davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-05-04

-- years ago, and the American,
Spaniard, Englishman and German be-
came their masters. Several scions Of
the old regime were comparing notes
on old times one evening in my hear
ing.
"Why," said one, "we sometimes
came into Havana with big wagons
and drove out to the plantations q
whole band of music. We would then
invite hundreds of our kinsmen and
friends, and keep up jollification for
two, three, and sometimes four weeks. "
The best troops in the Spanish SER
vice do not belong to the line, but to
that admirable corps of military police
known rs the Orden Publico. This is
corps d'elite, composed of young
soldiers, Spaniards to man, all of
whom have been selected from the
regular army on account of their su-
perior intelligence and physical quail
ties. They perform regular police patrol
duty and do it with degree of dig
nifty and courtesy that might we'll
serve as q model for department for
the Greater New York police force.
Their uniform is distinctively military,
consisting of a dark blue tunic faced
with red, wide blue trousers with red
stripes, and jaunty cap, something
after the fashion of the French fatigue
cap, until recently worn in our army.
Ordinarily they are armed with huge
revolver, worn on the left side in
buff leather sheath, and short,
straight sword. They are all admir-
ably set up, and their arms, equip
ments and uniforms are the very pink
of perfection, in striking contrast to
the sloyenliness and dilapidation OF
weapons and clothing that characterize
the Spanish soldier of the line.
All tourists who have had occasion
to come into contact with an Order
Publico will cheerfully testify to his
unfailing courtesy. 1t was this corps
which, equipped as infantry with Rem
ington rifles, distinguished itself by
th5 mastery manner i'll which it
handled the mobs during the riots,
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-05-04

wears it does not appear in the Annual
Register or the almanac.
The original order was founded by
Washington in the year l7o2. At
first merely badges were used, which
usually consisted of a narrow piece OF
white cloth worn on the left arm.
The order at that time carried with it
the privilege that the wearer should be
permitted to pass all guards and SEN
tinels as the officers were permitted
to 10. And Washington added to this
order this Characteristic sentence:
''The road to glory in patriot army
and a free country is thus opened to
ALL"
In the year 1862 the order empower.
ed to confer the American Medal of
Eonor was created and was amended
in 1863. In this year the sum OF
$4,000 was appropriated, and the
interest of this has ever since been
used for this purpose. The American
Medal of Honor has up to the present
time been conferred upon about 500
heroes, many of whom are still living.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-05-04

it would be his last act. In all my
excitement at the entrance of th, sol
dier, I had found time to replace the
file in the coin and put the wsolo
thing into my pocket. I now had rea.
son to curse this carelessness, for :!
did not know how to open the pleco
again. knew I had stumbled on Ii
by pressing spring near the edge
but Just where could not tell. TAX
ing up my pencil I went carefully
about the rim. I must have missed it
the first and second times round, but
the third time on striking, as I then
noted, exactly over the letter Co. the
Louis flew open again. Ten precious
minutes had been lost, and set to
work with desperate energy. The
further cut into the bar tho slower
the work went, and I also had
to conduct my operations with
one eye on the Mexican, He did not
move, but lay there watching me out
of his large, dark eyes, wonderingly.
Nearly two hours passed thus when
the faint twittering of bird warned
me of approaching day. I had not
finished the first bar. I seemed to be
making no progress at all now. Once
the little file had slipped from my
fingers and fallen to the floor, where |
had been obliged to grope for it, and
the constant fear lest it should slip
again and fall outside made me doubly
cautious and slow. AS the first streaka
of red tinged the eastern sky the roll
of the drum in the guard room beneath
told me that the sentries were about
to be changed. Exerting oil my
strength I wrenchcd the bar free ut
the bottom and bent it inward and
upward like hook. The aperture
thus made was small, but still ] might
squeeze through. The remembrance
how, rs boy, used to crawl into
our barn ct home through small
window from which pane of glass
had been knocked, came to my mind
encouragingly. Snatching up the
pistol I pushed the table under the
window, and, jumping upon it, began,
feet first. to work myself through the
hole. Twas about the same size all the
wayup in those days"-here the major
looked rather regretfully at the pres
ent generous proportions of his waist
coat-"but when I had gotten half
way through stuck fast. Just at
this moment I heard voices at the
door and key CRATE in the lock.
They had some difficulty in unlocking
it, for I had left the key in the lock on
my side. Meanwhile I struggled
valiantly, but the more I wriggled the
tighter I seemed to get wedged in the
window, and the blood surged up into
my head with splitting violence.
There I was, caught in my own trap,
waving my legs about and striking
them against the wall on the outside.
"The key on my side of the door
fell to the floor, and the key on the
other side turned in the lock.
called outas menacingly as my lack of
breath would permit: The first who
enters will be shot dead. Here I
gave tremendous squirm. L have
o,,or,,oro,o1 tbo - ...---7-+-7-- -,
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-05-04

