davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Amador ledger., 1901-03-01


In the very oldest fossil bearing rocks
no insects are found. The very Oldest
fossil is a kind of polyp, making reefs
of limestone when as yet the insects
had not appeared, and it "fiourished'
in Canada.
The first insect known to have exist
ed, creature of such vast antiquity
that it deserves all the respect which
the parvenu man can summon and Of
fer to it, was-a cockroach. This, the
father of all black beetles, probably
walked on the earth in solitary magnifi-
cence when not only kitchens, but even
kitchen middens, were undreamed of,
possibly millions of years before neo-
1.-the man had even back cave to Of
fer, with the remains of last nights
supper, for the cockroach of the period
to enjoy. His discovery established the
fact that in the silurian period there
were insects, though, as the only piece
of his remains found was wing, there
has been room for dispute as to the ex-
act species.
Mr.. Goss in his preface to the second
edition Of his book notes says that
what is probably still older insect has
been found in the lower silurian in
Sweden. This was not cockroach, but
apparently something worse. If the
Latin name, Protocimex silurius, be lit
orally translated it means the original
silurian bug.-Spectator
Amador ledger., 1901-03-01
Beguiltng Childhood.

When my little son could scarcely
walk, says Rev. G. T. Brady, west
ern missionary. took him to the
cathedral one day, when returned
for something | had forgotten after
morning service.
l left the child In the nave, and
when went back to him he had ad-
vanced half way up the middle aisle
and was standing where the Sun threw
a golden light about his curly head.
A tiny object he was IN that great
church.
1t was very still. He was looking
about in every direction in the most
curious and eager way. To my fancy
he seemed like little angel when he
said in his sweet, childish treble, which
echoed and re-echoed beneath the
vaulted roof:
Papa, where's Jesus? Where's
Jesus?"
He had been told that the church
was the house of the Saviour, and on
this, his first, visit he expected to see
his Lord
1Hal odUy ~ qulte grown up now.
Not in the faintest particular does he
resemble an angel. The other day:
when / rode off to the wars, he aston.
ished even me with this request:
Papa, If you get wounded, don't for
get to bring me the bullet that knocks
you out. l want it for a souvenir for
my collection"
Fortunately for me, If unfortunately
for him. brought him no bullet.
Amador ledger., 1901-03-01
The shrfnknge of EngIand.

With regard to the east coast sorry
story has to be told, the county of
Yorkshire. for instance, from Bridling.
ton to Spurn Head, has been disappear
ing. it is calculated, at an average rate
of six feet a year 1t is said that care
full observation of a certain II mile
stretch shows that the cliffs 40 feet
high have been eaten away by the
waves for 132 feet in 40 years. 1t is,
however. at Spurn Head that the great
est ravages have taken place.
In Edward rs time the village of
Ravenspur. seaport near Spurn Head.
sent more than one member to par
lament; in 1899 and 1471 Henry "
and Edward ", respectively, landed
there, but very soon after the latter's
visit the entire town was swept away
by the sea. Today the village of Kiln
sea alone stands upon the head; the. old
site of the village, once fair place on
hill. with fine old church, destroyed
by the waves in 1926. is now some
hundreds of yards below high water
mark, and when New KilnSea joins II
the sea and the Humber will not take
long to destroy the entire promontory
and make things very unpleasant al
Grimsby.-GOod Words.
Amador ledger., 1901-03-01
An Ample Kitchen.

What is said to be the largest kitchen
in England is that of Raby Castle, the
seat of the Duke of Cleveland. 1t is 80
feet square. having three chimneys,
one for the crate, a second for the
stoves. and the third for the great
caldron. The roof is arched, with a
small cupola in the center. 1t has five
windows, from each of which steps
descend, but only in one instance to the
floor, and gallery runs round the
whole interior of the building. The
ancient oven has diameter of 10 feet.
Vast as this kitchen is. it must have
been sometimes taxed by the hospital
ity of former ages, for in one of the
apartments Of the great castle 700
knights were upon one occasion enter
tanned at the same time. And the
knights of that day were men of Drawn
and sinew. who would think lightly of
demolishing, each man of them, five
pounds of beef, half a sucking pig,
venison pasty or two, washed down
with huge fagons of brown October
New York Tribune.
Amador ledger., 1901-03-01
they Were Forming opinion..

