davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-26

A young woman inIast Sundays Eagle, by
n article entitled How Men Propose"
las brought out more information on the
.ubject. Two communications have been
received. One Is by young woman not
married; the other by woman who is.
The first communication is as follows:
Now, that mercury, ike truth crushed
20 earth, has risen again and has convert
Sd the contents of my ink bottle from a
solid TO a fluid state, and the thoughts in
ny brain begin 10 percolate downward
downward and finally appear represented
IN old-fa shioned ink black at the tip OF my
steel stub which Is held in my good thaw-
ad-out right hand-now that these things
have come to pass, I feel in duty bound
10 add q few remarks to the short dis
course that appeared in last Sundays
Eagle, setting forth the ways and man
ners Of the unIoying lover who does all
but propose. As 70 the genus homo, species
amor. the woods are full Of them, 50 full
that they've run over and swamped the
highways, the byways. the cities and che
hamlets throughout this broad land. The
sort girls run up oftenest against and
greet unconsciously with a knowing smile,
IS he who works the PIatonic racket.
His conceit Is something colossal, but the
beauty Of ii is, he doesn't know ii. He
irnOcently believes that every girl who
smiles warm smiles at him and ''jolues
him along" is head over heels in love
with him. II she isn't now, she viii be in
just about a minute. 50 she might as well
say her prayers. Another beauty IN mis-
character IS the degree to which his con-
science has been cultivated. Soon after
meeting her he'u hasten TO explain that
he's engaged 10 a girl away off somewhere
or something 10 that effect so that if any
false hopes are fostered in her heart, Il
viii not be his fault. Than he goes in to
work the Platonic business ard ne is ever
ready 20 work It good and hard al any
Old time Of the day or night, but especially
Is ne fond Of working it when its thread
baroness is glimmered over by the soft
white moonlight, when he and she may
be strolling down the avenue, he bending
over her in a lovery hover and saying in
aoneyed accents. From the very first We
have been the best Of friends-you and I.
Do you know I had lost all faith in Pla-
tonic friendship until met you, but with
you, I believe such a condition is posi-
be" Very probable" she answers snil-
ing turning her face from the proximity
OF his-she may have seen the Ike of nm
before. Things go on in a warm sort of
way under the cloak Of friendship until
Some night he Will appear with a gloomy
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-26

prising ne reIiaquished hts hold. then
showed myself along the keyboard and
stood some four feet away from him. and
dreadfully red and painting said with an
Indignation which was humorous 10 nv
SET even then:
Mr.. BrOwnr
him swallow twice, hard And as
seemed TO take this for an additional az
front again exclaimed:
Mr.. Brown"
He walked across the room. examined
the brocads on q chair with great circum-
spect and began humming 10 himself in a
dreadfully artificial wav.
More in a sympathetic anxiety 20 bring
a crisis about. again exclaimed in a per-
fectly ridiculous way am nox convinced:
Mr.. Brown
He faced me and asked: You viii for
get?
Il know nothing 10 equal a young girls
imperiousness in such a situation ! took
on ny heaviest ,ook OF contempt and said
Iowly and firmly: Yes That ended Mr.
Brown.
Proposal No. al was older now. The
man who was making love 70 me was OF
my own age. Was fascinated with him
for many ressOns-temperame ! think
at the bottom OF the whole thing and 50
far inex?Iieable. He had been coming with
regularity no; only. but with irreEuiarity.
dropping in nights when least expected,
and finding some other man there, 10 hts
keen delight. think he was over-confi-
dent. But I liked that I cannot tell
why liked the way be put other men
to rout- would even help him DO II. by
those little preferences in the way OF
glances and questions in which every wO-
man in my position discrirninates between
men and against them and in favor OF
them
The night he proposed was one OF his ir-
regular visits. I shook hands with him
at the door. but ne did rot hold on as
was his wont. but plunked his hat and
coat down in a heap on the table. and said
with most astounding abruptness: Can 1
smoker He didn't say May To-
II assented. He took out a cigar. bit
the end OF and took an interminabls
time holding the match TO the end OF the
cigar. and watched the smoke with an sx-
elusive and reflective solitude which per
picked me and yet made me smile. too.
- Play something. he finally COM
manded
81 am too tired said. with a vounS
woman's natural oostinacy-
Go on he said. Play something.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-26

