davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-17
When Two Make One.

iron the Rochester Post-EApress-)
Fares" demanded the Jefferson Ave
nue. car conductor.
The tall thin woman handed out eight
cents for herself and two youngsters.
Three cents more, please reminded
the conductor
They are twins she explained, and
only equal to one child"
The conductor scratched his head and
tried to remember his instructions Evil
IDENTIFY he recollected nothing governing
twins. but being something OF a philoso-
pher, he pondered and said: Twins are
out of the ordinary therefore singular
Perhaps you're right and yet you spoke
of the twins as they That's plural, -
and he gazed around triumphantly.
The fat man nodded. He was a bache-
Tor and detested children.
NO" spoke up the comical man. "she
is right. They have only one birthday be-
tween them. If they equaled two children
they would have two birthdays"
II guess that's So" acquiesced the con-
ductor. Anyway. III look it up"
They take up two seats" growled the
fat man.
The conductor paused and forgot to
hand back five cents change. Say" at
last he broke out. what's their names?"
Wilbur and Marie replied the mother
pertly, failing to see the Delyet trap she
was walking into.
Huh! Boy and girl, Ell? Well, I'll have
to have another fare. You can figure on
boy twins equaling one boy. but haif a
boy and half a girl don't add up"
She paid
Hes a diplomat" whispered the ia.
man. in admiration. He ought to be
down in the Legislature
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-17
SHIWO KHN'S PILGRIMAGE

The village was planted on the crest OF
the pass, so that people who came and
went were mostly out of breath, and
would not talk much of that which they
had seen on the road. Nor did it consort
with the dignity of the priests mother to
sit and chatter with chance corners. but a
counselor would have been welcome TO
her for she was often in doubt how 10
act
ii was a source of great perplexity to
Shiwo San that such priest her admi
rable son should be afflicted with such
son as her abominable little grandson.
There were many boys in the village. and
boys were imps, as everybody knew; but
such an imp as the priests Kokichi. the
elders vowed, had never been begOtten in
Azuma yet. He was the scOurge Of the
schoolmaster. the plague Of the policemen,
and the only trial that had ever troubled
the o Bassan's calm approval Of the ways
OF the gods. Not for her was 1t TO say
that they might have made her rich in
stead Of poor; that, considering her daugh-
ter-in-law was dead. thew might have left
her more eyesieht for the sewing: even
her rheumatic left hand she would have
passed over In silence. for was IL not a
testimony 10 the honored age which.
thanks to their cicmcncy, she had reach
ed? But kokichi almost shook her faith.
a boy OF eminently respectable parentase.
who Stili tore his clothes stole uicklcs
shaved the inspectors cat, and could only
write characters of five strokes at the ace
ing that the gods, as well as the spirits of
kok:chis ancestors, were growing care
less in their old age. KokichI's father
would not allow the O Bassan IN sneak
much of the gods. being himself severe
shintoist. But the o Bassan had her own
thoughts about that; all her venera.ion
Tor her clever son could not make her for
get that she had prayed TO Kwannon Sa-
ma Tor a priest son long before he came
into the world. and that when he was a
tiny scarlet cotton bundle that could nor
hold up his head she mad carried hin, on
her back TO get the blessing of the eleven
crowned goddess. So. though she never
contradicted his theology, she said her
her Old friend all the same.
The last time she had visited Kwan-
mons temple the wise nun who had lived
there had advised her TO try the Iiberating
blister for Kokichi's wickedness Shiwo
replied that II had been applied when the
sinner was quite small. but that instead
OF letting the devil out OF him It appeared
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-17

knew better because there were no lead
ers to be punished. Well We had a cou-
pie more bad meals. and then the change
coma
December 80 At breakfast We got the
beans that had been left over from the
soup of the preceding day. For dinner
We had what they called ham, but it put
'em in mind Of fat back. Half of it was
left to feed the fishes. but 1 don't be-
iieve even they could eat much OF 1t. For
supper, chopped suey again, coInmissary's
ale and stale bread.
December Fl. Bergrue for breakfast,
bread and boot-tops. For dinner. canned
Willie stew (they made plenty of it for
bluff. we thoughtl. We imagined we
would get all We wanted of it. but merely
a plateful was doled out to each man, and
the rest was left for supper This last
was the grand finish. Afterward, the
hands below were told they could have
table of their own. and now We are
living high. and feel more like scrapping
with Turkey. if such should be necessary
JOLLY JACK. Jr."
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-17

