davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Louisiana Democrat., 1891-09-09
A Travellers story.

"Once / heard of remarkable in
stance of cheek while l was travelling
in Texas for rope frm," said the con-
centrated-lye salesman.
The others settled themselves in
anticipation.
"a local exhorter." he continued,
"who had already been refused trust
sixteen times in the same saloon, was
finally shot in the jaw by the irate bar
man, but the ball fell f1attened on the
f1oor.''
There's nothing SO very remarkable
about that" remarked party present.
Perhaps not, but picking up the fiat
tened ball he went to the next door and
passed 1t for nickel, philadelphia
TimeG,
The Louisiana Democrat., 1891-09-09
HENRY |. BI0SSAT, Business Manager


Forty buttoned up his long rubber
storm-coat, pulled on pair of water
proof boots, and dashed out into the
night and through the storm.
He knew where Jonah was, and as
he passed an old ash-box at the corner,
he whistled softly, though he still
trudged onward
Jonah trotted after him.
The address was soon reached, a
great house dimly lighted on more
dimly lighted street. Forty saw the
lady, to whom the message was ad-
dressed, tear it open, read it hurriedly,
and then, scribbling a few lines, place
the note in a large white envelope,
along with several crisp bills.
They were standing directly under
the hall light, in range of the half
closed parlor windows, during the
whole operation.
AS soon as the lady sealed the envel-
ope and handed it to Forty, shabbily-
clad man, who stood on the sidewalk,
near the windows, moved nearer the
door.
AS the door closed behind him, Forty
dashed down the steps and off up the
street on dead run with Jonah at his
heels, the mysterious figure close
third.
At the turn of the avenue, near bad
looking alleyway, the boy received a
crushing blow from behind and rolled
over with a groan into the gutter.
As he fell the book which contained
ti'c letter and the money dropped from
his hand.
Jonah had been taught to "fetch and
carry" True to his early lessons, he
quickly caught the book in his mouth
and, dashing off about dozen rods,
turned to wait his masters coming.
He did not come. He was lying
@enseless in the gutter.
But the ugly looking man who had
dealt the blow moved rapidly toward
the dog, cursing as he went. Coaxing
or cursing were alike useless where
Jonah was concerned.
He kept well away from the stranger
who, at last, in sheer desperation, drew
a pistol and fired at the dog.
The bullet missed Jonah; but the re-
port scared him into gallop toward
the Office.
1t also attracted the attention of
policeman, who rescued Forty from his
muddy bed. and carried the limp form
into neighboring drug store.
At the Office it was remarked that
Forty was unusually behind his time.
The night operator was nervous The
tall man who had sent the message
seemed even more so.
Wouldn't have the information con-
The Louisiana Democrat., 1891-09-09

veyed in that answer to my note reach
other hands than mine for a mint" he
muttered.
Then there came a scratching and a
whining at the door. Jonah had ar
rived. "D-n that dog" This came
from the operator. Then sudden
thought struck him. Forty and Jonah
were inseparable. Jonah without Forty
meant mischief.
Stepping hastily to the door, he
threw it open. Jonah came in, head
down, tail dropping, and his whole
frame shivering and dripping with rain.
He was splashed all over with mud,
but in his mouth, free from dirt, he
held Forty's book. He dropped it on
the floor and stood guard over it.
The operator had never addressed
him kindly before, and how could he,
Jonah, understand the coaxing voice
that addressed him now?
The operator could not reach the
book without danger of being bitten,
for the dog snapped viciously whenever
he attempted it.
''Here, Ten, you are used to play
ing with that cur-get the book from
him.
Mine, you get down to the Central
station as quick as your legs can go,
take an officer over Forty's trip. and
don't come back till you find what has
happened to him."
Before Nine had departed Ten had
coaxed the book from the dog in con-
sideration of previous friendly romps.
The message and money were safe, but
before the tall man departed he laid a
ten dollar bill upon the desk, saying to
the operator:
Buy collar for that dog and put
four more away to keep him in meat
When that's gone I'll send more-here's
my card Give it and the remaining
five to the boy"
Jonah sleeps by the night operator.
chair now. RALPH w. TYLER. !,
The Louisiana Democrat., 1891-09-09
cHILDHOOD'S CHARMS.

