davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03
A Burmese School.

The uproar was like that of run away engine tearing through tunnel. The floor was Uttered with youngsters lying on their stomachs, and all bawl- ing with an energy indicative that somebody was hurting them. Long, slim, scratched upon slips of palm leaf, the equivalent of books in Burma, were spread before the scholars. Making the lads shout is the approved method of elementary instruction. When the master discovers any tagging in lung exercise, long switch begins to sing through the air. Quiet, serious study is exploded. The Burmese educationists argue that so long as boy is shouting his mind is occupied. When he is silent, he is certain to be scheming mischief. Therefore the best shouters are the best pupils.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03
Some Historic Doors.

Near Pontefract, or "Pomfret," In Yorkshire, lives a banker who has a collection of doors. All of them have come from ancient halls and castles, and all have some other historic value. A collection of ancient weathercocks is also one of this gentleman's posses sions. Quite recently he bid the sum of E1,0O0 In Paris for a door through which passed Marie Antoinette, Char lotte Corday, Danton, Robespierre, and others during the French revolution. One of the doors in his collection shut off from his Roundhead pursuers the unfortunate Charles l.; while another of them, showing deep indentations made by a battering ram, protected certain celebrated followers of the Pre- tender after the raid into England of 1745.-Norwich Argus.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03
AFair understandinn

A few years ago, young man from just across the Connecticut, who was tending the village academy, became sadly infected with the notion that all the maidens were in love with him. While in this state of mind it fell to his lot one evening to see Miss H. safely to her fathers domicile. On arriving at the door, the lady invited him to enter. He did so. After few moments con- versation he arose to leave, and as Miss H. was showing him to the door, she innocently enough remarked that she would be pleased to see him again. Here was an occasion for the exercise of Jonathan's courage and moral prin- ciple. Expanding himself to his tallest height, with graceful but determined inclination of the head, he replied:
 "I should be happy, miss, to call as friend, but not as fellerp'
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03
The Youngster Cut. HI. Finger.

"Well," said Mr. Goslington, "the youngster has cut his finger The only surprising thing is that he didn't do it the first day he got the knife. How he did it he doesn't know himself, except that the knife slipped and the first thing he knew his finger was bleeding. Then he ran to his mother His face was white, but he didn't cry, which I thought was very brave, and think so still. His mother washed the finger gen. tly and then bound it up with a strip of soft, worn, white cotton cloth tied around not with a piece of common cord, but with a narrow strip torn of the edge of the cloth itself. 1 heard her tearing it, and thought it sounded fa- miliar, and then remembered that was the way my mother used to do up my finger.
 "Then the boy went around with that finger held out straight from the rest of the hand and with a solemn look on his face, but he couldn't stay solemn long, and it was surprising how quickly his finger healed too. Then his mother put a cot over it. a finger cut from an old kid glove (ust what my mother used to do, too, and wonder if all mothers do these things just alike), to protect it for day or two more until it got fully well. That was wholly new to him, and it pleased him very much. He wore tho glove finger with the proud but reserved dignity of one convalescing from saber stroke instead of a cut from his first knife, and it all made me feel young again myself.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03

In addition to carrying off the chief honors of the war the navy will also capture a comfortable sum in lucre un- der the United States laws giving prize money to seamen capturing vessels of the enemy. It is estimated that $1, ,000,, GOO will be distributed in the navy as a result of it's brilliant victories and the number of prizes taken during the war. The laws of the United States provide that a bounty shall be paid each seaman of a vessel capturing an enemy's ship in action $100 a head if the enemy is inferior and $200 if su- perior. As there were 1875 men aboard the fleet destroyed by Dewey in Manila bay and the Spanish squad ron was inferior to that the United States, there will be $1S7, 800 to be di- vided between Dewey and his men, the admiral getting one-twentieth, or $9,375, as his share. In addition there were numerous prizes taken, though not nearly so many as by the North At lantic squadron. The latter will get in all about S249,200 in head money for 2,492 persons aboard Cerveras fleet in addition to its share for prizes. Ad- miral Sampson will receive about $40,- 900 in prize money as commander-in- chief. The navy, however, will have to be patient. There is a legal Ques- ton as to the status of nearly every prize captured and these will all have to be decided before the prize money is adjudged and paid.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03
Some Hard Sense.

