davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-26
LORD rA1RFAx,s STRONG box.
Tho story OF an 1nterestinE Relic OF the Early
DAYS or virginia.


FROM the Washington Erenino Star.
In one of the apartments Of tho Hotel Raj.
oigh, now occupied bv Mr.. Philip w. Avirott,
is n remarkable relic, which has a history Of
great interest. II is nothing moro or less than
tho iron strong box Of Thomas, Lord Fairfax,
first lord proprietary Of Virginia. The box or
chest is mado Of heavy wrought iron, into
which have been welded iron straps crossing
each other at right angles. The slight ornamen.
tation on the front Of tho box shows II to be of
italian workmanship. The box is In q state Of
remarkable preservation. The kcyhole is in
tho centre Of the massive lid, and n large. heavy
key. black with age. turns easily in II. A won.
derful thing about the lock is that the key in
turning sends sliding bolts out from all sides of
the lid to cling beneath heavy extensions OF
the four sides of the box itself, upon precisely
tho same principle as that upon which the
modern bank vault lock in universal use to-day
is managed. -. Z
The history of the relic is romantic. The
VA, where he did; Ths reason that Fairfax
collected by him in the shape Of revenues for
the Crown, but he died before he had an OPP
The, only person sn s%ae who II X knew sSp a SbaSSy the Inc i bsrisi 81
the box was DIR. Thomas Woodcock OF Winches-
1 Wood AftSr d the death ab .1 Of Lord F al pSY, D5.
phia. where he gave It to tho agents Of the Bank
OF England. who sent 1t to England. still filled
with money and muniments of title. When
the contents had been removed the box was
given to the Fairfax heirs in England.
Tho Fairfax. heirs sent 1t hack to DR.. Wood
cock filled with silver plate. and the strong box
eventually passed from DR.. Woodcock to Mrs.
Hannah Dunbar of Winchester. AT Mrs. Dun
bars death she willed the box to her daughter,
Mrs: Philip Williams OF Virginia, during her
lifetime, and provided that 1t should then do.
scend to Mrs. Williams's heirs, among whom was
Mrs. Avirett, wife of the Rev. James B.. Avirett,
formerly OF Silver Springs and now of North
Carolina.
During the late war the chest was again
buried by those who had 1t in possession at
Winchester. and a large quantity of valuable
it from possible seizure by the soldiers. Sew
whereabouts having been discovered through
information received from a former slave named
GIanderson, who had helped to bury 1t,
but who preserved the secret Of its location
until he found death was near, when he divulged
II, TO the proper party. The heirs of Mrs.
Philip Williams gave the strong box to Mr..
Philip Williams Avlrett, who now has II in
his possession.
Among the treasures which were contained
in the strong box at the time it was buried dur
ing the late war was n miniature portrait Of the
late Philip Williams. painted on Ivory by Rem
brandt Pealc.- The miniature Is incased in n
quaint oval silver locket, and is also in tho pos.
session of Mr.. Avirett. Authorities on such
matters have expressed the opinion that the
miniature Is as fine n specimen of Poale's mar
yelious art in miniature portrait painting as
there Is eNtant.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-26
LEFT ON TRAINS.
All Sorts OF Articles Arc forgotten by Absent.
Minded PnhseuGrrn. d
From thec Chicago Daily Tribune.

From the Chicago Daily Tribune.
Recently a Chicago railroad displayed in its
unclaimed parcel room flvo barrels of rubber
overshoes and n box full of false teeth. All
this property and more during a period of six
months had been left on the suburban and
through trains by abs ,nt-minded passengers.
The general baggage agent, upon being asked
what was the oldest occurrence of this kind.
said that n woman once left on a train q six
months-old baby, and she did not miss 1t until a
trainman overlook her with the little bundle
of humanity before she got outside of the train
shed. 1t was not a case OF abandonment. She
had forgotten to take up her own offspring.
Only ,%one.half Of the articles left on trains are
claimed and returned to owners. At all the
railroad offices in Chicago there are to be- found
motley collections of about all the articles
which man or woman ever owned. 1t would
be impossible to list them in a whole page OF q
The article which figures most extensively
among the lost and found of the big railroads
is the umbrella. An official of the Illinois Cen
trail says he received in the baggage department
loo umbrellas a year; General Agent Sadd
500 n year, and the other lines report large col.
~lcctions Of this serviceable article, which is
cent fine, sunshiny day the Burlington Railroad
showed on its record a whole page of abandoned
umbrellas.
found. singly and in pairs, and oftentimcs odd
in size and kind. At all the offices they. are &C.
1t is a common occurrence to find upper. lower.
and partial sets OF false teeth. Some give evil
dence of long service. others have been too new,
and have been, laid out to. give relief. But
they come in all shapes and sizes.
Wearing apparel in large quantities is to be
found in the lost parcel rooms. The clerks in
the Atoms quarters at the Union station fitted
out a dummy figure with every single article
that a man is likely to wear from head to foot.
trains and gathered up by the employees until
the figure was logged out In newest fashion.
The. young woman stcnographer in Baggage
Agent Sadd's office has a pet kitten which was
found in an envelope box on a train, and there
being no claimant, young tom" Is being
gage room.
C,ripples frequently leave their crutches on
trains. There Is a collection of them at all the
offices. Hanging up in the parcel room OF the
Illinois Central Is a big anchor made Of moss
gathered from trees in the far South. The
maker had taken care of 1t until Chicago was
reached, only to abandon 1t to the care OF the
parcel man.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-26
CHRISTINA TREE STANDS.
Made In various styles and Sizes Including
Some Tint Arc Patented-Many sold.

