davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1901-02-08
4 Dangerous Experiment.


BY G. *. ALDEN.
copyrighted. 1900. Daily story Pub Coz
Il was not singular. perhaps, with
the present mode OF dress. fashionable
gait, and pompadour hair-dressing,
and the fact that there was nothing
peculiar about my appearance, that /
should closely resemble another young
woman; so closely that / was mis-
taken I'm tie dusk for a Miss Arnold.
10 reused me from my condition Of
apathy and gave just the impetus /
needed.
The fact was that though I was
scarcely in the twenties, / was dis
gusted with life, or was II my COM
monplace surroundings? Having C
made up my mind that in a new at
mosphere / should breathe easier, 1
had boarded until / had the lean Of
escape and was on the threshold Of
my new life; / wal taking my first
walk in a strange city.
Miss Arnold-Shirley!" a young
man with fair hair, blue eyes behind
glasses, a decidedly reddish mustache
and even, white teeth had grasped
my hand before I could prevent him,
and still held it.
Il am Before I could hnsh
my sentence, as 1 intended-"not Miss
Arnold" he exclaimed: "Of course
you are surprised to see me and all
that; 1 may have seemed Indifferent
but 1 have hunted the streets, the ho-
tel registers, the society columns Of
the Sunday newspapers. I I'm lucky
for oncel"
But / fear"
Fear nothing. We are together
againl For the interim 1 care moth
ing. That is a dream, a nightmare.
We are together"
l was just in the mood to humor
him. / was fond Of adventure, but
thus far life had been tame. There
was a spirit of mischief in me despite
my dependency. 1 would listen
awhile and when l had to retreat l
knew he would charge it up to a young
girls caprice, rather than to bold
ness.
AS usual" he said, you let me do
all the talking"
You are equal to it," / replied,
wondering WHY my voice did not be-
tray me.
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1901-02-08

In Korea mourning is a very lengthy
matter. When a parent dies the
mourning lasts for three years or
more, and for other relatives the Pc
Rod is shorter, but never short. AS
during a period Of mourning marriage
is not allowable. II Is easily seen that
a goodly number Of deaths in the fam
lies Of each Of the betrothed pair may
delay their marriage far beyond the
limits Of human patience, as we un-
derstand 1t, though western people
have no conception Of the patience Of
some Orientals. In Korea It Is not
unusual for a wedding to be delayed
ten years on recount Of mourning, and
betrothed couples have been kept
waiting for upward Of thirty years.
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1901-02-08

a hearty laugh 1 Ike the artificial
came. He evident
~ thought was trying to amuse him.
1t is true" said /. walking away
from him. Every word is true. The
real MISS Arnold, the girl you love.
lives on Beaumont avenue. 1 talked
with her this very afternoon"
Il like the artificial one best" he
said. THE only fault l have TO find
with you is that you think me stupid.
l do not know as 1 shall ever forgive
that. Did you honestly think 1 be-
lieved you were Miss Arnold after the
very first minute Of acquaintance?
You interested me when l saw my mis-
take, and in the absence of the real
Miss Arnold, 1 cultivated the sham
one. Twas a dangerous experiment.
but ends happily for both Of us, If
you are not obstinate. Must / o
test that l love you for yourself alone?
II you have M local h~abitation and
a name, all the better; you a take
mine"
l did, and have never regretted It,
except when l am numerically leased
about my success in the role of Miss
Arnold. Miss Arnold, the real, by the
way, acted as bridesmaid; everyone
thought we were twin sisters.
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1901-02-08
JacEaI, * *
HYeno 90 CO.

Any attempt at writing biographies
Of the jackal and his boon companions,
the hyena and the vulture, would un-
doubtedly result in the production Of a
sort Of animal Newgate Calendar, for
all three are gluttons, thieves, and Of
very unpleasant personal habits. But
II they do not appeal to the naturalist
with an imagination, it is rather odd
that the statistician has rot woven a
romance about them. Their domain
embraces Persia, Arabia, Babylonia,
Syria, Egypt, a part of Asia Minor and
the whole Of North Africa, and most
formidable columns Of figures might be
gathered concerning their work in the
interests Of hygiene. In Africa, after
the v~ultures have done their day
turn, " the jackals and hyenas come
out. To appreciate the work done by
these agents Of the African commits
sion Of public highways, says Filbert
Dumonteil in Les Fauves Chiffon
iers," we may take a glance at a typi-
cal African village at nightfall. and
the same by early morning light. The
European traveller approaching such
a village for the first time, and view
ing 1t from afar, is delighted with the
scene. The little huts, lying in shadow
beneath the huge forest trees, look cool
and inviting, and seem to promise the
tired traveller a comfortable nights
rest. Approach, however, quickly dis
enchants him. The struggling areas
between the huts are reeking with all
manner Of filth and abomination. If
the traveller enters a hut, it is merely
to find that he has escaped from
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1901-02-08
EASTERN BEAUTIES.
SOCIALLY. PERSIA rs a Easel
MATING COUNTRY.
The Persian Woman U~ntroubiod by tho
NERVES" and Pads Of tho New Woman
-On tho Street she Conooais Her
Face from tho Vulgar Gaze.

