davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-06-09
BEAUTIFUL MAGIC LAKE.
The Present Which an Earthquake Mad
to Tennessee.

to Tennessee.
Reelfoot lake, which lies mostly in
Obion county and partly in Lake, is the
largest sheet CT water in Tennessee, it
being 40 miles in length and from to
in width.
This lake, which evokes rapturous
comments from even the most indiffer-
ent observer, was formed in few min
utes by an earthquake, which, accord
ing to the best authorities, occurred be-
tween and 3 O'Clock on Saturday
morning, Nov. 16, 1911. There were
two terrific shocks about 80 minutes
apart and many lighter ones between
and after. The earth rocked violently,
a deafening noise like thunder struck
terror to the ear, the atmosphere was
heavily laden with something like
smoke and vivid and almost constant
flashes of lightning illuminated the sur
rounding country, and in less time than
it takes to write it thousands of acres
of land had sunk far below the level Of
the mighty Mississippi.
The Father of Waters rushed into
the sunken country, and the suction
was so great that for three hours the
river ran up stream, and RATS and boats
below the lake were torn from their
mornings and went whirling into the
seething, maddening vortex. As soon
as the newly formed lake was filled the
river went majestically on its usual
course, leaving to Tennessee one of the
finest fishing resorts in the country,
which is annually the Mecca of thou
sands of Observation-Disclosures Com
mercial Tribune
Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-06-09
THE CLERKS MISTAKE.
Thought She Was G Hayseed Because Shs
Ordered o Kerosene Lamp.

Thought She Was Hayseed Because She
Ordered Kerosene Lamp.
Just after the night clerk had come
on at the hotel and curled his mustache
to his liking his attention was called to
business.
"Kerosene lamp for 237," requested
bellboy.
kerosene lamp?" echoed the clerk
as he whirled the register about. 'Let
me see. Blondly and wife of Plunker-
vile in 237. 1 thought SO. Never been
in first class hotel before Go back and
show them how to use the electric light.
Wonder they didn't send for tallow
CANDLE" and the clerk took several of
the corridor loungers into his confidence.
"Lady says if this hotel can't afford
a lamp to send up gas stove and send
it quick" said the bellboy, who had
made the round trip in phenomenal
time. "She acts pretty hot. -
'Pretty cold, Ishould think. Go back
there and open the register. show the
lady how to use the water faucets and
how to turn off the electricity. Thank
the Lord, she can't blow it out
The next word from 237 came with a
rush. 1t was brought by a vision Ct
loneliness, dressed in bewitching style,
her face flushed and her blue eyes throw
ing off sparks. "Make out our bill and
receipt 1t at once, 5" she said as her dain-
ty foot beat time on the marble thing.
''But, Mrs. Rlondly''-
"Attend to my o,der, sir Include in
your bill a carriage and an express wag-
on to transfer US and our things and
tell Mr.. Blondly when he comes in that
he will find us at the other house, where
we will spend the rest of the season.
Understand, we must go at once.
want to go to hotel where it will be
possible to warm some milk for baby
before the little angel starves to death. I"
Then the loungers had fun with the
clerk, and the best he could muster was
a sickly grin.-Buffalo News.
Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-06-09
FIGURES OF SPEECH.

While aunty was reading story one night,
To good little divers smiling delight,
She came upon something remarkably queer
That good little Oliver wondered to hear
And this was the something she placidly read
"Jane Ann then determined to enter the shed,
And, cautiously dropping her eyes on the floor,
They fell ON the snake which had caught them
before"
Interruption was rude, the dear child had been
taught,
So he said not a word, but he thought, and he
thought,
And the longer he pondered the stranger 1t
grew
The thing that Jane Ann was reported to do
He felt of his eyes with mysterious doubt
And wondered how she could have taken hers
out;
And how-this was really what puzzled him
more
They could fall on thing which had caught
them before.
Mary E. Bradley in st. Nicholas.
Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-06-09

THE QUICK HORSE.
An Outgrowth of Improved America
Methods of Fire Fighting.

