davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Kansas City daily journal., 1897-02-09

dress gave their own case away in the
paragraph devoted to the land Spectator.
1t was recited that the single tax would
impose such burdens upon him that he would
be glad TO get rid of his land. The law
could hardly discriminate between spec
ulator and farmer when it came TO levy
ing taxes and therefore, if it is true that
single tax would lay an increased burden
upon the speculator, is it not also true that an
equal burden would fall upon the farmer?
1t is folly TO suppose that under system
of land taxation which is distributed eQuit-
ably, one class of land owner will be
damaged and another class benefited.
We are still of the opinion that what
ever advantages the single tax may or
may not possess as a universal system
it offers no selfish consideration to the
farmers of Kansas.
Kansas City daily journal., 1897-02-09
The walls Have Ears.

From the New York Sun.
1t was a radiant night in June, and as
they walked slowly up the roselit path
from the quaint little gate by the road, he
bent his head lower and touched her check
with his lips.
She looked up at him in surprise
Perhaps he had been hasty; perhaps it
was not his right to touch the shrine of
his worship; perhaps the moon had never
seen . sight like that; perhaps the fra
GRANGE of the rose and the honeysuckle
had never fallen on the air of June that
lovers breathe; perhaps she did not know
the measures of his heart beats; perhaps
-perhaps-oh, word uncertain, filed with
the mystery of man and woman.
His eyes met hers. tremulous with emo
tion unspoken, and they moved silently
toward the house with his arm about her
shoulders, as comrades walk.
You are the most beautiful woman
ever saw he whispered; the one woman
in the whole world l love-
As she threw her arms about his neck
in rapture the four walls of the house
fell to the earth with a dun thud.
That man and that woman had been
married ten years.
Kansas City daily journal., 1897-02-09
HELPLESS ARMENIAN ORPHANS.

The international committee at Constan-
tinople, of which the British ambassador is
the chairman. reports that 10000 Armenian
children have been left orphans by the
recent massacres by the Turks. These
pitiful witnesses of the terrible atrocities
which cannot yet be fully comprehended
by them. present a particularly eloquent
plea for the consideration of the civilized
nations of the world. The Armenians are
probably safe from further massacres, for
checked by any organized interference by
the European powers. called out such omi-
nous expressions that even the unspeak-
able monarch was compelled to call halt
The question of the protection of these
little children is now even more important
than the punishment of the offending ma
ton and the demand of the powers that
restitution be made to the afflicted fami-
lies Unless aid is sent from the philan-
thropIc nations many of these orphaned
ones will die of exposure or starvation. It
is beyond any reasonable hope that the
porte will make any provision for the re-
lief of the orphans made by its armies
This is a question that calls for prompt at
tention. Let the punishment of the Of
tenders be delayed if necessary, but the
care of these helpless remnants of Armen-
| ian families should command immediate
! action.
Kansas City daily journal., 1897-02-09
Private Secretaries.

From the New York Sun.
The selection by Mr.. Mckinley of John
Addison Porter, of Hartford, to fill the post
now occupied by the remarkable Thurber
is a consequence of the interesting struggle
last spring in Connecticut, when that New
England state was wrested from the con-
troll of the friends of Speaker Reed. Mr..
Eorter was of great service to Major Nc
Kinley at critical time and at a strategic
point in the preliminary contest; and if he
is personally satisfactory to the next presi-
dent, his appointment as private secretary
is legitimate and laudable.
There have been many private secretaries
of presidents of the United States, but few
private secretaries who were really great.
The opportunities for the exercise of high
genius in this office of public usefulness
ought to make it attractive to n Connecti-
cut Yankee of the right sort. EIe must not
try to be another William X. Rogers. He
must not initiate the methods of Thurber.
He must not even attempt to form himself
upon the model of Dan Lamont. He must
strike out for himself, and solve for him.
self in his own way the complicated prob
lens of the ante-room.
If Mr.. John Addison Porter does this
successfully, If he shows himself the pos
SCISSOR of all the ordinary secretarial virtues.
and in addition to these. of self-sacrifc-
ing fidelity like unto that of Damon. of
Syracuse, together with a sense of humor
sufficient to keep him at all times from be-
coming ridiculous, he may be able to edu-
cate himself into u pretty fair private
secretary and be cheap at 5000 year:
provided always that ne gets along all
right with the chaps from Newspaper Row,
who make or unmake the regulations of
private secretaries, even as private secre-
taries make or mar the regulations of the
administrations to which they belong.
Kansas City daily journal., 1897-02-09
Defenders of Personal Liberty.

