davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1897-01-01
MEXICO'S NEW BOAT.
A Warship Now Being Built for Her at

Warship Now Being Built for Her at
4 s. Il New Orleans. ~~>.s.
I A reporter went up to Walnut street
to see the boat that is being built there
for the Mexican navy, says the New
Orleans Times-Democrat. It is the first
boat that this government has had con-
structed in the United States. and if the
experiment is success other boats will
probably be built. e. Il e. IL r.
Lient Othon r. BlancO, of the Next
can navy, happened to be on the grounds
at the time, and he told all about the
making of the boat and its use in Next
can waters. The contract was awarded
about two months ago to v. Zuv;ch of
this city, who was to deliver the craft to
months. The builder decided to patron
ize home institutions, so he purchased his
material from the local firms.
.Ihe boat has cypress ribs; will be
planked on the bottom and sides with
cypress three and four inches thick; will
have pine planking between the decks,
and will be finished in oak. The length
is IS feet by "a feet beam by II feet
depth, and the draught will be 21a feet.
When completed the total height will be
sist of two guns, one in the bow, the
other in the stern. These and the small
guns will be placed aboard the boat after
it has been delivered to the Mexican gov
eminent and is in Mexican waters. The
cost will be $4,000.
Lieut. Blanco, in speaking about the
boat. said that it would be used on the
coast of Yucatan and mostly in the Che
turnal bay. Into. this bay flow many
rivers, from which much mahogany is
RATED. Formerly the Yucatan Indians
owned all the land about the head of
these small, shallow streams, but recent
ly the Mexican government took posses.
sion Of this property. By this action the
Yucatan Indians were deprived of lu-
crative- business, but the government has
not been able to stop all timber depre-
dations: In spite of the best. vigilance,
the Indians continue to cut the timber,
raft the logs down the rivers and sell
them to the ships. This illegal traffic
the government wishes to have checked,
and when the boat is put into commits
sion the officers hope to compel stop to
the business.
This is the first boat that the Mexican
government has contracted to have built
in the United States.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1897-01-01

At first Mrs. Rowley stopped, aston.
Iished, not seeing her stocking hanging
where she had put It. Then perceiving
it on the cushion apparently stuffed very
full, she Immediately imagined that II
was 90 heavy that It had dropped, and
stopped to pick It up. Az she did So
however, she drew back with g cry. .
SOMETHING 8 mSys alive she exclaimed = Y
Il hope hope 50, said Mr.. Rowley, who
was now crOuching by her. II should
have been terribly shocked II It had
Mrs. Rowley looked at him in stupe-
faction. Before she could speak, how-
ever. there was a convulsiye movement
Of the stocking, very little fist was
thrust from it and the upper part Of
one Of it's severed sides fell back. Mrs.
Rowley restrained q scream. 1t is q
baby" she cried.
Yes, said her husband, that is:
what it is. Santa Claus must have
thought it would be useful, especially in
holiday times, and then again (he men,
toned this to me in confdence), he could
not think Of anything else which would
so well fit that stockingp'
Mrs, Rowley did not answer. She
She sat on the floor and held it in her
lap: 1t fixed it's round eyes upon her and
feebly smiled ~ - .@,,=s>.
49,, David R Bowl said she, where did
"You must ask Santa Claus about
that" said he. "At least, you can ask
two of his assistants who are down
stairs. Good women both-and they will
assure you that everything is all right"
The two women were kept waiting a
long time, downstairs, but at last Mrs.
RoWley, who was now sitting in chair
with the baby in her arms, told her hus-
band that he might go down and ask
them to come up. .s.:# z.2$ S - Y
But before CO., said he, II want
you to know that have named it.
have named it Jane Rowley, after my
mother" % r. e :--- s
t'Why didn't you name it after me?'
she asked, quickly.
"No, indeed, madam" said he.
'There's never to be but one Martha
Rowley in this world for me-. That is
the reason was SO quick about it."
Now, Mrs. Rowley greatly disliked the
name of Jane, but, of course, under the
circumstances, she could not say so. l.
"Would you mind" she asked, 'if we
call it Christmas Jane?"
II wouldn't mind it Bit" said he.
Chrissy is growing up to be fine
girl, and considering the manner of her
Introduction into the Rowley family, it
is not likely that she will ever fail to
hang up her stocking on Christmas eve.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1897-01-01
4" j .s-7 - -. y
The Two ChristInases,

