davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1897-01-22

Instead of trading jack knives, the
boyish sport of other days, the youth
of GoOdIand swap horses. There was a
time when "hoss" trade was a serious
transaction and practiced only by men
of mature age and pastmasters in the
art of skilled preyarication. But that
was before the bicycle and trolley car
had worked their dread spell upon the
destiny of the equine family. Horses,
of certain grade Of course, are so
cheap at present that the boy who
could afford a good jack-knife can af-
ford cheap horse, and the trade is
attended with as much interest from
bystandeFs, and as carefully made by
the principals as in the days when
hOrse-trading was a profession and
the animals were worth their coinage
value.
The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1897-01-22

MANY persons pride themselves on
being good who have never had an op-
portunity to be bad.
TIE most agreeable event the aver
age mortal can witness, is to see some
one else hoist by his own petard.
II will probably be some time before
the people who blow trumpets solely to
advertise themselves, ara all dead.
The Salvation Army of Lawrence,
Kan, hanged the devil in efigy the
other day, after rejecting as irrelevant
the proposition to burn him.
TIE D0niphan county preacher who
was compelled to sign a marriage GER
tiacate by making bis mark, probably
was "called" before be acquired an
education.
The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1897-01-22

Before you see your tailor see the
Wizard. 1888.
The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1897-01-22
Natise % Tpaehers.

County Superintendent
The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1897-01-22

Did you ever try see the wind? 1t is a
very pretty experiment, and one easily
performed. In the first place choose a
windy day, then secure a polished piece
of metal. "a handsaw will be the easiest
to get,) Hold the metallic surface at
right angles to the direction of the
wind. For example, if the wind is in
the north, hold the saw east and west,
inclined about 40 degrees to the hori-
zon. Now look carefully at the sharp
edge, and you will see the wind pouring
over it like waterfall. Do not try the
experiment on a rainy OF murky day.
The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1897-01-22
THE ROUND TABLE.
Those who get the bestOf a commun-
ity live longest in its memory.

No NAN can be said to know bis
strength until be has met temptation
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-17

ed from the fact that she has six living
children. Three of the children born to
her are dead. OF the surviving ones
two are girls and four are boys. The
children resemble one another. and the
education OF them all is attended to
with great care.
When the two oldest boys are in town
they accompany their mother and IA
ther 10 places OF amusement. Rarely
does Mr.. Croker visit a theater without
one or both of his eldest sons. Mrs.
Croker herself shops i'm the mornings
in company now and then with little
Flossie, the heroine of Hugh Grants
famous gift OF money. who is getting
10 be really young lady. The other
children are, of course. quite young.
one of the youths is becoming an ex-
pert horseback rider. and is a familiar
figure at a riding academy near Cen
trail park.
The Croker children are not familiar
figures, however. to very many They
do not make visits frequently. either.
except at the house OF DR.. Jenkins, to
see their aunt and their grandmother.
Mrs. Croker has been quoted as saying
that she would like To make one son
clergyman, but IL seems that she now
prefers To have each of the boys given
a good education and then to let him
choose such "A career as he prefers.
The girls study French. music and
drawing. and the boys are going through
college. Croker, being a self made man
i'm every respect. his sons are TO be
school made. Richard. Jr.. is quite
Latin scholar and his brother has
achieved proficiency in mathematics.
Il.
Of millionaires ordinarily lead.
Mrs. Croker affects light, neutral tints
i'm dress, but latterly she has been seen
much in black. She is generally sparing
i'm the use of jewelry and seldom dis
plays her diamonds. Mrs. Croker dimes
i'm the middle of the day, unless she has
guests. but even then the chief meal is
at about 1 o'clock. Her tea is got ready
for $50 every day. These are her IA
vorite meal hours, but breakfast is not
so strictly ready. But Mrs. Croker is an
early riser. as is her husband
Mrs. Crokers domestic duties are I'm a
measure lightened by a housekeeper,
who is practically stewardess of the
mansion on Seventy-fourth street. There
are also three other servants, and when
you go to the mansion the door will be
opened by a young miss who is sure to
tell YOU that her mistress is out. wheth-
er she be in or not. There is a butler
too.
Mrs. Croker, among her other retain
ers, employs seamstress, who is kept
busy for weeks at time. She sews not
merely the garments OF the household,
but makes over numbers OF dresses
Mrs. Croker is not known in this city
as charitable woman vet the Little
Sisters Of the Poor. the Home For Des.
titute Boys founded by the late Father
Drumgoole and the orphan asylum un-
der the care OF the archbishop are reg
ular recipients OF her bounty.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-17

