davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-17
About Noted People

Charles T. Yerkes, the Chicago trolley
magnate, who has just disposed of his In
terests In the business, denies that he Is
going into Wall street to speculate and says:
"l defy any broker to show me any man
who has dealt with him for two years or
more who has come out with money.
have not looked at stock list for thirteen
years. At that time, after many years
experience on the Stock exchange, left 1t,
so thoroughly disgusted that l never want
to enter 1t again. i repeat, a man who goes
into Wall street to make fortune is an
idiot, and he ought to have a guardian"
The parliamentary career of Michael Day.
lit, who has resigned his seat has been
unusually checkered. While in Portland
prison in 1882 he was returned from Meath,
but was declared ineligible to sit because
the term (ifteen years. to which he had
been sentenced Fenian in 1870 had not
expired. In 1892 he was elected for the
northern division OF Meath, but was scon
upseated owing to violent pastoral letter
issued In his supposed interest by the late
Roman Catholic bishop of Meath, DIR, Nulty.
Another seat was then found for him in
northeast Cork, but from this he was forced
by bankruptcy proceedings consequent on
his refusal to pay the costs of the Meath
petition case. When the general election Of
1896 was preciptated Mr., Davitt was on a
lecturing tour in Australia and was returned
In his absence for two constituencies-Eas
Kerry and South Mayo. The latter, being
part of his native county was naturally Ills
choice.
Monsignor Donatius Sbaretti, who has been
designated as the new bishop of Havana,
was born in Montefranco. near Rome, In
1856. He studied both law and theology,
his law studies embracing canon and Ro-
man law. He received the doctorate In law
and theology, Later he gave public dispu-
tation at the vatican before the pope, his
subject being philosophy. For this he re-
ceived a handsome gold medal. Before en-
tering the diplomatic service of the church
he was professor of moral philosophy In
the College of the Propaganda, Except for
about two years. when he was employed
in handling matters concerning the missions
OF the propaganda in China and Japan, he
has had much to do with the affairs of the
American church. His experience during
the period he spent in the employ OF the
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-17

and thoughtless aims giving. The best and
wisest charity, as pointed out by Bishop
Potter, is that which embodies the giving
of ones self, the help that helps up and
not down. This is the kind Of charity that
found expression in the noble service of
Edward Dennison in England and is find
ing expression in our own land today in
the work of our college settlements, free
kindergarteus, manual training schools,
women's exchanges and other agencies and
institutions where the poor and the needy
are taught how to help themselves and en-
courage by personal influence and exam
pie to better and more thrifty ways of liv-
ne. This is not the easiest kind of phi
lanthropy, but 1t is the only true kind. HUI
man nature is nowhere SO weak as on the
side which charity touches. There is sad
truth in the saying that laziness is one Of
mans besetting sins. 1t is his constant
temptation to make his way in the world
somehow or other without work. Woe be
to him who yields to this temptation and
equal woe to him who makes himself,
though unwittingly, the tempter.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-17

propaganda in handling American matters
led to his selection as auditor of the papal
delegation when it was determined to es-
tabish it, and in 1898 he acc Jmpanied Car
dinal Satoli to this country.
Congressman A. C. Harmer of Philadel-
phia who is now the Father of the House,"
began his service in congress in 1871 with
the Forty second congress and he has been
continuously member since then, with the
exception of two years, 1S74-77, the period
of the Forty-fourth congress, for which he
was defeated by John Robbins. Mr.. Har-
mer resumed membership in the Forty fifth
congress on March 4, 1877, and has been a
member continuously since that date, a
period of twenty-four years. Thus 1t will be
seen that Philadelphia has had the distinc-
tion of having had the Father of the
House for the last twenty-five years and
in the event of the death of Mr.. Harmer
that distinction will continue in the person
of General Bingham.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-17
Charity that Curses

