davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-02-08

marriage with a member Of any out
side tribe is Immediately punished by
a cruel and bloody death. Indeed, they
STAY members Of their own tribe with
as eager an avidity as the ordinary
hunter Stays his prey, when any Of the
rigid and unalterable tribal laws are
defed or broken.
And in physique there is no people
on the American continent who is their
equal. Tall of stature, gifted with
phenomenal strength and capable of
marvellous endurance, they are singu-
larly attractive to those who appreci-
ate and envy physical prowess. Their
women are almost equally strong as
the men, and both sexes are runners
of extraordinary speed and staying
quality. In this regard they are r.
vailed only by the desert Yuma Apaches
and the centuries-trained Hopituh or
Moki. In appearance they are, as I
have said, tall, with full chests and
loins, and, while feet and hands are
very large, their arms and legs are long
and slender. Their skin is black to a
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-02-08
a BACHELORS VALENTINE.

If I were younger, Mary Jane
Would not SO gayly fout me-
Or if she did I'd make it plain
She could not do without me.
She will not be my valentine.
Forsooth, the maids are plenty
I'll venture that she would be mine
If were one-and-twenty!
Why, forty years ago there were
A score L could have married
And every one outfavored her;
But then, of course, tarried
Till Ann and Lou and SUSIE too,
And all the rest I mind me-
Dropped me because, they said, they knew
They knew not where to find me-
But as it is the Widow Black
Thank heaven, has some reason
And knows that men, like fruit, don't lack
In worth if out of season.
To her I'll send a billet doux
And state my fortune clearly
Some thousands, I'll admit to you
And she will love me dearly!
Chicago Record.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-02-08
ARE CRUEL SAVAGES.
The Seri Indians and Their Pacific
Island Home.
They Are the SuperiOrs of
All Other American AbOrigines
-Unequa1ed as Hunters
and Runners.
Especial Los Angeles (cal) Letter.I


Undoubtedly the least known and
the most bloodthirsty and treacherous
Indians of North America to-day are
the Serbs, who live on Tiburon island,
in the Gulf of California, and
also regard themselves as propri-
etors of considerable strip of
land south of Papagueria (the home
Of the Papagoes, in southern Arizona
and Sonora) and close to he region
of the Yakis, now at war wit Mexico.
For over $50 years the Serbs have been
the terror of all white explorers, as
for many centuries more they have
been the hated foes of all contiguous
Indian tribes. By their enemies they
are openly charged with being canni-
balls, but they emphatically deny that
they ever ate human being. Up to
the end of the year 1895 they were
practically as unknown as they
were to Coronado, $50 years ago,
but at this later date scien-
tific expedition under the control
of Prof. w. j. MCGEE, of the bu-
reau of ethnology, visited this dan
gerous and warlike people and gained
considerable information in regard to
them. Now and again one may meet
with a Seri away from his island
home, and this 1 have done on two
separate occasions, and from them
gained my first interest in this strange
and isolated people: There are many
isolated people on the North Ameri-
can continent, as for instance the
Havasupais of Hayasu canyon, but
this is only a comparative isolation.
With the Serbs however isolation is
complete. They permit no stranger
Upon their territory, unless, of course,
deferred from ejecting him through
fear, and prevented by too great watch
fulness from numbering him, and inter
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-02-08

marked degree; more so than any other
known tribe, and their hair, always
worn down over the shoulders, is black
and Iuxuriant.
They are cruel, crafty and treacher-
Gus to a degree, as their own relation
of the way they tricked and slew two
members of a party who visited them
clearly proves. There were two news
paper men, a cook and captain of the
small vessel in which they sailed from
San Francisco to Seriland. Though
they were warned of the cunning,
treachery and ferocity of the Serbs, the
San Francisco newspaper men, when
they landed on the island, osten sibly
for the purpose of hunting, and asked
the Indians to guide them. soon placed
themselves entirely at their mercy.
Just as the party OF Indians and three
of the white men started to go to
a spot where the Serbs professed there
was an abundance of game, one of their
number came up with story as simple
as it was cunning, that great turtle
was on the shore just around the bend,
and that if one of the newspaper men
would lend him his gun he would shoot
it and rejoin the party in few min
utes. With faith that proved itself to
be his death warrant. one of the writ
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-02-08

