davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Opelousas courier., 1899-03-11
HOnOrs for a Three-Year-OId.

It may be a good joke to have your
little boys name appear in the city
directory, but there are unavoidable
penalties connected with the matter,
The parents of q little lad whose
name got into the directory through
the "smartness" of a hallboy, had to
appear several times before the COM
missioner of jurors, whom they final
ly convinced that q three-year-old
could not do justice to the RESPONSE.
BILE position of juryman.
Then they yer compelled to make
a statement to the tax commissioner
after the child had been taxed on
$40, 900 personal property, and now
the joke looms up once more in the
shape of a notice from the Metropoli.
tan Museum of Art, to the effect that
the tot has been proposed for member
ship.
He received notice that he and his
family would have free admittance to
the museums on pay days, that he
would receive invitations to all receo-
lions, lectures, etc, and that his dues
were payable by check, etc.
His parents have declined the hon.
or.-New York Tribune.
The Opelousas courier., 1899-03-11

One cannot but admire the ladies
who sailed as stowaways on army trans
ports for Manila. The Government
ordered that no women be allowed on
any ship carrying troops across the
Pacific. Several volunteer officers
ordered to Manila had wives who were
determined enough to defy the Gov
eminent in order to accompany their
husbands. So they secreted them.
selves more or less mysteriously on
the troopships with their husbands.
Since the presence Of these fair stowa-
ways was announced in the newspa-
pers - soon Is the ships sailed, it is
fair tc suppose that they were not so
hidden in the hold that there was n
danger Of their perishing from starya-
hon before discovery. moi yet so dis
gnised as to conceal their SEX. At the
same time, the ladies were technically
stowavays, and as such orders were
sent ~ later ships to land them 1t
Honolulu.
The Opelousas courier., 1899-03-11
THE HIGHEST-PRlcE REAL ESTATE.
Greatest Sum Ever Paid for Il Piece of
Land in America,

Greatest Sum Ever Paid for Il Piece OF
Land in America.
The highest price ever paid for a
piece of land in the United States was
obtained two years ago for a small
plat on the southwest me of Broad
and Wall streets, New York, when III
feet was sold for S348.6 81 per square
foot; but a few days ago BENJAMIN d.
Silliman, a lawyer, refused the enor-
nous sum of $500 a square foot for
the old drug store on the southeast
corner of Broadway and Wall street,
which makes it the most valuable
piece of property in America. The
offer amounted to $50, 900 for a front
foot on Broadway, and at this rate an
ordinary city lot 25 by 100 feet would
be worth 81. 900, 600. So far back as
1889 a little strip of ground only one
foot wide, at the corner of Ninety
third street and Lexington avenue,
was sold for 800, but that was an
exceptional case.
A number of pieces of property in
New York, however, have sold for
more than 500 a square foot. The
site of the old Herald building, at the
corner of Broadway and Ann street,
was purchased by H. 0. Hayemeyer
OF the sugar trust for 1856. 70. The
site of the Hanover National bank, at
the southwest corner of Nassau and
Pine streets, was purchased fors223. Sc,
while the opposite corner was bought
by the Equitable Life Insurance com
pany for $3.50 a square foot. The
building known as Al Wall street
brought s1S9.91 a square foot, and
the corner of Broadway and Maiden
lane $106. 40. The Commercial Cable
company paid s149.32 a foot for the
ground upon which it's office stands at
The corner of Broadway and New
street. Robert and William Pinker. |
ION OF Chicago paid $50. 46 per square
DOT in 1896 for a lot on New Church
street and Trinity place, near Broad
The Opelousas courier., 1899-03-11
Queer Telegraphic BIunders.

