davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-12-15

Time was when to have written q
book gave a person some degree Of
distinction. Men and women were
pointed out as the authors of certain
books, and these books, once named
in educated circles, were recognized.
But that time has measurably gone by.
TO have written book nowadays is to
have done what thousands of others
have done, and are busily engaged at
this very hour in doing. The state
ment amounts to little more than does
the statement that a certain person
has designed an Office building, has
invented labor saving machine, has
constructed q new kind of street car
rail, or wagon.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-12-15

While Porto Rico is densely popu-
lated, yet, in view of the great wealth
of the island, there is still room for
thousands of immigrants of the right
sort Under the stimulating effect of
American ideas Porto Rico will soon
begin to astonish the world with her
growth. So long as she was fettered
by the tyranny of Spain she could not
do this, but DOW that she is permitted
to inhale the atmosphere of freedom,
she will speedily make up for what
she has lost. We will miss our guess
If Porto Rico within the next few
years does not become one of the
most coveted gems on the breast of
the ocean, observes the Atlanta Con
stitution.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-12-15

An unusual accident befell young
workwoman on the Boulevard Belle
vile, Paris, recently. The girl, who
had been turned out of her room be-
cause she could not pay her rent, was
wandering through the streets till she
arrived on the boulevard, where she
crawled for refuge beneath the floor
OF menagerie.
She drew SO near to one the cages
that its occupant, which was large
panther, Immediately put its claws
through the bars and held her firmly.
The girls screams aroused the staff of
the menagerie, who rushed to her
rescue. They labored for several min
utes to make the panther release its
prey, but they did not succeed until .
red hot iron bar was used.
The poor girls arm and shoulder
we're fearfully lacerated, but the ply
sicians say she will recover.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-12-15

Colorado is in favor of the abolition
of capital punishment, but thinks,
with Alphonse Karr, that the murder
ders should stop first. Two years age
the state passed law making life i'm
prisonment instead of death the pen
atty for murder, and now there is {
popular agitation for its repeal. 1
was found by experiment. that as ts
stopping first the Colorado murderer
would not think of it; in fact, ht
would not stop at all, and went OIL
worse than ever as soon as the law
abolishing the death penalty wa'
passed. An effort will now be made
TO have it restored, and though il
promises to encounter sentimental ane
humanitarian opposition, the prospect'
are that it will succeed, and the nor
NAL average of homicides in that state
be restored.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-12-15
QUAINT AND CURIOUS.

South Africa has telephone system.
There are nearly 5000 stitches in q
pair of hand-sewn boots.
California has club of left-handed
persons with over 1000 members.
1t has been ascertained that plate
glass will make more durable monu
ment the hardest granite.
In some of the farming districts Of
China pigs are harnessed to small
wagons and made to draw them.
Two British Guiana stamps, dated
1850, and worth originally one penny
each, were sold in Berlin not long ago
for $4,000.
The old custom OF watchmen calling
the hour at night is still retained in
two localities of London, namely,
New Inn and Ely Place.
1t is a remarkable fact that, as
rule, the sewing done by male tailors
is neater, finer and more uniform
than that done by women.
In Peru it was once the custom for
domestic servants to have two of their
upper front teeth extracted. Their
absence indicated their servitude.
The largest woman in the South,
Mrs. Mary Magique, colored, died
recently at Little Rock, Ark. Her age
was thirty, and she weighed $50
pounds.
A Walkden, England, mechanic has
succeeded in breaking his legs twenty
four times in the last fifty-two years.
The Manchester doctors look on him
as marvel.
A BILL board before church in Pals
ley, Scotland, contains this announce
ment: "Only short sermons delivered
here. Excellent music. This is the
place to save your soul and be happy.
Walk in.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-12-15
A Convict,s Remarkable Escape.

