davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-03-25
The Popping stone.

The popping stone marks the spot
where Sir Walter Scott asked Miss Car
penter TO marry him. 1t is situated in
the beautiful valley of the Irthing, at
Gilsland. an inland watering place near
Carlisle. The popping stone is visited
by many thousands during the summer
months, and, it is said, many a laggard
lover has had his courage screwed up to
popping point at this romantic spot
In the immediate neighborhood may
also be seen ''Mumps Ha. which Scott
immOrtalized in Guy Mannering,'
while little farther afield the Roman
wall and Laner cost priory prove attrac-
tions to visitors to Gilsland.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-03-25
He Cnurht o.ConneI1.

Daniel O'Connell, the famous orator,
when taking a ride in the neighborhood
of his house, had occasion to ask an
urchin to open a gate for him. The lit
tie fellow complied with much alacrity
and looked up with such an honest
pleasure at rendering the slight service
that O'Connell. by way of saying some
thing anything-asked:
"What's your name, my boy7'
Daniel O'Connell, SIR" replied he
stoutly.
"And who's your fatherf' demand
ed the astonished liberator.
Daniel O'Connell, sir
O'Connel muttered a word or two
below his breath and then added aloud
when see you again, I'll give you
sixpence-"
Riding briskly on, he soon forgot the
incident and fell to thinking of graver
matters, when, after travelling some
miles, he found his path INSTRUCTED by
some fallen timber, which a boy was
stoutly endeavoring to remove. On
looking more closely he discovered it to
be the same boy he had met in the
morning.
WHAT" cried he. How do you
come to be here nowf''
"You said, sir, the next time you
seen me you d give me sixpence. " said
the little fellow, wiping the perspira-
ton from his brow.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-03-25
Too Much For Belief.

One of the brethren went to Knox
vile last August and fell by the way
side-he got drunk down there. After
several months the news of his fall
reached his rural home, and he was
brought up before the church.
Brethren, he said, 81 admit got
drunk in Knoxville last August, but
didn't mean to do it. How l have suf-
fered in my conscience and in my pride
God alone knows, and / trust he has
forgiven me. Brethren, want you to
forgive me. l didn't go to get drunk.
took glass or two of light wine with
a friend, and later took bottle of beer
ON ice, and them
Brethren, interrupted 4 good old
brother in the amen corner. Il would
be willing to forgive the brother for his
fall if he would make clean breast of
it and tell the truth. But l move we
turn him ont for lying. He has lied to
us. Whoever heard of ice in August 2"
And they turned him OUT because he
dared to say that he had seen ice in Au-
gust. -Sweetwater (Tenn.) Telephone.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-03-25
A Test of Nerve.

The midshipman had greater free
dom under Captain Lyons. who. being
thorough seaman, made that acquire
ment his first object by placing his
young officers in positions of RESPONSE
bility. He made his midshipmen take
charge of the watch night and day. /
had then been only four years in the
service. One night the weather looked
very threatening, and we had royals set,
so went down to the captain and asked
whether l should shorten sail He turn
ed round in his cot and said. wait till
it comes.
went ON deck, and, knowing what
he would say if any spars We're lost, /
commenced taking in sail We We're
struck by a squall so fierce that had
to put the helm up and get the ship be-
fore the wind to get the canvas in.
When Captain Lyons came on deck and
saw what had done. he gave me great
credit. laughed and said he had tried
my nerve and sailoring. When l passed
for lieutenant, he gave me a certificate
which mOdesty forbids me to publish
Life of Vice Admiral Lord Lyons, by
Captain Wilmot
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-03-25
Her Age mt Monte Carlo.

A curious story comes from Monte
Carlo the heroine of which has lost a
large sum through excusable female
vanity. She entered the gaming saloon
while former friend of hers was win
ming in a sweeping style that seemed
destined TO break the bank.
Il am so glad to see you here. prince
and in such luck, tool she exclaimed
do tell me lucky number. 1t is sure
to win, for you are now in the vein"
The prince generously placed a pile
of gold louis before the vivacious lady.
whose beauty had successfully defied
the effects of 80 winters, and said:
Put it all on the number of your
years and reap a golden harvest.
The lady reflected. hesitated and then
placed the pile on %.
An instant later the croupier sang
out
Thirty six red winsr'
Heavens" muttered the lady as
she tainted. ''Thirty-six is exactly my
ageI'
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-03-25
Painfully Polite.

