davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The southern argus., 1891-12-17
KANSAS Cry. KA

KANSAS CITY, hAN., Dec. II.
Being apprised of the fact that the much
beloved and progressive newspaper, the
SOUTHERN ARGUS, would issue holiday
number, we felt duty bound to contribute
q line or two from the metropolis. When
we say metropolis we mean in popula-
ton; but when it comes to literary work
amongst our young people. from the ages
OF seventeen TO thirty, we are not sin it's
with Topeka, Lawrence, Fort Scott, and
many other towns of the state. o. how
few of our local young seem to have the
ability in literary meeting to rise ND
and give a quotation or speak of the cur
rent events of the week from a note
worthy standpoint, etc. And when you
solicit their names to appear before a
literary gathering the majority of them
can always muster up some excuse. and
say IL can't" What state of affairs?
Well, | have said so much regarding
their seeming literary indifference. it is
probable you would like to know what in
part is done up here amongst the young:
a ready answe-rthey simply dress in the
latest styles and fashions and act lust
precisely like dudes and dudines many of
them with little or no thoughts of a bank
account. Now, with all that have said
there are few exceptions to the case.
There are young men in our city who are
making marks of credit to themselves:
there are young women who are doing
much to solve the ''veXed problem" vet
there is much needed work left undone.
Let us bestir ourselves at every point
throughout the land.
Literary society meetings are not at their
Zanifh in this aitu ho, -
months ago, though we have two organ
iZatiOns yet in existence, the Columbian
and the A. Nj. Z. literaries. The follow
ing are the officers Of the Columbian:
Hon. G. IL. J, Taylor, president; w. G..
Wood, vice president; Miss |. NJ. Patterson,
secretary. The officers of the A. NJ. E.
literary are ex-Judge l. F. Bradley, presi-
dent, L. Davis Jr., vice president and Miss
G. Freeman, secretary. The latter So
cety was recently organized and is meet
ing with flattering success. Just as soon
as president Taylor will be enabled to de-
vote more time to literary work the Co
lumbian will be ssnn tnp' again
At last the Metropolitan Baptist church
has called shepherd in the person Of the
Rev. I'll. III. McMillen. formerly of Miss
issippi, but late of Carthage, Mo-, who is
expected to take charge of his flock on
the 18th inst. We predict bright future
for the elder if he is able to rightly in
fiuence the young minds and preach the
word as it is written, to the aged while
pastOring here.
Just before mailing this inkling to the
ARGUS, we "all aboard the Wabash for
Fayette, Mo, to visit few days our good
friend Rev. P. NJ. Mack (and family,
pastor of the second Baptist church, there.
BFIANOX
The southern argus., 1891-12-17
FORT SCOTT, KANSAS, DECEMBER II, 1891.
peasants, for such they were, would re-
tire for tho riorht

peasants, for such they were, would re-
tire for the night.
Tonight when the old bell rang out
there was death like wierdness in its
changing, and in each little home the
elder occupants looked at each other in
speechless wonderment, while the
"angelus" was ringing.
The bell had ceased ringing, and the
good villagers now satisfied that the
old parson, for once, was mistaken,
made preparations to retire.
Suddenly and without warning the
good villagers were startled by the
ringing of a bell, the same as rang
when a child is lost. In every house
hold horror was depicted on every
face. What did it mean? Quickly
the men rushed to their doors, the wo-
men trembling with fear, and remem-
bering the words of the parson, dared
not move. Some evil was at hand.
Could it be the old parsons words
were true? Something had happened,
this bell announced it.
On down the village street the sex
ton came ringing loudly the ''evil-tell-
ing bell" and crying aloud, "Lost, lost !;
come ye all and join the hunt"
The quiet little village was all in a
commOtion. Never before had they
heard that bell ring at this hour of the
night.
The men rushed out and crowded
around the sexton eager to learn what
had happened, and yet fearful TO be
told the worst.
1t took but moment or two for the
sexton TO tell how, when coming from
ringing the "angelus, "he passed widow
Plimer's cottage and noticing light
there and the door open he went over
to see if anything was wrong. lie
found the house empty. No sign OF
the widow or her fair-haired little girl
The furniture in the house was
knocked about in disorder, as if there
had been struggle. Something ter
rible had happened he knew, so he
rang the bell to call the villagers that
they might start out on a search for
the missing and learn what had hap
pencd.
1t took but few moments for the
men to organize themselves in search
ing parties Of fivcs and then separate
in all directions 10 look for the lost
ones. About IL O'Clock one of the
searching parties. by aid of the moons
light, five miles down the river
espied the form of woman standing
with her back leaning against an old
tree growing on the bank. The moon
shining full upon her, made her look
like spectre.
The southern argus., 1891-12-17
VOLUME |, NUMBER 27.
rorN GROWN 1NDUsrR1AL COLLEGE.

