davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-12-19
man who prides himself upon having
reduced betting to a mathematical

reduced betting to mathematical
formula.
1.-THE axiom is good deal deeper
than most people suppose. Taken liter
ally, In games of pure chance, 1t is
false; applied to human nature 1T is
true. Suppose, for example. that two
men pitch pennies; the chances for
heads and tails are perfectly even, and
1t can make no difference which of the
players does the guessing. Where the
guessertappears to have greatly the
worst of it is in such game as faro
or roulette. The effort to forecast each
turn is likely TO unsettle his nerves; the
guesser becomes irritated and demoral-
lied, makes reckless bets. presses bad
luck and winds up broke. In fact, the
chief advantage of system for gam
bling is that it saves nerve force. The
bets are placed according to rule, and
the layer and the game are on the same
cold, mechanical basis. In playing the
races the odds are seemingly against
the guessers,' for the reason that they
are influenced by all sorts Of hints
tips and premonitions mostly wrong.
8 1t isn't really a case of guessing, but
a case OF misplaced confidence.
Luck is something that doesn't exist
except In real life. The late Prof. Proc
tor once delivered lecture in Phila
delphia on the Mathematics of Chance
and proved conclusively that there was
no such thing as luck. Afterward he
took dice box and attempted to dem
onstrate the fact to some skeptical
sports, and went broke in eight min
utes by the watch. There is absolutely
no reason why people should have
streaks of good or bad luck. can dem
onstrate to you on paper that the thing
is impossible, and you can demon
strate to me by ocular evidence that 1t
happens every day. So there you are.
"Its funny fact, by the way, that
the two principal systems at Monte
Carlo are based on Numerically oppo-
site theories of luck. One is called the
'maturityo of chance. To Illustrate, sup
pose red turns up three times in sue
cesslon; according to the system, the
chance of 1t appearing again is greatly
diminished and grows less with each
repetition. Consequently the player
bets on black. The other is the system
of runs Its votaries hold that color
which has once repeated is apt to keep
on, at least five or six times in success
sion. Each brand of cranks proves its
cause by the daily record kept year in
and year out at the Casino. You pays
your money and you takes you,
CHOICE
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-12-19
THE BlcKEL rRoJlc.1i.E.

provided centrally with an opening to
receive firing cap; the projectile prop
er, or b, screws snugly into A. Inside
ID is Il canister, Q, containing an ex-
plosive; the space between the outer
and inner shells is filed with balls or
bullets. Through the rear end of G
time fuse, subject to regulation as to
period of burning extends from the in
terror of G into the chamber OF A. The
powder to hurl the projectile is packed
into A; when 1t is exploded it also ig-
mites the fuse; this burns into G, and
the explosives there i'll turn explode the
projectile and scatter the balls. 1t is
intended that the time of burning of
the fuse shall be so regulated, relative
to the charge in A, that the explosion of
G shall occur at the moment the pro-
jectile reaches its destination.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-12-19
of maid, and promise you not dish
shall be upset"

VI AAiuiNib ANU pioAiiicN Sou NV Al diSh
shall be upset"
"Nonsense!s couldn't allow my
guest to do such thing
81 will do it, not as your guest, but as
your new maid. leave for Chicago
early tomorrow morning and need
not see either of them again. oh, do
consent Belle! l will wear that blonde
wig you had for the fancy dress party,
and l will make cunning little cap
With your fathers defective sight and
his observation-disclosures he will never
guess who am, and he will think am
spending my last evening in Cincinnati
with the Lorings, as had intended to
do. oh, what fun! am never so hap
by as when am masquerading.'
Belle yielded reluctant consent and
Irene went gayly upstairs TO prepare
her costume.
"If nature had not already done we'll
by you should have said she made a
mistake when she did not give YOU
stlaxen hair with your dark eyes," said
Belle as her friend in plain dark gown.
white apron, and coquettish cap an
peared in the dining-room.
With eyes demurely east down, Irene
began her task, but suddenly the flow
ers, electric lights and everything seem.
ed to be whirling around, for In one of
The guests she recognized Norman Ken
dali, the hero of the one romance of her
hearth But lie could not possibly rec
ognize her under the present circum-
stances, she thought, and with mighty
effort quickly regained her composure.
Everything went smoothly and visitors
and hosts adjourned to the parlor,
where, having served coffee, Irene re-
turned to take away the cups.
81 am sorry my daughters friend,
Miss Lemont, is not with us tonight"
said Bellies father, as lie leaned back
comfortably in his easy chair. by the
way you may have met her, DR.. Ken
dali, as you also are a Chicagoan.v
"Chicago is a large place." returned
the young man, vaguely.
we will present you at. the depot in
the morning, as she returns on your
train. But warn you not to lose your
ueaft, Ior she says she VIII never mar
ry. We think she has been disappoint-
ed in love-"
The delicate cup Irene had taken
from DR.. Kendall's hand was crushed
under her nervous grasp, and she hur-
ried from the room.
81 think your maid must have cut her
hand; will see what can do for 1t if
you will excuse me for moment" said
the young physician as he followed her.
He found her at the end of the hall.
LET me see your hand. Miss Lemont,"
said he.
"Itis but a mere scratch she replied,
coldly.
He took the hand and pressed it to
his lips. "There is wound in my
heart, dear, which only you can cure;
will your
Then she whispered, half laughing,
half crying:
"Thanks to that dear, laundering old
man, you must know that l will say
yes,,"
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-12-19
Another bank has been wrecked by

