davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-03-09
WHAT HE SAW ON THE COFFIN.
a Railroad Mans Story About a
White ROBBED Ghost.

Railroad Mans story ABOUT -
White ROBBED Ghost.
"I do not believe in ghosts, nor am l
particularly nervous" remarked the eX-
press messenger, but once was so posi-
tive that / saw a specter that / was trou-
bled with insomnia for many nights, and
] thought l never would be able to quiet
my nerves again.
at was back in the eighties, and l was
running between Kansas City and Den
yer on the u. p. We made a small Colo
RADIO station one evening about dusk and
found on the platform, as had been ad-
vised. the grewsome pine box. telling
fits story Of some unfortunate who had
gone to the mountains in vain search for
health. 1t 30 happened that my car was
full, and plan as l might could find no
place for the box. The train conductor
came up to find out what was the cause
of the delay. | told him of my predica-
mcnt. He was equal 10 the emergency in
IN instant.
"'Put it on the front PLATFORM he said.
The suggestion was q good one, and in
another moment our dead passenger was
aboard and we were rolling over the
prairie.
1T SO happened that had a car with
a door at the end About 10 O'Clock
snow began falling. and tell you it came
down thick, as it often does in Colorado.
1t was midnight when | thought of the
corpse. 1t would never do to lose it, and
the jolt of the train might jar it off the
platform. The night was clear. | opened
the door. AS it swung on its hinges |
looked out. Then | slammed the door
with bang and jumped back in the car.
was perspring from every pore and
trembling like leaf.
"What had | seen? Why, sitting bolt
upright on the coffin. with his hands
clasping his knees, was the whitest ghost
any man ever saw. | stood in the center
of the car, irresolute. looked at my
Winchester, then realized it would be
of no use against n spook.
Suddenly the door opened and there
stood my ghost. 1t was a tramp covered
with snow from head to foot. He stood
there blinking at the light for moment
and then said:
Say, Willie, you've ketched me. any
how, can't you let me get warm afore you
turn me eff? Did let him ride? Well.
! guess. II I'd been going to New York
he could have gone with me. I'm the
last man in the world not to show appre-
citation and gratitude" - Minneapolis
Tribune.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-03-09

Not long before her Mrs. Proctors)
death Mr.. Browning. Mr.. Matthew Ar
mold and ! were standing in front Of the
fireplace one Sunday afternoon talking
about the various incomes made by prom
inent persons. Mr.. Browning told how
Mt the house Of a distinguished surgeon
he had met an exalted parsonage who to
much bonhomie joins an inordinate Curl
osity. He said to the surgeon. Il should
like to know-of course ! do not speak
of present company-what a first rate
surgeon makes in his profession"
"Well. SIR" said the host. II should
say that about f15.0oO year would be
the mark"
What" said the prince, turning to the
then acknowledged leader OF the English
bar, docs great barrister makcT
81 suppose. sir. f25.0O0 would hit the
mark"
Sir John Millais was also present. and
he was the third asked. Possibly. sir.
f35CO0 year."
"Oh. come. come" said the questioner.
"Wcll. sir" said Sir John Millais. rath-
err nettled, "as matter Of fact, last year
/ made 100000 and might have made
more had | not been taking holiday lon
ger than usual in Scotland"
When he had finished speaking, Mr..
Browning put his arms through MIR. Ar
nold's and mine and said, I'VE don't
make that by literature, do weT'-J. ke-
gan Paurs "Reminiscences"
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-03-09
TInckernY'a TnYcrna.

