davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-04-28

and 5000 inhabitants, and were not
much more than large native villages
with their hundreds of one-room
matched huts, each the work of few
hours labor on the part of its inhab bit
ants. Their loss can hardly be classed
as a catastrophe.
Spanish statistics give the population
of Malolos. which the insurgents did
not succeed in burning is 1859. With
the exception of the few native govern
ment buildings it contains practically
nothing but the native huts.
Such is the character of all sof the
towns along the line of the railroad,
and, in fact, throughout all of the is
land of Luzon, with the exception of
some of those along the coast, and es-
pecially those which are either open or
coasting ports. They range from a few
hundred up to from Is, 900 to 10000 in
habitants each, and are nearly all COM
posed entirely of rude matched huts
and houses.
But of the territory over which our
troops have been fighting. Wagon roads
are almost unknown. In the vicinity
of the larger towns one will find what
purport to be such, but they are en-
Iu1pdSSdDl the SSdSOHs
and nearly SO in the dry season. The
paths by which the natives travel
through the jungles are mere bitches
most of the time. Where these paths
cross the many streams with which that
part of the island is blessed or other
wise, there are crude bamboo bridges
easily destroyed by the smaiiestfreshe
and which have been almost entirely
destroyed by the retreating insurgent
army. When our troops escape the
jungles it is usually but to encounter
the tall, rank cogon grass, which is al
most as bad as the jungle, or they strike
the rice fields, which are covered with
water, sometimes to a depth of three
feet.
To the north of Manila, where they
have been fighting, there are also many
streams of considerable size, some of
which are even large enough to permit
of navigation. Without the timely as
sistance of the railroad bridges, which
the retreating army failed to destroy,
many of these streams would have had
to be either bridged or the troops fer
ried over, as they are too deep to be
forded.
Taken all in all. our soldier boys In
the Philippines have not had an easy
task, and their laurels have been brave
ly won, even though the enemy them
selves were not the worthiest OF foe
men. DANIEL CLEVERTON.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-04-28

ago, the poor girl wouldn't under
stand what he was trying to do.
There is as much difference be-
tween the methods of courtship of
the last century and those of to-day as
there is between the slow minuet of our
forefathers and the modern waltz. In
the old times the young lady's partner
took hold of her finger tips. Nowadays he
rushes up to the girl, grabs her the
same as he would a sack of flour, and
away they go!
And it is the same in letter-writing
At the time of the declaration of indie
pendence the devoted swain who wished
to call on his hearts idol would send
her a note written somewhat in this
style: 6
Fair Maiden: Permit me to attempt to
express to y0h, although poor and insult
hcient must be my Language, some part
of that Admiration with which I regard
your Beauty and your Wit: Believe me,
cannot hope to hold myself worthy Of one
who is the Embodiment of all the Charms
and Graces which benef1cent Nature has
bestowed on your Sex, but If you will par
aon my unworthiness and accept a sin
:ere and deep Devotion which must endure
forever, you will make me the happiest of
Mortals. May 7 dare to hope that your
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-04-28

from Manila to Pangasinan province,
a distance of123 miles to the north, and
is used chiefly for the transportation of
rice from the immense fields in that
part of the island. 1t is the towns
along this road that have suffered from
the hands of the insurgents. It is also
this road that has to a great extent
made the American advance possible.
Without it's timely aid the American
commanders would have found them
selves confronted by obstacles which it
would have taken days to have over
come.
Of the towns along this road which
have suffered partial or total destruc-
ton from the insurgents, the first is
Caloocan. Spanish census statistics
give the population of this place as
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-04-28
VVVVVQVVQQVVV

