davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-02-13
The Benefit of So Do
ing Discussed.
Citizens Committee Thinks Poisoning
Rats Better Than the
Risk of Plague,

The question Of the advisability of
killing rats by poison is doubted by
some, who explain that the wholesale
use Of poison is liable to bring about
fatal results to others. A member of
the Citizens Sanitary Committee called
attention to communication in an
evening paper and makes the follow
ing statement in rebuttal:
"A man signing himself 'Anti-Rat'
has made objection to rat poisoning
on the ground that there is danger of
the rats dying in the houses. The Cit
liens Sanitary Committee wishes to
reply that it is better to have a dead
rat IN the house than a dead man.
nere IS, of course, some danger that
rats may die in the house, but there
is also danger of their bringing the
plague into the house before they are
dead. Between the two there is no
comparison as to which is the most
dangerous.
The objection is also made that if
rat has the plague the poison may
kill him in the house, in which case
there is danger. If the rat has the
plague he will die anyhow; if he takes
poison in addition, it does not make
| him any more liable to die in the house
than if he dies from the plague there.
If it were possible to kill all the rats
without the use of poison, it would be
the proper thing to do; but, as every
one knows, few rats can be caught in
traps. The committee is still left with
the proposition that other means must
be used. Poison is the most effective
on rats. The danger from infection by
rats is greater than that caused by rats
dying in the houses; and there is no
comparison between the isolated cases
of people eating rat poison and the
great good accomplished by the whole
sale poisoning of rodents during an
epidemic like the present.
There is no absolute safety in either
course. Safety is only a comparative
condition. Some people have been
killed by falling stars, but that is no
reason why the community should car
ry cast-iron umbrellas to protect itself
= concensus of the best medical opinion
OF the world is that if the rats can be
killed the danger from plague is kept
at its minimum. We cannot afford to
be scared from following good advice
| by other imaginary and minor evils -
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-02-13
LAMP
SHADES
MADE
TO ORDER.

Having engaged the services of
cisco, manufacturer of Artistic Lamp
Shades Of all kinds. we are now pre-
pared to take orders in this line and
invite our customers to call and inspect
samples of her work.
ELECTRIC SHADES, CANDLE
SHADES and LAMP SHADES, made
On short notice.
We carry large stock of LAMPS
and LAMP FITTINGS.
Have you tried our special brand of
CHIMNEYS?
You are spending more time in your
kitchen now than usual and you find
that many improvements are needed.
We have a complete stock of utensils,
including many novelties and labor
saving devices.
Does your stove suit you? Are you
burning too much wood? Does it
smoke? Does it bake well?
Perhaps we can help you. No charge
is made for advice.
We are sole agents for JEWEL
STOVES, for wood or coal; "GURNEY'
ICLEANABLE REFRIGERATORS
NEW WICKLESS" BLUE FLAME
OIL STOVES.
The Housefurnishing Goods Depart
ment is on the second floor. You can
take the safety elevator.
Store is open from 10 a. m. to p. M.
until the quarantine is raised. After
that we will be looking for business
from z a. m. to $50 p. m.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-30
WORRY AND ITS ANTIDOTE.
food Advice Which Is Addressed
Mainly to Women.
Agnes H. Morton.

