davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1897-01-16
Mating.

Up the stairway which leads TO the bas Sc
ment of the building fioated a soft tremu-
lous whisper or music. The idler who heard
found an aged colored man. whose withered
fingers caressed the strings of a banjo.
His lips were slightly parted with a smile
and he looked upward with half-closed
eyes. When he paused in his performance
the auditor applauded and remarked.
Having a good time all TO yourself, un-
cle?"
''Yessuh. j done had er little spare time.
an ! done put il in practize-in'"
That didn't sound much like the ordinary
banjo music
mo, sub. Da's er diff unit kim"
Cant you play reels and break downs? :?
Mebbe they're too quick for old man like
yourseif?"
TOO quick foh me? No'ndeedy. I done
got clean pas dem long ago. Is got mo-
on my min dan he'pn' de young folks
twis' dah foots at er pahty. Dem dat yoh
wus lis min to wus hymn-chunes"
''Hymn-tunes a banjo?'
Il done de bes' | could he replied apollo
getically
But what gave you the idea"
DE good book" he answered. reverential-
ly. rs eittin' long in y'uhs. 1 is. an when
l called ter mind bout de hahps o. gold. it
done Sot me ter thinkin'. | didn't hab 40
early vantages, an 1 doesn' speck | could
er lun ter play on de hahp nohow But I
ain scouraged an whenebber 1 gifts de
chance | comes hyuh an tetches de strings
ease is sho dat Wen shows 'em I ain
gwinater sturb de hahmonies dey'll let me
set back some place whah 1 won be no
ticed. an play long VIII EN- in De way dat
Is used to-
Evening star., 1897-01-16
MR.. BROsIUs, EXPERIENCE.
When He Attended WOman's Polit
ical Meeting In Nebraska

Representative Brosius of Pennsylvania
rather 1nclines to the belief that women in
politics. like civil service reform, have
come to stay, since his campaigning trip
through the west last summer. 1t is really
laughable to hear him tell of his first in
PRODUCTION to woman's political meeting
1t was in Nebraska town. He had
spoken at big open air meeting in the
afternoon and had gone to his hotel for
much needed rest. when he was called
upon by committee of ladies and invited
TO address meeting in the court house
III the evening, which, he was informed
was to be held under the auspices of the
Ladies' Mckinley Club OF course that
was an honor that a man of Mr.. Brosius
known gal1antry toward the gentler sex
could scarcely decline, even if he never got
any rest. .e
Really" he..says, II went to the court
house consumed with curiosity to know
now ladies would go about conducting a
pohtical mass meeting, thing unheard of
IN the east: i found a large audience
about equally divided as to sex and divid-
ed as 10 sheep and goats by the main aisle
the men on one side, the ladies on the
Other, like an old-time Quaker meeting
ana iady In the chair. She greeted me
with all the urbanity imaginable and AT
the proper time rose and called the meet
ing TO order. and asked for nomina tions for
chairman of the evening But one name
the community, who was elected by ac-
clamation. After some. graceful prelimi-
nary remarks Mrs President called upon
the chairmen of the ward committees for
reports. There were three wards in the
town, and the ladies submitted reports
showing that many new members had verv
gladly signed he roll of the club, and given
OF their wealth to help along the cause of
republfcanism, and the total membership
was shown to be nearly three hundred
The business was dispatched as calmly
and expeditiously as though those women
mad been doing just that thing for one hun
dred years. Then Mrs. President in a few
and exceedingly felicitous remarks, intro
ducec me to the audience. which was as re-
sponsiVe to every shade of thought present
ed as though the lady leaders had break
tasted. dined and supped on politics since
time began. 1t was grand audience dis
eliminating and denonstrative as a speaker
could possibly wish. In all my campaign
ing l met no body of men who could do
any better than that woman's Mckinley
club in arranging and carrying on a DO
ltical meeting.
Evening star., 1897-01-16