half dozen officers high in command.
It had been rumored in Havana that
there was to be another popular out
cry against autonomy, and the sad
eyed boy soldiers were there with
their Mauser rifles to see to it that the
dignity of the latest Spanish expert
ment for holding the island was not
insulted.
The last bull is butchered and the
crowd files peacefully out of the ring
and starts on trot for the ferryboat
that runs across the bay. There was
no outcry, and Havanas narrow
streets swallowed up it's bull fighting
population only to disgorge it on the
promenades of the Central Park when
the lights are lit and the military band
plays inspiring martial airs. Around
and around the park the crowds stroll,
smoking strong cigarettes or OCCASION
ally breaking ranks to eat ice cream
at one of the numerous cafes.
All Havana eats ice cream. They
make it of the most unheard OF fruits
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-05-04
HUMOR OF THE DkE.

"Your friend?" "No; merely al
acquaintance from whom I borrow
money. Judge.
"Who is that military-looking
chap?" 'That, sir, is the hero of
rumored war. Puck.
"Did you get your bike on the in
stallment plan?" ''Yes, I pay the
doctor ten dollars month. Puck.
Jones-"Why, Bridget, this is
very small eggr Bridget-"Sure,
sir, it was just laid this morning. y
Detroit Free Press.
Women don't need to be told that
tie prick of conscience is about as
productive of pin-money as anything
YOU can mention.-Puck.
The chief aim Of some women's
lives seems to be to get things slicked
mp one day before it is time. to slick
'em up for the ne1t.-Puck.
Van Braam-"Jaysmith says he is
an expert in toxicology." Shingles
'.He must mean intoxicology Pitts
burg Commercial Telegraph.
"Yon think you are pretty smooth
article" said the salt. 81 have been
told" replied the lard, "that I am
quite refined. Cincinnati Enquirer.
Miss Trill-"I love to hear the birds
sing" Jack Downright WARMLY
$50 do /. They never attempt piece
beyond their ability. London Tit
Bits.
'There are things in this world
more valuable than money, my son."
ST know it. That's the reason I want
money to buy them with. Detroit
Free Press.
Druggist-"See here! Why didn't
you tell that customer that we had
something just as good?" New Clerk
because he was after some postage
stamps. Puck.
Stranger (in Texas)-"How long do
you fellows work at stretch?" Cow
boy-"Weli, it depends agood deal
on how easy feller dies. Dey're
variable "-.Tndge.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-05-04

go on. There is money to gamble at
the clubs and pennies for the poor to
risk in lottery schemes. Spain has
spent e56, 100000 to put down the re-
bellion; yet the National pastime-the
bull fight-goes on every Sunday as
if there were no hungry, fercely de-
termined men in the hills. In fact,
people are tired talking war; in society
they talk of something else unless
some novel incident occurs. Widows
and mothers seem to have drained
their dregs of sorrow and go about sad
eyed, but composed, rs if their grief
were too deep for tears.
What is left Of Cuban society wraps
itself in exclusiveness and awaits its
time. The wealthy land owners at the
beginning Of the war sought refuge in
Europe or the United States. Most of
them had no thought of reduced in
comes. Then came burned fields and
impoverished tenants; edicts of the
government forbiddinr the fn"o"'conr"
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-05-04

