davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Florence tribune., 1899-07-15
IRRIeArIoN ANp cIvILIzArIoN.

"Draper says that civilization de- pends on climate and agriculture.' After my recent visit to Arizona l was ready to endorse the latter part of the proposition. The long stretches of sandy desert with the gigantic eactuses standing as fitting sentinels over it's desolation made me wonder that the Indian had ever consented to make that region his habitation. The miles and miles of alfalfa fields covered with their unapproachable green, which in places have supplanted the desert, made it matter Of surprise that so many white men had stayed away. The misery of the crucifxion thorn above the ditch and the beauty and bounty of the orange grove beyond it m ark the entire span between the barbarism of past ages and the highest achievement of nineteenth century civilization.
The Florence tribune., 1899-07-15

siTae irrigation ditch is the com spieuous s feature which separates the Big Horn Basin of Capt. Bonnsviile's time from the Big Horn Basin of to-day. 4 change which marks the displace- ment of tribe of Indians which, by common consent, were the most adroit and industrious hieves of this con tinent by the establishment of com munities of farmers who are reclaim ing the land and creating homes under an irrigation system which is known of and admired beyond the borders of our own country for the stability, justice and enlightened principles which form its basis.
 "The success of rrigation has already gone beyond the stage of experiment, but to develop it's possibilities there must be legislation and adequate social and industrial organization. The greatest obstacle which confronts us is the ignorance or indifference which prevents the enactment of one and development of the other. In this respect onr condition would have been far better if the first settlement had been made on the Pacific instead of the Atlantic slope; in California in stead of Virginia.
The Florence tribune., 1899-07-15
THE ARID WEST.
SENATOR WARREN'S ADVOCACY OF ITS CAUSE COMMENDED BY
 HIS CONSTITUENTS.
State EnglnEer Elwoed Mead Tells of the
 Possibilities of irrigation.
IFrom the Denver RepubIiean.l

tiF!rom the Denver Republican,
 Senator Warren's return from Washington to his home in Cheyenne after the adjournment of congress was the occasion of dinner in his honor, at which his zealous advocacy of the canse of the west was strongly com mended.
 An address upon 1.-The Possibilities Of Errigation was made by Elwead Mead, state engineer of Wyoming, which was in part as folIows:
 *'The possibilities of irrigation em- brace many things which time will not permit me to consider. What they have of achievement, of wealth and of population for this region nothing but the vision of prophet will enable me to forecast. The wonderful trans formation already wrought in the app pearance, resources and popular esti- nation of the value of the arid west makes it difficult in many respects for future possibilities to surpass past aehievments.
The Florence tribune., 1899-07-15
RECLAMATION OF THE WEST.

"Our growth in population and wealth for the last 300 years has not been in the direction of preparation for the reclamation of the arid west but directly against it. The importance of the agriculture of humid lands has made the reclamation of the arid half of this country seemingly of little con sequerce and has caused those who know nothing of our necessities to re- gard our claim for needed aid and the enactment of laws suited to our con ditions to be both unnecessary and irn- pertinent.
 'It is the prepouderance of ignor- ance and indifference which constitutes our greatest danger. The trouble is not to secure a development of some kind, but to secure the right kind which will result in the largest and best use of our resources and end in making irrigated agriculture as stable and prosperous as that dependent or rainfall. The difficulty which con fronts us now is not so much lack ot resources as the opportunity to mako the best use of what we have.
 "It is easier to obtain money to built a canal than it is to secure the defnit' abrogation of the doctrine of riparian rights, which, so long as it is not asro gated, is perpetual menace to tn value of the canal and the homes i creates. The trouble is not so muel to dispose of the public land as t secure the enactment of the land law which will put those lands in tn hands of the men who are willing t undergo the privations of pioneer If for the sake of enjoying landed 1T dependence.
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-04-23


