davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1896-12-19

Nowhere south of New York is there to be
found a larger stock of everything of in
terest to musical people than at the hand
some establishment of Droop & Sons. a25
the Steinway piano their leader, they have
other instruments of good grades, and they
also carry a large line of every kind of
musical instruments, both string and wind
Here also are to be found every species of
musical novelty which will please both
young and old, and of sheet music and
musical literature there is a great abund-
ance. A selection for Christmas gift can
easily be made, and their store is crowded
with eager purchasers.
Sugar and spice, and all that's nice with
the accent on the ''all," is an expression
that aptly applies to the large establish
ment of Reeves Poole and Company 1903
F street. Since its formation this firm has
been noticeably popular, especially with
the housekeeping public, because of the
fair treatment of its customers and the
substantial regard shown its many en-
rloye5. All folks going downtown" should
not fail to take peep at the array of
gilt-edge Christmas edibles smokeables and
drinkables, brought forth expressly to add
good cheer to the Yule-tide. The firm is
making a speciality of candy, all sorts and
vast quantities of toothsonle morseis being
formed on the premises by experts. OF late
a crowd has constantly blocked the side
walk in front of the store. watching a lady
In the window Transforming liquid material
into the daintiest of bonbons. The candies
are guaranteed to be as fine and as pure as
any in the city, and may be secured at
half the price charged at some other cs-
adjustments. Messrs. Reeves, Poole &
Co. state that they are prepared to supply
all Washington with Christmas sweetness
and of quality and cheapness that can
not be equaled. In addition to every known
article in the fancy grocery line, the firm is
offering the best fruit and other cakes and
the highest grade of nuts and raisins. For
the accommodation of customers the store
will be open until 10 o'clock this evening
and next week.
Solid. substantial and desirable. and at
the same, time beautiful and appropriate
Christmas remembrances may be found,
IL anywhere, at the store of the Hough-
ton Company, 1214 F street. This firm Is
moving steadily onward and upward In the
business world. ana holiday shoppers
should pause and examine the etock 1t
controls Il love to do nice work and to
please. :" says Mr.. Houghton in a tone Of
Evening star., 1896-12-19

unquestionable sincerity, and he adds that
he is I'm a most advantageous position 10
supply articles suitable for gifts. In this
line are mentioned rocking chairs, rugs.
hassocks and especially lace curtains. Be
ing the direct agent of the largest manu-
facturer in the country, the Houghton
Company claims that it shows the finest
lace curtains in Washington. Then there
should be mentioned the Stearns couch
bed, a beautiful couch by day and an ele-
CANT bed by night splendid assortment
of upholstering fabrics, iron bedsteads,
bedding and art velvets.
For uptown residents a most convenient
and attractive establishment is the luxuri
ously appointed Arlington drug store, AT
Vermont avenue and H street. All things
that could reasonably be desired In
the way of tasty gifts are here procurable,
and while reasonable In price, are the op-
posite of cheap and tawdry. Among the
articles composing the complete stock OF
the store may be mentioned silver hair
brushes and combs, mirrors. atomizers,
fancy glass ware, Tenney's and Lowney's
candies in holiday packages, cigars and
the finest soap.
One Of the features of the northwest sec
ton of the city is the popular and long
established Cottage Market, SIS 14th street.
The very word Christmas suggests some
thing TO eat, and better place to procure
everything pleasing TO the palate and salts
flying to the inner man would be hard 10
find than the Cottage Market. An espe-
eially fine line of choice fowls and meats.
and a complete assortment of prime vege
tables and all accomplishments of a model
meat and provision establishment now meet
the eyes of customers who visit this store.
Ii makes even the excessively well-fed
hungry to visit the Farragut Market, 11th
and X streets, these days. Such an array
of good things as grace fthe conlters,
shelves and hooks, to say nothing of the
floor space of this store. Is calculated 10
transform a living skeleton to condition
of obesity at a single glance. There are
turkeys and ducks. chickens and geese
beef and lamb. veal and pork, crackers and
cheese. cakes and candy, nuts and raisins
and sufficient other things, good and sub
stantial to drive Santa Claus out of the
business. 1t is by no means necessary for
uptown folks to journey down town in
order to procure their holiday supplies SO
long as the Farragut Market is open for
business.
Mr.. J. J. Decker. iii r street has one of
the most completely furnished stationery
stores In the city, II one may judge from
the throngs that crowd the establishment
from morning to night His stock of Christ
mas cards cannot. he says, be matched out
side of New York. and every article I'm the
book and stationery line may be had from
Mr.. Decker. He is making a speciality of
engraving. and states that never before has
he received SO many monogram orders.
Evening star., 1896-12-19