It has been a warm week in court circles
OF the High School rhe past week Harry
Lii was found guilty of canicide in the
first degree. Professor Vernon was Judge
Harry LII was selected as defendant. The
lawyers for the defense were Harry STAN
ley. Fred Williams and Eugene Wallace.
Those for the prosecution, Charles Hat
ton, Thad Summit and Mr. Tucker. The
Judge called the first case and the charge
read that Harry Lii had with malice
aforethought with poison and club kill
ed a beautiful water spaniel with an Arc
tic nose. said dog aforesaid his metes.
bounds and appurtensnces belonging to
Charles HattOn, his SUCCESSORS, heirs and
assigns
The jury for the High School case were:
Ralph Bowdish. Bert McKibbsn. Clarence
Burrows. Harvey Schollenberger. Clyde
Lovesy, Clarence Biting. Roscoe Riggs,
LLovesy, Clarence Biting. Roscoe Riggs,
Lock Davidson and John Stark
These were the instructions to the law
yers. concerning their pleas. as quoted
from Article 1910 OF the Indiana statutes
OF %:
Let your extemporaneous discantings
and unprecedented expectations have in
telligibility and veracIous vivacity. with
out rhodomontade or thrasonical bombast.
sedulously avoid all polysyllabic profun-
dirty, psittaceous vacuity. ventriloqual YER
bosity and vandiloquent rapidly: shun
double entendres, prurent jocosity and
pestiferous profanity. Obecurrent or ap-
parent"
The judge commanded the bsnin 70 pro-
duce the prisoner. The prisoner came in
and the jury was selected after several
scores had been thrown out on writs OF
error. epluribusunums and peremptory
challenges.
Sheriff Oueus Baldwin was called to the
stand. He testified ne had found a bunch
Of keys on the prisoner with II. s. marked
on them.
This didn't have anything 70 do with
the dog 50 the interest on this point was
intense
@ What hour Of he day did you ind
these keys?
A Al o'clock.
Q. Where?
A. In the back yard
Q. In whose back yard?
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-26

But we really started out D tell the
story that Budd, Oliver Budd Of Cheney.
told us on that afternoon. In rambling
around we were trying to lind two or thrce
OF the real old settlers. and yet fairy
young men. who live out in the couElsrv.
We knew that they had made drive Of
some fifteen miles to attend the meeting
and that the air was bracing, in fact
chilly, and that perhaps We might find
them at some place which could Tot strict
ly be considered a proper place in which
to organize a good Temp,ars lodge, and
We did, and while having a cnar with
them. gentleman whom I knew well n
the early settlement of the country and
but whom 1 had forgotten, stepped up ami
said that ne believed he ought 10 Join The
old settlers: that he was loWn mere in
81. knowing that that was prior II the
time Of the first settlement Of this coun-
try we asked him TO tell the story aow he
came 70 be here at that time. lie had.
however, prior TO our reTIest, made the
statement that he had noticed in tha pa
pers that Joe Low had nee 1 killed out at
Denver, and he remarked that Joe was
with him on that trip. he SAID that IN the
fan Of 1867 he was a member of the Sew
e1th United States cavalry regiment
Which was located for time at For-
Hcrper up on the Union Pacific railroad
This was Clusters famous regiment.
which was afterwards almost entirely de-
stroyed in bat-'e. Bud SAID Jhal the
Cheyennes who were then down in The
territory south of here hai s5ar.ea north
10 clean up the K2Ws Who were then liv-
ing up near Council Grove; that two COM
panies of this regiment were sent down
here 10 intercept them; that they were
under The command OF Captain Beuteen:
that one Of their camping places was
over in Riverside Park; that they STAYED
there for couple Of days. and that While
the captain with a portion OF the COM
mand started south on the west side OF the
Arkansas river. skirting along the river
down through what is now known as Va
co township, crossing the river down near
Derby, and back up through wnat is now
known as Rockford and Gypsum town
ships, the rest OF the comm and made some
nets out Of gunny sacks and caught some
hsh in the Little River. which would
weigh from . 10 40 pounds; that rhe river
was literally alive with FISH. He says that
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-26

