davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The record-union., 1896-12-21
At a Summer Boarding-House.
C'i1ne-2 a. n.)

Crime a. m.)
Arthur-Aly ear aches fearfully. /
wish l had some cotton to stuff into if
Ned (sleepily) Why don't you take
your pillow 5 Somerville Journal.
The record-union., 1896-12-21
Dress Goods.

Even our big dress goods Depart
ment has put on its holiday attire
and a more sensible gift was never
thought of than a pretty dress pat
tern. We can meet the demand OF
any lady in the land. We have as
sortment at prices unrivaled.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-07-11
Just Like His Father.

"My old black auntie," said Represen- tatiye John Allen to a Washington Post man, "the old black shepherdess who raised me, and who still looks on me as a lamb of her rearing, grows at times very congratulatory and proud of me.
 ""Deed! l is proud of you, Mars John she said, on the occasion of our last meeting. I takes de vastest pride In ye, honey, an de way you does hOP office. You is .jes' like yo' oP father, Mars John, jes' like him fO' de worf. He was allar hoPin office same as you, honey; hor office all de time, 70 paw did, an he minds me of you so much. Deed, Tse proud of bof of ye.'
 "'Why, what office did my father hold? asked. was bit astonished, for while I had a dim recollection of the old gentleman running several times, never knew of any office he held. What office did my father hOld?'
 "'Sho! Mars Jchn; you go an forget de office yo' father hor,' the old aunty replied, responsibility. Tse 'shamed fo' you. He was a candidate, Mars John. De whole neighborhood remem Der 1t we'll. All his life he hor dat office, yo' paw does; never knows him when he warn't candidate. Looks like you an yo' father jes' same that away; bof alters holin' office.'"
The St. Johns herald., 1896-07-11
Left Her Hanging,

An amusing Incident lately occurred in the Mediterranean, on board one of her Majesty's ships. The commander Is very particular man about the mems dinner time. Directly eight bells strike, whatever they are doing, the men have to knock off and go below. The commanders wife was on board, and, being rather stout, whenever she went ashore whip and chair were rigged from the yardarn to get her off and on board. One day she started about two minutes to 12 (eight bells). The chair was put over the side, the lady hoisted half way up, when the quartermaster struck eight bells. The commander ordered and the boatswain piped "Belay!' The lady was left one hour in the chair while the men dined
The St. Johns herald., 1896-07-11
,4 g5s s!,..,s,.,g 5.

At a meeting of the Massachusetts Library Club the other day, George Haven Putnam said that only about 10 per cent. of what is written for pub lication is ever printed, the other 90 per cent. being thrown away.
 Five short autograph poems by Rob- ert Burns were sold recently in Lon don for $490; three long letters for $370, and three short ones for S1Oo; at the same time seven letters of Sir Walter Scott were sold for about $27.50 apiece
 Col. T. W. HigginsOn's gift of books to the Boston Public Library is unique in comprising 1000 volumes relating to the history of woman in all lands and ages. The collection was begun in 1916 with the purchase of Mrs. Hugo Reid's 'Plea for Woman," and has been continued ever since.
 In his latest work, "A Woman h. tervenes, or the Mistress of the Mine" Robert Barr has presented to the pub lie a bright, readable story, which, while it scarcely equals in interest or ability his earlier story, Tn the Midst of Alarms" is still an excellent presenta- ton of one wOman's pluck and buSi- ness knowledge.
 Dr. Weldon, head master of Harrow School, makes a plea in the Church Monthly for the severance of sport from gambling. He describes horse racing as "the sport of kings, the no- blest exercise of the physical powers of the noblest animals" and asserts that in ancient Greece no one made bet at the Olympian games.
 Miss Mary Kingsley proposes to re- turn to West Africa to renew her stud ieS in fetisheS and fishes, after the pub licatiOn of her journal. She appears to have inherited a large share of the adventurous spirit which was so mark ed a feature in the character of her uncle, Canon Kingsley, and still more distinctly of her father, pr. Kingsley, the traveller.
 The Rev Baring-Gould, the novelist, lecturer and historian, is a keen anti quary. One who knows him writes that ''he wallows in 1t. You should see him on DartmOOr with his shovels and wheelbarrows unearthing some forgot ten dOmicile and then you would see the real man. Give him an old church register and he'll spin you yarns about it by the hour."
The St. Johns herald., 1896-07-11
THE PIANO NUISANCE.
Protracted Practicing Leads to Severe
 Nervous Maladies.

