davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-04-24

AH ioi5O fSA'A
Montebello, the birthplace of Zachary
Taylor; Ash Lawn, the early home of
Monroe; James Madison's stately Mont
pelier. and Monticello, the well-known
home of Thomas Jefferson. The two
latter are twenty miles or more apart,
put Madison and Jefferson were consid-
cred neighbors at that time, when a few
miles more or less made no difference,
and a morning call lasted all day long.
The two men were always warm friends
and political associates, and there was
much visiting between their homes.
Nowadays the name of Monticello is al
most as familiar as that of Jefferson
himself, but the home of Madison does
not seem to be SO well known. Mont
pelier stands on a slight eminence about
four miles from Orange Court House,
facing the long line of the Blue Ridge
Mountains in the distance The broad
pediment portico, upheld by stately
Doric columns, has on both sides the
long wings of the house which give Ii
the appearance, as it were, of holding
out open arms to welcome the coming
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-04-24
AN UNCONSCIOUS THEFT.


rhe watch Changed Pockets Seemingly
with No Help.
did you ever pick a mans pocket
unintentiopally?" asked q young man
about town Of a party OF a~cquaintances
with whom he was chatting in a theater
lobby, says the Philadelphia Record.
"Well, / did. 1t happened a few days
ago. and II my victim hadn't been a
particular friend of mine II would have
been decidedly embarrassing, to say the
least. You will probably say that the
accident could never have happened In
the way 1t did, but / can bring wit
nesses to prove what l say, was
standing in a saloon on South Penn
square talking to an acquaintance,
when ! felt a tug at the back OF the
long frock coat | wore. / paid no par
ticular attention to 1t, for the place was
crowded any many people before had
pushed me. In a moment, however.
touched me on the shoulder
and said: Give me my watch, Jack.
| looked around and found the speaker
to be a great friend OF mine. I haven't
got your watch, JIM | said. oh, come
off, said he, you pulled it out Of my
pocket as | passed YOU He was very
about it and SO I became seri-
Gus, too. | protested that couldn't
possibly have taken the watch, and my
first friend bore me out. Finally Jim
said he thought his chain might have
upon one of the buttons at the
back of my coat. | put my hand back
and felt something in the tail pocket.
whose opening was just under the two
useless buttons which tailors tack on
there. l reached in and there was Jim's
sur enough. The timepiece had
been yanked out Of Jim's pocket into
mine. Fact, s'help me-"
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-04-24

Ing Dolly Madison as If they had been
two persons instead of one and the
same. But the demure Quaker bonnet
could not conceal the beauty and fascin-
alton beneath it, and she soon had adj
m1rers galore. She married one Of
these, John Todd by name, a member
OF the Society of Friends and a rising
young lawyer. and until his death about
three years later, lived the life of a So
Der Quaker matron. After mourning him
for some time she threw off her quiet
garb and bloomed out one of the most
bewitching bellies of her city until she
left 1t to go to Montpelier, as the bride
of James Madison. Here she remained
until Madison became Secretary of
State under Jefferson, and she left her
quiet country home for the gay life at
the capital. Travelling then was o
what it is now; steamboats, were few,
railroads unheard of, and a Journey
must needs be taken on horseback or
in a coach. Mrs. Madison carried much
of her household furniture with her
and commanded frequent stops on the
way to rest her weary horses, SO the
length OF time it took to make the trip
seems almost incredible to US of to-day.
During the eight years that followed.
her house was, with the exception of
the White House, the best known in
Washington, and whenever Jefferson's
daughters were absent Mrs. Madison
presided over the presidential recap
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-04-24

