davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Amador ledger., 1901-06-14
NO BREAKING OFF.
Just n Little Disagreement Between
the Peppery Lovers.


the Peppery Lovers.
See here. Daniel" began che old
farmer when he had cornered his son
out by the corncrib, what's this here
circalatin round 'mong the neighbors
bout you and Patience breakin of yer
engagement
Muffin to it tall" with sullen tone
and look.
Blamed funny. l never see so much
smoke where there wasn't some fire.
Did you and her have some words?"
Il said there wasn't no breakin off,
didn't L? What's the use of cross ques-
tionin Teller like he was on the wit
ness STAMP
Lots of use, my young man. Hain't
l tole you more times n you've go.
myers and toes that my mind and mas
mind is sot on this here marriage?
Don't our farms jine, and isn't she a
only chile, and hain't you a only chile?
Hain't you got no gumtion nur COM
mon sense%
"She said not. She said l didn't
know enough to peel billed pertaters
afore eatin 'em or to keep awake when
! was a-courtin of her."
''She hain't so fur wrong. either. And
what did you say?'
Il tole her she didn't have interleck
enough to talk SOS to keep nobody
awake and that eff was a-pickin and
a-choosin fur beauty she'd be at the
foot of the class. That's what 1 tole
her."
"Well?"
she ordered me to git out and said
eff she ever see me on that farm from
hencefor'ard she'd set the dogs on me,
and l tole her the dogs would have a
COMPOUNDED easy time of it so fur as
was consumed But there was no
breakin off,
Then the old man Informed the boy
that if the engagement wasn't renewed
within "a hours he'd leave every
burned dollar to sannytorium fur
fools. Detroit Free Press.
Amador ledger., 1901-06-14
Remarkable Power.

A dear old lady was taken one day
to musical service in Boston church
She had heard much about the fine
voice Of the soprano and was prepared
for a treat.
She sat in rapt enjoyment until the
service was over and then turned q IA.
diant face toward her escort, who was
a young grandson.
Dear boy" she said, you've given
me great treat. Her voice is perfect
ly beautiful. 1t made cold chills run
all up and down my spine"
Its too bad, grandmamma," said
the boy, ''but she didn't sing today,
though she was there. The gentleman
next me says she's been suffering from
a bad cold, and one of the chorus had
to sing the solos for her,"
What, dear?' said the old lady, look
ing momentarily distressed. Then her
face cleared, and she patted his arm
reassuringly.
Never you mind" she said. 1--WE
can come again some time. But, after
all, if she can make me feel that way
without singing 1 don't know that it
would be wise for me to hear her. Now,
would it?-Youth's Companion.
Amador ledger., 1901-06-14
The Wheel Problem.

Which. at any given moment. is NOV
ing forward faster-the top of a coach
wheel or the bottom?
The answer to this question seems
simple enough, but probably nine per-
sons out of ten, asked at random,
would give the wrong reply. 1t would
appear at first sight that the top and
bottom must be moving at the same
rate-that is. the speed of the carriage.
But by little thought it will be dis
covered that the bottom of the wheel
is in fact. by the direction of its mo-
ton around it's axis, moving backward,
in an opposite direction to that which
the carriage is advancing and is con-
sequently stationary in space. while
the point on top of the wheel is NOV
Ing forward with the double velocity
of its own motion around the axis and
the speed at which the carriage moves.
Amador ledger., 1901-06-14

The sea has its flower gardens, but
the blooms are not on plants as they
are on the land. 1t is the animals OF
the sea that make the gardens. the
corals of the tropical waters particu-
larly making a display of floral beauty
that fairly rivals the gorgeous color
ing and delicate grace presented by
land flowers. So closely do they resem-
BILE plant blooms that it is hard to be-
lieve that they are wholly animal in
organization. Dr. Blackford says that
among the coral gardens there are
fishes of curious forms and flashing
colors darling about, just as the birds
and butterflies dart about plant gar
dens on land Chicago Chronicle.
Amador ledger., 1901-06-14
The White Shark.

