davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Monticellonian., 1894-12-21

smile appeared upon his face when Rube-I call hitn Rube because that was the name hiS friends gave him presented himself and stock in trade.
 Apples, oranges, peanuts, bananas, specially selected and shipped from Florida for this identical train? Buy some fruits of the tropics, sir?'
 Not to-day, thanks
 "Of course not; l knew you wouldn't fool away money on this stuff 1 was just trying to be funny, you know. i Men of the world like you and l must relax little now and them no offense, hope. l know you society men are apt to be little stiff with strangers. But most of you fashionable fellows are good-hearted, after all. And to- morrow Christmas, you know"
 '0h, l understand; that's all right, replied the fattcrcd youth.
 Its pretty gay sort of a life you fellows lead, reckon. 1 never was in society myself, but I've read about it considerable in Ward McAllister's new book, Society as I Have Found It. Queer duck, McAllister; spose you know him personally. His book is all the rage with the Four Hundred, and something you'd appreciate. I've got one copy here, and I don't mind giving you the first show for it. :"
 The young man seemed to be gratified by these remarks, and did not conceal the self-conseious expression of his face as he took the volume and turned over the leaves.
 What does it cost?" he inquired.
 "Well, the price marked on it is fifty cents, but you know it's the last in the lot and getting mighty rare. But I'll let you have it for seventyfive cents, seeing tomorrow is Christmas.
 Well, the young man bought the book and probably had his moneys worth, as he seemed deeply interested in its contents from that time forward.
 The volunteer next attacked me, and had no serious difficulty of swindling me out of twenty-five cents on a five cent package of cough-drops, which he declared would cure any disorder of the human system in a miraculously short time.
 The seat in front of mine was occu- pied by typical priest. Now, I never saw but two types of travelling priests one the German and the other Irish. i This one was unmistakably Irish quite willing and ready for tourna- ment of wit-and match for the ire prcssible drummer. His sharp thrusts at the salesman were applauded by the little coterie of friends across the aisle. It seemed to me that the cunning Rube was purposely laying himself open to give pointers to the priest. However that may be, he managed to leave his reverence poorer by silver dollar, but in an excellent humor with himself and all the world.
 The industrious salesman had by this time proceeded beyond the range of hearing, but was steadily gaining in popularity, and as he progressed shouts of mirth greeted him. Almost every one entered into the spirit of tie enter prise, and his stock was considerably diminished before he had passed out to enter the next ear, fer it was the smoker, and if he had successfully broken th. e in our ear he was just
The Monticellonian., 1894-12-21
the man to reap harvest amongst .he

the man to reap harvest amongst she democratic and anarehistic smokers.
 The original and only train boy was an interesting sight. His despondency had evaporated. He no longer put me in mind of Q sick chicken on rainy day, unable to find comfortable shell ter; his despondency had taken wings. He no longer dropped, but sat erect in his seat. His dough-colored face took on c mahogany tint. The dull eyes were sparkling with a new light. Hope had given him back his manhood and courage. He could appear before his humble family in the character of protector and provider. He could re- spond to the welcome home as every true man loves to respond with some new comfort for those he loves. He would come home with good tidings for Christmas; for the jolly Samaritan had sold enough in our car to insure his hopes
 But here comes Rube, returning from his labors with an empty basket and but two volumes of the disreputable literature which forms the bulk of sup ply for the trainboy- Mistakes of Moses and Nance" There Is a smile lurking beneath his mustachc-I can detect it by the dimples in each cheek and there is sunshine in his eyes. Six feet of you, Rube, and every inch of you man! l would like to shake hands with you, old fellow, for there is a big heart humping under your vest; a heart in proportion to your great body. No doubt you are a sinner. Rube i've are all sinners, for that matter), but you are saint on this Christmas eve. People disposed to be critical may deplore your lack of dignity and the cynical may say you have made an ass of yourself; but that will not trouble you, old fellow. Your face is aglow with a brightness brought from heav- enly places, that ridiculous cap on your head is a crown of glory to you. Rube You have preached for me an eloquent sermon, a lesson of uses. You have shown me that sentimental emotion is of no value or account. Benevolent wishes are moral vaporings unless they find their ultimate in doings. The gifts you possess you have cheerfully laid on the altar of charity, all unconscious of having done anything for your own glory, delighting only in the joy you have bestowed upon your neighbor-a Merry Christmas, Rube, and a Happy New Year!-Frank Beard, in Rams fIS,.Y,
The Monticellonian., 1894-12-21

