davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19
His Opinion.

The woman who speaks her mind freely on all occasions had been telling the sad eyed stranger to whom she had been introduced what she thought of MormOnism. Her remarks were elo- quent and acrimonious She had flow of language which never failed and was fortified with facts which could not be refuted. He listened patiently till she had finished and then said meekly, "Yes. madam; I'm Mormon myself.
 'I don't care." she exclaimed, though her face reddened little. "A man ought to be satisfied with marry ing one woman to wait on him and bs browbeaten by him"
 ''I don't browbeat anybody" he re- sponded repro0chfully.
 "It doesn't make any difference whether you do or not. No man has any business to marry two wives
 'Iagree with you perfectly. madam.
 ''Hal You admit it. ,"
 "Yes'm; no man ought to have two wives. If he takes more than one. he ought to stick to odd numbers and have three. five or seven. It obviates the ne- cessity of mans mixing in. In case of family dispute it provides for 8 deciding vote and prevents deadlock. !" Washington Star.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19
CnnRTlInnfiOn.

The bacillus of tuberculosis finds, in. deed, the most favorable conditions for its existence in the squalor of crowded slums, in the foul atmosphere of dusty
 workshops, in close courts and alleys, and in damp, dark dwellings where the sunlight never penetrates and where
 there Is not thorough ventilation, says the Fortnightly Review. But 1t may thrive also in places where sanitary science has done it's best. Even in this present age of sanitary grace cOnsump- ton works frightful havoc among man. kind, destroying far more lives than typhoid fever, diphtheria, scarlatina, measles, small pOX, cholera and all other epidemic scOurges put together. In q report on tuberculosis recently presented to the Academic de Medicine by a committee appointed to study the question the number of deaths caused in France every year by tuberculosis is given as 150,000.
 It is computed that, taking all forms of tuberculosis together, one-fOurth of each generation in France is attacked and one-siXth is killed by it. According to high authority, Prof. vOn Leyden, of Berlin, the mortality from cOnsump- tion alone in the whole of Europe is not less than 100000 year. The ant nual mortality in the United Stated from tuberculosis in its various formA is 163, ,5OO, or nearly 45O day. Thesq figures represent only the actual de of life caused by this terrible scourge. Who can estimate the amount of suffering for which 1t Is responsible besides? It is needless to speak of the expense which it entails not only on in, dividuals but on the community.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19

In the first four months of this year, in the single State of New Jersey, there were incorporated companies with an aggregate capital equal in amount to the entire mass of money of all kinds in circulation in the United States. Much of that capital may properly be in the form of land, buildings, ma chinery, etc, but making all allow anceS for that fact, it is difficult to es- cape the belief that large proportion of the so-called capital has no exist ence other than on paper; that it is, in Wall street parlance, nothing but "watered stock" And water is a poor foundation for prosperous industry.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19
SPAIN s LITTLE HELL
Beautiful Island that Is a Terribl
 Prison Colony.

Prison AOlOnys
 Spain's rule, no matter where 1t has been exercised, has always been mark ed by atrocities that would not be coun- tenanced by any civilized nation. Now that Cuba and the Philippines have been taken from her she is forced to confine her cruelties to the few small islands that are left.
 One of these, Fernando Pc, an island lying off the coast of the Dutch Kane runs, just where the west coast of Africa stopping in its eastward curve turns to the south again, seems to have been made the object of all the cruelties of which Spain is past master.
 This island is one of the most beauti- full, and at the same time one or the most unhealthful, in the world. There fore, it has been chosen by Spain as fit place to send her exiled political prisoners.
 When, not very long ago, the Spanish ship Larache was reported at the Canaries bound for Fernando Pc with 300 Filipino prisoners on board, those who knew of the horrors of the island shuddered at the thought of the i'm prisOnment and the almost certain death which they would be forced to undergo.
 While Spain was fighting the insur- gents in Cuba and the Philippines she sent a batch of 271 Cubans and Fili- pinos to Fernando Pc. In the course of the last two years, of this 271 191 have died, forty-six have been pardon ed, and thirty-seven still remain pris- oners on the island.
 Of these survivors fifteen are fed by the Government, receiving two cups of rice and little meat each day. The others have to get their food the best way they can.
 The 300 Filipinos who have now been added to the island cOnVicts had been prisoners in Spain, or in some of the islands belonging to her near her coast before they were sent out to "Spain's Little He'll" They were evidently sent to Fernando Pc with the idea that in that far-off place they would be so lost  to the world that no questions would be asked as to what had become of them.
 At Fernando Pc the cOnvicts are huddled together in a miserable mass, men, women and children being thrown together indiscriminately, without food. without water, without any ventilation and with nothing but misery and squalor staring them in the face. It Is small wonder that so many of them are taken with the fever and die. The wonder is that any of them escape.
 Spain keeps a force of soldiers on the island, recruiting partly from Spanish prisons. They are of the same class as the guerrillas whose bloody work in Cuba brought disgrace on the Spanish Philadelphia Press.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19
Stevenson and the Beepar,

