davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-10-16
POLICEMEN OF PEKIN
& y: < y: & x < y: x 3: *; :: X; x & *; x *

The policemen of Pekin are, or, at
least were, armed with small drums,
which they beat loudly in order, it is
presumed, to let burglars and other
marauders know that they are COM
ing. All night long the watchmen
beat their way around the streets, and
as natural consequence are said to
make few arrests. The pigeons of
Pekin have each a light whistle tied
to their tails, which gives forth a loud
sound as they fly. Sometimes five OF
six whistles of different tones are at
tached, and the result is a more or
less melodious confusion of sounds.
The blind, and in Pekin blind men
and women are numerous. also use
drums to announce their coming and
warn other people to get out of their
way. BY the difference in the sound
as 1t is reflected back from walls or
pavements it is said that the blind
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-10-16

Ierious would come of the attachment
for years to come. Perhaps the fancy
Of the two would wear away. and they
would separate to pursue,their respec-
live paths through life without giving
each other a second thought.
But neither Horace nor Alverdie
would have things that way They
were really in earnest in their affection
Tor each other, and would be married
whether others would or no. SO when
Mrs. Jacob Smell objected that her
daughter was too young to assume the
duties of wifehood. they decided that
they would not walt for maternal con-
Ient So off they went and married.
Shellenberger is a farm hand in
Pottstown township short distance
from Pottstown. He wasn't in po-
sition to take the girl home with him,
10 she was compelled to come back
to her parents roof until her husband
could provide a place for her.
She is as happy as a lark, despite her
separation from her lover For has
not her mother consented to the match,
deciding to make the best of the condi-
tons, and win she not join her hus-
band in due time? She helps her
mother about the house as she did OF
old, and spends her spare time on the
little rustic bench where she has al
ways been wont to sit with her dolls
Tor company.
Though but IA, Mrs. Shellenberger is
1 well-developed girl. and would really
pass for IL. Still. at that she looks
Very childish for bride. But what
matters that, she says, as long as she
loves her husband and he loves her
And there is not much doubt that they
do love one another.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-10-16
Never Called Again.

In the early days of my consulship
| man came to me with handsome
watch. which cost at least $400 on this
Tide OF the water. He proposed send
ing a large shipment of similar watch
rs to the United States, naming the
price-which must be the selling price
IN the country from which the goods
ire shipped--he wished me to enter
bn the invoice as SIS. | was new at the
buvness, but saw in moment that
something was wrong. Here is s15,"
said. ''for this watch, which | wish
you to leave with me, that l may send
1t to our special agents in Paris to
ascertain if the price you name is cor
rect. AS l am a new consul, with but
little experience, and nos an expert
you will understand l don't want to
make a mistake" The man objected
very seriously, alleging as an excuse
that he did not want to be delayed in
shipping the goods But I was firm,
telling him he must give me time to
investigate the matter. and that in the
mea nsime II he shipped his watches
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-10-16
Tollest Of Al
Living Men,.

The biggest living man is Lewis Will
kins, who is now arousing great inter-
est in the scientific circles of Europe
wilkins was born on farm near ST.
Paul, Mimi, in 1874 When he was but
10 years of age he measured 6 feet in
height and now has grown to the ire
mendous height of 1914 inches-just
three-quarters of an inch less than
8 feet-and weighs 1854 pounds. There
have been other tall men and women
before wilkins, and scientists have
striven in vain to account for these
freaks of nature. Only lately a plaus-
ible story has been put forward by a
French physician, DR.. Marie, who says
that gigantism is nothing more or less
than disease. This disease generally
occurs in patients between the age of
IS and 35, and is first called "acro-
megaly" (from two Greek words mean
ing enlargement of the extremities. y
If the patient is not attacked until af-
ter he is IS the ends of the bones in
the arms and legs are enlarged and
prolonged slightly, but if this disease
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-10-16

surrounded by her dolls End seated
on little rustic bench In the yard ad-
Joining her mothers house In Potts
town. Pa, Mrs. Alverdle r. Snellen-
berger, the 14-year-old bride OF Horace
w. Sn sssnberger. spends most Of her
days She is bride OF but a few days.
and is spending her honeymoon at her
mothers home until her husband pre-
pares home to which to take her.
She will then go to housekeeping, like
any other woman. and assume the du-
ties of her household as though she
were twice as old.
The wedding of the girl to Snellen-
berger. who is a man Of % years. was
great surprise to her friends in Potts
town. While 1t was noticed that he
had been paying her asslduous atten-
lions. 1t was not thought that anything
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-10-16
European Scien-
fists Are
J Interested in d
! Resident of
: Minnesota.

