davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-12-07
THE MAN WHO LOVED CHILDREN.
Childish Innocence Always Melted His
Old Heart but He Had His FaiIings.

After she had seated herself In the
ferry boat, little Willie broke away
from her and began rolling around in
the dust and dirt, before US all.
@Ah, madam" whispered the old
gentleman, "do not try to stop little
Williei l love to see the child have
fun"
"Yes, indeed"
at does my old heart good, he went
on, as Willie turned double somer-
sault; sit carries me back to the early
days. I tell you, ma'am, there is
nothing like youth"
"That is true, SIR" she said sweetly.
at recalls to me, madam, the old
farm, where 1 once romped, a care
free mortal all the livelong day."
willie is such good boy" she ven-
tured, as William yelled "rats" three
times and threw up his hat.
The old gentleman suddenly let out
roar that echoed over the river.
"Wo-ww he gasped, bowling with
pain.
@Mercy, mel" exclaimed the woman,
staring.
"Why don't you teach your boy some
manners? He has just stuck pin in
my leg!"
aBut he is only harmless child.
sir"
"Wow-w!"
"And his conduct carries you back
to the early days"
"Wow-w!"
aAnd youth fades so quickly, SIR"
Wow-w, ma'am, wow-w, l say~
"And il reminds you of the days
down on the old farm "
"That will do, ma'am," he gasped,
rising and glaring at US all, Il see,
ma'am, that am in the presence of q
spoiled child, your sweet William.
You expect we should all sing and
dance, but you are mistaken, ma'am
mistaken to the utmost. / predict,
ma'am. that your boy will grow up
burglar and horse thief, and if he
doesn't break his mothers heart before
he is twenty-one my name is mud,
ma'am, mud, say!"
And he flung himself out the door.
Then mamma took little Willie to her
arms and did exactly what all mothers
would under the circumstances.
She called William her darling boy
and kissed him on the dirty nose.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-12-07

The Sad Story of the Shark and the
Buoy.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-12-07
A Good Reason.

First Boy-Why do they call all goats
Billy goats and Nanny goats! Why
don't they call 'em George goats, and
Johnny goats, and Jimmy goats, an
so on?
Second Boy-Why, goats look so
mu ch alike you can't tell 'em apart.
so wot's the use of havin' dif'rent
names?-G0od Nea0s.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-12-07
Christian Unity.

Lady Parishoner (who is i'll and mas
received many kind attentions from
various denominations )-"Father High
tower, will you please thank Mr.. Low
ly in my nameP"
Father Hightower Ga high-church
priest with his head in the air)-"II
am sorry to decline butt can't do it.
He is methodist parson.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-12-07
whipped ..the Bull of the Woods"

81 had the distinguished honor to
be the companion of Abraham Lincoln
in one of his fatboating expeditions"
said David G. Stephens, one of the
pioneers of Illinois. Furthermore,
the great martyr-President became my
champion and thrashed man on my
account, and he thrashed him good. l
was a boy of Is, rather delicate, and
my father, who. loved Lincoln as son,
sent me on trip with him, hoping
that roughing it would improve my
health. We had tied up one night at
a small landing where there was a
tavern. A fellow who called himself
the bull of the woods and who had
several snifters of corn juice under his
belt, came aboard looking for trouble.
Lincoln was lying down asleep on the
soft side of pine plank, with one
brawny arm for pillow. was wash
ing out hickory shirt, and the in
truder tried to souse my head into the
bucket of soapy water. Lincoln awoke
and told him to let me alone. He paid
no attention to the future great, but
picked up the pail and jammed it down
over my head. almost drowning me.
When l got the soapsuds out OF my
eyes sufficiently to see, Lincoln had
him by the collar. was holding him so
that his toes just touched the deck,
and was planting terrible kicks under
his coat tails with his No. II cowhide
boot. l visited Lincoln at the White
House shortly after the outbreak OF
the war. He presented me with Cap
tain's commission, remarking: The
bull of the woods has broke loose
again. '"-,St. Louts Gi06e-DenaocrGt.
The smooth raised edge running
about the face of modern coins and
inclosing the device as a frame in
closes a picture not only adds great
deal to the beauty of the piece, but
serves double utilitarian purpose,
first to protect the design from wear,
and second to afford horizontal sur
face so that coins may be piled up YER
tically one on top of another without
danger of topping over. As soon as
the raised edge is worn from coin it
loses its clear beauty of design and
fast degenerates into mere charac-
terless disk of metal. Owing to the
long rest which metallic currency had
in this country during the reign OF
greenbacks and shinplasters United
J States coins are remarkably clear cut
and well preserved. Even coins
minted before the war retain part Of
| the milling.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-12-07


