davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-10

General Wanamaker is thinking of propos-
ing some measure of relief for farmers-per-
haps free delivery from the larger country
postoffices?" I remarked.
eyes, indeed" answered Mr.. Love.
''The idea of the Postmaster General has
been pretty well talked about among the
farmers along the route here. They have
heard that the Postoffice Department has
grown SO rich that it expects to reduce let
ter postage from cents to 1 cent. They
want the postage kept up to cents, and the
surplus thus secured spent in some system
by which people living in agricultural dis
tricts may have better postal facilities.
Free delivery is entirely practicable, l
think, dividing up the country so as to take
in roads in opposite directions from nearest
railroad villages See that farm house
which we are approaching? 1t has wooden
box at the gate. Oh, no, there is no lock or
key on it. Not necessary-no one steals
out here. No tramps, because the railroads
are too far away. Well, farmers generally
could erect such boxes, and it is entirely
practicable for a common box in partner
ship to be put up by, say, i've or six farm
ers at crossroads here and there and save
the carrier from going off the main road.
The time of arrival being known, 1t would
be easy even for representatives. OF each
family to be at the box on any day they are
expecting mail. Some such system, am
told, is in vogue in Scotland.
The Farmer Gets the Worst of It.
"But, not only in free delivery, but in
other ways could the farmer be relieved by
the Postoffice Department if it would
consent TO spend little money on us. You
people in the city have your letters brought
to your doors free of charge. A farmer
must first go several miles to get his letters
and then pay fifteen or twenty-five cents per
quarter rental of box in that postoffice;
that is, if he wishes to maintain any degree
of privacy for his mail at all. Again, how
many OF the farmers families along my
route can take daily paper in Pittsburg.
DISPATCH or some other good paper, but
with mail only every two days, how is it
possible for them to keep abreast of the
times? One farmer takes load of produce
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-10

her head up with frank pride; "why,
Washington, you can't name man that's
anybody that isn't fond of him. I'll tell
you privately that I've had Satan's own
time to keep them from appointing him to
some Office or other. They knew he'd no
business with an office, just as we'll as
did, but he's the hardest man to refuse any,
thing to body ever saw. Mulberry Sellers
with an office! Laws goodness, you know
what that would be like. Why, they'd
come from tine ends of the earth to see q
circus like that I'd just as ieves be mar
ried to Niagara Falls, and done with it.
After reflective cause she added, having
wandered back in the interval, to the re-
mark that had been her text: 'Friends?
Oh, indeed, no man ever had more; and
such friends-Grant, Sherman, Sheridan,
johnson, Longstreet, Lee-many's the
time they've sat in that chair you're sitting
in"
Hawkins was out of it instantly and con-
templating it with a reverentisl surprise,
and with the awed sense of having trodden
shod upon holy ground.
'Theyp' he said. "Oh, indeed, yes,
many and many time"
He continued to gaze at the chair, fasci-
mated, rnagnetized; and for once in his life
that continental stretch of dry prairie which
stood for his Imagination was afire, and
across it was marching a slanting fame
front that joined is wide horizons together
and smothered the skies with smoke. He
was experiencing what one or another
browsing, geographically ignorant alien ex-
periences every day in the year when he
turns dull and Indifferent eye out of the
car window, and it falls upon certain
station sign which reads ''Stratford-on-
Avonp' Mrs. Sellers went gossiping COM
fortably along:
''Oh, they like to hear him talk, espe-
cialIv if their load is getting rather heavy on
one shoulder and thev want to shift it. He's
all air, you know-breeze, you may say
and he freshens them up; it's trip to- the
country, they say. Many time he's made
General Grant laugh-and that's tidy job,
can tell YOU, and as for Sheridan, his eye
lights I'D as he listens to Mulberry Sellers
the same as it he was artillery. You see,
the charm about Mulberry is he is so cath
olic and unpreiudiced that he fits in any,
where and everywhere. 1t makes him pow
erful good company, and as popular as
scandal You so to the White House when
the Presidents holding general reception
some time when Mulberry's there. Why,
dear me, YOU can't tell which of themit is
that's holding that reception"
"Well, he certainly is remarkable man,
and he always was. Is he religious?"
'sClear to his marrow-does more think
ing and reading on that subject than any
other, except Russia and Siberia; thrashes
around over the whole field, too; nothing
bigoted about him. ="
''what is his religion?"
"He-" She stopped, and was lost
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-10