/, ,laced my boy in the barber's chair,
To be shorn Of his ringlets gay;
Ard soon the wealth CT his golden hair
IA the floor In a circle lay.
.ruas trifling thing of daily life,
And to many unworth a thought
,oo small theme, mid the toll and strife
OF this worlds changing lot.
IN. the ringing cut Of the cruel shears
m nv heartstrings caused pang,
vor tbev changed the child of my hopes an6
fears
With the scornful tune they sang.
Nv thoughts were bent on the little cap,
And the curls that round 1t twfned
like golden clasps with which to trap
The sunbeam and the wind.
so more shall see those flying curls,
Asmy homewarG steps wend;
Another stage Of his life unfurls,
Where youth and childhood blend.
Go when from the chair he stepped at length,
ue stood. with his artleSs SMILE
like Samson shorn Of his locks OF strength
Nv Dellah's treacherous vile.
Thus one by one, will vanish away
The charms OF his childish life,
And each bring nearer his manhood's day,
With its scenes OF toll and strife.
God grant that my lease Of life may last
Through his changing years OF youth;
Till the danger.rapids OF life are passed,
And q Samson stands in truth.
Walter n. Rogers, in Good Housekeeping.
The Louisiana Democrat., 1891-09-09

lows you to bring
him here again I'll report you and
you'll get the G. b. See?"
Number Forty did as he been direct
ed and Jonah went out into the rainy
night with his head hanging and his
tail between his hind legs, as he had
done many time before.
Jonah was a dog-a mean looking
cur at that, and was accustomed to the
treatment he had just received. Jonah
did not care, so why should Number
Forty? Forty was a telegraph mes
senger with all of a boys love for
dogs, and especially for the homeless
and abused sort.
rJopah was just of that sort, only
little more SO, for he began his career
by falling down well, when nothing
but diminutive, inquisitive puppy.
From this predicament he was barely
rescued by his present owner, and
from that day the seal of attachment
had been set.
Jonah was passably pretty puppy
IN those days, but after repeated scald-
ings kickings and the like, be had been
rudely chast from the home of Forty
never to return, on penalty of death.
Then when Forty attained to the
dignity of earning his own living, in
the service of the te legraph company,
Jonah was given place IN box near
the office, where he rapidly grew to be
afavorite with all the folks in the Of
nee, save the night operator.
Jonah, in his inquisitive rambles
about the office, during his stay there,
had upset battery jar full of muriatic
acid, burning half the hair from his
ngly hide, and rendering himself still
more ugly.
he had also chewed up the boys caps,
when they were left within reach. But
these and many other misdemeanors,
while gaining for him the sobriquet he
now enjoyed, had failed to attract the
night operators attention.
One evil night, however, Jonah dared
70 enter the sacred precincts behind
tne operators desk and devour that
worthy mans midnight lunch.
from that time forth they were at
oaas and Forty had a sorrowful time
ofit between his love for the dog and
saesire to retain his position.
one night the wind was bowling like
sisa' and the rain was dashing madly
aswn from the inky blackness above.
wnen VINE the door opened suddenly and a
.al' well dressed man stepped quickly
ne went forward to the operators
m .a0le' wrote note hurriedly and in
A'fsous manner, inquired if it could be
The Louisiana Democrat., 1891-09-09
ovERDohE cLEvERNEss.
An Uncomfortable State for Person to
Get Into.

An Uncomfortable State for Person to
Get Into.
There are some very clever people
who are in continual state of alarm
lest they should not fully perceive the
hidden springs of their neighbors' &C.
tions. They seem always afraid some-
body is going to overreach them. They
refuse to believe in frankness. In their
eyes it covers deepest duplicity. What
lies on the surface, they think, is for or.
dinary stupid people to accept.
"Ah," they nod, shrewdly, 1--WE are
not so silly as you would like rs to be.
We see further through the millstones
than other folks. We perfectly under.
stand that you are friendly because you
hate us, and look pleased because you
are secretly planning to get the better
of us. We are not to be fooled by any
such shallow pretences."
They are SO earnestly engaged in
digging deep under the actions of sim.
ple-minded people to discover their mo-
tives that they never find them, and are
constantly blind to what directly lies
before their eyes.
Now this may be because at heart
they really are never quite confident OF
their own superiority, or because being
conscious of insincerity themselves,
they can not understand sincerity in
anyone else. Either supposition is un.
fattering to these clever ones; and as
they are often people Of really clever
parts, it seems pity they should give
themselves such needless anxiety about
matters which lie in such plain sight
they are pot able to see them.
It probably takes certain amount
of sincerity in ones self to believe in
the sincerity of other people. But it
must be uncomfortable to be SO shrewd
that you are afraid some one will arise
smarter than you are.-Saturday Even.
ing Herald.
The Louisiana Democrat., 1891-09-09
Pl1H AND POINT.

