davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Amador ledger., 1900-12-07
The Gold Brick sv,paIe

1.-THE gold brick swindle.' said a
business man quoted in the New Or
leans Times-Democrat, lis one, of the
most plausible propositions ever ad-
vanced and has landed some of the
cleverest business men in the country.
A number of years ago it used to be a
common thing for banks in the west to
buy gold bricks-I mean real ones
and frequently there We're the best of
reasons for keeping the transaction
quiet.
at often happened that the owner of
some partly developed mine would
make an unexpected strike and wish
to buy the adjacent property. Natu-
rally he would want to hold back the
news of his discovery until he secured
the land and If he had any bullion to
dispose of would make the sale as
quietly as possible. The banks be-
came accustomed to deals of that kind
and were consequently pretty easy
prey for the gold brick swindler who
turned up with precisely similar sto-
ry.
81 don't believe | exaggerate when l
say that fully one-third of all the bank
ing houses in the western mineral belt
were at some time victimized by this
game"
Amador ledger., 1900-12-07
An Abrupt Propo.aI.

The reported fashion cf the famous
Dr. Abernethy's courtship and mar
rtage is very characteristic. 1t is told
tbat while attending lady for several
weeks he observed these admirable
qualifications in her daughter which he
irIsy esteemed to render the married
;3te happy. Accordingly on Satur-
~. taking leave of his patient he ad-
b! as,ti her to the following purport:
''lGu are now so well that need not
ycu after Monday next, when |
f':3ii come and pay you a farewell WIS.,
Il. But in the meantime ! wish you
Ind your daughter to seriously consid-
Z. lie proposal ] am about to make. 1t
L.; abrupt and unceremonious, am
aware, but the excessive occupation Of
Ely time by my professional duties af-
fGrdS me no leisure to accomplish what
desire by the more ordinary course of
lttention aud solicitation. My annual
receipts amount to e, and can set
lc. + on my wife. My character is
generally known to the public. so that
ccu may readily ascertain what it is.
have seen in your daughter tender
md affectionate child, an assiduous
md careful nurse and a gentle and
adylike member of family. Such a
person must be all that husband
-cu,d covet. aud offer my hand and
urtune for her acceptance. On Mon
lay when call shall expect your de-
termination. for | really have not time
:oi' the routine of courtship.'
In this manner the lady was wooed
and won. and it may be added the
nnion was felicitous in every respect.
Amador ledger., 1900-12-07
vu1ture. and Rattle.nake..

When the international boundary
commission resurveyed the lines be-
tween the United States and Mexico
Dr. Mearns, who, with his assistants,
collected many specimens of birds and
mammals. tells of fight in the air be-
tween a California vulture and a rat
tlesnake which he saw while exploring
the Cocopah mountains of Lower Cal.
ifornia +
1t was in the early morning The big
| Dird had seized the snake behind the
head and was struggling upward with
It's writhing. deadly burden. The
snakes captor appeared aware that its
Iictim was dangerous. The burden
was heavy. as the reptile was nearly
i've feet long.
The grip of the bird on the snakes
iody was not of the best The snake
seemed to be squirming from its cap
tors talons. at least sufficiently to en-
able it to strike. Its triangular head
was seen to rccoil and dart at the mass
Of feathers.
1t did this once or twice, and then
with shriek. the vulture dropped its
prey The bird was probably $50 feet
Dr. so above the observers The aston
shed men were then treated to a spec
tacle seldom seen Few birds but q
vulture could accomplish such feat
The instant the snake escaped from
the birds clutches 1t dropped earth,
ward like shot. and. like a shot. the
bird dropped after it, catching It In
midair with a grip that caused death
At any rate. the snake ceased to wrig
gle, and the vulture scared away to 9
mountain peak to devour its hard earn.
ed meal.-Youth's Companion.
Amador ledger., 1900-12-07
A Dogfight In Church.

The Westminster Budget says that it
was once usual for highland shepherds
10 take their dogs to church and leave
them outside the pews. Two shep-
herds at enmity sat on opposite sides
Of the aisle one Sunday Soon after
the sermon began the dogs, one collie
and the other not, seemed to enter into
their masters quarrel One tender of
The flock and then the other egged on
his animal, and each faithful dog obey
ed his master. The people at last cram
ed their necks over the pews. and when
the dogs actually fought not few of
the congregation were standing up
The minister's patience was ultimate
y exhausted, and so he called to his
hearers" and said. "Ah, weel, my
0ritherin. | see ye are more interested
IN tie dogfight than in my sermon, and
- I'll close the buke-and I'll bet half
/ crown on the collier
Amador ledger., 1900-12-07
ONLY A CROOKED CENT.
when the Young Woman Thought II
Was Gold, She Got Nervous.

