davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The news & observer., 1897-11-28
III.

1t has been pointed out that the author
is not called upon by the public; he is
not sent for like the lawyer and the
physician. That is because he offers
himself unasked and in far greater num-
bers than is wanted. So while he stands
I'D for hire with the rest in the statute
fair Of Paternoster row, the pubic go
round and make their choice.
In the autumn of 1893 there were pro-
duced. among other works OF deathless
interest, 400 novels, unnoticed at hrst.
With these appeared a story on whose
title page was the single name, "Arl-
adne."
If you were to read that book now you
would lay it down with feeling that 1t
was crude and early piece OF work,
badly constructed, the dialogue managed
without skill, and the story naught. 1t IS
now four years since that book was
written and the glamor has quite gone
out of 1T. The pages charm no one. l.:
is not asked for; you can buy it for mex,
to nothing; it will soon drop into
the sixpenny box Why, then, one asks,
was there so great. so immediate, a run
upon it? The smart critic set down the
fact to the bad taste of the reading pub
Ii !: the man who understands that the
bad taste of the public never by any
chance sends him after feeble writers,
took up the book to find out for him
self the reason OF its popularity. He
read it through; tlse magic of the book
seized him; he forget altogether his pur-
pose in reading the book; he forgot to
ask why; and he never stopped until he
had reached the end. Then he laid it
down with sigh and left the task of
answering that question to anybody who
chose Every now and then such book
appears; it succeeds; the only explana-
The news & observer., 1897-11-28
Ill.

Sunday afternoon, Ariadne's room
was crowded with callers. She was
standing in the IN DIST of circle; the
room was filled with laughter and whis-
pers and the buzz of conversation. Sud
denly, as she looked around, she flushed
scarlet. In the doorway stood, awk-
ward, embarrassed, her lover, Samuel
alias Cyril. She stepped across the
room. Cyril she said, "this is very
good of you. Come in and wait till the
people are gone and we will talk"
He obeyed; he stood in the room. I'M
noticed; he watched the girl transformed.
Was that Ariadne? H own Ariadne,
this vision of floating lace and white
silk, holding her own, an equal, among
these fine ladies and these men whose
faces were not like the faces of the
counting house?
Presently the people began to go away.
They all had something to say as they
went.
1t was her editor Miss Ascott, we
are longing to begin the new story
1t was lady whose name was know
ye4ywherp Dear Ariadne, you must
take the chair at the dinner of women
that S agreed"
1t was the critic He was the last. He
whispered And the answer-when will
you give me an answer|'
Il don't know, indeed. When my new
story is out. You must wait till then"
Buff | may only hope"
1--WE can all hope-tioodby."
The critic retired.
When they ere all gone, Samuel
stepped forward. "O." he said, 'if you
knew how dull it is at home. Are you
never coming back, Ariadne?
why should l." she replied cruelty
Look round you, Samuel''-she called
him Samuel, and it sank into his heart
You see all these people. They are the
leaders in literature and art Should
give up their friendship? What have
you to offer me in returnY
Nothing" the poor young man groan-
ed. Nothing, and yet"
Cyril relenting at sight of his pitt
full face, Il told you that / could never
marry a man whose intellect was not
greater than my own. You see what
have achieyed-a book that all the world
is reading. What intellectual effort can
you show beside that great victoryY
Il am STILL" he said, "in the midst of
Humboldt's Cosmos"
The news & observer., 1897-11-28
CURED or BL00O 20 SON AFTER FIFTY
TWO DOCTORS FAILED
Blood Balm Co. Atlanta. Ca:

Blood Balm Co., Atlanta, Ga:
Gentlemen: In 1872 = small pimple
broke out on my leg. 1t began eating
and In four months I was treated by a
physician Of Taliadegx county, Ala.
where l lived eighteen years. He re,
heved 1t for q short while. In six weeks
1t broke out again In both legs, also on
my shoulder. Two small bones were
taken out. 1t continued until 1875. In
this time | had twelve different physi-
clans. They told me the only remedy
was amputation; that 1t could never be
cured. For six months / could not
walk q step. l went to Mineral Wells,
Texas, spent $500; came home; went to
Hot Springs, Ark. stayed nine months
all failed to cure me. In 1887 / came
back to Birmingham, Ala. / was ad-
vised to write you, which | did. You
wrote me that B. B. B. would cure me.
and / could get the medicine from Ma
bors & Morrow, Druggists, of our city.
bought ten bottles and before / had
finished my fifth bottle my legs began to
heal, and in less than two months | was
sound and well. That has been nearly
two years ago, and no sign Of its return
yet / have spent In cash over $4OO, and
B. B. B. done the work that all the rest
failed to do. You have my permission
publish this. / have travelled so much
trying to get well that my cure is well
known. Fifty-two doctors have treated
me In the last IL years. All they did
was to take what money / had. and did
me no good. l am now a well man.
Prof. O. Ell. RANGER,
Shady Dale, Ga.
For sale by druggists. Price s1.0o
per large bottle.
IL not kept by your local druggist.
send 800 for Q large bottle, or $500
for six bottles, and MEDICINE viii be
sent, freight paid, BY
BLOOD BALM CO., Atlanta. GA
The news & observer., 1897-11-28

