davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-04-18
HAS UNIQUE CAREER.
Story of Benjamin Scoville's Life
Reads Like Fiction.
Has Been a street Gamin, Ship,
Cook, Tramp. Actor and Teacher,
and Now VIII Engage
in Missionary Work.

Among the men who do missionary
work in the large cities of the world
there are many who have had strange
histories, but in all the list hardly
one is TO be found whose life story is
more wonderful than that of Benja-
min j. ScOville, who is now prepar-
ing at the Christian Alliance school
in Nyacb, n. Y, for special mission
airy work among the stage folk. In
the 30 years of his life this young
man has had varied experiences. He
has been a street gamin, cabin boy,
ships cook, tramp, choir boy, actor,
teacher of elocution and was at one
time assistant stage manager for Sir
Henry Irving.
Scoville was born in London and
his father, British officer, was killed
during the Zulu war, leaving a widow
and two children, Ben and baby sis
ter. Shortly afterward the mother
also died, and the two little ones
were left to struggle for themselves.
By working as a newsboy, street.
sweeper and bootblack, the boy man
W ODldlh lOOd lOl Ills SlSlCl anu
himself, but as there was no way to
pay for lodging the children were ex-
posed to the cold at night, sleeping in
hogsheads or any place they could
find. This kind of life proved too Sc
we're for the little girl, and she soon
died, leaving the boy alone in the
world.
The sea had an attraction for him
and he secured a place as cabin boy
on the ship Vanguard, remaining on
the vessel for several years until he
was promoted to be the cooks assist
ant. While he was serving in this ca
pacity he saved the captains daugh-
ter, who had been washed overheard,
and for this act of bravery was pre-
scented with five pounds by the Royal
Humane society.
Later on, while employed as stew
ards assistant on the steamer Pris-
ella, he saw Capt. William Hughes,
commander of the vessel, throw a
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-04-18
WHO ARE THE INEBRIATESr
Skeletons in Respectable, Refined
Homes Lnid Bare by
Physician.

Some time ago a gentleman called to
see his friend who lived in most
beautiful town and in the most gen.
teel quarter of that town. Their con-
versation drifted toward the tenn
perance question.
The visitor remarked: "Well, you
must see very little of the evils of
intemperance in such place as this.
1t is the vice of the poor and the ig-
norant. Well-to-do people and edu-
Gated people are not likely to become
incorporate"
Come, stand here on my doorstep"
said his friend, land l will answer
you. Over there in that street, only
IA week ago, a wife had to rush out of
her luXuriously furnished home at
midnight to escape the fury of a
drunken husband who fourished a
loaded pistol and threatened to kill
her. Over there, in that other street
built up with neat houses, is family
who wait day by day with painful anx-
iety the return of the husband and
father from his business in the next
town, for on three or four days of
the week it is probable he will come
back reeling drunk. What an agony
of shame for that wife and her chill
dren as they watch for those unsteady
footsteps!
Now turn and look in another direc-
ton. One of the houses over there is
occupied by a man past so. He has
plenty of money and good educa-
ton. His only occupation for years
has been to drink himself into a state
of intoXication and then slowly to re-
cover from his spree. He is selfish,
rich drunkard.
Look, now, in another direction. In
that house with the fine lawn about
it lives a prominent citizen. He has
given his son every advantage, but
the only return thus far has been the
bitter humiliation of paying the boys
drink bills and gambling debts.
Look once more. On that cross
street is the home of a man who in
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-04-18
A SIMPLE-HEARTED BARON.
True to His Faith and Very
Charitable.

