davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09
THE YOUTH OF FAMOUS FOLK


HANs CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN,
the great Danish poet and action
writer was The soa ~ q poor
shoemaker OF odense. little town on
the stand OF Funen Denmark Ills
birthday was April . 1905 Hans par
ents were so poor that they were unable
10 send him 10 school very much. and
as he was "A sensitive, shy child he had
few associates or his own age In some
way the boy learned Go read and, OBJ
tanning Danish translations OF La Fon-
iaine's fables. The Arabian Nights
and Shakespeare poems. was much in
fuenced by them.
His father dying when he was only
years old and the poverty OF the family
becoming g@ater than before, he went
in 1919 to Copenhagen in order TO obtain
employment in the theater He had
)ust sl5 in his pocket lie was a lean,
homely boy not at all attractive In APP
pearance. and all his efforts TO get en-
ployment from theatrical managers
failed. Finally he succeeded in making
friends who obtained for him from the
king a scholarship that enabled him TO
enter the university. He had already
published in periodicals miscellaneous
prose and verse when i'm 1880 he issued
book of poems. Shortly after this he
Travelled in Germany. France and Italy.
romance. The Improvisatore." a sto-
ry of Italy. was printed In 1884 "oaly
Fiddler" The Poets Bazaar"
"Ahasuerus." a drama. and ''The Two
Baronesses" preceded the publication OF
his collection OF Wonder Tales"
work that made his name beloved by
the children of every land. In 1869.
honored as the greatest writer of Dem
mark and happily in receipt of an ample
income from his works. he celebrated
his literary jubilee. In 1872 he met with
a painful accident at Innsbruck, and so
great was the sorrow over his illness
that the children of the United States
collected money to send TO him under
the mistaken impression that he was in
want. Andersen purchased with 1t
books for his library. His death oc-
Cured at Copenhagen Aug. I, 1875.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09
TRICKY POSTAL DEFRAUDERs

Many curious ways of defrauding the
postoffice have been discovered, but the
most ingenious method has lately been
brought TO the notice of the postal au-
thorities I'm Brussels They noticed
from time TO time during the past few
months that the number of letters post
ed in various places throughout the
country was much greater than the
number OF stamps that had been sold,
and they felt convinced that fraud or
some kind was being perpetrated. They
set detectives TO work, and at last they
have solved the mystery.
The plan adopted by the tricksters
was very simple. When one of them de-
sired TO post letter, he stamped 1T as
usual, but over the stamp he placed a
very thin. transparent piece OF paper.
the result being that the postofiice mark
appeared only on this paper and did not
deface the stamp underneath Il, which
consequently could be used again and
just as often as 1t was protected by the
transparent paper
The trick was so easy that any one
could do It, ali that was necessary be-
ing 10 see that the transparent paper
was gummed evenly over the stamp.
After it had passed through the post IL
was easy 20 remove the paper by hold
ing II for a minute or two over steam.
The clever swindlers had actually
made business OF selling the pieces of
transparent paper, and many thousands
OF packets have been sold through their
agents. who In the most businesslike
manner. pointed out to their customers
that every penny packet. containing IL
pieces, would save "a cents.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09

Pardon an entire "iimot was lead
stranger" said !, but ing me away
you know we're both Americans, and
We'll, upon my word" he cried.
and you-you really mustn't lose
any more. You're not Lord Arrelsford,
you know. You can't afford
Bless my SOUL" he said slowly as he
fixed his bright blue eyes upon me. II
really like your impudence If I'm not
Lord Arrelsford. who the deuce am L?
You may know more than j do about
my financial situation, but. by George,
sir. know my own namel"
Lord Arrelsford turned TO the table
and took from his wallet a sum of mon
ey that made me dizzy. When / recov-
cred consciousness, Wilmot was leading
me away
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09

Think Of an umbrella as large as a
tent The biggest umbrella on record
is the great state umbrella of Burma.
captured by the British army at Man
dalay. The thick pole supporting II
was 20 feet high end was encircled by
golden bands studL,i with rows of ru-
bies. The umbrella itself was a nine
fold one. the one canopy rising above
another, and was about 30 feet In di-
ameter and crowned by an ornament
nine feet tall.
No wonder the king of Burma glories
in his title OF lord Of the "a umbrellas"
III the rest or them are Ike this remark
able specimen, and no wonder, either.
that during the war the kilograms to
Europe frequently announced, along
with the defeat of the Burmese forces.
the news of the capture of umbrellas.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09
BUBBLES.

