davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The state herald., 1898-12-16
MEMORIES OF CHOPIN.
Tragedy and Comedy of His Life nnl
George Sands.

George sands.
Chopin sleeps In Pere Lachaise and
though the Ariel of memory will add
to the rest morceaux of his own noe
turnes and melodies till, II you will
the place be as full of "noises, sounds
and sweet airs" as Prospero's isle, says
Chambers Journal. 1t is pleasant tc
rest awhile, listening to these things,
and looking on at what fancy will do
to their measures, the visions 1t Will
bring, the figures 1t will shape and un-
shape from the fugitive brain scraps
you throw 1t. But among the pictures
which come and go, like the faces over
the witches kettle-dlm cathedral
glaring opera house. twilighted draw
ing room, yellow moon over the trees
-ah. Chopin, what fools you made OF
us!-come others of an impersonal
kind, biographical vignettes which
minds. There is the Partisan salon.
Heine smiling over at Bellini; the fair
lady, amused with the mastro's curls.
'delicately destroying them with his
cane. Not one OF them thought that
in fourteen days time poor Bellini'
curls and all, would be under the
ground at Pere Lachaise. Then ap-
muscular man there, square-jawed anu
angry-eyed as Cherubini turns upon
him half bitterly: "Citoyen General. !
perceive that you love only that mu-
sic which does not prevent you from
thinking Of your politics." And the
Italian moves away. as II adding un-
der his breath, "Why Is this man not
Midas-eared?" For that little, stout
man. Napoleon, had alone mid ap-
plauding Paris, belittled his music,
And now rises room In Florence. u
litter OF books and papers. De Mus
set writing. George Sand debating. II
Is Chopin's doing-he has reminded us
OF them. But now he appears himself,
his piano before him, dreaming through
his finger tips and making more
dreams for his crouching listener, the
same George Sand. The tragedy and
comedy OF those two lives!-they make
us weep and smile by turns. The
sculptured muse on n composers tomb
sits mourning. Tyre in hand. But II
is all past now, that sorrowing time.
For when Chopin died. did he not
leave us his better angel? The musi-
clans soul Of him, does 1t not dwell
purely among us, one of the choir
invisible" which Is ever urging us to
larger issues?" One wishes the fig
ure would lift Its head as the sick
hearted do at the last burst In the
March Funebre." The few poor
bones she weeps over are not Chopin.
The state herald., 1898-12-16

Roosevelt and Cherry streets. Uplift.
ing her face. which was convulsively
working with tender emotion. she said:
What did 1t cost to play that little
joke on Tommy"
"Just II cents, sweetheart" he re.
piled.
They walked on for another block.
But Mrs. Thomas was bubbliny over
with excitement, and she stopped her
husband again and exclaimed:
But you haven't any Christmas
present yourself"
Nonsense, Molly. haven't"
He was interrupted by two soft arms
around his neck and kiss. Then
Molly began to cry. But George quick
ly soothed her, and as they sat in the
elevated car flying toward Herlem he
said:
Molly, thought was a very much
abused man last night, but I've chang
ed my mind. think / could walk
from the Battery to Harlem on soap
bubbles and never burst bubble to-
day."
The state herald., 1898-12-16
RECENT INVENTIONS.

Pockets can be securely closed by u
Michigan mana device. consisting Of
strip of spring steel placed inside the
inner wall OF the poke, and curved
out from the body TO press the inner
edge OF the pocket against the outer
and tightly close the mouth
Fishermcn will appreciate an i'm.
proved reel which II contained In the
handle OF the pole. instead Of being
attached To tho outside. number nf
coz wheels gearing the reel Mp no that
the llnc spool royolyen rapidly. the
crank being tho only portion tina, "a
Visible.
For use IN examining the mouth and
throat n new mirror has the frame
hinged on handle, with screw run.
ming through the handle and engaging
the ring frame 10 lock II In nny de-
sired position. making ono glass do the
work Of NIL the RlaEaea with nred
angle frames,
The arm. chest aud back muscles can
be developed by nov ekefeisur. com.
posed OF two picccs Of spring wire
formed into straight central portion.
with coils NJ each end. The wires being
then extended IN a straight line and
ending In handles nj the outer ends
which are srnsped to bend the coils.
a Bwede has designed combined
cabs ANA pistol having firing the.
rhanlsm concealed IN the curved
handle. the hammer being set BY bend.
Ing tho handle. The return motion
throwing the trigger irto ylsw ready
to he prcrsed by the nnser and die
shnrge ball through tho cane Jarrel
The state herald., 1898-12-16