has attacked child at or soon after
birth gigantism is the result. The
bones are prolonged all along their
length, grow unnaturally and the re-
suit is giant When you see a big
man it is therefore question whether
he is unusually strong or whether he
is suffering from acrome galy. All
giants have not been acroDlegalic, ac-
cording to Dr. Marie. He mentions
two giants in the French army who
did not belong to this class One was
Charles Freuet, cavalry soldier, who
was feet II inches, and another was
Marnat, drum major in the Ninetieth
regiment infantry, who measured
feet inches. Perhaps the greatest
giant who ever lived before Wilkins
was Charles Byrne, an Irishman He
measured 8 feet inches. His skeleton
is still preserved, proving beyond ques-
ton his enormous size He was prob
ably acromegalic. Other giants are
Constantine, born atfzurich, in Switz-
erland, 8 feet l inch; Herold, born at
Leipsic, feet inches. and Lady EN-
ma, 8 feet 1 inch
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-10-16

ton of the puzzle that has pre'nRrrre-
ly furrowed the brow of the American
housewife, made our wives old before
their time and excited the wondering
sympathy of visitors to those shores is
found in the Indian school, an institu-
ton near here which Is under the con-
troll of the department of the interior.
| called recently TO see the suerintend-
ent of this beneficent institution, and
asked him for a signed declaration Of
the benefits that he had found to ac-
crue from the transformation of the
modern Pocahontas into a cook or a
scullery maid. The superintendent,
Harwood Hall, consented to address the
following, through your columns, to
any doubling ones who imagine that
the substitution of an Indian girl for
the present kitchen queen would only
aggravate the trouble: 81 have placed
great numbers of Indian girls in fam
lilies for general work after they have
attended school a sufficient time to get
proper training. They secure wages
ranging from 81 per month to $40,
according to qualification. send
them out as cooks, housemaids and
nurses. while they are yet pupils of
the school. six months OF each year.
i~e other six months are spent at the
school in securing literary as well as
industrial training. After they reach
a certain age and grade they take per-
manent nositiona Tho cuccaea of
these Indian girls is phenomenal. 1t
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-10-16

Cinnamon can always locate them
selves exactly, so that they need no
guide. The beggars of Pekin are an
other peculiar institution. They are
organized and have ruler OF their
own. whose orders they are quick to
obey. Sometimes a group OF the beg
gars will gather in front of a mer-
chants store and make such an in
fernal racket that he is glad to bribe
them to go away. Another method OF
extorting money is for a beggar to go
to merchant or householder and an
nounce that unless ms Is promptly
paid one or two dollars he will com
init euicide on his victims doorstep.
II the money is refused he is likely
to carry out his threat, in which case
the authorities may give the unfor-
tunate merchant much trouble and
sometimes blackmail him out of q
large amount Of property
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-10-16
Obe AbYssts1to52
Boasts of Being ChrIstian.~
But His Christianity is Bogus

The Abyssinian is pretentious and
domineering to his interiors. yet
cringing and obsequious to his super
iors. His business being that of a SOL
dier, he is more or less, though at times
energetic, a lazy individual. He,
though not trader, is willing to take
service as mule driver and caravan
help, but he will always shorten his
days work as much as he can His
inseparable companions are his rifle,
cartridge belt and sword. The first is
often of the most Anticipated pattern,
which, even when mule driving and
performing long marches, remains
with him, carried over his shoulder
His sword is strapped tightly to his
waist. and is characteristic one. be-
ing short, very much curved (cimiter-
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-10-16

