davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Kansas City daily journal., 1896-12-08

tlc south of Cairo. eighty-tive years ego.
when the Mississippi valley nearly lost Its
reputation for stability. That Was the tine
when areas covering about 500 square
miles in what Is now Southeastern Missouri
and Northeastern Arkansas sank vertically
about ten feet. and Mississippi waterH
flowed upstream to ill some Of these Sc.
pressions. number Of which. attracting
the surrounding drainage. are lakes 10.
day. oar earthquake troubles would have
eGuaIed these of Japan if that series Of
shocks. famous as the New Madrid EARTH
uuakes. had been deferred until those al
luvial plains had been dotted with thriving
towns as they are. Stiil. W. suffer 80 rare
Iy from earthquakes that Professor Mines
shock-proof house an invention by which
he has attempted to minimize the dangers
of earthquakes. is not likely to become a
popular form Of architecture in this coun-
try.
In this neighborhood we sometimes man
ufacture earthquakes 20 make up for our
deficiency in The natural article. In kind,
the earthwaveS that were set in motion by
the Hell Gate explosion. a few years ago.
were exactly the same as those OF any
other earthquake; and they were recoTled
by seismographs 200 miles away.
Kansas City daily journal., 1896-12-08
The Vow Cnnnterfeitinc.

From the New York World.
When the BLAND dollars were first made
it was pointed cut as a danger that any
thrifty and enteTprisinG coiner might make
a very heavy profit by setting up dollar
factory of his own in opposition to that Of
tho government
The art of the engraver renders the
counterfetting of paper money practically
impossible. The difference in specific grlv-
ity and other easily tested qualities rem
ders extended success in making gold coins
from other metals practically out of the
question. But with a silver dollar made
cut of only - cents worth of silver any
discreet counterfeiter, by using precisely
the same weight of silver of the same de-
gree of fineness, can make dollars that are
indistinguishable from the genuine and
pocket 100 per cent profit from his enter
prise.
The treasury department finds that this
is now actually done: that persons who
may be described as advanced and prac-
teal free silver men are in fact putting
the free coinage programme into opera
ton without waiting for laws or elections
or other formalites of that sort. and with
cut subjecting the government to any mint
charges.
Some Of these persons have been care
less in their operations and a trihe waste
full of their raw materials. so that the
government officials now find in the treas
TRY vaults some Of the privately made
dollars that have more silver in them than
the genuine.
Their heedlessness in this way has awak-
ened the treasury officials to the danger,
and the question of how TO stop this dan
gerous but highly profitable form of full
weight counterfeting will be considered in
the forthcoming official reports.
Kansas City daily journal., 1896-12-08
TALMAGE,s nyERsIGHT.

DR.. Talmage, in his sermon last Sunday,
dscOursei in his usual eloquent way of
employments in heaven. The learned di-
vine takes the position that the occupations
of our life in the flesh VIII be transferred
to the heavenly city. where the lawyer viii
prepare mis- briefs. the military man study
strategics in connection with the heavenly
armies. The sculptor ana PAINTER evolve
dreams Of beauty out of marble or linn
them on canvas. and the naturalist and
the chemist pursue their favorite studies
under the most favorable conditions, and
so on.
But in the long catalogue Of professions
enumerated by the pulpit orator there is
no mention OF the editor How did the
good parson come to make this oversight?
Surely in that great concourse of the re-
deemed from the captivity Of the flesh,
where the activities of worldly life are car
ried on under exceptionally favorable cir
cumstances, there must be innumsrable
newspaper men. who swayed. while on
earth, the thoughts Of the people for good
and exercised a general supervision Of the
moral vineyard. No doubt there are thou
sands of them there with as eager noses
dane sphere. 1t was the injunction OF Jer-
emiah to publish and conceal not" and
how can this be done without an editor to
issue an occasional extra OF the Celestial
Messenger? All of the local affairs of the
New Jerusalem need to be looked after,
and who so competent as the newspaper
man who had years OF practical training
here below? There are great spectacles
presented in the heavenly city every day
that would fill a journalists soul with de-
light. Magnificent pageaEts and process
sions along the Jasper streets; wonderful
concerts. as the hundred and forty-four
Thousand sing their new song before the
throne and the amethystina air pulsates
with the Voice of fparpers harping with
their harps," besides many other splendid
sights and happenings.
If Mr.. Tajmage is right. then David
clearly hinted at newspapers in heaven
when he said, Praise Him with organs"
and the preacher did a manifest injustice
TO the profession by leaving editors out OF
celestial consideration.
Kansas City daily journal., 1896-12-08
A Change in the Calendar Worth
Thinking About.