The club was full. Evening papers
were at premium. An atrocious crime
had been that day committed, and ev-
cry member was reading the account
Of the tragedy and eagerly discussing
the details.
A foot had been found in the East
river, leg in the Hudson and the trunk
Of a body in the park. Loud were the
expressions of horror and disgust Sud.
denly lull came over the crowd, and
two small voices were heard above the
modified din discussing the law Of hui
man nature which made people lean
toward curiosity even in its morbid
tendency. The small voices grew louder
and the argument stronger, until at
last man in tones of undisguised pity
turned to the disputants and said:
$50 you think we are filed with NOR
bid curiosity?"
One Of the small voices replied that
1t looked very much as if that was the
case.
Nothing Of the kind" expostulated
the former speaker. you mistake our
motive. We are merely disqualifying
ourselves for jury duty"
The men with the small voices imme-
diately seized the only two newspapers
and devoured them with avidity.-New
York Herald.
Amador ledger., 1901-03-01
A Missionarx Antidote.

A great cloud of murky Mersey fog
enveloped Liverpool harbor and the
passengers on the tiny tender could
scarcely see the shape of the great
liner close beside them which was just
weighing anchor for Bombay. On the
quarter deck of the steamship were so
missionaries of both sexes bound out
ward on a mission to convert the heath
en-. They were singing a favorite Cos
pei hymn and as the sound of their
voices fioated across the water one Of
the passengers on the tender. manu-
facturer from Birmingham, suddenly
burst into tears.
isn't that noble, an inspiring, al
most 'arrowing sightY he exclaimed.
dropping a tear and an b at the same
time 81 wouldn't ave missed seeing
them noble creatures going out to meet
their fate in the field of foreign mis-
sions-not for f5 note. l wouldn't"
Have you any relatives among
them?'' asked another passenger SYM
pathetically.
"Oh, no; no relatives" walled the
LldA llOul lbil COt VIC al
all brethren in religion, and the sight
of their departure touched me deeply.
| shall pray night and morning that
their ship may have a safe passa ge."
"But if you're not related to any Of
them don't quite see why you're so
anxious" said a fiippant young man.
Missionaries sail for India almost any
day."
yes" replied the man from Bir-
mingham, assuming more business
like tone. but it isn't every day in the
week that I've got such an interest in
a ships cargo. I'd be pleased to have
you know. young man, that in the hold
Of that ship is consignment of 5000
idols which | have just shipped to one
of the native princes."-EXchange.
Amador ledger., 1901-03-01
How to Carry a Gun.

There are only two directions in
which the muZzle of a gun can safely be
pointed; these are up or down. A shot
fired in air can scarcely injure any
one or anything and one discharg-
ed into the ground is equally harm
less. Therefore, in all the different
positions which the gun assumes, see
that it is pointed either up or down.
Sometimes a man will be seen who
carries, his gun reversed, holding it by
the muzzle while the fore end rests
on the shoulder and the stock projects
behind. Happily, this practice is not
common, for it is extremely dangerous,
and many men have been killed by
carrying their guns in this way. If a
man stumbles or steps in a hole or
catches his foot on root and falls, his
gun will very likely be thrown for
ward with the muzzle directly toward
his body and may easily enough be dis
charged.
Sometimes one may see a boy or
even man who will carry the gun
across the back of the neck, with one
arm over the stock and the other over
the barrels, sometimes with the hand
resting on the muzzle. This is certain
to give very uncomfortable feeling
to any one who happens to be walking
by the side of the person carrying his
gun in this fashion and opposite the
muzzle end. While the danger of a
discharge is perhaps not great, it is un-
pleasant to be walking along with a
gun pointed at your neck or head
Forest and Stream.
Amador ledger., 1901-03-01
Raising the Fee.

In that particular year it happened
that the national political convention
of which we are speaking was held in
some other town than Chicago, and the
place was crowded.
This is how it came to pass that Colo
mel Hankthunder. who went merely as
prominent citizen of the republic and
had not taken the precaution to engage
a room beforehand. found himself shut
out of the hotels and compelled to
choose lodgings from a list of eligible
private dwellings.
The woman of the house near the
corner of Fish street and Potato ave
nue., the first residence at which he
called. showed him the only room she
had to spare.
THAT suits me. ma'am," he said.
How much will it cost me for board
and lodging here for the next four
daysT
We'll" she answered, this is not q
regular boarding house, and l am only
taking boarders because want to ed
ucate my boy for a lawyer. l shall
have to charge you SO for the four
days"
Madam" loftily rejoined the colonel.
taking out his pocketbook, you will
never educate your boy for lawyer by
giving such an example as that. | will
pay yoU $10."-Chicago Tribune.
Amador ledger., 1901-03-01
He Got Some Work to Do.