Ia only In very rare instances that u
girl makes failure. The system O.
placing the girls in families is being
rapidly extended. The girls drop nat
urally into the position. and, while moi
presuming in the least. receive any
kindness or attention without allow,
Ing 1t to spoil them. Most families ex-
hibit great interest In these girls
show them kindnesses and give them
privileges, yet the girls do not pre-.
sumo; on the contrary, they appreciate
attention and make better help in con.
sequence. as they are anxious to gain
all the knowledge possible, as well as
to please their patrons.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-10-16

before he realized that he ives really
rich. He went into tho ba.ik half
dozen times the first week to make
sure that his money was there and
WAS awaiting his order He knew
moor Mexican woman in Paso del
Norte. Mexico, whom he had long adj
uired, and he went across the Rio
Grande and married her.
Bennett starts In to Spend.
So.ne one told Bennett that he was
a fool not to hurry up and enjoy his
money, and he started in to spend 1t.
Bennett and his bride went TO Den
yer and San Francisco and exchanged
their cheap old clothes for the finest
that money could buy. They kept tall
oIs and dressmakers busy for weels
He bought eleven hats and a trunkfn
OF shoes for himself in San Francisco,
and he told the dry goods merchants
to give his wife two dozen OF the fin',3t
dresses to be had. The couple he'd
one room of the suite they lived In Vt
tie Baldwin Hotel filled with truths
and boxes of their newly bought
fnery In one day Bennett bought
some $4,000 worth of diamonds for
himself and wife, and they gave tips
OF S. and $40 for the simplest service
to the hotel servants.
firing of San Francisco, Bennett
and his wife went down to Tombstone,
determined to show the population
that they knew how to leaa fashion
in the mining camp.
They went to New Orleans for the
Mardi Gras celebration in 1881, AMI
seven trunks of clothing vent, too.
The couple lived in the mast cosby
suite at the st. Charles hotel. On tkat
trip Mrs. Bennett saw opera glasses
for the first time. When the couple
returned TO the mining camp each had
an opera glass of solid gold, and they
seldom drove out behind their we'll
known team of white stations that
each did not carry gold opera glass
and occasionally survey this country
through it. On that trip, also, Bennett
and his wife learned that some rich
| people bathed in perfumad water
| They, therefore, bought scotes of bot
ties of the finest Partisan perfumes,
and neither ever bathed without pour
| ing a liberal quantity of pe,fume into
| the water
| That was about the beginning of the
end. When his last dollar was gone.
Bennett ended his life with a bullet.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-10-16

like), but narrowing to a sharp point.
1t is worn on the right side, and thus,
when mounting a mule or horse, he
always does so on the right, or off side.
Besides these weapons, he uses in war
fare a large, round, basin-shaped. en-
bossed leather shield, often ornamented
with silver work.
lie boasts of being Christian, but
the Christianity he processes is only
In evidence in the keeping of feast and
fast, though few. very few compare
lively, attend church on early Sunday
mornings, in response to the call of a
doleful, cracked-pot sounding. tolling
bell. Whatever is the cause. the Abys-
sinian has deteriorated. for apparently
he is much worse liar. thief and
eheat than his neighbors about his bor-
ders.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-10-16
nerl-nsrl Fatalities Decrease.

DR.. Tatsusabaro Yabe, head of the
medical department of the Japanese
navy, relates in the Archives de Mede-
cine Navale how kakke or beri-beri
has to all intents and purposes disap-
peared from his branch of the service.
Before 1884 the proportion of men af-
fected during the summer was rarely
below twenty-five per cent, and some
times 1t reached forty per cent. M.
Kanebiro Takaki then suggested an
improvement in the food (Which was
composed mainly of rice) by the adj
dition of pearl barley, with the result
that from 1885 to 1895 there were only
tire fatal cases of beri-beri, all of
which occurred during the war with
China, when the supply of rice failed.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-10-16
a ChInaman on a wheel.

