue Station the other day.
'Well?n replied the Sergeant.
I've got gal"
Yes
An she's got beau
VERY likely"
Il can't abear him. an dean' want
him round de house. What eo'se shall
/ takes"
Have you ever given him q hintf7
Lands, sab! but jess tole him &c
clar out or I'd bust him to smashi
reckon dat's hint.
But he didn't go?n
No. sab. Now. den. I want to
know how fur kin go an keep widiu
the law. I've talked to him, frowed
water on him, hit him wild a club, called
him names, made de dog bite him, an
p'inted p still at him. but he won't stay
away. How much furder kin / go an
not break de law? Could / dun stan
in de yard an NOW him across de legs
wild an old seythe when he cum up in
de da'k? Could de pistil go off acci-
dentallyP"
When advised to try peaceful meas
ures she Indignantly responded:
Oats what did ON the very GO
off. took him BY the collar an frowed
him ober de gate!''-Detron Free Press.
The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1890-12-19
crossing a swonen ftiver IN INC
Andes.


After examining the works of the
line in the vicinity of Punta Negra,
where | overlook the paymaster. Don
the next camp of Yermeiito. which is
2100 metres above the level of the sea.
Here we spent the night; and the next
morning, after admiring the grand
black basaltic rocks that render the
scenery in these parts all the more dis
mally impressive. we started. together
with two of the engineers of the camp.
who volunteered TO see US safely
across the R;o Blauco, which was re-
ported to be dangerously swollen.
When we reached the bottom of the
deep rayine through which this torrent
flows, we found the report TO be only
TOO true. Tue water, white as milk,
was foaming and dashing over a part
of the narrow plauks which had been
anchored across the stream below the
best fording-place. After working an
hour at the risk of their lives, the two
Young engineers. who were as agile as
goats-one was Swede aud the other
an Italian-succeeded in raising one
of the plaDks foot. so that it could be
crossed with comparative safety. the
dash of the water over it remaining
only about six inches. The human
element of the party then felt reas-
sured: but how would the mules get
over?
The ''arrierosn were in a state
great agitation. and the paymaster was
anxious about the thousands of dollars
that he had in his money bags. How
ever. every man lent hand. The
mules were unloaded. and, with the
aid of cries aud whirling lassos. they
were driven into the turbulent torrent,
and waded or swan across bravely.
one only getting carried away for a
few minutes. and losing big piece of
his flesh against sharp bowlder. The
next thing was to carry over the bag
gage and saddles. A lasso was flung
across the stream. and held on one sid
by the two engineers, and on the other
by the ''vigilante, (" or gendarme, who
accompanied the paymaster. Ito pre-
vent him running away with the COM
panys money" as we used laughingly
to tell him. This taut cord served as
hand-rail, along the narrow plank.
and by means OF repeated Journeys.
and with incessant risk. the baggage
was finally all carried over. the mules
loaded and saddleil and the journey
resumed, Don Carlos and his party
leaving me behind. Tor they were well
mounted on strong horses.-- Theodore
Child. ia HdrDef'S MI0Hzi9lR
The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1890-12-19
A BABY AND HENRY CLAY.

One OF the brightest of the new
United States senator's is Nathan Fell
lows Dixon of Rhode Island, n bright-
eyed, dark-faced man i3 Years of age.
says +. G. Carpenter in Hide-4udke.
He comes from line of statesmen.
His grandfather was in the senate
when John Tyler was president. and
his father brought him here as a g.
year-old baby during his first con
gressional term in 1919 and 1850. Sem
ator Dixon stopped with his father at
this time at the National hotel, and
young as lie was he is able to remem-
ber some OF the incidents OF this part
of his life. Henry CLAW was stopping
ut the same hotel aud he was yery
fond of children. Senator Dixon saws
he distinctly reDlembers one day going
down the steps aud meeting Henry
Clay coming up. The great Kentuck-
ian gSaspcd the Rhode Island baby bv
the arms and lifted him up to his face
Little Dixon yelled out:
LET me gOl'
Mr.. Clay. however. putting his arms
around the boy and holding him to his
breast said: Il can't do that because
want to kiss YOU. and | wonder If
you know who | ann
Yes / know" said the boy. ..but I
want to go.n
We'll, who am I?1 said Clay.
oh, said Young Dixon. fyou are
Mister Harry Clay. Now let me go. -
With this the great statesman kissed
the boy. gave hearty laugh with his
big mouth and put him down
From that time on Baity Dixon and
Senator Clay continued their acquaint-
anee. and Baby Dixon often came into
Senator Claws rooms and was made
much of 10y the senator. One day.
however. lie was present when Henry
Clay had some important callers He
had no time tu talk io Baby Dixon
and he took him from his knee, placed
him upon his feet. aud said: NOW.
Natey, run downstairs to your MANI
ma
The future senator was rather in
dignant ut this treatment. and he
slammed the door heartily as he
stamped out. Senator CLAW told the
story a number of times afterward.
He said he could hear little Nathau,s
footsteps as he went down the stairs.
At first his tread was loud and bolster
Gus. As he went toward the bottom
it grew fainter and fainter. and at last
the noise stopped. A moment later he
heard the little feet pattering back
again, and gentle knock was made
upon the door. Henry Clay called
out:
Come in. siri"
The door opened and little Nathan
Dixon's pretty face looked in aud his
cherry lips voiced forth the words:
My love to you. Mr.. Clayr'
With this he turned and ran down
the stairs TO his mother. He had evil
IDENTIFY appreciated that his action in
slamming the door and leaving the
room was ungentlemanly. aud though
only boy of 3 years he had repented
before he had reached the foot of the
stairs and hurried back to make his
baby apology
Senator Dixon told this story in con-
versation the other dav. and he ought
not to object to seeing it in print, as it
Is certainly complimentary to him.
The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1890-12-19
Oysters for Dessert.