Protracted Practicing Leads to Severe
 Nervous Maladies.
 GeunOd, the composer, bitterly resent ed the Omnipresence of the average piano player, says the St. Louis Globe Democrat. He was strongly in favor of somewhat severe pianOforte tax. his argument was that ninety-nine out of every one hundred who learned to play the instrument failed to attain to more than a superficial stage, either of conception or execution, and that they wasted valuable time, which might Oth- erwise be employed in doing something that would benefit them. He also con- tended that piano practice of students constituted a public nuisance, and was irritating and exasperating to such degree as to become an outrage on peacefully inclined citizens. The pro- posed tax was never levied, but some figures published by a French scientist may possibly in some measure tend to rtstrict the indiscriminate teaching to music to very young children. It is de clared that a large number of nervous maladies from which girls of the pres ent day suffer are to be attributed to playing the piano.
 Children who ought to be exercising in the open air are kept at dreary and distasteful work at the keyboard hour after hour daily, and the nerves simply will not stand the strain. It is said to be proved by statistics that of 1000 girls who study this instrument before the age of 12, no less than 600 suffer from this class of disorders, while of those who do not begin until later there are only some POO per 1000. The prose cutlon of the study of the violin by the very young Is proved to be equally in- furious. The remedy suggested is that children should not be permitted to study either instrument before the age of 16 at least or, in the case of delicate constitutions, not until later age. So far as the piano is concerned, however, it is possible that the true remedy may be found in a better method of teach ing. The main point in early tuition is to form" the hands and give them fiex- ibility and strength. This is purely me- chanical, and it can be done away from the pianOforte keyboard. The endless repetition of sound, which Is responsi- ble for much of the wear and tear of the nerves of young musical students, is thus avoided, and better progress is made from the concentration of the mind and technique only. The Objec- ton has been raised that such a system makes only those mechanical" players who would be so under the ordinary system of tuition. To those of true ar tistic instinct it is an inestimable help, and shortener of labor.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-07-11
Good for the CoIored Porters.

The New York Tribune tells an excel lent story of the kindness of some sleep ing car porters, as gathered from the lips of a young Englishwoman whose husband was seriously i'll, and who found herself suddenly obliged to un- dertake a twenty-four-hour railway journey, with baby only two months care of 1t.
 1 didn't know how baby would take to travelling, and the thought of his cry ing all night in the sleeping car was simply maddening. We started at o'clock, and for two hours baby was quiet. But then he became restless, and soon he began to cry. 1 did all could, but he kept 1t up. The men in the car looked at us ruefully, as if ex- pecting a sleepless night, and I finally began to cry myself. 1 know 1t was foolish, but alarm for my husband and the trouble with baby were too much for me.
 There were three women in the car, one elderly and the others young, but none of them offered me even a word of sympathy. But the negro porters were as kind and good as they could be. didn't know much about negroes, and from the newspapers had an idea that the porters on sleeping cars were greedy and soulless. These certainly were not.
 The one on my car may have been animated by a desire to get a tip, but all the others who passed stopped to speak to me and to ask if they could do anything for baby. They got me Jumps of sugar and warmed the milk, and spoke so cheeringly that felt much re- lieved. Fortunately baby quieted down In an hour or two, and slept we'll all night. Now my heart is warm for the negro race, and especially for sleeping car porters.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-07-11
Autograph Albums.

Is it possible that the album craze is about to revive? Thirty years ago no young lady was without her prettily bound vOlume in which she leased and coaXed her friends to make all sorts of absurd confessions as to their fa- vorite flowers, food, occupation and what not Or, did she aspire to highe-
 hings, she would get them to inscrib
 couplet or a rhyme. We hope that the fashion is not going to revive, for it became a nuisance, but for all that, Princess Henrietta of Belgium, now duchess of VendOme, received among her other beautiful wedding gifts an album in which the leading literary men of Belgium had inscribed their ideas in verse and prose. Suitable il- lustratiOnS were contributed by various distinguished artists.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-07-11
Its Name.

