davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-19
OLD BOY REDEEM nvxMe HOW MEN PROPOSE

| Old Boy Redden. John Redden, Old Boy
! Redden, John Redden, Old Boy Redde1
| John Redeem
In q few days Parker got latter from
| his wife in the oos,office.
| The letter read in this way in reality:
9,benezer: You are an cd drunken
| foe I am the wife OF your bosom and
when you write me John Redden and Old
Boy Redeem you are plumb wall-eyed.
| crazy drunk and I know it. Write me
| right away and explain your actions to
the wife Of your bosom
Now Parker brought this letter 10 Red
/ den and Redden not being able to read,
saw the only way out of the difficulty.
now that he was in the whirlpool, was 70
keep swimming. so he at once read the
letter off as follows:
Dear Ebsnezer: I was glad 10 recsive
your epistle. You say you want those
fawn breeches. Well. you won't get them
You are making money down there, and
you don't send none 10 your wife. What
a nice sort Of a man you are any way.
I pen these ines with sorrow. but YOU
don't get any fawn breeches here
This made Parker mad. and he insisted
on replying a once. although Redeem
pleaded that he was busy and couldn't
take the time. But Ebenezer Parker held
him TO it and Redden had 10 take mis- pen
in hand and write again Parker die
tated a long letter demanding the fawn
breeches and declaring that he would have
them if he had TO go to law.
Again the letter Mrs. Parker at Atchi-
son received was this: John Reddea.
Old Boy Redden. John Redden. Old Boy
Redden, John Redeem, Old Boy Redeem.
John Redden. Old Boy Redeem. John Red
den. Old boy Reddeu. John Reddeu. Old
Boy Redden. John Redden. Old Soy
Redeem. John Redden"
Mrs. Parker answered this letter a : be-
fore. charging her husband with insanity
and drunkenness. Again Redden trans
-ated it TO Parker. with renewed emoha-
sis on the assertion that the fawn breeches
would not be delivered.
Parker sent a stiu sharper demand and
John Redden wrote the same old letter
Then Mrs Parker took new tack. She
determined to send as good as she re-
ceived, SO she sat down and wrote her
husband this letter:
John Redden. Old Boy Redeem. John
Redden. Old Boy Redden. John Redden.
Old Boy Redden, John Redeem. Old Boy
Redden.. John Redeem. Old Boy Redeem,
John Redden. Old Boy Redden. John Red
den Your wife Amanda"
When Parker received this letter he
coul Int find Redden. He had possibly
hidden out.
Parker consequently took II 10 some
other white man and he read the letter /
just as it was written to the astonished /
Mr.. Parker. He didn't know what il |
meant He couldn't fathom the mystery. /
He rolled mis- eyes and beat his breast and /
declared that his wife had gone stark mad. /
His white alder couldn't explain il and ,
EbeneZer Parker. mystifed and panic /
stricken. threw I'd his job took the train /
for Atchison. There he PROBABLY met Mrs I
Parker and together they unraveled the
mutual charge OF insanity
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-19
Diverging Fortunes
of Two WiChitaus
- THE MILLS OF FATE -

other was Rossi of Gondolf and Rossi,
who conducted the famous restaurant here
during the boom
Soon after Mr. 0. B Stocker reached
Chicago recently, he attended the extrav-
aganza. 1892 at the Great Northern
Theatre. One Of the features, in fact the
chief feature Of the play, is man dress
ed as woman, a male Patti Mr.
Stocker had front seat. and as he watch
ed this mock woman and listened TO his
voice, an old memory struggled into life.
He remembered that years ago when the
postofice was in Garfield Hall and Frank
B Smith, now dead. was postmaster.
there used TO be a postoff1ce clerk. a
young stripping, who loved 20 sing. Near
by was Mr.. Suckers rooms, in which
was a plano. One day Mr. Stocker in
vited the young clerk up TO his room and
gave him the use Of his piano. Often
after that the young man. granted The
freedom Of the place, would slip UP to
this room and sing. 4 few Of his friends
then knew he had a wonderful voice. At
ter time he quit coming. He had quit
the postoffce, those employed there said.
and gone away with a minstrel troupe
had indeed applied for a place; had sub
jected his voice to the Judgment Of some
burnt-cork artist and had been accepted
at salary OF board and lodging per week.
Mr.. Srocker looked at the face and the
figure before him The old memory was
tenacious Was this man the postoffice
clerk?
He determined 70 find out. He went TO
the clerk Of the hotel and asked him
ABOUT this Male Patti. He discovered
that his name was Stuart and that the
company was his. Stocker was little
backward about sending up his card.
The clerk treasured him, saying:
There is one man who has made a sue
,ess and hasn't the big head. Send your
lard Up. Stuart is all right"
The card dispatched, word came down
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-19
WICHITA TEN YEARS AGO.

