davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1900-11-08
WORKMEN AND THEIR TOOLS.
Many OF the Labor-SavinG Devices
Used in America
Elsewhere

A Russian architect who is travelling
In this country to study American
building methods was greatly inter
ested in the elevator which he saw
was used for raising brick in the con
struction of a great apartment house.
SAYS the Youths Companion. He even
photographed the device, in order that
he might have visual evidence of it to
show on his return home. III his coun-
try no other method Of hosting brick
is in use than the primitive n of car
rying them aloft on the shoulders of
men.
Such incidents are of common Occur
renee. Many of the Ia 5or~saNing de
vices in use in America are unknown
elsewhere. Dur own c~ountryTen trav-
cling in Europe. and more especially in
Asia. are astonished at the slow ana
toilsome methods there employed.
A failure to make use OF labor-sayin1
c-ontrivances is not always due to lack
of enterprise. Many of the inventions
useful to US would not pay" where Ia
Dor is cheap. Efforts to introduce the
trolley car for passenger and freight
traffic in the West Indies encountered
an obstacle which the American pro-
moters had not foreseen. The ten cents
for which lhe company would carry a
package five niles OF more-a rate that
would insure generous support here
did not seem small there, for the sim
pie reason that MANY i native could
find no easier way to earn ten cents
than by walking the five miles and car
rying the package on his head.
If "a workman is known by his
chips" he is also known by his too.s.
H~igh-priced men do their work with
high-priced machinery. The engineer
of the mammoth locomotive which is
pulling hundreds of people across ccrn-
try in a fast express train is we'll paid;
the poor oriental, dragging his single
passenger in a jinrikisha, gets barely
enough for his support. Not only does
the high-priced worker create the ne
cessity for mechanical improvements
but the mechanical Improvements in
TURF augment productiveness.
The lesson, then, for nations and for
individuals is to make themselves
worthy of good tools. Human muscles
were made for something better than
the work which a few Jumps of coal
under a boiler will do more easily.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1900-11-08

to keep their places the local officials
rob the day laborers and bride the
district authorities. The district au-
thorities rob the merchants and
bride the provincial officials. The
latter extort money from the land
owners and hand over a part of the
spoils to the mandarins. And that
dignitary EFFORTS contributions from
everybody in sight and sends a fair
percentage to Picking to propitiate
the imperial authority there.
In many sections Of China highway
robbery is ~countenanced by the au-
thorities. The police are given a tip
not to catch members of certain
gangs of highwaymen, and an officer
who neglects to take such a hint
finds himself without a job. High
waymen not Sc protected are treated
with incredible cruelty-surely a
pointed lesson that it is unwise to en-
gage in robbery without dividing the
spoils with the so-called guardians OF
the peace
Nothing but a political earthquake
can correct the abuses SO family OUT
lined here; and certainly no one who
has the true interests of the Chinese
at heart would argue against the in
PRODUCTION of reforms. Should the
present occupation of Picking by the
troops of Europe and America lead to
a reorganization of affairs in China,
the Boxer massacres, terrible as they
were, would prove a blessing to CIV
ilization, not too dearly bought with
the blood of scores of noble men and
women. And in this work of reforma-
ton our own government should take
q leading part, n to which our chill
dren could point with pride and the
emancipated slaves Of China with
deepest gratitude.
q. w. wEIPPIERT.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1900-11-08
WEATHER DEPARTMENT.
1t Is Said Japan Has Brought It TO
n High State of Per-
lection.

