davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The St. Johns herald., 1898-02-26

People are slowly awakening to the truth that in thefts of public prop erty and public rights there are tempt CTS as well as tempted, principals as we'll as accessories, criminal eminent respectables," who get the immensely larger share of the loot, as well as wretched official thieves, whose shady characters can be bought for trifling sums. And the fight against public corruption will be hopeless until public sentiment shall refuse to be content with the disgrace or perhaps the jail ing of the accessory, and refuse to tol- crate the vastly greater criminal-the tempter to the crime and the chief ben eficiary of it.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-02-26

The success with which German man.
 ufacturers and merchants have taken
 the trade away from their English com
 petitors Is ascribed, In part at least, to
 the different methods of education in
 the two countries. The Evening Post
 recently pointed out, and backed up its
 assertions by quotations from that En-
 glish authority, the Nineteenth Gen.
 tury, the extent 10 which he children
 of England'S middle classes, who ought
 to be the backbOne Of the future com
 mercial interests of the country, in- stead of being taught and trained in
 such a way as to 1t them for conner
 cial pursuits are educated at the great schools just in the same way as if they were, later on, 10 step into he shoes Of wealthy parent The most important thing in such schools is skill in athlet- ics, and excellence at rowing, cricket or football is the chief ambition of the scholars. The result is that when the young man leaves the school he is not fitted for any kind of business. In Lon don offices and counting houses German clerks are employee. and have been for years, in preference t0 English, with the result that the English young man without any practical education goes to the colonies to rough it. or emigrates to one of our far Western States to make his living in a mine or on a ranch. Thus some of what might De the best and most useful Of her sons are lost to England, merely for lack of proper edu- cation, while in Germany young men of a similar class are being taught just the very thing necessary to make them enterprlsinE and successful fac tors in their cOuutry's progress and prosperity. Even the military service which the German young man is com pelled to undergo does not unfit him for the steady routine of business house. If it be true that the educa tion of En- glish young men has this adverse effect, is it not worth while to cousider wheth- CT similar results may not follow the spread of college educa ton in this coun- try? Athletics already form one of the most important courses of study in our colleges of to-day, while our plan of teaching and lis of subjects are cer- tainly not calculated to it a young man for the conduct of affairs. It seems especially important that partners in large concerns should give this matter attention. Time was when the scions of the most important houses were talk en into the employ Of the concern at an early age, receiv Ing 10 more considero- tion than other employees. To-day tbev J are sent to college, and when they "go downtown" have all the halo of a col lege career around them. and from their age and their experience, though the latter is obtained in a world apart from the business one, are placed on a sep arate plane from others In the house. Yet in their college career they have probably learned nothing which makes them as capable Of taking hold of af-- fairs as young men. considerably their juniors, who have been with the con- cern year or two.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-02-26
The Ground Is Alive.

We are so used to thinking of the soil as mere mineral matter that it comes quite as a shock to find this is mistake.
 As matter of fact, the layer of soft mold which clothes the ground in all cultivable districts and from which vegetation springs is actually in great part living layer of tiny plants and animals.
 Interlacing threads of molds and fungi, worms and grubs, creeping in- sects, tiny root parasites, decaying leaves and the millions of bacteria which spring from them-an these are mixed and mingled together for many inches down below our feet in con- fused mass of life. Germs of all sorts swarm i'll countless millions.
 Indeed, all the plants that grow and life that exists on the face of the earth owe their being to the fact that the ground is alive. You take a shovelful of the finest soil in the world and sterilize it-that is, beat it till all the life ill it is destroyed-and then plant seeds in it. No amount of CGre or watering will make those seeds grow. Their life de- pends on the life in the soil around them. London Answers
The St. Johns herald., 1898-02-26
Some Curious Watches.

