davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Mesa free press., 1897-09-10
A Sparrow Prima Donna.

M. Mingaud, naturalist of Mines,
France, gives, in La Revue Scientifique,
an interesting account of the musical
accomplishments of sparrow in his
collection of living birds. He captured
the sparrow soon after 1t had been
Matched and fed it by hand until it
could care for itself. Then he placed it
in cage containing chaffinch, a gold,
finch and two canaries. After time
the sparrow learned to warble like the
finches and to trill like the canaries, the
limitations being so perfect as to deceive
the ear. In spring M. Mingaud is ao
customed to keep box Of crickets near
his birdcages. Two days after the
crickets had been placed near the cage
containing the sparrow the latter began
to initiate their cry, intermingling it
with it's songs. Even after the crickets
had long been dead the sparrow remem
bred it's lesson and continued to repeat
their cry. None Of the other birds at
tempted to initiate the crickets Singu,
larly enough, the sparrow never utters
the peculiar squalling cry of it's owD
species, having been removed from its
nest too early, apparently, to have
learned it.
Mesa free press., 1897-09-10
An Amorous Ghost.

There is a genuine haunted house of the
old fashioned kind in Ponckhockie, near
Kingston, n. Y, and people won It live in
it. 1t belonged to the late Squire Josiah
Du Bois, who in the material life was a
spiritualist and is apparently in the spirit
ual life materialist, for it is averred
that the shade of old Du Bois haunts the
house and hugs women.
James Burke lived in the haunted house
until the wrath of Du Bois took it into
its ghostly head to hug Mrs Burke, who
is comely. Mr.. Burke found his wife "
ing on the psrlor floor in swoon. She
told her husband when she recovered that
she had seen shadowy form and that the
ghost had caught her in his arms and hug
ged her.
Not only was she badly scared, but her
sense OF wifely propriety and dignity was
outraged, and she declared she would not
submit to the ignominy of being oaressed
by departed spirit again. So the Burkes
moved out, and now strange noises are
heard in the dead of night in the house,
and people walk on the other side of tho
way and whisper with white lips:
"Old Du Bois is walking again."
Mesa free press., 1897-09-10
Orsini's Headaches.

DR.. Lees told one amusing story about
Orsini at Blaydon Hall. which showed
the latter as very simple man. Orsi-
nj, at one time, complained every
morning of his head. 81 ave one bad
headache" he used to say at breakfast
to Mrs. Cowen. One night Joseph Cow.
Ell detected a strong smell of gas pro-
ceeding from Orsini's room. He went
to see what was the matter and found
the explanation Of Orsini's bad head
aches. The room was quite dark, and
the gas had not been turned off, "What
did you do with the gas?" asked Cow
en-. "Blew him OUT" said Orsini, who
had never seen gas burner before. The
headaches then ceased. They were ef-
fectually cured some months later at
the instance of the emperor of the
French. h.-Westminster Gazette.
Mesa free press., 1897-09-10
Named the Fabrics.

At very early period in the north
ern republics of Italy commerce and
manufacture became very active, due in
q great measure to the stimulus given
by the maritime supremacy of the cities
of Genoa, Pisa and Venice and to the
corresponding activity in trade in such
prosperous interior cities as Milan,
Florence. Bologna and Padua. Milan
and Mantua gave us milliners and man.
tua makers, and Leghorn attached it's
name to certain kind of hat and straw.
England, Ireland and Scotland have
given a number of names to fabrics
made in certain localities, of which
tweeds, cheviots and linsey woolsey are
familiar examples. Worsted comes from
the village of Worsted, near Norfolk,
and drugget may be traced to Droghe-
da, Ireland.
Other materials Of diverse origin are
batiste, so called from its French in
ventor, Baptiste, and grenadine, which
waa first made in Grenada. The deri-
vation Of the word jet is quite interest
ing. 1t was first found near the river
and town of Gagas, in Asia Minor,
whence its old French name, gagate,
3ayet or jaet, which eventually devel-
oped into the English jet.
Mesa free press., 1897-09-10
un,uar - sueon OF ~. a. m,