but because of the prevailing hard
times his income had been re-
duced to $12. This sum, with
some little change, comprised his
cash capital. AS he buttoned his coat
about his neck he reflected ruefully
that this was a very small sum with
which. to meet his expenses and to buy
Christmas presents. The wind blew
briskly down Park place as he walked
toward Broadway, thinking of the COM
Ing rent day. the empty coal bin. and
the new dress he had promised his
wife. His thoughts were saddened as
he remembered that his little boy
would have been nearly five years old
had he lived until Christmas. There
was sense OF construction in his
throat as he thought of last years
Christmas tree. bright with spangles,
irradiated with light and whitened with
popcorn balls. Then against the walls
OF memory stood out clear and distinct
the figure Of his little boy standing In
his white nightgown In the gay dawn
OF Christmas day. with flushed cheeks
and eyes dancing with delight. looking
at the marvellous Christmas tree.
On Park row. near the corner of
Chambers street. there was a toy store
Of most wonderful variety. As Thorn
rs came down the street. his mind In
tent on his own misery. his gaze fell
upon one OF the most pathetic figures
he had ever seen. Before the window
Of the toy store stood a little boy.
whose nose was fiattened against the
pane. His body shivered with the cold.
but his soul was aname with desire,
which was expressed In his hungry
eyes, Thomas estimated his age at Z
years. He wore an old coat, which bad
evidently been made for boy twice
his age. Pins usurped the place of
buttons on the garment. His feet were
thrust into n pair of yellow galters. as
siduous wear afIording excelien, hut
cruel ventilation. His trousers held
up by pieces OF string. were frayed ana
wlndowed In manner suggestive of
the fact that the boy had been dandled
upon poverty's knee. Thomas took In
all these details ms he stopped beside
the boy and watched him. The In
durated expression In the little face,
the plnched nostrils. the blue circles
under the eyes. and the wolhsh look
on the wan features faded AWAY MS the
child turned to Thomas and said:
Say. mister. lif' me up so | kin see
de candy clgarettes!"
Thomas lifted the boy In his strong
arms 80 that his range OF vision In.
cluded all the Tantalus delights OF the
bazaar.
Il wisht me mudder was goIn' L hay'
krismus tree. but she says she can't
have none dis year. cause she nln't
got no dust. She scrubs In de Morse
buIldln' en- gets 81 week. Say, dats
n lot o. money. amt Il? Iuily goci
Look at de dinky little tin sojor, Amt
he oorker' Mister. In your little boy
.oln' TO hay' n KrismuA tfcc7"
"im afraid no, this year sonny."
Thomas replied. My little boy Ia In
Heaven"
where's dat7 Across dc riycr1"
yes. Il n across the river" replied
Thomas. grayely. putting the little fell
low down upon the sidewalk. "wha,
IN your name1" he continued.
The state herald., 1898-12-16