Which teacheth us that while it is
our duty to entertain and please our
rulers, we should likewise study tact
and policy in the doing of it. Had
Abdul been allowed to win every pot,
his teacher would have otruck a job
at $4,000 year.
Is The Grand Llama was giving audi
ence in his palace when e. subject who
had been weeping approached and ex-
claimed:
20, thou ever wise and good and pow
erful, but l have come to appeal to thy
generosity"
I'm a little short O, cash just now,
Omar" replied the Llama, but state
your case and I'll see what I can
do"
"It is this, o, Magnificent. A week
ago thou dist cut off rly brothers
head"
Eyes, know. Your brother Kyann
was getting altogether TOO fresh as one
Of my tax collectors and I had him
shortened by head"
But he left behind him a widow and
eleven children, o, Superb, and as they
haven't a dollar l must support them
unless you grant pension"
''Eet me think" said the Llama as
he turned away, and for five minutes
the hall was silent. Then the great
man spoke:
Omar, thou art a good man and I
wilt help thee out. / have no cash to
spare, but 1 will have the widow and
children beheaded and thus get 'em of
thy hands. Pass on"
Which teacheth us that when we
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-04-23

whether the foe saw our faces, sides
or backs. Men in reserve, full mile
in rear of the fighting lines, were killed
as they faced the foe, and little honor
they got out of it. AT Gettysburg
did all my shooting from behind a
stack, and I never felt that
lost my prestige by it. Give me a
thousand men lying down on their
faces on the crest of hill, and If they
can't lick a whole brigade advancing
with proud step and knightly bearing
then my name is mud"
"Then, perhaps, you-you presented
your back to the enemy?" queried the
would-be soldier.
"Of course I did-a hundred times
over. Do you think an army can fall
back like lot of crabs? If the South
ern Confederacy didn't know Ezra
Chubb's back when the war was over,
it wasn't his fault War is made up
of advance, retreat, right-fank, left
flank and a heap Of walking around,
and the Tom-fool who set out to keep
his face to the enemy would starve to
death. Yes, they got many a look at
my back, and they left their brand on
it, to-"
''You don't mean you were shot in
the back?"
"Of course I do-hit twice, and both
times in the back Up to the battle Of
Bull Run the folks at home would
have thought it terrible disgrace to
hear that their only son was shot in
the back, but they got sense enough
into their heads after awhile. The first
bullGt hit me while our regiment was
marching by the flank to take new
position. 1t raked across my shoulders
under the skin, and / didn't feel bit
bad because l didn't receive it in the
chest while facing the foe. When
got the next one a brigade of us was
walking away from a division. 1t
would have been heroic to halt, face
about and tear open our shirt bosoms,
but we were anxious to get somewhere
and we kept on walking. l got bull
let within an inch of my spine, and
have never kicked because it didn't hit
me in the forehead. When l got home
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-04-23

The kitchen and dining room are con-
nected by the buffers pantry. The din
ing room has an open fire place and the
range in the kitchen would use a iue in
the same chimney stack. A Portland
range is suggested for the Kitchen as It
gives just as good satisfaction as brick
set one and answers all the requirements
for hot water service and cooking pur-
poses. The rear porch from the kitchen
is uncovered. and the door is glazed so as
to give plenty of light.
Ascending TO the second floor by an open
staircase around a well, which guarantees
plenty of light We find ali the rooms of
fair proportion with ample closets. Linen
closet is also in the second story hall and
is provided with drawers, shelves. etc
All the bed rooms have an abundance OF
light from four windows TO each room
A good modification for the second story
plan in the front room would be that IL
the linen closet In the hall were not abb
solutely required. 1t could be used for a
closet for the front bed room. door being
planned for access to same, and the larg-
er closet shown in the plan could be made
into a coy corner with couch seat
around two sides with window opening on
the right side OF the house. A bath room
may be introduced in the second story BIZ
dividing up the bed room marked u r.. q
In. by > r., and the space marked closet
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-04-23
TOO FAST FOR MEXICO.
The Sensation Created by the First Street
Car Line.


II made the survey for the street car
lines in the city OF Mexico said the civil
engineer, ''aEd when we got the tracks
down and the cars running we had a
laughable time. Young men of the first
families not only yentured to act as
drivers but insisted on taking those places
without wages. The thing was like a new
toy to the children. People paid fare or
withheld it. just as they saw fit and some
would ride around for half a day. The
Yankee superintendent of the line was in
sweat all the time, but it was kicking
against a stone wall. The tracks were
single ones, with switches here and there
for the cars to pass, but such little things
didn't bother the drivers. Some of them
would start the mules on a dead run and
go clear to the end of line, and others
would pun out on switch and go to
sleep or indulge in games with the pas
sengers. l guess it was two months be-
fore the drivers consented to give up their
siesta hours. At twelve O'Clock precisely
the mules were brought to q halt, no mat
ter where the car was, and the driver
would walk off to eat, sleep and smoke
and be gone two hours. No Mexican ever
hurries. Most CT the complaints received
were to the effect that the cars went too
fast. Even after We got things somewhat
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-04-23
HE HAD TO HAVE IT.


