davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-23
A FOOLS WISDOM.
THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A
WIFE WINNER BY CHANCE.
WRITTEN FOR THE WASH NeT0N STAR BY
JAMES PAWN.
CHAPTER I.

- WAS once junior clerk Ia the employ
iW ment Of that well-known and extensive
firm, Apsley, Wellesley & Co. Of Cornhill.
The senior partner Was friend Of my
~ father. which gave me a better position
than l should otherwise have occupied, but
may say. without vanity that was well worth
my 'salt," or at all events, my salary, which
was by no means a large one. did not shirk
my duties. was the fashion of some Of my
fellow clerks to do, and showed myself anxious
TO get on" OF course. there are different
ways Of doing this, but when it is done without
priggism, and especially not at the expense Of
others. have a conviction that it generally
succeeds In a long commercial life have
noticed that the man who wastes his time and
that Of his master, who is the last to reach the
Office and the first to go away. and who dattens
his nose against the window while he Is there
instead of sticking to his work, Is apt to stick
to the stool where he first finds himself and to
rise no higher while the man who does his
duty without grudging and takes some interest
In the firms affairs moves up, and if he doesn't
marry his masters daughter and become lord
mayor of London. in the old story book fash
ion, still reaps his reward. The grumbler of
mature age Is almost always in youth the idler,
and the gentleman who is always ''unlucky"
has something beside Misfortune to account
for ii, though he lays all the blame upon that
lady.
Nevertheless, even at one-and-twenty. i was
aeither so vain nor so foolish as to set down
old Apsley's favor to me 10 my own merits.
He had taken me into his employment TO oblige
his old friend. very likely by no means will
ingly, and he was no doubt agreeably sur
prised to find me useful to him. Business Is
business. and as a general rule (as / have
since found myself it Is better not to let senti
mental considerations interfere with it. if you
can help (which, however. is pretty large
II. At all events our senior partner was
civil to his young clerk was compatible with
the great gulf between us. and his carefulness
20 give no cause of Jealousy to others. He
even knew where lodged-itseh an immense
stretch of interest in any member of the firm
as regarded their sdbordinates-and had been
30 good as to inquire, on one occasion. whether
i was comfortably located. Such affability
won my heart. and unless had been offered
considerable rise of salary l would not have
left his employment to serve anybody.
Annie Apsley was the only daughter Of the
head Of our firm. How well do / remember
that. upon first sight of her, the question came
to me so suddenly and clearly that IL seemed
as though some person had spoken it audibly:
shall you ever marry her?'
And l am sure that my lips moved with the
sply, though it may have been voiceless:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-23

vi course mol. i.
Still fell in love with her on the instant
That was not strange, seeing that was an i'm
presslOnable young fellow and she was as
dainty and lovely blonde maiden of eighteen as
ever lived. As TO the wild surmise. whether /
should ever wed her, that was doubtless melted
ov the legendary accounts of the poor Young
clerks who go to affairs with lord mayors
daughters, and at once pronounced il q fools
fantasy. Yes; 1 considered the matter sedately,
and my verdict against myself was one OF con-
vlctlon as a sentimental fool
This conclusion reached at the end of
the quarter OF an hour during which Miss APPS
ley was In the office, chatting with her father
and Mr.. Jones. the junior and managing mem
Der of the firm, while l was on duty at nv
desk IN an adjoining room. l could not under
stand more than an occasional word and the
subjects OF their discourse seemed trivial
enough, but could see that the girl though
familiar and atfectionate toward her father IN
many little bits of manner, was cold and for
NAL IN regard to Mr.. Jones. My work was
neglected. as l slyly eyed the pretty creature
through the open doorway, until a sudden
turn Of her head enabled her to catch me- at it,
She betrayed only by momentary blush that
she was aware of me; and then l. feeling
grossly impeachment, made pretense Of an
errand oy selZing bunch of papers and rush.
ing out into the ware house
My FIRST recourse was TO Spriggins clerk
near to me in office duties and also nv next
door neighbor in lodgings OF course did
not disclose to him my very wild and hopeless
admiration Of our chief employers daughter
Instead approached her through the person
OF Mr. Jones. as to whom Questioned sprig-
gins.
is he bachelor?" 1 asked.
"A wldower, i believe" was the reply: "but
nobody IN this establishment appears to know
much about him.
is be a sutton for the hand Of Miss Apsley?"
How on earth should / know
But there might be rumors and surmises
you know"
''Never heard one"
But don't you detect in his manner toward
her when they meet in the office that he Is in
love with her-and-and she with him?"
Never noticed anything, one way or another
But. say
and laughed aloud
BLESSED if / don't believe you're spooney ON
Mics Apsley, first sight of her" he went on.
and are jealous Of Mr.. Jones'"
The fellow had raised his voice in this ebulli-
non OF rsillery and, looking beyond him. / saw
TO my horror and dismay that Miss Apsley her
self had heard every word. She had come into
the passage where We stood on her way out
You're fool, Ackers," Spriggins added;
you're fool"
Then Miss Apsley passed US, without glance.
but with an expression on her face which told
more plainly than the most scorpful speech
could have done. that she quito agreed with
my friend in ascribing foolishness to me.
IL was week later that a footman called at
my lodgings one evening with a note from Mr.
Apsley. requesting me. IF convenient" to
come 70 see him at once at his private resi-
oence- his was situated in a fashionable
s4uafs' and though l saw little Of it that night,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-23
Not According 10 Scripture.

