davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1901-01-29
The X " <
Conpradore

The Chinese compradore, through
out the East is a man of great re-
sponsibility. In banks. hotels. railway
and shipping offices the bulk of all
money received and paid out passes
through his trustworthy hands, says
the New York Tribune. Even in ia
pan, Notwithstanding the race antago-
nism that unquestionably exists, the
Chinese compradore is to be found
everywhere. In important commercial
transactions he, and not a go-between
of their own nationality, is employed
by the Japanese from Yokohama to
Nagasaki. This is also true IN Manila
and Singapore, where the English are
at the head of affairs. One of the ablest
and best known compradores in China
is Wong Soong Dong, who has held
this position in the Office of the United
States consul-general in Shanghai for
over thirty years. This is regarded
or was-by the Chinese as highly COM
plimentary. both to the compradore
himself and TO his government. since it
indicates recognition of faithfulness
and integrity, which makes it worth
while for his native subordinates to
emulate him in well-doing.
Wong Soong Dong was in the employ
of this government at the time when
ex-President Grant made his tour
around the world, and he wears on his
watch chain an American eagle in
gold presented him by the American
emperor" as the Chinese called Gener-
al Grant. He is a man well educated,
according to native standards. speak
ing English with considerable fiuency,
and he possesses all the dignity and
courtesy of his race From the United
States he receives a stipend of $50 gold
month, but his private enterprises
are extensive and profitable. yielding
him, it is said. an income of something
like $4,000 year. This has not been
acquired, by any means, through his
office, but from the various native
banks and shops in which he is inter-
ested, and which are carried on for
him by agents. after the manner of all
Chinese capitalists. He loans money
at profitable rate of interest; he
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1901-01-29
Important FunofA0-
ory ar the -SbontAH
Consulate.

owns a tailoring establishment, en-
ploying a score or more men; a shop
where silks and curios are sold, and
over all these he keeps close personal
supervision that does not in the least
affect his usefulness as compradore.
On the contrary, his high commercial
standing has made him all the more
valuable, in that it brings him into
close contact with Chinese whose as
sistance and influence are frequently
required by the consul-general. Very
little money is paid in the East when
purchases are made by residents in the
open ports The "chit" system pre-
vails-one which is mischievous alike
to buyer and dealer since it induces
extravaganza and long and inconve-
nient credit. Whatever is wanted is
ordered through the comprad dore, who
receives chit" or written order, and
the articles required are sent to tho
buyers residence on approval. Will
the very exact four settlements are
made annually, but the more general
custom is to balance accounts at the
beginning of the new year. All the
"chits" or orders are carefully pre-
served by the compradore. and an ac-
curate statement is made of all money
paid out. This routine is followed
whether the purchase amounts to
few cash or runs up into the hundreds
of taels. For thirty years all the buy
ing for the United States consulate
has been done in this manner by Wong
Soong Dong, and there has never been
the discrepancy of single cash in his
accounts. He bargains for all the
house furnishings required. the sup
plies for the consular table, the fuel
even the silks, linens and bric-a-brac
which the casual visitors buy to take
back home with them. In all the years
of his service he has made the affairs
of the country which he serves practi-
cally his own, driving shrewd bar
gains. placating the unfriendly, and
watching the over-reaching and schem
ing with cleverness greater than
their own. Administrations come and
go, but Wong Soong Dong remains
and doubtless will until he is superan-
nuated and retires voluntarily.
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1901-01-29

