davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-01-16

ne continued. toying with the little lever
which regulated the leaping motion;
"the gentlest pressure s~sufHces.,
AT this point there was aloud clang
md hiss Of escaping air, and the biey-
Gle made a vigorous dash for freedom.
The genius was pulled violently up the
garden and overturned. while the bicy-
Gle made several futile attempts to leap
the fence at the end, It failed, how
ever, and the genius, after several in
effectual trials succeeded putting the
lever back to stop" In a fit OF absent
~mindedness he had shifted It to easy
He led the machine back and began
explaining, brcathlessly:
"ConfouDd the thing he growled; II
only just touched the lever to see If It
was in proper opder, and it went off.
Oh, forgoodness sake, don't stand laugh
ing there like an IDIOT Ibelicve you are
the most irritating man in the world,
Here, hold this, while brush myself"
When he had fnishedhe said he would
not try the bicycle until eight o'clock.
assented to the wisdom Of this, and
said that then nobody would be about
if the thing ran away with him again.
He turned ON me fercely:
81 tell you l have the machine under
the most absolute, perfect control.|%
Ireplied that this was obvious.
Thereupon he completely lost his tenn
per, and after making several unbound
ed suggestions as to the condition of my
mind, stalked into the house. How.
ever, at tea he generously forgave me
and became enthusiastic once more, ant
said he would write out an agreement
giving me a third share in his inven
ton before he went to bed-whicl
share represented, according to som,
close and intricate calculations of his
a capital sunl of e24O,oOo. Then h,
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-01-16

borrowed half a sovereign from me for
a couple of days, in the kindest possible
manner, and said he didn't mind me at
all, because he understood me, and
knew that there was not a bit of harm
in me.
The next morning Imet him as agreed.
The first trial of the machine was to
take place down the Chalk Hill, as it is
called. This is a steep, grassy incline,
with a brick wall of about six feet in
height running along the bottom. He
was going to leap the wall; though, il
I had been he, l think | should have
chosen something softer than brick to
experiment or. I did the best / could,
though, by preparing the ground on the
other side of the wall with the garden
tools, until the soil was beautifully soft
and loose-quite an ideal place to fall
on. / didn't tell the genius about my
foresight III this matter; he had such a
wretched way of sitting on a fellow.
/ ought to mention here that the
genius is inclined to be stout; and,
moreover. he had not ridden a bicycle
for one or two years. These facts did
not appear to affect his confidence in
the least, and he came forth quite gaily
at eight o'clock, smiling broadly d he
wheeled his machine to the top of the
incline. Polly and / both came out to
see him, and he waved his hand to us
with an air of approaching victory. He
made one or two false starts before he
was fairly under way; but, in the ex-
element of the moment, he had not
noticed that a little boy with a hoop
had trotted into the middle of the
course. II the genius had ridden
straight on he would not have gone
near the lad; but, of course, with the
impetuous instinct of the amateur cy-
clist, as soon as he saw him he was con
strained to run the boy down. He was
so taken up with uttering piercing
screams of warning that he forgot to
apply the brake; and the bicycle by
this time was giving small jumps a
foot O two high, and was increasing the
height at every jump.
The boy was surprised, to put it mild
", to see this bowling fat man charging
at him on a machine with a series Of
jumps, and was completely paralyzed.
l think it was the immortality of the
lad that saved his life. If he had started
to get out of the way it is quite certain
he would have been pursued, knocked
down, and u over. But, as it hap.
pened, the genius missed him by about
a foot, and, amid Polly's shrieks, made
| straight for the wall at the bottom OF
the field.
The Jumps e now about four feet
high, and whenever the bicycle hit the
ground it seemed as though it would
jerk Its rider of; hut he managed to
cling to tine machine until It landed
against the wall, when the force Of the
conclusion threw him several yards
Falling on the soft ground. however. he
was but little hurt He picked up "a,
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-01-16


