davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-06-03
A HUMOROUS BIRD.
An Incident Illustrative of the Crows
Love of Fun.

An Incident Illustrative of the Crows
Love of Fun.
There is some fun in a crow, even if
it be love of mischief. In Calcutta,
says a writer, l had a large garden sur
rounded by shade trees, in whose
branches many crows used to roost at
night. As soon as daylight appeared
they all flew off to their favorite re-
sorts, where they lived upon the gar
bage of the city; and it must be adj
mitted in their favor that they are the
most useful scavengers. But, when
sunset came, they used to return to
their roosting place, and sometimes
they gave me an unwelcome evening
serenade.
Coming home late and tired from the
office, used to sit out on my lawn, and
very large white Persian cat would
come out to keep me company. Then
the cat and the crows used to have a
little game of their own. The cat would
stretch itself out and flick it's long,
furry tail about. Some twenty or
thirty crows promptly accepted the
challenge, and quickly alighted round
the cat, with the intention of pulling
his tail. Some of them hoped up in
front, as near as they could with safe
ty from the cats fore paws, others stood
at the side, and several of the best
players took their position behind the
cat. They evidently acted in concert
The crows in front crept up as close as
they dared to secure the cats atten-
ton. and then one of the crows behind
the cat made a dash at the tail, which
the cat skillfully guarded by flirting it
from one side to the other. 1t was very
seldom that a crow succeeded in getting
a mouthful of the cats fur. The cat,
meanwhile. had really an eye to bust
ness, and if one of the birds in front OF
him came within practica bic distance,
he made a spring that sometimes had a
fatal result, and the game terminated
among the terrified cawing and clamor
of the survivors, who saw their unlucky
comrade torn to pieces before their
eyes, But in the course of twenty-four
| hours they seemed to have forgotten
the mishap of their brother. and they
came again to renew their diversion
with the cat, who was always ready tc
play the game. in which it might be
said that his motto was: ''Heads
| win, tails you loose. "-Longman's Mag
| azine.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-06-03
A Detroit Paper Sees the Light.

A local assembly of the Knights of
Labor in Boston has passed set OF res
olutions which demand:
That bill be drafted by the state
legislature providing that the state gov
eminent seize, under the rights OF emf
nent domain, all vacant lands held for
speculative purposes, adjacent to all
steam or electric surface and elevated
railroads, at present erected or to be
erected; that such lands be cut up into
houselots and decided to, at sum not to
exceed $500 per lot, workingmen, under
mortgage by the state; that III per
cent be charged as interest; that the
land be appraised by a state appraiser;
that each holder of deed be advanced
enough money to build house OF rea-
sonable dimensions thereon; that when
the sum advanced by the state be re-
funded a clear conveyance of the title
should be made to the holder OF the
title
The Detroit Evening Journal thinks
that people will laugh at this
proposition, and that perhaps that is
the best way to treat it. Nevertheless
it goes on to say:
To the thoughtful mind there is some
thing suggestive in this resolution by
the Boston Knights. Why is it that in
this Young country, with it's natural re.
sources hardly touched, wages are SC
low that men find it hard to get homes
of their own? Is it because our land is
taken up in advance of actual need
The Spectator always goes ahead o.
enterprise, and the land takes on mo-
only a fair rental value, but it takes or
prospective value, and every increas'
in productive power simply gives thu
| landowner chance to shove up thu
price of his land Wages, therefore, d
not rise materially; for the value o
the land tends to increase faster thai
the production of wealth, and the land
owner gets what ought to go to labo
as wages. Horace Greeley saw all thi
more or less clearly forty or fifty year
ago, and he advocated law limitin
the area of land which one man migt
own 1t would have been well had h
, warning been needed; for even no
workingmen are looking greedily
the land which belongs to those WI
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-06-03
just the Same as Ever.