course. and with Il incidentally. a little
love which he gets also. Of course. and
how it grows and grows and grows. All,
dearie," he whispers, Its suQh a bless
ing To me that you love me. It's such an
fnspiration 70 me in my work TO believe
there is one who thinks always OF me-"
Than perhaps, he'll slip pretty ring on
her Anger Not an engagement ne II
explain but simply token OF my deep
love for YOU 1 don't wish TO be engaged
Just vet not until I'm ready 10 be mar
ried, for l tell you, dear, after man
been engaged seven times, as have, 1t be-
gins 10 mean little 10 him" If she trusts
and believes him, he'll soon begin TO notice
in her growing tastes for domesticlty and
when she shows him with much pride,
rows and rows Of glasses Of jelly she has
put I'D all by herself-he confesses 10 q
friend that IL has scared him out ard in
a day or two, he'll be writing her little
note ending all things, but he says his
heart is broken n the writing. Perhaps
she'll write him q little wondering. plead
ing note, but 10 no avail What he has
said is final Then her heart is broken, If
she is II II she s q. her faith in man
is forever blasted II she's 81. then heaven
pity and help her.
Sometimes there IS the married iirt, who
were he not married would Strew the path
way of the maiden ne addresses with acres
and acres Of thornless roses; ne would
He starts as If called from another world.
burn incense at her feet, and many rich
gifts would he bestow upon her. What's
more, he'd kill every rival in sight. He
watches her every movement in rapt adj
miration He gazes often into her eyes and
admires her hair and murmurs as though
reluctantly: Beautiful, beautiful" then
he wonders audibly if il is as soft 60 the
touch as to the sight. Stand back, little
girl, his touch may be harmless, but you
don't want it.
But after all, Cupid's bow isn't always
out of joint There do exist in the world
even in Kansas-men whose hearts are
better than mere receptacles for contribut-
ed feminine alteration, whose capability
Of feeling extends beyond self. whose in
as great as interest in their own whose
idea OF woman makes her sacred from
tri1ing frivolties especially in matters OF
love, and whose love would mean not only
affection, pure and unbounded, but the
power to sacrifice self-aye, even beyond
the portals Of matrimony! An old. old man
once said 10 a very young girl, My dear,
never allow yourself 10 De married 10 any
man who IS not your friend" All" re-
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-26

PERFECTLY BUILT MANSION
On North Lawrence avenue, almost at
the end OF the residence portion. close To
Twenty-first street, Is fire. large. we'll
built. substantial homes read. which to
the hundreds OF travellers passing. either
out for pleasant drive or on business.
does not appear especially remarkable.
Yet as a matter OF fact this house. entire
y frame and not imposing in architect
IRE. beans most remarkable record IN its
composition and material. Ten years ago
me builder was n the lumber business in
this city. also having branch yards all
over Kansas. He was a successful lun-
Der merchant and had been IN this COM
mercial pursuit Tor many years. A.
though he furnished the material % erect
many score Of elegant residences he had
never owned one himself He had always
IL out. Nevertheless he had for twenty
years been dreaming over the time when
he would be the proud owner % a finely
constructed mansion. and with that end
il view he had al these years been 1uie.-
y laying 10 one side the best assorted
ends Of his stock. Every invoice OF Lou-
AsiaDa cypress, Tennessee pine. Ore<o1
shingles. or other sectional famed tiuhers
first met with his inspection and survey.
Any stick OF timber which waS wholly
sound. no matter about It's dimensions.
was cUlled out % The shipment and laid
away n a specially arranged shed in a
remote corner Of the yards. For twenty
years he kept rhis up Any piece Of TIM
''- absolutely perfect and without knots
or kEot holes was placed Away n his col
lection BY The tine The boom reached
Wichita in lSS7 be had a me. wei assorted
collection II choice timoe-s. and he va
cant lot o. the extreme residence end OF
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-26

They receptioaed Us and banqueted Is
Without restraint or rule.
And as we viewed the building
The walls rang with the cheer:
WHAT'S the matter with Delaney?"
Hes all right; he's here"
Likewise "F'weddie" was a hero
He Was the ladies man
He rushed a fellows sweetheart,
And the fellow rushed the can.
We then went on 70 Woodward.
To attend the great convention.
And al the things We saw and id
We cant begin 70 mention.
Some streets We roamed b daylight.
tAnd others roamed at night
We heard the big-aorned baIls z-roa-fug
And saw q game-cock fight
Ard did we touch the bother
on. no, I do not think,
Except that Fveddis made enc brave
attempt,
AID il turned him almost pix
Il was a glorious tine. sir.
Especially the last grand ball.
Where ~ trippad the Hgat fantastic
N Al oTsrcroz7.ed hall
But ne have returned. 0 Clarence.
Our eyes al bloocsaot ard red.
VITA ouI footsteps weak and wo55.Inx
And a ha1daSe round our head
50 take gs II ard comfort u.
And do not trea< - bad.
Ard next tine Ee 80 % Woodward
Wen sake y0u sioug. Ky lad
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-26
AN EARLY CAMP.

