davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-03-21

no longer. | feel that l must speak and
reveal the terrible secret which burns
in my bosom like a white hot brand.
Yes l must tell all. The weakness
grows upon me now, but ere l die lis
ten to the story of the downfall of the
village of my nativity, and when you
have heard it let your sympathy go
out to me, and perchance my troubled
soul may find the respite and the balm
which it seeks. LiSten,' The COM
muters listened.
my name" continued the stranger,
sis Harkins-H. Ellington Harkins-
and | live or, rather, lived, in Back
vile, Conn. 1t is of this town that l
intend to speak and the downfall of
which makes me what | ana nissan
thrope, a wanderer upon the face of
the earth.
"Backville was a very old town, and
its inhabitants had lived there for gen
GRAFTON upon generation. n new fam
lily rarely moved into the town, and
no one ever moved out of it except
when he or she died. Backville was a
very peculiar town. 1t had little or
nothing to do with the rest of the
world and considered itself sufficient
unto itself.
''Now, like all small towns, Backville
had a town clock, had had it for 80
years, and in all that time the clock
had never been known to deviate a
fraction of second from the exact
time. Backville swore by that clock.
1t was the acme of all that was faith
full and reliable. Indeed | may say that
all the cardinal virtues clustered
around ait Of
Backville said that person was as ac-
curate or as perfect as the town clock.
he could say no more; he had touched
the heights of praise. Children were
directed to emulate the goodly exam
pie of the town clock. The office of
winder of the clock was the most inn
portant and withal the most lucrative
place in the gift of the town. The
conditions of which | speak had ex-
listed for 40 years. and in every one of
those years faith in the clock had in
creased until it finally became an OBJ
ject Of worshipful alteration. You may
readily understand how such might be
the case.
"One morning, three years ago, the
town awoke as usual and prepared for
the days work. 1t soon began to be
rumored about, however, that some
thing was the matter with the town.
This rumor became an established fact
when it was discovered that when ev-
cry clock and watch in town pointed to
O'Clock the town clock, the re-
liable and faithful town clock, gave in
dubitable evidence that it was but 7
O'Clock. OF course there was but one
thing to do. The town clock couldn't
NO oil
were set back to Z o'clock or taken to
the jewelers. to be regulated. My
watch was not | was very proud of
my timepiece and | let it alone in the
interest of science, purely in the inter
est of science, gentlemen. I reasoned
that my watch could not by the least
El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-03-21

possibility have gained an hour in 3
single night and the possibilities of the
town clock losing an hour in the same
space We're equally remote. The only
solution of the case which presented
itself to my mind was that time had
slipped back Il peg and that the old
clock had adjusted itself to the change.
But the other inhabitants gave the
case barely a thought The old clock
said o'clock. therefore it was Z
o'clock. and life in Backville went on
as usual.
From my diary, in which l recorded
the results of my researches with my
watch, which l allowed to pursue its
headlong course down the grooves of
time, / found that when it recorded
noon that day the town clock recorded
10 o'clock. The following morning,
Dec. 2, l found that the town arose as
usual at : o'clock, town clock time, 9
o'clock my time. Men went to their
work in the stores and mills at
o'clock, town clock time and quit work
at , o'clock, town clock tine, I O'Clock,
my time. The next morning another
hour was lost someys here. When my
watch recorded / o'clock, the morning
of Dec. 4, the town clock recorded 10
o'clock, the night Of Dec. >. 1t was
plainly apparent that n day was being
lost somewhere, and the next after
noon. when the town clock struck ., it
was S o'clock by my watch
when the townspeople saw that 1t
was dark at > o'clock, n great fear
came over the town, and a public meet
ing was called. Explanations as to
what might he the matter We're solicit
ed, and many theories were propound-
ed. 1t was finally decided, however,
that Il great change in the solar system
had occurred. This theory seemed
plausible and it was adopted as being
the only solution of the phenomena.
You see, Backvillc impea ched the sun,
but the town cioCI-that could not be
at fault. Thus time went on or rather
back, and things went from bad to
worse. Sometimes two hours were
lost in one hour. Backville celebrated
Christmas when. according to my
watch. she should have been celebrat-
ing Washington birthday. Next year
Fourth of July was celebrated with
snow on the ground, while the Thanks
giving turkeys were eaten with the
thermometer al 90 degrees in the shade.
Il began to see what the matter was
tine town clock was at fault-but l
feared to reveal my thoughts to my
fellow tOwnSmen. Meanwhile Back
vile, in its Denighted faith in the town
clock, was being dragged back through
time, and l knew not where the end
would be. 1t got so that no one could
tell just when night was coming or
when it would be daylight. Sometimes
twilight was taken for early morning,
and vice versa. And the money spent
in adjusting clocks and watches
amounted to a fortune in itself. Final
Iy L resolved to tell all and die as
martyr, if necessary, for the salvation
of my townsmen.
El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-03-21
was seen no more.