| have learned to shorten a few, as, for
instance, we now spell it labor" in
stead of ''1abour," and specially" in
| stead of speciality" Also we have
| done away with that funny, old-fash-
toned S." which resembIed an 'tf'' so
closely that the old spelling books
seemed to say "Doef thif man kilt hif
| wife?'
The changes in spelling have been SO
few, however, and so many Of the old
| words remain that anyone can pick
! up book of the last century and read
/ it. But if'anyone thinks the language
| has not changed, let him imagine Ben
| iamin Franklin standing on the street
| corner in the year of our Lord 1899, try
| ing to follow the remarks of two young
men of the "fy'' kind, the ones who
wear blue and white collars and know
how to do u few jig steps. How long
would Benjamin survive the following
line of conversation:
stacking"
"Oh. sweet and daisy. I'm feelin' as
lovely as a bundle O. hay. How are they
shapin' up for your
sob, not thing doin'. Tgot an aw-
full crouch on to-day. Ny fairy queen
built a fire under me yesterday. She
said was too new, so she let me slide,
and after me putin up for all those
Christmas presents
'Wen, you are up against it, but I
wouldn't let any of these soubrettes
| work me. Just stand pat an she'll
be after you with her lasso in less than
week.
"Oh, I won't squeal. Have you got
a Students lamp (cigarette) about
you?"
eyes, I've got one right here that
isn't working"
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-04-28

0UST to read of the destruction
which follows in the track of war
" in the Philippine islands at the
present time one would naturally sup
pose that an irreparable loss had taken
place. Especially is this true when it
is considered that the towns destroyed
are many of them cities of from 10 900
to 10000 people. But a closer study of
the Philippines, and the territory sur
rounding Manila, shows the error, and
in place of a loss aggregating millions,
it would take but few thousands to
replace each destroyed town in prob
ably better condition than it was be-
fore the ruthless hand of the insurgent
native applied the torch when he found
that he must retreat before victorious
American army.
The line of the American advance,
and the insurgent retreat, has followed
closely the line of railroad from Ma
Mia to the north. This road, the only
one in the entire archipelago, extends
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-04-28

itay of the province of the same name,
which is one of the richest provinces in
the entire archipelago. Its agricul
turalindustries are second to noneother,
and the little capital city of the prov
ince. containing a little more than 49,
oo0 people, had in it many buildings
of considerable value. 1t had, besides
a church, which was one OF the best in
the island, town hall and the official
residences of the provincial authorities,
more than 1000 stone buildings, some of
which were quite elaborate. They were
principally stores and warehouses, and
in them were stored goods and agri-
cultural products of considerable value.
The town itself is not on the railroad,
but about three miles to the west of it,
and about two miles from the bay of
Manila, and is one of the oldest towns
in the Philippines.
Bigaa and Guiguinao. two other
towns that are within a few miles of
Bulacan, contained respectively 5000
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-04-28
True Meaning of .Formosa.'

In an article on the island of Formosa
in a recent Sundays Tribune the name
Formosa is stated to be a corruption
of the Spanish word ''Hermosa"
tiful. This is precisely an inversion
of the facts in the case. Formosa is
classical Latin of the Augustan age,
vide Virgil; Ec1oga ", p. "A: "Daph-
mis- ego in sylvis hinc usque ad sidera
Formosi pecoris custos, formosior
ipse." The inscription on the tomb of
Daphnis, Hermosa, is possibly Gothic
or Visigothic modification by the Span
ish centuries later, as they substituted
aspirates for many letters of the Ro-
man tongue. The sense of ''formosa"
is ''shapely," and may have sprung
from an inversion or transportation of
the Greek 'Morphe" form. The news
paper takes such an important part
in the education of the children Of to-
day that it is always well to have state
Inents of fact as nearly accurate as
possible Let this be my apology for
calling your attention to this matter
Chicago Tribune.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-04-28

cony scene between Romeo and Juliet,
and let us imagine what it would be
like If Juliet were flip boarding school
maiden of the present time, and Romeo
bumptious young gentleman just old
enough to attend dances.
Juliet is on the balcony, and Romeo
is In the garden below, the same as in
Shakespeare's play.
Juliet-Oh. wish Romeo were here.
He's the SWEETEST thing I've met in
many moons, and when it comes to the
two-step he's a perfect dream. He
makes all those other dudes look like
thirty-cent pieces. I'm SO stuck on that
boy could just steal him.
Romeo (aside)-I seem to have pull
with this girl.
Juliet-Isn't it too jiggery for any old
use that his family is on such bad terms
with our folks. I think it's a shame;
that's what it is, nasty old shame.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-04-28

