davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The St. Johns herald., 1898-09-03
Had Nothing to Say.

You want to be a soldier, Jim? Well, 1
 don't blame you, lad The fever that has hit you now once mon
 keyed with your dad. know exactly how you feel, you're achin'
 fur a scrap, An want to go an help to wipe ol Spain
 clean off the map. When I was young an full O nerve in eighteen siXty-One I wasn't half content till was coupled to
 gun. An now that you're a-feelin' in that same
 or hostile way An want to emulate your dad I've not a
 ward to say. I hope you've reckoned up the cost an counted it up well, Fur war, as Central Sherman said, ain't
 fur removed from hell! You'll find it ain't no picnic, Jim you'll
 soon find out that you Won't have a bit O nerve too much In
 pullin' of you through. It ain't no circus-day affair when shells
 begin to bust An comrades lie in blood an pain g.
 writhin' in the dust, An bullets, jes like maddened bees, zip
 past in fendish way, But If you have a mind to go I've not
 word to say. want to tell you honest, boy, that this
 ain't no surprise; Pve seen the sparks of loyal pride a-danc-
 in in your eyes. An I've been waitin' fur week to hear
 you make your talk An show your daddy that you come of
 good Ol fghtin' stock. An now, to close the matter up, I'll tell
 you further, Jim, Your daddy would have knocked you out
 or you'd a-wallOped him If, when you'd hear your country call,
 you'd make coward play I'm proud O you! God bless you, boy.
 That's all I've got to say. Journal.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-09-03
Boy Soldiers.

The best material of which to make fighting soldiers is found in boys from 16 to 21. This is the expression of old commanders. There were many captains in the civil war who were under 20 years of age. There were brigadier gen. erals only 21 years old. General Grant was under 40 when he entered the war Stonewall Jackson had won immortal fame at 38 and died at 39. General Sheridan was a general at 30. Fitz- Hugh Lee was a major general at 29. Alexander had conquered the world be- fore he was 33. Napoleon became mas- ter of Egypt, crossed the Alps and fought the battle of Marengo at 80. Young men make the best soldiers. The civil war was fought by young men and bOys.-Knoxville Tribune.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-09-03
CURIOUS CRABS IN FLORIDA
They Have Peculiar Shells and Feed on Birds and Insects.

Haunting the rookeries of the birds in the southern part of the peninsula is large blue crab. He makes a hole in the ground, usually under a log, and when he hears a noise elevateS his head and prOtrudes his eyes with startling effect. He is able to take care of him. self, for his pincers are powerful and his shell is hard. He is often as large as saucer.
 There is a perpetual war between him and the birds. He wanders among the nests at night and appropriates the bits of fish left by the nestlings and the young themselves, If he can find mother off her guard. But he has to be sly or he Is killed by the stroke of bayonet bill and eaten in his turn. When the plume hunters have driven off or destroyed the parents of rock cry, these crabs swarm out and devOur the orphan young In short order. But while the mothers are allowed to do their duty the crabs are ideal scaven- the insects that infest the bird cities. Their bright colOrs, like those of the tiger, make them less dangerous than their capacities would otherwise be.
 There Is a little purple crab along the coast of southern Florida which seems to feed almost entirely upon the fruit of the cactus. This 1t so much re- sembles that you are suddenly sur- prised to see one of the succulent little balls move away from your fingers be- fore you are aware that 1t is alive. Step back and the crab will resume its place and seem to be as curious about you as you are about him.
 One of the most beautiful shells found along our coast Is that of large snail which climbs certain trees and grows delicately fat on the young birds. The shell Is as thin as tissue paper, oddly curved and almost as transparent as the finest glass. It belongs to the fam fly of edible snails so priZed as a deli cacy on the coast of France, and if prop erly prepared makes a delicious dish. It is most abundant about New River inlet, where the slight shake of a tree about sunset will bring a shower of them to the ground. The breakage of a shell seems to be of little trouble to the snail-he repairs the damage and moves on.-Jacksonville FIa.) Citizen
The St. Johns herald., 1898-09-03
SONS OF FARMERS
Are Many of Our Most Famous Gen.
 erals and Admira1s.

