davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-18

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" ABBOT came blundering into my
room with the news just as l was
sitting down to dinner. The old
II boy was clearly out of his mind
with excitement, and wouldn't
stop for drink, or, what was worse,
let me have one, but dragged me down.
stairs and bundled me into a cab.
The rest of the night was spent in
driving about London to hunt up police
agencies. Finally, at s o'clock in the
morning, we landed at his fiat in Earrs
court, thoroughly dead beat.
And the papers brstled with it. I
suppose it came as a godsend in the
slack time, for most of them gave us
a couple of columns.
The journalists had done ii thorough
ly. They gave a highly decorated ac-
count of Talbot's private career and
an analysis of his character and dis
vanished wife, with a precise account
when and where she disappeared.
Then they speculated as to the reason.
Was it murder. robbery, suicide or an
elopement?
1t seems that Talbot arranged to
meet his wife at Waterloo at o'clock
the previous afternoon, on her return
from a country visit When the train
came i'm the compartment in which she
had travelled contained a magazine with
her initials inscribed on it, a novel,
"Societys Verdict" a small handbag
and an umbrella-but not Lady Dolly.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-18

Talbot had inquired of the guard.
That intelligent functionary remem-
bered the young lady quite WELL but
had not seen her get out. Then
where the dickens Is she?" roared
Talbot. The guard looked under the
seat and referred him to the station
master.
After wiring in every direction with
out getting any tidings except that
she had certainly entered the train.
Talbot concluded that she was the
victim of foul play. There was no
doubt that she had travelled alone and
that she had her little jewel case with
her. The jewel case was now miss
ing, while all the articles which were
practically valueless were undisturbed.
There was no sign of a struggle. So
Talbot drove down to my place.
dragged me away from dinner and then
went to the police.
Il suppose there wasn't any little tiff
or misunderstanding between you?" |
asked suggestively.
Not a bit of it," he said, heartily.
I'VE We're never so thoroughly united
as we were last Thursday when | saw
her off. In fact, old man, | don't mind
telling you that it's only during the
last month or two that we have begun
to understand one another. You haven't
Dolly is. on the surface she seems to
be a trifie ain-and-frivolous, but at
heart she's as true as steel. She wasn't
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-18
Caught the Gear.

Peter the Great, says the Column
bian. was once very neatly caught in
a trap by a jester attached to the
court. The Jester was noted for his
cleverness in getting himself and his
friends out of difficulties. 1t happened
one day that a cousin Of his had in
CURED the cars displeasure and was
about to be executed. The jester
therefore presented himself before his
imperial master to beg for a Teprieve
on seeing him approach, the CHdr
divining his errand, cried: 1T is no
good to come here; | swear | will not
grant what you are going to ask"
Immediately the Jester went down on
his knees, saying: Il bescech your
imperial highness to Put that scamp
of cousin of mine to death" The
czar, thus caught i'm his own trap,
could only laugh and pardon the coa-
demned man.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-18

"Who is going to tell him?" ash II
Talbot.
You tell him." said Lady Dolly;
but, of course, it is in strict confidence.
You won't tell anybody, will you?"
l pledged my word and begged her
to proceed, because | knew she in
tended to tell the story herself.
You see, dear old Talbot has writ
ten book" she began, with a proud
glance at the brainy man, who looked
half inclined to crawl under the table,
"and it struck me that if | disappeared
just as the girl in the book does, and
left it lying open, so that everybody
should know why ! disappeared, il
would be lovely advertisement for it.
Nobody would know | was the wife of
the author. and | did not dare to tell
Talbot, for fear he'd object. The dear
old goose hasn't any head for business,
you know. OF course | was aWfully cut
when | thought how worried he would
be about it, but, after all, little worry
doesn't matter much, does it? Fancy
they have sold fifty thousand copies
already. Isn't it splendid"
Fifty thousand copies" l echoed
weakly, looking at her pretty baby
face in amaZement.
Yes, and wasn't it a good idea writ
ing that latter signed a Sturdy Briton'
and counteractnE it next day by one
signed Fair Play" OF course advertis-
ing in the agony column kept the inter-
est up and comforted Talbot, too
ITS a queer thing, Cliff" said Tai
bot, "but I've had more briefs in the
last three weeks than I've ever had in
my life. | do believe this mad escapade
of Dolly's has been the making Of me-"
And so it had, for they are living in
a smart little house near Park lane,
and Talbot has taken silk, and Lady
Dolly gives the neatest dinner par
ties in London. And society's verdict
I is that she is quite the incest woman
in the world, you know.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-18
LOST.

