davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-12-10
The Independent.

The Independent.
NEW YORK.
other weekly newspaper Of the world. For
nearly fifty years it has held the first place.
1t has larger list of famous writer's than
any other three papers.
Table of Contents Weekly:
POEMS,
CONTRIBUTED ARTICLES,
FINE ARTS,
SCIENCE,
SURVEY OF THE WORLD,
MUSIC,
EDITORIALS,
EDITORIAL NOTES,
RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE,
BIBLICAL RESEARCH,
MISSIONS,
LITERATURE-BOO REVIEWS,
FINANCIAL,
COMMERCIAL,
INSURANCE,
YOUNG AND OLD,
STORIES,
PEBBLES AND PUZZLES,
WORK IN DOORS AND OUT,
PERSONALS.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-06-17
An Ingenious Idea.

There is a certain genius in one OF
our western towns who will doubtless
never lose any of his worldly possessions
il it depends on his wit to retain them.
His entry into the town and subse-
quent method he employed to secure re-
dress from a grocer who had outrageous
ly imposed upon him by selling him q
lot of sugar mixed with lime sufficiently
testify to his ability in such matters.
The impurity of the sugar was hardly
perceptible at first, but when put into
use it quickly showed its inferiority.
The next day an advertisement ap-
peared in the town paper that read
somewhat as follows:
"Should the grocer who for his profits
injudiciously mixed a pound of lime
with few pounds Of sugar and lately
person at once the pound of sugar he
cheated him of, his name shall be dis
closed to the newspapers. +" To which
advertisement he affixed his name and
address.
The morning had hardly passed before
pound Of sugar arrived, followed in
quick succession by seven more, all from
different sources, which plainly showed
a distressing want Of honesty among
the grocers of the town.
1t is not related whether the coffee,
tea and various other articles were ex-
amined by the genius in hopes of Il sim
liar condition and like reward, but the
presumption is that no time was lost in
ascertaining if such possibility actu-
ally existed. -Harper's Round Table.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-06-17
Friends In Common

There is no more continually com
mitted inelegance of speech than the sub
stitution of mutual friends for "com-
mon" friends, according to Vogue, which
says: Many fairly well educated per-
sons are apparently unaware that they
are speaking incorrectly when they re-
fer to mutual friends. In general con-
versation it is certainly the exception
when common friends is used. Even
those whose training in rhetoric keeps
them from misapplying mutual" rather
shrink from using the word common, "
its significance in SO many other con-
nections being the reverse of compli-
mentary. Indeed, in many cases it
amounts to "A stigma--as she is com
mon" woman, they are very common. F"
1t is used as nearly synonymous with
vulgar, the latter implying somewhat
more of self assertion. To employ a
term which is never used in an exclu-
sive or fiattering sense TO designate ones
friends goes against the grain, even
though il carries the mandatory rule Of
the rhetorician. A certain woman, who
il disturbed by this divergence between
the correct and the agreeable, somewhat
softens the statement by putting IL in
the form of friends in common.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-06-17
SHORT NEWS STORIES.
4 Printers Devil" and Editorial Es-
senoe"-Those Alien Transfers.
A Little Too Local.

Printers jokes are odd. Here is the
way veteran ed.lor describes an expe-
rience Of his salad days:
II started to work AS devil Monday
morning and worried through the day
without special adventure. The follow
ing morning, however, the foreman sent
me to the drug store with instructions
to buy B cents worth of editorial e.
sence. l felt little pulled up that /
was regularly installed in the printing
Office on salary and walked briskly
into the apothecary shop and up to the
proprietor and called for 8 cents worth
Of editorial essence. What kind of ea-
sence?' said he. Editorial essence,
repeated. The druggist said. 'Ohp but
never cracked IA smile. He evidently di-
vined / WAS being victimized and
thought no would take hand in the
fun. Five minutes later he appeared
with large nouthed pint bottle. about
one third filled with "a brownish fluid,
and admonished me not to remove the
cork until l reached the office.
when gave the bottle to the fore
man, he took it rather suspiciously, as
though the usual programme were not
being followed, and pulled out the cork.
He carried the bottle 10 his nose and
suddenly set it down upon the imposing
stone so hard that the vial was broken
and the fluid poured out upon the stone
and floor. Instantly every man in the
Office, foreman included, bolted for the
door. The odor from that bottle was
simply beyond compare. The air was
thick with the vilest smells that ever
greeted mortal nostrils. A couple Of
hours later the foreman opened the
door, but the stencil nearly knocked
him down. Finally he paid u man 81
to scrub off the the stone and floor and
open the windows and shortly after the
force got to work. The druggist had
filled the bottle with decoction of de-
cayed angleworms and was never called
upon for a second prescription. Chi
nann Tinac- Herald
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-06-17
THE HOUSEHOLD.
The Etiquette of Introducing-A Well
Appointed Drawing Room-Mak-
ing Green Pea Fritters.

