davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-21

during the night, firing was commenced
by the forts, which was at once return
ed by all the vessels, and the balls
soon flew like hailstones. In half an
hour we could see from the deck of our
vessel that the shots from the forts
We're cutting up the boats, while the
forts were scarcely injured by the small
battery directed against them. At 5
o'clock a young, officer came from the
admirals ship, wearied and exhausted,
with the blood streaming down his
face, to tell the commodore that the
admiral was lying on his deck severely,
If not mortally, wounded. His captain
had been killed, and but three men
were left capable of doing duty This
officer had been sent to order up the
re-enforcements, but the tide had fallen
SO that the English gunboats We're I'M
able to execute this order. The small
boats of the vessels We're the only
means by which the e-enforcements
could be sent UP the river, but they
could not stem the tide, which runs
fearfully strong in this river, and the
wind was so high that it was evidently
impossible by this means of convey
ance that assistance. could reach the
admiral in time to be of any use.
Inc young bfltlsn oLlcel' mad init
mated, but had not said in so many
words, that assistance from us would
relieve the situation. Commodore TAFT
nall turned to me and said: II must Ell
Their help Hope or return to the Pow
hatan. Ican't stand here and see them
shot to pieces!"
l agreed that we ought to give them
aid, at which one of the officers of our
marines who was standing near said loud
enough for us to hear, This is not neu-
trality."
The commodore looked at him Sc
verely and then turned to me. Blood
Is thicker than water!" he cried.
Georgia will stand by us!''
One Of my staff officers replied sar-
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-21

\ POINTED minister of the Unit
~ ed States to China by President
= d Buchanan in 1858, my diplomatic
duties really began at Shanghai in
June, 1859. I met there Quillian and
Washana, the two imperial commits
sioners deputed by the emperor nomi-
nally to meet the foreign ambassadors
at Shanghai and make arrangements
for their visit to Picking. The real OBJ
ject of their mission was, if possible,
to dissuade them from going there. and,
failing in their efforts to do this, to in
terpose every obstacle. By the Amer
lean treaty no place was designated
where it should be exchanged The
English and French treaties each con-
tanned a clause providing for an ex-
change at Picking. In my first official
interview discovered that there would
be great opposition not openly, but
covertly, to our going to Picking. I
therefore proposed. as the time for the
exchange of treaties had arrived, that
the exchange of the American treaty
should be made then at Shanghai. To
this the imperial commissioners replied
that the Chinese ratification of the
treaty being at Picking, no exchange
could take place until either it could
be received from Picking or we should
reach that place. Satisfied that this
was mere evasion, I then required
from them a stipulation that should
have the right, without the exchange of
treaties, to proceed to Picking with the
ambassador of the first nation that Wis
lied that place. To this they assented
and correspondence with them ceased.
On the arrival of the British and
French ministers, both Sir Frederick
Bruce and M. de Bourbillon refused to
hold any intercourse with the Chinese
commissioners at Shanghai, alleging
that by the stipulations of their treat
les they We're to make the exchange at
Peking, and that that must be their
first business. This, in my judgment,
was grave error and tended in no
small degree to produce the disastrous
results at Pei-Ho. A meeting and con-
ference with these high commissioners
could have produced no possible evil
result Their refusal to do so irritated
and mortified them, as their rank was
next to the emperor's. l was accord
lngly officially notified by Quillian and
Washana that they would leave for
Peklng, where arrangements would be
made to receive us. On the morning of
the 18th of June 1859, we left Shanghai
Tor the mouth of the Pei-Ho, having in |
TOW small steamer called the Toey-
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-21


