davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1894-04-05
An Element of Character.

Among men engaged in business af
fairs there is wide difference in their
ability to arrive at speedy conclusions.
While some have will-power and self
dependence, and can look at both sides
of a subject, weighing and balancing
arguments until satisfactory decision
is reached, there are others who halt
between two opinions and by their hes
itancy and indecision miss golden op-
portunities. Their judgment wavers
and the longer they dwell upon the
arguments, pro ct con, the more difficult
it seems to be for them to reach de-
cision.
In this, as in all things, extremes are
not commendable, yet it is not easy to
say which is the more harmful. A
hasty decision made without due re-
gard may prove disastrous, while the
one who does not decide, shifts respon-
sibility, and leaves time to settle that
which should have been settled by good
sense and wise judgment. There ought
to be no difference of opinion on the
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1894-04-05
An Appeal to Patriotism.

laundering from the distant past,
there started, with America, swelling
like mighty tide, a spirit of patriotism
seldom equalled in history. rolling on
and on through years of infancy and
strife, and struggling toward a point
of maturity where love of country
might be combined with peace and pros
perity. We have attained this peaceful
element, but the prosperous one is, as
yet, only dream of the future. The
poor man is under the thumb of capital.
His bane is hard labor. The farmers
good is tresspassed by tariff tinkerings.
The syndicate intrudes on the merchants
business. In our struggle for peace
full and prosperous day, we have lost
sight of the great ennObling principles
of our forefathers. When they breath
ed forth their sentiments of loyalty, the
mighty spirit of patriotism received
new impetus with each such prodigy
as Washington, Webster and Lincoln.
We need some such awakening now!
windows of financial and political affairs
and religious wranglings, and see the
stars and stripes waving in a vehement
call for recognition Instead of living
in a "free and independent state, there
seems to radiate from the wrangling
hub of the political wheel, tangent lines
of discord, greed and bribery. Were
the words of Washington and those ear
ly heroes of independence, a mere Vesu-
Wan eruption, and are we now crouch
ing under it's falling shower of rocks
and lava? Why need we cry for our
youth again? Let us stop chasing phan-
tom windmiils and dragons, and show
more of our frmer, truer nature. Let
us rally once more to the emblem of
honor! Let us lay aside these petty
prejudices, these religious differences,
these greedy scrambles for office and
power, and show to the world that we
cherish one country and worship one
God, and love our honor more than sill
yer and gold. We have had experience
enough. Let us now put it to practice.
Then we will see the dawn of prosper
ity. The dismal heotings of the night
owl will cease and the song of the lark
begin. We will have more honest men
and more clean characters. We will
have less crankism and fewer Coxeys.
And when the time comes for each of
us to leave this mortal house, we shall
be ready, knowing we have done our
best in loving God and home. VIC.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1894-04-05
Completely Frustrated,

"Some of the medical experts who
have been cutting wide swath in
criminal trials lately, may be able to
give an explanation of a singular phe-
nomenon that accompanies the detec-
tion of and the arrest of respectable
rascals," says the Chicago Herald. Ode
faulting bank cashiers, embezzling
bookkeepers, defeated Napoleons of
finance, unlucky political bosses-all
are completely prostrated' when they
are found out. Why don't their nerves
occasionally give way while they are
carrying on their rascality undetected?
Why does the Sunday school superin-
tendent who has been Systematically
robbing bank for years 60 about with
his nose in the air and enjoy life to the
uttermost, only to be completely pros
trated' and repentant when he is de-
tected? Why should Boss McKane's
nerves give way when he is judicially
pronounced scoundrel- "a fact that he
and everyone else has been aware of
for years? Why will a sanctimonious
knave rob widows and orphans with
out any compunction and yet collapse
utterly when the law brings him to
book? Is hypocrisy always cowardly,
or do respectable thieves always delude
themselves into the belief that they
are doing nothing wrong, and suffer
collapse when they find that they are
common criminals after all ?"
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1894-04-05
How We are Wrapped UP.