JOHN BROWN INDUSTRIAL COLLEGE
The ARGUS halls this move with
HIGH pride and takes unbounded de.
lioht in commencing its motive and
obiect to the public. This institution
II to teach the hands, the feet and the
muscle; it is to teach the youth Of
the state that all of them were not
horn to be school teachers, preachers,
LAWYERS, doctors, editors and clerks,
hnr rather others Of them were born
" push the plane, keep house artistic
arv and hold the plough. 1t is to
toach The boy and the girl that there is
as much royalty in the full develop
ment Of the physical man OF woman
as there is sovereignty in the full de-
yel0pment Of the intellectual man Ol
woman. just in what portion Of the
State the institution will be locat-
ca has not yet been determined.
p. o. Thomas, Of Kansas City, Kan.
is president and DR.. w. White is secre-
tary. Because it is Negro enterprise
We trust that our white friends will
not refuse to assist when called upon
FIJI their mite.
The southern argus., 1891-12-17

They lost no time in reaching her.
When they arrived they found il was
the widow Plimer. There she stood.
hair disheveled, garment torn, leaning
against the tree looking out into the
river in a vacant manner. The moon
shining full upon the scene, wierd and
death-like, made an impression upon
those that saw it, that will never fade
from their memory.
She gave no notice of the searchers
when they came upon her. They
piled her with questions. She gave no
reply, she recognized no one.
"Where is your little child ?" one
sturdy farmer asked pathetically.
To each and every question she gave
no answer. She only stood there gaz-
ing out into the river. aud the river
flowing onward, its ripples sparkling
in the moon beams melting light, gave
no answer, no clew 10 the nights aw-
full mystery.
The wild look of her eyes told all
too plainly--she was hereft of rea-
son, the nights horror had robbed the
poor. lone widow of her mind. Her
DIllubiC ibAA@ut iAAItAIA tllC HEdi u vi the
searchers, and a second time on this
Christmas day, tears bedimmed the
eyes of these simple peasants. The
first, when the good old parson fore
told the sorrow i'm store. the second
time when they beheld this poor, lone
widow TO whom the cup of sorrow,
overfiowing, had been given.
BY force the searching party picked
her up and carried her back to her once
contented home. Kind hands were
there to care for her. She was laid
upon her couch where she lay for two
hours as if i'm q trance. Not a word
spoke she. No sign did she make that
would i'm the least tell the awful story.
As the little old brass clock on the man.
tel struck II O'Clock, widow Plimer's
soul broke its prison bars and took its
flight She was no more. The little
home, in one night, deserted of moth
er and child, both gone-and forever.
The child was never found, no trace Of
it was ever discovered by the villagers.
The parsons words came true. The
wierd clang of the old church bell had
foretold, all too true, the gloom that
was impending. The mystery Of that
Christmas night is as deep and un-
solyable now as on the night it oc-
Cured.
This was twenty y-five years ago, and
The southern argus., 1891-12-17
GALENA GATHERINGS.

j. 5. Moore, the business manager of j.
NJ. Cooper & CO., is sick abed 49, Tom f.
Cole, formerly of Baxter Springs, is now
in the employ of the Banks hotel. Tom
my says he would not give Galena for all
the other towns in the state.....We had
the pleasure of striking the warm hand of
our friend A. j. Lee last Saturday night
..... .Galena is perhaps the best all round
business town of its size in the state ......
Our young friend S. c. WestcOtt is rapid
ly building up reputation in southern
Kansas as good lawyer....We found
the miners, merchants, bankers and all in
a good spirit here. The week previous
had been prosperous one with them.
EnITOR
The southern argus., 1891-12-17

every Christmas night since, at II
O'Clock, on the bank of the river,
where the widow was found, the
spectre of woman can be seen lean
ing against the same old elm tree, now
dead and decaying, looking out upon
the river as it flows silently DER its
shallow bottom.
Can it be the river holds the child
No one knows. It's mystery the in
habitants of the village never solved.
A mother and a child dead and lost
on Christmas night. The old parson
had prophesied it. the old bell had
rang the knell at peep o day on Christ
mas morn.
The southern argus., 1891-12-17
BAXTER BUDGET.

