davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-03-22

the Pullman offices, heard Of Phipps'
unsolicited confession, and wired his
father, who sent on deputies.
In recent conversation with
rDetective Andy Rohan of Chi
cago, who arrested Phipps, that
officer. revealed to a Detroit
detective ,s story e. Ct baseness and
ingratitude on the part Of the INFORM s.
er against Phipps, that places the hrst
version at naught. 1t seems THAI the
wife-slayer broke Jail on November ~,
of the year Of his arrest, with anothA
er murderer named Greenwood and q
thief named Seers They sawed
through the bars of their window and
lost little time in getting out OF. the
queens dominions. Phipps wandered
to the Illinois town, where, in fancied
security, he started a poolroom. One
day, an old acquaintance, a French
Canadian. whom he had known long
before the tragedy, drifted into Pull
man. He was penniless, ragged and
Ealf-starved, and Phipps, ignoring the
first law of nature, took him in and
cared for him. He bought him new
suit Of clothes and installed him as
his right bower in the poolroonl.
The vagrant friend knew the story
of the outcast Phipps, who was living
under an assumed name, yet the fugi-
tive trusted him. The reward offered
for Phipps' apprehension finally ever
came whatever qualms of conscience
tho fo110yy inhf hox
he resolved to become Judas. He
revealed Phipps' identity to Rollan,
and led the latter to the poolraom,
where Phipps was innocently engaged
in game. The informer stood iii a
recess of = the door and pointed out
Phipps to the detective, The latter nd
vanced and, tapping the doonaed man
on the shoulder. said
"Phipps, I want you for muyser.''
The latter's complete surprise and
show of emotion at once convinced tAe
detective that he had not beer. misin.
formed. Phipps wilted. He ueemed 10
have wearied of the continued e1ile AID
dread. of detection, and he AimptY
turned to the officer and said,
We'll, guess ir's all up with me-,
Then, turning 10 the man who haa
SO treacherously eatrapped hi,r, b.
conferred upon him the appurtenances
and goodwill of his pool room tusi-
ness. He never suspected his Judah.
The latter was unsuccessful with his
ill-gotten legacy, and became very dis
sipated and finally left Pullman in the
direst poverty. He never received any
OF the reward money. He drifted to
New York to die a nan1eless tramp.
Luke Phipps was hanged June II,
1884, and a grewsome reminder of his
crime and its expatiation is the shell
Of the steamer Hope, which lies rottiMg
and moss-grown in Sandwich canal.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-03-22
:MAKes .lsN SICK.
NV jersey woman wks - Atsanesiy'
Amected BY Lfeht.

Nsw Jersy Woman VIE r. Atsanesly
Affected BY Ltehs.
Ia a Spruce street boarding house
there is now living an elderly srinsteI II
who for thirty years has avoide tbs
light. She is no misanthrape, no re.
cluse, nor does her aversion to light Il
arise from any constitutional desect
OF wide information, charity and fNnd
Of company, her peculiar condition
precluded enjoyment of society in tir,
cumstances making social intercourse
most pleasant. In the evenings when
the gas is lighted she retires. to "
cloaked corner, and hidden under an
umbrella especially constructed TO
ward off rays Of light, she holds con-
verse. Thus she sits. for hours. like
some sorceress. unseen by those IN the
same room and not seeing those to-
whom she talks and charms with his
fund OF bright and interesting things.
Not that her eyesight Is affected-it is
as good as that OF any woman 60 years
of age. She simply cannot bear the
light to strike her. Diffused sunlight,
as a rule, does not trouble her, but Y
tiny ray Illuminating q nearby object
upsets her physical system and II fol-
lowed by an attack Of nausea. The
patient is Miss Ford Of Moorestown,
N. j., a descendant Of the Fords, In
whose house Washington made his,
headquarters while in that part Of New
Jersey. She came here recently to be-.
treated for her peculiar malady. The
physicians who have her case In charge
will not say whether her condition is
pathologically natural or reflex. Her
ailment has existed for thirty years.
For all that time she has been unable
to suffer the radiance Of gaslight, and
when an electric light was introduced
her retirement from Its presence was,
rendered imperative. It's effect UPON
her nervous system is 80 baneful that.
she is made i'll, as though some nau-
seating dose had been administered to
her. So sensitive has Miss Ford be-
come to the irritating effect Of light
that should suns ray invade her cor
ner and flicker upon the hangings, or
tint the window shade, she would be
Immediately thrown into nervous
spasm. The sun which brightens and
cheers all the world is to her dread
visitor, whose benign sparks are mall
evolent messengers. The effulgence all
nature glories in induces only abhor-i
renee in her. When she drives ouk,
except on cloudy days, the curtains of
the carriage are drawn, the draperies
so arranged that there may be no In
vasion of distinct rays of light. The
most peculiar fact connected, with Miss
Ford's unique condition is that It is not
necessary for her to see the ray o
light to be adversely affected. I'll
mere presence in her immediate vicin-l
ity, at her side or behind her back.
renders her susceptible. Philadelph
North American.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-03-22
Thunder and Lightning.

