davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The St. Johns herald., 1901-07-13

The battle between these two wooden vessels was one of memorable interest Nearly all France was present, with a goodly representation from England stationed off shore to cheer the Ala bama to victory. The whole affair was arranged much as though it had been a regatta instead of stern sea battle. When the Kearsarge steamed into the Cherbourg harbor on the 18th of June, 1864, and found the Alabama there every one. knew there would be fight. The news of it spread throughout France and from every corner of the pleasure-loving republic crowds started for Cherbourg. Parties went down from as far north as Germany, and yachts carrying private parties cross ed the channel from England when 1t was known that the Alabama would not try to run away as she had done before.
 Every man on the Alabama was ''itching'' for a fight after the months of uninterrupted domineering. They were looking for an enemy that would not give up at the first shot. Captain Semmes, who had conducted their ex- petitions, was Southern gentleman and not an inch coward: besides that he knew the ship which lay waiting for him was fair match for the Alabama and he loved nothing better than a fair fight. It was therefore much to his satisfaction to give the orders to clear for action, nor was a moment wasted by the men. Sunday was the Ala bama's lucky day. It was the day of her christening, and Captain Semmes chose 1t to be the day of her death Early Sunday morning. the 18th of June, 1864, the Alabama swung away from her pier. She was in the best of fighting trim and the good cheer of her crew echoed in the forecastle refrain: We're homeward bound, we're home
 ward bound:
 And soon we shall stand on English
 ground;
 But, ere our native land we see,
 We first must fight the Kearsargee.
 A fleet of small craft accompanied her to the three-mile line, their crowd ed decks shouting words of encour- agement to the waiting gunners. A mile farther out in the purple haze the Kearsarge waited. Captain Semmes called his men forward and addressed them briefly, with perfect assurance in his words. Then ordering them to their places he charged the Kearsarge, leaving in his wake the line of specta- tors. So began the most spectacular naval battle the world has ever known. Thousands of people witnessed the sight. their boats keeping just within the safety line.
 The Kearsarge waited silently while the Alabama rushed in wasting her first broadsides from carelessly train ed guns. The clear-headed prudence which has since distinguished the Unit ed States navy saved the day for the Kearsarge. Captain Winslow was in 10 hurry to open fire, but when he did begin the guns worked steadily and
The St. Johns herald., 1901-07-13
Literary Nightmare.

When does Mary Mapes Dodge When Thomas W. Knox.
 What did Charles Reade? Whatever he saw Mabel Osgood Wright.
 When is it that John Burroughs When he hears Edward Everett Hale
 Why did they Hall Caine? To make Frances Hodgson Burnett.
 Who gave Thomas Paine? Hamilton Wright, Mabie.
 What made Winston Churchill? Eat ing what he saw John Esten Cooke.
 What will make Walter A. Wyc-koff I. Zang-will.
 Why did Charles Darwin? Because he never turned his back to De-foe.
 Where did Capt. Frederick Marry at? At the Ellen Olney Kirk.
 What made Col. Richard H. Savage? Hearing Charles Carlton Coffin.
 Why was Wagner Haydn away Bach? Because De Koven had him on his little Liszt.
 What kept Charlotte NJ. Yonge? Helping Elizabeth Phipps Train.
 Why do we not laugh at R. D. Black more? Because we find John Green leaf WChlittier.
 Whence came Samuel Smiles? Be cause he saw hen reward Beecher. Why did Miss Mu-loch up the silver? Because she saw Flora Annie Steele Life
The St. Johns herald., 1901-07-13
Interest Laws nf China.

