davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-01-23

Miss French Octave ThaneD thus ex,
plains how she got her nom de plume'
Octave was the name of school friend.
It is both French and Scotch. l thought
II could find another name to go with
1t that was both French and Scotch l
would adopt that. / was riding on q
train one time when we stopped at q
way station, and on the siding near
where l sat was a freight car painted
red. On the side was ehalked the word
'Thanet.' What 1t meant or how 1t got
there l have not the slightest idea, but
I decided then and there to adopt 1t.
Lots Of people still think that Octave
Thanet is a man."
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-01-23
WILLIAM COWLEY.
/T.Aa - ~. No.

compelled to flee the town. These are
but few Of the incidents that have
occurred to break the monotony Of
things in Eddyville. If Rev. Mr.. Tai
mage were to preach in Eddyvllle Els
auditors would be women; II Robert
Ingersoll, then the men would turn out
en- masse, but on no other occasion
could they be induced to leave their
favOrite haunts.
Political lines are also drawn tighter
in Eddyville than at any other place on
earth. A minister who had preached
salvation for six years at 5000 per year
was asked to resign because he ex-
pressed desire to vote for candidates
or both tickets. 1t has been said that
there are but two exciting days during
the year at Eddyville, and that they are
election day and when the ice goes out
There are gambling dens In the town
in various places, where the youth Of
tender age can play his pennies, as we'll
as the gray beard his dollars. Vice has
an almost uninterrupted reign.
But change is coming over the town
and new blood is taking the place Of
old; a spirit of enterprise is noticeable
or every hand. Old fogyism is being
replaced by young American enterprise,
and a remarkable change has been the
result More improvement has been
made within the past two years than
there was in thirty years prior to that
time. In the hands Of young men with
modern ideas EddyVille can become one
of the most fourishing inland towns Of
Iowa, but 1t will always occupy prom
inent place in history on account of the
past.
Mayor Broderick is foreman Of the
Wapello county grand jury, and last
week when Colonel Robert G. Ingersoll
lectured here on "The Foundation Of
Faith" Mr.. Broderick adjourned tho
body in order that he might hear the
lecture. He is a pronounced believer in
Ingersollism and carries the teachings
into his everyday life.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-01-23
shinglod. Houses BY the score actuaIIy

PNCA&
rotted down and many families moved
out of their dwellings and left them to
tho mercy OF the devouring elements.
Eddyville is nestled beneath a huge
sand hill which towers heavenward on
the east, and which bafIled "old Sol" In
his attempts to arouse the citizens at o
reasonably early hour in the morning.
Along the western edge OF the town
flows the Des Moines river, the waters
Of which stole gently by, seeming to
understand that 1t WINS part Of their
mission to get beyond the limits of the
town without disturbing the population.
1t was during this state Of lethargy into
which the people had fallen that there
appeared upon the scene tempter and
an incident similar to that in the
garden Of Eden occurred.
While the people we're thus Willing
away their time there sprung up In
their midst few followers Of the myth
ical gods, calling themselves free
thinkers, These missionaries spread
their gospel in every conceivable way
and their efforts to obtain converts
were literally rewarded. AS time wore
on their numbers increased and they
formed themselves into an association
and held meetings at the houses OF
those who were in the faith, and many
were the tales Of weird scenes Of those
who formed the mysterious midnight
gatherings.
They were known as free thinkers,
Spirltualists, atheists and followers Of
their ideal gods, Paine and Ingersoll.
1t mattered but little to these people
what the other fellow said, they went
right along with their work, spreading
their gospel and holding their myster-
ious meetings These men as rule
managed to get at the head Of affairs
and city offlcers-elect have been known
to refuse to take the ordinary oath OF
office because 1t contained the sentance
80 help me God"
At the present time fully two-thlrds
OF the business men of the town are UNI
believers in anything regarding heaven,
hell or the Bible. Eddyville has popu-
lation of 1900; there are seven church
buildings in the town and they are kept
up by the women, who make up the
major part Of the various Congregations
1t is rare thing to see business man
at church, with the exception Of a very
few, who are regular attendants.
No longer ago than the last summer
Billy Sunday, the noted evangelist, held
a series Of meetings there, lasting an
entire week, and he failed to get a
single convert. Sunday remarked that
no had never before in all his career as
an evangelist preached in town with
as little success.
At another time an evangelist who
has since become somewhat noted
dropped into town, and after failing to
make an impression on the people in q
religious way, he organized young
ladies' athletic club, he taking the part
Of instructor
This, however, was not success, as
his meetings were disturbed nightly,
and finally broken up by crowd Of
men and boys, each of whom carried a
drum or tin pan, and the gymnast was
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-01-23
No Flies ON John.

