davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-24

necessary tactics. and 20 instruct them
IN artillery practice
The acquaintance Of the Beers them
selves with the topography OF the coun-
Try enables them 20 see az q glance the
value OF certain positions for offensive
or defensive purposes and the extreme
mobility OF the commandOs. which are
unhampered by anything very strict IN
the way Of regulations. enables them 20
mako quick changes OF base when such
a policy becomes necessary.
Combined with their good marksman-
ship THIS is all they really require FOR
their purposes. Their formula for pre-
pairing for battles IS to first find strong
position and occupy II properly, TO Sc
cure cover from which good shooting can
be done on any and all occasions,
ana TO group themselves so that the least
possible harm shall be done 20 their skins
by the enemys bullets.
Although in a review these troops would
look like lot Of tramps. and would
probably 90 through their evoluuons IN
a manner which would disgust any Euro
pean commanding officer they are, on
the whole, better equipped for the kind
Of warfare they are waginC than are the
wei disciplined troops that are opposed
10 them.
Throw the whole Boer force together
and then let IT meet an equal force of
British troops I'm open battle. and the
fate Of the Beers would be decided IN
remarkably short space Of time. Such
situation as that IS not likely TO occur
however, under any circumstances as the
Boer is an extremely wary adversary
and VIII never fight az a. disadvantage "a
himself when there is any opportunity
for him 20 beat a retreat with any
chance Of getting away.
The opposite conduct. Of course would
be pursued by the army Of any great
military power, the aim Of which IS al
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-24
lstaunton News.l


The Common Council of the city Of
Lvnchburg ON December SIN addressed TO
the Legislature a memorial prepared by
the president Of the Council. Thomas -.
Davis. and heartily approved by the
Mayor and the Judge OF the city Court
appealing to the Legislature 20 establish
a refOrmatOry for the negro youth OF the
state convicted OF petty crimes. The me-
mortal shows the failure al reform Of
the present methods OF punishment, and
Inc great expense entailed Dy permitting
the Young negroes TO grow into hardened
The memorial asks that the reformatory
al Hanover. recently established by pri-
vate persons. be supported, and that an
other at some other convenient point, be
This Is a subject that should have the
earnest consideration of the Legislature.
The establishment Of such institutions has
bern 100 long delayed. As a protective
measure. such institutions should be es-
fabiished at once. adequate TO accommo-
date an the young negro criminals, where
thew NAV be put 10 work 20 maintain the
institutions and may receive moral ana
religious training, and be mace INDUS
trious. law-abiding citizens
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-24

Just AS was the American cole
........... ...... t..o,.,.. .......
losses ON the flower OF the British
t.e Boer is accustomed 90 r0uen-
from the cradle uu The amenI-
... .I civilization arc not cared for at
those rough herdsmen oil th. v,Idt.
. Ia down to sleep every nigh, of
lives u the clothes which they
been wearing through the CAV. and
..fom themselves ON their hunting
lltions Orb existing upon The c0ar-est
most meaere died.
Every B0pr VINO lives outside of the
.as, and these are overW hclmiuely in
majority. is born hunter, and natu-
bec.mcs am expert p0t-shot from
earliest years Not 10 De am excel
.. marksmm is f0r the Hoer TO Dee am
t 0f contempt among his friends
nbors. and considerable part
.- noe which Doe hunts being of The
Variety Doc is thoroughly expert
lJotuB at long range.
a F... as hunter equips MIN ln
than one for the class OF
cl he most eNccls in m The
. becomes az an early age acc
10 taxing long tramps over the
.sn KIND or territory the rlSht 10
sion of which Doe is now cone
uln by ncn Win the British in-
e may almost say in fact That he
much M nome on the march, and
mp. as he does when attending
work on the farm at home.
elt difference is ihal instead OF
ions. pmthers, hyenas, or ante
dun color of whose coats often
I. ..m "a difficult mark among the
rUis. and foliage, he is now FUR
H..h 70 conspicuous uniform for
i bis game marches up 90 ms
- instead OF iry ms 10 make IT.
b.. . cure as possiD'e
act That hc i3 accustomed 20
.s0r n the hun.iNs il',u -, ,.i''
..o4. The "FtIa57 'u"0- ''o.'
ipies SIX AloiI''.a' anu VIZ
freedom from 'i,. i''''l ,',..''.,.,,,..
ana Dooh'' ar" - .,,1
-e Grows up ava '7''D' ''' ,.,.'',,
,fet'ui - "l g.
i-1. ana De"eF'i,b N.''ls' -.
DIT necessary To il0N 'FN'f "''''a
Is.
i'ilh in hiins,li' lu' nc, ,t.' ., ~
.. on iNv hiDio' anu - d.
, "iloI ms owl I'm
can't. ~ az o,o,y.eonine
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-24
Inequality.
Suffolk Herald)

