davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-04-17
Mo,,ie MoGruder,s Ghost.

The ghost of Mollie McGruder, who
was killed near Seventh and Tracy
streets, about year ago, by William
Mccoy, still appears to brighten those
who have to pass along that way in the
early morning hours, writes Kansas
City corresI ondent.
AS stated in these dispatches two
weeks a 20, the woman first appeared to
the keeper of saloon on the corner OF
Independence ID Lydia avenues, and
appeared to be asking fer bucket OF
beer. She then appealed to several
passerS-by and to policeman, who,
since that time, has never had occasion
to get near the spot where the murder
was committed.
The publication in morning paper
here of the fact that such an apparition
had been seen caused a number of peo-
pie to go in that neighborhood on such
nights as they happened to be out late,
in the hope of being able 10 see the
spirit.
The result is that there are now not
less than seven people who declare that
they saw the ghost OF the murdered wo-
man, and, while she invariably has the
appearance OF wanting to reveal some-
thing, no one has yet had nerve enough
to stay to hear her story. The latest
tale is from man who had heard moth
ing about the ghost, and who had occa-
sion to cut across Lydia avenue about
o'clock one morning recently.
The gentleman was hurrying through
the dark street, when his attention was
attracted by woman who was standing
p rfectly erect near a telegraph pole
about ten feet from street lamp. She
stood so still and looked at him SO in
tently that he thought she might he {
man who was dressed as q woman FOL
the purpose of robbery, and, drawing
his revolver, he approached her with the
intention of asking what she was doing
there at that time CT night.
She was in full view, but as the maj
got near to the telegraph pole tn,
woman seemed 10 dissolve in thin air
and left no trace behind her. The gen
tleman thought it strange, and it wal
only when he related his story mex
morning that he found he had ap
preached Mollie McGru1er's ghost.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-04-17
Ancient Tar and Feathers.

re is q general impression, III
mis- country at least, that the institu-
ton known as tar and feathers is dis
tinctively American. Nothing could
be further from the mark" observed
Judge Riley of the Virginia bar. 1.-The
fact is, what we understand to be a
coating of tar and feathers is of an
cient origin. There is also an idea
afioat that tar and feathers is a sort
of Southern celebration, that it was
invented there, and that it is OF com.
mon occurrence in that section Of our
loved country. ! assure you that both
these ideas are wrong all through. In
the first place, while there is plenty
of tar in the South, the stock of feath-
ers is not so large. And again, they
are too valuable to use in such way.
"Where a person deserves such n
treatment it is much easier and better
to give him thorough cowhiding. 4
cowhiding sticks as well as a coating
of tar If it is properly applied. Tai
and feathers originated in the days OF
Richard Occur de Lion, over eight
hundred years ago, as is evidenced by
one of his ordinances for seamen as
follows: That if any man is taken
with theft or pickery, and thereof con
victed, he shall have his head polled
and hot pitch poured upon his pate
and upon that the feathers of some
pillow or cushion shaken aloft that ht
may thereby be known for a thief
Washington Star.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-04-17

uncle need not have disinherited him
on that account. Such O course seems
10 be a popularity in this family. 1t
humiliates me TO fell that my coming
here had anything to do with 1t"
Il am sure your mere coming had not,
Margaret. Your unclo evidently had
some good reason for his action. think
he believed that leaving Brian On in
come sufficient only for the necessities OF
life would morally force him to use his
own exertions to secure the luxuries he
prizes. You can see the force of such
an argument.
Margaret shcoi hor head uncon-
vince1.
The argument and reason may be
good" she agreed, but don't care to
be the instrument for the working out Of
the benefit. 1t makes me feel RESPONSE
BILE for my cousins Inconvenience, and
I hate it.
You allow pride 10 blind your judg-
ment. Your regret is quite ineffectual.
You couldn't, If you would, return the
money to Brian, unless
unless what?"
Miss Hilton hesitated.
Unless you marry him."
Margaret flushed at these words.
"He is not the kind of o man l adj
mire," she returned after thoughtful
pause. "Indolence and want of ambition
are not commendable characteristics.
fear I should become Disguised, or he
would, which would amount to the same
thing Try to think OF some other plan,
Miss Hilton; and while you are puzzling
your dear old brain, I'll answer some
letters. And do forget the things I've
said. I'm always repenting of something
I've said or done. / can't afford to lose
your good opinion.
With these words Margaret left the
room, and Miss Hilton's eyes followed
her with very loving glance.
Dear Margaret, she said gently.
Dear, dear child"
TO BE CONTINUED.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-04-17
A phi,ate,ic Exhibition,