From the 81 Paul Pioneer Press
A prominent judicial light from the sonth,
who had spent several Years az Washington as
United States Senator from his native stGte. was
IN the city not great while ago ana told this
story, which is worth repeating: In recon-
struction times d couple OF local poiacisns in
Tennessee euga geo IN a debate on the all
absorbing topic. The first one a white. cited
the parable Of the prodigal son and argued
that the southerngrs should be iakeu back m
similar manner nj given al their former r-lvi-
leges. He made touching speech aul Sc, med
10 have won tbs case. However. Ass opponent,
a woody haired preacher quickly :ouk the plat
form and began hls argum M. My 'poncnt
ne SAID, done tote vc about h. pr0diEHl son
and say dey should all come back les ike he
did But, my frcus, We read dat dc pradigai
son came ana stood long Way Of tall ms fader
saw him and ran and hung on his neck and
kissed HIM. But talut 80 now Here We have
de prodigal Walkin right up into De doors OF
de Capitol and marciIu' right an wld de's hat
on De back OF dc heads ana AKIN. .Nhar's dat
vealy'"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-23
Marrying Princes.

from the t&f1B Eo1tlOn Oh We aefh1Q
An American writer maintains that American
girls marry princes because their hands are
turned by the early reading Of monarchical
fairy tales, in which princes frequently marry
peasant girls. Are We also to believe that
American girls marry divorced men and Wild
overs because they have read "Blue Beard, +"
or that they want to marry beasts after read
ing Beauty and the Beast" or that they dis
like tall men because the giants of fairy tales
are a. . rule vicious? There ID no mystery
involved in the occasional marriage of an
American girl to q prince. The marriage
takes place because the girl wants to marry
the prince and the prince wants to marry the
girl Strange a. it may seem, the fact that .
man happens TO be prince does not necessa-
rily make him intellectually, morally or phys
ically inferior to . prosperous pork packer,
and when an American girl marries . prince
il 10 not absolutely certain that she has thrown
herself away. There are several American
princesses who actually seem to be happy end
oontentsd with their lot IN lie.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-23
CHAPTER II.