The facts revealed are that on the
afternoon of the day Melinda Synder
disappeared she called at the home OF
Hugh Smith, where she remained for
some time. She was finally ordered
out Of the house by Smith. This Smith
admits, and a y that the last he saw OF
her she was crossing the fields after
leaving the house.
From the information received by
District Attorney Kell, it appears she
returned to the house and Smith, it
is claimed, became SO enraged at her
refusal to go home, that he seized a
Ratchet and struck her In the head,
almost instantly killing her. After the
fatal blow had been struck, it is further
charged, he and his ~accomplices de-
vised means to hide the body. They
set fire to the sawmill above referred
to so as to attract the attention Of the
whole neighborhood to the scene Of
the fire. While it was burning the
body Of the murdered girl was carried
under cover Of the darkness of night
across the field and through the woods
to an old, abandoned field, which was
thickly overgrown with scrub oaks and
pines, where stood an old, unoccupied
house. In this house there was a large.
nld-fashioned stone chimney. A large
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-04-24

the fourth president Of the United
States, under a handsome granite shaft
on which Is cut In large black letters
the n word, Madison" and the dates
OF his birth and death. This monu-
ment was erected by private subscrip-
ton, mostly in his own county. Many
years afterwards his wife's remains
were removed from Washington and
placed here by his side.
Over Montpelier. like the fragrance
Of an old-time flower, fingers the men,
ory Of Mrs. Madison. Sweet Dolly
Madison she was called then, and It Ia
as Sweet Dolly Madison" that she has
gone down to history.
Madison. when member Of Congress
from Virginia, met In Philadelphia Mis-
tress Todd, a dashing widow OF a bril-
liancy and beauty seldom equaled. On,
these widows! They betwitched US
then as they bewilder us now! Fer
haps even a little more, for In read
Ing the history of those early days Il
cannot but be struck with the number
OF widows n comes across they held
right royal sway and were undisputed
bellies. What became of the girls until
they themselves became widows 1t Is
difficult to discover. In sooth, they
seem modestly to have held back, while
their widowed sisters reaped noble tri-
umphs Oh the field of conquest. OF the
first four presidents three-Washing-
ton, Jefferson and ELECTROMAGNETIC
widows. and many others among the
prominent men Of that day followed the
prevailing fashion. Madison's mar
riage to the sprightly Widow Todd took
place in 1894 at Hardwood, her sisters
home in West Virginia. This sister had
married George Steptoe Washington,
nephew to George Washington. 1t has
fallen to the lot of few women to go
through as varied a career as that of
Mrs. Madison. She was brought up ac-
cording to the strictest rule of the
Quaker church In Philadelphia, and lit
tie Dolly Payne, tripping to school in
her demure Quaker bonnet and quiet
drab gown, was as different from dash
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-04-24

half-demented 2~0-year-old girl, a
mute. Her name was Melinda Synder,
and she was the daughter of Farmer
DAVID Synder, a resident of Liberty
valley. Several months ago the atten-
ton of District-Attorney Kell of Perry
county was brought to this case, and,
after careful investigation, he ordered
the arrest of Hugh Smith on the charge
or murder Information was made
against Smith before S. B. Trostle by
Elias Synder, a brother of the MUIR
dered girl, and Smith was taken into
custody by Constable Lewis Bistline
and District-Attorney Kell at his home
in Liberty valley, and taken to New
Bloomfield and lodged in Jail. He is a
man OF about 73 years Of age. When
the warrant was read to him he ex-
claimed: my God! This, after TWEEN
ty-eight yearsl" He then inquired If
another man had also been arrested,
adding: He had as much to do with
1t as l." Two days later John Shull,
a cousin of Hugh Smith, and Samuel
Smith, a brother of the prisoner, were
arrested and placed in prison as ac-
cessories after the fact.
Melinda Snyder, aged 20 years, was
a poor, half-demented deaf mute. She
was in the habit of wandering about
the neighborhood and spending much
of her time away from home. One
Sunday afternoon in March. 1869. she
disappeared from home, and has never
been seen since by her family. The
evening of the day of her disappear.
ance a saw mill in the neighborhood
to the ground, and it was sup.
posed she had set fire to the mill and
persisted in the flames. The recollec-
ton of the poor creatures sad death
had almost been effaced by time when
now it is again recalled by the start
ing and sensational exposures, which
to the arrest of Hugh Smith on
he charge of having most foully MUIR
Tered the girl, and with the aid of ac-
completes destroyed the evidences of
lis terrible crime by burning the body.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-04-24