Perhaps the most typical Rothschild
of all his distinguished race was the
late Baron willy" Won Rothschild,
who died recently at Frankfort-on-
the-Main, says a London exchange.
He was noted for the simplicity of his
life and his extraordinary devotion to
work. When his brother, Baron Never
Carl, died in 1886, Baron "Willy" be-
came sole head in Frankfort and at
tended to every detail, great and small,
of his clearinghouse. He himself
signed every letter and document and
opened all correspondence. Power of
procuration was given in the firm only
a few years ago to facilitate the dis
patch of business, and even then was
made use of only during the baron's
rare absence from Frankfort.
Many stories are told of the bar
on's orthodoxy in religious matters.
The business was always closed on
Saturday, no matter what sacrifices
it might entail. On Sabbaths and
holy days the baron always walked,
riding being forbidden on these DAYS
to the strict Jew. More striking still
was his adherence to the Jewish pre-
cept to give literally tenth of ones
earnings to the poor, so that the dispo-
sition of his bounty gave him much
hard work. A great deal of his char
ity was anonymous. Baron Won Roths-
child was at work on the evening be-
fore the day of his death, giving per-
sonal attention to the reports of bust
ness and distribution of charities. The
funeral few days later was charac-
terized by absolute absence of dis
play, and even the simplest flowers.
Yet crowds of people, from personal
friends to the poor he had helped,
thronged the street to witness the
passing of the cortege.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-04-18

Some of the public men in this
country who occasionally hear from
their constituents may think that
they know what it is to be roasted, ~
but they are in error. 1t is only in
New South Wales that the lowlv
voter has really trenchant pen and
ran express himself properly. In or
der that those serving in an official
capacity in this country may realize
how truly fortunate they are, the
following extract from a letter writ
ten to member of parliament by
disappointed office seeker NAV be
given:
"Soon after you was elected by nv
hard workin Teller wanted to bet
me that you wouldn't be in the house
moren week before you made a
haas of yourself. l bet him a cow on
that, as l thought you was worth it
then. After 1 got your note saying
you declined to ackt in the matter I
druv the cow over to the feller's place
an told him he had won her. That's
all l got for howlin meself horse for
you on pole day and months befoar."
Possibly there may be suggestion
in this for disappointed American
office seekers, too. At any rate it
would seem to deserve a place in the
next edition of the Ready Letter
Writer.-Chicago Post.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-04-18

certain lines of ability towers above
ordinary men, but now and then he is
brought very low. If it were not for
these occasional excuses in drink
how useful would be his career.
Now you have seen the skeletons of
some of the homes near where we
stand. Not far away from here in
another genteel neighborhood is a
place where men come together to
chat, to play games and to drink. They
are not brawlers and common drunk
ards, but men who hold responsible
positions and live in some of the best
houses in the city. Some of these
same genteel gentlemen must be sent
home in cabs. In a quiet, highly de-
corous fashion they take too much
drink, and need help to reach their
homes. They are not common drunk
ards reeling through the streets. Then
they would be disgusting. At this
date they are very respectable gentle
men who occasionally take too much.
What they may be later on remains to
be seen. Not many people know that
these men get drunk at all. Some
who do know it are quite disposed to
make light of it, and some are saving:
We'll, if it is safe for them-it is safe
for u.s. Safe for them? Safe for any,
one to contract such a habit? Ask
the families of these genteel drinkers.
Trace the career of other men who
began in the same way. Some of the
poor wretches with battered faces
and tattered garments from whom
you shrink were once genteel folk who
occasionally drank to excess. The
habit grew, and now? Look at them.
Have L answered your question?
Does it seem as if intemperance were
the vice of the poor and ignorant only :?
1t invades every circle and finds it's
victims among all classes. The -four
ishing business man, the successful
lawyer, the skilled physician, the
learned judge, the trusted financier,
the talented artist and the popular
en-. If in long period of years only
a few such prominent instances were
found it would be sad enough, but go
where you will you must hear the
sad story of how some one high in
position fell wallowing in the mire be-
cause he gave way to the drink
habit.
when you see its ravages in Gull
tured community like this, when you
see manliness destroyed here and the
brightest hopes blasted, when you see
innocent people compelled to endure
shame and mortifcation-can you
blame anyone for advocating absti-
nence?
81 say nothing now about local OPP
ton and prohibition and other
schemes for regulating or abolishing
the liquor traffic. Some measures
may not be wise at all. But all these
matters are entirely apart from the
settlement of my personal relation
ship to this question. l think it best
| for me, l think it best for other men,
in view of the perils by which we are
surrounded, to abstain from the use
of intoXicants. DR.. Shinn, in Inter-
| national Good Templar.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-04-18
AN ANCIENT FAMILY TREE.
The O'Neils of Ireland Took Great
Pride in Their Great
Antiquity.

