davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1899-06-16
Honest Pair.

"'Taint everybody that's got such
right feelings as Sally Potter and her
ma; I will say that for the Potters.
even If u families aren't going to be
connected, after ALL" Mrs. Roberts
was speaking to her next-door neigh
Dor, Miss Elizabeth Sprawle. They're
honest as the day, l know that" said
Miss Sprawle, "and / only hope our
Ned will find another girl as good as
Sally" There's not a mite of hard
feeling betwixt Ned and Sally" an
swered Mrs. Roberts; they're good
friends still, only they see they made
a mistake getting engaged. They were
too young to know their own minds,
and Mrs. Potter and l both take blame
that we didn't counsel them to wait.
But that isn't what l was going to tell
you. You recall that sprigged-muslin
dress pattern that Ned gave Sally
when the engagement came out " Miss
Sprawle nodded assent. "Well," con-
tinued Mrs. Roberts, ut being so hot
last summer. Sally had it made up and
wore, as you probably know, but not
enough so but what 'twould nave given
excellent wear this year if they'd been
married. Well, as soon as Sally and
Ned decided to break off, Mrs. Potter
came over, and nothing would do but
/ should tell her Just wnat the mate-
rial cost! l hated to, but she would
have it. and at last I told her Ned paid
six dollars for 1t; and today Sally
brought over the money in an enve-
lope, and there was not only the six
dollars, but t~hirty-six cents interest
for the year! / told Sally that there
weren't many folks that would have
thought Of paying six per cent interest
in such a case. but she was real sur
prised, and said twas only what vas
right. Now what do you think Of
thRt?" Ned never'n find another
such, I'm afraid" said Miss Sprawle,
and Mrs. Roberts agreed with her.
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1899-06-16

Words That Are Very Much Over
worked Just Now.

Never vas a word so overworked as
the M we hear. on every hand nova
days, namely. colonial, % says the Bos-
ton Transcript. II a man builds a
house severely plain in style, why.
u Is colonial; n he has an old house
remodeled by the addition Of three or
-FOUR posts as supports, he has by that
alteration secured for himself q colo
mar mansion. II madame becomes
the possessor Of any old piece of fur
niture, why. 1t Is ~"colonial;" II she
selects for her windows very simple
drapings, they. too, are entitled to be
called colonial" SO 1t goes. Some
remarks which Mr.. Clarence H. Black
all makes in the current Architectural
Review upon the subject OF Good and
Bad Colonial Architecture" are quite
apropos Of the times. He says that
colonial architecture at its best is a
third-hand style, brought about in this
way: Sir Christopher Wren, who gave
a distinct imprint to the English work
Of the seventeenth and eighteenth CEN
turtles, drew his ideas OF Italian archi-
lecture not from Italy. but from
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1899-06-16
A SOCIABLE SPIRIT.
MAKES HER HOME WITH MR.
AND MRS. BABCoCK,
Says spooEs Travel Qulto sIowly-aoes
20 h Thsatsr With the Family. and
sits on Her Male Frisnd's knees A
Queer st. Louis senaation.
(st. louis Letter.l


MI. A. r. Ba5cock, ~well-known as
a broker on the ST. Louis Merchants
exchange, says that ap~irltualism with
him is not a belief Of faith so much as
q matter Of absolute knowledge. A
spirit which may be truly called a ia
miliar," he says, dwells with him and
his family, IN ever welcome daily
guest, who departs st night, only to
return early the next morning.
Conversation is carried on by means
OF a mechanical continuance made by
Mr.. Babcock. 1t is on somewhat the
same principle as the %planchette, but
Is stationary. II consists Of a box
like arrangement open at both sides,
so as to admit the left hand of the
operator, while the right manipulates
an index finger on the upper surface.
The upper surface bears the let
ters Of the alphabet, the numerals from
1 to 8, followed by an o. and the words
Going" Good night" Yes" mo"
and Don't know" the few words in
common use being to facilitate con-
%versation, as they are often required in
answering questions.
The story Of Mr.. Babcock's expert
ences, as told by himself, is a weird
one. About eight years ago." he
says. Il was rooming with Mr.. J.. H.
Cockrell over the bookstore then at
the northeast corner of Sixth and Olive
streets. One night l went to bed in
perfect health. In the middle Of the
night my spirit left my body. 1 shall
never forget my strange experience.
1 have no recollection Of leaving the
tenement Of clay, nor Of returning to
It. All l know is that, seemingly poised
in air, 1 looked down and saw my body
there. It filled me with a certain feel
ing of disgust. l said to myself: rs
it possible l live in such a thing as
that?' While floating in the air, buoyed
up by an unknown power I met, walk
ed and talked to the young woman,
Amelia, who has been our constant
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1899-06-16