Another bank has been wrecked by
an old and trusted employe. The
amount stolen is 100000 which is less
by half a million than the plunderings
Of Cashier Alvord, of New York. On
the other hand, the sum taken by the
assistant cashier of the Newport, Ky,
bank is double the capital stock of the
posts. He could not well have taken
more than he did. 1t was said by
bankers at the time of the discovery Of
the Alvord defalcation that 1t is much
easier to embeZzle a large sum in a big
bank than small sum in small bank.
The Newport bank is small one, but
Assistant Cashier Brown has been able
to make away with 100000 during the
last ten years. Brown had been in the
employ of the bank for eight years be-
fore he began stealing. His honest scr.
vice during that time entitled him to
be considered trustworthy employee,
but 1t did not free the bank officers
from the duty Of finding out at the end
of every twelve or six months period
whether he remained n trustworthy en-
ploye. Trust is as necessary in a bank
as in every other business. The en-
ployer who has confidence In none of
his employees, and spends his time in
adopting precautions against their
cheating him, leads an uncomfortable
life, gets poor service, and is sometimes
cheated in spite Of his precautions. The
sensible tss'ser - sttAr employer 70.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-12-19
TRAGEDIES OF THE STAGE.

Large Number of Those Killed or
Wounded in Playing Their Parts.
In the Grinelle Theater in Paris the
other day an actor came near killing
his professional friend with stage
dagger whose spring got out of order.
The victim yelled so naturally and the
blood flowed so freely that the audi
ence was delighted and never realized
the realism until the. curtain dropped.
The accident prompted Partisan
scribe to hunt up the record of things
somewhat similar upon the stage. Ac-
cording to his story, Nine. Benoin. at
Prague in a suicide scene stabbed her.
self seriously.
William Moritz killed his associate,
Temple Crozier, in the Novelties Thea
ter of London.
In the play of ''rhe Indian Emperor"
the English actor, Farquhar, playing
the part of Guyomar, dangerously
wounded another player, who, unfor-
tunately, had to take the part of a
Spanish General, after which Farquhar.
wisely bid farewell to the stage.
Macready in Macbeth at one time
came so near scoringla victory Mt Dun
shame that poor Macdutf had to be
taken to the hospital, where he re-
manned for six weeks.
Garrick in "Othello' half cholsed
more than dozen Desdemonas.
In the banquet scene of Macbeth
Charles Kemble flung away his wine
cup with such violence that 1t smashed
a chandelier, and the pieces of broken
glass flew almost into the face of Mrs.
Siddons, who was playing Lady Mac
beth, but she never moved muscle.
Sarah Bernhardt, playing the Dame
aux Camelias." with Darmont in the
role of Armand Duval, turned many
heads temporarily during the play and
provoked some astounding ridiculous
Interruptions.
But it will be hard to beat the record
of the old-time Passion Play" per-
formed few hundred years ago before
King John III. of Sweden. A fatal blum
der on the part of the actor in the role
OF Longus the Centurion caused the
death of two artists. Enraged, the
King bounded upon the stage, swors; in
hand, and with a first-class right-hand
swing that made the blade whistle, de-
capitated poor Longus. The audience
rose in a fury and literally tore his
majesty to pieces
This last story needs confirmation,
| hut 1T holds good with tha gallery in
the light of the historic fact that a
French ambassador to Spain, Gaubier
de Branault, witnessing a representa-
ton of the battle of Pavia, in which a
Spaniard got largely the better of a
lrenchman, killed the unfortunate ac-
tor who played the Spaniard. All of
which goes to show that there is only
one step between the stage struck and
stage stuck.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-12-19

