davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-05-14
m THE eABYps EYES.

What il the dream in the baby's eyes
A. be lies and blinks in 4 mute surprise,
With little wee hands that slmlessly 60 -
Hitler and thirher and 20 and fro;
With LITTLE wee feet that shall lead himf Co
knows,
But PRAYER from my heart Ike benson goes
Bundle Of helplessness, yonder he lies
What is the dream IN my baby's eyes?
What does ne woner and what does he know
That Ee have forgotten 50 long, long ago?
Bzthed in the dawn light, what does he see
That slow years have hidden from you and me?
Out Of the yesterday seeth he yet
The things that in living he soon shall forget
All that is hidden beyond the blue skies
What is the dream IN my bsby's eyesg
Speak TO me, little one, ere you forget
What is the thought that Is lingering there yet.
Where Is the land where the yesterdays meet
Waiting and waiting the uorrOvs to greetE
You wee funny bundle. who only will blink,
What do you wonder, and what do you think!
Bright the moonlight asleep in the skies,
What is the dream in my b2by's eyesf
Tom Cordry in Minneapolis Messenger.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-05-14
The Bottle mt Ship Launches.

Down to Charles lis time il was GUS
tomary to name and baptize a ship aft
er she was launched. sometimes n week
or two after. The old Tudor method
used for men-Of-war was still in use.
Pepys' DIARY" shows that. The ship
was safely got afloat, after which some
high parsonage went on board with .
special silver standing cup" or flag
gon" of wine. out of which he drank.
naming the ship and pouring libation
On the quarter deck. The cup was then
generally given to the dockyard ship
wright as Il memento.
When did the present usage of NAM
ing and baptizing n ship before she is
sent afioat come in? l trace the last
explicit mention of the old method to
1864. when the Royal katherine was
launched (see Pepys). The first men,
ton of smashing 4 bottle of wine on
the bows of an English man-of-war
that / have found is in n contemporary
newspaper cutting OF May. 1TS0, de-
scribing the christening of II. NJ. s.
Magnanime at Deptford, but nothing is
limited that it was then a new custom.
Notes and Queries.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-05-14

Three young men were walking up
Riverside drive the other morning,
when n gamy looking race horse logged
10y. drawing a natty trotting rig.
Isn't that splendid animal?" eN-
claimed one Of the young men in
CHEEKY. admiring tones, pausing to
gaze at the trotter.
The drivers eye sparkled. and his
chest expanded. He had heard the
compliment. Wheeling his horse
around. he brought it alongside the
pavement.
Wouldn't you like to try brush be-
hind him." he said courteously.
In jifry the young man was seated
I'm the buggy. and the two were disap-
pearins down fhe drive At a pace that
justified the Compliment OF the pedes-
TRAN. His companions watched him
enviously. Then one OF them said:
"Bin is n judge OF horsefiesh.''
And an artist on human nature"
INDEED the other. I've seen him do
that before York Mail and Ex.
press.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-05-14

One OF the old time southern negroes
went TO Boston to make his fortune.
After week OF walking up and down
he found himself penniless and no
work in sight. Then he went from
house to house. ''Ef you please. sui, -
he began when his ring at the front
door was answered. cant you give a
pO' cullud man work ter do or somepin
ter eatE"
And the polite answer invariably was,
NO. mister; very sorry, but have moth
ing for you
Every one who answered his ring adj
dressed him as mfr" but shut their
doors and hearts against him.
Finally he rang the bell at n brown
stone front. \ gentleman appeared.
and the old man began:
Boss. l Is starvin. Can't you gimme
some vittles:''
You darned, black. kinky headed
rascal exclaimed the gentleman.
How dare you ring the bell at my
front door? Go round the back yard
way TO the kitchen. and the cook'll give
you something, you black
But just there the old man fell on his
knees. exc!aiming:
Thank de Lawd, l foun' my own
white folks at las. Thank de Lawd. L
foun' 'em-I done foun' 'em"'-Atlanta
Constitution.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-05-14
Bits of News For Both.