From the Pittsburg Dispatch.
1t is interesting to set down the his
torical fact that what was probably the
last public effort of David Bennett Hill in
the senate was in defense of the great
personal liberty of the lawmakers to slake
the senatorial thirst without going outside
the capitol. Some perniciously active and
straightlaced senators had brought in
bill to prevent the. sale of liquors in the
capitol. After a preliminary vote had
proved that 4 majority of the senators
We're opposed to shelving the measure
Senator Hill. assisted by Senator Black
burn. devoted himself to oratory in the
cause of irrigation facilities for the throats
of statesmen with such industry that the
bill underwent the usual fate in the senate
of being talked to death.
1t is to be noted that the efforts of
Senators Hill and Blackburn We're for the
priceless privilege of legislative humanity
in the future. After March next the
senate restaurant will know neither of
these statesmen any longer. No matter
what industry they might show in the
libations to Bacchus, the total of their
drinks in the intervening twenty-five days
will be as drop in the ocean to the states
manlike potations of the future-if the
senators are not put to the ordeal of cross
ing the street to get their drinks. 1t is
for the august thirst of the future, imper-
sonally considered, that they labored. Vir-
tue is its own reward. II anyone thinks
that political usufruct will follow from the
Endorsement of the liquor trade let him
reflect on the loss of patronage which the
labors of the senators have inflicted on
retail vendors outside the capital.
Kansas City daily journal., 1897-02-09
PARKS FOR KANSAS CITY. KAs.

In their efforts to inaugurate a system of
parks and boulevards the people of Kan
sas City, Kas., will have the sympathy and
best wishes of enterprising citizens on this
side the river. Kansas City, Mo-. took the
necessary steps in this direction some
time ago. and is looking forward with
unfailing interest and satisfaction to the
time when the good work will reach COM
pletion.
In a general way, 1t is not time when
property owners feel like entering upon an
elaborate plan of public improvements.
Times are still hard. But it has not es-
capped the residents of Kansas City, Kas.,
that the time TO acquire real estate for
park and boulevard purposes is when prop
erty is cheap. They rightly decide that,
inasmuch as improvements of this kind
must come in the near future, money can
be saved by purchasing before values rise.
1t is not intended, as we are informed,
to go into the contemplated improvements
on an extravagant scale. A modest system
of parks and boulevards can be provided
which will not unduly burden the owners
of property, and which will greatly add to
the attractiveness of the city and increase
its desirability as a place of residence,
The Journal is heartily in favor of useful
public improvements wherever they are
the efforts OF Kansas City. Kas, people
| 10 keep abreast of their neighbors in the
| procession of progress and enterprise.
Kansas City daily journal., 1897-02-09
Hnlstend,a Hnrd Luck.

From the Boston Herald
That enterprising journalist and versa
tile gentleman, Murat Halstead, has had
his troubles in a lecturing tour well as
had David B. Hill and William ]. Bryan
before him, though not of the same char
acter. When Mr.. Halstead reached Tope-
ka, in Kansas, he found the legislature in
session. He visited that body, and was
received in it as celebrity; but it was not
his own celebrity in which he appeared.
The speaker of the Kansas house OF rep
reSentatives confounded him with Colonel
Henry Watterson, and introduced him to
the members of that body as that distin-
guishcd Kentuckian, the editor of the
Louisville Courier-Journal." Mr.. Halstead
disclaimed the borrowed plumage, though
not without embarrassment. He was to
lecture in the evening, and here his ex-
perence was positively distressing The
governor of the state. who was his personal
friend, offered to introduce him TO the au-
1ience. At the last moment he could not
come, but sent his private secretary in his
place. The identity was all right this time.
and the presentation was conventionally
graceful. Unfortunately, the secretary
felt his responsibility was then ended. He
relapsed into his chair, and he went fast
asleep, The subject of the lecture was
Cuba, a sufficiently stirring theme, and if
there is anything Mr.. Halstead prides him
self upon it is his eloquence. 1t was bad
enough for this most conspicuous of his
auditors to yield himself to slumber in the
midst of Mr. Halstead's stirring sentences;
but worse remained behind. The secretary
began to snore. Mr.. Halsteads voice, he
fiattered himself, drowned the sound in his
recounting of the encounters of battle, but
when he came to the pathetic portion of his
oratory and lowered his tones, the sorority
of the secretary rang out with trumpet
effect. This was too much, and the lecture
broke up in confusion. Mr.. Halstead had
hard luck, indeed, in Topeka.
Kansas City daily journal., 1897-02-09
American Trotters in RUSSIA.