Whilst almost everything seems to
have changed and improved during the
last twenty years, one has only to jour
ney few miles by train to discover
that the demednor Of the average trav-
eler is just the same as when his father
took his first ride.
Every man or woman wants to occu-
by whole seat. Every man or woman
wants the window up.
Every man puts his head out when
the whistle blows. If the train stops
for over two minutes everybody won
ders what is the matter, and if the
speed is twenty miles an hour the man
with the stop-watch is heard calling out
that the last mile was made in exactly
minute. Jury.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-06-03

~, at. From being described as
.. uiat peaked little gal, she became
hal likly un," then ''peart an chip
~ ana kertlummexed good lookin'."
nat was the ne plus ultra of compile
ueh'ary expression. The force of de-
SOr,pnon could no further go.
Inc landlady of the Brook Trout
house told Irene about Anastasia. Only
si1 called her by the two firit letters
v ner remarkable name.
Il, There's hull family livin' up on
u mounting in a cabin, an they take
~ "ashn n scrubbin'," she told Irene.
one evening when Irene was sitting,
her room writing to the doctor,
suisoody walked in and stood beside
@ he 'apparition was black and
good looking. ;.
~, hVenln', missy. Use the lady kim
y ,a 1oh yure washin'."
ihe voice was soft and musical as
,u nights lullaby among the pines.
~; ue iaid aside her writing and studied
h .s new poem OF nature. When she
sssfS that many, syllabled name she
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-06-03
HEfRY l. BlOSSiT, Business Manager

nearly tainted, accustomed, as she was
to the short, simple appellations of the
north.
my nav do tn washin'; ies' tote
de clus," she explained, in lofty way.
Irene counted out the pieces The
washlady took no responsibility in this
matter.
Here are thirteen handkerchiefs,' -
said Irene, adding them to the wash.
But Anastasia started back.
81 amt goin' tew tech EN-" she said,
stiffly.
"Why not?" asked Irene, in surprise.
"Dem's hoodoo numb. Jes' make
'cm one mo-, missy, or yoh keep 'em
outcn dis yeah washin'. 1t am drefful
onluekyp it am, an Use luck-chile
| isl
What do you mean by that?"
'tI'se de libin' picter oh me fader.
When a gal in dis yeah parts dessem.
bles de fader den she luck-chile.''
oh" said Irene, much amused.
well, now, here are fourteen hand
kerchiefs, all ! have, and l hope you
will do them up nicely"
She handed the clothes to girl, who
tied them up in bandanna of her own,
making compact bundle with which
she crowned herself.
Thar" she said, 81 specs I kin tote
them easy, sure nuff," and she bal.
anced them on her head, and walked
off with the grace of an African prin-
cess. Irene watched her, delighted
with the novelty of the whole proceed.
ing.
The next night at shutdown Anastasia
appeared at the Brook Trout hotel, cry.
ing as if her heart would break.
''Lawd," she sobbed, nobody know
de trouble Use got; Oh, missy, specs
it gwine done kill me!
Poor child" said Irene, consoling.
ly, don't cry so; is--is-your mother
dead?"
mo, missy; wuss'n tibet, wuss'n tibet.
"Your father"
"Wuss, an orf,ll sight wuss, missy
Them amt no account 'casions sides
this"
Finally she dried her eyes, sat ur
very straight, and said
missy, L done los yoh washin' and
dat oh anoder rich woman what CUB me
hers"
Irene was provoked. 81 hope the
other rich woman can stand the los:
better than l." she said; "it is too bad tt
be so careless. How could you LOSE
them when you carried them on YOU
| head?'
Anastasia was creature of light ant
shade. She stopped crying dry tear!
and frightened up.
"I'se thinkin' powerful deep, an
specs l glib my he'd a toss an them clu'
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-06-03

