davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-12-23
BREvITIES.

Colonel Bryan is being much prais-
ed by democratic and Independent pa
pers for his wise, conservative,
statesmanlike view as to expansion,
the new republican fad.
General Miles makes a blunder in his
bill as to increase of army. He makes
promotions by seniority, and that is
fair and just. But he puts in "as far
as practicable" which is unfortunate
Here is a chance for the ''spoils sys-
tenn" Drop it.
Representative Walker, Of Massachu-
sets, declares that he sis willing to
stake my reputation upon it that there
will not be any currency reform legis-
lation or any general banking or cur
rency legislation passed by congress
before 1904" Why this delay?
10. Choate, the New York lawyer, re-
Gently hit hard at the republican par
ty-his party-when he said with a
great nav he hoped this country
would have a great commerce to de-
fend and that it would be carried on
| American bottoms.
New England is warmly endorsing
Mr.. Bryan's views as to imperialism.
Wonderful.
The South Carolina a. Y. Masons by
| resolution drew the color line and
severed all connection with the Grand
| Lodge of the state of Washington,
which had accorded recognition ID
members of certain clandestined negro
| lodges. This action is in line with that
adopted by the grand lodges in New
York, Maryland and other states.
The Chicago Chronicle prods McKin-
ley for appointing General Brooke mil
itary governor Of Cuba. 1t says he was
a bad failure in Porto Rico. Did Nc.
Kinley ever do anything right?
Mr.. Bryan held a reception in tn.
cloak room of the house OF Representa-
tives. Both sides called unen him II
this informal 1evee.
A new u for diptheria is reported
Let it be fully tested,
The famous newspaper man, A. II
Lewis, will start a new weekly in New
York. He is backed by a rich ma.
kwho owns it 1t is against free silve
at any ratio. But should Bryan ans
free silver again find democratic
adoption. It will support them both.
Further IL says: The verdict favor
an income tax, as a measure at ono
money fair, equal n just to ALL" !
seems TO have accommodating prin
ctcles.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-12-23

La pounds. with b result that the
new gun exhibited no sign Of strain It
It proposed to fire, in all. 300 rounds.
and the pressure will be increased at
various stages OF the trial. It il not
likely that b gun win be tested TO
destruction Now that the Weapon has
withstood pressure OF $1,000 pounds Ii
will be desirable TO know what is the
remaining factor Of safety. DIR. Cat
ling cast his new gun in an ordinary
gun mould After boring, the piece
was subjected to an enormous heat
pressure Oh the exterior surface, some
thing like 1000 degrees Fair"
He is an old man, away up in the
seventies. He is a wonderful inventor.
He estimates that his new gun can be
made for half the price Of a built-up
gun.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-12-23
WATCH THE TARIFF.

Whatever questions may be to the
front in 1900, there is one very i'm
portant duty devolving upon the peo-
ple-not to lose sight of the high pro-
tective robber theory, and the present
high tax put upon them by the infa-
nous, immoral McKinley-Dingley COM
bination. Let these two bear the re-
sponsibility and odium of that rascal
ly monster of oppression. The presi-
dent says in his message that SIP, OOO,-
900 are the difference between receipts
and Indebtedness for 1898. 1t is not
the war that has revealed this great
difference as the hackers of the rob
Der arrangement try to impress upon
the people. So far from creating the
deficit, it is apparent that the war has
been the salvation of the incapable,
treacherous administration. The Nash
vile American that helped to elect Nc
Kinley, says in reply to Dingley's ex-
PLANTATION and defenc4A
But fortunately pgley's
cOmplacent statement, IT, kept
in the treasury department show jus:
to thec ontrary-that is, had there been
no war, we should have been ~eternally
swamped, and thai it was the war that
covered up the Dingley lay nakedness
and saved it from complete exposure
to the ridicule of the nation. War taxes
are still piling up, but despite these
there will be the terrible deficiency OF
SIP, 900, 900, and if the recommendations
for an increased army and a navy. "one
as big Is England's," are carried ou.
wa tayoS rpISf he increased SrfJl f1rr.
Their, and still Mr.. Dingley is compla-
cent"
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-12-23

ses Forth by a Grandson ~ Brigham
Young Efforts 60 Unseas ltahss-
PoIyyamist Representative m Com