The visit Of the shah Of Persia to
the continent, and his interesting say
ings and doings, while there. have very
naturally directed more than usual
public attention to the land over which
he rules. Considered politically, his
torically or socially, Persia is In many
respects one Of the most fascinating Of
all Oriental countries. 1t is the last
running barrier between Russia and
the Persian Gulf: its history teens
with lofty names and great ~dynastic
changes. and its social life piques "a
ropean interest by its mystery and its
novelty. And yet little is known Of
Persia, even by intelligent Europeans;
while to the great mass It remains
terra incognita. Bit by bit, however,
we are breaking through the exclu-
s%iveness Of Persian etiquette, and are
learning how fascinatias the people Of
Persia are. In no phase Of Persian
life do we find more 10 charm, to sur
prise, and to fascinate than we do in
studying the lives and4manners Of Per
sian m The mystery that sur
rounds them, their oFn fatalistic Sc
renity, the Imitation which are plac-
cd upon their lives, ina word, the COM
plete dissimilitude to- feminine life in
Europe, lend a peculiar and unfailing
interest to all that concerns them. 1t
is well to sweep away some Of the
cobwebs Of p~reiudice in considering
the character and status Of the wo-
men Of Persia. They are not iIl-used,
they are not unwilling prisoners, they
do not resent the restraints Of the ha-
rem, and they do not regard them
selves as victims. Of misfortune.
Strange as It may seem to us, the
Persian woman is a happy woman;
she is content, placid and %untroubled
by either nerves or fads Of the new
woman" A distinguished ~Frenchman,
in describing them says: THE regu-
lar life which the women Of Persia
lead Is the potent cause Of their beau
ty; they neither gamble nor sit up
late; they drink no wine, and but rare
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1901-02-08
Some Facts
About a Place
Much Talked OF.

talns his banqueting hall. court Of JUS
tlre. and hall Of audience. On the
forefront OF the court of justice Is q
large clock, which eve goes-a 1T
tlag symbol Of A%byssinian a%dministra-
ton. The b%anqueting hall Is used on
the occasion OF great festivals to enter
tain some 5000 braves at a time with
huge joints Of raw meat. All squat
upon the ground and cut off portions
close to their noses with their long,
curved swords. Menelik Is very much
as pictures and books have led you to
expect-a stout. amiable man with a
very black face and short stubby
beard. He Is quite bald. so he wears
q cloth tightly tied around his head,
and over that a big felt wideawake.
His clothes are Of silk, loose striped
garments for the most part, and his
feet are clad in unlaced tennis shoes.
In his left ear Is a turquoise stud, The
badge Of an elephant killer, and on
his left hand Is a gold ring with a dia-
mond set gypsy fashion. Only royalty
may wear gold in Abyssinia. I found
him seated cross-legged on al ordi-
nary cane chair upon his veranda. He
was very amiable and had plenty OF
small talk, eked out with smiles. He
did not strike me as particularly in
telligent until his interest was awak-
ened by a reference to Leontief, the
Russian %adventurer whom he intrusted
with the management Of a remote
province. Then he was shrewd and
alert in a moment and l could see how
well he would hold his own In diplO-
macy-Pearson's Magazine.
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1901-02-08
MENELIK'S
CAPITAL.

Menelik and his empire are often on
mems lips. but how many people we
meet would care to say omband what
Is the name OF his capital? Magdala
we know, and Adua we know. because
Of recent wars. but Adds Abeba enjoys
the blessing OF having no history. Some
say the word means "the new white
rose" others translate It "the new
flower" but I prefer the former title.
Il - a unique capital, in that It arose
almost in a single night. and is destin-
ed to disappear as speedily. The fact
IS that Abyssinians are utterly reckless
IN the matter Of forestry. and when
ever a vast number of them live to-
gether they soon use up all the fuel
available for miles around. Menelik's
FORMER capital, Entotto, two OF three
hours climb from the New White
Rose, was abandoned not long ago for
that very reason, and nothing now re-
mains there save two churches and a
few brown ruins Of the palace; ruins
not e generation old-how strange
that soundsl Already the New White
Rose must bring her fuel from a great
distance, at great expense, and the
king Of kings is looking out for anoth-
er capital. OF course, the chief inter-
est Of Menelik's capital is Menelik him
self, and was fortunate enough in
securing an audience Of forty minutes
the day before he was to start upon a
royal progress through the kingdom Of
Shoa. His palace is like a struggling
village, and 1 had to ride through
courtyard after courtyard Of mud huts
before I reached the square which con-
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1901-02-08

When I had finished. she thrust a
card ia my hand and said hurrledly:
"He must not find me here. Call at
my o and talk Il over" She
passed out Of the back entrance, and
I turned to confront Ralph Irving.
why SO aeitated?"
Il thought o we're not coming;
you are late"
"That was a little thing to upset
you"
I'm nervous nowadays
Il should say you were. You haven't
committed a crime, have your"
1 wondered II he had caught a
glimpse Of my double. He was as cool
as ever.
On the morrow Miss Arnold received
me cordially. She set my mind at rest
by announcing that. although she adj
mired and respected Ralph Irving, she
had no desire to marry him. II have
a career" said she, which he would
interfere with nightly. Had ]
stald at home, I might have drifted
into matrimony, for / believe Ralph
N'AAa NeANN NM1Nhn A0A int " NMaA
himself, but now you have bewitched
him, and / I'm welded to art"
But my deception" 1 gasped. HE
will forgive that What a fool
I've beeni"
Rather say what a fool he was to
confuse us. He must accept the con-
sequences. To tell the truth / do not
feel largely hattered to have so
shadowy a personality that your i'm
posture should prove successful. To
be sure he is near-sighted. But where
there is strong attraction, something
besides the senses should surely come
In play. He must be dense"
1 fully determined to confess that
evening. Before / could begin my con-
fession, however, MI. Irving started in
on one Of his own; he told his love
for me.
Don't, don'tl" 1 cried; you don't
know who you are talking to. I'm
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1901-02-08

WI" leyiS by your gait part
ly." $50 1 walked
like Miss Arnold. Il don't be-
lieve there's another girl in this
city has that modest, yet indie
pendent bearing" l knew one, Miss
Arnold whose admirer l was fast ap-
propriating. We were passing under a
gaslight now; here was discovery.
Not 80.
You haven't altered a bit, little
girl, since we rowed on Fathomless
Lake together" l mentally made a
note to locate Fathomless Lake In the
Gazetteer at the first opportunity. He
went on: Since l have made up nv
mind never to question your move
ments during our separation to prove
my trust (f any proof be needed) the
past we Knew together and the future
we shall know together are the only
periods Of interest. Surely l may ask
where you are now"
AT 13 Amherst Lane"
Il shall escort you home. There
is no reason why 1 should not, Shir-
ley?"
None whatever"
Thank heaven! I feared-I don't
know what l feared!"
1t was growing serious. Should I
put an end to this tragic comedy? It
flashed through my mind that my new
landlady had not asked my name and
had given none that morning. Why
not be Miss Arnold h%enceforth?
I've run away" 1 ventured.
Il knew you would" he said en-
Enthusiastically. DO you remember.
dear, that night we talked about our
possessions possessing us finally? You
said you wished you had not a name
able thing in the word, but your
health. your talents and the clothes
on your back"
Il remember" l echoed. I did re-
member-some things.
Il must go home" 1 said, fearing
were the interview too long 1 might
betray myself. So we went homeward.
After that night we met frequently.
DO you remember" was the begin
ming OF most Of his remarks. I had
always been quick at evasion, and 1
managed to steer clear OF betrayal.
When l found out to a certainty what
season OF the year he courted Miss
Arnold, l ventured a few queries OF
my own: That perfect day, that
moonlight night, etc"
When learned that Miss Arnold
was artistically inclined 1 told my
plan to color photographs for illus
tration. Surely we must have been
made Of the same batch of clay, we
had so much in common.
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1901-02-08

In a restaurant Are you net Miss
vas attracted by a
girl at a table near me. It must be
Miss Arnold, she was my counterpart
was In a dilemma: in ten minutes
MI Irving would join me In this very
restaurant. He would see her and 1
dared not imagine the scene. / must
think quickly. / loved him, I realized
that In this trying moment, yet he
belonged to her. I was an imposter.
I slipped into a seat al her eide.
She looked up. What should / say?
Il beg your pardon" / began. Are
you not Miss Arnold?"
She nodded.
"Are you acquainted with Ralph
Irving7"
Il know him well" she replied in
a voice a%ingularly like my own. And
your face "a very familiar"
IL % the one you see ia the glass
every morning" ! explained. There
"a q striking resemblance between US.
{ toll my story quickly ga q low voice.
with my eyes on the door.
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1901-02-08

The citizens Of Mayenee are not
much attracted by governmental posi-
lions Of honor If one is to Judge from
the way they treated the recent request
for volunteer census enumerators. The
request embodied the statement that
only the httest candidates for the POSI-
tions would be selected and that they
we're to perform their duties as officials
of honor. The burgomaster OF the city
did not receive a single answer and the
city administration has had to call on
public school teachers, policemen and
ex-omcials to supply the deficiency
Chicago News.
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1901-02-08

sent four men to the top Of the cliff.
to let down the long rope directly over
the eagles nest. The rope ladder was
attached to the end Of it, and drawn
over the open space where the nest
lay. This was neld in place by another
rope tied to a tree at the bottom OF the
cliff. There was now no difficulty ID
approaching the nest, and no danger
so long as the rope held. although Of
course the sensation of being dangled
at the end Of a long rope is more or
less unpleasant until one gets aceus-
toned to it. Mustapha reached the
nest without difficulty, and brought
down the two eggs in a handkerchief
held between his teeth. We watched
the nest all day, and found that the
mother eagle did not return. We had
disturbed her on the previous day, and
so she had evidently deserted her
home.-Youths Companion.
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1901-02-08
These Animals Abound
Ia Portions of Asia
and North Africa.

stenches in the outer air to worse ones
inside. He passes the night as best
he can, his ears constantly assailed b
the groans, growls, howlings and snap
pings Of wild beasts. At early dawn
he goes out and finds every particle OF
offensive matter gone, with all the eff
iuvia of the night before. In The
GASES Of the desert, as soon as night
falls, the human ear is assailed by a
deep and peculiar grating sound, thai
comes from the surrounding hot, bar
rem sands outside the range Of vision.
It swells and grows as it comes near
er, and soon the light Of the campfire
shows dimly, horrid shapes by the
hundreds, and sometimes thousands,
seated outside the area of brightness.
crashing their teeth and licking their
chops in anticipation Of the time when
sleep shall overcome the travellers.
They are hyenas, fearful to look upon,
but rarely dangerous to man. If there
is a settlement on the oasis they over
run its streets and alleys in search Of
garbage. At the first sight of dawn.
which is followed almost Immediately
by the rising of the sun, they disap-
pear, but in the meantime they have
accomplished their mission. The vii
lage garbage heap, piled no matter
how high with the debris of a day
dead dogs or cats or fowls, sometimes
a dead donkey, all the scrapings and
garbage Of the town-has vanished as
completely as the beasts that have
cleaned it up. Not a bit Of squirrel
bone. not the wing Of a locust or a
dead grasshopper remains!-Youth's
Companion.
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1901-02-08

Prof. o. F. Cook Of Washington re-
ports the surprising discovery Of cam
phor as an animal secretion. The ami
NAL concerned is a myrlapod, resemb-
ling a worm, or small slug, and scien-
tihcally known as Polyzonium rosal-
bum. It lives in the humus Of moist,
undisturbed forests. When handled 1t
gives of a very distinct odor Of cam
phor, and elects a milky fluid which
possesses the smell, flavor and taste
OF ordinary camphor. Prof. Cook
thinks the campbor is secreted instead
Of the prussic or hydrocyanic acid
found in other myriapods as a means
of defense.
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1901-02-08

II the mosquito has Any friends
among mankind. they may rejoice in
the assurance given by DR.. L. o. How
ard Of the Department OF Agriculture,
that this cosmopolitan pest does not
necessarily perish with the oncoming
of winter. On the contrary, mosqui-
toes have been observed in the latitude
OF Washington to hibernate, adult
specimens living from November until
the succeeding April or May with all
their powers of torment unimpaired,
although their activity is suspended
In winter. The mosquito needs but
little food, and It is the female that
thirsts for blood, the males colssnting
themselves with water and vegetable
fluids. Doctor Howard ascribes the
fact that mosquitoes are often found
upon dry prairies, many miles from
water. to the longevity Of the adults
OF certain species, which enables them
70 survive seasons Of drought. Rail-
roads have been responsible for the
transportation Of mosquitoes into re-
gions where they we're previously rare.
Their power Of flight is not great, and
# is believed that they are not dis
tributed far through the agency Of
winds.
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1901-02-08

The author of Sport and Travel"
tells how he robbed an eagles nest In
Asia Minor, or rather how he man
aged to get It robbed for him. The
nest was about sixty feet from the
ground, on a perpendicular cliff a hun
bred and fifty feet high. He says:
I twisted three hundred feet Of half
inch cord into a strong rope Of less
than half that length, and also made a
strong but light rope ladder out OF the
ropes from the paekvaaddies then
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1901-02-08

Roadmaster s. d. Purdy Of the Bur
lington has on exhibition at his Of
nee az La Crosse. Wis, a large piece
Of the tusk OF a mammoth which was
found in a gravel pit at Hagar, wis.
The piece when taken out was about
seven feet long and shaped like the
tusk Of an elephant. but after being
exposed to the atmosphere It crumbled
70 dust In many places. A dispute
arose as to whether It was not a piece
OF petrihed wood and a portion Of the
md was sent to the geological depart
ment at the University OF Wisconsin.
where It was pronounced to be a por-
ton Of a tusk.
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1901-02-08

A Spaniard Of distinction, both as an
author and as a public man, has started
a periodical which is said to be de-
signed to counteract what he regards
as the eccentricities and conceis Of the
young school" The editor himself has
passed his SEVENTEEN birthday. No one
will be permitted to be a contributor
who is under ffty-hve years Of age.
Il will be an interesting experiment.
Let not youthful critics be too sure
that the products Of middle age cannot
be "up to date"
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1901-02-08

A movement is going on amongst
French Socialist mayors in France to
forbid the wearing Of ecclesiastical
costume. A decree issued to this effect
by NJ. 2. Thomas, Mayor OF Bicetre,
has been annulled as illegal by the
Project Of Police. Amongst the priests
OF France it is probable that, although
they resent the aggressive action Of
the mayors, they would, for other g a
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1901-02-08

The commission which has had
charge Of the enlargement and recon
struction of the Massachusetts state
house has invited three American art
lists to decorate the walls OF ihe mem
orial hall. The decorations will take
the form Of mural paintings, and the
subjects already chosen are rich in
inspiration. They include The Land
ing Of the Pilgrims" Elliot Preaching
to the Indians" and The Concord
Fight" No state can summon from her
past Th0bIef scenea than these, Int
every state has passages In her history
worthy to be thus commemorated, and
pictures of historic events are a con-
slant and Unreasonable incentive to
deeds like those which they pe~rpetuate.
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1901-02-08

The hellespont or D~ardenelles is a
narrow strait between Europe and
Asiatie Turkey. which connects the
Sea Of Marmosa and the Began sea.
The legend describes Leander as night
ly swimming across the Hellespont 20
visit Hero. his sweetheart. II was
really WAN BY Lord Byron. The
actual distance between Abydos and
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1901-02-08

Investigations recently made by q
medical COMMITTEES IA Edinburgh show
that the poor Of that city are quite as
well fed rs those in the large towns OF
Great Britain or America. The com
mittee regrets that the old Diet OF
porridge and milk OF the laboring
classes has been given up for tea and
bread. It also points out that white
bread as an incorporates, Is better
than brown.
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1901-02-08

sestos is about a mile and a quarter;
but the current is so strong that about
4 miles is made by a swimmer. because
Of his drifting, ere he has touched
from point to point. The first at
tempt Of Byron to swim the Helles-
pont was a failure; but on a second
venture he performed the feat in one
hour and ten minutes.
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1901-02-08

The pleasure of
our frequent meet
ings was marred
only by the
fear OF his learn
ing my duplicity.
Naturally frank. it
was irksome for
me TO fence, but
practice made me
an adept.
Seated one day
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1901-02-08

an lmpOSteTs us-
ceitful wretch! Ny
name is not Ar
mold; I v set
eye on you until
that night we met
in Main street,
and I've acted a lie
ever since"
In place Of the
look Of horror /
expected to see, a
smile rippled, then
a AA--