davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The St. Johns herald., 1899-10-14

Already census statisticians are spec ulating on the new center of population of the United States to be revealed by the coming census. The steady west ward course of this invisible point for the last half century makes 1t practic- able to determine within reasonable exactness its location next year. In 1850 1t was in West Virginia, south of Parkersburg. Thence it crossed into Ohio at the next census and traversed that State by slow stages until in 1880 1t had reached Cincinnati. In 1890 it crossed into Indiana, still close ly following the thirty-ninth parallel, and reached a point few miles south of Greensburg. Its rate of progress westward has been at about the aver age rate of five miles per year, having travelled 505 miles since the taking of the first census. At this rate of prog ress during the coming century it will cross into Illinois. Some claim, how ever, that this Western march of pOpu- latlon will be checked soon and that possibly the next census will mark nearly, If not quite, its extreme West ern advance. Considering the growth of Western States and Territories, however, this does not seem probable. It is more likely that the limit will be reached somewhere in Illinois the com- ing century. Within a few decades Chicago will be the nearest the center of population of the United States of any city of consequence, and thus the star of empire will shine in the zenith of the inland metropolis of the coun- try,
The St. Johns herald., 1899-10-14

dering and plundering. If the Indians do not surrender a war of eXtermina- tion will ensue. It is a pity, too, for General Diaz had hopes the Indians would remain friendly, and become civ ilized. Not long ago he sent thirty school teachers into their country to instruct them and to establish schools and colleges. These may have been murdered for all that is known, for some of them went into the outlying districts. So far as 1 can learn, the h. dians are we'll armed. They have, in fact, been buying weapons ever since their leaders signed the treaty of peace, and do not believe they ever had any idea of keeping the truce. The murder of their own chiefs who had accepted office under the Mexican government indicates that they have grown desper- ate and that the contest will be fierce. 7" The tactics of the YaquiS are to attack suddenly and to ambush and imme- diately after the assault to run back into the mountains, where no one can follow them. After a Yaqui has fought for some time he suddenly be- comes a peaceful Indian and leaves the territory in which the war rages. This happens when his ammunition Is all spent; he must then provide himself with more. This he does by working in Arizona and New Mexico, as in these places he can procure arms with his savings and return when he has enough. When he has accumulated enough he returns by passing from Arizona through the Sierra Madre will derness, where he is free from sol diers' bullets and from observing eyes, and when least expected he turns up fully equipped with munitions 10 carry on the war. The Yaqui Is not the blood-thirsty beast that some re- ports have made him out to be. He Is brave, industrious and peaceful; he does not torture his prisoners, but neither does he allow them to escape. In 1897 peace was made with the Ya- Quis. The government promised them a certain sum of money and they In turn agreed to have their land survey ed and partitioned During the last two years the YaquiS have quietly been working in the mines of Sonora and. Arizona and have saved their earnings in order to procure arms to renew the war. Whatever will be the outcome of the war, 1t will be a most ruinous one for Sonora. If the Yaquis are exter- minated, as the reports tell us is the in- tention of General Torres, then the ef feet will soon be felt. It will mean the extermination of the manual labor in Sonora; 1t will mean the crippling of her wheat and mining industries. The Mexican government could we'll have afforded to allow the Yaquis 10 remain in possession of their land, as their value as laborers is many, many times greater than the price that can be real ized by selling their land. Sonora is country with immense resources, with enormous tracts of fertile soil where almost everything might be grown profitably. Such crops as wheat, sugar
 cane, beans. corn, oranges, dates. peaches, apricOts and many other fruits are hardly surpassed anywhere.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-10-14

Cunninghame Graham, himself a Eaucy Scot, thus gives the genesis of the modern Englishman: Saxon sto- lidity. Celtic guile, Teutonic dullness and Norman pride, all tempered with east wind. baptized with mist, narrow ed by insularity, swollen with good fortune, and rendered Overbearing by wealth, have worked together to pro- duce the type" Not by any means a good-natured sketch, or a strictly truthful one, but if moral and mental heredity is insisted upon, the multiplex origin of English character must ae- count for what Is strong and good In it as well as for what Is weak and bad. As for English-America, the daughter nation, 1t has become the great anal gamator of the world, absorbing almost every strain of Gentle blood. Yankee character Is British plus two hundred and eighty years.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-10-14