There are sold in New York about 200, 600
Christmas trees. or these probably 100. 900 arc
held up ny some simple means devised in the
homes in which they are used. The other lOO..
600 nre supported by Christmas tree stands.
Most Of these stands are produced In tits city.
There are made in a variety OF styles and sizes.
A familiar kind is n rallied stand. This has n
square base, with posts at the four corners. and
rails between them. The base OF this stand Is
almost always painted green and the rails red.
The butt OF the Christmas. tree is stepped in u
socket in the centre of the base. There Is an
other Christmas tree stand Of the same gencr-
nj description as the rail stand, and which is
ma te in the same sizes. which has pickets
around the base. This is called a picket stand.
1t costs n little more than the rail stand.
III Christmas tree stand OF which tho great
est number are sold Is the common cross, which
Is composed OF pieces OF wood crossed the
centre. Sometimes when a tree is sold across of
one end at The outer extremities of tho cross. the
other end on the tree.
There are Mt least two kinds OF patent Christ
mas tree btanos. One of these is OF wood, hav-
ing The BOTTOM support a cross, from whose
ENDS run arms that can be fastened to the tree.
serving as braces 10 hold IL securely. This
stand Is collapsiblc. md folds into small compass.
Another c0llapsible Christmas tree stand Is
made entirely OF wire. 1t Is sold in a paper box.
Character made Of iron. having legs join d at
the top like a tripod, supporting an adjustable
ring, That, holds the tree. This is the most
costly OF the stands, the largest size selling at
20 cents. The cheapest Of the stands sell at
10 cents.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-26

dered along for half a mile through the cactus,
Watching FOR ella monsters, rnttlesnakcs, and
upon 10 my sorrow. I at last came upon what
appeared to DO the end o. 1.-THE, grade. The track
SlsSPPcorod at The BE- edge &c Of soS e hi cha ssn s,a hill; cyl Snr
which the deserts arc noted. Why. ! do not
know; but curiosity prompted mo 70 climb this
height and covering an acre or more. When
once on top, fter a hard climb; was rewarded
broken save BY sage brush ciumps and other
sand hills like the ono upon which I stood.
Seeing nothing Of interest, and anxious to
the eve Of returning whom from behind a little
snnd knoll n quarter. of a mile awayI saw. n curl
ger In this haven for outlaws and renegade In.
dians, ] struck out to SEQ who could DO fool
snS u h 70 IL lG SisSt q sh tSs Gre a an aiff e %S .s Tcle
ished gaze what should I sec, in what had form.
erly beon the old quartz quarry. but n dilnpi.
nearly half q dozen unprecedented Pluto Indian
children and a full assortment OF native dogs
% ,SaiSS h the %,s SSN bold az 70 i Tsntnso S Sp. an an e oIS
squaw was bnsily engaged tanning some kind
Of hide while en old buck lay stretched
Hides. Unable to go Converse in their language. I
confined myself to q survey OF tho premises,
car were buried in driitcd sand, Tho south side
Mississippi Central !, No g :; IL, the lettering and d
time being unobtninnblo from the savages. I
left the scene. being carefully surveyed by tho
squaw and little redskins and receiving q
vociferous chorus OF dog barks as o parting
salute. Carefully retracinR my steps as well rs
! could in the shifting sand / was on hand at the
SPOT where the train stopped when tagged and
was In course Of time Mt. a telegraph office at
Yuma, whence I wircd headquarters the par
ticulars as to whore ! had found the car and the
impossibility OF ever getting 1t back.
Orders came at onco.t to burn 1t, and IL posi-.
BILE carry away the trucks and iron. With not q
team within forty miles tho latter was out OF
the question. and I wired hnck to that effect.
Nettlod by this reply the officials sent orders to
burn II anyhow. This I proceeded to do. aided
by six stalwart sectionmen. Ono of them being
able to talk broken Pluto he told the savage
family our mission. It was only by our show of
superior force and our action In helping to re-
move the little effects OF the family that we sue
Gee led in avoiding a fight. as Scariaced John.
the buck. was ready to defend his home.
=" Investigation and surmises together solved
tho problem as to how the car got there. It is
likely that after The car was sidctracked some
one rel ased the brake and It ran down grade.
which was sufficiently steep to carry i near to.
II not into. the quarry where found. Then tho
ever shifting sands soon covered up tho track,
as the quarry was abandoned and no one kept
open or cared for the spur. The whole country
being abandoned to the few roaming FLUTES.
sage hens. and the eyer.dreaded CHA monsters,
the whereabouts and future ms we'll as the past
OF the mine. sidetraok, and car alike were for
gotten until by chance discovered It and solved
mystery 2.172, the lost cars number"
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-26
HORSE RAILROAD AND MINTJuLEPs
a Combination which Made . Missouri Town
Famous In Longer on the MOD.