met a lassie n the lanef
a sweeter L1aidthansh
an all the country far and wide
vow you could not see.
Her cheeks were red as peaches ripe;
Her eyes were like the sky;
Bhe seemed q dover from heavens
I blushed and passed her BY.
I said: "She is some angel fair
From paradise astray."
u held my steps to worship her,
And turned and looked her was,
When 10! / saw her face was hid
IN her two lily hands.
4 said to me: tsShe sobE 70 be
In her celestial lands
20 lasale, laszie, then I spake,
Nnat gr4t s tn Thy breast,
Maygone that 81 a stranger, weet
Put Ill thy fears % rest?"
sShe turned to me with dewy eyes:
20 Sit, SO plain am =
That meyer one beneath the sun,
But smiles and passes by.
'~Dear little heart" / said to her.
Il pray thee weep no more;
Thus, mortals often forfeit that
Which greatly they adore.
Too holy thou dost seem to them
For more Than look to touch;
They only pass thee, dear, because
They love thee overmuch.@
sShe pouted out her lips. SO red
Like roses newly wet
@.n beauty makes them pass me by,
Then beauty Iregret."
/ caught and kissed her where she
stood,
And sweet she said to me
"'IfI remain to others plain
Let me be fair to thee"
Won Linden, in Chicago RECORD.
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-01-16

"Those undershirts / bought here last
month";" he began.
II remember it," said the clerk; sit
was a great bargain. Do you find them
warm enough2"
They we're warm enough when I first
put them on, but I didn't think to in
quire about them this morning"
Inquire about them2"
"Yes. Ever since they were washed
the baby has been wearing them. Now,
If you h we anything which isn't quite
10 much Of a bargain and IS little more
likely to remain my size I'd like to ses
them."-st. Louis Post-D1spatch.
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-01-16
Prairie plmple..

Southwestern Louisiana is bordered
along the coast with broad sandy and
g~ravelly plains to which the name o.
"pimply prairiesr has been given. This
curious title comes from the circular
mounds, arranged in zones and along
interesting lines, with which largo
areas Of the plains are covered. Former
" these mounds, which average SO feet
IN diametef and attain oceaai6nsny q
height Of ten feet, were supposed 81
have been made by ants, with
nests they abound. But recently Pref
Clendenins of the Louisiana state unI
verslty, has found reason for thinking
that the mounds were formed through
the blowing up Of mud ~ gas escar
ing from vents ID the Rround. The
arrangement Of the mounds IN one and
lines IS accounted for BY supposine That
the gas vents existed along the cturea
radiatfng from an earthquake cen
Youths Companion.
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-01-16
A Dlstlnctlon.

II suppose said the native Of Ameri-
ca to the foreigner, that you find our
manners and customs very interesting y
Not exactly" replied the visitor, as
be gazed at a heeting bicycle girl
what 7 find interesting are your man-
ners and costumes. -ChicaRo inter-
Ocean.
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-01-16

The so-called rusting of iron is
simply it's oxidation. The chemists
state that iron is very feebly acted upon,
if at all, by dry oxygen, but most yigor-
Ousiy by moist air Of oxygen and moia-
turs.
Oregon union. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1897-1899, 1897-12-10
The OregOnian.

In an advertisement elsewhere it will
be seen that we offer the Weekly Oregon
ian and the OREGON UNION both to one
address for the small sum of $I.75 a
year in advance. The Weekly Oregon
ian will give you all the news of the
state, the nation and the world, while
the UNION will give you all the county
news, and in no other way can you pos
sibly get this so cheap. The Oregonian
needs no recommendation at our hands,
and the UNION, too, speaks for ITSELF
We wish to say one thing with reference
to ourselves. Enemies of the UNION
are circulating the report that it is only
temporary affair, and will not last. This
is false. We have the best newspaper
office in the county; it is entirely out of
debt and is already on paying basis.
1t came here to stay, and the encourage
ment we have already received has
placed its future success beyond doubt.
Its subscription price alone is ST. year,
IN advance. or SI.75, in advance, will get
the Weekly Oregonian and the UNION
for one year to one address. Send in
your names at once, as congress will
meet soon, and important measures will
come before it that you should know.
Oregon union. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1897-1899, 1897-12-10
Kings Valley Items

