davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-05-24

HE was in q brown study"
"whati that shallow-pated idiotr'
well, possibly IL was more Of en- scru
study. ."-Detroit Journal
aids
Art Qealer-The perspective In very hne.
You'll observe how 1t removes objects In the
background 10 a wonderful distance
Connoisseur-If IL could only remove tho
objects In the foreground to wonderful
distance. don't you think the picture would
como nearer to perfection a-Boston Trans
crlpt.
Hell wonder IL that couple are married.
She-Certainly not.
Hollow can you tell
She-Why they've been talking TO each
other for nearly half an hour.-New York
World.
Son (who had been caught reading dime
novel)-Unhand me, tyrant. or there may be
bloodshedl
Father-No, INV son; there will be nothing
more serious than woodshed Comoi That is
where the strap hangs Princeton Tiger.
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-09-04

Newport RI Lit has been recog-
discretion the part Of u
mss o NOTHING and look wise, and
on e Qart Of wonan t. say nothing
una look pretty. VA these prescrip-
tieas nre hard TO follow, but when the
mercury ID shouting excelsior" the
Nast is the hardest Dining and danc-
az. two Of the favorite occupations Of
Bds summer capital. are rough on the
complexion. Tennis at the Casino,
golf at the clubhouse or cycling on the
avenue are even rougher. Many Of the
s~hrewdest Of the shrewd women Of
Newport spend their time holding down
piazza chairs. Several considerations
incline them to this way Of life.
The piazzas have something to do
with ii. undoubtedly. They are quite
superior piazzas; as big as bathrooms,
often; running all the way around q
cottage and screened with gay awnings
or Japanese shades. They have ali the
modern improvements, including COM
plete furnishings nor elaborate than
used to be thought appropriate for the
inte4ior Of a summer cottage. A self
respecting Newport piazza provides tea
tables, divans, cushion heaps, writing
tables, lounging chairs, etc, until its
inhabitants need not even the wisdom
Of the fool; it is not necessary for them
to 60 in when it rains.
Incidentally, a good proportion of
Newport piazzas command a magnii-
cent view Of the sea. But a more inn
portant consideration is the piazza
gown. What are piazzas OF views from
piazzas compared with this simple yet
sufficient fact that piazza dress permits
all the daintiness and becomingness Of
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-09-04

skirt, now that it is sure of its posi-
ton. Broad insertions Of white lace
were set diagonally from waist to hem.
crossing each other to make enormous
checks all the way round, The same
insertions ornamented the bodice. A
man might have said Of this gown that
it was more elaborate than the first.
Amy woman could have told him that
it obtained its effects far more easily.
The trimmed skirt has a great
inning this summer. There was anoth.
er one in pale cream muslin worn BY
a plump girl with a very white skin
and molasses-candy-colored hair. lit
was made over a yellow silk slip and
the skirt was divided into panels Of odd
shapes and sizes by lace insertion and
embroidered muslin. The effect intend-
ed, and to some extent obtained, was 10
give height and ~slenderness to the fig
ure. The corsage was made with a
smart little zouave of yellow glace silk.
not nearly covering the bodice. Minia-
ture sizes in zouaves are the only ones
accepted now. Narrow frills of lace
supplied the trimming. There was a
full vest of embroidered muslin, caught
in at the waist with a swathed belt OF
white ribbon.
Other fetching costumes figured on
the veranda Of a yachting man OF
some note while the details of a project
ed cruise were discussed enthusiastical
ly. A handsome blond who is at home
upon the sea showed herself equally
at home in a hammock in a clever ar
rangement of navy blue and white. The
skirt of white taffeta was covered by
three founces, each bordered with ont
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-09-04

