davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-07
TEkMS OF S~UBSCklrrlUh.
MELANGE

Lafcadio Hearn, once connected with
AMERICAN newspapers, but foreign
born and now married to a japanese
and living in Japan, has made a p
tation for himself as a writer wherever
che English tongue prevails. When he
published his first book the Messenger
pronounced him an extraordinary writ
er, whose descriptive powers were very
high and not excelled by any living
writer. The work he has done in the
half dozen or more years since he de-
scribed the destruction Of an island in
the Gulf Of Mexico not far from our
s%outhewn shores has but increased his
reputation as an artist in letters, and
given a more subdued and delicate
finish to his productions. His last
preceding it, is of Japan and it's peo-
pie. and Is entitled ''Gleanings in Bud
dha Fields. Studies Hand and Soul in the
Far East" 1t has been reported that
Mr.. Hearn has become a Buddhist him.
self. Whether true or otherwise, he
mas lived so long now among the
Japanese he has entered into their life,
studied their intellectual processes,
looked closely into their religious beliefs,
and is doubtless the best qualified man
living not OF Oriental birth and family
to interpret their inner life, their pecu-
iiarities, feelings. qualities, supersti-
tons and hopes. There is a strange
beauty and fascination in those pic
lures of Japan we nave read from him.
One appreciative English writer says
OF the ~"Gleanings," that it's ~"metaphys-
ical speculations are full of poetry and
suggestion" while in "the less shad-
owy world of japanese life, with it's
perennial youth and hoary antiquity, its
Gxurbant joyousness and subtle
pathos, it's robust vitality and delicate
sense of beauty, we cannot wish for
a more a~ppreciative and stimulating
guide"
The riches Of Hearn are SO full as to
embarrass, and if one should undertake
to quote he would be in great doubt
what to select when there is so much
that is beautiful and artistic and home
alike even.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-07
Consumption Positively Cured

Mr.. r.. B. Greeve, merchant, Of Chill
howie, Va, certifies that he had con-
sumption, was given up to die, sought
all medical treatment hat money
could procure, tried all cough demedies
he could hear of, but got no relief;
spent nights sitting up in a chair: was
induced to try DR.. Kings New Discov-
cry, and was cured by use of two bot
ties. For past three years has been
attending to business, and says DR..
Kings New Discovery is the grandest
remedy eve made, as it has done so
much for him and also for other in
his community. DR.. Kings New Dis
covery is guaranteed for Coughs, Colds
and Consumption. Il don't fail. Trial
bittles free at K. r. Bellamy's Drug
Store.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-07

commands. Remember that. We gave
1t a fortnight ago. and it is here. al
ways U Gods mercy makes US the
more dependent n the more bound tn
obey We are simply Obliged TO do
Gods VIII because Ii is Gods mercy
that sustains. We have all much tn
do under the reign OF Mercy. We have
to work as il all depended upon our
individual activity and fidelity. work
ing out u souls salvation with fear
and trembling. We must strive con-
tinually strive with all our might to
enter into the Kingdom Of Heaven.
We must be instant In season and out
OF season to make our calling and
election sure. This is required OF us
under Gods mercy. and yet salvation
is al! Of rae n we are saved
through the redemptive work of the
Son Of God. We may be in the church
and may believe that we have been
genuinely regenerated Of the HolyGhost.
but We must not relax effort in the
service OF God or Withhold our hands
in offices Of mercy and love. We must
be diligent, consecrated, faithful. Ex-
cept we abide in the ship we cannot be
saved. 1t will sail without US. leave us
stranded, buffeted, lost. We cannot
afford to neglect most urgent duties
or for a day be careless as to the de-
mand Of God, our Father. We must
be constantly exercising our souls in
the claims and exactions OF love,
which is the fulfllment Of law. Love
is the fruit and proof of faith. Read
Johns letters particularly. We must
be fixed in our religious principles.
S~teadfastness is a quality in genuine
religious life. We must be always
Astounding in good works. We must
not think OF giving up the fight, Of
abandoning the ship under any stress
and storm Of life, but must stick to
the good vessel. feeling confident that
it is u duty ito abide in the ship"
that we may be saved" in spite of
all dangers and the surging sea. We
must stay on board and try to warn
all others to be faithful and firm. Let
us persuade others to flee sin and get
aboard Of the old ship sailing for the
harbOr OF heaven.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-07

