davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-04-27
WEAVING RAG CARPETS.
Cheap Floor Coverings Drive Out n
Once FlOurIshinG Trade.


The rag carpet business is not what it
used to be. Any one with an eye for car
pets might infer as much from the alum
dance and the low prices of serviceablc
carpets hot made of rags to be seen in the
housefurnishing stores.
Many of fair experience in life OF today
hardly know what n rag carpet is. For
the information of such it may be as well
to say a rag carpet is woven fabric in
which the place of yarn is taken by mar
row strips of rag sewed together. Any
old rags will do for the purpose, though,
to be sure, the material ought to be
strong enough to stand some strain in the
process Of weaving and some hard wear
after it has been woven.
A veteran weaver of rags sits ut his
loom in an cast side basement and recalls
the time when, 80 years ago, he came to
New York from Bavaria and found more
than 1000 hand weavers Of rag carpets
here.
"Some dead, some gone to different
places or taken up other trades" he an
swers il you ask him what has become
Of all these skilled artisans. "Thcre WAS
no work for them any more. If it was
not for the hospitals and the old women s
homes | would not have enough work to
make q living. There are not more than
Is of us left in New York now. l only
know of three on the east side"
His alusicn to the hospitals and homes
is explained by the custom of employing
old and feeble women who are past al
most all other kinds of work to cut and
sew together the strips of rags for max
ing these carpets.
These strips arc brought to the weaver
in large balls and are wound on the shut
ties by means of an ancient spinning
wheel. The carpets, once woven, make
warm, noisclcss, economical floor cover
ingS in hospitals and such places.
Given the balls of rags, all properly
sewcd, the weaver charges only about 30
cents a yard for making the carpet, and
it is yard wide. The work is harder.
perhaps, than the weaving Of threads.
however thick. but to judge Of tlR crafts.
men by this one specimen they are a stur
dy brotherhood.
This one is about 60 years old, and
though under middle height he looks rs
if he could easily put down the average
wrestler of %. In his own particular
craft OF wrestling with substantial
loom his stint Of work for an hour is not
much under yard. and he can weave
from & o'clock in the morning to 8 in the
evening, or longer at Il pinch.-AmcricaD
Manufacturer.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-04-27
how the Jnpnneae Look Mt It.

Perhaps no other country than Japan
has received SO much unstinted praise in
the periodical literature of the last two
decades. But this is not enough to salts
fly n native of Japan. He knows that the
powerful and respected nations Of the
world are often criticised and even bit
terly attacked for certain shortcomings.
Nothing has less influence upon sober
and thoughtful japanese than laudatory
descriptions of the country and the peo-
pie. He suspects that this sort of eulogy
is not thoroughly sincere. 1t is like the
applause that is given to a dog standing
on his hind lcgs-nothing remarkable in
itself, but remarkable for him.
What the Japanese prizes more than
anything else is in essence what all peo-
pie ask for-namely, recognition based on
mutual respect or equality. Failing to
receive this, he prefers the severcst criti-
cism if not made in a carping spirit. In
fact, Japanese resents the gushing atti-
tude toward the art, the scenery or the
refined manners of his country, because
he is aware that these are really not the
objects of national worship in occidental
countries. The fundamental desires for
equality stir him more than any other
ideal virtue or power. - international
MapnZine
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-04-27

''While down cast" said a Manayunk
millhand, Il had strange job of co
coon guard in silk mill. The cocoons
were bought in China and Japan by the
pound. They are, you know, the finished
work of the silkworm-small, oval balls
Of silk, each with its worm coiled inside
/ guarded the cocoons in n big room
where they lay in bins, and l gave them
to the girls who prepared them for the
cards. As they were valuable and MS
they were also curios, l weighed the daily
portion each girl got and counted the co,
coons in that portion besides. Thus
Maggie would be charged by me in day
with nine pounds, equaling $40 cocoons
and, by simple formula in division and
subtraction, could tell how many pounds
of yarn Maggie ought to get from her
portion, and if she came out short the
cocoon guard would inquire wherefore u
Philadelphia Record.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-04-27
HOW M'TAGUE GOT GAFFNEY.