We are all wrapped up in something.
1 do not refer to garments, for 1 have
always considered that persons gar
ments cut little or no figure in regard
to their intellect or disposition. We
may be all wrapped up in music art,
science, poetry, agriculture, oratory,
charity, history, or in some great man
of to-day or the past. These are all
beautiful and bright shrouds; but
very often we are bored most to death
by persons who are all wrapped up
in themselves. Have you not often
seen persons so thickly wrapped up
in their own Importance that they
could not command freedom enough
to see the good qualities of their fell
low man? When you are speaking to
them they are not heedful of your
speech, but very ungenerously they
will give you an idea of far more i'm
portance from their large mind. The
shroud Of self Importance is so great
and thick that it entirely smothers
meditation, which, if allowed to ex-
ercise would create reason, considera-
tion and judgment, hence justice to our
fellow-man. Then 1 say it would be
very wise and manly of us, if we should
loosen the shroud of self-importance
in which, alas, too many of us are en-
veloped.-Graceville Enterprise.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1894-04-05
re,,.e. $1.OO per year, in advance.
TERMS: Six Months SO Cents.

value of speedy decision when it is
reached by fair consideration and best
judgment. A man who can decide
quickly and correctly is valuable in
the community, and his habit of ready
decision is equally beneficial to himself.
Speedy conclusion stimulates quick ac-
tion, and the mans powers are reused
to throw off whatever of Incidence or
torpidity may lurk in his nature by
the determination to settle a question
at once.
A conscientious desire to do this be-
comes an educator and its value ought
not to be underestimated in the work
of training young minds. Whatever
can be properly decided by a child
should be left to it. Early training in
this as in other things will make habit
ual that which may not have been nat
ural. Use will also add to the efficien-
cy of this faculty. The boy is trained
to think quickly and to act promptly,
consequently the decisions reached by
him in after years will be more apt to
be the result of wise Judgment than
will be those reached by one who has
been allowed to procrastinate until de-
cision could be deferred no longer.
This habit of readiness can be ac-
quired and like other good habits it
cannot be formed too early. Once
formed it's daily exercise will be an
element of strength in the character
of any man.-Ft. Worth (Tex.) Gazette.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1894-04-05

II have known many young men
who have been led into vicious and de-
structive habits which ultimately led to
ruin, because they did not have the
courage to say mol
1T is courage we need; and although
the man who has courage to stand by
the right under all circumstances, and
to say no. when he should say it, will
be voted by the world disagreeable
crank perhaps, yet, it is upon the shoul-
ders of courage that humanity must be
lifted; slowly almost imperceptibly,
yet surely, think, to higher and bet
ter standard"
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1894-04-05

inanimate thing will be in harmony.
ALI the shy things of the forest and
brake, and the wild things of the fields
and woodland. have become compan-
ionable; the human beings, reclaimed
and redeemed by Love, see in them a
beauty and utility, a fellow creature,
ness, they never saw before. The beat,
en- dog and the kicked cat, like the half
starved child, welcome the reign of
Love, for blows and kicks, starvation
and neglect are done with; remembered
only as an evil nightmare. The tall
elm and the sturdy oak indulge in kind
ly whisperings, which all interpret as a
benisOn; and the music of the rustling
leaves in the woodland sanctuary, the
sweet breathings of the gentle zephyr,
and the ripping rhyme of the brooklet
touch responsive chord deep down in
human nature when it's diapason is
Love. Nor is the fury of the tempest,
the harsh recoil of the ocean wave on
the shingly beach, or the mournfd
murmuring of the autumnal winds
through the quivering leaves unmusi-
cal to those whose heart strings are set
to harmony.
Verify, it is new world that Lore
has created! Love! The mightiest,
gentlest, most magnanimous, the most
GOdlike power attainable and imagin-
able! The world is full of poetry un-
der it's spell! The goal is found! Love
is the key to every conceivable gOOd!-
Worlds Advance Thought.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1894-04-05
Courage.

