davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-05-31
A SAD DEATH.
SuffoCa;cd by Css-LatcIy
Finished a Course at
Hardin College.

The Kansas City Star of last
week contained the following item:
Miss Lena Mary Hampe, daught-
er of j. II. Lampe, Il member Of
the live stock commission firm of
Drlmm-Flato company, died at
$40 O'Clock Tuesday afternoon of
aSphyXiatlon at the home of her
parents at Ill Lydia avenue.
When Miss Lampe went to bed
last Monday night it is thought
she accidentally turned on one of
the gas Jets in eXtinguishing the
light. When her father arose Tues
day morning at 6:3O o'clock, he
went to her room and knocked on
the door and not getting an ans
weI he pushed the door open The
room was filled with gas and Miss
Lampe was unconscious and in con-
vulSions. Mr.. Lampe sent for DR..
Van Emun, who worked to save
her life until Tuesday afternoon,
when she died.
Miss l.ampc was 20 years old
In April she finished II special
course at Hardin College, Mexico,
Mo. She was an accomplished
vocalist and musician, and was q
graduate of the Ccnullh.gh snaopl,
of Kansas CITY.
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-05-31

Two children were married over
in Rails county last October. They
were Roy Harrison, aged -, and
Miss Rachael Trick, aged II. They
lived together till last February,
when Harrison left his wife. The
husband was then arrested on a
charge of wife abandonment and Il
Rails county jury the other day
assessed his punishment at twelve
months in the county jail and Il
$50 fine.
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-05-31

p. p. Collier, of this city, the
bee man, has sold his residence
property in Mexico and will move
to Pcndleton, Oregon, where he
has three sons located in business.
Sorry to have Mr.. Collier leave us.
y st. Louis gentleman, James
Metcalf, gets Mr.. Golfers proper
ty here.
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-05-31

Rev. c. NJ. Sheldon has given
part of the proceeds of the Christ
ian edition of the Topeka Capital
to the city authorities for the cree
ton of IA municipal hospital and
another fund to encourage the e.
rection of free drinking fountains
in Topeka. He is regarded as Il
municipal ownership crank by
many Topekans-and he is.
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-05-31

An enthusiastic audience greeted
the senior and junior classes Of
Hardin College conservatory Of
music for the Scharwenka medals
last Thursday night. Miss Flora
Thomas won the medal for the
seniors, and Miss Leah Kendall
the medal for the juniors. The
contest was another of those rare
treats for the public for which Har-
din is so famous.
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-05-31
The Tests of ~
- Social Progress,

How are we To know whether
our civilization is advancing or re-
ceding, whether the condition of
the present generation is more
comfortable and refined than that
of the preceding generation, whcth-
cr, aS nation, we are better of
than we were fifty years ago!
Statesmen and economists have
suggested several standards by
which to Judge: The per capita
wealth, the percentage of illcgiti-
mate births, the position and treat
mcnt OF women, the rate of litter
acy and the ownership of property,
particularly of farms and homes.
OF these standards the last two
seem by far the most practicable,
and accordingly Congress has di-
rcctcd the Census Office 10 aSccr-
tain how many months each Schol-
ar has attended school during the
preceding year, what proportion of
| the people can read, write and
speak English, how many families
own their homes or farms. how
many rent them. how MANY own
1 them subject 10 mortgage or othrl.
incumbrancc. I'm the coming ccn-
Sus, every territorial division of
/ the country and every separate cl.
cmcnt of the population will have
Il chance to show what proportion
| of their number own their homes
and what proportion can read or
write.
The practical applications of
/ these tests or standards are found
| in their employment rs suffrage
qualifications. People differ about
! the relative merits, as SuiTrug,
qualifications, of the ownership of
property and the ability to read
and write. but there is no doubt OF
the immense Significance and I'M
portancc of the two classes of facts.
In France. i'm 1891. there w,r, Il.
bout /, 300. 600 owners of land;
England, with about the same pop.
ulation, had only 32j. .OOO land
owners, while the United State,
occupied an intermediate position
with population about 20 pen
cent greater than that of France
and Il little over 5000, ,OGO famiic,
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-05-31

The c. 4 A. railroad has order
ed twenty new coaches and it is
understood that as soon as the new
bridges are completed that road
will put on fast trains between St.
Louis and Kansas City, and Chi
cago and Kansas City, shortening
the time several hours over present
schedule.
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-05-31

Judge Elbridge Jackson Broad
dus, on the Goth ballot, was nomi-
mated by the Democrats at Mober-
~ last week for Judge of the Kan
sas City Court of Appeals. He
was deputy sheriff at the age of
16. He was mayor Of Chillicothe,
Mo-, in 1912, and has served as
Circuit Judge for il number of
years.
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-05-31
HOME E-MADE PHILOSOPHY.