1t may be interesting to some of our
readers to follow the consideration of
Paul's exhortation to the ships com
pany still farther. The prophecy that
they would be saved but would be Ship
wrecked has been commented upon. The
promise to the 269 souls that a watery
grave should not be their fate, but
they would all cast upon a GER
tain island" was not the signal given
OF immediate relaxation Of duty, of
effort. The promise they believed, and
it was joyful n most comforting,
most ~reassuring, at one gracious and
merciful, and yet it did not mean that
they should sit down with folded arms
to doze until deliverance ana fulfill
ment came. 1t did not mean that. 1t
did no mean that all personal exer-
tions to keep the ship af1oat or on it's
true course should be abandoned. The
ship was driven UP and down. in the
tempestuous sea, but every man must
stand to his post. All must do their
duty. They sounded from time to time
to see whether the ship was drifting,
and found the fathoms were constantly
lessening. Presently they saw the
ship was in danger of plunging upon
the rocks, they began to fear and
meditated the plan Of abandoning the
ship and plunging into the deep. Then
came the warning Of the heroic
apostle-'Except these abide in the
ship, We cannot be saved" He spoke
to the captain-the centurion. There
is a lesson here. God saves by human
fundamentally. The men on s~hipboard
had received from heaven through
Paul as the instrument, the guarantee
OF being saved from death. Paul had
old them how he received the assur-
ance from God through an angel. they
believed and rejoiced, but under a
panic they were so overcome thew
were about to try fortune by plung-
ing into the stormy sea. Then came
the voice of rebuke-following the
p~romise-"God hath given thee all
them that sail with thee" That is
his, but it is contineud-"Except these
abide in the ship, We cannot be
saved" The safety of all on board
depended upon obedience to Paurs
authority. Acting independently, on
their own hook" they will be lost.
II he men on board best equipped
the experienced. trained sailors aband-
oned the ship and let the ship drift
at will all would be lost. The promises
Of God are sure. but they bind us by
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-07

There is a book recently published
called America and the Americans,
From a French Point of View" which
we have not seen. 1t is thought to be
very bright and in hearty admiration
of the north. Foreign writers do not
visit any other section. The south is
unknown to them. SO foreign books
like Stevens's and Bourgeois and others
are all about the north and its people
instead of about America and Ameri-
cans. Nj real America is the south.
The north today is more than half
European. Stevens's book contained
one chapter on the south n that was
a satire and burlesque rather than
sober impressions based on candid and
careful observation and inquiry. The
new book is said to be shrewd in COM
ment and Of acute observation. He is
reported as censuring American news
papers (northern remember) and the
corruption and futility Of American pol
stics'' northern again you see), and the
F~renchman even goes far enough to
write 'of the very false ideas as to
what constitutes, and what derogates
from true liberty" Rather amusing
that, for probably no man ever
lived in France who comprehended
American institutions by De Tocque-
xine,( fifty years ago. and not one ever
saw true liberty in France. But the
French observer saw how corrupt poll
tics were in cities he visited, n hecon-
cIuded from the sample brick how the
whole edifice was. He is perhaps not
far out of the way, when he writes,
that the theory of the political equal
ity of every man. is a good theory,
and it has, be it said in it's favor. done
AWAY with a certain servility OF the
bower to the upper classes; but. in prac-
4ice, it has ostracized good manner
and obedience in all classes, and put
the management of New York, Chica-
go, Philadelphia, and other cities In the
hands of unprincipled and Indifferent
xnoney-grabbers.' He is quoted as
saying, and it is remarkable. that "the
only individuals who told me that they
regretted the abolition Of slavery
were negroes" They have Jared worse
since freedom came than when they
Iived under good masters. II he a
asked as to the elective franchise for
negroes he would have received very
different replies. Many educated men
In the north have long ago found what
fools thew were when the clamOred for
the franchise for ignorant, unlettered,
incapable negroes. The Frenchman
makes one acute remark Of a phase
in the north: 1.-THE best society here
is idleness enjoying its success" He
thinks "best society can not be COM
poed possibly of professional idlers."
Very true this. The four hundred may
ret together and fiddle and dress and
dance and hug and think they are ap-
ples swimming above all other apples.
but they are self-deceived and hollow
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-07
and lazy and overcome by ennui and
tinsel and petty jeaIousies

written by Mr.. Andrew Lang for Lit
erature." Referring to Mary Queen Of
Scots. envoy to the court OF Elizabeth,
Sir James Melville, there Is a passage
copied from a letter Of Sir James that
certainly throws much light on the
character Of great Elizabeth" He
writes: The Queen could not refrain
from putting her hand in his" CLeices-
ter's) neck to kittle him, smilingly, the
French Ambassador and I standing
by"
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-07

