davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-12
INDIAN SIGNALS.
The Long Distance Code by which
the Red Men Converted.

the Red Men Converted.
The traveller on the plains in the early
days soon learned the significance of
the spires of smoke that he sometimes
saw rising from a distant ridge or hill
and that in turn he might see answer
ed from a different direction. 1t was
the signal talk of the Indians across
miles of intervening ground, a signal
used in rallying the warriors for an at
tack or warning them for a retreat
when that seemed advisable.
The Indian had way of sending up
the smoke in rings or puffs, knowing
that such smoke column would at
once be noticed and understood as a
signal and not taken for the smoke Of
some campfire. He made the rings by
covering the little fire with his blanket
for a moment and then suddenly re-
moving the blanket and allowing the
smoke to ascend, when he instantly
covered the fire again. The column of
ascending smoke rings said to every
Indian within 80 miles: Look out
There is an enemy near" Three
SAiOASo Ouiie SiOSC lOSCthSA lACoht 0oA-
ger. One smoke merely meant atten-
ton. Two smokes meant Camp at
this place" Travel the plains, and the
usefulness of this long distance tele-
phone will quickly become apparent.
Sometimes at night the settler or
traveller saw fiery lines crossing the
sky, shooting UP and falling, perhaps
taking a direction diagonal to the line
Of vision. He might guess that these
were the signals of Indians, but unless
he were an old timer he might not be
able to interpret the signals. The old
timer and the squaw man knew that
one fire arrow ian arrow prepared by
treating the head of the shaft with
gunpowder and fine bark meant the
same as the column Of smoke puffs-
viz, "An enemy is near" Two arrows
meant danger" Three arrows said
imperatively, This danger is great"
Several arrows said, ''The enemy are
too many for u.s." Two arrows shot up
into the air at once meant eve shall
attack" three at once said. eve at.
tack now" An arrow shot off in a
diagonal direction said as plainly as
pointing a finger. "That way" Thus
the untutored savage could telephone
fairly well at night as we'll as in day
time"
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-12
BUSINESS OF THE soAKER.
An Expert In Pawnbroking Who Has
His Regular Customers.

An Expert In Pawnbroking Who Has
His Regular Customers.
In the neighborhood where pawn
shops abound the soaker fourishes.
The sOaker acts as middleman between
the pawnbroker and his customers. He
explains his mission and accounts for
his usefulness thus:
''The people down here employ Ine,"
said he, mot because they are asham-
ed to be seen going into a pawnshop
themselves, but because can get more
for the goods than they can. There's
an art in pawning coat or ring. just
the same as In everything else.
"1've known people to go into a
pawnshop with some old article to
pawn and to look the proprietor over
with supercilious air, as if 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.
l know how to avoid such difficulties.
l am not servile, but | am polite and
respectful, and as those two qualities
touch the most generous chord in the
brokers' bosom l get all want on the
proffered chattels.
"As recompense for my services l
charge my customers 10 per cent COM
mission. l have regular customers.
and then, of course, l 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 it goes. month after
month. l canvass the houses just like
a book agent or corn plaster peddler or
insurance solicitor
Anything to be pawned todayY
ask
"And IL there is l take it around to
some shop and raise the necessary
dough and take it back and get my
commission. Once in awhile | come
across somebody who abuses me and
calls me a shark. but I'm nothing of
the sort. I'm earning a decent living
at legitimate business New York
SIM
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-12

A Canadian minister had just mar
ried a couple. The registers were
signed, and nothing remained but the
giving and taking Of the fee. The
bridegroom, a strapping young fellow,
asked:
How much Is it?"
The parson glanced at the smiling
bride and slyly answered:
whatever you think it is worth"
Now, it should have been worth a
great deal, for the girl was young and
pretty.
Il reckon it's worth about shil-
Iings." said the swain, holding out two
half crowns.
The clergyman looked blankly at the
coins, then turned to the fair one.
"I'll leave it to you, madam" he said.
what do you think it's worth?"
What did this young and blushing
bride do? She reached out, took the
coins. handed one half crown to the
minister and put the other into her
pocket!
"a thrifty wife," said the minister,
with a sigh, SIS her husbands crown"
Perhaps he ought to have said half
crown.~-London Tit-Bits.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-12
CHOICE MISCELLANY
Eow We Get Our Salt.

