davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-08
A PICNIC IN JAPAN.
[From the St. Nicholas.l

From the St. N1chOlaS.1
"A picnic in Japan is a treat that does
not fall in the way of many Americans;
but it was not strange that the children
of an American consul general at YokO-
hama should have been invited to at
tend one. One of its jolliest incidents
was the appearance of a troupe of row.
ing acrObats, who planted themselves
close by and promptly began their per-
Torrance. 1t consisted of four boy
tumblerS, mere fat babies, whose bones
were evidently of India rubber. 1t was
considered almost mean to let Julie go
on sleeping, and soon her joyful pipe
was added to the rest of the hubbub:
An opposition show drew near, and was
rewarded with instant success; for this
time the theatrical company was COM
posed of two brown monkeys, dressed,
of course, in tiny kimOnos, with blue
coolie handkerchiefs tied about their
heads They began by bowling in true
Japanese fashion to the delighted audi
ence; then they fell to fencing, with
terrible claShing of spears fully as long
as pencils; and between each round the
Snowman opened wee red fans and
handed them to the supposedly over
heated artists, who comicaIly squatted
and absentmindedly famed the grass
about them. Lee and Ned fairly rolled
on the ground with laughter, and Julie
had to be held firmly on both sides, such
was her frenzy of excitement. With a
snort of perfect contempt the other
Snowman began to beat his drum and
give sharp orders to his homeless ba-
bies. But they palled, after the mon
keys; and no matter how many ages
they stood on their poor little heads,
nor how many scores of wheels they
wheeled, despite their twists and &lm-
bles and starts and screams and clap
pings and bowings, the eyes of the au-
dience wandered back to where painted
the sad-eyed monkeys in their striped
cotton kimonoS, glancing about with
marked disapprova1 and a settled mel
ancholy regarding the world at large
Attracted by the Jingle of the copper
sen, showered equally by the sympa-
thetic tutor, other roaming shows and
musicians drew near, and soon the pic
mic party was the enraptured center of
a hullabaloo that could be heard
n,.t1 Of
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-08
AFRICAN RIVERS.

CF'rom the Gentleman's Magazine.1
1t is distinguishing feature of most
African rivers that they contain no wa
ter for at least eight months of the
year. 1t is true that water can almost
always be found in a river bed by dig
ging for it, but in outward appearance
a river is usually broad belt of sand
lying between high and precipitous
banks. Many and many a coach has
been upset in one of these drifts, as
they are called. The descent is always
steep, frequently steep that the
brakes cannot hold the coaches.
They start going down at a crawl.
and then the coach gathers way and
goes on with a rush, the mules are driv-
en- into a heap anyhow, and one Won
ders that they do not get their legs
broken; but they usually land all right,
while the coach, practically unmanage-
able, goes down like a sort of tobog-
gan jumping from stone to stone, and
swaying like a ship in a sudden squat,
and may or may not arrive right side
uppermost at the bottom In fact, the
passenger who has gathered his ideas of
coaching from a trip to Brighton or a
drive to Virginia Water, finds that he
has a lot to learn about the subject
when he gets to South Africa. Still, on
the whole, it was wonderful how few
accidents did occur, and if one consid-
ers that the coaches ran night and day,
and that when there was no moon it
would sometimes be too dark to see
the mules from the coach, it reflects
great credit on the drivers.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-08
ANCIENT SAWS.