- -. -
upward sweep of the cloak. The bull
passes under it with lowered head and
closed eyes. The man salutes the audi
ence, which applauds the dexterous move
| ment, or ''quit.'
Meanwhile the red shirted and capped
assistants are dragging the prone picador
from under his welterng horse. Some
times the bull does not follow the cloak
after the charge. Then the slicing horns
rip and rip, and there is one more picador
gone. These horsemen show the superbest
courage. They lie perfectly still, trusting
ell to their comrades
This time the horse Is lifted bodily and
hurled against the barrier. The picador is
jammed between. There Is stiffness, brok-
en- by child's shrek. Again the scarlet
cloaks draw off the bull. The picador is
dragged out with leg broken. despite it's
iron case.
And now commences the real fighting
of the bull. Now the sensations change
to genuine excitement.
A 1.-the athlete in red velvet, gold en-
broidery and silk approaches the still agile
bull He holds in each hand banderilla,
or foot ribboned stick, ending in
inch steel barb. He can only thrust
with lowered head and wicked horns.
Man and beast approach each other With
the bull right upon him the banderillero
leans over, plants his barbs springs won
derfully aside, and the curved horns miss
him about six inches Believing with
rage the animal receives four more sting
ing banderillas. He Is frothing at the
mouth, and his fanks are heaving.
The trumpets blow. The matadore ap-
proaches the presidential box. Removing
his hat he begs permission to kill, tosses
his. hat over the barrier and takes his sword
and small scarlet silk banner. He ap-
proaches the bull, holding the banner in
his right hand. Quite close he comes, and
the bull charges. A short turning side
step and Mazzantini dexterously sweeps the
banner so as to bring the bull short
around facing him again. Time and time
again he repeats it. The closer the needle
pointed horns shave him each passage the
louder howls the audience.
The bull is firing. Now he stands, but
his head is turned slightly. Again he is
tempted to charge and Is brought about
perhaps by the aid Of another toreador
with larger cloak. Now he stands correct
ly, front feet even, head we'll up. Quickly
Mesa free press., 1897-09-10

thor, has eloped with Nine. Warnet, wife
of the distinguished composer.
Richepin is one Of the most picturesque
men in Paris 1t was he who few years
ago accompanied Sarah Berhhardt when
she horsewhipped Mile. Colon bier. He
throttled M. Soudan, the journalist who
was present, and then prevented that gen.
tleman from protecting Nine Bernhardt's Is
victim. 1t was Richepin who was the au-
thor of Nine. Bernhardts suppressed
book, "Marie Pigeonnier.
Richepin is handsome, athletic man of
40. He Is brilliant scholar, has been a
soldier, poet, a journalist and author and
finally dramatist. The press has him
for contributor, the theater for critic,
the Cafe Anglais for a patron and La Bo-
heme for one of it's most striking figures.
M. Richepin was born in Africa and
Is as dark as mulatto. His parents
were from Picardy, and it is said that the
brilliant Partisan has gypsy blood in his
veins
No one is surprised at his latest esca-
pade. 1t is quite in line with his charac-
ter, which is seldom at loss for some sort of
surprise for friends and the public. Peo-
pie are now asking, "What will ne do
next?'
About the only specimen of Richepin' S
style that is familiar to Americans Is the
song "The Mothers Heart" which was
sung last winter by Yvette Guilbert. Here
is Arthur Symon's translation of it:
There once was a lad-alack for his lot!
And he loved one who loved him not.
She said to him: $50 bring to my feet,
Thy mothers heart for my dogs meat.
Get thee home; slay her, not wait"
He took the heart and he ran with it straight.
As he ran he fell to the ground
And in the clay the heart rolled round.
AS the heart rolled round in the clay
The heart spoke, and he heard it say
He heard the heart say in his ear:
"Hast hurt thyself, my dear? Oh, my dearl"
Mesa free press., 1897-09-10
HARD TO KILL.
Two New York Women Who Are Appar.
emily Bullet Proof.

