davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-08-27
Deaths per 1o0O-all ages combined
Year. Whites CoIored

Coiored mortality 1909 per cent in excess
of white for the sixteen years, or. say. 2O9
per cent of the mortality among whites"
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-08-27

That Indian Fight.
). o. Young. Adjutant General.
noticed letter from w. w. oillsy
The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1899-12-22
IMMENSE SPIDERS.

Insects in Cey1on that Are Beyond All
Comparison.
Far up in the mountains of Ceylon
there is spider that spins a web like
bright yellowish silk, the center net
which is five feet In diameter, while
the supporting lines or guys, as they
are called, measure sometimes ten or
twelve feet, says the Cleveland Leader
and, riding quickly nthe early morning
you may dash right into the stout
threads, twining round your face like
lace veil, while, as the creature who
has woven 1t takes up his position in
the middle, he generally catches you
right In the nose and. though he seldom
bites or stlngs, the contact of his large
body and long legs is anything but
pleasant. If you forgot yourself and
try to catch him, bite he will, and,
though not venomous, his jaws are as
powerful as a birds beak, and you are
not likely to forget the encounter.
The bodies of these spiders are very
handsomely decorated, being bright
gold or scarlet underneath, while the
upper part is covered with the most
delicate s'ate-colored fur. SO strong are
the webs that birds the size of larks are
frequently caught therein, and even the
small but powerful scaly lizard falls
victim. The writer has often sat and
watched the yellow monster-measur-
Ing, when waiting for his prey, with
his legs stretched out, fully six inches
-striding across the middle of the net
and noting the rapid manner in which
he winds his stout threads around the
unfortunate captive.
The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1899-12-22
The GOOD NEW TIMES.
TNHoUGH the "old folks" talk Of Il
good old times,

THoUGH the "old folks" talk of the
good old times,
When land was plenty and cares
were so few,
Yet the young folks" listen with doubtful
Convinced they we're not as good as the
new.
Those were gay sleigh rides, Erandpapa'
While lassIe ne'er danced 1.-THE as dear
'grandmar;"
But some things could be said bout a mod
ern beau,
And coy jaunt in palace car.
Those were wonderful loaves dear grand
And she broldered your socks with won
drOus darn;
Yet she wondered sometimes. I'm sure, II II
paid,
Would have left had she dared for a prom
And enjoyed to have spun a little street
yarn.
No doubt her papa, great-granpa, you know,
wedding Dress
times"
when bonnets we're cheaper and dresses
took less.
While his great-grandpa, I've heard II said.
Wouldn't spare the wool fe. his daughter
TO weave;
But sighed for the fashions OF Paradise,
And longed for the 1g leaves Of Mother
Eve.
Soon forgotten is pain, when pleasures are
DER,
"Dlstance enchants u.s." the poet was
right;
Who wanders his memory back to deplore,
The collar too high or the boots all too
tightf
The maiden who fingers o'er past hours Of
bliss,
Forgets as she day-dreams of heroes and
rings,
How her hair wouldn't crimp and her gloves
wouldn't At;
For deeply depraved are inanimate
things"
There. are bountlful times in these good new
days;
There are lives as beautiful, pure and true,
As any who moved TO the simpler ways;
And 1t may be trlne better, too
Since God with infinite, loving design,
Is raising the nations nearer to Him;
The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1899-12-22
Shakespeare and Sanitation.

An amusing paper entitled "Shak-
speare and Sanitation" was read at the
recent provincial meeting of the Incor-
porated Society of Medical Officers Of
Health at Stratford-on-Avon. Among
other things the author related the
following: ut is interesting to find that
the name Of John Shakespeare, the faith
er of the poet, first appears In the rec
ords of the municipality as owing
fine Of twopence for having made
dirt heapS with his neighbors Adrien
Quincy and Henry Reynolds, In Henly
street; and on another occasion he
stood amerced' In fourpence for fall
ing to keep his gutter clean"
The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1899-12-22
watch to Moore's. That was the dsy he

