davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1897-10-09
LADIES' SHOES.

known than the Justly Moody We have had exclusive control of this
line for years Any these shoes tell all about their
durability We showing handsome shapes purple and
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1897-10-09

Genuine Diamond
Ladies Clus ter
Rings, with fancy
stone centers and
solid II karat gold
m bunting, very
beautiful--on cred
it at only $25.
$3.50 Cash;
81 weekly.
The times., 1897-05-09

comforts him to pop at ME let fiEl pop."
But you ought to do something pro-
tested
m doin sunthin',' he replied with
quiet smile as he climbed the fence and
sat on the top rail. Yes, it's Jim Fisher.
and he thinks III come down thar and
ak him what he's mad about. / shan't,
though He amt doin' nobody any hurt"
But he must hit you by and by
Wall, In year or two. mebbe. You
see, l know Jim. and l used to own the
revolver he's shootin' with jim is blind
In the left eye, lop-sh0uldered on the left
side, and the Old pistol shoots to the left.
When he shoot he sticks out his tongue,
shuts his right eye and lops over, and IL
] don't sit still fur half ali hour he tan't
begin to hit me-"
You take it pretty COOL said. as ]
made ready to ride on
''Oh, yes. it's jest as weli,'' ne draw.ed;
"JiIl's got new box Of cartridges, and
arier he fires 'em off he'll come out and
want TO shake hands and trade dogs. He's
bin shootin' at me fur q month past, and
i kin tell by the way he pulls trigger that
he's gittin' discouraged and wants to quit.
No use gittin' flnstered, stranger I'm
a-loppin' to the right and Jim's a-ioppn'
to the left, ana the two of US Couldn't git
up a shootin' match IL we was to try ali
sun,merl'
The times., 1897-05-09
TOO MUCH LOOPING.

Off to the right Of the road saw man
planting corn in a field. To his right and
about thirty rods away was a fringe of
willows, and as 1 looked puff Of snlok e
shotout andthe report of firearm reached
my ears. Before 1 came opposite the man
three shots had been fired, and saw two
OF the bullets kick up the dust within few
feet of him. He looked up and saw me, and
shouldering his hoe he came to the roadside
fence and gave me ''Hellol'' just as an
other shot was fired and the bullet struck
q rail ten feet away.
Come from Thomasville?'' asked the
mau as he looked me over.
Yes
ANY news down thar?''
Nothing Of interest,"
MOST everybody out plantin' corn, 1
guess. Which way you goin'?''
Down 10 Parsons City Isn't there
some one over In the willows with gun?''
.Yes. Jim Fisher is over thar with an ole
army revolver
well, he's doing some very careless
shooting / said as another bullet struck
the fence in about the same spot.
Hes doin' the best he kin, I guess, -
replied the farmer as he turned his head.
but what's he shooting at?'
Me. Hes bin poppin' away fur the
last half-bour. Thar he goes agin, but
thar amt no call to git skeered. II it
The times., 1897-05-09

Ike here on Friday and call and shoot US.
We never heard OF the major before, and
knew no reason why he should want to blot
, us out, and in the press of business the affair
went out of our mind. Friday afternoon,
while we were extra busy, he showed up
for business. We asked TO be excused for
IN heur-for half or quarter of an hour
but he insisted that his business was OF
more Importance than ours and would not
grant us a minute, even when we appealed
to him 81 a gentleman. In fact, he began
shooting while we were yet appealing
We hated to stop, but we had to. After
the major had fired five shots at us, we
got up and took him by the neck and lei
HIM out on the street and then slammed him
until he was thought to be dead. lie came
to after awhile, however, and il was found
that broken leg and a dislCcated shoulder
were his worst injuries. No one can feel
sorry for him. gentleman would have
been politely willing to wait our inconve-
nence, and a respectable man wouldn't
have shot our clock and eat and pastepot
while shooting at us. We don t know and
shall not ask what he had against us. He
will be laid up for two months at least,
and we hope he will spend a potion OF
his time in reading up on the social amen
tiles
Two weeks ago the citizens OF Granite
City, through the mayor and other emf
Dcnt residents, invited us to appear last
Thursday evening, and deliver our ccle-
brated lecture on Columbus We accepted
the invitation, and were on hand, and
when we stood before the audience we
found about 450 people assembled 1t
looked to US like cultured audience, and
we set out to do ourself full Justice. We
hadn't got Columbus away frou his own
fireside when we discovered that what
four-fifths of the audience wanted was
topical song and a clog-dance. Five min
utes later, Just as Columbus reached the
front door, with a determination 10 go out
and discover something, the people were
kissing. We hung to our subject however,
and then the had eggs and dead cats began
to fly, and we were pounIed off the stage
They ought TO have been satisfied with
thai, hut were not. A gang of enthusiastic
citizens insisted on doing us violence, and
to escape them we had to hide in the brush
for three long hours As near as we can
learn, they Were disa appointed in Columbus
He was neither cowboy nor miner He
didn't jump on his hat or tackle Indians.
They were down on us because they were
down on him, and we understand that a
dozen men looked all around town for
Christopher, and intended Ia make it hot
for him. Wemake no kick. If they want
our lecture they can have 1t; il they don't
we are always prepared to make for out
doors as soon as the first egg strikes us.
We have no subscribers at Granite City,
and we are glad of it. If we had two of
them there one would probably think
that George Washington was running this
paper, and the other would want MS to
publish something funny about Noah's
ark.
The times., 1897-05-09
JUST A BUSINESS CALL.

