davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-05-29
THROUGH SIX CENTURIES.

Long Feud Between Two Families
Brought to n Close Amid Mirth.
1t is seldom in this workaday age
that one encounters a genuine family
feud, inherited from sire to son through
no less than six centuries. Such a feud
actually existed in the dominions Of
Queen Victoria until a short time ago,
and its final settlement was brought
about by the righteousness of a boy of
nine.
The two leading Anglo-Irish families
in Ireland have long been the Fitz-Ger-
aids and the Buffers. From being COM
rades in arms of the invading strong
bow they became by degrees rival
barons and fierce contestants for the
vice sovereignty of their adopted coun-
try. In the wars of the roses the But
lers sided with the white rose of Lam
caster, the Fitz-Geralds with the red
rose of York. Factions gathered around
in the two great houses, and the bitter
feud brought forth death and bloodshed
from as early as 1850 down to the Will
liamite wars. The Buffers, whose chief
lad obtained the dignity of earl of
Ormonde, succeeded in crushing the
power of the elder branch of the Fitz-
Geralds, earls of Desmond. 1t is told of
a warlike Desmond that while being
borne prisoner on the locked shields Of
his feudal foes clansmen the Buffers
tainted him with the bitter words:
where is now the proud Fitz-Ger.
ald?"
To which the indomitable earl an
swered:
"Fitz-Gerald is where he ought to be
on the necks of the Buffers"
This proud reply will give an idea OF
the intensity of the strife.
Now, it happened that her majesty's
Irish viceroy gave a garden party at the
viceregal lodge at Dublin. and thither
were hidden by accident the marquis Of
Ormonde, head of the Butler family
familiar to the Americans through his
yachting ~interests), and the little duke
of Leinster, boyish chieftain of the
house Of Fitz-Gerald. With the duke,
who was not quite eight years of age,
came his widowed mother, one of the
beautiful Duncombe sisters.
The duchess of Leinster lost sight OF
her son for a space, and, in going to
look for the lad, found him engaged in
earnest conversation with a tall, elderly
gentleman, in whom she was surprised
TO recognize the marquis of Ormonde.
What was her horror when, on ap-
preaching nearer, she distinctly heard
the youthful Geraldine remark in some
what slangy phrase:
swell, I suppose 1 ought to punch
your head on account of the feud; but
I say, you know, you're too jolly decent
q chap for that. Can't we shake hands
and call it square?"
With the utmost gravity Lord Or
monde grasped the small hand Of his
hereditary foe, and when the amused
mother came to congratulate them on
the happy settlement of 600 years Of
bitterness she found the young hopeful
perched, like his famous ancestor, on
the neck of the Butler.-Atlanta Con-
stitution.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-05-29

stairs three steps at a time, found her
lying in a faint across the body of the
wondering, frightened sick man.
1t "a all soon explained. John
Lorimer, ST., had been struck by a fly
ing bit of shell while in comEsSd of
his battery, and had been taken 20 the
hospital, where an incompetent sur
geon trepanned his injured skull. In
a short time he had been discharged
from the hospital as cured-but he had
lost hismemory, had forgotten his name,
residence, everything, and was semi
imbecile besides. In this condition he
had passed % long years-years of
which he had no recollection whatever.
But the husband of her youth was
again with her in the flesh, and Mrs.
Lorimer's steadfast faith was justified.
"Just look at Mrs. Lorimer," said one
OF the guests at the Armstrong house
the day John and Bessie were married;
and she nodded towards that little
woman, who was leaning proudly on
the arm of her long-absent husband.
IF it weren't for her gray hairs, she'd
look like a bride, and a pretty young
at that"
r. L. KETCHUM.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-05-29

A wise old physician recommends the
following as two of the best liniments
known; they are equally good for man
or beast, and may be used for any pur-
pose where liniment i&'required. Igive
them because to their other merits they
add that of being Inexpensive. and they
can be made by anyone, and kept on
hand for emergencies. For the first
one, fill a small bottle with kerosene
and add champion gum until the oil
will dissolve no more. 1t is then ready
for use. To make the second, break an
egg, stir it lightly, and pour i. into a
bottle, then fill the bottle with spirits
of turpentine and shake it until the
mixture is thoroughly blended. 1t will
look like milk, and is excellent.-House-
keeper.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-05-29
Just the Man to Do It.