ENuAoue III DAWN LouHe on the MOD
KANSAS CITY. Mo-. Dec. 23.-One of the towns
dropped from the map is Wayne City, Mo-. It
was a river town. II was the landing place for
steamboats, with freight for Independence. then
as now. tho county scat of jackson. There was
one bit OF enterprise on the part of Independence
which made it talked about all over tho State.
1t was the first town In the West. IL not in tho
United states. to have n street railroad. 1t was
n sinRle-track affair, and there was but one car.
The line extended from the Court House square
to Wayne City. the steamboat landing, about
four miles. Few people living remember the
enterprise. 1t was of short duration.
Tho rails were OF wood and spiked TO heavy tim.
beers laid upon tho ground. The rails held the
timbers In place. The car had seats on the sides,
and was entered from the rear. The conductor
was the driver. The power was "a mule team.
Independence and Wayne City gave evidence OF
The road was tho same. It was never egr sru Gherlo %tt
any point; As it was crowded with freight
teams during the season OF navigation, it fol.
lows that ~ was cut up in the rainy weather
and as dusty as "A desert In the dry season. Thero
vas the usual fght between. the conductor
driver OF the car and the ers for the right
OF way There were four miles OF profanity from
snn.up TO sunset In tn. freighting So lson.
incline in the road was reached the driver iet
the teams have the reIns, and ii there We're no
race down hll any time Il had lost by reason Of
a nght bet ween tho cond uctor-driver and Team.
left the rails, but a nov . M the car often
to restore 1t until It reached tho level. T6en
the passengers assisted. In dry weather a
passcngers' attire, They emerged looking az
ihey would II They had been rolled In ii eyat.
the boa. At Wayne City to ride on that horse
railroad .nthat was tho name OF the line. IL
car mana m%dtsn 1rIm OF course. But II drew, This
s sis.d 40 Ss at WaSns City, Boats were adver.
aSi%e 10 d Se az specified landings "on or about
IL was In Wayne City that the first mint
iuIeps IN lhat country were made. A Kentuck-
itlated tho bArkeeper in the mysteries OF the
STonL ooutnern drink, and then Wayne City led
explained In other towns. A stranger on q
oo"t would ask g fellow traveller whittier ho
stranger would say: WV 'no
TTTLhsts where they make mint juIrps."
horse railroad to Independepco"'N s"' @~'~e
This was about 1916.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-26
THE HUnoRoUs SIDE OF 1Irn


From ne Boston Herald. b"
Alta Boston restaurant the other day q middie.aged
woman entered the place. and taking = seat a. the
counter. carefully scrutinised the bill Of fare. She
concluded to try an order of Ice cream pudding. ct .
cents . plate. After IL had been served she looked II
over carefully, and calling the waitress back. said;
''po you call this ice cream pudding'"
'Yessum. and it's very nice. too"
'But where IA the ice crcam?"
"oh, that's only the name given that peculiar make
Of pudding. We are making a speciality OF II. I'm
sure you'll like II when you taste IT,"
at seems to me that you ought TO give ice cream
with 1t, as long as you say II Is ice cream pudding
1--WE don't give cottages with cottage pudding"
quickly replied the witty waitress. The retort threw
the middie.nged woman into a CONFUSION OF laugh.
ter, aud she ordered q second plats. "
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-26
MosBY,s USE OF 4 FEDERA1 spr.
bought Goods from Parson WorseIy. and OBJ
taiued About the Government.

