davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-12-05
White House, Is Rickety.

I'm the plan for building new house
for the President elsewhere than on the
present site 1t has been proposed to
utilize the present mansion for Offices"
writes Col. Theodore A. Bingham, U.
s. A., in urging the adoption Of Mrs.
Harrison's plans for enlarging the
house, in the Ladies' Home Journal.
zone plea therefor has been that the
historic building should be left as 1t is.
This is certainly to be insisted on. But
1t is said the mansion is too pure a
piece of architecture to be married by
additions. This, however, is a specious
argument, since the original design CON
templated side additions, and IL the
building in Its present state We're used
as offices it would be wrecked in five
or six years. Those who have no ex-
perience with public buildings or with
this building in particular, have no CON
ception of the wear and tear on PresI-
dents Office. 1t surpasses that on any
other office in the country. The present
Executive Mansion was lightly built,
and Is already expensive to keep in
proper repair. Its floor beams are not
strong enough to endure office use.
Great difficulty has arisen In the past
with the few rooms now used as the
executive offices, and great
watchfulness has to be constantly ex-
ercised. Several times the floors have
threatened to break through. The stairs
have already broken down, one flight
being now supported by a chain. Still,
to remodel tor Office use only, the whole
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-12-05
NEW CENTER OF POPULATION.


,ensus Officials Place Inscribed Board
on Farm Near Column bus, Ind.
Ten years ago the census bureau To-
Gated the center of population of the
United States eighteen miles east Of
columbus, Ind, just over the line in
Decatur County, near Westport, 80 de-
grees II minutes and sc seconds west
latitude and So degrees 80 minutes and
% seconds north longitude. Since 1880
the center of population has shifted
little to the north and little to the
west. 1t Is still in the State OF Indiana,
not far from Columbus, in the southern
central part Of tho State.
The center of population is the center,
Of gravity of the population of the
country, each individual being assum-
ed to have the same weight. The meth
od OF determining that center is us fol-
lows: The population Of the country is
first distributed by square degrees"
as the area included between consecu-
tive parallels and meridians is deslg-
mated. A point is then assumed tenta-.
lively as the center, and the correc-.
lions in latitude and longitude to this
tentative position are computed. In
1880 the center was assumed to be at
the Intersection of the parallel Of 80
degrees, with the meridian of SO de-
grees west Of Greenwich. This would
nave made the center of population Of
the United States just two miles due
nortE of Seymour, in jackson County,
Ind. From this assumed base the veri-
LEGATIONS were made and the true center
was located.
The movement of the center has been
steadily westward. On the accompany
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-12-05

moderate means, then we make the
'drawing-room' us closely resemble one
In some wealthy home we know of as
possible, only with limited means we
must purchase cheaper articles. Then,
we have as good an example Of the
showroom Of a cheap furniture store as
1t Is possible to obtain. If we are poor,
then we set around stitfiy four or five
black haircloth chairs; we put a marble
top table with plush-album OH 1t in the
center; a haircloth sofa which no can
possibly stick on; a Franklin stove that
Is never lighted; we hang wreath of
wax flowers in n glass case on the
walls; a carpet riotous with the most
gorgeous roses is put on the floor, and
then, after we have carefully pulled
down every shade in the room, SO as to
exclude Gods pure sunshine and get a
nice, musty and cemeterial smell in the
room, we have what we call, In Ameri.
ca, a parlor. And in either case we
have a best ROOM so best that we
never use it, and people shown into it
are always glad to get out of it. But
we have a 'drawing-room,' or 'parlor,'
and, in the minds of some, without such
q room no house is complete"
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-12-05

my worn dime. l knew 1t by the pc
culiar mark on the edge. Handing the
conductor another, showed the coin
back into my pocket and rode on. On
the corner near my office is an Italian,
at whose fruit stand spend good bit
of money each day.
Cline 10 cents worth of peaches I
exclaimed, rushing up to him after
alighting from the car. I'm in hurry
He wrapped up the peaches, and,
showing the smooth dime into his hand,
| grabbed the bag and ran. There,
+ the COMPOUNDED thing is gone at last
1 thought. I'll stay away from that
stand for day or two or until he gets
chance to work the dime OFF on some
body
u reckoned without my host. Along
about O'Clock in the afternoon 1 sent
my office boy out for some change to
give a customer who wanted to pay a
bill. Whether or not you believe it, the
very first coin caught sight Of in the
several he brought me was that con-
founded 1O-cent piece.
Where did you get this changer 1
asked.
At the saloon around the corner
the boy replied. Why?
II was too much worked up to an
swer AS afterward discovered, the
saloon-keeper had sent to the Italian
for change and the latter had worked
off the dime on him. In turn, the saloon
man had gotten rid of 1t by sending 1t
to ME. Where Is the dime now2 In my
collection of curios, properly labeled,
and | wouldn't part with it for ten
times its value" Philadelphia In
| uuirar
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-12-05
lng map its unwaverlng march toward

