davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-05-21
HIS CELLULOID COLLAR,
IIe Labored With 1t Long, but Finally
Got Mad.


He was one of those men with q
long neck and prominent Adams
apple, and his face and neck were just
the color of corned beef. He wore a
celluloid collar and no necktie, and
through the great button-holes in the
front of the collar his neck cleaned
rosy red.
He was very much interested in all
that he saw from the car windows. and
his head was constantly turning first to
one side and then to the other, until by
some sudden motion the combination
which held the celluloid buttonhole
and the bone collar-button together
was broken, and one end of tho stiff
collar sprang away from its fastening
rs though it had been II steel spring,
and it nestled lovingly against his neck
and under his ear in little yellowish
white coil that looked like the paper
case of a charlotte russo.
The man was painfully conscious
that something had gone wrong. He
carefully felt to see if the green glass
stud in the bosom of his shirt was
gone; then his fingers wandered up to
his collar and finally he traced the
tiendish combination of camphor and
gun-cotton around and succeeded in To-
eating it under his ear.
| He made several attempts to find the
end, but it evaded him each time until
ho began at the buttonhole in the back
and ran his finger carefully around the
top edge of the collar, strengthening it
out as he did so, and holding it with a
vlse-llke pinch when he came to the
end.
Then came the search for the button
hole, and at last the thumb and fore
finger met through the large round
hole. The man looked relieved, but
he found that fate had another trial in
store for him. In his large, awkward
fingers the sense of touch was undevel-
oped, and the button was so small that
he could not tell whether he felt it OF
not; and besides this, he was hampered
by having to hang on to the button
hole, for he knew that that once lost
his trouble would begin anew.
And another thing made his position
a trying one--the two small boys sit
ting opposite him had begun to smoker
and had drawn the attention of every
body in the car to his performance.
! Up and down and around he felt
over the button his fingers Slipped
again and again. The thing was
growing wildly exciting to the pas
sengers, when, either from u Jolt o
the car or from pure nervousness. the
man lost his grip on the buttonhole
ana the thing curled up like watcl
spring and settled down under his cal
once more.
1t is easy to do thing after on,
knows how, and the man had no trou
BILE in getting the end again. He wen
at it with both hands this time, ant
with the index finger of his free han,
he was carefully trying to locate tn
exasperating button, when one of tn
small boys called out: II say. mister
try and button it on yer Adams appl
its bigger"
There was an audible litter and tn
man grasped his gripsack and rushe
out of the car, and the last the pas
sengers saw of him he was standing O.
the corner, his bag between his feet
carefully swathing his neck in larg
red bandanna handkerchief.
Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-05-21
THEY TRIED 1T.
An Attempted Reform in Social Lying
Customs.

Customs.
A great many persons sadly deplore
the fact that society is ever telling
great many little white lies. Frank
ness is strongly recommended and peo-
pie are praised for saying just what
they think. Frankness appears very
admirable in theory, but it is some
times quite another thing in practice.
A certain amount of deception is by
some held to be really necessary for
the welfare of society, and the man or
woman who tries to get on wholly
without it is likely to have many
enemies. 1t is said that the minister
of certain Chicago church became
disguised with the untruthfulness of
I mankind and preached vigorous SER
mon in denunciation of society false
hoods. He declared that lies told out
of pOliteness were just as wicked as
those told with the deliberate intention
of deceiving. In fact. these society
lies got people into the habit of lying,
and they readily pick up the other kind.
The sermon made great impression
upon the hearers. Many of the con-
gregation resolved to reform then and
there Coming out of church Deacon
Jones said to Judge Badger, who sat
in front of him: Judge, hope you
didn't mind my putting my feet under
your pewP" The judge was about
to reply. "Oh, certainly not" but he
thought Of the sermon and answered:
II did, though; your old hoofs took
up all the room and were fearful
nuisance" We'll" said the deacon,
1.-The hair oil you use smells so it nearly
forced us to leave the pew" They
glared at each other, and just then
Mrs. Badger and Miss Jinkins came
along. Miss Jinkins had asked: GLOW
do you like my new bonnet?" ooh, I
thought it just love-" began Mrs. B..
and then she thought of the sermon.
and continued: mo, didn't either. 1t
is II horrid thing, and I wouldn't be
seen with it on" And Miss Jinkins
got mad and replied: well, if I were
you / wouldn't wear dirty stockins to
church, and if did I'd keep 'em out
of sight" While these honest CONVEX
sations were going on Mrs. Smith had
said to her next door neighbor, Mr..
Murray: II hope the crying Of our
baby last night didn't disturb you?"
And Mr.. Murray replied: "No-that is
yes, l wanted to brain the brat. p"
And then Mrs. Smith called him a
wretch and wept. Then the minis
ter came out and asked young Sy-
monds how he liked the sermon. Sy-
monds said: "It was grand ef-er-.
No, parson, it was blamed nonsense" "
'Sir?" said the parson, and he drew
himself up very Indignantly. just
then Smith and Murray. after being
real frank with each other and telling
a few plain truths, clinched, and Dea-
, con Jones was trying to hold Miss jim
kins from scratching Mrs. Badger. Il
took tremendous efforts to stop the
rows and prevent a scandal, and. as i
was, everybody went away mad at ev
erybody else. The minister went HON,
and meditated in gloomy frame o
mind for three hours, and finally con
cluded that society lying was wicked
= but he would not preach against i
again. 1t is altogether too handy ant
necessary sin to be given up.
Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-05-21
The Poverty OF q Rich Man.