They followed this itinerary, Tommy
running ahead to point out the way.
They entered the alley between two
enormous brick tenements, through a
big iron gate, and after wearisome
climb up crooked stairways arrived at
the O'Dowd residence. Tommy went
into the room. and as Thomas fingered
on the threshold he heard a strident
voice say:
so that's you, you little scut! Sure
you had the heart o. me ar bruk / was
that freckened, All. good evenin' to
ye, SIR" as Thomas stepped inside.
Come in, sir. It's little we have, but
ye're welkim as II 'twace palace, sir.
Tommy. ye amodhoun. you, get the
gintleman n chair"
Il hope you will excuse me, Mrs.
oDowd." said Thomas, but saw your
little boy looking in a toy store win
dow and thinking he might be lost |
came home with him"
Now, amt that kind o. you, sir"
exclaimed Mrs. O'Dowd. Sure it's not
many would do the same, so there"
But ye needn't be freckened about
that little blaggard. Faith, he'd find
his way from Harlem to the Batthery,
so he would"
In such genial converse the time
passed. while Tommy and his mother
supped on mackerel and potatoes, And
when Tommy had been tucked away
for the night in his mothers bed under
the mantel, on which stood plaster
cast of the Virgin. with hands out
whispered talk with Mrs. O'Dowd, in
The state herald., 1898-12-16
A suRolcAL FAD.
What the Mania foe Removing the Ap.
pendlx May Load to.

We have somewhere read Of man
who has taken the precaution to have
printed upon his shirt front these
words: my appendix Is cut or" His
idea was that In case he was taken III
away from home and became uncon-
scious, the physician into whose hands
he fell should not perform an opera
tlon In laparotamy upon him. Consid-
ering the frequency Of operations of
this kind and the temptation to which
surgeon out of practice Is exposed
In n case where the patient cannot de-
fcnd himself, the legend was not entire
ly without warrant. There is no ex-
cuse to dig for mans appendix when
1t has alrcndy been cut away.
For nearly six thousand years men
We're born and men died and not ono
OF them all ever died, to his knowledge,
of the appendicitis, and not one in n
hundred thousand ever knew that he
had an appendix. Suddenly some luck
less individual discovers that this use
less apcndagc, this remainder of the
tailed creature from which the human
race sprung, is in n state of cffervcs-
cencc, and along comes Il skillful sur
geon who assures him that only the
knife can save his life That was the
beginning. and now appendicitis and
Elparotamy are as common as violin
virtuosos are rcputcd 10 he In place
not to be mentioned In hot weather. 1t
appears from the supreme medical cx-
amincr's report that the appendix Is ex-
ceedingly versatile, that it has many
ways of asserting itself, and that 1t has
the power to put other organs out of
kilter, and that by consequence even
n lung trouble may have its seat not
In the lung mt all, but in this bowel of
uncompassion.
If veto is not put upon the nppcn-
dix's progress, the time may shortly
come when every man will have to no
examined before entering n life lnsur-
nnce society, to sec If he have such n
thing as an APPENDIX about him, and
when all who have not got ride 1t Will
be placed in an cxtra-haZardous class
*. of II. Reporter.
The state herald., 1898-12-16
FOOLISH SUGGESTION.
Getting Up a Wonder Bag" for Sick
Friend.

Some of the suggestions for Christ
mas present-making In the womens
magazines might be collected and pub
lished under the appropriate title.
How to Worry Ones Friends" says
the New York Commercial Advertiser
One suggestion is that one begin two
months before Christmas and prepare
a wonder-bag for some sick friend.
The plan outlined is astonishing in It's
simplicity. One writes begging let
tiers to an unlimited number OF per
sons. asking each one to send pres
ent for the bag. Since these friends
will probably be scattered far and wide
In the home land and perhaps in for
eign lands as we'll. 1t will be neces-
sary to begin preparations early-the
earlier the better" When the presents
arrive one packs them in tissue paper
and marks each with the name of the
giyer and ties II with narrow ribbon.
The heavy ones are put at the bottom,
the light ones at the top. those appro-
pirate to the spring near the top and
NIosS HHiAabi' Va S"is
the middle. etc. etc. The bag can be
mnde to last three months. six months
or year. II all depends on the num-
ber OF persons one held up" by mall.
their promptness and generosity and
the curiosity or patience OF tho indi-
yidunl. who may elect to draw out all
the presents In week or to choose one
for every fortnight. Tho writer cites
instances Of these bags being made and
proving sources Of great interest and
pleasure to all concerned. But con-
sidoring that most OF US have i'm
perative claims on us nj holiday times
and limited incomes at all seasons,
that even the poorest would feel
ashamed TO turn a deaf ear to the ap-
peal for an invalid. and that most In
yallds have sufficient pride and unself-
lshness to resent this particular way OF
receiving delicate attentions" one Is
apt TO make odlous comparisons twlxt
tho wonder bag and the old-timo
church fair. the houSe-to- house canvass
for ragged childrcn's Christmas trees
and the well-intentioncd and patriotic
endless chains FOR our poor soldiers
on land and sea-"
The state herald., 1898-12-16
TRY GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP
Porto Rico Telegraph nm Enforced n.
pertinent In Socialism.