According to the Chinese habit of do
ing most things backward. a visitor in
Shanghai says he fully expected to see
the irst Chinese cyclist he came across
pedal backward ITO our astonish-
ment,' he wrote. "he rode forward in
the proper manner. His attire was
such as is not easily forgotten The
baggy trousers were hauled up over the
knees, disclosing a pair of shiny sticks
swathed in dishrags or something. This
was done to prevent his trousers from
tearing in the chain. Bare feet on rub
Der pedals, a big yellow balloon shirt.
bullying out like the spinnaker of a
racing yacht, and a flying pigtail under
small tin can of cap topped by a
button. He was a wealthy merchant.
we arc told, and looked as If wheeling
agreed with him in spite of his
clothes. ~ Buffalo News.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-10-16

Through the death of David Dwight
Wells of Norwich. Conn, Harvard
University, Williams College and the
City Library OF Springfield. Mass. will
each receive $4,000. Mr.. Wells was
born in Norwich. He was an extern
sive traveller and had wide reputa-
ton as playwright and author. For
several years he lived in London, Eng
land. being assistant secretary OF the
American Legation during the second
administration of President Cleveland.
1t was while living In England that he
secured the material for his most suo-
cessful book, Her Ladyship's Ele-
plant" which was published some
time ago. and also for his most recent
work. His Lordship's Leopard.
which has appeared within the last
few months.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-10-16

1t took so much money to pay the
salaries OF municipal officials in st.
Joseph, Mo, that there was little or
none left for new streets and other
improvements. The officeholders want
ed to meet the emergency by increas-
ing the taxes. but the mayor thought
he saw better way, and filled many
OF the high priced Offices with business
men and others who could afford to
serve without salaries. Then. we are
told, the street department doomed"
IL does not follow that this would al
ways be wise thing to do. but there
is no question of the soundness of the
general principle that limiting ones
expenditure may serve the same pur-
pose as increasing ones income.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-10-16

In December, 1899. the Hon. Sho Me-
motto brought forward bill, in the
lower house of the imperial diet of
Japan. forbidding the smoking OF to-
bacco by persons under If years OF
age, imposing a fine not only upon
offenders. but also upon those selling
to such persons. The bill was referred
to a committee. This committee. after
full discussion of the merits of the
question, reported favorably, making
the age 20 instead of 1S. On the 18th
II was passed, most Of the leading
members OF the house heartily APPROX
Ing the bill From this it is easy to
reason why Japan is becoming the
great nation of the far east.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-10-16

Discussing bill in the house of
commons for the legislative reform OF
the drama, a distinguished English
statesman insisted that reform could
come from but one source. public
opinion. Improper 1ests and songs. II
men and women would avoid laughing
at them, would speedily fall into dis
use. AS good example OF the force
of public opinion. the American COM
mIssioners to The Hague Poace Con-
ference last summer refer to over one
thousand kilograms. letters. and me
MORALS of sympathy received by them.
TIE fact that the whole American ma
ton was backing its commissioners
had most important bearing in the
council, and was the means OF COM
pletely reversing the attitude toward
international arbitration of one great
European nation.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-10-16

ministerial experiences in the West.
"A man came up to me one day." says
Mr.. Brady, after service in a frontier
town, and was pleased to address me
in this manner: Say. parson, that
there service and sermon was grand
I would not have missed 'em for So.
When | suggested that he hand me the
difference between the amount he had
put in the collection basket and the
figure he mentioned, for my missionary
work, he stopped suddenly, looked at
me with his mouth wide open, and
then slowly pulled from his pocket
$3.50. which he handed to me without
a word"
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-10-16
Peru's Vast Mineral produce.

me SOIL Of Peru eontains the larg-
eSe NUMBER OF mineral species-at Piu-
"a IN the north, petroleum and sui
phur' silver, lead, copper and coal in
ene great mining basin of Cerro de
So IN central Peru and phosphate.
9uicAsiiVer, auriferous grounds and
oorax at Arequipa. Carabaja. in the
south At the present time the num-
Der OF mines in exploitation is $500
employing 10000 workmen. The value
OF ore has increased by more than so
per cent within the last two years
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-10-16

A convict in Sing Sing prison. who
was in the bird business in New York,
and has made the tanning OF birds a
study, has, while temporarily engaged
at work outside the north prison wall.
caught and tanned a young robin. The
bird comes to him when he whistles to
1t and perohes itself upon his finger
Sometimes it goes with him to his cell
at night, and perches on his book
shelf. 1t is entirely at home In the
prison. In the morning 1t goes out
with him and stays around while he ID
IT his work
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-10-16