Ruse by Which n Sheriff Secured the
Drop q Bad Man.
Let it be said, in the first place, that
there is nothing of the white feather
about Tom McTague. He is cool; he is
brave; he is intrepid. Many daring eX-
plot has lie had in which he exhibited
tie highest qualities of courage. Once
it was back in 1SS3-Jim McN1asters
was sheriff and Tom was undersheriff.
There was gang of horse thieves oper-
ating along Flint creek, in what is now
Granite county. They would steal any
thing from Il horse to n telegraph pole.
Everybody knew who they were, but
was afraid to say i word; everybody
realized if he made complaint he would
be burned out Of house and home, his cat
tie and property coniiscatcd, all his prop
crty either stolen or destroyed and he
and his family left hopelessy ruined.
The leaders Of this gang Of dad men"
were Mark Ryan, Chris Gaffney and Jer-
~ Quinlan. Tom McTaguc got after
them. He landed Quinlan all right at
New Chicago; he traced Gaffney and To-
Gated him and q man named Pat Dooley
in 4 charcoal house at Lion mountain, in
Beaverhead county. Hom left his horse
q mile below and went into the charcoal
house all alone.
II want you, Gaffney," said McTague.
81 am not Gaffney," said Gaffney,
drawing his gun, land you had better
get out of here"
Gaffney had the drop on McTague, and
there was no use parlcying.
"Oh, WE'LL" said McTague, eff you are
not Gaffney l don't want you. l have
made mistake and beg your pardon.
You looked so much like him you deceiv-
ed people, and they put me on to you.
AS matter Of fact, you deceive me
also, for have seen Gaffney myself once
| or twice. But, come to inspect you more
| closely, l see well enough that you are
not Gaffney, the man l am looking for,
| and that's all right"
McTague turned to go. At that mo-
ment Gaffney dropped his gun. Quick
as flash McTague, who had his own
gun in his outside coat pocket, drew it
and had the drop ON Gaffney.
Now" said McTague, mo more mon.
| keying, Gaffney, or you are dead man.
You march and do as tell you"
McTague compelled both Gaffney and
| Dooley to march outside the house, threw
them pair of handouts with his Olsen.
gagged hand and compelled them TO put
the handouts ON themselves. Then he
| marched them down to his conveyance
and took them safely to Deer Lodge
Ryan was caught at Glendale.
| Unfortunately, however, the people who
| had suffered from the depredations of the
gang were still too terrified to testify
| against them. and all were acquitted. A
year or two later Gaffncy was shot dead
| in Deer Lodge saloon in barroom dis
| pute.-Anacouda Standard.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-04-27
A PAIR OF BLUE YARN SOCKS.
The Part They and n Clever Lie
PIuyed In nm Election.


Judge Emory Spcer had n wonderful
gift of rcpartee," said n former resident
of Georgia, land in his early campaign
ing days he frequently impressed that
fact upon his opponents on the stump.
Years ago, when he was running one fall
against Colonel Blount for congress, the
two candidates made n tour of the dis
trict and engaged in a series of joint de-
bates. As the story goes, they drew an
immense crowd of horny handed south
Georgia farmers at certain country set
Element, and Blount, noting their rugged
faces and homely attire, attempted to
score q point against his opponent by de-
picting him as naughty aristocrat.
"'You might suppose that he was a
plain, everyday kind of a man from the
way he looks now,' he said, but you
ought to see him when he gets to Wash
ington. He's u regular dude, and if one
of you honest, hardworking farmers was
to happen to meet him OIL Pennsylvania
avenue he'd no more think of speaking to
you than he'd think of jumping over the
moon
while Blount was haranguing the
crowd in that strain Speer CHANGED to
notice that he had on u pair of white
SOthS, uIlu "lltu II HIS CIV IL tuAh "
speak he began somewhat like this:
MY friends, | am greatly surprised
that Mr.. B.ount should have the audacity
to refer to me as an aristocrat, especially
in view of Il little incident which occurred
only yesterday in the town of Macon.
We were standing in conversation on the
street corner, arranging for this very trip,
when n good old country woman ap-
preached and endeavored to sell us some
socks. They were old fashioned, plain,
honest, blue yarn socks, gentlemen, the
same kind our mothers used to knit, and
when she drew out pair from her bas-
ket our friend, Colonel Blount, gave them
one contemptuous glance, turned up his
nose and walked away. / don't know, of
course, but would wager that he has on
a pair of fine, city made white socks at
this very moment. As for me, whom he
terms an aristocrat, bought the homely
socks he profcssed to scorn, and'-here he
pulled up his trousers, exhibiting n couple
of blue wooden tops-'I have 'em on right
now. Colonel, let's see your seeks"
Needless to say, Blount collapsed, and
that township returned an overwhelming
majority for Speer. Orleans
Times Democrat.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-04-27
HAD TO PART WITH BILLY.
His Love For the Sheep Was Great,
but He Chose the Other Pen.

