davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1901-03-29
BUSINESS OF THE ,SOAKER.
An Expert In Pawnbroising Who Has
His Regular Customers.

In the neighhorhood where pawn
shops abound the soaker flourishes.
The soaker acts as middleman between
the pawnbroker aud his customers. lie
explains his mission and accounts for
his usefulness thus:
The people down here employ me"
said he, mot because they are asham-
ed TO he seen going into pawnshop
themselves. but because can get more
for the goods than they can. There's
an art in pawning coat or Il ring, just
the same as in everything else.
I've known people To go into n
pawnshop with some old article to
pawn and TO look the proprietor over
with a supercilious air, as il they CON
sidered themselves so far above him
socially that he couldn't touch them
with a 40 foot pole. Naturally, for
sheer spite, the broker offers them only
about half as much as they would get
II they approached him properly. Hav-
Ing had wide experience Of my own,
! know how To avoid such difficulties.
| am not servile, but | am polite and
respectful. and as those two qualities
touch the most generous chord in the
brokers' bosom | get all want on the
proffered chattels.
"As recompense for my services |
charge my customers 10 per cent com
mission. have regular customers.
and then. of course, | do many odd
jobs for occasionals. There are fam
lilies down here for whom | pawn the
same things over and over again, one
week after the other. On pay day they
take their things out of soak Three
days later they put them in again, and
the next pay day they take them out
again. And SO 1t goes, month after
month. | canvass the houses just like
book agent or corn plaster peddler or
insurance solicitor.
Anything to be pawned today?
ask.
And II there Is | take 1t around to
some shop and raise the necessary
dough and take 1t back and get my
commission. Once in awhile | come
across somebody who abuses me and
calls me shark, but I'm nothing of
the sort. I'm earning a decent living
at a legitimate business. New York
Sun
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1901-03-29
Road Supervision,

The fact is that every six square
miles of country needs the constant at
tention of at least one overseer, prop
erly compensated, to devote his time
to maintenance of its roadways. Suffi-
cient funds should be provided so that
he could complete section Of roadway
annually, doing permanent work at all
times To the present system Is due
present condition Of our roads. The
paying of road tax in labor makes 1t
well nigh impossible for an overseer to
accomplish anything. He Is obliged to
spread a small sum so thinly over his
district that it will not cover anything,
when the same money, paid in cash,
would place funds at his command to
complete piece Of work instead of
patching It,
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1901-03-29

The advantages that fall to the lot of
man whose surname occurs early in
an alphabetical list are well known. AS
a candidate for office upon an Austria
lian ballot, for example, a man named
Abbott has far better chance than
the most eminent Zwelgler. But the
benefit that comes from the possession
Of a short RNme has not heretofore been
generally recognized. Not long ago the
promotion of one of the auditors of
the treasury department at Washing
ton created Il vacancy to which. upon
formal recommendation to that effect,
the candidate having the shortest name,
being also competent man, was ap-
pointed. His chief duty is to attiX his
signature to accounts, and as he needs
to make but six letters in signing he
can do twice as much in a day as u
man whose name contains IL letters
Youths Companion.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1901-03-29
BUILDING A STONE ROAD.
How TO Properly Construct n Modern
Macadam Highway.

Ordinarily we find that stone broken
uniformly will compact together upon
dry, hard earth foundation. 50 that
eight inches in depth Is sufficient for
all practical purposes, says +. q. Har-
rison. United States road expert. 1t is
put down in courses. as follows: After
the earth foundation has been thor
oughly compacted by rolling and made
as uniformly as possible with the prop
er slope from center TO side bitches n
shoulder is placed ut the outer edges OF
the stone construction.
The first course Is four inches in
depth. This Is put on uniformly and
the roller passed over il n few times To
bring the pieces of stone together as
nearly as possible, thus lessening the
voids. The volds are then filled with
ground stone from the crusher by plac-
ing 1t ON top of this broken stone and
rolling 1t. A light sprinkling to work
the particles down into the foundation
Is serviceable. but water ought not to
he put on In quantities so great that il
Will run through the stone and soften
the foundation.
The rolling should be repeated until
the mass becomes consolidated togeth-
er. and II Ii Is left for awhile for the
action of the air and sunshine It will
take set and become hard This
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1901-03-29