DR.. Biggs, Of New York City, speak
ing before the board Of estimates, de-
clared that of every seven persons who
die in tina city one is a victim Of tu-
~berculosis consumption. Among the
working classes he said it was even
one-fourth-one in four. He asked for
a grant of $50, 600 for the care Of tuber-
culOsis in a special hospital.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-07

We are rejoiced to see it mentioned
that a very stubborn fight in congress
must be had before Hawaii is annexed.
SO says Senator Allison. We hope the
treaty will be smashed.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-07

w. w. Millwee. a man of wealth,
killed two Smiths, brothers, in a stree,
fight at Horatio, Tenn. 1t grew out OF
an old feud.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-07

Among American writer's since James
are other notable contributions to the
fictic world. We may note Mitchelrs
Hugh Wynne," a genuine historic ro-
nance with some defects that will i'm
press the attentive reader; Fox's short
novel, THE Kentuckians,' full OF life
and vigor; Wister's new volume of
stories. He is a writer OF rather unique
powers, but is a careful writer and
shows close study Of the one field he
occupies supremely-life on the plains
ahead of civilization. Miss Wilkins is
better praised abroad for her Jerome"
than at home. James's last story is
damned for its vulgarity. Miss Muir
frees last story is thought to be equal
to her best. She has genius, and We do
not know of any living novelist in this
country that excels her. Some may
think that Crawford is foremost. He
is certainly far more interesting than
Howells. Among northern novelists we
would say that James Howells, Craw-.
ford and Wilkins were first, unless Mrs.
Catherwood is to be placed with them.
Among southern writers Allen and Miss
Murfree are easily first. AS story writ
ers Miss King, and Mrs. McEnery
Stewart, are clever and interesting.
Mrs. Harrison and Miss Glasgow and
Miss Magruder, all Virginians, have
made regulations in the north by re-
cent works. There are other writer's Of
whom we know nothing special, but
cite Miss Ellen o. Kirk, Blanche Willis
Howard, Miss Jewett, Mrs. French,
known as Octave Thanet," the author
Of Gates Ajar" and other clever
books, who is very interesting and al
most with genius. One of the brightest,
wittiest, and most interesting Of
American writer's is Mrs. Wig
gin. We notice a remark in
Literature" hat arrests at once. 1t
says: Beyond doubt, the poetry Of
New England has often been rated
above it's merit, till even in New Eng
land itself the normal reaction Of HUI
man nature has ended by rather un-
derestimating it's value" Edgar Poe
long ago pointed out some of this
Generating" They paid him back by
denying his genius and exposing his
unfortunate, dissipated life.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-07

One of the best selling books ever
issued in England of it's kind is Lord
Roberts's "Forty-one Years in India"
He is the favorite soldier Of his
try and no doubt it's best. In the
Queens Jubilee procession he rod alone
on his favorite white war steed, and
was indeed the observed Of 'all obser-
vers. Three editions a month are re-
quired to meet the demand for his
work. This is for England. The
book sells fast in India and there is
another and special edition for it. 1t
also commands a good sale in the United
States. An edition for the blind is to
be issued in England. The life Of Ten
nyson is in it's fourth edition in the
United States although a $40 work. At
Lyons, in France there is a committee
styled Edgar Allen Poe Committee"
The object is said to be to find if posi-
novel WRITER'S" POe has more fame be-
yond seas than n man born on this
continent. He outranks all New Eng
land poets in genius both in Great
Britain and in France. It is said in
England that Robert Southey's fame
depends more upon what Thomas De
Quincy wrote of him than upon his
own volumnious writings, prose and
verse. His life of Nelson is a fine
speciman Of biography Of hat kind.
But little of his poetry is now read or
will probably survive a hundred years
from his death. OF recent English nov
els Perpetual" by Barring Gould, The
People Of Clopton" by George Bartram,
and "Another's Burden" by James
Payn are we'll written of.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-07