Thunder and lightning, though nat
1ural operations. are cause OF great
alarm to many. 1t is seldom any per-
son is injured who keeps away from
considerable metallic substances aud,
avoids Immediate contact with the
walls OF the house. The middle Of the
room is in general perfectly safe, and
the lower rooms are safer than the
upper. A bed removed at q slight dis
lance from the walls OF the room is In
perfect security. even II the house were
struck. When lead is used on the roofA
OF buildings particular care should be-
taken that It communicates with the
spouts, and BY these means with the
ground. TO determine the distance Of
the lightning, count the seconds bes
tween the Hash and the thunder, ana
reckon less than quarter of i mile
tor every second. e,
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-03-22
A. DREARY OLD WORLD
This Would Be II MAX Nordau,s Prophecy
Should Be Fulfilled.

at 49,
This Would Be II MAX Nordau's Prophecy
Should Be Fulfilled.
The happy bachelor and the miser-
able married man were detailing their
joys and sorrows, respectively, to that
confidant Of mans troubles-the swell
barkeep, says the Washington Star.
MAX Nordeau," said the bachelor,
after he had reiterated the happiness
OF the single state, says that woman,
at the close of the twentieth century
will be on par with man In law and
custom; that the role of man as her
ruler and protector will be a thing OF
the past and that he will have to sue
mark the word, sue-for her love by
different means than used at present"
What method dc you picture bache-
lors will have to adopt to sue for a
wife and what will they do to us when
they get us where they want us; when
the evolution Of the sex SO unsexes her
that she will become our equal? In
short, what will become of us?" The
miserable married man thought of the
present progress of the evolution and
Of its representative at home, as he
gulpedin great gaspy gulps the con-
tents of the glass the swell barkeep
had handed him. God knows!" he
answered, family. Thank heaven,
won't be alive at the close OF the cen.
fury, that's all" "Just to think" said
the bachelor, meditatively, "no, more
presents, theaters, operas, ice cream.
soda water, chewing gum, candies,
flowers. buggy rides, balls, parties.
walks, moonlight strolls, gate swing
ing. bushes, kisses. squeezes, coquet-
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-03-22
LITTLE BLACK IAIPS.

4
Back in Berlin the name Of Max
Hertzer had been of some account. He
was, to begin with, Hertzer, which
meant much. AS matter of course,
he was an officer in the army-his sis
tiers had starved themselves for his
commission and MATHEMATICIAN he
was handsome, even for German Off
Ger. Unfortunately for him, he sang
the love songs of his country, and they
are quite the most moving songs in
the world. They move the singers as
we'll as the listeners. They moved
Hertzer, and on one night in partlcu-
lar when he was hidden to the house
of certain titled lady he was so lifted
out of himself by the charm of his
music that he proposed to an American
girl who was present, and to his start
led dismay. he was accepted.
1t was misfortune, for he was not
in sympathy with the American point
of view, he did not like the insistence
and intellectual arrogance of Ameri-
can women, and he had quite made up
his mind to marry a senseless and we'll
went to kaffee klatsches. He almost
loved her, she was so nondescript, and
would be well content to make harm
less background of herself for his bene-
fit. Moreover, in spite of all his vanity,
he was rather soft-hearted, and it hurt
him to think how many tears would
bedew those soft blue eyes when she
heard of his engagement to the Ameri-
can girl.
The American girl had, moreover,
been known to do things which were
shocking. She had gone shopping
about the streets of Berlin unaccom-
panied, she had once used slang before
Weimar professor of philosophy and
she had been heard to say that she did
not like the shape of the emperor's
nose. She was not known to be rich
even, which is the only excuse that an
American girl has for living, and it
was said she made some serious mis-
takes In her Interpretation of the Fifth
Symphony.
Yet he married her. And they went
to America.
sit is just as WELL" said his friends
sadly. Really you know. it is all over
with poor Max"
They felt that he was as good as
dead.
1t was dull in America. Well, New
York wasn't so bad, perhaps, but the
other towns-bah! There wasn't a
true city among them. 1t didn't count
for man to be anybody. No one paid
any attention to Max because he was
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-03-22
THE KiRKMAsTER.
TIL. Church Dlrnltary Was an 1mpo