"For the first time in history" writes Hon. A. w. TOurgee, "the worlds la- bor is able to produce more than the world can consume" This result has been reached by the application of | skilled industry to the development of the ample resources of nature-the gift of the All-Father to His human chill dren. Inventive genius planting, har
 vesting and manufacturing by me chanical methods-has made 1t possible for one mans labor to supply the means of life and comfort to hundreds; and the same inventive genius, calling to its help vast combinations of capital, has created conduits for the distribu- ton and exchange of commodities over large spaces of the globe, by land and sea. Naturally, the nations that are most intelligent and enterprising ren- der the largest service and reap the largest benefits. Naturally, also, a small minority of any population be- come captains of industry, and direct ors of the great financial operations which fill the sluices of business, and make the mighty wheels go round. This situation makes two things possi- ble. The strong and prosperous na- tions have it iu their power to crowd and oppress the lower or slower races that still make up the large majority of mankind, and the few men whose genius for management, or advantage of position, places them in the lead, can compel their fellows to pay them undue tributes and to depend on them for permission to live on the planet. In short, we have reached a condition where the human multitudes, by gen. erous, equitable dealing, might live with less exhausting labor and more rational happiness than ever before; and yet 1t is condition where the self ish use of power may easily create new and cruel forms of tyranny and serf- dom, which must be the seeds of con- fiict and revolution. It Is a good time for men and nations to ponder the principle of noblesse oblige.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-10-14
WAR WITH YAQUIs.
SERIOUS REVOLT OF INDIANS IN
 MEXICO.
Yauuis Have Been Fighting for Inde- pendence Since 1735-Mexico Is to Blame for Insurrection-Somet thin 2 of the Picturesque Yaqui Country.
%

The instruction Of the YaQui Indians promises to give the Mexican govern ment another prolonged war. It has hcen but two years since the last up rising of the YaQuis was put down, after nearly fourteen years of fighting, ana the rebellion now on has all indi- cations of preparedness. Contrary to statements made that the Yaquis would not molest the American residents in ScnOra-the YaQui country-there have already been slain number of Ameri- can gold prospectors. Indeed, it has developed that one of the causes of the uprising was the fact that the gov ernment permitted Americans to come iuto Sonora and dig gold. The Yaquis claim to hold the Sonora country by right of occupation for centuries back
The St. Johns herald., 1899-10-14

The latest article of French political faith Is, that "the army is the life of the State" Nothing could better illus trate the bewilderment of the Gallic ln- tellect. Among really governing people the life of the State Is supposed to reside in the brain and brawn of the citizens, without whose labor the army would be as destitute of life as a forgotten theological heresy. This in- version of the truth is, however, con genial to the Frenchman because the army is spectacular, and nothing is dearer to the average Parisian than a show. Whether there Is any reality or sober truth behind the show Is a ques- tion which does not interest him.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-10-14
GOT HIS CLEAN CLOTHES.
He Had No Money, but Had Nerve and
 an Easy ChInaman.

