davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-12-03
nee OLD BLUs M usLIN COIN.
Charles Prescott sherman.

When waxlights shine on diamonds blazt
On snowy shoulders CLEAN,
There comes thought of other days;
see, as in a dream.
A dainty table. spread at five,
Vine-shadows Pickering down.
And behind the teacups. Margery
In her old blue muslin gown.
Its ruffies lay about throat,
So round so ivory-fair;
Its sleeves were full, yet one might note
Away with Redfern-Pingat-Wo Worth
Divine arms hidden there.
Those messieurs of renowni
No gown ere owed to them its birth
Like that blue muslin gown
Why do not manufacturers make -
More miislin-plain soft blue
And girls all other tints forsake
For that bewitching huep s
Well-gowned they are, and fair, grant,
But there's not one can drown
My memory of Margery
In her old blue muslin gown.
My castles oversee in Spain
Alas how far away!
And it has winsome chatelaine
Who wears no satins gay.
She waits, upon vine clad porch,
My coming home from town,
And she looks like none but Margery
In her old blue muslin gown.
--Scribner's Magazine.
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-12-03

Wanted TO BE Dustsd on Before He Was
Drowned. &.

wanted TO BE Dusted on Before He was
Drowned.
s "You know JonesY',
"Why, yes: know Jones, OF course, I"
quotes the New York World.
Know what a particular man Jones
iss''
81 always knew he was very neat and
precise in his habits But what OF it?'
Well, it's all right for man to be
neat, but, hang nue., there is such a
thing as carrying neatness too far. "
E'What's Jones been doing now"
"fou know, / came over with him
on the Hibernia-g got in last Saturday."
Didn't know 1t, but | congratulate
you-on getting in safe. Heard the
boat had mighty rough passage. /"
That's just the story. Only two
days out when we had the worst storm
ever was in. 1t came at night.
Passengers all scared to death, Thought
We were going to the bottom each
minute, and We came precious near
it. Boats we're got ready. Somebody
suid there was hole stove in the side.
Turned out to be a fake, but it
frightened us all the same. The men
were fighting and the women praying
and every mother's son and daughter
of 'em getting into a life-preserver ~
well, and what's that got to do
with JopesY'
"Oh, yes = Jones! Well, he took
down life-preserver, looked at it and
then called to the steward. Steward
came--half dead himself. poor devil
but thought Jones didn't know how to
fasten it on.
Steward, said Jones, here. take
this and dust il oil for me; can't
wear it in its present cunditionn Par
ticularS Well, l should say So! A
man that wants to be busted off before
he's drowned! Particular Huhn'
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-12-03

Grip" is the name given re-
markable dog that follows the fortunes
of the Neptune liner Ohio, on account
of the tenacious hold on life he has
shown, he having fallen from the ship
into mid-ocean no less than three
times, says the New York journal.
He is cross between Bedlington and
Skye terrier. and does many things
that other dogs do not do.
He will eat raw potatoes ravenously,
but will not touch meat. The sailors
have taught him to chew tobacco, and
he has developed taste for whisky
and water, under the influence OF
which he does many foolish things and
shows bad temper.
He will blow out lighted matches.
He has one trick of standing on hid
hind legs and by little twist throwing
into the air and thence into his mouth
any article placed on his nose.
His brightest accomplishment la to
select at word of command a given coin
out of collection composed of half
penny, penny, sIxpence, shilling and
balf-crown, which are laid on the floor
of the captains cabin, Grip being sent
below, with the command, Bring me
the shilling" or whatever it may be
that is asked for.
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-12-03