The furniture business at Grogan's, Sl1
lth street, has grown so greatly that that
hrm has added an annex to the south of
its main building. which it did not have
iast year Five floors are crowded with
furniture OF every variety. Just now the
public seems most in love with the dis
play OF onyx lamp stands lamps and
ladies writing desks, of which Grogan
mas an immense assortment on the first
moor OF MS store. The other floors are
crowded with every kind of household fur
niture, the parlor suites on the third floor
being greatly admired for their beauty.
Evening star., 1896-12-19

The holiday rush has come at Moore &
Leding's jewelry store, 11O9 Pennsylvania
avenue, but an extra force of clerks pre-
vent unnecessary delays. Chris tmas pres
ents within reach Of all are to be found
Here you will find an elegant assortment
of chatelaine watches. which make such
handsome gifts, while cluster and solitaire
rings are being made a specially. There
is a splendid display of useful and orna-
mental novelties in silver
Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-01-06
The American Woman.

/ The most interesting of the American
women. by far, are the married ones
from six and twenty to 40; after that
age they are apt to become suddenly
gray and taciturn. Their faces dry up,
and grow sharp and colorless; you scarce
ly ever see anyone approaching the COM
Portable, happy English matron of 40 TO
So. Perhaps they danced, f1irted, gadded
about too much when they were young
to have any fund of enjoyment left.
Whatever the reason, whether it be that
or a digestion ruined by tea, iced water
and candy, your best companions and
friends In America will always be the
young married women; so long as they
are not too much given to cocaine and
French novels of the gray paper type.
They have, as rule, Travelled more,
read more, thought more, and to far
more intelligent purpose than their Eng
lish cousins; nor do they let their chill
dren, in English fashion, come between
you and their conversation. Who has
not talked to the young English matron,
and, just as you are getting at her mind,
note the distant look in her eye, which
tells you she is wondering what the chill
dren are doing? Whether Gerald is in
bed yet, or Belle has had her milk? Now
the American matron never does that;
when she is with you, she makes :abula
rasa of children and household duties,
and gives you her undivided attention
and intelligence. Not that she cares
much about listening; as rule, she
cares only to talk of herself, her ex-
periences and thoughts; nor is she, to
my mind, the less an agreeable COM
panion for that-Temple Bar.
Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-01-06
THE COYOTES WAY.
One Hundred Sheep Crowded Oyer the
Brink of q Precipice.

One Hundred Sheep Crowded Over the
Brink of Precipice.
Recently a number of sheep were lost
by Kettle & Patterson Of Grant county,
from a flock of about 1900 In search
ing for the lost ones, Andrew Patter-
son came across the bodies of three
sheep, with their threats pierced by
coyote teeth, right on the brink of a
precipice on Iron mountain. The cliff
projected over the mountain beneath,
and, getting down on his belly and wrig-
Cling half of his body out over the cliff,
Mr.. Patterson was able to see part of a
body of she'll rock about 300 feet be-
low, and, although he saw no sheep, he
saw a coyote skulking around and de-
termined to descend and explore the spot.
He found coyote trail leading from the
top of the mountain, with dozens of fresh
tracks to and from the shell rock, and
after that he was morally certain that his
sheep were down on the bench. After
three hours hard work, during which
he nearly lost his balance on several oc-
casions, Mr.. Patterson descended to a
rocky pocket in the mountain side, about
100 yards from the top, and there found
his sheep, to the number of 10, everyone
bursted open by the frightful fall. One
or more coyotes had got in among the
band when the storm had blown them
off their bedding ground, and herded
them to the brink of the precipice, then
damned them up SO tight that ITO of
them either jumped or were crowded over
the brink.-Po Cortland Oregonian.
Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-01-06
ssSPIFF.''

