davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1900-10-20
ONLY A CROOKED CENT.
When the Young Woman Thought It
Was Gold, She Got Nervous.

Was Gold, She Got Nervous.
The car had just rounded dead
mans curve" at Fourteenth street.
when a daintily clad young woman
swished something out of her hand
which as 1t struck the street was fol-
lowed by sharp metallic sound.
what was that you threw away, my
dear?' asked her companion, another
girl about the same age.
Money" laconically responded the
thrower.
Money! continued her companion
in a Mortified tone Of voice. "Why, 1t
sounded like gold"
'My graciousw shrieked the thrower.
"Have l thrown away one Of those
goldpiecesT
BY this time several Of the passen-
gers had arisen from their seats and
were looking in an indignant way at
the conductor for not stopping the car.
He, however, was one Of those high
collared, stoical young men who boss
things on the Broadway cars, and the
excitement created by the money
thrower did not cause him to turn Q
hair. All this time the car was bowl
ing as merrily along as Broadway cars
ever do bowl, and it was getting far
Their and farther away from the mon
ey. One or two of the passengers were
about to jump off the car, but then
they thought better Of 1t and turned
their gaze anxiously on the young wo-
man, who was hunting frantically
through her purse. Just as 1t seemed
the strain would be too much for the
excited passengers to bear longer the
fair thrower looked up smillngly at her
companion and murmured sweetly:
'It's-all right, my dear. 1t wasn't .
goldplece after ALL"
"What was 1t. thenY asked the sec
ond young woman.
"Only crooked penny" replied the
II always throw away crook
ed pennies for luck"
Then both girls softly giggled, while
the other passengers, looking both fool
lsh and disguised. resumed their seats.
New York Tribune.
Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1900-10-20
ORIGIN OF THE TERM MOB"
Used In It's First Meaning In Time Of
Chaucer.

CnauceE.
AS indicating the populace, proven
bially tickle and easy to be moved (mo-
bile. from Latin mobillis). the express
sion 1.-The mobile people" is as old as
the time of Chaucer but in its later
sense, that Of the disorderly crowd.
and In It's contracted form, 'mob," It Is
not older than the postrestoration pc
Rod. In Roger North's Examen. 1740.
reference is made to the Green Ribbon
club, 1892, and the writer adds:
81 may note that the rabble first
changed their title and were called the
mob In the assemblies of this club
first mobile vulgus, then contracted in
one syllable" 1t was used hesitating-
ly at first by Dryden (''Don Sebastian"
1890, Durfy Commonwealth of Wo-
men," 1888 and Shadwell esquire of
Alsatia," 1888, and Richardson points
out that Dryden uses both mobile"
and mob" in the sense of rabble, the
former in the stage directions as the
common word, the latter as If 1t had
not long been introduced.
In I'LL The Spectator instances
mob" as an example Of the popular
tendency to curtail many Of our words
in familiar writings and conversation.
The verb ito mob" derived Of course
as above. does not occur until the pc
Rod Of Horace Walpole, many years
later, and Shakespeare's expression,
1.-The mobled queen" (''Hamlet'D, refers
not to the mob" (mobile), but to the
headdress In disorder.-Boston Tran
script.
Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1900-10-20
WEARING EYEGLASSES.
The Knack of Balancing Them Prop
erly on the Nose.

The knRck of Balancing Them Prop
erly on the Nose.
A young man who had purchased q
pair of eyeglasses at 4 local optician's
the other day was complaining to the
clerk that he couldn't keep them on.
'"They are continually falling off," he
said, "and are really getting to be a
first class nuisance. Don't you think II
would help things If you frightened up
the spring littleY
mo. l wouldn't advise you to alter
the spring" replied the clerk. ITS so
tight now that 1t is soaring your nose.
II you'll only be patient for few
days, think you'll learn to wear these
glasses all right. Come in at the end
Of the week. and If you are still having
trouble with them I'll fit you out with
pair Of spectacles."
What do you mean by learning to
wear those eyeglasses" asked a man
who happened to be standing within
earshot after the customer had walked
out. us 1t trick that has to be &C.
CURED by practiceT'
Certainly 1t Is" replied the clerk.
wearing eyeglasses Is something that
has to be learned, just like riding BIZ
cycle-in fact, the comparison is pretty
good, because both are simply feats of
balancing. The shape of the nose has
very little to do with It." continued the
clerk, land isn't worth taking into con-
sideration in selecting q pair Of glass
es. But II man has q nose like the
PROV Of an armored cruiser he couldn't
make eyeglasses stay there at first at
tempt. Until he acquired the knack Of
keeping them In place by balance they
would be falling off every time hed
made sudden movement, no matter
how tightly he screwed up the spring.
Once the trick is mastered, however,
there Is no further trouble. People
who wear eyeglasses habitually and
who may be regarded as experts keep
the spring very loose. The glasses rest
on the bridge Of the nose as lightly as
feather, but they never come off.
once saw a nearsighted man fall down |
two flights Of stairs and get up with |
his glasses still firmly In place. How
is 1t done? Dear me, don't know!
How do people learn to walk the tight |
rope T-New Orleans Times-D Democrat. |
Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1900-10-20
A Prince NJ Enxineer.

