davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-12
ABOUT PEOPLE AND THINGS.

1t is declared by an aeronaut that wom-
ans voice carries three times as far as
mans.
Hoke Smith, former secretary of the in
terror, refuses to permit negroes to sell his
newspaper, the Atlanta Journal, unless they
are vaccinated
Joseph Mansfield, member of the Georgia
Legislature, says he will introduce a bill to
legalize poker playing in private rooms of
hotels or other places.
Former Governor Northen, of Georgia, is
a scientific farmer, and the butter from his
dairy is stamped with his name and eaten
by all upper-crust Crackers.
Rev. DR.. Theodore L. Cuyler, the Brooklyn
divine, once wrote to Thomas Carlyle ask
ing for an interview and received a char
aeteristic note in reply. 1t said simply:
Three p. NJ, T.. c."
Alexander Mcdonald, the former minister
to Persia. like all his predecessors at the
Shah's court, is a bachelor. The United
States, he says, does not send married men
to the court of Teheran, because the journey
is almost too rough for woman.
Archduke Joseph, cousin of the Emperor
of Austria, the other day assembled all his
former school-fellows at the Royal Burg at
Buda, where he entertained them at lunch
con. Fifty years had elapsed since the arch
duke, whose father the Palatine of Hun
gary, made him attend the public grammar
school, babe goodbye TO his school-fellows
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-12
SHREDS AND PATCHES.

In every parting there is an image Of
death.-George Eliot
1t is probable that golf is older than
man.-New York Press.
Laughing cheerfulness throws sunlight on
all the paths of life-Richter.
Good wine needs no bush," and a good
looking girl needs no mistletoe.-Puck.
If we saw the gilded side of the cross
first, it would be Ito cross.-Rams Horn.
His face as the face of an angel;'
accordingly they stoned him.-Ram's Horn.
When woman runs it is mean man
who will use his camera.-SomerviIe Jour
nal.
The testimony of a good conscience is
the glory of good man.-ThomaS a KEN
pts.
Our idea Of a chump is a man who has
his picture taken in the act of playing an
autoharp.-Atchison Globe.
I've never any pity for conceited people,
because 1 think they carry their comfort
about with them.-George Eliot
To get accustomed to trouble means that
you have learned how very little life is
worth living.-Philadelphi Times.
We never realize how little we can get
along with until we are forced into a. state
of lf-denial.-Philadelph Times.
Satan can't do much with happily mar
ried couple. To repeat trite platitude,
1.-The deuce can't beat a pair. Puck.
AS long as a man has an idea that he can
him just where she wants him.-The Bache-
lUc.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-12

no doubt find even their circumscribed
vations are far less narrowing to them
selves, it is safe to say, than to those who
read about them. Paul Leicester Ford's
Untold Love- is study of the morbid And
so they go, portraying tragedy to the ex-
clusion OF comedy from first TO last. Why
they do it is not clear, since the result is
neither realism nor art. Tragedy, because
it offers more incident, may be more invit-
ing to the pen, but comedy belongs in the
record of every life. The sun shines half
the time, and night is not always black.
Pure comedy unmodified by pathos would
not be acceptable alone, though it would
offer welcome variety but it is the proper
combination that discriminating readers
best enjoy, because they realize it's truth
fulness to nature. Every now and then it
is announced usually by some owlish writer
of solemn fiction, that the day of Dickens is
past, but Dickens had the rare genius to
know how to place lights as we'll as shad-
ows. and booksellers records show that his
stories lead all others, even at this day, in
the list of steady sales. Readers who might
like newer literature are forced back to his
because the modern fiction does not supply
their need.
There are a few writer's who, either
through temperament or wise delbera-
ton, do not encourage melancholy. What
ever may be said of Mr.. Howellss novels in
other respects, he has the saving grace of
humor. Anthony Hope and Richard Hard
ing Davis do not think deep thoughts, but
they are inspiringly cheerful Several wom-
en-, notably Octave Thanet and Mrs. Nc
Emery Stuart, see a bright side even to
the gloomiest situation, and set a good ex
ample to short story writer's. 1t has long
been a notorious fact that poets prefer mel
ancholy themes, and many persons decline
to read poetry for that reason. If it is to
come about that novelists also insist upon
gloom the demand for their work may also
cease and readers be left with no other
daily distractions than their newspapers
and their bicycles. The writers of fiction
should cheer up.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-12

