davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-01-03
Brass Band on bicycles,

In New Zealand there exists a brass
band whose members are wholly
mounted on bicycles. This band,
which is located at Christchurch, con-
sists Of ten players, and these not
merely ride their bicycles to practice,
but fulfill all their engagements on
the wheel. At first the band in its
perambulations through the town at
.tracted universal attention. but 1t has
now become common sight and the
people take 1t as matter of course.
To strangers visiting the town the
band is a source of wonder and amaze
ment, while the music they discourse
quickly places them in high favor.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-01-03
EAT WITH SPOONS.
Table Habits in Conservative Turkish
Households Are Odd.

Table Habits In Conservative Turkish
Households Are Odd.
OF late years some Turkish house,
holds have become considerably mod
ernized in their arrangements, even
aping the ways of Paris. But con-
servative Turks frown on such new
tangled ways. In a conservative Turk
ish household, rich or poor, no tables
are used, and chairs are unknown. In
stead there is huge wooden frame
in the middle Of the room about eight
cen inches high. When the family
the men only-assemb to dine cush-
ions are brought. placed upon the
frame, and on these the members seat
themselves tailor fashion, forming
circle around large tray. The tray
is very large wooden, plated or silver
affair, according to the financial con-
idition of the family, and thereon is
deposited a capacious bowl. About it
arranged saucers of sliced cheese, an
chovies, caviare and sweetmeats. In
terspersed with these are goblets OF
sherbet, pieces of hot upleavened
bread and lockwood spoons. Knives,
forks and plates do not figure in this
service, but each has napkin spread
upon his knees, and every one, armed
with spoon, helps himself. The bowl
is presently borne away and another
dish takes its place. This time 1t is
conglomeration of substantials stewed
together, such as mutton, game or
poultry. The mess has been divided
by the cook into portions, which are
dipped up with the aid of spoon or
with the fingers. For the host to fish
out of the mess wing or leg of
fowl and present it to a guest is con-
sidered great compliment, and for
Turk OF high degree to roll morsel
between his fingers and put 1t into
the mouth Of a visitor is looked upon
as good manners.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-01-03
IN THE WRONG OFFICE.

From the Washington Star: Eyes,
doctor" remarked the agitated young
woman in the physicians Office. "the
dear little thing seems to be teething,
and he means and whimpers SO pitt
fully, and, really, don't know what
to do!'
How old?" inquired the medical
man, soothingly.
He's just three weeks and two
days old, and"
MY" remarked the phyician, "but
that's pretty young for teething to be-
gin!'
YES" she continued. land the poor
little things hair is coming out SO
dreadfully, and"
Hair coming OUT" exclaimed the
doctor. My dear madam, are you
quite certain that"
YES" she went on. land if you so
much as touch his little f>s he snaps
at you so dreadfully and -"
Extraordinary" interrupted the
physician. Snaps. you say! Why,
there must
"And have given him paregoric.
but the poor little thing doesn't seem
to be able to keep the stuff on his
stomach, and
But that is relic of barbarism. to
serve out huge doses of paregoric to
young"
And he won't even touch the milk
give him, in his little saucer, but"
Madam, you give a 3-weeks-old
young one milk in saucer!"
And he does nothing but race from
one room to another and keeps jump
ing up on the coverlet of the best bed,
and
Three weeks old and racing from
one room to another, and jumping on
the beds!"
And he's SO terribly anxious to
chew things-to sharpen his poor lit
tie toofems. suppose-that he has
eaten up two of my hats and pair of
Jacks slippers and four palm leaf
fans and the leather bindings off two
volumes Of Macaulay's History of
England and
"Oh!" exclaimed the medical man,
a great light breaking in upon him.
Madam, my time is very limited. l
am very busy. Moreover, homeopathy
has not yet advanced sufficiently far
to render it's practitioners capable of
diagnosing the teething difficulties Of
fox terriers! There's dog doctor in
the next block, four doors to the right.
Good morning, madam-g-o-o-d morn
ing!"
Did you ever hear of anything SO
horribly rude in your life?" inquired
the young woman in telling her hus-
band of it that evening.
But her husband was rushing into
the parlor to look after the fox terrier
pup, which was gnawing holes in the
leather couch and was scattering the
excelsior stufing impartially around
the room.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-01-03
Old
Pirates

