davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Van Buren press., 1898-08-20
AFRICA'S NATIONAL GAME.
1t Is Played by All. from King to
Peasant, and May lie Seen
Even in America.

The game of mancala may be said to
be the national game of Africa. 1t is
most closely associated with that con-
tinent. 1t is found among all the
tribes, and is an evidence of the essen
tal unity that underlies all the African
races. Among the Abyssinians it is
played by all classes from the king to
the peasant. 1t is the favorite amuse-
ment of the negroes at Benin, on the
west coast. 1t is we'll known among
the natives of Bombay, in Java, in Cey-
lon, in the MaldiVe islands and in the
Malay peninsula. In Syria and Pales-
tine cup-marked stones used in this
game are not infrequently found in old
ruins. 1t is played by the Druses with
holes made in plank of wood, and this
Is the common form of the instrument
in Jerusalem and throughout Syria,
where it may be seen continually
played in the cafes by the visitors. The
children in Egypt, Nubia and Syria
play it in holes excayated in the
ground, and when two travellers meet
on the way they frequently rest and
extemporize n board of holes dug in
the hard path and proceed to play with
pebbles they gather on the spot.
In Palestine and Egypt shells are
used in the games that are brought
from the shores of the Red sea; while
in Damascus pebbles are employed
which pilgrims collect in certain val
ley on the way home from Mecca.
Games of hazard are prohibited by
the Mohamedan religion. But man
Gala is considered a game of fate or
skill, and is therefore tolerated.; and
in all likelihood it is dffused by the
pilgrimages from Mecca throughout
the Mahomedan world to the utmost
limits of Arab culture. II has even
reached the new world. The negroes
carried il to American from their old
African abodes; and at this day it is u
common amusement among the me-
groes of San Domingo. There is lit
tie Syrian colony in Washington
street, New York, among whom this
game may be frequently seen played
on board with two rows of holes, with
n handful of shells or pebbles, as a
link with their distant homes.-Good
Words.
The Van Buren press., 1898-08-20
The Eject Of Wind on Lakes.

Attention has been called to the
very remarkable effect of the wind on
various inland bodies of water. 1t is
not unusual for the residents in towns
on the shores of lakes to be greatly
inconyenienced, provided heavy wind
blowing on shore continues for any
length of time. In the Baltic sea the
level has been altered for upwards OF
eight feet. Sometimes the water is
blown out of the channel, leaving It
almost dry. In one instance a depres
sion of six feet occurred on one side of
a body of water with n corresponding
rise of six feet on the other. Lake
Erie has been known to alter its level
a distance of Is feet on account Of
heavy winds, and Lake Michigan was
at one time the subject of considerable
interest from the same cause. The
Wind was heavy and continuous and
piled the water up on one side, while
the other was so low that people
walked out upon the rocks where in
the memory of man no feet had ever
trodden.-N. Y. Ledger.
The Van Buren press., 1898-08-20
Hemp Smoking.

Moslems are forbidden to drink
wines or spirits, but in Tunis they con-
trive to reach the same ends'by smok-
ing preparations of hemp flowers. The
milder kind is called kif, and, if used
in moderation, has no more effect than
wine but the concentrated essence,
known as chira, produces intoxication
as quickly as raw spirits. and leads to
delirium tremens.-San Francisco Ar
uOnaut
The Van Buren press., 1898-08-20
The Enrfh,s ShniinNx-

The earth has a shadow, but very
few ever see it, except in eclipses Of
the moon, or else few recognize it
when they see it. Nevertheless, many
Of us have noticed it on fine, cloudless
evenings in summer shortly before
sunset a rosy or pink arc on the hori-
zon opposite the sun, with a blush
gray segment under it. As the sun
sinks the arc rises until il attains the
zenith, and even passes it. This is the
shadow of the earth.-Detroit Free
Press
The Van Buren press., 1898-08-20
Dress in tbe PbiIIDpiDes

For simplicity and coolness the mode
of dress in the Philippines is all that
could be desired. The ordinary cos
tune consists of a coat and trousers OF
white sheeting, made to order at a cost
of about two dollars; thick felt hat
with a broad brim, pair of white cam
vas shoes, n light undervest and socks.
The average well-to-do citizen wears
and soils two of these suits n day, and
an outfit Of IS or 20 is none too many.
The Van Buren press., 1898-08-20
Hnd "Reminiscences.

