davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-06-24
The Effort of Appropriating Ground
Rent to Public Use.

To appropriate ground rent to public
uses by means of taxation would permit
the abolition of all the taxation which
now presses SO heavily upon labor and
capital. This would enormously in
crease the production of wealth by the
removal of restrictions and by adding
to the incentives to production.
1t would at the same time enormously
increase the production of wealth by
throwing open natural opportunities
1t would utterly destroy land monopoly
by making the holding of land unprofit-
able to any but the user. There would
be no temptation for anyone to hold
land for future increase in its value
when that increase was certain to be
demanded in taxes. No one could af-
ford to hold valuable land idle when
the taxes upon it would be as heavy as
they would be were it put to the fullest
use. Thus speculation in land would
be utterly destroyed, and land not in
use would become free to those who
wished to use it.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-06-24
A QUEER RIDE.
A Four-oIile Trip in Cab with the Bot
tom Out.

a four-Mlle "Trip III CAD Win inc bOG'
tom Out.
Time softens all things, including the
memory of disagreeable incidents
What, at the time. may have been irri-
tating, perilous Or intensely disagreea-
bic, after a lapse of years becomes q
matter of pride or amusement. Other
wise, this anecdote, which relates an
incident anything but funny at the
time of occurrence, would never have
been recalled. 1t was told by gen.
tleman now in prosperous circumstan-
ces.
"When l was young man, said he"
l had a hard struggle to make both
ends meet, and for time did any odd
job that came to my hand One very
rainy night, very nearly one o'clock in
the morning, / was passing along
Chestnut street, in Philadelphia, when I
was accosted by gentleman whom l
knew slightly.
"'Jim,' said he. hurriedly, 4 want
you to take message for me to Brown
street Ia locality near Paramount
park, and I will pay you dollar for
delivering it, and I'll give you another
dollar to pay your cab hire out there
ut must be borne in mind that this
was before the days of district mes
sengers, and the local telegraph offices
were closed at ten o'clock, p. IN.
agreed to carry the message-a letter
and going around the corner of Ninth
street, found a single cab standing
there. 1t was a most dilapidated vehi-
Gle, with two wretched horses, and the
driver was in keeping, being old, poor
ly clad, and, as | soon discovered, eX-
tremely hard of hearing. However, it
was Hobson's choice, and after some
chaffering l got into the cab, and it
started Away we ratified up Ninth
street and out Ridge avenue, and had
gone perhaps two squares on the latter
street when a most extraordinary acct
dent happened. The floor of the cab
| gave way beneath my feet!
III was half-asleep at the time, and
when | came to my senses | was stuck
in the debris and my toes were bump
| tllC COUUlC SJOllCS. AlChCu
and struggled to regain my position,
until the seat as well as the bottom
boards fell into the street, except one
jagged piece that kept banging the
calves of my legs. Placing either hand
on the side sash of the cab doors,
trotted along inside the cab, meanwhile
crying loudly to the driver; but l might
as well have appealed to the wheels.
The old horses clattered along at spir-
tied rate; dared not drop for fear the
jagged board would knock out my
brains, and SO was compelled to kee[
running. In short, I ran clear out tC
Paramount park, nearly four miles!
81 could have cried with vexation al
the time, and had a fearful row with
the cabman, but now can afford tC
laugh at what was as ludicrons disas
ter as ever happened in civilized life. ;
Youths Companion.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-06-24
Concealed Mines.

There are mines of cinnabar in Da.
guestan, in the district Of Kyreen, but
no effort and no artifce of the Russian
authorities can as yet avail to ferret
out their exact locality. The natives
know that the government will take
possession of the mines as soon as it
knows where they are located and
therefore keep their knowledge secret.
They use the mineral as medicine, and
sometimes they carry it in bags to sell
in the neighboring towns. If a native
is caught with a bag .or basket of Gin
nabar and asked whence he had taken
it he will tell twenty lies to account for
his possession, and neither by brides
nor by threats can the truth be got out
of him.-Chicago News.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-06-24
The Colored Alliance lndorse Single
Tax.