Mrs. T. P. Martin and daughter went on
a visit 70 New Orleans
Mr. Daily was knocked down by a We
hicle on the West Side and badly hurt.
He was an old gentleman
The ground was covered with three
inches OF snow, but the weather was not
cold.
The bill allowing Wichita TO issue sewer
bonds passed the state senate.
Miss Lillian Hamblin gave a recital
Those present on the program were Miss
Mildred Morrison. Miss Genevra JoceIyn,
Miss Octovia Hobbs, Mrs Coen, Messrs
W S. Bracken, Sherman Skinner and
Robert Smyth.
George W Clement. George Pratt ard
George Harris announced themselves for
the mayoralty.
The movement TO erect monument 70
Father Bliss vas not going very well.
Swab and G osser moved their tailoring
establishment across Main street into the
Heiserman tu'd ding.
Mrs. Hattie Waltein died in great dis
tress and poverty and was buried here.
Joe Henley was rafting off a Columbia
safety. This was the first mention OF the
present style Of bicycles in the Eagle
Mike E. Bright. young man employed
in the Kansas National bank. removed
to Carthage, Missouri
DR.. Bliss. the man who attended Presi-
dent Garfield after he was shot, died in
New York
Mr.. William Kassel buried his mother,
who died At Leavenworth. here.
Work on the brick livery stable on North
Lawrence just north Of Douglas avenue,
had begun.
Blanche Smiths elocution pupils gave
an entertainments. Those taking part
were Lulu Granger, H o. Smith. Lulu
Dewey. Dessa Johnson. Jennie Smith.
H e Bidweil was here working up the
great silk culture scheme.
The Andrews Opera company presented
Chimes OF Normandy at the Crawford.
Miss Minnie Lane entertained. Her
guests were Mr.. and Mrs. W. H Lane.
Miss Minnie Lane. Cecil Lane. Cora Cal
vim, Jesse Reynolds. Viola Dunn. Matte
Crouch. Maude Rafferty,. Mile B. Glunt,
Lizzie h Patton. Nellie n. Pitt, Minnie
Crouch. Minnie a. Gentner. Grace Raj
ferty. Hattie Wilbur Messrs. 2. p. Carl
e---- = LII az II l. - AA-i1L4- II
Lieurance. John Pool F A North. 4 I.
Pierce, Alva Dunn and T. r Crane
a man came out IN communication in
the Eagle and said that electric cars were
a success beyond doubt. as he had been
sent here to watch our system
The Eagle was booming the Okla homa
opening for all that was out. The Leav-
enworth times printed this. calling 4:
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-19
BEATING DEAD BEATS

This is story told on Bill Speer. Two
dead beats had vkrked UP a. big reputa-
ton through this sectioS. on the strength
Of blufting conductors. All the conductors
were put onto them and one day Speer
discovered them on his train. They were
sitting together in 4 seat. big. powerful
DULLES too much for Speer and his brake
man 10 manage. But he decided 70 tackle
them. He walked Up and asked them for
their tickets They said they didn't have
any. He told them they would nave 70 put
up their fare or get of. They said they
wouldn't do either. Spec. passed them BY
and went on taking tickets. Presently Re
slipped up behind the two men and brought
their heads together with an awful crash.
Stunned and psrslyzed we're bo,h men.
The train stopped. The brakeman took
one man and Speer took the other and bo-h
were easily dumped Of the train.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-19

