davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1895-12-28

and never replaced, and the whole
thing looked very dilapidated, but very
familiar to Jet, for it was his barn. lie
noticed the hole in the roof and made
a mental VOW that some of his pronts
should go to repairing 1T. Beyond the
barn was a little tumble-down house
and the yard between was filled with
remnants of lumber wagons, hay rake,
reaper, blackboard and several odds and
ends of old buildings.
A tall, thin and misunderstanding
woman was bending over washtuo
at the pump. She Strengthened and
stopped her work as Jet came up.
lie went on into the house and put
| the stove lid he had been carrying on
| the stove. Then he came out and sat
| down near his wife.
"rhey say there's ten dollars a day
in it for sure thing; that's what they
say"
"Well, I'm glad if there is" said the
woman, signing softly. 1.-THE Lord
| knows we need it. Is Uriah and Ike
goin' to take hold of it with your?
"Mebbe they are and mebbe they
mint. know them fellers better than
to trust either of them. know what
they'd like-they'd Skinny up to me and
let ON they hate each other like pisor
| till they find out how to make the pol
ish. and then you'd see them together
again thickcr'n hops, and I'd be lett
Not if know it. lean make two thou
sand dollars a year out of 1t and go 1
alone"
Cant YOU get me that wrapper to
night, then; it's only seventy cents e
.Only seventy cents? Confound 1t
don't YOU know that it will take ever.
cent / can rake and scrape to get tn
thing started? I'd rather get you
dozen silk dresses two weeks from nov
I than spare cent tonight
81 don't see," she began, when ther
was a yell from the kitchen. foliowe'
by the loud voice of man:
.Phew. Judas! What the devils u
here. anyway? Are you trying to bur
: the house DOWN.
Jet made jump to the door an
: stopped aghast. The stove lid. so high
ly polished put moincn.
|. now a dull, dirty red. while above
}. curled a thick, dingy smoke, bearin
? with it an odor strong enough to knoc
!. down horse.
o as that the way your polish work
Jet?" asked young man, comm
i around the house holding his nose.
e Jet gave snort of disgust Il SUI
4 pose you'll have to blab itailover town
= he growled, and turning away suikil.
Il | went to the barn.
) "What do you think of it p asked u
Il Young man of the woman.
II think it's good thing | saved egs
/ enough TO get that wrapper, returne
4 the woman. as she tried to blow 81
smoke out OF the house with her spro
III philadelphia Times,
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1895-12-28
LAW is A DEAD LETTER.

Death Penalty Has Been Practically Adam
doned in Belgium for Thirty Years.
Though the death penalty was prac-
tically abolished in Belgium over thir-
ty years ago the punishment OF those
convicted of capital crimes is SO awful
that none has yet been able to endure 1t
more than three years Another cur
Gus thing is that little Belgium until
recently had two public executioners,
while but one was sufficient for her
yaster neighbor, France-Diebler, otn-
erwise known as M. de Paris. The
king of the Belgians recently ordered
the retirement on pension OF 1857
francs of the executor of high works
las he is euphoniously termed), VINO
was stationed at Liege. The execu-
TONER at Brussels still holds his place.
The duties of public executioner in
Belgium are singular, but not ardu-
Gus. The courts still continue to SEN
tence Indicators to death, but the
| puillotine has been replaced by scat
| fold. on which is posted copy OF the
sentence. Much ceremony is observed
| in affixing this document A troop OF
pendarmes, with their imposing he'll
NETS plumed with horsehair, is drawn
up about the place of execution, which
they gravely guard with sabers drawn
i while the red-robed executioner
mounts the steps, nails up the decree
of the court, and. after moment, takes
it down again.
But the condemned man might
more mercifully have perished by the
!, axe or rope. He is placed in dungeon
so constructed that from the momen
he enters it he will never hear TIT
sound of human voices nor see living
being. HIS food is passed in through
a sliding panel in the door OF his cell
Not one of these prisoners has bcel
able to survive this confinement 10
more than three years. The authorl
ties have striven in vain to prolonl
. their lives by varying their food
much as possible, but those who ar
{ moderately or lightly nourished gradr
] ally waste away, while those who ar
! generously fed go mad and die rayin
maniacs -Chicago Post
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1895-12-28
THE BRIDEGROOM SAID - DO"
He Knew That Was the Important Part OF
tho Ceremony.