The people of Dresden are very polite.
SO overpolite that they not infrequently
bring down ridicule upon themselves.
1t used TO be told in that city that a
stranger was one day crossing the great
bridge that spans the Elbe and asked a
native to direct him to certain church
which he wished to find.
Really, my dear sir, said the ORES
dener. bowling low, 81 grieve greatly
to say it, but l cannot tell you.
The stranger passed on. a little sur
prised at this voluble answer to a sim
pie question He had proceeded but a
short distance when he heard hurried
footsteps behind him. and. turning
round. saw the same man running to
catch up with him.
In moment his pursuer was by his
side. his breath nearly gone, but
enough left to say hurriedly: my
dear sir. you asked me how you could
find the church, and it panied me to
have TO say that / did not know Just
now 1 met my brother. but grieve to
say that he did not know either
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-03-25
A Curious Ashanti Custom.

When children are born in Ashanti
they are at once rubbed all over with a
mixture of oil and red ocher. this being
repeated every two days Their mouths
are washed with a fiery connection in
which red pepper is the main ingredi-
ent, and crier goes through the town
proclaiming the new arrival and claim
ing for it a name and place among the
living. Some one else in a distant part
of the village acknowledges the fact
and promises, on the part of the people,
that the newborn babe shall be received
into the community. The townspeople
then assemble in the streets, and the
baby is brought out and exposed TO
view.
A basin of water is provided, and the
headman, or chief of the town, sprin-
kles water upon it. leaving it name
and invoking a blessing upon it, such
as, for instance, that it may have health,
grow up to manhood or womanhoOd,
have numerous progeny and possess
riches Most of those present follow the
example CT the headman, and the poor
child is thoroughly drenched before the
ceremony is ended. Every one who par
ticipates in the ceremony pledges him
self to be friend to the child.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-03-25
some Case. of I<leptoman.a.

Here are some striking cases of KEEP
t5mania: A series of thefts was COM
mitted in some of the best houses in
| New York. The culprit turned out to
| be young woman connected by birth
and marriage with the owners. There
after when from household which she
had visited anything was missed. the
owner would go to her, kiss her and
ask it back. 1t was quite a family mat
ter
At that time there was Journalist
about town who was both a social ia
vorite and an able man. He kept a
bachelor establishment in which it was
his amiable habit to entertain those
who had entertained him. There of an
afternoon or of an evening people would
gather and take back from his drawing
room things which he had taken from
theirs There was never a word ex
changed on the subject Perfect cour-
tesy prevailed.
Then there was a young fellow whose
name figures in the early history of the
United States. At dinner which he
attended ring handed about for in
spection disappeared So much was said
that later he returned it with a state
ment to the effect that it had caught in
the lining of his sleeve. a few days
afterward we heard Talboys-dead
since. but not forgotten-ordering
coat of tailor whom we patronized in
common and expressly STIMULATING that
it should not have that kind of sleeve
In each of these instances the case
belonged not TO Jurisprudence. but to
pathology. Kleptomania is a disease,
like influenza, only, thank fortune, less
catching. Collier Weekly.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-03-25
immortality Cranks.

Immortality of fame is something de-
sired by many, but attained by few
says DR.. John Fiske in The Atlantic
Physical Immortality is something
which has hitherto been supposed to be
inexorably denied to human beings
The phase ''All men are mortal" figures
in textbooks of logic as the truest of
truisms. But we have lately been as
sured that this is a mistake. 1t is only
an induction based upon simple emu
mera ton, and the first man who escapes
death will disprove it.
So at least was told by very down
right person who called on me some
years ago with a huge parcel of manu-
script, for which he wanted me to find
him a publisher. He had been cruelty
snubbed and i'll used, but truth would
surely prevail over bigotry, as in Cali
lei's case. l took his address and let
him leave his manuscript. Its recipe
for physical Immortality, diluted
through 600 pages, was simply to learn
how to go without foodl
Usually such regimen will kill you
by the fifth day, but if at that critical
moment, while at the point of death.
you make heroic effort and stay alive,
why, then you will have overcome the
king of terrors once for all l returned
the gentleman's manuscript with a
polite note, regretting that his line of
research was so remote from those to
which l was accustomed that / could
not give him intelligent aid.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-03-25
Cornish DianOnd 5.