There are the two Christmases that
are possible, the Christmas of self-indul-
gence, the Christmas of self-sacrifce,
be the indulgence of the higher qualities
when one is the guest, or the hostess, Of
well-to-do and fortunate friends; when
music and conversation and all the deli
cacies and dainty Injuries of the well-ap-
pointed household contribute to the gen
eral enjoyment, and Christmas gifts,
lavish and fair, are admired and enjoyed.
" Or there may be the day when you go
out from your comfortable or luxurious
home-not to one more comfortable or
more luxurious, but to one where there
may be less of material ease, to the home
to which you may carry and may receive
sweetness of affection and uplifting Of
thought, where better plans and purposes
may be mutually strengthened and per-
fected, and a deeper chord of mutual
sympathy may be touched that will en-
rich both lives for all the future. There
may be such a Christmas as that.
The giving Of gifts in the mere tangi-
bic and material way is but, q minor
variably the absolute promoters of happi-
ness. It depends. But to give Of your
best--of your love, your sympathy in all
high endeavor, your faith in the ultimate
achievement of every high and noble as
Spiration Of your friend, your swift and
glad recognition of his better nature, your
/ hospitality to his finer purposes, to give
and to receive Of these Is, indeed, to en-,
ter into that ideal Christmas whose spir-
it is .Glory to God in the highest; on
earth peace, good will toward men.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1897-01-01
Electrical Hardening of Steel.

A French technical journal announces
a new invention in the field of electrical
metallurgy, says the Electrical Review.
It is a process which will give an extra
ordinary hardness to steel. 1t is report
ed that the inventor, a Mr.. Taux, has
executed the. following experiments be-
fore committee of engineers at Stras-
burg. A drill hardened by electricity
pierced a shell twice as quick as drill
of the best steel hardened in the Ordi-
nary way. The drill was closely exam
lined afterward by means Of a strong
microscope and not the least injury could
be discovered. An electrically hardened
circular saw cut iron bars with surpris-
ing ease. With cold chisel similarly
treated a steel bar, one by one-half inch,
was cut through and the operation was
repeated five times on the same bar.
Then a cast steel plate, one-quarter inch
thick. was cut with the chisel, the edge
of which showed neither a assure nor
any other alteration afterward. An
electrically hardened table knife cut iron
wire of one-eighth inch diameter just as
easy as cotton string. The process is
said to consist in the hardening of the
red hot steel objects in a conductive bath
traversed by an electric current. If
these tests should be confirmed by fur
Their practical experiences, the conse-
squences would be Of the greatest impor-
lance for the manufacture of tools.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1897-01-01
GRAND YULETIDE CELEBRATION.
Christmas Bells will Ring on Time in
1900.

Christmas Bells will Ring on Time in
The most joyous Christmas eyre
known since the first one will be the first
of the next century, when the whole
Christian world will join simultaneously
in grand chorus, "Peace on Earth"
That Christmas will be celebrated all
the world over by one of the most novel
ceremonies ever conceived, and prepara-
tons are now being made for it's success
full contamination, says the st. Louis
Republic.
It is now planned to begin the celebra-
ton with the ringing of the "Peace and
Liberty Belp' in Jerusalem, and the COM
mittee having the celeb alton in charge
has invited the peace bell committee to
meet in the Holy Land Christmas eve,
1900, on the spot where the shepherds re-
ceived the message: "Glory to God in
the Highest
Upon this occasion and at the same
pie to be erected in the Holy Land will
be laid. Hundreds are expected to at
tend this ceremony, as the celebration
will be one of the most memorable
events in the history of the Christian
world.
As now proposed, the bell will be con-
nected with the cables reaching to all
pa 10 " Iuc edrlu. 1ueQ QalI 1Our
before the time is set for it's ringing,
all telegraphic business to be stopped,
and every system in the world wifi be
connected with the Jerusalem wire.
The thousands of wires will speed the
message to millions of waiting people
when the bell is rung. Every congrega-
ton in Christendom will be assembled
in it's place of worship. When the bell
is rung the message, "Peace on Earth"
will be flashed over the world at the
same moment, and grand, glorious cho-
rus singing the doxology will rise from
millions of threats.
Never in the worlds history has such
an idea been conceived and carried out,
and never has there been such grand
chorus as will raise their voices in praise
and rejoicing at the same time. The
entire Christian world will take part, and
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1897-01-01
81 HAVE NAMED IT JANE: RowLEY."

