davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Holbrook argus., 1901-05-25
Condensed Reproof.

Occasionally there is to be found a proprietor of a secondhand book store who is something more than the nature of his business would seem to indicate. He regards his old and rare volumes rather as a collection than a stock of goods, and experiences pang when he parts with one.
 A fiippant young man dropped into a secondhand book store kept by man of this kind.
 Taking down several choice old books from the shelves, he fingered them carelessly and replaced them. They happened to treat of abstruse subjects and did not appeal to him.
 Are any of these books for hire?'' he asked, carelessly.
 No, young man," sharply answered the proprietor. "They are for lore."- Youths Companion.
Holbrook argus., 1901-05-25
THE COSTS THE THING.

Not the Maxim that Was JInpressel
 on One Small Girl.
 Once upon a time a long while ago glorious and occasionally expatiated to some of her small companions upon the cost of her wearing apparel or the number of teaspoons her mamma pos sessed, she was reprimanded severely for these indiscretions. Little ladies do not boast" she was told senten- tiously
 After awhile she came firmly to be- lieve this because of its endless repeti- tions and so she was often surprised when quondam friends confided in her the enormous amount they spent an- nually in dress or the size of the turkey they had for their Christmas dinned.
 Times, as the dogmeat man so aptly remarked, are changed now, however, and ostentation is the order of the day, says a writer in the Baltimore News. Perhaps this is the fault of the news papers. Perhaps some hungry report CT searching for available "copy" and finding 1t in the florists bills for big wedding may be primarily to blame. but at all events the marriage of two young people of wealth is nowadays made ceremony of such ostentation as to amount to vulgarity
 The charms of face or character of the bride, the good qualities of the groom are passed over lightly in order that there may be plenty of space to estimate the cost of the various details
 The amount of money that the pre- sents represent, the capital represent ed by those who are invited, the cost of | the trousseau, of the carriages, of the flowers and the supper are all set down with great accuracy and added with much precision. When the total reaches into the millions the nuptials are announced to be a success and the young couple are supposed to have entered the matrimonial state under the happiest auspices.
 There is no effort made to conceal the fact that money is the most inter- esting thing about the pair and the oc- casion.
 Perhaps these people are to be pitied Perhaps, as was said before, thieving newspaper men break in and steal in- formation about special trains and or chids and trifles of that sort that the families yearn to keep secret But however that may be, the writer never reads that Miss So-andso received twelve ropes of pearls, valued at $500,- 900, that she doesn't think of the old maxim of the nursery days, Little ladies do not boast" and wish that il could be handed on to the feminine young and old of American society.
Holbrook argus., 1901-05-25
HAIR AND CHARACTER.
Some of the Things n Barber Claims
 to Have Noticed.

Some of the Things n Barber Claims
 to Have Noticed.
 Did you ever notice that people of very violent temper have always close growing hair2 It is a fact that every man having close growing hair is the owner of a decidedly bad temper. It is easy enough for me to note at a glance how a mans hair grows. Then I know how to handle him.
 Men of strong temper are generally vigorous, but at the same time they are not always fixed in their opinions. Now, the man with coarse hair is rooted to his prejudices. Coarse hair denotes ob- stinacy. It is not good business policy to oppose a man whose hair is coarse. The eccentric man has always fine hair, and you never saw a man of cratic tenden- cies who at the same time had a sound mind who was not refined in his tastes.
 Fair hair indicates refinement. You may have noticed that men engaged in intellectual or especially in aesthetic pur- suits, where delicacy is required, have invariably fine, luxuriant hair q nd boards. The same men, as a class, particularly painters, are always remarkable for their personal peculiarities.
 The brilliant, sprightly fellow has gen. erally curly beard If not, his hair is curly. It's easy to bring a smile to the face of the man whose hair is curly. Ht laughs where colder natures see nothing to laugh at.
 There is a great difference between coarse hair and hair that is harsh though it requires an expert to distin- guish it. For example, mans mustache may be as fine as silk and yet cannot bt trained to grow into a graceful curve That's because the hair is harsh. Now people whose hair is harsh have amiable but cold natures. They are always ready to listen, but it is difficult to arouse theil feelings. In men of this disposition tho hair of their heads is generally-in fact almost always-of a shade darker thaI their boards. When the beard is full covering the entire face, the color varie: from dark shade near the roots to red which colors the ends of the hair Thes' men have very rarely good memory They forget easily and often leave can or an overcoat behind them in the barbe shop. They are great procrastinators ant are bad at keeping appointments. Think over your acquaintances ant see if the man who is habitually slow ha not a mustache or beard of a lighte shade than his hair. It's always tn case. These are the men who come il late at the theater and get to the station just in time to miss the train.-Scottisl l American.
Holbrook argus., 1901-05-25
Disarming Jefferson.

