davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1900-04-07
A HUMAN LIFE.

A ship that throbs along in dire distress
Till lost in oceans of forgetfulness.
A tangle Of sweet flowers, whose petals
To ash of unfulfllment in an urn.
A wisp Of tangled threads, whose parted
ends
Nc deft hand joins, no endless effort mends,
A play whose tickle players merely greet
And go and cave the story incomplete.
A bud that opens brilliant at the dawn.
Flint sweet perfume a ONE and is
gone.
A breath between a cradle and a bier, e..
The blending OF a smile. a sob, a tear.
A book whose pages turn with each new
day
Til time has read the tale and cast away.
A mask worn till a passing play is done,
To cloak a wrath and hide skeleton.
Allie, whose ghostly semblance is concealed
Till in a shroud its untruth lies revealed.
A thing that shapes the sod for a brief day
And dies and leaves its faithful slave mere
clay.
A story that is told ere it's begun.
A song that only whispers and is done.
A thing that chains the lightnings and that
stirs
The deep-the elements its messengers.
Lord of the sea and sky, a ruler proud
That quakes at storms INT trembles at a
cloud.
That comes and goes on wings unseen
a germ
That grows to fill a grave and feed a worm.
James Foley, Jr., in Bismarck Tribune.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1900-04-07
PORTO RICo,s PNEUMATIC FIsH
wne, He Appears Properly InAassa
the Young People Hasten
to marry.

With two horns on the front Of itD
head, q feather on its back and de-
cidedly bovine expression of face, the
coming of the cowish ia welcomed in
Porto Rico. 1t is migrating, usually
appearing in May in schools of great
er or less extent. While it fingers ON
the coast it emits a sort of "mooing"
sound, because CT which visitors often
call it a drumfish. Anyhow, it drums
up the native population, who run
to the beach to see if the schools are
large, in which cast they say: There
is milk in the cocoanut"-an express
sion equivalent to the promise of .
fruitful season.
When there is this expectation OF
abundance of food many of the young
people get married at once. A fam
lily al live on the fruit of the wild
banana, which is twice the size Of
those exported and of coarser grain,
but roasted in ashes it is not bad eat
ing. Science has yet to determine
what the coming of the cowfish has
to do with the fruitfulness of cocoa
nuts and bananas, but with its two
black horns and the music it makes,
and the little feather, which is rides
cent, as it moves through the water
it is very engaging. The preserved
specimens are stuffed with air only.
The manatee of the Caribbean sea
is sometimes called the cowfsh be-
cause it comes on shore and eats
grass. The manatee is becoming ex-
tinct, and is oftener found on the
coast of Cuba and keys south of Flor
ida than in Porto Rico.
It is entirely distinct from the
Porto Rico variety, which is a true
fish, running in schools, whereas the
,manatee is a mammal, nursing its
young. This latter is hunted for its
hide, which is manufactured into
canes that look like a tortoise shell.
These n r SO elastic and power
full that they are regarded as deadly
weapons, and by the Cuban laws .
fine of $50 is imposed upon anyone
who strikes another with a manatee
can They cost from $40 to $25 each
in Havana stores. The Porto Rico
cowfish has quite a tough little hide
also, but as it is seldom caught weigh
ing more than 4 pound or two, it has
no commercial value in Porto Rico,
where there are such variety and
abundance of fish.
The present specimen has almost
a balloon-like appearance when in the
water, and the mooing musical sound
it makes is supposed to be owing to
the distention and contraction of the
skin while inhaling and emitting air.
Philadelphia Record.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1900-04-07
HUMOROUS.

Yale Senior-"WiIl you-win you be
my ideal wife," New Haven Girl
"No; but I'll be your ideal sister,.
Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Dealer-"Want to get a wheel? Yes,
sir. We have them from SO up" Gus
tomer-'Ten dollars up? Well, the
question with me is how much down."
Philadelphia Record.
Penelope-'Well, after I'll. I believe
the less one knows the happier one
is" Genevieve-"That's 4 comfortable
philosophy. You must be very hap
py."-Collier's Weekly.
Briggs-"What is the use of propos-
ing to that girl when 1 know she
doesn't love meg" Griggs-'Try it,
old man. She didn't love me when
she accepted me-" Detroit Free
Press.
Minister-"What do you think of
that, Jane? That couple only gave
me q dollar for marrying them!"
Wife-"Well, I knew the moment they
came in they had both been married
beforei"-Puck.
LADY, think you are the worst
looking tramp I ever saw" Tramp
"Ma'am, it's only in the presence of
uncommon beauty 1 look SO bad"
Lady-"Mary, give this poor man
something to eat."-Casselrs Maya
zine.
The Golden Wedding-Queery-"So
you have been married so years."
Hornbill-"Fifty years" Query
"And never Quarreled!" Hornb;ll-
"Never quarreled. We didn't ARE
enough about each other for that
D--zIr-
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1900-04-07
THE USES OF c
A Nutritious Article OF Food and .
Good Fodder for AMI
mails.