vaguely as 1.-The south.
'You need change" the doctor said
to her when he found that his medi-
cine did her no good; ''change is good
foreveryone if it is only change from
hot food to cold Go and get relaxation
and amusement,
"But where shall I go, doctor? l am
alone in the world now, as you know,
so far as relatives are concerned. | do
not take kindly to strangers Where
shall go?"
Go where glory waits thee" chanted
the doctor, fundamentally. 81
have it. 60 to the Black mountains.
'0h 1t is case of Mahomet going
to the mountain, since the mountain
will not come to Mahomet. DR..
Gregory, if you will map out the route,
Twill consult my bank book, and if it is
possible | will go to your Black noun
tain"
This is how the pale Yankee school
mistress happened to be located at the
Brook Trout hotel, two-story wooden
building with long verandas, where
judges, colonies, mountain moonshin-
erS crackers and other picturesque
characters sat around all day wearing
Tapping hats and free and easy fatigue
dress, flannel shirts and butternut
trousers ornamented with one sus-
pender, which, doing duty for both,
hitched the aforesaid garment up to
the shoulder blades of the wearers.
And it was there she met Anastasia,
and through her sundry other appoint
ments in life.
There was nothing the matter with
Irene Muncy except the slow fever of
aloveless life. People say of some man
or woman breadwinner. that he or she
ought to succeed, with only one person to
worltfor and worry about. And that
is just the secret of their non-success
There is no incentive, nobody to worry
about as a dear, blessed incumbrance,
Watching our efforts with lovelit eyes.
It's but tread mill existence, without
one precious obstacle to break the
monotony
With the Black mountains for back
ground and the Tennessee valleys at
her feet, Irene made silhouette worth
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-06-03
Tax Commissioner Coleman on Taxa
ton.

Recently, before New York legisla-
tive committee, Tax Commissioner Cole
man gave it as his opinion that the eff
feet of the taxation of personal proper
ty in this state had been to drive out of
this city, in one year, over $500, 0Oo, 600
in capital represented in corporations
alone AT least Is to 20 per cent. OF
that amount represented the capital OF
companies which had been doing bust
ness in this city. They had found it
more profitable, however, to wind up
their affairs in New York and reorgan-
ize in New Jersey. Excessive taxation
had driven them across the river. AL
though organized in New Jersey, many
of these firms did business only in New
York city. This information was the
result Of special investigation on the
part of Mr. Coleman. Among those
firms the witness named the Thurber-
Whyland Co., Park & Tilford, the Gel
luloid Co., the United States Book Con-
Germ, Devoe & Co. and the Hoffman
Cafe. The Hoffman cafe was capital
lied at 81, 25Q, 900 in New Jersey. This
fact greatly surprised the senator's.
These concerns all received the same
protection from the fire and police
departments as those incorporated in
this state. They contributed in return
practically nothing to, the government
of New York. They depend upon New
Jersey for nothing except exemptiop 1t
was true that they were obliged to pay
some money to the state of New Jersey.
The amounts, however, were compare.
lively small. New Jersey did not COM
pei her corporations to make returns OF
their property. Much of the other tes-
timony given by the commissioner has
been printed in the Standard heretofore;
but he made one new point against tho
personal property tax He said that it
was sapping at the roots Of home life
in this city, ''for," said he, the rates OF
personal taxation are SO obnoxious that
people instead of building fine resi-
dences engage suite of rooms in some
hotel and live at some club. A few
years ago hotels were but seven stories
high, now they are seventeen stories
high" The commissioner said that the
virtual abolition of the tax on personal
property would be of the greatest bene'
fit to the city of New York.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-06-03
AN AFFAIR OF THE HEART.
How German Swain Regained His Lost
Affection.

How q German Swain Regained His Lost
Affection.
Slova of Kief reports the following
incident: A German physician passing
through the city stopped at hotel for
few days. The news spread in town
that he was DIR. Koch, and in short
time the hotel was besieged with inval-
ids who sought his advice. Among the
callers was strapping young woman
leading stalwart fellow by the sleeve
of his coat.
'Please, DIR. Koch, your illustrious
German excellency," she said, address
ing the physician, this is my husband.
We are married only three months and
his love to me is already cooling. There
must be something wrong about his
heart. Could your illustrious German
excellency cure him?"
With smile which he could hardly
suppress the doctor asked her whether
there was anything else the matter with
her husband. She said that he was
otherwise all right; he worked diligent
ly, ETC., and slept well and did not com
plain of any aches. But he ceased t.
love her and his heart needed cure.
"Why don't you love your wife?" HI
asked.
II don't know" answered the other
with sheepish air; probably the hear
got sick, your illustrious German excel
lency."
"Cure him, your honor!" pleaded tn
| woman.
The doctor could not rid himself {
| them until at last he ordered the ma
to bare his breast and made an incisio
in his skin, which he covered with
porous plaster. The young man pr
tested that his heart was Instant
changed by the operation and that !
now loved his wife more than ever y
fore,-Chicago News
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-06-03

