davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-18

Gregor, "a; E. Rees, 81: w. P. Trowbridge.
%; C. A. Clark, a.
Two club matches were played last
night, but neither presented any unusual
feature L. p Ordway's rink lost to
Chas. Barlows men, and rink skipped
by ]. N. Kirby won from w. P. Trow-
bridge and his regular rink The scores:
Ordway G. Barlow ID; Kirby 10, Trow
bridge 5.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-18
EGAN TOOK FIRST.
He Leads In AIl-Round Athletic
nm Pninfs.

He Leads In A1I-Houhu AtHIetic
Tourney ON Points.
The first place In the athletic tourney
of the st. Paul Athletic and Rowing club
was won last night by P. A. Egan,
formerly its president ]. w. Nolan fol-
lowed second, and H. " Schumacher
third. NJ Doran Jr. went to fourth
place The last half Of the tourney was
finished last night and six events were
contested. At the close Of the sport.
President Corning, in behalf of the club.
presented the winners with gold medals
of handsome design. each bearing the
winged triangle which is the club en-
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-18
Oscar Gardner to Retire.

Ivan, manager for Oscar Gardner, the
prize fighter, is visiting In Cincinnati. He
says Gardeners fight In Chicago next
Tuesday will close his career in the ring
as he proposes to retire.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-18
AII-star. Bowlers won.

CINCINNATI, o., Feb. 1.-THE ALE
Stars Bowling combination played picked
men of the West End Bowling club at
the West End alleys tonight. and won all
three games
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-18
FIGHT WENT ON.

Gov. Mounts Orders Disobeyed by
an Indiana Sheriff.
MUNCIE, Ind, Feb. 1.-THE sending of
the Madison county sheriff to Alexandria
tonight by Gov. Mount, to prevent the
first fistic encounter before the Alexan-
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-18
COLLEGIANS AT BAT
WILL FILL A POSSIBLE BASEBALL
BREACH MADE BY PRO-
PERSONALS
SOME LUsTY COLLEGE TEAMS

Opinion of Gentleman Prominently
Interested In the League - Plans
Formulated for the Season of
19OO-RevivaI in University Base
ball Owing to Chaotic Conditions
Prevailing.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-18
WORCESTER IN LINE.

WORCESTER, Mass, Feb. 17.-Paul J.
Henry, one of the hackers Of the pro-
posed American association team in this
city, today got word from one of the or
ganization's most prominent hackers to
be prepared to put up his guarantee
money at any moment.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-09-04

parently as determined in their oppose
ton to them as ever. But the lower class
Chinese took to them from the first,
after they found they could travel
cheaply and save money in the trans
port of their provisions.
Still there are many obstacles to the
successful projection of railway lines
in China. Aside from the graves there
| are numerous objections to be over
| come One reason for the very crooked
course OF the Tien-tsin-P Picking railroad
is that it could not go straight toward
| the capital on account of the emperor's
park and was obliged to go around it..
| Then there was the great wall, which
stood in the way of the road running
easterly from Tong-ku to and beyond
| Shan hai-kwan into Manchuria. If
| there had not been a gap already open
ed in the great wall lowing to the tears
| and prayers of pious widow whose
| husband had been killed while at work
on the walD, no power on earth short
of force exerted through International
war could have preached the sacred
barrier erected so long ago against the
invasions of the Tartars.
| While more than 5000 miles of rail-
ways have have been projected and
/ surveyed in China, nearly all foreign
nationalities having secured conces-
sions, only about one-tenth of the total
| mileage has been constructed up to
date and, no matter in what portion of
China the present campaign may be
carried on, only the above mentioned
methods of land transit will be availa-
BILE. WILLIAM ]. RUDOLPH.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-09-04
KITTENS AT A PENNY APIECE.

