davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-01-14
BURNS DIED PENNiLess.
First Obituary Notice Calls for Help for His
Family.


When Robert Burns died the follow
ing obituary appeared in the Edin-
burgh Advertiser of July 20. 1896: 'on
the 2lst inst, died at Dumfries, after a
lingering illr ess, the celebrated Robert
Burns. His poetieaI compositions. dis
tinguished equally by the force of ma
tive humor, by the warmth and the
tenderness of passion. and by the glow
ing touches of descriptive pencil, will
remain lasting monument of the vigor
and versatility of mind guided only
BY the lights of nature and by the in
spiration of genius. The public to
whose amusement he has so largely
contributed, will learn with regret that
his extraordinary endowments were
accompanied with fatalities which rem
dered them useless TO himself and his
family. The last months of his short
life were spent in sickness and indi-
gence, and his widow. with five infant
children, and in the hourly expectation
of sixth, Is now left without any re-
source but what she may hope from
the regard due to the memory of her
husband.
THE public are respectfully informed
that contributions for the wife and fam
lily of the late Robert Burns (who are
left in circumstances of extreme dis
tressl will be received at the houses of
Sir William Forbes and Co., of Messrs.
Mansfield. Ramsey & Co.. and at the
shops of the Edinburgh booksellers. 1t
is proposed to publish some time hence
a posthumous volume of the poetical
remains of Robert Burns for the ben
eft of the authors family; his friends
and acquaintance are requested to
transmit such poems and letters as may
happen to be in their possession to
Alexander Cunningham. Writer, George
street. Edinburgh; or to John Syme,
Esq. Ryeland. Dumfries. II is hoped
that. in the meantime, none of his orig
inal productions will be communicated
to the public through the channel of
newspapers or magazines, so as TO in
jure the sale of the intended publica-
tion."-N. Y. Press.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-01-14
A Cylindrical street Car.

A car has just been completed at
Concord, n. H., which puts into prac-
tice what has heretofore been consid-
cred chimerial idea of the novelist.
1t is cylindrical in form, like the imag-
mary cars jules Verne and other have
have told of, have been. 1t is no the
DRY, but entire practice, and it will
save the railroad companies many
thousands of dollars.
The car is curious embodiment of
genius and convenience. 1t is practic-
ally cylindrical in form, although this
by no merns interferes with the seat
ing arrangements. Its chief claim to
to fame, however. lies in the fact that
each section of the sides, with windows
of curved glass, slides up under the
roof just as the curtain of the roll-top
desk disappears as It's pushed upward.
just at the sides disappear a running
board drops down below the floor of
the car, and in the usual position on
the outside. In this way the comfort
able closed ear is transformed into an
open car of neat appearance.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-01-14

white like the Sultanas, but with more
feathery legs and less beard; Choon-
docks, black plumage, without tail
feathers, plumed feet and large heads
and barbs.
Crevecoeurs are very important
French breed from city of the same
name. Besides the large crest well set
back, the comb is divided into two
horns, curved back, as portrayed in the
Illustration above. The plumage is
black, the legs short and unfeathered.
In Bresse is another fine table fowl,
taking its name from French prov
ince. Its width of breast and tender,
short-grained flesh are remarkable.
Houdans, these quite we'll Americanized
fowls, are from a village in France on
the Seine. They are well known in
America, with their black and white
plumage and topknots. Paduans or
Padovas are q very ancicn. Italian
breed. They occur of every color. but
always have a crest and are OF great
size-Farm and Home.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-01-14
when Railroads Were Young.

