davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Western news-Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1898-1900, 1899-05-18
BERNHARDT AT THE BEGINNING.
Old Pen Picture of the Divine Sarah
by Octave Feuillet.

Old Pen Picture of the Divine Sarah
by Octave Feuil1et.
Just thirty years ago Octave Feuillet,
in a letter to his wife, drew the fol-
lowing pen picture of Nine. Sarah
Bernhardt, then at the beginning of her
career:
ga queer girl, indeed, is Sarah. 1t is
the first time in my long career that 1
have met with a genuine actress, a
~comedienne of the eighteenth century,
elegant, eccentric, i~nsolent, and bold.
CONTRARY to the habit of all other
actresses, she N to the rehearsals
in full dress, or, at least, in a toilet ar
ranged after her own fashion. She
always wears velvet-a velvet dress,
a velvet hat, a scarf Of black lace over
her shoulders, and a little ruffed col
lar. In this way, with her hair like
that Of a poodle dog, and with some
fresh flowers in her hand, she repeats
her part with care and somber gray
ity, and occasionally with attitude a la
Rachel. At the close of the act she
Frances about like a ballet girl, skips
upon n foot, and then sits down at
the piano to accompany herself while
singing a queer negro air. She has a
very sweet voice. Then she gets up
and begins to walk about with long
strides, like a clown, laughing in every
body's face, and chewing chocolate
candy, with which she always has her
pockets filed. At times she takes out
a little case, in which there was a
small brush, which she rubs over her
lips to give them a ruby color, after
which she laughs, shows her white
teeth, and recommences to MUNICH hey
chocolates.
Nothing could be more amusing
than to see Croizette and herself, after
a rehearsal, running out, followed by
their mothers. They start off like
frightened hares, with their heads up
and Rabage hats thrown back upon
their enormous blond wigs. Swinging
little umbrellas, they walk and
laugh loud enough to make people turf
round and stare at them. At last they
go into Chiboust's confectionery shop
and there stuff themselves with cakes"
Western news-Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1898-1900, 1899-05-18
Children or Taxes,

Children are at a premium in NADIA
gascar. One must have them or pay Il
tax to the authorities. This is the latest
decree issued by the governments of
Madagascar. For some time the .
latiOn of the island has been d~ecreas-
ing. The government authorities sat
in council a short time ago, and decid-
ed upon a tax to be levied upon every
maj who, at the age of p. is unmar-
ried, and upon every married man
who, at that age. has no children. The
tax is three dollars and seventy-fve
cents a year. Every girl must paw a
tax of one dollar and eighty cents a
year as long as she remains single
after hepasses her twenty-fourth year.
n every married woman does the
same until she has children as the re-
suit of her marriage.
Western news-Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1898-1900, 1899-05-18
Waste on the Farm.

Good management both on the farm
and in the household demands that all
source of waste be guarded against
and that all by-products be utilized to
the best advantage. That the kitchen
and table waste are generally realized.
Don't waste your cold bread; and after
each meal take the bread that is left,
carefully cut off all the top crust, place
these in some SOUL milk, same as you
use for making bread, in time to be-
come thoroughly soaked before making
bread for another meal. Then when
you are ready to make your bread tax
one or two of the soaked biscuits, crum-
BILE them up and mix we'll with your
dough, and your bread will be lighter,
and it will not take as much lard as
the ordinary way. Those that try it
will be pleased with the result, for it is
a great saving and makes a nice deli
clous biscuit. Don't depend upon the
top of your stove for anything. There
is nothing like a good wen for making
nice preserves.
There is little or no danger of scOrch-
ing, and the long, slow cooking results
in clear, delicious preserves. Don't
waste fuel by keeping fire when not
necessary. While ironing on top, do
your baking OF preserving in the oven.
Don't let the cheese mold. Use it in
preparing cooked dishes. Don't neglect
your household duties, but let each one
Of us make u duties as light as posi-
BILE. Use judgment in our work. Learn
to apply the old saying, Let your
brains save your heels" To imagine
some n else has an easier time than
we do does not tighten our tasks, and
only results in making us ~disagreeable
and unhappy. Women should realize
and with the realization accept the fact
that their household duties are some
thing to be taken up and carried on
cheerfully and uncomplainingly, max
ing the home happy and pleasant for
all in it.-Mrs. J. r. Brenton.
Western news-Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1898-1900, 1899-05-18
Handy Wagon Jack,

