davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-07-29

that after / was elected when he called
on me at my house, | said to him: My
dear boy, owe everything to you. If
/ can ever serve you in any way you will
find me as loyal to you as you have been
TO me in this contest
THAT is what | said 10 him. ! re-
member the very words. And yet, when
he needs an office which he seeks,
found myself sitting down in cold blood
and selfish political determination to
cut his throat and break his heart, for
the blow would have been a terrible one
10 him. He has perfect confidence in
my friendship for him. And yet that
is what was doing this morning, when
my conscience called me back. So far
as my intellectual processes were con-
cerned, the contemplate thing was ac-
complished. l had thought it all over
and concluded to take that course. Ii
vas mean thing, a mighty mean thing
to do, and I was Disguised with myself
and went out for a walk, and ended up
by going to church"
That is a true story. and illustrates
the assertion that all politicians are
selfish. OF course. it IS human 10 be
selfish, but in no walk of life is selfish
ness so apparent as among the politi-
clans. Moreover. they necessarily
evade the truth very often. In order
to keep themselves popularity before the
public, they smile and shake hands with
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 fulfill. and which they never intend
TO fulfill.
Politicians more than any other class
OF men regard seif-preseryation as the
first law of nature. They will not help
any man to prosper, unless by helping
him they help themselves. On the con-
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-07-29

trary. they relentlessly strike down
every man who seems to be in the path
way of their ambition.
Within the memory of all mature
men now living the whole nation was
rocked and wracked because of the
cIashing ambitions of two men. pres
ident was used as p tool for the ambi-
ton of one man and the undoing of the
other. The senate in the national cap
itol was made a scene OF strife which
would disgrace gathering of quarrel
some village gossipers. Two members
of the senate resigned their positions
in anger. The vice president wrote his
resignation of his high office, but was
persuaded to tear it up and remain in
his position for political reasons. Later
on he became president. In that high
office he declined to do anything tangi-
BILE for the men who had made his high
advancement possible.
Both of the struggling politicians are
now in their graves. The president has
been dead for a number Of years. The
vice president, who became president.
is also beyond the vale which separates
time from eternity. But the recollec-
tions of that dreadful time when this
entire republic was reeking with Grim
nation and recrimination are still
fresh. The two politicians were de-
termined TO destroy each other. They
nsed this nation of freemen as a shut.
tleeock. Their struggle of lifetime
ended with the destruction of their am
billions, and both of them went sor-
rowfully to their graves, their splendid
careers reeling with the miseries Of
disappointed ambition.
1t takes but slight effort of MEM
ory to recall another outrage commit
ted for the furthcrance of one mans am
bition. There was in the senate man
who had served his country with excep-
tional ability, and against whose name
there was never 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 score years and
ten, and his intimate friends observed
that his mind was becoming unbal-
anced because of his loss of memory.
He remembered the things of long ago,
but he could not remember from day to
day the occurrences in puolic 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 arose upon the po-
litical horizon man of great force of
oharaotar who was am bitiouc 70 sro 20
the senate. The venerable statesman
stood in his way. He had no DISPOSE
ton to retire, and did not realize that
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
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-07-29

versed all the habits and in
stincts of a lifetime for the sake of
giving pleasure to others. and when he
believes that his native town is ringing
with the praise of his generous conduct,
it is hard that ms wife should offer him
lavender.
He reached Hull's just as the propri-
etor was shutting up shop for the
night. He was greeted with ianguid
hospitality.
"You, William said Ebeuezer.
Lord! you didn't come back to pay for
that soda water, did you? Why, that's
no consequence"
"Yes, thought / would" William an
swered, little crestfallen. II thought
/ wouldn't let il go over" He drew out
his wallet and began to unstrap il slow
ly. How much will il be?' said he.
WELL" DOenezer pondered, yawning,
lets see. There was the two Fishes,
and Joe and Will Connell, and the city
Teller, and Stu Wilson, and Billy Scott.
Seven in all. That'll be 25 cents, ]
guess"
William gazed for a moment, open
mouthed, bewildered. Then without a
word he laid down one of the i've bills
he had brought, received the change and
I left the store. Once out in the street,
he took off his hat, mopped his face
with his handkerchief, and let the night
wind blow through his hair.
When he reached home, his customary
manner was so far restored that Melissa
said nothing more about the lavender.
Il guess his walk done him good, said
she TO herself.
In silence he wound up the clock,
brought in an armful of wood, and lit
/ the bedroom candle. lie never again re-
ferred to his spree.-Lippincott's Mag
| aZiue.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-07-29