''o" "NoE
The averldge man hoo confesses his
ignorance, thinks he is shown sim
tums ov wisdum spontaneously.
When the hat is past around to buy
COW for poor widder IL touches II
name real bump of charity. If itz to
bid church, II only tutchcs his fear
ov footyure hot spell.
Every time feller gifts u tooth pull
ed it teetches him that life is real. life
IL earnest wen the dentist pulls yoor
jaw.
Smaller water Is eezy to make mud
dy. ltz the same with shaller brain.
\ yung man shudn't git above his
biZness. The millyunaire's cat doant
wear gloves wen she goze out to ketch
mice.
Coin inter law In search ov Justice.
IL like goin to hades for Jug full
ov ice voter. The klimate IL against
you.
The man hooze poverty Gums upon
him throo strong drink, is miscrabuli;
nut the man hoo is just simply poor
because he kant help himself in land
Ov grab, Is the most miscrabull ov
awl.
Sivilizashun divides the wealth ov
the land in the same order as the big
skoo! boy divides the early appel with
ms small brothcr-the little fcller al
lcrs gifts the han that's got the worm
in 1t.
Taikln man down, I'm blowing him
up, has the same effect In bringing
about his iinanshal ruin.
Thar" IL a sucker born every mint.
I'm th" old political parties have lots
ov material to fall bnck ON. Yoo Will
no EN- by the clcctrick belts they
wear. I'm the patent medicine hottlcs
layin in the back yard
The man hoo works hissclf to death
to git more wealth than he needs re-
minds me Oy the garter snake that
dide in the attempt to swaller Il dead
mule
Rcligyun is Il work for humanity's
sake, un not merely singin praises TO
God, The old hen that spent awl of
her time goin about the barnyard
singin, un forgot to deposit any eggs,
wud soon find herself in the farmerzc
| pot.
When We git abull to ride in keer-
/ idge we are SO very apt to fergit how
tired it makes a fclIer to walk all day
| in the mud
! lt2 mutch cozior for sum people to
! be virtyOous than II Is for others. The
cow dozcnt need any act OF the legis-
| latoyour to stop her from climin
| treeZc.
| kristyun people have bin awl thccze
/ ycarao tryin to fetch God down to the
suitcrn world, instead ov tryin to lift
the sulfcrin world nearer to heaven;
un tn" outcome has been more ov
worry un torment TO God than it has
bin blcssin To humanity.
II w" dItdunt halter die. oh. If We
diddont halter die nm kwit this world
sum day awl alone. wut q lot oy dollars
up stinEyncsH We cud stack up, nm how
hard We cud akwoozc the ding dem
miscrabull poor
An -natcyOOrd dog Is alters a lean,
lank. disp"ptiCk. hungry crit
ter with a cold, cruu"l eye, un a nil
natcyoord man is cut over the same
pattern
II people never disagreed on any sub
j"CN Al g"l, the country dcbHlin sas-
sicty nm the unlitickcI uoozcponer v,,d
stul be IN rgin dust ouror which Goa
created the uoosanco
The c,giost way ,o KIN . man hoo ,s
Rrh,in ,vron, nm Injustice. n In c,Il
him a cranh The word HADN'T hin
invented in Christ's day so they had
ter croostry Him.
God H. the aggrcgashun oy awl that
in powerful. Chris, represents owI mat
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-05-31

The New London postoffice does
MT pay the postmaster. The Rails
County Record thinks the matter
should be investigated by Congress;
that it should be seen that the
postof1icc at New Nondon gets e.
nough occasionally to buy the post
master IL new shirt or at least
patch his pants. The Record says
it knows one man who lost his
farm trying to keep the New Lon
don postoflice, and another lost his
reputation.
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-05-31

a bill has been prepared in Col
orado, which, if passed, will place
the granting of marriage licenses
in the hands of the board of mcdi-
cal examiners. In each county
there is to be board to consist of
three physicians, no two of the
same school, and where possible
the board is to have one or more
female members. Licenses are to
be granted to men not less than p
and women not less than - years.
To secure lincescs the man and
woman must be free from certain
diseases, and there must be no
blood relations between the con
tracing parties,
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-05-31