dedicated to Esther and Jessie Craig,
by a little friend, ten years old.l
on a cold ana dismal, dreary day
I'm a city far and far away,
Was terrible knock at the door of
Death,
And the shock Of the blow did stiil our
breath.
o, sad Thanksgiving Day!
They shall i'm a happier country dwell
Though never once We could say fare
we'll
To wait for that last tomorrow.
Since they have gone from our sight
away,
oh, sadly we think of each sweet friend
The life so brief with the pitiful end
o, dark Thanksgiving Day.
--Guitell Harris.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-18

very fond of me when we first mar
ried-I admit it-but I'm certain it's all
right now"
II suppose there were no money
troubles?' l said carelessly.
Nothing more than usual he said
with a faint smile. AS you know my
income is small, but l won't let her
drop out of the set she has been used
10, because l don't think it would be
wise, consequently it's a bit of a pinch
to keep afloat."
| guessed as much.
But that hasn't anything to do with
It, he said warmly. That little wO-
man has been decoyed away and
robbed. | hope no harm has come to
her. BY George! Cliff, | give you my
word I'd sacrifice my life to save hers" ."
l knew he meant it literally, and was
rather sorry to see him so much in
earnest, for | believed that within the
next few days he would have Il nasty
shock. why, man." ne went on, "at
the very moment it happened she was
reading my own novel"
Your novel;" | said. What on
earth do you mean? You don't mean
To say that you have written novel?'
He blushed like a school boy. "She
made me do it," he said. "She said
it was a quicker way of getting on
than waiting for briefs. But don't tell
everybody. | have published it under
an assumed name for fear it would
damage me, and between ourselves,
it's shocking rot"
A copy of "Society's Verdict" was
1N.i I nil II II N
feeling in a vague way that it had
something to do with Lady Dolly's dis
appearance. What is it all about?"
| asked.
"Oh, don't ask me-" he said. bash
fully. IT'S nothing but sentimental
twaddle. The usual business, you
knOw-a woman who hovers on the
brink of the unspeakable."
And what becomes of her?"
she bolts-runs away from 1t all ia
escape temptation. and begin life
again in an obscure country village"
IL suppose Lady Dolly suggested it,
more or less?" l asked.
I'VE talked it over together" said
Talbot. II told her that If | wrote a
story it would be all about her, as she
is the only woman I know anything
about"
"And Lady Dolly is practically thf
heroine" l suggested.
1.-The characteristics are the same
but the incidents are purely fictitious
he replied, sulkily. But why do you
ask these absurd questions about q
! rotten novel when I'm nearly out OF
my mind with anxiety"
Because you silly old juggins,"
said, don't you understand that what
is fiction to you is fact to Lady Dolly
tjhe has dramatized your story in rea
life-and disappeared.
Talbot raved at me for suggesting
such a thing, but the coincidence was
too striking to be dsregardcd. n
| fact two days later-no news of Lady
Dolly having been received i'm tn,
meantime-a smart journalist, who haC
| taken the trouble to look through tn,
book, pointed out that her disappear
| anCe conceded with the action of tn,
heroine" and hinted that her lady
ship had been carried away by ny
sterical desire to initiate her. Al
| though this was precisely my owl
view, | was sorry to see it made public
on Talbot's account,
But that was not the worst. An in
dividual signing himself "A Sturd,
| Briton" felt called upon to send Ions
letter 10 the Daily Paragraph, headet
rs Novel Reading Dangerous?" il
which he kindly assumed the truth ,
! the "hysteria" theory, and went on I,
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-24