France, and the American colonies bor-
rowed their architectural ideas from
the English work. chiefly through the
medium Of the very meager books
upon the subject when colonial archi-
lecture as such assumed its best
phases. The scarcity Of architects in
the America OF those days and the lin
tied means at their disposal forced
them to a limitation of style which
came very close to poverty, both in
ideas and in details. On the other
hand. their architectural problems
we're necessarily worked out in a
Straightforward manner and with such
close copying OF really good models
that the best OF the work rose to the
dignity Of historic style. It is to these
older examples rather than by study
ing the modern buildings the distinc-
tive characteristics are less appreciable
and the difference between what is
really good and what Is only passable
is not so readily appreciated as in the
older work for which the models were
exact and the copying therefrom car
ried almost to 8ervility.
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1899-06-16
A NEW MRS. ~PARvINoTON.

Milwaukee's Mrs. Darlington really
deserves to have her fame perpetuated.
She says so many deliclously absurd
things that no one who has not met
her will believe that they are other
than the inventions of some malicious
person, Jealous Of the lady's standing
position. For be it known that Mrs.
Partington's husband is one OF the
wealthies and best known OF Milwau-
KEGS solid citizens, and she goes on
her way daily scattering these conver-
~sational pearls regardless Of whom
they may fall before. She had just
learned to her sorrow that 1t was con-
sidered very bad form In the more ex-
elusive Prospect venue sets to pur-
chase anything down town. pay for It
then and there. which she had here
tofore taken special delight in doing.
as it enabled her to show a large Wad
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1899-06-16

companion for so many years since.
She appeared as a mortal, and
was clothed apparently in a
black robe. She said it was
her spiritual gown, and was not
really black, but appeared so only to
me. This was not a dream. as has
been abundantly proven since, but
when l regained human consciousness
l was back in my body and in my own
room. l could hardly believe it at first,
and had to identify my familiar sur
roundings before being convinced. l
confess / was disappointed to find my
self back. Following is the history
OF Amelia and her family, as communi-
Gated to us by her. l have never sought
to verify her story. but am satisfied Of
its truth: MY name is Amelia Bauer; l
was born in Boston, Jan. 10, 1871. /
have blue eyes. long black hair, and
not very tall-fve feet four inches
Of medium build. / passed into spirit
life when I'VE years old. Group. some
say spasms, caused my death. My ia
theirs name was Barnes Bauer; he was
a carpenter, and was killed by a fall
from a ladder. My mothers lame was
Lucy, a bad cold caused her death.
Ny dogs name was Victor. All Of us
are now in spirit land. Mother and
/ once visited the old home, but no
one In the house knew we were there.
And after looking around all We
wanted to, we returned to spirit land,
which father and mother have never
since left" Every morning" con-
tinued Mr.. Babcock. Amelia comes
about 1880. II the night has been too
Cold to leave the window down / get up
early and lower It, then lie down again.
When she comes she invariably
awakens me with a tap on the fore
bead. Sometimes her journey has tired
her. That pillow pointing to a pill
low at the foot Of the bed is kept
for her use, and she often lies there,
resting. until time to get up. After
breakfast she usually-generally, In
fsct-aecompanies me to the exchange.
The afternoons when l am other
wise engaged she usually spends with
ny wife. She goes to dinner with us
st 5 o'clock, when she bids us good
right and leaves, to rest In spirit
land. Sometimes in the evening she
gets lonesome and viii say, Let's all go
to the play house Then / go over to
one OF the theaters to see II 1 can pro-
cure seats, IN which case we all go,
and Amelia enjoys the play with us.
She has her favorite actresses, and
does not like to hear them adversely
criticised. "She is a bit mlschievous
sometimes. One day / asked her to
stay with my wife while / went to
the barber-shop- She said she would.
but after had been in the chair /
iound her sitting on my knee. /
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1899-06-16
SMOKING NrEDArED TOBACCO
Evidence THAI Herbs Were Smoked In
Raleigh's Time.