The Farber Forum is getting
very much in earnest against the
reports that there is smallpox in
that locality Of the county. The
Forum says the lies told about
smallpox in Audrain county are
slaughtcring business in Farber,
Vandalia and other parts. The
Forum wants an official investiga-
ton and the reports stopped.
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-05-31

The general conference of the
NJ. f. Church has abolished the
time limit ofpastorate. a preach
er can stay on Il charge now. as
long as the congregation wants
him.
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-05-31

The Hannibal District conven-
ton of the Epworth League, NJ. f.
Church, will be held at Laddonia
July 24-2G.
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-05-31

The Vandalia Mail and Express
says: Uncle Joc' SiSk has de
clared his intention to be inthc
race for Collector next time.
He made II good race on short no.
ticc his first attempt.
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-05-31

SENATOR HALE says he has dis
covered powerful influences, com
mcrcial, mercantile, money and
political, with intimations and
hints that this government is new
cr to withdraw from Cuba. OF
course, the imperialists are going
to have it that way if they can.
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-05-31

r. ID. Wells, druggist at Rush
vile, Mo-, committed suicide by
shooting himself last week. What :
getting the matter with the drug
gistss
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-05-31
Walker Woodbridge will teach the
Eureka school next term.

At Eisbcrry one day last week
while working in Il sawmilI Rich
ard Watts slipped and fell against
the saw. It cut off his left leg
above the knee.
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-05-31

The Centralia Courier has enter
ed upon its tenth year of giving
the news and telling the truth.
The Courier is Il splendid county
newspaper.
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-05-31

John Vagaman, who kept a sa-
loon at LaGrange, Mo-, committed
suicide last week by shooting him
self thru the head with revolver
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-05-31

The 10th scmi-annual session of
the Hannibal District conference
of the NJ. f. Church was held at
Louisiana last week. Rev. j. j.
Hicks, of Mexico, was elected Sec
retary. Rev. A. c. Mendenhall g,
of Laddonia, delivered an address.
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-05-31

The Martinsburg creamery is re-
ported doing fine business.
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-05-31

The Hcssian fly is devastating
wheat fields in Illinois.
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-05-31

Cecil Cohoon will teach in the
Walker district next term.
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-05-31

The farmer who has Il few sheep
this spring is in luck.
Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1900-12-27
"weiehine-in- at High wycombe.

One of the most extraordinary civic
customs that still survive is that of
'weighing-in" the corporation of High
Wycombe, England. After the cleo
ton of the mayor is concluded, that
functionary, the aldermen, and the
councillors proceed to the borough Of
fee of weights and measures, where
they are weighed, and their correct
weights duly entered in a book. The
policemen on duty are also included,
and last year provided the heaviest
man in the person of the senior SER
geant, who scaled IS stone, the light
weight of the corporation being the
town clerk, whose avoirdupois was
barely nine stone.
Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1900-12-27
.For tC6rdsfma.s, Gfx,fne.

The Hopkins famil,E were out of
match boxes. ard if Il iere is one thing
on which the iadeper Ident and diverse
minded Hopkins ia! nily stands as a
unit it is that a mat ch box be provided
for every room. Ore by one the boxes
had disappeared. The tin ones had
fallen to pieces and the china ones had
broken and for two weeks the Hopkins
family trotted to the saucer of matches
on the parlor mantel or to the paste
board box in the kitchen when they
wanted a light. Their gas bill in
creased Teroepdbly, for with so much
trouble as it took to light the gas one
could not turn it off so instantaneous
ly as the gas companies have trained
househelders into doing. Consequent
ly inquisitive neighbors from beneath
or above, or across the way, gossiped
over the amount of company the Hop
kinses seemed to be having lately, for
a regular glare of illumination stream
ed out nightly from their windows.
1t was queer thing that no one
seemed able to think of the family
necessity till twilight came. Then reg
ular remarks would be made, and Ma
rion would blame Alice, and Alice
would ask Tom why in the world he
couldn't take a little responsibility,
and Mr.. Hopkins would inquire of his
wife if there was no one in the family
who could go surety for the appearance
of some match boxes by the next even
Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1900-12-27
Old En6Ifs6 Customs.