"Please God" said Aunt Mary Bun
ny, eff l live till this evenin and all's
well I'll send for the doctor.
Il shan't name no names, said I'm
Gle Billy. "but Jack Tremenheere the
man
John Carter, the famous smuggler Of
Porthleah, went throughout Cornwall
by the name of the King of Prussia. A
Mousehole man, on hearing news of the
real king of Prussia's defeat at Jena,
remarked: 'MisfCrtunes never come
single. I'm sorry for that man. Not
more'n six weeks ago he lost 300 keg o
brandy, by information, so I'm towld.
All the crew had been saved, but one
poor fellow was brought ashore uncon-
scious The curate turned to the by
ISLANDERS:
"How do you proceed in the case of
one apparently drowned2"
'sS'arch his pockets. Cornish Mag
aZine
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-03-25
Names of IitiEants.

In an old Indiana case man named
Shallcross undertook TO live up to his
name by running an unlawful ferry,
but the decision of the court said to
him, 'You shall not cross.
The name of an adopted citizen of
the Chickasaw Nation. whose adoption
was Cancelled and who was thereupon
expelled, was Run Hannah.
a California woman who said in her
will. Il have no fear of the hereafter;
o my Lord. teach me TO live right,
then in dying there is no sting, bore
the prophetic Christian name of Eu-
thanasia.
The name D.. Physick. which might
be looked for in some allegory. appears
as the name of real person in recent
law report
Some peculiarly suggestive combina-
tions of names in the titles of cases are
these: People versus Kaiser. Priest
versus Lackey. Kick versus Merry, Pro-
tected Home Circle versus Winter.
Grant versus Lockout Mountain Com
pany.
In "reminiscences of the early Mime
sofa bar Judge Charles E. Flandrau
tells in the Minnesota Law Journal of
an argument before the supreme court
in 1858 by exChief Justice Goodrich
on behalf of an Indian convicted of
murder The Indians name was Zu-ai-
"a, but as the counsel could not pro-
nounce it he always referred to him in
his argument as my client, Ahasue-
rus. Case and Comment.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-03-25
PrOmisinE Pupil.

SINE years ago a we'll known Amer
lean pianist gave a concert at which he
played a duet for two pianos with a
pupil. The pupil, young man of great
talent, had come from a small town,
and one of the we'll to do natives of the
town went to the city for the sole pur-
pose of attending the concert. On his
return he was asked what he thought
of the young mans musical achieve
ments
''He's doing as well as anybody could
wish, and he'll do better yet, replied
the prosperous townsman. with deci-
sion.
He played a piece with his teacher
that was 20 pages long. He gave the
teacher the start by five minutes, and
then he clipped in, and they came out
at the end nip and tuck, if you II be-
Heve me. Well. sir, when l heard that.
l made up my mind we needn't worry
another mite about how George would
succeed.
His teachers considered the best
piano player in this part of the coun-
try, and if George could do what he
did at that concert it won't be many
years before he'll beat him out and out,
you can just rely on that.
I'D be willing to bet, if was bet
ting man, that in two years time that
teacher won't dare to undertake one of
those two piano pieces with George
unless George gives him a good ten
minutes start of him Youth 5 Com
paniOn
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-03-25
Penn.yIvania s.na Mines.

There are all kinds of mines in Penn
sylvania. The greatest are of course the
iron and coal mines. but few people
would guess that the next extensive
mining industry is the sand mines in
western Pennsylvania. These mines are
rarely underground. however, and many
of them are viewed with wonder by
passengers on the Pennsylvania. APP
preaching Pittsburg. Whole mountains
are being dug away. and the granular
rocks forming them are being reduced
to sand for the manufacture of glass in
and about Pittsburg -Philadelphi
Call
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-03-25
4 Verbal Melee.

