davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-10
TALES or YANKEE ENCHANTMENT.

THE BOY WHO MADE A TROLLEY CAR.
BY Charles Battell Looms.

A., course, easier to take the car off the wagon
than to put it on. They started the willing
oxen home. sure that they would find their
way by themselves. Then they all sat down
In the car to wait for a freight train to
come. In a few minutes a freight train
stopped to unload some empty milk cans and
George removed his cap and politely asked
brakeman II he would help him put his
trolley car upon a Platform car, as he was
going to take it to Boston. The brakeman
had been born in the country and that made
him willing to be helpful, so he jumped
I down and signalled the engineer not to start
and then after the neighbors had all gotten
out Of the trolley he, with the help Of the
/ Starbucks, put the car upon the platform
car Then George and his parents and all
the neghbors stepped inside Of the cal and
the train started for Boston.
! Pretty soon the conductor, who was city
| bred man, came along and asked them for
their fare.
Georges feelings were hurt and he said:
why. why should we pay our fare? I am
taking my parents and some neighbors to
Boston in my own trolley car. will pay you
freight for the car, but not 1 cent for car
fare"
The neighbors all cheered these noble
words which sounded very much like the
famous sayings of famous men, and the con-
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-10

Copyright, 1899, by Charles Battell LoomisD
George starbuck had always lived in the
country, which was tho best thing that
could have happened to him. Have you ever
thought you city child how little chance
you have to become great or famous? You
may become rich, but the chances are that
you viii never be president. and all because
YOU wore unfortunate enough to be born and
brought up in the city.
You have been taught to laugh each week
at the poor countryman who Is pictured in
the comic weekics as a sort Of cross be-
tween a monkey and sharper, but the
copntryman learned what neighboriness
meant when he was a boy and you will
never know it's meaning unless you leave
the crowded city before it is too late. Go
UP into the country and learn to be neigh
borly ana self reliant, and you may get
into the history books and future little boys
viii have to learn all about you, as you
have to about George Washington and Gen
orll Grant and Daniel Webster and Chauncey
NJ. Depew-all country boys.
George Starbuck lived at Graytown, near
Worces ser in Massachusetts,, and he could
make anything that he had ever seen. At Z
years of age he made a wagon, whiting
the wheels out Of soft pine wood, and his
father rode in it half hour before 1t fell
10 pieces and broke his leg.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-10
RAREsT BOOKS IN THE WORLD.
Big and Little Volumes and Manu-
scripts of Grent NnInc.

scripts of Great Value.
The most valuable book in the world is
the Hebraic bible. At the vatican, in 1912
the Jews tried to buy it of Pope julius II
for its weight in gold. 1t is so large and
heavy that two men can hardly lift it anL
it would have brought 100000 if the pope
bad consented to part with it.
The smallest book in the world is not
much larger than a mans thumb nail. II
was made in Italy. 1t is four-te ol
an inch long and about a quarter of an
inch wide. 1t contains 2OS pages each hav-
ing nine lines and from ninety-five to 10C
letters. The text is a letter-before unpub-
lished-written by the famous inventor o
the pendulum clock to Madame Christine oi
Lorraine in 1915.
The next smallest book is an edition ol
Dante's "Diyine Comedy" and it is little
less than an iIch wide with type so small
that it takes a microscope to read the let
ters
When it is finished the official history OF
our war of the rebellion will be the cost
liest book in the world. 1t is being issued
by the government of the United States
and at a cost up to date of about $2,0OO,OOO
1t will consist of 112 volumes, including ar
index and an atlas, which contains lis
plates and maps illustrating the important
battles of the war, campaign, routes o!
march, plans of forts and photographs oi
interesting scenes, places and persons.
The most voluminous encyclopedia work
in the world is in the Berlin Anthropolog-
ical Museum. 1t is in 1900 volumes in
Chinese. 1t embraces literature, philosophy
astronomy, natural science and industries
Each volume has 100 to $50 pages Origin
ally only 100 copies were printed and those
was not put on sale But recently a new
edition was put forth, which sells at $500
for the set. 1t is spendidly illustrated
with maps and pictures.
The largest private library in this coun-
try was owned by the historian II. II. Ban
croft. 1t consists of $4,000 volumes, valued
at 5000 900. A fine collection OF manu-
scripts in dialect and manuscripts relating
to the early settlement of the Pacific coast,
of the Spanish colonies and of the early
ecclesiastical missions are included in the
Bancroft library.
The highest price ever paid for single
volume was $4,000. 1t was for a vellum
missal, which was presented to King Henry
companied by a document making King
Henry the defender of the faith. 1t is now
in the possession OF the German govern
ment Charles II gave it to an ancestor Of
the duke Of Hamilton, and it was sold few
years ago at the sale OF the duke of Hamil-
toms library
A valuable manuscript, If not the most
valuable one in this county is owned by
John Jacob Astor, who gave $4,000 for it.
It is the sforza missal 1t is a manuscript
measuring 1Ssx99s inches; it has 1S4 pages
of vellum and is bound in red morocco, It
was made for Gaeazzo Sforza by the great
Florentne artist Francesca Filippo Lippi.
That Queen Victoria possesses the largest
bound book ever made is perhaps an item
OF interest 1t weights slxty-three pounds
and is eighteen inches thick,
Iron nails are studded all over the covers
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-10

