davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-12-08
Take JOHNSONS
CHILL & FEVER
TONIC

Remember we are Headquarters for Toys
and Xmas goods. T. G. Scsffe Sept. %.
Remea Der we handle more Stoves than any
other dealer, and can afford to give you tei-
ter bargains. T. s Scaffs. Sept. %
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-12-08
The PerpleZing
WHAT TO BUY FOR Z,MAS2

We are again to the front with the
largest display Of everything suitable for
the time-honored custom Of giving Hol-
iday Presents.
We have you know resident buyer Greater New York.
the greatest business center of this country who always
the alert for something with which to surprise and
please you.
Our prices previous sales full guarantee that we
have the advantage having regular New York buyer
joyed by no other firm in this locality
We have time space give you, and talk about sell
ing at this of the year. Our prices
previous sales also evidence Of what do.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-12-08

crooks, l5c.
Salmon, soc dos; Oysters, lib. cans, soc
doz
Pickles, pit bottles, soc dez.
Sugar, Lard and Bacon at Low Prices
Dukes Cigarettes, ss.e5 per 1000 10 rkgs
Cycle Cigarettes free with each 1000.
Cycle Cigarettes, So; American Beauty Gig
arettes, 81. .e5 per 1000
Good Cigars, $40 per 1000, or so for soc.
Old Virginia Cheroo,s, $3.50 per 1000:
4 lbs. Dukes mixed Tobacco ee.
Old Glory Cheroote, Sl4 per 1000; ] nice
lamp free
Three Ra,ter, Cheroots. sll per 1000;
Dukes mixed Smoking Tobacco, 28c 10.
Bst e.Ax plug Tobacco. 23c 10.
Ncnacs and Lemon Crackers at &c lb.;
Nike, Cakes, l-2c 10
Ginger Snaps and Soda Cakes at 4 Lee lb.
Can ship Crackers from factory delivered
at above price
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-12-08

We would be pleased to have you call and send
us your orders which will have prompt attention
Yours truly,
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-06-16

hand, and the thin, cold, clawlike fin.
gers rested on my crown. Staring
straight into my eyes, he turned my
head back and forth. first to the right
and then to the left, while my body re.
manned motionless. While doing so be
muttered something which must have
been in a foreign language. for could
not catch the meaning of a word. was
too young to suspect it at the time, but
those tiny, penetrating eyes noted every
thing My soft, dark, curly hair, my
strong. regular teeth, my clear com,
plexion, slightly freckled, the shape Of
my face, the features, all were observed
with the keenest possible scrutiny.
Then he pinched my arms and legs,
doing so with persistency that caused
me more than one twinge of pain.
"Now you may take your seat.
The big chair creaked round on its
pivot, and the professor faced his vast
desk, covered with huge volumes, whose
backs were worm eaten and whose pages
were yellow with time. He took down
the middle volume and opened and
fumbled it for a few minutes. l saw
his gaunt forefnger running along the
lines and down the page, while the
scrawny neck and bent shoulders stopped
forward as he pcercd at the written
words before him.
Suddenly the claw stopped. He had
found the right place. l could see his
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-06-16

unworthy son become known to me.
She had spent her last penny, depriving
herself Of almost the necessities of life,
for the sake Of giving me an education.
My self reproach was at my own
blindness in not suspecting this sad
truth, so as to check it. But it was done,
and it was useless to repine over it.
Graduated, we'll groomed, and with
the appearance Of a young gentleman
with surplusage Of means, 1 had not
500 that l could call my own. Nor did
I know which way to turn or what to
do to obtain more.
"And yet something must be done
and that very soon," bitterly unused,
as I sauntered down Fifth avenue on
that glorious May morning. "There
must be plenty of openings in this great
city. can become q clerk, student OF
law or" grimly reflected, II could at.
tain the position Of the boss porter Of
the metropolis. That would be case
where the exercise Of my strength would
be necessity. AS q last resort I will
fall back on that.
My musings took new turn.
IT studied boxing in college and ac'
quired fair knowledge Of it. Why mol
become teacher Of the art in some
gymnasium? When I put on the gloves
with one more skillful than myself,
can knock him out with one firt"-
My breath almost left me.
For scarcely 100 yards away, on the
same side Of the avenue, and sauntering
toward me, I saw
My doublel
Professor Gorgensen was right. I was
not the only reincarnation Of Samson,
at least so far as appearances went.
Here was second. Dressed more fash
ionably than I, he was yet my perfect
counterpart.
He recognized the fact, and returned
my wondering stare with as profound
amazement as my own. Our eyes were
never once removed from each other,
and, when we came opposite, we invol'
UNFAIRLY paused and extended our hands.
"Who are you? What is your nameP
I managed to ask.
my name is Westcott. What Il
yours?" he demanded.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-06-16

