davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-02-01
Two Absurd English Fads.

There are two fashions very largely,
almost universally, affected by English
women just now that I don't think will
be copied over here even by the most
pronounced faddist, remarked WON
an just back from long stay in Eng
land. '"They are the chignon and the
walking cane
'"The fashionable couture is hideous-
nay, revolting-and I'm sorry to say it
is affected by about eight in ten Eng
fish women. 1t is simply return to the
most extreme style of the old chignon-
an immense wad of hair, or imitation
of one, stuck straight out from the back
Of the head. In it's extreme develop
ment it is often fully as large as the head
which it disfigures. Sometimes you SEQ
a woman who aims to be ultra fashion
able wearing two of these monstrosi.
ties, one atop of the other, and maybe a
little sailor hat perched atop Of the
wad, but not covering her head at ALL
The only Improvement over the old
chignon is that the present one is hair
covered wire frame instead of a swab
OF hair. The vulgar people call it a
bum. In trip around the continent l
didn't see single bun except on trav-
cling English women. 1t is purely Eng
lish and likely to remain so.
"The inevitable accompaniment of
the chignon is the walking cane, and it
was to me the oldest thing in the world
when arrived in England in the spring
TO see every woman walking with a
regular mans cane The heavy fashion
ables carry heavy canes, just as our
'Chollies' do. 1 travelled all round Eng
land, to all the big towns and the fash
ionable watering places, and everywhere
the cane was most conspicuous.
"BuJ there's reason for the cane,
and, Absurd rs 1t Ia it is point for the
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-02-01
ion developed some interesting and val.

ION developed some interesting and val
liable information on the subject.
1t appears that these peripatetic hair
dressers secure the patronage of re-
stricted number of ladies and work
them for their cliental only.
They form season engagements, and
where patron keeps her own personal
maid they visit her twice week. The
dressers' duties include shampooing the
head, preserving the perfect condition
of the hair.
The work is neither tedious nor I'M
refining, and many wealthy women are
willing to pay and do pay good prices
for this luxury in the morning or late
afternoon hours.
Some of these hairdressers have fully
six hours of each day regularly engaged
by their customers. They carry about a
small case containing healthful tonics
and fragrant washes. Of course each
lady keeps her individual combs and
brushes.
The dresser spends an hour at each
house, charging $1.50 for visit So
busy women. therefore, who can put in
SO hours week are able to command an
income of So day, an eminently re-
spectacle revenue for any one to earn
Boston Globe.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-02-01
When Buying Furs.

In buying furs especially for trim
ming go to first class place, inasmuct
as the furs that are apparently sold for
such cheap prices are usually found lack
ing, writes Isabel A. Mallon in The La
dies Home Journal. frequently they
have not been taken care OF during the
summer, and the moth has made his
home among the hairs, and in short
time you will find your gown or skirt
continually covered with them, and
wherever you sit or whoever may be
near will also suffer from this rain of
loose fur. If good effect is produced
by an imitation fur, buy it, but exam
inc it we'll.
Mink is particularly well initiated,
and as the real fur is quite expensive it
may be taken for granted that on nine
out of ten gowns the fur has never been
acquainted with that sharp looking lit
tie animal whose head just now is of sc
much value. The limitations of ermine
are never good and therefore not to be
thought Of Astrakhan is sufficiently low
in price to permit any one getting a
gown trimming to have the real article
itself. By the bye, in speaking of laces
and furs, forgot to mention that over
the deep fur capes, those reaching far
below the waist, it is considered in per-
fectly good taste to wear shoulder cape
of lace. Usually one of the sharply
pointed designs is chosen for this pur-
pose
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-02-01
Oh, how hard these pussy cats
Are learning how to SPELL
Teachers very firm and strict.
Pussy cats are bright.
Every one knows A B @
Ere he leaves tonight
Winter Night Sport.

