davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The St. Johns herald., 1898-04-23
ORIENTAL SHAWLS.
Great Care Taken in Their Manufac-
 ture and Shipment.

Great Care Taken in Their Manufac-
 ture and Shipment.
 In Bokhara, where the finest and most expensive camePs hair shawls are manufactured, the camel is watched while the fine hair on the under part of hls body is growing, says the ''Tex- tile World" This is clipped so careful ly that not fiber is lost, and 1t is put by until there is enough to spin into a yarn which Is unequaled for softness. It is then dyed in all manner of beauti- full, bright colors, and woven in strips eight inches wide of shawl patterns of such exquisite design as with all our study of art and all our schools of de- sign We are not able to rival. These strips are then sewed together so cun- ningly that 1t is impossible to detect where they are joined. Russia Is the principal market to which these beau tiful Bokharan creations are sent. From Russia they find their way all over the world-London, Paris, Vienna and New York being the heaviest importers.
 Besides these Oriental shawls there are beautiful woven shawls of Paisley, Scotland, and the printed shawls of Lyons and the filmy Llama lace crea- tions, which, unlike the Oriental works of art, are within reach of the moder- ate purse. Special artists with pencil and brush are engaged in making de signs for these Shawls. While years, and sometimes a lifetime, were and are required for the manufacture of the Bokharan and Hindu shawIs, at Pais- ley, if the pattern requires months in its designing, the weaving of the most elaborate pattern occupies only week.
 The cutting of the threads from the backs of the shawls, which was form erly a process requiring the continued labor of two girls an entire day for each shawl, Is now done by French machine in a minute and half. Few of the grand danes who boast of costly Oriental shawls, rugs, and portieres, know that these same articles have probably seen service before they came into their possession; that the magnif- cent shawls in which they wrap them selves have enveloped the women of some harems, and the rugs and porti- eres have draped their luxurious apart ments. It Is not uncommon to find tell-tale darn that confirms this suSpi- cion.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-04-23

output of gold for the year. credited to the United States S55.49S,950 and to the Transvaal $55.472, 300. The sig nificance of these figures is understood by a comparison with the figures for 1896, which show that the increase in the United States was only S3,000,000. while the Transvaal made a jump of no less than $13,5OO,OOO. If the Trans vaal keeps up anything like this pace during the present year, there is little doubt that we shall be left behind in the gold-producing race. It is not inn possible, indeed, that the United States may drop to the third place before long, Australia is increasing her production of gold rapidly. Her total last year was more than $49,000,0O0, and this without counting New Zealand and other adjacent islands. This shows a gain of nearly S7,OOO,O0O over the yield of 1896; so it will be seen that if Australia con- tinues to gain at the same rate and the United States makes no more progress than it has in the last twelve months. there will be two countries in the world with a better producing record than ours.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-04-23
Gv. srnment and the Citizen.

To what extent the government touch- es the private life of a citizen of the United States is shown in very strik- ing way by Professor Eugene Wam- baugh of the Harvard Law school in an article in The Atlantic Monthly. From the time that man rises, all through his business and social activity of the day until he goes to bed again, the gov ernment touches him at every step, pro- viding for him, regulating him, telling him what he may and what he may not do, until there seems hardly the neces- sity to discuss increasing the scope of government, so rapidly is it becoming wider and wider under the natural tend ency of the times.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-04-23
--os n1readr faint for the want of food.

