davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1894-07-19

Hon. THOMAS M. COOLEY, ex.
chairman of the interstate COM
merce committee whose eminent
standing as an authority on consti-
tutional law gives great value to
his opinion, has written to the Presi-
dent as follows:
"ANN ARBoR, MIcHn July Is.
PRESIDENT GROVER CLEVELAND.
HonOred Sir:-Now that the great
strike in which your official interven.
ton became necessary has been clearly
shown to be failure, / beg that / be
allowed tc express my unqualified sat.
isfaction with every step you have
taken in vindication OF the national
authority and with the restoration OIL
law and order which has folio we'd, OF
is now in progress. The caution and
deliberation with which you have pro
ceeded are, think, worthy alike the
accompanying frmness Of highest
praise and | am especially gratified
that a great and valuable lesson on
constitutional construction has been
settled for all time with remarkable
little bio odshed. You and the attorney
general also have won the gratitude
of the country, not for tits generation
only, but for all time, and that Goo
may bless you for it is the sincere
prayer of your obedient servant,
THos. NJ. COOLEY.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1894-07-19

A STRONG effort Is being made to
get the Nicaragua canal bill passed
at this session of Congress, but it
may be crowded out. The House
Commerce Committee is trying to
get the Committee on Rules TO set
aside two or three days for the dis
cussion of the. canal bill, which
Chairman Wise, Of the first named
committee, considers one of the
most important bills that has been
before Congress for years. There
are number of Democrats in the
House, who are on principle OPP
posed to the Governments engag.
ing in any such business as pro,
posed by this bill, and while they
are not probably numerous enough
to defeat the bill on a vote they are
numerous enough to prevent vote
being taken unless a special rule is
reported limiting debate.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1894-07-19
Apangerous Gan,

Between the Federal authorities,
hesitating throu gh fear OF infringing
on the rights of the States, and the
State authorities, hating through fear
of offending political influences ar
rayed in the name Of labor, riot slip
ped upon the stage at Chicago and
wrote the lurid story OF the past week
The law moves too slowly. 1t relies
too much on cure and too little on
prevention. 1t waits too long for the
overt act Of violence, instead of re-
moving the temptation and the oppor-
tunity. 1t is easier to quench the
spark before it touches the tow than
to extinguish the blaze alterward 1t
is easier to prevent the gathering Of
mobs than to handle them when they
have become iLfldmed by taste of
lawlessness
In the long run, the law, represent
ing all the people, must triumph over
rioters, representing the demands Of a
few. But the law should be equal also
to stopping the loss that results in
nearly every great strike from lawless
acts before the authorities become
nerved to their task OF repression
While they bubble over rights and
presidents, mischief is done that
might have been prevented by prompt
cooperation.
The experience in handling the
present strike should lead to a better
understanding between the Federal
and local authorities for working to-
gether in future emergencies. 1t
should lead also to a clearer under
standing, on the part Of State and mu-
nicipal officials, that when a large
body of idle strikers persist in gather
ing in crowds on the streets or about
the property Of their former employers,
the possibilities of riot are there pres
emit, and that it is not the part OF wis
dom to wait until they develop into
overt acts before setting in motion the
machinery OF the law, The gathering
OF such a crowd at such time is a
menace sufficient to justify and de-
mand vigorous measures. Given a
crowd of idle strikers, glib tongued
leader and little provocation, and
disorder follows easily. The local au-
thorities are too much concerned on
such occasions in laying the grounds
for a defense of themselves against
possible criticism from political oppo-
nents. They want to be able to assure
the labor voter that they refused to
resort to force until refusal was no
longer possible, and SO the opportunity
for kindly prevention gives way to
death dealing bullets.
The people Of the United States
have had a great deal of experience
with strikes, but they seemed to have
learned from it very little about how
to handle such uprisings without per
hitting them to eliminate in VIC
lence.-- Courier-J Journal
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1894-07-19