The shark Of sharks. the real IMAM
eater" and the one most dreaded, is
the white shark. This variety reaches
a length Of Sd feet and a weight of
1000 pounds. Its head is long and
fat. and the snout far overhangs the
mouth. Its six rows of teeth are sharp
as lancets and notched like saws. Its
mouth is very large, so that one has
been known to cut a mans body COM
pletely in two at a single snap of its
cruel jaws and another to swallow one
at gulp. Near Calcutta one of these
sharks was seen to swallow bullock's
head. horns and all.
From the stomach of another a bulls
hide was taken entire, and the sailor
who made the discovery insisted that
the bull had been swallowed whole
and all except the hide had been d.,
gested. From the stomach of another
was taken a lady's workbox, filed with
the usual contents, scissors and all. 1t
Is commonly the white shark which
follows the vessel at sea day after day
and week after week.
Amador ledger., 1901-06-14
Dosing an Elephant.

A difficult operation was performed
the other day at the geological gardens
at Hanover. An elephant was suffer
Ing great pain from a growth on the
lower part of one of it's hind feet. and
it was deemed necessary 10 cut this
malformation away. In order to rem
der the animal insensible a dose of 600
grains of morphia in six bottles Of rum
was administered. This dose took
about an hour before any visible effect
was produced. The elephant then fell
over in kind Of sleep. and the opera
ton was successfully carried out with
cat any further ado. The operation
lasted in all three days.-London Globe.
Amador ledger., 1901-06-14
Too Classic For Them.

A resident in a small suburban town
had a visit from German friend who
knew little English, but played the vio-
lin we'll One of this residents neigh
bors gave musicale" and of course
he and his visitor were invited. The
German took his violin, and when his
turn came he played one of his best
pieces from one of the great masters.
When he had finished, there was an
awkward silence and no applause. The
people were still looking expectantly at
the German, who looked disappointed
and fiustered. The silence grew pain
full.
Finally the hostess, quite red in the
face, edged over to the side of the Ger
mans friend.
Cant you get him toY' she whis-
pered.
What do you mean"
why, now that he's got tuned up,
isn't he going to play something's
London Tit-Bits.
Amador ledger., 1901-06-14
Laughter.

Laughter is positive sweetness OF
life; but, like good coffee. it should be
we'll cleared of deleterious substance
before use. Ill will and malice and the
desire to wound are worse than chico
ry. Between laugh and giggle there
Is the width of the horizons. | could
sit all day and listen to the hearty and
heartsome ha, ha, of lot CT bright
and jolly people, but would rather be
shot than be forced to stay within ear
shot of couple Of silly gossips. Cul-
tivate that part Of your nature that is
quick to see the mirthful side of things.
so you shall be enabled to shed many
of life's troubles, as the plumage of the
bird sheds the rain. But discourage
all tendencies to seek your amusement
at the expense of another's feelings or
In aught that is impure. 1t was Goethe
who said, "Tell me what a man laughs
at and will read you his character"
Amador ledger., 1901-06-14
HIS DISTINGUISHED VISITOR.
A PompOus Reception That Amused
President Grevy.

UTcFy.
NJ. Severiaro de Heredia, the minis
ter Of public works in the Rouvier cabi-
net during the presidency of NJ. Grevy,
belonged to the famous naturalized Gu
ban family, of which another member,
the Comte de Heredia, is one of the i'm
mortal 40 of the French academy. Most
of the family have dark spins, suspi-
ciously mulatto, and other negro char
acteristics. This has, however, in no.
wise lnterfered with their standing i'll
Paris, where several of the family have
long been prominent. The former min
lister had also been president of The
municipal council of Paris and depu-
ty from a Paris reimbursement
His dark skin led to a curious mis-
take at the Elysee the day after he ha0
been appointed a member of the Rou-
vier cabinet According to immemorial
custom the new ministers called singly
on President Grevy to pay their re-
spects. On the same day, as it hap
pened, an official visit was expected
from the president of the republic of
Haiti, who was to present his letters to
the president. When NJ. de Heredia
arrived in the court of the palace, the
minor officials stationed there, who
were not familiar with the new minis
ter's features, judged from his COM
pleXion that he was the Haitian digni-
tary. The courtyard became very ami
mated with guards hurrying to and fro
to their places while one of the officers
of the presidents military household
went to inform NJ. Grevy Of the dis
tinguished visitors arrival.
NJ. de Heredia received all this with
dignified composure, for, never having
been a minister before this, he thought
this ceremonial was probably the usual
one. Finally, with the beating Of
drums, he was ushered into the recep-
ton room, where the chief executive
stood ready to receive him. what"
cried he, "it's only you, Heredia"
why. yes. NJ. lie President" replied
the puzzled minister. Grevy began to
laugh. We'll" he cried, you have
been minister only "a hours and have
succeeded in turning my house upside
down. What will you do later on?"-
Chicago Herald.
Amador ledger., 1901-06-14
JAPAN IN WINTER.
Colder In Houses of the Rich Man
Than In Open Sunshine.