At the time when Venezuela is so prominent in public notice, it may be interesting to know how it received it's name It was the first part of the mainland seen by Columbus
 On his third voyage, in 149S, he bore further to the south than before and had become convinced that he should not meet with land on that course, when his lookout described three hill tops in the southwest.
 Sailing on he entered the chief mouth of the OrinOco, and there skirted the isIand-fringed coast on his way t6 Haiti.
 But the country is said to owe it's name 10 OjedO, who, on entering Lake Maracaibo. the following year, noticed one of the Indian villages of pile dwel- lingS on it's shore.
 "Why, here," said he, ''is a little Venice" (Venezuela), and this name be- came the designation of the whole re- zion about there.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-07-11
A Corporation with a Soul.

Here Is a nice little story. When the two Princeton students were shot, about a year ago, 1t was determined that an immediate operation might save the life of the one whose case was worst, and Dr. Bull, of New York, was summoned by telegraph. The message reached him after midnight. He went at once to Jersey City and asked for q special train on the Pennsylvania Rail- road. The agent said he must deposit $2O0 and promise to pay any further bill that might be sent. He did and got his engine and car Some time after he wrote and asked for his bill. Instead of getting 1t he received back the $200 that he had deposited, and note saying the company would make no charge for service done "in the interest of suffer- ing humanity" Very pretty behavior for ''soulless corporation" wasn't it?
The St. Johns herald., 1896-07-11
Eight Minutes Yet.

A screaming" farce was acted re- gently in the streets of Philadelphia, which the Record reports:
 A fOppish young man, with foot ball crop of hair, was walking along Chestnut street the other evening, when a little urchin asked him the time.
 Ten minutes to nine," said he.
 Well" said the boy, "at nine o'clock get your hair cut" and he took to his heels and ran down Tenth street.
 The youth ran after him, and in turn ing the corner, came in contact with policeman, nearly knocking him down.
 What's up?" asked the policeman.
 Very much out of breath, he eX- claimed: You see that boy running down the street? He asked me the time; I told him ten minutes to nine, and he said, At nine o'clock get your hair cut
 Well" remarked the policeman, what are you running for? You've eight minutes yet"
The St. Johns herald., 1896-07-11
New Kind of Seed.

All international disputes are liable to what are called complications. !" Here is one, cited by the Washington Post in connection with the Venezuela matter:
 A Western Congressman is said to have received a letter from one of his constituents, who believes in losing nc chances.
 Everybody here," he wrote, "is talk ing about the Monroe Doctrine, and nc body knows what it is. 1 don't know myself, but if the Government is giving 1t away, send me what you can."
The St. Johns herald., 1896-07-11
Defective Steel Rails.

It is stated that quite a number of railroad managers have evinced in- creasing dissatisfaction at the quality of steel rails supplied to them by the steel rail pool. It isn't generally known that one of the great transcOntiRental systems in this country is laid almost entirely. as far as the main track is concerned, with imported steel rails. The managers of this railway say it is in the long run, and they do not hesi- tate to say that the mills in this coun- try are to-day putting out quality of rail inferior to what they put out some years ago.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-07-11
A Sailors Remarkable Escape.

A seaman on H. Nj. s. Edinburgh re- gently had remarkable escape. He was at work on ladder on the bow of the vessel as she was going into Ports mouth harbor, steaming ten knots an hour, when the l. dder broke and he was thrown into the water directly un- der the keel. He came up again in the wake of the ship, two ships lengths astern, unhurt, having escaped the suc- eion of the vessel and contact with the propellers.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-07-11
MnY Bloom.

 at isn't the bloom of the apple that blows on the tree; It isn't the lilac that blows in delicate spray; It isn't the blue of the sky, or the blue of the sea. Or the red of the rose, that betokens the season of May. 1t isn't the prescience of summers melli- huous tide; It isn't the cloudship of snow OCT the emerald lea; It isn't the scent of the wood, or the swal- low aglide, Wind-tossed, or the gold-hearted lily that cradles the bee. Oh, know that the season is May by the mystic thrill Of her smile as she walks like e dream down the dim garden way; When live in her smile, though the wind drifts the snow on the hill, All my hearts a rose-garden meath skies of perennial May. .-R. K. Munkittrick, in Harper's Weekly.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-07-11
Robin Falls in Love,

There is well attested instance in England in which a robin formed such an attachment to two ladies that he was ill the habit of accompanying them in their country walks. When they went to reside in another district he took his departure with them. flying along by the side of the carriage.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-07-11
Practical.