With all our modern improvements we rarely hear nowadays of watches so fancifully complex as used to be made for great folks in the times when all watches were expensive and com paratively novel.
 King George III., In the year 176O, received present of watch that was a kind of mechanical almanac; 1t point ed out the date and also had a device to show the varying length of the days, according to the season. It was not bigger than other watches of the time. but then they were all what we should call turnips now.
 The Emperor Napoleon I. had a watch which wound itself by means of Il weighted lever, which, at every step his majesty took, rose and fell, and having a gathering click to it wound up a ratchet attached to the barrel. Pc dometers were afterwards made on the same principle. The Duke of Yelling ton had watch which was given to him by the king of Spain, from which the time could be told by the touch, the hours being marked by studs. In the back of the case was placed an index which, when moved forward, would stop at the portion of the hour indi- cated by the watch, and then by means of the studs the time could be approxi- mately computed in the dark
 Catherine of Russia had watch con- structed by an ingenious peasant which played a chant, and had within it tiny mechanical figures which, moving about, were supposed to represent the scene of the resurrection of the Savior; the chant was then heard all over Rus sia at Eastertime. But this watch was no bigger than hens egg.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-02-26
WANTED, SOME BURGLARS.
They Were Requested to Call and Steal
 Valuable Heirlooms.

They Were Requested to Call and Steal
 Valuable HeirloOms.
 A man rushed into the business office of one of the daily papers and stopped at the advertising window. There he secured pad of paper and a pencil with string to it. He wrote and erased, and then tore up what he had written, chew ing the fragments savagely while he made another copy.
 ''There," he sai at last, as he thrust the paper into the hand of the advertising clerk, count the words and tell me what they will cost for one in sertion. I reckon that will fetch them. !"
 This was the advertisement:
 Burglars are requested to call some night this week on MT. and Mrs. Bras tus Brown, Ash court. A door and win dow will be left open and every facility offered for removing the spoils.''
 "But this is very unusual form of advertisement, said the clerk, with troubled look. 'I don't know whether to put it under the head of personal or educational What is your motive, may I ask?''
 My motive?'' said the advertiser, "is to get rid of an awful incubus of inherited truck without any responsi bility fastened upon me. 1 might burn the house down, but in that case I would be expected to save the heirlooms or perish with them. Say, young man, were you ever the victim of legacy?"
 "No,'' said the clerk, with friend ly grin. "What funny question.
 "No old maid aunt ever died and left you a dozen battered silver teaspoons that had come down from Oliver Crom- well?"
 "Never!"
 "uucky chapl Never had a solid sill yer punch bowl hequeathed to you by bibulous old uncle who was a disgrace to the family while he lived, but prom ised to return and haunt you if you didn't entertain his comrades once a year out of that bowl?"
 ''I should say not"
 ''Nor great-grandmother who left you silver soup ladle with a coat of arms of some unknown dead and gone ancestor which must be placed under your pillow every night for safe keep ing?"
 "No,'' said the clerk. "I belong to plain, everyday people, and we haven't a coat of arms to our backs.'
 "Be thankful, young man. You little realize what blessed lot is yours. To crown our misfortunes, another relative died in Paris last week and left us her diamonds But l draw the line at dia- monds, and so does my wife. We take turns now sitting up with the silver. After the burglars come and clean us out we shall begin to live. Put that ad vertisement in a good place, and I'll let you know if we hear from it. S'long."
The St. Johns herald., 1898-02-26

A pamphlet has been prepared for use in the schools of a New England town, which reverses the usual method of town itself. It describes the town geo. graphically in its relations to neighbor- ing communities. It describes the geological formation of the area which the town covers. It tells briefly the story of its settlement and early his tory, points out noteworthy buildings, and gives an account of the services of its citizens. Then it describes the methods of town government, shows what officers are chosen to carry on the town affairs, and what each one does, and tells how taxes are raised and spent, and how money is borrowed for town uses. The pupil who learns what Is in this little book will have at least the rudiments of local history, local geography and local government. He will gain clearer ideas of the relation of things and men around him to the State and nation, and of the relation of present conditions to those that are past. Usually history and government and similar subjects are taught through general statements and prin- ciples. There is an obvious advantage in beginning with what Is near at hand, for the pupils own observations stimulate his curiosity and interest. In another way, such instruction as this which is attemnted in BrOOkline may be useful. One of the greatest needs of the time is a higher standard of citi- zenship. It is in town or city admins tration that questions of government come closest to the individual citizen; yet it is these usually in which least interes+ is taken. If some knowledge of these matters be early imparted in the schools, the voters of the next gen. eration should take a keener interest in local government, and should be better equipped to deal with its prob lens.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-02-26

