davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Blue-grass blade., 1891-11-28

Davis was . hero, until in his old
days, he wrote that letter to Texas
against Prohibition.
Cassius M. Clay the only hero
that Kentucky ever produced has
insisted on living until he has re-
pudiated all the prestige of his life
by writing me a letter against
Prohibition and woman SURFACE.
In days gone by, 1 have laughed
at Bill Nye until the tears run
out of my eyes; but few days
ago l stood in the vestibule of the
Lexington opera house and l could
not wait two hours to hear Bill
who was going to lecture there.
He has mighty Nye petered out.
If Mark Twain could have had
the foresight to die Immediately
after he had written "InnOcents
Abroad or the dumping Frog"
he would have enjoyed the postum
nous fame of being the greatest
wit of America.
He got off a good one when he
built his house with the back part
of it to the street and said he did
so to keep the servants from run
ming through the house every
time brass band came along, but
1 am hoping every day to hear Of
his death, because l like him and
am afraid he will do something to
make a fool of himself.
If Ingersoll had died immedi-
ately after that lecture OF
on "The Gods" or his
nomination of Blaine, or his
speech at the grave of his brother,
or that letter to the afflicted
mother in California he wonld
have heen all hunky, and up until
that time 1 am still for him, but
l draw the line at his drumming
for a whiksy house.
Artemus Ward was lucky.
Right in the hight of his success
he got killed in a railroad acct
dent.
But dear little Emma Abbott
got away with any of them
Right in the zenith of her glory
when the money was rolling in to
her and she was rolling it out tC
the poor people, dying man sem
for her to sing for him. She went
and sang and took pneumonis
from the exposure and died, and
in less than two minutes she wa.
in heaven with harp in ont
hand and a palm leaf fan in thu
other singing the "MOon song" il
"Mikado," and she's there to-day
giving music lessons to TIT
angels.
Blue-grass blade., 1891-11-28

and ate no dinner myself because
l wanted others to have a Sunday
rest.
L never spent a more delightful
day, and the mule never rebuked
me for it, as l believe he would
have done if 1 had been doing
wrong. His name was Balaam,
and l called him that because he
had kind of preacher sancti-
mOniousness about him that made
me believe he was a lineal de-
scendant, on his fathers side, of
that donkey in the Bible that de-
livered a lecture to his boss.
While my New York friend was
riding around and enjoying the
beauties of nature like butterfly
does, was making some money
to pay my debts, and to have
some left to run a newspaper
against the liquor traffic and re-
ligions superstition. and You see ]
got there, for the Blaze is here.
Not only is the Sabbath opposed
to the Christian religion but its
enforcement is in direct violation
of the spirit and constitution Of
the American government.
l am in favor of the "World's
Fair" at Chicago being thrown
wide open on Sunday, and run al
full blast.
The Arena for November has
an article on Sunday observance
called SUNDAY at the Words
Fair" 1t gives my full opinion
on the subject of Sabbath" Oh
servance.
The writer says; "Nowhere in
the Bible can they find any com.
mand to keep Sunday as a holy
day., neither can they there fine
where the Jewish Sabbath wa:
ever changed to the first day O
the week-Sunday.
This change was made by Con
stantine's edict, in 321 A. D..
which was the first law, eithel
ecclesiastic or civil, bv which thu
sabbatic observance of Sunday wa
ordained"
Blue-grass blade., 1891-11-28
TO ALL PERSONS TO WHOM
THE BLADE MAY COME.

The issue of Oct. 31st begins
the second year of the Blade, and
1 hope that those who intend TO
take it will be as prompt as they
can in paying me for lt-S2-OO a
year for persons in good circum-
stances, and S1.O0 asyear for per-
sons who can not afford to pay
more, and will tell me so.
The Blade will 60 to all persons
to whom it went last year who
have not ordered it discontinued
Those who have not paid me
for last year will please do so, il
they feel that they ought to do so
and if not, please notify me to dis
continue it, in order that l may
not incur further loss by sending
it to them.
l will have no collector and will
not dun you for it.
If you are willing to pay me
send the amount by mail and you
will receive a receipt.
Fraternally yours,
CHARLES c. MOORE.
Blue-grass blade., 1891-11-28