Agnes II. Morton.
III asked to state in a single word the
prime cause OF their sleeplessness. nine out
of ten would say, 81 was worried." What
- worry! Anxious thought out OF place; at
times when II bears no fruit in definite plan
ana practical action. Worry is extremely
coihpiex out Its conspicuous elements are
perplexity and indecision. coupled with
dread. OF contingencies: for, il one can
grasp the situation and decide what to do.
does not worry vanish? The man who can
settle overnight his exact plans for to-
morrow, goes to sleep. Study the way in
which worry operates. and you discover its
elements. Its perplexity wanders over the
nelo OF vague possibility; it's indecision
moves from point to point, uncertain where
70 drive the first stake: while its appre-
hensiveness diverts the mind from even
Ihese highly surveys by its suggestions of
Ialiure or disaster in whatever might be
mpt In this train Of speculation,
without beginning and without end. the
brain is like an engine running under full
mead with the power transferred TO the
-ldler.' 1t is this kind of meditation that
produces morbid mental activity and the
nervous wakefulness that, long continued.
becomes habitual insomnia.
Mental anxiety often leads 10 neglect of
health, and a depressed physical condition
IN turn reacts upon the mind. Many per-
sons when worried or grieved retire, nom
lially to rest, but actually to bury hot
faces in smothering pillows and weep hys-
terically until eyelids are infamed and the
whole body feverish and wretchedIy un-
comfortable. This is the worst thing that
they could do, mentally or physically. IA
good cry" is now and then quite a solid
comfort, as Tom Hood has declared; but
only under certain conditions, and those
not tragic. Rather IL is an excess Of ten
der emotion that thus finds wholesome
relief. But when assailed by stern ankle
ties, beware of tears. If you feel them
starting, drive them back with a smile.
Instead of letting ~sleepless worry make
you Ill. take a soothing. refreshing bath,
and attend TO every hygienic and esthetic
detail of the toilet; then clothe this physi-
cal perfection of daintiness in the daintiest
linen and the most stylish and becoming
outer garments. The effect is conscious
dignity sustained by physical presence. In
thus pausing TO adorn the temple you havs
done honor TO the soul. To be well groomed
and well dressed is one expression of that
self-respect without which no character is
strong. Add to the mental benefit the
physical effect of the bath, and the condi-
tons for restful sleep are largely attained.
When mind and body are in a normal state
the giant worry seems to dwindle. And
when. refusing to vanish altogether. IL
threatens you with a sleepless night, you
can look it in the face and say, 81 know
just what you are. and the extent Of your
power to harass me; since you have nothing
new to divulge at present I will Danish you
and go to Sleep" II is an audacious worry
that hangs around after a philosophical dis
miSSal.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-30

Saturday Evening Post.

Several hundred years ago Sir Walter
Raleigh made the definition which will al
ways exist. He said: THE difference be-
tween a rich mar and a poor man is this
the former eats when he pleases and the
latter when he can get it." In the natural
course OF things the poor will always be
more or Lees at the mercy of the rich, and
while civilization is doing great things for
us. building klorious monuments in art and
industry, and increasing almost incredibly
tho luxuries and conveniences of life, at the
same time il is multiplying the poor. Pow
erty is always hard, but the most awful
type of Il is that of which millions are
victims-the lot of those who work and get
barely enough to keep body and soul to-
gether. Most Of them get a Christmas din
ner. but the other 1904 meals know neither
turkey nor dessert 1t is the gradual i'm
rrovement of these that is the problem In
the religion and humanity OF the day. The
safety and the true progress of any nation
are not found in the prosperity of the few.
but in the soundness and the happiness of
the many, and it is hard TO be either sound
or happy on one good meal a year.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-30
Essential Thing I'm Life Photography.
Clifton Johnson. in Saturday Evening Post.

Clifton Johnson. In saturday Evening Post.
The most essential thing of all in life
photography is that the persons photo
graphed shall seem unconscious Of the pres
ence of the camera. That they should
really be so Is seldom possible except In a
crowd. The huriyburly of a city street
offers a fair chance for concealment to the
man with a hand camera. though no mat
ter how cautious he is the prints all too
often show some pair of eyes turned sus-
piciously on the instrument. But in the
country he cannot help being conspicuous,
and he has TO confess his purposes and ask
his subjects to pose This Is perhaps just
as we'll. for ii Is next TO impossible, with
a hasty snap shot. to make the surround
ings count for all they might in relation to
the figures. One does best when he has
chosen with some elaboration the position
for both his camera and those who ere
posing.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-30

I said unto myself. IL I were dead.
What would befall these children
What would be
Their fate. who now are looking up &c me
For help and fUrtherance? Their lives. / said.
Would be a volume wherein / have read
But the first chapters. and no longer see
To read the rest OF their dsar history,
So full OF beauty and 50 full CT dread.
Be comforted: the world is very old.
And generations pass as they have passed.
A troop OF shadows moving with the sun.
Thousands OF times has the old tale been told:
The world belongs TO those who come the last:
Ihey viii ind hope and strength. as we have
done.
-Henry w. Lonsfslow.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-07-17
CHAPTER TX.
KIRK PREVENTS A LYNcnINa.

