davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Amador ledger., 1901-05-10
THE DEADLY COBRA.
How Venomous Creature Ia Handled
by HindOO Snake Charmers.


The creatures were on the defensive,
but not one of them ATTEMPTED to
strike at the master, who sat lely
in front of them, so long as lir did
nothing to annoy them. Kullan talked
to them as if they were his dearest
friends. After time one or the other
of them would lower its head, collapse
its hood and begin to try to wriggle
away. Whereupon Kullan would give
it smart little rap on the tail with
his stick and bring it instantly to at
tention again. Whether this man pos
sessed any special magic over these CO.
bras or whether the description given
below of how he could handle and play
with them was simply due to his meth
cd | cannot say. He himself repudia-
ted the idea of magic and asserted pos
itively that any one who had the nee
essary nerve and dexterity could do
exactly the same.
He used no reed instrument or mu-
sic of any kind to propitiate the rep
tiles. He would simply squat on his
launches in front of them, and, after
they had been kissing and swaying
their uplifted heads backward and for
ward for few minutes, he raised his
hands above their heads and slowly
made them descend till they rested on
the snakes heads. He then stroked
them gently. speaking all the time in
the most endearing Hindoostanee
terms. The serpents appeared spell
bound. They made no effort to resent
the liberty. but remained quite still,
with heads uplifted, and seemed rather
to enjoy it. Presently his hands would
descend down the necks about three
inches below the heads, his fingers
would close loosely around the necks,
and he would lift them off the ground
and place them on his shoulders The
looseness of the grip appeared to be
the main secret. The snakes, being in
no way hurt, would then slowly crawl
through his fingers and wind them
selves round his neck. his shoulders
and his arms. They appeared to real
ize that no harm was to be done them,
and they made no effort to resent
the handling. He would pick them
gently off one arm and place them on
the other and, in fact, stroke them and
pet them as if they had been a pair
of harmless worms.-Cornhill.
Amador ledger., 1901-05-10

This elegant and delicate starch Is
the product Of plant that Is Guilt
waited very extensively in the Malay
peninsula, where it's culture is almost
entirely in the hands of the Chinese.
The tubers Of the plant (Manihot util-
isima). which weigh on an average
from 10 to 25 pounds, are first scraped
and then carefully washed, after which
they are reduced to pulp by being
passed between rollers. This pulp is
carefully washed and shaken up with
abundance of water until the felcula
separates and passes through a very
fine sieve into tub placed beneath.
The -four so obtained is repeatedly
washed and then placed on mats and
bleached by exposure to the sun and
air. 1t is finally converted into the
pearl tapioca of commerce by being
placed in a crude shaped frame COW
cred with canvas. 1t is slightly moist
ened and subjected to a rotary motion,
by which means it is granulated. 1t is
next dried in the sun and finally over
the fire in an iron pan creased with
vegetable tallow and is then ready for
the market.
Amador ledger., 1901-05-10
Verdi and Bismarck on Titles.

The composer Verdi was offered n
title of nobility by King Victor En-
manuel 1t was intended that he should
be created Marquis or Comte de Bus
seto, after the estate upon which he
lived. The composer refused the offer
theoretically. He considered that Verdi
was somebody and that the Marquis de
Busseto would be nobody.
Even Bismarck was unable to parry
a blow of this character. When the
young emperor broke with him, he
conferred upon him the title of Duke
of Luxembourg. Bismarck received the
parchment with this exclamation:
"a pretty name! 1t will be handy for
travelling incognito."
Some days after a parcel arrived at
Varzin bearing the address "Mme. la
Duchesse de Luxembourg"
Bismarck, to whom it was delivered,
being then at table, arose and, offering
the letter to his wife, remarked iron
ically:
Duchess, enchanted to make your
acquaintance
Amador ledger., 1901-05-10
Short and Sour.


There had been a small bank failure,
and the bank had gone into the hands
Of receiver. The receiver had proved
to be dishonest and had absconded
with what remained of the funds of
the institution. Expert detectives,
however, were on his track, and he was
run to earth in a mountain town and
taken back to the scene of his financial
exploits.
1t was after midnight when the de-
tectives arrived with their prisoner,
and Mr.. Means, the principal deposit
or in the bank and therefore the prin-
cipal loser. was awakened at his home
and informed by telephone of the cap
ture.
He expressed his qualification and
went back to bed.
Shortly afterward he was aroused to
receive another telephone message to
the same effect from different source.
Thanks" he said, but l had heard
Of it already. Good nightw
And again he sought his couch.
About 2 o'clock he was awakened q
third time. The telephone bell was
ringing.
In no gentle frame of mind he an
swered it.
"HelloI' he said.
'Hello!" responded a voice through
the telephone. as this Mr.. MeansT
Eyes. What do you want?"
"Mr. Means. this is Deputy Sheriff
Jones. We've caught that runaway re-
ceiver. Is there anything you'd like to
have me do personally in the matter"
"Yesv' roared Mr.. Means. Hang up
the receiverr'
And he was not disturbed again
Youths Companion.
Amador ledger., 1901-05-10
Mark twain and the serpent.. FOOT