gress
New York, December eo.-rhere were
about zoo persons present at the meet
ing OF the Women's Board OF Home
Missions of the Presbyterian church
in this city today. The object OF the
meeting was to inaugurate an agrees
sive campaign 10 prevent the seating
of Brigham II. Roberts. an avoaed po-
lygamist, as a representative os Utah
in the Fifty-sixth congress.
Eugene Young, a grandson OF Brig
ham Young, spoke. He said among
other things:
"There seems to be a disposition in
the east, particularly among the poll
ticians, also in the churches, to treat
the revival OF the Mormon issue as a
minor matter. There is an n~clinati
to view the election to congress OF d.
II. Roberts, a three or four ply polyg-
amist still living in polygamy. as an
unavoidable outcome of that condition
in Utah and a mere question OF per-
sonal morality. some day they will
see, as those who know Mormon ambi-
tons see now, that Mr.. Roberts Is a
mere instrument, the representative of
mighty forces. They will learn that
through his election a people 800. 600
strong have turned from American
liberty and American morality and
have taken the initial step toward the
establishment of a hierarchy, foreign
to our institutions and our social laws,
in the midst Of our republic. IL in
dragging polygamy into the house of
representatives Mr.. Roberts Is repre-
senting the defiant sentiment of the
whole Mormon people, then the peo-
pie must not rest until congress has
cast him out as a warning to all COW
enant breakers and polygamists."
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-12-23

We do nat kr. ow where The South
ern Presbyterian is published. but
take 1t :, be an organ of the southern
Dretnreo. Soon after the distur-
Dances IN Wilmington in November
this religious organ gave out this fudg-
ment upon the whites in this city:
sne negroes were to blame in start
ing tns trouble In both states. but the
esSfe.nes TO which the whites have
tor- cannot be excused In any way.
fF.e way in which the negroes were
tIunted down and ruthlessly slaughter
ed makes the crime stupendous and.
horrible. II was not a crime OF SELF
defense and IL viii be impossible IL
justify the act under any circ.um-
stances whatever"
Nothing could be wider OF the facts
and more unjustiiably unfair. The
North Carolina Presbyterian took the
sick patient in hand and administered
some curative medicine. The practice
was good. as may be seen from what
The Southern Presbyterian said after
taking the much ne .ded physic:
w believe til at there was less
~Dioodsned and p-sore real good result
ing from the Wilmington affair than
Is usuai. or Gould naturally be expect
| co. IN sucn a case. We think that the
iedoers IT Wilmington showed a great
ueai OF wisdom In the d OF at
.dirs. but We cannot as a religious
tJoarnal justify them I'm taking the law
into their wi hands. no matter what
provocatiou they had"
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-12-23

review. writer fn self Culture" an
American thoughtful monthly, says:
It am sure that his excessive athletic
ism Injuries the mind and hinders a
right development" He complains Of
the ab.ses In northern female schools
In athletics. n contends that 1t Is
injuring them physically and morally.
He says they do not study faithfully
and read but little. We quote:
III the girls thoughts are SO absorb
ed in cricket and hockey. a she be
expected to care for her literature, her
history. her languages? / am constant
Iy astonished TO find how little real
work our elder girls are doing. except
those who are going to earn their liv-
ing. They do just what is set; but the
idea of reading for themselves is alb
horrent TO them. They will read the
magazines, and especially some OF the
women's weekiies which are largely de-
voted to sport; but they scorn h idea
of reading Ruskin, George Eliot, ETC."
He is a teacher and gives his W
observation and experience. He thinks
it is no good indication when the re-
sult may be "a healthy body and a
vacant mind" The great English Re-
view, THE Contemporary" of London,
recently denounced the English mania
for games in a strong and elaborate pa
per. The training in athletics of all
kinds should be in much moderation.
It is a fact, we think. that profession
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-12-23

Havana, December -2l-Samuel l..
Israel, Of New York. a few days ago
opened a little store on obispo street.
for selling American flags and tewelry.
His wife last night appealed In tears
to General Greene, saying that Israel
had been arrested n that she could
not find him. General Greene sent Cap
ain Mott to Captain General Caste
lanos asking that Israel tie produced
and sent to General Gree me. In an
hour an aide-de-camp cS the captain
general brought the mai to the hotel
Inglaterra. He hsa beer. in the Furza
prison.
Israel says that at 6 o'clock yester-
day afternoon q Spar lard entered his
store. tore dow the flags and broke
the show case with b Is sword. Later he
sent three men, wno arrested Israel.
He was we'll treated while a prisoner.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-12-23