With this jack the heaviest load
that a be put on a wagon can be
lifted by one man, and thus, if a
break occurs with a load on, it need
not be unloaded to take a wheel off
for repair. 1t is made with a lever
in two joints "a and b, fastened to-
gether with straps of iron CO., in such
a way that the part A works upon the
straps G, which are firmly bolted to
the long part of the lever OBJ as a hinge.
The foundation CD is a 2x4 plank 6
feet long. At n end bolt on a 2x4
about 4 feet long (E), to prevent it up
setting. Bolt on the foundation, on
each side, a 2x4 block CF) for a full
crum. Bore a t~hree-fourth inch hole
through these blocks. 10 inches from
bottom, and also through lever just
below the straps. An iron pin through
these holes makes the pivot. Great
weight sometimes rests on these blocks,
Western news-Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1898-1900, 1899-05-18
ORB
Many Instances of 1t Recorded at the
Hotel Windsor Fire,

Many Instances of 1t Recorded at the
Hotel Windsor Fire.
Some of the many instances recorded
at the scenes at and after the great HO-
tel Windsor fire bear directly upon a
subject which has long Interested stu
dents of the human brain. The New
York police department had much to
contend with during those awful three
days; yet of all the troubles reported,
it was neither thieves nor mObs. but
mOrbidly curious women who made.
their lives a bore. No one has ever sat
isfactOrily explained why the weaker
sex should lean to the gloomy; yet they
do, as the popularity of such ~nOvelists
as COrelli will testify. The news of the
fire had scarcely reached the suburbs.
and many of the engines had not yet
reached the scene, declares q Broad
way officer, when hundred of women,
of all ages, classes and conditions.
FASTENED to the spot. They left the line
of the parade for miles along to take in
such a sight rs a holocaust of perhaps
one hundred souls. Nothing short Of
qua IOICc COulu hcpp JIelH DdCk, Tile
falling walls themselves seemed to have
no terror. The next day it was even
worse, as all were bent upon seeing the
mutilated bodies. They would stand
for hours, one, two and three squares
away, to see a plain deal box 90 by on
a wagon. They e%ndeavOred to evade
the police by every art known to their
kind, and when an officers back was
turned slipped by with the stealth Of
hardened criminals. One well-dresSed
woman, hearing that q stump, or an
arm, or some such thing. had been I'M
earthed, fairly climbed the shoulders
of the crowd to see it pass. Another,
an old German woman, pushed her
through the struggling mob and
actually reached the box, into which
she stared with fascinating eyes. Yet
the majority of them would undOubted-
faint at the sight of a finger cut.
Western news-Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1898-1900, 1899-05-18
QUEEN VICTORIA.
Sang a Duet with a Professional Be
fore Her Court.

Sang a Duet with a Professional Be-
fore Her Court.
An interesting a~necdOte, and belieV-
ed to be little known III America, Is told
of an occasion when her Majesty
Queen Victoria, took part with a COM
mon, ordinary v%irtuOsO in a duet. A
famous grand opera company, singing
in London at the time, was command
ed" to appear before the Queen at
Windsor. The opera selected by her
Majesty was, as usual, one that had
been very popular in the early days OF
her reign, namely. "The Daugher of
the Regiment" and that old-time IA
yorite singer, Aynsley Cooke, played
one of his best parts, Sergeant Sulpice.
After the conclusion of the perform
ance, with which the Queen was evil
IDENTIFY delighted, the members of the
company were RECALLED with a sumptu-
GUS dinner, and when this agreeable
episode was drawing to a close one OF
the chief officials of the royal house
hold came to Aynsley Cooke and re-
quested him TO come into the drawing
room, where her Majesty wished to see
him. The barytone willingly Obeyed
the command, and vas cordially greet
ed by all the members of the royaI
family present.
The Queen asked Mr.. Cooke if he
could sing in the duet for Figaro and
ROsina, from 1.-The Barber of Seville"
and the singer replied, Yes, your Maj
esty, l could sing it Backward" To
which the Queen smilingly said: Very
we'll, Mr.. Cooke, you take the part OF
Figaro and 1 will sing that of Rosina."
SignOr PaOla TOsti, who had acted as
music master to most of the younger
royalties, was at the piano, and the
duet proceeded. Cooke introduced all
the familiar business produced on the
stage, smiled apprOvingly as the Queen
sang the fiOrid music, pulled out his
watch to time her, as she sang the long
rOulades, and at the end the duetists
were rewarded by a torrent of ap-
plause.
The Marquis of LOrne then ap-
preached the vOcalists and gravely in
formed them that their efforts were ap-
proved, and that they might both con
sider themselves engaged, At which
they all laughed heartily. Cooke used
to regard this as one of the most pleas
ing recOllectiOns in his long and varied
career.
Western news-Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1898-1900, 1899-05-18
THE COST OF WARS.
Some Enormous Amounts that Ma
tions Have Suffered.

