davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-10
INDEPENDENCE OF CUBA
FOR RECOGNITION
OFFERED IN THE SENATE

Senator Allen Eot Content With RecoEni-
tion Of BelIigerency- He AAt cafes Send :
log FI-es to HA, .ns<16s RepubiIc.n n
PArty's Pledge to the NatfoA-she Per :
sion Bill Reported to the House-Litt .
Business transacted In Either Houses
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-10
PAYING UP THEIR TAXES
COLLECTIONS BETTER THIS YEAR
THAN EVER BEFORE

The Baptist Female eUaiversi,y.ColIections
for Last Tear-More MONEY SIM Needed.
Wake jail Crowded with Prisoners- The
Expedition Cal. soon to be In k..din. 9.
The Late Mra- w b. Hick.-1he Greens
boro Wife Murderer sentenc~d to b
Hanged Two bays Bs fore Chris mas
The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-11-20

one trial Of these spines the TAX gave
mp all idea of resistance, and submit
ted peaeeably. AS a protection. pre-
sumably to the young children Of the
period, there was q case which fitted
over the spikes. The sides and top Of
this, like the slab which forms the
backing for the spikes, are made out Of
rough pieces Of wood, split out of solid
oak with the oid-fashioned mattock.
Under the circumstances, the slabs are
remarkably smootk, ard the joints of
the box does not reflect discredit on
the dead and gone joiner The whole
thing is put together with handmade
nails. which look very odd beside the
clean-cut nails Of to-day. A few rusty
stains on the spikes suggest that per-
haps the box was not enough to keep
little fingers out, and even a serious
accident may be conjured up by the
imagination. Some of the relics in the
Old Homestead are no relation to the
peaceful clock and the spinning-wneel
They carry the memory Of old mys-s
teries with them and the trail Of vio-
lent deeds is upon and over them. The
hTsL one IN This class is an old horse
hair chair. This looks harmless enough
to the present observer, but some men
OF the old regime found that as far as
they were concerned it was enough of
harmful thing to send them to the
gallows. The chair is a solid and mas
sy thing and bore the weight of the
honors thrust upon it in a becoming
manner. 1t was the first chair to be
used in a court Of justice in the coun-
ties of Sussex and Kent There is q
complete record Of the criminals sem
fenced to death from this chair, but
1t is enough to say that their name
is legion. Murderers, robbers, and all
the classes of criminals that existed
in the hard old days when this por-
tion of the world was in an unsettled
The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-11-20
a sTRANoE Else.
Is Without Scales and It. Head Re,om-

- without Scales and It's Head Resem-
49, bIes That of a Horse.
Baltimore American: One of the
wonders Of the deep is the fish. the
carcass of which the crew of the
schooner William Churchill, now at
Beacham's shipyard, foot of Warren
avenue, yesterday strung up on the
masthead, so that all who passed that
way might see it. Capt. Isaac Barker
is master of the vessel, and Luther
Pierce is mate. They came here to
load coal for Pawtucket, R. 1. The
crew last Thursday threw out a tow
line while lying off Cape Charles light
ship near Cape Charles, and when they
drew 1t in, among other specimens Of
the finny tribe, was long animal be-
ing, which looked like bar of polished
silver. 1t was a beautiful sight In the
moonlight, and its large eyes shone
with a bright white light. When the
fish, if it be fish. was landed it be-
came puzzle, as yet unsolved, to
name its genus. In almost every point
the fish is peculiarly formed. 1t Is
without scales, like an eel, and is ex-
actly four feet long. It's head bears
some resemblance to a horses, and is
about seven inches long. The rounded
mouth and the bony nose are some
thing never before seen by the seamen.
The eyes are circular, and the size of a
silver quarter. But the most remark
able point about the fish's head is its
mouth. There are four upper and two
lower teeth, which are very similar to
those Of 8 dog. These teeth are IN
front. There is a full row in the up
per and in the lower jaw, and the lower
jaw slightly protrudes from the upper
when the mouth is closed. The mouth
has vicious appearance. The near
est resemblance the head Of the freak
has to fish is that of a pIckerel. The
tendency Of it is to taper to a point,
To be further extraordinary the body
of this curiosity does not terminate in
tail, like that of other fishes, but
gradually narrows down from height
of four inches and thickness of one and
three-fourths inches to a point with
out speaking absolutely geometrically.
The fin, too, is a record breaker. It
extends the whole length Of the won
der, and in life it stood perfectly YER
tical. The captain says that the form
alton of the backbone resembles that
of shark. In short the animal has
the appearance of a horse, dog, an
eel, a shark, and pickerel. and Capt
Barker, no doubt, will not be blamed
If he tags the specimen with this sign:
What is it,"
The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-11-20

