davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-08-02

beauty. "Oh! you must take it' he ex-
claimed Looks tip-top-out OF sight
Soon be time to go to the hall, you
know"
~ know, but can't raise my arm.
See?"
"Oh, you don't want TO raise your
arm. In humorous recitation you
must stand perfectly still"
But it pinches me under the arms"
ooh, come, nowl what difference does
that make? Every thing pinches-life
pinches, for that matter, but you dont
want to throw off your life simply be-
cause it does pinch a little. Put on
your overcoat and come ahead"
sat on an uneasy chair waiting for
my turn--was to appear immediately
after slim young man in nicely
fitting coat should finish singing
Jack Is Every Inch a Sailor" The
time came and | suddenly found myself
In tho presence OF innumerable ribbons
and highly-colorcd feathers. Eyes,
noses and then faces gradually grew
into recognizable shape. got tn 'ough
with my piece and then attempted to
vanish, as trained stage people do,
without turning round, but Jailed. A
graceful vanish was beyond my skill.
The people roared and was forced to
tell another story; and, encouraged by
the outbursts OF appreciation. felt the
thrilling leap of the suddenly-acquire
blood Of bravery: still, at the close OF
the second recitation could not vanish
gracefully When | turned to go the
audience roared louder than ever, but,
determined to run no risk Of failure
after so brilliant a success, | fastened
TO the green-room flushed with the ex-
citcment OF victory. My friend and the
other musicians the young man who
had sung Jack Is Every Inch a
Sailor"-all yelled was not long in
discovering the true cause OF my great
success. The rented atrocity that I wore
was split down the back from collar to
tails. This was not the only humilia-
ton, for one OF the newspapers, IN re-
ferring TO my part Of the performance,
said:
"His idea OF fun is OF very low order.
Not having the hurlor OF idea, he sub
stituted disgraccful clownishness-
the miserable trick of putting on a coat,
slit in the back, and then turning around
so that the audience could see the
Joke We would advise him not TO APP
pear again in public, at least not until he
learns the difference between respect2-
BILE humor and disrcputablc trickery.
Imay live to be an authority on floods
and early froSts -may be- referred 10 as
lone OF our oldest inhabitants" circum-
stances may force me To commit robbery
or sical hog that wears a tusk like
reaping hook; but no condition, IL mat
tiers not how severe. can ever compel me
to rent another swsllow-tail coat
OPIE r RAD
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-08-02
FRANCES NJ. SMITH.

We had occasion yesterday to com.
mend the courage and presence OF
mind of Dubuque lady in providing
more than IA match for robber tramp.
Miss Maggie Campbell, of Monmouth,
though in another way, showed her.
self heroine. About three o'clock
in the morning she was awakened and
aroused out of bed by clouds of smoke
that came rolling into the room
through an open window. Seeing
that porch at the back part of the
house was on fire, instead of going or
into Mysteries, as most young ladies
would have done, She never said a
word but coolly got up, fastened down
stairs and gave the fire a drenchlDg
with couple of buckets of water and
returned to bed, never arousing anoth-
err member of the household. Says
the Monmouth yO,undl, mot one lady
in a thousand would have done this.
and Miss Campbell is deserving of the
highest praise ror the nerve and cool
ness which she displayed"
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-08-02

90 often that can look at coat and
tell II 1t will it, Let's go in here"
We went in. Oh. yes. the clerk had
the very coat: knew IL was large enough;
had been made for big fellow that
lectured at a cyclorama. don't think
that more disreputable looking piece
of cloth could have been displayed. On
the lapel dried piece OF flannel-cake
was held in place by daub OF maple
sirup The coat had evidently been
present at wedding breakfast.
"Oh. little benzine will take that
Of" said the clerk.
Try IL on" the musician urged.
'.Wait minute" remarked. How
about this hole under the arm?"
The clerk tried to patch the hole with
a look. but failed. "Oh. our tailor can
fix that" said he.
Can make IL look better than ever"
the musician enthusiastically declared.
"But look here" said I. lone claw Is
almost torn off,"
Have YOU another coat?" I asked.
'l've got one that Is the very thing,
but it is out You can have it to-mor-
row."
Don't want 1t to-morrow-want 1t
now or never"
II think we can make this one do"
said the musician, holding up the LAGER
ated scarc-crow.
1T is an elegant piece OF goods" the
clerk responded.
In one more moment | should have
resorted To violence, but the musician
drew me away. We went to another
place. The clerk looked at the num-
bers on stack OF coats and shook his
head. Hold on" he said, as We were
about to leave the store, and then re-
marked: "If Philberts has brought that
coat back think | can fit you"
He pulled open drawer and said:
"Ahw Philberts had brought the coat
back. lie advanced, holding the thing
In front OF him. 1t looked like an
ALPACA jacket with two dangling shoe
strings intended to represent tails.
"The very thing." cried the musician
! tried IL on, or, rather, tore OF one
sleeve in the attempt Mr.. Philberts
must have been living skeleton. Out
in the street again. perplexed, worried
into perspiration and profanity. At the
next place asked the clerk If he had
any swallow-tail coats Cor men. Oh!
yes. he had large stock. The first one
he brought out would have cramped the
form of an ideal Juliet; the second
would have distressed Camille, even II
put on during the flag end OF her fatal
illness; the third might have been
passed upon favorably by the ossified
man. and the fourth-well, crowded
myself into it. The clerk smiled and
the musician declared that 1t was u
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-08-02

