davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-20
SNAKES PICK HIS HOPS.
Man Does Away With Human
Labor. and Incurs Deadly Emnity
of Hop Pickers' Union.

vermiIIion Qnd.) Cor. Chicago Inter Ocean. &,
Hop picking is one Of the principal IN
dustries of this county. and gives employ
ment to several hundred persons each year.
In 1896 the employers had considerable
trouble with the pickers over the question
of wages. The pickles wished to be paid
by the hour. but the hop growers wished to
maintain the present scale by the piece.
The matter as a general proposition is still
unsettled except by one hop grower. Jacob
Presley, on Deer Lick bottoms. He did
not hire any pickers at all this year and
yet his hops are all picked and cured. The
story is a curious one and begins in 1885.
when Mr.. Presley first noticed two yellow
snakes in his hop field. His first impulse
was to kill them. but their actions were
so odd hat he stopped to watch them.
The make would climb the hop poles and
pick every blossom. throwing them upon
the ground. Then they would extract a GER
tain amount of hop from the stalk and pass
on to the next one. This set Mr.. Presley
thinking il the snakes could not be utilized
instead Of men and women.
In the spring of 1886 he FOUND a nest
of thirteen yellow snakes down by the
them home. In the fail he tried them or
the hop fields while the men were absent.
and with such success he determined to use
them this year. Accordingly he hired no
hands,. to the great surprise Of his neigh
bors. Instead he turned the snakes loose.
putting 80 baskets on the ground to catch
the hops as they fell. Tn experiment was
a great success. but Mr.. Presley has in
Cured the deadly enmity of the Hop Pick
ers' Union, the president of which. Bob
Habernut, promises to put a boycott on
Presley's snake-picked hops this winter.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-20
A MEMORABLE STAMPEDE.
Over Fifteen Thousand Cattle Were in
II and nj Least 200 Were
Lost,

From the Waco Tex) Independent.
One OF the most desperate stampedes OF
cattle ever witnessed by a Texas cowboy.
says the Rev. Mr.. J. B. Cranfill, of Waco.
occurred in 1876 on the prairie in the center
OF which now stands the town of McGregor.
Fifteen thousand cattle and twenty-five
cowboys participated in the exciting event.
Mr.. CranfiH was not a participant. but ne
tells the story as he got Ii from an eye
witness. Late in the afternoon OF July 4
there had been a lively thunderstorm that
made the cattle nervous. At 10 O'Clock at
night. however, they seemed to be sleeping
profoundly. Then the narrative proceeds
as follows:
"Tne stars were all shining. and there
was no cause at all for the arousing of the
herd. They appeared to get up all at once.
with a Jingle purpose. and the roar that
was heard seemed TO come from a Single
throat The Wilson Bros. and their cow
boys. who were sleeping in their camp,
rushed to their ponies. which were grazing
fast as the bits could be placed in their
mouths they mounted and galloped to the
TANKS of the now disappearing mass, head-
ed In the direction of the BraZos river.
THE usual course on such occasions Is
to get in front of the herd-a risky piece
OF work-and start il TO running in a cir
Gle. This attempt was made in this case.
Some cattle can outrun others. and in this
case there was a bunch of about nifty fully
twenty yards in advance, and toward this
leading group the two rescuerS rode OF
the leading groups also some were faster
than others, and this group ran in a dia-
mond shape. with two immense steers lead
ing all. When Mr.. Wilson and his COM
panion reached the two leading steers
they began shooting their revolvers close
to them, and in that way the bunch was
made TO oblique. ard as the leading bunch
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-20
COULDN'T BEAT A RETREAT.
How q Brave French Drummer Boy
Saved the Day at Ma
rengO.