Some OF the boys, had told the man
in charge OF the cattle yards at Abilene
that the duffci in charge OF the freight
outfit over on the hill had referred 10
his personal appearance in a disIesI ectful
way. The cattleman thereupon twisted
the tails of thee OF four refractory steers
and announced that he would go over and
make the freighter eat grass or fill him
full oflead He didn't 90 at once. TO wever.
He waited until he got zeal mad, and until
he could clean up his guns and sharpen the
point of his bowie knife, and tell about
the number OF inen he had killed down in
Texas. He might not have gone at all
had not his crowd suggested that he had
dignity to maintain, and that tie eyes OF
the civilized world were upon him. After
delaying the matter as long as he could, the
cattieman announced that he was ready.
He Euckled on his guns and showed a knife
down his bootleg. He looked ugly He
looked ferooious. There wasn't the slight
est doubt that he thIisted for gore and
hankered after graveyards. There was
only one reason why the ''Eoss" Of the
cattiemen should call on the boss of
the frcightcrs That reason was-deatli.
The freighter was a small man of humble
a wagon eating his dinner when the cattle
man came staggering up, expectorated
over hslof shoulder andhoa arsely demanded.
Has this yere outfit got Il man at the
head Of it-a man as wears boots?"
''She has, was the quiet reply.
Does he know gun from steers
hind leg?''
.He do"
And might he he able to pull the ilig-
ger of that gun if lie tried Ieai haId?'
''He mought."
wall, I've cum over to pay him a call
Mebbe he's heard that / was cumin' and
taken walk; but if he hasn't, would you
be SO kind ard condescendin' as TO pint
him out to me and introduce me as the
Rocky Mountain Bazoo-a critter what mas
ter drink a gallon OF blood day TO keep
down his rampageousness? | don t want TO
pnt We to any great trubbie, but mebbe
you'll do this fur nei'
''Sartinly, I'll do it, said the man under
the wagon. stranger, look down on thisl''
I'm a-lookin'. It's gun, l take it?''
lit arp
And YOU ar the boss I'm lookin' fur?"
II am. Have you got any pertickler biz
ness with me today?''
1T amt so very pertiekler," replied the
Bazoo, us he looked steadily at the muzzle
OF the gun. II just cum over on bizncss
ALTO ak II bizness was good
sBizness couldn't be better, though /
thank We fur yer kindness. Is that all?'
Il don't think of 'nutiiin' more at pres
ent, and, if ye hev no objeckshuns, III
take a walk"
''No objeckshUns tail, and ye can't start
too quick!''
And away went the boss OF the cattle
men. splitting over each shoulder by turns,
and the boss of the freighters laid down
his gun and attacked his dinner again
without even a look around to see If other
callers might be expected.
The times., 1897-05-09
THE BOWSERS' TROUBLES.