An Outgrowth of Improved American
Methods of Fire Fighting.
In St. Nicholas there is an article on
"The Quick Horse" by F. S. Dellen-
baugh, devoted to the horses of the mod
ern fire department. Mr.. Dellenbaugh
says: 1t is only within recent years that
quick horses have been developed and
appreciated and admired, and the poet
has not yet attempted to sing the praises
of this more prosaic but noble animal.
Yet, after all, to one who carefully ex-
amines the matter the quick horse ap-
pears to have quite as good, if not bet
ter, claim upon our admiration and
sympathy and encouragement. The
swift horse wins the race, and in these
days he may cause considerable money
to change hands. in which there is GER
tainly nothing that is commendable.
But the quick horse write about saves
life, saves property and under modern
conditions of life is essential to our
safety and general we'll being. He is
the result indirectly Of poor building
an outgrowth Of our skillful American
fire departments, which could not now
exist without him.
Not SO very many years ago when a
fire broke out everybody far and near
began to run and especially began to
yell, and the volunteer firemen of that
time, being in the service for the excite
ment Of it, joined in the yell and start
ed out the old hand engine from its sol
emn repose, while the foreman running
ahead shouted innumerable orders
hoarsely through his trumpet, to the
great delight of hundreds of small boys
painting to keep up in the glorious race.
The fre-that was altogether Sec
ondary matter, and when they all final
| ly got there they went to work with
| more or less efficiency. There was a
great deal of fun in the business, but
fires were not extinguished. Our cities
in the early days were not built to pre-.
| vent fires, but seemed, if anything, ra-
Their built to encourage them.
In France we may well be amused as
we watch the pompier corps trundle its
bathtub On wheels to the scene Of the
confagration and deliberately fill its
apartments with water dipped up from
the gutter, whence it is thrown by a
little pump upon the flames, because We
know much Of the architecture there il
| solid, and if the fire is net extinguished
| it will soon burn itself out But in oul
country mere spark may in few sec.
onds become devouring furnace and
destroy house after house and block att
er block. Many buildings are tinde1
boxes, and our dry climate adds to theil
infammability, while the ever present
careless or lazy workman by improper
construction gives the fire its first op
| portunity.
Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-06-09
Students Franks.

In The National Magazine W. H.
Leavitt tells some amusing stories of
the pranks of American art students in
Paris. Once the students in one atelier
hazed a newcomer by taking all his
money, putting him into cab and Civ
ing the driver instructions where to
take him. When the cab halted, the
penniless student alighted and stood on
the curb. Twill you be SO good as to
light q match?" said the student. II
dropped napoleon in the cab and CAM
find it.. Whereupon the driver whip
ped up and was away i'll hurry.
A new student from Algiers amused
the studio for awhile by initiating the
sounds of various wild beasts and birds
Then the tickle fellows tired of it, So
one day, having prepared big box
with breathing holes in it. they put the
mimic i'll it and kept him there three
days, at the end of which time he per-
formed only by request.
In 1864 pair of shoes made in Eng.
land cost tenpence.
Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-06-09
NEW YORK LANDLORDS.
Let Their Houses Remain Vacant While
Demanding High Rentals.

Let Their Houses Remain Vacant While
Demanding High Rentals.
A newcomer who has been looking
| for home nest large enough to accom-
| modate out of town furniture remarked
today: whats the matter with rents
| in this town anyway? I see thousands
of fats and offices tenantless, but as
most of them are beyond my means I'm
| curious to know why the landlords
don't come down peg or two and give
poor fellow chance to locate within
reasonable reach Of his business. F" And
SO are others. A friend of mine up in
Harlem is one of three occupants of a
| fiat house built for ten. The seven apart
| ments have been empty year, but the
agent refuses to lower the rent when
| any one of the three threatens to change
| his address, nor will he scale down the
monthly figure in order to fill the va
cant and proftless rooms. And this
isn't a solitary case of this sort, by any
means. Another real estate agent has
been holding row of fine fats for
nearly three years because nobody feels
like squandering $1,000 on any one Of
them. If he had knocked off $500, he
could have rented every one of them.
Just why the metropolitan landlord
prefers loss to gain is one of the secrets
of the real estate business that outsid-
ers can only juggle with mentally.
Another peculiar feature of the bust
ness is the way in which the tenants
| who can put up a good bluff manage to
enjoy all the comforts of an up to date
homo without paying scarcely anything
for the privilege. know one man here
who doesn't pay over 5000 year for a
5000 fat. He got behind in his rent.
and then he jollied the janitor, who did
the collecting. The janitor, in turn,
| smoothed down the landlord, and as
| result the tenant got in deeper and deep
er. Now he pays a months rent once
in while and puts up such bold front
that he gets receipt On his promises.
In the same house is another tenant
who pays $50 month, but he shuts up
his apartments for two months every
summer and goes seward. He fatty re-
fuses to pay rent while doing the grand.
and the landlord hasn't as yet done
thing to him. Still another high fiier
puts up $75 month for the pick Of the
premises. He's in about four months
now, but as yet care hasn't carved any
wrinkles on his broad brow. All of
which leads to the conclusion that rents
are high here in order to cover losses of
the sort cited.-New York Letter in
Pittsburg Dispatch.
Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-06-09
BRITISH IN AMERICA.
It Is Estimated That They Own TWENTY
Million Acres Here.