grow small arms with yellow bios.
SONS, which remain for several months,
after which they fade and the plant
dies. BY piercing the stem the sap
which runs is distilled into an intoxi-
eating liquor or wine called ''pulque."
When this is again distilled .'mescal,"
a very powerful and unwholesome spir.
it, is derived. But the agave serves more
useful purposes. The thick leaves
produce a kind of soap, while from the
hbers the ''pita' fax is obtained, which
is used for weaving into cloth. Even
the flower stems are used, for, being
thoroughly waterproof, they serve for
thatch, and the inside of the stem
makes a good hone for knives an6
~razors, etc.
One cannot think of Mexico without
the cactus, of which there are many
varieties, D the tiny plants one is
familiar with in this country, but great,
weird clumps Is to 20 feet high, such
as the '%tuna," which makes good feed
for stock when the thorns are burned
off. and the "prickly pear" from the
fruit Of which the natives make a de-
~licious jelly.
In the City Of Mexico. the capital Of
the republic, mi sees a mirror of the en-
tire country, for included in it's popuia-
ton OF nearly 100000 people can be
found specimens of all the races from
Baja, Cal, to Chiapas, and Of ali
sorts and conditions, from the simple
"peon,H orday laborer. clad In chip SOM
brero, linen, Trousers andshirt tothep;c-
tuhesquely-attired senior. Mexico City is
one Of the show places of the world. 1t
has splendid public buildings and I'M,
stitutions, an immense Catholic cathe-
dral, dating from 1878, and fine streets.
walks and drives, well-lighted at night
in modern style, and with very good
and cheap NEAR of transit about the
city and into the suburbs. One of these
suburbs contains the presidents state
residence, the lordly castle Of Chapuite-
pec-with the military college, bar
racks, etc. Here President Diaz resides
and is always ready to receive visitors.
In the city the traveller will be interest
ed in the national museum which con-
tains among other ~curiosities the ceie-
brated Aztec calendar stone which
shows how much of astronomical
science that ancient ace possessed, as
their division Of the year corresponds
very nearly to our own; also the instru-
ments OK torture used by the officers oI
tile Holy Inquisitiun, and other relics OF
Mexico's historic past.
Those who do not care to encounter
an ocean voyage ear find in Old Mexico
which can be reached from New York,
Chicago and New Orleans almost az
quickly as CALIFORNIA; land Of rare
interest and OF great scenic attractions
JAMES IRVING cRABBE.
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-09-04

evening dress to exhibit itself without
shame in broad daylight and in the
open air? Piazza dress calls for the
delicate hues and gauzy fabrics of the
dancing gown; for the ribbons, the
laces and the graces Of the tea gowns;
for the beauty and the self-suficiency
Of the reception dress, and for the hap
p~y-go-lucky ease and fluff of the out
of-doors dress of the summer girl.
Granted that it combines all these,
who wouldn't be "a piazza lady?"
FollQw q few examples. The first
threa3Fere chosen from the costumes
worn by the members of the gay house
party assembled on n Of the notable
Of Newport's piazzas q day or two z
IL aonor Of the eighteenth birthday Of
the daughter Of a United States sena-
tor. The young woman herself, who
has brown hair and eyes and a provok-
ingly piquant face not quite to be called
pretty, was dressed in cerise pink,
the darling Of fashion this season. She
q blouse Of pink silk muslin and
pream-colored lace, the muslin being
coaxed into narrow frills Of fine killing
set across the bodice to humor the sum
ner fancy for horizontal lines. Be
tween the five airy frilIs were placed in
sertions Of guipures The dissenting,
rucked sleeves had a Killed frill down
the outside Of the arm, and at the
shoulders were lace epaulettes with
muslin frills. This blouse was mounted
on cerise pink silk and was worn with
an accordion plated skirt of pink mus
ain sparsely ured with cream. IT lis
my opinien that the mania for accor-
! plating, for no milder word win
AnsNer, is smother cause to be reekoned
with IN acquiring for the popularity
OF the piazza gown. Accordion plating
IS seryioeabie on O. piazza, and since
one must wear it one must located the
place where II can be worn. This par
hcul8r plated skirt was not hung over
q silk slip but over a second skirt Of
unhgufed pink muslin with 4 narrow
pink frili at the hem. Below this came
q silk p~etticoat and the whole effect
was more summer-lflrp and airy than
can be obtained with the silk slip
alone. A Leghorn hat trimmed with
roses and a great white osprey finished
. freck that fulfilled the most essential
requirements Of piazza dress to a.
man eyes II looked simple. cool and
aely becoming; to b woman's mp
q perfect work Of art and not
hotter than fine froeks have to Be.
second dress, that was more origi-
nal and "a some ways more striking,
worn BY a young married woman
who has startlingiy black hair. It was
3 white muslin figured with blue and
Illustrated the daring c1 the trimmed
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-09-04