mitted himself to nod in travelling in
the Piute country, and every man took
an extra armament along with him.
Once when rider had quit work, it
was absolutely necessary to get rider
out on the line that day. I happened
to be at the Busin Canon station in
Nevada when the rider quit.
"Bob, the express must 20 through
today, Indians or no Indians" said
II, addressing Bob Ellison, a brave
fellow twenty-one years of age, who
had never seemed to know what fear
was in the express service. I'll give
you fifty dollars extra to ride the two
stretches to Camp Fuller"
Now Camp Fuller was two hundred
and eighteen miles to the east, and the
rider had to pass through a locality
where he might run into six or seven
hundred war-painted Piutes, just wait
ing for a man like pony express
rider.
"Well," said Bob, quick as flash,
although knowing as we'll as I the
chances he was taking, "I'll 60 you for
fifty dollars"
In moment he was up, and having
armed himself with extra care, flung
himself into the saddle, and with the
express pouch across his back, was off.
He rode thirty miles and then changed
horses, and then on twenty-five miles
more. 1t was moonlight night, and
when he reached the second relay sta
tion, it was vacant and no one about.
Out in the sage.brush he found the
boy who had lived there with his
father, dead, with his scalp taken from
his head. Bob pushed on 80 miles
farther, and there found all we'll at the
third relay station. The father had
gone there for help, and while he was
away the Piutes, who had evidently
been watching the station, had killed
the boy and ransacked the building.
In that ride Bob Ellison covered 21S
miles with six horses. One Of them
carried him 70 odd miles on run.
Those beasts had wonderful endurance.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-06-16
THE FAST PONY EXPRESS.

The Sd OF April, 1869, was great
day in St. soseph, Mo. On that day
the fast pony express between that
point and Sacramento, CAL, began
business, after two years of prepara-
ton. The distance to be covered was
1000 miles, and the country was OF
itself the most difficult imaginable,
while the natural dangers were heigh-
tened indefinitely by the presence OF
hostile Indians. Relay stations had
been established, riders engaged, and
the promoters of the enterprise were
full of confidence, though people in
general had been slow to believe that
the scheme was practicable. The
New York Sun recently printed a long
and interesting account of the incep.
ton and progress of the work, and
from this account we borrow part of a
statement made by General David
Peck, one of the founders of the ex-
press, who is now living in San Ber-
nardino. .
The most remarkable rider we had
on our express line was Bill Cody,
since famous as Buffalo Bill. He was
a young strip of a fellow when he
worked for US, and did not weigh over
los pounds. He was known all over
the plains even then as the toughest
rough rider in the west. His regular
ride was 112 miles every other day
through Nebraska.
One day, when he had dashed over
his stretch, he found that the relay
station had been attacked by Che
venues, and the two men at the station
were dead in their tracks. Bill saw
indications that the Indians were some
40 miles ahead, but that did not deter
him for a moment. He mounted a
fresh bronco, and rode on for another
night and part of day.
He rode 2S4 miles without stopping
to rest for more than the regulation
two minutes at change of horses.
He averaged 16 miles an hour from
first to last, so you can see how ne
must have travelled. We gave Bill a
good watch for that work. l have
never heard the equal of that for hard
and fast riding. Not one rider in a
thousand could endure such a strain.
The most exciting experience we
had in the pony express days was in
the fall of 1861, when the Piute In
dians went on the war-path for some
grievance against the government In
dian agents, and were out for the blood
of every white man that they could
murder.
Half of our experienced bronco
riders in Nevada and Utah quit work
Immediately after the men at one OF
the relay stations had been killed and
scalped. We raised the pay of the
men along that route to $3.50 month,
but even that was no inducement for
many good rough riders to 60 to work
in the hostile region.
You can be sure that no rider who
did stay with the company ever per-
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-06-16

