davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-02-28

mated the idea Of using the nlnety-nlne-
year lease as basis for building opera
tons. He invented the process and put
up at least thirty buildings in the bust
ness district of the city. For ten years
the theory which he originated con-
trolled real estate values in the down
town district and led to the erection Of
three-quarters of the skyscrapers in
Chicago. Owings started practically
without dollar, but his dealings in the
business world brought him SO prom
inently before the public rs success
full promoter that he can, as soon as his
affairs in bankruptcy courts are set
tied, secure unlimited capital for new
start.
1t was he who brought to the West
the Idea of building skyscrapers. Ar
chitects refused, owing to wind pres
sure and to the quicksand Formation
upon which downtown buildings rested,
to be responsible for damages In case
the buildings were wrecked, but Ow.
ings accepted the responsibility ana
they were successfully erected.
Owing to unfortunate circumstances,
Owings was obliged to fail and, while
others have protited by his business sa-
gacity and become rich, Ire is today
acting as clerk in a brokers' office. That
his career will end in bankruptcy court
is not thought possible. as he has shown
himself to be financier of the first
order and one of the most remarkable
men the West has ever known.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-02-28
Total penrnxitx


While the administration ia mum.
bling vague threats of the terrible
things 1t will do to American citizens
II they don't stop daring to think; and
the newspaper lackeys howl that the
people who protest against war are
the only ones to blame for it-these
troubled gentlemen are forgetting the
chief offender. They want to get after
the Declaration of Independence, and
proceed against" 1t, and exclude it
from the mails, and let us know what
seditious, copper-head, traitorous
document it Is. And then the consti.
tuition, which is about as wicked. For
these two old-fashioned papers have
done more to encourage the Filipi-
nos" than all the anti-imperial speech
es of to-day-just as they inspired
Mexico, Central America, Peru, Chile
and all the other mainland colonies to
revolt from Spain; just as they to-day
inspire the people who protest against
war of conquest. These wicked
manifestos of human rights should be
suppressed. They make trouble, at
home and abroad-for those who VIC
late them. Let us wipe them out and
tie to Commerce and Chances for
American Capital.-Wilmington Del)
Justice.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-02-28
Candy for tha solliiera

Candy of good quality, consisting of
mixed chocolate creams. lemon drops,
cocoanut maroons and calculated fruit
drops, has been added to the regular
ration Of the American soldier. One
New York firm has shipped more than
fifty tons of confectionery during the
past year for the troops in the Philip
pines, Cuba and Porto Rico. The use
of candy as an army ration originated
In some experiments on the diet Of the
troops conducted by the German gov
eminent ten years ago. They showed
that the addition Of candy and choco-
late to the regular ration greatly i'm
proved the health and endurance Of the
troops using 1t. Since that time the
German government has issued cakes
of chocolate and limited amount OF
other confectionery. The Queen for
warded five hundred thousand pounds
of chocolate in half-pound packages US
a Christmas treat for the troops in the
Transvaal. American jam manufacture
ers are considering movement to add
Jam to the army ration. 1t having been
found wholesome for the British army.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-02-28
Finding the Diamonds.

t ia .rn
ut was her system that made Mrs.
Robinson what she was. IL a lie got
loose anywhere near she was up and
after It with anything she could lay her
hands on.
She showed you that lying didn't pay
when she was concerned. A lie turned
into serpent as soon as 1t got out of
your mouth, and you were glad to get
behind another.
Not to say that her system hadn't its
drawbacks. Every system has. And
the naked truth is sometimes as awful
thing-ten times more awful than any
lie you can think of at the time.
When Susan Jones came, however,
Mrs. Robinson had her work cut out.
The girl lied like an eel-there was no
catching hold Of her.
At first she Just chirped out lies as
light-hearted as a bird. "Pleas'm. 1t
were the cat" OF anything that came
uppermost. But the cat had way of
proving an abb that astonished Susan.
30 Susan got as cautious as charity,
and 1t would have done your heart good
to see the two at 1t. For Mrs. Robin
son had no sooner got the ferret of
truth into one hole than Susan was out
and in at another.
Anyone else would have got sick and
disgusted, but Mrs. Robinson didn't.
For" said she, "the girl has her
good points. and I'll make woman of
her."
And she succeeded, for Susan got
worn out by the sheer uselessness Of
the thing, and at last shut down in dis
gust. After that the girl did not depart
from the truth for six months, and then
she let off the awfulest lie Mrs. Robin
son had ever heard in her born dogs.
At least Mrs. Robinson thought 1t was.
1t happened like this. One morning
when Susan was in the coal cellar she
found lady's ring that dazzled your
eyes and took your breath away.
''It's one of them Scent things as you
can buy in any tinker's shop" she said
to herself. "Just lot O. rubbishy
glass. don't believe it's worth both
ering about.
She took 1t to her mistress, however.
Mrs. Robinson gave cry when she
saw the ring and started up with her
mouth open. ut looks like one of the
rings mentioned in my grandmother's
inventory" she said. 81 shouldn't won
der Tilt belongs to the lost set of dia-
monds."
Mrs. Robinson was widow and lived
with her brother John. Few men could
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-02-28
A Hero of the Mine.

