davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-08
Queer Kentucky Lingo.

The Kentucky mountain vernacu-
lar has peculiarities which Charles
Egbert Craddock did not find or no.
tice In her Tennessee mountaineers.
Here man who wants to say he fired
two shots says he shot two shots. The
western expression of getting the drop
is never used, a mountaineer saying
instead that he ''throwed his gun
furst. The prefxes in and i'm are
not known, un being used instead, as
impossible, for instance. To mis-
list" man is to deceive and Ill treat
him, and when a man says his word
is his iint' he wants to convey the i'm
preston that he is speaking as truth
fully as if under oath. The queer ex-
presslOns are so numerous that it is
hard to understand all that is said.
A dialogue that was gem in its way
was INDUCED in by two young noun
tain gallants, one asking: BE it mohe
fur you to see Nance, this arternoon?''
The answer was: No; | don't
have bound to, but aim to-
The man who has knocked on a
door, when asked what he wants,
says, Il want in, )" and in the same
style he would ask a stranger, How
might you call your" They have no
difficulty in understanding each
other, however, for English is treated
in the same manner by all, and even
those who can read and write talk a
great deal as do the less learned
Louisville COurier-J Journal.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-08
The Professor Was Too Slow

Assistant District Attorney Harry
Macedonia tells story about fight for
copy between a newspaper editor and
a scientist. The occasion was the last
solar eclipse and the office in which !.
occurred was under the management
of Maurice Minton. Telegrapic com
munication was established at various
points, but returns came in slowly A
noted professor of astronomy had
charge. The time for going to press
was approaching, and from the sane.
tum in which the astronomer was in
stalled no copy was Forthcoming. Fl
nally Mr.. Minton came In and con.
templated the professor, seated amid
tones of scientific data, hard at work
on some abstruse calculation,
ANY copy yet, professori-it's get
ting late"
my dear sir, l have not been able
to justify this calculation"-
"But, interrupted Minton, I'VE 90
to press pretty soon and must have
some copy"
No answer. The professor was deep
in his calculation.
In fifteen minutes the editor bounced
in again. There was no COPY. Sew
eral unopened kilograms lay by the
hand of the professor, who had not
yet Justified" his calculation. Gradu-
ally the paper was filed up save the
space for the eclipse stuff. There was
no more time to wait.
Have you any copy, professorg''
fairly yelled Minton.
My dear sir, really, r. Minton
could stand no more. With a bound
he seized the kilograms and as fast as
the envelopes dropped to the floor a
reporter grabbed the contents and put
them into shape. Just as the profes-
sor awoke from his scientific reverie
he heard Minton yell, ''send out that
stud head for the eclipse"
Before the scientist had justified
that astounding order there was a
steady roar downstairs and the paper
had gone to press Some time after
the paper was on the street the specta-
cled professor laid a pile of scientific
data upon Minton's desk. The editor
bowed but the copy didn't move. The
professors opportunity was ost.-New
York Graphic.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-08
THE STONES OF MANHATTAN

4 Ueao the stones of Manhattan; L who have
lourneyed far
From the meadow sward and the moss h.,L 81
the streaInlet's pebbled bar;
VINO nave wandered hither aIlured nv the
tales they told
VI how the stones Of Manhattan were raekino
with rudy gold
In the dear old mountain woodland wba-. r.r,.
and birch and pine
were linked with the swaying reaches of purple
clustered vine,
where vioets blue and yellow, and crimson lilies
grew.
AND the hawthorn's bloom in spring time Was
studded with starry dew
Over the shelving lodges over the e-ranita soor
over the powders and pebbles. chanting its drvad
lore
Over its stony pathway. sang brook with silver
tones
Cod what a stranger stream is roaring over Man.
hattan's stones!
Dazzied by phantom fortune, / followed that
Where its turbid waters tarried suace nv tba
teeming town.
And on through the dreary loElands with deener
and darker flow,
Ill its dusky waves were lighted with the citv,s
lurid glow.
N-c VI y Iaa sidtdln was swallowed In slug
gish, polluted tide
TIL the echoing forest voices in the babal .le,,,.
died 0-----0'
I'LL swept like leaf on the torrent was yhelmed
where the breakers beat,
Where the seething, surging human tide sovs
over Manhattans street
1 tread the stones of Manhattan, the stones that
are hard to my feet
As nard as the hearts around me as hard as tha
faces meet
Hot is their breath in summer with fever If calf
ish greed,
Cold is their touch in winter, as hearts to the
hand of need
MY heel strikes fire from the flint but tho shark
Is dead ere it burns
Stkes fire in my angry striding, but is bruised by
the stone it spurns
Ana echo scorns with stony voice the cry of a
souls despair,
Breathed out on the thunderous throbbings of the
city's desert air.
Onl faithless stones of Manhattan that tempted
my boyish feet
Away from the clover meadow. from the wind
woven waves of wheat
thought We golden highway; find va ths r,ath
of shame
Where souls are sold for silver and gold is the
price Of famel
But my weary feet must tread thee, as slaves on
the quarry floor,
And my aching brain must suffer your pitiless I'D
roar
TIL the raving tide shall sweep above, and care
less feet shall tread
On the fatal stones of Manhattan. over nv dream
less bedl
willis Fletcher johnson in Open Court
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-08
Court PaceantS.

