davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-02-05
fro BE CONTINUED
He VAS TOO SMART.
Tho Experience Of . Countryman WITT,
London Confidence Men.

London Confidence Men.
London has its confidence men, who
are quito as expert as America s, says a
writer in the Boston Herald. Their
methods are very similar. 1t is rot
worth while to record their routine oper-
ations, but one recent instance, as illus
trativc of their resources. is amusing
and instructive. An old Scotch travel
ing man, who bore somewhat the ap-
pearance Of o countryman, but who
knew the ropes perfectly, was accosted.
He decided to have some fun at the ex-
pense of the would be swindlers, so he
pretended to fall readily in with their
statements-to be a particularly easy
victim. They bought him a splendid
dinner, calling him Mr.. Kenny of Dun
dee-a name which they had caught
from a travelling bag which he had Dor
rowed from a friend. He enjoyed their
hospitality hugely, and ate prodigiously
and extensively. They paid the bill, and
began the usual talk about lottery
prize, etc. Then he saw it was about
time to leap their game" Said he:
Gentlemen, l thank you for the din
ner. 1t was very good, and l have had a
very pleasant time with you. But I
won't go to see you draw your lottery
prize. Oh, no! know all about the lot
terry prize. My name is not Donald
Kenny. 1t is Robert Ferguson, and I'm
not from Dundee, but from Lochnoven,
where I've lived with my daughter for
20 years. 1 am too old a fish to be
caught. Good night!'
And he Went his way rejoicing.
Two weeks later, when he went home
to his daughter in Lochnoven, one of the
first things she said to him was:
did you get the EGO all right?"
"What e2O?''
"Why, the eco you telegraphed for. "
And it developed that the confidence
men whom he had beaten at their own
game had an ace up their sleeves, which
they played after he had left them.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-02-05
Robins Lesson.

"Robin, dear, please run up stairs and
get my purse. 1t lies ON the table"
"Oh, mamma, I am afraid"
"Why, Robin! Is my little boy cow
ard?"
"But, mamma, I cannot help il"
"Let me tell You about your little
birdie, Dixie. You remember he took his
bath in a little saucer. Well, when I
bought his bath cup he was afraid to. ct
into it. He would stand ON the edge,
then hop off again. Each day he was a
little drawer.
cat last one morning he stood on the
edge of the cup for long while. Sud-
denly he jumped into the water, but ont
he jumped again, almost frightened to
death. But little birdie did not say, i
am afraid Oh, no. He hoped down
and jumped in again. He put his head
into the water and threw it all over
himself, and ever since he has enjoyed
his bath with no thought of fear. Now
I certainly think if bird can by perse-
verance overcome fear, surely q little
boy should be able to do so."
Robin jumped down from mammals
lap and went up stairs two steps at a
time, and bringing down the purse to
mamma said:
"I'll not let Dixie get ahead Of me. Is
Lizzie Leonard Martin in Youth q
COmpanion.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-02-05
A Bit of Black.

Nothing is complete without its bit of
black. 1t is bit of cunning the French
have taught us and is most valuable,
Tor it immediately adds the touch we
have strived for. No matter what the
color or material if not pointelle or strip
ed with black, bunchy black chou,
bands OF ribbon or pipings of satin are
used. There are no end of means of deco
ration. and all most effective too. So
universal has this fashion become that
neither frock nor bonnet escapes it.
Boston Traveller.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-02-05
WHY DOGS BARK.
A Writer Affords an Explanation as Given
to Him by an Indian.

AAAe@A
In writing of the native dogs of Cen
trail America, Frederick Boyle brings
forward theory as to how dogs form
the habit of barking. He was discussing
with an old resident of the country
some traits of the coyote, as the ma
tive wolf is called, but which more near
~ resembles the dog.
Dogs will never go wild so long as
they can find a master to serve. and
more especially trained dogs. The coyote
never barks, and only gallops when pur-
sued.
why don't these coyotes bark like
other dogs:" I asked an old Indian,
pointing to ono was trying to reclaim.
"And why do they only howl and tho
pups grunt?''
His answer was, Gle won't learn
''Not Learnt" said I. "What do you
mean?''
"No," he replied, mot learn, for if
he were of an honest breed he would
bark, to try to initiate his master, or,
at all events, the other dogs, but all
barking proceeds from dogs initiating
their masters shout. The master shouts
to drive in cattle to the corral, and the
dog banks also. In fact, the dog initiates
his master when he banks; he tries to
speak, but cannot"
I give this curious observation as the
only attempt ever heard to account for
the barking of our tame dogs. No wild
breeds make any noise except bowling
and snarling, nor, under the best cir
cumstances, will they learn to bark un-
til the third or fourth generation
Pittsburg Dispatch.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-02-05

Hundreds Of patents have been
TO inventors Of water RaA
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-02-05
Franks of Florida Wood Rats.