One of the most surprising things
observed by our fleet at Japan is
the fine meteorological service of the
Japanese government which has given
as accurate news for the guidance of
naval vessels as they could rave had
at Hampton Roads There are 900
stations in Japan which record tenn
perature. wind velocity, rainfall. at
mospheric pressure and electrical and
earthquake conditions. Japan has an
earthquake every day or so, and if
the tremblings simply shake the
houses h people pay no more atten-
ton to them than we do to a high
wind. The japanese have brought
the seismograph, or earthquake re-
corder, to a high state of perfection.
They showed this instrument in op-
Grafton at the worlds fair in Chi
g together with the self record
ing pencils and charts that. by au-
tomato machinery, note the direc-
ton. violence and duration of the
earth's tremblings.
The Philippine islands, like Japan,
NOR, and the United states is prepar-
my W lldhC an VAlCIiSiNC StdbN VI
earthquakes in the Malay observatory
and in substations throughout the is
lands. 1t has been found that the
earthquake area of the far east ex-
tends from Kamscbatka on the north
to New Zealand on the south. passing
through Japan, the Malayan is
lands and the Philippines, and
following the line of a long narrow
letter -" The western side of all
the islands are more liable to shocks
than the eastern. In 1863 an earth
quake at Manila shook down all the
stone buildings of the Europeans. An
equally severe shock was felt in 1880,
out the houses had been rebuilt in a
manner better adapted TO resist the
shock.
y knowledge of the weather and
physical conditions of a locality is
necessary in order to build a city
that is to have some guarantee of en-
during. Manila having earthquakes
with her always is compelled to think
of them, and so is barred from tall
stone buildings, and Galveston must
raise its level. and use stone and ce-
ment in its foundations as a defense
against hurricanes"
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1900-11-08

nese have been great stickiers q
ceremonial etiquette, and it is conse-
quently no surprise to learn that the
board of ceremonies is one of the
hardest worked departments of the
sHan-liu." The board of ceremonies
is subdivided into a committee of
etiquette, which regulates all affairs
concerning marriages, funerals and
public celebrations; a committee on
mutual intercourse, which has charge
of the reception of illustricus
strangers; a chamber for the manage
ment of festivities and imperial func-
tons, and a committee ON music and
the drama.
An additional ~body-and one, too.
tina. wields almost autocratic power
lis the sTu-char-Yuen, OF the board
of censors. It's special duty is to
scrutinize the works of the mandarins
throughout the empire, and its word
is almost law.
Each province in the empire is. In
addition to these national bodies, gov
erned by a mandarin with the title
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1900-11-08
FOREIGN GOSSIP.

The Swiss cabinet consists Of seven
per mum.
The public buildings of England
alone are valued at a sum approach
ing ESQ, 900. 900.
English statistics show that of late
there has been a large and rapidly
growing importation CT tomatoes.
Tomatoes were but a short time ago
an article of luxury in Great Britain,
only used for the rich; but now they
have become a common dish on the
table of the working classes.
Criminal statistics Just published
in Germany reveal the fact that the
most marked increase in crime is
shown by the agricultural provinces
rather than by those containing the
industrial centers. 1t is an exclusive
iy agricultural province on the east
ern frontier which is the most Grim
inal. The statistics, it is claimed, also
show an increasing tendency to crime
in the empire as a whole.
1t is not generally known that in
France it is a penal offense to give
any form of solid food to babies under
a year old, unless it be prescribed in
writing by a properly qualified med
lcal man. Nurses are also forbidden
to use for their charges any sort of
feeding bottle having a rubber tube.
These and other . equally stringent
laws have recently been enacted by
the French government to save the
lives of babies.
How greatly the British govern
ment profits by death can be judged
by the returns of the estate duties
for 1S%99-1900, just issued. They show
hat nearly e14,OOO,0O0 ($7O.0O .O0Ol
were added to the exchequer from
this cause. The total amount be-
queathed by 65.341 persons was more
than a292, 600. 900 ISL 6 .OCO, OO0), OF
half the national debt. Twelve mil
Iionaires paid tolls to the mount of
60. OOO. 00O $50, 900. G1O1.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1900-11-08
CORRUPT FILIPINO JUDGES.
Administration of Justice q Purely
Mercenary Affair In the Phil.
fppine Islands.

