davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-07-12
Turkish Rhuharh.

Possessing SAVIOR all its own. we
come on scores of large cases full Of
big. irregular blocks of a bright yell
low colored root. "Rhubarb." says our
guide. indicating it. "Ah! Then it
comes from Turkey?" we cry joyfully.
glad to display our learning for once.
but our friend smiles contemptuously.
There is no such thing as Turkey
rhubarb," he says, land, what is more,
there never has been" All the rhu-
barb of commerce halls from China,
reaching us through Russia for the
most part. but because in olden days it
made its journey by way of Turkey
it became known as Turkey rhubarb.
and Turkey rhubarb it will remain be-
cause of the conservative tendencies
of the British public.-Good Words.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-07-12

A story will serve 10 throw light up
on Edison's character. At one time
there was great fear in the scientific
world that the deposits of platinum
were about to become extinct Edison
thereupon organized a correspondence
bureau and sent letters to every Amer
lean consul upon the globe to British
consuls in ports where the United
States had no representative and to
scientific men in every land. The let
ter gave a clear statement respecting
the metal, how and where it was found
and might be found, how it could be
identified and treated and much other
information.
In each letter were inclOsed samples
of platinum as found in the various
rock beds. This may seem to be
small undertaking, but when it is re-
membered that the letters were sent
off by the thousands, that the postage
was 10 cents to each letter and that
the pieces of platinum inclosed were
almost as valuable as metallic gold, the
cost of the achievement is readily seen.
While he did not succeed in greatly in
creasing the output of platinum, he set
at rest all fear of its extinction and
thus earned the gratitude of every
scientific Observation-Disclosures Leslie's
Magazine.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-07-12

While waiting for the train the bride
and bridegroom walked slowly up and
down the platform.
81 don't know what this joking and
guying may have been to you," he
remarked, "but it's death to me.
never experienced such an ordeal"
ITS perfectly dreadful" she an
swered q shall be so glad when we
get away from everybody we know"
They're actually impertinent," he
went on. "Why, the very natives
At this unpropitious moment the
wheezy old station master walked up
to them.
BE you goin to take this train?" he
asked.
''It's none of your businessw retorted
the bridegroom Indignantly as he guild
ed the bride up the platform, where
they condoled with each other over the
impertinence of the natives.
Onward came the train, its vapOr
curling from afar. 1t was the last to
their destination that day, an express.
Nearer, nearer it came at full speed.
Then in a moment it whizzed past and
was gone.
"Why in thunder didn't that train
stop?" yelled the bridegroom.
Cos you sed 'twarn't none of my
bizness. l has to signal if that trains
to stop"
And as the old station master softly
stroked his beard there was wicked
twinkle in his eye.-London Spare Mo-
mentS.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-07-12
English Ideas of Lynching.

At recent dinner in London the
conversation turned ON the subject of
lynchings in the United States. 1t was
the general opinion that a rope was
the chief end of man in America.
Finally the hostess turned to an Amer
lean, who had taken no part In the
conversation, and said:
You, sir must have often seen these
affairs
YES" he replied, Eve take a kind
Of municipal pride in seeing which city
ran show the greatest number Of
lynchings yearly"
"Oh, do tell us about lynching you
have seen yourself" broke in half a
dozen voices at once.
THE night before l sailed for Eng
land" said the American, Il was CIV
Ing a dinner to party of intimate
friends when colored waiter spilled a
plate of soup over the gown of a lady
Mt an adjoining table. The gown was
utterly ruined, and the gentlemen of
her party at once seized the waiter,
tied rope around his neck and, at a
signal from the injured lady, swung
him into the air.
HORRIBLE" said the hostess, with a
Shudder. And did you actually see
this yourself?"
well, no." said the American apollo
getically. Just at that time | WAS
down stairs killing the chef for putting
mustard in the blancmange. Modern
Society.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-07-12
A Careful Mother,

