davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-08-26
A HAUNTED BURGLAR.
Choking Was Done with the LET
Hand and He Had None.

Choking Was Done with the Left
Hand and He Had None.
When quiet was restored the lawyer
handed the photograph to the jury and
quietly remarked:
"You may see for yourselves that the
choking was done with the left hand,
and you have observed that my client
has no such member" :..,,...G
He was Enthusiastically right. The i'm
print of the thumb and fingers, forced
into the flesh in a singularly ferocious,
sprawling and awkward manner, was
shown in the photograph with absolute
clearness. The prosecution, taken Who'll
~ by surprise, clustered and made at
tempts to assail the evidence, but with
out success. The jury returned YER
dict of not guilty. .... >.
Meanwhile the prisoner had tainted,
and his gag and bonds had been re-
moved, but he recovered at the moment
when the verdict was announced. He
staggered to his feet, and Z, his eyes
rolled; then, with thick tongue, he ex-
claimed: II 49,. - j.;
1T was the left arm that did it.! This
one" holding his right arm as high as
he could reach-"never made mistake.
1t was always the left one. A spirit OF
mischief and murder was in it. Lieut.
it off in sawmill, but the spirit stayed
where the arm used to be, and it choked
this man to death. Ididn't want you to
acquit me. I wanted you to hang me.
1 can't go through life having this
thing haunting me and spelling my
businessand making murderer Of me.
It tries to choke me while sleep. There
it is! Can't you see it?" And he looked
with wide staring eyes at his left side.
Mr.. Sheriff, gravely said the judge,
stake this man before the commission
crs OF lunacy to-morrow."-Lippin.
colts. 25ss..f 7 saHEsss ss.as44sg7 Z
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-08-26
Coal Period Trees.


The approach from the south to La
Grange, Ala, is marked by the fine
view into the valley of the Tennessee
river, 800 or 400, feet below, which it
presents, and by the masses of sand
stone lying around the village, where it
has been precipitated from the cliffs
above by the wearing away of the lime
stone under them. But the most inter-
esting and remarkable feature of the
locality, says Henry McCalley in. his
geological report: of the valley region,
and the one for which La Grange will
always be distinguished, is the profu-
sion of the remains of fossil plants.
Nowhere can one gain better ideas of
the magniicence of the fora of the coal
period than at this place. Trunks of
4lepidodendron two or three feet in di
ameter lie buried and protruding from
the debris of the sandstone. These
trunks have in general preserved their
form and are not at all compressed,
whereby they show that they stood
erect in the beds that inclosed them.
Although stripped of their bark, the
scars are plainly impressed on their
surface.- Science Monthly.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-08-26
ArGoNFESslQN.

Sometimes thur come crowd O. boys
go III sa-rompin' past my door; 5s
Ye'd think they might be Injuns. but they
yell a good deal more. gg4 ~
I know Jest whur they're goin'. cause I've
often went that way
A-swimnin' $whur the sunbeams an the
shadders love ter play.
Afore think, I'm wonderin' whur my
-'.'' pesky hat kin be, &ssy|ht.t PEA
An I've purity near hollered: "Hey. there.
fellers, wait fur mel! So
Then thur comes the recollection, play1n,
havoc with my plan, aE
Thst i can't jne in their merrtment. caus
81 Tma growed-up man. Y q VII
It's the same way when they're spinnln
,.7a.r,> tops er sendin, kites on high.
An I'm sure I'd win their marbles et
ever wus ter try. I-.e.-. -.
Arr $essfur leap-frog. kin easy call ter
e,[s ~ mind the day / II III {
when no one stood so high tibet was ever
So skeart ter play.
pOf course I stan up dignided an tell EN-
;s~--. ter.be good, q Is t4S - ~
Ter not talk loud an allus do their les
'T"'~' sons ez they should; v -%% =
But, jes' the same. whene'er their happy,
e. prankish looks / scan
1t hurts me that can't jine In cause m
1sD~- a-growed-up man.
&-Philander Johnson, in Detroit Free
#s Press,
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-08-26
SCOTT ASKED TO BE DICTATOR.

