davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-16
THE EPwoRTH LEAGuERs.

The crusades of the middle ages. when
men travelled far with jealous purpose TO
rescue the holy sepulcher from alien and
as viewed down the long vista Of time. They
have an element of the picturesque and ad-
venturous that does not belong to modern
undertakings in Christ's name. but it may
be doubted IL history shows any more re-
markable or inspiring religious manifesto
ton than the annual gathering of great
bodies Of young people from long distances
TO engage in spiritual exercises. One of
these gatherings was held last week In De-
troit, one is still in session in Richmond,
Va. and the third Is to assemble in Indian
apolis this week. 1t is common for super
fetal and careless observers TO assert that
this is an irreligious age and that material
and commercial interests have crushed spir-
itual development, but these vast organiza-
lions prove that the reverse is true. That
the members are for the most part young
men and women, and that they voluntarily
and even eagerly united in the societies for
the purpose Of promoting the Christian life
shows that the religious spirit had been
well fostered and that the movement was
an indication Of spiritual zeal already
strong. The members Of the Epworth
League who come here this week from all
parts Of the country will feel the inspira-
ton that comes from association and a
common purpose, and will profit by the
eloquent words, the wisdom and the pray
ers Of the leaders of the church and Of the
gifted ones among their own members.
These speakers. or the other hand, will get
inspiration from the great congregation of
youthful hearers and will return to their
homes with added faith and fervor. The
community into which this body of Christian
soldiers comes cannot fail to be benefited
In the highest way. The lofty motive, the
earnestness. the glimpse they afford Of a
faith better than the sordid one of daily
life-all these will be an influence that will
long remain. Indianapolis will welcome its
guests with warmest hospitality and the
hope that they will find here the reward
for their journey that their hosts anticipate
for themselves from the sight of their
youthful grace and glory.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-16

attention and everything that is possible to
be Cleaned regarding Ii Is produced in the
book Many facts of the portage never be-
fore made public are here chronicled. The
historical work of this character is of much
value and Importance. and these enterpris-
ing writers have found a promising field.
A London publisher has obtained a judy
ment Of $50 against Mr.. David Christie Muir
contract. Mr.. Murray had agreed to write
Resurrection OF Soapy Smooth and had re-
ceived $50 on account Of royalties when the
agreement was signed. TIL publisher at
once began 10 advertise the early publication
OF the book, but never could get the manu-
script from the author, who did not defend
could have sold 10000 copies of the novel.
claimed that his reputation as a publisher
had been damaged by the false announce
ment of the novels publication, and put his
loss OF profits from sales at $500.
A high compliment to the poetical genius
OF Wales is paid in the fifteenth report OF
the Royal Commission on Historical Manu-
scripts-just issued. The commission finds
that the poems that may claim to rank as
literature of a high quality deal, as a rule.
either with the human affection or with as
poets of nature. In love aid death the
welsh poet Is often supreme, and his love
and observations of nature were as keen in
the fourteenth century as those of Byron,
Shelley and Wordsworth in the nineteenth"
Nothing could be handsomer in the way OF
praise. But the commissioners have also
found that there is no Welsh drama, and
that the jingling shackleS of the Welsh
meters have hitherto proved inimical to the
production of anything requiring sustained
effort.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-16

