davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-08

as the saying is. Grandma has decided
that you shall help her get rid of a feath-
cry sponge cake which a neighbor has
just sent by way of revenge. and when you
note her look of determination YOU re-
member the woman who was hoodooed and
become very dOcile.
The tea is brewed. and you take your
share of it. Tea in the morning seems as
far out of line as 4 dress suit before 6
o'clock. The cake is a pleasant surprise.
As you take your. departure you say visit
fully, II wish you'd let me have the dark
man instead of the light one. I'd much
prefer him"
We'll. now" says grandma. "you come
back the first of next month. I'll set a
charm for you, and maybe you can nave
him."
All of which goes to prove thai even for
tunes are not cut in marble. They are
there's nothing like finding an
dating fortune teller.
ADELIA ALICE HUMPHREY.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-08
NUMA ER0z's RECORD.
The Man Whom Prince George Has
loser as His Adviser in
Crete.

The first appointment made by Prince
George of Greece after his election as
high commissioner in Crete was that of
Numa Droz. eX-president of the swiss Con-
federation, to be his chief adviser. The APP
pointment has called forth mucn favorable
comment, and Prince George his been con-
graduated in selecting 4 man of wide pol
itical experience. which was gained in one
of the best ordered of the smaller states
of Europe; a man with pknty of caution
and sobriety of view. and in natural SYM
pathy with the people he, goes to govern"
Mr.. DroZ was born II the Canton of
Neufchatel in 1874, AMI was less than
81 years old when lie became pres
ident of the Swiss Confederation. He
had been elected vice president at the same
time that Auterwert was elected president.
A few days before the time set for his
inauguration Presnent-elect Auterwert
committed suicide ~ shooting himself. at
Berne. and Numa VEoz became president in
his place. Although he was a young man
to take the highest place in his country.
he was well known. and had earned dis
the Radical parry in the federal assembly.
He had been 1 political opponent Of the
man whom hs succeeded. and their posi-
tons were pointed out at the time as one
of the anomifes of the swiss executive
system. Thf federal assembly. known as
the Understanding" consists of
an upper rouse, or "Standerath.'' and
a lower louse. or "~Nationalrath." and
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-08

active life spent out of doors and the hard
thood gained from a turbulent existence
have strengthened his powerful frame and
sharpened his unusually acute sensibilities.
BY his firm hand Abyssinia has been re-
claimed from the throes of unceasing inter-
nal strife and has entered upon an era OF
savag who has been held up to the gaze
of the civilized world as a relentless and
bloodthirsty pagan. has shown ability to
rule justly and wisely over the AFFAIRS OF
his diminutive kingdom.
Giant and n Scholar.
Unlike most of his people, who are never
of more than medium height, Menelik is a
giant, with a muscular and athletic frame
carried with a regal 'hauteur which sits
well upon him.. while the dark eyes set in
a face full of marked integrity of charac-
ter. swapping with every emotion and not
escaping the slightest detail, denote an I'M
ending storehouse of nervous energy. He is
a brilliant talker, with an excellent MEM
DRY, and quickly grasping the points of a
question. with an ability to talk under
standingly on the most complex problems
OF the day. On all themes Of a military
character he is an ardent enthusiast, and
no less a parsonage than one of his Ger
man military advisers has stated that to-
day his knowledge of these subjects equals
that of some of the most brilliant officers
graduated from the technical military
schools of Europe.
In his youth he was constantly. engaged
either in defending his territory from the
tyrannical o~nslaughts of the barbarous
King Kasai. or at a later date repulsing
the joint Egyptian and English expeditions
which were directed against Abyssinia from
1875 to 1855. 1t was his indomitable spirit
and the brilliant n masterful genius
shown in the campaign of the Abyssinian
forces that proved a barrier well nigh i'm
possible to overcome. and which proved the
greatest stumbling block to the success of
British arms. At this time he was only
a minor military chief and a young man
scarcely out of his teens. yet he immediate
ly took precedence over the most skillful
warriors of the kingdom and successfully
defended his own territory of Shoa and
aided the rival of his father. King Johanni.
until the desperate battle near Gonda
Gouddi in 1875. when the Abyssinians were
overwhelmingly defeated and Menelik and
his father. king of Shoa, were obliged to
flee and later to sue for peace.
In War and Peace.
To this peaceful arrangement Menelik
never agreed. With unusual a%stuteness and
diplomatic farsightedness he saw in the
invasion of the Anglo-Egyptian forces a
menace that must inevitably seal the doom
of his country. and gathering together
some of the most fanatical and valorous
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-08
A CeIe.tiaI Usher. Error.