In Rossmore mine, iii Pennsylvania,
there is celebrated mining mule, Old
Duke, by name. Old Duke has been
there for thirty years and has saved
many lives He has an instinct for fire
damp-the deadllest of all dangers that
threaten miners-which is marvellous.
Nothing else makes him uneasy. But
once he shifts the fire damp he bolts
for the lift. This gives the alarm, and
the men follow in his path.
They are not born in pits and caves,
these mules whose lives are passed be-
meath the earth. But they are used In
mining, and from the day when they
first enter the mine they never leave
their underground quarters until acct
dent, old age or lameness renders them
unfit for further work.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-02-28
ing to do. They lost sight Of him at the
foot of the stairs, but soon heard the

ing to do. They lost sight of him at the
foot of the stairs. but soon heard the
door of the coal cellar creaking on its
hinges. Stealing toward it they peered
through. He was inside working a
stone in the wall. which in few mo-
ments he dislodged and set down on the
floor
hole he had made, applied key to 1t,
raised the lid, and took some small
article out.
Then he replaced everything as 1t had
been before, and, carefully obliterating
all traces of his operations, left the
cellar.
AS he passed his sister and Susan
they saw that he carried the lost ring
between the foreHnger and thumb Of
his left hand.
He then made his way toward his
sisters room, into which he disappeared
for few seconds. Coming out again
he mounted the stairs in the direction
Of the garnet.
ITS no use following him." said Mrs.
Robinson. II know the key he used
and can get 1t In the morning."
Mr.. John was coming down the garrett
stairs again, and they both held their
breath in anxiety.
He came all right till he got about
halfway down, and then, whether one
Of his heels interviewed tack or some
thing, no one will ever know, but all at
once his legs shot out in front of him
and he went sailing down the stairs,
missing one step more at every bump.
With the supernatural dexterlty
which characterlzes the somnambulist,
he managed to keep the candle In all the
time, and now set 1t down in the lobby
with a clank right end up.
Mr.. John rose with his face quite seri-
GUS. and without rubbing himself or
anything, went along the passage and
disappeared into his own bedroom.
ut Is evidently not the first time he
has walked in his Sleep" said the old
lady. HE must have visited the box
before. That Is how the ring came to
be found. 1t must have dropped on the
floor. To think that never had the
slightest suspicion? Susan. can you
ever forgive me?"
"Yes'm."
There. you see the ring on the toilet
table, just-where left 1t the night 1t
went amissing," remarked Mrs. Robin
son. as they entered her bedroom. "rhe
lost diamonds are in the box which is
hidden in the wall. saw them. Get
to bed. and we'll see them in the morn
Ing"
And they did see them, and wonder
full set of diamonds they WERE A beau
tiful. dazzling, shimmering necklace.
and bracelets, and rings, all as set forth
in the inventory.
ut was really you who found them,"
said Mrs. Robinson to Susan, land I'll
have them valued. and you'll get your
legal reward and more. I'll pay your
mothers rent as long as she liyes."-
London Weekly Telegraph.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-02-28
DISTANCES in SOUTH AFRICA.
They Often Appear to BE Somewhat
ConfnsinE,


