davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-02-12
President JohnsOn's Simplicity.

The simplicity of some of the highest
officials of the American government has
been repeatedly remarked on The plain
whole SOuled manners of Abraham Lin
coin are universally talked of. and ndrew
johnson was not far different from his
predecessor. During the summer of 1867,
on one of the concert evenings. Mr. John
son was sitting alone on the south porch
of the White House. An acquaintance of
his, a gentleman, with his daughter, was
passing. The president cordially invited
him on to the porch. In the course of the
conversation the gentleman remarked that
his little girl had never seen the White
House. Mr.. Johnson rose immediately
"She can see it under no better auspices
than the masters; he said and entered
the house, motioning his guests to follow.
The child plainly showed her great disap-
pointment 1t was before the day of dec
orative art, and everything was large and
bare, more so because of the gray linen
coverings. The president was panied at
the child's lack of enthusiasm.
"Your house is not so very pretty. after
all, - she said when they had reached the
blue room. "The furniture is ugly and
dull
"Oh, but it is very fine furniture, I"
eagerly demonstrated the president, like a
small boy. "See''-he leaned down and
tugged away at one of the chairs and after
much work succeeded in getting the linen
of-"see, this is quite rich 1t is blue
damask. The little girl expressed her
satisfaction and the president was more
than gratifed. Washington Post.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-02-12
ROBERT FULTON'S FIANCEE.
What Betrothal Meant to Girl Early In
the Century.

What Betrothal Meant to a Girl Early In
the Century.
For Helen Livingston there remained
hardly one more year of happy girlhood,
free to 60 and come, dance and be mer-
~, in the old innocent .girlish fashion,
for at that time betrothal was as sacred
as marriage itself and much more re-
strictive of privileges. That is, the free
dom of girlhood was lost and that of the
matron had not come. If the lover were
present, of course these restrictions were
not felt, but in his absence the poor girl
had little more liberty than a Hindoo
widow. She must not accept even the
most ordinary attentions from any man,
must dance with no one except her ia
ther or brother, and she must always
wear, conspicuously displayed, hanging
from her neck face outward, the min
iature of her future husband.
These miniatures We're often skillful-
ly painted ON ivory and we're usually
oval in shape and about 3 % inches by
~ in size, without counting the gold
frames, which were sometimes quite
heavy. The broad remarks which it was
considered in order for even chance &C
quaintances to address to the fancee
upon sight of this badge of appropriation
were intolerable to Helen Livingston,
and rather than subject herself to them
she resolutely refrained from accepting
an invitation even to her loved "Cousin
Chancellor's' during the few months of
hor ial, lnl iy,o
py marriage in the spring of 1909.
On one occasion, when large and
most interesting company of American
and foreign guests was expected at Cler-
mont, Helen vainly sought her mothers
permission to attend without wearing
the telltale portrait. Finding that this
would not be allowed and realizing that
her sisters disappointment would be
great, "Sister Patty" only 10, but al
ready tall and stately, heroically voluG-
teered to wear the obnoxious picture,
personating its rightful owner. But the
innocent fraud was not permitted, and
as Helen would not go if obliged to
wear the miniature, she was compelled
to relinquish the coveted pleasure. OF
course the boy lover-he was barely 81
was in no way responsible for this
custom, which he subsequently often
and justly characterized as odious, aud
I think that he never liked to see the
miniature which had been the means of
depriving of ever so small pleasure the
woman whom he idolized through
long life. IA Group of American Girls
Early In the Century" by Helen Evert-
son Smith, in Century
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-02-12

