davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The St. Johns herald., 1898-10-15

family. The privatiOns of the siege, the long and weary waiting at the butch CTS and bakers shops when the scanty dole of food was distributed in the rig orS of that terrible winter, had stretch cd his mother on the bed of suffering. where she lay slowly dying.
 One day when he had gone with oth- CTS to dig for potatoes in the frost bound plain of St. Denis a Prussian bullet broke his shoulder, and after wards, driven partly by hunger, partly by fear of his companions threats, he had enrolled himself in the Army of the Commune. Like many another, fear and fear only had led him into and kept him in the ranks; he had no heart for a war of brothers, and now that his life was about to pay the penalty he was glad that he could lay no mans death to his charge. He was innocent of that, at any rate.
 The things he had seen and suffered during the few last months had given him a dread of life. He hated to think of leaving his mother in this terrible world-his mother whom he loved so dearly, who had always been so inex- pressibly good to him; but he comfort ed himself with the thought that before long she would come, too-she could not have much more suffering to undergo, she was so weak when he last saw her. four days ago.
 'KiSs meagain, dear-again," she had said, flor I feel that may never see you more."
 "Ah," he thought, sadly, "if they would only trust him-would give him only one hour of liberty-hOw he would run to her and then come back and give himself up to the hands that hungered for his life He would give his word, and he would keep it. Why not? Save his mother-and she, too, was dying he had no one to regret To see her again, to kiss her dear lips once more, console, encourage her, and leave her hopeful-then he could face death b-avely."
 He was in the midst of these sad re- factions when the commandant, fol lowed by several officers, approached him.
 Now, my fine fellow, you and have a score to settle; you know what awaits you?"
 ''Yes, mon commandant, and I am ready"
 Really? So ready as all that? You are not afraid of death?"
 Hess than of life. 1 have seen so much the last six months-such awful things-death seems better than such a life"
 'I wager you would not hesitate if I gave you your choice. If I said: Put your best foot foremost and show me how soon you can be out of sight you would soon be off, I'll warrant"
 'Try me, mon commandant, try me! Put me to the proof; it's worth trial. One more or less for your men to shoot. what does it matter? One hour of freedom only, not more; you shall See whether I will keep my word, and whether I am afraid to die"
 "Oh! da! you're no fool, but you must take me for one. Once free and far away, and then come back to be shot just as you would keep an ordinary ap- pointment? You will hardly get me to swallow that, my boyT
 'Listen, sir, I beg of you. Perhaps you have a good mother; you love her, your mother, more than aught else In
The St. Johns herald., 1898-10-15
BlLlNGUAL TELEPHONES.
A Story at the Expense of a Milwaukee
 Millionaire Brewer.


 Millionaire Brewer.
 J. G. Nolen, who is an old timer in the electrical construction business, tells a story on "Val'' Blatz, the millionaire brewer of Milwaukee.
 "Our company had had some corre- spondence with Mir. Blatz regarding the putting in of a telephone plant in his big brewery establishment, and I was sent up to try to close deal.
 ''I took a couple of phones with me in order to make practical demonstra- tion should one be required, and I went with the intention of making a sale.
 ''I got to talking with MT. Blatz and showed him the advantage of putting in our intercommunicatiyes system through out his establishment. He listened at- tentively, and finally said:
 "'Yes, that is all so; very true. But, and he spoke with the conviction of one who was putting poser, but my men down in the malthouse and the warehouses and cold storage are all Dutchmen.
 I, myself, though a German and a graduate of Leipsic and Heidelberg, can speak English, but what would your telephones be to my Dutch workmen, who cannot speak English at all?'
 "Well, I saw how the land lay. Old Val could not get it through his head that the telephone would transmit any thing but the language of America. was bound to make the deal. as said before. So remarked to Mir. Blatz:
 T can put on some German receiv- CTS if you so desire. l have some with me-
 ''I connected up the phones, made a show of changing the receivers, and in half an hour Mir. Blatz was talking to one of his Dutchmen down in the malt house. He was delighted.
 You may put them in, he said, 'and shall want one German one in the malthouse, one German one in each warehouse, English ones in my office and the business office and German one in the cold storage house.
 "We closed the deal and Mir. Blatz was glad to pay $2 extra for each Ger man enuncistor we put in. When the phones were shipped from the factory, I had them labeled German and English respectively, and the big brewer was perfectly satisfied.
 ''It was five years before I saw Blatz again, :" concluded MT. Nolen. "He rec ognized me at once and said with a hearty German laugh: You are the ac- oommodating gentleman who put in the German and English telephones for me. We'll, you are good one. "-Milwau- kee Telephone.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-10-15
CHINESE sPANIELs POPULAR.