election to the senate. The other fell
low l need also. but he is not so strong
a man politically; so ! concluded to
drop him, and let him get mad if he
should choose TO do so. Having set
tied this matter, | lighted a cis n and
proceeded to write my recommends
ton of the man whom had decided to
appoint, but didn't finish the letter.
Somehow, all of us politicians are
cold-blooded enough to cut man 5
throat, but this time my conscience
scorched me. l could not get cut of
my mind that young man whom had
decided to turn dCwn. could not
erase from my memory the fact shat at
a critical period in my career he secured
five votes for me in the legislature. and
j needed that many votes to elect me to
the senate. If he bad not helped me
there would be some other man here in
the senate who might treat him with
more consideration. l could not forget
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-07-29
uak,ng Arches IN Tgrlxev

At Bassora, where they have no tim
Der, but the wood of the date tree,
which is like cabbage stalk. they make
arches without any frame. The mason.
with a nail and bit of string, describes
n semicircle on the ground, lays his
bricks. fastened together with gyp-
sum cement. on the lines thus traced,
and. having thus formed his arch ex-
cept the crown brick, IL is carefully
raised and in two parts placed upon the
walls. They proceed thus till the whole
arch is finished. This part is only half
q brick thick, but il serves them to turn
a stronger arch over it.-Chicago Chron-
sle.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-07-29
HONE COMING.

When 70 the dear old home and those who
love us
We come from wandering. how sweet II Is
TO feel the shelter o. its roof above US.
TIC clasp warm hanGs. and meet each vel
coming kiss,
Then We lock around and see the dear old
We hear the voices loved in other days.
And memory fans the embers gray with
Untn the fires Of friendship are ablaze-
20. welcome, weIcomer' every voice IS
saying.
While kindliug eyes are meeting. brimmed
with tears,
And "wslcome." all the echoes seem re-
peating
To send the cadenc. down the coming
years
Then We sit down and talk the old times
over.
And not a heart am snE US all is old
AL unaware we've found youths long
sought fountain.
Ana drink The 1raught of which old
dreamers toll-
But ~ ana by silence falls upon US
Something Is near US that ..e cannot see.
Have those who climbed the hills Of Heav-
IN before US
Come back to-day. 10 sit with you and
me7
love to think the oId-;ime friends are
with us
That earthly friendships thrill their true
hearts yet
Would Heaven be Heaven II loved ones
were forgotten
In earth or Heaven I could not forget
II f. not very far-the world they went to.
Since earth and csyen are sundered by
a sod
Across the distance OF low grave only:
And they remember in the word Of God!
aye. they remember. There Is no forget
ting
For thOsee who know the endIessness of
love.
Lift NJ your eyes when mfe's last sun IS
setting
10. Memory's star shines in the blue
above.
So while the living round the old hearth
gather.
Greet We the unforgotten dead. and say:
"How fares a.. friend ~ old? Since love
remembers.
Clasp hands with as across the grave
to-day
--Eben f. Rexford. IN y Y. Christian Ad-
vOCate.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-07-29
FACTS FOR FARMERS.

Flax is very exhaustive TO the soil.
Insure your buildings against cy-
clones.
Shallow cultivation Of corn should be
the rule.
Drainage will greatly increase the
value of wet ground.
Roots cannot penetrate subsoil that
is as hard as stone.
The silo will enable the farmer to
keep more cows profitably.
In sections where cyclones are likely,
a storm cave shows wisdom.
Spare the harrow in the early stages
of corn growth and spoil the crop.
The hired man should be gentle
man among the children in the home.
In sections outside the corn belt corn
can often be proftably grown for the
silo.
We do not like the barbed wire fence
and would not have one, while other
fencing can be had.
lay caps are a good investment.
They will in a wet season pay for them
selves very quickly.
Eighty acres. intensiyely cultivated
are better than 100 acres under the too
often loose system of fsrming.-West-
ern Plowman.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-07-29
WANTED HER MONEYS WORTH.
Something Lacking from Her Re-
pair Kit.