watch to Moore's. That was the day he
ran up against Lila, when he had the
whole package In his hand. and was
afraid she would ask him. and ran. Yes
terday, just as he was taking me TO hold
consultation on that wonderful brace
let, we saw Lila coming along. said
to him; Randolph, II she meets us she'll
want to walk along with us, and thea
the whole plot is ruined Let's turn down
here before she sees u.s. But 1t seems
she saw us after ALL"
On Christmas morning, In spite Of
many earnest assurances from her moth
er that that morning would bring a clear
ing-up IL all her trouble, Lila was as ter.
ribly cross and out Of tune with the
chimes as she had been for four days
past. Moreover, she awoke with head
ache.
She found a stocking tied to the head
Of her bed, as she had expected, and
took the stocking down and opened Il
mechanically. Then she found the brace
let with a scrap of paper In which, In her
mothers writing, were the words, "Press
the spring and look inside, behind the
watch" And when she looked lovely,
loving face looked back at her-a face
that was very like Randolph Watts own.
And at the bottom of the stocking
away at the very toe-was another pa
per which said The bracelet ought to
tell you why ran away. r. W."
Then she laid her head and bracelet
on her pillow and wet both bracelet and
pillow with tears until her headache was
all gone.
The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1899-12-22
JEFFERsoN's DEBUT.
How He First Played Rip Van Wrinkle
His Audience.

How He First Played Rip Van Wrinkle
His Audience.
"My approaching appearance was the
important dramatic event Of my life.
/ had been five years from America and
was on my way home, and felt sat
isfled that If this new version of Rip
Van Winkle succeeded In London my
way was quite clear when l returned
to the United States.
ION Sunday evening, being alone in
my lodgings, / got out for my own
admiration my new wig and beard, the
pride of my heart and which was to
use In the last act. / could not resist
trying them on for the twentieth time
So | got in front Of the glass and ad-
justed them to my perfect satisfaction.
soon became enthused, and began act
ing and posing in front of the mirror.
In about twenty minutes there came a
knock at the door.
"'Who's thereY said I.
It's me, If you please said the
gentle but ag.tated voice of the
chambermaid. May come inP
Certainly not, | replied, for had
no desire to be seen in my present
makeup.
" is there anything wrong in the
room, sirY said she.
Nothing at all. Go away, replied.
"'Well, sir. she continued, there's a
policeman at the door. and he says as
'ow there's a crazy old man In your
room, a-flingin' of his arms about and
a-gOln' on lawful, and there's q crowd
The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1899-12-22

| Don't say thatr
II will say that. But anyhow, her
mother will see me. | am going now to
call on Mrs. Sprague. And now, look
here, about this bracelet"
Shall we go on with thatw said
Watts, with faint smile.
"Of course we shall, stupid. Higgins
says he has tried to set the watch with
the face In, as you wanted it, and he
can't make any better job of it than
Moore could Now | think I'd better go
and take it back to Moore's and tell them
to set 1t with the face out. don't your"
Every well" said Watts, with almost
childish resignation.
'And then the miniature can 20 Inside
with the original crystal over it, eh?"
Very WELL"
"And then I'm going straight to Mrs.
Sprague's."
"Are your
First to Higgins Mrs. Sucher went,
where she took possession of a remark
ably pretty and uncommon gold bracelet,
tiny old-fashioned watch and the min
lature. Then to Moore's, where she left
the bracelet, the watch and the minia-
ture. Then to Mrs. Sprague's.
AS Mrs. Sucher entered Mrs. Sprague's
private and individual sitting room she
heard whlsk and rustic of skirts and a
door closed behind rapidly retreatlng
figure.
'Lilla not we'll" said Mrs. Sucher,
with an incredulous laugh. "Too bad.
These Christmas preparations are unde-
The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1899-12-22

delight arises from the anticipation of
the new and better experiences Of the
year to come. What interest any rational
person could have in having his fortune
told is a mystery. The zest and charm of
life consist largely in the fact that each
day is like new page In the story. IF
you wish to enjoy your book you do not.
whom 1t is half read, turn to the closing
chapter to discover how it turns out. You
do not thank anyone for telling you the
pot. 1t is so with life. There Is In
finite satisfaction In each days contribu-
ton to the record. You do not want to
anticipate it. 1t would be curse If any
one could tell you just what the year
would bring 1t is just as reasonable to
suppose that the year will be happy as
sad. Who can tell2 Who can control
that? Are we not in the hands of God7
That is the reason for happy New
Years day.
The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1899-12-22
Lilla's Xmas Presents.

