davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1901-05-04
The NnHiber 4.

There are four cardinal points. four
winds, four quarters of the mOOn four
seasons. four figures in the quadrille,
cards, four quarters to the hour, four
legs for furniture, most animals go on
four legs, the dead are placed between
four planks. the prisoners betwec four
walls. We have four incisOr and four
canine teeth. and our forks have four
prongs; all animals. when butchercd,
are cut into four quarters; the violin,
greatest Of all string instruments, has
but four strings: four nf Kind is n
pretty good hand at poker even if they
are only fours.-Exchange.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1901-05-04

The FtlLON Slkt tGlED + FUklOlSL1 AMI
CUT MY ARM.
vet met. We found rough crowd
indeed, and the evening WAS not half
over when Il burly big fellow delibcr-
atcly picked Il quarrel with me. l was
giving him the worst of it when he
drew Il knife and rushed upon me.
Duchenc who was standing quietly by,
knocked the sc0undrel SrnScless, and,
to my surprise, we We're not molcsted
by the half dozen friends of the vic
tim who had been urging him to fin
iSh me. | came to know later on that
the whole thing was n pat up job, but
| looked upon it then as brave action
on the part of my acquaintance and
gave him my gratitude and friendship.
l had never questioned mEl as to why
he was in Paris, where or how he
lived or what aim he had in life, and
he had never dropped hint. | haG
a secret belief that he was a gambler
and n sharper, but to NE he was as
straightforward rs could be hoped for.
About two weeks after the event at
the dance hall Duchenc told me his
story, or a part of it. He was pro-
fesSional gambler, or had been up to
a few months before he met me. Then
his cyesight had gone back on him and
he had been obliged to abandon the
business. | had observed that he was
nearsighted and had been obliged to
favor his eyes.
y year before meeting me DucheD.
and partner had 'roped" rich young
fellow into Il game and skinned him
out of what would be about $J0, 900 IN
American money. They were then oc-
cupying rooms in Il certain house he in
dicated, and, fearing trouble from the
victim, who had declared himself de-
fraudCd, the money had been hidden
Under the floor. Trouble came. Both
men We're arrested. and, while Duchcne
got year in prison, the other man died
OF pneumonia while waiting his trial.
On leaving prison Duchcne at once
took steps to secure his money, but
found the floor in possession of an ar
titicial flower maker who held a lease.
The place could not be entered and
searched. aud the $4,000 still rested
beneath the floor of the front room. 1t
would take 81, 800 to buy the lease and
oust the flower maker and another $500
to put in n stock of something to throw
the police off the scent. Duchene could
not raise the money, nor had he yet
met Il man he dared trust. His propO-
sition to me was that | furnish the ST.
600 and receive $4,000 of the hidden
money as my reward. Had he offered
to go halves think | should have look
ed upon it as Il plant and thrown it
over, but in Offering me sixth portion
he seemed to show good business tact
1t was big return on the Investment
big enough to satisfy any One-and l
gave him Il favorable answer at once.
lie had already sounded the flower
maker as to the lease, ANA if my mon
ey was raised the papers could be sign
ed three days later. | had good bit
of cash at my bankers, and On the sec
ond day after hearing Duchcne's story
| drew out $1,000 in gold and placed
the bag in my trunk. Next day the pa
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1901-05-04
From Fingers to Forks.

In Olden times fingers served well
enough to convey food to the mouth,
and divided gourd was an acceptable
aspirations seized our ancestors they
ScOrncd these implements of nature,
and even the Pacific islanders pulled
their hair. If which they had Il gener-
Gus abundance, in their anxiety to de-
wise more s"emly methods. They final
ly manufactured forks that looked like
skcwcrS. and out of the bamboo they
manufactured knives. The Indians,
proverbially slow in adopting modern
ways, still eat without knives or forks,
although they have permitted the use
of spoons. These were first made of
shells and the rinds Of gourdS. Later
handles were inserted, and, having
passed numerous stages. knives, forks
and spoons have reached the present
deliberately ornameEted kinds now in
general use.
The cup is probably the most ancient
of all domestic utensils. Its earliest
form was simply the half closed hand
or the folded leaf. Then followed cups
made of sea shells or rindS of fruit cut
in halves. Later appeared cups OF
metal, lacquer and china. For centu-
rics the cup has been made the express
sion of art and luxury. and the most
precious metals, combined with the ar
tisan's most consummatc skill, are now
commonly employed in their manufac-
ture.-BaltimOre Sun.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1901-05-04
Animals That Bloom.