The last number of the New Earth
prints the following important news
item as selected" 1t is important. be-
cause, if true, it brings within the
ranks of the single takers tremendous
force for pushing the movement ahead.
Here is the item:
1.-THE Colored National Farmers AL
lance" said Col. Humphrey, ''has
million and half of members, and ex.
tends all over the south and southwest.
1t does an immense exchange business
in the commercial centers of Houston,
New Orleans, Mobile, Norfolk, Va,
and Charleston, S. c.; besides having
many subordinate exchanges and CO..
operative stores all over the country.
1t has its official newspaper-the Ma
tional Alliance, of Houston-has built
upwards of four thousand alliance
school-houses and two thousand al.
lance churches, has awakened hope,
encouraged industry and thrift, intro.
duced order and cleanliness, and added
another room or two to thousands and
thousands of little homes. It en-.
courages the colored people to keep
away from the whites, and to rely upon
themselves for their welfare and amuse-
ments supplying separate societies.
separate schools and separate churches
This separation of blacks from whites
stops race troubles, / do not know Of
any difficulty that has occurred between
our colored people and whites within
eighteen months. l have lived fifty
years among them, and say these col
ored people are as quick as white peo-
pie to learn This is shown in their
rise from slavery twenty-five or thirty
years ago to their present intelligent
and independent position.
"What about the single tax idea?"
| asked
lam single tax man, heart and hand
and so is the whole colored alliance.
In the official paper keep the single tax
idea before the eye. The present land
and taxation system Is premium ="
| Worthlessness."
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-06-24
The ABSENCE of Smell. ProbabIy.

All Indians greatly dislike what they
call the white mans smell, and can de-
tect it with perfect ease. 81 have, .
says western man, ''entered tepees Of
the Utes filled with Indians who had
not bathed for year, and whose aroma
rose to Heaven, and every one of them
would complain of the odor that I
brought in with me. The same feeling
is manifested by the Chinese, who
themselves have very marked odor
that is intensely disagreeable to whites.
AS matter of fact, each race has its
peculiar odor, which is not perceptible
by people of similar origin, but which
is plainly noticeable by those of differ,
ent blood. IN. Y. Tribune.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-06-24
The Origin Of La Grippe.

A French physician who has been for
Jome months engaged in official study in
Russia for the purpose of discovering,
if possible, the origin of la grippe, re-
ports that Russia is it's natural habitat,
and that it originates there in the in
sanitary conditions which commonly
prevail among the lower classes. The
great amount of filth existing in the
houses of the people, together with the
natural dampness Of the soil, afford
precisely the conditions necessary for
the development of the germ which is
supposed to be the cause of this malady.
The investigator referred to, claims to
have found the germ Of the disease in
the mud and filth about illy-kept dwell.
ings. He further reports the discovery
of the germ of pneumonia associated
with the germ Of la grippe, which ap.
parently accounts for the frequent as
ISOLATION of these two diseases. Good
Health.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-06-24
anna BANNER, WHO NEVER GETS A
LETTER.

anna BANNER, WHO NEVER GETS A
LETTER.
Hir i'' -'''n'i' 'i'oio q
anna heard him. She looked over
her shoulder.
, lou didn't stop for no letter this
V'ulns + shouted the old man.
Annas face flushed scarlet, and she
hurried on.
aust as | thought" she said. "TheS
o osg,n 70 make fun of me, as they did
s,n ssazy Peterin Copenhagen, who was
s s.mays asking if the ship had come in.
os'r what fool I've been. Oh! OH
NM. uefe are in the world certain still,
won,p women to whom ridicule
, a. Sala seem the worst calamity on
sr;ss ihey can bear trouble, pain.
them. W 'iiaoe run OF Kills
fo,a - was one of these. Years be.
Cbr Chr sns had been engaged to Klaus
nlsaraae young sailor, who ha6
iben ecu ms eternal faith to her anc
wa;tas ',eu away She had waited and
haah d. out he had not returned. She
reinsa aa ;. good offers of marriage ant
or,hs sa them. Suddenly she discovered
huehiasht she did, that people were
cristas AT her tor waiting for Klau:
trn' er1for believing he would. re
hwst una she left Denmark for America
ere ~ Tor her bread anaongst strang'
d. ,a-i o one trre friend she gave her ad
ssss It Klaus ever came back OF
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-06-24
DISAPPEARING FORESTS.
The Country Rapidly Becoming Denudsd
of Trees,

