davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-17
A Speotaoular Phenomenon.

A curious phenomenon was observed nt
the village OF lie Ghazil, I'm the French
Alps. recently. one day toward evening
the inhabitants were disturbed by loud
rumbllng I'm tho vicinity OF Mt. Farand.
which increased I'm intensity. Looking
toward the scene Of the disturbance. the
villagers were further startled by seeing
bright flashes OF fire. At first the mus-
ual spectacle was attributed 10 volcanic
agencies. and n party OF civil engineers
set out 10 examine the cause OF the phe-
nomenon. They discovered that the in
tense dry heat had caused the chalk
rocks on the summit OF the mountain 20
crack and TO break away I'm all direc-
tlons. These rocks had descended the
mountain like an avalanche. and being
thickly veined with slick. I'm descending
they had struck one another with terrific
force scattering brilliant showers OF
sparks in all directions. with such rapid
ity that they resembed one single sheet
OF fame. Scientific American.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-17

PERRIN-F ff Brown. Prov; L Allen.
Boston; J 3 Hin. John Lewis, Hartford (:
las Kencaid. n Adams: Robt Robertson.
Walter Salisbury, Boston: + II Baker.
Prov; T. M Mutt. Phil; Lee Warine, J l.
Pennington. Springfield; G A Whlpple,
Prov: T. @ Bissounette. Boston.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-17

Both NJ de Witte. now Russian minis
ter Of finance. and Prince Khilkoff. the
present minister OF ways and commune
cations. have had practical training as
engineers. The former worked through
the locomotive shops. drove an engine
and was subsequently n station master
for some years on the southern Russian
railways: while Prince khllkoff. under an
assumed name. worked through all the
practical branches of railroadlng m this
country ss paid employe. This practi-
ella knowledge 90 valuable 10 the chief Of
such y state department must OCCASION
ally prove ernbafr rassing 10 subordinates
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-17
No N osquitos.

The 1S5 guests at the Oakland Beach
hotel are among the fortunate ones. They
enjoy the cool breezes OF the bay. a fine
curis.ne, and are free from the Fostering
mosquito.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-17

with only theoretical training.
10 II the purpose OF King Edward 10
establish. I'm connection with the new
links Just made ln Windsor Park. a select
association which will probably be
In this event the members would be
chosen much on the royal squadron prin-
ciple. and a new clubhouse viii be erect
cd There are difficulties 60 contend
with. however. one being that Windsor
Park is open 10 the public and the pres.
ence of n crowd of gaping spectators 10
watch his majesty PLAYING the national
game of Scotland would be highly ohiec-
tionnblp Also. the formation of a club
on the lines Indicated necessitates vast
amount OF tact ~ may be. therefore,
that the king will abandon the idea and
restrict piavne rights TO invitation and
royal permission
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-06-09

What must be considered q wonderful
curiosity Of the floral kingdom IL the 20
termed recreation flower" q specimen OF
which has for the nrst time been brought
to this country.
No mention 10 made in botanical science
Of the existence Of this marvellous flower.
1t Ia q mystery at present that IL well
worth clearing up. When in a closed con-
dition the recreation flower IL In color and
in form something like q mature and dried
poppy head cut with its stem to II.
Submerged in q bowl of water for . few
minutes and then taken out and placed by
its stem in an empty bottle. the outer petals
begin after several minutes to open out.
able. The petals continue to rise and to
expand until they gradually recede back
ward. When this action is completed q So
called base In formed Of the flower which
resembles in appearances the starry sun
flower, but as regards the shape only.
The radiance and splendor which the
opened petals present and the inner rosette
that now stands out 30 boldly are both in
describable for their surprising beauty and
lustrous effect. The recreation flower re-
mains thus open for about two hours. dur
ing which time. the state of humidity les
SEEMING by degrees. the fibers begin to shrink
the petals close up gradually in the
same way as they opened until the flower
resumes tts former condition.
But II this performance Is already puz-
cling in itself. the most phenomenal part
about the recreation flower l. that by the
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-06-09

