davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-04-11
ROBINSON'S MISTAKE.
He Made Merry with a Bow-Legped Mn,
Without Calculating Chances

He Made Merry with Bow-Legeed Man
Without Calculating Chances.
The stranger was bow-legged to an ex-
tent not often met with, and as a conse-
quence his walk was not as graceful as
gazelle's. When he rolled up to the
crowd Robinson looked at his legs crit
ically for moment and said:
Scents, stand apart. please, and per-
NIT this animated horse-collar to pass
through"
The bow-legged man scowled savagelv
at Robinson and shuffled on. Robinson
continued; in tone SO that he could be
overheard:
''Now, gents, there is man who could
earn his seventy-five dollars week if he
would consent to stand in museum and
exhibit those callipers of flesh and blood
which have been bestowed upon him as
legs"
The man was so bow-legged that he
seemed little more than three feet high.
whereas he ought to have been six, and
Robinson thought it very good Joke
when he stopped and looked back at him
with something like war in his eyes.
Robinson continued:
'Our bow-legged friend here used to
do great act in a circus by jumping
through hoop and never breaking the
paper pasted over it. He didn't, as
matter of fact, exactly jump through the
hoop, but simply passed around its Cir
conference, and did it so slick as to
defy detection. If any of you will pro-
duce hoop l will request him to do it
here on the street for our amuse''-
The bow-legged party turned around
much quicker than it was thought posi-
BILE in one who had such eccentric I'M
derpinning, and before any one could
interfere he had buttAd Robinson in the
stomach and followed up the attack with
the most terrific blows and kicks that any
OF us had ever heard tell of. The vigor
and rapidity with which he kicked was
great surprise and wonderment, par
ticularlv to Robinson, who in a very
short time was the worst-whipped man
in ten counties. When the bow-legged
man got through he shuff1ed on his way
without word. AS we put Robinson to
bed he volunteered this advice, which
seemed to come from his heart of hearts:
''Boys, take the advice of dying man,
and never fool with fellow who has
bow-legs. IN. Y. World.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-04-11
THE RIVAL LOVERS.
A Story Old as the Hills But as Good al
Ever 1t Was.

A Story Old the Hills But as Good az
Ever 1t Was.
A quaint story is told of two artist
lovers who sought the hand of noted
painters daughter. The question
which of the two should possess him
self of the prize so earnestly coveted by
both having come finally to the father,
he promised to give his child to the
one that painted the best picture.
With the highest skill his genius
could command each strove for the
maiden. One painted picture of
fruit, and displayed it for the fathers
inspection in a beautiful grove where
gay birds sang sweetly among the foil
age, and all Nature rejoiced in the
luxuriance of bountiful life. Presently
the birds came down to the canvas of
the young painter and attempted to eat
the fruit he had pictured there. In his
surprise and JOY at the young artists
skill the father declared that. no one
could triumph over that. Soon, how
ever, the second lover came with his
picture, and it was vailed. stake the
vail from your painting" said the old
man. Il leave that Ito you," said the
young artist, with simple modesty. The
father of the young and lovely maiden
then approached the vailed picture and
attempted to uncover it. But great
was his establishment when, as he at
tempted to take off the vail, he found
the vail to be the picture. Plainly he
who could so vail his canvas with the
hruah az tn decaive a aki11fu1 m a star v-aa
the greater artist-N. Y. Voice.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-04-11
GROWING VANILLA.
An Industry Carried On for the Most Part
by Women and Children.