Rev. Geo. F. Brown will discourse
next Sunday from the text "A Call to
Preach"
-Chas. Horn left Friday for Cedar
county, Mo-. to visit relatives during the
holidays.
The John X. Lynch literary society
had pleasant and an interesting meeting
last Monday. The society adopted the
SOUTHERN ARGUS as its organ and forth
with ordered it mailed weekly TO their
address.
The southern argus., 1891-12-17
Az ever your true friend.
rHE NEGRO FRETs roo MTCH.

In recent issue Of the indianapolis
Freeman an article occurred, written
by Prof. w. Z. Scarborough, entitled,
"An Inside View Of the Southern
Convict Lease SYSTEM" and from
which We plucked the following sen
tence: "The Negro must rise from
his lethargy and show himself man
and stop this constant whining and
fretting" When this is done, profes-
sor, tie race problem will have been
solved.
The southern argus., 1891-12-17
Let Your Light Shine

JEL order do this bought the Largest Candle
in Columbus Show Window
The candle beauty, big oype propose regis
the time takes burn following
presents for the gues purchaser
or of goods being entitled guess
The southern argus., 1891-12-17

The American Citizen says: Our
good friend E. M. Woods, editor Of the
Southern ARGUS was in to see us last
Sunday. We would be glad to have
him again connected with our paper.
lie is a great hustler and writer Of
immense versatility. Give him
chance and he will succeed.
The southern argus., 1891-12-17

PETER, the Alliance senator, doesn't
claim 10 be Republican, hence does
not expect recognition on the com
mittees from that side Of the house.
The Democrats refuse to accept him as
a committeeman unless he makes q
new and open cofession Of Democratic
faith. Senator, we feel for you, but
we can't reach you.
The southern argus., 1891-12-17

Notwithstanding all the disadvan-
tages under which the colored voters
Of Mississippi have been placed on ac-
count OF the newly enacted election
law, they have three colored men in
the legislature.
The southern argus., 1891-12-17

The Democratic party might well
be called a party Of breaks and mis-
takes. 1t was a big break and will
prove a grave mistake, when they
elected Crisp Of Georgia over Mills Of
Texas as speaker.
The southern argus., 1891-12-17

Miss Lizzie Fletcher lectures in To
peka next month on the subject: "Is
Man an Angelo" He will be after he
pays his newspaper subscription.
The southern argus., 1891-12-17

There are young ladies who meet
their beaux at railway stations.
Young ladies, it is unchestertieldian
and grossly improper. Quit it.
The southern argus., 1891-12-17

$50 near and vet so far"-from get
ing colored man appointed deputy
sheriff Of Bourbon county.
The southern argus., 1891-12-17
LETTER FROM CONSUL WALLER.
TAMATAvE, MADAGASCAR,
Nov. 6, 1891.

Nov. 6, 1891.
MY DEAR Mr.. WOoDs: | am in re-
ceipt Of your letter Of Sept. 18th. 1t
Il needless for ME to say that I am
Dcascd to hear from you, for you are
aware of that. | thank you for the
initial number Of "THE SOUTHERN
APGUs." Southern Kansas has long
Needed a good paper to voice the sen
,mens aud feelings Of the colored
people Of that section. You have
made a good start and | wish you
success.
AS ever your true friend.
JOHN Il. WALLER.
The Hon. John i. Waller expresses
himself as being elated with his
Tamatave consulate and judging from
the best paragraphs Of his letter touch
ing Madagascar, it is a much finer
country than the average American is
in the habit Of saying, Mr.. Waller
says, lit is the most difficult post ex-
ccpt Hayti, held by any colored man"
However difficult, we know Mr. Wal
ler has the high ability and will fill
every function Of the post with credit
10 his country and his race.
The southern argus., 1891-12-17

Where is the wiseae4e who said the
ARGUS would not live six months
Tomorrow is the ARGUS six months
birthday. @
The southern argus., 1891-12-17

Wm. Miller, who is now attending
the K. 5. u, is expected home for
Amas holidays.
The southern argus., 1891-12-17