The situation In Porto Rico promises
TO force ON this government Cor n time
at least, the experiment Of federal own
crship of telegraph and telephone lines.
The War Department now controls
all lines In Porto Rico and in the evncu-
ntcd section of Cuba. The latter, how
ever, Is looked upon as merely tran
sicnt. In both places the lines are be-
Ing repaired and the government Is
handling commercial messages after
government matter.
The signal service In charge of this
work says II Is too soon To draw con
illusions as 10 the expense Of the ser
vice, ms the cost of maintenance and
long delayed repairs is just now more
than the income from the lines. But In
six months from the LIST of January.
the signal service expects to he able to
furnish interesting data NJ to the profit
IN the insular wire service.
This enforced object lesson In federal
management iS naturally expected To
nave considerable influence pro or con
In the agitation FOR like control In this
country.
The state herald., 1898-12-16
WHAT THE LAW DECIDES.

Game killed on an Indian reservation
by o tribal Indian and transported by
wagon to the nearest railway station
of the reservation and there delivered
10 a carrier TO be shipped out OF the
state is held, in Selkirk VS.. Stevens
tMinn.). 40 l.. II. A. 759. to be subject
TO the game laws OF the state.
On q second trial In nm eJectment
suit taken by the defeated party As n
matter Of right under the terms OF
statute allowing IT, II is held In Slau-
son VS. Goodrich Transportation com
pany twis.). 40 l.. II. A.. s25. that rul-
ings upon the admissibility of evidence
made on the former trial have no bind
ing force. with this case are collect
ed the authorities on the effect OF
prior decision on statutory new trial In
real action.
A promoter who transfers to a cor
poration land purchased by him before
the corporation was formed Is held, In
Milwaukee Cold Storage company VS..
Dexter (Wis.). 40 l.. X. A. s37. TO be
not subject to any liability to the cor
poration for the amount received by
him IN excess of what he paid. II he
made no Misrepresentation or false
statements about the matter. and all
the subscribers had opportunity to as
certain the conditions and value OF
the land and know the price charged.
although he did not disclose to them
the amount which he paid.
The doctrine that the placing OF cleo
tric wires known TO be dangerous Mt
n place where others arc lawfully entl-
tied to be constitutes negligence. lH ap-
piled In Pcrham w, Portland General
Electric company t0re). 20 l.. Il. A.
7s9. to wires strung over bridge
where workmen In repairing the bridge
come IN contact with them. and II In
also held that the apparent perfect IN
sulation OF tho wires amounted TO an
Invitation to risk contact with them.
when the wires are placed where per-
sons In performing their duties may
come In contact with them
The state herald., 1898-12-16
Ill. PersonnI Apncarancc.

We are left entirely to conjecture as
TO the personal appearance OF Jesus
the boy. and We have no means OF
knowing how He looked as He wan
dercd over plain and by seashore, ov-
erturnlng the world by His words.
There is, however, n story descriptive
OF Him as n man which comes from
the fourteenth century. He was ex-
ceedingly fair to behold. His stature
was full seven spans. His hair was
light and not very thick. slightly tend
Ing to curl. His eyebrows were dark
and arched. His eyes were bright,with
a dash of yellow. His beard was blond
and not long He wore His hair down
his shoulders, for II had never been
cut. lie stopped slightly. very slight
ly, at the shoulders. never walking
wholly erect. His complexion was of
the color OF ripe wheat. golden hue and
His face was not round nor yet long.
but oval like His mothers. and 1t had
Just tlngc OF ruddiness. As one look
ed at him he was strangely impressed
by the intelligence, the gcntlenoss. the
freedom from all passions therein ex-
pressed.
The state herald., 1898-12-16
iin,i Itinn.iIhltsiY.