between his condition in Chicago and in
Wichita Stuart told Stocksr that he was
making a success, and that he was hap
by. As soon as he finishes Chicago ne
will take his company east 70 New York
and thence TO England.
In Chicago he is rated among the fore
most Of his profession
Early in the evening Of Wednesday Of
last week in remote corner OF the Cattle
King hotel Of Woodward sat a swarthy
featured man, his sombrero hat pulled over
his eyes and a large red handkerchief in
his hand with which ne would repeat edly
wipe his face. for Il was damp with per-
spiration, "a the lobby was crowded with
millionaire cattle kings stock dealers and
traffic managers, and the little Office was
stUffy and hot. In a green baize case over
in the corner. leaning against the wau
stood a fine Italian harp. the sole friend
and companion Of this silent. solitary man
He spoke not and seemed never 10 hear or
care for the loud laughter, the ribaid jokes
or the giistening repartee which rang
through the halls and corridors Of the no.
tel He simply sat there colby and pas
e.vely Indifferent 10 his surroundings. He
was perhaps making up the balance Of the
ledger Of life. At last he raised MS broad
brimmed hat and took one long look at tho
motley crowd around him. His eyes bore
no hatred, no envy, not even a sign OF ao-
parent regret. Then he got up and deftly
shOuldering mis- instrument he left the hotel
and as silently and morosely as ne sat
there bothering no one. he wandered OF
into the night. Five minutes later he was
again seated in a still more crowded NOEL
Office. that OF the Central hotel, corner
Woodward avenue ard Monahan street
The lobby and Offices here held probably
at this moment two hundred people, and
cigar smoke was thick enough 70 De cut
up with a meat cleaver. Little groups OF
rich cattle barons from the gulf 70 the
great lakes were seated az card tables
playing whist The FL Reno delegation,
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-19

Marsh Murdock's Latest ODE"
Listen 10 the mocking bird.
Listen TO the hooking bird.
The hooking bird is singing on its grave
I'm waiting now for home-ah,
o, kIahoma, Klahoma,"
Hardy Solomon announced himself for
mayor and spoke OF the depressed con-
dition Of the country which was being
felt in our city
big committee of citizens who had
been visiting other towns inspecting paw
ing returned 10 the city and made a re-
port.
Eugene Ware, among some old Spanish
documents found that near Wichita Coro-
nado discovered town called Coma.
The Y. T. c. club of Paramount was
then flourishing. 1t was musical.
Tom Anderson, in a new pamphlet on
Topeka, claims that city has 5000 people.
This is a greater claim than Topeka sas
ever made before.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-19

headed by E F. Mitchell. were telling
with enthusiasm how il was done. how the
home city won the next convention for
1910. In other quarters were leading COW
men OF that fourishing end OF the great
cattle growing section OF Oklahoma Drum
mars from Wichita were thick ali through
the rooms, mingling and chatting with
their customers. All was confusion and
roar, the hum Of voices. the ring OF laugh
ter, and louder acelamations OF COW punch
ers, who wore the picturesque costume Of
their wild and unlicensed calling In other
words. this was the last spot az that time,
in all the land for the finer emotions. pas
sions. or the loftier sentiments Business
and prosaic unromantic affairs OF the world
held sway and the silent man with his
harp was seemingly out Of place.
Al last during the height Of the hubbub
there resounded softly through the CORR
doris. filing the rooms and swelling out
and upward. the soft and soothing strains
OF the Italian harp. AT once a hush set
tied over the EralEling throng. and the
bab5Ie Of tongues, shouts Of laughter and
rustIing Of feet slowly died away and in
one minute wsighJy quiet reigned where
was wild turmoil and noise. The silent
man was now vide awake and alive to the
reaching upward % the opportunity. A
sardouic and cynical smile was perceptible
over thOse once stolid and sxpressionless
features. With the defJness Of long train
ing and natural gifts. his long slender I'm
gers 50 easily crept over the strings OF
that instrument which speaks aloud 10
heart and soul. The ''Miserere" was first
Played and the mixed and cosmopolitan
audience scarcely more than breathed as
they listened with rapt attention TO the
dulcet strains from that grand instrument
in the hands Of a master. He seemed not
10 be aware OF any audience; his eyes
never once met those OF his hearers nor did
they look upon his faultiess instrument.
Instead. he leveled them of and and away
toward the far of western hills, just then
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-19
From A. Y. ALEXANDER

A v Alexander formerly OF this car
now OF Pike city. ArksnSas writes tAss
he hears very hattering reports % Wien
tia and the prosperity Of is citizens ana
II Il IS 40 that I can I shaIl visit there
soon.
Mr.. Alexander " doing well IN rs new
home and OF its climate writes: We are
located g miles frem Hot sprfrps ordi-
usrily have delightful winter climate
here. but this winter has been exceptional.
The Thermometer having registered as low
as ID degrees below zero. T can account
for this IN no other way. since the Pail
lppine islands have been made a part 20
the United States. u makes us about 900
miles north % where we used % Be ana
II they annex much more territory south
re may ind TIE weather here equal % that
OF Kiondke"
Mr. Alexander sends his respects % his
old friends IN wichita
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-19