Look, Mary has blown bright bubble,
A ball OF crystal and gold.
But will IL hoat up2 That's the trouble.
Just see how il clings to its hold.
And think IL Is looking at Mary,
AS much as TO say. IL won't go"
While. oh. il could dy like fairy
With the beams OF the sun to and froi
win il stick to that pipe long. l wonder.
Till it tops to the ground and goes dead.
While the blue sky is shining up yonder
And the birds singing loud oyerheadg
And Mary is blowing and blowing;
In a minute twill fall or twill ny.
Be brave. pretty bubble; tits goingl
One breath, and tits OF TO the skyl
Mary Gorges.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09

strangers. They are very inquisitive,
too. their curiosity often getting them
into trouble and sometimes even into
the collectors net. Like most wild
things. they cannot bear captivity and
usually pine away and die when Gagged.
Because they are such exquisite crea-
lures the South American Indians call
them by the pretty names of the beams
and locks of the sun. Fashion, OF
course, has played havoc with them in
the interest of women with more mon
ey than brains or heart.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09

Little Jimmy a.fshine with bended pin,
And his bait bit Of bread quite small and thin
Little Jimmy's rod fragile, and his fishing line
Was of nothing substantial than cotton twine
Little Jimmy a-fshing shady pool
And tits ao that naughty urchn should have been at school
Jimmy aneled all the morning, but he nothing caught;
pins tempt fish we'll taught
Little Jimmy growing drowsy almost dropped to sleep,
a great big fristy brook gave a sudden leap
As il flashed above the water and then darted down
Startled Jimmy lost his balance, tumbIed his CROWN
Little Jimmy, In the water, sight;
fishes shook with laughter at his dismal plight
Jimmy, wet and very muddy crawIed upon the shore.
fish caught the fisher. He'll not truant more
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09

of shrubbery would screen his with
drawal
Now, the moles friends did their
best TO induce him TO give up his notion
OF forsaIdng dahlia dungeon. as he had
named his commodious underground
residence. All the moles considered this
a very aristocratlc title. dungeon being
In "moleland' as high sounding title
as castle i'm the man world.
So, as has been said. when they heard
or his intention of giving up his home
and going out into the world 20 seek his
fortune all the neighbors did their best
TO convince him OF his folly Mr.. ana
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09

The veteran peer who takes the mos
active part i'm debate in the house OF
lords is Lord Norton, who saw the light
the year before the battle of Waterloo.
lie waspresidento of the board of trade as
Sir Charles Adderley more than a quar-
ter OF century ago and even now prob
ably makes as many speeches on as
many different topics as any OF his fell
low members.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09

the end OF II he would wipe" ine swat
thrust nervous NJ M "oi' MS O'0"'
into another pocket and bring forth the
value Of ono more wager
think. however, that his very last
franc piece was on the board when the
croupier called 81. The young man had
upon this number the value OF 81, the
smallest sum that may be bet at Monte
Carlo. When the bet had been paid. he
had 1870 francs, or $50. With this en-
couragement he laid down his money
more literally and almost Immediately
won again upon 81
Then could see in his eyes that hope
was alive in him. II always seems so
natural that rate should relent. The
element OF pity in a human heart is
shocked BY The brutality OF chance and
is very slow To believe that the ultimate
intention can be bad. II may have
seemed only fair 10 this young gentle
man that he should have a turn OF luck
upon mis- last coin and should win
enough 60 recompense him for his suf
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09

ceived that what he had taken from his
pocket was not revolver. but wall
let.
The sight staggered me, and yet in
tenth part OF a second 1 perceived that
his folly was really almost as bad as the
one had anticipated. BY his anxiety
i knew that the money in the wallet
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09


pocket dantalized him by fall
ing into ". which w on one side OF 30.
and then into 20, which is upon the 9TH
er side OF A. And / could see the poor
fellows heart leap in his bosom
Watching this performance. ! got my
first comprehension OF tho gambling
passion. which has for it's basis a fatu-
Gus pugnacity; an aimless, agonizing
resistance TO an impalpable foe. At the
outset l wished this man 10 stop play
ing. ! knew that he was doing "a foolish
thing. Al the last | merely wished him
TO win. and saw his coin dwindle with
no more rational feeling than sorrow
and wrath that he must stop. give up.
60 away beaten.
remembered hearing that an Eng
lish nobieman, Lord Arrelsford. whose
wealth had been byword on the conti-
nent since the recent death OF his uncle.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09
Ena,nna.. necora Enainc.