A peanut hunt is lots of fun for an
evening party. The hostess hides pea
nuts in all sorts of queer places about
the room, sometimes putting two or
three nuts in the same place. Then she
provides each of her little guests with
little basket tied with gay ribbons, and
the ''hunt' begins. After certain time
the finds are compared. The one who
has the largest number wins the first
prize, while the ''booby prize is fit
tingly awarded to the one having few
est.
Some other trials that are great sport
are often introduced. One is to see who
can carry the most peanuts in one hand
from one table to another. A boy ought
to win this. Forty two is good num-
Der. Of course the winner is to be re-
warded, while the "booby," too, must
have simple something.
Another trial consists in carrying DO
tatoes from one room to another in a
teaspoon. The potatoes, which should
be round and big, are better put on
table with polished top. The one who
can carry the greatest number of pota-
toes from one table to the other in
given time wins. The tables must be far
apart. 1t is not easy to scoop up the po-
tatoes, and once secured it is still diff
cult to retain
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-02-01
PICKETT AND THE ARCHIVES.
fkAs* Light Turned on a Hidden Chapter Of
Wartime History.

K4As Light Turned on a Hidden Chapter OF
Wartime History.
Frank Riggs, the son of the famous
banker and his fathers successor in the
financial circles at Washington, tells
me an interesting story that corrects a
false impression which many good peo-
pie have carried for years During the
second term of President Grant man
Of the name of Pickett sold to the gov
eminent of the United States the rec
ords of the executive departments Of
the southern confederacy. From these
documents was obtained much evidence
that prevented the payment of claims
Of southern citizens who pretended 10y
atty for losses growing out of the war.
In single instance they saved several
millions by showing that mail contract
ors throughout the south had been paid
from the Confederate treasury for serv-
ices performed by them for the postoffice
department. of the United States before
the outbreak of the rebellion. They
proved to be Of great value in many 9th
er directions, and the price paid Mr..
Pickett for them, which was some.
thing like $50, proved to be one OF
the most profitable investments ever
made by the government.
Pickett had been the chief clerk OF
the Confederate state department OF
held some similar Office which made
him custodian of the archives. When
President Davis and his cabinet fled
from Richmond, Mr.. Pickett carted the
records away and hid them in some
place that escaped the searchers of the
Union army, and the manner of THEN
disappearance was mystery until they
were delivered to Secretary Fish. II
was always believed that Mr. Pickett
pocketed the money, and he was uni.
versally condemned by southern people
for betraying the secrets of the lost
cause for price.
''The facts have never been told, !"
said Mr.. Riggs, ''for Mr.. Pickett exact.
ed the strictest pledges of secrecy from
my father in regard to the disposition
Of the money. But both of them are
dead now, and there is no reason why
the truth should not be known. Mr..
Pickett never had the benefit Of one
penny of the money he received from
the government for those records. He
deposited the entire amount as soon as
he received it in our bank to the credit
Of George w. Riggs, trustee for, and
it was distributed in small amounts
among the widows of Confederate Off
GERS. Mr. Pickett made out the list OF
the people to whom he wished it sent.
The checks were all signed by my ia.
ther. Each one was accompanied by
letter, which he prepared and which my
father signed, saying that the Enclosure
was forwarded at the request of gen.
tleman who felt an interest in their
welfare, but for reasons of his own de.
sired that his identity should not be
disclosed The account was carried fol-
several years, and all the checks and
vouchers are now packed away in ou
bank. Chicago Record
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-02-01
WomanhoOd and Opportunity.

