davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The bee., 1895-08-08
THE SQUIRE'SLEGACY

Old Squire Boutwell, was dead
For weeks he had lain awaiting the
grim summons which came at sun
rise that morning. The usual
number OF loungers around the
stove in the village post Office were
discussing the event.
'Reckon the kid'll be about the
richest person IN these parts" said
one.
'Right smart lot o. property for
a youngster to handle"
"They say Halls terribly cut up"
chimed in newcomer; and then
followed various speculations as
10 the probable ability or disa-
bility of the heir to handle the I'M
mense property, which had been
the squire's in his lifetime.
Meantime the subject OF this dis
cussion lay in the great house on
the hull, entirely given over to his
grief, thinking not of the splendor
which rumor said awaited him,
but OF the dead man in the room
below.
Father, mother, brother, sister,
counsellor, guide. He had been
all in one to him. Stern, naughty,
and unylelding to others, but ever
kind to the grandson--the last of
the once illustrious family,
The day iollowing--a raw, chilly
spring day--the funeral occurred,
and afterwards the reading of the
will in the library of the great
house. There were present only
the lawyer, the family doctor, the
servants and Hal. There were va
rious bequests to the servants, and
then; "To my beloved grandson
Hal, my two Jersey kline, Peach
blow and Blossom The residue
of my property, both real and per-
sonal, to be held in trust-here
followed the names of the trustees
for FIVE years. And to be then
disposed OF according to the direc-
tions found in the sealed packet
in my desk which is to be opened
hve years from the day of my
death.
Beyond a momentary flush, which
receding left the noble looking face
paler than before, there was no
sign.
"The boy has grit" muttered
the old doctor.
A few moments more and he
found himself alone with Hal,
81 am sorry for you, my boy"
said the old man, tears standing in
his eyes.
cit is not the loss of the property
alone" faltered Hal, "although
that means much at present, for
you know how ANXIOUS ! am to en-
ter college next term, but | cannot
understand why he cut me off en-
tirely, He must have had some
cause for displeasure which was
unknown 10 me. | think the prop
erty will eventually 80 TO some
The bee., 1895-08-08

voice, / certainly feel it to be wrong.
So / compromise, and | am never
able to make sure that either of
those voices is satisfied with me.
am not even satisfied with myself
but am better satisfied than if |
gave nothing. That was the sell
fish reason | now had for deciding
to yield to my better nature and to
and to obey the voice which bade
me Give to him that asketh. "
| put my hand into my hip pock
ct, where | keep my silver, and
found nothing there but half dol
lar. This at once changed the
whole current of my feelings, and
it was not chill penury that pos
sessed my noble rage, but chill af-
huence. 1t was manifestly wrong
to give half dollar to man who
had no hands or to any sort of
beggar. was willing to commit
small act of incivism, bat / had
not the courage to flout political
economy to the extent of so cents,
and felt that when | was hidden,
"Give to him that asketh. !" 1t was
never meant to give more than a
quarter, which would gladly have
given. But there was nothing in
my pocket but that fatal, indivlsi-
BILE half dollar | would have asked
anybody in sight to change it, but
there was no one passing; it was
quiet street, and at that hour in
the late afternoon it was deserted,
except for the beggar and myself.
For a moment | did not know
quite what to do. To be sure,
wassnot bound to the man in any
way. He had not asked me for
charity. could so on and ignore
him, but then | thought of the bad
conscience should be certain to
have, and could not go on.
glanced across the street and saw
restaurant, and "Wait minute,
| said to the man, as | ran across
to get my half dollar changed.
was now quite resolved 10 give
him a quarter, and be done with it;
the thing was getting to be a bore.
But when entered the restaurant
saw no one there but a young
man quite at the end of long room,
and when he had come all the way
forward to find what | wanted, |
was ashamed to ask him to change
my half dollar, and pretended
that | wanted a package of Sweet
Caporal cigarettes, which did not
want, and which it was a pure
waste for me to buy, since j do not
smoke, though doubtless il was
better to buy them and encourage
commerce than to give the half dol
lar and encourage beggary. AT any
rate, | instinctively felt that had
political economy on my s:ac in the
transaction, and | made haste 10
go back to the man on the steps
and secure myself with Christian
charity, too. On the way over tc
him, however, decided that
would not give him quarter, apa
ended by poising IS cents e'' '''s
OF his outstretched STAMPS
4
The bee., 1895-08-08