DR.. Calling is a we'll known native
or North Carolina-the inventor of the
famous gun bearing his name. His la
test production is a cast-steel gun, and
it has triumphed completely under very
remarkable gun tests. 1t was tried at
Sandy Hook on last Thursday, and
showed most marvellous strength, en-
tirely unprecedented, and it is thought
it will completely revolutionize gum
building in all probability. The report
in The New ork Evening Post says:
six shots were fired from DIR. Cat
ling's weapon, h first powder charge
weighing 1872 pounds, the next two las
pounds each, n each Of the last three
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-12-23
HOME FOLKS

j. 0. Nixon placed the responsibility
where it belongs, upon the white dema-
gogues of this bailiwick, for much of
the deviltry and the outbreak here.
Just so soon as Russell was elected
governor the change in the bearing Of
the black rOughs began, and the burly
staggering grew with indulgence.
Nixon is confident that there are no
designs, etc, on the part of the negroes.
From what is reported the conclusion
might be drawn that he is not we'll in
formed. Some ak is known and threats
have been made in the knowledge of
whites. How many are in sympathy
with the plotters ma not appear. That
there are a good many negroes in Will
mington who are rancorous, turbulent
and mad is too true to be pushed aside.
The thing to be done for the peaceful
ly disposed negroes is to give no counte-
nance to these brawlers and DULLES, to
frown severely upon any hreats of re-
taliation, for the authorities to be wide
awake, and for all peace lovers n
friends of law and order to be fully
prepared for my emergency. The best
way to preserve peace is to be ready
to stamp out any disorder.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-12-23

No town or city can afford to long
continue without a thorough system Of
sewage. 1t is absurd to expect that
ordinary sanitation-street cleaning
and back lot cleaning will preserve the
public health. You might as we'll ex-
pect The incoming tides to keep clean
Wilmington and expel malaria and
death. Wilmington has already delay
ed far too long in this matter of a per-
feet sanitary system beginning at a
ramifying, complete sewage reaching
every home lot. We cerily believe that
if in the last twenty-five years there
mad been good, pure drinking water
and thorough drainage by sewers,
rightly constructed, that $500 less
deaths would have occurred in Will
mington. If you think this extrava-
giant consult the official records and
study the reforms in British cities, and
in several southern .citiesSMemphis,
Augusta, Savannah, New Orleans and
others. Instead of being in excess it is
altogether probable hat $500 would
not cover all who would not have died.
Correspond with sanitary experts and
you will learn much thai is edifying
and important. A first rate, skilled
sanitary engineer should be employed
for Drainage, ETC..
The state herald., 1898-12-16
Familiar Phrases.

"Eureka," was the exclamation OF
Archlmedcs, when he had solved a
wclghty problem. Defend me from
my friends" was the Witty request OF
Marshall vlllars to Louis Quatorze,
The old soldier adding the complaccn,
assurance that he himself could see
after his enemies. "As good ns a
play" WIS probably unknown before
Charles II. used II whilo witnessing
the passage Of divorce bill In the
House Of Lords. Mature abhors a
vacuum" has such n familiar asiomatio
sound that one N tempted 10 believe
that I, n oocyal with Hclenc. Itself.
Nevertheless. IFS parent was tho rrcn,
Calico, aud the occasion Of Its birth
hia explanation Of the theory OF the
pump. 1T IL better TO wear out than
rust out" u tho legacy ~ encourage
tnent boquonthrd 10 weary tollerH by
Dr. Cumberland "Tha po,onilnlity of
growing rich beyond the dreams oi
aynflee ~ no, infroauently quoted. but
il Is more than doubtful u the quotora
realize their Indebtedness TO Dr. John
son, or of the fact that the Htiltcd
phrase was FIRST employed at the sale
Of a brewery
The state herald., 1898-12-16
TO EDUCATE CUBAN BOYS.
Major General Wheeler Plan Finds Ready
Acceptance In New York City.

The Cuban Educational Association
of the United States has been organized
for the purpose of organizing and car
rying out the offers made by the Ameri-
can colleges in response TO General
Whceler's suggestion that these col
leges each give free tuition to two or
more reputable Cubans.
The association announces that the
responses received from Cubans desir-
ing TO accept these offers are n,lmcr-
Gus, but that allotmen's now being con
sdcrcd include the young Cubans who
can pay their own board and incidental
expenses. No young men Will he al
lotcd who do not promise TO make their
home In Cuba after their education in
the United States.
The cost Of board and incldentals for
young Cubnns In the educational insii-
tutions in the United States will vary
from 500 To $3.50 per annum.
The association makes an appeal foi
funds for the maintenance Of Cuhnr
students and announces that The fol
lowing have agreed to receive suhscriH'
tions: Major General Joseph Wheeler
Huntsville Alabama; General CaliNt
Garcia, Cuba: Alexander H. Ors, pres
ldent Chamber of Commerce, New
York: Professor Nicholas Murry Bullet
Columbia University. New York; ID
Albert Shaw. editor Review Of Re
views. l3 Astor place. New York; VIII
liam III. Baldwin. Jr, president Lon
Island railroad. ~ Nassau street. NeN
York; Gilbert X. IIarroun, treasure
Union College, 2so Fourth nvcnu'
New York.
The state herald., 1898-12-16
ABOUT KISSING MOTHER.
Ell Perkins Gives Pert,nsu. Reminder.