Yet another point has been made by
the heather Chinee against his eau
casian antagonist. The law ordering
the Chinese to register, on penalty of
deportation, is used by some Of them
to secure for themselves free passage
home. A Chinaman who has been in
America thirty years was arraigned in
Seattle a few days ago for being lille
gally in the country, not possessing a
registration certificate. He spoke Eng
fish we'll and seemed well-to-do. The
court ordered that he be depOrted to
China. The marshal pondered over the
odd circumstance and came to the
conclusion that the Chinaman, desir-
ing to return to his native land to live
on his fortune acquired here, had neg
lected deliberately to register in order
to secure free transportation home.
The Chinaman remarked, when told
of his fate: Heap like go, you bet"
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-01-23
Blsmarck,s statue.

Bismarck's statue for the Rudelsberg,
representing him in student costume, is
now ready. While the sculptor was
modelling the figure recently the iron
chancellor said to him: "All artists
have painted my portrait without the
lower lip; that is wrong. My lower
lip is very pronounced; not too much,
for that would indicate obstinacy, and
L was never obstinate when / found
views that were better than my own.
But well-developed lower lip signifies
constancy." When the model was fin
ished he marked the letters v. B. on the
clay himself.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-01-23

leaving the inhabitants with nothing
but their empty stores and weedin-
tested streets.
The town derived its name from its
founder, William Eddy. who, in an early
day, long before the time when the
white man intruded upon the broad do
main Of the American Indian, con-
Quoted an Indian agency at that point,
and by "strict economy and close at
tention to business" managed to save
from the profits on the sale Of fire
water" and red flannel enough to live
on in retirement during the remainder
of his life.
Mr.. Eddy, although an Indian trader
whose life had been spent on the from
tier, was none the less shrewd bust
ness man, and when the intruders from
east Of the father Of waters made their
first appearance on Iowa soil, and as
soon as the treaty with the Indians was
completed, he entered an eighty acre
tract Of land, laid IL out in town lots
and immortalized himself by naming
the prospective town Eddyville. A
town at once sprung up-mushroom-
like-and as the question Of transpor.
tation became one Of vast Importance
necessity solved the problem and
steamboats, of small dimensions were
constructed and launched, and about
half the year, when the water was high
enough to float them, piled between
Keokuk and Eddyville.
1t was during this period in the his
tory of Eddyville that few of the sur
vivors, although old in years and ex-
ceedingly musty in enterprise, love to
tell of, as they occupy their favorite
position, behind the stove in grocery
store, or, If the weather be fine,
mounted astride dry goods box, with
big jack knife in hand, whiting as
they manipulate good sized wad Of
"long green" tobacco. These pioneers
never tire Of telling of the good old
days when the Maria" or the "River
Queen" made their trips to Eddyville
in the ante-bellum days.
Another great incident in the history
OF the town was the high water of 1851.
No two Of the persons now living can
agree as to just how high it was, but
they all agree that the Des Molnes river
at that time was higher than 1t ever has
been since, or ever will be.
The year 1851 marked another impor-
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-01-23
naar Are Fnnliah.

Three deer jumped on the railway
track few hundred yards or so ahead
of a locomotive near Trout Lake, Mich,
"a few days ago and remained staring in
surprise at the headlight until they
were struck by the pilot and tossed from
the track. Instances Of single deer
being thus attracted by locomotive
headlight and falling victim to its
curiosity are not uncommon in Michi-
gan, Maine and other regions where
deer abound, but for a trio Of the ami
mails to be hypnotized In this way at
one time is a novelty.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-01-23
The RIhIa Wnn.