From the New York Herald.
The American trotter in Europe contin-
ues on his triumphal way. an object of de-
light and interest to the thousands who
are just beginning to learn of his sterling
qualities of speed and endurance.
A Commercial Cable dispatch from st.
Petersburg tells how three of our standard
bred trotters. driven by Americans, have
Just carried off first. second and third hon.
org in the grand prize of the principal trot-
ting meeting of the year in the Russian
capital.
The Herald has been greatly pleased of
late to notice important sales here of trot-
ters for shipment abroad, and the contin-
ucd success of our horses in Europe is evil
dently acting as a powerful stimulus to our
home breeders and dealers to obtain Gus
toners abroad and at very profitable
prices.
The Russians have always been noted for
the speed and beauty of their horses. The
fact that three American bred roadsters
could so lower the proud colors of the Or
lofts will add greatly to the fame and value
of our standard stocks.
Kansas City daily journal., 1897-02-09
TENT BOOK UNIFORMITY oBJEC-
TIONABLE.

The passage of an act to make the school
text books used in the public schools of Mis-
souri, uniform would certainly be step in
the wrong direction. If there are reasons for
such a law they are of small Importance
when weighed with the objections.
The matter OF text books is a matter of
tools, or teaching aids. A great difference
exists in text books on the same subject.
There is no uniformity of method of pre-
sentation among the teachers of this coun-
try. That being true, there is no uni
formity in method laid down in books.
The method of a book will be the method of
the teacher who made it. Some teachers
use what is known as the rote method of
teaching, and they would therefore want a
rote method text book Others teach by
inductive. developmental methods, and
would, of course, if they had the opportu-
nifty, select the books which would be aids
to theiB work and not stumbling blocks.
But who shall determine this matter? Who
in Missouri is wise enough to set up a
standard for all the rest to follow? Who
is dogmatic enough to say that the book
method is the best one to put into the hand
of a girl who is teaching her first school
in district where patrons do not believe
in new tangled notions? Or that text
book which would best suit the country
teacher teaching his first school would be
the best for city school where the teach
ers and the best methods have been made
a study for years?
To order a state uniformity of books is
simply to place every teacher in the state,
whether he be "Squeers'' or a Horace
Mann, under the ban of prescription. 1t
would be like prescribing the same harness
for every horse in the state. The serious
suggestion of such a thing shows ignorance
of the conditions involved.
There is progress and Improvement in
books as in other things, and along with
this progress there is a tendency toward
cheapening the cost. The state should not
be deprived of the competition which now
exists between the different publishing
companies. The uniformity of books would
put the book trade of the state into the
hands of n few great monopolies, who
would not fail to take advantage of the sit
uation. 1t would check and shackle prog
ress, which is never found where dead uni
formity is enforced. To force the same set
of books on all the high schools of the state
would be like forcing the same religious be-
lief upon all individuals.
If there are in this state school districts
where the majority are in favor of using
the same set of books for five or ten years
then let those districts find the committee
whose wisdom in making the selection they
are willing to trust. But in this age OF
progress, growth and change in educational
ideals it is to be hoped that our Legislature
is not short sighted enough to add another
stumbling block to our public schools. The
fewer laws which have to be evaded the
better for the state. A uniform text bool
law would be evaded in many ways. Ant
the fewer laws of that nature a state has
the more respect the average citizen will
have for laws that are necessary.
Kansas City daily journal., 1897-02-09