Bishop J. II. Vincent has been asked
how minister may interest his young
people in mental culture. He replies in
an excellent article in the Homiletic
Review. Here are in brief his eight
answers: ~
l. Let the minister stand by the pub
lie school and urge young people not
only to complete the grammer school
course but to enter the high school and
finish the course which is there pre-
acribed.
2. The minister may represent the
college and prove to hitherto incon-
siderate young people the practical
value OF college education.
8. The minister may have his finger
in the public library and urge his
young people to use it indicating to
them the books they would do well to
read.
4. The minister may organize classes
for courses of lectures and lessons on a
variety OF subjects. and enlist profess
sional educators and the unemployed
scholarship of the town.
8. He may organize reading circles
Chautauqua or university extension
courses and may bring together on
afternoons the more intelligent women
of his church for reading and study OF
the higher ranges OF religious litera
ture. There are women to-day devoted
to the study of Christian Science ant
Thoosphy who know nothing about the
wealth Of literature multiplying with
every year regarding the great problems
OF life and theology.
9. The minister may promote the in
tellectual life and at the same time Iht
Christian faith of his young people by
discussing in frank and careful way
the doubts which trouble them.
7. The minister may fight that low
and baleful literature, the degenerate
stuff condemned SO aptly by MAJ
Nordau. -
s. Let the minister transform hi.
church into "A school of character, min
istering to the health and vigor Of all thu
faculties which at the altar have beer
transformed and consecrated to God.
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-12-03
A Grateful millionaire.

The recent troubles of Africa have
called public attention to large num-
Der of interesting persons living in the
southern portion of that continent.
Among others who have been con-
spicuously noticed is Mr.. barney
Barnato, who has made great fortune
in Africa, and of whom a Cape Town
journal tells the following interesting
anecdote: When boy MIR. Barnato
went to the London Jews Free School.
which has produced 10 many leading
Jews of the day. When he left, his
teacher, who was much attached to
him, gave him a penny and his bles-
sing. Tho years rolled by, the friend
less youth had made his wonderful
career in South Africa, and the little
barney bad become parsonage.
About the time when half London and
Paris were going crazy over the fota-
tion of the Barnato Bank, Barney
was seized with a fancy to visit his
old schoolmaster. With great difficulty
he managed to hunt up the old man.
Do you recollect," he said, when
they met-''do you recollect giving
your little Barney a penny when he
left school 30 years agof Here it is
back again, and with compound
interest, and herewith he handed
the schoolmaster a check for Gl05. =
Harper's Round Table.
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-12-03
aow snR suooEEprp.
when Woman Makes Up Her Mind to Do
She Generally Finds a Way.


She Generally Finds a Way.
"There are more ways than one to
make living" said demure littlo
woman, with flashing brown eyes, to a
Buffalo Express reporter. II know
woman who was left penniless in New
York. She was riding on the elevated
road one day, when che was struck
with the sameness Of the advertise
ments that are posted up in the cars
She thought that she could write good
advertisements, and she thought oct
lot of little four-line rhymes for d certain
article. She submitted them to the
advertising manager Of that firm, and
they were accepted, and now she is
making lot OF money every year with
her verses eStolling various wares. -
Pshaw!' said the blonde, who sat
next to the demure little woman. II
know of case right here in Buffalo
that discounts that"
81 don't believe it," said the demure
little woman.
swell, / do, and I'll tell you about it
to prove it. A friend of mine who had
been doing some newspaper work got
the craze for writing dyertisements,
and she went around to lot of stores,
only to find that they we're well sup
piled with people to look after that
branch of their business. She did find
one firm that was willing to lot her try
her hand and she began work. In less
than a year she was comfortably off for
the rest of her life. !"
"Did she invent some new style of
writing or something of that kind?"
asked the demure little woman.
"No, replied the blonde, "but she
married the senior partner"
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-12-03
OFFICE work IN ANTWERP.
Clerks Have Their stems of Beer and Mix
Pleasure with Work.

Pleasure with Work.
Office life in Antwerp is not the life
of drudgery it is in this country, says
writer in the New York Herald.
Almost every Office building in Antwern
is in possession Of. large rear yard
with trees and foliage. where in sum
mer the desks are removed and the
clerks may breathe the air Of heaven
while attending to their daily tasks.
The discipline is not SO rigid, either
perhaps because there is no necessity
for ii. Take the average man over
there, He represents moderation. AT
any time and place the clerk will be
able to attend his duties and vet have
his beer. While porting over the ledgers
or figuring on the Mans and snecitica.
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-12-03