This Church Dignitary Was an Impor-
tant Parsonage In Scotland.
At recent meeting of the Church Of
Scotland Oficebearers' association, j.
A. Rollo, solicitor, delivered a most
interesting lecture on THE Kirkmas-
ter of Dundee; His Duties Of Old and
Present Sphere of Usefulness" He
wildly described the duties performed
by the kirkmaster In olden times. The
penalties to be inflicted upon trans
gressors had to be exacted with all
rigor by him. Among those were the
following: No man to carry timber,
red stones, or dicht his malt" In the
kirkyard penalty; 40 shillings. No
wine or ale sellers to receive any per-
son in their homes or keep table to
them Sin the morning while prayers
and preaching be done, and likewise
on the Sunday in time of preaching -
penalty, suspension from business for
one year. No person to "swear bias
phemy penalty, for first fault, two
shillings, or two hours in the branks;
for the second, twenty shillings, or six
hours therein, and for the third, ban
I-3s
ishment Of the burgh. No children to
play, cry. or perturb in the kirkyard,
or break the glass windows in the
kirk penalty. parents to pay eight
shillings and mend the skaith. No
merchant or mariner to sail or take
voyage on Sunday, and all inhabitants
to keep public exercise as precise as
the ordinary days Of preaching PEN
atty. Flo. No person ITO bring infants
and BARNS under the age OF 1--WE years
within the kirk In time Of sermon Or
prayers" and no person ito rise and
depart forth Of the kirk before the end
and conclusion Of the sermon and
prayers penalty, for the nrst and
second faults 9admonition, and Tor the
third. forty shillings, or "a hourS Inn
prisonment on bread and water. and
declaration of;the fault from IT, pull
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-03-22

he was seized with an idea. This idea
was the outcome Of his observations.
He had noticed that there was a look
Of extreme WEAKNESS in the eyes Of the
amiable Madam Hertzer, and that she
walked more slowly than she used, and
her selections at the piano, which had
once been noted for their length, were
now brief and lacking in spirit. In
short, the brave spirit of Madam Hert-
Ger dropped under many burdens. So
the newspaper man entered upon the
making Of collection, assisted by the
energetic and talented children of the
baron. Little black devils were gath
cred from every part of the house,
heads were torn from letters, that the
fascinating imps might be preserved.
leaves were rent from books, and even
pocket handkerchief done in a pro-
cession Of dancing imps, in indelible
INK, was taken in charge.
The practical friend sent these to a
certain much-illustrated comic weekly
and anxiously awaited results. The
family was of the opinion that there
would be no results. The baron was in
state Of peaceful ignorance. M
But the results were almost dramat-
ic. The comic weekly was amused. 1t
wanted series, indefinitely continued.
of little black devils illustrating cur
rent events.
The officious friend carried the good
news to Baron Won Hertzer.
"Sir!" stormed the baron. "You
no
have made me ridiculous. am no
clown to FLIP and kick while the peo-
pie laugh! Will you have the great
goodness to recall these personal pos
sessions of mine from the stranger to
whom you have confided then?"
But the newspaper man was OBJ
| durate.
"You will be distinguished in few
minutes" he said. SIN going to set
my alarm clock SO can wake UP at the
proper moment and see the fun. No,
I'll not write for the imps. I've al
ready sold part of them The check
will reach you in few days. And you
must be about those current illustra-
tions Of current happenings. When
they want thing on paper they want
it. They don't care to wait"
Am to be at the beck and call of
these men whom have never SEEM"
"It is not necessary to see them in
order to be at their beck and call"
The baron considered all Americans
stupid, but he regarded this one as
| particularly SO. Especially when he
found that his family was leagued with
| the perverse man to insist upon the
making of the little Devils Under pro-
test, and with frequent lamentings that
! he would be made ridiculous, the baron
worked on. The first few days were
drudgery, but the second week saw him
| tolerant, the third week found him in
terested, and at the end of month he
was enthusiastic. The JOY OF work
individual, creative work-was an emo
ton he had only just discovered. And
when the monetary results became APP
preciable he grew almost purse-proud.
He began to gather ideas about the
propriety of women working, and final
| ly he commanded his wife to cease her
money earning With a great show of
wifely submission Madam Hertzer
] obeyed She rested at last, after the
| days heat and burden, and smiling
German gentleman, lord Of his house
and dictator over his dominions. made
adorable little black devils in the soil
t~ae Of ,aia study 4tcage a
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-03-22
Reading Aloud.

