davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-23
FUN WITH A TAILOR.

H. Lundstedt shares his tailor shop
with the little button store of l.. Cau
mont, on William street near Beck
man. If he ever knew of Ventriloqusm
before, he had, up to the time l entered
his store one day last week, quite for
gotten it,
''Lundstedt!" I called from the roof
His face assumed a very serious look,
and he listened attentively, as if doubt
ing that he heard his name called.
"Lundstedt, come up here. 1 want
you to measure me for a suit OF
clothes!"
Where are you?" he replied, break
ing the stern aspect of his expressive
face.
Here on the roof. Come up here"
"All right and he donned his coat
and hat and started up in quest of his
supposed customer.
Hey! Go back and get your rule
and tape" the voice cautioned him,
having observed that he left them be-
hind.
He laughingly obeyed then hurried
out, entered the hall around the cor
ner and ascended the stairs to the sew
eral floors of the building. He searched
high and low, but his customer failed
to material2e.
After frutless search in the stores
next door, he returned in disgust to his
store, while I, observing him about to
enter answered to his supposed tor
mentor:
What? Yes Mr.. Lundstedt has
just gone up to see you" At this point
he entered the door and heard me call
back in answer.
"Ah! Here he is now!'
"Confound it," calculated Lunstedt,
1--WE been all over the neighborhood!
There's nobody wants met"
"Lundstedt!" I called No response
"Lundstedt!" He trained his ear in
the direction of the sound, which seem
ed to come from the ceiling or the
wall.
'Lundstedt!" I repeated. Slowly he
tiptoed about around the room, placing
his ear to the cracks in the wall, in the
meanwhile rapping on the partition
"Lundstedt!" came the voice from the
stove pipe running along the ceiling
He thought he had at last located the
source of the sound, and thereupon
bounded over the counters at the open
end, where one or two joints had been
removed.
Hey" yelled Lundstedt Justify.
Come down and show yourself!" while
he smiled in a way that seemd to say:
'At last I've got him!"
I'm on the tenth floor" came back
the reply.
Il guess he doesn't hear me-" re-
marked Lunstedt to those in the store,
forgetting that there We're not one half
of ten stories in the building.
Likely" ! observed. You had bet
ter answer louder" adding, as from
the pipe: What did you say?"
Come down. What is your number?
Where is your office?'
Did you speak to me?" 1 called in
the fainteSt tone.
YES; ] can't tell where you are. !
ann willing TO go TO your office" he re-
Piled, with all the energy he could af-
ford to part with. ,
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-23
From the Wilkes-Barre Leader.

From the Wilkes Barre Leader.
The announcement of the intended
removal of the postoflice on Feb. l. 1897,
from it's present location in Music Hall
block, to a large, cOmmodiOus, well APP
pointed thoroughly ventilated and IL
! Illuminated structure about to be erected
by Martha B. Phelps on lots 16 and IS,
North Main street marks another
epoch in the progress of the city, which
will so down in the annals of history
as one of the most important of the
period. The postofiice has been moved
from time to time since it's establish
ment 102 years ago, and the occasion
has ever been considered an indication
of municipal growth and necessity. The
history of pOStOiiiCeS all over these
United States, is a history of removals
to meet the demands and condition of
the times and the Wilkes Barre post
office has been no exception. E.Stab-
| liShed in 1884 at the corner of River and
Northampton streets 1t has been re-
I moved from place to place as the city
grew in population and the mail bust
ness increased, until the present time
when arrangements have been made for
another change, this time, and by the
way, the only time in it's history, to
| building erected specially for its aC-
! commodation upon plans approved by
| the postohice department.
The history of the mail service in
| Wilkes Barre opens with the establish
| ment of mail route between Hartford
| Conn, and the Wyoming Valley in
| 1717. Previous to that what little mail
| passed between these points, was car
| ried by private messenger, but in that
year Prince Bryant was employed as
post rider and made the trip once every
| two weeks. While Bryant carried the
mail, be also delivered 1t, but the mat
ter grew in bulk and other means had
to he devised for distribution. \ post
! office was decided upon and was estab-
| lished in 1894. Lord Butler was ap-
| pointed the first postmaster and opened
, the office at the corner of Northampton
! and River streets. 1t was crude as TO
| appointments, but in the eyes of the
| villagers it was a great establishment
and the postmaster was an important
| parsonage. The mails continued as be-
! fore until 1897, during which year WeeE-
! ly mails were inaugulated and carried
! between Wilkes Barre and lIaston. In
| he following year mail routes were es-
I tablish between Wilkes Barre and
| Great Bend, and Wilkes Barre and
| OWego, n Y. Other riders succeeded
| Bryant unit! 1906, when Messrs. Robi-
| son ana Arndt commenced running a
! two horse STAGE once Il week. between
| Wilkes-Rarre and Easton. From that
! date until the present the mail service
| has grown with the development of tha
country, until today the pCstoAice Is the
exchange point for about ninety routes,
employees a large number of men, and
handles thousands upon thousands Of
! dollars every year.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-23
A GAS PIPE THAT TALKS.

