davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1900-02-03
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.

A hundred bales of cotton were re-
Gently loaded into box car "a feet
long, having a capacity OF $4,000
pounds. The cotton was packed so
tightly that there was space TO put in
five more bales.
According to the Engineering and
Mining Journal, the value OF The inn
ports of precious stones at the port OF
New York in the month of October,
1899. was $i,233,74s; of this amount,
$$s2s, 594 were uncut.
The first use of Niagara power was as
long ago as 1725, when the French
erected a sawmill near the site of the
present factory of the Pittsburgh Re-
duction company. 1t was used for the
purpose of supplying sawed lumber for
Fort Niagara.
The smoke nuisance represents loss
of four or five million pounds sterling
per annum in London alone, says the
Builder. and no one can estimate the
human suffering it entails by shutting
out the invigorating sunshine and by
poisoning the air.
According to the Railway Review. the
Toxic Card and Pasteboard company, of
Japan, is now experimenting with
pasteboard as a substitute for roofing
shingles. 1t is said that shingles from
this material can be produced at cost
about so per cent. cheaper than that Of
the wooden article. The pasteboard is
made of the desired thickness and
tarred to prevent the material being af-
fected by the weather.
The state geologist of Indiana. Prof
Blachley, reports that the supply of
natural gas in the state is decreasing
constantly, and that the end of its use
for manufacturing purposes will soon
be at hand. He suggests that factories
in the gas fields can use petroleum in
liquid form. can make petroleum gas,
can ship coal from the Indiana field CT
manufacture gas in the coal field, and
force it to their furnaces.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1900-02-03
A BLOW TO ART.
at Furnishing with Poor
Results.

LET me have Just one chance. We've
been married over 90 years and I've
left the whole problem of furnishings
to you. I've always had the promptings
of latent knowledge of art and I'd
like to give it just one practical ex-
preston. Let me fix that back parIor
to suit myself"
but you'll make it too expensive"
objected his wife. 1T has been the
study of my married life to keep with
in our means and maintain an attract
i've harmony in the settings of the
household. If you undertake to make
that room sentimental expression,
you are liable to disturb the harmony
as well as the bank balance"
leave that to me. rather pride
myself that l know something about
business. / have friend in the carpet
business and another in furniture.
Now don't you dictate or advise and if
i don't show you the prettiest room in
the house, I'll tear things all out and
turn the contract over to you."
1t was only matter of form to con-
sent, for he would have gone ahead
anyway. The balance of the house was
carpeted. He would have handsome
rug. 1t cost considerable sum, but he
could save on other furnishings. He
never figured on painted floors or fill
ing, and the mistake was costly one.
He also forgot about padded paper, the
expense of laying and even the prelim-
mary cost of cleaning. Furniture was
bought with the same lack of consid-
Grafton, decorating had to be done in
the interest of symmetry, new pictures
were bought and the bank began to
feel little uneasy about this particular
patron. 1t was gorgeous apartment,
but utterly out of keeping with the rest
of the house. His wife was solemn but
noncommittal.
what do you think of it % he asked
of an old chum, called in as sort of
referee and in position to speak his
mind.
Looks like grand parlor in junk
shop, cluster of diamonds set in MALE
able IRON"
The next day the room was cleared
and the wife resumed charge.-Detroit
Free Press.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1900-02-03
WAR FOR A PICTURE.
A Tale Of Acoma, the Wonderful
City of the Cliffs.
Painting Of the Infant Jesus and 81.
Joseph Once Threatened to Lead
to q Terrible Conflict In
New Mexico.