step over the threshold. Within, there
is q charming air OF comfort and luxury.
The large, square hall Is room in itself,
as the modern hall Is designed TO be,
with a recessed window which forms q
coy nook with window seats. carved
oak table holds curious Japanese vase
or Jar; near 1t is q bouquet OF roses
punches OF freshly-gathercd flowers
greet you in every room in the house.
A large window over the second land
ing on the stairs is entirely OF stained
glass, full-length figure OF some
NEUROLOGICAL character being depicted
upon 1t.
Mr.. Edisons study or library is at the
right of the hall. The bookcases,
which line the sides OF the room, are
protected with glass. A large fireplace,
with its mantel and polished brass
audirons and fender take up nearly one
side Of the room. while double window
in front occupies another side. A little
nook or recess has more books and
window of stained glass, with Dantes
head pictured upon 1t.
Dante. | take IT.. is n favorite author
of Mr.. Edison's, for on the library table
is a superb edition OF that authors
works, illustrated by Dore A small
bronze bust of Edison forms the stand
ard to the drop light on the library
table, and was the gift of friend.
Speaking of lights, to see Mr.. Edi-
sons really magnificent home in all its
glory one must visit IL at night, when 1t
glitters like fairy palace, with its in
Vulnerable electric lights One push
pom button lights up the drawing
room. for instance, where there are two
chandeliers with countless lights. The
effect. even by daylight, is very fine.
A beautiful and spacious apartment
is Mrs. Edison's drawing-room. as the
photograph indicates. There is an arch
way, supported by onyx pillars which
gives a lofty look to the plan. The
prettiest corner in the room is where
the piano stands, with stained glass
window above, a little statuette near it,
and the door leading to the conservatory
also near. Through the door Is q
glimpse that reminds one OF the trop-
les; for just at present the conservatory
Is filled with palms and ferns.
There are some fine paintings in this
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-08-02