Greene Good morning. Mrs. Brown.
where Ia Tom today Mrs, brown
Tom In out IN the kitchen killing eoek-
reaches lie was golng hunting,
but his gun didn't come home. nH be
1ni ordered. lio had set upon having
4 day of sport. but rather than be
wholly disappointed, he has gone 10
Killing cockroncheH, When man IN
IN the humof fof sport ho mus, murder
something. you know, boston Trans
-ript,
The state herald., 1898-12-16
HUGE CHECKS.
Eaornous sums Represented by Dl.s OF
Paper.

Paper.
Checks for large amounts seem to
be the order of the day, but even Sir
Thomas Lipton's large check in pay
ment OF import duties covering n GER
tain period Of time, the installments
on the purchase of the Anaconda
mines, or on the Coast railroad in
America, which have all amazed the
world In their turn. pale into inslgnifi-
canoe compared with those that have
been drawn recently. The payments
made by the French government as
war indemnity to Prussia have hith-
erto held the first rank, in the opinion
ever known, but the check drawn for
the largest amount on record repre-
sents the balance of the war indemnity,
with the interest thereon, paid by
China to Japan, namely, G11,008,S57
16s 9d. The Chinese government bor-
rowed, through the Hong Kong and
Shanghai bank, the sum of G16,000,-
900 to pay this indemnity. The money
was transferred at the Bank of Eng
land. from the account of the Chinese
ambassador to the credit of the gov
ernment of Japan; the check bears the
Endorsement of tho Chinese minister
to England, Lofenluh, and that of the
manager of the Bank OF England, and
1t is also signed by the manager OF the
Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking
corporation. This rare piece Of paper
is at present in the possession Of w.
II. Harris. Another large check was
presented at a well-known bank few
years ago for f5,2S0, ,00O-that was che
sum paid by the De Beers Diamond
company for the purchase of another
very large diamond mine. The check
In question was signed by two direc-
tors. After 1t had been paid photo
graphs of the check were taken snd
sold for small sum, and were bought
up rapidly. Another large check was
| that drawn on the London and County
bank few years back by the Great
Indian Peninsular Railway company
and q short time before this a check
was paid through the clearing house
for over G3,000,000, drawn on Messrs
Glyn & Co.. which was paid to the
Bank OF England.-Tit-Bits.
The state herald., 1898-12-16
A siranrn ling.

Fort Worth. Texas. correspondence
Chicago Inter Ocean: within the past
two or three weeks many sections of
Texas have been visited by Htfans"
bug. The creature ia m angular ahap-
ed anair something like the bottom Of
a pa,on, smoothing iron. with buHhy
tan or mouse colured hair briailos,
which extend from every part Of the
body II has not yet been determined
whether the hair Of the feet do the
singing. Very serious results have
followed where persons have been
atunR. II han become necessary In
some homes To keep constantly on
guard. and oven the beds hnyc 10 be-
examined before retiring NJ night
These bugs are called italian nspH"
The state herald., 1898-12-16
n.il,ond Train. To Hun slower

Railroad officials clnim ihni II II very
expensive In run tnelr express trains.
aud ARE talking about reducing III"
speed. II II likewise expensive 10 the
health in struggle nn1 compete In hiis,
ln"ss affairs ns men do nowadays the
whole system gives oui. For restoring
strength IIoSirticrs Stomach Iiltt"rs
h the proper remedy.
The state herald., 1898-12-16