England's stamp collectors as their
part in the celebration next year Of
Queen yictoria's attainment Of the
record as tenant Of the British
throne, are to hold an international
philatelic exhibition. 1t win begin late
In July in the galleries of the Royal
Institution Of Painters In Water Col.
ors, and the Duke OF Saxe-Coburg and
Gotha and the Duke OF York are
among the prominent collectors who
have promised to support the enter
prise. 1t viii embrace British, Colo
NAL and foreign postage stamps, en-
yelopes, postal cards, news bands,
philateiic appliances, literature and GU
riosities and objects Of interest in con-
nection with the postal service.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-04-17
An Item in Roller Economy.

A writer on the subject of boiler econ
omy alludes to the porosity of ordinary
bricks and mortar, ami for all exposed
fiue walls or boiler seatings advises a
facing of glazed bricks, in neat cement
mortar, to reduce to minimum the en-
trance of cold air to the aues, which i'm
doubtedly takes place through the mill
lions of pores in rough brick wall. For
this purpose the tarring of the external
face of rough brickwork fue walls is
also recommended. Glazed bricks, of
course, are better, and are very easily
kept clean.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-04-17
The Working of Big Department Store

No other business that is conducted
under one roof equals the department
store in magnitude of detail. Take
for instance the case Of one of the
giants of the species. 1t employs from
$500 to 5000 persons, according to the
season. In year it does nearly &c.
OOO, 900 Of business. Its largest indi-
vidual sale last year was an orches-
trion for $4,000. aud its smallest a pat.
ent clothes pin for one cent. During
the holiday. rush there were several
days when It's gross receipts ran over
100000. 1t has more than seventy de-
partments. To heat it one hundred
miles of steampipe are required, and
the electric light plant would adequate
" equip a small city. 1t represents a
rental of nearly 100000 a year, and
at a conservative estimate the daily
expenses of the store are 5000. When
II is considered that this enormous
sum is made up from the profits in
sales, for the most part in small par
GELS. one gets an linking Of the infinite
care in details and the perfection OF
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-04-17
WILHELMINA OF HOLLAND.
She Is the Idol Of Her Nation and Has
Mind Of Her Own.

Mind OF Her Own
When Queen Victoria inherited the
British throne she was scarcely more
popular than is the young Queen Of
Holland at the present moment. Tic
Dutch simply adore their young sew
ereign, and take the most intense in
terest in her coming Of age (which will
take place next August, and In her
possible marriage. Queen Wilhelmina
Is credited by her people with much
force of character: 1t is thought that
she will attempt to rule as well MS
reign. and her choice of a husband IL
therefore a matter of utmost impcr-
lance to the Dutch. The Wochen Zei-s
tung, Amsterdam, says on this sub
ject:
'''The many rumors of the Queens
approaching marriage are premature.
More than once she has declared that
she would prefer to remain single a.
long~a as possible. At any rate. 1t is
certain that the Queen will choose for
herself. She will not be railroaded
into marriage. Only recently she said:
4 love my loyal subjects, and hope TO
please them in every way. But II they
believe that they have voice in the
choice of my husband, they are dccid-
edly mistaken. If extreme measures
should be resorted to against me, !
shall be more energetic than ever.
will not be married against my will,
and l will-not be married at all ii ] am
not allowed to have voice In the mat
ter
Although there are many points OF
similarity between the position OF the
Queen of England and that Of the
Queen of Holland, there has sprung
up between the two countries an cs-
| arrangement since Wilhelmina inherit
ed the throne of Holland. For some
unaccountable reason the young Queen
has violent aversion to everything
English. The British press returns
this dislike with interest. Her figure
is ungainly, her lips are bloodless, !"
etc.. are things we read Of her in Life
and other English society papers.
These descriptions are reported to her
and do not assist her In overcoming
her dislike of Englishmen. The Vader-
land relates the following incident:
During a recent tour abroad the
Queen expressed wish to the Dutch
ambassador accredited to a foreign
court to meet his daughters. I do SO
wish to meet some Dutch girls, she
said. 4 am just dying for some one
to speak to me in my own language
Do send your daughters to me- 'Bul
my daughters do not speak Holland
ish, replied the unfortunate nobleman
MY girls were not born in Holland
they speak only English Then, FOL
heavens sake, do not send them to me,
replied Wilhelmina, wrathfully. !
will have nothing to do with Dutcl
girls who do not understand their owf
language Literary Digest.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-04-17
British Postal Savings.