An extraordinary escape from Jail
was made the other week by a young
man from the Pentonville prison.
This prison is one of the great houses
of detention for all sorts of criminals,
and it is situated in the very heart of
London, Eng In some way or other
a man got out of his cell, scaled the
walls, several of them, and dropped
in safety to the ground. He was at
once pursued, as laborer employed
in the prison was applying for admis-
sion at the main gate Just at the mo-
ment when the prisoner dropped from
the outer wall. In five minutes time
at least hundred persons had taken
up the hue and cry; but the convict,
who, it seems, can run like u hare and
has marvellous capacity for climbing
up walls, managed to evade his pur-
suers and was soon lost in the maze
of streets surrounding the prison. -
Now York Mail and Expre>s.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-12-15
Take the standing armies OF

Take the standing armies on 3
peace footing of the six great pow.
ers. They number as follows: Rus.
sia, $40, 200; Germany, 595 000,
France, 5000 Great Britain, 361,,
600; Austria Hungary, $4,000, ano
Italy, 1S5, 900. There are 1850, 00G
men who are now productive and
supported by the governments at pub
lie expense. Disbantlment would re.
lieve the nations of the cost of sup.
porting them. 1t would also send
that vast army of men in the very
prime of young manhood into the
already crowded marts of commerce
and workshops of industry. Such an
invasion would unquestionably have o
marked effect. We may form some
idea of it by imagining mill on OF
more able bodied young men sudden.
ly added to the population of the
United States. Only in those older
countries there would be not tithe
If the room for them that there would
be here, observes the New York Tri-
bune. The increase of pressure and
Of competition in tue struggle for
life" would be enormous.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-12-15
HUMOROUS.

He-Do you really believe ignor-
ance is bliss? She-I don't know.
You seem to be happy.
''Stubbs has written an essay ON
"A Bad Tendency in Modern Litera-
ture.' "How egotistical!"
Mrs. Enpeck- You acted like fool
when you proposed to me. Enreck-
That wasn't acting, my dear.
Persistency is the road to success.
The only known exception to this rule
IS hen sitting on china egg.
Professor lin medical collegel-
What is the first thing you do in case
of cold? Bright Student-Sneeze,
sir
81 hear he refused to take chloro-
eyes; said he'd rather take it when
he paid his BILL"
"Will you have some of the sugar
cured ham?" asked the landlady
''What was it cured Off" asked the
new boarder suspiciously.
'T say, Floss, what makes that
snake tie himself up in knot?"
"'Canse he wants to remember some
thing. and he amt got any handker-
chief
$50 that absconding cashier got
away by sacrificing his beard, did hep
asked the reporter. EYES," said the
detective. 81 missed him by close
shave"
Jack Spratt liked two-dollar hat,
But his wife chose one for ten;
They couldn't agree, so Mrs. Spratt she
Went home to her mother again.
He (who has been hanging fire oil
summer)-Are you fond of puppies,
Miss Shapley? She promptly y)-What
singular way you have of proposing;
Adolphus!
Little Georgie-Do you folks ever
have family prayers before breakfast?
Little Albert-No; We have prayers
before we go to bed. We amt afraid
in the daytime.
Mrs. Nagleigh I suppose you are
satisfied now that you made mistake
when you married me. Mr.. Nagleigh
I made the mistake all right, but
I'm not satisfied.
Mrs. Putt had to get rid of my
cook. Mrs. Bye-Indeed? Mrs. Putt
Yes; she used one OF my golf sticks
for kindiing wood, and three of Hen
rvs walking sticks right ut hand.
eff everybody had sense of
humor,' says n philosopher, ''stupid
people could not make living But
if everybody had sense of humor
there would not be any stupid people.
Wife My dear, your table manners
are not as they should be lately. Who
have you been associating with? Hus-
band-For tie last week, darling, |
have been taking lunch with your
father.
Agitated Young Bridegroom (imme-
diately after the ceremony Serena,
shall-shail I-shall we-shall we
kiss? Self-possessed Bride (her third
experience)-It is my usual custom.
William.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-12-15
Good Breeding on the Scaifold.