The Main was soon stripped of it
willow fringe, and rods had to bt
shipped from France and Hungary
straw from Spain and Italy, anC
palm leaves from the far-away
tropics. But to this day the worl
is done just as Krauss did it.
There are no great factories Oh
moneyed proprietors. A few mer
like Krauss buy the raw materials
where they can get the chepest,
and then distribute them from one
little village home to another, to
gether with the design of the ar
ticle to be wrought.
Some families make certain
kinds of baskets; others confine
themselves to baby carriages,
weaving the same things day in
and day out for generations. The
willow comes in "splits" OF
"skeins," from which the bark has
all been taken. If smaller splits
are needed the worker cuts up the
pieces by means of sharp knife
called a "cleaver. The articles
are variously woven, and the skill
and artistic taste of the villagers
are really something marvellous.
The only tools used are short
knives, which are very sharp; avis
for punching holes, lead weights
to keep the basket in shape while
the weaving is being done and a
''beater" or hammer-lIkeinstru-
ment for bending the willow rods.
Many of the families make baskets
in winter and farm a small, barren
piece of ground In the summer.
At stated time, generally on
Saturday or Monday, the head of
the household takes the product of
his industry to the "head man, |"
as he is called, who lives in LIGHT
enfels. For the articles manu-
factured the pay seems ridiculously
small. For instance, for making
a complete and beautifully woven
baby-carriage the pay is only fifty
eight cents. Few basket-weavers,
even though they be experts at
the business, can make 81 week.
Many whole families, including
the father, the mother and half a
dozen children, do not make more
than S. a week, even for such
difficult and high priced work as
flower stands, sewing baskets and
wall-pockets. This exceedingly
low price for labor is due, prob
ably, to the fact that most of the
people make more or less from the
sale of the products OF their farms.
Yet the Government, IN its desire
to foster industry, has established
schools of design, at which the
boys and girls OF fifteen years and
under may learn to plait and
weave in new and more beautiful
designs. A years attendance at
the school is enough in most cases
for the reason that the child has
basket-weaving born in hlm, and
il takes very little training to make
him expert.
This wonderful industry has
grown and thrived on the noun
tain sides Of upper Franconla, in
The bee., 1895-08-08

to throw at the birds and let IT e,
for what its worth. Make you
money let people chuck it in tn,
river if they don't want it. The,
amt obliged to take it. Any maj
with brains can see that.
These newspapers make m,
sick. ! wish | had charge of Z
newspaper about two minutes. IL
show these stagnated degenerates
who call themselves editors, few
things. Pick up the average
paper and see what a lot of poppy.
cock 1t is. Here, look: First page,
Washington news, foreign gable,
riot in a mine, a murder. That's
all rot, the veriest rot. Do you
think I'd have that if | was run
ming paper, I'd put everything
you see on that first page in six
lines.
"What are the facts of life
Births, deaths and marriages
What happens more interesting
than those itemsf Other things
are merely incidental. I'd put
that on the first page. I'd have
a lot about secret societies. Yes,
sir, I'd make my reports of secret
societies very full. People are al
ways inquiring about secret socie-
ties. That's what they want. I'd
give it to them. You could pick
up my paper any morning and find
all about secret societies.
"Pd have a lot of horse news
page about horses every day,
pictures and all. Can you think
of the pleasure Of picking up your
morning paper and finding a page
about horses. That's the only
way to fill up a newspaper.
81 wouldn't have any editorials.
I'd print the police news on the
editorial page, and the theater ad-
vertisements on the space that the
police news didn't fill up. A news
paper is no place for details. |
wouldn't publish any details at all.
Just the bare fact-that's all you
want. In writing up a murder /
would simply say, "John Smith
killed John Brown yesterday: kill
ing done with a pistol. That's
all. That tells the whole story.
What more do you want. Read
that in second and pass on to
something else.
eyes, sir, details would have to
60. Instead OF three columns I'd
say to my reporters, "Give me
three lines.
Sand as for congress, I'd ignore
congress, unless something was
done. I'd have line every day,
Congress met. That's all. 1t
gives the public all it wants to
know
81 wouldn't illustrate news.
The only illustrations I'D have
would be reproductions OF master
pieces.
Yes, sir, I'd reform all of
these things and I'D give the peo-
pie a humming newspaper"
Everybody was sorry when he
had TO get off the train. Atlanta
Constitution.
The bee., 1895-08-08