A story illustrating the recent tight
ness OF the money market is told of a
mlliionaire business man who has an
once in lower Broadway. in New York.
ne desired to raise the sum of $15, 900
on his personal note. He sent it to the
oank with which he kept his account,
Win request that it should be dis
counted. This the bank officers re-
fused to do. He then sent it to several
OF his wealthy friends. but none of
.hem could accommodate him. Finally
ne sat down to his desk and with grim
hamor drew a note for Is, pinned to it
a VIC bank note issued by his own
oahk, got several of his millionaire
friends to indorse the note. and then
sent 1t down to his bank with courte-
oasly worded message, asking If they
would discount that note for him!
Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-05-21
Dueling In France.

1t is limited that nowadays. when the
French authorities hear of an impend-
ing duel, they distress themselves only
over the violation Of the law. not hav-
ing much reason to apprehend any loss
of human life.
A French satirist processes to have
overheard the following fierce CONVEX
sation:
I'VE will settle this with a sword. ~
very well, but you are the better
swordsman. We will equalize the
chances thus: You shall mount We.
locipede, I will mount the platform oil
a railway train, and thus placed we
will charge upon each other sword in
hand!"-Youth's Companion.
Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-05-21
CANVASSING AS A BUSINESS.
One Hundred Thousand People Employed


you often see advertisements for
agents to sell one article or another
promising 500 a week to Il lively man,
but there is no such money in the bus
mess. said an old hand to Washing
ton Star reporter the other day. "A
clever man can clear So Il week as u
travelling salesman or canvasser, if he
has II really tirst-rate thing to dispose
of; but that is about half the limit.
"Of course, am not speaking of
the regularly employed commission
agents who drum for large houses and
often get big salaries, but of the army
Of people, probably 100, 600 strong,
who spread themselves from the big
cities all over the United States in pur-
suit of orders for everything under the
sun that is marketable. from sub
mustard plaster.
"Of that number 80. 600 are book
agents. 1t is that line which is chiefly
affected by women, who do not hesi-
tate to employ all tho pursuasions of
their sex in the pursuit of their indus
try. Opposed to them the male book
agent is at disadvantage. having nei-
ther smiles nor tears that would be
effective wherewith to extort "a sub
scription from the unwilling customer
Besides, a woman is not likely to be
kicked out or to have u dog set upon
her.
! ''Undoubtedly the modest sex is that
in petticoats, but when it comes to sell
ing books woman can usually dis
count a man every time. Why, | know
two in this very town who do not hest
tate to go to receptions at private
houses. unasked, and tackle any one
with whom they may get into CONVEX
sation, drawing from beneath their
cloaks whatever volume they may be
engaged in trying to circulate.
zone advantage only that know of
is possessed by the male book agent
which his female rival does not pos
sess, and that is his opportunity of ex-
ercising his fascination upon the SER
want women wherever he goes, who
are very much addicted to buying
books that way.
In the trade there is distinction
made between the salesman and the
canvasser, the former selling at whole
sale usually and the latter at retail
A travelling agent sells either on the
installment plan or for cash, or both
ways. On cash sales he gets 40 PEI
cent of the proceeds rs his commits
sion; if he sells on the installmen
plan, by which the purchaser pays 81
much on what he buys, he receives q
per cent when the order for the article
is delivered by him to the firm which
employs him. Goods are sent him C
o. d. for cash purchasers; the agen
returns the full amount he receives
and out of that is given his commits
sion.
"Agents are not allowed to sci
goods for less than prices indicated OF
the lists of the firm. though they ar
permitted by some concerns to sell TO
, more, if they can.
Next to the book agents, canvass
, ers for patented articles are most nu
merous and this sort of canvassin:
has increased very largely within re
cent years. Tea, Coffee silver war
and pictures are extensively sold il
, the same manner"
Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-05-21
SICILIAN CHARACTER.
PECULIAR TRAITS OBSERVED
AMONG THEM AT HOME.
Sotwiths landing Their Apparent Simple,
ity They Are a Strange Mixture of
Deceit, Malice and Vindic-
ttveness.