F. L. OBrien, of Dublin, in speaking
of the antiquity of some of the Irish
families, according to the New York
Tribune, told the following story:
There lives in the north of Ireland, :"
said Mr.. O'Brien, "a family named
O'Neil. Their greatest claim to prom
inence lies in the fact that they are
the oldest family in the United King
dom. When Plantagenet, Tudor or
Guelph was not the O'Neil was. They
ruled as kings before even William
looked with covetous eye across the
English channel toward the white
cliffs of Albion. This long line of de-
scent has bred in the family a rever-
ence for their ancestry that approach
es idolatry. The handspring of their
life and action, the pride of their be-
ing is that long line of dead and long
since forgotten O'Neils carry them
back in the direct line to the dark
ages.
"As may be imagined, their family
tree is colossal in its proportions. 1t
has length of something like IS or 10
feet, and when it is unrolled at the
castle holy hush falls over all. To a
visitor there some years ago was, in
due course of time and as a special
mark of favor, shown this marvellous
pedigree. Stretched on the enormous
billiard table, it Tapped a full three
feet at each end. The visitors eye ran
back over that lengthy line of O'Neils,
long since turned to dust, and he won
dered why they took so insane pride
in their descent. Just then he be-
came conscious that that thought had
occurred to other aliens who had be-
foretimes seen the O'Neil family tree.
a penciled note in the margin, about
halfway down the tree, caught his
eye. 1t read: Just here came Adam "
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-04-18
A PRAYING Sheriff

A correspondent writing from
Me-, says: Sheriff Pearson spends
most of his time with the prisoners
He goes from cell to cell inquiring
into each case, and it is no uncom-
mon sight to see him kneeling at a
cell or praying for its inmate.
When man comes to be freed from
prison there is something more than
a mere unlocking of the prison bars.
There is a last talk with the sheriff
and a prayer before the doors are
thrown open. Not one of the men
discharged since Sheriff Pearson took
hold has since come back for another
pffense, though this was very COM
non formerly, as the number of
prisoners under his care is a third
less. When he took hold there were
149 inmates; now there are but 80.
He hopes to reduce the average to rs.
with the help of God 1 will try
to make men of the poor fellows sent
down to me-" Sheriff Pearson said
recently, after morning service.
"That is the best service l can rem
der to God and to the world. / be-
1ieve l shall be able to surround the
men with such influences that when
they go out it will be to make a
strong fight against temptation. God
is blessing the work and l am salts
6ed."-National Advocate.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-04-18
LIQUID-AIR MARVELS.
Beefsteak Which Smashes If Dropped
Ice Made Hard Enough to
Cut Glass,

A Paris correspondent says that
M. d'Arsonval lately gave a success
full demonstration at the museum of
natural history of the qualities of
liquefied air. By enormous pressures
he reached a temperature of minus
$50 centigrade. The liquefied air was
contained in a double-sized silver
covered bottle, and did not evapor-
ate. Experiments with the India
rubber bottles showed that they be-
came as hard and brittle as glass.
The rubber could be pulyerized, but
became elastic again when the air
was evaporated.
M. dArsonval showed beefsteak
dipped in liquefied air, and then let
IL fall on the floor, when it sounded
Ike a stone and broke in pieces. It
was eventually reduced TO a pink
powder easy to masticate and assim-
ilate, likely to be of important serv-
ice to hospitals. Ice dipped in lique-
fled air cut glass like diamond,
mercury became hard as anthony.
Metals, especially steel, had their
qualities increased tenfold by the
application of liquefied air. Conduct
ing wires could be reduced to hairs
breadth in thickness and remain as
strong as enormous cables.
Liquefied air cannot, however, do
anything to preserve meat, as it is
no way antiseptic and will not kill
microbes. Moreover, it is now five
times dearer than ice. Nor can it be
used for motor carriages nor sub
marine boats, because when heated
it is such powerful explosive that
no metal yet known could resist it's
shocks. NJ. d'Arsonval warned the
French public to beware of COM
panies collecting money for preserv-
ing meat or propelling motors by
liquefied air. Personal investigation
showed that such experiments must
necessarily end in failure.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-04-18

