davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-01-11
A Perfect Dinner.

Fletcher Robinson in Cassells Maya
zine: What would you call perfect
dinner, Mr.. Joseph?" II will tell you.
One like that which cooked for four
American gentlemen, years back in
Paris. They said, We leave the menu
to you, M. Joseph and SO gave them
this: First simple pot feu; to fol-
low that dish had just invented
and which l called pommes de Geor-
gette. 1t was good dish. had
given 1t that title after play, 'Geor-
gette,' written by M. Victorien Sardou
He received the Legion of Honor, but
his play does not run today. I did
not receive the ribbon, but people still
eat my dish. Bah! What does II
matter? Well, as 1 was saying, they
had pommes de Georgette, and after
that whole woodcock each. To fol.
low the woodcock peaches" Peaches
la Cardinal?" suggested. mo, mon
sieur," said the great chef sternly.
ripe peaches. such as the bon Dieu
made them. What he has fashioned
SO sweet and pure the good cook will
not dare to touch" did they enjoy
the dinner?" asked after moments
silence. 1.-THE next night those four
gentlemen appeared and cried with one
voice, M. Joseph, the same dinner
again" For six nights they came,
without wishing change, and they
might be doing SO still, monsieur, II
they had not been forced to return to
America"
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-01-11
Telegraph Mon at the Front.

s. Rudow, aged IS years, telegraph
operator. first company, United States
signal corps. received his discharge
papers last July at San Francisco. He
was in town yesterday. says the Kan
sas City Star Its saying among
the boys over there that let a soldier
cross swamp OF swim river, the Sec
ond man over Is the signal service
operator, sending back report of how
1t was DONE" remarked Rudrow, who
proved as sharp as his appearance was
odd. III there's an advance Of half q
mile by the firing line the wire has
been brought up and cut. the instru-
ment attached and an operator is seat
ed at his little table sending dispatches
to brigade headquarters describing the
charge before the troops have stopped
painting" do the signal service men
at the front work in the trenches or
Just behind the firing line?" The gray
old operator smiled. Trenches? Nom
sense. Right on the line. within 200
yards of the enemy. sitting at your
little table sending dispatches for the
colonel. the majors. the adjutant. or
reesiving orders Oh. they shoot at
nftep they get
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-01-11
No misunderstanding.

Rochester Post Express: Soon
the Central bank was opened for
ness one morning a prominent 1
facturer walked down the steps
toward Exchange street, bearii
small satchel containing the q
with which he was to pay on a
force of employees. As he turned
Exchange street warm peI
friend. unseen by him, rushed up
behind and pulled vigorously at
handle of the satchel. With lightning
like rapidity the manufacturer's arm
was raised and descended full In tho
face Of the practical joker, sending him
Keeling toward the curb. The next in-
slant the manufactures recognized his
friend, and hurrying over to him,
steadied him until he had recovered
full consciousness, and then said: ~
understand the situation better than 4
can explain It," 81 do, too remarked
the other, as they shook hands and,
proceeded on their ways.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-01-11
Making M.-ry over Death.

In the National Magazine, William
Jameson Reid, the famous explorer, in
the narrative of his dash to the sacred
city of Tzuchan, Northeastern Thibet,
writes thus regarding a certain strange
custom of the native savages: Death.
as is but natural where it is of such
frequency, is here not looked upon or
awaited with fear, and suicides, as
stated before. are Of frequent occur
renee. The funeral ceremony is a
function attended with great eclat
Whatever may have been the foibles or
frailties of the deceased, or however
undeserving he may be Of the honor,
SO soon as he is dead his relatives and
friends, from far and near, are sum-
moned to attend the obsequies. The
corpse, arrayed in the most gorgeous
habiliments that can be procured, and
surrounded by his possessions, is seat
ed in chair and placed in the open
air in front Of his former dwelling,
and for two or three days the body is
allowed to remain in this position.
During that time the relatives and
friends gather round and indulge in
mourning dances and in drinking huge
potations Of fiery punda, compliment
ing the corpse on his newly acquired
state of blessedness, and expressing
the cheerful desire that they might be
in his shoes.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-01-11
Woman,s Sunday,

