davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-10
THEY SOLD LEAD
SPOONS FOR SILVER
Two Women Who Had an Ingenious
Scheme for Defraudiog.
WERE ARRESTED ON SATURDAY
They Went from House to House with
Baby and Told n Sad Story OF
Distress, Winding Up with an APP
peal for a Loan on silver spoons
They We're Loath TO Part with.
They Left the City.

A baby. a wan face. a basket and a
bundle of spoons are the makeup ot
the latest swindle known to the police.
The arrest of two installments of these
combinations Saturday brought to light
the fact that for the past three weeks
some very good people, and lots of
them, I'm this city have been duped.
The forerunners of the fad were two
women, both strangers to this city.
They travelled about in poor clothing.
Each had a baby wrapped in a shawl
and holding il by the one hand, while
the other hand held basket half
filled with spoons. The game was
worked indscrimnately, each woman
taking turns while the other waited
outside of the house or business place,
whatever might be the quarry. Upon
entering, the woman would tell her sad
story, somewhat on this order:
I'm a poor woman-I'm not beg
gar-my husband is In Milwaukee,
called there by business. Now, | don't
want you to give me anything. ! only
want to borrow 50 to tide me over till
my husband gets back home. The
baby is not we'll and needs a doctor.
| wish you would help me. I don't
want to beg. / have some silver spoons
with me--they are of the genuine
Sheffield make--see the crown and
name of the town on them? They
were presents to me at marriage. |
wouldn't part with them for the world,
but | will give them to you as secur-
ity until my husband returns. Then /
will pay you back"
APPEAL SUCCESSFUL.
The appeal was usually successful.
One central city business man was
averse to the barter. He didn't like
the looks Of the spoons. he said. His
wife, who heard the woman'S story,
however, was touched by the quaver
in her voice and the Sheffield" and
crown stamped on the spoons. So Mr..
Business Man contributed S. at his
wife's behest, and the woman left.
Immediately afterward the spoons
were subjected to a test by a profess
sional chemist and were pronounced
to be lead. The word Sheffield" and
the crown was simply counterfeit of
the famous English brand.
T. p. Jones, a hoteikeeper of North
Main avenue, West Scranton, gave $5
for a number of SPOONS. Mr.. Jones
conscience, it seems, troubled him after
the transaction, so he called in Lieu
tenant of Police Williams, Of the West
Side, and gave him the tip. Valuable
spoons" said Mr.. Jones; paid only s.
"a burglary-see the point?"
Lieutenant Williams reported the
matter to Chief Robling and for the
past few days the chief has been wait
ing for some complaint about stolen
spoons. The only complaint made, how
ever was by a Mrs. Colvin, of Park
Place. She had been visited by one of
the women and in exchange for five
dollar bill had received a couple Of
dozen of the bogus silverware. Upon
making the discovery of the counter
felt, Mrs. Colvin informed Chief Rob-
ling and gave description of the
woman.
WOMEN ARRESTED.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-10

Hats, furnishings, aud everything at
cost, Waters bankrupt sale, POS Lack
awanna avenue. ~
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-10

Twining, optician 1925 Penn avenue. I'm
Harris drug store. Hours a. m,
D. m. ss
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-10

Nolan Bros, 5I5 Lindenstreet.
Plumbing. Steam and Gas-fitting. 80
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-10

named an opponent and possibly will
not
, one Of the warmest fights of Satur-
day was for the Republican nomina-
tion for common councilman In the
sixteenth ward. The two candidates
received the following vote in each dis
triCt:
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-10

SILK umbrellas at cost. Waters
bankrupt sale, POS Lackawanna avenue
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-10

BEEcHAM's PILLS will dispel the
"blues"
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-10

James is a son of Edward James,
mine foreman at the Dodge. Green is
foreman at the Bellevue.
At the Democratic primaries in the
Seventh ward. Saturday. d. j. Roche
was nominated for school CONTROLLER
without opposition. No Republican
has been named against him.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-10
Districts.
- I'LL