It Is Estimated That They Own Twenty
Million Acres Here.
How much property do British SUBJ
jects own in America? The aggregate,
based on absolute facts, is known to be
at least 100000 acres, asserts Tit
Bits.
The largest of all is probably the Tex
as possession of the syndicate which
includes in it's membership the Dukes
of Beaufort and Rutland, Earl Cadogan
and the Baroness Burdett- Coutts.
The total amount of land held by this
association is 8, 500, 900 acres. 1t is, as
is the case with most of the Texas land
largely composed of what is called
range country-that is, land that is
better adapted for cattle raising than
anything else.
Cattle and wheat are what the Brit
ish investor seems to think money
should be made on in the United States.
That is why the syndicate represented
by the British capitalist Vincent Scully
owns 8, 900, 900 acres of land in Nebras-
ka, Iowa and Illinois. This property is
situated in the heart of the wheat grow
ing section.
Two American girls, who now wear,
by virtue of their marriage with Eng
lish peers, two of the highest British
titles-the Duchess of Marlborough and
Lady Randolph Churchill-are interest
ed with Sir Edward Reed in syndi-
cate that owns 1900, 1000 acres situated
in Colorado, Wyoming and New Mex
leo. This is purely cattle country, and
on it range thousands of head of live
stock.
There is another syndicate which in
cludes among its members the Earl of
Dalhousie, as we'll as Viscountess Cross,
Lady Hamilton Gordon, the Marquis
Cholmondeley and several others.
There is holding in still different
part of the country, for the lands of the
syndicate comprise 100000 acres in
Mississippi, including cotton planta-
tions, acres and acres of sugar cane and
enough swine to stock 1000 farms.
Lord Tweeddale is a syndicate in
himself and owns 1900 900 acres.
Lii Ike most individual land owners with
large holdings, his property includes a
vast territory which, like that of the
syndicate spoken of, includes immense
tracts Of grazing lands. Nearly all of
this immense possession is devoted to
stock.-St. Louis Republic.
Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-06-09
A SHERMAN ROMANCE.
His Old California Sweetheart Loyal t
the General.

His Old California Sweetheart Loyal to
the General.
When General William Tecumseh
Sherman was raw subaltern in the
United States army, without fame or
laurels and little apparent hope of win
ming either, relates the Chicago Chron-
icle, he wooed and won a beautiful
Spanish girl then living in Monterey,
Cal. Dona Maria Ygnacia Bonifacio
fell beneath the ardent glances of the
lank, ungainly youth just as the flag of
the sister republic was lowered before
the triumphant army led by Scott. To-
day she is still true to her early love
and unaware Of the fame and death of
her lover.
California was then part of the
Mexican republic. Sherman, like many
another, was forced to make war against
the land of the Montezumas. In the
closing year Of the struggle, when Cali
fornia was occupied and became part
of the United States, Sherman was as
signed to duty on the coast. Here he
met the fair dona, lost his heart to her
and won hers in return. She was a
member of an old aristocratic Spanish
family, and the subaltern was congratu-
lated upon his luck. To emphasize his
devotion, the young officer in 1866
planted rose tree before the entrance
to the home of his beloved.
Then came the inevitable misunder-
standing which accompanies every ro-
nance. The lovers disagreed. Sherman
left the army and went east to take up
the law. He never afterward saw his
sweetheart, nor did she ever permit his
name to be mentioned in her hearing
She speaks Spanish only, never reads a
newspaper, and while the nation has
sung the praises of the hero of Atlanta
the Spanish maiden knows nothing of
him from the day he left her. She still,
although long past her youth, waits for
the return of the man whose image has
never left her heart.
But in spite of the separation Of the
sweethearts that rose tree throve and
waxed great. Now its branches have
spread until they form a beautiful bow
er over the doorway of the old Spanish
mansion. Here the dona, sole survivor
of her race, sits and waits, silent and
alone, for the return of him who can
not come. Under the bower of roses due
to her lovers care she stood recently
and permitted her portrait to be taken.
She is still very beautiful in spite Of the
ravages of time and secret sorrow.
Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-06-09
Apt Quotation.

