davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-12-25
Thirteen Centuries Ago.

A boy from Mecca was seeing Da-
mascus. He was a handsome lad, thir-
teen years old, by the name of Mo-
manned. He had come from Arabia
with his uncle, who was. on a business
trip to Damascus and other Syrian
cities. Most assuredly he knew the
story of Damascus, 1.-The garden of the
Lord watered by the seven branches
OF the river ALBANIA, founded by the
grandson of Shem. His family sprang
from the distinguished tribe of Kore-
ish, the c~ustodians of the sacred shrine
at Caaba, and the Arabian descendants
of Ishmael were as well informed in
biblical history as their Hebrew kim
FOLK. 1t was not the antiquity of
Damascus that appealed to Moham-
med's delighted eyes and carried cap
tive his fancy, but scenes, it's bright
bazaars, revealing all the life for which
1t stood, its street world far exceeding
in marvels anything he has ever
imagined. The Arabian boy grew to
manhood, possessed of grace of person
and fascinating qualities of mind. He
was by turns a shepherd, a merchant,
the manager of the estates of a widow
named Cadijah. and afterward her
husband. A few miles from Mecca is
a cave much frequented by Mohammed.
Here he is visited by the Angel Gabriel
and hidden to tell his fellow-men
there is but one God, and Mohammed
is his prophet He is given a copy OF
the Koran, written since all eternity
on tablets in the heaven, and he is
commanded to take the sword and con-
quer the world for the new faith. And
now the Arabian boy calls himself the
prophet of God, with a multitude of
Mohammedan followers. The sword
or the Koran is the watchword of his
armies everywhere victorious. In brief
while Damascus pays tribute to her
Arabian conquerors, and the city that
gave him his first vision of the world
is no longer Christian but Moslem.
Such in quick succession is the fate OF
Jerusalem, Antioch, and Aleppo.
All this happened more than thirteen
centuries ago. The Koran contains the
doctrines of Mohammed, as he said
they were given him by the angel
Among other things it commands the
practice of prayer. Five times each
day must the clever turn his face
toward Mecca and engage in devotion
Mecca, the birthplace of the boy Mo
Nmmed, and thither every worshippel
of Damascus turns at the muezzin call
Centuries ago a Tartar people con
quered the Arabs, but adopted their re-
ligion, and to-day it is the Moslem-
Turk who rules in the East, not the
Moslem-Arab.
The faithful of all ~nationalities, how.
ever, pray to Allah to-day as they die
thirteen hundred years ago, to destroy
the infidels, make their children or
phans, defile their abodes, give then
and their families, and their house
holds, and their women, and their pos
sessions, as booty to the Moslems.'
Truly, the boy from Mecca was borI
under a brilliant star, but who will say
it was good and beneficent?
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-12-25


1t is told that the locomotive whistle
was invented because of the destruc-
ton of a load of eggs. When loco
motives were first built the country
roads were for the most part crossed
at grade and the engine driver had no
way of giving warning of his approach
except by blowing a tin horn. The
horn, it may be imagined, was far from
being sufficient warning. One day in
the year 1888 a farmer of Thornton
was crossing the railroad track on one
of the country roads with a great load
of eggs and butter. Just as he came
out upon the track a train approached.
The engine man blew his horn Justify,
but the farmer did not hear it. Eighty
dozen of eggs and fifty pounds of but
ter were smashed into an indis-
mingled with the kindling wood to
which the wagon was reduced. The
railway company had to pay the farm
,er the value of his wagon. 1t was con-
,sidered a very serious matter and
.straightway a director of the COM
pany Ashlen Baxter by name, went to
Alton Grange, where George Stephen
son lived, to see if he could not invent
something that would give warning
more likely to be heard. Stephenson
went to work and the next day had a
continuance which, when attached to
the engine boiler and the steam turned
on gave out a shrill discordant sound
The railroad directors, greatly delight
ed, ordered similar c~ontrivances at
tached to all the locomotives, and from
that day to this the voice of the loco
motive whistle has never been SILENT
From Iron,
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-12-25