From Monday morning till Saturday
midday the majority of husbands tell
you they are hard at work. They rise
at 6, z. or 8, and, having eaten break
fast, get to business. At midday comes
an hour for dinner and rest. Then
work fills up the time till 5. 6, or z.
The evening they claim as their lawful
rest after hard days bread-winning.
When two of these hard-worked men
meet they almost invariably, sooner or
later, sheer or joke about the lazy lives
women lead. Listen! If the head of
house rises at 6, his wife must rise
at S in order to have his breakfast
ready on a clean table in Clearly
swept room. The husband leaves for
business. and his wife settles down
to the necessarily dull routine of
homework. At the midday meal she
most probably has to attend to the
wants of two or three r.ildren. In
the afternoon she must call on her
neighbors in order to keep up friend
ships, so that her husband may have
people to talk to when he wants variety
In the evening. She also has to do
the necessary shopping. At about S
the hardest part of her day begins.
First, the evening meal. then the chill
GTen to be put to bed. then she must
try and be lively and amuse her spouse
till such time as he chooses to 90 to
bed. A. to 4 wife's Sunday. every one
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-01-11
OUR COOKING SCHOOL.
sal1ni of Duck.


Cut the flesh of roast duck into
pieces no larger than half dollar and
keep them hot. Put the scraps and
trimmings in sauce pan with half a
pint of claret. two shallots, bay leaf,
a spring thyme, pinch ofsred pepper,
and pint of stock. Reduce this over
quick fire and strain, add two ounces
OF butter, half pint of shrimps or
mushrooms and the juice of half a
lemon. Mix we'll, but do not boil. Dish
the duck on slices of fried or toasted
bread, pour the sauce over 1t and gar
nish with parsley.
Chocolate Padding.
Take quart of milk, mix a little of
1t with three tablespoonfuls of corn
starch and the same quantity of grated
chocolate. Blend to a smooth paste,
and stir 1t briskly into the remainder
Of the milk while it is boiling briskly.
Cook for three minutes, remove and
add teaspoonful of vanilla and the
beaten iyolks Of three eggs. Pour the
mixture into buttered pie dish and
bake ftom twenty to thirty minutes.
Whisk the whites of the eggs to stiff
froth, Stir into them a tablespoonful
of powdered sugar. and pile it care
lessly on the pudding and place 1t in
warm tnot hot} oven for five minutes
to set. Serve hot.
Grown people tire Of thsse toys Just
~ -4.aA. A.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-01-11
How Asy..,nlan, Train for war.

"A country Of lions and rugged men
this Ethiopia, as the people call it, not
Abyssinia, which is disparaging word
in use among the Arabs. An Ethiopian
worthy to wear in battle the lions
skin that Menelik gives to the bravest
must be one who can go three days
without food, fighting the while or
journeying over deserts and noun
tains; one who cares nothing for pain
or death. It Is custom among these
men, after battle or warlike maneu-
vers. to squat down on the ground in
long line and fire their rifles in the air.
barrels up, butts between the knees;
no blank cartridges here, but balls that
wound or kill whomsoever they strike
in the descent A cannon shot gives
the signal. and forthwith the firing
starts far down the line. rolling nearer
and nearer. until it swells into roar
of musketry above the emperor him
self; then dies away at the farther
side. And the bullets come down upon
the soldiers or citizens as may be; for
this firing, like as not, takes place in
crowded city. Would it not be wise.
your majesty asked French travel
err, aghast at this reckless procedure,
to use blank cartridges?' Why so?'
asked Meuelik. 1t would economist
rifle balls and save life I do not
mind losing few rifle balls,if it makes
my people despise Them The Italian
found at Adowa what these soldiers
think of rifle balls; saw them come
bounding on in the charge, pierced
through and through with Mauser bull
let's. and go on fighting; saw the en-
peror himself toward the close rush
in waving his sword, and kill with his
own hands. The Abyssinians Ito use
the accepted word) go into battle with
modern rifles. and know how to Use
them; but in the heat of the action
their spirit is to throw these down and
come at the enemy man to man with
saber and shield. Each one carries on
his left arm a convex buckler made of
Ihippopotamus hide, SO thick and tough
that often swift flying proJectile is
detected by 1t. OF 1000 men, blacks
and whites, who fought In this battle
on the Italian side, about 1000 escaped,
about 5000 were made prisoners, and.
the rest were killed. ~ Windsor Maya
zine.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-01-11
IN the untutored heart.
Business Girls.

