davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-12-23
A MONSTER BOOK.
The Largest One In tho World In the
British Museum.

the Largest One In tho World In the
British Museum.
The Chinese department of the Brit
ish museum library contains, says a
writer in Cassell's world of Wonders, 8"
single work which occupies no fewer
than 5000 volumes. This wonderful
production Of the Chinese press was
purchased few years ago for Sc, 600
and is one Of only a very small number
of copies now in existence. It is an en-
cyclopedia of the literature of China,
covering a period of 20 centuries-from
1000 s. G. to 100 A. D.
1t owes its origin to the literary pro-
clivities Of the Emperor Kang-he, who
reigned from 1862 to 1922. In the
course of his studies Of the ancient liter
allure of his country Kang-he discovered
that extensive corruptions had been al
lowed to creep into modern editions,
and he conceived the idea of having the
text of the originals reproduced and pre-
served in an authoritative form. This
was a mighty conception truly, and in
its execution it remains unique down to
the present time. For the purpose Of
carrying out the work, kang-he appoint
ed a commission of learned men to Sc.
lect the writings to be reproduced and
employed the Jesuit missionaries to cast
copper types with which to execute the
printing.
The commission was occupied for 40
years in its great task. Before the work
was completed Kang-he died, but he
had provided that his successor should
see the book completed, and he faithful
" carried out his trust. The book is ar
ranged in six divisions, each dealing
with a particular branch of knowledge.
The divisions are thus designated: First,
writings relating to the heavens; Sec
end, writings relating. to the earth !;
third. writings relating to mankind;
fourth, writings relating to inanimate
nature; fifth, writings relating to phi
losophy; sixth, writings relating to po-
litical economy.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-12-23
A Confused Bridegroom.

A young man about to be married by
an Episcopal clergyman and being quite
innocent Of any knowledge of the form
OF solemniZation for matrimony in the
book Of common prayer concluded that
he had better look it up and study the
answers to the questions the clergyman
was to ask him. He became quite in
terested in and somewhat perplexed with
the several orders therein formulated
for as many religious services, SO much
SO that when he stood up before the
clergyman with his bride to be married
in the confusion in which he found him
self he could recall but the merest
snatches Of answers he had seen in the
prayer book. When the clergyman asked,
wilt thou have this woman to be
thy welded wife, to live together after
Gods ordinance?" etc. the groom cour-
ageously replied, 81 renounce them all,
and, by Gods help''-pausing as if he
expected the minister to help him finish
the answer. But, disconnected by the
groom response, the clergyman unfor-
tunately increased the embarrassment of
the occasion by mutterirg to himself a
little too distinctly:
II believe that this bridegroom is
non compos mentis," to which snap
Judgment of his mentality the BRIDE
groom blandly responded:
IAN this most steadfastly believe. :"
The ceremony was suspended. Ex-
plantations were quietly made between
them. The bridegroom was told what he
was to say. The service was then re-
sumed, and the couple were married in
due fCrm.-New York World.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-12-23
Longevity OF Ants.

Sir John Lubbock, the naturalist,
who has done more to popularize the
study Of insect ways and habits than all
the other modern entomologists COM
bined, has been experimenting to find
out how long the common ant would
live if kept out of harms way. On Aug.
8. 1883, an ant which had been thus
kept and tenderly cared for died at the
age Of Is years, which is the greatest
age any species Of insect has yet been
kHowE 10 attain. Another individual of
the same species of ant (Formica fuscaj
lived to the advanced age of IS years,
and the queen Of another kind (Lasius
niger) laid fertile eggs after she had
passed the age Of years.-St. Louis
Republic.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-12-23
Argentine Woods.