The man for the occasion is not al.
ways so promptly at hand as he seems
to have been in the following story:
Not long ago, Sandow, the celebrated
strong man, was going from Kansas
City to Omaha. While in the train he
was accosted by a tall gentleman with
long side-whiskers.
Excuse me, sir" he said, "but are
not you Mr.. Sandow?"
"Yes," said the strong man.
"You can lift three tons in harness?"
"Yes, sir. that is my record" the
Hercules returned.
"You can hold two hundredweight al
arms length?"
"Yes."
"And six hundred with two?"
Eyes"
Then would you kindly raise this
window for me?"-Tit-Bits.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-05-29
The First Railroad I'm America.

Gridley Bryant. a civil engineer, in
1926, projected the first railroad in the
United States. 1t was built for the pur-
pose of carrying granite from the quar-
ries Of Quincy, Mass, to the nearest
tidewater. Its length was four miles.
including branches, and its first cost
$4,000. The sleepers were of stone and
were laid across the track eight feet
apart. Upon rails of wood, six inches
thick, wrought-iron plates, three inches
wide and a quarter of an inch thick,
were spiked. At the crossings stone
rails were used, and as the wooden
rails became unserviceable they were
replaced by others of stone.-Ladies'
Home Journal.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-05-29

oOhh "ShI " I'M 10 SOOu d. IC ICCOF
cred from his first shock, and raised tn,
old mans head, but, beyond his faint
breathing, there was little sign of life
There's only one thing to do, john
said Bessie, quietly. you bandage his
head with your handkerchief, prop hin
against the stump, and I'll hold him un'
til you can borrow 4 horse and buggy
and bring DIR. Baker,"
John hesitated n moment, then fol.
lowed his sweetheart's directions to the
letter. He easily borrowed a horse and
buggy from one of those who still lin
gered at the cemetery, and in less than
half an hour he returned with the doc,
tor.
Hin! Pretty bad case-old wound.
I fancy" said DR.. Baker. "Who is hep
Il don't know" said John. 81 noticed
him in the procession this morning, but
he seems to be a stranger"
"Well, he must be taken care of, in
any case, and well taken care of. But
where 4 we"
"Just take him over to our house.
interrupted John, promptly, receiving,
for this suggestion, an approving smile
from Bessie.
In a very short time the injured man
was lying in Mrs. Lorimer's spare
room," and before the day was over all
the village knew that "the widow Lori
mer" was nursing a sick veteran. .
"Just like her." said everybody.
Shed just work her finger to the bone
doing for anyone who wore the army
uniform"
Under DR.. Bakers somewhat print
tive treatment the patient did not
thrive, but, instead, grew worse. until,
at the end of a week, at Mrs. Lorimer's
suggestion, a physician from the city
was sent for.
That eminent practitioner arrived,
asked a few questions, examined the pa
TENTS injured head, and announced:
The man has been wounded in the
head, and his skull has been trepanned.
1t was a bad job, for something was
left pressing upon the brain, and this
accident has dented the plate, also. 1
think he'll stand an operation" the
physician went on musingly as he turned
to his cas- of surgical instruments.
In a few hours, the city physician,
having removed the old plate and re-
placed it with a new one, took the train
home, leaving behind him a patient who
was sleeping as quietly as a babe. To
Mrs. Lorimer the doctor said, at part
ing:
"All your patient needs now is good
nursing, and 1 know, madam, he will
receive it at your hands. When he re-
gains consciousness, it will be, 1 think,
as a perfectly sane man."
The second morning after the doctors
departure Mrs. Lorimer was leaning
over the sick man, when suddenly his
eyes opened.
I've been pretty sick, haven't 1,
nurse?" he asked with a faint smile.
Yes, indeed. But you mustn't talk.
What shall 1 get you to cate"
"How long will it be, do you think.
before 1 can go home?" persisted the
man.
Not for quite awhile yet, I'm afraid.
Where do you live?"
Sat Banbury, Ill. I've got a wife
there and a boy I've never seen-named
after me-John Lorimer, and 1 want
to"
John in the sftting-roon heard his
mothers scream, and, bounding up the
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-05-29
IN EMORIAM.
Decoration Day ns a Perpetual Cele-
bration Of the Nation.