From success.
Tout est perdu; sauve qui peut"
(All is lost; save himself who CAM
shouted the soldiers of Marshal Victor at
Marengo. when, after sustaining with
LanneS for four hours the fierce onslaught
of superior Austrian numbers under Cen
eral Melas his men gave way and fed.
But LanneS formed his men into hollow
squares. and with the consular guard, also
in squares. they slowly fell back. moving
like living citadels" over the field of bat
i've fire of the enemy, but still shielding
Victor's disorganized troops.
the plain, with banners waving. and trum-
pets sounding, the head of the column of
Desaix.. who had heard the ~cannonading a
ders had FASTENED to the aid of Napoleon.
Beat a retreat" said an officer to one
of the drummers of Desaix. who had just
BEAT a retreat!' repeated the drummer,
as he looked upon the French. army roll
ing back in a broken mass and noted the
silence Of his drum. Il do not know how
to beat a retreat. Desaix never taught me
t fhaf; eu hat ! BEAT WiIl a m ehhaese the dead 4 s1 fan peat int q
line! I beat that charge at the pyramids.
! beat it at Mount Tabor. 1 beat 1t at the
't What IT think You nas of it IT,! asked Napoleon
of Desaix, whose 5000 men were halted not
The battle is lost" replied the hero Of
Egypt. but it is only 3 o'clock. There is
time to gain another"
Forward, them" commanded Napoleon.
reform the army behind you"
Riding among the demoraliZed men Of
Victor. he shouted: Soldiers, you have re-
treated far enough! You know it is always
my custom to sleep on the field of battle:"
Meanwhile the boy was beating that stir
ring charge. and Desaix with his 5000 was
charging the whole Austrian army. Go"
said he to his aide-de-camp. tell the first
consul I am advancing and must be sup
ported by the cavalry"
A moment later he fell MORALLY wounded.
but the drum only beat the louder. and his
men rushed forward to avenge him. kell-
ermann's cavalry charged to support them.
TIE Austrian columns gave way and were
soon a turbulent mass of fugitives.
Thus was Marengo wrested from the VIC
ferrous Melas by the cool grit of the devoted
Desaix, and by his prompt. intelligent an
ticipation of orders. He. in Grouchy's place
a: Waterloo. or Grouchy, acting like him.
Success
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-20
EMPRESS EUGENIE's HOME.
Its Feature Ia the Presence of BE.
lonEinEs of Loved
nne

The interior of the mansion at Farm
borough which serves as a home for the
Empress Eugene is both sumptuous and
comfortable, but its distinctive features
are the presence of all that can recall
those who have gone. Just before the
departure of the prince imperial for Zulu
the empress had decided to arrange
for him all the historical and personal
souvenirs in her possession of Napoleon i.
and Ill. that could be gathered. The
room was barely finished when the news
came of the death of its young master
An exactly similar one has been arranged
at Marlborough. with the addition of one
large piece of furniture. the upper part OF
which has glass doors. Behind these the
mother has herself placed everything be-
longing to her son, from his earliest rat
tie to his favorite books In the lower
inclosed portion are locked up the ac-
coutrements of the horse he rode and the
uniform he wore on that
tragic day. mournful relics brought to the
empress by Colonel Villiers, and in which
can be seen the lance thrustS of the Zulus.
The old bedroom of the prince has also
been reinstated at Marlborough as it was
at Chiselhurst. Near the narrow camp bed
stead. which is always strewn with fresh
flowers. stands the magnificent cradle.
with its gilt bronze figures. offered by the
city of Paris when France acclaimed the
heir to the empire-the cradle in which he
reposed while all the dignitaries of the
state passed before the imperial infant.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-20
NEWSPAPER REPORTERS.
A Common Error Corrected-Defense
Of Their Reliability and
Integrity.
From the Philadelphia Times.

From the Philadelphia Times.
A very common error Is prevalent that
the work of reporters. given in newspapers,
as a rule is not entitled to respect or Gre
dence. 1t Is generally assumed that the
reporter writes chiefly or wholly to make
a sensation, or in some way interest read
ers without regard to facts. while just the
reverse is the truth in all reputable newspa-
per establishments.
1t is safe to assume that the statements
of reporters given in the leading reputable
journals of the country are quite as truth
full as are the general statements IRON
of strictly religious teachings. and very
much more truthful than are the public
expression of most, II not an OF the oead, ,hs
management of our leading daily newspa-
pers enforce truthfulness and fairness as
the supreme attributes for a newspaper
are displeased with any reportorlal state
ment to say that Its a mere newspaper
story"
It is true that there are a few conspicu-
Gus exceptions to the rule that governs
the reputable newspapers OF tne county,:
Two newspapers in New York have brought
more discredit upon the journalistic profes-
sion during the last. year than all otner
causes combined. They have done II ny
of the public and to the most vicious SEN
sationaiism. They are not respected BY the
public and Isl should 0Inar not be- i6 5u1 ahsy a of r the
country. and they have been more Severeiy
criticised by the public press generally than
by any other class.
Not only are the managers OF our lead
ing newspapers entitled to great credit for
the scrupulous care they enforce on their
reporters and correspondents to present
the truth with as exact fairness as is pos
sible, but the public little know the cease
less care that is exercised in every reputa-
bic newspaper office to prevent the publ
cation Of even the truth when it would be
more harmful to publish than to suppress
It. There is not a week. indeed hardly a
day, that the newspapers of this city do
| not suppress the facts proper for public in
| formation which would make a most inter
| esting story. solely because it would bring
| a Hood of sorrow to the innocent and help
| less and cast an imperishable shadow upon
their lives. With all the errors necessarily
committed in a newspaper Office by reason
Of the haste with which t the articles must
| with what thorough integrity the newspa-
pers. as a rule, protect the innocent even
| at the cost of suppressing legitimate and
interesting information; The skeletons Of
euarded in the newspaper offices Of the
country. and generally without even the
knowledge of the people who are thus pro-
i tected.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-20
EAT CARD IN SANDWICH.
Stories That Were Told by Poker Elk.
perts of Times When SHbterfuges
Were Necessary.