of West Deer, Indiana and O'Hara town
ships This section of vast agricultural ter
ritory lies midway between the West Penn
and Pittsburg and Western Railroads, but
many miles away from either.
'Well, but I see you deliver mail indi-
vidually to farmers along the road" re-
marked. "How is that?''
'It is purely matter of accommodation, -
replied the pony expressman. "Three and
four miles out from Sharpsburg I stop to
deliver mail from the Sharpsburg Office to
farmers who otherwise would have to 90 to
Sharpsburg for it. This I also do in the
vicinity of the other postoffices. Ny own
house is mile or two beyond the Culmer-
vile postoffice, and 1 deliver mail to farm
ers along there. Farmers for whom do
this pay me little for my trouble"
A Free Delivery for Farmers.
"Why wouldn't it be possible for the
Government to pay you more salary for de-
hvering mail to all the farmers along your
route?" I asked. '9That would save the few
farmers now able to pay you from going
down into their own pockets, and would
give all the grangers the same free de-
livery"
"Ah, there, my friend, you've hit it."
replied the mail carrier, enthusiastically.
''There would be no better move ON the
part of the Government than some sort of
free delivery for the farmers. Possible?
Well, / should say so.
"Don't you think that to make the scheme
of free delivery among farmers more prac-
tIcable, the farmers themselves ought to
help by bettering the condition of country
roads generally?"
For a minute the mail-carrier was silent.
He spat mouthful of tobacco Juice which
landed on the bay mares tail, and as that
animal resented the bath by frisk of the
tail, the tobacco liquid was distributed all
over us in a fine spray.
"Say, stranger, that's not bad thought
of yours" exclaimed the driver, picking a
particle of tobacco out of his eve. 81 never
thought of that before. Yes, it's true as
anything that if we had better roads, farm
ers would be in better shape not only for
easier mail but in every other way"
Have Discussed wanamaxer's PIan.
This little seed had evidently fallen on
good ground, and content to let it lie, hop
ing that perchance it might take root among
the farmers of West Deer, Indiana and
O'Hara townships the writer resumed the
conversation direct upon the idea of postal
innovation in the rural districts.
''You know, perhaps, that Postmaster
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-10
WHERE IT DON'T END IN SMOKE.
How the Smoke Problem Was Solved at a
Charcoal Kiln in Michigan.

How the Smoke Problem Was Solved at q
Charcoal Kiln in Michigan.
There is blast furnace up in Michigan.
Of course it requires charcoal. They make
their charcoal right there in the largest bat
tery of kilns in the world, with capacity
of 1000 cords 1t made huge smoke and
bad smell; in fact, was a downright nui-
sance, So now they catch said nuisance,
and, By condensation, they turn IS per cent
into LIQUID. The, other 25 per cent being
found incondensible, is forced under boilers
and burned over again in connection with
sawdust and the tar which they get out of
the liquid rs per cent.
Each day they get 80 tons of this liquid,
from which they reduce Is tons of tar, 800
gallons of alcohol, and tons of acetate of
lime. The alcohol is used in the arts; the
acetate forms the base of all the acetates of
commerce, such as corrosion of lead in max
ing paint You wouldn't think when look
ing at the smoke from charcoal furnace
that the black nuisance was painting the at
mosphere to the tune of so great sum per
dav. The furnace is at Elk Rapids, on the
Chicago and West Michigan Railways new
extension
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-10
The AGE OF MAMMON.,
Even the Youngsters Look on Small For
tunes With Contempt.

Even the Youngsters Look on Small For
tunes With Contempt.
Youths Companion.1
Freddy is the son of millionaire, and
has from his earliest childhood lived in an
atmosphere of pomp and pretence. He hears
great deal about money and what it will
buy, an0 he is under the impression that
''poor folks" really have very little busi-
ness in the world at all.
One day, his long-suffering governess gave
him little sum in percentage, the result of
which would show how much capital man
must have to gain a certain income. Freddy
worked away with determination, but evil
IDENTIFY to no purpose. The answer would
not come, and his face contracted an earnest
scowl.
''Well, Freddy" said his teacher at the
end of 15 minutes, how are you getting on?"
''Not at ALL" was the reply. 81 can It
make it come out right. don't know how
1 can do it any differently, and 1 keep get
ting the same answer every time"
"What answer do you get?''
''Fifty thousand dollars. .
''Why, that's right! What made you
think it wasn't?''
Freddy looked at the figures in some dis
gust.
Anybody would know it couldn't be
right, said he, haughtily. Nobody would
think of having such small capital as $780,
00Op'
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-10