at it's gates. Not many who were in the
same class with him are still alive, but all
those who are came at his bidding. They
represent almost all ranks in life, from a
major general To a saddler.
Lovers Of Defoe," says the London
Chronicle. will regret to hear that James
William Defoe-the last of the family and
the great-great-grandson of the renowned
authors still an outdoor pauper of the
Chelmsford Union, in receipt of the modest
pittance OF shillings week.
Baron Grunau, formerly German military
attache in Picking, has just returned via
Corea, Siberia and Russia, partly on horse
back. HIS life was in danger several times.
me most important circumstance in connec-
tio1 with his journey is that he has explored
the unknown parts of Corea with some thor
oughness
Gullible farmers, of Allen county. Ohio,
have been bunkoed by swindler, who went
through the country exhibiting an enor-
nous ear of corn, from which he sold
choice kernels at choice prices FOR seed. Inc
ear was made from several smaller ears,
carefully cut up and ingeniously glued to-
gether in the natural form of big ear.
The French Academy is to welcome new
immortal, in Andre Theuriet. This latest lit
erary star to be included in the galaxy OF
the famous Forty has been styled one
of the gentlest spirits that survived the
bankruptcy of rOmanticism" Theuriet eX-
GELS as a novelist in descriptions OF country
hooks and corners "of polite rusticity that
knows nothing of the delving laborers or
Zola's 'Lu Terre CThe Soil.')
Blanche K. Bruce the new register of the
treasury, was a slave in Mississippi before
the war, and when he was the senior
United States senator from that State he
procured federal appointment for his old
master, then impoverished, but with adj
mirable delicacy, he induced his colleague
in the Senate, the late Justice L. q. Z. La
mar, to father the appointment The eman-
cipated slave did not wish his former own
to know that he was indebted to his old
niger for means of livelihood.
The President writes messages
His intentions to proclaim;
Santa Claus sends no word at all,
But he gets there just the same.
Chicago Record.
want two drums
When Christmas comes;
(But 1 don't want states for dom sumsD
An a wagon load of sugar plums!
An big football, an a top that huns,
(But never a slate for dom sumsD
Oh, l just want lots when Christmas
comes!
Atlanta Constitution.
Some people think it great to be
The power behind the throne;
do not see it in that light,
I'm very free to own.
I realize now what it means,
And do SO with a will,
Since on the tandem with my queen
l pedaled up a HILL
Puck.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-12
CONTESTS OF PHYSICAL ENDURANCE

If the six-day bicycle race which has been
going on in New York has any redeeming
feature it is not apparent to casual observ-
ers. A test of physical endurance which
results in completely exhausting more than
twenty of the thirtysix contestants, making
one or two crazy and affecting all to such
an extent that doctors say they will feel
it for life surely has little to commend it.
1t would be as wise and sane test of en-
durance for number of men to hang sus-
pended by the thumbs or submit themselves
to being pounded by trip-hammer to see
which could stand it longest. 1t is related
of an ancient philosopher that when smart
athlete of the period boosted that he could
stand on one leg longer than any other per-
son living, the philosopher told him a goose
could do it longer than he could. Those
who have seen a goose stand on one foot
for an hour or more with one leg drawn
up out of sight, it's intellectual head inclined
little on one side and its sharp eyes fixed
as If meditating on some great problem of
life, may have thought it was engaged in
a test of physical endurance to decide
whether a goose is superior to a man or
could become through process of phys
ical training. 1t may be doubted if man got
beyond the monkey stage of development
and reached his present high estate by
evolution on that line. AS to the six-daY
bicycle race, the first impression of many
persons reading of the senseless contest
is to condemn the bicycle. That is wrong.
1t is not the bicycle that is to blame, but
the riders and the people who organize, en-
courage and patronize such contests If it
were not the wheel it would be something
else. Persons who wear themselves out or
ride themselves crazy in a six-day bicycle
race would find other ways to accomplish
the same result if the bicycle were abol-
ished Such contests are due in part to the
false notions regarding athletics and phys
ical sports which have come into vogue in
recent years, and in part to the morbid
American desire to make or break some kind
of a record by a superhuman effort entirely
devoid of healthy motive or purpose They
will probably continue in one form or an
other as long as human nature remains as
it is and there is no law against people MAX
ing fools of themselves.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-12
GLOOMY FICTION.