ros already faint for the want of food
 e4 sba turned in loathing from the !ho,,gbt of meal obtained in that
 ov It would be worse than death, hut death doesn't come at ones call, and there were her babies.
 A dry sob burst from her lips. She passed Mrs. Donovan's door in silence. She must have moment to herself be fore she could ask charity of one so poor as her kind neighbOr. Hurrying on she pushed open her own door.
 A bright fire was blazing in the cracked stove. Mrs. Donovan had pre- pared potatoes for the oven and cut slices ready for frying from the ham. The open door of the wood closet show ed a huge pile, while the table was heaped high with food.
 For a moment she stood gazing wild " around her. Then she dropped on her knees and a shower of tears re- ieved her overwrought nerves.
 The next days mail brought a letter from Margaret to MT. Davis. The writer had gone to Miss Shell to thank her. From the young teacher she had learned of Marks connection with the affair.
 It was an earnest. grateful letter, plotted here and there with tear stains. She accepted his generosity; for her chiIdren's sake she could not refuse charity. She referred tc the friendship that had existed between their parents, but Mark was glad she was too wOm anly a woman to even hint at the rela- ton they had once borne to each other. When he finished reading the letter his heart was light, for he understood that Margaret knew of the treachery that had plotted the sunshine of his life.
 Mark went straight home and told his aunt, who was also his housekeep- CT, all about it. Mrs. Everts was knit ting before the open coal fire. She was a bright-faced old lady, with soft white hair and a serene face. When he had finished she laid down her work and sat for long time gazing into the dancing flames.
 ''The only daughter of my old friend, Rebecca Henson, in want of food" she said, a note of pain in her voice. Mark, you and I both have plenty of money,
The St. Johns herald., 1898-04-23

there Is room in this house, and in our hearts, for Margaret and her babiesI But she is proud. Go and ask her to come and sew for me. Tell her 1 am lonely, and ask her 10 bring her little ones to brighten me up."
 Mark bent to kiss the placid face. Thank you, Aunt Elsie, 1 see you un- derstand." A few hours later he knock ed at Maragret's door. He saw that the years had changed her. The wild rose bloom had faded from her cheeks, tears had washed the joyous light from her blue eyes; yet 1t was surely that Margaret that he had loved that stood before him.
 She met him frankly and with un- disguised pleasure. Her voice trembied when she undertook to express her gratitude. Mark made light of the whole affair and insisted on talking of their childhood days. The fruit and nuts he brought proved an open sesame 10 the hearts of Agnes and Royce. and they were soon on the best of terms with the caller.
 Margaret was very grateful for the offer of work. She hesitated a little over accepting Mrs. Eve-ts' kind invi- tatiOn, fearing lest the children prove an annoyance. But when Mark drew a touching picture of the loneliness of his aunt she gladly consented to come. It was arranged that the carriage come Grnnnpinc ka noon.
 One morning, two months later, Flor ence Fox ripped across the hall at No. and entered Miss Shells room.
 "Of course you are going 10 the we'd ding reception Thursday evening"" she began. q think 1t is such a lovely marriage, don't you"
 Indeed do," replied Lillian, warm ly. "Yes. am to go in the afternoon and help with the decorations. The whole house is to be in green and white, smilax, ferns, roses and carna tions. Mrs. Everts says MT. Davis can not do too much for his bride; our dear Margaret the sweet old lady calls her."
 And I believe it all came about from your begging him to give her good weight" Florence cried merrily. He Is obeying your request in an ex- travagant manner. And, Lillian, Is not that pretty pearl ring and the beatific expression on Cousin Hugh's face the result of my efforts along the same line of charitable workw
 The bell rang then, and the blushing Lillian was spared the necessity of 3 reply.-Utica Globe.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-04-23
than ours,

Most of the appliances of modern civilization brings risks as well as ad- vantages. The people who lived hun dred years ago could not travel so rap idly nor communicate with each other l across great distances so conveniently as we do; but on the other hand, they were strangers to some perils which are
 familiar nowadays. Their journeys
 were slow and serious affairs; but they
 were in no danger of being blown up
 on steamboat, or tumbled over rail way embankment, or even of being run over by a trOlley-car or "scorching wheelman. Their houses were not lighted by electricity or by water gas; but they were not burned up by reason of badly insulated wires or aSphyXiated in their beds. They knew nothing of ffteen-story buildings, but they also knew nothing of elevator accidents. Nevertheless, 1t is doubtful if more lives are lost by accidents of travel, in pro- portion to the number of people travel ing, than was the case a century ago. Hundreds of people travel by water now where one did so then; but ocean travel has been made relatively more safe as well as more swift and con- fortable, by modern appliances. There are still possibilities of collision or of striking a reef in fog, but it almost never happens that a modern sea- worthy vessel founders through stress of weather. One steamship company which has sent its steamers back and forth across the Atlantic for more than fifty years is able to boast that 1t has never lost the life of passenger in the service. As to the railways, in 1896 one hundred and eight-one passengers were killed on the railways of the United States, and nearly twenty-nine hundred were injured. When these figures are compared with the amount of passenger traffic, 1t appears that the railways carried nearly three million passengers for every one who was killed, and about one hundred and eighty thousand passengers for every passenger injured. A famous humorist once compared the number of people killed in railway accidents with the number dying in their beds, and reach ed the conclusion that 1t was several thousand times more risky to lie in bed than to travel on railway. It was a playful exaggeration; but it is true l that, If modern discovery and invention have resulted in new hazards to human life, they have also supplied new safe guards and preventives.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-04-23
INSTRUCTED THE JUDGE.
Who Was So We'll Pleased That He Gaye
 Him Seven Months,