Paris has not witnessed any very
splendid pageant for more than TWEEN
ty years Parisians who remember
the display of Napoleon III when, in
1867, he was visited in turn by nearly
every crowned head in Europe, and
by at least one Asiatic potentate, can
find nothing that has taken place since
to equal it. France is republican, and
since the downfall of the empire has
become less Ostentatious.
It used to be the boast of Spain
that the court of Madrid was the only
great court of Europe Madrid es sola
corte, the Spaniards used proudly to
declare in their musical tongue; but
the glories of the old Spanish court
have pretty much passed away. There
is still more stiff and rigid ceremo-
NAL, indeed, at the Madrid palace than
In any other. and host of royal SER
wants pass daily through strict rou-
tine; but even coronations and royal
baptisms are performed with far less
brilliancy of ceremony than formerly
Rome rarely witnesses a great royal
pageant, while it is deprived, to some
extent at least, of the stately parades
made by the pope and his cardinals
when he was the temporal ruler of the
Eternal City.
The German pageants of the modern
day are, for the most part, great mill
tary reviews and maneuvers, designed
to set forth the armed proves of the
empire, and the same may be said of
those of the Austrian cOurt.-TrOv
Press.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-08
vaIn.bIe Collection of Coins.

Loring G. Parmalee, of Boston and
former resident of Wilmington, Vt, has
sold his valuable and unique collection
of American coins to New York persons,
who are to sell them at public auction.
The collection comprises about 5000
pieces, many of which are uncirculated,
and is thought the most valuable single
collection of United States coinage In
the world, and is valued at 5000. Mr..
Parmalee has been about twenty years
acquiring this collection, which includes
the rare 1904 dollar, for which he paid
$3.50, though it has since nearly doubled
in value, and specimen of every gold
coin from 1895 down to the present date,
the best assortment known Some OF the
rare pieces of colonial coinage In the
cabinet are ralued as high As 81 900 each.
An unsuccessful effort was made to gel
these coins for the government, it being
q more nearly complete collection than
the one in the Philadelphia Nnk-Cer.
Springfield Republican.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-08
Her Heavy FOOTBALLS.

A clever actor was playing the role
of the heavy william in an unsuccess-
full melodrama, and although the
house was half empty, he was working
as hard as he could at the only good
scene in the play He had just finish
ed the consultation with the low COM
edy william, which occurs in all prop
erly conducted melodramas and had
spoken the cue for the heroine's en-
trance: Away! She comesl l hear
her footsteps" As he made this
speech the property man accidentally
dropped a sixteen pound shot down
the staircase which led to the dressing
rooms. There was a succession of de-
iberate crashes, which somewhat re-
rembled the footsteps of a giant, and
the audience saw the ludicrous side of
the situation at once.
The actor stood rooted to the spot.
bursting with suppressed laughter
and not knowing what to do. The
leading lady was unfortunately some
what stout, and, on hearing the noise,
refused to make her entrance, vowing
that the whole thing had been ar,
ranged for the purpose of insulting
her. Entreaties and threats had no eff
feet; she remained obdurate, and the
curtain had to be rung down and tt
audience dismissed. The leading
lady left the company the next morn
ing.-Theatre.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-08
How Doctors Disagree,