Two girls met in Il dry goods store
the other day They had evidently not
seen each other for some time. as the
trend of their conversation proved.
What good times we used TO have
at the lake" said one.
Yes, | like our own resorts" re-
piled the other, better than on the
coast. oh, say, where is my old flame
Perry? l think the world of that boy"
''Oh, he's married.
You don't say! Who to-" N
"AIc."
well. of all things" replied her
friend, flushing.
The conversation drifted. but a short
time later reverted to its old channel.
Say. Hetty." remarked Perry's wife,
did you meet Johnny - out in San
Franciscan" and then added, He told
me that summer he was there that he
could not live without me-"
Yes, l met him in Los Angeles"
Poor fellow, | feel sorry for him.
He is a bachelor yet, l supposef'
''No; he's married" 4
You don't say, Who TOP 81
'Me."-Salt Lake Herald. <
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-05-14
Humors of Organ blowers.

An Irishman had been obtained at q
pinch to blow an organ. The player
was ready and the signal was given.
but no wind caue. The signal was re
peated second time, and again third
time, but still without result The de-
lay was becoming awkward, the con
gregation was getting uneasy. What
was to be done? Choristers and organ
list now united in shouts of BLOW!
blow, blow" Not the slightest zephyr
stirred within the wind chest.
At length the orgdnist FASTENED to
the blowers sanctum. And what Il
sight it was that met his eyes! Cling
ing with heels and hands to the long
wooden handle of the bellows, there
hung the son of Erin, his eyes starting
from their sockets and his cheeks dis
tended and crimson, blowing as if for
dear life into the end of that long
wooden handlei
The anecdote of the eX-Sailor blower
is not so funny, but it is in keeping.
The old tar when he went to blow took
off his boots and his coat and, If 1t
were warm, nearly everything else,
for" said he in explanation, II can
'Old on better" -Longmans
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-05-14
Ant Engineers.

Something new and interesting about
ants was learned by a Mount Airy
florist recently. For a week or so lie
had been bothered by ants that got into
boxes of seeds which rested on q shelf.
To get rid of the ants he put into exc
cution an old plan, which was to place
a meaty bone close by, which the ants
soon covered. every one deserving the
boxes of seeds. AS soon as the bone
would become thickly inhabited by the
little creepers the florist tossed it into
a tub of water. The ants having been
washed off. the bone was put in use as
n trap again.
Then the florist bethought himself
that he would save trouble by placing
the bone in the center of 4 sheet of fly
paper, believing that the ants would
never get to the bone, but would get
caught on the sticky fly paper while
trying to reach the food. But the
florist was surprised to find that the
ants. upon discovering the nature OF
the paper trap. formed Il working force
and built path on the paper clear to
the bone. The material for the walk
was sand secured from n little pile
near by. For hours the ants worked,
and when the path was completed they
made their way over its dry surface in
couples, as i'll Il march, to the bone
Philadelphia Record.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-05-14
She Revoked the Rule.

Some time ago the cZarina, very
philanihropic aud religious woman,
made up her mind that the lavish use
of tobacco In Russia was doing harm.
She thereupo1 prohibited the use of
the weed, and especially of cigarettes,
in the court.
y few days passed, and her imperial
majesty needed some money. 1t did
not come, even after she had sent a
confidential servant to the treasury
At last. in place OF money, came 4
white bearded old man from that in
stitution, with pleasant voice and at
tractive address.
There must be 4 mistake, your i'm
perial majesty. Two weeks ago you
prohibited the use Of tobacco in the
court, and so great is your influence
and so deep the love for you among the
people that the sales Of the weed drop
ped down to- a fraction of what for
merly was the case, and the Internal
revenue receipts became less than the
expenses. The government apprecjat-
ed your high munificence because I'M
der the Law Of the land your income
is charged against the tobacco tax of
this district, and il was supposed that
you had concluded to give up your
wealth in order to carry out your
views upon reform
The following week, so the story
goes, the rule was relaxed, and the
czarina's sudden poverty vanished as
If by magic.-Saturday Evening Post.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-05-14
To Fly In Your Dreams.

There is popularity about the flying
dream that seems to be constant OF
all those whom l asked about the mat
ter and who are conscious of the flying
dream at all not one has ever known
himself to make any high flights in his
dreams. One always flies low, with 4
skimming manner. slightly, but only
slightly. Above the heads of pedestrians.
And ones critical attitude in n dream
toward ones own performance is al
ways interesting to note, both in re-
gard to this particular class of dream
and even more toward one of the other
classes. 1t is an attitude that is well
brought out in Alice In Wonderland"
where Alice is made to exclaim or to
think while she is falling. How brave
they will all think II OF me at home not
to mind a great fall like this"'-LOng-
mans.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-05-14

