davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-20
OLDER THAN The PYRAMIDS.
EVIDENCES OF PREHISTORIC CIVIL
IZATION FOUND IN MEXICO.
A City Whose History Was n Much .
Mystery When COrtez Landed In
That Country as 1t Is at
the Present Day.

In Yucatan. Honduras and Old Mexico
there are ruins Of a prehistoric civilization
of which the Indians ave no authentic
tradition. The Central American explorer,
George Byron Gordon. oun in the Copan
valley, in Honduras. large and extensive
ruins of what must have been a city filled
with temples. On the east coast Of Yucca
tan are the ruins OF a city which must
have counted o 1000 population. The ruins
of an artificial harbor still exist. the mole,
at first supposed to be a coral reef. being
IN a fair condition at the present time.
From this 1t is evident that these people,
whoever they were. were also mariners. but
with whom they traded Is unknown. These
are the celebrated ruins of Toloum-
Near the little city of San Juan Teo-
tihucan. on the line of the Mexican rail-
way (the English road from Vera Cruz
to the City of Mexico). one hours ride from
the capital, Is the site of an ancient city
whose history was as much a mystery when
Cortez landed in Mexico as 1t is to-day.
In the center of the site of this city. which
must have extended several miles in every
direction. are two pyramids which have
been called the pyramids of the Sun and
Moon. From the railroad their dimensions
do not seem as formidable as they really
are. being in the line of vision with q
mountain near by called Cerro Gordo.
According to the very careful measure
ments of Senior Garcia Cubas. the dimen-
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-20
PYRAMIDS OF THE MOON n SUN IN MEXICO.

sions Of the larger pyramid. called the pyra-
mid Of the Sun. are e16 feet 5 inches high.
on the top is s. feet north and south by
10 feet east and west. The pyramid Of
The Moon. from which the accompanying
base 5l1 by E6 feet. and a platform on the
top 20 feet square. tt only entrance
as yet discovered in either Of these great
mounds is found on the southern face OF
the pyramid Of the Moon, at a height OF IS
feet from the ground. This gives inlet to
z narrow = descending EaIiery intsrrug,ed
are laid up with carefully squared stone.
The axis of this gallery, according to the
comedies exactly with the true meridian.
This can not be an accident. and when it
Is remembered that the entrance gallery
the same popularity. the only reasonable
inference to be drawn is that these an
cient people had a practical knowledge Of
astronomy. The well has not yet been ex-
plored.
The pyramid Of the Sun has not yet
been entered. To the south Of the pyramid
as the citadel. a square enclosed by a
mound averaging 2se feet thick by thirty
closed square is a small pyramid. and upon
the inclosing earthenwork there are tour
teen small pyramids disposed at equal in
mids are great numbers Of small mounds.
isolated and grouped.
The most notable group Of these Is that
IN oS A"o -
street of the dead. This curious cause
way. which is quite well preserved, and
can be seen in the illustration, begins near
the citadel. and passing the western face
of the pyramid of the Sun. ends at the
southern front Of the pyramid of the Moon,
where 1t widens out into q large circle. in
the center of which there Is a tumulus.
Many of these tumuli have been opened.
disclosing in some cases boxes Of wrought
stone inclosing a skull and of
obsidian and pottery: in other cases lin the
tumuli along the sides Of the street Of the
dead) only Empty chambers have been
found.
Senior orozcoy Berra. a gentleman who
has made an extensive and careful study
of the archaeological discoveries of Mex
leo and Central America. after examining
these remains gives the following as the
conclusions to which he has arrived: They
show a wide divergence from any known
types of the clay masks and pottery found
in what are assumed to be the oldest tombS
and that they are the work Of a race older
than either the Toltecs or Acolhuas. OF
which only these monument now remain.
Who these people were. and In what age
they lived. is a matter OF pure conjecture.
and We will probably never know exactly
where to place them. They are probably
the remains of a people who passed away
before many others deemed ancient came
into existence. Tourists who wish to visit
ancient ruins will find the monuments hero
described sufficiently ancient to meet all
reasonable demands.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-20
100000 GONE IN A FLASH,
A klondik Telegraph Line Which
Was by the At
lantic Cable.