1t was Ell Perkins who put the fol-
lowing reproof of careless daughter
into fathers mouth: II want to
speak to you of your mother. 1t may
be that you noticed careworn look
upon her face. OF course 1t has not
been brought there by any act of
yours; still 1t is your duty to chase 1t
away. want you to get up In the
morning md get breakfast. When
your mother comes and begins to ex-
press her surprise, go right up to her
md kiss her on the mouth. You can't
imagine how it will brighten her dear
face.
Besides, you owe her n kiss or two.
Away back when you We're little
girl she kissed you when no one else
was tempted by your fcvcr-tnlntcd
breath and swollen face: you were not
so attractive then as You are now.
Through years of childish sunshine
and sorrow she was always ready to
cure, by the magic of mothers kiss,
the little, dirty, chubby hands when
ever they We're injured In the first
skirmishes with the rough old world.
And then the midnight kisses with
which she routed so many bad dreams,
as she leaned above your restless pill
low, have all been on interest these
long years.
"Of course, she is not so pretty and
klssable ms you are: but If you had
done your share of the work during
the past ten years the contrast would
not he so marked.
''IIcr face has more wrinkles than
yours.
"And yet, If you're sick, that face
would appear far more beautiful than
an angels as 1t hovcrcd over you,
watching every opportunity to min
lister to your comfort, and everyone of
those wrinkles would seem TO be bright
wavclets of sunshine chasing each
other over the dear face.
"Shc will leave you one of these
days These burdens, II not lifted
from her shoulders, will break her
down. Those rough, hard hands,
which have done so many necessary
things for you, will be crossed upon
her lifelcss breast Those neglected
lips, which gave you your first baby
kiss, will be forever closed, and those
sad. tired eyes will have opened In
eternity and then you will appreciate
your mother, but 1t will be too late"
The state herald., 1898-12-16

| tcrruptcd at frequent intervals by such
ordinations as. "Oh. dear. may your
shadow never grow less," MAY your
wife never attend your funeral" etc.
At 2 o'clock Thomas was walking up
Roosevelt street with eager footsteps.
He stopped at n grocery store and made
purchase. then hurried mp into Park
/ Row again. The toy store man was
putting up hls shutters. but Thomas
prevailed on him to 10 inside. and at
10 o'clock he was back In Middle alley
again. Tears of delight filled Mrs.
o'Dowds eyes MS she met him at the
entrance TO the alley and led him up
the labyrinthlne staircase. There was
more mysterious whispering. Then
Mrs. O'Dowd flew downstairs again 10
get bundle Of kindllng wood. II was
well that Tommy was sound sleeper.
as the noetlng forms OF shadowy lg.
urcs and the rustic of papers would
have disturbed him.
II was 1880 when Thomas arrived
at home and greeted his anxlons wife.
| when they retired Thomas said:
Molly. set the alarm for 4 O'Clock
tomorrow. and get your wrnpd ready.
for intend to take you along 10 helm
play n joke ON Tommy oDowd."
She piled him with questions. he
gave her cyaslyc replies At Q O'Clock
Thomas and his wife arrived at Middle
alley.
"ia he awake7" he asked anslously
Of Mrs. o'Dowd. who me, them at the
door.
NO; the saints be praised. he's sleep.
In like the dead. Como here at tho
duro and watch"
The door had been thrown wide
open. but Mrs. o'Dowd had hung her
Sunday shawl over the opening. Be-
hind the folda Of this garment the
three pcrSonu watched and waited. Tho
blinds had been carefully closed. 40
that no, u ray ~ sunlight came Into
the room. Three kerosene lamps were
blazing with light to their utmost en-
rariiy. II was painfully etlll In tho
room. aud by listening lntentiy rhom.
m though, he could hear the gentle
breathing Of the little boy. M the
minutes licked slowly away the aua.
pcnHc was almost unbcafablo. a move
men, IN the bed caught the ears Of the
listeners, Then the bed clothes were
thrown aside and the little fellow sat
upright apparently pafnllsod with
amagement, Upon little table be-
tween the windows stood q Christmas
tree two feet tail stuck into the middle
NJ bundle df wood Tho light waa
reflected from hundred pieces of red
paper tied 10 the frrawny bonghH,
dozen red aud white popcorn balls
hung like apples ON the limbs Little
tandlcs twlnhled through the scant fol.
iARc. while harbor-nolo candy. n tin
soldier and jumping Jack were prom.
lnuntly displayed II was an Aladdin
like scene. And before this radiant
vision. like rain, before ahrlne,
with hands ciaspcd IN adorinE ndmlra.
on. stood little Tommy. while his
mother waa weeping teats Of Joy with
her face hidden IN the shawl.
Thomas md hip vito stole quietly
out and left hem.
George. stop" said Mrs Thomas
when they reached the corner ci
The state herald., 1898-12-16
Profit. .sf Hallway,