Going up on a Cedar avenue car the
other night the passengers were much
entertained by verbal spat between a
small citizen of German parentage and
A tall native. The trouble all originated
from the fact that the car was very
much crowded, so crowded that the
two disputants were brought face to
face in such close proximity that they
couldn't make a gesture.
Push up a little, can't your" in
luired the tall man in an irritable tone.
Several people were pushing him, and
his irritability was quite excusable.
well, no, l can't" replied the little
man. land, vat is more, don't hef to. ;"
You're not much of a gentleman.
said the tall man.
"Oh, I ton't knowl" said the little
man airily Ven l want an opinion on
chentlemen, L go to some fellow vat
has got leetle knowledge of der sub
jec'.''
You're very funny boy, said the
tall man in a tone of deep sarcasm.
well, said the little man, Il may
haf some senses of humor. but I'm not
so hart hearted as to laugh at der fool
ishness of one idiot.
do you call me an idiot2'' gasped
the tall man.
LAS long as 1 ton't know your
name" said the little man, 81 couldn t
make der Identification any more gom-
plete.
Pretty soon the car stopped to let off
half a dozen passengers, and when
things finally settled down the tall one
and the short one we've separated by a
dozen seats. -Cleveland Plain Dealer
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-03-25
A TWO HOUR BREAKFAST.
IT Is one of the Institutions of New
Orleans.

It Is One of the Institutions OF new
Orleans.
There is n place in New Orleans that
strangers are always glad to have point
ed out-Begeuy over in the French
quarter. kept by Nine. Begeuy (pro-
nounced Bigaay, with the accent on the
last syllable). and famous for the break
fasts if serves at IL o'clock every morn
| ing.
Originally this breakfast was intend
ed for the butchers, and they contribut-
ed to it the daintiest meats that the
splendid French market in New Orleans
provided from day to day. Gradually
outsiders began to come in, and now
one must engage a seat at breakfast two
DAVIS ahead. The morning the writer
was there distinguished judge of the
supreme court was the principal visitor.
and he, with his family and several
puests from Boston, sat at the head of
the table.
One long table occupies the little
dining room, to which one climbs by
rickety flight of stairs Every French
man, when he gets up, takes II cup of
coffee and a roll, and at IL clock eats
his real breakfast. This is the meal that
Mime. Begeuy serves, and it costs 81.
The kitchen is right off of the dining
room, and there is no pretense of adorn-
ment Everything is as plain and sim
pie as it can be. excepting the food. and
this is the perfection of the gastronomic
art A bottle of claret stood at each
place, which. with water imported
from Germany and called ''blue label.
was all there was to drink until the lit
tie cup of black coffee finished the re-
past
The first thing served was duck. 1t
was excellent, and so was everything
else included in the eight or nine
courses that came on. and that con-
cluded, singularly enough. with liver,
so cooked that the only regret was that
the piece was not larger. 1t takes two
hours to eat a breakfast at Begeuy's,
and you get enough to last you for all
day.-Leslie's Weekly.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-03-25
A GRIM CEREMONY.
An Emperor's Death fastened by
Rehenrsing His Own Funeral.

An Emperor's Death fastened by
RehenrsinG His Own Funeral.
Emperor Charles V of Spain brought
about his death by rehearsing his own
funeral For the last two years of his
life, after resigning the scepter of Spain
and the Netherlands to his son Philip,
in 1856, Charles retired to the monas-
terry of Yuste, in Estremadura, and
there lived cloister life in close inter
course with the monks, devoting much
time to religious exercises During this
period, prompted it may be by the ex-
ample of Cardinal de la Marck, who
for several years before his death, in
1923, had annually rehearsed his own
obsequies, the emperor, in the summer
of 1858, formed the resolution to cele-
brate his own funeral before he died.
Accordingly, on Aug. 80 of that year,
the grim farce was carried out with the
most elaborate ceremonial The imperial
domestics marched with black tapers in
their hands. and the emperor. clad in
sable weeds, himself followed, wearing
his shroud While the solemn mass for
the dead was sung before the high altar
in the cathedral Charles gave up his ia
per to the priest, typifying thereby his
resignation of life, and was solemnly
laid in his coffin. The ceremony closed
with sprinkling holy water on his body;
then, all the attendants retiring the
doors were shut. and Charles rose from
his narrow bed and withdrew to his pri
vate apartment.
The damping of the graveclothes in
duced chill, which, aided no doubt by
the mental depression caused by the
grewsome ceremony, induced fever
which ended in his death three weeks
later, ON the 21st of September. 1888
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-03-25
Her Opinion In Full.