From the London Nail.
Long ago-in 1~S63-64-there was no cable
between Europe and America. Trans-At-
lantic news-even during the exciting cpl
sodes of the civil war-was always about
a fortnight old. The attempt to make a
cab connection had ended dIsastrously,
and in this juncture of affairs was organ
ize: a gigantic enterprise, looking to the
connection of the United States with Eu-
rope via klondike and Boring sea. Mos:
electricians and telegraph experts had
made up their minds that forty miles
which was the distance across the strait
represented the longest a submarine
cable could be successfully worked.
A mpa was formed. and what was
known in those days as Russian extension
In 1865 the line between New Westminster
and the Yukon river was surveyed, found
to be practicable. and ~traversed complete
ly the present klondike region.
The line was expected to be finished In
1867. Even the tariff for messages was
fixed at Go s25) per message. The receipts
were estimated to yield about 81, 900, go per
ed from New Westminster along the pref
emit route of the Canadian Pacific railway
to Ashcroft. where 1t was continued north
toward Boring sea to Fort Stager. three
or four hundred miles beyond Quesnelle.
This line is at this present moment I'm
operation In a portion Of the Cariboo
country.
Then. in the midst of the whole bust
ness. after three years Of hard work. came
like a thunderclap the news that the At
laEtic cable was a success. Three million
dollars had been expended. yet the next
day Russian extension stock was not
worth the printers ink OF Its surface.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-20
BEN FRANKLIN.
George III. Abused Him and Lost the
COlOnies-Most Famous Amer
ican Then Living.

Senator Lodge in scribners.
Chief among these new members was
Benjamin Franklin, the most famous Amer
lean then living, known throughout Eu-
rope by his scientific discoveries; known
in England besides as the fearless cham
pion of the colonies; great in science and
ststecraft: a statesman and diplomatist; a
man of letters and a popular writer, whose
wit and wisdom were read in many ton
CUES; just returned from London, and
the wiseSt and most influential man in
congress. 1t is worth while to pause a
moment to look at Franklin. standing
he was one of the great men Of the GEN.
fury. He was then in his seventeen year.
but vigorous and keen as ever in mind and
body He could have done more than any
other one man to prevent colonial revolt
He was eminentiy conservative and peace
country. The ministry that would have
listened to him and been guided by him.
would have held America. and fastened
IL tighter than ever TO the empire. In
stead of this official. England sent her
solicitor general to vilify and abuse him
in the presence of the privy council and
before the English people. Franklin lis
heaped upon him. and the most powerful
friend to peace, union and Cancellation
WAS lost to England. Now he had come
back to guide his countrymen in the dan
gers that beset them. and TO win allies for
them from beyond the seas. In the man
are apt to lose sight of the bold statesman
and great diplomatist. We think of that
familiar face with the fine forehead and
the expression of universal benevolence.
But there was another aspect. Look ut the
picture of Franklin where the fur cap is
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-20
HE WAS PERFECTLY SOBER.
But Nevertheless He Went to Bed
With His Fur Cap on
His Head.

h10 Head.
In the days when Judge Dixon made his
nome IN Madison nearly every one drank,
and 1t was not unusual for men in high
station to violate to some degree the laws
of sobriety, says the Chicago Times-Herald.
Judge Dixon was no exception to the rule.
He drank h moderation. being careful to
keep his head clear on most occasions. He
found the habit growing upon him, how
ever, and resolved upon its abandonment.
and for a long time he was missed from
his old naunts. But one night in winter he
dropped into the ST. Nicholas casually, and
friends. Old tales were retold. old memoir
les called back. and there We're frequent IL
bations at the altar OF good fellowship.
The judge stayed late. and when he start
his veins with more than its accustomed
celebrity. He was not intoxicated. but felt
jolly AS ne wendell his way homeward he
realized his condition. and thought of the
She discovered his lapse from the life he
had SO recently begun. To save her he re-
solved upon a little deception. something
to which he was not accustomed. He HAD
no difficulty in finding the keyhole and
rejoiced to find his wife apparently asleep.
He undressed with care, disposing OF each
article OF apparel methodically. as was his
wont. When his head at last rested upon
the pillow he heaved a sigh of relief. He
licitation was of short duration. however.
Luther" came a low. sweet voice from
his side.
Yes; my dear" he responded. somewhat
Have you not been drinking to-night?'
The Judge could but would not tell a lie.
and in this respect he differed from the i'm
mortal G. Washington. so he replied: Just
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-20
SUSPENDED ANIMATION.
lie Smashed the Glass in
His Coffin.