well, what are you going to DO to-
day." quered Mrs. Bowser as Mr Bow
ser hung about the kitchen door in IN I'M
decided way after breakfast
Il want pair OF shears he answered
What for?'
"To shear the lamb I'd forgot all about
sheep-sheanng, but it's not too late yet.
Get nae the biggest pair of shears you can
find. What ails that old cri,ter down In
the field is that his fleece ought TO come
off,
The "oid critter" referred to was the
lone old sheep which had been left with
the live stock On the farm. He had pair
OF horns which rambled aroun in n strange
way, and his general deneanor had been
SO threatening that he had been left in the
field to himself. OF late he had been acting
queerly, and, after considerable thought,
Mr.. Bowser had come to I he conclusion that
he was suffering from the heat.
Ibid you ever shear sheep?" asked
Mrs Bowser, as she put the family shears
in his hand.
millions of EN- he replied '.Ill have
his fleece off in ten minutes
''But don't farmers use sheep-shears?''
Farmers may use an ak or Gloss
cut saw or corn-cutter if they want 70,
but these shears will do me. I'll get h,m
under the shed In the barnyard, and YOU
can come out and see Farmer Bowser shear
the shyful sheep"
why not get some one to do it? It's
a knack to shear a sheep, and from what
I've seen of this one he's ugly-tempered.'
'Doa't you worry about that 'knack, Mrs.
Bowser. Before we go back to town well
he wearing stockings made of his fleece
II he goes to show off with me III show him
trick or two"
Mr. Bowser went off whistling 1.-The
Shepherds Dream and took a look At
his victim from the top rail of the fence.
No sooner did he appear than the sheep
began to buck and snort and shake his
wIink!ed head in defiant manner If
he was anybody's victim he didn't seem to
realize it.
.'The lamb doth frisk" chuckled Mr.
Bowser rs he watched the proceedings
"Well, that's all right. He's here to frisk,
and he can't do too much of it. He'll be
so glad to get that wool off that he'll be
playing circus all day long. The shearer
will now proceed to shore.''
The first proceeding G was to let down the
fence dividing the field from the barnyard
MI Bowser went at this quietly, so as not
to scare the sheep away, but the animal did
not scare On the contrary, he stood his
ground with look Of mingled expectancy
and exultat!onin his eyes, and no sooner was
the last rail down than he drew o long
breath. lowered his head and shot through
the opening like cannon ball. He had
an object in view and that object was the
top button on Mr.. Bowser's trousers, and
though he missed it he shaved the thing SO
closely that Mr.. Bowser sprinted across the
barnyard and through the gate and wasn't
three seconds ahead of a catapult which
struck with crash and made the splinters
fly. 1851 -
'.Have you got Through shearing the
shyfui sheep?" asked Mrs. Bowser as she
came down from the house
"Dmrn his hide!' exclaimed the painting
Mr. Bowser as he SHOCK his fist over the
The times., 1897-05-09
A CROSS COOK.

We We're all waiting for dinner, sitting
about the camp on our bootheels, every
man in his slicker, and the cook was
angry. 1t had rained for four days. The
camp was on the open plain, away from
timber, and wet cowchips are mighty poor
fuel. Also the acrid smoke arising from
them was an unequalled tearinducer.
Under the wagon was a raw hide sling, in
which the cook kept store of dry brush
for kindling fires. Damp chips, gathered
up about the camp, We're piled on, and soon
made a smudge which was excellent and
effective 10 keep away flies and rnosqui-
toes, but which was several hundred per
cent inferior TO modern range FOR cook
ing purposes.
Out OF thPcolurnn of SIN Oke came the cook,
with a pot of hot coffee in each hand and
tears brinming in his eyes.
This is the last hot meal you get until
we move camp he announced emphati-
cally, setting down one coffee pot and wip-
ing his eyes as he passed around filling
our tin cups.
Cookie is crying for the sins he's had
no chance to commit said Scotty conf
dentially: and he received a few drops of
boiling coffee on the thumb which held his
cup.
Scotty is not a philosopher. and he
swore-but not at the Cook. The cook is
a philosopher and bears with eQuanimity
whatever the fates bring him in the way
of wood or weather. and he minds the
guying of the men no more than he
minds the odor of his slicker, which gets
fresh coat of fishoil after every heavy
rain.
Yet the cook was wrathy. We could
smell it in the smoke and taste it in the
coffee, and-unfailing sign-he had re-
moved hisleather cartridge beltand holster,
Cookie supported his trousers with an
extra large belt. always full of anmuni-
tion. He had never been known to fire
his gun, even at a Jack-rabbit but occa-
sionally would take it from the holster
and ask the foreman to keep il for a day,
saying. I'm mad" When, therefore, it
was seen that he had not only removed
the pistol, but the cartridge belt also,
trusting to Providence to bold up his
trousers. we felt that a crisis had come.
A philosopher who is also a cook Is such
valued adjunct to a COW outfit that
we were all attention when, after we
We're served with coffee and sour-dough
bread, Cookie said briefly, addressing him
self to the foreman: ME or Mike Tussler
has got to quit
Whats the matter, Bill?" asked the
foreman.
''Well. it's this way he replied, speak
ing slowly. Mike knows as well as any
body that the bys can swear at each
other, but they cant swear at the cook
That's the rule everywhere. Nobody but
the foreman can swear at me. Well. this
morning, when the horse band was driv'
in, the by's put up the ropes to a wagon
wheel to hold 'em, and took one rope like
/ always do 1t was wet and slippery,
and when everybody else had caught a
boss Mike wentin to rope his buckskin, and
they all surged my way agin the rope and
pulled it through my hands, and Mike swore
at me-
"Yes,' added Mike, land the whole bunch
got out, so had to ride an old lame plug
all day"
II guess you two can settle that little
The times., 1897-05-09
A PORCUPINE SCRAP.

