davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-01-04
The Old Time Doctor.

when l was young fellow" said
the man who notices things, "the fam
lily physician attended to all the ills of
the family, and the specialists Of the
profession were wholly unknown. The
country doctor was a surgeon as we'll
as physician. He was almost always
clever and usually had remedies of his
own invention for common ailments. A
large number of the successful patent
medicines now before the public are
prescriptions of the old time country
physician. 1 could name dozen such.
"Old DIR. Hill, who was the leader in
the town grew up in, was called into
the country by an urgent message one
night. He wasn't advised what the
patient was suffering from and upon
arrival found 1t was an liberated tooth
that was subjecting its owner to al
most unbearable pain. Not a surgical
instrument did the doctor have with
him, and his Office was seven miles
away. Did he send back for his in
struments2 Not muchl He extracted
that tooth with an ordinary hammer
and nail to the complete satisfaction Of
his patient and himself. I'll wager he
made a mighty good job Of it too
New York Tribune.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-01-04
The Unique Horn of the Unicorn.


The horn of unicorn was shown at
Windsor castle and in 1893 was valued
at over 100000. Lewis vertomannus,
a gentleman of Rome, saw with his
own eyes two unicorns presented to the
sultan of Mecca by king of Ethiopia.
They were in park of the temple of
Mecca and were not much unlike a colt
of 80 months of age. This was in 1903.
The animal became extinct about the
end of the seventeenth century.
The unicorn is represented in the
ruins at Persepolis, and 1t was adopted
by the Persians as the emblem of speed
and strength. In the middle ages it
was the symbol of purity. The unicorn
hated the elephant, and it used to whet
its horn on stone before it struck the
foe in the abdomen. No family, by the
way, should be without one of these
horns, the average length of which is
four feet. They defend from witch
craft. Thus Torquemada had one al
ways on his writing table. Further
more, a drinking cup made from one
will be a safeguard against poison, as
will the ground powder put in drink,
and indeed the wells of the palace of
st. Mark could not be poisoned in the
good old days of adventure because
these beneficent horns had been
thrown into them. Unicorn's horn was
formerly sold by apothecaries at S12O
an ounce.-Boston journal.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-01-04

One day Andrew Carnegie at Pitts
burg called up one Of his New York
lawyers by long distance telephone.
The steelmaker wanted to ask a
question, but could not make himself
understood clearly over the telephone,
so he asked the lawyer to come to
Pittsburg.
The lawyer said he had an important
appointment in New York next day and
could not get away.
Come over now, then" Mr.. Carnegie
said.
Cant get train," answered the law
yer.
Hire a special" was the answer
which came back from Pittsburg.
So the lawyer engaged a special
train. went to Pittsburg and saw Mr..
Carnegie.
The steelmaker asked the lawyers
advice as to whether the question trou-
bling him called for Eyes" or mo-"
The lawyer answered, NO"
THANK you." said Mr.. Carnegie.
"Good night"
The lawyer had said less than 20
words, for which he received $1,000,
said Good night, Mr.. Carnegie" and
took a special train back to New York
In time to keep his appointment next
day.-New York Herald.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-01-04
A Curious Combat.

A traveller in South Africa witnessed
not long since a singular combat. He
was musing one morning, with his eyes
on the ground, when he noticed a cat
erpillar crawling along at a rapid rate.
Pursuing him was a host of small
black ants.
Being quicker in their movements,
the ants would catch up with the cater
pillar, and one would mount his hack
and bite him. Pausing, the caterpillar
would turn his head and bite and kill
his tormentor. After slaughtering a
dozen or more Of his prosecutors the
caterpillar showed signs Of fatigue
The ants made combined attack Be
taking himself to a stalk of grass, the
caterpillar climbed up the tree tail first,
followed by the ants. AS one approach
ed he seized it in his jaws and threw 1t
off the stalk
The ants, seeing that the caterpillar
had too strong a position for them to
overcome, resorted to strategy. They
began saving through tile grass stalk.
In a few minutes the stalk fell, and
hundreds Of ants bounced upon the
fallen caterpillar. He was killed at
once, and the victors marched off in
great triumph, leaving the foes body
upon the field.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-01-04
Read This before You write.