lila sPRAGUE seemed to b

~ lila SPRAGUE seemed to blow
in at the door with a gust Of wind
| ~ and drift Of snow. Then, having
kicked a pair of snow encrusted over
shoes into corner Of the hall, Miss
Lila ran upstairs in hurry.
"See here, mother" said Lila, "it's all
over now"
"What, dear? Mrs. Sprague asked,
looking up absently from letter she was
writing.
TITS all over-I say, It's all over be-
tween Randolph-oh, what a too-foo-
fool I've BEEN" And she flung herself,
sobbing, on a big horsehaIr sofa.
But why, LillaY
Don't ask me like that, mother. Don Il
I've told you before. And this--this Is
the sec-sec-second time. OhP More
sobs.
81 don't understand you, daughter"
said her mother, leaving her batch Of
Christmas correspondence and going to
carry comfort to the tragic figure on the
horsehair sofa.
Hes run away again" Lila roared.
'Done what, dear?"
ut SAINT as uc ulu DGlOIGs
"What did he do beforeT
"Mother, | told you, day before yes
terday--ran away from me. He thought
didn't see him."
"Mr. Watts ran away from your
eyes, mother, and I'll never speak to
him again. Day before yesterday he at
least had the polteness to bow. This
time he just turned and went down
side street. He was with that trump Of
a cousin. just hate her, and him, and
the whole lot"
Don't be foolish, child. Mr.. Watts
will be here to explain it all. You'll see"
In answer to this Lila only rose from
the sofa, grimly took off her wraps and
hat, muttering; "Yes, I'll see," and dis
appeared through door that led to her
own room
Mrs. Sprague did not follow her daugh-
ter with any further attempts at conso-
lation. neither did she guess what LILA
was going to do, and that was to write a
note:
Dear Sir-In case you may wish to make any
explanation OF your very strange conduct on
two occasions this week, | wish you would
spare yourself the trouble of doing any such
thing, either personally or in writing. Your
ring Shall be returned by mail. registered.
LILA SPRAGUE."
That little projectile which Lila fired
at her fance very nearly ended the life
Of Randolph Watts; at least, so Watts
said. He could not think, or he might
have seen an easy way out of the horri-
bic maze into which he had got himself.
His transgression stared him in the face.
He had run away from Lilla-twice-an
had even congratulated himself on his
escape from her and chuckled over II Sc
cretly. How was he to convince her that
his evasion was not an evidence OF dis
loyalty to her?
1t was only three days before Christ
mas and Watts had promised himself
The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1899-12-22
RICHEST IN AMERICA.
THE CLAIM MADE FOR A MExi-
CAN GYPSY.
II Is Said that the Number and Value
of His Possessions Is Far Beyond the
Wealth of fvanderbilts, Astors, ROcke-
fel1ers or Goulds.

If you believe one of the Romanys Of
Milwaukee then the richest man II
North America is not one Of the Wander
bllts, Astors or Rockefellers, but Q
simon pure gypsy, whose name is sim
pie John Smith. He lives In Mexico. Il
so years old and the owner of countless
acres, Of myriads of cattle and sheep, OF
gold, silver and onyx mines, of railway
and bank stock and Of plantations with
out number In the heart of Mexico'S
richest states.
Smiths wealth has never been figured
up. He cannot tell himself. His sole
ambition is to become the richest mar
in the world. And 1t Is this hope that
keeps him vigorous and drives dull care
away.
John Smith has no settled home. He
has a hundred homes on his different
estates, and he moves from one tc
another. In each he sees what is going
on, and gives his orders. Then he
moves on again. The Milwaukee gypsy
solid business man, who comes home
now with the story Of John Smiths
amazing wealth, saw him at Orizaba,
They became great friends.
God alone knows how rich / am,
said Smith, simply, but think am
the richest man on the continent"
Smith was plainly dressed In a suit OF
English tweed, with hobnail shoes, But
his home was a revelation. Outside II
was vefltable fortress, with stout
wallsof masonry, loopholed for defense,
II necessary. A two-story wall inclosed
1t in a space as big as two blocks, and
great moat surrounded that. There
were the regulation drawbridges and
portcullises.
Two massive inner doors barred the
last entrance. Once open 1t was a
wonderful place, with a courtyard in
the center. where played perfumed
fountains and where beautiful garden
grew. The entire inclosure was paved
with brilliantly polished onyx-the
ransom of king In cost-taken from
one of his mines. Even the stables
where Smiths herd of pet Jerseys were
housed had the same costly flooring of
onyx.
Servants lounged about, but one of
the old mans eccentrlcities was to have
his own children walt upon him at
table. 1t was an incongruous picture
to see him Gathering around on the
splendid flooring In his coarse suit and
hobnails, while soft light fell on the
strange scene shed by great candelabra
of solid gold from his mines.
Smith is an English gypsy. He went
to Mexico before there were any rail-
ways there, and was the first man to
haul machinery from the coast to the
gold mines which now yield him an In
calculable income, He got in on the
ground floor on everything that has
made Mexico so rich to-day.
But his life has been a series of ad-
ventures. Twice he has been shot down
by Mexican thieves who attacked his
gold trains. He was left for dead each
time. All the gypsles in Mexico are
wonderfully proud of him and call him
"Our John" Milwaukee Cor. st. Louis
Post Dispatch.
The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1899-12-22
Of people across the street a-blockiu' up