ment was the direct result of his hav-
ing saved his party from disruption
Richard Croker has been accused OF
three things, leaving out the many
charges which every public man expects
and which do not. i'm fact. affect his
standing or his character as a politi-
cal leader
First. he has been denounced as a
murderer ! think the facts as | have
stated them are generally accepted and
/ have not heard or seen the charge
repeated for some years past. Proba-
bly, his worst enemy does not believe
this charge today
Secondly. he is charged with personal
responsibility for what the enemies OF
Tammany Hall declare TO be the prev
alent corruption of that party. Proba-
bly, he would not deny his responsible
ty. and Tammany's enemies will never
cease TO charge corruption on the party.
on this charge. therefore. Mr.. Croker
is probably willing to stand or fall with
his party.
Thirdly il is alleged that Mr.. Croker
has enriched himself corruptly. This
charge has been so often and so boldly
made that most Of his enemies believe
it, His own answer TO ii, however, is
that no man can point 10 single dol
lar dishonorably acquired. So long as
the charge is a general one. of course,
only a general reply is possible.
Once only was specific charge made.
1t was before an investigating commit
tee from Albany. Croker was then in
Germany. and his physician forbade his
coming back. saying that his life would
be the forfeit. Nevertheless, he came
and appeared before the committee in
person. Nothing ever came of that
charge and. as a matter of fact. Mr..
Croker is not a wealthy man.
He can fairly be credited with cour-
age, self reliance, coolness, excellent
judgment and an intimate knowledge
of New York. and these apparently
have made him what he Is. Moreover.
he is considered lucky.
Such is the man under whose leader
ship the last political battle was fought.
How much of the credit of the victory
belongs TO him is a subject OF con-
troversy. His detractors point out the
facts that Tammanys enemies were
divided and that New York was hearth
ly sick of the reform administrator"
Of the last three years. and they de-
clare that his party would have won
without him. His admirers, on the 9TH
er hand. point to the unsettled and
divided condition of Tammany before
his return and declare that under no
other leadership could there have been
such a harmonious and vigorous cam
paign as was made and that without IL
the victory would have been doubtful,
10 say the least. Nothing succeeds,
however. like success, and there is no
possibility Of disputing the influence
this quiet, self contained man has in
some way acquired
DAVID A. CURTIS.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-17
MRS. CROKER AND HER HOME LIFE.

Mrs. Richard Croker is probably one
of the happiest women i'm New York
She is happy because she is rich and
handsome woman with "A very devoted
husband. She is a thoroughly educated
woman, with a large experience of the
world. but while he has seemingly
grown with each year more Indifferent
10 public opinion. she has increased in
sensitiveness. it is unlikely that she
has grumbled at her fate. IL would
not be human nature FOR woman TO
quarrel with the source OF such wealth
and power es has come 90 her husband.
and of course she has never questioned
his methods. but y is still true that
she has felt keenly the pain Of the re-
proaches the slurs and incessant po-
lilIlAl strife which -TAlnmanA- leader.
ship Involves.
She Is sensitive ana, though she sell
dom speaks Of 10 even L. her intimate
ffieLds MTs croker feels that the close
sssJatatiOu Of herself and her sons
win 1ammsny Hall is bar 20 the
Kind of life auc Hs~,. iatiuus whi"h sh"
wishes for herself and for them. She is
now a rich woman. in'the prime Of lie.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-17