Never write poetry until you are at
least 80. unless you fall In love. when
it will come to you like the measles.
You would better begin with stories
that is, If you have leading idea and
can invent situations. Do not attempt
the novel until you have passed your
fortieth year. A novel requires a
knowledge Of men and manners. a
study of human character, and powers
to create dialogue and invent surprises.
I know that there have been instances
when very young men have written
clever poems and novels, but these
were freaks Of genius which do not
often occur. Avoid attempts at hu-
NOR. That mine has already been
worked for more than it is worth. and
the best of It seems to be labored.
What the funny men do produce is not
equal to the unintentional humor
which is to be found in congressional
speeches on the tariff, and in the old
fashioned epitaphs in the country
churchyards.-Thomas Dunn English
IN Success.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-01-04
Forre.t as a Negro Minstrel.


From almost the beginning OF Ameri-
can stage history there were negroes Of
the minstrel variety impersonated on
the stage, though it was not until about
1910 that they were organized into
bands. Some of the greatest actors Of
later days had their experience as min.
strels, among them Joe Jefferson and
Edwin Forrest
Forrest was given negro Song and
dance" act to do when he was very
young, and after he had studied 1t up
he asked where was the "old negro
lady" that was to act his assistant In
the piece. The management tried sew
eral of the women who were members
Of the company, but none of them
would consent to blacken up, and, in
fact, they were very indignant over the
proposition. The actor, however, was
not easily discouraged, and on the
night Of the first performance he black
ened up and went around the corner to
an old negro woman who did his wash
ing.
Hello, Dinah," he said on entering.
How 20 be er feelin dis berry fine
ebenin3"
Hello, yo'," replied the African lady.
"'Pears to me yo' am er berry fresh mig.
ger"
"I'ze no Niger" answered Forrest,
and then, time being rather short, he
assumed his natural voice and told Di
nah, much to her surprise, that he was
Forrest, the actor, and that he wanted
her to go on the stage with him that
night and laugh loudly at frequent in
tervals, which was all the female part
called for. The two made great hit
and were kept on for some time, which
goes to show that Forrest might have
been good minstrel had he been of an
ambitious nature.-Saturday Evening
Post
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-01-04
Her Sacrifice.

The Rev. Cyrus t. Brady says in his
book of missionary "reminiscences: 81
was once preaching about missions.
urging the congregation to make some
sacrifice for the missionary cause and
indicating to them several methods by
which they could follow my advice.
Among other things l suggested that
they refrain from purchasing any book
which they very much desired and do
nate the money to me instead for my
missionary work. l happened to have
perpetrated book myself.
You will therefore understand my
feelings when very bright woman in
the congregation came up to me and
handed me 81 with the remark, had
Intended to buy your book and read it,
Mr.. Brady. but have concluded to fol-
low your advice and give you the mon
ey for missions instead
81 accepted the situation gracefully
and told her would lend her my own
copy of the book to read. She smiled
and thanked me, and as she did so 1
voiced my thought in this way, But
after all Mrs. R., there does not seem
to be any sacrifice on your part In this
transaction, for you have the happy
consciousness Of having given the mon
ey for missions and vet have the book
as WE'LL
"'No sacrificer she replied. why, l
have to read the book"
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-01-04
Fat Policemen.

"Have you ever noticed that nearly
all policemen get fatY asked a man
who keeps his eyes open. This would
seem to disprove the theory that walk
ing in the open air is a means of reduc-
ing superfuous weight. have known
new policemen to start on their beats
weighing no more than 125 pounds. In
SIX months they would tip the scales at
$50 and in year reach the 200 mark
1t must be the slow sauntering in the
open air that does it, for have noticed
that while policemen grow fat the
house sergeants, who are confined to
the stations. are invariably thin. Those
who patrol the streets gain the maxi
mum weight in about three years. The
muscles then harden, and despite theiI
apparent burden of flesh the men usu.
ally develop great activity. One Of the
best runners and jumpers know is 9
policeman who weighs nearly BOO
pounds. "-Philadelphia Record.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-01-04
HIS TheOrY.