The woods peculiar to the Argentine
Republic are, as rule, not only dis
tinguished for their positive colors, but
some of them are also said to be of a
hardness capable of resisting the keenest
tools and Of withstanding fire in a re-
markable degree. The algarIobo is de-
scribed as white. red, gray, black and
violet; the quebracho is deep red and
pure white; the cedar is bright red; the
cibil is white, red and black; the gayaibi
is white, gray and black; the laurel is
white, black and yellow; the tipa is
white, red and yellow; the palo amarillo
is bright yellow, rs is also the palo
moro; the viraro is dark brown; the
calden is bright red; the tatane is golden
yellow; the pacara is dark red; the
molle is black brown; the lapacho is
green. gray and black; the guayabo is
deep red, veined with black and yellow
the palo ribera is dark cinnamon, with
red veins the guayacan is black and al
most indestructible.- York Sun.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-12-23
THE RETIRED BURGLAR.
A Brief Account Of q Lively and Interest
ing Incident In Els Career

A Brief Account Of Lively and Interest
ing Incident In Els Career.
: A house that went into one night
IL j town not very far cut of New
York. said the retired burglar didn't
begin to pan out as we'll as I expected
it would. and couldn't help feeling a
little bit disappointed. I'd been all over
the house, and hadn't got much more n
enough to pay my car fare. But when
l came down stairs again saw standing
in corner of the hall by the front door
something that hadn't noticed when
went up that pleased me very much,
and that was q tricycle., a girls tricy-
Gle, with two high wheels and small
wheel in front, with galvanized wire
spolSes, and long handle to steer by.
and seat upholstered with red velvet,
and all that sort Of thing, you know.
You We seen lots Of 'em, no doubt.
We'll, now, my little girl had been
asking me for some time for a tricycle.,
but business had been SO everlasting bad
that I really hadn't felt as though /
could afford to- buy her one, but here
was enc waiting for me to carry off,
and it made me smile to look at it; a
bright new one it was too. 1t was pref
ty near Christmas, and I thought I'd
keep it and give it to her for q Christ
mas present.
"There wasn't any rubber tires on it,
SO didn't dare roll it across the hall,
but picked it up and carried it to a
door that opened into an entry that
opened On to the cellar stairs, the way
I'd come in. got it to the first door
all right, and into that entry way or
hall without hitting anything, but get
ting it through the door leading to the
cellar stairs, going first myself and back
ing down with it, the long handle Topped
over in somehow and caught in the
door when l was just step down.
tried to free it, and it freed easier than
expected, and l lost my balance and
lest my hold ON the tricycle. and fell
down stairs.
"Noise? Well, now, tell you, was
in steamboat explosion onco, and once
in an explosion in a sawmill, but I new
er began to hear SO much noise in my
life as did when me and that tricycle.
rolled down the cellar stairs The tri-
cycle fell over NE and fell over the
tricycle.. and somewhere on the way down
l believe must have fallen through
the tricycle., for when we got down to
the bottom, was all scratched and cut
and my clothes were tore and the tricy-
Gle was wreck. stood there for q
minute looking at it, till heard two
men coming down the stairs to the hall
above, and then I went away and left i,
lying there at the foot of the cellar
stairs.
$50, you see, my little girl didn't gel
her tricycle. that Christmas after all. ~
New York San.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-12-23
THE HAUNTED KITCHEN.
Terrible Fright of . Belated Cook and
Her Precipitate Flight.