Life is not picnic. Of course, there can be lots of fun crowded into it, in a proper way, but on the whole it is a matter of hard and earnest work.
 The men who work the hardest are the happiest
 Those who are happiest in their work are the most successful
 Every lick you put in now will be of benefit hereafter. No matter what your pay may be do the best that is within you.
 We can't all get rich by lying on fowery beds of ease while others fight to win the prize or sail through each day with colors at the masthead and every yard of canvas set. Work is the most healthful, invigorating tonic that poor human nature can help itself to-
 Remember that if you are we'll and busy you must, as 8 result. be happy.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03
FORESTALlEO HIM.
The Chipper Youth Knew What Usually
 Happened In Such Cases.

The Chipper Youth Knew What Usually
 Happened In Such Cases.
 The fresh young man with no respect in his soul for gray hairs and dyed whiskers swung himself on the car in the middle of a block, and leaning against the brake handle proceeded to roll cigarette with great deftness. The fat man who despises the ways of the youth on general principles leaned against the window guards and watched the development of a cigarette.
 "Got a match, neighbour" inquired the fresh young man as he put the last finishing twist to his smoke.
 Young man''-began the fat man after brief, elderly pause. calculated to greatly impress the cigarette smoker.
 "Yes, I know all about''- inter rupted the youth, ESQ you might as we'll choke your lecture on bornin. l know cigarettes will kill me if I stick to lem, but l don't care. It's an easy death. know if I must smoke I should smoke cigars but don't like the color of lem. I've got touch of paresis now, and I'm due for more. know you think of all the disgusting things in the world cigarette is the worst.
 ''I know they undermine the consti- tuition and are wrecking the rising gen. eration Now if I've forgotten anything you were going to say help me out Come to think of it, I've got match myself. If I keep on smoking these things, won't be able to think at all before long. know if you had boy that smoked cigarettes you would lick him within an inch of his life. I nearly forgot you were going to say that. Where do you get off anyhow?"
 Here" gasped the fat man as he dropped off the platform, muttering something about what this country is coming to. And the fresh young man lighted his cigarette with grim Washington Times.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03

The legitimate end of work Is self support. Let us direct our work wisely and it makes leisure possible. Over work Is for false and unreal ends, ex- hausting our physical powers. It is true that laziness makes man a slave to his ease, but overwork makes him a slave to his work. The man who would get rich in hurry, who works from morning until night, lon the clean jump" who drives his work with the fierce determination to out distance his competitors at all hazards, misses the great joys of life, to which the wealth he pursues in such hot haste is merely the means, breaks down early in life and destroys the physical basis on which work and enjoyment depend. To undertake more than we can do with out permanent injury to ourselves is wrong. LaZiness is the more ignoble vice, but the folly of overwork is equal ly apparent and its results equally dis astrous. Overwork is a storm that strikes down the brayest and best. That work alone is wrought in virtue which keeps our powers up to their normal and healthful activity and is suOordinated to the end of self support and harmonious self development.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03
READING SEALED LETTERS.
German Scientist Shows How This May
 Be Accomplished.