Prisoner" said the learned magis-
trate to lazy fellow before him, this
is the third time you've been here"
But, your honor" pleaded the pris-
oner. "I've been trying to get work.
but couldn't"
You wouldn't work If you could get
it,
Eyes. would, your honor"
"What kind of work"
Anything. your honor. so long as 1t
was honest work.
what kind of wages?"
Wages is no object. your honor; all
| want is work. with food and cloth
ing and shelter"
And you'd work if you had that sort
of job -
Indeed, | would. your honor; only
try me- and the tears actually came
into his eyes.
VERY WE'LL" said the magistrate
kindly. well give you a job with
shelter. food and clothing combined.
Six months hard labor. Next case."-
Amador ledger., 1901-03-01

The practical joke is a remnant of,
barbarism. Hunted back to its origin.
1t is a survival of the methods of tor
ture in vogue with savages the world
over. The idea behind every practical
joke is the infiction of pain. shame,
fear or ridicule upon the victim. 1t is
not often that tragic effects follow a
joke. repeating the news chronicles of
the daily press, but when one reflects
that the real object of every alleged
Joke" of the practical kind is simply
to infiict physical or mental pain upon
some one it seems as if it must be time,
by the clock of the ages. for the prac
tice to end. at least among civilized
and half civilized people. = Ada c.
Sweet in Woman's Home Companion
Amador ledger., 1901-03-01
Animals Without Feet.

The hoofed animals, like the horse
and the stag, have, strictly speaking,
no feet, for they walk on their nails,
and their feet have become part of their
legs. The advantage seems to be a
frightening of the stride, just as a
trained athlete learns to ruin on his toes
to increase his pace. There is also the
further advantage of no soft part to
be injured by contact with the ground.
Some monkeys have four hands, which
must be great advantage in climbing.
The absence of legs as we'll as feet is
an advantage to many animals that
have to travel rapidly through the
water or between the branches of trees
or other Instructions.
Legs would be but an obstruction to
the tadpole while he swims by means
Of his powerful tail, but when he
leaves the water legs and feet become
an advantage. So the snake is able
to creep through underwood and into
small holes with far greater ease with
out legs, and even the slow worm
which seems such helpless animal on
fiat ground. can creep through hedge
with remarkable ease and speed. The
rudiments of legs are to be found in
many snakes, so that there can be but
little doubt that the absence Of legs
has proved an advantage and that
natural selection has removed them.
Amador ledger., 1901-03-01
AN ENDURING CURSE.
A Famous English Family That Per.
ished by Fire and Water.


ished by Fire and Water.
The attempt of the Midhurst district
council to convert the famous 'Close
Walks"-four old yew ayenues-at
Cowdray. in Sussex, into an arrange
ment of sewage tanks recalls a creepy
story of fulfilled curse At the disso.
luton of the monasteries Sir Anthony
Browne obtained grant of Battle ABB
hey and the priory of Eastbourne, the
parish in which the ruins of Cowdray
are situated, and according to pic
turesque tradition one of the monks
cursed him to his face and prophesied
that "by fire and water" his race
should perish out of the lane. What
foundation there may be for the story
no man can say, but unquestionably
the Brownies did so perish.
George Samuel Browne, eighth Wis.
count Montague and owner of Cow
dray, who was engaged to Miss Coutts,
sister to Lady Burdett-Coutts' mother,
was drowned in the falls Of Laufen-
burg in 1898. The messenger who
brought the news to England met one
going to Germany to inform Lord Mon
tague that Cowdray had been burnedl
He was succeeded by a distant rela-
tive, a Roman priest. who was dis
pensed from his vows that he might
marry and continue the line. but he
died few months afterward and the
title became extinct. The estates went
70 hn nc -.
two sons were drowned together at
Bognor in 1915. 1t is a weird story
London Chronicle.
Amador ledger., 1901-03-01
A FAMOUS BANK NOTE.
The One That Cruikshank Drew ana
the CrOMds 1t Drew.