1t may seem ungracious to quarrel with a
virtue or with what passes as a virtue,
says Leslie's Weekly, but it cannot be
doubted that some OF the heaviest curses that
rest upon civilized society today have come
upon 1t through the exercise of unthinking
and indiscriminate charity 1t is this kind
of charity-the scattered dole, the aims
thrown out with free and open hand to all
who will receive-that has filled many parts
of the old world with a pestilent multitude
of professional beggars, a lazy, filthy, lying
horde of parasites, heavy burden upon the
honest and industrious, menace to society
and terror to all, the native and the
stranger alike.
The same kind of charity, kindly meant
but grossly misdirected, has bred within the
borders Of our own busy and prosperous
land that creature who is always seeking
but never finding work, and who lives upon
the community meanwhile, the creature
known as the tramp. There are 10000
Of these professional beggars and semi-crim-
inals in the United States today, an army
whose ranks are constantly recruited by
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-17

men and women who find, unhappiy for
themselves and the community, that the dis
play of a few rags and whining lie about
want and suffering are all that is neces-
sary to open to them the purses or the
kitchen doors of a soft-hearted and easy
going people. All these and a vast number
of other persons, who derive their support
partly if not wholly from beggary, have
come to be what they are chiefly because
their self-respect and independent spirit
have been broken down by false and vic
ious philanthropy
Considerations of this character are urged
with force and appositeness in an article
contributed by Bishop Potter to one of the
periodicals for the current month. He
makes plea for systematic and organized
charity. a charity based on sound and true
philanthropy OF the evil results of the
false kind he gives many iluminative ex-
amples drawn from his own observations
and experiences. One of these relates to a
woman who had been for years the bene-
fciary of clergyman in a city parish, but
who on her death was found to be in pos
session of several thousands of dollars
which she bequeathed to relatives in dis
tant land. Another example cited is that Of
woman who had connected herself with
of which, as poor widow, she was receiv-
ing a monthly allowance.
A more striking illustration of the infinite
mischief that may come from wellmean-
ing but inconsiderate act of kindness Is
afforded in a story which the bishop tells
of a man who came to him for help and
made his plea on the strength of letter
written for him by the bishops own father,
who had been dead for twenty years. The
letter was a general letter, addressed to no
one, and therein lay the mischief When
read it had in each instance been returned
to its bearer and he soon discovered that
he had in it a talisman that would open al
most any pocket. The man had been orig
inally an Industrious mechanic temporarily
disabled by illness and worthy, at the
time, of judicious help. But the letter
proved his undoing. BY means Of it he
had lived for years without work and be-
come chronic loafer and a fraud. Bishop
Potter says that he offered the man $40 for
the letter, but the fellow was mot so in
nocent as to surrender his whole capital in
trade"
This is but one instance out of many
that might be cited to show what ruin and
degradation may result from easy y-goine
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-17
Very Like a Big Whale

The big whale that lies high and dry at
Pleasure Beach drew thousands of sight
seers to that point yesterday and Sunday,
reports the Norfolk Virginian. The whale
was carefully measured yesterday by a
Virginian-P Pilot representative as it lies on
the beach. 1t is sixty-fve feet long, about
fifteen feet through and has a mouth with
spread of about twenty feet. 1t is black
above and white below The skin of the
whale is beautifully ribbed underneath
1t is a common roqual or razorback. This
species grows to size of sixty to seventy
feet long, so this is of the largest of
its kind. The roquals are widely distributed
and commit great havoc in fisheries They
rarely congregate in schools, but are found
isolated. Their capture is not generally
pursued, as they do not generally yield much
blubber. The whalebone is stout, coarse
aud OF comparatively little value The
name roqual is derived from the Morse
"roq-val," signifying a whale with plaits
or folds in the skin
1t Is said that the Washington steamer
struck the whale Saturday week and re-
ported the striking of something, supposed to
be submerged log. 1t is now believed that
this log" was this whale and that the col
lision broke it's jaw. The shock probably
killed the whale.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-17
In and Out of Court