Two New York Women Who Are Appar-
emily Bullet Proof.
Some human beings achieve greatness
by riding 200 miles on a bicycle in one
day. Others buy greatness by means of
their millions Still others have greatness
thrust upon them by not dying when they
were expected to die by profound medical
thinkers.
New York has two beings Of the latter
kind at present, who were inconsiderate
enough not to die when expected to do 80
by their respective assailants and the hos
pital doctors. The first of these is Mrs
Lena Hardy. She was shot five times by
her husband and then struck on the head
with a hatchet.
The assault was committed at their
home, and 1t took the ambulance nearly
an hour to reach the. injured woman.
When the young surgeon saw her state, he
expressed the opinion that she would not
live to reach the hospital. AS a matter of
duty he took her to the Harlem hospital,
where she was put under ether and her
wounds examined.
One bullet had gone into her shoulder,
another through the neck, one through
her arm, and two were imbedded in her
left side, two Of the latter puncturing the
Mesa free press., 1897-09-10
MY MOTHERS VOICE.

Oft in my happy dreams Of infancy
A voice was heard in that blest "long ago."
Now rising sweet and clear, then soft and
low,
In ripping tones Of wondrous melody.
All through my childhood rang that happy
voice,
Which fainter grew, as youth came on apace,
Yet echoed on, when, weary of life's race,
heard its tones which bade my heart rejoice.
Far from that happy home, yet not alone,
Iwander, bearing in my heart that song,
Which fingers, guarding me from every
wrong.
ever hear its DID, familiar tone
Martha A. Kidder in New York Home Jour-
nal.
Mesa free press., 1897-09-10
MRS. LENA HARDY.

lung. The bullets were extracted, and
the woman rallied slightly. The next day
she showed symptoms of recovering, and
the doctors determined to help nature a
bit.
The hatohet wound in the forehead was
cleansed and sewed up, and from that mo
ment Mrs. Hardy proceeded rapidly to-
ward health and in month was dis
charged from the hospital.
The other case is that of Mrs. Rosina
Drolet, the young Frenchwoman who was
shot by her lover, Ferdinand Herve, in
tlAe hallway of Harlem fathouse. Herve
committed suicide at the same time, but
his intended victim will be as we'll as ever
in few days.
One of the bullets pierced her neck,
making an ugly wound near the jugular
vein. Another went through the right
lung and the third through the right arm.
Her case, too, was pronounced hopeless,
but after the bullets were extracted she
rallied and Is now within sight of COM
plete recovery.
Mesa free press., 1897-09-10
THE PORTER HIS BoOTJAck.
A Struggle In q Pullman Which Inter-
ested the Car.

n struggle In Pullman Which Inter-
ested the Car.
A traveller recently witnessed an
amusing episode on a train between
Chicago and Kansas City. A very re-
spectacle and we'll to do old gentleman
was in the car. When bedtime came,
he struggled with his boots. He first
put one foot on his knee and tugged.
As he was travelling his boots were new.
The boot wouldn't bulge in that posi-
ton, so he placed the toe of the other
boot against the heel and tried it that
way. The boot stuck. Then he hooked
his foot around the other leg and took
hold of the heel and tried to "work" it
of, but it wouldn't come. At last he
went in search of the porter and de-
manded bootjaok.
''Olar to goodness, boss, amt got one
In de cyah. Unc' George don't furnish
as no bootjacks. !"
Sympathizing passengers tried to
think the old man out of his troubles,
and drummer. as usual, brought forth
the best suggestion:
MAKE the porter pull them off, he
said.
So the porter took off his jacket and
turned back his cuffs and went to work.
He tugged and pulled and seesawed
the boot back and forth and perspired
and grunted, but the boot wouldn' It
move. The drummer filed the breach
again.
''I used to pull my grandfather g
boots off sometimes when was boy. "
he said. "Tell you how did it. Turn
round, |" he said to the darky. The
darky turned. tNow take the boot be-
tween your legs, grasp the heel and toe
and yank. !" The darky did so. The old
gentleman clung desperately to the seat.
The boot began to move and finally slid
off, almost throwing the puller across
the Car. The crowd applauded.
City Star.
Mesa free press., 1897-09-10
Ancient Thermopylae.