An unused gas pipe leads to the wait
ing room of the IT, road station at
One Hundred and Thirty fifth street
and Eighth avenue. 1t has served as a
medium of great amusement to the
numerous road patrons who frequent
ly may be seen there on stormy nights,
after leaving the trains, taking up the
warmth of the generous red-hot stove
preparatory to setting out for their
homes across town.
The innocent old gas pipe already has
a history. l have had many a poor
fellow shouting at it till one would
think the lower lobes of his lungs must
rent The illusion is very easily car
ried out with the aid of a confederate,
who opens the seance with an observa-
tion which runs like this:
do you know, Mr.. Hartley, that this
pipe is connected with a telephone wire
which runs over the top of this station
We have discovered that you can call
up anybody here by tapping on this
pipe" My confederate by way of IL
lustration, then lightly taps the pipe.
The rest is plain sailing for me.
l have often invoked the aid of that
pleasant-faced young operator at the
station, John H. Collins. An amusing
incident in which one Ward proved the
butt of my ridicule happened only a
few weeks ago. Ward is an extra gate
man at Bleecker street He had just
posted the porter at the chopper
while he attended to the fire in the
waiting room. Like many others he
wanted to hear the telephone. He
knocked smartly at the pipe and
placed his ear close up to it.
Whom do you wish to speak with?"
asked Collins.
"Whom do you wish to speak with
with Dickson, down at Bleecher
street" replied Ward.
"All right" said Collins in the same
breath, calling:
Hello, Dickson" The work of my
confederate here ceased.
"Hello!" l called in the telephone
voice. 1T that you. Ward?''
Yes. Hello, Dickson! Hello, hello
hello! Well, is that you Dickson? Wait
a minute"
Then aside to those present he re-
marked: We'll, upon my word, if this
thing happened hundred years age
we would have all been hanged"
Resuming his conversation with the
supposed Dickson, he observed: Say
Dickson, I'll be down at ~ o'clock. |
can hardly believe my senses that ]
am talking with you. It's over an old
gas pipe here l am talking"
Then the poor fellow glued his ear to
the pipe and held his overcoat lapel to
his ear, so that no sound could escape.
SAY, Ward, can you hear me?" came
the voice. Yes: / can recognize your
voice" Say Ward, what time is it?"
Eight O'Clock" What time win you
be DOWN."
Twelve O'clock" "What?" "Twelve
O'clock" echoed Ward. l can never
resist the temptation to worry my VIC
tim, SO in a voice almost inaudible, /
called: Hello, Ward. what time did
you say you would be down?"
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-23
FIRST POSTMASTER.

