davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1897-08-05

Those who make no use or the teegraPh con
stitute % per cent of the total population. is
this % per cent TO be taxed In order that the
Federal Government may buy the plant and operate
it, just TO give lower rates to the per cent VINO
pa tronize the telegraph? Ii would require an out
lay of at 81 80 capita for the Government 10
own the telegraph THE News would welcome
cheaper tolls but not at the expense of principle
which touches palpably the foundation OF the Gov
ernment under which we live.-Vaiveston News.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-06-12

IF by the blessins of God the cards
would all come my way so that / mought
live on and on for a hundred years to
come, Rufe, the hair-raisin recollections
If one orful night would forever keep
me on my own side of the road and the
female generation on the other" Nat
Stevens went on to say, whilst great
drops of perspiration broke out on his
face till he was sweatin like free mig
ger en- election day.
"Hit was on a Saturday, and l had
been off down on the creek fishin and
foolin around all day long. As for me,
was nothin more than yearlin boy
then, but | didn't mind stayin out late
and sometimes, in a case of pushency,
sleepin out-of nights. l had heard
stories in the main time-stories on top
of stories-about ghosts and spooks and
sperits. you understand. But they
didn't have no terrors for me. Raley
don't believe was skeered of anything
On the earth or under it at that time
exceptin female people-anything and
everything that wore fly bonnets and
frocks and dresses and the like. Comm
home that night passed right along by
the meetin house and graveyard at FL
vrirn's Best and didn't so much az
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-06-12
One More "Strange Child.v

1t was so I couldn't be there that day
when they had singin and slow walkin
at Pilgrims Rest, and consequentially
! don't know for certain where they put
Antny Stevens down. But from the
Internal fitness of things it would seem
TO me like he ought to sleep side by side
with old Misses Longmire-which she
was one more of them strange children
which the sons and daughters of man
kind have been raisin up in this present
day and generation.
What was the matter with old Misus
Longmire? Nothing much, only she was
left a poor lone wilder when she was
time somebody put out a tremendous big
scandalation about her. Inever did know
anything for certain in regards to
what was said or who said it. But
the wilder she helt and maintained
that it was Matched up by the forked-
tongued women of the settlement. And
henceforwards and forevermore after
that she never spoke single mortal
word to any livin female human bein
under the sun. She was passin friendly
with the men folks, and one of the most
kindest and patient souls in the created
world to boys. But she did naturally
hate anything in the shape of woman
kind. She was even mean and spiteful
to the girls, sayin how they would all be
women by-and-by.
Thus and so the Wilder Longmire
lived the remainin days of her life out,
and it was only after she was dead and
gone that some of the good women of
the settlement slipped over there and
fixed her up for the funeral.
"Hit takes a whole passle of various
and sundry different sorts of human
people to make up this vain and fleetin
world" says Andy Lucas to me oncst
upon time, land let me tell you, Rufe,
I'll be d;,dblamed if we ain't got EN-"
And in regards to men and women
and people and things, Andy Lucas
most in generally always wabbles
around mighty clost to the bulls eye.
RUFUS SANDERS.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-06-12
WIT AND WISDOM.