Following is an extract taken from
an address delivered by Hon. G. F. Buck,
to an audience at the Unitarian church,
of Winona: II admire courage because
SO far as my knowledge enables me to
judge, all advance that has been made
during all the ages, and fair play gen.
orally, can be attributed almost entirely,
if not altogether, to courage. | admire
it, too, because it is found in the high
est degree among honest people, and
because, in it's highest and fullest de-
stands by the right and against the
wrong
GAS a rule, courage does not dom
mate in individual character 1t is only
here and there we find one that posses
ses that commanding courage which
dominates the whole character, and en-
ables one to meet the possibilities of
life without question, and to stand by
the right though the heavens fall.
'Ieonidas. Damon and Pythias, John
Brown and Lincoln possessed the high
est courage, and they died while bat
tling in the interest of humanity. Yet,
Notwithstanding these noble sacrifices
in the interest of the right, wrong still
exists in the world, injustice is still be-
ing perpetrated, and pain and sorrow
are still being inflicted. The reason is
because there is so little courage in the
world. We do not possess the courage
of our convictions; we do not stand by
the right as we see it. 1t is not CON
science makes towards of us all, it is
our selishness dominating our courage
which makes towards of most of u.s.
Conscience QuickenS courage and our
sense of right.
"This lack of courage in human char
acter, and the consequent wrong and
injustice, appears in every phase of hu-
man life. You will see it in our courts
of justice. Some juryman, perhaps not
allows himself to be cOerced into re-
turning an unjust verdict. Ny obser-
walton and my experience teach me that
courage to stand up alone in the de-
fense of the rights of common citizen
against powerful public opinion, or
against the active opposition of some
great financial or corporate interest.
Y Ou will see the same want OF cOur-
age in the religious world. Men sur
render their independence and their
right to think and talk, because they
are afraid of the Ostracism or injury to
business which may follow.
"It is just the same in the practical
world. [ knew a man who voted the
same party ticket he had been in the
habit of voting for years, against his
convictions of right, because he was
afraid of being called turncoat.
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1894-04-05
LOVE-.
If Everyone felt it's Power it would make
the World New Eden.

If Everyone felt it's Power it would make
the World a New Eden.
Love is the only true motive power
in human affairs if they are to be car
ried on in harmony. All else is warfare.
There is no real justice but love. With
out this principle as prOpelling power,
without kindness as a lubricant, this
weary old world of ours will always
rumble along like belated, broken
down coach, or like vehicle without
springs; jerky and uneasy.
But. what is love? There is SO much
that goes by that name! There is a
love which loves money; but that is
Avarice. There is love which loves
to add house to house and land to land :;
but that is Greed. There is a love that
is Lust. There is love which loves
rank and position; but that is Pride
There is love which loves finery, dress
and petty distinction and attentions;
but that is Vanity. There is love
which loves to be talked about, which
loves fame or nOtOriety; but that is
Ambition. There is love which loves
the delicacies of the table, or those of
the wine cellar; but that is Gluttony or
Drunkenness. There is love which
loves revenge; but that is death. The
love 1 am interested in is none of these
1t is LOVE! And what grand thing
is Love! If everyone felt it's power
its saving power it would make the
earth New Eden. In imagination,
loving and living for each other and
for all; and, by the same imagining, l
see Paradise, inasmuch as worldwide
r ic xxyorII xxyi1n r0cf "hn,,
human creature, in purpose and in eff
feet, says: Call that 1 am, and have,
and can do or say, is at others service,
at everybodys command, a common
good, as opportunity occurs" the dark
places will be bright with superabund-
ance of happiness. No longer will a
portion of the human family rise early
and go to bed late, and spend their days
in grinding toll and anxiety; with never
the proper thing to eat, or to wear, or
to shelter in, that another portion of
Gods family may take it's unearned
ease, fare sumptuously every day, and
luXuriate without stint. No longer will
jails, asylums, hospitals, warehouses
and gin shops be crowded with the
criminal, the mad. the diseased, the
poor and the drunken. Even the ami
NAL kingdom, and the lower forms of
life or Sentient existence, will benefit
by the change, when the wand of Love
is waved as sceptre over mad world
Under the new regime there is not a
beast of the field, or an OK in the stall
but will grow more sleek and dOcile
Not an insect but will be filled with di-
viner life. Every flower will be more
beautiful. Every tree more luxuriant
With humanity, as soon as love con-
trolls it, every living and, indeed, every
The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1894-04-05
JUST A WORD.

In the midst of life's reverses,
When thy pathway all seems dark,
Black as midnight, unillumined
Fen by pleasures faintest spark;
When deep gloom and sad fOrebOding
Cradles thee within its arms,
And thy soul is filled with brOOdings
Working i'll like evil charms;
When thy labor all seems useless.
And existence one great pain,
Joy and hope are fled forever,
And to struggle on seems vain;
Do some tender deed of mercy
To soul with sorrow racked,
Give the balm of loving kindness
In some helpful little act.
That one deed thy soul will tighten,
And its heavy gloom will lift,
AS ray of brilliant sunshine
Through the blackeSt clouds may drift.
Nina F. Schmitz, in Good Housekeeping.
St. Landry democrat., 1894-02-24