This is story enc woman is never
tired of telling of mother whose child
had been i'll with scarlet fever. She
always emphasizes the fact, too, that
the mother WIS possessed, upon ordi-
nary occasions, with good sense and
would be called more than ordinarily
Intelligent woman. She was, too, a
more than ordinarily careful mother.
and it was as an Illustration of this
that she told tie story of the care of
her boy to the friend who now repeats
it. Not as much was known about
sanitary conditions then as now, but
it was not in time of primitive igno-
rance.
Il always believe in taking the great
est care to prevent contagion in any
disease" said the mother, land with
the fever | was extraordinarily care
full. Why, when the skin began tC
peel | rubbed the child down with my
hands every day to remove every loose
fragment. let it fall into a cloth, and
then gathered it up carefully and
shook it out the window"
The listener to that story laughed
then and there. to the great surprise
and Indignation of the mother, and
laughs now at the ridiculous ignorance
of woman who claimed to have even
q veStige of common SenSe.-New York
Times.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-07-12
Peculiaritie. of Caracas.

THE morning after our arrival at the
hotel in Caracas" says W. E. Curtis, ''II
called for glass of milk while Dress
ing. On every subsequent morning,
during our stay glass of milk was
brought to me at precisely the same
hour without instructions, and al
though the servant was told several
times that it was not wanted she did
not appear to understand and contin-
ued to bring it just the same.
I'm the hotel were electric bells. The
first day 1 rang for something, and
certain boy answered the summons.
The next morning / rang again and
again, and no one responded. Finally
I went into the dining room and found
there half dozen servants.
"'Didn't you hear my bell ring?' l
asked.
Isl, senior Eyes, sir, was the reply.
"'Then why didn't you answer itY
THE boy that answers your excel
lency's bell has gone to market with
the manager
"'But you knew he was not here, and
you should have come in his place
:" No, senior. 1t is his occupation to
answer your bell. l answer the bell Of
the gentleman in the next room
And as long as l remained in that
hotel my bell was answered only by the
one particular boy If he was not in, l
could ring for an hour without receiv-
ing response, although the house was
full of idle servants
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-07-12
Great Patent Nation.

The United States grants $4,000 pat
ents per annum, or nearly as many as
all the rest of the world. England
grants 5000 per annum and France
and Germany each about 1000, and
such countries as Canada, Australia,
Austria, Italy and Russia grant about
1000 each. An interesting and hopeful
fact is that more patents are granted
In proportion TO the applications than
ever before in the history of the patent
Office, showing that mechanical genius
Is not chasing as many rainbows as
formerly. American inventive genius
is shown in all lines of invention, but
it greatly predominates in machinery
for manufacturing. transportation and
labor saving. Europe and the orient
have begun to find that without Amer
lean industries they would be unable
to go ahead-Success.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-07-12

The Bingham shirted boy had made a
break to pass the ticket seller at the
circus entrance. but that gentleman
had caught him and rudely thrust him
back.
Poor little devil!' said a seedy look
ing man in the crowd. "If | had the
money, I'd buy him a ticket myself"
The crowd looked sympathetic, but
said nothing, while the boy sobbed as
If his heart would dissolve.
I've only got a nickel, little Teller"
went on the seedy looking one, land that
won't do you no good. Say" he con-
tinued, turning suddenly to the crowd,
lets do one good act in our lives. Let's
buy him ticket"
1t looked for minute as if a collec-
ton was to be started, but a bepevo-
lent looking old gentleman nipped it in
the bud by slipping a half dollar into
the hand of the boy, who promptly dis
appeared into the tent.
81 thank you a thousand times for
that kind act. SIR" said the seedy look
ing man.
you seem to take quite an interest
In the little fellow" remarked the be-
nevolent one.
'Well," | should think l ought to-
answered the seedy looking man proud
ly. That's the only son l gotp-In-
dianapolis Sun.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-07-12
Wiil-O-the-Wisp Salvation.