The car turned sharply around a
curve and the tall man who was hold
ing on to a strap somewhat loosely was
suddenly thrown from his upright po-
sition with force that landed him in
the lap of a dignified dowager sitting
near him. while his high silk hat flew
from his head and rolled down the aisle
of the car.
''Sir, she said as he rose to his feet
again with profuse apologies, 81 am
compelled to say that in my judgment
you We're lacking in that complete
grasp of the strap which was essential
TO the highest efficiency in maintaining
an upright attitude when turning a
curve.
That was all But it crushed him
Chicago Tribune
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-03-25
WILLOW Baskets.

The question is sometimes asked why
some willow baskets soon become brown
and discolored while others keep white
so much longer. Those that discolor are
made from willow from which the bark
has been removed by steaming. The
imported baskets. made where labor lie
not such big factor in cost. are woven
from willows that have been peeled
with knives. and these hold their clean
white color to the close of their exist
ence, which is mach longer period
than that of the domestic product If
one only knew how to distinguish
st other from which. nowl
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-03-25
Rice as m Detecter of Thieves.

Not being able to trace anything in
connection with the loss of the 1000
rupees from the cash safe of the Surati
Bazaar company. the directors have re-
sorted to astrology and finally sorcery.
Every employee of the bazaar was Civ
en- mouthful of rice to eat which had
been previously put through some mag
ic preparation, the belief being that if
the person who had taken the money
ate the rice some very great misfortune
would befall him. 1t is not recorded
that any of the employees have yet met
with a disaster. -Rangun Gazette.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-03-25
The omnIpresent Rose.

Every continent on the globe, with
the exception Of Australia. produces
wild roses. There can be little doubt that
the rose is one of the oldest flowers in the
world and, perhaps, grown from the
wind blown seeds in Paradise.
In Egypt it is depicted on numbers Of
early bas-reliefs, dating from 5000 to
$500 B. G. Rosewater, or che essence of
roses, is mentioned by Homer in the
''Iliad, and the flower is spoken of in
the Proverbs of Solomon
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-03-25
An Insulting Programme.

a lady's maid who had been to a
servants ball came back before the
evening was half over and in tears
Her mistress inquired the cause.
Il was grossly insulted, ma am. by a
young man. -
well. what did he do?'
well, ma am, he asked me to go
down to supper with him, and when we
had finished he said, is Your pro-
gramme full 2 London Chronicle
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-03-25
They Have No Nerves.

a German tourist declares that what
principally distinguishes Cinnamon
from us is their utter freedom from
nervousness No matter how much they
exert themselves, they always remain
phlegmatic, and they can sleep any
where. in any position and in any
amount CT noise
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-03-25
DIPLOMACY.

And so Fannie Perkleigh is going
TO marry that old, decrepit fellow just
because he has lot of money -
'.Oh. no. that isn't the reason She's
going to marry him because her parents.
by throwing out clever hints, succeeded
in making her believe they didn't want
her to have him. Chicago News.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-03-25
A SInndernua TnIe.

Briggs is awfully hoarse this morn
ing"
eyes You know how damp it was
last night2 Well. Briggs and his wife
stood on the corner waiting for a street
car, and Briggs wife started in to say
something. and Briggs stood there for
fully half hour with his mouth open
trying to get in a word edgewise
That's where he got his hoarseness. -
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-03-25
A. He Under,tands II.

LAS 1 understand it, remarked the
intelligent foreigner. "you Americans
regard George Washington's hatchet as
the emblem of truth. 3"
eyes, sir. that's right, - replied the
American proudly.
Then. when statesmen or other in
dividuals who have quarreled. bury the
Ratchet, 1 suppose they cease to speak
the truth f''-Detroit Free Press.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-03-25
Not Mentioned.

Everybody seems to have been men
TONED for the Office except you" OBJ
served the sympathizing friend
YES. Z" replied the disappointed pol
itician My name is Pants
''Then. of course. soothingly re-
Joined the other. you might expect to
be among the unmentionables.
And silence ike a poultice fell
Chicago Tribune
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-03-25
Quite Emerrnninn

Cripple Greek is great on etiquette
A man out there met a little girl with
whose family he is very intimate and
said.
Hello. Edith How are your
The little miss drew herself nm and
replied
''Tze very well but l amt no tele-
phone Boston Globe.