Whatever may be the purpose of authors
in writing novels it is hardly to be dis
puted that the great majority of intelligent
and intellectual fiction readers turn to that
form of literature for entertainment simply
and solely Primarily, they do not seek
moral teaching, general or specific informa-
ton, or new theories of any Sort though
they may be interested in such matters
when incidentally encountered. What they
are consciously looking for is mental recre-
alton or pastfme. Tired of the cares and
labors and worn by the stress and strain
of daily life they seek enjoyment and cheer
in the pages of romance. in the pictures of
life and conditions unlike their own, but
not unlike what they fancy their own might
have been under favorable circumstances.
That is, they like to find ideals in fiction;
either that, or enough of gayety to offset
whatever shadow the tale may contain. 1t
is precisely the same motive that takes
many theater-goers to minstrel or variety
show and leads them to avoid heavy trag-
edy-the light, cheerful entertainments lift
them for the time above WEAKNESS and per-
sonal anxieties. Instinct teaches them to
seek to balance the shadow of their own
lives with sunshine.
The readers who look for cheerful fiction
are likely to fare ill with this seasons crop
of novels and stories, for its leading char
acteristics are sadness and gloom. The re-
viewer whose unhappy fate it is to read
these stories needs to possess unusual pow
ers of resistance to such influences and
disposition of the Mark Tapley brand in
order to prevent drifting into melancholy.
For a dozen or so novels, with as many
volumes of short stories, ALI carrying the
impression that life is unrelieved misery,
or that if the sun shines it is only in riffs
through the clouds, are depressing to the
last degree. 1t is not necessary to specify
them by name, since so nearly all are in
this one particular properly classed to-
gether. From Hall Gaines preposterous
"Christian," which does not admit even the
rift in the dark clouds that overhang it, to
the latest collection of short stories. hope
lessness is the keynote 1t is not only that
humor is lacking, for humor is gift pos
sessed only by the few and its absence
may be reasonably though reluctantly, ex-
cused; it is the lack of proportion in the
distribution of light and shade that is the
chief defect. In spite of Mr.. Game, there is
ground for the belief that some social and
ecclesiastical virtues still exist and even
flourish in London. Mr.. Lush's Federal
Judge conveys the impression, as do most
political novels, that American public life
is controlled by the corrupt and unprin-
cipled-an error no American writer should
make. Mr.. James Lane Allen does not per-
NIT a smile to brighten the career of his
priggish hero, John Gray, and yet life in
the early days of Kentucky probably of
fered some compensations. So, too. Charles
Egbert Craddock's Tennessee mountaineers
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-12
CUBAN MAIDS AND NATIONS.
Strict Etiquette Observed in Their
- Relations with Men.
L III.
Ladies' Weekly.