On recent Journey from Salisbury
to Munich the Prince Of Bulgaria took
his stand on the footplate OF the engine
and drove the train himself He made
the engine driver a present OF TO francs
and the fireman one Of 80 francs. In n
letter from the administration OF the
Bavarian railways to the Bulgarian
court 1t was pointed out that the &C.
ceptance Of these gifts Is against the
rules Of the service and that further
the engine driver had no right TO per.
NIT n stranger on the engine. The
conductor Of the train. 1t was added,
had also been blamed for not drawing
the attention Of the prince to this reg.
ulation.
Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1900-10-20
A SLEEPY GUEST.
Why the Lady of the House Was In
dignant Over His Conduct.

There is a well known legal light of
Chicago who is in deep disgrace with
out the shadow Of an excuse for him
self to bolster up his sinking spirits.
He went out to Hyde Park the other
night to dine informally with some
friends, and his hostess, who had been
married but short time, put herself
out to entertain him. The dinner was
excellent, and the judge did full JUS
tice to it. They had coffee in the libra
ry, and the biggest, most padded leath-
er chair was put at the guests dispos-
al. With sigh he sank into its cav
ernous depths and prepared for luxu-
rious evening with good cigar ahead
of him. Brilliantly his hostess rambled
on. She told stories that were witty,
and she gently deferred to his views,
but presently he left her to do ali the
talking. In the midst Of a striking &C
count of q theater party she stopped
with jerk. There was no response
and dead silence punctuated only by
gentle and regular breathing. The
judge was fast asleep in his big chair.
There was no doubt Of it. Nothing
could conceal the fact. With one In
dignant and comprehensive glance at
her plainly delighted husband she
arose and majestically swept up stairs.
And she did not go down again.
1t was some time later when her
husband alphabetically came up after
her. He had not expected her wrath
to last. "Did-did you think you were
badly treatedT he asked.
"How long did he sleepy asked the
still insulted wife.
Again the grin overspread her hus-
bands face. but he spoke In sad tone,
as befitted the occasion. Nearly an
hour" he breathed. II wouldn't mind"
Then 1t was the worm turned. |
Mind she stormed. "Of course |
wouldn't, only you have grounds now
for the rest Of your life for saying
talk so much 1t puts people to sleepW
And she wept.-Chicago News.
Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1900-10-20
SOMETHING ABOUT ARMIES.
Artfllerymen Were Once Regarded
as Mechanics, Not Soldiers.

US NOT SOlUlcEb.
Until the time of Charles XII Of Swe-
den the artillery was not considered
part Of the army. The men serving In
1t were not soldiers, but regarded as
mechanics. The officers had no army
rank. Charles XII gave artillery Off
GERS a rank and regularly organized the
artillery into companies. The battle Of
Pavia demonstrated the superiority Of
the gun in the hands Of the Spanish
infantry. The musket carried two
ounce ball and sometimes brought
down at one fire two or three mailed
knights. The French sent a flag Of
truce to demonstrate against the use Of
such barbarous weapons.
Alexander had four kinds Of cavalry
the cataphr8ti, or heavy armed horse;
the light cavalry. carrying spears and
very light armor; the acrobalist@, or
mounted archers, used for outpOsts, pa
trolls and accommodating duty, and the
dimachoe, or troops expected to act Ell
Their as cavalry or infantry. Alexander
the Great reorganized his fathers ar
my. The file or lachos of 16 men was
the unit; two files made a dilochy;
two dilochies made Hierarchy; two
tetrarchies texiarchy; two Of these a
syntagura; 16 of these small phalanx;
four Of these etra-phalangarchy, 9TH
erwise known as large phalanx.
The Greeks attacked In a phalanx,
the spears interlocked and shields over
tapping. After the first onset the spears
were dropped, and the day was decid-
ed with the sword. The cavalry at
tackled the enemy in the rear, If posi- |
BILE. and, in case Of victory, undertook |
the pursuit.-Pearson's Weekly.
Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1900-10-20
HOW THE EYE is DECEIVED.
One Electric Fans Motion over
comes That of Another.

