davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-10-23
The Ancient BetrothaI King

The ancients wore the betrothal ring
as now, on the next least finger Of the
left hand. Many reasons are assigned
for this, as the erroneous idea that
vein or nerve went direct TO the heart,
and therefore the outward sign of matri-
mony should be placed in connection with
the seat OF life; the left hand Is sign
of lnferiority or subsection; the left hand
is less employed than the right, and the
finger next least the best protected At
one time ii was the custom TO place the
wedding ring on the right hand OF the
bride. The Anglo-Saxon bridegroom at
the betrothai gave a we'd or pledge. and
a ring was placed on the maiden's right
hand, where ii remained till marriage,
and was then transferred to the left
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-10-23
erful trunk about the man old Elephas
asked IL he reInns nhercd him

erful trunk about the man old Elephas
asked IL he remembered him.
II have not the honor" began the other.
But the Infatuated beast cut him short.
But remember your" he cried. You
were once little boyi'
"Oh. heavensl SO / was! ! have been
discovered" cried the now thoroughly
frightened man.
HORRIBLE HORRIBLE!
You know the rest. The shrek OF de-
monaic rage, the earthquake in Japan,
the crunching, grinding sound of bones,
the verdict OF the coroner's juryl I need
not dwell upon 1t. Is II not an indellble
picture I'm all our memories?
A friend OF mine who has an inquir-
Ing mind and n mania for rash expert
ments. once said that he did not believe
the story. He hadn't any faith In the
Sunday school books to begin with, and
he had less than no faith at all in the
warlike qualities OF the pachyderm
"Ha, ha!' said he to himself "Ratsi
NONSENSE ] Will HE me TO the lair Of
the elephant and make a damphool OF
the picture booksr
SO he bought an accident insurance
policy and yard OF Black Snake war
ranted to knock man-o' -warsman out
OF the 'gallantskys1 in thirteen sec
onds. The rest Of the story tell as twas
told to me. l regret TO say l was not
present.
A TERRIBLE BEAST.
The elephant which he picked out to
experiment with was a reputed man
slayer, terrible beast who was alleged
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-10-23
MRS. MARTINS RESIDENCE.

Her training and her education have
been peculiar. Practically she is self
made" Hardly a day Of schooling has
she ever had In her life. What she has
learned has come by her own efforts. by
travel and by conversation with those
who have visited her mother. Her views
are those OF her mother, with very
slight modification, the old Victoria pro-
paganda put on a new and scientific
basis and expanded. Now she has started
upon labor studies, and insists that more
than nine hours a day OF work stupefy
a mans brain and in time renders him
useless Again she seeks 10 found q new
aristocracy Of blood, and is collecting
scientific data.
Some OF her views are very unique.
She appears in the Humanitarian as
Mrs Zula Maud" az am over age"
she says, land / should be no longer a
MISC any more than young man should
be a Master d"
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-10-23
pear. So II was with the Martin dwell

Ing.
Even when seated In the drawing groom
II was impossible TO realize that this was
the abode of one of the most noted social
reformers of the past fifty years. 1t
seemed merely the home Of one of Lon
don's social queens. I felt as If [ was
simply calling on little Mrs. Nobody, very
mediocre, but altogether charming and
understanding just how to furnish
house.
This impression died away, though, as
the conversation, which subsequently en-
sued deepened into the reform channel,
and as | was shown through the rooms
laden with bits of quaintness and odd
and bizarre articles OF yirtu. Old shops,
the Continent, the East. every eonceiy-
able place had apparently been laid I'M
der contribution for making the house
unusual. II was an unexpected phase 10
find these two political women so
thoroughly imbued with artistic knowl-
edge and taste, and living in the midst OF
such decorative charm. After air even
In social reform circles, pictures are mucn
more attractive when they are framed
in gold"
The front door opened into narrow
hall, and thence UP a short Hight or
steps a rigid young butler or insular
dignity ushered me into the drawing
room. A touch OF an electric button. a
very unusual addition 10 an English
house. flooded the room with brightness.
The room was decorated In warm, DELI
cate pink tint. over In one corner was
that dainty little arrangement OF soft
sillten strips, SLEEPY Hollow, told about
tn last Sundays Herald. is interior OF
pale olive In perfect sympathy with the
delicate pink. The chimney piece, reach
ing nearly 70 the ceiling. was of rich
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-10-23

most charming homes in London would
seem sufficient to induce any lady TO lay
aside schemes OF social reform.
But Victoria Woodruff, now the wife OF
John Biddulph Martin. the great London
banker, in spite Of her comfort and her
social rank in London, is leaving it all to
commence a new campaign in American
politics. A portentous document entitled,
The Declaration Of InGer)dependence,"
heralds her new advent as the presiden-
tial nominee Of the Womans Rights
party.
She does not come alone. Second only
to Der in this campaign Is Zula Maud
Woodruff. her daughter young. dainty,
but another Victoria Woodruff for all
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-10-23
A CHARMING EDITORIAL ROOM"