lips moving, as some persons 10 when
reading to themselves. My mother and
I silently watched him, afraid to speak.
I stealthily sought her hand and slipped
mine within it. The warm, hard fingers
closed affectionately over the chubby
ones Of her only son, as if she would
shield him from some vague, shadowy
peril.
Finally the professor slid each hand,
palm upward, underneath tho covers OF
the open volume and with quick flrt
closed it. wheeling on the instant so as
to face US
II found il" he said, shutting those
thin lips together as if to imprison the
all important knowledge.
"And who is he?"
Before answering your question, /"
he said impressively, punctuating each
sentence with a dip Of his forefinger,
"let me warn you, young man, to keep
this knowledge a secret so far as you
possibly can. You are going to have, if
you have it not already, most remark
able gift, but you must not exercise it
except in case of necessity. If you do, it
will probably pass from you. Mrs. West
colt, when you go home, you will read
the thirteenth chapter Of Judges, and
in the twenty fourth verse you will find
q statement Of the birth Of man Of
whom your son is to be the exact repro
duction. All that is known Of that fa-
nous character is told in the following
three chapters That's all. Good day. !"
Notwithstanding my mothers ankle
ty to learn my horoscope, as it may be
considered, she first sought out the refer
ence which bore upon Professor Gorgen-
sen himself. 1 think she suspected it,
for she was smiling when she glanced
down the page Of the we'll thumbed BIZ
BILE to the verse the professor had named
and which told of the birth Of Solomon,
the son Of David.
Then she hunted out my own in the
second book of Samuel
In me was born once more Samson,
the strongest man that ever lived
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-06-16
WIVES ON TRIAL,

The Andaman Islands are used as q
penal settlement for Indian and Bur-
mese convicts, who with the exception
of a very few of the aboriginal race
scattered over the group, form the bulk
of the population. The chief COM
missioner of the Andamans, who
is also superintendent of the con-
vict settlement at Port Blair by virtue
of the almost autocratic authority
vested in him, enjoys a despotism we'll
nigh incredible under the British flag.
AS superintendent of the settlement,
in convict matrimonial matters he is
supreme. He is licenser, registrar,
parson and witness rolled into one.
The greater part of the life convicts
who are good characters are "self-sup-
porters"-that is, men out on ticket of
leave in the settlement. These men
are allowed to marry. The convict
women on the other hand, are always
kept under close supervision in the
female convict Jail.
When the "self.supporter" is trou-
bled with hymeneal aspirations he
visits the female Jail and informs the
overseer. The latter individual orders
a parade of those women of good char
acter who have completed four years
in the island. The would-be benedict
then passes along the ranks with
view of selecting likely helpnate.
As might be expected, very eager are
the faces and loving the glances be-
slowed upon him as he does so. While
the overseer's head is turned the wo-
men engage in every variety OF
pantomimic efforts to display their
qualifications for the post.
Should the overseer absent himself
for q moment the coveted bachelor is
assailed on all sides with view to his
conquest. Such phrases as "Here,
take me! !" "No, me !" "Why, she's
got red hair !" "She's cross.eyed? ?"
do not make matters easier for him.
At length having suited himself, he
takes by the hand the lady of his
choice and leads her from the ranks.
The couple are then allowed half an
hour in which to discuss matters, af-
ter which, if they agree, their names
are sent into the head office. A. day
or two later they attend at the COM
missioner's, and are there put through
an examination as to the state OF their
affections and their inclinatiohs to
marry; but no awkward questions are
ever raised concerning possible exist
ing husbands or wives beyond the seas.
And now comes the climax. Sup
posing satisfactory answers have been
given as to their mutual sentiments,
the lady is handed over to the man,
not to become his wife for better or
worse, but for a seven-day's trial.
During these seven days she lives with
him, and the relationship of the pair
is that of a married couple.
At the expiration of the term Of ap-
proval, if both are agreeable, they re-
turn to the chief commissioners office
and are married by that gentleman.
If, on the other hand, either of them
does not approve of the other, the man
is left to 90 his way, while the women
returns to her old routine of work in
the female Jail.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-06-16
Mistellausous 8eading.
OLD HICKORY'S WAYS.


