davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times., 1901-03-31

out roses and other flowers The keen
ness of competition IN this kind Of WORK
soon led 10 the necessity OF concentrating
energy upon Few crops. and thus was
evolved the specialist Specialization as
Sumcd considerable importance as early
1910. and from that date To the pres
eat time its development has been phe-
uomcnal Although roses have always
beer in the lead. carnations, violets and
,hrN saHthemuUS were coming into popu-
lar favor The demand for one kind of
rose scarcely lasted more than a few
seasons. and the number of varieties
crown commercially some twenty wears
ago was greater than at present. What
proved 10 he notable impetus TO hor,i-
cultural work was the organization. in
So, OF the Society OF American Florists.
At hr first meeting of this society, the
IRE Sident, Mr. John Thorpe gave some
Interesting facts of Il statistical nature.
relating to the work of growing plants
Un@Cr glass. lie stated that the actual
number Uf flowers produced at that time
GNS5, was almost Incredible TO his per-
s5nai knowledge, he said. nine growers
Cf roses scT.t to New York 1 O01 600 flow
ers and Yet this was not 80 per cent of
the roses SCut IL that market alone. He
tStiTnated that the aggregate number of
roses grown around Boston. Philadelphia.
Cleveland, Chicago Washington. ana in
al other places could not have been less
than 2i.00 900. The number Of carnations
grown was at least five times greater or
about 120o0o 400 He calculated further
more. that at least one-fourth as many
roses and carnations were grown 10y pri-
vate establishments
= here has Eeen within the past few
years Il rapid Increase in the number of
retail florists establishments. especially
Ia cities. and many 81 the retailers have
given NJ growing flowers. having found
I 20 their advantage to devote their en-
tu- time To the mana cement of their
business. The popularity of the carna-
tjon was given great Impetus in 1897 by
tGe formation of the American Carnatioa
Society. over four million dollars worth
of these flowers have been sold during
the past year.
II is estimated at the Agricultural De-
partment that the retail value of all cut
flowers sold annually in this country
amounts to 12.5G0 Oee. the appoTtionment
of this sum being: For roses, St. 600 coo:
carnations $1,000 090 violets $3.50. 900:
hrYsanthemums $500 coo; miscellaneous
flowers, including lilies. etc, 81 ,250 900. The
number of roses. carnations, and Violets
sold annually is said to exceed three hun
dred million
The times., 1901-03-31
THE MAIDU MUSICAL BOW.
A Curious Indian shape of the In
strumenf
CRoland P. Dixon. in Sciencc.)

IN view of the present discussion in re-
gard to the existence of the musical bow
in America. and of its independent de
yelopment on this continent, the occur
renee quite rare at present, however,.
OF form of this instrument among the
Maidu Indians of Northern California ap-
pears worthy of a brief note.
The bow as used by the Maidu is a sim
pie bow of cedar, some two and onc-half
feet in length, at present strung with
In playing the instrument il is held in the
left hand (the hand grasping the centre
of the bow, thumb inside and palm fac
ing forward, the bow extending horizon
tally to the left The right hand end Of
the bow is placed in the open mouth. and
the bOwstring tapped rapidly with small
flexible twig held in the right hand
BY varying the size OF the resonance
chamber (the mouth) with the aid Of the
tongue, and by opening or closing the
mouth To greater or less extent, notes
are produced as in a iewsharp. The
tones are, however, very faint, and are
audible only at short distance.
The use of this bow, known as "kaW-
otone panda,' is restricted TO the mcdi-
cine men or Shammans, and other per
sons are rarely allowed to see and never
20 touch the instrument The sacredness
of this bow. the fact that it is used by
the medicine men only in communicating
with and praying to the 'kukini'' or spir-
its, ana that its manufacture is accom-
panied by ceremonial obserVances. inciud-
nag the rubbing of the bow with human
DlOOd-aii seem to point TO the bow as
being of native origin. The limited con-
tact of these Indians with the negro. and
the place held by the instrument in the
religious life Of the people here as well
As elsewhere in America, would seem to
bow is on this continent the result Of
aCCulturdtiOn.
The times., 1901-03-31