He was receiving a dispatch from AL.
bany in which the sender was not
over-careful in the matter of spacing
his letters. Lawton took the address
as follows; CDR. A. Wing, room
agent, Central depot, New York"
The dispatch came back with tba
marginal report that there was no
such person at the address named.
The operator at Albany was called up.
and explanations followed, in conse.
quence of which the address was
changed to ''Drawing-room-car agent.
Central depot"
A still more absurd mistake was
once made in the sane offices, when q
Telegram was received for flames W
titles, pie clerk, t'rooklyn nasty yard"
This was afterward amended to read.
James W. Gillespie, clerk, Brooklyn
Navy yard" --Pittsburg Dispatch.
The Opelousas courier., 1899-03-11
A %Lflliputian Watch.

A Berlin show window has the dis.
tinction of displaying what is said to
be the smallest watch in the world.
The ~diminutive timepiece, which is
less than half an inch in diameter.
was made in Geneva, Switzerland. a
place famous for it's watches. The
works Of the midget machine COM
prise ninety-five separate pieces. and
the whole structure weighs less than
a gram. The exact dimensions of the
watch are: Diameter, ABB inch:
thickness, 1882, inch; length of the
minute hand, .69156 inch; length Of
the hour hand, .O5122 inch; weight of
the handspring, 1902 grain. The
watch will run for twenty-eight hours
after being wound up, the balance
wheel making 18, 152 revolutions in an
hour and travelling over forty-four
and one-half miles in twenty-four
hours. The watch was made by spe-
clally manufactured tools, and it's.
price is $3.50. rs
The Opelousas courier., 1899-03-11

Charles Weiss, of S~omeryille, Mass.
petitions the Boston Board Of Alder
men for q license to slaughter horses
for the domestic and foreign meat
trade, sthe business to be carried on.
and the product to be sold or used for
food, packed in barrels for export"
If the Board grants the license the
State Health Commissioners will be
called upon to act, as the final decis-
ion rests with them. There is no law
against the practice, but this is the
first time it has come up for a legisla-
tive consideration. A large export
trade in horse meat is carried on
outside Of Massachusetts,, the product
going mainly to Germany, though its
use is extending in all Continental
The Opelousas courier., 1899-03-11

Great progress has been made, and
the prison system of to-day is radically
different from that of a generation
ago. But the cause Of prison reform
has moved slowly, because the people
know 80 little about it, and give SO
little attention to it. It was much
easier to interest people in the reforms
which Howard pressed upon the public
attention than it is to interest them in
modern reforms. Howard demanded
great changes in the physical condi-
ton of prisoners. But modern prison
reform has to do with something very
different. There are no cruelties now.
The next forward step is toward i'm
proving the prisoner himself. This
is an infinitely higher aim than that
Of Towards day.
The Opelousas courier., 1899-03-11

The forests of Oregon are furnish
ing the timber which is being used in
the construction of the railroad now
being built by the Russians across the
Chinese territory of Manchuria. The
lumber is shipped across the Pacific
to Vladivostok, where it is trans
ported by rail to a tributary of the
Amur River, and by water routes to
the line Of the road. While there is
abundant timber in Eastern Siberia.
yet it will not be available until the
railway has been extended a consider
able distance further, and even then
it is believed that the water freights
on the Pacific would be less than the
cost OF land transportation. At any
rate. the development of China and
Siberia seems to afford q new and i'm
portant market for the lumbermen of
the Northwest.
The Opelousas courier., 1899-03-11

One of the most curious institu-
lions connected with the British navy
is the Office Of Inspector of Sing
Ing" On all the training ships the
boys are instructed in singing, by
tutors, who receive about fifty dollars
, year for the service. On each of
these ships there is a tonic sol ia
class, where the boys are taught to
sing patriotic airs. This ability to
sing stirring music has a very enliven-
ing and inspiring influence upon tho
crews, and might, in some cases, con.
siderably brighten an enemy.
The Opelousas courier., 1899-03-11
GRAVE OF LAFAYETTE.
Americans Tell of a Visit They Paid to
the Great Generals Touh.