81 am sorry, Henry" said Uncle
George, ''that you exhibit so little pro-
ficiency in photography. That letter
you wrote to Mr.. Brown the other day
had so many mis-spelled words that it
set the whole counting-room in a roar
"H'm.' said Henry. THAT just the
way in this world. There were good
many words in that letter that know
were spelled right, but of course I get
no credit for that"
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-06-03
ANASTASIA.
a Little Love Episode of the
Black Mountains.

HEN pale Irene
Muncy was told
by her doctor
that. she must
go "south or
die" she began
looking f or a
spot of southern
soil where the
air was balmy,
resinous w i t h
pines, gol de n
with sunlight,
and, above all,
not mon o tom
Gus. A para
d is g in t h G
IN o Il n t a i n s,
somewhere in
that vast terri
tory KIN o w n
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-06-03
Having Fun with the General.

Privates of the garrison at Avignon,
France, amused themselves one March
afternoon by throwing hard army
bread from the barracks windows at
passing civilians. In the midst of the
sport tall, elegantly-dressed man in a
high hat came in sight A chunk of
bread knocked off his hat He saw the
soldiers at the windows, and, without
waiting to pick up his hat walked into
the barracks. Two minutes later the
soldiers learned that he was Gen.
Ouenot, commander of the Thirtieth
division of the French army, and five
minutes later they all were ie the
guard house. Detroit Free Press.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-06-03
A Church That Want. no Exemption.

Rev A. P. McDiarmid, pastor of tho
Tabernacle Baptist church, in Brook
Ign, addressed a meeting of Baptist
ministers the other day on the subject
of church taxes. He argued that tho
Baptist church should not countenance
the exemption OF state taxes which ID
now in vogue. 1.-THE church, in accept
ing an exemption from taxes, said he,
receives that which is wrested from tho
Taxpayers. 1t is gift from the state
and tendency toward the state main.
tenance of the church. A public grant
each year from the state would be less
Objectionable, for. then every thing
would be done openly, and the tax-pay-
ers would know just how much the diff
ferent churches were receiving. A re.
ligion that can not pay its just taxes
should be booted out of the world.
TAXES on the value Of land not only
do not check production as do most
other taxes, but they tend to increase
production, by destroying speculative
rent. How speculative rent checks pro-
duction may be seen not only in the
valuable land withheld from us, but in
the paroxysms OF industrial depression
which, originating in the speculative
advance in land values, propagate them
selves over the whole civilized world.
everywhere paralyzing industry, and
causing more waste and probably more
suffering than would a general war
Progress and Poverty.
THE San Francisco Star tells of six
lots in that city which were wanted in
order to open street. A commission
appraised them at sl,s45, but the owner
wanted 81, 200, and said he valued them
at Sc, 900 and didn't want to let them go
even at that price. An examination OF
the assessors books showed that they
were assessed at only S45 each. The
Star says this case ought to make single
takers of all thinking persons who ex-
anime into it: and we think so, too.
WERE all taxes placed upon land val
ues, irrespective of improvements, the
5 scheme of taxation would be SO simple
5 and clear. and public attention would
: be SO directed to it, that the valuation
t of taxation could and would be made
S with the same certainty that rea
v estate agent can determine the price
t seller can get for 2 lot: Progress AMI
0 Poverty.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-06-03

"A fox dug his way under a South
Carolina hen-roost containing eighty
seven hens, and as there was no one to
disturb him he killed forty-three OF
them before he tired himself out. He
could only eat one, but such glorious
chance of hen-killing had never come
to him before, and he determined to
improve it.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-06-03
VOL. XLVI.-NO. %.