superstition. Dan1 waits on the front door,
and sometimes goes on an errand; and
sometimes you'll see one or both of them
letting on to dust aroundin here-but that's
because there's something they want to hear
about and mix their gabble into. And
they're always around at meals for the same
reason. But the fact is, we have to keep a
young negro girl just to take care Of them,
and negro woman to do the housework
and help take care of them"
"Well, they ought to be tolerably happy,
should think"
cts no name for it. They quarrel to-
gether pretty much all the time-most al
ways about religion, because Dan'Ps q
bunker Baptist and Jinny's a shouting
Methodist; and jimmy believes in special
providence and Dan1 don't, because he
thinks he's kind of a free-thinker-and
they sing and play plantation hymns to-
gether, and talk and chatter Just eternally
and forever, and are sincerely fond of each
other and think the world of Mulberry, and
he puts up patiently with all their spoiled
ways and foolishnesses, and so-ah, well,
they're happy enough if it comes to that.
And don't mind-I've got used to it. I
can get used to anything, with Mulberry to
help; and the fact is, I don't care much
what happens, so long as he's spared TO
me-"
"Well, here's to him, and hoping he'll
make another strike soon."
'tAnd rake IN the lame, the halt and
blind and turn the house into hospital
again ? It's what he would do. I've seen
plenty of that and more. No, Washing
ton, 1 want his strikes to be mighty moder-
ate ones the rest of the way down the vale. I"
swell, then, big strike or little strike,
or no strike at all, here's hoping he'll never
lack for friends-and I don't reckon he
ever will while there's people around who
know enough to"
''Him lack for friends!' and she tilted
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-10
CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER III.
Mrs. Sellers returned now with her COM
posure restored and began to ask after
Hawkins wife, and about his children, and
the number of them, and 50 on, and her ex-
animation of the witnesses resulted in a
circumstantial history of the family's ups
and downs and driftings to and fro in the
far West during the previous 10 years.
There was a message now from out back,
and Colonel Sellers went out there in an
swer to it. Hawkins took this opportunity
to ask how the world had been using the
Colonel during the past half generation.
''Oh, it's been using him just the same; it
couldn't change it's way of using him
| if it wanted to, for he wouldn't let it..
ST can easily believe that, Mrs. Sellers. "
eyes, you see he doesn't change, himself
not the least little bit in the world-he' 3
always Mulberry Sellers"
81 can see that plain enough"
'Just the same old scheming, generous,
| good-hearted. moonshiny, hopeful, no-ac-
count failure he always was, and still every
body likes him ust as well as if he was the
| shiningest success"
''They always die, and it was natural, be-
cause he was so obliging and accommodate
ing, and had something about him that
made 1t kind of easy to ask help of him, or
favors. You didn't feel shy, you know, or
have that wish-you-didn' 't-have-to-try feel
ing that you have with other people"
'It's just so yet; and body wonders at it,
too, because he's been shamefuIly treated
many times by people that had used him
for ladder to climb up by, and then kicked
HIM down when they didn't need him any
more. For q time you can see he's hurt,
his pride's wounded. because he shrinks
away from that thing and don't want to talk
about it-and so used to think now he's
learned something and he'll be more care
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-10
GETTING USED TO THE COLD.
The Natives of Siberia Expose Themselves
in Way Truly Astonishing.