4 -----
his last shot, for as his ball struck the
mortar from the wall near me I raised
my pistol and picked him off his perch.
let go my hold. There was soft
burr Of ripping flannel, and I fell 20
the ground. I was upon my feet and
over the wall like cat. AS I leaped
volley of shot followed me, and the
soldiers poured out of the jail in pur-
suit. There were some horses tied in
front of the postoffice opposite, and
breaking the tether Of one of them I
was on his back and away up the street
in flash. 1t was only IN eighth of a
mile long. You know how these little
Mexican towns are built. Pandemon-
ium reigned there for about ten sec
onds, and then I was off towards the
mountains. A dozen men were after
me in full chase, but they never came
within shooting distance again. You
see, knew the country even better
than they, having been scouting in it
for weeks. I made my way back to our
lines with all possible dispatch, avoid
ing any ennunter with the natives.
'When I 8 ally reached the Ameri-
con army I fount.. tt..lat Scott had given
up all idea of seeing me again, and was
preparing to press forward to the at
tack.
"On the 18th of August our forces
were shelling the City of Mexico from
the very town of Molino del Rey, and
on the 10Th we took the city itself by
assault.
"I wanted to have q hand at whip
ping Santa Anna, so took part in the
charge and received a wound in the
leg which resulted in this" The
major stuck out his left leg from un-
der the table. "Corlz, sir
"That, gentlemen, is how I come to
know how to open this remarkable
coin.'
Then drawing fat wallet from his
inside vest pocket he fished out from
it's recesses something folded in what
had once been white paper, now dark.
with age. Unwrapping it he disclosed
tiny file, with delicate saw-teeth.
Fitting the file into the cavity in the
coin he handed it to the colonel, say
ing, as he did so: "Allow me to re-.
store to you all your property" But
the latter refused it. "No, major, I
think it should belong to YOU"
"Well, I should like to keep it
as memento, but in turn
you must permit me to celebrate my
first meeting with the man to whom L
cm so deeply indebted. by ordering a
bottle of champagne. F"
"With all my heart, said the genial
colonel.
"And now," continued the major,
after the arrival of the wine, rs he
filled the glasses around, "I want to
ask you again: What induced you to
put file, of all things, into the centre
of that coin after cutting it open?"
"And 1 can only say" replied the
colonel, "that it was because that lit
tie file happened to be lying on my
work table near at hand. 1t was the
merest chance"
cit was n lucky chance for me, >
said the major, devoutly, as he raised
his glass, otherwise T should not
have had the pleasure of drinking your
very good health to-day, Short
Stories,
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-05-04

on the Ii town of Casa Blanca,
across the pay, and scant quarter OF
q mile from the Palace itself. These
raids are made half in brayado and
half for the purpose of looting the few
stores in the place to procure supplies
of liquors and provisions, and as a
finale, before retreating across the
hills to the westward, the raiders gen.
orally discharge few random shots
at the city across the bay.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-05-04

down into the bull ring in Havana
several Sundays ago. Mazzintini,
Spain's great toreador, had just
brought magnificent Mexican bull to
his knees by quick, daring thrust.
The thousands of spectators who lined
the ampitheatre, tier upon tier, were
applauding frantically. Hats were
being SHE'D into the ring with reck-
less generosity, only to be disdainfully
thrown back to the seats and scram-
bled for by the owners.
1T was not such crowd rs one sees
in Madrid or Seville. AS the speaker
I!have just quoted remarked, bull
fighting; or bull butchering, is not n
Cuban sport; it is essentially Spanish.
Cnbaus love baseball. They do not
playit now, because, silly MS it may
seem, Weyler forbade the game.
This only makes them love it oil the
more,
All through the eager, excited crowd
on that Sunday afternoon sat sad eyed
boys in the uniform of Spain. with
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-05-04
HAVANA
-. AND -.
ITS PEOPLE.
A City Of Pleasure Lovers, Who Attend Bull Fights
With Half Million Dead or Missing and Dance
and Gamble in the Face of Death.


tragic affairs of life. in Cuba people
are dying by hundreds. The Arch
bishop of Havana has said that his
parish registers show over 500, ,000mis-
sing since the war began. Almost every
woman in the street wears deep mourn
ing; plantations are burned and de-
vastated; the tramp of armed men and
the rattle of gun carriages awaken all
from morning slumbers; food is scarce
and becoming scarcer; the bare neces-
sites of life are d ear and becoming
dearer; yet the music and the dance
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-05-04
Rough on the Florist.