Fred l.. Schoen. the nominee is the
we'll known printer. He is prominent
member Of the Crystal Hose company
and received the jealous support of its
members, which had much to do with
his success. Adam Schroeder was re-
nominated for select council without
opposition, receiving 1877 votes i'm the
First district and 139 in the Second.
+. S. Barber will I'm all likelihood be
rc-nominated by the Republicans of
the Seventeenth for school controller.
No opposition has as yet developed.
In the Eighteenth ward John Hoban
ana 7. +. Morris were nominated Fri
day neht by the Democrats for Sc
lect and common council respectively
I.ouls Schwass is to be the Republi-
can nominee for Hermann Notzs seat
OIL the board of control from the Nine
tecnth ward. The Democrats will put
up Albert Notz who is serving out his
fathers unexpired term. Both parties
will caucus during the coming week.
TWENTIETH WARD.
In the Twentieth ward Selectman r..
J Coyne has been renominated by the
| Democrats with NJ. ]. Cusick as his
running mate. Martin f. Cabin will
| do battle Independently with Mr.. Coyne
and NJ. J. Langan will try it out with
| Mr.. Cusick for Thomas McGrai's seat.
| The Republicans are yet TO be heard
! from. I.
In the Twenty first ward no caucus
es have been held up To date. school
| controller to succeed w. f, Langstaff
| is the only office to be filed
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-10
WOMEN ARRESTED.

Lieutenant of Police Davis and
Patrolman Hawks succeeded, Satur-
day, in locating the women They were
walking along Penn avenue, each wo-
man with a baby and basket and a
fresh supply of spoons, When accost-
ed the women waXed indignant. I'VE
want to catch the O'Clock train" they
said.
That's all right" said Lieutenant
Davis; there are other trains. Come"
In the chiefs office Mrs. Colvin iden-
tilted the women. The S. were re-
turned and the women dismissed. Both
left the city on the next train.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-10

At the Democratic primaries in the
Seventh ward. Saturday, d. j. Roche
was nominated for school controller
without opposition. No Republican
has been named against him.
EIGHTH WARD DEMOCRATS.
The Democrats of the Eighth eau
cused at the st. Charles Saturday
night. Thomas c. Melvin was unani-
mously named for select council; John
J. Flanaghan was re-nomiLated with
out opposition for common council and
Charles Zeidler was named for school
controller.
The Republicans will hold their eau
Gus Wednesday. Fred Durr is a can
didste for reelection TO select council.
He will be opposed for the nomination
by NJ. j. Norton. Ignatz Dram of the
flats" is among those seeking the
nomination for common council FIX
County Auditor b. +. Squier has been
sought to enter the lists.
The Republicans Of the Ninth had
their primaries last month, when Cap
tain w. A. May was named for school
controller and MyrOn Il. Kasson for
alderman. The Democrats have not as
yet given evidences of their intention
to offer any opposition.
Select Councilman c. +. Wagner and
Common Councilman T.. +. Wenzel
were on Saturday renominated by the
Republicans. The Democrats have not
made any selection so far.
The Democrats of the Twelfth or a
part of them had a caucus Saturday
and named John j. Shea and John
MOnahan for select and common Coun-
Cilmen respectively. The present in
cunbents, Selactmar James j. Man
ley ana Commoner Morgan Sweeney,
will run on an independent ticket
They had agreed to run together and
for this reason did not go into the eau
Gus, not being willing TO run the chan
ces of their getting on separate tick
cts.
The Thirteenth ward had its school
cuIttrollership nomination last month
the memorable Jayne-J acobs fight.
IN THE FOURTEENTH.
Neither side has caucused for coun-
ellis in the Fourteenth ward as yet
The Democrats have arranged TO hold
theirs next Friday night. 1t is said
that Salectman p. f. Mccain wiz be
re-nominated and that Charles Wenzel,
win seek the seat in the low
er branch, the present incum-
bent, Chairman p. j. Nealis, not de-
sirirs reelection. William Mcguire,
of Lafayette street, Is also after Mr..
Nealis' place. The Republicans are
rasting about for two good men and
during the week will get together and
make selection. NJ. II. Rhinehardt
Reese Pritchard, w, w, Ross and sew
eral others are spoken of sas possible
nominees.
In the Fifteenth ward Elias Evans
Is the Republican nominee for school
controller, The Democrats have not
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-08-31
Parrots Arc Never Original.

have read of a father who would
rot let his children tell their dreams
because there is III such narrative too
great temptation to wander from the
truth. Parrot stories are too often like
dream stories-one- half true, and ;hoy
are sometimes; plainly to any who
knows the true talking power of these
birds-made up entirely or greatly ex-
aggerated. While the parrot has GER
tain unmistakable sense of humor, and
is correspondinSly wise, none of the
various species is or ever was capable
of the original wise and witty talk IA
miliar to US in newspaper anecdotes.
In fact. the parrot is never original
in speech. It is altogether initiative,
and bird that has never heard spoken
words has surely never uttered a sylla-
bic.
But, Judging from parrots clever use
of what they learn to say. it is almost
certain that they come TO know III a
measure the meaning of the phrases
they learn.-Charlotte Boner in St.
Nicholas
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-08-31
The Narur and tho Fiddle.