In two minutes / was on nv way to the rail-
way, and caught the first train to the place in
question. Though the station was a COMPARE
lively small one | foresaw some difficulty in
finding the manager, who probably lived in a
modest way (though he had what seemed to me
gigantic salary Of $500 a year, for he is a
very modest, retiring sort of man, and Jones is
not an uncommon name. However, l made
my application to the station master directly |
got out
DO you happen to know where Mr.. Jones
lives in this neighborhood?"
Mr.. Jones' he replied, do you mean
Squire Jones?"
No" said that is not the gentleman; 1
want Mr.. Jones of Cornhill."
The station master shook his head as though
in depreciation of all commercial persons: he
said he was not acquainted with any person OF
that name except 1.-THE squire" There was
nothing for it but to take fly to Harton Hall
where 1t seemed this great man lived. If it
WAS not exactly "a hail." after the country or
rather county" pattern. it was very superior
to any villa residence We were admitted
by lodge keeper through gilded iron gates
which opened upon park-like and quite extern
slve grounds. The longer took IN driving
through them the more certain felt that was
on FOOLS errand, and the sight of the mansion
itself convinced me of it.
1t was of great size, and on that summer
night the anshuttered windows of the lower
rooms emitted blaze of light: there was evil
IDENTITY dinner party, or perhaps even a bail
going on. / was quite ashamed of myself and
my GRAND when my humble vehicle drew up
at the stately portico, and footman attired
like field marshal answered the summons of
the front door bell.
Does Mr.. Jones live here?' injured bes-
tatingly, MIR. Jones of Apsley, Wellesley &
Co"
'Yes, SIR"
You might have knocked me down with a
feather; should have been only a little more
surprised to hear that this was the country
residence of my fellow clerk Jack Spriggins
who shared the parlor at my lodgings. Though
myself almost penniless | came of a good
family, and knew the proportion of scales Of
living among landed proprIetors but the SPLEEN
dor OF that entrance hall with its statues and
pictures threw all had seen elsewhere of the
kind into the shade; in particular 1t struck me
how Tery much grander it was than nv EN-
an r ur ago.
I'VE my card to the footman and was ush-
an into side room the fittings and furniture
Be- !lch threw Mr.. Apsley's ''snuggery" COM
..ly into the shade. 1t was more like bou-
: DIT than room used for business purposes
though recognized Mr.. Jones little black bag
lJlng In one corner of it, and also his letter case
.pon marble table. In the few seconds that
4: took me to observe these things there was a
constant clatter of knives and forks and hum of
conversation from the dining room on the
other side of the han. 1t was evidently a very
irge dinner party. yet the host did not hest
| tate to leave 1t on the instant that the servant
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-23
A SHARP DODGE.
YOUNG AMERICA,

While these grievances are being heard the
never-tiring small boy does not fail to come in
for his share of police attention. Just now he
is stealing fruit where there is anv to steal and
almost every day complaint comes from some
quarter. No one knows better than the small
boy that the cunning season is approaching.
and in the absence of guns he is resorting to
the dangerous bean shooter to bring down the
birds from their high perches. Practice makes
perfect, and the boys when not in the coun-
try are in the back yards and alleys
of the city either shooting at sparrows in the
trees or at mark on the house top. and the re-
suit Is that windows are broken and If the eyes
OF some Of the occupants of the houses are not
put out it is certainly no fault of the amateur
markamen
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-23
Curative Effects of Electricity.

From the PlttsOurg dispatch.
A doctor of this city. who combines conserve
atism with a readiness to accept the truth
whenever and wherever he finds IT. said 10 me
yesterday: "You cannot get Edison to tell you
what electricity is; neither he nor any other
scientist can answer that question So il ID
with physicians who are adopting electricity in
their practice. We see it's effects, but we do
not know vet what the particular and peculiar
action OF electricity is. The results of its use
show it to be powerful ally TO the physician
and surgeon.
''Can you give me an example OF its curative
power?" 1 asked.
"Yes; case in my own practice man was
thrown from wagon and TELL with hls whole
weight upon one hand When he reached nv
Office the confused hand had swollen 20 twice
or thrice It's natural size. With his consent,
instead Of the usual treatment applied cleo
tricity. His hand panied him terribly before
the application; he would hardly allow me TO
touch il. Iapplied q moderate current inter-
mittently and the effect was magical After
few minutes of the electric treatment the pain
went and be could bend his fingers without the
least Inconvenience. The swelling also yisibly
diminished rapidly. That evening his hand
was 30 fully recovered that he curried three
horses. L had warned him not 20 use the
hand. which swelled again and gave him con-
siderable pain. He came TO me again and I
repeated the application of electricity The
result was a permanent cure. Ordinarily L
would have bandagsd the wounded member
set it In splints and enjoined entire rest for .
week at least. Electricity effected . cure in
less than day."
From this and other important experiments
with electricity in his practice the doctor
quoted above has arrived at . general COM
prehension OF its chief effects
The current Of electricity" he said, ''seems
to have a disposition 20 disintesrste and dis
pei any abnormal matter it encounters in the
hn tam hat. - Ill tt.s -. ausA
for certain OF the new force applied ours-
lively. 1t acts with nature mp b . certain
point. have profound belief in the value
of electricity rs a curative agent and b.
lieve that We hardly have q glinmeriAg Of its
tremendous potency - yet"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-23
The Professor and the Birds.