Mark Twain and the Serpents Tooth.
Mark Twain's daughter, Miss Clara
L,aClemens, in entering upon her career
as concert singer. had a long con-
terence with a manager. Many mat
ters were discussed, plans made and
1etails settled. Miss Clemens debating
her own ideas. The young singer. who
had experienced considerable difficulty
in obtaining parental consent to a pub
lie career. showed her earnestness by
the businesslike manner In which she
looked into affairs.
When matters had been fully consid
cred and the manager was about to
leave, Miss Clemens said. with the
large determination that small bodies
not infrequently possess:
II wish it distinctly understood that
my fathers name is not to be men,
toned at all in connection with my
singing in public"
Mark Twain, who had been sitting
in the room during the interview. in
which. however. he had taken no part,
looked up quizzically and said. with
twinkle in his eyes:
You see what it Is to have a thank
less child."-Saturday Evening Post.
Amador ledger., 1901-05-10
MOST PEOPLE LOPSIDED.
Differences Between the Legs, Eyes
and Ears of Men and Women.

Differences Between the Legs, Eyes
and Ears of Men and Women.
The two sides of a persons face are
never alike. The eyes are out Of line
in two cases out of five, and one eye is
stronger than the other in seven per-
sons out Of ten. The right ear is also.
as a rule. higher than the left.
Only one person in Is has perfect
eyes. the largest percentage of defects
prevailing among fair haired people.
Short sight is more common in town
than among country folk. and Of all
people the Germans have the largest
proportion of shortsighted persons.
The crystalline lens of the eye is the
one portion of the human body which
continues to increase with the attain
ment of maturity.
The smallest interval of sound can
be better distinguished with one ear
than with both. The nails of two
fingers never grow with the same ra-
pidity, that of the middle finger grow
ing the fastest. while that of the thumb
grows the slowest.
is shorter than the right. The bones
of an average human male skeleton
weigh 20 pounds. those of woman are
six pounds lighter.
That unruly member. the tongue of
woman, is also smaller than that of
man, given man and woman Of
equal size and weight. 1t may be ap-
palling to reflect, but it is nevertheless
true, tina, The muscles of the human
jaw exert force of over 500 pounds.
The symmetry which is the sole in
telligible ground for our idea of beauty,
the proportion between the upper and
lower half of the human body, exists
in nearly all males, but is never found
in the female. American limbs are
more symmetrical than those of any
other people. The rocking chair, ac-
cording to an English scientist is re-
sponsible for the exercise which in
creases the beauty of the lower limbs.
The push which the toes give to keep
the chair in motion, repeated and re-
peated, makes the instep high, the calf
round and full, and it makes the ankle
delicate and slender.-EXchange.
Amador ledger., 1901-05-10

Ben Webster, an English actor, told
a good story of how he held his own
when Sir Henry Irving happened to be
absentminded. In the Lyons MaiP'
there is a touching scene between Lee
surques played by lrving) and his
daughter Julie, of which Didier (Mr.
Ben Webster) is perfectly silent wit
ness
One night Sir Henry, instead of max
ing his long speech, appealed in trem-
bling tones to Mr.. Webster: Speak to
her, Didier; speak to her" Didier was
dumfounded. There was an awful
pause. Irving, quite unconscious Of
his own mistake, frowned wrathfuIly
at the young actor, but Mr.. Webster,
equal to the occasion, gave way to a
burst of tears and exclaimed, 81 can
not; you know | cannot speak" and
turned his back on the audience.
Then Sir Henry picked up his lines
with start, and it was observed that
Didier's shoulders shook with emotion!
louisville Courier Journal
Amador ledger., 1901-05-10
CHOICE MISCELLANY
She Was Disappointed.