From the Montreal Witness.
A strange story comes from Matane
which has aroused the greatest excitement
in the district. 1t appears that last Tues
day week. the cure of the village, the Rev.
Father Narcisse Levesque dit Lafrance.
died OF erysipelas and three days after
wards the body. after the usual services in
the village church. was placed In the vault
below the sacred edificc. 1t was thought
that possibly the priest might not he dead.
but only in n lethargy and. therefore. a
watch was kept in the vault for several
days. On Friday last II was noticed that
the glass on the coffin was dimmed with
vapor, and shortly afterwards the occu-
pant OF the coffin, with a movement of the
arm smashed the glass.
Father Lafrance showed every sign of
sensibility almost Immediately and was
quickly removed from his gruesome bed
TO the presbytery. At first It was hoped
that the priest would survive. but on Tues
day last, one week from his attack of
lethargy.. he passed away. The people in
the district are wild with excitement and
lest there should be a repetition of the
first mistake a double watch has been
placed on the remains.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-20

a little, my dear; a glass or two with old
friends I had not met for a long time"
you are perfectly sober. are you not.
Luther?" came again in the same quiet
voice. -
Never more sober in my life" declared
the judge, gaining confidence.
"Of course" said his wife, you must be
sober. You put your boots in their proper
place, hung YOU coat ana vest on their
customary pegs and carefully folded your
trousers and laid them aside"
Certainly" said the judge. with an air
of triumph. Doesn't that prove l am So
berg"
..Perhaps so, my DEAR the sweet voice
replied with provoking deliberations. bat
does a perfectly sober man go to bed with
his fur cap on?" :.
The Judge was fairly caught, and could
do naught but follow the example of Topsy
and fully TESS his dereliction. The story
is a truthful one. for the judge. who ap-
at his own expense. related the incident
himself.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-20
ANOTHER new SCIENCE,
This One Shows How to Tell . Mans
Occupation by the Way
He Eata.
from the Chicago Inter O,ean.

From the Chicago Inter Ocean.
There is a waiter In a Dearborn street
restaurant who has discovered the science
OF reading a mans occupation by his man.
ner OF eating. He can look into the calm
eye OF q customer engaged in disarticulat-
derful accuracy whether the man is a
scissors grinder or a State street merchant,
OF course, one must be a close observer
study. Yet if the student will avail him
mahogany board, he will find that when
the business man is at the table some habit
acquired in the daily. pursuance Of his pro-
For an instance. the banker may come in
and order wheat cakes. If he does, the
waiter DECLARES. he will Invariably dip his
The gambler will look around to see If
OF bread: If he orders fapjacks he is sure
to slip them one by one from the bottom
as he eats. them: The clothing salesman
feel the texture: while the keen observer
will notice that the teweier. upo ordering
pie pie, VIII Iil.I hold it to o,, his ear. Isl! shake it. and
top crust with the point of his knife and
examine the insides.
During an interview the other day the
science 'eatistry."
u have not mastered my science yet
what l learn some new point. oh. it's a
great study. and I think. in time it will take
its place along with Palmistry and phrcn-
ology and other kindred sciences"
Have you ever made a mistake in judg-
ing a mans occupation"
Only once. And that could hardly he
to the mans business. 1 confess 1 was
stumped. The fellow came in and ordered
his dinner. OF course. l gave him a glass
of water. He look at 1t with some sur
prise. and said. I didn't order that
1t costs you nothing. says ]. and you
don't need to drink it unless you wish to-
H thanked me. and, what do you think,
He broke his bread into it. and then ate it
with a spoon. ] don't know what to make
teImine what his business was. When he
was leaving I tapped him on the shoulder
and asked him outright what he did for a
living.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-20
SIGIRI ROCK EXPLORATIONS.
FAMOUS FORTRESS HAS BEEN ABAN-
DoNED OVER 1000 YEARS,
Wonderful Frescoes Discovered Hid.
den Away in Inaccessible Pock-
cts I'm the Face of the Rock
Natives Defend II.