Is there anything that has escaped
legislation?
To cite the following, formerly one of
the statutes of Wales, it would seem
not:
1.-THE price of killing, before it can
see, shall be one penny; till it hath
caught a mouse, twopence; when it
commenceth mouser, fourpence. 1t
shall be perfect in its senses of hearing
and seeing, be good mouser, have the
claws whole, be good nurse; if it fall
eth in any of these qualities the seller
shall forfeit to the buyer the third part
of it's value"
OF course, penny was worth great
deal more then than it is now.
This seems serious enough in all con-
science and to be placing pussy on a
lofty pedestal of consideration which
we should today account as laughable.
But, of course, this was many hum
bred years ago, and people had time
and leisure to make laws, it would
seem, merely for the pleasure of being
reckoned legislators.
But what do you think of the follow
ing:
IF any one do steal or kill the cat
that guards the princes granary, he
shall forfeit mich eve, its fleece and
lamb, or as much wheat as when pour
ed on the cat suspended by its tail (the
head touching the flooD will form
heap high enough to cover the tip of,
the former" Poor pussy!
This is from the same statute made
by Prince Howell the Good, who died in.
the year 94S A. D., after reign of 3S
years over South Wales.
For in those days there We're many
kings in Great Britain, and, as is patent
from the above laws, all of them were
hardened experimenters in legislation. 8
1t would be interesting to know what
the cat thought of being used as a
wheat measure. Perhaps in those days
cats We're wiser than they are now
and only mewed when there was real
occasion.
| While on the subject of cats it would
not be out of place to quote the descrip-
ton of pussy as given by a learned nat
uralist who died at the beginning of the.
last century. He says:
1.-The cat is a useful but deceitful do
nestle, active, neat, sedate. intent on
| it's prey.
When pleased, purrs and moves it's
tail" nowadays we consider the tail
movement as indicative of anger):
when walking it draws in its claws.
1t drinks little, is fond of fishes, washes
it's face with it's forefoot and at the.
approach of a storm.
"The female is piteous, squalling,
EARRING creature. Its eyes" from this,
it would appear as if only the female,
We're meant; but this is not what the
| naturalist wished to convey, but all
cats in generaD shine in the night; its
hair, when rubbed in the dark, einits
fire; it is even proverbially tenacious of
life; always lights on it's feet; is fond.
of perfumes @arum, cat mint. vale.
Ijrian, etc."
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-09-04

Then another difficulty arose. 1t did
not take long for the wretched Chinese
to discover that those who were acct
dentally killed by the engine We're paid
for by the railroad company, also in
cash, and thus many poor family was
raised from poverty to aff1uence by the
mere taking off of some worthless
member. This was chance for a guar
anteed life insurance too good to be
overlooked, and the railway became the
maven of would be suicides, who actual
ly Jostled one another in their anxiety
to get run over. After the railroad COM
pany found this out the indemnities
were discontinued, and the harvest of
suicides became smaller.
The history of railroading in China
illustrates the saying that John China
man does everything by contraries. The
very first road to be laid was short
line between Shanghai and it's port of
Wusung. distance of about a dozen
miles, and it had very large business
until the natives saw it was injuring
the coolie carrying trade and complain
ed to the high officials. These latter
did the honorable thing, and instead of
melting an instruction, as they might
have done quite easily, they bought up
the railroad, dumped the locomotive
into the river and pitched the rails in
after it.
In the south of China" once wrote
prominent American since shut up
in Peking, 1.-THE people grow rich
through trade with the foreign DEVILS
and they have learned the tolerance
which commerce always brings; but in
the north bigotry has freer sway"
Yet it was in the north, in the prov
ince containing Taku, Tien-tsin and Pc
king, that the first railroad was
brought to completion and put in sue
cessful operation. The greater portion
was destroyed by the Chinese after the
allied attack on the Taku forts, SO that
| it was not available for transportation
in the advance against the capital. Per-
haps the railway and mining engineers,
! who wandered over the country so
freely in making their surveys for
routes and prospecting, were as instru-
mental as the missionaries in causing
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-09-04
EXPENSIVE FRENCH eALLANrRY.