A novel explanation of the cause of
thunder showers was once given a So
journer in little Nova Scotia town by
one of the Inhabitants.
do you know what makes thun-
der?" the Nova Scotian inquired of his
guest. Tive got theory of my own.
and call it pretty good one"
II should like to hear it." was the
diplomatic reply.
WELL" said the host slowly, my
idea is this: You know we hear about
the air circulating and circulating all
the time. My notion is that the pure
air from above comes down here in
summer and gets foul with all the
smoke and dirt and grease, and then
the heat drives 1t up again into the
clouds, and when it gets up there it's
pressed on all round by the clouds COM
ing together, and it explodes! That's
my theory. OF course" he added, with
becoming modesty, "other folks may
have others" youths Companion.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-01-04
She Couldn't stand II.

NO." said the beautiful actress; 81
cannot be your wife. I love you dearly,
Mr. Frost, and If you had any other
name would be glad to go through
life sharing your joys and sofroWs."
But" he protested, my name
should not stand in the way. What Is
1t Shakespeare says7 "A rose by any
other name would smell as sweet
What is the matter with my name
Does history record q single dark or
unworthy deed committed by a Frost?
No. All, darling, say you will make
me the happiest man on earthP'
mo, no! cannot! l cannotw she
moaned. WHY, If were to marry you
every newspaper paragrapher in the
country would have something to say
next morning about the Frost Miss
Darlington received at yesterdays per-
formance.' "-Chicago Times-Herald.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-01-04
How the Burmese Make Fire.

One day a Burmese messenger
brought me note. While he was wait
Ing for the reply, observed an object
something like a boys popgun sus-
pended around his waist. On asking
what 1t was he showed me that it was
an implement for producing fire. 1t
was rude example of scientific in
strument employed by lecturers at
home to illustrate the production of
heat by suddenly compressed air. A
piston fitted into the tube; the former
was followed at the lower end and
smeared with wax to receive q piece
Of cotton or finder. which when press
ed into 1t adhered. The tube was clos
ed at one end. Placing the piston at
the top Of the tube, with smart blow
he struck it down and Immediately
withdrew it with the finder on fire, the
sudden compression Of the air having
lgnited 1t. ! was so much struck with
the scientific ingenuity of this rude
implement that procured it from the
Burman and sent 1t to the Asiatic So
ciety of Bengal, with a short descrip-
ton of its NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Of My
Life" by Surgeon General Sir .Johr
Fayer.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-01-04
Uses of Olive OIL.

Olive oil should be found in every
nursery and on every medicine shelf
In time of Group it can be given fire.
quently and will not disturb the diges-
ton. as do many medicines. 1t is often
given In place Of cod liver oil and is as
effective in building up the system and
far less disagreeable. 1t is recon-
mended by many specialists both as a
food and a tonic. A certain young
chemist never has a cold or requires
any medicine except a spoonful OF
olive oil every night and morning.
which he takes regularly. He seldom
wears an overcoat.-New York Trib-
une.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-01-04
PRESIDENTIAL lightning.
storms Prank Nerved a Youns Law.
Student to Bet md He Won

storms Prank Nerved a Young Lave
Student to Bet and He Won.
The lightning caused me to bet on
the presidential election in $780," said
a wall street man, land 1 won.
I'm not more superstitious than the
average Individual" continued the
man, although my act would Indicate
the contrary. was a young man in a
law office in a Kentucky town. NY
preceptor had pasted over his desk a
poster containing the portraits of all Of
the candidates, Lincoln and Hamlin,
Breckenridge and Lane, Douglas and
Johnson and Bell and Everett. The
poster contained the platforms of the
various parties. There was some un-
certainty in that campaign. My pre-
ceptor was an enthusiastic Douglas
man and wanted to bet all he had on
his candidate. 1t was my first expert
ence in presidential campaign, and l
had fool notion that Bell and Everett
would be elected. had never made a
money bet, but l was aching to take up
my Blackstonian preceptor. although
lacked nerve
Zone day there was thunderstorm.
The lightning loosened a number Of
things in the town, the building In
which l was law student being one.
In one of its pranks the lightning cut
in the wall on which that political
poster was posted. The result was that
the upper part Of the poster hung down
from the wall, covering up all the can
didates save Lincoln and Hamlin. De-
spite my sympathies for Bell and Ever
EFT l imagined / saw in this condition
of the poster the result of that election,
and a few days later when the Doug
las enthusiast talked on his upper
notes and offered to bet $25 even on his
man took him up. He was very much
astonished' to think would bet on Lin
coin and Hamlin. He said / was a
young ass and other things and that he
would bet with me to teach me les
son. After the election he asked me
how came to take the chance, for
there were few Lincoln votes in the
town. When l told him the source of
my tip, he grew serious.
"'You have won your first bet on a
presidential election he said, but re-
member, young man, lightning never
strikes in the same place twice.
But it did in this case. Lincoln was
re-elected."-New York Sun.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-01-04
DRESS AS WELL AS YOU CAN
II Il Ones Duty to Present a Pleas
ing Appearance.