A narrative of the queer doings of the
Florida wood rat, the best known of them
all, comes from Mrs. c. F. Latham Of
Niece, Fla. Previous to the destruction
by fire of the old Oak Lodge, year be-
fore last, it was often visited by pair
Of very sociable and quite harmless
wood rats, who nested in a palmetto hut
near by and made it their home until
some cats came into the family. The
wood rats were big eyed, handsome crea-
lures without the vicious look of COM
mon rat, with fine, yellowish gray fur,
white feet and white under parts. mas
much as they never destroyed anything
save pair Of Mrs. Latham e shoestrings,
which they had to cut in order to get
them out of the eyelet holes, they were
tolerated about the premises, and here
are some of the queer things they did:
They carried some watermelon seeds
from the lower floor and hid them up
stairs under Mr.. Baxter's pillow. In the
kitchen they found some cucumber seeds,
and of these they took tablespoonful
and deposited them in the pocket of Mr..
Baxter's vest, which hung up stairs on
nail. In one night they took So pieces
Of wood from box of beehive fixtures
and laid them in corn box. The fol-
lowing night they took about two quarts
of corn and oats and put it into the box
from which the beehive fixtures came.
Once Mrs. Latham missed handful Of
pecans, and they were SO thoroughly
hidden that she never found them.
About year later the rats realized that
Mrs. Latham had "given it up" and,
lol the pecans suddenly appeared one
day upon her bed Professor W. T.
Hornaday in st. Nicholas.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-02-05
A Nursery Rhyme Party.

A nursery rhyme party is a pretty
variation to the ordinary children's par
ty. The little guests should come in
fancy costumes, representing Jack Hor-
ner, Little Bopeep, Old Mother Hubbard
and other popular heroes and heroines.
A little license is permissible to take in
Cinderella, Red Riding Hood. Jack the
Giant Killer and those favorites not
strictly rhymed about The costumes
can be very simple and are easily pre-
pared.
II is suggestion fori the supper that
II the pOnalc-eAS $Nbaskets are ar
WIS EDfiation to color
n$xStSG. three different
$Se$A' getable color
&.9$E SO serve it.
REMCu hole il left
made from
3HA Az pao,Illed with .
< Times
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-02-05
Stone Buildings.

A thousand years hence all the stone
buildings now standing in Europe will
have crumbled to dust. So perishable is
the material Of which they are construct
ed that the process of decay is already
evident in many famous buildings.
Neither marble nor brownstone can
Withstand the action of the elements.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-02-05

"Suppose you stand at A, while the
lightning fash is from B to G. The dis
lance from B to A is small compared
with G to A; consequently the sound
from Bwill reach you first and from all
the other points later. point G being
heard from last. This is why You hear
the long, rumbling sound, which the
echo sometimes increases. ''-Brooklyn
Eagle.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-02-05

Mason-Why does Jason prefer taking
awalk on Fifth avenue on Sunday morn
ing to going to church?
Payson-He says he likes to read SER
mons in stones rather than to listen to
sermons from stickA-New York Her.
aid.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-02-05

The strait Of Juan de Fucat
after an old Greek sailor who\
its shores in 1892,
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-02-05

Marshall pass, on the Denver and Rio
Grande railroad, is the highest point
yet attained by railroad in the United
States. Elevation. 10.s55 feet.
The Meeker herald., 1896-02-22

The Monroe Doctrine Defined.
Bob Burdette was asked by friend
to state what he understood BY the Mon
roe doctrine, and he promptly sent him
the following definition:
.ur',e Aso.vo. saMtrine eimniv and ex-
piielSfy sicciures that no foreign naf1on
shall come over here and slide down our
cellar door; that England and France
shall not hang on our front gate to do
their courting; that they can't bring
over their own syrup pots and elder
spouts and make syrup in our maple
grove; that Germany and Austria can't
spot no bee tree in our woods; that Italy
can't cut her wood out of our hedge
rows; that Russia can't spank her neigh
boris children with our butter paddle.
The Monroe doctrine simply means that
we are the bull of the woods between
two oceans, and that the man who joins
farms with us on either side had better
not move the boundry fence until he
talks to US about it, and that he can't
sub-let patch of his farm to anybody
until we are satisfied that the new ten
ant will make good neighbor for us.
That's about all there is of it."
The Meeker herald., 1896-02-22
One of NInine,s IYidows