The Princess of Monaco, on the
morning of her execution, about halt
an hour before the fatal summons
procure pair of scissors, broke one
of the window panes, and, with II
fragment of the glass, sawed off her
magnificent hair, which she delivered
to her con tiden ial friend to be kept
tor ner children. She then took pot
Of rouge, and with the utmost delib-
Grafton applied some of it to her
cheeks, giving as reason for this
strange conduct that if she happened
to have a moment of weakness and
grew pale the populace at least should
not have the satisfaction OF conclud-
ing that she was coward.
Under similar circumstances Nine.
Roland did an equally brave thing.
Sac was taken to the place of execu-
ton in company with one man only,
who seemed by no means reconciled
to his fate, and, on the contrary,
showed symptoms of the most violent
fear. When they arrived at the scat
fold Nine. Roland begged that he
should ascend it first, tor she was
we'll convinced that he had not sutfi-
cient courage to witness her execu-
ton. Besides, sir" added she, ''yon
certainly have too much good breed
ing to refuse the last request of
lady" Hundreds of such anecdotes
may be found, but they are usually in
the histories of personages who are
we'll known rather than in the histo-
ries of counties. = Ladies' Home
Journal
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-12-15

A steamboat company which oper.
ates boats 'on one OF the Bayarlan
lakes has introduced curious limo
yation in the matter of chlldrent
fares, which are in future to be regu'
lated by measure. Children under &C
centimetres in height are to go free
children measuring over 60 and unde,
13O centimetres must pay half price.
Presumably this regulation has beer
introduced because parents, however
capable of cheating as regards theii
otisprings' age, cannot deceive tbs
company in regard to their height.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-12-15

The spread of Western ideas in
Japan has not proved an unmixed
blessing. Adulteration and fraudu'
lent trading have followed in the
wake. AS the demand for European
medicaments increased dishonest for
eign merchants introduced large
quantity of inferior and adulterated
drugs into japan. Consequently 2
law had to be enacted to the effect
that all drugs landed in Japan mus
be taken to the state laboratories be
Gore they could be sold to the public.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-12-15

The Abstract of Statistics of the
Railways of the United States, for the
year ending June 80, 1897, just is
sued by the interstate commerce
commission, gives some interesting
figures. There are 1S4, A28 miles of
railway in the country; of second,
third and fourth tracks u, 705 miles,
and of yard and track sidings 46, 221
miles, making grand total OF 243,-
IA miles. One-third of the rails in
yards and sidings are of iron, and %
per cent of all others are stee. There
are 10, OF passenger locomotives, 20,
39S freight and 5102 for switching;
1896 passenger and l, ,221, $50 freight
cars. There are S23, ,476 men en-
ployed by the railways; the amount
paid them represents 61.S7 per cent.
of the total operating expenses.
There were 489, 445, 1913 passengers
carried, and 43, 16S casualties oc-
surred, of which 6437 resulted in
Heath; 1893 rs;.way employees were
killed and 27, 661 injured. One out OF
every 2,204, 7OS passengers was killed,
and one out of every IT'S, 116 was in
iured; of employees one out OF every
1876 was killed, and one out of every
20 was injured
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-12-15
After struggling for a long tim

After struggling for a long time
with the problem of over production,
the butter makers opened central
warehouse at Sydney, New South
Wales, where they sent all their but
ter, and whence it was sold at whole
sale at certain fixed prices, varying
according to the season Of the year,
but never falling below sixteen cents.
What butter is not sold at that price
is shipped in cold storage to London.
In this way the price is kept up. Co.
operation among farmers is admittedly
one of the most difficult of social
problems. Farming is generally car
ried on With insufficient capital, which
makes the farmer long-credit man,
and places him largely in the hands
of the middlemen. Farming really
requires liberal education and large
executive ability. What the farmers
of New South Wales have done, how
ever, might be done by American
farmers, especially since the London
market is much nearer America than
it is New South Wales. But it can't
be done with cotton, for the obvious
reason that the London market is
glutted at the start.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-12-15
A Mashonaiand Mystery.