bration of the Nation.
Memorial day is celebrated with nom
the less fervor because the ranks of the
veterans are thinning from year to
year. There is enough reverence left
in the hearts of the children of the old
soldiers to commemorate the occasion
with all the tributes of floral offerings
which the heroes of the war deserved.
Let US hope that the time will never
come when this observance will be for
gotten, for Decoration day should take
its place forever with the patriotic eel
ebration of the nation, to p~erpetuate
love of home and country.
If the spirits of the departed know
aught of what takes place in this mortal
life, they must rejoice that they are re-
membered, and that there is little sig
n~ificance in the oft-quo.ed saying:
Are we soon forgotten after we are
gomez"
1t is not glory alone that guards the
bivouac of the dead, but the living
hands of sisters, brothers, wives, chill
dren and old comrades, who strew flow
ers upon the silent tents, and make the
resting places of the loved ones blossom
like the rose.
Mankind has been called hard, self
ish, irresponsible, but occasions like
Memorial day prove that the poet is
right when he says that a lie that is
half 4 truth is ever the blacklist of lies.
In the fierce struggle for existence men
often forget the feelings and the rights
of others, but underlying all their
harshness and self-seeking there is a
better spirit, which can be Weakened in
to life by the remembrance of deeds Of
self-sacrifice and courage. Even the
dullest clod of humanity is inspired
when he hears of the brave deeds which
Memorial day recalls, and life is better
worth the living when noble, patriotic
deeds form the theme of the orators
discourse and the poets verse. The
dull round OF the familiar acts of every
Cay takes on new light when we are
urged not to forget the defenders of our
flag, who endured privations, disease
and death, that it might forever float
over us to remind us that a heritage of
liberty is the greatest gift that can be
given an intelligent and self-respecting
people. Therefore, let Memorial day
endure, with its lesson of patriotism,
gratitude, charity and love. - Boston
Budget.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-05-29

1nTOuSn ln6 CODSeS ana uluSieS duu udIh-
tangled way
Down in the Wilderness
Down in the Wilderness.
It was over the river Rapidan,
And slowly southwark the march began,
Into the solitude,
Into the gloomy wood.
On, on, on, with a wide, strarge sound,
Grinding and Earring the sodden ground,
Down in the Wilderness
Down in the Wilderness.
All hushed were the bosket-1utes of May,
All sweet-voiced things had flown away
Leaving to Grant and Lee
A desert and destiny:
What time their batteries ~foundered and
pounded,
And the bombs through the imber bumped
and bounded.
Down in the Wilderness
Down in the Wilderness.
Tossing and swaying, the hosts did go,
BlinGly buffeting, blow on blow,
Over the fen-land,
Over the gray sand:
And far and near. amid brush and brier,
Cracked the crisp. keen musket fire.
Down in the Wilderness
Down in the Wilderness.
Hitler and thither, dashing in vain,
Columns soaked in a bullet rain,
Covered with battle Crime,
Daytime and night time,
Stumbled and fumbled on through the
maze,
And charged by the light of their powder
blaze,
Down in the Wilderness
Down in the Wilderness.
Each man a hero cleaving his way
- -z- -
Gray:
Back and forth, back and forth,
East or west, south or north,
Plunglng at death with a shout and a shot,
Where the ground rippled red and the air
painted hot,
Down in the Wilderness
Down in the Wilderness.
OH the heroes who died and the brave
Were the soul of the south and the heart
of the north;
And the strong sons they sired,
Stand by the guns they fired,
Build on the battle spots affairs of stone,
And one old war minstrel goes singing alone,
Down in the Wilderness
Dow in the WILD erness.
And so take my song to the Gray and the
Blue,
Oh! once they were many. and now they are
few;
Here's to the bold ones,
The grizzled and old ones,
WIKI fought through the solitude man to
man,
Southwark away from the Rapidan,
Down in the Wilderness
Down in the Wilderness.
Maurice Thompson. in n. Y. Independ-
ent.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-05-29
Heroic Treatment.