Then tell a good story about the
Chicago d Alton at the time when the
company was so poor that they could
paw their men only once in five or
six months. The men stuck to the
road, however. because they had moth
ing better in the way of a vocation in
sight. Gov. Mathews was then presi-
dent of the road, and one day a big.
strapping fellow who had been lamp
ing ties for four months went down
to Bloomington. and, hunting up
Mathews, showed him his shoes, which
were completely worn out, and adj
dressed him as follows:
Governor, l must have some money.
as | can't work without shoes. / need
other things, but would try to get
along if had pair of boots"
The governor looked at the mans
half-naked feet, and then spoke gruffly:
How long have you been working on
the road?"
Seven months altogether, and on the
section five months" was the a swcr.
well. sir" said the president, you
will have to give up your job. We
have nc money, and | am about TO issue
orders that hereafter no man must be
hired who does not possess a new pair
of boots"
The big fellow left in despair, and
went back to work again, and after
that no one went TO the governor after
money with the excuse that he needed
new boots.-Pittsburgh Post.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-01-14
laking acquaintances

with many men il is different This
young man was obliged to become ac
quainted with number of senator's and
representatives in congress. He not
only was obliged to become acquainted
with them, but to see them every day,
and ask them all sorts of questions.
He was taught to approach public
men as the fully accredited representa-
tive of his employer. Public men were
told that the young man could be trust
cd with private affairs, and they were &c
quested to talk freely with him. His
modesty of dcmeanor proved t. be
captivating, and he soon won his way
into the regard and esteem of many
men. He worked for man who repre-
scented daily newspapers in Phila-
delphia, New York. Detroit. Milwau-
kee, st. Paul. Omaha and other cities.
Therefore he was obliged to become ac-
quainted with the senator's and repre-
sentatives from Pennsylvania, New
York, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota,
Iowa. Nebraska and other western
states.
You may well imagine that it was no
easy task. Your young fir ends will un-
derstand very well that i must have
been embarrassing TO meet with popH-
lar political leaders from various sec
tons of the country. II would embar-
rass any young man But il vas part
Of the duty of the profession which this
lad sought to learn and he went about
IL Systematically and diligently, and
within few months he was as much al
home on the floor of the house of rep
resentatives during the hour before the
daily assembly as any of the veteran
newspaper men there. With note book
in hand he piled the statesmen with
questions, wrote down their answers
ond produced a good budget of news
every evening. He was compimented
scs his work and his salary was raised
little al time. without any request he
ing made by him. This showed practic
al appreciation of his work. AMI stimu-
lated him TO further endeavor He f:-
miliarized himselfwith the executive de.
PAYMENTS. and gathered valuable news
there when congress was not in session.
The ssay before Lieut.. Gen. Schofield
-+tired from command of the army.
this young reporter. then but little past
his nineteenth birthday. called upon
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-01-14

he might possess. and he was willing to-
learn. Gentlemen who had known him
from the cradle spoke of him in the
highest terms. He seemed to be just the
boy wanted, and he went to work.
Gradually, timidly, gingerly he began
90 learn the corridors, committee ROOMS
and Offices in the big capitol building;
the places where news items are cb-
taiped by the diligent correspondents
Of metropolitan newspapers. Within
month he knew all of the routine work,
and performed IL like a veteran. He
was, first of all, a reliable young man.
Not one out of a thousand is always and
snder all circumstances reliable. But
when this young man had learned the
work he did il well, and, when evening
came, his employer was satisfied that
no news item had escaped the vigilance
of the youthful worker. He was well
assured that the young man had done
his duty every day, just as well and as
faithfully as his employer could have
done il for himself.
Then the young man had another les
son to learn, and it was not so easy.
Diffident men may learn places, things
and dates without embarrassment, but
when il comes to making acquaintance
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-01-14
PROVED HER INNOCENCE.
/ Little Drama Recently Enacted In a
French Court.

A Little Drama Recently Enacted In
French Court.
A pathetic little drama was recently
enacted IN a French court of justice.
A poor needle woman was charged
with stealing two gold coins from her
employer Her defense was that,
while waiting in her employers house
the child in her arms, unknown to her
was attracted by the sight of the gilt
tering gold on the mantel shelf behind
her, and, leaning forward over her
shoulder, clutched the coins in its
chubby fist, and had so carried them
away. This she persistently and So
lemnly stated on oath.
The court, however, was incredul-
Gus and reproved the mother for her
attempt to deceive him. But she as
serted her innocence with such pathet-
ic power that the sagacious judge de-
termind to test the truth of her state
ment lie babe her stand by his desk,
with her child facing over her should
err in the way she had described.
Then he took several gold coins form
his pocket and placed them on his desk
within reach of the child.
A breathless silence ensued. Every
Then suddenly the child,s eyes caught
sight of the cleaning gold, and, with
an eager smile, the tiny hand was
outstrecbed to the desk and the coins
were clutched in its tenacious grasp.
The mother was promptly acquitted.
Weekly Telegraph.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-01-14
RUGS FROM SCRAPS.
How to Utilize Some of the Household Odds
and Ends.