Orchids must bloom as they are ad-
vertised to, the English Court OF Ap-
peals has decided. A man who bought
a bulb for S1OO, which he was told
would produce a white flower, and
after cultivating it for two years OBJ
tanned purple blossom, has recovered
1850 costs from the vender.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-05-04

No city in the world is just now so
much in the American eye rs Havana,
in whose harbor our noble battle ship
was blown up, says the New York
Herald. Here is vivid picture of
life in the Cuban capital as it is to-
day:
"rhis sport is purely Spanish. We
Cubans do not enjoy it, and who
knows that before long it may be pro-
hibited by an act of Concress?" The
speaker was q handsome man, with
strong, thoughtful face, rs he looked
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-05-04
ForpIer Than London.

Esquimalt is the only place in the
British empire, according to a recent
Chronological report, that exceeds
London in cloudiness. Esquimalt IS
also the dampest place in the empire,
while Adelaide, in Australia, is the
dryest. Ceylon is the hottest, and
Northwest Canada the coldest pos
session that the flag of England floats
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-05-04

Projectiles used by the United States
army for its great modern guns cost as
follows: Solid shot, S-inch, S69.8O
each; 1O-inch, S144.59 each; 12.inoh,
S212 each; 12-inch mortar shells,
weighing 500 pounds, sl14 each, and
12-inch mortar shells, weighing lOVO
pounds, $195 each.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-05-04

and eat it with delicate little sugar
waters. The stroll is over by eleven,
and then the city is Wrapped IN Its
nervous, fitful sleep.
1t is truly astonishing how accus,
toned one becomes even to the .most
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-05-04
UNCLE HENRY's PRESCRIPTION.

Amt no use O. frettin'
Bout the weather, friends;
Got to take whatever
The kind Creator sends.
What IL clouds do gether.
And the cold winds blow?
Can't have jist fair weather
All the time, you know.
But there's one thing certain,
Ifyour stomach's right,
You can make the darkest
Day seem nice m bright,
Git up in the mornin',
Rustic round bit;
Show 'em there's some ginger
In your system yit.
Sing m dance m whistle,
Startle oil creation
Anything to git your
Blood in circulation
Make somebody happy
Lordy, that's the way
Any one can brighten
Up the darkest day!
Cleveland Leader.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-05-04

The loftiest active volcano is Coto-
paxi. 1t is IS, $50 feet high, and its
last great eruption was in 1855,
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-05-04
Fa9VHE colonel. the pro- I

IC Colouel, VIC 'lo
fessor and young
Jack Hawley wer
seated around l,o
table in q bay win
dow of the club
dining-room, over
their after-dinner
coffee.
The dinner had
been excellent, and
the old colonel, as
the guest of the
evening, was feel
ing particular ri y
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-05-04
A Rocking Stone Weighing @7o Tons.
About q league distant from the
town of Tandil, India, stands bal
ancing rock. 1t weighs 270 tons and

is so nicely posed that it may be made
to ,crack walnut, and so firm that
when an ambitious man once yoked a
thousand horses to il he was unable to
displaoe it,
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-05-04

