davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1895-05-17
THAT WAVE OF PROSPERITY.

The great "wave of prosperity" that was to
sweep over the nation upon the repeal of the
Sherman silver law has arrived Almost every
issue of the plutocratic press is sounding the
glad tidings. Wheat cotton, cattle, hogs raw
hides and petroleum are on the boom. Cattle
advanced I 5 per cent to the feeder and 80 per
cent to the consumer. Cotton has advanced
30 per cent, and wheat promises to reach 10
cents per bushe. The farmers are Gin t''-so
say the toot-guns of the corporations. Yes;
the farmers are in-a hole. Nearly all the
wheat in the country is in the hands of the
spectators. Millers are the buyers. Dear
wheat means dear -four, and the laboring poor,
to large extent, are the consumers. Cheap
wheat for the farmers and dear flour for the
consumer is wave of prosperity for few
dozen men. What is said of wheat may be
said of cotton, cattle or hogs. The prices of all
ale forced down by the combinations until the
products have passed out of the hands of the
producer then the price is advanced to conceal
the advance to the consumer of products that
were bought from the producer at ruinous prices.
The wave of prosperity rolls high-too high
farmer that has parted with his wheat or cotton
is no better off for the higher prices possibly
worse off. Many farmers buy their -four, and
all buy their clothing. Dear cotton to the
farmer when he has no cotton only means in
creased burdens in obtaining living, and dear
wheat or cotton always means an increase in
the cost of living to the miners, operativer and
mechanics.
The wave is mountain high, Only the tops
of the highest peaks have been, or are likely to
be suhnurged
Only few weeks ago, there was a great
strike of street-railway operatives for only
few drops of the wave, but the operatives are
out now, in a desert of Sahara dryness, so far
as they are affected. So of all the working
men, and, though there are strikes, and con-
tinual struggle for only the bare necessaries of
life, still, prosperity cannot be made to filter
down to even the highest foothills. There is
no more employment for the idle than year
ago. and idleness, per force, to the man who
would and could earn the comforts of life is a
he'll worse than the hell of Puritanism. 1t is
lie out of whole cloth, prompted by the Devil
and paid for by the line,
There is no prosperity for the masses.
For twenty years we have been on the down
grade. AS the Carnegies, Armours and Goulds
went up, the masses went down. The last
panic was only part of the widespread dis,
aster that is sweeping the masses into poverty,
Men were caught who lived on higher ground,
and swept down to lower level because the
wave Of adversely was rising. Other waves are
coming if there is no change in conditions,
and each succeeding wave will rise little high
er A thousand men will go down in adversely
to where one will rise in the next fifty years, as
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1895-05-17

things are now, and fifty years of continued ad-
versity for the masses, and prosperity for the
Goulds and Pullmans, will leave the republic
wreck on the rocks of Plutocracy-the oppor-
tunity of the ages gone, the hope of intelligent
masses crushed and the dream of universal pros
perity obliterated from the mind Then shall
God proclaim the human race an utter failure.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1895-05-17

THE salaries of officials of county, state and
nation were created a generation gone. In that
time, labor and the products of labor have fallen
two or three hundred per cent. The $4,000
that could have been paid when created with
1000 bushels of wheat now takes 5000 bushels
to pay, and when the people ask that this in
justice be corrected, the officers lobby is on
hand to beat the people.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1895-05-17
TABER TALKS.

If humanity had a wart on the end OF its
nose as big as toad and as disgusting as dog
tick, and fellow should come along who could
remove their warts as easily and as painlessly
as they do corns, and he offered to do it for
nothing, for the sake of establishing reputa-
ton, what do you think humanity would do
with the unlucky wight? Why, they would
hang him, of course, for wanting to deprive
them of their blessed warts. Well, humanity
has always had two warts on the end of its
nose, disgusting and deadly beyond description,
and they will stagger along under their un-
seemly, disgusting burden until they stumble
into conservative graves rather than part with
their beloved warts. You may kick, cuff and
lash these wart-bespang!ed bipeds, and they
will cringe at your feet and kiss the hand that
s,nites them, but touch not the warts on pain OF
death by torture. The only hope is that the
present terrible necessities which, while COM
pelling these poor unfortunates to root for
living, will so wear down their warts that they
will be able to see through or over them, and if
ever they do, it is goodbye, snobocracy, aris-
tocracy, plutocracy and all the other damnable
ocracies.
am very much interested in watching the
fellows root, and am doing little of it myself.
Hurrah for the rooters!
Essex, Iowa. WIN. J. TABER
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1895-05-17
OUR SECRETARY.