room; head by Elizabeth Gardner, who
initiates so closely her master, Bouguer-
eau; figure painted by Perrault and
one by lie Roux, a moonlight effect
painted by Dougette.
The picture which especially attracted
me was painting on porcelain, THE
Christian Martyr"-the figure of a beau
tiful young girl floating upon the wa
ter This picture is framed in mother
of-pearl.
The hangings Of this room are Grim
son damask, the furniture is richly
carved rosewood, also upholstered with
crimson damask.
One of the noticeable pieces Of fur
niture in the drawingroom is small,
gold -and-onyx stand. There is only one
other like it in this country, and that
belongs to Mrs Astor. In a deep re-
cess, which is partly window and partly
mirror is beautiful marble bust 1.-The
Pose" it is called; it represents the
head Of young girl, and as it stands
before large mirror, both the marble
and its reflection add to the attractive
ness of this part Of the drawing-room.
You enter the dining-room at the rear
of the hall. This is rather a simply
furnished room. The sideboard stands
in a recess and displays few pieces
of silver and crystal. Mrs. Edison, by
the way, has small fortune in silver,
which is kept in a safe, only a few
pieces being in constant use. Leading
from the dining-room is one apartment
at present being fashioned into bill
iard-room, billiards being game which
Mr.. Edison likes to indulge in occasion
ally.
An attractive picture in the dining
room is one of Mrs. Edison's old home
in Akron. O., which looks like pleas
ant place, with its broad and well-kept
lawn and spacious dwelling.
There are many beautifully appointed
rooms on the second floor of the Edison
mansion. Mrs. Edison's boudoir Is
naturally very attractive, as it is most
homelike in appearance.
There is every thing for com fort and
many things for luxury. A fine por-
trait of her father hangs upon the wall,
and many pictures of little baby
Madeline stand upon the mantel.
From the front windows, there is fine
view of the Orange valley. Adjoining
this is her sleeping-room, from which
a door leads to the roof of the conserva-
tory. over this, in summer, an awning
is stretched, and here often cup of tea
Is served in the afternoon. as It is a
favorite lounging place OF Mrs. Edison,
with its divans. its table with all the
pretty and dainty appointments for
making tea and its huge jars of
flowers.
There are many guest chambers, all
upholstered in delicate cretonnes and
dimities. The beds have small cano-
pies arranged in the French style over
each. There are rugt and cushions and
pretty inlaid writing-tahlNs in every
room. noticed Two pictu eS, which
possessed m, CD ilterest. One was
photograph OF Edison when boy about
fourteen years OF age The other a pic
ture OF Mrs. Edison taken at sweet
sixteen" shows a lovely, serious-faced
maiden. The photograph Of the hrst
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-08-02
MRS. EDISON AT HOME.
Her Fairy Palace at Llewellyn
Park, and Her Family.
The Wizards Wife Beautiful Womss'
Who Entertains Delightfuily-A Pret'y
Boudoir-Edison's Hobbios--A son
VINO has the Inventors Talent.
rcoPyRlGHr 1890. ]


Count Thomas A. Edison, commander
Of the Legion of Honor, lives In beau
tiful house which Is almost a castle in
appearance.
"Glenmont," as tits called, isdelight-
fully situated in the midst of the aris-
tocratic suburb, Llewellyn Park, n. j.
This place Mr.. Edison bought after his
second marriage, about four years ago.
The family consists of Mrs. Edison,
two bows and little girl, the latter the
child OF his second marriage. Mr.. Ed
ison's eldest daughter, young girl
about eighteen years Of age, is studying
music in Germany, where she has been
for nearly a year under the care of q
relative.
The two boys, Thomas and William,
aged fifteen and thirteen years. are
good lively little fellows
who are being educated at home by a
governess. Their school-room, in the
third story, is pleasant. airy place,
where the boys and their teacher spend
four hours or so each day.
Thomas, his fathers namesake, Is
something of musician, playing re-
markably we'll for a lad of his years
both on the piano and the organ. Will
lam, believe. has inherited some Of his
fathers talent and likes to spend day
occasionally in the laboratory. That
he one day failed to perform quite a
marvellous experiment was due, he said,
to the workman who did not provide the
correct apparatus for claiming the cleo
trio current to do his bidding.
Little two year-old Madeline, bright
winsome child. is naturally the pet Of
the household. One very pretty pict-
ure of her, which Mrs. Edison keeps in
her boudoir, was taken in a quaint
fashion. A crescent-shaped moon is
outlined upon the card, and with trees
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-08-02
Mrs Edison has a conspicuous place in

Mrs Edison has a conspicuous place In
one room.
The grounds surrounding Glonmont
are extensive; pretty lawn lies direct
ly In front Of the house; at little dis
lance is garden, with goodly prom
ise of vegetables in due season. The
stables have a large poultry yard near;
raising fancy breeds OF poultry is one OF
Mr.. Edison's hobbies, and he has several
hundred valuable fowls. There are five
or six greenhouses and pasture where
one or two Alderney cows enjoy the
goods the gods provide. Mr.. Edison
keeps four horses-for horses, however,
he has no special fancy: he considers
them poor motors.
~ keep horses because | have to-" he
says, ''but there isn't one fast one
among them"
In twenty-five years from now cleo
tricity will have superseded horse.pow-
or IN New York in the performance Of
every sort of useful work. The horse
will have become n luxury, toy, q pet,
according to the wizards prediction.
About the only recreation Mr.. Edison
takes nowadays is a drive on Sunday
with Mrs. Edison through the country
about Orange. In winter Mr.. and Mrs.
Edison are often seen in New York at
the theater or the opera; comic opera
Mr.. Edison prefers. play he does not
enjoy as we'll onaccount Of his deafness,
as he can not hear what the actors say.
That he can not hear the sermon Is the
excuse he laughingly gives for not at
tending church.
FRANCES NJ. SMITH.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-08-02

