davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bossier banner., 1894-04-05
TOLD BY THEIR FINGER TIPS
Male Pickpockets Almost Invariably Are
Constant Cigarette Smokers

constant Cigarette smokers
"In my entire experience" said a
well known Chicago police justice, II
do not remember single pickpocket
who had white finger tips. The very
last one of them is a cigarette fiend
and the juices of tobacco stain the ends
of the digits dirty yellow"
He proceeded to declare that so in
fiexibly is this true that when a culprit
is brought before him on charge of
emptving pockets and reticules the
state of the finger tips is accepted as
corroborative evidence of innocence or
guilt
The Chicago pickpocket is nervous,
wiry, shrewd, alert and illiterate fell
low whose work demands stimulus
which does not exhilarate, and he finds
it in the cigarette, which he fully be-
lieves is charged with some hypnotic or
narcotic drug. He does not, as rule,
affect opium direct, although many of
the female experts are pronounced
morphine fiends.
However unpalatable to national
pride it may be yet the fact remains
that nearly or quite all of the Chicago
gentry are natives of the United States.
They are graduates of the streets and
slums, have no knowledge of books and
never read the newspapers for the best
of all reasons. While shrewd and able
to talk glibly, yet from the standpoint
of the grammarian they talk badly.
Nothing can be more admira BILE than
the adroit manner in which they con-
duct their cases when under arrest
They make no confessions under
sweating" processes, but frankly ad-
nit their offense-if caught in the fact
and the stolen property is found in
their possession. 1t is significant, how
ever, and a sad commentary upon the
efficiency of the laws administration
that SO few of the light-fngered reach
Joliet. They are frequently arrested,
but readily furnish bail and by means
of continuances and divers other de-
vices contrive to stave off trial until
prosecuting witnesses disappear or die.
Nothing will daunt them and they
''carry off things" in the court room
with as decided nonchalance, if not
with as great elan, as the Artful
Dodger under the same trying circum-
stances.
The proftableness of the vile trade
is shown in the fact that when arrested
the pickpocket almost invariably has
money provided for his defense, The
most successful ones invariably dress
well and spend money freely. 1t is
scarcely possible to estimate the ex-
tent of their depredations, for the
reason that their dexterity is such that
large majority of the victims have no
consciousness of the robbery. When
they finally miss their pocketbooks,
diamonds, or other valuables they con-
clude they have lost or mislaid them,
and, deciding that what has been lost
is gone irrevocably, they say nothing
about the matter.
The Bossier banner., 1894-04-05

1t is peculiar what reverence other
wise lawless and turb bulent people have
for the national emblem. This is ex-
emplified by little story that Chaun-
cey NJ Depew tells of a stumping ex-
perience of his when he was a very
young man. He was assigned by the
manager of the campaign to address
an audience in a rough neighborhood,
where but few days before another
speaker had been pelted with stale
eggs and ancient vegetables. Having
this experience in mind, Mr.. Depew
objected to making the address They
may stone the next speaker" he said,
land l don't relish that treatment. "
''Oh, no, they won't" repiiei the cam-
paign committeeman. just drop the
American flag at the back of the plat
form and all around it. The roughs
won't throw things at the flag; they're
too proud of being Americans. The
experiment was tried and found to
work like a charm, for though men
had prepared to throw things, they did
not do so in consequence of their liabil-
ity of insulting the colors if they
missed the speaker.-N Y. Herald.
The Bossier banner., 1894-04-05