An accomplishment that receives too
little attention among trained nurses
is the art of reading aloud. Only
those who have had to lie on sick
bed through long weeks and months
can appreciate the comfort of being en-
abled to listen to intelligent reading.
A gentle, pleasantly infected voice,
clear and distinct articulation, and an
intelligent comprehension of the mat
ter read have soothing effect upon
the most irritable nerves, and for that
reason should be considered desirable
qualifications in sick nurse. There
are many people who cannot afford the
expense of having both companion
and a nurse, but nurse who can be a
companion as we'll must be considered
an acquisition indeed.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-03-22
The Ages OF Trees.

AS there has been more or less dis
cussion about the ages Of trees, it will
be gratifying to know that q German
forester, who is considered as authori-
ty, says that the Oldest trees in Ger
many are known to have lived 600
years. The silver fr has fourished for
upward Of 400 years. and the evergreen
oak has been known to live 40 years,
while other varieties OF oak are from
Bis to 800 years old. The larch has
stood the storms and shines Of 275
years the red beech 245, the ash 10.
the birch 200, the aspen 22o. the noun
tain maple 225, the elm $50 and the
red alder las years. sss
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-03-22

The French have been among the
most enthusiastic friends of the auto
mobile idea, and during the coming
exposition in Paris they intend to make
that style OF locomotion as conspicu-
GUS and attractive as possible. A.
special automobile exhibition Is to be
held In the park Of Vincennes. under
the direction OF the Automobile Club
~ France. Competitive tests and races
win be arranged for all kinds Of self
moving carriages. and prizes are to be
aw6sled ~ IL wlnneEs n the various
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-03-22

That the laying of a cable to Manila
will prove to be good business" be-
sides facilitating the sending of army
news, fs shown by the strenuous oppo-
+sition RECENTLY made to it before the
senate committee on commerce by a
representative of a British telegraph
company, which claimed to possess
concessions from Spain giving it ex-
elusive landing rights in the Philip-
tie nopeof the concessions now stand
ing. in view Of the complete transfer OF
the philippines to the United States,
Dut 1t IS interesting to note that shrewd
capitalists see possible dividends in a
Philippine cable.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-03-22
Lamartlne's Barber sim alive.

Lamartine's barber, certain M.
Isopy, is (says Paris correspondent
still alive. He is just ninety-two, and
his greatest delight is to talk Of his
hero. He treasurers up faded daguer-
reotype Of the sentimental politician.
who, having been the dominant figure
in France, died in obscurity. M. Ispoy's
show was the favorite gathering place
of the celebrities Of '48. 1t. is prob
able that M. de Lamartine, who used
to summon his .hairdresser to Macon,
employed him as an emissary in those
turbulent days. It was pleasing to
know from such an authority that
Lamartine was the inventor of gen
uine bears grease from Russia" and
that this unguent was the cause OF the
poets silky locks.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-03-22
fish glances, bashful oh! it's so sud

fish glances, bashful oh! it's SO sud-
den! No more crimps, primps, POM
poms, powders, pomades, pads, rouges,
tight shoes, spider waists, soubrette
locklets. silken hoselets, picture hat
lets and thousand and one Of the
component parts which go to make up
the courtship of today. 1t will be a
forlorn old world from our present
standpoint, eh Max Nordeau," said
the married man. miserably, sis g
lobster"
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-03-22
was considered too magnanimous be-
cause of his quiet acceptance of the

was considered too magnanimous be-
cause of his quiet acceptance of the
decree.
Six years later Count Won Bruening,
then secretary of the German en-
bassy at Washington, came into Mrs.
MacKay's life. After two years they
became engaged. The marriage took
place in Washington the latter part Of
last April, the count and countess sail
ingat once to Constantinople where the
former was stationed as member Of
the German embassy. The count and
countess are now living in Berlin,
where the beauty and charm of the ac-
comp1ished American are greatly adj
mired.
AS wedding gift to the countess,
Mr.. MacKay presented her check for
$1,000,000. He still devotes himself to
business and has amassed an enormous
fortune.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-03-22