When Harry Warrington comes to
London, he puts up at the Bedford and
dimes with Mr.. Draper at the Cock That
conducted on somewhat different princ-
plies in George lis reign from those
which governed il in the days of Queen
Victoria. for Mr.. Draper had ordered
what he called IAN elegant collation.
there" beforehand, n thing unknown at
the Cock when the plump head waiter
held sway.
In Vanity Fair Dobbin and George Os.
borne dine at Slaughter's. in St. Martins
lane, n house which seems in Colman's
time to have been much used by French
men. There he and Mr. Chopper, Os-
bOrne's head clerk, and the two ensigns,
Spooner and Stabblr, have "a famous
dinner" together before the officers de-
part ON the Waterloo campaign.
When Dobbin revisits the house after
ten years in India. John. the old waiter,
receives him as if he had only left the day
before and supposrs he'll have n roast
fowl for his dinner. These faithful old
walters at these old tavrrns regarded
regular customers as friends and practic-
ed much the same familiarity with them
Us the old fashioned manscrvant used
with his masters family in which he had
lived perhaps half century and for
whom he would have died. In "Penden-
mis-" we have Dicks and the Albion. or
Dicks Thackeray seems to write with
special interest. as il il had been a ia.
vorite resort Of his own In early days
Blackwood's.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-03-09
The American Roach,

or all the sturdy cockroach family the
SO called American roach is champion.
He is hercer, more aggressive and by far
outmeasures oil other varieties. He came
here originally from the West Indies.
but. like many other foreigners, has be-
come SO much an institution of this coun-
try that he is known oil over the world rs
the American roach. He travels abroad
a great deal. booking his passage in pack
ages Of merchandise and in the crevices
Of well oiled American machinery des-
tined for foreign ports, so that for years
he has been setting up colonies of his
own in the sugar refneries, machine
shops and vessels Of other nations. He
has grown to enormous proportions.
measuring in many instances as much as
three inches long. while his outstretched
wings often spread n full six inches
apart. These are the fellows that dis
turb you at night and make such q noise
that they have come to be known as
drummers. They wear a yellowish coat
with brown spots.
While the means for destroying the
roach are not numerous. they are at least
sufficient. il pcrsistently applied, to keep
the increase in check. Old wet cloths
will attract them during the night, and in
the morning it is n simple trick to kill
them with boiling water. A winged trap
has been tried abroad with success. In
this manner, by actual count, no fewer
than 1906 cockroaches were caught in
four months in house to which neither
bakery nor kitchen was attached.-St
Louis Globe-Dcmocrat.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-03-09
PRAYER WHEELS OF JAPAN.
Unique Method by Which Sinners
Roll Their R1rtaps Axvav

nO11 away.
"Not very common. and yet to be
found here and there. in Japan is queer
device known as the prayer wheel The
one in my own field of labor" says Rev.
George W. Fulton, Consists of n stone
pillar. hpxagonal in form and about six
feet high. erected on n stone base cary
ed in the shape of lotus blossom. 1t is
the custom of the Buddhists to place
their objects of worship on these sacred
flowers. On each side of the pillar is cary
ed an image of Jizo. the compassionate
helper of those in trouble. He is repre-
sented with jewel in one hand and staff
in the other. 1t is to this imaginary being
that prayer is offered. About the middle
of the pillar n hole is cut through, and
herein is placed a wheel, also hexagonal
in shape, which the worshiper is to turn
Around the base are to be found a pro-
fusion of small pebbles, which perform
a necessary part in the prayer.
I'm Tibet. where prayer wheels are
much used, the prayers are written on
the wheels, and the wind is allowed to
turn them. relieving the worshipers of the
burdensome task. But in Japan the act
is performed in person. Some evil has
come upon an individual, usually attrib-
uted to some sin Le has committed in
previous state of existence. He seeks re-
lief. With pious desire in his heart he
approaches the wheel presided over by
the mcrciful god. lie takes n handful of
pebbles and revercntly places them before
the deity as an offering. This act is spe-
cially pleasing to Jizo the children's god,
inasmuch as it is supposed to relieve the
iabors of the young who have been over
taken by the old death bag in the valley
of the shadow and set to perform the
endless task of piling up stones on the
bank Of the Buddhist Styx.
Having thus gained the favor Of the
deity, the worshiper next turns the wheel
number of times, according to the num-
Der Of years of his life, and thus the bur-
den is rolled away. The god shows mer-
cy, the sin is forgiven, the pious desire is
answered, and the devout believer Is sure
Of happy condition at his next rebirth
into the wogld."-Pgasbyteriau Banner.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-03-09
THE BRITISH SPY.
Something About This Highly Paid
English Army Official.