A well known rector of an east end
church was approached one day by a
lady who said she desired to rent a
seat in row nearest the door of his
church. The rector responded that the
seats in that row were all free and that
she was at liberty to occupy any one of
them but she persisted, saying that
she desired to have it for her own.
Being somewhat curious as to her
reasons. the clerical gentleman said,
But. madam. tell me why you wish to
sit so far back Z"
After some hesitancy she responded
that she simply couldn't bear to have
any one sit behind her"
"Yet you will be sitting behind 9th
ers, who perhaps feel the same way
said the rector laughingly.
THAT may be-" replied the devout
lady earnestly. but you know | have
such a wretched little wisp of hair at
the back of my head that it would GER
tainly interfere with my devotions II
knew any one was looking at it,
London Tit-Bits.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-07-12
THE TALE OF A TACK.
How IN Italian Tenor Was Enabled
to Reach High c.

How IN Italian Tenor Was Enable d
to Reach High c.
There was once an Italian tenor at
Covent Garden of the name of Tasca,
! who. | am sorry TO say, sang his own
praises better than the score" says Mr..
William Parry. the stage director at
the Metropolitan Opera House.
For this and other reasons he was
strongly disliked by all the workmen.
great show of mystery:
Tell me the exact spot
81 could not for the life of me under
stand what he wanted
"'You know well enough what |
mean he persisted. Show me the
spot where ramberlik sang the high 9.
There is always one spot on the stage
that is better than all the others to
stand OIL when you sing. Where is itY
"I'll show you later replied. But.
remember. never a word. 1t would
| cost me my place if ii should leak out
Then drove brass tack into one
of the stage boards, and he was over
joyed when solemnly pointed out the
exact spot. and Sc were the workmen
at the prospect of a joke at his expense.
That night he carefully stood on the
tack and sang the high c. Rushing
into the wings. he exclaimed: 'Beauti-
full! Wonderful!' Ever afterward. no
matter what part of the stage demand
ed his presence. he would rush 10 the
tack when the time for the high G
came and there deliver it, Saturday
Evening Post
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-07-12
ONE OF BROOKS PUPILS.
tie Was Unjustly Punished, but He
FOrgave the Offense.

tie Was Unjustly Punished, but He
FOrgave the Ofense.
After his graduation from Harvard
college Phillips Brooks became a
| teacher in the Boston Latin school.
And here, on the very threshold of his
career, he met with failure. So much
had been expected of him that his
want of success was naturally a SUBJ
| ject of much comment at the time, and
after he had become a great preacher
his early failure was still referred to
and sometimes was used to point a
moral.
1t was turbulent class that Phillips
Brooks had to teach. Before he took
charge of it three teachers had been
driven away. The man who followed
| Mr.. Brooks, to fill out the year, coll
| fessed himself so wearied by the fire.
| quent resort to corporal punishment
that he was obliged to betake himself
to the mountains for the summer to
recuperate his strength. The boys
were certainly in fault, but the blame
was not wholly theirs, and long since
they may be supposed to have repented
of their mischief.
Phillips Brooks was then not yet 20
years old, little more than a boy. Nat
urally, perhaps, he made mistakes. On
one occasion, says his biographer, be
punished a boy who had committed
no fault.
After MIR. Brooks had become bishop
of Massachusetts, as he was moving
in his majestic dignity across Boston
Common. he met this boy, then a ma
ture man occupying post of trust and
| influence. Neither man had forgotten
the incident.
Looking down upon his old pupil, the
bishop made certain appeal for for
giveness. Tell me, now" he said,
that l did not make a mistake and
punish the wrong boy"
Yes, you did make a mistake. You
punished the wrong boy" was the all
swer, but have missed so many pull
ishments that deserved that | ought
to be grateful for that one. which did
not deserve. Youths Companion.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-07-12
What Might Have Happened.

A sporty young gentleman of the city
who drives dainty runabout which is
the envy Of the other young men of his
set was driving down Main street the
other day when he nearly ran over a
six foot countryman. The countryman
caught the bit and sat the horse upon
its launches without apparent effort
and then complacently remarked to the
driver:
Sonny, you had better be careful
how you drive that doll buggy of
your'n If | hadn't collared this here
horse. you would "a run that thing into
me and smashed il all to kindling."-
Memphis Scimitar.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-07-12
A JOSSHOUSE.
Pen Picture of the One Ia San Fran.
ciscO's Chinese Quarter.