The peculiar objection to student
luxury, as President Jones, Of Hobart
College, recently observed, is that it
is parasitic. 1t qualities young men to
be good spenders'' of the resources
of others. The flowers they send to
their friends, the horses they keep, the
bets they lose are paid for by some
one else. The eXorbitant expenditures
of the student have himself as their
sole object, wherein they differ from
those of almost every other class; they
represent self-indulgence of the Grass
est sort. Habits of luxury are danger
Gus to the future of young man; the
practice of extravaganza in his days
Of dependence is dangerous to his self
respect and demoralizing sometimes to
the self-respect of others who cannot
afford to indulge it.
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1901-01-29


dians of public. morality and are alone
the ones who are held responsible for
a breach of the matrimonial relation.
In the event of a charge of misconduct
there is no ignominy attaching to the
woman, but if the charge can be
proved the man who is party to the
offense may be made to suffer the
death penalty or may be condemned
to serve the person offended for the
rest of his life as a slave"
Among the Oar Band, Oar Ferti and
Oar Rungas tribes the explorer Jared
as well as among the Jenkkas. He
supplied them with game, which
with their crude weapons, was difficult
to secure, and entered high into the
counsels of the chiefs. During the
time he was with these people he ac-
commodated himself to their mode of
life and lived on the same food as they
ate. One of the articles of diet he
missed was salt, but he finally man
aged to overcome his taste so that he
could get along very well without it.
The manioc tuber, which somewhat
resembles the sweet potato, was a
staple article of food among the ma
tives. The manioc when baked is a
little like bread and is a good substi-
tute. To prepare the food the tuber
is soaked a few days in water until
it is decomposed and looks like dough.
1t is then wrapped in banana leaves
and boiled. When cooked it is called
by the natives ''chiquonga.' 1t has a
sour, gritty taste, but is easily di
gested.
Mr. Cherry does not consider the
prospects for the discovery of precious
minerals in the interior of Africa par
ticularly promising. There are large
DEPOSITS of iron ore but these will
not, of course, prove very valuable at
least not for long time to come. So
far no gold discoveries of any partic-
ular importances have been made
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1901-01-29

sin against the God @. nature. I DO
not even wear woolen clothing, and the
very buttons upon my coat are Of
wood, not of the bone of murdered
animal"
Cassidy calls himself "Manihot." He
teaches music and talks philosophy.
This Is his discourse:
Mature is not to be accused. She
has done her part, and our whole duty
is to put ourselves in harmony with
her. She is my library. With Bryant
l say, Go forth under the open sky and
list to natures teachings She never
betrayed the heart that trusted her.
you may wonder that man after
my stature should be content to live
thus, on the coarsest food, plain cloth
ing and rude dwelling, but it is the de-
lights of sweet philosophy that sus-
tain me- With what scope of wild
amazement and admiration 1t caught
the soul of Newton and Socrates. II
teaches me that all is as musical as
Apollo's lutte.
See! see, my young friend, this
chart On the musical scale there are
notes, beginning with do and ending
with do So with the very weak, be-
ginning with Sunday and ending with
Sunday. The whole world is set to
music "
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1901-01-29
ar.z,I Invaded by reutons.

Germany in Brazil is topic rare
ly discussed in the press, and yet the
German settlements in South America
are the most fiourishing of which the
fatherland can boast. Since the begin
ming of the present century German
emigrants have struggled against fear
full odds to establish themselves in
southern Brazil. with the result that
today 1t is claimed that quarter of
a million inhabitants of German ex-
traction find comfortable home there.
Large German colonies exist in Rio de
Janeiro. Bahia and other purely Bra
lillian places, but the Germans almost
call their own the Brazilian provinces
of Parana. Santa Caterina and Rio
Grande de Sui. The Germans in Bra
zil may not at present have either the
intention or the wish to constitute
themselves an independent political
body, but the increase of Germanism
in that part of the world is factor
that will no doubt one day be felt.
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1901-01-29
Power. Tossing tie boxer.