Doctor Gust arrived at the scene of
the accident)-What on earth are you
holding his nose for?
Pat %(kneeling beside the victim)-So
his breath won't leave his body, Of
course,-N. Y. Journal.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-05-29
. Decoration for Flower Pots.

Tin foil is often used to cover common
clay flower pots when set in a window.
When the tin foil is new it is silvery
and bright, and one or two flower pots
thus covered make a pleasing contrast
with others in the row that are covered
with colored papers.-N. Y. Sun.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-05-29
Why He

"Why have you quit going to see
Miss Flippin on Thursday nights? I
see that you go there Friday nights
now"
Thursday night is onion night at tia
Flippins'."ICleveland Leader.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-05-29
His RehnkA.

Burner-That was a very nice-look.
ing woman I saw with you at the the
alter last night. I'm glad you have at
last shown some taste. Who was she:
Rounder (lushing)-Um! That was
my wife.-Philadelphia North Ameri-
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-05-29
in Luck.

Parksby-Is your o having good
luck at college?
KerzoggI guess so. Hehas not sent
for amy money for over three montha-
=. 2. journal.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-05-29

the piazza, then, with a deep sigh, he
walked down the gravel path, out of the
gate and up the lane towards the big
white house of the Armstrong family.
He walked slowly, with eyes bent on
the ground, as one having trouble on
his mind, until, glancing up, he caught
the CLEAN of a white dress at the gate
of the Armstrong home-then the lag
cling steps grew brisk, and the melan-
choly face was frightened by a smile OF
pleasant anticipation.
It was a lovely evening in the latter
part of May, and all nature seemed to
be rejoicing in the fullness of the ripe
springtime. 1t seemed a time for glad
ness and naught else, at least to those
to whom sorrow was unknown. But in
the cottage John Lorimer had just left
was a little gray-haired woman who,
sitting in an armchair with an old,
faded photograph in her thin, shaking
hands, was sobbing as though her heart
would break. The picture was that of
a young, handsome man in the uniform
of a lieutenant of artillery, and was
SdulN UluIICu WIN lhS uhd'ohAh5 NSoA
that had fallen upon it.
The twilight ~deepened, and darkness
came, and with it the songs of the frog
and the cricket and the whip-poor-will,
and all the other sounds that tend to
make night in the country a very SYM
phony in itself-but the woman paid
no heed. pausing only in her weeping
now and then to kiss passionately the
faded, tawdry photograph.
Young Lorimer's smile vanished al
most as quickly as it came, for he could
not more than mcmentarily forget the
poor little heart-broken mother he had
left weeping in her corner of the big
sitting-room, although he knew he
could do nothing to soothe her, and that
she preferred to be left alone at this
time; so his face was unusually solemn
when he greeted his sweetheart, Bessie
Armstrong, who was waiting for him
at the gate.
"What makes you look so solemn TO-
night, big boy?" asked the girl, lightly.
"Oh, just what happens every year at
this time-my mother is having her
usual cry ver my fathers picture, and,
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-05-29