Especial Albuquerque IN. NJ letter.
nnN SCARCELY seems possible,
and yet it is perfectly true
IL II that to obtain possession of
an old picture in which one can now
scarcely discern q single feature clear
ly, two peoples in the United States
were once driven to the very verge Of
the precipice of war. And real war,
mean, war that would have meant the
shedding of the blood of scores and per-
haps hundreds of men, for these were
brave and warlike peoples who wanted
possession of this rude daub of paint
on yard or two of canvas.
The story has been revived by visit
/ have just made to Acoma, the wonder
full city of the cliffs in New Mexico. 1t
is an Indian city. but it is an ancient,
historic and fascinating city. 1t is old
er than the oldest city of the eastern
states by many centuries, and has a
history as warike, stirring and excit-
ing as either Boston, New York or
Philadelphia. 1t is more impregnable
than Quebec, and has suffered siege and
assault as fierce, determined and pro-
longed as the fortress city of the ST.
Lawrence. 1t is fascinating because of
its location, traditions, customs, people
and their everyday life. To see city
perclsd on the summit of great rock
island, whose surrounding medium is
air, however, instead of water, and
whose streets cannot be reached except
up such trails as brighten stout-heart-
ed men, is to be fascinated IN the ex-
treme, for Drachenfels is not more pic
turesque, and Ehrenbreitstein more
naturally inaccessible. Its traditions
take one back many. many centuries
before Alfred the Great SAT on the
throne of England, or William the Con-
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1900-02-03
The Merchant Of Dreams

John CUSCADEN sat in his Office
III absorbed in the actuality of things.
He was an importer of Javanese prod
ucts and had his Office on River street
at Chicago short but important
street, sending out from its stores and
Offices communications to almost every
FORT in the world. The smoke of the
city shrouds it, the wagons and trucks,
the drays and omnibuses lumber
through it, making their way to the
first of the bridges that cross the north
fork Of the river; and into the offices
come messages in many tongues, and
into the storerooms come the spices,
the coffee and tea, cheese and wine, pre-
served fruits and sugared ginger,
strange pickles, curious liquors and all
manner of fine foreign foods and bev-
erages.
well groomed and well rested. His eyes
were clear, cold and bright; his skin
gloweG; his brown business suit was
perfect in its fit; he was unhampered
by any superfiuity-even a cigar
There was time enough to smoke after
dinner. He seated himself in his re-
volving chair and gathered in his hands
the several piles of letters, postal cards
and kilograms. His stenographer APP
peared at his side.
The pile furthest that way contains
the correspondence in need of immedi-
- oxt civ ~ oh eos1
Thank you, Miss Warren" He
looked up at the girl. Pardon me, are
you quite well this merning?"
well enough, sir. A little troubled,
though"
I'm sorry. If can be of any serv-
ice"
NO, thank you. Father was married
last night. We have a stepmother in the
house, and the three little boys look so
forlorn. She's sure not to like them
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1900-02-03

queror sent his arrows into the air to
pierce the brains of Saxon. warriors.
Acoma was doubtless city with an
ancient history when the Romans stole
the Sabine women for wives, or Helen
and Paris set an example of dissolute-
ness to the generations Of the future.
These are the people of the sun. the
peerless Acomans, never subjugated
by wild and warlike Apaches. Com
manches or Navajos; never enslaved un-
til the hated Spaniard came with the
man-eating animal las they believed
the horse to be) and sticks that shot
forth death accompanied by thunder
and lightning, at the viii of those who
held them.
But they were defeated and finally
brought into something like subjuga-
ton, and, when they had settled down
again to their peaceful occupations,
md the devoted friars from Spain and
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1900-02-03

That much-maligned reptile the croc-
odile is, in fact, friend of man. though
he generally with success = to
hide sentiment of which perhaps he
is ashamed as weakness. He is an
active sahitarian, his special line be-
ing the publication of rivers and lakes.
With such certificate of character be-
fore them, some of our river conseryan-
cies may be stimulated to secure the
services of few vigorous crocodiles.
With these in our rivers and a sufficient
supply of cells in our reservoirs and els
terms, the difficult problem of water
Rurifcation might be finally solved
British Medical Journal,
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1900-02-03