Americans Tell of a Visit They Paid t
the Great Generals Tomb.
OF the nj hundred thousand Amer
leans who yearly go to Paris, it is sal,
to say that very few ever visit the las
resting place of Lafayette, writes
correspondent of the Boston Tran
script. 1t lies far from the haunts o:
American pleasure-seekers who fire.
quent the Champs Elysees, the splen.
did shops, the opera house and thea.
tres, or even the galleries of the
Louvre AL Luxembourg, or the many
ancient historic buildings raised by
the genius of man.
One spring day a trip of about four
miles carried us over to the Place du
Trone. Nearby, in the Rue PsSus,
we anne to gray old walls of the Nn-
vent Of Les Damas du Sacre CoeA
The mild-eyed,s gray-haired sister who
answered the bell consigned us at
once to the one man&llowed about
the place-a white-hairea, cousteous
gardener. He hailed us wish Joy when
he found We were Americans, who
had come far to see the grave of La
fayette, Americas beloved friend and
ally in the Revolution. g,
"Helas! mes DANES" sighed the
old man; "but few of your nation
come here to pay respect to the mem
ory of the great hero, Lafayette"
Then he led us through a quaint old
garden, with high walls shutting it in
from the street and neighboring open
lots.
"No hands but mine have tended
these plants for ever thirty years"
Lovingly the old gardener waved his
hand toward the close-clipped tails,
the trellises covered with g%rapevines,
the luxuriant towering shrubs and
gay flowers.
At the end of the garden, loved by
the quiet nuns, he unlocked a gate.
In a small private cemetery where re-
pose the remains of members of the
noble families of De Noalles, De
De Montague and others,
we found the grave of Lafayette. A
modest tablet marks the spot. Birds
sing III the trees close by; the oar
aud hustle Of the beautiful, great city
was hushed i'll this secluded spot. In
a smaller enclosure lie the bones of
.aristocratic victims of the ''Reign of
who persisted in the Place
du Trone, SO near it. It saddened US
to see how forgotten L~afayette's bur-
lal place appeared to be by his own
,ountrymen whom he served with such
'oyal and true patriotism during the
.%roublous, dreadful times of the French
and to the end of his
eventful life. Rut though we neglect
lis grave his name and memory are
cherished and loved by all true-heart-
ID Americans. For the youth who
anne across the Atlantic to aid our
athers to shake off the yoke of Eng
and, and found on this continent a
epublic such as he dreamed of and
loped to see in his W beloved
france, stands next to Washington in
he hearts of our people. America
as never forgotten, and never will
orget, how he impaired his fortune
nd periled.s his life to make US free.
'w%enty-four towns they have named
)r Lafayette. -
The Opelousas courier., 1899-03-11
Wait-a-whfle Protested.

On the railway between Berrigan
and Finley there is a station named
Wait-a-While. The railway autori-
ties in Sydney have long regarded
this appellation as a fearful satire on
theiE operations. Andthey intimated
to the residents of the district a de-
sire to alter the name. This proposal
resulted IN violent protests from Wait
awhile. The parties have been in
severe conflict for some time, but ul-
timately the commissioners have given
way, and the romantic cognomen will
atand.--Sydney Telegraph.
The Opelousas courier., 1899-03-11

Considering that more than thirty
per cent. of French exports go to
Great Britain, it seems scarcely prob
able that the thrifty and sensible
merchants and tradesmen of France
will favor a wal with Great Britain If
it can possibly be avoided. And after
the politicians have had their say, it
Is the quiet, practical men of business
who control the Republic.
The Opelousas courier., 1899-03-11

The Coroner's jury in London has
found q verdict of manslaughter
against the two women responsible for
the Christian Science treatment tried
on the late Harold Frederic, and the
further proceedings will be followed
with interest not only in England but
in this country as we'll, where the doo-
trines Of the Christian Scientists have
met with astonishing success.
The Opelousas courier., 1899-03-11
The Last One as Usual.