The above excerpt from a ws-
paper comes to me in an eny ppe
without explanation. -
1 think it absolutely unpard7 ha-
BILE in Ingersoll. He is like
thousands Of. ministers and other
Christians in this land, wiling to
blast many of the short comings
of humanity when he has popular
sentiment in his favor. But
when it comes to the greatest of
all sins, the liquor curse, he doffs
his cap and in cowardly suppliance
"bends the pregnant hinges of the
knee" before it.
Compare that letter to that fell
low who has sent Ingersoll a jug
of whisky to get his endorsement
of the liquor traffic, with the
beautiful letter Ingersoll wrote to
that California mother whose son
had just died, and see how is the
mighty fallen
1 suppose the letter is genuine.
If it is SO, and Ingersoll does
not apologize for it, | repudiate
him.
1 have, in my book and in my
paper, said more for him than all
the writer's in Kentucky have
said. l could have been. and
would have been, a rich and pop
ular man if had not endorsed
Ingersoll, though l had left the
pulpit on account of my views
before l ever heard his name; but
man who can subordinate the
mighty genius that he has to such
an enOrmity as the liquor traffic,
simply because it is a factor in
politics, though that traffic is ruin.
ing the youth of the land more
than all other sins pnt together,
and really is the source of rearly
all sins and crimes, is not my
ideal of a man.
If some gentleman mad sent In
gersoll a fine Overcoat that would
make him laugh at the clouds
and frosts and make a climate to
suit bimself,' his note of ac-
acknowledgement would not have
been published in the news
papers. But when some unknown
scrub whisky drummer or distil-
Ter, sends him jug of whisky to
get his endorsement of it, as soap
makers send soap to distinguished
clergymen and opera singers. In
gersoll dignified the jug as a
"parkage," and puts the massive
brain that flattened out Gladstone
and Judge Black and Rev. Field
to writing a card Of thanks that
will be about the right length to
print on business letter head CT
whisky label or in a newspaper
advertisement.
"WhOm the gods love die
young" One trouble with lots of
men is that they do not pick a
good time to die. They live too
long, and don't quit talking afte-
they have said all they had to say.
Talmage has gotten to be a regu-
lar old "Gradgrind." and his old
sermons make me tired. JEFF
Blue-grass blade., 1891-11-28
Says / Write slots Of Good
ThiDgs'-Discusses the Sab
bath-Wants my Picture
i'm the Blade.

HAvERsTRAw, N. Y. Oct. 80, '91.
Mr.. &. G. Moore, Editor B. g. B.
DEAR SIR-The B. G. B. came
to me this A. NJ. for the first time
in nearly two months. 1 enclose
you $1.00 for the same. Please
put on label so l will know when
the time expires. The Blade is a
very welcome visitor to my table.
You write lots of good things, and
l have tried to size you up in my
mind.
l have enjoyed very many
things the Blade has said.
Smetimes it hiss borne down
hard on the church; but the church.
or some of its members need all
they get.
l am about forty six years old.
My life was checkered one up to
fifteen years ago.
Then ! was constrained to close
up the old ledger-ss [ may call
it-with all its blots and mistakes
and | opened a new book. One
night while Oh my way home, all
alone, nobody near, with the
beautiful canopy of heaven over
me, and the bright stars looking
down upon me, / met with q
change of heart that | can not ex.
plain. | was made a new man
my course was changed. /, prior
to that time, had been aiding tn.
liquor interest by my vote.
| stopped short and cast my
first Prohibition vote for Greer
Clay Smith. The vote wal
counted scattering" but it wal
cast right, and | was not particu'
lar about its count.
Since then l have spent great
deal of money and time also fol
the cause of Prohibition. To-day
il / should vote for either of the
candidates of the Republicans OIL
Democrats who l know will favor
liquor legislation, | would not bt
one whit better than the man who
sells the liquor, and of course the
liquor dealer is just as gOoo
man as the minister who votes
the same ticket.
l am glad that so many minis
tiers are working and voting fol
Prohibition. They should be en-
couraged; also the Christian mel
and women. You give the ministers
down the banks sometimes fol
their indifference to Prohibition
Blue-grass blade., 1891-11-28
ssHeathen Bob has said q moot
Unpopular Thing"