A most learned and upright judge has
ruled that n married woman, either
living with or apart from her husband,
may be considered the head of the
house. This Is the de jure phase of the
proposition; every intelligent person
has known that the married woman has
frequently been the head of the house
de facto. Chronic old woman haters,
like st. Paul for example, have foolish
ly insisted that the man is the head of
the woman and consequently of the
house, but you do not find that narrow
and absurd view Endorsed In these pip
Ing days of feminine emancipation and
advancement. OF course pronounce.
ment from the bench is gratifying to
feminine pride as an Endorsement, how
ever reluctant, yet we dare say that 1t
will not surprise anybody and will not
lead to any sudden upheavals. The
bench has merely fallen in with the
natural trend; woman has made the
law and the judges have graciously con-
CURED. Personally we know nothing
of the Judge, but we suspect that he is
a married man, speaking from expert
ence and with deep feeling. And while
he may not get statue at tho hands
of grateful womanhood we fancy that
he would have speedily become aestatue
had he decided the case in any other
way.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-12-19
Menace to the RennbIic.

Mr. McKinley's phrase that "the re-
public is safe" cannot efface the fact
that conditions are looming up in this
country that resemble those which sig
nalized the interregnum of Rome's
transmission from n republic to the do
minion of the Caesars. This menace
will grow. The elements in control of
Mr.. McKinley's party, in the fatuous
belief that their late success at the
polls means an Endorsement of their
dangerous policies, seem bent on push
ing these policies TO the point where
free government, except in name, will
be eXtinguished. Kansas City Times.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-12-19
He Addressed the Jury.

A man who. had never seen the in
side of courtroom until lie was intro
duced us witness in a case pending
in one of the Scottish courts, on being
sworn, took position With his bac!,
to the jury and began telling the story
to the judge.
The judge, in a bland, courteous man
ner, said: Address yourself to the
jury, SIR
The man made short pause, but,
Notwithstanding what had been said to
him, continued his narrative.
The Judge was then more explicit,
and said to him: Speak to the jury.
sir; the men sitting behind you on the
benches"
The witness at once turned around,
and. making an awkward bow, said.
with perfect gravity. Good morning,
gentlemen" Buffalo Courier.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-12-19
A Dangerous Innoyatlon.

In the eighth section of the first arti-
Gle of the Constitution 1t is provided
that Congress shall have power to raise
and support armies, but no appropria-
ton of money to that use shall be for
a longer term than two years. 1t is
evident that the intent of the trainers
of the Constitution was to put curb
on militarism by clothing Congress
with authority to establish the army
and by imposing limit upon Congress
itself in making appropriations for
troops. The proposition to transfer
these powers to the President is a most
dangerous innovation. 1t constitutes
not only a departure from the spirit of
the Constitution, but 1t is positively un-
republican, Philadelphia Ledger.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-12-19
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

