davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-12-20

When we loved to pass the Christmas eve
by the cheerful firesidc. singing the old
songs of our prosecuted land, and listen
ing to the ghost stories and the fairy
tales until the hour arrived to attend the
midnight mass. In an evil hour was
caught with my pike while attending n
moonlight drill in the mountain gap. A
mock trial took place. and packed jury
found me guilty of high treason. was
loaded with chains and hurried off in n
convict ship to Western Australia. es-
capped, and after many perils / was re-
ceived with open arms in the land of the
Stars and Stripes by my eXpatriated
countrymen. i soon amassed great
wealth. You would scarcely imagine me,
as appear at present in these tattered
garments, to be a rich man, but, to prove
the truth of my assertion. here is a bag
containing thousand sovereigns. Take
1t. Keep it. 1t is yours. l present it
to you as Christmas box"
"a bag o. sovereigns," cried the farm
err. oh, sir, you must be one o. the
good fairies in disguise"
/ If this happened in American" said the
stranger, you would undoubtedly call
me Santa Claus"
Whoever You are, cried the farmers
wife. you must be something not nat
ural TO be tantalizing poor people with
the sight of heap o. gold like that
II give You my word ! am neither
ghost nor hobgoblin. but real flesh and
blood, said the stranger, throwing off
his white wig and beard and standing
erect at his full height. "E,w examine
my features well and tell me if they bear
any resemblance to Redmond O'Hara.
your convict son!"
| "Oh! Redmond! our own era bawnv'
exclaimed his father and mother stimuli.
taneously. "Yes. it is" said the mother,
caressing him, she has the same auburn
hair." and the same proud light in his
manly blue eyes" cried his father, grasp.
ing his sons hands. "Oh. Redmond.
Redmond, this sudden joy is almost more
than we can bear"
Now, spare me this hugging and kiss
ing and Misunderstanding" cried their son,
IF You don't wish to kill me with too
much kindness. You can both snap your
fingers at Lord Lecch tomorrow. Well
have our own home. our own land and
our own cattle as well as his lordship.
And tomorrow Wen fill the table with
turkey. geese. lamb, ham and every lux
ury in season and out of season that
money can purchase. In short. my dear
father and mother, it won't be your own
Redmond's fault if you don't say it is the
merriest Christmas day you ever enjoy
ed"
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-12-20
Observation-Disclosures
RriiStnnas
PLAN
Puddin3.


Ingredients-Three pounds raisins,
three pounds currants, one pound mixed
peel, one and one-half pounds bread
crumbs. one and one-half pounds suet
sixteen eggs, two wineglassfuls brandy,
one nutmeg, one teaspoonful salt, one
fourth pound almonds, chopped fine.
Stone and cut the raisins in halves,
but do not chop them; wash, pick and
dry the currants, and mince the suet fine
ly; cut the candied peel into thin fine
crumbs. When all these dry ingredients
are prepared, mix them well together;
then moisten the mixture with the eggs,
which should be well beaten, and the
brandy; CRATE in the nutmeg. Stir well,
that everything may be well blended, and
thoroughly press the pudding into but
tered mold, tie it down tightly with a
well-houred cloth and boil for five or six
hours. 1t may be boiled in a cloth With
out mould and will require the same
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-12-20
DERVIsH POWER BROKEN



English Arms Gain Distinct Tri.
umph in the Soudan.
The defeat of the Dervlsh forces in
the Soudan and the killing Of their
leader, Khalifa Abdullah, will 10 many
be the first intimation that Great Brit
ain is simultaneously waging two wars
in Africa. The war in the Soudan be-
gan over three years ago, when Gen.
Kitchener led strong Anglo Egyptian
force down the Nile to Khartoum. At
omdurman in September, 1893, he
found the Dervishes in force and at
tackled them. The Arabs fought with
the fanatical fury that has ever char
acterzed them and in solid masses ad-
yanced to the muzzels of the British
artillery and quick-firing pieces. Their
slaughter was terrific. Over 10000 of
them persisted on the field of battle and
the remnant under the Ehalifa made
good their retreat. Since then the
Dervishes have been reorganizing for
the struggle that they knew was to
follow and the British. too, in a leis-
urely way made necessary prepara-
tons. Lines of railroad were extended.
bridges built and government organ
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-12-20

