davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-09-12
GEN. SCHALK BURGER

users ostracized from society. Both
the use and the planting of tobacco
were forbidden, the cultivation Of it
being permitted only in small guam
titles, for mere necessity, for phisick,
for preservation of the health and that
the same be taken privately by ancient
men," But the creature called to-
ible life. Landlords were ordered not
to suffer any tobacco to be taken into
their houses on penalty of fine to
the ''victualler" and another to "the
party that takes it." The laws were
constantly altered and enforced and
still tobacco was grown and was
smoked. No one could take it pub
licquely' nor in his own house nor
anywhere else before strangers. Two
men were forbidden to smoke together
No one could smoke within two miles
of the meeting house on the Sabbath
day. There were wicked backsliders
who were caught smoking around the
on the street, and they were fined and
set in the stocks and in cages. Until
within few years there were New
England towns where Understanding
in the streets was prohibited, and in
nocent cigarette-loving travellers were
astonished at being requested to cease
smoking. Mr.. Drake wrote in 1886
that he knew men, then living, who
had had to plead guilty or not guilty
in a Boston police court for smoking
in the streets of Boston. In Connecti-
cut in early days a great Indulgence
was permitted to travelers-a man
could smoke once during a journey Of
| ten miles.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-09-12
Alligators Pull His Boat.

Jefferson Lee, who lives on the St.
Johns River, in Putnam county, Fla,
has the most extraordinary team in
the country. 1t is a team of alliga-
tors that Mr.. Lee uses to tow his boat
up and down the river when he goes
% market. Mr.. Lee has to go six miles
down the river to his postoffice and
It is a hard pull against the current
coming back, says the Chicago Trib-
hne. He noticed how swiftly alligators
swan, and it occurred to him that it
might be good idea to turn the alli-
gators that abound in the st. Johns
river to some account. He captured
a pair of young gators and raised
them in his yard. He taught them
to swim and drag weight behind
them, and he also taught them to turn
either to the right or left by pulling
ropes fastened to their teeth on either
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-09-12

into shelter under the
there, with the sugar. he was well con-
ten. until the rain was over, when he
wandered out again. The next day
he came whinnying to the back porch
and we answered by giving him more
sugar. Now he is a regular visitor,
and he always gets his sugar. He
likes us so we'll that we can do al
most anything with him-except talk
about his ears, which are very, very
big. That topic mother babe us avoid,
as donkeys, she says, are always SEN
sitive on the subject. We tried to test
his sensitiveness on two occasions, but
he raised those big ears and ap-
preached us in SO threatening a man
ner that now we are polite enough not
to mention them at all. Perhaps you
doubt this about the ears, but indeed
it is as true as what they tell you
about the peacock. 1t, you know, is
very proud of it's fine tail, but it is
equally ashamed of it's ugly legs. You
have only to stand before enc at the
Geological Garden, and say: ooh, what
ugly legs!" and the peacock will
spread out it's glorious tail to make
you forget them.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-09-12
Origin of the Sandwich.

How many persons who daily eat
sandwiches are aware that it is to an
ancestor of the Earl of Sandwich that
that popular form of food owes its
name? The story runs that the earl in
question was very fond of playing
cards, and in order to prevent having
to stop to cat he used to have slice
Of meat put between two slices Of bread
and eat these as he played. This got to
be called Sandwich" but gradually
the inverted commas were dropped as
the word became an accepted one ip
the language.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-09-12
FRANCE WILL LEAD THE WAY.
Likely to Be First to Use wirele.. Tel.