Mississippi and Georgia have ADAM
doned the system of hiring out con-
victs, but have employed them to ad-
vantage on farms, especially in raising
cotton. This form of employment has
been found to work the least injury to
free labor and to assure the best re-
turns. Both states have made profit
out of their convict farms, and the
farms have been free from the hard
ships and cruelties to convlcts INSOFAR
able from the lease system.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-10-16

After consulting with substantial
roiored men In all parts of the coun-
try. Booker T. Washington, of Tuske-
gee, Ala, has decided to assist in the
organization of National Negro Busi-
ness League. The object of this or
ganization is to encourage colored peo-
pie, through the central organization
and local organizations, to enter all
avenues of business. The first meet
ing will be held in Boston on August
20 and "a.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-10-16

A story from Scranton. Pa, says
Rev. Mr.. Joseph Kossuth Dixon of
Boston. has been made trustee of a
most remarkable fund. Mrs. Ella M.
Amerman, who died recently in Mas
sachusetts, bequeathed a fund OF
10000 to Mr.. Dixon in trust, tho in
come to be devoted to the care of her
two horses and her pet dog. This will
was admitted TO probate in Scranton.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-10-16

Tennessee cotton planters are send
ing out large orders for turkeys in an
sffort to save the crop from destruc-
lion from grasshoppers, which have
appeared this season in enormous
numbers. This turkey eats all the
time he is awake and prefers grosshop-
pers to anything else. while grass
hopper diet results In wonderfully fine
turkeys.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-10-16

from any other port should instruct
the customs authorities ia New York
to send them back. The value OF the
watch submitted to the special agents
was SEQ francs. Needless to say its
owner never returned to claim tt
Leslie's Weekly.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-10-16
PocAHoNrAs IN KITCHEN.

Indians Make Model Servants, Says a
Western Writer.
Riverside (Cal.) correspondence Phil
adelphia Times: The servant girl
question is solved at last It has not
been done by the importation Of OBJ
jectionable Chinese or the securing Of
foreign woods for women who are too
uncivilized to be Independent and
above the kitchen station. The solu-
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-10-16

capt Alexander Nikolayevitch Ga
netzki, the late commander of the Rus
sian volunteers of the Boer army, be-
longed to most distinguished family.
his rather was the most famous gem
erai OF the Turkish war of 1S77-7s.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-10-16

Stockholm University has granted
he first degree of Doctor of Medicine
siven woman in Sweden to Frau
elm Anna Stscksen.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-10-16
PRINCE HARRY.
AFTER SECURING a FORTUNE
FROM A MINE

Tie Set Out to Spend 1t and Succeeded
90 Wen That He Was Soon Reduced
to Poverty and Ended His Life with
Bullet. 81
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-10-16

In the Ladies' Home Journal this
Rev. G. T. Brady relates some OF his
Omaha daily bee., 1900-11-06

Four Years Ago They Were seeking
for Almost Any Kind of work.

How any thinking nan can east a vote
FOR BT-En IS mystery 10 ne said City
Engineer Andrew Rosewzter -Four years
ago & vas impossible for civil engineer.
10 get veTk. At that time many capable
engineers applied 10 ne FOR employment
and were willing TO accept any sort o.
position. ] remember that several ren
who had bsea in charge Of important rail-
road work and were arst-elEss engineers
we're seeking positions and oreret 10 work
for ridieulously small salaries.
Railroad building VAS a. standstlll,
there were no public improvements being
made ana tie of.oes Of engineers we're de.
serted Today the reverse is the cas-
Engineers have all they can DO. Capable
nea car and work almost anywhere. What
is true Of the engineers is true Of lAborers
and mechanics Railroad building has had
greater impetus than ever before. sai
enough ner cannot be had TO carry out ex-
tensivs public improvements which are be-
ing made in nearly al parts o: the United
States. Yet some ot the men who are en-
toying this prosperity will risk change
Of sduialstrst!on &ad invite the conditions
OF four years ago."