There is sometimes more wit in the
application to the business in hand of
words already chosen for another pur-
pose than in the invention of all appro-
pirate phrase. Bishop Whipple, accord
ing to The Church News, loved to tell
this story:
A devout colored preacher, whose
heart was aglow with missionary zeal,
gave notice to his congregation that il
the evening an offertory would be taken
for missions and asked for liberal gifts.
A selfish, we'll to do man in bis congre-
gation said to lin before the service:
eyer gwine to kill dis church Of yer
goes On saying give, give. No church
can stan it. Yer gwine to kill it.
After the sermon the colored minister
said to the people:
"Brother Jones told me was gwine
to kill dis here church eff l KEEP a-askin
yer to give, but, my brethren, churches
doesn't die dat way. Eff anybody knows
of church dat died cause it's been
givin too much to de Lord, I'll be very
much obliged eff my brother will tell me
whar dat church is, for TIE gwine to
visit it, and I'll climb on de walls of
dat church. under de light of de moon,
and cry, Blessed am de dead dat die in
de Lord 3"
Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-06-09

In Germany "von" implies nobility,
and all persons who belong to the no.
bility prefix "von' to their names with
out any exception. Persons who do not
belong to the nobility cannot have the
right to put won before their names.
A man who is knighted for some reason,
however, has the same right to put
"von" before his family name as per-
son of ancient nobility. For instance,
when Alexander Humboldt was knight
ed he became Alexander Won Humboldt
All his descendants, male and female,
take the prefix. philadelphia Press.
Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-06-09
Another Nuisance.

1t was the first time he was being
married, ard he was naturally a little
nervous and upset, but he managed to
say Eyes" all right and to keep time to
Mendelssohn. sailing down the aisle,
and to sign his name i'll the register
without making more than a dozen
blots
lie thought then that it was finished,
bit when they got to the church door
they found it was raining
"Confound it!'' he cried, putting up
his umbrella. Another nuisance now!''
And then, though he cannot guess
Wy, the people around all laughed,
and his inotAer-in law bridIed and his
wife refused to speak - Pick Me Up.
Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-06-09

Small Tommy was very fond of candy
and asked. Mamma, can God make
anything he wants to?''
"Of course he can." was the reply.
"WeIl,'' exclaimed the little fellow,
"I'd just like to see him make stick
If candy with only one end to it. -
Memphis Scimitar.
Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-06-09

"Cne of the tallest men l ever knew
Tas q Rhode Islander. He measured
nearly I feei il height. -
Fl rh@rs he had to grow that way.
There was no room for him to spread
ont. '-Chicago Tribune.
Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-06-09
The Target Too Small.