Frustrated Plot for the Permanent
Occupation of Conquered Mexico.
1t may surprise many readers to learn
that overtures were made to Gen. Scott
by many Mexicans of position and by
many American officers to permanent
~ occupy Mexico and organize new
government. The scheme proposed to
Gen. Scott was, in substance, this: It
was supposed that upon the conclusion
of treaty of peace at least three
fourths of the American army would
be discharged, and that large portion
of the officers would resign, and, with
many of the men, would enter the new
army of Mexico, and enou gh others
could be recruited in the United States
to make the American contingent 900
strong, and to this might be added a
like number of Mexican soldiers. With
such an army it was suggested that
Mexico could be held and governed in
an orderly way and prosperity might be
assured. --.. ...----' 1.t -
The plan contemplated a pronuncia-
mento, in which Gen. Scott should de-
clare himself dictator of the republio
for term of five years or more, to give
time for agitators to acquire. pacific
habits and to learn to govern them
selves and to respect an orderly gov
eminent, where the rights of property
were not only respected, but fully pro-
tected. .'1.,- '.: '-t7F
Already in possession of the forts, ar
senals, founderies, cities, mines and
ports of entry, with nearly all the arms,
1t was not doubted that a very general
acquiescence would follow.
Grant was invited to several conclayes
OF officers, but from the first emphat-
ically declined to enter into the plot.
He did not purpose to change his al
legiance or his service or his flag, but
meant, he said, to return with the
Fourth regiment to the United States.
He had several reasons for this deter
mination. He was essentially con-
servative thinker and was endowed
with remarkably high sense of JUS
tice, and he had genuine contempt for
any adventure which had any flavor of
dishonesty or bad faith about it, and he
would not consider for moment the
project of placing an alien government
ever Mexico while the nation was dom
mated by superior force. 7; :
Had still another consideration been
needed to influence his course-as was
not the case, however-there was one
most persuasive consideration-his
prospective bride, awaiting his return
at White Haven home, near Jefferson
Barracks, Mo. 5 s".f%i@ aHgsf
Z Gen. Scott declined to enter into the
plot and it was finally abandoned
Midland Monthly. tz.> sSHs.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-08-26
ERoquefort Cheese Gone.

y France, and through France the
whole civilized world, is threatened
with an irreparable calamity from a
gastronomic point of view. Roquefort
cheese is menaced with extinction. The
milk of the sheep that browsed on the
.thyme-clad banks Of the Larnac and
of the Aveyron has long since ceased
to suffice for the market. Flocks have
accordingly been fed ingrassy pastures,
and have yielded q larger quantity Of
milk but Of very inferior quality.
Worse still, cows milk has been min
gled with that Of the sheep, and, the
cheese being eartifcially -ipened,
speedy deterioration ensued. Cheese
smongers now look askancc at what
is called Roquefort, and hesitate to
such an extent to buy it that BUSH
ness which in times past has been
worth $1o,0 00, 900, and has afforded em-.
ployment to over 1O0,O 900 people, is st
q standstill, with no prospect Of re-
viva1; for q name and an art once lost
are almost beyond recovery Chicago
journal. '53 it8s
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-08-26

soon On our way again, the irrepressi-
bic ones as usual emptying their re-
volvers uselessly at the flying animals.
Shortly after the buffaloes had disap-
peared there was eager talking and
anxious, consultation with the con-
ductor, for some of the old hands de-
clared that the prairie was on fire:
they could smell it. ~ e1
~ But It was not until the shadows 81
evening had gathered about US that It
became distinctly visible-a thin red
and yellow line, with flashes shooting
. high into the somber clouds on the
northern horizon. ~
Eyes, gentlemen" said the conduc-
tor, tits rushing along miles ahead Of
us, and maybe it will. cross the track
before we get through"
c% We were racing along merrily now.
y but all the northern sky had become one
!, immense pyrotechnic display, and q
Kissing, cracking noise came down the
wind with the columns of smoke.
Antelope, deer, coyotes, jack-rabbits,
pralrie-hens, and, in short, all sorts Of
animals and game native to the coun-
try, came scudding along in wild con-
fusion and terror, and crossed the track
to the southwark, some being caught
! up by the cow-catcher, and tossed back
2 mangled heap by the side Of the track.
It was getting insuf ferably warm and
sitting. The windows were ali closed
for fear Of the sparks, and the portable
IRE extinguishers were got ready. Day
light was quite gone BY this time, but
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-08-26