the Crowds 1t Drew.
One day about the year 1918 George
Cruikshank was passing Newgate on
his way to the exchange, when, seeing
a crowd collected, he went forward to
learn what was the matter and saw
that it was the execution Of several
men and women. He was Mortified at
the spectacle and on inquiring learned
that the woman was being hanged for
passing counterfeit FL notes. He learn
ed also that this punishment was quite
a common thing, even though the poor
wretches often sinned in ignorance, be-
ing the dupes of men who sent them to
buy some trifle and return the change
to them. Wrung with pity and with
shame, Cruikshank went home and i'm
mediately, under the inspiration of his
feeling, sketched grotesque carica-
ture of a bank note. He called it
bank restriction note-not to be imi-
tated. He represented on it place of
execution, with spaces about filed In
with halters and manacles, a figure of
Britannia devouring her children and
NAeAAoPOAt ohAPc OCoAAA6 NAO AuChy VI
unlucky ones who had escaped death
to Van Diemen's Land or Australia,
while in place of the well known sigma
ture of Abraham Newland was that of
81. Ketch."
He had just finished this, when his
publisher Hone entered, and seeing it,
begged to have it for publication. So
Cruikshank etched it and gave it to
Hone, who exhibited it for sale in his
window with startling effect. Crowds
quickly began to gather and purchased
so eagerly that the issue was soon ex-
hausted
Cruikshank was kept hard at work
making more etchings, the crowds
grew so great that the street was block
ed, and the mayor had to send soldiers
to clear it. Hone realized over f7OO in
a few days.-Good Words.
Amador ledger., 1901-03-01
BRITISH BANK CLERKS.

Sumptuary Laws Trying on Those
With Slim Purses.
Bank clerks generally look so sleek
and comfortable and are almost in
variably so well groomed that their
grievances rarely receive patient hear
ing.
One who was recently dismissed for
the terrible crime of smoking a pipe
in city cafe during one Of the hours
sacred to what is called by city courte-
sy lunch writes, giving a list of re-
strictions which he declares are alb
surd.
No clerk is allowed to smoke a pipe
in the streets during banking hours or
at lunch.
The average clerks salary is not so
very high, but nevertheless he must
wear silk hat and cane to the office,
dressed as one with double the salary.
Wearing cap to business is not to be
thought of, as 1t is an objectionable
offense in the eyes of the bank officials.
The salary of the average bank clerk
ranges from about SO shillings a week,
but in many banks the salary is much
lower and the chances of promotion
very small
A clerks money is greatly diminished
by his having to subscribe to numerous
funds, such as a sports" fund, to keep
the cricket or football grounds in ORDER
which he himself is never able to see.
Saturday is no holiday for him, as he
does not leave the office on those days
until about or o'clock.
1t must not be supposed that the
days work of bank clerk ends with
the closing of the bank to customers.
In fact, it only begins at that time
London Express.
Amador ledger., 1901-03-01
Booth and Orchard III,

In her book on Some Players" Amy
Leslie says that Edwin Booths detes-
tation of Richard Ill was frank and
incurable. One night. when in the most
magnificent instant of Richard super
fell in a writing. squirming attack.
which set the country audience laugh
ing. Booth said quietly. after the fall
of the curtain, amid shouts of mis-
guided laughs:
what was the matter. captainY
The trembling captain owned reluc-
family that one of his % cent men had
been seized in a fit.
please pay 80 cents next time, and
employ one whose fits may not inter-
fere with Richard. Richard Is unen-
durable enough without the addition of
rented fits" 20 III
Amador ledger., 1901-03-01
WEST WIND.

The years go by, though the days are long to
hungry heart.
was feeling content last night before the wind
A wind from the rainy west, tossing the vet.
green boughs; 'tf
1t called me and Knocked me; it filed my soul
with thousand woes.
o wind from over the sea. voice from dear land
lost, 20
Why need you seek here. waking the old
time pain?
Sure my life is hard enough; there is not much
joy to spare;
Ny heart must break or follow If you call me
like that againi
wind from across the wave. wet with the wild
sea spray,
Were but free, like you. l never would ask t,
roam
From the darling land you left and the scent Oh
the heath clad hillsl
Did you come to break my heart, dear wind
from the hills of homer
-winifred Patton In Spectator.
Amador ledger., 1901-03-01
GREASE AT LAUNcHINes.
Big Cost of Getting n Battleship Into
the Water.