A late British consular report from
Sicily remarks that there are dark
shades in the Sicilian character which
contrast with the simplicity by which
one might imagine the people to be
wholly possessed. They can be deceit
full reticent malicious, and vindictiye.
petty thefts and rObberies are not un-
common; it is said, also, that in graft
tude they are sometimes wholly def
Gent. It is significant that to be
..scaltro" (cunningly clever), is with
them a meritorious quality, and that
advantageous lying is regarded with
favor, even in children.
Owing to the spirit of 'mafia" and
.omerta," which pervades all Sicily.
they combine to hide each others mis-.
deeds, and in the case of robbery, and
even assassination, it is generally i'm
possible to get evidence against the
wrong-doers, even from the victims
themselves. There is a secret UNDER
standing among all that no one shall
assist the legal authorities in their
efforts to bring criminals to Justice
and the Sicilian, as a rule, relies on
himself and on his friends for obtain
ing retribution for private wrongs, and
every one who transgresses this un-
written law has to fear the vendetta of
his neighbors.
One OF the most disagreeable traits
in their character is excessive cruelty
to animals of which travellers in Sicily
frequently have seen revolving in
stances. When demonstrated with on
account OF this they simply shrug their
shoulders and say: What mattero
They are not baptized" They cannot
comprehend that any creature has any
claim to consideration outside pale OF
the church. Frightful raws in horses
and donkeys go unnoticed, and are fed
on by flies; deep holes are plugged
with tow, and lame animals are made
to work with heavy loads as though
nothing was the matter with them.
As for relieving horse or donkey
of heavy burden going up hill, such
thing never enters their heads. TIC
see country cart crammed with peo-
pie behind horse which can scarcely
stagger under it's heavy load, and tC
observe that no one ever endeavors tC
relieve the poor animal in the most
difficult passages, is common occur
renee. Live poultry is carried to the
market slung from pack saddles or by
pedestrians from the hand, by the legs
The birds keep their heads up as long
as strength endurcs, till at last they
can do so no longer, and die
a painful death by a rush O
blood to the head. Children are it il
said, taught cruelty to animals from
infancy, for one Of the commones
sights in town and country is to Sc,
children playing with newly caugh
robin redbreasts, goldfinches, which
they hold tied by the leg with string
and pull back when the poor birt
attempts to fly.
Another defect in the character an,
habits of the Sicilian peasant is lack o
cleanliness. But in spite of all these
the report concludes, the general de
meanor and habits of the Sicilian ar
SO pleasing that one feels inclined t.
regard his deficiencies with nue.
leniency.
Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-05-21
Not BaslAful.

Emily-'Now that you are engaged
to Harry, does he ever ask you for a
kiss?" Julia-'.He never has yet"
Emily-..Dear me! Is he bashful?"
Julia-'Oh, no; he takes them with
out asking. Boston Herald.
Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-05-21

Philanthropic Party-''You said your
family were starving and gave you q
dime. Now find you spending it for
liquor"
Sad-eyed Party-.Well, you see.
friend, the sight Of my family starving
to death so unnerves me that I have
to drink to keep up my courage to face
them. Judge.
Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-05-21
Telegraph Cable Pierced by Grass.

At meeting of the Asiatic Society
of Bengal, at Calcutta, piece Of
cable was exhibited. showing that the
India rubber covering had been pierced
by blade of grass. The piercing
was so complete and the contact with
the copper core SO perfect that dead
EARTH" as it is technically called, was
produced and the efficiency of the
cable destroyed. The species of the
grass. owing to its dried-up condition,
could not be determined.
Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-05-21
Merely a Spectator.

what Office are you a candidate
for?" inquired the reporter who was
making his hasty rounds OF the polling
places.
''Me?" exclaimed the man leaning up
against the door-frame. Thunder!
amt running for anything. Twas born
in this country"
Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-05-21
The Common Level.