His Love Tor the Sheep Was Great,
but He Chose the Other Pen.
There once lived an old curmudgeon
whose wealth consisted principally of his
flock of sheep and his two sons. Now, one
of the latter was a noble, generous,
whole souled fellow, whose kind impulses
led him into company and to acts Of
kindness, and he evidently set little store
by wealth. The other was a grip all,
just like the father. The old man, being
upon his deathbed, called the latter and
said:
John, you know your brother is q
good natured, easy fellow and when he
gets his share of the property will squan-
der it away. But never mind, John, do
you divide it all fairly with him." To
which John assented, and the old man
died.
With haste John proceeded to make d..
vision. In a great flock of sheep there
must, of course, be many Indifferent
sheep. T.
These John carefully selected and plac-
ed in one pen, and with them an old ram
known as Billy. The best of the flock he
placed in another pen. Between the
youngest son and Billy the warmest af-
lection existed, dating back great many
years. and by this affection the crafty
John calculated to work off all the indif-
ferent and valueless portion of the flock
upon his brother.
Brother, our father is dead, and he
charged me to divide everything fairly
with you. and have tried to do it. Broth
er, there is one pen. and Billy is in it. and
there is another: take which you choose"
On seeing Billy, he gave a shout and
jumped into the pen, commencing his
usual playful tussle, and when he had
fairly fatigued himself stopped short and
thus addressed him:
BILLY. you and are old friends. Many
rough and tumble we have given each
other, many an hour we have spent to-
gether. Billy, love you like q brother.
Billy, 1t would almost burst my heart to
think Of separating from you, but" look
Ing all around), BILLY. you are in bad
company, and l must bid you farewell!
Brother, I'll take the other pcn"'-Phila-
dclphia Inquirer.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-04-27
REDEEMINe TRAITS OF MOTHS.
Their Only Wicked Trick Is Devour
ing Peoples Clothes.

Their Only Wicked Trick Is Devours
ing Peoples Clothes.
Every housewife knows only too well
of what extraordinary mischief these lit
tie insects are capable and how even i'll
few weeks time clothes which have been
carelessly put away will be perforated in
a score of places by the hungry catcrpil-
lars, whose tracks are plainly visible run
ming from hole to hole. But no creature
is without its good points, end even the
troublesome moths have something to be
said in their favor. They are really very
beautiful little insects in spite of their
dingy coloring. Somber though their hucs
may be, one has only to place clothes
moth under the microscope in order to
perceive it's beauty.
Only q short time before these lines
were written caught one of these moths
In my study, says an entomologist, and,
wishing to examine it, damped strip of
glass and pressed the moistened part
gently against the surface of its wings.
When looked at this through the micro
scope, the sight was really most exQui-
site one. In the center of the little gray
patch were thousands upon thousands Of
tiny scales, each shaped like a battledoor
deprived of its handle and marked by
five delicate ridges running along it from
base to tip, while oil around were thou
sands more of much longer and more
slender scales, each of which split up
near the extremity into three hairlike
plumes. And over all these scales, as
the light shifted, rainbow tints were
playing.
Beauty by itself, however, would be
but a small recommendation, and the
clothes moth can lay claim to usefulness
rs well. In our houses it is a nuisance;
out of doors it has a work to do and does
it. What becomes of the hair which is
woven into so many birds nests when the
nests themselves are deserted? The
clothes moths destroy it, and the nests,
which otherwise would cumber the
branches of the trees for years, are ena-
blcd to fall to pieces. What becomes of
the wool which sheep rub off upon thorns
and bushes? The clothes moths destroy
it. What becomes of the plumage of dead
birds and the hair on the skin Of dead an
imals? The clothes moth destroy them.
These little creatures have their uses aft
er all. They belong to the great army of
natures scavcngers, whose task it is to
remove all dead and useless matter, and
1t is only when they trcspass into his
dwelling that they become the enemies of
man,-Church Monthly.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-04-27