The interest laws of China, with which the operations of banking are in- timately connected, date from the year 1250 of our era. The enormous rate of interest is curiously defended by several writers. It results, they say, in securing economy in order that the borrower may repay the loan, in pro- ducing greater industry, in deterring persons from borrowing, in reducing the numbers of renters of land, thus increasing the number of landowners, and in inducing circumspection with regard to new enterprises. It is further stated, by men of business, that this 30 per cent Is only maximum founded on the probability that the os- cillations in the price of silver will never exceed that sum. It must be understood also that the ordinary rate of interest rarely exceeds 20 or 2 per cent, and that money, may be had as low as 12 per cent, though the rate sometimes exceeds even 30 per cent Forum
The St. Johns herald., 1901-07-13

methodicaLy. The Alabama pushed for
 ward to get within range, as surely
 the Kearsarge backed away to get the
 advantage of the greater range of her
 guns. In doing this the two ships moved in circle, keeping always with in view of the spectators.
 Battle Was Hard Fought.
 For more than an hour the battle lasted; it might have been gala day maneuver for all the audience saw. On the ships, however, the business of war was bringing its suffering. The chains hung on the sides of the Kearsarge protected the engines. but not the men who were struggling on the decks with the guns. And on the Alabama there were no chains and the sea was forcing its way through the wooden hull to add its horror to the suffering of the wounded. The men on the Alabama found their gunpowder cakey and bad and they were discouraged at sight of the unexpected armor of the enemy. Finally the Alabama turned and made TOT French waters hardly mile away. 1t would not have taken long for the Alabama, disabled as it was, to swing 1n and out of danger, but Captain Winslow saw the move and was quick to meet it.
 The Kearsarge swung to, and, cross ing the Alabama's bow, raked her fore and aft An English yacht, the Deer hound, which was lowering near to aid the officers of the Alabama, scur- ried away in fright, while cry from the watching boats foretold the end. The Alabama went down quickly, all though her colors had been struck and the white flag was flying when her bow dropped out of sight. Captain W1nslow stopped firing when he saw the end had come and boats were sent out to rescue the enemy's crew. The men from the Kearsarge worked with such good will that all told siXty-eight were saved from the wreck. The off, cers of the Alabama were taken off by the Deerhound and carried to Eng land, where, in spite of his defeat, Captain Semmes was feted and made much of.
 The career of the Alabama was one of the most notable in history. Never was such a record made at privateer ing. Although hardly two years at her work, she irreparably injured Ameri- can commerce and busied a greater part of the United States navy in her chase. For years her history was the horror of merchantmen and tradesmen kept a sharp lookout lest another might come to succeed her.
 As to the battle, there has never been
The St. Johns herald., 1901-07-13

a the appalling" increase in the mum Der of divorces, says two-thirds or the cases are due to early marriages. Ills theory is that the divorce courts are kept busy because so many young peo- pie marry before they are old enough to form sensible views of matr1mony' and so he advises youths and maldehS to Ego slow" While the advice may be good, the judges theory VIII no' stand investigation. Brides and grooms are now a good deal older, on the aver age. than they were few generations ago The increase of divorce cases has been accompanied by a decrease in early marriages. A century ago, when divorces were rare, 1t was customary for girls to be married at the age of 16 and those who reached IS without find ing a husband were looked upon as al. ready beyond the danger line of spin. sterhood. A young man was expected to marry about the age of 21, and ii was almost a necessity for him to dc so. When he undertook to cultivate a farm he had to have the help of a woman to keep house for him. There were no fine bachelor apartments where he could live and board in com fort until he accumulated a competence and got ready to marry. That was the time of early marriages, but only in rare cases did women seek divorceS The increase of divorce suits by women is due chiefly to the fact that wives will no longer submit to treatment which they endured in silence a cen tury ago. A recent list of divorces granted to women on the ground of cruelty" throws more light on the sub ject than the Cleveland judges re- marks. One wife got a decree on the ground that her husband would not take baths, thereby infiicting on plain tiff great mental anguish" Another wished to leave her husband because he had accused her sister of stealing, while still another complained that her feelings had been hurt by her spouse's remark that he did not care whether she left him or not. One woman said her life was made a burden because her husband would not speak to her for months at a time, another objected to the mans practice of smashing dishes and crOckery to relieve his feelings, a third complained that her husband forbade her to walk in public with her relatives, and a fourth said her hus- band sharpened an aX and said he was going to cut her head off and did knock out two of her teeth. A case of diff ferent kind is that in which the plain tiff alleged that "the defendant, for the sole purpose of harassing her, said he meant to suicide, and did then and there drink a bottle of paregoric, which said action of defendant sorely grieved plaintiff in body and mind." Fifty or a hundred years ago women did not sue for divorce on grounds of this kind and If they had done so their suits would have been thrown out of court. They endured what could not be cured and took as a matter of course things which now send wives hurrying to the divorce courts. WOmen's standards have become more exacting and their legal liberties greater. This will large ly account for the increase in the num- Der of divorces.
The St. Johns herald., 1901-07-13
GIRLS, CONSIDER WELL

