davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1894-08-25
ABoy Starts a Chain Of Tragedies.

The passion for birds nesting has
led to a lamentable and remarkable
trapedy at Argenteuil. A lad named
Henri Fouquet, a farmers son, noticed
blackbird's nest in tree IN q neigh
bor's garden. Getting into the gar
den through a hedge, he climbed the
tree, when the proprietor of the place
challenged him. 1t was night, and
the young fellow, being afraid to re-
veal himself, kept perfectly still,
whereupon his challenger fred two
shots from revolver at him in rapid
succession. The lad fell mortally
wounded, and WAS carried to q hospi-
tai The father, on seeing his dying
son there, was almost mad with grief.
Rushing home, he said to his wife:
"Run to the hospital If you want to
see the voungsteT alive" The wretched
woman did as she was bidden, and the
son expired in her arms. On return
ing home another terrible shock
awaited her Her husband had hanged
himself. She rushed toward the river
with the intention OF drowning herself,
bat some neighbors ran after her anc
restrained her 1t Il feared that hel
reason is gone London News.
Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1894-08-25
A Chinese Banquet.

81 once attended swell Chinese
banquet, and was not little sur
,ri-c1 AT the wav In which some OF
IN. d..licacies were served said Wal
ter +. Logan, OF Sacramento, Cal. AZ
the Laclcde last night. After We
had discussed the more substantial
portion Of the repast aud dessert WAS
being served, oranges were placed be-
fore each guest, the skins OF which
had apparently not been broken yet
from. which the pulp had IN some mys-
teriot,s manner been removed and
four or FIVE different kinds OF Jelly
substituted in it's place. The guests
exnressel n cool deal Of as,onishmelit
as to how such an opc-atiou had been
accomplished, but their amazent'
was only increased when dish oi
eggs. the shells OF which appcarct -
he perfectly whole, WAS placed upon
the table Examination showed tho
contents ofathe eggs hal been re-
moved and the shells filled with nnta
and candy. Our host smll'ngiy re-
fuscl to tell us how sucn wonderful
results hal been accomplished, AMI
VIC left the house completely myssi'
fed. st. Louis GlobeDe nocrst.
Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1894-08-25
The Horses Ancestors.

The horse made its appearance in
Eocene times. The earliest remains,
states Stephen Bowers in a recent ac-
count Of the remarkable early animals,
are. known as cohippus, or dawn horse.
Then, in the next succeeding age, the
Miocene, we have mesohippus, and
toward its close miohippus. After
this came protohippus and pliohippus,
both in the pliocene period, and equis
in quarternary times. The early forms
were not larger than fox, and what
is more singular still, they had in front
four perfect toes and three behind.
This was especially true Of Orohippus.
In eohippus, or dawn horse, there are
rudiments Of a fifth toe. In mesohip.
pus the fourth toe is wanting, except
a small splint bone, which is not found
in protohippus. In pilohyppus but
one toe is found, which is slightly split,
and small splint bone, which Is
found on each side of the leg, as in
the modern horse. Equus, or miohip-
pus we're about the size of q sheep,
AMI protohippus was about the size OF
an ass. The geological records in
cludes the remains of forty species,
some of the latter rivaling the hors,
of to day Atlanta Journal.
Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1894-08-25
NEW EMPLOYMESr For WOMEN.

A new employment for women has
been opened by the Bank Of England.
which has for the first time th.s year
found work for six lalv clerks =
work that their quick fingers AMI
thorough accuracy enable them to
perform with great skill. Their duties
are to count and compare the bank
notes which, having been in circnla-
ton, return to the bank never to be
reissued. Lady clerks Were employed
in Messrs Barings Office four or five
years ago, where they were required
to count over the dividend warr>nts
and compare them with tho counter
foils issued for interest warrants Of
foreign loans paid by the house. New
York Times.
Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1894-08-25
Sour and Swee. on the Sans Teee.

