davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1897-12-25
sixteenth Section Case.

A case of considerable interest has
recently been decided at Columbus. 1t
involved the old dispute as to the six
teenth section and will doubtless settle
a point that those who reside upon
these sections have been long anxious
to have authoritatively determined
The test case arose in this manner: 5.
b. Street and other citizens and tax
payers of the city and county filed a
bill in chancery asking that the city
and county be restrained from the col
lection of all taxes on property in the
sixteenth section on the ground that II
was leasehold property and was, there
fole, not subject to taxation. The bil
was demurred to by the city and coun
ty, and after hearing the arguments O.
counsel on both sides of the question
Chancellor Byrd sustained the demurrer
and dismissed both bills
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1897-12-25
CHINESE RAILWAYS.

4 Note Of Warning to American Cttissns-
The United States Consul General Says
the American who Goes TO China Seeking
Employ mept without First Securing .
Contract Oaly Invites Starvation.
WAsnINGToN, Dec. 2o.-The first re-
port to the state department from
United States Consul-General Good
now, at Shanghai, contains warning
TO American railroad men not to 60 to
China for employment, Says he:
The American only invites starvn-
tion who comes hers without definite
contract OF employment with some rep
utable firm made before he leaves
America. must advise United States
railway employees that there is at pres
ent no market for their labor in China,
and should more roads be constructed
there will be n market only II these
roads are built by Americans"
The consul general says he has had
many inquiries from America rail-
road men us to the chance for employ
ment in China, 80 he describes the
small Chinese railroad system to show
the hopelessness of looking in that di.
rection for work. There are only two
railways in operation with total
mileage Of 29SK miles. They employ
only ~ foreigners, Of whom four are
engineers and the managers and divi-
sion superintendents. The operatives
are practically all Chinese and . for
eigner cannot compete with them.
The highest salarisd natives are the
telegraph operators at 84o per month.
Engineers get $40 TO $50 and train
hands and trackmen IS to $40 per
month. All OF this is in Mexican sill
yer, W orth A cents gold on the dollar
! The roads are paying is per cent divi
deDds.
Another road is under construction
from Shanghai to Woo Sung, IA miles
and Chinese are doing all the work
and on December IS the first sod wa
turned on the projected road from
! llankow TO Pekin, the completion o
!. which depends upon the success OF tn
t Belgian syndicate in foating its loan
n Mr.. Goodnow recounts the ambituou
e schemes OF Director Shsng OF the i'm
y perial railways to create vast system
!. OF railways in central China, and iu
closes map showing the projects
He says Sheng's plan is to build thes
roads as money can be borrowed ou
IS side of China. lie proposes to coup
< with the railway loans q governmeI
is loan OF $50, 600, 600 TO pay the balane
!. of the Japanese indemnity. In tn
$. way the option OF building the Chine'
r; roads would be held out to the parti'
l. taxing the government loan, and tt
N support OF foreign governments for tt
government loan would be secured
allowing the successful syndicate
;" furnish all the material and skifl'
ie labor needed. Mr. Goodnow poin
N ont that under these conditions the
<. will be no market for American mat
as rial or labor unless the Americans II
nish the money with which TO bui
in the railways.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1897-12-25
CHRISTMAS LONG AGO.
All Presents Had to Go Into the
ChristmHs Stocking.

Christmas Stocking.
Robert j. Burdette in the Ladies'
Home journal tells in his humorous
way how he remembers the Christmas
OF long ago. "Most of the Christmas
presents in those days were designed
by the manufacturer for the hang
ing stocking. Anything too big to 60
into a stocking had to go over to some
bcdy's birthday. In any family where
there was more than one child the old
reliable 'Noah's ark was always looked
for. We hailed with ordinations OF
astonished recognition Noah and Mrs.
Noah. Messrs. and Nine. Shem, Ham and
Japhet. There was no way OF tellluS lnr
men and women apart. They were eX'
actly alike, but the elephant and giraffe
YOU could distinguish at a glance, on
account of the spots on the giraffe. Sc
also the dog and the COW, because the
COW was always white and blue, while
the dog was invariably plain blue
Within "a hours after the landing or
Ararat the baby would have all th'
Faint sucked off Shem. Ham and thu
hired man, and the doctor would b'
sent for.
1.-THE red monkey climbing red stlcl
was another regular Christmas visitor
He was highly esteemed as ligh
luncheon by the baby. 1tnever scenes
to affect the infant unpleasantly-t'
himself, that is-although the cloud.
symphony of red and blue about his in
nocent mouth was apt to make the be
holder shiver. But it made the monke
look sick. Then there was man Of
the box, with major-generars uniform
beating drum. You turned a cranf
the general lifted his stick high in tn
air, and something In the box made
noise as much like drum as peal o
thunder is like a piccolo. These thing
as toys were of no great value, but a
practical and useful object lessons the
were beyond all price, on the minu
| side"
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1897-12-25
NEWS AND NOTES.
A Summary Of Important Events.
FiFTY-FlFTH CONGRESS.