that 1T will be continued, TO the great spir-
itual Improvement of the individual and the
community. There is some room for doubt
as to whether the result will be all that
Is expected or desired by the promoters OF
the plan. For one thing, it will inevitably
develop a high degree of self-consciousness
and self-complacency, whereas precisely the
opposite quality distinguishes the truly spir-
itual and sanity men and women of this
pursue the right course of conduct with
out previous reflection, but the general rules
governing moral behavior are well known
and simple, though, so frail is human ma
ture, not always easy of Observance. Com
plications in the application Of these rules
may arise. 1t is not always easy TO refrain
from covetousness, or from the eating Of
forbidden fruit, while to love ones neigh
Dor as ones self frequently seems an i'm
possible thing. But the one who knows the
moral code-where is he who does not?-and
honestly wishes TO deal justly with his fell
low-men and live an upright life has al
ready all the light he needs. He may make
mistakes. but since in either case his guide
is his own judgment. based on the eternal
principles of right and wrong, the errors
are quite as likely TO occur when he fool
ishly questions himself as to what Christ
would do in like circumstances. In the one
case. however, he is cultivating unselfsh-
ness; in the other self-consciousness and
an undue sense Of the Importance OF his
II nWn conduct Nnranvar ha &c In danrar nf
becoming irreverent. not to say sacrilegious.
The author of I'm His Steps has been con-
Quoting services at Chautauqua, a feature
Of which was the answering of questions
placed in a box on the pulpit. The follow
ing are samples Of the queries propounded:
II Jesus were in my place, would He wear
a trained dress on the streets and sweep
up microbes? If He were overlooked by a
street,car conductor, what would He do?
Would He deceive a railroad company in
regard TO the age of a child? Would He
try 10 get into Chautauqua without buying
a ticket? If He were an American would He
love the Spaniards?
These questions speak for themselves and
show how far removed is their origin from
the thoughts of healthy-minded persons. In
asmuch as no one can know what Christ
would do under any circumstances except
as the matter of right may indicate the
course. and as the would-be-right righteous
one may apply the Christian rules of con-
duct to himself without first endeavoring
to put himself on a level with their author,
the need and usefulness of the society and
the pledge in question are not evident. They
may do good. but they are more likely to do
harm.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-16

has been attempted, a daily paper OF this
character having been actually established
some years ago in New York. 1t was not a
success. however. and died early. not being
supported by the people whom it was ex-
pected to please. Even truly good people
did not want their news expurgated. They
very properly abhorred yellow papers
the kind which magnihes criminal happen
ings beyond ali semblance of truth and
gives them sensational prominence-but
they did not like TO feel that events of i'm
p%ortance were perhaps being withheld from
them. 1t argued no indifference TO Chris
tan interests that they wished to be fully
informed as TO the affairs of the political
and commercial world. or that they some
times took a greater concern in them thar
In the affairs of the churches. This relig-
ious daily died in a short time, and the
same fate is likely to befall its successors.
The truth is that the good people who
wish to reform the newspapers by leaving
out all the wickedness proceed on the er-
roneous theory that records of criminal or
evil happenings are immoral, when the fact
N1(OA0Ss ~ OAO oA0 az
curate, are immoral. They are simply the
facts of existence. If it shall be argued
that poor human nature cannot endure to
know the facts, then 1t is left for these
reformers TO explain why weak and sinful
men were put into the world. They might
also be asked to explain why 1t is that the
most honest and trustworthy and most
highly eetearpad nf fhoir fa1rou--p,o, not
found among the ignorant. but are fully
aware of the worlds evils. They have eaten
the fruit Of the tree of knowledge and have
not been harmed by it. A good many per-
sons have a suspicion that reformers of all
classes get distorted views of things from
long dwelling upon special themes; that
those who hunt for vice in the newspapers,
for instance. often detect a depravity and
grcssness in certain incidents not discern
ible to the ordinary reader. Anthony Com
stock has so long been in search of the
indecent that he now discovers it in what
persons of normal mind regard as pleasing
and elevating works of art. II has often
been whispered of the good women who con-
duct crusades In the interests of social
putty lHdt tuey DecOme dOUlCteQ TO a
shocking freedom of speech on subjects
commonly tabooed in general society. The
newspapers do not deserve the condemna-
ton they receive. Those of the best class
ard this class is in large majority-do not
give undue attention to crimes or sensa-
tional events. and they do give suitable
prominence and space to religious news.
They have their faults, but that of pander-
ing to depraved tastes is not one. 1t is
within the power of every citizen to provide
his family with a clean. self-respecting
newspaper, from which the. h~ealthy-minded
can gain no harm. If sometimes an event
is chronicled which it is better should never
have happened that is not the fault of the
newspaper. If the critics can find whose
fault it is they should lay the blame where
1t belongs.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-16
NEW INVENTIONS.