' Col. John Hays pike County Bal
lads are being quoted in England just
10Y as showing what ann of man
is to represent us at st. James. If the
Briton expects to find in Col. Hay a
raw American, of the Joaquin Miller
type, who despises book larnin', he will
be mistaken. Colonel Hay has, so to
speak, lived down his early efforts
as a writer of dialect. He has in recent
years printed occasionally a poem in
conventional. English, not distinguish
able from quantities of verse which ap-
pear in American and English period
icals. But he is rarely or lever CLASH
fed as an American poet. He writes an
occasional piece" because he likes it,
but he belongs to the school of Glider,
Johnson and company, and is anything
but aggressive in what may be called
literary Americanism. 1t will be better
for the Briton not to think of Col. Hay
as a man of letters at all, but as a gem
tleman of culture, a polished man Of
the world, with a dizziness in affairs,
with high knowledge of public usage,
who has done nothing of consequence,
outside of his history of Lincoln, sim
ply because "it has not been necessary
for him to hustle"
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-04-24

tons and levees. She possessed a most
remarkable memory and never forgot 4
face or miscalled a nam "a faculty
which served her we'll when she herself
became mistress OF the White House.
IN 1910. Washington Irving, in one Of
his letters, describes Mrs. Madison At
this time as a fine, pretty buxom
dame, with a smile and a pleasant WORD
for everybody" Few ever came within
her sunny presence without being
charmed with her. and the natural
goodness Of her heart showed itself on
many an occasion.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-04-24

The statistical abstract of the United
States, prepared under the direction OF
the secretary of the treasury, and just
issued by that authority, has among its
many tabulated statements the follow
ing in regard to the decline in prices
of domestic iron. The figures cover
each calendar year from 1850 to 1895.
The quotations on No. l anthracite
foundry pig iron at Philadelphia in
1850 were $20.88; in 1854, $59.25; in
1887, $20.92, and in 1895, $13.10. Bar
iron, best rolled, at Philadelphia in
1850 was quoted at $59.54; in 1864 at
$146.4 AS; in 1882, $61.41; in 1892, $41.89 70.
and in 1895, $4,000, Iron rails, stand
ard sections, at mills in Pennsylvania
In the year 1850 were quoted at Sat- S;
in 1854 at s126; in 1873 at $76.67, and in
1882 at $3.50. Steel rails were not
made in commercial quantities before
the year 1sj7, and at that date at mills
in Pennsylvania were quoted at $166.
In 1873 they had dropped to $12O; in
1879 to $48.25; in 1880 they made a
jump to $3.50; in 1889 they had de-
clined to $29.25, and in 1895 to $24.33.
The best prices of wire nails per keg
of 100 pounds from factory. I. o. b. Chi
cago, in 1887 were $3.15; in 1892 they
had fallen to $1.49, and in 1895 had
risen to SLIGO. The ups and downs Of
these values are to be traced to vari-
GUS causes It is, however, noticeable
that the downward trend has been
more steady and less erratic.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-04-24
DON'T VERSUS DOESN'T.
Grammatical Oddities That Crate Upon
the Ear of Educated Readers.

the Ear of Educated Readers.
The subject of pronunciation has
been up for discussion a good deal
of late. The following regarding
don't and doesn't should be of in
terest. coming from the best authority,
says an exchange: Don't is like drop
ping the final g of the present partici-
pie, a vulgarity of people of culture.
Thackeray and Anthony Trollope con-
stantly place 1t, along with amt for
"am not" or lis not" in the mouths of
their highly bred characters. The late
prince consort used it. l recollect-
quoting from memory from his Life"
by Sir T. Martin-that, speaking of the
Princess Beatrice as an infant, the
prince wrote: ''She doesn't like IT,"
Other %corruptions are, or were, EN- for
them" Hawyut for Harriet" chawyet
for chariot" yallow for yellow" tos-
sci for "tassel," Lunnon for London"
Roome for Rome" goold for gold"
obleege for "oblige." The first duke of
Wellington, as / have been told. al
ways said obleege. 1t certainly does
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-04-24

