davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-12-15

Special Correspondence Of The su-day r public.
Singapore. Straits of Malacca. Nov. g.!
sailed for two days along the coast of SUI
mafra in coming to Singapore. The island
belongs almost entirely To the Dutch, bat
1t has vast tracts still inhabited by saw
ages. and a large section which the Dutch
have been trying for years to sEhGue. Dur
ing my conversation with the Governor Cen
eral of the Dutch East Indies he referred to
this war and pointed out the Province OF
Achin on the map. II lies at The extreme
northern part Of Sumaira and is inhabited
by Malsys who are better fighters and more
rcbellious than orr own TacalOs.
In Achin every man is a soldier and every
village has its army ready for service in
time of war. Tn people have been fighting
foreigners for hundreds of years. Their
country was one of the first in this region
to be discovered by white men. Marco
Polo visited il in 1921 and ahou: the time
of the discovery OF America another Ei-
pean landed there and wrote of its peo-
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-12-15

| WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY
! Christmas Day is usually n joyless holiday
for actors. with its two performances and
hurried dinner between them. Christmas
audiences are always in a happy mood and
quickly responsive. But the very happiness
in the air has a pathetic suggestion for the
player who must work while Others play.
Still. they have their compensations in the
mysterious packages brought UP by the
stage door man. which one hasn't time to
open until after the next scene. Oh. the
delight of finishing that scene and opening
the package.
A present from the family. who are re-
united for the holidays in the old home. and
who each send a gift and n word of loving
greeting to the absent worker.
Then the kilograms. the flowers. the I'M
expected gifts from members of the COM
pany or little offering from a POOR stage
hand" which touches you deeply. because
you know how much the dollar and a half
meant to him.
But on this especial Christmas Day last
year there was an air of great but sup
pressed excitement in "A Royal Family"
One met the Queen in her long court gown.
struggling with her train over one arm and
a huge package in the other. cropping along
a dark passage to the .'property-room."
Then the Cardinal. in his magnificent scar
let silk robes. guiltily concealing n long box.
Others of the royal family were seen along
the dark passage. carrying parcels to the
property-room. from which they emerged
with smiling. eager faces.
As the curtain fell upon the final tableau
CT the play. with the entire court assem-
bled. there was not the usual rush for the
d-ressingrooms Every one remained on the
stase. and the Princess. taking the tiny
Prince by the hand. explained that she had
received n letter from Santa Claus to say
that he would visit the theater that day.
Hardly was the explanation made when
on came Santa Claus. impersonated by tho
property man. drawing In . most wondrous
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-12-15
The Worlds Desire.

Somehow there's always a statesman
To guide our ship of state;
The Kings of the world are many
And so are the sons OF fate.
The wonderful untamed masters
Who harness the sky's wild fire:
But let me whisper a secret
The heart of the worlds desire.
Is not the child of genius.
Nor yet in Il royal masque:
The heart of the world is yearning
For the man who sings at his task!
Enough of birth and genius.
Which dazzle u tired eyes!
Let us turn. like simple children.
Wherever the sunlight lies,
And praise, as king and master.
Where no deep shadows lurk.
The man who teaches freedom
The man who sings at his work.
Clinton Dangerfleld in Success.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-12-15

Christmas tree. loaded with gifts and
candles and fairy things.
The poor little actor for whom all this
JOY had ben prepared by his grown COM
rades was too stunned to speak. Even aftsf
a formal introduction to Santa Claus al
his assurance to the little boy that all the
tree was his. the realization came slowly
and he gave faint little squeals of joy as
the undreamed OF toys were shown to him.
Oh! the wonderful wagons that went half
way across the stage when they were
wound up. and the funny animals that
jumped about all by themselves.
The child's delight grew and caught the
whole company. What n sight it would have
been for the audience leaving tho theater
could they have seen OH the other side OF
the curtain. There was the entire court Of
Caron-king. queen. prince. princess. car
dinai. courtiers. ambassadors. ladies in
waitins-in all their gorgeous .aiment.
playing like children with the toys.
Some were on their hands and knees:
others running around after n mechanical
rabbit. The Cardinal and the Dowages
Queen were convulsed over the antics OF
two wooden monkeys having o prize fight
Where was the dignity and the art now?
Forgotten in the happiness of a moment Of
return to that nature which makes the
whole world kin to a little child.
ANNIE RUSSELL
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-12-15