So when Mr.. Starbuck took George to
Boston and showed him trolley cars, or
"electricS," which is the absurd name they
give them there, George said: "Pll make
one when l get home' Remember he was
only 49, But make one he did. How he
knew what kind of timber to use passes me,
but at the end of a week he called his father
out to his workshop, which had formerly
been wagon shed, and there was trolley
car life size, and for all the world like
the one of those that run out to Cambridge
and Arlington.
Mr.. Starbuck was delighted. What are
you going to do with it, my SOM" asked
he.
well l had some thoughts Of selling IT.
said George, but, after ali, money is not
everything so now | think I'll take you and
mother and a party of neighbors down to
Boston in it and when ! get there the neigh
bors can go sightseeing and I'll make
enough money running it to raise the mort
gage that is On this farm"
When you grow up you Will find that farm
ers raise a great many things on their
farms, but that mortgages are sometimes
very hard to raise; but it is heap of sat
sfaction to raise one, so you see George
was good boy to answer his father in that
way.
"Thero's no time like the present for
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-10

One time a stout prosperous looking man
got upon the car and asked George what
line he belonged to. George told him
politely that it was a little line of his own.
Then the prosperous looking man, who said
he was the president of one of the leading
car lines, quoted the famous words OF Cen
eral Grant and said; "Do you propose to
fight it out on this line all summer?'
mo, sir, as soon as / raise the mortgage
am going to take my car home and make a
henhouse out Of it,.
Are you a country boy?" asked the man.
81 am, sir" said George, proudly.
run all you want, my boy / give you
permission. | was once country boy my
self and if you can make an honest penny
out of these people you deserve to raise your
mortgage. Only you must give me dollar to
pay for your license"
George handed him the dollar and he got
off the car. And now ! must tell you that
the man was not president of any company
but simply bad man VINO saw a chance to
make a dollar out of simple hearted George
But George was rewarded, as a big theater
party boarded the car and rode five blocks ia
the theater and when they left he counted
up his money and found that he had Just
enough to raise the mortgage.
1t was s o'clock and as none OF them had
had bite to eat all dag he ran the car of
on siding and they took dinner at the
Parker house. where they had Parker house
rolls and maple syrup
After dinner they went back to the car
and found it full of street boys Want a
ride?" asked George, and the street boys
shouted yes, so George took them all over
the city for nothing. But, am sorry to say,
the boys were rude enough to ask him
whether the car wasn't home made, and this
so incensed Mr.. Starbuck that he drove them
all out.
But by this time it was nearly ~ o'clock,
so they ran down TO the freight house and
were lucky enough to find the same brake
man there. The neighbors had come, too,
all tired out and loaoed down with hand
bills and samples of different foods, for they
had been to a food show at the Mechanics
institute. They reached Graytown early in
the morning The faithful oxen had come
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-10