(From the London Architect-)
Saws were used by the ancient Egyp-
tians. One that was discovered with sew
eraI other carpenters tools in a private
British museum. The blade, which APP
pears to be of brass, is ten and one-half
inches long and one and one-quarter inches
broad at the widest part. The teeth are
by striking blun-edged instrument
rough shoulder, thus produced not being
removed. painting copied in Rosel-
lini's work on Egyptian antiquities repre-
sents a man using a similar saw. the piece
between two upright posts. In other
representations the timber is bound with
ropes to a single post. and in one. also
copied by Rosellinf, the workman is en-
the saw sticking in the cut In en-
craving given in the third volume of Will
kinSon'S Manners and Customs of the An
cient Egyptians a saw is represented of
by comparison with the man not less than
three or four feet. 1t does not appear that
the Egyptians used saws worked by two
men. The invention of saws was vari-
or three individuals, who are supposed to
have taken the idea from the jawbone of
a snake the backbone of fish. There
is a very curious picture among the re-
laneum. representing the interior of a
carpenters workshop. with two genii cut
ting a piece of wood with a frame-saw,
and altar preserved in the Capt.
toline museum at Rome there'is perfect
6eIy resebing of in the for Of fhe
frame and the twisted cord for tight
ening it. those used by modern carpen-
tiers. From these remains it is evident
that these forms of the Instruments were
known the ancieQtS.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-08
COREAN DOCTORS
CFrom the Missionary Review.l

From the Missionary REVIEW.
BY the Coreans, disease, as well as all
the other ills of life, is attributed to
the malevolence of demons, and in most
cases of sickness more money is spent
in eXorcism, with a view to propitiating
the evil spirit, than in medicine for the
suffering victim. Perhaps nothing
serves better to illustrate to the Occi-
dental mind the eontrarineSS of things
Oriental than the music, dancing and
feasting called for in case of sickness in
troop of actors is a female exorcist, be-
lieved to be in league with a powerful
demon, by whose aid she can entice or
drive away the evil spirit causing the
sickness. AS she sings and dances the
others beat upon drums, TONI toms, etc,
all together making noise enough to
distract the poor sufferer. AS a pro-
pitiatory sacrifice tables are spread
laden with food and wine, of the odor
arising from which the spirit is sup
posed to partake and depart satisfied.
The Corean doctors treatment, too,
being directed toward the driving out
of the demon, is naturally believed to be
effective in proportion to its severity.
Persons suffering from low malarial
and other fevers invariably have var
iouS parts of the body pierced with
large and, of course, surgically unclean
needles, as a supposed important part
of their trea tnent. We have seen bro
ken limbs that have been punctured all
manner. Indeed, no treatment is more
common than the use of the needle, No
attempt is made to keep it clean, and
consequently frightfuI assesses. some
times causing death, often follow its
use.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-08
PRODUCTION OF ASBESTOS

TFrom the Boston Transcript
Asbestos is a physical paradox, yet
one of natures most marvellous pro-
auctions It has been called mineral
ogical vegetable: it is both hbrous and
crystalline; elastic, yet brittle; float
ing stone, which can be readily carded,
spun or woven into tissue. In Germany
it is known as steinf1achs (stone flax,
and the miners of Quebec give it quite
as expressive a name-pierre cotton
Cotton stone.) The asbestos mines of
Quebec are the most famous in the
world, yielding IS per cent of the entire
output, Italy being the only competing
country; and there the industry is de-
clining. Although Charlemange is said
which he cleansed by throwing into the
fire, it was practically unknown until
1850. The Italian mineral was then eX-
perimented with, and some years later
put on the market. In 1878 the first
Canadian mine was opened, and the
product steadily increased until 1890,
when $3.50 tons, worth 81, 260, 000 were
mined. There has since been decline
in value, the amount for 1896 being 12,-
200, worth only $3.50, 900. Asbestos is
flexible, non-combustible and non
conductor Of heat and electricity, and
on these properties its increasing use
depends. 1t is spun into yarn, from
which cloth is woven for drop curtains
in theaters, clothing for firemen, acid
workers, etc. 1t is made into lamp
wicks and gloves for stokers and ropes
board, to be used as an insulator in
dynamos and as flreproof lining for
floors. 1t is used to inSulate electric
wires and as a covering to prevent loss
of heat from steam pipes. Mixed with
rubber, it is used to pack steam joints.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-08
Chinese Court Historians.
CFrom the New York Herald