ferred to by the Post may have failed
in business, but that his failure was du
to his having come from another
neighborhood is a most ridiculous as.
sertion, and even the bland assurance
that this North Carolina incident
"came under the personal obserga-
ton" OF the editor OF the Post does not
relieve it OF its improbability. One Of
the most exasperating things Southern
people have to encounter is the owlish
ignorance and solemn, pretentious as
lninity of such critics as this. The
placid, self satisfied ignoramus who
sits up in the tenth story oil a New
York newspaper and writes about the
South with all the confidence of dense
and invincible ignorance is not the
only one Of his kind You meet him
on the railway trains, at hotels and
restaurants, and he no sooner learns
that you are from the South than he
raises his bristes and begins to let you
know what he thinks of you and your
people. What some people have chos-
en- to attribute to the circumstances
OF the Southern people or their bold
ness to Northern visitors ie really due
to the utter want of tact, not to say OF
common politeness, on the part of Wis
itors. People do not take to nan
who is constantly and Extensively crit
icising, especially when he is rs igno
rant as he is positive and as preju-
diced as he is ignorant. There arc
plenty of Northern people in North
Carolina and in other Southern
States who can testify TO warm vel
come. But they are people who dc
not walk on mems toes and expect
them to say "thank you" A recent
letter from Bill Nye" in the Bati
more Manufacturers Record is much
more truthful statement than that Of
the writer in the Post Mr.. Nye has
found his neighbors genial, friendly
and sociable, considerable Of his own
views and feelings and studiously
careful to avoid all unpleasant topics
We are bound to say that a grea
many Northern people who come
South and great many that South
ern people meet in the North seem t
take especial delight in expressing
their contempt OF everything South
ern. Such people are apt to meet colo
treatment, Memphis Commercial
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1894-07-19

little town at The same time, Together
they drove up to the only livery stable
in tie place The sherman sIrang
lightly from his buggy and addressed
the proprietor with q great showing of
dramatic gestures, something like
this;
81 say EStricate that qnadruped'
from the vehicle feed him plenteous.
ly Of food of a nutritious element; let
him eat till internal iullnes no longer
admonishes continuation when the
aurora again illuminates the eastern
horizon l will amply reward your la.
Dor"
Now the farmer had stood hard by.
Whether he caught the humor OF the
situation, or merely tried to ape his
fellow travellers words, is not known /;
but stepping up to the proprietor he
delivered this little speech, initiating
the young mans dramatic gestures ;
81 say! Yank that critter out Of the
shafts; give him half pint GOATS on
bar'l head let him eat till he's full /;
in the morning III give yer shillin."
From Funny Stories Told By Famous
People, Demorest's Magazine for Aa'
gust,
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1894-07-19
A Study in POliIeness.

Here's story told me one night
around the camp fire by distinguish
ed member OF James Gordon Bennett
hunting party when it was in my
charge:
"In restaurant in one OF the side
streets OF Western city,a farmer, one
Of your typical 'hayseed, was eating
his luncheon. Presently an airy,
breezy youth, apparently clerk Of
some sort. entered the place, chose a
seat at the same table with the farmer
and ordered his meal. All went quiet
ly for time. Then the youth wanted
some butter. 1t stood nearer the far
mer and out Of the youths reach. He
surveyed the 'hayseed' a moment crit
ically, then exclaimed, bluntly, 'But-
ter, sirl"
"The farmer continued his meal,
oblivious. The youth again ejaculat-
ed Butter, sirp this time impatiently.
The farmer still confined his atten-
tions to his meat and potatoes.
again, angrily, the youth almos4
shouted, Butter, sirP and pounded on
the table with bis knife.
"This time the farmer looked up,and
calmy biting off piece of bread,
drawled out:
"You IDIOT DO you think I take it
for lard7"
This recalls q story told me by a
cavalry officer in our own army. A
travelling salesman in his buggy and a
farmer In his potato wagon. entered a
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1894-07-19

in the earnings for June and Of IS
per cent. in those of the half year
Under the circumstances, such a
blow to earnings must increase the
financial strain under which many
corporations have been laboring,
and lends force to the argument
that the example of the Louisville
and Nashville in passing its divi-
dend will meet with a prompt re-
spouse in business circles and bring
railroad traffic back to a normal ba.
sis, or that, at least, the market will
at once undertake to discount the
speculative possibilities of such i'm
provement."
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1894-07-19
ADVENTUROUS
Career of the Man Who Built the
Washington Dome.