Ariadne stood once more In the old
familiar side road leading off the main
road of the cheap suburb. The little
gardens in front of the houses were
filled with laburnum, lilac and lime
trees; the time was June; the air was
fragrant; the leaves were fresh and
green; the place looked pretty. The
sweet breath of spring banished the as
sociations of poverty and dullness and
monotony and hid the succeed fronts.
About this time," said Ariadne, "Cy-
ril should be coming home" In fact at
that moment he turned out of the main
road. He was walking heavily with eyes
cast down. When in the sweet spring
season his mind lightly turned to
thoughts of love, tie vision of the lost
Ariadne returned and saddened him.
Ariadne stepped out into the road and
met him.
"You? AriadneY he started.
II told you,' she said, ''three years
ago that l wanted to go away and see
those other worlds-and then come back. u
"Ariadne." He hardly understood that
she was with him once more.
Both prayers" she said, "have been
granted. l have lived among the other
people, l am deserted and forsaken. So
/ have come back"
"Ariadne."
81 have come back" she said, "to a
man whose intellect respect above my
own"
80, but you are a great author"
II wrote one book that everybody
praised; another that everybody abused,
and a third that nobody will look at.
They are all three dead and buried and
forgotten. On the other hand, you are
still"
"Still in Humboldt's Cosmos, Ari-
adne."
"He is an author who is abiding-sat-
isfying. They don't forsake their Hum
boldt. They don't call him a sky
rocket. / have come back to read with
you, Cyril, Humboldts Cosmos"
The news & observer., 1897-11-28

$50 have 1. In this case it is all right.
/ know the printer
She'll make pot of money"
"My dear fellow, nothing to what
she'll make by her second book. | hear
they are writing across the Atlantic to
secure her at any price. Man, she's an
heiress. She lives at the Langham; got
three rooms and a maid, and is spending
the money as fast as she makes it,"
Thus, you see, heaven does sometimes
hear our prayers. Ariadne desired to
see these worlds Her desire was graft
fed.
The news & observer., 1897-11-28

WARNING II ersOns who suffe'
rom coughs and colds should heed the
earnings of danger and save themselves
offering and fatal results by using OK
dinute Cough Cure. II 10 an iufallibl.
emedy for coughs, colds, Group aud al
hroat and lung troubles CsrOIiDs Drug
Company
The news & observer., 1897-11-28
THE 8KYROCKET.
By SIR WALTER BESANT.
Copyright, 1897, by Walt Pesant)

clensons nor the conjunctions, "Of
course, | know that"
"To be sure you do improve yourself.
81 am now, Ariadne," he assured her
proudly, sin the heart of Humboldt s
Cosmos
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-05-04
Tho DrayOn-Fly,

One of the most useful o. insects is,
owing to the ignorance of the public,
forever being killed. 1t is known as
the dragon-fy, the needle-case and the
devils darning-needle. Says writer
of authority: In it's larva. state 1t
subsists almost entirely on those small
squirming threads which can be seen
darting about in any still water, and
which hatch out into sweet-singing
mosquito. AS soon as the dragoon-fy
leaves its watery nursing ground, and
climbing some friendly reed, throws
away the old shell and flies away, it Is
helping man again. Its quarry now is
the house-fy. Not long ago the writer
saw one of these insects knocked down
in a veranda, where it had been doing
yeoman's service, and the children and
women seemed delighted, although
they shrank back from the poor, wound
ed dragon-Ay. They all thought it had
an awful sting at the end of it's long
body; cruel injustice. When the
writer took the insect up there was
general wonderment, which was in
creased when a captured fly was offer
ed it and it ate greedily. The boys of
the household will never harm dra-
comfy again.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-05-04
swapping Horses.