Whatever else may be said of the present ad-
ministration, it cannot be said to be unfriendly
to the farmers of Wall street. The president,
before his election, fguratively speaking, took
to his capacious bosom the farming fraternity.
After his election, he showed his fondness tor
the agriculturist by choosing for his agricutur-
al secretary man of superior wisdom and in
domitable energy. Early in the administration,
Secretary Morton discovered what his dredeces-
sor had not the remotest idea of (although
Uncle Jerry was no fool), and that was that
the farmers did not give enough attention to
killing weeds and, with his usual energy. in
public speech, he pointed out the error of farm
ers having associations and talking politics.
When the spirit among farmers of talking pol
itics had been sufficiently subdued and the
farmers organization began to wane, Mr.. Nor
ton pitched into the beef combine with vim
that brought out Armour and Swift in strong
denial, the denial being paid for at some dollars
per line.
To make the matter plain to Our readers, we
will say that it seems that after cattle had been
below the paying point for years, and cattle
men had become so discouraged as to go out of
the business, beef cattle took sudden rise of
IS per cent to the producer, and 80 per cent.
to consumer. 1t was too much. Cattle men
were liable to come out whole if not little
ahead, and Mr.. Morton, in casting his eyes
over the field, discovered that Mexico had cat
tie, and that he was, under law of congress,
empowered to suspend certain restrictions on
the admission of Mexican cattle. Accordingly,
the secretary, in order to down the combine, is
sued an order to admit Mexican cattle free of
Duty which order is being faithfully carried
out, and the price of beef cattle to the producer
will in all probability, be thrust back to the
old figure Under this new order of things, the
cattle dealers association will be taught that
there is higher power in this land, and that
power cannot only shoot strikers, but can
stretch out its long arms in various ways, al
ways reaching the producer and holding him in
the place God foreordained he should occupy.
Now, there are people who believe that Mex
ican cattle do not amount to much, since they
are principally composed of horn and hides, but
this is a mistake. Mexican cattle are full of
bones, and bones make excellent food for
hungry working men, and can be bought by
the combine for half-price, and sold up to with
in few cents of corn-fed beef; and thus, the
great wave of prosperity will continue to sweep
over our blessed land-''the home of the brave
and the land of the free''-and the old flag
will wave from the tops of school houses (what
time it is not down in blizzard), and the wise
and patriotic secretary will go up to join Uncle
Jerry, by-and-b d-by-only Uncle Jerry will be but
speaking acquaintance,
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1895-05-17

THIS government is still called republic.
The query is, how long will it retain the little
semblance of the government bequeathed to us
by our fathers
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-03-14
Brains and Cold Weather.

Extreme cold, as is we'll known, ex-
erts benumbing influence upon the
mental faculties. Almost every one
who has been exposed for longer or
n shorter period, to very low tenn
perature, has noted diminution in
will power, and often temporary
weakening of the memory. Perhaps
the largest scale upon which this
action has ever been studied was dur
ing the retreat of the French from
Moscow. The troops suffered ex.
tremely from hunger, fatigue and cold
from the latter perhaps most OF all.
A German physician who accompanied
q detachment of his countrymen has
left an interesting account of their
trials during this retreat. From an
abstract of this paper by DIR. Rose, in
the "Medicinische Monstschrift, we
find that Of the earliest symptoms re.
ferable to the cold was loss of mem.
ory. This was noted in the strong as
well as those who were already suffer-
ing from the effects of the hardships
to which they had been exposed.
With the first appearance of n moder-
ately low temperature (about five de-
grees above zero Fahrenheit), many
of the soldiers were found to have for
gotten the names of the most ordinary
things about them, as well as those of
the articles of food for which they
were perishing. Many forgot their
own names, and those of their COM
rades. Others showed pronounced
symptoms OF mental disturbance, and
not few became incurable insane,
the type of their insanity resembling
very closely senile dementia. The
cold was probably not alone response.
ble for these effects, for n zero tenn.
perature is rather stimulating than
paralyzing in its action upon the we'll.
fed and healthy. These men were
half starved, poorly clad, worn out
with long marching, many already
weakened by dysentery and other dis
eases, and all mentally depressed, as
an army in defeat always is. 1t
needed, therefore, no very unusual
degree of cold to produce the psychic
effects observed under other circum.
stances only as consequence of ex.
posure to an extreme low temperature.
New York Advertiser.
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-03-14
A Polar City.

