davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The St. Johns herald., 1898-05-14
"AULO LANG SYNE."
The Original Manuscript of the Poem Is
 Owned by an Albany Lady.


 Owned by an Albany Lady. Mir. Cuyler Reynolds contributes to The Century an article on ''The Manu- script of Aud Lang Syne, " the article being accompanied by facsimile of the autograph. Mr. Reynolds says:
 The late Chancellor John V. L. Pruyn of Albany was the successful purchaser of "AuId Lang Syne" and the one to make the autograph one of America $ treasures. The facts regarding its re- moval to this country are of peculiar in- terest, and they bring the history of the autograph, now more than a century old, up to date.
 MT. Pruyn was lover of curios, and particularly of the kind connected with an interesting past, and his collecting showed a refinement not evident in the taste of the usual collector. In 1859 the centennial of the birthday of Robert Burns was made the occasion for cele- bration in different cities of the United States, and the literary people of Albany decided to observe the day by memorial exercises in large hall on the evening of the day. Previous to the event MT. Pruyn planned that it would be fea- ture if he could secure this autograph copy of the poets "Auld Lang Syne Henry Stevens was famous purchaser for collections in those days, supplying MT. James Lenox, MT. John Carter Brown, the British museum and others with some of the most valuable old works, and thereby hangs a tale to be told later. He owned the verses in ques- tion. He was friend of MT. Pruyn, and correspondence regarding the mat ter ill hand began.
 The result was that MT. Stevens sold the verses to MT. Pruyn, and the manu- script was intrusted to Captain Moody, who guaranteed that it should reach Chancellor Pruyn ill time for the cele- bration. His steamship reached New York late on the day of the celebration, leaving but few hours to get it to AL bany, or the mission would prove fruit less. The only way was for the captain to select one of his trusty men. With this special messenger it was sent from the steamer and conveyed with all dis patch directly to the hall in Albany. NIT. Pruyn was all expectant when, during the exercises, he was called from the hall. Though he was gone only a moment, all interest in what was going on upon the stage was lost for the time being. Another swing of the door, and MT. Pruyn entered, waving aloft the manuscript and exclaiming, ''It is herel" With exultant delight and amid cries of "'Auld Lang Syne' is with usl' Chancellor Pruyn advanced to the stage and read the poem through. Hardly could the people be prevented from breaking in upon him, and when it was proposed to sing it through enthusiasm knew no bounds. Never did chorus so willingly lend aid, and the familiar air swelled forth ill mighty volume.
 The cherished page was bound within Russia leather covers, and with it was placed a letter to Dr. Richmond from Burns, dated Feb. 2, l7S8, proving the identity of the writing in the poem and also the letter written to Chancellor Pruyn by Henry Stevens when sending the poem to him.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-05-14
Housewives of the Ottoman Empire.

"Women in Turkey" says a recent traveller, "are not so sadly lacking in domestic virtues as the American house. wife thinks, and it must be confessed that in some things they can even give points to their sisters of the complex civilization. If it is washing day, the hanum, however high her rank, attends personally to all the rinsing of her hus- bands garments, though it must be con- fessed that this is not so much from fear that his flannels may shrink as from belief that spell could be cast upon them by any designing slave who wishes to supplant her in his affections. Although every Turkish family, how ever humble, has at least one black slave to do the ordinary washing, cook ing and scrubbing every mistress, even to the highest in rank. prefers to give her individual attention to all delicate and special culinary ventures.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-05-14
One remedy for the lodging of taxes