1 1 IRIS in the country some W0 times grow tired of the quiet
 routine of farm work and long for excitement and attractions
 of city life. But life in the city
 is not the public holiday that it seems
 to be to the girls on their occasional
 visits to the city. Working girls in the city have an infinitely more monot- onOus existence than the country girl ever dreamed of, writes a cores pendent. You get up early and work hard, it is true. but the picnic in sum- mer and the sleigh rides and parties that enliyen the winter give social recreation and change, while there is always a chance for the keenest enjoy ment for those who know how to read mother natures book.
 Think of spending every working day in dingy office, writing and figuring constantly, with but half days Vaca- ton in three years, as one girl l know of has done! Think of spending all the hot dusty summer days at a sew ing machine in a factory with the ceaseless chatter of hundreds of other machines all about you. Think of walking two miles to work, standing behind a counter all day, forced to smile though you feel like villain is supposed to feel, and walking home again at night. All these things thous- nnHS Of riYlc iy, bo oifry Jo
 One girl 1 know stands and irons ready-made shirtwaists all day, week In and week out. Where is the variety in her life? How would you like to exchange your duties with them? Do you not think it would be a welcome relief to them to milk in the cool morn ing, churn, bake and sweep before the hottest part of the day, peel the pota- toes for dinner out in the cool shady yard or rest in the hammock, or take a canter on the pony, or in the fall go to the woods in search of nuts, and at night to lie down and breathe in the sweet-Scented air of the country, in- stead of sewer smells and effluvia of dirty alleys?
 How would you like to pay out of your scant earnings for every specked apple or withered peach you ate? Why, if you lived in the city you would pay for fruit that you would not pick up from the ground now. How would you like the ever-present possibility of losing your ''job," and having your in- come cut off for time, with no money to pay the expenses that always ac- cumulate so fast?
 Think of all these things before you give up the quiet and peaceful life of the country, with the certainty of comfortable home, even if you do not have ice-cream and fried chicken every day. To make the best of what you have is better than to rush into evils that you know not of.
The St. Johns herald., 1901-07-13
THE OLD KEARSARGE.
NEW BATTLESHIPS WITH THE
 OLD NAMES.
aAooern Vessels Cause Remembrances CT stern Pro rogenitors-Greatest Naval
 Duel Ever Fought-British Vessel De. Y ieated by Prudence of Americans,

IL IS a strange thing that to-day. no nity years after the bitter civil strug ele' thls country should be using names oI the Alabama and the Kearsarge- even the memory of their brilliant con ulct-to cement the South and the North into firmer union. What would Oapl- Rafael Semmes, the stanch Con lederate who commanded the Alabama to her grave, say Of this peace bond what would Capt. Winslow of the kearsarge say of it?
 There is another Kearsarge in the united States navy and there is to be another Alabama to fight for the South, put this time under the stars and stripes. And each of these ships will bear a silver tablet in memory of its torerunner and to commemorate the reunion of the States.
 The old Alabama and Kearsarge were wooden men-of-war, each with eight guns to man. The Kearsarge was somewhat the speedier, but her great AdJ III IuC AOAOIhOoSAG VI Capt. Winslow, who hung chains over the sides of his vessel to protect her boilers and machinery. Both were fair-sized vessels for their day, yet we read with amazement that the crew of the Alabama consisted of eighty men. The Alabama of to-day carries 520 men. Instead of the eight small guns of the Confederate Alabama the new battleship carries altogether forty-four guns besides four water tor pedo tubes.
 The old Alabama was built in En- gland in 1862. and although she was not one of the largest warships of the time she was considered of fair fighting capacity. She was built to meet men, of-war, yet she did meet and was fairly matched by the Kearsarge, an old, but still serviceable. member of the dwarf United States navy. In a two years cruise on the Atlantic the Ala bama had preyed on the merchant ma rine of the North and when she steamed out to meet the Kearsarge off the coast of France she had a list of sixty-four destroyed merchantmen to her credit.
The St. Johns herald., 1901-07-13
SCHOOLING FoxHouND PUPPIES
Odd FeaturesSof, the Training of Dogs
 in fhe SoutI..