- "a "A itO1N
the play, but no friend appeared. Prob
ably she did not run for her train, but,
like the sensible girl she is, turned
about and went to her own suburban
church, never giving me more than a
passing thought. So l finally went
alone to hear the wonderful speaker
we had planned to hear together,
thinking 1 could forget my troubles
under his eloquence. On my arrival
at the place, however, what was nv
dismay to find a little white card
tackled up announcing that the serv-
ices would not take place on this par
ticular Sunday on account of the sud-
den illness of the pastor.
l concluded not to run for any more
trains, but walked over to Clark street
in a dignifed manner, as beftted the
day, and took my seat on the electric
car just starting south. AS l sat there,
placidly enjoying the swift motion of
the car and the cooling breeze on nv
aching head, it struck me that we were
making a good many more turns than
usual, and, looking about on either
side, l could not discover one familiar
object. Finally, glancing up the street
and seeing a huge drove of steers COM
ing our way, completely filling the
street from curb to curb, and even
overfiowing onto the walk, it dawned
upon me that l had boarded the car
without looking at the sign, and was
out in the wild and woolly West"
represented by the Union stock yards.
Just how we were going to get through
that seething mass of horns unhurt
was a mystery to me, and became a
source of great anxiety as a car ap-
preached from the other direction and
that entire herd concluded to pass be-
tween the two cars, which were CON-
ing closer and closer together every
minute, until there was room for only
n at a time, while three or four dis
puted the p~assageway, and only a Wig
orous punch from my umbrella kept
one big, black, dangerous-looking fell
low from insisting on boarding the car
and riding back to his home.
AS / was so far out of my way ]
concluded to go on to a street beyond
my own, where there was a cross-towI
line, and take a~Itransfer. To take the
transfer was easy, but after waiting
vainly for fifteen minutes for a chance
to Use it started out 'afoot and alone
and across lots,' not crying, but feel
ing very much like 1t.
But most people have troubles o.
their own, and do not care to read abou
those Of other people. The misfor
tunes l have recounted were but sam
piles of a train that pursued me al
day long and landed me in bed at
o'clock with a sprained ankle, due t.
] a fall, a scratched face resulting from
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-12-25
USES OF THE TROLLEY CAR,
They Are Becoming More Numerous and
Practical Every Day.

AhUy SAIe DtcOInInS more numerous and
Practical Every Day.
The utilization of electric cars for
special purposes other than the mere
transportation of passengers presents
n of the most interesting features
connected with the operation of electric
railways. The ACCESSIBILITY of these
cars for picnic and theater parties was
soon discerned, and to meet the pop
ular demand for such facilities spe-
cially built cars were provided by
many railway companies. The theater
cars on some lines are models of lux
ury and art in car construction, and
many gay and festive parties avail
themselves of these select means OF
enjoyment. 1t is not long since that
we gave an account of a trolley party
on one of the prominent Brooklyn
lines. The special use of trolley cars
are, however, not confined to the pur-
suit of pleasure alone. Thus we find
in some cities trolley funeral cars,
built expressly for m%ournful services,
n appropriately furnished and fin
ished. Among other uses of specially
built cars are carrying of mail matter
and express packages, and yet the list
is not complete. The latest idea in
this direction comes from the Brooklyn
grand jury, recommending trolley pris-
on vans to carry prisoners from the
courts to the Jail and ~penitentiary. A
glimpse into the future reveals the
trolley restaurant and cafe, trolley
beer saloons, cigar stores, barber shops
and various other trades on wheels.
The twentieth century business mar
will demand household facilities on
wheels. He will receive his shave and
breakfast while going to business in
the morning, dine and be amused while
returning home in the evening. Truly
there are great possibilities in the troll
ley.-Electrical World.
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-12-25