-Tom-"Is Maude's hair golden?"
Ted-"No, it's plated. Yale Record
Young Playwright-"And what did
you think of my climax?" Gritic-"It
was very welcome, brooklyn Life.
Margaret always reads the end of
novel first" "Wby?" so she can nc
awake at night wondering how it be-
gan. n-Chicago Record.
-Yabsley-'"Did you ever make mis-
take in the dark and kiss the wrong
girl?' Mudge-"No. have got mixed
in the dark and kissed some other girl"
Indianapolis Journal.
apprehension. The Professor
"As a matter of fact, there are different
dialects in different parts of Scotland"
Friend-"Great Scott! Are there more
counties to hear from ?"-Truth,
-"Dah ain much use o sufferin' in
silence" said Uncle Eben; seems like
if dis worl picks out anybody fob 'er
victim, it amt gwinter to be saterfcd
till he hollers. "-Washington Star.
-"How did they stop the elopement?'
asked Maud. "By detestable piece of
triekery," replied Mamie; cher father
put his head out of the window and
shouted that her hat was on crooked,
and when she grabbed for it she upset
the tandem. Washington Star.
Once upon a time two cows reclined
peacefully beneath tree. "0h, by the.
way" one of the COWS remarked casu-
ally, why was it, if | may ask, that you
didn't chase those golfers yesterday"
"Oh, don't care to be the cause of little
calves being made to suffer. Detroit
Free Press.
How long is it going to take to get
through with this ease?s asked the
client, who was under suspicion of
house breaking. well" replied the
young lawyer, thoughtfully, It'll take
me about two weeks to get through with
it, but I'm afraid it's going to take you
about four years. Washington Star.
1T seems to me that you can be de-
pended ON to say the wrong thing more
than any other man that | know"
What have | done?" "Insulted the
Bliggens family" "Why, [ tried TO
compliment them" You said that
their baby, who hasn't any hair, looked
exactly like its father" YES" well,
Bliggins is insulted on his own account,
and his wife is insulted on behalf of
the baby" indianapolis journal.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-06-12
None of His Business.

Philosophers, lazy men and Turks
have many qualities in common. So, at
least, it would appear from the reply of
a Turkish pasha to the British minister
at Constantinople, who had asked for
information concerning the population
and trade of certain province.
"Illustrious friend, JOY of my iver!"
the pasha's letter began. 1.-THE thing
you ask Of me is both difficult and use
less.
although have passed all my days
in this place, have neither counted the
houses nor have I inquired into the
number of the inhabitants; and as to
what one person loads on his mules and
another slows away in the bottom OF
his ships, that is no business of mine.
30 my soul! o my lamb! seek not
after the things that concern thee not.
Thou contest TO us and we welcome
thee; go in peace.
"Of a truth thou hast spoken many
words, and there is no harm done, fer
the speaker is one and the listener is nm
other.
after the fashion of the people thou
hast wandered from one place to an
other, until thou art happy and content
in none."-Youth's Companion.
The mean temperature 81 Greece Il
81 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-06-12
1.-THE Mainest Missin Link.o

For the past 30 years, or maybe q
little the rise of that, / have tried my
level blamedest to make old man Antny
believe that calico amt pizen and women
wouldn't bite. But BY gracious up to
his last dyin day he never learnt the
lesson. That was the mainest missin
link in the makeup of that strange and
pecurious man. He never could mix
with the female generation any at all
scarcely to speak of.
Now, | have seen the time when no
body wouldn't believe that Antny
Stevens was afraid of any Twin creepin
thing that trod the face of the discov-
cred earth. | have seen him hold his
hand in many rough and tumble fight
over at the Cross Roads. l have seen
him many and manys the time in rale
clost places where nothin but brave
man could stand, and he never flinched
nor fickered nor fell back. He fit plum
through the war and followed the flag
of his country acrost the trenches on a
hundred battlefelds. OF my own indi-
vidualy self l do know that Antny
Stevens had nerye-great scads and dead
coolies of it. l have seen him bet his
pile and win the pot On pair of two
spots. But little as you mought think
it, he would run from a woman like you
would from a loose bear or a stack of
catamounts.
Honest to God, Rufe, do raley wish
4 = "
the old man use to say when l would
git right clost in behind him, "but
faint no use in talkin-I jest simply amt
got the nerve sufficient to face the mu-
sic and go forth amongst the women
folks. My mother was the onlyest wom-
an | have ever spoke word with since
| was horned into the world, and l had
started to runnin wild before she died.
She was the onlyest woman-the onlyest
female human bein-at our house, and
| recollect till now how she use to try
and try and try to break me from them
wild and slittish ways.
IF ever any of the women folks from
the settlement around come to our
house in the way of company l would
simply run away from home and hide
out and scout around till they went
away. Sometimes | mought maybe slip
in through the kitchen window and
steal my dinner, but manys the time /
have went all day long without mouth
full TO eat-and me a CROWN, healthy
boy, forever and eternally hungry at
that. And if it come to pass that the
visitin women folks tarried around and
remained over the night l would stay
out on the scout. Maybe mought steal
in the house when everything got still
and take n nap, and then slip out before
breakfast the next mcInin. But more
than oncst have slept out in the fod-
der loft or under the hay stack ruther
than run the chances of meetin with
strange women folks.
"Mind you now, Rufe, l wouldn't try
to say that the women folks amt good
and nice and perfectly all right to them
they suit. But it never did suit me to
tarry around with them, and it never
will You say calico amt pizen and
women won't bite. ! don't know any
thing about that. Ireckon maybe you
know and am more than willin to take
YOUR word for it, But / can't face the
music, Rufe, and faint no use in talkin.
The female generation are too many for
me-"
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-06-12
where did all the money come