twenty-four years old, trifle above the
average height, with a very graceful
figure. She has brown hair which she
usually wears high at the back, with a
fluffy bang over her forehead. Her
eyes are hazel, and her complexion that
clear olive which artists love. Mr..
Edison's pet name for her is "Mena."
Mrs. Edison always dresses in perfect
taste, and on ordinary occasions very
quietly. Many Frenchy tea-gowns and
handsome dinner dresses were added to
her wardrobe last summer, when she
was In Paris.
She takes long drive every morning,
accompanied by her little daughter and
Its nurse. Her carriage costume at this
season is very apt to be an army blue
cashmere with passementerie trimmings,
and straw hat with becoming clus-
ter of pink roses for ornament.
Mrs. Edison has a young woman's
fondness for society and entertains
good deal; luncheon and dinner parties
being her favorite ways of dispensing
hospitality to her friends Her sister,
Mrs. Mary Miller, whose home is
Akron, O.. spends much time with Mrs.
Edison, and is expected in few weeks
to return TO finish a visit which she
commenced in April.
The luncheon hour at the Edison
mansion is two O'Clock, and lest her
sbsentmlnded husband forget that he
needs some refreshment, Mrs. Edison
often has the carriage sent for him to
his laboratory, although it is only a
tve-minute walk to the house.
The reader would hardly guess, per-
haps, one of Mr.. Edison's favorite
viands-it is nothing more or less than
that very Yankee dish-pie; for break
fast he always wants fruit
The house where the wizard and the
wonder OF this age lives is handsome
structure Of brick and wood, somewhat
'Queen Anne" as to architecture, but
q this the reader can Judge for him
self
There is wide and hospitable porch,
at the front entrance, large enough to
hold settle, piled high with soft cush-
ions There are benches, several chairs
hospitality beginning even before You
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-08-02

ing grind stone accompaniment TO tho
flesh-creeping tremulo of scythe.
"Oh, don't want you to make any
music-only want you to recite some-
thing; some little thing, it doesn't
make any difference what-te!l that
story you told US at the club the other
night-just tell any thing, you know"
shook my head; he continued: "All
we want you to do is TO give us little
something to fill in with--won't amount
to any thing, you know
IL am afraid that it is beyond my
ability to grant your request" said !.
''The truth is, | haven't the courage to
place my awkward anatomy in per-
pendicular position and address an audi
ence."
What! as large man as you are and
haven't that much courage"
"Ah! but size is the trouble. II l
were small, the trial would be less,
There would not be so much OF me to
feel embarrassed. As the most famous
OF social hypocrites said In letter to
his son: Superior height requires SUI
perior grace.
"NonSenSe," my friend re1olned.
YOU'D look first rate in dress-coat"
But | have none"
"Why, hang it, rent one I'll go out
with you and in less than half an hour
you'll be fitted like Il tailor's model
Now look here" he added, pcrsuasively,
'it won't do to disappoint me, for the
fact Is was so sure that you would help
me out that ! have had your name
printed on the programme. Oh! 1t
won't take you more than ten minutes"
he soothingly added, noticing my nerv-
BUSINESS "All you've got to do is to
step out, say your little piece, make
your bow and that ends it. Don't you
remember that | came out to your house
some time ago and played during the
entire evening"
did remember, and thus thrown by
the "under-holG" Of gratitude, could
do nothing but yield.
The entertainment was to take place
the following Thursday evening, Civ
ing me almost weeks time to brood
over the coming trial Never, except
on one miserable occasion in Kentucky,
years ago, had | ever attempted to ad
dress an audience, and the memory Of
that occasions hot embarrassment often
comes in feverish dreams to strangle me
with humiliation. | was editing a
weekly newspaper, five feet by four feet
and half, IN Bowling Green, and was
compelled to write, every week, nine
columns OF Uncle Gabe Lyon called on
us Wednesday and renewed his subscrip-
tion-thanks, Uncle Gabe call again;
Colonel Bill Ansey says the fruit is not
injured; Uncle Mark Blevens says the
fruit is killed; the river Is rising; big
drove Of hogs passed through town Sat
urday-" had to write nine columns OF
this brainwearing thought, and surely
after SO great literary output ] was In
no condition to address convention Of
bee keepers; but the proprietor declared
that as his paper was the recognized or
gan OF the bookkeeping industry, it
would be disgrace if did not say
something. was showed forward but
do not now recall even the substance OF
my speech. ! know that a red-haired
man gazed al me and then Weighed like
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-08-02