1t was customary in former days, in
Cornwall, England, for the people to
meet on Christmas eve at the bottom
of the deepest mines and have mid
night mass.
In some parts of Derbyshire the vii
lage choir assemble in the church on
Christmas eve and there wait until
midnight, when they proceed from
house to house, invariably accompa
MED by key Of ale, singing Chris
tians, Awake!" During the week they
again visit the principal houses in the
place, and having played and sang for
the evening, and partaken of the
Christmas cheer, are presented with a
sum of money.
In Chester and it's neighborhood
numerous singers parade the streets,
and are Hospitality entertained with
meat and drink at the various houses
where they call.
The ashton fagot" is burned in
Devonshire. 1t is composed entirely
of ash timber, the separate branches
bound with ash bands and made as
large as can be admitted to the floor Of
the fireplace. When the fagot blazes
a quart of cider is called for and
served upon the bursting of every
hoop or band around the fagot. The
timber being green and elastic, each
band bursts with loud report.
In one or two localities it is still
customary for the farmer, with his
family and friends, after partaking
together of hot cakes and cider (the
cakes being dipped into the liquor pre-
vious to being eaten) to proceed to the
orchard, one or the party bearing hot
cake and cider as an offering to the
principal apple tree. The cake is for
mally deposited on the fork of the
tree and the cider thrown upon the
cake and tree.
A superstitious notion prevails in
the western parts of Devonshire that
at IL o'clock at night on Christmas eve
the oxen in their stalls are always
found on their knees as in an attitude
of devotion.
One John Martyr, by will, on Nov.
%, 1929, gave to the church wardens
and overseers of the poor of the par
ish, st. Mary Major, Exeter, EGO, to
be put out at interest, and the profits
thereof to be laid out every Christmas
eve in twenty pieces Of beef, to be
distributed to twenty of the poorest
people in the parish, said charity to be
continued forever.
Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1900-12-27

ing. And then next day Alice would
come, home from down town and her
mother would ask her if she had re-
membered the match boxes, and blank
is too feeble a word to describe the
expression Of her face on those several
occasions.
For two weeks they said things I'M
der their breaths in the inky dark
ness, or burned gas recklessly. Then
one morning Marion departed for her
semi-weekly music lesson down town
and said the same old thing-'rm go
ing to get some match boxes today
and her, mother smiled patiently and
replied: IF you should happen to re-
member it, dear, you might get the
whole number-eight."
That noon Alice came home from
the north side. where she had been
staying for. a few days, and laid a par
eel triumphantly in her mothers lap.
81 didn't, even have them sent out"
she said, gleefully. Il was so deter
mined to have them here tonight. I
was just getting on a car and hap
pened to think of them by seeing a
man light his cigar, so 1 got off. There
are eight of them"
Mrs. Hopkins was properly glad and
they laughed together over Marion's
declaration that morning, and of how
for the last time they would call that
blank expression into play before they
showed her that some one in the fam
lily had at last remembered. BY and
by Marion came.
1--WE got them," she called. "The
whole eight
Sixteen match boxes said Mrs.
Hopkins, with resignation. Choose
the prettiest, girls, and we'll put the
rest away for another such emer-
gepcy."
That evening Mr.. Hopkins came in
with his face wreathed in smiles
The young fry are so hot-headed
these days." he remarked. as he COM
placently laid knobby bundle in his
wife,s lap. I'm sorry for Tom
What about Tom?" asked Mrs.
Jas she felt suspiciously of the
package.
I'VE had started home together"
said TOMS father. the keenest enjoy
ment in his voice, "and were up to
Van Buren,, when Tom jumped up and
made for the platform. 1 called to him
and he yelled back Match 'boxes!' and
shot out the door. 1 tried to get to
him to tell him that I'd got the batch.
but he was gone. What's the matter?
Didn't get enough?"
Alice exerted herself feverishly to
get the twenty-four receptacles al
ranged on table before Toms arrival,
and when Tom came he didn't for
minute understand his reception. Then
his eye fell on the tableful of distorted
shapes and he slowly added his quota
to the general contribution, while his
father gave an impromptu lecture on
haste VS.. waste. The Hopkins family
have concluded to give match boxes
for Christmas presents this year.
Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1900-12-27

when she saw her mother shaking
hands with Mr.. Jorden. He looked
rather sad, though he smiled at them
all There was a bright carnation in
his buttonhole, the sight of which
made Dorothy want to get behind
someone
How happy you look said the Wis
itor, sitting down. 81 could see you
through my side windows have Of
ten looked in upon you, and tonight 1
took the liberty Of Joining you for
half an hour. Shall 1 intruder"
mot at ALL" said DR.. Bertram. you
are very welcome"
Mr.. ,Jorden drew Dorothy toward
him and kissed her.
DO you know" he said, turning
to look at them all, that a man may
grow to be fifty years old and learn for
the first time what he should always
have known. 1t is this little girl who
has taught me how sweet and COM
forting a child may be, and 1 used to
think they were put into the world
only to annoy people,"
This was Mr.. Jorden's conversion,
and though all the children grew to
love him, it was Dorothy who became
his daily companion and friend.
Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1900-12-27
Gbe ChrfsfndS Tree.