Among the curious and suggestive
in a certain county in North
Missouri are the following: Red, White.
Blue, Green, Gray, Brown and Black
There are also Kings, Queens, Earls,
Dukes, Marquises and Lords. In ami
mated nature are to be found Wrens,
Birds, Crows, Hawks, and also Haw-
kins and Fowlers. Among quadrupeds
are Wolfe, Lamb, Lyon, Bull, Stier and
Redheffer. At one time in a county
in western Kansas there lived Red
wine, Sourbeer, Drybread and Pan
cake.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-04-24
Cool

In one of Nansen's first mighty
snow-shoeing expeditions, he entered
the Naerodal. where a~valanches come
crashing down as thunder and light
ming do in other places. In the bottom
of the valley, says tradition, the force
of the air-current has been known to
carry people from one side of the ford
to the other. Here, at G~udvangen. lies
a great stone which came leaping from
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-04-24

effectiveness of u gunnery. The shot
from one of the 8-inch turret guns of
the New York strikes within a few feet
of the target, a small mark that dances
on the waves. Had the target been a
torpedo boat, it would have been blown
to atoms.
The scene pictured represents a piece
Of exciting night service. The harbor
of Charleston is shut UP in close
blockade. The squadron is on the
watch for blockade runners. The ships
signal to each other by means of sky
rockets, that they may keep their dis
tances. Each ship, from its high, re-
volving search-lights, shoots out huge
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-04-24

CRATE upon the ear to hear don't used
for doesn't" and yet we find it used
in "Pickwick Papers, in the song
which Mr.. Wardle sings on Christmas
eve at the Manor farm, Dingley Dell;
And love that's too strong-why, it
don't last long,
AS many have found to their pain"
In East Anglia they say you don't
ought" and "he didn't ought which,
though true, is slightly ungrammatical.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-04-24

Marie Corelli is, according to q Lon.
don writer, a petite blonde, with blue
gray eyes, a short, rather aquiline nose
and quantities of fluffy, fiaxen hair, ar
ranged in curls over her forehead and
cciled becomingly round the back OF
her small and shapely head. She
dresses with Partisan elegance, and
when at home wears "a clinging bebe
frock of liberty silk, with turquoise
butterflies and emerald butterflies
pinned into the lace about the throat,
OF else trailing garments Of sheeny
satin and shimmering plush"
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-04-24

A London thief has been doing !
thriving business BY providing him.
self with a hook attached to a line
by means OF which he managed. from
the nat roofs, to secure bird caaas Win
their inmates, which he sold at great
profit on his investment.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-04-24

beams Of sinister and dazzling radi-
ance, which go feeling hither and thith-
er over the darkness of the waves. 1t
would be a lucky blockade-runner that
could evade the clutch of these gigan-
tic and ghostly fingers. Once revealed.
there would be small hope Of escaping
the fire that would be instantly con-
centrated upon the rash advepturer.
The Vesuvius undertook to slip out of
the harbor, and was neatly trapped.
In the war of the future, blockade-run-
ming is not likely to be a popular or
profitable enterprise, unless some great
advance is scored in the submarine
boat.-From the Illustrated Ameri-
cam.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-04-24

Since the first American warship set
out on her first cruise, American sea-
men have prided themselves on their
gun practice. For our naval triumphs
In the War of 1912 we have chiefly our
gunners to thank. In those great sea-
duels which astonished the world by
their outcome u gunnery quite out
ranked that Of our antagonists; our
guns were better served; they shot Of
tener, shot farther, shot more accur-
ately. The next s~ea-battle will be de-
cided, not by the weight of metal fired,
but by the weight Of metal that takes
effect.
"a good shot," then, has an interest
that is something far more than pic
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-04-24

Certain residents of the state OF
Washington recently discovered, grow
ing on the slope of the Cascade mount
aims, the most magnificent fir tree
ever beheld by human eyes. It tow
cred 465 feet in the air, wal "a feet in
diameter at the base, and not a branch
sprang from the noble column until
the height Of 220 feet was reached
The tree was perfectly sound in ever
part.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-04-24