Gen. Collins advice to young men contemplating entering any of the learned professions is not wholly un- like Mir. Punch's counsel to people about to get married. These profes- sions resemble the Punch idea of mar ried life in that they frequently lose some of their charms when tested by actual experience, and involve good many hardships and privations that are not discerned from without. Gen. Collins improves on Punch by pointing out other pathways which are not overcrowded, and which offer every en- couragement to young men of energy and intelligence. They will be wise if they heed his suggestions.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-02-26
purpose.

James B. Angell, the United States Minister to Constantinople, has re- newed our demand for indemnity be cause of losses suffered by American missionaries in Armenia. The Porte has continued to meet the demand with the declaration that it is not responsi- ble for the losses because they grew out of a revolutionary movement. Min ister Angell insists on Turkeys respon- sibility because its troops participated in the outrages. Turkey replies that the troops were suppressing the reyo- lution and that the missionaries and their property happened to be in the way. The chances are that this kind of discussion will continue for some time before any indemnity is forthcom- ing. A surer way of getting it doubt less would be that which Germany has adopted in connection with other sim liar outrages in China.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-02-26

Absent nt-mindedness, a trait eften shown by scholars, is exemplifed in the case of Librarian SpofOrd, of the National Library at Washington. A year ago it was discovered that he was short in his accounts some $30,OOO, which sum he at once paid into the treasury. In removing Spoford's desk and office furniture into the new H. brary building, $500 in cash, many checks and postal money orders, some for sums of $500, were found A num- Der of these orders calling for hun dreds of dollars were issued as long ago as 1870. According to the regula- tions many of these orders were out lawed, on account of expiration of the date, but they will be paid. MT. SpOf- ford had careleSsly thrust checks and
The St. Johns herald., 1898-02-26

Is a repW able lawyer justified i'm de lending a.murderer whose guilt is clear, and fromevery standpoint must be con Sidered an enemy of law and order and menace to society? Suppose that through some technicality a villain es- capes the consequences of his crime ? Suppose tina t his criminal instincts lead him into the commission of other bloody crimes against innocent men and women? Upon whom should the responsibility tbe placed? Gan the crafty lawyer who las opened the door of es- cape be free from blame?
The St. Johns herald., 1898-02-26

Kaiser Williams boasted liberality in beingiwilling to give his only broth CT in pledge" for ''the honor of the en- pire abroad as stated in hisspeech be- fore the German ReichStag, recalls forcibly fthe generous offer of Artemus Ward to sacrifice all his wife's rela- tives," if.need be, flor the preservation of the Union" during our Kate civil war. There is mo sacrifice which the Kaiser would not be willing to make for the power and honor of the empire-which means himself-except his own vanity and the privilege of exhibiting himself as the whole thing"
The St. Johns herald., 1898-02-26