81 think said the Shark, as he sharpened his
tooth,
''That whistling Buoy doth whistle too
The tune that he whistles is very uncouth,
And might have been writ by man in Du-
Whose knowledge of music is heavy and
Dutch.
He whistles all night, and he whistles all
day,
He hangs on one note It'll he drives me nigh
mad,
He whistles it too in the drearest way,
And pays no attention to what we all say
1 think him strangely rude sort of a lad.
complaints by the whale he has always ig
nOred;
The critical shad he has ever disdained.
The whale of the sea is the monarch, the lord
The mind of the shad with great learning is
stored
His treatment of these the whole ocean has
panied.
''And I have resolved that the nuisance must
The whistling Buoy must whistle no more
His proud iron will to our wishes must bend
His manners disgusting I'll force him to
I'll bite him in two-nay, I'll bite him in
fouri''
The Shark then swan out where the big Buoy
To chew him all up and to make him be-
He opened his mouth just as wide as he could
He snapped at the Buoy, as he said that he
would,
Then sank out of sight meath the ripping
wave,
Poor Shark All his teeth-every one, good or
bad
Broke Off as they struck on that Buoy SO
red.
The Buoy went on with his whistling sad;
The Shark never spoke, for the voice that he
had
sped.
And strange to relate, now his mouths so
misshaped,
No sound can he utter except a small hoot,
Which, when from his throat it has fully es-
capped,
And over his palate and tonrue if has
seraped,
Is just like the Buoy's sad tooting toot.
CARLYLE Smith. in HArDnr'S Young PeOnA
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-12-07

The smallest representatives of the
sheep species are the tiny "Bretons,"
natives of Breton, France. When full
grown they are not much larger than
q rabbit.
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-09-09

The number reported in 1890 is 79S, being
more than ten times as many in this single
year as reported by Mr.. Warner for the
eighteen months covered by his statistics.
Available statistics show that in Great
Britain, the paradise of tariff reformers,
3,164 strikes occurred in 1889. The British
board of trade officially report / ,O3S strikes
in 1890, with 392,9sl persons involved in 73S
of these.
1t will be seen by comparison Of the
relative number and Importance of strikes
in the United States and in Great Britain
for the year 1890 that the number was
much greater in the latter country, and
that the number of persons involved was
more than three times as great In proper
ton to the number of persons engaged IN
useful occupations in the respective coun-
tries.
In the recent strike in the Durham eng
lish) district 100, 900 coal miners went out
and remained idle from March IL to June
!, when they accepted u reduction of 10 per
cent. in wages. This strike involved the
closing down of 100 blast furnaces in addi-
ton to the suspension OF mining operations.
The statistics submitted by the senator
from Missouri confirm in a striking man
ner the judgment Of every intelligent OBJ
server that there has been remarkable
freedom from strikes and labor troubles In
this country since the passage of the tariff
act Of 1890. j. can be said that at no time
in the history of the country has labor been
so constantly and profitably employed
and at such satisfactory wages as In the
period referred to- No person in the Unit
ed States with the capacity and willing
ness to work is out of employment.
1t Is true that a reduction of wages has
taken place in limited number of estab-
ishments producing iron and steel; but
the fact should not be overlooked that even
with this reduction the average wages are
still much higher than in any Of the other
great industries. The earnings In some
departments are exceptionally high; for
instance, the average net earnings of bar
rollers in all the Pittsburg mills Is $15.25
per day, and the net earnings in wire rod
rolling are even higher than this.
1t Is perhaps proper that I should say
word in regard to the condition and earn
ings of the operatives in Rhode Island.
That they do not work for miserable pit
lance Is shown by statement which I
submit and Will have printed in The Rec
ord Of the relative wages paid in cotton
mill in Rhode Island and one in Oldham,
England, showing the much greater wages
In Rhode Island. The mills have each
about $4,000 spindles and make the same
kind of goods.
Instead Of working at starvation
wages" the working people of my state
are enabled from their earnings to live -
we'll and - comfortably as any simjlaE
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-09-09


