davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-29
1.-THE Pending National Election Involves the Very
Existence of Our Republican Institutions" ~


re'er look the gift horse in the mouth \
story is told Of General TwiEgs. one Of our
Generals in the Mexican War, who was
considered a martinez in the army. that
when a Very good soldier in other respects
was brought before him for drunkenness.
he sent him back to his company with the
remark that We should not expect all the
Christian virtues for $I5 a month
believing that the pending National
election involves tue existence of our
Republican Institutions. regard the re-
election of Mr.. Mckinley as the greatest
disaster that can befall the American pco-
pie. do not accuse Mr.. Mckinley and his
advisers % being lacking in patriotism, hut
from what | have seen OF the Republican
LEADERS at Washington. l have no doubt
that they intend to change the policy
and form Of our Government and 10
esta blish the colonial system of Eu-
rope. They propose TO carry ont the
ideas of Mr. Hamilton. and make this
N strong government without tOnstt-
tutionaI Limitations. lie declared, ss
shown by the debates Of the cOnven-
:Ion of 1857. TINT the English gov
ernm~nt was the best ever invented
by the wit of man.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-29
IT am not going out to-day" he said.

IT am not going out to-day" he said.
why not?' he was asked.
Didn't you see that black cat jump out
from under that crippled car just now? 1t
almost hit me in the face"
We'll, there's another car that IL all
right, and you can take that"
But the cat turned around and looked at
me after Ii had jumped. Looked me square
in the face"
We'll, what has that got TO do with it?''
Its got just much TO do with IL that
l don't take any run to-day. Don't you
out car to-day I'd be killed sure. No. sir:
L wouldn't take a run for the next twenty
four hours for a fortune"
And he wouldn't. The officials and the
conductors and motormen argued. but all
in vain; Talbot wouldn't bulge a car. One
of the Mounted District men. who had been
assigned to guard duty on Talbots car,
told Captain McNamee of the occurrence.
The Captain, who takes an interest in things
supersutious. and wears an opal ring TO
prove that he is not affected by belief IN
signs. became interested. He sought Tai
bot out and questioned him Then Talbot
told the whole story
Il wasn't feeling good that morning, any
how" he said. Il had 'hunch' that some
thing was going to happen But l thought
maybe IL was only because so many things
had been happening, and didn't pay any
attention to my feelings. l took the car
ana started out. We had hardly got into
Laclede avenue when she began to buck.
The motor wouldn't work. and then the
wheels wouldn't catch. l tried sand. but
still the wheels would buzz l got of the
car and looked under it. but couldn't see a
thing the matter. L tried IT again, but the
car still would not go right. So L made
UP my mind that there was only one thing
TO do. and did it, l started back to the
shed
When We had turned in l got off TO take
another look. l had just stopped over. with
my face pretty well under the car, when
there was a meow and a spit, and then
a black bunch of fur whisked by my face.
II hit the ground with another meow and
spit and then turned around, looking me
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-29
DOG VALUES AND SMOKES.
Wonderful Accomplishments of
Jack" Stray Poodle.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Chicago. Ill, July ga stray poodle that
dances on its two hind feet and holds
lighted cigar in its mouth has appeared fire.
quently in the neighborhood of the Hyde
Park Police Station during the past few
days. II ia thought that the animal has es-
capped from some show. Almost every
morning the dog may be seen on Lake ave-
nue. near Fifty-third street, doing number
OF antics for some children. The dog has
10 license. but il is thought that inside Of a
shcrt while some thoughtful person VIII
adopt the canine. II can waltz beautifully
In fact. the animal Will always start to
move its feet at the sound of music. Many
have taken great fancy to The animal and
frequently given il food out of their own
lunch cans. The dog is known by the name
Of Jack and ever slice the little fellow has
made its appearance in the neiShborhood
Jack has become house hold word. As soon
as - Hyde Parker living in the vicinity OF
Lake avenue and Fiity-thiri street speaks
of Jack everybody knows what he or she Is
talking about
Every morning Jack makes a round of all
the houses. When the dog appeared in Hyde
Park last week II was very thin. but al
ready "A noticeable change is apparent in his
condition. Jack can with ease hold a lighted
cigar in its mouth for five minutes. Some of
the boys have made a habit of giving the
animal bits Of cigarettes TO hold between its
sharp teeth.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-29
MIR. Bryan
Is Stronger.