The rival to the goose that laid the
golden eggs has been found. 1t is a
hen--and townbird to boot-for it
roosts in little backyard in the Belle
vile quarter. One morning when the
mistress of the fowl-run paid her
matutiual visit to the nests she came
across, to her intense amaZement, a
bundle OF papers under one staid old
hen. She could scarcely believe nor
eyes at this strange find, especially
when on examination, it was found to
contain securities, valued at Ell,
The hen, too, seemed equally per-
picked, and blinked stupidity at the
metamorphosis. The bird felt sure it
had laid eggs, and yet the papers dis
puted the fact.
The lady who found the fortune said
not a word to her friends, but quietly
converted the bonds into ready money
and changed her mode of life con
siderahiy. But this sudden show oil
jealousy OF The neighbors who had not
expected riches. Rumors spread and
the police were called upon to in
vestigate the matter. Then the story
came out, and a romantic fabric.
which had smacked of an oriental
fable, crulnbled away to vulgar rob-
berry. The securities had been stolen
about eight years ago by some in
dividual, who had passed them on to d
third person. This latter, unable to
get rid Of them in profitable man
ner, had popped them under the hen
one night The owner of tho innocent
bird, together with several other pei
Sons connected with the case, has been
taken into custody. London Telegraph.
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-12-03
PAID FOR TBn WHIsKr.
A Curious Result Of Loud story Telling on
a Train. M S GtE

A curious Result OF Loud story Telling on
Chicago Inter-ocean.
1t is curious how things fall out in
this. world, especially on suburban
trains One evening asst week party
of students from ons OF the universities
began swapping yarns. First one would
take his turn at telling story, and
then the next would entertain the
crowd for few minutes. The talking
was necessarily loud, in order to lie
heard above the rumble Of the cars.
The passengers could hear quite we'll,
and not few became interested and
laid aside their papers to listen.
Now, I'm going to make mine a
war story, boys" began the third
student, in high pitched voice.
You know in war times whisky was
scarce and the soldiers resorted to all
sorts of stratagemssto get dram. One
day one Of the boys said to friend in
another regiment: Say, III give you
81 If you'll get me half Pint Of
whisky 'Done' replied the friend.
Give you that whisky before night. ;
But before night one of the regiment
had orders to move, and the thirsty man
was left without the whisky and with
out the dollar. Now, the curious part
of it is that at reunion 20 years after.
the man who was to have had the
whisky was telling the story TO a COM
rade. OF course he said, laughing.
I've never seen ths fellow who promised
me the whisky from that day TO this. ;
Just then man with one sleeve
empty stepped up and said; .Weren't
you in such and such a regiment, and
don't you remember giving another
soldier 81 for half pint of wbisky?'
Yes We'll I'm that soldier, and I've
been carrying it ever since, and be
pulled the flask from his pocket The
student finished amid the pIaudits of
his companions.
An old fellow In front had been
chnckling gleefully behind his news
paper. He turned around and yelled
heartily: Pretty good, young man
pretty good. You've got things straight.
Pm the man that paid for the whisky !"
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-12-03
Famous Historical, Wedding Cakes.

At royal weddings there are always
chief cakes and limited number of
losses cakes, says an article quoted in
Current Literature. At the Queens
wedding there were two of the former,
one made by MessrH. Gunter and the
other by John G. Mauditt, yeoman
confectiouer OF the Queens household,
and this latter was big cake. It
weighed nearly 300 pounds, and was IA
inches thick and 12 feet in circumfor-
once. The topmost figure that sur
mounted this master tidbit Of currants,
spices, eggs and butter was represen-
tation of britannia blessing the bride
and the brideeroom, the Queen and
Prince Albert being dressed in the cos
tune of the ancient Romans. Besides
theRs major cakes there were 100 minor
ones. For the Prince OF Wales we'd
ding there were also two Important
cakes. M. Paguiez, her maiesty's cop.
fectioner, made one, and Messrs. Boil
land, Of Chester, made the other. The
Prince of Wales plume very properly
formed the peak, and the rose, sham
rock and thistle no ineffective part of
the sugar ornameutation, and five feet
was the height of this pile of sweet
meat. These wedding cakes were great,
Dut tnere WIS even grehter-tne cake
made for the Jubilee by Messrs. Gun
ter. This piummy monster stood l3
feet from the ground and weighed a
quarter of ton. Its value, not TAX
ing into account the fees paid to the
physicians on account of indigestion,
&C., was G300. But the cake world is
in no way different from the everyday
universe. If there are monsters, there
are pipmies also The smallaat yveda;ng
child. 1t was a dolls wedding cake.
three inches high. and weighed about
four ounces. Every thing was as per-
feet as perfect could be, but il was like
eating COLDS. Cd. per ounce was the
sharge made for this special delicaGy.
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-12-03
BLACK EFED UsASS.
Alix Thorn.