Career of the Man Who Built the
Washington Dome.
Living in a flat at 967 West Adams
street is a man with hfstory-Cap-
tain Charles Frederick Thomas. Few
paper covered tales OF adventure con-
tain more startling incidents than have
come to the surface in the life of this
Massachusetts, born resident OF Chica.
go, whose experience covers more than
three quarters of century, and has
been acquired in all corners of the
globe. The one achievement Of which
it is intended to particularly speak in
this article is the connection that Cap
tain Thomas had with the building Of
the pres Mt Capitol in Washington.
Captain Thomas was called to Wash
ington during the Administration Of
Buchanan to take charge OF the me-
chanical branch OF the Department Of
Public Works, of which Montgomery
G. Meigs, Chief United States Engi.
neer Corps, was then in command,
Six months later the work on the
building was nearly completed, and on
December 2, 1868, Captain Thomas re-
moved the scafTolding with his own
hands from the statue of Freedom"
When two sides Of the framework OF
scaifolding had been removed Captain
Thomas mounted the statue, and with
his back to the rebellion and with his
face turned towari rugged old New
England, he was photographed.
While standing on the scsfIold Cap
tain Thomas left souvenir on the
highest leather Of Freedom" in the
form Of his own name, together with
those OF Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin
B. Franch and Thomas n. Walter.
These names are wrought in steel let
ters and are destined to last forever.
A document that is priced very much
by the veteran builder is a certificate
signed by Abraham Lincoln and 9TH
ers certifying TO the fact that Captain
Thomas built the dome OF the CAPT.
toll and placed the statue in position.
Also testifying to his skill as builder.
Two years ago, June Z, 1892, the old
gentleman was run down by M adj
son street cable car in the tunnel. His
leg was broken and since then he sell
dom leaves his home. What an end
to travel all over the world encounter
ing dangers enough as sailor to drive
pirates out Of the business,to stand on
the apex of the National Capitol and
engraye his name with that Of Lin;
coin, then to be run down by a cable
Chicago Tribune.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1894-07-19

IT is reported that the Confer
ence Committee on the tariff bill
has reached an agreement on the
whisky schedule, compromising on
sliding scale. The tax is to be 81
a gallon and the bonded period five
years, with an increased tax of five
cents on each year up to the eighth
year period fixed by the Senate
This would make the tax $I.I5 or
whisky remaining in bond for til,
full period.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1894-07-19
Peococks' Feathers

Peacocks' feathers have been hand
ed down to us from the ancient days
OF mythology as emblematical of
treachery, evil and misfortune. The
origin of this strange superstition is
founde upon the following classical
story; Osiris, king OF Egypt, upon
starting on his Indian expedition, left
his queen, Isis, regent, with Argus, his
minister, as her chief adviser, Argus,
with his hundred eyes, or rather his
spies, soon made himself so formida-
hle and powerful that he seized
the queen regent, shut her up in
strong castle and proclaimed himself
king of Egypt. Mercury was sent
against him with strong army, took
him captive and cut off his head,
whereupon Juno metamorphosed him
into peacock and set his spies in his
tail. From this legend and the various
additions made TO it from time to
time the belief has arisen that it is un.
lucky to have peacocks' feathers in.
side house.-BrOoklun Eagle,
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1894-07-19
Cyclone Freaks.

Cyclones do some badi good and
cute things, as can be seen in the fol-
lowing compilation, The reader can
classify them;
One in Mississippi turned a we'll
wrong side out, wrung it and hung it
up to dry.
Another turned cellar upside down
in Wisconsin and spilled all the milk
on the under eide of the upper floor.
One moved township line in Me-
braska over into Iowa and then twisted
1t 80 the inhabitants couldn't tell for
two days which side Of it they lived
on.
Another changed the day of the
week in Ohio.
One killed good, honest Indian in
Montana.
Another in Texas changed the color
in one night of a bald-headed mans
wig.
One blew the mortgage off of farm
in Minnesota.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1894-07-19