A Montana legislator has introduced
a bill making 1t unlawful to sell a drink
of Intoxicating liquor on credit. Here
is an iconoclast indeed. Such a law,
rightly enforced, would create a drouth
in numerous localities.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-04-24

1t is proposed to make a farm Of
part Of Jackson Park, Chicago, that
the children Of the city may be taught
farming. This is a good idea. There
is a great deal OF farming land in
Chicago, and 1t should certainly be
titled, not only by the present gener-
alton, but by the one that is now grow
ing UP.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-04-24

BEAUTIFUL HOME OF PREsi-
DENT MADISON.
Where His Body Now Rests The Spacious
Lawns and Fine Trees That surround
h House-Madison's Experience with
His Overseer.
Especial letter.

||.. AL.
in the United States
from which can be
seen the homes Of
four Of its presi-
dents. That spot is
in Orange county.
Virginia, where,
standing on the
summit of a little
hill, one has within
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-04-24

The Victor (Colo) Times says, REV,
Mr.. L. is expected to arrive in Victor
this evening. He will o-~slpy the pull
pit Of the Rev. Mr.. M, whose broker
age business now Eequires his entire
time, rendering it impossible for him
to fulfill his duties as pastor" Rev.
Mr.. M. evidently believes in laying up
a few treasures also where moth and
rust doth corrupt.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-04-24

AS the late lamented mother Of the
Mikado Of Japan bossed her sons 500
wives, they are likely to greatly miss
their mother-in-law.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-04-24

THREE MEN ACCUSED OF MUIR
DERINO A YOUNG oIRL.
The Victim Was Demented and a Dear
Mute-Her Head Out Open with a
Hatchet and Her Remains incinerated
In "A Chimney.

UGH SMITH. John
Shull and Samuel
Smith, farmers re-
siding near New
Bloomfield. Pa, in
Perry county, have
been arrested for a
murder that was
committed twenty
eight years ago.
The details Of 1.-THE al
legged crime are un-
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-04-24

Sir j. Blundell Maple is the good
man who has given 100000 to a Lon
don hospital. The growth of this
sort Of Naples may well be encour-
aged.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-04-24

The Prince de Chimay offers to send
the princess her favorite poodle If she
will remit 1000 francs. 1t would really
be a kindness te the dog to relieve him
Of the society Of such a man.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-04-24

Over 10000 fruit trees were planted
in Otero county, Colorado, last ysar,
and 1t is expected that more than laO,-
900 will be planted this year.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-04-24

All we've got to say is that we are
sorry for that Brahmin boy who has
to tote the soul of the late Madam Bla-
yatsky around with him through life.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-04-24

At last accounts Sam Jones, who says
he is fighting the devil at Atlanta, was
sparring for an opening.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-04-24

II Is a mistake to believe that the
devil keeps the busiest in the slums.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-04-24

Commonly we say a Judgment falls
upon a man for something in him we
cannot abide.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-04-24

There is no more crucial test of a
mans piety than to have him chase his
hat in a wind storm.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-04-24

The poorest man may give as much
as the richest, II he will give all he IAN.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-04-24

INV MEXICO Has the Finest CLIMATE ii The WORLI
Evening journal., 1897-02-09
TOUR TO OLD POINT COMFORT
RICHMOND AND WASHINGTON.

A delightful personally-conducted
tour, allowing two days at Old Point
Comfort, one at Richmond and two at
Washington, will leave New York and
Philadelphia February 20 via the Penn
sylvania railroad This tour covers a
peculiarly interesting territory, the
quiet beauty of Old Point, the historic
monuments of Richmond, and the ever
interesting departments and institu-
tions of the National Capital.
Tickets, including transportation,
meals en- route in both directions, trans
fers of passengers and baggage, hotel
accommodations at Old Point Comfort,
Richmond and Washington, and car
riage ride about Richmond-in fact
every necessary expense for period of
six days-will be sold at rate of S35.O0
from New York. Brooklyn and Newark,
S34.00 from Trenton, $1,000 from Phila-
delphia. and proportionate rates from
other stations.