Likely to Be First to Use wireless Telsp
graphy Extensively.
The French government is likely to
be the first in the world to adopt the
wireless system of telegraphy on an
extensive scale. Encouraged by the
helpfulness of the system to the Brit
ish army in South Africa and by the
results of the experiments made by
the prince of Monaco, France has de-
termined to take steps in tentative
way to introduce the system into the
African colonies. Arrangements have
been made to carry out the expert
ments simultaneously both in the
moist tropical regions and in the dry
Sahara. The work is to be advanced
only so far as it's success seems to be
assured between the stations where
the apparatus is placed. The experi-
ments in the moist tropical regions
will begin in Senegambia and Gaboon,
on the west coast of Africa. They will
be under the charge of NJ. Magne, di-
rector of the postal and Geographic
service in the French west coast col
onies. He has recently left France
with apparatus sufficient to equip sew
eral stations. His first endeavor will
pc to establish wireless communion
tlons between Rufisque and Goree. The
latter town is mile and a half from
Dakar, the excellent port of Senegal,
where large ocean vessels ride safely
In deep and smooth water and where
the Atlantic cable from Europe first
reaches the mainland. About twenty
miles to the east is Rufisque, separated
from Goree only by a water surface.
Magne's second experiment will be fur
Their south in the still more humid cli-
mate of Gaboon, where he will test
the practicability of the wireless sys-
TEN between Libreville and Denis.
These towns, about twenty-five miles
apart, are also separated only by
water surface, the purpose being in
both these experiments to have the
most favorable conditions as to surface
and thus be able to study under the
best circumstances the meteorological
influences that may determine the
practicability of the system in trop-
ical Africa. If wireless telegraphy
proves to be success at these sta
tlons the next step will be to extend
1T lnland.-Chicago Chronicle.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-09-12
II YN
AIMING HIS GUN AT SURE.

AIMING HIS GUN AT SURE
DEATH"
we're astir. He prepared his breakfast
Of bacon and black coffee. After eat
ing, he put some bareback in his haver-
sack, filled his canteen from a nearby
spring, slung his rifle over his shout
der and set out in the wet grass in the
direction of the hostile army. About
O'Clock the mists had rolled up the
hills and the sun was shining brightly
Lying hidden
Behind a Fallen Tree
entirely screened by clump of bushes.
Masterman caught fitting glimpse
OF his enemy creeping along the
ground, but no shot offered itself.
'Suredeath" was safely stationed in a
tree before the Union man again found
out where he was. The familiar sound
OF his gun and the smoke floating
away from the tree then disclosed his
whereabouts. Masterman watched
closely. After time he saw the muz-
zle of "suredeath's" rifle protruding
from beyond the leaves. The man was
again taking aim at some Union SOL
der. The blue-coated veteran, living
behind the log, aimed his gun at a
point where he thought ''Suredeath's''
body was and fired, instantly shifting
his position away from the smoke
made by the discharge. 1t was prob
ably a surprise to the Confederate. al
though nothing on his part betrayed
the fact. His rifle muzzle
Disappeared Among the Leaves.
The presence of each was now known
to the other, and the sharpshootine
duel began. Masterman had slight
advantage, for after a shot he could
change his position slightly, while his
opponent was forced to stay upon the
same limb, behind the same part of the
tree trunk and could not descend. Each
employed the usual tactics of drawins
each others fire by holding his hat as
If its owner was peering out and OF
letting an empty coat sleeve peep in.
1ocently from cover.
The Confederate certainly realized
| that he had no ordinary sharpshooter
| opposed to him. Sometimes a hal,
hour would go by with no perceptible
movement on the part of either. A,
one time an hour passed in ABSOLUTE
quiet. When that silence was broken
however, it was by "Suredeath" pulling
the trigger, and the bullet made fest
wound in Masterman's hand anl cut q
Jagged hole through the stock of hi
/ rifle. lie duel lasted four hours before
Masterman finally sent in lucky shoI
| and saw the other man
Tumble from the Tree.
| At this sight all Masterman's hatred
vanished. 1t was no longer the muir
dering rebel sharpshooter, but deae
or wounded man. If the latter. hui
manity called upon him to do some
thing. He made his way to the base o
the tree. He went cautiously. for tn,
man might still be able to fight, o.
there might be other sharpshooter.
4 watching. His first view of the Con
i iederate told him the shot was fatal
1t had gone through the body( TIL,
unfortunate soldier was lyinf bn hi,
side, and when Masterman calme vi
was fumbling for an inside pocket n
Il j o. 1
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-09-12
Did as Told.