Quaint Little Creatures that Bring Big
 Prices from Dog Fanciers.
 The quaint little Chinese spaniel is the latest fad of the dog fancier. There was once a statute making 1t a crime punishable by death for common per son to be found with one of these dogs in his possession, and even now their price makes them a luxury for the rich. They have been bred in their present purity of blood for more than two thou sand years, and there is a legend that a tiny black and white spaniel was the trusted companion of the wise Confu- cius and sat at table with him.
 The great round wall eyes, the short upturned nose, the bushy tail and the silky hair are the distinguishing points of the Chinese spaniel. The more wall eyed dog is the higher price he can command. The colors are white, black
The St. Johns herald., 1898-10-15

Admiral Dewey did not hesitate, in his official report, to highly praise the Chinese servants employed on his ship. While they were non-combatants, they supplied the gunners with ammunition during the fight with the Spanish feet
 The wardroom stewards, most of whom were Chinese and Japanese, were busy between decks during the engagement in hoistlng and passing charges for the great guns. After the battle at Manila the Admiral found 8 number of Chi nese stewards aboard his flagship with their raw hands bleeding from the la bor of holsting ammunition. The Ad- miral recommended that these brave fellows be made American citizens for their heroic and valuable services on board his ships, and it is to be hoped that the recommendation will not go unheeded. If these men are not worthy of being granted citizenship It is hard 10 say what they would have to do to merit 1t We admit the lowest of the
The St. Johns herald., 1898-10-15
The Town of "Is."

One of the most popular legends in Brittany is that relating to an imagin- ary town called Is, which is supposed to have been swallowed up by the sea at some unknown time. According to them the tips of spires of the churches may be seen in the hollow of the waves when the sea Is rough, while during a calm the music of their bells ringing out the hymn appropriate to the day rises above the waters. I often fancy that l have at the bottom of my heart city of Is, with Its bells calling to prayer a recalcitrant congregation. At times 1 halt to listen to these gentle vibrations, which seem as if they come from immeasurable depths like voices from another world. Since old age be- gan to steal upon me I have loved, more especially during the repose which summer brings with 1t, to gather up these distant echoes of a vanished AtlantiS.-Ernest Renan.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-10-15
WantS1-A Patent.

Among the strange applications which reach the pateE6 office one, filed some years ago, was most extraordinary. it being petition for patent for an ant guard which consisted in merely draw Ing a chalk mark around table or oth- CT place by which it was claimed the approach of ants was stopped. It seems that chalk makes an ants legs slip as s9aping a track prevents railway en- zine from starting. The petition was novel and caused considerable amuse- meut. The application, however was refused on the ground that there was nothing new ill the invention, that chalk had been used for such purposes before and that such ideas were not pat eptable.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-10-15
Betrothal Rings.

Modern Greek peasants exchange a gold and silver wedding ring, and they drink wine from the same cup. But the regular ritual of the Greek church or dains that solemn betrothal precedes the actual marriage, in which are used gold and silver wedding rings blessed by the priest, the gold ring being given to the man, the silver ring to the woman. The form of the espousal is then repeat ed, and the rings are placed on the right hands and then exchanged that no in- feriority may be betokened by the wom- an wearing the silver ring and also to indicate common ownership of prop erty.
 An Armenian mother usually chooses her daughters husband. After all busi- ness preliminaries are settled between the families the bridegroom's mother, accompanied by priest and two ma- irons, visits the bride and gives her ring in token of espousal, and with this ring the couple are ultimately married. Among the fishing communities very ancient and elaborate rings are used, and they descend as heirlooms from generation to generation.
 In Japanese marriages arranged be- tween very young people the girl re- ceives ring in evidence that the union is binding. In Malabar an old native custom seats both bride and bridegroom on dais, and a relative washes the feet of the bridegroom with milk and puts silver ring on the great toe of the right foot. He then hands gold ring to his kinsman, and a necklace and chaplet of flowers are put on the brides neck and head.-London Mail
The St. Johns herald., 1898-10-15