was seen more.
The Wainwrights had been possessed
of many barrels of old dishes, carpets,
pamphlets and clothes which they had
never disturbed themselves to unpack,
and. with a beating heart and chilled fin
gers, Henry Disbro unpacked each of
these, fearing at each moment to encoun-
ter some awful thing. But his search was
fruitless, and he visited the barn and
woodshed without success. In sore per-
pleXity he returned to town and told the
police. But the police did not seem to
be much interested. 1t was midsummer,
and they were not looking for sensations.
Two months went by. No word came
of the vanished family. And then
man came along who wanted to rent the
cottage. so, with feelings akin to sorrow,
Henry Disbro saw personally to the re-
moval of the Wainwright furniture
which, for want of a better solution, he
stored in his barn.
1T would have been easier to have
given the old stuff away" he said to his
wife, but it may be that we shall yet
find some clew to the Wainwrights by
keeping it. Anyway, it was impressed
upon me almost as a sacred duty that
ought to care for it,
Three months later an angry man en-
tered Mr.. Disbros office. 1t was Mr..
Wainwright i'll state of the most I'M
questionable vigor.
- on re q tnlef, he SnOute0-a CQle1,
and l am prepared to prove it! You
purloined my furniture, and I've seen it
this day with my own eyes concealed in
your barn"
There was no placating him. The
ready return of his furniture did not COM
fort him. He asked round sum for the
wear and tear to which it had been sub
jected, and he wanted monetary redress
for being expelled from his own house
without his consent or knowledge.
but what was l to think?'' inquired
Henry Disbro, remembering his uucanny
search for the bodies of the vanished
Wainwrights.
What business had you to enter my
house at alp" retorted Mr.. Wainwright.
when l saw the breakfast uneaten
and the beds unmade, 1 was convinced
that evil had overtaken you"
We've no call to eat our breakfast I'm.
less we please" was the response. My
wife's brother he came along in a cover.
ed wagon mighty early, just at sun up,
and said he was going camping, so we
went as we was. taking a few clothes,
and after we had camped spell we al
lowed TO go over into Clinton county and
see the old folks. We come home when
we got ready and expected to find ev-
erything ready to set up housekeeping on
the minute. Instead of that we find our
belongings stolen and another man occu
pying our house.
But your rent was not paid" protest
cd Disbro mildly, Obliged to offer some
defense that would appeal to his inquis-
itOr.
Il didn't refuse to pay it," he said. 81
wasn't asked for it, was I? I'll sue for
damages; that's what I'll do
And he did-and won. The court caus.
ed Henry Dishro of the tender heart to
pay the costs and cents fne.-Chicago
Tribune.
El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-03-21
TOLD IN THE
SMOKING CAR
The Strange Yarn of an Idolized
Town Clock.