An old settler writes TO the Eagle: We
spent the afternoon Of the 22d mingling
with the old settlers Of this county. They
have an association which has had an ex-
istence for the past twenty years and i
holds its annual meetings on Washington's
birthday L is an incorporated body hav-
Ing no particular and specified sum for
capital stock, as a matter of fact its cap
itaI stock is good fellowship. It certainly
has none of the attributes of the octopus
about il; just who the charter members
were we have forgotten but We think thar
It had its original starting out in life one
afternoon up at. the old fair ground, when
that association held its annual meets on
Its grounds which were then north of Sew
enteenth street and Just back of the resi-
dence Of Mr.. Clapp. Munger. Jewett, Tn
Gle Horace Carpenter and some others who
were up there that afternoon watching the
horses and incidentally having a good
lime conceived the idea that it would be
good thing to perpetuate the memories
and incidents OF the early settlement of
This county by having an organization Of
his character. and so the meetings of the
association had been held annually for
many years and for az least fifteen Gears
we're very largely attended and were con-
sidered one OF the affairs OF the county
at which everybody, new as we'll as old
settlers, liked to be present. The exer-
Uses generally consisted OF short address,
IS. songs music and story telling, and by
the way it was at one OF these meetings
1 year or two ago. perhaps three years
ago that Governor Stanley made a speech
which went over the state and attracted
considerable attention. His subject was
Wichita and her critics at home and over
he state. Il was a splendid tribute to
Wichita enterprise and TO the earlier set
Hers Of the country. We think that II
helped him afterwards when he became
candidate for the nomination at the Re
publican convention. This old settlers as
ISOLATION had as a matter OF fact. in the
past, furnished quite number of men
who have a good deal 70 DO politically and
otherwise in managing the affairs of this
county and state. Among some Of the or
ators Of these occasions have been James
R Mead who always had a fund Of in
teresting talk about the Indian. For
many years while a young man he was
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-26

past pretty cottage homes and see all the
cosiness within and imagine that il might
De mine-and yours, I tell yOu-it-it-'
Nine cases out Of ten, it is all a joke. or
else a huge bluff on the part Of the bache-
Tor. If the first, it can be accepted as
such; if the latter. and the girl is bold
enough. she can have a little fun Of her
own on the side. She can take up the cot
tage idea and work It TO such razzle-
dazzle finish as 10 scare the cherubic faced
little bachalor so badly that he'll almost
wither up and blow away before her
laughing eyes.
Then, again, there is the man who loves
deeply, darby, desperately. who can
scarcely live outside the presence of his
sweetheart, who is jealous Of every other
man in sight or possibly in mind OF the
maiden. One beautiful spring day, they
make take an early afternoon walk-say
to the Little river. and so they stand
under the shade of tree that bends, to
whisper airy nothings TO the pebbles and
ripples in the stream, ne tell her Of ali
the love in his heart for her "You have
loved before" she says. Il have thought
SO az times" he answers, ''but never ike
this.' Tell me-" he goes on, tell me-
that you love me. Tel me the sweet
words only once-once for all the times
I've told them TO you" He has thrown
his hat on the ground in his excitement,
he comes nearer and clasps both her
hands in his, he showers kisses upon them
her hands. not his-his eyes burn an
intense fire, but harki a carriage is ap-
preaching. He drops her hands and they
both stand looking across the stream until
long after the carriage has passed. Sud-
most threateningly, tell me that you love
me-" She bows her head-she is tempted
10 enter into the passing spirit of the
scene, but as he would enfold her in his
arms, she stands back and says quietly.
I don't believe in-iu love" Such a shock
as it is TO his sensitive nature He almost
staggers under The blow. His face is the
composite picture of despair, anger. sor-
row. As she watches him Wonderingly
she notices a spider come dipping gently
down by a slender thread OF web from
the branch Of the tree above them. She
gazes at it closely until it alights on his
shoulder. then she tells him it is there
He picks the spider up slowly and gently
drops it 10 the ground, saying half 10 him
self and half to her. "Nothing-nothing in
this world 10 love me but-a-spider" And
she doesn't laugh. His acting is superb.
Then there is the man who is eternally
craving sympathy-from some girl, of
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-26
WICHITA TEN YEARS AGO.