Henry Wade, jeweler, has received
two gold Venetian COINS, which were
recently found on the banks OF
river in Mashonal.nd. Tho pieces
which are about the size of shilling,
appeared to be of great age, and bore
inscriptions in Latin. As to how
these ancient coins came to such an
out-of-the-way part of the world as
Mashonaland is mystery and offers
Geld of much speculation. Mr.. Wade
Is making casts, which he will for
ward to experts in numismatics at
home.-Cape Times
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-12-15

The scheme of American popular
education will not reach its highest
development until every boy and girl
shall be fitted, before leaving school,
to use every power to its highest ca
pacity to rightly perform the duties Of
family and civic relations, and to
make living" by some handicraft
the elements of which have been
learned.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-12-15
LOOKING AHEAD THIRTY YEARS.


Sequences III 1928 of the War Between
America and Spain.
Extracts from the New York daily
papers of 1928:
1.-The reunion of the Society of the
Survivors of the Battle of Cayite at
Madison Square garden last evening
was a most successful occasion from
both social and financial point OF
view. Over 1000 men be were in at
tendance, nearly four hIths of the en-
tire membership, and the accommoda-
tions OF the hall were strained to the
utmost. After the banquet addresses
were made by number of the promi-
nent members, and letters OF regret
were read from the president and the
governors of New York, Pennsylvania,
Porto Rico and Cuba. Among those
who addressed the meeting were Rev.
George Dewey Fitzgibbons. Hon.
Dewey Manila Brown, Hon. Cavite G..
Jones, Governor Philippine Olympia
Green and e-President Raleigh
Concord Tubb. After the banquet
was over dancing was indulged in
until a late hour"
''The Patriotic Order of the Sons of
Cuban Liberty gave an entertainment
in their hall, No. 1914 Bowery, last even
ing. the receipts of which are to go
toward building monument to the
memory of the Cubans who lost their
lives IN the late war. A fair attend
ance was present, and the musical
numbers were we'll rendered by Mrs.
Santiago Cortez Coogan, Cienfuegos
Murphy, Amphitrite Cook and Matan-
zas Johnson. Mr.. Habana O'Don-
oghue made quite hit with his recita-
tion of when Gomez Marched to
Dinner Quite neat little sum was
realized"
From Sampson, Ky, comes a dis
patch which says that John X. Little
john, gunner's mate on the Nashville
in the late war with Spain and who
claims to have fired the first hostile
shot of the war, died in that town on
Wednesday. We have no wish to
doubt the veracity of the Sampson
Brgle, but at the same time Mr.. Little
john is the 23rd man to die since the
war was ended claiming the honor of
having fired the first hostile shot.
Isn't this rather OVERRIDING it?'
"Schley j. 'BrieE, % years of age,
was picked up by Officer Good in
Bleecker street last night in an intox-
icated condition. Before Judge Coo
ley this morning O'Brien claimed that
his condition was the result of discuss
ing the war with Spain in the Maine
saloon yesterday evening with two
cronies. Bill Dewey Naughton and
Bagley Terror O'Rourke. Judge Coo
ley decided that, in view of the cir
cumstances, the prisoner was lucky
to offend by mere plain drunk, and
Mr.. O'Brien was released"
"a youth giving his name as Au-
gustus Cuban Libre Lightfoot was ar
rested yesterday while acting in
suspicious manner on Broadway.
Lightfoot is thought to be an alias of
Hot Shot Smith, a noted sneak thief,
who has of late been operating sue
cessfully in the neighborhood of Fifth
avenue and Thirty eighth street. The
prisoner claims to have been the first
child born on Cuban soil of American
parents after the capitulation of Ha-
vana. He is still in custody. Lon
don Punch.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-12-15

A war between France and Eng
land would Immediately develop tn,
strength of the sympathy now exist
ing between the United States and
the latter, says the Washington Star.
We should be called upon at once tt
reciprocate the good will extended te
us during our war with Spain, and the
response would not disappoint om
English cousins. We, as they, in o
contest representing the interests OF
the two civilizations, are for the An.
glo-Saxon as against the Latin. The
world is moving rapidly now. We
have but recently turned sharp cor
ner ourselves, and are facing situa
ton undreamt of six months ago
England is with us. So if she should
turn sharp corner and confront o
new and difficult situation we would
be with her.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-12-15