An Industry Carried On for the Most Part
by Women and Children.
The vanilla plant of Mexico is a
climber, having numerous adventitious
air rootlets, in which it fastens to it's
chosen support. 1t is an ugly, ungai n
iy vine, with all the grotesqueness and
none of the grace usually found in mem
bers OF the orchid family. The flowers
are very abundant, but they prove
mostly abortive unless artificial fecunda-
ton is resorted to, which largely in
creases the yield OF pods.
The flowers open in March and April,
and artificial fertilization begins at once,
as each blossom remains open but
twenty-four hours. The buds do not open
simultaneously, hence the ground must
be gone over daily.
The work is done for the most part by
women and children, each of whom is
provided with sharp stick and short
ladder, for convenience in reaching the
flowers. The flower is grasped with the
fingers of the left hand, while the right
displaces the anthers with their pollen
by means of the stick, and conveys them
to the pistil.
If this operation is dexterously per-
formed the flower dries upon the
ovary in forty-eight hours; if it falls in
less time the manipulations have been
unsuccessful. The fallen blossoms are
used for practice in the art of fertiliza-
ton by beginners, who at the end of
few days become able to fertilize a thou
sand blossoms in a day. If the plants
were not thus treated the yield would be
barely tenth of what it is.
The harvest begins properly in De-
cember, when the capsules assume the
yellow hue which indicates that they
have reached their maturity.
The process of curing vanilla is a del
icate one. The pods must not merely
be dried. but this must be done in a way
to secure several results; the pods must
retain certain softness, they must lose
little in weight, they must develop all
possible fragrance, and the active prin-
ciple must be brought out to coat the
surface in the form of crystals, produc-
ing the effect Familiarity known as the
''silvering of the VANILLA
In order to effect these several re-
suits the pods are spread in layers upon
gratings of sticks, arranged in tiers for
convenience of inspection, in dry and
well-vent ilated room. After twenty
four hours the pods are picked over and
the poor ones rejected. The next day
they are placed in the sun. Before sun
set they are again collected and care
fully arranged in layers upon dry
blankets.
This process is repeated for twenty
or thirty days, the time necessary for
the capitalization to become complete.
Then the vanilla is assorted, tied ur in
bundles of fifty pods each, and packed
for shipping IN tin cans.-Youth's Com
panion-
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-04-11
MICHIGAN HEIRESSES.
TwO Young Ladies Who Will Each Il
herit Three Million Dollars.

FwO Young Ladies Who Will Each In
herit Three Million Dollars.
Michigan comes out ahead in the mill
ion-dollar girls it loans to the capital
this season. There will be five of
them, and the man who sits in Senator
MeMillan's dove-colored parlor can call
himself blessed, for four maids who
will count their millions will talk to
him.
First of all comes Miss Amy, the only
daughter of the house. Slight, fair and
modest, yet she can vie with Miss
Letter as the heiresS of Washington;
50, 900, 900, if cent, is what she will one
day inherit, and possibly half again as
much, as DetrOiterS vouch for it that
Senator McMillan's fortune is steadily
increasing. Lumber, car wheels and
iron mines are the backbone of this
lump of money which Miss Amy Nc
MILAN will one day share with her
three brothers and the little child of
her only sister who died last year.
In spite of her wealth, Miss Mcmillan
is modest and unassuming and enjoyed
her first ball the other night as much as
the poorest and prettiest girl present.
She is pretty, too, and fortune-hunters
claim that they pay her the homage of
forgetting her fortune when they dance
with her.
She is sensible withal, and knows
thing or two about money. Though
only nineteen, for two years her father
has given her control of some corpulent
bank stock. the interest of which makes
up her yearly allowance She has every
thing she wants. Think of it, but it is
literally true, but her father insists that
she shall know the cooperative values of
thimble and a diamond ring. Although
she has boxes of jewels, she will wear
none of them, and at her first ball she
had not even a diamond ''sticker" pin
tucked away in her corsage.
The second of Michigan's heiresses
who are giving Washington fortune
hunters chance is Miss Alice McMil-
Ian, daughter of the second of the
wealthy Mcmillan brothers. She is of
an age with her cousin and has quite a
neat fortune. The two of them repre-
sent So, 900, 900 when they ride out Tenal-
lytown way together, as they frequent
ly do.-Washington Letter.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-04-11
EARLY AvARlCE.
A Vice Which Once Planted in the Charac-
ter Grows with Incredible Rapidity.