The inequality Of taxation on real es-
tate IN Virginia is very apparent 10 any
one who Will take the pslns 10 compare
tho assessments az compiled I'm the Aud
itOr's office. This Is, OF course, the fault
Of the taX-assessors. and tho only way
70 mend the matter, II seems. would be
for q State board Of real-estate arbitra-
tors or assessors 10 DO appointed Tor the
purpose Of equalization. In NsnsemOnd
the average ratio OF assessment on lands
IS S4l3 per aero; Isle OF Wight lands are
put down At 81, and Southampton's ave-
rage is $50 Norfolk county lands are
assessed at an average Of si3.A. while In
Dickinson county the average Is s. cents
per acre, and that on timber and mining
lands.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-24
Chrisinnns-DnY.

There IS some disagreement as 10 The
origin of Chrlstmas-Day. Tho legend
runs that In the earliest period OF the
Christian church some Communities "
Christians celebrated the festival OF
Christmas on January LIST. others OBJ
serving Il on the 9Th OF that month. In
some OF the eastern churches Il was kept
about the time OF March There IS also
some evidence Of its having been observed
on September 9th. being the Feast or
Tabernacles. In tho year A. ID. 325, when
the Emperor Constantine legally estab-
lished Christianity I'm tho Roman empire
Christmas was observed az the begin
ming OF the new year. while ia tho east
ern Church il was celebrated on January
9Th Pope julius eventually effected a
compromise, and tho 18th day Of Decem-
Der was established. These historical
statements have been called in question
by some, but John ChrysostOm. tho olo-
quent preacher az Constantinople, In the
fourth century, confirms them
1t IS a curious circumstance that some
difficulty has been found in accepting
the date Of December 18th as the proba-
Die day on which Christ was born. be-
cause, the close OF December being usual
~ the height Of the rainy season in
Judea, IL Is said that neither hocks nor
shepherds could have been az night in
the fields Of Bethlehem. This strange
objection is considered Of such impor-
tanco that 70 IS incorporated IN almost
every encyclopedia and dictionary which
treats Of literature. The present writer
has been in those parts az this season OF
the year, and has found no difficulty IN
keeping watch by night I'm the open
fields Of Palestine What IS possible for
O western traveller, unused TO living IN
the open air, In tho nineteenth century.
must have been far easier for a band Of
eastern shepherds at the beginning Of the
Christian Exchange.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-24
CNew York Press.)

Futures historians viii write OF the
Great Flood in Wall Street In 1899"
There never was 80 much water turned
loose before except on the occasion that
made Noah's reputation as a mariner
one hundred and eighty-slx per cent
money did the trick. 1t sprung aleak in
than bedrock. The man IN the ark was
James Robert Keene A few little chaps
had life-proseryers, and got out alive. 1t
Is q fact that the only operator IN tho
street who knew the dangers OF water
began his business career IS the manlpu-
lator OF a sprinkling cart.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-24
A Juvenile swindie.

(llu~Blta.J
OF All the queer ways OF making hVins
two Young urchins have the queeIest; lt
ia "a aueer that Il smacks Of swindiny.
4 well-dressed man stopped IN inc
street he other day for a moment.
While no Was standing there boy
edged 10 behind him and hooked 70 ms
cgSttaii n card on which was printed In
black letters.
As the man went across the street sew
eral persons saw n, and turned 10 laugh
M him. The second boy, who was walt
Ing across the street, ran up 10 the man,
and said.
'Mister. there's card hooked TO your
coat behind. Let me take IL on
Goodness mow faid the man. HOW
aid that get there2"
zone OF them ragmufiins put IL on L
',confound them. Well. here's q penny
for you. -.
Two minutes later tho good little boy
hung u on a Tat man. and his partner on
the other side collected another penny.
He had 10 ask for IL but no got Il. A man
would be- q brute 20 refuse 4 penny TO a
poor boy who had done him such SER
vica
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-24