man places her on the grass, and kneel-
ing beside her. with clasped hands,
prays with all the fervor of his soul.
His faith is strong still, and as those
rough men look upon the old mans
face, turned to the silent heavens, they
learn lesson that even his words could
not teach them.
Days pass by. The moon is rising
over the rolling sea, flashing over the
waves a myriad of lights. The earth is
very beautiful this peaceful night.
Strolling along the shore are father
and daughter, but Mabel is sadly
changed, and the old man looks older.
He is talking in that soft, hopeful
voice, that, somehow. always brings
Mabel comfort in her grief His hat is
in his hand, and his silvery hair waves
in the gentle wind. Mabel thinks he is
very beautiful; and so he is with that
brave faith which no trouble will
shake.
mabel, for the first time in my life
feel how weak my words are l feel
that were your mother in my place, she
could comfort you as l can never hope
to do. Yet even your dear mother could
not sorrow with you more than J."
Papa, you are very good. No one
could comfort me more than you; but
there is TO comfort for me. All hope
is gone now. Oh! Herbert, why did 1
love you so dearly?"
''All will come right 1t will; indeed
it will"
"You bid me have faith even now,
papa?"
II do. bid you have faith and hope.
See, darling! Look at that glorious
sea, and the earth. Their presence
should always raise your hopes and
faith"
But, papa, what are they to me
when l have lost Herbert? Oh, it is
cruel. it is wicked!''
''Hush, darlins You do not know
what you say in your grief Kneel
down, my child, and we will pray that
he shall come to you"
Softly the waves break upon the
shore, and the moon streams over ia
ther and child as they kneel side by
SIDE. uttering their silent prayer. Then
step falls upon the ground, voice
breaks the silence:
"Mabel!''
Mabel springs TO her feet The next
moment she is clasped in her lovers
arms, her lips meet his, and she lives
again.
The silvery light OF the moon falls
upon the lovers clasped within each
others arms, and upon the old mans
upturned face, as he kneels beside them
The Bossier banner., 1894-04-05
. "a LITTLE NONSENSE"

--Adele-"Would you marry man
simply because he is rich?" Mabelle-
mo, but would try very hard to love
him. Atlanta Journal
Blessings brighten as they take
their flight Home is too often a
bower of bliss only when it is a left
bower-Boston Transcript
When we see young father Wheel
ing his perambulator for the first time
in the street, we obtain a realizing
sense of the joys of carriage and pere.
-Tit-BitS
Accounted For. Mr.. Mcbride
''Old man, why is millinery so fright
fully expensive?" Mr.. Gazzen-"Be-
cause it is billed that way"-Detroit
Free Press.
-Bunker-''I was fool enough yes
terday to tell that doctor of yours that
YOU sent me- Hill-"What difference
did that make?" Bunker-"He made
me pay cash. IN. Y. Herald.
They can't make monkey of
me- insisted the orang-outang.
"Well," innocently remarke,& the boa
u llhC W sec biLCL1 u W
pull my leg Detroit Tribune.
Newspaper misprints are often
amusing. One of the funniest have
lately seen is the reference to "Mr.
Hanson, lazy vicar and solo tenor, St.
Paurs Cathedral" That printer had
obviously never heard of "lay" vicar.
London Figaro.
-Glibby-"A man can never make
anything out of politics unless he's a
hog" Gabby-"I don't know. I've
been in politics good deal" Glibby
-"And never made anything? Oh,
well, there are always exceptions, you
know. Boston Transcript.
-"Porterr said the man who finds
fault. there's draught in my section
of this sleeping car" well, sir" was
the reply, accompanied by an out
stretched hand, "Dar ain but one way
ter git rid oh draft" whats that?
"Cash it t"-Washington Star.
why do you use such peculiar
terms?" asked lawyers wife of he
husband, who had returned hom,
worn out by his days labors. Idon'
zee how you could have been working
all day like horse" "Well, my dear,
he replied, 1--WE been drawing con
veyance all day. Isn't that working
like horse?"-Green Bag.
The Bossier banner., 1894-04-05

thousand storms. However furiously
the huge seas dash at it, leaping madIy
to its very summit, shaking its rocky
foundation, still that light shines
brightly from Eddystone's tower.
But upon this stormy night, though
the light reveals the peril, a vessel is
striving in vain to avoid the Jagged
rocks; while each moment the fight
grows more hopeless. The group of
fishermen watching upon the shore
know that her death is very near,
though they are powerIess to aid. On
ward she is hurled towards the rocks,
round which the sea is seething mass
of foam; then she is still; the waves
leap madly over her, crushing her to
pieces in their fury.
Even when the night has grown too
dark to see the vessel the fishermen
remain gazing across the stormy sea as
the tide rolls up the channel. When
day dawns and every eye is turned to
the spot where the vessel struck, she is
no longer there.
And all through the day the wreck
age is washed ashore; then they learn
the vessels name, and hasten with the
news to the rector. The old mans
heart is filled with sadness as he seeks
his daughter to break the news to her;
he breads to cause his beautiful child
pain, yet he knows how great her grief
must be. For upon that vessel her af-
fianced husband was coming home to
claim his fair young bride
my poor little Mabel" the old man
said. with tears in his eyes at his child
wild grief Herbert may have escaped.
Have faith, my darling. All will come
right Indeed it will, poor little Mabel.
There is :,cps."
There is none, papa, for me. Oh,
why did he make rue love him so? Is
1t wicked to love anyone so dearly?"
"Assuredly not, Mabel. If the worst
has happened, remember, this life is
very short. It is the other life we
should consider"
'Oh, papa! How can 1 think like
you? You are good; but I am wicked.
he is lost to me, and my life is ended.
have nothing left in all the dreary
world"
Il hoped you loved me, darling" the
oio mau said in a low, troubled voice.
The Bossier banner., 1894-04-05
HEROIC CURE FOR LEPROsY.
FiJ!ans Rubbed with a Native Plant and
Then Steamed Over a Hot Fire.