A recent dispatch from Manila says:
The administration of Manila's civil
courts by Filipino magistrates, which
has long been scandalous, is now at
tracing public attention than
ever, and has been brought to the Taft
commissions attention, with requests
for ratification.
The courts are composed of four JUS
tees of the peace and four primary
courts. The magistrates are all Fill
pinos, and developments have proved
that the incumbents are utter failures
as administrators of justice. The dis
satisfaction with and complaints
against the existing courts are unend-
ing. Natives and foreigners dread liti-
cation, knowing the facts in the case.
Charges have been filed and every evil
dence is in the hands of the authorities
which, it is claimed, will show hat the
magistrates have been guilty of the
greatest corruption and m~alfeasance
in office.
One magistrate was recently sus-
pended On suspicion of criminal abuse
of power and attempt to defraud. The
monthly collection of fines of the four
native justices is estimated at $4,000.
The mount collected by the primary
courts for the same period is much
greater. The eight magistrates per-
s;stently ignore the regulations estab-
lished by the authorities for the super
vision of commitments and the account
ability of moneys. They deposit less
than a hundred dollars monthly. and
are alleged to appropriate the balance
of their collections.
1t is further claimed that the magis-
trates are in collision with the native
police in compromising offenses on the
basis of leash for freedom" and that
in many instances magistrates who
committed men to Jail over a year ago
are now l~iberating them without trial,
the explanation being the effective
ness of a habeas corpus and the desig-
nation of a special officer to investigate
the cases. resulting in the freedom Of
many persons illegally committed as
prisoners. 1t is said there are over 50
established instances where prisoners
have bought their freedom from the
guards conveying them between the
courtroom and the Jail.
Serious charges of favoritism have
lately been mad against the civil
branch Of Manila's supreme court.
The members of the Taft commission
are disguised with the condition of
the courts, and intend to substitute
honest Americans from the United
States for the native magistrates.
Americans having a knowledge of Span
ish are preferred, but they are the
hardest to secure. The commission
Will then institute the drastic reforms
needed in the case of the entire ju-
dietary
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1900-11-08

tower again, and tn t would mean
trouble. But then he didn't know all
this, and digging his toes into the
laps of the sheet iron he pulled him
self up hand-over-hand. He was wet
to the skin and the rope was slippery,
but he didn't give up. At last he was
right under Jim's seat, and called to
him, but it was no use-Jim was I'M
conscious.
THE good angels protected him, I
guess, or he couldn't have done what
he did next. He pulled himself up to
the seat and stood on either side Of
the man. Then he took the slack rope
and tied it around Jim until there was
less chance of a fall to the floor.
Loosening the rope where it was
wound around the paint hook to keep
it from slipping, little by little he let
himself and Jim down. 1t took a long
time because he could use but little
rope at once, and there was danger of
the burden sending them downward
toe fast.
"They did fall at the last, but it so
happened hat they were only five feet
up, and it did not hurt much. Three
inches of water from the storm was
on the bottom of the standpipe when
they landed, and into it they s~plashed.
The rain was still coming in, and be-
tween the storm and the water on the
floor they got we'll soaked. 1t kept
the boy from fainting, but it didn't
do Jim any good.
"They dragged him out through the
hole in the bottom of the ~standpipe
and took him to the hotel after the
boy had given the alarm.
Then they sent for q doctor from
the city, and for me. / nursed Jim
for three weeks before he knew me.
The doctor said he had enough cleo
tricity in his system to run a tele-
graph office, but hat was an exag-
geration. He couldn't have handled
much more, though.
Jim came to after awhile-the rub
paint was all that saved him, the
paint and the boy. He couldn't do it
again in a thousand times.
"Yes, he recovered, but I am alone
in the business for a time. Jim's TAX
ing three months of 70 steady his
nerves.
"The boy? Funny thing about that.
I got a letter from him yesterday ask.
ing if I wouldn't take him as an APP
prentice in standpipe painting and
steeple gliding. You'd have thought
he'd seen all of this business he want
ed to-now, wouldn't you?"-Chicago
Daily Record,
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1900-11-08