Robert G. Ingersoll was not always the
tactful lawyer he became in his maturity,
relates the San Francisco Wave. Early In
his career he found himself of counsel for
the defense in murder case, with fussy
old doctor as principal witness against him.
Thinking of a chance to be brilliant, he
sarcastically proceeded to bully the witness
by commenting upon Doctors mistakes.
Doctors make as few mistakes as lawyers"
asserted the old man, "A Doctors mistakes
are buried six feet under ground" said In
gersoll, Yes, but lawyers mistakes are
hung as many feet above the ground" was
the reply, "and that is just the difference"
The jury saw the point and lngersol lost
the case.
Assizc prisoners have occasionally but lit
tie faith in the ability OF counsel assigned
for their defense, relates London It'd Bits.
Not long ago a prisoner was informed by
the Judge that his defense would be under
taken by X, and" added his lordship, that
will cost you nothing" Prisoner, however,
held a different view and was heard to re-
mark that his lordship hadn't done the
straight thing, nohow."
"What do you mean, sir?" asked the judge,
sterny.
We'll" said the prisoner, you said as
the court would provide counsel and 1t was
a-goin to cost me nothing. II that's my
Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-17

COUNSEL" he continued, indicating the rather
diminutive gentleman who had been set
apart for the defense, its a-going' to cost
me ten years an no less"
Representative Clayton of Alabama used
to be district attorney in his state. He was
one of Cleveland's appointees.
1t became Clayton's duty, at one time,
relates the Washington Post to prosecute
an old man for making Illicit whisky. 1t
was not very serious infraction of the law,
but the old backwoodsman had been reck-
less in his open violation and it was neces-
sary to make an example of him. He was
brought into court and, after the govern
ment had stated his case, the old man,
who had no lawyer asked to be allowed to
go upon the stand He was told that this
would render him liable to answer any ques
tions, but he insisted.
We'll, Uncle John" said Clayton, did
you really make any whisky in your still?"
Henry" replied the old man, with pa
thetic tone, 81 know'd your pa; l voted for
your pa every time he ran for jedge. And,
Henry, your pa would never have axed me no
question like that!"
The jurors laughed, the court smiled
and Clayton relented. The old man drove
home that night.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-12-28
PARTISAN NEW YEARS.

Visiting cards to your entire list,
even to those that you never think OF
on another day, kisses on each cheek
to those that you do meet and sugar
plums galore, with or without other
gifts, are distinguishing marks of the
Parisans' 1sew years. The sweetmeats
take every conceivable form, says a
letter from the other side. In the
windows there are monkeys and ba
boons in chocolate, cats, dogs, pigs and
doll millinery in tinted cream; sugar
lilies. roses and orchids: even cab
5ages, carrots, turnips, onions anu as
paragus incredibly natural, and all OF
which, when their crisp outer crusts
are bitten into, will send down the de-
lighted throat streams of cordial.
Even men relatives and friends eX
change satin bags Of chocolate or cara
mels. st. Louis Globe-Democrat
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-12-28
A RETROSPECT.