of set of missals owned by Mrs. Samuel
Bovine Duryea of Brooklyn, who paid $500
for the set 1t contains the full musical
score used in a European monastery-it is a
| choir book
1t was supposed that only two copies of
Washingtons first essay in authorship eX-
| listed, but within the last few years, or in
| 1897, third copy came to light and wac
purchased by a gentleman who makes u
hobby of collecting Washingtonians; he
! quite willingly paid $1,000. The buyer Is be-
lieved to be Henry Havemeyer. THE Journal
of Major George Washington" appears upon
the title page, and it was printed in 1854.
In Russia miniature Bibles are often worn
as watchcharms. One of these Bibles is
owned by a Bostonian who received it from
a friend living in Russia 1t is about one
inch long, three-fourths OF an inch wide
and three-eighths of an inch thick, and con-
tans the first five books of the Old Testa-
ment The text of the book is in Hebrew
and the titles in Latin. 1t can only be read
with the help of a powerful magnifying
glass.
There are about 100 Bibles rendered rare
or curious by misprints or errors due to
imperfect translations. Among them are
the "Vinegar" Bible, wherein that word is
substituted for vineyard in the parable
the "Peacemakers' " Bible, where that word
| takes the place of peacemaker, Then there
is the "To Remain" Bible; the words ito
remain" were only directions to the printer,
and having been penciled on the margin
were perpetuated in a whole edition of 1905
-"Persecuted him that was born after the
spirit, to remain, even so it is now"
The privilege of printing Bible is hardly
less jealOusly guarded in England than is
the privilege of printing a banknote. 1t is
accorded by license to the queens printers,
and by charter to the universities OF Ok
ford and Cambridge From these famous
presses more than 100000 copies of the
sacred book are issued annually. They range
in price from 10 pence to G1O, and in form
from the Brilliant Bible, which weighs less
than four ounces, to the superb folio Bible,
the pages OF which measure 19X12 inches
Not only in numbers, but in point Of ter
ritory, the circulation of the Bible exceeds
all other books. The American Bible So
clety has printed it in 800 tongues. Thou
sands of copies even now are travelling
through the frozen polar regions to people
who have not only never heard of this book,
but to whom books are unknown.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-10

things that are pleasant" said Mr.. Star
buck, so they decided to take the trolley
to Boston the very next day. Now you may
have taken the trolley to Boston Yourself
but not in the way they took it--on plat
form car.
They invited their neighbors to come early
next morning and start with them for Bos-
ton and twenty accepted the invitation
George and his father and mother ran the
heavy trolley car upon low hung wagon
that they used when they wanted to carry
plate glass to market and then the neighbors
and all piled into the car and George hitched
n pair OF cattle-which is country for yoke
of oxen--to the wagon and they were drawn
down to the station with ease. 1t was, OF
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-10

down to meet them. and this time all the
neighbors helped to lift the car onto the
wagon, so it made it easier.
Then when they had reached the Star
bucks George raised the mortgage as high
as he could and they all cheered and cheered
and told him they had never had so good
time in their lives, and they hoped he'd
have many happy returns of the day.
Then George put the trolley car into the
henyard and the hens took to it at once.
AS for George he became simple country
boy once more But if he had been city
boy he would have run that trolley car into
the ground.
But there is not city boy in the United
States from Portland, Me-, to Portland, Ore,
who could have built trolley car inside OF
a week. inside of a shed with a jackknife
and scythe.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-10

duCtor was covered with confusion and left
them to enjoy their trip. In few hours they
ran into the freight yards at Boston and
then the pleasant brakeman assisted the
three to place their car upon a trolley track
and their journey was ended. You may
wonder why the neighbors did not assist.
They wanted to the worst way, but George
said mo, this is a holiday trip and
didn't want you to feel that you have any
chores to do. Mother and father and / will
do all that is necessary and you must have
as good a time as you can and meet me here
at 12 tonight, for / expect to go back then"
The neighbors gave him three times three
and tiger, but as he didn't know what to
do with a tiger in Boston he gave it back to
them and they went away with it.
George fitted the trolley to the overhead
wires and his mother turned on the current
and then took her seat inside and Mr. Star
buck acted as motorman and they glided up
Summer street as If they had always done it.
/ think that George is deserving of good
| ideal of credit for having made so big a
vehicle in a week with no tools but a jack
knife and a scythe.
At Arch street they were hailed by a man
who was standing on the corner, Mr.. Star
| buck stopped at once. This naturally puZ-
| zled the man on the corner because as a
general thing a trolley car does not stop
for passengers. AS soon as he stepped on
board he asked George, who came around for
his fare, why the car stopped.
"Why, this is fathers first trip and he
doesn't know the ropes very well. He
thought it would be easier for you to get
onto the car If it stopped. The fare is 10
cents, for you see this is really my private
car and I'm trying to raise the mortgage on
fathers farm"
The passenger, who had been born in the
country, paid the 10 cents at once, but he
advised George to stick to the usual cent
fare. For" said he, most of these people
| are city bred and they won't care a snap
about your mortgage. They are not neigh
borly enough"
This was the first time that George had
heard that city people were not neighborly
and it grieved him. But the car soon filled
up and even at cents a head he had a
pocket full of nickels. He went out on the
front platfrom. Il guess we can go back
| tomorrow with the mortgage raised"
Then his mother came out and joined them.
They We're going through the shopping dis
trct and could not move any faster than
mile an hour because there were so many
women crossing the tracks to go to the
shops.
Look here" said Mrs. starbuck to
| George, there's no use in letting these
! people ride far for cents. It's a private
car. Why not call out change cars and
i then fill up the car with new passengers" ?"
l fancy that Mrs. Starbuck had a little
city blood in her, George was a dutiful
son and he Immediately stepped to the door
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-10