Pen Picture of the One In San Fran
cisco's Chinese Quarter.
In one corner is a miniature wooden
warrior, frantically riding fiery steed
toward a joss who stands in his door
way awaiting the riders coming A
teapot of unique design, filled with
fresh tea every day, and very small
cup and saucer are always ready for
the warrior. This represents a man
killed in battle. whose noble steed.
missing his master, refused to eat and
SO pinned away and died. A welcome
is assured to them in the better
land if the work of man can accom-
plish it. The horse and rider are to
them the Chinese) what the images of
saints are to Christians. In another
corner is tiny bowl of water The
gods occasionally come down and
wash. At certain times of the year di-
rect questions are written on slips of
paper and put into the hands of one
of the greatest josscs. These disap-
pear. and then the jess either mods or
shakes his bead in answer.
OH the altar OF GtlrS are several
brass and copper vessels. in which the
worShiper leaves sandalwood punk
burning III such position that the
ashes will fall OH the fine sand in the
vessel. When one OF these is full it is
emptied into an immense bronze vase
on the balcony, and this, in turn, is
emptied into the ocean. The Chinese
take good care of their living and nev-
er forget their dead. Once year, the
fourteenth day of the seventh month.
they have solemn ceremony by which
they send gold and silver and cloth to
the great army of the departed.
furnace is necessity in a joss
house. 1t is lighted on ceremonial
days. and paper representing cloth,
gold and silver is burned, the ashes of
the materials being, in their minds.
useful in spirit land. Private families
send to their relatives and friends
whatever they want by throwing the
gold, the silver and the cloth paper,
also fruits. into fire built in the street
in front of their houses. The days Of
worship come on the LIST and 18th of
each month.-Alodern Culture.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-07-12

He had obtained place in a real es-
tate office and was doing everything he
could for the interests of his employers.
The other evening he was at social
gathering and was asked to sing. He
responded with Home, Sweet Home"
His friends were little surprised at
the selection, but he was heartily ap-
plauded. Stepping forward. he said:
81 am glad you liked the song. There
is nothing like Home, Sweet Home
and let me say that the company rep
resent is selling homes on terms to suit
within II minutes ride of the city. Ev-
erybody ought TO have home. If you
don't want to live there, it's the chance
of your life for an investment"
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-07-12
ALL is sELFIsHNEss.
The Wise Mans Theory md How 1t
Was Exploded.

after ALL" said the wise man, "what
is it but selfshness? The optimist who
goes through fife whistling and singing
songs of cheer is not entitled to any
special credit, because it is a pleasure
to him to be happy. If it didn't make
him glad to be happy, he wouldn't be
that way. So you see selfishness lies
at the bottom of his good cheer
Then there is the pessimist. Is he
discouraged because he thinks 1t is his
duty to mankind to paint dark pic
lures? Not at all. His is another clear
case of selfishness. He gratifies him
self by being unhappy and trying to
make others so. Love, too, is selfish
ness. The maiden doesn't love the man
to make him glad. It's her own happi-
ness that she promotes in looking upon
him as the noblest work of God. Mans
love for woman has back of it the same
selfish motive
so, too, the philanthropist's love Of
the world He loves it and loves to do
great things for it because it gives him
satisfaction to know that he Is doing
well.
Consider IL from whatever stand
point you please, and you must always
arrive at the same conclusion. Every
thing that man does he does selfishly.
1t is always a case of gratifying his
own inclinations IT,
Just then the wise man turned a SON.
ersault and skinned his nose against a
water plug When he got up and look
ed around with the look of one who
was beginning to remember things that
had long been forgotten. his puph
asked:
WAS it selfishness that impelled you
to stub your toe? Did you do it be-
cause it brought sense of qualification
to your
Say, you COMPOUNDED idiot" the wise
man replied. you ought to have that
grin photographed. 1t would make a
good frontispiece to Darwin's works.
Chicago Herald.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-07-12