Well, well, 50 this is New Years
day" said Mr.. Spooner. DO you re-
member how we quarreled this day
one year ago."
remember. | think | dol cried his
wife. why, the cards were ordered
when it happened, and didn't know
whether | could have your name taken
out and Dicks inserted, in case 4
changed my mind
"ln case | changed mine, you mean,
dear. Strange that never suspected
how much poor Dora cared for me un-
til that day.
"Im sure she had concealed it very
well-the way she ran after DICK, as II
no ever had eyes for anybody but me!
He never told his love, but woman's
intuition wss-
"a synonym of vanity, dear OF
,ourse | couldn't help knowing that
she cared for me when | met her IN the
boarding house parlor with her eyes
uIl of tears. on the very morning after
Won had told Marie, her dearest friend
thnt we we're to be married in a
|
month.
"uumph. that girl would cry about
onvtbinp. I'VE known her to cry when
rho villain in the play was killed-as
II a villain could expect anything else
IN the last act. But as soon as | saw
nick that morning knew that he
,new II Why, his necktie had slip
ned around under one ear and his
voice. as he wished me happy New
wear. was so sad that | felt guilty
though my conscience told me that
had not encouraged him.
"you've forgotten how you used tt
rr,ise the shape of his head"
"As IL that meant anything! A CIR
lor,v nraises the shape of mans heat
whom she cannot find anything else t.
eatter him about. lit means nt
more than it does when she tells
small man that he resembles Ma
noIeon. But when | remembered tina
vor had once gone down on the foo
II vour new trousers to pick UP Dora's
knew that had beer
cruelty deceived So when you re
nroached me about Dick. L"
II remember how badly ! felt whel
she replied to my New Years greetins
with the remark that happiness fol
her was over forever. And before
could comfort her Miss Marie came
n and could only 80 sadly away
without telling her that ! should al
wnys be brother to her"
And poor Dick. asked him IL there
Was ANYTHING | could do for him; he
replied Yes, but Just then the maid
came in with a note for him. and he
said he must so ut once-l think h.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-12-28
TTiE NEW YEAR.

The ,ld year crumbl@y away to its
Ashes,
But leaves one spark Tor the new
coming morn,
And time from that iIpiO new life
hasifes
And so ii is that the new year is
born
IT'S sad to sec the old ycar a-dying,
Fen though he hath mauA MS some
times to weep,
Iere was something sweat in the
smiling and signing
THAT we fatn would forever and ever
keep.
bis not welt Eo be too ready and will
ing
TO forget TIE old in the strange and
new.
Though the fields be as fair for the
fresher tilling,
The skies, alas! may be not so blue.
Oh he cometh stranger. ths blithe
new wear,
And we know not what lie dad hid
den away
Il most of the shine or the iast-fall-
ing tear,
rhe gold and blue, or the desolate
gray.
}it here is Il smile for a kinngT greet
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-12-28
ORIGIN OF NEW YEARS CUSTOMS,

New Years customs in the United
States are evidently the result of social
evolution of that law the scientists
call natural selection and survival OF
the fittest. In other words, each set
of the early immigrants brought or
devised its own customs, and those
best suited to the nature of the coun-
try and genius of the people have be-
come general. while all others have
been quietly dropped 1t is not easy
to trace the origin of the Knicker-
booker custom of gentlemen calling on
their lady friends and taking refresh
ments, but it is evidently one of the
"tittest," for it is becoming national.
Its progress westward and southwark
can be traced as certainly as any other
social or any political development.
and it seems subject to curious law
of action and reaction. \ western
village or small city takes up the
fashion, and its observance becomes
more general every year for some time;
then it falls into disuse for year or
two, only to revive again with more
general observance
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-12-28

wished to be alone with his sorrow.
Fhen you came in and: instead Of
sharing my pity for him, you accused
me of flirting with him,"
"I--er-don't remember that. But
wasn't it odd that before | left you
forever Miss Marie should come in and
tell us that Dora and Dick were en-
gagged! I've often wondered how it
happened that they decided to console
each other"
And SO have l. Why, here is Marie
now perhaps she can explain. Sit
down. Marie, do. Tom and I are just
going over old times. Do you remem-
her last New Years day, and"
Indeed do. I've just been to see
EUra, and SHE vas talking about it..
STE and Dick quarreled last New
Years Eve about the date of their
marriage, aud almost parted forever
They think YOU both must have guess
ed It. | femeu Der that Tom was in
the parlOr with Dora when / ran in on
New Years m ocuing to tell her of
your engagement. She had been on
the point ct asking him to help her to
make up with Dick. And when she
told me about it, | wrote him q note
itelling him that | believed size would
forgive him IL Ire came at once. That
note found him at your house, Irene,
where he had gone to ask your aid as
lpeacemaker Odd wasn't ~" Elisa
Armstrong.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-12-28