The children were making their plans for
Christmas and their mother was helping
them, while their father was deep in his
evening paper. But he could hear, and this
is what he heard;
what are you going to give papa?" asked
the mother.
Il think" said the eldest thoughtfully,
that | will give him an alarm clock"
IAN alarm cloak!" exclaimed the mother.
"Why do you want to give him an alarm
clock?"
Because" answered the child with an
earnestness that showed she had given the
matter some thought, "if he has an alarm
clock at the Office maybe he viii know
when It is time TO come home to dinner"
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-10

the Hotel Vendome and the neighbors came
out and hailed the car, not recognizing
George. They had been sightseeing and
they had all registered at the hotel in hopes
of seeing their names in the newspapers.
OF course George would not let them pay a
cent and as they nearly filled the car and
rode way out to Brookline he didn't make
much money that trip. But he left them at
Brookline and ran back quickly to the shop
ping district. where he soon made up load.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-10
pRATTLE OF THE YOUNGSTERS.

Papa" he said, thoughtfuly, "1s mamma
a fracton?"
"a fraction!" exclaimed the old gentle
man. with a puzzled look. What on earth
do you mean?"
"Why, you always speak of her as the bet
ter half"
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-10

when ! grow up" she said with conyic-
tion Il intend to have a good time"
"Oh, do you?" returned her elder sister
inquiringly.
"YeG, do" was the reply. ~ know just
what I'm going to be-"
and what do you intend to be-"
"a widow" answered the observing little
one.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-10

OF the car and yelled: "All out!" and the
passengers scrambled out like a flock Of
sheep and he was free to I'LL it up again,
Only the first passenger stayed in and said:
THAT was clever move" So George said
he might ride all day long If he wanted to
and, although he was very busy, he did
ride all day long because such chances don't
come very often.
Along in the afternoon they were passing
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-10

No dealer should be without Cooks I'M
perlal Extra Dry Champagne If yours IS
order from American Wine Co.. st. Louis
Mo.
Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-07-06
.sf1rPat rruiSc For CnrneEie,

Aberdeen, Scotland, July 6.--The free
dom of Tain, Caithness, has been be-
slowed upon Mr.. Andrew Carnegie. The
town was en- fete and decorated with
flags and bunting, the union jack and
stars and stripes floating side by side
over notices of welcome. The provost,
in couferring the freedom at the town
hall, said the world had never seen q
man comparable with the great and dis
tinguished Scot American in the magni-
tude of his liberality to public libraries
and In the advancement of art and edu-
cation, upon which, in Great Britain and
America, he has expended 100000"
Mr.. Carnegie made a brief reply.
Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-07-06
THE RACES AT HENLEY.
Argonauts Win In Plucky Manner.
Howell. the American, II Victor.