There are court historians in China,
as there are in other countries, but there
is one striking difference, and it lies in
the fact that the work of the Chinese
court historians does not see the light
until the reigning dynasty comes to an
end.
In this way these celestial historians
have an opportunity to describe most
truthfulIy the virtues and vices of the
various rules and the real significance
of the events which take place during
their regime. They can write what they
please without fear of censure. for they
know that their work will not be pub
lished as long as the reigning dynasty
lasts.
This has been the rule for more than
two thousand years, the first court his
torians having been appointed by the
imperial house of Han, which reigned
from 206 B. c. until rs A. D.
The duty of these historians is to
write a plain account of all the events
that occur during their tenure of office.
At regular intervals their completed
work is taken from them and is locked
up in an iron safe or vault. There it
remains until the first member of a
new dynasty ascends the throne.
1t is then given with all the other
histories in the vault to the court his
torian who is then living, and from the
mass of documents he is expected to
prepare truthful history of the dynas-
ty which has just expired. The present
dynasty has been reigning since 1914,
and consequently no court history has
been published since that date.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-08
END is IN SIGHT.
Final Work on State Capitol
Soon to Be Commenced.
Will Cost About 100000 to
Complete the Building.
THE MONEY is COMING.
Authorized Levy Will Raise
Nearly $4,000.
New Library Rooms Will Be
Furnished at Once.

An event long delayed in Kansas his
tory is about to come to pass. The
state capitol in this city is to be fin
ished.
The state executive council announ-
ces that the closing work will be COM
menced with the completion of the new
state library rooms. This will be ac-
complished and the library moved to its
new quarters at least by the end of the
year. By September or October the
finishing of the first floor will be start
ed, and by the time of meeting of the
next legislature the rooms in the north
and south wings above the first floor
will be ready for occupancy.
The levy of one-fourth mill, author
lied at the last session of the legisla-
ture, will not become available until
next January, and for this reason the
work of finishing the building will not
be taken up before September or Octo-
Der. For the work done during the lat
ter part of this year the contractors
will have to content themselves with
the word of the executive council until
the levy is in the hands of the state
treasurer early in January.
One hundred and seventy-five thou
sand dollars in round numbers will be
raised by the one-fourth mill levy. Mr..
]. G. Holland of this city, who made
original plans for the completion of the
state house, says that with due econo-
my the building can be finished for
something over 500, 900.
The rotunda and halls alone remain
to be finished on the first floor of the
capitol. In the completion of the rotun-
da it was originally intended to place
busts of prominent Kansans in the
inches supplied in the construction of
the walls However, not long ago Sec
rotary of Agriculture Ed. Coburn sug-
gested that this space be set aside for
an artistic exhibition of the agricul-
tural products of Kansas, and it is more
than likely that this suggestion will be
carried out. Instead of busts, large
glass cases will fill the inches about
the rotunda, and narrow cases of glass
will extend around the walls above a
marble wainscoting, all containing the
finest specimens of Kansas agriculture
to be procured. 1t would form a
unique and appropriate finishing.
The new library room is to be sup
piled with metal bookcases. When COM
p1eted it will be one of the handsomest
state library rooms in the country
The uncompleted rooms on the third
and fourth floors of the building are
practically all intended for committee
rooms to be used in connection with
legislative business.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-08
Low Rates For Baptists

And others Santa Fe will sell tickets
to San Francisco and return for $50. 90.
Limited for return to July Is, 1899.
Pullman sleepers-palace and tourist
and free chair cars to California daily.
Thos. L. King, agent, Topeka, has IL
Illustrated descriptive literature of
points of interest.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-08

The TopeKa OasH I1Iy IOOus &c. nave
ond floor where they keep all the soiled,
stained or otherwise damaged goods to
be found in their entire establishment.
Whenever they advertise any of this
class of goods it is ALWAYS under Job
Department heading. Remember this.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-08

MAN OR LADY to travel and appoint
agents. Established firm. $50 per month
and all expenses to start Mfr, Box S26
Chicago, III.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-08
21 Meals So. 25.

Hotel Oxford and Restaurant
FRANK LONG, Manager.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-08

Quick, good work, American Steam
Laundry. 112 West Seventh street. TeIe-
phone BAL.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-08

Seattle, Wash,
S2S.S5, via Santa Fe Route.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-08

Your linen left spotiess, American
Steam Laundry, 112 West Seventh
Telephone 341.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-08

Save Your Neck
And wear collars that have no rough
edges. We do them. American Steam
Laundry, Tel. 341.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-08

$3.50 For $500.
Communication tickets at lunch counter.
Hotel Oxford and restaurant.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-08

Butte, Mont,
$2S.S5, via Santa Fe Route.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1899-09-08
THE BINNEH NOINTH.