Practical? Yes, indeed. Our educa- tional methods aim primarily at the practical. We shall next hear the senior class in mental science, which is finishing the more abstruse courses with the study of the railway time- kable."-Detroit Tribune.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-07-11
Mother Nature.

 Nature, the gentlest mother, Impatient of no child, The feeblest or the waywardest-- Her admonition mild In forest and the hill By traveller is heard, Restraining rampant squirrel Or too impetuous bird. How fair her conversation, A summer afternoon Her household, her assembly; And when the sun goes down
 / Her voice among the aisles Incites the timid prayer Of the minutest cricket, The most unworthy flower. When all the children sleep She turns as long away As will suffice to light her lamps, Then, bending from the sky With infinite affection And infinite care, Her golden finger on her lip, ;. Wills silence everywhere. Dickinson.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-07-11
Another Story.

Fery-Why don't you get married Don't say you can't stand the expense; that excuse is too thin.
 Hargreaves-I could stand the ex pense we'll enough, but the girls father says he can't.-Cincinnat Tribune.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-07-11
The Marble Heart.

sI have been accustomed to better days than these," said the tramp, sor- rowfully.
 "You must have lived in California" 1" said the marble-hearted hOusewife.- Washington Times.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-07-11
NIadacascar Sniders

The silk spider of Madagascar spins threads of golden color and strong enough. according to a well-known nat uraliSt. to hang cork helmet on. Small textures woven of these threads are used by the natives for fastening flow CTS on sunshades and for other pur- noses
The St. Johns herald., 1896-07-11
A Song of Hope.

 Children of yesterday, Heirs of tomorrow, What are you weaving Labor and sorrow? Look to your looms again; Faster and faster, Fly the great shuttles Prepared by the Master. Life's in the loom. Room for it-roomi Children of yesterday, Heirs of tomorrow, Tighten the labor
 And sweeten the sorrow, Now-while the shuttles fly Faster and faster, Up and be at it.
 At work with the Master. He stands at your loom, Room for him-room! Children of yesterday, Heirs of tomorrow, Look at your fabric Of labor and sorrow, Seamy and dark
 With despair and disaster, Turn it-and To,
 The design of the Master. The Lords at the loom. Room for him-room! Mary A. Lathbury.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-07-11
Product of a Walnut Tree.

In the Baidar Valley, near Balaklaya, in the Crimea, there stands a walnut tree which must be at least 1000 years old It yields annually from S0,000 to 100000 nuts, and is the property of five Tartar families, who share it's products equally.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-07-11

When a girl writes a letter to an- other girl, she thinks she is bound by courtesy to extend an invitation to make her visit
The St. Johns herald., 1896-07-11

Mothers are becoming so kind that boys needn't go to school unless they want to.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-07-11
British Kni hts.

Not quite POGO persons are living who possess British orders of kDighthood, or, roughly speaking. only about one in 2S,OO0 of the population.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-07-11

The best way to preserve , piano keep it locked.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-07-11
Memories,

 As a perfume doth remain In the folds where it hath lain, So the thought of you remaining Deeply folded in my brain, Will not leave me; all things leave mei You remain. Other thoughts may come and go, Other moments may know, That shall wait me, in their going, As a breath blown to and fro. Fragrant memories; fragrant memories Come and go. Only thoughts of you remain In my heart where they have lain, Perfumed thoughts of you remaining. A hid sweetness in my brain, Others leave me; all things leave me: Nou remain. St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-07-11

An actress is "a charming young aO- trs.Ns" until she is fifty-fve.
The St. Johns herald., 1896-07-11

Our idea of a rich man is one who can afford three straw hats every sum- mer.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-02-01

According to the United States mint
officials, the words, "E Pluribus Unum, -
as they appear on our coins, are there
without the sanction of law. The legend
first appeared upon copper coin
"struck" at the Newburg IN. Y. mint
in the year 1855. The United States
was very young at that time and could
not afford the luxury Of a mint, SO q
private individual Of the name of
Brasher opened the Newburg coming es-
Enlistment with the intention of turn
ing out money of the realm for all
corners. Exactly how the words "E
Pluribus Unum" came to be used as q
motto is not known, but ono thing is
certain. the Brasher copper coin bear
ing that legend and the date Of 1856 is
the most valuable metal disk ever mint.
ed on this continent. being worth about
$4,000, or twice as much as the famous
rare dollar Of 1904.
Some time after coming his famous
copper with the odd Latin motto as
above described Brasher tried his hand
on q large sized goldpiece, producing
the coin known to the numismatists as
"Brasher's twenty" The Brashe,
"twenty" was not o $50 goldpiece,
however, for it lacked q Of weighing
enough, but Of late years it has become
very scarce and valuable because of the
fact that the legend inscribed upon il
reads "Unum E Pluribis" instead Of
'E Pluribus Unum." This coin is now
valued at 81, 5OO.-St. Louis Republic.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-02-01
Co,amandments OF Buddhs.