exercised by the priests Of those days
over these wild and hitherto untamed,
people.
When the church was built the news
was sent to the king Of Spain, and, to
show his pleasure at the event, he
forwarded to the people of Acoma for
their new and sacred edifice painting
Of st. Joseph and the holy child Jesus.
This is the painting. and it still II
hung in the old church. The priest
did not fail to make the most of the
great blessing this picture would be
to them, especially If they sought to
imbibe the spirit Of the holy child,
and, as was natural, it was not long
ere the supplemented Acomans be-
lieved that the blessings the priest
spoke of were associated with the pic
ture itself. For. singular to relate.
II was not long after the arrival of the
picture before Acoma underwent such
an era of prosperity rs its oldest men
had no recollection Of. Their herds Of
Shepherd from ancestors brought
from Mexico-their horses and their
goats increased marvelously. Never
had their corn fields been so prolific, or
the crop of wild grass and sunfower
seeds so abundant.
And as for pinyon nuts, the trees
were laden with them. Their hunters,
too, never went out without coming
home laden with deer and antelope as
never before, and the song of content
ed, well-fed children gladdened the
hearts of fond fathers and mothers
throughout the whole city. And they
were remarkably healthy, too. There
was no disease to speak ONO dread
epidemic that swept away lives like
the fierce cloudburst swept away trees.
Children grew up healthy, strong and
happy, married, and soon were sur.
rounded by equally healthy, happy
children OF their own, and to this sim.
ple-hearted people, encouraged in the
idea no doubt by their jealous priest.
all these blessings came from the
blessed child Jesus and San Jose. his
father, before whom they, ostensibly
at least, bent the knee each day at
early morning mass.
But, equally singular to state, while
the Acomans were enjoying this won
derful prosperity, the people in the
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1900-02-03

Mexico had taught them . little about
the religion of those far-away lands;
of the Virgin Mary, the holy father,
San Jose, and the blessed child, Jesus,
some of their hearts were softened by
the wonderful story that. properly
told by geIitle-hearted Christian men,
has never failed to win its way into
the savage heart. And SO, by and by,
they were easily induced to build a
church which the good priest conse-
Grated to the worship OF the child
Jesus.
And what church that is. It
stands to this day, built 70 years be-
fore the declaration of independence
was signed. On the summit of the
mesa, its timbers brought 40 miles
away from the mountains and
dragged by willing or unwilling hui
man beings all that way over the
sandy desert, and then hauled by
sheer physical strength up the 200 or
400 foot high precipices, its church
yard filed to depth OF 40 feet in some
pieces with earth carried upon the
sturdy backs of women from the rail-
ley below, II IL a memorial Of the
power, spiritual, mental or physical,
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1900-02-03
PUNCENT PARAGRAPHS

Fykyns-"Why doesn't he marry?"
Elykyng--"He doesn't believe in that
kind of double life. Town Topics.
Teacher Now, children, Johnnie
has spelled the word fur correctly
and Jimmie may give the definition"
Jimmie-"Fur, ma am, is good ways
to go."-Larks.
Magistrate Ito old offenderJ-"I'm
perfectly tired of seeing your face"
Old Offender Gngratiatingly)-"Well,
! amt going to be SO rude as to turn
me back on your worship!'-Fun.
Mrs. ADO you find it more eco
nomical to do your own cooking?" Mrs.
Bob, yes; my husband doesn't eat
half as much as he did. Sydney Town
and Country Journal.
Grumpy-"Pshaw! Women can new.
err keep secret" Mrs. Grumpy
"Can't, Ell? Perhaps haven't guarded
the secret that the wedding ring you
gave me was plated" = Melbourne
Weekly Times.
1t was one of his first expert ences in
dry goods store. He had purchased
some collars. Suddenly the girl yelled:
"Cash!" Hold on, thar, young lady,"
he cried, diving into his pocket; I'm a.
gettin' it es fast as / can."-Syracuse
Herald.
The Doctor-"Well. Mrs. Barnes, !
must offer you my congratulations. j
hear you've married again. And have
you given up your occupation of wash
ing?" Mrs. Barnes-"Oh, no, sir. But,
you see, if ant taken e, Fd'a 'ad to
a'bought a donkey!"-Punch.
Mrs. Sprocket-''George. what in the
world happened to the pipe organ in
church this morning while you were
singing that solo," Mr.. Sprocket (who
always talks bicycle)-''Why, the or
ganist was coasting on easy grade with
her feet off the pedals when she ran
into some sharp notes and the old thing
punctured." Ohio State Journal.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1900-02-03

