davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-12-10

Cash quotations were as f0llows:-
Flour steady; winter patents $4,000
s3.5o; straights. s3.OOdsS. 20; clear.
S2.9c@s3.10; spring special, $3.50; pat
ents. SS.20GSS.50; straights, 81. 1O@$So 90.
No. 8 spring wheat, 62p66c. No. red,
671AGp6S1a. No. 2 corrf sic. No. q cats,
2sG2Sfsc. NO. . white, 25fsc. 30. 5
while, 24A@25!Ac, No.'f3 rye, 53c. No. .
barley, 37Q4gc. No flax seed. 81. Is.
Prime Timothy seed 81 .d0as2. 10. Mess
PORK. per b BIZ IS. 4O@sS. So. Lard, per 100
lbs. s5.00Gp$6.a5, Short ribs sides (oose)
S5.10@s6.40. Dry sailed shoulders (box-
cd, 53s@5Mc. Short clear sides (box-
cd, S.. 35GpS5 40. Whiskcy, distillers'
finished goods, per gal, sl.2SlE.
On the Produce Exchanges to-day the
butter market was steady: Creams, 16D
26c.; dairies, 16@22c
Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-12-10
NORFOLK MRRKET5
For Grain, iiau, Groceries, Provisions,

&c.
The Leon reporter., 1899-12-28
Two Happy Thoughts.

From far-away Ceylon comes a
funny little story. A tea planter who
had a glass eye was desirous of going
away for days shooting with a
friend, but he knew that as soon as the
natives who were at work on the plan
tation heard that he was going they
would not do stroke of work. How
was he to get off? That was the ques-
tion. After much thought an idea
struck him. Going up to the men, he
addressed them thus: although N.Y.
sci. will be absent, yet shall leave
one of my eyes to see that you do your
work." And, much to the surprise
and bewilderment of the natives, he
took out the glass eye and placed 1t
on the stump of tree and left. For
some time the men worked Industrious
ly, but at last one of them, seizing his
tin in which he carried his food, ap-
preached the tree and gently placed 1t
over the eye. This done, they all lay
down and slept sweetly until sunset
Waverly Magazine.
The Leon reporter., 1899-12-28
Poison in the Natiou,. Blood.

Lntroit Free Press: So long as this
nation kept within the spirit of which
1t was born it was conceded the safest
Of all the great powers. 1t has no in
sular territories to defend. Its pos
sessions were all in one continent and
it in control of that continent. The
military wisdom of the world con-
Cured in the opinion that attempted
invasion of this country would have
even less chance of success than the
disastrous attempt of Napoleon to pen
citrate the interior of Russia. We were
responsible for no remote territory al
ways at the mercy Of a stronger hos
tile fleet.
There was the universal testimony OF
all other nations that we of all were
the one least liable to attack. We were
aloof from the jealousies, chickering's
and struggles of the older hemisphere
and held undisputed a virtual die
tatorship on this half of the globe,
made the more respectable and impos-
ing because it was based upon the
principle of universal freedom and
equality.
But we were innoculated with the
poison of territorial greed. We aban-
doned the safest anchoring ground that
a nation ever had and gayly sailed
away to defy to fate that is warned
against by history. We repudiated
our governmental maxims. We delib-
erately arranged to expend hundreds
of millions for tropical dominions,
which are always losing Investment.
We faced the necessity of maintain
ing supreme naval power in the
Caribbean sea as we'll as the Pacific.
We entered the arena of old world
conflicts and we voluntarily made our
selves vulnerable, though the world
had acknowledged us absolutely in
vulnerable.
The Leon reporter., 1899-12-28
A Side Remark.