How much do doctors know9 Not
much for certain, that is certain.
Else there would not be so much dis
agreement among them, not only in
diagnosing or attempting to cure dis
eases, but also in means for prevent
ing them. There is not an article
used by man for food, drink or raj
ment that has not been both recon-
mended and condemned by physicians,
frequently without consideration for
the varying natures and environment
of men. a few years ago there was a
great pother because of the habit.
among both men and women, of hold
ing up certain articles of clothing by a.
snugly fitting waist band, and all
sorts of contrivances were invented for
women, patterned after mems braces.
Now out comes an English doctor with
a series of causes for consumption.
among which is this: Braces are an
other curse of civilization-by suspend
ing the weight of our clothes from the
shoulders instead of fastening them ip
the savage and natural way by a cir
die round the waist. Boston Tran
script.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-08
PRUSSlAN RECRUITS.
a Lieutenant Says Many OF Them Are
Densely Ignorant on All Subjects.

a Lieutenant Says Many OF Them Are
Densely Ignorant on All Subjects.
The greater proportion of the re-
crults come to the regiment raw in
every respect, bodily, morally and
mentally; no inconsiderable number of
them have already been in prison. The
recruit is. as rule, neither good nor
bad; the greater part of the nation is,
at the age of twenty years, morally
and Intellectually, at the standard of a
child of educated parents at ten years.
There are even some individuals who
are beneath this | have had recruits
who found great difficulty in pro-
nounclng the number thirty-four.
asked one of these to count His scale
OF numbers went up to eleven; he had
heard OF thirteen and seventeen, but
ne did not know what they meant
This was German; the Slavs of our
fatherland are still more difficult to ed
ucate, since they do not understand
German. They are further accustomed
TO an almost incredible amount of
roughness in their intercourse with
their parents and associates
/ remember recruit who could ONLY
speak Polish, of whom / as a lieuten-
ant had to undertake the training. and
who did not understand a single word
that said, and stood staring vacantly
before him told another of the re-
cruits, who could speak German and
Polish, to translate what was saying.
This fellow went up to him and gave
him at once tremendous box on the
ears. When / reproved him for this
hemetme with the startling argument:
"Oh, you must let me do it, lieutenant,
he understands much better now"
The box on the ear in their society
answered the same purpose as DO you
hear9' does in Berlin, or as the touch
on the shoulder which many men use
to draw attention to their words.
What patience is required to make
such men understand all that belongs to
their duty in the field, to order, and to
discipline, without even once knock
ing them down, he only can know
whose forbearance has been thus put
to practical test. From the moral
point of view also many recruits are
as backward as a child 10 years
old Among many of them no
trace can be found of the feeling
of duty, of religious conscience, Of
patriotism, or of honor, while there
is proportionately small percentage
of them who have any idea of good OF
evil. The great mass only know good
from evil from the fact that the latter
is punished Il will not do this OF
that, because if l do shall be put in
prison or in the house of correction. >
Many recruits hear first of duty, honor
or patriotism from their instructor
after they have joined the army.
Many of them, even from parts of the
country where German is spoken,
know nothing of the history of their
fatherland There is a sort of figure
of speech which we use when some
one has said something which every
body knows: Yes, old Fritz is dead. y
By means of this l discovered that
many of my men had never heard OF
Frederick the Great. | asked one of
then once, and he answered: Yes, ]
heard that he had died yesterday. y
Prince Kraft zu Hohenlohe Ingelfin-
gen.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-08
A Grand Dukes Tragic Story.

The car of Russia's second brother,
the Grand Duke Alexis, now nearing
his 10th year, is not married and will
probably 60 unmarried to his grave
Few persons recollect or realize the
conjugal tragedy that marked the
early years of this intelligent and
handsome prince. He fell in love,
long years ago, with a young lady at
tached to the household of his mother.
and, like an honorable man. he made
the woman that he loved his wife.
The fact Of this marriage came TO the
knowledge of his father, who at once
caused the young couple to be sepa-
rated by the full exercise of his des-
potic authority. The grand duke was
sent off on voyage round the world,
his marriage was annulled and his wife
compelled by threats of Punishment
to Siberia and total separation from
her child, boy of extraordinary
beauty and engaging qualities, to con-
sent to second union with an obscure
physician. By this measure all posi-
bic reunion with her royal husband
was rendered impossible. The subse-
quent marriage of Alexander II to the
Princess Dolgourouki, though only a
morganatic one, might, you will think,
have taught him little human feel
ing toward his son, and that sons
wife and offspring. In this tragic
story, it is said, is to be found the true
reason why the Grand Duke Alexis,
though legally unmarried, has refused
all negotiations for a royal alliance
After the marriage of his younger
brother. the Grand Duke Paul, he will
be the only single one among the
brothers of the reigning czar.-Paris
Cor. st. Louis Post-Dispatch.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-08
How Kentucky Mutton Is Raised