sentiment. Soon the nuns bought an
extensive farm, and, as they found
great difficulty in getting laborers, they
set to and plowed the land themselves.
But, alas, even in a convent accidents
will happen, and one day the plowshare
was broken.
There was no blacksmith in the
neighborhood, and the accident to the
ploW seemed quite a little calamity,
but the nuns grappled pluckily with
the difficulty and turned it to advan-
tage. They sent to Cape Town for ma
terials and tools and started a s1nithy
of their own.
A blacksmith was found to act as tu-
tor, and under his teaching the nuns be-
came expert as blacksmiths. Before
very long the pupils We're the equals of
their tutor, for what they lacked in
strength they made UP for in steady,
hard work, and when the worthy man
once so far forgot himself as to go off
ION spree" they decided that they
were better without him, and from that
time managed their smithy without any
help.
To do their own b1acksmithing was
considerable undertaking, but the
nuns were capable of greater things
They found that such work was appre-
ciated by their British and Boer neigh
bors and, moreover, that it was we'll
paid. Accordingly they built smithy.
with brick forge, and all the neces-
sary paraphernalia of the trade, and es-
tablished themselves as blacksmiths.
The blacksmiths of the Dominican
convent are experts at their art, and
their neighbors seem to take special
pleasure in seeing the hardworking.
brown robed sisters at their daily toll.
There in the smithy the visitor from
King Williams Town will see one sis
ter busy making hinges, staples, hooks
and other articles of builders hard
ware, while close by, with her nail box
beside her. is another member of the
community engaged in shoeing the
horse which stands SO patiently with
it's hoof resting on her knee. Others
of the sisters are busy on the farm hoe
ing. planting or blowing, and the visitor
cannot but be struck with their healthy,
rosy, sun tanned faces.
Toll at the forge or in the field makes
the members of this South African
community of Dominicans very differ
ent in appearance from the wan and
pale nuns we are so accustomed to see
ing in this country, and they have an
air of health and happiness which is
most pleasant to see.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-21

to be used as recruits for the vessels
and as landing force, should land at
tack upon the forts be deemed expe-
dent. These vessels were passed in
the execution of my determination not
to be stopped except by actual force,
ana we were within half a mile of the
1orts when our steamer grounded,
which was not surprising, as we had no
pilot, and no officer on board had ever
before entered the river At the time
we grounded the tide was falling rapid
ly.
The English admiral Immediately
sent his flag lieutenant in the gunboat
Flower to say to Commodore Tattnall
that he expected to see US fired on at
any moment, and that as the tide fell
our boat would certainly keel over
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-21
ms HONOR sAr1sF1ED.

wat ees Get, Jean?"
Monsieur re doctaire comes today
to vaccinate monsieur"
''Nevaire! will die first! Eet ees
degrading! Eet ees an INSULT"
But, monsieur, eet ees also &c law"
'Perfidious law! All, have eet! 4
have eet now! Beautiful! Listen. You
will prepare re swords
''Ze swords, .monsieur?" y
Prepare re swords. On re point Of
one sword, monsieur, re doctaire will
rub his vaccinate mattaire. See? Zen
he will diffaire from me on re Dr-r-yfus
QUESTION:. I will feel insulted. I will
challenge re doctaire. He will accept
naming swords as re weapons. We will
fight at once, and here re doctaire takef
re prepared sword. See? One, two
three! Re doctaire pricks me slightly
in re arm Ha, ha! Honor is satisaedt
am yaccinate!" @
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-21

mad been approved by my government,
and my duty was plain-to carry out
my instructions and have it exchanged
if possible. I therefore opened commu-
nications with the governor general, in
forming him that I was there by invi-
tation of the commissioners of Shang-
hal; that was charged with an auto
graph letter from the president of the
United States. / asked him to provide
me with the means of conveyance in
accordance with the provisions of the
American treaty. These negotiations
resulted in immediate preparations for
my departure for Peking.
Sir Frederick Bruce, in his official re-
port to his government, saw the differ
ent positions which we occupied, and
In his communication to the Earl Of
Malmesbury of July 49, 1859, uses the fol-
lowing language in reference to my de-
parture for Picking: Mr.. Wards posi-
ton is one of considerable difficulty
Nor do I see, after our unsuccessful at
tempt at the Pei-Ho, that any course
was open save the one he has pursued.
he has acted cordially and frankly in
the spirit of his declarations to me at
Hongkong, and it is matter of salts
faction to me that his concert in our
previous proceedings is a strong argu-
ment in favor of the line of conduct
pursued by De Bourbillon and myself"
On Oct. 10, 1859, Lord Lyons, then the
British minister to the United States,
addressed a letter to the Hon. Lewis
Cass, secretary of state of the United
States. of which the following is a
copy:
WASHINGTON IN
sir-Tler maiesty's minister in China has not
failed to bear testimony TO the friendly feelings
of the United States envoy, Mr.. Ward, and OF
Flag Officer Tattnal and to the assistance which
they rendered during the late operations at the
Pei-Ho river.
Her majesty's principal secretary OF state for
foreign affairs has instructed ME to express to the
president of the United States and to you, SIR the
thanks of her majesty's government for the as
sstance thus rendered to her maiesty's service by
those distinguished officers and to request that
such thanks may be conveyed to them through
the regular official channel / have the honor TO
be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most
obeiient humble servant, LYONS.
The Honorable Lewis Cass, etc.
The Pei-Ho being so INSTRUCTED as to
render its ascent impossible, it became
necessary to land at a small town call
ed Pit-sang, about eight miles north of
the Ta-ku forts, and thence to cross the
country so as to strike the Pei-Ho
about 40 miles from the place of land
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-21

