davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Winslow mail., 1898-09-03
Funerals In Arabia.

One of the strangest and most af-
fecting sights in an Arab town is that
of the funerals, which may be met at
any street corner. The body is mere
ly wrapped in mat of esparto grass
and carried either on a bier or on
mems shoulders. The mourners lounge
along, some in front and some behind,
grooming verses of the Koran in mel
ancholy tones, which haunt one for
days afterward. This wailing, how
ever, is nothing to that which goes on
in the house of the deceased. When [
was staying in the country near Tunis
! heard it kept up during whole night
in neighboring village, and can con-
ceive nothing more desperately de-
pressing than these strains of lament
alton waited through the darkness by
the breeze. My dog stood it even less
well than 1 did, and he felt constrained
to Join in the doleful chorus until l
was half tempted to put bullet
through his head. Perhaps the stran-
cest of all the funerals l saw was at
Bizerta. 1t was that of baby, which
was being carried to its grave in an
csparto basket.-London Sketch. :.
The Winslow mail., 1898-09-03
EIC0TI-!E REALLY IS.
A CoIorIess Fluid TiaaT Becomes Dark
when Exposed to Air
and Light.

In a communication about tobacco,
in the Scientific American. Prof. John
". Mallet, of the University Of Vir-
ginia, says among other things:
Ignorance of easily ascertainable
scientific facts is, however, common
enough, as often illustrated by the
brown, oily material formed in the
nicotine, though in reality this is mere
ly the tar produced BY the action CT
heat on the woody fibre OF the leaf.
Nicotine when pure is coiorless
fluid of somewhat oily consistence and
strong, peculiar, penetrating odor, but
il darkens on exposure to air and light,
becoming first yellow and then brown,
so that it looks, in this darkened con-
dition, something like the tarry mat
ter which soils a smokers fingers or a
handkerchief through which tobacco
smoke is eXhaled, or is often noticed
as deposited in the stem of a pipe.
This tarry deposit has nothing essen
tial in common with nicotine, and con-
tains but traces of this alkaloid, when
any at ALL A part, but only a small
part (about one-seventh of the expert
ments OF Melsens) of the real nicotine
Of tobacco is volatilized without de-
composition; the remainder is burned
and destroyed in the process of smok-
ing.
''The sensational statements occa-
sionally made in regard to arsenic, cop
per, etc, as present in the paper wrap
pers, would be at once seen to be gross
ly improbable If it were but renem-
bered that the wrapper is "a single
cigarette weighs little more than half
grain, and that in such a minute
quantity of thin, delicate white paper
there could be introduced but in
fnitcsimal amounts of such foreign
adulterants without the presence be-
coming Perceptible to common obser-
vation by the senses, aside from the
positive scientific evidence that they
are not present"
The Winslow mail., 1898-09-03
Who Goes Home9

There is nothing more amusing, per-
haps, in all the quaint and curious Gus
toms of the house of commons than the
strange ceremony which marks the
termination of its every sitting. The mo-
ment the house is adjourned, stentor-
ian-voiced messengers and policemen
cry out in the lobbies and corridors:
"Who goes home?" These mysterious
words have sounded every night for
centuries through the palace of West
minister. The custom dates from a
time when it was necessary for mem
bers to go home in parties accompanied
by links-men for common protection
against the footpads who infested the
streets of London. But though that
danger has long since passed away, the
question:: "Who goes home?" is still
asked, night after night, during the
session of parliament. No reply is
given, and none is expected, Nine
teenth Century.
The Winslow mail., 1898-09-03
GREAT NEWSPAPER FEAT.
Here Is an Instance Proving That q
Large Number of Them Can
Be Believed.

"Nobody believes a word that he
reads in the newspapers"
This is the remark which was made
by prominent Bostonian at public
dinner few weeks ago, says the Bos-
ton Journal. 1t is hardly worth notic-
ing, it so utterly lacks sense and dis
elimination, but striking event has
happened since it was spoken which
should check similar foolish remarks
from leaving the lips Of those who at
tribute dishonest journalism to ohonest
papers.
Commodore Dewey won a brilliant
victory on the other side of the world
one Sunday morning, and on Monday
morning every home in America was
told about it. His name was upon
everybody's lips, his picture before all
eyes, praises for his men in every con-
versation. 1t was all the work of .'the
newspapers"
The president, the navy department
and the board of naval strategy had
not a word about the battle except
what "the newspapers" told them,
Monudy WeHC ny, anu 1ueSudy anu
Wednesday and Thursday, and at the
close of the working week there was
still no information except what "the
newspapers" gave. Congress was de-
lighted and the plans of the war were
advanced, as the victory warranted.
Yet the United States government
would not have known there had been
a battle but for "the newspapers"
Who is it, pray, that does not believe
a word he read in the newspapers?
The Winslow mail., 1898-09-03
A puerto Rico Custom.