NO man living can predict with any GER
taiuty what will l.. tn. result of this cam
yaicn. do not think there viii be any
landslide To either party and the contest
viii b. determined IN the pivnta! states OF
IfHilua and Nsw York The Republicans
have unlimited supply of money,
ard there are thousands of voters
who will be reluctant to oppose the
al IN Illustration while "a foreign
il in progress. even IL they have
doubts as to the Justice of the war.
tn German vote Will have much to do
with determining the r.s SALT Of the election,
and ii Will probably Ice divided between tho
two parties. The GermIus are opposed to
the free coinage 81 silver ana to imperial-
ism. hut To one can say now where the
Ia--e-t portion e.: this vote will 20. Mr.
Br>ap il Internationally str0nge-
than i~.G and believe that ~ tho
people of thr United states cnn he
made to appreciate the vast impor-
tancc of the issues Involved in the
canvass Mckinney will he defeated.
-'Df course Missouri will lad the DEM
CCratic column and poCkcry will be one Of
the best Governors the State has ever had.
h. is conservative. !evel-headed, has had
great experience in public affairs. and ia
absolutely horost. Ills nomination was the
best that could be made.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-29

osene. After the highest-proo grades OF
coal oil have been drawn off there remains
a heavy non-gaseous oil that is used for me-
chanical purposes and as the basis for nu-
merous chemical compounds.
There IS almost no body TO naphtha aad
benzine. A quantity of either. poured upon
the palm of ones hand will disapp.a ar al
together within few moments. especially
II the palms OF the two hands are rubbed
together few times. and will leave not the
elightest trace of oil. Gasoline. also. IS
quite volatile. 1t can be used on cloth.
without soiiinG the goods. but the odor II
IL fingers longer than that CT naphtha and
benzine. Coal oil. Of course. leaves an oil
stain. although some grades of II can be
largely dissipated IN gas. Tie higher proof
grades, however. show comparatively little
waste. The highest proof coal oil Is that
from which all the gasoline has been ex-
tracted. but this grade has small value as
an flluninant. Nearly all coal oil has more
or less of the gas that enters into the com
position of gasoline and II Is this which
gives 1t its explosive and most of its high
conclusive qualities.
And now for the causes Of accidents
with coal oil. OF course. as 1 have already
said. carelessness is at the bottom of near
ly all OF them. The most general cause OF
so-called coal-oil explosions is that a great
er or less quantity of gasoline has been
introduced into the coal oil. Coal oil and
gasoline look and smell very much alike;
many people cannot distinguish between
them except after the most careful compar-
ison. To add TO the danger of confounding
the two, the housewife frequently keeps
them in cans that are exactly alike The
result is that frequently a lamp is filed
with gasoline instead of coal oil. Now and
then the mistake is discovered. the gaso-
line poured out. and coal oil poured in. or
the dealer may be careless, and measure
out the coal oil in a cup that has been
used for measuring gasoline shortly before.
Or. again. the housewife may send the gas
oline to be filed with coal OIL As a
teaspoonful of gasoline will raise the quail
ity of n gallon of coal oil above the danger
line. the risk that is taken by those who
guilty OF this carelessness, or are vic
tins Of II. is seen TO be great. When the
lamp is lighted. the fame begins to cut
up all sort of capers. In most cases there
is no accident: but now and then there is
an explosion, and the coal oil IS blamed
for it,
Another source OF danger is in the lamp
burner. Each burner is constructed with
a small airshaft. which opens from the
bowl Of the lamp and ends at the point
where the wick emerges from the burner.
This serves means of escape for the
gas that may be generated from the
natural heating OF the oil by the fame
which gives the light. As long as the
burner Is kept clean. and this little air.
shaft Is left open. the gas will escape as
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-29

WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
"CareIessness IS at the bottom Of 80 Per
cent of the accidents that arise from the
use Of coal OIL
Such IS the declaration OF George B. Car
starphen, Deputy Coal Oil Inspector Of ST.
Louis
In almost the same percentage OF cases
accidents following the use Of gasoline are
also due to carelessness," he continued
but gasoline is not in my line TO such an
extent as coal oil is, and l cannot speak so
positively Of IT.
Mr.. Carstarphen had been asked to give
for The sunday Republic some observations
on coal oil accidents. the cause of them, and
the manner IN which they could be avoid
ed.
The cause Is careIessness: the way in
which 10 avoid them Is 10 be careful" Is
his explanation ard solution.
The coal of tina. is used in Missouri is
not dangerous if any degree OF care is ex-
ercised in its use" he explained. an fact.
in thousands of cases where there Is a great
deal Of carelessness there are no accidents,
which shows that coal oil is not a danger
Gus liquid tn Itself The Missouri standard
is $50 degrees; ia other words, coal oil. TO
be legally sold in this State. must be so
refined that II can be heated to 80 degrees
before it generates sufficient gas for igni-
ton. If IT falls below that standard II Is
condemned. Other States have different
standards. Arkansas. believe. requires a
standard OF 80 degrees. Texas of only 40
degrees; Kansas, Illinois and number of
other States place the maximum limit at
about the same as thai which prevails In
Missouri. The railroads. however. require
a much higher standard. most Of them in
sisting that the coal oil used In their car
lights shall withstand a test Of 800 degrees.
Coal oil that can stand that test Is mighty
safe. but Il gives less brilliant light.
The system of testing coal oil is sim
pie one. In the first place. there is cop
per vessel; then there is a much smaller
porcelain vesseI-a cup. you might call IT.
Tine sample from the tank or barrel that
IS to be tested is placed in this cup. and
the cup IS placed inside of the copper vessel,
which has been filed with water to a height
which all but submerges the cup. Then a
spirit lamp IS lighted and placed under
the copper vessel, for the purpose of heat
ing the water, and. through IT, the oil. A
thermometer IS inserted in the oil, and then
results are awaited.
When the Thermometer shows that the
oil has been heated 10 a temperature Of 40
degrees o. SO a lighted match or taper is
held over It for a fraction OF a second Tho
reason for this is: Coal OIL. when heated
10 a certain deEree-the degree being regu-
lated by the quality OF the oil-generates
a gas which IS highly infiammable. As soon
as this gas appears and n fame is held over
81. it ignites. and the fame is communicated
TO the heated coal oil, which burns more
or less rapidly, according to its quality. II
the test shows that gas has been generated
before the oil has been heated to a tenn
perature OF $50 degrees. the entire tank
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-29
BLACK CAT SCARES
TRANSIT MOTORMAN.
CHAPTER of Accidents In Which the
Feline Figured.

1t is not generally known that black
cat was one of the difficulties that the St
Louis Transit Company had to contend with
in the early days of the strike. But such
was the case. Captain George I. McNamee
of the Mounted District tells the story,
which Is vouched for also by officials Of
the transit company at the sheds of the
Laclede avenue line, near Laclede and
Compton avenues.
The Laclede avenue line had been opened
partly. The motorman on one OF the cars
was John Talbot. who some time previously.
had operated car on the Grapd avenue
line The car started out all right. but it
had not gone half a dozen blocks when
something went wrong with it Talbot could
got make it run properly. The motor
spewed and sputtered. and the wheels
slipped, and there was an odor of burning
rubber. Talbot got Off and looked under
the car. He couldn't a thing wrong.
But it would not run. and that was all there
was to it. So he backed il toward the sheds.
After he had got the recalcitrant car on
the switch. Talbot got off and looked under
il again. A huge black cat sprang from n
seat on the trucks barely missing his face.
1t turned around angrily and yowled at him
s=pitefuIly. and then scampered off.
Talbot marched Immediately into the
Office.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-29