for a background, the child was photo
praphed Underneath are the lines:
Twinkle twinkle, little STAR
How wonder what you are.
Photographic dolls doubtless little
baby Edison has by the DOZENS or can
have if she happ ems to like them.
Mrs. Edison is beautiful woman,
with charming manners as become a
Countess. Her beauty and fine manners
won high praise last summer, while in
London and Paris, which she visited
vita her husband. Mrs. Edison Is
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-08-02
THE COAT WAS RENTED.
Opie Read Tells How a Big Man
Suffered In a Little Goat.
n Enabled Him. However. to Make
Highly Amusins Exhibition OF
Himself ut His Friends
Solree.
lCoPYRiG 1891. !

The large man whom circumstances
have forced to rent dress coat Is al
most as much deserving OF pity as the
man that has been unjustly condemned
to be hanged. | will give my reasons
for thinking so. Several weeks ago q
friend came TO me and said: -
"LoolS here. old fellow, am going to
give q musical entertainment and
want you to help mo out"
How can help you outY' l asked.
1.-THE only music ever made was turn
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-08-02

The Streator Free Press notices the
arrival of a suspicOusly large number
of colored gentlemen in that town and
surmises 81 they are sort Of advance
guard for body Of negroes expected
to work at Plumb's shaft. Heretofore
there has not been more than three or
four cullud gemmen in Streator There
are now possibly twenty
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-08-02

Yesterday, says Fridays Peru Ncrs-
Herald. the water tank Of the c., r. |.
< p. at the Peru round house was
emptied and after the water was
drawn off a curious collection was
found. Thousands Of minnOws, vary
ing in size from quarter of an inch
to two inches in length, wall-eyed
pike. weighing thirty ounces, and a
couple of large eels, all alive and in
good condition were taken out by the
men clearing out the aquarium.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-08-02

The little coal village of Ladd, near
Peru is happy over the finding OF the
third vein Of coal after more than two
years of the hardest kind OF work and
repeated failures in getting through
the strata of quicksand and water UNI
deriving the surface.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-08-02

Judkins Ito Black, who is preparing for
a continental trip)-Iiow do you get on
with your languages, old fellow?
Black-Capitally. Why, I've got on SO
now can think in French.
Judkns-Well, that's blessing, for it's
more than you could ever do in English
Ally SloperS.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-08-02

The artesian well of the Elgin con-
densed milk company brings up in
one pipe flow of hard water, obtained
at a depth of few hundred feet,
while another pipe brings up a flow of
soft water, obtained at a depth Of
= 900 feet
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-08-02

LaSalle has a new daily-Ihe Tribme
1t is published by Hennessey and
Bostwick. we believe. though we find
no sign on the paper itself. Ii is a
seven column folio, and promises TO
he something one Of these days. The
first number is not as newsy "a pa
per published amid 1900 people
lin L;iSalle and Peru might be: but
no doubt il will, like goo d wine, i'm
prove in quality as II ages.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-08-02

Johnny" said his teacher ''who were
the two strongest men Of olden times"
Samson and Hercules.
"Can you tell anything about themY'
"Oh, yes. Samson was regular Her
cules New York Sun.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-08-02
And the Girls Adore Him.

Bilyer-That count is II most imposing
parsonage indeed.
Bloge-Well. he is. He has imposed on
all the men with whom he got acquainted
since he has been here at Newport. detroit
Free Press
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-08-02

"Now, Fritz" said his aunt, "were you
whipped again today at SCHOOL,
eyes, but it didn't hurt me Bit"
"Still you cried over it, | understandT'
'I've got no hard feelings against tho
teacher, so l did that to please him. ~
Fliegende Blaetter.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-08-02
Next.

The professor of dead languages who
had lost his false teeth was obliged to dis
miss his class, because, rs one OF the stu
o.nts said, he couldn't gum Arabic. -
EXCHANGE
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-08-02

The chambermaid is talking to herself:
'If that handsome young lieutenant that's
visiting here dares to kiss me again he'll
get piece of my mind. wonder why it
Is he's so late. n-Flegende Blaetter.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-08-02
Sincerity.

Niece-I'm writing to Clara Smith, aunt.
Shall | say anything from you?
Aunt--You may give her my love, dear.
How do dislike that girl, to he sure!-
Yankee Blade.