Numbers of explorers who have
sought the Arctic regions In quest OF
the Pole have told Of n mysterious city
mirrored against the northern sky
stately buildings In choice architecture,
tall and imposing spires, but such as
differ from anything we know about
Whether the foundation of this mirage
is reality and only unrecognizable
because of transposition as to direc-
tions, whether II Is a work of some
mysterious remnant of our race that
once occupied the Pole, or whether
this Is some fanciful feature OF the
frost. as the peculiar shrubbery We see
on the window pane-whatever this
Is, II must be consigned to the perplex-
ing enigmas of the unknown region.
Who knows but some spot, once the
theater OF busy and advanced human
life, may have escaped the general
cataclysmal wreck. and this city may
be the silent and as yet undiscovered
witness Of pre-polar time, standing
alone In the dead desolatlon, In the
rigid shroud of now polar death! II we
must be barred from entering this un.
discovered country, we may add to our
equipment by careful noting of its
mirage, and then give TO the base OF
these phenomena a most thorough
study.
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-03-14
Sayings of Little Ones.

Little Jack prays every night for all
the different members OF his family.
His father had been away at one time
for short journey, and that night
Jack was praying for him as usual.
BLESS papa and take care OF him." he
was beginning as usual. when suddenly
he raised his head and listened Never
mind about 1t now, Lord" ended the
little fellow; II hear him down In the
hallw
What have you learned In the Sun
day school to-day, Ethel?" asked her
mother as the little girl came running
UP to her. well, learned a verse;"
answered the child, glancing over to
where great-grandmother sat, and hesi-
tating.
what Is II, dearT"
Thou shalt" began the child, and
then suddenly whispering, Thou shalt
not bear false teeth against thy neigh
bor."
Ethel has had other times of not
hearing distinctly, and one of them was
again in connection with the Sunday
school lesson. what was It about to-
dayy" asked her mother on this occa-
sion.
ut was about Shem, Ham, and beef
steak" answered the child quite seri-
ously.
Mamma" said little S-year-old, "just
think how many important things hap
pened this week! On the 18th ST. Pat
rick drove all the snakes out Of Ire
land; the 18th palm Sunday Jesus
rode into jerusalem; the 10th l was
born: the Goth our eat had kittensr'
4 class in grammar was reciting and
one OF the younger boys was asked to
compare sick" He began thoughtful
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-03-14

And then begin the record OF existence
anew"
And up in the little room which he
had occupied as n child. Rufus Mild
may slep the first peaceful slumbers
which had descended upon his weary
eyelids for many and many q night.
In the midnight train from New
York came Rosamond Mildmay to The
Hemlocks, with pale, terrified face
and haggard eyes.
"Oh, mother, mother !" she sobbed |;
"where is he---my husband? He has
left me, and the letter on the dressing
table declared that he would never re-
turn alivei oh, mother, it is my faut !
/ have ruined him Help me, COM
fort me, tell me what shall do !"
Mrs. Mildmay took her daughter-in.
laws hand, and led her softly to tho
little room where her husband lay
sweetly sleeping.
Rosamond drew long, sobbing
sigh of relief, and clasped her hands
together as il in mute prayer Mt tho
sight.
"Iush !" said the old lady; "do not
wake him. He is worn out, both in
mind and body. Only be thankful
that God has given him back to you,
almost from the grave.
And as the two women sat together
by the blnzzing logs in the crimson
parlor, Mrs. Mildmay told Rosamond
the whole story of the meeting at the
Black Pool.
"Mother," said Rosamond, with q
quivering lip, ''it is my doing. You
warned me of this long ago. Oh, why
did / give no heed TO your words? |
deserve it ALI"
"You will do better for the future,
my dear, ".said the old lady, kindly.
"Only be brave and steadfast."
So the young people went back to
New York and commenced the world
anew, withdrawing from the mael-
strom of Society" and living within
themselves. Mrs. Mildmay, senior,
came with them, and Rosamond Is
learning the art of housekeeping un-
der her direction.
"Mamma is an angel !" says the
young wife, enthusiastically. "And
if l could only be just like her, l
should have no higher ambition. 49,
Saturday Night.
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-03-14
General Hancock's Firmness


General Hancock was In COM
of the train which brought CD
Grants remains from Mt. McGrs,
New York. He and his staff wsl
the coach next to the last In As'
car was n party of Pennsylvania y
officers. who were popping an q
ional bottle Of champagne and 9
Ing quite sociably. General Hi1
saw through from his car what
going on In the rear. II did not
port with his ideas OF the propriet1
so solemn an occasion, and, calliri
conductor. he said:
"Will you present my compl!ne'
those gentlemen, with the reques
they cease smoking and drinking
In n few moments the conduca
turned with the announcement tbs
convivial officers returned their eo'
ments with a peremptory decllni
TO relinqulsh their cigars or wine
"Where Is the next switchT .
Hancock.
About five miles below" repliA
conductor.
"When you reach 1t, II the sua
and drinking in that car has not Cd
switch In OH a sidetrack and lea'
You may tell the gentlemen VI
have said"
In two minutes cigars and wine
not to be seen In the rear coach
occupants knew that Hancock .
Just what he said.
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-03-14
The SparkstOettlng.

