davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-18
Execution in Alabama.

BIRMINGHAM. December H.-Bud
Beard (colored), aged IA years. was hang
ed at Carrolton, Pickens county, to-day.
Rear feloniously assaulted the Swear
old daughter OF Ben. Croker, an Ala
hama farmer, I'm December.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-18
exchange for womnn's Work.

The Board OF Managers Of the Exchahse
Sor Woman's work met at their rooms az
noon, Mrs. virginius Newton IN the cnai =;
Reports read were very encouraglhe.
was decided to keep the rooms open ua 49,
& p. M. during the coming week LOT sns
convenience OF people doing Chris''i"S
shopping.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-18
Pay Your City Taxes.

The Office of Collector Cunningham Is
being kept open every night unuI
O'clock for the convenience of those who
have not vet paid their city taxes. AFTER
December slsts the delinquent list wiz
bs published, and all who have not PAID
win be included therein
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-18

DR.. Collins, the popular physician Of
Highland Springs, has returned from
New York with his fair bride, and they
have received most cordial congratula-
tfona
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-18

Why suffer with asthma, when the Ia
nous Dr. Bulls Cough Syrup wiz cure
your
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-18
RIcr,monders I'm New York.

Rfchmonders sn new fofks n
NEW YORK, December n.--tSpecial.) -
III. C. Rumeth, Fifth Avenue; e. 8. Scott
and wife, Bartholdi.
The herald., 1897-10-17

are as careful about exposing their
limbs to an immodest degree as the
most ardent moralistS could desire. The
concensus of opinion seems to be that
a woman looks much more dainty,
graceful and in all things feminine in
a skirt that comes to a few inches above
her ankle than IN those baggy affairs
that are termed bloomers or even the
divided skirt.
Mr.. Place Is perfectly capable of
speaking for himself and here Is his
statement, exactly as he wrote 1t, which
is prepared expressly to show that at
least there is one minitser who combines
with his task of leading his flock in
the way they should go that of also in
stilling into their minds at least the
rudiments of that invaluable commo
dtty known as common sense:
Il have never said that I do not con-
slider short bicycle skirts immodest
abbreviated skirts, however, are not i'm
modest. In fact, 1t goes without saying
among observing and cultured people
that the skirt so popular among this
class, reaching to about three inches
above the ankle, is not only more cor.-
veuient for bicycle riders but makes a
much better appearance as we'll
at is mock modesty that asserts the
shocking appearance of a lady simply
because her ankles appear unincum-
bered by Haunting skirts in a breezy day
to catch the dust and become entangled
and soiled so as to be really unpreserta =
BILE. Her escort wears knee breeches
and nothing is thought of it. We say he
does ii for convenience sake The lady
possesses the right. all her own. to so
The herald., 1897-10-17
CHURCHLY NOTES

Recent statistics show that the mate
rial condition of the churches of the
United States Is one Of prosperity There
was on the 1st Of January, 1895, a grana
army of church communicates in this
country of ours amour ting to the vast
number of % ,995 016. officered by 10000
ministers, and having III 800 places of
worship, and possessed of property val
used at over the splendid sum Of $780,
900, 900. AS the growth Of these churche :
in numbers and wealth has been steady,
we may assume that their present mate
rial status presents stiff more crafty
ing exhibit Of prosperous strength and
activity. Except to the accountant or
mathematician, figures as a rule convey
but little Information, and in stating the
numerical strength of some of the many
religious denominations amoug us, We
can only impart a proximate idea oil
their real power and influence. EN-
bracing under one generic head all off
shoots from each mother church men
tioned-for we have not space to nams
ali-there were at the date mentioned
Of communicates: Baptist, 4,245O5o:
Methodist, 4,7S6. 1886; Presby yterian, 1851.
311; Catholic, 7,521,161; Congregational.
lists, $780, ,214; Episcopalian (Protestant)
6s9. 900; Jews Orthodox 61,597, Re
formed 76,913; Salvation Army, 21 ,920
Disciples OF Christ, S71017 Dunkards
1900; Friends or Quakers. 107, 1868; Luth-
erans. 1,277,576. and of United Brethren
a2S.s64. It should be remembered that
The herald., 1897-10-17