And there was Julia. sitting with two
other girls and a very bold young man. on
the steps!
John felt a peculiar palpitation in the re-
gion Of his collar button Just then Julia
saw him. She sprang up from her seat.
cried John" and took one step forward.
Then she blushed furiously. turned and
ran into the house.
Now, II John had been gifted with the
smallest particle of available sense he
wouldn't have minded this in the least.
But what sense John had was never just
within his reach at the proper time.
And hve minutes later John. three blocks
away from where Julia lived. was boarding
a street car which would take him to his
clearinghouse.
When John wrote home he said:
II saw Miss Julia last Sunday. She was
looking quite we'll"
Five weeks l~ater-maybe 1t was six weeks
later-but at any rate. 1t was on a swelter-
ingly hot day-John was told to call up an
out-of-town frm.
who is this. please?' asked central
after John had given the call.
Smith. Jones & Co.." said John.
But I mean. who are your
I'm a clerk"
But, I mean. I want you to give me
your name"
Want me to give you my Manner
yes"
-Oh, I'm John Henderson,"
John Henderson, cried Central
"H-e-n-d-e-r-s-o-n - John Henderson"
spe!led John. ibid you get IT,
Yes, John" answered central You
needn't spell 1t for me. ! know It well
enough"
There was something tantalizingly famil-
far about the voice.
How'd you know my Manner asked john
And then, before central" could possibly
nave answered he added. excitedly: Say.
who Is this?"
Julia" came the answer very softly.
And then. briskly: Here's your connec-
TOM
In his letter to his sister Mary that night
John said:
Julia is at the telephone exchange. l
didn't know IL until to-day. l had called
up long-distance. and she asked me to give
her my name. When I told her John Hen
derson' she seemed surprised. Then she
told me who she was. l hadn't recognized
her voice at all"
Two days later John got a letter from
Mary. In II she said:
Il think Julia was very bold-asking you
to give her your name. II was very bold.
indeed. But IL you had spunk enough to
look at a girl without blushing you'd have
offered it to her before she had to ask you
for it,"
What the mischief does Mary meant"
pondered John. Il couldn't give her my
name until she asked me for it. And she
wasn't bold at all"
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-06-09

Many people are now asking themselves
why the game Of chess should drive men
insane. Only a few days ago Herr Won
Minckewitz, a former chess champion. who
had gone out of his mind. committed sui
eide by throwing himself in front Of a
train. Last August Steinitz. the greatest
chess player then living, died insane. A
few years ago PAUL Morphy. the most bril-
liant chess player who ever liver, died Of a
mental disease.
These were the kings Of chess. Many
other men In the lower ranks of chess have
lost their minds.
There are many men who have chess on
the brain. Some Of them sacrifice every
.thing-home, health and material prospects
to indulge their passion for this fascinat-
ing game. 1t is like .he morphine habit or
the drinking Of absi 1.-THE. A medical man
says:
The curious thing about this form Of dis
sipation flor 1t is a dissipation of ones
powersy Is that 1t Is a mental indulgence.
II Is not a qualification OF any OF the physi-
cal senses, but a wild intellectual riot. Only
a man with a natural mathematical mind,
capable Of almost infinite abstract reason
ing and abstruse speculation. can become a
great chess player. The vigor Of his con-
ceptions marks his superiority over the
ordinary man, and the clearness Of his
mental vision, when overdeveloped by prac-
tice. Is thought to drain strength from the
other intellectual faculties. INDUCED in in
moderation. chess is delightful. but recent
events nave shown the danger OF allowing
the passion to grow upon one"
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-06-09

After a while the point OF Mary's remark
dawned suddenly on John. And he blushed
SO furiously that the office boy yelled:
Gee! Look at Mr.. Henderson's face!'
Which would have made 1t worse thar
ever had not John. being constructed differ.
emily from other men. been SO frightened
that he turned pale Immediately.
John thought the matter over seriously
TWO days later. being quite alone In the of.
fee. he boldly-perhaps desperately-went tc
the telephone.
Number. please" said central"
rs this Miss Julia?'
"S-6Ie-O?"
NO. no! 1 say. is this Miss Julia?"
oh! Who is thisT'
John Henderson"
why. Hello. John! Yes"
We'll. I want to come out and see you"
I'D be delighted"
Tuesday,"
"Yes-in the EVENING""
"Yes. Have you heard from home ~lateiy?'
terday." And ar embarrassed little sigsle
ended the sentence.
"Whatd she say?' asked John. nervously.
"Oh. I can't tell you now. Some other
time-maybe."
John called Tuesday. IT was a hard hit
of work. but he put 1t through. Julia met
him most graciously. and John wondered
how 1t was possible for a girl to grow beau
tiful so rapidly. 1t had been only six months
since he saw her. and then he had thought
her only pretty.
On the eighth Tuesday evening thereafter
John and Julia were sitting cozily in front
Of a growing gas crate. John had made up
his mind. He had convinced himself that
1t was irrevocably made up. But somehow
excuses would slip In between his throat
clearing coughs.
Julia was watching the fire rather more
closely than was necessary, and II John
had been capable of noticing things he
would have observed that she gave him ev-
cry chance to do tine talking.
do you remember the first time We
talked over the telephoneT" asked III
'Oh. yes-that day I made you tell NE
your name"
That day you made me give you my
name" corrected John. with accent on the
give" And then he blushed and felt terri
bly, frightened.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-06-09