taiued Information About the Government.
From the Washington Post.
In reference to the Parson Worsely claim for
reward for spying during the late war. men.
toned in yesterdays Post. Col. John s. Mosby.
the famous Confederate guerrilla. snys:
During Gen. Grants Administrator a SINH
lar bill was introduced. but ! went up to the
Chairman Of the committee. exposed the fraud.
and squelched tho bill. During Mr.. Cleveland's
second term n similar bill was offered. l wrote
a letter TO a Virginia member of Congress and
squelched the bill again.
The truth is this. Worsely got a permit In
the summer OF 1864 to go through the lines
with several wagon loads OF goods to sell my
men, pretending, that he could get valuable
ineton. He came with two wagon loads of
military goods. which my men bought from
him; ! gave him apermit to pass unniolestcd
Of foods. Which he did. III only thing thhiHa1e that .eh he
could tell the authorities on his return was that
at a certain plece. AS We had no fixed place to
stay, ho could tell just as much about a will
ho could Iell about us. lie also gave me SOM,
valuable information about the position Of the
troops @6Ou ut ,t w oS Sh IN. and made several
money he could make out q both sides.
t i"scd'" sncth @s PERMIT %is" Ht "a. @or sSRpness 80 ' Rs IT, n:
IOTlutu. OH certain mtFCHhnlb IN W HbnlnRtOn
and baltimore, from whom he had bought .he
goo 9: md had them arrested ana put In prison.
One OF these was Hamilton Easter of Baltimore.
II shall write another letter to Congress eX.
posing this man. Ididn't need any commissary
or On rtermasier, az long as Worsely WAS Iur-
nishing my supplies. but as my men paid him
paid by The Government. ] think no got enough
out OF II, ! knew perfectly well what he came
for. but was not afraid OF his spying. Among
the things he brought me wan some very line
gray cloth, from which my Confederate uniform
was made. That uniform is now In the National
Museum, near that OF Gen. Grant. II they are
going to put .Worsely's widow on the pension
rolls OF the United States, ! consider that j am
equally entitled to place there"
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-26
killed His FavorIts Horse ana Himself.
From the Toronto MAI aud Empire,

FTVW INt IOTUHIU HUW WHu EWIETF'
PEIERBoRouGH. ontario. Nov. 29,-word reached
town this morning OF a shocking sui lido that occurred
in the tow nship OF Douro, Henry Davey, a well, known
Rld a weIl.to.do farmer. about 80 years OF age. was
10 town on Friday. After driving from town no uu'
hitched hts team and put them In the stable with the
harness on. Going 10 the house. he secured n razor or
kuife and cut the throat OF his fayOrte horse, ons he
had Oft n said he gould never part with. He again
returned 10 the house. and had evidently hrst con.
templated poisoning himself, ms some paris green was
found mixed In two cups. Changing his mind. how
ever. no went TO his room aud cut his throat. placing
y basin to catch the Rowing blood. When found he
had been dead some time.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-26
DoMINIES IN THE SOUTH.
INCIDENTS OF THE LIFE OF THE
BACKHOoDS PREACHER.

A Lo~ng.suneFiuR Wan Who Turned-A Lawn
Party 60 Pay Arrears or eaiaries-A Sermon
Against the ChiEuon-Ore Douinie who
Preached His Owu Funeral Service.
MILTON, n. c., Dec. 23.-one Of tho most pa.
ticnt Of mortals is the Southern dominic Of the
remote rural districts. with him patience is
especially necessary when II comes to collect
ing his salary. A story is told OF ono OF those
long suffering men who lost patience with his
congregation and sought n now fold Of labor
whcre the prospects OF payment were better.
He announced from tho pulpit his success and
his resignation in tho following terms:
my friends, 1 don't think you love mo. DO.
cause you don't pay mo my salary. l don't
think you love one another, because none Of
you ever marry, and / can't make a dollar that
way. Idon't think tho Lord loves you, because
mono Of you ever dies, and l can't make q dollar
that way, either-by preaching your funerals.
Your potatoes arc rotten and your apples arc In
tho same FIX. BY their fruits yc shall know
thcm.' l am going to a better place. / am
called to preach In the penitentiary. Whittier
1 go, yo know, and the way ye know, and We
shall follow mo hereafter And when you do
follow mo may tho Lord have mercy on your
stingy souls, for l will SEQ to 1t that nobody else
does have mercy on you"
Away down in a rural section a lawn party
'oo oAu i'op uhiiho Nv pCiiCh u buo bI-
cult rider, whose salary was sadly in arrears.
or course this lawn party was a very uncon.
ventional affair as lawn parties go. None Of
the managers knew the difference between q
lawn and a logarithm; but some Of them had a
vague idea that such entertainments were held
out Of doors. A small unfenced grove of oak
and pine. adjoining the dusty public road, was
chosen as the lawn. In the rear of the grove
were some tumblo.down shantics, while on
either side of 1t was n briar patch. OF grass the
lawn had none. Gnnrled roots stuck out from
the red clay in such profusion that there was
room for nothing save an occasional sassafras
bush. To an observer from abroad the place
might seem to have no attractions as the scene
Of any social gathering; but what attractions it
had for the lawn party folks! Between the
hours of 5 p. NJ. and 8 p. NJ. there was an in
cessant procession Of them to the spot. They
came in vehicles of many descriptions, on horse
back and on foot. The rlckety tables, impro-
vised from half.rotten boards, wabbled be-
meath their loads of garden, orchard ana kitchen
snss to be sold for the benefit Of the preacher.
But, alas! the hard times played mischief with
sales, as Is evident from the following true copy
Of the report of the Finance
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-26
relephou. storie. from Kentucky.
From the Elfsabethfoun Ners.