From the Chicago Tribune.
Congress should pass the bill providing
for an increase in the pay of letter car
riers. The measure has been favorably
acted upon in committee and if it becomes
a law will give to these faithful and hard
working servants of the government and
the people in cities of more than 5000
population 5000 for the first year of service
$500 for the second year, 81 600 for the third
and 81, 200 year thereafter. 1t was pointed
out in the committee report that the free
delivery service was now a source of large
income and even if this bill should become
law it would still be more than self-sus
tanning. The report added:
TT is believed that the carriers who are
faithful and who are to be advanced under
the provisions of this bill, having fun
knowledge of their duties and the resi-
dences of those they serve, would be will
ing to continue in the discharge of their
duties and would not be looking for other
positions if this change in salaries could
be obtained. 1t would put the service on
a more stable foundation, and the benefits
intended to be derived from the civil ser
vice laws would be realized in part should
this bill become a law.
The letter carriers are very close to the
people, and this increase in their remuner-
alton would meet with general approba-
| ton They are subjected to continuous eX-
posure for hours every day to the inclem-
| encies of the weather. and are not able to
| relax their outdoor labor even when the
heat of summer is most intense or the cold
| of winter most severe. From this cause
| alone it is a demonstrated fact that their
| physical constitutions are gravely taxed
| and they age rapidly in the service. 1t is
| also true that iii hundreds of cases the
| limit of work to eight hours a day is n
| theory of the law only. They are more
| often obliged TO work ten hours, and some
| times more, and yet there is seldom any
protest heard from them by the public.
| 1t is time the government showed a prac-
tical appreciation of the fidelity and intel
| ligence of the men in this important
Kansas City daily journal., 1897-02-09
MISSOURI POINTS.

A pleasant little fairy story comes from
Jefferson City to the effect that Il sand
dealer there realizes from s. to IS a day on
the particles of gold which are pumped up
with the sand from the rivers bed Mis-
souri's Pop legislature should investigate
the apparent discrimination against silver
herein disclosed.
st. Joseph's Shriners are making prepa-
rations for a Washington's birthday
charity ball, which they propose shall out
shine anything in that line ever seen in
that city heretofore.
Another anticipated burden has been
lifted from the shoulders of the incoming
administration. A Buchanan county school
debating society has taken up and settled
in the negative the question as to the
propriety of recognition by the United
States of Cuban belligerent rights.
The significance of the selection OF
ground hog day as the time for the gath
ering of the Northwest Missouri Poland
China breeders was further accentuated
by the prominence given TO sausage on the
banquet menu that night.
Brool5field. which has CROPPED in darkness
for year or two. will illuminate itself
with its own electric lights if the bond
proposition with that end in view is favor.
ably voted upon February 27.
The twentieth annual convention of the
Missouri Young Mems Christian Associa
ton will be held in Joplin this week, be
ginning Thursday. A large attendance 1:
anticipated, and the programme include!
| addresses by some of the most noted anc
eloquent takers in the country.
Members of Joplin's colored 400 have
organized a literary society known as thu
Philomathean Club and will soon tackl,
and settle for themselves the truth OF
falsity of Brer Jasper's proposition tha
| DE sun do move"
There is still considerable call for gov
ernment land in Missouri for settlement
| The land office in Springfield recorded III,
filing of 1l3 original homestead entries las
Kansas City daily journal., 1897-02-09
SINGLE TNX MD THE FARMER.

