davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-08-16
HESTER LANES UNFAIR"

In a county in southern Illinois and
less than a decade ago there still re-
mained a rural section which the peo-
pie In the towns designated as the
Jungle" term of contumely handed
down from period when this portion
OF the county was isolated by impassa-
BILE roads and covered with dense tim
bers. The Jungle" fell behind in the
march OF progress. The farm wagon
conveyed the family to church on sun
days when the people on the prairie
rode In spring wagons" or owned
buggies. There was one prevailing
style OF architecture, which IL still
frequently seen, the square log house
with one room and a boxed-up kitchen
at the side. The lights streaming
such decorations on the walls as a
shotgun and rife the horn powder
flask and hunting pouch, and
trophies OF the hunt while
on winter evenings the glow
ing nrclight from the cavernous
fireplace threw shadows in and out
among the festoons OF onions. a dried
pumpkin. and "middlins" suspended
from the rafters.
The house In which Hester Lane was
born stood in small cleared space in
the heart of the Jungle" Here she
grew to womanhood with no wider ex-
perience with the outside world than
the weekday walk to the nearest vii
lage, and an annual journey to the
county seat in fair time.
Her first hardship came to her at
the age OF G. when she must trudge
each day for a mile and half to the
district school. But school days in
the Jungle" were soon over, the boys
getting most of the "schoolin' be-
cause the girls married and had no
use for 1t. There were no bachelor
maids In the Jungle" Marriage was
certainty about which there could
be no doubt.
Hester Lane being what the natives
OF the jungle" called a good, smart
girl" It was expected she would make
good match. II the Lane home was
more picturesque than some OF It's
neighbors It was because llcstcrs
hand trained the morning glory vines
over the window in summer and hid
the woodpile behind bank Of sturdy
hollyhocks and princess feathers. Tin
pans and pals shone nowhere else
with such brightness and luster as
they did on that bench outside the
kitchen door. Besides Hester had
pieced more patchwork quilts on tho
long winter evenings than any other
girl in the Jungle" where feather
bed and bedding and a cow was the
dowry every bride was expected to
bring to her husband.
Hester had her choice between
Squire Bludsoc's son william and
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-08-16
Charge of Burglary.

Jasper Talton, colorcd, is lam
gushing in the county Jail here by
his own confession to charge OF
burglary. He was brought here
from Vandalia last week by Dctcc.
tive Greene, of the &. & a. rail
road. The burglary was from {
G. &. A. car in Mexico. Talton
has had II few lessons ut the re-
form school, but he will get &
chance to learn Il trade in the per
this time.
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-08-16
Kitchener IL u Terror.

Here is an extract from letter from
Cape Town which reveals Lord Kitch-
ener in a characteristic light: THE
difference since Roberts and Kitchener
arrived here is something stupendOus.
Kitchener stalks about, walks into ho-
tells, shifts after young subalterns strut
ting about in stan uniform, and makes
himself generally unpleasant The
other day he presented himself before
one of those peacocky gentleman, who
was lolling about In the grounds of
the chief hotel here, surrounded by a
crowd of female admirers, and abrupt
ly asked the young gentleman what his
name was. The young gentleman
sprang up, stood to attention. and in
Termed him. And what are you do
ing herc?' said Kitchener. 'Haw!' re-
piled the beauteous youth, 1 have Just
come down from Moddah riyah.' oh"
raid Kitchener. Well perhaps you had
better so back to Moddah rivah. The
train s.trts at 8 o'clock tonightr"
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-08-16
Of the table the stiffness and formal
ity vanished.