Confusing.
The question of distances in South
Africa appears to be somewhat confus-
Ing. The figures here given are taken
from official sources and may be relied
upon. The distances in which the most
Interest Is taken are those between
Cape Town, Durham, and Port Eliza
beth, the main British bases on the
seacoast, and the towns of Ladysmith,
Kimberley and Mafeking. In each case
is also printed, for purposes of COM
parlson, the name of some town or city
which lies at about the same distance
from Chicago.
The distance from Cape Town to
Kimberley by railroad is CAT miles.
From Chicago to Minneapolis Is only
421 miles. while. continuing the jour-
ney, 1t Is but 61S miles to WATERFOWL,
s. d. From Cape Town to Mafeking
is $40 miles, which is forty-two miles
less than the distance from Chicago to
New York. II the English, moving
from Cape Town, should start to cap.
ture the capital of the South African
Republic they would be obliged to trav-
ell 1,040 miles to reach Pretoria, which
Is practically equivalent to the distance
between Chicago and Denver, 1883
miles, and is 11S miles further than
from Chicago to New Orleans. In a
movement from Cape Town to Bloem-
fontein, the capital of the Orange Free
State. $50 miles would have to be COW
cred, which is more than equal to the
distance from Chicago to Des Moines,
Iowa, and return.
From Durham, the chief sea port of
the English colony of Natal, 1t is 1s9
miles by rail to Ladysmith, while from
Chicago to Springfield, the capital of
the State, is 1856 miles. If an expedition
against the capital of the Transvaal re-
public should be started from Durham
1t woulu be obliged to cover 511 miles
to reach Pretoria. From Chicago to
Omaha would be shorter journey by
nineteen miles.
Port Elizabeth Is another sea port
with railroad connections which might
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-02-28

In the midst of Republican prosper
ity it is rather embarrassing for them
to contemplate strike of 10000 mi
ners, who have for months been beg
ging the coal operators of Pennsylva-
MIA to grant them living wages. The
coal operators are too busy making
profits for the trust interests and have
refused to even confer with the miners.
The men have national organization
and have about concluded that If 1t Is
question of starving anyhow they
may as well go on strike and see
how that extreme measure will appeal
to those who are reaping the profits
from their labor.-Sioux Falls Press.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-02-28

girl has been making progress, and the
prison would put an end to all that. 1
believe she will give us the ring yet.
But 1t would be wrong to keep her here.
She shall pack up to-day and leave to.
morrow morning."
And Susan got notice accordingly.
Il knew you wouldn't believe me-"
said the girl, gulping dewn sob.
Then why did you tell me such a
thing?"
Because It's true"
Don't say any more. | don't want to
hear 1t. ! don't suppose you Will ex-
pect any wages"
Susan turned CHASTITY pale. 81 must
have them" she gasped. "My mother
needs the money to pay her rent. II
she doesn't get 1t they will turn her out
into the street, and she's not strong"
She doesn't intend to try to sell the
ring-at least not yet" thought Mrs.
Robinson. IF give her her wages she
won't need to do 1t, and she'll send 1t
back"
AS the old lady lay awake in the mid
die Of the night, the door was cautious
ly pushed open and Susan came in ST.
lently.
Mrs. Robinson, are you awaken"
The question came in terrified whis-
per. Susan's eyes were staring out Of
her head, and her teeth were chatter
ing.
what Is the matter. Susan?"
Master has gone up to the garrett
with a candle. l think there is some
thing wrong"
Mrs. Robinson came hastily over her
bed and followed Susan nolselessly
along the passage. A glimmer of light
shone through the banisters above.
Mrs. Robinson saw that her brother
was coming downstairs, staring
straight ahead with his eyes dilated.
He approached as stately as a wax
figure, and almost brushed against
them. The light Of the candle fell full
on their white, upturned faces, as he
passed, but he took no notice Of them.
( Down the next flight Of stairs he
went, his sister and Susan following,
for they wanted to see what he was 60
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-02-28
He Rose to the ocoa.io..

There was bit of fence opposite
Rowley's drug store in T, Kan, and
as 1t proved convenient to loungers ii
was broken down more than once. The
owner, after putting 1t in order sec.
ond time, fastened barbed wire on the
top. There was fun for the clerks for
while watching those who, when lust
about to sit down, suddenly concluded
that business called them elsewhere.
One day farmer in from the country
lounged up to the fence, and, without
noticing the barber wire. drew himself
up and sat down squarely. He didn't
jump, he didn't swear; he merely got up
and remarked coolly: 81 think I've,
dwelt on that point long enough.o-
Harper's Bazaar.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-02-28
be used as base for military opera
tons. From Port Elizabeth to Pretoria
Is 74O miles and to Bloemfontein is 45C