The largest coal train engine in Eng.
land has been constructed at The Great
Northern Railway company's lccomo-
tive works at Doncaster. II Is an eight
wheel coupled engine designed 20 draw
500 tons on the first trip from Peter
borough @ London II took $50 tons.
drawing ls trucks. other engines Of the
same type are 90 be built to facilitate
the main line coal traffic
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09

rescued Mrs. Fairfax from drowning at
Dover, England. She has just died and
he comes into n sum OF 1925, 900. lie
had forgotten the circumstances.
An extraordinary experience fell to
the lot OF n through train 90 Perth.
England. from Albany. When travel
ing up an incline. the wheels of the en-
sine failed TO grip the line, notwith-
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09
The sunbeam Bird.

OF all birds the tiny humming birds
are the most lovely. They look like an
imated Jewels as they dart about from
flower TO flower in the sunshine.
AS is so often the case with birds of
beautiful plumage. they have no song
to speak of. Moreover, they are as
quarrelsome as the saucy sparrow,
fighting with their mates as well as
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09

standing the customary application of
sand. and the train was brought TO
standstill An investigation then re-
vealed the fact that the metals for hun
dreds OF yards were covered by millions
upon millions Of black ants. The tiny
insects were evidently taking advan-
tage of the smooth passage offered BY
the rails IN an extensive trek in search
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09

Mrs. Mole. who lived next door. asked
him 10 dinner and showed him their in
teresting babies-funny little gray
mites sprawling among the dried grass
in the nursery.
You should settle down and bring up
a family, as we are doing" sagely ad-
vised Mr.. Mole. There is nothing so
as domestic happiness"
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09
/9o/. 81 TTE0E%lcx e. 77oo<1SS

that matches with IL. / sympathized
with him because he was fellow coun-
tryman and also because he was long
way from home ara SO might be the
more seriously embarrassed by the sort
OF indiscretion which this place was
built 10 encourage. l observed that his
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09
FROM POLE TO POLE.

atty and costs. This was the result OF .
case heard the other day at Manches-
ter. The odd thing is that the court
had no discretion 10 diminish the pen
atty. II Is believed 20 be the first case
since the act was passed. 40 years ago.
In tho year 1854 Henry Hawthorne
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09

translated into more than $50 Ian
guages. which nine-tenths of the hu-
man race can read
about $50 a year.
Five generations alive In one family
is not common occurrence. but Will
liam Smith. late OF Iiaswell. England.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09

OF fresh fields and pastures new. The
wheels OF the engine crushed the ants
and thus creased the rails SO that no
purchase could be obtained. The sand
put out from the engine failed TO pro-
duce the usual result
More than 100000 persons in Ger
many arc insured against Illness
During the last century the Pible was
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09

to get notion where IL would fall even
In the very last instant, but he was
nearer, and his face told me unmistak-
ably when the internal bit of ivory mar
rowly missed his numbers.
In half an hour not one of them had
won. and the croupier had changed the
last OF the notes from the small roll
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09

aoToad, hau beeo there sI1Vefv vifh
often much oftencr i'm moonlight.
fact. than any real
friend OF his would have wished On
This occasion he lost about 20 louis with
oni, winning bet,
Vel wcll.n he cried I'm not iu
luck tonght Aren't YOU going 10
play
/ confessed that | could see nothing
N thc sport I had tried II elsewhere
and had found. as one who lacks the In
s'inct always Wili. that gambling Is the
most disappointing or the polite vices.
Ali fhc seats at the table were occu-
pied. but there was no great crowd
nbout TAB or three men were lodging
hare nad there to lay their bets. but we
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09

which had been tightly
clinched in the young
mans left hand. His
last supply of 8 franc
pieces quickly vanished.
and he began TO bet
petit monnaie" from
his pockets. He had a
surprising quantity Of
silver, and whenever I
fancied he had come to
the end OF Il he would
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09

must be a reserve. the
loss of which would
leave him stranded.
1t was hard to say
that which I knew
should be said, but at
that moment / caught a
glimpse OF his wife and
brother approac ching
5 o m G w h at hastily
through the long rooms.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09