! Turned into plowshares and spears into
pruning hooks. he does propose to ap
ply the same principle that made tlt
i'tatl'ng gun an instrument for killing
b! Wholesale 10 the construction of n
! piow that will make farming pastime
and emancipate the horse, mule and
OK from any further slavery to the la
Dor of filling the soil If DIR. Calling
makes good his promise the labor of
five out of six of the men required to
do tn" blowing under present methods
Will be dispensed with. although he has
so far failed to invent plan by which
the surplus farm laborers will get their
living. Briefly, DR.. Calling proposes
to use the automobile as the motive OF
his new multiple plow. A series of
plows set in a frame one behind the
other propelled by an automobile for
which oil or gasoline will furnish the
motive power and managed by one
man, Will do as much blowing in day
as has heretofore been done by twelve
horses with half as many drivers. The
motor is to be so constructed that it
can be used to thresh grain, shell corn,
saw the wood and haul the farm prod
uce to market. In other words, 1t is
to be an all round motor which can be
adapted to about everything but haul
ing the family to church on Sunday, or
to the quilting and husklng bees on
weekday evenings. While the average
farmer is fond of horses and likely to
be little shy of any labor-saving in
vention that will curtall the demand
for oats, corn and hay. he will not be
averse to an invention that will make
blowing pleasant relaxation from la
Dor instead of the wearing, tiresome
work it is now, and IL DR.. Calling will
construct a machine that will enable
one man to do the blowing for six and
ride on an upholstered spring seat while
he is doing it an entire plow-weary gen
Grafton will rise up to call him blessed.
Poor Richards much-quoted couplet to
the effect that he that by the pillow
would thrive must either hold himself
or drive" can be laid away in the gar
ret along with DR.. Gatling's outdated
gun. The blowing for the spring crops
can be done so quickly that the farmer
and his family can go to the watering
places along with the other summer
seekers after rest. the farmer return
ing home for week to live on cold
snack while he gathers the harvest and
gets ready to superintend the fall plow-
ing. DR.. Gatling's new Invention NAV
be yet long way from the patent right
stage, but it is ut least better con-
ception than that of the invention for
which he is best known at present. Ii
is much better to make life easier for
human beings than to kill them, and
If DIR. Gatling's automobile plow will
perform as well as he promises he will
close his career as benefactor of the
human race IL he did begin it as an
arch destroyer. Dr. Calling certainly
means well with his proposed new de.
vice to save weary feet and aching
backs. and those amiable souls who are
willing to take the will for the deed
may begin to shout his praises at once
If they like.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-12-20

The free schools do not turn out more
desirable citizens than they did when
the curriculum was simplicity itself.
The general tone of society has not
been elevated by stuffing children with
moral philosophy and international
law, geology. the higher mathematics,
chemistry, astronomy and all the rest
of it. So far as we can see, in fact, the
most conspicuous result of the ar
rangement has been and is to flood the
country annually with thousands of
young people of both sexes who know
nothing which they can turn to prac-
tical account and who have learned
just enough to make them discontented
with their station in life. The real
question Is whether the state should in
struct the children Of the individuals
beyond the point at which they are en-
abled to read and study for themselves
whether 1t should confer an elegant
and liberal education upon millions of
young people who have no sort of use
for 1t. We think not. We state, with
out fear of successful contradiction,
that every man or woman in the world
to-day who knows anything out of
which fortune or repute can be made
learned ninety-nine-hu ndredths of it
after leaving school,
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-12-20
cyAn,De.s DEADLY ATTRACTION,
Those Who Handle the Drug Drawn Al
most IrresisfihIY tn Sura1InwIt