Americans have TO large extent
been Gerry much influenced by English
customs, and now the English are slow
ly being affected by American ideas as
10 certain social matters. the etiquette
of introducing being one of them, while
the when and how of hand shaking Is
another, according TO Vogue, which
says: There have of late occurred sew
eral instances in English society where
the practice of not introducing as il the
custom there, created several very awk-
ward situations and called forth much
public comment.
So much has been said by certain au-
thorities on this subject when CRITICS.
ing these circumstances that the uni
versal thought has been more than ever
before directed thereto. After glancing
across the sea at us, who go TO the other
extreme, there has been evident there OF
late a decided showing of the working
of the American leaven. Thus better
average will no doubt be the outcome.
Let us hope we may likewise profit by
the English leaven and improve in this
particular as well. While they underdo
it, we overdo il.
Many of our American hostesses who
live abroad part of every year follow
the English fashion of not introducing.
| At times when this custom is observed
| Tin America at all events) it not only
creates awkward situations in the ex-
IRENE, but il seems rude to ones guests
as we'll For hostess to receive several
callers at the same time, all Of whom
are unacquainted with one another, and
not introduce them is 10 force an I'M
comfortable state of affairs and causes
each to leave if not angered at least not
satisfied. 1t is not safe to wound anoth-
er's self love, and nothing SO quickly
accomplishes this as to preclude an OPP
portunity for one to talk of self.
Under these conditions it is impossi-
BILE for a hostess to make conversation
interesting TO each when il must of
necessity be so general. Individual in
quiries, so dear to the female heart,
must be eliminated, and as one Is un-
able to speak unless personally address
ed by the hostess one feels as though a
visit paid by proxy would do quite as
we'll.
On the other hand, overintroducing
is quite as much to be talked down. In
certain localities the hostess takes each
individual guest all around the draw
ing room and introduces the arrival to
each individual present, often at the ex-
pense of interrupting little groups OF
pleasant conversation, and presents peo-
pie to each other of unlike tastes, aims
and ambitions.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-06-17
4 vsngeful Transaction.

He looked apprebensively up and
down the street as he and his wife
emerged from the restaurant. His steps
were rapid, and it was not until after
the corner had been turned that he said:
maria, don't want to 90 through
life with a secret i'm my bosom. Rather
than that, will risk FORGETTING your
esteem.
"What is the matter? Have you been
robbing anybody"
Don't talk about il in that way.
There were mitigating circumstances.
You remember the counterfeit 30 cent
piece that got last fall?"
Eyes It's the only money you ever
succeeded in saving.
Its gone with the rest gave 1t to
the cashier in the restaurant -
by accident"
"No. l did il i'm cold blood l have
been thinking about doing it for a long
time. Ordinarily / am not yindictive,
but got to brooding over the matter
till yielded to temptation.
"How did your conscience permit you
to do such a thing?'
That's the worst OF It, Every time
think about it it seems to make my
conscience feel better. We have been
patronizing that restaurant on occasions
for year at least. "
"Yes'
"The proprietor has given us veal in
the chicken salad, Goldfish in the deviled
crabs, chicory in the coffee and water
in the cream.
"There has been reason for suspi-
cion?''
1--WE have had evidence that would
convince any jury. After l had given
him a so cent piece with some lead in
it tried to be ashamed of myself, but
couldn't. 1t may have been contrary to
the statutes of the United States, but II
was poetic justice. Washington Star.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-06-17
A Proved Impossibility.