The claim is put forth by the London
Times that the CONFESS process for
treating the rhea fiber is completely
successful in rendering that plant a
most valuable source of textile materi-
al. This process adopts zincate of soda
for the elimination of the resins and
effects it without the slightest injury to
the fiber. After the ribbons" or strips
Of bark have been freed from dirt they
are placed in weak acid baths for
night. Next morning they are passed
through mild alkaline bath and then
boiled in weak solutions of caustic So
da to which zinc has been added. When
washed and dried by the usual me-
chanical means, the fbers emerge as
long silky floss, entirely free from the
cuticle and resinous gums in which
they were imbedded, being also clean,
white and ready for the comb of the
spinner. They likewise take the most
attractive dyes and can be worked into
every variety of fabric, from the finest
quality of velvets to cheap drills and
delicate laces The combined lightness
and toughness of the fiber render it pc
culiarly suitable for tents and ship can
vas, and three fifths more cloth of equal
strength can be produced from rhea
than from the same weight of linen
that is, 1000 yards of rhea canvas
weighs only as much as 600 yards of
linen, its durability and resisting power
to strain being also much greater
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-02-12
THE "DEllGHTFUL POISON"
Peculiar Manner In Which Winemaking
In Persia Originated.


SIN the Kingdom of the Shah" by DR..
Preacher Collins, the author tells of the
origin of winemaking in Persia. 1t was
during the reign of King Jamsheed that
she vineyards of Shiraz, as today, were
noted for the superlatiVe quality of the
grapes they produced on account of the
variations of temperature-the intense
cold of winter and extreme heat of sum-
mer-to which they were subjected
King Jamsheed was exceedingly fond
of Shiraz grapes, and in order to enjoy
them throughout the year conceived the
idea of preserving them in jar. Fer
mentation, of course, took place, and
when the jar was opened and found to
contain a quantity of acid liquid it was
looked upon as poison by the king. He
placed it in bottles and labeled it as
such. On certain occasion one of his
female favorites, who was sorely affiict-
ed with nervous headache, discovered
the bottles marked poison" and swal-
lowed the contents of one in the hope Of
quitting an end to her life. The effect,
however, was to throw her into deep
sleep, from which she awoke much be-
freshed. The result was 50 delightful
that she frequently repeated the dose I'M
til all the supposed poison was con-
sumed.
The king, who missed the bottles,
caused inquiry to be made, and the Sc
oret of their disappearance was revealed.
This led to the manufacture of wine
from ShiraZ grapes, which to this day is
known as Zeher-e -Khoosh. or "the de-
lghtful poison. The laws of the Koran
against the use of spirituous liquors are
generally very rigidly observed, particu-
larly among the poorer classes. DR.. Col
Inns says that he never saw an intoxicat-
ed Mohammedan, even among the cha
vadars. men who do the most laborious
work. Unlike their western prototypes,
who cannot exist without beer or spirits
they refresh themselves only'with suck
strong, sweet, hot tea in either the
sweltering heat of summer or the in
tense cold of winter Tipping in Persia
is confined exclusively to the richer
classes and INDUCED in only in tine Sc
clusiOn of the anderan. The PerSianS
make two sorts of wine, {. red and a
white The latter contains an excess of
alcohol and is in greater favor with
those who indulge in secret drinking.
Arrack, crude fiery spirit, is likewise
distilled. 1t is probable that when
Persia has railroads and the vineyards
of ShiraZ become acceSSj HE the Superior
quality of the grapes for winemaking
will attract the attention of western
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-02-12
Quite Another Sort of Man.

A distinguished divine Of unusually
solemn and impressive appearance went
to country town to lecture He arrived
early in the afternoon, and all the town,
OF course, spotted him within five min.
utes as a very great and very sanity
man. He went into chemists shop and
in tones that froze the young blood of
the shopman said:
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS"
yves, SIR" said the trembling
clerk. "I'm sorry, but learned the hab-
1t young and haven't been able to leave
it off. -
Then" said the great divine with
out the movement of a muscle or the
abatement of shade of the awful So
lemniry of his voice, "can you tell me
where can get a good cigar?' Pear
sons Weekly.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-02-12
Beecher and CONWAY,