Some very interesting explorations have
peen conducted recently by the Asiatic So
c:ety under the immediate direction of the
government of Ceylon- H. P. Bell, COM
missioner of archaeology, has been the di-
rector OF the expedition, and although his
work has not yet reached completion, the
results already obtained are extremely in
teresting. The object of research has been
the Rock Of Sigiri.
During the early 'Sos Alexander Muir
ray. then in the employ of the Ceylon
pubic works, made some very interesting
discoveries of frescoes painted on the
hides, roof and back of an inaccessible
pocket in the face of the rock. He managed
under very great difficulties 10 effect Il
most perilous ascent and under disadvan-
faGeous circumstances obtain copies in
crayon Of the frescies.
A Demon-Haunted Place.
1t was occupied and built in the year 40
by King kasyapa. the parricide, and there
for eighteen years he held his court. The
Qualifications were most remarkable, and
the city scarcely less so. When the kings
murderous tendencies finally led him to
complete his horrible career by a violent
suicide. ii was abandoned and stunned as
III accursed. d~emon-haunted place. The SUI
perstition is still strong in the native mind.
To unearth the buried city on and around
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-20
BIG CHUNKS OF GOLD.
Some Fnmously Large Masses of the
Precious Metal-A o Pound
Chilean Nugget.

Sh1lenn Nugget.
From the San Francisco Chronicle.
While the nugget found in the Blue Jay
pocket by the Graves brothers is likely to
become famous for its size and value. it is
not. as has been stated. the largest one
known In the authentic history of mining.
This nugget stands. or rather stood-for it
is now being minted-for about 42.G0O, but
saying nothing of the alleged Chilean mug
get weighing 400 pounds troy. the Wei
comes comes nTiuE age OF ,e sailar at w so1g ing 2 ia
80. or nearly So, 900. 1t is even a question
whether the Graves nugget is the largest
According to Hitteil. a nugget was found
at Carson Hill. Calaveras county. in No
vember. 1854. which weighed I@5 pounds
troy. and was worth $4,000. Between the
two there is no great issue of values. but
what there is appears to be in favor of the
earlier specimen.
one which Marshall picked up. was worth
but 30 cents. and the next one discovered
but s.. A soldier in Stevenson'S regiment
found the first large specimen. a mass of
gold weighing between twenty and twenty
five pounds. while stopping to drink in a
small affiuent on the Mokulumne -.ver.
This nugget was taken East. where its eX-
hibition confirmed the stories of California
wealth and added materially to the public
excitement there.
III 1854 the Oliver Martin chunk" which
was auriferous ore mixed with white
quartz. was picked up near Camp Corona,
tin had dug to bury a drowned comrade.
1t yielded 500. 30 and became the basis of
a great fortune. In 1866. Daniel Hill, a pau
per. found a $4,000 nugget in Plurnas
county. and coming to San Francisco. spent
the proceeds quickly. 5000 being squander-
cd in one weeks whirl. With his money all
gone. he went to Dutch Flats, Nevada
county. and while washing his hands in a
stream saw lying on the bottom a nugget
OF gold and white quartz similar in size and
shape to a baby's head. This brought 81. 800.
ard sent Daniel Hill through a career of
de~bauchery TO the poorhouse.
Tho finlE in llfar wears I'm tn tho RIrfo
Jay discovery have not been of a notable
sort. In the fall of 1889. two tramps who
had been put off a southern Pacific freigh:
found a battered nugget weighing ZIG ounces
on the way. In 1885 a chunk worth sl.4oo
was picked up in San Diego county. and
there have been two or three discoveries
on the Mojave desert. The majority of the
finds have been accidental.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-20
The Modern Intuition.

Yes" said the typical woman, "I always
go by intuition. and. what's more. IL al
ways works. too. You may say what you
choose about logic and reasoning. and other
masculine and therefore sensible methods
of arriving at conclusions. but there's MOTH
ing. after all. like Intuition for a guide. Ii
hits the bulls eye every time. and guess
i ought to know. for. as l say. it's the only
.ule of conduct l go by" And does it
nsyer faiI?' asked the man to whom all
this was addressed. DO you mean TO say
that you always do just as your woman's
intuitian tells you to. and hat you find it
an invariably safe guide?" The woman
smiled. . not the intuition itself. she
FASTENED to say. II would never trust TO
II alone, OF course. I go by contraries. 1
look out for my intuition and then do ex-
actly the opposite. But It's the intuition
guiding me just The same. for II there
wasn't any intuition. how could there be
n opposite?"
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-20
AMONG THE KITES.
Some of Them Are az Big as Houses
and Will Carry
Men

