davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Philipsburg mail., 1899-02-17
1t Preparing the Way for An Abnormaly TghtFng Spring
Skirt-Ye Every Piece Is Dainty and Costs a-Penty.

the heavy boots that are now so much
worn.
Smart pctticoats are made of eX-
pensive brocades, satins and silks.
They fit well over the hips and back
but have not an inch of unnecessary
fullncss The skirt itself is quite
long; the flounce, which is not at
taciied, as in the cheap skirts, but is
sewed on, is quite full and is cut in
points trimmed with lace. Over the
lace is another flounce, trimmed with
lace insertion and lace edging. On
the foot of the skirt are several little
ruffles of silk, and the whole effect is
light and airy and full. These skirts
can be made by clever maids in the
house out OF last years ball gowns,
but they must fit we'll over the hips
and back. The secret is to have them
fit close and yet with enough fullness
to have some style about them.
The absolutely tight-ftting prin-
cesse gowns do not fit we'll over q pet
ticoat that has the least particle OF
fullness, and some women who like to
be extreme say that to wear them they
must give up petticoats altogether, and
wear only tights over a short petit
coat and tight-fitting black satin gait
ers Or leggings that reach to the knee.
This is very healthful fashion for
wet days, but is scarcely what might
be called elegant in the best sense OF
the term, for there is something too
absolutely commonsense about 1t to
be attractive. The tights are warm,
and, in one respect, are good thing.
for they are put on only for street
wear and give sufficient warmth about
clothing does not. On this account
doctors favor them very highly in
preference to the long merino under
wear that is worn both in the house
and street, and as the houses are kept
so hot, the contrast between the heat
ed air of the house and the sudden
cold outdoors is not particularly
healthful. The silk petticoats, how
ever, are lined with albatross cloth
this year, which is quite warm, is very
light, and makes them a sufficient pro-
lection against the cold.
Chemises are coming into fashion
again. They are made of the very
finest lawn or batiste, are fitted in at
the side seams, have rufIle around
the hem and another over the shoul-
ders of the same material, trimmed
The Philipsburg mail., 1899-02-17

The present style of dress is some
what exaggerated, and is certain to be
much more SO by the spring of the
present year. There is no surer indi-
cation of this fact than in the lingerie
that is now being imported. Every
thing is made with as little fullness
as possible, not to interfere with
skirts that are exaggeratedly tight-ft-
ting.
The first article of lingerie that at
tracts attention at present is the pet
ticoat, which is really most expen-
sive article Of dress. Some time ago
fashion decreed that the white CAM
although there are many women OF
fastidious taste who still prefer it,
contending that it is better to have
something that can be laundered than
a garment that has TO be cleaned or
Is dark enough not to show soil at
once, yet the white petticoat is no
longer the smartest thing that can be
worn.
Silk petticoats that vary in price
from the bargains at $4.59 to the very
smart and elaborate articles certainly
not bargains) for $95 and 500, are now
shown. Petticoats that are sold for
bargains are sometimes such, but more
often are delusions and snares. They
are made of taffeta silks-the odd
pieces that have been left over, and
like all taffeta silks are more Or less
Of lottery; but they look very ef-
fective for time, are fairly well cut,
have flare enough around the foot to
hold the skirt Of the gown little, and
have no fullness to interfere with the
gown at the back and sides, and that
is great point to be considered. They
are all made on the same lines, with a
tight fitting, gored yoke that extends
quite far down, and the attached
flounce, on which are sewed two or
three ruffles, as the case may be.
Finally. the skirt is finished with bit
of feather bone, put around the hem
to hold out the founce. 1t is sur
prising how little material is used for
one Of these skirts. The bias flounce
put on the gored top does not take
nearly so much as when the long
cores and the founce sewed on were
in use.
The more expensive petticoats, those
ranging from So to $14 and SIS, are
made on much the same lines, but
there is more material in them; they
are better cut, and the silk is of a
The Philipsburg mail., 1899-02-17
Electricity for Insect Bites.