The memory of the last Of the buc-
cancers has again been revived by the
discovery of undoubted relics OF his
career as far north as Bangor, Me-.
says the Boston Post.
1t is true the present, discovery
amounts to~nothing more definite than
a hole which is said to be the exact
size of the reported mysterious boxes
of gold which the doughty Captain
Kidd is believed to have strewn along
the coast Of America, and which have
been traced all the way from South
Carolina to the present location, which
is believed to be the "farthest north"
yet made in Kidd's record. OF course
however, hole cannot sustain pi-
rates reputation, and the present
treasure trove includes also, as re-
cent dispatch from Bangor states,
IAN old-fashioned lip, such as covered
all old-fashioned locks, and a broken
key, found near the hole" These, the
narrator naively ADDS, are proof of
the discovery"
The legend that has existed for
years in this favored locality. that
some of the coveted remains of the
great pirate were buried at Eber's
Point, in the immediate vicinity, is
thus proved to have a somewhat more
stable foundation than the credulous
imagination of several successive gen
erations of Maine farmers. 'Many
PARTIES says the dispatch before re-
ferred to, shave dug over the ground
in the hope Of finding the treasure.
The land is owned by Messrs. Wood
man and Buzzell, and Mr.. Woodman
has discovered hole from which it is
evident box 12x16 inches has been
removed" Historic hole! In addition
to grandly stimulating the magma
ton of the whole American nation, to
say nothing of the pitch of frenzy to
which the jewellers of Ebers Point
have been wrought, this parallelogram
of, let us say, space, will at once take
its place among the great legends
which hover fondly over Captain
Kidd's name, These have connected
his place Of hiding, or rather that OF
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-01-03
Relics Of
Buccaneers
Found IN
Maine.

his treasure-Kidd himself was, we
believe hanged in England, as the nat
ural close of his picturesque career
with almost every island, peninsula,
or promontory, to say nothing of
every natural cave, gully or even
promising growth of underbrush on
the Atlantic coast Some of the most
likely of these legends have been done
into immortal fiction and have even
figured on the stage. Who can forget
Edgar Poe's weird story of the Gold
Bug" wherein the genius of this con-
summate artist is devoted to evolving
the mystery in cryptogram which
stands today one of the curiosities OF
literature? The scene Of the story is
laid on an island off the Carolinian
coast. Northward past the sea bound
aries Of Virginia. somewhat I'M
promising spot as being too densely
populated in the bold pirates time,
and which fancy seems to have left
quite ntouched-northward to such
unromantic preserves as New Jersey
and the shores Of Long Island, the leg
end hears us. 1t is even reported on
credible authority that substantial
citizen of Boston crossing the common
less than a twelvemonth ago in the
company of spiritual medium receiv-
ed startlingiy real message" to the
effect that the long-sought-fo gold
lay buried there. This last must be
accepted as belonging rather to the
realm of pure imagination than the
more credible tales which have trans
formed considerable portion of the
Atlantic coast into verltable sand
heaps. The Maine discovery, however,
restores us once more to the realm Of
material things, and must be consid-
cred as the most important contribu-
ton to the history of the most pictur-
esque period in American history that
has been vouchsafed us for a genera
ton The reign of romantic fiction is
now upon us, and although there are
many good single stories syllogism
of this grand cycle of American leg
ends is evidently the golden opportun-
ity for the creator of Richard Car
vel.'
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-01-03
Keene's Tunnel.
BY PRINCE al Wnnns