One Of the greatest bankers IN the
world Is the British Government. As
n bank 1t holds nearly $500, 900 in
post Office deposits payable practically
on call, and pays interest at the rate OF
Q 10 per cent. per annum to It's deposit
tors. Last year the deposits increas-
ed $50, 900, 600 San Francisco News
Letter.
Some of the large life insurance com
panies are considering the adyisapln'y
of establishing a colossal san'tarium
for the care OF consumptiyes who de-
yelop the disease after insuring'
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-04-17
Ears and Hearing,


Snakes are believed not to hear well.
Beethoven was the only deaf musical
composer.
The ears of the garden slug are locat-
ed in his neck.
One kind of the medusae has, it i5
said, eighty ears.
One variety of the cricket has its ears
in its hind legs.
The ears of the fly are located near
the base of the wings.
Most grasshoppers have their ears
in the middle of the body.
The cavity Of the middle ear Is about
the size of kidney bean.
Thomas Holcroft wrote famous
comedy called Deaf and Dumb"
The United States has 4SO deaf mutes
to the million of population.
In 1864 national college for deaf
mutes was founded at Washington.
Caucasians are more liable to deaf
ness than people of any other race.
All carnivorous animals have small
ears, capable of very quick movement.
The blind are generally possessed OF
a singularly acute sense of hearing.
The crocodile hears remarkably well,
and has the rudiments Of an outer ear.
The mammalia are the only inferior
animals which possess an external ear.
There is no creature which possesses
a more sensitive hearing than the cat.
Scarlet fever and cerebro-spinal men,
nights are frequent causes of deafness.
In 1886 Bells method of visible
speech began to attract widespread at
| tention.
Strange as it may seem, most varie
ties of jellyfish have true organs OF
| hearing.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-04-17
Waterproof Leathcr.

An Austrian chemist is reported to
have solved the problem OF waterproof
ing leather by cheap and efficient
method. He employs solution of gela-
tine and five PARTS of bichronate OF
potash dissolved in 1900 parts Of water.
.Impregnating the leather with this soiu-
ton causes the albumen to coagulate in
the pores.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-04-17

system which go to make such enter
prises as they are. A man who has
himself conducted one Of these busl-
nesses recently made this statement:
''The profits Of the department store
are represented by the cash discounts
on its bolls."- Scribner's.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-04-17
TRY 1t, Girls.

1t is said that the juice OF the garden
beet. of the blackberry and the straw
berry, If rubbed lightly On the cheeks
and then washed of with milk, leaves a
beautiful rosy tint that more than rivals
thatof cosmetic paints, and suchvegeta-
bic juices are not of course injurious to
the most sensitive skin
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-11-26
NEW LAWS FOR ALASKA.
Many Bills VIII Probably he Intro
duced AT the Opening of