A California man was standing near
. hencoop in a San Francisco market
when a hen pecked his diamond pin
from his scarf and swallowed it. There
wore five hens in the coop, and as he
sonld not identify the miscreant the
bwner killed them all. the pin being
Nund in tue last one executed.
The Opelousas courier., 1899-03-11
oPELoUsAs. LOUISIANA.
The egg crop Of the United States
amounts to $50, 600, 900 dozens. That
is something to cackle over, without
saying anything about Growing.

"The United States of Central
America"-the name of the new fed
Grated republics-have adopted our
constitution in the main. It is a COM
pliment to the sagacity of our fore
fathers-for parties may come and
parties may go, but the constitution
prevails forever.
The Opelousas courier., 1899-03-11
Music by Wholesale,

The largest musical instrument on
earth will be on exhibition at the Paris
exposition in 1900. 1t is called an
Neutrality-suspicious." and its in
ventor and builder is an italian, An
tonic Zibardi, who claims to have
worked upon it for fifteen years. The
instrument executes every kind of
concerted music, and contains no less
than eight thousand different and in
dependent musical instruments. It
costs about SIS, 900.
The inventor has employed most
varied applications of mechanical skill
and electrical apparatus, which are not
entirely new, but the composition of
which represents an incredible amount
OF most careful study and human pa
thence. The instrument will be worked
by means of two petroleum motors.
each OF three horse power, which, by
driving a dynamo, furnish the light for
the inside of the instrument, showing
its countless details and Illuminating
the hall where it is shown.
A curious combination is the small
electric fountain within the instru-
ment, which will show in %vari-colored
light when the lights in the exhibition
hall are turned down, the music from
the orchestrion continuing all the
while.
There are two separate sets of in
struments, which can be worked singlv
or together a perfect string
orchestra, the other a military brass
band of 100 pieces. They have separ-
ate sets of cylinders, but there are
pieces for both orchestras, where
the two cylinders are started together.
Orleans Times Democrat,
The Opelousas courier., 1899-03-11
PEARLS OF THOUGHT.

Overcoming a difficulty changes it
into a blessing.
The man who does well today NAV
do better tomorrow.
We will always find good, when we
look for it with a good heart.
Every action of our lives touches on
some chord that will vibrate in eternity.
Men of the noblest dispositions
think themselves happiest when others
share their happiness with them.
What men want is not talent; it is
purpose; in other words, not the
power to achieve, but the will to labor.
You cannot stop being educated
if you stop going to school. The
most you a do is to select your
teachers.
Enlarge your tastes that you may
Charge your hearts as well as your
PLEASURES; feel all that is beautiful,
lovaall that is gsod.
Go6e~hature is the very air of a
good mind, the sign Of a large and
generous soul and the peculiar soil in
which virtue prospers.
We receive everything, both life and
happiness; but the tanner in which
we receive, that is what is still ours.
Watch, then, disciple of life, watch
and labor towards the development of
the angel within thee. We must dare
to be happy, and dare to confess it,
regarding ourselves always as the de-
positories, not as the authors of our
JOY.
The Opelousas courier., 1899-03-11

The value of a newspaper as an
advertising medium consists in
its circulation.
When you can secure the com.
bined circulation of two papers
for the price Of one, it is money
saved!
"9he St. Landry Democrat"
was consolidated on the Sd of
March, 1894, with The Opelou.
sas Courier" The advertising
rates have not been increased
while the price Of subscription
has been reduced to 50 a year.
THE COURIER being by odds
the best paper in the empire Par.
lsh Of st. Landry is therefore the
eheaDast.
The Portland daily press., 1899-12-29