From Atlanta Constitutions: Editor
Watterson, taking long breath after
his remarkable experience with the
Goebel boomerang, finds time to re-
mark:
IF our 16 to / friends have any of
that 5 cents cotton with which they
said the south would be blighted in the
event of free silver's defeat in 1896,
they can make good thing by taking
1t to market now.'
What is extraordinary about this re-
mark is the fact that Editor Watterson
fails to perceive the true inwardness
of the situation. The Democrats, de-
ceived by the protestations of their op-
ponents, thought that the gold stand
ard would really fix the value of the
dollar and make it stable. The pur-
chasing power of the dollar during the
campaign was so enormous that SIC
would buy bale of cotton, and the
Democrats knew that if this remained
fixed fact, the cotton growers would
be ruined. That our gold standard
friends deceived themselves, too, is
shown by the arguments they made to
the workingmen about the danger OF
high prices, and by their efforts to pre-
pare the public mind for long period
of low prices.
But behold the result! The value
of the gold dollar has deprecated un-
til it requires $40 to pay for bale OF
cotton that $40 would buy three years
ago. AS compared with the gold dol
lar, iron has trebled in value; in other
words, the gold dollar has deprecated
to such an extent that the amount OF
iron it would buy three years ago can
hardly be bought for So. We have
cheap dollars and prosperity. But
where is the stability" which our gold
standard friends set such store by? 1t
has gone glimmering!
The Leon reporter., 1899-12-28
CHAPTER VII

1t was two days later-a soaking
wet afternoon. Ever since early morn
tng the rain had been descending in q
steady persistent downpour, beating
upon the scorched grass, dashing to
pieces the rows Of stately calceolarias
and geraniums, and converting every
path and flight of steps into as many
miniature streams aud turbulent cas-
cades of seething waters.
Major Brown, driven almost to des-
pair b. the depressing prospects Of
the day, wandered aimlessly from
billiard room to smoking room, from
smoking room to library, and at last
sat down before one of the writing
tables and hastily dashed off one or
two unimportant letters. His corre-
spondence completed, he directed and
sealed the envelopes, and was leisure
ly affixing the stamps, when his at
tention became suddenly arrested by
something on the sheet of blotting pa
per before him.
What was it? With the exception
of number of indescribable hierogly-
phics and the impression of line of
more boldly written characters, which
had evidently been hastily blotted, the
surface of the pink sheet was perfect
ly blank. Putting up his eye glass,
he scanned them for at least couple
of minutes in absolute silence, and
then, giving a cautious glance round
the room, as though sudden thought
had struck him, he advanced, blotting
book in hand, towards Enthusiastically
framed mirror which stood above the
marble mantel. This further scrutiny
was, to all appearance, even more sue
cessful, for, as Major Brown held up
the strangely interesting sheet closd
to the glass. smile of satisfaction
Immediately lit up his face.
Ito be continuedD
The Leon reporter., 1899-12-28
hat
Mysterious
|Major....

should have been just as reluctant
to have anything to say to him as
am about this other man il we had
rot discovered in him an old friend of
both my husband and your father. At
the same time must say never met
anybody before In whom could place
such complete confidence. lie is so
different from the general run of young
men, who can talk of nothing but their
shooting, their horses, and their dogs"
"Oh, yes-he is very nice, Of course:
but"-Miss Luttrell paused for mo-
lnent-"he is not exactly young
mani"
Possibly not" The touch of impa-
thence in her ladyship's tones was su-
perseded by one of distinct annoyance.
Neither" she added, sis this mystic
rious individual with whom you have
struck up such warm friendship.
should Imagine there are only a very
few years difference in their ages"
"Now, Aunt Lydia. do not talk nom
sense! Major Brown may be as old
as Methuselah for all care! And,
as for saying that I have struck up
friendship with him-well, that is
really mean of you!" Evelyn pushed
! back her chair, advanced to the mid
die of the room. and with her hands
clasped behind her, gazed serenely at
her aunt. "You surely know that you
did more towards making that ac-
Quaintance in the ten minutes when
you talked to him last evening and
overwhelmed him with thanks for res
cuing me than could have done in
a whole year! Why, if had not known
to the contrary, should have thought
he was the one person in the hotel for
whom you had the greatest respect!'
"Yet, what else could 1 do, when
but for his timely aid, you might al
this very moment be lying lamed for
life or even dead?" returned Lady
Howard, with little shudder.
"Oh. no! You did quite right, OF
course!" said Evelyn thoughtfully
Perhaps nobody realized more fully
| than herself how much she had to be
The Leon reporter., 1899-12-28