The credit of actually winning an
election is claimed for party emblem
in the little town Of Benton, KY, where
local option election was held a few
days ago. The campaigners for license
adopted jug as their emblem. The
prohibitionists later adopted a picture
of an open Bible, with the words "Holy
Bible" in big letters across the top
Of the open page as the emblem of the
anti-liCense forces. The people of Ben
ton may be thirsty, but they are pious,
and 1t is related that when the open
Bible and the jug Of whisky were pic
torially placed before them, they
couldn't vote against the Bible, even
though they favored license The
choice between the two touched them
in vulnerable spot, and the election
went very dry.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-01-23
Making PerFumea.

In the collecting of perfumes two pro.
cesses are employed. In one the grease
process, boxes with glass bottoms are
prepared. the bottom being covered
with purse grease, or suet, and the
flowers, gathered fresh every day dur
ing the season, are laid on trays in the
box, the grease being laid to absorb
their fragrance.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-01-23
Dumas Favored Woman's Rights.

Alexandra Dumas was a strong cham,
pion of equal rights for women. us
it not absurd" he said, that Joan OF
Arc, If now among us, could not serve
as witness Of the birth of neigh.
boris child or vote for town councillor
in any part Of the fair France she
saved? France was proud of De Sew
igne, DeStael and George Sand, but re-
fused them the civil and political rights
exercised by their coachmen." His pet
argument was that as woman is mans
equal in most things and his superior
in others, with equal responsibilities,
she should be declared his equal polit-
ically.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-01-23
rHINos FOUND IN AMeER.
How Nature Has Embalmed some Rare
Plants and Animals.

Plants and Animals.
In many museums may be seen In the
most perfect state Of preservation in
amber fossiIized remains of. plants and
animals. The science of Egypt in its
highest development did not succeed in
discovering a method of embalming so
perfect as the simple process taking
place in nature. A tree exudes q
gummy, resinous matter in liquid
state. An insect accidentally lights in
1t and is caught, The emulation con-
tinues and envelops 1t completely, pre-
serving the most minute details Of It's
structure. In the course Of time the
resin becomes fossil and is known as
amber. The history of fossil insects is
largely indebted to the fly in amber.
And to the preserving properties Of am
Der we owe, likewise, our knowledge
OF some Of the more minute details Of
ancient plant structure. The coasts OF
the Baltic are, and have been from the
days Of the Phoenician traders, the
great source Of the amber Of commerce
1t occurs in rolled fragments, in strata
known to biologists as oligocene. These
are tertiary rocks Of date little more
recent than those Of the London basin,
and equivalent to the younger tertiary
series of the Isle of Wight, The frag-
ments of fossil resin were washed down
by the rivers from the pine forests OF
the district along with sediments and
vegetable debris. In them are found
most perfectly preserved remains Of the
period, as well as of insect life. Frag-
ments of twigs, leaves, buds and flowers,
with sepals, petals, stamens and pistils
still in place, occur. Pollen grains have
likewise been found. A recent genus,
deutzia, has been recognized by its
characteristic stamens; the valves Of
the anthers Of cinnamomum are seen
In others, In one specimen the pendent
catkin Of species Of oak is seen as dis
tinctly through the clear amber as II
it were fresh flower. And beside the
insect and plant remains thus sealed up
in amber stray relics Of the higher fau-
ma of the forest have also been met
with Fragments of hair and feathers
have been caught in the sticky resin
and preserved. Among others wood
pecker and squirrel have been recog
nized in the Baltic amber.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-01-23

A. D. Penfold, general auditor Of the
Merchants Dispatch company, New
York, said recently in an address be-
fore the Y. NJ. c. A. of Troy: IF the
devil ever constructed vehicle to carry
his victims to hell it is the bicycle. In
New York l see so many on Sunday who
would go to church If they remained
in the city riding into the country on
bicycles. They are no better than
heathens."
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-01-23

A steam yacht was once constructed
with propellers on the principal of the
swan foot. The progress Of the boat
was quite satisfactory, and the pro-
pellers would have been success were
1t not for the fact that the experiment
being made in the Thames, they were
continually lnterfered with by the roots
and floating wood.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-01-23
Contempt for Trade.