Something About This Highly P0td
English Army Official.
The word Spy" has an ugly sound
owing to its many unpleasant aSsocia-
tons, yet in war time spies afford an ar
my aid which is as valuable as it is high
ly remunerated.
One of the maxims for commanding Of
ficers in book for their guidance writ
ten by Lord Wolselcy is that successful
spy must be petted and made much of.
The management of spies is very difficult.
Out of every ten employed by the officer
commanding q war district he is fortu-
nate if one gives him truthful informa-
ton. 1t is q most important thing that
spies should not be known to each other.
Great care is generally taken by officers
that each spy shall imagine that he is the
only one who is employed.
1t is very necessary that all bona fide
spies should have about their persons
some means of proving themselves really
to be what they represent themselves.
For this purpose a coin of certain date,
Bible of n certain edition, Testament
with the seventh or fifteenth leaf torn
out. are generally employed.
BY these means spy who was employ
ed by an officer in n neutral state making
his way to the headquarters of the army
in the field could thus at once make him
self known to the intelligence department
there. In some instances it is considered
that a password or sign should be eni-
ployed, as it is less compromising. The
putting up of the right hand to the ear
and then to the left ear or some such ges-
ture is generally employed.
The more extensive the ramifications Of
the system the better are the chances Of
escaping detection. 1t is very necessary
that officers of the intelligence depart
ment should be provided with specially
prepared paper upon which letters can be
written in ink that does not become visi-
bic until it has been submitted to some
chemical process. 1t is also necessary
that n commonplace letter In ordinary ink
should invariably be written on the same
sheet of paper containing the information
that it is required to keep secret.
Although n spy runs the great risk of
immediate death if he is detected. yet the
service is not without glory at times, and
it is certainly extremely lucrative.-Lon-
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-03-09
AMERICAN HEIRESSES.
The Traps That Arc Laid For Them
by FOREIGN AristOcrats,

W
AN American girl had better be dead
than marry foreign aristocrat. Let
these so called noblemen alone. That is
my advice to every young American wo-
man." said the Comtcsse Lorean de Cha
vanne in an interview. She was former
ly Miss Benson Of Brooklyn, daughter
of Captain Henry John Benson of the
revenue cutter service. and speaks from
experience.
II want to warn American young wo-
men to shun the dccaderS foreigners with
titles who try to marry rich wives" she
added. 1T is matter of barter and
sale. l was al American girl. and when
very young | married Frcnchman of
title. When he died. | found among his
papers n contract which he had made
with a person who was in that business
to find him an eligible wife with for
tune. lie paid in installmcnts for the
services of the person who brought ME
to his attention. lie squandrred my
money, and my life was unhappy.
"My experience is.typical Of the rotten
ness Of the foreign aristocracy, especially
that of France. Among these impecu-
NOUS mobiles fourishes the business of
high class matrimonial agents with a
quasi social standing, who, for commits
sion. find wives for manageable men
of title. 1t is infamy. and l want to
warn the poor little American girls who
go abroad with false notions and who
are easily dazzlcd by title against the
shame of it.
"As the wife of the Count Chavanne I
moved for some years in the society Of
the Faubourg St. German. know its
EffIa r., I -
scandals, and | know the private history
of many persons whose names are spoken
with awe in the society Of New York
city. The histories Of many of them will
not bear inspection.
when there is marriage without love,
how can you keep out scandal? High
society in France has all too much Of it.
1t is honeycombcd with it. When the
poor American girl whose papa has q fat
bank account goes to Paris, she is Hat.
tered by. attentions which she receives
from Mime. This and Nine. That. Ma.
dame proposes to introduce her to her
own millincr. where she can secure the
very latest French gowns. Such
thoughtful kindness touches the little
American gill. who can never know that
madame gets commission from the
milliner. She will get a commission on
the little American girl, too, il she can
manage to marry her to some gilded no.
bleman.
Sham. hypocrisy. deceit and lying are
typical of French nobemen in high So
ciety. Women of title and fashion rent
their opera boxes by the year. A night
comes when she does not care to go to
the opera. Nine. Somebody offers II to
some American family hattcred to teoth
to be seen in the titled Frcnchwoman's
opera box. No. she wont accept pay,
but if the liberal Americans want to give
anything to my lady's poor fund. why. it
will be accepted.
When l left France, l was assured Of
a fine income if | would only keep n
sharp watch here for rich American heir
esses intending to go to Paris and pro.
vide the means for their introduction to
the proper parties in Paris."-San Fran
cisco Argonaut,
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-03-09
DAVID SWINGS HEADLINES.
How They Appeared When Printed
ms He Wrote Them,