weak-minded boy overheard and ap-
peared as chief witness against the
brutal seaman who, after being con-
victed of murder, confessed that he
had killed more than 80 boys in the
same way, being paid for the acts by
their guardians. At the end of the
trial Scoville once more returned to
sea, but was shipwrecked and drifted
ten days in an open boat with little
to eat or drink. He was rescued,
however, and taken to London, where
he was sick for long time at the
Marine hospital.
AS soon as he was discharged from
that institution he worked his way
back to this country and obtained a
place as chore boy for a Cleveland
co., doctor, at the same time attend
ing school until he graduated. Then
he went south and worked his way
through Howard college in Alabama.
Later on he managed to obtain
enough work to pay his tuition at the
New England conservatory, where he
studied elocution and oratory. After
finishing his course he took a posi-
ton with Wilson Barrett's "Sign of
the Cross" company, going with that
troop to England. While in London
he obtained the position of assis tant
stage manager, and a short time
later, during an engagement at Man
chester, he fell in love with a young
lady, whom he married.
The couple soon returned to this
country, and Scoville was appointed
professor of elocution at the Calves
ton (Tex.) high school. On the day
of the great flood his wife was killed
and the husband, stunned by grief
and without ambition, went to New
York, where, by chance, he heard a
former opera singer, who was hold
ing a special missionary service
preach. After listening to several Of
her sermons he decided to take up
missionary work himself, and accord.
ingly he is now studying with that
object in view.
His principal efforts will be direct.
ed toward stage folk or those who
have failed to establish Themselves
on the stage and are drifting into dis
solute ways of life.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-04-18
PUNGENT PARAGRAPHS.

He ION short acquaintance you
have divine eyes" She-"And 1 must
say you have sublime cheek to tell
me so."-Philadelphia Times.
Mrs. Bixby-"I don't believe the
doctors medicine agrees with moth
err" BiXby-''The medicine would be
more than human if it did."-Town
Topics.
do you want to hire some boys?'
What can you do?" well, Billy kin
sing an L kin whistle, an we'd liven
yer old Office up a whole lot."-In-
dianapolis News. E.
Youth-"NIiss Stanhope, you're
positively the only person I've met
to-day worth stopping to speak to-"
Miss Stanhope (thoughtfully)-
deed! You are more fortunate than
l am!"-Punch.
Statu Quo.-Mrs. Pettit-"When-
ever l express a desire for anything
my husband never objects" Mrs. Ig.
Nord-"Same with me. / can express
the desire as often as 1 please. 1t
never disturbs m"-Philadelphia
Press.
"The people lined the banks of the
river" Perhaps it was done to keep
the stream from catching a cold in
its head. But the ice man was much
annoyed at the precautions of the
populace, and talked of an injunc-
tion.-Indianapolis News.
Mr.. Newliwed-"So you've been
buying more useless truck! We have
absolutely no use for those curtains.
Haven't 1 told you to stop buying
things just because they were
cheap" Mrs. Newliwed-'Yes, nv
dear, and I've obeyed you. Those
curtains weren't at all cheap."-Phil-
adelphia Record.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-04-18
';5j51illlIzi1(:Ig|(I!jIIl
NN -kg& Il
FRUITS OF THE SALOON.
Police Court Scenes That Are a Sad
: Commentary on Goth Century
EnliHhtenment.