Special Correspondence Sunday Republic.
New York. June 5.-Strange as II may
seem. IL is nevertheless true that since
Morse invented the telegraph there has not
been. until a few short weeks ago. the
slightest Improvement in Morse's original
invention-the telegraph key.
There have been keys OF different makes.
to be sure. but all of them have been ouiit
on the same principle lever with a nat.
button-shaped piece of gutta-percha which
Is graspec by the operator in sending.
Now We have the Twentieth Century key.
built on scientific lines. to distribute the
strain upon the nerves and bring into play
several instead OF one set Of muscles. as
formerly.
In hundreds Of railway offices throughout
the country there are to-day men who at
some time have been stars in the telegraph
&c armament. Paralysis. or what is known
as lost grip in that profession. has driven
them from the big cities. where they earned
good salaries. to box cars on the plains. or
TO points where there is more freight to be
tuggled than there are messages to send.
and for which they receive the muniacent
salary of something like $50 per month.
And the pity Of it Is that these same men
are. as a rule, victims Of o-verzealousness.
Prior to their isolation they were employed
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-06-09

WRITTEN FOR HI SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
John Henderson was bashful. His sisters.
who were old enough to keep company
and therefore were supposed to know about
such things, told him more times thar he
could remember that he would never get
married. They pointed out that he didn't
have 'spunk" enough. And when they had
exploded the "spunk enough" part Of the
conversation they f1outed away d!sgustedly.
John couldn't deny that he was timid.
No-nor that he was actually bashful. He
could not remember the time when "A bril-
liant streak Of holiness had illumined the
dull. lusterless red cloud Of timidity which
forever hung about him.
Not even that time when he jumped into
q creek when a girl of the neighborhood
slipped on the crossing log and was In
danger Of drowning: for John. when the
girl thanked him for saving her life. blusheh
furiously and said. 1T doesn't amount to a
row Of pins"
Now. Of course. John meant that his ef-
fort was quite an ordinary affair. But the
girl-weil. the girl tossed her head-and II
wasn't a pretty head either. just then. all
plastered down as It was with very wet
brown hair. and said:
"Oh. / beg your pardon! II it was worth
SO little as that. I'm sorry I took the pains
to thank you for it,
Johns sister, Isabel. carefully explained
to him the awful extent Of his blunder.
Then John went out into the back lot and
deliberately worried his small brothers
billy goat until that patient animal butted
him with three butts clear across the yard.
And even this didn't end the matter. for
the girl he had saved-her name was Julia.
and John had admitted to the back wall OF
the barn. but to nothing or nobody else.
that she was 'as pretty as a peach
Julia refused to speak to him.. John didn't
have .spunk' enough to burst through the
thin sheet of iciness that she tried to sur
round herself with and tell her he was a
blunderer and she a little peacock who
needed a diagram with everything said to
her. He didn't think Of II. In the first place.
and he wouldn't have lone II If he had
thought Of it,
So for three years Julia didn't speak to
Then John went TO the city. A commits
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-06-09

