davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Mena weekly star., 1896-10-14
CURIOUS CEREMONIES.
Jumping Through the Fire and Other
 Doings of Latin Folk.

DotnEs or Latln FOLK.
 A good deal may be gleaned from Ovid's works about rural ceremonies and beliefs which were peculiar to
 Italy. On the Calends of May fell the festival of Pales, goddess of the shep- herds, who was unknown to Greece.
 One of the customs connected with it was the time-honored and long su--
 viving rite of jumping over and through
 the fire. The sheep folds were ga-- landed; fire made of rosemary, pitch tree, laurel and sabine herbs, brightly crackled on the hearth. millet cakes
 and warm milk are offered to Pales, who is begged to protect the cattle and
 those that tend them; to pardon tres passes and shortcomings; to mediate with the higher powers; to drive away disease from men and focks. and from
 the dogs also, and to give plenty through
 the year.
 Another peculiarly Latin folk wor- ship was that of the Iares. The Greeks who, at least in towns, did little more than sleep at home, could not have en- tered into the intense Roman senti- ment of the hearth. Tn Ovid's time the Lares became established and en- dowed; he says that there were thousand at the street corners in Rome, where Augustus had set them up in company with his own genius, appoint ing body of priests to look after their worship. His encouragement of this domestic and hitherto purely popular
 superstition is characteristic of his policy in religious matters The Lares 1 held their own at the crosswavs till
 they were rather succeeded than busted by the Christian saint Ovid mentions that the original Lares were repre- sented with a dog, the typical house guardian, at their feet; and he makes the observation that "crossways arc dear to dogs as well as to deities."
 A wreath laid upon the tomb, scat tered fruits, few grains of salt, corn
 soaked in wine, and the earliest violets: with these the dead are content. It is said, remarks Ovid, that departed fore fathers have been known to revenge themselves in a disagreeable way for neglect on the part of their ungratefuI descendants, but upon that he ex- presses his own incredulity.-Contem. porary Review.
The Mena weekly star., 1896-10-14

shorter cut yit den dat we come by. Foller Tong arter me-"
 Where my canterlope?" said Mat thew, when they had got back again.
 "Shore, honey, we didn't hab no time ter git erway wid no canterlope, we didn't. How you been gittin' erlong wid de patch?"
 "Tollible like" said Matthew. "Dar war somebody in de patch while you war gone. fired de gun at 'em CT couple CT times. en had min ter turn Ring loose onter 'em."
 "WuIl, Matt" said Will, "I 'spect we better be a-gittin' erlong to'ds home"
 The next morning Will and Matthew made old Peter another visit.
 "Howdy this mornin', Uncle Peter ?" greeted Will Didn't we hab fun las night9"
 T donno, donno." said old Peter. 'Yes, we did hab some fun, dat am a fac; but while we war gone, somebody war heah en ct my finest milyens, en squ'shed lots ob de green ones-yes, dey did We'll, some folks is too mean ter lib."
 "We can't stay now, but we'll come ag'int some night en see eff we can't help you cotch de thief, promised Will.
 When they got out of sight of old Peter, Will and Matthew rolled on the ground and laughed till the tears came.
 'I didn't think we could "a fooled de ole man so easy," said Will. "I like Ger bust las night, I wanted ter laugh so bad when I seen de ole rascal squ'shin' his own milyens. I took him fur ways roun' de country, en 1 war afeerd dat he would know his patch when brought him back ter hit; but don't reckon he 'spicions muffin yit. Elf he do, he ain't gwine ter let on."-Golden Days.
The Mena weekly star., 1896-10-14