Give Us our colored deputy sheriff.
, 1891-02-10

and spreading, clothed with waving mos4.
the plumelike palmetto, the clustering
maugroye, the endless varieties Of climb
ing, creeping vines, all are there. The
banks for miles are bordered with cab
bage palmettos, live oaks, oleandcrs (Which
there attain the size and height OF fine
trees and bloom throughout the wintcrl,
the Spanish bayonet. n sort Of ]porcupinc
in the vegetable world, and the magnolia,
a queen Of the forest. whose beauty is a
constant delight.
Bananas seem TO grow without thought
from any one. They appear to be simply
n portion Of the luNurinnt life OF the eli
mate and soil gone to waste. a sort OF over
flow OF NATURES vitality taking 20 itself
shape and form.
But one cannot be wholly absorbed in
the products OF the soil, for the inhabitants
Of the river VIII claim attention. Near
what is called the Narrows one sails over n
river hottom which is a great oyster bed
As | remarked the Immense size OF the
shells at one point "a native standing near
drawled forths
Thur hcv bin shells picked up here.
abouts, they tell me. that a humans foot
could stan into
And indeed | could well believe it, pro
vided the humans" foot was small
enough.
The river synrms with the finest OF fish,
among which the slim, silvery mullcts,
from nine inches to two feet ia length, are
the fHvorites. They often run IN shoals
a mile or more in extent, aud from me
eighth to onc-fOurth Of a mile in width.
As they advance. with a noise not unlike
TINT ola distant train Of cars or rising
wind in IA forest, their course Is clearly in
, 1891-02-10

HJr b. sa.s TOM
"tD ".a
CAVES, a" '--Hs. fEf
most ihTillu .rI.g'lis .uNNs Is
career OF Tie luic EhrIt a raa. Itr u3.
era singer, occurred here ia L,-rIay. xix
years ago.
record here, with the exception ul that Of
1854, and the bayous were covered with
magnificent glassyice. Everybody in town
fortunate enough to possess ice skates took
advantage Of this rare opportunity to use
them, ard among the skaters was the great
prima donna and most OF the members Of
her opera compaLy, which was here for Il
three nights engagement.
Miss Abbott proved herself to be easily
the best skater on the ice, and was soon
skimming away with long, graceful strokes
down the bayou.
Suddenly her attention was attracted by
the sharp cry OF a child in distress, and she
saw the head and shoulders OF a little girl
Just as they were disappearing through an
air hole some distance from the singer and
hidden from every other skater on the ice
by a bend in the shore Of the bayou. Has.
tily throwing aside her heavy sealskin
wraps Miss Abbott started to the rescue Of
the little one, AS she approached the air
hole ominous cracking sounds told her that
the ice was unsafe, but on she went, her
danger increasing each instant. She
dropped to her hands and knoes and crept
close " the opening.
, 1891-02-10


The captain produced n corn sack, placed
them in it, and put out the torch, leaving
us no light but that OF the moon, as it
played in wondrous loyoliness over the
water.
I settled down TO enjoy it, whcn-prestoi
what new change l. thisi Is the captain a
magiciau' Are we floating on "A sen Of
silyer' Are those fish metallic' Surely
never was a moon that illumined like his
before.
What is lti" 1 eagerly asked.
They say It is fas fore-us." was the DIFF
fcult reply.
And so it was, We were sailing on a
phosphoreacent sea, through which dashed
Ia every direction phosphoresceut fish.
Standing in the bow | watched "A fairy
like scene. Beneath me. through the
winter, dnrted what seemed to my excited
fancy millions Of fish, each apparently a
piece Of FURNISHED silver. / could dis
tinguish the Jewish, the sawhsh and
quantities Of mullet and other common
varieties all ablaze with light, and every
scale on their bodies clearly defined. They
looked like meteors NJ they cut their way
through the water. The boats PROV threw
a not a curling spray, but a cleaning
mass OF light. The waves did not break
into shining drops from white crests, but
rose and fell in polished rolls like molten
metal. Farther out, where the stream
moved more gently. the top Of each tiny
ripple became a flashing line, and crossing
each other these lines lay on the water like
frosted lace Of an ever varying pattern.
In short, indian river, the paradise OF the
fisherman and the hunter, with its oranges
its pineapples, its thriving towns and open
ing industries. deserves not a letter. nor a
chapter, but "A book, in two volumes, bound
with the skins OF its own alligators-the
dethroncd kings thnt are still heirs OF the
realm. IL. X. INGRAM.
, 1891-02-10