| Are Many or Our MOSt FamOuS Geus
 erals and Admira1s. Many of America's most famous gen. erals were born and raised on a farm. Grant was a. farmer and worked on a farm until appointed to West Point.
 Garfield was a farmers boy of Ohio. and he graduated from the farm to the towpath. When the war came he was i'll Congress, but unlike a good many political generals he proved equal to the position he held.
 Ormsby Mitchell, the astronomic general, was born on his fathers farm in Union County, Kentucky, his father having moved into that State from Vir- ginia.
 Sheridan's birthplace Is in doubt Some authorities say that he was born In Albany, and others that he was an Ohioan by birth. Whatever his birth place he was appointed to West Point from Ohio, and he made himself what | he was.
 Custer was born on a farm at New Rumley, Ohio, and did the work of a | farmer until he was old enough to go | to a military academy.
 | SchOfeld's birthplace was Gerry, Chautauqua County, N. Y. His father, a pastor, moved in 1S43 to Illinois and l there the son worked on a farm until he reached the age for military edu- cation.
 Burnside was born in log cabin at r hor fo CT until he learned the trade of tailor.
 Halleck was born in Waterville. Oneida County, N. Y.; Thomas in Southampton, Va. Hancock In Mont gomery County, Pennsylvania; Butler in Deerfield, N. H.; ROsecrans In Kings ton, Ohio; Pope at Kaskaskia, H.; LO- gan in Jackson County, Illinois, where his father was a doctor; Crook near Dayton, Ohio; Fitzpatrick near Decker town, N. J.; Lew Wallace in Brookville, Ind; Hooker at Hadley, Mass; Frank lin at York, Pa; Slocum at Delphi, Onondaga County, N. Y.; the fighting McCOOks on an Ohio farm; Stoneman In ChautauQua County, N. Y., and How ard at Leeds, Me.
 Of the city-born generals Merritt and Phil Kearney are products of New York City; Mcclellan was born in Phil adelphia; Fremont in Savannah, Ga; Mcdowell in Columbus, Ohio; Alfred Pleasanton in Washington; Terry In Hartford, Conn. while Meade was born in Cadiz, Spain, where his father was representative of the United States.
 Gen. Miles, the present head of the army, was born on a farm in WOrces ter County, Massachusetts.
 Shafter, who leads the army of inva- sion at the eastern end of Cuba, was born on a Michigan farm. Oates, one of the new brigadiers, was born on his fathers farm in Bullock County, Ala bama, and Harrison Gray Otis, of Cal ifornia, another new brigadier, was born on his fathers farm near Mariet- ta, Ohio.
 Of the new major generals COppin- ger and Sewell are the only foreign born, they having come from Ireland. Graham, the senior major general, was born in Washington, and Breckin- ridges parents, at the time of his birth, lived in Baltimore
 Turning to the navy, the most con- spicuOus figure of the day. Acting Rear Admiral Sampson, was born on farm near Palmyra, N. Y., and worked hard all of his bOyhoOd days. Sigsbee was born, too, on a farm in Albany County. Dewey, on the contrary, though born In a small Vermont town, never held the blow, his father being doctor and fairly we'll off.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-09-03
Disfigured. but All There.

There had been football game In a smart Western village. It had termin- ated without any fatalities, and victOrs and vanquished had met at the princi- pal hotel to eat dinner together in token of restored peace and concord.
 Are the boys all here, landlord p asked the captain of the victorious eleven, as the proprietor of the hotel came to him to announce that every thing was in readiness. Have you counted nosesT"
 "Yes, sir" replied the perspiring land lord, 'I've counted them. Some of them are a good deal out of shape, but they're all here."- ."-Youth's Companion.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-09-03
New York the Railroad Center.


 Reasoning Out Metropolis" is the title of an article in St. Nicholas, writ ten by Ernest Ingersoll MT. Ingersoll says: Railroads began to be built about 1880, and the New Workers were soon pushing them out in all directions, sup living the money for extending them farther and farther north and west, and connecting them into long systems controlled by one head. Other men in other cities did the same; but-by and by 1t was seen that no railroad between the central West and East could sue ceed in competition with Its rivals un- less it reached New York. The great trunk roads, built or aided by the Bal timore men to serve their city, and by the Philadelphia people to bring trade to them, and by the capitalists of New England for their profit, never sue ceeded, therefore, until they had been pushed on to New York, where the volume of commerce was coming to be as great as. or greater than, that of all the other American ports put together. Now New York has become the real headquarters of every important rail way system in the United States: that Is. 1t is here that the financial opera tions-the money part of the manage ment- are conducted, though the su- perintendents of its trains and daily business may keep their offices some where else.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-09-03
Qualified Misfortune.