Electricity, the inscrutable agent
which has done SO much toward curing
ills and ailments, bobs up now as a
practical remedy for insect bites and
stings. 1t is used in the shape of gal
vanic current The positive pole Of q
battery is attached to an unaffected
part of the body. say the neck or chest,
by means of wide electrode. The mega
tive pole is attached to the injured spot
by button-shaped electrode. A strong
current Is sent through the wound for
two or three minutes. The sensation in
the point of contact while the current
is passing through Is one Of intense
burning. This, however, subsidies at
once. If the current is applied imme-
diately after the sting Inflammation is
prevented absolutely. In cases where
delay has been occasioned the current
allays the inflammation and stops the
distressing inclination to scratch the
wound. The remarkab Bile feature OF the
innovation is that the current will not
work cure If the poles are reversed
A physician in Wiesbaden is the dis
coverer of this faculty of electricity.
The Philipsburg mail., 1899-02-17

make the case one OF lively public
interest.
Briefly stated, here is the story of
the murder, as far as is known at
this time. On the morning of May 13,
shortly after 5 o'clock, two reports of
gun shots coming in rapid succession
were heard issuing from the Collins
residence. Almost Immediately after
ward John Collins, thoroughly dressed,
was seen dashing out Of the front
door. He ran across the street to the
to use the telephone. He notified the
police that his father had been shot
and was in a dying condition. He also
summoned DR.. Teft.
| The news that a foul murder had
been committed spread rapidly and a
large crowd congregated. It was found
that j. S. Collins, one Of the most
prominent men in Topeka, had been
shot twice with shotgun. He died
within 80 minutes without making a
statement, so far as is known, except
to his wife, who says she heard him ex-
claim: Helen, l am shot; get the
camphor; o, Helen, my back"
The police arrived few minutes aft
er the murder had been committed.
Although it was daylight at the time,
and the shots aroused the neighbor-
hood, no one saw the murderer escap-
Ing from the house. An examination
Of the place by the police disclosed
the fact that all the outside doors to
the house were locked, as were also the
windows. with the exception of one
window in the second story. If the
murderer escaped from the house he
must have escaped through this win
dow. It would have been a big Jump.
The ground beneath was soft from tn
rain Of the night before. A thorough
examination failed to find footprints,
The theory that a burglar had COM
mitted the crime was abandoned, as it
was shown conclusively that he did
not escape from the house. It was
also discovered that nothing had been
stolen. The theory Of suicide was also
abandoned, as the gun which did the
fatal work was found out in the hall.
There were no bloodstains on the car
pet. The condition OF the bed showed
that the murdered man had not arisen
after being shot. Another thing which
disproved the suicide theory was the
fact that the shots had scattered
showing that they had been fired at a
distance OF at least ten feet. Suspi-
sion Immediately pointed to John Col
Inns as the murderer. His actions
strengthened that story. He was per-
fectly cool and collected, manifestine
The Philipsburg mail., 1899-02-17

through which the ribbons are put
All the pretty lingerie is trimmed with
the wash ribbons that are supposed
to be uniniured when laundered. This,
however, is not always to be relied
upon, and the daintiest lingerie must
needs have the ribbons taken off and
sewed on again when the articles are
sent to the laundry.
There is rumOr to the effect that
we are to 60 back to wearing white
stockings. AS yet the rumor has not
been verified, but there are great
many more colOred stockings worn
than there were a year ago. The
bright plaids and the plain bright COL
Ors are now even more fashionable
than the all-black and are made not
only in silk and Lisle thread, but in
cotton as well. 1t is quite fad now
to have the stockings match the tie
that is worn. This is one of the mas
culine fashions, and therefore the
bright plaids are greatly in favdr.
The idea started with the golf cos
tune, and has been carried TO the
gowns. Certainly there are a great
many different colors and designs ia
choose from. ANNE HELME.
The Philipsburg mail., 1899-02-17