In merry June the daisies stand
Knee.deep in fragrant clover.
All gossiping with honey bees
And birds the broad fields over.
But in the August days | see,
In black and yellow splendor,
Tall, stately fiowerets in the grass,
Yet miss the daisies slender.
l think the SUMS too loving rays
Have tanned their baby faces,
And turned the snowy rufiled caps
To frills of yellow laces.
Till on some quiet summer night,
Hid in the fields sweet mazes,
Straight into black-eyed Slsans all
Were changed the swaying daisies.
The Outlook,
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-12-03
AN OPEN C0NFEssJON.

In my time have written Il lot of things
In sort of sing-song way,
To loosen the publishers great purse strings,
That the grocer might get his pay.
/ have sung of the clouds in the sunset sky,
OF the beauties of love and hone,
And often. to CLEAN n check on the fly.
of the marvels of some ones soap.
Though the critic may dirkle me with his
dirk,
will MARBLE my lifting lay: ..
Yes, IN go right on with my fendish work
While the bank holds out to pay.
For though il be midding. or bad, or good,
While my Pegasus lives to trot. "
Twill be simply jingle when understood,
And poetry grand when not.
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-12-03

An English idea is covers to fit over
bicycle wheels, which may be made of
handsome cretonne or plain material,
outlined with some appropriate design.
The seams should be bound with
bright-colored braids.
These covers can be made very at
tractive and serve the double purpose
of protecting the bicycle and one s
clothing where the machine has to be
kept in the small rooms of fiat or in
the hallway. A rubber cover for the
machine is not so attractive, but is
much more practical, especially in the
vicinity of the seahore.
The idea, SO far as New York City
is concerned, has thus far been limited
to water proof and that proof-cover,
fastened over the bicycle lamp in the
daytime. New York Journal.
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-12-03

i dreamt dream the other night,
When everything was still;
1 thought saw Susannah, dear,
A-scorching down the hill,
An awful glare was in her eve,
Her gum was in her mouth;
Says I--''Susannah, don't you cry,
Pm leavin' for the South"
Oh, Susannah!
Don't you cry for mel
But since saw dem bloomehs, Suse,
I've got to quit We. See?
indianapolis Journal
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-12-03

1t occurred at the boarding house of
Mrs Flapiack, on Ross avenue. Mrs.
Flapiack was. carving the breakfast
mackarel, when she spoke up and said :
~ see that Miss Finch, a girl liv-
ing in Ohio, has been living 80 days
without food.
sis that all?" remarked Gilhooly,
sadly. Give boarded here for the last
seven years.
Ho got the mead OF the mackerel for
his share that paoraina. Texas Sitter.
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-12-03

Wheeler" What made you kick that
banana skin out into the street? Don t
you know it Is liable to give some one
a fall?'
Walker--"That is why kicked it off
the sidewalk
Wheeler" But on the sidewalk it is
only dangerous to pedestrians. Gin
cinnati ENQUIRER.
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-12-03

1t was Bangor philosopher who
summed up church fair in these
terms:
"A church fair is place where we
spend more money than we can afford
for things we do not want in order to
please people whom wedo not like and
TO help the hcathens. who arc happier
than we are. "--Boston Herald,
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-12-03

waters, long before the angels ever
dreamed of man, one awful day suddenly
burst through these bounds its maddened
way; that, roaring and kissing, grinding
and shrieking, plowed its horrible furrow
between two affrighted, gaping noun
tains?
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-12-03
He Knew.

Sammy, what is centurion?"
asked the Sunday school teacher of
Sammy Snaggs.
"a centurion is chap that makes
century run on BICYCLE replied
Sammy. -Pittsburg Chronicle-Tele
uranh G
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-12-03
Still WairIsG.