A local real estate dealer tells this
story:
Some time ago he had an allotment
On the market and one day a foreign
looking individual walked into the Of
fee and said he wanted to INQUIRE
about the lots. He looked over the
plat and finally picked out one tha.
suited him.
"Vot's der price," he asked when the
location was decided upon.
Eight hundred dollars"
81 give you seek hundred cash."
Every WE'LL" said the dealer, ''you can
have it,"
Then the customer lowered his voice.
II want der brice of dot lot seek hun
dred to me, but eight houndred to eff
frybody else. You understand"
YES" said the dealer. THAT will
be all right"
"Vell, you see, it's like dees-Pm goin'
to get married. I've got der girl pick
ed out. und she has money. You see
you will sell der lot to her for eight
hoondred dollars. Den you will motion
to me und We will go into der next room
und you viii pay me dot two houndred
dollars. See!"
"You want the 5000 for a commits
sion?" said the dealer. THAT will be
all right, too"
The customer looked relieved
TITS choost this way" he said 81
must have dot two hoondred or can't
get married"
you shall have it, said the dealer
A few days later the future bride, her
mother, and the coming bridegroom en-
tered the Office. The papers were
quickly prepared and signed. and the
mother, from the intricacies OF her
skirts, produced wad of bills which
proved to he the necessary eight hun
dred.
Then the bridegroom fingered be-
hind as the bride and her mother pass
ed into the hall. The dealer hastily
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-04-23

~ drtWlne ehoWS ~ littlt iron chest
eo1tr insn9 the ekuIl. ana bones Of the
saint with the piece Of Uranium which
vas struck on a. the martyrdom rejoinsd
to the skull. Now. 4 will be at once noted
that these few bones do not indicate a
complete skeleton, and If this was all that
was preserved in the shrine it is Certainly
difficult to reconcile the idea that the ske.-
eton discovered at Canterbury was that
of Thomas a. Beckett. 1t is known that
the piece of skull struck on was preserved
in separate shrine. but what eventually
became of the saints remains is now
wrapt in mystery.
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-04-23

low cost and out above dwellings that
would ordinarily overshadow it. The de-
sign accompanying this article could not
be more severe when it's basic lines are
carefully examined, but the semi colonial
veranda and the panelling of the exterior
of the second story not only relieves the
severity of the design, but modifies it into
a pleasing sketch.
The foundation may be either of brick
or stone, the latter being cheaper in many
localities. The cellar extends under the
whole house, thereby providing against
dampness. The first story is planned in
a fashion mentioned in one of our former
articles for a direct passage from the
kitchen to the front door. The entrance
hall and staircase on first story, including
the platform, has never been designed the
same as the first floor plan and shows an
original treatment. Carefully study the
plan. AS you enter the space marked hal,
which is really a vestibue and is enclosed
on all sides, you can turn to the right into
the sitting room or ascend to the second
story direct by means OF the stair case.
The servant in answering the bell may
go direct from the kitchen, step on the
first platform OF the staircase and into
the vestibule hall without annoying The
family in the sitting room. In the sum-
mer. when all the doors are open, the en-
trance hall, or vestibule, and staircase are
parts Of the sitting room. Quite an orig
inal treatment is it not?
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-04-23

Colonial architecture is style which
the ordinary bu:~ler of the average arch:-
tect should leave severely alone If he val
ues his reputation not to care to be the
laughing stock of the local community.
A severe "box" effect of colonial archi-
lecture not properly treated will result
in an abortion; get the architect with ar
tistic ideas and large and varied expert
ence. free hand and capable of grasping
ideals and subjecting them to purpose.
can make a dry goods box" house CT
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-04-23

How Things Used to Go in Other Days When
Quick Justice Was Melted Out.