One remedy for the lodging of taxes eral Harrison Is entitled to something more than casual consideration. It is that a meeting of the tax commission CTS of a considerable number of States be held, to consult as to some plan for the taxation of personal property that
 will secure a uniform system. One of the embarrassments at the present time Is that when a State undertakes to adopt a plan which will increase the taxation of certain classes of property, 1t becomes a serious loser by the re moval of those who are taxed under such a system. New Jersey is said to be the paradise of New York tax dodg- CTS. Ohio is said to have lost a num- Der of wealthy citizens because the State undertook to tax them. One was so incensed, not long ago, that he dis posed of all his property in Ohio and left the State in something of a huff. Tax commissioners, like insurance ana labor commissioners, could meet, con- slider plans and finally adopt some one of them. This plan they could recom- mend to the Legislatures of the States represented, and thereby uniform sys- tenn for more adequate taxation could be secured. Taxation Is not one of the topics which the people generally dis cuss. They complain of local taxation, but when the topic is discussed it is Federal taxation, usually the taxation of the poor to pay for bonds. This may be important, but, compared with local taxation, 1t is inconsequential. The agitation of the topics which General Harrison has brought to the front in neighbOrhOOds, in village or township meetings for the purpose would call public attention to the injustice in a manner which could not fail to be gen. erally beneficial.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-05-14

their torn and distorted bodies might be Haunted in the headgear of American wOmankind! There are no guesS-wOrk figures, but the official report of the Au- dubon Society of Massachusetts. And what does it mean? It means five mill ion voices stilled in Natures avian choir. Five million flashes of cheeri- ness and gladness taken from human life; and millions of other young lives doomed to starvation or prey in order that the plumaged corpse of the mur- dered mother bird may be rent by a milliner and damned in hideOus shape lessness in milady's hat! An, milady, is there no efficacy in these desolating figures? Is there no mercy in your heart, no conscience in your make up, no sentiment in your soul? Can you enjoy the finest opera when you think that the killing of the birds with which you and your sisters are crowning your beauty is gradually silencing the grand oratorio of the forest and the fields! 4 birdless country! A voiceleSs forest! What a desolation it would be! And yet that is just what this country is coming to if the song birds of our land are to be killed off at the rate of five millions year in order to gratify fem mine vanity and keep woman "in style" What a grewsome, hideous, constituencies style" it is that mur- ders melody and silences the lark that sings from Heavens gate!
The St. Johns herald., 1898-05-14
DEGENERATE FRANCE.
In Every Particular She Is Failing
 the Race of Utilization.

In Every Particular She Is Failing In
 the Race of civilization.
 In the view of the rest of Europe France Is seen at her worst since the tiger-like outburst of the commune, writes Harold Frederick. The scandal of the Panama canal corruption was nothing by comparison, for that taint- ed only a single case in public life. Nor was even the commune itself so bad for then it was only Paris which went wild, and it was the rest of France which roughly put it right. But in this abominable Dreyfus crime the dry rot permeates all of France. It is easiest to describe the disease as anti-Semi- tism, as that is what one sees on the surface. The cheap newspapers which have the largest circulatiOnS, have been for years openly preaching de struction to the Jews until they have filled the weak and Unbalanced brains of their hundreds of thousands of read CTS with the most cavage ideas. But in reality anti-Semitism is a symptom and not the disease itself. The true malady is degeneracy. The French are no longer able to keep up with the rest of the world under the tremendous strain of the pace at which contempo- rary civilization moves. They have broken down by the wayside. Their adults cannot adapt themselves to the new conditions. Their youth are pitt fully below the standard of any past generation of Frenchmen we know about. From every standpoint, numer- ically, commercially, financially, men, tally and spiritually, they perceive themselves dropping further and fur ther behind their rivals. Nobody any longer treats French opinion with in- tellectual respect. Even Russia, hay ing borrowed more of their money than they could spare, laughs in their faces and makes open Overtures to their enemy. It is the disOrdered, H. formed and more or less vehement rage at the vague perception of these things which is the matter with the French masses. It needs no prophet to see that they will be much worse before they are better.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-05-14
Another DelusiOn.

Mrs. Fadde, Faith Curist-How i: your grandfather this morning, Brid get?
 Bridget-He still has the rheumatics mighty bad, mum.
 "You mean he thinks he has the rheumatism. There Is no such thing as rheumatism"
 "Yes, num-"
 A few days later.
 And does your grandfather still per. sist in his delusiOn that he has the rheumatism?'
 'No, mum; the poor man thinks now that he is dead. We buried um yister- day."
The St. Johns herald., 1898-05-14
An Instrument of War.