President McKinley's message, Of
course, gives the people what they
voted for. But nobody reading it
would imagine that it was the express
sion of the head of democratic gov
eminent. There is not one line in it,
for instance, expressive of dissatisfac,
ton with the condition of the masses
of the people. The man of thousand
years hence reading 1t would suppose
that everybody here was happy, and
that the President had only to suggest
few little things to make our social
condition complete.
The first thing mentioned in the
message is prosperity. The last word
of the message is peace. Mr.. McKin-
ley asks for 100000 soldiers. He says
that 10000 men must be kept in the
Philippines for an indefinite period.
He tells us that last year we We're
taxed seventy-nine millions in excess
of Government expenditures. He rec
ommends that taxes be now reduced
thirty millions, Indicating his purpose
to spend forty-nine millions more than
last year, or at least to have the money
handy.
He devOtes passage to warning us
solemnly against national extraya-
gance. He demands the passage Of the
ship subsidy bill, which will pay as a
bonus to one steamship company alone
that owned by the Standard Oil Trust
more than two millions annually of
Government money. He has negotiated
n treaty giving Spain an extra hundred
thousand dollars for small islands that
we forgot to take before.
Mr.. Mckinley asks for further legis-
lation-if any can be devised-to put
us more thoroughly on gold basis.
He says not one word to contradict
Hanna's statement: There are no
trusts" In feeble, perfunctory way,
like bad boy saying his prayers, he
remarks that Combinations, If injuri-
ous," might be restrained"
The Filipinos are to be made good
Americans-almost as good as we are.
The savage tribes are to be treated by
Mr.. Mckinley benevolently and in pa
/ tSiuul IuSllluHs dS We nave tIestltu Jul
Indians. Mr. Mckinley asks for a
cable to Manila via Hawaii. But he
says no word of Government owner
ship of that cable. He praises the
work of the postoffice, but says moth
ing about a parcels post system, which
would delight the people, and help
every business man. He says nothing
of system of postal savings banks,
| whichwould give security to the depos-
its of the poor, give to the masses of
the people the money now paid to a
few Government bond owners-and in
terfere with the plans of few bank
err
It is not a bad message. 1t provides
for the views and needs of the we'll
TODD. You are living under govern
ment, not exactly republic, since its
main concern is the welfare of the
few 1t is a sort Of cross between
monarchy and financial oligarchy.
1t is Just as much republic as Eng
land is an utocracy-England is not
an autocracy. But you voted for this
sort of government, fellow citizens
| Chicago American.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-12-19
TROUBLES OF THE TYRANT.5

Man Has Grievances to Complain Of as
Well rs Woman.
AT the fathers congress, held in this
city shortly after the adjournment of
the mothers congress. Fred Presbery
delivered an address on Man; How,
When and Why Is He:" He said in
part:
Man that Is born of woman is of
few days and full of microbes. He
hoppeth out of bed in the morning and
his feet are pierced with the tack of dis
appointment. He walketh through the
streets of the city in the pride and glory
of. his manhood and slippeth on the
banana peel of misfortune and unjoint-
eth his neck. He smoketh the cigar of
7contentment, and behold! it explodeth
with loud noise, for 1t was loaded. He
slidetli down the bannister of life and
encounters many slivers of torture. He
sliethdown to sleep at night and is stung
by the mosquitoes of annoyance, and
his frame is gnawed by the bedbug of
adversely.
What is man but the blind worm of
fate? Behold, he is impaled upon the
hook of despair and furnishes bait for
the leviathan. death, in the fathomless
ocean of time. Sorrow and travail fol
low him all the days of his life In his
infancy he is afflicted with the worms
and collie, and in his old age he is af-
flicted with rheumatism and ingrowing
toenails. He marryeth cross-eyed
woman because her father is rich, and
findeth that she hath not sense enough
to fry the festive chuck steak His
father-in-law then monkeyeth with OPP
lions and goeth under.
What is man but the t,imor on the
neck of existence? He playeth the
races and betteth his all on the brown
mare because he hath received tip.
The sorrel gelding winneth by neck.
Behold, he runneth for office and the
dead-beat pulleth his leg ever and anon
and then voteth for the other man. He
exalteth himself among his people and
swelleth with pride, but when the
votes are counted he findeth that his
name is mud. He boasteth of his
strength in Israel, but is beaten by q
red-headed man from the Bloody Third.
He goeth forth to breathe the fresh air
and mediate upon the vanity of all
earthly things, and is accosted by n
bank cashier with a sight draft for
$780, A political enemy lieth in wait
for him in the market place and walk
eth around him. growing like a cock.
Verify, man is nothing but wart
ON the nose of nature-a bunion on the
toe of time-a freckle on the face of the
universe."-Salt Lake Herald.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-12-19
BLANCHE K. sRucE,s TACT.
How He. Exercised It to Avert Trouble