'Where did all the money come
from?" l inquired.
From u small beginning-from one
little mill, and ii did SO well that others
soon followed. Northern manufactur-
ers of machinery were attracted there
and took one-third of the stock and
paid for it in spindles and looms-and
have made good money and are con-
tent. Some Charleston money is there,
too. These mills have made from ten
to twenty per cent. for several years,
and keep on making it, and these ma
chinery men up north will do the same
thing for the people of Gainesville or
any other southern town that is healthy
and well situated. They only wait to be
invited. The Piedmont region of South
Carolina is now the New England of
the south. Even the young men and
young ladies of good families in their
towns are not too proud to take po-
sitions in the factories. They are book
keepers, typewriters, correspondents
and superintend in some of the de-
partments. and earn good, honest
money. just think of it, what revela-
ton! For many years we have supposed
that the state was nearly worn out
and her young men would have to ac-
cept Greeley's maxim, go west young
man, go west" but not so. Northern
South Carolina is richer to-day and
more prosperous than any portion Of
Georgia. Anderson has nearly doubled
her population during the last five
years. New stores, new dwellings, new
churches, parsonages and a fine pub
lie school building have gone up, new
courthouse is projected, and all this
comes from the cotton mills. 1t does
seem as though the cotton we grow
should be spun and woven at home.
My last visit was to the old historic
town of Edgefield-a town almost re-
tired from the public gaze, but one
that has always felt proud of its pres
tige as the domicile of more great men
than any in the state. McDulle lived
here, and Gov. Piekens, and the Buffers.
and Rhetts. and Garys. and many 9th
ers. The Tillmans live here, and was
the honored guest of one of them. The
nobility have no better manners than
mine host and hostess, and it is rare to
find n handsomer eouple.-Bill Arp, in
Atlanta Constitution.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-06-12
WHITE.INSIDE.
A Touching Tribute to the worth of
the Abyssinian Women.


the Abyssinian Women.
Maj. Camera, who was made pris-
oncr at the battle of Adowa and whose
hair turned completely white with his
sufferings while in Abyssinia, has pub
lished book giving an account of the
ten months of his captivity. He pays
feeling and genuine tribute to the Abys-
sinian women. The Ethiopian woman
is obliged to work hard all day, hewing
wood and drawing water, grinding the
grain and preparing the household food.
To the men is reserved the task of
sewing and weaving, which they are
very clever at. The customs of the peo-
pie are quite patriarchial, the head of
the family being often like sultan in
miniature, with small harem of slaves.
The legitimate wife, if she protests at
all, does so meekly, as women, even in
that part of Africa, are considered lit
tie better than beasts of burden, and the
Copt religion as it is understood, espe-
cially among the Amhara, has not the
power to raise her from her state of
inferiority. Maj. Gamberra paints a
picture truly touching of the tenderness
to suffering and the charity and self
sacrifice, which are not found in isolated
cases, but are generally among these
downtrodden souls. He speaks of GER
tain Kongeitu, an old and ugly woman,
who was an angel of charity to many of
THE prisoners, but especially to the
major. She shared their sadness, she
gathered and prepared the primitive
medicines of herbs used there, and when
she saw them depressed, used to cry
"Agari! Agari!" Qtaly! Italy) add
ing that Menelik was good and would
free them. When she understood that
in Italy there were mothers, wives and
sisters weeping for them, she began to
cry, and they in turn We're the com
forters. The first woman Maj. Camera
met was when his feet were all cut
and bleeding, owing to marching with
out shoes, so that he was in extreme
pain. Sellas, poor slave of Ras Workie,
seeing his sufferings, took the white
linen she wore from her head, divided it
into two pieces and bandaged his feet.
This was an act of real sacrifice, as such
a piece of linen in Schoa and Goggiam
Is precious treasure. 1t was all the
more wonderful that n slave should
make such a sacrifice for a stranger,
and he captive. After ten months the
day at last came for Maj. Camera to
leave for Italy. He rose early and went
to take leave of his true friends.
Kongeitu was i'll. She showed herself,
and really was glad at his liberation;
but when the moment Of parting came
she could not conceal her bitter grief
Pail Mall Gazette.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-06-12