RaleiRh's Time.
From the Loiion Evening Stand
ard: There isssome reason to think
that people smoked before tobacco was
introduced. In several old hooks Of
h~ouseWifery certain herbs named are
to Pc 'smQaked," which means. per-
-hsFA ahe asa we s1od8 saw bdl
the other Specification is by no means
impossible. A vast number of CLAW
pipes have been found under eondi.
lions which seem to prove that thew
were deposited long before Raleigb's
olrth' and a pipe Of early date is so
utterly unlike the modern form that
these could not have been dropped by
laborers Of the present day. At an an
tlquarian meeting many years ago an
old gentleman told how his GRANDPA
Their used to give him coppers for wad-
Ing into the pool dam at Newcastle
under-Lyme to gather "buckbane."
which the veteran smoked to relieve
asthma. That Renaissance carries us
back a century and a half, and it is
probable that buckbane had been used
for asthma time out Of mind" II
people were already familiar with the
practice Of smoking herbs we should
have an explanation of the astonishing
rapidity with which they took to to-
bacco. 1t may be noted that Cartier
tound the Indians Of Hochelaga, on
the st. Lawrence, smoking a herb
which we recognize from his descrlp-
ton as lobelia, as well as tobacco. His
sailors did not care for the latter. but
the former met with their approval
from the first, for it was "as good as
drink TO them. The medicine men
smoked lobelia before prophesying
and under its effect they raved. Has
this property Of the weed been tested
by the ~savants?
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1899-06-16
O IN INDIA.

The extent to which the rivers an6
creeks in India abound with alligators
and %crocodiles is scarcely credible. In
some Of the streams they may be seen
in rows along the Shiny banks, from
the baby Of three feet to the monster
Of sixteen feet; whilst others, basking
in the hot sun, are extended at full
length, head downward, with jaws wide
open, showing a disgusting red throat
and formidable teeth, ready at the
least alarm to slip into the water. The
havoc caused by crocodiles, especially
among cattle, is considerable. They
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1899-06-16

II brings an incongruous yet pleas
ing sense OF nearness to be made con-
scious OF social forms and amenities
that are considered relatively modern,
but which we're common among people
who had become civilized long ante
rior to the emergence OF our Anglo
Saxon ~ancestros from barbarism.
Among the papyri discovered at
Oxyrhyncus. and recently published
by the Egypt Exploration Fund, is a
letter from an Egyptian to his wife,
or to some woman relative. the tone
Of which is Enthusiastically modern:
Greeting, my dear SERENA, from
Petorisls. Be sure, dear, to come up
on the goth for the birthday festival,
and let me know whether you are
coming by boat OF donkey, in order
that we may send for you accordingly.
Be sure not to forget. / pray for your
continued health"
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1899-06-16
SILLY HOMAGE.
raid TO Famous Men By Many People IN
Waahinrton.

raid TO Tamous Men By Many People IN
w~ashinrtou.
Washington Star: THE reverence in
which some people hold others who
happen to know or have known men
Of distinction Is positively silly" said
a white house attache the other day.
We see a great deal Of the foolishness
here every day. See that little girl
and two women going on there2 Well
they visited the east room a few min
utes ago and seemed to think the little
girl was a person OF great Importance.
couldn't realize what Il all meant
until they stopped here and said to me:
This little girl is only 10 years old
ana she has seen Gen. Shafter.' OF
course, for politeness' sake / expressed
amazement that one so young should
nave seen so great a man, but I tried to
IND out II there was any other reason
Tor the unusual respect In which the
little creature was held. There was no
other. The women went of positively
happy In the idea that they had as
ronished us all with their revelations.
Every day we have people come here
n attempt to see the president. on
the ground that at some time or other
they knew some Of the ex-presidents
or some distinguished man. President
Lincoln spoke to me at the theater
once says n Another claims to
have been at one Of President Blu
chanan's dinners. SIN another old man
has been coming here for two years,
exhibiting a torn letter which he once
received from Roscoe Conkling. The
letter was a formal one, expressing APP
probation of the good wishes OF the
old a The old fellow exhibits the
letter as an alleged evidence Of the fact
that he was a personal and close friend
Of the dead statesman, once so power
full in the politics of this country.
These are many instances OF such
things. These people, mostly old men
and women, live on the past and be-
lieve that this will impress the pres
ent sufficiently to carry through
schemes they have in view.
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1899-06-16
shoo.lnr nuusts 10 snou.