An American girl, writing from Ber-
lin to the New York Tribune, thus ex-
presses her disappointment at the ia
nous "Unter den Linden street, the
glories of which have so often been
dilated upon: 1.-THE very name breathes
romantic, old world charm, full Of
suggestions of sweet peace beneath
widespread trees. When I actually
saw the gay boulevard, with its shops
of chopped off, stunted little trees
down the middle, 1 should have liked
to use a Ratchet on one of them that
| might have logged it off as a SOU
venir of my disappointment. In one
way however, this Inter den Linden
is a right royal highway. When the
emperor or his family are here, it ap-
pears to an outsider as if between
them they spent most of their time
driving like mad up and down its
length. l early learned that if one
wanted to get anywhere in season one
shouldn't take bus whose course lay
for any distance along this linden
street The first thing you know you
are hauled up and switched off into
side alley, along with every other near
by bus, carriage or truck. The pedes-
trians stop shop gazing and crowd
to the edge of the sidewalk and crane
their short necks up and down the
avenue. After ten minutes or so of
this sort of hiatus there sounds a sud
den slashing of whips, sharp scurry-
ing of wheels and clicking of hoofs.
Before you know what is coming a
coupe or landau has dashed round
the corner, giving a running vision of
the royal, befeathered coachman and
footman on the box, and whether the
bunch of color inside is a red military
jacket or a scarlet cape one has no
time to see. There is no calm prone
nading by this reigning household.
They drive as if they were an emer-
gency wagon, fire engine and New
York Central record breaker, all in one.
1t makes the kingly prerogative that
demands cleared streets a wise pro-
vision for the saving of more plebeian
lives and limbs"
Amador ledger., 1901-05-10
TRICKS IN THE SILK TRADE.
How Shoppers Are Fooled-Tests
Which Show the Pure Material.

Which show the Pure Material.
Pure silk, when it has been through
all the processes necessary TIC bring out
all its good qualities, is worth it's
weight in silver, said an expert the
other day. Therefore the women who
expect to buy pure silk at little more
than the price of cotton must expect to
be fooled, and there are lots of ways by
which the manufacturer gets even with
them.
They make stuff that is called silk
and passes for it with credulous per-
sons who don't know any better out of
nearly any old thing now. One favor
lite imitation silk is made of cellulose
treated with chemicals. 1t isn't good
material to get on fire in. Then there
are south sea island cottons and some
mercerized cotton which after treat
ment look something like silk, though
of course they wear very differently,
and their silken appearance soon van
isheS.
But it is in adulterating goods which
really have some silk in them that the
greatest skill is exercised to deceive
the buyer. To obtain the required rus
tie and body rough floss is often used
for the wool of the material. This soon
causes it to wear shiny.
Another trick is to increase the
weight and apparent solidity of a film
sy silk material by using metallic salts
in the dye watts. Pressing with some
kinds of silk increases the weight also,
but at the sacrifice of strength. Cheap,
crackly, stiff silk which has heavy
cords is good silk to avoid. 1t won't
wear.
There are several tests which reveal
readily the purity of a piece of silk.
The microscope of course will show it
at once, even to an Impractical eye
Pure silk has the appearance Of fine,
smooth tubes. Another good test is by
burning. Pure silk burns slowly, with
slight odor. Cotton flares up quickly
and would throw off decidedly disa-
greeable smell.
Then the tongue will readily reveal
the presence of metallic salts. There is
no installing their taste. But all these
may be disregarded, said the expert,
when silk is offered for the price of cot
ton. You need not bother to test that
stuff.-New York Sun.
Amador ledger., 1901-05-10
Love me true and love me quick,
Pull my hair and use the stick.
Naming the White House.

Why is the presidents mansion at
Washington called the White House?
1t has been so called for years and
years, an6 now no one thinks of using
any other name. although executive
mansion" is the official term. The
name White House is a reminder of
the second war with England. Aug.
"a. 1914. the British army captured
Washington and burned the public
buildings, the presidents mansion be-
ing among those to suffer. 1t was
damaged to some extent, and to hide
the fire stains 1t was painted white,
and white it has been painted every
year or two since.
The home of Washington's mother
was called the white house." and this
may have suggested the name, but the
fact that the mansion was so assidu-
ously painted white after the war of
1912 doubtless brought the term into
popular use.
Amador ledger., 1901-05-10
DC GS ON THE STAGE.
Leaping For the Villains Neck-A
Very Sensitive Animal.