Joseph Jefferson had once ill his em- ploy plausible sort of man, half va let, half factotum, grossly incompetent and unsatisfactory, whom he desired to get rid of. It was a certainty that the man drank. Wine from the cellar would disappear and gradually go down in the decanters, but there was never any ocular proof, says the Ladies' Home Journal.
 "And," said MT. Jefferson in telling the story to a friend, ''there I was. What could I do? However" he con- tinued, lone day as was sitting in my library, whom should I see but William come reeling up the walk, drunk as a lord. There was no doubt of 1t. My opportunity had come after many years. I waited for him. l would tell him how drunk he was. He would deny it, of course. He would insist that he was perfectly sober and that was the one who was drunk. But 1 should have the calm consciousness of right on my side and my excuse for sending him away would be sufficient. So, when William appeared in my room gazed at him with all the severity that I could summon and said:
 William, you are drunkp
 "He returned my look with perfect imperturbability. MT. Jefferson, said he, T am more than that-I am very drunk, sir
 And" continued MT. Jefferson, twill you tell me what could do? He took the wind out of my sails. He proved himself perfectly truthful man."
 And you finally got rid of him? asked the man to whom the story was told. Just then some one came in tc light the lamps and the comedian look ed at him quizzically. "No," he an swered with a smile, "that was Will | jam who just came in. l couldn't dis charge a man for telling the truth could IY'
Holbrook argus., 1901-05-25
Mashed a "Masher."

Two of the young women, pretty ones and well dressed, playing at one of the theaters boarded a car last night for the theater and sat quietly talking. A pretty young thing oppo- site began to stare, smile, make eyes and try his best to make hit. Sud denly the older girl began In loud "Oh, did tell you about the man on the car last night? He sat opposite me, and tried all kinds of ways to make my acquaintance, and was such nuisance I wished his mother was there to take him away" Everybody in the car, who had watched things for some time, grinned apprecdatively, and the would-be gallant blushed, looked very uncomfortable and got out at the next stop. The two girls laughed, then re- sumed their personal talk, and when they reached the theater got out quiet ly. Everybody in the car wanted to cheer them.--Boston Herald.
Holbrook argus., 1901-05-25
LUCK IN DEFECTIVE WORK.

