davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-08-31
THE POWER OF SHADOWS.
"A Gloomy View Of tho Power of Certain
Popular superstitions.

a Gloomy View Of tho Power of Certain
Popular Superstitions.
As antique runners passed from hand
to hand the sacred torch, 80 the genera
lions transmit to the generations which
succeed them all that they have of
light and knowledge, leaving them as a
heritage the care of continuing the di-
vine work of enfranchisement and of
helping to dissipate the shadows of ig
norance.
Little by little these clouds are van
quished and disappear, and the touch of
Intelligence flames the more radiantly
IN the midst OF the .Tuyailing masses.
Bat ali Of = Sudden veil covers the
understanding surges up which
seems like the darkness of another age.
One feels that in q corner of this civil
lization -mOnstrOus things have place.
Hero they burn Il woman accused of
sorcery; there III Suabia tribunal con-
dennis to four days Of Imprisonment a
Iaborer who had disiuterred the corpse
uf an infant. He wanted to make brace
lets ~ its finger nails. which, according
10 bel eff hold in that country, consti-
tnte = sovereign remedy against collie.
And all the stories of vampires, of
elfs, return to the mind with all the
victims they have made and are making
still.
It seems in reading such things that
fhe power of shadows Is still impen-
etrabie to all that science has done and
II /, as have said, the effort is vain
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-08-31
Cockatooe.


The cockatoos constitute branch OF
the great parrot family, and, with the
exception OF tnc SPECIES which inhabits
the Philippine islands, are peculiar to
the Australasian region.
Leadbeater's cockatoo is one of the
most beautiful of the group. his white
plulnage being tinged with rose color
W. L. Greene, the great authority ON
cage parrots, describes it aptly as ''rasp-
berry and cream color-bJS AS his
mental eRdowments are by 10 means
equal TO his personal attractions he Is
less popular as a pet than species with
more intelligence than good looks One
point in his favor must be mentioned
he is less determined screaner than
the majority of cockatoos This, how
ever, is not saying much. In his native
woods of South Australia Leadbeater's
csckatoo is very shy and diific0lt to APP
proach. The birds sent to Europe, no
doubt taken as nestlinGs in the MAORI
ty of instances, remain usually wild
and suspicious, though they bear con-
inement well and do not suffer from
the cold.
At home in Australia the cockatoo is
not beloved of the farmer, and it can
be well imagined that flock of these
big birds, amounting often to thousands,
commit fearful havoc upon the crops.
Hence it is shot down as remorselessly
as the sparrow in England when it
grows too numerous to be acceptable TO
the agriculturist. Like the rest of the
genus, this cockatoo usually makes its
nest in hollow tree, where the hen
lays two pure white eggs.-St. Louis
Ranublir
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-08-31
Grasestone EmbIems.

In cemetery i'll neighborinG state
lies buried a family of the name of
Rose. Upon each headstone is cut this
flower, broken at the stem, while upon
the babes tomb is engraved bud.
Curious as this is in itself, however, it
is emphasized by the neighboring plot,
where lies n family of the name of Fish,
who have followed the example of the
Roses by having a small specimen Of
the finny tribe cut upon each of their
gravestones-New York Sun.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-08-31
Easy Enough to Tell.

Briggs-And so you consider Nc
Faker a clever delineator of characters?
Griggs-Yes-
Briggs-And can you readily distin-
guish his German dialect from his Irish
brogue:
Griggs-Oh, dear. yes. The pro-
gramme tells when he is going 70 imi-
tate German English and when he is
going to give us little Irish brogue. -
Boston Transcript.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-08-31
Dinerent Ideas a. to Clothes.

II the native women of Sumatra have
their knees properly covered, the rest
does not matter. The natives Of some
islands off the coast of Guinea wear
clothes only when they are going ON a
Journey. Some Indians of Venezuela
IRE ashamed To wear clothes before
strangers. as it seems indecent TO them
to appear Imprinted.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-08-31

The latest census proves that in up
per Fifth avenue there is a stretch Of
houses a mile and half long that con-
tains dozens of millionaires. 1t is for
its length the highest socially, the most
INTELLECTUALLY handsome and by far
the most wealthy street in the world
New York Telegram.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-08-31

In Cochin China when husband and
wife fird they can no longer agree they
give y dinner, TO which they invite
their relations and the patriarch of the
village. The latter during the meal
takes the chopsticks of the pair and
breaks them, and by his action they
are legally divorced
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-08-31

The following is a remedy for oily
skin: Liquid refined honey, one ounce /;
alcohol, two ounces; cucumber emul-
sion, one ounce; elder flower water.
four ounces; strained juice of two lem
ons-. The mixture should be used night
and morning and applied with soft
rag or sponge.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-08-31
win Cue Him ErentuaIlr.