The Country Rapidly Becoming Denudsd
of Trees.
The United States has always been
looked UPON as "a wooden country, !"
but it's ligneous resources are not mex.
haustible, and if the commissioner OF
public lands is to be believed, there is a
prospect of serious lack of timber in
this country. The lumbermen of our
northeastern border have made ire.
mendous havoc with the forests of that
region, and in the west immense forests
of woodland tracts have been literally
deforested within the last twenty-five
years. The hewing down is continuous,
and there is not enough planting done
to counterbalance the deforestation.
Agriculture demands the sites of the
ancient woods for her harvest fields,
but neglects to drop the acorn and the
nut or to plant the sappling in localities
which are fitted for the production OF
trees, and nothing else.
There are countless acres in the north.
west which are almost entirely bare Of
sylvan vegetation, and the government
surveyors should see to it that course
of systematic planting be forthwith mi.
tiated there. Forests are essential tc
agriculture, for they promote irrigation
The streams OF a section Of country that
has been shorn of its timber inevita
bly, dwindle or dry up. Nature has been
wonderfully bountiful to our soil, but
we are terrible spendthrifts. and WASTE
her most bountiful gifts shamefully.
Let settlers on new lands and farmers
everywhere follow the example set ir
certain parts of the west, and as. they
cut down one forest plant the germs O
another Otherwise, even in this gen
Grafton, timber will become compare
lively scarce and dear.-N. Y. Ledger
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-06-24
Good Walters.

In 1910 the inspector on large estate
in the neighborhood of Prussia's capital
became engaged to the daughter of a
prominent official of the metropolis.
The girls father, however, quarreled
with the Young man and broke the en-
gagement. The inspector came to
America amassed fortune and re-
turned to Berlin at the age of seventy
few months since. There, at the house
of one O. the professors of the univer-
sity, he met his 1urmer iramorita. The
meeting was an affecting one. They
had remained faithful to one another
for half century, and determined at
once to end their days together.-N. Y.
Tribune
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-06-24

mr. passenger III some great Daiioon n.y.
mo before the wind over the village,
have seen doors open anywhere all over
.be valley, and men, women and chill
dreu come forth with tin cans or dinner
baskets in their hands and turn toward
the mills. Some plodded slowly along;
some made great show OF haste The
children ran awhile, then stopped to
nick up green apples, chase stray pigs
or nick wild cherries, and then ran
faster.
As they passed the post office some
stepped IN and came out again with
letters in their hands, which they
read as they walked on, for the mill
people were generally strangers who
had come from distance to get en-
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS of many nations,
English and Irish mostly. but mingled
with Germans, Swiss and Swedes.
At the clang of the bells one woman
had appeared at the door Of a poor lit
tie house OH the roadside, to whom the
fresh, bright morning had not brought
either freshness or brightness She
was a sturdy, well-built woman, with
Al fiat Danish face and mild blue eyes.
Her dress was of some unusual wooden
stuff, made with short spare skirt
and with jacket much like a mans.
On her head she wore a close-knitted
hood or cap Her skin was fair, her
hair haxen and her expression extreme
ly innocent She would have looked
Young but for the brand of horizontal
lines that trouble always sets upon a
woman's forehead Comparatively
young at least, for she was past girl
hood
She seemed to know everybody but
to have no intimates among the other
mill workers. To them she only nodded
as she went in When she came to the
post office she paused for moment and
stood looking in at the door Her feet
seemed inclined to ascend the steps, then
she shook her head and turned away
No." she said, "best not make fool
Of myself. What did I hear the post
master say yesterday?
"That's Anna Danner Every morn
ing for ten years she has stopped for a
letter. She never gets one, but there
she comes again.
mo; I'll not make fool of myself.
shall never get letter." and she
turned away.
Still keeping on toward the mill, she
turned down toward the lower road,
along which railway ran, and took
the track. A fear of being laughed at
had entered her soul, and she fancied
thatf she went along with others she
might hear some one say
'Uh, there's Anna Banner, who never
gets letter and always asks for one. VI
AS she gave the little jump from a
lutting rock which was the step from
the lower road to the upper, the owner
OF the store, grocer, dry goods mer-
cnant and postmaster, came to his
door, lie held a letter in his hand and
looked after her.
We'll, If ever!" he said. "If that
aon't beat mel That gal has been for
. letter every day for years, and the
lust time | got one for her she goes
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-06-24