a practical engineer. He was a hard
working youth, but the only remark l
ever heard made about this period OF
his life that seemed descriptive OF his
character as IL has developed was that
'he said little himself and would not
permit others 10 say much TO him that
he did not like"
While still young he entered politics
and was elected an alderman. Then he
became coroner and served two terms.
Afterward he was city chamberlain.
From the time he became a voter till
he retired from politics before the cam
paign OF 1894 he was one OF the most
active workers in the Tammany Hall
organization, rising gradually in prom
inence until I'm lSSs--less than ten years
ago-he was one of the four men who
were most conspicuous among the 30
district leaders OF Tammany. And not
until after that was he recognized as
the leader, for there was no leader for
some years after John Kelly died.
In all this detail there is little To in
dcate the character OF the man. but
some few salient incidents will serve TO
illustrate the traits that have made him
what he is.
In 1874 man named McKenna was
shot and killed in an election brawl.
Richard Croker was in the crowd and
was arrested and tried for the murder.
The prosecution offered no proof Of
guilt, and there were a mistrial and a
nole prosequi. the chief witness admit
ting that he had been mistaken in his
testimony.
MI Croker's own story of this rather
celebrated episode i'm his career was told
recently To William T. Stead, the Lon
don editor as follows:
Il think it only right" Mr.. Croker
said, "to tell you that / once spent 30
days in prison. II was many years ago.
| was held on "A charge of murder for
killing a man. And the man was killed
sure enough. Only / did not do it. |
will tell you all about IL.
1T was one OF the cruelist things that
| ever experienced, one of the cruelest
things. IT seemed so unjust so utterly
unjust. / could not understand IT, But
il came out all right, he said cheerily.
1t always does. Well" he continued.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-17
Critical Analysis Of a
Great Politician,
The Personality Of Croker and What He
Has Accomplished His Turbulent
Career From, Unknown Poverty
10 Riches and Power,

Richard Croker OF New York city
occupies today a position which may
DE fairly called unique i'm political his
tory No other man-certainly none
other since government by the consent
OF the governed came into being--ever
came back To his own city after an alb
sence and a silence OF three years and
resumed his place as leader of a party
without a word Of public explanation.
None other ever resigned his leadership
on the eve of a crushing and certain
defeat, only to resume IL on the eve OF
an overwhelming triumph. None other
ever retired under so heavy "A load of
obloquy as he and Tammany Hall were
under in 1894 and returned TO find that
the vast majority of the same commu-
nifty that had repudiated him and his
organization were glad OF the oppor-
tunity to express full confidence in his
party and, inferentially at least, in
him.
Three years ago Richard Croker's res-
ignatiOn from practical politics was
the subject of sneers from his enemies
and apprehensive doubt on the part OF
his friends. IL was felt, even by those
who knew that his plea OF i'll health
was truthful. that he had in some sort
retreated under fire. That he would
ever return seemed doubtful That he
would return To marshal the undivided
cent victory would have been called
an idle dream. Yet this is exactly
what he has done, and the fruits of that
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-17
THE RISE OF RICHARD CROKER,

"Yes; il was a bad time. They
brought me before the district attor-
ney. who was "A bitter opponent, and
swore that they saw me shoot the man
He sent me for trial. and | lay for 30
days in Jail before the case could be
heard. IT was "A grim time" said he
II could not understand ii. 1t seemed
50 utterly unjust. Here was l trying
10 keep the law. pleading with the Grim
inal who was breaking IL, and then as
a reward | was suddenly clapped into
jail as a common murderer. Many
hours ! spent on my knees i'm the cell
wrestling with the question, almost i'm
despair about IL all. but there was al
ways something told me that it would
come all right. / had great faith in the
people. and that sustained me i'm these
dark times. II was very bad and very
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-17
Pig Eating Snake.

Farmers in the vicinity OF Lock
Springs, Mo. were greatly harassed for
several weeks through depredations
on their chickens and pigs. and the
mystery was not solved until Newton
McCrary started on the trail OF what
appeared to be a monster snake
lie Travelled n distance OF two miles.
when he came 20 the banks of the
Grand river. where IL appeared the rep.
tile entered the water. 4 search OF the
vicinity later on rewarded McCrary for
his persistence. Apparently asleep, aft
OF having dispatched several full grown
strous proportions that the man was
transhXed with fear. His courage re-
turning McCrary sent a charge OF
buckshot into the head OF the reptile
and precipitately fed.
The Contortions Of the snake as it
lashed its tail and body against the
ground and trees added Go the fears OF
the now thoroughly terrified man.
Summoning the assistance Of neirhbor..
McCrary cautiously led hack an armed
-ua4IN, -A1hen. IN his Satisfaction the lifc
OF the reptile was found Co b. extinct.
IL measured 10 feet. and the body was
ss large as an ordinary st0vepips The
species VI thC reptile Is not known. al
though u looks very much like py-
thOn Early iu the spring 10 was seen
several miles further up the Grand
rivcr. but reports of tho terrified spcs-
tators we're net generally credited
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-17
Ais' NEw Yosk HOvsE