"Upon my place at home Is an ap.
pie Gree, the fruit OF which ~ s~ee. on
one side aud sour on the other. said
G. T.. Harrington, Of Baltimore. at
the Emery. 1T has been known tor
many years that these spples existed.
but no one has ever been able to ex-
plain the phenomenon. The tree IN
mv yard is an old one. and do not
believe that It was ever grated. l
think that II Is a peculiar original
kind of fruit. One Of these apples ~
about the size OF AN ordinary Timber
twig, one side being green aud the
other having n sligh. rosy tinge. The
green side - sour enough - put
persons teeth on e,lge, while the
other II sseeter than - usually liked.
Except as a cur riosIty the .rnIt Is not
very desirable on that account, but |
have submitted J. - . number Of
Leading horticulturlsts and have never
vet found one sho ~as able - explain
aud classify the fruit. Cine .ruasi
Enquirer
Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1894-08-25

Aa---z. rremcly priegish
his prig4iehneea to such ndyantage-
or shalt | ray isalyantago AS the
suhJect Of women On that subject
b. "neli himself an lnlisputablc nu
thoI!tv" There was no reason why
h. should, FOR he was yonng as vet,
aud had really hal no special expert
ctce Of the opposite sex, but your
rises superior to such secondary
consideration as reason. Charlie rose
euper.or to II and would cxpound his
vle1s and theories nt as great leugth
nnl with as much assurance as il he
had devoted long life and highly
cultured intellect to the study Of that
pprtlcutpr hlcroglyphic which is called
woman.
He VAS great believer in what he
called Systematic training. That
to.bc treated according to O. certain
svste;n-that he had evolved from his
inner consciousness The beauty of
the system in his eyes was the fact
Tint it required no notifications, but
might with safety be vigorously en-
forced in every case. 1t could not
fail
Charlie was the lucky possessor Of
an nlAlcncumbercd estate with q very
erIu4ilcrahle rent roll, and he intend
el to find a woman who loved him for
what ho was without though for
what he had and who would have
shared mud hut or n garret with him
Just as gladly AZ she would share his
fine OLD place III Yorkshire. When he
had found her he meant to train her
on hl, lufailble system. That was
hIs programme, and it never occurred
to him To dlstrast hi, powers OF car
rylug il ont. His belief in himself
Was absolute. and the infallibilJty OF
his reasoning and judgment thing
that, to his mind, did not admit Of the
slightest shadow Of doubt
iyn Carrington, the bride elect.
Eas beauty.
\ softlv-tintel skin, satin smoot b
All yclnei like tho petal of rose !;
s.- tiufy hair that shone golden
arehtln the sunlight; clear, smiling
yo-uf Heaven, own blue, and lnno-
sent rosy hp> that looked just made
t.r the first Kiss Of love. were al
blended together IN dainty and most
fascinating whole Her manner was
'h'iu.Aiy fresh and simple, and men
-yuad' her altogether delightful
Women had their doubts of her
daHtt~ that were principally due te
TIE ch!lllihe manner aforesaid, and t
ia certain pretty trick OF looking
quickly up and then down with those
~t'ts Il44iNfNtallt ~ SS ~ - u
women, OF course, are invariably spite
tul an unfair towards their owa sex
Men. as We All know, have the me
-saoly os just and generous lude
a.at.
Wei. Eva's soft blue eyes m
t-:sL; little ways wrought dire Dc
.-.ractlon IN the ranks Of the stronse
y, hut she appeared quite uncor
), of her power. or indifferent !
l.: To a!l intents and purposes ST
VAS completely wrapped mp II II
g.aa She had promised to marry. II
~ was her law. and TO please him Il
at..r. object OF her life. In short, b
programme seemed ID fair way TO
carried ont.
Her total submission delighted hir
and he took every advantage q T.
VA, mol In him 10 show generosity
awatnain, or, indeed, 10 anything
thought weaker than himself. Hew
Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1894-08-25