depths and varieties of insult not in
tended by the hack who wrote the
lines.
Sitting in one corner of the car, with
the valentine folded carefully, he took
the lines one at time:
You talk and gable all the day"
1t was simply brutal. He read it
again, and suddenly this question
flashed into his mind: DO talk too
much %
He knew that the comic valentine was
always supposed to touch on ruling
weakness. Could it be possible that the
sender of this valentine had struck on
his (Walker's) greatest failing and
taken an underhand way of rebuking
it?
Nonsense! I don't talk too much"
thought Walker. But if I never talk
too much, why did anyone send me this
valentine? There's no point to the val
entine unless I do talk too much occa-
sionally. But don't believe 1 do talk
too much. ought to know it if l make
myself a nuisance by talking. Hold on
here! Had I ought to know? When
man is bore and nuisance, does he
ever suspect the fact himself? Is it
possible for man to go on, year after
year, deluding himself with the belief
that he is a sparkling and entertaining
conversationalist. whereas everyone re-
CARDS him as pes*2''
Walker was compelled to answer in
the affirmative. He thought of the case
of Howelby. Howelby is the laughing
stock of neighborhood. He is a per-
sistent chatterer, an insipid story
teller, an affected and effeminate doll.
Yet Howelby firmly believes that he is
the most popular young man on the
South side, loved by the women and en-
We'd by the men.
IF Howelby has been fooled for so
long time, isn't it possible that some
of the rest of US have been fooled too?''
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-02-08

man present is expected publicly to ex-
press his hopes and wishes that the
heroine of the feast may grow up in
perfect health, soon find a suitable hus-
band and become the mother of large
family of vigorous and healthy off
spring.
And yet the women cannot all marry
unless polygamy is practiced, for there
are more women than men. My inform
antassured me that polygamy was only
practiced by his people because of the
superabundance of the female sex, and
as soon as the balance of sex was found
no man would be allowed to have more
than one wife
Thin dress is exceedingly simple, but
picturesque. In warm weather it con-
sists of a short skirt made of pelican
skin, on which the feathers still re-
main. When additional clothing is re-
quired they use more pelican skins,
sewed together with sinew, as many as
eight skins sometimes constituting a
single robe. These robes are also used
to sleep upon and as covering.
In their reed canoes they gracefully
skim over the waters of the Gulf of
California, and they are very skillful
arrows only as weapons, they succeed
in bringing down plenty of game, and
turkeys and other wild birds are no
strange articles in their larder.
On the island of Tassne, which is not
far from the Mexican mainland, al
though dominated by the Serbs, the
gray pelican is found in large numbers.
The pelican is a sacred bird to the In
dams, for he it is who made the first
earth, and that, strange TO say, is the
very island of Tassne. But though
the pelican is sacred, the Seri feels there
is no violation of the sanctities in kill
ing and eating the object of his wor-
ship, and dressing in his well-feath-
cred skin.
With the complete domination of the
Yakis by the Mexicans. it is easily sup
possible that ere long the conflict will
be transferred to the Seris, and that they
will soon be civilized from off the face
of the earth. G. WHARTON JAMES.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-02-08