and it is a religious chord. 1t has struck
| in the conscience of the nations" OF
the many tributes the jubilee called
forth. it further says: "None have come
from the pen of any poet with the same
effect Of Kipling's, and it is surely
good sign when its high tone is recog
rized and acknowledged generally"
The Golden Rule traces in it's versifica
ton the true recognition of the Sover-
eiSn God" while the New York Observer
declares it is "a hymn which will live"
1t is an evidence Of the versatility Of
kipling's genius to find him singing with
so much success devotional poetry His
forte is not in that direction. The bright
est wit, quaint humor, the startling, the
horrible, the intensely dramatic, have
been heretofore the spontaneous notes
of his Tyre. 1t required an occasion as
rare and significant as that of the jubi-
lee to stir the devotional rhythm of his
muse, and it seems the chords she
touched vibrated with hymnal JUNCTION
forcible enough to strike the conscience
of the nations. By the way, was it not
in connection with his jubilee poetic
contribution that Kipling referred to
Canada as Our Lady of the Snows?"
and for which he was somewhat rough
ly criticised by the Canadian press? In
!"Wee Willie Windie" he refers to the
criticism and in the following humorous
skit discovers the real bent Of the Kip
ling muse:
There was once small boy Of Quebec
Who was buried In snow to the neck.
When asked, Are you friz?"
He replied Eyes, is;
But we don't call this cold in Quebec"
The herald., 1897-10-17

vies with the bathing suit skirt a. Z
matter for discussion. The question
arises. is it not more immodest for
woman who goes into the ocean clad In
a bathing skirt that comes barely to her
knees. than it Is for q woman who rides
her wheel with a skirt three or four
inches above her ankle? 1t requires no
eophistry to make the average person
understand or believe that the bicycle
skirt is really the more modest OF the
two, and yet the bathing skirt passes
unquestioned, worn by girls and women
who would lift their hands in holy hor-
ror at the idea OF mounting wheel In
such a costume.
There Is no question but that the bi-
cycle skirt Is one Of the problems Of the
day. The person who would seek to re-
veal its ending has q task before him or
her that is simply gigantic. 1t is one OF
those things which must OF necessity
be left to the good taste of the wearer.
There are in every walk Of life. among
every class of persons who partake OF
recreation, young women who conceive
It to be a fact that the more conspicu-
GUS they make their attire the more at
| tractive they render themselves. This
| fact Is perhaps more apparent among
| the bicycle girls, because Of the vast
number of them. Taking the country
over, they outnumber the bathing girls
at least two to one.
| And so the burring question Of the
hour is, what shall be considered the
proper length of the bicycle skirt?
Read the answer in the personal state
ment Of the Rev. H. S. Place Of Cleve-
land, Ohio.
The herald., 1897-10-17

number of prominent religious leaders.
by Mr. F. L. Stickney, says the Exam
iner Baptist, N. Y.,) as to what book,
next to the Bible, has helped them most
in their religious life, has produced re-
plies Of much suggestive interest to
churchly people. Rev. Drs. Theodore l..
Cuyler. A. c. Dixon and J. ]. Muir,
named Bunyan's Pilgrims Progress as
second only to the Bible as help to their
success. d. l.. Moody said. that "Cru-
denis Concordance" and the "Bible
Textbook came next to holy writ as
most useful to him in his study. Dr.
Kerr Boyce Tupper named the writings
of Frederick w. Robertson and DIR. w.
H. p. Faunce replied that the sermons
Of Robertson had exerted an influence
which he. could not possibly express
President B. L. Whitman of Columbia
university selected Robert Browning 8
writings as those to which he was great
ly indebted, while Prof. Henry c. We'd
der Of Crozier seminary said that the
book from which, next to the Bible, he
had received most Of moral stimulus
was the plays of William Shakespeare!
Prof Vedder's reply contains the follow
| ing interesting statement:
II suppose l am either very depraved
or very eccentric, but the book from
which, next to the Bible, have received
most Of moral stimulus, and that had
most to do with forming my character,
| is not religious book at all; some very
strict people would class it with ire
ligious books; mean the plays Of Will
lam Shakespeare. These fell into my
hands when I was a boy Of 12.
devoured them eagerly, not half under
standing them, Of course, but perfectly
entranced, and impressed most Of all by
the profound views Of life and char
The herald., 1897-10-17