BY PRINCE T. WOODS.
copyrighted 1900: Daily Story Pub. Coz
The rain had poured in torrents all
day Sunday and that night the resi-
dents Of Cedarville were lulled to
sleep by the never ceasing patter, pat
ter and drip, drip of the storm. Mon
day morning the wind veered suddenly
into the north and blew fine. light
snow into the faces of the children
VINO were hurrying to the district
school on the mountain road. By
noon the snow was falling SO thick
and fast that big bob-sled was sent
up from the railroad for all the able
bodied men who could work to keep
the tracks open.
There were only two young men in
the village who had work enough
OF their own to keep them at home,
Sherman Keene, the village black
smith, and DR.. Abner Coulson. Not
that DR.. Coulson was particularly
busy, he had only made his appear
ance in Cedarville a few months be-
fore, but he could hardly be expected
to participate in a snow shoveling
bee.
The wind rose steadily all the after
noon and the storm settled down into
genuine blizzard. Long before dark
1T was apparent that the men who had
gone to help clear the railroad could
not return that night. Keene closed
the smithy early and made things
snug at home for the comfort of his
widowed mother and himself. Then
he made his way with difficulty
through the storm to some of the
neighbors, whose men-folks had gone
with the bob-sled party, and helped
them with the evening chores. On his
way home he looked in at the widow
Morse, who had come to the door to
greet him. and had seen that she was
provided with plenty of wood and wa
ter against wild, stormy night. He
would not have stopped had Nannette
been at home, but she had not yet re-
turned from the school on the noun
tain road, where she guided the youth
full minds of Cedarville through the
tangled paths of "readin, writin' and
'rithmetic.''
That night, while the storm howled
hercely without, Sherman Keene sat
in his comfortable armchair and oozed
before great fire of blazing logs on
the hearth in his sitting-room. Widow
keene had long since sought her bed.
keene dreamed Of Nannette, and in
his dream she was always in danger,
what, he could not make quite clear;
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-01-03
Portraits OF Victoria. Dogs.

In a room specially set apart for
royal use at Windsor are hung por-
traits of royal pets past and present
and, as often as not, lock of the
sitter's hair is placed below its coun-
terfeit presentment. Queen Victoria
has always named all her dogs herself
and her majesty's record as dog fan
cier goes back long way. A good
many Of the dogs bred at the royal
kennels are given away by their mis-
tress and splendid canine specimens
hailing from Windsor are to be found
in every court in Europe. Curiously
enough, the queen has never cared to
exhibit her pets and, as long as a dog
is handsome and healthy, she is quite
Indifferent to its points.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-01-03
How to Make an Ottoman.

An ottoman, if space will allow, is
a very useful thing to have in bed
room, and would look well at the foot
of the bed. This is easy to make at a
very small cost. as an ordinary wood
en- box can be made to do duty. Line
inside, not forgetting the lid, with
glazed lining, or anything you may
have by you will do SO long as it is
clean and tidy. If the boz you are
using possesses hinges SO much the
better, but if not you must get sonte,
for it would be useless without,
cept for seat. The outside should
next be enameled (the box part, not
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-01-03

the lid, and a flounce made long
enough to reach the ground. The best
way to fix this is to sew it on tape
which, in its turn is sewn to the lin
ing of the box. The lid must be meas,
ured, and cushion the exact size
be made. The stuf1ing might be of ex-
celsior but it must be very full, and be
finished off with frill about four
inches wide to cover the joint. A
piece of webbing or a strip of the ma
terial neatly doubled, about eighteen
inches long, should be nailed to either
side to prevent the lid falling back too
far when opened.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-01-03
~ f1aaSS1a7S ~
~ f|alAb&JH pSs

Danger
The Beautiful Roe OF. the Adiron-
dacks trembled piteously.
"Ah, me-" she moaned. 1.-THE open
season has come"
The Lordly Buck laughed at her
fears.
ooh, it's all very well for you!" cried
the Roe. You have horns and are In
no danger Of being shot! But I look
just like hunter at distance"
1t could not be maintained that her
alarm was devoid of logical justiflca-
ion.-Detroit Journal.
One Way Out.
Mrs. Housekeep-"See here, I've been
getting a dozen eggs from you every
week and in every dozen lately i've
found at least two bad anes. What's
to be done about it?"
Bright Clerk" Suppose you only
only half a dozen hereafter. Maybe
you wouldn't find so many bad ones
then." Philadelphia Press.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-01-03

a young western attorney was re-
Gently asked why he had so strenuous
ly defended woman who could not
pay him. 81 can never forget" he re-
piled, "that she lived at the end of
my long paper route when I was
struggling college boy. More than
once in winter her kind heart prompt
ed her to rise very early to have a
cup of hot coffee ready for her news
boy, fearing lest he might perish with
the cold" Such acts defy commercial
repayment" as much as mother-love
or sister influence. How does the old
Persian poet put it?
In Times feeting river
The image of that little vine-leaf lay,
Immovably unquiet, and forever
It trembles, but it cannot pass away"
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-01-03