so situated that he would be Obliged
to pass her door in order to reach
the stairway. 1t has been discovered
since, however, that John did not
sleep in his own room that night, hut
slept in the spare room" In order
to reach this room from the stairway
he would not have had to pass Grace's
room.- That night was the first time
In his life that John ever slept in that
the reason for sleeping in it upon that
particular night.
Detectives and officers Immediately
began working on the case, but it was
nearly month after the murder be-
fore any arrests were made, when
John Collins was arrested and placed
in the county Jail on the charge OF
having murdered his father and Jesse
Harper and Johnson Jordan, two col
ored men, were arrested as his ac-
completes.
A striking counterpart of the story
of DR.. Jekyll and Mr.. Hyde can be
found in study of the character OF
John Collins. His actions before and
since his arrest, together with the evil
dence brought out by the state at the
preliminary hearing, cannot but I'M
press one that the young man has been
leading a double life during the past
few years.
The two identities arc separate and
distinct. They are as entirely foreign
to each other as if one had been col
ored and the other a white man. One
John Collins is a refined. educated and
religious young man. The other John
| Collins appears to be moral degen-
crate. The one finds pleasure in re-
fined society, the other associates with
a dangerous criminal element and con-
sorts with disreputable negroes.
There are sworn statements in abun-
dance in the possession of the detec'
tives tending to show that the state
ments are not exaggerated. The affi-
davits are made, not only by colored
persons, but by reputable white per-
sons Of both Lawrence and Topeka.
The life John Collins led in Topeka
was wholly foreign 10 the life he led
in Lawrence. In Topeka he was quiet
and studious, caring nothing for So
ciety, or at least never participating in
it. He attended church regularly, and
took leading part in the Sunday
school. While occasionally in unguard-
ed moments he would let the mask
fall and display to his associates traits
of character indicating moral degener-
acy, yet as rule he played the part,
If it was such, with cunning ingenuity.
At Lawrence young Collins life was
entirely different. His habits were
completely changed. He abandoned his
religious tendencies. He became an
ultra society man, and plunged madly
into the social whirl. lie participated
in and gave wine suppers. He dissi-
pated to excess, and boasted OF the fact
that he "set the pace for the boys" in
their carousals at Lawrence.
Detective Harbaugh says he has uis-
covered that John Collins frequently
consorted with disreputable coloret
people at Lawrence. 1t was during one
of his carousals with a colored woman
there, Harbaugh says, that John go
The Philipsburg mail., 1899-02-17
;RACE, JOHN AND MRS. COLLINS
(Scene in Court)

mixed up with Jesse Harper. the col
ored man who now swears John tried
to get him TO kill his father.
It is the frequency and the rapidity
in which he made the changes in his
dual life, however, that bears the
most striking similarity to the story
of "Dr. Jekyll and Mr.. Hyde" With
in the same day, even within a few
hours, young Collins frequently oc-
cupied his two Identities. He often
made the trip between Lawrence and
Topeka. When he stepped on the train
at Lawrence he would drop his role
Of a social lion, and upon his arrival
in Topeka he would become the pious,
dignified man he was known to his
friends here. He made the same re-
verse changes when he would return
to Lawrence. The change in his
identity was not less sudden when he
would leave his sweetheart with vows
of love on his lips and within an
hour be consorting with the lowest
colored and criminal element in Law
renee.
Only twice, the detectives think, they
caught John off his guard and Upon
roth occasions they think ne made
significant and damaging statements.
Detective Harbaugh, while in the
Collins home as Johns confidential
friend, took John into the fatal bed
chamber and asked him to explain his
theory of the murder. John went into
it in detail, acting out the part of the
murderer. He described how Mr.. Col
Inns acted, what he said and what the
murderer did. 1t was very realistic.
Harbaugh suddenly ttirned to John and
exclaimed with emphatic directness:
How do you know that johnny"
The question and the directness of
the questioner confused John. He
could make no satisfactory reply.
At another time Mr.. Harbaugh was
questioning Mrs. Collins about the
scenes and incidents Of the murder,
Mrs. Collins began saying that she was
aroused by the shots, arose on her ell
bow and looked toward the door where
the murderer was standing, when John
interrupted her.
why, mamma" he exclaimed, "you
know you didn't look toward the door.
You were looking toward the ceiling
all the time" r. NJ. RUGGLES,
The Philipsburg mail., 1899-02-17
Homemade Hands.