1t somehow puts yer self-respeck In ruther
better shape
Ter know thet it's phylloxera thet's
gEawin' at the grape,
An ye like ter tell a neighbor when We
ketcn him unawares
Thet Bacillus Amalovorus plays havoc
reth the pears.
Weth critters, weth men, l note it's
very much the same:
The smallest an the peSkeSt often gifts the
biggest name.
I've stood the caterpillars an the moths
weth all their tricks,
But I'm rled now thet | hear 'em christ.
ened 'Thyridopterix'
amt a goin ter stand 'em when they
come-Tll state it fiat,
"eth 'orgyia leucostigma' and sech aliases
ez that.
L reckon thet a lot more folks 'ud git ter
work than does.
Eff they orly realized how bad their trou-
hles really WIZ.
There is one remark I'd yenture-an'
hope ii won't be took
Ez an effort fur ter make criticism of
yer book
But l wish ye'd write a chanter su,tbi,.
vigorous an clear
on the germ that's played the misc hief
weth SO many farms out here.
We've had some fust-rate fellers thet
seemed like ter git a start.
But their barns an fences threatens fur
| ter quit an fall apart.
instead Of givin mortgages, they'd be
recordin' deeds,
FL the corn an oats an 'taters wuz ez
active ez the weeds
Ihey often gifts tergether an the talkin'
never stops,
But none of it's pertainin' ter the chance
of raisin' crops
It's all about their influence an of the
perty's VOTE
An republics is ongrateful is a phrase
often note.
Theyre mostly writin' letters, too, ez often
ez they can,
Ihoush one says he's a-waitin' fur the
place ter seek the man.
NOW L thlhk II stan ) ter reason thet if ez
you say, whut brings
Ihe most OF these distemDers is bacilluses
an things,
Perhaps when you investigate the subjeck,
you will find
mat SG'thin somewhat similar gifts inside
the average mind.
ieFe done all else ye undertook SO thor
ouehly an good
met L wish ye'd give these fellers-ef We
tried 1 know ye could
Some awful. double-barreled, strickly sci
entific term
I"etIl wake EN- to the terrors of the Of
fioe-seekin' germ"
Evening star., 1897-01-16
The Agricultural Report.

Il take, Dear Seckeuary, my most hum
BILE pen in hand
Ter let ye know thet 1 am well and glad
ter understand
Thet. spite of all the various complca-
tions thet hev came
In politics an otherwise, ye're feelin' much
the same.
I hev read weth deep attention all the
things ye had ter say
On agriculture UP ter date, an how ter
make it pay,
Though 1 can't change my opinion, by the
facks thet you've displayed
Farp1in's fine a perfession, but it's
tryin eZ a trade.
Yer picterS an yer diagrams hez helped
me understand
Thet this fer:ilizin' business is a science
deep an grand,
An I've had the greatest pleasure readin'
carefully an slow
Yer lucid explanation of lot I'm glad
ter know:
In gittin' interduced ter all the critters,
small an great,
Thet keeps our yearly prospecks in this
here unsettled state.
I can't begin ter tell ye jes' how much yer
books is worth;
Each is better than ticket ter the great
est show on earth.
Eev found 'em all amusin' an Instructive
through an through.
An what's greatly ter yer credit they are
strickly moral too.
Evening star., 1897-01-16
An Altered Destiny.