An American who visited the Steven. sons at Samoa relates that the Samo- ans have a practice of begging. They boldly ask for whatever they may covet wherever it may be found. The novelist became tired of this practice, and therefore said one day to a Sa- moan friend who had acquired from him a necktie, handkerchief, and some other trinket, ''Is there anything else you wantY"
 The Samoan made nasty survey of the room.
 "There is the piano." suggested MT. Stevenson, ironically.
 'Yes," replied the native, "I know, but" he added, apologetically, q don't know how to play Saturday Even ing Post.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19
INTERESTING EXPERIMENT.
Find Out Which One of Your Feet
 Walks the Faster.


 You may think this is a very silly question to ask, but is 1t? There is no catch about It. It is a simple, de monstrable fact which you can prove to your own satisfaction in very few minutes.
 If you will take any pavement that Is clear of other pedestrians, so that there shall be no interference, and walk briskly in the center, you will find that before you have gone 100 yards you will have veered very much to one side. You must not make any conscious effort, of course, to keep in the center, or you may do it, but if you will think of something and en- deavor to walk naturally 1t is 100 to you cannot keep a direct line.
 The explanation of this lies in the peculiarity of one foot to walk faster than the other. Or, to be more cor rect, perhaps 1t should be said that one leg takes a longer stride than the other, and this, combined with the quicker movement, causes one to walk more to one side than the other.
 It is well known, for instance, that if one be lost in the woods the tend ency is to walk in a circle and even tually to return about to the starting point This demonstrates the fact also that one foot walks faster than the other.
 You can try an interesting expert ment in this way if you will place two stakes in the lawn about eight feet apart and then stand off about 60 feet from them, allow yourself to be blindfolded and endeavor to walk between them. You will find 1t an all most impossible task, because one foot will go a bit faster than the other, either to the right or left. Now, which enc of your feet walks faster than the Other?-Kansas City Times
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19

At the age of 20 Queen Victoria was married to Prince Albert, and at 42 was left widow. Now, at 80, she has devoted what she regards as her last official visit to the capital of her en- pire to the task of dedicating to the Prince COnsort's memory the final and crowning building of that South Ken sington museum which he founded, and which as she decrees, is henceforth to be known as the Victoria and Albert Museum. Her career, thus outlined, presents an example of wifely con- stancy and devotion which would be admirable in any walk of life, and which has been by no means common among royal folk. It is her supreme distinction that she has never let the wife, the mother and the woman be lost in the mere queen.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19

Tn records of comparative meteor ology show that in the United States there are in a year. five hundred hours more of sunshine than in fair-Skied Italy, and that Spain gets more than we. But such general statements hide many particulars, since hardly any two localities are alike, the atmospher- ic conditions being affected by every mountain, valley, lake or plain, and coast climates are modified by the ocean and its currents. In Southern California the annual rainfall rarely exceeds twelve inches; at San Fran cisco it reaches twenty-five; forther north it increases till in Oregon and Washington it amounts to seventy or eighty, and the inhabitants are joking ly said to be web-footed.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19
Legend of Drug.

