davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The weekly messenger., 1893-10-28
A Written Excuse.

l once taught a country school
in the backwoOds, and as was the
custom then, ] required written
excuse when a pupil was absent
one or more days. Some of those
excuses l have kept, and they
afford me a great deal of amuse-
ment after all the years that have
come and gone since then.
Here is an excuse brought one
day by tall, red-haired boy of
seventeen:
Dere Cir-Pleze to eggcuce
Henry for absents Yesterday. We
made sourkrout and he had to
tromp it down. Also he had to
help butcher 2 pigs.
Respectful yuers,
His Pap.
"Did your father write this ex-
cuse himself?" 1 asked.
"No, SIR" replied Henry, Il
writ it for him, cause he can't
spell very good"
1 am glad to add that Henry's
spelling improved while 1 had
him in charge. Another boy
brought me this excuse:
Kind Teacher: CAB could not
come yesterday on account of
tearing his pants very bad just
before starting, SO it took me most
all day to mend them up"
A boy of about ten years who
had been absent two weeks
brought me the following:
John Henry had a soar tow,
also soar throte and a soac ing-
er. Please egscuse." The Sou
thern Education Journal.
The weekly messenger., 1893-10-28

would oppose by such methods
the will of the people expressed
at the polls, and that there can
be no doubt that the people had
spoken through the instrumental
ity of the ballot on the tariff ques-
tiOn.
This declaration Of a prominent
Republican leader Of the silver
forces gives considerable color to
the reports which have recently
been sent out from Washington to
the effect that the Republican
Senators from the silver States in
return for the support OF Southern
Democrats have given the silver
interests, although no agreement
or coalition is alleged, will if they
do not vote for tariff revision do
nothing to aid the Republicans in
preventing the passage Of the
tariff bill when it comes from the
House.-States.
The weekly messenger., 1893-10-28

j. B. Ferran undersells every
merchant in town, he can prove
this. Call on him.
The weather is keeping cool
and dry; it is very favorable to
the sugar planter as it ripens the
cane which is already very sweet,
and gives them great advantages
in the sugar house work and for
handling the cane. Some seem
to apprehend an early killing
frost that might cause them trou-
BILE and expense in windrowing
the large cane crop in case of an
early killing frost.
The weekly messenger., 1893-10-28
The Silver Situation In The
Senate.

The meeting of the Republican
Seniors at the house of Senator
Mcmillan last night, following 80
closely upon the speech of Sena-
ator Sherman arraigning the De-
mocratic majority for its inability
to settle the financial question,
shows quite clearly from now on
that the Republicans intend to
play the game of politics and
make capital out of the impotency
of the Democrats, who, for the
first time in thirty years, are in
full control of the branches of the
government. They will point to
the .wrangle now going on in the
Senate between the silver and an
ti-silver Democrats, while the
country is in distress and loudly
demanding the repeal of the Sher-
man act, as proof positive of their
charges that the Democratic par
ty is incompetent and unfit to adj
minister to the affairs of govern
ment.
The fact, however, that the Re-
publican Senators from the silver
States declined to attend the
meeting affords ground for the
belief that they do. not intend to
act with the majority of their
party in opposing the passage of
the tariff and Federal elections
bills. and this belief is strenghth-
ened by the assertion of Senator
Dubois, of Idoha, regarding pros
pective obstruction to the passage
Of the tariff bill. that no Senator
The weekly messenger., 1893-10-28
Did Not Succeed.

The talk of the town last Sun
day morning was the attempt of
robbing Harris Nickle Plate Show
the night before, a few miles from
this city, on the Southern Pacific
railroad. while the show train was
going east. Two or three men
succeeded in throwing the iron
safe from one of the cars while
the train was in motion, also
throwing off crow-bars and a
sledge hammer, and a short while
later jumped off the train them
selves, returning to the place
where the safe was thrown off.
Owing to the darkness of the
night they could not find the
crow bars and sledge hammer,
and were unable to open the safe.
Finding that they had a white
elephant OH their hands, left it in
dispare and struck out for further
fields. 1t is said that the safe
contained something over two
thousand dollars, and found the
next morning in the bushes a
short distance from the track.
Nothing has been heard of the
robbers yet, and it is supposed to
have been some of the show crew
themselves. L. c. Commercial.
The weekly messenger., 1893-10-28
Let The Bounty Alone.