A correspondent assails the modern
movement in the direction of larger
freedom and opportunity for women on
the ground that women already have
all the liberty they need. Where" he
asks Indignantly, ''can nobler types of
womanhood be found than were our
mothers and grandmothers? Do not their
purity, tenderness, fidelity to duty and
capacity to deal successfully with COM
plicated household affairs prove that
they possessed all the freedom they re-
CURED for the development of their fac
ulties and the fulfllment of their mis-
sion?'
Our correspondent apparently fails to
see that in recounting the admirable
qualities Of the woman of the past she
is making the strongest possible plea
for the complete emancipation of the
woman of the present and the future
The fact that under such limitations as
have existed until recently the women
of America have nobly borne their part
in the maintenance of the household
and the upbuilding of our great repub-
tic is surely potent argument for wild
ening their opportunities for usefulness
and self development. Even from this
essentially narrow point Of view the
women of the United States have proved
themselves the worthy helpmeets and
the fit peers of men, for no man with
brains and discrimination can ignore
the fact that the domestic problems
which women are constantly called
upon to solve are among the most diff
cult questions of human existence that
they require tact, wisdom, frmness and
charity in a measure not exceeded by
any other complications, and that upon
their rightful solution rests not merely
the happiness of the home, but the in
tegrity of the nation. The saying that
"the hand that rocks the cradle is the
hand that rules the world" is as trite
as it is true. The world in these days is
rapidly coming to recognize that the
mind that directs the multitudinous af-
fairs of the household and guards the
footsteps of childhood with infinite care
is capable of success in realms of
achievement which have hitherto been
deemed the exclusive province of the
masculine sex. Itrequires quite as much
brains to bring up baby as it does to
cast ballot. New York Press.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-02-01
Miss Toulmin Smith.

Miss Toulmin Smith is the first wom
an to receive the appointment of libra
rian of Manchester college, Oxford.
Miss Smith has won the much coveted
post by sheer force of merit and over
the heads of nearly 100 competitors,
chiefly of the sterner sex. Manchester
college, the fine Gothic building which
was opened two years ago by the Uni
tarians, has proved itself fully abreast of
the spirit of the times, which takes per-
sonality rather than social position, Ca
pacity rather than sex, as the true basis
of selection for office. DR.. Murray, the
editor of the great dictionary now being
issued by the Oxford Press, has intrust-
ed much of his most difficult research
work to Miss Toulmin Smith, who has
proved herself an invaluable colleague.
She is great granddaughter of Mr..
Toulmin, the we'll known Presbyterian
divine. Her father hailed from War
wickshire, her mother from Yorkshire,
but she happened to be born at Roxbury,
Mass, during her parents short sojourn
in the States. She has lived in High
gate nearly all her life, for many years
aiding her father in his writings on con-
stitutional history. With DR.. Elizabeth
Blackwell and few others she founded
the National Health society and acted
as secretary for some time. She has for
many years been school manager un-
der the Hornsey school board, and she
watches with intense interest the prog
ress of the present struggle. Her SYM
pathies are all on the side of freedom of
conscience. London Correspondent.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-02-01
FOR LITTLE FOLKS.
The Ant Eater.

A strange looking creature is the ant
sater. His name describes his habits,
and nature seems to have designed him
for exactly the work which he performs.
He opens ant hills and kills, by making
his dinner of them, all of their inhabit-
ants. He is certainly useful animal,
although most unpleasant and peculiar
looking one.
He resides in Brazil. Perhaps he lives
there because ants and ant hills are
there in plenty. or perhaps the ants and
ant hills are put there because he lives
there to exterminate them, for ants are
terrible pests in that hot country. They
swarm through the houses and eat every
thing which comes in their way. Clothes,
books and furniture, wool, paper or
wood, even to the beams of the houses,
are not safe from destruction by these
terrors. And so, of course, the animal
who lives but by destroying them is con-
sidered a most necessary friend.
He has curious long, sharp claws,
with which he tears open the ants
homes. He has a very long nose, half as
long as his body, and he can poke it far
into the anthouses in his search for food
And he has very long, slender and
sticky tongue, which he darts in and out
very rapidly, catching up with it dozens,
perhaps hundreds, of ants at every mo-
ton.
Another odd thing about him is his
tail. 1t is bushy one, covered with
long gray hair. 1t looks like a monstrous
gray mat, and when he lies down it Gov
ers him up completely, serving the ex-
cellent purpose of keeping him warm
and helping to conceal him. He makes
his home in the woods, and it is usually
at night that he prowls about, devour-
ing few million ants in the course of
his search for enough dinner.
York World
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-02-01
Shoulder to Shoulder With Men.