William e. Curtis, who has been a
good deal of a globe trotter, writes
from Washington to the Chicago Rec
ord: 81 observed phenomena at San
Juan, and the same CT Ponce de Leon,
for which have never been able to OBJ
tain a satisfactory explanation. The
old negresses who sit around the mar
ket place and the shady street corners
selling dulces from large baskets are
habitually smoking long black cigars,
and they put the lighted ends in their
mouths. Why they do so and how they
can endure it are mysteries that could
not be solved, but it is nevertheless a
fact and a custom that is unique in
Puarfo Rico"
The Winslow mail., 1898-09-03
RENT FLOWERS FOR HOUSES.
Rothouse PrOprietors Suffer Loss in
business Through the Advent
of Summer Months.

This is the season of the year when
keepers Of dollhouse flowers who
thrive in winter, are practically with
out employment. There are more
than 20 concerns in Chicago that make
a business Of renting potted plants,
palms and other interior decorations
TO restaurants, cafes, saloons, and to
families. These plants are changed
as often as wanted. One day there
may be one of the waving pampas
-plumes, and in the same place the day
following may appear blooming ger
anium. The uninitiated would imag-
inc that the owner of the room was
also proprietor CT hothouse, when he
isn't anything of the sort. These
plants may be rented for one dollar
per month apiece, says the Chicago
Times-Herald.
In summer they are taken out and
fresh flowers, born of rain and sun
shine, placed in their stead. Chica-
|gonas do not like the looks of hothouse
flowers when the weather is warm and
natural blossoms are cheap. Bushes
of fresh honeysuckles grown wild in
the mountains of Kentucky and Ten
nessee may now be seen in many
places. Violets are coming in in abun-
dance. There Tnay occasionally be
found magnolia blossoms, for they are
plentiful on the bayous Of the south
this season, Then there are the native
roses and daffodils and dandelions that
give fragrance and take the room of
the potted plants, which do very well
n winter, but look out Of place when
the air is soft and balmy and the trees
are clothed in green.
The Winslow mail., 1898-09-03
cERVERA'S FUTILE ATTEMPT.
How Differently Oar Navy Would
Have Acted If 1t Had Been
In His Place,

what deductions do naval officers
draw from the experience of Cervera's
feet?"
"The only two things which we can
be positive of are that there is great
lack of discipline in the Spanish navy
and a woeful ignorance of the use of
modern warship machinery. 1t is GER
tain that had four United States war
ships and two torpedo boat destroyers
gone out of karbor to attack the
warships of Spain or any other nation
we would have made some trouble.
With the exhibitions OF nerve and cour-
age which have recently been dis
played by our men, it is safe to say
that not one American warship would
have been beached. Firing from our
guns would have been kept up as long
as there was a gun in working order
and ammunition enough to load it.
''We would never have run away. In
running away and sinking his own
ships Cervera not only saved us the
trouble of destroying his ships, but he
lost an abundant opportunity to sink
some of ours. We had more ships than
he had, and to that extent we present
ed greater target. The more ships of
ours in front of the harbor the greater
chance Cervera would have had of in
fiicting damage on us. You would not
have caught Dewey, Sampson, Watson
or Schley running away merely be-
cause there were few more of the
enemy's ships in sight. But in this case
the dispatches do not show that we
had any more ships at The scene of bat
tie than the Spaniards had. The su-
perior numbers of our fleet, therefore,
did not of itself cause Cervera's fight,
although the fear that all our ships
might attack him at once might have
tended to frighten his men"
What do you think had the most
effect in making the Spanish ships run
away?"
"The constant and damaging fire of
| the American gunners. There is where
our target practice comes into play.
For years the United States has been
devoting more attention to target
practice on shipboard than any other
nation. Many CT the nations, and es-
pecially Spain, thought it was suffi-
cient to buy the latest guns with up to
date appliances. They did not think
| it was very necessary that the men
should be constantly trained in hand
ling those modern appliances. But we
believed that it was just as useless to
have big guns without knowing how to
use them thoroughly as it would be to
have typewriting machine without
knowing how to manipulate the keys,
| Napoleon used to say that it took
three months to make soldier, but six
years to make a sailor. If that was
true in Napoleon's time, when sailing
ships were in general use, how much
more true is the comparison to-day,
when such complicated machinery is
used in warships! The men should
thoroughly understand how to manip-
ulate every part of the machinery
which they are required to handle in
"a battle. .'-Detroit Free Press.
The Winslow mail., 1898-09-03
THE BRAVE AT HOME.
We do not send them all away

