davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Van Buren press., 1898-01-01
COLUMBUS WAS A PIRATE.
Frank stockton Says the Discovery
Was n Grand Master of Piracy.

Was Grand Master of Piracy.
1t is not necessary for us to enter
very deeply into the consideration OF
the policy of Columbus towards the
people of the islands of the West Indies,
His second voyage was nothing more
than an expedition for the sake of
plunder. He had discovered gold and
other riches in the West Indies, and he
had found that the people who inhab-
tied the islands were simple-hearted,
inoffensive creatures, who did not know
how to fight, and who did not want to
fight. Therefore, as it was so easy to
sail his ships into the harbors of the
defenseless islands, to snbjugate the
natives, and to take away the products
of their mines and soil, he commenced
veritable course of piracy.
The acquisition of gold and all sorts
of plunder seemed to be the sole OBJ
iect of this Spanish expedition; and ma
tives. were enslayed and subjected to the
greatest hardships, SO that they died
in great numbers. At one time 800 of
them were sent as slaves to Spain. A
pack of bloodhounds, which Columbus
had brought with him for the purpose,
was used to hunt down the poor Indians
when they endeavored to escape from
the hands of the oppressors; and in
every way the island of Hayti, the prin-
cipal scene of the actions of Columbus,
was treated as if its inhabitants had
committed dreadful crime by being in
possession of The wealth which the
Spaniards desired for themselves.
Queen Isabella was greatly opposed
to these cruel and unjust proceedings.
She sent back to their native land the
slaves which Columbus had shipped to
Spain; and she gave positive orders
that no more of the inhabitants were to
be enslaved, and that they were all to
be treated with moderation and kind
ness. But the Atlantic is wide ocean,
and Columbus, far away from his royal
patron, paid little attention to her
wishes and commands; and without go-
ing further into the history of this
period, we will simply mention the fact
that II was on account of his alleged
atrocities that Columbus was suppressed
ed in his command and sent back in
chains to Spain.-Frank r. Stockton, in
st. Nicholas.
The Van Buren press., 1898-01-01
PERSONAL AND LITERARY.

Bret Harte's new book, "The Three
Partners" is the thirtythird volume
bearing his name.
-Lafcadio Hearn, who has livedmany
years in Japan, says that the grotesqua
pictures made by Japanese artists now
seem to him to be true.
Miss Nellie Salome Thomas, of Bos'
ton, while in England went TO Malvern
and, after decorating the grave of Jen.
ME Lind, started fund for memorial
window in the abbey.
When Senator Coekrell, of Missouri.
receives from one of his constituents e
request for public documents on sub
iect he most invariably sends all ths
matter available, even as far back as the
war.
When Tennyson, in 1880, wrote thi9
in "Locksley HALL" 'Let the greas
world spin forever down the ringing
grooves of change" he supposed thai
the wheels of railway cars ran i'll
gTooved rails.
Henry r. Pritchard. of Indianap
oils, who is the Oldest living preache2
in the Church of the Disciples of Amer.
lea, has preached 6,000 sermons. He has
known Gen Harrison ever since the
latter was boy.
Mr.. John i. Levitt, of Portsmouth,
N. H., has had a gayel made from the
original oak in the old frigate Constitu'
ton and has sent it as a present to tho
Massachusetts Society of the Ameri'
can Revolution.
The king of Siam carries back with
him the Grand Cross of the Order o'
ST. Andrew of Russia, St. Stephen Of
Hungary, SIS. Maurice and Lazarus and
the Annunciation of Italy, the Elephant
Of Denmark, the Black Eagle of Prus
sia, the Lion of the Netherlands, Charlea
III. of Spain, the Conception of Portu.
gal and st. Savior of Greece. Of minot
orders his insignia would load Bang
1SOl< mule
The Van Buren press., 1898-01-01
WHEN CANALS WERE NEW.
Regarded ms nm Improved Method OF
transportation.