Roth of the struggling politicians ere
now in theirgrayes. The president has
been dead for a number Of years. The
Vice president, who became president.
10 also beyond the vale which separates
time from eternity. But the recollecs
lions of that dreadful time when This
sntire republic was reeking with clim-
;nnt;on and r~ecrimination are still
fresh. The two politicians were de-
termined to destroy each other. They
nsed this nation of freemen as a shut-
tlecock. Their struggle of q lifetime
ended with the destruction Of their ann
bitions. and both Of them went sor
rowfully to their graves, their splendid
careers reeking with the miseries OK
disappointed ambition.
It takes but a slight effort Of mem-
ory to recall another outrage commit
ted for the f%urthcrance of one manssam
bition. There was in the senate a man
who had served his country with excep-
tional ability, and against whose MAINS
there was never a shadow Of suspicion
of corruption. He was a master mind
and was for years the accredited lead
er of his party in the senate. He had
passed the age of three 0 years and
ten, and his intimate friends observed
that his mind was becoming unbai-.
anced because Of his loss Of memory.
He remembered the things of long ago,
but he could not remember from day to
day the occurrence in public affairs
which ought to have commanded his
constant attention. OF all men in pub
lie life, he should have been most free
from the assaults of ambitious men.
Suddenly there o upon the po-
litical horizon a man of great force OF
character who was ambitious to go to
the senate. The venerable statesman
stood in his way. He had no DISPOSE
ton to retire. and did not realize that
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-09-04

bold band of dark blue ribbon. Ths
bodice was in blouse form bagging a
little over q navy blue belt, and there
was q large artistic collar fastened
q little to the left and finished with
lace and a narrow band of blue. This
dress was my ~favorite Of the lot be-
cause it was as pretty as the rest and
not spoilable in a hammock, a rare
merit in a dressy piazza costume.
But l had not finished with muslins.
It is no easy matter to have done with
it this summer. The matron of the
group was in white embroidered mus
lin, her skirt hounced with lace. The
founce was headed with three fine
tucks and above it at intervals were
bands of lace insertion mounted over
a silk slip. The cross over bodice was
lace trimmed.
A pale blue grass lawn dress was of
quite a different order. The skirt was
trimmed in Vandykes with pufs OF
lawn edged on either side with frills
Of narrow lace, and the bodice showed
alternating tucks and frills. This
skirt, like one described previous
~, was worn over a second skirt
Of plain muslin. below which was
followed quite the most popular whim
OF the moment, being decorated like
the bodice with frills and tucks, and
dispensing altogether with shoulder
puts and epaulettes. Instead the arm
trimmings were carried all the way III
becoming just a little broader and more
imposing at the top. The feature Of
the dress was a great white muslin
fichu whose ends fell to the ground.
/ have talked about elaborate piazza
dresses only, but this is not because /
do not think a girl can look quite as
summary and be far mor comfortable
in a smart jacket and skirt suit Of
pique with heavy embroidered inser-
tion and a silk shirt waist Of pink.
mauve or yellow.
ELLEN OSBORN.
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-09-04

dustricuB. The men are, as 3 rule
cross-graIned, turbulent and INDECENT.
BY far the larger portion of the ma
tives Of Mexico consists of Indians of
unmixed blood. of whom there are at
least G,o0O,0 900 tout of an entire popu-
lation of 9,OOO.O0o). divided into 30 or
40 different tribes with Different lan-
guages. These Indians are of varying
degrees of civilization. ranging FROM
the t~iercest savage Of the north to :he
gentle s-emi-civilized. who is as much
civilized MS the Mestizo and much more
reliable as a labOrer (peon) or me-
chanie.
During the past ten years Mexico has
progressed as she never did before.
President Portirio Diaz is a man who
thoroughly understands the character
of the various races over whom be
rules, for he is much more OF a dicta-
tor than a president, and but few Did
world monarchs WELD more absolute
power than he does. Life and property
are as safe in Mexico as they are in
this country, and, as was stated at the
beginning of this letter, the prosper
ity of the republic has attracted many
foreigners, who have invested largely
IN coffee plantations. stock rancnes.
fruit farms, mines, railroads and nier-
camille enterprises.
In a country as, large as Mexico it is
very difficult to describe the climate
and the flora. 1t has been called 'the
Garden OF America for every kind OF
grain and fruit hat grows in any part
of this continent will be found here, US
there is every kind of climate. Some
provinces are more tropical than 9th
ers, and in these the sugarcane and
coffee are planted, and in the forests
the tiger-tribe (Felide) are at home,
such as the mountain lion (puma),
iaugar, ocelot and wild cat. Here also
are to be found the coral snake, the rat
tier and scorpions, scolopendra and
other venomous pests innumerable.
But with such drawbacks excepted,
Mexico is not far short of being an
earthly paradise. The birds are nu-
merous, possess most beautiful PLUM
age, and include many fine songsters,
while everywhere grow most gorgeous
flowers and every plant known to
tropic or temperate zone.
Among the many strange plants
which flourish in Mexico is the agave.a
species of nloe, in this country called
''the century plant" because it is be-
lieved that it blooms only once in 100
years. While in cold or temperate
chimes the agave is, indeed, very long
lived, in it's own country it attains ma
turity in ten years. 1t has hard, fleshy
leaves of a bluish-green color, armed
with sharp spines. When it attains it's
maturity the agave throws up a stem
so or 40 feet in height, and from It
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-09-04