Business Girls.
do not mean girl who has gone
into some trade or profession, for the
most domestic home bird" of my girl
readers may be one. Indeed, If she,
helps to carry out her daily duties
successfully she must do her utmost to
become business girl" In my sense
OF the word. And when, In course OF
time, she passes to a home of her own.
she will be at no loss in taking up her
position as housekeeper and mistress.
She will win the respect of those in her
employ by showing them that she UNI
derstands how she should be served,
and that while comort is absolutely
required. no extravaganza will be al
lowed. She will cause her husbands
love for her to increase by showing
him how truly his interest is hers by
bringing into play her knowledge of
how to spend and how to save. To
make home uncomfortable by mean,
unnecessary savings is no real econ
omy, but to plan with loving thought
how to make every dollar yield Its true
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-01-11
Horse Killed by Boo stinss.

7etsSe AOHb0 hnioU ny boo 6SlmSo W /
From the Chestertowns e MIDI T'pl
script: A fine young driving mare
DR.. ]. T. Twilley was stung TO dea
by honey bees in Kent county ~
animal was turned into a lot to gra
in which was a bench of eight hiVl
bees. One of the hives was KIN
over, and in an instant the mar
covered by the bees. She becam
tangled in vines In such q way
she could not extricate herself, an
gan to roll to free herself of the
which swarmed on her body. This
ly made matters worse. and sresu
In overturning the entire bunch
eight hives. the bees from which q
pletcly covered the helpless ami
She lived about eight hours and dil
great agony. Handfuls Of bees
were combed from her hair and 81
from about the nose, mouth and 81
in short, there was scarcely aaeq
inch of the animals body which
escaped wound from the bees.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-01-11
Queer Case. at Vessels.

II seems passing strange considering
the enormous amount of ocean traffic
carried on nowadays, that it should be
possible for vessel to put out to sea
In fit condition only to vanish from
the face of the waters and leave no
indication of its fate. True, there are
hundreds of unidentified derelicts float
Ing about the seas, and some of them
may be the vessels which have SO mys-
tertously vanished. 1t is appalling to
think Of such mysteries as the fates
OF these vessels. which, setting sail
with hundreds of passengers to whom
the voyage perhaps promises happiness,
wealth and all the joys of life, never
reach their destination, and are never
again heard of. Take the case of the
Burvie Castle as striking example.
She vanished, not in midocean, but be-
tween the ports of London and Ply
mouth. Into the latter port she put
on her way to Australia. But she
never reached Plymouth, and not a
living soul knows how or where she
vanished. 1t is most extraordinary
that she should have been lost SO near
to land without so much as a spar
being washed ashore to tell Of her fear
full fate. Equally mysterious is the
case of the ATLANTA. This famous
training vessel was stationed of Ber-
muda with more than $50 souls aboard,
Early in 1880 she set sail for a short
cruise and from that day to this she
has never been heard Of
A very considerable percentage of
the vessels which disappeared forever
in this mysterious manner were run
ming between England and America at
the time. 1t might be thought that the
terrific seas of the vast Atlantic were
responsible. but it has been proved that
many vessels were lost when the ocean
was almost at dead calm. A large
sailing ship left New Orleans some
years ago for London. Thrice she was
spoken and reported all well, and she
was facing exquisite weather and a
smooth sea at the third time. Yet
IL Is known she was lost with all hands
within twenty-four hours, and to this
day no trace of her has been discov-
cred. In the early part of 1892 a five
A-ss OesA M sAC NAdIlds u newly con-
structed vessel. and at that time the
third largest in the mercantile marine.
set sail in beautiful weather from one
OF the biggest ports in. Cochin China
for Hamburg. with every promise of
fair voyage. But she never reached
Germany. She vanished shortly after
being spoken of the west coast of Az
RIGA. and nothing has been found since
to indicate the fate that befell her.
Another vessel running between Eng
land and America which met an end
OF kind none but those who shared
It ever knew was the first>class steam
ship President. She sailed from New
York for a journey to Liverpool in
the spring of 1841. having on board a
full crew of experienced hands and
officers and distinguished company
of passengers. She left New York in
fine weather in splendid condition and
with no reason for fearing anything
she was likely to meet. But she was
never spoken and never heard of again
and although fifty-seven years have
passed. no one yet knows to what dire
calamity her end was due.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-01-11
CAMPFIRE SKETCHES.
GOOD SHORT STORIES .oK .11E
VETERANS.
The ksk'msa..l Dog-Telesraph Non
- the Front OFTEN at Work within
Two Hundred Yards Of the Ensmy-.
Riding Buffalo.
The l1essaxe from samoa.