A few years ago a party of British
noblemen escaped from their cages
and blew over here. 1t was, if the
recollection is correct, when the Duke
of Sutherland was in America for the
first time with Mrs. Blair. Anyway,
when they got to Washington some
kind heart steered them up against
Col. Dick Wintersmith, who did his
very best to entertain them, and
brought out some of his oldest and
rarest stories.
The Englishmen warmed and did
their best, and, as all Englishmen do,
came down to Southdown mutton.
How they praised that mutton, and
said there was nothing like it in the
world, told how its peculiar and ex-
quisite flavor was due not alone to the
rich grasses of the Downs, but to the
snails which abounded there, and
which the sheep ate with avidity.
''Snails," said Col Dick, hoarsely,
as he laid restraining hand upon the
speakers arm. Don't say another
word. Come with me-"
He led the way to Chamberlain
and had a brief confab with John.
Half an hour later the party were eat
ing some of that Kentucky mutton
which has fame on three continents.
The Englishmen were forced to ac-
knowledge its superiority in fineness
and flavor.
Gentlemen" said Col. Winter
smith, gravely, ''for two months be-
fore our Kentucky mutton is slaugh-
tered it is fed exclusively on chopped
blue grass and pate de foie gras. y
Washington Post.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-08
Automatic Spelling.

An American writer expresses the
hope that, before the typewriter is
many years older, some inventive ge-
MUS will have been able to compass
the problem how to give it some sort
of dictionary attachment, which will
enable it to spell better than it does at
present. Our transatlantic contempt
rary is quite right The typewriter is
telltale instrument. Itconceals moth
ing. 1t is In that respect very unlike
the pen, and especially the quill pen,
the breadth of whose stroke, like char
ity, covers a multitude of sins-in Or
biography. Speaking generally, every
body who is not good speller should
write with as broad a nib as possible.
If it is even little fluffy at the point.
why, SO much the better. The great
thing, of course, is to write as vaguely
as may be-to leave as much as may
be to the imagination Our contem-
porary raises the important question
of lie" and lei, of '1ble'' and liable. :"
How often an uncertainty in regard
to these two combinations is got
over by the simple addition of
little more obscurity to the
unintellig{bility of ones handwrit-
ingl 1t is, indeed, whispered that
there are people who actually cultivate
a rather blurred caligraphy in order
to disguise an photographic weakness
which would otherwise be only too ap-
parent The typewriter, it is clear,
must be avoided by such persons-un-
less, indeed, the suggested attachment
can be made. And then, conceive the
popularity of the machine-imagine
the run upon it, its almost universal
adoption. Of course, the thoroughly
educated person always spells correct
ly, but how many are thoroughly ed
ucated, or, if they ever were so, have
been able to retain their requirements
London Globe.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-08
This performance continued for

This performance continued for
half an hour, | should say. 1t began
to grow dark. for the fog was shutting
down dense and wet On sudden.
the cat in the boughs over my head
gave leap out over me, and landing
In some brush ran for the wood, and
few minutes after to my still great
relief. heard the voices of my friends
down to the south of our shanty.
Il Immediately hailed them, and
babe them approach cautiously.
What's the matterT they called
out
Nine bearsr l shouted back.
Work up quietly, and get the guns
in the camp
Where are your they inquired,
evidently puzzled by the direction
from which they heard my voice.
Never mind me, said |, get your
guns
1T was not yet so dark but that ]
could see the camp, and | soon made
out the forms of my companions
creeping around the corner of the
shanty. But though they picked up
some of the carbines in the general
wreck which the grizzlies had made in
side, they failed to find the cartridges,
and at length fired on the bears with
the one double barreled gun which
they had with them. 1t was too dark
in the. shadow of the evergreens,
where the brutes were growing over
the elk bones, for me to note their be-
havior, but heard them making off
into the woods, and then ventured to
get down and hobble to the shanty.
Il had been up in the fir fully seven
hours, and was glad to have the
seance come to an end, though the
raillery with which my friends greet
ed me was anything but enjoyable.
was aching, and felt sick enough of
gold hunting in Alaska. However,
we got up fair meal after an hour or
two, and the next day l felt better. y
Youths Companion.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-08
Death in the Desert.