They are introducing Office girls in
Chicago, and those who have them
in their employ are well pleased with
them. They say that the office girl is
superior to the office boy in many par
ticulars. In the first place, she does
not smoke cigarettes, and she doos not
whistle. AS a rule she has absolutely
no taste for dime novels. She is usu-
ally bright, quick and energetic, and
ever so much cleaner, and heater than
a boy can be. Testimony upon this
point is almost unanimous, and most
of those who have tried Office girls de.
clare that neve again will they have
an office boy around the premises.
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-12-25

The Japanese have for a long time
been making underclothing of their
finely crisped or grained paper after
the sheets have been pasted together
at the edges so as to form large pieces.
After the paper has been cut to a pat
tern the different parts are sewed to-
gether and hemmed, and the places
where the buttonholes are to be formed
are strengthened with calico or linen.
The stuff is very strong, and at the
same time very flexible. After a gar
ment has been worn a few hours, it will
interfere with the Transportation of the
body no more than do garments made
of fabric. The stuff is not sized, nor
is it impermeable. Before exposing
himself to the rain, the Japanese takes
shelter under his large waterproof UNI
brella. However, even after it becomes
wet the paper is difficult to tear,
When an endeavor is made to tear it by
hand it presents almost as much re.
sistance as the thin skin used for max.
ing gloves.
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-12-25
Amber In ID

In Dantzic alone during the last year
nearly 100 tons of amber were turned
to the smokers purpose in pipes and
cigarette-holders. This, of course, is
amber of the familiar yellow variety.
Sicilian amber, On the other hand,
shows a wonderful variety of tints,
from ruby red to turquoise-blue, as
may best be seen in the private col
lection of Arnold Buffum, an American
of fortune, who has made colored am
bers his hobby, has written a book
about them and has recently been or
a visit to London, carrying with him
a number of his finest specimens.
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-12-25
CALLED HIM DOWN HARD.
How He Got Even with Her ii
the End.

the End.
"When a young callow freshman I
used to try all kinds of fool expert
ments," laughed the usually staid pro-
fessor, according to the Detroit Free
Press. THE inspiration to these out
breaks of lunacy was in the surround
ings. l would fall in a fit just to see
some of the old people scamper about
and look frightened. Among strang-
ers l would sometimes pretend to be
dumb, sometimes deaf and on occa-
siOns assume both of these difficult
roles. Tom Hitter always used to help
me when he was available.
"One day when we were on our way
to college a bevy of pretty, laughing
girls took the train at a village sta
ton and futtered into Jul car. l
winked at Tom and the farce began.
After w had murdered the sign Ian
guage of the mutes in a few meaning
less finger gestures and facial contor-
lions Tom left for the smoker, for
he never could control his risibles.
What a pity said one of the
girls.
1T is hard chirped up the pref
test of the lot, to be deaf and dumb
and in addition to being so mortal
homely. Note the size of that mouth,
girls, the slope of that forehead, the
failure to mate in those eyes and the
hump on that nose that is Roman
all owe his face"
Il came mighty near having a natpr-
al fit, for | was a fairly good-looking
boy and proud of it. Some of the
other young ladies undertook my de.
Tense, but my defamer rode rough
shod over them all. | was sallow, shall
low, narrow and criminally disposed
If my picture did not at some time
adorn a rogue's gallery. justice would
be cheated. And that young fellow
who had gone out was no better.
invented a case of nose bleed and fed
1T was Toms sister, who had beer
visiting friends, and he put up thu
job. l got even with her, for she's m!
wife"
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-12-25
An ExnlOded Theory.

It has never been scientifically dem
onstrated thai fish and other phosphor-
ic foods can appreciably improve the
brain and mind. Fishermen, for ex
ample, and fishmongers, who may be
supposed to live largely on fish, have
never shown themselves to be in any
measurable degree more intellectual
than their neighbors. The truth is that
the particular food which best agrees
with the particular individual, and
which best maintains his general
health at a high level is the best fol
the brain and every other organ of the
body.-The Hospital.
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-12-25
Endemic Courtesy,

With a sudden gesture the victim in
~terrupted the %tattooing process. When
Il started on this African trip" he
said, Il certainly expected to be hos
'pitably received, but"
He again resigned himself to the in
,evitable.
81 did not anticipate such marked at
itention."-New York Press.
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-12-25
Another Evening Game.