Re gives only the worthless gold
who gives from A sense OF duty;
But lie who gives but : slender mite.
And gives 10 that which IL out % sight.
That thread OF the sli-susts Beauty
Which runs through all and doth all unite;
The hand cannot clasp the whole OF the
aims.
The heart outStrstchss It's eager palms.
For a god goes with IL and makes Il store
To the soul that was Starving In dark
mesa before.
JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-24

lish papers and magazines say that the
officers have always discouraged the use
Of the Y. G. by the men. AS 4 result or
this action by the men OF rank they have
been called upon 20 undergo as scathing
"A fire Of British press criticism aa those
Of them who wear the cross stood from
the enemys rifles when winning the dec
Grafton. EDWARD Il. CIiARh.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-24
Senator Flood,s mensure.

Charlottesville PrOgress)
SenstOr Floods measure providing for
submitting the question Of a cOnstitu-
tional convention 10 the voters Of Vlr-
gnia should receive every vote IN the
Legislature, as well as the endorsement
Of a united Democracy, whsn the prOpO-
sition comes up for public consideration.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-24

A perusal Of the Gazette list which tells
something Of the deeds for which the Vic
tOria Cross has been awarded, shows that
fully one-half Of the most striking ox-
hibitions Of herolsm have been shown by
men whose shoulders bore no insignia Of
rank. one English publication states
that with perhaps one exception the
bravest thing done by a British soldier
was the act OF q drummer boy. That
drummer boy. n living. IS now a man 60
years Old and for forty-fve years Of that
time he has been wearing the Victoria
Cross and has had the right-which. by
the way, be has never exerclsed-of
writing v. O. after his name. This boy.
i'm the year 1857. amid a perfect s'a.r
Of shot and she'll. fastened bags
powder on the gates of Delhi 81
ried death I'm his arms that day an.
it I'm other forms all along his rtr.
Others helped him and were killed. joe
lived and wore the Cross
It was another British drummer boy
who, while acting ass a. field hugler for
Lord Napier Of Magdala in the Abyssi-
MAN war. left the generals side and dash
ed first into the stronghold Of Theodore
the Tyrant."
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-24

The French decoratio0 was first grant
ca under Napoleon 49, tAo early part Of
the present century: the Victoria Cross
was instituted during the Crimean war.
and the American medal was first struck
Off 70 reward acts OF heroism performed
during the war Of secession The French
cross may be won by civilians: the Eng
lish and American crosses are pinned only
upon the breasts Of soldiers and sailors
in the armies OF all three nations officer
and private, peasant and Prince. have
equal chances OF wearing that which no.
thing but attestod bravery may buy.
The first Victoria Cross granted for
bravery I'm the present South African war
was given two weeks ago 20 Colonel Ian
Hamilton. Of the Gordon HiRhanders. for
conspicuous gallantry AZ the battle Of
Elandslaagte
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-24

II would seem that by common consent
the British authoritics give the palm for
surprising bravery 10 % private named
/ kavanagh. who succeeded in reaching
/ Colin Campbelrs column and by telling
/ Of the dire need Of Lucknow spurred that
officer to IT'S relief Lucknow was be-
sieged and the garrison was starving.
! The little band o. devoted men. with the
women and children who We're cooped mp
/ 20 the residency, expected soon TO be 40
the mercy of COCO savagee, for the evil
1 dence grew that the place could not much
| longer hold out. The cOmmandant called
for volunteer who would disguise him
self as q SepOy, mingle with The enemy.
and, watching his chance. escape 90 carry
! the news Of the garrisOn's straits 20 lord
/ Colin Campbell The cOmmandant said
| that the service almost certainly meant
death Many men volunteered Kavanagh
was chosen because ne knew the language
/ of the Sepoys. He stained his skin.
| changed his costume and reached the
enemy's camp. Breaking away from the
| immediate besiegers. he made across the
country On the way he fen in with many
| bands OF the enemy. lie slept with them.
marched with them, and ate with them,
escaping suspicion. as it We're 10y mira
| Gle Finally, leaving the last Of them
| behind he went into the Jungle and dared
starvation and the tigers lair for days.
/ lie reached the English outposts. and,
/ being mistaken for an encmy. was shot
at and almost killed. Kavanagh told his
story 10 General Campbell and the relief
Of Lucknow followed. A year afterward.
Private Kavanagh. az the forefront Of a
battle with the Sepoys. was killed by a
bullet. which IN entering his breast.
touched the edge OF the ribbon which held
In place the Victoria cross given him
"For Nalor'
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-24
SOME FEARLESS MEN.
BRAVE SOLDIERS WHO HAVE
EARNED THE vICTORIA CROSS.
The FRENCH DECORATION OF HONOR.
IL Was First Granted Under Napo-
LONESOME Heroic Americans Who
Have Risked Their Lives for Duty
Adventures Among the Indians.
(Chlcago Tlmes-HeraldA