"War," said Private Jones, ms he
munched his hardJack, ais no picnic"
"Oh, l don't lnow!" replied Private
Brown; I've attended some rural pic
mics where the provisions didn't have
any the best % hardtack.
The Van Buren press., 1898-08-20
Worse Than Pigs

Papa" said Freddie. "the Spaniards
call MS Yankee pigs; why don't we call
them some horrid name? ?"
~We do" said little Tim. eve call
them paniards."-Harper's Bazaar.
Griggs courier., 1898-03-18
A oueer Russian District.

There is i'll Russia district which is
wholly administered and during most
of the time exclusively inhabited by
women. It is the province of Smolensk
and comprises a district of about 15
square miles, from which all the able
bodied males emigrate in the spring and
proceed to neighboring towns and dis.
tricts in search of work, remaining
away about nine months of the year. In
their absence the women cultivate the
fields and manage local affairs general
y under the presidency Of a woman
mayor. Before nightfall the women as
semble in sort of clubhouse and play
cards till or in the morning. Virtue
there is compat with unlimited
cakes and ale, and l-ough the hours are
late and SO much time is given to
amusement the commune is prosperous,
disorder is unknown and it is one of the
best conducted portions of the empire.
The czarina takes an interest in it and
is proud of it.-New York Tribune.
Griggs courier., 1898-03-18
His Request,

"You have scarcely spoken to me at
all this evening, she said in tones of
reproach.
ell beg your pardon, - her husband
returned apologetically. 81 was just
trying to think of something to say"
"Is there anything ON your mind?''
"Yes, to tell You the truth, there is. I"
"Can't I help you in some way?''
"You might, if I could suggest it
without your becoming angry. !"
"Tell me about it. It is my duty to
sympathize with you, you know"
"On my birthday anniversary you
gave me a fountain pen.
"Yes. And now you are going to say
that it makes a horrid ,nuss and that
you don't want to write with it,
"I'm not going to say anything Of
the kind" he replied stoutly. :..I,m go.
ing to write with that pen every day of
my life. But there is ono little favor
that would like to ask. -
'sWhat is it:''
''Please make mo O suit of overalls to
go with it. ''-Washington Star.
Griggs courier., 1898-03-18
The Vow Of n BOY Nemes,..

Bring to me my large revolver and
my keen Damascus blade and the rub
ber boots I'm used to when in goro 1
freely wade. Hither bring my trusty
sandbag, bring the snickersnee, say,
for my day has come for murder, and
I'm going forth to slay. shall go forth
to the slaughter like bridegroom to
his joys. and I'll fill the nearest grave
yard with string of gifted boys
shall brain the boy attorney with a
spasm Of delight, and the boy who
breaches Sundays he shall fall before
my might. On the trail of boy physl-
clans gayly. gladly shall I camp. Let
the boy pianists tremble when they
hear my roaring tramp. When strike
the boyish statesman, he must say his
prayer and die. When the boy reporter
meets me, mark ye how the fur shall
fly, for Tan weary and disgusted and
my mind has lost its poise; I have read
such beastly twaddle treating of the
gifted boys.-Atchison Globe.
Griggs courier., 1898-03-18
A Trade Secret,

''Oh, Mr.. Scannerton, :" she exclaimed
efusively, 81 have been waiting to see
you! wanted to tell you how much I
appreciate that poem you had in the
latest issue of The Cerebrum Magazine. -
'You mean the one that begins:
Through the turgid depths we plod and plow
To find the goals that promised rest
But weary starting points at BEST
eyes, she answered, with dreamy,
downcast eyes. 81 like that. And it gets
better as you 60 on. It gets very much
better. There were parts of it that
could hardly understand at ALL"
"Oh. you aatter me!''
t'No, indeed. You ought to do more
things like that. You ought to write in
more dignified measure and be pro.
found, you know like that so much
better than these little things that sound
as if they were done offhand. Yet I
know there must be a great temptation
to do that kind of work.
"There il, I" was the answer. 81 very
narrowly escaped making this one sound
co."
'sTell me how" IS
~ had to send the thing away in
hurry. didn't have time to make IL
sound offhand. ''-Washington Star.
Griggs courier., 1898-03-18
Lincoln. Kindly ch.r.et.r.