In Chinese visiting etiquette the rank of
the caller is donated by the size of his card.
Thus the visiting card of a high mandarin
would be an immense roll of paper nicely
tied up. The late Admiral Porter of the
United States navy once engaged a full
blooded Chinese ervant, and Mrs. Porter
Immediately thereafter held a reception.
John Chinaman attended the door and
received with disgust the small pasteboards
of the visitors. and. with an opinion Of
his own of the admiral's friends. pitched
the cards into a basket and with scant
ceremony showed their owners into the
drawing room. But presently the gas man
called with a bill-a big piece of cream
colored paper. This card satisfied John.
With deep reverence he received it. With
low salaams he ushered the bearer not
only into the drawing room. but with
profound genuflections. to the dismay of
the gas man and the horror of Mrs. Por-
ter. right up to the center of the room.
where she was receiving her distinguished
guests; and then John. with another hum
BILE bow. meekly retired, supposing that .he
owner of the card last received was a
person of high distinction.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-08
WOES OF AN INSTRUCTOR.
Who Was ENDORSED Suddenly
just at the Wrong Time.

Just It the Wrong Time.
From the New York Sun.
During the annual examination of the
West Point cadets in the month of June
1855, General Grant was a visitor to his
alma mater. In the evening he spent an
hour or two in the rooms of the board Of
visitors. General Pitcher. who was the sup
erintendent of the post. and three of the
board of visitors had been cadets when
Grant was a cadet. so there were many
good "schoolboy days" stories told by
them. One evening one of the officers of
the post told this story on himself:
1T was before the war" said the instruc-
tor. Il was giving the 'plebes' their first
lesson on horseback. | saw that, many of
that a few Of them had never been in the
saddle before. They were lined up just OF
the carriage way near the library building
with the anxious friends and relatives Of
the boys.
at was a hot day and some of the horses
get ugly. You know what a West Point
horse is always-ever ready to make a
plunge; e.n,,.usn. .., .on..
nervous. All you've got to do is to sit
firmly erect in your saddle. keep your
knees tightly pressed to the horses sides
and no horse In the world will ever get the
best of you
"Well. there I was doubtless in the sight
of those youngsters the personifcation of
a hOrseman. While talking to them my
horse danced about and did all sorts Of
gymnastics. and there they saw me taking
no more notice of his doings than II I was
on a sofa.
'Then just as I had told them that no
horse In the world could get the best of
them if they did what l told them to do. a
gun was fired on the plain just behind US
and that horse of mine gave n tremendous
jump backward, something broke. and 7
went clear over his head, body. soul and
breeches."
Everybody In the room smiled. Even the
stOry-teller had to smile. do you know
what the effect of 1t all wasg' ended the
officer. Those boys for the four years
they were here after that. before they
graduated. wouldn't believe a damned word
I said on any subject
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-08
What Two Bullets Did.

From Leslie's Weekly.
On the cot beside that of Edwards lay
a rough rider. Walter S. Beebe. another
fever victim and twice wounded. a cut
through the arm on July l.. and a revolver
bullet in the left leg on July 9.
IT'S only a couple of weeks said Beebe.
since. they got that bullet out of me.
They located it at last with the X-rays.
Here it is. See, It's my opinion that bull
let came from one of our own six-shooters.
1t was all foolishness. the reckless way
the boys shot off their revolvers In the
charge.
ITO show you the queer things some of
those bullets did I'll tell you a thing /
saw in the Las Guasimas fight. There was
a man near me as we went along who
stopped to break off Il stick in the shrub.
! guess he wanted to make Il ramrod OF
1t. If he hadn't stopped he might never
have been killed. but just as he had broken
the stick and was twisting tine last fbers
apart. a Mauser bullet went straight
through his head. and he dropped to his
knees. His hands still clutched the branch
he was breaking. and. as he knelt there.
another bullet came and cut through the
broken wood. so that he held his ramroG
free. He had got what he stopped for"
Why do YOU cal! that parrot Compro-
mise?" Because he's part green and part
Observation-Disclosures North American.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-08
TROUBLED FERDINAND
PRINCE OF BULGARIA MEETS WITH
DIFFICULTIES AS ARULER.
StambOulOn Was the Real Power and
Now He In Dead-How Ferdi-
nand Came II BE
PRINCE.