nor whose membership is less than so,
and that the presidents of clubs or
their representatives shall be the sole
delegate.
THAT the 10 per cent. tax is ap-
proved; individual clubs to decide in
what form it shall be collected.
That the tax of state declarations of
% cents for each club for general fed
GRAFTON purposes is approved.
THAT the office of state chairman of
correspondence be abolished in states
that have declarations and as fast as
state declarations are formed
Some of the members We're opposed
to the general federation as catering
too much to the officers and as not If
fording sufficient distribution of bene-
fits and knowledge to the rank and file
of the club members. After very
warm discussion the resolution was re-
ceived, but not passed, and referred
to a committee of five to consult with
a committee of Is from other states.
Why the president of a club should
be the sole delegate, or in case she is
power of sending her representation,
we cannot see. a president is not ne
cessarily the one most capable or able
to represent her club in a convention,
it's enough for one woman to be pres
dent without grasping all of the hon
ors in sight. We believe the honors
should be distributed as well as the
labor, and certainly club ought to
have the privilege of selecting its own
delegate from the officials list or the
rank and file as it deems best. The
general federation should regulate the
number of delegates, but each club and
each state federation should make its
own laws as regards the manner of
choosing the representative or repre-
sentatiyes.
The New York women gave much
time to the discussion of law as relat-.
women women in Business and THE
Business Woman From Her Own Stand
point" occupied a prominent position
among many subjects discussed. Mrs.
Cynthia Westover Alden of the New
York Tribune made a telling speech
and summed up by saying, Woman
kind in general lacks what l call con-
science and the knack Of assuming re-
sponsibility. Some of the very best
workers of the day are floating around
without work-the secret of it is, that
though capable. they are not reliable.
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-24
WHAT WOMENS' CLUBS ARE
DOING IN THE COUNTRY

work and club women. But it must be
borne In mind that for the most part
they attend club meetings simply in Il
professional capacity, and consequently
observe the proceedings from a repor-
torial standpoint. and while they may
believe in liberal application of the
Golden Rule, they have a duty to dis
charge to the newspapers which they
represent. I ask you candidly il there
is not oftentimes some foundation for
a newspaper criticism Of club proceed
ings?"
In many clubs, however, the newspa-
per reports are written by an officer
who is elected or appointed for that
purpose. Such is the case in the clubs
of this state; therefore Miss Higgins
question will not apply, but it might
be well to ask the question-WouId the
impressions be the same if the reports
were the work of actual newspaper re-
porters?
The New York state convention met
in New York city Nov. 7, 8, and 10
and was the finest ever held. The fed
GRAFTON represents 10000 individual
members and 204 clubs. Mrs. William
Tod Helmuth, the state president, pre-
sided. One feature of the convention
was the brevity of the reports and ad-
dresses. and the rule allowing the
speakers.-eXcept in one or two cases
only five minutes was strictly adhered
to. The liVeliest discussion of the sec
ond day was upon the resolution of
Mrs. Carpenter of Sorosis dealing with
the proposed reorganization of the Gen
eral Federation of Women's clubs The
resolution was clear and to the point.
It was as follows:
Resolved. That it is the sense of the
federation that reorganization Of the
General Federation of Womens clubs
is not advisable at the present time
but that changes in presentations be
recommended as follows:
THAT no club less than a year old
shall be admitted to membership in the
General Federation of Women's clubs
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-24