In Utah the election gave the women
candidates a dreadful setback. Every
woman candidate on both tickets raj
behind the men. And the foremost
men defeated Selah!
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-07

There is an anti-footbalI resolution
before the Virginia legislature. They
should try their hands on an anti
cigarette law also.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-07

What is the matter with Bismarck!
He says American arrogance must be
suppressed. Too much poking of the
American finger in Germany's pie.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-07

The political humbugs talk now of
the Empire Of the United States If
the people do not wake up their lib
critics may be stolen and then the lordA
ly fellows will speak Of the American
SerfS,
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-07

1t is all bosh about Captain Evan
Howell being at the head Of a new
Atlanta paper. He knows nothing of
it he says.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-07
SNAPS.

The charges against three prominent
Georgia Methodist preachers were in
v~estigated and found baseless.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-07

Virginia is to be warmly congratulated
in having the eloquent Senator Daniel
to be his own successor.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-07
RELIGIOUS EDITORIALS FOR
SUNDAY.

Were the mo o famous preachers Of
the past in Europe. in Great Britain, in
the north. in the south overrated? Was
there a glamour thrown over their
performances? Were WhitefieId and
and Bossuett and Robert Hall and other
great lights overpraised? Read what
Whitfield did and get the answer.
Robert Hall. at Bristol, generally
preached to his congregation to its
felt. DR.. Olinthus Gregory. the astron-
omer, who was Halls biographer, says
that often he saw the entire congre-
cation standing when the great pulpit
orator closed. II o would acquaint
yourself with some OF the greatest pro-
Sermon On Modern Infidelity," 'On
War" and on the Death Of the Prin-
cess Charlotte" Unlike Halls works
Whitefield's sermon do not read we'll,
do not impress you. There have been
many great preachers since Hall
SpurgeOn, Chalmers, Lyman Beecher,
his son Henry Ward, Bascom, DR.. Fin
ney. Stockton, and others, in the north.
In the south there have been some very
notable preachers too, among them
Hawks, Andrew Broadus, John Kerr,
Lovick Pierce, Munsey, etc. We do
not believe that the pulpit has lost it's
power. There are scores Of men in the
pulpit today in the south who will rank
with an equal number of the old
preachers if you will except a very
few. Possibly a half dozen in the
whole country from the beginning
could be named who have no equals
now in the power over men. But as a
whole, the pulpit is not degenerated.
We heard a gentleman and OF intefli-
gence-a man more thar fifty-say
that he heard in Baltimore some years
ago., a Methodist from Texas who sur
passed any in eloquence he has ever
heard. No, that is not it, upon reflec-
ton. He heard a lawyer of Baltimore
say that. He not only pronounced it
the greatest sermon he had heard, but
49, W. Ai0SAA NAN LAIN "
thought and much of the language.
A northern paper spoke of the effects
OF Moody's and Fay Mills meetings
and the large attendance being greater
than those Of Whitefield and Finney
and others. Whitefield spoke to a will
derness. There are ten hearers now to
one then. But Moody is not a great
man, a superior intellect, a really
great preacher. He is most earnest,
I most faithful, most useful, most
sensible, most successful. Mills does
not even know what he believes, and
he never preached a genuine Gospel.
AS to real ability, they are small men
compared with scores Of preachers liv-
ing today in the south. In we'll nigh
sixty years hearing OF preachers we
have this to say: the most purely ell
oquent sermon we ever heard was by
Rev. Thomas G.. Lowe, in 1864. The
greatest Intellectually was by Bishop
Wilson, within six years. One or more
of the finest we ever heard
were within the last three years.. On
the other hand, we suppose there are
as many poorly equipped preachers
now as at any time in the history of
nineteenth century civilization. There
is a great deal of fustian and ant that
are mistaken for eloquence.
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1897-11-06
Aartx Mountain Canarlcs.