He Had No Money, but Had Nerve and an Easy Chinaman. | That there are more ways than one 1 to accomplish a thing if a man only has the necessary nerve is illustrated ! by the experience of a young man. The young man tells the story himself, so there is Do betrayal of confidence in printing it.
 It seems that he had big bundle of collars and cuffs and shirts at a Chi nese laundry night or two ago, some | articles in which he needed very much. The night was the furthest in the week from his pay day, and he was ''broke." Still he had to have clean linen in order to keep an important en- gagement.
 Il didn't know what to do," he said in relating the incident. "I felt sure that the Chinaman wouldn't extend credit to me, for it Is a we'll known thing that Chinese laundrymen never trust At last l hit upon a scheme Going to my room, I bundled up all the soiled linen I possessed Hurry ing around to the laundryman's. pro duced the bundle.
 'Sixty-five centsp he exclaimed blandly, holding out his hand for the coin.
 'I picked up the clean linen and, de- posting the bundle of soiled on his counter, started for the door as if my life depended on my being half a mile away within five minutes.
 That's all rightp 1 shouted back in reply. Just mark it on that bundle, and Pll pay you for both togetherP
 'Then l was gone, but not before caught a glimpse of the laundryman hastily unwrapping the bundle I had left, as if he was anxious to see wheth- CT or not the contents were worth the 6 cents l had hung him up for. He was evidently satisfied, for he didn't yell for the police or make any con- motion, as I was afraid he might do, and had all kinds of freshly launder- ed collars and cuffs and shirts to wear that night. And all on account of a bit of ve"-Philadelphia Inquirer.
 Slams Million Priests.
 According to lecture on Siam deliV- cred recently in London by John Bart lett, that country has more than it's share of priests. The population of Siam, he said, amounted to about 6OO0,OOO, and a curious feature was the large preponderance of Chinese. more especially in Bangkok. The Chi nese practically controlled all the trade and commerce of the place. There were hardly any Siamese merchants. One million of the people were in the priesthood. He had travelled up river through the main territory of Siam for a distance of 350 miles. and during the journey 1t had been absolutely impos- sible to get out of sight of a temple. In each temple there were from 10 to 300 priests, supported entirely by tho people. Of the 100000 priests only 100000 were actively engaged. The re- maining 100000 were passing through the priesthood.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-10-14

The percentage of illiteracy is higher in the Southern States and New Mex leo and Arizona than in any other sec ton of the country. That is due in the former to the large number of unedu- cated colored people; In the latter to the Mexican population. Nebraska Is the banner State for education. Only 3.11 per cent of the population of over 10 years of age are unable to read and write. Wyoming Is second, with a percentage of S.41; Iowa third, 3.61, and Kansas fourth. 3.99. Compared with this the percentage of illiterates in Massachusetts is 6.22, exactly double that of Nebraska. In New York State 1t is 5.53 and in Connecticut a little less, 5.2S In Ohio it is 5.24 and in Illinois 5.25. This is due chiefly to the foreign population in the large cities and in manufacturing centers. The farmers of Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa never fail to send their children to school, while the slums of Boston, New York. Chicago and other large
The St. Johns herald., 1899-10-14
A Valuable TruckIoad.

Perhaps as costly a commodity as any that is carried in considerable quantities in trucklOads is Sumatra to- bacco, such as is used for cigar wrap pers. Sumatra wrappers cost from $1 to 8 pound. and the import duty on them Is $1.S5 pound. This tobacco Is imported in small. compact bales weighing TO or 1S0 pounds each Duty paid Sumatra would be worth about $6OO a bale. apd there can be carried on truck fifty bales or more; so that a 50 bale truckloaJ of such tobacco would be worth about $30,0O0.-New York Sun.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-10-14

-SThe story that comes from the Klon- dIke is not so rose-colored as were the
 stories told about this Fl Dorado when
 the boom was on. The gold product of the last year Is reported to have been only SIC, O,O00,O00, or one-half the amount estimated, and sickness and destitu- ton are thinning out the adventurers. The gamblers are apparently the only successful gold seekers in the region. The statement that reports from Alas ka indicate that more gold will be found there than will ever come out of the Klondike may, however, only mean that the transportation con- panies reaching Alaska are endeavor- ing to work up boom for themselves at the KlOndike's expense.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-10-14
pon't Want Land Divided.