The bagpipe, whose stirring music fired the blood of the Gordon High flanders as they scaled the heights of Dargai, enjoys, though 1t is not gener-
 ally known, the unique distinction of having been declared by court of law
 to be "au instrument of war" In an l early volume of the Scots Magazine we find it reported that on the 10th No
 vember, 1T46, James Reid, of Angus,
 was tried for taking part in the rebel lion. It was proved for his defense that he had never carried arms of any kind, but, on the other hand, 1t was shown that he had for some time offici- ated as piper in Highland regiment. It is not unlikely that he had been pressed into the service, for we are told ''he behaved very devoutly, prayed fer vently, and sang part of psalm" Not withStanding these most untraditional piper traits, however, the court found poor Reid guilty of high treason, and sentenced him to suffer the punishment which that crime involved. It was held that a Highland regiment never marched without a piper, and, there fore, his bagpipes in the eye of the law was an instrument of war" There is little wonder, in the face of such a decision, that Pennant when he came north later in the century found the "bagpipes becoming scarce"
The St. Johns herald., 1898-05-14
DRINKS OF OUR FoReEARs.
They Were Fastidious In Quality, Though
 They Liked OuantitH

They Were Fastidious In Quality, Though They Liked Quantity.
 Among the popular drinks were mad dog and dragon milk Their main con- stituent was ale of different degrees of age and strength favored with ginger and similar hot stuff. Mad dog Sas the stronger of the two It was popular among gentlemen of ancient Pistols stamp, who usually wanted something to grip their threats and put fire into their eyes. Topers owe a great deal to this same mad dog. He it was that in- troduced the custom, popular in other lands besides England, of easing the ef- fects of overindulgence by taking "a hair of the dog that bit you.'
 The fastidious Briton of the olden times was also mighty hard to please as to the qualities of wine. We find record of his nicety in this regard as far back as the twelfth century. An old manu- script in the British museum tells us what wine was most prized: "It should be clear like the tears of a penitent, so that a man may see distinctly to the bottom of his glass; it's color should represent the greenness of 8 buffalo's horn; when drunk, it should descend impetuously like thunder; sweet tast- ed, like an almond; creeping like squirrel; leaping like roebuck; strong like the building of Cistercian monas- tery glittering like Q spark of fire; sub- tie like the logic of the schools of Paris; delicate as fine silk, and colder than crystal"
 If the Englishman of that day was able to procure this celestial liquor, he was more fortunate than recent topers and tipplers have been in the triune kingdom. All modern travellers can tes- tify that DO such wine is to be had now, either in "dear old London" or else where on the island. Furthermore, the fancy beverages of tho Elizabethan per iod have disappeared and left not rack behind, unless we dignify such wishy washy stuff as claret punch, which holds the place of honor in most metropolitan barrooms, and port negus, which still fingers in the sickroom, by calling them weak kneed descendants of the sturdy, unoompromising beverages of old.-Chicago Tim es- Herald.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-05-14
A Test for Horsefiesh.

People are apt to jump at conclu- sions," said a chemist, In speaking of the latest notable murder case. Chem istry Is a very nice science, but 1t is possible to make some sad blunders in applying 1t to law and evidence. There are certain things you can prove by It if you are sure of your premises and certain other things that you cannot. This thing of trying to prove good deal by chemistry calls to mind the beef-extract case that gave a packer In this city considerable uneasiness.
 Somebody got hold of his beef ex- tract and claimed that 1t was made from horsefiesh, and 1t was proved by analysis-that Is, to the satisfaction of the man that analysed 1t. The ordi- nary test for horsef1eSh, according to the authorities, Is glycogen. This Is a substance that, speaking in a general way, is found in horsefesh, but does not exist in beef, and it was shown that this particular extract contained glycogen.
 ''The packer came to us in some dis tress of mind for way out of the ditt1- culty. He said his extract was made of nothing but beef, and he wanted us to help him prove 1t, and we did so to his relief and to the satisfaction of the health officers. We demonstrated that, while an ordinary piece of beef did not contain glycogen, it existed in the heart, liver and blood of cattle, and some of each of these might have en- tered into the making of the beef ex- tract. The result was that the chemist who had arrived at such sweeping con- clusions from the first test had to back down from his position. - Chicago Times Herald.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-05-14
. o,.houob tbev were at work drill