those who have enjoyed the blessed cX- perience of home and the associations
 united family circle; a season when memory opens her portfolio and points out to us the pictures of the long ago from which time has taken all dis eordant colors and mellowed them into beautiful harmonies; an hour when mems hearts are more tender and sym pathetic and more easily prompted by benevolcnce.
 The travel was comparatively light on the through express, for most of the commercial runners had managed to finish mp their work and were already rejoicing in tho comforts of home. Of course there are others than drummers who travel, but the drummer is the staff of life to the passenger service and hotel enterprise, so l mention him first. There were but four commercial men that l recognized as such on this special train, and as usual they were making the best of the occasion with story and joke and merry conversation. Having reversed one of the seats with out permission or and of the conductor, a button hook saving all such cere- mony, four of them sat facing each other, forming a jovial group-more noticeable, perhaps, on account of the gloom which seemed to envelop the other passengers.
 There were about twenty-five pill grims occupying the ear, comprising the usual varieties of character to be found under the circumstances. The train boy had passed and repassed through the train all the afternoon laden either with his burden of well-worn paper covered novels, or his basket of posthumous ripened fruit, but his stock had not appeared to diminish any in spite of his industry. By the weary and discouraged expression of his coun tenance it was evident that trade was not very lively. The train boy in this case, as in most cases, was a man in years, but still short enough in stature to be called boy without absurdity; one of those unhealthy and weak-lool1 ing mortals who are unintereSting to anyone except their own near kin. The train boy seated himself in an un- occupied corner next to the group of drummers, and taking from his pocket meager handful of small coins began to count them over lie seemed to de- rive little comfort from this occupa- ton, for he soon replaced the ID lney in his pocket with an audible sigh.
The Monticellonian., 1894-12-21
4 POINTER FOR SANTA CLAUS.

A little lady, quaint and small
 tShe's five years old and growing tall)- About these short December days, When each shop window is ablaze With gorgeous toys and colored lights, Indulges In strange fancy flights She said to me the othor day ~ When santa Claus comes out our way How do you think he'll get his pack Down thro' our narrow chimney stackY Il write to him the day before To come right in tt our front door. " You see, he never could bring down That lovely doll ill silkGn gown
 Ne saw at Smiths-and then her bed And furniture upholstered red
 Why-he would have an awful time Attempting on our roof to climb " And, then. Just think of all those toysl I'm sure they d make an awfnl noise As he dropped down, and that would wake Us up, while to his heels he'd take For. don't you know he is so shy He will not come where folks may spy' I'll just address a letter now
 To tell him what to bring, and how And, then, for fear the post might miss, If you re down town please tell them this When santa gets to our house that He'll find the key beneath the mat!"
 George E. Bowen, in Inter Ocean.
The Monticellonian., 1894-12-21
A Bank Tragedy.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Ia, Dec. 17.-John Huntington, remittance clerk in the Citizens state bank of this city, shot and seriously wounded T. \. Hayden, of Chicago, and A. Cromwell, of Nin- neapolis, respectively superintendent and inspector of the Fidelity and Cas- ualty Co.,, of New York city, and then committed suicide by shooting himself through the head, yesterday morning, at about l1:l5 o'clock, in the private of flee of the bank, at the corner of First avenue and Main street. Huntington had misappropriated $500, of the banks funds, and detection stared him in the face
The Monticellonian., 1894-12-21
The Convicted Labor Leaders Hold Con
 ference.