An amusing story that went the
rounds of Paris last year has been re-
vived recently by the release from pris-
on of the offenders and their subse-
quent attempts at blackmail. Names
have been suppressed. and, it is rumor-
ed, large sums expended to prevent
the odium of ridicule from falling upon
several prominent government officials.
The story runs as follows:
Two nuns, Sisters of st. Vincent de
Pauls order, presented themselves in a
well known Office. The elder, heavy
featured, rather masculine woman, was
spokeswoman, her young and unusually
attractive companion standing by in
demure silence. Mr.. A., astounded
by her eXtravagant demand, hesitated
an instant, then, with a Frenchman's
natural Discrimination to refuse a wom-
an any favor, sought means of escape
in the suggestion that he should at
| least expect some return for so large a
sum. Our prayers" replied the older
nun, shall be at your service"
No" replied the official. II should
prefer something more tangible-a kiss
from your pretty companion"
| The older woman paused in embar-
rasSment, proclaimed their urgent need
of money for their charitable enter.
prises, and finally acceded to the re-
quest-"for the good of the poor"
| Mr. A, startled by this unexpected
acquiescence, could think of no further
| objections. He signed a check for the
amount stipulated, then took toll with
decided zest in the unusual adventure.
A few days later he was surprised by a
notification to appear in court as wit
ness against two men whose names
were wholly unfamiliar to him. His
surprise increased when, on reaching
the courtroom, he found several of his
colleagues there, all summoned upon a
similar errand.
The culprits, a stout man of 40 and a
handsome lad of 16, We're strangely IA
miliar to the witnesses.
They had been apprehended for mas
| querading in female garments, and
when searched several checks fol-
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-09-04

, that animal traction cannot compete
with steam, and the rude wheelbarrows
and buffalo carts, with their clumsy and
solid wooden wheels, will eventually have
to 60 The Cinnamon may by this time
be convinced of this, but they were a
long While bringing themselves to even
entertain the notion of railroad run
ming over the sacred soil of China.
| 1t was not SO much because they had
a dislike to the railroad, as the spiritual
disturbances it would create-the disar-
rangement of the "feng-shui." They
identified the steam engine with the
| ancient red dragon Of history, and it
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-09-04


embarrassed, she called out to him:
do not try to hide anything for my
sake. 1 shall not feel bit vexed and
am quite ready to face the story which
you are going to tell"
Thank you, madame" answered the
pimply plaintiff, evidently relieved.
Messieurs, week ago my complexion,
If not dazzling one, was at least
smooth and clear. How I became the
monster You now see is as follows:
Madame"-and he bowed low in the di-
rection of the witnesses' bench-"invit-
ed me the other night to share her box
at the opera, and I eagerly accepted
this means of spending an evening with
a person l deeply admire" Another
salute to the witnesses bench.
She was particularly adorable that
night, and, as I saw her decollete for
the first time, 1 wondered at the beauty
of her neck and shoulders"-a slight
cough-"so much SO that when all was
dark around us I grew overbold and,
unable to restrain my admiration, 1
kissed her repeatedly on the crown of her
head. She did not punish me so severe
ly as I deserved, but, alas, I now rue
my audacious act, for two days later
my nose began to turn purple and my
eyes to ache and itch. Then the inSid-
ious color appeared on my cheeks, and
my sufferings became intolerable. did
not know what to think for the doctor
whom consulted said that was suf-
fering from the poisonous effects of
certain chemicals. At last he asked me
if l dyed my hair-an absurd question
to address to man who, as you see, is
as bald as a billiard ball.
But an idea struck me. Could it be
that madame's ravenlike tresses owed
their color to some odious composition?
I wrote to her, and she pluckily ac-
knowledged the fact that she had tried
new hair dye on the eventful evening.
Now, messieurs, we hope that the crim-
inal hairdresser. who, 1 observe, does
not appear before you this morning,
will be punished as he deserves
Then the chief chemist of the Iabora-
tory of Natural Sciences of Paris rose
and read his declaration, after which
certain celebrated coiffeur was con-
demned in absence to pay $500 damages
and, what is perhaps worse, to peri
odical visit from a municipal chemist,
together with the Introduction of selling
for the next two years any article Of
toilet before it has been carefully an-
alyZed by a competent man.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-09-04
PRIMITIVE MODES OF TRAVEL IN CHINA.