1t has just come to light that party
OF Chinese, who attempted to s1nuggle
themselves into the United States from
lower California, got lost on the desert
and had terrible experience, one of the
party dying of thirst and exposure. They
found the frontier so closely guarded
that they stole march toward the east
ward and got into the desert. Here they
got lost and wandered aimlessly around
for several days. suffering unutterable
agonies.
One of the Mongolians was youth of
some IA years. He gave out under the
terrible suffering and became crazy In
his rawlings he imagined the blistering
sands were hmpid water and eagerly
filed his parched mouth with the burn
ing particles. This only added to his
horrors, and pretty soon he lay down to
die, his companions being in too pitiful
condition to render him any assistance.
Here they heaped pile of sand upon
him and left him alone to sleep his last
long slumber, while they, with swollen
tongues, aching limbs and heavy hearts.
continued their aimless wanderings-
lost in trackless desert. 1t is asserted
that they at last reached the railroad and
soon reached Los Angeles, minus every
thing they had attempted to bring into
the country except the clothes upon
their backs. They had thrown away the
bundles containing the many things the
Chinese hold dear, all of which mark
their track upon the waste of sands.
AS the almond eyed ones have a sys-
tenn of spreading information among
themselves, it is quite likely this terrible
experience will prevent any more of
them attempting to invade the United
States via the desert route.-San Diego
Union.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-08
BALLAD OF THE eLoopY BROOK.

ocms listen 70 the seov Of brave Lothrop and h,s
How they fought how they died,
When they marched against the redskins IA the
autumn dayA and then
How they fell IN their pride
By Pocomtuck side
who win 90 to Deerneld meadows and bring thu
npened grainy''
Said old Mosely to bis men In array
Take the wagons and the horses and bring n
back again,
But be sure that no man arsy
All the day. on the way"
Then the flower Of Essex started, with Iothroo NJ
their head,
Wise and brave, bold and true
he had fought the PeQuots long ago ana now IN
Mosely said
BE there many. be there few
] win bring the grain TO you"
They gathered all the harvest. and they marched
on the way
Through the woods which blaxed like fire
No soldier left the line Of march to wander or In
stray.
Till the wagons were stalled in the mira
And the men began to tira
The wagons have all forded the brook a Il flows.
And then the rear guard stays
To pick the purple grapes that are hanging from
the bougha
When crack to their amaxa
hundred frelocks blaze,
Brave Lothrop he lay dying. but q he fen he
cried,
Each man to bis tree,~ said he
Let no one yield an tnchr" and 20 the soldier
died;
And not man Of all can SEQ
Where the foe can be
And Philip and his devils pour in their shot SO
fast
From behind and before,
That man after man Is shot down and breathes
his last
Every man lies dead In his gore
To fight no more. no morei
Oh weep ye maids Of Essex, for the Iads who
have died,
The flower Of ESSEX theyi
The Bloody Brook still ripples by the black noun
tain side
But never shall they come to see the ocean tide
And never shall the bridegroom return to his bride
From that dark and cruel day. cruel dayi
Edward Everett Hala
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-08
A Patriarch Who Chops Wood.

Charles Higgins, Of Mapleton, Me-,
who is more than 81 years Of age, has
been in woochoppers' camp all winter,
where he held up his end in hard work
with the other young fellows. Mr.. Hig.
gins favorite breakfast is pie and pork,
with dozen or so '.fapjacks" thrown
in; and to that simple and austere fare
he attributes most of his present vigor.
Human nature is . strange puzzle. Had
this doughty old patriarch become a
health food crank in early life, the
chances are that he would have died al
50.-New York Tribune.