900 100000 O. 5000 o-o-o
Jones, the commuter, always read his
morning paper during the time occu-
pied by the transit of his regular morn
ing train and ferryboat to this city
On the way home at night he invari-
ably played whist in the smoker with
three of his fellow townsmen. He had
been n cOmmuter ten years. From all
this it may be inferred that Jones was
a creature of habit. And SO one night
when a seedy looking stranger with a
long red nose, baggy cheeks and wild
glare in his eyes dropped into the seat
usually occupied by his playing part
ner, JimSon, Jones was yisibly annoy
ed, while his two fellow commuters,
who had been waiting for the tardy
Jimson with their whist board on their
knees, shifted in disgust.
The stranger, nothing daunted, how
ever, gazed at the three commuters
with a faraway look in his eyes and
gave vent to an occasional cavernous
sigh, which seemed to come from the
depths of despair. Not n word did he
utter, and the commuters were too
busy with plans for ousting the stran-
ger in event of Jimson's appearance to
think of aught else. Meanwhile the
train began to move tot the station,
and, as Jimson had failed to appear-it
sometimes happened so with one of the
party - Jones decided to invite the
stranger to take Il hand in the prospec-
tive game Before he could speak,
however, the man heaved another sigh,
gazed beseechingly at the commuters
and said:
Gentlemen, far be it from me to in
trude upon the preparations which you
have made for indulgence in the noble
game of whist, but 1 can remain silent
El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-03-21
THE DAWN.

Have you seen the dawn, the Summer dawn,
Swiftly rising from her rosy pillows
When the curtains Of the night are backward
drawn
And a crimson glory lights the pillows?
Higher and ever higher
In her hands she lifteth up,
Brimming over with ruby fire,
The Day like a golden cup:
And bending by the rivers brink,
The sparkling river,
She giveth little flowers thereof to drink,
Who bless the giver.
I have seen the dawn, the Summer dawn,
Stepping from her purple cloud pavilion,
Passing softly over dewy mead and lawn,
GaTlanded with azure and vermilion.
Higher and ever higher
In her flaming car she scars,
Borne on waves of amethyst fire
Over glimmering seas and shores,
And, STOPPING from her chariot red,
Glowing and cleaning,
She smiles and wakens little Curly Head
Out of his dreaming.
Pail Mall Gazette.
El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-03-21
That Throbbing Headache

Would quickly leave you, II you used
DR.. Kings New Life Pills Thousands
of sufferers have proved their match
less merit for Six and Nervous Head
acbis. They make pure blood and
strong nerves and build pyOur health.
Easy to take. Try them. OnIy %
cents, Money back If not cured. Sold
by all druggist.
El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-03-21
To Cure a Cold in One Day.

Take Laxative Bromo Quipiue rs.
blets. All druggists refund money If II
falls to cure. 25c. The genuine has
B. Q. L. on each tablet.
El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-03-21
Different Points of view

ITS hard to be poor" sighed the seedy
pessimist.
That's queer" replied the ragged op-
timist. Il always found it easy enough"
Chicago News.
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-04-12
NO NEED OF ALARM.

The Kansas City Star commenting on
a dispatch which sought to convey the
idea that there is alarm in Canada over
the influx Of "Momons," kindly says:
"All accounts represent the Nor
mons as enterpusing buslness-like and
indOmltably Industrious. They GER
tainly add TO the material wealth Of the
country they occupy II the Dominion
laws can suppress the passion Of the
Mormons for polygamy they do not
seem TO be otherwise Objectionable i'm
migrants. The Ca
nadians are, perhaps. unduy alarmed"
The probability is that the Canadians
are not ALARMED" at all. but that some
agtator is endeavoring TO create an
impression that they have something
TO be alarmed over The Saints IN
their settlements both in Canada and
Mexico are living Ia peace with their
nelghbors. and AN the world, as they
are doing In Utah and everywhere. and
viii continue 70 do, as far as depends
on them.
No government and no people on
earth need 10 be alarmed" al the
"Mormons," any more than imperial
Rome had any reason 20 fear the fol-
lowers Of the Lord. AS the primitive
Christians they are peaceable, loyal.
faithful and true They are a blessing
to any country In which they dwell,
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-04-12