A Vice Which Once Planted in the Charac-
ter Grows with Incredible Rapidity.
The newspapers frequently contain
accounts of old men and women who
live in want while they are boarding
larFe sums of money. Avarice is re.
pulsive vice of the aged, but in the
young it is against nature. Yet, if il
is once planted in child's character.
it grows with incredible rapidity and
strength.
A young woman, the last scion of
respectable family, lived in one of our
inland towns, supporting herself by
sewing. She occupied one bare cham
Der, in such poverty as to perpleX her
friends, who knew that she had twice
inherited large legacies. She became
i'll with an agonizing disease, brought
on, the physician said, by lack of suffi-
cient food, and grew weaker, day by .
day, until she could not leave hel bed
Her physician, knowing that she had
money hidden, spoke frankly to her at
last, telling her that her life depended
on her taking tonics and rich. nourish-
ing food, which her poor neighbors
could not buy. eff you do not take
this food you will not live week." he
said. The girl remained thoughtful
and quiet when he was gone. After
few hours she babe her nurses bring a
chest which was in the room near to her
bed so that she could reach it. The KEY
she kept under her pillow. AS one day
after another passed, she would occa-
sionally finger the key and look visit
fully at the chest; but she did not open
it. On the sixth day she died. In the
last struggle with death she held out
the key, motioning to her nurse to open
the chest. But it was too late During
all those days she had wei ghed her gold
against her life. The money was the =
dearer of the two. Though she knew
she could not carry it with her, she
could not bring herself to spend dol
lar of it.
A still more horrible example of the
effect of avarice was reported in the
French journals last winter. An old
woman, living with her children, had
possession of sum less than hundred
dollars. To force her to give it up.
they literally burned her alive.
We all shulder at passion which
can so brutalize human beings. Yet
how many men are moved by it under
some other name. Here is wealthy
woman who fills every closet nj her
house with costly china, at which she
never looks; or man who buys vast
tracts of land which ne neither culti-
Yates nor sells. The sole use of either
money or goods in this world is to make
some living being wiser or better or
happier. The man who hindcrs this
purpose, to crafty lis love Of boarding.
is a miser, thodgh he may give himself
SOME more honorable tile Youths
Companion.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-04-11
QUEER AFRICAN CITY.
Nothing More Oriental in the East Than
Tangier Within sight of Spain.

NOCnihS MORO oriental In the East Than
Tangier Within sight of Spain.
What is there to see in Tangier and
why do American tourists after the run
through Spain" think it quite essential
to visit the Barbary coast? can answer
for one party. A sagacious friend who
recently went from tie straits of Glib
ralter to the Bosporus said to us before
we left home: "You will see nothing
more purely oriental than Tangier in ali
your proposed Journey" Certainly we
have found the place so completely for
eign to all our ideas that only the old
fashior.d word ''outlandish" seems ade-
quate to describe it. Here is the most
western of all the seaports of northern
Africa, lying within sight of the coast
of Spain and the rock of Gibraltar, a
place of 10000 inhabitants, upon whose
ways of life and thought European
Christian civilization has scarcely made
an impression. Yet more than two hun
dred years ago this city for ashort period
belonged to the English crown. 1t is
now the residence of the foreign minis
ters who are accredited to the Sultan of
Morocco
1t is in almost daily communication
with France, Spain and Gibraltar, both
England and Spain maintaining post
offices, with separate. bureaus, stamps
and mail-bags. There are newspapers
published here in English and Spanish.
The Hotel Continental is so good that
there is current mot to the effect that
the best hotel in Europe may be found
in Africa. The English come here at
certain seasons ''for SPORT" the particu-
lar attraction being the chase of wild
boars, for which manual of ''hog-stick-
ing" has been deliberately set forth.
Yet, notwithstanding all this, the
Moors and the Jews go on in their old
fashioned ways as if they were living in
the fifteenth century. Indeed, it is
easy to believe that we see in Tangier
much of the same sort of life which pre-
vailed in Southern Spain four hundred
years ago-before the conquest of Ora
uada-with one important qualification:
Tangier has nothing which suggests the
learning, the science, the arts, or even
the sacredness of the great cities of
Andalusia when Moorish sway was dom
inant. The Arabic or Mohammedan
dominion, without the Arabic enlighten-
ment, loses all the charm which is sug-
geSted by what is even now to be seen
in Cordova, Granada and Seville.-Cor.
Baltimore Sun
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-04-11
What Dynamine is Like.

A new mineral oil, having the con-
sistency of butter, has recently been
introduced to the manufacturing public
by La Compagnie Franchise des GRASSES
Minerales Consistantes. The new sub
stance is not acid and is free from resin
GUS matter and drying oils. 1t is very
stable in character and does not under
go any change when exposed to the air.
It's buttery consistency does not appear
to be due to the addition of paraffine,
vasaline or wax to liquid oil, as it has
a definite melting point at "a degrees
c., and does not infiame at temper
allure lower than 300 degrees. In colJr
it resembles butter and it has no appre-
cable odor. These properties give it an
especial value as lubricator, and as il
has no chemical action on metals, dy-
NAMING is likely to be extensively used
for this purpose. Industries
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-04-11
A Neat Apology.