lty vanished.
When the jests and witty sayings
which enlivened the festivities Of the
Jungle" were exhausted. some Of the
older folks began remlniscensing OF
former wedding occasions.
''I,'s curious how the world does
change" said Uncle Jimmy" Taylor.
He and his wife, Aunt Laura were
the pl 'eers OF the Jungle" you
young folks who get married and start
out in the world nowadays don't know
what hard times are. You've lumber to
floor your house with. and cook
stove, and you can buy beds and chairs
and tables already made. It wasn't
so fifty years ago, when Laura and |
got hitched
Laura lived at old Kaskaskia. Her
father had come over on 20 the Ill
nois side from Kentucky. and I. be-
Ing a rowing chap and tired OF Ten
nessee hills, turned up there one day
and went to work for him. Seeding
was all done by hand In those days,
and Laura helped In the corn plant
ing. We fell In love. and were mar
rled. One day after that took Laura
| up behind me on horse. and with all
| our worldly goods tied In a bundle We
started out to seek our fortunes In
new country. We never stopped till
we reached the Jungle" and took UP
a piece OF land and built a cabin.
made all the furniture with my own
hands, and Laura cooked on the Goals
in the fireplace. had to go to St
Louis for almost everything in those
days. and Laura staid alone In the
wilderness, but the Indians were gone,
and there wasn't anything more dan.
gerous in the woods than varmint"
and wildcats"
And we didn't have Unfair din.
ners in those days" said "Jim's"
father. I'VE had turkey and venison.
which We shot in the woods. and for
cake and pie we had good corn pones
baked In the Goals on the hearth.
'Jim's' mother didn't have a store
bought wedding dress like Hester
here, but good linsey woolsey she
wovc herself and carded the wool for
| II, tob mere WdSn I no llHt mats III
them days; the girl was proud who
could get bit of calico to make a
sunbonnet."
There would have been more stories
OF the good old days when simplicity
rcigned at wedding feasts, but the men
must hurry away for the house
raising" and before the sun went
down the logs Jim" had carefully
hewn and piled on a pretty site on the
ten acres were In their place. and n
new home wac ready In the Jungle"
In the evening "BIll" Bludsoe. tho
rejected suitor. to show that he cher
ished no ill-will. brought his fiddle and
there was a dance In the new house. n
house warming" and the wedding
festivities were over
Jim" and Hester still live in the
Jungle" and the little house has 9TH
er rooms added to II, and neat picket
fence and well-kcpt orchard and gar
den evidence the prosperity which Is
transforming the Jungle" into a pro.
gressivc farming community, and the
Unfair" and the house raising" will
soon be only a memory OF pictur.
csque past.-Chicago Tribune.
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-08-16
Boys Spanked In Court.

An unusual scene was witnessed in
the police court at Glen Ridge, N. j..
the other day, when two women under
direction OF the magistrate admins
tered sound chastsement to their
sons, who had been detected in pilfer-
ing bottles of milk left at npighDOrs'
back doors by the dairymen. The lads.
Paul Valentine and Eddie Donnelly.
were but IL and l3 years old respect
lively, and Judge Smith was reluctant
to sentence them to the lookup. The
mothers OF the young pilfcrcrs prom
ised to correct them properly II they
were dismissed by the court and were
their wayward offspring in charge
when the Judge detained them and in
sisted that the punishment should be
administered upon the spot. The
women hesitatcd at first and declared
they had regular straps at home and
could administer punishment there
with better effect Recorder Smith
was Obduratc, however, and insisted
upon the punishment in his presence.
Policeman Egan was sent out to pro-
cure the necessary whipping material
and presently returned with n lath,
which was broken In two, each mother
receiving part. The boys were laid
over the table, and the whaCklng they
received rcsoundcd through the court
room There was no escape for the
youths, both being held down on the
table by two policemen. While Mrs.
Donnclly was applying the iath a part
Of 1t broke on and struck the recorder
on the nose.
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-08-16
New Steel Bridges.

Clipped from the Cedar City
Chronicle:
Five new steel bridges are to be
put in on the c. & A. between
Mexico and Cedar City. The
branch is to be put in first class
condition. The officials may con
clude to branch out to Ashland
while they are at it. The railroad
that first occupies this rich, bat
untappcd territory will find good
picking. {. & a. officials have
had representatives in this section
lately, and what they saw was an
eye-Opener, of course.
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-08-16

A farmer is said to have wan
dcred into a store up at Cameron
the other day and someone asked
him to listen to a phonograph on
exhibition. When the machine
started he dropped the tubes and
rushed for the door, saying: "Gosh,
there comes brass band and | left
my mules united"
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-08-16
Would Call an Extra Session.
FROM BRyAN's SPEECH OF ACCEPTANCE.