Those Who Handle the Drug Drawn Al
most 1rresistibly to Swallow 1t.
Just now we are engaged in the
making of tons of cyanide of potas-
sum-" said a member of firm of man.
ufacturing chemists, land of all poisons
this, to my mind, is the most dangerous,
because of singular quality it pos
sesses. 1t is in appearance SO very at
tractive to those who handle 1t that
they are often seized with an almost
Overwhelming desire to eat it. To one
man 1t probably suggests sugar, il he
have fondness for saccharine sub
stances, and to another snow newly
fallen. but to both 1t is so alluring that
they may only overcome the temptation
to put 1t in their mouths by great force
of Will power.
THE very men who make it and who
are most familiar with its deadly pro.
perties are pursued by an unreasonable
desire to eat the poison, and as long as
they remain in its vicinity this ex-
traordinary craving endures. They
know that to give way to the craving
AAANtAA' NSosa aAhlOSt Iuotuut anu uOI.
rible, and as consequence are usually
able to resist the strange temptation,
but during the last ten years we have
been engaged In the manufacture Of
the drug four Of our most intelligent
and steady workmen have committed
suicide III this way
Ever feel like eatlng 1t yourself?"
asked the reporter.
Yes" the manufacturer replied.
Many times when in contact with the
cyanide fumes, and have had to leave
work precipitately In consequence. So
well is this curious fact known IN all
works where cyanide of potassium is
made that there are always two men
ut work together, and a jar of ammonia,
which is the antidote to the poison, is
kent MT hand,.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-12-20


Mahdi
The battle in which the Khalifa per-
ished was fought Nov. "a, near Gedil,
town south of Khartoum. The Brit
ish advance was led by Gen. f. r..
Wingate. commanding the Anglo Egyp-
tian forces. The Dervishes fought stub
bornly and were moved down in
masses by the machine guns. The
khalifa, with many of his leaders, fell
with his face to the enemy and then
those of the Dervishes that remained
surrendered.
This effectually breaks the Dervish
power in the Soudan, and reciaims to
civilization the long-lost province of
Egypt.
The Khalifa was the successor of the
false prophet, the Mahd, who, in 1882
overthrow the Egyptian power In the
Soudan. He was the chief lieutenant
OF the Mahdi who took part in the
storming of Khartoum. when Chinese
Gordon fell. After the Mahdi's death
the Khalifa Abdullah succeeded him.
Abdnllah was man without mercy.
1t was he who gave the order of mo
quarter" at the stormlng of Khartoum
and who subsequently authorized the
wholesale massacre of women and chill
dren. Without any reason but his mere
whim he caused the death of thou
sands of people. He was as licentious
as he was cruel, and his passing is a
distinct gain to the future of civiliza-
ton in northern Africa.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-12-20

On one of our outings to the noun
tains we secured a quantity Of very rich
pitch pine which made such good kind
ling wood that when it was gone the
old way of whiting shavings seemed
very unsatisfactory, and we set out to
find something better. Pouring kero.
sene on makes the fire start quickly, but
we have a prejudice against being
burned alive. After various experiments
we hit upon the following which is safe
and cheap and good. Take fat ten.
pound lard pail. Break corn cobs in
two and stand the halves on end in the
pail until the bottom is filed. Then
pour kerosene enough over them to wet
the cobs and leave little in the bottom
of the pail, so that half an inch or less
Of the cobs will stand In the oil. One
of these pieces Of cob laid in the CRATE
will light readily from a match and
burn strongly enough to start quite
coarse kindling, and prove great help
on cold winter mornings.
No woman Is heroine to her hired
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-12-20
WHEN DADDY LIGHTS raE TREE.

NAVE have our share of ups and downs
wv of cares like other folk;
Inc pocketbook Is sometimes full.
were sometimes nigh dead broke;
nut once aryear, ut Christmas time,
:, Our hearth is bright TO see;
Inc baby's hand just touches heaven
When Daddy lights the tree.
For weeks and weeks the little ones
Have lotted on this hour;
ana mother, she has planned for 1t
,,; since the summers sun and shower.
with here nickel. there a dime,
Put by where none could see,
loving hoard against the night
When Daddy lights the tree.
The tiny tapers glow like stars;
They mind us of the flame
Thnt rifted once the stcel-blue sky
The morn the Chrlst-child ciime;
me blessed angels sang to earth
Above that far countree-
we think they sing above our hearth
When Daddy lights the tree.
The west kid In mothers arms
The rest of us on tiptoe wait:
The grown-up brother stands
Where he can reach the topmost' branch.
Our Santa Claus to be,
In that sweet hour of breathless Joy
When Daddy lights tile tree.
Our grandpa says twas Just as fine
In days when he was young;
For every Christmas ages through
The happy bells have rung.
And Daddy's head is growing gray,
But vet a boy Is he,
As merry as the rest of us
When Daddy lights the tree.
Ills love that makes the world go round,
Ills love that lightens toll,
Ills love that lays mp treasure which
Nor moth nor rust can spoil;
And Love Ia In orr humble home.
In lnrgesse full and free,
We all are very close to heaven
When Daddy lights the tree.
-Woman's Home Companion.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-12-20
JOKE WAS on THE DOCTOR.
Answered an Emergency Call and Is
Still Looking for His PAY.