Please pass me the salt" Is heard at
table many and many a time in the
course OF a year, yet probably no boy
or girl gives a thought as to how that
most necessary article of diet is manu-
featured. Salt is so necessary that no
human being can retain his health long
without it. This fact makes the subject
one of interest, but the various ways
in which the mineral is secured form a
theme that is more interesting still.
There are three general sources from
which the salt you secure at the gro
Gerry store is obtained. One is by evap-
Grafton, one by mining and one by
scraping from the surface as snow is
removed from the ice on a pond.
At Syracuse, N. Y, in Michigan and
in many other states there are evapo-
rating watts, into which water from salt
springs is poured. AS the water is
drawn away by the sun the salt re-
mains. In number of states there are
great salt mines from which the pure
from coal mine.
In southern Callfornla there is SAT-
field where the mineral is scraped up in
huge heaps, refined and placed on the
market. In this region. called the Colo
RADIO desert. lying just north of the
Mexican line, is tract covering 1000
acres, 264 feet below the sea level and
covered with salt to a depth of from
one to eight inches. In the sunlight the
field is of dazzling whiteness. Eight
years ago the Colorado river broke
through it's banks and flooded this
desert, but the water receded, and since
then the gathering Of the salt has been
a growing industry. The crust of salt
is first broken into burrows by salt
pillow, is then gathered and hauled
away to the refinery. 1t is said the salt
crust is due to innumerable salt springs
below the surface.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-12
a MOUNTAIN LAKE.

Oh. Hmpid listener, in your placid soul
Are mingled all the songs that brooks have SUM
When years and years, the shaggy hills among.
They babbled Of their trials, with foamy tears,
Until, all wearied, having reached their goal,
You softly soothed their sorrows and their fears.
Like sentinels the stolid mountains stand
About you, dres't in garb Of gorgeous green;
At early dawn their mirrored shapes are seen
In shimmering outline, painted by the sun,
Upon your face, athwart the cleaning sand.
Nor fade from view until the day is done.
L fitting figure of eternal 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 his doings, be they banned or blest.
Forevermore, with other deeds, shall blend.
John Foote in Rosary Magazine
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-12
England. Most seriou. Problem

The popular illusions respecting the
seriousness of the Boer war were natu-
rally accompanied by miscalculations
as to its cost. Just before the war
broke out Mr.. Stead's prediction that
1--WE shall get off cheaply if it does not
cost us more than 10000 lives and f20,-
100000" was considered as ridiculous
as his other warnings. But some time
ago the. bill already exceeded 100000
900, while a moderate estimate of the
present cost puts it at f2000,000 a
week. AS to casualties. the official re-
turns up to the end of December re-
ported 51,6S7. including 12,15S deaths
1t is by this time clear that in his
speech at Carnarvon (Oct. 6, 1S99) Mr..
John Morley made the right retort to
the sheer that he was a Cassandra.
"Cassandra's prophecy" he replied,
happened to come true" Forum.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-12
A Modern Mothers Diary.

Tonight Clifford has said:
Mamma. are the stars holes in the
sky to let the rain throughY
l cannot sleep. such is my agitation.
Clifford is scarcely years old, where.
as. according to the best pedagogical
authorities. Martin Luther did not ask
this question until he was and Alex.
ander the Great, in all probability, not
until be was 9.
know not what to think.
One moment feel assured that Cliff.
ford is evincing an unaffected humor,
only in the next moment to be over
whelmed by the suspicion that he IS
bidding for newspaper notoriety mere.
ly.-Detroit Journal
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-12
SARAH AND THE "INDIANs."
Bernhard Played Fedora For Them
uf oE Caufs a Haod