Senator Caffery is very proud Of the
length and breadth Of the Mississippi
river when it confines itself to its pic
ture frame, and Senator Aldrich is fond
of descanting OH the great common
wealth and sovereign state" Of Rhode
Island. One day recently, during a
heavy downpour, the closeness of the
atmosphere in the Rhode Island sena-
tors committee room evolved some mar
velous tales about trout. Senator Gallery
spoke Of superlative catch in which he
estimated his fish at - pounds. Mr.
Aldrich went him one better by putting
a certain catch of his down at Al inches
long.
"Where did you catch bim?" inquired
Senator Gallery obviously.
''In Rhode Island"
Him." said Senator Caffery, There
isn't river in the state long enough
to produce such a fish. Washington
Times.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-06-17

introduced. One of Virot's imported
models has double crown of bright
green straw yelled with tulle, the feath-
ers set at the side, while large gold
brimmed hat had crown resembling q
large bee in black lace, with couple
of feathers at the side.
There il new rich magenta peach
tint which is becoming and has been
most successfully applied TO bonnet OF
a darker tone of straw, with violets and
peoples. Certainly the newest make of
ribbon is moire, with an almost imper-
ceptible watering, employed for erect
bows, and the lily of the valley is ia
vorite flower, especially when mingled
with gauze.
Among gems in way of victorian
headgear is the victorian turban, re-
production of the turban headdresses
worn at the beginning OF the century,
adapted to our era. 1t is made Of black
chiffon drawn on wire, so that it as
sumes the rounded shape necessary, and
is literally trimmed with roses and TO
liage and an osprey.
Many new notions prevail in straw,
and black hat with soft cream lace
crown, gathered in the center beneath a
diamond ornament trimmed with shot
silk and bluets, is quite original.
The new canvas hats are singularly
pretty trimmed with brown velvet and
quill, and so are the small waved
toques, with high straw crowns and lace
brims, which minimize the troubles of
the amateur milliner. Then there are
flexible straw hats shaped to set back on
the head when the hair is dressed la
pompadour. To wear with lace and or
Candle dresses are garden psrty hats of
straw, lace and flowers. The brims are
not wired, but bend in irregular fashion
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-06-17
Increase OF Fraternities.

The increase of fraternal organiza-
tions in this country is a cause for graf
ification. The guilds and benefit socie-
ties, bands, lodges and encampments,
apart from their immediate benefit to
provide relief for members and their
families when in distress, exert also
important social and educational in
iluences. These associations tend to
break up the excessive individualism
which is perhaps characteristic of
Americans, and the excessive "self-
ness" which unfortunately is a charac-
teristic of all mankind.
The man who is despot i'm his own
home, whose will is never disputed,
when he comes into the fraternity finds
that there are other people besides
himself; his sharp angles and points
that are constantly inhicting wounds in
the home become somewhat worn off
by attrition. He learns both the neces-
sity and the method of getting on with
people who do not think exactly as he
does. 1t is a step in advance when
man learns to think of his family: it is
a still more widening process when he
learns to think about his fraternity,
the members of his calling, it gives
hope that i'm time his views will be so
enlarged as to take in his whole country
and perhaps the human race. In
fraternity men learn how to manage
business, they learn to consult: not
merely to talk for the sake of oratory,
but to talk with reference to some dis
tinct, practical end.
Men learn how to create and carry
forward an organization, and doing so,
they learn how to perform their duties
as citizens in the primary meetings, in
the caucus, in the convention, and per-
haps, without their ever having heard
the word "altruism, they are learning
much of its practical meaning, for al
truism is the extending of mans SYM
pathy and feelings and efforts beyond
himself, and beyond very narrow cir
Gle of which he himself is the center.
Philadelphia Press.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-06-17
The Drawing Room.