Who Was So We'll Pleased That He Gavs Him Seven Months.
 Nathaniel Patrick Henry Scbofe,d Berryr' called the police court clerk in stentorian tones, and hearty laugh was heard from the lawyers, bailiffs and general hangers on around the room.
 A very klack negro of about 40 step- ped to the bar with the remark, "Yes, sah, dat's my cognomen title"
 Well, Nat, what have you got to say about this charge of-of-what's the name of that thing anyhow, MT. Bailiff?''
 "Shootin craps, your honor. ''
 "Shootin craps," repeated the judge. "Now look herel have sent enough of you fellows down on this charge, but I confess know nothing about the game, if such it might be called. I've listened to the pigeon English of Chinamen in telling of their fantan arrangement, and now you, Nat, there, tell me what this game of craps is like?''
 Well, judge, it's just like dis: You see you take de bones''-
 ''The what?"
 wy, de bones, yo' honah. Them's de things you throw"
 "The dice, 7" suggested the police ofi. cer making the complaint
 ''Oh, l see," answered his honor. "It's played with dice, eh?"
 ''You take de bones" <" continued Ma thaniel Berry. looking with supreme contempt on the surrounding crowd anxious to learn the ins and outs of a famous but badly misunderstood game. "De first man he t'rows de bones out like dis and pops his fingers. Come seven eleven, got you faded. cut his throat eleven, railroad, mat 'ral crap, gimme de bones,' 'baby's got to hav' dem moo shoes, take my gal to Balti- more, Big Dicks my point, all de way from Boston, come on, Joe, you must be mine "-
 Hold on therel'' shouted the judge before the enthusiastic Nathaniel could be headed in his enthusiastic disserta- tion. "I'm still in the dark about that game. but from what have heard you get seven months. ''
 "Thankee. judge" said Nat, as he was led grinning from the bar of jus tice. Washington Post.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-04-23
Montana Eloquence.

The Bozeman (Mont) Chronicle tells of a Montana legislator who, when some corrections in spelling and gram mar ir his bill were called to his atten- tion by the committee, said: "Why you fellows have mucilated itr' It was the same statesman who said, in address Ing a committee of which he was a member: "The muddy slough of poli- tics was the powder upon which the law was split In twain and fell in a thousand pieces from the pedro of jus tice. Let us, then, gear up our Joins that we can go forth with a clear head"
The St. Johns herald., 1898-04-23
A Peculiar Feeling.

The sensation of homesickness has been variously described, but never more graphically than by little girl who. miles away from home and mamma, sat heavy eyed and silent at hotel table. Aren't you hungry. dear?' asked her aunt, with whom she was travel ing.
 "No." "Does your head ache?"
 "No."
 "What is the matter?'
 The child's lip quivered, and she said in tone to grieve the heart:
 "I'm seasick for home. D."
The St. Johns herald., 1898-04-23

In the diary of Samuel Pepys there is the entry for Oct. 8, 1900: ''This day I heard the duke speak of a great de sign that he and my Lord of Pembroke have. and a great many others, of send ing a venture to some parts of Africa to dig for gold ore there. They intend to admit as many as will venture their money. and so make themselves a com pany. Two hundred and fifty pounds Is the lowest share for every man" This record not only shows how old a pursuit Is gold-huntlng in Africa, but 1t likewise reveals the purpose of the promoters. familiar in modern plans of the sort. ''As many as will venture their money" have an equally good chance nowadays to join the army of investors. SkepticiSm regarding the outcome of such investments Is also not modern. Pepys adds, "I do not find that my lord do much like it.''
The St. Johns herald., 1898-04-23