Bulgaria. which is Just now in the public
eve. owingto renewed attempts of Prince
Ferdinand. its ruler, to shake off the DOM
mating Russian Influence. is one of the
most uncivilized natiors. 1t is the land OF
the cutthroat. the torturer and the poison
er. 1t is more law,ess than Oklahoma or
Cripple Creek. Hedged in by great ma
tons. all anxious to seize it. it is ever a,
the mercy of enemies without and of con-
spirators within its narrow confines. 1t is
a veritable ,plague-spot of diplomatic chi
canery. of treason, of outrages committed
in the name of public honor. of political
treachery. and of social and moral rotten
ness.
How Prince Ferdinand, of Coburg-Cohary,
became the ruler of Bulgaria is an inter-
esting chapter in the history of Oriental
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-08
KEY TO FATE OF AFRICA
IT Is SAID TO BE HELD BY DE-
SCENDANTS OF SOLOMON.
Something of King MeneIik H., of
Abyssinia, i'm whom the En-
glish Are Just Now Much
Interested.
In the New York Press.

William Jameson Reid, in the New York Press.
The paeans of joy over General Kitchen
er's historic advance up the Nile scarcely
have died away before English alarmists
perceive a new cloud arising in the South.
King Menelik. of Abyssinia, Is by no
means a newcomer on the stage of the
worlds events. but interest in this strange
personality is now heightened by the
knowledge that in Eng!and's advance from
the Nile toward the cape he must play at
no distant future date a far from insig-
nificant part.
When Menelik became ruler in 1889 he
signed a convention with Italy which led
that country to declare over Abyssinia an
exclusive protectorate- The disastrous eX-
perience of the former country in the at
tempt TO carry out the full meaning and
intent OF this proclamation is well remem-
bered.
King Menelik. or by the title by which
he is more generally known. Negus of
Abyssinia, is over 30 years old. but his
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-08

OF his warriors he reopened the conflict
and fought with wonderful desperation UNI
til the memorable conflict of February lf-l9.
1876. Inc generalship of the young war
rior for three days kept the result OF the
battle in doubt against a force nuinerlcally
superior. and it was his skill and ability
that eventually saved his troops from an
Inhalation. For the time being the Abys-
einian power was broken. and the following
year he was appointed as one of the ennis
saries to arrange terms of peace with Col
onel Gordon. who found in this untutored
savage rather more than q match eve
for him ut first. The shrewd diplomacy of
lowing peace negotiations, and he was en-
\abled to secure a settlement in every way
satisfactory TO Abyssinia.
The success that had attended him In n
light against hopeless odds now fired him
with a desire to take that position in the
councils of the country to which he felt
his iabors entitled him. His self-re,iant and
unbridied spirit could not brook the idea
of suzerainty. and a year later he had in
cited his father to proclaim his kingship
over both Shoa and Abyssinia. The move
ment was ill-timed. for King Johanni. re-
Enforced by English support, crushed the
rebellion. and for the second time Menelik
was an outcast in his own country. From
that time until 1889 he maintained incessant
warfare. either against JOHANNA or his nat
ural enemies. the English. until in 1888 the
death of the former permitted him to sue
of the more powerful chiefs. who had been
followers of JOHANNA. had absconded on
his ascent To the throne. and. leaguing to-
Gether. sought TO undermine his power. The
first two years of his reign We're troublous.
but Menelik's generalship was too much
even for those mighty warriors. who Were
signaliy defeated time and again. until
they were ready to announce their alleg-
lance.
Matched Against Europeans.
The strategic position of his territory.
and its immense value TO any OF the alien
nations engaged in the partition of Africa.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-08