Newspaper clippings containing
Ingersolls letter of thanks to
Alfred Hammer for a jug of
whisky that Alfred had sent him.
are coming into me from different
quarters.
They come in two instances
from cultivated and literary ladies
who have been friends of Inger-
SCI hey express the repudi-
IT, he ladies, of what Inger-
soil has done.
There are thousands of people
all over the country who have ad-
mired him for his genius AMI for
the gallant things he has said in
behalf OF women. and among these
1 have been one of the most
"blatant," but I will drop him like
hot potato if ne gets to boosting
the liquor damnation.
That letter to Hammer is a
stigma upon Ingersolps fame
that no true Nationalist will try to
defend. 1t is about of a piece
with that letter of jeff Davis to
Texas against Prohibition.
A number of us heather have
talked about bringing Ingersoll
to Lexington for a lecture, but 1
will not touch him with ten foot
pole until he apologies for that
whisky jug letter. If he had
merely taken jug of whisky and
thanked the fellow for it, like a
Kentucky "Christian" would do
l would not kick about it; but
Ingersoll knows that every thing
he says is printed, and he eviden l.
ally laid himself out to get up that
whisky jug letter to show to fiae
advantage in type, and he has the
sense to know that it would be
used to boost the liquor trade.
l am disguised with it, and as
sure the good ladies who have sent
me the newspaper extracts con-
tanning IngersOlPs jug letter that
l am disguised with the letter, and
another one like that would dis
gust me with the man.
l will stand by him as long as
he is for the right; but just as soon
as he gets to supporting the
whisky business. l put him in the
list of moral towards with such
men as Billy Breckenridge and
Lyman Abbott: and, Christian or
intidel, they all go together into
the slop bucket.
Somebody has spoken of mere
reticense upon this liquor ques-
ton as the conspiracy of silence. T"
1t was bad enough in a man of
Ingersolls brain to have remained
silent upon the subject ofthe liquor
diabolism; but if he is to break
that silence by an utterance in
favor of it, am against him.
A most cultivated woman who
is a nationalist, and who person
ally knew Ingersoll in Illinois,
has written me a letter inclOslng
Ingersoll's printed jug letter, and
she expresses her surprise that
Ingersoll should have written
such letter, and thinks that he
was once drunkard. About
that l do not know, but l am in
clined to think it a mistake, as in
all the efforts that have been
made to down him nobody has
ever assailed his moral character
at any time of his life.
Blue-grass blade., 1891-11-28
Jimmy SCRUGHAM.
A Rumor That His Long
Sojourn in Canada
Will Soon Come to an
End, And That
BE WILL RETURN TO KENTUCKY

In the early part OF January,
1885, JAS, G. Scrugham, teller and
assistant cashier of the City
National Bank, fed to Canada,
where he has continued to reside.
Everybody knew Jimmy Scrug
ham, and no young man in Ken
lucky of his age, was finer bust
ness man or had brighter pros
poets. He was a member of the
Baptist Church, a teacher in the
Sunday. School, and accounted a
model in every respect. But
horse races, pool rooms and stock
speculation got the better of his
judgment, as they have with that
of many good man, and he fell.
He fed to Windsor, Canada, and
has remained there, it is said, ever
since. He was the principal
stakeholder in the Electric Light
Company, which would have made
him a rich man. He also owned
stock in the Overland Telephone
Company.
Just what the amount of short
age was, has not, we believe, been
made public, but it is said to have
been about $4,000, of which
amount Mr.. M. G. Thompson
paid $4,000, being on his bond
for that amount. The balance is
said to have been paid with the
proceeds of property belonging to
Scrugham and relatives.
1t is now said that Scrugham
will likely return before long from
Canada. That his friends have
been at work quietly for some
time past, and that if those who
lost by him will not prosecute, he
will be pardoned by Gov. Brown,
Some of his friends claim that he
is entitled to a pardon just as
much as several others who fed t.
Canada and have been pardoned
and permitted to return. Those
who knew Jimmy Scrugham well
all say he was much better man
than many who never saw Canada
and that his fall was due to 6
mania for race horse betting thai
seized him. That in a desperate
endeavor to get even again. he go1
in deeper and deeper, and finding
he could not recoup himself, he
| fled
Blue-grass blade., 1891-11-28
IngersOll's Thanks for Whisky

A Chicago gentleman sent Col.
R. G. Ingersoll a quart of fine old
Kentucky whisky a day or two
ago. To-day the following unique
reply was received
GRAND PACIFIC HOTEL,
CHICAGO, October 81.
Alfred Hammer, Esq.
My DEAR FRIEND my
thanks for the package of happi.
ness, of good nature, of mental
serenity and exaltation that you
were kind enough to send me. In
this world of tronble, pain and
sorrow it is great thing to have
sunshine in portable and potable
form, so that one can laugh al
clouds and frosts and make a; eli
mate to suit himself. Thanking
you again, l remain yours TRULY
ar. G. INGERsULE."
Blue-grass blade., 1891-11-28

pathetic than can do that l re-
produce it in full, head lines
and all.
1t is as follows:
Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-09-01
Sent Back for Dinner.