Some Enormous mou that Ma
tions Have Suffered.
The fearful madness that war inevi-
tably proves itself to be to those that
engage in it and to the world-the aw.
full waste and desolation it causes, lost
sight of by the foolish and needless
under the glamour of it's influence and
b~ecrazing eXcitements-are well shown
by certain statements of fact which
have been gathered from the History
Of Civilization" by Paul Courier, and
have gained some circulation, says
City and State. They cannot be too
widely set forth and pressed upon pop
ular attention. He says:
Algeria has cost France 1850 times
the net profit of it's annual revenues
Madagascar, up to 1896, cost the same
nation $4,000 900, and there is nothing
really to show in return. Tonquin has
produced mainly disease and constant
slaughter. The effort to keep San
Domingo" he says, "cost France more
dearly than all the crimes of her great
revolutions" And so, too, he sums up
in a striking statement the effect mar
veIously ruinOus of a recent well-re-
membered African war upon another
European power. "Abyssinia," he says,
"has cost Italy $115,000,0OO and thou
sands Of lives, or more than enough to
drain the Pointine marshes and cover
the mother country's dry hills with
fruit trees and forest trees and fill that
ancient sunny land with prosperous,
contented and happy homes,'
Western news-Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1898-1900, 1899-05-18

lively absurd; from his voice one would
have supposed that he was a prisoner
suing for his life.
"Oh, 1 think better of you" she cried.
II shall eve forget your kindness"
And as she gave him her hand she
blushed in a ridiculous fashion.
Then Debenham made an ass Of him.
self. Instead Of simply shaking hands
and saying good-morning, he held her
fingers and said nothing, but just
stared at her in a moonstruck kind Of
way that was quite idiotic, and she
dropped her head like a little silly and
went the color Of a peony; then.
But at this point I could stand it no
longer, and 1 quietly withdrew.
OF course 1 was not in the least as
tonished when Debenham rushed into
my chambers the same afternoon and,
with a good deal of stammering, con
fessed that he was engaged. He
seemed amazed when 1 betrayed no
surprise; but l didn't tell him that I
had been a witness of his folly.
1 was presented to the future Mrs.
Debenham and her sister a few days
later. When Debenham asked me
what 1 thought Of her, 1 told him she
was one of the incest girls I had ever
met; but, as a matter of fact, she is
much inferior to her sister, who, 1 don't
mind admitting, indeed, that she is the
incest girl 1 have ever met, and 1
shouldn't wonder
But there, that's another story
Answers.
Western news-Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1898-1900, 1899-05-18
Superior Quality in Tobacco,

The most important requisite of the
Tobacco plant is potash. This can be
told by anyone who has noticed the
great proportion of ash which tobacco.
whether in cigar or pipe. leaves after
it has been burned. On the other band
heterogeneous manure, which makes a
rampant growth of leaves. do not pro-
duce the finest quality. The leaves are
thick and do not show the delicate tex
ture of the leaf which indicates high
qualities. Of course tobacco land needs
to be rich, so as to make a large leaf,
but to secure tobacco that will burn
freely there should always be an ex-
cess of potash in the soil. Stable
manure is Objectionable, not only be-
cause it generally lacks potash, but be-
cause in midsummer when it heats it
furnishes such an excess of nitrogen
that the leaf is gOrged with sap. 4
small amount of nitrate of potash on
the seed bed will give the tobacco plant
Il start, so that when transplanted into
land only moderately rich it will make
as large a leaf as necessary, and give
it very superior quality.
Western news-Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1898-1900, 1899-05-18
II.

"And you want to help them, eh?"
said. after a time.
Yes, but it'll be a difficult matter
They're clergyman's daughters, anC
very proud. l don't see what 1 ian do
It's awfully riling, you know, Ken
Mon, to have a pile of money and no
be able to do a little good with it once
in a way. It's a shame that this cir
should have to slave at a sewing ma
chine all day while a great strong beg
gar like me lounges around killing
time"
Il suppose you want to refund this
70"
Yes; [ can't do more, but L don't
even see how 1 can do that"
well. you might order a gown of
some sort from them"
Don't be all ass; men don't buy
gowns"
You could say it was for your sis
ter"
But | haven't got Il sister, and if
had she'd never let me choose her
gowns for her; besides, she'd have TO
be fitted on and all that, you know"
l was obliged to admit the force of
these arguments. and a fresh period of
silence interviewed. Debenham had
risen, and was pacing the floor in a
state of perpleXity.
How would it be if l incIosed the
money in an envelope and sent it anon
ymously?" he said at length.
you might do that, certainly" l re-
piled, after a little consideration.
But she'd be sure to know who sent
it."
well, that doesn't matter, as you are
not likely to see her again"
Debenham stopped and turned his
eyes full upon me.
What's that? Not see her again?
But ! must see her again II feel that
my fate ~is-er-linked with that girl
Kennion."
"Oh, very well; then that Squashes
the idea entirely, unless Look here,
why not assume the character of the
thief yourself, and send her a letter
saying you have repented and return
the money!
"But | don't want her to think that
I'm a bad lot"
"WeIl, she needn't know that you
SEN it. You can pretend to be an or
binary ~pickpOcket."
$50 L can. / never thought of that.
Western news-Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1898-1900, 1899-05-18
Better Use of Cotton Seed,