sion man who had been buying garden
truck" from ''the old man. since before
John came on earth gave him a small job
as salesman. John worked hard. But his
awful bashfulness interfered. He would be-
come 70 excited when a woman customer
would try to buy from him that he would in
variably upset something. or smash some
thing, worth more than the sale which he
was expected 10 make. So John was put
back in the Office. where all he had to do
was to count the bills Of lading and an
swer telephone calls
And that's how the thing happened-only
We haven't got to that part Of the story.
Soon after John went to the city. Julia
went there also. Julia was ambitious. She
was etermined to be a typewriter or a
telephone girl or an actress. There was no
steady demand for such talent at Hender-
sonville. 20 she persuaded her father to let
her go to the city.
Julia didn't write to John. But Julia's
father did: and Johns mother and Johns
sister. also. Each Of them told John to
hunt Julia up and try to relieve her lone
Illness" Johns sisters didn't forget to add
something about Johns "~spunk"-or his
lack of IL.
John was generous-as most bashful men
are-and with Just a shadow of remem-
brance of how lonesome. and out of place he
felt when he first came TO the city. made
up his mind to call on Julia the very next
Sunday.
He took particular pains with his necktie
and his coat that day. There were two
reasons for this. Naturally he wanted TO
look neat: that was one reason. And every
time he turned toward the door to begin
his Journey his face would go furiously red
and all his courage would ebb out with the
perspiration that would suffuse the back
Of his neck. 81 John would turn back to
the mirror and twist and pull at his tie.
and rub the tops of his highly polished
shoes against the back of his trousers
legs. until by the time he had spent ten
minutes at such work his courage had re-
turned to him.
That was the other reason.
But after awhile John made up his mind
that he wasn't going back to the mirror.
So he bolted for the door. slammed ii ter
ribly, ran down the steps. rushed to the
corner-and stood there blushingly, with
his hands in his pockets. for ten minutes.
He forced himself past that stage. how
ever. and half an hour later was perspir-
ingly realizing that he was within half a
block of where Julia was staying. But
he only commented on the unusual heat for
that time Of year. mopped his face with a
very damp handkerchief. and kept ON.
He looked carelessly across the street as
he turned the corner. Julia was not across
the street. of course: that's why he looked
as he did. After he had bumped into a
| tree box he redirected his gaze.
! There was Julia's house, two doors away.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-06-09
A BASEBALL STORY WHICH RAISES THE QUESTION::
DID SUCH A THING EVER HAPPEN IN REAL LIFE?

seised II. rather: his han quickly swept
down towards the stooping runner.
"'Outr cried the umpire.
princeton went mad at the word Cheers.
yells. nags waving-and then. .Rah. rah.
rah. Murray
Murray felt . kind Of dizxiness a. he
heard that cheer. There was intoxication
in IL.
BIZ the Yale runner had leaped to his
feet with flaming eyea
I'm not out! he cried. He did not
touch me-
The umpire smiled and looked It MUIR
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-06-09

Calling guns. mounted and ready for imme-
date use. are reserved in secret places SO
that the sentries nay resist any force. even
the strength or numbers Of an army. that
might dare to assail them.
Seven armed sentries constantly patrol
that part Of the mint near the vaults. These
sentries. confidential employees Of the Gov
eminent though they are. are themselves
watched and guarded. Secret Service agents
maintain eternal vigilance over the sentries:
at work or of duty they are under surveil-
lance. Strict precaution prevents even con-
spiracy. Not one OF them may touch a
knob Of a vault door. Such an act. no mat
ter what its purpose. would be dangerous.
The touch would move an electrical signal
connected with q nearby police station.
and arrest would follow.
Electrical devices are profuse near the
vaults. Approach to a vault door would au-
tomatically move the alarms. The signal
would warn the Police Department. the
Electrical Bureau IN the City Hall, the Sc
cret Service Bureau In the post ONCE and the
Treasury Department in Washington. Con-
nections could be established by wire with
the Wa Department In Washington and
the barracks At League Island. An army
would be present In short time. II neces-
sary.
Access to the vaults 10 gained through q
heavy steel door. The door n provided
with . time lock. and can only be opened
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-06-09
NEW TELEGRAPH KEY THAT
SAVES OPERATORS THEIR ''GRIP."