ing map Its unwavering march toward
the west, with occasional dips to the
south and the north, is shown. In 1890
1t was east Of Baltimore twenty miles.
In ten years 1t had moved forty miles
westward. The annexation of Louis.
lana brought 1t south and west, and in
1920 1t was sixteen miles north Of
Woodstock, Va. In 1910 the pioneers
of the West brought 1t north, and in
1850 1t had moved south again. Texas
had come into the Union. The growth
OF the great West had switched 1t back
to the north in 1860, and 1t was near
Chillicothe, Ohio. War reduced the
population of the South in the decade
between 1860 and 1870, and the center
moved north near to Cincinnati. In
another decide 1t had cleared Cincin-
natl In Its westward progress, and in
1870 1t had settled in central southern
Indiana. The past ten years has car
ried the center westward about TWEEN
sty miles and northward about seven
miles.
Upon information given out by Gov
eminent Census Director Merriam, a
party at Columbus by mathematical
calculations located the center Of pop
ulation in a wheat field on the farm Of
Frank Wright, nine miles north of the
city and one and a half miles north Of
Taylorsville, In the southwest corner
of the northeast quarter, section Is,
town 10, range east. An inscribed
board marks the spot.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-12-05
Zangwilrs Estimate of Fnme.

Israel Zangwill, the Jewish novelist,
wrote his first book when he was Il
student at London University. The eff
fort occupied four evenings-he always
works in spurts-and he and a friend
paid f10 to have the tale published in
pamphlet form. 1t sold well at penny
copy! One little shop in Wiitechapel
alone sold 600 copies, and 1t even got
on to Smiths bookstalls. ZangwilPs
advice to would-be authors shows that
he has not made name without suf-
fering. He says: IF you are blessed
with talent, great Industry and conceit.
it is possible, by dint of shaving day
and night for years during the flower of
your youth. to attain to fame infinitely
less widespread than prize fighters. :"
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-12-05

A story Illustrating the simple bon
homie of the King of Sweden and Nor
way is told by NJ. CASTOR BONNER, the
botanist. NJ. BONNER was botanizing
near Stockholm, when he met a
stranger similarly occupied. The two
botanists fraternized, and NJ. BONNER
suggested that they should lunch to-
gether Mt an inn.
No; come home and lunch with me
instead" said the stranger; and he I'D
the way to the palace and opened the
gate.
NJ. BONNER was naturally astonished,
but his new acquaintance was most
apologize.
"I'm sorry" he said, "but I happen
to be the king Of this country, and this
is the only place I've got to entertain
anybody In" So they went in ind
lunched, and talked botany together
all the afternoon.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-12-05

his own glorious voice. He walked
along, singing, and the sound approach
ed, as If to meet him, till finally it sang
at his very feet,
CHANGING down, he saw the shell Of
turtle, which had been cast high and
dry upon the beach and left there by
the receding waves. The little thing
had died and dried up so that only the
sinews, shriveled to strings, and the
shell remained. The dried up slnews
We're tightly stretched across the hollow
shell, and the wind, as 1t listed, touched
the strings, causing them to vibrate
over the shell sounding board and give
forth the sweet, sad tones.
Enchanted, he bore his treasure home
and from 1t fashioned the VOL shell,
with which he ever after accompanied
his voice, and the nymph, Eurydice,
enchanted by its magic, became his
Iris
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-12-05
Too Much for John.

A Nome correspondent of the Boston
Transcript says that the Eskimo is be-
coming familiar with many of the ad-
juncts Of civilization. But the tele-
phone is still beyond his comprehen-
sion. One of them pointed to the wire
which runs from Nome to the military
barracks at Nome River, three miles
away, and passes along the tundra just
back Of my tent.
Him catch birds2 he asked.
No, john replied. (Any Eskimo
is John, colloauially) Him telephone
suiting my English to his us far as
possible. But. John did not look en-
lightened, and attempted further ex-
PLANTATION.
dispose man talk, Snake River. Wire
catch him. Man Nome River, he hear
"John looked at the wire, then at me,
and his face took on a grieyed express
sion.
Humphv he said Plenty lie.' And
he walked Indignantly away"
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-12-05