thankful for. "But do not nav # ia
my fault If he-well, If for tn. future
ne does not merely take off his hat
and pass on with distant bow when
ne chances to meet you!"-laughing
lightly.
NO; the distant bow was quite a
thing of the past, their acquaintance
was on a totally different footing now
"a state OF affairs to which Major
Brown himself was thoroughly alive
when, halt an hour later, he CHANGED
TO meet Miss Luttrell in the garden.
He welcomed her warmly, persisted in
showing her some new plans for a
projected golf course, and was still
walking by her side when turn in
the path brought them face to face
with Gilbert Falkland.
so there you are, Miss Eve!" he
began by way of greeting, utterly ig-
noring her companion. 81 was Just
wondering where the bird had flown. ("
The words were spoken lightly, in
the same familiar half-patronizing
strain which Mr.. Falkland usually
adopted towards the daughter of his
old friend. Five minutes ago, when
l was passing along the verandah I
noticed that the window of your sit
ting room was wide open, that the
apartment itself was empty. and that
a check book was lying ON the ta-
ble."
"A check book?" Evelyn nodded.
"Ah. I dare say 1t was mine."
SO suspected" observed Falkland
calmly. Are you aware. though, that
1t is most dangerous practice leav-
Ing your check book about like that?"
"Dangerous!" Evelyn laughed. "Well,
yes: / suppose that it would be con-
sidered dangerous by some people who
go on the principle of locking up ev-
erything. from the wine cellar itself
down to such trifles as penny stamps
and halfpenny post cards"
"Yet check books, l should mag
Inc, scarcely come under that cate
gory." remarked Falkland with quiet
sarcasm. "But perhaps you have for
gotten our conversation of week
ago?" he supplemented. with signi-
ftcant glance from Evelyn to Major
Brown. who was standing silently pass
ing his stick along the edge of the
gravel path. an edited listener to the
discussion.
At his words the hot color rose
quickly to Evelyn's cheeks, mounting
to her forehead and spreading over
throat sand ears. Like lightning her
thoughts had gone back to that morn
Ing when her first encounter with Ma
Jor Brown had taken place; and. as
she realized to what Mr.. Falkland
was allnding. q feeling Of the utmost
~ tflo3r poasesslon OF her.
The Leon reporter., 1899-12-28
Our s,ave-HoldlnE Possessions.

Springfield (Mass.) Republican: The
administration has hedged regarding
slavery in the Sulus. Secretary Roots
annual report, published this morning
makes the interesting announcement
regarding the Bates compact that
Gen. Otis has been directed to inform
the sultan that the approval of the
agreement was not to be deemed to
give the authority or consent to the
United States to the existence of slav-
cry" Just how this message to the
sultan is to be interpreted is puzzling.
It does not follow at all that the gov
ernment will take measures to stamp
out slavery. But whatever the admin
istration may say 1t is immaterial in
the face of the compact itself. which
is in black and white.
The truth is that it recognized slav-
cry. by making stipulation concerning
the purchase by slaves of their own
freedom. When congress gets hold of
the compact this fact will appear. Sup
posing, however, that the administra-
ton proposes not to tolerate slavery.
in view Of the express prohibition in
the thirteenth amendment, the imperi-
alistic apologists of slavery in the Su-
lus will be left high and dry with their
ingenious arguments that slavery
should not be interfered with until the
Sulu people are more highly civilized.
The Leon reporter., 1899-12-28
Analvsis of Instinct.