be used as a base for military opera
tons. From Port Elizabeth to Pretoria
Is 74O miles and to Bloemfontein is 45O
miles. Comparative distances are from
Chicago to Baltimore, sol miles, and
from Chicago to Kansas City, 4ss miles
From Delagoa Bay. in Portuguese terri
tory, the port from which the Beers
have received their supplies and NUM-
tons, to Pretoria Is 394 miles. thirty
miles further than from Chicago to
Cairo, Ill.
When, soon after Oct 10, 1899. The
date of the Boer ultlmatum. the forces
Of the STransyaal moved down into Ma.
tal from their headquarters at Joaan-
nesburg, they advanced 252 miles be.
fore they met with the British Mt Glen
zoe. Then, after the fighting at Dun.
dee, which is on spur of the main
railroad, they made further advance
of forty-two miles to Ladysmith.
Thence, still following the railroad
they moved south sixteen miles and
succeeded in destroying the railroad
bridge at Colenso over the Tugeln
River, thus cutting the line of commr-
nication with Durham. 173 miles away.
Chicago Tribune.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-02-28

f. =
look wiser than Mr.. John when he tried.
His spectacles made him look like Sol
ONION. When he came home he put
them on and raked out the Inventory,
and placed his forefinger on an exact
description of the ring. 1t was valued
at 5000.
After they had all wondered awhile
they put on last years clothes, got can
dies and went into the cellar, but
though they shifted the Goals about for
hours they got nothing but their faces
blacked. Mr.. Johns was the blacklist.
When she had got herself washed
and busted Mrs. Robinson put the ring
on and wore 1t till night, but before re-
firing to rest she put 1t on her toilet
table In case 1t got lost in bed.
In the morning the ring was gone.
Susan took red face as soon as her
mistress came down stairs. Mrs. Rob.
3nson just stood still and looked at her
for moment. and then she said:
Susan, what have you done with the
rlng?''
II never touched 1t, ma'am," was
Susan's reply, and the girl sat right
down on her chest and burst into tears.
"Then what are you crying for? In
Quired her mistress.
But Susan sobbed on and said moth
ing.
s "I'll give you an hour to make up yout
mind about It," said Mrs. Robinson.
You're not to do any work for that
time"
Susan sat on the chest the whole sixty
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-02-28
1t Would. Thouvb

1t was in one of the Majestic Building
elevators. 1t was filled, was the car,
and as 1T happened no one wanted to
altght below the twelfth floor.
AS the lift shot upward man of ru-
raj appearance exclaimed, AS he felt
his stomach sinking into bis boots:
"Whoopee! Gosh, eff this here thing
busted 1t 'w'd be HI, w'u'dn't it?"
And fat man shot him glance and
replied. soto voce: I'VE, never talk Of
such things here
And when the car stopped the others
stomach jumped up with an accom-
panying ugh" to where II belonged
according to the law Of physiology
Detroit Free Press.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-02-28

Flocks of poultry are sometimes I'm.
profitable because the laying hens are
compelled to support those that pro-
duce nothing. If the young pullets are
Matched early in the year and kept in
a growing condition they should begin
laying by November But 1t seems that
with many focks only a few begin
laying so early In the winter season.
This is due to not culling out the flock
and disposing of those that have not
made suitable growth with the others.
When Matching early pullets only, eggs
from selected hens should be used, so
as to improve the laying qualities of
the members Of the flock.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-02-28
WHITTIER ARE WE DRlETlNeq

That we are on the shoals of adver-
slty Is made plain by the New Orleans
Times-DemOcrat. 1t punctures the bub-
bic of prosperity and gives a resume of
the causes which are bringing the ma
ton to certain ruin.
''The present industrial status in the
United States is a striking illustration
of the aphorism that things are not
what they seem;' for, as a matter of
fact, the magnates of the trusts are
taking advantage of the prosperity that
followed in the wake of the higher
prices of grain In the Letter year to
rivet the letters of producer and con-
sumner alike. In truth, the entire or
ganism of our economic and political
life is undergoing metamorphosis
which will not be apparent to the gen
eral eye, until the cycle of events shall
have once more made the masses of n
critical temper. The average man has
neither inclination nor leisure for phil
osophical investigation. From empu-
ness of stomach, as a rule. comes the
fullness of heart. out of which the
mouth speaketh.
"In every direction one sees certain
tendencies at work. In the first place,
the control of capital is passing into
fewer and fewer hands. Giant cor
porations seek to establish monopolies
in various lines of trade With each
sunset the individual is of lighter
weight in the balances of life, the will
of the multimillionaire being thrown
Into the opposite scale, after the his
toric fashion of the sword of Brennus.
Doctrines of absclutism are boldly
preached which would not have been
endured, decade ago. 1t is contended,
indeed, that the average American
stands In direst want of a guardian,
and that the trusts respond to the need,
as the scabbard protects the blade
from the rust. Russell Sage maintains
the thesis, in its baldest form, but the
monopoly's real weapons of precision
are forged in the silence of academic
retreats"
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-02-28
Opal and Bad Luck.