"it was this way: IL was before I wa.
boss-when John Kelly was boss, and
was still very young man serving my
first term as coroner and working for
Tammany behind Kelly. There was an
election on. Hewitt wanted to be con-
gresham. We had elected him several
times and did not want him again. IL
was stiff fight. and we all went In TO
do our best. There was "A noisy fellow I'm
politics by the name OF O'Brien. who
was quite outra gcOus In his support of
Hewitt. IL was before We had reformed
the law OF elections and any violent.
lawless man could do what he liked on
election days in Knocking citizens about.
stuffns ballot boxes and playing sii
kinds pt tricks - Brieu stuck 90 loth-
ing. lie got together e gang OF all the
criminals ana rouEhs in the whole town
and gave them thcir instructions. They
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-17

Hall was without leader. Among the
district leaders none was deemed
worthy 10 wear Kelly's mantle. though
several coveted IL. and serious splits IN
the party seemed imminent. IL was
Richard Croker's advice that averted
that result Let us manage our affairs
I'm full council" he said giving prefor-
ence TO none" Accordingly. for a con-
siderable time, the executive committee
was without an acknowledged head
and as n matter of fact never knew
that IL had Il leader until by imper-
ccptihle growth IL came 10 be recog-
nized that there was one OF the thirty
odd members whose advice was always
the best. From that moment Richard
Croker's leadership was undisputed.
Whether or not he aspired to IL when
he made the suggestion. IL is certain
that dssension could have been avoided
in no other way. and his own prefer
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-17

with boys I'm college. like the sons OF
other rich New Workers.. and she feels
therefore nothing but joy at the
thought OF relnquishing the unhappy
social place 10 which she was elevated
by her husbands position.
Mrs. Croker superintends personally
the education OF her sons not by help
ing them i'm their studies. for those are
pursued at school, but by deciding
where they shall be educated and fixing
their allowance. It Is supernuous to
point out that she has a multitude OF
interests claiming attention. and has
grown 10 be a very different person
from the shy young schoolteacher mar
ried 10 Richard Croker by DR.. Edward
McGlynn years ago. with John Kelly as
best man at the wedding
Mrs. Croker's fondness for domestic
life means fondncss for her growing
family. The truth Of this may be gaug-
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-17

| were 10 so from district to district.
seize the ballot boxes. stuff them with
Hewitt votes and bulldoze all their op-
ponents. II was monstrous. But some
men stuck at nothing i'm those days.
And O'Brien was quite "A desperate char
acter. Wen, on the election day | said
To John Kelly: What shall we do?
O'Brien is out with his gang playing his
tricks. His gang are the most violent
criminals and rullians i'm all New York.
They are smashing ballot boxes and
terrorizing the citizens Ii will be hard
day
" Never you mind, said Kelly. What
we have got TO do is simply go right on.
We are right. and all these outrageous
things that O'Bricn and his gang are
doing must Just be met as best we can.
You go straight down TO the worst dis
trict, where he is carrying on, and eX-
postulate with HIM So" said MIR.
Croker although IL was not pleasant
task, / made my way down 10 the poll
ing station where O'Brien was at that
moment carrying on To no end He had
taken complete charge OF the ballot
boxes and no man on the other side
was allowed to vote. while for Hewitt
the 'repeaters were being voted all the
time You never saw such a scene of
violence and disorder. ] went straight
up to O'Brien with a few Of my men
behind me, and began TO expostulate
with him. 'O'Brien' ! said you ought
To be ashamed of yourself. This kind
OF thing is disgrace 20 the city He
was very excited and very violent. and
the more i expostulated with him the
more outrageous he became But | was
not afraid OF him or his rufIians and |
went on pointing out earnestly the out
rage he was committing upon the law.
when suddenly | heard n shot fired be-
hind me. / looked round and there
was one OF OBrien's men on the ground
with shot through him. dead or dying.
There was Immediately great hubbub.
and Instantly, as ! was the foremost
representative OF the other side. they
declared that IL was | who had killed
the man. OBrien and his gang accused
me OF shooting him. and when the po-
lice came / was handed over to them
under arrest on a charge Of murder |
was as innocent as babe unborn. At
the very moment the shot was fired |
was pleading for the ma iosty of the
law and expostulating i'm the name OF
order and good government against the
abomlnable violence to which O'Brien
anu Dlb tIllllIlblS were SOD1eCt1ng the
citizens. AS for shooting the man, he
was shot behind my back, nor was |
aware Of mis- existence until saw him
lying on the ground with "A shot i'm him
But the opportunity was too good 10 be
lost. They thought they had me. / had
been in the lead against O'Brien. and
the chance was too good TO be lost"
Had you weapon?" Mr.. Stead
asked.
NO, sir" said he. II never carried
a weapon in my life other than my two
hands"
Then who was II that killed him?"
"A man." said he. "a friend Of mine
who had followed me into the polling
place. AS i was being led 10 the sta
tion he followed me i'm the crowd. |
said, Who shot the man?' He replied:
i did lie was rufiian. one OF
O'Brien's gang was shouting and max
ing a fuss behind you when you were
eXpostulatng with O'Brien. AS he got
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-17