although the individual who was the chief
actor in tragedy may be dead. or thou
sdIus OF miles away. Closely associated
with this line Of work is found the Varf-
Gus systems of identification in vogue IN
diHeTent cities. An extensive system OF
measurements is frequently used TO ident-
" criminals which. added to their photo
graph, VIII in many cases insure success
ful identification.
1t rs the custom in every big city Ia
sign detective to the various depOts.
Inc steamboat wharves are also watched,
as are the freight yards where the
hobo element may be expected to put
IN an appearance. Besides. q careful ros-
ter OF cheap lodging houses and doubtful
localities is always kept. so that the DO
lice generally know when one of the
class comes to town. Twenty years ago
it was possible for organized gangs of
criminals to exist in Washington. and de
predationS by such societies of the lawIass
were frequently reported .SwsmpO0-
die and "Fogsy Bottom, together with
''Boodfield and similar localities, fair-
~ swarmed with tough characters. but
now the case is different The march of
civilization has brought about improved
conditions. and now a woman can walk
alone unmolested after nightfail. or
man can stagger hOmeward Intoxicated
with but little danger Of robbery.
The times., 1901-03-31
A RECoRD-BREAKING SLIDE.
The Trip OF Two Miners Down an
Icy Mountain side.
Vrom ibc Arizona Republican.


Ii Is difficult 20 imagine q more dare
devil and thrlling adventure than that
Of two men sliding down q steep, ice
cruSted mountain, one in a prOspector :
pan and the other on a miners shovel.
Yet such hazardous undertaking was
accomplished the other DAY by Pete Nc
Gon and Yankee Bit Murphy, miners
and prospecIors Ia the Sierra Msdre
mountains. when they few like the wind
down one side of the treeless Quartsite
mountain, q distance Of two miles. with
a descent % about IS degrees and landed
in twenty N-fiVe feet of SuOWdrift in the
fuTty-fOOt Chasm of Cow Creek a few
miles west Of Grand Encsmpment. WYo.
II Was in iesting wager simply that
they raced down the mountain side. Pete
in the pan and Yankee BIZ squatting
on the shovel. both finishing with a record
breaker and what might have been neck
breaker.
They climbed to the top OF the peak
over two feet Of snow on the day Of the
adventure to wash out decomposed
Quartsite which showed rusty iron ore.
and which led them 20 believe would car
~ gold. In the afternoon il turned 50
cold that the surface OF the mountain re
sembleu glass.
IT was near sundown when the two men
finished prospecting and started 10 re-
trace their WAY down the mountain. The
slippery. iced snow Impeded their prog
reSs, making the journey slow aud dan
geroUs At best
Less than lg0 feet down Pete jestingly
proposed 10 Yankee BIZ" that they slide
down ou tho pan and shovel
IN boat you" said Pete, suitirs the
action 10 the word by getting into the
pan.
'-Nou can't beat me" replied Yankee
Elli. 81 the same time SquattiHg down
on his shovel, uHmiudful of possible dan
ger
They tore down the mountain side like
an avalanche. each holding ou TO his
metal steed with vise-like grip. a mile
was covered ia apparently an instant
when a ridge formation turned them off
their course, ana they flew stil faster at
au acute angie. The 43-foot chasm Of
Cow Creek was Inevitable. aud before
th,y had time 10 realize the danger they
mad IeaUed over ITS edge cleared cow
Greek. and, as IT human drills. had bored
the su0Wdrifts twenty-five feet.
When dug ont Pete and Yankee PHI"
did not Exactly need the coroner. bat
There were not enough plasteTs and linz
mcuts ia camB tn sooth~ their bruises
They came up smiling. however each
stoutly maintaining victory. The shovel
AID pan wili DE oXhumed next spring by
rfs. a sH
The times., 1901-03-31
COWBOY GLORY DEPARTING.
No Longer Devotee TO His Gorgeous
TrHppinEs of Earlier Days.
(From The Denver Rcpublica