The canal followed the turnpike as an
improved method of transportation in
this country about 70 years ago, and for
several years after the subject of con-
structing railroads was broached the
partisans of the canals looked upon the
railway projectors as impracticable agi-
tators. In 1s30-31, when the PROPOSE
ton to construct a state railroad was
brought up in Pennsylvania, the board
of commissioners of that state made
strong official presentation of the SUI
periority of canals over railroads. The
commissioners were in favor of building
railroads only where the construction
of canals was impracticable. In their
report they said: "The board believes
that Notwithstanding all the improve
ments that have been made in railroads
and locomotives, it will be found that
canals are from two to two and half
times better than railroads for the pur-
poses required of them by Pennsyl-
vania And they again repeat that their
remarks flow from no hostility to rail-
roads, for next to canals they are the
best means that have been devised to
cheaper transportation" The first sec
tlons of railroad built by the state gov
ernment of Pennsylvania were planned
in connection with two canals, the
whole constituting the 'main line" of
state improvements. One canal extend
ed from Columbia to Hollidaysburg, at
the eastern base of The Allegheny noun
tains, and the other canal extended
from Johnstown, at the western foot of
the mountains, to Pittsburgh. The Erie
canal in New York was completed in
1926, two years before the Union canal
in Pennsylvania.-NY Y. Times.
The Van Buren press., 1898-01-01
She Hnu Lost II,

An old woman whose husband was i'll
in bed sent for the doctor, who came
and saw the old lady.
Il will send him some medicine he
said on leaving, (which must be taken
in recumbent posture"
After he had gone the old woman sat
down, greatly puzzled.
"A recumbent posture "a recum-
bent posture!" she kept repeating. 81
haven't got one" At last she thought
II will go and see If old Mrs. Smith
has got one to lend me-"
Accordingly she went and said to her
neighbor:
Have you recumbent posture to
lend me to put some medicine imp
Mrs. Smith, who was equally as ig-
norant as her friend, replied:
Il had one, but to tell you the truth
have lost it."-Pearson' Weekly.
The Van Buren press., 1898-01-01
A Cat Retriever.

Here is an interesting instance which
is reported as true story of feline In
telligence: Mr.. Blank is a suburbanite
who delights during the summer after
moons to go in quest of sparrows. Early
in the past season family moved into
an adjoining house. With the family
came cat. One afternoon Mr.. Blank,
returning from a cunning expedition,
espied the cat doing on the piazza. He
threw a sparrow to her. The cat was
quickly at work, and in a short time
there was little left of the sparrow.
The following afternoon the cat was in
the same place doing, but quite wide
awake, watching for the returning
sportsman. Her watchfulness was re-
warded by two sparrows being laid in
front of her. Now the cat was some-
what curious, consequently the next
afternoon when Mr.. Blank started out
on his usual hunt he was Joined by the
cat, who stuck close to his heels. and
when a sparrow was brought down the
cat would take ii in her mouth until
home was reached, when the devouring
would begin. Every afternoon after
that until the season waned the cat
would be seen following close at the
heels of the suburban sparrow de-
stroyer.-Boston Traveller.
The Van Buren press., 1898-01-01
His Modest Role.

The fond mother of three children
was obliged to demonstrate with her
oldest boy because in the children's
games he would always take the lead
and assign subordinate positions to his
little brother and sister. The boy prom
ised not to be selfish in the future. A
few days later the mother, happening to
go into the nursery, saw the two young
er children engaged in amateur the
atricals. The elder boy stood aside with
arms folded, moodily watching them
I'VE are playing Adam and Eve" said
the youngsters. The mother was much
gratifed, as she supposed that in this
instance at least the boy had allowed
his brother the principal role. She
turned to the silent figure in the corner.
about TO praise him. who are you?'
she asked. God" was the answer
y. Y. Commercial Advertiser.
The Van Buren press., 1898-01-01
FLORENCE STRAW INDUSTRY.
Leehorn Hats No Longer the oos'iy
Things of Yore.

in1hSN VI
A strike in the gentle, smiling valley
of the Arno has drawn attention to the
straw plait industry carried on there.
It is one that is greatly ahected by
change in fashions, and has its PERIODS
of prosperity and depression. The days
have gone by when the property about
Florence was divided among few man.
ufaeturers of straw hats (what the
English call Leghorns), who when mar
rying their daughters gave them dot
of several thousand scudo (each scudd
being worth four shillings) and
straw hat, the strands Of which
after being woven were so fne
a magnifying glass was needed
to distinguish them. Now rich travel
ers travelling through Florence go no
more to the Via Porta Rossa to pay 100
franceseoni (e22) for a straw hat to
take home as present.
Fashion has transformed the Flor
ence straw industry. The profit now
comes from the quantity, not the quail
ty; and consequently the hand work at
one time sought after and well paid
has gradually decreased in price until
the wages of the workers are infamous.
When the wholesale price of hat, all
made and sewed, is a penny or two
and there are those at even a lower
price-it is easy to imagine what COM
pensation the straw workers get for the
25 to 35 yards of made strands which
are necessary for one hat.
The skill formerly required in the
plating is, however, no longer required,
Once it was an art; now everyone can
do 1.-THE boys and girls who drive the
cattle to pasture, the women at home.
beggars, all those who have nothing
else to do. In the mountains the men
who break stones have been seen at
straw plating In their few leisure mo-
ments, and even men who drive coal
carts. This ''yulgarization" and over
production WILL in the end, be the death
Of the industry. There have been inn
mense expectations, especially to
America, and consequently an -oreI-
stocked market; and untlsvlhe means
are found of diminishing the produc-
tion the industry will go from bad
to worse, with the gravest consequences
to those who live by it.
There are exporters who buy the
straw plait in bulk, paying, If not suf-
fcient for the work, more than is war
ranted by their own profits, and who
only continue in the business out of
charity for the poor people of the dis
trict, But this in many cases does not
| prevent them from being accused of
profiting by the necessities of the work.
ers. Hence the strike.-Pall Mall Ga.
zptfp
The Van Buren press., 1898-01-01
The Chrysnnthemum.