when they heard it every one expect
ed to see his root come tumbling in.
But it didn't. The lightning struck
the standIi pe. Now if it had been
full of water nothing would have beea
hurt, but it was empty-and Jim was
hanging inside it.
at is hard to tell just what hap
pened just then. For my part I think
the smoke of the burning paint and
the blaze of the lightning must have
maze it a mighty gorgeous spectacle,
but there wasn't anybody there to see
it but Jim-and he couldn't.
He had a way of winding the ropes
around his legs as he sat on his little
swing board at the end of the long
hanger and must have been swinging
free from the iron walls when the
stroke came. Then there was the
thickness of rubber paint between
him and the electricity, and altogeth-
er it didn't kill nm. But it dio some
thing else-it shocked MIN so badly
that he fell forward and hung in his
guy ropes. limp as a rag.
81 was telling you about the boys
well, they didn't show up that after
noon either, none of them but the
Smith boy. He vas going home from
school when the storm broke and was
right under a cottonwood tree across
from the standpipe when the light
ming struck. He was afraid TO go on
and thought that it would be safer in
the pipe-he didn't NOW he was
tempting fate that way. So he
an,r-l,l IT, -I-C,rh tho I+-1a hnln
at the bottom of the pipe and got in
side. Looking up he saw Jim. swing
ing back and forth. limp and helpless.
knowing nothing. and for all the boy
could tell. he might be dead.
SIT was raining cats and dogs out
side by this time. just sheets of water
and lots of it coming into the stand
pipe. The boy was afraid TO go after
help. for Jim might drop any minute,
and TO drop 50 or 60 feet on a sheet
iron floor with stone and concrete un-
der it can't be done but once in this
world.
Frank had watched the work so
much that he knew how the ropes
were fastened in the pulleys, and as
one long rope always touches the bot
tom he could take it il his hand. lie
shook it and yelled, but Jim was clear
gone and didn't answer. The rain
was coming faster and faster, and
the lightning was roaring every half
minute. The boy couldn't see but n
way out of it. a1d he took the very
way that would have been considered
too dangerous by a grown man. I'd
have been scary of it myself
HE climbed the rope. just think
of it! He was right under the bucket
of paint and Jim. Either might tum-
BILE on him any minute. Then the
lightning was liable to strike the
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1900-11-08
A Fable.

Here is a Chinese fable with a NOR
al. A sparrow had it's nest halfway
up a tree, in the top of which dwelt
a monkey. After a heavy rain the
sparrow, snug and dry in it's warm
nest, saw the monkey shaking his
dripping body, and could not refrain
from addressing him thus: "Com-
Tade, your hands are skillful, your
strength great, your intellect clever;
why do you live in such a miserable
state? Why not build a snug nest
like mine?" The monkey, angered al
the complacency of the sparrow, re-
piled: Am l to be Knocked by an
evil creature like you? Your nest is
snug, is it?" and so saying, he threw
the nest to the ground. Moral: Don't
talk with a passionate man.-London
Mail,
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1900-11-08
CHINA NEEDS HELP.
Present Invasion May Prove q
Blessing to the Nation.
For Centuries the Common People
Have Been Robbed by Corrupt
OmciaIs-How the Empire
LIN Ruled.
Especial Correspondence

NH ANY thousands of good people,
H\yN both in this country and Eu-
AsA rope, are wasting an abun-
dance of sympathy on the Chinese gov
eminent. Individually the Chinese
may be entitled to thoughtful consid-
Grafton, but the sooner his influence
for mischief as a subject of a moribund
civilization is destroyed the better for
himself and mankind at large.
There is no reasonable doubt that
China has for more than a century
had the most corrupt government with
which any country has ever been
cursed. From the throne down to the
local tax collectors, office has been used
as a means to enrich individuals at the
expense of the public; and the few
brave men who have now and then
dared to protest openly against this
universal system of spoliation were
executed without trial and in the
most cruel fashion.
The cabals and intrigues in the inn
perial palace at Picking were followed
by crimes too dark for comprehension
by the western mind. The voice OF
Justice was strangled by assassin OF
executioner, and rue patriots were IRE
moved by seemingly occult means.
The imperial family-Tartars by de-
scent and disposition-was back of all
this horrifying injustice and made
tools of the avaricious mobiles appoint
ed to rule the several provinces of the
empire. The advent of foreign devils"
was. of course, viewed with alarm by
the fendish and fanatical Tartar of
ficeholders. They were quick to see
that European Intervention would
sooner or later put an end to their
tyranny and force them to safeguard,
in a measure at least, the rights of the
common people.
The fear of the judgment to come
caused the r~eactionaries to organize
and support the Boxer movement. The
emperor, Kwang Hsu, an easy-going
and not overly-smart young man of 30
or thereabout, vas kept carefully in
the dark. He was allowed to issue
edicts, which were never obeyed. The
famous dowager empress provided him
with European toys, a wife and IL con-
cubines; and attended TO all affairs
of state herself. When it ecam evil
den that the emperor would have no
issue, she assembled the council of
state and had its members select the
oldest son of Prince Tuan as heir pre-
sumptive. Prince Tuan-one of the
most adroit as well as INSCRIPTIONS
of Chinese leaders-placed himself at
the head of the Boxer society whose
purpose, the extinction of all foreign
ers and Christian converts, appealed
to the bigotry n jealousy of the man
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1900-11-08