Be Accomplished.
 It is not generally known that sealed letters may ill many cases be read with out opening the envelopes or doing them the least injury. It was discovered by a German physiologist by the use of an embryoscope, or egg glass, that the shells of eggs were of very unequal thickness.
 It occurred to him to make expert ments in order to ascertain how many leaves of ordinary letter or official pa- per must be laid above and below written leaf in order to make it illegible to highly sensitive eye in the direct sunlight. He found that after he had rested his eye in dark room for 10 or 15 minutes he cold read piece of writ. ing over the mirror of the embryoscope that had been covered with eight layers of paper.
 He called in other observers to con- firm this. The letters, however, that could thus be deciphered were written in dark ink on one side of the paper only. If four written sides were folded together, and especially if there had been crossing, it was hard to make out the drift of the writing, and there are some kinds of writing which, when folded twice or thrice, admit too little light for the purpose of decipherment
 In this way possibly many of the per formances of "clairvoyants" may be ex- plained. By means of the egg glass it is as rule, easier to make out the con- tents of letter or telegram without the slightest tampering with the envelope than it is to detect the movements of the embryo in the egg.
 Suppose the writer of billet, the contents of which are known only to himself, lets it out of his hand and loses sight of it for five minutes. It may be readily carried either into the direct sunlight or into electric or magnesium light and be read by the aid of the egg glass. The placing of piece of car fridge paper in the envelope or the col bring of it black is means of defense at hand
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03

The editor of the Clarion was a very patient man. \ startling crash from the direction of the composing room caused him to push his spectacles up on his brow and cease writing. When he found that the boy had let the first page form fall on the floor, where 1t lay In an incoherent mass, he shook bis head responsibility and exclaimed:
 'Lemuel, ] do wish that you could manage to break the news more gen tly."-Washington Star.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03

The Americans are the greatest cof-
 fee drinkers in Chrlstendom. They drink so much coffee that it already
 forms the greatest individual item in our imports. As nation, the United States spends $9Q,0OO,OO0 per year for coffee. This information is doubly in teresting now that Americans have ac- quired by conquest and annexation two of the best coffee producing countries in the world. The possibilities of cof- fee production in our colony posses sions are unlimited. Porto Rico has for years produced one of the finest grades of coffee. Hawaii also grows an excellent grade of coffee, while it is reported that the product of the Phil ippines is superior to even that of Java. Coffee is the national breakfast bever- age. All classes of society use it. It is the breakfast stimulant of the laborer and the professional man. It has done more to sustain ones powers of endur- ance than any other article of diet. But yet notwithstanding our enormous consumption of it the French claim that we have not learned the art of making coffee Holland derives her revenue of $14,O00O00 per year from the island of Java, most of which is derived from coffee. Doubtless in our new possessions the cultivation of cof- fee will be fruitful field for American investment.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03

All the great questions of life come to man as an individual. All our deep- est sorrows come to us alone. We all pass nights alone in our Gethsemanes face to face with the awful majesty of sorrow as individuals. Every mo- ment of life is one of choice, of deci- sion, of weighing, of accepting, of talk ing position, of revealing our standard. of meeting issues as individuals, says
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03
Just for Annearances.I

Young Doctor-Now that have put up my shingle, can you give me word of advice as to the best way of increas- ing my practice?
 Old Doctor-Well, first of all, you ought to hire about dozen unhealthy looking people of both sexes to come and sit in your waiting room during office hours to make the casual caller think that your services are in great demand.-Somerville Journal.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03
Copper. in Maine.

Maine is again to enter the list of copper mining States. The deposits, which are numerous and valuable, were worked more than twenty-five years ago, but a sudden decline in the price of copper made them unproft- able; improved and cheapened method of production is the cause of resump- ton of work.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03
Winter Health Hints.