charitable institution, as there are
several in which he was much in,
terested. II il were not for my
college aspirations, | could gel
several remunerative positions; but
it is hard for me to give up my
hopes in that direction.
"Well, well, my boy, don't lose
heart. Face it bravely and per
haps it will all come out right yet, y
said the gruff but kindly old man,
as he took his departure.
And Hal did face 1t bravely, but
try as he would, he could think OF
no way out of the dilemma. The
unique legacy which the eccentric
old man had left him, if disposed
of to the best advantage, would
not take him through one year at
school. He pondered and pondered
till one day seeing dairy wagon
go by, the thought struck him that
Peachblow and Blossom might
yield a fair income also, And then,
moment later he was feverlsh
with excitement as he mapped out a
plan, whereby he would go to col
lege and Peachblow and Blossom
would go with him.
y n
Three days before the opening
OF the fall term OF a well-known
college in a western State, the un-
usual spectacle of lad leading
two sleek Jerseys across the camp
us presented itself. The president,
coming down the steps of the UNI
versity'at this moment, took off ms
spectacles, rubbed them briskly,
readjusted them and then stopped
in amazement, for the trio were by
this time only few yards away,
lettering his charges to fence
Hal stepped up. doffed his hat, and
in few words related his story.
"God bless you, my boy said
the old man in husky voice. "Put
me down as your FIRST customer. :"
The intervening time between
this and the opening Of the term
was spent in looking up customers,
OF whom he found plenty, and in
building small stable near house
some little distance from the Uni
versity, owned by an old couple of
whom Hal had rented a room,
agreeing to pay for the same in
milk. And surely, college boys
room was never before furnished
like this one. There was row OF
shining little tin pals, .teakettle
for heating water to scald them,
and--well, various other appurten-
ances peculiar to diaries alone.
And did he succeed1 you ask.
Why, OF course he did. This is
not an impossible scheme, as any
one would find by trying il. His
income over and above all expenses
was more than sufficient for his
needs.
He completed the course and
graduated with the highest honors,
but not without much labor, both
mental aud manual. AT first there
were many rude iests At his ex-
pensc, and when would-be
viii shortened his name Of Both.
The bee., 1895-08-08

spite of the fact that all the ma.
terials used in manufacturing the
products have to be brought from
foreign lands. The best willows
grow in the United States, but ex-
cept for a few rather unsuccessful
factoriesAmericans have never been
able to compete with the followers
of the Bavarian Krauss. Chicago
Record.
The bee., 1895-08-08

There is really no industry 10 the world Of
greater magnitude than the coal industry. In
the Uuited States it is estimated that it employs
somewhere in the neighborhood of 100000 or
500, 900 people, and that 2 600, ooo or q 500, 600
others are dependent in one way another upon
its prosperity That any causes which affect an
industry of such vast extension affect also every
other line of trade is face evident Again. the
prosperity of kindred lines of business. the in
crease of population, the development OF manu-
facture, more work TO those engaged in
the coal industry, better food and clothing and
housing to those dependent upon them 1t is
just possible that the output of coal in the United
States in 1895 will be higher than that in Great
Britain, which, if such be the case. will make
the largest coal producers in the world That
this title will belong to us under any crcum-
stances in year or two is generally conceded,
and with gradual building up of foreign ex-
port trade, we can look TO the extension of coal
mining to very high degree Although at the
present moment times are dull all the material
is at hand for every kind of improvement. and
improvement which will result in the expectation
abroad of hundreds of millions of tons OF our
native product, and resultant increase in the
value of coal lands on the one hand and de-
crease of surplus accumulation on the other.
The bee., 1895-08-08
PlrHy PARAGRAPHS.