Charlie Nelthorpe was bristling with |
outraged pride and wounded self-es-
TEEN when he went to pay his custom
ary visit to Eva on the day following
Lady Brown-Jones's ball. The fact
that Eva could forget herself and the
respect that was due TO him SO far as
to sit on the yeranda with Lord Dolly
for half an hour had been severe
blow to him, and he had not yet re-
covered from the shock He had re-
Trained from commenting upon her
conduct at the time, but now he meant
to take it out of her and reduce her
to the state of abject penitence that
he considered betting the occasion.
She was reading when he went into
the room, but she laid her book aside
at once
ooh, Charlie, is that you?'
Charlie frowned
"How often have told you, my dear
| Eva, that a self-evident fact requires
no asserting?" he asked in his most
dogmatic tone.
| She shrugged her shoulders.
"How often? Oh, don't know A
hundred times, dare say. You look
cross, Charlie.
Charlie frowned again. There was
an Intangible something in Eva's tone
and manner that was not wont to be
there. Something that he could Meth
er define nor understand, though he
felt it instlnctively.
81 am not cross, Eva, but / am
srieved-grieved beyond measure.
Your conduct last night caused me
acute pain, the more SO as you ex-
pressed no regret for it. But [ hope
you are in a better frame Of mind to-
Law, and ready to say you are sorry
for what you did. Until you have
done SO I really don't feel that l can
kiss you.
Charlie fully expected that this stu
pendous threat would reduce Eva to
the lowest depths OF despair and
bring her, fguratively speaking to her
knees; but for once he was out IN his
calculations. She drew up her slender
figure and pursed up her rosy lips
with an air that made him feel vague
lv uneasy. Was it possible, he Won
dered, that she intended to defy him
Yes. Her next words proved that it
was SO.
81 am not sorry" she said, "not
bit. I am glad. would do it again. :
Charlie gasped. The situation was
so unlocked for that he could not rise
: to it AL at once.
: a'As for kissing me, Eva went on
with little disdainful meue, well
vuu VIII never have the chance OF &c
ing that again, 50 you need not exclt
! yourself"
I Charlie found his voice then
. lyon are talking at random now
/ Eva, he said severely. "a bal habi
a against which have always warne
: you. viii. you be kind enough to e1
plain yourself?"
: Eva tilted her small nose in the All
and horrible doubt suddenly assaile
him. Was there could there be
. hitch in the infallible system after al
The thought appalled, HIM.
; ooh, certainly" Eva answered, :
; can do it in very few words Lol
u Dolly proposed to me last night, an
!. l accepted him"
Charlie gasped again.
But you are engaged to me-, b
/ eiaqulated "You must be mad It
can't seriously contemplate thrown
me- over for Dolly Dashwood? II
# thing impossible.'
y She looked at him and smiled.
,e Incredible as II may seem Il vol
| do contemplate Il
l. but-but, stammerej Cha
is lie, this Is very-er -extraor iinal
rs behavior on your part, Eva. Are II
8 aware that yon propose 10 treat ne
q yroet Ssshorarab'a nav .-3-ary
Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1894-08-25


fear Of retaliation. His nature as
serted itself IN his dealings with the
woman be loved, and be took the
kcenest possible pleasure in trading
on her forbearance, taxing her en-
durance to the utmost, and showing
off her plant will and obelient tenn
per to the world at large. 1t was ali
part Of the system that could not
fail.
Njnetv-nine women ont Of hun
drcdz would have torn the system to
shrels and scattered it to the four
winds Of heavens Eva Darlington
wa the lundrcdth woman. She sub
mittel to everything with the most
remarkable patience. AMI no word Of
complaint or reproach ever passed her
lips.
Bat after time she grew quieter
Her mnrrv eirlish laughter was not
nearly 70 ready "a it had been six
months ago, anil the corners OF her
pretty mouth bean to droop with
wistful c1uression that was pathetic
enoue ii to touch The hardest Of mascu-
line hearts.
Charles fricn Il all noticed the
y, !
among themselves. and applied to him
u varied selection Of opproDrlous
! epithets Lord Dolly Dashwood dis
played surprising amount OF
..uencv on the subject. 'Deastly eal
| No idea how to treat n woman Ought
/ to be horsewhippel, don't you know.
| Shall have to cut him, by Jove! Can't
stand this sort Of thing, you know.
Beyond a Joke.
Thuo sad his lorlship, and GOOD
paper.
Charlie went -on giving his petty
arrogance full play, until, as was only
to be expected, things came t. n crisis.
The wonder was they had not done 50
long before.
On the occasion Of Lady Brown
Jones's ball lie went the length o
forbidding his fancee to dance rouno
dances with any one but himself,
and, though she received his com
mands without murmur, her sou
rose in ,passionate revolt against hi
tyranny. This last test that he hat
devised seemed to her the worst .
mitted patiently to far harder ones
but we all know the feminine capacity
for swallowing o camel and stralnln9
ut a gnat, and Eva was no less incon
sequent than the rest of her sex. Th
gnat stuck In her throat and ob
stinatcly refused to be dislodged
There always must he last straw
and this was it.
When the ball was half over Lor
Dolly pnt III nu appearance, and
that moment Eva happened TO be ST
ting quite alone, Charlie had left &c
for n minute or two to speak to
| friend, and she WAS looking wlstfull
at the maze of couples that revolve
before lcr. Lord Dolly made straigt
for lsr
"Not dancing. Miss Darlington
Luck for ne, by Jove' Ripping walt;
this Have a turn
He stuck ont his elbow invitingly
but Eva turned away, hitting her lii
"No. thank you" she answered,
a low tone, II can't dance with yo
Lord Dolly
Cant" echoed his lorlshlp
"Hovs tha,2 What's up? Not il
are YOU? Not cross with mech:
, Eva shook her head.
, "No. am not III or cross, but-b1
, have promised Charlie only TO wal
I with him He doesnt like to see L
: Waiting with other men.
Lord Dolly chohed down forclh
) but inelegant remark, cleared b
throat violently. and ran his tinse
Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1894-08-25

quiet out on the veranda- A fellow
can talk there. don't you know. Come
along
and Eva went.
Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1894-08-25
The Hitch in tn System.