Colonel Bob Simmons manages to keeT
his eyes open by consuming plentiful
supply of birdseye peppers. which n SUI
perintendent of one OF his numerous Lou
isiana plantations sends him weekly. Did
you ever eat birdscye? 1t is n quarter
inch in diameter, shaped like double
convex lens. with Il black pupil and dark
brown his. The hottest sauce known to
NAH is made of it.
The colonel delights in offering one
to an acquaintance and watching fur.
lively to see the tears come. He tried
three on me. bolted them and smiled
for there was no present heat. In an
hour, after they had scorched the walls
Of my stomach and their fierce fire had
crept up my csophagus to the roof OF my
mouth. | WAS crying us baby. Guam
titles Of milk but increased the torrifica.
ton. The throat was Il crematory. Wa.
ter cold as ice scalded. My sufferings
lasted q night. and | prayed that the
colonel might never go to as hot q place
as l was.-New York Press.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-04-27

A southern woman tells about dining
In Boston once and sitting next homcly
little old gentleman who wanted to know
how she passed the time in the country
with her old father.
"Well. we read" she said.
"What do you read?'
"Chiefly The Autocrat of the Break
fast Table,"
Don't you get tired of it?"
"Ob, no. When We get to the end, we
simply turn back to the beginning"
The old gentleman chuckled and made
a remark implying that the "Autocrat"
was no great thing among books, and
the lady was rather surprised ut his dis
paraging air. After dinner she demanded
of her hostess the name Of the inapprecia-
tive old gentleman and was told that il
was DR.. Oliver Wendell Holmes.-Dalti-
more Herald.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-04-27
Coppered the Prescription.

II nm a great coffee drinkcr," said n
certain Memphian as he ordered another
cup, though l never drank a cup of II
until l was "a years old. 1t happened
this way: When was about q, had a
severe attack Of dyspepsia, and after SO.
ing to several physicians l finally went
to an eminent specialist. who, after max
ing diagnosis, said with the most cock
sure air imaginable: Young man, your
case is simple one. Coffee drinking has
ruined your stomach. If you will quit
drinking coffee, you will be well within
two months
81 asked him how much his fee was
and paid him $25 for what he had told
me. AT my next meal / began drinking
coffee, and i have been drinking it ever
since. And on the whole feel much bet.
ter than ever before. "-Mcmphis Scim
itar.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-04-27
And James Collapsed.

James Purdon was master joiner and
strongly objected to his men smoking in
working hours. He had a very keen
scent. as his men all knew, and on one
occasion he entered n room in which one
Of his workmen was employed who q
short time before had been smoking
Hello. my man" he said "You have
been smoking here. fin the smell O.
tobacco rcck,"
Il doot you're wrang." answered the
man.
I'm sure I'm no wrang." answered
Jamie. 81 could fin the smell O. tobacco
reek in II room Il week after any one had
been smoking in it,"
"Weel." said the man, 81 believe, moo
that you mention it, | did see plumber
chappie smoking in here ABBOTT u week
sim"
Jamie went out NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-04-27

Teacher-.Iohnny, write upon the black
board the sentence, 1.-TWO heads are bet
ter than one" Now, Johnny, do you be
lieve that?
Johnny-Yes'm.
Teacher Why?
Johnny-'Cause then you'll git job
a dime museum an make lots O. money
Cincinnati Enquirer.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-04-27
The OK Pecker.

These starlings not only rid the ami
mails they frequent Of ticks and other
vermin, but they often peck at sores on
oxen and donkeys until they form cavi-
ties which measure sometimes two inches
or more in diameter and us much in
depth. They actually do eat the flesh
and drink the blood of these animals.
Oxen submit quite placidly to this proc
ess Of being eaten alive and seem none
the worse for it afterward, but donkeys
show their objections by trying TO rid
themselves of the birds by rolling on the
ground and running under bushes. -
birds of South Africa" by A. G. Stark.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-04-27

An old Scotch farmer was lying on
what he thought was his dcathbed. lie
began to give orders to his wife about
his funeral and the people to be invited.
says the Newcastle England) Chronicle.
His wife. knowing that he was not dying.
paid but little attention to his requests,
and this so cnragcd the farmer that he
rose up on his elbow and cried out:
"What need | speak: there'll be naeth-
ing dune RIGHT unless I'm there mysel'"'
His wife. patting him on the shoulder.
rsSEsd: ''Toots, man. Bauldy. Keep yer
min easy; yell lie the principal man
there"
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-04-27
His DinleCf.