The proposition to connect the wa ters of the lakes With ,he waters of the Hudson River by a ship canal, thus avoiding the falls Of Niagara and the roundabout of nav lgatiCl by the River St. Lawrence, is a most enticing one upon paper. Ii the vast trade of the Northwestern and Middle States bOr- dering upon the lakes could be carried In unbroken bulk to the sea the saving in the cost of transporta ion would warrant great outlay in order to accom- plish 1t. But the report just published of the United States engineers author iZed by the Wa Department last year to "cause to be made accurate examina- tions and estimate of cost of conStruc- ton of ship canal by the most practi- cable route, wholly within the United States, from the great lakes to the nav igable waters of the Hudson River of sufficient capacity 10 transport the ton mage of the lakes to the sea-" is of a most discouraging character. A prelim: mary survey Of four routes has been made, none of which is recommended. The cost of ship canal for the purpose indicated Is roughly estimated at $2OO,- 100000. It would cost $2,OO0,OOO per year for maintenance and repair, and would be without military value to the Federal Government. The report sug- gests that the enlargem ent and i'm provement of the Erie Canal so as to provide for the movement of barges of about 1,5OO tons burden would, at much smaller expenditure, insure all the sub stantial advantages to be derived from the construction of a ship canal. It is further insisted upon that vessels suit ed for lake transportation are not suit able for sea voyages, and that sea- going vessels could not prodtably com pete on the lakes for lake freightage. If this be true, one of the main reasons for building a ship canal Is untenable.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-02-26

Most of the many and serious trou- bles that have occurred in the coal
 mining regions of Pennsylvania in re cent years have been directly chargea- ble to the excessive greed of the mine owners. In order to get cheap labor they imported a squalid mass of ig- norance and poverty. In order to still further cheapen labor they have, in plain violation of the State laws, main tained company stores and virtually compelled the miners to get their fam fly supplies thereat. The law declares, In the plainest terms, that no coal min ing employer shall own or be interest ed in a company or partnership store. In some instances, the employees are not permitted to save a dollar, and many of them are kept constantly in debt at stores where they are compelled to eX- pend their money if they would assure continued employment. This is sla very, and it is little better than that peculiar institution" which once four ished in the Southern States. It is true that the coal operators cannot buy and sell human beings, and in that respect their victims have the advantage over the slaves that worked on the Southern plantations. But the masters of the blacks were obliged to feed, clOthe, and shelter the feeble and helpless, and this obligation does not attach to the mine owners. Such liberty as belongs to the men, who are kept in debt by manipu- lation of book accounts, is a sham. They cannot get means to move their families if they desire to break away from bondage. And if they could go to other mines where that kind of slavery does not exist, they would get no em- plOyment, because they had left unpaid debts.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-02-26

It is truly singular that the slaughter of few hundred or thousand seals on and near the shores of far-away Alaska should get this and several other large nations into what looks much like a quarrel, while campaigns of extermina- tion, now in progress right here at home, and involving interests vastly more important, create no excitement at all. For what is the value of every seal alive compared with that of our rapidly disappearing forests? AS one cent to a thousand dollars, perhaps, and yet the work of devastation is go- ing on at rate so rapid that the end is already in plain sight.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-02-26

the two States which constitute the monarchy an ''Ausgleich," or compact. which regulates their relations and fix es their respective contributions to common expenditures. This compact runs for ten years, and expires the pres ent year. An intellectual attempt has been made by Austria to secure a new adjustment of the financial burdens of the common government so that Hun gary should bear a larger portion than formerly. As a compromise, it is pro- posed to renew the Ausgleich for a year on the old terms; and the Hungar- ian Reichstag has passed bill for that DIIrDOSe
The St. Johns herald., 1898-02-26
postal orders received for copyrights into desks and drawers, and there they have remained.

When the victory of a party deter mines who shall be the governors of people, an overruilng Providence will sometimes make the political choice fortunate one. The available hlai' turns out to be a capable man. III HUI than one instance during the history ol our country between 1860 and lS''o' uil- tried greatness developed where 10 iu- man foresight promotion was ohly an expedient. High qualities are Dot sud denly created. They sleep, but God knows where they are. h grand crl- sis they leap to light, and men thought lessly say that circumstances made them. Abraham Lincoln, The Sprlns- field lawyer, did not put on any one else's greatness, or the greatness ol circumstances. He simply found ms own when it was most needed. MT. Woodrow Wilson, .n his ad;n;rable crit lcal essay, says Of this remarkable man: He was not it to be President until he actually became President. He was fit then because, earning as he went, he found out how much there was to learn, and had stil m infinite capacity for learni0z. t is this "ca- pacity for learning that bds raised many boy from a H0or-sWeeper to the headship of fir and fitted many an official novice foI resD0nsibilities which he never knew untu he was forced to carry them.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-02-26
A Good Yarn.