A battle that was not at all down on the
bills took place at the Zoo yesterday. 1t
was hot and heavy and hard fought 1t
was a sort of international affair, and
wound up with America ON top. The con-
testants were the plucky American porcu-
pine and the African porcupine- While all
these animals have quills In plenty, those
of the American porcupine are the shorter,
being two or three inches long, while
those of the African are as long as the or
binary pen-holGer. This longer reach"
would be expected to settle fighting
bout, but it didn't this time
Superintendent Stephan had put the two
porcupines into the same cage as an ex-
pertinent, wanting to see whether they
would dwell together in brotherly love.
For d few minutes they scented entirely
Indifferent to one another's presence.
Then their little inquisitive eyes began to
CLEAN and glitter Their quill armor be-
gan to bristle, and the essence of fury
and hate as it coursed through their swell
ing veins seemed to seek vent at every
indi vidual quill. until these stood out oil
their backs like stickers on locust tree.
AS if at the call OF time they leaped
at one another and the fight began. They
clawed yiciously at one another's face
and eyes, then would roll themselves up
into bristling balls and hurl themselves
sayagely at one another again. Each
time they thus met bundle Of quills was
transferred from the back of one to the
exposed forehead Of the other. The
fight went on fiercely for some time, In
spite OF the attendants efforts to stop
It.
Finally the African threw up the sponge.
The times., 1897-05-09
A CHICAGO PHILANTHRoPIsr.
Prizes Offered 10 Children OF the
City by Unknown Man.

An employc ofone OF thelarge commerce. iaf
concerns Of the city has hit upon a plaI
for the education and higher Development
OF street urchins and children iii the variouf
charitable institutions of the city. A5ou,
a year ago he began this work as an ex-
pertinent and it proved so successful that
he has enlarged his field from the News.
boys Home TO the Home of the Friendlcss,
the Institution for Female Offenders az
Geneva, and the Industrial School fos
Boys at Glenwood. This man prefers to
work quietly, and carries on his corre-
spondence under the pen name Of Il. N.
American.
The plan is based upon the principle OF
self interest He says that by striving "a
get up rivalry between children of the
ages among whom he has worked. brings
about results that he claims cannot I'd
secured in any other way. His scheme ia
TO offer series of prizes in the various
institutions for clean faces, good conduct
truthfulness and other things that go Ia
make good citizens out of the boys and
girls
=, The first test OF this plan was among ths
newsboys- The philanthropist sent TO the
horne at that time 100 bright new pennies,
prizes. The first prize was To the boy
who behaved himself the best for thirty
days, and consisted OF twenty-five pennies.
He says he has found that it makes Httls
difference as to the value of the object
for which the children strive Another
was a speilinr-match, in which the boy
who could correctly spell the greatest
number of words found On certain biz
hoard a Ter rf,fr inc rD Ha M 4
was the winner "a. n. American saya
that there was the liveliest sort of COM
petition for the small prize offered and
that it was surprising how the little fel-
lows picked up valuable Information as a
result OF the little ruse.
For timet the man was compelled TO give
up this work on account OF sickness, but q
few days ago he began it again by send
ing a box Of prizes to the Home Of the
Friendless and the Newshoys' Home The
prizes sent to the latter consisted OF fouf
fancy flies, three pOcketbooks, three pen
boxes, three boxes OF pins, seventeen story
books, and twenty-four red, white, and
blue lapel buttons.
- am not seeking for notoriety," said the
philanthropis speaking of his work. For
that reason | prefer to work without ting
children knowing who 1 am. All 1 am
trying to do is to stimulate in the mindi
of these 81 rect urchins desire 10 he busis
ness and professional men. i want to helF
them to help themselves, and have CONC
to the conclusion that the best way to dc
this is TO give them an object To work for.
In city of this size there are thousands
of little ones who are in danger or drift
ing into the slums il left to themselves "a
we can get them interested in something
that will divert their minds from their sur
roundings, it VIII tend TO prevent this.
With these children it is not a matter q
reclamation, but OF giving them the right
direction and right impetus and prevent
the necessity OF a reclamation a few
pennies give them a motive, as they ara
unable to comprehend the higher moti:eG
that older persons would. Chicago Post
The times., 1897-05-09
HER LITTLE LARK.
The Waiter Saved Her Feelings aud
the Beer.