Mother" asked Nellie. "are sunfow-
ers sunfiowers even at night?"
Yes, dear. Why?"
We'll, mother. / thought they'd be
called moonfiowers at night"
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09

and now residing at Tursdaie Colliery.
can boast that he has lived 20 see four
generations OF his DESCENDANTS. MIR
Smith has children. ~ grandchildren.
40 great-grandchildren and l great
great -grandchiid.
There Is land crab In Cuba that can
rival the ostrich In speed and go much
faster than n horse.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09

hheF WIN upe other steadily losing. IL
woman wno "on' was amusing TO observe
that the woman who lost was angry
with the woman who won. and not with
the croupier who swept in her money
nar with herself for being so foolish as
20 play, Al trs
Among those who .lost. was young
gentleman with a typical Yankee coun-
tenance and the tall. thin. strong figure
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09

NO questions will be asked is a dan
gerous ending I'm England TO an adver-
;isement for the recovery of "a lost dog
or any other article Of moderate value,
for BY an old statute it is open 10 any
one TO bring an action against the ad-
vertisSr or the newspaper Tor $3.50 pen.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09

Mother-what are you going to do
with daddy's hair lotion, Edie?
Ede--Oh. mammie, dear, I'm goin to
put 1t on your moth eaten mum an
make il as good as new
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09

IrIIntN. TfN WIUtU IHe
sweat from his brow
and went INTO the silly
struggle with a new
courage.
But the little ivory
ball that cared nothing
for him OF for his sacred
obligations 10 his wife
refused 20 perform the
small service that was
rnuiiSllo InStnnd a.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09

"Oh, look. mummy" exclaimed little
Freddy when he noticed lightning for
the first time "Ze angels is swatchin
matches across ze sky,"
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09

had room to spare at the
end of the board. where
we remained awhile TO
watch the faces of the
players.
There were 40 great
gains or losses. ! was in
tcrested principally in
two women who sat side
by side, one Of them
mildly successful, the
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09

Miss Alsopp. who has just celebrated
her one hundredth birthdayat Bfamley.
England. was In the service OF one fam
ily for "a wears
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09

That she had prevented
her husband from put
ting down his money at
n time when he would
have won.
Though I felt that any
gains he might make
would only bind him
more securely TO a folly
that could have but one
conclusion. / was so full
Of lnA1nnn frniliN a. 20
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09

with me az the hotel.
and We had then stroll
ed across TO the place
where. visitors are cX-
pected to spend their
rloneN ia The purchase
OF nervous prostration,
I had never visited this
temple OF absurdity be-
fore bat Niimot, who
had spent some yeara
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09
julie. Verne ou,dope.

The Russian minister OF railways has
prepared "a time table showing that
when the Transsiberian railway Is I'm
ished the journey around the world can
be made in 80 days
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09
meaning.

exclaimed "Did Won What the devil
see his Wife," 90 you mean
'Wilmot nodded. with his eyes full Of
meaning.
This ~ a terrible place" he said
Edge over little nearer 10 him. and
IL ne loses HIS next bet look outl"
The croupier called five. Our friend
had three coins remaining He covered
n, S2 and SO. Again the ball whirled
around. Ii seemed 10 me that II rolled
for half an hour before IL fell sharply
against one OF the divisions Of the wheel
and bounced back
] waited for the croupier's word. but
the ball had not come 10 rest. II was
spinning like a top on the edge OF the
wheel. upheld only by the force of It's
rotation, and seemingly fixed on the re-
volving disk. got a glimpse Of il. and
IT was poised above the number 32 I'm
mediately II fell with a little click.
Twenty. black, even and abovew
called the croupier And | saw our
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09