Nine times in ten it would be mercy if some able-bodied person would grab an oar and knock senseless the man who rocks the boat. If that vigorous course had been pursued at Columbia Park, near Chicago, some, if not all, of the bOat-rocker's five vic tims might now be alive and well, and the rocker would be nursing a broken head at worst It's no use trying to sene in the stove to make the fire burn faster has proved an intelligent and teachable person compared with the bOat-rOcker. Even when she was in the height of her popularity the worst of her offending was usually to kill herself, set the house afire, and give the rest of the occupants a chance to escape, but the boat-rocker never learns and never seems able to confine his attentions to his own amusing. He never rocks the boat if he is the only occupant. He must have others to share his pleasure. And he is never a sailor. You never see a sailor rock boat. Since he can't be taught, he should be suppressed. He is commit ting assault and battery, and his vic tins certainly have the right of self defense. Self-defense conducted with an oar or a boat-hoOk or a stretcner, providing it did not rock the boat more than the rocker does, might often save life. At any rate, it seems worth trying.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-10-15
Value of Change.

One of the best prescriptions that can issue from physician is a change, a specialist friend of mine tells me. The effects of mingling with new people who have new methods of thought is very salutary, he says. Always to see the same people do the same thing, feel the same way, produces stagnant condition of the miEd and heart that Is very distressing to behold. There are thousands of invalids who might be greatly benefited by getting away from home, if only for a short time, to min gle with strangers and be touched with the magnetism of the great world as it courses in its accustomed rounds. And there are mental and moral invalids who need the same change to get their heart and mind enlarged and let in little more of the great light of life.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-10-15

and white, brown, and brown and white. The dogs are extremely small and are hardy, affectionate and very intelligent. The Blenheim spaniel of to-day is a far different animal from the dog of the time of Marlborough. for about a hundred years ago they were crossed with the Chinese spaniel This cross added to their beauty, but marred their health, for 1t is now al- most impossible to get Blenheim that is not rickety, while the Chinese spaniel loves the snow and can endure great privation. The few Chinese spaniels that have been imported to the United States are in New York and Chicago and they bring large prices on account of their rarity and the Oddity of their faces.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-10-15

you have not deserved to suffer as you have done. You shall go. Embrace me first-bien! Now go, and go quickly. Join your mother, and love her al ways"
 As he spoke the last few words, the officer took the boy by the shoulders and pushed him away gently.
 Tt really would have been a pity" he said, half apOlOgetically, to his staff, as he turned toward them.
 Victor did not run-he flew home His mother was still sleeping. He would dearly have liked to cover her with kisses, but he did not dare to wake her, although her sleep seemed troubled. He lay down again beside her.
 Suddenly she sat up, crying: "Mercy! Victor! My child! Oh! Mercy! An! you are here; 1t is really you?" she add ed, waking.
 Her thin, weak hands wandered all over him; she pressed him close to her and rained kisses on his face. Then she was shaken by convulsive sObs. which Victor could not calm.
 "Oh! my boy! my boyP' she moaned, T dreamt they were going to shoot yOuP'-Strand Magazine.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-10-15

child, my best beloved 2" she asked. You shall never leave me again. We will throw that hateful uniform away: I never want to see it more. I will make haste and get well; l feel so much stronger since you came Soon you will go to work again, and you will grow up and marry some good girl. The past will only look like a bad dream then, and we will forget it completely; con- pletely, dear"
 Poor soul, how should she know that her picture of a bright future only deepened her boys anguish? She was silent, telling herself that the best way to dry tears is to let them flow freely. She kissed him and let his weary head fall back on the pillow, and then she gave herself up to dreams of happier days in store for both of them.
 Victor's sobs grew less frequent and
The St. Johns herald., 1898-10-15

Blessings sometimes come in dis guise. It might be immensely benefi- cial to Spain to get rid of all of her island colonies. As far as they are concerned 1t would be a great gain for civilization for them to escape from Spanish rule, and 1t might be an equal gain for Spain in freeing her from a prolific source of national corruption and enabling the Government to de- vote itself to the development of home Interests. The Spanish people ought to find life worth living even if they lose all their colonies, and certainly the colonies will be infinitely better off.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-10-15
r E was only a boy, not yet six 1 teen, but they were going to A shoot him. nevertheless.