There is now living in Hartland, Me-,
nt the ripe old age of IS years, one of
Names notable widows. This is Mrs
Ellen Phillips, relict of George, n
brother of Wendell Phillips. Her hus-
band was graduate from Harvard col
lege, O member of the famous class of
rs, among his classmates ard intimate
friends being DIR. o. w. Holmes and
James Freeman Clark. Mrs. Phillips
has in her house several antique relics
of great interest and historical value.
them beng marble top table
and drawer which belonged to John
Brown, of Harper's Ferry fame, and n
copper ever and sideboard, once the
of John Phillips, the first
mayor OF the city of Boston. She tells
many an interesting "reminiscences of
Wendell Phillips, with whom she was
intimately acquainted.
The Meeker herald., 1896-02-22
A Terrible Mine Disaster.

New Castle was the scene OF an APP
paling coal mine disaster Tuesday morn
ing at about II o'clock. An explosion
occurred in the Vulcan mine which
wrecked the mining machinery and
stopped the ventilating fans. A
miner going down the shaft at the time
of the explosion, was instantly killed.
Seventy-two miners were at work In the
mine when the explosion occurred and
all are supposed to be dead.
Later reports reduce the number OF
men in the mine at the time of the ex-
plosion to about fifty, but rescuers had
penetrated far enough into the workings
to see dead men scattered about in all
directions and no hope is entertained
that any will he taken out alive.
The Meeker herald., 1896-02-22
acYcLEs OF GREAT COST.
Mpv York Firm to Meet n Demand for
$1,000 Bicycles.

Mpv York Firm to Meet n Demand for
- $1,000 Bicycles.
Hhe most prominent New York jew
cry firm has something new for wheel
'We9 in u silver bicycle, which was put
o. exhibition Mt their store few days
- The wheel is the first of the kind
evQr made. In order to insure strength
en4 durability it was necessary to have
th4supporting rods and spokes of steel.
ANthe rest of the frame is of sterling
k1yer. The handle bar is of plain sill
va4s with FURNISHED ivory handles. The
ofAer silver parts are finely engraved
~ band, with repousse etching of the
LA43s XVl. style. The sprocket wheel
II ~ plain silver. The saddle itself is
sfmdded with silver nails. The cost of
the machinc, as it stands, is $500. A
Oliver lantern to go with it will add
froen 500 to S2CO to the price.
4he completed wheel weighs about
sH1d, in explaining the construction Of
the new bike: This wheel was built
to supply demand which we know to
exist among some of our patrons for
o better AMI more expensive wheel than
can be had on the market at present.
Such wheel we have tried to make,
and believe that another season will
see many of them at the fashionable
resorts"
A womans wheel is being finished
in the FIRMS shops. This wheel will
be much more richly ornamented. and
its price Will be $1,000. \ lantern,
which is being made to go With it, will
be set will precious stones and will
cost several hundred dollars.
The Meeker herald., 1896-02-22
GAVE THE FISH A JAG.
This Is Ono Way of Being Entertaining
In California.

"Did you ever see drunken fish ?" in
quired Sonoma county wine grower.
No one would confess that he had
seen intoxicated fish, and the siirncc in
dicated Il predisposition to incret;ulity,
says a writer in the San Francisco Post.
II suppose you are going to tell us
about Il drunken catfish staggering
down through the orchard and catch
ing bird?" surgrs.cd one.
"Do you THAI. am a Harp" demand
cd the farmer, ind. d.gnantly, but he was
left in ignorance as to the belief of his
hearers. "My winery is right on the
Eank of little creek. This time of the
year the water stands in pools and
every pool is full of trout, suckers and
pike. All of the waste from the winery
is thrown into the creek, and that is
enough to discolor the water, hut the
other day big vat of sour clnrct burst
and nearly all of it ran down into the
hole of water just below the winery.
In half an hour the pool was crowded
with fish flonting belly up. thought
they were dead, and pulled big pike
out, but he wiggled and ffopped around
just like an old drunk trying to get up
without anything to hold on to. One
by one they disappeared as they So
bored up, ard when the water cleared
two days aftcrward there wasn't dead
fish in the pool. They had just been
iagped."
The Meeker herald., 1896-02-22
Destiny of the Transvaal.