The strike and lockout in the Eng fish engineering trades, which began July 13 of last year, has ended, and the men have gone back to work. The strike involved the question of an eight-hOur day, and also that of the management of the shops, and on both points the men were defeated. It is estimated that the strike caused loss of ten million dollars in wages. and a distribution of two million dollars in re- lief, but no accurate estimate can be made of the loss to employers.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-04-23

The election of President Krueger means something more than q mere compliment to the leadership of the old boer. Stripped of its trimmings, it means that the South African republic, or at least its Dutch element, is un- compromisingly opposed to British suzerainty over its affairs, and that as soon as the opportunity arises it in- tends to play for absolute independence of Great Britain.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-04-23

A member of the editorial staff of the Shreveport Na) Progress recently shot and killed a negro. The next issue of that journal referred to the dead man and added: "Our editor asks his friends to come to the man who did the killing for an explanation of the un- fortunate affair. This is only fair; no one can deny that" It might do no harm for the States Attorney to drop around there and get an explanation.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-04-23
JOHN KEATS,
Poets Gentle Fife That Was Terminal
 ed All Too Soon,

In the days of Keats. Hampstead and Highgate were still capable of having an individuality of their own and of teeming with interesting associations. Part of their celebrity arises from those associations thus formed. Leigh Hunt, visiting those scenes before his death, would point to the wooden seat where be and Keats or he and Shelley sat when such poem was recited or to the path through the fields where Coleridge took leave of him and Charles Lamb, who would stutter some witticism at parting.
 John Keats was born in Moorsfeld, London, 1795. and at the age of 15 was left an orphan, when he entered upon a five years apprenticeship in surgeon ipothecary shop at Edmonton. From his youth he showed passion for music and poetry and spent all his leisure mo- nents in boring over books. After read ing "The Faerie Queene" he would talk of nothing but Spenser. He learned whole passages by heart, which he would repeat and dwell upon with ec- stasies of delight. His first poetical con- position, written at the age of IT, was entitled "In Imitation of Spenser |" From that time it seemed that Keats lived only to read poetry and to write it. He luxuriated in the thoughts of poets, talked about them and read them to his friends.
 Before Keats apprenticeship was over it was evident that he would not persevere ill becoming surgeon. At 20 he entered a hospital as 8 student, but soon gave it up and found more con- genial society with Leigh Hunt, Shel- ley, Goodwin. Haydon and others. Keats signalized his accession to this literary group by publishing in 1877 8 small volume of poems. Hunt describes him at this time as being under medium height, with shoulders very broad for his size. His face, strongly cut, yet deli cately mobile, denoted determination and sensitiveness. His entire expression was of eager power, and he plainly showed his emotions Wordsworth alone he seemed to look upon as a sub- hmity among contemporary poets.
 In 1877 he left London to lead . quiet, thoughtful and busy life on the isle of Wight, returning year later with four booksof his 'Endymion" con- pleted In 1920 he was seized with the fatal malady, the knowledge of which had been his fearful secret for some years After few months, during which he seemed partly to fight with death as one to whom life was precious and part ly to long to die as one who had nothing to live for, he was taken to Italy and there breathed his last at Rome, Febru- Rry, 1891, at the age of 25.
 He had wished for "ten years of po- etic life, but not half that term had been allowed him. Crowded into his short life was much of interest with his ambitions, his high ideals and his tai ents, and had he lived the ordinary age of man many think that he would have been one of the greatest Doets..
The St. Johns herald., 1898-04-23

Dr. Nansen's criticism of our palace cars is that there is no privacy" on them. Perhaps it Is natural for an arctic explorer, who loves solitude and a low temperature, to feel that way. If Nansen ever comes to this country again, the railroads should provide q refrigerator car for his exclusive use.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-04-23

Life is full of contradictions. The bacillus of the world-stirring whooping cough is found to be particularly small and delicate, but what ravages the lit tie intruder can commit! Science will yet get tbe better of this disturber of the Dcace
The St. Johns herald., 1898-04-23