When congress assemblies in December
ore of the most important subjects that
Will come up FOR its consideration Is the
enactment Of new Laws 10 govern Alaska
uRder the conditions developed hv the
great discoveries Of mineral or the Yukon
river. AaDy private parties may D. de-
pended upon 10 have pet views on this
matter and tho Eve great eOrlnssr2ses
waicn have heretofore practically con-
tfoied Alaska VIII sac that lheir inter-
esis 30 not suffer.
These corporations are the Alaska Com
merciai Company, the North Afnerscan
Transportation and Trading ConapA ny.
which control the business OF the Yukon,
valley. the Alaska Packers Ass,,s,gs Tor,
and the TrCadweii Mining Company wsgeh
have tae3r interests in the scgt hfsss.,-y,
portion 81 the territory. and the <nr,n
American Commercial Company. whten
rules tas Pribilof islands and mas ne al
tng franchise. To lsSS extent TIE g,.t4a,,
Steam Whaling Company = interested IN
the southeast. though tss largest counee-
tons are In the whale fishery.
With the prospect OF 4 hundred ,hot.sa-,S
!aen rushing into tae territory and he
british Northwest early next spring and
~i'a the certainty ~ extensive prospecting
along TIE creeks and rivers CO The Ar,a-s-
can side numerous bills are tstrsr r,~..-
pared 10 change the old 0rgfer az ~overn-
nle't. The laws now ia force are ths
Inits>s States Revised Statutes a. rsrt.fy,-
ing - criminal procedure. ard he sts s,.t.s
OK Oregon a. iSss rs 20 c.yl law AZ a
E'&tter q tact each community anv s9is
a-i-ss sEel. lie .Sw 1a2as8ggc.A! esalsEs. u
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-11-26
TWO THIEVES CONFESS.
The Men Who Robbed n Dentlst's
OHicc Thought tn he Big Grim
inals From the East

The two thieves who entered the dental
office OF Or. j. n. Prather at II O'Clock
last Monday night. securing dental gold
valued at SO. a plate worth $50 three
rings, several small tools and few ar
tlcles OF clothing. have confessed to the
crime and have given away the present
location of the stolen goods. Most OF the
articles are In the hands of certain second
hand dealers. and they will be recovered
today.
The prisoners are Albert Rivers and
Emil Helt. Rivers has two front teeth of
solid gold and the police will look up the
records OF Eastern criminals supposed 10
have come West for a certain description
which NAV hold Rivers for more serious
crimes than the robbery of Or. Prather's
office When Helt was taken ne had on an
overcoat made In February. 1899. by
schlossmacher and tagged on tho inside
Of 'he right breast pocket as the property
OF Mr., Ferguson, II Il a handsome gar
,uent and would probably have been worth
when new Ssa or $40
Detective Williams had a tip that the
men were crooked several DAYS before the
burglary occurred. He Swallowed the men
patiently. discovered whore they were
lodging and had their rooms watched each
day. They did not seem 10 he drinking
men. They took daily promenares dress
ing quietly bur neatly. ard when tired re-
turned 10 their rooms. TIE day after the
office of pr. Prather was broken into two
pairs OF trousers. three shirts and several
dental tools were found i'm the rooms Of
the two men Convinced that these prara
the guilty men. Williams followed Thorn
on Wednesday To Pioneer place ana tootr
them IN charge,
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-11-26
BUILDING A STEEL BOAT.
Construction Started at Ballard ON n
$4,000 Craft for the yukOu

The Yukon Commercial Company has
commenced the construction at Ballard of
steel steamer for traffic on the Yukon.
1t VIII be built entirely OF mild ship steel
ana VIII be the first of the kind built on
the Pacific coast. The dimensions of the
boat are. deck. 20 feet long, II feet Q in
ches beam. feet inches moulded depth
IL Will cost when finished $4,000
e. NJ. Lane. of Chicago. is president of
the Yukon Commercial Company and
manages Its affairs. Sydney H. NcI.ane.
the designer and builder of the boat. was
the successful bidder from among eleven
contractors on the Coast Mr. McI.ane is
young man. but has had an extensive
experience In ship.building He built A
similar steamer river model. on a river
In Mexico. and has just finished the con-
struction OF three steamers AT Mobile, Ala
At his present yard hCtween the Wind s,,r
Lumber Company and Sobey & Co.'S mills.
he has erected suitable buildings for his
purpose He was compelled to bring his
WOODWORKING machinery and the steel en-
gines from Chicago but most of his sup
plies VIII be purchased at Seattle and Ral-
lard. He has force of twelve men at
work and expects to have the steamer fin
ished in April. The bow of the new model
Is called the spoon bow and will be the
brst OF that style for river steamers on the
coast After the boat is finished and
erected, ii will be taken apart and shipped
IN sections on a schooner to ST. Michael.
Mr.. McLane is negotiating for the pur-
chase of schooner of 80 tons burden.
III ne cannot purchase one on satisfactory
terms he will build one at Ballard,
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-11-26