In the senate, on the iith, no business was
transacted, the senate adjourning Immediately,
upon motion OF Senator Hoar out OF respect to
President Mckinley. whose mothers funeral
wus in progress Mt Caoton In the house.
soon after the opening of the session, the
legislative, judiciary and executive appropra-
tion bill was taken up in committee OF the
whole, but without disposins OF the matter the
house adjourned In respect TO the presidents
bereavement.
In the senate, on the 18th, much time was
consumed in debate upon the bill to prohibit
pelagic sealing by American, which was passed
by vote OF 81 to H. A resolution directing the
secretary OF war to supply relief to the suffer-
ing miners in the klondike region was amended
and recommllted. A bill providing for the ap-
pointment OF director Of the census and 80
assistants was discussed asa. In the house the
day was spent in the consideration OF the legis-
lative, executive and judicial appropriation
bill, but the civil service question furnished the
chief topic of discussion
In the senate, on the 10th, Q resolution di-
recting the secretary OF war TO send supplies to
Americans and other sufferers In the Klondike
region was passed. House joint resolution
providing for recess of congress from Decem-
Der lS to January was adopted -. In the
hou'V Oii oppiopiideih6 TiV'VVV iVi 'ho ~
lief OF people now In the Yukon was passed, as
was the bill to prohibit pelagic sealing by
American citizens.
In the senate, on the nth, u spirited debate
took place on the question OF taxation Of al
cohol used in the arts and on beer. Under q
special order 1888 private pension bills were
passed. House bill for the relief OF the miners
in the Klondike region was taken up and SEN
ate bill substituted therefor and conference
ordered The senate adjourned out Of respect
to the memory Of x-Reprcsentative Holman
OF Indiana. $50. In the house, consideration o
the legislative, executive and judicial appro-
pration bill was resumed In committee OF tht
whole. The bill for the relief OF the miners ir
the upper Yukon was sent to conference Som'
other blu siness OF minor Importance was trans.
acted and the house adjourned at 4:5O p. m.
In the senate, on the 18th, joint reso
luton providing for additional ex
penditures for buildings and government
displays at the Transmississippi Interna
tional exposition at Omaha, Neb., WA
passed. Several resolutions Of no great publ
interest were agree to and the senate went int
executive session. 80. . In the house the confer
ence report on the emergency relief measur
| for the klondike country was presented an
| agreed to. House bill was passed. confrmln
| certain cash sales Of public lands. The speake
announced several committee changes. Reso
lutions Of regret and euloges OF the late Repre-
sentative Cook, of Illinois. Occupied the remainde
of the session. Both houses adjourned until
| January5.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1897-12-25
CHINA APPROVES.
Occupation of Port Arthur by Russia to
| Ohsot Gsrm sny's f refreshments.

Occupation OF Port Arthur by Russia to
OHset Gsrm sny's f E,crOAchments.
LONDON. Dec. 20.-Thc correspondent
Of the Times at Pekin says: China
approves OF the Russian feet wintering
at Port Arthur, being persuaded that
this action is taken in the interest OF
China and necessitated by the German
occupation of Kiao-Chau."
A dispatch to the Times from Shang-
hal says the occupation of Port Arthur
by Russia cannot fail to provoke popu-
lar Indignation in Japau, where public
opinion is already excited over the
Kiao-Chau affair.
According to dispatch to the Daily
Mail from Shanghai, the high officials
of the Chinese court have advised the
emperor, in view Of further complica-
tions, to remove the court to Naukin
| (the southern capital). The dispatch
says it is reported there that overtures
have been made to England to exercise
protection over the Yang-Tse valley
and the West river, and that numerous
rulnors are current regarding the ac-
tivity OF the British squadron in Chi
nese waters.
capitals show that Russia's step at
Port Arthur is regarded as tantamount
% q permanent occupation, and reply
to Germany's action.
A well-informed st. Petersburg cor
respondent says there was no agree
ment between Russia and Germany. and
that the latter simply warned Russia
when the occupation of Kiao-Chau was
already decided upon.
The Novoe Vremia pretends that
Japan has no cause for complaint,
''since China is ouly giving the same
shelter to Russian ships as japan had
hitherto so kindly afforded
| This view is not held in Berlin,
where the papers are already talking
of the possibility of Prince Henry hav'
ing to shake his mailed fist at Japan,
that is supposed to be secretly backed
up BY England. Some of the Berlin
papers express anxiety; but most OF
them welcome the news from Port Ar
thur as justifying the German position
at kiao.Chau. il not as actual evidence
that kuss.s and Germany are acting
together. Curiously enough Emperor
William visited the Russian ambassa-
dor on Friday night on his return
, from Kiel, ostensibly to congratulate
him on the name day Of Emperor Mich
olas, The visit lasted an hour There
is no doubt now that the emperor and
the ambassador discussed Chinese AT
fairs.
The Paris papers without pretend
ing to be deceived by Russia's innocent
explanations, are pleased with the
0 action Of the ally Of France.
The burden OF Viennese comments;
!. What will England do?
). The British feet now in CHINESE
0 waters consists of one ironclad. nin'
!. cruisers aud Is smaller men OF war
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1897-12-25