which the generous crowd would give. W&s
at that early DAY the 6lanoza-seSpazg:ed
owner and joint proprietor % the bst1et.
Then De vas af-.1eat. new 4 msadssan..
and an honest ana Io~iy applicant for tSs
little 10 sustain Efe- Tbs man Was Eraa-
Vel Ross who. during the boom IN wscaita
Vas associated with Gzndolfo IL the ia
nous Gaudolfo restaurant European hcuss
and srust emporium TIE most gorgeous
equipments. elaborate appointments ana
elegant fixtures and arrangements adorned
this widely known establishment aad tss
propTetors grew rapidly rtch. while their
hosiery was the wonder Of capitalists.
moneye5 men and travellers who VISITED
tEis city from the centers % the east.
To the traveller Re briefly related RS his
tory since he left this city. He confessed
with pinched smile 81 bitter hunor. thas
during this time ne had made and lass
three fortunes. At least one 81 which wa
of especial ulaEus;ude Now ne carries ths
only remaining veStige o. his former az
fuencs MS beloved Italian harp ard 10
vehemsntly declared that 10 money On
earth could buy il. II was AL the friera
he had and he would not part with T. He
brought Il % America with him from he
vins-clsd hills OF ola Etruria and nov it
was hs sole means OF support Asked AZ
10 the where's bouts Of Gandolfo. hs replies
that ne was now IN the Eloadike. where
he had gone a year ago during the excite
ment Of the rush. leaving Colorado Sprines-
Thus IRE ever doggfng nemesis OF capri
cious fate follows the careers Of rnortaA
and no one knows. and Il i better 80. what
the future. clouded and welded IN the uslsts
OF the unkRowabls. has n store Cor those
who watch and wait. Destiny giitters 81
duHs and each must take rs chances for
the time which is 10 BE.
FAMINE OF OYSTERS.
There has been in Wichita Tor the iass
few days an entire famine Of oysters TIE
beds are frozen Up an a frozen oyster can
not be shipped.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-19
OLD BOY REDEEM

The death 81 Rowdy Joe in COLORADO
last week brings up cowboy Wichita OF
the seventies and many memories, and
particularly Of one John Redden. a s1aa
md dance artist.
4 variety theatre was then located on
the spol where the Kansas News COM
pany now Is. on North Main street, gust
off the Avenue.
win MS booted. sDurred and som5rero-
ed audiences Redden was a bowling IA
Forite he sang songs with great gusto
and Of kind which would have emu:ied
a French dance hall. occasionally 1arvlug
the matter by giving something avfiiIy
pathetic and making the big, rough cow
punchers move uneasiiy in their seats
and shuttle and sniffle audib'y.
John Redden was always accornar-ed
BY Eoenezer Parker, very black man.
on the banjo This duo was known far
and wide
John Redden was a fine appearing man
but had no education He could -9t read
and the only words he could write. and
some friend had taught him how 10 do
THIS were: John Redeem and -O-d Rov
Rsdden-' He knew them apart and knew
tnat he was the subject Of them.
Now Parker. Ebenezer Parker. the
black gentleman who whacked the banjo.
could not do even that much. He could
noc read or write at all But Ebenezer
did not know that Redden could not write
nor read, and Redden did not want
Eoenezer TO suspect anything Of the kind
50 it fell out that one day Ebeaezer
wanting 70 write his wife al Atrlfs57
Went to John Redden and asked him as
2 favor II he would write 10 Mrs. Parker
N5c7j~o7 as Parker himself would die
tate Redden, a little abashed. but vama
10 the last, answered that he would q,
50 with pleasure 50 after a 7rosi-io1s
hunt for paper. Ebenezer doing the hunt
l1g and the securing Of the ink. both re-
paired 20 table in the theatre and 5egan
The wonderful operation.
Redden. at the very start. began "a
Kick on the pens. Ebenezer Parker. went
out in search and brought in. al sort and
manner Of pens and Redden at last dis
covered one which suited him fairly and
told Parker % drive away.
Then while Parker dictated. Pe64an
scrubbed away all the writing he ever had
known
What Parker dictated was in this wise.
Dear Amanda: I am doing very we'll in
deed here | am playing the banjo in a the
atre and am making money. As soon as 7
seta little laid by I will send for Won and
We VII set up housekeeping. That Will not
De long We viii have A pleasant time. I
left at home a pair q faUn breeches. and
wish You would send them down bv
express Or mail am very truly yours,
E5eEezar Parker
What John Redden wrote was this ard
II covered three pages: John Redden
Old Boy Redden. John Redden. Old Boy
ReddeE, John Redden. Old Boy Redde1. |
John Redeem. Old Boy Redden. John Red
den, Old Boy Redden. John Redder. Old /
Boy Redden John Redden Old Boy Red /
den. John Redden. Old Boy Redden. John /
Redden. Old Boy Redden. John Reddea. !
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-19
THE MILLS OF FATE.
.
Q -