A year ago we published in the
Advocate the following statement OF
City Magistrate Clarence W. Mead,
made by him from the bench, says
the editor of the National Advocate.
There are seven police courts in
the borough of Manhattan. Take
rum away and l am certain that two
courts will be sufficient to do all the
work"
A few days ago the New York
Press printed a most pitiful story,
that of man utterly given over to
drink and who had drawn his 10
year-old son down with him, until
the pair stole horse to get the
money to buy liquor. The father
took the proceeds of the theft and
went on a long debauch and the son.
arraigned in the police court, begged
to be sent to the Elmira or some
other reformatory in order that he
might be freed from the life to which
his drunken father had brought him.
A still more sickening sight is re-
ported by the Philadelphia press as
court of that city. Three sisters. the
eldest but 20 years of age, stood be-
fore Magistrate South with bitter
smiles on their faces the other day
while their old mother was sent to
prison.
Ella Callahan, the eldest, was
asked to testify.
ELLA! Ella!" said the old woman,
half tenderly, you amt going to
have your mother sent to jail?"
"Why not?" said the girl, bitterly.
"What else are you good for?"
"My grill" said his honor, remon-
stratively.
81 mean, Judge" said Ella, "if she
was put into dungeon, where she
would never see daylight, I'd be
thankful. AS far back as l can re-
member she was always getting
drunk. She's made me cry with
shame more times than l want to re-
member. It's been a terrible thing,
not only to me, but to my sisters, the
young girls there, Judge"
She pointed to Mary and Anastasia
Callahan, the first II years old, the
other a slender girl of IS.
when we were little children"
she continued, mother was drunk
so often that we were sent to st.
Joseph's home in Spruce street. The
Sisters of Charity were very good to
us. They brought us up well and
we've always kept respectable. I've
been working with Mrs. Riley at 90
North Forty-eighth street, more
than ten years and the other girls
have worked and we helped to keep
a home at 1881 Winter street. We
tried hard to get our mother to stop
drinking; but she wouldn't"
Then the girl began to sob.
DO you want my sisters to testi-
fy?" asked Ella.
mo, I've seen enough" said his
honor. "Fll send her to the house of
correction for a year"
And these things are done at the
opening of the twentieth century in a
so-called Christian country. Yet who
NareSi
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-04-18

An instance of the transformation
by scientific means of deleterious
into useful substance is furnished
by process recently invented in Ger
many in connection with the manu-
facture of superphosphate fertilizer
where apatite is used. The large vol
umes of hydrofuoric acid that are
given off seriously contaminate the
atmosphere, but by the new process
these gases are recovered in the form
of fiuosilicic acid, which is used in
the manufacture of artificial stone for
hardening soft limestone, and sand
stone, and for other purposes.-Sci-
ence.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-04-18
JOHN BROWNS HOUSE.
State of Connecticut Thinks of Pre-
serving and Converting 1t Into
Historical Landmark.

An effort is now being made to pre-
serve the birthplace of John Brown
and properly mark the spot where, as
a barefoot boy, he learned the trade
of his father, a tanner. During this
session of the Connecticut general as
sembly it will be attempted to have a
sufficient amount of money appro-
priated to purchase the John Brown
place and convert it into a historical
landmark. Dwight C. Kilbourne, of
Litchfield, and other members of the
Litchfield County Historical society
are working to this end.
The place of John Browns birth is
within half mile of the highest point
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-04-18

of the Punjab frontier force and pro-
visional head of the imperial service.
He is an old-time Indian campaigner.
thoroughly seasoned to the climate
and the work. In the great mutiny
of 1857, the year in which he entered
the army, Gen. Palmer raised a regi-
ment of Sillhs, which he commanded
till the close of the campaign. In 1863
he fought in the bloody business upon
the northwest frontier, and afterward
in the Abyssinian war, in the Duffia
expedition, in the Afghan war, in the
Soudan, and as head of the campaign
in the Chin hills. 1t is said he under
stands Indian military needs more
than anv other man in the empire.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-04-18
Cork Put Her Eye out.

A careless waiter, while opening a
bottle of cider in Paris restaurant,
so held the bottle that the cork struck
Mile. Andree in the eye, causing the
loss of sight in that organ. She sued.
and the restaurant proprietor was
fined 5000 francs.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-04-18

The statistician of the dominion OF
Canada represents that there were "a
electric railways in the confederated
provinces at the close of last year, ag
gregating $50 miles of track. Capita.
amounting to $21 100000 has beer
actually invested in these lines. Dur
ing the year they carried 1O4, 1888, 65i
PASSENGERS
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-04-18
COMMANDER IN INDIA.
Gen. Sir Arthur Power Palmer APP
pointed to the Post with the
| Approval of King Edward,

Maj. Gen. Sir Arthur Power Palmer,
who by King Edwards approval has
become permanent commander in
chief of the British forces in India,
has been for long time commander
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-04-18
WOrthleNa Men

Some men are so worthless that
one cannot help wondering how to go
about it to be more so.-Washington
UR) Democrat,
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-04-18

To produce cashmere shawl of the
best quality requires the constant la
hor of four persons for an entire year