copyright. 1900. by John E. wara.l

DOMINICAN NUNS AS BLACKsMITHs.
At the end of the nineteenth century
women have so come to the fore in
trades and professions which were for
merly the monopoly Of men that it is
not exactly surprising to find that there
are women blacksmiths, but to see a
nun welding the hammer certainly
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-21

seems strange.
Yet this is q
sight which may
be seen any day
at the Domin-
lean convent.
near King Will
liapl's Town, in
Cape Colony.
When, years
ago, the good
sisters turned
their backs up
on Europe and
settled down in
South Africa to
carry on the
work of their
church h, til ey
found that the
Beers looked up,
on them with
considerable sus-
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-21
Personal Narrative of
Our First Minister to China.
BY John E. Ward

the frta
Born in 1914
recollection There
rumenal
leappotah
Q ma invention
mB thai
of dctn
tate mimte to Chna
minister the Unit
~ ed States
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-21

They promised, however, to remove the
distractions, and in pretending to do
this worked at them day and night,
making them still more formidable.
The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1900-12-29
The Twice a-Week Republic.

Every Monday and Thursday a news
paper IS good as magazine-and better
for it contains the latest by telegraph as
we'll as interes sting stories-is sent to
the subscriber of the Twice a-Week"
Republic. which is only s1.00 year.
The man who reads the "Twice-a.
Week" Republic knows all about affairs
political, domestic and foreign; is posted
about the markets and commercial mat.
tiers generally.
The women who read the "Twice- a.
Week. Republic gather a bit of valu-
able information about household affairs
and late fashions and find recreation in
the bright stories that come under both
the heading OF fact and fiction. There
is gossip about new books and dozen
other topics Of especial interest TO the
wide-awake man and woman.
The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1900-12-29

The Rock Island playing cards are
the elickest you ever handled. One
pack will be sent by mail on receipt of
l5 cents in stamps. A money order OF
draft for 80 cents or same in stamps will
secure packs. They will be sent by
express. charges prepaid. Address.
JOHN SEBASTIAN. G. Pa,
Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific R'y,
Chicago.
The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1900-12-29
THE SHINIEST DINE

NE SfilNlESl LINZ
One little girl
had five little dimes;
She had counted them over
good many times,
And again and again
she had lett her play
To plan how to spend them
for Christmas day.
For papa and mama
and baby boy
And grandpa and grandma
would all enjoy
Her little gifts
as much as a score
Of other presents
that cost far more.
-Four OF the dimes
were dull and old,
Bot one was shining
and new, Pm told
And once the little girl
said to q friend,
This new one Is almost
too pretty to spend :"
At last the Christmas
shopping was done;
The dimes were spent,
yes, every one;
And Annette seemed
the happiest girl alive
As she hurried home
with her parcels five.
She had a secret
for mothers ear.
Il bought nice present
for papa dear,
And for grandma and grandpa
and baby, too;
But l spent the shiniest
dime for you !"
Jessie L. Britton,
December St. Mich,
The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1900-12-29

Do you get Your Courier regularly !?
Please compare address. II incorrect,
please send right address to Courier
Office. Do this this week.
The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1900-12-29

To Clubs Of ten taking The Courier the
annual subscription price is seventy five
cents Us cents. Regular subscription price
one dollar per year
The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1900-12-29
MATURE AND SCIENCE,

Don't bother me-I'm too busy" is too often
who really wants to know. The editor of ma
ture and Science" gives careful attention to
every question asked by his young readers, and
We sill write to st. Nicholas about it has
become The motto of the department, which
contains interesting short articles, beautifully
illustrated, telling of four footed animals,
birds. insects, water animals. plants and what
ever pertains TO nature.
The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1900-12-29
THE COURIER.