large black cat. with lump of fur where
its tail should have been darted out from
under a step and came to greet the O Bas-
san. passing Kokichi with something like
a hiss. The old lady stopped short.
''WhO has taken off the cats collar?'
she enquired. sternly. When she left home
the creature wearing its red and
purple frill as usual.
we will find it directly" replied the
boy. Now shut your eyes. and when l
say. Look! then open them"
The o Bassan Obeyed to humor him.
Now. look" he shouted. suddenly. so
close to her ear that she almost jumped
Off the ground.
a terrible sight met her eyes. Black and
bleeding. with outspread wings, large
crow had been nailed to the shutter.
Round its dead neck was the eats best
frill. Koklchi was already disappearing
with a whoOp over the fence.
Her fingers trembling with anger. her
face looking as if 1t we've eighty years old,
ShiwO got the collar of the gruesome bird
and returned to the front of the house.
There she sat down on the step ana her
cat came sliding toward her She put the
collar on its neck and held it to her for
comfort. while from hec dimmed eyes fell
IA few OF the slow, bitterly painful tears OF
age.
Then it was time to get the priests sup
per and put the huuse in order for the
night She was not one 10 permit her
death knell TO interfere with things OF real
Importance. Soon the Kettle was swinging
over the fire in the floor the pith wick
hoated. little tongue Of light. on its brass
platter in the paper lantern, and the china
bowls and cups Were placed on the tray.
She thought at first shs would give koki-
en- no pickles for his supper; then sne re-
memDered saying IN the Book OF Max
MINIS: IF thou feed thine enemy. let
double portion be his, for fun stomach
softeneth the hard heart" So she put
big red pepper in Kokichis saucer among
the bits of daikon, whose smell already
raNaged the house and seemed threaten
ing to displace the roof. 1t was pleasant
and wholesome stink in the nose of o Bas-
san.
When the priest came from closing the
temple for the night his house was shining
ike a lantern Itself at the end OF the mar
row courtyard The window on that side
was SNAPPED like u peach, and iatticed IN a
tahcllul bamboo pattern. Through the pa
per the light shone duly golden, and
SHADOW passed behind it as he looked. the
SHADOW OF "A little old head with short hair
drawn down under n comb.
AS he entered his mother smiled politely,
bowed her head almost to her knees, and
murmured: 20 kaeri" honorable return.
Tor she had strict ideas of what was due
TO the head Of the family. The priest
dropped his sandals on the step and came
To take his place near the fire.
How goes ii, MOTHER he asked, kind
~. Have you had any more pain In your
hand this evening""
lie was Il stout p.sasant-lookinG man,
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-17

dressed with scrupulous cleanliness. His
head, of strange pointed shape, was
shaved pitilessly close.
NO. Kito San" she replied, mot In my
hand, but in my heart much pain because
of my impious grandson. But pray deign
to eat first and we will speak of him aft
erward-'
Kito sighed deeply. and at once turned
to his food. for that would at any rate
give him energy to eXpostulate with the
few minutes later Master Kokichi
came in. looking sulky and defiant. He
expected to be sent to bed with only half a
supper, and great was his surprise>tO find
IL more generous than usual. The red
chilli especially touched him up with some
thing like remorse. He remembered it all
his life.
At last kokichi. having taken his lecture
with unexpectedly good grace. went to
sleep off the daikon under his grandmoth
er's new mosquito net. She and her son
talked long after the little reprobate had
forgotten their existence. and Shiwo per-
suaded the priest to let her start OFF at
once to try and obtain his conversion by
her prayers. Kito knew nothing of the old
-ow. He saw that she was terribly trou-
bled about the boy: Nikko was a very holy
place. and he thought at any rate it would
soothe and please her TO go there.
IF only some of our friends were 60
ingH he exclaimed. AT your honorable
age ii is too far to travel alone"
Yes" she replied: but there are longer
journeys" Then. after a moments 81
lence, she seemed to have an Inspiration.
My SON." she said. II will take Kokichi,
The sight of Nikko will surely open his
eyes 10 his sins! | myself-when l was a
child"
Il know-T know. mother" said the
priest-he had heard the story of that visit
50 often that he knew II by heart-"but
the boy will Worry you TO death and get
lost fifty times on the road"
81 will take kokichi," she said. firmly.
DO you think would leave you alone
with him as he is now2 And | will speak
to "A neighbOr about coming III to do the
cooking and cleaning
Shall you be away very long, mother"
asked the priest.
1T may be long" continued the old
woman. bending over to dry Il teacup.
Then she went and pulled the MOSQUITO
net over Hokichi's foot, which he had
kicked out from under ii as he lay on the
mat.
The wife of the charcoal merchant was
as she was sliding out her
shutters at the first streak of dawn to see
the Bassan from the priests house
come hurryinS toward her down the
street. The cid lady was carefully dressed
In clean blue gown Killed up for jour
ney. Under IL her one skirt the color of
SKINNED milk. Tapped in the chilly breeze
against her brown legs, and her head was
nicely tied up in a pale blue towel.
Another pilgrimage" exclaimed her
friend What band are you going to join,
y Bassan?"
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-17