would never do, they said, to allow this
potent emissary of the devil to cavort
over the graves of their grandfathers.
Pretty much all outdoors in China is,
or seems to be. devoted to graves. The
Chinese have few consecrated grounds
or cemeteries set apart and inclosed for
the interment Of their dead but they
are dropped about just where the fancy
takes the survivors to have them
placed. To be more accurate, however,
their disposition depends upon the ca
price of the geomancers or high priests
of the .feng-shui."
Anyway, the country is covered with
graves, particularly the level plains Of
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-09-04

transportation, Notwithstanding the ex-
ample OF modern conveyances. The
Chinaman's favorite vehicle for freight,
where the roads will permit of it's use,
is the wheelbarrow. 1t is a large and
cumbersome affair ordinarily, but capa-
Die OF bearing up under at least a ton.
Managed by two coolies, these big bar
rows are pushed along through (rather
than over) roads that seem almost i'm
passable. There is no iron in the bar
rows except the tires of the wheels, as
they are tied together with thongs and
pinned by means of wooden spikes; but
they are said to be SO durable that they
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-09-04

their way over the muddy flats like
those between Tien-tsin and Picking
with great facility.
The Chinese are expert muleteers,
and with mule hitched into the
shafts of each cart, with two or three
others 40 feet ahead, spread out like a
fan, they will get over mud flats and
yank their loads into and out of any
mudhoies less than ten feet deep where
our own army teamsters might stick
for a week.
In ordinary travel, when one desires
personal conveyance merely, the mule
litter Is used. This is a covered palan-
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-09-04

will survive decades of the hardest kind
| of treatment. Where the roads are
smooth and the winds favorable the
Chinese use sails as motive power for
their barrows and steer them by the
shafts, merely keeping their balance
| and guiding them along. Most of
these barrows, particularly those used
for passenger traffic, are made with
but one wheel, in the center of the
framework, which is SO adjusted that
| the weight of load will fall directly
upon the axle. Eight or ten passengers
| can be carried on one of them pushed
by single man, and they sit as in the
irish Jaunting car, ranged along the
| side, and progress sidewise, after the
| manner of crab. The barrowmen
do not mind what sort of load they
carry, and mix up passengers and
freight indiscriminately, though gener-
ally arranging the live stock on one
side and the luggage on the other.
One of the funniest sights of south
country with large black pig tied on
one side the frame and the owner of
the porker complacently smoking on
the other. while the human propeller is
putting and grunting under the weight
of his load.
One of the prettiest sights, by the
way, is that of barrowload of Chi
nese working girls propelled in the
same manner-a double row of moon
faced maidens, with a baby thrown in
here and there as a makeweight. Even
the mandarins and ladies of high de-
gree avail themselves of this mode of
conveyance in China and it should not
be derogatory to the dignity OF army
| officers to take a lift occasionally in the
| wheelbarrows.
The high caste people of China, how
ever, ordinarily confine their perambu-
laticns to the palanquin or sedan chair
also borne by coolies or stalWart serv-
ants, and even long journeys are under
taken in them. These are the most
comfortable, as we'll as the most aristo-
cratic conveyances, and where men are
as plentiful as flies in candy shop and
are willing and even anxious to work.
| 1T would seem like flying in the face of
Providence TO neglect this obvious ma
terial now running to waste.
| But, While men are abundant and
cheap in China, it does not always hap
pen that palanquins or sedan chairs
are equally available. In fact, it is re-
lated, as ''one on the foreign ministers, :"
that when they make their annual visit
to the emperor the demand for these
chairs exceeds the supply, and those
used for the carrying of brides to we'd
dings are pressed into service. AS this
sort has an inscription on it to the eff
feet that within is beautiful golden
lily" being transported to her husband
the gamins in the capital make sport of
the dignitied legationers and chaff
them numerically. asking when they
are to be married, If they will be dutifu
wives, etc.
Accustomed as they We're to being
carried about in palanquins and other
perfectly safe modes of conveyance, it
Is not strange that the advent of the
railroad and iron horse in China was
viewed by the mandarins with distrust
1 The opposition of the coolies was per-
haps justifiable on account of the en-
suing competition and lowering of
rates, thus taking the bread from their
! mouths, as it were. It is well known
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-09-04

| the last uprising, for they went about
quite recklessly, needless of the ma
tiyes' customs or prejudices, and espe-
cially inconsiderate in the matter of
their grandfathers graves.
Having had their suspicious excited
and their superstitions aroused by the
actions of the advance engineers, the
people protested so energetically
against the building of railroad that
orders We're issued by the viceroy for
bidding it's construction. 1t was only
by stealth that it was really built, the
engineer in chief first projecting a
tramway from the Pei-Ho to the coal
fields, then laying heavy rails, and
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-09-04