but n thing to do. He sold out his
business, and, turning the proceeds OF
the sale and all his other property oveI
to his wife, he went to the front as sec.
ond in command of a battery fitted out
by Banbury and neighboring villages
For a year or more came, with more
or less regularity, Johns CHEEKY, breezy
letters, in which the disconlforts OF
camp-life were depicted as a joke, and
the horrors of war as a pastime. Then
came the account of a battle, with the
bulletin of dead, wounded and missing
and among those whose names fol-
lowed that awful word missing" was:
John Lorimer, captain Battery c, til
Illinois artillery"
Nainly the sorrowing wife he had left
at home wrote here and there to see if
she could get any trace of him. Years
passed-years during which the young
wife often told herself that the knowl-
edge of his death were better than that
terrible uncertainty as to his fate. As
soon as the war closed, she went south
and inspected the records of all the mill
tary prisons, but gained no clew from
these. Yet she could never convince her.
self that he was dead, and she lived in
the faith that she and her boy, the son
he had never seen, now nearly as old as
his father was when he went to the
front, would yet look upon the living
face of that husband ana father.
It was the day when all America,
leaving all other matters aside, unites
in doing honor to the heroes who died
hat the nation might live. The morn
ing had broken bright and clear, and the
spring sun shone benignantly upon the
completing preparations for the Me-
mortal day ceremonies in Banbury.
whence many a promising young fell
low had gone to the war and died for his
country.
At IL o'clock came the services at the
church, which almost everyone attend
ed. Lined on either side of the walk
outside were the Banbury guards, the
local militia company, standing at
parade rest while waiting for the ap-
pearance of the grand army post.
Presently the veterans appeared,
marching up the street with somewhat
uncertain step-for many of them were
cripples-behind muffied drum and 81
lent flea little group of aging men,
the remnant of scores of strong, hope
full young fellows who had gone forth
from Banbury to fight for the aus
they loved.
As they approached, the young cap
tain of the guards gave two or three
quiet commands: Attention! Carry
arms. Present arms!" And through
the files of untried soldiers passed
those of many battles.
81 wonder who that old fellow in the
last row of veterans is" unused John
Lorimer, who, with his mother and
Bessie Armstrong, stood on the corner
and saw the old soldiers pass By. "He
must be a stranger. Did you notice?
He seemed to be dazed-a little off l
reckon"
The services at the church were more
than usually impressive. The new min
lister, Mr.. Dare. was himself a veteran,
and he talked to the soldiers as only 4
soldier can, then preached a sermon
that brought tears to the eyes of nearly
everyone in the house.
The services over, the veterans, fol-
lowed by the guards and a long process
sion Of citizens, marched to the GENE
tery to perform the remaining ceremo-
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-05-29

o HN LORIMER
walked quietly
out of the house,
closing the front
door softly be-
hind him. For n
moment he stood
hesitatinglY on
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-05-29

H! this Is my song to
the Gray and the
Blue,
Who once were so
many and now are
so few,
The young ones,
the bold ones.
The grim ones,
the old ones,
The fighters W h o
fought out t h o S e
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-12-03
In concluding Col. Hunter said:
A BIG MONOPOLY.


WAsHISGroN, Nov. 20. A special
TO the Post from Charleston, W. Va,
says: "rhe Vanderbilt interests have
a scheme on foot aiming at the con
troll. through the Chesapeake ~ Ohio
railroad. of the soft coal markets Of
both the east and west
About two months ago the announces
ment was made by lion. John /. Me-
Graw, of Grafton, W. Va. that he had
sold to a syndicate. including in its
membership Cornelius Vanderbilt. II.
Mex. Twombly and II. Seward Webb,
tract of coal aud timer land in the
northeastern part OF West Virg MIA.
The same people bought othar'tracts.
Railroads now controlled by the syn
dictate will be completed to these coal
lands. connecting them with the
Chesapeake 4 Ohio, and through it
with the east and west. 1t is also
stated that the Vanderbilt interests
have secured control OF the locking
| Valley road. and it will be extended "
huntington. w Va.
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-12-03
DISASTROUS FIRE.
4 Three Hundred Thousand Dollar BiasS
at streator. Ill

STREAToR H., Nov. 24.-By the over
turning of lamp, Monday evening, a
fire was caused which involves loss
variously estimated at from S25O,OOO tc
$500, 900.
AT 7::5 p. m. just after the hour for
closing, a woman employed in the mill
linery Departmental ID. lleenan q Co. 5
store accidentally brushed lamp
from stand, the oil exploding. and
Sc ting fire to the delicate fables.
The flames spread rapidly, consum
ing the entire block. and doing great
damage TO adjoining property. The
ii rm carried one OF the largest general
stocks in central Illinois, il being wide
ly known as department store. The
building occupied ground space OF
25Ox2O0 feet, three stories and base
ment, and every department was heayi
ly stocked
The post-otfice building. together
with all fixtures, is total loss, though
nearly all mail packages Were saved.
The books and accounts of ID. lleenan
x Co. are also among the ruins, and up
on these no estimate of the loss can be
placed.