davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-06-09
This Cat Works.

Near Stockton, Cal. is a cat by the
name Of Bildad, whose mistress. Miss
Angie Eddes, also owns some almond
trees. When these nuts are ripe, and
start to fall, Bildad begins work. His
mistress sets a large basket out in the
almond grove, and goes back to the
house. Then Bildad picks up all the
plump brown nuts. and carries them
to the basket, never stopping till 1t Is
full, when the useful cat goes In and
pulls at the apron of its mistress to let
her know that it should be emptied.
SO Bildad can fill 1t again. Bildad also
churns. Mr.. Eddes has made a treadle
to work the churn, and upon this Bill
dad stands and churns away. The cat
can tell by the sound Of the milk when
the butter has come, and strikes with
his paw on a little bell to let his mis-
tress know that he is through. Besides
all this Bildad plays and enjoys Q
romp as much as any other cat.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-06-09
Parnell's Superstition.

Parnell had some pet superstitions,
according to his biographer, Barry
O'Brien. He would not pass another
person on the stairs. He was horror
stricken to find himself sitting with
three lighted candles; the fall of a
picture in the room made him detected
fer the entire afternoon, and he would
have nothing to do with an important
bill drawn up by a colleague because it
happened to contain thirteen clauses.
He also thought green a most unlucky
color-a strange and ~inconveni2nt feel
ing for a Nationalist leader-and The
sight Of green banners at the political
meetings he addressed often unnerved
Fin"
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-06-09
A Troublesome Visitor.

Lightning pranks are continually
causing wonderment to scientists and
terror to those who happen to witness
the odd manifestations of the power
of this artillery of the heavens. Only
a few days ago a workshop in Mount
Clare. Mass, suffered from the visit
of a white-hot ball Of lightning. While
Foreman Kelly was striking at a piece
of red-hot iron on an anvil the ball
Of lightning darted through a window
and landed on the anvil just in time
to be struck by the descending ham
mer of Mr.. Kelly. The ball burst with
a loud report; Mr.. Kelly vas thrown
to the floor by the shock; his hammer
struck the ceiling with great force;
fragments of the burst ball flew in
every direction, melting or burning
every piece Of iron that they touched.
and it was later found that all the tools
about the anvil and the anvil itself
were strongly magnetized. Mr.. Kelly
was so seriously shocked that he did
not recover for hours.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-06-09
The Life Plant Of Guadeloupe.

There is a strange wild plant in
3uadeloupe called the "life plant" If
1 leaf be broken off and pinned by the
stem to the wall of a warm room each
Of the angles between the curve of
he leaf margin soon throws out a
number of very white tentacles or roots
md soon a tiny new plant begins to
5prout, and in the course OF a week or
swo attains a height of two or three
inches. When the old leaf shrivels the
new plant is cut off and planted. When
carefully cultivated the life plant pro-
1uces curious red and yellow bios
IONS. While the plant is native only
IN a warm country, there is no doubt
hat it could be successfully grown in
any greenhouse, and as a plant freak
It certainly is as interesting as the
everlasting plant of Mexico.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-06-09
Letter from 4 Ca,

Letter from a Ca:.
Dear Editor: l hereby take
My pen in paw to say,
Can you explain a curious thing
l found the other day?
There is another little cat
Who sits behind a frame,
And looks so very much like me
You'd think we were the same.
l try to make her play with me.
Yet when l new and call,
Though l see her new in answer
She makes no sound at all.
And to the dullest kitten
It's plain enough to see
That either l am hooking her.
Or she is hooking me.
1t makes no difference what !. play,
She seems to know the game;
For every time I look around
see her do the same.
And yet no matter though l creep
On tiptoe lest she hear,
Or quickly dash behind the frame.
She's sure to disappear!
st. Nicholas
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-06-09
Church Store,

The latest scheme of Calvary Epis-
copal Church, New York City, which
already manages a woodward, lodging
mouse n restaurant, all self-support-
ing, is to open g shop for the sale of
dry goods to the poor on the Install
ment plan. A reasonable price will
be charged for the goods, but it will
be far below that asked in other in
stalimene stores. A Philadelphia
church made a great success of such
a shcp some years ago. 1t is still a
source of gain to the poor and profit
&c ths church funds.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-06-09
An Indian Legend.