To illustrate the readiness of some interruptions people to turn even their calamfties to a dishonest advantage, the story Is told that a certain small farmer complained to a relative that his COW was sick.
 And you have to buy milkY asked the relative.
 Land, yesw
 "HOw much d'you have to payT
 ''Mis' Tewkesbury lets us have some of hers for five cents a quart"
 ''Well, what d'you do with your milk while the cows sick?"
 "Oh, we sell it to the city milkman." ''Get five cents quart from him?"
 "Sakes no! He gives sixr'-Youth's Companion.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-09-03
MONKEYS AT FOOTBALL.
They Likewise Play Cricket, but Not
 According to Rule.

Travellers in South Africa have noted gate in large numbers they also indulge in games of certain kind. Two of these games seem to resemble cricket and football.
 The cricket Is of a primitive order. About dozen monkeys stand in a cir cle, or whatever Is akin to the simian idea of circle. Two of them advance from different extremities of the circle and stop about fifteen yards apart, facing each other. The monkey at the southern end of the circle has a cocoa nut in his hand. He is the bowler.
 The monkey at the other end does not, as you might suppose, wield a full cane bat His business is to dodge the cocoanut which the bowler aims at his head. The delivery of the ball is tre- mendouSly fast, full pitched and fraught with dire results if 1t touches the spot" When 1t does happen to touch the spot-that is, any part of the monkeys body-that monkey Is very much out and doesn't even stop to dis pute the question.
 Another monkey takes his place until he, too, receives his dismissal. It was presumed by the travellers that the game was finished when a majority of monkeys lay nursing their wounds un- der the friendly shade of a neighboring palm.
 The football Is of a more advanced type. It is also played with a cocoanut. The game, if anything, is undoubtedly the ''socker' game, and is played with the feet. Of course there is no goal nor any tactics to speak of, the object of each animal being to keep the ball to himself as much as possible.
 Still the competition to get the ball makes 1t resemble a real game of "footer," and the dexterity exhibited by these peculiar amateurs is surpris- ing and wonderful.
 In an evil moment some ambitious monkey may elect to play the Rugby game by snatching up the ball and making off, but the game then develops into war, in which life is sometimes the prize.
 No mention is made of a referee, but if there is one about, like a wise and provident monkey, he is probably up tree.-BrOoklyn Times.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-09-03

The St. Louis Globe Democrat pays glowing tribute to the American vol unteers, but every word of its eulogy is deserved. ''TEe military officers who have come from abroad to witness the operations of the army and navy" says the GlObe-Democrat, "are more sur prised by the volunteer system than by anything else they sec" They wOn- der at the confidence that we repose in such plan for raising armies. It con trasts very strikingly with the con- script system of continental Europe. In few weeks our army of 27,00O men has been raised to strength of 270,- 900. And all of these volunteers, not a man of them being in the service against his will. The foreign officer. the GlobeDemocrat says, admits that ''in numbers the volunteers are unde- niably ample. But he doubts their value for speedy service. He calls them raw levies. The phrase in Amer lea has a meaning different from that attached to 1t in Europe. The Ameri- can volunteer is fighter effective after very short training. A hundred years of history attest this fact" All that is true, and there is equal truth in much more that the Globe Democrat says in praise of our volunteers and in noting their superiority over the Euro pean cOnscripts. The American volun- teer can be transformed from farmer, mechanic, labOrer, clerk, student, idler, or any other of the varied designations of classes or callingS, into an effective fighter with comparatively little train ing. For this reason, among others, we do not need a large standing army. But some training is needed-is actu- ally indispensable. The miltia-or so much of 1t as would enable us to put an army of 100000 to 100000 of or ganized, armed equipped, and discip- lined men into the feld-should re ceive the iudicious and unremitting care of Congress. With such reserve we may safely dispense with a large force of professional soldiers. The vol unteers may always be relied upon to defend the honor of the flag, but if none of them are properly organized, armed, equipped, and disciplined when an emergency comes we shall have to repeat our very expensive experience and may have a still more costly les son.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-09-03