picturesque costume is much in evil
dence, for the Mexicans are very
patriotic, but ordinarily "Americans
clothes are worn. The Mexican ladies'
of the upper class are stylish in dress.
use Partisan fashions and are noted for
their beauty and grace. AS a rule they
are not well educated, reading and
writing and a little music being consid-
cred sufficient. The white Mexicans
nre like the Spanish. from whom they
descend. extremely courteous and
affable and hospitable. Otherwise
they have much aristocratic pride and
caste exclusiveness, and are not very
energetic.
Another Mexican rae Is the Mestizo.
or ~half-breed, the result Of the inter-
marriage OF whites and Indians. 1t has
been said Of chem Gas Of the h~alf-hreeds
81 other nations and other races) that
they have all the vices of Indian and
Mexican and none Of the virtues. This
is probably an exaggeration, however.
for the Mestizo wpmen are faithful,
wives, kind mothers, and generally in
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-09-04

ade, make Mexico better known to
Americans Especially those who have
the means to buy land and employ
labor) than ever before. When it is
remembered that the United States
pays Mexico $100, oOo, 600 Annually
for sugar, coffee and fruit there can be
seen good reason why the man Of mod
crate means should turn his eyes
thitherward in search of a profitable
field for Investment. Its mineral
wealth offers big inducements also.
During the past rs years chat ! fpom
1870 to 1880 Mexican gold aud silver
mines have yielded the enormous sum
of $4,000, 00O, 900 in values, and even at
that have been worked, in most in
stances, in the crudest style and with
out the modern appliances used in min
ing in this country.
But apart from its fertility and its
mineral wealth ''Old" Mexico will ever
possess a treasury of historic interest
to the student and antiquary, while to
the traveller interested in ethnology
("the proper study of mankind" says
the poet, lis many, or in the pic
turesque, its grand old ruins, its beau
tiful scenery and its strange people will
provide reasons for frequent trips to
the domain of our Spanish-American
neighbors.
To appreciate travelling in Mexico
one should have at least a smattering
Of Spanish. 1t is one of the easiest Lam
guages to acquire, and one that viii re-
pay the learner for the effort. Not only
Is it the national language of Mexico,
but it is also spoken by the republics
Of Central and South America and by
many of the islanders of the West In
dies as well as Cuba.
The MeXicans are o very mixed race.
There are, first Of all, the Creoles, or
white Mexicans, the descendants of the
old Spanish conquerors. They general
ly dress in civilized garments, are more
or less educated, especially fond of fun,
music and festivities. Those who own
the large stock farms (who are called
"rancheros") dress in the picturesque
national costume which includes the sill
ver-gray ''sombrero, generally adorned
with a large amount of bullion lace, sill
yer cord and t~assels. Such a hat IS
worth from 500 to $500 and is the pride
Of the high-born 'senor." The trousers
are cut wide from the knees down
wards, the sides open and richly
trimmed with gold or silver lace, some
times also with tiny bells. Then a tight
fitting jacket. an embroidered shirt and
scarlet stockings, and, attached to the
shoes, immense silver spurs. Duringany
grand Fiesta or national holiday this
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-09-04