Twice-SIltan quivered under her
with delight at the applause.
Thrjc.--What was that glance that
shot thrCISh her and brought ba.k
the old, faint feeling? Only wicked
CLEAN of golden eyes under red hair.
Myra felt her head go. She cast =
WHY wppPaling glance at Tor: ium-
bling and joking alongside. And Tom
saw
In half-second, with rollicking cry,
Candies, Christmas candies!" he SHOT
up, and just as Myra felt herself
swerving to the side of her horse, her
foot was stayed on the clowns strong
hand, and she bounded on Sultan like
another Ariel.
TO the crowd it was all part of the
snow; even the lynx-eyed ringmaster
smiled approval. Myra and Sultan
were led out, amid shouts, and the
clown triumphantly executed a back
ward somersault
As he came up he found himself op-
posite a hooking face with wicked
golden eyes cleaning under red-gold
hair
Nobody saw the hectic color fade
away under the clowns plaster, and
when his hand suddenly clutched over
his heart the boys jeered and chaffed
him for winking at the handsome ma
dam.
Tom the Clown was on till the lion
queen appeared. He was doing the
dead dog" business, and doing it to
the life.
Tom, you fool, get up" said the
acrobat, toeing him according to rule
and precedent.
Poor Toms dead" came from the
CHASTITY, whitened face, with it's ver-
million spots.
Tom, you son of dog, get up"
Poor Toms dead"
Somehow the voice sounded wheezy
ana unnatural; the acrobat did not
like it.
Times up" he whispered sharply;
cage coming; you've fooled long
enough, drop it." Then he roared
again: Tom, you son of a dog, get
up or you'll be whipped.
This time there was no answer.
oh" cried Myra, peeping through
the curtain, there's something wrong.
Toms i'll; I'm sure he's ill. Oh, sure
ly he can't have strained himself that
time he held me up?"
The owner of the red hair and yell
low eyes turned to her f1ash1ly dressed
companion. "All these people are
drunk at Christmas time" she said,
with a sneer of her carmined lips
Town Topics.
The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1900-12-29
bEGAle NOTICES

A complete file OF 1.-THE Courier" lie
kept in an ABSOLUTELY FIREPRooF build
ing. Another file is kept in this Office
and still another has been eIosired
elsewhere. Lawyers may publish LEGAL
NOTICES 10 THE Courier" with securit,
as the FILES are intact and are pre-
served from year to year with grea,
care.
The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1900-12-29

Do you get your Courier regularly ?
Please compare address. II incorrect.
please eend right address to Courier
Office. Do thie this week.
The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1900-12-29
T. u-l-lsoo,
- -sAsis
Something Neo
for Girls and BOYS

HURING the past year ''St. Nicholas" maya
IL zine, which hes been for nearly thirty years
the leading children's monthly magazine of the
world and now the only onaD. has introduced
several new departments which have been ex;
tremely attractive and have greatly increased
the circulation One of these is
The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1900-12-29

VIA Of the Miss ouri Pacific.
On December %. "a, %, 81 and Jan.
uary LIST, the Missouri Pacific will sell
tickets to all points within 200 miles at
one fare for the round trip coed until
January 2rd, 1901. Through passenger
trains leave Lincoln at 9:15 A. M. and
1905 P. M. from new passenger station,
corner 9th and streets. For further
Information call at city ticket Office,
1899 0 street.
F. y. CORNELL, P. & I. A.
The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1900-12-29