AS to the future of the South African
Republic there can be no serious doubt.
The Uitlanders bid fair In a very few
years to be ten times as numerous as
the Beers. If the Beers. therefore. do
not grant the demands of the Uitland-
ers, the newcomers will simply take the
reins into their own hands, set up a
government at Johannesburg, and force
the Beers to terms. Dutch and English
have learned to live together satisfac-
torily in Cape Colony under British rule,
and the Transvaal is evidently destined
sooner or later to enter into some kind
of South African federation. 1t is
wholly probable that such federation,
like the Dominion of Canada and the
Australian provinces, will become one
of the great self-governing countries
connected with England as member
of the British empire. Here again the
world must respect the facts Of the situ-
alton. British energy, capital, actual
and demonstrated ability
to perform the needed task, are redeem
ing South Africa for civilization and
the worlds progress. There is no bet
ter chance for the Beers to maintain a
Dutch government or national
ity In South Africa than there was for
the Dutch cOlonists who founded New
Amsterdam. on the site of the present
New York, to withstand the great tide
Of British colonization that was des-
tined to make North America an
EngIish-speaking country. II the Brit
ish in British Guiana were In any re-
spect accomplishing what they are do
ing in South Africa, the moral aspect of
the Venezuelan frontier dispute would
be very ifferent.-FrOm "The Progress
Of the World" in the February Review
Of Reviews.
The Meeker herald., 1896-02-22
MATHEMATICS AND ASTRONOMY
Two Sciences That Are Closely Related
and Necessary to Each Other.

Two SCHEMES That Are Closely Related
and Necessary to Each Other.
Probably in none Of the sciences, ap-
piled or pure, is n knowledge of higher
mathemati,s so essential as astron-
omy. Certainly none involves so much
mathematical labor. The method of
the least squares is one in almost con-
slant use by those engaged in astro-
nomical calculation, and the amount of
labor oftcr entailed by this process is
enough to make the head of an ordi-
nary citizen swim even to think of.
One of the most extensive least square
solutions EVER made, says the Pitts
burgh Dispatch has recently been pub
lished by Prof. Schur, of Goettingen.
The heliomctric triangulations of the
stars in the cluster rracsepc (thc Bee
hive) gave rise to n series of IA normal
equations, involving "a unknown guam
titles. The solution of this set of
quantities was effected by Prof. Schur
in ten weeks by means of the usual
Gaussian method of elimination. Prof.
1sr-coucp ~ -ts.~------t-.-.;... that no
ufiler method by successive approxi-
mntions is to be compared to the
Ghussiap method, even though it might
seem to promise n saving of labor in
advance. Prof. Schur mentions MS the
longest least square solution he has
been able to find in astronomical liter
ature geodetic adjustment made by
Baeyer, in which set of normal cqua-
tions with GS unltnowns was success
fully solved by the famous computer.
Dase, in three months.
The Meeker herald., 1896-02-22
MOTTO EFOR PUBLICATION.
LAND OEFlCE Al
CIESwOOD SPRINGS, Colo. Jan. II, 1886.

GLESwooD SPRINGS, Colo. jan II, 1886. (
NOTICE is hereby given that the following
N named settler has filed notice of his inten-
ton to make final proof in support Of his
claim, and that said proof Will be made before
the Clerk of the District Court of RIO Blanco
1896, at 10 o'clock II. m.. viz:
Henry II. Grcenhow. of Pagoda. Colo. on his
F. D. s. 2iis for the Sc 4 SW 4 Sec. 25, \ =
NV !. and Sw u NV i See. %, Up. N, L..
~ w, 9Th p. NJ.
He names the following witnesses to prove
his continuous residence upon and cultivation
of. said land, viz:
Charles Sclatr, Herman Seinn, 4. l.. Dur
ham. all of Mcckcr, Colorado, and c. j. Dick
insun. of Axiul, Colorado.
j25-f2g j. B. PHILIPPI, Register.
The Meeker herald., 1896-02-22
ADMINISTRATORS NOTICE.
Estate of William \. Greenstrcct. deceased

The undersigned, having been appointed
Administrator of the estate of william a.
Grecustrect, late of the county of Rio Rianco,
in the state of Colorado deceased, hereby gives
notice that he will appear before the County
Court of said county, ut the court house i'll
Mccker, in said county, ut the June Term,
1896, on the last Monday i'll July next, wiz:
July q, 1896 Mt which time all persons
having claims against said estate are
notified and requested to attend for the
purpose Of having the same adjusted. All
persons indebted TO said estate nrc requested to
make immediate pay nent to the undersigned:
Dated ut Meekcr, Colo, this 10Th day of
January, a. ID. 1875.
JOHN A. WATSON.
fl-2 Administrators.
The Meeker herald., 1896-02-22
ADMINISTRATIONS NOTICE.