comes That of Another.
A remarkable optical illusion may be
seen In the United States census Office
In Washington, and TO the person Wit
Messing 1t for the first time II Is unex'
plainable and most puzzllng.
In the east end OF the great building
are two electric ventiating fans They
are placed In the walls Of the north
and south sides, near the ceiling. They
are about two feet In diameter and re-
volve at the rate of about 1900 revolu-
lions a minute In opposite directions as
/ they face each other, thus carrying the
heated air from the room and permit
ting fresh to enter at the several en-
frances.
Being In a direct line with each 9th
or, one can look from and through the
rapidly revolving fan at the south end
to the one at the north. and 1t Is this
view that gives the Illusion, for the
fan farthest away seems to be travel
ing at the rate Of only few revolu-
lions minute. while The nearest one
is whirling so rapidly that 1t is impos-
sible to follow 1t with the eye.
BY moving the head in circular
path from right to left the farthest fan
seems to stand still, but 1t also seems
TO have double the number OF blades
that are known to be there.
The effect is altered If the motion Of
the head is reversed. for then the far
fan seems 10 have doubled Its original
motion, and by moving the head In diff
ferent directions the blades dance
around In most uncanny fashion.
The weird effect is still more height
ened when one looks through the ap
erture between the edges Of the near
fan and the wall In which 1t is set.
for from this viewpoint It is at once
seen that the fan is travelling as fast
as the near one.
The explanation Is simple. The fans
are travelling In opposite directions, and
the motion Of the near one overcomes
that of the far one. Were they tray-
cling the opposite direction In the wills |
their motion would be synchronous,
and no Illusion would be apparent. or |
were the near one travelling only half |
as fast as the far one the latter would |
appear to revolye only half as fast as
II really does; but. being on the same |
circuit and travelling at the same rela-
tive rate OF speed. the explanation CIV
en- Is the true one.
Thousands Of persons have witness
ed the illusion, yet not one has offered
thus far an explanation, and so COM
plete Is the deception that there are
few who notice II at all unless their at
tentlon Is called 10 1t. when they real
ize that the fans are both going at like
rates Of speed. A slow motion would
be Of no avail to draw out the vitiated
air Of the great room. and a glance at
the far fan through the aperture men,
toned will instantly convince one of
the tremendous speed of both.-PhIla-
delphia Press.
Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1900-10-20
Schools In Hawaii.

The last official report gives l4l pub
lie schools In Hawaii, employing 344
teachers and having l1.43G pupils.
These are supplemented by large and
excellent private schools, AZ In num-
Der, employing 200 teachers, with 4,O54
pupils enrolled. OF these $4,000 and
more students about 5000 are Hawai-
ians and nearly 5000 fractional Ha-
waiians. The Portuguese come next,
with nearly 1000. and then the Chinese
and japanese. with over 1000 each.
Then come the American children. 600
strong. Nine nationalltles are tabulat-
ed, and the stragglers from all corners
OF the world are placed under the
heading, "otber foreigners"
Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1900-10-20
BEAUTY.

Beauty was born Of the worlds desire
For the wandering water, the wandering met
Under the arch OF her hurrying feet
She has trodden world full Of bitterswce<
The blood Of the violet Is In her veins;
Her pulse has the passion Of April rains.
Out OF the heart Of satin flower
God made her eyelids in one sweet hour.
Out OF the wind he made her feet
That they might be lovely and Turing and aeet
Out OF cloud he wove her hair
Heavy and black with the rain held there.
What is her name? There's none that knows
Mother OF Mischief or Mouth OF Rose.
What is her pathway None may tell.
But it climbs TO heaven. and 1t dips to hell
The garment on her Is mist and fire,
Anger and sorrow and hearts desire.
Her forehead jewels an amethyst;
The garland TO her Is love in a mist.
Her girdle is OF the beryl stone.
And one dark rose for her flower has grown.
Filled to the brim with the strength Of the sun
A passionate rose. and only one.
The bird in her breast sings all day long
A wonderful, wistful, whispering song;
The song that is OF all passing things,
None knows it-wingleSs or born with wings
Nora Hopper.
Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1900-10-20
What the Tots Said.