and Ends.
Some of the most useful and pictur-
esque rugs are made of scraps of differ
ent colored wooden dress goods sewn in
hit or miss fashion on back of bed
ticking or any stout goods. Old bed
ticking is excellent because the blue
stripes are guide 10 sew by. Cut out
a piece of the ticking of sufficient size
to make rug. Cut all the pieces of
wooden dress goods into the uniform
size of two inches square. Fold each
square into a double box pleat. Crease
it in the middle. and. as fast as You pre-
pare them, sew these little pleats on
the ticking on the blue stripes as closely
as they can be put. Begin sewing on
the little box pleats of cloth in the mid
die of the rug. Turn the rows on one
side one way and on the others the
other. The raw edges of the pleated
squares of cloth form the surface of the
rug. A very good effect may be OBJ
tanned by making the center of the rug
hit-and-miss pattern and the border
black, with red, yellow, blue stripes or
a mixtere of all.
Still another method of preparing a
rug from scraps is to tie the cloth on a
burlap foundation. Prepare a founda-
ton of the size desired. and cut strips
about the width of ordinary carpet rugs
and the proper length to lie in firm,
hard knot. leaving short ends. Sew
strips as closely together as possible,
and knot them firmly in place as fast
as they are sewn on.-N. y. Ledger.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-01-14

that was no longer a favorite. and tina;
calls were not as iicnty as huckleber-
res in August. Indeed. il became diff
cult fOr me - get a church at all, even
IN the huniblest locality. I could not
account for this, for preached as well
as ever did. good, sound orthodox doe
trine. but a lot of young fellows sprung
UP who did not preach according TO
the fathers, and | was crowded out.
Perhaps my voice was not as good as IL
used TO be. but my sermons were bet
ter
As he qulveTed this out thought be
had revealed the ,cret of the decline
Of his influence, for good pair of lungs
goes a great ways with most church
gOers who hear with their ears and not
With their minds. and who too often
mistake sound for sense.
Well" continued the veteran, as we
came in sight of a long. three-storied
building looking out upon n pleasant
green, INV wife and had saved n little
money. and we thought we would go
back to Sandman With our children
and settle down for life by opening a
boarding school for young ladies. My
wife still owned the farm which was
left to her by her father. and upon il
j built the house which stands before
YOU"
and did your school succeed?"
we'd. rs ! prepared TO alight.
NO. indeed. IL was miserable fail
from the first. The people pre-
rrel to send their daughters TO more
pretentious establishments near the
great cities. and had TO mortgage the
p TO meet Iny living expenses. Then
bought OF turning il into sum
esOrt. and that is the reason YOU
!. = ne the landlord of Seabreeze Hall.
! es, Rev. Eben Iapoint, ID. D.. who
formerly cared for souls. now cares for
bodies" said mine host, with a sorry
attempt at humor. as he turned me over
70 the tender mercies of the chamber
Inaid. who informed me that she had
never been outside the limits of the
town, and had never ridden upon rail-
road car. There was artless simplicity
fer You.
found the place satisfactory enough
Tor the price charged, though there
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-01-14
FARM AND GARDEN.
ECONOMIZING FOOD.
Early Winter Is the Worst Time to Re-
duce Cattle Rafinns