rFoposition to Dixie New .Jersey'sl
AIRsshy waste Land.
New Jersey is beginning to interest
itself in the subject Of reclaiming the
extensive tract Of marsh land lying be-
tween Newark and jersey City and
stretching up the Hackensack fon . dis
lance Of IS miles. The tract, which;s
crossed by dozen lines Of railway,
contains 27,000 acres which produce
nothing at present but swarms Of mos
quitoes and rank growth Of bull
rushes and salt marsh hay. The mos
quitoes are nuisance to the residents
Of the neighboring towns and the bull.
PUSHES and salt hay have very little
commercial value. And yet the land
on which they grow is doubtless the
most fertile tract in the state.
The state geologist has just issued an.
interesting report upon the subject
from his consulting engineer, who dis
cusses the methods and cost Of reclaim.
ing these lands. This, he says, is just
as feasible as the drainage of the fen
lands of England or the vast tracts
which have been rescued from the sea
in Holland. He proposes that the work
shall be done by throwing up dykes
along the main watercourses and draw
ing the water off by a system of tide
sluices and pumps operated by wind
mills, as in Holland. He estimates the
total necessary outlay at s., 26s, 400, ex-
elusive of the cost Of the land. This
would be a trife less than $50 an acre
for the 81 ,OOO-acre tract. <s8+ it2A -aa
AS every foot Of this land, If re-
claimed, would be suitable for market
gardening, with the most extensive
market in America within a stones
throw Of the state of New Jersey would
find the undertaking profitable invest
vestment. if the figures of the engineer
are correct. A work of this kind must
be. done under the supervision of the
state, in order that there may be some
responsible control of dykes, pumps and
sluices, but it is probable that the pres
ent owners would be willing to be as
sessed for the cost of the improvement,
or sell at a reasonable rate to those
who are willing to put money in the
undertaking, SO that the state would in
the end be able to secure return of
every dollar Of necessary outlay and be
the instrument of bringing under cult
walton the finest tract of agricultural
land in the state.
The reclamation of this land, lying,
as it does, at the very doors of the
Greater New York, would serve another
important purpose besides restricting
the mosquito crop and turning worth
less marsh into garden, and that is
that it's cultivation would furnish en-
ployment and a livelihood to thousands
OF the idle population of the city. The
experience Of England and Holland
having shown that the reclamation of
this extensive tract is perfectly feasible,
the work should be undertaken. There
is great deal more of this sort of land
worth retaining in the United States,
but the Hackensack tract is best worth
retaining first to serve as an example
to be followed Observation-Disclosures
phia Times. -:&
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-08-26
Not Extinct,

Il The speaker described in the follow
ing anecdote from ''Short Stories was
not the last Of his species. Unhappily
his identity is more frequently estab-
lished by the tag end rather than the
beginning Of Dr.. Kane's comparison:
DR.. Elisha K. Kane, Oh his return from
his great Arctic expedition, was in
vited to q banquet in New York, where
an after-dinner speaker talked an hour.
Doctor, what did you think Of the
speaker" asked friend. ''It was like
an Arctic sunset" answered the ex-
plorer. What do you mean by that %
Bright and interesting, but provok-
ingly long in operation" replied the
doctor. Yonth's Companion. &54
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-08-26
/. Observation-Disclosures
! Racing a Prairie Fire. !
BY HERBERT MOONEY. {
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

WE WERE very merry party as
wv, we bundled into the train at
= Omaha to continue our journey to Cali
fornia. In the days already spent on
the road from New York each one had
time to make his neighbours acquaint-
ance and know as much about his af-
fairs as if he had known him for years.
At the period of which I am writ
ingeone going to San Francisco by train
was the hero of a thousand possible ad-
: ventures. Fin winter, the train might
be showed up or disappear in drift a
hundred miles from any station on the
bleak prairie.
Summer, again, had it's own peculiar
dangers. We might be stopped and
overturned by countless herd of buff
faloes, or the Indians might take it into
their heads to tear up the rails. Be-
sides this, toward the end of a dry,
hot summer there was the chance of a
prairie fire. It is about this last that I
am going to write presently.
Away on either side as far as the eye
could reach the prairie rolled in pillows
like the ocean-here yellowish green
and there varied with patches of scarlet,
until it met the blue sky in the purple
of some far-off, dreamy bluff. Now a
herd of antelope would start off and go
bounding over the tall, rank grass, fol-
lowed by the whip-like report of the re-
volver, for the gentlemen on the rear
platform carried their shooting irons''
with them as matter of course and
were always ready for a snap shot at
any passing game.
One lovely day when we were getting
on at what we thought pretty fast
rate-20 miles an hour-the engine sud-
denly gave several sharp screams and
the train began to slow up.
care we nearing a station?" asked
some one.
"No," replied the man with his head
out of the window; "but look yonder!"
We did look and saw a black cloud
breaking across the track ahead and
extending as far as the eye could see
In one rushing, mighty, irresistible tor
rent, 1t was a herd Of buffalo on the
stampede, and as they went laundering
along the sound of their hoofs was like
the booming of artillery.
Until they passed there was no going
ahead for us, though the engine might
drive into the herd and pitch dozen
of them off the line with the cow
catcher; it would soon be brought to a
standstill by sheer dead weight.
Fortunately it was not "big herd -
30 the trainmen informed us-there are
no herds now, large or small, thanks to
our wanton Straightforward so we were
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-08-26
8Dinerent KIND. 81 Mu..,