General Armstrong, assistant com.
missioner of Indian affairs, thinks that
Andrew Jackson was one of the great,
est men this country ever produced
and has number of stories which
we're told by his uncle who was an in.
innate friend of Old Hickory. One OF
them is very characteristic of the man.
Lewis Cass, secretary of war, was
over at the White House one day with
some important papers for the presi'
dent to sign, among them being a court
martial findings.
"Cass, what is this ?" inquired Jack.
son as he was about to write his name
to the document.
"It is a court martial" answered
Cass.
"What have I to do with it?" asked
the president.
"It dismisses an officer from the
service, and the president must sign
orders"
Jackson toyed with the paper and
said musingly "Dismisses him from
the army, eh? Why9"
drunkenness; getting drunk and
falling down on parade or something
of that kind" answered the secretary,
"Who ordered the court?" asked
Jackson.
General Scott" answered Cass.
"Who is it ?" inquired the president,
with more interest.
"Inspector General Kraun, replied
Cass.
"What!" shouted Jackson. "My
old friend Kraun Cass, just read
what that paper says"
The secretary read the usual form OF
the court martial sentence in such cas-.
es. The president then took the pa
per and wrote across the bottom where
he was about to sign his name:
"The within findings are disapprov-
ed and Colonel Kraun is restored to
his duty and rank"
He passed the paper back to Secre-
tary Cass and said, with his usual ve-
hemence:
"By the Eternal, Cass, when you
and Scott serve your country as we'll
as that man has you can get drunk on
duty every day."
A young man from Tennessee, son
of a friend of General Jackson's, came
to Washington for place. He looked
about and found what he wanted. 1t
was in the war department and filled
by very efficient Whig, whom Secre-
tary Cass would not remove. The
Young man told Jackson the situation,
and Cass was sent for.
"Cass," said the president, "this
young man, son of my old friend, says
you have got a place in the war de-
partment filled by Wing which you
won't give him."
Secretary Cass explained that the
duties of the Office were of peculiar
kind, and he could get no one to fill
the place if the man now in it should
be removed. Jackson fared up.
"By the Eternal, Cass, do you mean
to tell me you have an Office in your
department filled by a Wing which
can't be filled by a DemocratP Then
abolish the Office ~
The young man got his place.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-06-16

GOOD MAXIMs FROM THE KEY
sToNE.-A well-known banker says he
owes his success to observing the good
advice of an older friend, who told him
to keep good company or none. Never
be idle. Cultivate your mind. Make
few promises. Live up to your en-
gagements. Keep your own secrets.
When you speak to person, look him
in the face. If any one speaks ill OF
you, let your life be so that no one will
believe him. Live within your income.
Small and steady gains bring the kind
of riches that do not take wings and
fly away. Earn money before you
spend it. Never run into debt unless
you see sure way to get out of it.
Never borrow if you can possibly
avoid it. Do not marry until you are
able to support a wife. Never speak
evil of any one. Bejust before you are
generous. Save when you are young
and enjoy your savings when you are
old.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-06-16
VERSATILE LAWYER. - When

A VERSATILE LAWYER. - When
Judge Parsons was practicing lawyer
he was once employed to plead two
cases in court which were precisely
alike, but in one he was engaged for
the plaintiff, in the other for the de-
fendant. 1t happened that both cases
were tried the same day. He spoke
for half an hour to the first jury; the
case was given to the jurors, and they
had retired. When he appeared before
the second jury he made use of very
different arguments from those en-
ployed by him before, Of which the
court took notice, reminding him that
he seemed to have changed his tune
and repeated to him what he said
few minutes before. Mr.. Parsons fix
ed his keen eye upon the judge and
replied: "May it please your honor,
might have been wrong half an hour
ago; but now I know 1 am right"
He proceeded, and when the jury re-
turned, it was found he had gained a
verdict in both cases.-Lewiston Jour-
nal.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-06-16
WHO'S w H8 ?
BY HUGO ST. FINISTERE, M. D.

