davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-01-10
THE FAT MANS STORY.
He Tells How He Successfully Fooled q
Kansas Prairie Fire.

He Tells How He Successfully Fooled q
Kansas Prairie Fire.
The boys had been looking at the fat
man for some time as he StrOlled up and
down the depot platform, smoking good
cigar and his face wearing a look of con-
tentment, and one of them finally OBJ
served that it was good time for him
to tell a story.
"Eh? story to pass away the time
certainly" he replied, as he sat down on
baggage truck, recently painted sky
blue color.
"YOu must know, gentlemen" he be-
gan, after getting his legs crossed, shat
l was not always at the head of the lead
ing clearinghouse of Chicago. No. All
my life, up to ten years ago, was passed
in tho far West on the plains and prai-
ries and among the hills and mountains.
L had, as you may suppose, numerous
adventures. l was just thinking of my
| escape from prairie fire, but the de-
tails might not interest YOU"
''Oh, yes, they will!'' we all cried in
chorus.
"Well, one day in the fifties I was
journeying across a Kansas prairie on
foot One morning got up to find fifty
miles of tall, dry grass between me and
the hills. A strong breeze sprang up
with the sun, and l had scarcely started
on my way before 1 discovered a great
smoke to windward. The Indians had
set fire to the prairie to kill off the rat
tlesnakes, you know"
"By George! but you were in for it!'
exclaimed the hardware drummer from
ST. Louis.
Eyes; l realized that in moment. In
five minutes l could see billow of flame
to windward. 1t was at least twenty
miles long, and spreading as it came It
was coming faster than horse could
/ run. figured that it would be upon me
| in five minutes"
"And you dug hole in the earth?"
! queried the glue man from New York.
Il had nothing to dig with If l had
had the proper tools the time was too
short"
''Tben the wind changed?" put in the
! Yankee notion man from Cincinnati.
Never point. AS stood there that
great ocean of flame came roaring down
toward me like the bosom of destruction.
lost fully two minutes before 1 got to
work. l could even feel the heat of the
fierce flames scorching my flesh"
"But, hang it, man, you escaped?"
81 did"
"You don't show any scars or burns. :"
'sNo."
''Well, get to the point
l. II will. l waited until the flames
were not over mile away, and then
took my balloon off my back, pressed the
, button which permitted the natural gas
to flow in from the reservoir, and, tax
ing my seat in the chair, shot up into
the air about five hundred feet and let
the flames sweep under me. One of nv
boot heels was a little scorched, but that
was all the damage done.''
'Do you tell that for truth?" angrily
demanded the starch man from Oswego.
'ssThe solemn truth, gentlemen. Our
company is now doing genaral banking
and balloon business-same style of bal
ocns. We can and do undersell all
theirs. Send in your orders early and
void the winter rush. That's aQ.''-N.
!. Sun.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-01-10
NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION.
UNITED STATES LAND oFvIcI


SEATTLE. w. r., November 5. 1889. J
NOTICE Is HEKEBY GIVEN THAT in COM
IN pliance with the provisions of the Act OF
CONGRESS of june 3, 1878. entitled IAN Act for
the sale of Timber Iapds in the States of Cali
fornis, Oregon, Nevada and Washington Ter
ritory."
OF Shelton, comfy OF Mason. Territory OF Wash
ington has this day filed in this office his sworn
statement No. 5O9l for the purchase OF The
VIZ of swL and SEA of swZ of section
rs in township 20 north, range 9 west,
and will offer proof to show thatthe land sought
is more valuable for its tim er or stone than i0r
agricultural purposes end 10 'tablish his claim
to said land before the Regl.i.r and Receiver OF
this Office nj Seattle, w. T., OH Tuesday the
18th day OF February, 1870.
james B. Tr ase, ny Kezer, lansing
Decker. all of Shelton. Mason int W.T.
Any and all persons claiming ahsefsei!: tle
above described lands are requested 10 nie thtIs
claims in this ofice or before said lSan coy o.
February, 1890. T. n. REED, Jr. ksgistess
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-01-10
NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION.
UNITED STATES LAND OFFICE