In published letter against the use which
had been made of his figures. Mr.. North's
calculations of tho relative shrinkage OF
the two grades OF wool establishes the fact
that the difference In their actual value
was about equal to the wool duties levied
by our tariff. The Australian woods are
sold skirted, while the Ohio woods are not.
For the purpose of showing the actual
cost to an American manufacturer of a
pound of secured domestic wool purchased
in the United States as compared with the
cost to his English competitor of pound
of secured wool of similar quality in Lon
don, submit the following table, which
shows the average annual price for each
Of the twelve years, 1881 to 1892, inclusive,
of a secured pound of fine Ohio fleece in
the United States ard of average Aus
tralian fleece In London:
COMPARISON OF PRICES OF OHIO AND AUS
TRALIAN WOODS.
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-09-09

This table shows a decline in prices In all
cases varying from 2.8 cents per yard to lit
cents per yard.
[The senator then pointed out that cot
ton velvets and corduroys had sold very
high previous to 1872 that Americans
then attempted to manufacture them,
when foreign manufacturers at once re-
duced the price 30 low as to drive the
Americans out of the market, and that,
though the prices have since been raised
and are little higher than when the Nc
Kinley bill passed, they are not yet 30 high
as In 1857. He presented the proofs and
continued:
Bearing upon the question as to whether
an increase has taken place in the price of
table cutlery. will state, upon the au-
thority of Charles S. Landers, of Landers,
Frary e. Clarke, of New Britain, Conn,
large table cutlery manufacturers, that
the prices on the entire line of goods manu-
featured by them are at least ~ per cent.
lower now than they were In October,
1890, and that no advance has taken place
since that time. 1 will print Mr.. Landers'
letter In The Record.
In regard to the price of pocket cutlery
have received letter from Mr.. w. +.
Rockwell, of Miller Brothers Cutlery
company, which contains the following
statement:
"As to prices on American pocket cut
lery, many patterns have not been adj
vanced at all. Several styles that have
been sold below actual cost have been adj
vanced so they now pay a small profit.
1.-THE average advances do not exceed 10
per cent. to the jobbing trade. The mar
gin of profit between the jobber and con-
sumner was sufficient, so there was no rea-
son or necessity Of advancing the price to
the consumer, and IL has not been done.
1.-THE wages OF pocket cutlery workers
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-09-09

1t will be observed that the ad valorem
rate ON all importations for the fiscal year
1892 was 20.65 per cent, the lowest rate
since 1861, and u lower rate than the aver
age imposed by the act of 1916.
An analysis of details of both imports
and exports will develop the fact that de-
sirable changes have taken place in the
character of each. The exports of manu-
featured and other articles, exclusive of all
farm and agricultural products and pc
troleum, ar ounted in value in 1892 10
$237, 665, 370 This value of expectation #
manufactured articles, ETC., it will be OBJ
served is g., 600, 900 greater than the total
average annual value OF all exports for the
period 1847 to 1861.
also present table, which / will have
printed, showing the value of the exports
Of the leading products for each year from
1888 to 1892, inclusive. The amount of
duty per capita collected during the fiscal
year 1892 was $262; that is, less than half
the relative amount collected in 1872, the
amount for the latter year having been
1928 per capita.
These statements and comparisons must
be extremely gratifying to every patriotic
American. They show beyond any posi-
bility of doubt that the expansion Of our
foreign commerce was accelerated rather
than narrowed and limited by the act Of
1890, as stated by the senator from Mis-
souri,.
(The senator then quoted the oft pub
lished statement that wool growers re-
ceive no benefit from protection, referred
to a recent statement by Mr.. s. N. d.
North, secretary of the Wool Manufac-
turers' association, pointed out that his
reference was to woods of very different
kinds and continued]:
Il is true, however, that the statement
furnished by Mr.. North does apply to
specific grades Of wool and TO grades that
for many years have sold in London and
the United States at substantially the
same prices. They are, however, sold in
their respective markets in very different
conditions, and the net cost OF cleaned
wool to purchasers is widely different.
The senator from Missouri was not aware.
I am SURE, that Mr.. North had protested
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-09-09