course we call the "stone foundation" d"
This may consist of large stones from
2 to 2l2 inches in diameter on the aver
age. The larger stone is used so that
the whole product of the crusher can
be utilized.
The second course is OF stone not
greater than ~ inches in diameter on
the average placed on the road in the
same manner as the foundation stone.
More water can be used on this course.
as 1t will not be likely to pass through,
and on the surface we put the ground
stone about an inch thick, and as 1t
disappears down in the stone to fill the
yoids we place more on when neces-
sary and wet and roll until the whole
surface becomes smooth and hard. In
this way we get the voids filled in the
bottom of the course first. 1t may be
necessary to put on the ground stone
several times before we get all the
yoids filed.
Too much shade Is damaging to q
road, while Il little shade is no injury
Trees ought to be at least 80 or GO feet
apart to allow the air and sunshine to
dry the roads after rains. When the
leaves fall, they should be removed by
sweeping or raking them up when they
are dry and burning them. This is
very important and should not in any
case be neglected, as the leaves retain
moisture which In time will soften the
surface of tile roadbed and cauSe II to
become rutty. work up into dirt and
cause certain amount of mud as a
result,
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1901-03-29
To Make TelfOrd Road.

In making telford road the surface
for the foundation is prepared in the
same manner as for macadam road.
A layer of broken stone Is then placed
on the roadbed from five to eight inch
es In depth, depending upon the thick
ness to be given the finished road. AS
rule this foundation should form
about two-tbrds of the total thickness
of the material. The stone used for
the first layer may vary in thickness
from 2 to 4 Inches and in length from
3 to 12 inches. The thickness of the up
per edges Of the stones should not eX-
ceed four inches. They are set by
hand on their broadest edges length
wise across the road, breaking joints
as much as possible. All projecting
points are then broken off and the in
terstices or cracks filed with stone
chips and the whole structure wedged
and consolidated into solid and COM
plete pavement. Upon this pavement
LAYERS of broken stones are spread and
treated in the same way as for mac
adam road.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1901-03-29
QUAINT COLONIAL NAMES.
How the Offspring of Our First Colo
uists Were Christened

1t is an interesting study 10 trace the
underlying reason for many of the Gu
| rious names which are given to the off.
spring of the first colonists. Parents
searched for names of deep signif-
cance--for names appropriate to con-
ditions, for those of profound infu.
ence presumably on the childs life.
The Rev. Richard Buck, one of the
early parsons In Virginia, in days of
deep depression, named his first child
Mara. This text indicates the reason
for his choice; Call me Mara, for the
Almighty has dealt very bitterly with
me. | went out full, and the Lord has
brought me home empty" His second
child was christcned Gershom - for
Moses wife bare him a son and called
his name Gershom, for he said l have
been in strange land"
Many names have a pathos and sad
ness which can be felt down through
the centuries. Dame Dinely, widow Of
doctor, or barber surgeon, who had
died in the snow while striving to visit
distant patient. named her poor babe
FathergOne.
The children of Roger Clapp were
named Experience, Waitstill, Preserv-
ed, Hopestlll, Wait, Thanks, Decide
Unite and Supply. Madam Austin. an
early settler of old Narragansett, had
- children. Their names We're Parvis,
Picus, Piersus Prisemus, Polybius,
Lois, Lettice, Avis, Anstice. Eunice,
Mary. John. Elizabeth, Ruth, Freelove,
All lived to be threescore and ten, one
to be 102 years old. Edward Bendall's
children were named Truegrace, Re-
form, Hoped For, More Mercy and Re
store. Richard Gridley's offspring
were Return, Believe and Tremble.-
Child Life In Colonial Days"
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1901-03-29
THE DRUMHEAD BUSINESS,
A Huge Long Island Industry which
Prospers by War.