The first postmaster of Wilkes Barre,
as has been stated, was Lord Butter,
who was appointed in 1894 and con-
'tinued in Office until 1902, The post
office stood on the corner of North
ampton and River streets, and was
a most unpretentIous building. In the
latter year Butler was succeeded by
John Hollenbeck who served until 1905.
When the 9oStOhice was located at
that time cannot be stated definitely,
but 1t Is said to have been on the west
side of Public Square. Ezekiel Hyde
succeeded Hollenback, and served q
portion of the year, 1905, when be was
relieved by John Hancock who con-
tinued I'm office until 1905 Jacob Cist
earliest politicians. AAppianted Han
cock in the latter year and gave such
satisfactory service that he was con-
tinued in office until 1926. During Cist's
term as postmaster the Office was To-
Gated on River street, about where the
Old McClintock homestead stands, but
in 1926, when Andrew Beaumont was
appointed, the office was removed to
West Market street, to the site now
occupied by Ben Dilley's hotel. Post.
master Beaumont was a conspicuous
figure Of his time and was the father
of our ldier-tuwnsman, calonel leu-
gene b. Beaumont. The next postmas-
ter was William Ross, who served three
years, or from 1892 to 1885, and kept the
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-23
HISTORY OF EARLY
POSTAL FACILITIES
The Mail Delivery ia Northeastern
Pennsylvania.
"REMINISCENCES OF OLD LUZERNE

History of the Wilkes Barre Post
ohice--Promincnt Men Who Have
Served as Postmasters--Thc Means
Employed to Deliver Letters at the
Opening of the Present Century
Office.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-23
sciatic Rheumatism Cured.

L. Wagner, wholesale druggist, Rich
mond, Va, says; II had a fearful
attack of Sciatic rheumatism, was laid
up almost two months; was fortunate
enough to get Mystic Cure for Rheuma-
tism. This cured me after doctors
prescriptions had failed to have any
effect l have also heard of fine results
from others who have used it,"
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-23

Mrs. Witherby-Last night the man next
door made an awful mistake He got
into our house instead of his own, and |
thought at first it was you.
Wltherby-Yes. l met him on the street
this morning and he said he never was
so sorry for any man in his life,-New
York Truth.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-23
A READ SPEAKING TUBE.

Mr.. F. N. Bunger is the owner of
hotel bearing his name ON upper Len
OK avenue. His place has been the
scene of many ludicrous episodes,
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-23

Office on South Main street. about where
the Boston Store stands. He was sue
ceeded by Daniel Ceilings. Ceilings
kept q small watch repairing estab-
lishment on the site now occupied by
Arthur Featherstone, on the north side
of Public Square, formerly Billy Nc
Laughlins, and he Is described by old
acquaintances as having been an oblig-
ing old gentleman yet not too fond Of
work. The letters were kept in u little
square frame filled with pigeon holes,
each bearing an initial The postmas-
ter invariably occupied baCkless chair
with sheep skin bottom, so situated
that he could receive or deliver mail
without rising. The stage arrived daily
from Easton and New York, another
from Harrisburg and another from
Tunkhannock. Ceilings continued as
postmaster until 1S41. when A. O. Ca
hoon was appointed.
Mr.. Cahoon upon receiving his COM
mission, Immediately removed the Of
flee to location about where John
Hughes merchant tailoring house
stands on West Market street today.
The new postmaster made many i'm
provements, chief among them being
the Introduction of private boxes.
These were properly numbered and with
glass front made quite an attIac-
tive appearance Mr. Cahoon served
until 1S43 when j. p. LeClerc was APP
pointed, LeClerc again moving the
Office back to Public Square. near the
old office formerly occupied by Ceilings
After serving two years, lie Clerc was
relieved of the misunderstanding and f.
4 al aI
him. The office was removed to the
site now occupied by Lewis Browns
grocery store. Ceilings was a very pop
ular postmaster. one sister, Mrs. A.
j. Baldwin, lives in Pittston. at pres
ent; three others, Mrs. Charles Dough-
erty, mother of Colonel c. Bow Dough-
erty Mrs. John b. Davidson ana Miss
Eliza Ceilings live in this city, and
Mrs. Raub, u grand daughter at Dallis
The male members of the Ceilings
family We're prominent in state poll
tics Samuel F., a brother of the post
master, being a vigorous editorial writ
er on the Farmer later the Luzerne
Union, and now the Leader, a staunch
Democratic paper, and later he was
consul to Algiers.
Succeeding Ceilings came Steubcn
Bullef, son OF Colonel Ze5ulOn Butler,
| who commanded the Continental forces
| ON that memorable 3rd of July, ITS, at
| Forty Fort, and whose bones have
| mouldered to dust meath the Wyoming
| monument. He assumed the duties of
| postmaster in 1S49 and continued in
! office until 1853. During his admins
| tration the office occupied a building
| which stood where Shupp's jewery
| store stands on West Market street
| today, and is we'll remembered by the
| older residents. He was the father of
| G. E. Butler, the West Market street
| stationer Besides the latter, Postmas-
| ter Butler is survived by the follow
ing daughters: Mrs. Thomas S. Muir
| ray, of Trenton, N. j.; and Mrs. Straw
| bridge, of Danville. The latter's hus-
| band was one of the most prominent
| surgeons of his time and was a medi-
| cal director in the United States army.
| Mr.. Butler was relieved of the post
| mastership in 1853 and John Reichard
| father of our toWnsman, Colonel George
| N. ReichaTd, succeeded him.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-23