How Hc.Exercised 1t to Avert Trouble
on Mississippi Steamboat.
On one of Blanche IL. Bruces visits
to New York he told of an experience
which he had just after he was elected
Senator from Mississippi, and it was
an experience which illustrates the tact
and good sense which always charac-
terized him, and which explained much
of the success and respect which he
gained by his public life in Washing
ton. 1t was announced that the Sena-
tor would so to Washington from his
Mississippi home by one of the Missis-
sippi steamboats,, at least as far as ST.
Louis on his way. The captain, a man
of the name of Leathers, was a typical
Mississippi steamboat captain, and lie
was reported to have said that lie would
show the black Senator when he got
aboard of his boat that he would have
to keep his place On that boat, and IL
he put on any airs because lie hap
pened to be Senator the captain would
teach him manners.
AS soon as Bruce boarded the steam
boat he sought the captain and said to
him: Captain feathers, am going. to
Washington, and part of the way us
passenger on your steamboat. My
name is Bruce, and possibly you may
have heard of me. What wanted to
say is that know perfectly well what
the feeling of many people who are
travellers regarding persons of my color
is. They cannot help 1t, and | cannot
help it, and l am going TO give them no
occasion for any annoyance while l
am a passenger on your boat. sim
ply ask you that you see to 1t that L
am made as comfortable MS possible,
and assure you that you will have no
reason for complaint"
The bluff captain stepped back pace
or two, looked Bruce over, and then
held out his hand and said with great
emphasis: "By -, you shall sit at
my table; you shall sit on my right
hand on the entire trip, and If any man
objects he will have to fight me. A
man who can talk as you have and who
is as fair as you are is n sight
better fitted to be United States Sem
ator than some of the white Senators
have carried on this boat" and on
that entire trip of three days the can
tain made Bruce his guest.-Philadel-
Dllia Press.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-12-19
unpleasan mess in Hnwoii

With even Hawaii going back" on
him and her native voters sending as
delegate to Congress man counted MS
one of the stanchest adherents of the
I.iluokaLani regime, the excellent Mr..
Mckinley must begin to feel that his
election day doll is Stuffed with saw
dust" Obviously, dangerous ideas of
local self-goyernment and indepen-
dence are gaining ground in what were
NICE known as the Sandwich islands
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-12-19
Demand and supnlv.

Stout Beggar-Gimme quarter will
yer?
Old Gentleman (nervously) = Thls
sounds more like-er-a demand than
er-a-request.
Stout Beggar--Is dat SO? Well, all
you've got ter do is ter see dat de sup
ply is equal ter de demand see?-
Harlem Life.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-12-19

Taking In view the Northern. States,
including all from Ohio to the Dakotas,
together with Missouri and Kansas, the
rate of increase of population has fallen
from % per cent IN the decade 1896
1890 to 10 per cent in the last decade.
The rate at present is accordingly be-
low the average rate of Increase for the
entire Union instead of above it MS for
merly. The agricultural prizes of the
West have been won and population no
longer flows to virgin lands to any large
extent, whereas the manufacturing
cities of the East still attract popula-
ton. The central West yields the pace
to the older sections Of the East.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-12-19
ELECTRICITY.


The word electricity is formed from
the Greek "electron,' meaning Fam
ber" The anclents knew that when
amber was rubbed other things stuck
to it. The thing which, caused the OBJ.
ject to stick was and is electricity. Just
what electricity is no man knows. Flee
tricity is in everything. Rubbing is a
way of bringing 1t to life. Rub a comb
with a piece of silk, and bits Of paper
will cling to the comb. You have
brought electricity to life.
Brushing the hair sometimes makes
the head itch because electricity is pro-.
duced by friction, and touches the
nerves in the scalp. Cats rub their ears
when 1t is likely to rain because the air
is filed with more electricity than
usual and the electricity pierces the
skin of the animal. Electricity at this
time is also in the hair of the cat and
makes her feel as though she were COW
cred with cobwebs.
Electricity may make light and heat,
yet electricity itself no one can see.
Electricity has a smell of its own. If
you stand near a big motor, you smell
something called ozonetlle same odor
you will notice in the summer after
heavy shower.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-12-19
Cost of Rel Tape.

Some months ago government pen
sioncr died in Ireland. His widow sent
In a bill for funeral expenses amount
ing to $S2.67. The Government auditor
found some flaw in the bill, declined to
20. H." 1t and ordered an examination.
The red tape and incidental expenses
of the investigation cost something like
$1,000, but the widows bill has finally
been thrown out. The government is
out more than $1,000 in the matter, but,
then, there must be something to keep
the clerks busy.-Savannah News.