OF historic interest is the library. There
is the editorial seat of the Humanitarian,
that recently started monthly, published
here, in England and OH the Continent,
which will rival in its peculiar interest
the Woodruff & Claflin's Weekly Of more
than twenty years ago. Mrs. Martin
edits II and Miss Woodruff is enrolled as
associate. The feature Of the library is
the old mahogany fireplace and the doors
taken from the house Of the old Mar
quis of Salisbury, father Of the recent
Prime Minister.
A dainty boudoir up above, with win
dows on the broad lawn, shut off by high
walls from the rest of London, is done
in bamboo and unique panels painted on
the silk. There is a wealth of Doulton
china and service, and it is said that at
few houses in England are so pretty and
perfect dinners served. At these times
the table is lined with scientific and lit
erary folks.
The lawn but sets off the house. Stand
ing far back on it one has his first chance
10 admire the quaint old structure. The
oldest jasmine in England clings to It's
gray stucco and brick, and over the
newer walls ivy grows. The house was
once the home OF Thomas Cook, the
artist. Fifty years ago it looked across
the Thames and upon the Crystal Pal
ace. Now brick and plaster shut off all
the view. The older portion is full two
hundred years old.
The lawn at night may be made as
bright as day by means of electric wires
strung through the trees and globes hung
everywhere. 1t is no uncommon thing for
Mr.. Martin TO sit there after dark on
summer evening busy with his books
and papers.
happier family than the Martins 1t
would be hard 10 find. The only hitch"
If | may so call IT, to Victoria Wood
hull's coming campaign is that her hus-
band cannot bear TO have her leave Eng
land. Fortune has dealt kindly with
John Martin and his famous Grass
hopper" that banking house Of Lombard
street that Is now nearly century old.
He can count his wealth by the hundred
thousand pounds, very nearly up to the
million dollar mark.
And yet both Mrs Martin and her
daughter outside OF their bric-a-brac
and decorative tendencies, have the sim
piest Of tastes. Never q particle Of jew
elry does Miss Woodruff wear save
brooch at her neck. Not a solitary ring
is to be seen on her hands.
Victoria Woodruff is but little changed
from her platform days. Her voice is
sweet and low her face calm and yet
mobile Her hair is well tnged with
gray. but she is still young. On the
stump this fall her old power will be
seen.
MRS. ZULA MAUD"
But the interesting study as you sit
there Is Zula Maud, the daughter of her
mother" She is a curious and tantaliz-
ing mixture of the very modern girl, for
she has dangerous eyes, and the young
woman with a mission. Daintily dressed
and booted with no signs Of the blue
stocking" about her manner, she is yet
positive I'm her views and an fndefau-
gable writer. In her you see a combina-
ton OF the practical woman and the
artist the realist and the idealist, the
pessimist and the optlmist. Well read
she is and a bright talker on almost
every subject.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-10-23