are working to the end of having the
schools decorated with works of art,
as has been done in all the large cities
of this country, in order to make the
school room more attractive to the pu
pills and at the same time educate the
children in art by object lessons. The
movement was started about year ago
by Mrs. Moore, who enlisted the efforts
of Mrs. A. S. Christie, and they then
presented the matter to the different
women's clubs of Butte who interested
brought before the school trustees
some months ago, and they readily
acted on the suggestions of the ladies
and gave them every encouragement in
their work. The board procured num-
Der of plaster casts and reliefs, which
have been placed in the high school,
and the walls of the assembly room
have been tinted as a background for
the pictures which the ladies will place
there. Through the efforts of the COM
have promised to donate some works of
art and j. III. Leyson has contributed
a number of framed Photographic re-
productions. Last spring, during visit
East, Mrs. Christie called on the Prang
Educational company at Boston and
secured the loan of a hundred pictures
from the company's circulating exhibit,
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-24

and they are now on exhibition with
ing and will remain there during the
coming week. All the pictures are for
sale and are especially called to the at
tention Of persons who wish to buy
them for the purpose of presenting
them to the schools. The ladies of the
committee will have the decision as to
the distribution of the pictures among
the different schools.
"A number of gift pictures have been
promised us by literary clubs and
prominent citizens who grasp the idea
that pictures or other works of art on
the school room walls exert constant
though silent influence on the minds
of the young, and will leave their i'm
press on the character of those who
Will be the workers of the coming CEN
tury,' said Mrs A. s. Christie yester-
day. Pm order that we train the indi-
vidual to the end that the nation may
advance and the race prosper we must
begin with the child before the mind
has become trammelled or habitated to
accidental environments, and so let our
children have the benefit of the silent
influence of good works of art as we'll
as good books and good manners. The
committee extends a most cordial in
vitation to all and hopes for the hearty
cooperation OF the teachers, parents
and other citizens in this good work"
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-24

holiday vacation, and to have, besides
the teachers chosen to represent the
schools of the city, an exhibit of the ac-
tual work of the pupils and art decora-
tons, together with a teachers public
reception in the evening. The meetings
last year and this year have been in
every respect most successful. The
literary programmes were exceptionally
good and the displays of art and school
work, especially this year, equal to any
thing that can be found in any of the
schools of this country.
The new officers of the club are:
President, Mrs. Mary Doughty; vice
president, Miss Ida Crossman, secre-
tary, Miss Laura Berger treasurer,
Miss Della Gibbons: executive COM
mittee Ella Orr, Mary Lindenthal, An
lie Richards. Emma Farlin. Nora Peters,
Jennie Woodbury., Lottie H. Glover,
Amy l.. Madden, Anna L. Sullivan,
Pearl e. Reed, Annie Pierce and Mary
L. Pillsbury.
The display of art decorations i'll con-
nection with the school exhibit is made
under the directions of committee of
Butte ladies representing the different
art and literary clubs of the city, con-
sisting of Mrs. A. S. Christie. Mrs. o.
Hight, Miss Alice Reznor, DR.. Mary
Mccain, Mrs. T. w. Buzzo, Mrs. w. o.
speer and Mrs. c. H. Moore. The ladies
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-24

This Is the season when all clubdom
is reading and talking of the doings
of the state declarations. Annual, BIZ
ennial and midwinter conventions are
being held and it is a significant fact
that the attendance is greater than on
former occasions. 1t is also notice.
able that the reports are not teeming
with wild and extravagant theories, as
have sometimes predominated but that
plain statements of facts have been
presented at nearly all the meetings
whether they have recorded the good
accomplished or the failures in work
undertaken. This is refreshing. for
little wholesome truth harms no one
and sometimes stimulates waning en-
thusiasm or indifference. In some
states the papers read at the conven-
lions have been most practical and the
authors have evidently not handled
with gloves the small weaknesses which
are to be found in the women's clubs
One, for instance read before the New
York federation by Miss Anna G. Hig-
gins of the Brooklyn Eagle deals with
the Impressions That the Press Gives
of the Proceedings Of Women's Clubs"
She goes on to say: IF we club wo-
men would have the newspaper reading
world look upon US as practical and
progressive, and engaged in work for
the general good Of the community, as
well as our individual advancement and
betterment, then we must so conduct
our meetings and so present our work
that such will be the impression made
upon the reporters in attendance. All
the larger papers of the country devote
considerable space to news of women's
clubs and as a general thing the re-
porters sent to report meetings and
conventions are women, the majority of
whom, If they are not actively identl-
fed with clubs, are in sympathy with
the movement and DESTROYS of present.
ing 10 the general public, through the
medium OF the papers they represent,
the best possible impression of club
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-24