Chinese herbs usually have some legend connected with them to illus trate their virtues, and this is the story connected with the Flaw" herb: Flaw Show Woo was very good, very de vout and very old man. One day he was accused of stealing the affections of his brothers wife and was sent to prison for trial He became very hun gry and prayed to the gods as became 9 man of his great piety. During the night bush sprang up through the floor of his dungeon, and in the morn ing the famished man ate the leaves. Days went by while he was waiting out his scanty diet with the leaves of the bush. When he was taken into court for trial the officers exclaimed: "This is not the man who was arrest ed and confined in the cell. The cul- prit Is an old man; this is a young man."
 Sure enough flaw had become a young man to all appearances again. He was innocent of the charge against him, and when released by the judge Flaw told him the story of the little plant that had grown up in his cell and how he had eaten the leaves.
 The officials dug up the shrub and presented 1t to the emperor His fami- ly for many years was the only one that had the privilege of eating the sacred leaves. But as time passed slips were cut from it and sent through the kingdom. and now the commOnest coolie may eat of the wonderful Flaw plant and renew his youth if he pos sesses enough money
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19
ThOu-Ing.

To persons of lesser rank one saith "You," without thou-ing anybody. be it not some little child. and that thou vert much move aged and that the GUS tome itself amongst the meer courteous and better bred were to speak in such manner. What concerneth familiar friends, amongst them the custome doth comport in certain places that they ''Thou" one another more freely, in other places one's more reserved
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19

concealment was because there was a popular prejudice against banks. A tank was built. hollow logs iaid for pipes, and water was distributed until 1S40. Tn order to keep its charter this great banking company which still exists. is to-day obliged to pump water from its ancient tank. 4 pitcherful is always in evidence at its annual meet ings, and a committee solemnly re- ports that no applications for water have been refused. The story has its humorous side, but it illustrates the legacy of pretence and useless effort which roundabout methods always en- tail. Aaron Burr's mode of seeking one object under cover of another has many followers, but in politics or so- ciety or in individual relations it can never be commended and seldom ex' cused.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19
Mrs. Howe as a Cuban Patriot.

Mrs. Julia Ward Howe was one of the pioneers in the struggle for Cuban independence. She visited Cuba in 1857, and while there severely criti- cised the Spanish authorities for their methods. After her return she de- scribed her experience in a book en- titled "A Trip to Cuba," which was promptly prohibited from circulation in Spanish countries by the Spanish censor. So strong was the official feeling against the work that about two hundred Cubans who were found with the book in their possession were severely punished. Since the late war this book has received distinct boom. and the few copies in existence have become so popular that Cuban pub fisher is considering the adviSability of bringing out new edition in Spanish. Saturday Evening Post.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19
Assurance Doublx Sure.

'YOu are all right" said the doctor after he had gone through with the regulation humping and listening with his patient. ''Not trace of heart dis ease. Fifteen dollars, please"
 The patient drew a long breath and remarked:
 'I am sure now have no heart dis ease; if had I should have dropped dead when you mentioned your fee."- Boston COmmercial-B
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19
IT SEEMED LIKE MAGIC.
How the High Glass Expert Picked
 Out the old Masters.

Out the OI0 Masters.
 Speaking of old pictures" said a New Orleans dealer, ''it is very inter- esting to see a really high class Euro pean expert making an examination. The extent and diversity of the infor- nation of such men are something as- tonishing. Some years ago spent a couple of days with a gentleman who Is recognized as one of the foremost connoisseurs of Paris. We visited sev- eral country places which contained pictures said to be of great value, and In all he inspected upward of two doz- en canvaSes.
 'In every instance he settled the questions of date, period and painter beyond allreasonable doubt. The warp and wool of the canvas, the wood composing the backing, the nature of the bOrings made by worms, the work manship of the Jacks, the character of the pigment and certain minute pecul- iarities in the mounting were all like so many pages of print to him., He was intimately acquainted with the style of hundreds of different artists, the models they used, the colors they most affected, their tricks of compost ton and their peculiar methods of ex- pressing the effects of light and shade.
 ''To an outsider it seemed like magic. A copy he would say, for instance. after swift glance at painting. It was made by So-and-sO, a pupil, who had very much the style of his master. The date Is about (here he would name it with infallible accuracy, and If you clean that left hand corner I dare say you will find the signature in vermiliOn.' In several cases he was fully borne out by documents in pos session of the owner, and in all he was sustained by circumstantial evidence. He told me very mOdestly that he had devoted 40 years to the close study of his profession and was just beginning to apprehend dimly how little he knew" "- New Orleans Times-Demo- Crat
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19