Feminine fashion as an effective ele- ment in warfare is one of the unique issues that have come to the front in these history-making days. The wOm- en of Washington, 1t seems, have re- solved themselves into a patriotic league for the purpose of inducing their fair fashionable friends all over the country not to buy French millinery. This belli- cose boycott of the much-adOred Paris ian bonnet Is intended as international retaliation, inasmuch as France assum- ed friendly attitude toward Spain in the present unpleaSantness. It will mean, say these self-sacrificing sisters. an annual loss of $50,0O0.OOO to French importers. But they-the women-love their country more than the coveted pieces of headgear, and so this odd un- dertaking of the fair patriots pro- gresses with a long list of prestiged patronesses in the national capital. No matter how this return charge of the fair 400 may end, this is not the first lime feminine headgear has played a part in history. Not only the big hat has beena vexatiOn to the modern thea ter-goer and the inspirer of new munich pal laws for its suppression, but as far back as 500 years ago it was a constant worry to the misunderstanding sterner sex. One conspicuous instance is the royal decree of Louis XI., who exclud- ed the monstrous hat of fair faddists from both church and court. Woman's headgear is, without doubt, powerful piece of human Ingenuity, and this ne oteric movement, as an interesting dem- onstratiOn of the relative influence of the bonnet and the bullet, may com mend itself to the liberty-loving ladies of the land.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-09-03
Finer than C{lL

M Cachot Is q Frenchman who has solved the problem of utilizing the web of the spider by turning It Into silk of a beautiful and fairy fineness. A delicate little machine containing a number of tiny bobbins is made to revolve contin- uously by light running gear The end of the web is caught while # Is still at tached to the spider, and the little ma- chine is set in motion. The spider does not seem to mind having his web pulled off, and the movement is continued un- til the spider has completely surren- dered its shining structure It Is then released, put aside and fed until It has recuperated its powers, and q fresh spider is attached 10 the gear
The St. Johns herald., 1898-09-03

Rowton House, a great hotel for the London homeless, in which man can lodge at the cost of sixpence a day. Handsomely equipped and generously managed, the house returned per cent. on the capital invested. The re-
 suit warranted other houses. The third was opened few weeks ago, and two more are building. In New York the same plan has been successfully ap- piled of late by Mir. D. Ogden Mills. The ROwtOn Houses offer home con- forts and something like club luxuries to the poor man who has known noth- ing better than the cheap lodging house and the saloon. His Sleeping-rOom is all his own; he has right to the kitchen, the bathroom and the library; he can smoke and talk, write or read. The price he pays is within his means, but the fact that he does pay preserves him from the feeling of pauperism. He is proud that he has a home in the house. We quote the London, rather than the New York, experience, for the reason that the ROwtOn Houses have had time to establish q record. Results show that the toughest men grew tame in decOrOus surroundings; and that the most hope less gain courage from an environment of comfort. Naturally, the ROwtOn Houses have elevated the neighbor- hoods in which they are located. Cheap lodgings" are not so dirty or so crowded as they once were. Saloons that used to be ''the poor mans club" as the apOlOgetic phrase goes attract fewer loungers. The street-corners are almost bare of idle and mischievOus men. In short, two thousand persons directly, and many thousands indirect Iy, have been helped by the ROwton Houses to help themselves-an have willingly paid for the help. We com mend the facts to the people who feel that the very poor are beyond relief; to others, who wish to know what may be the next step in common-sense phil anthropy; above all, to persons who, when they invest money, like to consid- CT not only the present personal inter- est, but the future general good.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-09-03
TURGENEFF ABHORS SPORT.
How a Dying Pheasant Influenced His
 Whole Career.