The Queer Word Used by New York Shop
Girls to Describe Perquisite.
The observant shopper must have re-
marked the difference In shop girls, as
far as persistency in selling goods IS con-
cerned. The habit of forcing persons TO
buy is most noticeable in those stores
that have no regular custom trade. De-
pending as they do on transient trade,
they have no Interior motive In pleasing
their patrons, and they make I'll the
profit they possibly can out of each stray
customer.
To do this it is necessary for the en-
ployers to take their help fully into their
confidence. In such stores all the goods
shavesa, private mark which denotes the
lowest price at which they can Be sold.
In selling the goods the girls get as much
as they can for whatever they receive in
excess of the minimum price is divided
equally between themselves and the
firm.
This commission is known among the
girls as ''spiff." In these "spiff stores,
which are SO-called to distinguish them
from what are known as honest stores,
the wages paid the help are much lower,
but the places are always in great de-
mand, because good sales girl can
make nearly twice as much in commits
sions as she would be paid in a store
where there is no "spiH.
IneSe girls are among the most expert
in the trade, and in time they acquire
the greatest facility in swind1ing inno-
cent shoppers. They are good judges of
human nature, and can tell to a nicely
just how much can be squeezed out of
each customer. The silk counter is al
ways in charge of the shrewdest girl, for
only the expert can distinguish between
the different grades, and the ordinary
shopper can be charged a couple of dol
lars extra on a single sale without arOuS-
''spiff,'' however, is made from the dis
posal of dead stock.''-New York
Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-01-06

grandfathers; now you seer' with which
knowing observation Jack marched out
of the library, followed by Bertha.
But after supper something remarkable
happened; oh, something very remark
able indeed! Jack, like the manly little
fellow he was, went up to Grandpa Wy
man and said:
Grandpa, I'm very sorry, but Bertha
and I took your spectacles to play with
this afternoon, and / broke one of the
glasses out. [ think papa II have it
mended if ask him to-.
Grandpa Wyman swallowed hard, then
said. comfortingly:
Never mind, my little dear accidents
will happen. | remember doing much
the same thing once when I was a little
boy; SO no matter, grandpa doesn't care
at all.''
Jacks look of utter wonder almost
made grandpa forget himself, and ask
at, but he checked the impulse in time,
and the next moment Jacks hearty, re-
lieved: "Oh, thank you, grandpa" made
him feel very comfortable.
That night Grandpa Wyman laid
awake long time making resolves, and
there came day before the winter was
over when, on passing the nursery door,
he overheard few remarks, which made
him feel very thankful he had made the
resolves for the new year, and had kept
them, too. Jack was talking, and, just
as grandpa was opposite the door, ne
caught these words:
'sHo! I really love Grandpa Wyman
now; | hope he'll live forever! but I
didn't use to wish SO.''
Il wonder what changed him 500"
came in Bertha's voice; she seems like
a new grandpa. What nice little story
that was he told us last night about the
way they coasted when he was a boy"
Its jolly to hear bout when he was
a little boy nowadays" said Jack. Then
he repeated Bertha's remark: Il won
der what changed grandpa SOP II
think" he added, in his droll little way,
''that the old Grandpa Wyman run out
the door when the new year came i'll,
and a new Grandpa Wyman run in!'
Out in the hall the new Grandpa Wy
| man said softly to himself:
That's just about it, my own little
Jack! You and Bertha made the old
grandpa so ashamed of himself that he
did bid himself good-by as the old year
went out, and when the new year came
in / really believe new Grandpa Wy
man came with it-one who has sense
| enough to remember that when he was a
little boy he was very much the same
as little boys are nowadays"
And Grandpa Wyman deserves COM
pliment, for it is a very wise old man
who learns so well q plain, simple lesson.
Mrs Harriet A. Cheever in Christian
Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-01-06