An officer of the English intelligence
department. reports that in spite Of the
fact, which Is we'll known, that the sea
has receded since ancient times, the
strategical position of this ancient pass
Is still immensely strong. The alterna-
tive route by Delight, which crosses the
hills a mile and half north of the
springs by well engineered zigzags, is
equally capable of defense and leads in
to country of a most difficult charac-
ter. Either pass might be held indefi-
nitely by 5000 men. The coast road is
absolutely commanded from the heights
80 that comparatively small force
would render it impossible, while the
fat lowland lying near the sea is
marshy and intersected by dikes. lAt''
Mesa free press., 1897-09-10
Feed Offenders to Alligators.

Among the Seminole Indians of Florida
there Is no lynching. When any of those
offenses are committed which usually lead
to lynching, these Indians seize the of
tenders and turn them over to the alliga-
tors. A few days ago the tribe caught a
missing couple and tied them to stakes
near the waters edge, about 80 feet apart
Then they tied dog between them to at
tract attention. For the entire day they
were left there in the hot sun, and then at
sunset the alligators crawled out and first
devoured the bowling dog and afterward
the man and woman.
Mesa free press., 1897-09-10

winter at Circle City and make prepara-
tions for establishing an army post
somewhere in the vicinity. He will also
make personal observations as to the
manner in which the Canadian govern
ment treats the American uitlanders.
There are few officers in the army
who are better qualified to undertake
this mission than Captain Ray. He
knows all about the arctic winter, for
he has passed not few seasons in the
far north. In 1881 he was assigned to
the command of the international polar
expedition to Point Barrow, and soon
after his arrival there he esta ablished
meteorological station at Uglaamie,
Alaska, which he commanded for two
years. Captain Ray is 55 years old.
When his soldiers reach him, he will
need to be diplomat and strategist as
we'll to keep them from deserting at
once and going across the border to join
the gold diggers. 1t can hardly be ex-
pected that men earning but $13
month can stand around and see others
pick up fortunes without wanting to
try their own luck. 1t has been suggest
ed that in order to keep the men in the
ranks their pay be increased to $50
month and that they be allowed to do a
little prospecting as side issue.
Perhaps Captain Ray may get some
valuable points on how to keep men
from deserting from the officers of the
force which the Canadian government
has in the district If there is one thing
that Canada is especially proud of it is
this force. The Northwest mounted po-
lice were organized in 1878, soon after
the massacre of white settlers by the
Assiniboin Indians. The first detach-
ment set out consisted Of 30 men, but
since then the force has been increased
until there are more than 1000 men in
the ranks. They are divided up into
squads, which are located at stations
about 40 miles apart.
The typical Northwest mounted po-
liceman is younger son of an old Eng
lish family. He has had college edu-
cation, but has failed to find business
position at home which he could accept
with dignity, so he has chosen Canada
instead of South Africa or Australia
and has enlisted for five years at so
cents day "and found" He is sent
to some post on the desolate prairie,
where he is taught to ride horse like
a cowboy and made to do menial work
for the officers.
Like the London constable or bobby" Z"
his duties are numerous and varied,
but chiefly he is kept busy through
the summer season in keeping whisky
Mesa free press., 1897-09-10
A SPANISH BULLFlCHT
A Sunday Scene In the Arena
at Madrid.
BEAUTY APPLAUDS THE SPORT
Animals Slaughtered and Men Manned to
Make Spanish Holiday-The Picador's
nuisite Skill.

Superb Courage and the Matadore's Tx
quisite Skill.
Six hours ago all the women and many
of the men of Madrid were being solemnly
summoned by tolling bells to church and
prayer and devotion. Now all the men
and many of the women are rolling to the
merry jingle of mule bells toward the bull
ring and frenzy and BLOOD writes Sylves-
ter Scovel in the New York World.
This Sunday afternoon sees Is, 600 afoot,
astride and seated, all bound for the com
mon Mecca. Once through the swarming
crowd of water girls and fan sellers, the
great amphitheater stretches out and
around us. Men look like little boys.
Fifteen thousand people will occupy seats.
Six thousand more will have to stand to-
day, for a liberal percentage of the profits
of this "corrida" is to care for the Spanish
peasant boys who have gone obediently to
fight in Cuba for an end which really
means nothing to them.
But the city folk of Madrid have strong
interest in the maintenance of Spanish
officeholders in Cuba and have turned out
in force today. The red and yellow flags
and awnings the white lace mantillas
of the women and the glowing colors OF
their dresses form brilliant mass of color.
Fans are waving. Every man and wom-
an has one.
The royal box is the only dark spot.
The queen regent has courage enough to
show her disapproval of brutalizing
thing by staying away from even benefit
for the very wounded in whose behalf she
is so interested.
Now through massive gate under the
royal box ride into the ring two handsome
men in rich cavalier costumes of black
and gold A tremendous clapping of hands
Mesa free press., 1897-09-10
Very Romantic.