a short time ago at public house
near Dunstable . Welsh girl came to
pay visit. One afternoon she was busy
playing the piano. when gentleman
walked in and called for q glass 81 ale.
In the course Of q conversation with
the landlady he said he had son who
could play the piano well. The landlady
spoke up and said that her girl was q
splendid player, although she hadn't
been accustomed to playing in Eng.
|glish. But, " she added. ''she can play
dne in Welsh. = Spare Moments.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-08-26
"a Harnaless Habit.

A gentleman living II the neighbor-
hood Of Arlington tells how he found
that his stablemen were not in the habit
OF attending church, and spoke to the
coachman about it.
They ought TO go" he said. 0
" That's just what I say myself, was
the rejoinder. II says to them: Look
at me; go, and what harm does it do
me ?'.''---. it-Bits. Ii
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-08-26
Hurt His Pride.

Mrs. smidelle-G eorgy, come right
into the house this minute, and don't
let me catch you out again this evening.
Georgy-You hadn't oughter boss
me around before folks in that way,
ma; folksIl think I'm your husband.
Boston Transcript. - IN
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-08-26
LITTLE nc Ns1ENsE.

Afr Renha amt wish I were single
!. oain Mrs. Benh You hofrid
wretch. what would you do Il you
were q, Mr.. Benhan =. n larry you
agar" s. Benhana- q, you carr
Ing creature !" oderns Society.
81 IN looking forward to the
zine when / shall make you one ofsthe
happiest st women = s She 8 gu ara
very kind, sir; but Z do not think my
father would allow me to accept g bacy-s
Gle from you. - Eonkers Statesman.
Teller &C rimshaw is the only man
Of my acquaintance who invariably
wins in an argument with 9 woman -.
Askins-. How, in the name of wonder,
does he do ~ Teller he states
his side Of the case and walks OH
Puck. 15s
Traveller Ito the ferryman crossing
the river y Has anyone ever beenlost
in this stream 2" Boatman-No.g sir.
Some professor was drowned here last
spring, but they found him again after
looking for two weeks. "-Fliegend
Blaetter.
"A Mere Figure Of Specific
Away you go to the sea-shore, Mrs.
Tifington, and leave your hard-work-
ing husband chained to his desk" She
Chained? No, indeed; if you only
could be, I'd have some peace OF mind"
Brooklyn Life.
The Way of the Transgressor-(I In
five acts) II. Jones poisons his wife's
cat. 2. He processes deep sorrow at its
disappearance. 3. He offers ten.
pound reward for it's recovery. 4. Nu-
merous animals are brought for inspec-
ton. $. Mrs. Jones Identifies one.
Pick-Me-Up. -
-Bacon-"Have you seen Sprocket
lately? ?" Egbert-''No." Bacon-'He's
sight. Face all cut, arm in sling.
and walks lame" Egbert How did
he do it, on his bicycle?" Bacon "No;
if he could have stayed on the bicycle,
he'd have been all right" -Yonkers
Statesman. t~..1.' g. ~
-'.Thank you," said the lady to the
man who gave her his seat in the street.
car. "You surprise. me- replied the
man. slow do you mean?" 'sBy that
I thank you" She smiled. 81 couldn't
have surprised you more than you sur
prised me by offering me your seat"
The stand-of was thus completed
Detroit Free Press.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-08-26
u SkAptic.

g She Do you really believe that Ga
sbriel will sound . trumpet for us all on
the last day 2 3#5s g,.s
clined to believe that some folks will
insist on blowing their own horns. even.
then Cleveland Leads. s.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-08-26
Much in q Name.