CHICAGO, Dec. f5.-The convicted of fcers and directors of the American Railway union had a conference with their attorney, Clarence $. Darrow. Attorney Darrow said he did not think there was any doubt that they had the right of appeal although an ap- peal is not usual in such cases. The matter is one for argument, and as the question would have to be argued be- fore Judge Woods, the defendants smile grimly when this method of ob- taining their release is mentioned.
 Another plan and the one that will probably be adopted is to ask the su- preme court for a habeas corpus. Sc, it is by no means certain that the men will have to go to jail. It is assured that they will not have to go by De- cember 24, which is the expiration of the ten days time given them by Judge Woods in which to map out q plan of action. Before ten days have expired Attorney Darrow will have mapped out some line of procedure.
 All the sentenced directors were pres ent with the exception of Vice-Presi dent Howard. They wero inclined to look at the matter jocularly from purely personal standpoint, but they all deplore the blow which they claim has been dealt organized labor by the decision.
 President Debs said: "Unless this decision is reversed there is no use at tempting to have another strike. The decision is a fine invitation to the rail- roads to reduce wages, and l don't be- lieve they will neglect to take advan- tage of it. If they should do so God help the poor employees. He will have no recourse but to 'peaceably quit work and peaceably starve. If he asks anybody else to join him he will probably be confronted by an injunc- tion and put into jail for a year or so, This will stod every sort of strike. The power of these United States judges is of the most autoeratic char acter. This whole country is ruled by the railroads, and the United States judges but do the will of the corpora tions.
 President Debs will go to jail at Terre Haute, his home, if he goes at all, and the others will be pretty well scattered over the country. majority of them preferring Chicago as place of confinement. James Hogan will se- feet Ogden, Utah, as spot to spend his captivity.
 Vice-P President Howard took the sen tence as a matter of course: ''It was the principle the judge wished to crush-not the men, and he has suc- ceeded admirably. There will be no more strikes unless it is reversed, and I think it will be-
 The board of directors of the Ameri- can railway union has been holding sessions in this city for the last few days. Plans are being made to reor- ganize the order and to form new local unions all over the country. Notwith- standing the rebuke administered to the union by yesterdays decision, these plans will be pushed with as much vigor as ever. F. w Phclan, who has just been liberated from jail at Lebanon O., where he was sent by judge Tafts for the part he took in the recent strike, was in court yester- day.
The Monticellonian., 1894-12-21
had an invitation to your own funer-