her head again and stood for a moment,
thinking. She looked about her, and see-
ing a cushion on a@lounge, she motioned
to Mr.. Rowley to put: it on the floor.
When this had been done, she gently laid
preached Mr.. Rowley and whispered in.
his ear the word, Scissors" He looked
at her in surprise, but soon produced a
pair from work table: Then she took
down the great stocking, and, before
the. amazed eyes of Mr.. Rowley, she
ruthlessly cut it from the top, all the
way to the heel, so that it could be laid
open. > 9%~ .>&"a f. ..,,.
e In reply to Mr.. Rowley's look of hor-
TOR, she whispered: 's....... .--
Cant be helped; no other way. 1t
can be seWed up again" H.
1 Kneeling down by the side of the sofa
cushion, she opened the stocking to its
utmost width She laid it over the
it around the sides SO that it looked as
if it were stocking filled to its greatest
capacity. Then she rose, gazed at Ter
arrangements with a smile, and left the
room. 5iS&E. 8. T. 3,s2as@4eE< 81 =.
Mr.. Rowley slipped off his coat and
drew his feet out Of his. slippers: then,
as gently as was possible for him, he
got into bed and covered himself mp to
his chin. He was trembling with pleas
,irable excitement. ,3.z.s s.3 s., sSz=. !s.s
IF it squeals,'' he said to himself, it
will be the same as the alarm clock at
Z, but I must not. wait for either Of
them :s ~; s. lszs S s 5.
Turning towards his wife he gave her
little push. 81,
Martha said he, t'it,,s time . get
up" She opened her eyes and looked q t
him, sleepily. s ssf.z Is s: 81
Is it 7o'clock r. she asked. al.
Not quite, = said he; ssbut it is Christ
mas morning. Merry Christmas, my
dear! You ought to get up and see what
is in your stool King y .3S.s. Il
In d moment she was wide awake.
1 With Got this se 81
Eof bed. Almost in the same second
David was on the floor and had touched
I the butt ton of the electric ligh
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1897-01-01
CHRIS 3. I MAS Il s JANE.
"a HOLIDAY SKETCH. ID.
HOLIDAY SKETCH.
BY FRANK r. STOCKTON.

legs
Before a bright fire, on cold Deem
Der evening, sat David and Martha
Rowley. They We're a middle-aged cou-
pie, genial in spirits, prosperous in cir
.cumstances. and their home was bright,
warm and cheerful.
David" said Mrs. Rowley, this is
going to be the quietest Christmas we
have ever spent together; none of your
nepheWs, none of my nieces; just us two
for the Christmas dinner and all that
comes before and after it. 1t seems to
me that it is scarcely worth while for
us to have home Christmas. OF course,
we cap go to church, but as to" =.
No, no. no. Martha, that viii never
do, interrupted David. eve are not
going to give up any of the joys Of our
lives simply because there are no young
people, or any kind Of people, to enjoy
them with us. Wen keep Christmas
just as we have always kept tn ~
. "And hang up our stockings, I sup
pose?" remarked Martha.
1 David turned quickly towards her, his
eyes Frightening. ''Of course we will do
that" said he. Ever since we have
lived in this house there have been
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1897-01-01

ralsed-there seemed to be no end to it.
At last he held up the gaudy thing at
arms length; it was stocking, made up
of horizontal stripes of black and red
and yellow. 1t was not finished, for
great part Of the foot was wanting.
"Heavens!' thought David ~Rowley.s
"What can that be for? Not for me,
herself! Oh, no, that could never bel" "
With both hands he held the stocking
by the two upper corners and gaZed at
d. 'sTen inches widev' said he. ut is all
of that! And if it were finished it would
sbe-yes. it would be yard long! Who:
on ealyl could wear stocking as big
As he stood staring at the exaggerated
hose an idea struck him. He was on the
point OF bursting out into laugh, but
he pulled it into chuckle.
cts like her!' he said. cts just
like her! have told her she is as young
as any of them. believe she is young
err. She is going to hang up this stock
ing for me to fill! That is what she
has been trying to hide from me! !
stockings to darn! Lord! What a stock
4ing!' he said, as he held it up once more.
IA 'ssAll right, Mrs. RoWley," said he;
"Santa Claus will attend to you!'
And, MS properly as he knew how, he
rolled cup the stocking and put it care
fully under the other articles in the work
basket. 81.
It was early on Christmas morning;
everything was quiet in doors and out
everything dark out doors and in, except
for the dim light given out by a night
lamp in the chamber of Mr.. and Mrs.
Rowley. The good lady was sleeping
soundly; the more soundiy, perhaps, be-
cause she had sat mp the previous even.
ing until her husband was in bed and
asleep. 81. .3.s# IS IS ss
Mr.. RoWiey was not asleep, he was
very wide aWak e--awake with i, his eyes
and awake with his ears. There was
lit enough for him to see his stocking,
which hung on the left side Of the man
tel piece, and he perceived that it looked
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1897-01-01
Knockout DROPS,