II suppose that the American people
and the Russians are the only western
races that really keep warm in winter.
Still those who dwell in other countries
admit that they have the same ideal by
their inefficient effort to attain to it,"
writes Anna n. Benjamin in Ainslee's.
The Japanese winter is most trying on
account of its continual dampness, but
the japanese are content to remain
cold. They make almost no effort to
overcome it. Nhe old 'bushido' (chival-
rous) idea of the 'samurar Qnights)
was that 1t was effeminate to feel cold,
and such is their severe training that
they do not really feel it as we do. The
wearing of some extra 'kimonos' and
the use of a 'hibachi,' or brazier, in
which are few tiny sticks of lighted
charcoal, are the only concessions to
winter weather With the 'hibachi'
they never pretend to heat more than
their finger tips, which they hold over
the Goals. 1t is used when the house Is
entirely open.
The houses, as every one knows, are
built of thin, light wood, and the slid
ing panels which serve for doors and
windows have paper panes. They are
as apt to be open as closed during the
day. When l took my first jinrikisha
ride through the streets of Nagasaki, 1
forgot my own sufferings in my SYM
pathy for this unhappy nation, which
as surely as the cold came endured such
misery from it. The coolies wear thin
blue cotton clothes and are always pad
ding through the mud. The storekeep-
ers sit out in their open booths, and the
women go bareheaded about the streets.
In the houses of the rich the still cold
behind the closed panels is often more
intense than that outside in the SUM-
shine, where the air is stirring. The
schools and public buildings are equal
ly frigid.
ut seemed to me that the only warm
things in Japan were the babies, who
looked like bundles of gayly colored
Grape. their round heads covered by
knit caps. They slumber peacefully
tucked down their mothers backs. The
attempt to keep warm in winter is not
entirely modern Improvement though
it goes with western civilization. The
Koreans do it very thoroughly, the Chi
nese to certain extent. The japanese,
as race, continue to scorn it as they
always have done, and this is merely
one of a hundred examples which prove
that the Japanese are still true to their
traditions in their daily life and as yet
little affected in the ordering of their
homes by the ideas adopted from the
west"
Amador ledger., 1901-06-14
Nasaau,n Luke of Fire.

II doubt If many persons realize the
fascination to be derived from winter
spent in the Bahamas" said a visitor
just returned from there the other day.
Down near Nassau, for example,
there is a curious sheet of water known
as the Lake of Fire that is worth going
far to see. 1t is simply phOsphor-
escent lake, but its weird effects cling
to ones recollection in an uncanny
way. 1t is about three miles from the
hotel. You drive through quaint and
narrow streets, with only here and
there lamppost shedding dim light,
and past the open doors of huts whose
occupants seem to fill every space in
the abodes to overlooking.
''The gates of the old estate of Wa
terloo have long since disappeared, and
the house is in ruins, but you drive be-
tween the posts which still mark the
entrance down grass grown roadway
to the edge of this wonderful pond.
The water is only few feet deep. and
the pond is scarcely quarter of mile
long. We stepped into a rowboat by
the dim light of lantern, and in a mo-
ment, as the boat pushed off and the
oars broke the water into ripples, we
were surrounded by sea of fame The
divers who swan about seemed literal
ly merged in blue smoke. for the effect
of this phosphorescence is more like
smoke than water. 1t reminds one of
the butterfly dance seen on the stage.
The form OF the diver is surrounded by
n luminous glow. and the fishes take
fright and dart away like little flames
into the dark and quiet waters. 1t is
beautiful sight New York Sun.
Amador ledger., 1901-06-14
CAME IN TO BE HANGED.
A Story Told of Abel Erasmus. the
Boer, and Lord WolseIey.