When the Young Woman Thought II
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 it struck the street was fol-
lowed by sharp metallic sound
~ hat was that you threw away, my
dear?' asked her companion, another
Eirl about the same age.
Money" laconically responded the
thrower
Money!" continued her companion
In a horrified tone of voice. "Why, it
founded like gold"
My graciousp' shrieked the thrower.
Have thrown away one of those
Goldpieces?''
BY this time several of the passen-
gers had arisen from their seats and
We're 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 a
hair. All this time the car was bowl
ing as merri,y along as Broadway cars
ever do bowl. and it was getting far
thor and farther away from the mon
ey One or two of the passengers were
cbort 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 it seemed
+he strain would be too much for the
excited passengers to bear longer the
fair thrower looked up smilingly at her
companion and mugmured sweetly:
IFS all right, my dear. II. wasn't d
goIdpiece after ALL" 5
What was it, then?' asked the Sec
Ond young woman
only q crooked penny" replied the
thrower. 81 always throw away crook
cd peunies-for luck
Then both girls softly giggled, while
tho other passengers, looking both fool
ish and disguised, resumed their seats
New York Tribune
Amador ledger., 1900-12-07
Four Good Smoke. Chenp.

Gimme three nickel cigars" said
The man with the red necktie at the
restaurant counter He was quickly
supplied
Now gimme good Havana or Key
West cigar. about a 15 center"
!ip carefully lighted the Havana ci-
!ai and tucked the nickel cigars in his
app' + vest pocket
Yen smoke a Havana yourself and
ieep the nickel cigars for your friends,
suppGse?" said the dealer. with a
'ickiy smile
No" said the man with the red
atcktie: I've got better scheme than
kat always smoke 10 cent Ha-
,aiia or Key West cigar after dinner.
r.,on smoke the nickel cigars after
ward. The nickel cigars taste exactly
BE the Havana cigar. and thus | get
:hp benefit of four choice cigars that
ordinarily would cost me 60 cents for
10 cents.
'Try 1t yourself" said the man with
he red nccktie as he walked out-Chi-
ago Tribune
Amador ledger., 1900-12-07
WousaC Come Anrhn,r.

The Rev Fa;iipr Staunion of the well
known Chpich of ~. Alban Holhorn.
is bumorsI III his way and often tells
with inimiiallp effect lroll story in
the couise 81 his sermon which sends
through the cpn rsscGtion a gentle rip
pie of mpi'imenl On Sunday he sat
rized the ambition of certain people
to Use words of which they did not
know the meaning. Many of them
we're fond of sticking the letters ID.
v" in all sorts of places instead of
using the plain. homely English phrase
God willing" He knew one gentle
man. rather shaky in his Latin. who in
a letter to q friend wrote 81 will be
with you ID on Monday but any
way on Tuesday London Telegraph.
Amador ledger., 1900-12-07
ORIGIN OF THE TERM "MOB'
Used In Its Ftrst Meaning in Time Of
Cbnu;er

Used In Its Firsf Meaning in Time OF
Chnu"er.
AS indicating the populace. prnver-
bially fickle ard easy to be moved (mo-
bile. from Latin mobillis). the express
sion "the mobile people" is as old as
the time of Chaucer but in its later
sense. that of the disorderly crowd,
and in its contracted form. mob it is
not older than the postrestoration Pc
riod. In Roger North's Examen. l740,
reference is made to the Green Ribbon
club. 16S0-2. and the writer adds:
Il 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-
iy at first by Dryden c'Don Sebastian" J."
l690. Durfy c'Commonwealth of Wo-
men," l6SSi and Shadwpll t'Squirp of
Alsatia." l'iSSI. and Richardson points
out that Dryden uses both mobile"
and mob in the sense of rahhle. the
former in the stage directions as the
common word. the latter as if ii had
not long bre;i ntr 4l':ced
In I'LL T'.r Snpctn.or instances
mob as an 'Xan ~ ci tie popular
tendency IL .',rta'l r,aly of eur words
in familiar writings and conversation.
The Terb Ito ml'h. derived of course
as above. does nut occur until tbe pc
riod of Horac, Nai:;ole niant wears
later and' ;'hai'"sppato's expression,
the mol!ied queen r'Hamlet"). refers
not to the ''mob| unobilel. hut TO the
headdress in disorder. Boston Tran
Snrinf
Amador ledger., 1900-12-07
comins Down with a paracbute.