like some people have been raisin up
mighty odd and curious children in this
present day and generation of the hui
man family-which the same old man
Antny he was one of whom. For COM
mon and in general way he was right
tolerable good man, but the machinery
had jumped a cog somewheres when
Antny Stevens come Either from the
whence. Sometimes | have thought it
mought be that he was horned at the
wrong time of the moon, or maybe way
along in the dark nights of August.
But anyhow, somehow he was the most
strangest piece of human flesh amongst
all the odds and ends of creation so far
as | know.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-06-12

There IS said to be only one pearl
farm in the world, but that pays its
proprietor handsomely. This farm is
in the Torres strait, at the northern eX
tremity of Australia, and belongs to
James Clark, of Queensland. Mr.. Clark,
who is known as "the King of Pearl
Fishers" originally stocked it with
10000 pearl oysters. Now 1900 men
200 of whom are divers-and $50 YES
sells are employed in harvesting the
crop. 81 have been Is years engaged in
pearl fishing" Mr.. Clark told CORE
saondent of the Melbourne Age. MY
experience has led me to the belief that,
with proper intelligence in the selection
of a place one can raise pearls and
pearl shells as easily as one can raise
oysters. | started my farm three years
ago, and have stocked it with shells
which / obtained in many instances far
cut at sea. My pearl shell farm Gov
ers 500 square miles. Over most of
it the water is shallow. In shallow wa
ter the shells attain the largest size.
| ship my pearls TO London in my own
vessels. The catch each year runs,
roughly speaking, from 6 10000 worth
up to almost five times that amount
Rochester IN. Y. Times.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-06-12
WOMEN DON'T BITE.
"And Calico Amt Pizen," Says Old
Rocky Greek.
But Antny Stevens Never Learnt tn q
Lesson-SOme People Raise Up
Strange and Curious
Children.

There was singin and slow walkin at
old Pilgrims Rest graveyard over in the
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-06-12


in peace and in the graveyard, and they
couldn't poster me. ! didn't have no
fears of anything dead. Hit was the
Twin things that shook my hand and
made me feel weak and wobbly in the
knees.
THE old folks they had went to bed
when l got in home that night. The
dark was particlar thick and heavy,
but slipped in the back way and waded
through it as best could, and sneaked
off to bed. When | next woke upi was
way long past midnight and towards
day. The moon was shinin pale and dim,
and what do you reckon | saw, Rufef
Right there before my eyes ! saw a
woman, or female critter of some
sort-settin there in big rockin chair
with fly bonnet on, as still as a post
and as silent as the sainted dead.
didn't say nothin. Nobody didn't say
nothin. Not drum was heard, not a
funeral note. But yet l could see the
bundle of female garments there in the
chair with a fly bonnet on as plain as
| can see my hand before my face in the
broad open day time.
Nov, man, sir, if any poor white boy
ever suffered all the stings and terrors
of secont death, whilst yet in the
full blush and bloom of youth and
health, it was me. Hit wouldn't do to
jump and run for the door. She would
be dead certain to head me off
couldn't jump out through the win
dow from the fact that the dad blame
female thing was settin right slap kerr
dab betwiXt me and the window.
could feel the cold sweat bust loose all
over me, whilst my hair riz up and
stood out every way for Sunday.
didn't say blame thing out loud, but,
Rufe, l do reckon | prayed the most
fervent and outprayinest prayer that
has ever went up from mortal lips to
the throne of grace. Hit was tremen
dius hot and sweltry night, but COW
cred up, head and foot, and waited with
fear and tremblin to see what was com
in next.
Well, by hokeys, when finally at last
9d1 liSu Ctllit anu ptCDtu lOli vi "
see what had went with the female
thing-then what do you reckon l saw,
RUFF? Not a durn thing but mothers
old ALPACA dress there in the rockin
chair, and her last years fly bonnet
hangin on the top round. She had
hung the things there by the window to
sun the day before, and forgot to take
'em in when night come.
Il have slept sound and peaceful the
night before the battle, Rufe. l have
slept the sleep of the just right out
amongst the dyin and the dead. But
as yet / never have went through with
anything that ever put me in mind of
the mortal terrors that ransacked my
soul on that orful night, when thought
some female critter had caught me in
her trap.
"Taint no use in talkin, Rufe. AS
for me-Antny Stevens-I wouldn't
harm a Twin human bein a purpose,
and l don't say nothin in particar agin
the women folks. But betwixt me and
all female human things there is dead
line which I will never cross"
And old man Antny Stevens was good
as his word. After the old folks died
he lived for years right there at home
by his lone self, cooked his own grub,
sewed and washed and patched his own
clothes, and kept clost to his own side
of the road. The machinery had slipped
cog somewheres, and he couldn't
help it.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-06-12