a Law unto itself. and the companies are
supreme In their own preserves.
Louis Sloss. OF the Alaska Commercial
Company. is quoted in the San Francisco
Examiner as saying:
There Is no doubt in my mind that
bills TO provide many changes VIII make
their appearance. As far as we are con-
cerned we have 10 legislation to Offer, but
intend 10 wait the course of events To
my mind the greater part OF these meas
ures viii he wholly irnpraetieable. as they
will be drawn by people who know MOTH
ing OF the actual conditions in the terri
tory. Myo only fear is that the situation
viii become so muidied that no definite
and useful laws can be passed and Alaska
will struggle along as before. under the
antiduated system now prevailing.
Alaska is not suited for territorial gov
ernment.- The valley OF the Yukon is
practically closed eight months each year.
Suppose you had the election In NoveEn-
Der. The Yukon district would not be
open until the following June. How would
the territorial legislature convene before
the following June2 After IL had met, say
in Juneau. the Yukon members would be
in predicament 10 reach their homes
Aside from this. the shifting character
of the Yukon population would destroy
any stability Of this form of government
The miners who live in the valley are Ia
bic 10 pick up their belongings and their
food supplies az any moment and move 500
or 7f9 miles on the strength OF new strikes
Where there Is no agriculture or no per-
manent mining development as Is the case
on the American side of the bortieN there
can be no hope of permanent representa-
tive government.
my own ideas on this subject are very
simple. Granting that territorial govern
ment Is an fmpossihiiity-and such IT is on
account of the migratory restless popula-
tor1-the next best thing for congress to DO
Is TO enact proper criminal and civil laws
10 supplanf the out-of-date system in
force. This should be followed by an act
creating United States commissioners N
different districts and the commissioners
should have judicial power. II needfuI.
an appeal from their judgments could be
taken to the United States court at Sitka
or Seattle. The districts could be so ar-
ranged that the commissioner in charge
could be easily reached by the people. and
his decisions should be upheld by the army
and navy OF the country"
Secretary W. b. Bradford OF the Alaska
Packers Association. the company which
includes nearly all the salmon canneries in
Southeastern Alaska holds views almost
Identical with those of Mr.. Sloss.
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-11-26
BARK COLORADO BACK.
Horses and Cattle Of the Cameron
Expedition Safely Landed at
Pyramid Harbor.

The bark Colorado, which left here about
a month ago with 400 head of horses and
cattle for Pyramid harbor, returned yester-
day to her old berth at the City dock. She
had no freight and but one passenger Z.
Garvin, a feed dealer of Tacoma. The
round voyage was made In tow of the tug
Pioneer, the return trip being accom-
plished in just one week
Before leaving here in the latter part of
October the Colorado attracted great
deal of attention by reason of her large
cargo OF animals and the fact that they
were 10 be driven over the Dalton trail to
Fort Selkirk. thence to be taken down the
Yukon to the klondke. In charge OF the
cattle was j. G.. Cameron and a party of
fifty drivers. The accompanying outfits
were unique. For each animal was a small
sled and harness and pack saddle. The
plan was 10 drive the horses ahead and
break way for the cattle
The Colorado sailed from here on FRI
day. October ~. and before reaching Port
Townsend two or three steers died OF suf-
location. \ stop was made there and fans
were put in To- create an artificial draft.
The plan was successful for wnen the
Colorado arrived at Pyramid harhor she
had not lost another animal and all were
In much better condition than might have
been expected. They were landed withou.
difficulty and the bark proceeded To Skag-
uay. where n quantity of lumber WAS dis
charged onto scows and taken 10 Dyea to
be used in the construction of the Dyea
tram and the wharf. The lumber would
have been taken directly 10 Dyea. but the
wind was sweeping down so strongly from
thehead of Lynn canal that IL was con-
! sidered safer To unload a. Skaguay
The cattle expedition had not yet started
| over the trail ut the time the Colorado ief,
/ for Seattle party of Surveyors con
! nectea with the venture was at that time
| working about twelve miles up the trail
/ and they reported two feet of snow on the
/ ground. AT Skaguay a very light snow
/ had fallen.
Last Monday the Colorado passed al
! Mary island the steamer city OF Seattle
! bound FOR hyea and Skaeuay. She Is dut
! here tomorrow. Nothing was seen Of IN,
! steamer CITY of Topeka due here from
| juneau and Sitka, though a sharp waicr
/ was kept for her.