disaster. hut the young and brilliant coterie
Of statesmen-Lodce. Wolcott. Depew, and
others who surround the President. and
proclaim him the equal o: Washington and
IincolE-are determined TO overthrow the
traditions and policies of the past. no mat
ter what il may cost. The cOmbativc clo-
ment. always "A potent factor. has been
around among our PeoIlc. and the greed
of conques. ard glamour OF military
achievement have induced thousands of
otherwise conservative citizens to Toe lurod
away from the precedents of the fathers.
Imperialism and trusts ar. the legitimate
and necessary ofTspriHEs Of the enormous
tariff taxes created 10y the Diuglsy law.
which was openly enacted for the purpose
Of excluding foreign manufactures from
competing with those of the United States.
Mr.. Mckinley is an honest fanatic on
the inriT question and believes that the
Dineley law has brought unprecedented
prosperity To this country. Under the Opcr-
alton of this statute there has been such
overprGduction by American manufacturers
that they are now selling thei- surplus to
foreigners at from 80 10 90 per cent
less cost than in the domestic market. This
can h" seen by any one who cares to look
at the export Journals published in New
York and sent to foreign markets Of
course, under present conditions there Is
great clamor among manufacturers for
trade In other countries and therefore the
Republican leaders declare that the Philip
pines must be made the basis of operations
TO obtain commercial supremacy In the
Orient. The farmers and planters are told
that great markets Will be opened in the
East for their cattle. wheat, corn. oats AMI
cotton. when every intelligent man who has
examined the question knows that the
Chinese and Filipiros have no use for cat
tie, corn and wheat. and would not give a
bushel of rice for an unlimited quantity Of
all other cereals. Instead of becoming pur-
chasers of cotton goods. the cheap labor ot
these Eastern countries will compete with
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-29
Gold and
Glory.

"in one OF his famous after dinner
speeches Senator pepew declares that tho
alliterative watchword Of the Republican
party in this campaign is Gold and glory
In other words. are to follow England.
10y adopting the single gold standard and
the colonial system against which our IA
theirs fought In the Revolutionary War. |
am rot surprised to learn from a recent
issue of The Republic that our Republican
Commissioner of Education. Professor HIr-
ris. has been industriously distributing from
his bureau arti-Boer literature In direct
violation nf law.
The refusal OF the Republican majority
I'm the Senate and of the Republican Ma
tipnaI Convention to express any sympathy
for the Boer Republic. struggling against
the English monarchy. satisfied the Com
missioner Of Education that his party
would entirely approve of the course he has
pursued.
The Republican leaders are now com
mitted 90 two propositious-First, that this
Government has all the powers Of every
other Government. and can therefore hold
colonies with millions OF people as subjects
and not citizens; second. that the Consti;u-
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-29
PORTIUNIULA WILL BE
CELEBRATED THIS WEEK.
IndulgenceS to Be Granted at Three
st. Louis Churches.

The celebration Of the "Portiuncu,a'' will
take place next Thursday in three Catholic
churches in ST. Louis. namely, ST. An
thongs Church. at Meramec street and
Compton avenue; Church of ST. Mary of
Victory. at Third and Gratiot streets and ST.
Teresa's Church. at No. 2ll3 North Grand
ayenue.
The POrtiuncula Indulgence originated in
n little church near the city of Assist. IN
Umbria, Italy. in the Thirteenth Century.
The church is called the Portiuacula. and
also Church Of Our Lady Of Angels. the
latter name being the name by which it
was first known.
The church was given in charge by the
Benedictine Fathers to a priest, who is
now known in church history as st. Francis.
The saint reported that he had n vision in
which Christ appeared and granted the
special indulgence. that ali visiting the
church and worthily receiving the sacra-
menjs of penauce and eucharist be granted
"A plenary Indulgence. ia addition TO pardon
Of all of their sins.
The indulgence of the PoriiuncUla was
confirmed BY Pope Honorius III in l225. II
being a condition on which the PRAYER of
the saint was granted. IL is stated, that the
Pope confirm the Indulgence. The indul-
gence was later extended TO other churches.
Pilgrims from all parts of the world
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-29

square in the face. 1t was big. black cat.
and its yellow eyes Elittered savaGely. while
its tail swelled up and it continued 10 growl.
DO you think ! would take car out
after that? Not for the world It's bad
luck-the worst kind of luck. The man who
would not pay attention to such sign
that is bound to have some mishap. Look
out when a black cat gets In your way, and
don't so against it.
Why? Well. 1 don't know about any
bodys case but my own; And that Is
ever got in my way l didn't pay any at
tention TO IL, and wished afterwards / had.
1 wished IL hard. 1t was when 1 was run
ming on Grand avenue, We were coming
along at "A pretty fair clip near the bridge,
when suddenly black cat darted across
the street and ran right under the wheels
of the car. All it's nine lives went out at
once. There wasn't enough of that cat left
TO choke chicken. 1 ought to have had
serSe enough to turn in rlZht then. But
didn't. | Kept right on with my run.
We hadn't made more than two or three
trips after the cat had met It's fite when
il came time for me 10 swear | would never
disregard another black cat, living or dead.
We were Gown on the south end OF the run.
about Gravois avenue, when suddenly lhe
head of a funeral procession appeared. COM
ing into Grand avenue from Grayois.
couldn't stop the car to save my life, ana
the driver of the hearse Couldn't turn out.
He was right across the track when the
front of my car hit the hearse, turned IL
over. wrecked II and threw the coffin out
In the street.
COT course. that was bad enough: nobody
wants to knock a hearse TO pieces But tnat
vas not the only trouble. The members OF
the funeral procession piled out OF their
carriages in a hurry. They swore was 10
blame for the whole thing. Others crowded
around. and it did not seem that NAG
friend in the crowd The bigger the crowd
got, and the more they discussed the acci-
dent, the more angry they became AT me
and the more they wanted to take it out OF
my hide. Presently there were threats OF
lynching. oh there wasn't anything TOO
mean TO do TO me. And thought they Were
going to swing me up to a telephone pole
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-29
IMMEDIATELY THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION WHICH WAS
BLOCKS.