The Lebanon Valley railroad gives
employment to great many Pennsyl-
vania Dutch as train hands. A passen-
ger conductor instructed new and in
experienced brakeman that when a
stop was made at station he must
call out from his end of the train, for
the information of travellers, the same
name that he-the conductor-did a.
the other.
In due time stopping place was
reached. The conductor shouted
"Reading!"
Same at dis end!" yelled the brake
man,
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-09-12


Care in the wording Of will is
something which can never safely be
neglected. A man who died lately in
New York left his house, with furni-
ture and contents to his wife. Other
relatives were named for specific be-
quests or as residuary legatees. The
inventory of the estate disclosed the
fact that among the Contents of the
house was safe containing over a
hundred thousand dollars, besides
which there was nothing OF account,
either in the house or out Of It. The
widow naturally claimed the safe with
all it contained, bnt the courts have
decided against her, on the ground that
the money cannot be considered as a
part of the contents" Of the house
within the probable meaning.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-09-12

Mrs. Leland Stanford gave $10,OO0,-
900 last year for the public good and
Mrs. Bradley was second in amount
with 100000. The total amount given
by American women in 1900 was $780,
100000. In the year 1899, "a women in
this country donated $3,500,0OO for
higher education, and of this sum Cora
J.. Flood gave $2,OOO,0OO.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-09-12
WHAT - 1t, johnny; wnd
wa II" asked Masterman
Eneelinr hasfde hin,

"Wnat Is 1t, johnny; wna(
wa 2" asked Masterman
kneeling beside him.
In there letter my little gifl)
was the almost inaudible reply.
Masterman put his hand inside the
mans blouse and brought forth let
ter. The envelope was red with blood.
rs this it. johnny" he asked.
The Confederate nodded.
rs this from your little girl.
johnny"
Again nod. The Union man, with
tears in his eyes. drew the letter from
the stained covering. A curl of brown
hair fell to the ground. The dying
father tried to speak, but only gurgled
instead, and died before Masterman
could raise the canteen to his lips,
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-09-12
Wanted Rusty shoes.

One Of Names little friends had a
pair Of russell shoes, and she thought
it would be nice for her to have pair
OF that kind. So when she and her
mother went to the shoe-stoFe, and tie
clerk brought out some black ones, she
said: "That is not the kiHd I1waat,
mamma; I want pair Of flstl onss."
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-09-12

John Wanamaker has given to the
university Of Pennsylvania museum a
large and valuable collection Of Indian
ANTIQUITIES, besides numerous oil paint
lngs and Photographs IL noted Indian
warriors and aboriginal scenes and
customs. The collection was made NV
the late Thomas Blaine donaldson. ST..
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-09-12

1t is striking fact that Tho +e.s
as an instrument for raising the nap
on cloth has never been superseded or
improved upon. though various AT
tempts nave been made in this direc-
tlon, notably with an apparatus.,6f fine
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-09-12
A Little White Donkey.

At our cottage by the sea-" we hav.
visitor, and you would never guess
who or what it is, so I'm going to tell
you-it's little white donkey. And
this is how he came here: Another
doctors family had the cottage last
summer, and they brought Snow
white" with them for the children.
When they left he was put in charge
of some people that have simply let
him run wild and homeless. So, while
he feels that this is his home, and
wanders around the place, he neverthe-
less shuns us ALL At least, he did
until the little incident occurred of
day the rain came down in torrents.
1t fell in sheets, not in drops, and was
a day when man and bird and beast
would want to be under shelter. We
boys and girls were having jolly time
indoors, when suddenly one of us saw
Snowwhite out in the driving rain.
Instantly our sympathies were with
him, and before many minutes we were
armed with rubber shoes, rain-cloaks
and umbrellas, and-I was about to
forget the most important part-hand-
fuls of lump-sugar. We trudged
through the high field grass until we
were within few feet of Snowwhite.
His backS was towards the wind, and
his head hung low in the grass, but as
we approached, he kept his heels to-
wards us, and SO, for several minutes,
we circled around him. Finally, with
gentle coaxings and show of the
sugar, we won his favorable notice,
and he came, towards the outstretched
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-09-12

A quick and easy way to change the
atmosphere In an invalid's room is to
pour some cologne into 4 SCUM Mate
and set fire to it, The spirit will make
pretty flame, and impart i 1,aligbt-
fully refreshing odor to ira sir
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-09-12
sixty Thousand Dollars for Kindness,
Three months ago watson w Mooro

Three months ago Watson w. Moore.
a New York lawyer, went to Denver
for his health. Last week he died at
the home of Mrs. Ida p. Roberts in
thht city. His will names her and her
little daughter as his sole heirs, be-
cause of their kindness and attention
to me in my stricken condition" The
estate is valued a. 100000.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-09-12

Kansas City papers conta,r
count o, IN aaree farmers being arrested
there while lighting ever the nosss e.
sion OF an IDLE man, whom each want
ed for a farm hand. 80 y ane-
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-09-12
Talking to the Wrong Man.