had an invitation to your own funer- al.
 His name might or might not have been Jimmie; If 1t was it was only a CO incidence, for the drummer probably had no more idea than l had by what name the train boy was christened. However, it served the purpose and the remark was answered by q sickly effort of a smile.
 Business slow?" continued the in terrogator.
 That's what it is," was the despond- ent answer.
 Well, cheer up, Jimmie. We all strike hard lines some time or other and to-morrow's Christmas, anyway, and don't you forget it."
 That's what makes things worse, /" says the train boy, evidently glad to relieve his feelings by contding in the somewhat rough but not unwclcome sympathy extended. "Ye see, there's fer me at home, and they's all loollin' fer something Besides, l expect mother to our house to spend Christi mas, and l tole Jennie-my wife-rd have turkey sure; and you see, no biz, no turkey. So I was thinking about this and them three little stoclt ings hanging up on the mantel shelf, and felt kinder blue when 1 see I'd have to fill the stockings wid bananas out of my stock, and get along with pork and beans fer Christmas dinner. ,"
 toly t,, Iox inquiries the c. T.
 ''T'ree dollars and fifteen cents, and I git twenty per cent. out of it."
 That leaves you about sixty cents profit, eh?"
 "Jest about"
 And you want turkey dinner and a little present for Jennie and mother, and plunder for the kids, and you've got sixty cents on hand. Sixty cents will go good way in peanuts or hair pins, but it hasn't much show to buck up against a Christmas turkey. Now, I'll tell you what's the matter with you. You don't know how to sell goods. In the first place your goods are no good anyway, and in the sec ond place you meander through the train with that funbed-out expression on your face as though you really didn't expect to make a sale anyway. That's no way to drum up customer" !"
 "oh, yes, it's easy enough Ridden me, but nobody could sell nothin' on this train" says the train boy.
 Couldn't, eh? We'll, Fin betting they could if they only knew how to work it. Now, if l was in your place for about fifteen minutes I'd show you how to sell goods. By George! I've an idea! Listen, boys, what's the matter with me trying it on? What dye say to my taking this here stock and working the train for all it's worth?"
 "Go ahead, Rube, and try it." cries one of the group.
 "Yes, let's have some fun" says an other.
 You haven't the sand to try" re- marks 2 skeptc.
 Try it, Rube, and give the boy a lift puts in the third. Here goes, then, says the redoubta- ble Rube "liere. Jimmie, hand me
The Monticellonian., 1894-12-21
ALLEGED JAPANESE CRUELTY
At the Capture of Port Arthur Being In-
 vestigated by that Government.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17.-A telegram has been received at the Japanese le- gation from the minister of foreign af- fairs at Tol1io in relation to the atroci- ties alleged to have been committed by Japanese troops at the cap ture of Port Arthur The government at Tokio is not in possession of full details of the affair, but the information already at hand shows conelusively that some of the reports circulated concerning the con duct of the Japanese troops were both exaggerated and misleading. If there was any unnecessary bloodshed the telegram states, the Japanese gov ernment cannot but believe that there must have been some cause, for the behavior of the Japanese troops in the encmy's country has heretofore been most ex- emplary, at times under circumstances tending to excite feeling of the deep est resentment and animosity. It is known to be q fact that the great ma jority of those Chinese whowere killed at Port Arthur were not peaceful in- hahitants, but Chinese soldiers disguised in civilian dress. Most of the inha abitants fled from the place several days before its capture, and at the present time have returned and are pursuing their ordinary vacations without molestation or restraint The Japanese government has no disposition to conceal any O. the facts, but, on the contrary, has or dered strict investigation, the result of which, it is stated, will be promptly do J,1
The Monticellonian., 1894-12-21
The Spirit of Living.

The great family life of America does not represent opulence. If it stands for anything it stands for com fort, but not for plenty. We can all afford to recognize the Christ-lilSe spirit of Christmas, which teaches us to remember by some loving token those nearest and dearest to us. But only few can afford to follow the present method of extravagant and senseless giving. Generosity is a synonym the world over for the Amer ican; but true generosity is of the heart and of the heart alone. If one has been more fortunate than the other in the requirement of means, and the will is present, then, say, by all means give largely and widely. But let such giving be measured only by true feeling and that spirit mani fested as it can be, so that others, less fortunate of means, shall not feel that they are obliged to do what really they cannot afford to do. It will not harm us if, i'll this respect we go back a lit tie to the times that are past. No one then heard all this talk about the duty of giving at holiday-time. People gave because it was pleasure to give; they liked to give, and they gave what they could. A Christ mas present then meant more than 1t does now, in that it's only association was the day and the spirit of the giver. Times were simpler, it is true, and wants were fewer But if we have progressed, and presents are possible to-day which were out of the reach of our forefathers, the spirit can at least remain the same. We need not depart from principles as we grow. We should adhere the closer to them if anything ng.-Ladies' Home Journal.
The Monticellonian., 1894-12-21
MAN AND WIFE AsPHYxIATEO.
He Used the Gas Jet for a Clothes Hook
 with Fatal Consequences.

NEW YORK, Dec. 17.-Through using a gas jet for a clothes hook John Hall, an actor, ianoeently caused the death of himself and wife in their room on the third floor of No. 329 west Twenty ninth street. They were found lifeless about 6;30 o'clock Saturday morning when a strong odor of gas attracted attention to their room. They had then been dead evidently. for sev- eral hours. The unfortunate couple belonged to the theatrical profession. The husband played "heavy parts while his wife was an Irish come dienne. He was 3s years old, while she was two years his junior.
The Monticellonian., 1894-12-21
THORNE coNFESSEs.