AncmOneS, SpOng"S. the sea cucum-
bcrS and certain other growthS which
bloom and apparently behave in all
respects like plants are really animals.
Tn" petals of the anemone. reSem-
bling those of a chrySanthemum, are
really tcntGclcs to catch food and put it
into the hollow tube which forms the
stomach. where il is digcsted. The
sea cucumber has Il tlattencd body. 1t
occasionally moves at 4 SnairS pace
over the mud or sand. digging its pet
ais. or arms. into the sludgc for food,
to obtain which it swallows fair
proportion of mud. 1t has power to
sting ard so keeps away its enemies.
The sea lily so exactly resembles the
common lily that il Is difficult to real
iZe that it is an animal and belongs to
the startiSh family. 1t has stalk two
feet long. with disk for Il body. The
tcntaclcS close round the disk, which
has a mouth. and completes the de-
ccptivc likeness. They are the oldest
form of animal life on earth, and their
fossils are called 'stone lilies"
These creatures were believed to be
plants and many people still refuse to
believe otherwise.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1901-05-04
PHYSICAL CULTURE.
Education In This Direction Should
Not He Neglected.

President Pritchett of the Massachu-
setts Institute of Technology makes
this announcement:
''The corporation has voted to eStab-
lish a department of physical culture
which shall have for its object not the
development of athletics in the acute
form, but the entire student body in
the care of health, which shall inform
them as to the proper rules of eXer-
else, which shall make n physical in
SpectiOn of each student who enters
and shall prescribe for him in the light
Of such inspection the exercise suitable
for his need"
This deserves earnest attention
among educators on account of its re-
markablc sanity.
An all round physical education is as
much a necessity as Is an all round
education Of the mental faculties. The
two should go hand In hand to the
making of the perfected man.
Two many eccentricities have grown
up in athletics during the past few
years. Spccialties and gymnastic fads
have become too popular. President
PrltchcttS attempt to bring the sub
ject under the active control of the fac
ulty and gcncraliZe rather than spc-
cializc physical training is in the right
direction.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1901-05-04
ADVOCATES GOOD ROADS.

Governor of New York FavOrs n
State bonding Plnn For Highways.
Governor Odcll in his message to the
legislature of New York refers to a
matter which is of interest to and
should strike a responsive chord in the
breast of every one, but especially
farmers, business men, bicyclists, rid
crS of every sort and degree and even
pedestrians. Good roads are one of the
best evidences of civiliZatiC~ Il fact
which the ancient Romans .,roughly
appreciated, many of the magnificent
highways they built in England still
existing as monuments their skill
and wisdom. Governor Odcll is
sticklcr for economy. but he does not
favor mere parsimony and is by no
means opposed to liberal expenditures
wherever necessary or desirable, as is
shown by his recommendation of
'much larger appropriation for good
roads during the coming year. The
governor. however. insists upon sys-
tcmatic, scientific plan which shall ben
eft every part of the state and extend
the time for paying the cost over pro-
tractcd period. 1t is worth while re-
calling Governor Odell's specific recon-
mcndation upon this point:
".An amendment to the law which
would provide that the state should
pay the entire expense of construction
by the issuance of bonds, levying upon
the counties their proportion for the
benefits received, would expedite and
reduce the cost and extend the time for
payments over a longer period and mt a
lower rate of interest. A systematic
plan should be adopted, however, for
the building of roads. so that all parts
of the state would be equally benefited.
We should effect the rcopening of the
old state roads, which would be of
much greater advantage to the citizens
of all parts of the state than the build
ing of many such roads in any one To-
cality. With state aid for n common
road through all counties the building
Of other roads under a local money Sys-
TEN by the counties would follow, and
In n short time good roads would come
without the great expense which must
necessarily follow and the discrimina-
tion which is probable under a full
state system would be avoided"
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1901-05-04