safe. although they were at worz drill ing it open when relief came.
 From the time that the engine stopped Polly was missing. When the rescued and excited passengers and ex- press messengers began to crowd around and inquire, the Mercer men remembered her. A party of them went out to find the girl who had brought help to the beleaguered train.
 In a little clump of bushes they heard a man moaning, and an instant later they saw Polly kneeling in the sand with her fathers head in her lap, cry ing bitterly, and they gathered up the brave engineer and his daughter and carried them down to the train, cheer ing all the way.
 Engineer Marshall was not badly hurt, and he was able to be in Mercer when the general manager of the road thanked the blushing Polly officially and offered her a new and better posi- tion in Mercer, and, of course, all the passengers and express messengers heard about Polly's brave deed and said a great many pleasant things about her, but Polly, being a sensible girl, only blushed and said that she had to do it, and that any other girl would have done the same under like circum- stances. Which no one believed, of course.
 Later, when the robbers were cap tured, Polly was able to identify one of them positively-the one who had run the engine and through him the en- tire party was convicted and sentenced to the penitentiary.-BrOOklyn Stand ard Union.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-05-14

The introduction of bills for the re- mOval of the charge of desertion from men who enlisted in the armies of the Union in our great war, and who failed to put in an appearance when their commands were mustered out, has been going on for a third of a century. It is the general opinion of hOnorably dis charged soldiers that this thing has gone far enough. They assert, and they know something about the mat. ter, that most of these deserters are men who enlisted for bOunties and got out at the first opportunity.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-05-14
HairbrusheS.

The brush trade is full of deception. An experienced hand will, by touch, tell if a broom or brush be all hair or a mixture, but if ever i'll doubt pull out or cut off a suspicious hair and apply a match. However we'll doctored, the de- ception will be shown at once. Hairs will burn. rolling up ball-like, with the we'll known smell of burned hair, while vegetable substitute will con- sume, leaving the charred portion like a burned match.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-05-14

The course taken by the French min istry In arbitrarily forbidding discus sion of its acts was fOreseen. It is the course that has been taken shortly be- fore Its fall by each of the French gov ernments that has been overthrown by revolution during the past seventy years. The precedents do not warrant the Inference that a change is at hand. The second empire and the citizen king both went on for several years after the policy of expressing criticism had been adopted. But this sort of vio- lence reveals weakness that had been Tcffc6i. ma by that disclosure invites and encourages assault.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-05-14

The conclusion is forced upon us that the builders of warshipS might collab, crate with the architects of the great commerce carriers and combine speed with safety. The agents of the Atlantic liners never lose much sleep when one of the ships is overdue. They admit that her machinery may be broken, but experience has taught them that her chances are good for making port, des- bite the handicap. Our great warships founder about in calm harbors. strike a sandbar or an insignificant tug and promptly go into dry dock for repairs costing thousands of dollars. There is a lesson in this for somebody, possibly the builder of modern battle%ShipS.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-05-14

The great isothermal line of baked beans includes Dawson City In British Alaska. Outfitters in Seattle and San Francisco complain bitterly of the In. creasing scarcity of the most succulent of intellect-nOurishing vegetables There has not yet been any rumor of organization in Boston of society for the promotion of canned beans in Alas ka. but 1t would be a good neighborly act. Every family in Boston could give a pot of beans and never feel it.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-05-14
Imagination Cure.