The Natives OF siberia Expose Themselves
in a Way Truly Astonishing.
How much usage will do in toughening
the human body is well shown by some facts
about the natives of Siberia, as recorded by
the author of Reindeer, Dogs and Snow
Shoes" Cold, he says, seemed to have no
effect upon them.
Frequently, he says, when we could not
expose our ears for two minutes without
having them frozen, the natives would go
for an hour at time with their hoods
thrown back from their heads; and when it
required constant watchfulness to keep our
noses from freezing, they did not appear to
notice the temperature at all.
One morning in January I stood in per-
feet amazement at their disregard of the
low temperature. They worked for at least
half an hour with bare hands, packing up
the tent and utensils, handling the pack
ages and lashing them together with icy
seal thongs, without experiencing the least
apparent inconvenience, while 1 partly
froze my fingers striking a light for my
pipe with flint and steel, the whole opera
tion taking not more than three minutes.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-10

all hope was necessarily given up, the
voyage was resumed. Some were dissatis-
fled that the boat was not lowered, but there
wss not the least use of putting it in the
water unless some object to pull could be
seen from the deck.
The Tragedy of the Trip.
After few hours it became known that
the man lost was Mr.. Oswald jackson, of
New York, gentleman who had recently
sustained grievous losses and was taking a
journey for nervous prostration. Exactly
how he happened overheard has not been
clearly stated, if known to anyone, as it
probably is not. / was sitting within 20
feet of the spot where he disappeared. 1t
is known that he had been taking despond-
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-10
How the Pass System Works.

A farmer occupied seat in railroad car
with lawyer The conductor came; the
farmer gave him his ticket, which he had
purchased at his station. The lawyer took
a card out of his pocket, and showed it to
the conductor, who glanced at it and went
on. The lawyer saw the farmer eve his
card askance.
Don't you find tickets pretty cheap on
this road?' asked the lawyer.
''Tolerably cheap, suppose" answered
the farmer, considering that 1 have to pay
your fare as well as my ownP'
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-10
Who 1t Is.

Tom Mason in Clothier and Furnisher.
Who is it stands for fourteen hours
Within drygoods store,
And cometh home at night so tired
She scarce can ope the door?
Who is it entertains her friends
Each night in gorgeous style,
And when the breakfas comes in late
She greets you with a smile?
Who is it wears the newest gown
And puts your wife to shame,
And makes you feel so small at times
You long to change your name?-
Snur servant girl
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-10
TO THE LAND OF sun
From the Land Of Snow Hasn't
as Much Poetry in 1t
as One Expects.
( VOYAGE IN MID.WINTER
Described for Readers of The Dispatch
by Murat Halstead.
ANIGETW WITH WARRING ELEMENTS
Scenes Amusing and Pathetic Among the
Believing Niagarss.
TIE ARRIVAL AT THE AZ0RE ISLANDS
/ VOYAGE IN MID.WINTER
ANIGHT WITH WARRING ELEMENTS
Scenes Amusing and Pathetic Among the
Believing Niagaras.
TIE ARRIVAL AT THE Az0RE ISLANDS
WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH
Letter No. 1.

HE way to be out
of the way of let
ters and kilograms
for a week is to
put TO a an d
spend t h e tim e
crossing tn e At
laptic, which has
recently, through
excess of newspa-
per enterprise and
telegraphic facili-
ties, gained a great
er reputation for
boisterous conduct
than it deserves;
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-10
SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS.


fonCh Cherokee trim
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-10

which there was small wooden box. Into
this he dropped the envelopes, and =
sfWhoa! Whoa"' and in spite of all my
strength the mare made vicious bolt for
ward, and out of the vehicle went, not me,
but the heavy bag of mail matter. The
precious burden was gathered out of the
mud by the pony-expressman.
'It's not my regular horse for this kind
of work." he explained. 'T had to leave
him at home and take this mare for this
trip, because the roads are So bad that 80
miles day would spoil any valuable
horse
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-10
OUR OVERLAND MAIL.
Something About the Six Star Routes
in Allegheny County.
UNCLE SAM ISN'T VERY LIBERAL.
One Carrier Drives Thirty Miles on Awful
Roads for 81 Al
WANAMAKER'S PLAN FOR THE FARMER
WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH.

T was o skittish
mare that hauled
the United States
mail o ut. to
'B r i m s t o n e
Corner" one af-
ternoon las t
week. The driver
asked me to hold
the reins. With
a couple Of let
tiers in his hand,
he jumped out of
the buggy and
ran to Farmer
Jonathan's gate,
upon the post of
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-10
He's Certainly Not Overpaid.