Coming Down With a Parachute
Coming down from the clouds in a
Ia. aehute is like dream" said q cir
Gus lalloon artist. Ever dream Of
calling f'Iom high place? You come
down. alight quietly and awake, and
you're not hurt. Well, that's the para
chute drop over again. No; there is no
danger. A parachute can be guided
readily on the down trip but you can't
;t,cr a balloon. To guide a parachute
tut of harms way a practiced hand
ran tilt it one way or the other, spill
ut air and thus work it to where you
liant to land or to avoid water, trees,
:himneys or church spires.
Circus ascensions are generally
luade in the evening. When the sun
Toes down. the wind goes down. The
saloon then shoots into the air, and
he parachute drops back on the circus
Ot or not far away.
"a balloon is made of cent muslin
and weighs about 500 pounds. A para
chute is made of cent muslin. The
'ope that secures the parachute is cut
with a knife. The aeronaut drops
fully 100 feet before the parachute be-
gins to fill. 1t must fill if you're up
high enough. Invariably the fall is
head first When the parachute be-
gins to fill. the descent is less rapid,
and finally when the parachute has
inally filed it bulges out with a pop.
Then the aeronaut climbs on to his ira
0sZ., and riIidpS tha par.oh,,+o - Z, CO e.
.anding- III seven cases out of ten you
'an land hack on the lot vssere you
started from. New York News
Amador ledger., 1900-12-07
A Lazy Reggnr.

l once had conversation. said an
Isle of Man bank manager. speaking
Of Hall Caine. with two old friends of
mine. farmer and his buxom wife,
who live within few yards of Greeba
castle. the great Manx authors resi-
lence. Hall Caine had just taken up
mis- abode in his new house. and | start
ed the conversation by saying to the
worthy farmer and wife:
$50 you have the great Hall Caine
near you now?"
Farmer and Wife-Aye. man.
Farmers Wife-And what tremenjus
style they are keeping. It's amazing
Farmer-And what's he doing for a
living. Mr.. -? sI
Bank Manager greatly astonished)-
What, don't you know he is a popular
author?
Farmer-And what's that?
Bank Manager-Why. he writes sue
cessful books.
Farmer with a fine show of con-
tempt)-The lazy beggar!
need hardly say, concluded my
correspondent, that collapsed.
Amador ledger., 1900-12-07
A Little MISTAKE In medals.

The chief officer of Yorkshire yeo.
manry regiment while congratulating
one of the troops on its appearance
made a stirring allusioD to the medals
worn by some army veterans in the
ranks One of the men, a native of
Wharfedale, afterward went home in a
very thoughtful frame of mind, and
next morning he came on parade with
several medals on his breast
Said the officer, 81 didn't know you
had been in the regulars"
mo; amt" said the man.
We'll, how about the medals, then
my good fellow? They can't be yours ~
The man promptly answered: Cant
they? Aye, but they be. My old COO
won 'em all at Otley show Upper
Wharfedale.
Amador ledger., 1900-12-07
Why lie Called Dutch Gan.

When Ben Butler was endeavorine
to get the Union gunboats up the
James, lie found the water in the bend
at Dutch Gap too shallow to let them
pass. to say nothing of the fact that
the Contederates had erected two OF
three batteries along the bend in order
to give him a warm reception. So he
went ahead and cut canal across the
neck and suddenly, instead of being
Is miles from Richmond. he was only
six. Ever since that time the canal
has been used, and the government
now considers it the channel of the
river and keeps it in shape. The plan.
tations along the land were thus sud.
denly drained of their very lifeblooG
and have naturally fallen into decay.
The place is called Dutch Gap be-
cause at this spot, in early colonial
days, q Dutchman worked a very
smooth game upon the unsuspectina
Indian. The Dutchman wagered the
Indian that he could beat him padding
a canoe around the bend. The Indian
took him up on the instant and gave
him a mile the start. They started
just above the bend, the Indian mile
behind. and when the Dutchman reach
ed the neck he jumped on shore, grab.
bed his canoe out Of the water, ran
across to the other side with it, drop.
ped it into the water again and calmly
awaited the arrival of the astonished
Indian, who had padded ,frantically
around the bend in the endeavor tc
catch up with him. What the wager
was is not recorded, but the Dutchman
doubtless. got possession Of 100000 ol
100000 acres of land as result Of the
trick.-Cor. Chicago Record.
Amador ledger., 1900-12-07
Time ms n scu1ptor.