SdllcE'- las your IulSGrcSS RVAC
out?" New Servant-"No, but she
amt at home. Epoch.
Proud Father (reading his sons
school report)-"Manners vulgar-very
vulgar. But perhaps this is heredi.
tary."-Punch.
--"She waved her umbrella and caught
his eye, " said Hawkins. did it put tho
eye out?" asked Smithers, who had seen
women waving umbrellas before.
Harper's Bazar.
MIR. Wickwire = 'Now, this new
nickel steal -'' Mrs. Wickwire--
"That's when you drop it into the slot
and the machine won't work, ! sup.
pose. indianapolis journal.
Tell me not in mournful numbers
Life Is but an empty dream,
When tits full of green cucumbcrs
And of restaurant ice cream.
Detroit Pree Press.
-"He's great catch, l assure you,"
said one young woman to another. "He
must have inherited his money; he's
hardly old enough to have made it,
money! 0, / referred to his attain
ments in the way of baseball. Wash.
ington Star.
TO get acquainted with peoples OBJ
jectionable idiosyncracies you must
travel with them. OF course, there is
no danger of their getting acquainted
with your Objectionable idiosyncracies
while travelling with you.-Somerville
Journal.
His Only Kind. mo wonder you
don't catch any fish, using bait like
that" and the friend pointed to the half.
empty flask. Haven't you got any
other" mo other?" "No; you see the
early birds got all the rms."-Phila-
delphia Times.
No Lottery About Wife--"Do
you really think that marriage is lot
tery?" Husband-''No, l do not"
Wife (somewhat surprised)-''W
don't you?" Husbund-s -s'Because wher
fellow has drawn a blank he can't &c
and purchase another chance
An ill-paid minister went to his
deacon and asked for an increase of sal
ary. "Salary?" said the deacon; 81
thought you worked for souls" $50
do" said the minister, ''but l can not
eat souls, and if could it would take
good many of your size to make
dish. IN. Y. Herald.
I'm the "Whirled" Office. Assistant
what was the trouble that led you
to discharge Spacer?" Editor--'Insub-
ordination, kicked on his assignment
Assistant-sWhat did you detail him to
do?" Editor" Marry some one, and
write four columns on: rs Marriage a
FailureT'-Iowa Topics.
Bad News.-Charlie- look
blue, old man. What's the matter?"
Gus-"Bad news, dear boy, about my
rich grandfather. Charlie-"T too
bad. The old gentleman is sick, sup
pose?" Gus-''No, confound him! The
old rascal is healthier than ever, and
likely to live twenty years yet. Sat.
urday Evening Herald.
They had been talking about thei,
neighbors all the evening, and, there
being a lull in the conversation, one of
the party said: Suppose we now talk
about ourselves and rip up each others
character little ?'' THAT is unneces-
sary," replied thin-faced, thin
Tipped lady; ''our neighbors are proba-
bly, doing that for us."-N. Y. Press.
Music on the Home Stretch
Goodness gracious" yelled the mana
ger, meeting the leader of the orchestra
coming up, there was terrible mess
of it half way in the last act" 'And
didn't I manage it nicely ?' said the
leader. 81 caught up so that even you
must have noticed wasn't more than
three bars behind when the curtain
fell. "-Fliegende Blmtter.
The Louisiana Democrat., 1891-09-09
A Mean Husba nd.

Mrs Newb-ide-Oh, Henry, we can't
play lawn tennis this afternoon, for the
balls are lost and can't find them.
Mr.. Newbride-My dear, why don't
you bake a few of those doughnuts VI
yours9 They would do beautifully
Nnnsey's Weekly
The Louisiana Democrat., 1891-09-09
Making the Best of 1t.