In iron ore shipments, August
proved the banner month in the
history of the Two Harbors
docks. There was 167 clearan
ces, carrying out about $50, 900
gross tons. The total for the
season approximates 1880, 900
gross tons, or within 365, 1000 of
the entire shipments of last sea-
son. This remarkably good
showing guarantees that the sea-
sons business will aggregate
near $500, 900. There are yet
over three months of navigation
and September is generally a
good month. The stockpiles at
the mines will all be cleared up
within a few days, after which
only the 5ai]y product will be
available. This will compel a
falling off; in fact, it is already
being manifested by the taking
of their leave of absence by ma
ny of the railroad employees, to
60 and assume their winter jobs
on other roads. But the season
will close with a big advance
over past years Shipments
News.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1899-09-08

dered in certain events, Their
opinion being confirmed by dis
interested spectators. Particu-
!arly rank is said to have been
the decision in the case of the
Novelty Hook and Ladder race
where Eveleth was awarded first
and Ely second, in which event
Eveleth is said to have had three
men on the ladder instead Of one,
and should have. been barred,
thus. giving Ely first and Virgin.
ia second place in the contest.
The boys returned home at
midnight :Tuesday, their home
coming being duly heralded by
music and jollification. They
are profuse in their compliments
to Mayor Mcmahon and Land
lord Vail and to the citizens of
Ely in general for the royal vel
come and courteous treatment
extended, stating that naught
was omitted in the arrangements
for the care and comfort of visi>
tors.
The next tournament will be
held at Eveleth, and the success
attending this first meet of the
Association ensures added inter.
est
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1899-09-08
WEEKLY ( Current Topics
; MINING RE- : In the
( VIEW. Iron World.

A third hole is now being put
down on the Enterprise proper
ty, to further prove the big body
Of ore cut in the last hole.
3. F. Sweeney, now has one
drill on the Jones property and
one on the Enterprise. On the
former property Capt. Kimberly
also runs drill for the company.
The water has been pumped
out of the Carey and Superior
mines. The lower levels require
little repairing, and the slopes
there will furnish a large output
during the next three months.
In conversation with Duluth
reporter Monday, Capt. Harry
Roberts complained of the short
age Of men on the eastern Mesa.
ba, stating that 100 men could
find employment at the Hale,
Kanahwa and Roberts mines.
The Enterprise cares not if
our exchanges reap harvest of
copy from our columns, but de-
mands that due credit be given.
The latest thief in the Journalists
tic field is one E. L. Millar, of
the Head of the Lakes, who in
his last issue serves his patrons
a half page of mining notes,
swiped bodily and published as
original.
The Duluth Furnace company
has leased the two north forties
of the old Cincinnati property.
These are the forties belonging
to John M. Williams, of Chicago.
They are originally part of the
Cincinnati mine. but have now
been leased separately from the
other part of the property. The
exact description is the net of
the nw4 and the nw4 Of the ne4
of section 2.58.16. The ore from
this mine runs high in silica,
but is said to be just what the
furnace company needs for a
particular purpose. The deal is
said to be a good one for the
t tcompany.- Herald,
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1899-09-08
.FIREMEN'S BALL.

The Virginia and Eveleth Fire
Departments tender a grand
ball at Crockett's Opera House
this evening, to which an enorm.
GUS assemblage is expected.
The ball is given as a suitable
celebration of the honors at>
tanned by the two companies at
the First Annual Firemen's
Tournament at Ely on the 4th
and 5th, and the boys are amply
entitled to the patronage of the
citizens of the two towns, as evi.
denced by the fact that they car
ried off first and second money
in the contests. Music by the
Virginia City Orchestra. the fin
est in st. Louis county. Tickets
$1.00. Supper extra. Turn out
and show the fire lads that you
appreciate their worth.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1899-09-08
he had TO WAIT.