as He Wrote Them.
David Swing was particular man
about his copy" remarked an old man.
aging editor as he looked over the days
headlines.
I'VE used to publish contribution
from him once week on Saturdays on
books. politics-anything he chose to
write about. He used to write his own
headlines, and he was particular to have
them go rs he wrote them. Half the
time he had three times as many words
as would fit in the column and then often
just word or two that spoiled the whole
page from typographical point of view.
l used to tell the copy readers to follow
his headlines as nearly rs they could.
One day he stalked in in high dudgeon.
They've been changing the title Of
my article again. he said, and want it
stopped
Il had argued with him several times
about it, but couldn't make him under
stand that type could not be expanded,
cut or squeezed. So | said as the easiest
way to get out of it:
It's those asinine copy readers again,
professor. I'll fix them
"When a thing can't be helped, lay it
Ou luS COpy EedueT Is TIE RUE Ill all ueWS-
paper offices, of course. Well, the next
week gave orders for them to run Pro-
fessor Swings headline just as he wrote
it, no matter what it was. The form was
like this, Politics In Chicago, by David
Swing
"Fridny night the professor sent his
copy down, and it happened to be
scathing review of some newly published
books which did not meet his approval.
The next day readers of the paper were
amused and the whole town set laughing
by the professors article under this head
line, Some Bad Writing, by David
Swing
'"I'he professor missed the joke, and
Eugene Field and DIR. Bristol and others
over in the saints and sinners corner
kept their own counsel. Next week we
came out with an article entitled Some
More Bad Writing. by David Swing
1.-THE joke by that time was too good
to keep. and it was the last occasion on
which the professor said anything to me
about headlines. "-Chicagq Inter Ocean. =.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-03-09
SURPRISED THE GIRLS.
Their Reception Mt Dawson After q
Discouraging Journey.