1t is said that new coal company is being
formed to open and operate a mine near Lee
tonia Ohio, to employ abou, 400 men
~.
The Consolidated Jellieo Coal Company has
recorded charter at Nashville. Tenn.
~.
In the association OF coal operators recently
formed IN Jackson county. Ohio. practically all
the miners are embraced.
-.
Eleven thousand tons Of coal are hauled out
every day at coal mines 10 clearfeld county. Pa,
by trolly lines. All coal operators who have seen
it are greatly pleased The locomotive is ten
feet long. ive feet wide and thirly.six inches
from top OF rail: il weighs six TONS two hun
dred mine cars are used. each one hauling about
a ton ri coal The same mines will soon have
veniilaiing apparatus. operated by electricity.
The coal miners of Mascouiah and vicinity
celebrated the opening Of the new mine June
10Th The first coal was taken out OF the mine
in one solid block. weighing upwards OF 1000
pounds The vein is eight feet and three inches
thick, and was struck at depth Of r7o feet. The
men paraded the streets headed by brass band
and afterwards held picnic at Lincoln Lake.
where refreshments furnished free by the
brewing and coal companies. The new mine
will be opened mp Immediately. and will be oper-
ated on large scale.
-.
contract has just been closed by the colum-
bus. Hooking Valley & Toledo Ry. Co. for an
improved hoisi.eonveyins machine to transfer
coal cars to vessels at the local docks 10 Toledo.
Ohio The machine is guaranteed to transfer
goo tons an hour. and by a novel device the cars
are run into cradle turned partly over, dump
ing the coal through spout into buckets. which
are transported to the vessel by an or iginal de-
vice and laid into the hold without bre aking. 1t
is expected to have the machine completed dur
ing July, revolutioniring the handling, reducing
the cost TO a minimum and expediting its
transfer.
The bee., 1895-08-08
occupying this space.
SOMETHING WORTH KNOWING.

1t is announced that the Columbus (O) Arti-
fetal Gas Company has introduced profit sharing
with its employees. Dividends will be based on
the amount of their pay during the period for
which the stock dividend is declared for stock
holders and in the same per cent. Employees
are to receive script, exchangeable for stock
until their holdings amount to 5000, when it is
optional whether they take cash or script. This
plan is different from some others already in op-
Grafton in this country, as it permits the workers
to become members Of the company
~
Capt J. w Moores. manager of the Memphis
Coal and Mining Company's big plant at Bever
asked by the editor of this department il he
thought a combine would be formed among the
mine operators OF Kentucky to maintain the
price of coal He said II think not, because
the interstate trust law will prevent it, no.
ticed the action of the Alabama operators in
forming combine, and think the operators
should be able to maintain living prices for COAL
but guess it will not be possible to do SO in
this way"
The bee., 1895-08-08

The Consolidated Jellieo Coal Company has
recorded a charter at Nashville. Tenn
The bee., 1895-08-08

It is said that new coal company is being
formed to open and operate a mine near Lee
tonia, Ohio to employ about 400 men
The bee., 1895-08-08

In the association OF coal operators recently
formed IN Jackson county. Ohio, practically all
the miners are embraced
Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1895-11-08

One of the leading feature in
Harper's Magazine, at the close of
this year and the beginning of the
next. will be a novel by William
Black. The title of the story,
Briseis, is taken from it's heroine,
a Greek maiden who is first miro
duced to the reader among the
hills of Aberdecnshirc. It is a
tale which has long occupied the
thought of he novelist, and into
which he has put some Of his best
work. Each Of its six monthly
parts will be Illustrated from
drawings made in Scotland and
London by the well.known New
York artist, w. T. Smcdley.
With it's Greek heroine, British
background, and American illus.
TRAITOR, Briseis will offer the first
instalment Of it's attraction, drawn
from sources so various but not
conflicting, in December num-
Der of Harpcr's.
Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1895-11-08

The play. "Hidden> Hand", was
presented by a company of local
amateurs at Gross opera house Fri
day under the auspices of the
local camp Of Modern Woodmen. A
large audience attended and highly
appreciated the efforts OF the players
Every member Of the cast presented
an excellent conception OF his part
and the leading roles were especially
well sustained. The play is a, very
long and difficult one and requires a
great amount of study on the part
of several members, but they carried
their parts through admirably.
There was a tOlchlight parade from
the WoOdmen's hall to the opera
hsuse, led by the WOodmen band in
uniform, which was a very attrac-
tive feature of the evenings enter
tainment. The results OF the enter
tainment. financially. as we'll as the
successful presentation of the play,
are very gratifying to those in
charge, and something over 1915
above all expenses was turned into
the treasury OF the lodge.
Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1895-11-08
To Enlarge Crow Wing County.