Anyone who had not seen the woman
with an angry eve wobble Just before she
dismounted from her wheel would have
taken her for an experienced rider; hero
inc of century runs. She strobe with ma
jestic confidence through the store, and so
impressed another woman that she forgot
herself and let the newcomer be waited on
first
Il suppose" she said to the clerk, that
i looked rather new at bicycling, and you
thought that there wasn't very much use
Of bothering about me, because L Wouldn t
know the difference, anyhow.
The clerk assured her to the contrary,
and said he was sure there was some mlslIil-
derstanding.
There was a misun arstanding," she an
swered. Il understand that when ! bought
this repair kit | was getting all that re
pair kit ought to contain"
Certainly" he answered. Isn't it all
right?"
Didn't you expressly state that it con-
tanned everything mat would be required
for repairs in an ordinary aceident:'
Eyes"
And I bought it with that implied guar
antee, didn't II"
"Undeniably, You did"
"And If things didn't turn ont Just as you
represented them it's your business TO make
good the deficiency"
i suppose SO.
"All right. There's your repair kit. You
can either put in a paper of pins and some
sticking plaster, or else give me back my
money. Washington Star.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-07-29
CHANGES WROUGHT BY TIME.
Not So Noticeable when Relatives
See Each Other Daily

"There ought to be a law that families
shall live in communities, and cot 60 strag-
Cling apart to the ends of the earJn," said
the woman who was reading letter in the
car to her friend who accompanied her;
"What led to that remarks. asked her
friend; anything in that letter:
Yes. 1t is from my sister Amy, whom |
have not seen since she went west. That
was Is years ago. She writes me that her
hair is perfectly white and she weighs 30
pounds more than she did when / last saw
her. As she only weighed 100 then, she will
not be immense now, but | think OF the
change. A slight, fragile young woman Of
a fairylike physique and the lovellest BLACK
hair-Why, she IS simply another person.
but she would have changed as much II
she had stayed here, in all probability, said
her friend, trying to comfort her.
YES but the change would have been so
gradual that | would not have noticed u.
Now / seem to have two sisters, one with
coal black hair and one with snow white.
One is a stout, healthy, middle-aged won.
an, the other a dreamy-eyed romantic girl
whose waist ! could span with my two
hands. Probably her face Is lined with
care and her character changed as much as
her features"
"What of YOURSELF" inquired the friend;
"has time stood still with your
"Is Myselfy ] never thought OF that.
Yes, | have changed, too, and no doubt Amy
will be as much disappointed IN me as l will
be with her But that gives another argu-
ment in favor Of families keeping in touch.
Or if that is not possible then let them re
main separate or as strangers. There is
enough OF the pathetic IN life without these
shocks OF reunion.
And she thoughtfully folded her letter
while her friend looked out of the car win
dow and was silent.-ChiCag0 Times Herald.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-07-29

On a quiet thorOughfare off ST.
Charles avenue there might have been
seen during the heavy rain the other
afternoon a shaggy Newfoundland
dog carrying a spread umbrella in his
mouth, his dripping tail sticking out
from under and wagging complacently.
Investigation revealed the fact that
there was a little girl under the UNI
brella with the dog, her tiny arm
thrown around his neck, and the two
tripping along most amicably. My
name is Marie" said the little maid.
upon being questioned, land Beaury
goes to school with me. go to the
kindergarten. you know, and he al
WAYS carries the umbrella if it's rain
ing. because l can't. you see, and he
can" And the big umbrella sheltering
the two friends passed on.-N.o. Times
Democrat.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-07-29