Can you hear the guns a-boomin' Tar
away across the seas.
Can you see the flags a-wavin' In the
creepin., summer breeze
Can you read joyous message that the
signal sergeant wags.
3 Can you recognize the colors OF the i'm
terrningled nags?
Oh, one Is mostly Stars and Stripes the
others mostly red
They hoated once FER foemen. now they
float DER friends instead
ana the Yankee man-o'-war's men in q
heatEen land are seen
TO be standln' by the sailors of her Maj
esty. the Queen.
Johnny Bull' and brother Jonathan
a-scrappin' side by side!
II calculate the nations eyes will open
rather wide
Wne9 they see the roarin' Liod and the
!. =, screahin' scrheechin' Bird
Alinin' up together and a-waitih' for the
word.
Oh. the Gear may send an olive branch
to all the different lands
And the Pope may bless the universe
with peaceful. outstretched hands.
But there's greater benediction in the
firin' of the gun
That reunites the mother and her long
lost Yankee son.
IN. B. K"
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-01-11
On then fasrsq

4g1Oss his shoulders over his knapsack.
1t was In this fashion that he rejoined
the handful of men who formed the
fear-guard under Marshal Ney. Sud-
denly, as we walked along, some one
shouted. Beware of the Cossacks!"
a melee ensued. and some of the en-
envy bore directly toward us. Dauben-
ton was fortunate enough to see the
foremost of them in time to defend
himself but Mouton, barking like
good dog. embarrassed his movements.
The man wheeled round, but at dis
lance, seeming to fear a musket-shot.
As neither Of US attempted to fire he
inferred that we were without powder,
and advancing upon Daubenton, he
struck him blow with his sword.
Daubenton parted the blow with his
musket. but the man instantly gave
him a second one on the left shoulder.
This blow hit poor Mouton on the
head. The dog howled enough to
break ones heart. Although wounded,
with frozen paws. he leaped off his
masters back to run after the man;
but being fastened to the straps of the
knapsack, he pulled Daubenton down
and thought everything was over
with him. l dragged myself on my
knees about two steps ahead and took
aim. but the printing of my gun did
not burn. Then the man, shouting
savagely. threw himself upon me, but
] had time to get under wagon and
present my bayonet at him.
s, Meantime the dog. bowling and
barking, was dragging off Daubenton
sideways. Fortunately the sergeant
was able to disentangle himself, and
selling his gun. he cried to me:
"Don't be frightened. don't stir!" He
6red. The ball struck the Cossack
under the right arm and he fell from
his horse. A French soldier seized the
animal by the bride. stop. you ras-
call" cried Daubenton. That's my
horse. killed the fellow But the
other man escaped amid rabble. Then
Daubenton called out to me: Look
after Mouton! am going after the
horse" The last words were scarcely
out of his mouth when more than four
thousand stragglers of all nations
came on me like torrent, separating
me from him and from Mouton, and I
never say them again.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-01-11

which we term Indian hemp. It Is Gull
tiyated in India, and has long been
employed AZ a medicine In Asia. Arabs.
Persians, Indians. Chinese and South
Africans esteem It for its Intoxicating
powers. Various preparations OF the
plant are employed for the purpose Of
producing this effect. A favorite mode
ofaxtracting It's active principle is BY
ebUfling the tops and flowers with
water, to which buttersof oil has beer
added. evaporating and thus forming
an oleaginous solution of fatty sub
stance. The effect produced by hashish
sis that Of happiness, and by that is
meant an enjoyment entirely moral
and by no means sensual. The hashisl,
eater Is happy. not like the gourmand
or the famished man wien satisfying
his appetite. or the voluptuary in the
qualification Of his desires, but like
him who hears tidings which fill him
with Joy. One Of the first appreciable
effects OF the drug Is gradual weaken
ing of the power Of controlling and.
directing the thoughts. Then comes
the stage already described; and &C,
companying, and in part following 1t,
there are observed errors of sense.
false convictions. and the predomin-
ance of one or more extravagant ideas.
These ideas and convictions are gener-
ally not altogether of an imaginary
character, but are suggested by external
Impressions which are enormously in-.
terPreted by the perceptive faculties
Finally, If the dose is sufficiently pow
erful, there is complete withdrawal:
OF the mind from external things.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-01-11
stckroo.n Don.ts.