A well known minister of Somerville
recently said that he could not under
stand why women did not take up the
study of architecture. GA female archi-
tect, said he, would be sure to put a
closet somewhere near the kitchen sink,
and thus save thousand steps in a
day." He might have added that she
would have put closets in every room
in the house and every one in conven-
lent place. Here is line of work
which is specially adapted to women,
for they are naturally careful in de-
tails, are generally artistic and could
''learn the business as we'll as man
Why not become architects? Surely the
Woman's building at the Worlds fair
did not suffer by comparison in an ar
chitectural sense with its neighbors.
One of the most successful women in
Boston is dentist. A few years ago
she graduated at the head of her class,
and the only woman in it, and now she
has practice which gives her an in
come up in the thousands
Druggists who will say anything on
the subject are obliged to admit that
women are admirably fitted to that
work, and already there are about 800
successful female druggists in the Unit
ed States. Of course there are many
kinds of work for which woman is to-
tally untitled. Her physical strength is
not so great, but where brain power,
endurance and patience count in the
fight for success she stands shoulder to
shoulder with man. -Somerville Jour
nal.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-02-01
Last Seasons Gown.

An acceptable way to modernize and
freshen last seasons cloth gown is tG
strip off its fur, velvet or MORE, and
rhadame is the best, and new sleeves of
this material 60 long way in the reno
waiting process. Put in full front of
the satin and cut off last years pointed
bodice to the waist line. This is one Of
the small points that betray the old or
new fashion. Finish the bodice with a
soft twisted fold of the satin, which fold
tailors take care shall fit smooth and
snug, with no bullying. If there has
been a foot trimming whose stitches
show after careful pressing, a bias hem
of cloth, headed by a narrow (when fin
ished) fold of satin is permissible COW
ering. 1t is hint for the home dress
maker to make this fold of double satin
In this way better effect is insured.
Of course the skirt of last season must
be widened. In some cases this is diff
cult, but if no more cloth is at hand to
make the two additional cores knee
deep fans of satin at each gore-with one
to the waist if necessary-at the back
may be suggestion of value If the
fans are used, it is better, if possible,
to leave the foot without the hem and
fold. Trimming between the fans de-
tracts from their good effect.
For the neck of the bodice there should
be satin czarina, with Gears" at the
sides or a bunch of flowers, and the
wrists may be finished plain or a bias
twist of the satin drawn about each,
ending in a smart, perky little bow and
ends on the top of the arm-New York
Times.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-02-01
Women as Imitators.

With the tailor made girl an easy
walk came ina walk that did not have
suggestion of stride, but still, as it
was swinging, was perfectly feminine
and easy. 1t was much prettier than
the mincing steps attained by walking
the ribbon. By the bye, it does seem that
while women are talking SO much about
their rights they have left very few to
men.
They have taken his loose, heavy
stitched gloves with the big buttons.
They have taken his shirt front, his tie,
his scarfpin, his watch chain, his ciga-
rettes, his coat pockets, and if some of
the bicycle riders continue to divide
their skirts they will have taken his
trousers l have tried my very best to
be convinced that woman looks we'll
on a bicycle. She does not. The attitude
is an ungraceful, strained one, and if
the rider happens to be fat woman her
face gets fiercely red, and she does look
an object. No matter how much care
may have been given to the get up, they
all look pretty much alike, and most of
the riders have an untidy look-tumbled
hair, negligee cap, and, we'll, the gen
eral loose get up being far from natty
looking. Riding the iron and steel horse
may be popular, but certainly it is not
pretty.
Of course some Of the fashionable
women have learned to ride. They are
continually seeking for some new dis
traction. But you can be very certain
that they will ride in private schools
or on their own private grounds and
not through the streets of New York or
in the public parks. They are too wise
to make guys of themselves for the ben
eft of the general public. Occasionally
they might do it among their own
crowd, but be very sure that they are
not going to let the hoi polloi see them
make fools of themselves. Editor Wo-
mans Page, Boston Globe.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-02-01
MRS. LILY A. THOMPSON.