which has the merit of being suit
ed to all seasons, must be in
Guided. During the last year or two
cycling has made many friends, and
numbers of students have recently
bought wheels. Basket ball is played in
doors and out, and 'golf-mania," as one
of our ablest sporting writer's has char
acterized it, has not left Vassar unyis-
ited
All the tennis is under the manage
ment of the Tennis club, which has a
large membership and several fine courts.
An annual championship match is played
in the early summer.
After heavy snowfall the lake is
scraped and flooded, so that, though
small, the sheet of ice is in such fine
condition as to make it very attractive.
Even at night the lake is merry. with
skaters, lighted on their. way by cheerful
bonfres built at intervals along the
shore.-Harper's Bazaar.
Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-01-06
ONE WAR AVERTED.
Daniel Webster's Diplomacy Settled the
Northern boundary Dispute.


Northern boundary Dispute.
War with Great Britain was narrowly
averted during Harrison's administra-
ton in 1841. owing to complication of
disputes, chief among which was the
question of the northeastern boundary
of the United States This dividing line
had not been accurately determined in
1888. when the treaty of peace was
signed, and ever since it had been a
source of irritation between the two ma
tions. The diplomacy of Daniel Web
Ster, then secretary of state, played an
important part in settling the dispute
amicably.
Edward Everett was then in London,
and Secretary Webster secured his ap-
pointment as minister to England. Mr..
Everett was very popular in Great Brit
ain, and in response to his appointment
and as a courteous acknowledgment of
the graceful act in accrediting a states
man to the court Of st. James who was
SO well liked by the British, Lord Ash
burton, whose friendly feeling toward
the United States was known to every
one, was sent over on a special mission
to confer with Secretary Webster. The
result was the Ashburton treaty of 1872
by which an arbitrary and conventional
line was adopted for the northeasterly
boundary, while the loss thereby suf-
fered by the state of Maine was indem-
nified by the United States government
1t was also agreed that Great Britain
and the United States should each keep
its own squadron to watch the coast Of
Africa for the suppression Of the slave
trade.
This clause of what became known as
the Ashburton treaty was known as the
cruising convention" The old griev-
ance of the impressment of seamen,
which had been practically abolished by
the glorious victories of American frig-
ates in the war of 1872. wasN formally
ended by Mr.. Webster's declaration to
Lord Ashburton that henceforth Amer
lean vessels would not submit them
selves to be searched. Henceforth the
enforcement Of the so-called fright of
search" by British ship would be re-
garded by the United States as a casus
beM.
1t was only the mastery handling Of
the situation by Secretary Webster that
avoided the precipitation of third great
war with England; and as it was, hos
tilities were avoided by the smallest
margin. The peoples of both countries
were wrought to the highest pitch of ex-
element, and it was several months be-
fore the warlike spirit that had been
aroused in the United States was
Quoted Undoubtedly, however, war
would have been decided but for a
timely change of ministry that took
place in England. This transferred the
management of foreign affairs from the
hands of Lord Palmerston to Lord Aber-
deem, who showed a much more concilia-
tory spirit.
Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-01-06
Selfish Bobby.

The other evening Frances, her night
~ snow l lay me" properly said, was
already tucked up iii her little brass
bed, when Bobby, still kneeling by his
own couch, deemed it wise, in view of
the approach of Christmas, to supple
ment the regular prayer of the petition
for a few items which he considers the
necessaries of life, so he began afresh:
"And oh, bod. fink it's doin' to be told,
send me a sled, please-and 'spress
tart-and, and wockin horse" land
then as his views on the transportation
subject grew and enlarged" and a
bicittle-and-" At this point Frances
became interested and put in: ''Pray
for me, too. Pray for me; | need a
lot Of things ''And pony continued
Bobby, still petitioning in his own be-
half pray for me! Pray for me, =
Frances piped in accompaniment. ''Wif
ha'ness and waddon," quoth the small
suppliant. pray for me! Pray for
me- still chorused Frances. "And, oh,
Dod,' concluded Bobby, after pause,
in which he evidently entertained for a
moment, but finally dismissed as unwor-
thy the consideration of man, the idea
Of praying for dolls and such foolish
feminine fancies, land. oh, bod, fordive
Fwances' sins. Amen. Washington
N%
Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-01-06
Joke ON Won Bulow.