Her Precipitate Flight.
Ont in the neighborhcod of Iowa cir
Gle lives a government clerk who has
grown gray in the services Of his coun-
try, and with his gray hairs have grad
ually crept up in him several ills that
flesh is heir to, among others an occa-
sional touch of insomnia. Insomnia
breeds irritability, and his irritability
had been stirred to its lowest depths by
inability to get satisfactory hired girl.
but month or SO ago he was fortunate
enough to get 'settled woman" who
was pretty near perfection. She was q
good cook, staid in nights except when
her ''s'ciety" met, and in other ways
was a model. About once a month the
oblong piece CT buff colored paper that
was slipped under the basement door
by the gasman would bring frown to
MIR. Is brow, but he would only
caution the hired girl to turn down the
gas when not using it. A few nights
ago a "s'ciety" meeting had called the
girl out before she finished washing the
dinner dishes, and she hadn' t returned
when the family retired for the night
Mr.. - had protracted interview
with his enemy, the sleep killer, the
same night and could find no rest. In
vain he thought over all his misdeeds
and counted 100 backward and forward
several times. Sleep wouldn't come, SO,
after tossing about until long after mid
night, he finally got up and sat at the
window. Happening to look down in
to the yard, he saw streak of light
glinting from the basement shutters,
and he thought of burglars. Creeping
stealthily down the stairs. he heard
dishes, SO he went back up to his room.
Then he got mad at this wanton waste
Of gas, and going to the speaking tube
yelled, Put out that gas and 60 to
bedr' 1t was the first time there had
been an occasion to ESQ the tube since
the new girl came, and she hadn't been
introduced to it before.
A s;nothered exclamation in the kitch-
en-, the noise Of a chair knocked over and
pans rafting to the floor were followed
by scurrying up stairs, three steps at a
time, and the badly scared colored wo-
man gathered her few belongings in her
room and made a rush for the front door.
MIR. - tried to intercept her, but she
was thoroughly frightened and wouldn Z
stop. "Lemme go, boss; femme go.
wouldn't work heah any mo- fer all the
money i'll the treasury. was washin
the dishes down stairs jes' now and q
loud voice come right through the tin
pan was jes' hangin up, and it said,
Put out dat gas and go to h-v
know this house is haunted, and ]
wouldn't work heah any mo- for muffin. 81
And she wouldn't. The next evening in
the want column Of The Star was AL
ad. for a settled colored woman to dc
Homework up at some hundred and
something Thirteenth street.-Washing-
ton Star.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-12-23
Old Marriage Ceremony.

Polynesia is probably the only place
in the world where the marriage feast
takes place without the presence of the
bridegroom. For some unexplained rea-
son the young man is "sent into the
bush" when negotiations are opened
with the family of his bride, and he re-
mains there during the subsequent fes-
tivities. 1t is only when the guests have
departed and the CIR! is left alone with
his parents that messengers are dispatch
ed for him.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-12-23
Tho Deyil,a Can.

In medieval dramas the part of the
devil was always played in a pointed
red cap, with two side points or tassels
So much Importance was attached to
this cap that ON one occasion. in France,
an actor refused to play, and the enter
tainment was postponed because his
devils cap" had been stolen and it
was impossible to play the part Of satan
without proper headpiece.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-12-23

The early Christians had supersti.
tion that the black mark running down
the back Of donkey, sand cut at right
angles by similar mark across the
shoulder, is the mark of the cross, and
that it was miraculously placed upon
the ass that Christ rode upon his tri.
umphal entry into Jerusalem. This su-
Prostitution is said to prevail at the pres
ent day in Spain and Italy.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-12-23

Misery assails riches as lightning does
the highest towers; or, as tree that is
heavy laden with fruit breaks it's own
toughs. SO do riches destroy the virtue
of their pOesessor. Burton.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-12-23

Meekness is imperfect if it be not
both active and passive, leading us to
subdre our own passions and resent
ments. as we'll as to bear patiently the
passions and Tesentments Of others.
Eostsr.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-12-23

Equivocation, a word now applied to
any evasion. YVES once understood to
mean the calling Of diverse things BY
the same name.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-12-23

question OF time as
/ could not be cured.
l gradually grew
worse, very weak,
and completely dis
Outraged. until I
lived. p-opped half
mp In bed. because 1
cOssiGss'tSsc sI0sr,.s
nor sit up. Think
ing my time had
come / told my fam
lily what 1 wanted
done whom I v,e
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-12-23


gone. But on the first day OF March on
tho recommendation OF Mrs. Fannie Jones,
OF Anderson, Ind, / commenced taking
Dr.. Miles EciC Cure for the HcGyf
and wonderful TO tell, in ten days I was
working ut liyh. work and on March 10 com
mcrccd framing barn, which is heavy
work, and hay'nt lost 4 day since. an Is
years old, # AZ inches end weigh 2JOlh;.
I 6e.scrc II c:,t fully cared, and
lam nov Only anxious that everyone shall
know Of your wonderful remedies"
Dyesville, Ohio. SuAs FARLEY.
Dr.. Miles Heavs Cure is cold on o positive
guarantee that tho first bottle will benefit
All druggists sell it at 81, 6 bottles for IS or
u will ~ sent, prepaid. on receipt of price
oy the Dr.. Miles Mcdicai Co.. Ekhart, lad
DIR. Miles Heart Cure
Restores Health
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-03-07
A BLOW TO MONOPOLY.
The Recent Supreme Court Decision Far
Rsaching in Effect.