What constitutes well appointed
drawing room? AS The Puritan says,
the answer is not readily found. In
fact, no direct answer can be given. 1t
is not a question of the money spent,
nor always of the taste displayed, that
determines whether the room is CONNIE
il faut or not For the apartment may
be stocked with costly objects and yet
be unattractive, or it may be tastefully
and attractively fitted up, but be fail
ure as a drawing room because its fur
nishings are not of the proper character.
To create the correct atmosphere, as
an artist would say, one should bear in
mind the use to which the room is to be
put AS the drawing room is the scene
of all formal functions, it must neces-
sarily be dignified and stately in char
acter, while the colorings employed
should be rich and fine, but without q
suspicion of anything fiashy. All the
| furniture should be well made and
solid, even though plain in the extreme.
1t is far preferable to have a few hand
some, we'll constructed pieces Of furni-
ture than medley collection of cheap
gilt chairs, brass tables with onyx tops
and the like which are snowy but not
in good taste. Many people have an
idea that the drawing room should be
brilliant and dazzling. As matter of
fact, the brilliance should be supplied
by the lights in the room and by the
costumes of the ladies, to all of which
the decorations of the salon should form
a rich but unobtrusive background. As
few knickknacks as possible should be
employed in the drawing room, while
the main floor space should be kept free
of tables and chairs. at least upon occa-
sions of ceremony, says the authority
here quoted
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-06-17

When man joins secret society it
determines one of two things. If he
has the true spirit of fraternity, and
the love of humanity in his heart, it APP
peals to those factors in his makeup at
once and developes them making him
potent agent for good in his lodge. He
will be always ready to sit up with
sick brother, assist brothers family
in distress, comfort the afflicted and
help with kindly manner and consider
ate thoughtfulness the brother not SO
well favored as himself. He is always
ready in the lodge or out of it to let
the world see that he believes in his
lodge and the principles of his frater-
nifty. On the other hand if a man
lacks the inherent qualities of the
brotherhood of man, his initiation is as
unfortunate in its efforts on him as it
was benignant on the other one. 1t
makes him sour, suspicious and fault
finding, the assessments are too heavy,
the medical examiners are derelict in
their duties, they should be more rigid
in their examinations and thus keep
down the cost. If brother is sick and
needs assistance, he whines and wants
to know If he cannot be excused he as
some important thing that needs his
immediate attention. If social is pro-
posed he cannot see the good of such
things: its lot of work and no benefit.
As to asking a friend to join the order
he cannot think of it, he has half M
tion to drop out and is sorry he wsy d
in. Which side of the picture fits your
case brother? If the latter, lust Law
this paper down and resolve that you
will rectify that mistake at once. Call
up and repeat that obligation you took
with all these other brothers and de-
termine now that you will not again
feel that perhaps you have misunder-
stood what was required OF you and
what you solemnly obligated yourself
to do.-Michigan Herald.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-06-17
Those Alien Transfers.

Not long ago larky crowd Of girls
invaded Chicago cable car, and after
handing their transfer tickets to the
conductor began giggling concert that
was as infectious az it was ridiculous.
The conductor, ruddy faced Teuton,
Joined in and beamed on the young
people with fatherly interest. AS no one
seemed to know why they laughed the
question was asked by curious passen-
ger.
"You won't tell until we leave the
car. will your" asked merry girl.
Certainly not. ;"
Honor bright?'
"Cross my heart. F."
"Well-oh, it's too funny-but we
gave that old conductor "a lot of tranG-
fers week old, and-oh, isn't it rich
ON another road. He just took them
like mice"
Hes coming-we'd better skip, +"
suggested one of the party.
mo, he's laughing yet" and they
went into fresh commissions of laughter
over the mistake Of the conductor, who
would be expected to account for those
alien transfers. Exchange.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-06-17
Decided by Mrs. Lincoln.

Governor Drake of Iowa, in a recent
speech, told "A new story Of a meeting
between Lincoln and A. Ii. Pickering
Of Chicago. Mr.. Pickering, who is a
very tall man, was resident of Iowa
at the time of Lincoln's election and
was engaged in shipping cattle. He and
Mr.. Drake came to Chicago on business,
and, hearing that Lincoln was in the
city, they sent up their cards and were
shown to the president elects room.
"When we got to Lincoln's room, " said
Governor Drake in his speech, she
opened the door and, on seeing Picker
ing, asked, How tall are your Picker
ing said, six feet four. Why, cried
Lincoln, that's my height. Let's meas
ure F" And then the president of the
United States and the cattle shipper
stood back to back, while the first lady
of the land, Mrs. Lincoln, who was a
little woman, after standing on tiptoes
and reaching to the tops Of their heads,
decided that it was tie.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-06-17
When "a Man Is Fifty.