Fuddy-Spleeney appears to be much improved in health lately.
 Duddy-Yes, l cured him. got him on to scale the other day, and without his knowing it I managed to slip 20 pound weight on the platform. When he saw how much he had gained, he began to be cured. In less than two days he was as we'll as ever he was
The St. Johns herald., 1898-05-14

The Pail Mall Gazette seeks to agi- tate us by disclosing the fact that a genuine prince is a waiter in a New York hotel. It would really agitate New York to learn that any of our palace hOtel' walters Is less than prince, for that is what their manners have i'm pressed upon us.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-05-14

Great Britain's policy of opening up to the whole world whatever markets she herself wins by her shrewd diplo- macy is about to triumph in China, to the advantage not only of herself, but ot all commercial nations. The result will be that American ships will soon be permitted % penetrate the very heart of the richest part of China and American commerce will be exceed ingly shortsighted unless 1t joins in the exploitation of this land of great com mercial promise. This triumph of En- glish diplomacy may be looked upon as or immense value to the whole En- giish-speaking world, ourselves as well as Great Britain.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-05-14

Susan B. Anthony says that "the grievances women have against the common enemy-man-to-day are as many as the colonists had against King George" Then why not follow the example of the colonlsts-fight for independence first and for the union afterWard
The St. Johns herald., 1898-05-14

Are the statements about Spain's de- cadence true, or are they false? Have
 descriptions of her antiquated institu- | tfOns, her barbaric social conditions, | her industrial death, been mere exaS- gerations to enforce baseleSS argu- ment? Is this view of Spain purely an American view? At one time this little sun dried corner of Europe contained about all there was of European thought. Then Ferdinand came and burned the baths of COrdova because, he said, Christians never bathed. Then this corner was the seat of power for several generations. Then it began to go to ruins. What it is to-day an article in the National Review, a London pub lication, indicates somewhat vividIy. "Decadent Spain" is the title. This is what 1t says: Spain is not only de- void of progressive spirit, but she can not muster up sufficient energy to gov ern herself. She is the most backward country in Europe. The people are shamefully taxed; a peasant cannot bring his load of faggots into town without paying octrOi toll. The admin istrative departments are oriental m their sloth and management. Fresh butter is obtained from France. The postal service is a disgrace. It Is risky thing to post letter, especially if 1t seems to contain anything of val ue. To send check by post is regard ed as an extreme act of folly. The pass ing traveller on his way through Mad rid to France is asked by his friends to take letters and post them in security over the border. Yet no Spaniard seems to care for any of these things, and Is surprised If they are remarked on."
The St. Johns herald., 1898-05-14

A pleasing incident of the cotton mills strike in New Bedford was the idle hours" recreation furnished to strikers through the efforts of one of the city pastors. Reading, games, mu- sic and other forms of wholesome en- tertalnment were provided in two halls, and all were welcome who would refrain from discussing the strike or other labor matters while present.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-05-14

A gun tested near Washington re- gently threw a shell over ten miles, which means that hostile ship would be under fire for twenty miles in pass ing a battery. Such target practice will make 1t interesting for the ship.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-05-14
Signs of the Times.

With a single break about fourteen miles in length 1t Is now possible to go in trolley cars from Providence, R. l., to Nashua, N. H., distance of consid. erably over 100 miles. This is strik. ing reminder of how the trolley has spread over New England during the last ten years.-Boston Journal.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-05-14
Changed His Opinion.

Spinner-I'm surprised to hear you talk as you do about Belle Sprocketts You used to say she was the most fool ish girl you ever knew. Now you sim. ply rave over her. Whats happened old chap?
 Scorchley-What, me say she was foolish? Never! Why, say, do you know that she's rode her wheel every day this winter?
The St. Johns herald., 1898-05-14

Mrs. Wu, wife of the Chinese minis ter at Washington, has the laugh on American women. Whenever anybody says anything to her about Chinese girls binding their feet, she retorts that no Chinese woman is barbarous enough to wear corsets.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-05-14

A desperate arrested in Boston had a copy of Browning in his pocket. Of course his lawyer will plead certain intellectual disturbance, due to pro longed struggle with obscurities.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-05-14

An exchange says: ''The hair on the head of most of the hundreds of thou sands of dolls exhibited in shop win dows is made from the hair of the An gOra goat" That's probably why the kids all like dolls.
The St. Johns herald., 1898-05-14

Thieves are said to be almost un- known in Finland. Curiously enough there are many thieves in this country who contrive to remain entirely un- known