He Knew That Was the lmp0Etant FaEs "a
tho Ceremony.
AS during the months of October
and November weddings follow each
other in quick succession. it might be
we'll for the prospective groom of the
coming days to see to it that he does
not make the mistake that nervous
groom made not long since.
Although we'll aware OF the fact
that the guests all observe the bride
and ignore the groom. nevertheless
he is generally worried and wonders
if he will answer all questions cor
rectly.
At one Of the Kansas City weddings
each detail of the ceremony had been
carefully and studiously gone over.
They, the happy couple, were positive
that not a single mistake could occur
to mar the stately ceremony in which
they were to be the participants.
The expected guests waited in the
narlor deckcd with costly flowers and
yine-festooned for the bridal party TO
enter. They came slowly down the
stairway, across the reception room,
and at last stood before the officiating
minister.
Sweetly conscious was the bride o.
the solemn service, nervous was the
groom as he stood gazing intently a.
| his fair brides pastor.
/ After the usual kindly words OF ad
vice the pastor commenced the service
by asking the groom:
"You, Edward, declared in the pres
ence of God, that you do not know an,
reason by prccontract or otherwise
why you may not lawfully marry
| Louise, whom you hold by the RICH
hand?"
With his hand clasping tenderly tn
hand of his bride, he murmured, /"
do"
Quickly. but in very low tone, tn
pastor prompts him by saying, i q
not"
The dazed groom modestly responds
by repeating the pastors words am
, not until then did he realize that h
had not yet reached that most pleas
ing part of the ceremony in which h
was to say II do" and do" 1T proper
tlv.-Kansas City Star.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1895-12-28
WHEN GREEK MEETS GREEK.


couId Not Get tho Lust Purse. But Ne1tner
Could the other Woman.
Where they all came from was
mystery. And why SO many women
had selected this scorching day to shop
was incomprehensible at least TO the
Anitc MASCULINE mind But the big
shop was packed and jammed with
them. They all looked utterly tagged
out and many showed signs OF growing
irritation.
Two women of widely contrasting
types paused for moment on the out
skirts Of this human vortex. Iney
stood at opposite points, equally ais
slant from that portion OF the long
counter dedicated to sRemnanta
Neither was young. The one, evident
| IL a country woman, had the plac1diy
stupid ga ze Of Illuminating COW. Inc
other was distinctly product OF New
York. She was dressed in rusty black.
Bits of crepe were pinned at uncertain
| intervals upon her costume. Her snaooy
bonnet, with its drunken plume was
very much over one ear She wore the
suspicious, but alert, air of a terrier
that had been fooled too often by the
crv Of .Ratsr' The illusion was
heightened by peculiar habit OF car
rying her elbows close to her sides ana
i letting her hands flop down from ner
extended wrists, as if sitting up, beg
ging."
common impulse put both women
in motion. On the floor by the rem-
nant counter lay purse. Apparently
no one else saw it.
The small woman, by a vigorous APP
plication of her sharp elbows, worried
her way toward the prize. But here,
size defeated agility. BY sheer force
of her own weight the country woman
J projected herself upon it Victory was
! hers
! The little woman gave yelp of dis
| appointment as she saw her rivals
hand open the purse and disclose Q
| roodly sized roll Of bills. Instantly
. her face cleaned with malicious
triumph.
Leaning over the counter she called
: in shrill voice. .'Aiiss, here's lady
with scathing emphasizes has
!. found purse with money. Won't yor
take her to the department for lost ar
( ticles?' 8,
The country woman'seyes filed will
II tears of rage. Il guess it amt you
h business; kin take care OF 1t myself,
e reckon"
Q But it was too late. The ever pres
IS emit floor walker had heard the reques
IS and he condescended to lead the crest
fallen country woman to the cashier
t desk. With last exultant snari tn
Ie small woman corkscrewed her wa
IS through the crowd and disappeared
rs IN. Y. Herald
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1895-12-28
a MONSTER CHINESE BOOK.
Tho Largest One in the World IL In the
British Museum.