"Who," said Cunso to Cawker, "is
that individual who is inveighing so
violently upon the injustice Of govern
ment without the consent of the govern
ed?"
That's Mr.. Henreck."
The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1900-12-29
ST. NICHOLAS LEAGUE

i. an organization of those who read the maya
zine whether subscribers OF not }. without dues,
and IL -syfers psisse each menth for the best
drawings. photographs. poems, stories. puzzles
and puzzle answers. some OF the work sent IN
by young folks shows remarkable talent.
No one who does not see ''st. Nicholas" can
realize what an interesting magazine it is. and
how exquisitely it is illustrated; il is a sur
prise to young and old. OF literature il con-
tains the hottest, and in art, il has ne-er been
surpassed by any grown folks periodical. The
new volume begins with November, 800 ). and
the subscription price is $500 year. IL there
are children in your home, you can hardly
afford to be without 1t.
BOYS AND GIRLS
who read this advertisement and who wish to
find out moro about The st. Nicholas League
and its system of monthly prizes may address,
without cost. The st. Nicholas League, Union
Square. New York.
The Century Co., Union Square, N. Y.
ST. NICHOLAS aid hoen
Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-01-04
An Attempt to Get It Back was
Prevented by a Terrific Fire
from the Beers.
POSITION OF GEN. FRENCH
He Needs Reinforcements In Order to
Drive the Beers From C0lesburg
Hills-Rep0rted that Gen. Butler
Has Met Another Check,

New York, Jan. A Kimberley dis
patch to the Herald says: The De Beers
company has decided not to pay a divi-
dend, but to suspend their operations.
owing to the complete stoppage Of work.
Rumors are current to the effect that
the Bechuanaland farmers have risen
against the Beers and have captured two
guns.
The enemy remain quiescent. Pains
are being taken by the enemy to conceal
their losses in the recent battles. Boshof
is said to be full of wounded, and at
Jacobsdal there are at least 250. There
is field hospital containing many hum
dred attached to the camp at Olifants-
zam.
In view Of the probable prolongation
of the siege. steps are being taken by
the military authorities to ration the
whole of the inhabitants. The medical
officers say that apart from waste by
var, the death rate is not exceptionally
higas tor the time Of ssfe year.
Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-01-04
Keene'S Life Threatened.

t New York, Jan. 4.-Inspired by despair
at the wreck Of their fortunes, many VIC
Tins of the recent slump in Wall stree
have written anonymous letters to
James r. Keene, the bear leader, threat
ening his life.
The writer's accuse Mr.. Keene Of being
responsible for the bear operations. of
two weeks ago, which ruined scores of
spectators, while it Is said Mr.. Keene
and his associates profited to the extent
Of several millions of dollars.
Extra precautions have been taken to
guard Mr.. Keene, both at his office and
his residence. Mr.. Keene processes to re-
gard the threats as mere annoyanc 8.
which mean nothing more than that the
writer's wish to intimidate him. The bear
leaders friends have urged him to arm
himself, but he has steadily refused to
do this
Detectives, however, have been emplov.
ed to follow Mr.. Keene wherever he goes.
You shall die by an assassin's hand"
said one of the letters.
Il shall make you pay the price OF NV
ruin, and that price will be DEATH" wrote
another man.
A few Of the notes have fictitious names
attached.
These letters began to come to Keene
after the news got out that he had hit
the market for $5,000000.
Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-01-04
Mile a Minute.

Bowling Green, Ohio Jan. IA mile d
minute for passenger traffic is what
Theodore Wentz, secretary Of the project
ed Toledo, Fostoria and Findlay Electric
Railway company, says will be the rate
of speed on that line. The line of the
proposed electric road extends from To-
ledo to Fostoria and thence to Findlay.
Secretary Wentz says: 1--WE are getting
private rights of way that our line may
be Off the wagon road. Why do we go
to that extra expense and trouble? I ans
wer in one little word, upon which the
future of transportation depends more
than anything else-speed. We will use
the alternating system and will attain a
speed of 60 miles per hour between sta
tions. We will develop the local freight
and package business to the greatest ex-
tent. This is one of the paying items of
the modern electric road. After the farm
ers have experienced the advantages og
having an electric line at the barn doors
to carry their products to market in all
kinds of weather they will all want to be
on an electric line. s
''The day for high fares is past Speed
and low fare Is what the people want,
and what the people ask for they gener-
ally get. We will begin laying rails not
later than the 1st of next June"