Hams are smoked and marked at the
same time by a Western mans device, con-
sisting of a truck with a bed of wire net
ting. with letters formed In the wire to i'm
print themselves on the meat while 1t is
smoking.
Pots and kettles are easily cleaned with a
Pennsylvania woman's patent utensil,
which has several cup-shaped disks united
to a common base, with dOwnwardly-pro-
jecting fanges having crimped rims to
form scrapfng surfaces.
A New York woman has patented a BIZ
cycle attachment for repelling the attacks
Of dogs, consisting of a perforated box con-
tanning pepper or other substance, with a
bulb on the handlebar to force air through
a tube into the box to discharge the pep
per.
Ordinary shears can be made to cut but
tonholes by a new attachment. in which a
sheath slips over one blade tc hold a short
cutting blade. having a sharp point at the
rear which punctures the cloth and allows
the free blade to cut the hole to the desired
size.
For accurately truing the pulleys of ma
chinery a -newly-patented machine has a
shaft, on which the pulley is mounted. with
a friction wheel set in a frame, to be re-
volved by contact with the pulley, driving a
grinding wheel TO act on Its surface and
edges.
Cheese can be accurately cut by a new
apparatus. patented by a woman, having a
round base, on which the cheese rests, with
a semi-circuiar plate at the top. having a
fange with a series Of vertical Sits to guide
the knife and divide the cheese into seq
ments.
To aid iremen In putting out small blazes
around them while directing a stream OF
water into a fire, an improved hose nozzle
has a series Of small ports arranged around
the central opening, to direct auxiliary
streams. with a revolving sleeve to shut the
openings.
Telephones are to be fitted with a sani-
tary guard to protect the user from inhaI-
ing microbes from the mouthpiece. the
guard being of the proper shape TO fit the
interior Of the transmitter and lap over
the edges. making It easily removable for
cleansing.
For exercising the tympanum of the ear
an apparatus has been patented by a Penn
sylvanian. having a pump to force air into
and exhaust IL from the ear, with tubes.
fitted with tips to enter the ear, an ADJUST
able relief valve regulating the pressure OF
the pump.
A Missourian has patented a freman's
ladder which can be used as a sliding pole
for rapid descent. a piece Of hollow tubing
being fitted with two interior rods, on each
of which Il set q series Of short rungs
registering with slots IN the tuba. allowing
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-16

a soiicitous interest in their welfare. 1t
can do no harm to ask those who are stand
ing On street corners IL one can be of any
service to them. II the reply is in the mega
tive those who give It will recognize the
courteous intent. II the answer is other
wise let the resident show every attention.
There will be no lack of accommodations.
and there should be an abundance Of kindly
interest. II was said Of Indianapolis, when
the national encampment Of the Grand
Army met here. that the streets were full
Of people who volunteered their assistance
to strangers to show them where to go.
Such attention by the mass of people will
do more to make favorable impressions up
on our visitors than any number of speeches
of welcome and formal and official recep-
tons.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-16
WHAT WOULD JESUS DOR

A so-called novel, I'm His Steps, written
by a Kansas preacher and having quite a
run IN religious circles. processes to give
the history of a young man who undertook
to regulate his conduct by asking himself.
before taking any new step. even of the
most incidental character. what Jesus would
do In his place. and governing his behavior
by whatever decision he might reach In
the matter. A society based on this idea
has been formed and its members are
pledged to ask the same question before
every act or before settling any question.
the pledge to be in force for one year. The
theory is that by practicing this system for
such = length Of time the habit will be so
well established and it, benefits "a sssarent
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-16