Slender, graceful Cuban maids, with
smoothly-plaited tresses black as the raw
ems wing, large, lustrous, dreamy black
eyes, clear, pale complexion resembling the
waxen tint of the lily, have their pretty
heads filled with dreams of love before they
quit the schoolroom. Their peculiar train
ing, restricted sphere, as well as early ma
turity-fOr in the tropics a girl blooms into
womanhood in her thirteenth or fourteenth
turn~to love before they have discarded their
dolls, braids, and short dresses. The strict
watch maintained over the tender buds; the
cast-iron rules of etiquette which prohipit
them from too great an indulgence IN
athletic sports or outdoor life which a
Northern maid enjoys, precluding romantic
IDEAS and rendering her less susceptible to
the tender passion, which is fostered by
secluded existence, may be the reason why
Cuban girls look forward to matrimony as
a release from these :rkSOme bonds. The
romantic manner in which ccurtShlp is car
ried, on tends TO keep alive their illusions.
for lovers usually walk up and down before
their lady-lOve's dwelling like a sentinel on
duty, because they are debarred from call
ing on maiden until formally engaged,
and then they can only see her in the pres
ence OF the family or exchange tender moth
ings under the Argus eyes of a mamma,
who keeps strict watch over her offspring.
Many years ago no gentleman was per-
mitted 20 touch a lady's hand, but he would
bow deeply before ner, while nowadays
shaking hands is even more common than
among our own people. 1t used to be the
height of improperly for bride to be seen
until the expiration of eight days after the
wedding, and she would keep in strict Sc
clusion during that period. while now the
bridal couple do not shun society. One of
the customs still prevalent is that no gentle
man can escort a lady as far the next
corner, although his hair were snowy white.
If she were not member of his own fam
lily. However, greater intercourse with for
eign nations. more extended travel--tor Gu
bans are cosmopolitan-have tended TO mod
ify many Of their customs. There is a Pc
ctiliar feature IN Spanish law which favors
lovers Provided q sutton can support
wife no matter how low his social condi-
ton and how inferior TO that of the girl
lac loves If she is willing to marry him In
spite of her parents opposition he can APP
peal TO law the judge removes her from
her own home TO a friends house and the
marriage takes place. Divorce is unknown
in Cuba, because the Roman Catholic
Church does not sanction divorce, although
separation is allowable in extreme cases.
However, neither party can remarry until
death releases the survivor In accordance
with Spanish law no man attains his ma
iority until he Is twenty-five, and up to
that period he cannot marry without his
parents authorization.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-12


The following passages from Dun & Co.'S
review of trade, published yesterday, are
worth emphasizing:
The outward movement Of wheat and
other products continues so heavy that for
eign exchange has fallen three-quarters of
cent and instead of exports of gold,
which have marked December in recent
years, imports would come If gold were
wanted. The sudden rise in Decem-
Der wheat at Chicago to $1.09 would do harm
were it not based on avowed contracts to
ship some millions of bushels to Europe.
That fact and the continued foreign de-
mand in spite OF such contracts have helped
rise OF l12 cents here. Western receipts
for the week, 5,79S, I'll bushels, against 36s1,-
374 bushels last year and Atlantic exports,
including flour, 4,312.137 bushels, against
1915 Col last year, and so great is the for
year, far greater than ever before, is again
exceeded. S.3l30S6 bushels for the week,
against 3,0557S0 a year ago, with the price
nearly l cent higher for the week.
Construed together these statements in
dictate the existence sof general prosperity
based on conditions calculated to insure it's
continuance The large foreign demand for
wheat and the increasing expectation of
corn have caused balance of trade in our
favor, which is likely to increase for some
time to come. Instead of imports of gold,
which have marked December in recent
years." says the review, imports would
come If gold were wanted" The country
has all the gold it needs at present, and
as long as the gold standard is maintained,
if more is needed it will come. These con-
ditions are highly favorable to continued
prosperity.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-12
AN IMPORTANT VERDICT.

A verdict of far-reachinE Importance has
been rendered by a Wisconsin court in IA
vor of Mrs Julia Green, of Ashland, and
against the Ashland Water Company. The
suit was brought on the ground that the
typhoid fever of which her husband died,
resulted from drinking the water supplied
by the company. The verdict Was for $1,000,
and the suit is said to be the first of the
kind ever brought in the United States.
The case has been appealed to the Supreme
Court of wisconsin If the higher court
should sustain the verdict new and fruit
full field of legislation will have been opened.
1t appeared in the testimony that others
died besides Mr.. Green. The polluted con-
dition of the water supply had been noticed
by the Board of Health, and the company
had been informed, some weeks before Mr..
Green was taken i'll, of the condition of the
water The company did not take any pre-
cautions, it is alleged, to remove the source
of contagion or to secure purer water sup
ply. The expert testimony given at the trial
based it's theory of contamination on the
fact that the sewer deposited its contents
two miles above the point of the intake
in Ashland bay, whence the city water sup
ply was drawn. The expert believed that
the city water was polluted with the
bacillus of typhoid fever from this sewage.
The jury found as follows:
That Lars G. Green died March % 1894,
at Ashland, of typhoid fever contracted
from drinking water from the pipes of the
Ashland Water Company during an epidem-
lie of the fever; that the deceased had no
reason to believe that the water he drank
was impure; that the water company was
negligent of it's duty in not providing pure
water from Chequamegon bay, when such
could have been obtained; that the COM
pany knew that the water was contami-
mated and that the estate of Green had been
damaged to the extent IF Sc, 900 by his death.
The action of the Supreme Court of Wis
consin in this case will be awaited with
much interest, particularly by water COM
panies: Even if the verdict is not affirmed
the fact that jury, after hearing expert
testimony, has come to the conclusion that
a company is responsible for injuries sus-
tanned by patrons. and that the company
in question could have prevented the con-
tamnation of it's water, will cause such
companies to exercise greater care regard
ing the water they supply.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-12