Font Want Land Divided.
 As a laborer the Yaqui is hard-work- ing and faithful and can always be re lied on. He does not shirk his work when his foreman turns his back and he does not shorten his days work by continued cigarette smoking. No won- der, therefore, that he is highly valued for the work he can and does perform. AS do many other laborers, he gets drunk when pay comes on Saturday evening but he confines his carousing to the rancheria in which he lives and keeps his family and when Monday morning comes around every man Is at his work. The Yaqui country from Buena Vista to the gulf has always been held as common property by the YaQuiS as a tribe and has never been portioned out to individuals as in other communities. The reason for this is found in the nature of the territory it. self. The fertility of the Yaqui delta depends entirely upon the overflow of the Yaqui River. In times of heavy rains the delta and adjacent river bot tom lands are covered by water or made moist by sub-irrigation, while in dry seasons the contrary is the cause. AS the territory is large, each individ- ual Yaqui can always find place suit able for cultivation for that particular season. Next season he may have to find moisture and other conditions nee essary. Now 1t is evident that if the land were not held in common and if every Yaqui had his own allotted piece
The St. Johns herald., 1899-10-14

some would possess suitable land for cultivation, while others would have dry lands, which would be worthless unless properly irrigated Much of the present trouble with the YaQuis arises from this fact The Mexican govern ment wants the Yaquis to divide their land so that every individual may pos sess his own plot.
 They Take to the Mountains.
 Colonel Martinez of the Mexican army, in an Interview on the Yaqui in- surrection, says: "The Indians have. been restless for some months past They object to American prospectors invading the mountains of their coun- try in quest of gold. We were expect ing an outbreak and were not unpre- pared. If we can cut off the Indians before they reach their strongholds, our work will be easy enough, but once in the mountains, conquest of the in- surgents will be a difficult problem. That was the trouble during the ten years war which ended two years ago, and cost Mexico much blood and t aa-
The St. Johns herald., 1899-10-14

and by confirmation of title by the Fling of Spain long before the Mexican government was thought of.
 When Mexico revOlted and establish ed her independence the Yaquis refused to recognize the new government and proclaimed their own independence and autonomy. Since then the effort to eb- tain from them recognition of the authority and law of Mexico has led to frequent collisions between them and the government troops; pitched battles have been fought and though generally beaten by superior forces
The St. Johns herald., 1899-10-14
Our Production of Copper.

The copper production of the United
 States in the year 1898 was the largest ever recorded in single year, or a to- tai of 535, 5,900,232 pounds of fine cop per, which was an increase over 1897 of 34,529,937 pounds, or 6.S per cent. The exports for the year amounted to 299, 765,05 pounds, or about 55 per cent. of the total production. During the current year the production has in- creased but very slightly, while the
The St. Johns herald., 1899-10-14
consumption has grown on a large scale, and an extraordinary increase in price has resulted.
Alcohol for Automohiles.

The majority of motor cars are TOW driven by petroleum, but French en- gineer recommends the use of alcohol instead of 1t, and motors are being al- tered so as to consume 1t. There is no fear of explosion with alcohol, and it Is said to be less costly than petroleum. We might therefore paraphrase the na- tional poet, and say, Put 1t In your cars to save your legs"
The St. Johns herald., 1899-10-14

Some people will be just mean enough to rejoice over the statement or the comte d'Astorga, from. whose fam- tly w. w. Astor claims descent, that there was no Jean Jacques dAstorga, who, a Huguenot, was born in France in l644 and fled to Germany later, pe- coming the founder of the American Astors. The count professes to be very sorry. He is aristocratic. but poor, and a cousinship with William Waldorf might've don't say it would-prove to his advantage.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-10-14

To no nation Is the opening of twen- ty-two of its ports and harbors by Japan more important than to thesUni- ted States. Until Commodore Perry an chored United States warships in a Japanese harbor in 1854 and practical ly compelled a treaty recognizing other nations, Japan had been closed to the rest of the world. During the last twenty years no nation has made greater progress than Japan. Now it is ambitious to be counted as one of the commercial nations.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-10-14

For nations, as for individuals enough Is as good as a feast. Appar- ently some Englishmen think so. for the House of Commons applauded the assertion, repeatedly made by mem bers of both parties, that no one desires to add another square mile to British territory.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-10-14