One Sunday evening a party Of poker ex-
perts were seated in a prominent uptown
hotel lobby discussing incidents relating to
the science of Schenk. and some good
stories were the outcome One of the vet
Grams at thumbing the pa~steboards related
an incident in his own career where he had
been dealt six cards.
.It was at a critical stage OF the game"
eaid the old sport. and when ! locke at
the cards they were of the most needful
variety"
What did you do with the sixth card?"
uueried an attentive listener.
Il ordered a ham sandwich" was the re-
ply, and. concealiDg the card between the
bread and the meat. ate the whole outfit"
When the laugh over this story was
ended another member of the party told
of a jack pot which was opened on a pair
of mines. In the draw the holder of this
pair took In another nine spot. and cleaned
up the table pretty thoroughly with three
mines. When * came to a showdown the
query was made. "What did you open
with"
Innocently enough the holder of the big
hand acknowledged a pair of mines. His
hand was claimed TO he "A foul one and the
pot was divided among the players accord
Ing to their bets. This procedure did not
suit the Jack pot opener. and he left the
table. denouncing all present as sharpers
and swindlers.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-20
REED LEARNED TO KNOW HIM.
How Senator Mason Gained Rec0E.
milton by the Chair When He
Was q Member of House.

The Washington correspondent Of the
New York Sun tell the following story:
Senator Mason was elected to the lower
house in Mr.. Reeds first term as speaker,
and in vain did he strive for recognition.
One day a special bill was introduced for
the relief of one of the speakers conStit-
uents. Unanimous consent was asked for
its consideration. but Mason objected. On
successive mornings objection was offer
ed, and. finally, Reed sent a friend to in
quire why Mason opposed his measure, and
Mason said:
Il nave been duly elected to congress-.
but the speaker evidently thinks other
wise. He will not recognize me and 1 can
get the floor only by entering an objection
to his BILL
The friend returned to Reed and the
following morning when unanimous con-
sent was asked. Mason again objected.
During the day Reed saw Mason, and, in
great seriousness, never mentioning the
bill, said:
.Mr. Mason. I believe that If you were
to rise and address the chair the chair
would know who you are"
Mason replied:
NJ Speaker. I have been giving tina
bill of yours a great deal of attention, as
1t is a very important one. and 1 rave
decided that 1t ought to pass"
The next morning unanimous consent
was asked and given. and an expansive
smile exchanged. As soon as the bill was
passed Mason arose and addressed the
chair and the chair responded: The
gentleman from Illinois"
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-20
HIT THE WRONG TIME.
Why Mr.. Bjfnks Made a Failure of
PhotoErnphinE His

Now then. my dear. compose yourself
and let a pleasant thought pass through
the mind" quotes the Louisville Courier
Journal.
Nice time TO expect a woman to have
pleasant thoughts. isn't IL? The boiler
sprung a leak. the fire gone out. the bread
settled fat Es a pancake. no kindling, the
coal gone. pump won't pump a drop, SCOT in
the coffee. cats Tapped all the milk. baby's
got "A stomach ache. the twins 10 dress for
school. music teacher coming to give
Eudora her lesson. washerwoman soon be
here. dogs fell in the rain barrel. /
should be at the train this blessed moment
to meet mother. can't get you a clean shirt
because the key is lost, have just an hour
left to get ready before I'm due at the
morning session to deliver my lecture be-
fore Good Housekeepers' Club on the sub
iect of How to Run 4 Kitchen; yes. it's
a nice time for a pleasant thought to pass
through a woman's mind"
You always would let small things dis
turb you"
You get out of this kitchen at once. The
worm will turn
But you are not a worm, are you?'
But Mrs. b. raised the broom and made
q swat at Bjinks. Click. presto, and IL was
done. And the next day when he showed
her the result of his amateur photographing
he went to his den and wept like a child
that IS. after she had finished dressing him
down with = rolling pin.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-20
VARIOUS FORMS OF FEAR.
SOME ARE DEGRADING, OTHERS
ARE ENROLLING.
Discussion of the Psychology OF
Fear by Professor G. Stanley
Hall, of Clark Uni.
yersity.