ANClENI SEAT OF JUSTICE.
state have stood before this chair and
heard their sentences pronounced. The
chair has had great influence on
the manners and customs of the peo-
pie who inhabited the surrounding
country, and now, it's good work ac-
complished, it is used only as an orna-
ment, and its present idle condition
gives no hint of the stirring times
through which it has passed.
gives for feet and hands that were
worn by some of the more famous and
desperate of the criminals brought for
trial before the curule seat are still
shown. The ankle manacles are sug-
gestive of very bad quarter of an hour
to the person wearing them, for they
are smaller than the smallest ankle
that can be imagined. The idea Of them
was to have them pressed into the flesh
of the felon to his additional discom-
fort. A hinge on one side of the man
acles permitted their opening wide
enough to admit the ankles of the con-
demned; then the sides were pressed
slowly together and when they bit
deeply into the flesh they were taken
to the prison smith, who riveted them
| on with nice warm riyets. The fit of
these anklets. would have pleased the
taste Of the most faddy person that
ever lived. But they were bit too
clinging for anything like permanent
wear. The handcuffs are less brutal
in their makeup, but they held the
wrists quite tight enough for safety to
the state. Unlike the modern wrist
confners. they did not permit the NOV
ing Of the hands, being made in one
piece. A spring lock of ancient pat
tern and boundless rust still holds the
cuffs locked. but a woman with small
hands can easily slip them on and of,
seemingly indicating that the size of
the human hand is decreasing, or else
that there were, no feminine transgres-
sors in the days of old.
The last number of the collection of
antiques is the most gruesome, and,
hence, perhaps, the most interesting. It
1t nothing less than the model. of the
gallows-tree upon which the malefac-
tors were hanged for little peccadiIloes
like murder and so on. The model Is.
very ingenious; the frame is light and
strong and every precaution is taken
that the result shall be all that can
be desiTed-for everyone but the pris-
oner stout post is dashed to the in
side of the prisoners window-frame
and is the main support of the frame
work. From sort OF eTg-sfaped
frame hangs the fatal rope-in the
model represented by a fishline. Dr.
rectly underneath the rope is small
platform. hinged to the windowsill and
supported by cord running up to the
top of the framework and down into
the room occupied by the condemned
man. When all was ready for the exc
The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-11-20