Inc slories of the new library building
mad evidently made a profound impression
Oh the young man with a curly mustacne
sIouch nat and glossy overcoat
rms place., he said, with a leliberar 10
ana careIoiiy considered enunc alton, is
intended to be temple of Elagnificence
reared in honor of literary genius"
That's the idea replied the painter
who was engaged on some fresco work.
It's an imposing structure; thing of
beauty throughout"
Yes said the painter, with a touch of
professional pride that was, perhaps, Ear
doDable, we think We have made a pr...tv
neat job of it,
1t has exercised a great influence On
my career. In fact. may say it has wholly
altered my intentions for the future"
You mean it has inspired you with en-
nobling thoughts and awakened you TO a
higher conception of duty. 1t affects a
great many people that way"
NO; l don't mean anything of the kind.
All this sculpture and painting is 10 heauti-
fy the resting place of thousands upon
thousands Of books Their covers %iH look
out upon the most delicate workmanship
that the hand of art can produ,e"
That's the intention"
DO you realize, sir. that some of the
Hiel 7" no wrote works which will he among
the choicest treasures of this place were
often without the price OF a ham sandwich
and mug of buttermilk? Has it ever &C.
CURED to you that many of them have
walked the streets because they hadn't any
place to sleep? Do you realize tha. the
pens which traced the words TO he here
so magnificently enshrined We're in many
cases held by fingers numb with colo
That some of the authors would be made
to go out and wipe their feet on lhe mat
before they could get in if they could a.,-
pear as they were when they composed
their masterpieces?
Il hadn't thought of it before, but 1
guess it's a fact"
Il am glad that 1 made this visit-exceed-
ingly glad 1t has given me n suggestion
that wouldn't have missed for the world &"
What is it?"
Il am going to abandon the IDEAL of years
and behave like a sensible being I'D to
three-quarters of an hour ago l fully in
tended to be a genius myself. Now l have
resolved to let the books l had Uianred
take care of themselves and apply my
energies to getting job nignt-watch-
man in this building, so that | can derive
some personal benefit from it,"
Evening star., 1897-01-16

promptness which showed she had been
watching for him at the window.
''Dinny. dear" said she, there's no
tonne loike the prisint"
Not whin it's you that chooses ty make
the prisint LOVELY. darlint,'' replied her
husband. is supper ready / dunnog'
Business befoor pleasure. Behind the
dure in the corner yen foind me bichickle"
''Paceable an QUOT as a lamb"
Git an II. If We dare an roide IL till the
shtore where twas bought"
rs il urgent?"
I'VE kin do as oi tell ye. to wanst, or
sind me alimony TO Ballytore. Athy. where
me mothers livln' this minute. blessin's be
an 'er."
YEN need little patience. Moya. dear.
before We kin shpin down the avnoo as
graceful as the gazelle thst ye naturally
are. Go aisy wild the machine an Oi'il
|inture II won't be long before the two OF
yez can kape from gittin' siperated'
chickle's.'
An who tells ye all that
Della McCann."
fe mean the wolfe av McCann thot Just
moved round the corner; the thiCk-set lady
thot wears bloomers-more sinse to her.
The same. She Gem by whole Oi wor
takin me lesson. Let's hov look at your
wheel says she. SO Oi shtepped down. wit
the help av hivvin an the perfessor an as
soon as she cast her eye an IL she turns up
her nose wild contimpt an says. No won
der yez don't roide aisier. It's a drop
frame yez hov there Then Oi t'roo it.
Go home, perfessor. says oi. an tell Yer
boss thot Moya Dolans not the silly bird
he tuck her for. an thot she'll be dropped
no more. L brought the bichickle into the
mouse an waited fur yez to come home
An phwat am Oi ty do?"
fe're ty say ty the merry joker as sold
1t TO me thot he can do wan o. two t'ings-
take back lis trick mule and refund me
mo tab IT,
brow III ye're a man yen tell i'm those
words, an If yere not, Oill load the bundle
av Wires an push cart tind till the job
meself."
Evening star., 1897-01-16
A MATTER OF CHOICE.
Youth Who Had u Preference and
Risked His Life on It,