The late Frederick B. Conway, manager
of the Park and subsequently the Brooklyn
theater, was an old school English gentle
man Of scholarly habits and we'll educated.
At public meeting he and Mr.. Beeche1
met for the first time. The preacher looked
him square in the face and said: why, l
know you. You come to my church. -
Certainly do" replied Conway "I en-
joy good acting wherever 1 find it. Why
won't you come to my theaters' "Are
you quite sure" rejoined Mr. Beecher,
with laugh that shook him from top to
toe, that should find good acting thereP''
Whenever they met thereafter, as they fire.
quently did, Mr.. Beecher invariably re-
minded Mr.. Conway that he had promised
same time when he had good acting in his
theater to let him know.-Boston Globe.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-02-12
PROPHECIES THAT FAILED.
Shortsighted Fallacies of Some of the
Worlds Great Men.

Worlds Great Men.
In these times of cheap vaticination and
ehort dated prophecies it may not be amisS
to cast retrospective glance on few OF
the most monumental mistakes ever
achieved in this line. Here are few of
hese famous contributions to the history
of human error, says the st. James Ga
zette:
/. Aristotle said that slavery would last
forever or would cease only when the shut
tie would weave of its own accord. A
double mistake this, for slavery is all but
abolished, and, thanks to invention, the
shuttle may be said to work of its own ac-
cord
g. "Before years are over all Europe
will be republican or Cossack, " prophesied
the exile of St. Helena in the first decade
of this century. We are nearing now it's
fag end, but cold Yurrup'' is less repub-
lican than ever and is still some way from
universal Cossackery.
8. "Italy is but a geographical express
sion and will never be anything else, !"
opined Prince Metternich, and just before
his death he saw what he considered Utopia
on the point of becoming reality.
T. "The railways will never be of any
use for the transport Of goods, sang out
d. Theirs, leading a chorus of senUentious
economists.
5. 'EThere is no morrow for universal
suffrage exclaimed NJ. Guizot on the eve
of the very revolution which sent him into
exile and promulgated universal suffrage
as sovereign law.
6. Never, - was NJ. Rouher's answer to
those asking after Montana when Rome
would become the capital of Italy. A very
short time after the trick was done.
z. "The United States OF Europe was
the prophecy of ali ardent democrats from
Victor Hugo to Carlo Cattaneo, and it's full
flllment was to take place Immediately
after the downfall of the Napoleonic en-
pire. 1t is 25 years now since that event
full moment, but the states of Europe are,
if nything, more disunited and more ag-
gressiye than ever.
Perhaps the ancients, who knew Il thing
or two, were right in saying that the future
Is on the lap of the gods.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-02-12
EARTH, THE MOTHER OF ALL.

To earth we'll founded, of all things that live
Most ancient mother, this song will give.
She doth her nurture upon all bestow,
On land, in air and in the sea below.
With children and rich fruits, o thou divine
Men thou dost gladden. Life to give is thine
And thine to take. Whom thou dost honor he
Blessed with great store of all good things shall
be.
Teemful the corn lands in broad pastures roam
Large herds, and filed with wealth is every
home.
just rulers in the city there will be
And beauteoous danes and full prosperity.
Young lads wax lordly with joys waxing
powers.
The little maidens on the soft field flowers
In festive dances join. Rich goddess, these
Thy gifts to whom to honor thou dost please.
All hail! o mother of the gods, haill Thou
Spouse Of the starry heaven. do thou endow,
For need Of this my song, my minstrelsy
With might that shall all life make glad for me.
And SO fresh song will attune in praise of thee.
-Academy,
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-02-12
IN THE SADDLE.
How It Feels to Ride a Race Horse at
Record Pace,