In recent lecture on Rome Mr..
rcderic Harrison said that the great
value of the city of Rome, from the
point OF view of general culture and
education. was that it had by far the
longest and most complete history OF
any city in the world. 1t had three
great qualities As the center OF human
culture and the development of human
civilization. 1t was the center OF the
ancient world for many centuries, 1t
became the center OF the early Chris
tian world and for 1000 years ii had
been the center OF religious pilgrim
ages. while for four or five centuries 1t
had been the center Of poetry and art
OF the modern world. These three
great epOchs together made up some
thing like 5000 years, and no city in
the world had had so continuous a
life. Hardly n century passed without
leaving its memorial in Rome.-London
Globe.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-05-14
Notice.

Notice Is hereby given that q special NEE |
ing of the stockholders OF the Rock Island &
called by the directors of SAID company, TO be
held at The Office Of the company in the Rock
cry building in Chicago Ill on the I'd day OF
noon; and that at such meeting there VIII be
submitted to vote of the stockholders the
following several propositions, viz:
to the Davenport, Rock Island & North W es l.
ern Railway company"
p0ration from one hundred thousand dollars to
the sum OF four mi lion dollars
3. To authorize the Officers and directors TO
issue and dispose of bonds OF id company,
70 the amount of four million dollars, payable
in gold, nifty years after date bearing three
and one-half CD per cent interest. payable
seml-annually; and also 70 execute a tIust
deed or mortgage, the reby conveying the cor
porate Property, rights and franchises now
owned and possessed, hereafter acquired.
by said company, 10 secure the payment OF
said bonds; and also TO authorize additional
purposes. to be likewise secured by said mort
gage trust deed.
l. To authorize said sficers and directors to
purchase In fee simple the railroad property,
corporate rights, powers priYil~ ges and fran
ctiSes Except the franchise TO be corpora
toni of the Davenport, Rock Island & North
western Railway company, and of the Davep-
port. Clinton & Eastern Railway company. re-
spectively Doth of said last named companies
union of the railways OF said two companies
In the meantime by purchase. ale. consolida-
ton or otherwise, 10 purchase the railway
franchises Except the franchise 70 be a cor
poration) OF the corporation owning said
united properties
Dated April 10. 1900
JOHN LAMBERT,
JOHN W. GATES,
CHARLES G GATES.
JAMES G. HUTcHISs,
o. Owen,
Directors
CHARLES G. GATES, Secretary.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-05-14
THE REGENT DIAMOND.
1t Ia Acknowledged the Most Perfect
BriIIIant In ENIstence.

The Pitt" Tor Regent" as it was
afterward called is the most perfect
brilliant in existence. and its history Is
also very remarkable. 1t * said to
have been found by a slave in the Par
teal mines in 1901. who 10 retain his
treasure cut a hole in the calf of his
leg in which he concealed it, although
II is more probable he secreted IL
among the bandages. The slave es-
capped TO the coast with his find, where
he encountered an English skipper,
whom he made his confidant. Offering,
indeed. TO bestow upon him the stone In
return for his liberty. The mariner.
apparently consuming 10 the slaves
proposal. took him out 10 sea and when
there drowned him. after obtaining
possession of the diamond. Disposing
OF the gem 10 n diamond merchant for
1900. it IS said the man afterward
hanged himself in a fit of remorse.
Mr.. Pitt. governor of Fort ST. George
and great-grandfather of the illustrious
William Pitt, became the next pos
SCISSOR OF this valuable stone, weighing
40 carats. for 10000. He sent it to
London. where he had it very skillfully
cut at cost Of 5000, the process oC-
cupying two years. Pitt appears TO
have found his diamond no very envia-
ble possession. for. after refuting the
calumnies OF his enemies, who had
charged him with having obtained IT
by unfair means. he was so haunted by
the fear OF being robbed that he never
slept two nights cOnsecutiyely under
the same roof. never gave notice OF his
arrival In or departure from town and
went about mysteriously disguised. He
must necessarily have felt greatly re-
lieved when he parted with the dia-
mond to the Due dOrleans. regent
during the minority Of Louis Nv. king
Of France. in 171T for the sum Of E13J.-
OOO.-Chambers' Journal.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-05-14
NEVER ATE FOREIGN MEAT.
1t Doesn't Pay to Be Too Sure Until
One knoMs An the Eacts.


