davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-08-17
The Birthplace of Josephine.

Fort de France, Martinique, is the
strongest fortified point the French own
in America. It is both military and
naval station, and fort was erected on
mountain top there years ago, which
has since been improved and strength
ened by some of the most modern guns
known in warfare.
During the civil war the United
States cruiser Kearsarge chased the Con-
federate blockade runner Alabama into
the harbory and was on the point OF
opening fire on her when the authorities
forbade it. Here they remained for some
time, and during a stormy night the
Alabama slipped out and disappeared in
the Caribbean sea-
Several times the place has been bad
ly damaged by tropical cyclones, during
which hundreds lost their lives 1t is
noted as being the birthplace of the
Empress Josephine; life size piece OF
statuary of her adorns the principal
plaza. The fort has had for years but
one family-the king of Dahomey and
his six wives, whom the French captur-
ed after great trouble in the African
wilds and Observation-Disclosures
Record
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-08-17
Why He Didn't Finish.
Record.

Fred Buskirk was born at Ports
mouth o., and lived there until he was
a young man. Fred naturally thinks
Portsmouth is one of the incest places
in the state of Ohio. Fred said: every
body evidently doesn't think as well OF
Portsmouth as do.
"Not long ago I went over the Ches.
apeake and Ohio road and when the
train reached South Portsmouth, which
is across the river from my native place,
quite a long stop was made. Most Of the
male passengers got off the train and
walked up and down the platform. 1t
was after dark, and the many lights of
Portsmouth were plainly visible. stood
looking across the river at the city,
thinking what fine place Portsmouth
was, when a fellow passenger on the
train came alongside of me and said,
Can you tell me what place that is
across the river:?' Of course could tell
him, and threw out my chest and with
considerable pride said: That is Ports
mouth, o. Have you ever been there?'
My fellow traveller in rery weary
voice, replied: Yes, have been there.
I spent about two weeks there one aft
ernoon.' 1 had intended telling that
man about what charming place
Portsmouth is, but after his rudeness j!
concluded not to. ."-Cinc1nnati En-
uuirer.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-08-17
General Gordon's Seal.

The seal which General Gordon used
on all the documents he signed while
shut up in Xhartum had history,
which is narrated in the "Life of
Chauncy Naples, % missionary bishop OF
Likoma, east central Africa. While at
Cairo the bishop stopped at the house
of friend named Floyer, of whom he
writes:
Floyer had seen great deal of Gen
eral Gordon and showed me one very
interesting letter-the last he received
from him. The occasion OF it was inter
esting. Floyer had volunteered to pre-
pare Gordon a seal with his name IN
Arabic characters upon it. For this pur-
pose he chose an old coin, which he
partially melted and refashioned.
When the seal was completed, it was
found that two words that had been on
the coin were still legible. The words
were in Arabic and signifed "The Mes
senger Of Cod Gordon noticed them
and was much pleased, and in the letter
in question commented on them, saying
he prayed he might always remember
to be as the messenger Of God to the
Sudan people.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-08-17
Old Things.

eAs easy as an old shoe, is fa-
miliar saying" said Mr.. Staybolt, land
there can be no doubt that an old shoe
is a mighty comfortable thing. After
we have worn the new shoes, close fit
ting, hard and formal, how gladly we
put them off, and with what JOY we put
on the shoes that are old and worn and
familiar to the feet! Old shoes, how
ever, are not the only things old that we
like. We like an old bed, if it is not
too old, but just old enough, so that
while still soft and comfortable it is
also shaped somewhat to the body,
which it supports at every point, yield
ing degree of comfort which not the
finest of beds can afford when it is new.
"But it is so with all things old, that
are not TOO old, including old habits
We cling to them so long as they give
us comfort, and we hate to change. We
are creatures of habit. who would If we
could follow to the end along the first
comfortable rut we fall into and never
look out above its sides. And it is well
for us that our shoes wear out and that
we have to buy new ones and wear
them, that we are in various ways
compelled to change, that we are root
ed out now and then and set going
anew. New York Sun.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-08-17
The Passion of the Hour.

Every year modern habits become
more unlcvely and modern sensibilltles
more blunted The preservation of what
is beautiful, per SO, at the present time
is almost always ridiculed, unless it can
be shown to be joined to some profit or
utility.
The characteristic passion of the hour
is greed-greed of possession, desire
Of acquisition and passion for osten-
tation. Trade has become an octopus en-
bracing the whole world The thirst
for gain engrosses all classes. Beauty,
unless it be means of gain, is to this
temper useless, or worse than a use
less, thing; is regarded as a stumbling
block and incumbrance. 1t is doubtful
if even the power of perceiving what is
beautiful has not in great measure left
large part of the population IN all
countries. Modern cities would not be
what they are now had not the race to
a great extent grown color blind and be-
come without the sense Of proportion
Modern builders and modern engineers
would remain unoccupied were not the
generations which employ and enrich
them destitute Of all artistic feelings
Ouida in Fortnightly Review.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-08-17
Dress In Miss Austen's Time.