On day as the Khedive was pro
ceeding in state from the town of Kas-
an 70 that Of Raybu, q peasant by
the roadside refused to bow to the dust
ia acknowledgment OF the great ruler
presence. The captain of the guard
ordered the mans head struck off,
when the Khedive called out to know
what was going on.
Greatest of EARTH" replied the cap
tain, s'but here is a man who refused
70 rub his nose into the dust as you
pass by, and am about to inflict the
nssIal penalty
.sBut hold on minute and let us see
what excuse he urges. Come hither,
boor. Didst know was the Khedive?"
81 didst," calmly replied the peasant.
And yet you did not fall PROSTATE
before me?"
NAY. thou ruler of heaven and
Garth
1T cannot be ignorance" unused the
great man, land yet I cannot read
contnmacy in his bearing. Tell me,
lowly one, what induced thee to defy
the custom?"
"Had I bowed in the dustI could not
have presented thee with these re-
piled the man as he handed up small
bag filed with nuts.
Beware OF poison, o thou director
OF the sun and moon!" shouted a score
of courtiers, but the Khedive ate of the
nuts and smiled with satisfaction and
finally asked:
"Lowly one, but what do you call
emf"
"Chesanuts. 0 ruler. They are she
flrst crop from tree I planted with
my own hands. They are now in a
raw state. Pour a few into a skillet
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-04-23
THE SERGEANT WAS TIRED.

when / enlisted in 1861" said the
old ex-sergeant of cavalry, there was
all this Tommy-rot business OF never
furling the flag. falling with face to
the foe, and never presenting your
back to the enemy. We've had it all
over again IN this war. and it has
made me very tired"
where's the kick?" asked the man
who was going to enlist but waited
till the war was over.
Nov, then, have some sense about
you," continued the sergeant. II saw
our old banner furled fur weeks at a
time, and I saw 1t as often in retreat
as in advance. The folks at home sat
out on the porch OF an evening and
drank iced tea and fondly imagined
that our ripping banners were rip
ping all around Gen. Lee and making
him see stars and stripes at every
turn. That was very nice, but just
about half the time it was the other
fellows banners which were doing the
ripping act Banners are all right in
their way, but war is fought with can
non and musketry.'
But soldier should die with his
face to the foe, shouldn't he?"
"He shouldn't die at all if it can be
avoided, but if he's idiot enough to face
the foe when he can get on the flank
he deserves to be hit. Our idea, after
we got to know what war was, was to
fight from the safest place, no matter
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-04-23
SECOND FLOOR PLAN.


The exterior of the first story is finished
with shingles lad on hemiock boarding
filed in between with one thickness OF
building paper, well Tapped and nailed.
The paneling on the second floor is p.aster
or cement, which when soft may have peb-
bles. clam shells, or the ends and bottoms
of broken bottles set at random. This
cement is put on the same as plaster, on
laths. and the inside IS to receive coat
to s,eat on joists interiorally as a protee-
ton against cold weather. The stiles may
be made from various kinus of woods or
oak plank roughly hewn and well oiled.
These are the best and should receive a
good coat of outside spar varnish, giving
an antique effect. In ordef TO stain the
stiles to a darker color, as the first coat
applied gives a light brown color, the
stain should remain a few days without
being touched after which a second coat
applied which after As hours will turn
dark Then varnish with spar yarnish as
stated above. This stain is composed of
one quarter ounce permanaganate of pot
ash to one quart of water thoroughly mix
ed and application should be made at once
after mixing.
We give herewith a technical descrip-
ton OF this design: General dimensions.
width. % feet; depth, so feet 6 inches; not
including veranda. Heights of stories.
cellar, feet; first story, feet; second
story, feet. Exterior materials, founda-
ton, stone; first story, shingles; second
story, cement panels: roof, shingles. In
terror finish, hard white plaster; trim N.
c. pine stained. Flooring. n. c. pine.
Staircase, N. c. pine. with ash rail. Col
ors first story, light gray. Woodwork in
second story, dark brown. Roof, moss
green Cost, $3.50 complete. The esti
mate is based on New York prices for
material and labor. In many sections of
the country the cost should be less.
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-04-23