A certain Major Brownjones. who
made il his boast that he never allowed
American or colonial meat to be served
at his table, recently visited an old
comrade in Liverpool. One night ST
dinner a most delicious saddle of zap
parently) Welsh mutton appeared, 10
which the major did ample justice.
All" he observed, Il wish that my
butcher in London would send me stun
like that. and yet he deals only i'll the
best British meat"
Well" said his friend, las 4 matter
of fact you have been eating New Zea-
land mutton. But it's only fair TO say
that 1 get it from friend who is q
large wholesale importer"
by Jove, you don't say so" ex-
claimed the guest. Il wish he'd tell
me where l can get the like in town."
We'll go and see him tomorrow"
said the host. The visit was duly paid
to the meat monger. who smiled when
he heard the Londoner's eulOgy and
explanation.
Tell me-" he returned after listening
to the epicure's remarks. Tin what part
of London you reside. and ! dare say
can give you the address OF a retail
butcher who will supply you with ex-
actly the same sort of mutton as that
which you like so much" The major
handed him his card.
''Ah," observed the importer. there's
the very man within two streets of
your house. We supply him with all
his meat. Here's his address," he add
ed, handing n slip of paper to the seek
or after Succulent Joints
The major read. the major started.
the major frowned. the major. truth 10
say, cried vengeance. and no wonder.
for the address was that OF his own
butcher. who dealt only in home prod
uce-London Sketch.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-05-14
He Mi..ed HI. sIinner..

When 4 young man. the late John
Lewis. Il. A. went 10 India and Egypt
and was away about IS years. When
lie returned TO his mothers house in
Portland place. he almost Immediately
pulled of his boots and commenced to
hunt about at one end OF the parlor
fender and seemed terribly put about
His mother OF course asked him anx-
iously what he wanted.
"My slippers" said he when l
went away. left them just down
there. Now. where are they :'-Tit-
RffS
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-05-14

what is q furrier. Tommy" asked
the teacher of a pupil in the Juvenile
class.
"A man who deals in furs." answer
ed Tommy.
That's right" said the teacher.
Now, Tommy, you may tell me what
n currier is"
"A man who deals in ours" was the
unexpected but logical repIy.-Chicago
News
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-05-14
She Ws.Po.tea ON Finance


at Is simply impossible 10 keep post
ed on everything" said clubwoman
20 Daughter OF the American Revo-
luton.
Yes. Indeed it is admitted the d.
a. Il. But sometimes, if you are not
quite posted. you can wriggle out of Il
difficult situation without seeming SO
very ignorant For example, l WAS
just saved by my presence of mind at
a ID. A. L. meeting the other day. Pro-
fessor Sparks OF the university, you
know, read a lovely paper ON 'Gou-
verneur Morris. Financier of the Amer
lean Revolution
WHO is this Gouverneur MorrisY
said a friend of mine from the Fort
nightly club. Seems 10 me l never
have heard of him
There were half Il dozen women
around, and 1 was frightfully eInbar-
raised. l never had heard OF Gou-
verneur Morris either; but, you know, a
d. a. K. is supposed to know all those
things.
"'Oh, don't you remember 1 said.
Morris was the man who financed the
government and borrowed q lot OF
money to do it,
THANK YOU said my friend from
the Fortnightly.
Now. the fact is, you know, dear"
continued the u. \. r., Il really knew
nothing OF it whatever except that Pro
fessor Sparks subject said that the
man had financed the government and
I knew if lie did that he must have
had to borrow lot of money.''-Chi-
cago Inter Ocean.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-05-14
Eject of Her singing.

The doting husband was discourslng
on the beauty of his wife's voice.
She has a note of pathos in her
voice" said he, that will draw tears
from the most hardened. assure you
l have heard her sing before a large
audience, and when she has finished
there has not been a dry eye in the
room"
quite true" assented the cynic.
she always affects me that way.
Even if she only says she's going to
sing l weep bitterly. ''-Moonshin
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-05-14
MINERS AND MORPHINE.
A Necessary Custom which Is Not
Pleasant to Contemplate.