Such q discreet waiter as he was-oh,
so very discreet. See if you don't say so
after 1 have told you this story. 1 sat in
the Planters cafe, Iunching with some
friends, the other noon, when d pretty
girl whom 1 recognized as belonging to a
very good West End family rushed down
the marble steps and seated herself at the
small round table next to ours. She glanced
about in a half deprecating sort OF way,
fingered her tiny enameIed watch a bit,
then pulled off her gloves with an air OF
decision and prepared to give her order,
as the waiter came up with menu in his
hand.
Il think you may bring me half broiled
live lobster, French fried POTATOES, let
tuce, and" then followed something in
low tone, which did not hear.
YES, madam. Budweiser?'' said the
waiter, interrogatiyeiy- She nodded, and
then 1 knew the remainder of that order.
Off he went, and I returned to the dis
cussiou Of my luncheon. In about fivs
minutes the front door of the cafe opened TO
admit poItly, gray-haired, dignified gen.
tlenlan, who came slowly up between the
rows of tables, casting his eyes about him
for seat. Presently he saw the girl.
why, how do you do, my dear Alice"
he said, sitting down beside her with a
kind, fatherly smile. How is il you hap
pen to be lunching here all by yourself?
May join you?"
For minute the girl looked fearfully
embarrassed, then she forced a smile and
answered vivaciously:
''How nicei OF course you nayi Yes,
an, all alone. expected mother would be
hs.r. lxrF.1 Huf
Cabanne this morning and hasn't returned
yet. You know we are stopping here at
the hotel until our house is put in order.
IL has beea shut all winter while we were
south +"
They chatted on about different things,
as their glasses were filled with water and
the usual prelinlinariesin the way of bread
and butter placed before them.
The girl was growing nervous, very much
SO She kept glancing over her shoulder
every few minutes, and pulling a piece
of bread into small bits as the man talked
on
1 rather wondered myself Just how she
was going to explain about that bottle of
beer. My own meal was finished but I
delayed purposely to see what she would
do. The twenty minutes of broiine time
Were up The waiter appeared, bearing
his silver covered dishes before him.
Deftiy and quickly he placed in position
plates and cutlery, then the scarlet lobster,
the potatoes, the lettuce. That was ali.
sigh of relief came from the gill Her
face relaxed in an astonishing degree
She looked at the waiter and said with
sha6e-barely shade OF meaning in
her voice:
II don't think care for anything more,
thank you"
What, Alice. aren't You going to have
Some DESSERT asked her fatherIy friend
NO. said the girl, mo dessert. ST
Louis Republic.
The times., 1897-05-09

matter for yourselves said the foreman.
That's all right said Cookie. I'm
a-going to lick him after dinner, but one Of
us has got to quit
''Oh, WE'LL said the foreman, lyon are
both good men. / won't choose between
you; just flip copper Mike sat back, an
indifferent spectator, while the cook found
a coin and tosseditup. BEST twoin three
said he; and announced himself the Loser.
He asked for his wages, and received an
order on the company for the amount due
him.
IF you get out of a job said the fore
man. gravely. shaking hands with Fill,
"come back TO u.s.
"Oh, I amt mad at you,'' said the
cook, land hate to quit But nobody but
the foreman can swear at me. 1t AIM t
hight
Now. Mike. are you ready" he asked,
taking off bis slicker iIses.s
You'd better be going before you fight"
suggested Mike. who was filling his pipe.
''Youll get further"
Hold ON. boys, / want to make a bet
on this event" interposed scotty, and the
cook put on his slicker and waited while
Scotty Booked bets enough To bankrupt
himself. Then Nike gave me his pipe
to keep alight. and sailed in.
Unfortunately. no ex-senator from Kan
sas was present to report this contest
There was some vigorous mitigating. the
men ciincbed and went down together.
They rolled over few times in the lush.
wet grass. and then one of them got up.
1t was Mike. Heresumed his pipe. mounted
his horse and went out to the herd. The
other men went about their several duties.
The foreman stayed in camp
Presently the falling rain revived the
fallen cook. He Fat up. then rose slowly,
and. going to the mess-hox, took out his
belt and pistol and put them on. He then
approached the foreman and asked:
DO you want to hire good cook. with
all the nonsense Knocked out of him?'
II do" replied the foreman.
I'm your man. said ELL. Il made
mistake"
A stew of brains and marrow was the
cooks chef d'oeuvre. 1t was served only
when he was ia a buoyant mood. We had
it tina. night for supper.-The Argonaut.