A Capitol Hill man has a son about
twenty years old, and the young fellow is
very nearly chip off of the old block
Not long ago-that is to say, during the
Christmas holidays-the son went to visit
friends and relatives among the snow-clad
hills Of Vermont, and, of course while
there put in as much of his time in sleigh
as he could. because he knew the Wash
ington climate was not conducive to that
sort of amusement, and he wouldn't have
another chance.
Perhaps it is needless to remark that
whenever he went sleighing he took with
him one of those pretty, pink-cheeked girls.
for which Vermont is justly famous.
And as far as possible a new one every
time
Such Is man at twenty--and later.
The pitcher cannot be taken to the well
too often unless it become broken. and II
happened in the case of the Capitol Hill
laddie that on one of his trips his horse ran
away with him, and not being the most
expert driver in the world he was almost
at the mercy Of the frightened animal For
mile or more he managed to keen the
horse In the road. but beyond was a hill
and stream with narrow bridge over it.
just at turn in the road, which could only
be taken at a slower pace. The girl called
his attention to this and nervously suggest
ed that they jump out. but he wouldn't
nave 1t SO. and assured her that he would
be responsible. 20
That sounded well, but when they an
preached the turn, 1.-THE horse would not
stay in the road, and dropping the lines
the young fellow grabbed the girl and
waited for thenend, whatever it might be.
In minute more the entire combina tion
flew the trachJ and lit in a snow bank
twenty feet deep. Some people who saw
the accident fshed them all out, and for
wonder nobody waS much hurt, though
the sleigh was lama%ed.
When the yotith's father heard the story.
he was indignant.
Why. you young jack he exclaimed.
what In thunder did you drop those lines
for? You might nave known what would
have happened" TO-
well. pop, 'b he seplied sheepishly. 81
couldn't hold the horse and 1 could hold
the girl. and what else was there to DOR
Evening star., 1897-01-16
PAST THE DOORkEEPERs.
How Two Little Children Went on the
House Floor.

The cherubic insistence Of childhood, and
it's utter Indifference to established forms
and customs, was strikingly illustrated at
the Capitol Monday. Two little tots aged
about four and six. were trotting around
after some ladies, and in the crowd got
separated from their natural protectors
The children paused in front of the north
entrance to the House and looked in
through the doors as they swung back and
forth, then one said, Maybe auntie went
in there" and made break for the door
-Four pairs of hands reached for the young
sters. all belonging to many agile door,
keepers, but the little ones flew past, and
all but tripped up long-legged representa-
tive who was just ahead of them. He stop
ped in the door, and began to demonstrate
with them. but with childish impatien ce
they tried to push him aside, and not be-
ing able to do so, thrust their small heads
between his legs. one after the other, and
scooted in on to the floor. The tall legisla-
tor paused aghast at the intrusion, and
was just about to let the door close when
the two small maids came rushing pell
nell back again, slid between his legs out
into the corridor.
''Ain't nobody but just men in there" re-
marked one: "auntie must a gone the other
way" and into the crowd they ran.
Evening star., 1897-01-16
4 Wife to the Rescue.

"Jesiar,"
There was a sharpness in Mrs Corntos.
sells tone which caused her husband to in.
terrupt his dinner with far more prompt.
ness than elegance. When the clatter hao
subsided, he exclaimed:
Mandy, whut under the canopy is the
matter weth yer? Ye amt seen a gnost
hev YEP
I've been shocked. Every oncet in q
While We hev suthin' ter say ter me about
the world movin' an me not movin' wetf
1t an ye kinder had me lookin' up ter ye
ez reg'lar pentagon of politeness. I'm
used ter disapp' 'intments, but 1 must say
thet this one goes especially hard
"Ez long ez ye insist on preachin," was
the rather sulky rejoinder, ''ye might e.
well take the trouble ter let me know whu,
the text is."
'Ye ct weth yer knife,"
Ian sakes! Anybody d a thought by
yer carryin Sen thet l was usin' a stick o
dynamite ter drive carpet tacks!'
There's different kinds O. resks an
you've been runnin' one O. the wust o
them"
But. Mandy, be reasonable Ye didn',
hnd out ct weth my knife. l ct in yer
presence before we wus married an
didn't wear no beard nor mustache ter de.
ceive ye.''
AihSo heSpS d-CHdHElI. you kG6l
a-subscribin' ter a daily paper an twt
magazines an yit ye don't pay no 'tentior
ter whut's goin' on
Eff ye mean thet l don't bend my intel.
lect ter studyin' up who leads the germans
an all the gossip an the four hunderd
1cIderol, l don't make no denial
Yes, indeed. You're busy readin' 'bou,
the treasury an the cabinet an them there
editorials. Yerre payin' ten er twelve dol.
lars a year jes' ter read down weth tine
trusts in every issue. l reckon eff one OF
tfem editors wus ter git out a paper an
1ersit ter hev down weth the trusts into
II, ye,d stop yer subscription. Take my ad.
wee, Josiar, an change yer mind about the
trip ter town ye Wus thinkin' about STAY
nome an spend all the spare time We kin
GIT ON things Eli pick out fur ye ter read -
Mandy. there amt no doubt thet we've
got su thing on yer mind, an that it sets
heavy. But fur the life O. me | can't see
whut it's all got ter do weth me eatin' weth
my knife
OF course ye don't That's what shows
yc am keepin up weth the percession
You re JeS' frolickin' on the brink O. disaster
ike calf Oh the road ter market. Eff /,
warn't fur yer wife, ye'd a put on white
shirt an broke inter town in total igno-
rance OF the way them New Workers he2
been tuck up by the police an gittin' their
picters inter the paper, simply because thew
dian know how ter behave proper at the
dinner table,
Evening star., 1897-01-16
Not So Slow.
From the Chicago Timcs-HeraId.