A portrait traced by nature on wo-
mans tombstone, says The Scots Pic
torial, has recently been discovered in
Jedburgh graveyard, near the famous
abbey. The stone was erected in 1898
by worthy bailie of Jethart to the
memory Of his wife, Alison Renwick.
The slow finger of time has worn away
most of the facing on the front of the
stone, and part Of it is overgrown with
moss, which has outlined the features.
Local opinion favors the view that the
face is likeness of the good old lady
who sleeps beneath, theory which
has at least the merit of being difficult
of disproof, since no one living can pos
sibly have seen her.
Amador ledger., 1900-12-07
Not Available.

When at o'clock one morning Mrs.
Newman was convinced that she heard
u burglar in the parlor, she cautiously
awakened her husband.
"Very WELL" said Mr.. Newman, with
n drowsy patience bozn of frequent
5imilar alarms. 9TH get my revolver
from the drawer and go down and in
yestigate''
But William" said his wife. with a
sudden gasping remembrance, your
pistol isn't here, dear IL tied it up
with ribbons for an ornament under
your fathers sword ay"-Youth's
cOmpan!on.
Amador ledger., 1900-12-07
p*sa ana Sleeping.

German, doctor has been investi.
eating theiquestion of beds, and the re.
suit of his labors has been lately given
to the world in the pages of a German
journal In the first place, to convince
mankind of the Importance of his sub.
ject, the doctor reminds all mankind
that we spend from one-fourth to one.
third of our lives in bed, after which
he proceeds to advise the world on the
healthiest kind of couch and the most
sensible manner of rcposing thereon.
A hard bed appears to be the best,
and it is laid down that children from
the earliest years should be trained to
sleep on these hard beds. Soft beds
are too warm and do not admit suffi-
eient air. Even in the case of the hard
bed the sleeper is warned to see that
his covering, whether wooden or cotton.
is not so heavy that the body is kept
overwarm and fresh air is excluded.
This ventilation, according to our au-
thorfty, is all important. But what
will middle aged people say when the
man of science bids them dispense
with their pillows? Pillows, he de-
clares, are evils, and it is right that we
should sleep with limbs uncramped on
perfectly horizontal plane. Knowing
the weakness of human flesh, however,
the doctor declares that if pillows are
retained they should be neither too soft
nor too thick
A point on which most people will
agree with this authority is the neces-
sity for constant (the doctor asks for
daily airing and summing of the bed
ding. Much i'll health may be attribut-
ed to carelessness in this matter.-Lon-
don Globe.
Amador ledger., 1900-12-07
A SLEEPY GUEST.
Why the Lady of the House Was I'm
0iRnanf tDn1..&

dignant Over :..A Conduct
here is a well Known legal light of
Chicago who is in deep disgrace with
eht the shadow of an excuse for him
sell to bolster up his sinking spirits.
tie went out to Hyde Park tlie other
u'Sht to dine informally with some
trlends. anu his hostess, who had been
Siarrled but short time, put herself
cur 10 entertain him The dinner was
excellent. and the judge did full JUS
t''e 10 it. They had coffee in the libra
~, ana the biggest. NEST padded leath-
rr chair was put at the guests dispos-
III. W it'll Il sigh lie sank into its cav
'fnOrs depths ana prepared for luxu-
rloGs evening with good cigal ahead
OF biill. 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 all the
tai@ing. in the midst of striking ac-
count of theater party she stopped
with jerk. There was no response
and Il 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 apologetically came up after
her He had not expected her wrath
to last "Did-did you think you were
badly treated?" 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. 'T wouldn't mind" !"
Dacifcally.
Then it was the worm turned
"Mindr' she stormed "Of course
wouldn't. only you have grounds now
for the rest of your life for saying /
talk SO much it puts people to sleepw
And she wept.-Chicago News.
Amador ledger., 1900-12-07
why She War Rirht.

Havdn had Il peculiar way of deter
mining the time in which a piece of
mrsir should be sung. On one occa-
sion female singer in high esteem at
court bad been appointed to sing one
of Eaydn'S compositions At the re-
hnarsal she and the conductor differed
as to the time of the music The mat
Ter was to hp settled by referring it to
aay'ln himself When called on to
decide. be asked the conductor if the
singer was handsome
Very was the reply. land spe-
sial favorite with the prince
Then she is right" replied Haydn
Amador ledger., 1900-12-07
Preparing For Moral suasion.

Don't you believe in moral sua-
sion" asked the neighbor.
The indignant father stopped with
the switch poised In the air.
"Of course l do" he answered. 81
tried it once, and Pm going to try 1t
again just as soon as 1 lick this boy
hard enough so that he'll know enough
to be ruled by it the next time I try
it. Yes, sir; moral suasion is a great
thing, and I'm going to teach this boy
how good 1t is if have to vale the
life out Of him to dc It. He doesn't
appreciate its advantages yet"-Chica-
go Post.
Amador ledger., 1900-12-07
Carrying Out the Rule.