The Master Plumbers q Ire STATE net
- Gsr7is.d opera house
George Leonard south, a s.zdszt Il Gar
fed from Gzlena died here
So-os.s u Mex York zcco-ded HTsztia
a delegate % rs tEenry-a-st anniversary.
considered great honor.
johnson. the eongrsszzan frsn Indiana
made Sensational soeecs II re aoass-
He ID TIE same thing lzss Friday after
a0cz
The LaE ard Order LesEs~ bid bag
meeting Al Gzrhsl1 % Iske steps icEars
a participation II re eiee-soa- Farmer
Dooliftie vas pressn;. ard n a sp@ecA d.
Aee ihe Lssg1s. causing n1ea excitement
AEs. Pred sEyths sateEtzl1es .. Ms
Luz Psck q Osaxozh- W.zc5nsin-
Tas Wicnss4 Bar sssoeiafisa hs'a a
meeting = Fots SIS p-sfs-sacs f9E re nsE
fusxs o re cou-t c. c5za0z asszs- TIE
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-26

A. I don't remember,
.. Where
A. From MS coat pocket.
Q. Would they attract attention In the
coat pocket?
A Not more than any other pocket
Sheriff was then ordered committed until
he could tell what II. 5. stood for.
Jack Richardson was put upon the wit
ness stand and Identified the keys as once
belonging to mis- brothers aunts cousin.
@ How did Lii get possession OF these
KEYS?
Excepted 20 as leading and inquisltive
and not the best Of evidence.
Objection overruled.
Q. Did you ever know the defendant TO
steal chickens?
A. No, sir.
@ You say you never knew him to steal
Chickens
A No, sir
Q. You are positive Of that7
A. Yes. sir
Q. Now, Mr.. Richardson. didn't you tell
man on last Thursday alght tina, yeur
aunt told you that she had heard Bill
Grimes say that the defendant stole chick
ems?
A. No. sir
Q. You never heard that the defendant
stole chickens?
A. No sir.
Q. Dad he ever steal any chickens?
A. No sir
q. He stole no chickens?
A. He stole no chickens.
.. What did he steal?
Objected TO as personal. leading and ir-
relevant Objection ovsrTuled.
=. What did he steal?
A. He stole some ducks.
Applause IN the galleries.
@ When and under What eircurn-
stances?
A on the Little river. s5ogt L o'clock
at night.
Q. How could you see?
A. By the light
Q What hkhtg
A Tie light OF ny pipe
Q. Did the ducks say anything?
Objected % as leading and zool0z. cal
OBJECTION overruled-
Q. What did The ducks Ssy,
a. They said sualk. qUalkt
@ what did the defendant szy7
A. He said: No you don't Eaik. IT
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-26

while they were on this trip that Joe Low.
who afterwards became more or less prom
inent in this section OF the country, &C
companied the command as an ambulance
driver, and at that time was p OF q years
old. and was liked by the officers and SOL
diers, and was not considered a vicious
fellow by any means. He said that Joe
was in the government employ for quite
while, and that when he first came TO
Kansas he landed at Leavenworth and fol-
lowed the Pacific road out west until he
came down TO Newton and Wichita, and
that was the story that Bued told me.
and as we stood looking into the glass,
the one that hangs behind the counter. We
thought and talked Of the contrast between
then and now; of those soldiers encamped
on the bank of the river in the wilderness
Of brush and cottonyood groves. with no
sound nor dream of the city, OF the rail-
roads, of the magnificent park and all of
the things which are now here. Other
countries and other places have incidents
and features and many of them in the
makeup Of their early history. and these
matters are perhaps only interesting 10
the early settlers of this locality who
knows Of the contrast. OF the change
THE ORIGINAL EXPANSIONIST,
An Old gentleman hands in the follow
ing. heading it "Our Rural Visitor In
terviewed." He says:
Having been in the peerless city for thu
first time and having read much Of our
wonderful dimensions. I was not surprised
TO hear OF that wonderful host Of earnest
expansionists. Many must be formerly
from Wichita Like many other cities,
your people have, as regards real estate.
been on the ragged edge, cut prices having
reached bed rock. The country Is catch
ing up. Confidence is returning. as IS
witnessed by the many purchases OF prop
erty. The city came so near spreading out
over SedgwiCk county that not much was
left for corn. and 1 would suggest that
this spring would be a good time 10 plant
a statesman. as Pingree mas reached the
pinnacle OF his fame. Mayor Ross might
encourage the needy people in the cultiva-
ton OF many Of the vacant lots in potatoes
and other truck Just continue Mckinley
and Stanley in power. stand up for a
sound money system, avoid imitation or
over confidence, keep cool and permanent
prosperity is assured.