Jones had just been boring the com
pany with an Irish dialect story. and the
dialect of it had been execrable.
YES" his friend said cheerfully
That's the same story. Only | heard il
.old about n Scotchman. But the dialect
was the same."-New York Commercial
Advertiser,
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-04-27

$50 you have new baby at your
house? What is it, little brother or a
little sister,"
81 Dunno" said little Jessie. 1--WE
haven't called it anything but it yeti
Chicago Times Herald.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-04-27
I6a Eelseaa1 atelliGsacer.
BEL AIR, MD. APRIL 27 1900
RECON- PENSE.

r care not for the weary way,
Whatever ills bctidc me,
4 that know from day to day
Your love beside mel
do not ask one rainbow -
In storms whose thuIdcrs Glide ne
II but feel from day to day
Your love beside nc.
Unanswered all the prayers pray,
world, dear, to dcride me,
Thankful, walk the thorniest way,
Your love beside me!
F. L. Stanton.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-04-27

Greene-How does it happen that you
don't trade at Cleaver's any more? You
used to brag about the nice cuts of meat
he always sent you. Is it because he
wouldn't give you credit?
Gray-On the contrary, it is because he
did.-Boston Transcript.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-04-27

SUNDAY HAIINS.
Sunday trains leave Baltimore for Delta and
intermediate stations at $50 A. N. and 400
2. III, stopping at Bel Air at 10 A. M: and $50
Pm. They will leave Cardiff for Baltimore
$50 p NJ, stopping at Bel Air at 7.55 A. M.
and 4.3O =. NJ. An additional train will leave
Bel Air for Baltimore and intermediate sta.
tions at 8 10 T. M, and Baltimore for Bel All
at $50 P. NJ, arriving at Bel Air at T. M
and Baltimore $50 P. NJ.
j. K. KLINEFELTER, Gen. Pass. Agt.
W A MOORE. Gent Manager.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-04-27
Not SuFnrfsfnr

Mr.. Shrickeno says he is always
nervous when he gets up to sing"
81 don't blame him." answered Miss
Cayenne. "He has heard himself be-
Gore" Star.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-04-27

Flora-Gc0rge told me last night that
he believed could break mans heart
with my smile.
Laura George was talking nonsense.
A mans heurt is not like mirror.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-04-27

In Sydney the street car lines are own
ed by the municipality and no fares are
charged. Homeless folk, it is said, use
them at night instead Of going to cheap
lodging houses.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-04-27

In China there are large cities that
have no municipal organization and spend
nothing on public improvements or for
official expenses.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-04-27

One of the curiosities of the isle of
Maize. in the Indian ocean. is the chapel
that is built of coral.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-04-27

One-ifteenth Of the inhabitants Of
Spain are nehlss, --------.---------~
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-04-27
TRAINS SOUTHWARK.
SUNDAY TRAINS,

An additional train will leave Bel Air. for
Baltimore and intermediate Stations, at 7.15.
on SATURDAY evenings only. Returning,
will leave Baltimore the same evening at 11.3O,
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-04-27
of Interest 10 Inventors,

C. A. Snow Co, one of the Oldest and most
successful firms of Patent Lawyers, whose
Office, in Washington, D. c., and who have pro-
cured patents fofRhore than 1000 inventors,
SAYS that, owing to the improved conditions in
the United States Patent Office, patents may
now be more promptly procured than at any
previous time in their experience Of twenty
1--WE year
The Coconino sun., 1900-04-07
Water Meters Ordered.

At Il special meeting of the Common Council of the Town of Flagstaff held on the 18th inst. on motion duly sec Onded and carried, the following order was adopred:
 That water consumers having sewer connections. lawns or stock be and are hereby ordered to put in meters. said meters being subject to the ap- proval of the Superintendent, of Water Works. VIM. CARROLL, Mayor.
 Attest. F. C. ROBERTS, Clerk.
 " No family can afford 10 be without One Minute Cough Cure It will stop a cough and cure il cold quicker than any other medicine," writes c. w. Williams, Sterling Run, Pa. It cures crOup, bronchitis and all throat and lung troubles and prevents consump- tiOn. Pleasant and harmless. Pioneer Drug Store.