Few people know that more than half
the banjo and drum heads sold in the
! United States are made ON Long Is
land. Near the railroad station at
Cold Spring is n little red building sur
pounded by frames. in which skins are
stretched for drying. while near by Is
en- artificial pond, with wooden sides
and bottom. filed with n chemical mix
turc. IL is an unpretentious establish,
mcnt, but in our two wars and in the
peace between II has fathered n great
deal Of noise. The business was estab-
lished in 1850. and success was almost
Immediate. Competition was strong
! after the rush Of war orders was over.
but the business has advanced I'm i'm.
portance until now there are but three
factories in this country whose opposl-
tion can he felt Two of these are in
Brooklyn and the other at High View.
NY.
New York markets furnish the salt.
ed raw skins from which the drum.
heads are made The hair is removed
from the skins by a chemical bath in
Aii' libihl, anu lle kklilS are
then stretched on the racks and dried.
\ thorough scraping removes any par.
ticles of fat or flesh that may have
adhered to the dried skin, which is
then the thickness of parchment The
skins are thoroughly bleached in the
drying process and are then ready for
cutting into heads During the Span
ish-AmerlCan war the factory was fair
ly swamped with orders for drum
heads, 800 dozen heads often being or
dered ut one time The principal de,
mand was for the "tenor" drum, on
which loud accompaniment to the
fife or bass instrument can be pro-
duced
Kangaroo skins make the costliest
drumheads. When dressed, they are
showy, but beyond their appearance
and name they are of no greater value
than heads made from calfskin. Sheep
skin is used for cheap toy drums,-New
v-I- w..
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1901-03-29
Depressions In the Road.

The road builder, In the future main
tenance Of his roads, will find that
constant attention to the little depres-
sions that collect storm water, and the
drainage Of these into the side bitches
will do much to prevent the cutting up
Of the roadway. and suggest that in
stead Of housing himself up during
long periods of rainy weather this is
the exact time the roads most need
his attention. A few minutes arten-
tson at the right time would nearly al
ways prevent serious damage to grades
by opening drainage from the ruts, 50
that the storm water could readily
reach the bitches.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1901-03-29

Several of the lawyers had told their
stories, some of which ridiculed the
continued use of legal verbiage and the
absurd lengths to which members of
the profession sometimes go in taking
advantage of technicalities.
"A rank outsider" announced the
member of the profession who had
been good listener. "a client of mine,
supplied the best instance of literal in
depreciation that ever came to my
knowledge. He was executor under a
will that, among other provisions. re-
venerable aunt of the testator But
proof of her being alive must be made
before each payment, and this is the
rock on which the executor struck.
'The old lady proved herself in the
iesh drew her money and went to Cal
iforna, where she spent two years
without putting in her claim. On her
return she went in person and demand
ed the double allowance due her
"'The conscientious executor got out
the will, studied 1t, scratched his head
and finally handed down his opinion:
"'Madam, you are alive now There
can be no reasonable question as to
that, for have the conclusive evidence
of my own eyes. But | am possessed
of no legal proof that you were alive q
year ago. am, as you know, within
the restrictions of the will. l will pay
the annuity for this year, but must in
sist upon satisfactory aftidavits that
you were not dead when the preceding
annuity was passed.
ut took me the better part of a day
to convince him that he should settle
in full."-Detroit Free Press.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1901-03-29
A MOUNTAIN LAKE.

Oh. lnrid listener. In your placid soul
Are mingled all the songs that brooks have sun
When years aud years. the shaggy hills among.
They babbled of their trials, with foamy tears,
Until. all wcaried. having reached their goal,
You s0itly soothed their surows aud their tears
Like sentinels the stolid mountains stand
About you. drest In garh Of gorgeous green;
Al early dawn their mirrored shapes are seen
In shimmering outline painted by the sun,
Upon your face sthwart the cleaning sand,
Nor fade from view until the day Is done.
A fitting figure Of cNrnal rest
You typify the changeless fate Of man
When, having coursed mortality's brief span
Adown the hills Of Time. his life shall end,
And all bis doings. be they banned or bleSt.
Foreyermore, with other deeds shall blend
John A Foote ia Rosary Magazine.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1901-03-29
What Hurt Her.