Very Sensitive Animal.
Four legged animals in drama are Of
course very common sight today. AL
though they are often of far more i'm
portance than the mere super, they
have an affinity to that class, for theirs
is no speaking part, unless one counts
the bark of a dog as such.
A little time ago the writer met an
actor who was taking the part of vii
lain in a play wherein a big mastiff
seiZes him at the back of the neck just
as he (the villain) was about to murder
the heroine. NASTY part, that of yours.
How do you manage to escape nightly
being bitten by that big brute of a
dog?" mot a nice part, it is true" he
answered, ''but the dog is well trained.
He is kept without food for a few
hours before the show. A piece of cook
ed liver is tied to my neck. He IS held
in the wings till the cue comes, then
he rushes on to me for his supper, and
the curtain goes down on a very effect
i've tableau. don't object to the dog.
It's the liver"
The mention of stage dogs brings to
mind an amusing incident that occur
red in a well known theatrical agents
Office last summer In came a rough
looking little man wearing check suit
that once used to speak out for itself,
but was now silenced by the heavy
hand of time. The man was followed
by dog of attractive appearance The
visitor said he did a tramp act" as
sisted by the animal. Then they gave
an exhibition of themselves and were
certainly above the average. what are
your terms?" the agent queried. "Ten
pounds a week" "Tll give you two"
The imitation tramp-but he was not
far from the real thing-looked with a
sad, reproachful eye at the agent and
silently backed out of the office, the
dog meekly following. However, within
a few seconds the man returned, quick
ly closing the door to exclude his part
ner, who clamored to get in. ''I'll take
it." he said in a hurried whisper.
where's the contract? I'm real broke,
so it's a clear case of push; but, for
heavens sake, don't mention the price
where the dog can hear you."-Cham-
bers' Journal.
Amador ledger., 1901-05-10
hid Thew

There Is nothing much more dis
tressing than an unfinished story. A
number of people in London drawing
room were conversing about capital
punishment when lady remarked:
How strange it must seem to be
sentenced to death"
Not so very, very strange, | assure
you. l was myself once condemned
to death In Africa" said a returned
African explorer.
Indeed" exclaimed the lady. And
were you-did they
did they what, madame"
"Why. did they execute you. you
knowT-Ex change.
Amador ledger., 1901-05-10

1t was at Windsor castle that Queen
Victoria. then only girl of 20. did
what she described as 1.-The most nerv-
Gus thing a woman was ever called on
to do when she summoned the young
Prince Albert of Saxe-C oburg- Gotha to
a private interview and proposed" to
him. She had first met him when as
boy of II he came with his father to
England, and when, three years later,
he made no secret" of his love for his
fair cousin mo one was surprised and
every one was delighted. London Tit
Bits
Amador ledger., 1901-05-10
Easily Explained.

A Glasgow cabby once had as fare
an Inverness minister and his wife.
He had to drive them through the poor
er districts of the city, and on reaching
their destination the minister, at the
same time handing cabby his legal
fare, asked:
"Why are there so many poor people
In this city. cabmanT
Jehu looked hard at the parson for a
minute before he replied:
We'll, sir, I'm no vera sure; but, ye
see, maist O. the poor folk drive cabs,
and tips are scarce ere."-London An
EWers
Amador ledger., 1901-05-10
Philadelphia Wants More Monkeys.

Society has become infatuated with
the monkey. Charming girls and staid
mesdames who would tremble at the
moo of COW do not hesitate to idol
ize the simian, because 1t is the newest
fad. The demand for monkeys ha-
grown so great in this city that dealers
are unable to fill the orders, and prices
have jumped twice in two weeks.
prominent dealer who declared yester-
day that the demand for the animals
was unprecedented said:
Il have sold all could get If 1 had
800 more could sell them within three
hours. "-Philadelp Press.
Amador ledger., 1901-05-10
The Word Gazette

The word gazette" is from the name
of an old Venetian coin worth about
one half cent of our money. The name
is applied to newspapers because il
was the sum charged for reading the
first written journals that made their
appearance in 1850 After the paper
was read it was handed back to the
owner, who charged the next conner a
gazette for taking peeD Ut It
Amador ledger., 1901-05-10
The sIav and Woman.