brave fellows appeared broken COW in
health, and told how after a desperate ef-
fort they alone Of the six had reached the
mountains and been saved by a passing
shower. Death valley itself never sees a
shower. The rainfall Is ~dissipated by the
hot air, and even the tremendous storms
in Armogoza valley, which send at times
n river a mile in width around the end OF
the range and thence n~orthward, never
moisten the dry earth. The food is dried
up and lost before it has penetrated many
rods into the ovenlike section.
At the south end of the valley are some
deep pools, fed by wonderful underground
springs. They never overflow, nor is it
known that their level ever changes. ST.
lent, dark and lonely, they are like great
brown eyes looking up from the CHASTITY
white stretch OF horror. In them are found
fish unknown elsewhere in the world, and
which nave no eyes. Surrounding the val
ley are other remarkable natural features.
Sixty miles southeast is the DEVILS Play
ground, a dreadful waste across which a
furnace like wind constantly blows. The
black lava and hot sand of the plain radi-
ate the heat of the sun, so that looking
down from some eminenee the whole land
scape is tremulous to the eye, and seems
instinct with life. Near this is Dead noun
tain, where the temperature is 40 dogs. in
NAAS AAAAa~ NAN ~@A AS@AA&a IA wv AANNA eA11
the precipitous rocks are much broken up.
aud the sun shining OF the white points
and angles makes the mountain look from
a distance as IL whole conventions of ghosts
were there assembled. The Indians be-
lew on this account that the place is the
abode of their dead warriors. Hence its
name, and the mystical tales which are
connected with IL.
But Death valley is not to remain a terra
incognita. Thu United States government
has planned an exploration which will, If
such a thing is possible, lay bare its secrets.
Two parties will go into the valley from
opposite sides, and the department of agri-
culture will have the fruits of the expedi-
ton arranged at Washington and shown
as a warning and a study. Especial atten-
ton will be given the animal life of the
valleys en%virons, and IL any living thing
exists in the place itself specimens will be
obtained. Experts will collect plants,
woods, rocks, soil. and indeed everything
possible. The explorers will carry an
abundance of supplies, and will not vent
ure into the valley until they rave accu-
rately located springs and streams, so that
they can reach them in case of necessity.
Perhaps among the wonders of the
strange region none is more noteworthy
than the legend of the ruins of a pueblo or
castle, said by the Indians to exist in
Death valley, and which may have been
the four miners oasis. Long ago, so the
tale runs, Death valley was a fertile king
dom presided over by a beautiful and fair
haired queen. She commanded her sub
jects to build her n mansion. and for years
, 1891-02-10

over the soil or reach upward At vari-
Gus angles They are pale, blush green
in color, and thick. narrow, lance shaped
and still Each leaf terminates in n point,
from which extends a spine rs long, as
sharp and as iu0eNible as a darniug nee
die. In the center Of the plant, on a short,
thick, uprigh; stem. is the fruit. This ap-
pears about eighteen months after the
grove has been set out.
The young plants are put In rows with
aisles between. They require little or no
cultivation. except 10 keep out the weeds
until the leaves cover the ground. grove
will bear for eight or ten years without re
setting. From 5000 TO 1000 plants thrive
on one acre The most Of the fruit ma
tures in June. Packing d Is not a de
light, for when the owner desires TO gather
his apples be clothes himself In a leather
suit, dons thick leather gloves, and with
n pair Of shears or a long, sharp knife pro
eeeds TO business The needles on the ends
Of the leaves cannot be dcGed otherwise
Each is a dagger.
To eat a perfectly ripe pineapple just
from the parent stalk is to enjoy a new ex-
perience. The fruit is so delicate that IL
Is sent 70 market when but half ripe.
Hence its lovers In northern cities never
taste the mature product.
The country along Indian river is fast
becoming a great pineapple patch. The
profits on the fruit have sometimes reach
ed rs high As $1,000 per acre.
Indeed, Indian river is a region OF never
ending interest The scenery Is more Ike
the tropics than elsewhere in the state,
while It Is intensely and Enthusiastically
Floridian. Beautiful orange groves, the
Immense live oaks. nowhere else 80 iHrge
, 1891-02-10

The child had sunk, but fortunately
there was no current in the bayou TO carry
her under the ice, and as Miss Abbott crept
OIL the rotten ice 20 the edge of the air hole
the girl rose to the surface OF the water
gnspiug and terror stricken.
Instantly the delicate hand of the canta.
trice grasped the child's shoulder, and with
a strength born OF desperation pulled her,
dripping, from the water. Other skaters
had approached by this time. but Miss Alb
bolt waved them back. shouting a warning
that the ice was rotten and would not bear
their weight.
Placing the child in front Of her on the
ice, which was constantly giving out
cracking threats to plunge them both
into the water, Miss Abbott made her way
along on hands and knees to a place OF
safety.
The news Of her heroism spread like
wild fire through the city, and when the
curtain rose that night at the Opera house
the mayor and city council were present
and Miss Abbott was received with mad
enthusiasm. During the afternoon before
the performance, and at night after it was
over, her hotel was constantly surrounded
by a crowd of citizens. and bouquets and
letters Of congratulatiou were sent to her
by dozens.
The child she rescued was the daughter
OF DR.. Parker, a well known Galveston
physician.