The Populists in Mississippi
have adopted the Coxey idea in
conducting the various campaigns
A Congressional convention is soon
to be held at some out of the way
town off the railways, and line Of
march has been laid out for each
county delegation, converging at a
point about ten miles from the DIES
tination, where all will unite and
tramp to the place selected for the
nomination.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1894-07-19
utnh Admitted as a state


The Senate has passed the House bill
for the admission Of Utah as state in
the Uuion, and the number OF states
will shortly be increased to iorty.hye.
The new state had in 1890 a popnla-
ton OF 2O7905 1t will be a larger State
in point OF population than either
Delaware, NJ a.tlna, North Dakots,
Nevada, Wyoming or Idaho and lalg.
er than the last three combined.
Three-iourths of the population are
native born, The Territory is now
represented in congress by Joseph r.
Rawlings, Democrat, who, however,
did not receive a majority of the votes
cast in the last election. He received
1921 votes against II, 405 cast for the
Republican candidate and $3.50 for
the Liberal candidate. Therefore the
Mormon issue largely determined the
elections. The passage OF the Ed.
munds anli.polygamy bill OF 1882 and
Of the still more drastic act of 1887
have almost broken the politicacl
power OF the Mormon church.
The Edmunds act declared all eltc-
tive offices vacant, and constituted a
commission to oversee electors, 1t
disfranchised polygamists and an.
nulled the act Of Territorial legisla
tuIe, which gave the women the right
to vote and disqualified polygamisls
from iuries. The act of 1887 made
the wife a competent witness in trials
for polygamy and required marriages
to be matters Of public record. The
area Of the state is $3.50 square miles
nearly twice as large as New York
and 10000 miles larger than all the
New England states combined. The
chief occupation of the people is farm
ing and mining. There is fertile sol
iu tie valleys, upon which crops are
produced with the aid OF irrigation
The greatest source of wealth is the
silver mines, A large quantity D
lead is also produced.
The territory was acquired from
Mexico in the treaty Of Guadalupe
Hldalgo. Utah was organized into
Territory 10 1850. The size Of this orig
inal Territory was aiterward reduced
by the formation of Colorado, Nevad'
and Wyoming, The Mormons tool
possession in 1917. Salt Lake City
the capital, had population Of ASA
in 1856. lis "a beautiful city, and it
most conspicuous building is the grea
Mormon Temple, which cost man!
million dollars and has been recent.
dedicated.
After Utah btcomes State there
will be ninety Senators, and the add
ton OF these two may have a control
ing influence in politics The admis
sion of New Mexico and Arizona vii
probably shortly follow. Both of thes
latter, it is expected, will send Demo
Gratis to the senate. After the admis
sion OF those three new states Oklaho
ma will be the only organized Terri
tory remaining, and so the business 0
making new states, which has beef
going on for a century, will have end
ed, unless, indeed, Texas is divide
into five states, which may be don
under the terms of lis admission to th
Union.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1894-07-19

Now that the strike excitement
is happily over public attention is
centered upon the daily meetings
OF the Democratic conference on
the tariff bill. There is some dis
appointment among Democrats that
after an entire weeks work no
agreement has been reached. How
ever, considerable progress has
been made, and it is hoped that a
partial, if not a complete report can
be made to the House and Senate
this week. Democrats are more
worried over the failure to reach an
agreement than over the bluff made
by Senator Hale in introducing a
resolution calling for information as
to why the Republican conferees
had not been invited to attend the
meetings In their anxiety to get
to get to work the Democratic con-
ferees neglected to follow the usual
course and invite the Republican
conferees to the first formal meet
ing, but it was merely form that
was overlooked. 1t is a Demo.
cratic disagreement and it must and
will be settled among Democrats
without Republican interference
1t is not to aid in settling the disa,
greements that the Republicans
wish to attend the conference, but
to try to prevent their being settled
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1894-07-19
BIG MINDS
Mix Up In Contest as to Proper Pre-
nunciatlOn.