Abhorrent even to the strongest
"Slavophile" is the position occupied
by woman in the family and in social
life. To escape the charge of prejudice
shall quote few proverbs current
among the southern Slavs-a few out
Of many hundreds:
The man is the head; the woman is grass
One man Is worth more than ten women.
A man Of straw Is worth more than a woman OF
gold.
Let the dog bark, but let the woman keep 81
lent.
He who does not beat his wife is no man.
what shall get when marry2'' asks boy
Of his father. For your wife a stick; for your
children 4 switch"
Twice in Las life is a man happy-once when he
marries and once when he buries his wife.
And the woman sings, in the Russian
folksong which 1 have freely trans
lated,
Love me true and love me quick,
Pull my hair and use the stick.
Although there are love songs of an
other kind. In which woman is praised
for her charms, she becomes virtually
a slave as soon as she marries, and the
little poetry Of the folksong does not
accompany her even to the marriage
altar. She is valued only for the work
she can do in a household and for the
children she can bear. and should this
latter blessing be denied her her lot
becomes doubly pitiable. and she often
seeks release by suicide.-Outlook.
Amador ledger., 1901-05-10
A Fiena CONNECTION snubbed.

Collectors of autographs, postcards.
ETC., are not always conscious of the
importunacy OF their demands. and the
following anecdote, which comes from
Triest. gives a striking example of
their failing and of the humorous way
in which the intended victim treated
his tormentor. An Italian painter re-
ceived a letter in the following terms:
Dear sir-I should like to ask you great favor
and hope you I'll excuse the liberty l take.
making collection of painted postcards and
should feel myself highly 6attered if you would
kindly send me one. with a little picture painted
it by yourself. 1t will certainly be the most
treasured card of my collection, as | should be
able TO say that you one of the first to honor
me in this way. Hoping to receive one, beg to
thank you in advance.
The artist replied:
Dear Sir-I should like TO ask you a great favor
and hope you will excuse the liberty ! take.
am making a collection of thousand franc notes
and should feel myself highly battered if you
would kindly send me one 1t will certainly be
the most highly treasured thousand franc note OF
my collection, as ! should be able to say that you
were one Of the first to honor me in this way.
Hoping to receive one, beg to thank you in ad
Amador ledger., 1901-05-10
English Robe. of state.

Every robemaker in London always
keeps some of the most expensive
robes of state-those of a registrar, for
instance-ready and lends them out
when officials have to use them at any
great ceremony. Many a peer. when
his portrait is to be added to the family
picture gallery, has obtained the GRIM
son and ermine from his tailor for
small consideration.
Amador ledger., 1901-05-10
Policy Approved.

p mo" said the policeman kindly. but
firmly. you cannot photograph that
statue"
"Why not?" asked the tourist.
Because it is against the law"
The tourist looked at the statue in
question. massive piece OF contract
work. and then answered:
"Well, | don't blame you. It's al
ways decenter for people to keep their
troubles to themselves instead of let
ting them be advertised all over the
country. "-Washington Star.
Amador ledger., 1901-05-10
Retraxed by His Feet.

Sherlock Holmes-I have not looked
around. but very tall man just came
In and sat down in the opera chair be-
hind me.
Miss Marvel-It is true! Say, you do
the most wonderful things. Now. tell
me how you knew without looking of
the tall mans presence.
Sherlock Holmes-His feet are stick
ing through under my chair.-Ohlo
State Journal.
Amador ledger., 1901-05-10
Very Grave.

Twiddle-l read last night of II man
who was buried alive so that be might
know what the sensation Is like.
Twaddle-Don't you think that was a
very grave thing to do?-Ohio State
Journal
Amador ledger., 1901-05-10
why She Discarded Him.

Don't despair, Edward, even if fa-
ther does say you'll be young enough
to marry five years from now"
ooh, don't care for myself, but how
about philadelphia Times. a..
Amador ledger., 1901-05-10

Our first regular factory for manu-
featuring glass was established at
Temple, N. H., in 1850 and was oper-
ated by imported German glassmakers.
Amador ledger., 1901-05-10
Squares of Consecutive Number.

Squares Of consecutive numbers, as
0, l. 2, 8, 4. ETC.. may be formed by the
simple rule: To the square Of the pre-
ceding number add the preceding num-
Der and the number itself. Thus:
90
la=0+0+1=1
2a=1+1+2=4
Sf=4+z+3=9
H=9+3+4=16
The algebralc proof is:
(x+Da=xa+2I+l
1xa+x+Z+D
New York Sun.
Amador ledger., 1901-05-10

In the fourteenth century the slaugh-
ter of women and children after
town or castle had been taken by
storm was one of the most common &C.
currenceS Of war.
Amador ledger., 1901-05-10

1t is puzzle to the modern youth
bow so many old buffers managed to
get along in the world without the
knowledge of things in general pos
sessed by the modern youth.-Boston
Transcript.
Amador ledger., 1901-05-10

When you forget there are others,
you are nearing a burned bridge.
Amador ledger., 1901-05-10

The first Rhine steamer made its
trips from Rotterdam to Cologne In
1916.