Here in Wichita as all over the world
the upper and neither miIlstones Of Fate
are ever grinding Some Of the grain is
shot through the spout Of fortune: some
OF it turned away into the channel OF
Bad Luck
Twelve years is not long period. and
twelve years TO all but the youngest men
and women seems but span. but time
has kept grinding all the while, plaster
ing one man with money and tearing an
others clothes 10 tags and rags. 1t has
had rewards for some. least suspected Of
being possible benehciaries, and rnisfor-
tune for others least deserving of it.
The other day Charles Bigelow Of the
Eagle met an Italian stunning a harp in
hotel lobby al Woodward, Oklahoma.
At the same hour and day o. 3. Stocker
OF Wichita sent his card up % the rooms
Of a Wichita man in Chicago and waited
his turn 20 be received
The man playing the harp IS struggling
for an existence and with thoughts OF
the day when he was rich. puts a, touch Of
sorrow in the floating melodies Of mis- soft
voiced instrument, as he leans it against
his shiny coat and works its pedals with
his feet.
The man in the Great Northern hotel
in Chicago was once poor and struggling
in the world He IS not poor now He
has suite Of rooms in the big hotel in
Vulnerable callers, innumerable invita-
tons TO dinner, is arranging 10 take him
self and his troupe to England to tour
that island.
Twelve years ago the man in the room
az Chicago paused in front Of the big no
tel and restaurant run by the man play
ing the harp here in Wichita and admir-
ed the inviting viands set forth tempt
ingly n the windows at The corner Of
Main and First streets.
One man was Harry Stuart. formerly
a man without Z iOh' in Wichita. The
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-19
a soRP0WTNG pOG

Every day Mr.. Philips dog travels 20
the spot where he lost bis life ard fingers
about the spot whining This e the story
that e told on the South Side. and e shows
ths undylng affection % dumb brute
few weeks ago. on A snowy day. NJ
Philips vas walking along the Wichita
and Western tracks. when the locomotive
struck him and ne was killed. He wa.
going hunting and hs dog followed hin.
Wnea the traiumen went back % the body
they found the dog He<ing arecisouatsly
the hand y rs dead mae sr, stlI warm
Ever since that tatefui morning tbs dog
has joGrueyed % ,hs spot where ~ mas
ter VAS killed. remains there a few mir
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-19
A vArt-ARr-E r;rrrAn

Charles Real plays the guitar 80 10 nan
~ao ever struck wirhlta csn- TIE guitar
he TOW has be has rad for fss1fy years.
ard he prizes q above al his other esrthiv
possessi0ns- There - only ore .ner "a
Il 81 the world r. Eas made b. sn 85d
iustrumsnt maker In Pnsl4dsI9d.s mary
years ago. from fb~ F9undiHg board ~ al
% sp'nnrt f73-f "a z garnet l1 Eosfon.
TIE wool vs. ts1 centuries ssssoaet
and very resonant Beai o~Ei7zifT
- 4 30 f1r f.. baf hss F'are h@sa sTsr-i
many times that SIN ar me Eatsr.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-19
WOULD HAVE BEEN FATAI.

During the cold spell TWO tramps were
found on the trucks Of a passenger coach
on the Missouri Pacific as the train was
pulling out Of Wichita for the west. A
brakeman discovered them. Il was so
cold that had they been permitted 20 re-
main where they were they would have
been killed. Ths conductor stopped the
train and explained their danger to them
and sent them back TO town
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-19
HOW WICHITA CLIMBS

Wichita Is climbing up in the clearing
house tables in most wonderful way.
For years Topeka has exceeded this city.
For the last four weeks Wichita has sur
passed Topeka and Is going higher every
week This week Topeka had 1895 OF
clearings, a decrease of 31e per cent.
Wichita's cIearings amounted 20 1902 451.
an increase of 17e5 per cent.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-19
A LIGHTED LANTERN

A discovery made during the cold
weather IS that a lighted lantern under
a lap robe is equal 10 a stove. This ex-
plains the sight of men carrying lighted
lanterns along the street in day time.
No one viii believe that there is so much
heat in a lantern without trying this ex-
periment.