Mr.. Grow related story about Lin
coin which illustrated two phases of the
martyr presidents character. M.
Grow, then speaker of the house, had
gone to the president to ask the appoint
ment of friend as judge in one Of
the territories. The president made a
note Of the request A few days later,
when Mr.. Grow called at the White
House not about the judgeship, but
upon another matter, Mr.. Lincoln at
once began to apologize. "Mr. Speak.
ar" said he. "I'meant to appoint your
friend to that judgeship, but woman
came in here with nine small children
and one at the breast and pleaded the
bread act and Dreaded me out of it."
"While we were talking, however,
Mr.. Lincoln said that he would still at.
tend to my matter end started to put
down my friend 8 name. He went to his
hat, which was filled with papers, and
after remarking that he had queer way
Of doing things began fumbling until he
found blank sheet. I told the presi.
dent that if his hat should blow off q
lot Of state secrets would be scattered,
but he only smiled, wrote down tho
name and said that he now knew where
to find it when the time to consider tho
matter came around. "- WASHINGTON
Post.
Griggs courier., 1898-03-18
The Origin of .srommy Atkins"


The name of Tommy Atkins, which is
a sc,riquet Of the British private Sc.
dier in all parts Of the world, had an
official origin and was originally used
in the instructions to noncommissioned
officers for purposes of illustration as
John Thomas is often used OH election
forms.
Sample blank returns were furnished
to show sergeants and corporals and re-
.cruiting officers how genuine ones
shorld be made out, and Tommy At
kins, private, Company B, was the fic-
titious name always used. Model indi.
vidual reports were also included in
tho regulations, signed "Thomas At.
:kins, private, Company b." or "Thomas
Atkins, corporal, Company Co. or
''Thomas Atkins, K, his mark
Hence when q recruit arrived at a
garrison the soldiers usually addressed
him as Thomas Atkins until they found
out his real name. Drunken soldiers re-.
ported themselves as Thomas Atkins
when they were taken to a police sta.
tion until the public took it up, and
Tommy Atkins became an affectionate
synonym for the gallant warriors of her
majesty's land forces. London Globe.
Griggs courier., 1898-03-18
Not Quite Certain.

A case was being tried in court, and
the particular question at issue was the
number of persons present when GER
tain event occurred. An honest but sim
pie minded German was in the witness
box.
4Ie had never taken an oath before
and was not little disconnected. The
lawyer who conducted the cross exam
ination saw his opportunity and bad.
gered him with questions after the
manner Of his kind.
.tHow many did you say there were
PRESENT." he shouted. bringing his fist
down UPON the table as though the fate
Of empires trembled in the balance.
"Vell," meekly answered the Wit
ness, "of course gouldsnot chust say,
but I dinks dere vas, between six and
sefen."
''Tell the jury what you mean by
that, " reared the lawyer. Chow could
there be between six and seven? We're
there six or were there seven?"
"Vell, answered the witness, ",nay-
be I vas wrong. Dere vas moro as six,
but dere was not SO much as sefen. One
was q fiery leetle boy. Pearson IS
Weekly.
Griggs courier., 1898-03-18
Lobenrula,s ,Just,ce.

Only one old tree marks the spot
where the king used to sit administer
ing justice to his subjects. A large part
OF this justice consisted in decreeing
death among his indunas or prominent
men who had excited his suspicious or
whose cattle he desired to appropriate.
Sometimes he had then denounced
"smelled out" they called it-by the
witch doctors as guilty of practicing
magic against him. Sometimes he dis
pensed with q pretext and sent messen.
ger to the hut Of the doomed, man to tell
him the, king wanted him. The victim,
often ignorant of his fate, walked in
front, while the executioner. following
close behind, suddenly dealt him with
the knobkerry, or heavy ended stick,
one tremendous blow, which crushed
his skull and left him dead upon ths
ground. Women, on the ether hand,
were strangled.- Impressions of Afri-
Ca" by Professor Bryce.
Griggs courier., 1898-03-18

The customs oe the Chineeo In the
matter 1th and burial are certainly
peculia. .tants are buried summarily
without coflins, and the young arc i'm
tesred with few rites, but the funerals
Of the aged Of both eexes are elatora.e
In proportion to the number Of the de.
scendants and to their wealth. When q
childless married man dies, his widow
may perform all the duties Of son to-
ward him, may remain in his house and
may ADOPT children to rear cs his hei- :,
and as wershipers of the family names.
II his widow purposes marrying again,
. young male relative may, with the
consent Of senior members Of the clan,
undertake the services expected from q
son and may inherit the estate Of the
deceased. When one is about to die, be
10 removed from his couch to q bench,
or to mat Oh the floor. because of q
belief that he who dies in bed will carry
;he bedstead as burden into the other
world. He is washed in new vessel
In warm water, in which bundle Ct
incense sticks is merged. After the wash.
ing the vessel and the water are thrown
away together. Ha lis then arrayed in q
full suit of new clpthing, that he may
appear at his best. He breathes his las
in the main room before the largest
door in the house, that the departing
soul may easily find its way out into
the air. A sheet OF spirit money (brown
paper having ratch of gliding on Que
surface) is laid over the upturned face,
because it is said that if the eyes are
left uncovered the corpse may count the
row Of tiles in the roof, and that in
such case the family could never build
more spacious domicile. York
Ledger.
Griggs courier., 1898-03-18
The English Patent once Library.