William. For Is years he had gone to
the Corner every week to do the little
household trading. lie started com
monty at half-past seven, and could lie
seen coming down the road on mrs way
home as the clock struck eight.
But tonight eight o'clock went by,
the quarter-hour, and still no William.
Melissa stood by the window, gazing
anxiOusly down the road. At last she
made up her mind 10 set her yeast, and
then. if he did not come. to walk down
to the village and see what had become
of him.
/; was just a quarter of nine when the
gate clicked sharply, and a quick, I'M
familiar tread sounded on the walk.
The next moment the door opened and
William burst in. His manner and APP
pearance startled Melissa even more
than his absence had done.
''FOr the land sake, William, what's
happened?"
William stood on the dOor-mat, facing
his wife. His eyes shone. lie tried in
vain TO repress his happy excitement.
vt last. with an almost boyish whoop.
Melissa" he said. Il want you should
get me out five-dollar bill"
well, I declared" said Melissa.
She took her hands out of the flour.
dried them. and sat down weakly in a
chair.
The truth is" William continued.
I've been on a spree, Melissa. \ kind
Of a debauch. so to say. I've been treat
in the boys down to HuIl's. Who2 Let's
see. There was the Fiske boys, and
VIII Council and Joe, some friends of
theirs from the city, and | don't know
who beside; half the town was there
] give 'em an eyenin' they won't forget
in a hurry. And now" he added, pre-
tending TO draw long face. I've got TO
square up. I s'pose. Never mind; II
amt often you get chance TO give as
much pleasure as that. I'D "a done
il IL Id had TO mortgage the farm.
That's what I said TO myself when I
saw them all standin' round so pleasant
and cheerful and happy. III do it,
says IL have to mortgage the farm.
Melissa, with dazed look on her face,
took down the old pocketbook and
counted out five dollars in silence. VIII
liam transferred the sum TO his own
wallet. and went on describing his ad-
venture with a ioquacity tat bOrdcred
on enthusiasm. Melissa regarded him
from time TO time with anxious side
long glances; she had gone back to her
mixing. At last she said. in a worried
tone: Don't you think, William. you'd
better take little lavenderY'
NO" said William. but I'll tell you
what will do. I'll SO down and square
up with Ebenezer right now. I don't
want that debt should stand"
"Landl" remarked Melissa; Its close
on 10 ten o'clock"
u don't care" said William. Il guess
he won't be shut up. I'D rather not let
the account stand over"
He took his hat and went out. The
truth was, be found Melissa's mood de-
pressing. When a man has made m
portant sacrifices IN tie interest ~ his
fellow beings. when kc has re-
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-07-29
MEDICINE BAGS.
Those of the Indians Always Contain
a. Sacred Powder.

sacred Powder.
The medicine bags of Navajos, Zunis.
and Apaches, all kindred tribes in New
Mexico and Arizona, contain a curious
powder, known as corn-pollen, or hod-
dentin. This powder, which is the
pollen of rush, and also maize, APP
pears to be used as a medicine, being
eaten by the sick and put on the head
or other parts to ease pain, but prin-
cipally as a sacred offering to the sun
and moon, and as a sanctitier of every
thing. A pinch of it is thrown toward
the sun and then toward the four winds
for help in war or the chase. is put on
the trail OF a snake to prevent harm
from it, placed on the tongue of the
tired hunter as a restorative, hung in
bags round the necks of infants as
preservatiye, and sprinkled on the dead.
In fact, every action of these Indians is
sanctified by this powder so that, as
Capt Bourke writes in the ninth volume
of "The Report of the Bureau of Ethnol-
ogy" (Smithsonian), plenty of hod-
dentin has come to mean that a particu-
lar performance or place is sacred.
Capt. Bourke shows many analogies
TO the use of this sacred powder. both
in the east and among the ancient
Greeks and Romans, and il is clear that
similar practices with regard to 'medi
cine"-that is, magic-have prevailed
everywhere and in all ages, for supersti-
ton seems to be the universal heritage
of man, so deeply ingrained in his very
nature that all the efforts of philoso-
pliers and thirteen clubs" will not avail
TO root il out. Medicine bags or amulets
will continue to be worn openly or Sc
cretly, not only by the wild Indian and
the kalfir, but by many among ourselves
who cling to the beliefs handed down
probably from remote prehistoric ages.
Chambers journal.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-07-29
FARM AND GARDEN.
WHEN HOGS ARE RIPE.
How Jerry RusL Obtained Some VAL
uabIe Information.