something about it"
 If old Peter w,ts asked ii his is opinion as to who the thief could be, he would re ply:
 "I doan'no, I'm shore. Hit ain't fo me ter say; but I s'pect it war some nigger, en want you ter onderstan' dat nigger don't allus mean black folks, neider, es yo'll fine out ef you look ill yo' dicshunary."
 Old Peter attended a watermelon patch enc season, and was indefatigable in his attention to it. Day and night found him at his post, under shelter that he had built of brush, to keep off the sun and rain. armed with an old gun, with which he was so dexterous, as to be able to shoot blackbird on the wing.
 This feat always greatly astonished one of his boy friends, who used to bor- row the old gun and practice with it at a mark on the barn door; but he was never able to hit the mark, and often missed the door.
 It was old Peters dexterity with this gun and the known fierceness of his dog Aiik tudJ piCSciFtu HIS and permitted them to grow and ripen unmolested.
 Over on Vinegar Ridge. about two miles from old Peters patch, lived Will and Matthew Black. They had had n patch themselves the year before, and at the time had strongly suspected old Peter of having something to do with the disappearance of some of the fin- est melons, and after the season was over had come into knowledge of facts that convicted him beyond doubt.
 Weber you min, Matt" said Will enc day. "ole Peter, he hook our mill yens las year. en mebby some CT his'n will creep off some CT desc yere dark rights"
 'sHit don't seem ter me dat would be jes' de right way ter do.s
 "Well, mehby it wouldn't; but lenst- ways hit don't look ter me like es ef hit would be wrong ter take huff ter pay you en me back 10 what he took las' year"
 "Dis yere chile low dat he ain't gwine ter bodder none CT ole Peters milyens. ssaze lie donst unnt no bullet a-whis' len pas his year, en no dog toof in his leg. sou know dat
 "Mout watcf, till ole Peter go ter sleep" suggested Will.
The Mena weekly star., 1896-10-14

OLD PETER AND HIS DOG ON DUTY. en a-goin' en a-hoo}xin' yutLer reo- ple's ?''
 "De folks ain't gwine ter know npth- in erbout hit. You see, ole pan's got more'n he kin sell. You kin sell all vourn, en it would be good thing ter go ober en git some CT ole Dams, ter keep 'em from sp'slin' on de vines" "Ef ye want ter go, Uncle Peter," said Matthew. 'I'li stay en watch yo' patch till you come back"
 Old Peter was very fond of melons. but 1t is doubtful if he had tasted one that season. for he was too stingy to eat any of his own, and therefore it did not take much more persuasion to in dEsc him to go. So. leaving Ring tied, lest he should follow them. and Mat thew in charge of the patch. s!:es started.
 T ain. lebber been ober ter Tanners
The Mena weekly star., 1896-10-14
ABOUT THE SOLDIERS.

London has walked up to the fact that it has no volunteer cavalry corps. The stock brokers iii the city have accord ingly set to work to raise 'yeomanry hussar regiment"
 battalion of zouayes was drilled d :, Tunis recently with the thermometer at 107 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade. Asi result five men are dead, 40 dangerous ly ill. and 200 more are in the hospital. :.
The Mena weekly star., 1896-10-14
OLD PETERS WATERMELONS
BY J. H. GALBRAITH.

WIT WAS commonly
The Mena weekly star., 1896-10-14
OUR LATE iNQuIslTIvE VISITOR.

sie's amazed at each invention That he sees. or that we mention. And with very best intention,1
 Tn trice. He asks If the inventor Is churchman, or disa snter. A sinner, or repentsr.
 And his price
 Price. price, If he cuts goodly quantity of feel He has interviewei the ladies Where each jeweied dame and maid ia, And each one of them afraid is
 Of the sage: For the first solicitat ation Of this great guest of the nation Sets them rummaging creation
 For their age-
 Age, age; And they cannot find the record on the
 page! When our colonels stand before him They are not inclined to bore him. For he straight proceeds to floor 'em
 Tn this way: How'd you come by your commission To your coonelcy condition. When you've not smelt ammunition
 Tn the fray
 Fray, fray: When you haven't heard battle charger
 neigh7" Q there's not another fellow Like this gentleman in yellowl He's royal peach and mellow
 Bless his soul He would ask of pr. Nansen. Of the polar realms entrancn'. If the voters were advancin'
 On the pole
 Pole. pole: If the candidates were prancin' at the pole! When he writes his book of travel Der the asphalt and the gravel. Twill take scholars to unravel
 All his notes For he'll tell how statesmen shocked him When their secrets they unlocked him: How from off his feet they knocked him
 Asking votes
 Votes votes; And the prices paid thesY ta:lors for their
 coatsi Hall thou sage perambuiator Of this youthful land-but greater: Haiil thou mine of human natur's
 Fromthe east! Still make us turn the pages Of our Bibles for our ages. And ask us if our wages
 Are increased-
 Increase And we'n join you in blessing on the IF. s. stanton. in Chicago Times-Herald.
The Mena weekly star., 1896-10-14