b,s43, practically all of which are ma
tives. While it is but the short dis
lance of seven miles from Manila, it is
as crude a place as one can well imag-
inc. Public Improvements We're prac-
tically unknown, and its total destruc-
ton would not have been as disastrous
as fair-sized village fire in this coun-
try Malabon is of even less impor-
lance than Caloocan. Mariloa, at which
point our troops met with a strong re-
sistance, and at which point several sol
diers of Gen. Otis army swan the river
and so captured a body of rebels, is a
small city of a little more than 5000
people, and few hundred native huts
and matched cottages Its destruction
can hardly be regretted Bocave, which
is four miles further up the line of
railroad, was twice the size OF Mariloa,
but of little more importance.
With the burning of Bulacan, how
ever, there were destroyed many build
ings Of Importance of both a public and
private nature. The city is the cap
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-04-28

continued kindness to me may be taken
an intimation that my Presence is not
aistastefub to you and that you would not
be displeased were to call at your place
of abode tomorrow evening? I am, dear
madam, your most obedient Servant and
devoted Slave.
In the year 1899, when the descendant
Of the aforesaid young man wishes to
notify his sweetheart that he desires to
cali, this is how he does it:
Dear Kit: You are a good thing-nit.
Where have you been keeping yourself
Expected to see you at the party last night.
and felt rocky all evening because you
failed to show up-thought you might blow
in at any moment, SO fingered with the
push until midnight. This is on the level,
you that 1 am up in the air most of the
time. You'll see your Willie boy floating
In on you tomorrow evening-hope you
haven't any other date. Well. so long.
The maiden of days gone by answer
ing the letter of her favored sutton did
not show the enterprise of the up-to-
date young woman. She wrote about as
follows:
Respected Sir: Your most nattering
Epistle reached me but one short hour ago
and 1 betake myself in haste to forward
Reply. that you may know lam not in
sensible to your Compliments, however lit
tie 1 may deserve them. Since you have
expressed a desire to visit me tomorrow
2 evening and have coucheds yoursrequest in
Language that would appeal to one much
less susceptible than I, permit me to assure
you that will be charmed to see you, and
until the fortunate hour of our Meeting I
will remain Your sincere Friend.
That kind of an answer was all right
$50 years ago, but it would not satisfy
the young man of to-day and it would
not be called ''hot stuff by matinee
girl. No, the girl OF 1899 would send
some thing like this:
Dear Boy: You certainly have got your
nerve with you. You must think I'm on
earth just to chase you around all the time.
You're not the only flower In the field.
You may fade. the same as the other po-
sizes. suppose you expected me to fix UP
and go to that dance all alone. I'll fool
you. II you were so stuck on seeing me
there. why didn't you come around and
take me? 1 guess that'n hold you for
awhile. You may come around tomorrow
evening If you promise to be good. TIA, ia
Over the riyeri You know! BIRDIE.
Now the dictionary makers claim
that there have been but few impor-
tant changes in our language since the
last century. Most of the words are
spelled the same as ever, although we
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-04-28

What if he is Montague? That doesn't
cut any lemons with me. What's in a
name? A rose would smell just as love-
ly and elegant by any other tacky old
name, so there!
Romeo-I think this is where 1 cut in
Oh, Julie, Juliet!
Juliet-My goodness me! There's
some one rubber-necking in the garden.
I wonder if he tumbled to what I was
saying? Who are you, anyway?
Romeo-I'm Romeo, your real honey
boy. Don't you remember me? / met
you at the dance last night.
Juliet = Remember you? Well, j
should say yes, but you've got horrible
nerve to come around here. Don't you
know that my papa has got it in for
your papa? If any of my relations
catch you here-oh, cracky! they
won't do a thing to you.
Romeo-Oh, 1 don't know. They're
not so warm. Besides, was willing to
take any kind of long chance to get
another peek at you.
Juliet-Oh. Romy!
Romeo-That's on the square, julie
You certainly made an awful hit with
me. 1 think you're the head apricot
in the whole grove. After 1 saw you last
night all those other buds might Just
as well have been home and asleep.
Juliet-This isn't con talk?
Romeo-Nix, nix-never!
Juliet-Well, I know you'll think I'm
fresh, Romeo, but to tell you the truth,
I'm dead stuck on you, too, and when
I'm stuck on fellow all the relations
on earth can't queer him with me.
Rome-Jule, you're peach.
Juliet-Now, don't throw any bou-
quets at me unless you mean it.
Romeo-Mean it? Why, I think
you're the warmest proposition that
ever came down the road and up the
path, and that's no frivolous parlor talk,
either.
Juliet-You are dishing up some very
hot conversation tonight, Rome.
Romeo-Well, it all goes.
Then they decide to get married, even
if they have to elope. the same as in
Shakespeare, but for some reason the
story does not appeal to US as the old
play always does. Take Hamlet's So
iloquy and put it into slang and no one
would sympathize with Hamlet for a
moment. How would this sound:
To eroak or not to croak?
That's the whole thing.
Whether it's better to jolly yourself
And put up with dead tough luck,
Or take brace in your nerve
And land the Knockout?
To sleep, perchance to dream
That's what starts you guessing.
For after cashing in what dreams may
come
Makes you so leary
You'd rather stand for what you've got
on hand
Than go looking for more trouble.
That isn't as good as Shakespeare.
and no one can make me believe it is.
JOHN HAZELDEN.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-04-28