C1ews of the Sort That Lead to Sorue-
 thing Once in a Lifetime.
 Its very strange how a detective will be put on the right track by some trivial incident, apparently disassoci- ated altogether from the case in hand" remarked an old government official to a New Orleans Times-Democrat man.
 "A dozen years ago, when I was do- ing some special work in the secret-ser- vice department under Chief Bell, un- dertook to run down a fellow who had been making some remarkably perfect counterfeit silver dollars, and who had slipped through the fingers of the of ficers when they raided his place and captured his plant. The man had taken his meals for several months at a restaurant 1 patroniZed now and then, and 1 noticed him, casually, sit ting at the table, but the only thing 1 could remember about him was that he ate a great many oysters, and al ways called for raspberry vinegar and white pepper to use on them as condi- ments. The combination was rather peculiar, and had fixed itself on my mind, but 1t could hardly be regarded as much of clew. I hunted high and low for the fugitive, and, after putting in four or five weeks of the hardest kind of work without discovering any thing that would give the slightest lead to his whereabouts, I gave up in despair and, for the time being put the case in the pigeonhole.
 "Fully six months afterward another affair of an entirely different charac- ter took me to city in a distant state and one afternoon 1 dropped in at a good-siZed fancy grocery to make some inquiries about an address. While was waiting to speak to the proprietor I heard an unusually fat man giving a clerk an order for gallon of raspberry vinegar and impressing him particu- larly to send the best quality. Natural ly, the stuff reminded me of my miss | ing counterfeiter, and after the fat gentleman went out I asked the clerk carelessly who he was. He keeps a restaurant at No. -,' replied the young man. I wonder if he is as par l IlSui1A SlOOuI Ills hitS pCppGl dlSO, | remarked on the impulse of the mo- ment. The clerk looked astonished. Why, that's funny he said, I sold him some extra strong imported white pepper only yesterday. It seemed hardly possible that it could be any thing more than a mere coincidence, but on the bare chance that 1 had struck a trail I strolled around to the restaurant that evening, and the first man 1 laid eyes on was my long silver-dollar expert. He was eating raw oysters with vinegar and pepper and I was so pleased with myself that 1 let him get through before I tapped him on the shoulder and told him he was under arrest. It turned out that he had struck town only week before and had called for his favOrite cOndi ments at this particular cafe. They weren't on hand in the place, but the proprietor promised to get them fol him, and the result was tha the cpl curean counterfeiter did seven years il the United States prison at Columbus
 But those are rare strokes ol chance" added the old officer. "Onct in a lifetime is about their average
Holbrook argus., 1901-05-25
Reffinc In Chanel.

. 'I don't believe in this compulsory chapel attendance at schools and col leges," Q young college graduate was heard to remark to group of friends the other day. q know when l was at school there was more gambling among the students during one church service than there was at half a dozen ball games. They didn't post the numbers of the hymns, you know, and the boys used to bet on whether they'd be odd or even. The chances were about equal except at holiday services. Then, as they'd usually sing 'America,' which was No. 554, the packers of even numbers had to give long odds. cleared what seemed a small fortune one Washington's birthday wifen the preacher upset the talent with an odd one.
 "They don't play the game as much as they used to. A year or so after l left certain interruptions fellows got friendly with the organist and worked him for inside information before services. As soon as this leaked out the better class of students quit playing the game. You would think that church game ought to be on the level if anything is. But you never can tell, you ee."-New York Sun.
Holbrook argus., 1901-05-25
SHE WAS WEAK IN FIGURES.
A Wife Shows a Husband How to Buy
 Eggs to Advantage.

A Wife Shows a Husband How to Buy
 Eggs to Advantage.
 When the man of the family wants to enjoy laugh at the expense of the bargain-hunting mother of 1t, he is al- most sure to get off that old joke about her spending ten cents in carfare to save five cents in the price of an article, which, in some cases, as you all know, is the truth, and not a joke at all. Here is one to keep the old joke com pany:
 Some women are good mathematic- ians, others are weak in figures" The Baltimore Sun tells of one who prided herself on her economy and close bar gaining. Her husband used to banter her somAtimes about 7hat he called her "stinginess."
 One day Mrs. S., as she nay be call ed for convenience, invited her hus- band to go to market with her and wit ness her prowess in the line of close buying.
 At the market Mrs. S. made several purchases, and then at one stall inquir- ed the price of eggs.
 Sixteen cents a dozen!' she repeat ed. '"That's too much. I am sure I saw them for less. somewhere this morning."
 She dragged her reluctant husband after her from one stand to another, still inquiring the price of eggs, and all ways receiving the same answer, until she was near the upper end of the market Here she found a dealer whose eggs were fifteen cents dozen.
 "There, told you sop' she exclaimed to her husband. "Those other men were trying to get the advantage"
 Turning to the dealer she ordered half dozen eggs, gravely handed him eight cents in payment, and went away well satisfied with her shrewdness.
 Her first doubt came when MT. S quietly asked her how much she had really saved by the transaction. Since then she does not like to hear her bus band speak of her economies.
Holbrook argus., 1901-05-25
Why Roads Are Crooked In China.