HOWELL the American, IL Victor.
Henley on Thames, Eng, July Gil
the first heat of the Crane Challenge cul
Fights the Argonaut crew of Toronto
beat the Dutch crew by two fee
in I minutes and 6 seconds.
| The Delft students in the Dutch boat
started very badly, rowing thirty four
while the .Argonauts got we'll away n,
forty, and secured Il lead of length be
fore the Dutchmen settled down. Above
the island the Dutchmen caught the Ca
nadians and led at Fawley Court, which
they reached in 3 minutes 10 seconds. by
the length of their forward canvas
Thence there was Il terrific struggle. The
Canadians spurted again and again, and
just as they reached the post succeeded
in getting the nose of their boat in front.
The time made is considered very fast.
1t was the general opinion that the Ar
gonaats had a narrow escape from de-
feat.
In the second heat for this cup the
London Rowing club beat the Thames
Rowing club by length and IL half in I
minutes and 25 seconds, and in the third
heat the Leander club beat Bulliol Col
lege by length and a quarter in I min
utes and II seconds The fourth heat
was won by Trinity college. Oxford.
which defeated Elton College by length
in I minutes and seconds.
In the first heat of the Stewards Chal-
lengc cup for four Dared crews the favor,
ties, the Hammonia crew of Hamburg
beat st. Georges Hospital by IL length
and three-quarters in minutes and AZ
seconds.
The second heat for the Thames Chal-
lenge cup for Fights resulted in victory
for the London Rowing club over Trini-
ty hall, Cambridge, by three-quarters of
a length, in minutes and so seconds.
In the second heat of the Diamond
Sculls singles Howell. the American
representative of Cambridge beat Bright
of the Argonnuts Bright did not have
any chance with Howell, who jumped off
with the lead and was clear of his OBJ
ponent before they reached the end of
the island. Thence Howell padded
ahead, increasing his lead as he liked.
Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-07-06
THE TEXAS FLOODS
stated That One Hundred Lives hs~s
Been Lost.

Houston July GA correspondent
hos inst returned from voyage through
the flood Ostricts. He says:
.arbe half has not been told OF the
havoc wrought The disaster is 80 ap-
palling that description is not poesip.e'
After this food will come sickness un-
doubtedly, and what week ago was tne
fairest part of Texas is now almost
God forsaken wilderness. The waters Oh
the Rrazos have for six days covered Hs
valley to depth of from u TO ~ leet'
Where a week ago there were ON every
hand fields of cotton and corn ana thou-
sands Of acres of watermelons and canta,
loupes today there is Shiny mud over AL
the vegetation.
"Our party left Bryan at sunrise, going
TO the Navasota bottoms and to point
about three miles from Millican. Here
we encountered everywhere an overflow
from the Nnvasota, which spread out
fully two miles on either side OF the
Houston and Central track.
"Everything is under water from to
II feet. 1t looked on all sides IKE
great lake, and the water was SO high
that for vast area 1t completely sub
merged the telegraph and telephone wires
along the lines. In truth all of the Nava-
sofa bottoms are even now perfect sea,
extending four or five miles wide at GER
tain points.
II saw hundreds Of houses there total
ly submerged and as many more were
swept from their foundations and de-
stroyed The planters of the bottoms are
still moving their help and whatever Is
left of their stock to places who're they
can be cared for. They are all nobly
helping each other and taking refuge
wherever they can, some Of them seeking
safety on housetops.
IAN the planters stated that the out
side world has no conception of the
floods or losses incurred by the destluc-
ton of crops stock and buildings. Near
ly every planter has built boats and sent
them through the flooded district to rem
der assistance to the people and if posi-
bic save some of their drowning stock.
Fully 100 lives have been lost.
Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-07-06
NewkDRDer burned Out.

Gloucester, Mass, July G--The fire
which started in Tarr's block and which
spread to the Cape Ann Breeze block,
was confined to those buildings after Il
hard fight. Estimates by the tenants of
the buildings show 10 ises aggreguting
sos, 800, with insurance of $4,000. The
heaviest losers are: George A. Tarr,
owner Tarr's block, $4,000; insurance,
$4,000 Cape Ann Clothing company,
loss. $4,000: insurance, $4,000. Cape
Ann Publishing company, owners of
Breeze block and proprietors of the
Cape Ann Breeze, loss, $4,000; insur-
ance, $4,000.
Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-07-06
Setback to Municipal Ownership.

Lansing, Mich, July 6.The Michigan
supreme court has decided the case
brought to test the validity of the Nc
Leod law, which authorized the appoint
ment of the Detroit street railway com
mission. whose object was the purchase
and municipal ownership and operation
of street railways of Detroit. The decis-
ion is that the law Is unconstitutional;
that there is no such office as the "De-
troit street railway commission that
Governor Pingree and the other commits
sioners have no title thereto, and that
Judgment of custer must be entered
against them.