We do not send them all away
Our bravest and our best
When the battle-cry is sounding
And the eagle leaves its nest;
There are brave battalions marching,
And the heroes face the roar
Of the guns that belch their lightning
In the thunderstorm OF war.
But the brave hearts, true hearts,
The hearts that wait at home
For the news that tells of battle
On the field or on the foam,
Are the hearts that beat with courage
And the hearts whose hoping thrives.
oh, the little lips of loving,
And the sweethearts and the wives!
When they march away to glory,
When the flags above them wave,
When the nation sends it's greeting
To the valiant and the brave,
There are tender heroes waiting,
There are brave ones left behind,
AS the bugle's note of sorrow
Watts its music on the wind.
The brave hearts, true hearts,
With nothing left to do
But watch and wait and wonder
Till the storm and strife are through;
But their courage cheers the nation,
And it crowns the tender lives
OF the little lips of loving
And the sweethearts and the wives!
'Tis a woman's way to struggle
In the silence of her grief;
'Tis the child-heart'S tender habit
In her dreamland make-belief--
To behold the days with courage
And to live throughout the night
With a tender word of hoping
For the breaking of the light.
The brave hearts, true hearts,
The soldier leaves to weep,
AS he takes the weary journey
Down the valley DER the deep,
Are the hearts at home so gentle,
Bound in sorrows unseen gives
The little lips of loving,
And the sweethearts and the wives!
All, the little lips of loving,
The little lips that be
SO ripe with red-rose laughter
And so innocent with glee!
All, the hearts of sweethearts, hoping
Till the dawn shall bring the light,
The wives that wait the echoes
From the fields where heroes fight!
The brave hearts, true hearts,
They are not all away
For some are left to wonder =
And to watch afar the fray;
And the heroes left behind,
Noble hearts and noble lives
The little lips of loving,
And the sweethearts and the wives!
Baltimore News.
The Winslow mail., 1898-09-03
Mauna wins.

Little Johnny-Ma, want piece of
that raisin cake,
Mamma-Why, Johnny, don't you
know that those raisins came from
Spain? But there, poor child, you may
have piece.
81 wouldn't eat a piece of that cake
any quickerin' I'd eat poison. ."-Chica-
go Evening News.
The Winslow mail., 1898-09-03
Where Does Papa Come L.nr

The Leipsig Tageblatt deyotes col
umn to the marriage market. An ad-
vertisement published lately was as fol-
lows; ga son, elderly, solid and seri-
GUS, is seeking for his father "a strict
and solid man in a quiet business) an
alone-standing widow and maiden with
some ready none. Offers, with full
statement of pr ) 'ars, to be ad
dressed -. The son can be inter
viewed by appointment between the
hours of nine and eleven"
The Winslow mail., 1898-09-03
Births in England.

The male births exceeded the females
by nearly 1900 in England during
1897, which looks, at first sight, as if
the alleged excess of females in the
population were being corrected. But
as the male deaths exceeded the female
by over 10000, the old inequality will
still prevail.-Chicago Inter Ocean.
The Winslow mail., 1898-09-03
Keep Tab on the nrinisters.

Every time a Russian minister leaves
town his colleagues are notified of the
Journey, besides the council of the en-
pire, the cabinet of the emperor, the
empires comptroller and secretary,
the sacred synod, the emperor's mill
tary secretary, the empress, the gov
ernors of Moscow, Varsovie, Kieff, ETC.,
ad infnitum to all appearance. When
he returns the same minute notifica-
ton performance is gone through.
The Winslow mail., 1898-09-03
worse Than a nIachine Gun.

"Talk about rapid firing" said the
private secretary, 81 saw something
this morning that I'll bet beat any
thing the soldier boys had to face
at Santiago"
"What was that?" asked the chief
clerk.
"Young Spindlings called around to
ask the old man for his daughter."-
Cleveland Leader.
The Winslow mail., 1898-09-03
A Dewey Story.

Admiral Dewey was always a strict
disciplinarian, and occasionally in
iiicts punishment in curious ways.
Once while in a foreign port he sudden
ly ordered the heaviest tackle to be
gotten out of the hold without delay.
After two hours work his order was
carried out, and he then directed that
large chew of tobacco which had been
thrown under one of the guns be
hoisted overheard. Never again on
that cruise was such an objectionable
Offense committed.
The Winslow mail., 1898-09-03
The English Bittern.