All acts Of living creatures become
bad by ten things, and by avoiding the
ten things they become good. There are
three sins Of the body, four sins Of the
tongue, and three sins of the mind. The
sins of the body are murder, theft and
adultery; Of the tongue, lying, Islander,
abuse and gossip; Of the mind. envy,
hatred and error. Therefore / give you
these commandments:
First.-Kiu not, but have regard for
life.
Second.-Steal not, neither do ye
rob. but help everybody to be master Of
the fruits of his labor.
Third. from inpurity and
lead life of chastity.
Fourth. not, but be truthful
Speak the truth with discretion, fear
lessly and IN q loving heart.
Fifth.-Invent not evil reports, nei-
Their do ye respect them. Carp not, but
look for good sides of your fellow be-
ings, SO that you may with sincerity de-
fend them against. their enemies.
Sixth.-Swear net, but speak decent.
ly and with dignity.
Seventh.-Waste not the time with
gossip, but speak to the purpose OF
keep silent.
Eighth. -Covet not nor envy, but re.
joice at the fortunes Of other people.
Ninth. your heart of malice
and cherish no hatred. not even against
your enemies, but embrace all living
beings with kindness.
Tenth.-Free your mind of ignorance
and be anxious to learn the truth, es.
pecially in the one thing that is needed.
lest you fall q prey either to skepticism
or to errors. Skepticism will make you
Indifferent, and errors will lead you
astray, SO that you will not find the no
BILE path that leads to life eternal
Gospel Of BuddLa.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-02-01
BLACK HAWKS WATCH TOWER.
BIT MRS. MARY Z. DCRHAM,

A time-woFn sentinel e'er stands
O'ehookipg hill and valley lands
Above Rock rivers mouth:
Beyond the isles that lie below
Rock rivers rippl.s idly go
To meet vrey Misei ,sippi's flow.
Which sweeps them swiftly south.
This bluff famed Black Hawks wat,
Is where the chief came many an hoxr
Alone TO smoke ard rest
While gazing on fhe evening sky;
Later, he came o'er foes to rpv.
And last. sad farewell to SIGH
To all he love1 the beet.
He watched the vale from tall tree
Which stood where Black Hawks Inn we see;
All else is changed today;
The Indian trail. narr " end deep,
For white man's steps too straight and steep
Now filled with leaves. is barred to keep
Ventnresome feet away.
But still. we'rs told. when day is past
Oftimes strange shades move close and fast
From the war-path of gore
Where hung the cliff; meanwhile the breeze
Bring. soft sweet music, and one sees
Ills Black Hawk come once more!
With all his band to hear again
The Freedman pay. and see him then
Dance. playing to his grave;
The lovers list, too, haplese pair!
Who. meath the elf fed in despair,
On whom it fell. and buried there
Sac maiden and Sioux brave.
We smile at legends dreamers tell,
The romance fades from hill and dell
Before the light Of dawn;
Yet midet the tn! ongs that every year
Survey the scene from far and NJ ar,
Some few are found who ably hear
Tales OF a race long gone.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-02-01

The supreme court Of Indiana in .
sweeping opinion has unanimously
decided that gerrymanders for legis-
lative purposes are unconstitutional.
The decision Il that the apportion-
ment act OF the republican legisla-
ture Of 1895 IL void because it Was
passed at . time not authorized by
the constitution, and that the act Of
1898 10 unconstitutional because IL
sought to gerrymander the state for
political advantage. The act OF 1898
was o democratic measure. In De-
cember. 1898, the court held that the
acts Of 1891 and 1879 were unconsti-
tutional. so that going back to the
hrst valid act, or the FIRST act un-
questioned. the court holds that the
election Of . legislature next No.
vember must be held under the act
OF 1885, which was q democratic en-
actment. The effect will be to mix
things up in the Hoosier state con-
siderably.