There Is considera ble Interest mani fested just now in regard to flour, look Ing like wheat flour and sold as such, but manufactured out of wheat and corn. Corn Is a most excellent and wholesome food, but fair play to the consumer should dictate the policy of common honesty in making this blend ed four, so that the customer would know just what he was buying.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-04-23

The United States has long enjoyed
 the distinction of producing more gold
 than any other country. but in spite of the recent discoveries in Alaska, and the gold that Is being brought into the country via the Pacific, it Is thought that we are to be robbed of this dis tinction. TEere is reason to believe that the Transvaal will soon take the lead In gold-production, if 1t has not already done so. The Engineering and Mining Journal recently, estimating the
The St. Johns herald., 1898-04-23

came tolling wearily up the stairs. It was Margaret Gregory. The woman who owed her was out of town. The needy mother had applied at several places for work only to meet with re- fusaL Then she had zele to a store and begged for credit, but in vain.
 She had reached the end. There was but one way open. She would ask Mrs. Donovan to give her children their din- ner. When she had rested and con Quered the bitter rebellion in her heart she would go out again and apply to the city for charity.
 Margaret Gregory was proud. She
The St. Johns herald., 1898-04-23

In new bicycle brake friction disk Is fastened to the front sprocket wheel, with the brake shoe attached to joint ed rod mounted on the bottom brace of the bicycle frame, a spring holding the two rods in a bent position, so that pressure on the footplate at the joint VIII cause them to straighten out and press the shoe against the disk.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-04-23
HJJAN CNETI.

LILLIAN SMELL, teacher Of t h e fl rs t grade in building No. 8, public schools of Windsor. turned quickly from the b l a c k b o a r d Whereon she had b e e n dra wing a pert wren swing ing on a spray of clover.
 "Who Is cry ing?" she asked in a sweet, firm voice.
 "It is littla Ap-
The St. Johns herald., 1898-04-23

Bishop Vincent has started a crusade in Kansas against the deadly sin of chewing gum. We have felt certain all along that sooner or later the great besetting sin of Kansas would find her
The St. Johns herald., 1898-04-23
The Influx tn Lernsalem

During the last few years nearly 10000 Hebrews have entered Jerusa- lem, and the arrival of another host is said to be imminent. Already the rail- ways are opening the country between the coast and Jerusalem and Damas- GUS, and a Hebrew migrati on a large scale may cause Syria to become once more of vast importance in the East.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-04-23

For the time he has been at it Gen. eral Blanco has managed to achieve as picturesque a failure as could have been expected.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-04-23

The cabled information from Italy that the earth has two moons will sur prise no one who has ever overestima- ted his tankage capacity. It is very easy to see more than two moons.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-04-23

The United States Circuit Court in Cincinnati has rendered a decision against the cast-iron pipe trust. Here is a method of hitting the pipe which should prove popular.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-04-23

Living in Paris in late years for per sons of moderate means has been great ly eimplifed by the Bouillons Parisiens, which have succeeded the Duval restau rants. One can get good dinner at these places for a small sum-far better than one finds at more expensive places in London.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-04-23

A writer in Harper's Weekly makes the fine point that when a Western farmer lays by for rainy day" he is saving up for a drought.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-04-23

A returned KIondiker says: 'It is eX- tremeIy cold there about eight months of the year; we consider zero as just nothing at all" We consider 1t the same here
The St. Johns herald., 1898-04-23

''Zola has raised an issue in France" comments the Detroit Tribune. He raised something a great deal hotter than that.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-04-23

It's hard to use the word in such a connection, but much of what Ger many has said about the American ap- pie is simply rot.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-04-23

A fashion paper suggests that the reason woman powders is to "take the shine off her nose" Not at all. She does it to take the shine off some other women.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-04-23

The S10O counterfeit bill has ceased to worry capitalists, but paragraphers should be on the alert. There is new counterfeit quarter in circulation.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-04-23

That vegetable ball" given by lead CTS of New York's "400' can only be eoualed in Boston by codfish ball.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-04-23

No man can know what 1t is to feel either old or indignant until young fellow comes to see his daughter.