On the 10Th inst. President Cleveland
appointed Senator White, of Louisiana,
as an associate justice of the Supreme
Court, and the Senate promptly confirm
ed him the same day. Mr.. White is q
Democrat and lawyer Of great ability
and is eminenuy qualified for the posi-
ton. Although the Supreme Court dis
trict of which Louisiana forms a part
has been without representative on
the supreme bench since the death of
Justice Lamar, Of Mississippi, Mr..
Cleveland never thought of going out
side of New York for new justice un-
til the Senate had rejected two of his
mugwump friends. Then only did it
occur to him that he might do an act of
tardy justice to the large Southern dis
trict Of which the State forms part by
appointing one of it's residents. The
Governor will soon appoint Mr.. Whites
successor, who will act until the Legis-
lature elects some one to fill his unex-
pired term, which ends in March, 1897
The Legislature, when it meets in May,
will therefore have two Senators to
elect, the other being to fill the unexpir-
ed term of Mr.. Gibson, which ends in
March, 1895, and which is temporarily
filled by Mr.. Catfery, by appointment of
the Governor. Among those mentioned
as likely to be appointed very soon by the
Governor to succeed Mr.. White are
Messrs. N. &. Blanchard, of Caddo, F.
P. Stubbs, of Ouachlta, and Collector
Wilkinson, E. Howard McCaleb and E.
B. Kruttscbnitt, of New Orleans.
St. Landry democrat., 1894-02-24
A Civilian on the Supreme 3ench.

The appointment of Senator Z. D..
White is universally commen, cd. His
worth is recognized, and the advantage
Of at last having a civilian yersed in the
civil law, as system, placed on the Su-
preme Court of the United States can
not he questioned.
We believe it is the very first appoint
ment to that exalted office that has ever
been filled by a resident of Louisiana.
Her system Of laws is peculiar, and re-
pete with profound learning. 1t, to a
peculiar extent, has its source in con-
science, its sanction in society, and is a
guaranty Of liberty dictated by the re-
alities of business and inspired by natu-
raj equity. Its principles sprang into
existence at the moment men began to
live together and will continue to exist
while society endures.
St. Landry democrat., 1894-02-24
Accused Of a Contempt of Court.

Five members of the Opelousas bar
were ruled into court this week to show
cause why they should not be adjudged
guilty Of contempt of court, in declin-
ing to defend a colored man, Jesse Ty-
Ter, as requested by the court.
They filed long answer, in which
they swore they meant no contempt, but
that circumstances, addressed to their
professional pride and self protection,
constrained them to decline serving the
accused. They were represented by
Judge E. North Cullom, who argued the
case and interpreted and construed the
statutes on the subject of contempt
elaborately. The accused attorneys
were prosecuted by the District Attor-
ney, L. B. Dubuisson.
Considerable interest is felt, and the
numerous friends of the attorneys are
in full sympathy with them. We re-
frain from stating particulars. 1t suf-
fees for us to add that the lawyers be-
lieve they have serious reasons for their
course, which by no means imply disres-
pect for the authority Of the court. We
may venture to hope that the proceed
ings in this case may have the effect of
discontinulng practice which they hon
estly believe, in common with the other
lawyers, is unprofessional and dam
aging to them.
St. Landry democrat., 1894-02-24
The Weather.

We have had frightful weather during
the last ten days. The nlantersr e rs to
rested in their usuS' u prepa' c ...'|tno
pitch their crops; as essv 4....
much saturated by water to admit of
blowing. Everything is at stand-still.
The roads are terrific, and it has be-
come almost impossible to travel on
them in many places. This must con-
tinue for weeks, even with fair weather
One of the consequences is, no produce
is brought to town, and the merchants
are idle. We hear Of no unusual sick
ness, but it may be expected later un-
less people are more circumspect than
they usually have been.
St. Landry democrat., 1894-02-24
Sidewalks-How They Build Them in
Donaldsonvil!e.