The Prince of Wales has not that con-
tempt for trade that many lesser So
oial parsonage possesses. At the Marl-
borough club one evening an intimate
Of the prince asked him how he liked
the idea Of having relatives in business
an allusion to the two brothers of the
Marquis Of Lorne,one of whom Is a stock
broker, while the other is in the tea
trade. IF would have me-" an
swered H. R. H, mentioning shop
keeper on a huge scale, Il would go
into partnership with him myself to-
morrow"
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-01-23
Duplicate wedding Presents.

"Do you know that Snigley Is the
father Of twins?" Eyes, l heard 1t Last
night at the club. Did you hear what
he said about it," mo. What?" HE
said that they were the first duplicate
wedding presents that Mrs. Snigley and
he had received"
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-01-23

tant epoch in the towns history. At
that time the Des Moines Valley rail-
way was completed to that point and
Eddyville remained the terminus for
three years, during which time the
town enjoyed genuine boom. In 1854
the road was pushed on further west
and this was the beginning Of the end
OF goou times for the town. From that
time the town went backward and there
was period Of twenty years that there
was not a house built or even re-
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-01-23

Mini Novgorod's exhibition next
year is to be national one of Russian
products alone. 1t will be opened soon
after the czo-'s coronation at Moscow.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-01-23
rhn Now scotland Wand.

The largest police station in the world
is the new Scotland yard, London, in
which 8 900 officers can be accommo-
dated.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-01-23

live in a climate which makes idleness
a pleasure. They do not worry about
the morrow, which may develop slave
raiders, European explorers, or some
eccentricity on the part Of their rulers.
II there were one thing lacking to
their happiness, a civilized observer
would possibly have said soap. This,
doubtless, is not the native view. There
is no saying, however, that they might
mot like 1t, IL they could get 1t without
expense or trouble.
1t Is now announced that large num-
Der Of the inhabitants Of Northern AZ
rica are in this fortunate position with
out knowing 1t. They have soap grow
ing all around, waiting to be plucked.
When Bishop Heber sang Of the lands
where every prospect pleases and only
man is vile" he had in mind, no doubt,
ito some extent, the personal habits Of
the inhabitants. In future this verse
may be added to his grand hymn:
Watt, watt, ye winds, the story
That tells the heather wight,
How, without cost or worry,
He may be clean and bright;
o bear across the briny
This news unto that zone,
Till Afric mugs are shiny
With soap Of natures own.
This great discovery Of natural soap
has been made by learned professor.
He sends from Algiers report con-
corning very large growth Of trees Of
the sapindus or soap-bearing order.
They are amazingly prolific and their
fruit contains about 3S per cent Of
saponin. A full-grown tree yields from
100 to 200 pounds of berries, capable OF
producing soapsuds by the gallon.
If native of the region wants to
wash or shave himself he merely has
to send his wife out into the woods to
pick few berries and then proceed to
Improve his appearance. Unfortunately
he never wants to do any Of these
things. For grease, paint and jewelry
he has ardent desires, but not for soap.
The berries now go to waste, but 1t is
believed that in the near future they
will be made use Of.
The soap-berry tree is not new to
science, but, so far as is known, no one
has ever made use Of its soap bearing
capabilities. The center Of each berry,
or fruit, contains q hard, black nut.
These nuts, mounted in silver, were
many years ago used in Europe for
waistcoat buttons. They were valued
for this purpose on account Of their dur
ability and beauty, and were at one
time very popular. 1t is sad to reflect
that to the minds of our ancestors
waistcoat buttons were more manifest
need than soap. Thep have left it for
the energy of to-day to utilize the fruit
rather than the nut--to make soap in
place of waistcoat buttons from the ber-
.ries Of the soap-berry tree.
The professor speaks Of the wild, I'M
tanned growth of the Sapindus sapon-
aria. This is certainly on account Of
its neglect by the natives, who are ig-
norant of its real value. Unfortunately,
1T is more than doubtful If the native
African can ever be educated up to the
immense advantages Of plucking his
soap along the highway, as the free gift
of Heaven.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-01-23

Among other characteristics they re-
fuse to believe in the existence OF God
or hell, decline to take an oath or at
tend a church service. Evangelists have
invaded the town and labored for weeks
without gaining single convert, but
when Robert G. Ingersoll is announced
to lecture the entire male population
turns out, laying aside every other duty.
Years ago the place was thriving VIII
lage, but the tide Of fortune turned,
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-01-23
A QUEER IOWA TOWN.
a VILLAGE WHERE CHURCH-Go-
mo is UNKNOWN.
Free Thinking Inhabitants Are Great
Lovers of ngorsoll-HIIstory OF tho
Strange Community and Its Members
Not Much Progress.
ottumwa Qa.) Letter.