IT will meet friends on the road; | am
| going to Mike" said Shiwo. hurriedly.
Twill you cOudescend to cook some food
for my wretched house until my unworthy
return? My SON Then she stopped
suddenly.
with pleasure" said the kind woman
you must need an august change of air.
Your honorable grandson is a great charge
at such a noble agei
81 take him with me-" replied Shiwo.
please do not let Kito San eat salt fish
and daikOn at the same meal; they inso-
lently disagree with him. | thank you for
your kindness. and l will unworthily pray
for you at Nikko.' And she turned away
DO bring me pair Of monkey fur slip
pers for my little GIRL called the other
woman after her
81 will send them" answered Shiwo in
her kind. cracked voice.
why should she do that?" thought the
charcoal merchants wife; does she mean
to stay there forever
Two pilgrims sat down on the stone
steps that lead out from the last terraces
of the temple to the solitude of the hill
side where Iyeyasus bones lie deep and
quiet in their scarlet cerements. Behind
them were the shadowy courts and heaven
climbing stairways. the regal darkness of
the pine groves and all the gathered glory
of the hundred shrines: before. the grass
fun of wild flowers. the waving wood
lands, and the sky. The old woman leaned
back against the grey balustrade, and
closed her eyes for a moment She looked
very tired. but at peace. Fifty years had
dropped out of her life, and she was once
more little soul adaZe with beauty. She
had found II all again. and more glorious
than she remembered it,
"Will you eat. grandmother said ko-
kichi, opening out their little store on the
step.
mo. my SON. she answered. Eat;
have no hunger"
She watched him while he enjoyed his
meal. He had been wonderfully good all
this time. But Shiwo was so tired that
she doubted If she would have been able
to get back to the Usui Toge, and as for
again reaching Nikko with this body. it
was not to be thought Of She stopped
down and loosened her raveled sandals
and dropped them over the low wall. They
would not be needed again. Then she took
from inside her girdle two letters carefully
folded. one addressed to her son, the other
to the august authorities of Nikko.
Have you finished. my SOM" she ask
ed as Kokichi leaned back against her
knee with little grunt of content IF so.
pack up the rest: 1t will do for your sup
per. And now listen to me-"
Kokcli looked up, surprised at her
grave tone.
Here are the fur slippers for . Sutlzu
Sans little GIRL she said. laying down a
parcel on the stone, and this paper of
dried fish Is for the cat-don't forget We
came here almost all the way on foot but
here is the money for you to go back In
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-17