Perhaps if William Waldorf Astor had known elevation to the peerage was impossible he might not have De- come a naturalized Britisher; he IS ID the attitude of the man who has pur- chased a large-sized gold brick.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-10-14
.~4s%&s~~$ $-

Yaqui is by nature moral and indus trious and no complaint can be made against him on that account All over Sonora there are found Yaquis in time of peace working in the fields and in the mines and even as laborers on the railroads. In the latter capacity they are more valued and more trusted than any Mexieans, and we know of in- stances where railroad agents have preferred Yaqui section bosses to those of other natIonalities
The St. Johns herald., 1899-10-14

It is believed there is no law to nt the offense of that mother who Jagged a fast train in order to reach the ped side of the child she thought was dy- Ing
The St. Johns herald., 1899-10-14
No Occasion for It.

"Ma, we ain't got no company for dinner"
 "No, little Tommy"
 "Well, what makes you stick your little finger out when you drink ?''- Cigarette.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-10-14

The woman who married the lawyer who had won her suit for her probably thought she might just as well turn everything over to him in a lump.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-10-14

Some will say since the shoemakers and gIovers are going to form trusts, the nation may be further bound hand and foot in these things.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-10-14

Unfortunately the position Canada wants to take in this boundary dispute h CD our side of the line.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-10-14

To be popular, man must be kept so busy applauding the feats of others that he has no time to accomplish any, thing himself.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-10-14

An improved style of S2 bill is to be issued. but it will probably slip through the fingers as easily as the old kind.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-10-14

cities are filled with Bohemians, Hun. garians, Italians and other immigrants who do not value education, and can- not read and write.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-10-14

Gossip is a cartridge fired from the gun of idle curiosity.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-10-14

Ordinarily a business enterprise gets what it can individually, but when q trust is formed they get together.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-10-14
penerallY heat

and forced to retreat for the time. they have never yet been subdued. Already in the insurrection now on the Yaquis have routed forces of Mexican soldiers sent against them, and the government is mobilizing a large army to pit against the willy warriors. The Ya- quis' method of fighting is one taught them by nature and experience. When beaten they retreat into the almost in- accessible Businesses of the Sierra Ma dres, whither the government troops dare not follow them, and there await the departure of the troops, when they again descend and clear out the people who have established themselves on their lands. Though the population of the Yaqui country does not exceed 15.000, the male portion combine to make formidable foe, and the Mexi- can government anticipates a war of six months or more.
 story of the Y4quis.
 The Indians inhabit the valley of Sonora. They are good agriculturists when allowed to till their farms in peace, and their valley being rich and fertile has tempted covetous men with little regard for right to take adVan- tage of the peculiar features of the Mexican laws in regard to taking up land and filing claims on the Yaqui holdings. These. of course, under standing little of law and moved by sense of injustice, have resisted the nd out to enforce the law-that is, put the new claimant in possession of the Yaqui land taken under the law. The Yaquis have stood together and made good fights after their fashion. and when compelled to do so retired, only to return when the troops were with drawn 10 take forcible possession of their own again. In former inSurrec- tions they had but few firearms, but when the Sonora railroad to Guaymas was built they furnished large pro- portion of the labOrers, and with the money earned Winchester rifles were purchased, with which they have been much more formidable antagonists than before and are more conscious of their own strength.
 If the war Is continued until the Yaquis are pacified or exterminated dire disaster is sure to befall that beau tiful State. The extermination of the Yaqui Indians simply means the de struction of the manual labor in So- nora. The Yaquis are not only the best and most trusted workers in Sonora, but they constitute the largest number of able workingmen in that State. The
The St. Johns herald., 1899-10-14

Love laughs at locksmiths, but the majority of them marry just the same.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-10-14

The man who fails to find his level probably failed to do his level hea4,
The St. Johns herald., 1899-10-14

Possibly political combines are called tings because they are not square.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-10-14

Never resurrect an evil that has been fairly buried.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-10-14

sure The Indians retreated to the mountains. where they could not be pursued, and at every favorable oppor- tunity swooped down upon the troops or assailed neighboring villages, mur-