THE TRANSPORTATION PROBI EN- IN CHINA

HNE Of the most difficult problems
l presented for solution to the COM
manders of the allied armies which
have now reached Picking was that of
transportation. The armies of invasion
reached the coast, and, after the reduc-
ton of the Taku forts, were landed on
its shores They intrenched and made
successful sorties, and they attacked
and finally captured Tien-tsin, which
they held as a military base from which
to press further operations; but it was
a long while before the final advance
was made toward Picking.
The reason for this delay lay in the
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-09-04

qu1n, with a mule hitched in front and
another behind, into which the traveller
crawls at the risk of his life, and, after
enduring unutterable mental toiSEres
| for fear the animals will fall or run
away with him en- route, energies at
the end more dead than alive.
| But this mode of conveyance, precari-
Gus as it is, by some travellers is con-
sldered preferable to the ordinary Chi
nese cart, which is harmless appear
ing vehicle on two wheels, but with
possibilities for torment beyond the
conception of people who have never
visited China. THE real mule cart of
China" writes one who has tried it Of
ten, "jclts one over real Chinese roads,
the huge. nail studded wheels, on axles
the size of kegs, humping on unseen
stones in the deep ruts worn by all
preceding carts, the carter and his
walking partner, the mule, alike tena-
clous of custom. plodding in others
futs and footsteps, and never once
turning to new ground"
IL was IN such rude cart as this
that our first minister to China and the
nrst foreign envoy who ever entered
Peking after diplomatic relations were
established (Mr. J. e. Ward) was
Obliged to travel all the way from the
coast to the Chinese capital. This was
4O years ago, but the memory of that
Journey fingers with him yet as one of
the most vivid recollections that this
venerable gentleman retains of his
i strange experience.
When the allied army of 1860 made its
memorable march to Picking, conditions
We're different from what they are now,
transportation was none the less diff
cult, but there were available at that
tlne such means as at present would
be unattainable. That little war of
lsoa-6o was mere incident of a diplo-
matte misunderstanding and did not
concern the people at all; consequently
When the allies needed assistance they
We're helped by swarms of coolies, who
"toted' their supplies. The Pei-Ho riv-
er was open, also, as far as it was nav
1sable, while it has since been obstruct-
ed.
The late uprising, on the contrary,
was, II anything, manifestation of I'M
rest among the masses, of the very
people who might be looked to for as
sistance in conveying material to the
desired destination and for incidental
supplies. They have not only held
aiooL, put lHey nave Deen decidedly
hostile, and these facts operated
against the rapid advance of the allies
of 1900.
In this connection it may be we'll to
note what the late John Russell Young
wrote when he was in China with Cen
| eral Grant: China moves as the gla-
cier. You may defeat her today, you
may defeat her tomorrow, you may
,,,,, 10,
land an army and, marching over the
low, alluvial, fertile lands of Chill,
spring upon Picking. What then? You
have no more gained the country than
by the capture of Boston you would
gain the United States. 1t is like mac
Grating the waves-you may cut and
slash and stab; the pillows will swirl
up and roll. 1t is war upon an impalpa-
Bile enemy, as if assailing the air of the
clouds!''
II the coolies had been available in
the present campaign, the allies would
have stuck to their ancient methods of
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-09-04
AN AMUSING CASE
IN A PARIS COURT.

A very amusing case came up in Paris
before the judges of the tribunal of the
Seine recently, and it caused them no
end of trouble to preserve their gravity.
A gentleman appeared with a face so
marred and blotched that it was pain
full to behold. Painful also was his look
of despair and shame when his blood
shot eyes met those of a lady of ma
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-09-04

ture age, but
still lovely, who
was sitting on
the with e sses'
bench. In spite
of her coquet-
fish appearance
and Sc eming
friv olity, this
lady was per-
forming an act
of great courage
in pres n ting
herself before
the senli-select
crowd which fill
ed the court, for
when the gen.
tleman got up
to explain his
GRIEVANCES. look