Another anecdote of the much-para-
graphed Won Bulow is going the rounds.
He was fond of joke on his friends,
but this time it was on himself, as often
happens in real life. He had just fin
ished choice Interpretation for the
Duke of Edinburgh, accompanied by
such violent gesticulations that the
prince was greatly amused thereat, and
expressed his admiration in the following
terms: II have heard Thalberg"-Bu
low bowed profoundly-"I have heard
Rubinstein''- rubbed his hands
with satisfaction-"I have heard List
the master exulted-"but none of these,
/ assure you, have perspired as much as
YOURSELF
Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-01-06
Was usefl to Ir.

When the Princess Clotilde. the daugh-
ter Of Victor Emmanuel, came to Paris
as the bride of Prince Napoleon, Eugene,
herself parvenu, felt some constraint
in her dealings with the daughter of a
race of kings. but did all that she could
to conceal her feelings. Clotilde was
very good. very pious, very quiet, but as
proud as Lucifer. At one of the splendid
her arrival in Paris, the empress re-
marked to her. with an air of one who
has been accustomed to that sort of
thing always: II am awfully bored,
aren't you?' Eyes, answered Clotilde,
quietly; 'but I am used to it, Eugene
never forgaye her for this remark.
Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-01-06
The Girl who is EMPLOYED.

What care do you take? 1t ought to
be good if you wish to be honest. You
owe it to you employer that, as far as
possible, you should be in condition to
work when you are at the Office. Now, if
you danced in an overheated room until
4 o'clock in the morning do you think you
will be able to work with clear head
at 8? The figures will be dancing be-
fore you, your head will be aching until
you feel as if it would split. and in your
heart you will be envying every girl who
does not have to work as you do, and
never once will you dream of confessing
that you took your pleasure improperly.
My dear girl, to do your work honestly
you must arrange your pleasures so that
they will at leas. end before II o'clock.
You tell one Of the other clerks very
confdentially that your nerves are all
broken to pieces, and you start with
fright if anybody speaks to you sudden
ly. And the cause? Well, it is not often
overwork.
Sometimes it is an improper way Of
living. Sometimes it is an improper way
of dressing. Sometimes an improper way
of eating, and very often it is combina-
ton of all three. The young man who
sat opposite you at the breakfast table
ate some sort of grain, a chop. an egg,
some potatoes and a cup of coffee, while
you played with a piece of toast and
grumbled because the tea wasn't strong
er. Physically, you have commenced
your day wrong. The brain and the
stomach work in harmony and one rebels
when the other isn't properly cared for.
At noon you have an hour. You rush
out, eat a luncheon composed mainly
of sweet things and go back to the Of
fee and spend the rest of. your hour
either in reading or fancy work. Now.
even if you can't have more than piece
of bread and butter and a glass of milk,
the food should be nourishing, and you
ought to stay out in the fresh air for
the remainder of your time, even if you
only amuse yourself by looking in the
shop windows. For that time should be
a rest to you and a change, consequently
you should be where the air is different
and where your eyes will look upon diff
ferent sights than those before you in
the Office. About your clothes. A silk
gown is very charming 1t is feminine
it is becoming and every woman likes to
have one, but after the silk gown is got
ten and the dressmaker's bill is paid,
how about your flannel underwear?
Would the rheumatism be quite as bad
or would that pain i'll your shoulder
come quite so often if you were properly
dressed? And wouldn't the wool gown
be just as becoming, and wouldn't you
be q great deal more comfortable if you
wore it and the proper underwear in
stead of the silk frock and poor, thin
and miserable undergarments? / SYM
pathize with you in your desire to look
pretty, but you can look quite as pretty
and be great deal more comfortable in
q less expensive gown.-Ruth Ashmore
in Ladies' Home Journal.