statue is seven feet high and Is a fanciful
study, so far as p~Ortraiture goes. for there
is no authentic picture of G%utenberg's face.
The sculptor, Ralph Goddard. has done Il
p~raiseworthy work. and his bronze Guten-
berg is pronounced a masterpiece by COM
petent critics. 1t will be placed on a pedes-
tai over the main entrance of the Hoe
printing press establishment at the point
where Grand and Sheriff streets converge.
There are no other monuments to Guten-
berg save a statue in Gutenberg platz, at
Mainz. where the genius was born. and
a simple shaft above his grave. His life
was 4 long struggle with poverty. and the
lines of Mr.. Goddard's excellent study are
indicative of the character of the man. The
inventor Is seen standing in a dignified
position comparing a wet proof slip with n
stick to the type which so long bafled his
efforts to print evenly. The monument is
paid for entirely by private subscription.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-08
on Silver.
From Pearson's Weekly.

From Pearson's Weekly. =
The bed of honor may be attractive but
the spare bed of most country pines
is the dread of the occasional VISIT! A
good story is told of an eminent tshop,
who was Quartered at the house, of the
wealthiest resident of a certainSillaga
while his wife was away.
He is a slim man. ard on this occasion.
when his host inquired in te morn
ing how he had slept. and hop9, he had
with some vehemence. NO. ~ not: 1
passed a very disagreeable n~igb4ndeed."
The bishop departed. and wen the Wife
of his host returned she natually inquired
who had been in the house iTher absence.
Bishop P" said the ashland.
Bishop P. Where did iou put him to
Sleep"
"In the spare bed, of coyse."
I'm the spare bed" sheked the horri-
fed matron. why. l publ the silver un-
der the mattress before FHent away
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-08
DOG IN THE FAMILY BURIAL LOT
Plush CoHin Provided by an Under
taLer for n New York WOmnn's
Prize Fox Terrier Spot.

SpoNs
From the New York Herald.
Middletown. n. y. special.-Spot, a fox
terrier owned by Mrs. Collins, wife of DIR.
Charles Collins of this city. was killed by a
trolley car to-day. and tomorrow his man
gled body will be inclosed in a white plush
coffin and inferred in the grounds adjoin-
ing the family residence.
Spot was one of the best educated logs in
Orange county, and Il son of Bessie r. Four
years ago. when a mere puppy. with his
mother and three brothers, he took Il $500
prize in Madison Square garden. He was
reared on a bottle by Mrs. Collins and
great attention was paid to his education
in all re>0ects.
After he was killed to-day his owner
picked up the body and summoned l.. d.
Osterhout, an undertaken. who placed the
body in a beautiful plush coffin. When I
saw Mrs. Collins this evening her eyes
We're red from weeping and her voice
choked with emotion.
81 suppose the people will think it queer"
she said. but 1 shall have Spot buried in
good style. The dear little creature shall
be Inferred in the yard for the present and
later removed to our family plot in the
Wurtsboro cemetery. I loved him, and win
not allow him to be buried as a common
dog" =.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-08
H SAVAGE DOG.
Experience With Brute That
PrOmised Well-HOw the AMI
NAL Failed Him.

From the Detroit Free Press.
My wife, said Smith. had been at me
for some time to buy a watch dog. She said
she would feel safer when / was away il
there was a good dog around to keep unde-
She wanted a big dog, she said, not one
that would be all bark, but one that would
be able to take care of himself under all
circumstances.
II surrendered at last, and one day 1
bought from a dealer of such dogs a dog
of an elephant. The dealer warranted him
an excellent watch dog and advised me to
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-08
MENELIK II. AND HIS GENERALS.

keep him chained. for fear that he might
tear all the children in the neighborbood to
pieces.
He was the most Notwithstanding brute
that 1 ever set eyes upon. l was actually
afraid of him myself, and used to shove his
food to him with Il long pole. He had 81
way of lunging at the one length of nj,
chain that was positively alarming to
nervous man.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-08
In Favor of t. Moon.

From the shelbyville Ky) tntinel.
A colored debating sfiety in Jones pre-
cinct had this weight subject under dis
most useful. the sunSr the NOON" After
ing which they wawa warm and eloquent.
the judge, an old rero. promptly. decided
that the moon VIZ the most useful. as II
.,shined at night wen people needed light.
while h sun. heonly shined in the day
time when they euld do without it."
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-08
A KinRIy Criticism.