Here are some sayings Of children
reported by the Chicago News:
when small Bobby had worn his
6rst pair Of trousers for an hour, he
went to his mother and begged to have
on his kilt again. What forY she ask
cd Because replied Bobby, Il feel
% lonesome in pants
"a mother recently had occasion to
leave her little 4-year-old son alone at
home while she made brief call In the
neighborhood. lonesome,
dear? she asked upon I'm. Yes,
mamma replied the little fellow. 4
felt Just like a widower without you"
Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1900-10-20
OUTGREW HIS TICKET.
Queer Case Involving the Rights of
Growing Railway Passengers.


A singular case. involving the rights
of holder of half fare unlimited
ticket, developed recently on the Santa
| Fe line. 1t was on an east bound train
from San Francisco, and the conductor,
while collecting tickets, was given the
return portion of a half fare, or child's,
excursion ticket from Kansas City to
| San Francisco. The holder of the tick
ct was young man about % years of
age. The conductor looked at him,
smiled and asked
you don't expect to ride on this
ticket, do your
"Why not! 1t is an unlimited ticket,
and bought 1t In Kansas City II years
ago"
The conductor examined 1t more
carefully and found that it bore the
stamp Of the Santa Fe office at Kansas
City and was dated April IL, 1889. 1t
was, moreover, as the young man had
said, an unlimited ticket.
II don't doubt what you say about
buying it." the conductor said, "but you
were kid then, and now you're a man.
can't let man ride on child's tick
ct. You must put up the other half In
cash or get Off the train"
But let me explain. My father put
up nearly 500 for that ticket II years
ago. and your company has had the
use of $50 Of It for all that time with
out rendering any service to him or
me, for whom he bought It. If have
to pay the extra half fare, am l enti-
tied to credit In the shape Of interest
on that $50 for II yearsY'
"Tm not cracking those kinds Of
nuts" the conductor replied, smiling
You're man. and you have got to
have mans ticket or pay full fare"
well. will pay the extra half fare,
but l would like to have something to |
show for It,"
"All right; I'll give you a receipt"
The money was paid and the receipt |
given, the name Of the young man be-
ing Charles A. De Courcy. He said he
would present claim against the San
ia Fe on his return from an eastern |
trip.
Local passenger men TO whom the
case was presented say the conductor
took the proper stand and that the
young man has no legal or equitable
claim against the company. A railroad
ticket Is q contract and both parties
to it must comply with the terms and
the conditions provided on II. A chlld's
ticket calls for child passenger. and
the moment the holder ceases to COM
ply with this condition the ticket Is
not good for passage 90 far as he Is
AS railroad companies do
not agree to pay interest when redeem
ing unused tickets, the absurdIty Of
claim Of this kind Is readily seen. The
are that Mr.. De Courcy will
keep his receipt az an odd souvenir Of
an odd railroad Journey.
Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1900-10-20
WISHART POINT
TRANSPORTATION co.
= Cheapest and best route to -
Chincoteague.

Hack leaves Bloomtown 6 a.
M, Wisharts 7.30 a M, arriv-
ing at Chincoteague 9.15 a. m;
leaves Chincoteague $50 a. m !;
arriving at Wisharts IL a M,
Bloomtown ~ m. leaves Bloom
town l p. M, arriving at Wish
arts 1.30 p. M, Chincoteague
$50 p. M; leaves Chincoteague
4.3O p. M, arriving at Wisharts
6 p. m, Bloomtown 7 p. m.
Fare on launch Globe 50 cents
each way, on hack 40 cents
full fare from Chincoteague to
BlOOmtOwn rs cents.
P. J. GILLESPIE, JR.,
President.
Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1900-10-20
BORolAN ARTS IN PARle.
4 Modern Poisoning story FROM the
French Capital.