syste atiSsd Do6 <Eio ehoss. I1
presidsnt q the road returned from =
trip one day to say 20 the manager:
= All. sSenor, but am AFRAID We shxll
never set our psople to accept the enter
prise
/" What is wrong nowy was asked.
Why. one of our greatest merchants
paid his fare to be taken to the alameda
IN twenty minutes and 10! and behold the
driver cut the time down to fifteen! We
shall be ruined by moving folks around
too quickly. Let us tie UP the legs of the
mules and take the whips away from the
t1riyers!"
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-04-23

counted o. ~ two hundred and thrust
It into the bridesroom's hand.
81 have to have It, whispered the
latter.
AL right" said the dealer.
81 couldn't get married without Il"
Il understand" said the dealer.
The man with the two hundred
paused with his hand on the door knob.
II have to have It, he hoarsely mur-
INJURED; 1T is for my first wife's fun
eral expenses!
Then he went out.-Cleveland Plain
Dealer.
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-04-23

ROASTING THE CHESTNUTS.
and roast them over a fire and thou
wilt find the taste improved fifty per
cent"
What no, slaves! A fire and skill
let, and I will roast them with my
own hands," shouted the Khedive
1t was done, and when he ate again
he licked his chops and his smile was
biandness itself. When he had devour-
ed dozen or so he beamed down upon
the peasant and said:
province at a salary of $4,000 year,
and any time you come over to Kas-
san we will get drunk together"
And turning to his astonished and
chagrined retinue he continued:
"Ho! all, and let your ears drink, In
my words! Whilst you have been CIV
ing me taffy and hesitating not to lie,
this man has been at work for my
benefit. Whilst you have invented
more titles for me he has invented
title for my stomach. 1t pleaseth you
TO tell me that l carry the sun in my
hat and the moon in my hind-pocket
and to draw your salaries every Satur-
day afternoon. Behold! This man
without fiattery or hope of salary, hath
created something to profit and divert.
Hail to his loyalty. Hail the brown
chestnut! put him over all of you,
and Itprivilege him to import 1000
Italians and their chestnut-roasters to
make this fruit known throughout my
realm"
Which teachcth us that while the
great and powerful surround them
selves by those who flatter and praise
without regard to truth. yet they are
on the outlook for truth and fall and
winter novelties just the same.
Abdul ASST, having exhausted all
the games and sports which his cour-
tiers could invent, caused proclama-
ton to be made that any OF his sub
jects who should bring forth new
! game to take up his time for one
hour should meet with great re-
ward. For some days no one appear
ed, but one morning a subject show
ed up at the palace and said:
20, thou mighty Abdul, but I have
come to claim the reward. In travel
ing In country called America didst
come across these things called playing
cards, and didst learn game called
sdraw-poker."
"Drat my hide, but doth see some
fun ahead" murmured Abdul. Seat
thyself and teach me the American
game. II 1t proveth what hope will
gobble up the game and America to
boot"
Ia the course OF half an hour the
stranger had taught Abdul the value
Of the cards, and allowed him to win
two jack-pots of fifty cents each. Then
| the great ruler saw three kings and
Two jacks in his hand and began to put
up his cash. He was "seen'' and
raised" until the pot was glorious
Zone and his hand was called. He
Showed down with glance of triumph,
but the stranger displayed four tens
and raked in the shekels. For long,
long time Abdul ASST sat and stared
Anto vacancy and reflected but at last
he turned to rs subject and said:
The rewa] is thine. Thou hast
brought 70 c most enticing game,
and thou ast amused me for moro
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-04-23
AN $1,000 HOUSE.
For 81. 900 Bath Room, With Full Plumbing
Fixtures, Was introduced.

Copyright, 1892. by Charles Willard Leigh
ton, Architect. New York Ctty.)
(This is the sixth in the ser:oes of ten
illustrated architectural articles now run
ming in our Sunday edition. prepared es-
pecially for US by Mr.. Charles Willard
Leighton, who will be glad to furnish our
readers any further information desired
about architecture in general, or the de-
signs illustrating these articles in par
ticular. Address him at his office, c03
Broadway, New York c;tyl
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-04-23
THE SHRINE OF
THOMAS A. BECKETT.

The accompanying illustration is a fac
smile Of a very old and rare drawing,
preserved in the Cotton library, showing
the shrine and bones of no less a person
age than St. Thomas a. Beckett. Not long
ago it was claimed that certain bones dis
covered in CanterI0ry cathedral were
those of the Saint The drawing here re-