KIRK PREVENTS A LYNCHING.
AS Malcolm Kirk and Carver ran on
directly in the face of that wild line Of
fire and smoke there was only one SUI
preme thought in the mind of Malcom.
He saw the boys mother, and while he
ran he heard her voice as she had ap-
pealed to him in his study.
lnstinctiyely the two men bore off
from the road over which the horses
had entered the town toward swale
where the grass and rosin weeds grew
deep, and it was but a few feet from
the beaten track of the prairie road
that they saw the body of Philip Bar
ton, lying face downward, the hands
clinched and holding tightly broken
piece of the lines of the harness.
No time then to stop and ask wheth-
err he We're living, but up with him be-
tween them and back to the town with
all the power of their pulsing man
hood.
Carver was entirely sober now. He
was naturally man of great muscular
endurance. Malcom had kept up his
physical training in his work with the
Eoung men in the church.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-07-17

Not word was said. They realized
that the time was short, and they rnn
with their unconscious, heavy burden
between them.
Meanwhile men, women and children
had, organized in desperate effort to
save the town. There was one fact in
their favor. 1t had been the custom
for those living on the edge of the town
to picket their animals out on the prai-
RE near by. The grass was cropped
short on this account. Under any or
binary circumstances this fact would
have insured safety from any usual
fire. But the whole prairie was aflame,
everything was as dry as two months
of drought and hot winds could make
1t, and water for long time had been
very scarce in wells and cisterns. Back
Of all that advancing line Of fire was a
prnirie gale that shot the flames
straight forward, and old settlers, some
of whom had seen the great fires in Da-
kota In the early sixties, looked at the
sight now before them with grave
faces.
Dorothy came to the door Of the par
sonage, stood there moment and then
ran, with other women, her neighbors,
down to the main street.
Bucket lines were being formed from
all the wells and cisterns that were
available. She instantly joined with
the others in handing the water. A
large company of men armed with wet
cloths to whip out the fire began to
form as far from the houses as they
dared. 1t was too late now to pillow
fire breaks and too windy to make 8
back fire. The only hope that any one
had was that the shortness Of the grass
near the town would check the fury OF
the advancing whirlwind of fame.
"Have you seen Mr.. Kirk?" Dorothy
asked as she first Joined the others
And they told her. Her face blanched
and her lips breathed prayer as she
worked on silently. She knew that he
whom she never loved as she loved
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-07-17

from the fires, when through the dust,
racing in from the prairie, came
steam of powerful farm horses drawing
an empty hay wagon The lines were
trailing on the ground, and the harness
was broken, and as they rushed by
some one shouted, That's Phil Bar
toms teamv'
A little farther down the street the
horses were caught and stopped.
Kirk ran up with a crowd of other
men.
mo signs of Phil anywhere" said
one of the men who had helped to
catch the team.
Hes probably been thrown out
somewhere"
| Drunken men never get killed."
II wouldn't give much for his
chances If he fell Off in the gully grass
over there said another. pointing to-
ward the district from which the
horses had come into the town.
Malcom's mind was in whirl.
HE may be near by. We ought not
to leave him without looking for him."
| AS he spoke he heard the boys moth
err saying as she faced Dorothy In THE
study, my boy may never be saved"
We've got our hands full looking
after the town. We might as well
face that fact; no rain for two
months, water all out of cisterns and
! low in wells and that fire coming
down on us 40 miles an hour" said
one Of the business men.
Kirk looked around him. The citi-
zens were coming out of the stores
and houses, and the whole town was
reused to face and fight the coming
danger, for it was true, unless the
wind changed or died down, Conrad
was threatened with the fate which
that year befell more than one ranch
and settlement
II believe Dorothy would tell me
to CO." he said to himself. Then
he spoke aloud: 81 don't feel like Civ
ing young Barton up If he is anywhere
near. We can perhaps reach him be-
fore the fire reaches us. Who will go
with me?'
81 will" said Carver, who was at
Malcom's elbow.
"Come on them" Malcolm cried. And
together the two men started on run
in the direction from which the horses
had come in.
WAS Barton friend of yours?''
asked Carver, as he painted by the side
Of the minister.
mo; only knew him slightly"
what are you trying to find him
for?"
For his mother"
The men ran on. Over on the near
horizon line of flame and smoke over
25 miles long marched down toward
them and the town of Conrad, with q
prairie gale behind it and human love
and courage in it's path.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-07-17