Mrs. Rice is very low at the
present time.
| Mr.. and Mrs. Roiley are keeping
house for MrsMcvicker while they
are away.
There will be Christmas tree at
the new church on Christmas Eve.
All are invited.
Nellie McField is quite sick with
nervous prostration. She is at her
uncle's, Jake Chambers.
Mrs. Tillie Rodgers will take
care of Mrs. Rombough's children
while she is at Klondike, where
her husband is.
The members and friends of the
old church have built wagon-sheds
at the church. and it is a good
thing as people can have their
horses in the dry while they are at
the services.
Rev. McVicker and wife were
called to Dayton, Yamhill county,
to see Mrs. q. Spangle, Mrs. Nc
Vicker's sister, who is very low
with consumption. Therefore his
second Sunday appointments are
withdrawn.
Oregon union. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1897-1899, 1897-12-10

I wish at this Christmastide every
young girl who reads these words
might bring her mind to hunt out
some aged saint, and bring new
brightness into that life by some
holiday thought or attention. A
bunch Of bright flowers can bring
a years sunshine into sunset life.
Let the gift be ever so simple: the
attention ever so small: but let it
be bright: let it be suggestive OF
cheer, Of hope, of freshness, OF
youth-something that will bring
the sparkle to the eye, the tinge Of
color to the cheek. 1t is for the
young to prolong the life of the
aged by just such little attentions
as this. If there is no aged saint
in your own home, Lor within the
circle of your acquaintance, seek
out some neglected soul in an "Old
Ladies' Home," or institute. 1t
will be double Christmas for you;
a fresh, new Christmas for the old,
while to you, my girl, it will mean
more than you think. We always
gain more than we give by associat-
ing with old people. The poorest
old lady in the land is rich in
knowledge for young girl. 1t al
ways does a girl good to come in
contact with an old lady. The girl
may be the most brilliant college
graduate who ever addressed a
valedictory to her class, but in the
comfortable chair before her sits
one who has learned from ex-
perience what the girl has learned
from books. AS man takes off
his hat to a woman. so [ think a
young girl should always bow with
respect to an old lady. Let our
young girls think over this with
the approaching holidays, and seek
to throw bright ray of sunshine
into some old lady's life. Let every
girl who can, see to it that it shall
be no longer said that young people
Oregon union. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1897-1899, 1897-12-10

Statistics which have been pre-.
pared for the annual number of the
Oregonian, which will be issued on
January 1, show that Oregon will
produce more gold this year than
the Klondike produced during the
working season of 1S96-1S97.
Receipts of Klondike gold at
Portland and other Pacific coast
ports since the news of the great
discoveries arrived, have been, ac-
cording to the reports of returning
miners, about $4.25O,OOO. Careful
investigation has reduced this total,
and the receipt of the gold at the
mints has caused an additional
shrinkage, SO the actual amount
received from Dawson probably has
not exceeded $3,5OO,Oo0, fit reach
ed that figure. Certainly, $4,000,
900 is a very liberal estimate. I'm
ion county this year will produce
$2,172,00O of gold; Baker county,
$2,000,00O, and Grant co&nty 5000,
600, making the total for three
of oregon's leading mining counties,
nearly $4,4OO,OOO. When full re-
ports are in from the rich placer
.diggings of Douglas, Jackson and
Josphine counties, Oregon's gold
product will reach nearly $5,000,-
900.
Oregon's gold product, at the
present rate of increase, may reach
81 100000 in 1898. Klondike's
output during the working season
of 1897 and 1898, may, under fav-
orable conditions, reach $10,O0O,O00.
If the conditions are unfavorable
this winter, as late reports from
Dawson indicate they will be, the
Klondike output may not exceed
$5,O00,000. All things taken into
consideration, Oregon stands a very
good chance of producing as much
gold next year as Klondike will
produce.
Oregon union. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1897-1899, 1897-12-10
s. L. KLINE,
REGULATOR OF LOMPRICES
Additional Local.