The time of the singing of birds is here,
says the New York World, with glad tidings for
all except Prof. J. o. b. Harrison Of the New
Jersey town of Orange. In the pretty front
yard Of Prof Harrison's house Providence has
caused to grow q great tree, and in this tree
the birds Of the field and Of the suburban air
have found lodging place and home. Sweet
and low they pipe their little hymns OF thanks
giving as the sun goes down far west Of Hack
ensack, and brightly they twitter merry
roundelay Of greeting as he comes up the next
morning hard by the Jersey City ferry. Prof.
Harrison objects to this. A musician himself,
he dislikes this too early matin song, and so,
filed with the pain Of jaggedly broken rest,
he hied him to a rope shop the other day and
purchased store Of stout cord This he tied
to the limbs of many large branches OF the
tree. The birds of the field came home that
night as usual When they were well asleep
Prof. Harrison pulled with the strength OF
strong man and desperate upon the cords. The
branches bent low Then Of Q sudden he let
slip, the branches few back and shot me-
teoriD.-> --r Of sleeping and surprised birds
aigh to- M.S-bespangled sky. And OF
late the biros q have added nev and
astonished note 20 ife ,ongs they sing.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-23
The Landlord Was Protected, Anyway.

From the New York Tribune.
John r. Rogers tells good story of the way
in which a hotel proprietor in Edinburgh, Scot
land, avoids loss to himself through the care
lessness of his subordinates. Mr.. Rogers and
his wife, Miss Minnie Palmer, were at the hotel
for a month. and when the bill was presented
Mr.. Rogers noticed that he had been charged
with a bottle of wine Of a brand he had never
used Moreover, he had no recollection of
having ordered any article of the kind on the
date specified. He complained of the over
charge to the proprietor, who biandiy re-
marked:
That's all right, Mr.. Rogers; I'll take it of.
You see, the girl who got that bottle of wine
from the cellar forgot to whom il had been
served, SO 1 charged it against every guest in
the house. All who didn't have it will kick,
and the one who did will pay. seer"
well, aren't you afraid that some one who
didn't have it will pay, tooy Mr.. Rogers asked.
NO." was the reply, I'm afraid they won"
Thirteen guests ct h paid for that bottle of
wine
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-23
a guest.