General Horace Porter, in his Cam
palgnlng with Grant" in the Cen
Jury, tells the following anecdote of
MS chief during ride from Peters,
burg to City Point:
owing to the heat and dust. the long
ride was exceedingly uncomfortable.
MY best horse had been hurt, and I
was mounted on bay cob that had a
trot which necessitated no end of
saddle-pounding" on the part of the
rider; and if distances are to be meas
ufed by the amount of fatigue endured
thls eXertiOn added many miles to the
TRIP. The general was riding his black
pony JEFF Davis" This smooth little
PAGER shuffied along at gait which
was too fast for walk and not fast
enough for gallop, so that all the
other horses had to move at a brisk
trot to keep up with him.
When We were about five miles from
headquarters the general said to me in
a joking way: You don't look com
portable on that horse. Now | feel
ABOUT as fresh as when we started
out"
/ replied: 1T makes all the differ
ence in the world, general, what kind
OF horse one rides"
He remarked: "Oh. all horses are
pretty much alike as far as the COM
tort or their gait is concerned"
In the present instance" answer
ed, i don't think you would like to
swap with me, general"
lie said at once, why, yes; I'd Just
as lief swap with you as not; and
threw himself off his pony and mount
ed my uncomfortable beast. while I
put myself astride of JEFF The gem
eral had always been famous rider.
even when cadet at West Point
When he rode or drove strange
morse, not many minutes elapsed be-
fore he and the animal seemed to I'M
derstand each other perfectly. In my
experience / have never seen a better
rider, or one who had a more steady
seat, no matter what sort of horse he
rode; but on this occasion it soon be-
came evident that his body and that of
the animal were not always in touch.
and he saw that all the party were
considerably amused at the jogging to
which he was subjected. In the r:ean-
time JEFF Davis" was pacing along
with smoothness which made me feel
as if l were seated in rocking chair
When we reached headquarters the
general dismounted in manner which
showed that he was pretty stiff from
the ride. AS he touched the ground
he turned and said with quizzical
look, well, l must acknowledge that
animal is pretty rough"
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-05-04
Gen. Meade i'm Action.

My duties kept me on Meade's front
large part of the day, says Gen.
Porter. He showed himself the per-
sonification Of earnest, vigorous ac-
ton in rousing his subordinate COM
manders to superior exertions. Even
his fits of anger and his resort to in
temperate language stood him at times
in good stead in squirting on every one
upon that active field He sent ring
ing dispatches to all points of the
line, and paced up and down upon the
field in his nervous, restless manner,
as he watched the progress of the OPP
erations and made running comments
on the actions of his subordinates.
His aquiline nose and piercing eyes
gave him something of the eagles
look, and added to the interest of his
personality. He had much to try him
upon this occasion, and II he was Sc
we're in his reprimands and showed
faults OF temper, he certainly displayed
no faults as commander. When the
battle was over, no one was more ready
to make amends for the instances in
which he felt that he might have done
injustice to his subordinates. He said
to them: Sorry to hear you cannot
carry the works. Get the best line you
can and be prepared to hold it. / sup
pose you cannot make any more at
tacks. and | feel satisfied all has been
done that can be DONE"
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-05-04

Old Tommy and Old Warhorse were
both given to Gen. Thomas c. Devin.
who commanded Devins brigade dur.
ing the war of the Rebellion.
Gen. p. +. Beauregard was called
Old Bory; he superseded Bonham il
command of the forces at Manassas
about the first of June, 1861, and TIN
South Carolinans said one day, "Olt
Borys come" Soon the Virginip
troops had an opportunity of SEEING
this "Old Bory" who seemed so popu
lar with the Palmetese. Little Napo
leon was name applied to him ant
to Gen. George b. Mcclellan. Uncl
Robert was a soubriquet bestowed up
on Gen. Lee. ana in turn he gave the
name The Gallant to Mai. John Pei
ham of the Confederate army.
Gen. John A. Logan was named
Black Jack and Jack of Spades, lie
cause of his long, black hair and darF
complexion. Gen. Early was calico
the Bad Old Man by the Confederar
troops; the German general. Franz
Sigel. was called Dutchy; Syksey was
the name of Gen. Sykes; Rhody waf
applied to Gen. Burnsides- he having
been formerly colonel OF the 1rs'
Rhode Island regiment; Skin aud-Bone
was conferred on Gen. Malone by t.ie
Confederate troops. Gen. Fitzpatrick
was called Kill. and Physics was given
to Gen. Crawford by the Pennsylvania
Reserves, he being surgeon ct the
beginning Of his military career
superb was a nickname given to
Cen. Hancock from remark made by
Gen. Meade at Gettysburg, when the
second corps repulsed LolStsreers
men. One-Armed- Devil and One
Armed-Phil was Phil Kearney called
by the Confederates.
Cockeye was a name given to Gen.
Butler because one of his eyes was af-
flicted with strabismus, and his cog
nomen of Picayune Butler was given
by the New Orleanaise, that being the
well-known appellative of the colored
barber in the basement of the st.
Charles.
Stonewall Jackson was conferred on
NSh. HOilldS JoHdtIdu JdChSoh diiu
the expression had it's origin in the APP
pellation used by the rebel Gen. Lee
on trying to rally his men at the battle
of Bull Run, There is Jackson stand
ing like stonewall." and from that
day he was known as Stonewall Jack
son, and his command as Stonewall's
brigade.
Louisa was soubriquet given to
Gen. Lew Wallace by the troops under
his command. He was Il great favorite
tor his fighting qualities, and the sol.
dierG adopted that inappropriate name
for want of better one. Lille Z.
Flint, in n. Y. Observer.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-05-04
Old Women AS Prisoners OF War.