Bernhard Played Fedora For Them
at 81 Cents a Head.
Sarah Bernhardt, the great French
actress, once played in Sullivan, Ind,
at 30 cents a head.
1t was many years ago, and Bern
hardt was making a tour of the coun-
try. On the way from Louisville to
Indianapolis the train was stopped at
Sullivan by the news that a serious
up the road completely blocking the
tracks and making progress to Indian
apolis impossible until the next day.
Every WE'LL" said the manager in ex-
cellent French and with forced calm
ness. "Since we cannot leave town
we will give performance here"
Impossible" said Nine. Bernhardt,
also in French. "Quite impossible"
"Not a Bit" said the manager, and
he went about it. The divine Bern
hardt, being under contract to play a
certain number of nights, was induced
to consent. There was no opera
house" in Sullivan, but the Masonic
hall was rented, and some of the seem
cry was crowded into it. The local
job office got out lot Of handbills in
a hurry, and messengers were dispatch
ed to the adjoining towns to spread
the glad news that Bernhardt, the d.
vine Sarah, was to play in Sullivan
that night and that admission would
be 80 cents.
mo use trying to charge metropoli-
tau prices here" said the manager to
the treasurer, and that gentleman sigh
ed and said he supposed not
In the early evening there began to
come into town long lines of green
farmer wagons, each holding family
party. When the house was full, the
great Bernhard cautiously took peep
at it from behind the fiimsy curtain.
mon Dieuw she cried, raising her
jeweled hands. Look at the Indiansv'
But she played Fedora for them, and
she played until II o'clock.-Philadel-
phia Saturday Evening Post
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-12
His Good Wife,

Gilbert-I believe in a man being the
master of the house. He should have
the say in everything.
Mason-How about the naming of
that baby of yours?
Gilbert-My wife gave way to me in
a very proper and wifely manner. She
said she didn't care what name gave
the little fellow so long as it was Hen
ry. So that's the name l gave him.
You know l felt, after the hearty man.
ner in which she deferred to Inc, I
ought to yield single point merely
out of appreciation Of her hupilitv-
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-12
Luck and Pluck.

Two clerks named Thomas and Clar-
ence were in the employ of wealthy
merchant. Thomas was always an in
dustrious lad, but Clarence was much
given to frivolity and was extravagant
in his habits. In after years Clarence
married his employers daughter and
was made q partner in the business.
Thomas continued to be an honest. in
dustrlous clerk all his life and his
services were much appreciated by
Clarence and his father-in-law.
Moral.-TLere is no royal road to
success.-New York Commercial Ad-
VertiSor
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-12
HE USED THE SALT TEST.
An Old Apache Chiefs knowledge
of the Human System.


of the Human System.
In the early days Of Union Pacific
railroading Victoria, Mana and Geron-
limo, the three chiefs of the Arizona
Apaches, with 100 of their best bucks,
came through to Green River, Wy.
They had heard of the heap wagon
and no boss" and had come to stop the
train. They made lasso of rawhide,
and so men on each side held on to the
rope as the freight came down the
Wasatch divide. The engineer saw
when several miles away what the In
dams were up to, so he whistled "off
brakes" and, opening his throttle, let
her loose. The cowcatcher struck the
rope and hurled the Indians in all direc-
lions. literally tearing them to pieces,
headless, armless and legless. The
three chiefs went south to their cactus
plains very crestfallen.
Before they selected these men the
old Chief Victoria had them all eat a
piece of rock salt about as big as a
pecan. run swiftly about 100 yards, sit
down on log or rock and cross their
legs. Then he watched the vibration
of the feet, which were crossed. The
feet which vibrated the longest or had
the longest strokes he declined to &C.
cept for severe duty or a dangerous
trip or for one that was at all hazard
Gus, but he accepted the feet which vi
brated Short distinct and regular
strokes.
Now. what did the old chief know
about pulsation of the arterial system
or Of heart action and indeed about
salt in the system? have lived near
to Indian reservations and have had
occasion often to survey over their
lands for railroads and other objects,
and | have wondered where old Vic
toria got his idea. Is not the child of
the sagebrush plains better posted
than his paleface brother? - Chicago
Inter Ocean.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-12
The Disadvantage of Delicacy.