they're so mischievOus. Somehow
couldn't sleep. i seemed to be think
ing all night of what my dead mother
would feel if she knew. And think
The dead do know. And kept won
dering if the dead weep and if she was
weeping"
Don't you worry about the dead.
Miss Warren. The dead are dead, i
think. As for the children, they will
be all the better for little discipline.
Manly boys are spoiled every day by
too much sentiment. Being woman. l
suppose you don't believe that. Women
only believe in the illusions--they pay
next to no attention to the facts. They
are always under spell, thinking some
ordinary man the finest creature in the
world, or some brat of a boy the most
marvellous prodigy. Women go about
attaching fictitious values to things"
isn't value matter of opinion, STRIP
"Values are established things in
civilized countries, Miss Warren. At
least among the men. But with women
things are worth SO much to one indi-
vidual and SO much to another. An inn
paipable entity unknown to trade,
called sentiment, enhances the value of
all they possess. Now know that even
this sentiment has a UNDERGRADUATE
though l may seem to be. No country
could be conducted without these sem
timents and illusions. We need to con-
slider a ruler sacred; we require reIi-
gion; we must respect authority
though all these ideas are illusions.
II think it is an illusion that men
have more than women. SIR
''Ha, ha! DO you, Miss Warren? Very
likely. Well, ] shared myself in my own
net that time! admit have that one
illusion of thinking myself and my
business of Importance, whereas il
wouldn't make the slightest difference
II | and my business went to pieces to-
morrow"
1t would make difference 10 me.
sir, and at least IS young men whose
names are on the pay roll. And over in
Java there are whole families who
would care, suppose. Will you look a I
these dispatches, sir?"
you wish me to go to work, do you /?
But l am always at work, Miss War
rem. You ought to permit me to be
garrnlous once in awhile, now that old
age is creeping on me-"
He smiled contentedly as he said it.
for he was superbly young. Miss War
rem smiled. too. blushing slightly.
He never was so friendly before !"
she said to herself. He is certainly
an interesting man, but few persons
seem TO care anything about him. He
hasn't what would call a friend in the
whole world"
But at this point Mr.. Cuscaden inter-
rupted her with curt:
Ready, Miss WARREN" And she
seized her pencil and pad and settled
herself for three hours Of close work.
The merchant had hardly spoken
dozen words when there came soft
tap ~ the doors tap which neither
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1900-02-03

neighboring city of Laguna, more mod
ern in its history, were having just
the very opposite experience. Every
thing seemed to 60 amiss with them
and neither Indian nor white mans
God smiled upon them. The differences
in the affairs of the two towns-only
II miles apart-could not long remain
unnoticed, and as the Lagunas talked
with the Acomaas about it the latter
could not help attributing their un-
exampled prosperity to the possession
of the magical San Jose and Holy Child.
When the Lagunas reached home the
whole matter was talked over again
and again, and finally deputation Of
the city council. the most conservative
and honored men of the town, were sent
10 the city council OF Acoma to beg
the favor of the loan of San Jose and
the Holy Child for little while, 10 see
if their presence would not turn the
tide of misfortune that so long had
deluged them.
With good nature and the most fra.
ternal of feelings the Acoma council
complied with the request of the La
guna delegation, and the picture glce-
fully was removed to its new tempo
rary home. It's presence did bring
the good fortune hoped for, and soon
there was great and glad rejoicing at
the change that had come among the
crops, herds and families of the La
gunas. But, strange to say, the abb
sence of the picture made the Acomas
uneasy, and, more singular still, dur
ing it's absence some of their leading
men died and other disasters hap
pened that made them anxious to get
the picture back as speedily as pos
sible. As soon as the time expired
for which the Lagunas had borrowed
it they returned 1t with the most sim
cerc and profuse expressions OF
thanks for the benefits its presence
had conferred upon them.
The Aeomas received it with joy
full procession and high mass was es-
peciaIly celebrated to give solemn ex-
preston to their gladness.
Lagunn went back 10 its old and dis
uStIOuS cOlu1tlOus n year OF Two
elapsed. and when Laguna came to
borrow San Jose and the Holy Child
again, the Acomans generously gave
it up rs before for the benefit Of their
suffering neighbors.
And now comes the war part.
When the time expired for its return
Laguna with one voice sale: 1--WE viii
not let it go. 1t is good medicine to
keep it and bad il IL goes" When the
Acomans heard this they were for GO
ing to war Immediately, but the good
old priest persuaded them 70 submit
the matter to the courts, which, after
long trial, finally decreed the pic
ture belonged to Acoma and must in
stantIy be returned thither. When
the Lagunas heard the decision they
took the picture ard reared II against
a tree half way between the two VIII
lages and there the Acomans found
II, and to this day they tell you how
San Jose started to walk to his home,
but grew tired ard stopped to raet,
and then they found him.
/ O. WHARTON y4MEA
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-04-07
DR.. Long For supt. of Schools