T. =
"NIrs. Barton, it is possible that your
boy has gone home since you left"
Eyes, yes!" cried the woman, snatch
ing at any hope. IT will go back. If
the fire should come into The Forks
ought to be there to see that my other
boy has help in getting the stock be-
hind the fire guards. We plowed ours
early this year on account of the dry
weather. We lost all our haystacks
one September from fires"
She drove out of town, after thank
ing Kirk earnestly for all that he had
done, and Malcolm promised to contin-
ue the search after dinner.
He was just starting home, after
asking several men if there was really
any immediate danger to the town
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-07-17

bet1Ceen them.
him at that moment was in the line Of
duty, and she would not have called
him back from it. But her heart cried
out for help, and she agonized for him
| whom her soul dearly loved.
| Down came the great wall of fire and
smoke. The hot air scorched the faces
of the fire fighters. Dim figures out on
| the advance line were seen desperately
struggling with the element. The town
was enyeloped in smoke and burned
out ashes of prairie grass that sifted
over. the workers until the faces and
hands of all were black and grimy.
| Scores Of men rushed upon the fire line
as 1t came on, checked some by the
short grass, and stamped out the
| flame with their feet, with rags, with
old brooms, with pieces of carpeting
and bedding torn from their own
houses. The outstanding line of fight
ers was forced back, burned and ex-
hausted, but the fire had been checked,
and as 1t broke out in new places fresh
groups threw themselves upon It and
fought for the life of the town.
Dorothy could not remember how
she came to be with the fighters on the
! prairie instead of with the water car
riers, but 1t was undoubtedly her anx-
! iety for Malcom's safety that urged
her out toward the fire. Her dress had
caught on fire and been put out several
times. Some one had thrown water
ever her, but she had hardly known It.
She worked with all the others in ST.
lent frenzy. Suddenly she was con-
scious OF a tall, awkward figure near
her, looming up through the smoke,
thrashing at the fire with powerful en-
ergy, q very incarnation of resistance
and stubborn refusal to surrender.
"MalcomV' she cried, and, faint as
J she was, she felt new life ut the sight
| of him.
Dorothy! Thank God, we got back
with him just in time"
There was no time to say more. The
danger was still great Near together
now, husband and wife fought on. The
| citizens of Conrad afterward bore wit
ness to the way in which they fought.
Say did you see Mr.. Kirk?" A
group of men at the postoffice, several
days after the great fire. were talking
I itoyer.
These New England folks beat ev-
cry other kind when it comes to never
/ giving up"
/ "Yes, or fighting the devil. Our min
lister beats all the rest ut that" said
4 Carver, who spoke Of Kirk as "oui
minister" although he had never beer
member of any church and rarely
went to hear even Malcom preach. But
4 it was tribute to the hold Malcon
had secured ON such men that they
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-07-17
CHAPTER <.

DOROTHY PROVES HERSELF A HELPMEET.
Next day Malcolm Kirk had the mel
ancholy pleasure of taking Philip Bar
ton out to 1.-THE Forks" lie had re-
covered sufficiently to be moved. and
Malcolm borrowed a spring wagon and
placed him in it comfortably. He COM
planned of feeling queer in his back,
and the doctor told Kirk before he
started that it would not be at all un-
expected II Barton should be paralyz-
ed. "In fact, Mr. Kirk, my examine
ton makes it almost certain that the
boy will probably never recover so as
to use the lower part of his body. 1t
seems probable that the wheels of the
hay wagon passed over him after he
fell out"
The prairie was one vast burned
stretch of plain, with the road gray
and distinct through it. Philip Barton
lay back on the cot that had been ar
ranged in the wagon box and looked up
at Malcolm with white. strained face
as he drove slowly along over the
smooth, elastic prairie road.
a. llSl aiaASohi oIoNC Ob
The boy seemed to be quite comforta-
BILE. but unwilling to talk. and during
the first two miles hardly word was
spoken. Then Malcolm stopped the
horses and bent down to arrange some
part of the cot. When he had finished
am. gathered up the lines to go OF
again, young Barton spoke.
you were one of the men that fount
me and brought me into the town, Mr.
Kirk?" The boy had asked it twice
before.
YES" replied Malcolm, smiling. "Yor
can't imagine what great joy it was
to me when we found you"
And Carver was the other man7
| Eyes.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-07-17