some years ago. and the opticians say the
result will inevitably be the same.
The efficiency OF his methods was Illus
trated by an optician down town IN an ex-
matter with him. The subject OF the ex-
pertinent had had a pair Of reading glasses
ntted TO the eyes. on the prescription or
an oculist. The ,optician. to demonstrste
examination OF the mans eyes. told him
exactly what the oculist had discovered by
a long and searching examination, and by
many questions. These questions relatc
on the vision as tested by the weli-known
cards OF different sized letters, and the ra-
dating parallel lines. The optician put his
subject through this examination, telling
knowledge of the state OF the eyes, just
what the effect OF each lens would be on the
vision and told correctly each time. BY sim
pier methods he had done exactly what the
oculist had done.
An oculist whose opinion on the dis
cussion was asked. replied that the whole
matter didn't amount TO a row Of pins"
1t rests with the public at large" he
said. They are entirely at liberty to
choose between oculists and opticians An
optician is competent enough as a rule to
Mt glasses to correct the vision, but glasses
which are TO have any curative effect on
diseases OF the eye they cannot prescribe.
Iney are shrewd enough as a rule TO recog-
nize such cases when they see them. and
10 send them to a physician. For this rea-
son they rarely do any damage. IL Is slight
ly irregular. just as IL would be for a ply
stefan TO dispense his own drugs. but that
is about all that can be said Of II. II they
want TO have regular colleges and a degree
and a legal status / don't see why they
shouldn't. There are, i think. few physi-
clans who would raise any objection TO that.
II Is a good thing for opticians TO get into
a discussion with regular practitioners"
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-16
LIBRARY FOR THE BLIND.
Two Systems OF Characters Now In
General Use.
New York Evening Post.


Probably the most unique library in New
York is located in the basement of ST.
Agnes's Protestant Episcopal Church. No.
ceiled room with a rallied space in the mid
die, a table. q desk, chairs and rows OF
shelves piled with bulky volumes. none
or two OF these lie open on a table. and one
perceiyes that the text is not In the familiar
are sprinSled with raj raised dots' nnintellisibIe
TO the eye.
This is the New York free circulating IL
brary for the blind. II has a blind man for
Its originator and its president.
Several years ago one of the daily papers
published a description of a library for the
blind In a neighboring city. This called
torth some days later a comment on the
fact that New York city possessed no such
Library S f and a suggestion that a fund be
responded TO at once. and In November.
1896. the library was formally opened for
the use of all worthy blind. From a small
beginning of sixty volumes, the first year
saw the number increased 10 nearly FIVE
hundred. with several hundred pieces OF
arranged for the blind. There are now LISA
books and $40 pieces of music In the library.
The number of regular readers Is about lis.
Inere are many systems of raised letters
and characters. the Oldest of which consists
OF embossed Roman capitals, kept az an
gular as possible; Variations of this line sys-
tenn. as II is called, are in vogue with most
Of the adult blind. but the younger ones
are being educated in what is known as the
new 1Ork point.
This is a modification of the Braile sys-
tenn. universally employed In France, where
1t originated in 1884. Its inventor was M.
Braile. a blind man 1t consists of various
combinations Of dots representing letters.
and is used not only for reading. but by
means of an ingenious little apparatus. for
able TO carry on a correspondence, 10 write
from dictation and TO keep private records.
The young learn the point system with
out difficulty. as do also the more intelli-
gent adults, especially those who have lost
their sight late in life. ;
All books purchased by the New York
Free Library are in this system, but a large
number of volumes in Boston line. and in
the DR.. Moon system. which prevails in
England. have been donated. and are in con-
slant demand.
Almost all American books for the blind
are published in Louisville, KY. They are
expensive, "A Tale of Two Cities" in Bos-
ton line. is marked 5000; "Ben-Hur." sl2:
"A History Of Our Own Times" Mccarthy,
81 In the POINT system the price is lower.
The Jungle Book" can be purchased for
$3.50; "Rab and His Friends for Is cents.
Sheet music costs from ten cents upward.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-16
H QUEER KISSING BUG.
One Groutchy Editor Observes that
Only Women Are Victims.