Donaldsonville, La, is live and pro-
gressive town of about the sa.le ropu-
ton as Opelousas. Observing that a
systematic etfolt had been in progress
| there for some time to build good side
walks, we applied to our esteemed
friend L. E. Bentley, the editor of the
| Chief, to furnish us with an outline of
| the plan OF operations that Lad been
adopted and some data as to the mate
| rials used, their cost, &c. In reply he
kindly wrote us twice, his first commu-
nication containing the following mem
orandum:
We paid IS per NJ for red unick for
gutter walls; from S11 to S12 for lake
brick for face of walk =; 75c. to 81 FOR
lime; - to 50 Is for Rosedale cement ::
- per day for man aud cart to haul dirt
for filling; 19c. per square ,ard for
bricklaying.
1n a subsequent letter Mr.. Bentley,
who is one OF the live adermeu of the
town and is entitled to much of the
credit for the progress Donalisonville
is making, wrote as follows:
The width of our walks, as believe |
wrote you several days ago, is eight
feet. Where the conformation requires
greater width to reach "the property
line " the owners of the lots are required
to defray the cost of the extla width.
Instead of calling upon the property
holders to defray share Of tho cost of
the regulation sized walks from ing their
property respectively, as was originally
contemplated by the town or. inances,
we increased the municipal ta, from 6
to 10 mills and devote the au1mented
revenues to sidewalks and other i'm
provements, constructing from s to 12
blocks of walk yearly. We now have
pose to continue the work until the en-
tire town is covered. Besides this we
have put in waterWorks plan costing
$4,000, which will be paid for nis year,
and in 1893 we gave $500 tow lrds the
construction OF reyetnents an levees
on the town front.
Mr.. Bentley also obtained frt.m May
or Goette memorandum which he sent
US, from which We CLEAN the fs 1t that
line Of walk recently completed cover
ing eight blocks, Or a distance of 1860
feet, cost, including 2G cross bridges, the
sum of 1884, or $4,000 per bio TX.
Now, we respectfully subn it these
facts and figures to the intelIi, ent and
progressive people of Opelou sas, and
would ask them it it is not Il sh time
that we were moving along ths Sc lines.
We will never have q decent 5, stem of
sidewalks until we go about it in sys-
tematic manner, and we cannC, expect
to have them without consider; BILE cost.
An election for councilmen will be held
in April, and every candidate oted for
by our progressive citizens Should be
required to pledge himself to assist in
inauguratiDg systematic plan y which
we will secure good sidewalks.
St. Landry democrat., 1894-02-24
Personal.

Hon. c. C.. Duson has br' j absent
from the parish all the week,
Mr.. Pauiin Fontcnot, of We II, was a
pleasant caller at our office on Monday.
Sheriff FonteDot returned II Thurs
day from three weeks visit Texas.
Messrs. S. O. Anlrus and J 3. jack
son, OF Big Cane, were in tow pn Wed :
nesday.
Messrs. Valontin >ayoie and y. p. La
heur, OF Chataignier, spent W elnesday
night in town.
Mr.. A. Levy, President OF TIL st. Lam
dry State Bank, left for New York last
Sunday. He will be absent ii Q or six
weeks.
Police Juror Guldry, he HON the
Governor found as imrlovable IS stone
wall, was in town Thursday. His friends
now call him Stonewall 6 Gul, ry.'
St. Landry democrat., 1894-02-24
PROBATE DOCKET, DISTRICT COURT
PARISH OF ST. LANDRY.

Whtlcas, Joseph 7. Lagrange, of the parish
OF st. Landry, Administrator of the estates of
Ircyllle Lagrange and wife, both deceased has
nled taDieall OF classification OF debts and par
tlal distribution of funds of said estates accom-
panied by his petition praying for the homolo-
CATION OF the same
And whereas, the prayer Of said petition has
been granted by order OF court bearing date
February 14th, 1894.
Now, therefore notice is hereby given to all
persons interested to make opposition to said
IN the town Of Opelousas, within the time re-
CURED by law, why the said tahleau should
not be homolOgated and confirmed
CHARLES NJ. THOMPSON
February 17-2t Clerk
St. Landry democrat., 1894-02-24

The, card of Judge E. North Cullom,
attorney at law and U. S. Commissioner,
appears In another column. The Judge
is careful, painstaking and thorough i'll
the transaction of all business entrusted
to him, and those who place business in
his hands may rely upon having it at
tended to in proper manner.
St. Landry democrat., 1894-02-24

A sugar mill but little used and in
perfect order can he had at bargain on
application to Pierre Felicien Simon, at
Wallace P. O., parish of St. John. The
cylinder is II inches in diameter with
44 stroke, the fy-wheel 14t feet in diam
eter; there are kettles and boilers
In writing mention this paper.