The editor sent her little story back,
with a polite note praising its delicacy.
but saying it was unsuitable to his
magazine. Again she sent it forth.
Once more it was returned with kind
words for its delicate touches and re-
grets that it was unavailable When a
third time the little story had been
praised for its delicacy. but rejected.
the authoress was in despair. -
at looks to me-" she said, "as If my
story was SO delicate that it had gone
into decline. New York Mail and
Express.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-12
PUZZLED THE JEWELER.
He Wanted a Second Hand Watch
and Finally Got 1t.

and Finally Got 1t.
He was evidently a foreigner, and he
walked into one of the big jewelry
houses on f street and asked for
watch. He would be pleased to exam
inc some second hand Watches" he
said to the clerk who advanced to meet
him.
This isn't a pawnshop," observed
the clerk haughtily.
NO" observed the man inquiringly.
But you have watches% And he point
ed to the great showcase full of hand
some watches.
Certainly" replied the clerk. Fin
est stock of watches in the city. How
much do you want to pay for watch"
How mooch?" asked the stranger.
'Mooch as he Is worth, so that he suits
me. have said that desire second
hand watch-a good one that shall keep
the time"
See here, sir; you are off your base.
We don't keep secondhand goods. You
will have to hunt elsewhere for second
hand watches"
The strangers eyes opened wide.
But you have him there, and there
and there" he said as he began to ges-
ticulate. 81 have said second hand
watches" spelling it as though to make
1t palmer, land they are here, every
where, yet you say you have them not.
do not comprehend you"
well, l do you," replied the clerk
sheepishly as he quickly got behind the
counter. Just a little mix up. No
harm done, ! hope. Certainly we have
watches with second hands. All our
watches have second hands. We ham
die no others" And the stranger got
his second hand watch, for which he
laid down $50 ill..-Washington Star.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-12

A decision regarding the status Of a
watch under the national bankruptcy
law was handed down by Judge Lowell
in the United States district court in
the case of Frank Turnbull, plumber,
who recently filed voluntary petition
in bankruptcy. Through his counsel
the petitioner contended that his watch
was exempt both as being wearing
apparel and a tool necessary for
carrying ON his trade. The court, how
ever, ruled against him on both points
Boston Evening Transcript.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-12
A Coffee Enrome.cr,

cup of hot coffee is an unfailing
barometer if you allow lump of sugar
to drop to the bottom Of the cup and
watch the air bubbles arise without
disturbing the coffee. If the bubbles
collect in the middle. the weather will
be fine: if they adhere to the cup.
forming a ring it will either rain or
snow. and If the bubbles separate with
out assuming any fixed position change
able weather may be expected-Chica
go Times Herald.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-12

While Bishop Potter Of the Episcopal
church was travelling through Leuisi-
ana some years ago he addressed in
quiries to his fellow passengers with
view Of obtaining knowledge regarding
the orchards and fruit interests of the
state.
do you raise pears in louisiana
inquired the bishop.
eve do" responded the Louisianian.
III we have threes or better"
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-12
Where Tommy Atkins Gets His Name

Where Tommy Atkins Gets His Name
Every British reader should know
the origin of the sobriquet Tommy
Atkins" Tommy Atkins was the name
of sentry who, when the Europeans
in Lucknow were flying for the resi-
dency from the mutineers, refused TO
leave his post and so persisted. After
that it became the fashion to speak of
a conspicuously heroic soldier in the
fights with the rebels as "a regular
Tommy Atkins. London News.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-12
Generous.

whats your fare" asked old Flint
skin Of his cabby the other day and
was met with the stereotyped reply:
"Well. sir, l will leave that to you"
Thank you; you're very kind" said
old F., buttoning up his pockets and
walking off. You're the first person
who ever left me anything yet."--Lon.
don Fun.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-12