property In her possession. For this rea sor
there are few divorces. and the people are
said to be uncommonly moral.
They are generally monosamists. notwitii.
standing their Mohammedanism. Several
! families will often live in ore house. If a
/, daughter gets married a new addition Is
ouiit on at the back. and in this she lives
and brings up her children. The various
aooitions can be recognized by the prongs
which extend up from the roof. and you
see sometimes half a dozen houses so
Joined together.
In some villages there are houses some
what like the clublouses of New Guinea.
In the LampoIss even small places have
their town halls, where the men, women
and children meet together and where all
public business is done. About these the
| peddlers and marketmen collect. story tel
lers stand and sing out their tales. and
here dancing is sometimes held. lasting for
several days and nights.
Only a Few Large Cities
In This Province.
about the towns of BaInatra. The natives
nearly everywhere live in villages and
there are only a few cities of any size. 1
have already spoken Of Padang. This is
the capital Of the west coast. 1t has about
$4,000 people. and of these about LEO are
AS AANS - ulS uN lIe
Dutch and the town has many beautiful
Dutch villas. somewhat like those of Java.
Many also live in bungalows. constructed
OF wood and bamboo, with the floors sew
eral feet above the ground. Some of the
villas are rooted with thatch of tapa leaves
The natives live in matched huts with
curtousiy pointed roofs. Their houses are
shaded by cocoanut trees. and Padanr
makes you think Of an Immense park with
these curious houses scattered through it.
The town is close to the mountains, and it
Is said to be very healthy. 1t is not far
from coal fields. which are connected with
it by rail.
Not far from Padang is Bcnkulen, which
was once the English capital Of the cour-
try. 1t has 12.00 people. but is not prosper
GUS Dill Is the Dutch capital of the east
Ma!acca Strait. just u little below Penang.
Here the Dutch civil and military officials
live, as well as many European merchants.
making a very pleasant foreign colony. Dill
IS laid out in modern style, its streets be- !
ing lighted by electricity. 1t has two
banks. two good hotels. two clubs. a racing !
association and many Chinese, Japanese. |
Indian, Malay and King business houses. |
1t is the center of the tobacco exporting |
trade. and 1t imports n great deal of ricr |
from the Strait Settlements.
In Eastern Sumatra is the largest CITY |
of the island. 1t is known as Palembang !
and Is the capital of the Residency of that |
name. 1t has a population of about O,U0O !
and has considerable export and import |
trade with Singapore. Siam, Batavia and
China. 1t has a European quarter. with |
the usual assortment of clubs. business |
houses. etc. The people are largely Mo- |
and 1t has one mosque. fioored |
with marble. which has a minare, 1U feet |
high.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-12-15
A Game for Two.

Once upon n time a young gentleman ana
n younger lady were alone In a bright par
Tor in front of a cheerful open fire. with a
table between them. playing cards. as they
continued to play and chat the table was
not so much between them. for they both
got nearer the fire and played the game
on one corner of the table. :
They had started In to play eucfire. ous
after an hour and a half they found that
they were playing hearts.
Moral-We are not always sure what the
game II.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-12-15
How the Dutch Control
People of Sumatra.

The Dutch nave applied the same gov
inner to Sumatra as to Java, hut their
success In controlling the people has been
far greater in the latter island. The Ma
lays OF Sumatra are more wild and savage
than the Javanese. Many of them, like
the Achinese, refuse to be controlled, and
there are frequent rebellions. Eastern SUI
matra is stin divided into a. number OF
sem~i-independent states. each ruled by its
owTn prince or chief. who may be called Sui
tan. Ratah or Datto. These rulers are as
sisted by the Dutch officials. INT as far as
possible the government u carried on
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-12-15
Couldn't Take 1t With Her.

Mrs. Hauskeep: What made you leave
your last placer
Applicant: "'Tis insultin' ye are. ma'am.
OH hav we know thot nothin' or nobody
suit mesel'. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Press.
A genius il a man who can make other
men believe he knows more than they do
Atchison Globe.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-12-15
Very Likely.

''why does Mrs. Gaxely persist In wear
ing that old-rose watst??'
..she says it's the prevailing tint"
Wonder If her husband wears his old
rose complexion for the same reason?"-
Plain Dealer.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-12-15
Women Rule in the
Interior of Sumatra.

Indeed. there Is a part Of Sumatra where
the women are said to be the real rulers.
This is in the middle Of the island, in a
part of che country seldom penetrated by
travellers. There the women have mora
property rights than the men. II a man
dies his possessions go to his father and
mother. but Il the woman dies her property
goes to the children. For this reason the
men give their property to their wives. and
the result is that most of the wealth Of the
tribe II owned by the women. The hus-
a r. can divorce his wife whenever he
chooses, but he must allow her to keep the
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-12-15
Women of Sumatra Wear
DOwries of Jewelry.

I have several pictures Of Battak girls
brought to Batavia by a recent traveller in
that country. I am surprised at their
looks. They have better forms and feat.
ures than the Javanese. and they dress bet
ter. Young girls wear a great deal Of Jew
elry-every maiden carries her whole dowry
on her person. Her arms are covered with
bracelets from her wrists to her shoulders.
and in her ears are buttons and hooks of
silver and gold.
Some girls have high back combs plated
with gold. and some lave sarongs of silk
interviewer with gold threads and decorated
with small coins. 1t is not uncommon for a
woman to cover the whole upper part of her
person with silver dollars. beginning with
a row at the neck and running in concen-
trio rows down to the depths OF n very
decolette dress. I am told that some of the
women wear silver nail protectors, such as
are used by the Chinese. and that many
have gold belts and gold and silver buckles
to fasten their sarongs.
Marriage. Is largely a case Of courtshio
and love In many parts Of Sumatra. Still
the daughters have to he bought by their
husbands from the parents. This purchase
is secret. but it is necessary. nevertheless,
and is always insisted upon unless the
girl is old and tough and the prospective
husband has little. Then he may be taken
into the family of his bride with no pay
ment whatever. In the latter case. how
ever. the ceremony is different from the
regular marriage ceremony, and the hus-
bands rights are also different. He be-
comes. short. the slave of his wife's par
ents. and his wife is his legal boss. II he
should get tired of his condition he may
apply for a divorce. but the wife keeps the
property and the children.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-12-15
AMONG THE SUMATRA CANNIBALS.
Some Queer Stories of the Dutch and the Natives in the
Third Largest Island of the World.