The worst of the chrysanthemum is
that it has no romance. In the orient
people love as well as admire it; to the
heart of the japanese lover and maiden
it is associated with all the manner of
sweet and tender thoughts. Even in
China it is a dearly-loved and much-
priced ornament of life, but with us the
chrysanthemum is late conner, a very
immigrant among flowers, and not yet
naturalized in literature or sentiment.
1t is to the rose, the lily of the valley,
the forget-me-not, the violet, or pansy,
that the Anglo-Saxon consciousness
returns again and again in times of
great JOY or Worcester Spy
The Van Buren press., 1898-01-01
The Spanish Soldier in Cuba.

The Spanish soldier is probably the
best fighting material in the world.
He is brave, wiry, easy to feed and
house, and always uncomplaining. But
as his disposition is excellent, so is his
officer worthless, the Spanish aristoc-
racy corrupt and good for nothing, the
Spanish plebs serviceable, obedient and
ductile. The simplest maneuver is to
the Spanish officer an unknown quanti
ty. But the most deliberate and devil
ish evil of all is the dishonesty in high
places. The amount of money-the
property of the Spanish people misap-
propriated by the officers of the Span
ish army must amount to millions of
pesetas per month. 1--WE know it,"
said an eX-minister sadly to me in
Madrid a week ago, 1--WE know it even
over here"
Dead soldiers are kept upon the listed
strength for month after month. and
their pay continues to be regularly
drawn by their captains. Moneys that
we're destined for the commissariat are
eoolly perverted into regular source
of official income. A ld-be-next-to-
pennless captain, living like lord in
one of the costliest hotels of Havana,
readily owned to me that he had been
able to send home to his wife keeping
$4,000 in half year.-Westminster Re
view
The Van Buren press., 1898-01-01
VIII AND WISDOM.

Almost every man says the use or
tobacco hurts him, yet hardly anyone
ouits it.-Washington Democrat.
-Johnny-"Papa, what is factionr
pana-"It is a term used to describe
that section of the party to whlch you
90 not belong. g."-Puck.
Until the day he dies every man
thinks he is fooling one or more per-
sons and every woman thinks she Is
fooline four or five.-Atchison Globe.
Literary FrieRdship.-"Madge and
are entirely congenial." "On any spe-
cial oroundP" "Ies; she hasn't read
anv of the books that haven't READ.
Chicago Record.
First Mother-"Don't you find it q
oraat relief to have the children at
school again?" Second Mother-"WeH,
It would be If they didn't learn so many
new questions to ask."-Tit-Bits.
As He Understood It-"Benny,"
asked the Sunday school teacher, what
is vour idea of hypocrite?" "a feller
that pretends to think another feilers
bike is better than his" replied Benny.
Judge. a,
A Sudden Release.-"Miss kittlsh-
dear Nellie. | am your slave" said
Young Mr.. Dolley, in sudden aYowai
of love. "Consider yourself emanei-
pated, Mr.. Dolley," replied the young
lady.-Life. a.
ayes, sir" said the inventor that
armor plate will stand any test you
NAV give it." 81 wonder" said the
corporation lawyer, thoughtfuiiy' IL Il.
II would stand the test of the courts?
clevaland Plain Dealer.
The Van Buren press., 1898-01-01
BACK TO FRANCE.
They Reerossed the Border to Ent
Their Grapes.