4 A Il l. II \ F. r
fhrore was a pIG ol
the first water. \ He
looked at all things
and discussed all
things from q su
premclv priegish b
Little Falls weekly transcript., 1894-12-28

of no value. Estimates were signed in
blank and filled out later in the Office OF
the state arditor. Appraisers were sent
out who never examined the sections OF
land which they were to estimate. The
committee state that half has never been
told, and there are grave doubts as to
whether it ever will be, SO monstrous IS the
iniquity of the whole matter.
The estimates were fraudulent, and yet
all the pieces Of land were sold the same
fall, when the worthless estimates were
entered. In addition the committee finds
that Sinclair was engaged privately By
Clark, that the latter did not even put in
the amounts reported to him by Sinclair,
but much smaller, and that the whole
matter in relation to these fraudulent esti-
mates was deep laid scheme to defraud
the state, which in reality was defrauded
out of large sum of INC sAy. The guilty
parties should be punisn-l, and the COM
1nittee believes that the incoming legisla-
ture would be derelict in its duties if it
fails to provide for the continuation of the
investigation. The committee concludes
by saying that it finds Clark's testimony
unsatisfactory and vascillating, and that
the ways of Clark, as far as they relate to
estimates and appraisals. are such as to
merit the unqualified condemnation of the
committee.
Little Falls weekly transcript., 1894-12-28
CHAPTER 4.
Approval of Estimates and Appraisals

Approval of Estimates and Appraisals.
The committee found that prior to Jan.
/, 1891, the law requiring that the ap-
praisals and estimates upon which are
based all sales of pine stumpage upon the
the school lands of the state, shall be SUBJ
mitted to the governor, auditor and treas
urer, and such sale recommended by a
majority of them, was entirely disregarded
in the state auditors Office. For this rea-
son the committee does not hesitate to say
that, il their opinion, there was not one
legal or valid approval of an appraisal or
estimate and not one legal or valid sale of
stumpage.
This conclusion is arrived at on the tes-
timony of State Aunitor Bierman and
Matthew Clark, the clerk in charge of the
stumpage record. Mr.. Biermann, when
asked if Governor Merriam had ever ap-
proved any of the appraisals, said he did
not rember and that the law would have
been complied with so long as he and the
state treasurer had signed them. Mr..
Biermann further testified that, judging
from the papers on file in the Office the law
in question had been ignored prior to the
time that he became auditor. The auditor
admitted that he only knew from hear
say that Governor Merriam had stated to
Mr.. Bradan that he knew nothing Of the
matter, and, since two constitute ma
5jority Of three, he had not presented or
Little Falls weekly transcript., 1894-12-28
CHAPTER 2.
Sale of Hardwood stunpage.

Sale OF Hardwood Stumpage.
The committee has been unable to find
any law under which the state auditor is
required to sell hardwood timber from the
school lands of the state. Auditor Bier
mann, when asked under what provision
of the statute he was making such sales,
replied: II am afraid there are none, and
have discontinued the sale of hardwood
stumpage completely"
The committee finds that thousands of
acres of school lands, valuable for farm
ing, whose value was greatly enhanced by
thrifty growth of hardwood, have been
stripped of their timber without authority
of law. That no estimates have been
made, and that in but rare instances have
the state officers attempted to estimate
the true value of the timber. When sale
of hardwood stumpage was made an arbi-
trary entry was made in the log record in
the auditors office to give the sale semi
blance of legality. BY these reprehensible
and objectionable practices the school
fund of the state has suffered the loss of
hundreds of thousands of dollars, and in
the localities where these sales have oc-
Cured many settlers have suffered loss of
taxable property.
The committee believes that the officials
who have been guilty of these unlawful
practices should be held to strict account
ability, and suggest whether they should
be prosecuted under their official bond
Little Falls weekly transcript., 1894-12-28