Homemade Hands.
Many western railroad men know
"the one-fingered fireman." who, even
after losing his left hand and all OF his
right hand but the thumb, refused to
consider himself crippled. The Column
bus Dispatch tells how he supplied the
lack of fingers and thumbs. Fastened
to his wrist by two spring bands is a
piece of steel shaped like knife-blade
This passes along under the thumb
being exactly of the same length. Be-
tween the instrument and his thumb
he can grasp anything he chooses to
pick up. He has way of attaching
to this contrivance a knife, while he
inserts into the pocket of his left arm
fork, and so is able to cut his food
without assistance. At first one Of his
chief difficulties lay in buttoning his
clothes, but he soon overcame this by
designing two hooks by which he can
The Philipsburg mail., 1899-02-17
UNDERWEAR GROWS NANTIER IN OUTLINE EVERY DAY.

the cheap styles, with some regard to
the figure. They are full over the
The French styles are most fashion
able, and even the cheaper high
necked ones are made with some idea
of being becoming. The high-necked
ones are cut. as rule, square at the
neck and have little plating Of
much finer lawn than the material OF
the waist, with an insertion and lit
tie narrow ruffie of lace and a beading
through which ribbon is run. The
lownecked ones are made of cambria
or lawn, are cut round in shape, are
often trimmed with hand embroidery
or with fine lace, and all have beading
The Philipsburg mail., 1899-02-17
COLLINS MURDER CASE
STORY OF THE CRIME THAT
HAS STARTLED TOPEKA.
VIE BE Recited Before a Jury-The
Double Life of Young Collins Leaves
Slight Doubt of His GuiIt-Murdercr
Uuseex by Amy of the Neighbors

What promises to be one of the most
interesting murder trials in the his
tory of Kansas jurisprudence began in
the Shawnee county district court at
Topeka the other morning. 1t is the
case against John Henry Collins, VINO
is charged with the murder of hiI
father, ]. S. Collins, on the morning
Of May 13.
The high standing Of the Collins
family, tho -blooded manner in
which the crime was committed, the
social connections of the accused, the
romance, which, it is alleged, furnish
ed the motive for the crime. and many
other striking features all tend to
The Philipsburg mail., 1899-02-17

Tagged and Forwarded.
'In charge of the conductor" chill
dren often travel on the cars, but on
recent trip the Cunard steamship Cam
pania carried ten boys and girls who
were taking long journeys alone. A
girl of fourteen was going to her aunt
in Chicago; another, aged eleven, to
her stepfather In North Dakota. A boy
of ten and girl of nine were consign-
ed to two small towns in Massachu-
sets. A nine-year-old boy was going
to his aunt in Chicago; an eleven-year-
old girl to her sister in Boston, and
four children, ranging in age from five
to eleven. were seeking their father in
Calumet, Mich. It was the largest
party of unattended children that ever
landed at New York. All were "tag
ged" with directions, asking those with
whom they came in contact to see that
they were sent on their way. Count
The Philipsburg mail., 1899-02-17

no grief over the death OF his father.
He talked and moved about with care
less abandon. Another significant
circumstance is that, when he was
called by his stepmother, he came
downstairs but did not enter the fatal
bedchamber. Without talking to any
one he went across the street to the
telephone and told all about the mur-
der.
One Of the strongest things in Col
Inns favor is the testimony of his sis
ter, Grace, who alleges that imme-
diately after the shots she heard bin
Jump out of bed in his bedroom and
begin moving about. Their rooms are
The Philipsburg mail., 1899-02-17
POs8ibIv the ReaGop

Il wonder why that ridiculous Miss
Skinner wears such awfully low-neck-
ed dresses" Il have pondered on the
subject myself, and ! can't tell why,
unless she wishes to show her age."-
Indianapolis Journal.
The Philipsburg mail., 1899-02-17
New RailrOa Legislation.

All the railroad companies Of much
Importance in the state of Vermont are
now compelled to sell 1000 mile books
at the rate of cents mile, and these
tickets are to be good for the bearer
and not merely for the purchaser.
The Philipsburg mail., 1899-02-17

ing the ocean voyage and the long land
journeys, several of these little travel
ers covered more than five thousand
miles-alone, except for the thoughtful
and kindly persons who may have no
ticed and helped them.
The Philipsburg mail., 1899-02-17
A Deadly WeapOn.

Reporter-How did the prisoner pro-
cure the means of committing suicide?
Warder-A bride gave him one of her
first mince pies and he cut his throat
with the crust.--New York World.
The Philipsburg mail., 1899-02-17
Ivory at Antwerp.