The late Professor Hinsdale was SIN
gularly devoid Of all sense Of humor,
and as for slang-well, he knew far
more about the deadest of dead Ian
guages than he did concerning these
saucy innovations on his native tongue.
There was a certain piece of legisla-
ton which was of considerable inter-
est to the local school officials. 1t had
been introduced into the legislature
and was there hanging fire.
One day Professor Hinsdale, then
school superintendent, said to Mr.. Tom
Whitehead, secretary of the board of
education: "Mr. Secretary, what is the
outlook for that special school bill now
in the hands of the state legislators?
Do you believe it will be adopted
soon?"
The secretary shook his head in a
manner that was meant to be thorough
ly discouraging and said, with a stroug
emphasis:
1T will be cold day when that bill
is passed
The superintendent nodded and pass
ed on.
A day or two later somebody came
into his Office and asked him about the
prospects of the same bill.
well" he replied in his heavy way,
81 have no personal means Of knowing
the status of the measure, but l have
been assured tmphatically by Secreta-
ry Whitehead, who may be considered
an expert in securing knowledge of this
character. that the bill will not pass
until next winter" = Cleveland Plain
Dealer.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-12
rhose Boston Girls

Carrie-That awful Tom Browne Of.
rered TO kiss me.
Bprtha-You don't mean it!
Carrie--I do. and told him If he did
I'd slap his face.
Bertha-And what did he say to that;
Carrie He didn't say a word. He
just kissed me-
Bertha-And you slapped his face?
Carrie-No: to tell the truth, was so
fustered | forgot all about it.-Bos;on
Transcript.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-12
LOpped II Oh.

Towne-Has he sent you check for
your services?
Browne-Yes, but it isn't for the
amount expected. although sent him
a bill
Towne-Your writings bad. Maybe
he didn't decipher the amount
Browne-I'm afraid he did de-cipher
1t. wrote 800 very plainly. and be
sent $40 Philadelphia Press.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-12

"Oh. John" she cried. ''baby's cut
tooth"
Jaw. go way" broke in little Willie.
who was playing on the floor You
can't cut tooth! You may break it.
BUT you can't cut itw-Chicago Post.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-12
Not Fatal.

Willie-l think | could die listening
to Miss Triller sing.
Cy Nick-Oh. you may feel like dy-
ing. but you'll pull through. I've been
throug!. I often.-Ohio State Journal.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-12

In the present house of representa-
tives Of the Japan diet there are 100
farmers, 23 barristers, II officials. 26
merchants, newspaper editors, 3 doc
tors and 10 members without fixed pro
LESSONS.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-12
Chinese Era.

The "Chinese era" begins B. c. 2697,
with the accession of the Emperor Yao,
who first devised calendar for the
Chinese dividing the year into 365 days
with an extra day every fourth year.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-12
The Public Ga1Iow. a Century Ago.

The Public Ga1Iows a Century Ago.
Even If the bicycle had been invented
a hundred years ago touring could
hardly have become very popular-at
all events, for solitary cyclists. The
cid guidebooks were by no means
cheerful reading. A run from London
to East Grinstead, distance of five or
six and twenty miles, would have tax
en- the wheelman past three gibbets.
from one or the other Of them a body
would be swinging in the wind.
Up till the beginning Of the nine
teenth century the gallows was almost
as frequent landmark as finger posts
or public houses have become now.
The traveller approaching York is d.
rected by the guidebooks to turn
round by the gallows and three wind
mills" and the road out of Durham is
between the gallows and Crokehill"
Going out of Wells you "cross the
brook and pass by the gallows."
Any number of such directions can
be CLEANED from the old books for the
Vi u q
ago. and as these interesting objects
were put up and the dead bodies of
malefactors left upon them for the
special ediication of footpads and
highwaymeD there was a suggestive
ness about them that must have given
special piquancy to cycle touring if it
had been in vogue at that time.-Lon-
don News
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-12
''White"
.Bicycles...
Break Worlds Records

At the Saucer Track, Los Angeles.
'Ride White and keep in front and
save repair bills"
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-12

Agents wanted everywhere. Write
for prices and Catalogue.