The Christmas tree which enters
very largely into our festival comes to
us from Germany, where, on the eve
of the anniversary, tree is set up in
nearly every household, bright with
candles and paper decorations of vari-
Gus colors. Underneath the tree are
put the presents that each member of
the family is to give to the others, and
when the tree is still burning, amid
the laughter and shouting of the chill
dren, the presents are distributed.
In Germany, too, ST. Nicholas comes
around three weeks before Christmas.
It is st. Nicholas day, and the chill
dren on this day make known their
wants for the Christmas season. Then
he is supposed to drive away to an IN
known land and get his loads of goods,
bringing them back for the Christmas
stockings.
Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1900-12-27

girl?" said he as he turned toward
her. BE quick, for l am very busy"
''Oh, are you busy?" asked Dorothy,
surprised, because he was not doing
anything but looking at the fire. Ct
1 only wanted to give you these, sir,
and I'll go right away.
The man stared hard at the white
paper parcel she held out to him.
"Flowers?" said he.
YES
For what, may 1 ask?'
Just for Christmas, because you
live all alone. Goodbye" and she was
gone.
The pretty flowers had begun to fade
by the warm fire before Mr.. Jorden
came out of the brown study into
which he had fallen.
God bless her brave little heart"
said he, as he held Dorothy's flowers.
The first joy of the Christmas tree
was over, the presents were all dis
tributed, and every one of the little
Bertrams were sitting around admir-
ing the candles and the clever trim
ming Of the tree.
There goes the door bell again.
said someone.
do you think Santa Claus has come
back?" asked Marjorie.
1t was a great disappointment to her
Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1900-12-27
The Cbrfsfnas Dinner.

christmas days and Christmas din
ners are essentially of the home. "As
sad as a Christmas dinner away from
I home" is comparison whose
strength has stood the test of endless
repetition. The birth of Christ Great
ed the first Christmas home. 1t was
only a stable, ito be sure, but there
was Joseph and Mary and the new
born babe. There are thousands upon
tA8usands of those ''elder ones in the
old farmhouses and in the home
steads which stand back from the vii
lage street who now with hand-shaded
eyes are looking along the road to the
four corners or down the tree-guarded
walk to the swinging gate for the
homecoming of the boys and girls
Grown men and women, with children
Juggling at their skirts, they may be,
but they are boys and girls now and
forever to the old couple who await
their coming.
Corporations, as it has been said,
may have no souls, but something
seems to touch them along about
Christmas, even though it necessitates
subsequent month of privation The
keeping of the railroad rates at the
normal figure would not turn back
one in ten, though the ticket took the
pocket money to the last dime. There
are few railroad arrangements, how
ever, that are not now sending broad
cast notices under whose business-like
statements of mileage rates and round
trip ticket prices the man whose heart
is at farmhouse miles away reads
this: You may go home and take
Christmas dinner with the old folks
and have enough money left to take
them remembrance besides"
Christmas dinner is to be eaten at
home; this has come to be regarded
as duty, and it is one of those duties
in the fulfillment of which no man or
woman nor boy nor girl finds anything
but pleasure. The holiday week is a
time which is given over by the mod
erns to a round of merrymaking. 1t
was the custom of their ancestors in
Old England and in the continental
countries. 1t was a custom that went
into some little disuse where the lea
ven OF Pur1tanlsm made its power felt.
But the Puritan relaxed and with the
recognition of his day of Thanksgiv-
ing by the Cavalier of the South the
Puritan absorbed not a little of the
gay spirit of Christmastide, which was
the season of seasons for his southern
fellow countrymen. There are now
dancing and gayety at Christmas from
East Cape in Puritan New England to
the southernmost point of California
But nowhere in all that vast country
which comes between these neither
most points of this land can there be
found place where the sacredness OF
Christmas dinner to the home circle
is not maintained, nor where the tie
of home life is not strong enough to
lead to the homestead the feet of all
wanderers that they may pass the
threshold in time for mothers Christ
mas dinner.