The strange death of Millionaire Frank
P. Arbuckle promises some good. and
that is the enactment Of a law recog-
nizing the administration of knockout
drops" as crime. At it is, the giving
of this colorless. innocent-looking solu.
ton of choral hydrate to an unsuspect-
ing stranger, to his detriment, if not
death, can only be punished because of
the crime that follows-robbery or as
sault. 1t is now generally believed that
Arbuckle was doped, and the papers are
giving the matter their attention in the
hopes of having this new crime of 'pe-
tering," as it is called, placed on the
criminal calendar. AS there were twen-
ty-two murders in the past year by
means of the "drops," the suggestion
meets with favor, and of these dead
twenty-five, a scant half dozen were ever
identified, the others filling a picking
vat or potter's field as unknown. Mourn
ers of the "mysteriously disappeared" in
other cities may find the solution here
Nou Vork ottor
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1897-01-01

very full and bulged out in many places.
a lively curiosity burned within him.
but he did not get up to examine his
stocking. On the other side Of the fire.
place he saw an enormous stocking, gay
even in the duskiness Of the room, and
hanging faced and empty. His wife
had had faith that Santa Claus would
come around again early in the morning.
Presently he heard clock strike G,
aud at the sound he quietly slipped out
of bed and dressed himself, with the ex-
ception of his Shoes Then, with his
slippers in his hands, he stole down the
softly carpeted stairs. In the hall he
put on his slippers, struck wax match,
and made his way to the kitchen, where
he lit. lantern. Very careful to make
no noise with bolt or key, he went down
into the cellar and opened the drafts of
the furnace, an hour at least before the
time at which this office was generally
performed by the servant.
When he came up stairs again, Mr.,
Rowley went into the library with his
lantern; then he walked noiselessly into
the parlor. There he stood by the regis
ter a few minutes, and then he went
back to the library. He sat down and
listened. Several times he took his Ian
tern and looked at the clock. 1t seemed
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1897-01-01
AN IDAHO MYSTERY.
Throe Persons Disappear from a Sinke
Creek Farm

Another chapter to the Sinker creek
mystery has been added, but which
throws no light upon the case, says the
Silver City Qd.) Avalanche. The Ava
lanche readers will remember the mys-
ferrous disappearance of Mr.. and Mrs.
Richard Thomas last March. If they
had dropped through the earth, their
withdrawal could not have been more
complete. There were no signs Of foul
play. All the stock, vehicles, saddles
and other effects were Oh the ranch.
Several theories were advanced, but
nothing has developed to justify the be-
liefs. John R. Thomas of Haley, broth
er of the missing man, came over as soon
as he learned of the disappearance and
took charge of the property. Some time
in April last he hired German, called
Otto (no other name known), to cultivate
the ranch, care for the stock and take
general charge of the place. 1t now de-
velops that this man has disappeared as
effectually and mysteriously as did Mr..
and Mrs. Thomas. He was last seen
about FIVE weeks ago. He had not
drawn any wages. John Thomas, who
is mine foreman for the Florida Noun
tain Mining company, has been kept
constantly at the mine, and did not learn
of the disappearance of the German I'M
til few days ago.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1897-01-01
"WHAT A STOCKING!"