The financial interests of the
government and the commercial
and industrial interests of the peO-
pie ought to be kept out of poll
tics; this every enlightened STU
dent of history and governmental
reform will concede. 1t is simply
outrageous that business men can
not enter into arrangements for
the development OF needed indus
tries on a large scale without in
curing the danger that some eli
que amateur statesmen and anti
que theorists at Washington will
abuse the power of the govern
ment to turn things upside down.
Such uncertainty and reputation
are no better in principle than
the violence that makes business
precarious in half-c;lized States,
lest property should be destroyed
in revolution. Such a condition
of affairs is altogether unworthy
of first-class, civilized nation.
What is true of the sugar in
dustry is almost equally true of
every other industry protected by
the Mckinley law, though in, most
cases there is no expressed con-
tract that the protection conferred
shall remain for a definite num-
of years. In every such industry
capital, relying on the stability OF
the law for a number of years,
has improved manufacturing
plants and extended operations.
The United States is supposed to
be governed without force, be-
cause justice, public opinion and
reason are recognized as the 'un-
written law of the land. But
there is no justice, there is gross
injustice in the proposition to at.
tach and repeal a great code Of
tariff and bounty provisions.
which were designed to extend the
number and the scope of our in.
dustries, and which are admitted.
ly fulfilling that design. Only
fools disturb a success: only
knaves break a contract. New
York Press.
The weekly messenger., 1893-10-28
Let Us Protest.

The railroad time table was
again changed last Sunday, the
train leaving fifteen minutes ear
lier. The train now leaves at
lO:15. The mail has to close half
an hour before the departure of
the train. The mail then closes
at 9:45. This is too early for our
people to attend to their mail late
in the evening, and sometimes at
night, and make their correspon-
dence by this early mail.
The mail which leaves here at
9:45 goes to Cade and remains
there until 1:57 when the east
bond train passes at that station,
thus causing us great delay and
inconvinience.
There is absolutely no reason
for this, there is no reason or ne
cessity that this branch road
should run to New Iberia causing
passengers to lose two or three
hours in that town waiting for
train going both ways. This
change was made apparently for
the special purpose of favoring or
beneftting New Iberia regardless
of the hardship and extra labor
imposed upon the officers of this
branch train and the delay pas
sengers have to suffer and the in
convinience caused by the freight
patrons of the road. In this busy
season when this train is loafing
in New Iberia the business of the
Oil Works is suffering here be-
cause of the delay caused for the
want of time to handle the large
number of cars they receive every
day. Our merhcants are also in
convinienced, as it requires seve-
raj days before they can get their
freight which is delayed we pre-
sumo for tho same reason. If
this train was here until one
o'clock in the evening instead of
being in New Iberia doing moth
ing it could handle the large
amount of freight accumulating
at this depot and it could also do
the switching at Cade station.
1t would also be n great convi-
nience if the company would esta-
blish an agency at Cade, the bust
ness of that place is increasing,
the passenger traffic of this and
that place is also increasing, and
they should be accorded more fa-
cilities at that station.
We would suggest that the
business men of this town and
Cade take immediate action in
this matter, let them show to the
officials of the company the incon-
whence which is caused them by
this running of train to New
Iberia, aid if properly presented
to them we are sure they will i'm
mediately make the change accor-
ding to the want and necessity of
the business of this place and
Cade station.
The weekly messenger., 1893-10-28

Let our people act, and act at
once, as our business is suffering
immensely on account of the de-
Law and inconvinience we are for
ced to undergo.
The weekly messenger., 1893-10-28

Ripans Tabules cure flatulence.
Ripans TabuleS cure indigestion.
Ripans Tabrlles cure scrofula.
Ripans Tabules cure dizziness.
Ripans Tabules have come to stay.
Ripans Tabules: gentle cathartic.
Ripans Tabules are always ready.
Ripans Tabules at druggists.
Ripans Tabules prolong life.
RipanS Tabules cure hives.
Ripans TabuleS banish pain.
The weekly messenger., 1893-10-28

Ripans Tabules cure dyspepsia.
Ripans Tabules cure the blues.
Ripans Tabules euro torpid livef.
Ripans TabuleS cure iaundice.
Ripans Tabules purify the blood.
Ripans Tabules for torpid liver.
The weekly messenger., 1893-10-28
DR.. Niles Nsrvine for Nervous Prostration.
Opium Habit cured by DR.. Miles Norvine.
For Nervous Headache. Dr.. Niles Nervine.
NOTICE.
NOTICE TO PARENTS,