Mrs. Heartless-.Dust to think my
husband fell and broke-and broke
Mrs. Simpythetik-There, dear; l
heard all about 1t. The poor man broke
his leg. It's great afiiiction, know,
but
Mrs. Heartless-Oh, I didn't mean
that! You haven't heard the worst. He
was carrying my new Venetian vase
when he fell, and broke 1t too.-Ohic
State Journal.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1901-03-29
His Caa,i wife.

Gilbert-I believe In a man being the
master of the house. He should have
the say in everything.
Mason-Ilow about the naming Of
that baby of yours?
Gilbert-My wife gave way to me in
very proper and wifely manner. She
the little fellow so long as it was Hen
ry. So that's the name | gave him.
You know | felt, after the hearty man
ner in which she deferred to me,
ought to yield single point merely
out of appreciation of her humility
Boston TRANSCRIPT.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1901-03-29

Headache often results from a disor-
lered condition of the stomach and con-
Stipation OF the bowels. \ dose or two
Of Chamberlain S Stomach and Liver
Tablets will correct these disorders and
cure the headache. Sold 10y j. W.
rhrstom.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1901-03-29

Mrs. G.. f. VanDeusen, of Kilbomn,
Wis, was afflicted with stomach trouble
and constipation for long time. She
says, 81 have tried many preparations
but none have done me the good that
Chamberlain's Stomach and Liver Tab.
lets have" These Tablets are for sale
at Thurston's drug store. Price, %
cents. Sample free.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1901-03-29

The lingering cough following grippe
calls for One Minute Cough Cure. For
all throat and lung troubles this is the
only harmless remedy that gives imme-
date results. Prevents consumption. p.
j. Flaherty, drug store, Island Pond.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1901-03-29

Contractor-You won't sell me car
load of bricks on credit?
Dealer-No. Me and my brick are
very much alike We're hard pressed
for cash. :. Philadelphia Record.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1901-03-29
Gnod Advertising.

Advertising that is direct and slmple
"a mt all times the most eHecti'e. ~
stapds or falls on its own merits.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1901-03-29
VOL. XXVHI.
Es.cx District Prnhate Court.

sessions of said Court will be held NJ
prightnu the second Tuesday of October aud
turfl. Canaan the second Tuesday of No.
,rulucr and May. West Concord the second
7,r-~.laV ot uvccmhe~ nad lune. I.uncnburp
tFg secpuu Tuesday OF january and Iuly
Snrcial sessions win hr held at amy place in
tHr District bA agreement.
ROBERT CHASE. Judge.
La democracia. (Ponce, P.R.) 1890-1948, 1901-06-04
WERTHER

mo; y de igual manera con un cora
z6n lleno de felicidad, no podr6 ha-
Ger feiz a un hombre que Sc halla
privado de t0do consuelo.
97 de Octubre pOr Ia nOchs. lCu$n.
to sufro Su idea 10 devora todo /;
sin ella todo 10 encuentro reducido
a Ia NADIA.
80 dc OctubTe. Glen veces he es.
tado a punto de arrojarme en- Sus
braEos, 80, DioS solo sabe 10 que
cuesta ell yer tantaS gracias, paSar
y volver a pasar por delaute de uno,
sin que So pueda atrever a tocarlas.
Y sin embargo nuestra inclination
natural nos mueve q tomar .....
SLos nii1os no prOcuran echar la
mano cusnto ven? ~ yo?----
3 de Noviembre Solo Dios sabe
cuautas veceS me meto en- la cana
con e. deseo, iqu6 digo! con la espe-
rama de no wolverine a despertar,
y pOr la mafana abro los ojos, vuel-
vo a yer ell sol, y vuelvo a ser des-
graciado. lAhI lporque no soy ma
niatico para poder gozar solo de
una pequefla parte de mi vidal En-
tonces ell peso de la pena que me
oprime, no caerfa sobre mi Sino 4
medias. lInfellz de mil demasiado
conozco que toda la culpa es mia.
La culpa! No. Yo llevo escondida
en- mi seno la fuente de todas mis-
desgracias, como en- otro tempo
llevabA la fuente de tldas las fell
cidades. mo soy va Ell mismo que
nadaba en- otro tempo en- uu mar
de algeria, que cada paso veia ma
Ger un paraiso, y que tenia an CO.
raz6n cspaz de abrssar en- su amor
un mundn entero? Pero ahora ha
muerto este coraz6n Y no siente va
ninguna algeria; mis- ojos Sc han Sc
cado; y mis- Sentidos, priyados del
desahogo de las lagrimas, cubren
mi rostro con las tristes sefiales del
dolor. SufrO mucho, porque he per.
dido la dnica cosa que formaba Ia
algeria de mi vida; esa fuerza divi.
ma, COZ Ia cual sofia ctear nuevos
mundos en- mi imagination -.
lTodo hs pasadol-
Cuando desde mi yentana miro 10
La democracia. (Ponce, P.R.) 1890-1948, 1901-06-04