49,
British Museum.
The Chinese department of the Brit
ish museum library contains single
work which occupies no fewer than
ave thousand and twenty volumes
This wonderful production OF the Chr
nese press was purchased few years
400 for six thousand dollars, and is one
Of only very small number OF COPIES
now in existence. 1t is an encycio.
nedia of the literature of China, cover
ing a period of twenty-eight centuries
from 1000 B. c. to 1900 A. ID.
It owes its origin to the literary pro-
clivities of the Emperor Kang-he, who
re;rned from 1862 to 1872. In the
course of his studies of the ancient lit
erature Of his country, Kang-he discov-
cred that extensive corruptions had
been allowed to creep into modern
editions. and he conceived the idea OF
having the text Of the originals repro
duccd, and preserved in an authorize
tive form. This was mighty concep
ton. truly, and in its execution 1t re
mains unique down to the present time
For the purpose of carrying out tn
work Kang-he appointed commission
Of learned men to select the writing
to be reproduced and employed tn
Jesuit missionaries to cast copper type
with which to execute the printing.
| The commission was occupied 10
forty years in its great task. Befor
the work was completed Kang-he died
but he had provided that his successo
should see the book completed and 2
faithfully carried out his trust. "a
book IS arranged in six divisions, eac
dealing with particular branch 9
knowledge. The divisions are thus g
signed. First, writings relating to tn
, heavens; second. writings relating
the earth; third, writings relating
mankind; fourth, writings relating :
inanimate nature; fifth. writings r
. llating to philosophy; sixth, writing
relating 10 political economy. esssell
lWorld Of Wonders
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1895-12-28
a FATAL MISTAKE.

II Was Made by . Profuse Frenchman II
His Leave-Taking.
A citizen of France who has an in
veterate habit of confounding every
thing which is said to him, and has
been endeavoring TO acquire knowi-
edge of our vernacu1ar, was about
leaving his boarding house for more
comfortable quarter. All the little
mysteries of his wardrobe. including
his last neither garment and umbrella.
had been packed up. when ne Pc
thought to himself the unpleasant duty
now devolving upon him, that OF bid
ding re folks" good by.
After shaking his fellow-boarders
cordially by the hand, and wishing
them. with incessant bowling, re YER
rec hest success in re virl, and re ben
ediction du Chief" he retired in search
of his s.dear landlady, to giver nef al
so his blessing. He met her At the
staircase, and advancing, hat in hand.
with a thousand scrapes, commenced
his speech: "Ah! madame, I'm going
to leave you. You have been verre
amiabls to me, madame;l will nevare
forget you for Eat. II in my countries
/ would ask ger government TO give
Won a pension, madame" The good
LADY put down her head and blushed
modestly. while our Frenchman pro-
ceeded: well, must go; you know
in reese life, it is full of pain an
trouble. If Got adopted re virl vich
Lamartine made in his poesie, zen zure
should be no more pain. Alden, ma
dame. adieuxl perhaps forever
Thereupon the Frenchman was max
ing his exit, when he was suddenly
called by his landlady, who Interested
| " INQUIRED: why, Mr.. c., you have
i forgotten your latch-key." Mr.. c.
| appeared amazed. apparently not un.
derstanding his interrogation. Yes
continued Mrs. NJ, you know y y
the rule for all boarders to give me
| their latch keys" ssOh. madame!' in
terrupted the Frenchman with enthu-
siasm, II will give you not one-not
one. but zouzanes!'s and applying the
action to the word, he sprang toward
. Mrs NJ, and embracing her tightly
. in his arms, kissed her most heroicaily'
The affrighted Mrs NJ. recovering
herself at length, cried out: The keyE
: Frenchy, looking confused, confound
ed. calculates with heavy signs: son
madame! ! zot you AK me for on
: KEGS, an give it TO you. Vat ia'ai'
: mistaker'-Scot American.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1895-12-28
SETTING THE TABLE.