 CT watermilyen? Lawl hits so dark I reckon we'll hab to feel fo' 'em. Here's one." he said, laying hold of large one.
 Hadn't we better git ober de fence ter eat it?"
 "No;" objected old Peter, "eat it right heah, in de center ob de patch, whar ole Dan Tanner kin see the rims in de mornin', so's he won't think hit took legs en walk off hitse'f-laze dat mout skeer him. We'll jes' eat de heart outen it, an den git another - kaze, you know, we wanter keep jes' ez menny CT MT. Tanners milyens from spilin' es we kin"
 Here's another" cried Will; Gen here's three CT fo' canterlopes."
 "I see 'em, chile. Let yo' Uncle Peter carve 'em. To Uncle Peter am a ole han at de work. He knows how to git at de slice de canterlope in de bes' fashion"
 After they had eaten all they could, Will proposed to go.
 "Wait till we squ'sh de green ones" proposed old Peter.
 "Oh, no,' said Will; "let's not do dat"
 "Oh, yes," insisted old Peter, as he groped about in the dark, hunting for the melons, and mashing them with his feet; "it ain't no fun ef we don t squ'sh de green ones. Won't ole Dan be mad in de mornin'? He'll jes' want ter tar de place down."
 Then they heard dog bowling and barking.
 Wed better be a-gittin' erway from heah, l 'spect, chile," said old Peter, leaving off mashing the melons; "ef ole Dan war ter let dat dog loose, hit moutn't be healthy in desc parts"
 'I year somebody comin'. RunI" ex- claimed Will.
 Uncle Peter and Will took to their heels.
 Bang. went gun right close behind them.
 "Oh!" cried Peter; "oh! does yer think-he'll- us?"
 '.He's pow'ful han wid gun,'' said Will. ''He kin shoot squirrel in de eye ever pop"
 "Oh, my DO ole legs! my pc ole legs! Dey's mos gin out"
 Bang went the gun again.
 Old Peters foot caught in a wild grape vine, and he fel. heels-over-head into little rayine.
 "Chile," he said, as he lay upon his back in the mud and water, 'does you think bell git us?''
 'sHe will ef he hears us tallSin'," said Will, who was so full of laughter at old Peter's tumble that he could hardly hold in. Keep still, en don't reckon he'll fin us."
 But de dog-he'll be shore ter smell US out"
 'I doan b'leve he's turn him loose yit. He's gone back. now, en eff yo' git up en run right fas', mebby we kin git erway fo' he do. Hits monghty cross dog. Fo' times worser en yo' Ring. He's q reg'iar blood bull, en when he lays holt CT a man onst, he don't neubcr let go till dey pry his jaw open"
 ''De law snkes! we'd better be gittin' erway from heah, boy" said old Peter. getting onto his feet.
 ''I don't reckon he's follerin' us," re- piled Will, after they had gotten some distance from the patch. Let's set down cn res little"
 They satdown on an old log, and Peter put his hands over his face and moaned. How fer sm # home. chile 2" be asked.
 "Erhout two mile; but 1 knows
The Mena weekly star., 1896-10-14

| WAo commonly
 supposed, in the nei g l. b or h O o q, that ol q F e t c I Green was not SC honest as he might have been. When ever any of the neighbors missed a roll of butter, . chicken or a little corn, it was not unusual t o hear some one remark:
 "I suspect o l d Peter Green knows
The Mena weekly star., 1896-10-14

--Gcnserie. according to the Roma. historians. had mouth so large that f inspired terror whenever he opened it.
The Mena weekly star., 1896-10-14
MT. wigicy's Tenor vo,ce

Willie--Papa, has MT. Wigley got a throat disease?
 Papa-Why. not What makes you think so?
 Well, If he hasn't why does he make such strange noises whenever he picks up sheet of music ?"-Roxburv f,a- zette.
Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1896-04-16