University chaperones are the latest
viennese novelty. In consequence of
one rlotous and insulting behavior of
the male students when the women
tried to avail themselves of the newly
granted permission to attend lectures,
many mothers of women students have
registered for the university lectures
IN order to accompany and protect
their daughters. The pioneer vas the
opera singer, Arabella Szilagyl.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-01-03

The President usually issues his
thanksgiving day proclamation just
before the November elections. In that
way he saves himself from the shafts
OF the jokers. Were it issued after
election, a Presidents attitude of
thankfulness would be ascribed to his
own party's victory, if it had achieved
victory. If defeated he would be &C
cused of "whistling to keep his cour-
age up
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-01-03
She had kissed him and called him.

She had kissed him and called him.
"dear Sherman"
but there was some danger-something
wrong with Nannette. The dream was
most persistent, it would not leave
him.
Nannette and Keene had grown up
together in Cedarville. They had been
lovers, according to village gossip,
since they played together as children
in the sandheaps in Mother Morse's
garden. Since DR.. Coulson came to
town there had been a growing cold
ness between the two. The doctor
had been very attentive to Nanette.
Sherman Keene resented this and had
demonstrated with Nannette, but the
little school teacher had taken offense
and in words more hasty than wise
had sent Keene about his business, re-
m1nding him that she was still mis-
tress Of her own actions. Keene had
avoided her since that time and she,
perhaps to show that she did not care,
had encouraged the attentions Of the
gallant doctor. At all events, it was
with DR.. Coulson as escort that she at
tended many of the socials and enter
tainments that winter. Keene loved
Nannette with all the deep feeling of
his sturdy manly nature, but he felt
that she had been in the wrong in
their quarrel and feared haunting
repulse if he should attempt to rein
state himself. If Nannette preferred
the doctor rather than himself he
would not try to interfere. If Nan
nette cared only for him, surely she
would acknowledge her fault some
day and all would be we'll again. At
any rate, Keene would not intrude
where he was not wanted. AS for
Nannette. she seemed to be enjoying
herself.
Keene dreamed on as he sat before
the open fire. and it was not until the
first gray light of morning peeped in
at the windows that he awoke. He
was surprised to find himself still in
the armchair and the vague thought
Of his dream, something wrong with
Nannette," still haunted him. The
wind was still bowling about, and the
drifting snow swirled and clattered
about the windows. When he looked
out at the storm he cried out in aston
ishment. Never before had such sight
presented itself in Cedarville. Great
mountains of snow were piled up in
every direction. the Morse's cottage
could not be seen for the drifting snow
and the little red schoolhouse up on
the mountain side was buried all but
the chimney. AS Sherman Keene
looked with wide-eyed establishment
on the work of the blizzard, he seemed
to feel a voice telling of something
wrong, some danger for Nannette.
Putting flask of brandy in his
pocket, he buttoned his great peajacket
closely over it. wound giant muf-
fer about his head and strapped on a
pair of snowshoes. Then he took a
shovel from the shed and called
to his mother as he left the house: II
am going over to the Morse's to see
if they are all right" The cold, keen
wind stung his face as he staggered
over the snow toward the little cot
tage on the mountain road. At times
the drift blinded him.
He found Mrs. Morse alone and
i Z =
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-01-03

The house in Peekskill in which
Henry Ward Beecher wrote Nor
wood has been opened for a free Ii
prary and reading room for Peekskill
people. This has been made possible
through the generosity of DR.. John Ne
well Tilden, who for many years was
a practicing physician in Peekskill and
later was principal of the military
academy there. The institution will
oe known as the Beecher Free Reading
Room.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-01-03
Choice OF Friends.

With regard to the choice of friends
there is little to say; for a friend is
never chosen. A secret sympathy, the
attraction of thousand nameless
qualities, a charm in the expression Of
the countenance, even in the voice or
manner, a similarity Of circumstances
these are the things that begin at
tachmeIt. Mrs. Barbanld.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-01-03
Marriages in Hindostan are
ABOUT O'clock in the morning 70
the knot.

Marriages in Hindostan are very
simple, and are usually arranged by
the parents of the principals. When
an alliance is agreed upon. the bride
and groom are brought together, and
perhaps see each other for the first
time. The bride playfully skips
toward the groom and seats herself
beside him. The priest ties a corner
sof the brides veil to the grooms
shawl, and this simple proceeding
makes them man and wife.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-01-03
Might Have Been different.