Another paper from the journals OF
the late T.. J. Glave appears in the
Century" under the title of New
Conditions in Central Africa. Mr.
Glaye thus describes some of the
sights he saw at stations along Lake
ment has it's dark side also. The ma
tlves suffer- In stations in charge of
white men, government officers, one
sees strings of poor, emaciated old
women, some of them mere skeletons,
working from six in the morning till
noon, and from half past two till six,
carrying clay water-jars, tranping
about in gangs with a rope around the
neck, and connected by rope one ana
half yards apart. They are prison
ers OF war. In war the old women are
always caught. but should receive a
little humanity. They are naked, en-
cept for miserable patch of cloth OF
several parts, he'd IL place by string
about the waist. They are not loos-
encd from the rope for any purpose.
They live in tie guard-bouse. under
TIE charge CT black native sentries,
who delight in siapping and ill-using
item, for pity is not in the heart of
the native. Some of the women have
babies, but they go to work just the
same. They form indeed miserable
spectacle. and one wonders that old
womeI, although prisoners of var,
should not receive little more con-
sideration; at least their nakedness
might be hidden. The men prisoners
are treated in far better way.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-05-04
Army Mechanics.

OF the numerous and amusing nick
names that have been used in refer
ence to noted generals. there are per-
haps none more fitting than those that
were given to some OF the commanders
during the Civil War.
or these Gen. Grant and Gen.
Thomas were more favored than their
contemporaries. Uncle Sam, Uncon-
ditional Surrender, United States and
United We Stand Grant have been the
many interpretations of the initials of
that general, and he was also called
Old Three Stars, the number Indicating
his rank as lieutenant general.
Gen. George H. Thomas was called
Old Snow Trot and Pa Thomas by
the Army of the Tennessee, Old Re-
liable, on account of his sterling ma
turc and his steadfast purpose, but the
name most familiar TO us is the one
that was given him when steadfast
he stood in Tricks Gap, on the field
of Ciickamauga, after the column of
both his TANKS had given way before
the torrent Of Bragg's onset; the hail
of fire that swept the Union ranks
moved him not jOt from his firm
base, and the billow that swamped the
rest Of the field recoiled from him.
1.-THE rain descended and the floods
came and beat upon that house, and
it fell not for it was founded uDon a
rock" Therefore the soldiers of the
Cumberland army were wont tn call
him the Brock of Chickamauga'
The same battle was associated with
Gen. James B. Steadman, whose SOL
diers called him Old Chickamauga as
we'll as Old Steady.
"Old" seems to have been rather a
term of endearment than otherwise
with the soldiers. Gen. Rosecrans was
called Old Rosy, Stonewall Jackson
Old Jack, Gen. Haileck Old Brains. and
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-05-04
That light, the breaking day which tips
The golden-spired Apocalypse.