ers gave up his gun. This scared the
cook and he said he would stay on the
lee shore until the party returned. No
sooner did he arrive at this determine
ton than one of the Indians made a re-
quest for the boat. But the cooks
fears led him to insist that before the
boatwas taken away he be put on board
the sloop, and, though evidently
against the will of the Indian, this was
done.
In the meantime the other poor fell
lows were unconsciously walking to
their fate. The Indian who had the
gun made a detour, secreted himself
in the bushes, and as the hunting party
came by, shot the man who had lent it,
killing him instantly. The other man
was shot at, but he escaped for awhile,
only to be beaten to death with clubs
and stones. Now the Indians. possess
ing both guns and boat, felt there
would be no difficulty in Selling the
sloop, and, hastily tumbling into the
boat, began to row for the vessel. But
the cook was on the lookout, and,
though he had no gun, picked up a
broom-handle and pointed it as if it
were weapon and thus scared off the
foes. In the meantime the captain of
the boat had weighed anchor and soon
the ship was out of reach.
This story I tell exactly as the Serbs
relate it, for they Dragged of their
craft and cunning in getting the better
of smart white man who had come to
penetrate into the secrets of their
homes and life.
Their homes are similar to those of
the Yakis and other Indian tribes.
They live in clusters-a kind of village
or tribal life, in huts or wickiups, built
of brush, turtle shells and earth. They
know nothing whatever of agriculture,
and, strange to say, seldom eat any
thing but raw meat, fish, crabs, oys-
tiers and CLAIMS. In the summer, how
ever, they will eat the ripe berries, mes
quite beans, prickly pear and other
desert fruits.
When girl reaches the marriage
able age a great feast is held. The
maiden is decked in whatever their
crude fancy dictates as ornament, her
face is painted in several colors, in
stripes and dots, and feathers are tied
in her hair. Then a great dance and
general carnival is held, in which every
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-02-08

in them. He had even advised his
friends in much the same terms. One
Of his friends, Bradbury, had received
ar unsigned letter, advising him that
he was not civilized being, that the
people who congregated in his fiat of
an evening were little better than saw
ages, and that it was an outrage for
,anyoneto play the piano at two o'clock
in the morning, as at that hour all
honest men and women were sup
posed tc be in bed.
Bradbury was very angry. He went
to Walker with the anonymous letter
in his trembling hand and asked:
Isn't that the most insulting thing
you ever read?"
Walker behaved with admirable
GOODNESS. He smiled peacefully and
remarked: Never let anything like
that worry you.''
''Well, 1 think I know who sent it.
What is your opinion of man who
would write that kind of a letter and
send it to you without signing his
-name?"
bradbury, man who would do
anything like that is simply beneath
contempt. You can't afford to waste
any righteous indignation on such
eur. Dismiss the entire matter from
your mind. Don't be foolish. If this
fellow is too cowardiy to sign his
name, simply throw the letter into The
waste-basket, and let that be the last
of it,
considering that Mr.. Walker held
such sensible and cool-headed views
concerning anonymous insults, his
subsequent conduct is not easily ex-
v,Iadned, unless it be admitted that it
rs easy enough TO ignore an insult
switch is aimed 0t some one else.
ron the morning of a certain Febru-
AIRY IA, Mr.. Walker went to his break
fast az later hour than usual. He
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-02-08
Causes for Suicide An China.

So far as / have been able to ascer-
tain, the causes of suicide in China are
not. as in Europe, profound melan-
cholia, heavy losses, or disappointment
in love, but chiefly revenge, and the de-
sire to infiict serious injury On another.
Suicide enables a Chinese TO take a
truly terrible revenge, for he believes
that his spirit will Indignantly haunt
and injure the living: and the desire to
save suicides life arises in most cases,
not from humanity, but from the hope
of averting such a direful catastrophe.
If a master offends his servant or makes
him lose face or a shopkeeper his
assistant or apprentice, the surest re-
venge is to die on the premises, for it
not only involves the power of haunt
ing and of inflicting daily injuries, but
renders it necessary that the body
should lie where death occurs until an
official inquiry is made, which brings
into the house the scandal and turmoil
of a visit from a mandarin with a body
of officials and retainers. 1t is quite
common for a man or woman to walk
into the courtyard of person against
whom he or she has grudge, and take
a fatal dose of opium there to insure
these desirable results!-Mrs. J. F.
Bishop, in ''Yang-tse Valley and Be-
yond."
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-02-08
ONE WHO ControIs.