4 green.looking man came to town the other day
with q small bucket OF very white butter TO sell and
called on VIII Mathis TO buy II. He said he didn't
want any at the store, but he would inquire II his
wife wanted any. So no stepped to the telephone.
called her up, and talked for a few seconds through
the instrument, Then, turning TO the countrymAn.
who was standing with his hands In mis- pockets. his
eyes diated and his face very red. he told him that
his wife said that she would not need any butter. The
indignant countryman blurted out;
"Look here. mister, II you didn't want any butter
why didn't you say so? ] Amt such a fool a. TO
think that you've got your wife In that little box I"
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-26
whipped for Telling tho Truth.

From the Chicago Tribune.
Johnpy's face was smeared with dirt ana tears,
there was . lump on his left cheek. and one knee pro.
jected through q jagged rent in his trousers leg.
johnny. johnny exclaimed his mother. "have
you been fighting agaln?'
yep" he replied. me an that boy from New
York had a scrap. He looks wors'n l do. too. you
bet"
you'll break my heart. you wilful boy What
were you hghting about?"
About the Biography of Chicago. I said 1t hadn't
any blufrs. an he said 1t was all blum, an I chugged
hint"
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-26
hom The houisrtlle pispateh.

Mr.. and Mrs. J. came to town tn, other day. The
madam is . large. muscular looking woman. and is
evidently the boss OF tho ranch, while Mr.. J, Is .
cowed. cneminate.looting creature who seems 10 be
afraid when the madam is around. While Mrs. J,
went into Goldnamer'S TO do some shopping the little
man slipped on TO Bells TO get a drink. While he
was down there lie heard the telephone ring, and In.
auired hat It was. The mysteries OF the instrument
were explained. and Mr., Bell offered to call up his
wife at GoldnAmers and let him talk to her. This
seemed TO please him very much. but Just As he got
the trumpet TO his ear the lightning struck the wire
and knocked him down. Staggering TO his feet he
said. That's her; II sounds Just like hSE."
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-26
Mot water euro ror Q %NeElectrul spou.e.

From the Chicago Record.
A colored woman went to the pastor OF her church
the other day to complain of the conduct OF her hus.
band. who. she said. was q low.down. worthless,
trihess niger" After listening to q long recital of
the delinquencies of her neglectful spouse and her
efforts to correct them. the minister said: Have you
ever tried heaping Goals Of nre upon his head" No."
was the reply. - but l done tried hot water"
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-26
The Cause or the Trouble.

From Brooklyn u
"My wife made an awful fuss last night because I
was out 30 late" .....
"why. II wasn't unusual. wes tt2"
"ob, no; but she happened to be In when I got homo"
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-26
Possibly tho Explanation.


Benevolent old gentleman ~(pointing a moral to
village school children)-Now why do take all tho
trouble TO leave my home and come over here and
speak to you thus? Can any boy tell me7
Bright child dnnocently)-Please, sur, p'raps yeow
loikes to ear yourself taak. sur!
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-26
Reciprocal FnlIness.

From the Macon NeUs.
A rising genius defines Kentucky as tbs lana where
Tho corn is full OF kernels
And the Colonels full of corn"
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-26

From the Boston Traveller.
Charles Bragg-Yes, Hiss Brightly. II costa me ten
thousand a year to live.
worth IL?
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-26
Enormous Growth or Grace.

From :hs Boston Traveller.
Holt makes me q better man every time l kiss
you, darling.
She-oh. Harold, how good you must DO now