Early Winter Is the Worst Time to Re-
duce Cattle Rations.
While il does not pay to ever put
live stock on short rations, if il is to be
done at all let it be at any other time
than the early winter. The animal is
machine for converting some portion OF
his coarse food into finished products,
and his energy in conversion depends
very largely upon his physiological con-
dition as well as upon his constitutional
power.
These facilities of theirs to produce
the materials we desire are natural to
be sure, but they have been greatly ex-
aggerated by domestication, full feed
and good care But the animal has also
himself to look out for, and il is nat
ural law that under circumstances of
distress everything else stops that the
vital processes may go on. That is, that
under hard conditions these extra ac-
Invites stop, and we get little product
from the animal.
But what difference does il make al
which end of the winter this shortening
OF rations comes, If it be to come at all?
4hbNliB III tAAC iut
and violent changes are disastrous,
physiological conditions considered. II
they come to us gradually we can ac-
custom ourselves TO things that, if sud-
denly brought upon us, would prove
fatal.
AS the animal goes into winter quar-
tiers all his habits of life are changed,
and changed suddenly. He goes from
green feed to dry; from uniformly
warm weather into great extremes of
cold and heat: from the free atmos-
phere OF the field to the close air of the
stable, il he be lucky enough TO get the
stable. Their powers of resistance and
adaptation are severely tried. If he
now also suffer a diminution of food his
resources are cut off, and if his arti-
ficially developed faculties in self-de-
Tense cease to act, they will be slow in
deed to resume their activities.
The reverse policy is pursued by care
full stockmen who seek to make the
change from autumn to winter as light
as possible, and by extra feed and care
to fortify the animal against more or
less distressing circumstances. The
change from winter to spring and sum-
mer is not only into increasingly bet
ter conditions, but the changes are
marked by less violence.-Farmer's
Voice
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-01-14
The Weight of JupIt-r.

Jupiter, the giant of the skies" and
so-caIled father of planets" is the
largest member of the suns family. 1t
+, $1,000 miles in diameter, while that
Of the earth is a fraction less than 5000.
Its bulk exceeds that of the earth 1900
times, but the specific gravity of
the giant" is so low that his
weight is only 21S times greater
than that of our globe. Prof.
Moskelyue's celebrated experiment at
Mount Schihallion, Scotland. proved
that the weight of the earth is equal to
5.s4e, OOO. 600. OOO. 900, OO0. 900 tons of
> 24O pounds each. Jupiter's weight, on
the other hand, according to the calcn-
Iations of Flammarion, Sir Robert Bail,
Prof. Langley, ct al, is largely in excess
q that of all the other planets and sat
elites put together. this calculation in
Guiding the earth. of course. To ex-
press the weight of the giant planet in
tons we must use % figures, thus-242.-
100. 900. 900. 600, OO0, Goa, OOO. 600! Jupiterss
average distance from the sun is 4S0.-
COO. 600 miles 1t takes Jupiter II years.
10 months anu 10 days. according to our
way of reckoning time. to make one
revolution around the sun All OF this
tine he is moving through space AZ
rate OF 10000 miles an hour.-St
Louis Republic.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-01-14

quest the postmaster-general saw the
secretary of the navy and suggested the
propriety of naming cruiser after the
city of Wheeling. And it was done.
When you remember that few men
of experience in public life have
the courage to approach mem
Der of the cabinet with sugges-
sions, particularly concerning a pro-
posed important executive action, you
will realize that this young man exhib-
tied considerable moral courage and
displayed an unusual amount of self
reliance He was seeking nothing for
himself, asking no individual favor, but
was pressing the claims of prominent
city to recognition in an important mat
ter. lie wisely and sagaciously dis
oerned the necessity of political inhu-
ence to accomplish his object. and hence
called upon statesmen who had been
honored by the suffrage of the people of
West Virginia. Moreover, he urged
them 10 go to the front. His last ag-
gressive movement deserves particular
praise.
lie knew that Postmaster General
Wilson and Secretary of the Navy Her
bert had served together in the ma
tional house of representatives for at
least half a score of years; and that
their personal and political relations
were of the most cordial nature. lie
knew that if the postmaster general
could be induced to make an earnest
plea to the secretary of the navy, his
request would most likely be granted.
Therefore he sought the postmaster
general at the most opportune time anu
solicited his interest in the case. BY
so doing he clinched his. arguments and
appeals and achieved success in his I'M
dertaking. You may well believe that
he was proud young man when he was
able to telegraph his paper at Wheel
ing that one of the new cruisers had
been named Wheeling.
On Wednesday evening, November 10,
the city council of Wheeling passed
resolutions of thanks to the secretary
of the navy, to the senator's, to the post
master general, and also to Leroy j.
McNeely, the young newspaper man
who originated the idea and fostered
il until success was won. 1t is believed
that this is the only instance in which
any one newspaper man has been in
fiuential or potential in securing execu-
tive action favorable to any city in the
matter of the naming of cruiser for
the new navy. Heretofore the honor
has been conferred i'm compliance with
the action of municipal and state au-
thorities. petitioning through their con-
gressional representatives,. In this in
stance, the originator, promoter and
guardian of the idea was one man, and
he but barely attaining his majority.
SMITH d. FRY.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-01-14