Cacao is the principal element in
| chocolate and various kinds Of confec-
| tionery. As an article of food it is very
nutritious, healthful and stimulating.
| The butter Of cacao is well known in
medicine, and is used in the cure of
skin diseases of all kinds with good
| results. The shells of the seed roast
| ed and ground. are used for cocoa" a
drink well known in the countries OF
| the temperate zone, but used here only
by the poorer classes.
The pulp of the pod is used as fodder
for animals. The popularity OF cacao
rapidly increases wherever it is once
introduced, and neither fluctuations in
prices nor attempts to substitute other
products, supposed to have the same or
better qualities, have affected its use
in localities where it is once well
known. The active principle of cacao
is theobroma, a powerful organic
reagent.
The possibilities of the cacao market
are vast. The consumption has not yet
begun, or at least made any Roadway,
| in the Asiatic countries, among which
Japan, Persia and British India may
some day become important customers.
| Chocolate is scarcely known in
| Oceanica, the British colonies or Ha-
| wall. Even Russia, Turkey and Greece
are but recently becoming familiar
with the product. As there has always
been a ready market, no special effort
L. oo- -oIo - av<and Tho Ahmond IN
new countries.
While some progress has been made
in the utilization of the shell and pulp.
no attempt of Importance has been
| made to manufacture the product for
export, although there is plenty Of
vanilla and sugar available for the
preparation, and the profits would be
considerable. E%cuadorian cacao. being
somewhat bitter, has an advantage
over that of ether countries in assimi-
lating a larger amount of sugar in the
manufacture of chocolate, thereby re-
ducing the cost of the product.
The consumption of cacao is increas-
| ing at the rate of five or six per cent. an
nually, and inside of eight or ten years
the demand will be greater than the
supply. The attempts to introduce
cacao on a large scale in various other
| tropical countries have not been at
tended with favorable results. In no
other part of the world can its cultiva-
| ton be brought to the flourishing on
dition which prevails in Ecuador.
where there is still q vast extent Of
land suitable for new and productive
estates. All that is necessary are cap
ital and energy, which Will be gel
coined, and which will surefyo .au
when the railway to Quito is builfa
no line of agriculture shows sas
tempting returns.-South American,
| Journal
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1900-04-07
OLD BOOKS
A Toilsome Task That B00k Owners
Have to Pay q Good Price
For.

"Can you tell me whether this is a
valuable boohg or "How much is this
book WORTH are questions often
asked at the chief second hand book
stores by persons who think they have
picked up some rare old edition, or
who think they can perhaps dispose
to advantage of some Volume which
they own and believe to be priced by
collectors. If the book is obviously
worthless. their inquiries can be an
swered shortly and positively, but in
a great number of cases the informa-
ton they seek is such that no book
dealer, however well informed, can
give it correctly offhand. And just be-
cause investigation is necessary to de-
termine it, such information is worth
money. The owner of the book will
not, in most instances, obtain the mar
ket quotation on his property or even
perhaps find out whether there is any
considerable value in it without pay
ing for the knowledge.
Not all dealers will or a appraise
books in this way for patrons for the
work requires that they shall have
large facilities in the line of catalogues
to consult, and shall be able to spare
the time of one man for hours, days, or
perhaps weeks, to search carefully
through all the lists. All catalogues
of auctions of rare books which have
been held in recent years in various
parts of the world are valuable in as
sisting in such work. and the last one
examined might be the only source Of
the desired statistics.
The prices charged for the work vary
greatly, as might be expected. accord
ing to the amount of time which has
to be spent. One dealer who does .
good deal Of this appraising seldom un-
dertakes to lock up a book for less than
two dollars, and his charges may run
from this up to $50 in rare cases, when
the edition is a particularly hard one
to trace. The charges are not necessa-
rily based, however, upon the value Of
the book. for frequently one worth
comparatively little requires just ~
telch labor in the search as M which
upofs to be a rare prize. The patron
article. e1iKtf this, and when it hap
rwda.~sr 1ied to pay for the work
and stan6-tdS.Jbss.-N. Y. Tribune.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1900-04-07
Livin. Pictures for Diagnosis.