In the DAYS of President Van Buren,
the French government took extraordi
nary pains to be popular in Washington
This was no hard task, for the romantic
memory of Lafayette had in no wise
died away among our representative cit
liens This was the time when duties
on foreign goods were heavily imposed
to raise revenue to support the govern
ment. The wary French king hoped to
have the duty made light upon his French
silks and wines.
1t was probably more than a coinci-
dence that at this crisis the Prince de
Joinville, the son of the king, made a
visit to this country, and naturally he
went to Washington. The president, ac-
customed then, as since, courteously to
receive distinguished guests. invited the
French prince to dinner.
For some insufficient reason the invi-
tation was respectfully declined. Very
soon the prince returned to France. In
the meanwhile the French government
informed of DeJoinville's refusal to dine
at the White House, made a great stir
Here was an affront to rising power
which might well be construed into an
international insult. The French sprig
of royalty was ordered Immediately back
to accept an invitation and dine with the
president of the United States.
In the meanwhile Gen. Harrison had
died in office and Mr., Tyler was the
president The French ambassador met
his prince in New York and escorted him
to the capital The invitation came, and
was effusively accepted. The memorable
laws of courtesy were thus appeased,
and the gallant Frenchman, with the
fair Miss Tyler on his arm. was ushered
into the state dining room. Immediately
afterward he returned to his frigate
which had been expressly detailed to
bring him over to take a meal. Youths
Communion
Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-09-01
The WAYS of the Renorter.

Reporters differ in many ways. Some are
purely descriptive, in some bump of humor
is magnificently developed, some permeate a
story, short or long, with induces of person
ality. Others are cast iron in recital, and
problem. A good reporter, gifted with natu-
raj spirits and health, is g. thing of beauty
and joy forever in any well regulated news
paper office. Every door is open to him, and
the field of life is spread before him with its
sunshine and its shadow. In the course of an
evening he talks with presidents and walks
with princes. He sits with the sorrow
full and mourns with the humble In church
to-day, in Jail tomorrow; merrily dancing
with Arion this evening, deep down in coal
pits with striking miners some other even
ing. Now he interviews q magnate of the
land, and now takes the dying deposition of
a butchered thief. Part of an evening is
spent at a cathedral fair, part in political
meeting, part in police headquarters, part in
the debris of railroad collision. No place
is too sacred, none too lowly, no man too
high, too rich, too great for him to APP
proach none too poor, too humble for him
to serve.
He is as much at home in the palace of a
millionaire as in hospital ward of prison.
He writes with equal readiness the glib utter
ances of befrilled bishop, and the harrow
ing confessions of poor devil i'll the Tombs.
A good reporter must be discreet. How
much lie hears that he cannot tell how much
he knows that it would not be fair for him tc
reveal.-Joe Howard in New York Graphic
Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-09-01
John Chinaman in Australia.

On gold fields that have been abandoned
by the whites, either because they APP
peared to have been worked out or be-
cause the yield of the precious metal was
not sufficiently satisfactory in European
estimation, the Chinese always make
good living, and sometimes secure valu-
able prizes. They enter into possession
of the abandonded workings, resume
operations in their leisurely, methodic
fashion, and are occasionally rewarded for
their perseverance by the discovery of a
handsome nugget. But "fossicking" is
their favorite pursuit on these deserted
fields. This consists in slowly and de-
iberately raking over the unsightly heaps
of upturned earth that are the dismal
mementoes of the white mans former
presence.
The vigilant eye of the Chinaman de-
tects in these hurried accumulations many
a minute particle of gold, and sometimes
a piece of quartz studded with the
precious metal that escaped the observa-
tion of his white predecessor; and there
is rarely day on which he does not re-
turn to his tent in the evening the richer
for this process. In travelling through
the gold regions of Australia, no sight is
more familiar than the abandoned dig
gings, dotted here and there with the pa
tient, plodding Chinese, each bent low
with his handy little rake, Analysing the
contents of the white mans leavings, or
scrutinizing the alluvial deposits in the
bed of the neighboring creek.-Chamhers'
Journal
Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-09-01
A Story with a Moral