In point of comfortable warmth we
have advanced greatly since the days
when my mother wore white muslin
dresses indoors and out, as the ladies do
in Miss Austen's novels. The alterna-
tive was riding habit in winter and
summer. Ny mother was married Ill q
blue riding habit and white beaver
hat and feathers. Even half Il century
ago the poor little tender babies display
ed their dear little dinplcd necks and
arms in all weathers. Sweet little
cherubs they looked in their white
frocks. Now they are we'll wrapped u2
in woolen and gain in health what they
lose in beauty. We little girls We're not
much better off. Our frocks were made
with short sleeves and half low bodices,
tied round with a string. They were
most Observation-Disclosures slipping off
ones shoulder unless the string were
drawn so tight as to cut into the flesh.
Long sleeves were tied on with tapes to
the short one, and cape-pelerine, as
it was called-or a spencer, a hideous
garment, added out of doors.
1t was the height of my ambition to
wear shawl. All grown up ladies
wore shawls, pinned round the throat
or on the shoulders. It was quite impos-
sible to arrange Cat least none but q
Frenchwo,nan could) these heavy Indian
or Paisley shawls gracefully. 1t was
better in the summer, when black or
white lace was substituted, or a long
scarf, without fastening, hung from the
shoulders and was always slipping into
the dust or dirt. Round capes, called
cardinals, were a great Improvement,
and the "visites' led the way to jackets
and coats, and-most comfortable OF all
for rough work-ulsters - Cornhlli
Magazine.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-08-17
The First Chinese Baby Snow.

The first Chinese baby show in the
world has just been held here There
were 200 of them. From embroidered
slipper to shaven poll they were arrayed
in their best. They wore satin hlouses
that shone in the sun with a silvery
simmer They wore embroideries of
wonderful birds and bees and flowers
never seen on land or sea. The little
boys were shaven, and the little girls
had their hair stiffened and polished
and dressed rs though for the grandest
function, with little birdcages and
fringes Of beads and paper atop There
were great tinlllings Of metal and much
shining of green Jade. A new fashion
in infant headeear showed halo of stiff
pompons that rose above the infants
somber eyes. Others wore huge rosettes
Of silk on eaca temple, like joss, and
one little girl had name of black silk
cue strings hanging down from the
back of her head. Even the baby com
plexions had been looked after On the
smooth, yellow cheeks appeared the
most lovely patch of pink rouge, put on
quite frankly in the Chinese fashion.
The rosebud mouths were touched up.
and the narrow brows beautifully pen
ciled.-Penang Gazette.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-08-17
BANKS PART IN FARMING.
How the Graders In Money Enable So..
TilIers to Work.

How the E,raders In Money Enable SOL
Tillers to Work.
How does bank help the farmer?
With the approach Of the time for
blowing and planting, seeds and fer
tilizer will be necessary. How can the
farmer buy them if the last season was
poor one? He has spent all of his
EARNINGS in running the household dur
ing the long winter He goes to the
dealer in fertilizer in the nearest vii
lage and asks, "What is tie price of
fertilizer a tom"
'sFifty dollars, - the dealer replies.
"We]l, 1 will need two tons, and
that will amount to 500.
eyes. Take it along now?''
'sI haven't the ready cash just now,
butt
"Oh, that's all right. know you re
good for it. Take it along and give me
your note payable in four months. By
that time your crops will be yielding a
proft. -
The farmer gives his note; the dealer
indorses it and gives it in payment to
the wholesaler from whom he gets the
fertilizer; the wholesaler sends it to the
manufacturer of the fertilizer, who in
turn takes it to his bank and >borrows
the money on it less the interest.
The farmer gets his seed in the same
way and at the time of the expiration
of the notes is able to meet his obliga-
tions.
Thus, instead Of the farmer being
compelled to wait until be can get the
cash to pay before he can buy the fer
tilizer and seed, he obtains them when
he needs them. The dealer, instead Of
having to wait until the farmer gets the
money before he can sell his goods, sells
them in the proper season and receives
what is p him practically cash. The
wholesaler receives from the retailer
what is as good as cash to him, and the
manufacturer receives virtually cash
from the wholesaler.
How would all this be possible were
it not that the bankers had collected the
idle money of other people and were
able to lend it out to good advantage:
The farm would go implanted; the
ground would 60 untitled; there would
be no crops to yield profit.
That's where the bank helps the
farmer. York Press.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-08-17
Last of n Famous Oak.