yet they have elected to live in board
ing houses and hotels. Elevators car
ry them to upper stories of huge car
aYansaries, where they take possession
OF a bedroom,s parlor and a dressing
room. Here they add to the rich but
Enthusiastically hotel furniture the pref
y tFifies, easily transported, which
were among their wedding presents,
and they declare themselves content.
They partake of meals, ordered from
long bills of fare, cooked by foreign
ers, always rich and lndigestible and
often Of doubtful origin, and sit at lit
tie tables observing and being OBJ
served with that long, critical stare
which is learned only in such surround
ings.
The wife has no duties; nothing in
their lives exercises her skill, her
brain power OF her ingenuity. Her
husband receives no help or delight
from the labor of her hands or as
the result of her good judgment. Half
Of her endOwments are lying dormant,
and almost every power she has is
dulled from want of use. After her
husband leaves her for his office, she
has to think out some occupation for
the day. She shops and visits; IL she
is musical, she practices a little; II
she is bookish, she gees, perhaps, to
literary class or 6lcture. Nothing
taxes her resources, no one is help
ed or benefited by her wise rule. Lack
Ing that great prop and staff, personal
responsibility, she has no taste of the
joy Of personal achievement and sue
cess, There is no way in which either
husband or wife can express themselves
In the material things by which they
are surrounded, These furnished
rooms are to their personal character
lstics like ready-made clothing to
their bodies, and betray in one way
and another the they are. insists"
/ Worse still, t. my thinking, is life
in smaller boRrding-houses, where the
independence and isolation possible in
large hotels is lost, and the elements
Of criticism and gossip find such con-
genial soil in which to lodge their
fast-growing seeds.
know no sadder words than home
less and childlessl There is a mourn
full infection in their very sounds, and
yet these prettIiy dressed, eager, rest
less young women are both these sor-
rowful things. If God has denied
them the crown of motherhood, it
would be better to take some mother
less baby to their hearts than to live
all their lives without the guiding
hand of a little child IN theirs and the
clasp of little loving arms about their
necks. say guiding. with very sim
cere faith that there is no such attrae-
ton toward noble life as the depend
ence and love Of childhood, nor any
such rebuke as the surprise or fear in
q child's innocent eyes. s
The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-11-20

What causes deliberate choice of
this narrow life which entails so many
deprivations is incomprehensible to
me. The semblance of great luxury is
certainly to be found in the mirrors,
the gliding, the deep-piIed, velvet car
pets; but does all this expensive show
give any pleasure when it loses all
personal interest, and, stretching this
way and that, can sometimes be meas
ured by miles? To walk five hundred
feet down the long corridors between
doors which seem countless in num-
Der, and opening right and left to lib
crate strangers who pass you as If you
were to be avoided as carefully as II
you had the smallpox, cannot be a
pleasure. To open your door and see
five or six conventional pieces OF fur
niture standing about at precisely the
same angles as in every other room
you have passed, so that If you did
not chance to know that your legiti-
mate number of square feet were
known as number 499, you might read
lily think you were in your, own quar-
tiers until you saw that where your
walls were blue your neighbours were
pink, cannot be encouraging to the
sense of individual possession which is
half Of life's joy.
The mere abiding under the same
roof with people you dislike or des-
pise is trying, but when you believe
that on your right hand is drunken
The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-11-20

cuticn the criminal was led out onto
the platform and a recital OF the crime
for which he was to be executed was
given. Then at a signal the rope which
supported the platform was cut and the
prisoner was launched into eternity.
Scaffolds made from this model we're
in active use in Canada until the bill
providing for private execution was
passed, and then these old death-ma-
chimes went cut Of commission. to be
replaced by more modern methods.
Apart from the gruesome fancies
that inevitably cling around relics Of
this sort, there is great deal of real
interest to be found in the contempla-
ton Of antiques, and little searching
in and around Sandwich would doubt
less reveal many others equally as in
teresting as those of Mr.. James Moore.
The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-11-20

lar in, those parts of India where the
recent massacres of British troops oc-
Cured. Before commencing a bout,
each wrestler grasps his left foot with
his right hand, and during the bout
he must retain this hold-if his foot
slips from his hand, he has lost the
bout.
The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-11-20