ing Appearance.
This story is told In Denver of a man
who was once a leading merchant
there. In the early days of the city
he walked its streets, out of work and
money. He was poorly clad, but neat
and clean. He sought employment
from prosperous grocer and said he
was willing to do anything. The mer-
chant at length sent him into his Gel
lar to clean out room so foully dirty
that many common laborer had re-
fused to enter 1t. When the young
man appeared in the evening, he was
as neat in his appearance as he had
been In the morning. OF course the
merchant thought he had done little or
nothing. But when he saw the cellar,
clean and fresh, he said to the young
man:
you've not only shown that you are
willing to work, but also that you have
some respect for yourself. guess I'll
give you job"
This young man, who in a few years
became the head of the selfsame bust
ness, realized the important fact that
the worker is often scrutinized as close
ly as his work.
1t is a mans duty toward his fellow
man to dress as well as he can afford
to. Nowhere In nature does the poorly
dressed man find any excuse for his
lack. Even the lowest forms of animal
and plant life are clothed in pleasing
coiors.
Reptiles crawl in richly notified
skins; beasts of burden and birds Of
prey are clad in fur and gay plumage
Trees blossom in wonderful foliage
and that most plebelan Of vegetables
the onion, revels below the ground In
coiofs that artists seek to initiate and
above ground In q LEAKAGE and bloom
odd and beautiful.
Everywhere In nature beauty is COM
bined with use. 1t remains for man,
the highest and noblest specimen Of
the Creators handiwork, to be the daub
in the color scheme of the universe
Weekly Bouquet.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-01-04
Her Celestial Credentials.

Put 1t down thar" said the old man
to the obituary writer, that she wuz
AZ an likely fer her age"
That's down."
"That she wuz never known ter
speak cross word, bein def an dumb
from childhood"
"All right"
'SThat she is now at rest on Abra-
hams bosom But hold on! Amt
that whar Lazarus is?'
81 think So"
He paused a moment as II IN deep
thought Then he said:
mo matter! Put it down that she's
thar, too, fer eff ever Lazarus sees her
comm he'll vacate an hunt another
restin place. Sides that, he's been thar
too long nyhowp'-Atlanta Constitu-
ton.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-01-04
BEST GAMBLING SYSTEM.
The One That VIII Surely Beat Faro
and Roulette.


and Roulette.
Every confirmed gambler in the
world has spent more or less time try
ing to figure out some system to beat
the game" said well known northern
sporting man. 1.-The commonest and
most plausible scheme is the one known
as progression 1t is simply a dou-
bling of bets until a winning occurs,
and theoretically it is perfect. but the
trouble is that all gambling games
have limit, and the doubling process
increases wager with such enormous
rapidity that it is apt to get over the
stipulated amount before the winning
takes place.
81 was at Monte Carlo last spring"
continued the speaker, land was sur
prised at the number of touts who in
tested the grounds peddling sure
thing systems to break the bank The
ludicrous part of it was that most Of
the peddlers were seedy and poverty
stricken in appearance, yet they pur-
ported to sell secrets which would in
fallibly enrich any purchaser. l asked
one fellow why he didn't try his sys-
tenn himself and buy a new hat, and
he replied very glibly that he was
working for a syndicate and under
bonds not to play.
Nearly all of these systems are
based on progression and would be i'm.
possible in high play owing to the ca
sino limit. Nevertheless saw a num-
Der of small progression players at the
tables and was told that they have
been a fixture there for many years.
They were nearly all horrible looking.
bloodless old women. who began with
the smallest possible wager and quit
when they won 20 francs, or less than
81. A house official Informed me that
they were tolerated about the place on
account of age and infrmity and that
their daily winnings were regarded in
the light of pension.
''In the days of open gambling In
New Orleans l remember there used
to be several broken down sports who
were said to make a living off the
games by progression playing have
my doubts about it, however. The
best system and the only system that
will beat faro and roulette is to stay
away" - New Orleans Times Demo
graf
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-01-04
WAsPs ACT IN A TRAGEDY
But They Come Very Near T1r.iu
It Into q Comedy