eff Dslsgoa bay Is olcssd, ths Eoers
viii rstaliats by raiding Portuguese ter
riteFy."
The Standard says;
Lord Salisbury would be reluctant
TO bring pressure 20 lear upon Portugal
excspt In q case of urgent necessity.
9teat Britain would prefer not IN place
herself In the iny idious position Of using
force toward anothsr petty country; and
there is no temptation TO raise any fur
ther international question.
at Is satisfactory" say, the Times
editorially this morning, Ito learn that
the Washington eoverament is acting
with regard TO the American cargots
seized In Dsiagoa bay as We should have
wished and expected. 10 10 n matter OF
course that We shaii make full rerara-
tion, n rsparation 10 proved to be due.
In the meantime 10 may he noted, as
the Americans themselves admit, that the
faots are In considerable doubt thst some
OF them seem 20 be rather com pr omislnz
TO the vessels seized. There viii be time
enough to talk OF the Law and the policy
OF the step. when the facts have been su-
ascsrtainsd."
The Portland daily press., 1899-12-29
DIFFICULT TO CONTROL.
MIR. BouteIIe's IlIness Said to he Con.
gestion of brain.

Boston. December 2s-While the cfii
oi.ls of the Mclean hospital are extreme
ly rstiosns In the matter Of giving details
a. TO the condition Of Congressman Chas.
A. Boutells Of Maine, 10 was stated IN
response to an inquiry by telephone, to-
night, that Mr.. Boutslls had passsd .
very comfortable day ana that he was not
considered IN any immediate danger.
A relative Of Mr.. Boutelle's Is ruotsd ~
saying this afternoon that the lattsr' q
trouble 10 congestion of the brain, the
result OF continued strain and overwork
In connection with his efflcial duties.
His condition, previous to his removal to
the hospital, was such that 81 times he
became delirious and ID was difficult 90
keep him under control. IL WAS deemed
test under the circumstances to place
him In an institution where he could
receive the best possible treatment and
the Mclean hospital nc Wavsrly, was
selected as such place. Tbs relatives
above mentioned expressed conndencs
that with the skilful treatment and rest
that are ensured at the hospital. the
patient will quickly recover and be able.
In the near future, TO resume hts duties
at Washington.
On the authority of the superintendent
Of the asy ylum Mr. Boutslle 10 able TO be
up and dressed, his condition not making
his confinsment to his bed at all urgent.
The Portland daily press., 1899-12-29
LOOKING UP THE FACTS.
No Action Taken Yet I'm Flour seizure
Case.

wash'ngton, December 2s.-1he ascer-
tainment OF the facts connected with the
seizure OF American -four by British
warships Off the coast of Portuguese
East Africa, has been oonlldsd to the
United States consular agent at Loursnzo
MARQUEE. This officer was selected by
Me. Hollis to look otter the affairs of
the United States consula to at Lourenzo
MARQUEE during ths time Mir. Hollis was
discharging the duty Of United States
consul at Pretoria, MIR. Hollis has re-
p,rsed TO the state department. that the
consular agent Is n thoroughly capable
oEiciai and may be trusted CO lock sitter
American inters sts at Lcurenzo MARQUEE
Under the instructions sent To him by
Secretary Hay he will ascertain all OF the
facts connected with the ssizure Of this
flour and particularly the names of the
persons TO whom this flour wns consigned
and the actual ownership of the goods.
The department Of state Is dsferniinsI to
do every shi1g proper to maintain Ameri-
can rights In the matter of neutral trade
In this case. But SO far, the department
10 In absolute ignorance of many essen
tial facts regarding the seizure. and oan-
not proceed to make any complaint until
10 has made cure Of its ground.
The Portland daily press., 1899-12-29
OF IMMENSE STRENGTH.