 in the Soutl-.
 ssVaIking''is the technical term TOT training foxhound puppies in the way they should go till they are or an age 10 join the kennels.
 | Every year, toward the middle or winter. the master of pack of hounds SaIects an assortment of foXhound pup nies which he distributes among the i members of the hunt, with request that they will walk" them.
 Foxhound puppies are by far the most mischieyous of their species. From hunting boots to tallow candles, they will devour anything and every thing they come across, and if the worker does not want to have to pay a long bill for damages he has continually to act the part of a vigilant nurse. The walking, too, is likely to become wearisome. To cover six miles every day in the week with couple of pup pies that insist on chasing rabbits and poaching on their own account may be excellent as a bodily exercise, but is often trying to the temper. l Each hunt has it's own puppy walk. The ceremony opens with big lunch con and plenty of speeches, and then comes the real business of the day the judging of the puppies to see what progress they have made during the period of walking toward becoming fit and proper members of the pack. The merits of the puppies are decided by vote
 When judgment has been pronounced the puppies that reach the required standard are added to the kennels, while the rejected ones are handed over to the huntsmen to be shot. The lucky walker of the puppy that gets the most votes cares off the prize, usually a solid silver tea or coffee service He thoroughly deserves it, for there is no form of prize competition more eg- gravating than puppy walking. One may get the prize for the first dog he trains, while those who have puppy walked" for years are sent empty away. Distemper upsets the best call culations, and it often happens that after bringing a puppy to the pink of perfection the walkers hopes are dashed to the ground by the aggravat- ing little beast developing symptoms of distemper within a couple of days of the big walk and spelling all his chances.
 Young foXhounds seldom display the slightest affection for their trainer, and have, as rule, no intelligence beyond the instinct which makes them follow the scent of a fox. A greater display of intelligence is sometimes attended with inconvenience.
 One of the most stringent rules to be observed in puppy-walking is that the dogs diet must consist entirely of fresh milk. Should a young foxhound be fed on meat or any carnivorous food he loses his capacity to follow the scent, and also trebles his chances of getting distemper, which ruins him for his pro- feSSiOn.
The St. Johns herald., 1901-07-13
The Heating Surface of Kettles.

So completely has the idea of the ad- vantage to be gained by a greater heat ing surface taken possession of the minds of few inventors, that they are determined to run the corrugated idea into everything. One invention is a kettle with a corrugated bottom which will. it is claimed, heat water much more quickly because it has more surface. In view of the fact that at least half of the time the kettles may stand upon the top of the stove, this idea does not seem feasible, as in this case there would be arches all through under the bottom, and the kettle would scarcely heat at all.
The St. Johns herald., 1901-07-13

While capital in this part of the world continues to be timid about investing in electrical railways whose utility has been completely demonstrated, Ger many is undertaking an electric road between Berlin and Hamburg, the trains to run at a speed far exceeding any hitherto attempted. German ex- perts declare a rate of 125 miles an hour feasible and safe on the proper equipment. They use less water in their capitalizations in Germany and therefore dare try to do more on land. Surface crossings are disappearing in Europe wherever electricity is used for traction.
The St. Johns herald., 1901-07-13