A few years ago, when the gambling
houses were running wide open, young
man who held good position, wiah more
responsibility than salary attached to it.
in prominent down town Office, fell o
prey to the gambling passion. His salary
quickly exhausted at the fascinating game
of faro. it was but short step to the cash
drawer of his employers, and he soon
found to his dismay that he was in the
hole to the extent of some hundreds of
dollars. Exposure seemed inevitable and
he visited friend and solicited loan of
$50. Asked why he wanted it he told the
friend ali and said he desired to leave town
to avoid arrest and humiliation. The
amount was forthcoming, but like many
others, he sought to win back his losings
with that small stake. and, finding this
impossible, he sought to drown his sorrow
in drink. The friend who loaned him the
money with which to leave town saw him
in maudlin state in hell on West Mad
ison street, and gave him up as lost. Here
endeth the first chapter.
The young victim of faro awoke the
next morning with very large head and
in fit of desperation. Taking a sudden
resolve, he visited his employers and
made clean breast of his follies, tempta-
tons ard crime. They liked the young
man, as he was bright and talented, and
they treated him kindly. They agreed
that if he would sign the pledge and alb
stain from gambling they would put him
in a position where he would have no
temptation and would deduct from his
salary $50 per month until his defalcation
was made good. Well. he accepted the
proposition and held manfully to his
pledges. In little over two years he had
discharged the debt and was attending
strictly to business in way that gained
for him the admiration and good will of
the firms senior member. Last year the
junior member drew out and the young
man was given the partnership. A few
months ago the head of the firm died, and
now the business is controlled by the
same young man whose whole life was
nearly wrecked by an unfortunate mis-
take. This is true story. and there are q
few who will be able to furnish the char
acters with their proper names.-Ghicago
Herald.
Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-09-01
The Boy Was Surprised.

A very little Back Bay boy, who had oc-
casionally been taken to Trinity church by
his parents, but who, for all that, had man
aged to fall into bad company, and had been
told of the delights of ringing doorbells and
then scampering, set out one evening on his
very first expedition of this kind. He began
on Clarendon street, near the house where
he lives; he rang the bell of one big house,
and then skipped around the corner, unde-
tected. Then he tried another, and another.
His success emboldened him, and presently,
when he got to certain house he was so I'M
wary that, almost before he had ceased to
pull the bell, the door opened and the tower
ing form of the rector of Trinity stood be-
fore him. The little fellow stood rooted to
the spot, opening wide his big wondering
eyes. And then he found voice to say,
very slowly; IVY, Phillips B'ooksl Does
you live heref-Boston Transcript.
Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-09-01
UNDER ascocNIzANcr.


Legal Language That Angered = Southern
LandIady.
1--WE had all been attending court on the
Blank circuit, !" said an old lawyer to an At
lanta Constitution man, land old Judge Wis
dom had presided with his usual dignity. In
the town Of Hardluck we had finished the
weeks business and were all seated at the
table Of Mrs. Edgecut1s boarding house, I'm
ishing the farewell dinner.
MRS. Edgecut had been very kind and at
tentive to US all during the week, and that
day she was more considerable than ever. On
the table reposed cold boiled ham, as hard
as a hickory maui and as stale. We had cut
and hacked and Clipped from its cailous sur
face all the week, and still it came up fresh
and smiling, the center dish on the table,
meal after meal
"Gentlemen, ahemP said Judge Wisdom;
conduct yourselves with proper department
now Then, rising from his seat, he began:
To all and singular, the sheriffs, constables
and other officers Of the county aforesaid,
greeting: recognize this ham, and do hereby
command said ham to be and appear at the
fall term Of the honorable superior court in
and for said county, and to appear from day
to day and from term to term until properly
dismissed by this court
Great guns! Old Mrs. Edgecut had stood
in the corner, arms folded and a smile OF
pleasant anticipation on her face, when thu
Judge arose, but as he proceeded she stood
mute and paralyzed for moment, and rher
burst forth such torrent Of abuse and in
yectives as we had never heard before
Judge VISIONS conclusion was drowned In
the storm OF her wrath.n