 E teen, but they were going to A A shoot him, nevertheless.
 The band of insurgents to which he belonged had been routed by the Army of Versailles, and, taken red-handed with some ten of his comrades, he had been conducted to the Marie of the Eleventh Arrondissement.
 Struck by his youthful appearance, and also astonished at the boys cool ness in this hour of extreme peril, the commandant had ordered that the fatal verdict should, so far as he was con- and that he should be kept a prisoner until his companions had met their fate at the neighboring barricade.
 Apparently quite calm and resigned, his great eyes and his face-the pale face of Parisian child-showed neith- CT emotion nor anxiety. He seemed to watch all that was passing around him as though they held no concern for him. He heard the sinister report of the fusillade which hurled his companions into eternity without moving a muscle; his calm, fixed gaze seemed to be look ing into the great Afterwards" which was soon to become the Present" to him also. Perhaps he was thinking of his happy careless childhood-he had hardly outgrown it; perhaps of his re- lations and their sorrow when they heard of the chain of fatality which had made him fatherless and had toss ed him into the seething turmoil of civ il war, and now demanded his life at the hands of fellow-countrymen; and, perhaps, he wondered why such things were.
 At the time war was declared he was living happily with his father and mother, honest working folk who had apprenticed him to a printer; politics never troubled that little household.
 It was not long, however before the Prussians had slain the head of the
The St. Johns herald., 1898-10-15

A Boston theater announces the forthcoming production of new play entitled "Strangled on Sunday" Some playwright evidently has discovered that the Boston saloons sell mighty poor stuff on Sunday.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-10-15
The Lords Itinerary.

A good story is told by the Jewish Messenger of a number of boys who were playing on Saturday in front of an Episcopal church. The rector sud- denly came out of his parsonage and told the boys to be quiet in front of the Lords house.
 ''That is all right, mister" said the boys. "The Lord is not here to-day. He is down the street at the Jewish syna- gogue."
The St. Johns herald., 1898-10-15

A throne Is good deal like bicycle. AS long as the occupant sits firmly and there is no obstacle in the way things go smoothly enough. But when throne or bicycle once begin to totter It does not last long until they fall, and, as a rule, it Is a difficult matter to step down ir time and in a graceful manner.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-10-15

To include all the heroes of the Merrl mac In the Senate's vote of thanks to Lieut.. Hobson was a deed worthy of republic It detracts nothing from our recognition of intelligent leadership, to reassert that the strength of this na- ton is in the manhood that never hesi- tates to follow.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-10-15

For several correspondents to be put out of Cuba by the military authorities would indicate that the pen, being mIghtier than the sword, has its limi- tations.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-10-15

The London Standard sweetly re- marks that Great Britain favors the American side of this war because she understands the kind of stuff the Amer lcazs are made of" She does; she learned that in 1776 and 1872.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-10-15

The Boston Traveller says that "Jo- seph Leadbetter is astonished to find that his 1S-year-old wife is really the wife of another man." Joseph must be a very sensitive fellow if he is as- tonIshed by a little thing like that.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-10-15

And now a Western musician an nounces the forthcoming publication of "The Chigger Waltz" If there is any thing in a name we have no doubt that this composition will be right up to the scratch.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-10-15

When a Russian town cannot pay what 1t owes to the Government 1t IS sold by auction. That's one way to make a sparsely inhabited place settle
The St. Johns herald., 1898-10-15

As to this resemblance between Ad- miraI Diederichs and the Prince or Wales. some have thought as lively old boy the latter hadn't his like on two continents
The St. Johns herald., 1898-10-15

A New York bacteriologist claims that he has discovered about billion germs on a $5 bill. He is lucky; great many of us would like to try that ex- pertinent
The St. Johns herald., 1898-10-15