everyone they meet, and promise all
sorts Of things before election day.
Thousands Of promises are made by
politicians, which they know they can
not fulfll, and which they never intend
to fulfill.
Politicians more than any other class
Of men regard self-p~reservation as the
6rst law of nature. They will not helm
any man to prosper, unless by helping
him they help themselves. On the con-
trary, they relentlessly strike down
every man who seems to be in the path
way Of their ambition.
Within the memory of all mature
mel now living the whole nation was
rocked and wrecked because of the
clashing ambitions of two men. Apres-
ident was used as a tool for the ambi-
tion of n man and the undoing Of the
other. The senate in the national a D
itol v made a scene Of strife which
would disgrace a gathering of quarrel
some village gossipers. Two members
OF the senate resigned their positions
In anger. The rice president + mis-
resignation Of his high Office, but was
persuaded TO tea It up and remain in
his position for political reasons. Later
on be became president. In that high
Office he declined to do anything tangi-
Bile for she men who had made his high
advancement possible.
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-09-04

he was losing his intellectual virility.
The ambitious man who wanted his
place in the senate determined to get
rid of him, and proceeded to accom-
plish his purpose. Ten years earlier, or
even five years earlier, the man who
concluded to dispose of the old senator
would not have dared to aspire. But he
knew that he was dealing with a fail
ing intellect, and he proceeded accord.
ingly. The old senator was induced to
believe that he could never bereelected:
that his health would not withstand the
strain of a heated campaign, and that
he could retire with honor by becom.
ing a member Of the cabinet. The pres
ident of the republic, who was also Il
politician, looked favorably upon the
ambitions of the new man, and he pre-
pared a place in the cabinet for the fail
ing statesman. The result was that the
old man went into the cabinet, and the
younger politician took his place in the
senate.
That was the first step towards get
ting rid of the old man. The. next step,
was to publicly announce the feeble
condition of the venerable statesman
and let the people know that he was un-
fit to hold a cabinet position. This was
done through the newspapers. It was
done to prepare for the final act of get
ting rid Of the grand old man who had
served his country long and well.
Weeks went by and months rolled
rolled around. Frequently the news
papers were used to disseminate state
ments concerning the grave errors
which the venerable statesman was
committing, and finally, after the peo-
pie Of the republic had been prepared
for the event, the old man was required
to resign his cabinet office and retire to
private life, with shattered health and
the humiliation and chagrin of betrayal
in the house of his friends.
These are only a few instances Of
public affairs which illustrate and
prove the proposition that all. politi.
clans are selfish, and that they are FIRE.
quently cold-blooded towards those
who stand in the way of their ambi-
tons. Past friendship counts for but
little, and usually for nothing. Whena
politician once entertains a desire for
his advancement, he not only seeks
public favor, but he proceeded to knock
out all who seem to be in the pathway
which leads to the goal which he seeks.
One thing more. When a politician
gets into the senate or house of repre-
sentatives he wants to stay there. His
whole object is to retain his place for
life. Consequently, instead of placing
public interest before anything else,
the politician goes to the work Of legis-
lation with the idea of a denomination
q q reelection in view. Every bin in
troduced, and every bill which 4 tries
to have passed is bundled with a view
to increasing his own popularity with
the people. in order that he may retain
his place in public life.
SMITH d. FRY
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-09-04
ELLEN OSBORN.


A poor man lay dying, and his good
wife was tending him with homely but
atfectionate care. Don't you think
you could eat a bit Of something. John?
Now what can l get foryou2"
With a wan smile he answered feebly:
well, ! seem to smell a ham a-cook-
ing somewhereas 1 think / could do
with a little Of that
70. no, John. DEAR she answered.
promptly, "you can't have that. That's
for the funeraL"-London Telegraph.
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-09-04

Speaking Of Old Mexico, the sister
republic Of the United States, afamous
French author said: 1T IS a eountI
endowed to profusion with every gift
that man can desire j envy; all the
metals. from gold to leadi every sort of
climate, from perpetual snow ID troric-
al heat. and Of inconceiyable fertility
The gradual increase Of railroad fa-
%cilities between the two countries will,
no doubt. in the curse Of The next dec
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-09-04

They say actors are superstitious.'
Possibly, but they like to see the
ghost walk. Brooklyn Life.
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-09-04

The Widow-Do you think marriage
Is always a failure?
Bultinch-Always q failureI Well, I
should say not. Why, I know a case
where the wife fairly idolizes her hus-
band, and he-why. he can't keep away
from her a minute.
The Widow-Biess mel Now long
have they been married2
Bulhnch-Nearly a wsek-Harlem
Life.
The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-09-04

The entire coast line VI tho globe
a about 10000 milen.