"And the Government pays the pony en-
presses very poorly for such hard and ex-
posed life,' he added, climbing up into the
buggy. 'Look at this road, and then look
at that horse already beginning to sweat
from dragging us through the ruts and
sinkholes. I left home before daylight
this morning; it is now 2 o'clock P. NJ; it
will be long after dark before L see the
lighted windows of my own house, beyond
Birthstone, again. will then have covered
80 miles, collected mail at three postoffices
one way and delivered it to them on the
road back, besides stopping at several farm
houses to get or deliver mail. And for all
this toil--for all this wear and tear on my
horse and vehicle-I receive 5000 o year.
In year make 156 round trips of 80 miles
each, in all eorts of weather, and am sup
posed to never let sickness, death, fire or
water stop the United States mail Figure
it out for yourself Would. you care to
drive 80 miles every other day and receive
only 81 A for it ?''
We were jogging along one of the "Star
Routes of Allegheny county, as the Post
office Department styles postal routes on
which overland modes of locomotion must
be used This route begins at Sharpsburg
and extends to Culmerville, or birthstone
Corner" as it is better known up that way.
This northern terminus is close to the bor-
der of Butler county. Culmerville is post
Office, though it only possesses two houses.
Carries Mail for Thousand People.
The other two postofices along this route
are Rural Ridge, where there are not more
than three houses and blacksmith shop
and Dorseyville, with a group of perhaps
eight dwellings The latter postoffice is
miles from Sharpsburg, Dorseyville is IL
miles and Culmerville is 15 AT these three
postofices mail is lett for perhaps a thou
sand people. They only get it three times
week. On the mornings OF Tuesdays, Thurs
days and Saturdays George Love, the hardy
mail carrier, leaves Culmerville with his
valuable horse, or his skittish mare, as the
case may be regulated, you understand, by
the condition of the roads). and arrives at
Sharpsburg about noon. He leaves there
on his return trip at l o'clock P. NJ, arriv-
ing at Culmervilk about 6 or 7, owing, also,
to the amount of conscience or lack Of con-
science the Road Supervisors have mixed
this year with their repairs along the roads
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-10
BY MARK TWAIN,

Author of "Innocens Abroad" "Tom Sawyer; 'Hucklet
Etc, Etc.
The Bossier banner., 1892-03-03
TREE TOADS IN NEW YORK.

A Dealer in Tree Toads and Parrots Tells
Some Interesting Things.
There are a good many bird stores
about this big town where not only
birds but other curiosities are on sale.
"How about parrots?" l asked.
The demand is increasing at thia
season."
"How SOP"
81 do not know. 1t always does. A
good parrot Is considered company for
many people these long winter even
ings. Some of our birds are good talk
ers."
What do you mean by good takers?
How many words or phrases are at the
command of a clever parrot?'
Some of the best of them can speak
as many as fifteen or twenty words.
They can say they are hungry, thirsty.
cold, good day, ta ia and all that But
you must remember the most ENJOYABLE
feature of the bird is it's grotesq ue
mimicry, utterly incapable of being ex-
planned. A fine parrot will go on imi-
tating to the end of it's days. In few
years it will be able to repeat an aston
ishing amount of chaff. If you regard
this as talking, why their vocabulary
is unlimited"
You sell frogs and tree toads, too?''
'Yes, sir
'Well, those are funny creatures to
have in big town"
80, no."
''Why not?"
"Well, are the frogs used for aquar-
iums?"
Il suppose So"
"And the tree toads - what do Won
shink?"
II give up"
Are in big demand by young doctors
and chemists who are anxious to learn
something of the circulation of the
blood. The tree toad has legs that are
almost transparent The young doctor
takes the leg, spreads it out under a
microscope, and can see the blood cor
puscles chasing each other here and
there in the veins of the leg of the toad
We sell hundreds of tree toads for this
purpose every month. Come around
some time and L IL borrow a microscone
and We'll try it ourselves" N. Y.
World
The Bossier banner., 1892-03-03
A Chapter ON Orhtars.

"Oysters are fatter this year than I
ever saw them before" said a restau-
rant oyster opener ~ don't know
why, but usually the fatter an oyste,
Is the poorer the flavor. This is because
the fat oyster has generally been out of
the water too long and has been fed.
That is not wholly the reason this wear.
They are fatter. any now. An oyster is
best on the half she'll. about twenty
four to forty-eight hours after he ia ont
of salt water. Eaten before that time
they are apt to give cramps. Yes, the
male oyster is the best, but we don,t
come across male more than an aver
age Of eaes 10 atsT times IN, Y
Herald.