Need l say that my mind was not much oc-
cupied with office duties in the travel or that
when l presented myself at the Apsleys' resi-
dence 1 looked as well as a careful toilet and
prearranged good manners could achieve? The
Young lady received me graciously and intro
dnced me to the other guests and soon made of
me a happy, and trust, congenial participant
In the evenings diversions. l was her partner
in a waltz, and then melted to 1t by her agree
ableness, l asked for a second dance and got it.
You are very good indeed to me- said to
her in quite heartfelt way as We were cir
cling about in this latter waltz.
And you were very good to me, she smil-
ingly echoed.
II; how?'
"Oh, about Mr.. Jones'"
An alcove was at hand and we stopped in 1t
by mutual consent.
Pray explain, 1 said. 81 imagined at the
time that had not been considerable"
had rendered?"
TO the firm-yes; he was good enough to
call il service and to recompense me-"
ITO me, mean. Let ME tell you, then, that
1t was my own money-a modest fortune left
me by my mother-that Mr.. Jones had planned
to take, in addition to that which he had al
ready stolen from the firm. You saved me from
that loss and yet you treated the matter-the
subject-Mr. Jones and me-so delicately-
80"
Miss Apsley was confused. In her warm
herself
81 overheard you at the Office asking clerk
if Mr.. Jones were a sutton of mine," she re-
sumed, frankly and resolutely, 'and at the time
/ was a little provoked. Again, when father
sent you on the quest for Mr.. Jones that even
ing you caught me listening on the stairway
and wondered why was interested. It was
because had instinctively mistrusted and dis
liked the man. When you returned and re-
luctantly bore witness against him I WAS too
much agitated by fear for my property to fully
appreciate your considerable conduct. Now
thank you-indeed do-and what can do to
requite your kindness?'
Let me love you"
Yes; that is what said on the impulse; and
then fastened to add: II don't ask you to
love me. ! know that Of course you don't
know that you never will But may I love
you?'
AS though could have obeyed if she had
forbidden me.
L believe you are sincere. MIR. Ackers," she
simply said. land will consider your regard
as a compliment-which need not be repeated.
Will you take me to the supper room?"
She was as gracious to me as though I had
not affronted her. At later meetings she
showed no resentment. About a year after
ward did repeat the compliment" and now
we are husband and wife.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-23
Reverses of French Noblemen.

From the London Daily News.
Sad have been the reverses of the old French
nobility since Edmund Burke penned his
splendid eulogy. According to NJ. Lescure. a
grandson Of that same Marquis d Hsuteroche
who chivalrously requested the English
troops at the battle of FoEteroy to
fire first" ended his days as a common po-
liceman. Sadder still, from the point OF view
of the amateurs of ''blue blood one of the
noble family of Babou de la Bourdaisiere is
now a washerwoman. Representatives OF other
noble families equally famous in their time are
or were, according TO the same authority. occu-
plying the humble positions of gamekeeper, car
penter's apprentice. house painter. cab driver.
mllier's assistant, lnnkeeper, conductor of an
omnibus, box opener at theater. gas man,
bathing man, maker Of mousetraps. chorus
singer at the opera and woodman. while one
who is the greatgrandcousin of the illustrious
Cardinal de RetZ, unites in his own person the
lowly offices of gravedigger and village fiddler
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-23
Collie Stones.

From the Jewellers Review.
Travellers who have penetrated into the
easternmost parts of southern Russia find
some strange beliefs as to the power Of fish
charms. Many fish found in those countries
have two small hard, round bones on the side
Of the head They are believed to have the
power when worn by the owner to prevent
cohc, and they are termed collie stones. The
more wealthy Of the peasants have collie stones
mounted in gold and they are worn upon the
neck as valuable addition to the necklace.
The bones Of the common bullhead are much
used among the Russian peasants a. charm
against fever. Among European nations in
the middle ages doctors of medicine had faith
that two bones found in the head Of the tsnch
have medicinal virtues. The bones were applied
to the skin in cases OF fever. The tench 10 .
European fish, and the United STATES fish COM
mission are endeavoring 10 introduce IL TO
American WaterA
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-23

most, il not quite-in backbiting a man in the
presence OF his sweetheart. could have sunk
through the floor in my shame.
mumbled an incoherent Acknowledgement
OF the honor which my employer had done to
me by presenting me to his daughter and bade
the two good-evening But my last glimpse
back into the hallway as the door was shutting
behind me showed the father and the daughter
suddenly as vivacious as before they had been
calm. They were engaged in a quick, earnest
dialogue. What could it mean2
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-23

"Mamma, know the gentleman's name that
called to see Aunt Ellie last night. and nobody
told me, either"
well, then. what il it, Bobby"
why, George Don't Iheard her say George,
don't, In the parlor four or five times hand
running. That's what his name ia."-Bostom
Beacon
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-23
CITY NOISES AND SMALL BOYS.
They Make the Policeman's Life y Bur-
den to Him.

ITISERANr MUSICIANS, HUcKsrERs. es-BoNEs-
ASD-oLD-IRoN MEN. AND SCISSORS GRINDERS
HOW THE ORGAN GRINDERS SHUT OFF conf
PETIrIoN-THE BOZ AND HIS BEAN SHOOTER.