There was a brilliant party at the res
idence of one of the most prominent
State officials at Austin, Tex. OF course,
there was dancing and music. Hostel
ter McGinnis and Miss Esmeralda Long
coffin were also present. Neither of
them dancing, they were seated on a
sofa, talking, when suddenly Hostetter
placed his arm around the waist of Miss
Longcoilin and gave it a hearty squeeze
What do you mean, sir!'' exclaimed
the indignant maiden.
There is no harm in it. l can't dance
and don't see why those gentlemen on
the floor can hug the ladies and do
not, uoo.'
The apology was accepted. = Texas
Sif5ings.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-04-11
PUNGENT PARAGRAPHS.

-He-"Can you keep secret,
Mllly?" She-"Why, have you one you
can't keep"
A young man writes to inquire
'Does college education pay?" mo.
it makes the old man pay."-Texas Sift-
ings.
Husband Ito extravagant wife,
"You have succeeded at last in making
something out of me-" Wife-''I knew
would. What is it, dearest?" Husband
"A pauper. Epoch.
-First Physician - "Any unusual
symptoms about that last case of yours?"
Second Physician-''Yes: he paid me
nifty dollars on account yesterday
Munsey's Weekly.
"A broad hint: Landlord Ito depart
ing guest)-'I trust 1 may rely upon
your recommending my establishments?
Guest-'1 don't happen to have at this
moment mortal enemy in the world -
-HumOristiche Blaetter.
The Medical World says a healthy
man changes his brain every two
months. We don't believe it. We have
known some remarkably healthy men
VINO never change never had any
brains to change, in fact.-Peoria Tran
script
NO use," exclaimed an impecuni-
Gus debtor to an importunate creditor.
you can't get blood out of a turnip''
Il know that" responded the creditor.
but unless get that money I'll have
gore from beat. "-Philadelphia Press.
What is it, little girl?" said gro
Ger to five-year-old miss, as he leaned
over the counter. Little -''Mamma
sent me for lamp chimney, and she
says she hopes it will be as strong as
that last butter you sent Chicago
Tyre.
Mrs. Wickwire - 'Why don't you
quit that stupid habit you've got of say
ing By Jove! What do you know about
Jove, anyway" Mr.. Wickwire-'I will.
If you will stop saying the idea every
time you are spoken to. What do you
know about ideas, anyway - Terre
Haute Express.
-Customer-''You sold me, two weeks
ago, one of your combination ten-dollar
outfits - Proprietor-''Well - er we
can t change any thing we've sold, " so,
that's all right There isn't enough left
OF the outfit to return. But the linen
collar was really good, and l thought
Id stop in and see if it wasn't mis-
take. Smith, Gray & Co.'S Monthly.
-'1.get up at daylight" repeated the
early rising crank, for the 999th time.
Il can't see how any one can want to lie
In bed after they have woke up. Then
i" Get out of the house as soon as
possible, l suppose?" put in the tired
listener, for the sake of saying some
thing. Certainly" "What relief it
must be to your family" philadelphia
Inquirer.
"A young versifier, upon submitting
one of his productions to his older and
less dreamy roommate, was asked, the
verses having been read with great
care: ''Did you write this stuff p
Eyes" ''Where will you send it?'' &c
Mr.. Blank. Hes the editor of the
W Journal. l send it to him be-
cause he is san old friend of my fathers. y
Cali right. I'm glad you're going tc
send it to Blank Perhaps, for your
fathers sake, he will decline to print
tt.'-Harper' Magazine.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-04-11
A WOMAN'S CLUB.
How Its Members Seek to Evade the
sponsibilities of Office.

How Its Members Seek to Evade the Re-
sponsibilities of Office.
It is amusing to observe the manner
in which officers are elected in GER
tain club of this city which does good
work, but whose members belong to the
opposite sex.
"Miss l. is elected treasurer" an
nounced the teller.
Really, ladies'" said Miss l., ris-
ing, you must excuse me. l am too
busy. 1 am already treasurer of the x.
Y. z. Association and the D. G. f. Club
on Foreign Missions. Really, 1 have
too much to do, and besides I might get
the money mixed up"
Miss is excused, and after vari-
Gus attempts Mrs. Y is persuaded to
act.
'Mrs. N is elected secretary"
says the teller.
81 am sorry to Decline" remarks Mrs.
M, rising, ''but have sick child
at home. You must excuse me, ladies, !"
with winning smile.
Same procedure as in the case of Miss
M.
ssMrs. R is elected financial secre-
tary," continues the treasurer.
Mrs. - leaves her seat and has
persuasive expression on her face as she
addresses the meeting.
81 feel the honor deeply, ladies" she
saws. ssNothing would give me more
pleasure"
"Then you will act? interrupted the
president with an equally engaging
facial expression.
II am afraid can not My husband
expressly forbade my accepting any
office this afternoon. He says 1T would
interfere with my preparing his dinners
afd-"
Mrs. R is excused after the ladies
have INDUCED in several witticisms'
and Mrs. O. is finally persuaded
Detroit Tribune.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-04-11
FEMALE EAp-REATS.
a Station Agent - That Women r.
Lies to q. Five Cents