Be wise! Have Vogle fit your eyes.
Orders taken for o. A. c. regulation
uniforms at SI4.5o. S. L. KLINE.
All kinds of job printing at reasonable
rates at this office.
County warrants taken at par for mer-
chandise at Nolan and Callahan's.
To rent-an elegantly furnished lower
front room near the court house, apply at
this office.
PURE CIDER vinegar in any quan.
tity, for sale only at Corvallis Cider
Factory.
The foundry people desire to say that
Saturday is the special day set apart for
sharpening plowshares.
To Trade-For Corvallis property,
house and four lots in Waldport. Will
pay difference in cash. Inquire through
P. o. Box IS, Corvallis, or at this office,
Oregon union. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1897-1899, 1897-12-10
YAQULN1 BAY.

The Newport Ne7cs of last week
contains a we'll written review of the
harbor improvements at Yaquina
bay. 1t is too long for republica.
ton by us and there is no place in
it where it can be separated without
mutilation. It was undoubtly
written by R. A. lBerrsell who has
been actively and usefully connect
ed with the matter from its start;
but the matter has got past talk
now, and past newspaper discus
sion too. It will be a calmity fol
the Willamette valley, and for
Eastern Oregon, as we'll to have
this appropriation fail. With it
they will have competing railroad
service and an Independent water
way to the sea; but without it they
will not, and forever must pay trib-
ute to Columbia river pilotage, tow
age, and warehouses. Add to this
the other fact that if the appropri-
alton fails the o. G. & E. R. r. will
never be extended into Eastern
Oregon, for without a deep water
entrance to Yaquina it would be
folly to build it. Mr.. Hammond
says it is his intention to extend
the road over the mountains if the
harbor Improvements are continued,
and he keeps all his promises; but
he cannot be expected to do it if the
matter of improving the harbor is
discontinued. Then there is the
other fact that the money already
spent on it by the government is
wasted unless the work is finished ;
and it is a burning shame to leave
such vast interests in such condi-
ton. Surely something will yet
be done to avert what can only be
termed such calamity.
Oregon union. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1897-1899, 1897-12-10
GA TIMELY WORD"
To the Bread Winner of the
Family in Behalf of His
Loved Ones at Home.

The fact is now so generally admitted ii
! leeds no argument 10 convince those upon
whom the duty rests, that life insurance is
the best protection for mans family, his
estate ano his old age. The question with
most men is, what form of policy Will best
discharge the duty and in what company
! to place SO sacred trust.
The Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance
company offers to persons needing insur-
aice an insurance policy of the most
definite character perfectly adapted to all
legitimate wants, conceived and admin
istered in perfect equality, guarded by
ample and undoubted security at the
| lowest cost that economy and good man.
agement can accomplish consistently with
absolute and perptual safety
A policy which after two or three prem
iums paid becomes by its own terms and
without surrender, fully paid up for an
amount each year stated in printed table
upon the policy.
policy which, at the end of TO- Is, 20,
25, 30, 35, etc., years, may be surrendered
for a cash sum stated in table printed
in the policy.
A policy participating in the surplus
| earned which there are no stockholders to
share, so that each members insurance
costs him only just what it costs the COM
pany.
A record of f1fty-one years of business
economically, conservatively and success
fully managed. Its strength and stability
are unqueSt1oned, its reputation unsullied.
the care and economy with which its
business is managed and the resulting
benefits to its members unsurpassed. 1t
invites investigation.
Since organization in 1916 the Connecticut
Mutual
Received in premiums. .......... 1872 Ill sos 65
Returned to policy holders or their represen-
tatives:
For death losses and enfowments 102 6S3 GIG 81
For surrendered policies. .......... 23S03,729 p
/ For Dividends. s................... 56,966,763 GA
Total returned to policy holders 1872 454, ,I09 90
Received from policy holders in
excess of amount returned. $685., ,695 72
Received from interest, rent etc.. S4,532, 1913 IS
Expenses OF management & taxes. 33, 3,20S, ,S17 76
Saving from interest earnings. 81, 322 ,975 81
Net assets January l, 1897. 609S1 ,67I 81
Other assets. ts...................... l,970,677 %
Present admitted assets held for
policy holders . ............... $685., ,33S SS
In the administration of any trust this
tells the whole story.
The Oregon general agency rooms IL and
13, Hamilton building. F. M. & J. w. Ma
thena general agents, Portland, Oregon.
Any information desired in regard to the
same will be furnished by John D. DAILY,
editor and publisher of the Oregon Union,
Corvallis Oregon.
Oregon union. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1897-1899, 1897-12-10
A BEAUTIFUL DEATH,