81 feel considerably encouraged about
Slusher.'
why, thought you told me he was
incurahle-that he smoked the nasty
little things inccssantly. and they had
given him n constant cough. -
That's why am encouraged The
cough is getting worse Chicago
Tribune.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-08-31

The Sheffield club is the Oldest foot
ball organization in the United King
DOM 1t was started in 1888, and ITS
minute book fer 1857 IL still IN exist
snce-
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-13
Intererting Fire Figures.

A statement madesby the fire insurance
agents of this city and published in the
Morning News yesterday. relative to the
cost of Charleston's fire losses and the cost
of operating Charlcston's fire department
is very interesting reading. 1t suggests
some questions which the property owners
of this city would like the Fire Commission
10 answer. One question is, how IS it that
Charleston manages TO sustain her fire de-
partment, which is said to be larger than
that of this city, on less than $4,000
year. the Savannah Fire Commission
is not satisfied with $4,000? Another ques-
ton is, how is il that with a fire service
costing $4,000 a year. Savannah has fire
losses amounting to more than &75,OOO an
nually, while Charleston, with a fire ser
vice costing less than $4,000, has an annual
fire loss of only about $1,000? Charleston is
as large as Savannah and hasn't as salts
factory a water supply The Charleston
supply is approximately 100000 per day,
while the average daily pumpage in this
city is about 100000 gallons.
The Fire Commission was expected to do
great things for Savannah in the way of
reducing the cost of fire service and the
rates of insurance Has it done either? Is
not the fire department costing more now
than ever before, or at least fully as much,
and have not the rates of insurance been
raised since the Inauguration of the Fire
Commission, until they are now higher
than those of any other city of Savannah's
class in the country?
The Fire Commission ought to answer the
foregoing questions and tell the people
why it is that Savannahs fire department
costs so much more than Charleston's, al
though Charleston's is the larger, and why
the annual fire losses in Savannah are so
much greater than they are in Charleston.
There must be something wrong some
where. Is it mismanagement, OF incompe-
tency or simply bad luck? Unless the Fire
Commission can show that the comparison
between Charleston and Savannah, which
the local fire agents have published, is not
a fair one, it ought to be willing to admit
either that it doesn't know how to manage
the fire department or else that that de-
partment is greatly in need of reorganiza-
ton.
What Is somewhat remarkable Is that
Notwithstanding the increase in insurance
rates and the showing made against the
fire department, property owners remain
apathetic in the matters of insurance rates
and the fire department. In almost any
other city there would be extraordinary
clamor for reform.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-13
joys of AItruism.

In the wretched attic, the abode of pow
erty and suffering, sat two persons, hus-
band and wife, says the Chicago Tribune.
Pale, hollow-eyed, hopeless, with her
hands folded in her lap, the wife looked
drearily out of the window at the patch
of blue sky visible beyond the blackened
chimney pots and dingy roofs that an
sWered for a landscape. 'sff
The husband, gaunt with famine and
misery, leaned his head on his hands in
the attitude of one who had given up the
battle.
He had tramped the streets day after
day looking vainly for work, and now. too
proud to beg, he waited calmly for the
end.
With their last bit of fuel they Drowned
their last crust of bread, which they
STEPPED in hot water in a mournfuI effort
to make a beverage family recalling the
coffee of happier days.
The afternoon sun, shining dimly through
the smoke and fog that overhung the great
city, sank behind a bank of gray clouds in
the distant west, and the miserable attic
became, if possible, darker and gloomier.
but the wretched occupants needed it not.
The apathy of despair had settled upon
them.
light footstep was heard ascending the
rickety stairway.
There was a knock at the door, and
without waiting for an invita- ton some
one entered the room.
The husband and wife looked up.
Sirish form stood before them In the
dim light they saw young face, framed
In clustering curls, the divine light of pity
shining in the soft brown eyes that looked
down upon them, and there was a thrill in
the musical voice that spoke to them.
I'VE have heard that you are in trouble. -
said the visitor, land the Society of Will
ing Workers has commissioned me to bring
you these
a pair of slippers, half dozen embroider-
ed handkerchiefs, and a small bottle of
quinine pills, and softly withdrew
Blessings on our organized philanthro-
pists! What would the deserving poor do
without them?
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-13
Judged b, Annenrnnces.