The mean temperature 81 Greece Il
81 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-06-12
THE FIRST BALLOON.
story of How the Wonderful Airship
Came to he Invented.

The word balloon means "a large
ball" To Montgolfier, of Annonay,
France, the invention of the balloon is
credited. 1t is said that he was led to
turn his attention to balloon making
from the following incident:
A French laundress, wishing to dry
a petticoat quickly, placed it on bas-
ket work frame over stove. prevent
the heat from escaping by the opening
at the top of the petticoat she drew the
belt strings closely together and tied
them.
Gradually the garment dried and be-
came lighter, and as the stove contin-
ued to give out heat and rarely the air
concentrated under the basket work
frame, the petticoat began to move and
finally rose in the air.
This so astonished the laundress that
she ran to her neighbors and asked
them to come and witness the strange
sight Montgolfer was among those
that came in. The petticoat suspended
in midair suggested greater things to
him, and he returned home with some
thing to think about"
He at once began studying works on
different kinds of atmosphere, and the
invention of the balloon was the result.
The first public ascent by the Mont
golfer balloon was made June 5, 1898. 1t
was spherical bag, consisting of pieces
of linen buttoned together, suspended
from cross poles. A fire was kindled
under it, and the flames were fed with
bundles of chopped straw.
The loose bag filled out, assumed n
graceful form, and in a short time was
completely distended. AT given signal
the stays were slipped and the balloon
instantly assembled. Its velocity ac-
CELEBRATED until it reached some height,
then became uniform and carried it to
an elevation of more than a mile.
For ten minutes it remained suspend
ed, then fell gently in vineyard, near
ly two miles distant from the place Of
its ascension.
The first Adventures to make an
ascent in balloon were NJ. Pilatre de
Rozer and Marquis L'Arlandes. In
the basket Of balloon they on No
yember 81, 1883, rose to a height of
about 5000 feet-Philadelphi Times.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-06-12

"Beans?" said he in reply to his
hosts question whether he would have
some. NO, thank you. l never eat
them"
Il thought you were from Boston,
80 / am. | was born and raised
therein. y. Journal.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-06-12

It was before an Irish trial justice.
The evidence was all in, and the plain
tiff's attorney had made a long, elo-
quent and logical argument. Then the
defendants attorney took the floor.
"What you doing?" asked the justice,
as the lawyer began. Going to pre-
sent our side of the case" 81 don't want
to hear both sides argued. 1t has a
tindincy to confuse the eoort." So tho
defendants lawyer sat DOWN.. \.
Post.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-06-12

hills country one
day last week. And
when / heard the
news in full and got
all the facts in the
case it come to pass
that old man Antny
Stevens had thrown
his hand to the pack
and quit the game
onost for a. Hit
20 Low caapnc To mo