A curious legend, which We are told
that the Indians believe and relate to
this day, is about a huge natural spire
Of weather beaten sandstone. which
rises sheer and stark eight hundred
feet from base to top. This natural
obelisk is in Arizona, in Dead Mans
Canyon. and is called The Spiders
Tower"
1t happened, man, centuries ago,that
one OF the peaceful a v dwellers was
surprised I'D pursued by a hostile
tribe. and driven into this canyon. On
and on he fled, vainly seeking a MD
ing place in which to take refuge.
The enemy was steadily gaining up
on him, and his strength was nearly
exhausted, when, coming near to this
huge pillar Of stone, he deserted a Sill
ken cord hanging from the top Of 1t.
With trembling haste he fastened
one end of the rope to his belt. h a
his enemies could not reach 1t. and
taking fast hold OF it as high as he
could reach, he began to climb, hand
over hand, resting his feet in the jag
geo rock.
Nearer and nearer the hostile band
came, but when he had gained tho
summit CT the rock. their arrows could
not reach him, for the p%rotruding
edges protected him. Many days they
waited for him at the base, but he fed
upon dew and eagles' eggs and defiea
their siege.
And when at last they departed, and
he returned to earth by means OF the
silken cord, he had learned that a
spider, seeing his distress, had spun
this cord OF extra strength, and fasten-
Ing n end to the rock. had dropped
the other that he might be saved.
For, like all the brute creation, the
spider loved the quiet c~ave-dweller
better than the Unmerciful hunters;
and 1t was in gratitude to his preserver
that the Indian told his story to his
tribe; and you, to this day, may visit
the spot and see the Spiders Tower"
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-06-09
Bear Ike Sugar.

In a Vermont maple & camp.
owned by a Mr.. Forsythe. the owner
this spring often missed cakes Of the
maple sugar which had been set out
In the snow to harden. For a long
time the men at the camp watched for
the thief, but eve caught him. until
at last one day they found bear tracks
leading away from the camp, and fol-
lowed them until they came to a cave
IN the hillside. Mr.. Bear was not at
home, but in one corner OF the cave
they found their cakes Of maple z
neatly piled up. Mr.. Bear had hidden
away nearly 200 pounds OF the sweet
stuff. and when they went to carry it
away they met him coming through
the woods, walking straight up on his
hind feet like a man and carrying more
sugar in his arms. When he saw the
men he did not wait to be shot. but
dropped his sugar and ran away like
any other thief.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-06-09

investment, and hence that it must be
dear and consequently scarce. The I'M
failing test as to whether money is
plenty enough is not the interest rate
for which it can be loaned, but rather
the quantity Of labor and its products
you must part with to buy it. Judged
by this test it is very scarce.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-06-09
Sly Mr., Coon.

Mr.. Goodrich. of Potter County, Pa,
missed a great many of his chickens,
and one night not long ago he hid
nea his henhouse to catch the thief.
He had not waited long when he saw
a four-footed coon come stealing along
the fence and squeeze in at a small
hole neal n corner, which he had
n noticed before. AS soon as the
coon Vas safe inside Mr.. Goodrich
clapped a big stone over the hole and
went inside to capture the coon, and
closed the door after him. Through a
window in the henhouse the moon
light came in SO that he could see
plainly all over the floor, but he could
not find the coon any place, and had
almost made up his mind that it had
found some other way out when he
CHANGED to look up at the roosts, where
the chickens were sleeping, and saw
two great eyes staring at Linn out of
the dlmmest corner. The coon had
slipped up on the roost among the
chickens, thinking that perhaps Mr..
Goodrich would not zee him. At first
he had his back turned, but he was
curious and had to see what was GO
ing on. And that is why he got caught.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-06-09
Running from Death.