"a mans advancing age tells on him
in no other way more Enthusiastically
than in his habits of rising in the morn
ing," remarked Colonel Peter Toliver
of Philadelphia to Il st. Louis Republic
reporter. II wake up every morning
with the sun. Time was when used to
regard it as hardship to be walked be-
fore O'Clock. That was when l was
young When | reached 80, began to
wake with the sun, and no matter how
late l sat up the night before l found
myself tired of sleeping beyond the hour
of the suns rising. Many men about 80
you meet now will tell you that they
find themselves sleeping less than for
merly and are unable to account for it.
Whenever one of them complains to me
know what his age is, no matter how
young he may look There is something
in Us that responds to reawakened ma
ture when we reach the half century
post in our journey through life, and
all the drugs in the pharmacop1ia will
not arrest the tendency to sleep no
more after daylight comes In the fu-
ture, when friend complains to you
of his inability to snooze after 'glooms
shiver off and lights creep in, just tell
him that he will find this habit fixed
upon him for the remainder of his life,
because it is sure sign of advancing
age"
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-06-17
xxxxx&xxxxxxxx
!: the LODGE CORNER. :
Who Killed Memo Lodge OF Donnowhair7

cts lodge meeting night, said Brother Brown,
but don't believe I'll go down;
I'm tired, and its pretty warm tonight,
And everything will go on all right
II I'm not there" So he sat and read
The paper awhile, then went TO bed;
Having stayed at home from the meeting.
'Its lodge meeting night" said Sister Greene.
"But haven't dress that's TT to be seen
by the side OF what some OF the rest will wear.
know I am G Jude, and ought to be there,
hut some one will take my place, guess.
Anyway. I'm not going in this old dress"
And she stayed at home from the meeting
"Its lodge meeting night" said Brother Gray,
But guess had better stay away.
don't like the way the young folks take
Things into their hands, and try to make
The Good of the Order" all jokes and fun.
think something sensible ought To be DONE"
And he stayed at home from the meeting.
Its lodge meeting night, but shan't go
II I know myself" said Sister Snow,
Last time IL was said, that some folks tried
To run the whole lodge, and cant abide
Being so insulted; know, you see,
Though no names were called, II was meant for
me-
So she stayed at home from the meeting
Thus one and another made excuse,
And said that so long they paid their dues
And assessments promptly, they couldn't see
What the difference was, II they should be
Away from the lodge room on meeting nights,
And argued To prove that they were right
In staying al home from the meetings
And the Warden and Sentinel OF that lodge,
Around their duties, and try To shirk
But did their own and the others work.
Grew discouraged at last, and In dismay
The Supreme Lodge took the charter away
Because all stayed at home from the meeting
N f.. o. II. Journal
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-06-17
A Little Too Local.

Maurice Barrymore was once in Lon
don with a new piece which he was
anxious to have produced. He had read
it to "a manager and it had been decided
that he was to play the leading role.
About week after it was supposed to
have been definitely settled Barry" re-
ceiyed d note from the manager, asking
bin TO call.
Barrymore called, and the manager
said: Il like the piece, old fellow, but
don't see how 1 can use you in the
cast. Your beastly American dialect
won't do at all, you know. They won't
have it. -
well, that's strange" said Barry
more. They told me ON the other side
that they wouldn't have me ON account
of my beastly English dialect. What
am / to do-give recitations on the
transatlantic steamers" Francis
90 Argonaut.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-06-17
Gastronomic Echoes

Try green pea soup. IL is delicate and
delicious.
The "best" water ices are made from
the fresh fruit juices.
Boiled water ice is firm and fine
grained. The uncooked melts quickly
upon exposure to the air.
Olives cut through lengthwise to the
stone in long, thin slices are used TO fill
cup shaped leaves of lettuce
Strawberries and raspberries are rec
commended to the bilious, plethoric and
equity.
A woman undergoing the same
amount of muscular activity only re-
quires eight-tenths as much food as O
man does.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-06-17

"For three years we have never been
without Chamberlain Collie, Cholera
and Diarrhoea Remedy in the house"
says A. H. Patter, with Il. G.. Atkins
& Co, indianapolis, Ind, and my wife
would as soon think of being without
flour as "a bottle of this remedy in the
summer season. We have used il with
all three of our children and it has
never failed to cure-not simply stop
pain, but cure absolutely. 1t is all
right, and anyone who tries il will find
it So" For sale by Fisk Bangs, drug