The Recent Supreme Court Decision Far
Reaching In Effect.
| NEW YORK, March THE decision
of the supreme court of the United
States unanimously sustaining the dsci-
sion of the lower court in the case of the
Bate Refrigerating company against
| SulZberger, is probably more far reach
ing in its influence and affects larger
amount OF property than any decision of
the court since the greenback oases were
disposed of.
This decision has not only settled the
controversy between the parties directly
interested, the General Electric Company
and the American Bell Telephone COM
pany on the one side and the Westing-
house and the Anti Bell Telephone COM
pany on the other side, but also disposed
of very large number of other patents
which the public had assumed to have
expired under the ruling of the lower
court, but which would have been re-
vived if the decision of the supreme
court in this case had been the other
way, and it also shortens the life of q
great many patents which have not yet
actually expired
This decision terminates three Edison
patents for the carbon transmitter owned
by the American Bell Telephone com.
pany, by which it hoped to extend its
would have been the case had the decis-
ion below been reversed. A consider
able number of very broad patents own
ed by the General Electric company are
also disposed of by this decision, includ-
ing Mr.. Edison's patent upon the incan-
descent lamp, regarding which there has
been 80 much litigation and also his pat
ent on the multiple arc' system of dis
tribution, and his patent on the socket
for incand0scent lamps, which was re-
Gently held to be valid by Judge Coke
The electric lighting patents affected by
the Bate decisions are the earlier ones re-
lating to the use of continuous currents,
and the decision thus affects, besides the
General Electric company, all kinds of
lighting, isolated or central station BY
means of continuous currents. The later
patents relating to alternating current
apparatus, details and systems are not
affected by the decision; aud as the
Westinghouse Electric company was the
promoter of this system of electric light
ing in the United States and has secured
very large number of early and impor-
tant patents, it is left in a position of
great strength as compared with its COM
petitors, more especially with reference
to the distribution of power by means of
alternating currents and multiphrase or
Tesla motors, the use of which at Maya
ia Falls and other places for power trans
mission has suddenly given this class OF
apparatus great prominence. It would
thus seem the General Electric company,
which has heretofore been the aggressor
aud plaintiff, will now have to bend it's
energies in the direction of protecting it.
self from the penalty of its own actual
| infringements."
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-03-07
BRIEFS BY WIRE.

G. r. Thomas has been appointed
postmaster at Bernal, Reno county,
Kan, vice c. F. Thomas, resigned.
The First National bank of Tex
arkana, Ark. closed its doors through
inability to meet its obligations.
George Gould says money consider
atoms were not thought of in the
marriage of his sister to Count de
CaStellane.
East Pennsylvania conference of
the United Evangelical church has
strongly denounced congress for
working on Sunday.
All the criminal suits against the
factions of the Order of Scion have
been withdrawn, and the affairs of
the order will be wound up in peace.
The story that Congressman Harris
of Kansas was MARI led in Pittsburg
last week is denied-no marriage IL
cense having been issued hirn during
the week ended February Z.
The Utah constitutional convention
elected the permanent officers with
Hon. John Henry Smith as their head
as agreed upon by the Repu blican
caucus. The Democrats made no
nominations, and the election of Off
GERS was mostly by reclamation.
J. Howard Payne, county attorney
of G county. Oklahoma, was found
dead two miles from Arapahoe. He
had been on a spree, wandered out Of
town and got lost and chilled to
death. He was a relative of and
named after the famous author of
Home, Sweet Home
Secretary Gresham is about to in
struct Ambassador Bayard to urge
upon Great Britain an adjustment of
the long pending trouble between
Venezuela and British Guina, and to
suggest arbitration of the question.
The increase of the enlisted force
of the navy by 1000 men, allowed by
congress, will, it is estimated at the
department, afford the means to put
in commission five ships which have
been lying idle at the navy yards.
Manuel Almagro, accountant and
interpreter to the Arge ntine legation
in Washington, has been arrested at
the Office of the legation and locked
up at the request of Minister Zeballos
on charge of embezzling So, 600 of
the funds of the legation.
Official notification that their servi-
ces are no longer required was sent
to the Rev. A. NJ. New bold and Henry
A. Oakley, respectively secretary and
treasurer of the American Church Mis-
sionary society.
In the'Idaho sena torial vote Wednes-
day one of the Sweet men left him
and voted for Shoup, the result being
Shoup. 81; Sweet. 10; Crook, IA. There
is much talk or a dark horse, but no
one has any definite idea who may be
brought out
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-03-07
THE STORY DENIED.
A Brother of the Rebel General
John Morgan,
Says There Was No Government
Connivance in the Case.
THE GENERALDUG OUT
He Was There and Knows All
About It.