Mrs. Jaggs-If got as intoxicated as
you do, I'd go off somewhere and shoot
myself.
Jaggs-N-no you (hic) wouldn't, M
dear If you wash (hie) hafsh as 'tox'-
Gated as l am you couldn't (hic) hit
shide of barn.-Chicago News
Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-06-09

In the Baltic sea there is an island Of
Denmark called Bornholm which con-
sists almost entirely of magnetic. 1t is
much dreaded by navigators because it
renders steering a ship by means of a
Eeedle impossible.
Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-06-09

Switzerland enjoys. the unenviable
distinction of having larger percentage
Of lunatics than any other country. In
the canton Of Zurich there are 3, 261 in
a population of 500, 900.
Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-06-09

Capt. Hugh Logan, aged seventy
three years, for many years d resident
of Woodstock. died "Wednesday Of
Bright's disease. Captain Logan was
soldier in the Mexican war and serv-
ed throughout the civil war in the Cor
federate army. He was a member of
G. en-. J. E. B. Stuart's staff.
Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-06-09

English people, it seems, eat more
butter than any other people on the
face of the earth. 1t is partly through
this that the British complexion is the
purest in the world.
Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-06-09

No. 9-Daiy-Local for Charlotte and inter
mediate Stations.
No. 35.-Daily-United States Fast Mail
through Pullman Buffet Sleepers to jackson
vllle via savannah; to Atlanta, ard New or
leans, connecting at Salisbury with sleeper
Tor AsheVnle. Knoxville, and CHATTANOOGA,
and at Charlotte for Augusta.
ihhoONALLi CONDCCTED TOURIST EXCUR-
SIoNs, through car on this train every We'd
nesdey, Washington to San Francisco with
out change.
No. 37.-Daily-w ashington and Southwest
ern Nesttbuled Limited through Pullman
Sleepers to Asheville, Hot Springs and Nash
Vile, Via salisbury and Chattanooga: to
tampa, via savannah and Jacksonville to
to New Orleans. via Montgomery and Mobile
DINING Car Greensboro to Montgomery
Trains from stanton by Chesapeake and
ONO Railway connect in Uniun Station at
OharlottesVliie with southern by. trains.
Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-06-09

At the defense of Thermopyle the
shower Of Persian arrows was SO dense
1t cut of thu light of the sun.
Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-06-09

Train connects with Southern r. r. at
Harrisonburg at On a. m. for Strasbnrg juno
ton and Harper's Ferry Division.
Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-06-09

Train II snd train connects with Southern
Il. K. at Strasburg junction at L. so and 745 D.
m. for Harrisonbure and points on Valley Ry.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-29

which the government would Immediately
produce. thus Indirectly leading 70 a post
ponement of the court-martial which the
government has refused to grant under
duress
It was also held that the premier had
admitted the right of the government to
intervene regarding Gen. zurlinden's ac-
ton, but had only refrained from fear that
Intervention would be misinterpreted.
An immense meeting was held this even
ing in favor of Col. Plcquart Thousands
of people, shouting "Conspuez Rochefort, y
and "Conspuez Drumment" marched to
the Cherche-M Midi prison, ~where Picquart
is confined and cheered and demonstrated
there on his behalf.
The anti-Picquartites rallied and there
were several conflicts between the two
bands.
The vote in the Chamber enables the
anu-Dreyfusites to sing a song of victory
since the Dreyfusite demand was for the
government to order the Piequart court
martial postponed. Nevertheless, the
whole debate served to advance the cause
of Dreyfus.
Among the rumors current Jhis evening
is one that Gen. Zurlinden, military gov
ernor of Paris, has already resigned.
Slight demonstrations continued in the
streets up 90 midnight, but there was notn-
ing serious.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-29
WILL HASTEN THE WORK.
F'ace Commissioners Expect to
Leave Paris by Dec. II.

E'ace Commissioners ExDect TO
Leave Paris by Dec. II.
Paris, Nov. 2S.-The American commits
sioners are naturally well pleased at the
successful conclusion of their mission The
questions that remain are comparatively
unimportant, and admit of speedy settle
ment
The American commissioners will has
ten matters, with a view to having the
treaty signed within ten days or so, and
OF sailing for New York by Dec II.
Judge Day said this evening: eve have
done the only thing possible regarding the
philippines. Our opportunity of giving
them up was lost when Admiral Dewey
did not weigh anchor and sail away"
Whitelaw Reid entertained the United
states commissioners at a dinner this
evening, after which all went to the op-
era.
Count Won Munster the German ambas-
sador to France, was the S1vt diplomat to
call at the American headquarters this
afternoon and congratulate Mr. Reid on
the commissions successful work. He
said the settlement would meet the ap-
proval of Germany.