He had been trying all evening to
make good impression. lie had told
all his humorous stories and had given
one impassioned speech from "Cyra-
no." but was still unconscious. Thick
skinned, he failed to perceive all her
efforts to get rid of him. Finally there
was a deep silence. Fidgeting, he
grew nervous and cast about for some
thing to say.
"Do you wear that sort of collar as Il
rule?" he stammered foolishly.
NO" the naughty maid replied frig-
idly; las collar"
Then he hed.-New York Times.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1901-05-04
NOVEL ROAD BUILDING.
Indiana Farmers Combine to Secure
Gravel Highways.

Gravel Highways.
The farmers of Fulton county, Ind,
are fully alive to the advantage Of a
highway that can be travelled over in
comfort at any season of the year.
Annually they have a sort OF road
building bee in which all take part, and
as consequence nearly every neigh
borhood now has its stretch of good
road. With the graders the farmers
use it takes but short time to grade
n road and make it ready for the
gravel. The gravel Is obtained from
the nearest pit and is paid for by the
township trustee.
AS soon as everything Is In readiness
for the work to begin some one is ap-
pointed to direct it. Subscription pa
pcrs are circulated, one asking for
cash and others for donations of labor.
The time for the labor is fixed for a
period of open weather during the win
ter. 1t is common for the farmers to
build mile of road during one season,
and the completion of each section
seems to make the people more anxious
to build another. Often the business
men of towns on n road contribute to
the cause. This county now has some
of the best permanent roads in the
state, and they have all been built un-
der this plan.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1901-05-04
THE MAN UNDER
nT HTD BY
- M. QUAD.
Copyright, 1901, by c. b. Lewis.

9...s $4,000. -. 90. 90. .,
| had been in Paris for couple of
months, living at n family hotel and
knocking about mt my leisure, when
made the acquaintance of Felix
Duchcne, as he called himself. He
was man of about so, and. though
a Frenchman from head to heel, he
spoke English fairly well. He was
not a man whom | should have select
ed as n friend. and yet there was a
something about him which interested
me. lie had Travelled extensively, met
with many adventures and was a good
talker. | came to know him as Il man
of nerve and courage, and, though |
feared he would turn out to he n para
site. nothing OF the sort happened. He
seemed to have plenty of money Of his
own and never asked for the loan of n
franc.
l had known Duchene for three or
four weeks when we visited Il dance
hall on one of the outer boulevardS
one night. The place was resort for
tough men and bad women and prom
ised phase of Partisan life had not
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1901-05-04
An Old New Jersey schooIhouse.

The pupil of today would think his
opportunities very great if he could
see the school equipment of a hundred
years ago. A Morris county IN. J)
school of that period is thus described
in an old letter of one of its attendants:
The building was constructed of logs,
and instead of glass for windows,
sheepskins were stretched over the
apcrturcs made by saving off an Occa-
sional log. The windows had one
merit-they prevented pupils from
being interrupted in their study by
what was going on outside. The time
was regulated by an hourglass, and
the pupils drank water from tum-
bier made of Il cows horn or from a
ground shell.
In spite of these differences Of equip
ment, the schools of a century ago re-
sembled those of today in one notable
Respectfully had for the most part
the same great literary works that are
the standards of our language now.
The greatest literature is fortunately
the possession of many centuries.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1901-05-04
Avay With the Smoke!

There was n time when smoke was
necessary accompaniment to an in
Iustrial city.
Invention has met this aflliction, and
it can now be converted into fresh
power. 1t may take little money fol
the big smokcstacks to be corrallcd,
but wash bills could be saved by it..
The clouds of smoke settling over the
city every night bring the question Of
soilcd curtains home to every house
keeper.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1901-05-04
ALLAH AND AMERICA.
A Persian Legend About the Cren
tors Visit to Earth.