An American lately returned from
several years of travel in Europe, tells
of an instance of New England thrift
which came under his notice.
I'm Italy," he said, telling the story
to a friend, "the authorities seem to
have a wonderful faculty for sending out
dutiabe articles, and the traveller over
the borders from France often finds
himself relieved of an unexpectedly
large sum On this account
Il was one Of a party of Americans
who crossed the border in a comfortable
carriage one day last year. Our host
was wide-awake Connecticut man,
generous with his money, but deter
mined not to part from it foolishly,
when he could avoid doing so.
"There were five in the party, and
among other supplies for our delecta-
tion on the road was a basket of grapes.
We started shortly after breakfast, and
in an hour were over the border in
Italy. We were promptly assailed by
levyer of duties who pounced upon
the grapes, and demanded a good sum
for them as imported articles.
"'No, sir said the Connecticut man,
firmly, caring little whether what he
said was understood by the official, as
he intended to make his meaning clear
by action; no, sir, We'll eat our lunch
con in France sooner than pay for those
grapes
And before anyone realized what he
was doing, back we were in France
again, where we sat, eating our grapes
in the very faces of the Italians, though
without quite as much relish as we
might have had an hour or two later"
Youths Companion.
The Van Buren press., 1898-01-01
SAFE SAVINGS BANKS.
How MassachusettsD Deals with an I'm
portant Banking Problem.

The care with which the savings of
the poor are safeguarded in Massachu-
setts is shown by the report of the CON-
missioners of savings banks of that
state. The commissioners express them
selves against allowing savings banks
to be established that have in mind any
other object than that of furnishing a
safe place of deposit for persons of
small means.
This attitude of the Massachusetts
savings bank commissioners is suffi-
cient answer to the contentious put
forth by the opponents of the postal
savings bank system. If it be said that
the government ought not to Interfere
with the business by which private
individuals make profit, the answer is
that in those parts of the country where
savings facilities are most nearly ade-
quate private individuals are not al.
lowed to make profit from handling the
savings of the poor. The savings
banks of Massachusetts are purely
benevolent institutions, managed by
trustees who derive neither profit nor
compensation from their connection
with the institutions. No other kind
of savings bank is allowed to do busi-
ness in that state. If the states with
the best savings banks have found it
necessary absolutely to prohibit in
dividuals from making a profit from
handling the savings of the poor, sure
ly it is no valid argument against postal
savings banks to say that they would
tend to interfere with the business of
those who wish to make a profit from
handling of such small savings.-Chi-
capn Record
The Van Buren press., 1898-01-01
A Gigantic lightning Conduc,or.

In recent description of the astro-
nomical observatory on Mount Etna,
attention is called to the fact that thun-
derstorms are rare phenomena there.
The observatory is more than 5000 feet
above sea level, and near the summit
OF the volcano, yetit has not been found
necessary to protect it with lightning
rods. The absence Of thunderstorms
has been accounted for on the supposi-
ton that smoke and hot vapor constant
ly rising from the great crater Of Etna
ect as lightning conductor on grsrd.
seale.-Youth's Companion.
The Van Buren press., 1898-01-01
THE SONG OF THE CORN.

Sing us thy song, o prairiel
Murmur thy rune, o seal
Send us afar from thy depths, star.
Thy benedicite,
The sound each true heart loveth,
The light that freemen crave.
Shall whisper and gleam, shall murmur and
beam,
Wherever our corn shall wave
Ever the songs OF the prairie
Echo among its leaves;
While the rich light shakes, In shining
flakes,
From a myriad tossing sheaves.
Honored and joy-crowned labor
Hymns from the corn-clad plains.
And plenty waits at the nations gates,
When the corn o'erbrims the wains
Ever its bright blade mirror
Beams from the northern star,
Till the tumbling rills, and the pine-elad
hills.
And the windows of home afar,
CLEAN for the longing wand'rer,
In flashes of Joy and pain,
From the FURNISHED leaves-whle his fancy
The glamor Of youth again.
Ever the deep seas murmur
Sounds in an undertone
Through its fair demesne. when its ban
ners green
BY the morning winds are blown;
And whispers of nations waiting
The boon of our golden grain,
Our choicest gift where the green sails
lift
Their pInions upon the main.
Ever the warmth of the Southland
CLOVIS In its yellow sheaves;
And all stories old, of romance and goid
F.mblazon the serried leaves.
But, witless, the naughty Spaniard,
Lustful for wealth untold.
In his dreams of pelf ne'er beguiled him
self
with the like Of our cornfelds' gold.
So from the North and Southland,
So from the East and West
Cometh the voice of the nations choice.
The praise of all gifts the best.
And, high over all the emblems
Before Columbia borne,
With its blades unrolled, and its plumes of
gold
Shall bourgeon our glorious corn.
Sing us thy song, o prairie!
Murmur thy rune, o seal
Send us afar from thy depths. o star,
Thy benedicite.
The sound each true heart loveth,
The light that freemen crave,
Shall whisper and CLEAN, shall murmur
and beam,
Wherever our corn shall wave.
IL Arolyn Caverly. in Youths Compan-
ion.
The Van Buren press., 1898-01-01
Sausage Pilnu.