Crambo.-Two pieces Of paper, un-
like both in size and color. are given to
each person. On one of them a noun
must be written, and on the other a
question. Two gentlemen's hats must
then be called for, into one of which
the nouns must be dropped, and into
the other the questions and all we'll
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-12-25
A REM FEAT.
How a Snake Swallows Its Equal in

The following is an interesting para
graph in a letter sent to friends here
by Harry Hammond, formerly of this
city, who is now making his home in
Florida:
To-day l had the good luck to see a
curious sight, that of one snake killing
and swallowing another. We came on
the scene just as a king snake was
killing a blacksnake, each a little over
three feet long. The king was tied and
coiled round the black, and the latter's
tail could just wiggle. After a few
minutes, during which the king tied
himself in the most curious knots and
a his head up and down his victims
writing body, biting it here and there
as if examining his supper, he turned
the blacks head, gave it a preliminary
bite, and then slowly proceeded to take
the blacksnake into camp. 1t seemed
impossible that he could swallow a
snake as long and as large as himself,
but he did. This is how he did it:
He would stretch his head as far
as possible, get his teeth hooked in his
victims scales, then slip his body up
till it was in wrinkles at his neck and
for some way down, then loose his
tooth hold and slide his head forward
for another grip, just as if you were
putting on a tight glove, in fact. 1t
was the most interesting operation I
think l ever witnessed, and the king
swallowed all but three inches of the
tail of the poor blacksnake, and then,
with that dangling from his mouth,
glided off into the grass. We let him
go, as he is a known enemy of the rat
tlesnakes, and often kills them
Indianapolis Journal.
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-12-25
But This Is in Persia.

A gentleman travelling in Persia says
he has been in a town where the bells
ring for prayer five times a day, and
business men rush out of their places
to the churches, leaving the places Of
business alone and unlocked, and DO
body ever has a thing stolen.
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-12-25
He Wasn't Elected.

What do women know about poll
tics, anyway" sneered the candidate.
WELL" ventured his wife, most of
them know enough to keep out of it."
And when the returns came in the
wisdom of her words was made appar-
ent.-New York Press.
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-12-25
Nothing to See.

On his return from a tour which he
had been making with his master in
Switzerlar-, a servant, being asked
what he had seen, replied:
ooh, n can't see anything. There's
nothing but mountains everywhere
Tit-Bits.
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-12-25
Book of UniXersitY Scnne.

Perry Patettic-I hear that soap is
even mentioned in the bible. Way.
worn Watson-Why not? They is bac
things spoken of in the bible just the
nIjror
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-12-25
Florence Marryat's School

Miss Florence Marryat, the well
known novelist, has started in Lon
don a school of literary art, for the
INSTRUCTION of persons of both sexes
DESTROYS of entering the literary profess
sion.
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-12-25

my st. Demands playfulness, and sew.
eral added wrinkles, because 1 simply
had to claim the rights of my sex tc
break down and indulge in a fit OF
Mysteries.
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-12-25
THE KING OF SWEDEN.
HOW DIR. NANSEN HAS ADDED
FUEL TO HIS FIRE.
Bitter Words of the King at a Dinner
His Majesty Remembers that 1t Was
His Financial Aid Which Sent the Ex-
plorer North. q

HE dispute between
Norway and Swe-
den which has
ragged with more or
less bitterness for
the last decade has
become more acute
since the return OF
DR.. hansen from
his expedition to
the north pole, says
the New York Trib-
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-12-25
Clever, This Thief.

By throwing a piece of telegraph wire
over the Neversink copper trolley wire
near Reading, Pa, and grounding the
former, a thief burned off and stole zoo
pounds of copper wire.
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-12-25
Good Motto.