Pleasant to Contemplate.
when l was in the northwest" said
n gentleman with some money invested
in mines, Il employed a prospector 10
20 out into the mountains looking for
properties which had been recommend
ed TO me One day he was TO have
gone from our camp over into a very
rough and rocky district, but when
evening came lie reported that he
hadn't made the trip.
why not: | inquired.
Because I didn't have my NOR
phine with me- lie responded In Il very
matter Of fact manner.
Morphine" said l in establishment.
'What has that got TO do with it: You
are not n morphine fiend. are you|
Not as much OF n one as you are a
tenderfoOt,' he laughed and proceeded
To inform me that every prOspectOr
who knew his business always carried
with him enough morphine 10 Kill 4
man easily and that ne did so in order
10 end himself quickly In case Of an ac-
Cident which would disable him far
away from assistance. There were
many instances Of prospectors falling
over cliffs and Gripping themselves or
breaking n leg in a hole among the
rocks or rendering themselves helpless
in some other way. and death was sure
10 follow by starvation or freezing or
I'm some sections by being devOured by
wolves or other wild animals. In order
10 prevent such horrible death as any
Of these the prOspcctor simplified mat
tiers by always carrying a little packet
OF morphine, which not only quieted
the pain OF the hurt he had sustained.
but put him TO sleep pleasantly to
wake no more on earth. 1t struck me
mt first as uncanny. not to say wicked.
but got over that feeling after a mar
row escape or two. and l carried my
little tin box just like a veteran would"
Washington Star.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-05-14
Somebody Got Hurt.

Brides Little Brother Ito bridegroom
Did it hurt you much when she did
it?
Bridegroom-What hurt me:
Brides Little Brother-The hook.
Did it go into your lip?
Bridegroom don't know what you
mean. Johnny.
Brides Mother-Leave the table this
instant. Johnny
Brides Little BrOther-What for? 1
only wanted to know if it hurt him.
You said that sis had fished for him 4
long time, but she hooked him at last,
and / wanted to know if
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-05-14
The LoEeerhead'. Name

The lOggerhead turtle" said an old
fisherman, gets its name from the
resemblance OF its head and neck. IN
der some circumstances. TO the end OF
log. You take a big turtle, one
weighing. say. 600 or 500 pounds, at
sea. with its body submerged AMI head
and neck out OF the water. and they
look ut a little distance just like the
end OF a log sticking up. Hence the
name loggerhead. New York Sun.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-05-14
Juvenile stati.,tciup,

How many children had George
Washington asked the teacher, think
ing to trip up the new boy in his his
tory.
About 100000" promptly answer
ed the new boy, who knew something
concerning the statistics of the period
when the Father of His Country was
at the head of the family.-ChicagO
Tribune
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-05-14
The Coolest Couatry.

The coolest inhabited country ap-
pears to be the province of Wercho-
jansk. in oriental Siberia. A Russian
savaut passed one entire year in the
inhospitable region and kept a daily
record OF the temperature, from which
it appears that the daily mean of the
entire year is PA degrees below zero.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-05-14
Just the Man

Mrs. Belgrave (on the Bermuda boat
Are you one Of the stewards?
Bill Roling-No, marin I'm cap'n Of
tn top.
Mrs. Belgrave-How nice, Bring It
and spin it for little Chauncey, won't
you: He's almost bored to DEATH
Harlem Life.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-05-14
4 Nice Girl.

MabeI-Why do YOU always buy two
kinds OF note paper?
Maud-Well- you see. when / write
10 Tom. l use red paper-that means
love-and when l write TO Jack ! use
blue paper-which means faithful and
true.-Chicago News.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-05-14

The man who can fall down on e
slippery sidewalk and get up without
looking around to see whether anybody
has seen him can justly pride himself
on his savior faire and self control
SOmerville Journal
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-05-14
We'll RrEulated Parent.

"Our little Dick makes very clever
conundrums-really very clever"
Can you guess them
cob. we never dare do that. Little
Dick wants 10 tell the answers him.
self."-Indianapolis Journal
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-05-14

\ college education spoils fool. but
1t shows an intelligent young man how
10 acquire knowledge that may be use
ful 10 him-New Orleans Picayune. :
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-05-14

The first constitutional convention in
Ohio contained as delegates five men
who afterward were elected governor
OF the state and four who became Unit
ed States senators. +,
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-05-14

A photographer does wrong who
takes such a picture OF a girl that she
viii make herself unhappy all the rest
Of her life trying TO look Ike it--De-
troll Journal
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-05-14

Some men have the reputation OF be-
ing jolly good fellows. but that doesn't
20 with the paying teller of n bank--
Chicago News =
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-05-14

In Madagascar silk is the only fabric
used in the manufacture OF clothing.
It Is cheaper than linen in Ireland. .