rush to her face. The mill was in
sight, and she saw group of people
looking at her.
ITO make fun of me-" she thought.
Then the face of Klaus Cristofer
arose before her. She remembered his
last words, his kiss, his embrace, the
farewell.
"Oh, Klaus! Klausl' she sobbed.
Can it be? Can it be that you, also,
Knocked me; that you never meant TO
come back; that, as the girls all said, !
was tool9"
ANIMAL ANIMAL" shrieked twenty
voices. "Anna!'
They were pointing at her. So she
thought. Pointing as the children in
Copenhagen did. long before, at Crazy
Peter, who watched for his imaginary
ship to come in.
The blood rushed to her face. She be-
gan to run, hoping to pass them and
get to her frame and hide herself be-
hind her work
Anna! Anna! Annar' shrieked the
voices; and the fingers pointed still, and
some were rushing toward her.
Then there was a noise, a rush, a
shrek beyond human power. She
knew too late that their voices, their
gestures, their wildly-pointing fingers
were kindly warnings of the danger OF
which she was unaware-that the ex-
press train on the down track was be-
hind her.
At dusk that evening a solemn group
stood about the counter of the old
store The chief legal gentleman of
the place was amongst them.
st was awfully sudden" said one.
almost as if she wanted it to hap
pen." said another.
mo; she was thinking of something
else" said woman "She acted dazed-
like"
"And you think it's sort of justitiable
for us to open the letter, squirrel" asked
the postmaster.
eyes. In that way you may know
who her friends are and notify them. y
replied the squire.
Then silence fell upon the group, and
the red seal of the travel-worn en-
velope was opened, and one OF the
workmen present, who came from Den
mark, Offered to interpret.
This is what he read:
Anna, my best beloved, the time has beer
long and the waiting weary, but my heart has
never changed. am home again In Copen'
hagen, and my first love is my last.
Olsen has seen you and knows you i've ant
are in health sent the money for your Jour
ney. Come home and we will be married a
once I have so much to tell that cannot b'
written, but most of all this: l love you
love you, and know you love me.
"Your betrothed husband,
KLAUS CRIsToBER"
"She came here every morning for ter
years and never got a letter" said the
old postmaster "And here it is at last
and she can't know it. 1t does seen
hard"
But, perhaps, Anna knew; for IT he
freed soul could so whittier it chose
it flew back to Copenhagen and klaus
Cristofer.-Mart K Dallas, in N. Y
Ledger
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-06-24
a strone-Minded View.

Mr.. Meeke-The paper says the judge
reserved his decision: l don't see why
it is that judges invariably put off de-
Gliding point until the next day.
Mrs. M.-Huh! Judges have sense
enough to want to consult their wives.
IN. Y. Weekly.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-06-24
"A lady well known in literary G

"A lady well known in literary cir
cles had an argument the other day
with her iceman over the small lump of
ice he was serving her. swell, madam, 81
the iceman replied, 'if you expect to
get whole skating rink for ten cents
I must disappoiut you. IN. Y. Morn,
ing Journal,
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-06-24
PlTH AND POINT.