1t Into q Comedy.
zone Of the most laughable scenes /
ever witnessed during the representa-
ton of one of Shakespeare's tr..c.
dies" said a well known theatrical
manager to the writer the other day.
happened to the late Tom Keene
when he was performing in a northern
New York town. The company was
playing Julius Caesar and at the
last moment it was found that the
property man had failed to send up the
regular throne chair used in the sem
ate scene, and an old rustic chair was
hastily procured from the left of the
theater and, after being covered with
draping, was pressed into service. In
the midst of the scene a large wasps'
nest was discovered attached to the
chair, and its inhabitants, becoming
indignant at the disturbance they had
suffered, began to swarm about the
stage, seeking revenge upon the Ro-
mans in their low necked and short
sleeved dresses. The wasps seemed to
be particularly offended with Caesar,
and it is doubtful if Caesars death
scene was ever acted with more feel
ing, for at the moment be was being
pierced by the conspirators' daggers
the wasps were most Industrious In
their work.
I'm the tent scene where Caesar ap-
pears TO Brutus one might almost have
doubted its being the real Caesar. 1t
was the same in form and dress, but
the face was no longer the same. In
the last act Brutus had one eye closed,
Antony a swollen lip. Cassius an en-
larged chin, Lucius an inequality in
the size of his hands and Octavius
Caesar a nose that would have done
service as the famous nasal organ of
Bardolf in Henry w.
THE tragedy came very near becom-
ing roaring comedy when Mr.. Keene,
as Cassius. said, Antony, the posture
Of your blows is yet unknown but for
your words; they rob the Hybla bees
and leave them honeyless.' and the
actor who was doing Antony replied,
Not stingless too Washington Star.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-01-04
Appropriate Shades.

A party of Americans were sitting
Cd the upper deck of Rhine river boat
enjoying the charming scenery. One
was reading aloud from guidebook
about the various castles as they came
Into view. Just as the boat was pass
Ing one of the finest old buildings a
woman in the party exclaimed to her
companions: why, that old castle is
inhabited. See, there are blinds at the
windows"
NO." said man standing by her
side; "those are the shades of their an
cestOrs"
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-01-04
Reasoning From Analogy.

Freddy is the son of a Fourth avenue
stockbroker, you will understand. and
is therefore familiar with some of the
terms of the profession.
Papa" said Freddy.
well. my sonT'
"Is there such a worm as a book
wormT'
There is such a creature, Freddy,
but 1t very rare. The term book
worm, however, is applied to a person
who is continually porting over books"
"And papaw
''WellY
"Is man who is always porting over
the ticker a tapewormT- Pittsburg
acknowledgements.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-01-04
The Gardener.

The term gardener implied much
more few generations ago than it
does today. Young men paid heavy
premiums to get in as apprentices IN
der learned gardeners, and when at the
end of the term they were invested
with the blue apron" most of them
would compare favorably in general
intelligence with the graduates of our
modern universities.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-01-04
A Parsons Pun.

A writer in The Cornhill Magazine
credits the late Canon Bingham with
the following bit of wit:
He was driving one day with other
clergy to a clerical meeting, when the
conversation turned upon the meaning
of the two places they were nearing,
Wool and Wareham, in the county of
Dorset.
How do you account for the origin
of these names, Canon BinghamY ask
ed one Of the party.
Don't you know this is 2 sheep coun-
ty," replied the canon, "and at Wool
you wool the sheep and at Wareham
you wear 'emP
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-01-04
His Irncrance.

Tess-Oh, like him well enough, but
it's so hard to make him understand
anything. Last night he asked me
several times for a kiss, and | said.
mo, no" each time.
Jess-My goodnessI 1 should think
that was emphatic enough for any
man.
Tess-It certainly should be for any
one who knows that two negatives
make positive.-Philadelp Press.