mastership in 1858 and John Rechard,
father of our townsman, Colonel George
| n. ReichaTd, succeeded him.
RICHARDS APPOINTMENT.
Mr.. Richards appointment was not
| due to personal solicitation, but to sat
| isfy the demands Of the occasion. As
| soon as Colonel Iiendrick b. Wright
| W as elected to congress, a number of
| aSpirantS for the pCStmastership
| slrung uD. The fight narrowed down
| to two, and the friends of each Waged
| relentless war unon the other. AS the
| best way out of the difficulty Congress-
| man Wright suggested that Mr. Reich
| ard accept the appointment as q man
| satisfactory to all elements and he did
| so, He serTed one year. and resigned
| He had previously founded the large
| brewery in the northern part of the
city which still bears his name, and
duties involved in it's management pre-
Guided the possibility Of serving as
postmaster ana he sent in his reslgna-
ton. AT this time the Office remained
in the old building on West Market
street used by stephen Butler, but
when Jacob Sorter, or Uncle Jake, as
he was Familiarity called, was appoint
ed in 1874 to succeed Mr. Raichard ha
removed the office to the site nov oncu-
DIED bv Featharstone's saloon or pub-
lie Scuare and later to The America u
| Housn novr ,hc I,ristol EJouea IN, pulIio
Sn,1arn Mr. S,rler served nc 1ost-
| master uutil 165S hnd rnfired dvin,, in
1SG4 He l. survived by, his widow, y.ho
lives ot 13h J2cksnn street II u col
liugs was anpointed for the second
time The latter continued in offca
min 1851 when & NJ Barton en(caadad
| hin, During Mr. I,1rlon's term, tba
ofico was removed from tha RristoI
| House tn n buiIdina, ON puhlic Suuara
ahcut where r-art,s 1rlu store stands
at present +. u. Chase succeeded Mr.
Parton and served from 1861 to 12e7
0,bo,, I,a was s,,norso,1ad h,. pafar prr-
eel The batter served t,,n ,5ea,s TJa
,vos tha father Of o,jr to,,nsman Art
Pursel ana Of Mrs. Ellen Hevea. Of
| Tunp,nra 4e diod in +l,fe citv t,.ent,,-
t,,,o ,,eore aoo
In t669 Stewart Pierce was anpointed
nce+n,oster ana irn,oediataI,, rerove1
| ~ ofnc, rr-,,, 17p,lic e;n,,ora Il, y,ra.t
nlo,l,,t etr.ot 10 stbn room, ,,ovv occ,,
Ti.I b,, r,beiqs insuronca orfce TInra
T. confirmed to.ra,nain ,,ntil 1877 whom
If ,,.a, ran,,vnd nv his eucccssnr Dous,-
| lace, s,,,i+i, IN tho ,rnsa,,+ o,ro,tars n,
NT,gio t(,l n,,cl, Drrino ti,o rentor
,ia1 in pbilodalrbio ar10ng the thou
g,,ods nr eyhtIite vac q model n1et Of
fra fi.,trre M, smith gou, If ana cor-
cI.,lad n wac iuat what was need in
1vulres- ISo,re fIe nnrrhoeed If the fol-
lo,vInn rzar ord suhesouentlv ,liscov-
ared tbot n was too bich for the roor
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-17
A CentenarIan's Death.