Here is a story that the late Fre5er-
lex Douglass used to tell about himself,
says the Buffalo Express. Once when
he was in Dublin he felt very lonesome.
He was wandering about tho streets
when he was attracted by two violins
in the window of a secondhand dealer.
Frederick entered and asked the price
of one of the Instruments.
Five shillings, sor," said the Irish
dealer.
Frederick timed the violin and began
TO play Rocky Road TO Dublin" Soon
the proprietor wife heard the music
and entered the rear door, Then Fred
erick started in on 1.-The Irish Washer
woman. " and the couple began TO dance
for dear life. When the music and
dancing stopped, Frederick rendered the
dealer shIlIings. but his performance
ON the violin had greatly enhanced its
value in the mind of the storekeeper,
and as he hurried away to a place of
security he exclaimed:
IF IA black nagur can git SIGH chunes
out of that fiddle. Ill never sell it at
any price. begosrahP'
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-08-31
The First Teacups.

Even after tea was introduced into
Europe and had come into general use
teacups were scarce. At the same time
coffee was introduced; but, apart from
Constantinople, the first coffee cups in
Europe date back only as far as 1645 in
Venice, 1859 in Paris, 1862 in London
and 1894 in Leipsic. From the first,
however, the conventional oriental cof-
fee cup, without stem or handle, was
little used, and in Germany not at all.
The Chinese teacup was used for tea,
coffee and chocolate as we'll Specimens
of porcelain were undoubtedly intro
duced into Europe in the middle ages,
yet not till the sixteenth century We're
cups imported from China in any great
quantities, and even then it was as arti-
Giles of vertu. Nest of those found their
way back into China again, as collect
ing porcelain is u lasting fad there, and
high prices are paid for good specimens.
The collection of Chinese porcelain, if
only the genuine specimens are desired,
requires immense study and knowledge,
as the Chinese are skillful imitators
and put numerous falsifications on the
market.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-08-31
Faithful Unto Death.

On the point of courage We have not
yet seen in print very notable instance
that is current III service circles. 1t re-
lates to one of the numerous heroic but
useless struggles on the northwest from
tier of India when cur men We're sent
forward to carry positions that had TO
be relinquished as soon as occupied.
When the men were retiring, harassed
by the fire of the hillsmen and bewil-
dered by the growing darkness, party
of 10 went astray and found themselves
in position where resistance and re-
treat were alike hopeless. They were
exposed without protection and were
shot down one by one.
When their comrades retook the val
ley and discovered the bodies, they dis
covered also the evidences of Il rare act
of courage. devotion and cool Judgment.
Knowing that their end had come, and,
knowing further that every Lee Metford
rifle that fell into the hands of the AZ
ridis meant the loss of many English
lives, the men had extracted the breech
locks from the rifles and hurled them
down the ravine. so that the rifles when
taken should be useless to their captors.
London Saturday Review.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-08-31
The Horses of Manila.

Among the first things to impress o
stranger are the horses Descended from
horses brought from Mexico, they have
become much smaller, while they are
also much more shapely. In fact, have
never seen a better looking breed. There
is nothing of the pouv - their shape,
though in size they range between 4S and
81 inches. At first it looked absurd to
see them ridden by big men whose stir
rups hung down to the horses knees,
but soon found out that they easily
carried a rider weighing 200 pounds
Tho foreigners have n jockey club,
which holds two meetings year at the
beautiful turf track at Santa Mesa. To
avoid sharp practice members of the
club only are eligible to ride. This
necessitates a scale of weights starting
at 1879 pounds and rising to 154 pounds.
1t demonstrates the speed and strength
of these miniature horses that mile
has been run in 2:10 by pony carry
ing $50 pounds. Only stations arc
used. Mares cannot even be brought
into the city. Nobody walks; everybody
rides. and on any special fiesta thou
sands of carriages fill the streets. !
doubt if there is a city in the world
that can turn out half the number of
private vehicles in proportion to the
population.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-08-31
Dangerous Thief