pie, but the old men and the old wom-
en-. The other day was aboard a street
car which was hailed by venerable
and white-haired woman standing at
a corner. The conductor was rather
slow in having the car stopped, and
when the old lady came aboard she
said: You're daisy. You arel" After
that he was crushed daisy.
Ii anyone needs proof that slang is
death to true romance, let him take
some classic bit of hne-malxing and
transpose 1t into the kind of talk De
cuiiar to SO many of the young people
OF to-day. Take, for instance, the bal
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-04-28
The Star.

Dear Mother Earth another Christmas day
Is added to thy jewel casket old:
Thy children throng on every Travelled way
With gifts of myrrh and frankincense and
Again the age-worn story they repeat;
IT'S heard afresh by every listening ear,
Again the Star OF Bethlehem they greet,
The heavenly chorus crowns the parting
year.
And as the stately centuries pass along.
Dearer and dearer does the story grow,
Dearer the star. dearer the angels song.
The blessed family in the manger low.
Thy children all from care and grief be-
guiled
Seek with their gifts to-day little child.
Francis Ekin Allison. in Chicago Interior.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-04-28
Your Uncle Sam.

He Is glad to hear your reason
When you don't indorse his plan
At any time an season,
He will listen like a man.
There's a gentle kindly glimmer .
In his face. clean to the last.
But the lines git hard an grimmer
When you say he doesn't da'st.
If it's fight or annexation
You discuss. he'll hear you through
While you make your demonstration
OF the course tibet you'd pursue.
He don't seek nor shun a-tussle;
He has had some in the past.
An IL sort o. sWells his muscle
When you say he doesn't da'st-
washington Star.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-04-28

"Throw it at me-"
''Sure thing"
By that time the immortal Benjamin
would think he had struck a foreign
language in which word of good Eng
lish occurred now and then.
Slangy talk takes all the poetry and
romance out of our lives. It cheapens
our modern love affairs and makes
courtship jest for the dialect writer's.
And the worst of it is that every one
speaks slang, not only the young peo-
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-04-28
Holly Song.

Care is but a bursted bubble,
TrilI the carol troll the catch;
Sooth, Wen cry: "A truce to troublet"
Mirth and mistletoa shall match.
Happy folly, Wen be iollyi
Who'd be melancholy now?
With Hey, the hollyi Ho. the hoIly!"
Polly hangs the holly bough.
Laughter lurking in the eye. sir,
Pleasure foots it frisk and free.
He who froWns or looks awry, sir,
Faith. witiess wight is hei
Merry follyi what volley
Greets the hanging of the bought
With Hey, the holly! Ho. the hoHy!T
Who'd be melancholy now?
Clinton Scotland. in Century.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-04-28
A True PhiIo.opher.

1 remember Christmas evening little Emily
and 1,
Had gathered all the biggest sticks and
piled the fire high.
drew my rocker to the hearth. she climbed
upon my knee,
And from her station on my lap. began to
question me.
Now, papa. where is Santa Claus. ana
where are all his toys,
And how can Santa carry whips fog all the
naughty boys?
For when our chimney is so small, why
really. don't you see
How very Insignificant poor Santa Claus
must be?''
Ali Thoughts of dawning childhood Ali
Births of doubts and fearsI
First of perplexing questions that grow
with added yearsi
We'll. can you solve the problem. dear. by
any reaSoning?"
at think that God is Santa Claus, for God
does anything!'
Rams Horn.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-04-28
The Honest She'll.