This, says London paper, is a
clever, ingenious and most amusing
mechanical tin toy. At each corner is
Chinaman with pigtail and Chinese
hat, but it would seem as if four ma
tionalities were intended, for on tbs
crown of the hats are the .colors of the
several European allies now in the
celestial empire. Each holds one cor
ner of yellow sheet and by an in
genious device the figure of a China
man placed in the center is thrown in
the air as soon as a side spring is
touched. By means of register near
at hand the throw can be either high
or low, and the attitude of the victim is
most natural. He can, however, be re-
placed either with dice or balls.
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1901-01-29

The gorilla Johanna had fame al
most equal to that of Artemus Wards
kangaroo, and her death from pneumo-
mia at Nuremberg, if it does not
eclipse the gayety of nations, may cast
slight and passing cloud over it.
She possessed some human virtues,
perished of human malady, and de
serves human tear for her departure.
who took her captivity with gentle
ness and composure, and if any of her
family are to be admitted to the dig
nifty of a humble relationship with
mankind her claims should not be dis
regarded.
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1901-01-29
DEFEOIS - Near Sightedness. Far
sightedness and
OF SII0I Astigmatism Described

The three defects of eyesight which
are most commonly encountered in
otherwise healthy persons and which
can be more or less perfectly over
come by means of glasses are near
sightedness. far-sightedness and astig-
matism. These are all important, for
besides the discomfort and annoyance
of imperfect sight, the involuntary eff
forts which the sufferer makes to see
better strain the eyes and not only in
jure them. but also give rise, through
reflex action. to headaches and various
nervous disturbances. Near-sighted
ness, short-sightedness, or myopia, as
it is variously called. is a condition of
the eyeball-usually a lengthening-in
consequence of which the rays of light
are brought to focus in front of the
retina and so the object is blurred.
This condition may exist from birth,
but is usually the result of too much
and too early use of the eyes, as in the
case of students, engravers, women
who do fine sewing and so forth. Thus
we may say that putting children at
work at some of the kindergarten ex-
ercises, such as perforating and draw
ing, is in a double sense a short sight
ed procedure. Many near-sighted peo-
pie refuse to wear glasses, preferring
to deprive themselves of sight for
than injure their personal appearance,
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1901-01-29

as they think. This is another short
sighted policy. for, besides losing much
of the joy of beautiful things about
and above us, such persons are very
liable to suffer from Inflammation OF
the eyes produced by constant strain
A less common defect is long or far
sightedness or hypermetropia. This is
the opposite of myopia, the eyebsl
being fiattened or shortened and the
rays of light consequently not coming
to a focus by the time they reach the
retina. In this case the eye often cor
rects the defect more or less success
fully by making the crystalline lens
more convex. but it does this at the
expense of the sufferers nerve force
and so we often find tired and COM
gested eyes. headaches, indigestion and
even serious nervous affections. The
effort to correct the vision is entirely
involuntary and can be overcome only
by the fitting of suitable convex
glasses. The third and most common
defect is astigmatism. In this condi-
ton there is some irregularity of the
surface of the eye or the lens, by
means of which the image as it reaches
the retina is distorted. Untreated as
tigmatism is frequent cause of head
ache and other nervous disturbances
The only relief is the wearing or when
ever at least while reading. writing
or whenever near objects are looked at
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1901-01-29
A MERRY HEART.
Pre,ence of JovIal Man Is Like ,
Medicine.

Pre,ence of JoviaI Man Is Like =
Medicine.
"A merry heart doeth good like a
medicine" says the Proverbs, but
there are different degrees of merri-
ment, and different effects following its
exercise. The man who keeps merry
heart through paths of pain and hours
of sorrow and years of care; who,
standing on the rock of faith, gazes
ahead through storms and sunshine
alike with cheerful countenance,
this one imparts confidence, impresses
his own convictions, sheds comfort on
those around him, and his presence is
like a medicine" to such as need him
And who is there who doesn't need, at
some time, the inspiring brightness of
the man with a merry heart? OF the
woman, for that matter. Women can
bear up under greater trials than men
cam; so l believe the man with a
merry heart is most apt to be a woman,
after all's said and done. At birth, we
all have planted within us the seed
of that which "maketh the heart GLAD"
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1901-01-29
A stor, of the battlefield.