From the Scientific American.
1t is suggested that on January I. 1870.
a new division of the year into thirteen
months be instituted. If such A division
were made the first twelve months would
have twenty-eight days. or four weeks.
each, and the new month twenty-nine
days. to make 365. and thirty in leap years.
After a few days there would be no need
to refer to calendars. as the same day of
the week would have the same date
through the year. If January I were. say
Monday, every Monday would be the 1st.
Sth. 18th, and 22d; every Tuesday the Cd,
9th, 10th and 25d, and so on through the
year. Changes of the moon would be on
about the same dates through the year,
and many calculations like interest, dates
OF maturing notes Easter. and many other
important dates would be simplfed. AL
though the present generation would have
to figure new dates for birthdays and all
legal holidays except New Year would be
on different dates, yet the gain would be
more than the loss, as that would be per-
manent and the objections trifing.
Kansas City daily journal., 1896-12-08
COMING TO THEIR SENSES.

The recent action of the Chicago Fed
Grafton of Labor in refusing to indorse a
resolution declaring for the free and un-
limited coinage of silver at the ratio of Is
10 is noteworthy. The same thing has
happened in other labor organizations since
the election and indicates that the work
ingmen are beginning to see the trap they
we're drawn into by the sophistries of
Bryan ard the counsels of Sovereign and
other leaders.
At the last election a large proportion of
the members of organized labor societies
voted for Bryan. and the most jealous ef-
forts of that gentleman in the campaign
we're directed to securing the support of the
Nage-earners. Since the election. however,
the worklngmen have come to study the
question with judgment unbiased by the
heat of political excitement, and the result is
a marked change OF feeling. They are COM
ing to realize that the sounder the money
We have the better 1t is for the toilers.
They have not yet experienced the dread
luI effects Of the gold standard so vividly
portrayed by Mr. Bryan. and the impress
son seems TO he gradually dawning upon
them that they We're the victims OF a game
Of political bunoo Of which the boy orator
was the chief fakir.
At this short distance from the sventfUl
day which saw ;he downfall OF the free
,oirar, craze. /; IS difficult to understand
row - many good people could he de-
ccivel into supporting n selfish scheme Of
the silver trust Put the heresy spread like
certain nervous epidemcs. such as Jerks"
otl whole regions in the early days of the
country \ man or woman was seized with
the Jerks" jest because a Heighbor had
them. and mauy shouting free silver man
caught his disease in much the same man
Ter. Happily for the country. the deiusion
is rapidly on the waUe and viii soon be
numbered with the many other crazes that
have been exploded and forgotten.
Kansas City daily journal., 1896-12-08

From the Washington Star.
Mark Hanna is growing pineapples. This
statement will come as somewhat of
shock to those who think of Mark Hanna
only as a political engineer. Although he
is city man. he loves the little pineapple
patch that grows green and spiney out of
the white sand IF Dsde county Fla Twice
within the last eighteen months has he
turned mis- footsteps from the North to the
South. Several times has Mark Hanna
slept in the palmetto-thatched shack that
stands shaded by whispering pine trees on
the edge of Mark Hanna's pineapple patch.
1t was about two years ago that the
pineapple fever broke ont in Florida and
became so virulently epidemic that pine
and flatwoOd lands, which before had not
been worth $l.25 an acre. were suddenly
held at $50 an acre uncleared and to clear
an acre costs about $40. Mr.. Hanna was
boarding at Palm Beach, where the hotels
charge S. a day during three months OF
the year and 81 a week during the other
nine. Well. Mr.. Hanna was boarding
there during the S6-s-day season. The
germ of the pineapple contagion entered
his blood. and he bought an acre of pine
land from Representative Linton. of Michi-
gan. who owns a big tract along the
Bicayne Bay canal
Mr.. Hanua's acre lies between the At
lantic and the Everglades. so miles south
of Jacksonville. Uncle Nose Hawkins, a
Florida Republican, tends it and sends
n monthly crop report to Mr. Hanna
Uncle Nose told the writer that he would
sooner grub an acre Of hummack land
with the sun. at meridian and the mos
quitoes in full bloom than to write out
dat port ter Marse Hammer"
Kansas City daily journal., 1896-12-08
Snap shots.