SEATTLE W. r., November 2. 1889.
N1OTICEI HEREBY GIVEN THAT IN COM.
IN pinnce with the provisions Of the Act oil
Congress of June 3. 1878. entitled IAN Act for
the ale of Timber Lands In the States Of Call
fornia Oregon, Nevada and Washington Ter
ritOry," ,o,
of Seattle, county of King, Territory Of Wash
ington, rs this day fled In this Office bis sworn
north west 4 of north west IA of section
2. in township - north, range 3 west, and will
or proof show that The land sought is more
valuable for its timber than for agricnl-
t,raI p,lrposcs and to establish his claim b, said
land before the Register and Recciv of this
office at Seattle, W T., OH Monday the 10Th day
of February, 1890. ,,,
He ! ames MS wi nesses: John Ca low, Will
liam Callow aud Ed ard CalOw, OF kamilchie,
w. r.; ohm r. Sh lion. If shelton, W. L.
Any and NIL persons claiming advrr,eIy me
claims I'm this ollie OF OF before said 10ih day Oh
February, 1890. 7. M REED, Jr., Register.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-01-10
NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION.
UNITED STATES LAND Or FiCE.


SEATTLE ". r.. October 81. 1882 :
NOTICE is HEREBY GIVEN THAT IN
~ compliance with tn. provisions of the act
of Congress- of June g. 1873 entitled IAN act 'nr
the sale of timber lands in the States Of Call
f.rnia, Oregon. Nevada. and Washington Terri
tory"
HENRY KENSMAN.
Of Hilihurst. w. r.. County of Pierce. Territory
Of Washingi on, has his day filed in this office hi !.
sworn Statement No. 1915 for The purchase I
the outh west of Sect No. II. i'm Township
M. % N. Range No. w, and y i'll offer proof
10 >how thai the land ug',t j. more va luable
for IFS timber or stone than for agricul' ural
purposes and tn stu bill his claim o said land
before the Register and i.eceiver Of this OF &c
at seattle w. r., OH Wednesday the 9Th
day of Februa' y. 1A90
lie names as witnesses: James Ingraham. Of
Tacoma, w. T.; Janrs Burgess: Of Tacoma w.
t. A. Eske, If M dia w. r.; John Front
man. of Sion" 3 Lanring. w. Il.
Any ami n ] persons claim ng adversely the
above desc,ib, q lands are requ' std to file their
clfims in this office or before said 81 day Ut
February, 1890. T. NJ. REED JR.. L. gsler.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-01-10
NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION.
UNITED STATES LAND OFFICE

ID
SEATTLE. W. r.. October II, 1899.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT N COM
~ pliuncc with the provisiO OF the Act OF
Congre Of june 3, 1878, entitled An Act for the
sale of 4 .mber Lands In the Stat of California.
Oregon, Nevada aud Washington Territory"
JAMES INGitAHAM,
of Tacoma county of Pierce, Territory of WASH
ington, has this day filed IN this lice lis
sworn statement No. 1917, forthe purchase of the
north west "a of section Is, in town.
ship % north. range west, and will offer proof
to snow that the land sought Is more valuable
for its timber or stone than for agricultural pur-
poses and to establish his claim 10 said land be-
fore the Register and Receiver of this office ut
Seattle, w. r.. OH Wednesday the 9th day of
Feb nary, 1890.
He names us witnesses: Henry Kensman, OF
Hillhurst W. r.; james Burgess, of Tacoma,
W. IA 4 Eske of NJ Ola, v. T.; 10 Front
man. of Stones Landing, w. T.
Any aud all persons claiming adversely the
abO e described lands are requested to file their
claims in this Office on or before said 9Th day
of February, 1870. T. Nj. REED, Jr., Register.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-01-10

andrew J. Geiger, who died lately
In Philadelphia, leaving an estate OF
$3.50, 900, directed that an Obelisk should
be erected over his grave which, besides
the usual mortuary inscription, should
bear several others. The north panel
will bear this inscription: Travelled
$4,000 miles in America, Europe, Asia
and Africa" The south panel is to
read: s'Young man, stop and think. See
what has been the reward for honesty,
industry and economy. In 1910 worked
on Robert Martins farm near Jersey
shore for twenty-five cents day. NO
fortune left to me" The west panel
will say: "Lived and died in the faith
of the immutable and Interchangeable and
natures God. Believed in the gospel OF
peace, right anG Justice"
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-01-10

The rfrst chrysantbemum. so far as
is known. was introduced into England
about 1874, and was lowered for the
first time in November OF the follow
ing year in the famous nurseries OF
Mr. Cabill, Kings road, Chelsea.
from which place many plants were
first sent out, which have since be-
come familiar varieties. among them
being the camelia. The first blossoms
Were OF deep crimson color and had
Z flower Of but two inches in diameter.
and the petals were twisted like Dor.
cupine quill Washington Post
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-01-10
A Clear Console g Obtained.