lejana colins y yea al sol naciente
que rasga la niebla y dora con sus
rayos los s0segad)S valles, mieDtras
ell rio CORE hacia mi retoriiendose
por entire los sauces que va Sc hln
de poiado de sus hojas; todo este
vaSto panorama Sc preSentAba a mi
vista frio, inanim ado como una IA.
nina iluminada, y no le presta9a
a la imgin4ci nj un atomo de sen.
timient1 blenhechDr. Veo al nom
bre de pie delants de DioS como un
p0zo agotado, como una fuente SEGA.
iCuantas veceS con Ia frente en- ell
polvo lie he pedido d Dtns que me
conceda ell consuelo de llOrar, como
un labrador pide la lluvia, cuando
levanta los ojos, y We por todas
parties ell cielo seren9 y despejado,
y la terra ardiendo en- sedl
Pero ;ahl 70 10 Sc demasiado bien;
Dlos no concede la lluvia nj ell sol
a nuestras inportuuas Sdplicas.
AquelloS tiempoS cuya memoria me
atormenta, 5p0r que eran tan fe-
lices, sino porque yo aguardaba su
espiritu con paciencia, y la algeria
con que me colmaba la recibia con
ell coraz6n lleno del mas vivo agra
decimtento9
Sde Noviembre. Carlota ha re-
prendido mis- esceSoS; pero de una
manera tan suavel mis- esceSoS, por-
que de un vase de vino me d5jo
algunas veces arrastrar hasta be
ber una botella. -SEyitad este, me
dice: acordSos de Carlota. S,Acor-
dorme! lTeneis necesidsd de man.
darmeloY Que quiera 8 no acordar.
me, siempro os tengo presente en
mi imagination. Hoy eStaba sen.
tado en- ell mismo sltio en- que dlti
mamente os apeasteis del coChe.. .
Comenz6 q hablar de otra cosa, pa.
ra impedir ell que penetrase dema.
Siado eu esta materia. Amigo que
riio, yon no soy duefIo de mi pismc.
Hace de mi cuanto quiere.
is de NoUiembre. TIE doy grh hcias,
Guillermo querido, por Ell cati1oso
interes con que me mlras, p kr la
buena intenci6n que sc descubte eu
tus consoles; pero te pido que Slyas |
La democracia. (Ponce, P.R.) 1890-1948, 1901-06-04