From the Galveston News.
Tune up all the steam whistles in tis
land.
The ambitious young man climbs until he
considers himself out of sight.
Records are made to be broken.
The campaign button has kept many a
partisan warm until now. but the winter Is
upon us. and something mere is needed.
The football beauty comes in with tht
chrySanthemum-
One can make show OF himself, but he
cannot collect any admission fee.
Another doctor has declared against kiss
ing. because 1t affects the hearing.
Elocution should never be carried toa
far.
The man who is waiting for a soft snap
will likely have a hard time.
Public life ruins many men, but most
who are out are willing to take chances OF
being ruined.
Men getting work on full time is prefer.
able to men getting full on work time.
The first month of a presidents admins
tration is one OF appointments and disap
pointments.
Kansas City daily journal., 1896-12-08

Ny little son, who looked from thoughtful
And moved and spoke in quiet grOwu-up
wise
Having my law the seventh time dis
obeyed
I struck him. and dismissed
With hard words, and unkissed-
His mother. who was patient. being dead.
Then, fearing lest his grief should hinder
SLEEP.
I visited his bed,
But found him slumbering deep.
With darzened eyeIids. and their lashes yet
From his late sobbing wet.
And /, with moan.
kissing away his tears left others OF my
own;
For on table drawn beside his head.
He had put within his reach
y box of counters and red-veined stone
\ piece OF glass abraded by the beach,
And six or seven shells.
\ bottle with bluebeIls,
And two French copper coins, ranged there
with careful art.
To comfort his sad heart.
So when that night I prayed
To God. L wept, and said
All. when at last We lie with trance[
breath
Not veXing Thee in death.
And Thou rememberest of what TOYS
We made our joys,
How weakly understood
Thy great commanded good,
Thou. fatherfy not less
Than !. whom Thou hast nodded from tho
clay.
Thou'lt leave Thy wrath and say.
81 will be sorry for his childishness."
Coventry Patmore.
Kansas City daily journal., 1896-12-08

declaration from the Kansan ana then Wit
uass the applause with which it is recet-ec
81 c-rta.a Populist!a circles. Il Is not fas
10 assllme that anything Ike a large per
cent II the Poyu.ist party subscribe 10 such
q Doctrine. bus il does show the tenor OF
thought which Is InsidiousIy permea.iEg
the organization. and which. unrebuked by
the more intelligent leaders. may grow TO
proportions as dangerous as the doctrine
ia abhorrent.
There Is but one conclusion to be drawn,
ard that is that the people Of Kansas are
not in TEMPER at this time TO construct a
satisfactory constitution. This idea IS aG-
mirably stated by Judge J. i. Johnson,
who says The state ought 10 be at rest
when a new constitution is adopted. The
public mind is not tranquil enough at this
time to give the grave questions the DELHI
era1e consideration which they should have.
Constitutions should only be male at the
calmsst and most peaceful periods in the
history OF state"
Kansas City daily journal., 1896-12-08
A Sensible Ruling.

From the Chicago Chronicle
The district court of appeals at Washing
ton has very properly held that telegraph
company is liable for blunders of its en-
p,oyes. \ New York firm telegraphed to
a customer THAT it would sell potatoes at
80 cents a bushel. As delivered the tele-
gram read - cents. Two carloads were or
dered and customers were found for hall
of the consignment. Then the mistake was
discovered, and he refused to accept the
consignment. He brought suit to recover
the profits he would have made from the
resales. This was denied by the court but
it held that he was entitled to recover ''the
aIotUai PeCuniary damage that ne might
have sustained through the failure to OBJ
tain the potatoes at the price at which
he had reason to suppose they had been Of
fersd to him" Telegraph companies have
always disciaimed liability for errors in
transmission. unless the message was re-
peated, the Sender to pay for the repeat
ing. but ii Is nonsense to suppose that such
corporations have any right to compel
double payment in order to secure perfect
service
Kansas City daily journal., 1896-12-08
OR NEIGnRoRs. THE MARrIANs.