If the two reproductions of each other
belong to different races
"They would not be exact reproduc-
tions. You missed the finest point Of
my beautiful and exact theory. My CAL
culation includes color, race and all pre-
vious conditions of servitude. Now, ap-
plying the truth I have discovered, it
follows that at all times every man and
woman in the world has 10 or II per-
| feet doubles somewhere else in the
world. There are ut this moment some
where among the Caucasian race fully
ten women exactly like you in looks,
age and disposition. Your own hus-
band Or that stupid looking urchin at
your side could not distinguish them
from one another.
"Oh, myr' gasped my mother, look
ing apprehensively around II hope
none of them will move into my neigh
borhood.
ut isn't likely that you will ever
meet in this world Have no alarm.
Following my reasoning, all these dou-
bles are but repetitions of doubles that
existed generation ago, and so on
through the past centuries
"Then thousands of years since there
were rsons living who were exactly
like me and some who were exactly like
you?''
The professor nodded his bald head.
He was pleased that one woman could
appreciate the wonderful symmetry OF
his logic.
"If we could only know about those
persons, she added musing!y.
"To some extent we can Of course
the majority died and passed away
without leaving any record behind
them, but we have the history Of some
of them.
A strange smile lit up the wan face
of my mother.
GAS for me"-
"There is no record. All such women
were too insignificant to say or do any
thing that entitled them to remem-
brance."
"And with you?"
at is different 1t did not take me
long to find out the historical parsonage
who is reincarnated in me.
"Dare ask, professor"
"You read your Bible. ! presume?
Daily"
"When you 60 home, turn to the
twelfth chapter of II Samuel and i'll the
twenty-fourth verse you will find the
account of the birth of the man who is
reproduced in this nineteenth century
in myself. Of course our environments
are different, and our lives necessarily
vary, but my features, my frame, my
brain. my disposition-indeed every
thing in our nature and looks is the
same to the shadow of hair.
Wonderful, wonderfully exclaimed
my awed parent. II will be sure to
look it up as soon as Ireach home. But,
professor, I brought my son with me. l"
"What for?"
II wish you to tell me what person
Of the past he resembles.
Those spectacles, like twin locomo-
tive headlights, were now focused
upon me with strange, hypnotic pow
er. I could see the small gray eyes
twinkling like points of fire, while he
seemed to look me through.
"Come here, sir, he growled with
out stirring limb or feature.
I slid off the high chair and, summon
ing my courage, sidled up to him.
whats your name?"
Harmon o. Westcott, sir.
"How old are you?"
hesitated a moment, during which
my mother announced that was in my
eleventh year.
II want the exact date Of his birth.
She gavei it He reached out his right
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-06-16
TO BE CONTINUED.


the world are the Koran of the Mo-
hammedans, Tri Pitikes of the Bud
dhist, the Five Kings of the Chinese,
the Three Vedas of the Hindoos, the
Zendavesta of the Persians, the Eddas
of the Scandinavians and the Scrip
lures of the Christians.
The Koran is the most recent OF all
dating from about the Seventh centu-
ry after Christ. 1t is compound OF
quotations from both the Old and New
Testaments, and from the Talmud.
The Tri Pitikes contain sublime
morals and pure aspirations. Their
author lived and died in the Sixteenth
century after Christ.
The sacred writings of the Chinese
are called the give Kings" the word
"kings" meaning web of cloth. From
this it is presumed they were original
ly written on FIVE rolls of cloth. They
contain wise sayings from the sages
on the duties of life, but they cannot
be traced further back than the Elev-
enth century before our era.
The Zendavesta of the Persians, next
to our Bible, is reckoned among schol-
ars as being the greatest and most
learned of the sacred writings. Zoro-
aster, whose sayings it contains, lived
and worked in the Twelfth century
before Christ.
Moses lived and wrote the Penta-
teuch 1900 years before the birth OF
Christ; therefore that portion of our
Bible is at least 800 years older than
the most ancient of other sacred writ
ings.
The Eddas, semi-sacred work OF
the Scandinavians, was given to the
world in the Fourteenth century,
Missionary Review.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-06-16
SoGiat Aariruura and Commercial Sntress of the South
O., WEDNESDAY,, JUNE 16, 1897.

That was TIC list and indeed the first
time we ever held such conversation.
Six months later my beloved mother
was laid away to rest, and I was alone
in the world.
1 had been graduated from college
and the world was before me. Not un-
til my sainted mother was gone did the
full measure Of her self sacrifice for her