Reuben thought he could detect the
emotions of the woman in
the struggle between womanly pride
and motherly love. He saw her tighten
her hold on the hand of the boy and
turn slightly away.
Slipping forward and politely doff-
ing his hat, he addressed the woman;
"Madam, l leg your pardon, but you
see l have taken notion to that BOY
of yours, and as | am far away from
nv own little ones Uhis was rank du-
plicity, for Reuben had neither WIFE
nor children, near or far), ana as this
is Christmas day, am feeling little
lonesome. You, being a parent your
self, can appreciate my feeling, Tor
doubtless were you away from your
boy you would naturally be interested
in any child which reminded you OF
your own. Now beg you to permit
YOUR little boy to be my guest and eat
his Christmas dinner with me-"
The woman lifted her downcast eyes
70 the honest face of the stranger, then
blusbing slightly, without either for
bidding or consenting, replied diplomat.
;cally; "Tommy is afraid of strangers
However noncommital this answer
was. it was equivalent to full consent
when made to knight of the grip, and
either owing to the hypnotic power
NJ Reuben Bullwinkle or the cravings
of appetite, no difficulty was expert
enced in winning the child's consent
to any arrangement which had for its
ultimate object the eating OF a am
ner.
Hungry children are not very fastld'
ious. aud however unappetislng INC
viands Of that forlorn lunch counter
would seem to you and me as we s''
down to our Christmas turkey at our
own table, to the little hungry boy they
we're tit for a king, and If everyone
throughout the land enjoyed his Christ,
mas dinner as little Tommy did in tha'
dingy old station, it was indeed a merry
Christmas.
However, It came to pass that the Do'
was finally satisfied. He had s'ume'
himself to his full capacity, and w',h
sigh Of supreme satisfaction prepared :
aide off the high stool, ignoring all 90
l;yntiops and without a word OF exc"s'
or thanks 10 his genial host. II wa
very probable that with the pufei;
natural selfishness which we are al
/ heirs TO- but which is more plainly ev'
dent in children owing to their 'nho
cence. the boy who did not think 'ha NJ.
h;s moor mother was still fasting ou
with The sublime faith of childhood u
the omnipctence OF parents, he reste'
in the conviction that she was ol
enough to look out for herself, u nue. !. :
~ cave the matter any ccnsiderat'ol
which Is mol at all probable. ~.
nut Reuben had not forgotten, an
had made up his mind that ine woman
fast should be broken. 80 !,
. await d minute, Tommy" sa'o p
: i..elna the 10, Vas about to escape. ..
.Dont you want something NOR ],
aNo. don't want no more q
, .wered the polite Tommy. -.
""Svouldu't You like nice big app y!
/, !. mt IN your pocketa--or hold on Y l,
\ - i,lea. It's Christmas, you know, y. ?. ?
90, 'li,lnr know that WAS o'a san' "
/ Nsu. The rssson you dl0as ResN :
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1897-12-25
full than helpless mother with hun.
cry child?