s.nAed to be presented to tho governor
my appraisals :or his signature. Mr..
Clark also gave it as his opinion that the
sales of stumpage had not been regular
under the law. When the matter was
brought up in the legislature it was
thought best to have the governors sigma
ture, and since Mr. Biermann's advent to
that office that rule had prevailed.
But Governor Merrirm made affidavit
stating that none of the estimates or ap-
praisals had ever been presented to him
for his signature The committee holds
that this was clear disregard of the law,
and that therefore all 1S91-1892 made by
Auditor Biermann were not legal Sales
olr. Biermann further admitted that Il
number of estimates for those years had
received the signature of Colonel Bobleter
at q later date He' said that he was led
to believe the matter was one OF mere form
only Therefore the committee concludes
that false in one thing, false in all, should
cover the case. In view Of the facts found
the committee finds as a conclusion that
not one of the sales of pine stumpage
made by Auditors Braden and Biermann
between March Z, 1885, and Jan. l, 1892,
was legal sale; that not one legal or valid
approval of any estimate has been made
by the goveronor, auditor and treasurer
embraced in these dates.
Little Falls weekly transcript., 1894-12-28
CHAPTER 10.
The State Treasurer and His Collection
Of StumpagS Drafts.

The State Treasurer and His Collection
Of Stumpags Drafts.
The committee find that tn $ disregard
of law, so far us the handling of business
connected with pine stumpage is con-
cerned, pernleates every department Of the
state government through which it passes.
The law provides that IF u party own
ing stumpage shall not pay the amount of
such draft within ten days after the said
draft has been placed in the hands of the
treasurer, the treasurer shall take posses
sion of the logs in question aud sell them:
or, in lieu thereof. turn the draft over to
the attorney general, who. shall immedi
ately proceed to collect, ETC."
The committee finds that this provision,
too, has been ignored In support of this
finding the committee cites the fact that
in a report by the treasurer made in Octo-
ber, 1893, there were $94 ,930.55 uncollccted
stumpage drafts, some of which had been
placed in the office as far back as 1884, 1889
and 1892 This is >loaning the states
money to the lumbermen to carry OH
their business, and the committee adds that
it is rare that interest is collected by the
state treasurer upon these overdue drafts.
AS u result, logs cut are manufactured
into lumber long before the state receives
its money for the stumpage. and, coupled
with the fact is added the notorious fact
that the so-called bonds furnished to Sc
cure payment of such drafts, are grossly
and notoriously worthless.
Little Falls weekly transcript., 1894-12-28
THE SPEAKERSHIP.

Plain Statement by Dan Shell, Who Means
to "Fieht Square,"
Mr.. Shell said to Minneapolis Jour-
nal man:
"Whoever started the story that I
would pull off the track don't know
me. I was brought into the field by
nv friends of the Second district, some
of whom have known for 20 years,
and I wouldn't sell them out for the
whole state of Minnesota. They told
me to enter the race, promising that
they would stand by me, and will
stay until they tell me to quit. Twill be
in the contest to the end. Shortly
after the first of the year, the Second
district members will get together in
st. Paul to canvass the situation, and
will abide by their decision on that
day. From what I am able to learn, I
am not a weak candidate. Neither
Gibbs nor Van SAINT has enough votes
to elect and I don't see why my chances
are not as good"
Mr.. Shell says he believes his
chances for the speakership are Is good
as before the Hennepin delegation de-
clared for Van SAINT. He declares that
he will not enter into combinations,
but will make square fight and stick
to the battle till victory is won by him
or somebody else.
Little Falls weekly transcript., 1894-12-28
CHAPTER l.
Sale Of Stumpage.

The first chapter of the report covers
32 pages In the outset the committee de-
clares that from an extensive research the
committee is satisfied that the sales, as a
general rule, are conducted in the interests
of the buyers Of stumpage and rarely in
the interests of the state. The committee
charges some of the ills to defects in the
laws, but nevertheless the committee be-
lieves that the state officers have been
guilty of criminal negligence for the past
twenty years in the enforcement of the
provisions Of the laws calculated to pro-
tect the interests of the state from the
depredations of unprincipled men.
The committee further states in this in
troductory chapter that it is in evidence
that sales have been conducted in man.
to shut out honest bidders by allowing
some to run up the figure, and, after filing
their bond, allow it to expire by limita-
tion without cutting any timber. After
wards the same tract would again be put
up for sale, when the honest bidder was
not present. At the subsequent sale the
purchase price would be a1 Il greatly re-
duced figure.
The committee finds that all provisions
of the permits to cut timber have been
totally neglected and that Matthew Clark,
chief of that department, failed to make
proper report to his chief on the state of
affairs, believing that the sales, where
there was competition, had not been con.
dncted fairly and honestly.