more excited he picked up a rock and
was just going 10 brain my brother,
with whom he was having an argu-
ment. When | saw his hand lifted with
the stone in IL, / whipped out my gun
and shot him to save my brothers life.
II | had not fired. my brother might
have been dead by now"
Well" asked MIR. stead. did the
man give himself up7'
No" said Mr.. Croker. and Of course
did not give him away. not u had
been convicted for what I had never
done. fOr the man told u TO me a. a
friend. aud you must never give away
your frenis. Besides he meant nO
harm IL was in self defense. ana l
would not have got him into trouble
for anything"
'ut for y"urself9'' NJ stead said.
You were In severe troubley'
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-17
China's Silk CITY.

Hang Chow, about 200 miles south OF
Shanghai. is "a great silk emporium.
not less than 1000 hand looms being
engaged in the manufacture of silk OF
the finest quality. all that IL required
for the imperial household being uads
there. Although opened TO foreign
trade only since the Japanese war. the
natives are fully alive 10 the advan-
tages of that trade, and foreigners are
not subjected g the abuse hcGpcd upon
them in other parts of the empire. Tho
city. which Is Is miles I'm circumference.
has ten gates and is clean, prosperous
and beautiful. with temples and pago-
das placed upon the hills and embow-
cred i'm hone ysuckcs and bamboo, while
the surrounding country rs well cul-
tivated. especial attention being d.
voted ~ mulberry culture
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-17
victory arc thc greates, that were aver

victory are the greatest that were ever
won in a municipal election.
What manner OF man. then. Is he who
has done this? Is Il due TO his person
atty that he has been able TO accom-
p'ish it or is IL his luck" which has
stood him in such stead, or had he the
rare iudsment which enabled him Co see
his opportunity and the nerve TO make
the most of it? And was the victory Of
ME party at the polls last month due
iR- any gfes+t-fHeasure Co his efforts. or
did he simply chance 90 De where he
was when victory was certain anyhow
The questions are worth considering
Mr. Croker 10 just " years old He
was bonn in freland When hs was
gears Old his father came to New York
with his iamil5. itichard was educated
a. The common schools of thu city ani
after isaNins school learned the tlade Of
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-17

Abyssinias social code provides for .
fair chance 10 young married couples
II her daughter iii a year after the
marriage.
The state herald., 1897-11-19
~, ar Sec Bock 10 Towno .5. .iua.s Taxi
fsec. Lot Township Range.
OF OF NO OF NV 10
Ono eleyatorsituated
on B Il M right OF
why north of lots

One elevator situated on 4 NJ light of way
at Amherst
Ono small building situated on lot l2 block
q IioIyoke
One frame barn situated on B& NJ land
This east y of the south z of the following
tract to.wit: Conmenclng at u point 50
feet cast Of the north cnst corner of block 20
said point being ut tho inter section of tho
south line of Furry street with the east line
of Marlin ave thence 500 feet east thence 500
feet south thence 40 feet west thence 800 feet
north to place of beginning u: Holyoke
The state herald., 1897-11-19
J.. Hn
W iiolyokr
iiolyoke
s.srnsh,n Mr.. Hattie

a following
tnwi al u q
sorb--~ block sAid beginning
i -cton ~ "a ~ urIys wit
h.eas,inp Of Moinn ave, heucss oss+ east
thence f-n, -puih fd-t ~ hence
49, ll.la lnLuL ILL
The state herald., 1897-11-19

vHy
ck
20
10
ne
500
,et