You need not discard the popular black velvet ribbon The early spring models show the use of it in little cross wise strappings variOusly arranged with a tiny button at each end. or in diamond form.
 The cape collar, a suggestion of Di- rectoire modes, is one of the new touches on costumes. DirectOlre effects by the way, are good, and you are quite safe in introducing them into your spring gowns if you wish
 Be sure and give the long effect To your shoulder seams. This is quite an important feature of new gOwns, and stamps them at once as newly arrived. or of the past. Trimming extending from the collar band down over the arm achieves it. So also do the lace collars that droOp we'll over the arm
 Shirr at least one of your thin sum mer gowns if shirring is becoming h is to be one of the favored modes this summer. The skirt may be shirred around the hips to form a yoke The entire bodice and sleeves may De shirred if it suits your fancy, and pro vided the material is thin and soft
 All dress skirts will be made with the dip front. This is yariOusly called by different mOdiStes, but it refers to the sharp, V-shaped incision which is made in the middle of the front of the skirt. This is nicely bound with silk braid, and when put on is designed 10 fit over the big silver hook which adorns the front of all cOrSetS. IF not there the modiSh woman speedily adds it. This makes the skirt long and keeps it long, for it cannot slip up.
 Have you noticed the tulle bow an the girls are wearing? It is a fImy. fetching little knot of white tuIle under the chin, and it gives an airy. dainty note to the white silk blouse which the open jacket reveals. It lasts about as long as would the fragile butterfly wings if put to practical use; that is for one wearing. But it is only wisD of tulle, and it is such dainty way Of adding bit of freshness 10 the toilette that no girl will mind making a new one each time.
The St. Johns herald., 1901-07-13

Only Germany to-day stands between the Sultan and his final expulsion from Europe. England has been estranged, and, moreover, Is pOwerless to extend a helping hand. Russia on the east and Austria on the west stand ready to rush in and carve Turkey in pieces at the first possible opportunity. If between them they could satisfy the Kaiser with some acceptable territorial or other advantage he might be willing to keep hands off and allow the sick long time-too long, perhaps-in dying At last his end seems in sight.
The St. Johns herald., 1901-07-13
Lemon Water for B;IIousness

There are thousands of bilious peo- pie in the world, and the vast major ity of them; have Inherited it, like my self, fron their- ancestors, and for these write this, and say, drink lots of lemon water; But be sparing with the sugar: I-use just enough to make it palatable. but drink plenty. It's the best drink any way to my mind that man ever concocted. On very hot days I have drank two quarts full. The philosophy of it is: the acid wa
The St. Johns herald., 1901-07-13

Twenty years imprisonment for the student who killed the Russian minis ter of public instruction is relatively a light sentence when compared with Russian penal policy of the past. The czar's judicial system has undergone thorough reform within twenty-five years. Siberia was found to contain wealth so vast that 1t ceased to be available for a mere convict colony. Large areas of what was deemed desert are now blossoming with noble farms developed by children of convicts, while other areas are yielding incalcu- lable mineral wealth.
The St. Johns herald., 1901-07-13
kk2@gS|Ioan[kGk|I1ln
~~~~~~~~~~~~

have been a source of great pride tO you, but are you not just a little bix selfish in gratifying that sense Of pride by refusing to cut them of when. as he says, his playmates are continually making fun of him? You and were once children, and cannot you remem- Der how much it hurt to have someone make fun of your personal appearances or clothes? I know it is hard to apply the sacriicial knife to the ringiets. bur now that your little son Is getting tO be quite old, wouldn't you rather have him look like a "big. brave boy" rzth- CT than pretty oneY'
The St. Johns herald., 1901-07-13

For eight crops-corn, wheat, oats, barley, rye, buckwheat, potatoes and hay-covered by the reports to the De partment of Agriculture, the farmers of the United States received almost two hundred million dollars more in 1900 than they obtained for the same products in 1899. Buckwheat and bar ley were the only crops in the list which showed a decrease in value, and the advances, in corn and hay especial ly, made this deficit seem slight. We quote the statistics as matter of rec ord.