1t takes man In my business to ap-
precfate that times have changed in the
cattle trade, said Henry j. Bates, of
Buffalo n Y looking sorrowfuIly at a
picture of a cowboy in fun regaIia which
adornS the rotunda Of the Windsor Hotel
Il travel for a harness hardware house
and / used to come out this way every
year with big line of samples. Lately
| have been going through the South.
and this year the frm decided To send
me this way.
- I know what TO take EN- / told the
firm. i used to travel out on the plains
every year. So l just filled trunk with
samples of fancy hardware i'm the har-
ness line. had fancy spurs with big
Yer plated, and | had bits of spades and
spikes and all sorts Of axings.
There were things that the firm had
had in stock for a dozen years. and they
told me that II was no go, hut / said
knew what the people wanted out here,
and | filled a trunk with en-, excess bag
gage every trip. The stuff weighed like
lead and jingied when the SmaSher rolled
it off the car like box of sleigh bells.
First town ! opened ii IN was in New
Mexico. I had sold a pretty good order
to house in Santa Fe, and then l open
ed up with these
- No use. said my man; we can't sell
that line of goods
You just let me show YOU, says /.
There was a cowpuncher out in front of
the store, so / just ran out with a sample.
What dye think of these spurs?'
says to him. 1t was a pair of spurs that
3 cOwpuncheT in my time would sell his
horse and go afoot to weaT-rOwels two
inches across, fancy bars, double chain,
inserts of silver, rosette buttons-oh, they
were winners. He looked them over kind
er slow. and ] could see the looks Of them
took his eye.
Then he says, They're pretty enough,
but l should think they'd hurt the horse.
Say, that pretty near Jared me off my
feet Think of cowpuncher that was
afraid of hurting his bronco. / didn't
have a word to say. 1 tried it on in one
two places besides and / ran up
against the same thing. They don't use
the heavy bits now, and they don't care
for fancy quirts. and they take care of
their horses like a Yankee horse trader.
] wrote back to the FIRM that | guessed
Ia ship that trunk OF samples back by
freight, but they didn't wait to write
back. They telegraphed me. Sell sam
pies for what they will bring. if for old
iron
$50 I sold the lot to a man i'm Albuquer-
que. and he turned around and sold them
mostly as curiosities to- Eastern tourists
samples of what they used to do TO the
horse before they got civilized. But it
was a lesson to me. -
The times., 1901-03-31
4 GASTLY DISCOVERY.
Skulls Found in Tearing Down an
Old BuiIt.inG.
(From the St Louis Globc-Dcmo,rat.)

(From the ST. Louis Globe Demo- rat)
While tearing down an old building at
2i1 South Third Street recently, August
Wilkinson found nearly a dozen human
skulls between the rafters supporting the
ceiling of the second-story room of the
house. They varied i'm size from that of
an infant to those of full-grown men and
women. They were kept for Il time by
Wilkinson, but later hauled away with
the dirt that was being carted from the
premises. How long the skulls have been
there or by whom they were placed is
mystery that bids fair never to be solved
solved. For many years the house has
been tenanted, but of late it has been un-
occupied. It's former inhabitants have
long since scattered
The house itself is one of the early land
marks of the city. according to the story
told Dy Old residents OF the vicinity. 1t
WAS evidently one Of the finest residences
of St Louis at the time 1t was built, and
no doubt many gathering of the finest
ioik IN town was seen inside its walls in
the long ago.
The old staircase has hand-Caryed fill
gree work on it; the walls show that they
have been painted time after time in col
Ors artistic and handsome. The tlmberS
used to support the structure are OF the
massive hand-hewed kind characteristic
of buildings erected many years ago.
August Wilkinson, who has a coal yard
at the corner of Third Street and Clark
Avenue, has been engaged in tearing the
building down at the order OF the local
authorities. and will use the ground in all
has been told by old residents that the
building is over 100 years old. Whether
the skulls were placed there years ago or
more recently he is unable to say John
Maguire. ST.. retired real estate dealer.
has had the renting of the house for the
ittSl tWehty-tWo years. and he says that
it is probably one of the oldest dwellings
ia ct. Louis.
The times., 1901-03-31
A MINISTER'S FIRST WEDDING.
Pastor JObnston's Experience in
Performing Dual Ceremony.
(Fr0m the Baltimore SUM-

FROM tue IdAtita'AE SUM-
Rev. Hugh Johnston. pastor of the
First Methodist Episcopal Church in mis-
clerical capacity. has officiated at a very
large number of marriage ceremonies.
but perhaps none has made so vivid
impression on his mind as the first time
he performed the service. many years
ago. 1t WIS in Toronto, can, he said.
soon after his ordination. that DR.. John
Ston, very much interested in all the ser
vices OF the church. was called on 30 read
the marriage service before two couples.
the bridegrOoms being two young officers
in the British army It was a church
wedding, and when the time came for
the ceremony the building was crowded
with young people. who were attracted
not only by the interesting double we'd
ding, but by the fact that this was the
first effort Of the kind on the part of the
young minister.
The bridegrooms looked very distin-
guished in full regimentaiS. the brides
very shy and pretty In their bridal array,
as they stood O-fore the clergyman. the
four in line, first the two girls, then the
two men.
The service began and things went on
smoothly until the minister; looking at
the man in front of him, asked:
wilt thou have this woman to be thy
welded wife, etc.
The man made no reply. but the cther
groom, separated from his bride. called
Then why" asked Dr. Johnston, with
indignant earnestDess. don't you take
your place beside her?
The bridegrooms instantly charged
places and the service went on. But when
the ring was placed on the finger Of the
bride came another interruption, for the
groom, thinking the time had aTris Cd to
comply with the custom of the time and
kiss the bride turned at once to salute
her.
The bride better versed in the mar
riage ceremony, resisted, and the young
minister was forced to interfere and in-
duce the happy groom to postpone his
proof of affection until the end of the
service. Prayer Immediately followed.
but there were signs of merriment that
could not be controlled among the Wit
nessss in the congregation. The other
couple perhaps profiting by what had
gone before, were married quietly and in
order
The service over. the young officiating
who through all his difficult
ties hsld continued grave and uBsmilug.
hastily retreated to the vestry. where. be
hind closed doors, he lay down on the
floor and gave way to his mirth.
Those who know Dr. Johuston's keen
sense of humOr and appreciation of the
ridiculous will understand what a tax
on his sense of decorUm was his first Off
ciating at a marriage ceremony.
The times., 1901-03-31
STANDING UP FOR HIS STATE.
But Missouri Sheriff Found the
Proud Position Expensive.
(From the Kansas City Journal)