II every soldier who earns the Victoria
Cross or its American medal equivalent
lived TO wear 81 the decoration through
Its very commences would lose much
Of its significance and value. one man
IN ten wins # and lives; the other nine
die in the striving. It has been said.
authoritatively, that after the institution
Of the Cross Of the Legion OF Honor. the
Victoria Cross and the Congressional
Medal Of Honor. individual deeds OF
daring increased nearly fourfold. II. per-
haps, is probable that tho existence Of
the decorations and the known fact that
they were 10 be worn simply called the
attention Of officers more sharply 10 the
duty OF reporting al acts OF valor which
came under their notice. and that this
more than any hope for reward. account
ed for tho apparent reinforcement
OF courage. The intrinsic value Of these
badges Of bronze IS about cent, yet for
the privilege Of wearing them the soldiers
Of three countries seem always ready TO
tread Grays paths Of glory"
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-24


Private Kavanagh's deed has a parallel
in the American army In the year 1876
during the Sioux uprising General Terry.
whose camp was ON the Big Horn wished
20 communicate with General Crook on
the Powder river The country between
the two commands was infested with
hostile Sioux Indians Trained plains
men. scouts who had been Indian fighters
am their lives, abandoned The courier task
MS hopeless. Then Private James Bell
Company J.. Seventh Infantry. came for
ward and told General Terry that he
would carry the dispatches. Terry gave
Bell the papers and told him that he
was riding 10 his death. The scouts said
suicide" Bell said nothing. but went
Tie rode principally al night. hiding in the
daytime. Twice he was within earshot
OF the humping hO0fs of the Indian
ponies bearing their riders by his hiding
place. 4 neigh from his horse meant
capture and death. Yet Bell got through
and gave Terry's message to Crook.
Some years ago. when the Comanches,
Cheyennes and Kiowas We're on the way
path along the Washita river. Texas. Ser
geant Zachariah r. Woodhan. with four
privates OF Troop 7. Sixth Cavalry. agreed
10 carry dispatches through the very
heart OF the redskins country. The troop
ers were attacked by q band Of l2j war
riors of the allied tribes. Woodhall and
his men held am advantageous place, with
water and food, and with an abundance
of ammunition They could have held of
the reds probably until relief arrived. but
Woodhau said 10 his men. Those dis
patches must 20 through" Accordingly
the little band cut IT'S way through the
circling horde WOOdhall was desperate
lv wounded. but chung to his horse and
his dispatches. and succeeded with his
followers in reaching their destination.
They pinned a medal OF honor on his
blouse while # was hanging alongside his
cot in tho hospital.
snace forbids giving detailed accounts
Of the courageous deeds which won
medals for other enlisted men IN the
United States army. There was Charles
pessv a musician, who, though wounded
himself went out under a scathing"hre
and tended two wounded comrades. There
was Sergeant Forsythe. OF the cavalry
who. though dangerously wounded by the
Indians left cover and Rescued his com
nanding officer. who had been shot down
Inv the sioux in the open This Forsythe
ala under the direct fire of fifty rides.
Tbero are some twenty-five other cases.
all of them well worth the reading
II has been said before that the right %
nut Y. c. after his name Is given every
man. officer or private, who wins the Vie
toria Cross There Is no case on record
where "a British enlisted man, sailor OF
soldier. has made use OF the privilege
The officers use it invariably. The Ens-
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-24
OLD PAPERS FOR SALE

at
loo. PER HUNDRED
at the
DISPATCH OFFICE.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-24

II has been said before that the right %
nut Y. G. after his name Is given every
man. officer or private, who wins the VIC
toria Cross. There is no case on record
where "a British enlisted man, sailor or
soldier has made use of the privilege.
The officers use il invariably. The Eng
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-10-15