In one Of our seaport towns lives
a mother who determined that, what
ever happened, her son should never
be drowned. Her father was a sailor,
and was drowned at sea. She lost
her husband and her brother in the
same way. The horror OF the great
deep was upon her. Only those that
have lived by the sea know what this
terror is. To guard her only son from
a watery death became a real passion
with her. The thought qualified all her
plans for his future and Kept her in
ceaseless watch Of his movements.
AS the boy grew he was not allowed
to paddle In boats or to learn to swim,
and when he was old enough to earn
his living lis mother sent him to
an inland town in the n%eighborhood Of
Boston.
When you get started" she said,
Il will one and live with you. 1
don't ever want to see the water
again."
1t was no long before the young
man found work as a teamster. His
work was satisfactory to him and to
1890 W.
his employers, but one day the horses
took fright and ran away. The heavy
wagon swerved and upset upon a plank
bridge, under which a little stream
flowed. The driver was struck, and
becoming unconscious was hurled into
the brook. The water barely covered
aim. He was drowned.
There is an ancient Jewish proverb,
'Wheresoever a man is destined to die,
thither will his feet carry him" A
curious confederation Of this saying is
related in the Talmud. On one occa-
sion King Solomon, attended by his
two scribes, met Azrael, the angel OF
death. Seeing that the angels coun-
tenance was sad, Solomon inquired the
reason. and was told that the kings
scribes had been demanded at his
hands. On this, Solomon transported
his two favorites to the land of Luz,
where, according to a current legend,
no man ever died. The next morning
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-06-09
ELECTRIC Power In Minine.

The application Of electrically trans
mitted power to ore-crushing mills,
situated at the mines is regarded as
working almost a revolution in some
mining operations. At the Sheba gold
mines in Africa, water power is trans
mitted by wire for a distance of Ave
miles, and an enormous saving in the
cost of milling the ore has thus been
effected. In a mountainous country no
other means OF conveying power is
comparable with a flexible copper wire,
which crosses hills and valleys, and
winds n way or another with equal
ease.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-06-09
Wise SQUIRRELS.

In Kansas City there is park which
is near a school, and in the trees of
this park are many squirrels. All day
long they frisk and scamper about.
with their bushy tails up over their
backs, peering around the limbs OF the
trees with their little, beady eyes. at
the grown-up people without a bit OF
fear. But as soon as they hear the bell
for school to let out they for
their nests, and by the time the first
boy is out Of the door there is not a
squirrel to be seen. The wise little an
imals know that when the bell rings
the boys will come out and stone them.
More than this, the squirrels have
learned never to show themselves on
Saturday. This speaks will for the
smartness of the squirrels. but it
speaks badly for the Kansas City boys.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-06-09
Hardy.

Dolly-I told Mr.. Nicefellow that /
bet Reggie two kisses that our club
would win the race at Brighton. Daisy
Well, wasn't he shocked? Dolly
No; lie: him hold the stakes.-Tid-
Bits.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-06-09

The time has come when men with
hearts and brains
Must rise and take the instructed
reins
or government, too long left in the
hands
OF tricksters and of thieves. He who
stands
And sees the mighty vehicle of state
Hauled through the mi-e to some ig-
noble fate
And makes not such bold protest az
he can.
Is no American.
Ella Wheeler Wilcox,
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-06-09

Some men actually ~!,elieve it trea.
son to reason.-New York Common
wealth.
In the federal draft y: 1869. 1924
men failed to report ..:d 73,6c7 fur
nished substitutes.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-06-09
FOR BOYS AND GIRLS,
SOME GOOD STORIES FOR OUR
JUNIOR READERS.