A Persian Legend About the Crea-
tors Visit to Earth.
In Persia, on a morning after the vcr-
min had been particularly vigorous, l
said something caustic about getting
back to Gods country. An Armenian
who had reposed in utter comfort in
the same caravansary heard it and
smiled. Being an Armenian, he hated
the Pcrsians, probably. incidentally
the Persian rcciprocates.
Well, this Armenian, rubbing his
hands and with his head skewed over
on one side, said: THE Persians have a
legend for everything. They have
legend for what you said just now. 1t
is this:
"Allah-that is God-oncc said to his
angel, 4 will see this world which l
made
"And so Allah and the angel descend
ed Invisible in a cloud to the earth,
and the first place at which they ar
rived was France-that is, in Fcrcn-
ghistan. And there they saw the rail-
roads, and the tramways, and the the
aters, and the great picture galleries.
And Allah looked in disappointment
and said: Alas, no! This is not the
world which | made. | made none of
these things
$50 they journeyed to Inglezistan-
that Is, England - and there were
mighty ships in the harbors and huge
mills which make all sorts of things
and food in plenty. And again Allah
said: Alas, no! This is not the world
which l made And everywhere they
Travelled in the cloud Allah looked upon
the land and said, No; this is not it.
AT last, in despair, the angel led the
way to Persia, and Allah sat himself
down upon very high mountain, and.
looking far on every side, he saw nei-
ther railroads nor tramways nor thea
ters nor picture galleries nor ships nor
mills nor schoolhouses nor plenty to
eat.
"And Allah said: Yes, at last. This
Is the world which l made. Not
thing is changed. The people whom
put there have done nothing"
"Why didn't he come to America"
asked.
"Sir," answered the Armenian, "in
Persia they had not even heard of
America. Weekly.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1901-05-04
THE BILLBOARD MUST GO.
Chicago Has Declared II to he n Pub
lie Nuisance,


lie Nuisance.
The billboard has fallen under the
diSDleaSurc of the aesthetic and is
doomed to 20.
The campaign against unSightly dis
plays of the billpostcrS art has been
inauguratcd in Chicago. where they
have been declared to he Il public nui-
sance, and the owners of the boards
have been given 30 days in which to
have them removed. The present Ordi-
nance refers to the approaches to the
public parks. but that its op""nton will
be extended there can be / q Iht. The
Times Herald. commcndinG the move
ment, says:
The ordinance. of course, will be Il
disappointment to the Municipal Art
association In that ii is not more sweep
ing in its provisions. Citizens of the
North Side would like to see these I'M
slightly dcfaccmCnts torn away from
Clark street and other business thor
oughfarcS and residence streets. But re-
forms Of this kind. which depend upon
education of public sentiment and
which must appeal to HSthctlc taste,
are of slow progress. 1t is too much to
expect the city council. composed large
ly of politicians who are susceptible to
the influences cXcrtcd by those who
profit from the dcSpoilment of the
streets and boulevardS, to wipe out all
the billboardS at one stroke. \ good
beginning has been made.
The day for huge circus advertise
ments has passed by. The universal
prevalence of the newspaper has as
completely done away with the neccs
sity of the unSightly bill presentations
as it has the old time public cricr,
whose aid was called into play when
ever the hour was reached or a child
was lost. Other cities will do well to
follow the example of Chicago.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1901-05-04

Mother That gentleman seems very
attentive 20 you. Clara. What sort of a
young man do you find him?
Clara-Oh he seems all right. but
little empty perhaps.
Mother (who always takes things
litoraIlyI- My dear Clara. what n very
shocking remark. | know he was very
i'll the first few days out but fancy
noticing such 4 thing.-Pick-M Me-Up.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1901-05-04

Street trees, properly planted and
cared for, work a remarkable change
I'm the value of residential property.
Any one with doubts on this subject
should look into the history Of Wash
ington, Minneapolis. Milwaukee, Puff
falo and other cities where a compre-
hensive system of street planting has
been carried into effect.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1901-05-04
MIX.