Taking TO the Wrong Man.
An Indianapolis woman called up her
grocer by telephone the other morning
and, after she had sufficiently scoldef
the man who responded, said:
"And what's more, the next order
you get from me will be the last I'p
ever give you"
cit probably will madam !. said III
voice at the other end OF the wire
"you are talking to an undertaken"
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-09-12

A man died in Briageton tha
other DAY ana y is said that his corpse
petrifed within ~ hours. The pa re
markable change was ATTRIBUTED 70
lime salts in the system 'eu 20
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-09-12

Miss Jennie Powers Of Germantown
Pa is a sunday school teacher She
has not missed Sunday il 26 years
She was given gold medal & tbo -. an =,
OF her 10Th year Of consecutive SER
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-09-12

While workmen were excavating in
the Roman Forum. under the guidance
OF Signor Boni, a distinguished engi-
neer, one Of them came across a frag-
ment of marble, which a closer inspec-
ton showed to be Of singular value
and interest. It was nothing less than
portion of the plan Of old Rome
wrought centuries ago In marble and
designed to be record for future ages
OF the exact dimensions Of the city.
According to ancient authors, the plan
was fundamentally accurate.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-09-12
.SHARPSHOOTER DUEL.
A GRAPHIC STORY OF THE CIVIL
WAR.
How the Fatal Reign of "suredeath's"
Gun Was Ended-An Early Morning
Battle-A Little Girls Letter-Master-
mans Order.
Especial Lottery

AT Lincoln, Neb, lives a man named
Masterman, now nearing his Goth year,
VINO acted as a guard at the marriage
OF Queen Victoria and who fought as
sharpshooter in the Union ranks dur
Ing the civil war. 1t was while the
war was raging along the southern
boundary Of Tennessee that the wing
OF the army in which Masterman be-
I longed was sorely 'beset by the enemy's
sharpshooters. Most of these Confed-
crate riflemen were we'll known to the
Union soldiers. There was some pc
cul1arity in mode of operation or sound
OF the gun which distinguished one
from the other, and as time went along
gllmpses of them were caught, so that
even the rank and file of the Federal
soldiers had good idea of what these
dangerous men We're like.
one of them was dubbed "Suredeath, -
and there was good reason for giving
him the name He was the prince of
the Confederate sharpshooters. At any
hour of the day the clear crack of his
rifle might sound, and the men always
-ASo " oSO WIZ Cl1S NlClllu Was, 1OI
there was always one either killed out
right or mortally wounded. One even
ing the colonel sent an orderly to the
company quarters with instructions for
Masterman to report at once at his
tent.
Masterman's Order.
Sergeant" said the colonel, "this
man Suredeath' must be stopped. Not
a day passes but he gets some of our
men. The next thing he'll do will be
to kill the general himself. Now, I'm
going to depend upon you-do you I'M
derstand-upon you to silence that
murderous grin of his"
Masterman went back to his quarters
turning the situation in his mind. He
was acquainted with the habits of the
Confederate, for he had tried to bag
him before this time. He made up his
mind that the following day would see
the end of either "Suredeath'' or him
self. He told his son, who slept near,
Of his orders from the colonel and his
determination. He gave the young man
few trinkets to take home as keep
sakes in case he did not return, crept
under his shelter tent and slept like
log.
He awoke in the early morning be-
fore either the soldiers in blue or gray
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-09-12
THOUGHT SMOKING A CRIME.