Missouri is great among the nations be
cause of her many bright sons. Other
States may beat her on science. poetry,
and song. but few have men of mighty
nerve like the imperial old State of the
Middle West, declares an admiring
chronicler in the Macon Republican
EX-Sheriff \. J. Glenn returned to Macon
recently from Hot Springs, Ark. whittier
he had been in quest of relaxation and
something to drink that would beat Col
eneI Lige Harp's tonics- On the mornsg
after his arrival. Ills stock of scent Mis-
souri, fllers having run out. he stepped
into gorgeous establishment and asked
the price of some Havanas.
twenty-five and thirty cents" re-
sponded the affable clerk without dis
placing an eyelaSh.
During election times in Missouri Glenn
sometimes went as high as 10 cents when
he wanted TO do the thing right, but gem
orally the victims of his generosity were
lucky to get a fiver. But he didn't let on.
He looked critically at the two brands
handed out for his inspection, as if de-
Gliding upon a couple of boxes of the 90
cent kind and then said:
Have you any cigars?'
why, these are good. said the clerk.
And only 50 cents apiece asked the
AiiSsourian. Why. IN in Missouri only
the kids smoke these cigars Now If
you have any imported goods that you
could retail at 30 or IS G. is straight. and
they are a pretty fair article. ( might
take couple OF dozen on trial. but these
cheap goods make me sick"
The story went around that a Missouri
millionaire had come to town. and every
where Glenn went he could not fail to OBJ
serve the awe his appearance created. 1t
was nice, and he enjoyed IL. In the even
ing he stepped into large hotel to look
o. er the papers and chat with friends.
While there he gave a street gamu the
job OF shining his shoes. 1t was a heavy
one. but the Kid did the work all right
~ hen it was through Glenn reached in
his pocket and enquired the price. six
bits" said the sinner. A dozen pairs Of
eyes We're directed at the Missourian- All
wanted to see whether he was the real
thing or not and the Macon man knew it,
He put up the Is cents Just like man
who had as much more in his pocket. 1t
was pretty hard to do, but something
had to he done to hold up Missouri a
few minutes after he edged around to the
hotel clerk and said:
May l ask you question in conf
dence?"
DO you want to borrow any money!"
No; it amt that"
Fire away, tuen.'
Wv hats the usual price to pay for get
ting your shoes shined in this town.
Ten cents
That aIl?'
Yes; that's all.
And then he came back to Missouri
The times., 1901-03-31
REASON rs A GUIDE.
Instances Where Hnn Is Inferior
to the Brute Creation.
jfrsu llic Laacet)


say $50 cannot expect instinct 10 he q
trust worthy guide unless The environment
is simple ole ARA has been stable for
several successive generations. II Is clear
thaf neither of these conditions obtains
In the case Of man. especially civilized
man. His environment Is infinitely more
complex than Was That OF his primitive
ancestors. ana 80 has moreover varied. and
continues 70 vary very considerably from
generation 20 seueratioH-it has become,
J. o.. unstable and paIl paSsu with. and as
an Inevitable result 0i. this iuCrcas, IN the
completely and instability Of the environ
meUt instinct has become less and less
adequate as guide, and reason more and
more essential Hence. with the evolution
If reason there has been a cOucamitant
dissolution Of instinct until. when We ar
rive at civilized mar. we find the one
Guide all hut superseded by the other.
Now this places man az n disadvantage
as compared with the bTutes, since the
guidance OF reason IS not by any means
SO trustworthy as that OF the instinct
20 enter into psychological exposition
az thc defects Of reason as a guide for
man. To DO this with any sort OF full
ness and completeness would be 20 write
book on human error. But what does
concern us. and that most Intimately, is
that under the working of this new ar
fdhBemeut. as we may call it, man is con
uHually going wrong IA matters psyche
logical, and il Is most difficult TO set him
right DO not we physicians see him per-
sisteutiy SHINING against the laws Of
health, and that with a temerity that
would le utterly amazing did we not
know that beneath the tcmerity there lies
a stlll more astonishing ignorance of ali
the laws Of his being II is often a task
or much difficulty to enforce the most ele-
mentary principles of hygiene even among
the educated classes: among the unedl-
c'Ited TX rs Hcll-uigh impossible.
The times., 1901-03-31
NEITHER ARMS NOR LEGS.
Rare Example of Human HeinE
without Trace of Limbs.
tFr0m the SCIENTIFIC An