One of the results of recent wind
and rain storm was the destruction Of
the large oak tree on Bedloe's island
from which, tradition says, the pirate
Hicks paid the penalty Of his crimes a
century ago Che old tree stood Oh the
westward slope of the island near the
Liberty statue electric light plant and
until q year ago was green and vigorous
In one Of the storms OF last summer
lightning struck the tree, shattered It's
trunk and ruined many of its branches.
John B. Hines one Of the keepers OF
the Liberty statue, made souvenirs OF
pieces of the tree and sold them tovlsls-
ors at the direction of the committee
having charge of the statue.
The trunk of the Hicks tree wlthstood
the storms of last winter, but Ill this
recent thunderstorm II vas torn into
fragments which We're scattered over
the island.-New York sun.
upon the long girdle. A sudden idea
came to me. l would get that belt and
subject it to the X rays. Get that belt?
I laughed to myself l might as we'll
.-v to photograph the depth of the sea.
"You go to Egypt, dcctor: says
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-08-17
Didn't Want Much.

Here is an advertisement from an old
copy of an English provincial journal;
Wanted, for sober family, a man
of light weight, who fears the Lord and
can drive pair Of horses. He must oc-
casionally wait at table, join the house
hold prayer, look after the horses and
read a chapter of the Bible He must,
God willing, arise at : o'clock in the
morning and obey his master and mis-
tress in all lawful commands; if he can
dress hair, sing psalms and play at
cribbage, the more agreeable. Wages,
Is guineas d year.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-08-17
SUCCESSFUL DIPLOMACY.
The Value Of Tact In Dealing With uis'
disciplined Laborecs.

The Value Of Tact In Dealing With uu-
disciplined Laborers.
"It looked as if the road would not.
could not, be finished before the crack
Of doom-certainly not in time to save
our charter, F." said the contractor.
It was nearly midnight-a good hour
for story telling-and the speaker was
full of his subject He said he would
explain how they succeeded in building
a piece Of railway in Georgia "5uss
after the war -
"We called our road the R., D. and
s. 1t is now an important link in the
Great Southern system. But the thing
hung fire and our franchise was imper-
lied lust because labor was so uncer-
tain. The blacks were drunk with free
dom. Three days work week would
have helped US, but it didn't average so
much. Like the Hebrews of old, they
spend as much time going up to tho
feast days and returning as at the jubl-
lee itself. Sunday had its preparation
Just about the time the last weeks high
day was spending its force, and the men
were untitled for work
s'The case was desperate. At about
the worst stage was sent down from
New York to do what was possible.
Studying it thoroughly, my mind was
soon set on one last recourse. l went to
Atlanta and made an ironclad contract
to purchase all the possum and coon
from the commission men IN that city.
Securing big circus tent and cooks, !
caused the notice to be sent far and
wide that on Sunday the close of the
following week there would be "a pos
sum and coon dinner free to every man
who had done weeks honest work or
the construction
"Well, that was a busy time on the
road. No lack of hands. Men came
from all over the district, and the road
made an evident advance. Then Sunday
came, and every colored man had his
feast, for there was an abundance. got
their attention afterward and promised
for the next Sunday another possum
and coon dinner on the same terms
viz, a full weeks work-pledging in
the meantime that no man should be
abused.
However, to keep them from scat
tering, l introduced a debating society.
Dividing them into sides, under judges
and cebaters Of their own choice, [ gave
them the subject, (Which is the mother
of the chicken, the hen that lays the
egg or the hen that matches the chicken:'
There was no necessity to keep that as
sembly from straying. The arguments
were strenuous and weighty, the audi
ences were wild with delight, the fun
was furious.
"When the next feast day came and
the possum and coon had been served,
we introduced a little side show, let
ting one negro into the tent in turn to
try the trick of standing on one foot on
an upturned brick, holding the other
foot and leaping. Of course nine out OF
ten landed on their heads, but the un-
successful were too eager to watch the
next attempt, and so the day passed.
To the surprise of the old planters the
construction was effectively done. 1t
proved the value of possum and coon
as factor in railroad building il those
early days. "-Chicago Record.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-08-17
Humors of the Dublin Gallery.

The humor of the Dublin gallery has
long been proyerbial- Macready, in his
"reminiscences, relates that on one
occasion wher playing Otway's Venice
Preserved" Jafier's long and rather
drowsy dying speech was interrupted
by one of the gallery, in tone of great
impatience, calling out very loudly,
"Ah, now die at once!' to which an
other from the other side Immediately
replied, Be qpiet you blackguard, .
then turning with patronizing tone to
the lingering .Jaffier, ''Take your
time. ''-Cornhill Magazine.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-08-17
GOLD FILLED TEETH.
More Of che Metal Goes Into Them Than
Can Be Got Ont.