Answered an Emergency Cali and Is
Still Looking for His Pay.
one night recently physician on
West Adams street was called up about
II o'clock by tremendous ringing at
the door bell. He rushed down stairs
to find woman trembling with ex-
element, who grasped out:
Run, quick, doctor-that little house
across the street-lny husband-poison
suicide"
The doctor hurried over and found a
burly fellow rolling about on bed and
grooming as IL in terrible pain. His
wife and three other women-his two
daughters and sister-in-law-were
crying and wringing their hands.
There was bottle on the table labeled
Poison" and half of the contents were
gone.
II sized up the situation In two min
utes," said the doctor, "and turned the
women out of the room and shut the
door,"
Now, what do you mean by this?"
said. giving hefellow good shaking.
"Oh, nothin', doc" he said sheepishiy
as his groans subsidized; "Jest foolln' the
women folks"
1t developed that thesupposed suicide
had come home drunk the night before
and that his wife had demonstrated
with him. And now there is a bill to
pay. The doctor sentft first to the
wife. and 1t was returned with brief
note to the effect that she wasn't pay
ing her husbands bills. The husband
returned it with the suggestion that, as
his wife had summoned the medical
man. she might meet the expense
Chicago Inter Ocean.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-12-20

Porto Rico has no barns, we are told
by an American visitor, and the vision
of harmless region, so far as senti.
ment is concerned, is not welcome.
How much the children of that island
have lost! No haymow sports; no hid.
ings in fragrant recesses; no leaps into
friendly depths of the harvest of the
meadows; no rainy-day delights, shared
with swallows darting in and out; no
memories Of such hours to give their
pleasant sadness to later years! Amer
lean children will regard their con-
temporaries in Porto Rico as fair sub
jects for sympathy. A typical barn,
duly stored with hay, with children to
Illustrate its capacity for giving space
and suggestion for fun, would be an
importation which boys and girls of the
island would appreciate.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-12-20

There is German story about the
origin of Christmas stocking. 1t tells
how poor woman with bleeding feet
came to the hut of a little peasant boy
and begged for aid. He took off his shoes
and gave them to her; he had no stock
ings. In the morning he found the shoes
filed with thalers tied to the door latch.
Some say the little old woman was a
fairy, others of more serious mind claim
that she was the Virgin Mary; whoever
she was, she wrote on parchment: "Du
liebes kind" and this is still kept as a
relic in small church in Bavaria.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-12-20

The body of John Paul Jones. proto-
type of the American sailor, is to be
brought home from its resting place in
Paris. The duty of the American re-
public in this connection has been long
delayed. John Paul Jones began the
work. completed by Dewey, of putting
the American navy In the forefront Of
the world. He was patriot when pa
triotism was at discount and by his
valor put premium upon that virtue
He was a manly and generous spirit,
as noble as Nelson, and as capable
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-12-20

In Austria publishers of Illustrated
postal cards have turned the fears of
the rustic population as to the prophe-
sled end Of the world into a jest by
depicting scenes of the last days. The
idea Of the publishers of the postals as
to humor are about as peculiar as those
of the rustics as to nearness of dooms-
daY.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-12-20

The death of college student from
injuries inflicted in a game Of foot
ball raises a question of growing i'm
portance. Accidents will happen in the
best regulated sports and occasional
injuries constitute no argument against
athletics. But SO many accidents
have occurred in football that it may
well be questioned whether the game,
as now played, is not too dangerous.
Several young men have suffered seri-
GUS injuries which can be accounted for
only by supposing that modern foot
ball is too rough for legitimate ath-
-letics.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-12-20

Wireless telegraphy and horseless car
riages, it is announced, will soon be
cast in the shade by the practical up
plication of inkless printing. When
the inventors succeed in devising a
plan of foodless eating the world will
indeed seem like millennium days to
the man who cannot pay the price the
restaurants demand.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-12-20
First Celebration of Christmas.