supply the present demand IS taken as
an evidence that the maximum Of pro-
ductlon has been reached ard that the
United states win necessarily be called
upon TO supply the increasing demand
Of the future Great Britain and France
are about the only European countries
that have coal for export, but they can
no longer produce enough Tor both
home ana foreign consumption.
one cause OF the Increase IN the coal
consumption is the enlargement Of the
navles Of the world. on rather the es-
adjustment Of naval coalIng stations
an over the world. Foreign govern
ments are large purchasers Of coal
Army transports are now blowing the
oceans. transporting and reransport-
Ing troops. and they an need an inn
mense amount OF fuel The statistics
speak eloquently Of the increase In ex-
portatlon. For the seven months end
ing with January. 1899. the export OF
anthracite amounted 10 9j4s77 tons, and
bitumlnous to 10000 tons, while for
the corresponding months ending with
last January It had increased 70 i,il2'-
NJ and 2,7l9ll2, respectively
The future possibilities are regarded
as great In the immense coal deposits
this country has another source Of Inn
mense wealth. that can be utilized for
the good Of mankind As the natural
resources Of this country develop 81 be-
comes clear that St Is not an exagger-
ated figure OF speech 20 say that It is
choice above an others.
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-04-12
RIPE OLIVES.

Mr.. r. w. Ehman. Of Orsville. Cal, a
gentleman interested IN the California
olive Industry. paid q pleasant visit To
the News Office yesterday Wednes-
day afternoon. and talked interestingly
on the subject OF olives and olive OLE
Among other things he maintained mat
the ripe fruit picked, is now rapidly
taking the place Of the green article
wherever It is introduced This should
be OF great Importance to California
for while that state cannot compete
with the Mediterranean countries IN
the green olive, IT'S ripe fruit is said
to be far superior in flavor to the i'm
ported article.
olives as a food stuff deserve much
more recognition than they have re-
ceived hitherto In oriental countries,
where meat IS scarce and but sparing-
~ eaten. olives seem TO be a most val
liable substitute for animal food. Ply
sIcians. we believe, recommend the ripe
olive for patients with weak digestion
and II Is asserted that It IS Of great
value In kidney and liver affections.
An article Of food which IS both high
ly nutritious and possessing medicinal
qualities deserves general attention
Il Is dlncult 10 understand why the
green olives should be preferred gem
orally To- the ripe fruit The roaming
sons Of Arabia eat an kinds Of fruit
green. in the belief that the strength
OF youth" thus passes from the fruit
TO the consumer but that considera-
ton does not obtain In western en-
liphtened countries. But Mr. Ehman
explains this puzzle. According TO him
the preparation Of the ripe olive FOR the
market is delicate and somewhat
dangerous task. The ripe olive on the
tree. he says, IS a handsome black
berry. but contains an acid as bitter
as quinine. so that strangers never eat
more than one raw ripe olive. This
acid must be neutrallzed and expelled
and without injuring the quality OF
the fruit or the oil. a strong solution
of I've IS used and herein lies the danger
both to product and 10 picker. II
the olive is left too long in the soIu-
ton the berry turns 70 very nice
quality Of soft soap. so that a differ
ence OF one half hour viii ruin the crop
and incidentally the picker. Besides
this should any Of the I've splash on
the hands on IN the eyes the effect can
be easily imagined After the I've pro-
cess comes several rlnsings in clear
cold water and after several days in O.
strong salt brine, the olive is ready
for the table.
This being the case Il Is easy TO un-
derstand that exporters should prefer TO
ship the green berry 20 the risk In
yolyed in the preservation Of the ripe
one. But 1t is self-eyldent that the
former Is inferior In quality, The sub
feet is not without interest TO Utah
where the value OF pure olive oil is
30 highly appreciated.
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-04-12
IN THE INTEREST OF SCIENCE