If death can be beautiful and
there is on reason why it should not,
it is beautifully exemplifed in the
death of the mother of the president
of the United States, who after a
well rounded life of more than the
allotted years, filled with all the
struggles.a and triumphs of such life,
peacefully lays it down at the COM
mand of Him who gave it. Calmly
she sleeps in blissful unconscious
ness, waiting for the angel TO set
her soul free from the poor old
faithful body which encumbers it,
while above her bends the head of
the ruler of one of the greatest
nations on the earth, who with
tears streaming down his face and
in choking voice says between his
sobs, ''Mother, don't you know me?"
and when no answer comes, kisses
for the last time the lips that have
kissed him so often, and then with
heavy heart hurries off to his
duty at the head of the nation. II
is all so beautiful and so like what
it should be that we feel glad rather
than sad at the splendid death of
Mother Mckinley.
Oregon union. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1897-1899, 1897-12-10
EVIL OR GOOD.

Sensational newspapers are being
condemned by all respectable people
everywhere, and the most hopeful
sign for its discontinuance is that
the farmers of the country are
taking it up, and in their grange
and institute meetings are condemn
ing it vigorously. There is no
place where this yellow literature
can do as much harm as on the
farm. Criminal and filthy lives
are pictured out with minute and
elaborate detail, that shows famil-
iarity with that kind of life. No
clean life is ever so pictured; so
the only idea of life that readers of
these papers get is filthy one, and
men with families should exclude
all such papers from their homes.
No one disputes the fact that news
papers exercise a great influence in
educating the people. The sole
question then is, shall this be for
evil or good? The decision is with
YOU,
Oregon union. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1897-1899, 1897-12-10

The first regular session of the
fifty-fifth congress convened in
Washington on Monday last. So
far only routine business has been
done except the introduction Of
some 200 pension bills. The dis
position seems to be to get down to
regular hard work, and there is an
a undance of it to be done, so let
us hope there will be no serious
effort made to block legislation, that
all parties agree is necessary. The
presidents message is lengthy and
meets the usual criticism from all
parties, just as they agree or dis
agree with the policy of the admin
istration. One thing which seems
to be in it's favor is the fact that
England don't like it.
Oregon union. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1897-1899, 1897-12-10

DIR. M. M. Davis has just re-
turned from Portland where he had
an interview with Mr.. Hammond,
the owner Of the O. G. & E. R. R.
Mr.. Hammond says it is their in
tention, if the harbor at Yaquina is
improved, to build the road into
Eastern Oregon. This is important
news to the people of the valley,
and makes the condition attached
to it a more serious proposition than
we thought, for the presumption is
that if the appropriation fails, so
will the extension of the road.
Oregon union. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1897-1899, 1897-12-10
IS THERE 4 SANTA CLAUsP

The following from the New York
>Sun is reprinted in Nc Cures
Magazine for Dec, from which we
copy it. 1t is beautiful, and al
though the grim old assistant secre-
tary of war has written tons OF
matter, this will outlive it all.
eve take pleasure in answering
at once and thus prominently the
communication below, expressing
at the same time our great gratifi-
cation that its faithful author is
Oregon union. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1897-1899, 1897-12-10

In the early days of the state
government the important matter
of school lands was so badly under
stood, and the imperfect laws re
garding these lands were SO badly
administered, that often in the
history of state lands, their title
became a matter of equity. The
jumping case of the Star land, near
Monroe, is only an imitation of other
deeds of that kind that have always
been settled against the jumpers,
and when this case reaches the
secretary of the interior, if it ever
does, he will decide it as his prede-
cessors have done, in favor of the
man who bought it and did every
thing he knew to comply with the
law.