We assume, as matter of course,
that the United States government has
had nothing to do with the alleged
theft from the French war office of the
plans and specifications of the new
French field gun. 1t occurs to us, how
ever, that in view of the current scan
dial, of which the United States is evil
IDENTIFY the innocent victim, 1t would be
wise to finally withdraw from our for
eign diplomatic establishments all mil
itary, naval and irregular attaches.
There Is no earthly excuse for the ar
rangement upon any hypothesis Of good
faith and friendly dealing. All the in
formation Of which we can honorably
avail ourselves will come to us without
the aid of these attaches. Anything
beyond that must be the fruit of dis
reputable and clandestine operations,
of which we should be ashamed
Washington Post.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-12-05
The American L. Vulgar,

I'VE must all agree that the American
has beyond other men an innate respect
for women and for helpless things"
writes IAN American Mother" in the
Ladies' Home Journal. He has usu-
ally, too. a wide acquaintance with the
world which hinders him from intoler-
ance and vanity. He has also a tact
too fine to blurt out unpleasant facts to
his companions, as does the English
man, who, quite unprovoked, hurls dis
agreeable truths at you with ferocity
and gusto that is indecent. A week
with your dearest, English friends Is
enough to make you in love with lying.
The dearer you are to them the more
likely are they to talk necessarily Of
the mole on your nose, or your vulgar
kinsfolk. The American has yivacity
almost French: he gives himself easily
to the occasion: he is ready to weep and
laugh with you, and is sincerely inter
ested in your new bicycle or baby. at
the same time he has something Of the
phlegm of the Asiatic, and seldom frets
or grHmbles. He sniffs the odors of
foul drains, quaffs typhoid germs in
his water, sits in overheated steam cars
and stands in overcrowded street cars
year afteryear with imperturbable good
humor.
Why, with all these qualities-why
is he not more agreeable fellow? Why.
with all the traits that go to make up
a courtly gentleman-why is he vulgar?
Simply because he is not certain of his
own position. He asserts himself every
moment lest you may mistake him for
an inferior. This uneasy self-assertion
is the explanation of all our bad man
ners. I'm as good as your is the secret
thought with which too many of us
meet every fellow-creature."
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-12-05
The American ParIor.

I'VE have prevalent folly of setting
aside room in our houses which we
very rarely USE" writes Edward Box,
protesting, in the Ladies' Home Jour
nal, against the bad taste exercised in
furnishing our homes. .If means are
at our command we crowd such room
full of puny gilt chairs. upon which no
one dares to sit; on the walls we hang
impossible paintings, with equally I'M
possible, massive gold frames; an 'ele-
CANT sofa upholstered in silk or satin,
with n gllded frame, is introduced; a
gold clock which never runs is put on
a mantel of solid onyx; a 'Chippendale'
cabinet is added-which always har-
monies SO superbly with Louis XIV.
sofa or chair--and we have what we
call n 'drawing-room.' If we are of
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-12-05
What They Voted For.

When the people voted for the re-
election Of Mr.. Mckinley they also
voted for the following propositions:
The passage this winter of a ship SUBJ
sidy bill whereby John d. Rockefeller
and his confederates are to receive a
free gift of $1S0,OOO,0OO of the peoples
money. The protection of all existing
trusts for four years and the establish
ment Of many new ones. Criminal ag-
gression in the Philippines, whereby
100000 people are to be conquered
and made subjects instead of citizens.
The abrogation of the Declaration of
Independence. The protection Of sla-
very and polygamy in our island pos
sessions. Government by injunction,
which does away with the rights of
trial by jury and makes the laboring
men helpless in the hands Of their en-
ployers. The degradation of silver and
the retirement Of the greenbacks. A
government by Wall street instead of a
government by the people The placing
Of our dependent provinces in the
h"nuS VI corrupt Sdrpet-paSSerS anu
opening thousand places for such
Political scoundrels as Rathbone and
Neeley.
The laboring men may not have
realized that they would get all these
things when they voted for a full din
ner pail, but they will get them all
and the prospect is that in addition
they will be cheated out of the full
dinner pail before many months roll
over their -Nonconformist.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-12-05
The Girl and Her vocation.