Madame de Stael did world of work
in her time, and one day, while she was
which she had mastered, and amid
manuscript books which she had writ
ten, some one said to her: How do
you find time to attend to all these
things?" "Oh," she replied, these are
not the things am proud OF. My CHIEF
teen trades, by any one of which could
make livelihood if necessary" And
IL in secular spheres there is so much
to be done in spiritual work how vast
the field! How many dying all around
about us without one word of comfort!
We want more Abigails, more Han
nahs. more Rebeccas, more Marys. more
Deborahs consecrated-body, mind and
soul, to the Lord who bought them.
Once more / learn from my subject
the value of cleaning.
Ruth going into that harvest field
might have said: There is a straw,
and there is a straw, but what is
straw? l can't get any barley for my
self or my mother-in-law out OF these
separate straws." Not so said beautiful
Ruth. She gathered two straws, and
she put them together, and more
a sheaf. Putting that down, she went
and gathered more straws. until she
had another sheaf and another, and
another, and another, and then she
brought them altogether, and she
threshed them out, and she had an
ephah OF barley. nigh a bushel. Oh,
that We might all be cleaners.
Elihu Burritt learned many things
while toiling in blacksmiths shop.
Abercrcmbie, the world-renowned phi
losopher. was philosopher in Scot
land, and he got his philosophy, or the
chief part of 1t. while, as physician.
he was waiting for the door OF the
sick room to open. Yet how many
there are in this day who say they are
so busy they have no time for mental
or spiritual improvement; the great
duties of life cross the field like strong
and there is only here and there a
fragment left, that is not worth CLEAN
ing. All, my friends, you could go
into the busiest day and busiest week OF
your life and find golden opportunities.
which. gathered, might at last make a
whole sheaf for the Lords garner. 1t
is the stray opportunities and the
stray privileges which, taken up and
bound together and beaten out, will at
last fill you with much joy.
There are a few moments left worth
the cleaning. Now, Ruth to the field!
May each one have measure full and
running over! Oh. you cleaners, to the
field! And If there be in your house.
hold an eyed one or a sick relative that
is not strong enough to come forth and
toll in this field, then let Ruth take
home to feeble Naomi this sheaf Of
cleaning: HE that goeth forth and
weepeth, bearing precious seed. shall
doubtless come again with rejoicing.
bringing his sheaves with him." May
the Lord God OF Ruth and Naomi be
our portion forever!
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-05-04
Quite "a Difference.

All disciples Of Izaak Walton will
appreciate the story which is going the
rounds, concerning Mr.. Andrew Lang,
the English critic and essayist. An ex-
change publishes the anecdote which
one OF Mr.. Lang's literary friends tells:
1t happened to me to spend few days
last summer in an English village. Hav-
ing noticed a pleasant river which
seemed to promise excellent fishing, I
spoke of it to my landlady. "Oh yes
sir" she said, there is very good fish.
ing here-many people come here for
fishing" What kind OF people come
here?" / asked. Literary gentlemen
come here very often. sir. We had Mr..
Andrew Lang staying here" ooh,
really! does he fish? Is he good fish
erman?" Yes, sir, he fishes beauti-
fully" Really! does he catch much ?"
"Oh no, sir. he never catches anything,
but he fishes beautifully"
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-05-04
A Characteristic Reply.

The incorruptibility of General Walk
CT, late president of the Massachusetts,
Institute of Technology, was above all
suspicion. A characteristic anecdote is
told of him by ]. J. Spencer in the
Review of Reviews: AT one time when
General Walker held government po-
sition. a place shared in measure by
another. he was approached with the
suggestion that, since the whole de-
partment was under their control. by
working in harmony they could have
whatever they desired. 81 have no de-
sires," said General Walker. but,
general" said his coadjutor. do you
not see that We can push forward our
friends and relatives into good places?"
II have no friends" was the reply.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-05-04

The meteor of the ocean air
Shall sweep the clouds no more.
Her deck, once red with heroes blood
Where knelt the vanquishd foe,
When winds were hurrying Ger the
flood.
Ana waves We're white below,
NO more shall feel the victors tread,
Or know the conquered knee;
The harpies of the shore shall pluck
The eagle of the sea.
., better that her SHATTERED hulk
should sink beneath the wave;
fer numbers shook the mighty deep,
ana there should he her grave;
Nali TO the mast her holy flag,
Set every threadbarc sail.
Ana give her to the god of storms
The lightning and the gale.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-05-04
Aged Vegetarian.

Andrew Barr of Warfleldsburg. Md,
is u vigorous and active man of SO. He
has never eaten pound of meat in all
his life, his diet being strictly vegeta
BILE. He has never experienced day ,
sickness. He is regular in his habits
and attends to his farm work, lately
failing rye all day, taking his turn reg
ularly with two young men. He at
tributes his good health to his vege-
table d:et.-New York Tribune.