a French actress, travelling about the
country, had for use in one of her plays
lay figure, skillfully put together and
dressed i'll travelling suit So says the
New York Herald, which proceeds to
tell coinical story about it:
At Marseilles it was left in the lug
gage room with other things. The curl
osity of two of the railway employees
being aroused at the sight of it, they
took of the coverings and resolved to
play joke on their comrades. They
placed the figure in an armchair at the
desk of the cashier and shut the door.
When the employees on night service
came, they opened the door and were
surprised TO see n man sitting before the
cash box. They Immediately closed and
locked the door and ran for assistance.
A policeman arrived, revolver in
hand. believing, Ike the employees,
that he had to deal with = dangerous
thief. He called on the figure to sur
render and follow him TO the station.
AS it did not obey the summons, the po-
liceman shut the door and went in
search of re-enforcements to surround
the place and thereby prevent the Gull
prit from escaping.
Tho door was again opened, the arm
ed force entered, and it was not till they
had suddenly bounced ON the poor lay
robber that they discovered the joke.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-08-31
Harcourt.s ecaconsfle1d Aneodote.

Sir William Harcourt has one quite
unique memory of the support he gave
in old days to the public worship regu-
lation act. That was an invitation
which he received TO visit Lord Bea-
consfield as Hughenden Manor.
Taking his guest-the member of a
family representing the ownership Of
broad acres-round his minute demesne,
Lord Beaconsfield said, Excuse tho
vanity of "A landed proprietorr' The
young politician accompanied his host
on Sunday to the village church, and
on the way thither was warned that
some hints of the high church move
ment had penetrated even that sylvan
solitude. MY friend, the vicar said
the lord of the manor, will take what
call collection and he calls an offer
tory, and afterward what 1 call plate
and he calls an aims dish will he placed
on what 1 call table and ne calls an
altar. London News.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-08-31
Laughed Away the panger.


Ben Cable of Illinois tells OF an ex-
perience Of his in midocean. The day
was foggy, and most of the passengers
were below listening to two evangelists
who were holding particularly fervid
gospel meeting in the saloon. Suddenly
and without the slightest warming there
was terrific crash and the engines
stopped. Every one rushed on deck.
The steamer had run into an iceberg.
Nobody knew what damage had been
done. and every body was ready TO fly
into panic. The boats We're lowered,
sCi then for the first time the two evan
gelists. who had been forgotten in the
saloc',, appeared on deck. They wore
their overcoats and their hats and they
carried rugs and handbags They elbow
Ell their way rudely to the rail, with
the e~ilent intent of securing for them
selves first places in tho boat. 1t was
just at time when breath would have
sent the passengers panic stricken into
the boats.
The sight of the two evangelists was
about to undo the work of cool headed
officers, when pert little cockney step
ped up to the gentlemen with the rugs
and handbags.
beg PARDON said he. tipping his
cap, " ave a cab, sir?''
And in the general laugh the danger
of panic was averted. Washington
Post
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-08-31
WAYS OF THE BLUE CRAB.
Some of Its Peculiarities as Observed at
New York,s Aauarium.

While the blue crab is not commonly
thought of as a swimmer and does III
fact spend the greater part of its time
on the bottom, yet it can very easily
sustain itself in the water and swim at
very fair rate of speed. 1t swims end
wise. and when swimming it carries
enc big claw thrown forward and bent
back at the middle joint, making a
point projecting at that end of the
body, while the other big claw trails
straight out astern. If it changes direc-
ton, it crooks the claw it had been car
rying straight and lets the other go
free. If it sustains' itself lin the water
without progressing, it carries its big
claws in front of itself as it would nat
urally do under ordinary circumstances
on the bottom, but it has to keep its
little claws in motion to sustain itself.
and in swimming the little claws are
kept actively at work. Besides making
a good degree of progress through the
water in swimming the blue crab can
change its course or swim to higher
or lower level with facility. When
frightened, the blue crab moves off side
ways, but when moving about at home
and undisturbed it may move straight
forward. It's body may be inclined mt
any angle to the line of progress, but
its motion still be forward, the big
claws carried crooked around in front.
1t may be seen moving thus in one of
the larger tanks at the aquarium, in
which there are blue crabs, Holsters and
other things. The temperature of tho
water now just suits the crustaceans,
and they are very lively. Blue crabs
may be seen swimming here, and also
walking about, stepping down from
stones that are as high as they them
selves are wide with perfect dignity, if
not grace of manner, and walking or
carrying their claws before them
New York Sun.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-08-31
Tho Cause of Laughter.