Some experiments we're made recent
ly in France on the penetrative power
Of bullets through snow. The results
were very astonishing. The Lebel rife
was used and at a distance OF 100 feet
the bullet penetrated only hve feet into
the now target. A bullet from a Lee
bel rife has been known, 1t Is said. TO
90 through a tree three and a half feet
in diameter. That 1t should only pen
ertate eighteen inches farther into such
soft stun as snow seems altogether
startling. The explanation suggested
by the experimentalists is that the ro-
tating bullet picks up particles Of snow
as 1t goes in and so gets "balled," ar
blocked up.
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1899-06-16

thought how scared those barbera
would be II they could only know
and see her as I did. After getting
hack to the room she said. I changed
my mind; I fooled you that time
Amelia has corrected many erroneous
Impressions about spirits. She says Il
Is a mistake to suppose that they can
travel vast distances with the speed
Of lightning. They have no wings,
but move up. down. or straight for
ward through the air, with little ex-
e%rtion, pretty much rs a FISH swims.
Their speed Is only about equal to
ours. and a journey to Boston, for
instance. would take a spirit about as
long as a mortal riding on a train.
Amelia visits no one but us. She is
afraid to go into my house without
myself or wife, for fear Of being ac-
cldentally shut up. She thinks danger
surrounds me, but feels perfectly safe
with my wife, with whom she says she
would not be afraid to cross the ocean.
Frequently Amelia goes shopping
with my wife, and helps her select the
patterns for her dresses. Whenever
my wife fails to take her along, and
exercises her own judgment, she Is in
variably dissatisfied with her pur-
chases sooner or later" Incredible as
such experiences may appear to the
uninitiated, certain it is that Mr.. Bah
cock believes in Amelia almost i'm
plicitly, and that his wife shares this
belief. To them Amelia is a living, II
tangible, presence. Their affection for
her Is touching. Having no children
Of their own, Amelia is at once child,
guide and companion. and the sever
ance Of tho ties which bind the trio
together would be keenly felt as the
death Of the dearest relative.
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1899-06-16

travel long distances from the river
bank during the night in search of
prey. A swing Of their powerful tail
will knock a COW of her legs, breaking
them in the act. and thus the reptiles
drag the animal into the water to be
eaten at leisure. On n occasion the
writer witnessed the following painful
occurrence: A fsher-boy, fishing on
the banks Of a creek, was suddenly
seized by a crocodile. An alarm was
Immediately given, but regardless of
sticks and stones, the monster stuck
to his prey, leisurely keeping to the
surface; when, apparently with the OBJ
ject Of obtaining a more convenient
hold, the lad was deliberately tossed
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1899-06-16

The largest orchard in the world is
IN Kansas and belongs to Fred Well
house Of Topeka. He planted his first
orchard I'm 1876. aud now has 1854
acres In apples alone. His largest sim
gle orchard consists Of 800 acres at
Wakarusa, Usage county, and hie
smallest is a patch Of 1T acres at the
villageOf GlenwOOd, near eavenwOrth.
He has apple farms In four other coun-
ties, including altogether about 100000
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1899-06-16

MacDonagh's Irish Life and Char
acter" relates an snecdote illustrating
Mr.. Parnell's lack Of humor. The first
meeting OF the Irish Land League was
presided over by a Mr.. Kettle, and It
fell to Mr.. Parnell to move a vote OF
thanks to the chat. Il need hardly
observe. gentlemen" said he. that in
Ireland the name Of Kettle is a house
hold word" He was quite unaware OF
the pun, but his hearers did not find
It easy to keep their faces straight.
Still more trying was the scene in a
Western town when the body Of a
Union soldier named Hogg was brought
home to be honored with a public flu
neral. The clergyman. who pronounced
an extemporaneous eulogy, produced a
sensation by saying, This country
must be saved. even II it shall cost the
life Of many a Hogg!"
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1899-06-16

A member Of a Canadian school
Incorporated a bottle Of ink. The
city clerk of the municipality where
the wrong-doing occurred lately ire
ceived FIVE cents from Chicago in pay
ment for the property thus converted
to the pupils use. Repentance and
restoration may Rnd a full Illustration
even though the value represented is
only a trihe. There is no moral law
which declares that sins against hon
esty do not count unless the sum in
volved Is over one dollar. The steal
ing OF a penny disturbs the ethical
equilibrium as surely as the stealing
that opens prison doors to the reck-
less thief.
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1899-06-16
FILIPINos ARE ooop EIoHrERa
BHaVss of AEuInAldo show they Have
Their Own share OF Courage.