Mrs. Anna Featherstone. a c~entenarian.
died at her home. on South Delaware
street. near McCarty street. Monday even
ing. She was one hundred years. four
months and three days old. The remains
will be taken TO North Vernon to-day for.
burial.
Mrs. Featherstone was born In Ireland,
Nov. II. 1896, and came TO this country with
her husband when she was twenty-nine
years old and settled at Trenton, ". j.. Mr..
Featherstone was a stone mason. He came
TO this State when the j.. NJ. * L. road was
being built, 10 work on IT,. Mrs. Feather
stone had kept boarders and accumulated
enough money TO buy a farm of $40 acres
near North Vernon after she came TO this
State. She lived there forty-seven years.
Her husband died twelve years ago at the
age of eighty-seven. and then Mrs. Feather
stone came TO this city to be with her chill
dren. Timothy Crannon, OF the police force.
is her grandchild.
Nov. 10. 1896. Mrs Featherstone celebrated
her one hundredth anniversary. There wvfe
many friends present during the afternoon
and evening. She seemed TO enjoy the day
very much-and was not much tired by the
large number OF visitors who calico on her.
Her one idiosyncrasy was the belief that
she had only one more week to live. For
five years this has been her constant plant.
She never missed an opportunity to say
that she would never see another birthday
and that she had less than a week To re-
main on earth.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-17
NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS AND
BUILDERS OF GRAVEL AID MAC
ADAMIZED ROADS.

N0tice Is hereby given that the Board OF Com
To- 10 O'clock a. m. soth day or March. So re- -
ceive sealed proposals. for the construction OF the
following proposed gravel or maeadamized roads
The Bedford and omh road In Perry
township. length OF road. Il. $50 feet.
Also six 90 divisions OF roads in Pleasant Run
township.
The Hedford and BartlettsviIIe road; length OF
road. IA. f0 feet.
The Bedford ard HeItonville road. length Of
The HeItonvllIe and Pleasant Run road; length
OF road. l.i1 feet.
The Salem and BLOOMINGTON road. west end,
length OF road. 70 $50 feet.
The Salem and Bloomington road. east end;
The Heltonville and salt Greek road; length
Also the three 90 divisions Of roads in Marion
Bedford and Orleans road, length OF road.
Mitchell and Georgia road: length OF road.
Mitchell and Bono road; length or road. Sa.Oa
All Of said roads to be completed on or before
Bis FOR this work accepted by divisions. said
propose 10 be accompanied By good and suih-
bonds s-nished By the auditor. Only Indiana
S Sask On a said road s or ro SsSs b P' on shall ina be 'f ie
all things in strict accordance with the plans,
auditor. and In accordance with the acts OF the
Legislature approved March ,. 1898. and the acl
the order OF the BOasd OF Commissioners herein.
The successful bidders for this work viii be
struction Of said roads. 20 the amount OF their
contracts. provided the treasurer shall not have
sold the same on or before the 10Th day OF May.
said ronds To bear date the 18th day OF May,
1857. The beard reserves the right TO reject ans
Bids should be addressed. John b. Malott. Au-
ditor. Bedford Indiana. ana Endorsed Bids f2I
In witness whereof my name and Official seal
n. 81 joHS -. MALoTT.
Auditor Of Lawrence County. Indiana.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-17