While science. through the efforts Of Will
liam A. Eddy. Gilbert I. Wooglom, and
others, has taken the kite and made it
perform wonder at an elevation of about
two miles until it has become a valuable
scientific instrument. the everyday kite
has not been neglected by the Iaity. A mon
ster kite now being built by w. H. Markle
of South Bethlehem. Pa. is as big as a two
story. house. 1t is twenty-five feet high,
twenty-four feet wide. and triangular in
and one-half by two inches, tapering 20
one and one-half inches at the extremitics.
At the angles are two inch screw eyes 20
which are attached the canvas sail cor
ners. Mr.. MarkIe has flown the kite only
once, so far. and then it began to carry
him up with it; supporting, him steadily
while he climbed down hand over hand.
Another large kite has been built by r. T..
Ramsey, a cigar manufacturer of Lebanon.
Pa. 1t is eighteen feet by sixteen feet, and
tho top is ornamented with gold stars and
the lower part with red and blue stripes.
When he started it up on a trial trip it
ran away with him. and it took six men to
hold IL down.
A kite seventeen feet high and twelve
feet wide has been made by A. andrews,
Arthur. and Leon Bunnell. and Wallace
Cook Of Terryville, Conn. 1t is covered with
fifty-four yards Of canvas. and Weighs fifty
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-20

pounds, having a tail 124 feet long. It car
ries 200 feet of line. and one day it drag
geo the boys. seated in a light buggy. six
miles down the road.
Fortune Labado of Nyack. ". V, has
made a folding kite on the umbrella plan,
offering. great resistance and perfect sta
bility. The frame consists of eight ribs.
The tail is a cord with light canvas pock-
cts. in which sand or pebbles are placed
for ballast.
Another large kite is that of George
Thomson of Dudley Hill. England. 1t has
a rib frame of ash. and is twenty-five feet
high. fourteen feet wide. sixty-five feet in
circumference. and weighs forty pounds.
Its tai. is rs feet long. and it takes four
men to fy II.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-20

pulled down ever his head. The noble
and gentle benevolence has faded, and a
face of strength and power, of vigorous
will and CT an a%stuteness rarely equaled,
This versatile genius, with the s-ternness
of the Puritan mingling with the skepti-
cism and tolerance of the eighteenth CEN
fury philosopher. was not one to be lightly
revIled and abused.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-20
WHY PLANTS GROW UPWARD.
Some Experiments With . Wheel
Prove Gravitation the

The ingenious experimental methods that
have proved beyond reasonable doubt that
1t is gravitation that causes the upright
growth Of plants are thus described. says
the Literary Digest. in a series Of articles
botany now being published in the Phar-
maceutical Era. Says that Journal:
1.-The direction Of growth of root and
stem is not a merely accidental one. A
number OF investigators have been at work
to see what Is the cause Of this diamet-
really opposed growth in stem and root.
1T has been suggested that the action OF
gravitation would take some part In the
Of the roots This Is. In fact.
the apparent tendency of the following ex-
periments:
Beans have been made to terminate
when placed on the circumference Of an
so as to maintain the moisture of the
seeds. and holding little troughs full OF
mould open on two sides. the wheel being
put in motion In a vertical direction by a
current Of water, and made to describe
many revolutions in a minute. In conse-
quence OF this rotary movement, producing
centrifugal force. the action of g~ravita-
ton Is. as it were. annihilated. and the
sprouting seed. removed from its influence.
is subjected to centrifugal force only.
Sec what occurs: The small stems
which. in ordinary circumstances. would
be directed upward. that IS TO say. in a
opposite to the action of CRAWL
tation. now turn themselves In the direc-
ton opposite to the direction Of the CEN
wheel. The ~rootlets. which. under ordinary
circumstances. would bury themselves in
the earth. and in the direction required by
tnf 'a IN the 10. direction kral'o Of the f feace WHICH bSS
has taken the place OF gravifation.
This curious experiment. carried out FOR
has been repeated and modified in France
by the ingenious naturalist. D~utrochet."