'tWho is the head of your house %
The benedict gave a few minutes
to the consideration of the question
before answering.
..No ONE he said finally. My wife
and [ started our married life on per-
feet equality. As you might say, we
trot in double harness and"
ssWeH?"
@'Wen, I guess, perhaps, the baby
drives the team. Chicago Post.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-02-08

Then pulled the bell and ran away
To dream of you in bliss.
You have forgotten long ago
That boyish act of mine;
Perhaps you never cared to know
Who sent that valentine.
But I, who loved you dearly then
And love you dearer now,
Forever will remember when
; First Cupid taught me how.
That budding love that thrilled my hear
When I was but a boy
Has blossomed till from you apart
I cannot find joy.
Nay, more than that. Without you
Discover only pain,
And so to win you now try
A valentine again
And, o! may Cupid's magic dart
Make you this time incline
To yield to me your tender heart
And be my Valentine.
III. C. Dodge. in Chicago Daily Sun
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-02-08
rhe PROBABLE Reason.

The Clergyman (proudly)-People
are Ioath to leave my church. Why,
after services it is fully Is minutes be-
for the edifice is emptiedi
The Sinner don't wonder at that
some people are very hard to awakeni
-RrookIVn Life.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-02-08
a Potnt of ResembIance.

Old Fellow-What did the critic say
of your play?
Young Feilow-He said it resembled
your head.
Old Fellow-In what respect?
Young FeIlow-He said it was bald
and unimaginative.-Judy.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-02-08
He Trfed to- NTnke II UD.

He-Won't yo' low me to escoht
yo' home. Miss Black? I t'ink yo' am
too good church membah to keep up
quarrel.
She-Huh! I doan' think yo' am
much OBJ a church membah. I done
sor yo' sleepin' t'roo de sermon.
''Wa-al, 1 was dreamin' oh yo'." =
Puck.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-02-08
A VALENTINE.

Fair maid! When you were very small
And wore your hair in braid
And in Jackets felt so tall
was of girls afraid,
I slipped beneath your door one day
a valentine like this
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-02-08

After breakfast and when he was
safely away from the house he took the
envelope from his pocket and studied
the handwriting. He did not recognize
it. 1t was evident that the sender had
disguised his penmanship, or else had
the address written by some one en-
tirely unknown to Walker.
The coward!
He looked at the valentine and re-
read the verse of doggerel, and it is
needless to say that he discovered
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-02-08
Luck Not a Dividend Payer.


The man who trusts to luck seldom
pays his bills promptly.-Chicago Daily
News.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-02-08
TO A NOISY IDIOT.

OOSSSIS1s
TO A NOISY IDIOT.
"'You talk and gable all the day,
But there's no sense in what you say.
On every subject you must spout,
You are chump beyond a doubt"
For a moment or two Walker was
shocked and benumbed by the awful
impact of such an insult. He felt the
surge of hot blood to his head, and in
the dizziness of his wrath all the articles
on the breakfast table went swinging
in semi-circles. He crumpled the en-
velope and its contents into his pocket
and sat Tuning while Mrs. Walker
poured the coffee.
'Who sent it?'' ''Who sent it?
''Who sent it?" he asked himself over
and over again. He tried to fix in his
memory list of all who might be his
secret enemies and to select from this
list the most despicable, vindictive and
unprincipled scoundrel of all. This rep
tile he would meet. He would; meet
him and then-and then he would slap
him in the face and compel him to get
down on his knees and apologize, and
then ne (Walker) would spurn him
(the wretch) with his foot and call him
all the vile names which may be used
in propriety by a high-minded gentle
man whose feelings have been out
ragged.
Oh, the visions of revenge which are
conjured up by a fine, feverish rage!
Walker snapped at his breakfast as
if he were a Gagged animal, and there is
no denying that he had murder in his
heart. Once Mrs. Walker saw him
staring emptily at the popovers and
asked what was the matter. He did
not reply, for he was absorbed in con-
temptation of picture in which he was
throttling the villain who sent the
comic valentine.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-02-08

found a letter lying beside his plate
and tore it open, carelessly enough,
unfolding viIlainous comic valen-
tine, printed in shrieking colors.
1t was the picture of misshapen
wretch with a conical head and large
lower jaw which was fastened on in
hinge fashion. There were certain
lines and explosive marks to indicate
that this jaw was in rapid motion.
Below the picture was the following
doggerel:
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-03-24
PLEEMER FALLS BACK.
Relief Of Nlafckins Apparently as Far
OFF ns Ever.