to have hurled various unhappy rnortals
into eternal smash for trivial offences.
/ will not mention his name or habitat,
but I advise visitors TO the Park TO walk
with care lest perchance they step on
him. l will not say that his name is Tip,
for I know the libel laws and don't pur-
pose to stir up an irascible gentleman
who might resent it.
The story Of that interview as related
by my friend would draw tears from the
eyes of a potato
He offered the big beast a bun or two,
just to establish friendly relations be-
tween them The latter was not naughty
about it, but reached out his trunk for
more as an elephant will always do, no
matter if you have fed him with barrels
Of buns already. He tucked the Ameri-
can morsels away among his Asiatic
whiskers and smacked his curling under
lip as II to say that he was the greatest
connOsseur on buns that existed on the
block He tried to look dreamy and dolce
far niente but his little sharp eyes were
not made to do sentimental business with.
so this part Of his programme was a
signal failure. But he always reached
out after more. He never forgot his
lines in this regard.
MEASURED him UP.
At last. by way Of preface, my friend
hid away a chew Of tobacco in one Of
the buns and passed that over to the
awaiting trunk. The mammal put II in
the usual pgeonhole framed by the lip
which curled, but not in scorn. He
chewed upon II a moment then stopped
and looked my friend over as if he were
taking a mental measure Of his size with
reference to a possible coffin Deep lines
appeared on each side of his trunk. CIV
ing him a critical and, my friend thought,
a disguised appearance.
Now for it!' said the bold investiga-
tor to himself, closing his eyes and pre-
pairing TO initiate man slammed against
a wall But the expected slam did not
eventuate, and when he opened his eyes
again that bad, bad elephant from Asia
was chewing away with might and main,
while q seraphic smile beamed on its
gaunt features and ruffled up its high
and classic and somewhat mouldy fore
head. 1t was evident that bun la black
snake had caught his critical fancy.
SWALLOWED 1T ALL.
If there is anything which excites the
wrath Of my friend more than anything
else 1t is the thought that some one has
been deceiving him. He cut off big
chunk of the sweetened plug, with its
dehciously mingled flavor Of sugar barrel,
nicotine and stable, and recklessly passed
it over to the mankiller. The latter rolled
it under his tongue as If it were a box
Of bonbons, and reached out his nose
fingers for more. He was given the rest
of the plug. 1t seemed to meet a long
felt want for he chewed away upon ii
contemplatively with a faraway grunt
in his eye and then swallowed it with a
look of intense satisfaction and looked
around for more.
A package OF cigarettes and the half
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-10-23
Search the Gsrret.

Have you an old wood-bottomed rock
ing chair either in the garnet or cellar
or in some other part OF the house? II
so. and you want TO add a chair that is
comfortable and by no means unsightly
TO your belongings, get some enamel
paint Of any color that is in harmony
with the room in which you wish TO use
the chair, and after painting II and let
ting ii dry add a cushion, headrest and
pads for the arms and II will then prove
a most satisfactory piece OF furniture.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-10-23

BbA NJ NlfhbLh 1--WE
which dwell In the big heart OF the
Elephas Indicus and frighten us with
anecdotes about his indelible memory for
one who has rendered him an injury and
his scrupulous methods OF paying debt
of hatred.
II were guilty Of some OF the stories
which have passed current for many
years l would rub in the oleomargarine
and ask old Tip 10 begin the swallowing
at his earliest convenience.
THAT TALE OF WOE.
I remember one story which used TO
curdle the blood Of my youth. ! would
like 10 catch the author OF it in some
lonely spot Either he or l would be put
10 sleep. for l owe him a debt Of many
sleepless nights, in which 1 was haunted
by the spectre OF mad elephant charg-
ing upon me and flattening me into a
CORY grease spot against some wall, which
was not greatly improved by this al fres-
co frescoing-no joke intended.
The particular yarn which used to give
me the nightmare-or night elephant
related how a boy once gave an elephant
a chew of tobacco, by way Of a practical
Joke.
The elephant did not say a word at the
time although he was not partial to to-
bacco. But in that vast and wonderful
mind OF his-which was pictured as sort
OF safe deposit vault. with pigeon holes
and an alphabetical index, on which lie
registered sights and injuries for future
adjudicaton-he stored away mental
photograph of that youth. marking it
Exhibit a" / presume, for the elephant
of youthful lore was always pictured as
a model Of methodism
Time passed on. The youth grew TO
mans estate. was married, became bald
headed, and the father Of twins. One Of
these scratched out his left eye, and
buzz saw took off his nose. His mother
met him on the street and did not know
him. He was pitted with smallpox, and
yellow with jaundice lie had lost a leg
in the war and an arm by being run over
by brewery wagon. A Herr Most beard
covered what was left Of his face. He
had forgotten that he ever was a boy
and he looked no more like his own
youthful self than a tramp looks like
one Of Murllo's cherubs.
WONDERFUL MEMORY.
But did the elephant forget? Nay.
verify Stored away in one of his mental
pigeon holes was that fatal Exhibit A.
1t was a photograph OF a boy and a chew
OF tobacco. Sdeath, Carambo! Re
Venge-e-e-e-ei
one day, when the elephant had fallen
from the high estate Of a greatest show
on earth and had become mere super
numerary in a zoo. an old. old man. with
one eye. no nose, and an off leg and arm
missing. hObbled In.
He looked at the elephant and the ele-
plant looked at him.
The man remembered nothing, but the
woe is me!-he looked
through the disguise which years and
happy marriage had made. and saw the
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-10-23
A Cholera Scare.