OF people across the street a-blockiu' up
the way
II turned toward the window, and to
my horror found that had forgotten
to put down the curtain, and, as II
seemedto be, the entire population OF
London was taking In my first night.
l had been unconsciously acting, with
the lights full up. to an astonlshed au-
dience who had not paid for their ad'
mission. AS tore Off my wig and
beard a shout went up. Quickly pulling
down the curtain threw myself on
chair, overcome with modification at
the occurrence.
SIN few minutes the comlcal side of
the picture presented Itself, and | must
have laughed for an hour. l had been
suffering from an attack of nervous
dyspepsia consequent upon the excite
ment of the past week, and | firmly be-
lIeve that this continuous fit Of laughter
cured me. Joseph Jefferson's Rem
lnlscences.
The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1899-12-22
CHRISTMAS AND THE CHILDREN,
. HE little folks are talkin'-they tai
like ANYTHING

IT HE little folks are talkin'-they talk
like anything
Bout Sanity Claus a-comin', an what
he's goin' to bring;
An the mother never scoldg 'em or tells 'em
bout the noise;
They're just the sweetest little eirls-the
best of little boysl
Because they know that Sanity Claus knows
everything they do,
An while he's loading up his sleigh he's
watchln Of 'em, tool
An them that minds their mothers, they
gets the most of toys
They're Just the sweetest little Rirls-the
best Of little boys!
They've just been writln' letters to SANITY
Claus each day
An tellin' him just what they want an
shown him the way
To where the house Is. so he'll know iust
where to leave the toys,
Fer Just the sweetest little girls-the best
of little boys!
They're gittin' mighty anxious fer the days
an nights to go,
An all Of EN- are happy an they make
their mothers sol
She never has to scold 'em or tell 'em bout
the noise,
Cause they're just the sweetest little girls
the best of little boys.
Atlanta Constitution.
The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1899-12-22
TRADE QulETlNe DOWN.
Undisturbed, However, by an Unfavor-
able Money situation.

able Money situation.
Bradstreet's says: General trade in
Wholesale and manufacturing lines is
quieting down, but it is worth noting
It is undistHrbed by the money situa-
ton. the influence OF which has been
confined TO speculative circles. Holi-
day trade, on the other hand, has been
given decided impetus, and COMPARE
sons with the same period OF preceding
years are uniformly favorable, little
doubt remaining that although retail
trade in seasonable lines has been af-
fected in some localities by unfavor-
able weather, holiday specialties have
enjoyed exceptional activity. As re-
CARDS prices, it is a notable fact that
as many staples have advanced this
week as there have declined, while by
far the larger number of quotations
have remained steady or firm. The
strength OF textiles is still a most nota-
BILE feature Of the general situation.
Cotton goods are heavily sold ahead
by agents, and very large spring bust
ness has already been booked. Raw
cotton is firm and unchanged on the
week, partly owing to the light re-
ceipts and to reaflifination OF short
crop estimated by the department OF
agriculture. Manufactured goods.
where not advanced, are firmly held.
Wheat, including flour. shipments
for the week aggregate $3.50, $40 bush
els, against 5,l3S,83l bushels last
week, e,24s, 900 bushels in the CORE
spending week last year, 4,464, 800
bushels in 1897. 1884, ,s26 bushels in
1895 and 2,056, 048 bushels in 1895.
Since July | this season, the exports of
wheat aggregate 97,559, 926 bushels
against l09, 720, s53 bushels last year
and lls. 800, 1877 bushels in l898-99.
Business failures in the United States
for the week were only 2l0 as com
pared with 220 last week, 234 in this
week year ago, 2S3 in 1897, and 359
in 1896.
The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1899-12-22

niably fatiguing. l have spent three
weeks, my dear Mrs. Sprague, running
about town in search of the right present
for the right people,"
You must have laid yourself out to
be generous" said Mrs. Sprague.
Il am generous. | give my time and
labor to help other people give presents.
That brings me to the object of this visit.
Can you keep secret"
Yes" said Mrs. Sprague, land | am
burning with curiosity. SO make haste
and tell me-"
"Oh, then you knowT'
You were with Randolph Watts when
he ran away from Lila yesterday. How
was it?"
You promise not to tell her?-to keep
it for three days? Very well. You see,
he wants to give her a bracelet he had
made for her, with a very pretty motto
on it IN enamel Then he wants 10 give
her a beautiful little watch that belonged
to his poor mother, and he has had lit
tie miniature of his mother made to fit
In behind the watch. First be took the
The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1899-12-22
PACIFIC COAST TRADE