In a certain continental hospital .
camera has been adopted to record
infinitely the action of patients In
epileptic fits and similar Affections.
and many "living pictures" have been
taken showing the movements IN
walking of persons afflicted with lo-
comotor ataxia. They are produced
slowly on the screen, 30 that phys-
clans are enabled to study the symp-
toms carefully. Moving pictures
have been taken in Vienna showing
operations being performed by great
surgeonA@Science Siftings.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1900-04-07
A Conditional Reward.

Woman-My husband has disap-
peared and may be dead. want to Of
fer a reward for his body.
Chief of Police-Yes, madam. A de
scription will be needed, and this, with
the reward, will no doubt prove effec-
tive. He may be alive. you know, In
which case we may 500 be able to re-
turn him to you.
~ shan't pay q cent reward unless he
il returned lead, Just remember that"
IN. Y. Worth
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1900-04-07
The English Language in Mexico.

The English Language in Mexico.
The increased knowledge of the Eng
lish language in Mexico during the
last few years is remarkable. No es-
tablishment of any size attempts to
do business without English-speaking
clerks and correspondents. English
is now a necessity to the prominent
professional men whose practice ex-
tends to a large proportion of the i'm
portant foreign residents of this cos
mopolitan old city. English newspa-
pers and magazines are read by a
large proportion of the refined and
educated native citizens. 1t will prob
ably surprise many readers of this pa
per to know that one-third OF the
Mexican Herald's subscribers in the
City of Mexico are Mexicans. The
study of English in Mexico is one of
the important things that is assist
ing in closer commercial relations be-
tween Mexico and the United States.
Mexican Herald.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1900-04-07
A RIP VAN Wrinkles LAND.
The Portuguese Colonies in Africa
Are In q Very backward
State.

The Portuguese colonies in Africa
are the Rip Van Wrinkles land of real
| ity. After three centuries of white
dominion they remain pretty much in
| the condition in which Da Cana and
his bold successors left them.
In the years report of u consul for
Angola thes. Portuguese pec%uliarities
stand out strongly.
Thus, from Loanda,. the capital, to
| Cape Town is about 600 miles, and the
Journey should take about six days.
| What actually happens is this: You
first take a trip of 5000 miles to
Madeira, where you waylay the next
| mail steamer, and then complete the
excursion by another journey of 4,s00
miles to Cape Town. In short, $500
miles have 10 be travelled to cover a
distance of LEGO miles. A letter be-
tween Cape Town and LoandG takes
about two months.
Here is a picture of what trade means
in the favored region of Cabinda bay,
where there is n single white trader,
| who occupies Il house of three rooms,
with a "shop" of 90 by 8 feet at
tached. The place is stocked with
puncheons OF some vile stuff called
rum" which are exchanged for palm
kernels.
Knots of :.atives from the interior
! villages with loads of kernels begin to
present themselves at the shop by six
a. m, and when the trader at last
makes his appearance there is a noisy
| crowd of kernel sellers and thirsty
hangers on.
The exchange of rum for kernels is
| quickly effected, and by nine o'clock
in the morning the entire population
may be seen lying under the shelter of
the cocoanut palms. either stupidity
drunk or noisily quarreling.
The mingled uproar and snoring
lasts till about o when there is a
sudden return to sobriety. and the
crowd clears AWAY to the villages to
| collect the means for another carousa1.
On a ''good" day, which is often
enough Sunday. the trader at Cabinda
bay gets rid OF about 100 gallons of
rum. And he AYERS that the scene de-
scribed is repeated every day j IN the
year.
Next to ruin and fertilization" the
greatest curses of West Africa are
smallpox and the sleeping sickness.
From this last nc case of recovery has
ever been known. and SO contagious is
itthatin the native Christian communi-
ties every communicate has a separate
vessel from which to partake of the
sacramental wine.
It is true there are labor arrange
ments which look uncommonly like
~slavery-but then. so there are in
Rhodesia. and some are gleefully an
ticipa:ing the time when johannes
burg will be no better. - London
Leader.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1900-04-07
Got what He Asked For.