Estate Vf JnMcs N. COfC, dec5Hsed!
The undersigned, having been appointed ad-
ministrator of tho estate of James NJ. Cole, late
of the county of Rio BlancO. In tho State of
Colorado. deceased. hereby give notice that he
will appear before tho County Court of said
county, at the Court House In Meckcr in said
county. ut the March term. 1895, on the last
Monday in May wiz: May 25, 1890 next: Mt
which time all persons having claims against
said estate nrc notified and requested to attend
for tho purpose of having the same adjusted.
All persons indebted to said estate are request
ed to make immediate payment to the under
signed.
Dated at Mcekcr Colo, this third day of
February, a. D., 1896.
ALRERT J. COLE.
fS29 Administrator.
The Meeker herald., 1896-02-22

Br'er Mckinley has been marching
through Georgia, by proxy, and he
thinks the product of the march bill
will be valuable at the st. Louis con-
vention. Maybe he doesn't know it,
but Georgia coons are mighty hard to
hold
The Meeker herald., 1896-02-22

The advocates of gold bonds ought to
stop talking until the people forget the
avidity displayed by capitalists to COB
bic up those coin bonds.
The Meeker herald., 1896-02-22

Mrs. Kruger, wife Of the president Of
the Transvaal Republic. had better ac-
company her husband to London, when
he goes. There are both state and do
mestic reasons for this advice.
The Meeker herald., 1896-02-22

Russian diplomacy seems to have
made number of important winnings
recently 1t is hoped these successes
will not cause the cZar to lose his head.
The Meeker herald., 1896-02-22
ee&

Harry Miner may retire from con-
gress in disgust, if Senator Hoar's
scheme for giving every senator valet
The calls them messengers) goes through.
The Meeker herald., 1896-02-22

DIR. ParFhurst processes to have been
astounded when told by state senator
that all bills were considered in connec-
tion with their probable effect on the
political prospects of senator's. He
must be easily astounded.
The Meeker herald., 1896-02-22

Stockholders in the Nicaragua Canal
company are doubtless willing to sell
out much cheaper since the report Of
the government commission was sent to
congress,
The Meeker herald., 1896-02-22

Mr.. Whitelaw Reid doesn't find 1t
necessary to announce his withdraw
from the contest.
The Meeker herald., 1896-02-22

When the average amateur becomes
convinced that he doesn't know it all he
ceases to be an amateur.
The Meeker herald., 1896-02-22
The Burlington's
main lines

Are laid with the heaviest
and most expensive steel
rnils in use on any western
railroad.
There isn't n foot Of iron
rail between Denver and Chi
ca9o. or between Denver and
st. Louis. There isn't II foot
of track in all that distance
over which Il speed of 60
miles an hour cannot be
made with perfect safety.
There isn't Il mile of track
over which Il speed of go
miles an hour isn't made a
dozen times Il week.
The Burlington is the best
built as well as the best rail
road in the west. And the
service it offers to Omaha.
Peoria, Chicago, st. Joseph,
Kansas City, st. Louis and
all points east is the best
that money cnn procure or
experience provide.
Y, General Agent, Denver.
The Meeker herald., 1896-02-22
j. W. HUGUS, &c. DAVIS,
President. Vice President.
A. c. MouLroN. Cashier.
BANK OF MEEKER
tsuceessor to J.w. Hugus & Co., Bankers)
MEEKER, COLORADO.

Transact a General Banking Business.
Highest price paid for County Warrants. In
tcrest allowed on Time Deposits. Drafts
irawn on Eastern Cities and Europe.
CORRESPONDENTS, Kountze Bros, New York;
First National Bank, Omaha: First Ma
tional Bank. Denver: First National Bank
RnwiIns, Wyo.; First National Bank, Glen
wood Springs; and in all principal cities Of
Europe.
Collections Ir5mpss!!J Attended &. IS
The Meeker herald., 1896-02-22

So far as financial legislation is con-
cerned the fifty-fourth congress might
as well not exist.
The Meeker herald., 1896-02-22

The Mckinley boom appears to be
The Meeker herald., 1896-02-22

The "colts" of the United States
senate make the most noise. but the
"yets' usually control the most votes.
The Meeker herald., 1896-02-22
THE WABASH RAILROAD

WILL PASS FREE, between
all points on its system, inclus-
i've of Kansas City, st. Louis,
Chicago, Toledo, New York,
Boston and Cincinnati. from
and after December lst, 1895,
upon presentation of properly
stamped ticket purchased at
any ticket office In Colorado,
Wyoming, Utah or New Mexico.
G. NJ. HAMPsoN,
Commercial Agent,
l035 18th St.. Denver, Colo.