organized. They have millions Of
money at their disposal with which to
debauch the people, They Will under,
take to count us out II we win; and we
must guard, at the risk Of our lives II
necessary, the sanctity of every ballot
box.
There is not a true Populist who
would not sacrifice his life to preserve,
the purity of the ballot in this nation.
Let there be unity now. Let us show
the world a spectacle that will make
plutocrats tremble. l therefore appeal
to all true Populists in every morgan
lied precinct in this nation to meet at
2 p. m. on April 10, the sacred day that
gave Thomas Jefferson TO the world and
organize and send names for charters
that day. They will be dated April 10.
We appeal to true PATRIOTS in each pre-
clnct to send stamps for supplies to or
ganize, so that 1t can be done with sys-
tenn
A Populist who will falter in his duty
and wait on Jeffersons birthday is not
worthy; and we know that true spirit
of patriotism will touch each heart, and
you will fall in line at the bugle-call on
this holy day. We urge every news
paper to publish this circular and
write stirring appeals to the people to
respond to this call. We must have
means to do this work. We must have
stenographer and typewriter. We
cannot do 1t longer. NC do not want to
faint or falter.
We urge all who are able to send 81
for the Legion certificate Of member
ship. Every one admires its beauty;
and 1t will be certificate Of loyalty to
the sacred cause that we advocate.
Every name is recorded on a roll of
honor, and we send a Legion button
and a copy of The New Nation with 1t.
Now, every man and every woman
must rally to this call. The destiny of
the nation is involved, and we expect
every true Populist to do his whole
duty.
All orders and circulars will be pub
lished in The New Nation, and will be
sent to our principal papers and
through the ready prints. Each news
paper which wishes to club with The
New Nation will write to my address.
And 1t would be great help to me II
our people would subscribe.
PAUL VAN DERVOORT.
Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1896-04-16

has originated the financial, transpor-
tatlon and land Issues. They are all old
issues. Ninety-nine out of every hun
dred Populists know this, but it is the
one-hundredth fellow that is to be
feared. Populists forced them to the
front as issues. We should be care
full in dealing with the boilers from the
old parties by not claiming too much.
AS soon as they are reminded that the
greatest portion Of the Omaha plat
form is taken from the teachings Of the
leaders Of the old parties Qeaders when
the old parties were honesty they will
be more enthusiastic in joining our
ranks. 1t is true that the great ma
jority of silver men who will go to
st. Louis with a view of joining forces
under the Populist banner will not be
found we'll posted on the transporta-
ton and land planks, direct legislation,
etc. And for that very reason we must
be lenient with them. A man Is natur-
ally opposed to that which he does not
AhAAJ ~ W AAOh hAAA NASAN
opposing our minor planks we must not
accuse them OF trying 10 steal us. We
should remember, too, that some Of the
most substantial supporters Of the
transportation and land planks that we
have in our party came in as believers
In free silver only. 1t Is very likely
that the three or four million Of voters
who will come into our party through
the medium of the St. Louis silver con-
vention, will in the end willingly yield
the truth of the transportation and
land plnnks.
We are not going to have so much
trouble over land transportation and
direct legislation as some Of US are
wont to predict. AS It looks to man
up tree the silver men, as whole,
will be willing to adopt the Populist
platform as it is, provided there is
chance Of escaping the tariff Issue. Pro-
lection is very near to the heart OF the
average free sllverlte and some Of them
may want to have high tariff plank.
1t is best that high tariff agitation be
kept out Of the convention whether Of
fered as a sop to Republican silVerites
or from honest convictions. But he
who attempts to keep 1t out may have
an uncomfortable Job on his hands.
There is only one question upon
which We are all thoroughly agreed
and that is that the free and unlimited
coinage of silver is the all important is
sue this year. On that question alone
we can carry all the southern and
transit Mississippi states, with splen-
} did fighting chance in Michigan, Indi'
ana, Illinois and Ohio.
: We are nearing the crucical period of
our party, indeed. And we must be
careful how we handle matters. That
> we are we'll generated goes without say
. ing and our line officers are, as a gen
4: eral rule, far above the standard
: When anyone accuses them do not lis
I ten. Remember that the soldier who
: deserts his general on the field Of bat
t tie Is as great sinner as the genera
Q who would betray his army before thu
y battle had begun. Let Popullsts 60 t
= st. Louis united for one purpose: TIL,
8. absorption of all sllverltes under tn,
o Popullst banner. II we go united W,
: will succeed. II we go divided, we will
}. have hard time of 1t at the best.
o But may we all be united.
4 PJD.
Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1896-04-16
THE REAL