The wireless telephone follows hard upon wireless telegraphy. There is room for both and also for the wire telegraph and wire telephone. The lat ter two may be bit oldfashioned, but the age is said to be materialistic and somehow to most people the visible wire makes electricity a shade less un- canny when one stops to think about it.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19
The Other Side of the Story.


 Singleton-What's the trouble, old man; you look all broke up.
 Wederly-YOu would doubtless look broke up, too, if you had mother-in- law like mine. and she
 Singleton-Ha! The old, old story; she's coming to spend few weeks with you, I suppose
 Wederly (sadly)-No; on the con trary, she has been with us for two months, and to-day she was compelled to return home. She nursed my wife through bad case of fever, took care of the baby, attended to the household duties, mended my clothes and loaned me $5 on three different occasions. Oh, 1 tell you that woman Is an earthly angel if there ever was one.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19
Monks' Feastines.

The old stories of the monks high feasting are now said to be libels. In voices of the stores in their store houses exist to-day, and all the food was of the plainest kind-quantities of herring and stock fish Ia sort of cod sent from Ireland), bacon, salt beef pease meal-always coarse stuff fo. puddings-rye and lard.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19

American bridge builders recently secured a contract to build the bridge over the Atbara, and the Phoenix Bridge Company has been given a con tract to build a steel bridge of sever spans for the Imperial Railway ot Japan. The bridge will be one of the finest of the kind ever built. The same company is building bridges for Rus sia in Siberia.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19
Certain Indications.

Hotel Manager-I see you have given our finest suite of rooms to a man nam ed Bilkins. Are you sure he can pay the charges?
 Clerk-Yes; he's rich enough.
 Manager-How do you know?
 Clerk-He is old and ugly, and his wife is young and pretty.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19

Dewey's fame is now secure beyond a doubt. First he wen a great naval victory without losing man; next a 6-cent cigar was named after him, and now the Dewey nutmeg grater has been placed upon the market. It Is glorious to be grate.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19
The Spring Exhibit.

Flows this? Here's picture en- tered without any title."
 'Yes; the young woman who painted it said she wouldn't name 1t until she found out what the public thought 1t was"
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19
Royal Typewriter.

The Queen of England and the Czar of Russia own beautiful typewriters of white enamel and gold, with keys of ivory. The Queen Regent of Spain is said to use one for her correspondence. In so ceremonious court as that of Spain, where phrases are long and weighty, it must be welcome labor. ga Uor
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19
The Problem Solved.

Bank President-Our cashier will sever his connection with us the first of the year and I would like to give young Pennington the position, but I know absolutely nothing of his charac- ter and family connections.
 Director-Well, why not persuade him to become a candidate for some polit. teal office this fall?
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19

It speaks volumes for the country's Interest in that New York kidnapping, that while the national heart can stand big troubles at times, how the lit tie ones move it at others.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19
Billions in Gold.

American engineers estimate that the ore in sight in the South African gold district called the Rand, contains about $4,OO0,000,000 worth of the precious metal. But unless more rapid methods of production are employed, it will re- quire fifty years to put this gold into circulation and use.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19
Must Be More sneciflc.

Stranger-Do you always have this kind of weather here in spring?
 Native-Do you mean the weather we are having at this moment or the kind we had five minutes ago?-Chicago Tribune.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19
How She Received Him.