10 Agent IS That Women Tell
Lies to 81 Five Cents.
9 from spectacle ., stopped the way in
/ olo on' VI the tickaot.ice at an uptown
Y and - railroad alton the other day
sell asked some s.estion of the ticket
seller. The latte shoot his head de.
and Saia Inc marseemed to protest,
..P s"tu somethingke:
,r BUT you know M,
tha "Sent shook is head again. and
'ne man repeated:
bora ou must knosme. 60 through
oloss loNee agentshoved up the little
$50 wlndow in f,nt of him and said.
WIN cruel distinctnss.
solo w. H., DON'T knot you from a side of
ticler y and won't give you a
49,. no man seemed embarrassed. but he
1mD ou' VI the way md let others that
49,. waieing have achance at the win
" hen the rusf was over the agent
began to growl: 70
mats the secord one TO-DAY. LET a
woman have one. oct $500 "a 49,
. ,nn SHOWN up yet; darned if I give
s s"y anoCher ticket till she ponies up
' ''Do yoaAx6 anst tiekets2r
on' sometimes I get caught at it, he
80 "a. q ntieat ~ aEan't help it
you know;sshey grab the ticket, may
be- before | know they are going tohang
me up or they tell such pitifu. tale
about being caught with no money in
the-" pocket that have to do it. Ever
get the money from 'em? Well, once in
awhile; not often, though; they all say
they'll pay next day, but they very often
DON'T. I'll bet I've got as much as five
doi liars comm to me that way now from
people at the different stations along the
road where I've worked. Sometimes | get
square by accident. When l was at the
next station down the road there was
woman came once or twice and claimed
she hadn't the change l let her have
the ticket and of course that was the
last l heard of her. One day. after |
was sent to this sta ton, she came along
and gave me quarter to pay for her
ticket. l knew her as soon as
saw her, and l only gave her ten
cents change. She looked at it
kind of queer and said: is that rights?
Yes, madam, it is says I, and then she
me and kind O. flushed up
and said: oh, yes, 1 remember; l owed
you for some tickets Well, the next
lay she came again, and she gave me
her old story about not having the
change, but would give it to me sure in
the morning. said no and stuck to it,
and she went away disappointed like
She came back in a minute or two and
handed in a dime, with remark some
Thing about having borrowed it of
man; but my wife, who was in the
had seen her through a
window, and she had only gone around
'he corner out of sight and taken the
lime from her pocket-book.
"You see. they think they're beating
,he road, and feel smart about it. They
lont know enough to realize that the
only ones that suffer is US ticket sellers.
We have to account for all our tickets,
md if we let any of'em go without the
pay the loss is ours. There ought to be
l law against such women. We have to
give tickets once in awhile to people
hat honestly have been caught without
money for their fare, and that's all we
ought to be expected to do, without let
ing us lose a lot more for women that
ire great deal better able to paw fare
han we are. IN. Y. Sun.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-04-11

The example of Philadelphia in the
matter of theater services for nom
cnurch-goers is being very widely felt.
Similar services have been begun in
Boston. Archdeacon Mackay-Smith,
who is responsible under the Bishop for
the evangelistic work Of the Episcopal
church in New York, lately went to
Philadelphia to observe the services at
the Continental Theater. Rev. Arthur
brooks, who preached there a few
weeks ago. was greatly impressed with
the work, and expressed determination
10 see it something similar can not be
done in Gotham.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-04-11

"A Holyokc (Mass.) thread manu-
facturer has received from Leeds large
skein of black silk Which has lain in a
pond since the NH River disaster,
which wrecked his mill, with others, in
1874. This souvenir Of tho flood was
found September 5, and although it has
lain in the pond twelve years the silk
retains It's color, has good gloss, and
the thread is strong, which shows the
almost inleStructjble nature OF the ma
terNi. Boston sIournal