Did YOU ever hear of oysters for
dessert? / used to know a bon vivant
who never eat them except after dim
ner. He boarded for many years at
one of the famous hotels in this city,
and during the oyster season every
year, as soon as he had finished his
dinner in the sale manger, he used
to walk directly to the oyster counter
on the ground floor and eat a dozen
blue points on the half shell which the
watchful attendant always had selected
for him. This experienced epicure
scorned to begin a meal with oysters.
"Whatw he would say, put cold
bivalves on an empty stomach? Such
a practice must ruin digestion. Begin
your meal with warm soup, which
gently stimulates the stom ach and
gives it a tone. When you are through
with a hearty meal your stomach
Graves something cooling. 1t should
be gratilied. Not with Wand hard to
digest, but one which dissolves easily
with the heat of the stomach, imposing
no labor upon the digestive faculties.
Oysters are just the thing-cooling. of
delicious flavor, refreshing; they settle
the appetite and make the whole sys-
tenn feel at ease. They are the scien-
titic climax to banquet, and the man
that does not know it is not a finished
epicure." The old gentleman proved
that oysters after dinner were healthy,
anyway, for he lived to be more than
fourscore and kept up his practice to
the last.-M y Star.
The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1890-12-19
Electric Railways.

The latest and most trustwo orthy sta
tistics show that there are in operation
in this country and in the course of
construction at the present time no
fewer than 179 electric railways, ope-
rating 1884 cars. with 1850 miles of
track. The number of passengers
carried annually it would be difficult
to estimate, but it can not be far from
100, 600, 600.
The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1890-12-19
Clock Renting.

henHng clocks is a new business in
New Haven. Over l, 800 clocks of this
KIND have beenNplaced already in that
city at rental of IS cents a month.
In some cases,Hhere the time of opera
lives in factoS demands careful adj
Iustment an emplsye of the company
visits the place dailyand regulates the
clock so far as be Necessary. -.1rd;-
narily the clocks are xo5s-1f>sonce in
six days, and the comp8, = atieods to
that.
The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1890-12-19
.aris-

~ lost expensive coffee
5ught 10 this market comes from Blue
Mountain. jamaica. The whole product
of the region IS small. and only a few
thousand bags reach New York 1t is us
ually bought by Delmonico at very
high figure. At the same time the Del
monico coffee docs not contribute to the
restaurants reputation. Quite as good
coffee is served ut half II dozen less
famous nlnres
The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1890-12-19
Visible supply OF that articIe.-Desross

visible supply OF that article DerrOss
Free Press.
Cholly Fashun Qo Custom-House
officer) Nov that you have dis
covered those English clothes in nv
trunk and examined them / should like
to know how In time you found was
trying to smuggle them. How did you
know they we're in my trunkpn Gus
torn-House officer They are SO very
loud that heard them throbhing in
side the trunk. -. -.Lascrence Aanerfcan.
The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1890-12-19
Italians in Buenos Ayres.

Two hundred thousand Italians are
now living in Buenos Ayres. From
time to time the native inhabitants
speculate on the events which might
arise in case these POO. 900 strangers
should undertake to assert their nation
alitY, and take posssion of the city.
The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1890-12-19
instructions to the New Messenger.

He was new messenger boy un-
taught in the practices and ethics of
his chosen profession. He was being
broken in by the veteran in the busi-
ness, the boy who had his particular
line of work SO well in hand that he
could use up any required amount of
time in passing a given point. The
two were going up a stairway when
they were observed. The small boy,
the inexperienced one, started up on
run. With look of intense disgust
No. restrained him and gave him the
following business advice: Jaw, wot
yer hustlin' that way forP You just
want to fall upstairs, like this. SeeP"
And he proceeded to give a correct
imitation of man 80 years old fall
ing" upstairs.
The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1890-12-19
POISON IN A PIPE.


Few smokers fully realize the dan
ger of smoking new or improperly
cured Tobacco. The medical staff of
the German army discovered this was
a fruitful source of throat disease.
7 The subsistence department of the
.. S. Army have adopted Seal of
North Carolina Plug Cut as the Stand
ard Smoking Tobacco for the army.
Beware of limitations. The genuine
"Seal of North carolina" costs You no
more than poisonous limitations.
The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1890-12-19
ELECTRIC LUSTRE STARCH

Saves lots Of work 1oc package or $50 case
OF 80 packages It is the best yet and no mis-
take Rockets Blue IL YOU have tried yuu sttI1
want ii tor use or for sale. il leads them ALL S.
or, 40c H. or s.. 90 pox or pounds
Empire Wrfnger never fails 70 give satisfaction
quality the same as - years ago. price reduced
70 81 cash Cheaper Eringers from - . up-
Becker Washers for long and satisfactory
results prove the best SIS and $1z The Hum
bOldt too is sure 20 please $50
Poor mans soap. fulI weight, viii lead all Others
for laundry purposes, 1850 per 100 lbs 81 20 per
box Over 100 grades Of soap In store, 40c box III
Supply yourself with the above articles and
wash day VIII be the pleasantesr day OF the
whole week You VIII smile, The children VII
laugh and the men folks VIII almost -oar r. =
delight They are all 10 be had AZ
SMITHS CASH STORE,
Store AIS Front ST., S. P. Cal
Ask for fun list of 500 articles
The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1890-12-19

There are seven millionaire editors
In New York.