Harry-I suppose your wife received you with open arms last night, even If you were rather late?
 Dick-Well, not exactly; but she had her hands open. I remember that dis tinctly, with the fingers spread apart and crooked.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19
A Friendly Tin.

Young AuthOr-Tell me frankly what you think of the manuscript of my book. I want to get it in shape for publication, as 1 have several other irons in the fire.
 Critical Friend-Well, that being the case I would advise you to use the manuscript for fuel. It might at least help to heat the other irons.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19
Of Course He ShouIdn't.

The Dear Girl-I am really aston ished to hear you advance the prOposi- tion that child should not be correct ed in the presence of strangers.
 The Savage BachelOr-He should not be, because he should never be in the presence of strangers; that's why Exchange.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19

It is a spectacle calculated to make a a thinking man pause when he sees the great Christian powers of Europe calm ly discussing the partition of China as matter of course.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19
Hia DufY.

Binks-New man in your office, I see! Looks like prize fighter!
 Whistles my sleeping partner. Binks-Eh? Does he foot the bills? Winks-No. He foots the collectors. Boston Globe.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19
He couldn't stand the strain.-New Work World
Two Ways of Looking at It.

'That's a fine. solid baby of yours, Middleton" said friend who was ad- miring the first baby.
 Do you think he's solid?" asked Mid dleton, rather disconsolately; it seems to me as if he were all holler. r."-Stray Stories.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19
Wasn't in the Mood.

q thought you intended to preach on the evils of profanity this morning." |" said the minister's wife after the ser vice. "Why did you change your mind"
 'I dropped my collar button while dressing for church, my dear," replied the good man, "and didn't feel that I could conscientiously do the subject justice."
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19

Nicola Tesla, the electrician, Is mak- ing so many wonderful invention claims people are beginning to notice that his last name has just as many letters in it as Keely
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19
Well. WeIl.

Stubb- They say that famous marine artist was once plain farmers boy. wonder where he developed his talenti
 Penn Probably drawing water down on the farm.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19
Not Up to Date.

Parson-Little boys who swear never grow up to be great men.
 Kid-Gwan! I guess yer hain't read de history of de war wit Spain.-New York Journal.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19

The Anneke Jans heirs recently held their annual convention and adopted resolutions. One of these days the Anneke Jans vote is likely to be fac tor in American politics.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19

London has not yet been electrified to the extent of building a single trol- ley line. In this respect the city of Pekin can give London a lesson in civil f1afiou
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19

Just one hundred years ago the Man haitian company of New York City was incorporated by Aaron Burr. It's ostensible purpose was to supply the city with water. Its real purpose was to open a bank. The reason for the
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19
Office Sfnniditx.

"Our typewriter is going to leave"
 What is the matter?"
 ''She says she wants a position with an employer who has sense enough to see when she's fixed up to go to the matinee"
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19
Eirat Family.

Miss Primm-Perhaps you wouldn't think that 1 belong to one of the first families?
 MT. Si1hm-Indeed I would, then Fact is I'd take you to be the eldest daughter of Shem
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19
Not Amusing to Him.

Jones-Its very amusing to see those women across the street looking at the bonnets in that window.
 BrOwn-Amusing? Why, that's my wife and daughter.-Harlem Life.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19
Couidu't Tell.

How long have you been out of Work?'
 "Well, l don't hardly know, exact ly, ma'am. You see, de record of me birth was lost."-New York Journal.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19

Emperor William of Germany ad- vocares the use of soap. and may now expect the anarchists to indulge in open hostility to him.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19
A Natural Deduction.

Long-YOu look out of sorts this morning, old man; what's wrong?
 Short-Family troubles.
 Long-Pm sorry to hear that. Moth ing serious, I hope.
 Short-I'm afraid 1t is. I had a mis- understanding with my rich uncle last night.
 Long-Indeed! Did you lose the ticket?
The St. Johns herald., 1899-08-19

That ants eat the paper money in the Philippines is only a corroboratiOn of the fact that it's the little things that make the money go.