An English traveller in northern
Russia, telling how he made his way
through forest after fall of snow
simply by keeping that side of the tree
to which the snow clung always in the
same relation to his course, is led to
examine how it is that savage gains
the instincts of his race. We often
hear of "the instinct of direction" as
we may call it, possessed SO marvel
ously by savage races. People profess
to explain it in one of two ways. 1t is
either said that the Indian actually
does take note Of the sun, the wind,
the lay of the land, or the course of the
streams,-which, as fact, it is often,
in the dense forest, impossible for him
to door else it is set down simply as
instinct" and this, although it Is
nearer the mark, is, in a sense, to beg
the question. Instinct, however it
may be in the case Of animals, is here,
no doubt, hereditary experience. The
sun, the wind, the streams are influ-
ences, but only that. The Indian does
not consciously observe them. Just as
you, using an experience gained in
daylight. can follow without hands in
the dark winding staircase between
the baluster and the wall, so with the
Indian in his forest. His "observa-
tion" is entirely subjective, an un-
conscious impression, the sum of small
influences, to which, by heredity, his
senses are alive, as the retina to light
pictures. In the same way had not
consciously remarked the lay of the
snow on the trees, yet the fact kept me
from going astray.
The Leon reporter., 1899-12-28
Then and Now.


I wish had been grandpa's child,
That I could have had the Joy
OF fishing in those good old days
When father was boy.
For then the fish grew bigger Tar
Than they do nowadays,
And literally packed the streams
AT least, SO father says.
They never caught a sucker then
That didn't weigh a ton,
And pickerel were longer than
A modern Armstrong gun.
They used to yank out halibut 9
In hundreds from our bays, y
And shad ran up the banks to bite
AT least, SO father says.
They never thought of using bait
TO lure the willy trout;
They reached bushel basket down
And simply yanked them out.
And in about an hour or two
They'd fill up several drays
And show them through the neighhor-
hood
At least. so father says.
In short, they caught so many fish
That fore their sport was through
The stream where they were fishing would
Go down a yard or two.
And not an angler failed to como
Home loaded in those days
hcbit father still pursues-
AT least. SO mother says.
Cornish Telegraph
The Leon reporter., 1899-12-28
CHAPTER vi

'lt is very awkward, but then 1t is
Just exactly what one might have sup
posed weuld happen" Lady Howard
spoke In strangely perturbed tone.
For the past few minutes she had been
occupied in reading the London pa
per, but the remark, which was ac-
Scompanied by faint sigh, was evil
3dently the outcome of previous con-
versation. IF one has a particular
.antipathy for certain individual, one
may be quite sure that, as ill-luck will
have 1t. one will be brought in con-
tact with that very individual at every
turn and corner; and it has just been
30 with Major Brown. During the past
Tour or five days we must have had oc-
caslon to speak to him at least a
dozen times. What with lending us
his umbrella on the day we were caught
~ that thunder shower, helping in the
search for Sambo when you lost him
the other morning, and to crown all,
srescuing you almost from under the
hoofs OF that tiresome horse upon the
shore yesterday, we seem to have pass
sed our time in saying nothing but
thank you,' to him. Really every
thing has happened as awkwardly as it
could. OF course accidents are con-
stantly occurring: still cannot imag-
Inc how you managed to get under
the hoofs Of that horse.'
Well, yes-it was troublesome of
me. It would have been almost bet
ter II it had killed me outright" was
Evelyn's answer from the deep EN-
brasure Of the window, where she was
sitting before small writing table
bustly scribbling off several notes.
but. anyhow, we were under an OBJ
legation him for getting wet through
on our aI,unt the other night, when
in that pdlring rain he found us cab
after the theater. After that, we were
obliged to be polite to him"
Nes-polite of course" agreed her
ladyship, twisting her rings somewhat
thoughtfully round and round upon her
fingers; "but you have to be more than
The Leon reporter., 1899-12-28