Mr.. a. a. Parker, of this city. has written
the Journal letter in which he takes ex-.
ocption to an editorial prepared in review
of the recent convention Of single tax ad-
vocates at Topeka. 1t is the burden Of
Mr.. Parkers complaint that we spoke of
the system as solely a tax on land. when in
fact it is a tax on LAND values
Unless there is something mysterious and
hidden in all of the public utterances of
the single tax advocates, not excepting
ar Henry George, its most distinguished
disciple. the single tax means precisely
what we said it did-a tax on land. No
one with intelligence would assume for a
moment that the term "a tax on land
meant that all land should be taxed alike
without reference TO its value and that
an acre in the heart of Kansas City should
pay no more than an acre in the wilds of
Western Kansas, and therefore the crit
icism of our correspondent is irrelevant
and captious.
lie is mistaken, too, in assuming that the
journal has condemned the single tax
theory out of hand. without the benefit of
bell. book or candle. There is a great deal
10 commend in it, just as there is great
deal TO condemn in the unequal and unjust
system OF taxation now in vogue. 1t could
hardly offer more objections than the per-
sonal property taxation system which We
are now so utterly failing to enforce with
fairness to all.
The article excepted to did not deal with
tho question in the abstract, but with a
foolish address put out in its support by
the Topeka convention, which sought to
show that the Kansas farmer would be
benefited by the adoption of the single tax.
The figures which we gave are unanswer-
able. The total assessed valuation of all
property in Kansas is. in round figures,
S3Oo.OOO.OOO OF which only haif is in land.
The remaining half IS in personal and
other property, which the single takers
propose to exempt frosp taxation. To raise
the necessary revenue.t for public expenses
it would therefore be necessary to double
the burdens borne by and. II there is
anything in this outlook hich offers en-
couragement to the KANSAS land owner
we fail to sec 1t.
The men who prepared thd Topeka ad'
Kansas City daily journal., 1897-02-09

militia. The husbands of the three dead
women brought criminal action against the
college authorities and also civil action for
damages. To settle the damage suits the
college people paid two of the husbands
$500 each, and the third suit is still pend
ing. The criminal cases came on for trial
last week, when the county attorney dis
missed two of them on the ground that
the husbands had accepted money for the
desecration of the bodies of their wives,
and this in his opinion constituted at least
moral consent" to the act of robbing
the graves. In dismissing the cases the
thoroughly disgusted with men who would
put a money consideration upon the steal
ing and mutilation of their wives bodies,
and most people will agree with him.
The best of surgeons may sometimes
be mistaken is only a genteel way of say
ing that surgeons do got know it all. Jo-
seph A. Martin of Augusta. suffered for
years with a tumor on his neck. He went
to Kansas City, Cincinnati, st. Louis and
Chicago and consulted the leading special
lists. AT all of these places he was in
formed that an operation meant certain
death. and none of the specialists would
undertake it, as they We're sure the tumor
involved the jugular vein. He came home
in dependency to await the death which
was inevitable. The tumor kept on grow
ing. and finally commenced to cut off Mar
tins breath. Last week 1t became an al
tentative with him TO have an operation
or choke to death. He called in q local
surgeon, bade his family good-by, took
chloroform, laid himself down upon the op-
Grating table and the surgeon commenced
to carve. The tumor was removed in a
jiffy without any trouble at all and in less
than eight days Martin was up and about
his business q perfectly well man. Martin
says that as soon as he gets money enough
he is going around to the cities and gibe
at those great specialists who told him an
operation meant death.
Kansas City daily journal., 1897-02-09
AppnIIing Figures.
e Chicago TrIbune.

From the Chicago Tribune.
Il have seen it stated that the total num-
her of cigars made in this country in one
year would keep one man smoking day and
night for SOS, coo years."
That's an American cigar you are smok-
ing. isn't it?''
II suppose it is. Why?"
Nothing. except that it proves your
figures to be utterly unreliable. The man
would be dead inside of forty-eight hours"
Kansas City daily journal., 1897-02-09

branch of the public service. The opera
tion OF the merit system has brought to the
work a high class of employees, and the
benefits to the service thus obtained would
be augmented if these men were encour-
aged to remain and not seek other posi-
tions where the emoluments are more in
keeping with their abilities. Give the letter
carriers living salaries and the public will
rejoice and the postoffice department will
be proportionately benefited
Kansas City daily journal., 1897-02-09
A Sign of His Talent.

From the Chicago Times-Herald.
Hes no musician"
MOP"
mo. He doesn't know a bar from an ap-
pogiatura.
Doesn't he. indeed? Well. you bet he
never chases around to find an appogiatura
when he wants drink
Kansas City daily journal., 1897-02-09
Whnt He Thought,

From the Cleveland Leader
THAT was. terrible shock Jones re-
ceived yesterday
What happened? Did he hear that
some member of his family was dead?"
No; but he thought the old, rusty wire
Kansas City daily journal., 1897-02-09
The New Resort.

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Springer says he's got to go away for
his health. He's worried about his lungs
When is he going?"
Early in March,
ITO Colorado?"
mo; TO Nevada"