Beers Have Trnnsformed hfis oi
CoIsn.o Into Powerful Fortress.
LONDON Decem Der ia otsps.cn 10
the Daily Mail from Pietermaritzburg,
dated Deoembsr ol. ssys.
,.r.. a., .u..,. ,,. -
''fy aa' 'esss" .on' no" i.o
Rarding the strength OF the Boar position
at Colenso. Thanks to the set vices Of
eontinsntal offi,srs. the character OF the
campaign has changed. We are no long
or fighting foe who rely upon guerilla
taetias. hut ws have to deal with what
a. n,,,. ha,ou,,n a,so,,,,na5 .,mv
t"pi1'S o'oou"S
enjoying the advantage OF knowing the
country and Of selecting the scene Of con-
tast v,,bout tho burdens of a n-oum bersome
oomHissiariss'
"1he Beers have converted the hills
near Coienso into fortresses Of imme nse
.,ua,,,,h rv.r,vss.a .,a, ~. sr,.na,a
The Portland daily press., 1899-12-29
A CHICAGO FAILURE
In which several Boston Houses Are
Involved.

Chicago. December 2S. Henry L. Mills
of this city, formerly oonnected with ssv-
eral large firms In Boston, filed today
a petition In bankruptcy In which be
scheduled liabilities asgrsGatiug s7es, Ssi.
His assets ara placed at $4,000. or the
scheduled indebtedness all but s5i0.0s2
Is said to. be due on notes for which other
parties are liable. AL the debts were con-
tractsd before 1858, ut which time the
petitioner made an asxgnment and
many creditors were paid. The largest
creditors are, Blackstone national bank,
Boston, $s5, ,0'0; !. N. Keith. Sycamore,
Mass, $4,000; J. p. Moore and Co.
Boston, $1,000; Manchester national
bank, New Hampshire, $s3, coo; Gresnleaf
Simpson, Boston, $40. .oc0; Chicago Fur
niture company, SEQ, 600; Faneuil Hall
national bank, Boston, s33.e30: Market
national bank, Boston. $l6i,cG0; W. NJ.
Parker, Manchsstsr. N. h, sZ2.s50.
The Portland daily press., 1899-12-29
PRETTY FAST SKATING.

Minneapolis, MINI, December 2s.-
The fastestskating ever done In the world
for half a mils and q quarter mile.
strAightsway, was accomplished today on
Lake Minnetonka near this city. Norval
Bsptie OF Bathgatde, N. D., lowered the
quarter mile record of 81 Ia seconds.
made by John s. johnson TO 20 1-6 SEQ
oDds. After rest of twenty minutes
Baptis started for the half mile record of
Joe Donahue of New York and Olaf Budu
of Minneapolis and lowered 1t from
LOS 20 to 100 2-5. The records are OIL
oial and made under the auspices Of the
Excelsior Ice Yacht club.
The Portland daily press., 1899-12-29
HERR POTT.
lie seems To he Pretty Near the Whole
Thing at Del sgoa Bay.

nc 'ht W hOAt
Thing at Del ssoa Bay.
London, December 29.-A correspondent
of the Standard at Lourenzo Marquse
says:
"Dslagoa Bay is the residence of Herr
Pott, Hollandsr, who is consul general
for the TransTaal and consul for the
Netherlands. Potts u the principal
medium between Pretoria and DIR. Leyds
In Europe. he controls the Netherlands
railway through the Transvaal and is the
head of the Trausyasi customs. He is
also head of the Dutch East Africa COM
pany and has the ear of the Portuguese
government as well as the chtsf Of each
department.
at is openly assertsd that Potts has
private wire to the frontier and knows
twenty -four hours before others what il
happsning. About him gather all the
other consuls. the Portuguese offl eials and
the German forwarding agents.
The Portland daily press., 1899-12-29
WEATHER OBSERVATIONS.

The agricultural department weather
bureau for yesterday, Dec.2s, taken at s
p. M. meridian time, the observation for
each section being given in this order:
Temperature. direction of wind, state OF
weather.
Boston. &c, N. clear; New York, "a,
NV, clear; Philadelphis. "a. NV, clser
Washington. IA. N, clear; Albany. 20. W,
olssr Buffalo, rs, W. clear; Detroit. 10,
W. clear; Chicago, IL. NV, clear; st.
olear; Bismarck, "A. NV. clear; jackson
wills. 60, NE, cloudy.