The superstition associating opals
with baleful influence Is all the talk of
Hagerstown. katherine Reimshue,
young society woman. became engaged,
and her tiance presented her with an
opal ring. She was superstitious, but
finally accepted the ring. Her uneasi.
ness grew into fear that the stone por-
tended some calamity. Her lover Of
ferd to exchange the ring for another,
but she declared the mischief was al
ready wrought. Shortly after receiving
the ring she was sitting before an open
fire warming her hands. Suddenly the
stone burst. Within month after the
bursting of the opal her lover died sud
denly.-Indianapolis special to Chicago
Tribune.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-02-28
How Corn should BE Planted.


For five years have Travelled extern
tention directed to listed corn, says w.
L. Wilkins, in the Nebraska Farmer.
have Travelled not as public philan-
thropist, but as selfish business man,
and as the proper planting and care of
listed corn tends to promote my own
interests, have watched the question
with as much care as l am capable of
exercising, and every experience con-
vinces me that while difference in loca.
ton or ground may change the rule,
generally corn Is planted too close to-
gether in the hills, but not in the rows.
Corn planted not over feet inches
in the rows, and with not more thaa
two kernels in the hill, and those vt
least 10 inches apart, yields the great
est amount to the acre.
Farmers whose early education in
farming established habits of planting
corn in wide straight rows, not because
the corn needed 1t, but to enable them
to cross cultivate with two horses, have
been slow to realize the waste of ground
and time thus made necessary.
There is no Disgusting the fact that
corn listed not over 40 inches wide, ant
with one kernel in place and from -
to 10 inches apart, properly cultivated.
will thereby utilize the moisture in a
dry season in making corn instead Of
stalks and will yield more corn to the
acre than is possible to grow any other
way
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-02-28

with narrow cover. The collector
may sit on stool behind the mail box.
When he jumps from cart to open
street box the stool, by the operation
of a spring. drops out of the way.
The men who collect the mail receive
the same salaries rs letter-carriers,
with an additional $500 year for buy
Ing horses and wagons for collecting
mail. These new wagons cost $75 each.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-02-28
Fatteninx Cattle,


A fat steer of 1000 pounds weight Is
said to have in 1t 500 pounds of water,
about twenty-five pounds of nitrogen,
eighteen pounds of phosphoric acid and
two pounds of potash. To buy this
nitrogen to return to the soil would cost
about $3.50, and the phosphoric acid
would cost about 81. In selling such
an animal raised on the farm and farm
products about $3.50 worth of fertiliz-
ing material ls taken. If bran, linseed
meal or other grain is bought to feed it.
more than this would probably be
added to the farm, and it would be
growing richer, while IL the hay and
grain 1t consumed had been sold off the
farm, it would have been robbed of
much more.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-02-28
4 REMARKABLE FlNANclER:
A Chicago Man Whose Liabilities
rmnunA 70 Over rs 600. 0O0

A Chicago Man Whose Liabilities
Amount to Over $5,OOO,OO
A Chicago man remarkable In the
world Of finance Is Francis P. Owlngs.
He is remarkable not for his vast
wealth. but for the enormous debts he
amassed, his liabilities amounting to
exactly $5.584,917. The fact that he
owes this huge sum makes the situation
more notable than If he had accumu-
lated the amount in the same period, .
decade. While 1t is, to the majority, q
hard matter to become rich, 1t is grant
ed that 1t is easier of accomplishment
than to get so deeply in debt as has
Owings.
The story of the man who deals In
debts SO splendidly and who has failed
on the most magnificent scale yet,
known is part of Chicago's history,
Francis P. Owings is the man who orig