Mutton and capers," announced the
waiter, and the guest said yes, but the
waiter returned to say that the capers
were all gone.
"Well bring on the mutton and I'll
cut the capers," said the gentleman
cheerfully.-Detroit Free Press.
The Louisiana Democrat., 1891-09-09
swINDLlNG DRUGGISTS.
How They Work OF Their Own Conco~
tions Upon tho Public.


tions Upon tho Public.
In an address before the recent meet
ing Of the National Editorial associa.
ton at st. Paul attention was called by
a. Frank Richardson, of New York
city, to an abuse widely practiced by
retail druggists the country over, and
in an interview with Mr.. Richardson he
dilated at some length upon the same
subject. He heartily condemned the
retail druggists for their frequent and
deliberate substitution of some un-
known and oftentimes worthless arti.
Gle for one which has become house.
hold word and of funquestionable merit
The dealer always calls attention to
something just as good, Occasionally
stating that he is out of the remedy called
for, but can furnish splendid substi-
tute." People have no idea how extern
sively this deception is practiced. said
Mr.. Richardson, and he did not hesitate to
term it petty swindling. Popular and ef-
ficacious remedies possess merit and are
advertised to the extent of hundreds of
thousands of dollars Millions are in.
vested in the manufacture of them.
Public attention is called to them and
they are in demand. And in the lace
OF all of this the druggist offers some.
thing ''just as good" The evil of this
practice to the purchaser lies in the fact
that he is induced to use something
which is either worthless or injurious
Very often the druggist foists his own
preparations upon the customer. Mr..
Richardson firmly believes in acquaint-
ing the public with all the nefarious de-
tails of this substitution system, be-
lieving that then the purchaser will in
sist upon the article he cares for and
refuse to accept the article the dealer
wishes to substitute. te.-Chicago Post.
The Louisiana Democrat., 1891-09-09
Origin of tho Menu.

A German astronomical publication
gives the following account of the
origin of the menu: At the meeting of
the electors at Rcgensburg in the year
1889, Elector Henry, Of Braunschweig,
attracted general notice at state din.
ner. He had long paper before him
to which he referred every time he or
dcred fish. The earl of Montfort, who
sat near him, asked him what he was
reading. The elector gently handed
the paper his interrogation. 1t con-
tanned list of the viands prepared for
the occasion, which the elector had or
dered the cook to write out for him.
The idea of having such list SO
pleased the illustrious assembly that
they introduced it each in his own
household, and since that time the
fashion of having a menu has spread
all over the civilized world Chicago
Herald.
The Louisiana Democrat., 1891-09-09
A Shock from a Fair Lady.

She was in appearance modest, re.
fined-looking lady, but when she con-
fronted the stamp clerk at station J
with the request for p. d. Q. stamp
that serious-minded functlonary was
too astonished to reply. ''Will you let
me have P. d. Q. stamp" repeated
the woman, who seemed to think the
clerk was deaf, and therefore raised
her voice so that it was heard all ever
the Office. An inspiration seized him
and he rendered special delivery
stamp. That was what she wantea.-
n. Y. Herald.
The Louisiana Democrat., 1891-09-09

.Sraed oe,, AZ once by trusty messen-
M. - " the address given on the envel-
M T., as The answer would contain an
Important e message.
u,.s. avugh Forty had called down the
., a'a In Of the night operator, on account
Jo,asS w love for that miserable cur,
VA l' ne enjoyed his confidence, and
oro,.ed oKed upon as one of the most
hws and trustworthy among the
Va. 10 him the important message
na,.. ..utfusted. not. however, without
apeaal words Of caution.
The Louisiana Democrat., 1891-09-09

Sarcastic yell after dude in loud
plaid trousers: Say, get them c.lo-
reformed quick. or deyll ring out do
Observation-Disclosures Record.
The Louisiana Democrat., 1891-09-09

"SAY, N IL m b e +
Forty?"
"Forty!'
"Throw that cur
of yours out of here,
and if your gall al
1nu,c vD~ - 1.:-
The Louisiana Democrat., 1891-09-09

I'm Park Row, Mike, the newsboy,
running at full speed, with big bundle
of papers under his arm, stopped short
to pick up an umbrella that he had seen
drop on the sidewalk. THANK you,
sonny said, in big bass voice, man
behind him. "Hallo!' said Mike, with
evident surprise, II thought 1t was
lady's." And deliberately, as if it was
a matter of course, Mike replaced the
umbrella on the sidewalk. Ny. Times
The Louisiana Democrat., 1891-09-09
A Laudable Ambition.