sorac Essentials to Well-Ordered Boara.
One important thing to be consid.
cred when setting the table IS the
table-cloth. This should be OF fair
white linen, If possible, with pretty
pattern of ferns or blocks or clover
leaves, but even if it DO coarse and not
beautiful in design, it must always be
spotlessly clean. Do not let the laun-
dress starch your table-cloth. NO
starch is needed. 1t must, however,
be ironed with exquisite nicely, folded
evenly down the middle, and the
crease made by folding shown plainly
by the pressure of the aat-iron. A
table-cloth must not be laid upon the
bare table. Next to the table You
must have a heavy undercloth OF feit
or Canton flannel This serves several
purposes. 1t removes the danger OF
injury to the table itself from hot
dishes, which sometimes leave disfig-
uring white rim or SCARED edge upon
a polished surface, it deadens sounds,
and it brings out well the pretty hg-
urcs on the cloth If used with care,
an undercloth of this kind will last
long time, and / have found Canton
| flannel much more satisfactory than
| felt
When you begin to set your table for
breakfast or dinner, decide on the
places for the different members OF tbs
| family and then do not change these
except when you have guests Mamma
will have before her the tray with the
cups and saucers, the tea things ana
coffee urn. l hope you make tea ana
coffee on the table; it is graceful oc-
cupation for the house-mothcr and IN
sures your always having clear coifee
and hot delicious tea, and is, besides
very little trouble once the habit has
been established. A simple French
coffee pot with an alcohol lamp.
small teakettle also with lamp,
tea-caddy and rule always adhered
to, will make these processes simple
Cups and saucers and the cream-Jug'
sugar-bowl and spoon-holder should DC
beside the mothers place.
Oatmeal and other cereals. it served
on the table at breakfast, should stand
by the sister or brother who dispensel
) them. 1t is best to begin with frui
course, and, therefore, finger bowls
fruit doilies and plates, with tn
knives. forks and spoons needed To-
! this. should be on the table when thu
family seat themselves. II you wis
to save trouble, and have the meal pas
: on in an orderly manner, you ma
place by each plate all the knives
forks and teaspoons whice will be r.
ouired during the meal. These will b
: used one by one, always beginnin
e with that on the outside farthest froI
! the plate, and as the maid changes Tn
plates for each course she will remov
:. the knives and forks which belong
that.-Harper's Round Table.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1895-12-28

you, Jet, just what's common sense fof
yon n newell make up the polish and
start out together and let Ike sell what
he can around here; that'll let him
down kind O. easy; but Wen take the
big business, for there amt anybody
but us can handle it."
Jet rose to his feet. 'I'll think the
thing over" he said. "Of course, II
Ike won't do, we'll have to drop him.
Jet walked slowly homeward, rub
bling his fingers caressingly over the
stove lid and shaking his head in ac-
compartment to his thoughts. AS he
turned the bend in the road he discoy-
cred Isaac sitting on the bank ahead
of him.
II knew you'd be along pretty soon,'
caid Isaac. rising awkwardly, "and 1
thought I'd wait for you. No chance
to talk business when Uriah is around.
A good fellow, too, first rate; only he
blows too much"
"Blows quite bit, that's fact" as
scented Jet.
well, you know what he is and what
|
do, and you know just as well that he's
no man for this business. You see,
what YOU want is a man that has some
| dignity about him and knows how to
approach people in the right sorf OF
way. Now, Uriah don't know what dig
nifty is. Why. he'd go into mans paf>
lor Just the same as he'd go into COW
| stable. Well, sir, that may do around
here, but it won't do in the big towns
and that's where you'll make your
money. Mighty good thing you've got
Jet; mighty good, but be careful and
don't throw it away on man like
Uriah. don't pretend to be no grea'
shucks myself, but If can't sell more
in day than he can in whole weel
I'll eat the samples. But then, il yo'
think l won't do, just say SO, and III
drop out at once"
ooh, amt afraid but what you'll d'
all right" answered Jet, anxious to con
ciliate. "But 1 allow l hev got m.
doubts of Uriah."
"Of course you have; you're man o
sense, and couldn't help but hav
doubts. I'll have to cut across here
but think the matter over, Jet; thinl
, it over"
sI'u do that, answered jet, emphatic
ally, as he started on alone again.
. He walked on rapidly until he cam
to an old barn along the road. Tn
roof of the barn had been blown Of
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1895-12-28

mo dinner?" he asked.
mo. John; nothing but cold meat
tonight" she answered.
whats the natter" ne inquired.
.Why. you see, it was just this way
sbe explained. Mrs Barker called
this afternoon, and while ! was ex-
planning my theories regarding the
management Of servants 50 e. 70 make
them contented and also get the most
,vorL ont Of them, why why
Eyes What happened?
aWhy. the cook got all her things
tooether and slipped out the back way
without saying . WORD enicaRo
Post
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1895-12-28
How She Worked It.