$50 you are looking for q position?' p
said the merchant to the youth with
the high collar and noisy necktie.
what can you do?"
"Oh, any old thing" replied the
young man. "Of course, 1 don't ex-
pect the junior partnership at the
start, but I want to be sure Of an
early rise"
every WELL" replied the merchant,
"ITl make you assistant ianitor. You
will rise at four o'clock every norm
ing and sweep the tloors."-Chicago
Evening News.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1900-04-07
The Inf.llibIe Preliminary.

Nell-Do you know, I really think l
will marry Harry. He is good-looking.
rich. and 1 am rather fond of him!
Belle-I didn't know you were en-
gagged.
"Oh. it's not formal yet; but he has
told me 1 seem different from Other
girls."-Puck.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1900-04-07
Tit-Bits for Ostriehes

A gimlet was once devoured by IN
ostrich in captivity and another II
said to have swallowed q lighted pipe
without experiencing any apparens
discomfort or injury. = lndianspoh4
News.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1900-04-07
..Erom Graxe tn Cav,

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch suggests
that many of the jokers will probably
get gay over the new grave-diggers'
union.
Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1900-10-27
ChtuCOte aRue.

Several weddings expected here
next week.
Captains Rich, Rogers and johnson
were here this week on an inspection
tour.
Capt. Alfred Soper and wife moved
from Girdletree to Chincoteague, this
week.
Miss Emma Daisey died on here on
the 18th inst, after a long illness,
aged IS years.
Charles Watson and Miss Rachel
Jeffries were married at BRIDES home
on gath inst, Rev. W. A. Melvin off,
ciating
Hon. w. A. Jones and others will
speak at Town Hall Saturd ~, eth
at night. Our brass band will render
music for the occasion. Everybody
invited.
Schooner Wharton arrived this
week with cargo Of bricks from New
York and loaded with oyster for Fair
Haven. Schooners Hoffman and
Elisha loaded with oysters for Nor
folk.
Mrs. BERTHE Miller, of Sharptown,
Md, and Mrs. William Burton, Of
Wachapreague, are visiting frie ads
here. Mrs. j. Nj. Burch and Mrs. Elm
maPorter are visiting in Philadelphia
and Mrs David Fish is in George
town.
The largest number ever known to
attend Democratic meeting of this
Island were at Salisbury and Berlin
Wednesday despite the Indictment
weather. Our brass band escorted
them thither and rendered choice
selections in honor Of our next Presi-
dent.
Arrivals at Atlantic Hotel this
week: G. E. Byrd, j. G. Minson, j.
o. Hoskins, Baltimore; R. F. Powell,
F. G. Hanna, ]. W. Field, r. E.
DOGGY, Philadelphia; a. H. Davis, N.
Y; s. A. Freeman, G. P. Prier, Bos-
ton; J. L. Osmon, Oxford, Pa; s. l..
Mckee, Snow Hill; W. J. Whaley,
Berlin; Chas. Prettyman and wife,
Milford; John Orwell, B. L. West,
Capt. b. s. Rich, Capt. VIM. Mar
shall, John Jones, Benjamin Scott
DR.. T. T. Taylor, Accomac.
Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1900-10-27
Attempted Criminal Assault.

A little girl, less than 10 years old,
niece OF Mr.. James H. Sterling, was
attacked on the public road in a few
hundred yards Of Parksley and
dragged into the W oods, while on her
way home from school on Thursday
OF last week by negro named John
Holden. Her cries fortunately were
heard by colored man, Frank Bows
den, who went to her rescue and pre-
vented the assault intended upon her
The negro, though unknown at the
time, was arrested Friday on the
description given OF him by the little
girl and Bowden, and afterwards rec
ognized and identified by both o.
them when brought into their pres.
ence. The villsinous crime naturally
excited the indignation OF every ont
the community and tire ats o.
lynching were not only INDUCED II
but would probably have been CAR
ried out before this time but for thu
prompt steps OF Judge Ross to pre-
vent it, by ordering the sheriff Of the
county to take him to Hampton jai
for safe-keeping until the grand jury
meets.
Holden and another negro, Stran
Fosuue, charged with murder, were
lodged in said jail Saturday by the
sheriff and his deputy.
Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1900-10-27
SaXes.