ordinarily polite to a man who has
saved your life"
'sYes-that is it," said Evelyn lugu-
briously.
''It Is very annoying-the whole at
fair has been SO unfortunate" pro-
ceeded Lady Howard with emphasis.
If it were absolutely necessary that
3 you should be rescued by somebody, all
well and good: but there is not an
other person in the hotel whom I
would not have chosen to undertake
the task in preference TO that man.
Evelyn received the information in
silence. Leaning her elbows on the
edge of the table, she let her chin
sink slowly into her two palms and
gazed out refectively through the
epen window.
Still there is nothing really against
him." she suggested at length. with
slight though perceptible difhdence.
"He--he is very nice to talk to. The
only objection is that nobody knows
who he Is, and that his name is
sBrown'-plain common 'Brown'-with-
Fzout even an e. to add a little elegance
to It. And of course one generally
considers that an officer Is at least
gentleman"
sAn officer? Nonsense, child! Be
cause he calls himself Major Brown.
40 you suppose that is any criterion of
his position in society?" Lady How
nrl spoke quite disdainfully. HE may
be an officer, certainly-he has the ap-
pearance Of soldier-but it is far
more likely, since nobody can discov-
lr what regiment he is in-and there
IS no such name in the retired Army
vst-that he is merely major OF vol
Hlteers In an obscure country town.
following vulgar but honest trade
+ as soap boiler or sugar refiner."
He may be. Of course. Pigs, be-
lieye. may fly" returned Evelyn, nib
bling the end of her pen with per-
fectly unconvinced expression. But
there is nothing suggestive Of either
soap or sugar about Major Brown"
mo / do not say that there is: but
dislike making promiscuous ac-
Quaintances. Mr.. Falkland was talk
ling about him only this morning, and
he seems thoroughly to understand my
feelings upon the subject"
Yet month ago Mr.. Falkland was
quite as promiscouous an acquaintance
himself. It was only by chance we
got to know him; and in his case he
had not even done anything for which
wc were under any obligation to him, =
was Evelyn's prompt reply.
My dear child, what are you talk
inS about :" Lady Howard's tones were
slikhtly impatient. '.Mr. Faikland's
90 - 40 l1ita di1{erent case, we made
The Leon reporter., 1899-12-28
But worst of all was the knowledge

But worst OF all was the knowledge
that Major Brown had raised his head
and was wonderingly surveying the
crimson hue of her checks, and prob
ably even divining the cause Of her
confusion. This last thought was too
much for her. Without another word,
and giving Gilbert Falkland only one
flash of her angry eyes, she suddenly
turned away and walked on indignant
ly towards the house.
THE wretch!" hate him!" she mur-
INJURED moment later, as she stepped
through the open window of Lady How
ards sitting room and threw herself
into low chair.
One contemptuous glance she gave
at her check book as 1T lay open on
the table by her side, and then, as
though annoyed by the very sight of it.
she took 1t UP, and, thrusting it into
her writing case. locked the key an
grily upon it.
The Leon reporter., 1899-12-28
rbe Parrot Gave Him Away.

Victor Chevalier, a clever criminal in
Paris, was run down in shrewd way.
He was known to be exceedingly fond
Of pet parrot, and the police were in
structed to look for loquacious bird
Of this kind. After few weeks search
the talkative parrot was discovered in
the Montmartre district. The police
kept close watch on the house, and
In time the criminal appeared to have
an affectionate chat with the bird.
The Leon reporter., 1899-12-28
Strong Glass Cd.