n M oNTE CARLO was the scene
NH OF this little adventure. The
season was early June. The
gardens we're sweet with a
thousand odors and silvery
with moonlight, but in the casino there
were siaring lights and heat that
seemed 10 strike upon the top OF ones
head and the scents that are bad coun-
terfeits of flowers.
A. young gentleman named Wilmot
whom | had met in Paris had dined
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09

ply dressed and escorted Addressed the oh
10y youth who looked jet Of my in
as u he might be the lerest
brother OF the player. approached the
table and addressed the object of my
Interest,", He had no seat. but was
reaching over between two other game
sters 10 lay down his bets
At the sound OF the ,voman's voice he
Strengthened up, Withholding his money.
and turned TO speak to her. Their con
VerSation was surely no business Of
mine and 7 moved aside but I could
not help hearing her beg him to come
away She was not Inslstent. and she
veiled ncr anxiety beneath some thin
excuse OF a social duty that he was
neglectIn2;- yet the essence OF the af-
fair was obvious, | felt a streng desire
TO take the young man 10y the collar and
march him out of the place. but the eti-
quettc of Monte Carlo forbids such help
from man TO man So | remained pas
sive. while the croupier announced the
number 30.
The young woman, whom 1 rightly
judged 20 be the wife OF the player. turn
ed away, hiding considerable vexation.
She had accomplished nothing except
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09

roots in the garden, for he was partic
ularly ablebodied, with strong shout
ders projecting over the spine. giving
just the structure required to make
good miner. The powerful front limbs.
with wide. palmlike paws. each tipped
with fierce looking claws and the strong
nose were his only tools which made his
achievements something astonishing.
For instance, under the dahlia bush the
numerous passages by which he APP
preached his residence twisted and
turned in all sorts of ingenious ways.
and there we're a dozen entrances. with
at leas. as many exits. The main
apartment was large and polished to
the smoothness of glass, owing TO pres
sure from the builders body. for in
coming and going out of his house the
mole rubbed against the walls. Out
side the central apartment were two
enclrcling saliefies' Connected by sew
eral passages. Also. In case an enemy
threatened at one. entrance. there were
descending Railways by which the mole
could make his escape TO the surface
OF the earth. where a protecting clump
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09

he has there"
You don't mean
Il mean Just that"
whispered Wilmot. He
wouldnt be the first
man who's shot himself
over that table The
croupiers are watching
HIM"
Gracious heavens," I
exclaimed Did you
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09

eYc Was aIW dyS on IHt
wheel when the ball was
rolling. and that when It
fen in the wrong place
he started as IL with a
spasm Of pain.
| had seen him lose
about zoo francs upon
the numbers 81, 80 and
SS when a very charm
ing young woman. sim
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09

@sB that he might win. II was not
possible from where I stood 10 watch
the rolling ball with any accuracy or
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09

young gentIeman's hand
go trembling TO his hip
pocket. while his figure
Strengthened rigidly.
| laid my left hand
upon his sleeve. and he
turned like a flash.
Don't do &C." said / In
q low tone. Think OF
her"
why, what the devil
do YOU mean ?" he de-
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09

young molc, He vas a Stout llttIe ieI-
low -a44th. gray. silky hair. short,
sharp snout no neck worth mentioning
and eyes that were merely suggestions.
His feet werc odd looking the front
pah,very strong. with paws that looked
like hands excellent for digging, but
iittit adanted for running.
The Bttle gray mole had just complet-
ed beautiful burrow under the dahlia
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09

BrRRowER has not half a
chance in lifei trm get
ing tired Twins under
ground ana eating
Wornagr" exclaimed a
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09
Jumbled Names of Parts OF n Com.
pound Microscope.

r AM.
AE IS.
/ z r. G. M d A H A.
II w WUE DB IA
PYEE l. Gle.
MRRI.
Il r T l. S o GAJ.
l l. II r A l..
TG S Il A.
EU ASTBG.
" e T Il.
Sc S L EN-.
r ID u T L 7 w SACN MSJE.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-09
NATURE STORIES
The Mole That FOrSOok His Burrows.

COPYRIGHT 1901 IzABETH LANGsDoRF.
): =. ~ ~. -.