''The future wage-earning girl should
have in her mind during the latter part
Of her school life the selection OF her
profession" writes Margaret q. Sang
ster in the Ladies' Home Journal. II
think 1t well for her, too, very FREQUENT.
", but with intention, to cast about
among her friends for suggestions. to
ask the kind offices of one and another.
and to make known her need of i'm.
mediate employment SO soon as she
leaves school. Many good positions are
lost because of indecision, or false
pride, or unwise reticence on the mart
of those who seek them. The mental
attitude of the girl In search of employ.
ment should be neither Indifferent nor
patronizing; she should set In motion
every legitimate means, and let those
who may be able to assist her know
something Of her situation. They can
help, and she can seek with much great
er hope of success II the goal in view
be something definite"
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-12-05
The Cabman Exnla,ne,,

thought to have little fun with a
Paris cab-driver one day. said the
tourist, "and SO walked up to him
and told him to drive me to the tomb of
George Washington. The fellow hest.
tated for half a second, and then told
me to jump In" continued the tourist
After driving me about half mile
he halted In front of monument ON y
square, and grayely announced
Behold zee tomb of zee George
Washington!
Il got out and walked around and
had good look at the shaft, and then
returned to the man to say, But why
does the Inscription refer to Christie
pher Columbus?'
Because, monsieur he replied as
he pretended to examine wheel of his
cab, they We're twin brothers, and died
in each others arms to save zee crown
of England!"
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-12-05
FUTURE OF THE DEMOCRACY.


Markell Change In Character of Party
Policy Is Probable.
The recent defeat sustained by the
Democratic party is calling forth from
prominent Democrats expressions of
opinion as to the expediency of max
Ing a marked change in the general
character of the party policy. The talk
now heard of the adoption of a policy
upon which majority of the present
party and>the old-time Democrats can
get together is likely to form an i'm
portant feature Of subsequent develop
ments in America party history.
1t will be observed that the leading
members of the Democracy as it was
eight years ago declare themselves
strongly in favor of some such plan.
MIR. Cleveland hopes that steps will be
taken toward "the regeneration Of the
Democratic party" Mr.. Olney in his
public letter early in the campaign indi-
Gated that he would be in favor of
similar revision of the party policies.
Mr.. Whitney, Mr.. Dickinson and many
other Cleveland Democrats hold SUBJ
stantially the same view. From Mr..
Bryan himself, however, and from
some Of his close followers comes the
declaration that the party must stick
to Its present courses, not even aban-
doning the doctrine of silver coinage.
Unquestionably the near future is
likely to bring about an interesting
to- H., ~.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-12-05
GOOD cHEwlNa-GuM TOWNS.
Salesman Says They Are Mostly in the
West and Northwest.

Salesman Says They Are Mostly in the
West and Northwest.
]. j. Amend, travelling representa-
tive of one Of the largest chewing-gum
manufacturing companies in the United
States, expressed surprise, in speaking
to a New Orleans Times Democrat re-
porter, that the establishment of q
chewing-gum factory ut that point is
talked of.
ut is true that much Of the gum we
use comes by way of New Orleans, in
its raw state, from the tropics" he said,
"but can see no other reason for put
ting up a factory here. don't believe
sugar is any cheaper here than it is in
the North, and glucose Is no cheaper,
If US cheap. Then. this is a very poor
market, locally, for chewing gum"
why is that?"
II don't know the reason, but 1t is q
fact, nevertheless. Why, know lots of
towns in other parts of the country that
use ten times as much chewing gum
yes, fifty times as much--as New Or
leans, and they are not nearly us big as
this city, either"
Where's the best market for chew
ing gum in the United Statesy"
'All west and north of st. Louis. Lots
of gum is sold throughout Kansas, Ne
braska. the Dakotas, and Minnesota.
Kansas City is n great town for it"
How about Chicago?"
ooh, Chicago is one Of the greatest
chewing gum cities In the country. Chi
cago has gone ahead of New York in
this respect. New York used to be a
great town for 1t, and one couldn't go
anywhere In the city without seeing
girls working their jaws as If their lives
depended on it. But the caricaturists
and the paragraphists made such fun of
the habit that a good many of the girls
stopped chewing, and the sales fell Off
very heavily. Boston was pretty
good gum town at one time, but never
SO good as our Western cities.
LAS a rule, the newer the city the
better the chewing-gum trade in 1t. In
an old city, like New Orleans, the peo-
pie don't seem to take to the habit at
all. The French element here hurts us,
for the French are not gum chewers.
The Germans don't chew gum, either.
In some of the places where there are
many Germans, as in some of the cities
of the Northwest, we sell but little
chewing gum. The young people like
it, but the old people won't let them
use 1t. have seen many a boy spanked
by his German mother for using chew
ing gum"
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-12-05


Mr.. McKinley's first administration
was devoted to faithful service in be-
half of the trusts at the expense of the
American people. Under no other
President had there been witnessed so
complete a sacrifice of the rights of the
many to the privileges of the few. The
American government was trans
formed into a caste government-the
very evil most dreaded by its founders,
and against which they most strenuous
ly warned those who should come after
them. The result has been tremen-
dous increase Of trust formations and
a trust power so great that the COM
bines We're enabled to re-elect to the
presidency the man who had so signal
ly represented their interests in the
government.-St. Louis Republic.