An English physician, commenting
on the tendency of London bred per-
sons to die young. says that they drink
too little milk. Even in the country
milk is not such a common article of
diet rs 1t was in past years, and chill
drrn are not nouriShed according to
hygicnic laws"
A new virtue is ascribcd to milk by
The Practical Druggist which says II
is the best general preventive of the
absorption of poison by the human
system,
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1901-05-04

Doubtless the state of New Jersey is
building more roads and better roads
for less money per mile than any 9TH
er state in the Union. Its roads are
now costing from 20 to 10 cents per
square yard. Where the telford con-
structiOn is used they sometimes cost
as much as IS cents per square yard.
The average cost of all classes of the
roads of that state during the last sea-
son was about 30 cents per square
yard.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1901-05-04
Her Opinion of Compliments.

"No," said Miss Cayenne, 81 don't
care for people who continually pay
compliments"
"But it shows an amiable disposi-
ton"
perhaps, but the habit reminds me
that some people are willing to pay
they don't really owe."-Washington
Star
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1901-05-04
An Epitaph.

In the churchyard of Leigh, ncar
Bolton, will be found a tombstone
bearing the following amazing SEN
tencc: a virtuOus woman Is 5S. to her
husband" The explanation seems to
be that space prevented "a crown"
being cut in full, and the stonemasOn
argued that crown equals 5s.-Notes
and Queries.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1901-05-04
ROeING VERSUS MEN.
How do the robins know

How do the robins know
When it's time to go?
How can they tell when tn" day is at hand
To leave their nests and fly
Away to the southern, sunny land,
Where the blue is in the SKYE
How do they know
Ere the north winds blow,
Bringing the chill and the ice and snow;
Why do they never foolishly wait,
Flirting with chance and tempting fate3
All, the robins are wiser far
Than SOME men are.
They take no chances nor fool around,
Thinking, because today is fair.
That tomorrow good cheer will still abound,
With never a woe nor care
Thinking because things come their way
In clusters today
Good luck has settled with them to stay!
The robin proceeds to get out Of the wet
While the sun is faithfully shining yet!
Chicago Times Herald.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1901-05-04

Iowa almost from the date OF its
admission has been called the Hawk
eye State, IIawkeye was the name Of
q noted Indian chief. who in the early
days caused no little trouble along the
western border of American civilian
ton.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1901-05-04
Seen Mt the Wrong Time.

Employer-Mr. Redink, you got off
yesterday afternoon under the plea of
being i'll. saw you aftcrward going
to the races, and you didn't appear to
be at all unwell.
Clcrk-YOu ought to have seen me
after the second race, sir. | was bad
enough thcn.-Tit-B
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1901-05-04
W HOLE NuMprH, 1910.
through many, many summers

Through many, many summers
l look, as through glass,
And see a world OF showers and flowers
And laughing children pass,
And in her big blue sunbonnet
One other little lass
A lass who watched the swallows
Skim just beyond her hand
And where the hickers fled and sped
And nests OF hang birds famed
And felt those birds were fairy folk
On wing to fairyland.
In her warm fist she carried,
Trudging DER hills and dalcs.
In tiny papers laid and weighed
As il in fairy scales
The salt that catches boholinks
When sprinklcd on their tails.
A little lass and wistful
Who gazcd up the far sky,
And reached for fairy things and wings
In vain and wondered why;
Poor little lass, | wonder still,
Could she he really II
Harriet Prescott Spotiord in Golfers.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1901-05-04

He ION his knees Darling, | love
you with all my heart. with all my soul
and with AL the strength of my being.
She-Arc you in earnest. ClarcnceI
He GeproachfullyI In earnest. Say,
do you think | am bagging my trousers
this way for fun?-Puck.