President Eliot of Harvard said the
other day that the modern university
sometimes develops u very peculiar
human being, the scientific specialist.
He wants his name known, not tc
millions but to five or six students OF
the Latin dative case. He does not
make money, because, like Louis
Agassiz, he hasn't time.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-12-15
THE NEW IDEAL

! want no duke or honored earl,
No brave and valiant knight;
want man who will tend the stove
And the kitchen fires light.
want no daring warrior,
Before whose sword men fall;
want timid little man
Who will answer to my call.
want no lordly banker
With wealth on land and sea;
l want man whose hoardings
Shall in my keeping be.
l want no handsome, brilliant man
whose glance the heart can hurt;
want man so ugly
That none will with him flirt.
l want no man Of learning,
OF knowledge vast and high;
l want a man who knows and feels
He knows much less than /.
Indianapolis Journal.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-12-15

Harvard's memorial to her sons
who gave up their young lives fos
their country in the latest war will bs
forthcoming in due time, but not in a
hurry. Lasting memorials are never
erected in haste.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-12-15

Coal mining is now one of Mis-
souri's chief industries. The annual
report of the United States geological
survey credits her with producing in
1897 1866, 626 tons, the cash value OF
which is placed at So, SS7, S24.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-12-15

From Indiana comes the story of
man of the name of Mania who is I.
happy father for the thirtieth time.
There will be company of them by
the time the next war comes around.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-12-15

Apropos of Eugland's warlike ac-
tiyity it is timely to recall Gladstone's
famous reply in the House of Com
mons: mo, we are not at war; we
are conducting military operations"
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-12-15
Spain has slowly but surely been
forced to abandon its stand in consid-
GRAFTON of ''pride" and "gfory."

The foreign demand for breadstufs
continues to be heavy, and the sup
ply is still equal to the demand. A
great country this, and the limit OF its
resources is not yet approached.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-12-15

IN old England you can get shave
tor four cents, hair cut for eight cents.
and telegram for twelve cents. AZ.
suredly, old England beats us on the
price Of some things.
Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-12-15
THE HOUSE sY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.


drawn head
And mounta of
ito
l q
r
wit the
yhousb
q ma
fromm Let
the O OF road
o
nor
Then WI
IN the
be a to man.. And be al ndtoma
-Sa Foss
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-17

nicians, Carthaginians and Romans. T.
having been a board which ran along the
whole length. serving as passage for the
rowers 10 and from their seats. Il was
also used as a resting place for the mast
and sail when not in use.
The cockpit, in the lowest part of the
vessel below water used during an action
for the treatment of the wounded. is de
rived from the Old DAYS of the English
sport of cock fighting, but this has been
undermined. and is now known as the
''fats"-why, no one can explain
Lubber IS from the Dutch meaning a
lazy. cowardly fellow.
Anchor comes from the Latin "anchora,"
or "ancora," which. up TO 600 b. c. con-
sisted simply of large stone with a hole
through il.
The popularity of so many portions of a
ships rigging bearing names derived from
the trappings of a horse can only be ac-
counted for from the fact that the early
warships were manned by soldiers as well
as sailors, the natural consequences
being that they, the soldiers,
adapted some of their terms TO
meet their fancy Among the various
ropes, etc, will be found brides, whips,
bits. stirrups. and the like.
The old and well known sea term grog
was originated as a term of derision and
disgust when Admiral Vernon, in 1745, in
troduced the wise innovation of making
his crew drink their spirit ration diluted
with water instead of neat. as they had
hitherto done. The sailors did not like the
watery business, and in revenge nick
named the admiral "Old GrOg'' and his
diluted mixture as grog, from the fact
that ne generally wore an overcoat of a
color then known as grogram gray