as If some new demon had taken advan-
tage OF the opening TO enter and remain.
Well O Bassan," the old nun replied,
shaking her bald head till IT shone in the
sun, and one of the temple pigeons tried to
poise on IL. If the blister does no good
there is nothing for 1t but to try another
pilgrimage: Let me see, where did you go
last time?"
ITO ZeDkoli," replied Shiwo, but there
was a fire there just afterWard, and the
answers TO the prayers must have got
mixed up. | had a present from my mar
ried daughter, mosquito net, and some
bean curd. and she had another son. but
KGkichi is uaughtier than ever"
Go to Mike. and pray there" said the
nun; the spirit of Gongen Sauna will
grant your request. and the evil child will
become pious and docile."
81 Will try" said Shiwo looking discour-
aged; III II is possible / will do as you
advise. but there are many difficulties. l
thank you, however. and / beg You to pray
for me and to accept my present d worth
less pine needle, too small to offer such a
distinguished person"
She produced white wooden box with
plated PUSHES dividing IL into green
squares. in each of which nestled a new
laid egg. Then she trotted off, and began
to mount the long Hill to the Usui TOge
rather sadly. The advice to go 10 Nikko
had come at the wrong time for her own
wishes, and yet her desire for Kokichi's
conversion. as well as her regard for her
adviser, seemed TO indicate that the hour
iOI IL Istu STUCK. ltut now much more
gladly would the o Bassan have obeyed
had some other place been recommended!
The nun could not know that Nikko was
the name which stirred all the fire left in
the old humble heart. Once as n little
girl. Shiwo San had run away from home
(when home" was much nearer to the
sanctuary than it was now with a band
Of other children. They had begged or
borrowed enough for their small needs
and had started off on a pilgrimage Ia
Nikko. II WAS pious act; their parents
minds had been set at rest by "A Ioyal
neiehbor who kept their secret until thew
were out of reach. and the nine little girls
had triumphantly tramped the twenty
miles in TWO days. Their own village was
a mere brown nest in the hills. and Nikko
showed them vision of grandeur such
as Shiwo had never dreamed of before
Her black eyes grew rounder and rounder
as kind guide led the little deyoiees TO
all the wonders of the place charging
nothing for his pains. Shiwo felt II i'm
possible 10 be In the presence of 50 much
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-17

however. is of Latirfd :yiviation. the orig
inal colonus. a husbaIidman being used
in a pautomimica1 sense to denote a
countryman. or boarish fellow. Panta-
loon owes his designation to the loose suit
that he wears. while Columbine comes
from Columbina. the Italian pet name for
a sweetheart. Pierrot the French de-
scription of a clown, or buffoon, who ap-
pears in a loose white suit. and with a
whitened face, really means Little
Peter" -
The unpretentioiis but delightful dram,
of Punch and judy owes its title to an
old mystery play designated Pontius cum
Judaeis. or Pontius PLATE and the Jews
In Italy the chief character in this per-
Torrance was styled Policinella from the
Latin police. thumb because the re-
doubtable hero was and is puppet Punch
is the Anglicized Purchineilo
The mystery or morality play of the
Middle Ages is perhaps to be regarded as
the earliest form of the modern drama.
which is founded more upon its crude ira
ditions than upon the classic produc-
tions of antiquity. The performers in the
mystery" were generally members of
the clergy and the play was usually given
at festivals or feast days. The action
took place upon raised platform in a
church or a public hall, or even some
times in the open air. Readers of "Vic-
tor Hugo" will recall, perhaps. the very
graphic description of the experience of
Pierre Guirgore as a writer of myster-
les which July justified their name. These
sacred plays of the Middle Ages were di-
vided into three distinct classes. The
mysteries were founded upon Biblical in
cidents; the miracle plays upon the lives
Of the saints and martyrs, and the morali-
ties were totally distinct from either.
The characters in the latter were purely
allegorical. such as Vice, Virtue Hon
esty. Depravity. Good Doctrine. Charity.
Prudence, etc. The Passion Play. OF
which that still performed at Oteramma-
gau is an example, is also remnant Of
the Middle Ages.
During the time of Elizabeth plays were
for the most part performed in the Lon
don inn yards, where the galleries served
as boxes, and the ground answered to our
pit. Hence the meaning of the word
'groundlings" mentioned by Hamlet in
his advice to the Players"
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-17
WHERE VIoLINs ARE MADE.
The Majority of Them Come From
Bavaria's Highlands.