 Whole Career. The celebrated Russian novelist, Tur- geneff. tells a most touching incident | from his own life, which awakened in him sentiments that have colored all his writings with a deep and tender feeling.
 When Turgeneff was boy of 10, bis father took him out one day bird shooting. As they tramped across the brown stubbIe 8 golden pheasant rose with a low whir from the ground at his feet, and with the joy of sportsman throbbing his veins he raised his gun and fired, wild with excitement, when the creature fell fiuttering at his side. Life was ebbing fast, but the instinct of the mother was stronger than death itself, and with a feeble futter of her wings the mother bird reached the nest where her young brood were huddled, unconscious of danger. Then, with such look of pleading and reproach that his heart stood still at the ruin he had wrought, and never to his dying day did he forget the feeling of cruelty and guilt that came to him in that moment, the little brown head toppled over, and only the dead body of the mother shield ed her nestlings.
 Father, father," he cried, "what have 1 done;" as he turned his horror stricken face to his father. But not to his fathers eye had this little tragedy been enacted, and he said: "Well done, my son. That was we'll done for your first shot. You will soon be a fine sports man.
 "Never, father. never again shall 1 destroy any living creature. If that is sport, I will have none of it. Life is more beautiful to me than death, and since I cannot give life l will not take it ''-Atlanta Constitution
The St. Johns herald., 1898-09-03
Pig Eafinc Snake.

Farmers in the vicinity If Lock Springs, Mo, were greatly harassed for several week through Expectations on their chickens and pigs, and the mys- tery was not solved until New ton Me. Crary started on the trail of what ap. peared to be a monster snake.
 He traveled distance of two miles. when he camc to the banks of the Grand River, where 1t appeared the rep- tile entered the water A search of the vicinity later on rewarded McCrary for his persistence. Apparently asleep. af- ter having dispatched several full grown chicken. lay q reptile If such monstrOus proportions th2t ne man was transfxed with fear His courage returning, McCrary sent q charge of buckshot into the reptile and precipi- tately fled.
 The contortioIs of the snake as 1t lashed it's tail and body against the ground and trees added to the ears of the now thoroughly terrified man. SummOning the assistance of neigh bors, McCrary cautiously led lack an armed party, when t0 his satisfaction, the life of the reptile was found to be extinct. It measured sixteen feet, and the body was as large as m ordinary stOvepipe. The species of the reptile is not known, although It looks very much like a python. Early in the spring 1t was seen several miles further up the Grand River, but reports of the terrified spectators were not generally credited.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-09-03
The Beaver in Europe.

It is possible that the beaver will sur vive longer in Europe than in America. It is said that few individuals are stili to be found on the Elbe, the Rhine, and the Danube, and Prof Collett, of Chris tiania, estimates that there are now 100 individuals living in Norway, whereas the number in 1880 was estimated at sixty. Prof. Collett recommends that government protection be afforded to prevent their exterminatiOn.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-09-03

This is a talkative age, and we are a talkative people; but we get many reminders that quality outranks quan- tity. Ten men speak volubly in ad- vOcacy of proposition; then one man, who knows more about the matter than all the ten, utters a few reason able words in good temper, and carries the meeting with him. Fair-minded judges say. "The others had the weight of the discussion, but he had the weight of the argument" Moral: Be master of the subject, and you will be master of the audience.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-09-03
Weiehts of Fnellsh Rattleshins.

Here are the weights of i've British battleships at the time of their launch ing: Goliath, 6,100 tons; Yictorius, g. BOO: Prince Geo-a l. the Ocean (soon 10 b. .aaaoa a.t. . tons. There was some a-a.E .- rHe lctOr- ious and the Pr l-a George. ous none on the Goliath.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-09-03
Gains Wife.
Oa1n 8 W1Ie. Where did he get her?

Where did he get her? Who was her brOther2 Had she sister? Had she a mother? Was she pre-Adamic- Born before history With her identity
 ShrOuded in mystery2 Maid of PhOenicia, Egypt, Arabia, Africa, India,
 Or sun-kissed Suabia? Who was her father? Was he a viking Cruising about
 Just to his liking; Out of the Whenceness Over the water, Into the Where
 Bringing his daughter? Native of Norway, Denmark or Sweden, Lured by the charms Of the garden of Eden? Blonde or brunette? Rounded or slender? Fiery or frigid?
 Naughty or tender? Why are her graces Unknown to fame? Where did Cain meet her? What was her name? Tell me, ye sages, Students of Life, Answer my query Who was Gains wifei Washington Star.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-09-03
How Spain Paid Columbus.

A curious discovery has been made in the archives of the Spanish navy the bills of payment of the crews who composed the caTavels of Christopher Columbus. The sailors, according to their class, received from 10 to l2 francs month, including their food. The cap tains of the three large caravels had each so francs a month. As for Colum- bus himself, who had the title of ad- miral, he was paid l. 1.60O francs a year.