now holds possession, owns some relics
that have an interest outside Of their
antiquity. Mr.. Moore was for many
years an actor, and took the part OF
Happy Dan, the tramp in the play OF
the "Old Homestead" Lately he re-
tired from the stage and has settled
in Canada. When he left. Denman
Thompson there were some things that
he took with him, among them clock,
a spinning wheel and a heckle. There
is scene in the play which represents
the interior of an old-fashioned farm
house. This scene was one of the best
in the play, and the settings were
genuinely old. Among them were the
articles mentioned. The clock Is
work of art, according to the standard
set by the manufacturers at the date
of its building, and It's weather beaten
face still shows some traces OF the en-
amel that was spread on it nearly two
hundred years ago. The sons OF Mrs.
Stuart used it for target, and TINS
has had a detrimental effect on the
face, but the works are still intact. The
only needful article in the makeup OF
the clock is string, as the old one
gave out some time ago. The weights,
works and hands are still there, ana
with a little attention now and again
''it's a clock as'll do you credit" The
illuminated face still carries in almost
undecipherable letters the name OF its
Scottish maker, Geo. Allison, or some
thing like It. The original arrange
ment provided for the keeping tab on
the hours and the day of the month.
The latter department is out OF com
mission at present, but the remainder
of the clock is as ready for business
as it was when it left Scotland in all
the pride of its new works and case.
Close by the side of the old clock rests
a tiny sewing machine which has
guaranteed speed of one stitch every
minute, when the hands of the operator
are brisk In spite Of its sloWness,
however, the little machine is valuable.
What does it matter that it is only
eight inches long and five high, when
it can boast of being the first machine
of its kind in this part of the world?
And the claim is just one, and seems
to be fully substantiated. A somewhat
old-fashioned array of cogs connect
ing the hand-whee1 with the shuttle
drives the needle reluctantly through
the material to be sewn. The needle
in the machine at present looks to be
very old, indeed, as do the rest of the
works, but neither date nor makers
name appears on this toilsome fore
runner of the speedy and easily run
sewing machine of modern times. A
spinning wheel of great age in the
corner to the left of the entrance to
the house is another interesting ar
ticle. AS has already been said, 1t was
used for several years in the produc-
ton of 1.-The Old Homestead" and has
a glamor of romance attached to it on
that account. 1t was once the property
of Mrs, Stuart, the former owner Of
the place, but instead of humming be-
meath the foot of this lady's great
The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-11-20
A singular Man.

Every Christmas Ben Wallack, rich
Atchison county, Kansas. farmer. gath
ers his children around him and d.
vides thousands Of dollars among them.
Mr., Wallack lives in Efingham and is
the only citizen Of the village who
don't play eroquet.
The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-11-20


grandmother, and turning raw prod
ucts into articles OF protection, if not
of comfort, it now has the easy task Of
lending additional dignity to the hall.
It's work and it's travels are both over.
The worn treadle shows how much en-
ergy has been put into the turning or
the wheel. but now it rests.
At one side Of the wheel rests a
heckle. This was an Instrument used
in reducing fax to more convenient
form for handling than it possesses in
the first stages OF its preparation for
the use to which it was destined. The
1'comb," which would do for the giant
Blunderbore, consists Of long, thin
spikes arranged around in a sort Of
chevaux de frise. The spikes stick out
about four inches in length from a
backing of oak. These were the means
used in dressing the fax down proper
", and il is safe to venture that after
The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-11-20
just the Opposite.

Mrs. Gableton-I understand that
your husband cannot meet his credit
ors. Mrs. Fales-on the contrary, he
says he can't help meeting them at
every turn. That is the reason he goes
out so seldom.
The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-11-20
RELICS OF OLD TIMES.
ANTIQUE TREASURES IN 4
CANADIAN HOME.
An Old Clock That No More TIcks the
Hours Away-A Spinning wheel and
some hementOes OF Early Justice
A Judge,s Chair.
Detroit letter.

HE shores Of Cana
da abound in an
tiques, and many
of the old build
ings contain much
that is interesting
to the antiquary.
The old Stuart
House at Sandwich
is no exception to
the rule, and Mr..
James Moore. who
The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-11-20

Minnie Laughlin, of Alden, Iowa,
struck up a correspondence with Fred
Grund, circus man, through Chicago
paper. Friday they were married and
Saturday Grund skipped for parts un-
known.
The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-11-20

Hicks-I understand Scribbler is
making a barred OF money. Wieks-
Not from his writings? Hicks-Yes, he
has written a book in the golf dialect.
Philadelphia Record.
The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-11-20
ABOUT YOUNG WIVES.

HE city life Of
homeless young
married people is
a very doleful sub
jeet to write on.
They have good,
though moderate
incomes, they are
clever, in excellent
health, active, en-
ergetic young men
and women. and
The Brunswick times. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 188?-1900, 1897-12-30
Bill Was at Home.