Two French scientists propose to sail over the Sahara in balloon. It takes sand to carry out such an enterprise as that.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-10-15

Superstition prevails in the highest Spanish circles. In the navy 1t is con- sidered extremely unlucky to be struck by 13-inch shell.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-10-15

The American forces may not have gmokeless powder, but they seem to be able to cope with the enemy's deathless guns.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-10-15

low. # they hail from Italy or Bohemia, but debar the gallant Chinaman who did such heroic work at Manila bay.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-10-15

It Is scarcely probable that any na- lion will now feel like telling Uncle Samuel to go and get reputation.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-10-15

When a boy picks a green peach. he squeezes it until 1t Is so soft and ripe his mother will not object If he eats 1t,
The St. Johns herald., 1898-10-15
EVERY SATURDAY

Spain ought to be considered pretty good authority on submarine boats.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-16
no PRESERVE THE BETSY ROSS HOUSE.

To psrpe.uate the memory OF Betsy Ross. inc
woman who made the FIRST American flag the ii''!e
house In which she sewed the Stars and stripes
together was purchased on Flag Day by the Ancri-
can Fag House and Betsy Ross Memorial Assocla-
ton. Many efforts have been made 70 remove
this historic landmark. which is situated In Arch-
o., Philadelphia, to other cities and 10 proVde
against this a movement has been started 10 form
an association Of Americans OF every religion an
Political opinion to the fas house
Souvenir certificates OF membership are TO be
distributed at nominal figure. TO the end that this
memorable spot may be preserved for future gem
erations
Among the who arc Identified with this a.
sSocation are the following: John Quincy Adams.
Charles II. Weisgerber George Clinton Batcheller,
Seorge Clinton Miler, the Rev. DR.. Morgan DIX.
robert Pattison. Or. EDWARD Brooks. John Wanna
ma Her, Andrew II. Green. the Rev. Henry {. Nc
, .ook DIT Thomas Egleston. Lucius Eugene chit
senoen benjamin r Tracy, Rabbi Joseph Kraus-
XSsopl general O. O. Howard. Albert Ross Parsons.
GHOrIls patterson Ferris. Thomas j. Stewart, 4. G..
SSsnri A. +. Fetterolf president OF Glrard College;
WI am Armstrong Ha!sey and Peter White.
Inc nfsl American nag was made In the house on
Sus p: ~ NT The price 10 be paid for the building
T. WV, and the drst payment has been made. II
" expected that the public VIII mako up the deficit.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-16
THE POCAHONTAS CONVENTION.
GREAT PROPHECIES" GREAT MINNIE
HAHA" AND OTHER OFFICERS
FTE<,TED

The second days session OF the third annual
great council Of New York Of tho Degree Of Poca-
hontas took place at Gramercy Lyceum Hall yes
terday.
The election OF officers resulted as follows: Great
prophecies Mrs Ida NJ. Irwin. Of Rochester; great
Pocahontas. Mrs Anna NJ. Nye, OF Bnsnamton
Great Wenonah. Mrs. Lizzie s. Borden. OF Peeks-
kill Great Minnehaha, Miss Jennie KENNEDY
OF Lestershire: great keeper Of records. Mrs Mary
e. Boehler OF New-York; great keeper OF wampum
Mrs Mary A. Pullin. OF Brooklyn, and great trus-
tee Mrs Mary Dismon. Of Brooklyn.
During the morning several constitutional amend
mcnts were discussed one OF these 4 PROPOSE
ton to make the basis OF representation 10 the
great councils one of one hundred. Instead OF one
of forty which IL the ratio al the present tine
Tho proposition was defeated when It was put TO
vote Another plan which met with defeat was
one intending to make It constitutional for great
chiefs TO vote in great councils without being rep
rcsentatives .,,tod
long talk in the parance of the lodge sh0 1 go
that during the year the total receipts were ss ~ ~
Tho great keeper Of records during the year Jost
ended was Mrs Mary +. Boehler Her report
showed that eleven new lodges were instituteu .
During the afternoon the great council went 70
College Point and In tho evening banquet was
given 10 them at that place.