don't work. The Astors, drawing Ss3,-
600 daily as ground rents, brush by the
man who works for 50 per day and who
can't save enough to buy foot OF
ground The few owners of the land
of New York city receive 100000, 900
annually for its use, or, at least that is
about the rental value, while only 4
per cent. of the inhabitants live in
houses of their own. Such state OF
affairs can not but lead to PROPOSE.
tons of confiscation.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-06-03
The st. Adams (vt.) Messenger

The st. Adams (vt.) Messenger
tells good dog story. The owner OF
dog in that town has brother who
is quite sick, living in the suburbs.
During recent dark and stormy night
he decided to send his dog to the
brothers. residence to learn his condl-
ton. A note of inquiry was written
and given to the dog, his master open
ing the front door and pointing in the
direction which the dog should take.
The messenger" trotted merrily away
and in about one hour and half re-
turned and made his presence known
by barking at the front door. The dog
brought an answer in the shape OF a
letter from the wife of the sick brother
replying to the inquiry made. much to
the qualification of the household re-
ceiving the news.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-06-03

On the Elevated.-Maud-" Ethel,
dear, how old will you be on your next
birthday" Guard CLOSING the car
door)-"Thirty -four next" Maud
"Dear rue. How did he know2"--N
X sun.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-06-03

done fly off 'thout my never KNOWN it.
You'll get 'em agin, missy; yoh's boun
ter cause rs de picter OBJ me fader."
Irene dismissed the ''picter' rather
GROSSLY, her northern soul rebelling
against such shiftlessness. A day later
card was sent up to her room with
the name of stranger written upon it
in pencil. She went down and met in
the hotel parlor tall young man who
wore the United States blue. He held
in his hands funny bundle that was
tied up with number of aggressive
looking knots that stuck out like mules
ears.
"My wa shing," cried Irene. by way
of introduction; she recognized the ban
danna. :,
81 found it far up on the mountain, ="
said the stranger; ''it had your name
and address pinned on it and looked like
a big pudding ready to be boiled
They both laughed, and he told her
he was there surveying a new road Tor
the government. His name was Saun-
ders and he was from Philadelphia.
He offered to take Irene on buck
board to the cabin on the mountain,
and they had famous ride, and saw
| Anastasia in all her glory among her
own kith and kin.
"rse done tell yoh Use lucky, missy
kase Use de horned picter OBJ me ia
der. / reckon yoh cocht beau, too,
missy
This was very embarrassing and
highly improper, but there was nothing
to do but laugh it off, which the two
young people did.
But prophetic Anastasia! This sum
mer Irene is no longer alone or love,
less, and on her wedding trip she will
take in the Brook Trout house, the
Black mountains and Anastasia. Mrs
M. L. Rayne, in Detroit Free Press.
The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-06-03
ii see, George, said the room-matt

III see, George" said the roommate
to whom he had been confding. ''She
isn't pretty, but with all her faults you
love her still" mo" said George,
lit amt still. it's brewery that her
father owns, and it makes a mint Of
money" Washington Post
Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1891-01-29
n Chicago Amazon.

Miss M. T.. Wilmount literally snatched
a man bald-headed, at Chicago, on the
night of the cath. The man was foot
pad, Frank Peterson, who attempted on
West Lake Street to grab her purse con-
tanning $50. Miss Wilmount kept her
grip on the purse with one hand, and
with the other wildly tlwt;hed the rob
ber's hair. and then screamed again and
again. The fellow in alarm made sud
den plunge to escape and succeeded,
but left a handful OF hair in Miss Will
mounts fingers. Peterson wasarrested
shortly af erward, the police having toll
lowed his bloody trail over a half mile
from the scene of the scalping.
Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1891-01-29

The jury in the Woods County, Texas;
counterteting case, which was on trial
fora week, on the oath brought in YER
dict of not guilty. There were seven
defendants on trial, and before the case
was given to the Jury, four of them
we're discharged under the order of the
court. Specimens of the spurious
money were submitted in evidence and
TO the Jury, which decided that though
the specimens were counterfeit they
were not made for the purpose of being
used as such, and that therefore the de-
PENDANTS were innocent.