Several members of the Chicago
board Of trade have been indicted by
the federal grand jury for defrauding
country patrons. This is wholesome
sign: Only few years ago it was es-
teemed a great honor to even possess
the aroma Of the board. The thought
that member could be convicted of
fraud never troubled anybody Today
members of the board who induce
others to lose money in fictitious trans
actions are prosecuted like ordinary
criminals.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-03-22

mad little summer house built in the
yard back of his house where they
lived, and smoked his SSne tbere and
dreamed OF Berlin Also he planted
som, some Movers a2& some little trees. He
80 eneseband paid much attention
" .nen He studied good deal
n..1ey tactics and botany. But he
Neglected to provide the daily bread.
No one could blame him for it. 1t was
an oversight on his part. His wife
taught music lessons-she gave private
lessons and class lessons, and she
sometimes performed at concerts. Her
peculiar treatment of the Fifth Sym
phony did not initiate against her in
America.
In the course of the long and busy
years four children were born to the
Hertzers, but still the burden of the
breadwinning developed upon madam.
She never complained. 1t was the
greatest pleasure in the world for her
to return home and find the baron sit
ting there. She never saw man so
handsome. And he was always kind.
Sometimes he found odd jobs to do
bookkeeping, or work in railroad Of
flee, or book criticism. He was willing
but not eager-to work. Time was
apt to hang heavily upon his hands.
And SO it became his habit to amuse
by the making of little black devils.
He made them on anything that
CHANGED to be handy-an envelope, a
scrap of paper, playing card. or
book margin. He represented them in
every imaginable antic. He gave them
a thousand subtle Municipalities. His
mind appeared to be beset by them.
Many of his acquaintance had won
dered in the course of their intercourse
large. handsome head. Now they
seemed to be finding out. The little
fnky imps trouped out OF his Uranium
in such numbers that they threatened
to leave it quite void and empty.
The children were growing up, and
children cannot do that, no matter
how unobtrusive they endeavor to be,
without costing some one something.
These children developed talents, and
in utilitarian age talents cannot be
allowed to go to waste. Madam Hert-
ger considered it incumbent on her to
see that one studied dramatic express
sion, and another the violin, and an
other wood carving, and, another
modelling in clay, besides all of the
regulation studies. She brought a
great circle of friends about her, who
adored her Bohemian evenings, and
who considered the baron one of the
most interesting gentlemen they had
ever met.
The baron did not consider himself.
interesting. He was bored with him
self. He wondered if time would never
pass in America-and drew little black
devils while he was waiting to find out.
Among his many pleasing and heter-
odox friends who visited the Hertzers
was a newspaper man Of whimsical
turn Of mind. He had been the recipi-
ent on certain occasion Of pack Of
playing cards in which each club,
spade, heart or diamond was represent
ed by scarlet or black devils, and the
design upon the backs of the cards
was writing, twisting inferno Of the
same grotesque little creatures.
He looked at these long and appre-s
6Atiyely did the newspaper man. and
k
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-03-22

Boxing in the Chicago public schools
is approved by the superintendent AMI
the president of the board of education.
" is evident that the future citizen
5sof Chicago is going to be able to
knock out all competitors, no matter
what line they may pursue.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-03-22

We. the delegates of the party,
ia national convention assem- led bear
Ing fresh mandates from the sovereign
people. !" How many national plat
forms will begin like that this year?
Bearing fresh mandates from the SOW
ereign people" is the way it should be
in all of them. The delegates repre-
sent the people who, when choosing
them, instruct them what to do when
they get to the national convention.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-03-22

Readers OF Dickens will recall the
cure for cold used by Mrs. Nickleby,
and described by the loquacious per-
son as most extraordinary. The rem
sedy was first employed the day after
Christmas, and the middle of the fol-
lowing April the cold was gone If
only one-half of the cure-alls proposed
by bills pending in congress and in
the state legislatures could be expected
TO accomplish their purpose with like
magical efficiency!