NOTICE TO PARENTS,
The undersigned gives Private Les
sons. in Latin, Greek. English. Algebra
Geometry. Book Keeping and OtbeI
Branches. Night School for those who
cannot attend during the day.
For Terms Address,.
FRANCIS KIERNAN,
Teacher, st. Martinville, La.
Oct -16-2-m.
The weekly messenger., 1893-10-28
nj A Pure Vegetable Tonic

| No minerals used whatever.
II Mild and wholesome effect on the
liver and kidneys.
Cleanses the Blood of all impu:
rites.
Cures Rheumatism, Cancer, Scrof:
lula, letter, and any poisons. .
The weekly messenger., 1893-10-28
FOR DYSPEPSIA
Use Browns Iron Bitters.

Physicians recommend IL.
All dealers keep it, SIG per bottle. Genuine
his trademark and crossed red lines ON wrapper.
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-12-15
McMahon and Grew.

In Paris, in the revolution of 1880, a
law student was soundly kicked by n
of the kings officers for tearing down a
copy of the ordinances placarded on the
wall. The officer was armed, the student
was not; SO the latter ran away. Nearly
a half century later-in 1879-the officer
called upon the student to bid him good
by, having just resigned the presidency
Of the French republic on account of a
radical difference with the majority Of
the national assembly on questions Of
state policy. He combined with his
adieux, also, a graceful word of con
gratulations on the students election to
succeed him in the presidential chair.
The student vas Jules Grevy; the officer
was Patrice de MacMahon, who died
ripe in years and honors.-Kate Field
Washington.
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-12-15
When Christ Was Born.

Now, it happened when the Saviour
vas born that certain wise men in the
far east had seen a star.
They knew the meaning Of the light,
and they repaired on camels across the
desert to the city of Jerusalem.
Arriving at the court of Herod they
inquired, saying: Where is he that is
born king of the Jews, for we have seen
his star in the east and have com to
worshiphim?'
Herod was sorely troubled by this
question, and he asked of the wise men
where this ruler was born.
"And they said unto him, in Bethle-
hem of Judaa; for thus it is written by
the prophet.
"And thou, Bethlehem, in the land of
Judah are not the least among the
princes of Judah, for out of thee shall
come a governor that shall rule my
people Israel"
Herod was wroth and jealous of this
new monarch, who seemed to be des-
tined to overthrow him.
He told the wise men to go on to Beth
lehem, and after they had found the Sa-
viour to return to him with the news Of
his whereabouts.
Guided by the star, which had gone be-
fore them for many weeks. they arrived
at the little home where the Saviour was
dwelling.
They fell upon their knees and wor-
SHIPPED him, and when they had opened
their treasures they presented him with
gold and frankincense and myrrh.
Hence it is that every yearin the beau
t;ful Christmastide the parents give
p esents to their children in celebration
OF the Saviour's birth.
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-12-15
Christmas Pleasantries.

Lord Henry Bentinck, though he was
shortsighted and had to wear glasses.
was an admirable rider and a most pop-
ular master of hounds. It was he who
inquired from a rash cavalier who was
overriding his hounds, "May l ask, sir.
do you smell the fox?" and who SAID to a
large landed proprietor suspected of vul-
pecidal acts, or his remarking that he
regarded a particular wood as quite a
seminary for foxes, II think, general.
you mean cemetery"
Spending Christmas with a friend,
Lord Henry was asked at luncheon by
the rector after service in a church
which had been profusely adorned with
evergreens, but in which the congrega-
ton had been small, what he thought of
the decorations. Il thought" he re-
piled, ''that there was plenty of cover.
but very little game."-San Francisco
Argonaut.
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-12-15
A Little Tin Mouse.

A Manayunk man who has a pet cat
bought one of those new tangled mouse
toys from a vender on Market street on
Saturday afternoon. When he arrived
at his house in the evening, he brought
out the mouse and began to run it up
and down the dining room floor. Tabby,
who was lying on a rug, suddenly gave
a jump for the supposed rodent. This
scared the head of the house so much
that he Jumped back and in doing so up
set the supper table, breaking nearly all
the dishes and mixing up the evening
meal into a boarding house hash. The
family dog secured the choicest beef
steak, and the cat began to lap up the
spilled cream. Mr.. Housekeeper had a
big sized row with his wife and ended
up the scene by getting gloriously drunk.
The tin mouse, the cause of all the es-
arrangement, was crushed in the melee
Philadelphia Record.
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-12-15