1t will be noticed that the Farr Alpaca
company, of Holyoke, Mass, quote double
and single warp coat Innings at lower
rate in July, 1899, than in either of the
previous years The other quotations sub
mitted by me are the prices at which the
goods manufactured by the five leading
American producers of women's and chill
dren's dress goods sold their product at
the respective dates named. These quota
tions show decline in price in every case.
These quotations refer only to domestic
goods; but very large proportion of the
goods of this class consumed in the United
States is produced by the domestic manu-
facturers, who have practically the con-
troll of the American market.
1t can, however, be conclusively estab
lished that the cost to import the great
mass of women's and childrens dress
goods Is less today than it was before the
passage of the act of 1890, and it is GER
tainly true that both foreign and domestic
goods of this character are sold at retail at
lower prices now than they were prior to
October, $780, 1 have been furnished by
Messrs. William Ii. Burgess g. Co., of
Paris and New York, with a statement
showing the foreign cost and the cost to
lay down in New York, duty paid, of all
wool cashmeres, standard quality, IL to 13
twill Other descriptions of all wool dress
goods vary in price with these at fixed
ratio This statement shows that the cost
to import the goods in question, duty and
other charges paid, in 1887, was 44.2 cents;
in 1885, 42.S cents; in 1880, Ala cents, and
in 1892, 40 cents per yard. Vhis would
seem to clearly establish the fact that for
the great mass Of women's and children's
dress goods used in the United States the
cost laid down in New York to the import
er is less today than it was prior to tariff
changes.
In regard to the price of astrakhans there
Is very little to be said. The demand for
this fabric is extremely limited, and fluc-
tuations in the price are of very little i'm
portance to the people of the country. I
have, however, been furnished with sam
Piles and a price list of astrakhans of do
nestle manufacture by the Goodall Wor-
sted company OF Sanford, Me. This list
shows that the company referred to sells
54-inch astrakhans, so ounces in weight, at
1898 per yard net to their customers, or at
81 cents per yard less than the cost Of i'm
porting similar goods, as reported by Mr..
McKeever.
submit table showing the compare
tive prices at which silk sleeve Innings
were sold for consumption prior to Oct
ober, 1890, and in 1892:
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-09-09
COMPARISON OF PRICES OF OHIO AND AUS
TRALIAN WOODS.
Price in
London of
A 1919

Average dl1ference Tor the tweIve years, %
cents.
The price of the pound of clean wool is
of course the only test of actual relative
value to the manufacturer, as this fixes
the cost of his material.
l also submit a table of prices for the
years of 1881 to 1891, inclusive, taken from
a similar statement published by Justice,
Bateman & Co., of Philadelphia. In this
table the comparison is made between
Ohio medium fleece and New Zealand
crossbred, and the quotations for each
grade are the average price for each year:
COMPARISON OF PRICES OF AMERICAN AND
AUSTRALIAN SECURED woOLS
Justice, Bateman e. Co. s Bulletin, May e. 1902 /
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-09-09
FOREIGN COMMERCE OF THE UNITED STATES
FORTS AND EXPORTS.

No other country can show such a record
of expansion and development. 1t will be
seen that the excess of exports over I'M
ports, or balance of trade in our favor, was
500, 944, 342 in 1892, an excess of exports
over imports that has been exceeded in
amount but three times in the history Of
the country.
The following table shows the percentage
of free and dutiable importations under
each of our tariff laws enacted since 1S47:
IMPoRTATIoNs UNDER THE VARIOUS TARIFF
LAWS, FROM 1S47 TO 1S92-PERCENTAGE
OF FREE AND DIJTIABIE
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-09-09