in the large telegraph and newspaper Of
fees. and in their endeavors to please their
superiors had overtaxed themselves, the re-
suit being paralysis Of the nerves Of the
first and second fingers.
This is caused by the constant use Of and
the severe strain placed upon one particu-
lar set of muscles. while the others are per-
mitted TO remain inactive. Some Of the
victims have s~quandered small fortunes in
efforts to recover their grips but with
little success. Finally. conscious OF the fact
that they We're not giving value for money
received. they HE'D themselves to remote
parts of the country. where they might at
least feel that they earned the paltry sums
paid them and not be considered objects OF
charity.
This infrmity has been brought about by
the operator being compelled to sit in q
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-06-09

ray. who turned pale under his Questinuing
glance.
I'm always looking for Prisceton m
to do something more than that-Somethtng
with q touch Of chivalry about It, where
had he heard that? On. yes-he remau-
bered. Some power greater than htmoolf
opened his lips.
He IL right. Mr.. Umpire he sajd: 4
did not touch him.
The ofhcial's eye opened In smasemsnG
This vas something new in HE expsrSsnsa
"'very we'll he mid. slowly. at Ias&, 4
reverse my decision. then. The runner
safe
The Yale man. with face alight, - -
his hand to Murray.
Shake hands.' ~ saldL That v,s -
! am proud to know you"
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-06-09

surreptitiousiy touch a knoll Of this safe in
which Government money Is stored.
Criminals have q talent. or a genius. an
or acquired disposition and ability.
or q peculiar craftiness. for pursuing their
work. Science invents new devices for the
protection and preservation of wealth. de-
vices worthy Of the best progress Of the
age, ana scientific mechanics and m~achinists
proclaim that the cunning craftiness Of the
criminal has been forever foiled. But the
expert robber 10 himself q scientist, COM
bining the cunning Of tie shrewd detective
ana the p~racticability Of the advanced ma
chinist. His science II modern to the day.
and he masters the details Of the defense.
He plots and works and achieves.
The new United States Mint. however.
would defy the assault Of an army. The
eventy-one millions OF new dollars repos-
lag In It's vaults are absolutely secure
against either the attacks Of an alien foe
or the cunning and persever!ng labors OF
the crafty bank robber. No human power
can procure the precious coin. or any part
Of Il, without demolishing tie entire mint
and blasting coin into unacceptable par.
ticles of metal.
The Philadelphia Mint II . fortress. LAKE,
a battleship. the noort. walls and ceilings
of the vaults. as well rs the adjoining cor
r,dors. are armored with Harveyized steel.
sentries. armed with trusty weepons. guard
the stacks Of money. Repeating rtaes n
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-06-09

by the tick Of the clock. at the minute set.
There are two steel entrances to each vault.
The floor beneath is of steel. Beneath the
steel floors are layers Of concrete and stone.
and cement. Electrical alarms
are SO lavishly distributed everywhere that
nothing can be touched without sounding a
warning.
Neither human ingenuity nor human force
can prevail against this array of guards.
Calling guns and rifles. armored steel walls.
floors and ceilings and electrical alarms.
The 81. 900. 900 of new money is secure as
the Government can assure. The Philadel-
phia Mint is a real Gibraltar. 1t is abso-
lutely ~impregnable. Neither a band Of rob-
bers nor an army Of soldiers can carry away
one dollar Of the precious coin.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-06-09

cramped position for several hours. grasp
ing the knob. or button. of the key.
With the advent of the Twentieth Century
key these conditions are reversed. The key
may be twisted into any conceivable posi-
ton, and the operator is at liberty to as
sumo any sitting posture he may desire. In
stead of q button the new invention con-
sists Of an upright metallic continuance
with q movable handle. which may be ad-
justed to any desirable tension. The points
Of contact are % arranged. that they are
always in alignment. regardless of the po-
sition Of the handle. Expert telegraphers
hereabout who nav tested the merits of
the new key pronounce 1t to be ideal. and
say It minimixes the hances Of their .los-
ing their grips." while 1t unquestionably
adds to their comfort while At work..
An electric cord Of any desirable length
Is all hat Il required to move the key to
any part Of an ONCE or room. connecting
and disconnecting being the work Of only a
moment
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-06-09

This incident 10 told in the Princeton Col
lese tale by Burton Esbert Stevenson In
the New Lppincott Magazine:
Bang! went the bat against the ball.
Each of the Yale runners sprinted for the
next base. The ball hurtied over Murray's
head into the outneld. He saw Ramsdell
going after It with great strides. n he
felt the Yale rune bearing down upon
him Would Ramsdell never get there? He
had It! Here II came. high In the air-too
high. Murray reached Up and caught it