well for country living. lie wore
limp white cravat, n faded black frock
coat and a rusty black straw hat, and
his trousers were tucked into pair
Of cOwhide boots, which did not har-
monte with the rest of his attire Was
he minister or farmer? The day Was
wet, and the wind that blew coldly
from the sea across the salt marshes
did not answer.
He was talking when / approached
him with an unmistakable rustic who
propounded the question:
''Hev yeh got yeh medder in yet2"
''Yes," was the reply, without a trace
of provincialism. Eve brought the hay
home yesterday because the weather
was threatening" Here he looked
around and discovering me was about
to speak when he was interrupted by
the rude remark;
That's where yeh head was level.
/ didn't think yeh'd be so fOrehanded.
My women folks sed yeh wouldn't"
The better part of creation don't
know everything, even in these days
of wOmen's rights" was the mild re-
bu<e, just as l interrupted the con-
versation, and inquired if the carryaIl.
which was standing near by, was the
cOnvs lce that was to take me to Sea-
breeze lall.
YES" answered the old man. Il am
Mr.. Lap0int and you, l suppose, are
Miss yelling, our new boarder. Let
me assist you and take your travelling
impedimeuta."
Il g,.F a -. 4,
old-school courtesy, and not with the
uncOuthness of the usual bucOlic driver,
,half-farmhand and haIf-hostlcr; and as
we went on our way at a comfortable
pace | asked him how long he had re-
sided in the place.
well, that's rather comprehensive
question:" said he. Il came here first
as a young man to study for the minis
iry-there was theological seminary
Eere then-but that was over a half
century ago"
A dreamy look came into his faded
blue eyes and he appeared to be look
ing down the vistas of the past with re-
greet. Presently he resumed: well.
/ was graduated and secured my first
call, but my heart kept warming TO OIL
Sandman and girl who sang In the
choir of the church. | came back and
/ married her. although her father, oil
Farmer Glare. did not want to part
with lis only daughter. and we went
over the hills and far away. like the
lovers in the fairy story. | prospered
and became a popular preacher, aud
calls came from all over the country
Boston and other places. though we did
not then boast of IS states. with popC-
lous cities ranging from the Atlantic
seaboard to the Pacific coast. By ard
bv the time came when | discovered
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-01-14

store for them. Ihad supposed that Mr..
Lapoint had preceded the Pensioners,
but on looking along the shady piazza
saw him evidently doing in an arm
chair. Tic leaves of the manuscript of
Lis discourse, which had dropped from
his hand, were blown about by breeze
loaded with the odOr of the sweet
scented grass that grew thereabout,
and as l stopped to pick them up saw
a strange look on his face. 1t was one
of ineffable peace. l touched him and
he did not move. / put my fingers upon
his pulse. 1t mad ceased to beat. He had
written his last sermon.
The sexton had stopped ringing the
bell ard stood upon the church porch
looking anxiously from his hand
shaded eyes; and in a cottage across
the green n little child was singing:
Nearer My God, to Thee."-Derroit
Free Press.