More than one boy has made his way
at the start by the exhibition of a
bright mind and a sturdy purpose,
There was the case, for instance, of q
boy whom we will call Martin Flint.
Martin, thrown on his own
at the age of fourteen, went around
a big city looking for work. Nobody
seemed to have any for him, but the
oftener he was rebuffed the more con-
fident and h~igh-spirited he seemed to
become; there is nothing like a good
big obstacle or baflement t. call out
the healthy snap in some natures.
By and by Martin came to a mer-
chants door which had simply the
word Push" on it; SO he pushed the
door and went in, his hat il ! hand.
An elderly man in spectac sat at a
desk.
well, boy, what do you want?" ask
ed the merchant.
Work, sir" said Martin.
What kind of work."
ANY kind of work, sir"
"Well," said the merchant, laughing,
you've got a large speciality. What's
your motor"
Same as yours, sir" said Martin.
Same as mine? How do you know
what my motto is?"
You've got it on your door-it's
Push sir"
The merchant put him to work on
the spot, and it was the beginning of
a very successful business career
Youths COMPANION.
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-12-25

And tops may spin at morn,
But just when the twilight
fall
Is the time to pop the corn.
See it! heal it! pop! pop! pop!
Hippity! skipppy! hop! hop! hop!
Dolls and hoops may do for morn,
But nights the time to pop the corn
Golden grains in your hands you hold.
But into the pan they go,
And quick as a wink the wizard Heat
VIII turn them all to snow.
Shake them up with a steady hand
over the freight bright,
Ihen turn them into the big brown
bowl
In their 1uted caps of white.
See them! heal them! pop! pop! pop!
Hippity! skippity! hop! hop! hop!
Kites and tops may do for morn,
But nights the time to pop the corn.
Angelina w. Wray.
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-12-25
Gubernatorial Elections In 1897.

Only five states elect governors this
year. Rhode Island leads off, April z;
Massachusetts, Virginia, Ohio and Iowa
follow on Nov. 2.
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-12-25
CHILDREN'S CORNER.
TIMELY TOPICS FOR OUR BOYS
AND GIRLS.

Thirteen Centuries Ago-"Crambo,- q
Game for Evenings at Home-Origin
of the Steam-whistle-An Invention
in Sea Signalling.
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-12-25

u T W h e n t h e
room is getting
dark
And the night
wind whistles
low,
The children gath
er around the
fire
All in a merry
row.
Moons the time for
the b u b b ! e 8
The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-12-25
The Sense of Justice In Children.

Among the good things said at the
Chicago 'convocation of mothers"
was:
81 believe in trusting the innate
sense of justice in children. The force
of tho opinion of those round them is
one of the most powerful influences,
and they can be taught more by the
appeal to pride, after the first lessons
of willing obedience are learned. than
by stern command"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-01-13

lakes in Monroe county, $500; lakes
in st. Clair county. 1880; lakes at
Waterloo, 500; lakes in Pike county,
LOO; lakes in Henderson county,
1900; Fox lake. 500; Fox river, 2. 800;
Rock river. 600; Sni E. Carte. At
Hannibal. GAINESVILLE and Rockport,
$500; Long lake. $50; in Sangamon
river at Decatur, Riverton and
Petersburg. S.1OO; Macoupin creek.
500; Pecan river. 1900; Mackinaw
river. 1900; Salt creek. 800; Apple
river, $50; Kickspoo creek. 800; Big
Muddy river. 1.150; Salt creek at
Lincoln. Dewitt and Clinton. $500;
Macoupin creek. 1900; Vermilion
river at Pontiac and Danville, $500;
Cahokia creek. 900; Emberts river at
Greenup and GRANVILLE 100; Kaskas-
kia river, 400; Cone Greek Cache,
1900; Leaf river, $50; Momence
river. 1,100. The expenditures dur
ing the period covered by the report
aggregated $2l.sS4.S6.