Brainerd Journal: Petitions have
been circulated to Attucn about
eighteen townships of Cass county
territory to Crow Wing county,
thus extending this county north
ward to the southeastern part OF
Leech lake. and westward three
miles to the range line, besides one
township west of said range line. to
bring in some farmers and Others
who prefer Braineru as a county
seat instead Of having Il county seat
at Leech lake, as will be the casc
when Cass county is organized. 1t
is also believed that after the organ
ization of Cass county taxation will
be much higher than in Crow Wing
county. The law is being complied
with in regard to petitions from the
territory affected, and it is believed
that the additional territory re-
ferrpd to will be annexed to this
county.
Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1895-11-08
GOOD FOR SxUK RKPlDS
Prospects for improvements
on Another Of the Upper
Mississippi Water Pow

The following from the Sank Rap
ids Free Press indicates the water
powers OF the upper Mississippi are
gradually attracting more attention
from manufacturers:
For the past few weeks a number
of our citizens have been working
quietly for the improvement of Sank
RAPIDS, and the result of their efforts
were presented to the business men
at meeting held yesterday after
noon at the court house. A written
proposition was read III which a
wealthy gentleman from il neighbour
ing state outlined just what he
would do in the way Of improve
ments, provided Sank Rapids would
give Il bonus of $4,000, the securing
of u certain share Of the f1OWage
rights, and the donat ton of 125 lots.
The gentleman referred to has al
ready secured an option on the Dav-
ison ard Gilman interests, and all
that is necessary to make the thing
Il go remains with the people OF
Sank Rapids. The proposition
guarantees the erection of a paper
and pulp mill. 70xG00, to cost $780,
QUO and the erection Of a building
giving GOO feet of forage for an cleo
trio light and water works station.
the latter to be opera tel by tnecom-
pany five years free OF charge and at
the end of that time to be turned
over to the Village. Yhe meeting
was presided over by W. l.. Nieman,
and Herbert Harland acted as secre-
tary. It was the general sentiment
of those present that the PROPOSE
ton was the best ever presented for
consideration, and the men who
were instrumental in bringing 1T
about-Messrs. w. L. Nieman, W.
H. Fletcher, Jos. Coates, H. Har-
land and Herman Berg-were au:
thorized to continue the good work.
The meeting also adopted resolu-
ton calling upon the village council
to take steps for the holding Of a
special election to vote the bonds.
The offer holds good for a short
time, and it is therefore necessary
that Sank Rapids do what is re-
'uuired of her without any delay.
From all appearances the plan as
outlined will be pushed to success
full issue.'
Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1895-11-08
School Board Meeting.

The board Of education held It's
regular monthly meeting at the
office Of Secretary EIlenbecker, IN the
'ourt house Saturday. Bills Tor
books, stationery and other mate
rails furnished the schools, amount
ing to $l4l so We're allowed.
On motion the following papers
and magazines were subscribed for.
to be added to the high school IL
brary: The st. Paul Globe, Mime
npolis journal, Harper's Weekly,
Review of Reviews, and The Forum.
1t was also decided, on motion t"
put in a new pump at the Columbia.
Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1895-11-08
CLIMBER OF COMMERCE.
REGULAR Monthly Meeting
Held Monday Morning.
Committee Chairmen
appointed.

The regular monthly meeting III
the chamber of commerce was held
at 10 O'Clock Monday morning AT
the city hall. The meeting was
called to order by President Cauley
Minutes of last meeting were read
and approved.
The following new members were
elected: CT. McNair, =. n. New
man and A a. Joss.
President Cauley announced the
appointment o, the following chair
men of the standing committees:
Financial. r. Davidson.
En+ertuinmrnt-C A. Weyer-
haeuser.
Arrangements-L. e. Richard.
CITY Development and I"bllc
POlicy-C. A. Lind )ergh.
Manufac turing and Mercantile IN
terests-M. NJ. Williams.
Immiyrution-J. 3. Gibbons.
Transportation-J Mecusker.
The membership Of the committees
will be completed by the appoint
ment by the president OF only snch
members as the several char men
shall recommend.
A communication from the owner
Of a. creamery 1T Quincy, Ill.,. to a.
T.. Johnson l. 60. was relerred 10
the chamber. The owner sald he
contemplated removing his cream
cry to Minnesota. The commnn'ca-
ton was referred to the committee
ON manufactures.
Matters of minor importance were
discussed, and the chamber cd
jOurn ed.