The Chinese road is private property, a strip taken from somebody's land. This is done much against the will of the owner, since he not only loses the use of it, but also still has to pay taxes on it.
 One consequence is that it is wide enough for only one vehicle, and carts can pass one another only by trespass- ing on the cultivated land. To prevent this the farmers dig deep ditches by the roadside. AS the surface wears away and the dust blows off it gradu- ally grows lower. and after awhile it becomes a drain for the surrounding fields. A current forms in the rainy season, which still further bellows 1t out, and thus has arisen the proverb that road thousand years old be- comes river.
 Those whose lands are used for roads naturally prefer to have the roads run along the edge of their farms instead of cutting across them, and this ac- counts for the fact that Chinese roads are often so crooked that one may have to go a considerable distance to reach place that is In reality but few miles away. This always interests the stranger.-Church Eclectic.
Holbrook argus., 1901-05-25
"Mistress of Herself"

A man has no moral right to sit on the edge of tiled hearth and balance a Sevres plate (not to be matched for love or money) on his knees, yet this was what a famous illustrator did-till he dropped it.
 "What have I doneY' he asked, all though the proverbial thousand pieces" were plainly visible at his feet.
 Merely destroyed plate-which is quite in a great artists line," returned his hostess, with smile that even her husband afterward admitted was far too fine for everyday use.
Holbrook argus., 1901-05-25
SHE WOULDN'T BE BEATEN.
Old Woman Did Not Approve of Horse
 Racing, but

Racing, put
 They make rather an odd-lloking couple in their old-fashioned cutter as they jog over the boulevard, sp!aking to each other about once a mile, yet as contented and happy as in the days of their courtship. The other war they happened to be caught among the races, and there was new experience.
 The family horse, whose declining years have been especially pleasant, pricked up its ears, made awkalld at tempts at prancing and showed other worldly signs of desire to join in the sport.
 "Ephraim?' said the aged wife, re- provingly.
 Faint my fault" he replied as he wrapped the reins about his hands. ''Tarnal ole fool must be gettin' into his second chilehood. Whoa, Dexter, ho, boy, stiddy now. I can't held him Angy."
 Get out of the road with that old crowbait and that old Noah's ark of pulled alongside.
 "Ephraim," snapped the little old wo- man, what you hangin' ontei' that horse for? Didn't you hear tllat inn pert nent ruffian. G'long, Dexter. Tech him with the whip, Ephraim, so he'll know what's expected. That's it. Let him out, lickety split. He hain't doin' his best licks. Tech him ag'il, Eph. Hi! hi! now he's movin'. Hoke!,, we're gainin', Eph. Gi' me the whip md you stiddy him. Ge-laEg! gelang"
 Whoa, boy" and the little cid man was pulling hard, "whoa boy. there goes yer bunnet, Angy."
 "What! Ephraim! Quit that pullin' Quit this instant" and she fairly lifted Dexter with whole arm move ment of the whip. Are you gettin' seenile, man. What's a bunnet you've wore ten years. wouldn' care eff it was so' with almonds" Whack, whack, anG they finished strong two lengths to the 1 good.
 When the "ruf1ian'' smiled and said 1t was the liveliest outfit he had seen on the boulevard "Angy" beamed on him, but on the way home she caution. ed Ephraim half a dozen time; to say nothing to nobody, it was so disgrace ful, this horse racin'.-Detrolt Free Press.
Holbrook argus., 1901-05-25