"Is your new pony fast?" la
"Yes; so fast that I've named him
What Ma Says" p. .s>~g " 49,. ls
THAT'S queer name"
i5"Yes; but what ma says goes" -Bos-
ton Traveller. - .. ..5ss.es5 :,
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-08-26
Al Unkindl i q RlI|ieforf.l

Mr. and Mrs. Yerger had an unus1ally
lively matrimonial row the other night.
A. Mrs. Yerger was getting the worst
Of the argument, she burst into tears
and exclaimed: oh, how I wish / had
never met you'll You do, eli 81 he re-
piled, sarcastically Yes. now that it's
too late, you begin to sympat hize with
me. Why didn't you think Of that be-
tore I married you q Y. World.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-08-26
IMPROVING Rapidly.

.Hopper-How is your daughter get
ting along with her piano?
Popper-First-rate. She can play
with both hands now. She says she
will be able to play with her ear in six
months.-Up-to-Date s-- >..f5 ..>. -
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-08-26
Easily Comprehended.

American Boy-Papa, what's an abso-
lutte monarchy?
Papa-A country ruled by king
whose authority is unlimited. His word
is law, and the people must do his bid
ding. Do you understand?
American Boy-Oh, yes. sort of po-
litical boss.-N. Y. Weekly.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-08-26
Agreed.

''He takes fence very easily" said
Miss Gilfoyle to Miss Tenspot, after the
hunt was over, and speaking of Mr..
Fosdick.
He does" replied Miss Tenspot. 81
don't know of man more ready to take
ofense." Courier-J ournal,
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-08-26
, So Per.everinr.

Mrs. Gummey-Miss Broadway is to-
come out this season. .s5.@>s 81. J,
Mrs. Glanders-What a persevering
little thing she is. -, - 49, .->5-s
What do you mean?" ,'...3 Re Z
"she has come out regularly for the
past six or seven seasons" louisville
Courier-Journal. /.tE :.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-08-26
F0rtifyinE Himself.

Mr.. Hojack- Tomdik, old boy, do you
know that you have taken four cups Of
coffee already. =
Mr.. Tomdik-Well, I'm going to call
on Miss Chin, and want to be able to
keep awake.-Louisville Courier-J Jour-
nal. ... .sr& /
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-08-26
GOOD State for That.

d Galligaskins-The state geologist of
Kentucky says there is no gold in that
commonwealth.
Skimgullet-But should think it
would be fine place for bichloride Of
gold.-N. y. Journal.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-08-26
I.OvH'a Power.

Willy-Say, auntie, what did Uncle
Bob marry you for? ....
Aunt-Why, for love, of course!
Willy Observation-Disclosures! Love
will make man do almost anything
won't it, auntie ?-Puck. 49,.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-08-26
Just the Opposite.

Kilduh hear that Tenspot is cul-
tivating his garden religiously this year.
H Mullins The report is wrong. I
heard him. swear. while wedding the
other dny.-N. Y. World.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-08-26
The Right Sort.

Briggs-Do you know, I never
thought much, of Baker until yester.
day. .l.ssy.s f 4sszj s:,.,s II die
r Griggs What changed your mind?
IT learned that his wheel is the same
make as mine."-Detroit Free Press.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-08-26

... They HAD Been In battle.
First Old Soldier There's something
familiar about that woman's face.
Second Old Soldier That's - /
guess It's the powder. Judge.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-08-26
Her PecuIiarities

GodfreyDoesn't Winchester ever
get tired Of his wife's continual sulki-
ness and i'll temper? 4
Scorjel--I think not. When she is
goodnatured she sing chicago Trib-
une. ssss
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-08-26
a Lowers Bon Mot.

He was q witty lover-he
Who made this turn 30 fine:
He called his best girl Postscript, for
Her name was Adeline!
-Up-to- Date.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-08-26
a scheme OF Reform.

II for one day were let loose
To boss things on this mundane shore,
Watermelons would have less Juice
And bananas would have more.
BIS W.. CHICAGO Record.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-08-26
Alloy.

''Now that you and your husband have
kissed and made up, 1 suppose you are
happy"
Except when think of some mean
thing I might have sale" -DetroitJ Jour-
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-08-26
Only a BlOasOm.

OHly u BIO68Om.
Twas but little faded flower,
But fraught with tears and woe;
He would not tell where he got it
And she was bound to know.
Chicago News.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-08-26

Bumm de Way-Dat wuz de most de-
lightful nightmare ever had, Willie.
: Willie Worknit-What wuz it?
Bumm de Way-I dreamed wuz sand
bagged fer me money!-Up-to-Date.