now Jerry husk unnamed some VAL
liable Information.
Gov. Rusk happened to drive over the
state line once in Minnesota, looking
at the farms. He was particularly
struck with one farm, on which he
found everything in first-class order,
and. riding up to the house, inquired
the name of the owner, when a tall Ger
man came out and gave his name as
Theodore Louis.
what do you regard as the greatest
wealth-producing agency in agricul-
ture?' the governor asked him.
The hog" was the sententious re-
ply.
upon what DO you base this state
mcnt?"
HE lifts more mortgages than any
thing else"
The conversation which ensued de-
veloped the fact that Louis had once
been what is called an all-wheat farmer.
and kept constantly sinking into debt.
He decided that something had to be
done quickly or there would be very
little left for Louis, so he decided to
try the hog. The first year be made
little money, the second year he made
more, and then he became thoroughly
interested. The result was that he be-
came recognized as a great authority
on hogs. His neighbors took up his
example. and mortgages began TO be
lifted, until finally there was not one
on record against that community.
How long would you keep a hog?"
asked Gov. Rusk.
Il would not keep him-I would kill
him"
"When?"
''When he is ripe"
"When is he ripe?"
'When he is fat"
Wouldn't it pay to keep the hog for
two or three years?"
Il tried that once" said Louis. L
took hog in the fall and weighed him,
anu | took my corn and weighed it,
When spring came the corn was all
gone and the hog weighed about what
he did in the fall. That Mace me say
next year that would kill my hogs in
the fall and save my corn"
How much does it cost to keep
hog through the winter?"
Three dollars"
How many hogs winter in Mime
sota?"
Zone million. have just looked al
the auditors report"
do you mean TO say that we lose
S5,000,0O0 a year in wintering our
hogs?''
Yes; that's what you DO. fyou kill
them all in the fall will you have left
in your cribs 100000 worth of corn to
sell. "-AtIanta Constitution.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-07-29
a DEAD SCIENCE.
So Argues Southern Writer, Who
Sees No Chin from IL.


Sees No Gain from 1t.
Although in our day the appliances
for astronomical research have been
multiplied and perfected until they
are to the imperfect appliances of the
past what an electric light is to tall
low dip, it seems proper to ask of what
value is the extension of astronomy to
the world? What is this science now
accomplishing for mankind, and why
is there any occasion for the eXpendi-
ture of fabulous sums of money for
prosecuting a study which seems al
ready to have accomplished about all
that is worth accomplishing Isn't
the astronomical record virtually COM
Plete.
Astronomy seems to us TO have
reached standstill. The secrets of
the solar system have been thoroughly
revealed. At least nothing of any prac
teal value to the inhabitants of this
planet remains to be discovered. We
know all the planets of the system, and
perhaps all of their satellites. A new
asteroid may be found every now and
then, but it doesn't make any differ
ence to the inhabitants of the earth
whether any more asteroids are added
to the collection or not. We are told
at times that the star gazers have found
a new star way over yonder and too far
off to be of any use to US in our business,
or that we will soon be able to see
comet with the naked eye, or that
cluster of nebulae has been hailed in
the vicinity of Ursa Major. Yet, what
is all this to Hecuba? AS matter of
fact, the finding of a new star beyond
the human vision is of no more concern
to us than the picking up of a pebble
on the beach.
The science of astronomy occupies
a position not unlike that of dead
language. It's history reads like ro-
nance and will always necessarily form
a part of the educational system. The
results obtained will always be factor
in human wisdom, but astronomy can
hardly be considered progressive. 1t is
the dead language of the sciences.
Yet ii may have a future. Mankind
has always delighted to indulge in
speculations concerning the question
whether or not the planets are in
habited. If astronomy should find a
way to solve this problem and establish
communication between Mars and the
earth, for instance, then it might be-
come once more a living science. At
present, however, the activity of the as
tronomers seems the most futile of all
scientific OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Com
mercial-Appeal.