1t seems almost incredible now thai
the old-time practice with Southern cot
ton planters was to pile all their cotton
seed in heaps after it was separated
from the cotton, and after it was rot
ted down it was used as manure. Now
all the oil is pressed out of the cotton
seed, and the meal is found to be an
excellent feed for stock. This does not
lose it's material value, however, but
probably makes it more effective, as
the meal, after it has passed through
the animal, can then be rotted down
into a much stronger fertilizer than it
could while in the seed. 1t is such econ
Omies as this in the use of all parts of
the cotton plant that make it possible
to grow cotton at much lower prices
than anyone could have thought could
be done in the old wasteful times
American Cultivator.
Western news-Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1898-1900, 1899-05-18
a New Musical Instrument

A new musical instrument is the pro-
duct Of the inventive skill of Carl
Brown of Columbus, Ohio, who is also
the inventor of improvements to the
guitar. The new instrument consists
of a sort of either and an ordinary
mouth harp in combination. The quail
ity Of the tone of the mouth harp is
greatly improved and the musician is
enabled to play an accompaniment to
bis harp solo.
Western news-Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1898-1900, 1899-05-18
a JUSTIFIABLE
+CRlME.+


By Jove, it's a grand idea! Where's
the pen and ink? What shall 1 say
Give us a lift, old chap. You're a dali
hand at this sort of thing"
l took up my pen, and, after a little
thought, dashed off the following let.
ter:
"Dere miss: This is from me, the
bloke wot TUX yer purse 1 sens the
muny bak bekause yer father wos once
very kind ter me when 1 wos down on
mi luck, an I noas yer needs it a sight
more than l does, yer humble servant,
BILL NOKES."
"How will that do?" 1 said, as
tossed it across the table.
"Splendidly-splendidly!" he cried, as
he ran his eyes over it. "It's worthy of
Bill Skies himself. I'll send it off this
very minute" And he thrust it in an
envelope with a f5 note.
You'll let me know how it answers? '
[ said, as he took his hat.
ooh, yes" And then, with a hasty
goodnight, he went flying down the
stairs to catch the post.
III.
The following morning it happened
that a matter of business took me in
the vicinity Of Defendants chambers,
and, having half an hour to spare, l
determined to call and see if he had
heard anything in connection with his
plot.
AS l vas about to enter his sitting
room, however, 1 heard the sound of
voices, and a hasty glance showed me
that he was engaged. A young lady
was standing by the table, facing De-
benham, who looked as guilty as any
schoolboy caught in an orchard.
II got it back this morning." the girl
on the railway picked it up as he was
on his way to work"
Il am very glad" Debenham MUIR
INJURED, ~nervously. Gle must have
been an honest fellow"
yes" she said. But the strange
part Of it is that by this mornings post
there came a letter from "a thief, in
closing a f5 note. You can read it if
you like"
And she handed him the precious
missive 1 had concocted.
He read it in feigned establishment.
81 v heard of such a curious
thing" he murmured. Its positively
isn't it, you know?"
OF course, this childlike attempt at
deception didn't deceive the girl.
"Nr. Defendant" she said, ''you
wrote this letter-you sent this note"
81? Really. Miss"
ooh, yes, you did. It's no use deny.
ing it. No n else knew of our loss"
Western news-Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1898-1900, 1899-05-18

cooks In the kitchen have had a good
supply Of fresh water, for all the water
pumped by the pump first went
through the house tank, and it all
had to flow through the milk trough,
too, SO it has been very useful already
the milk and butter are kept cool. We
have it arranged handy for bathing.
The water never gets warn on the
house tank, for fresh water is constant
ly flowing through. The piping is be-
low freezing point.-Charles w. Love
in Practical Farmer.
Western news-Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1898-1900, 1899-05-18
LID man, 1 want your ad-