The statement having been made
that the bittern is one of the lost birds
in England, correspondent writes to
the Daily News that so far from be-
ing exterminated. they are still so
abundant in one locality that sleep is
hard for strangers because of the loud
noise they make, like a bull believing,
and that in this region they are shot
and eafar
The Winslow mail., 1898-09-03
The Three snanish C,s.

The history of the three Cs-clerical-
ism, conservatism and corruption,
which, fostered by the blind false pride
that holds honest labor In contempt
as a badge of inferiority, and In cur
rent phrase causes Africa to begin az
the Pyrenees, have brought about tne
present weakness and impending DOWN
fall of Spain.-Henry c. Lea, IN Atlah7
4in
The Winslow mail., 1898-09-03
A1cohol In WATER.

According to celebrated French
dentist, river. sea, rain and snow wa
ter all contain more or less alcohol.
Only pure spring water is free from 1t.
Chicago Inter Ocean, ~
The Winslow mail., 1898-09-03
Origin of Hurrah.

Mr.. W. j. spratley thinks there can
be no doubt that the Egyptian soldiers
in ancient times went into the battle to
the inspiring cheer of the Hoo Ra! Hoo
Ra! Hoo Raj" And if the average
questioning man asks why, he replies
with this: because Hoo Ra Tin the
tongue of the Thotmes and the
Rameses) means the Kingl the King!
the King.'"
The Winslow mail., 1898-09-03
Income Tax In India.

The income tax in India is levied on
all incomes of e33 and upward, and
then only one man IN 700 comes within
its scope.
The Winslow mail., 1898-09-03
A Difficult Problem.

First Tramp (on a foraging expedi-
tion)-Hully geel What are we goinfi
ter do about de dog?
Second Tramp-I dunno. | don't
blong to no board Of strategy!-Puck.
The Winslow mail., 1898-09-03
Cbinamen,. Drains Are Heavy.

The average weight of the brain of
the Chinamap is greater than that OF
any other race on the globe except the
Scotch.
The Winslow mail., 1898-09-03
Cheaner for 1he pnroha.an

japanese auctions are silent. Each
bidder writes name and bid on a slip
of paper. which he places in a box
Chicago Inter Ocean,
The Winslow mail., 1898-09-03
Ignorant Spanish.

Tt is said that two-thirds of Spain's
population can neither read nor write.
The Winslow mail., 1898-09-03
pnorlx-pnid Clergy.

Among the clergy Of Italy there are
? 412 whose income ia under 800 a
year,
The Winslow mail., 1898-09-03
Use of Tobacco.

1t is estimated that two-thirds of the
male population of the world use to-
bacco.
The San Francisco call., 1898-01-05
PERSONAL MENTION.

Arthur Spiers. a business man of New York is staying at the Palace.
 O. r. Burnett, business man of New York, is staying at the Baldwin.
 Rev. J. D. Mcdonald. a Catholic priest of Sacramento, Is at the California.
 The last sentence, though accompanied with a charming smile and deprecatory shrug of the shoulders somewhat reminded one of the bibulous individual who ac. costed the casual stranger and remarked "Say, young feller. I ain't doin nuthin tho one, an I don't want no one ter dc nuthin ter me; but I don't like d way yer lookin' at me. See!'
 Miss Richards of Honolulu has re. turned from the East and is registered at the Occidental.
 Charles L. Schieffiin, a business mar of Los Angeles, is staying at the Bald. win with his wife.
 F. c. Wells, prominent Chicagoan. 1: at the Palace. He Is accompanied by his wife and daughter.
 H. c. Perkins. a capitalist of New York Is out on visit to the coast. He is reg istered at the Palace.
 pr. A. E. Osborn, Superintendent of the Home of Feeble Minded Children at Ell dridge. is at the Grand.
 M. l.. Dickson, the big lumberman oi Eureka, is in the city for few days. Ht has taken rooms at the Russ.
 Mark Mcdonald, the son of the Santa Rosa capitalist, came to the city yester- day and put up at the Occidental.
 Professor David Starr Jordan came uI from Palo Alto Monday and registered at the Occidental. He returned home yes terday.
The San Francisco call., 1898-01-05
CLEVER BURGLARS
 IN THE TANKS Frank Murphy and His Pal Are Safely Slowed
 Away. Supposed to Be the Mission TerrOrs, Who Were Hard to
 Capture.