How It Feels to Ride Race Horse at
Record Pace.
William Hayward, q veteran jockey, who
is now trainer, was recently asked. Chow
does it feel to ride a race horse at record
pace?''
"Well,' said he, "if you know how to
ride it's very exhilarating, but if you don t
know how it is anything but pleasant, as
that boy evidently thinks now. If you ride
with your head down-that is to say, bent
slightly, so that the wind does not beat
right ON your face-you can breathe easily.
But you hold your mouth wide open and
let the air beat right in your face, then you
will have great difficulty in breathing, and
If the race is long one you will become
exhausted by the end of the ride. A mile
race on a good horse is run in about lao
that is the near record made in a race. 1t
has been made in 1899, but that was on
a prepared track. A mile in lao is at the
rate Of SO miles an hour; so, you see,
race horse travels at express speed.
"f you want to see how it feels to go
through the Air at race horse speed. just
hang your head out of a railroad carriage
window, turning your face toward the
way the train is travelling. At the same
Ciihe HlaSlhe you are sltIlhg III sduuIe
and have to hold on to your horse and
guide him on to victory if possible, keep
ing him from being run down or interfered
with. 1t is no easy task to ride horse in
race The jockey must have all his wits
about him. He does not have much time
to think how he feels. When riding in =
neck and neck race down the home stretch,
/ forget everything except that l must
strain every nerve to pass the other horses.
No thought can then be given to the plaud-
its from the grand stand. New York
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-02-12

Call on L. K. Scott for sheet
music at 209 South Front steet.
Sheet music at off to close out
stock at 200 South Front street. L..
E. SCOTT.
The Great Northern Railway has
One Million acres choice wheat lands
in Minnesota still undisposed Of.
Write. for maps and full particulars
Land Commissioner, Great Northern
Railroad, ST. Paul, MINI. 33tl3
All book accounts and notes due
the firm of John Klein & Co. to Jan.
LIST, 1897, are to be paid to Leo. s..
Lamm, whose office is in block four
teen, over Clement Schr9der's hard
ware store.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-02-12
OCEAN ROPES.
A Marine Plant That Grows Stem Three
Hundred Feet In Length.

Hundred Feet In Length.
The largest marine plant, and proba bly,
one of the highest plants known on this
globe, is a gigantic seaweed, the nereo
cystis. the stem of which has been found
to grow as much as 800 feet long 1t was
first discovered not far from the Alaskan
coast, but has since been found floating in
various parts of the Pacific ocean along
the American and Asiatic shores. This
seaweed grows in very curious manner.
Large quantities of it are found at little
distance from shore and at depths not ex-
ceeding 800 feet. On loamy bottom large
thickets of this plant take root, and stem
of the thickness of ordinary cord grows
upward. At it's top there is pear shaped
balloon, which grows with the stem, and
when it reaches the surface of the water it
often measures feet and more in length,
with a diameter of 4 feet inches. This
balloon has, of course, an upward tend
ency, and keeps the stem growing until it
floats on the surface of the water From
the top of this balloon large tuft Of
strong, thick, spadelike leaves grow out,
which originally are not more than 2 feet
long, and which grow and split until from
the balloon roselike growth of from so
to So feet in diameter covers the water.
This gigantic weed grows in such quaint
ties that near the shore large meadowlike
islands are formed, which impede naviga-
ton. The natives of the Aleutian islands
make manifold usage of this plant. From
their strong dried stems they make ropes
$50 feet and more long, while balloons of
this weed furnish them with large vessels
after they are dried, the smaller ones be-
ing used in their boats to bail out water.
The long leaves, after being dried, are cut
into narrow strips and used for wicker
work. the making of baskets and similar
furniture st. Louis Globe-Democrat.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-02-12
Severe Measures.

"That young Wilder is getting altogeth-
er too attentive to Kate. He is here al
most every evening"
81 can easily dispose of him, dear, il
you will sanction resort to severe meas
ures -
Make 'em as severe as you please. The
fellow is absolutely no good. What do you
propose doing?'
II will encourage Kate to give him a
chatting dish luncheon every time he calls. y
tMeroiful powers '-Cleveland Plain
Dealer
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-02-12
He Knew a Thing or Two.