\ Letter from Il Cnt-Saw Herself In
the Mirror-A Queer Indian Legend
Running from Death, a Strange Story
from One Of Our Seaport Towns.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-06-09
THE MONEY

Falling prices, which is only another
name for approaching money, enriches
the %bondholder by plunoering the
ploWholder. 1t picks the pocket Of tax
payers for the benefit OF those who
nave fixed salaries and incomes. 1t
conf1scates the little home Of the gray
haired and br~oken-down sire, after it
has been almost paid for. 1t shrinks
the former value of his farm or home
down to the size Of mortgage that
never shrinks, and turns him and his
family adrift to beg or starve, for he
has spent his prime in the rain effort
to pay twice for his home, and has no
strength or ambition left to begin
again.
Every neighborhood has such cases.
and it.has many more cases, where, IL
the mortgage is finally lifted, it is only
after a life time of the most careful
management, pinching economy, I'M
ceasing anxiety. and excessive labor,
that can be called by no other name
than industrial slavery.
The gold standard hammer OF falling
prices has driven down the value OF
all farm property in particular faster
than improvements on the same could
increase it, and thus has greatly dis
couraged and diminished them. 1t
frightens capital out of business, and
into boarding, destroys confidence in
the future OF prices. and upsets all cal
culation.
Money has become the only thing
worth specializing in, because the only
thing rising in exchange value as to
other things. Even a low rate of in
terest seems better than a risk in any
form OF legitimate business, because a
man is sure the original loan will come
back increased by a certain per cent OF
itself. SO that the lender makes up in
purchasing power what he appears to
lack in interest. The fact that money
Is now boarded, or let for low Interest,
instead of showing that money is
plenty, as gold mel Gay, flows rather
that it is scarce as compared with
commodities.
The sam instinct that leads men to
part with other things, and to keep
what is becoming dearer, leads them
now to part with property other than
money, and turn everything into
money, either to hoard up to gain the
annual increment of nearly 4 per cent
that comes to it under the present
standard. or to let it out at a low rate
on money futures.
ii you want to hire money the low
interest might indicate at first sight
that it was cheap, and hence plenty.
but after you have put it into property
you will conclude it was a very dear
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-06-09

One United States dollar is just as
good as any other United States dol
lar. Their let US vote to have more
of them. Let us vote to have all gold
and silver metal free to be coined into
legal-tender money, good for taxes and
all debts. 1t would be Just as reason
able for the people Of the United
States to sell their gold bullion for so
per cent OF its price in the stamped
coin as to sell their silver bullion for
90 per cent OF the money price in the
stamped dollar, so long as olner ma
tiors use silver as money and raise
cotton and wheat in competition with
us or manufacture goods in competi.
ton with US.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-06-09

II it would be better to chain it back
with US. if at only 81 per zen inter-
est, the next day we would be over
$4,000 worse off (the one days in
~terest). Now, the fair-minded man,
who wants to be honest with himself,
would certainly say tat it woulu be
better to use the resources of our own
Countrywide products of our own soil.
Very well, then. A part Of the re-
sources of our country is money metal
gold and silver. Then lie: us have
this all coined into legal-tender money
-legal-teEder dollars with which tt
transact our business. 1t then comes
into competition with that English
gold. and We will not need to buy it
back with an interest bearing bond to
that great money-loaning power. We
want and we need competition in
money.
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-06-09

ii you want to hire money the low
interest might indicate at first sight
that it was cheap, and hence plenty,
but after you have put it into property
you will conclude it was a very dear
The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-06-09

Governmental abuses continue because
of aissensions in the ranks of reformers.
|Ths physicians quarrel over the best rem
edy to be administered while the patient
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-09-14
USED DEWEY'S LAUNCH.
fccr for Committing the
O1fenSe.