en- on tho police force, as was decided
at the recent convention of that organi.
cation, I desire to have my name enter
ed upon your record as the first appli-
cant for appointment as female police
officer. l believe with the leaders Of
the w. G. r. y. that more can be ac-
complished while making arrests by thu
use of moral suasion than by the use OF
clubs, pistols and brute force. The ex-
pertinent of female police officers ia
worth trying"
1t is unnecessary to state that the
commissioners We're somewhat startled
by this application. 1t is true there ara
several women connected with the DO
lice department as matrons at the va
rious stations, but the idea of female
policeman patrolling beat and swing
ing ''billy'' was entirely new. How
ever, the matter was referred to Com.
missioner Truesdell, and he is calmly
thinking it over. In the meantime Mrs
Belva A. Lockwood and other promi-
nent woman suffragists in the District
have interested the@selves in the case
OF Mrs. Thompson ana declare they pro
pose to push her application to an ap-
pointment
Mrs. Thompson, who is % years old,
is a native of Charleston. There are
not many woman sufragists in that
section of the country, and Mrs. Thomp-
son has acquired her ideas on this sub
ject since she came to Washington about
four years ago. When she was years
old, her parents moved to eastern Ten
nessee, and in that mountain region she
grew to wOmanhood. 1t was there that
she developed fondness for outdoor
exercise and became an accomplished
hOrsewoman, and, according to her
friends, splendid rife shot She ham
dies pistol quite as expertly as any
man, and i'll this respect she would
probably excel the average member of
the police force. Mrs. Thompson early
acquired taste for athletics of all sorts,
and few years ago she became inter-
ested in the Delsartean theory of physic.
al development. She is an expert with
Indian clubs and dumbbells, and no
doubt she could give some of the "dan-
dy coppers" points on the twirling of a
baton in the most artistic manner.
From her home in Knoxville Mrs.
Thompson came to this city, and since
the death Of her husband short time
ago she has supported herself by sewing
and by occasional work at copying
Washington Cor. Chicago Herald
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-02-01

cane above the chignon, for the latter
is without any excuse whatever. Queen
Victoria is compelled to use walking
cane whenever she moves about, and it
is in compliment to her majesty-or
from silly aping of royalty, whichever
you ike-that the English woman car
ries a cane You remember, of course,
the Alexandra limp, which nearly ev-
cry English woman affected some years
ago and which had its origin in lame
ness of the Princess of Wales. 1t is in
just such ways that many of the fashion
able absurdities of Europe originate.
But heaven forfend us from the ohignon
and the canc''
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-02-01
Women Architects.

Mary N. Cannon and Alice j. Hands,
who are seniors of the New York School
Of Applied Design For Women, have de-
signed newcomers building for the Cot
ton States and International exhibition
at Atlanta in 1895. The work took them
three weeks and is figured out to the
smallest detail, while their estimates
are So, 900 below the $40. 900 limit
These young women won last summer
five out Of seven competitions with other
New York architects
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-02-01
Eesenting Insults.

How can refined woman best pro-
rious question in these days when wom-
en- are being forced to accept response
bilities and to stand oftentimes so COM
pletely alone Insults are not always
merited, and suppose a man or wom-
an maliciousiy offers an afront to a
woman and the one affronted is innate
~ refined, what redress has she? None
whatever. There is no code of honor to
Git the occasion. Unfortunately there
are men and women who take advan-
tage of this lack of protection. Some
one will advise, ''Treat them with 81
lent contempt" Well, that is the only
way open, but it is not just way. The
contempt doesn't affect the offenders
and silence renders their viciousness.
being unknown, dangerous to another.
There is such thing as righteous in
dignation, and too frequently peace is
bought at too dear rate. If the affront
is an indictable offense, there is the
court, but how few women would avail
themselves of the publicity of this
mode! There is the other alternative
Of appealing to a male relative, which
is very apt to cause trouble, and then
perhaps the insult is offered by wom-
an. Then the male relative does not
avail. There should be some code OF
honor that would place gentlewoman
in such an attitude that, fearing some
retribution, a man or woman of the
affronting kind would be required to
adhere to at least courteous way Of
being rude New Orleans Times-Dems
oorat