HERE Is a small
town situated in
Wapello co unity,
this state, called
Eddyville, and Its
inhabitants are
probably more con-
spicuous in their
peculiar m a n n o r
than those Of any
other town on the
face Of the globe.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-01-23
AFRICAN SOAP TREES.
THEIR BERRIES YIELD 80 PER
CENT OF ESSENCE.
Bue They Go to wAStO-The Africans
Might Have Soap without Cost or
Trouble, but They Have No Liking for
IL.

oCIAL PHILoS0-
piers have con-
tended that savages
dwelling in the
luxuriance of the
tropics are the most
fortunately sltuat-
ed of mortals. The
Africans are no ex-
ception to this rule,
the slave trade not
Withstanding,
The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-08-05
Caring For Infants Eyes.

Secretary of State Tompkins has had
the act of the Legislature relating to
the care of infants with diseases OF
the eye printed in pamphlet form and
has sent several copies to each of the
boards of health in the State. The act
is as follows:
Section /. Be itenacted by the Gen
eral Assembly Of the State of South
Carolina, That should one or both
eyes of an infant become reddened or
inAamed at any time after birth, it
shall be the duty of the midwife or
nurse or person having charge of said
infant to report the condition of the
eyes at once to the local board OF
health of the city or town in which
the parents of the infant reside.
Sec. 2. That the Secretary of State
shall cause a sufficient number of
copies of this Act to be printed, and
supply the same to health officers and
health committees, whose duty it
shall be to furnish copy to each per
son who is known to act as midwife or
nurse in the cities and towns for
which they have been appointed.
Sec. 3. Any failure to comply with
the provisions of this Act shall be
punishable by a fine not to exceed $50
or Imprisonment not to exceed one
month, or both.
Sec. 4. This act shall not apply to
town or cities of less than 1000 in
habitants.
The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-08-05
Escaped o Terrible Fate.

ST. ANDREW S BAY, FLA, July 16.
After almost incredible suffering
Albert Jackson was rescued to-day
from the schooner Jessie P, which
was wrecked by the great storm that
swept over the gulf ten days ago.
When the Jessie p. left here for
Pensacola on July 8 there we're sew
eral passengers on board, one of whom
was Jackson. At night the vessel
was caught in the storm, and was de-
serted by the crew, who took with
them in the boats all the passengers
save Jackson who was asleep
in the cabin at the time, and
was forgotten. Those who escaped
soon missed him, but the storm was
too fierce to put back, and he was sup
posed to have gone down with the ves-
sci.
The Jessie P. did not 60 down,
however, and to-day her water-logged
bulk was sighted and boarded by fish
ermen from smack. AS the fisher
men were walking about the deck they
heard faint rapping in the cabin.
The matches had been battened down,
but the fishermen broke them open
and entered the cabin. AS they en-
tered they saw Jackson lying on the
floor, and number of large rats gnaw-
ing at his legs, while Jackson: though
apparently unconscious, would strike
his feet against the floor, and it was
this that caused the rapping heard.
The rats very very fierce and left their
prey reluctantly as the fishermen ap-
preached.
Jackson was taken on deck, and af-
ter several hours revived sufficiently
to tell of his frightful experiences. He
said that when he awoke on the night
of the storm and found his compan-
ions gone and the matches fastened
down, his reason almost tottered. He
made desperate but futile attempts to
burst open the matches. There were a
few biscuits and little water in the
cabin, but they soon went, and then
the rats attacked him. He fought
them off till his strength failed, and
he became unconscious. He had been
unconscious two days when rescued.
Jackson's legs were horribly gnawed
by the rats, and he is weak from hun
ger and thirst, but will recover
Philadelphia Times.