Consul General Lincoln, at Antwerp,
reports that at the third quarterly sale
of the year held on Aug. at Antwerp
1920 pounds os different kinds OF
ivory were Offered among which were
ffty-five pounds Of hippopotamus
tusks. The demand was active, the
prices having generally risen about 10
per cant.
The Philipsburg mail., 1899-02-17

dainty and pretty one, and does not
take up any room under the corset.
flannel petticoats are very pretty.
They are quite short, should be made
with an extra breadth let in at the
back and a ruffle sewed across the
back breadths. The prettiest have two
gathered ruffles, the ruf1les cut in
jagged points, embroidered in colored
The Philipsburg mail., 1899-02-17

silks and underneath the edge of each
rufile second ruffle of lace. The light
pinks, blues and lavenders are very
effective, but the white are the best,
for they do not fade in washing.
There are a great many remarkable
bargains to be seen in the machine
embroidered flanncls, the work on
which so closely resembles handwork
that it is almost impossible to detect
the difference. OF course these fan
nels are much less expensive than
those embroidered by hand. En-
The Philipsburg mail., 1899-02-17

| do 1t as quickly as man with all his
hhgers. lie has also way of attach
ing pens or pencils to his wrist. and
can write exceedingly we'll He earns
a good living as a travelling salesman.
IS always cheerful and has a host O.;
friends.
The Philipsburg mail., 1899-02-17
A Poetica! Suit.

"Charlie's girl seems to be some
what kittenish.' Well, you know. he
always was a great fellow for court.
ing the news. Puck.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-11
NO! MOI!

No matter how costly or elegant the house,
No matter how grand the furnishmentS,
No matter how prctentious the surroundings,
People of refinement, and good judgment will
not live in New York City.
For they IN position to choose where they will
live. They not compelled TO, and will not dwell
in crowded districts in block houses or on low, fog
producing ground, where they will have the blues half
the time and be under the doctors the other half
They seek elevated situations, where they catch
gmpses of blue skies have beautiful scenery. pure air
and plenty of elbow ROOM
All these conditions found at VAN CORTLANDT
TERRACE, the ideal residential section
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-11
NEW Works.
PRIDE.

Every city In the country has residential d;. - t,t
It points with PRIDE Cincinnati has it's Walnut H;s P;
'''sh q" oqufrrel HILL Washington D. C., Circles Phaa
'elph" its Germantown Boston its Back Bay Chicago its
North Side, and Cleveland its Euelid Avenue
ihere something in the atmosphere and SURROUNDINGS Of
these places which attracts people of means They ate almost
always situated IN the Hill Park districts at eoov,,,
distance from the business centre of the city, being accessible
from all parts of it. Of course improvements n thee d.
arc invariably Of high class.
~ iork' taxing its eue from other cities, beginning to
develop high class residential district which will surpass in
beauty OF scenery, picturesque surroundings and hsh class
improvements, anything in the cities above named
his place, to which New York to-day points with prd h
VAN CORTLANDT TERRACE.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-11
REMEMBER

the first get the choicest plots and make tne
NOS, money There win bs advance In values oetore
,be year IL out you looking for an investment tnat
Vii douhe value. want desirapie ioca-
lion FOR home will pay to see Van Cortlanut Ter
race Villa Plots Trains leave iooth o"ee' '
half hour.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-11

NOT IN HARLEM,
For while find there many rows Of handsome block
houses and number Of the better class Of people-we
also find the majority Of these houses nothing after
all but four-wa PRISONS dark POORLY ventilated, and
erected low, fog producing ground amidst janges
Of gongs, teams, trolley cars, whistles, and hundred
other annoyances, together with whS Of all the odos
from sewer gas TO burnt garbage.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-11

HOW TO GET TO VAN CORTLANDT
TERRACE
Take Sixth or Ninth Avenue Elevated trains to l0Jh
Street then New York Putnam Railroad Cafyl sta
tion jump your wheel and North on broadway
New York City Line
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-11
VAN CORTLANDT
TERRACE

Is noted for the excellence of its society Will have
before the year is out the best a-nigh and the most
convenient alI-day railroad service out of New York
City; and inside Of five years will be recognized and
called tie Queen Suburb Of the Hudson-Would have
teen years ago had not been for the minded
policy and the exorbant fare, Of monopozng railroad
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-11

For Plan, Booklet. Price List. &C., see or
address William Cunningham Stewart, office
on ground. or David Stewart, 2O3 Broadway,
New York City.