Suppose one anarchist rails against
wealth and claims that the rich won't
let the poor live. And suppose an
other finds a five dollar bill. Now one,
as it were, being a capitalist, what
common level can they find? Where
will they meet?'
lin the beer salOOa."
Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-05-21
An Echo UP to Date.

The prize echo has been discovered
by a Southern newspaper in a Ken
lucky cave. Shout Hello, Smith"
and it will answer, What Smith do you
mean?" four distinct times.
Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-05-21
Too Willing.

..Was your elopement a SUGGEST"
Hardly" 'What went wrOng"'
"Her father telegraphed US not to re-
turn and all would be forgiven. "-Har-
per's Bazaar.
Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-05-21
A SOLITARY Dlstlnctiou,

A Wisconsin lady. the wife of Sec
rotary in the Brazilian war department,
has the somewhat solitary distinction
Of being the only newspaper woman in
South America.
Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-05-21
Chinese Omcials.

1t is stated that Chinese high Of
aclals have been instructed % travel
uehceiorth in gunboats, on account
" the frequent disasters to merchant
steamers.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-01-31
The ola WcII-Sweep.

was driving with a friend the other
day through q somewhat dreary stretch
OF country where there seemed TO be
very little to attract notice or deserve
remark. Still the old spirit infused by
Eyes and No Eyes" was upon me,
and | looked for something 10 fasten
my thought upon and treat as an artist
treats "a study for picture, The first
object 10 which my eyes were drawn
was 40 Od,nshioncd weIl-sWeep. II
did no, take much imaginative sensi.
bility TO be stirred by the sight of this
most useful. most ancient, most pict-
~uresque Of domestic conyeuipucas
know something OF the snadoof Of
Egypl-tne same arrangement by
which the sacred waters OF the Nile
have been lifted FROM the DAYS Of the
Pharaob@ to those of the kbedives
That long foreiuger pointing to
Heaven WAS symbol which spoke TO
the Puritan cAIc ae IL spoke of old TO
thc cnsaycl I,ranlite. Was there ever
any such Watcra that which we used
to draw from the deep cold well in
"thu old oakru bucketa' What mem-
orir, gather about the Well 10 AL ages!
What loyp-matchcs have been made at
its margin. from the times of Jacob
and Rachel downward, What fairy
legrud, hover over it what fearful
mysteries has il hidden! The beautiful
wc!l-swecpi 1t is too rarely that we
see it, aud as 1t dies ont aud gives
place to the odiously convenient pump,
with the last patent ON its cast-irOn
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-01-31

was talking with Kentuckian
yesterday, says the Gossiper OF the n.
y. Si1r, about the newspaper reports
of family fcuds and murders IN the
Blue Grass country aud he surprised
me by declaring that be could name
thirly families at least every member
OF which has for generations been gull.
Is of murder or other oilcnees against
the law II don't suppose 10 per cent
of them have suffered for their crimes, =
he continued Indeed, the man who
gets the drop ON another in Kentucky
IS not likely 20 suffer much from the
law lie generally walks out of town,
and his absence is mourucd hy his
friends. 1t used to be the glsslom 10
go to Texas, and when YOU were told
that Colonel So-aGd-So was absent in
Texas You understood that he had gone
there to save the State the cost of bang
ing him More than one Kentucky
family has cmigrated there one by one.
don't know who started this Going
To Texas but the phrase is pretty Vell
understood all over the State.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-01-31