darins. The dismal failure of the plans
Of the Boxers and the subsequent in
vasion of China by the troops of the
allied powers have placed Prince Tuan's
head in jeopardy and may lead to q
complete reorganization of Chinese
methods of government.
Inasmuch as but very few arefamiliar
with China's governmental system as
it has existed for hundreds of years,
an outline of its various branches should
prove of interesct to every student of
history as well as to all observers of
current events.
Under the ancient Chinese consti-
tuition the absolute control of the en-
pire is entrusted, nominally at least,
to the emperor, who is the supreme leg
islator of the nation. commander in
chief of the army and navy, chief civil
administrator of the empire, lore chief
Justice, owner of all of the land com
prised within the limits of the coun-
try, archpriest and everything else
worth mentioning. His official title is
"Tien-Si," signifying "Son of Heaven"
Theoretically he rules over the whole
of the earth, and, according to trust
worthy reports, there are millions of
Cinnamon who devoutly believe that
all the nations of the world acknowl-
edge their emperor as chief lord. An
anomaly 1t seems almost that in spite.
of the wide powers possessed by the
"Son of Heaven" he is liable to be re-
moved by popular vote on the appear
ance of any great scourge, such Al .
prolonged famine or drought or ASec-
vora yfcif offo- 4E A. -I
The "Keung-ki-Chu'' is a body which
corresponds to the cabinets of west
ern powers. It is composed of the
leading statesmen and politicians of
the empire, and its members visit the
imperial palace every morning to con-
fer with the emperor. The cabinet js
controlled by an executive body, the
"Ne-ko," composed of ministers noted
for their sagacity, or wickedness.
Other governmental departments are
the "Tsung-li-yamen," which is the
chinese foreign Office, and the Lillian
Yuen," or colonial office, which looks
after the rights of foreigners dwell
ing in China and governs the provinces
and tributary states of Mongolia and
Tibet.
The "Han-1iu," or Sacred College Of
Learned Men, is an interesting body
composed of the empires best schol-
ars, and to be elected to a member
ship in it is considered "a great honor.
The college controls the boards Of
ceremony, revenue, military
and naval affairs, office punishment,
etc. incidentally it also examines
for Office in their literary,
artistic and scientific attalnments.
From time immemorial the Chi
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1900-11-08

of 'Swuin-Fa," or viceroy. This Off
cial is a despot in his district, and
possesses the sole right of approach
ing the throne on any matter connect
ed with his province. The life and
death of those under him are in his
hands, and he is commander-in-chief
of the local troops, As a sort of set
off to these immense powers his ten
ure of office is very insecure, and he
is liable to be removed on the most
trivial pretext, such as h outbreak
of a riot or rebellion in his province.
Suspension, moreover, is usually fol-
lowed by his death at the hands OF
the executioner.
Under the mandarins is a horde Oh
minor officials, such as local superin-
tendents of taxes, provincial judges OF
the criminal court and educational x
aminers. Each of the provinces is
split up into several large divisions,
which are in their turn divided and
subdivided almost to infinlty. Each
little department has its little Off
cials, and even the smallest among
them must pay a tribute to his supe-
rior.
The common people have no rights
whatever. They are permitted to work
so hat they can pay taxes. In order
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1900-11-08
yoracious Birds and Fishes.

Birds are big eaters. The much
admired robin car give points to most
of his kind. He can easily manage
two-thirds of his weight in earth
worms in a day. The common pigeon
goes one better. He his own
weight in grain within a day. Fish
are great gluttons. A single American
bluefish has been known to kill and
partially devour ten great cod, each an
big as himself, in rapid succession
Tondon Nail,
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1900-11-08
Getting His Money. worth.

Stranger who has just visited a
museum, to the custodian)-Here's
two marks-you may give me back
one mark.
Custodian quitting the coin in his
pocket)-Sorry, but I haven't any
change. Tell you what I'll do, though
m show you through the museum
acknowledgement Blaetter.