II the poor inventor is not entirely
ignorant Of patent procedure, he knows
that the patent Office makes no search to
test the validity of his invention, and
SO he comes to undertake it himself. If
he finds that his invention appears in
no previous patent, he is confirmed in
his belief that he will at last see his
dreams realized and that he will in q
short time possess great wealth. If, on
the other hand, he finds his ideas have
been anticipated, his dreams of fortune
fade away like mist before a morning
sun, and life, as he has known it for go
many weary years-hard, toilsome, pit
iless to those who, like himself, lack
money-lies painfully clear before his
view.
A short three hours-or even less
spent in this library may plunge the
man who entered it hopeful and bright
into deepest despair, and it is certain
that within it's walls many silent TRACE.
dies of this kind are enacted week by
week and noticed by only few if any Of
those around. But inventors are hope
full race, and though some who suffer
such disappointment of all their hopes
may never recover from it there is no
doubt many recommence their expert
ments and elaborate other inventions
from which they expect the same, or
oven greater, realities of wealth and
happiness. journal.
Griggs courier., 1898-03-18
Gr0celesS.

A tiny girl of 2 or thereabout gave a
dinner party the other day for which ~
covers were laid, and that number of
small maidens sat down to dine. It was
q real little girls dinner, and the little
hostess herself presided. sitting iat the
head of the table. But she was anxious,
in looking forward to it, to do every
thing as it should he done.
Mamma" she asked, ''shall we say
grace?"
"No," said mamma, ..it Wild be a
very informal dinner, and think you
need not do that
That meant one less ceremony to be
gone through and was relief, bnt the
little lady was anxious to have all her
small guests understand it. So az they
were gathered about the table she ex-
planned:
Mamma says this is such an internal
dinner that we need not have grace to.
day. New York Times.
Griggs courier., 1898-03-18
n.ya.e sovma. Ia Ameeesa,

DuVoa6 s00nls~ 10 A0oae9A
Englishmen and Americans frequeat.
y dt6er greatly In the names they have
Tor the eame object. A we'll known art.
1t came 70 an American city from Lon.
don. and after becoming settled went
out TO buy some artists inateriala He
went to stationery store, and after
purchasing several things said:
''By the way, do you keep gumsl"
The salesw9man smiled. :.
''No, indeed, }" said she, ''but think
you can get them next door"
The artist thought it was peculiar
that he could not get what he wanted
ct stationer's, but thought perhaps it
was American. So he went next door
Ind found it was q shoe store.
"a funny place to keep gums, "quoth
he, but -. he walked and asked for
gums.
"What size do You wear?' said the
woman who met him.
That foored him.
"What on earth has t;,at got to do
with it?" thought he, but IL discovered
that he wore sevens.
Soon the woman appeared, carrying a
pair Of overshoss.
"Will these suit you?" said she to
the surprised Englishman.
"I don't want those. want gums,
something to stick with. 1t comes in a
BOTTLE"
"Oh, you mean mucilage. {" said the
girl radiantly. ''You can get that at
any stationer's q. .'-St. Louis Star.
Griggs courier., 1898-03-18


Eastward from quaint old Gresnwleh
lies Warrington square, whose vicinage.
together with q devious and doubtfully
defined district bisected by Broadway
ssd reaching irreRularly eastward and
u,rthward % far as 6tuyvesant square.
has sometimes been styled the 'sLatin
quarter" Of New York. Within this rc-
gion few Of the pioneer American au-
thors, many Of those who belonged to
what John Burrou CHS calls our Second
crop, and still larger number of au-
thors who "have not yet the advantage
of being dead, " have OF have had home
or haunt.
Washington square has itself given
title to tale BY Henry James Of New
York life. At No. 81 Of the adjacent
Washington place that subtly realistic
novelist was born, and his father, "the
seer" wrote some Of his metaphysical
treatises. We may be sure that the
school kept by '*a broad bosomed, broad
based old lady with a ferrule, of which
young James had knowledge, was not far
distant, aud il We sit of summer even
ing with Howells' Marches among
the old trees of the square we see just
north Of it the "wide fronted house
with \ big Balcony before it's drawing
room windows and with steps and
trimmings of white marble in which
dwelt the DIR. Sloper of James tale
with his dull daughter and her plot
ting aunt. Another marble and brick
dwelling Of the same row is that from
which Kitty. the heroine Of one of
Brunner's merry "Ballsds Of the
Town, disappeared to go "summering"
in studio building on the other side of
the square. Hereabout N. p. Willis
suffered q fagellation from Edwin For
rest, provoked by the poet conduct and
criticisms in relation to the latter's di-
vorce ligitation.
Griggs courier., 1898-03-18
CHE MISSED IT.