He understood all about the sun and
the moon and the stars and something
about the weather. Indeed, he was
popularity supposed to regulate this
last, and his indication of probabilities
was received as gospel by his admiring
fellow citizens in a certain southern
colony of Australia. He went to Eng
land for well earned holiday.
He was shown over a celebrated fruit
garden there. He was observed to be
shifting about as if something were
wrong. They asked him what was the
matter. well" he replied. these fun
ny fellows have trained their peach
trees against the south side of the wall
to get the midday sun instead of
against the north. "-London Truth.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-07-12
One of the Queer Sights of brooklyn

One of the Queer Sights of Brooklyn.
speaking of queer things that hap
pen in Brooklyn" said a member of the
finance department, "a few nights ago
| was going out on a late train on the
Fifth avenue elevated road. There
were few passengers in the car. Sit
ting opposite me was a demure looking
Brooklynite with large bundle under
each arm. The bundles were closely
wrapped with newspapers.
Suddenly a violent internal move
ment agitated the bundle under the
mans left arm, and moment later the
head of a large game rooster broke
through the paper. AS soon as the roost-
er's head was clear he crowed loud
and defantly. Then the bundle under
the other arm heaYed and struggled,
another beak and comb appeared, and
the crow of defiance was promptly an
swered by one of challenge.
Then for five minutes those two
ROSTERS crowed at 80 seconds inter-
walls, while their owner struggled des-
perately to get them back into the
wrappings where he had thought them
effectually concealed. He Indignantly
refused the request of the other passen~
gers to put them on the floor of the car
and let them fight it out."-New York
Sim
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-07-12
HE DID HIS BEST.
Celebrated Musicians Adventure In
Swiss Country village.

Swiss Country Village.
The late Sir john Stainer. one of
England's most celebrated musicians
and composers. was several years ago
in small Swiss village, and the Eng
lish clergyman was on the lookout for
a musician to assist at the service.
Stainer was in the smoking room of
the hotel when the clergyman found
him and started the conversation with
DO you play the harmonium?" "A lit
tle," was the reply of the ex-organist
of st. Paul's cathedral. xviii you
then. be good enough to help us out OF
our difficulty on Sunday? We will
be the simplest can select" added
the delighted parson. II will do my
BEST" said Stainer. with a smile.
The service passed off all right, but
the congregation. instead of rushing
away at the close, listened to a brilliant
recital. When the parson heard the
name of his assistant, he asked him to
dinner. do you smoker he said at
the close. II will do my BEST" NUT
tered Stainer. and the ensuing laugh
ter was the prologue of an entertaining
exchange of Oxford "reminiscences.
Stainer was a great story teller. One
anecdote he was fond of relating had
reference to the days when there were
amateur orchestras in churches. The
Messiah was being sung. and as the
line who is the King of GloryT ap-
preached the man playing double bass
whispered to the violoncellist in front
of him. LET US have your rosin, and |
will show 'em who is the king of glo-
ry!'-London Tit. Bits.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-07-12
Fattening English QuaiIs.

A curious account of how quails are
fattened for the market is given in a
London paper. 1t appears that Quails.
being regular in their habits. always
feed directly they wake up in the
morning. They are therefore put in a
large cellar lit only by electric light In
the dark they go to sleep. but directly
the light is turned on they wake up and
breakfast. This process Is repeated time
after time, and the birds. always labor
Ing under the delusion that morning
has arrived, once more breakfast, over
and over again. They have been known
to do so six times in an afternoon
Philadelphia Record.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-07-12
The Doctor,s Indiscretion.

There is no profession which calls
for the use of more discretion than the
profession of medicine" remarked a
we'll known physician of this city
Just to give you an instance:
81 came home late one evening after
a very busy day and was told by the
office boy that certain Mrs. S. had
called me up three times on the tele-
phone. AS her young hopeful bad scar
let fever and was afraid he had taken
sudden turn for the worse, got cen
trail to connect me with her house
without delay.
1.-The missus has gone to bed, SIR
said the voice of maid in reply, but
she was so anxious to know If she
could wash Tommy's face
81 called back that she had better ask
the nurse If it was dirty. Now they
have another doctor."-New York Mail
and Express.