DlscOuruSinB JOURNEY
Nothing queerer or quainter ever hap
pened in Dawson City than the reception
of the schoolma' ans" said Mr.. L. D.
Carl, Klondike miner.
"You see, in the spring of 1897 lot of
young women, mostly from west Oregon,
banded together to go to Dawson, at.
tracted by the stories of high wages.
They were nice girls, all of them, who
, had been earning their own living as
clerks, stenographers, bookkeepers, seam
stresses, schoolteachers and SO on, and
they had enough good American pluck to
believe they could make their way in any
temperature. AS bad luck would have it,
however, they got snow bound at Lake
Bennett and were tied up there for over
two months. That exhausted their mon
ey and enthusiasm, and when they finally
set out again for the Yukon they were as
homesick and hopeless and generally de-
jected a crowd as ever you saw.
Meanwhile the report reached Daw-
son that a party of Is beautiful school
ma'ams would arrive by the next boat,
and great excitement prevailed. There
was no school there at the time, but it
was instantly agreed that several would
be put up il necessary to give the stran-
gers occupation. What we need said
one Of the speakers at a public meeting,
is the society of real ladies to give tone
to the town, and we must keep 'em here
regardless of expense This met general
approval, and arrangements were made
for an elaborate reception and banquet,
the tough element being put on notice
that the slightest disturbance might bring
on u lynching.
1.-THE boat arrived about dusk, and the
poor, Respondent girls were amazed at
the appearance of a reception committee
who greeted them with profound bows
and escorted them to n gorgeously deco
rated supper room, with brass band
footing in the background. They were
informed by the spokesman that Dawson
was honored by their presence and while
the town was temporarily short on
schools that defect would be promptly
remcdied. In the interim they were to
consider themselves guests of the munich
pality, and quarters had been engaged
for them at the best hotel. The situation
gradually dawned on the dumfounded
young women, and their spirits scared
skyward They explained that only two
of the party were really teachers, and
next day they all secured good positions.
Most of them did exceedingly well, and
the majority eventually got married.
know several who are the wives of Yu-
kon millionaires."-New Orleans Times
Democrat
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-03-09

A thrifty Irish woman who came to
America a widow with five children and
has raised them all and given them Il
common school education by her own
hard work was extremely anxious that
her eldest son should marry q girl with
a portion" as she called it. and was cor
respondingly angry when she learned the
other day that he had welded a SALIVA
ton lassie." The first time the son called
to see her after the wedding, which he
had kept secret from her, he did not
bring the bride, fearing that her reccp-
ton would not be a pleasant one. His
old mother scolded him for not marrying
at least the daughter Of an alderman.
Mother" replied the bridegroom meek
ly, 81 have done better nor that. have
married daughter of the Lord"
Huh" snortcd the old woman with
the ready tongue. I'm thinkin it'll be a
long time before ye set eyes OH yer ia
ther-in -law!-New York Tribune.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-03-09
AN AFTERNOON TEA.
The Man Attended 1t and Managed to
Have SOu,c FINN.

snow, Jack you will go with me to
Mrs. SIS tea this afternoon, won't you?
She is such n dear woman we cannot
possibly disappoint her, and you know l
cannot 20 alone" This by Mrs. L. to Mr..
Z. at the breakfast table.
well, l will go, then, rs a personal
favor to you; also to prove what haye
always said-that teas, pink teas, yellow
teas, all teas, are the most idiotic, USE
less form of social gathering ever invent
ed. You enter the house, greet the hos
tess, frame some sort of sentcnce-it mat
tiers little what-to which she replies,
Yes, so good of you to come or, Lovely
day, is it not? and you pass on without
having understood word she said or she
you. You are not supposed to, either.
The same thing is going on all around the
entire ROOM"
AT any rate 6 o'clock saw the BIS at
Mrs. SIS tea. Mr.. Il. walks up to the
hostess, shakes her hand cordially and
exclaims in audible tones, would you
believe, Mrs. S., that was found dead
in bed Mt o'clock this morning?"
To which Mrs. S. swcetIy replies, $50
good of you; just like you" He passes
on to the younger sister, repeats his
query, to which she also gives n PARKWAY,
vacant reply. After making tour of the
room in such manner, he spies a wocbe-
gone looking man in corner of the
apartment. 81 will try him also," thinks
Mr.. B., and accordingly marches up to
the man and puts forth the question.
The man slowly removes his gaze from
the floor to Mr.. BIS face and cxclaims
in perpleXed tone: whats that you
say? Rather an extraordinary state
mcnt for live man. p
Shake, old man; you are the first per-
son here to listen. understand and answer
what | have said" whcrcupon all was ex
planned. but, my dear fellow, why do
you look so blue and gloomy? If it borcs
you, too, why don't you clear out ~ asked
Mr.. b. of the other, who turns a pitiful
face to him.
Impossible" he answers; II am the
host."-New York Tribune.