From the Chicago Times Herald.
Down in Ohio the other day. not very
far from Cleveland 1 took a carryall or
bus at a country station to ride inland a
few miles. The driver, who carried the
mail for Uncle Sam, was disposed to be
quite communicative.
You don't live round here / s'pose?"
he remarked. interrogatively.
'No-not now" L replied. I'm from
Chicago"
Pretty big place. amt it?" he con-
tinued
Yes, it's a large city," said
II s'pose there's something goin' on
there most of the time. amt there?" he
asked l nodded affirmatively
We'll, We amt so darned slow down
here, he added. Had a dance in the
Hinckley Ridge school house last night,
and therel be a turkey rattle Tuesday.
Evening star., 1897-01-16
WHEN HE MARRIED AGAIN.
Nothing Too Good for His Wife Until
He Heard the Price.

He Heard the Price.
Il had rather a queer experience in De-
cember last remarked the drummer for q
Boston fur house, ftwith a customer of q
friend Of mineq in West Virginia. don't
go to small towns as a rule, and as for
country stores, have nothing whatever to
do with them of course"
The drummer for a shoe house, who
struck everything that had a sign up,
showed a disposition to want to jump on
the superior airs of the Boston potentate in
furs, but refradnedi
Il was in Charleston. which is the CAPT.
tai or the state continued the drummer,
and friend of mine in the grocery line
mad to go In wagon about forty miles on
circuit to visit four or five of his Gus
toners. and he took me along for COM
pany. AT the most remote point we reached
an oid cnaP mad general store. He had
only recently married again. and his wife
wa, was quite a snowy girl. After my friend
taken dinner with him, he called me to one
side for private talk
reckon. he said. that you air in the
hiae "a, ana peft business. amt your
m IN furs, said l. little stiff.
purity much the same thing, I
reckon Leastways, we won't quarrel.
What ! want to git is sealskin shawl fer
my wife. She's a good-looker, amt she?'
Quite a handsome lady, 1 responded,
sincerely, for she was, for mountain wo-
man. good deal better looking than the
average.
In course she is, and 1 want her to
wear good clos accordin' 1 never seen a
Sealskln shawl, but 1 reckon frum what
I've heerd that they amt anything fittin er
fer good-lookin' woman to wear
sealsk1n sacque is really a beautiful
garment, l admitted, and I'd be glad to
sell you one for your wife
An I'm mighty anxious to buy one.
Pr1ce amt nothin in a case like this.
What's one wuth?'
Well, l can sell you something that
would make fine wedding present for
$780,
He jumped away from me as if 1 had
pulled a gun on him
Geerooshy" he CALCULATED: not a hun
dred and fifty dollars, you don't mean?
Exactly, and there are some worth
three or four times as much
FOR a minute he stood rubbing his chin
as II making a profound mental calculation,
then he drew up close and almost whis-
pered to me.
Say he said, don't say anything about
my wantin' that shawl, will you? You see,
three yoke of steers amt wuth as much as
that dern sealskin shawl, and I'll be dob
bobbed eff l kin afford to have my wife
wearin three yoke NV steers around here
l don't keer how purity she is
Il agreed to silence" concluded the drum
mer, but L told my travelling companion
about 1t as soon as we got out of sight of
the old fellow and his new wife"
Evening star., 1897-01-16
Why There is None.