During the revolution a little Ameri- can priVateer once stole upon an Eng lish line-of-battel ship in a-fog, mistak- Ing her for an East India merchant man and ordered her to strike. When the seventy-four ran out her guns and threatened to blow her puny assailant out of the water the Yankee skipper stepped to the gangway and, taking off his hat, said politely: "Oh, very well. sir, if you won't surrender, I will"
The St. Johns herald., 1898-02-26

Southern journals are discussing with earnestness the propriety of es- tablishing a system of Federal quaran- tine as a more effective safeguard against the spread of contagious dis eases than either local or State regula- ton. In fighting an enemy which takes no cognizance of city limits or State lines 1t is best to oppose 1t with an au- thOrity equally uncrippled in the extent of its operations.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-02-26

BA1AhO T. UlduuOOu. He WAS born, lived and died an Englishman, and his life was a most extraordinary illustration of energy, earnestness and fearless persistence in following con- scientious belief. It was his intention to broaden, widen and deepen relig- ion. He was driven from the use of the churches and compelled to preach in the fields and highways"
 Mir. Bayard said that the medallion was the work of Josiah Wedgewood, a remarkable man, also blameless, home like and of pure life. He was potter, but he had the genius that raised that occupation to a fine art. The work of Wedgewood in England led to the man. ufactories of china baking. MT. Bay ards mother and father secured the medallion from Wedgewood while vis- iting the lat CTS home in England.
 There is nothing more uncertain than a sure thing.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-02-26
The ronng Oneen of Holland is laarn-

The young Queen of Holland is learn Ing lesson common to human experi- ence-that the solicitude which sur rounds us is, as often as not, a sad bar to pleasure. The Privy Council of Hol- land have agreed that Wilhelmina must not ride a bicycle. Ideas of propriety have not been given as a reason. She. In all likelihood, would combat those. But it has been gravely announced that the life of one so precious and so neces- sary to her subjects must not be endan- gered. And all this is after the Queen has learned 10 ride and knows the fun of ii.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-02-26

Emperor Wilhelm's popularity in Berlin has increased so much on fac count of the recent vigorous foreign policy ofithe empire. that it now begins to look as if the Kaiser would have his way about that big naval bill. It may be added that if Germany keeps up it's present policy in China, it will probably need It's big navy even before 1t can be eibuilt on rush order" from Emperor William.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-02-26

Patriotism in China is sometimes dis played in a peculiarly wise and praciti- gal way. If a wealthy man wishes to do something to benefit the district in which he lives, he gives it a carefully built road. Mrs. Bishop, the we'll known traveller, passed over some re- markable highways of commerce." cut through the rock In mountain passes, scaffolded over rivers and carried through galleries in which were tab lets in honor of the giver of the road.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-02-26

It would seem that one Of the chief cares of schools and colleges would be that students should learn to speak cor rectly. The mental drill that accom- panies the study of language is invalua- ble. Of course, it is easy to say that there are many things in life more i'm portant than correct speaking. This Is true, but as a nation we are old enough to have acquired not merely the essentials, but some of the graces as we'll. In other words, it is time we were adding to our common schooling evidences of culture. And one of the most indisputable of these is correct speech.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-02-26
Inaulfed Him.

Ferry-What was the matter with Johnson last night, that he should get insulted when l asked him to drink {? He is not total abstainer, Is he?
 Wallace-It was the way you put the question. He is subject to attacks of klleptomania, and when you asked him If he wasn't beginning to feel like talk ing something" he got hurt, very natu rally.-Cincinuati Enquirer.