BHaVss OF AEulnAldo show They Have
Their Own share OF Courage.
The Filipinos are certainly showing
that they have their full share Of cour-
age. In the latest hard hghtine
around Manila they were forced to give
way before the determined American
advance, but the losses they endured
proved how well they stood their
ground against the forces far superior
I equipment. arms. leadership and
skill in the use Of modern weapons.
The soldiers who served A~guinaldo had
the advantage Of fighting on the defen-
siye and Of knowing the country bet
ter han the Americans. The climate
was also in their favor. But the diff
ference In the losses sustained shows
that they were essentially overmatch-
ed. Few natives of semi-civilized or
savage countries would have stood
their ground so we'll, under like condi-
lions. Nothing more can be asked OF
men, as a test Of courage, than their
willingness to hight until they die, and
IL Is clear mat many OF the Malays IN
Luzon have been ready for that SUI
preme test Of bravery. II is evident
that the fighting powers OF the Fiilpin-
os were much dnderestlmated, at first,
by the American officers who held
commands in Manila. Their stubborn
resistance TO the spaniards was too
attributed to the inemcieney Of
the Spanish soldiers. II seems rather
have been due to the courage ana
natural proves Of the Filipinos them
The Spanish infantry proved
Santiago. that II could do deadly
work in battle, and the losses Of the
bilipinos in their last rebellion against
Spain were heavy. ~ CLEVELAND Leader.
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1899-06-16

OF bills in her fat pocket book. So she
sailed into a dry goods store one day.
bought a skein OF embroidered silk, and
remarked airily: You may send that
up 20 my house. Don't forget to send
Il A. B. c." On another occasion she
asked a woman clerk In the same store
20 show her some stockings.
What kind OF hose shall / show
you, madam?"a
Hose Is Il? Do you take me for q
gardener? It's stockings / want"
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1899-06-16
Music for rlr.a stun.n,..

At Cornell University a skiIlful or.
ganist gives a daily recital on thu
grand organ OF Sage chapel at 8
o'clock. just as the students are going
to their rooms from the days work.
The chapel doors are open and the lis
teners come and 90. sitting tin rested,
and listening to the solemn strains OF
the music. It Is a custom held IN
grateful esteem by Comedians.
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1899-06-16

A correspondent Of the Troy Times
describes a millionaire as the rich
est drunkard' ever placed in Bellevue
Hospital for treatment, but adds that
many wealthy men have been brought
there as victims of appetite. Alcohol
is no respecter Of persons; neither is
the hospital management. The raw
ings OF delirium tremens heard in the
rich mans cell are undistinguishable
from those Of the pauper.
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1899-06-16

A number Of relies OF Sir Walter
Scott were recently sold at auction.
among them being eighty-three letters
which brought SLIPS. His walking
stick, a stout piece OF ash cut in the
woods Of Abbotsford. was sold for s2O5.
and two locks Of his hair went for
5000 each.
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1899-06-16

AtAlbany the lawmakers are wrang-
ling over the abolition Of the death
penalty. The man who succeeds will
prove as great a benefactor to the
breaker Of mans laws as HOstetter's
Stomach Bitters has to the breaker OF
natures laws. II you've neglected
your stomach until indigestion and
constipation are upon you, try Hostel
ter's Stomach Bitters.
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1899-06-16

II is said that the Porto Ricans want
but two thingB-w 1rk and a place to
market their products. The people OF
that island are giving some exhibit
lions OF A~merieanism that might well
be emulated in a good many places
much nearer home.
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1899-06-16

To Mr.. Kipling's distrust OF the
peace manifesto because It comes from
Russia Mr.. Edwin ID. Mead makes this
happy reply: "A bear dressed up and
acting the part Of a man is a pleas
anter spectacle than a man acting the
part Of a bear"
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1899-06-16

1 have no doubt that much sorrow
might be prevented il words Of en-
couragement we're more frequently
spoken, fifty and in season; and there
fore to withhold them is sin.-C. H.
Sturgeon.
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1899-06-16

Chicago ~highWayInen have reached
the point Of reckless desperation where
they drag a man from a railroad train
and rob him. Their desperation Is in
dicated BY their willingness 70 take
what the porter overlooked.