Chap VI.-Kirk proposes marriage to
Dorothy and is accepted. They are
soon married and go to live in the lit
tie Kansas town where Kirk has a
church.
Chap VIT.-Their first born child
dies.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-07-17

Father. For the first time she saw her
baby surrounded by the infinite love,
and when she came back to her work
in the kitchen there were hope, immor-
tai hope, and large measure of the
peace Of Christ in her heart.
Malcolm Kirk got into the farm wag-
on with Mrs. Barton, and they drove
down to the main business street Of
Conrad.
"Now, Mrs. Barton" Malcom had
said, "if you will wait outside I'll go
into thu saloons and gee te can find
your boy. While I'm looking you
might question passersby and ask
them II they have seen the hay wagon
and horses anywhere"
She thanked him gratefully, and he
noted that even in the burning sun her
thin, sorrowful figure trembled and
shivered, and her lips quivered as if
she were cold. His compassion for her
motherhood increased every moment.
God help her." he said as he stepped
down out of the wagon. "This boy
is one of the lost ones in this town
that Dorothy and pledged ourselves
three years ago to rescue. Heaven
give me strength and wisdom to make
that promise good
He had never been inside of saloon
in his life. He shrank from the ordeal
before him with all the shuddering of
highly sensitive spirit in the presence
of an ugly, repulsiye, hideous evil. But
he went at once into the first saloon
on the main street and stopped inside
near the door and looked around him.
1t was not yet 10 o'clock in the morn
ing, but there were q dozen men and
boys in the room, which was quite
large. seated with stools and furnished
with small, round tables.
At first his entrance attracted no at.
tention. A few Of the men were
lounging at the bar. The rest were
seated at the tables. But as he re.
NAMED by the door two or three OF
those nearest him turned and looked al
him. One Of the men was laborer
who had several times been employed
by Malcom in odd jobs about the house
Instantly Kirk walked over to him
and held out his hand. Carver, dc
you know Mrs. Barton's boy? Philip
is his name. She is looking for him
He left home Saturday and she is
sure he is In one Of the saloons some
where"
The man looked very much embar.
raised. He shuffled his feet neryously
in the dirty sawdust under the table.
Il saw him yesterday. He was in
Valmer's place in the next blocs."
"Thank you," said Malcolm slowly
"Can any of you gentlemen tell me
anything about him? Has any one
aaan him today ~ 49,
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-07-17

Malcolm KIRK.
A Tale Of Moral tIeroism In Overcoming |
BY CHARLES M. SHELDON

Author OF SIN His "Crufon Philip Strongn
Hardy's Seven
COPYRIGHT. 1900 By ADVANCE PUBLISHING 90.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-07-17

Chap. III.-The woman whom Kirk
is called to attend, dies leaving little
baby motherless and without friends.
Kirk cares for the child and enlists the
sympathy of the passengers who raise
purse for it.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-07-17

Continued on page 12.).
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-07-17

Chap IV.-Francis Raleigh makes a
sketch of Kirk with the baby and
sends it to Dorothy. Kirk spends his
year in Europe proftably. He writes
report Of his work and it is so good
that the seminary has it published. He
comes home and learns that Dorothy S
father has failed in business.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-07-17

lllll lllIIIl
SYNOPSIS.


Chapter I.-Malcom Kirk is just
graduating from Herman seminary.
He is awkward and red-haired, but has
brains. He wins the German scholar
ship, but has received no call from a
church as many of his classmates have.
His commencement address is followed
with especial interest by Francis
Raleigh and Dorothy Gilbert. just
after the exercises man follows him
to his room to see him ON business of
Importance.
Chapter H.-Kirk receives call
from Kansas mission church. He ac-
cepts on condition that he may go to
Europe on his scholarship for years
study. Before he goes he calls on
Dorothy Gilbert and tells her that he
loves hers She makes no reply but al
lows him to carry away with him a
miniature of her. He sails for Europe.
On the same steamer is Francis
Raleigh, who has been refused by
Dorothy as lover. Kirk is called to
the steerage to minister to the wants
of sick woman.