Two little girls occupied seats together
the Boston Herald. Both were scantily
| dressed, hollow-eyed and hungry-looling.
They were Enthusiastically of that class
known as cash girls employed in the
downtown department stores, for each
addressed the other by number in lieu
of a name.
Directly opposite them sat fashionably
| dressed woman, who was accompanied by
a well-groomed male escort. Upon their en-
trance the conversation of the little girls
stopped abruptly and there was something
pitiful in the earnestness with which both
watched every move of the woman so
stunningly gowned. Two pairs of abb
normally keen though tired eyes thorough
ly Investigated every bit of fnery in her
apparel, from the highest plume Of her
hat to the soft, natty shoes which en-
cased her shapely feet
Say, Seventy-six, - whispered the small
er of the two girls, leaning toward her
companion, she's a real lady, she is. You
can tell by her makeup Amt that a
beaut of hat though; and look at that
diamond breastpin. Whew! I'll bet that
hat cost all Of
"Sh-" interrupted Seventy-six in an I'M
spell of silence as both girls leaned back
with their heads resting against the top
OF the seat. They were enjoying the daz-
zling picture before them.
After glancing over a section of a news
paper which the man had given her, the
woman folded 1t up and handed it back
to him.
did you get the tickets?" she asked.
Yes" was the answer in an Indifferent
tone.
Let me see them"
He extracted a small envelope from his
vest pocket and handed il to her 'By
the way" he remarked, I'VE will have to
go tonight I couldn't get seats for to-
morrow, and rather than miss it 1 took
these"
Tonight" she repeated, in a tone of
vexation. You know well enough that
we can't go tonight. We have another
Which we can conveniently cancel" he
interpolated.
Indeed, we win not" she retorted with
determined stamp of her foot
A protracted argument followed, which
was not too low for the cash girls to learn
the drift
You can go to Mrs. Browns alone, .
finally exclaimed the man, land 1 will
take your mother to the theater. We can
call for you on our way home if you in
sist on going"
You will not go to the theater with
anybody. You must and will go to Mrs.
Browns with me-" Thus asserting herself,
she deliberately tore the envelope contain
ing the tickets in minute parts and threw
them on the floor
They left the train at the next station,
he with Disguised look on his face and
she with head erect and a defiant glare
in her bright eyes.
Scarcely had the rustic of her garments
ceased TO be heard when Seventy-six sage
ly observed: You're all off, Twenty-sev-
en-; she amt a real lady It's only her
fine buds what makes you think so. She's
only an imitation, ad no clerk would take
her to window if she wanted to make a
SALE"
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-13
Million. for war.hin..

Hundreds of millions of dollars have
been appropriated within the last week or
two for warships and war materials. The
United States have appropriated S5O,0OO,00O
for national defenses, Great Britain, $780,
100000 for warships, and Russia $70,OOOOOO
for the same purpose. 1t is stated that
Germany intends to spend 100000 in
building warships this year. France has
already appropriated $6.25O,OOO, and Japan
about as much more.
These enormous appropriations for war
ships indicate that the great powers are
expecting war, and are preparing for it.
They do not know when 1t win come, nor
what will cause it, but they are confident
that 1t will not be delayed very long.
At present the prospect of war between
the United States and Spain is more prom
Using than between any other nations.
The relations between Russia and Great
Britain are not as cordial as they were
before Germany grabbed part of China's
territory. 1t is not improbable that China
may be the cause of trouble not only be-
tween Great Britain and Russia, but also
between Great Britain and Germany and
France.
The spending of hundreds of millions of
dollars upon battleships this year means
that in the opinion of the governments of
the leading nations the wars of the future
will be fought almost wholly upon the sea.
And it is somewhat remarkable that such
vast sums should be put into battle ships
which have never yet been satisfactorily
tested in battle. They may answer the
purposes for which they are intended, but
there is a chance that they will prove to
be failures, and that there will be changes
in naval architecture so radical that bat
tleships of the kind now being constructed
will be practically obsolete.
The maintenance of great naval estab-
lishments is heavy burden, and it will
not be long before murmurs against the
burden will be heard all over the world
They will help to bring about the great
naval conflict for which the world is pre-
pairing. If the issues now pending should
be settled without war. it would not be
long before there were others. When war
is so confidently expected it is pretty sure
TO come.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-13
An Internationa1 inquiry.