1t was about 2 o'clock in the after
noon that the sheriff of Bucks county
rode up to Bill Hooper's cabin at the
| foot of the mountain to arrest the man.
on a warrant charging him with steal
ing corn. Bits wife sat in the open
door with pipe in her mouth, and as
the officer came along up she inquired:
Sam Davis, you are jest the man I
wanted to see. I've heard you talk a
heap about the Bible, and want to ak
you if you really believe that story
about joiner and the whale"
"Of course do, twas the reply-"o
course. Is Bill around home today?''
'How big man was Joner?" per-
sisted the woman.
Bout as big as am, I reckon. Did
you say Bill was off huntin?"
"And did the whale swaller him
head fust or feet fust?'' continued the
woman, as she crowded some fresh to-
bacco into her pipe.
Head fust, reckon, though l ain t
disputin bout it and raisin row. Ed
er Dickman says it was feet fust, but he
wasn't thar no more'n me. If Bill is
around homo, I'd like to see him a
mint.
but how did joiner live down thar
in that whale till he was cut out?'
Dunno, but he went right On Twin.
1 can't say why the airth goes round,
but know that she do. Mebbe Bill is
in bed and asleep, Mrs. Hooper,
what gifts me-" continued the wom-
an, calmly ignoring all questions about
her husband, lis why that whale didn't
hang on to joiner when he had him.
What did he cast him up fur?"
Can t say" replied the sheriff, "but
I reel on the Lord wanted things the
way they was, and so they turned out
as they did. l was speakin to you about
Bill--whar is he?"
bill? Oh, Bill is to home today"
kin see him?"
Fur suah. When you rid up, he
was cleanin his gun out back of the
house. but l reckon he's ready fur you
by this time. Jest step around the co.
ner."
The sheriff stepped and ran against
the muzzle Of a shotgun held in Bills
hands. AS he recoileda step or two Bill
asked:
WAS you lookin fur me, SAM"
81 was" replied the officer. Eyes,
l jest stopped mint to say howdy and
to remark that your Gle woman amt no
fule, and hevin said it I'll be goin back
to town. Nice day, Bal Good evenin
to you, Mrs. Hooper," NJ. QUAD.
The Brunswick times. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 188?-1900, 1897-12-30

TUE ovatlOns and social attentions
received in other southern cities by
Miss Charlotte Crane, the actress, are
deserved rebukes to the very ungal-
liant and gentlemanly conduct of
the twO-for-a-nickle Charleston ca.
diets who asked her to leave their little
cotilliOn. At Jacksonville Miss Crane
was presented with many handsome
floral tributes, and received a great
ovation from the audience. At Sa-
yannah she also received fattering
attentions. The good people of
Charleston ought to apologize TO the
world for the boorishness of some of
their fellow residents.
The Brunswick times. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 188?-1900, 1897-12-30
THE CHINESE DEMONSTRATIONS.


When, without preconcerted ar
rangement, the most formidable fleets
OF the most powerful nations on earth
assemble in the waters of another and
weaker nation, the world is author
lied in expressing the belief that
something is about to happen, and,
further, that that something will not
be advantageous to the weaker nation
aforementioned.
Dismemberment and division are
the two most probable intentions that
suggest themselves in considering the
meaning of this remarkable Demon
stratlon. Russia the greediest OF the
powers, seems determined to have the
larger share of the decayed Chinese
empire, while Great Britain and
Japan, acting apparently in concert,
seem equally determined that the
Cossack shall not inherit that portion
of the earth. Germany, which is at
present afflicted with a ruler who is
mentally unsOund, is apt, through the
crazy notions of Wilhelm, to play an
unexpected part IN the proceedings.
The frat real threat of hostilities
appears in the assembling Of he Jap
anese fleet off Nagasaki, and in close
ouch with the British squadron.
JapanG hostility to Russia is we'll
known, as Is the fact that the Miksdo's
kingdom considers its right of con-
quest paramount to all others. If the
Japanese intention ia to oppose Rus
sia's permanent occupation of Port
Arthur, and If Great Britain should
assist in the opposition, the map of the
world might be materially changed IN
very short order.