The kissing bug. or the melanolestes
picipes, as he is more commonly known
by the elite, has been subjected to a con-
siderable amount of adverse criticism. He
has. ii is said, descended upon the seaside
resorts and kissed the summer girl. The
question is. would not the critics Of the
Il they had enjoyed the opportunity One
OF the bugs went 10 Atlantic City the other
evening to compete, with. the great Jersey
possible that the kissing bug is fond OF
honey and mistook the lady's mouth for a
rosebud. Even If he went with the DELHI
crate intention Of stealing a kiss, is he TO
be blamed? He may have kissed not wise
ly. but too well. If he did, IL is not the
hrst recorded instance OF kissing so hard
out that we never had any kissing bugs until
the Merrimac had been sunk. Be this as IL
may. We have them nSR, and they are In
active business. Why IL should be esteemed
as particularly. outrageous for the kissing
bugs to go to the Jersey coast does not APP
pear. Other big bugs go there In season and
there all the time. There Is no sentiment
about the mosquito. and there is a tende
He is not sordid nor self-seeking, but kisses
for the pure love OF kissing and from love
or the fair sex.
to seize upon the kissing bug as an adver-
Using medium is a tribute 10 its worth. No
sooner had the skirmis line of the kisses
crossed from, the Jersey shore TO New York
city than IL was announced that several act
resses had been kissed. The ladies who were
kissed, it was noted. had not previously
been prominently before the public. If they
had ever lost any ruby necklaces or Kohi-
moor diamonds. It had been forgotten. and
the kisser had rescued them, II nay be,
from an eclipse and brought them forth into
the bright sunlight of auriferous publicity
1t is useless 10 declaim and denounce the
kissing bug. He is here TO stay. The heather
may rage furiously together against him
and the people may Imagine a vain thing.
but the kissing bug will go straight on
where he listeth. chanting as he goes the
words OF that sweet old song: d
The rose Is red. the violet blue:
Sugars sweet. and--how are you?
And so is he who sends you this.
And when we meet we'll have a kiss.
A kiss on the nose and a kiss on the chin,
And when we meet We'll kiss again.
1t has been alleged against the kissing bug
that several men have been kissed also. But
this statement should be received with great
caution. A careful investigation would prob
ably disclose the fact that the wife OF the
man kissed was. In each instance. far away
In the mountains.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-16
Z sHREDs AND PATCHES.

A woman never minds a made-over dress
so long as 1t is made over silk.-Feminine
Observer.
Fairy tales-everything, almost. except
what we find in the want columns.-Boston
Transcript.
The reason we always like to see the right
succeed is because we are invariably on
that side.-Puck.
Many a prophet might profit by the ex-
ample of the weather prophet. He doesn't
bet on the result.-Puck. q
Summer would be happier IL women could
wear their new clothes and save them to
go way with. too.-Emma Carleton.
The harder a woman's husband has to
work the madden she gets when she sees a
lazy man.-Emma Carleton.
The only way a man can keep his wife
from worrying about his morals is for him
to worry about her health.-The Bachelor.
The cigar dealer may not advertise much,
but it takes a good man, puffs to make his
business prosperous.-Philadelphia Record.
If a superstitious man is single, everything
is a sign of marriage. but after he marries
everything is a sign OF a
Globe.
fer of marriage from a man who afterward
amounted to something. Chicago Times
Herald.
The greatest of allshuman benefits. that.
at least, without which no other benefit can
be truly enjoyed. is independence.-Parke
Goodwin.
There are some men really more expatri-
ated than Dreyfus. who sit opposite their
wives at the table every day.-Feminine
Observer.
Some men will believe nothing but what
they comprehend; and there are but few
things that such are able to comprehend.
-Evremond.
When you forget to congratulate a girl
who is engaged she goes around telling her
best friends what a terrible blow II was TO
you.-New York Press.
A sure sign Of unhappy households, de-
spite mundane and cordial mummeries: al
ways a friend at table-Some one-any one
to divide =
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-16

The reason that the taxpayers of Detroit
are opposed to the Pingree-Johnson Scent
fare scheme is that the Scent fare will
not pay the operating expenses of the street
railways and the interest on the 81, 900. 900
OF 4 per cent. bonds to be exchanged for
the plant and the sinking fund necessary to
liquidate the bonds at maturity. The inter-
est on the bonds will take more than half
the gross earnings. while the operating ex-
penses will carry the expenditure several
hundred thousand dollars beyond the gross
receipts after the interest is paid. The peo-
pie win not allcw themselves to be taxed
TO pay the expense of operating a street rail-
way AS security for the payment of the
100000 II is proposed to give a forty
eight years franchise TO the Johnson syn
dicate. now owning the roads. with author
ity to TX fares at 5 cents. Most intelligent
citizens believe the property would soon re-
~zert 10 the Johnson syndicate with its long
lease and right 70 charge scent fares.