The interview with Capt. Peral. the
president of the Spanish naval court which
investigated the Maine disaster. published
in our dispatches yesterday, seems to
justify the conclusion that the Spanish
government expects that the report of
the American board of inquiry will he
that the Maine was blown up from the
outside. and that that government viii ask
FOR an inquiry by an international board.
If the Spanish government were not look
ing forward TO an investigation by an
international board, it would hardly have
permitted the president of the Spanish
naval court of inquiry to make public. In
an unofficial way, what the report of
that court will be. The style in which
the interview with the Spanish captain
was written indicated that the Spanish
government was anxious to have the
American public know, before the report
of the American board of inquiry was
made public, what conclusion the Spanish
court of inquiry had reached.
There does not seem to be any doubt
that the American board of inquiry
will report that the Maine was destroyed
by an external explosion. The extraor-
binary weakness an the stock market yes
terday would seem to show that there
was information in Wall street that the
report would be of a character that
might lead to trouble between Spain and
the United States.
The Spanish court of inquiry will report
that the disaster was due to an accident,
and 1t is about certain that the American
board of inquiry will say that it was due
to design, what then will follow? win
there. be demand by Spain for an in
ternatonal inquiry, or will the United
States make demands which, If refused,
win be the beginning of war? The
chances are in favor of an international
inquiry Hints have been thrown out in
the Havana dispatches that there might
be such an inquiry and it has been stated
that, owing TO the possibility of an in
quiry of that kind, the American board
of inquiry has been exceedingly careful
in the collection of testimony
Nothing definite has yet been published
as to when the report of the board of
inquiry may be expected. The impression
seems to be that it will be given to the
public some time during this week. If
1t should, it would be known at the same
time whether the President has decided
upon radical change in his Cuban policy.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-13
George once Mnrn

'tMr. President" said Mrs. Washington,
in a very stern manner, according to the
Criterion, who was that lady 1 saw YOU
taking into restaurant yesterday after
noon?"
Gould you not see for yourself?"
mo, Mr.. Washington, only caught a
glimpse of your backs as you turned into
the door"
The President made an imposing figure
as he stood in the light with one hand
resting on the table and the other thrust
into his trousers pocket.
Madam" he began, II never told a lie"
1t may have been some trick of light and
shade, but it did seem as though a tired
expression crept across Marrha's classic
features However" he continued, "I will
endeavor to make up by vigor and origi-
nality what 1 lack in experience. That
lady, madam, was your dear mother.
whose years of devotion thought to par
TALLY reward by a small dish of ice
cream
Mrs. Washington was up and about the
house again before the week was out. lust
the same as if nothing had happened Such
were the constitutions of our ancestors.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-13
PERSONAL.

Mr.. Gladstone is one of the greatest
opponents of divorce in the Engiish-speak-
ing world. He believes that marriage is
a contract for life.
Thomas Hobbs, now living in North
Hampton, VT, at the age of 90, is one of
the few persons who saw Marquis de La
fayette lay the corner stone of Bunker
Hill monument June II, 1925.
in England the novelist, David Chris
tie Murray, is giving a free lecture in de-
Tense of Dreyfus, presenting with a magic
lantern highly magnified productions of
Dreyfus' handwriting and of the document
attributed to him.
DIR. Seybold, professor of oriental Ian
guages at Tuebingen, relates in a recent
article that the late Dom Pedro of Brazil
was wonderful linguist, and that he HIM
self read with him books in Greek, He
brew, Arabic and Sanscrit.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-13
Why War Max BE Encouraged.

The New York Evening Post appears to
be shocked at the suggestion of the Chi
cago TImes-Herald, that the Republican
party may think it advisable to have war
with Spain in order to carry the congress
sionaI elections next fall. The suggestion
is one that is well calculated to arouse
a feeling of establishment and horror. The
idea that the administration would delib-
erately plunge the country into a war, and
sacrifice thousands of lives and millions of
dollars worth of property, for no other
reason than to enable the Republican par
ty TO elect majority of the next House,
is too horrible to contemplate. Still. poll
ticians viii stop az hardly anything to
keep themselves and their party in power
The pension burden of $3.50 100000 a year
is mainly the result of the efforts of poll
ticians TO gain the soldier vote.
The thought has been thrown out from
a Democratic source that popular plat
form in the fall campaign would be Free
Cuba and Free Silver" If the Republir
cans become assured that the Democrats
intended to conduct their congressional
campaigns upon any such platform they
might forestan them by taking steps at
once to recognize the independence of Gu
ba They have the administration and
Congress. and. therefore, can do about
what they please in regard TO Cuba. The
Democrats can do nothing but promise to
help Cuba secure her freedom If given
control of Congress.
There is no doubt that Free Cuba and
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-13
BRIGHT BITS.

Another Questionable has a bright
future ahead of him" but do you real
ly think he'll ever catch up with it?"-
Puck.
Those Girls.-''Young Mr.. Tizzens call
ed on me last week" said Maud. did
he?" replied Mamie. "He told me he was
going to reserve all dsagreeable duties
for Lent" Washington Star.
Mrs Al think your husband is a
very quiet dresser, Mrs. B,EH'm! You
might change your opinion if you heard
him looking for his clothes some morning"
Browning, King & Co.. $ Monthly.
THAT man Williams never lost his
head in foot BAH game yet, did he?" mo.
1 think not He's lost an ear, part of his
nose, eight teeth; but do not remember
ever hearing of his losing his head. Tit
Pitts