One of the very best workers I ever
mad with me failed to report one day.
the very day of all days that she should
have been on hand and her excuse was
she did not feel very well and thought
she'd take day off. The responsibility
she felt was SO slight that it did not
even occur to her to notify me that she
was not coming. A mans legitimate
success in business comes from being
capable, reliable and honest That it
seems to me, is thought worth re-
memberng''
Other subjects taken up by the con-
vention were Patriotic, Historical and
Genealogical Societies. Our Naval
Wars" THE Drama" art" House
hold Science Child Study Ethics
of Home Life and Dress"
Political study under the chairman
ship of Miss Susan B. Anthony was one
of the liveliest hours of the convention.
In legislative work, the federation is
responsible for a bill to be introduced
at the present session of congress, FRO
viding for the organization of a corps
of women nurses to be in the army
hospitals when the army is in the field
To the state legislature petition will
be presented asking for an annual ap-
preparation for period of five years to
establish in some crowded center a
model trade school for girls.
Illinois.
The fifth meeting of the Illinois Fed
GRAFTON of Women's clubs was held in
Quincy Oct. IS. 10 and 20 and was at
tended by nearly 400 delegates. one
third of whom We're from Chicago The
Illinois federation is somewhat differ
ent in organization from other states.
There is a president, a vice president
at large and vice presidents from each
congressional district. Mrs. Clara NJ.
j. Farson is the president, and at the
close of the meeting was reelected for
the past year was the first in which
the women took an active interest in
legislative work. The dependent chill
dren bill, the truant school bill, the
juvenile court bill and the vacation
school bill Were bills that We're passed
through their efforts. The report made
under the heading, Educational Work
of Women's Clubs" was that the La
dies Educational society of Jackson
vile, since its foundation in 1898, had
the benefits of a higher education.
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-24
EW OFFICERS OF THE TEACHERS CLUB OF SILVER BOW COUNTY

~ NE of the many excellent edu-
cational features of the Butte
public schools is the Teachers
club and the school work exhibit
in connection with it's annual meet
ing which has Just been held,
thought the splendid exhibit of the
work of the pupils and the art decora-
tions will continue throughout the pres
ent week, The objects of the club are
for the exchange and discussion of
ideas among the teachers, and, princi-
pally, for the purpose of the annual
meeting and public exhibit of the work
of the pupils for the benefit of parents
and others interested in the schools
The club was organized by Superin-
tehdent Hendricks in December 1897
and all teachers and officers of the
schools of the district are members of
It, The officers Of the club are: presi
dent, vice president secretary, treas
urer and an executive committee COM
posed of one member from each build
ing in the district, the city superin
being eligible to hold Office in the club.
The annual meetings are of great bene-
fit to the schools and the teachers, and
of interest to the public generally. The
first meeting was held on Friday, Feb
ruary IL, 1898, at which it was decided
to hold the future meetings on the last
day of school before the Christmas
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-24

Mrs. William White at her beautiful
new home on Caledonia street. The
programme consisted of "a Review OF
Magazines" and a paper on THE His
tory of Witchcraft in New England
by Mrs. David a. Dickson. The arti-
cles read by the ladies were amusing
and instructive. That of Mrs. Alice
Stevens, Liza AIMS Christmas
Presents" by Josiah Aliens Wife, fur
nished much merrment. The next
meeting will be with Mrs. David A.
Dickson on Jan. 9.
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-24

The West Side Shakespeare Club.
\ very pleasant meeting of the West