DIR. Conan Doyle tells this story of
Boer and an English soldier who lay
wounded side by side on the field of
battle: They had a personal en-
counter in which the soldier received a
bullet wound and the burgher a bay
onet thrust before they both fell ex-
hausted on the field. The Britisher
gave the Boer drink out of his flask
and the burgher, not to be outdone in
courtesy, handed a piece of biltong in
exchange. In the evening, when the
respective abmulances came to carry
them off to the hospital. they ex-
changed friendly greetings. Goodby
mate. said the soldier. what bless
ing it is we have met each other!'"
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1901-01-29

north. Originally it was purely pas
toral and agricultural state, with great
wealth in cattle, horses, mules, sheep,
cotton, rice and sugar. But it sent its
hides elsewhere to be tanned and man
ufactured, its WOO, to be woven, its
cotton to be spun; and its people had
to look to other states for their sup
plies of their own products in finished
form. All that is now being changed
Factories and mills of various kinds
are coming into existence in various
parts of the state, and there seems to
the good work
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1901-01-29

In one of his letters Thomas II. Hur-
ley, the great English scientist, made
the following confession: To attempt
to live by any scientific pursuit is a
farce. Nothing but what is absolutely
practical will, go down IN England.
A man of science may earn great dis
tinction, but not bread. He will get
invitations to all sorts of dinners and
conversaziones, but not enough income
to pay his cab-fare. y man of science
in these times is like an Esau who
sells his birthright for mess of pot
tage.
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1901-01-29

Neodesha, Kan, has population OF
about fifteen hundred, which includes
more thin people than any place twice
Its size in America. Many of the men
weigh less than one hundred pounds,
though in good health. Physicians say
that the petroleum and natural gas
wells there are responsible for making
the people look like whitened refugees
from a famine district in India.
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1901-01-29
Use for Apple Refuse.

Nearly all the liners now leaving the
port of Philadelphia for Germany and
Great Britain carry in their holds hun
dreds of barrels and hogsheads of ap-
pie waste. Apple waste is the peelings,
cores and other refuse of apples. 1t
is gathered from the manufacturers of
apple butter and kindred compounds.
and in England and Germany MARINA
lade and wine are made of it. A very
palatable apple wine is imported thith-
er and in certain colonies is much en-
joyed. Excellent marmalade. very ex-
pensive and very beautifully labeled
and put up, also come back for con-
sumption. Both are made of apple
waste, but few people know that.
A brave gill is one who keeps right
on spending two hours a day curling
her hair after her heart is broken and
she has nothing to live for.
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1901-01-29

Statistics of convictions for lese ma
jeste, published in the North German
Gazette. show that during the years
from 1882 to 1889 2959 persons We're
convicted of this offense. The num-
Der of convictions has decreased in
recent years. From 1894 to 1896 only
594 were convicted. and from 1897 to
1899. 43I
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1901-01-29
LIVESON COARSEFARE
BELIEVES FLESH WAS NOT
MADE FOR FOOD.
Ne Il a Teaoher of Music and Disoourses
Philosophy-Peculiar Character of
Cincinnati-sAys the whole World Il
Dot to Music.
Cincinnati Lottery

A man lives here who is known to
his neighbors and acquaintances as
crank on the matter of flesh diet.
Peter Cassidy cannot be induced to
eat meat, and winter and summer
goes barefoot about the streets. 81
feel the cold to a certain extent" he
said the other day, but from my hab-
its of living l can stand it, while a
man who lives on meat would soon be
At subject for an undertaken.
But, aside from this, l refuse to
place the hide of an animal about my
feet. There is nothing in nature en-
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1901-01-29
Alnska.s Rich Copper Deposits.