A good story is told of the old Boer,
Abel Erasmus, and Lord Wolseley.
then Sir Garnet Wolseley, in connec-
ton with the part Erasmus took in
Wolseley's campaign in 1879 against
Sekukuni, the chief of the Bapedis, on
the borders of Swaziland. After the
capture of Sekukuni he was immedi-
ately brought before Sir Garnet Wolse-
ley, who asked him how he, a misera-
BILE Kaffir, living in a cave. dared to
defy the great queen of England. The
chief replied that he had been insti-
gated to do so by Abel Erasmus
Sir Garnet in describing the scene at
a public dinner given to him at Preto-
ria on his return from the campaign
said that he wished there and then to
let Abel Erasmus know that if ever he
found that Erasmus had been melting
any chief to levy war against England
and he was able to lay hands on him
Abel Erasmus would hang as high as
Hannah.
A few days after the dinner Sir Hen
ry Brackenbury. Sir Garnet's military
secretary. was sitting in his office
when tall. bearded Boer entered and
asked permission to speak with him.
81 am Abel Erasmus" he said. land
| have very important business to do
here"
He explained that he had come to
see Sir Garnet Wolseley. for he had
heard that Sir Garnet had said that if
he could lay hold of him he would hang
him, and so he had come to be hanged
Sir Garnet was in the next room, and
Sir Henry Brackenbury thought it
would be advisable to consult him on
the subject. Sir Garnet, however. hap
pened to be too busy at the moment to
see anybody, and Sir Henry after re-
Election persuaded his angry visitor to.
take his leave and allow the hanging
to stand over for the time.
Amador ledger., 1901-06-14
THE New TENANT.
Now, when he left my life I drew

Now, when he left my life drew
Close shut the easements of my heart
And locked the door, and in each part
Strange darkness reigned, forlorn and new
There pierced no happy sunshine through
The barrier of fastened doors;
The dust lay thick upon the floors
Where rosemary was strewn and rue.
But on certain day came one
Who knocked and would not be denied
And threw the rusted easements wide
And entered with the wind and sum-
The dingy webs that grief had spun,
The dust that sad neglect had laid,
The faded hangings, rent and frayed,
Had vanished ere his work was done.
Oh, he hath swept my heart for me
Clean of old sorrowing and doubt,
And he hath set it all about
With peace and happy certainty!
Oh, home be glad for such as he
And very sweet nor let him find
That ghost one tenant left behind,
That silent, sad eyed memory!
-Theodosia Garrison in Harper's Bazaar
Amador ledger., 1901-06-14
Not quite What She Meant.

A very stout lady while out walking
in certain part of Edinburgh came to
a gateway which appeared to be the
entrance to private road Not being
certain. however. she asked one of
two messenger boys who were standing
at the entrance whether she could get
through the gateway or not
The boy looked her up and down and
across. Then. winking to his friend,
be replied:
81 dinIa ken, missus. but think ye
MIGHT try. as | saw a horse and cart
gang through wee while since. Lon
don Tit Bits
Amador ledger., 1901-06-14


"John,' she said, suddenly shaking
him, there is burglar in the house."
Are you sure?" he asked.
Positive" she replied. Don't you
hear himY'
He got up and began to dress hastily,
but quietly.
What are you going to do, JohnY'
she inquired.
Il am going to sneak out the back
way and get policeman" he an
Swered.
But if you go right down stairs
now" she said, you'll find him in the
dining room"
"Oh, I'll find him, will II" he retort-
ed sarcastically. "Well, now you just
look me over carefully"
Eyes, John; what of it?"
+Do look like man who has lost a
burglar anywhereY
mo; of course not, but
do l have the reputation of being
an impertinent fellow who is always
interfering with other peoples bust
ness? Do l in any way resemble the
lost and found department of a daily
newspaper"
mo"
Then why should l get tangled up
with other peoples property"
You're afraid, John"
afraid nothingw he retorted indig-
uantly. 81 am looking at it from an
ethical point of view. This burglar un-
doubtedly has been lost by the police
and if took charge of him they might
think l was trying to steal him and
make lot of trouble for me- Besides,
I'm no searching party. You women
don't understand the ethics of business
at all."-Chicago Post.
Amador ledger., 1901-06-14
why Buchanan Never Married.