times last night" She-"That is easily
accounted for. The audience appfe-
| ciated the fact that she needed re.
hearsal. Yankee Blade.
Hotel Logic.--Guest-"How is this?
| My bill this time is four dollars a day;
and last December had the same room
and it was only three dollars day."
Clerll-"Yes. I know; but the days are
much longer now. Boston Courier.
An Advantage.-Burgomaster-"H
your place is taken into our city, it will
save you great deal, because then
your gardener will not have to drive to
the city every day with his vegetables,
for he will be here already."-Flie-
| gende Blaetter.
Standing Joke = Teacher-"Come
here, Tommy, and sit down." Tommy
Don't wan'ter. I'd rather stand. ;"
Teacher-"Why, how is that, Tommy"
Tommy-"Pa smashed his finger in the
door this morning and laughed.
Springfield Graphic.
| -"How did the young woman you
wrote the poem for like it?" asked one
of his friends of Willie Washington.
"She didn't say anything" said Willie,
Except that ought to send it to a chi
ropodist and have it's feet attended to. !"
Washington Post.
Timmins-'I-er-you know, I was
talking to- called on Miss Laura last
night" Mr.. Figg-"Yes, I know you
did-the fourth time in one week, be-
lieve. Why don't you come and live
with us, and be done with it." Tim.
mins-"Thats just what wanted to
see you about. indianapolis Journal.
Doesn't Call Any More.-He had
never kissed her and was somewhat
anxious to make up for lost time, SO he
said: 'You might let me kiss you
just once" "No," she said, pIayfully
shaking her head, 81 know what just
once means; it means half dozen of
times. You are like all the rest" IN.
Y. Press.
He Began Too Early.-'No, Mary,
shall never marry John Wilson. The
engagement is broken" 'Why.
Ethel?" 81 found l. could never be
happy with him. The other evening I
asked him whether we should have a
church or home wedding, and he
asked me which was the cheaper" IN.
Y. Recorder.
-Bjones-"What will you take for
that horse of yours, Bjenkins" Bjen-
kins-"Two hundred and fifty dollars. y
Bjones-"Two hundred and fifty dol.
lars! Why, man, you told me last week
that you were Disguised with him and
would sell him for fifty dollars" Bjen.
kins--"Yes, know did; have found
a man now who wants him. "-Somer
vile Journal.
| "A Mean Husbands Revenge.--Mrs
De Pride anxious that her daughter
shall make rich match)-"I wonder
why Mr.. RichfeIlow doesn't come to SEE
our daughter any more Mr.. De Pride
-''I don't know. The last time he was
here he borrowed my clock-work pho
nograph to have some music played int
It. He brought it back to my Office the
next morning, saying that the must
clan was sick or something, and that!
the last I've seen of him." Mrs. d,
Pride-"Was the photograph empty?'
, Mr.. De Pride "Um! now think of it
, believe it did have in it your reception
of me when came home late the nigh
, before. Maybe he's changed his mint
about marrying. -Demorest's Monthly
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-06-24
A Difference of Opinion.

Burglar-You will save time by hand
ing over your watch peacefully.
Cool Citizen-There, my friend, your
logic is at fault. / will save time by
keeping it.-Drake's Magazine.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-06-24
Proper Resentment

Brownson--I thought you were az.
quainted with the De Groots?
Johnson-No 1 have cut them ever
since they refused me admission TO their
house.-Munseys Weekly.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-06-24
All He'd Had.

''This," said Jacquasse, lis psr-
trait Of my first wife"
"Why, it's the perfect likeness Of the
present Mrs. j." returned Smithers.
81 know it," said Jacquasse Mrs,
j. is my 9rat wife. Jury
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-06-24
Annals LETTER.
After Many Years of Waiting She
Never Received 1t.

HE factory bells
began to ring.
They had hard,
S h arp, or Il G |
vo C C S, a n d
seemed to cry
aloud over the
still, fiat coun-
try as a termag-
ant m S ire S S
might to her
servants:
Get to work!
Get to work!
Get to work."
At the sound,
you might, had
YOU been a bird
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-06-24
SOLVING A MYSTERY.
Tho Usual Result of the Mischievous Boy
Inouisttiyeness.

Tho Usual Result of the Miscellaneous Boys
Inquisitiveness.
A woman boarded Crawford street
car the other day with a basket which
had an old check apron tied over the
top She sat down near a boy with a
bundle, and he no sooner saw the basket
than he concluded there was mystery
concealed therein. For the first five
minutes the woman watched so closely
that he could do nothing, but the car
finally came along to where street
band was playing, and she half rose up
to see the crowd. AS she did SO the boy
united the string and raised the cloth
Island O. massey, but what's that?"
shouted man next to him, as he jumped
up.
'sLook out!''
"Let her 60, Gallagher!'
"Stop this carp
It was humping big cat. The
cloth was no sooner raised than out he
popped, ran over the mans knees, and
during the next half minute he jumped
all over everybody in the car. He final
ly came to the rear door, uttered a
''spishr' at the conductor and made a
long jump into the street and ran up a
telegraph pole. Everybody looked at
the woman and her basket, and she ran
out and got off without stopping the
car. Then everybody looked at the
boy, and feeling that speech OF some
| sort was demanded by the occasion, he
said:
"Who'd thought of cats? disposed
it was new maple sugar or pop-corn!''-
/ Detroit Free Press.