 A Kew York Poliee,na. Held Under paii for Perjury. Makes rtlinE Confess sion, Giving a Complete L element Ec- gardIng Blackmail and Corrc ion in tho Police Departmcnt-Wo for 1. Grand Jury.
 NEw YORK Dec. F. Policeman-. '. gust F. Thorne, formerly of eX- Capl. Stephenson's Leonard-street squad, has confessed He was held in S7, 300 bail Friday for perjury and kept in the Tombs all night Saturday morning he expressed desire to sec Assistant District Attorney Lindsay. To him he made full confession of all he knew about the police bribery. The revcla- tions made by Thorne are of an as- founding character.
 Assistant District Attorney McTn- tyre, who left Mr Lindsay's office about o'clock in the afternoon said to group of waiting reporters that he never heard anything like what Thorne had made known. The in- dicted policeman has made clean breast of the Stevenson story. In ad- dition to this he gave a complete state mcnt regarding blackmail and cor ruption in the police department. He told of the system, it is said, that has been in vogue of making collections from every source where tribute has been levied and will, far as he knows. tell where the money has gone. Thorne has been on the force six years.
 Al 2:30 o'clock Thorne left Mr Lind- ! says office and was taken back to the 1 Tombs. Mr House, who was present, seemed very much disturbed. Mr. House is counsel for several of the in- dicted police officials yet untrea.
 Mr. Lindsay said that Thorne made full statement concerning the acts charged against Stephenson. He says l Stephenson cndcayored to persuade him to go on the stand during his trial last week and re-perjure himself, but he absolutely refused to do so, al- l though he was in the criminal court building during the trial. Thorne went far beyond this, and it is under stood implicated many police officials in the confession he made.
 Mir. Lindsay said the information i given was of such character that he could not possibly say anthing about it at this time. Thorne was connected with the Leonard.strect station during the terms of Captains Ealsins, Siebcrt, Stephenson, Cross, Schmittberger, Do- herty, and acting Capt. O9Toole
 X report was current immediately after Thorne left the building that the matters he confessed to will be brought
 
 once, as soon as the stenographer-s minutes are ready. 1t is also reported that number of police officials who have not yet been smirehed will be kept under strict surveillance until action is taken. It is said the eonfes- sion is the most important that las yet been brought out. Policeman Thorne was admitted to bail in s7, 800 shortly before o'clock yesterday afternoon. His bondsman was Ludwig Meyer, of No ls4 Franklin street, who gave that property as his security.
The Monticellonian., 1894-12-21
IN CONTEMPT OF COURT.
Milwaukee Men Send Encouraging Words
 to Dcbs.

MILWAUKEE, Dec. 15.-The following telegram was sent to MT Debs at Chi cago by American Railway union men of this city last evening, signed by the presidents of the two lodges of the orr der located here and others:
 Don't let the unjust decision of the court worry you. Milwaukee men are with you, and will help you to their fullest capacity in securing ultimate justice, if possible. Keep Q stiff upper lip. A day of reckoning is at hand"
The Monticellonian., 1894-12-21
WILL NOT HANG.
The Self-Confessed Murderer Blixt Win
 be Given Life Sentence.


 MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., Dec. l7.-It is not likely that c. A. Blixt, the self confessed murderer of Catherine Cling, will be hanged. He will be brought before Judge Hicks, of the district, to- day, where he will enter plea of guilty. Sentence will not be passed, however, until he has been used as q witness for the state in the case of Harry Hayward, and then it is ex- pected that he will be given life sentence.
 The court Saturday appointed Judge ]. NJ. Shaw, ". l. Hahn and r. H. Carleton, three very able criminal law yers, to defend him, but when they at tempted to hold consultation with him yesterday Blixt refused to have anything to do with them.