lieves that a girl or a woman has no
desire TO make an exhibition of herself,
ard that in wearing a short skirt she
merely acts in accordance with the de-
mands of the situation. To ride bicy-
Gle is in no way immoral, says this
preacher. and this being the case, thu
way to ride 1t is that in which the mos
comfort can be obtained, combined with
a reasonable degree of propriety. Mr..
Places new departure, while it startled
the fold of divinity, has met with no
condemnation except from extremists
and those who are so rabid that they
would almost follow the Turkish Gus
tom of keeping even a woman's face hid
from all except the members of her own
family
The action of this minister has caused
the question of bicycle skirts to b.
widely discussed. 1t has also brough,
to light the fact that the majority Of
girls who appear in bicycle costume
The herald., 1897-10-17

thinks that Mr.. Mills language implies
that he is "in serious doubt as to the
supernatural character and work of
Jesus" While the Christian Register
(Uritarian) wishing that he had given
clearer expression of his theological
views, adds:
1--WE fear that he has not escaped the
confusion into which many generous
minds appear to fall of thinking a de'fin-
tie denominational position inconsistent
with the broadest federation and the
roblest service
The Christian Advocate (Methodist
Episcopal, New York; sees a grea.
change in Mr.. Mills since it first hailed
with delight his appearance as an evan
gelist. 1t elaborates the question in
three columns, during which occurs the
| following sentence: "If, On his own
statement, Presbyterianism can retain
Mr.. Mills that denomination will take
| long stride away from the principles
and the spirit for which and by which
| its heroic founders wrought and died u
1t finds in Mr.. Mills case likeness to a
person with his portmanteau packed
standing upon the threshold, pausing to
see whether the privilege of making
journeys into the enemy's camp and
back again, at his own wayward will
will be granted him."
Clearly, Rev. Mr.. Mills will find the
way Of Independent theological think
ing hard road to travel.
= 4
Rudyard Kipling's Jubilee poem,
"Recessional," has received much at
tention from the religious papers. The
Presbyterian Review claims 1t is OF
high devotional merit and says Of 1t:
Its dominant note - religious one
The herald., 1897-10-17

order her attire and 50 wear It as to ap-
pear to best advantage in her own eyes,
and she is derelict If she does not do 80
regardless of a persnickety. narrow
gauge and, unpopular criticism Of the
day.
I'VE infer. of course. that lady's at
tire will not bring bushes to her own
cheeks If a lady's ankles appear to
the gaze Of men in the ordinary exercise
of her prerogatives and privileges 1t Is
only vulgar in the eyes of the uncul-
tured and unrefined and the gazing
gawkey.
Il have no objection to the bicycle at
church, although the very thought Of
worship suggests the propriety Of avoid
ing observation. Hence the ordinary
costumes are preferable.
III. s. PLACE."
For the benefit Of those who have not
in their minds eye the various bicycle
costumes which are worn by feminine
riders, this paper presents herewith a
representation Of different costumes on
the wheel which were drawn from life.
Not one is exaggerated in the least, the
object being to show comparison be-
tween Mr. Places idea Of what Is the
correct bicycle costume for feminine
cyclist and those which are sometimes
worn. 1t must be distinctly understood
that the illustrations are not designed
to show that the majority of the girls
and women who ride the wheel wear alb
surdly short or absurdly long costumes
but merely to indicate the whole gamut
over which the feminine costume for
bicycles extends.
AS matter Of fact the bicycle skir,
The herald., 1897-10-17

BERLIN. Oct. 3.-(Special Core
spondence to The Herald) There has
just been placed In an aquarium here
what Is probaly the most remarkable
fish that ever sorrowed in captivity
This monster of the deep is 16 feet long,
II inches in diameter and inches wide
1t has been brought here all the way
from Australia where, during a fierce
storm, it was cast up on the beach at
Cape Everard4 South Australia where
It was found by Charles Smith, the keep
er Of the Everard light.
Keeper Smith, realizing that he had
found a wonder secured a tank which
he filed with sea water and had the same
transported to the nearest railway sta
tion. From there ii was shipped to Mel
bourne to Sir Frederick MacCoy the
famous professor of zoology. Professor
MacCoy was enthusiastic over his new
acquisition and recognized it to be a
species of bandfish (regalecaus or
gmynetrus), the like of which had never
before been captured by human beings,
that is, within the knowledge of the
savants Of today, or as related in books
referring to these monster fish. He is
now ensconced in a big glass tank a the
aquarium and looks out with sixteen feet
of curiosity at the strange people, to
him. who crowd about him and view this
wonder of old ocean.
The bandfsh, of which this gigantic
specimen is the only one ever placed in
an aquarium, makes it's home on the bot
tom of the sea. 1t Is a very peculiar fish
in appearance, for on its back is an un-
interrupted row of fins. while it's head
Is adorned with a crown of fins, which
give 1t the name also of herring king.
Tradition has it that each shoaI of her
rings has such a king and is led by it.
While the herring shoals return every
The herald., 1897-10-17