"The easy honest honorable solution of the Philippine
son. 1t is set forth in the Democratic platform
mied with confidence to the American people.
"If elected will
naurad and recommend immediate declaration the
nations purpose. establish
Philippine Islands, establishing stable
Cuba give independence Fpnos
just have promised independence the Cuhas; third
protect the Flpnos outside while they
their destiny have protected the Republics of Central and
South America Monroe Doctrine
Cuba"
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-08-16

Here's the biggest lie this sum-
mer. While a house was burning
at Hawk Point, n woman stood on
a barrel to throw some water. The
head of the barrel caved in and
the husband of the woman had to
roll the barrel to a blacksmith
shop and have the hoops cut be-
fore he could release his wife.
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-08-16
CLAP THEM IN ~
" THE PEN.

In a recent speech at High Hill,
Mo-, Congressman Champ Clark
made Il few dagger thrusts Mt the
trusts. He addressed large au-
dicncc and was frequently applaud
ed. In his speech Mr.. Clark said:
TRUSTS are criminal associa
tions, chartered under the loose
laws of certain States, for the pur-
pose of fleeing the people. New
Jersey is their favoritc breeding
ground and habitat, tho West Vir-
ginia has lately given signs of an
ambition to rival New Jersey in
this bad, unpatriotic and inhuman
business. Desperate eases demand
heroic remedies and the most eff
fective method of dealing with
trust operators is to treat them as
common felons and clap them in
the penitentiary, where they be-
long. What's the sense of vast
ing ceremony and etiquette on
highway robbers!
ITO put everything they make,
handle or sell on the free list
would also go far toward breaking
them up. Let the world into the
markets now monopolized by the
trusts and they will vanish as an
ugly dream. Competition kills
trusts; so let competition come.
TRUSTS lay their heavy and
thievish hands upon nearly every
article of everyday consumption,
from condensed milk for the baby
to the coffin for the octogcnarian.
They levy tribute upon the soap
with which the infant receives his
first bath, rob him every hour of
his life, accompany him to the
tomb and, gazing upon him sleep
ing in his narrow bed, regret
that they cannot skin him beyond
the grave as he journeys to that
bourne from which no traveller re-
turns.
"In March, 1899, | went to To-
pcka, kas. to make speech at II
Democratic banquet. My wife
took the children and went up to
Kansas City to see her mother.
stopped to take them home. One
morning Us | was starting down
town the baby told me to get her
some bananas. | went into store
whose proprietor | had never seen
before and have never seen since.
| don't know whether he was Il
Democrat, Republican, Populist on
what not. told him what | want
ed. He pointed out two piles of
bananas and stated the price.
said: They are going up; what
is the matter!' He replied fero,
ciously: It's that terrible BaEa-
na Trust. Every time merchant
Il don't care what his politics
may be-makes that sort of a
speech over the counter he makes
Democratic votes.
Tin the Mississippi Valley qui.
nine is us much an article of prime
necessity as is cOrn-meal or wheat
flour. The first of last February
the members of the quinine trust
got together and arbitrarily mark
ed up the price % per cent. The
first of March they got together n
gain and marked it up GO per cent
SO that in % days they marked NJ
an article of prime necessity 81
per cent.
"Surely somewhere in our gov
ernmental machine there must b,
lodged the power to stop outrage,
such as that-for the law of self
preservation is the highest Law
and as certain as two and tw'
make four the people will find {
way to rid themselves of this mon
strous curse"
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-08-16

1t is said that nearly one-fourth
of the population of the town of
Independence, Mo-, is made up of
Mormons, and that there Is a
steady influx of Mormon immi-
grants there from other States.
They still own the lot whereon
they believe the temple of the New
Jerusalem is to be erected, and
confidently look forward to the
time when the temple shall rise,
by divine power, without the ham
mer stroke of man. The indie
pendence Mormons are thoroly
good citizens, and are represented
in almost every line of business,
and in the trades and professions.
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-08-16

Translated from a Chinese pa
per: The Mclean people are a
great people. They have many
schools and large industries. Were
it not for their superstition they
would be superior to all other for
eign devils. They believe that
Mack-Kin-Lee, their President,
makes the crops grow and so reg
ulates the earth that it yields gold
silver, and all other metals in
abundance. Some of the Melicans
do not believe this, but most OF
them do, or Mack-Kin-Lee would
not have been made President.
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-08-16

Bryan and Stevenson have is
sued a letter to all the friends of
Democracy to "meet the forces of
corruption and intimidation in
politics this year by thoro organ
ization." 1t is urged that a Dem
ocratic club should be organized in
every city, town, village and pre-
cinct in the United States.
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-08-16