% HS man. . wan, . your a'... ' d,
Debenham broke a piece OF
silence that had lasted some ten min
utes or SO.
It's rather a curious affair."" he be-
gan. efficiently. cit happened last
night. | wanted to go to Bayswater to
see my old nurse, who lives there. L
took the bus at Oxford Circus. AS L
dare say, you remember it was Il nasty
night, wet and foggy, and the vehicle
was soon full; in fact, by the time we
reached Westbourne Grove there was
only room for another. Here we picked
UP our last passenger. She was a
young lady"
And Of course you contrived that
she should sit by you" 1 said.
"You would have done the same
yourself" Debenham retorted. ANY
man would, for she had the sweetest
face. It's haunted me all night-it has,
really. 1 dare say she was about Is, or
perhaps 20-not more. She had brown
eyes, very brown eyes-you know, the
nAAN NAitI cSSIl ~ OPIUM LlO iAA
they were shaded by long lashes. She
had brown hair, too-the kind of hair
that twists itself into a lot of little
curls-natural curls, you know. L
wonder why all girls don't wear their
hair that way. Then her mouth-her
mouth"
Never mind the MOUTH 1 inter
nnSnH hocfiIu nnn;n- &Io& 10 ,,oo about
to indulge in an extravagant flood of
rhapsody. cit was an ideal mouth, l
haven't a doubt"
she sat down next to me-" he went
on. There wasn't much room, and
she thanked me when 1 moved. She
had the sweetest voice"
"Well, there's nothing curious about
that. l believe you said"
I'm coming to it if you'll only give
me time" he returned. in an aggrieved
tone. you've no patience. 1t was
when the conductor came round for
fares. Then she felt for her purse; she
found it was missing. At first she
thought she must have dropped it, and
l searched the floor and under the seat.
However, it wasn't there. Poor girl!
L never saw any one so distressed in
my life. 1t seemed she had IS in it,
and it was evidently quite a fortune to
her. Well, | paid her fare for her, and
we got out together
Il don't think you need tell me any
more" l said dryly.
Debenham stared.
why not?"
Because L know the rest"
How the"
yes, L do. You lent her the E5, Of
course My dear fellow, you've been
had"
Il didn't do anything of the kind"
Debenham retorted hotly. "She would
Mt let me. That's what [ came to ask
your advice about. L thought that as
you were a lawyer you might be able
to suggest something, but 1 wish I'd
never mentioned it to you"
OF course I FASTENED to soothe his
ruffied plumeS, and in a little while he
went on with his tale. 1t appeared
that he had seen her home, and that he
had learned her name. 1t was Charm /
ley-Kate Charnley. She was a dress
maker, and lived with her sister.
Western news-Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1898-1900, 1899-05-18

so they should be bolted together at
top with a block between. At the other
end Of foundation plank bolt on a 2x4
e. sc that the lever will work close to
it, and bore three-fourth inch holes in
G two inches apart. Make a pin of
hard wood to fit these holes, to hold
the lever at any point desired. Make
lever of tough wood; fatten where iron
straps are bolted on, and also where it
comes in contact with G. The top Of
lever (A) is placed under axle. If it
does not reach block up each end Of
E.-Ohio Farmer.
Western news-Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1898-1900, 1899-05-18

DoH nv SO1C CuSulOu lOE IUG
animals foot and yet a firmer one than
the ordinary type of metal shoe. This
is done, further, without the use of
screws, which have the objection of
o 0 becoming loosened by the constant
hammering. The shoe proper, which
is fastened to the hOof in the usual
way, has an inclined wall around the
outer surface, inside of which a rim
of rubber is placed which acts as the
cushion. The latter is held firmly in
place by a securing plate clamped to
the shoe by three depending pins, one
of which is supplied with a bolt. This
holds the three parts securely together.
Rubber for this purpose is very dur
able, and lasts a long time, and when
finally worn out can be readily re-
placed without any special knowledge
Of horseshoeing. The rubber gives q
sure footing at all times, and on all
characters of road, while such is not
the case with the metal shoe, for the
latter sometimes becomes smooth.
when a sheet of asphalt presents al
most as dangerous q surface as one Of
loo
Western news-Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1898-1900, 1899-05-18
The Offering of SONG

The Music Committee-Now, here is
d singer whose enunciation is perfect.
You can understand her quite readily
when she sings.
The Committee on Church Discipline
Wei. If We go to employing singers
who can be readily understood. we've
got to revise the hymnOlogy to conform
to u creed, that's all.-Detroit Jour-
nal.