Recent Investigations into the nature
Of malarlal fever is said to have dis
closed the fact that the disease Is due
10 a germ. which IS taken from a dis
eased person or animal by a mosquito
and transferred TO the blood Of the
victims OF the little insect
But science Is not satisfied with
guesses and hypothesis and # Is now
proposed to submit that theory TO a
practical test human beings 20 become
the objects Of an investigating expert
ment.
According TO the plan recently laid
before British medical association,
three men are TO pass the summer IN a
small, specially constructed house or
hut on the Roman Campania. a place
where II Is considarsi th0t even pass
ing a single night IS almost sure 20 be
followed by a serious attack Of malaria
The house is TO be specially provided
with wire screens and mosquito net
tings 10 keep out every insect Of this
kind. There Is said TO be very little
danger during me daytime. but at night
the air IS fun Of these insects, and this
is the time ia which the three persons
on trial are to pass their time there
II they are not attacked By the fever
the presumption Is that the nets tina,
shut out the mosquitoes from the
house also prevented at the same time
the malaria germ from entering.
Then it is further proposed TO take
mosquito that has drawn the blood
from q malaria patient and bring Il in
q case from Rome to England On the
road Il is to be led on vegetable juices.
and when IN England IS to be allowed
10 bite an entirely healthy man 70 see
II this does not lead TO a breaking out
m his case Of the dreaded disease.
This Is an exceedingly interesting
experiment Il cannot be objected to
on the ground that viyisection is con-
demned. Even Mark Twain. who IN
vain, according. 20 his own statement
has endeayored 10 understand why q
should be considered a kind OF credit
TO belong to q human race that has
viyisectors IN Il, could take no excep-
ton to the self-sacrlaclng spirit OF
those who are willing to lend their own
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-04-12
OUR COAL TRADE.

Europe is suffering from what has
been called a coal famine, and the mat
ter is receiving much attention IN this
country, FOR the reason that the short
age Of fuel has created a demand for
American coal. which it is believed Will
increase In the immediate future,
The New York sun. IN commenting on
the situation, says the United States
consul general at Berlin reports 70 the
state department that the shortage Of
coal in Germany and Russia Injuries
the iron and steel industries. lessen
ing the product Of pig iron. The con-
sui says:
1.-THE situation has become critical
and ominous for the manufacturers and
export trade OF Germany Numerous
important glass. porcelain and machine
factories IN Sllesia and SaNOny have
been obliged 20 shut down for want OF
fuel; there are a dozen electric lght-
ing and power plants In this country
which have less than a f0rtnlghts coal
provision on hand Ia Russia the rapid
development OF railways aud certain
manufactures during the past three
wears has completely outrun the limited
domestic coal supply ana the Russian
government has sought 90 ease the
pressure by suspending Tor an Indefinite
period the import duty Of $3.50 per ton
The principal wholesale agency here for
sllesian soft coal is now selling its
ecauty stock az 81 per ton. delivered at
Berlin. and there is general panic
among coal dealers. who are unable 90
provide coal for their customers at any
price and can see no encouraging pros
prcl OF obtaining their next seasons
supply. Offers are made OF N0i 90 SL28
FOR biuminous lump coal IN lots OF
10000 90 10000 tons, free on board at
Hamburg Notwithstanding cOnl at the
pits mouth In West Virginia has sold
during The past year at so cents per
ton. the United States which leads the
world In this product and mined last
year 2lS23i 900 tons OF coal exported
only a bagatcllc Of 50ji.933 tons. OF
which 2.6M.1Gl tons were merely carried
over the frontier into British North
America and the rest went nearly am
90 Mexico and the West Indies c0uu-
tries which lie at our very door,
Looking over the situation, trade pa
pers assert that this country easily eau
produce about double the amount OF
coal needed for the home consumption.
and that IN the future the United States
VIII supply a large part OF the rest OF
the world. The failure Of Europe 70
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-04-12
Chicago Record.

Tn the face Of such incontestable evil
dence the admiral and his friends must
De convinced When discerning polit-
ical leaders argue at great length 90
show that the Dewey candidacy Is on
ly a Joke it Is evident that there must
be force in the arguments. And when
Admiral Dewey picks up some able or
gan OF political opinion and finds from
ten 90 fourteen columns OF fine print
cogently demonstrating that the whole
affair is hardly worth talking about.
how can he believe that he has caused
a sensation or even q ripple Of interest?
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-04-12

Il is temporary. II effects can be tested,
and possible defects may be remedled
os experience shall suggest.
one feature of the long contest over
this matter IS that the sentiment Of
the country has not been divided on
party lines The Literary Digest some
time ago collated no less than sew
enty-hye daily papers, Of an political
shades and from AN parts of the coun-
try. and found that the most radical
opponents on other questions stood to-
gether 0u the Puerto Rioan problem.
The demand throughout the country for
fair treatment OF the new possessions
has been and Is almost unanimous.