He stood before St. Peter and
meekly applied for admission tc
Heaven and Paradise.
You'll have to wait awhile ,
said the guardian of the gate.
But why must I waltz" said
the would-be entrant. "Haven',
I been good man on earth?"
Yes, fairly good; but you
must wait outside awhile"
why should I wait? I tried
always to do my duty"
You think you did. Fut
were you not subscriber to the
Virginia Enterprise?''
Eyes, but wasn't that al
right?"
"Oh, yes; the fact of your be-
ing subscriber was all right,
but it was in your duty to the
paper that you failed"
"How?"
"Well, you never paid your
subscription until the editor had
run you down several times, and
now you can see how it feels tc
be stood off on the last day o1
grace"
And he waited.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1899-09-08
BIG LO4U ORE.

oAU 1-OkdD OHG.
The new Bessemer steamer
Douglass Houghton cleared from
Duluth yesterday with the barge
Fritz in tow. both loaded with
iron ore for Lake Erie. The
former carried 6, 900 and the lat
ter 1900 gross tons of ore, which
is a total OF 13, 500 gross or IS, .
12O net tons. The steamer will
carry her own load and tow her
consort at the rate of 10 or II
miles an hour, making a round
trip every 10 days. If the
Houghton were transporting
wheat at the current rate of
cents bushel her earnings for
herself and the barge would be
$25. 200.50 for the single trip,
providing the boats carried as
much wheat as they are carrying
iron ore, which is equal 20 5O4..
010 bushels. It is not known
what rate these boats are getting
for ore.-News-Tribune
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1899-09-08

The Oliver Mining company
is making an examination of the
Aurora mine, near Ashland.
with a view to purchase, and it
is likely that the purchase will
be announced in a short time.
The mine is one of the best: in
that section. It lies between the
East Norrie and the Pabst mine.
1t will be remembered that the
Aurora was one of the mines
put into the Lake Superior Con
solidated mines when the con-
solidation was first made, but
it has since been withdrawn,
and is owned by the Aurora Iron
Mining company. W. J. Olcott
is manager.
The Chapin mine at Iron
Mountain, one of the best ore
producers:in the district, is hois
ting ore ,at-a healthy pace. 1t is
not infrequent that 1000 tons are
brought to the surface, and 4, 300
tons were raised in a single day
this week. This is a splendid
record for an underground mine
the principal hoisting at which
is done at one shaft, and could
only be accomplished with the
best of equipment and a thorough
system of affairs both on surface
and in the mines. No property
IN the district is better handled,
both with respect to present and
future. than the Chapln. At 3
shaft, the present extreme east
ern workings, they are develop>
ing a lens of ore which promises
to grow into something valuable.
The company has considerable
territory within the enclosing
walls Of the iron bearing forma-
tion yet to be given attention.
The National Steel company, re
cent purchasers, have magnif-
cent property in the Chapin. II
is in fine shape and will be a
large producer of ore for many
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1899-09-08
PLAT Il WEEKS ENG

PLAY II WEEKS ENGAGEMENT.
On Wednesday evening next.
Sept, 13, Billy Bennett and his
great specially company of sing
ers, dancers, musicians, fnn ma.
kers and acrobats open a weeks
engagement at Crockett's Opera
House. AS an introduction to
our people the first nights en-
tertainment will be free, popular
prices prevailing the balance Of
the season. The entertainment
is strictly first class and refined
and plays upon its merits. They
are at present at Eveleth, where
crowded houses greet them
nightly.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1899-09-08
TO GET MARRIED.

Judge Vivian Prince departed
Tuesday for New Iberia, Louis
lana, where he looks over the big
Avery salt mines for a syndicate
of Washington capitalists. Dur
ing his absence he will also be
married at Abbeyville, La. to
Mrs. O. @. Jones, widow of Ex-
Auditor Thos. Jones, of Missou-
ri, and for years past principal
of the Vermilion Parish schools.
To the Judge and his bride the
Enterprise joins IN the congratu
lations extended by his many
friends.