Christmas was first celebrated in the
year 9S, but it was forty years later be-
fore it was officially adopted as Chris
tian festival; nor was it until about the
Fifth century that the day of its celebra-
ton because permanently fixed on the
25th of December. Up to that time 1t
had been irregularly observed at various
times of the ycar-in December, in April
and in May, but most frequently in Jan
uary.-Ladies' Home Journal.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-12-20

What was the hardest job I ever
tackled. did you ask? 2" said the sign
painter to New Orleans Times. Dem.
ocrat reporter. ut was an 'ad' for
smoking tobacco painted on the side
Of the Grand Canyon on the line of the
Denver and Rio Grande Railroad. 1
was working for Buffalo concern that
had a contract to put up 5000 land
scape signs for tobacco company, and
a gang of us travelled over the country
looking for good effective locations.
This place in the canyon was as tough
a proposition as any sign writer ever
went against. The side there went
straight up about 200 feet, and at the
top there WINS big overhanging ledge.
1t was easy enough to let down a lad
der from above, but on account of the
ledge 1t hung at least forty feet out
from the face of the rock.
After studying 1t over for while
I spliced couple of fishing poles to-
gether and fastened a soft sponge to the
end. That was my brush, and by lying
fiat on the ladder managed to do a
very decent piece of work; at least, you
could read 1t like a book from below,
and that was the thing we wanted.
When the railroad people found out
what l had done they were as mad as
blazes, especially the chief engineer,
who was an aesthetic sort of gent
from Boston. and he tried for nearly a
month to get 1t off, letting down China.
men with scrubbing brushes on poles,
but they only made 1t all the brighter.
At last he got some brown paint
about the color Of the rocks. and smear
ed 1t out, but it took at least dozen
coats and cost heap of money. If
they had only let that sign stand 1t
would have been a great addition to
tho m rop
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-12-20
Mer.Iy a Que .tion of speI.tns

Nlerf ~ Quest1on OF Spelling.
He was the engineer of an ocean liner
and prided himself ON his knowledge Of
electricity. On one of his brief stays Mt
home he accompanied his wife to a
party. The subject of electricity com.
ing up. he Indignantly combated the
idea that 1t was possible for two people
to produce an electrical current through
the body of n third by simple physical
contact. Ills wife md friend said
they would prove 1T. and. leading him
to window, told him to pull up his
sleeves and place both hands fat on the
glass. They then, on either side, took
firm grip on his wrists. At the end
of few moments his wife said
Don't you feel pain, Willy?"
mop he replied. and returned like
negative to second and third in
quiry.
At this third response most of the
company began to laugh. and 1t sud.
denly flashed into his mind that the
pronunciation of pain and pane was the
same.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-12-20
Thoughts o. Chri.tmas.

We want good things fer Christmns-thes
all mt we kin get
Drums, an dolls, an trumpets, an toy
china set;
An jumpin'-jacks, an packs an packs of
arecrackers, too,
An elephants. an lions that never growl
at you.
We want good things fer Christmas-thes
all the house kin hold!
An we hopes 1t will be snowin', an the
weather freezin' cold.
(Snows mighty fine at Christmas time
an SO is everything:
So we're waitin'-thes a-waitin' fer the
Christmas bells to ringD
Atlanta Constitution,
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-12-20
OF SANTA CLAUS.
The Good Which the Holiday Myth
Does hi1dren.

~ is not well to alto
gether overthrow the
Santa Claus myth,
for an immense NOR
al influence dwells in
it. The belief, which
is very genera
among children, that
his favor depends up
on their good beha-
vior, has an unequal
ed soothing power
over rebellious dispo-
sitions. If they be.
liaya that tho u,;so
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-12-20

Jimmie" asked his mother, why are
you SO persistent about going to your
Uncle Johns for Christmasy'
Cause he hain't got none of them
smoke consumers on his chimhleys. Santa
Claus kin git inter his house,
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-12-20

Dr. Calling, the inventor of the IA
nous but somewhat out of date Cat
ling gun. has determined to exercise Ills
inventive powers In the art of peace.
While he does not propose to fulfill the
ancient prophecy that swords shall be
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-12-20

Husband (meekly) This is the fourth
time this week we've had timed beef
and cabbage, Maria, and I'm a little
tired of 1t.
His Wife-Im sure, Thomas, you're
very unreasonable. You know I've had
to correct the proof sheets of my new