Mrs. Brown-It is beautiful piano.
But how did you manage to get 1t 50
cheap?
Mrs. Jones-Well, first. l found out
his very lowest cash price. Then |
persuaded him to let me have 1t at the
same price on the installment plan.
.But you didn't want to buy 1t on
the instailmeut plen?
.of cougse not. Then 1conciuded to
pay cash after all, but made him take
OF twenty per cent, discount--Brook'
| Ign Life
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1895-12-28
To Clean white Feathers

Use olive oil and soap for this and
make q warm bath for the feathers.
ANY shred soap may answer for the
ieiiy If it is free from caustic crystals
Add tablespoonful (half an ounce) OF
commercial fluid ammonia e., OF the
ordinary retail strength-to the
soapy water. Now dip the feathers in.
and stroke them from stem to tip with
the finger and thumb to work out the
dirt. When they look clean rinse them
in warm water. 1t should not be too
hot or it will destroy the feather, and
vet il should be warm enough to get
the soap of the feather sprays Now
very slightly blue one pint OF water,
and mix in a teaspoonful OF corn -four.
Stir it we'll. dip the feather. and shake
till dry in a warm room, and hold be
fore the FIRE or a stove when nearly
done to plume the feather. This
| last operation gives it the full, hufty
appearance that new feathers have
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1895-12-28

from the slender
leaves of the maturing corn and resting
on the long, dusty road with some
what dreamy glow that seemed to IN
vite repose in the shade.
On the porch of the country store at
the Center" sat two old and gray
bearded men. Around bend in the
road beyond third old and gray-beard-
ed man had Just come into sight.
.IIe's a-comin'," said Isaac.
$50 he is" said Uriah.
The two old men turned in their chairs
70 watch the others approach. AS he
drew near they could see that he car
ried some round and shining object In
his hand and that his face and clothes
were streaked with black.
The newcomer stopped before them.
his face beaming with smiles, and with
an air of conscious pride held out for
their inspection what proved to be a
highly polished stove lid.
.Therc she Isl" he cried. "Thc pref
ticst and cheapest stove polish ever in
vented. know'd the minnit I'd put
that taller and vinegar in the last batch
that I'd got it."
"Thunder!" exclaimed Uriah, in ad-
niring wonder.
at does look NICE" said Isaac, blink
ing from one to the other.
"Nice!" echoed Jethro, the inventor
scornfully. "IYhy, it beats anything
of the kind l ever see. just you try
these stove polishes you git out OF the
stores and you'll see the difference
WHY. this one shines brighter, polishes
easier; there hain't no dust about it
and won't wear off for six months
Nice? Umph!"
Nov, Jet" said Uriah, taking an ex
ira chew of finecut and leaning back II
his char, 'as you're the one that ha'
got this thing up, what's your idea o
getting it out? How has it got to b.
made and sold?"
"Well." said Jet, squaring himseI
back, my idea is just to take some o
the stuff and go out and sellit
'.Why, yes. of course" returned Uriah
slowly, as if the idea had not occurred
to him before. "But what's it going 4
cost?"
Jet sat down on the porch and go
down to business in way to excite tn
admiration of his listeners.
eve figgered the whole thing on
and it just amounts to this: 1t WI
cost Just one cent cake to make TIL
stove polish We sell it for ten cent:
That gives us profit of twelve dollar
and ninety-six cents a gross. Now
each one of us ought to sell gros
every day, mcbbe more, but we'll pu
it at one gross, to be on the safe sid'
Now, say our expenses are three dollar
day. That leaves us ten dollars da
profit, all butfour cents, and that beat
farming all hollow"
"Jet, old boy, we're with you'll" erie
Uriah, slapping the other on the bacl
"What's the first thing to be done?'
"Well, the first thing is to order SON
stuff to make up into polish, and
thought I'd order about fifty dollar
worth. Then we must have some prin
ing DONE"
swell, I'm going to the Forks to-mo
row and I'll see to that"
"Then we must get some place
make It," continued Jet
IF my wagon shed was cleaned o.
II would do first rate" said Isaac. Il
attend to that"
That's the ticket" cried jet, e
Enthusiastically. II tell you, gentleme
we're bound to make something out
this. just to think, ten dollars a d.
is nearly three hundred dollars
month, more money than we take
now in a year."
"That's So" said Isaac, rising slow
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1895-12-28

There is wonderful power in certain
melodies. They speak to the heart,
and therefore never lose their hold on
popular favor. So with many OF these
grand old pieces of sacred music that
have come down to as from former
generations They are hallowed by
the associations which are about them;
they have the memories of the past IN
our own lives, and the experiences OF
the saint before as have been in
wrought into them, but they retain
their hold upon Us, and stir us Is we
use them, chiefly because they are g
adapted to their purpose that they
speak directly to the heart. -DstroIl
Free Press.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1895-12-28

slowpay-The Old Time bank must
be short Of money.
Deposition Great C@sarI why 90
you think so2
II asked them to lend me some.
and they said they couldn't possibly
IN. Y. Weekly.