Sick people don't like to be star,
at. They are morbidly sensitive.
look surprised at the change sicknN
has wrought is annoying. and, wn
than that, 1t is disheartening, .
makes inyalids imagine their case
be worse than 1t is. Therefore, id
stare at sick person. and dom 81
at the back of the bed to make
turn his eyes round to see you.
ways sit by the bedside, for the
tient feels more at rest than IL ~
stand up tall before him. And dol
whisper; don't talk in q low vof
don't follow the doctor or caller
into the next room. The invalid
be absolutely certain that you SresS
cussing him. Don't wear
that rustle,or are made Of I'd
ing, to come into contact u
made tender by sickness, q
wear creaking boots or
boots.-Cincinnati Enquirer.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-01-11

when tired out. Its refreshing powers
are so great that the little trouble in
volved is not worth considering. Wet
sponge in soft, hot water. Put on 1t
little good soap andsa few drops of
glycerine. Lather the face thorough
ly with the rinse, and rub the skin with
almond meal till it is quite dry. Wash
the meal off with fresh hot water, then
spray or sponge the face with cold
water till the flesh feels nice and firm.
This closes the pores. Dry gently with
soft towel and powder lightly With
pure Fuller's earth.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-01-11
Why Chinese Arm,e, Fail.

In the Journal ot,the United Service
institution. Major A. E. ]. Cavepdish
ideally points out the vicesNof
pese military system. Much Of
sr inefieiency of China's army,
: 3 -! is explained by the native
1111II mot use good steel to make
Va good man to make
cIl1lzzAis most- thoroughly
aeted up to. The absence of nerves
and the animal ferocity of the China
man admirably adapted him for the de-
liberate determination which charac-
terizes the suppression of a revolt, but
in real courage. the abnegation of self
under danger, he is woefully deficient;
he will do much for pay; he will fight
when his rage is reused, but his pas
sion, violent as a typhoon, as quickly
passes away. Major Cavendish thinks
1t small wonder that the Chinese
troops refused to stand up to the Jap
anese when of the hundreds of thou
sands who since 1862 had been
drilled" with foreign weapons, not
one in 10000 had been taught their
proper use. Musketry and artillery
practice is limited generally to han
ding the weapon, and instruction in
the use of rifles and field guns is not
thought necessary; indeed, it is OPP
posed. 1t may be fairly doubted
whether the English major has made
out good case against the Chinese as
lacking in fighting qualities. II the
efforts of the government have all been
against the development of the warlike
spirit, it is not unnatural that the
Chinese should be poor warriors. Sol
diers who are taught to go into battle
carrying fans, as the Chinese did in
the japanese war, cannot reasonably
be counted on as lacking courage. Ma
| jor Cavendish has too often seen the
beneficial result Of discipline on ap-
parently worthless material in the
British army not to admit there is no
telling to what a degree of military
proficiency generation or two Of
modern progressive government might
not bring the Chinese.-F'rom the Ar
my and Navy Journal.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-01-11
Riding . Bun.lo.

Gen. John r. Weston. the new COM
missary general Of the war depart
ment, has record for courage Of
which any army officer might be proud.
A scar or two after the close Of the
civil war, he was appointed lteuten-
ant in the regular army, and accom-
pared Gen. Sheridan on an expedition
against the Cheyenne Indians. 1t was
during this campaign that an incident
occurred which was recently told by
an army officer to a reporter for the
Philadelphia Times. One evening,
after we had gone into camp, small
herd of buffalo was sighted. The lieu
tenant had thrown of his saddle and
put aside his arms. He caught up his
belt. in which were revolver and knife,
and leaped upon his bareback horse.
After race he caught up with huge
bull. and emptied his revolver into its
side. The bull faced him. Weston was
several miles from camp, and had no
more cartridges. Determined not to be
laughed at. he dismounted and drew
his knife. He walked to one side OF
the bull, and the animal turned. He
began to run, but the bull kept its low
cred head always toward him. He kept
stopping and turning until the sweat
poured from him. At last he man.
aged to get behind the bull, and with a
leap landed upon its back. The buffalo.
with snort of terror, dashed forward
IN mad, numbering gallop. The SOL
der worked his way forward to the
brute's shoulders, fastening his fingers
In the name, and began to hack away
at the throat of the terror-stricken
buffalo. 1t took time, but finally the
knife went through the hair and hide.
The brute gave wheeling, roaring
cough and fell forward, plunging its
nose into the earth and throwing the
rider fifteen feet in front. Weston was
bruised and stunned, but the brute was
beyond doing him any harm.