Brokers Wicklow happy you look,
my dear. What is the cause?
Broker-A clear conscience. 1 have
not taken any innocent and confiding
mans money for twenty-four hours.
81 am glad to hear it"
"Yes; you see, my partner died las,
night, and our Office was closed to day.
IN. Y. Weekly.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-01-10
Well Governed

The Chinese have political saving
which is worthy the reading even Of
american statesmen. 1t is as follows.
When is the empire well governed
ana affairs go as they should 90?
" men swords are rusty and spades
are bright; when prisons are empty
and grain bins filled; when the law
courts are lonely, and o'ergrown with
grass; when doctors walk and bakers
rae. It's then things go as they ought
ana the state is well ruled.
COMPANION.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-01-10
"a LITTLE NONSENSE"

Baseball enthusiast-"Whars the
score to-day?" Plain citizen-"Twen-
ty, | suppose. just as it has always
been. / haven't heard of any change"
Rochester Post-Express.
Were you carefully brought up.
young man. said the merchant to an
applicant for position in his estab-
lishment. ..Yes. sir!" he replied. 81
anne up or go >ston Post.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-01-10
DESuLTORY READING.
Most So-Called Reading Courses are Pretty
Nearlv Pure IC1tOcv.


Nearly Pure Idiocy.
Mr.. Balfour has recently stepped aside
from political ways to deliver an address
at the opening of a new library, in which
he won the approval of all true book
lovers by saying good word for what is
among the solf-elect known by the con-
remrtuous term of ''desultory reading
1t is the solemn con vict ion Of the Graf.
grinds of the world that e. ere is no read
ing which is of any advantage to man
unless it is arranged in courses and de-
voted to some specific end; while equally
the true book lover, the man who is born
with the literary instinct and convic-
ton, knows beyond paradventure that
this reading which has been stigmatized
as desuitory is the most valuable of all,
and that it is only by the good which Is
won by following it through the wind
ing ways in which it leads as through a
labyrinth that one is able to get from
formal reading any benefit whatever.
The first principle of realing should
be that one is profoundly interested
therein. 1t is worse than useless to force
ones self, or to force others, to go over
the pages of any book which does not Of
itself hold the reader. 1t may be neces-
sary now and then to go through course
of reading upon special subject as one
does any other mechanical task, but he
labors under complete misunderstand-
ing who supposes that by so doing he is
increasing lis intellectual culture. He
may for moment increase the unassim.
in iS nd INIT 80 I.
ways hinderance to mental progress
rather than help.
The genuine love of books is perhaps
a thing which one must be born with tc
enjoy it in its fullness, and it can, after
all be largely cultivated. At least,
there are few people who can not inter.
est themselves in some sort of reading
if they are but placed in a position to
reach the books which are adapted to
their minds, and-what is quite as i'm.
portant-to their temperaments. What
is known as desultory reading is, after
all, if one only examines the matter
little closely, reading what is adapted to
the condition of the mind at the mo-
ment. 1t is taking the mental food
which one can digest, instead of dieting
the mind upon those indigestible things
which have some time and somewhere
been supposed to be good for minds of
different sort in different condition.
Most reading courses are pretty nearly
pure idiocy; astringing together of good
books into, perfectly arbitrary and un-
wholesome composition. One might as
we'll weigh out the food to be eaten
meal by meal for year to come. The
appetite has more to do with it than
theories, and is a better guide unless it
has been most fouly dealt with.
The way to read is to read, and If
person turned into library can not bet
ter find out what to read than anybody
can tell him, he is either too young tc
be trusted alone anywhere or mentally
diseased. The mind is it's own gauge,
and if it does not work well it is very
seldom that any outside expedient can
be made to serve instead If the at
tempt be made it results in something
which is not culture. at least.-Boston
Courier.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-01-10

Almost everybody In this world is
susceptible to f1attery. The easiest way
to datter some people is to remark to
them how impervious to fattery they
are.-Somerville journal.
TO be content with what we have is
the real secret of happiness. The real
needs of humanity are comparatively few;
but the artificial and conventional are
ulimitable and Unsuitable.
Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-09-06
Ventilation of seuers.