This remarkable person who was eX-
hibited in Paris at the time of the expo
sition. is one of the rare examples OF a
human being who has been from birth
deprived of his arms and legs. He was
born i'm France in the Department Of Mo
rihan Brittany. his father and mother
being in easy circumstances and living
upon a small farm. Both the parents are
of good constitution and physically nor
NAL Their son. now about twenty-five
years of age, has no apparent trace of
arms or legs, and hence * generally
known by the name of / HOmme TrOnc,
or trunk man.
Outside of this remarkable popularity
the rest of his body does not present any
marked variations from the normal. the
head is somewhat large in proportion to
the body; the capillary system is but lit
tie developed, and the head shows pre-
mature badness. His parents have al
ways taken great care of him. and he
lives in a normal way (aDart from IN"
use Of his membersl. as none Of the eS-
sential organs of life are wanting He
eats. drinks. and digests like another per
son. but if left to himself he would an
doubtedly die. as it is impossible for him
to move his body in order To procure food
1t may be thought that his condition
would react upon the mind, and that he
would be of a sad disposition and place
but little value upon existence. on the
contrary, he seems to be satisfied with
life.
The writer questioned him upon this
point and he responded that he was quite
contented with existence. He does not
suffer from want of occupation, as might
be supposed. as he has different kinds of
work 10 keep him busy. One of his chief
occupations is that of making small ia
bles and chairs and other objects by
mailing together pieces of wood which
have been previously cut out for him. He
takes a nail in his mouth. plants it in the
wood, and drives ii in very adroitiy. He
can also thread needle with his mouth
and can take up a glass or metal cup
which is given him to drink and empty it
without spilling a drop. He seems TO be
sufficiently Intelligent without being par
tiCuiarly so.
The times., 1901-03-31
p Q3 ~ Tg
Mexican Prternostcr.

derived the tgurative writing in hero
Elyphics Of the Egyptians, the Chinese.
the MeNicans of the tableland of Ana
huoC. and their neichbors, the Mayas of
the peninsula OF NuCatan.
This mode OF writing is a step i'm ad-
vance: certain figures here have the pho
netic value OF the first syllable OF the
word which they represent. 1t is a sort
of rcbus. Thus the first words of the
Lords Prayer are represented in the Mex
lean code 10y the figures Of a flag (pantiil,
stone OstD. the fruit Of the Indian fig
mOchtln and another stone GetD. the
first sylables of which form pa-te-noch-
tc (pater nostcTl.
In drawings not representing more than
sounds there is a tendency To simplify
them, the primitive figure being trans
formed into a conventional sign repre-
SeHtng a sound. "A syllable. This trans
formation may be traced in the Egyptian
hieroelyphicS, as well as in the CuAei-
form writing of the ancient AssyTians. IN
Chinese writing the same thing has taken
place as it evident from the characters
shown below:
The times., 1901-03-31
K K 10fOM Rm4m
'CT 70" =
Alaska Esi,imos Journal.

The first figure ~ represents the story
seller himself. his right hand making the
sestur, which indicates 81, and bis left
turned iu the direction iu which he IS go
ing. means go. Continuing the trans
lstiOu the subsequent figures read as fol-
lows. t2j 'iu "a boat (paddla raisedJ; 81
sleep thaEd on the head. "oue night.
teft hand shows finger. t3J "nu an
island with a hut iu the middle of it uhe
little pcinu; 90 II going further" %,
arrive At another island Uuiuhabitsd
iwithoGt a poinU, 90 Spend there Two
nights, two fingers of left hand seem.
50 hunt with hsrpDon:- CD "A seal" qo,
hunt with bow; Gls return in canoe
with another person 1.-TWO oaIs directed
back"ardpt l2) TO the hut OF the en-
CHmpIleul.f
This form Of idea writing has been
highly Developed among tho North Amer
tcan Indians. one mag judge Of th. de-