One of the novel ideas for transpor.
tation over snow aud ice which is to
be introduced this year is the sparks.
toetting or Norwegian sled. The sled
consists of two ten-foot long runners
of seasoned pine, which are about an
inch thick and four inches wide,
turned up at the end like an old fash.
ioned pair of skates. Near the center
of the runner, little to the front OF
the exact center, there are fixed two
light uprights, three feet high, fitted
in some cases with light crossbar,
and these uprights are guyed to the
turned-up ends by light but strong
pieces of wood, so that they will re.
main rigid, the two runners are also
guyed across the ends at the front to
keep them the right distance apart.
Just behind each of the uprights there
is foothole made on each of the run.
ners by tiny blocks of wood. which
keep the foot from slipping off and
gives il front brace. Current Litera.
ture,
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-03-14

compelled the engineer and lirem,,
go with them to the express car.
adds: at has always been conoi
that anything 70 prevent these rols
les would come from the brain \
convict"
The Messenger Revolving plel
Is the name of this convicts paten,
1t Is an ingenious system TO protert|
engineers and firemen. II consist,
bullet-proof house on the back o,|
tender, In which an armed guard A
his place when the train pulls on, A
the depot. This house is made elta
boiler plate or steel, and II does nod
ceed 800 pounds in weight X cad
detached from the tender at any A
The little house Is about four I'd
height, so as to allow man 10 sit "A
In a comfortable position and yc|
so high as to strike bridges or lie
OF tunnels. In the front there is !
that Is fastened on the inside vi
bolt after the guard enters. TheT
portfolios In the door and sides, vi
the guard can open at will, thus al
him n good view Of the engine a,
the country at large.
The picket house revolves HE th |
ret Of man-of-war, and under
corner there Is a roller. To fas,s
picket house on the tender there
socket and four rings, and on the b
there are four chains with snap
which catch In the rings. The vl
held in place by Il pivot In the cen
When the train Is made up d,
press guard mounts the engine .
ines the picket house and placs
rifles, revolvers. etc, inside. VIA
train pulls out he enters and fau
the door and sitting down, lIghtsas
and begins tokeep his eye out for !
robbers.
When the train nears a water tai
station lie covers the engineer, {.
would take q man with more thai
dlnary nerve TO attempt to boardG
gine with a rife barrel or a shot
looking him in the face. In the 4
of the train being cut In two the 4
neer could tell in a momc1. y
jumping Of the reverse lever andg
motion. The guard could hand \
engineer and fireman each rife
by backing up to the detached Pt
of the express train they could pr
the express train.
Convict Ryan says of this pa,e-
claim for my invention that il d.
complete protection for the END
and fireman, with no danger q
guard unless 1t be that the eng:
thrown from the track. With at
mined man on the inside of the p
IL would be an utter impossibilJ
an armed body OK men to stop
mite and rob the express car"
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-03-14
A MANS THOUGHTS.

Work. there is work TO be done.
A whole days work In day;
From the rising sun to the setting sua
Work for all who may.
And the prayer Of the working hand
Is the prayer Of the working head
The clamorous prayer of a hungry land
give us our daily bread"
Fame, there Is fame 20 be won,
name that stands for name;
The prize when the race shall be run;
And the honors victory may claim.
Gold, and better than gold,
Power, and the worlds good will;
And better than all n thousandtold,
An honest conscience still.
To suffer and know no shame.
To conquer. and leave no han.
To live as giving, through praise and blame
Assurance Of man.
George Cotterell. in Good Words.
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-03-14
skeleton In the Closet.


A few days ago the little son Of a
well-known physician was entertain
ing a playmate at his fathers house.
AS children will, they ransacked every
nook and corner of the building. Their
curiosity led them to explore the re-
cesses of n closet In which the doctor
keeps his instruments and other per-
sonal effects, among which Is a COM
plete skeleton. The strange boy was
frightened when he first beheld the
grinning remnant OF what once had
been a human being, and started to
run away. The doctors son, however,
had seen the skeleton SO often that he
entertained for 1t only that feeling OF
contempt forgotten by familiarity, and
IN n little while succeeded In so allay-
ing the fears of his companion that the
youngster began to handle the thing
and rattle its dry bones. "where did
your father get III" he finally asked.
II don't know" was the reply; but I
guess It was his first patient, for he's
had 1t an awful long time"
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-03-14

Piper's nose is provided for, as you can
see. Hang on her arm a small, black
silk bag filled with shoe buttons. Pin
her shawl with a coarse needle. On
her apron write the following lines:
My name Is Miss Piper.
I'm not penwiper,
But If from your shoes
Your buttons you lose
Just bring them to me,
And quickly you'll see
With what great delight
I'll sew them on tight.