Mr.. Frederic Barnett, Of London, has
published particulars of his automatic
system for peIpetually ventilating and
purifying sewers, drains, etc. This COM
p1ises the sealing of all existing apertures
at the level Of the roads and the substi-
tuition of pipes connected with the crown
of the arch Of the sewer or drain. These
pipes pass under the footways and are
carried up to the roofs Of the houses on
either side Of the road Some of these
pipes would be devoted to the outlet of
sewer gas, and the others to the inlet Of
fresh air, these different duties being Sc
cured by variation in the length Of the
pipes, and also by movable cowls at
their tops, those acting as inlet pipes
always opposing the wind direction, and
the outlet pipes turning the reverse way.
The system, which promises efficiency,
could not, however, be introduced with
out great expense and disturbance ofthe
road and fCotways. An alternative
plan, which was proposed some time
ago, of vent;lating sewers seems to US
to meet the difficulty in cheaper and
more convenient manner. By this meth
cd the sewers were connected by pipes
with hollow columns bearing gas burn
ers. An upward draught was by this
means secured and the air from the
sewers was passed through a purifying
Eame.-NeW York Telegram.
Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-09-06

In Bridgeport, Conn. is young Po-
Esh boy named Paul Zilzisl1y who has
been performing wonders. His personal
appearance is described as unprepossess-
ing. He has low forehead, with hair
growing down to his eyebrows, is rather
sleepy looking and stumbling in his
movements. But whenever his father
asks him question relative to numbers
he ut once brightens up and becomes ex-
cited. The father said, paul, how many
beans are there in this handful" The
boy at once commenced to dance around
the store, and became greatly excited as
his father thrust his hand into barrel
of beans, took out a handful and threw
them down in a corner, where they lay
scattered about. The lad leaped into
the air, and almost before the beans
touched the floor shouted his reply.
The beans were carefully gathered and
counted, and while this was being done
the boy grinned and waited. The result
showed him to be correct to a bean. He
relapsed into his usually sleepy manner
again. The father then seized handful
of oats and put them in a heap upon the
counter. paul, said he, chow many
oats?" The boy again jumped to his feet,
devoured the oats mentally, and instantly
shouted the number It took long time
to count them, but the number was
again found to be correct. Next the
father seized half filed pail of water
and asked the boy, Glow many cubic
inches Of water in the pail?'' The boy
sized it up with his eyes and quickly
shouted, GA hundred and sixteen" A
careful computation proved the boy to
be right. Other wonderful answers were
given, always in an excited manner
After each and every successful answer
the same doleful expression returned
Cor. Boston Herald.
Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-09-06
THE END.
Playing Ciroas.

As soon as . circus had been in town
the boys began to have circuses of their
own and to practice for them. Every
where you could see boys upside down.
walking On their hands or standing on
them with their legs dangling over or
stayed against house walls. It was easy
to stand on your head; one boy stood on
his head SO much that he had to have it
shaved il the brain fever that he had
got from standing on it, but that did
not stop the other fellows. Another boy
fell head downward from rail where
he was ''skinning the cat" and nearly
broke his neck, and made it SO sore that
it was stiff ever so long.
Another boy who was playing Samson
almost had his left leg torn off by the
fellows that We're pulling at it with a
hook, and he did have the leg Of his pan
falcons torn off. Nothing could stop the
boys but time or some other play coming
in, and circuses lasted a good while.
Some Of the boys learned to turn hand
springs; anybody could turn cart wheels;
one fellow across the river could just run
along and throw a somersault and light
on his feet; lots of fellows could light on
their backs; but if you had a spring
board or shavings under a bank like
those by the turning shop you could
practice for somersaults pretty safely
W. d. Howells in Harper's Young
PEOPLE.
Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-09-06
Travel in the Southwest.