men called indiscrimtnately and tip
pied Unfortunately on new years
day. and this it was that put an end
Ito the old fashioned celebration.
Wealthy and fashionable people now
adays retire to their country seats
during the holidays. Fashionable
people who are not wealthy stay at
home and keep closed house on new
years day. Quite contingency,
however, observe the day very quietly
and receive few intimate friends.
Many OF these serve hot coffee or hot
lemonade and some simple refresh
ments, like biscuits or cake, but all is
done in a very reserved and judicious
manner, These people do not consider
it good form 10 so to places of amuse-
ment on new years day or any other
holiday. In country places new year 5
day retains much of its old-tlme feel
Ing, for social conditions are very
much like those which obtained in
cities when they too were young 1t
is still good form for ladies in country
places TO receive their friends and to
offer them refreshments, but those
should be confined as they are in
cities to such beverages as coffee,
chocolate, lemonade and cider. with
cakes, sandwiches, cold ham and tur-
key. Neither in country nor town is
it good form to offer alcoholic beve-
RACES of any sort on new years day,
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-12-28
A MID LOVE
BERTHA M. CLAY.
BERTHA M. CLAY.

my hands, and | grasp it, glory in 1t.
Your son shall follow me, shall lose
wife, home, friends, position, fair
name, as | lost all years ago at your
bidding Oh, cruel and wicked woman,
behold my revenge! | repay you now.
Oh, God" she continued, with a pas
sionate cry, II thank Thee that ! hold
my vengeance in my hand. ! will Stay
and spare mott"
Then she stood silent for some min
ules exhausted by the passion Of her
own words.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-12-28
\ NATURAL MISTAKE

Young Poet ito dwell,
Charley, I've sworn off.
Friend enthusiastically IN hearth
ly glad of il, old boy; and all your
friends will feel the same. Let's go
and have drink.
Young Poet--Didn't | just cell you /
had sworn off drinking?
t'riend (disappointed) didn't
say you had sworn off drinking
supposed YOU had sworr off writing
poetry Goodbye.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-12-28
FEW NEW YEARS CAEIS NOW.

Though it is still kept up in an ex-
ceeGlngly mode rate way, the custom of
making and receiving new years calls
may he said to- have practically dis
appeared. This is especially the case
in the more refined eastern society,
which has frowned on the old fash
ion until its observance is q rarity. OF
course a few old gentlemen still call
on each other. as they were accus-
toned to call ON each others mothers
and Sisters in days long gone by, but
only their init innate friends are thus
favored. In former years ii was cor
rect to drop in on almost all acquaint-
ances Their great grandparents
could safely offer their callers wine
and cake and even stronger refresh
ments, for calling was different az
fair in that simpler time when every
j one knew everybody, because all were
Ineighhors When however, the
cities grew and society became more
complex new years calling, or rather
receiving, altered its character, strang-
ers taking advantage of the OCCASION
! to intrude the mselres on people who
had never known them. 1t was then
not prudent or pleasant to serve wine
and cake in the old-fashloned way
land in time it became neither pru-
dent nor plea SAINT to keep open house
at all 1t became we'll known that
Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-04-15
The CAPITOL Board.

A meeting of the capitol rebuilding
board was held this afternoon at the
office of Colonel George w. Knaebel
The members present were Hon. F. A.
Manzanares, of East Las Vegas, presi-
dent; Rufus j. Palen Santa Fe, secre-
tary pro tem.; W. S. Hopewell, of Hills
boro and S. G. Cartwright, of Santa Fe.
Architect l. Fl, Rapp of Las Vegas, and
Clerk George W. Knaebel also attended
the sessions of the board The business
transacted was mostly of a routine ma
ture. A number of vouchers to pay in
cidental expenses for labor and material
were passed The awarding of contracts
for an iron stairway, flooring and inte-
rior finish were considered, but after
some discussion the local board was en-
powered to award the contracts.