Oeoanoo Wnae ~ Oo0o1oasna0 0kla Ol4
Net Apply . Hsf.
81 know what ! am talking about,
remarked member Of oonsrsss. when
I ny that congressman has trouble Of
his own. It's . fine thing TO be states
man and show mp in the national pa
rade Of greatness at the capital, but
there's good deal moro to It than that.
And one Of the things that is hardest to
bear is what they say about u.s. Why. .
lady can't come up here and ask to sec
q member that there aren't half dozen
people 10 wink aud shake the head and
q lot more Of tho same to make him
wish all ths women we're in hades. OF
course there is some ground among us
for remarks, just as there is among
preachers and doctors and hod carriers
aud everybody else human, and know
q woman or two who find their chief
delight in trying to-involve congress-
men and other officials in any kind of y
Irritation that comes handy. They are
pretty and persuasive, and before man
knows what be is about he is down in
the senate restaurant paying for lunch
and listening to some kiLd of tale Of
woe.
"But they miss it now and then, and
am glad to note an instance. A men,
ber from northern state had been in
vited to call at the lady g hotel the next
day, and she had asked him to let her
know il he could come. He wrote. say
ing among other things Tomorrow,
madam. hope to see the loveliest wom-
an in the whole world Naturally she
was pleased and told all the people
around the hotel about it. The next day
he did not appear, and the next she saw
him at the capitol and asked him what
he meant by treating her so.
"'What did do?' he asked inno-
GENTLY.
"'You said you were coming to see
me. she said, blushing at the remem-
brahce of his words
"'I think not.
"'1ndeed you did, she insisted. You
said you would see the loveliest woman
in the world. and she blushed again.
"'Oh, beg your PARDON he said,
smiling. Il meant my wife. She just ar
rived yesterday. Washington Star.
Griggs courier., 1898-03-18
Scared Tennyson.

Tennyson one day entered club read
ing room and sat down in a large arm
chair before the fire. Much to the amaze.
ment Of the other occupants of the
room, he proceeded to elevate his feet
until they rested on the chimneypiece
in "real American" fashion. No expos
tulations on the part of his friends re.
specting tho inelegance of the position
were Of the slightest avail. Suddenly a
brilliant inspiration seized one Of them.
Going close to Lord Tennyson, he whis.
pered in his ear, "Take your feet down
or they'll mistake you for Longfellow. {"
In an instant the poets boots were on
the floor. aud he assumed the ordinary
position of an Englishman. San Fran.
cisco Argonaut.
Griggs courier., 1898-03-18
THE STEAMERS CHIMNEY.
Some Details Of Interest Regarding Its
Construction and Use.

Some Details Of Interest Regarding Its
Construction and Use.
The stroller along the wharfs who
should see rising from the smokestack
of big steamer small and at the start
perfectly defined column of smoke which
seemed to come from q small smoke
pipe within the big one might wonder
if the great smokestack was filled with
smaller stacks, one for each boiler. As
a matter of fact it is not so filled, but
there is within it a smaller smoke pipe
called the donkey stack. which is the
chimney for the boiler Of the donkey en-
gine, which is used when the vessel is
in port in hoisting cargo in and out. It
is from this pipe that the small column
of smoke is seen to issue.
The donkey stack is placed sometimes
against the forward inner side of the big
stack, sometimes against the after inner
side. 1t may be complete pipe, or it
may be formed of iron in the shape of
half a pipe, with danges riveted to the
main pipe.
If single one of the large boilers
were used, as it might be when ths ship
is in port, it might be connected with
the donkey stack, but in their regular
and common arrangement and use the
uptakes of all these boilers run into the
great chimney, whose whole interior is
open, except for the braces running
across it to strengthen and support it.
The chimneys Of all large steamships,
however, and Of many other steam ves-
sells as we'll are built double, with an
inner and an outer shell, with space
between varying according to the size
Of the vessel. It may be from five to ten
inches. The primary purpose Of this
chamber around the smokestack is to
afford ventilation for the engine room
and the stokebole. In at least one mod
ern passenger ship ventilating pipes
from the passenger quarters have been
carried to these chambers. incidentally
the space between the shells helps to
keep the stack slightly, for thus con-
strIcted the chimney is cooler on the
outside than it would otherwise be, and
SO it holds paint the better.-New York
Sun.