This preacher, who seems to be pos
sessed of much common sense, stated
that he really saw no immodesty what
ever in the exposure of the ankle of q
woman, and that only an evil mind
would see in such an exposure causa
for the cry of indecency. Why should
women, h says, be compelled to be un-
comfortable when riding a wheel any
more than men. He is by no means an
advocate of the new woman, nor does
he declare that a woman should in any
degree take the place that nature has
apparently allotted to man. but he feels
that women should be treated with every
possible consideration, and that false
modesty is in its way as bad as i'm
modesty itself.
Mr.. Place by no means set a rigid
limit for the bicycle skirt He trusts
o. pooQuemoM 10 elsel pooS lusIeuul
7ul puB ISSUES uouuoo 5uNIens eV, o.
settle that question for itself He, be-
The herald., 1897-10-17

year, these fish kings are rarely seen
The bandfish are also sometimes called
rowing fishes, for on the breast are two
long fins shaped like oars.
Beside being a natural wonder, this
great fish for the first time furnishes
so that all may see the facts regarding g
the sea serpent tales the sea captains
have so long told. Professor MacCoy is
of the opinion that they occasionally rise
to the surface of the ocean and when
seen, furnish the basis for sea serpent
stories that are breathed into the ears
Of landsmen by the old salts that vow
The herald., 1897-10-17

spect the most perfect model for man
kind.
Il request that liberal Protestant
pastor conduct my funeral services in
plain and simple manner, and that he
fail not. in my name to admonish my
friends to do better than 1 have done,
and thus 'to make death serviceable to
the living E. My body is to
be taken to the grave in a wagon and
at the lowest possible cost. Only few
flowers to be placed upon my coffin, and
l direct my wife to give to the poor of
Paris the sum of money that secular
funeral of the first-class would cost.
At the time the funeral is ready to move
the officiating pastor or one of any of
my friends will read this document to
the assembly"
This "voice from the tomb conveys a
lesson characterized as much by piety as
by common sense.
Speaking of Rev. B. Fay Mills posi-
tion regarding the old and new theo-
logical schools, to which we made ref
erence last Sunday, and his statemen,
defining the same. the Standard (Bap-
tist, Chicago) uses the following ian
guage:
"The spirit of Mr.. Mills staten ent is
sincere and manly. He is neither
apologetic nor defiant. The only feeling
in regard to his case on the part of mos
Christian people will be one of regret
that a man of so evidently Christian
spirit finds himself no longer able to
speak confidently of the Fundamental
Christian veritiee, and hence inevita
bly, cuts himself off from the large use
fulness which has been his in the past
! The Watchman Baptist. Boston,
The herald., 1897-10-17

dent as proof positive that the Everard
lightkeeper's find is really specimen
of the famous but ever mysterious sea
serpent. 1t is doubtful If in all the years
that have elapsed during this century
there has been greater bone of conten-
tior, between scientists and laymen
than the sea serpent. Other shipmasters
beside Cautain McQuhae have insisted
that they saw sea serpents and, after
the manner of the mariner grown red
in the face when, in answer, it was de-
MED that there was any such thing as
a sea serpent.
The herald., 1897-10-17

self-protection. The extent of their
growth is of course matter Of conjec-
ture, for fish that live on the bottom Of
the sea do not offer an inviting field for
the scientist. Therefore there is no rea-
son to suppose that they do not grow to
be fifty or sixty feet long.
The bandfish in the aquarium here,
as far as it is possible to judge Of the
age of a creature of this sort, is quite
young, and Professor MacCoy says: 81
is my opinion that the bandfish send
you is an infant in size. have exam
ined him very carefully and from all the
The herald., 1897-10-17