Balm suggests the explanation that
laughter is provoked by what be calls n
degradation, meaning that we laugh
when we all at once perceive something
degrading, a trickery, weakness or a
pettiness in some person OF object which
we respect, as when the infirmities of
human nature disclose themselves in a
person of importance or when some
trivial affair occurs in a solemn cere-
mony TO drag us down or when the
wrong side of some great thing or some
great man is exposed.
THE occasion of the laughter is the
degradation of n dignified person or in
terest under circumstances that do not
excite stronger emotion. In all tbeo-
ries of laughter the more or less impor-
tant fact is marked > that the feel
ing of the ludicrous arises when some
thing which we respected before is pre-
sented in a mean light, for we have no
disposition to laugh when something
that we already regarded as such is de-
picted as tricky and vile. Popular
Science
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-08-31
Publication Notice-Chanocry.

State OF Illinois.
Rock Island County. -
In the circuit court. September term a. d,
1873 In chancery.
William KerIer -. Eme G. KerIer.
AFFIDAVIT OF nOn-r-sidence OF Enie g Kerler.
the above named defendant. having been Med
in tue clerk Office OF the circuit court OF said
county. office il therefore hereby given 10 the
sad nonresident defendant that the com
plainant filed his bill of complaint in iii
court. on the chancery side thereof. on the
10Th day of March 1888. and hat thereupon
summons was issued o1t of said cour1.
wherein said suit Is now pending. returnable
ON the third Monday in the month of Sep
tember next A. u by law required
Now unless you. the Said nonresident dc fene-
ant above nsmed. Enc &. Kerlcr. shall person
ally be and appear before said circuit court
on the first day OF the next term thereof. 10
he holden Ut hook Island in and for the
said county on the third hocday in Sep
TENDER next and plead, answer or demur 10
the said complaiuant's bill of cor. plant. the
same and the matters and things therein
charged and stated will be taken as confessed.
and a decree entered against you according
to the prayer of said bill.
GEORGE W. CAMILLE. Clerk
Rock Island Illinois. august ~ ISIS
JOHS T. STAFFORD. Compartments Solicitor.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-08-31
The Bamboo Gum.

The natives in the Bucherganj dis.
trict of Bengal have been deprived of
their guns, and since then they have re-
sorted to the native bamboo in the hunt
for defensive weapons
They hollow out the bamboo load it
with an ounce or two of native powder
and a handful of iron slugs and touch it
off with n fuse in the immediate neigh
borhood of the offending person
Another way. as the cookery books
say, is to employ the bamboo as fork
with cobra pinned 10 the far end. An
application of the cobra TO the sleeping
body of am enemy is all that is neces-
sary.-London Tit Bits
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-08-31
puried In tn. wen where he pied.

Buried In the Well where He Dfec-
Speaking OF strange and sad occur
rences, none could be more remarkable
than the death and burial of Charles
CATER, n we'll known farmer residing
Z EAR Russell. He was cleaning out an
Did W. when the quicEsand suddenly
caved in ON him. leaving only his head
and chest exposed. When the alarm
was given, hundreds of people assem-
bled and went heroically TO work to
save their neighbor. 1t was found that
nothing could be done toward removing
the sand about Carriers body, so a par
allel welly7as dug and a tunnel run
from il into the old we'll, but even then
the body could net be removed so close
ly was il graspsd by the sands. 1t was
found that rope attached below Car
ter's arms would pull the body into
parts without withdrawing its covered
portion, and that method had to be
abandoned. Carter was conscious and
talked with his rescuors, but ut the end
of 5S hours he died. By this time an
enormous crowd had gathered, and all
sorts of plans were suggested for recov-
ering the body, but finally it was de-
termined TO make the well the dead
man tomb, and it was filled up after
religious services had been held upon
its brink The well was IS feet deep,
and perhaps no other Kansan ever found
quite so strange Il burial place. KAN
sas City Journal