-
French Capital.
An extraordinary affair has happen
ed at the Chinese legation In Paris
which has already been the scene el
some startling episodes. The italian
secretary Of the Chinese minister, 81
gnor Armani di Parma, on opening hi,
correspondence recently found a letter
signed by Polish woman named Ma
RE de Czerwinska, who gave an adj
dress In the Rue de Gibson. She SET
forth that, after having shone as q
bright particular star In Lithuanian
social life, she had to become an exile
and to live In Paris. She was at pres
ent, she added, on the brink Of starva-
ton and said that nothing could be
done by her except to start for China.
AS she Is linguist knowing, besides
Polish, the Russian, French and Ital-
ian tongues, she thought that she could
be utilized as an interpreter by the al
lied forces I'm the far east. The secre-
tary Of the Chinese legation was asked
to kindly provide funds for her depar-
ture for the land OF the Boxers and to
fix meeting. Signor Armani di Par
ma was about to throw the letter In the
waste paper basket when he saw that
the envelope contained another inclo-
sure. Opening this. he found inside It
a flower resembling daisy, which he
mechanically applied to his nose and
was instantly overcome by a drowsy
sensation.
Pulling himself together after few
minutes Of somnolence and being thor
oughly revived by a sniff Of smelling
salts, the secretary rang for an attend
ant, whom he asked to examine the
flower. The man put the daisy, or
whatever 1t happens to be, to his nose,
and he, too, became temporarily over
powered with drOwsiness. Another at
tendant was called and experienced
the same strange sensations. Slgnor
Armanl dl Parma then sent the envel-
ope and all its contents to the police.
The flower was handed over to q
chemical expert for analysis, and
was issued for the immediate
arrest Of Marie de Czerwinska. She
was found In the Rue de Gibson and
appears to be about 40 years old. She
admitted having sent the letter, but
the flower. The police off,
cial who examined her said that the
letter arrived intact at the legation,
the Polish woman replied |
that 1t must have been ,
opened by a countess who was her |
mortal enemy and who possessed all |
he secrets OF Lucrezia Borgia and Of
he Borgia family generally. 1t was
he countess who, In order to ruin her,
lad put poisoned flower In the CON-
intended for the secretary
II the Chinese minister. The woman
vas then sent to the St Lasare prison,
where she Is undergoing examination
IS to her mental condition. The land
ady says that she staid out rather
ate and was fond Of talking about
writing to the president Of the repub-
Ic and the ministers. The landlady
ccordingly arrived at the conclusion
hat Nine. de Czerwinska was a little
The head Of convent who
nows the prisoner has also stated to
be police that the woman Is not re-
ponsible for her actions.-Paris Cor.
.ondOn Telegraph.
Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1900-10-20

The old Fitchburg railroad station In
Boston Is now only memory. and the
entire Interior has been torn ont to be
replaced by offices. In the old station
Jenny Lind sang for the first time In
the United States, the railroad station
having been deemed the only place in
which the thousands who wanted TO
hear her could be accommodated.
Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1900-10-20
Little Lucy'p Prayer.

One evening little Lucy knelt to lisp
her evening prayer. Her little heart
was bursting with self satisfaction
she had been SO exemplary all through
the day. 20 Lord" she said, make
me very good, even better than l am"
Many an older person thinks this
prayer If he does not dare to put II
into words.-Oswego Times.
Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1900-10-20

Bonneville, in Normandy, In spite Of
Planquette's opera, never had a chime
of bells. Subscriptions have been re-
ceived from all parts Of the world,
however. and a peal of IL bells will be
set UP in the village church at the end
OF this month. Each bell will bear the
name Of country. One Is "L'Ameri.
cains" and another La Canadienne."
Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1900-10-20
Free lncineretiOn.

New York physicians have recently
been receiving from a certain crema-
ton company circular which reads as
follows:
"This certifies that. In recognition Of
the support which our cause has re-
ceived from physicians generally, -
-, NJ. D., or any member Of his i'm
mediate family, r. hereby entitled to
incineratlon without charge at our -
crematory upon proper Endorsement
and surrender Of this certificate within
ten years from date. Kindly return
this certificate II you do not wish to
use it."-New York Tribune
Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1900-10-20
Lady Roberts and Her Trunks.

Tint Ia pretty story about Lady
Roberts and her trunks. and men re.
turning from South Africn vouch for
Its truth. Al the height Of the trans
port difficulties In The teeth Of the Off
Gals she carried eight large trunks
from Cape Town to Eio"mfcntcin. Ev-
cry one wondered. every ono marmur.
ed. No one but Indy Roberts could
have got the thing Through. But next
day seven of lie trunks wore unpack-
ed and their contents distributed
among the Tomnics The clever lady
had snapped hcr fingers nj red tape
and Struggled comforts through to the
men In this way. One small trunk con
tained her kit Westminster Gazette.
Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1900-10-20
Diplomacy Wins.

Ardent Suitor-I lay my fortune at
Jour feet.
Fair Lady-FOrtune l didn't know
sou had money.
Ardent SultOr-I haven't much. but
II takes very little to cover those tiny
feet.
He got her.-LOndon Telegraph.