Professor G. Stanley Hall. Of Clark uni
versity, writing in the New York Herald,
says:
About 2,000 people have lately made re-
turns of confessing their own private
fears, and these ave been made the
basis of a very careful and elaborate
study, which shows some surprising and
also very practical results. OF all the
over 800 objects feared. insects, mice and
reptiles lead; then come thunder. dark
ness, ghosts. high winds. fire, water, do
nestle animals with death and disease
quite low in the scale. This shows that
II Aristotleis definition OF education Is
~ccrrect-namely. learning to fear those
objects most worthy of fear"-people are
not yet well educated, for surely insects
and mice are less worthy OF fear than
disease. Imaginary horror of being bur
led alive. of the end of the world. heights.
cloud forms. ghosts. robbers, ETC., show
a list of phobias which is truly amazing.
One curious feature is that the very
strongest fears are never told even to the
most intimate friends. They make us
nervous and irritable, and yet they are
never mentioned even to parents. This
is particularly unfortunate, because many
of them are most absurd and ridiculous
and could easily be removed.
Girls Have Most Fears.
Another curious fact Is that girls enum-
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-20
His HONE BUILT ON A CRAVE
GEORGIA COLONIES RESIDENCE ON
A MOUNTAIN SIDE PLANTATION.
He Found His Mansion Lonely Ate
His Wife Died and He Lived
Over Her Grave to Ee
Always Near Her.

Colonel Elisha DeBoard. one of the old
est and most prominent citizens OF Gilmsr
county. Ca, has just erected q small but
magnificent octason shaped residence on
his beautiful mountain-side plantation, and
on the great iron door that leads TO the
single roomed interior IS the unusual but
significant inscription:
zone in life and one IN death"
This inscription says the Philadelphia
Times. tells the story OF the most rnidn-
innovation perhaps in history. Colonel De
Board. who is past four-score years. lost
the partner of a half century five years
ago. His wife was his comfort and his
inspiration in life and now she is his So
lace in death. This beautiful new resi-
dence is built over the grave SO sacred
with memories. and besides the great white
monument that marks the resting place
stands the bed OF the aged husband There
by the dead wife he is passing his last
days on earth. and the companionship OF
the clay from which she came IN his dy-
ing comfort.
The residence of the living and the dead
stands within the shadow of Colonel De
Boards great white mansion near Ellijay.
and is a building that would attract the
eye OF any pedestrian. The grave OF the
wife had weathered the storms for four
years when Colonel DeBoard conceived the
idea. Alone in his mansion he would wan
der to the beautiful garden spot where his
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-20

during a drive, turned and looked into the
carriage-surprised at receiving no orders
as to route-and saw her sitting. lifeless,
with a pet dog on her knee. has often risen
to my thoughts since that pleasant week
in her society.
My strongest impression was OF the deep
mutual love evidently existing between
Mrs. Carlyle and her husband. Every sub
ject we discussed seemed to recall thoughts
of the blue day was referred to. or
asked for; if any literary man were men
toned. his opinion of him was given, or a
story was told showing his relation to other
men of note. l felt as if listening to the
love talk of a youthful engaged couple.
and. when. in later days. Froude opened
I'D a foodgate of misunderstanding. / felt
assured there was a radical misconception
of the true state Of affairs.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-20