Machinists in all parts of the country are preparing to begin the nine-hour day. The organized employers are fla vorable to the new move, but they in- sist that the independent concerns should be organized, and the machinists are working valiantly to bring the non unionists into line.
 $. D. Wilkinson, former grand master of the Brotherhood of Railway Train men, is dead. He was at the head of this order for eleven years. In the last two years he had been connected with the immigration service at Ellis Island, until transferred recently to the h. terior Department as special land agent.
 There are 732, 1889 people employed in the factories of New York State, 16,52S in bakeries and 5,595 in mines, the lat ter being all males. In the factories there are 51O,742 males empoyed, of whom 21,64S are under IS years of age and S,O12 under 16. There are 221 ,647 females employed in the factories, of whom S,229 are under 16.
 Two hundred Chinamen who were employed in a clothing firm in Los An geles IS cutters, tailors, and operators have been discharged and replaced by members of the United Garment Work CTS of America, as a result of the anti Asiatic labor agitation, and the strong demand for union labeled goods recent 1v deyeloned in California
 The owners of the Vesta Cotton Mills in Charleston, s. C., have decided to abandon the property and move the tex tile machinery to new mill at Gaines vile, Ga. They declare that the two years experiment of negro labor in the ment was practically the first made in i the South, and was watched with inter i est by mill people.
 Governor McSweeney, of South Caro- ! lima, makes a plea for legislation | against child labor. He admits it is dangerous to interfere with family gov ernment by legislation, but he declares that the situation becomes alarming i when little children are not protected from vampire parents who spend theil time in idleness and live on their chil dren, that are required to work 1T mills, without the advantage oi schools"
 The following-named unions in Hor nellsville, N. Y, have secured better conditions the past year: Cigarmakers a aOraamant hv dnaIarS to handle 0nlN union-made goods; retail clerks, to close stores at o'clock five nights in thu week; barbers, close at o'clock; glove makers, abolished charge for power tC run machines; plumbers, nine-hour da. with ten hours wages; brewers, union ized brewery, and gain nine-hour da. with increase of $3 to $4 per week; ant the butchers have secured the Sunda. closing of meat markets.
Holbrook argus., 1901-05-25
British Birch.

A woman applied to Mir. Dickinson at the Thames police court yesterday for advice about her son, boy of 13, who on several occasions had stolen money from her.
 MT. Dickinson-Have you husband?
 Applicant-Yes.
 Mr. Dickinson-Has he punished him?
 Applicant-He whacks him some times.
 MT. Dickinson-It is no good beating him with a cane or stick. Buy good birch rod. You can get one for about threepence. Then get your husband to give him twelve really good strokes with it, and in all probability he will never steal any more.-London News.
Holbrook argus., 1901-05-25
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 R31@NW@FS5

w. D. Norris, the English novelist, is talking of visiting this country for the purpose of giving public readings from his books.
 Rudyard Kipling has dramatlzed his long story, "The Light That Failed" and the play has been acquired by Charles Hawtrey, the English actor.
 Count Tolstoy has finished the drama, '"The Corpse" upon which he has been engaged for some time past. The play, which is in twelve scenes, will be pro- duced immediately after its publica- ton.
 Thackeray's daughter is writing again-a series of essays this time deal ing with charming but forgotten books. She calls them "Blackstick Papers" :" after the good fairy in her fathers in- imitable little tale, ''The Rose and the Ring"
 Charles Scribner's Sons are publish ing a historical novel by Mollie Elliot Seawell, entitled "The House of Egre- mont" It has illustrations by c. NJ. Relyea. The same house also presents the later poems of Julia c. R. Dorr, in a volume entitled "Afterglow," and Pee cavi," by D. w. Hornung The hero of this novel, by the author of 'The Anna teur Cracksman," is said to be a new creation and an audacious one.
 Yet another instance has appeared of how there's nothing new under the sun," in book titles at least Henry Holt & Co. have at the last moment changed the name of Miss Marion Bowers novel, 'The Puppet Show," to John Thisselton," as 1t appears that novel of the earlier name by Leonidas Westervelt had already been publish ed. The new book Is said to be rich in incidents of them verging on the sensational.
 "Winsome Womanhood" is the title of Margaret Sangster's new book which comes from Fleming H. Revell Company's press. Typical phases ot woman's life as chapter titles give Mrs Sangster opportunity for many delight full familiar talks" as she calls them Features of the volume are picture: Illustrative of different chapters, posed by winsome American women, and ini tial letters to chapters, formed of re productions of famous lace handker chiefs.
Holbrook argus., 1901-05-25
Not Ciinne,1.

A naturalist says that the squirrel tribe is increasing all over the wooded districts of England, and in the Scot tish Lowlands. In some parts of Scot land, notably in the north, the little creature is unknown.
 It is not so long ago that Scotch judge was trying case which had to do with the escape of squirrel from its cage, and the question as to wheth- CT it had been stolen.
 "Were its wings clipped?'he asked a witness.
 But, my lord" interposed the coun- sel, 'it is quadruped."
 "Quadruped or no quadruped," said his honor, sternly, eff its wings had been clipped it could never have es- caned."