From the Chicago Post.
1t at the close of a discussion of the
shortcomings of a mutual friend.
Well, there is no law against a man
making a fool of himself said the man
with the cigar.
"A most fortunate thing" returned the
n.an with the pipe.
Why fortGnate?" inquired the man with
the cigar
Because" replied the man with the pipe.
the capacity of the jails is necessarily
limited"
Evening star., 1897-01-16
x X
\ Social Problem.

An extensive array Of substantially
eound books Indicated the studious nature
of the friend whom Willie Washington had
dropped in to see.
"Hello!' he exclaimed as he glanced at
an open volume on the table you've been
reading agar.'
yes"
"You do that sort of thing every once in
while, dent your
Most of the time that 1 can spare from
my business is spent in that manner"
Il suppose fellow gets so he really en-
joys it in the course of time. Every once
in while I'm tempted to try it myself.
VI course L read great many novels and
books of that kind. But one doesn't derive
any real bel eft from them"
NOT as a 1ule. What you ought to do
is to devote yourself to reading that will
give you some ideas of life and its reali-
ties: something that will afford you sug-
sestlors in shaping your own career; that
will assist You attaining desirable re-
lationship to your fellow man
That's it," was the enthusiastic re-
joinder That's the kind of a book I've
been lookir for. What's the name of that
one on the table?'
Social Problems !"
Il guess that's the thing 1 have been
yearning for all this time. You haven't
read it through, have you?"
No. l have just begun with it.
We'll, l wish you'd do a friendly act and
keep me in mind as you go along from
chapter to chapter"
"You want me to hurry up and lend it to
your
mo. / won't undertake to read it all
the way through. But the title of that
book shines out like beacon of hope to
a man who was drifting on the rocks of
despair. What 1 want to know is how to
make a glass of weak punch and a re-
ception wafer serve as a reliable substitute
for the square neal l would have had if l
hadn't paid cash for a carriage and
boutenniere If you come across the an
swer to that social problem 1 want you to
mark it SO that l can learn it by heart"
Evening star., 1897-01-16
Treated Like Dogs.

From the Chicago Post.
LAS matter of fact" he said. reflect
ively. lit Is only recently that men have
begun to treat their wives like dogs"
You astonish mel! she exclaimed 81
did not suppose such a thing was possible
under the conditions Of civilization"
1T is civilization that makes it possible.
he replied, shortly.
Then all that have read upon the SUBJ
ject in history must be wrong" she as
serted.
"On the contrary, history is right"
But all that have seen is to the effect
that men treat their wives better now
than ever before"
'Unquestionably. But there never was a
time when they did not treat their dogs
WELL"
Evening star., 1897-01-16
The Right Way TO Put Ia.
From Tidl-Bits.


When 4 lacy is sitting to a Partisan pho
tcSrapher for a portrait the operator does
not, in a perfunctory manner, coldly re-
quest her to look pleas ant now. if you
pleasc. He says to her. in the most. nat
ural and graceful manner in the world:
IL is quite unnecessary to ask madam 10
look pleasant; she could not look other
wise.' The lady, of course, acknowledges
the compliment with her most gracious al
tish-bred smile. Click" goes the came rsi.
and the picture is obtained. revealing ;he
sitter to the greatest advantage.