FiJ!ans Rubbed with Native Plant and
Then Steamed Over Hot Fire.
The Talmud reads: "These four are
accounted as dead-the blind, the leper,
the poor and the childless."
A singular fact in connection with
the disease of leprosy is that although
this terrible scourge has stalked abroad
throughout the known world, and has
gathered its thousands of victims since
the earliest historic times, still, even
unier the searching glare of the light
complete remedy has as yet been dis
covered.
A curious custom in vogue about
thirty years ago among the Fiji Island
ers was we'll known in Australia at the
time. 1t seems the natives were wont
to endeavor to cure the victims of
Ieprosy by the smoke of the plant sinu-
gaga (Excoecoria agallocha).
Not even those who had been poi
soned by handling the deadly juice of
this deadly plant could form any ade-
quate conception of the tortures en-
dured and the heroism displayed by a
Fiiian who voluntarily submitted him
self to trying the cure of his leprosy by
the smoke of the sinugaga. The pa
tient, usually already half dead
with the ravages of the fearful
malady, as last resort was
taken to an empty house and stripped
of every article of clothing. His skin
was rubbed all over with the green
leaves and he was then buried in them.
A fire was kindled in the center of the
room and a few pieces of the sinugaga
wood laid on it.
AS soon as the black smoke began 70
rise the leper was bound hand and foot
and rope was fastened to his heels,
by means of which he was drawn uu
over the fire, with his head about fif.
teen inches from the ground. The door
closed, his friends retired short dis.
tance and the victim was left to shout
and cry and plead while suffocating
from the intense steam and smoke. lie
was often left there to endure this
agony for hours, and finally he tainted
away.
When his relatives considered it time
to interfere, the fire was removed, hi:
entire body scraped from head to foot
and gashes cut into the flesh, from
which the blood poured in streams. H,
was then lowered from his uneomforta
BILE position and laid on mats to awai
the result.
In many cases it meant life and resto
ration to health, but in some cases tn
constitution was not vigorous enough
to endure the terrible ordeal, or tn
disease had gained too strong a holt
upon the sufferer, and death release,
him from his tortures.-N Y. World
The Bossier banner., 1894-04-05

The air is hot and sultry. The sun
streams down with power never felt
in England. Many men and women
stand by the harbor watching the great
vessel speed on her voyage to the other
side of the world; and many women
are weeping, though, God knows, they
will weep more bitterly when they
learn the end of that voyage.
Suddenly the crowd is parted and a
young man dashes up, followed by Il
manservant carrying a portmanteau;
look of despair is upon the young
mans handsome face, as he gazes at
the vessel speeding on her way.
''Surc, now," observed the manserv-
ant, fiinging the trunk down, and seat
ing himself upon it, while he gazed
complacently at the departing vessel.
Your honor's grand runner entoire-
ly. If we hadn't just missed that
blooming boat, we would have caught
it to certainty"
1t is very certain thing that when q
man is angry it is imperative he
should have some one to vent his rage
upon. The young man could scarcely
vent his spleen upon the young ladies
who were looking at him compassion
ately, for he was very handsome, so he
turned on his servant.
''If you joke about it, Pat, I'll fling
you into the water" he cried, savagely
Sure, now, that would be blessing
entoirely: if the ladies would only just
let me take off few of me clothes
Golly, it's hot There's one consola-
tion, your honor. If we've missed the
blooming boat, and it looks as though
we had, We'll be in plenty of time for
the next. The next boat amt gone,
and chance it"
The ladies laughed. The young man
looked very angry. Taking a cigar
from his pocket he mechanically light
ed it; then as the full force of his dis
appointment fell upon him he savagely
flung the cigar on the ground, and Pat
The Bossier banner., 1894-04-05
NUMBER 6.
PERSONAL AND lMPERSONAL.

The duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
dnds that technically he cannot give
up that S50,0J0 a year from England,
although anxious to. There are some
very sad things connected with the pro-
fession of reigning.
United States Senator James Nc
MILAN, of Michigan, sent s5, 900 recent
ly to Detroit for the benefit of the un-
employed, suggesting that it be used to
give work to those who wish and can
get no other employment
Sir Charles Dixie said in debate
in parliament: 1.-THE most dan gerous
Illusion any inhabitant of the United
Kingdom can have is that we are pop
ular power. We are probably the
most unpopular of the great powers.
Hosea Sprague, of Homer N. Y,
is one hundred years old He was
born in Brimield, Mass, but has lived
in Cortland county since 1891. He is
very active and is quite wrestler even
now in his old age His wife is eighty
three years old,
The earl of Lovelace, who died re-
Gently at the advanced age of eighty
eight, was not only the husband of
Byron's only child, but he was direct
descendent of Henry VII and Lady
Catherine Grey. He was an architect,
landscape gardener, and an engineer.
Mime. Emma Seller, German
woman, first discovered the mechanism
of head notes, the highest tones of the
female voice. She devoted herself to
the study of the larynx at the dissec-
tion table, and was rewarded by find
ing two small cartilages in the vocal
chords which produced these sounds.
Roscoe Howard, of San Diego, Cal,
has presented to the Smithsonian insti-
tuition a white king eagle from Ecua-
dor, where it was captured in the
Andes, and said to be the first one of
its species ever brought to this country.
1t is magnificent looking bird and,
although only six months DID, weighs
nearly fifty pounds and is about three
feet six inches in height
"A young Chinese woman has been
trying for some time to get medical
education in San Francisco in order to
practice among her own people. For
GuFee years Sne mas Deeu supporting
herself by nursing in Chinatown, but
has now made application for admission
to some of the hospitals of the city,
only to have her application refused
because of her race.--Seattle Post-In
telligencer.
Martin Backus of Saltwater Mimi,
is said to be the most absent-minded
man in the northwest. The other day
he forgot an engagement to marry un-
til three hours after the appointed
time, and then he remembered it, but
the name of his affianced bride wholly
escaped his mind. By the aid of the
young woman's father and two broth
ers and shotgun his memory was re-
freshed and tragedy averted.
Mrs. Jennie Atch1ey, of Beeville,
Bee county, Tex, is the most extensive
breeder of queen bees in the world.
She is the mother of eight children;
who, with her, do all the work of her
large apiary. She has between eight
hundred and one thousand colonies of
bees, devoted exclusively to queen
rearing. and has sold about five thou
sand queens this season. She receives
orders from all parts of the globe.
The Bossier banner., 1894-04-05
Stub Ends of Thought.

A woman's words are not always an
advertisement of what is in woman's
heart.
When woman believes she never de-
ceives.
Sweethearts build air castles in which
they expect to live when married.
1t isn't always the full pocketbook
that runs over first.
A person doesn't worry much over the
lie he isn't caught in.
Self-conceitis is vulgar fraction whose
numerator is 'I'' and whose denomi-
nator is mine"
Everybody should be trained to tell
the truth judiciously.
Bad habits are material evidences of
weakness.
A lie is an investment which seldom
pays more than one dividend.
Mercy is the feminine gender OF
jus tice Detroit Free Press.
The Bossier banner., 1894-04-05

A ghost haunts ship. The mate
has story of it every morning. One
night the captain watches the mate, sees
in his sleep into the cabin. There he
takes water in pipkin, scatters it
about and, still asleep, goes back to
roost. Next morning the mate tells
how he had awakened, seen the ghost,
followed him into the other cabin and
besprinkled him with holy water. He
was quite honest in his statement; he
had been somnam bulistic and remem-
bered (Which seems uuusual) the hallu-
cinations of his sleep walking. Proba-
bly, more ghosts than we generally al
low for are to be explained by somnam-
bulism m-Blackwood Magazine.
The Bossier banner., 1894-04-05