Sosegado. D6iame Sufrir tGda Ia
crisis; a pesar de 10 abltido que me
halo, aun tango fuerzaS bastantes
para ir hasta ell flo. Td ssbeS que
20, respecto a la religion, Sc Que
es un apoyo para ell infeliz que
cae abatido de cansancio. un rtfres.
CO para el que Sc abrasa de Sed.
Solo Gpuede ser, debe ser 10
mismo para dos? Mira ell vasto
universe y vera miIlsr5s de HIM
bres que no la conocep, y ,tros que
no la cOnoceraq uunca. LA reli-
gi6n Sc ha hecho solo para mi? FL
hijn de Dios ha dicho xLos que m,
padre me- hG elegido eStdrdQ conmjgO.n
Y ST 20 no he sido de los elegidoS,
81 ell Padre quiere reservarme para
81, como 20 creo- ----- Basta no
vayas a darle a este una falSa inter-
pretaci6n y yer una broma en- mis-
inocentes palabras 81 no fuese por-
que acOstumbro a decirte cuaut0
Sieat1, me hubiese callado, porque
me duele ell hablar de coSaS que los
otros entienden tan POGO como yo.
mo es ell destlno del hombre ell
seguir Ia carrera de suS males,
bebsr fl caliz enteramente? Pero
ST ell DioS del cielo. h4biendolo acer.
codo a Sus labios, 10 halo demasia-
do amargo 5por que tngire yo mas
amino, y hare parecer que es dulce?
Y 6por que tendre vergdenz9 en- Ell
terrible instante en- que me estre.
mezco ante la existencia y la NADIA;
en- donde ell pasado brills como un
relampago sUbre ell sombrio abs 10
de- porveniE en- donde todo 10 Que
me rodea Sc ruina; en donde ell mum
do perece conmigo? mo as la voz
del hombre oprimido, desfallecido,
abiSmado, Siu recurSo alguno, en-
medic de los vanoS esfuerzos que
hace para sostenerSe, ell esclamar
60 su deSeSperaci6n: SlDios mfoI
lDios mto! SpGr que me habeis
abandonado9S SPodre ayergonzar-
me de estas palabr8s9 SPodre Ii.
brarme de este 1ltimo iUStante,
cuando AqueI, cuya mano mueve
los clelos no hs podidO ev. tarlof
II de NoeieDlbrs, Carlcta 40 Vi
La democracia. (Ponce, P.R.) 1890-1948, 1901-06-04

da vez me condrmo mas y mas en-
que la exiStencia de una crlatura
es bien poca cosa, Una amiga de
Carlota ha venido q verla; yo pase
a una pieza Immediate para tomar
un libro, y como no podfa leer, me
puse a escrlbir. OF que hablaban en-
bais: Sc contaban una a otra cosas
indiferentes y noticias del pueblo:
esta Sc habia casado, la otra estaba
enferma. STiene una tos tan SEGA,
d cfa una, los ojos hundidos, yla
dan unos desmayoS: DO darfa dos
cuartoS por su vida.S-El senior N.
continda muy mal.S Decfs Carlo
ia. -<Se ha hinchado,S replicaba la
otra. MI viva imagination me tras
ladaba al instsnte a los pies de la
CANA de aquellos infellces; veia la
repugnancia con que Sc separaban
de la vida, como - Guillermo, las
dos amigas hablaban de todo este
como regularmente Sc habla de la
muerte de un extrafio... Cuando
volvi la vista a mi alrededor y vi
las ropas de Carlots, los papeleS de
Alberto, Y los muebleS con los cua-
les me he familiarizado va etera-
mente, me die Ell mi interior;
s;Mlra 10 que eres en- esta casa
Todo para todos TIE yes honrado
por tus amigos; constitutes muchas
veces tCda su algeria; y tu corazon
cree que no podria existir sin ellos;
sin embargo 81 tie marchaseS, 81
te alejaseS de ese cfrculo, ScoDoce-
rian Ell vacio que tn p6rdida causa
ria en- su estadof 5Cuanto item
POP iAhl ell homSre es tan Pc
recedero, que aGn alii mtsmO donde
Ia certidumbre de su existencia,
alli donde puede dejar una impre
sion verdadera de su presencia, en-
la memoria, en el alma de sus ami
gos, debe borrarse y desaparecer; y
esto- - itan pront0l
81 de Cctubre. Me despedazarfa
ell pecho, me romperia la cabeca,
Cuando veo cuan POGO podemos los
unos sobre los otros. ,Ahl ninguna
persona me dsrA jamas ell amor, la
algeria, el fuego, Ia vOluptosidad
que no me propOrciono pOr mi mis-.