More Of che Metal Goes Into Them Than
Can Be Got Out.
An example of some of the queer ex-
periences people have when they are
called upon to buy thing with which
they are not familiar and which they
have need of only on rare and unusual
occasions is thus set forth by the Mil
waukee Sentinel:
A young woman who worked as a
domestic went to dentist to get her
teeth repaired. He repaired them and
sent bill Of $50. He justified himself
FOR the charges by explaining how
much the filings cost him. In one hol-
low tooth, he said. he put $40 worth of
gold The bila was paid, and recently,
when the little nugget (said TO be worth
S10) came out, the woman took it to a
goldsmith and had it appraised. He
weighed it scrupulously and valued it
at 4S cents She no longer has faith in
her dentist.
1t seems to be always good taste to
''go shopping among the dentists be-
fore having any considerable amount OF
work done. There is considerable hum
buggery about the business in scme
quarters. The public is told that SIS is
a fair price for crown and stands
ready to pay it, en- the ground that
good work deserves good pay. y few
blocks away the same work was done
last week for So, just as well as if $l5
had been paid, and it was done by a
reputable dentist. One dentist figured
on SS5 for six teeth, and another 200
yards away performed the service for
S3O.-Philadelphia Times.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-08-17
a sNoWoRoP.
O wonderful. immaculate,
White herald Of the spring,
NJ s-lo- 800 ~ Saeoloto

o wonderful. immaculate,
White herald Of the spring,
No winter can be desolate
That besrs so sweet . thing!
Soft, snowy petals strip d with greens
Deep hidden heart os gold,s
The world that hath sr,ch beauty seeo.
Can never more be.cld.$ s
No shades of rudy fight suffrse @
Thy petals cool and pure.
The roseless, chill auroral dews
Alone thy lips allure.
Thou at not freak'd with purple stains
Nor fire Of scarlet bright,
But silyersd by the silvery rains
And touched with vernal ligft.
And /, who once the roses loy'd,
Allegiance bring to thee - 10y
Well knowing theu wilt e;er bespfov'd 81
So wanton orssoiree;
But, cloister'd from the wild wind s breath,
Nor Haunting in the sun,
Wilt lend beauty cen to death
When thy pure lifeisdene.
~ ~ S S-SeW Iork lines =
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-08-17
Facctip by Lincoln.

We read this paragraph yesterday in
the catalogue of an Edinburgh booksel-
Ter:
"Facetia--A Legacy of Fun, ty
Abraham Lincoln, with short sketch of
his life. l2mo, newly half-bound, un-
cut, is. Cd London 1865.
Is it possible that 500 years from now
Lincoln will be regarded aS :, sort Of ;i:
American Joe Miller:-3osrvn Journal
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-08-17

Though the French are the greatest
mushroom eaters in the world. cases Of
poisoning very rarely occur owing to
the fact that almost ali the mushrocms
eaten are raised
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-08-17
Careful.

1t is related of a certain Clergyman Il
Edinburgh that he was so careful OF his
quotations ard so fearful Of the charge
of plagiarism that once, i'll addressing
the Deity, he surprised the congregation
by saving, And thou knowest, dear
Lord, that, to quote a writer i'll late
number of The Quarterly Review, etc.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-08-17
Hospital For Trees.

There is a hospital for trees on the
banks of the Seine in Paris. Trees
which grow sick along the bouleyards
are taken here to recover.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-08-17

The ur-heen, or Chinese violin. in
shape resembles an ordinary hammer
with its handle 1t has two strings and
is played with bow.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-08-17

His honor the magistrate is about the
only honor to be found among thieves.
Chicago News.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-08-17

If you want good, honest sewing m 'chine
trade, se- Rsndie.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-08-17

Lady Hamilton year later presented
the son and heir with Il silver mug and
a box of tin soldiers.-Forget-Me-Not.
El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1898-03-18
New Use for Cheese.

A young man in this town who
rooms with several other young mer,
INDUCED the other day in an illuminat-
ed night shirt. 1t was no $1,000 AZ
fair like Senator Tabor's, but it was
rather on the decorative order. TT e
yaung mans associates concluded this
was ju-t little too exalted for their
kidney, and concluded to ''put I'D a
job'' on him. So one of them stuffed lin
burger cheese into the pockets of the
shirt last night, and-awaited develop
ments. Said Developments came about
400 a. m. The owner of the shirt did
not notice anything out of the way
when he went to bed, but at abaut the
hour named. the cheese got warmed
up in good shape, and in fact began to
crawl The smell, like the voice of
the turtle dove was then heard in the
land, and the owner of that night
shirt woke up. He could not make out
'for the life OF him" what it was,
but finally it became so rank that he
bad to get up, and even then it took
him ten minutes to locate the source
of the trouble. Then his choler rig,
as it were, snd the boys from unds r
their bedclothes watched the young
man as Ia made remarks somewhat
more than cursory, ard which in fact
threatened to smother the gas light.
The garment had to be discharged.
and the boys say rature's gabb was
worn for the rest of the night.