"Mr. Buchanan, who was the first
bachelor elected to the presidency, was
65 years Of age when elected and had
deliberately given himself to a life of
celibacy," writes William Perrine in
The Ladies' Home Journal.
I'm the days when he was a young
lawyer of Lancaster, Pa, he had loved
Miss Coleman, beautiful daughter of
a citizen of that town. They had been
engaged to be married, when one day
he was surprised to receive from her a
request to release her from the prom
Use. According to Mr.. George Tick
nor Curtis, the separation originated in
lady, who was unusually sensitive,
over some small matter exaggerated by
giddy and indiscreet tongues. Soon
after the estrangement she was sent
to Philadelphia and there died sud-
denly.
Throughout the rest of his life, or for
nearly half century, Mr.. Buchanan
is not known to have revealed to any
body the circumstances of this ro-
mantle tragedy. He would only say
that it had changed his hopes and
plans and had led him more deeply
than ever into politics as distraction
from his grief. In his old age, long
after he had retired permanently to
private life, he called attention to a
package containing, he said, the pa
pers and relics which would explain
the causes of his youthful sorrow and
which he preserved evidently with the
idea of revealing them before his
death. But when he died and his will
was read it was found that he had d.
rected that the package should be
burned without being opened, and his
injunction was obeyed"
Amador ledger., 1901-06-14
a PERSEVERiNG MONKEY.
Professor Gamers Story of Ncllie
and the Matchbox.

Professor Gamers Story of Nellie
and the Matchbox.
Monkeys are always happy if they
have plenty to eat and something to
play with. Professor R. L. Garner, in
his apes and Monkeys" says that he
recalls no investment which ever yield
ed greater return in pleasure than a
certain little pocket match safe, which
cost % cents. He gave it to a little
monkey, Nellie by name, after putting
into it small key to make it rattle
and some bits of candy.
She ratified the box and found much
pleasure in the noise. 1 showed her
how to press the spring in order to
open the box, but her little black fin
gers were not strong enough to release
the spring.
However, she caught the idea and
knew that the spring was the secret
which held the box closed. When she
found that she could not open it with
her fingers, she tried it with her teeth.
Failing in this, she turned to the wall,
and, standing upright on the top of
her cage, she took the box in both
hands and struck the spring against
the wall until the lid flew open.
She was perfectly delighted at the
result, and for the hundredth time at
least l closed the box for her to open
it again.
The next time Nellie received the
match safe she was in her cage. and
through its meshes she could not reach
the wall. She had nothing against
which to strike the spring to force it
open.
After looking around and striking the
box several times against the wires Of
the cage, she discovered a block Of
wood about six inches square. She
took this and mounted her perch. Bal
ancing the block on the perch, she held
it with the left foot, while with the
right foot she chung to the perch. With
her tail wound around the meshes of
the cage to steady herself. she care
fully adjusted the matchbox in such q
manner as to protect her fingers from
the blow. Then she struck the spring
against the block of wood and the lid
few open.
She fairly screamed with delight as
she held up the box.
Amador ledger., 1901-06-14

A bill which has just become a law
of New York makes the funeral ex-
penses of a deceased person payable
from his estate before any other debts.
Besides being a boon to undertakers.
this measure may have some effect in
encouraging reasonable simplicity Of
funeral display.
An old horn snuffbox once belonging
to Sir Francis Drake, possibly the one
which he used at Plymouth Hoe during
his famous game of bowls, has just
been sold for f3 los. in London. The
snuffbox is a quaint old relic, bearing
the coat of arms of Sir Francis, with
his name on the lid.
Amador ledger., 1901-06-14
Budget.

The origin of the word budget"
meaning an estimate Of government
revenues and expenses, is thus explain
ed:
Almost from time immemorial it was
the custom in England to put the esti-
mates of receipts and expenditures pre-
scented to parliament in leather bag,
the word budget being thus borrowed
from the old Norman word bougette,
which signifies leather purse Curl
ously enough. the word has pa ssed back
again into France from England.-New
York Tribune.
Amador ledger., 1901-06-14

The Germans are claiming that, in
spite of all our boasting, they are in
creasing their production of pig iron
faster than the United States. This
seems to be the fact The German
output Of pig iron the past year was
1851, 742 tons, representing an increase
of rs per cent since 1890. The United
States output last year was 1878, 242
tons, representing an increase of so
per cent since 1890.
Near Rio Grande. City, Tex, an i'm
mense deposit of an unknown gaseous
substance has been discovered. Pieces
OF it ignite quickly and give out a
strong fame which lasts for a re-
markably long period. 1t is said by
scientists that the substance is either
an unknown mineral or ordinary clay
highly charged with natural gas. In
either case the value of the deposit as
fuel is immense, as it covers many
thousands of acres and Is of immense
depth.