Wanton S. Webb, recently returned
from trip around the world, has many
interesting incidents of that tour and
among them tells a new Dewey story
that will be appreciated. 1t will be
recalled that Assistant Engineer Dunn.
one of the officers on Dewey's flagship,
is from Westerly, and the incident
will illustrate why Dewey's men think
SO much of him.
As a matter of fact, the Westerly boy
is accused of being somewhat of a IA
vorite of the admiral. Mr.. Webb says:
Dunn had shore leave at Manila, and
as his time was nearly up, he Won
dered how he was going to get back to
the Olympia on time, as discipline is
strict in such matters, and naval men
make it a point of honor to report
promptly. Just then he saw Admiral
Dewey's beautiful launch. SEe was as
white as white paint could make her,
and her brass work shone like molten
gold. Dunn didn't hesitate, for he had
to be back. He walked aboard of her
and said: Take me back to the ship
AS he was an officer and u member of
the ships company the men obeyed.
"When he was congratulating him
self in the ward room mess for getting
back on time, some one suggested that
he had better wait to see how the adj
miral would take it. At this juncture
an orderly came in, and delivered the
message that the admiral would like
to see Mr.. Dunn in the cabin.
Dunn said it was an awkward mo-
ment for him. The admiral looked him
over quizZically, and then asked: Mr..
Dunn, how long is it since you have
been an admiral in the United States
service
Poor Dunn said that he was never
so taken back in his life. He was so
embarrassed that he felt meaner than
the monkey that had swallowed the
canary, and had nothing to say. That
will do said the admiral. ten days be-
low decks And then Dunn went away
glad to get out of the cabin.
"Of course all the ward room mess
said: I told you So and at inspection
the formality of taking away Dunn's
sword was gone through with and he
was placed under arrest in his cabin.
Two hours later the orderly presented
| himself with the message that the adj
miral would like to see Mr.. Dunn in
the cabin. Again he didn't know what
was coming.
This time Admiral Dewey had a
merry twinkle in his eye. Mr.. Dunn
he said, I have some very important
business ashore that I want some one
to attend to for the next ten days, and
I think you could do it, At the next
| inspection the sword was returned and
| Dunn was sent ashore in the admira's
launch for ten days on shore."-Provi-
| dence Journal
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-09-14
SOAP BUBBLE MAGIC.
Bubbles with Tops Spinning Inside
and Bubbles Frozen to
LOOkinS-Glass.

Very wonderful as well as very beau.
tiful possibilities lurk in the basin of
soapy water and the clay pipe, when
slillfully manipulated by such "A
SoapBubble Magician" as Meredith
Nugent writes of, with convincing il
Illustrations, in the st. Nicholas:
See that white rose?" Philip ex-
claimed, pointing to a beautiful one
resting upon a lacquered tray. well,
[ am going to put it inside soap-bub-
ble;" and in a very few moments the
flower was sphered over by a bubble so
large and perfect that it seemed as if
made of purest glass. Following this,
Phil set the humming top to spinning,
and amazed his audience by placing
a bubble over that also. While the
top still hummed under its many-hued
canopy, Philip blew another bubble,
and called the attention of those pres
ent to the fact that an old adage said
that a bubble would burst as soon as
pricked. But here is case" he eX-
claimed triumphantly, ''where this old
adage, like so many others, is proved
to be false" Philip dropped a pen
through the film; then he dropped an
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-09-14
LOVE YOUR MOTHERS.


what have mothers not done for us,
What can match a mothers cares
For the sons she bore and nurtured-
Outlines mingling tears with prayers
All! the long and lone night watches
Fond and faithful mothers spend
All! the midnight prayers constraining
Heaven their loved ones to defend
Aye, think ever how they've loved you,
Strove and suffered, hoped and wept
Comprised you with mute devotion,
And care that never slept.
Think of this in lifes rough battle,
And twill keep you in the van
Be for you the strongest shield, boy,
And the surest talsman.
On the sunlit walls of memory
Let your mothers gentle face
Rest, never-fading picture,
In its sweet and wistful grace.
For no subtle word of sophist,
Fool or scoffer, knave or Ounce,
Alters this-a mothers love is
Goa1Nirst gift, and comes but once.
strive th1odghout your lifetime, then, boys
So tc live that that dear face
Meier may flush for your wild folly,
Meier may blush for your disgrace.
And when that fond heart is resting
Meath the churchyard mould,
This will be your richest memory,
Richer than a mine of gold.
Robert Richardson, in Golden Days.