Milwaukee supplies the United states
with the bulk Of the Harris Mountain
canaries, and there IL no great crime in
the deception, Tor the Milwaukee bird
Is really an improvement on tho I'm.
ported article, having just as tine a
voice and being much harder.
Experience Inns shown That the I'M.
ported singer loses the power Of trans.
hitting his voice to the young after
passing through an American winter.
This II the casa also, 1t Is said, with
TyrOlcan singers who come to this
country, their voices losing the peculiar
yOdling quality when they have been
here year. The native canary Is
harder than the imported one. and.
with proper training, Is every bit as
good q singer.
Before they are mated the hen birds
are kept In separate cages In the music
room, carefully fed and made to listen
to the music of the singers ana the ma
chine used In training their voices. In
this way the hen Is enabled to transmit
the best musical quality to her on
spring. Tho music room IL large one,
with south exposure, and Is kept with
the same scrupulOus neatness rs the
breeding room. In the corner of this
room Is the bird organ, ana with 1t the
little birds are given their vocal train
ing.
When the machine Is started the
notes emitted are wonderfully like the
song of the untutOred canary. These
notes are known to bird trainers by the
term pfeiffen. Gradually the whistle
strikes onto different line. 1t Is an
Improvement over the pfeiffcn, ana Is
called the klingel role. \ higher step
still Is called the klingel, ana Il still
higher step hohl klingel. Lastly comes
what Is called hol rOllen, ana bird
whose voice has been developed up ia
that point Is worth $50 In the market
any day.--Milwaukee Sentinel.
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1897-11-06
Tho kinR'a Nlistake.

Evidently the King Of Siam Is still
n good deal Of barbarian. II he had
proiitcd as much by European instruc.
ton Us we have been told, he never
would have given such IN absurd ex.
cuse as he has for dcferring his visit
to the United States. 1t would take.
he says, six months ut least to get IN
intelligent idea Of America and Amerl.
cans. and, as he has only few weeks
more to spare from affairs Of state, no
Is going to wait until he has more lels.
ure! This will disgrace Chulalongkorn
oil over Europe. and ruin his laborious.
ly acquired popularity. Any British,
French or German traveller would have
told him that from three to six weeks
here would enable man Of ordinary
intelligence to know Us inside and out
and set down the conclusion Of the
whole matter In big book. Haven't
they done 1t time and again. and aren't
they men Of ordinary, very ordinary
intelligence?-New York Times.
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1897-11-06
Tho Head Waitress.

The head waitress Is beginning to RI.
val the prOverblal theological student
In the dinlng.rooms Of New England
hotels. She occasionally appears In
New Jersey. In noted hostclry In the
Berkshire hills the long dining.room
acknowledges the bcnignant sway Of
the head waitress. Clothed entirely In
black, with only a line Of white ut
throat and wrists, her costume Is diff.
ferentiated from the uniform Of her
troop Of assistants. All the other wal.
trcsses are In white duck or plquc. stiff.
fly starched mo fiimsy organdies or
Victorian lawns being used.
Along the long wall Of the dining.
room Is a row Of well.separatcd high
stools. There Is one by each table, and
on this the waitress IL perched when
not attending TO her table. 1t looks odd
ut first 10 see them perched up high
when not on duty. but hotel guests are
not always punctual ut coming to
meals. ana the arrangement IL thor.
oughly humane. The height Of the
seat ana Its position prevent what
would appear rs breach Of etiquette
did the waitress take one Of the table
chairs. The fashion introduced II q
sensible Innovation. --PhiladclphIa Rec.
ord.
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1897-11-06
HOnost Sweden.

In Sweden u crime Is an event; theft
particularly Is very rare. Honesty IL
the fundamental quality of the race,
Is naturally recognized and officially
counted upon. In this regard the Stock.
hOlmcrs show a confident carelessness
which is always a surprise to strangers
and causes them some uneaslness. In
the theaters and concert halls there are
large cloak rooms, where hats ana furs
are left without the smallest safe
guard; the performance over each one
again takes possession of his effects.
and an accident never occurs. The in
habitants are accustomed to expect a
reciprocal probity In the transactions
of everyday life. Upon most of the
tramways In Stockholm conductors
have been dispensed with. The passen-
ger himself deposits his ten ore In q
little till placed at the end Of the vc-
hicle, behind the driver. 1t Is patri-
archal--and omical.-Parislan.