Big Cost of Getting n Battleship Into
the Water.
1.-THE mere act Of getting a war YES
sci into the water costs lot of money,
time and trouble" said an engineer,
speaking Of the recent launching Of
several new torpedo boats. 81 spent a
year and a half in the designing room
of the Cramps yard" he continued.
"and happen to know what l am talk
ing about. OF course the launching of
little torpedo boat is comparatively
easy, and the cost is not over a few
hundred dollars, including flowers and
souvenirs and even the bottle of cham
payne used in the christening But
when 1t comes to big armored cruiser
or a first class battleship it is a horse
of different color. and the actual ex-
pense seldom falls below $4,000 or So
600. I've known it to go as high as
$4,000.
1.-The building Of the ways for the
ship to slide down over Is the main
item, and then comes the greasing
Every inch of timber over which the
vessel slides must be covered with lu-
bricant, Different firms use different
substances. but soap and tallow form
the main ingredients of them all At
the Cramps we used a layer of beef
tallow and a layer Of soft soap, and
taken altogether. between and ia
tons of the stuff were required to put
move on the average battleship. The
tallow is spread on first to the depth
of about three fingers. and the work
men use big fiat trowels to make the
surface as smooth as possible. Then
they pour over the soft soap. which is
just thick enough to run. or about the
consistency of tar.
GAS general thing. the double coat
ing answers the purpose admirably.
and the ship glides into the water as If
1t was sailing on air. If it sticks. as
has happened in a few cases, it Is likely
to spring some Of its plates. and acct
dents Of that kind are so costly that
nothing is spared to avert them."-New
Orleans Times-Democrat.
Amador ledger., 1901-03-01
THAT WAS DIFFERENT.
Papa Said There. Was No Similarity
In the Two Cases.

sPapa," asked the little boy, "do you
remember the first money you ever
earned"
''Yes," said papa. at was a nice,
new, shiny 8 cent piece that old Mr..
Gregg, the grocer, gave me for doing
about quarters worth of work In car
rying load of potatoes into his cellar.
l worked all Saturday afternoon to
earn that nickel, and when he paid me
1 ran three blocks home, tired as 1 was,
to show it."
"And did you put it in your little
bank?" asked the little boy.
+ mo; l got fathers permission to
spend it just as pleased. However,
kept it for three or four days, just to
have the satisfaction of having money
of my owned, earned by my own exer-
lions. And if could have bought all
the things l thought of buying with
that nickel l would have had about
$40 worth of books, toys, marbles and
what not. Finally made up my mind.
What do you think bought?"
81 am sure l can't guess" said the
little boy. Wnat OlQ you Duy, papa r.
Il went to the bakery and bought
custard pie"
"Why, papa! And you said grandma
always had custard pie at home and
let you have slice of it as soon as you
got home from schoolr'
Yes, used to get slice, but not a
whole pie, and she never let me eat it
the way | wanted to. So went to the
bakery and bought my pie and borrow
ed spoon from the baker and ate all
the custard and left the crust. l never
had anything taste so good in all my
life"
You never allow me to eat custard
pie that way, papa" said the little boy
ooh, that's differentw said papa.-In-
dianapolis Press.
Amador ledger., 1901-03-01
where We Meet Russia.

In Boring strait Russia and America
shake hands. Big Diomede island and
Little Diomede stand side by side, the
former Russia's outpost, the other our
own. A little strip of narrow sea lies,
between the two, and so clear is the
air on a fair day that it seems as If
from one island you could easily reach
across a hand to the other. North,
across Kotzebue sound, is Point Hope,
barren sand spit. extending far int
the Arctic sea. 1t is the home of a
tribe of Eskimos, who go to the mis-
sion school and church and learn to
sing hymns, to speak little English
and to use soap.
Amador ledger., 1901-03-01
MRS. GALLUP MOURNS
A SIGN WARNS HER THAT HER TIME
"a HAS ABOUT COME.


So Between SObs She Has a Little
One Sided Talk With Her Devoted
Husband About the House and the
Things That Are In 1t. Ffe
Copyright, 1900. by G. B. Lewisl
When supper had been concluded,
Mr.. Gallup sat down to read PAM
phlet descriptive of the Virgins wash
Ing machine, and Mrs. Gallup flung a
shawl over her head and ran over to a
neighbours to give warning that the
chicken pox had broken out in town
only ten miles away and would proba-
bly, sweep the whole country before it
could be staid. 1t was hardly a quar-
ter of an hour before she returned, and
her first action was to pitch forward
on the lounge and roll over three times
before she got settled down into a COM
Portable position to do some weeping
Her conduct ought to have attracted
immediate attention, but it didn't Mr.
Gallup was reading declaration from
the sole inventor and proprietor that
the Virgins washing machine had say.