Mr.. Stubb-Can Sally see good
through her new glasses? Mrs. Stubb
Yes, John, but she says they exag-
gerate. Mr.. Stubb-Exaggerate, Ma
ria? Mrs. Stubb-Yes, outrageously.
The other night she declared the moon
had golden rim, and then she found
out it was her glasses that had q
golden rim.
The Leon reporter., 1899-12-28
Owen Still-Say, Bill, what trade did
you uster work at?
Bill-Table finisher.
Too Easy,

Mr.. Newlywed explaining polAer)-
Now. If you get poor hand you want
to bluff. and if you get a good hand
you want to make a bluff that you're
bluffing. Now. there are two ways OF
blufing; one is to bluff, the other is
not to bluff. If you're regular bluff
er you can often bluff by not blufhng.
and
Mrs. Newlywed-I see, John; but
that game is too easy! Let's play It'd
e-winks!-Puck.
The Leon reporter., 1899-12-28

In the face of conditions plain to all,
the Republican editors go on denounc-
ing cheap mcaey" in one breath and
applauding its results in the next.
Cheap money is delusion!" they cry,
and then add, Behold the prosperity
of the country"
The Leon reporter., 1899-12-28
To Match.

"Lobella," demanded Mr.. McSwat, aa
he stood. hat in hand, waiting for her.
are you going out walking with that
bicycling dress on?''
This is my ralny-day skirt" replied
Mrs. Mcswat, "and certainly am 60
ing out walking in it,
Then wait minute" he said, "and
will turn up my trousers. s."-Chicago
Tribune.
The Leon reporter., 1899-12-28
sa atistled An Around.

Governess-I'm very sorry-tell your
dear parents-very sorry, indeed, that
can't accept their kind invitation.
Freddy (anxious to ease the lady'a
mind)-It doesn't matter bit, y'know.
Ma says she only asked you out OF
compliment!-Ally Sloper.
The Leon reporter., 1899-12-28

in 1870 more iron than the gold dol
lar commands today. Thus, as COM
pared with 1894, we have fifty-cent
dollar with respect to cotton and with
respect to cotton products, and thir-
The Leon reporter., 1899-12-28
AS TO "cHEAP MONEY"

A Republican exchange, in dealing
with future events. says that it is in
cumbent on gold Democrats to vote
the Republican ticket, so as to make
more crushing the cheap money
forces"
The cheap money forces! Really,
these Republican editors seem to be
blind to the conditions all around
them. They close their eyes to all
the information contained in their
daily market reports. They put their
fingers in their ears and refuse to
listen to facts. Compared with the
most important OF the worlds con6/
modities, money was never cheaperin
this country than 1t is to-day. TbA de-
nreciated YNeenhack Illar wo,,A huv
The Leon reporter., 1899-12-28
Last Laugh I. Ever the Best

"She married him in order to be re-
venged on her rival"
"Ah! Then vengeance was hers"
'No. 1t only took two months OF.
married life to convince her that
vengeance was her rivals:"-Chicago
Post.
The Leon reporter., 1899-12-28
OUR BUDGET OF FUN
SOME GOOD JOKES ORIGINAL
AND SELECTED.

A Variety of Ouibs. Gibes and Ironfes
to Cause q Smile - Flotsam and
Jetsam from the Tide Of Humor-
Witty Sayings
The Leon reporter., 1899-12-28
Grounds for 1t.

QUINN wore one OF those new rub
ber collars to save laundry bills. De
Ronte-Was it succesR Quinn-No.
l had to throw it ay Every one !
met yelled "Rubbe5
The Leon reporter., 1899-12-28

The wood of the redwood tree never
decays, it is said, and fallen trunks
which have been overgrown by old
forests are as solid as the day they
The Leon reporter., 1899-12-28

"The history of our race has been
a succession of such contests which
have had but one result We are peace
able. patient. long suffering and slow
to anger. we have made incredible sac
rifices for liberty, regulated by law. We
know what we want, and sooner or
later we always get it. We prefer
charters to ultimatums, but when it
was discovered in 1861 that the con-
stitution was defective. the people
amended it with the sword"
The Leon reporter., 1899-12-28

Wall street recently took up what
has been called "the Coxey yell" and
demanded more money because they
didn't want to see the stock market
collapse under the influence of low
prices.