Things might have been different
with me" said the converted burglar,
eff had a good education an good
Sunday school training
Poor man." said the visitor. SYM
pathetically
Yes, I might have been a trusted
cashier an skipped out with the funds,
an l might be Twin like fghtin'
cock somewhere out of the country"
Puck.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-01-03

Some at least of the great redwood
trees OF California will be preserved,
the state having recently come into
possession of about 400 acres of red
wood forest through the will of the
late Col. J. B. Armstrong of Clover
oale' Sonoma county. The tract is
10 be held as public park.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-01-03

The first authentic discovery of
traces of prehistoric race in Alaska
was made recently by prospectors in
the foothills of Mount St. Elias. A.
copper mine was unearthed which had
oeen worked ages ago. Kettles, tools,
spear-heads and other articles, made
IN a crude manner from copper, were
found.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-01-03
Good Advice.

Tailor-1 hope, baron, you'll pay
this bill really can't wait any long
er. l owe now for the cloth for more
than three months!
Baron-H'm! You run in debt and
expect me to furnish the money to pay
with!-Heitre Welt.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-01-03
Prairie Chickens Abundant.

Prairie chickens are said to be more
abundant in Western Kansas than for
years, and the farmers show a dis
position to give the birds chance
to multiply by keeping check on the
hunters.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-01-03

A Paris newspaper gives the weight
of certain European sovereigns. In a
football lineup, Dom Carlos of Portu-
gal would be center. His towardness
or valor ought to be guaranteed by his
202 pounds. Ferdinand of Bulgaria.
LII pounds, and Oscar of Sweden, one
pound less, seem fitted for guards
Kaiser Wilhelm's 100 pounds would
give him momentum and force as a
tackle. The czar would scarcely make
the team except as quarterback, fo1
he weighs only 121 pounds. The little
King Of Spain, 80 pounds, is out OF
the question, save to hold the sweater
of a player or to toss the coin for
choice Of position. If monarchy could
tolerate the presence of president of
republic for fullback, the head Of the
French government, with his $50
pounds, would naturally be a candidate
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-01-03
Clever Pa,

Aunt-But Fritz, why do you always
bring Elsa when play? She screams
frightfully until have to stop.
Fritz-Yes, that's what pa says, and
he gives me five cents to do it.-Flie-
gende Blaetter.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-01-03
As usual.

Assistant-Her are more dispatches
about the battle in the east.
Editor-What do they say? d
Assistant-It appears that both sides
were greatly outnumbered, but each
defeated the enemy with severe loss.
Harlem Life.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-01-03

Miss Clara Barton, head of the Re.
Cross society, has placed with firm
at kittrell. N. G., an order for 1,ooO,-
ooV strawberry plants. These plants
VIII De distributed among the fruit
growers of Texas who suffered so Sc
verely from the great September
storm. :
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-01-03
Perfectly Safe.

City neHhew-What do you think OF
DR.. Pillsbury as a physician?
Farmer Hayroob- Safest doctor any
where in this part of the country
nearly always off fshin' when he's
wanted.-Judge.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-01-03
Preventing the Cure.

Mrs. Gotham-The paper says IN
Indiana state hoard is trying to Pfc
vent the marriage of idiots.
Mr.. Gothan-What nonsense! they
soon get over it.-New York Weekly.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-01-03

Mrs. Kidder-George, may write
and accept Mrs. Browns invitation for
Bobby to attend her boys party?
Mr.. Kidder-Yes; and while you are
writing you had better write DIR. Kure
NJ Quick to call the day after.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-01-03

Ezary Baird of Fond du Lac, Wis,
and Miss Clara Elmer of Oshkosh made
arrangements to be married at the
nome of Mrs. King in the former city
the other evening. When the justice
examined the marriage = license he
found the five days limit kauired by
the instrument had not exl The
ABOUT 7 O'clock in the morning to TIA
the knot.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-01-03
Been Expecting 1t,

Mr.. Lurker- Excuse me, Miss Snap
per, but l have long sought this oppor.
tunity-
Miss Snapper-Never mind the pre-
amble, Mr.. Lurker. Run along in and
ask pa. He's been expecting this
would come for the past two years
Tid-Bits