Seattle Markets.
Onions, new, $l.00@1.25 per sack
Potatoes, new, $1,000.
Beets, per sack, 75@S5c.
Turnips, per sack, 60c.
Carrots, per sack, soc.
Parsnips, per sack, 75@85c.
Cauhfower, 75c@$l per dozen.
Cabbage, native and California, n
@90c per 100 pounds.
Peaches, 65@80c.
Apples, $l.25@1.50 per box.
Pears, $1.00@1.25 per box.
Prunes, e0c per box.
Watermelons, $1.50.
Nutmegs, 50@75c.
Butter-Creamery, sec per poundi
dairy, l7@22c; ranch, 22o per pound.
Eggs-Firm, 90@31c.
Cheese-Native, Ice.
Poultry-9@1Oc; dressed, 11@19c.
Hay-Puget Sound timothy, $1,000;
choice Eastern Washington timothy,
$l7.00@1s.00
Corn-Whole, $4,000; cracked, $685.
feed meal, $2S.
Barley-Rolled or ground, per ton,
$21; whole, $22.
Flour-Patent, per barrel, 1885;
blended straights, $8.l0; California,
1926; buckwheat -four, 5000; gra-
ham, per barrel, $SS 80; whole wheat
-four, So. 10; rye -four, $3.80@4.00.
Millstuffs-Bran, per ton, $1,000;
shorts, per ton, $17.00.
Feed-Chopped feed, $2O.50 per ton;
middlings, per ton, $22; oil cake meal,
per ton, $4,000.
The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1899-12-22

that, whatever future Christmas might
have in store for him, that Christmas
should be the happiest he had known so
far at least.
That night he lay awake until he was
exhausted. Next morning he got up and
went TO his business mechanically.
The first ray of comfort came with his
cousin, Mrs. Sucher--the same whom
Lila had spoken OF as a trump"
why, Randolph" said Mrs. Sucher,
The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1899-12-22
Northwest Notna.

Northwest NOtoss
Republic is soon to vote on the ques-
tion of incorporation.
A Portland man has bought $4,000
pounds of wool at Ashland at 10 to 18
cents.
Washington has a stringent law for
the protection of hotelmen from board
bill jumpers.
The Fairhaven coal mines, at Coke
dale, have been sold to the Great
Northern railroad.
Demand has outstripped the supply
of lockboxes at the Spokane postsoffice,
where 762 are now in use.
A gravity water supply, to be piped
nine miles, is under consideration OF
Baker City's common council.
Baker City Is talking of modern
pavement" for its leading business
street, to relieve the present disgrace
ful unpaved condition.
approximately a sum of 5000, 900 In
delinquent taxes was paid into the
county treasury this year on Whatcom
city property. Of this sum, about
$50, 900 was the interest penalty of Q
per cent. Treasurer Roeder has placed
this to the credit of the county, and
the city of Whatcom has entered de-
mand for it, The matter will be taken
into the courts.
Arthur Huey, who went from his
home, near Walla Walla, to work in
Umatilla county harvest fields, early
in the fall, and who was sought by his
parents for weeks after it had come time
for him to return home, has turned up
alive and we'll. He went to Redland,
CAL, and newspaper paragraph tell
ing of his parents search induced him
to write home, and soon follow his
letter.
An electric light plant and water
works system are two improvements
that are almost a necessity in Burns,
and the News thinks steps will be
taken early in the spring to inaugurate
the two systems.
A Gillian county man recently sold
80 head OF beef cattle to the Union
Meat Company, of Portland. The price
was $3.50 per 100 for steers and 3.10
for fat cows. Twelve head of the cat.
tie averaged 1900 pounds, and one
steer brought $46.57.
Through the failure of some of the
shingle mills of Whatoom county to
close, under the agreement recently
reached to limit production in the in
terest of better prices, breakup was
imminent in the Whatcom county asso-
Histion. But meeting was held and
the recalcitrant concerns promised to
quit work, there was new election of
officers, and harmony and strength were
restored.
The Lakeview Examiner reports
sale of n head of beef cows at 8 cents
per pound, and that the seller "has a
special lot of beef Christmas cows that
he is holding at "a cents"