Some of the diseases which flesh is heir
to are contagious in every sense of the
word. A contact so slight that it does
not reach eve skin contact, but merely
contact with the air which smallpox
patients breathe, is sufficient to cause
smallpox in man. So, too, mediate con-
tact-that is to say. the handling by the
well of material touched by the sick
has been proved to be the cause of many
diseases, Of which erysipelas and scarlet
fever may be cited as examples. The
products of certain other diseases -
typhoid fever, for example-require to
be taken into the economy to become
malefcent. Still others, such as CHAMBERS,
must be introduced into the blood cur
rent itself before they are dangerous.
These facts have been proved by long
observation and are not to be disputed.
Baltimore Sun.
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-12-15
n LONDON cABBY.
Dramatic Little Incidents Connected With
the Reception of His Exact Fare.

Dramatic Little Incidents Counecbed With
the Reception of His Exact Fare.
Everybody who has lived in London
has witnessed the dramatic little Incl
dents connected with cabby's reception
of his exact fare. His hirer, having
alighted, stands on the pavement and
feels for his purse. Cabby meanwhile
leans over the railing of his seat with a
benignant and in~gratiating smile. That
smile. it may be stated at once, is a
fraud. 1t is not a genuine beam of good
nature, but is one of cabby's business
props" 1t is a smile of much mean
ing, and cabby throws his whole soul
into it. 1t is trusting and confident. 1t
insinuates that cabby feels that he has
met in you a man in whom he recog-
nizes a peculiarly generous nature. 1t
means that cabby has no anxiety. He
knows that you are going to give him
something for himself.
But as a matter of fact, if you watch
cabby closely, you will see the hollow
ness of its professions. Cabby's eyes are
very wide open, and he is scanning q
great deal more carefully than his fare
the little pile of silver that gentleman is
turning over in his hand. Then he
stretches down his hand, broad and fat,
but trustingly, assured that he is about
to be treated as a nan should be. The
fat palm ascends again, but as his fare
turns to depart, the smile dies away.
For a moment, as if daZed, he gazes
blankly into his hand; then q look Of
mingled contempt and indignation passes
over his expressive face. He turns fierce
ly on his prey.
"Ere, wot's this?" H
"Your fare" floats back to him.
MY fare!" il a tone of scathing scorn
Tiny fare!'
Then rapidly and with a businesslike
manner, as if the time for emotion were
passed now:
ERE. old ard; l wants another tan
ner."
By this time his fare, if he knows any
thing at all about cabmen, is well under
way. Cabby. standing up, dashes the
offending shilling on the ground with a
gesture of ineffable loathing, as at some
unclean thing. No good. His fare is
disappearing, unconcerned, and cabby,
convinced that the game is up, but loath
to relinquish his indignation, slowly IN
swathes himself from the folds of his
voluminous blanket, descends as slowly,
picks up the innocent shilling still more
slowly, mounts again, gathers up his
reins with one final blighting look be-
of a man who never till that moment
had sounded the hideous depths of sor-
did human nature. London Sketch.
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-12-15

Mesalliance is always interesting
when it occurs outside of u own i'm
mediate circle of relatives and friends.
A man or woman sacrifices social in
s%tincts, bids defiance to conventions and
follows the simple promptings of the
heart-and the results? D~isagreeable 20
those most nearly concerned, but fasci-
mating to the outside world. There is
no ST. ,ject so fruitful for the novelist.
A well known novel, now widely read,
was saved by this. Twill not name it,
for l cannot break literary condolences.
The writer, q favorite living novelist,
had reached a point in his story when ev-
erything. characters and events, seemed
to settle down to a deadly low level Of
dull commonplace. He was in despair.
A friend, an experienced man of the
world, gave him a word of advice: In
troduce a mesalliance. That never fails
to enliven things" The novelist did so,
and his book is selling briskly today
Vogue.
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-12-15
A SENSE OF PROPORTION.
The Potrnt Factor 1t May Become In the
Problem of Life.