'.I-I-th2t is. you will excuse me.
he stammered as he entered store on
upper Broadway Yesterday aud was
accorded an interview with the pro-
prictOr.
What did you wish sir?" was the
cold but polite rejoinder
Well. you may think me foolish, but
| must run the risk. About a year ago
YOU had a girl over there behind the
railing a typewriter aud private secre.
tary | presume
Yes, sir.
She w. handsome girl-very
handsome, and her speech and demeanor
showed good blood.
Yes.
well II fell in love with her"
did YOU? Well?'
She was very COY and shy, but after
time thought | could detect signs
that my feelings were reciprocated.
All! Indeed Look at you in Il tender
way?n
Il thought so. For weeks / made it
a practice to pass your store at 2
O'Clock daily. so as to get sight of her.
She got 50 She looked for me al that
hour
lndeed!'
That is, | thought she did. |
thought her eyes lighted up as she
caught sight of me. suppose the
proper way would have been to come
ia and ask you to Introduce me, but
but one hesitutcs over those things. you
know
Yes. / know"
About a year ago l was suddenly
called to Chicago. While there | met
with bad accident, and only yester-
day returned to New York. / wanted
10 write her, but under the circum-
stances ] could not.
II follow
But thought Of her daily, ayel
hundred times a day
That was correct.
And now that / have returned I
called to catch sight Of hi dear, sweet
face once more, bul don't see it. Is
she with you yet2'
"Oh yes"
as sho ill?'
"Oh, no,
Absent tcmporarilyP'
Yes over at the house.
Your house2'
Yes. PeIhap, you'd like to walk
ovcrH ! married her about u year ago,
aud this is the hour when the baby is
asleep aud she is ut liberty
The axe tell With moan OF an-
gui-h ON bis pale lips the returned
lover walked out OF the store in blind,
staggering way reeled down the street
as +. drunk, and uttered no word until
inc reached the drug store ut the corner.
Then he made great effort pulled
himself together entered, sat down on
u stool before the soda fountain, and
boauscy whispered;
Give me lemon aud vanilla, with
plenty OF lrolh ON IL, FOR calculated
she'd earn enough to support Us both!
~ T. SltR
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-01-31

Iknew it NIL In nv boyhood; in a lonesome
valley meadow.
Like a dryad- mirror hidden by the woods
dim arches ncar;
rs eyes flashed the sunshine ana grew DARK
and sad with shadow.
And lowed IT, truthful depths. where every
pebble lay 80 clear
sooo,el my hand and drunk u, aud watched
the scu~afp culver
OF tlic RIPPING rings Of silver as the drops
of crystal fen.
I pressed thr richer grasses from 1T little
trlcklug river.
TIL IT last knew. as friends know, every
secret Of the we'll.
Bus one day sto q beside it, on sudden. I'M.
expected.
when the sun bad crossed the valley and 0
shadow aid the place,
And looked 10 ihc dark waters. saw my pal
80 cheek reflected,
And beside n. looking upward, met an evil
reptile face.
looking upward furtlye startled at the 81
Igut. swift intrusion.
Then IL dnrtcd toward the grasses, and J saw
not Whrre IL lied:
But knew It's c1c- were on me and the Old
time swift ;lh sion
OF the rure aud perfect symbol had cher,
ished tAere was dead.
o. the pain 20 know the perjury OF seeming
truth that bics-c1,
Ny so,l WIS scared like sin 90 soc the false
hood Of the place
And the innocence that Knocked me, while 10
dim, unseen TcccE-cs
There were lurking fouicr secrets than the
iurtivc reptile face.
And silence thrn-0h why the burdcu2-when
Joyous faces greet mo.
WITH eyes Of limpld Innocence and words de
void Of art,
cannot trust ihcr rccminF. but must ash
what eyes would meet me
Could look 10 sudden silence at the secret
of the heart.
John Boyle ORcilly
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-01-31

Excursion tickets to Mexico, Cali
fornia, Georgia, North Carolina,
Florida, the Gulf Coast, Texas, Hot
Springs Of Arkansas, and Excelsior
Springs, of Missouri, now on sale
by agents Of the Chicago, Milwau-
kee d St. Paul railway. Apply for
rates and other information to the
nearest agent, or address Geo. Ii.
Heafford, General Passenger Agent,
Chicago, Illinois. lmI
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-01-31
gears Family Medicines.

These medicines are daily gaining
greater popularity, aud the steadily
increasing demand for them can
only be accounted for by their true
merit. They are prepared with the
utmost care, and each medicine Is
put ~ for particular disease.
Every bottle is guaranteed TO do all
that is claimed for il on the label, -
that NO one who buys bottle Of
Bc.gs FqriS Medicines can he
Dir appointed. ~aid ny v ~ III.
deauX.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-01-31

The increased demand for Beggs'
German Salve not only proves that
it has merit, but also makes it almost
"A universal household remedy,
when YOU wish a good reliable
ointment call for Beggs' German
Salve, aud you will not be disap-
pointed. Sold aud warranted by
W. II. PndeauX.