Alabama and 7th sts.-S. Null.
Belefontaine ST.. No. 4D0-C1aude Fields
Christian Ave, No. IE-F. F. Dannettehe. o
Clinord Ave. ~ Miller.
College Ave. and eth St.-Ceo. g. Fisher
Columbia Ave. and 7th St.-Geo. 9. Rucn-
Columbia and Hi Aves.-R. c Hampton
Delaware and McCarty-H. a. Pfafiir.-
DILLON and Fletcher Ave.-Hugo IL Lehr'
East and McCarty Sts-E- c Relcko-,n,re
p wayne Ave. No. -Tho Il
nillsi1e Ave. No. l9-H. w. carter.
iliinois and lst Sts-S. Nuhl.
Illinois and 18th Sts.-S. Muhi.
ulnois ana 9TH Sts.-J. VI. Scott.
Diinols and 22d Sts.-Frank Keegan.
..lLrots and North Str. NJ. Savfn- -s,,
indiana Ave- and Vermont St.-E.
INDIANA Ave, No. f01-John II. Gaull-
madison Ave. No. 427-Jcs. NJ. DwyeI.
Mass and Cornell Aves.-c. F. Baruam-
Mass Ave. No. 501-Ia r. Haag
Aier. and Morris Sts.-C. Fl. Broicn-
her. and Ray Sts.-JOhn f. Myers.
Ser: ana Russell Ave.-Geo. F.. Bcrst.
Htch-. No. loss EASTMAN Arsdale Broe
rev York and Noble Sts.-E- n. Enhe."
New York, No. 3s West-F. F.. Wolcot@
Iine. No. POI South-A. =. Walker
senate Ave. and Sd Sta. NJ Eyster
Senate Ave. No. 1858 North-E. L. ste"ai
shelby St. No. 1S2-C. A. Eitel-
Talbot Ave. Nc. 350-M. Schwartz
Virginia Ave. and Coburn-C. @. hushtr'
virginia Ave. and McCarty-M. c; staley'
Wash. So. and State Ave.-N. s. Driggs
Wash St, No 703 E~ast-BarCn Bros
West St, No. zoo North-C. W. EicnrooN
fandes and 9Th
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-17
SUIT FOR SCHOOL FUNDS
EX-TREASURER HOGUE. OF WEST
INDIANAPOLIS. DEFENDANT.
A Demand to s5.925-Money
Used by the Treasurer I'm His
Private Cuisines ~.

Two suits were filed yesterday TO collect
S5,925 shortage of S. f. Hogue. ex-treas-
urer OF the West indianapolis School Board
One suit is against Hogue and Daniel w.
Marmon and Addison II. Nordyke. Hogue's
bondsmen for his first term in office. This
suit Is filed merely as a precaution, for IL
is not believed that there was any shortage
during the first year. The other suit is
against Daniel w. Marmon and a. X. Hol-
lowell. sureties on the bond of Hogue for
the second year.
In June, 1894. Hogue was elected treasurer
OF the School Board. and gave bond for
S2l.WO. 1t was arranged that Nordyke *
Marmon should handle the funds of the
board and that all warrants should be pre-
scented to them and they would give their
own check in payment. At the end of the
first year the books were examined. and
the accounts seemed to be overdrawn. If
that were the case there could have been
no shortage during that year.
In June, 1895. Hogue was reelected treas
urer, and gave his second bond, which was
for 10000. He was permitted to use a part
of the money of the board and Nordyke x
Marmon used the rest of Ii. During the
latter part of the second year Hogue found
that he would be unable to raise the cash
he had used to turn over TO his successor,
lie says, anu Dt lOIu Ills DolluSlitll cAN-
uation. He gave them the notes OF him.
self and his son for $1,000 TO cover the
shortage. but later turned over some prop
erty, and part of the notes were returned.
He claims ii was his understanding that the
matter should rest in that condition.
In June, 1896. HOgue was succeeded by
James Nj. Tooley as treasurer. A few days
before leaving office Hogue drew warrants
for about s., $500, and a few days after
ToOley came into office $500 received from
the county treasurer WAS deposited with
Nordyke az Marmon. 1t is claimed that IL
the $500 of warrants were paid out after
Hogue left office it should not be charged 10
him and that the shortage would be re-
duced by that amount.
Since this trouble came up the books of
the treasurer IA been examined by an
expert for five years past. and they have
been found correct, except as TO the last
term of Hogue. There is still a little doubt
as TO whether certain mounts should have
been charged during Hogue's first term,
which will govern the liability of the sure
ties on the first bond of Treasurer Hogue.