in the total of Methodists given above
are included fifteen denominations
among them being the Methodist Epis-
copal South, with a mem bership of 1,161- =
666, and the Methodist Episcopal, with
2,5SS, 7OS members.
Paul Casimir- r-Perier, recently ex-
president of France, was, like the ma
jority of his countrymen, born and
raised a Catholic, but left that faith
pursuing religiosu course Of his owl
selection. He was successful politician
of the better class, and statesman o.
no mean ability His dead body was. b.
his request, lately cremated in Paris
His will embraces what may be termed
a confession of faith" which, as tn,
emanation of typical representative
of educated Frenchmen, will be fount
in the summary we give below not with
out interest to readers of our Churchly
| Notes. 1t reads: at Is my wish tha
my funeral shall take place without any
distinction by Catholic or Orthodo,
Protestant ceremonies. I am deeply
convinced that all exclusive religious
dogmas are the product of lamen tabl'
superstition and are plague of man
kind. believe in good, JUS
and loving God; in the immortality
Of the soul. in human responsibility ant
accordingly in human liberty of action
believe that true piety consists ir
active love, in obedience to duty. in sub
mission to and reverence for the divine
law, which has been written in oul
hearts. In Christ, viewed in the light O
the pure Gospel. love and venerate th
most perfect sra iTees lovable of all tn,
creatures that n4ve ceme into tn,
world. the most exalted and In every re
The herald., 1897-10-17

propelling it through the water either
by vertical or horizontal undulations.
1t passed rapidly but was SO close under
our lee quarter that had it been man
of my acquaintance | could easily have
recognized his features with the naked
eye, but it did not, either in approach
ing the ship or after it had passed our
wake, deviate in the slightest degree
from its course to the southwest, which
it held on at pace of from twelve to
fifteen miles ar hour.
THE diameter of the serpent was
about fifteen or sixteen inches behind
The herald., 1897-10-17

tance the dolphin row seems to be the
compact body of a long animal moving
forward in wavy, sometimes vertical
line, just as the sea serpents are shown
in the pictures that have been made OF
them
The bandfish recalls a story that was
first told many years ago by Captain
McQuhae of the British navy, who
stated that he encountered a sea serpent
in the south Atlantic ocean near the
Tropic of Capricorn, and not far from
the coast of Africa At this time the
weather was dark and cloudy and there
The herald., 1897-10-17

acter that are the substance Of the
greatest Of the dramas"
DR.. Henry Van Dyke of the Brick
that he found it impossible to determine
what book helped him best but stated:
"In the interior life I should put very
close together The Imitation of Christ
and The Confe ssions OF st. Augustus
DR.. John Hall Of New York mentioned
the "Shorter Catechism" with Scrip
ture Proofs" "Pilgrim's Progress"
History of the Reformation" Dwight's
Lectures on Theology" and the works
of DIR. Chalmers adding: Il have used
many religious books with profit since
I became a minister, but could not put
any one in the place you indicate"
Rev. Alex Mackay Smith writes: II
cannot say what books influenced me
most next to the Bible" He mentions
Jeremy Taylors "Holy Living and Dy-
ing" Thoughts on Personal Religion"
"rJrbane and His Friends" and says:
"But the daily use Of the prayerbook
of the English and American Episcopal
church, in my fathers home, all through
my boyhood. was a powerful factor in
my education"
Thus it appears that in the ministry,
as in other professions, the success. and
fitness of the worker has no specific
source of inspiration. 1t is, however.
of great interest to know the religious
books that, next to the Bible, have been
the favorites Of the distinguished
divines named herein.
The herald., 1897-10-17

to the action Of the waves. was tossed up
where the lightkeeper found him.
think this should settle forever the sea
serpent controversy. The first of tho
species of serpent is now in custody that
has furnished more tales to the mariner
than anything outside of shipwreck IT.
SELF
Thus 1t is plain that knowledge has
again stepped forward and explained
away the mystery of'centuries. Many Of
us have long been inclined to believe
the sea serpent myth. Many a man
has gained a reputation for drawing the
The herald., 1897-10-17

allegiance to Father Neptune. 1t is
known that they frequently attain a
length of twenty feet and doubtless
grow much longer
They have been sometimes confounded
with a certain species of sea pigs or
dolphins which are in the habit of swim
ming in long rows, one after another,
and executing a series of evolutions
while swimming, SO that from dis
The herald., 1897-10-17

OF this city, and he openly stated in a
sermon OF long ago that he saw no rea-
son why, if men were permitted to wear
knickerbockers women should not at
least be allowed to wear their skirts sew.
eral inches above the ankle.
The herald., 1897-10-17

CLEVELAND, O., Oct. 1S.-(special
Correspondence to The Herald.) At las;
a minister comes before the public who
has sufficient courage to tell exactly
what he thinks of the bicycle skirt, with
out regard to what the opinion of others
may be. He is the Rev. H. S. Place, pas