Healthful exercise taken in modera- tion, as walking, riding, wheeling or gymnastics, is useful means of hold ing in check the tendency to catarrh.
 It is always advisable that children of marked catarrhal tendencies should wear woolen underclothing varying in thickness with the change of the sea- sons.
 In regard to the treatment of colds, prevention rather than cure should be the motto. Bathing in cold water is often beneficial in preventing colds, or, to speak more accurately, in rendering the body sufficiently hardy to with stand the effects of chill, but in this practice discretion must be observed.
 Whether common cold is contagious or not Is a matter of opinion. Dr. s. Westray Battle thinks that the point is not clear, while pr. Foxwell says that acute catarrhs are probably mu- tually contagious, and that pneumo- mia and coryza are generally recognized as being capable of reproducing them selves in fresh subjects.
 Because in a healthy subject cold gets we'll, it does not follow that all colds will take that course, and every thing should be done to prevent such attacks, and cut short probable compli- cations. If cold habitually flies to the chest 1t may be taken for granted that there is an inherent weakness of the lungs, and the parents of children with such a predisposition should take steps to eradicate as far as possible the tendency, else the complaint may be- come chronic, or tuberculous infection may result.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03
Floggine as a Cure.

A Scotch doctor proposed logging as cure for habitual drunkards be fore the British Medico-Psychological Society of Edinburgh. For the "alco- holic crave" he suggested as a remedy blistering and the application of plas- ters, and for ''the plea of heredity" that a man should be logged within an inch of his life every time he took drink.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03

It is reported everywhere that Cuban flags are drug on the market, and dealers who have loaded up with them count them a dead loss. This is in it. self a matter of small moment, for there is no special reason why Ameri- cans should buy Cuban flags, but it is not time to forget Cuba yet, as most people seem in danger of doing. The most serious part of the problem which we so light-heartedly took up is yet to come.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03
Peace or War3

Shall we have peace?" asked the wife, anxiously, as he entered the house.
 ''That depends entirely upon you, my dear," he replied. For at that minute he recalled that he had forgotten to match the button she had intrusted to him that morning philadelphia North American.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03

Pando laughs at the idea that he took S3,O00,000 with him when he left Cuba, and says the total amount was about $12,000. An examination of the cash drawers in Cuba probably will show why he took only $12,000.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03
Cooking hx the sun,s Heat

An inventor in India has constructed an apparatus for cooking by the heat of the sun. It consists of a box made of wood and lined with refiecting mir TOTS, at the bottom of the box being a small copper boiler covered with glass to retain the heat of the rays concen- trated by the mirrors upon the boiler
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03
Everxbodr eatisfied.

"Dere's always bound to be kickers," 1" exclaimed Meandering Mike. "Did you ever know a time when de people agreed unanimously dat dey had the right man in de right placer"
 "On'y Once," replied Plodding Pete. 'I was bein' put into jail on de occa- sion. Washington Star.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03

One of the Hobson heroes says 1t Is the height of his ambition to become a New York policeman. If his ambition ever is realized 1t probably will go pret- ty hard with the Gothamites who bot tie themselves up.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03
Adams Merits.

There are two good things to be said of Adam. He never published any mother-in-law jokes, and he never told Eve that she ought to have eaten some of the pies his mother used to make.- Boston Transcript.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03
A Reminiscence.

His son-When yer blow open a safe wit powder, don't 1t make an awful noise?
 Retired burglar-Well, yes. I've know ed 1t to wake up de policeman on de beat,-Puck
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03
Her IdeR of Tt.

Mr. Hicks just know my new dress does not look at all neat and stylish.
 Hicks-Wbat makes you think so?
 Mrs Hicks-Because it's too comfort able-Chicago News.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03
The Proner course.

q suppose any power that may ar range terms of peace for Spain will ex- pect some compensation"
 "No doubt Spain should deal direct ly with Uncle Sam and save the com- mission."-Puck.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03

A New York man wants damages be- cause an X-ray machine burned off his whiskers. This proves that it was not such a hair-raising invention as it was claimed to be.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03
TnscrutabIe Woman.

"Pa, did you know ma long before you married her?
 "Know her! Great Scott, child, 1 don't know her yet."-Chicago Record.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03
Moderation.