Some editor who has been giving
advice to people on how to live to be
old says that one of the main rules to
follow is to go away from the table at
each meal feeling as if you could eat
more" +.
"Well. say. if that's right. every fell
low at our boarding house ought to
live to be hundredp- Plain
Dealer.
Amador ledger., 1900-12-07
Too Lively.

Mr.. Corntossel-I can't understand
these here theater troopers.
Mr.. Meddergrass-What is the mat.
ter?
Mr.. Corntossel-Why, they advertised
this here drummer of 9Th Black Vow
of Vengeance" as havin plenty of life
in it, an blame if they didn't kill 16
people in tn first Baltimore Amer
lean n.
Amador ledger., 1900-12-07

The difference between a fort and a
fortress lies in the fact that the former
is designed to contain solely the garri-
son and their munitions, while the lat
ter is often a city containing a large
number of noncombatants.
Amador ledger., 1900-12-07
NO9QDIRed.

To stop bleeding at the nose. cut
some hlotting paper about an inch
sqrare roll it about the size of lead
pencil and put it up the nostril that is
bleeding. The hollow in it will allow
the sufferer to breathe. The blood will
I'LL the space between the tube and
the nose and will very soon coagulate
and cease to flow.
Amador ledger., 1900-12-07

consequence of self abuse and excess prodr
ing the following symptoms: Sallow count
nance, dark spots under the eyes, pain in t
head. ringing in the ears, loss of conidenl
difndence in approaching strangers, palpitati
OF the heart, weakness Of the limbs and bac
loss OF memory. pimples on the face, cough
consumption, etc.
DIR. GIBBON has practiced in San Francis
over 81 years, and those troubled should n
fail to consult him and receive, the benefit
his great skill and experience The doct
cures when others fail Try him. Cures gus
anteed. Persons cured at home Charges rea
enable. Call or write.
DIR. ]. F. GIBBoN, 625 Kearney street, S,
Francisco, Cal.
Amador ledger., 1900-12-07
Means to the End.

Goldrox-So you want to marry my
laughter. What means have you to
that end?
Mr.. Forchen Hunt-Oh, we'd be mar
ried in the usual way-by means of a
minister. That's easy enough.-Phila-
lelphia Press.
Amador ledger., 1900-12-07
DimcuIt Color Scheme

THE baby has his fathers nose,
lon't you think"
Nonsense Nature could no more
rproduce that nose than she could re-
produce a Turner sunset" = Detroit
Journal.
Amador ledger., 1900-12-07
Chinese Riddles

What is the fire that has no smoke
end thu water that has no fish?
A glowworm's fire has no smoke, and
well water has no fish.
Mention the name Of an object with
two mouths which travels by night and
rot by day.
a lantern. Chicago News.
Amador ledger., 1900-12-07

The mineral resources of western ST.
IBERIA are vast. Between Tomsk and
Kooznesk lie 10000 square kilometers
(23, ,167 square niles of coal lands
which have never been touched.
Amador ledger., 1900-12-07
Socrates Trimmed.

mo one" gravely announced Socra.
ties. "can arrest the flight of time
MOP queryingiy int &'upted by
stander 81 Thought anybody could
stop a minute" And even the disciples
of the great philosopher were forced to
smile behind their togas. Philadelphia
Record
Amador ledger., 1900-12-07

With the exception of Norway, there
is no country in Europe whose area is
SO taken up by forests as Germany,
more than quarter of its surface be-
ing devoted to them.
Amador ledger., 1900-12-07

English archers in battle used the
longbow, French archers the cross
how. The longbow was certainly the
better.
Amador ledger., 1900-12-07
A Contractor.

Knicker-You say your son is con-
tractor What is his special line? 20,
Bocker-Debts,
Amador ledger., 1900-12-07
TO THE UNFORTUNATE
DIR. GIBBoN

This old reliable a
themost successful 81
cialist in San Franc
CO stillcontinues to Gu
all Sexual and Semin
Diseases,suc as Che
orrhea, elect, Strictui
Syphilis in all it's forI
Skin Diseases, Nervo
De bility, LmpotenC
Seminal Weakness, a
oCo 80 Manhood .
Amador ledger., 1900-12-07

A man who inadvertently steps upon
banana peel has doubts about the
sustaining power of the fruit. = ST..
Louis Star.