full than helpless mother with hun.
CRY child?
Among the crowd of passengers who
had hurried into the station came Reu-
ben Bullwinkle. The discomforts of
the journey had no apparent effect
upon his invincible good humor. "D:n.
ner is now ready, ladies and gents!" he
shouted. liable de hote, or la carte,
all the luxuries of the season at prices
within the means Of any millionaire.
Never mind the cost. A full stomach is
better than full pocket book, and you
can't have both together in this ranch.
Walk right up to the festal board and
enjoy your Christmas dinner"
After this outburst of dime-museum
eloquence Rube looked about him for
some evidence Of appreciation, but
every one was too busily occupied in
the scramble for food to heed his
vagaries. But no, not every one, for as
Reuben's eyes wandered over the room
they observed the forms of the lone
woman and her little boy standing idly
by the stove.
Reuben was an old and experienced
traveller, and withal shrewd observer,
and it did not take him long to read the
pathetic story of this group of two.
There was no doubt in his mind that
they were faint with hunger and with
out sufficient money to pay for food.
The drummer Rube pushed his travel
ing hat to the back of his head and
scratched his bald pate as he held a
secret consultation with the angelic
and interior Reuben. "Rube, old fel-
low, what are we going to do about this
business? We can't enjoy our Christ
man dinner knowing all the time that
hungry eyes are watching every mouth
full of food we deyour; no, that's out
of the question, but what can we do?
That woman is no pauper, and she
would probably scorch us with glance
il we presumed to offer her money, or
even to blow her off to dinner. But,
great Caesar! they must be fed some
how. Now II we could manage to
scrape up an acquaintance with the boy
think we could make the deal; SO let's
see if we can hypnotic him"
Agreeable to this resolution Reuben
fastened his gaze upon the child until
he caught his eye, then smiling The
same old smile which had won him
friends from Boston to California, he
addressed him: "How's this for a
Christmas, little boy?' But the little
boy only clung closer to his mothers
skirts and scowled at the presumptu
Gus stranger.
"What's the matter, little friend
can't you find seat? You just come
with me now, and if we don't find a
place I'm much mistaken"
The boy ceased whimpering and
looked inquiringly at his mother
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1897-12-25
ACROSS THE STREET.
The Change That Came with Another
Christmas Time.

Christmas Time.
last Christmas the house across the street
from mine was the brightest and gayest OF
any in the block. There were beautiful
Christmas wreaths in every window and the
whole house was aglow. The shades were
thrown up high and the soft lace curtains
narted wide. The tree in the great parlor
of the house across the street was larger and
4 Ind costlier presents on it than any other
free in the town. And most Of the presents
were for the little girl in the white dress
and the biz pink sash who could be seen
from the street dancing around the tree the
happiest, sweetest little maiden IN all tne
world and the light and life and JOY OF the
house across the street.
This Christmas time all is dark and silent
and gloomy in the great house across the
utreet There are no Christmas wreatha
in the window, no ray of light comes from
behind the closely drawn blinds, no childish
voice is heard within the house There Is
no bright and beautiful tree but on the
snot on which the tree stood last year there
i something white and as beautiful IN lts
s;lk and satin and velvet finish as the skill
and wealth of man can make it. But tht
sirht Of it brought chill to the hearts Of
those who saw it carried into the house or
Christmas eve, and when the eyes OF tht
mother and father fell upon it their hearts
bled anew. j.
The passers.by who saw the bands O
white Auttering from the knob Of the doo
Of the house across the street went on tt
their own humble houses thanking Goo
that their own little ones were left to them
NO matter how little of wealth or beaut.
there might be in their homes
The poorest house in which there was tn
laugh Of children was so much less desc I,
Hate than the great mansion across tn
street in which the child's laugh was for
ever still. 1t added to the melody Of Par
adse that Christmas morning, 1t rang on
clear and sweet across the jasper sea: ]
had gone through the gate Beautiful an
into a house not made with hands eterns
in the heavens.--Detroit Free Press.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1897-12-25
CONDENSED TELEGRAMS.