Mr.. Roy GanOte, Of Columbia,
formerly of Laddonia, this county,
in company with Miss Mary
Wright, of Clark, came to Mexico
last Thursday and hunted up Rev.
A. a. Wallace who united the
couple in the ties of matrimory.
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-08-16

"Bud" Baker, south of Benton
City, had several sample ears of
the finest field corn, in town this
week, grown this season, we have
seen in number of years. The
cob was corn all over. Mr.. Baker
says he has the corn this time.
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-08-16

The three large ice houses at the
Warter Works pond, just south of
Mexico, burned last Thursday.
Loss near S., 900, and only $500
insurance. Origin of the fire un-
known.
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-08-16

j. +. Sallee has sold his book
bindery fixtures in Mexico to G..
+. Stokes and has gone to st.
Louis.
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-08-16

The Mexico city authorities are
after the negro idlers. Two col
ored women were assessed a fine of
500 each last week.
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-08-16

Nimrod Barnes, of Hallsville
aged ~, died the other day from
injuries received from a kick from
horse.
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-08-16

j. b. Slavens, of Laddonia, is
in Mexico every other day taking
treatment for stomach trouble.
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-08-16

Capt. G.. r. Allen, of this city,
will address the Democrats of Cui-
vre township next Tuesday night,
August p. He is an earnest
speaker and should have ful
house.
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-08-16

Rev. Walter Daniels, colored, of
this city. accused of stealing mon
ey from another colorcd man, has
been bound over to the grand jury.
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-08-16

G.. M. Lakeland, {. & A. claims
adjustcr, has decided to move from
Mexico.
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-08-16

Louisiana will have street fair.
About 81 800 has been raised to
meet expenses.
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-08-16

Carl Oliver, colored, is serving
Il ten days sentence in the county
Jail for common assault.
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-08-16

The premium list for the street
fair will be published August %.
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-08-16

Another change in the c. & A..
time card.
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-08-16

Don't Tobacco Spit and Smoke Your life Away.
To quit tobacco easily aud forever. be mag
netic. full Of life, nerve and yigor, take No-To'
Bac, the wonder er-worker, that makes weak men
strong. All druggists, JOc or tl. Cure guaran-
teed Booklet and sample free. Address
Mexico Missouri message., 1900-08-16

It's usually the bottom dollar that
counts.
The Portland daily press., 1900-07-07

The most notable feature of the assembly
will be, as it is confidently hoped, the
presence OF Mr.. Wulf Fries, who will give
two concerts on his beautiful "cello."
His appearance at the assembly three
years ago will never be forgotten by those
who were fortunate enough to be present.
His audience was spellbound, even held
their breath that they might catch the
faintest sound of his charming music on
his wonderful cello" 1t is surely worth
going to Fryeburg several times simply
to hear Mr.. Fries even once. These con-
certs will occur on August 18th and 9th.
Instruction win be given in voice cuI.
ture by Mr.. Clarence e. Hay, a noted
specialist from Boston, and instruction
on the violin by Carl S. Pierce, director
of the violin department. of the Boston
Conservatory of Music. There will be
classes in botany, photography, physical
culture and training, shorthand and do
mestic science Bible study viii be in
charge of the Rev. DIR. Everett S. Stack
pole of Cambridge, Mass. There will be
White Mountain excursion day, special
ly conducted at greatly reduced rates.
Mr.. f. E. Boothby viii give special rates
on all branches of the Maine Central rail
road. Special rates will be given on many
other roads and steamboat lines. The ride
to Fryeburg from Portland is through
some of the finest scenery to be found.
The grounds are beautiful, all the sur
roundings charming, making delightful
place to spend ones vacation
For information in regard to rooms,
board, programmes, etc, address Rev.
Ernest Hamlin Abbott, Fryeburg, Maine.
The Portland daily press., 1900-07-07