It is related In the kilograms that Pro
Eessor Lowell. the Boston astronomer, has
started for the city of Mexico with the
huge object glass of his twenty-slv inch
telescope. and that on next Thursday night
he expects TO make some startling dis
coyeries through his observation OF the
paaet Mars.
on the date given the planet comes into
opposition" which means that a line
drawn to it from the sun would pass
through the earth. this being the condition
which furnishes the best opportunities for
telsscoTlc investigation. In 1894. when
Mars was last in opposition" Professor
Lowell made an elaborate series Of obser-
vaticns from Flagstaff \ T, and then
startled the scientific world by declaring
Kansas City daily journal., 1896-12-08

We don't mind telling Mr. Cleveland
frankly that the country would have re-
membered him with fully as much affec-
ton if he had cut that message down
three-fourths.
The country will be safe till the 4th of
March, but after that date congressman
who failed of reelection would not be at
all surprised TO see it 90 to the bow-wows.
Probably the most gratifying thing about
the presidents ponderous message is the
assurance that it is the last of its kind.
The Spanish navy may be stronger than
ours, but all the same Spain will be wise
to bring the Cuban trouble to- a termlna-
ton without delay.
Mr. Bayard, of course. humbIy apolo-
gized for the constitutional obstacles which
prevent him from accepting that British
Christmas box.
AS leader of the minority in the house
Mr.. Bland is sure to have some unpleasant
collisions with Mr.. Reeds business rules.
Mr. Leedy's face must have worn a very
broad smile when he remarked that the ap-
pointment of Ed Little as his private sec
retary would not take Ed out of the sen>
atorial race.
The president declares that the progress
made in civil service reform furnishes
cause for the utmost congratulatfon. And
so it does-to the thousands of Democrats
who have been thus riveted in Office The
thousands of Republicans who were kicked
out to make room for them don't see it in
quite that light, however.
Mr.. Cleveland's defense of the Wilson
bill will not deceive many as to the char
acter of that measure. 1t is a wretched
failure, and everybody knows it.
So far as the suppression Of trusts is
concerned. the general government and the
state governments might both work to-
gether for that end without any fear that
the suppression would be too thorough.
This seems TO be a great year for John
r. Tanner. He has not only been elected
governor of Illinois, but has been elected
lieutenant governor Of his own household
II is no material difference TO the
country whether Major Mckinley and
Speaker Red are warm personal friends or
not. Major Mckinley Will make the best
record he can as president and Mr.. Reed
will make the best record he can as sneak
er. 1t is not necessary for the success of
either that the other should be a failura
and it is not within the power Of either to
interfere with the others success if he
wished to- They are both big men and
earnest patriots, and both will BE- too busy
serving the country to bother their heads
about personal likes and dislikes.
Kansas City daily journal., 1896-12-08
Our share of Earthquakes.

From tha New York Sun
Cairo. in the Egyptian part OF Illinois.
had slight attack Of earthquake on Tues,
day; enough to remind her that it is al
ways the unexpected that happens. and
that there = no occasion for surprise if
the most stable parts OF tho earth are now
and then afflicted with tremors Time may
have wrought great changes in Cairo. but
it is not so long ago since the town stood
on stills to keep its feet dry in the flooded
season. Stiits have their uses. but They.
are not desirable adjunct of buildine
when earthquake waves are rolling.
our domestic earthquake news rarely
makes more than a paragraph in the news,
papers. but for 4 long time from forty to
fifty of these interesting events have been
recorded every year. In this respect the
millions OF men, caribou, and musk oxen in
Canada have a slight advantage over us.
for an earthquake is very seldom recorded
in the northern half of the continent. For
tuuately our earthquakes are usually of n
very mild variety and little attention is
paid to them, for most Of them do no harm
except tc impair the confidence OF somA
communities in the ground they stand on:
and when we lose faith in real estate there
certainly is something amiss with thu
foundations of society.
But th0se were stirring times Just lit
Kansas City daily journal., 1896-12-08

From Harper's Weekly.
The American people will not eat bananas
this year. Tho fruit importers have discov-
cred this. to their surprise and DISCUS. AM
were very much worried at first over the
cause. Why have the people given I'D ba-
nanas? they asked. anNiOusly. New Orleans
supplies nearly all the West and South
with barauas and other tropical fruit. and
Is the largest importer in this country.
But bananas has sold so badly Of ,ate hat
the importers have cut down the number
OF vessels running 70 Central America one
half They have only just discovered the
trouble. The American people have not
lost their taste for the tropical banana
but the latter has been knocked on. by
the big apple crop of the West. With AZ
pies at - cents a barrel the banana mas no
SHOW. for tho average man eats about the
same amount OF fruit each year. AMI Pc
ferz the cheapest. II is apples this year
to suit the hard times, but It may he ba-
nanas next season. So. at least. the i'm
porters hope.
Kansas City daily journal., 1896-12-08
The Mule and the Major.