It is now thought by the police that they have the Mission burglars. or ter TOTS, as they have been termed, safely slowed away in the tanks. Last even ing Detectives Bee and Harper ar rested two men in the Mission. one of them proving to be Frank Murphy, who has been long wanted by the po- lice. For days past the detectives have been closely watching several parties in that district, and last evening the first capture was made.
 The arrested parties emphatically deny that they are implicated in the Mission burglaries. but nevertheless they were secretly. or supposedly SO. put on the detention book at the City Prison.
The San Francisco call., 1898-01-05

homes in the country, and thus con- tribute materially to a solution of the problems of pauperism and poverty.
 The work is accomplished by means of incorporation. under the leadership of the Booths and the cooperation of the Salvation Army. It is a perfect de- sign of practical Christianity. Tn the case of Romie the incorporation is for S10O,000, under the management of five trustees, who are empowered to issue trust certificates. To equip POO families each with ten acres of improved land it is estimated that not less than an ex- penditure of $50, 900 will be required.
 A part of this sum will be repre- sented by contributions from generous sympathizers; it is the aim to raise the residue in loans covering a period of ten years, at a percentage ranging between 3 and per cent. at the option of the lender. The trust certificates serve as first security on the loans, which are otherwise abundantly se- cured in the improvements and the values of the townsite to be developed.
 It is an entirely businesslike trans action, in which the leaders of the Sal vation Army organization merely serve as promoters or negotiators to procure funds necessary for the holding in the country of homes by honest people who are cramped, confined and desti- tute in the city for want of a chance to make of themselves productive, suc- cessful and useful citizens. They sim ply pledge their labor and the improve ments accruing from it for the redemp tion of the humane benefaction granted them.
 The Booths tried their first expert ment in this line of rational phlian- thropy in Colorado. and selected Cali fornia as the scene of their second de- parture. Last night the formal in- augural of the project occurred, and those who attended out of curiosity, as well as the interested participants, left the scene with warmer feelings for their kind and a fair conception of the possible benefits of benevolence that is genuinely practical.
 Among the ce-presidents congre- gated on the crowded stage were: l.. R. Ellert, Rev. G. Adams, D. D., Hugh Craig, P. N. Lilienthal. E.. A. Selfridge, Thomas Magee, F.. J. DePue, George F. Butler, F. A. Him, H. H. Sherwood, William NJ. Bunker, C. T. Romie. G. S. Montgomery, J. Perrault, John Taylor, P. Crowley, Will S. Green. Wakefield Baker, Daniel Meyer, H. W. Weinstock. Jesse D. Carr, D. l.. Westover. Rev. J. Hemphill. D. D., Moses Samuel, Lip man Sachs, Hugo D. Keil and I. J. Truman.
 Rev. J. Voorsanger, chairman of the evening, after the Salvation Army quartet had rendered we Are Bound for the Land." described the coloniz- ing movement as one not in any sense socialistic in Its nature, as some erro- neously presume, but as a practical plan for the bringing of people together fin such communal relations. founded on self-help, as will remove both the aims giver and aims taker from the
The San Francisco call., 1898-01-05

failing health. and that the landlady. Mrs. Thomas, has no intention of nov Ing, as she has been for years in the place and has prospered, holding pos session by the terms of a long lease.
 An advertisement of rooms at 1lOO sacramento was also ascertained to be fake. The people living there not only do not rent rooms and have none to rent, but have been much an Inoyed by applicants brought thither py the Examiners promise Of "a me marine view"
 There is pathetic side to the mat ter. When a person out of employ ment and anxiously seeking it notices an advertisement which seems to promise a chance to work it may easily happen that to reach the place involves an expenditure of money money naturally being scarce-or long and dreary tramp. To ind at the end of the journey that the destina- ton is a vacant lot or house where nothing is offered one is dishearten- ing. One girl who has had many ex- periences, all of them due to the Ex- aminer, told yesterday a measure of her troubles. Seeking work as do- mestic she had gone to 1621 Leaven- worth street. There she was told that the. people had not advertised and that they had been "pestered to death" by applicants. At 715 Ellis this was dupli- cated. and again at the Strauss house at the corner of Post and Leaven- worth. and was continued on Hyde, Fillmore Sutter and Post. A number cn California was entirely fictitious. One in the Western Addition was i'm aginary, but would have fallen in vacant lot. So, dsheartened and foot sore. she returned from a vain search day after day. This girls sister could tell even a more trying series of dis appointments. but yesterday was out, probably adding to them.