A railroad man who is an agent for an
eastern road doing business with all the
western, southwestern and northwestern
trunk lines says that 20 per cent. of the
elnigrant travel goes to the northwest.
About q month from now the bulk Of
this business will have been done for the
calendar year From that time until
next spring the travel viii be chiefly for
business or pleasure. This same OBJ
server estimates that of the citizens Of
the United States fully 60 per cent. of
those moving from their old eastern
homes go to the new northwest in prefer
ence to the middle and southwest. In
general the southwest seems to be pre-
ferred to the middle west. The migra-
ton to the southwest and the south is
more largely from the central western
states than from the east and New Eng
land.-New York Sun.
Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-09-06

Dredging operations now being car
ried out at Santander, Spain, have re-
suited in the discovery of the well pre-
served wreck of war ship of the Fiji
tenth or Sixteenth century. She must
have been in her present position for 400
years, and was partly covered by a de-
post of sand and mud Divers have
brought up guns which bear the united
arms of CASTLE and Aragon, the scroll
of Isabella or the crown and initial Of
Ferdinand
This ship would appear to have been
employed as transport, and inasmuch
as some Of the arms are of French and
italian make, it is supposed that she
formed part Of the fortunate expedition
against Naples under Gonzalo de Cor
doba. She probably foUndered while
entering the port of Santander on her
return from Italy, laden with trophies
and plumber. Among the coins recov-
cred are some bearing the image and
superscription of Charles VIII of France,
and others issued by various contempt
rary Italian states.-New York Tele-
gram.
Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-09-06
Recovering a Diamond Ring,

Tuesday gentleman, stranger in
these parts, had occasion to cross the
Huntington bridge, and was accompan-
led by friend. When midway of the
bridge he pulled a large and valuable
diamond ring from the little finger Of his
left hand to exhibit to his friend. In
handing the ring over it slipped from his
hand and fell, and striking the floor
bounded into the river. The friend stood
where the ring fell till its owner went
and secured the services Of several men
to dive in after it. He found two who
upon the offer of handsome pay for their
services consented to attempt the rescue.
They went out in a boat and after many
attempts secured the ring, which was in
turn handed over to its owner. He paid
the promised sum and went CD his way
rejoicing Hartford Courant.
Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-09-06
ABSENCE.

On Monday morning the post brought
me a letter. 1t was letter that had
been expecting for a good while, and.
other things equal, it ought to have
caused me the hveliest pleasure. It was
a letter from Mr. Archibald Winthrop.
wealthy citizen of Boston, inviting me
TO come and stay at his house and paint
the portraits of his wife and his two IN
married daughters 1t ought to have
afforded me the liveliest possible salts
facton, for it meant good lot of money,
and 1t meant also, what was more i'm
portant, the first serious step in my ca
reer Yet, as a matter Of fact, it afforded
me nc satisfaction whatever, but only
vexation and regret. Of course I could
not think OF saying no to it; that would
DE to lily in the face of Providence. But
if l said yes to it l should have to leave
New York and remain away for a couple
of months at the shortest; and for rea-
sons which the reader will divine was
10th to leave New York even for a seven
night.
However. like true American-the
issue lying between business on the one
hand and sentiment on the other-I cast
the choice in favor of business, and two
days later found mo aboard the after
noon express train bound for Boston.
The exterminatoI and had had an af-
fectionate parting, and | had exacted
from him d promise that he would write
TO me and let me know ''how things
went on" | did not mention Miss Ec-
zardy's name to him, but felt sure that
when ne wrote to me his letter would
contain news of her.
VI my soJourn in Boston, which lasted
on till after New Years, 1 win only saw
Two words-it taught me the truth OF
the adage about absence making the
heart grow fonder. L thought 50 much
OF Miss Eczardy; her beautiful pale face
was SO often visible before nv imaoi-
nauon; l SO passionately regretted
the wasted opportunity | had had TO
make her acquaintance: | so eagerly
looked forward to my return to New
Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-09-06

In the early part of May some plate
firing took place on board the English
man-of-war Nettle, which brings up a
subject of the greatest Importance
namely, the possibility of making armor
such as viii break up the splendid forged
steel projectiles which have hitherto
held together almost without exception
The result Of the Nettle and other recent
tests goes to show that plates are now
made with faces so hard as to defeat
forged steel, and that it appears possible
that steel faced arInor in the future may
dispose of them in the manner that
Schneider admits such plates defeat in
different projectiles.- York Tele-
gram