It is beautiful summers morning.
The clear waves fall softly upon the
beach though they are leaping at the
lighthouse out at sea. The cattle are
browsing upon the rich pasture in the
distance, and on yonder hill is the rec
tors UNCOVERED church, beneath which
rests his lost wife. The old man is
upon the shore; his daughters arm is
within his; they are watching the tug
thas has been to relieve those watchers
at the lighthouse. MabePs beautiful
face is deathly pale and one little hand
is clasped to her heart. This is her last
hope, and she feels how weak it is.
Some of the passengers in that ill
fated vessel may have gained the light
house.
Presently boat is lowered: men leap
in her; their oars fash in the sunlight,
and the boat speeds towards the shore.
The rector places his arm round Ma
bells waist, and she sobs aloud. The
fishermen walk from them and watch
the boat draw near. But they know
too well there is no hope.
At last thenews arrives. None land
ed at the lighthouse that stormy night,
every soul was lost. Mabel hears it,
and sinks in her fathers arms; the old
The Bossier banner., 1894-04-05

But then I am not much to YOU. I
sa i.ar may not have quite fulfilled your
Gear mothers trust"
W. papa" cried Mabel, fiinging her
q: arms round her fathers neck, and Sob
E sns on his bosom, while he kissed her
sU.aen head. Dear, dear papa, for
S.se ss me. l love you better than nv
80, out loved him better than my
u'' and now he is taken from me-"
h.. Days passed by, and the sea gave up
rsa rss aead; but no living person came to
n;sSa ah' sne terrors of that stormy
orsn e wnen the great ship sank to her
wraa, w.. IL was but another spot on the
10 ';.ii ; the old rector hoped, and tried
hrsaas Insult his faith in his daughters
,.oss .sas. But day by day poor Mabel
"ouio wander by the sea shore with a
The Bossier banner., 1894-04-05

picking it up smoked it while he gazed
serenely at his master
81 don't believe you would care if
you were going to be hanged to-mor-
row." cried the young man, angrily.
Sure. now, it would save the bury
ing, Mr.. Herbert. There was cove
telling me yesterday that the mail boat
sails in a fortnight, and that she's bound
to overtake that old tub that has been
and gone afore we was riddy."
why didn't you tell me SO before?"
Didn't like to excite yer honor.
There's always a way out of difficulty.
Sure there's Il way out of this one"
What is it, Pat?" inquired his mas
ter. lighting another cigar, which he
did not throw away.
go and have a lemon squash, and go
by the next boat"
Pats advice was certainly practical,
and seeing there was absolutely moth
ing else to do, Herbert followed it, His
first intention was to cable to England,
stating that he had missed the boat his
friends were advised he would return
by; bu. then the belief that the mail
would arrive before the other vessel
determined Herbert to leave matters as
they were, and view the situation with
that calmness and complacency that
Pat exhibited. But that same storm
which wrecked the first vessel delayed
the mail steamer and she arrived three
weeks behind her time
The Bossier banner., 1894-04-05

ITH fierce gusts
the wind sweeps
a C r o S S t h e
ocean, lashing
the mighty bill
lows into fury,
and h u r l in G
t h e m w i t h
t h u n d erous S
roar upon the
shore. And far
out at sea shines
the light from
that grand old
tower w h i c h
has braved a
The Bossier banner., 1894-04-05

look of such deep misery in her beauti-
full blue eyes that her father scarcely
dared to meet that sorrowful gaze.
And every wave that burst in silvery
spray upon the shore sent a shock of
agony through her breast; for she
knew her darling lay beneath those
glittering waters.
The Bossier banner., 1894-04-05
THE MERRY HEART.

The merry heart that laughs at caro-
Reflects heavenly light.
That makes the dreariest prospects fair,
The gloomiest pathway bright;
The merry heart that laughs at care.
Needs neither rank nor pelf;
Content it's thornless crown to wear,
And rich within itself;
The merry heart that laughs at care
Is fit for any fate;
Nor fortune foul nor fortune fair,
Can change its equal state;
The merry heart that laughs at care
Sees good in everything.
Feels summers breath in winters air,
In deserts finds spring;
The merry heart that laughs at care
Will best the maxim know
That he that doth contented fare
Is happiest here below;
The merry heart that laughs at care
Hath faith for guide and friend,
And hand in hand will walk with her
Serenely to the end:
Charles W. Hubner, in Atlanta Constitution
The Bossier banner., 1894-04-05

I'm 1866 the states of Illinois, In
diana, Iowa and Kansas lacked but
seven of the number of divorces
granted in France; Ohio, Texas, Penn
sylvania, New York and Wisconsin
jointly equaled Germany; Austria had
three more than Kentucky; Italy had
two more than Connecticut; Belgium
had twenty-nine more than Georgia.
The Bossier banner., 1894-04-05
AVOICE FROM THE STORM.
BY S. CLARKE HOOK.

copyright, 1892, by the Author.l