his debt. ''We denounce arbitrary inter-
ference of the Federal courts in local
AFFAIRS, said thu Chicago platform.
Everybody understood at the time that
this denunciation was directed against
the Federal courts at Chicago for their
interference in the great railroad strike,
and that it was practically notice that if
any body Of men saw fit to hold up Industry
and terrorize a community in the nam e
of labor there would be no interference e
with them directly or indirectly on the
part of the Federal government under
d Democratic rule. 1t was in short q
thinly disguised bid for the support Of
the disorderly and anarehistic elements
of the community. The Democracy still
sticks to this position, and in 1900 is as
ready to cater to disorderly and laWless
elements as it was in 1895. Four years
ago, under the lead of Altgeld, the De
mocracy cut loose from it's ancient moor
ings, and embraced all the socialistlc and
anarchistic doctrines Of the Populists.
Four years have passed, and it is still in
the same embrace. It has abated not
enc jot or little of its revolutionary pro
gramne Of that time. 1t still proposes,
if it has the power, to swindle the credi-
tor, public and private, out Of part of
his just debt. 1t still proposes to put the
courts in a strait jacket, so that they can
not interfere TO stop riot and plumber
and destruction. 1t still appeals to the
lawless and the unthrifty for their sup
port. 1t still clings to financial doctrines
which the experience Of the past four
years have shown to be utterly false and
perniciOus. In the midst OF q prosperity
almost unparalleled in the history Of the
country it deliberately proposes to strike
blow at public confidence which is at
the foundation of all prosperity. Not a
single heresy of the platform of 1896 is
abandoned or even modified. Every
threat therein contained, at the courts, at
the established order of things, at law
and order is reaffirmed in the deliverance
at Kansas City. After full argument
the Chicago programme of 1896 was con-
demned and repudiated by the people.
Everything which has happened since
has only tended to establish the wisdom
and correctness of that decision. Yet in
1900 the Democracy again offer it to the
people and ask q reversal Of the verdict
OF 1895. Only on the assumption that
the people have lost their mental balance
and are ready to completely close their
eyes to the teachings of experience can
they expect a favorable verdict.
The Portland daily press., 1900-07-07
A mnNACn TO PRogpER1rY.

A simple reading Of the platform
adopted at Kansas City is not sufficient
to disclose all that the Democrats pro-
pose to do. We must refer to
the platform of 1896, which is reafirned,
to discover the full programme. The
leading plank of that platform related
to the currency, and demanded the free
coinage of silver at 16 to one. To be sure
the substance of this plank is Incorporate
ed specifically in the Kansas City plat
form, but there are some things in the
original dsliyerance which are not in the
last one, and which tend to shed light
upon it. 'We demand, y said the Chica-
go plank, that the standard silver dollar
shall be a full legal tender, equally with
gold, for all debts public and private. =
The commercial ratio of silver TO gold is
today about 36 to one, and of course no
sane man expects that by our sole action
we can raise the value of silver 100 per
cent. The programme Of the Democracy
contemplates, therefore, the cheating of
the creditor out Of large percentage OF
The Portland daily press., 1900-07-07

travel. GA passage by which a place
may be reached; a way of approach or Of
exit;' A broad thoroughfare, an ap-
prOach as to a residence or public build
ing A person may sometimes have an
avenue extending from the street to his
house, but not street from an avenue
to his residence This meaning was ap-
piled to some extent in the change of
street names in the new wards the long
thOroughfares where the idea of travel
predOminates being called avenues, while
those more of residential character being
named streets. 1t is to be hoped that
the desire for high sounding and pomp-
GUS names, which so often causes a smile
when we visit some new and intensely
modern place, is not to be adopted in our
pleasant city of highly intelligent people.
CRITIC,
The Portland daily press., 1900-07-07
CURRENT COMMENT
"TOO MUCH FOE US.n
Lewiston Sun, Dem.)


II the Kansas City Platform con tained
only these two planks, it needn't be so
very difficult to be a Democrat.
But
But there S the is to one plank.
Sixteen to one is too much for us. Sup
pose Democratic success this year meant
not only the election of Bryan, but the
election of a 16 to one Congress and the
actual passage of a 16 to one free-cOinage
bill; we believe it would be a greater in
dustrial and commercial calamity than
was ever known before. If it were q
question Of is to one free silver we could
not hesitate for q mOm9nt We could not
possibly be q Democrat on such terms
An actual Is to one policy could not be
redeemed by even so good plank as that
against imperialism.
Really we cOuldn t be a Democrat this
morning We shall have to wait until
we have. become convinced that after all
the 10 to one policy will end in talk and
the anti-imperialist policy win actually
be carried Out-and that going TO take
time.
Then there faith in Bryan to be built
up. We don't believe in Bryan yet. In
the mOmentOus crisis in China we need
a great statesman to keep us out of costly
and painful complications. We can t yet
believe that Bryan is the man.