stockings hung up in it on Christmas
eve, and they shall be hung up this year
just the same.''
"And you think Santa Claus will fill
them, do your asked his wife.
''Think!' said David. II am sure of
it. Anyway we will try him.
Day after day, when David Rowley
came home from his business, early in
the afternoon, he found his wife sitting
before the cheerful fire, busily darning
stockings. Once or twice he fancied that
as he entered the room he saw Martha
hastily stuff something under the pile of
stockings in her basket. This appeared
odd to him, for Martha very seldom did
anything hastily.
One afternoon, soon after David came
home, his wife was summoned down
stairs to see a caller, and, hurriedly ris-
ing, she put down her :work-basket and
left the room. The basket was so near
the edge of the table that Mr.. Rowley,
noticing that it was in danger of falling
on the floor, rose to set it back. he
did so, his eyes fell upon something ex-
tremely bright and gay which lay within
it. Impelled by curiosity and having no
conscientious scruples about looking at
his wife's work, he took hold of the gay
object and raised it that he might ex-
anime it. He raised and raised and
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1897-01-01
CHRISTMAS.

~
ITO men good will, peace on EARTH
81. Holy angels sang the strain,
iei!ing OF a SaylOra birth, Il ss#
]. :, " Aiie the shepherds OF the plain
B Mbled us they heAyenward gazed,
AsilafYeled, wondered, sore amazed.
& bowed they low, cen at the sight
Worshiped, as they saw affair." Us
Shining through the silent night,
Cleaning bright, W0ndrous star
AZ the angels sang again.
.5 1'eace on earth, good Will to men.
III. III 4
Thus the wise mem learned the way
TO the not far Distant town, 8 LII
Where the Infant Jesus lay 81 10
Az this wondrons star looked down,
y lighting all the path they tr0d-. IS
II For they sought the Son Of God.
w. u
Gifts the Magi brought, ana gold, y" {.
For the child--a babe Divine
Z Sleeping III a manager old.
Graded mid the lowing kline:
+ Zen TO Him, our Lord and King,
+ brought they then an offering.
Years have passed since that fair morn
When the angels sang birth,
And the Prince Of Peace was born,
Bringing Joy to all the earth;
& Yet today thrO' world so wide Fl
Sing we Of that Christlnas-tide. b..
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1897-01-01
to to him it took long time for the hands

to move to quarter to Z.
Before the minute hand touched 9,
Mr.. Rowley rose and went into the hall.
Very quietly he drew back the bolt to
the front door, unfastened the chain and
unlocked the door, ready to be opened.
Then he listened intently.
Very soon he hear feet ascending the
stone steps. He gently opened the door
and admitted two noiseless figures. They
wer women. Without word, Mr.. Row
ley conducted them into the library and
shut the door.
After some minutes of whispered con-
versation, the three came into the hall.
One woman held the lantern, so as to
light the stairs, and the other with Mr..
Rowley quietly assembled. She carried a
bundle, and when they reached the cham
Der door, they stopped and listened. Find
ing that Mrs. Rowley was still asleep,
they entered and approached the right
hand side of the fireplace. The woman
gazed at the great stocking which hung
there, and as she did so, her mouth wild
ened and her eyes sparkled, but she
made no sound. Then she turned to Mr..
Rowley and shook her head as if she
said: This will not do" He gazed
back at her and raised his eyebrows as
if he would ask: "Why will it not do?
What is the matter with it?' She shook
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1897-01-01
A SENSIBLE JURIST.
He Believes Insane People Should be
Kept in Confinement.

He Believes Insane People Should be
Kept in Confinement.
Judge Wallace. of the superior court
of California administers the law with
common directness. A woman was re-
Gently acquitted by a jury in his court
of the charge of murder, the ground of
the defense being insanity. To the plea,
usual in such cases in the California
practice, for the woman's release, Judge
Wallace said: IF this woman is sane,
she ought to have been convicted; if she
is insane. she ought to be put away in
some safe place before she kills some
more people, And then he resurrected
an old law, which provides that when
prisoner is acquitted of crime by reason
of insanity jury may be impancled to
inuuire into his mental condition.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1897-01-01
Working Conyicts to Profit,

The convicts of Mississippi are a
derived from them last year having been
$4,000. The state has bought 5000
acres of good farming land and rented
or leased much more, and on this land it's
900 convicts are worked, humanely but
diligently, SO as to secure the best re-
suits. The Jackson Clarion-Ledger secs
no reason why other states cannot profit
by Mississippi's experience and carry
says: "In case the farmers of the state
object to this sort of competition then
the best thing to do with convicts is
to maintain the public highways with
Them Good roads benefit all clasSes"