Sir Charles Gayan Duffy, former
premier of the Australian colony of
Victoria, was once made the object Of
peculiar embarrassment A man on a
public occasion presented himself to Sir
Charles, who had been appointed to
some petty government Office after a
campaign in which there had been ques-
tionable electoral practices.
81 suppose, said Sir Charles, ''that
you are one of my supporters?''
''Three of them," answered the man,
with wink that was impossible to mis-
understand. Pearson Weekly.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-02-12
English as She Is Spoke.

"Gosh!'' said the man who was trying
to read newspaper in the trolley car.
"The English language Is spoken by 1885,
600, 600 persons.
cts mighty funny it can't be spoken in
my family, then," said the man with a
lapful of bundles. "My wife talks baby
talk, my 10-year-old boy runs to hog Latin,
and my 1S-year-old daughter is devoted to
Chimmie Fadden."
Then the man with the bundles sighed
and looked sadder. Cincinnati Enquirer.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-02-12
whistler's Delicious Conceit.

An old lady, lauding up the Thames
scenery, said to Whistler, "The whole
trip along the river was like a series of
your superb etchings"
"Yes," he replied; nature is creep
ing up Moo lure's Magazine.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-02-12
The Feminine Instinct.

II admit that as yet woman is not
absolutely certain of her sphere said
the high browed lady.
II thought as much, said the base
man. eff she felt that it was really and
truly her own, she would already have
had it decorated with pink ribbons. p
Indianapolis Journal.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-02-12
Escaped by a Neck.

"Alas," she exclaimed, 81 shall be
thrown upon my own resourcesP'
In order 60 understand the situation
it has to be known that her face was h>-
fortune
However, her approximations were
groundless. She was thrown upon the
back of her head. Detroit Tribune.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-02-12
For Sale.

Nice young driving team, well
matched. Cheap for cash or on time
for good approved note. Team can be
seen at 300 Center ST., Mankato.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-02-12
AN Experienced Cook,

Mistress Gas cavalry troop rides by
The cavalry are fine soldiers.
Cook-Yes, but the infantry are less
tickle -Fliegende Blatter.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-02-12
To the Farmers.

l want your chickens, calves, hogs,
cattle and sheep, and will pay highest
market price at the packing house
Chas. j Macbeth, Mankato. 14tf.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-02-12

The Roman naval crown was. given to
the admiral triumphant at sea. 1t was
of gold and its decorations were the
prows of ships.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-02-12

One side of square acre will require
8S pounds of three line barbed wire f.,
fencing.
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-03-27

An Institution entirely new TO Wheels
ing people wllIbe the Kings Daughters,
Day Nursery, soon 10 Be opened at 10.
1910 Market street. Five o. these ptiF-
series are Successtiliy conducted n
Plttsburgh. and It Is believed BY those
who have EtVeh the subject thopght
and attention, that . Day Nursery q On
Institution much needed In Wheeling,
The object 81 the nursery, % stated
IN the constitution, u 70 provide during
the day protection and care for all chill.
dFen under six years Of age. and 70 ems
able the mothers to be relieved Of al
responsibility. Thus mothers who are
employed away from their homes dur-
ing the day may be assured that their
little ones, Il left at the nursery, WIN
be well cared for. fed and amused. The
sum Of flvs cents . day tor one child
viii be charged, 20 that the patrons Qf
the nursery need not feel that thelf
children are objects Of charity.
The nursery Will b opened from 4.
m. 10 ESQ p. m, and viii be IN OhaFBB
OF the matton and such committees
from the Kings Daughters a. may p
appointed TO servo from time 10 time.
There will be q play room, sleepinE
room. Kitchen and very pleasant yard
an devoted 10 the actual needs Of tta
children, and everything viii % done
TO make them comfortable ana happy.
The board Of managers u Compoged
Of tWentY.t0ur women, repfeBeutlng
tile circles Of the Kings DaughtetB 9E
the city. II b hoped the nuIaetY VIII
be ready for occupancy By the fth o.
Bth OF April, ct which time II VIII Do
Opened for public inspection.