The Honest She'll.
o dainty spiral shell,
Within your fragile form
] hear the ocean swell
That sings of calm and storm
o conch OF music sad,
You hold me In a spell
Some siren blithe and glad
Must In your chamber dwell
You echo wind and wave
That moan along the shore
As IL in some deep cave
You'd toss about once more
Beneath the wave. ali me!
] never tossed and played
Because 1 am, you see,
OF papier-mache made.
r. K Munkittrick. In Judge.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-04-28
sEAsoNABLE RHYMES.
IL, Long Ago.

If, long ago.
The Christmas bells had never rung
Across the snow
While Judah's shepherds watched their
hocks by night,
Had not that wondrous star burst on their
sight
And led them unto where the young child
lay,
rhe world would be a dreary void this
winter day,
If on that morn,
In Bethlehem's plain. the Virgins SOD
Had not been born
How the bells ringi
And how, in the far. frosty sky.
The angels sing.
What joy. what hope, what radiance divine
Shines from that star. and shall forever
shinei
rhe song is ringing over all the earth
To-day has seen q wondFous sight, sths
Saviour'S birthi
But ahi the woe
II Christmas bells had never Tung
Across the snow!
-Virginia NJ Cornell. in n. 7. Sun.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-04-28

A n C E S T o r S
missed a great deal
by not knowing
modern 81 a n g /.
T b cir old-fash-
toned mode of ex-
preston, always
stately and formal,
wouldn't 10 in
these days.
If a young man
attempted to win
a twentieth CEN
fury sweetheart by
the methods that
prevailed 100 years
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-04-28
whole.aIe slaughter.

ST wonder what makes so many let
tiers go to the dead letter Office? ?"
why, 1 suppose it's because the adj
dresses are so perfectly killing."-Phil-
ndelphia Bulletin.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-04-28
a PhiIosopher. Indeed.


Ever contented
With friends and with foes;
II he sinned, he repented:
He fell; he arose.
When the weather was melting
He thanked God for heat,
When the blizzard came pelting
He praised God for sleet.
When fortune beset him
He thanked God for wealth;
When poverty met him
He praised God for health
And when fate bereft him
OF all that was best,
With death only left him
He praised God for resti
frank L. Stanton. in Atlanta Constitu-
ton.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-04-28

Again the melancholy day
Is swiftly drawing near Q
When men will raise their hands and swear
On fo- another year
WIN swear OF for tweivemouth more
And then. as such men do.
Forgetting that they ever swors,
Backslide IN = week or two.
Chicago Daily News.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-04-28
The Cyclone.

The Cyclone.
with the strength of death. and wither-
ing breath,
The grim tornado flies,
The trees crash down and strew the ground,
The forest groans and dies.
The sky grows black. the rafters crack.
Away! Away Or diep
With demon might and a demons spite,S
The cyclone ruShes by.
In vain they cry. unheard they die.
The victims of its wrath,
For many a one from sire to son
Lies dead along its path.
AS wild and free as thearaging sea.
And as truly uncontrolled,
With demon might and fiendish spite.
Here's health to the Giant old!
Louisville Courier-Journal.
Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-11-30

No. 242-sO acres excellent land,
mile from railroad town, new 3 room
house, stabling for horses, large
sheds and cribs, so acres in cultiva-
tion, % acres fenced, all fenced and
cross fenced, good well at house and
creek through pasture. Quite a bar
gain at s140O, $1,000 down.
No. 109-160 acres, mile from Che
topa, loo 0acres in cultivation, 80 acres
in blue grass pasture, Is in hog pas
ture, 10 acre orchard, in timothy
meadow, best Of fencing and cross
fencing, hedges around outside and
thirty seven A in fall wheat, frame
house OF four rooms with cellar, gran
airy for one thousand bushels, frame
stable for six horses, extra stables and
pens, plenty Of good water for house
and stock, stone smoke house, fine
shade trees and blue grass yard. Price
$4,000; 1850 down, balance 4 year:
with per cent.
, containing some rare bargains
COOK, Chetopa, Kansas.