COLUMBUS, Ohio, March 7. - The
John Rade baugh, on Swan street, to
gain information about the men who
led the horses attached to the funeral
car which carried Lincoln's remains
through the streets of Columbus en-
route from Washington to Spring
field, Ill. Mr.. Radebaugh at the
time was chief clerk to the
United States assistant quarter
master, the late Colonel Raymond
Burr, located in this city. Speaking
of various matters about the
war, Mr.. Radebaugh said he could
give the true account of the escape of
General John Morgan and his thirteen
comrades from the Ohio penitentiary.
Being urged to do so, Mr.. Rade baug h
said Secretary Stanton ordered their
release. Stanton said Morgan was
being held in a felons' prison in VIOLA
ton of the rules of war. The con-
federates were threatening retalia-
ton. Stanton sent secret order to
Governor Todd to release Morgan.
The situation was explained to Todd.
1t was feared the pnblic could not be
made to understand the circum-
stances. There was intense feeling
ag ainst Morgan among the people.
Rade baugh says: Governor Todd
called a conference with Colonel
Young, his military secretary;
Warden Merton, of the penitentiary;
Colonel Burr, the quartermaster,
and myself It was decided to
allow Morgan to escape. Merton was
to manage the escape. We were
pledged to secrecy. Morgan and his
men understood the subject and
walked out the front door. Some of
them went in a wagon to West Jeffer-
son, to take train for Cincinnati I,
myself, met John Morgan inst out
side the prison and went with him
to the depot where he took the train
for Cincinnati; this was about 10
o'clock at night. This is the true
story of the escape of Morgan, as
am willing to swear to it.
81 suppose Governor Todd either
destroyed the order from Stanton or
concealed it among his personal eff
fects. I am the only person living
who took part in the affair"
It has always been believed by
many persons that Morgan bought his
way out and Warden Merton was
greatly censured by the public, but
an investigation under official author
ity cleared his skirts.
The manner of the escape and all
the circumstances seem to indicate
that it could not have been accom-
plished as originally reported.
Mr.. Radebaugh's reason for making
the affair public is that he will soon
pass away and no blame will now be
attached to men who set Morgan free.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-03-07
CALLS GOVERNOR A LIAR
Representative Monroe Holly DenOunces
Governor Clarke of Arkansas.

Representative Monroe Holly Den0unces
Governor Clarke of Arkansas.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark, March Tn
tense excitement followed in the
house yesterday afternoon, when Mr..
Monroe of this county, rose to ques-
ton of personal privilege and bitterly
denounced Governor Clarke in con-
nection with the governors criticism
of the house for defeating the rail-
road commission bill He concluded
by saying among other things: II do
not say anything here that will not
say to any man and anywhere. 1 feel
like standing upon this floor and
branding that man who insinuates
anything against this body as an in
famous liar.
81 have as much or more evidence
to prove that Clarke is rascal than
he has to prove the members of this
legislature are"
A reporter asked Governor Clarke
what he had to say in reply to
Monroe's attack on him. Said he:
Sin answer to your inquiry, have
to say that it is not expected of me
that I should notice every cur that
banks at my heels. The one you
refer to is already in possession of
my opinion of him"