took it and inspected it closely. Some
skilled workman had cut it open al
around the milled edge and fitted q
spring inside, just under the letter
CO." So nicely had the work been
done that when closed it was not ap.
parent to the naked eye. When
opened, it was seen that groove had
been followed through the inside
about all inch and half long and one
eighth of on inch wide.
'sBy all the powers, how comes il
that you knew that secret?' cried the
colonel, dumbfounded, as the major
threw the fruit knife back on the table.
Without answering the question di-
rectly, the major took the other old
soldier by the hand and, looking into
his eyes with peculiar expression on
his face, asked: "Were you the man
who did that delicate piece Of mechani-
cal work?"
81 was"
'cTell me what on earth induced you
to do it?"
"For the life of me I can't say.
What induces people to make baskets
out of cherry pits, lockets out of hair
and the thousand and one little gim-
cracks that are always being made?
was skillful workman, and in m idle
hour I took up this coin, cut it open
and fitted it with a spring. There is
just one way to open it. You must
have had thepiece in your possession
at one time and stumbled upon the
secret. I put something in that cavity
in the centre-did you take it out?"
'I did"
The major drew up chair and
stretched his stiff leg out under the
table comfortably. I'm 1S47," he
began, looking fixedly at the colonel,
IT was also in Mexico" The colonel
nodded and handed the major q cigar.
Thanks. I was with Scott at Vera
Cruz.
"And T." said the colonel, giving
him light, "was with Taylor in the
northern part of the country"
"Having lived in Mexico for q
number of years previous to the war,
continued the major. lighting his
cigar, sand speaking the language of
the country, / was more valuable in
the secret service than is the field,
so I was," here he pulled on the cigar
for few seconds to get it well lighted
ga scout.
ct understand" and the colonel
nodded again.
"The American army took MP quar-.
ters at Jalapa, where I left them and
made detour towards the south, to
discover suitable route by which our
forces could approach the City of
Mexico, and avoid the Notifications
and ambuscades which General Santa
Anna had provided for their reception.
I had been most successful, and had
reached Molino del Rey, small town
almost in the shadow of the walls OF
Mexico City, when I was captured by
the Mexicans and thrown into the jail
to await trial as spy. Imagine my
despair. I had every inch of the
ground from Jalapa carefully photo
graphed in my brain. Could furnish
Scott with information of the greatest
Importance, and here I was jugged in
that little, miserable Mexican Jail with
every prospect of being condemned 10
death, and no possible way Of getting
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-05-04

without once having occasion to fire a
shot.
Although the evidences of war to be
seen in Havana are scanty enough, it
is amazing how frequently the insur-
gents manage to run the guard OF the
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-05-04
THOS. T. ADAMS PROPRIETOR.
THE AFTER TIME.

THE AFTER TIME
SGesfro andc
gold; and glow
hat
theda athril,
shall
chill
-Da Fairhorne, in Vicks Magazine,
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-05-04
The LOST LOUIS.
BY WILLIAM SAGE.
By WILLIAM SAGE.

tillo that same afternoon, and 1 never
set eyes on him again.
"Indeedl Then how in the world
did you regain possession of it?"
Forty years later" said the col
onel slowly.
"Phew," whistled young Hawley,
under his breath.
81 was sojourning for few days in
a.. small town in Southern Spain.
Passing through narrow street one
afternoon OH my way back to the
hotel. I chanced to stop, as any one
might, to look into the window of q
dealer in curios, and the first object
that caught my eye was this identical
coin. Now, I know that this sounds
incredible. 7, myself, at first thought
it was, merely coin of the same de-
nomination ana date, but imagine my
surprise when, upon going in and en-
aiming it closely 1 discovered that it
was the very same Louis that I had
lost at play in Saltillo so many years
ago. 1 gladly paid the shopkeeper
six pesos for it, and I have carried it
in my pocket ever since.
Here the colonel stopped.
"Is that all?" inquired young
Hawley.
THAT is all, except that 1 will now
proceed to show you-.--"
"Will you permit me to take q look
at the coin9" The speaker who inter
rupted them had risen from table in
the adjoining alcove and now stood Mt
the professors elbow. He looked
some years older than the colonel, his
hair was white and he leaned upon
heavy cane, one leg being decidedly
lame.
"Tm Major Tracer; 1 overheard
part of your conversation as l sat ut
my table there, and Twas so interested
that could not refrain from coming
over and, at the risk of intruding, TAX
ing part in it.
"No intrusion at all, sir. One old
soldier is always glad to make the
acquaintance of another, and your
name, major, is known to every veter-
an of tie Mexican War. Permit me
to introduce my friends, Professor
Langton and Mr.. Hawley."
"The colonel has just been ent"~
tanning us with remar .cH: :;
of the loss aud subseaue;, as.-s.,
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-05-04

tanning us with q remar.
of the loss aud subsequei.
this pfece-of--moncy,
fessor, handing the col
Seventeen seventy :
date" said the major b !.
Then putting the coin -
took up a fruit knife 60
dull point exactly ove'
in the word Louis,
from the edge, he &c
pressure and the fac
open as though on 8