Tommy o'Dowd." replied the boy,
esnd live In Middle alley"
well. Tommy" said ThomaH. "you
90 with me 10 the telegraph ONCE and
then III 20 home with YOU"
And so. hand In hand. the strangely
Escorted pair went 10 tho telegraph Of.
dee and Thomas sent this dispatch 20
his wife In Harlem;
Dear Molliei Detained down town
BY important buslhess, VIII bs home
81 II o'clock"
"Do you know the way homo7" asked
1homHa - they came out ~ the iaie.
etsph ONCE on Park Row again.
'yes." said Tommy, ecufnfuly II
Know all dc streets. We goes down
New Chambers street till ye comes To
RooHt welt. den ye goes down l,oosei
veit iii ye gets TO Cherry en- den y
ere In Middle alley"
The state herald., 1898-12-16
p..f... csnpo, u. Cured

by local applications nH they eanno, reach ,hs
diseased portion of the car There u OnlY ona
way 20 ruru deafness and thnt " by ronsu-
iutlnnai remedies DrafhrKs IL caused ny an
infamed rundiiisn ~ the murus lining Of thn
EnsiArhlAn Tuho when this tubs " lnnAmtd
you hafn D rumhllng sound or Imperfect hnaf.
lns, hnd when n I. entirely closed draihoss II
tho result and unless the Inflammation rhn be
taken out and this tnhr restored 10 IT, normal
condition, henfinf will b" destroyed forever
nina eAsss out Of ten are caused BY rataffh,
which IL nothing but an lufamoi condition ~
tho inueus surfaces
We liiritr ono Hundred pollafu fpf any easq
df Deafness traussd ~ rhiaffhl that cannot
bo cured by Halls tninuh cure send TOR
circulars. free.
Sold by Dfusgiats, 10
iiaii's Family RUS are the beat
The state herald., 1898-12-16
Patronising n Pct Grocer.

One day Mistress MacPhairson was
trotting home from her grocer's with
some spiritual comfort tucked under
her apron, when she ran up against
her friend. Mistress Macleod. and felt
called upon to explain. II waur just
beyont at Muster MacTavishs store
He keeps tn very best ham In a tn
land. Our John loves a bit O. guild
ham. ye ken. and is NY yammerin
aboot tn ham at ither shops bein
over fat and saut." "Oor Tam tn
same" said Mistress Macleod. "and SO
I'll gang and gle MacTavish trial
now" Five minutes after that Mrs,
Macleod went to the obllging grocer
and asked for "a pund Of ham," what
kind o. ham," inquired Muster Mac
Tabish. "oh. gle me the same kind
that Mistress MacPhalrson always gets
here" "a richt." returned the grocer
with a cunning leer. And then. bend
ing over the counter, he said in high
~ significant whisper. "Whaur's yer
ottle?'-Weekly Telegraph.
The state herald., 1898-12-16

The nits,nes Of rats arc never used
for violin strings The fayori'e ma
terlal Tor gut strings IL The inleatlnes
uf lambs the lleum, duodenum and 10.
lunum. SILK Is sometimes used for
the core Of the covered strings,
The state herald., 1898-12-16
r.rn.r. Nnrnar ,.n,r, nlm

Alice THAT Private Ricksloy must
be- a cold.bloodcd. selfish fellow" An.
nie- "why7" Allco-''i noticed yes.
iefday that he s,ill had those two lli-
,ie brass guns on his hat, and there
wasn't button missing from his coat g
FIX
The state herald., 1898-12-16
Wanted,

Brown-Did you ever SEE a man who
really wanted the earth? Towne-oh.
yes. Brown-Who was he? Towne-
A frst-class passenger on an ocean
steamer.-Brooklyn Life
The state herald., 1898-12-16
Tommy
O'Dowd's
Christmas.
Observation-Disclosures

HE S h a d o W $ of
Christmas eve were
( in 6 over the
city as G eorge Q
Thomas, a N ew
York city mechanic,
stepped d o W n on
the S 1 d e W a l k In
Park place on his
way homeward. His
c arm | ng capacity
was SIS per week,
The state herald., 1898-12-16
ri,.t r,n.,

"well. Fcrymscr. how did your eoin.
edy go unf' ~ wasn't onniady 1t
wns . tragedy only eleven pioplo IN
the benches. EA.
The state herald., 1898-12-16

well, enjoyed the Thanksgiving
turkey nnd the siuililn'- the turkey
sluriln' Ilyi Is. though enjoyed my
own, too