'T'd like to hear your definition of moderation" said the skeptical man, to whom MT. Bonce had been orating.
 "Well, I am a moderate drinker n.y. self. always save out enough to pay cab fare home."-Cincinnati Enquirer.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03

Johnny-Me fader's a policeman; what does yer fader do?
 Jommy-What ma tells him.-New York Press.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03

'The men behind the guns did It." Not all of 1t. The men behind the men behind the guns, that is, the mass of the American people, with their aid, sympathy, prayers, did the rest.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03
One of Life,a Lesson.

By the time a man has learned to speak with discretion and weigh his words carefully a younger generation springs up, thrusts him in 6, a,corner and will not let him speak at all.--Atchison Globe.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03
His Reason.

'Do you think he loves you, my .hild?"
 Not passioDately, mamma. When l told him I was going to be uncle Alb ner's heiress he guessed we'd better wait about getting married until uncle died. He-he said he didn't want to pref Idice the case" Cleveland Plain Dealer.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03

Aguinaldo may not be as black as he's painted, but he had enough of the tra- ditional coon about him to come down when Uncle Sam threatened to shoot.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03

sTt is an awful thing to play poker" sadly remarks contemporary. It isn't half so awful, however, as to merely imagine you can play it.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03

Don't bet that the anarchist who as sassinated the Empress of Austria ever will be executed. Switzerland doesn't t infict capital punishment.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03

It is a joyous and comforting refec- ton that "the late war" no longer means an internecine strife between members of our common country.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03
Too True.

She-Some of those society fellows turn out to be good fighters.
 He-Yes; their experience in the sup per rooms at public receptions is being turned to a good account now.-Yonk- CTS Statesman.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03

That little Dutch girl who has as- cended the throne over in Holland should remember that there are others. Tn this country every girl becomes a queen at IS.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03

That autumn leaves commence to fall when they change color is in line with youth beginning to tumble, when no longer green.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03
ShouId Be WiDed Ont.

"There's one Yankee pig that Spain really ought to be allowed a whack at." "Who is that?
 "The street car hog. Detroit Free Press.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03
Tgyntinn ReIic.

Druggist have here a valuable relic, evidently from Egypt, but 1t is perfectly illegible.
 Doctor-Why, sir, that's a prescrip- tion I gave you to fll.-Cleveland Leader.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03

Glass bricks are coming into general use. Some day people may live in glass houses, and still run no risk in throw Ing stones.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03

So far as annexing Cuba to the Unit ed States is concerned, there is bound to be a hitch in the proceedings sooner Dr later.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03
It Frequently Happens.

She-Mrs. Brown says her baby can say all sorts of things.
 He-Possibly. When we were there he positively refused to be interviewed. Puck.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03
Knnwa His Worth.

"I'm very glad to have met you, MT. Van Jump"
 "Yes; people are nearly always pleas ed to meet me Chicago Record.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03

An exchange advises its readers not to bet on fast horses. Bosh! Those are the only horses to bet on.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03

Spain now seems to fear that she is engaged in Luzon game all along the line.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03
One of Them.

One Of Them. "Yes, Miss Biddleton is one of the most celebrated war heroines." "Indeedt What did she do-go to the front as a Red Cross nurse?" No; she got up an endless chain scheme for the purpose of providing !he soldiers with ginger snaps. Chi .ago News.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03
SUPPOSE WE SMILE.
HUMOROUS PARAGRAPHS FROM
 THE COMIC PAPERS.

pIeasant Incidents Occurring the World Over Sayings that Are Cheer full to Old or Young-Funny Selec' sions that Every body Will Enjoy.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03

There may be tine for all things, but the wise man only tackles one thing at a time.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03

It's a poor bill poster that doesn't keep an actor we'll posted.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY

The "pure Havana cigar" is again burning issue.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03
No Doubt.

"In this country we know no East, no North, no Soutb-"
 "And Spain wishes we didn't know any Puerto Rico or Philippines Puck.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-03
One of Them.

Private Jones is g man among a hundred"
 What makes you say that?''
 Because he is. There are just nine ty-nine other men in his company Philadelphia North American.