through the lower regions and Dante him.
self appear. This is Dante's description:
ION with the trusty escort moved we.
Along the crimson boiling's edge.
The boiled the while shrieking aloud.
Under IL saw I men sunk TO the brow.
And the great Centaur said:
'Tyrants these. given TO blood and piIisge.
Here weep they their pitIIess Shenses.
Here Alexander and that cruel Dionysius.
Who caused TO Sicily most woful years
Then turned I 10 the poet. Said he,
Let him now be first and / second
''Farther along the Centaur stopped.
Above some issuing 10 the throat
Out OF that boiling stream.
Then saw I folk holding above the tide
Their head. even their chest
Thus more and more shallow grew the blood
Till IL cooked only the feet"
In the national library at Paris was dis
covered a manuscript written in the four
tenth century. and in IL a scene from hell.
corresponding. only to the general tenor OF
the Inferno" In IL the devils stand on a
mountain in the background and draw the
sinners to them by rakes and throw them
into the pool. In the foreground a devil
crowds the s~ouls-among them a king and
a bishop-into a kettle with his pitchfork,
and near him a monster drives a nail into
a huge kettle in which the damned-among
them an mperor and q pope-are boiled;
High up sits Lucifer, a six-armed, horned
devil. with n trident in one hand.
A frightful picture of the serpents at
lacking a sinner is found in a manuscript
in the royal library at Dresden, having a
red tint IN the original. ElFifS IL Il neiiisn
glare. Dante and his guide. Virgil. are up
on a rock watching the scene, described
in canto XIV.
An illumination of Cerberus and the hell
hounds" taken from a unique manuscript
in the Vatican library, written early in the
fifteenth century, is also a remarkable
piece of monastic art. The clouds, ice and
water are all depicted with infinite care ano
according to Dante's vision:
when that great worm Cerberus saw US
Wide opened he his mouths and showed his fangs.
No limb Of his did he keep quiet.
NY leader, opening wide his hands. took earth.
And with full hsts threw IL into the rayenous Threats
As the dog that barking Graves Is quiet when his foo
he bites.
And is intent and fights only IN devour #.
Such berause those filthy faces Of demon Cerberus,
So laundering at the souls.
That they would fain be deaf"
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-20

affections were entombed. The mansion
had lost its charms. There were no at
fractions left save the majestic influences
of the memories hat clustered around
the grave. An architect was employed
and the plan outlined. As a result, the
doors of the old family residence are now
closed and the lonely old gentleman and
his wife are companions once again. The
building is of stone with a double slate
roof. The windows are of heavy plate
glass and the door is a huge iron gate that
is as secure as the vault doors that pro-
dows the rarest flowers have been plant
ed and the venerable patriarch spends the
days in identifying the surrounding yards.
At night he finds repose and rest within
touch of the grave he loves so well
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-20

During the recent terrible storm which
ragged throughout New England q freight
train on the Hartford & New Haven
railroad collided with a locomotive which
was propelling a snowplow.
When the engines met that of the freight
train vaulted in the air. tearing tho snow
pillow in its course. and landed sauareiy on
top of the opposing engine, where 1t re-
manned.
The acrobatic engine. when it aIiehted
dropped a pair of trucks. which tore away
a part of the cab of its rival.
The trucks dropped between the sngins
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-20
Named War, She Seek. Divorce.

Mrs. War Jackson Scheurman. whose
marriage to George c.. Scheurman in 1852
was quite an event. has now applied for
divorce. says a Baltimore dispatch in the
New York World.
Mrs. Scheurman was born at C%ulpepper
Court House. Va. during the civil war.
and the unusual name she bears was be-
slowed upon her by her parents in COM
memoration of an attack upon C%ulpepper
by the Federal troops about the time OF
her birth.
She has a sister who was born after the
cessation Of hostilities. and who was named
Peace.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-20

and tender. and only by the merest chance
did the engineer and fireman escape instant
death. Both were somewhat bruised.
The driver accompanied his engine In its
aerial flight without being seriously Injured.
He was assisted from his perilous position
as soon as possible.
Engine Sc. with engine 64 sitting on top
OF her, poised at an angle of about fortv-
i've degrees. was drawn to Malboro june
tion. where they were viewed by scores of
sightseers- Railroad men declare 1t to bs
one of the straneest sights ever seen in con-
nection with railroad wrecks. The wonder
Is how such an affair could happen without
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-20

Mother" said Miss Dollie Cumrox, Cant
father afford a seat in the senate?" "a
seat." echoed the good lady. scornfuily.
I'd have you understand that he is rich
enough to have a whole sofa II he desires
it!'-Washington Star.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-20
Fresh.

From the Detroit Free Press.
He-"What a fresh complexion Miss
Sprightly has"
She-"Yes. she makes it up fresh every
evening""