In Former Times Tobacco Was Under
the han of the Law.
There are few tobacco haters of the
present day who sigh for the return Of
the time of old when the use of the.
weed was punished as crime and the
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-09-12

Their Birthday.
I've secret to tell you, Dolly,
Let me whisper it in your ear
Tomorrow will be our birthday,
Your birthday and mine, my dear!
AS soon as the sun peeps over
The hill where the blackberries
I'll be eight years old, my Dolly,
And you'll be one, you know.
DON'T you remember, Dolly =
I'm perfectly sure you do
When I woke last birthday morning.
The first thing l saw was you?
You sat on the edge of a workbox.
Waiting, you lovely child,
And when you saw was looking
You stretched out your arms and
smiled.
And you're just as lovely as ever,
Though your curls are very thin,
And your poor legs wobble sadly,
And your left eyes falling in.
So, if tomorrow morning,
Another doll comes here,
Well treat her we'll, but she'll never
Take your place, my dear!
Philadelphia Times.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-09-12
FOR BOYS AND GIRLS.
SOME GOOD STORIES FOR. OUR
JUNIOR READERS.

Group of Children Play They Are Con-
Quoting Bakery on the Seaside
Pies Made of sand-Alligators Pull
Mans Boat.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-09-12

The army worm essent,a,,v !.
grass-eating insect, though l, s'A .
feeds upon other plans ana o ~:
to prefer oats to corn. = saiu
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-09-12
Collects Sporting Books.

T. Suffern Taller Of New York Il
said to have the best library OF book
on sporting subjects, and particularly
on riding and driving, in this coun]
try.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-09-12

Sober business men are saying that
We have come round again to the day
Of small profits" AS a matter of fact,
that day has always been here and al
ways must be-. For the vast majority
of mankind nothing beyond q moder
ate competence is ever possible, and
this only on the condition Of industry
and frugality. AS heaped-up riches
can only be gained by one in a hun
ldred, what pity it is that the other
ninety nine should miss the enjoyment
81 what is within reach through a few
erish eagerness TO lay, hands on the
pot Of gold at the foot Of the rainbow!
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-09-12

me CHI ~ nllq w q. n leVV y lgl J
times before they We're satisfied with
their man; for his head would drop
off, until they sprinkled water all over
him, and left him in the mould until
he hardened.
At last everything was done. A long
row of pies, brown bread loaves, men,
doughnuts, and round cakes, stood on
the sand.
AS the children stood reviewing their
, bakery, Mabel's big brother, Reginald,
came along the beach toward the bevy
of girls and boys.
They all ran to meet him, for Regi-
nald was. captain of the baseball nine
at Harvard, and was considered by the
boys to be perfection itself.
What are you doing?" he asked, as
he reached the bakery
We've been making sand pies" an
swered Derry.
Sand pies, Ell? can show you how
to make sand pie"
So saying, Reginald dumped some
sand into pail which stood near.
That's the = -four" he continued,
now, we want some salt and pepper,
and here go some plums. We want this
to be an extra nice pie, you know"
Having sprinkled in a lot of sand,
he handed the pail to Ted with low
bow, and said:
There's your pie, and now for a
game of ball."
Reginald ranged them all in line,
with Mabel at the head; then he fun
bled around in his pocket after the
ball; but it was not ball which he
rolled along the sand to Mabels feet:
it was an orange, and Mabel picked it
up with glad cry.
More than one ball seemed needful
in this queer game, for an orange was
rolled to every one of the children.
Ted had chase for his, however;
the beach sloped somewhat, and the
orange rolled down toward the water.
Two or three times Ted almost touched
it, and at last he captured his prize
just at the waters edge.
had chase for that he laughed
as he came up.
81 should think you did," answered
Reginald. well, goodbye; I hope
you'll like my pie"
"Orange pie, should think" shout
ed Mabel; and then the children went
20 shady place to eat their oranges.
Helen Tucker Lord in Boston Her
aid.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-09-12
Several species Of animals unfortu-

Several species of animals unfortu-
nately have been exterminated because
of their commercial value; it remains
to be seen if a like fate Will ever over
take any animal because it is con-
demned as a pest. The rat is already
under the ban in many countries, and
concerted action, it is said, might put
an end to his tribe. The mosquito, an
insect. seems likely to be greatly re-
stricted in his field of operations by
the new measures taken against him.