LONDON, March 2ss--2:15 P. M.-Colone1
tPlumer apparently has retired to
Crocodile Pools, and Mafeking seems
further off than ever from relief.
This news was contained In a
despatch from Buluwayo, dated Mon
day, March 18th, and published in the
second edition Of the Times. These
advices add that the Dase hospital has
been brought back to Gaberones, though
the correspondent further says it IS
thought the object Of the Boer Gemon-
stration of March 18th and March 18th
was to cover the removal of siege-guns
from Matching.
General French's activity in the Orange
Free State may well be a preliminary to
a forward movement by Lord Roberts
with the main army. a despatch from
B1oenfontein, dated Thursday; March
22d, says President Kruger is reported
to have issued proclamation, declaring
that Great Britain Is in dire straits, and
that the Russians have occupied London.
a Springfontein telegram, published IN
the second edition of the Times. says:
1.-THE apparent submissive attitude or
the Free Staters should be accepted with
caution The large proportion of obso-
lete Inferior weapons being turned m
by them. to the british is giving the
impression that large stores of modern
Mausers are being concealed. y
The Outlooks special correspondent AZ
Cape Tow, says:
fs"Feeling is running strong against the
1eriency with which rebels Of Cape Col
ony and Natal are being treated by the
British authorities"
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-03-24
A Matinee Conversation.

The following conversation between
two plump young women went on during
an act at matinee. The one In the
white tulle hat began by saying to the
neighbor she met by. chance: Why.
Mamie, you are lot thinner than you
we're last month";" The other replied:
"Am L? You are darling. You have
lost flesh, too Thereat white tlllle.
hat said: do you think so? It's aw-
fully nice of you to notice it. Are you
doing anything to do it?'' mo; are
you?'' Good gracious, no. Isn't he
(meaning the leading MANI perfectly
lovely!' isn't he? Did you ever take
Missengen and Eichy?" II have heard
Of it Cautiously. Is it good?' On,
I don't know They say it is very good.
Eyes, have heard so; the fizzly salts
kind, and you don't have to diet net any: |
suppose you are dieting?" 'Oh, we'll.
some (guiltily). exercise quite lot
Can you touch to the floor with your
knees straight?" "Ch. do you do that?
I hear it is very good NO. I don't
do it, but 1 know a girl who does-she5
says it takes the flesh off perfectly
wonderfully She does it, HAS she
a nice figure?" "Oh, lovely. I think
it is so horrid to be fat Do you take
the Missengen and Kichy before or az.
ter meals?'' och. don't think it makes
is really better after meals. How long
do YOU have to take it before it does
any good?" ooh, the second week you:
can see a difference. II don't think
it shows till month. but if YOU stick
to it it will really do it, isn't it won
derful, and it takes it off the hips. don't
YOU know 'How nice. My doctor
says it does not do the least bit of harm
You konw it is not a patent or anything:
it's Just a natural remedy. Yes And
it's a great deal healthier not to be fat.
How much water do YOU use with it?"
..About {; glassful. It makes quite nice
drink, too: so refreshing.
AS the final curtain went down. both
declared that the play was perfectly
beautiful. and tulle hat said: Il think
1 shall try Messenger and Kichy." The
other thought she would. too. and the
funny part of it was that both of them
had been taking it regularly three times
a day for three n1onths.-Cincinnati En-.
uuirer.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-03-24
METHUEN's POSITION.

y y -
Bocrs Are Formidably Threatened at
Fourteen Streams
LONDON, March PA dispatch toy the
Daily News from Warrenton dated Thurs
day, describing Lord Methuen's position,
says:
"a small thanking force sent through
Boshof. secured an important crossing.
where the ferry had been destroyed, but
foreseeing this, Lord Methuen had an
other pont built. which Is ready to be sent
thither when the advance is considered
opportune.
THE cavalry and infantry column is
en- route for this point. Thus the posi-
ton of the Beers at Fourteen Streams
is forn:ldably threatened.
'.Eord Methuen's advance has not been.
hurried to the safety of AIafeking, where
the pressure apparently has been relaxed
as result of operations elsewhere, but
he is confident Of his ability to push aside!
the opposition on the Vaal river when
the proper time comes