Mrs. Geo. W. Glenn is visiting
friends in Berk eley.
Our planted oysters are fat and
selling at good prices.
Six dwellings are in course OF erec-
ton here and more will be soon.
Our schools opened with 20 pupils.
The number will reach 100 later in
the session.
Mr.. Leroy NJ. Lewis, formerly OF
this place, now of Berkeley, spent
last week at his old home.
Hon. W. A. Jones will address the
voters OF this place next Tuesday
night and with few exceptions all will
vote for him. All are home from
James river, whittier they went early
in the oyster season.
There are plenty OF young oysters
on our rocks and the way to protect
them and give them time to grow is
now engaging the attention OF our
people. A voluntary organization OF
rs or more detectives, to report viola
tions of the law,is talked of and may
be expected.
Two of our young men brought
home from the James river, with
typhoid fever, have died Of the dis
ease. R. Lee Young died Sunday
night, 14th inst. and Columbus Lin
ton died early in the month. Both
of them were worthy young men and
consistent members OF the NJ. E.
Church, South, of this place each
aged % years.
Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1900-10-27
dwellings, Burn ed.

On Thursday. 18th inst, fire started
by spark falling on the roof destroy
ed the dwelling Of Mr.. Frank T.
Stockley, situated near Birds Nest
occupied by Mr.. r. z. burlington.
Most. OF the furniture was saved
d yelling partially insured.
The dwelling occupied by Mr.. John
w. Core, near Gargatha, belonging to
Capt. James r. Hickman was de-
stroyed by fire, Thursday, 18th inst,
caused by a spark which lodged on
the roof. Mr.. Core was from home at
the time and only small portion OF
the furniture could be saved. No in
surance.
Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1900-10-27
Sunday srhesI Mass N Getting.

A Sunday school mass-meeting, par
ticipated in by all the Sunday schools
OF the churches OF Drummondtown,
was held at the Baptist Church, Sun
day morning. Services at all the
other churches were suspended durN
ing the day and their pastors and
congregations were in attendance at
the meeting. The exercises consisted
OF music, prayer by Rev. J. r. Grit
fifth, of the NJ. Z. Church, South
scripture reading by Rev. j. Fl. Hem
derlite, OF Presbyterian Church, adj
dresses by Prof. J. A. Sprenkel, field
secretary OF the Virginia State Sun
day School Association, L. J. Hyslup
and others, closing with prayer by
Rev. E. J. Winder, OF NJ. E. Church.
Mr. r. w. Harding, who had been
previously appointed chairman oil
the association, resigned because he
thought he would be unable to dis
charge its duties, but his resignation
was not accepted and he has since
reconsidered the matter and will en-
ter diligently into the work
The object OF the Association is to
bring all the Sunday schools of the
county, OF ell denominations, into
closer touch with each other, with
the view OF correcting the defects OF
each, and accepting the best meth
DDS OF teaching, and thereby stimu>
lating the interest In Sunday schools
throughout the county A step in
that direction will be soon, conven-
ton of delegates from all the Sunday
schools in the county.
The meeting at the Baptist Church
Sunday morning was an interesting
one, and could not have been other
wise to those who would promote
the love and charity which ought to
prevail among the different denomi-
nations.
Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1900-10-27
Cash Vile.

Two new buildings are being erect
ed in village.
Poles are being put in place to ex-
tend telephone line to Evans Wharf
and DR.. Loffland's residence.
Mr.. j. h. Drummond had the mis-.
fortune to break his arm while hand
ling a barrel OF molasses last Satur-
day.
Mr.. Oswald F. Gusts expects to be
the champion hog raiser this year in
the county. He has one, competent
judges claim, will weigh 800 pounds
at this time.
Senator LeCato and Prof. g. &.
Joynes addressed voters Of this place
on last Tuesday night. You may ex'
pect to hear a good report from Cash.
Vile on November 6.
Rainy weather prevented some OF
our people attending the great Bryan
demonstration last Wednesday. Those
who braved the storm and went re.
port being delighted with the speech
of Mr.. Bryan and are proud of the
opportunity to cast their vote for him
on November 6.