Problem of Life.
Il al trying to cultivate q sense OF
humor and a sense of proportion /
heard a clever woman say the other day,
land You have no idea what u wonder
full help they are TO me-" | have since
had a practical illustration Of the potent
factor that the latter sense MAJ become
in the problem Of life, and now | fairly
appreciate her statement of the power Of
proportion.
Having fingered very late overa lore
than usually fascinating game Of chess
the night before, / was beguiled into Ri
extra nap in the morning, making me
late for the early train which | wished
to catch in order to keep an important
appointment in town.
As the sky was lowering, indicating
rain, l pulled out a pair of old shoes and
did not discover until was at the break
fast table that a little nail in one G. therD
had come through the inner sole and
was piercing my heel.
1t was too late to change tL. ID
the pricking made me cross. am quit
sure that | snarled at the dear little
woman who had increased my joys and
lessened my sorrows these several years
past, and that | scared my young folks
into unwonted silence.
l actually hobbled on my way to tht
station, the little nail stung so venom
ously, and before | arrived there | fan
cied that my shoe must be half filed
with blood from its decorations.
| hardly returned Papa Clipston'a
courteous greeting, and let somebody
else help old lady Sturgis on the train,
which neglect would have cut my wife
cruelly and ought to bring me to shame.
The Office boy skunk into the rCmotaSt
corner as I slammed into the room, and
the man from Chicago will no doubt re
tain to the day Of his death a supreme
conviction Of the disagreeablcncss Of
Bostonians as per example exhibited t.
him OF that occasion.
When at last there am q lull in tho
rush of the day, | removed the shoe and
e it out for repairs. In 10 minutes ID
came back, the offender removed, and
peace was restored.
1t was then that bright woman's re-
mark came back to me, and | felt it,
truth. That little piece Of iron, paue
trating the sole of my foot, h~l put
awry my whole body, brain. nerves and
temper.
What a gigantic disproportion be
tween aus and effect! And, besides
the consequences to myself, there was
the reaction upon my wife. making her
unhappy all day long-for, strange as it
may seem, the dear soul loves me-and
the awful example of Feasibility that I
set to the Office boy, and nobody knows
how much dislike and distrust OF Ros-
tonians was planted in that hospitable
Chicago breast, which will permeate
through generations yet unborn.
And all for q tiny shoe tack!
Don't you see now how wise it'll ould
be to cultivate a sense of proportion?
As for a sense of humor, I h..
for l can smile even over q coal bill
Boston Herald.
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-12-15
Ancient Child Burial.

There was an order in the Church Ct
England up to the year 1862, that if a
child died within a month of baptism. be
should be buried in his chrisom in lieu
of a shroud. The chrisom was q white
baptismal robe with which in medieval
times a child when christened was en-
veloped. A sixteenth century brass ia
Chesham Bots church in Buckingham
shire represents Benedict Lee, chrisom
child, in his chrisom cloth. The inscrip-
ton underneath the figure stands thus
OF Rogr. Lee, gentilma, here lyeth the son.
Benedict Lee, crysom who's soule thu pdo.
Westminster Gazette.
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-12-15
It Does Almost Seem So.

Il like the Staybolts' way Of forbid
ding their children to talk slang, or t.
call each other by nicknames. and all
that" said Mrs. Billtops y her husband,
'but l think they are almost too precise
about it. This afternoon I heard little
Mabel Staybolt asking our Clara if she
heard the Katherinedids sing last night.
Now 1 think that is carrying it to ez-
tremes, dear. Don't you%:-New York
Sun.
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-12-15
A Clerks Stupidity.

4 clerk in q dry goods store told us q
humorous incident which had for its her
oine a well known society girl. The
young man has in charge a department
where paper patterns are sold, and the
other day in walked the aforesaid young
woman anxious to buy the pattern of q
wrap for her aunt. What size?:' que
ried the clerk. ''Oh, I do not know"
answered the girl. Cannot you give
some idea?" went on the youth, anx-
ious if possible to make a sale. She is
rather large and above the average
height" laughed the fair maid, but this
answer was not n bit helpful, so she
was obliged to go away without the de-
sired pattern, but as she was leaving the
store a bright thought struck her, and
she returned to the counter, and with
evident triumph in her face and manner
announced, Il can get it now; she's 45
years DID," and she could notunderstand
why this vivid description did not enable
the stupid person behind the counter to
give her the exact size that she required.
Philadelphia Times.
The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-12-15
An English Christmastide Custom.

In Staffordshire, England, the children
when hanging up their stockings on
Christmas eve repeat the following
rhyme addressed to the good fairy of
Christmas, believing that it will infalli-
bly, insure the bringing Of whatever gift
they most desire:
Christmas fay of Christmas day,
Let me wish what wish / may.
If I think. with love, Of you
You viii make my wish come true.