A reported outbreak OF cholera at Hell
meta. n. j.. created much excitement In
that vicinity Investigation showed that
the disease was not cholera, but vio-
lent dysentery. which Is almost as Sc
we're and dangerous as cholera. Mr..
Walter Willard. a prominent merchant
OF Jamesburg. two miles from Hemetta.
says Chamberlain's Collie. Cholera and
Diarrhoea Remedy has given great sat
isfactlon In the most severe cases OF
dysentery. 1t Is certainly one Of the
best things ever made. For sale by
Owens & Minor Drug Co., 1907 east
Main street.
II ant of oedsr uso Beeoham's pilla
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-10-23
zULA MAUD Woodruff,
rho Unknown Daughter Of Fer
Mother,
DEVOTED TO THE REFORM CRUSADE.
Young Pretty and Artistic. But still q
champion of Woman's Rights-A Hand
some Girl and Chip Of the Old Block.

n American there
is In England who
has many privi-
leges we all envy.
Would you not like
this condition?
To have English
and Continental
society and its ar
tistfc and literary
circles at ones
feet, to be assured
OF an immense in
come. and to pos
spSs one OF the
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-10-23
THE TONE OF VOICE.
Its Influence ia Quickly Felt by LittI.
Folks.

Folks.
Few mothers understand how wonder
fully even little children are Influenced
by the tone of the voice, the touch OF
the hand, the very atmosphere they
breathe. How quickly and how surely
a pleasant, quiet tone brings a pleasant
answer while just as quickly an impa-
tient, irritated tone begets an impatient
answer. Many mothers do not realize
this, nor do they understand how easily
very little children may be taught to be
orderly and neat, to be thoughtful for
others, to enjoy being helpful to mother
and father, If only they be made part
ners in the concern and the enticing I'VE
will do so and so" be substituted for the
disagreeable you do so and So" II
is noticeable that even young children
dislike command, while a request or a
pleasant assumption on the part OF a
parent that child will do certain things
usually is acceded TO with pleasure
Standard.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-10-23
pyAurryuL Irourryo xrrECrs.

vases filed with palms.
BEAUTIFUL LroHrNa xFFECTe.
The feature Of the room. though. was
Its lights In the centre was chad
delier Of Venetian carved wood. with III
tie Cupids holding up the incandescent
globe. Around the rooms sides. now
ever, the lighting was even more bizarre.
Ostrich shell pendants hung from the
ceiling by silver chains fastened to sill
yer bands clasping them. Just peeping
over the tops of these shells were the
electric globes, producing the effect OF
vessel filed with oil and gently glowing.
Little dainty silk shades OF soft hued
pink hung over these, shielding the light
and toning 1t down.
The drawing-room does not monopolize
all the artistic fancies Of Mrs. Martin
and Zula Maud. Together they have
travelled and collected bric-a-brac and
quaint furniture wherever they have
been. Probably the most exquisite thing
in the house is a round centre table,
which was exhibited at the Vienna Elk
hibition Of 1873 and was the life work OF
an Italian artist. 1t is made of amboyna
wood. rare because of its great value.
Inlaid In the most delicate of mosiacs all
over the top Is a curious design OF a
SPIDERS web. and around the edge are
series OF MOSAIC medallions OF the great
musicians of the world Collectors call
1T the finest table Of the kind in exist
ence. Certainly its value is almost price
less, and 1t is we'll known in London
that the Prince OF Wales has more than
once cast envious eyes upon 1t for his
own palace.
The dining-room furniture Is quaint
and dainty. It's covering is the old Turk
ish Saddle bag material, old and scarce
and rare. Of no decided tint. but with
colors blending together such rs is to be
seen in genuine Persian rugs or Paisley
shawls. The hall and the doorway lead
ing from 1t into the drawing room arc
copied from one OF the PonIpeiian houses.
The decorations are Of deep ecru and
Pompeiian red.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-10-23
s.lYeu AMnu

The domestic" Fashion Review land
Guide to Home Dressmaking), fall num-
Der, book of 104 pages, 13x1S inches
containing 1,400 illustration of garments
for ladies' misses, children, boys and
men-a twenty-five cent book-given
away with each twenty-five cent DO
nestle" pattern you buy between this
date and November LIST.
Domestic Sewing Machine COMPANY,
No e0o Main stnaAk
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-10-23

smoked butt of nickel and bust" cigar
went the same road. And still my friend
did not die The next time that the ele-
plant came he got savage jab with a
pin. He retreated with a squeal of ter
ror as far as his chain would let him,
and stood swaying back and forth while
his great limbs trembled and he seemed
to say TO the unsuccessful suicide club
Of one: For Heavens name, young man,
spare my life. l am not prepared to
die / know that you are brave and
strong. Why don't you tackle fellow
Of your size? l fights only wild me
mout-see?"
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-10-23