The report OF the Interstate Con
mcrcc Commission shows that lni
year the railways Of the United stat,
carried over l3.OO0,O00.0o pnsscngerio
one mile. They also carried 95,Oypci
100000 tons Of freight one mile. III G
total amount paid In dividends oi'
stock was $50 Gn3,T Ti-call II Sss,OcooI
900. or the total earnings Of the rnl
ways about 20 per cent. came froI
freight service aud 10 per cent. froIw
passenger service. Let rs assume
then. that of the SSs.oDn.O1p paid 4,
dividends, 10 per cent, or sGi,Goo.e \
was profit ON freight service and s2u.-
10000 was profit on passenger ser
Vice. Let us drop frnciinns and call n
S'i2,oo1GD from freight aud s2'i.p1.-
oyD from passengers. by dividing the
passenger profit into The number Of
passengers carried l3.UpOvp,VDW we
Ind that the railways had TO carry n
passenger 800 miles Ia order To earn
one dollar OF prnili-or Ave miles Ia
earn one cent Their average profit.
therefore. was less than two.tcnthS of
one cent for carrying n passenger tnnd
his bngengcl one mile.
Iiy dividing the freight profit Into
the freight mileage G,5.OOO.vDo.OvN we
find that the railways had io carry one
ton Of freight i.53O miles In order To
earn one dollar. or over fifteen miles
Ia earn one cent. The average pruht
therefore was less tlinn nrsiifiecnth
Of n cent for carrying ton NJ freight
dbcsldos londlng nnd unloading ~ one
mile.
The state herald., 1898-12-16
ON CHRISTMAS ISLAND.

A traveller from Boston-nearly all
the curious travellers are Bostonians-
has lately come back from Christmas
island with some interesting stories OF
what he found there. He seems to
have found almost everything except
a good and sufficient reason why the
island should have the name it bears,
The traveller sailed away from Java
eastward and northward, and in three
days the island hove in sight. 1t Is
seldom visited and seems to have nc
population of Its own-indeed, 1t is a
coral formation, literally crowded up
out of the sea. Successive and very
slow accretions of soil have formed,
and in this Is rooted vegetation OF
considerable extent and variety. The
island presents to the mariner the as
pect of saddle, two hills forming the
pommels. Though the hills are OF
considerable size they are covered
with coral formation to their very
submits. the peak of one of them be-
ing an immense coraline limestone,
No stream or standing water was
found on the island, as the soil, II 1t
may be called n soil, is so porous that
the rain is absorbed Immediately. Yet
the vegetation was green. and under
the fallen logs the earth was found TO
be sodden with moisture. The traveller
spent ten days on the island, and dur
ing two of them rain fell heavily. He
found trees $50 feet high, of which a
large proportion bore edible fruit.
This latter was the food of great num-
hers OF birds, whose flesh was found
to be exquisite. The place also
swarmed with rats and bats. The
most numerous of the birds were the
large fruit eating pigeons and n spe-
cies of brown dove. Neither of these
knew fear of man, and they were shot
by the dozen. The fact that at an ele-
vation of ! 200 feet above the sea level
coralIne limestone was found, and the
formation of the hills, cased as they
were with coral from base to summit,
led the traveller to observe that Christ
mas island was unique and a most re-
markable example OF coral formation.
II appeared that from the time the is
land came within the reef building
zone 1t had been steadily subjected to
movement of upheaval, varied by
pauses during which the cliffs were
eroded by the sea. There is no such
other example known.