One pound of white pork sausage, one
eupful of rice, one cupful of water Fry
the sausage until brown in a deep fry
ing pan. then add the rice and water.
Let it cook gently on the top Of the
stove. until the rice is perfectly tender
and dry. Add salt 10 taste. The pilau is
favorite and makes good meal on a
cold day Ladies World.
The Van Buren press., 1898-01-01
ENTIRELY ,roo Geuerons

"What's that?" exclaimed the deaf
individual, who was held up by foot
pad, "money or my wife? Take her,
my boy; take her"
Not on your life" said the footpad
as he dashed around the corner.-Tit-
Rits
The Van Buren press., 1898-01-01

One large agency in London en-
ploys women for bailiffs, putting them
in charge where the victim of distraint
is woman or an elderly person who is
not likely to make trouble for the Gus
todisn' vigilance in watching being sn
that is necessary.
The Van Buren press., 1898-01-01
AIust HIVE Him,

Did you say, madam, that your son
Yas a tutor in college?"
81 did. They don't think any coach
iHg party complete unless he does the
footing. g.--Detroit Free Press.
The Van Buren press., 1898-01-01
Absorption.

lie seems to be perfectly absorbed
"a his family"
"Ies; even his brothers-in-law sponge
gu him. Chicago Journal.
The Van Buren press., 1898-01-01
A Remnrl,abIe wildcat.

The Geological garden in Paris has re-
Gently acquired a specimen of the rare
wildcat of Siam. Instead of being
larger than its domestic relatives, as
our wildcats are, this animal is of about
the size of common house cat. 1t is
surprisingly fierce and untamable. and
very beautiful, its lustrous fur being
marked and banded with symmetrical
figures in black and white as fine, ac-
cording to a Paris journal, as though
drawn with peneil-N. Y. Sun.
Lake City, Fla, has set out TO make
the dancer pay the fiddler in a novel
way. The town has appointed single
night watchman and deereed that he
shall bc Paid a. the rsts of 81 tG Tor
each arrest made, the prisoner to fur
dish the money.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-24
MATRLCE GRAZ.

The opening OF the metropolitan opera season
"a one of the annual events In New-York which Is
conspicuous for its brilliancy ana WMcn Always
attracts many visitors from all over the coun'
49,, Asa social event II has no r1val IN the es-
,asno az fashionable people The Horse snow
% b. sure. Is marked by the presence OF much
,ha sam. element that fills the boxes at the
opera, but it lasts only one "een7 Nhiae '"e
oreaf music season is extended over several
The display Of wealth beauty ana lasnloh
which attends the opening OF me opera seaS ~,
90 continues 10 its close cannot be equaieo ny
CIV other city In the country. on opera nights
proadway and the adjoining streets are Hheo
n,,th carriages and the outpouring represents
ne brilliant social life OF the metropolis ms
"vob for the social side Of New-forks opera
saoson But there is another side wnlch 10 I'M
nortant and without which, In TACT, the torme.
IND not exist The musical and dramatic
taatures of the productions at the Metropolitan
Onera House fully merit the attention they re-
ceive. ., 49,. .,,.. no. >,
lettering these productions, and the result is an
''nsar,rle Of artists which cannot be excelled
Win such names Cal9e. Media E~--~A
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-24
RAILROAD SUPPLIES.
AND WORKMANSHIP IMPoR-
rANr FEATUREs-THE BUSINESS IN
NETWORK

The term railroad supplies is comprehensive
me and may he taken 70 mean everything from
The car fittings 10 the framework and steel of
bridge construction. In its general acceptance
1t implies the multitudinous articles which en-
fer into the construction Of railway rolling stock
Two points OF paramount importance In railway
sunnlies are trustworthness and workmanship
II is OF the utmost Importance that such articles
a.. castings couplings. knuckles. bufngs ana
m. various other features u the cars should
come up 10 the standard. and railroad purchas-
ing agents naturally place their orders with
such firms az are absolutely and unquestlonably
reliable
There are number OF firms in New-York
who enjoy an enviable reputation In the trade.
and who are called upon 20 furnish supplies
for all Of the prominent railroads OF the coun-
Try. Their contracts amount annually 10 many