From the Sketch.
Here is a good cello story told by that
master Of his art. Auguste Van Biene:
Some years ago i played before our late
king of Holland. William Ill. After I
had finished he sent for me and said:
You have given me infinite delight. I have
heard all the great ~'cellists of the world
q bowed: / have heard Patti (another
bow from mel. Gervais (bow AGAIN.. Dave
doff ooh. your majesty, thanks" and
more bows from mel. but of ali the great
~'cellists you %(profuse bowing) certainly
DerSpire the most"
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-08
STATUE OF GUTENBERG.
1t VIII BE Erected I'm New York and
VIII BE the Largest Statue
of the

A heroic bronze statue of Johan Guten-
berg will soon be erected in New York. 1t
will be the finest monument anywhere to
the genius of the great inventor. The
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-08

Great Britain takes the most sugar of
any country-3.U0.0 1000 600 pounds per annum
or eighty pounds to each person. In the
United States $500, 00U. 900 pounds are used.
France uses twenty-five pounds a person.;
Hungary. fifteen; Sweden. twenty; Nor
way, twelve; and Spain, seven.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-08
Most Expensiye Pearl.

The largest price ever asked and paid
for IL single pearl was $50. OCO. which was
the value of the great Tavernier pearl. 1t
is the largest and most perfect gem of its
kind known. 1t is exactly two inches in
length and oval-shaped.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-08

these houses elect the federal council of
seven members. This council elects it's
president and vice president of the con-
federation, and the other Members are
placed at the heads of departments, and
form the cabinet. Numa Droz was pres
ident one year. and would probably have
been reelected if the Swiss constitution
did not contain a clause which makes the
reelection of a president impossible.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-08

have repeatedly brought him into conflict
with civilized enemies. but although not
always uniformly successful, both English
and Italian aggressors have experienced
defeat at the hands OF this savage Ma
poleon.
OF late Menelik has shown a disposition
to maintain his position by the subtleties
Of diplomacy. for he is ~farsighted enough
TO perceive the inevitable result that must
appertain from constant aggression, and
recognizes the impossibility and absolute
futility of warning against superior forces.
As a ruler. he shows those ~unbending but
tactful traits which insured his success
as a general. His success in war has in
spired a deep-seated affection and respect
among his people. for his is the iron hand
encased in silk glove that breaks the
strongest and most relentless opposition,
while a~ssuaging the pangs of defeat.
Personally he is a handsome man, even
Judging by the European standard. The
mother of Menelik was a strong person
ality and the masterful ruling traits shown
by her in lifetime are manifested in her
son. In spite of the turbulent nature of his
career. Menelik has found the opportunity
to study English and Italian. and is a
scholar of no mean erudition. In the mat
ter of trade and passage through his coun-
try, the Negus is irreconcilahly obdurate.
His fear of onquest by some foreign power
causes an inordinate suspicion of all
strangers who may visit him. to whom he
Is invariably reserved and hostile. until,
when one has penetrated through the epi-
dermis of tact and diplomacy, it is to find
a remarkably interesting personality con-
cealed beneath the rude and uncouth eX-
terror.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-08
An Enlightened Monarch.

He is an enlightened monarch. and the
reforms and improvements in government
which he has introduced in his short reg
ime ave already done wonders in re-
trieving Abyssinia from its erstwhile state
of savagery. In all of these matters he
shows "A democratic spirit and seeks to
benefit his people by inviting their assist
ance in all matters requiring legislation.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-08

hardly a year old; its age In 1890 wa
II years. The old man in the cart has been
In supreme charge since its infancy. and
he can do almost anything he likes with IL:
cage all the keeper has to do is to lump
down.. undo the thick chain which Is at
tached to the cart. open the back door, and
out bounds the tiger.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-08

produced from the Golden Penny. is owned
by his highness the maharajah Of Bhurt-
pore, which is an independent state In In
dia. As a rule this tiger appears in pub
lie. on it's cart every day. weather permit
ting, followed by a small armed escort, as
we'll as a large rabble from the city.
The tiger was caught %(trapped) when
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-08

Not Like some Wives.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-08
Matched Against Europeans.

The strategic position of his territory.
md its Immense value 10 any of the alien
,ations engaged in the partition of Africa,