mcnwealth for his own benefit; and 1t
Is only at last, when all these worthless
have had their oil, that the much
squeezed people are thought Of at all,
and then too often stones are offered
to them instead of bread. There are,
indeed, so-called Christian monarchs,
who, like good-natured riders, stroke
or pat the neck of the creature painting
under their weight; but that the heavi-
ly-burdened animals, ridden to sore
ness, would best be helped II the mas
ter and all his train would dismount
Is a thing which never occurs to the
one above until the one below throws
him Off.
In the same manner, an aristocracy
can make excellent laws for them
selves, but not for the people. Has the
aristocracy Of England, perhaps the
cleverest body of its kind in existence,
ever done anything in the interests Of
the worklngman? No! II they have
retained their position until now, 1t Is
only because they have not shown
over-much obstinacy In strenuously
opposing reforms that had become alb
solutely necessary. But, again, the
legislators Of the representative state,
although elected by the people, are not
capable of making good laws for the
working classes, but yet are able to
make excellent laws for their own
class, the middle class. And why?
Because, as experience teaches US, the
majority of every representative body
consists of capitalists and their crea-
lures, " and members Of the middle
classes, hostile to social progress. And
even as the STAKEHOLDER is, by his very
nature, incapable Of making laws In
the interest Of his slaves, so the rep
resentative, being a capitalist, is in
capable Of ever framing laws In the
interest Of the workman. Representa-
tive democracy, though It be, compare
lively speaking, far better form Of
government than a monarchy or an
aristocracy, is therefore not that po-
litical form within which the world
of workers can attain its proper place
and social questions can be solved. 1t
might be more so if working men, and
especially the peasantry, were always
to send to the representative houses
the most intelligent of their own class
only; but, unfortunately, the expert
ence of every country shows that this
is done only in exceptional cases. AS
rule, the people elect only members
of the so-called higher orders, because
the perniciOus prejudice, an outgrowth
Of monarchial periods, leads men to be-
lieve that intellect alone can produce
good laws, and consequently highly
educated people are all that is wanted,
while, in reality, interest is the deter
mining cause in matters Of legislation.
Add to this, that the salary Of men,
Der Of legislative body, and the trav-
cling expenses paid to him, are syste-
matically fixed so low that for a mem
Der of the working classes 1t Is eco
nomically impossible to fulfill the func-
| tions of a representative.
Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1896-04-16

Senator Tillman has given the follow
ing letter TO a New York paper for pub
LEGATION;
Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1896-04-16
YE SONGS wv sAMYEwEL
P. J. D.

yew will find II yew look In dame
nachers big book
that Tiers wizdum on draft just like
beer
that so few understand that supply g
demand
rewl the market fer fax duz seem
queer
luther mite az slept threw my dreams
vishuns krept
NV a ghostly but dignified skoller
thare he wuz with kravat & an old
fashund hat
gold spex 6 a by rollin koller
her perfesser sed by yer speech am
led
2 bileeve ther IL wlzdum galore
in dame nachers old book so I pray take
a look
&then say whut have mortels In store
threw long ages Nv strife up the lad
der NV life
yew have kllmed the kwarterly rung
3 steps ly blow & theirs still 2 go
til the song yew are singin IL sung
"in the woom Nv the soil behold nacher
In toll
glvin life 2 plants mewels & men
& sufficient | say are the tasks Nv each
day
thay develup az fast az thay ken
leach rung haz provishuns well markt
divishuns
Their IL feelin G tastin & smellln
then heerin & seeln them mark the
bein
Nv brutes az yew no without tellln
but finish yer rung yew have skersly
begun
2 develup yer wizdum & luV
when kumplete we shall see It IL truth
sets men free
& thayl KLINE 2 the rung next abuV
them dlvishuns divide by still mora
beside
az both mesik and kuller have tawt
yew
but friend sam must skip so just LET
yer wheels flip
til thay grind up the fax have brot
yew"
then skratcht my old pate & with PEN
sil & slate
went to work on them rungs 6 divi-
shuns
1 fownd hope fer the mewels but fer
gold basis Jewels
nacher planely haz made no perVlshuns
sam fonagraf
deeler IN & breeder Nv by grade mewelS
meWeltown arizony preechin the gOs-
pull q speshulty
Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1896-04-16
How They Stand.

Some Of our free silver democratic
friends pretend to believe that the free
silver element will have a majority in
the national democratic convention
which is to meet in Chicago July 7th.
We don't see how any man that keeps
himself posted can retain the faintest
hope that the silyerites will be able
to control the convention. The delega-
tions will in all probability adopt the
unit rule and the majority of each dele
cation will control, in which case the
vote taken by states would pan out
as follows, according to the best in
formation obtainable at present.