.s.o~v and the Sunday school library
Nook conspire with the Snowman and the
..,,,at keeper 10 keep the small boy I'm
state of trcmble.
,.sis conversation took place in Central
D., where lives Tip. the colossal Asiatic.
NO stands ninety-seven hands high in
g.. cooking feet and receives callers and
...,..e from he early morning until the
...s down. The mountainous mass
- er..i and low deceit heard II and his
,t.r, s,es twnkled with mischief He
-rmrl up his high and bulging forehead.
..tf.b looked Ike the husk Of n particu-
lo-.v raDhy COcoanut, until his frOwn
actually made a shadow In the room.
1le rolled 10 and fro like a ship in a
heavy ground swell. and. raising his
v.rinlllcd trunk until he showed his tusks
and teeth. ne emitted a shrek OF rage
which had all the power of a steam
s~en and the melody OF a buzz-saw
working against a five-penny nail.
When the frightened crowd picked
Itself up out Of the dirt outside the door
and brushed of It's holiday habiliments 1
thought detected a furtive wink passing
between him and his keeper. l Will not
swear 10 fl. but it certainly looked that
way As for the questioning small boy.
BE- had disappeared without waiting for
the butter.
The elephant is one Of the blacklist
scarccrows I'm the bright lexicon Of
youth. Men of piety and wisdom OF all
ages have seemed to think 1t just as proper
% lie about the wretched pachyderm as
IL is TO cheat in a horse trade. Even the
natural history books beguile us with ro-
mances Of the kindness and affection
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-10-23

well-polished wood. Mrs. Martins own
design. Quaint. tiny reproductions OF
famous statues stood on 1t. and It's cner
d'oeuvre was pair Of great white marble
vases filed with palms.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-10-23

boy behind Il. He reached up into the
left hand pigeonhole. on the upper tier.
30 to speak, and pulled down a mouldy
and worm eaten memory. II was the
tame-Exhibit A-the boy and the to-
baccOi
Winding the sinuous coils Of his pow
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-10-23
THE HOME OF THE MARTINS.

While whirling through the West
End" in a hanson one rainy night last
summer a sudden impulse led me to turn
down a narrow little street called Hyde
Park Gate, where the Martins five. Few
OF the great houses in London show their
glories to an outsider. Massive brown
stone fronts are lacking The entrances
are frequently on an unpretentious side
street, and it is only when one Is once
within that the beauties OF the home APP
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-10-23

knows that the keeper knows that 1t Is
a BLUM.
And 80 when the keeper kicks him on
the shins. or jabs him with big iron
hook, or throws big chain around him,
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-10-23

that. Should you meet this young woman
in London drawing room, she would at
first seem simply a very fin de steele girl.
A few minutes later you would learn that
she has ideas of her own. In corner or
the stairway, or behind ferns, perhaps,
bewildering theories of theosophy, psy-
chology and Brahminism would be hurled
at you. and you would discover In her
4 social reforn9er OF the most progressive
type.
The procession Of savans that have
crowded the Martin drawing-rooms have
all left their intellectual mark on this
young woman's brain. And her mother
has not been idle during her dozen years
of English social life, but has studied
her theories anew, and has trained up her
daughter In the way she should go. Miss
Woodruff will yet be heard from, and the
fame Of Victoria Woodruff will be kept
alive in a new generation.
CHANGING over some musty old newspa-
pers the other day / came across a car
toon published in 1875, which depicted
Victoria Woodruff and Tennessee Clafin
driving a Roman chariot drawn by two
bulls and two bears through the classic
shades of Wall street, while fnanciers
howled as they were metaphorically
crushed under the wheels of this feminine
Juggernaut This was just before the
great campaign for the "enfranchisement
of women" when before the House Judi
ciary Committee, Victorias forensic elo-
quence won over the gray hairs of Cen
eral Butler, impressionable, yet quite
constitutional. Now the team Is changed.
Tennessee Clafin is living quietly at
Richmond, near London, the wife of Sir
Francis Cook. In her place Zula Maud
Woodruff has taken the reins. Though
barely twenty-five, her powers are little
less than those Of her mother.