A SPECIAL dispatch from Melbourne,
Australia. on the 2lst. says G. II. James
has failed for $3.50, 900 ts4 ,25o ,OOO). The
cause of the trouble is said to be the
bursting of the land boom.
JAMES GRINER, at Duryew. Pa, on the
e1st, slot and killed his step-daughter,
Caroline Shafer. They had quarreled
over money matters.
THE Auditorium, the largest play
house west Of Chicago, and the Audi
torium Hotel, were destroyed by fire at
Kansas City, Mo-. on the .lst. Loss
$3.50, 900.
THE Southern Express Company's Of
fee safe at Columbia, s. c., on the slst,
was relieved of a $4,000 package.
LILLE DAVIS, aged 9, and two sisters
were burned to death In an old tent in
the edge OF Fort Smith, Ark, on the
sOth.
IsoM LAWSON, the 1s-year-old boy who
| murdered his father on Brush creek,
near Barbourville, KY, was given life
sentence in the penitentiary on the 10th.
| ACCORDING to the New York World,
of s97, $50 workers OF that city, the rec
ords show 92.075 are out of work. Last
wear at the same time 125,375 were idle.
The monthly statement of the collec-
tions of internal revenue show that for
the month of November last the re-
ceipts amounted to s13,959,29e, an in
crease as compared with last year Of
Isl, l,257,9a7.
The treasury statement on the 2Otf
shows: Available cash balance, &S39,
Oo4, ,eos; gold reserve, $3.50, 764,6lS.
| NOTICES have been posted at the
China, Pembroke and Webster IN. II.
cotton mills, makers of print cloths, an
nouncing reduction of wages OF aoou
10 per cent on January l.
LOCOMOTIVE boiler exploded at Rep
ton. Ala, on the 10th, and six men wer'
killed.
A BLIZZARD swept over Texas, Arkau
sas, Mississippi and Tennessee on th
10th, Wires are down and the full es
. tent Of the damage Is not known.
A BURGLAR entered . jewelry store !
Charleston, 8. G., on the 10th, and cal
ried away a, 900 worth Of diamonds.
A c-Arxrp trust, with a capital {
: $4,000 900, has been formed. II eu
l braces all the big concerns In the coul
! try
n x FAST Chicago 4 Alton train ra
1 through an open switch at Pontiac. u
" ~ leth, and Que man WA killed.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1897-12-25
PITTSBURGH'S AMBITION.
Wants the G. A. r. Ens~mpment In 1900
and Proposes to Bid High for the Honor.


and Proposes to Bid High for the Honor.
PITTSBURGH, Pa, Dec. ?o.-The ini'
tial step toward securing the G. A. K.
encampment for Pittsburgh in 1900
has been taken by the ALLIE
gheny County &. A. R. association,
and the plan will be agitated at the
incoming Cincinnati encampment ln
connection with the encampmsnt, IL it
should be held here, 1t is proposed to
unveil grand soldiers monument to
cost in the neighborhood OF half a
million dollars.
The Pennsylvania Legislature OF 1895
passed an act empowering each county
to erect suitable soldiers monument
at the expense Of the citizens, the
necessary amount to be raised by tax
alton. 1t is believed by the veterans
hereabouts that 1900 will be the last
wear for encampments. 1t is their am
bition, therefore, to have the organiza-
ton wind up its career in this city
and at the same time take part in the
dedication OF the proposed grand
memorial to the nations dead.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1897-12-25

Tommy, Is because the blizzard bl4w
my beard clean off. Yet all the same
I'm going to fill your stocking, and II
can't get at your stocking III fill some.
thing else for you. Here, young lady,
let's have one of those big paper bags.
Now, Tommy, We'll call this stocking.
Let's fill it up. What'll you have? Ap.
pies, OF course, and doughnuts and some
OF those delicious sandwiches and pie
like your mother makes, and guess
that exhausts the bill of fare. Now hold
the end of the bag tight and don't spill
out the vicuals; and, Tommy, your
mother wants you"
The refreshed travellers had all set.
tied themselves in their seats and the
train was jogging along again as best II
could through the snow. Passing
through the car Reuben looked careful.
y about for the woman and child, as he
was deeply interested in the success Of
his maneuvers. There is no great diff.
ficulty in locating anyone on train OF
cars, and MS a matter of course Reuben
soon found the objects of his search.
His business with them was very brief;
indeed 1t was completed with passing
glance, and completed to his intense
satisfaction, for that glance was suf.
ficient to show him that the hungry
woman was enjoying his bounty with 4
relish which none can appreciate, un
less he has had corresponding ex.
perences. He was not noticed as he hur.
ried by the little group. lie did not
want to be recognized, for with fine
delcacy which always accompanies
true generosity he felt that the less the
woman saw of him the more comfortable
she would be. Reuben Bullwinkle
wanted no recognition or thanks; in
deed the idea that he was entitled to
thanks never entered his head for o
moment. Neither did he make any
mental calculation as to the value of an
act of friendliness put down to his
credit account on the recording angels
book, nor did he look for any special
blessing which the Lord might owe him
for his act of charity. Indeed the little
thought which he gave the matter had
its relation entirely to the objects of his
sympathy, and if his heart was light
and his soul joyous, It was because he
had unconsciously wandered near the
threshold of Heaven and heard the echo
OF angel voices singing: "Peace on earth
and good will to Prank Beard,
in Rams Horn.