The rich copper deposits of Alaska
are beginning to be developed, the first
shipment from the White Horse belt
having been dispatched to Tacoma al
ready This belt. traversing tribu-
tary of the Yukon, is twenty-five miles
long and four miles wide. The ore is
said to range from % to rs per cent
copper and carries Sc to SO per ton
gold.
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1901-01-29

and well cultivated, the germ grows to
the life of completeness, wherein is
given place this agreeable possession
called merry heart" We all ought
to have it in full blossom-swaying in
every breath from heaven, and she'd
ding fragrance, brightness and joy on
all arOund.-F'arm Journal
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1901-01-29

Admiral .Montojo, the commander of
the Spanish fleet in the battle OF
Manila Bay. has published at Madrid
lengthy defense of his tactics. There
was really only one fault to find with
the Admirars tactics, and that was
the failure to take Dewey into con-
sideration
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1901-01-29

A Harvard graduate who is reputed
to be worth several millions of dollars,
is working on an Illinois railroad for
S125 per day, just to learn what labor
in its toughest phases really is. His
practical experience will be worth
more to him, in many respects. than
all his book learning.
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1901-01-29
PETE CASSIDY.
THE STURDY SIBERIAN (0SSANS

The Siberian Cossacks, especially
those of Nerchinsk and Trans Balkalia.
are distinguished by their tall stature.
strong bodies and serious cast of fea-
lures The eyes of the Cossack look
out sternly from beneath shaggy eye
brows. but they CLEAN with decision
and cunning. 1t is indeed hard task
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1901-01-29

TO deceive a Cossack. with such an
army" said Count Muravieff-Amursky
in alluding to the Cossacks. Il will an
mex not only the Amur territory, but
also the whole of China" Recent
events confirm this utterance of the
count with regard TO the value of the
fighting qualities of the Cossacks.
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1901-01-29

The Virginia Judge who has decided
that at times the woman may be the
head of the house is evidently an hon
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1901-01-29

There are n great many things that
"they do better in France" They are
much better at helping a young spend
thrift to keep his money.
The Elk Mountain pilot., 1901-01-29

San Francisco thinks it can do bet.
ter than New York City in erecting
monument to Dewey for his victory
at Manila.
The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1901-01-03
THE SCRANTON STRIKE.


Scranton, Pa, Dec. 28.-Fifty three
more men recruited in New York to
take the places of the strikers on the
Scranton Railroad Company arrived
tonight, but before the train had come
20 full stop the strikers and their
syp,pathizers boarded the car. and by
using arguments and exhortations in
duced all but 18 Of them to agree to re-
turn to New York. They are being
cared for at strikers headquarters,
and will re furnished transportation
home. There was no violence and no
angry words, although not infreqnently
the company's agents and the strikers
missionaries would be working on the
same men at the same time.
The company had only IL men left
to run the cars today. Five cars were
run out, but Few passengers were car
ried.
The company is fitting up an impro-
vised hotel IN the Linden street car
barn for the accommodation of the inn
ported men. The hotels refuse to re
celve them, and the merchants refuse
to furnish supplies. Three men were
coaxed of the cars this afternoon and
sent away by the strikers. General
Manager Sillimau says the company
will have cars running on all the lines
tomorrow.
The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1901-01-03
'b0[R5 ABE (H[(k[D
But Kitchener Cannot Drive
Them From Cape Colony.
EFFECT ofMTcnENERs PROCLAMATION
Westward Movement Of the Dutch From the
vryburs District-Dewet In South.
eastern Orange River Colony.

London. Dec. 29.-The latest dis.
patches from South Africa show that
Lord Kitchener has succeeded in hold
ing the Beers ia check. He has not
yet been successful in expelliue them
from Cape Colony, while different
commanders continue to display aston.
ishing activity over an immensely wide
field.
1t is questionable whether his proc
lamation will have much effect until
General Dewet is captured. The Beers
are likely to regard it as q sign of
weakness and to have q wholesome
dread of vengeance il they surrender.
The proclamation is approved by the
party at home that favors conciliatory
terms to the Beers as a step in the
right direction.
Queen Victoria, it is said, has ap
proved the proposal to institute new
order of knighthood to reward officers
who have served in South Africa.
The order will probably be called the
Star of Africa.
A dispatch from Vryburg, dated De-
cember 20, says that Beers in consider
able numbers were making q move-
nent westward. They had $50 wagons.
The dispatch suggests that they were
trekking to Damara- Land, although
the Beers themselves denied any such
intention.