From the Atlanta Constitution
He had n sleigh, but ne couldn't get a
horse They had all been engaged when ne
reached the livery stable.
He wanted to go sleigh riding real bad,
and finding an Old negro with a fat, gray
mule he offered him s. for a three-hour
lease of him.
The venerable owner Of the mule regard
ell the sleigh with interest for a few sec
onds, and then he eazed obviously at his
mule. Finally he said:
No. sub: l needs de money; but doan'
reckon he'd work in dat Contraption. Oar
WIZ a heavy snow las year down whar
live at. en- de major what / rents rum
hitcshch him UP ter one er dem things, an
tlr WIZ a fun'ral mex day, en- de major
claimed It fer his-iat is. his fT'en's say
hit wuz his fun'ral. ez fur ez dey could
reCkernize him.
What did the mule do to him.
81 dunno, sub. He WIZ de only one dat
did know. but never heah him sayr'
Kansas City daily journal., 1896-12-08

sas City-one who hadn't taken any part
III the exercises, too.
The principal Of the Cartilage high school,
In a long communication to the Press, la
ments the fact that il the local schoO! the
boys constitute but 10 per cent of the MEM
bership OF the junior and senior classes.
He believes the parents to be largely bian-
able, in that they fail to keep their sons at
home at night and compel them 10 devote
sufficient time to their studies to avoid
falling behind in their classes.
\ Century" club in five sections is one
Of the established Institutions among the
progressive women OF Carthage. but Il Is
not, as might be mistakenly inferred from
the name, an organization calculated 10
promote activity and endurance in the use
OF wheels-at least not wheels for riding
purposes.
Rich Hill has a "Brou,o Seller Club"
the insignia Of which presumably is life
size figure Of . dark brown taste, couchant
With the profits of its theatrical benefit
the other night and private contributions
St Joseph's charitable association has
gathered up a fund Of about $50, to which
the city Will be asked TO add $500.
Commenting on the statement that in
one of the townships in Lafayette county
at the recent election, but two votes We're
cast by colored men, the Tina Herald de-
-clares that there is nothing surprising in
this. and says that there are at least a
half dozen townships in Carroll county in
which not a colOred voter resides, and that
the same is true as TO many other counties
in North Missouri. In fact in the entire
state, according to the Herald. the col
ored voter is found only in the big cities.
along the rivers, and in old settlements
started "befo' de wah."
Rosa Pearl may conclude to take the Sc
dalia postoffice herself if it becomes ap-
parent that such a sacrifice is absolutely
necessary in the interest of harmony.
General B. VI. Prentiss. Bethanys G.. o.
NJ, chops all the wood used at his house
and wants to be postmaster, nOtwithstand-
ing the fact that he celebrated his nth
birthday anniversary a week or so ago.
United States Marshal 10 Shelby and
some of the other court officials have be-
come interested in a zinc claim down in
the mineral district just across the line
from Jasper county, that promises par
ticuIarly well.
The aggregate value of the dig-up in the
interstate mineral district last week reach
ed sS1,4lS, the Missouri camps contributing
about $1,000 toward the total.
Kansas City daily journal., 1896-12-08
Take the Court by the Throat.

From the New York Sun.
Defeat has only stimulated the inteIlect-
1raI processes OF those deep revolving stu
dents Of the science Of government without
government who look with true A!tgeldian
terror upon federal interference with the
precious privilege of ripting, destroying
properly and blocking trains. Here, FOR
instance. is a Missouri journal. the Colu7n-
bia Herald, full of fear and hatred OF the
federal courts. 1t declares that "the fell
eral judiciary is a danger cloud on the re
publc's horizon. The federal Judges. ap-
pointed for life. practically irresponsible
more powerful than makers Of laws. great
er than executors may be the rock upon
which the republic founders" Which is
just the kind of talk TO cheer the heart Of
the somewhat forgotten but still hopeful
Dehs. The income tax deciSaon,' the Mis-
souri, Debsite goes on 10 say. was simply
one Of many decisions which have gradu-
ally centralized power in this republic, and
which are gradually changing the form OF
government. For years. slowly but surely
the federal judges have insidiously and ef-
fectually attacked the rights Of the states,
the liberties of the individual" The Col
umbfa Herald proposes that the federal
judges shall be elected. Butthis would he
too mild remedy. The Hon. benjamin r.
TiTlman's plan Of taking the supreme
court by the throat seems better suited TO
the peculiar notions of the Missouri enc
my of the federal courts