The absurd idea of the giving of "tthes"
is still harped on before long-suffering
church people in some localities, and it is
still in measure effective. Many persons
are made to feel guilty and mean at the
thought that they do not give "a tenth"
of all they have to the Lord. There is
nothing more unjust than an unjust con-
science. 1t may be that even while those
people are feeling condemned over their
stinginess they are themselves giving ten
tenths of their earthly store directly to
the Lord. The man who has lived re-
specially and has family dependent upon
his labor and energies. who has hard work
to make ends meet" who gives his every
dollar for the feeding, clothing and men
tai and moral Improvement of his family,
and who, when he has managed to accumu-
late a small spare sum, spends it in beau
tifying his home or in giving some member
of the family needed recreation or other
form of pleasure, is giving his all to the
Lord, if there still be truth in the 'inas-
much clause. 1t is right to give to the
church and to missions, yet that is not all
the giving to the Lord that is practiced
among the best people-the common people,
everywhere. Too many things made
"a matter of conscience by people who do
not know that conscience is like a sensitive
child-the only way to keep from spelling it
is not to talk foolishness about it in its
presence.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-12

tn books firm Shakespeare to tn rayports
Nv tn drainage thrustees. no man. I
says, liver wrote a book II he had amy
thing to write about, except Shakespeare an
Mike Ahearn. Shakespeare was ali fright.
l niver r-read amy Nv his pieces, but they
Fright.
What did he say?" asked Mr.. Hennessy.
He took 1t all Fright" said Mr. Dooley,
He kind O. grinned an says he: What We
Books is fr thin that can't enJye thin.
silves in amy other way he says. If ye'er
In good health an ar-re atm three squares
a day an not ayether sad or very mucn in
love with yeer lot but just lookln' on an
not carin' a'-he said rush-'not carin' a
rush. We don't need books he says But IL
yeer a down-spirited thing an want to get
away an can't, We need books. 'Tis betther
TO be comfortable at horne thin to go to tn
circus an tbs betther to go 10 tn circus
thin to Tread amy book. But It's betthef
TO Tread book than to want to go to tn
circus an not be able to-, he says. 'Wen.'
says l, whin / was CROWN up half tn con.
gregation heard mass with their prayer
books TURNED upside down, an they were
as pious as amy. TIL apostles creed niver
was as con-vincin to me afther / larned to
r-read 1t as 1t was whin l cudden't read Il
but believed it, -
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-12

The near approach of Christmas is clearly
Indicated by the activity of advertisers,
whose business instinct leads them at this
period to select the best of all advertising
mediums, a frst-class newspaper like the
Journal Wise are they who do this the
year round, recognizing that trade goes on
forever, but those who do it sporadically
bear equal tribute to the efficacy of legiti-
mate advertising. 1t is the only kind that
pays, and it pays much better in a first
class newspaper like the Journal than in
any other
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-12

The Union League Club of Chicago, nav
ing mace arrangements, as mas Deen It's
CUSTOM TO hold a suitable series OF meet
lngs in the public schools on Washington's
birthday. the Socialistic Alliance has pro-
tested against it on the. ground that the
league is a representative body of rich men
ann that patriotism as taught by those
wnom rne league represents will make
children mere echoes rather than the think
ers the revolutionists of the future must
be-" Fortunately, there are not many peo-
pie in this country who object to the pa
triotism of George Washington.