In the village OF Mittenwald, in the
heart of the Bavarian highlands. live the
men who manufacture the greater part of
the worlds supply Of vioiins. Mittenwald
has taken tn, place Of Cremona. although
1t may take another 200 years before its
violins can be mentioned in the same
breath with those of the famous Italian
town.
OF the / 500 inhabitants Of the village.
over 800 are exclusively occupied in the
manufacture of violins. and the output
reaches the incredible figure OF 1900 vio-
lis per annum. They are exported to all
countries in the world. the better instru-
ments going to England ana America. One
organization of makers alone exported 15,-
900.
Each family of violin makers has it's
own particular trade secret. sort OF
trick of the trade. handed down from
father to son. Outsiders and, still more
rival makers are not permitted into
workshop that is not theirs. The people
of Mittenwald have an interesting yio-
lin school where the village boys arc in
structed in the general technical depart
ments of violin building In the hall of
this building is an inscription to the
following effect: THE object of this
school is to instruct the scholars accept
ed in its various arts connected with the
Oh SlIlHStu
to educate them as capable violin max
ers.'
The course lasts three years. and en-
braces in addition the art OF drawing,
singing and playing on the violin. In
the building of a violin much is left to
the individuality of the builders. 1t is
seldom that two violins are exactly alike
in every particular.
The villagers of Mittenwa1d are gener-
ally OF opinion that the varnish with
viii III the instrument is covered is of the
first Importance. and attributes the fine
tone of the violins made by Stradivarius
Guarnerius, and others to secret of var
nish which has evidently been lost for
ever. Mittenwald uses maple wood for
its violins. brought from the distant for
ests of Dalmatia and Bosnia and pine wood
of a certain quality and resinousness
found only in the neighboring forests.
The old looking violins seen in many
music shop window are not fnfrequently
brand new instruments from Mittenwald.
The blackness and shabbiness, the rubs
and scratches. :he Italian names of max
ers inside and the picturesque date-let
us say of lI43-are often the work of he
ingenious fi1dle-makers of this remote
idyllic village in Bavaria. I'VE must sup
ply the market" they say. in exteuuation
of this class of business; IF We do rot.
some one else will
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-17

were separated by the cowboys on horses
and were driven into different corrals.
From each corral a narrow passageway OF
boards led to still narrower arrange
ment. that at a distance resembled an old
horse power. This was the branding box
Several men we're in the corral with long.
blunt poles, and by punching and beating
they drove the COWS and calves in single
file through the passageway. At the
farther end the animals. one by one, were
forced into the branding box
fsan stood without and at one side
with long wooden lever in his hands
He watched the cattle as they emerged
into the box. When each animal was we'll
in he suddenly pushed the lever down, the
movable side of the box closed in upon
the beast, and it was held fast and tight
without injury. In trice the brander
snatched up one of the branding irons
from the fire and ran and pressed the
heated end against the palpitating side of
the animal. Smoke arose and there was
smell of burning hair. The beast gave
conyulsiye cutlery, but the man at the
lever pressed hard down, and the animal
could not move. The brand was removed
A huge "A. c." was charred in the hair
and flesh. The lever was raised and the
box was widened. The poor brute darted
out into another corral, as If fearful the
burned flesh would touch something.
The boss Of the outfit said that by work
ing two branding boxes 500 cattle coul{
be branded in a day There have been
over 400 branded in day by the use of
but one box. Twice year-in spring and
faii-tho animals are corralled on up to
date ranges. In the fall beef cattle are
separated and calves that have been missed
in the spring are branded. In the spring
all the calves are branded while they are
with the cows. There Is thus less chance
OF losing mavericks to other cattiemen.
Cowboys are these days hired quite as
much for memory and business sense as
their ability to endure long days of rough
driving. to drive bunch of cattle rapidly
and safely, and to check stampedes of
hundreds of snorting. eavorting steers.
In this day Of specialists there has been
eyoluted a class of cowboy specialists.
Now the cowboys who know hundreds of
branded hieroglyphies on cattle's furry
sides have the best pay. The Aztec Cattle
Company has fourteen Of what are known
as first class cowboys. They draw $40 a
month more than the others. Some OF them
go East with every trainload Of cattle.
Several OF them know at glance the own
er OF every critter among the thousands
Of cattle bearing over 400 different brands
in the stockyards at Chicago or Kansas
City. One young fellow, a Scotehman.
knows the brands OF about 800 different
firms and individuals in the Southwest.
These brands are of all conceivable shapes
and sizes. ranging from single alpha
1etical letter the size OF postal card to
'ull length and mammoth crisscross stripes
IN the poor beasts backs. Over 5000 sep
irate and distinct brands OF cattle are reg
stored at the stockya-ds in Chicago
Prescott (Ariz) letter in the Chicago Rec