"AIl OF which IS but another way Of say
ing that il is not the coal oil that cNplodes.
hut tn. gas that has been generated from
1t. To Illustrate this point. will sup
pose that n coal oil barrel has been emp
tied. which means that there is still pint
or SO Of tn oil left In It. 1t being impos-
sible to thoroughly empty a barrel This
barrel. supposedly empty. is rolled ont of
the warehouse and upon the platform.
where the sun strikes 1t. After time so
much gas has been generated IN that
barrel that II is unsafe TO go near Il with
n spark Of fire. Experienced coal oil hand
lers know this. hut upon one occasion
three inexperienced persons had to learn 1t
In a startling way. They were small boys.
and they wandered down in the neishhor-
hooi of the Waters-Pierce oil Company's
warehouse on Gratiot street out on the
sidewalk was an empty coal oil barrel. The
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-29

boys stopped TO rest themselves on II. and
to take a smoke. Each drew forth cigar
cite stub and one boy produced match
from which all took light. The boy with
the match was Of an EXPLORING disposition.
He wondered what would happen II he
should drop the match into the barrel. He
expressed his wonder. and the other boys
dared him 20 try il The bung was insert
ed loosely. and the lad who had dared
pulled 1t out. Then he dropped the match
through the bunChole. Immediately there
was an explosion that was heard for
blocks The barrel was blown into splln-
tiers. Fortunately for the boys. the barrel
was lying on its side. and they were strsd-
ding 4. The heads of the barrel. Offering
the least resistance. were the first to so,
and the slaves collapsed. Had the boys
been at jhe end of the barrel they would
have been badly hurt, If not killed As II
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-29
The Platform
the Best.

II do not agree with Mr.. Bryan in some
az his opinions, but heartily iudorse his cp-
position 10 trusts and imperialism. and his
position on the silver question. The plat
form is the best that could be ADOPTED I'M
de- the circumstances. and that Is all any
loyal and intelligent Democrat should de-
rnand. No one can have nominee and
platform entirely in accord with all his
views Every honest voter should support
the party which most nearly represents
what he considers best for the country; he
must. like Sancho Fan.a, praise God, and
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-29
The Brood
Of rusts.

THE enormous brood % trusts. loci-
cal result of the exclusive taxation in the
pireley law T. contributing largely to the
Republican campaign fund.
when tho House OF Rcprcse natives with
great Immunity ~ the last session passed
a bill improving and Strengthening the
Sherman antitrust law. the Republicans
In the Sonate Promptly killed the measure
by referring IL to the Judiciary COMMITTEES,
from which it will never be reported. If
Mckinley is reelected with a Republican
lI"u-" 90 Representatives. Mr. Hnnnn's
pet measure. giving one hundred and
eighty million of dollars IN subsidics
10 shipbuiIders and shipowners, will
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-29
! Must Be
a World Power.

There can be no other meaning IN the
utterauces and legislative action Of the
Republican leaders in Congress. We are
told that the young giant has outGrown his
swaddling clothes. and can no more he
soothed to sleeg with the nursery song OF
his childhood. We are defiantly Informed
that the United States must become
world-power. and have an army and navy
equal TO those of the great European ma
tions. The oldest and most experienced Re
publicans. such as Edmunds, Sherman,
Boutwell,, Hoar. Hale. and Harrison. have
in vain warned their party of impending