To the Editor
The name of Rev. w. S. Long, D. D., OF
Elon College, Albemarle county, has been
suggested as candidate for State Super
intendent of Public Instruction.
&. He is known personally to many of your
readers, and more know him by reputa
ton.
He is prophet mot without honor in
his own country" being as highly esteem
ed as any citizen in his township and
county.
He has been successful as minister Of
the Gospel, teacher and farmer, but it is
as an educator that he excels. For years
he conducted a successful high school at
Graham, and later founded Elon College
and served some five years as its first
president.
He has always voted the straight DEM
ocratic ticket and was one of two white
men who voted that ticket at Graham
precinct when the polls were in charge
of the Holder irke cut throat gang, who
tried to intimidate the white people.
No man in the State perhaps is bet
ter qualified to fill the important posi-
tion of superintendent of Public Instruc-
ton than Or. W. S. Long
SAML. j.. ADAMS.
Elon College, n. c., April Z, 1900.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-04-07

The latest war news is eagerly sought
after. To some it brings happiness, as
they read of valiant deeds accomplished
while to others the same message brings
sorrow, when they note the death or cap
ture of their loved ones. There is also
much sorrow and suffering throughout
our own country by those who have been
captured by that greatest enemy-Dysep-
STA. For this, however, there is remedy
and that is Hostetter's Stomach Bitters,
which also cures indigestion, constipation.
biliousness, nervousness and insomnia,
and as a preventative for malaria, fever
and ague it is unequaled. 1t has record
of fifty years of cures to back it up and a
trial will convince you that your case is
not incurable, as you will find after tax
ing a few doses your stomach will be
strengthened.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-04-07
NO REFLECTION INTENDED.
Can't Mcneil Misunderstood the Purport OF the
Warning.

tn the Editor:-I have just read with
genuine regret your editorial III the IS
she Of the 5th, in which you state tnat
Won have ''indsputable evidence, to
nrova that the railroads have organ
ized to control the Corporation Commits
sion." and that 1.-The honest men OF the
State, must be aroused TO thWart such
a proceeding.
If nv dear sir, your information is real
" .indisputable," as one of the citizens
of the State who claims to be fairly
honest, | ask that you ring out the facts
Az the editor of one of the leading party
dailies. it seems to me that you owe 1t
to vour friends and the general public
to do SO.
AS the situation now stands, in the alb
sence of any "indsputable evidence" and
in view of the fact, that Capt. Mason and
myself are the only persons mentioned
from the East, as a possible successor to
one Of the present incumbents, most
natural inference would be, that either he
or or both of us are the men who would
do the bidding of the officials
I am personally, we'll satisfied, my dear
sir. that you do not mean to place either
Capt. Mason or myself in such a light
before the honest men of the State"
| therefore ask that you publish this COM
munication in justice to both of us, with
such comments as you may deem neces-
sary. / would like to further add that
| think Mr.. Bushels article, in which he
contends that the denomination of the
present incumbents presents but one IS
sue, viz: Whether the people endorse
their action in assessing the railroads or
not. is most erroneous and misleading
one. The present members were practi-
cally instructed by the last Legislature
that appointed them ;toIdo just exactly
what they have done. They could not have
done less, without laying themselves open
to the charge of doing the bidding OF
the railroad officials
1t will hardly be contended, my dear
sir, that the present incumbents are the
only two honest and competent men in
the State. In regard to the candidacy
which my friends are making for myself,
| only desire to say that l fully appre-
ciate their efforts.
In the absence of "indisputable evil
dence," l trust that you will pardon my
inference, that you may have allowed
your personal feelings to mar your usual
very good judgment.
Respectfully,
JAS. d. MCNEILL.
Fayetteville n. c., April g, 1900.