Mix Up in a Contest as to Proper Pre-
nunciatlOn.
The word Status" is pronounced
"stawtus" by Mr.. Reed and "staytus"
b. DR.. Everett. BY ninety per cent.
OF the House members it ispronounced
Status" fiat. The question turned
upon the point whether "stawtus,"
"status" or "staytus" is right. DR..
Everett delved down through the
Norman French into Latin, and bob
bed up serenely from the depths OF
his genealogical plunge with verdict,
calculated by learned disquisition,
in favor of "staytus," which received
also Mr.. Shaw's approval.
"What is your authority for saying
'stawtus'?" was asked of Mr.. Reed.
81 evolved it from my inner con-
sciousness," admitted the dethroned
Gar
"Mr. Reed is right, too" said DR..
Everett "He has authority in the
continental pronunciation of Latin"
"It's one Of those useful words you
can't destroy because you pronounce
it two ways" observed one Of the prac-
tical members Of the group
"Such words as COSTUME" and
duty" were given out. There is =
delicate New England way of pro
nouncing the which catches many
an orthoepist who thinks the sound is
double o.
Glow do you pronounce the second
day in the week ?" asked Shaw.
why, Tuesday" was the reply in
chorus, some giving it the "yu" sound
aid some the plain 900"
rs )" said Shaw "you are wrong"
""eIl, which is the right way?"
Monday, of course" said Shaw.
And it dawned on his associates that
they had been grossly betrayed"
"But, joking aside," began another
member of the group, "who can tell
me how the word "castoria" is pro-
nounced?"
Everybody knew how to pronounce
"castoria. 1t couldn't be casto-ria
with the accent on ri" and pronounced
like the first syllable OF "island J" SO il
must be castoria, plain and simple.
"Do you know what physicians pro-
nounce it2" asked the first speaker.
"No," everybody exclaimed in q
chorus, ahow|
Harmless"
"Oh, ratsp And the listeners turn
ed away in disgust.
The next word was "goup" Some
said it was pronounced "gowp," some
"goop" and some offered to bet farm
that, as there must be some peculiarly
attached to the word which caused it
to be submitted to a test OF experts, it
should be pronounced scope"
The man that gave out the word
smiled smile Of sinister delight as he
said:
"lhe proper pronunciation, gentle
men, is Ego up Washington Post.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1894-07-19
strikers Can't Get Back.

MINNEAPOLIS, MINI, July 16.-Tht
only question with the local strikers
now is how to get back to work. To
day a representative Of the seventy
strikers on the 500 line notified Gen
eral Manager Underwood that they
were ready TO go back to work. Mr.
Underwood informed them that the
road had no use for men who had de.
serted the road or been discharged fol
refusing TO perform their duties. He
had all the men he wanted and did
not propose to take back any Of the re
calcitrants.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1894-07-19

NOTWITHSTANDING the strike
troubles Of the past two weeks the
commercial agencies find business
is in better condition than most
merchants are willing to admit.
Dun's report says "The shrinkage
of business and the depression of
values have been Unexpectedly
small, the failures relatively few
and unimportant, and there are
even signs in some industries of ac-
tual progress toward recovery from
previous troubles" Bradstreet sums
up the situation as follows: 1.-THE
tabulation of the gross earnings for
June and for six months exhibits
the force of the circumstances in
the average decrease Of ~ per cent.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1894-07-19

DR., Washington GLADDEN., under the
suggestive title of THE New Evolu.
tion," has written for the August
number Of McClure's Magazine a com.
prehensive study Of Prof. Drummond's
new book, "The Ascent of Man." a
book which, while accepting evolution
reconciles it with morality and mans
highest development, and so, IN DR.
Gladden's judgment,has significance
that can not be exaggerated.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1894-07-19
southern Clannlshness.

The New York Evening Post has
been commenting on what II describes
as the "Clannishness" Of Southern peo-
pie and gives this as reason why the
south is not favored by immigrants.
To sustain this charge 1t cites the case
Of some person that failed in business
in a North Carolina town because of
prejudice due to the fact that he
came from distant part Of that State
Now We say that the ignorance Of q
person that can make such prepos-
ferrous charge as that is simply colos.
sal. It is not possible that the case
cited would be true. The person re-