II am waiting, only waiting,
Where the shadows do not fail,
After long anticipating,
For All early morning call;
am waiting, only waiting,
Where the icy waters roll;
Keen me not anticipating"
Sang the lonely old North Pole.
cleveland Plaindealer,
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-12-03

''Have any luck on your fishing
trip?"
Remarkable ~
Caught some beauties, eh?'
81 didn't get nibble.
''But you said you were lucky"
81 was. / fell into the river and
didn't get drowned" - Washington
Star.
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-12-03

Bobby Ito druggist)-"Your sign
Gays. Soda water; all the flavors, 5
cents.' -
Druggist tegaginglyl-"Y Yes; which
do you wishY" r.
Bobby lpromptlyl-"I want 'sm all T"
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-12-03

The girl stood on the burning deck,
But her loss we need not grieve;
She did not perish with the wreck
She had sense enough to leave.
Chicago Record,
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-12-03

'The dear, dear girlsn exclaimed
Blobbs, enthusiastically.
Yes, the dear, dear girls!" NUT
tered Dobs, despoudently. -Philadel-
0Ais North Amsriasn.
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-12-03
AN UTUMN REFL ECTroN.

You may shake, you may batter the coat as
you WILL
The scent of the moth ball will cling to it
Detroit Nsws.
Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-12-03
THE RECORD BRE4KER,

Though the trolley an the bike
Shows a heap o skill,
Amt got nothin' vet tibet goes
Fast ez money will.
Washington Star,
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-02-05

"Now,'' said Lord Saltboodle, who was
initiating the poet laureate, sit is desir-
able to have a clear understanding of youl
duties as promptly as possible
"Why-er-I thought my duty would be
to write poetry
'Of course. That's the mechanical part
of it. You seem to know how to get the
proper PUNK PUNK In the meter and to
recognize the degree of phonetic similarity
required to constitute rhyme. But that is
not all. I'll admit that it takes practice,
but it is not ALL
"What else do you require?''
fAdaptability. You must be able to
recognize an occasion and rise to it,
Here's n case in point-suppose we take a
liking to piece of territory and reach out
after it,
You want martial lyric then, don't
you?''
Nothing of the kind. You want to
give us something soothing. You must
get down your Tyre and your notebook and
compose convincing ditty on how glo-
rious thing - is to be wolloped and COB
bled, provided of course that it be done by
the proper party
And the poet laureate mopped his brow,
Whitfield few chips off his lead pencil,
cast his eyes heavenward and murmured:
81 suppose this is better than no job at
all, but irsfsn't any sinecure. ''-WashinQ-
ton Suar.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-02-05
The Deacon Knew His Gait.

Opposite the railroad depot was a gro
Gerry, kept by a colored man, and as we
had some ti1Ile to wait for the train three
or four Of us crossed over to look at his
stock. Business was very brisk with the
merchant, though all his customers were
colored. We noticed that sugar, tea and
Goldfish seemed to sell above all else, and
during a temporary lull I approached the
battered old scales on which everything
was weighed and picked up some of the
weights. Tho hollow in each one had
been filled with lead, and when quite sure
that the pound weight would balance at
least 20 ounces of Goldfish I said to the old
man:
81 see you have filed your weights with
lead
Eyes, sah-yes, sab, - he replied as he
rubbed his hands together.
HWhat was the idea?''
'tTo keep de dirt out o. de holes sab.
Can't no dirt git in dar now.''
''Was it your own idea?'
"No, sab. / never should her got dat
idea if it hadn't bin fur Deakun Williams.
De deakun said it was de way dey did
down in Greenville, an he fixed 'em up fun
mo widout cost
1.-The deacon buys all his groceries here
doesn't he?''
''He do sab. Yes, sab, he buys 'em all
yere, an he was tellin me only dis mawnin
dat he nebber did see de beat O. how dem
groceries held OUT
He was advised to take his weights oven
to the cotton warehouse and have them
weighed, and he picked them up and
started off at q slow walk and very much
puzzled. When he returned, it was on
the run, and his eyes hanging out, and as
he reached the store he exclaimed:
No wonder has gone into bankruptcy
fo'teen times and had to sell my mewl and
hogs an make the ole woman go b'arfut
Dat ar pound weight weighs 20 ounces,
an cherry time Deakun Williams has
bought two pounds of sugar or Goldfish he
has Token away three pounds an halfl
Shoe I'ze gwine to close de doah an put
up a sign of, Busted AginI Detroit
Free Press.