Hotel Proprietor-You say you want
a job as waiter. Your face seems
familiar to me Weren't you guest
of this hotel last year?
Applicant-Yes, sir. I came arouud
to get my money back. -JvAgs.
The Louisiana Democrat., 1891-09-09
nave the information con.

veyed in that answer to my note reach
other hands than mine for mint" he
muttered
The Louisiana Democrat., 1891-09-09

tied, fOr the last census SHOWS tQo male
population in excess Of the female, and
wages are considerably higher than In
more eastern states. In their last re-
port the Illinois commissioners Of labor
statistics say that their table Of wages
and cost of living arc representative
only of intelligent workingmen who
make the most of their advantages, and
do not reach "the confines Of that
world Of helpless ignorance and destitu-
ton in which mnltitudes in all largo
cities continually live, and whose only
statistics are those of cpidemics, pau
perism and crime" Nevertheless, they
go on to say, an examination Of these
tables will demonstrate that one-half
of these intelligent workingmen Of IL
linois "are not even able to earn
enough for their daily bread, and have
to depend upon the labor of women and
children to exc out their miserable ex-
istence"
Il. is the fool who saith in his heart
there is no God But what shall we
call the man who tells US that with this
sort of a world God bids ps be content3
SOCIAL Problems
Telegram-herald., 1891-12-22

A rule great ignorance exists On
the part of Europeans as to the nutEi.
tlous and toothsome qualities OF Indian
corn as food. For many years the
United States government has tired to
introduce tais product into European
countries, bat the attempts have been
Intellectual. The character of the work
OF late has been almost missl0naTy.-
agents going TO ths cities and under
taking TO teach TIE people 10 make
corn bread. IL would seem 10 the
average American that if the corn-pone
and "Johnny-eake' made by some OF
our southern "auntles'' conld have 8
fair chance TO tickle the palate Of the
European, that there could be but one
result,-an imperative demand for
more" However. this year, larger
amount OF corn products have been
snippsa to foreign ports than ever De-
fore. The yield of the year has been
enormous The acreage planted with
corn IN the United States, amounting
To 5000, coo acres, is larger than the
total area OF Great Britain, or the
total cultivated land of Germany,
France, or ustria-Hungsry. Ninety
SIX per cent. OF tho yield Is used Tor
fattenlng stock. bu, there is so much of
il that 1t has seemed as If the time would
come when il would have 10 he used as
fuel. But the new commercial treaty
with Germany promises an outlet for
some Of the yield. BY this treaty
the duties upon the American hog are
repealed, and upon corn lowered.
More pork wall be exported. and there
fore there will be larger amoun:
needed for feeding it. Besides, in the
Russian famine there seems to be q
chance to kill two birds with one stone.
1t is proposed to send train load of
corn from the contrasting states as q
gift to the starving peasants. 1t is ex-
pected this measure would serve the
double purpose OF dispensing "sweet
charity" and of introducing corn a. =
food among the Russians.
Telegram-herald., 1891-12-22
General Mention.

julia Marlowe will appear at Powers
early IN January.
The complaint about the character Of
the illustrations on the bill boards has
served 10 give the theaters some very
good advertising.
The seats go ON sale this morning for
Lew Docks,ader's III nsirels which ap-
pear At Powers Thursday and Friday
evenings with special matinee Christ
mas afternoon. This is a superb at
traction for the holiday time when the
masses love TO be amused. uock-
stader's minstIels are clean, original
and complete In every respect.
Manager Gearv will give awav tur-
keys at the museum on Thursday and
on Christmas The children who attend
the forenoon performance will receive
q present.
Manager Geary has some 200 losves
OF nice bread left on his hands, and in
vltes any one in need to call and get i:
without an order.
Telegram-herald., 1891-12-22

It's strange how that people allow
dealers to palm OF old goods for
fresh ones, that IL, to accept from iheir
dealer old prunes, frightened up with
molasses and whisky, and black berries
the same way. coffees having artificial
berries mixed IN, likewise TIE ground
coffees, being mixed with rye or barley
and inferior candy curranis, while tue
ground p, pper is 30 black soa can sc
the charcoal in IL. Why viii you be
imposed upon' Certaisiy y "a need not
he. NJ. G. 6oossen, the grocer. a. No.
i4e Monroe street, has bait spa hsiss-
ness reputation for sellsDs oniy those
goods which are wholesome Today
you can select from 4 wagon load OF
Christnnss trees, . beantlfai tree for 10