The finance committee also Investigated
for the same period the course Of whole
sale prices at the great distributing Gen.
ters. While this investigation disclosed
greater fluctuations in price of the articles
selected, the general result was the same,
the fall In Wholesale prices running sub
stantially parallel with that Of retail prices.
It will be observed that the greater per-
centages of decline are In the groups of
manufactured articles, where it was
claimed the greatest advance had taken
place.
In addition to the inquiry stated above
the committee caused retail prices OF the
different articles included In these lists to
be taken on May 1, 1892, at three Of the
points at which the original inquiry was
made-namely, Fall River, Mass, Chicago
and Dubuque, Ia. The result of this latter
inquiry shows that still further decline
In prices and in the cost of living had
taken place between Sept. 1, 1891, and May
], 1892, clearly establishing a continuance
of the tendency to lower prices and lower
cost of living.
It Is shown as a net result Of the investi-
cation that prices and the cost of living,
based on the expenditures of a family In
ordinary circumstances, had declined 8.4
per cent. in May. 1892, as compared with
the period prior to the adoption of the
tariff act of 1890.
II Is difficult to see how the results of
this thoroughly exhaustive inquiry could
be surprise to any one, unless he should
be professional tariff reformer. The de-
cline in the cost of living was, as shown,
a.. The advance In wages, as shown by
the same report, was rs of per cent. This
makes an average advance in the purchas-
ing power of wages Of AIS per cent. As
Stunning 5000 as the average income Of the
families of the country, this would be
equivalent to, say, SOS per family, or an
aggregate saving for 100000 families of
o826, 000, 900 for each year.
The addition Of this vast sum annually
to the national earnings and wealth is an
achievement which speaks with q more
eloouent voice than can command in be-
hall Of policy under which such results
& 2 ~ asalaeenA 1hae vhIle - eoss
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-09-09

of living in the United States declined for
the period covered by the investigation of
the financial committee the cost of living
In England increased 10 per cent. IL the
conditions had been reversed our Demo
cratic friends would have insisted that
this was the direct and logical result Of
rival revenue systems. | am curious to
see what explanation xhey will now make.
The result is unquestionably very sur
prising one to them and one which they
will have difficulty in explaining away.
While the attempt to compare average re-
tail prices in England and the United
States is not satisfactory, am convinced
that for a family buying the same quantity
and quality of articles at retail in the two
countries the cost of living would not
be higher in America.
At no time IN our history have the earn
ings of the American people been as great,
measured by their power to purchase the
comforts and necessaries of life, as they
are today. Measured by the same stand
ard, they are vastly greater than those Of
any other people in the world.
THE senator here analysed a table pre-
pared by Mr.. Daniel McKeever, of the
importing firm of III. Herman Sternbach g.
Co., of New York, and previously quoted
by Senator Vest. He demonstrated that
the astrakhans, velvets and silk Innings
mentioned in the letter are luxuries and
that the articles of that class in common
use are now cheaper, as shown by the fol-
ling table in the official reportl:
PRICES OF COAT Innings AND wOMEN'S AND
CHILDREN's DRESS GOODS.
Coat Innings and Ital- 'Is saS' IISSai' lSaSS'
ian cloth Cents Cents Cents
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-09-09

class of people in the world; and their
savings, averaging nearly 1900 for each
family, deposited in the saving banks of
the state, furnish the best evidence Of
their prosperous and satisfactory condi-
ton. These savings, accumulated since
the Inauguration of the protective policy
of the United States, are greater per capita,
/ believe, than those of any other indus
trial community in the world.
THE senator here read letters from S. N.
d. North, secretary of the American AS
ISOLATION of Wool Manufacturers, and cited
much other evidence showing that the
Warner list of strikes was grossly exag-
gerated, the same instance being set down
several times. He presented other evil
dence of advance of wages and continued:
In no class of people in the United States
has the improvement in condition been so
marked as in the farmers during the period
under consideration.
The prices received for farm products
subsequent to the passage of the act of 1890
show an average increase on all crops of
1857 per cent. The percentage of increase
on many important articles-corn, for in
stance, at 47per cent.-was greatly above
this average.
1t will be seen by an examination of the
report of the committee that the advance
in the average price of all cereals. the COM
putation being made according to their
relative Importance, was $3.50 per cent.
The price received for meats of all kind
averaged per cent. higher in September,
1891, than in June, 1885,
The most striking result shown by the
inquiry was the fact that while there was
considerable decline in the prices of man.
ufactured articles which enter into general
consumption there was an advance in the
price of nearly all agricultural products;
and if it had not been for the great decline
that took place in the price of sugar, owing
to removal of duties by the act of 1890, that
large portion of the cost of living which is
embraced in expenditures for food would
have shown an increase instead of diminu-
ton.
While farm products advanced, the prices
of those articles the farmer has to purchase
declined as per the following table, the
price prior to passage of the act being rep
resented by 100: