davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Amador ledger., 1901-03-22
A BOY AND A RIFLE.
And the Trick the Father Played to
Make the Youngster Careful.


Exact statistics on the subject are
lacking, but it is certain that the man
who didn't know it was loaded' kills
and mains annually great many per-
sons. The only safe rule with a gun
is never under any circumstances to
point it at anybody. One should al
ways act on the assumption that it is
loaded. Unfortunately, though, an aver
age human being learns only by ex-
perience, and where gun is concerned
that often entails an awful price.
Bearing this in mind a veteran
sportsman of this city adopted a
unique method of impressing this les
son on his son. This is how he told
the story:
81 want my son to be sportsman,
so that when he gets to be as old as
his father he may have as many
Therefore, on his sixteenth birthday
gave him a rifle. And instead of read
ing him long lecture on the necessity
of handling the weapon carefully, put
up n job on him that would be far more
effective. After he had spent a couple
of hours fondling it and cleaning it
and examining the mechanism, after
the manner of healthy boys, contriv-
Ell unknown to him to slip blank
cartridge into the breach.
'Then l called him out into the yard
and holding my hat in front of me. ask
ed him to show me how he would take
aim at it. There was an explosion, and
he fell in dead faint You may think
it mean of me. but l allowed him to
think that only the badness of his aim
or some Intervention of Providence
saved me from death. The lesson be
learned will last him through life, be-
cause terrible fright accompanied it.
Some day when he gets old enough to
have a boy of his own, shall tell him
of the trick | played on him" New
York Herald.
Amador ledger., 1901-03-22
His Only Real Pleasure.

what good does your money do you,
Mr.. Armour" a friend once asked P.
D. Armour, according to the Washing
ton Star
''That is a question:" Mr.. Armour re-
piled, 81 often ask myself. 1 was rails
ed butcher boy. l learned to love
work for works sake. l must get up
early now, as have done all my life,
and when o'clock comes, no matter
what's going on at home, 1 must get to
bed. And here l am. Yes; I have
large means, as you say, but 1 can't eat
as much as yonder clerk, | can't sleep
as much, and | can hardly wear any
more clothes than he. The only real
pleasure l can get out of life that yon-
der clerk with his limited means can
not get is the giving now and then to
some deserving fellow without soul
knowing it $500 or $1,000. giving him a
fresh start upward without making the
gift hurt to him. That's the only real
pleasure | get out of life. And as to
possessions. the only thing sometimes
feel really own are my two boys and
my good name. Take everything else
from me. leave me them. and | would
yet be rich. | wouldn't care a snap for
the rest. We would soon together
make enough to keep the wolf long
way from our door,"
Amador ledger., 1901-03-22

Old DR.. y. never enjoyed the reputa-
ton of being a religious man. In fact.
his belief in the sincerity of things
spiritual. as expressed by the world at
large. was usually summed up by the
words poppycock. folderol and the
like. uttered in a contemptuous snort.
Meeting one day a minister of the vi
entity in which he lived. he was re-
minded of the fact that the minister
had but lately inherited. through the
death of a relative. a considerable sum
of money
Mr. d." he said. addressing the
gentleman in question. 81 understand
that you have acquired quite a consid-
cradle fortune from the dear departed.
your uncle"
From my cousin, DR.. ~" corrected
Mr.. D.. trihe disconnected.
Then | am TO understand that you
are no longer dependent upon the char
ity of your congregation for support"
continued the doctor
Mr.. D. bowed stif1y in acknowledge
ment.
Then, Mr. d." whispered the old
man eagerly. give 'em hadesT'-New
York Mail and Express.
Amador ledger., 1901-03-22
His Exact Words.

MISREPRESENTATION Swelhed,
have come to get your views on the
proposed change in the curriculum of
the grammar school,
Alderman Swelhed - Curriculum!
What's that? I'm ag'in it, whatever it
is.
Alderman Swelhed, reading the re-
port of the interviewer next morning:
sour distinguished townsman, Mr.. NJ
T. Swelhed, was found at his charming
home, surrounded by abundant indica-
ton Of ripe scholarship and sturdy
common sense. In reply to our report
er's question he said:
"T do not desire to force my opin-
ions upon the public. but this l will
say. that | have given to this question
long and studious attention, incidental
ly examining into the curricula of insti-
tutions of learning both at home and
abroad, and. although l find in the ex-
listing course of study not a few mat
tiers for condemnation, still, upon the
whole, 1 cannot say that should ad-
wise any radical change until l have
further time to examine into the sub
ject'"
"By George, that feller's got my ex-
act language, word for world And he
didn't take no notes neither! By
George, what a memory that Teller
must havep'-T1t-Bits.
Amador ledger., 1901-03-22

If anything were wanting to make
the people of New York realize that
they live indeed in an empire state,
the last report Of the state board of
railroad commissioners would supply
it. The gross earnings last year of
the steam railroads reporting to the
state amounted to $247, 100000. Only
three nations in the world possess rail-
roads earning so much yearly. France,
Great Britain and Germany are the
three, and there Is not much differ
ence between the gross earnings of all
the railroads In France and the earn
ings Of the railways which report to
the state of New York. The earnings
Of the railways in Austria are about
one-half that amount, and Italy can
show only $5O,627, 1875 as the earnings
Of her railways against New York's
$247,000,O00. The earnings of the rail-
ways of Russia, including the trans
caspian lines and the Finland lines,
amount to nearly $40,0OO,OOO less than
those Of New York state.-New York
Press
Amador ledger., 1901-03-22
WHITE SEWING MACHINE COMPANY
A. J. SNOW 4 SON Dealers in White Machines
SUFFER- CREEK.
An Odd Coffin.

"The most remarkable coffin of
which | ever heard" said a traveller,
was that of Il very old Englishman
who served in the French wars under
Lord Nelson and afterward went to
Canada and settled, think, in Vic
toria, B. G.. In his leisure moments he
constructed a model of the flagship
Victory. 1t was eight feet long and
had all the masts, sails, rigging and
cannons which Nelson's ship had The
old man took the greatest pride in it
and in his last days used to watch it
for hours at q time. He was a very
small man, and when he died some of
his sailor friends lifted the deck off the
Victory and had the inside upholster-
ed. Then they put the old man in and
replaced the deck. At the funeral the
Victory was lowered into the grave,
with sails set and the flags flying.
don't suppose there was ever a more
appropriate coffin than that"
Amador ledger., 1901-03-22
He Liked "Joan Of Arc,

An amusing little story is told In
Cries by worker ON the east side,
In New York. She had taken a party
of children to the Art museum, and a
few days later boy said shyly:
81 told me mother about that picture
we sew in the museum, and she said
she wished she could see it too.'
The teacher asked what picture he
meant WAS it columbus Before Isa-
bella or 'Washii.. n Crossing the
Della ware?'
The boy answered promptly: "Oh, no,
ma'am! The girl in a old dress standin
under tree listenin. The one that
went to war and saved her country. ]
forget the name of her. Oh, yes; re-
member now! 1t was 'Noah's Ark"
Amador ledger., 1901-03-22
KISSES.

With little kisses shut your eyes;
1 would not have them seeing and wise,
For, could choose, would have you h
Blind ever, as now, when you look on mo-
wreath of kisses to crown your head,
That the whole worlds crown should adcII %.
stead,
To keep your thought of me ever kind,
As now, when your darling eyes are blind.
In each of your hands shut kiss.
Do you feel how soft and little it is2
So hold it gently that it may live,
Lest your hands ask more than my hands can give,
kiss for an earring in each dear ear
And now when speak you only hear
The heart of my hearts heart laugh and cry,
Not the foolish words it is stihed by.
A kiss on your mouth, and it bears no charm
To bring you to good, to keep you from harm
1t has no mission, yet let it be;
The rest were for you, but this is for me!
Pail Mall Gazette
Amador ledger., 1901-03-22
Surface Indications

From "a Book on Dartmoor," writ
ten by the Rev. S. Barring Gould, comes
a story which might have come from a
less trustworthy source:
The wild and romantic country of
Dartmoor consists of a tableland with
rugged peaks or tors and all but i'm
passable marshes. After a dry summer
it is easy to pick ones way across
parts of it which at other times are full
of pitfalls. At one of the latter periods
a man was cautiously treading his way
across one of the treacherous marshes
when he saw a hat lying brim down
ward on the sedge. He gave it a gen.
tie, good humored kick in passing and
almost jumped out of his skin when a
choked voice called out from beneath:
what be you a-doin to my 'at?''
"Be there now chap under'nr ex-
claimed the traveller.
"Ees, 1 reckon, and a boss under me
likewise"
Amador ledger., 1901-03-22
THE coMMuTER.
How He Spends His Hours of Daily
Railroad Travelling.

The much abused suburbanites,
whom the cartoonists picture as COM
ing to the city every morning from
Lonesomehurst," Lost Mans Lane"
"Prunehurst-by-t the Trolley" and other
places with equally suggestive names,
are an interesting class of individ-
uals. The transient element of the
rity's population spends several hours
livery day whirling over the railroads.
When the novelty of these daily bits
of railroading has passed into the
monotony of years of travel through
the same country the commuter has
learned to make the best of the time
he spends on the traiu.
The 'card fiend" is a prominent fig
ure in this class. Both morning and
evening four or five games Of cards
are going on in every smoking car, and
it is safe to say that thousands of dol
lars change hands in this innocent
amusement while the players are hur-
rying to or from business.
Next to the card sharp" is the man
who only enjoys his cigar and paper.
He is oblivious to all his surround
ings and only shows animation when
he is at his journeys end.
Many of the policies and plans of
some of this city's most successful
business men have been born or de-
veloped on these trains. The short
respite between the hustle of the city
and the cares of home life is to this
type of man season for meditation.
Another interesting commuter is the
Individual who is on good terms with
all his fellows. He travels up and
down through the car exercising his
repertory of latest jokes or sympa-
thizing with some gloomy looking
friend who thinks that all the world
Is against him. He seems to never
grow weary in his well doing.
The train life of the commuter is now
and then enlivened by wrecks. Though
tossed about and sometimes cut and
bruised. he generally escapes serious
injury. Such experiences as these he
considers the spice and coloring of his
eXistence.-New York Mail and Ex-
press.
Amador ledger., 1901-03-22
Shrinking.

Once upon time there was a Bath.
ing Suit which was much reprehended
in that it was not modest.
There was likewise at this same time
matter of universal comment
what is your system" asked the
Bathing Suit. accosting the Violet, 'for
l would fain be thought modest tooY
"Why, | shrink" quoth the Violet,
meaning no harm.
But when the Bathing Suit shrunk in
pursuance of this hint it was only rep
rehended the more and was finally cast
away as being quite impossible.-De-
trolt Journal.
Amador ledger., 1901-03-22
COLOR OF GOLD COINS.
Reasons For Differences In Tint O.
Coins of French Mintage.

Reasons For Differences In Tint of
Coins of French Mintage.
Some time ago a Frenchman placed
together a number of gold coins Of
French mintage of the beginning, mid
die and end Of the last century. He
was much surprised to see that they
differed in color. He set about finding
out the reasons for this difference, and
the results of his investigations have
been published in La Nature.
There is paleness about the yellow
of the 10 and 20 franc pieces which
bear the effigies of Napoleon l and
Louis XVIII that is not observed in
the goldpieces of later mintage. One
admirer of these coins speaks of their
color as a beautiful paleness" and ex-
presses regret that it is lacking in later
coins. The explanation of it is very
simple. The alloy that entered into the
French gold coins of those days con-
tanned as much silver as copper, and it
was the silver that gave the coins their
interesting paleness.
The coins of the era of Napoleon III
were more golden in hue. The silver
had been taken out of the alloy.
The gold coins of today have a still
warmer and deeper tinge of yellow.
This is because the Paris mint, as well
as that in London, melts the gold and
the copper alloy in Theoretically sealed
boxes, which prevents the copper from
being somewhat bleached, as it always
is when it is attacked by hot air. So
the present coins have the full warm
ness of tint that a copper alloy can
give.
If the coins of today are not so rand
some in the opinion of amateur collect
ors as those issued by the first Napo-
leon, they are superior to those of Ell
ther of the Napoleons in the fact that
it costs less to make them. The double
operation of the oxidation of the copper
and cleaning it off the surface of the
coin with acids is no longer employed,
and the large elimination of copper
from the surface of the coins. formerly
practiced, made them less resistant un-
der wear and tear than are the coins
now in circulation.
Amador ledger., 1901-03-22
So IT WAS.

Mamma, come quick! The catsup
on the SHELF
"Drat that catl III make fiddle
strings of her in no time if l lay my
hands on her! She's forever into some
thing" and the enraged materfamilias
vigorously pounded her way into the
pantry.
where is she, Tommy? 1 don't see
her."
"See who?"
"Why, you said the cat was on the
shelf"
81 never said there was a cat on the
shelf"
"Yes, you did. You said. 'The's cats
up on the shelf"
$50 did, and l say it yet. The cat
sup on the shelf right before your eyes.
Don't you see it? There in that old
wine bottle" and he quietly but very
swiftly lodged out into the Kitchen
Parsons Weekly.
Amador ledger., 1901-03-22
The saueaking shoe No More,

"Squeaking Shoes" said dealer,
"are no more, though of course you
haven't noticed it. Stop a minute,
though, and think. Isn't it true that
for years you haven't come across a
squeaking shoe? The thing that caused
the trouble was loose piece of leather
in the sole. This. as you walked. work
ed somewhat like bellows or an &C
Gordon, and great was the sound there
Of. All shoes are now sewed-many
Of them used to be pegged-and sewing
does away with any loose pieces of
leather in the sole and. therefore, with
the squeak as well. don't believe
that if you searched a week you would
be able to find a squeaking shoe in
Philadelphia. "-Philadelphia Press.
Amador ledger., 1901-03-22
THE CENSUS OF 1890.
United States Population Then Was
Less Than 100000.

Less Ihan 4,OOO,OOO.
When the first census of the United
States was taken in 1870, there were 16
states and the southwest and north
west territories. The returns fixed the
population at 3,929,214, while those of
1900 give over 100000, fourteen
fold growth in ITO years.
In the first census nothing was
sought but the number of inhabitants,
and the task was assigned to United
States marshals, who performed the
work for several censuses. In the CEN
sus library is record of the first cen
sus, which shows that the census Of
1870 was ordered in March and COM
pleted by October, 1871, very credita-
BILE showing when the difficulty of COM
munieation is considered. The popula-
ton was divided into five classes-free
white males of 16 years and upward,
including heads Of families; free white
females, including heads of families;
free white males under 16 years, other
persons, slaves. Fourteen enumeration
districts were mapped out of the 16
SldleS anu Tue pOpuldIlOu VI tue lOWHS,
counties and states given. All of the
states except Maine and Massachusetts
had slaves. Virginia led with a popu-
lation of 747,610 whites and 800, 600
slaves. North Carolina was second,
with 393, ISL whites and 100000 slaves.
Maryland had population of 400, 756,
of which 100, 036 were slaves The slave
population of the northern states is
given as follows:
New Hampshire, 15S; Rhode Island,
94S; Connecticut, 2,764; New York, d.
324; New Jersey, 1923; Pennsylvania
1921; Delaware, S,SS7; Vermont, 16
The population of the southwest ter
ritory was 1861 whites and 3,417
slaves.
The record is full of errors in calcula-
ton and addition, but is interesting in
showing how the population has i'll
creased and how the art of census tax
ing has developed with the population.
Baltimore Sun.
Amador ledger., 1901-03-22
Fish Enemie. to MOSQUITOES.

Now that special efforts are being
made to exterminate mosquitoes, ow
ing to the belief that certain species
those insects are responsible for
spread of malaria, the fact that sma
fish are great destroyers of mosquito
larvae assumes increased interest. This
fact Is vouched for by DR.. L. o. How
ard Of the department Of agriculture.
He tells of two small lakes formed
nearly side by side in Connecticut by
an invasion Of the sea, one of which
contained half a dozen small fish,
while the other was fishless. Suisse
quent examination revealed tens Of
thousands of mosquito larvae in the
fishless lake, but the other contained
not one.-Youth's Companion.
Amador ledger., 1901-03-22
Allowed PLENTY of mime.

Speaking of the late William Travers
leads me to remark that, so far as
am personally aware, only one of the
classic suffering stories about him is
actually true l had the honor and
happiness to reside at Newport for a
year or SO once, and at the time Mr.
Travers was a summer resident there
He certainly suffered good deal, but
he did not go around habitually dis
charging staccato witticisms at the
world, as you might suppose he did
from all the stories you hear. But the
one story that l know about is this
one:
Travers was at a garden party one
afternoon when young lady said to
him, ''What time is it, please, Mr.
Traverse"
Travers took out his watch, wabbled
his mouth awhile, blinked and finally
said, It'll be s-s-s-s-six o'c-c-c-c-clock
by the time 1 can say it!'
1t really lacked five minutes Of
when he began.-Boston Transcript.
Amador ledger., 1901-03-22

"Your little birdie has been very,
very ill.," she wrote to the young man.
sit was some sort Of nervous trouble,
and the doctors said l must have per-
feet rest and quiet and that l must
think of nothing. And all the time,
dear George. l thought constantly Of
you"
The young man read it over and then
read it through again very slowly and
put it in his pocket and went out I'M
der the silent stars and kept thinking
and thinking and thinking. He only
kept on thinking.-London Answers.
Amador ledger., 1901-03-22
UNCLE SANS Spoilers.
Especially the Man In Europe Who
Looks Out For Smugglers.

Especially the Man In Europe Who
Looks Out For Smugglers.
"Uncle Sans large and well organ
lied secret service" says S. II. Adams
In Ainslee's, sis made up mostly Of
men who come properly under the
head of detectives with police powers,
but it has it's class of bona fide spot
tiers, whose entire duty it is to ingrati-
ate themselves with persons suspected
of having designs to evade the custom
house duties and to warn the baggage
inspectors at this end of the impend-
ing swindle.
"In cleverness, address and adapta-
bility the secret service spotter is east
ly at the head Of his profession and
even ranks with the trained experts of
the European diplomatic corps. 1t IS
essential that he should be a man of
the world, for he must associate with
all kinds of people on equal terms He
has no fixed abode, but lives in va
rious European capitals when he is
not on shipboard, where he is much of
the time. He must never let himself
There is always a number of these
agents in Paris, because of the great
American trade there. They live at
the fashionable hotels and live the life
apparently Of flaneurs and boulevar-
diers. In all lines of trade that concern
dutiable goods they are experts, and
no large purchase by an American in
Paris is unknown to them. Their cir
Gle of acquaintance is enormous, but
nobody knows them for what they are
In one way or another they contrive
to make the acquaintance of any per-
son whom they suspect and unostenta-
tiously but unremittingly trail him.
MANY a time some man who has
made heavy purchase of diamonds
or laces and so disposed them that
he felt sure of being able to get them
through the port undiscovered has
been passed on the dock by a chance
acquaintance of the voyage over who.
unseen, presses little note into the
note tells all that the willy smuggler
would wish to keep secret, and his
baggage Is mercilessly ransacked until
the hidden articles are brought to
light. He has been followed over by
the spotter. Men employed in this line
get good pay-as high as $40 a day
but it costs them much to live in the
manner in which they must MAIN
tain themselves"
Amador ledger., 1901-03-22
small Change.

"You know, feel just like counter
felt BILL" observed young man to 8
friend with whom he was walking.
stopping in front of barroom.
"WhyT queried his partner.
81 cannot pass" the other explained.
waving his hand toward the entrance
of the place.
"Oh," remarked his friend, ''don't
let that feeling worry you. You know.
I'm somewhat accustomed to showing
the queer" And he took the man
with a thirst by the arm and carried
him on down the street
Amador ledger., 1901-03-22
The Humorous Primute.

There is story told of a candidate
for the pulpit who was preaching an
ex tempore trial sermon before the
late Archbishop TAFT and Dean Stan.
ley.
In his extreme nervousness he be-
gan in a stammering way. Il will di-
vide my congregation into two-the
converted and the unconverted"
This proved too much for the pri-
mates sense of humor, and he ex-
claimed, 81 think, sir as there are only
two Of US, you had better say which is
which. "-London Standard.
Amador ledger., 1901-03-22
The Elicit of Time.

A masked man confronted me with a
pistol in lonely spot on the dark road
Cough up your chronometer." he de
manded gruffly.
fumbled for my Is carat timepiece.
thinking that my last hour was at
hand. When | dared to look up. he
had vanished with his plumber.
Even then. such is the incongruity of
the human mind, though rejoiced that
my time had not yet come, regretted
in my heart that it had gone. = New
York Sun
Amador ledger., 1901-03-22
Easy Going JAMS.

japanese business methods are in the
less important places Of a very go as
you please description. AT Nagasaki
the other day foreigner calling at the
branch of one of the chief shipping
companies found the whole place de-
serted. 1t appeared that, the day being
fine, the manager and staff had gone
out on mushroom hunting expedition.
Mushroom hunting is a pursuit that ap-
peals to every true Japanese.
Amador ledger., 1901-03-22
No Venture About Ii.

as this your first venture in matri-
mony?" the preacher asked while the
bridegroom was out Id the vestibule
giving certain instructions to the best
man, who was also his head clerk.
''My dear Mr.. Goodleigh." she re,
piled. almost blushing. this isn't o
venture at all. He has given me deeds
to more than 100000 worth of property
already Times Herald.
Amador ledger., 1901-03-22
wisconsin,. Trade school.

An educational department in Wis
consin next summer will be the open
ing Of summer school for apprentices
and artisans at the State university. 1t
will be for the benefit Of machinists,
carpenters or sheet metal workers, sta
tionary, marine or locomotive engi-
neers. shop firemen and superintend-
ents. superintendent of waterworks,
electric light plants, power stations,
factories, large Office and store build
ings in cities and for the young men
who wish to qualify themselves for
such places