Il thought, sine said with great
shrewdness, that he was not really
first class"
Then Miss Farley took out her plump
Purse and prepared to do something on
an extremely Ingenious nature; extracted
from the purse six bright shlllnlgs'
loosened with some difficulty as the tram
went once more across the Thames, the
straps that held the lumpy bag together,
opened tine bag and slipped the silver
| coins within. At that same moment
she screamed.
Good graciousr' exclaimed Miss Par
| ley. affrghtedly.
SHE made all haste with fingers that
| trembled to refasten the straps, and
| had scarcely done This when the train
| aluived at Cha1ing Cross; there an ac-
| tive young porter who knew her by
| sight jumped i'm, shouldered the heavy
| Tag and was trotting along the plat-
| form before Miss Farley had time to
| recover her breath
| "F0ur-wheeler Lady," asked the alert
porter over his shoulder.
| No, no. she painted, Fastening after
him.
Right You are. lady" he said cher.
] fury. GA %amt to leave 1t III the cioaK
roomY
1t occurred to Miss Parley's heated,
perturbed mind that this perhaps woald
he the most convenient course to pur'
sue.
To summon the chief inspector, to be-
come the center of n suspicious, critical
ring OF passengers, to explain that she
thad accepted the care of bag contain
/ ing, as the momentary glance had as
| sured silver goods of value that had
! evidently been STOLEN. this was really
more than she could bear. Mr.. Morling-
ham would be here, too, in a few min
| utes, for II was near TO half-past seven.
| Mr.. Nottingham, who was a serious
minded stakeholder of Copthaal Court,
| neither young nor middle7aged, but be-
| twiXt the two, who had wooed Miss
Farley with great respect for years, and
had, for hobby, the restraint of crime
and general view of life that was il
tune with that of Miss Farley Mr.. Nor
lingham was no man for such an emer-
gency as this; he would only reprovo
her gently for having tasen such grave
responsibilities. A disclosure meadlt po
lice court proceedings, Old Bailey a.
| tendances-
. Ere we are, lady"
| EbOlng 10 take Il ticket Tor IL :! asked
the man ON the other side of the coun
ter.
IN leave it," she said, determinedly
'in my name and the number, ten sixty
six"
bit lumpy, miss" said the cloakroon
man.
1T has-it has something heavy in
side she stammered.
"Ah,' remarked the cloakroom man
as he affixed a label, that account
for it,"
Mr.. Nottingham brought news tina
the night was fine, that the hall wa
but the distance of three minutes
| walk, that things were looking ominou
in the east, that the only way to keel
peace was to be prepared for war
Having reeled off these statements witt
indiscreet haste, and thus exhausted
his evenings stock, Nottingham ap
peared to find himself on arrival %
the hall, so to speak. beached, and I'm
Fable to move in conversation until tn
+ tide returned with some similar re
marks They found seats ON the crowd
ed platform, neither in the mood TO
talk. Miss Farley checked a sigh nov
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-10-15

and again as she looked at the strange
men and women who filed the body
of the hall. They were mainly crimi-
nails or at any rate a1tected TO be
so for the purpose Of this meeting, and
Miss Farley felt that, strictly speaking,
her place was among them. MI Nor
bingham. content to be near the lady
of his heart, content also to see IN ms
hat the notes of a speech which he felt
contained some thoughts that came near
in his opinion to being eplgrams, sat
with folded arms and did not observe
Miss Parley's preoccupation of thought.
..Fxcuse me-" she said presently. The
chairman and the principal speaker,
iudee were coming on to the platform;
fhe hall rose to its feet and cheered as
though the dearest wish of its life was
ot length being gratitied. Il wish TO
sneak TO the police inspector"
"Can j take Il message, JaneE asked
Mr.. Nottingham.
mo" said Miss Farley, with brusque-
ness. please stay where you are
The inspector, seeing Miss Farley $
attitude of appeal, met her half way on
the platform. The hall, amused at this,
and having finished its applause, called
on the inspector to lock her up. She
was a well-known character, shouted
the hall humorously, and a perfect ter
ror in the lane. Take her off to Bow,
begged the hall, and if she became yio-
lent. why, give her the good old frog
march.
Il wish to ask YOU" said Miss Farley
in a low voice, unconscious of the bad
image, what is the sentence usually
given for-for"
"Murder?' prompted the inspector.
'sNo, no. For what'd you call it?'
80" said the inspector, 'you mean
shoplifting, madam"
Il mean nothing of the kind" she
replied with asperty. Il mean receiy.
| ing goods"
'Well knowing the same to be stolen,