''Wasn't that romantic?" said the
elderly maiden boarder.
wasn't what romantic?" growled
the bachelor boarder, as there was no
one else at the table to pay attention to
the lady's question.
"Here Is story of man who put
down his wife 8 name in his tax list and
valued her at 81, 1,000,0 ,00O."
"Huhl I'll bet he is figuring ON let
ting the taxes 60 delinquent and having
her sold. "-Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Mesa free press., 1897-09-10

smugglers away from the Indian res
ervations and in stamping out prai-
rie fires. In winter he devotes most of
his efforts to keeping alive through the
long, cold nights. Besides this he col
lects customs duties when he can, en-
forces the cattle quarantine, sees to it
that Yankee sportsmen take out $50
license when they hunt big game and
collects census statistics. Now he will
be called upon to make American min
ers give big share of their hard won
gold to the Canadian government, and
it will be the hardest job he ever tackled.
G.. T. BAXTER.
Mesa free press., 1897-09-10
Suicide of Russian Doctors.

The many free and heavily endowed dis
pensaries in Russia are responsible, ao-
cording to The Lancet, for large per-
centage of the many suicides among ply
sioians of that country. Doctors fees are
generally very low, 30 kopecks, or cents,
being not uncommon charge for an Office
Mesa free press., 1897-09-10
The One Thing Lacking.

"Why does the young wife of old Mr..
Cresus always look SO unhappy? He
gives her everything she wants, doesn't
he?''
Everything except widowhood. -
Chicago Post.
Mesa free press., 1897-09-10

Within the last decade the population
of Europe has increased by about 80,
900, 900, of whom Russia contributed
10, $40, 900 and France only $1,000.
Mesa free press., 1897-09-10

The Austrians are great smokers.
The daily consumption of matches in
that country is 30 for each inhabitant.
Mesa free press., 1897-09-10
A BRILLIANT ROGUE.
Latest Escapade of the Erratic French
Poet, Jean Richepin.

Paris is in full enjoyment of a fresh SEN
sation. which has stirred to the bottom Its
literary circle and society generally. Jean
Richepin, poet, novelist and dramatic au-
The Portland daily press., 1897-06-24
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE NOW.
Change Favorably Announced by Presi
dent Harris.

Bangor, June 23-At the close of the
University of Maine today, the president,
DR.. Harris, announced formally the
change of the name of the Institution,
from Maine State college, to the one now
in use, according to the act of the legis-
lature passed last winter.
Then the diplomas were conferred on "a
members of the senoir class and the fol-
lowing special degrees were recorded:
Master of civil engineering, Hugo Clark,
Bangor; Irving NJ Clark, New York city;
Leon Huston Jones, Boston; Elmer H.
Greenwood, Skowhegan; Ambrose FL.
White, Watertown.
Master of Sciences Edward Sew all
Abbott, NJ. D.. Bridgton; Prof. James
Martin, ssNowland; Rev. William b.
Oleson, Honolulu; William Robinson
Pattangall, Esq, Machias-
Master of Mechanical Engineering g,
Austin Dinsmore, Houghton.
At the close of the exercises the COM
mencement dinner was spread IN Orono
Town hall and was enjoyed by large
number of alumni of the university. The
master of ceremonies was William Rob
inson Pattangall of Machias.
The university trustees voted to refer
the plan for the establishment of a school
of law to a committee composed of Dr.
Harris, President Lord of the trustees,
Col.C.P. Allen of Presque Isle, and Hon.
VIM. T. Haynes.
The class reunions in the chapel at
the university this afternoon were largely
attended and the exercises were of an
informal nature, consisting of toasts and
"reminiscences of college days. This eve
ming the president held reception at his
brilliantly illuminated and the evening
enlivened by the college orchestra.