Fighting Chinese Who Have Cost Holland ss5NO0OOO - Tobacco
Plantations Which Yield ~ Fer Cent observation-disclosures Indus
try Nearly Always Notwithstanding Customs Which
Enable Women to Keep the Men Under Their Rule-Pa-
dang. Talcmbang. Dill and Benkulen-HOw the Ter
ritOry Is Governed Its Wonderful Deposits of
Gold, Copper, Coal Oil and Tin.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-12-15

through them. r!e Dutch have a court at
Dill and also native courts elsewhere. The
most important cases are taken to Batavia
to be tried and matters of note are referred
TO the Governor General of the Dutch East
Indies at that point.
Lands may be Leased of the princes for a
certain number of years and labor may o.
hired under certain conditions. Tte laws
require that the wages mast be paid by the.
month, and that the employer must furnish
his iaborers with medical attendance ANA
food when they are sick. All land con.
tracts to Europeans are subject to the con-
seat of the resident Dutch Governor. and
mining contracts have to be approved b
the Dutch Governor General. In nearly all
the Provinces the Dutch collect the GUS
toms duties and ordinary revenues.
Gold and Silver Are
known to Exist.
1 have rot been able to discover much az
to the mineral wealth OF Sumatra. Gold
and silver are known to exist. and the coun-
try has a Mount Ophir. but whether it's
name has anything to do with the gold OF
Ophir / do not know. There are gold fields
about Padang which have been noted for
centuries and placer mines in other parts
of the island which are still in operation.
There is rone tin along the coast of the
strait. and there are copper mines nsar the
Marapi volcano. Iron has been snelted for
centuries by certain of the tribes. and there
are coal Gil fields which are the source of
much speculation in the stock markets of
the various ports of the Far East. There IS
one oil region known as the Langkat which
has made fortunes on paper for the foreign
-ers in Shanghai. but 50 far as l can learn
no great quantity of petroleum has We;
come from them.
The Tin Mines
OF Banka.
Among the richest mineral rsgi-ns of this
part of the world are those on some of the
smaller Islands about Sumatra. passed
the Island Of Banka in coming to Singapore. |
This island is separated from Sumatra by |
the Banka Straits. Almost adjoining 1t is
the Island of Billion. Banka is about half |
again as large as Porto Rico. and Billion
about one and one-half times the size Of |
Rhode Island. Both these Islands have !
enormous deposits of tin, their output
amounting to several million dollars annu- |
ally. The mines are a monopoly of the
Dutch Government. which works them with |
Chinese cheap labor. Much of the tin is
a%lluvial: It is washed out and smelted by /
the Chinese. The chief town Of Banka is
Muntok. which is the seat of the Dutch Gov
rnmen It is a little city Of 1900. and is
a port Of call for Dutch steamers between
Batavia and Singapore.
FRANK G. CARPENTER.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-12-15

the cave ne noticed a handkerchief lying
upon one OF the rocks. Surprising some on.
had lost it. he picked it up ard started OF
his tour of inspection. but. becoming
alarmed at the great number of halls and
avenues. he made a hasty retreat. Assuring
the men that he could take them to tho
exact spot. they accompanied him. After
going about Il mile. he stopped and said:
.here IS where / found the handkerchief"
Then the trenchman pointed to one of thu
lodges. and said: There is where placed
M friend" An examination of the Ledge
proved this The missing man was found.
dead
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-12-15

ately secured n searching party. They en-
tered the cave. prepared for a fifteen hours
search. Hall after hall was searched. but
no trace of the man or his handkerchief
could be found. The search was repeated for
several days. but was finally given up. The
people of that vicinity continued to COM
men. upon the strange disappearance of the
Frenchnan. when Il hunter from, the Kas-
kashia settlement made his appearance. The
story WIS told TO him.
The hunter said that he had heard of this
wonderful cave and came w. from Kls-
liassia to visit it. While walking through
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-12-15

The white peppe is made by washing and
rubbing the black berries and drying them
in the sun.
Some Of the best pepper plantations in
Suinatra are in the land Of the Battaks, a
vast tribe of semisavages who live in the
hills south of Achin. These people are Ma
lays intermixed with Dyaks of Borneo and
with Hindoos. They are taller than our
filipinos. darker In complexion and more
heavily haired. Many of them nave boards.
In the wilder portions of the country they
are very savage. and cannibals are found.
The penalties for certain crimes are .hat
the guilty shall be cut in pieces ana be
eaten alive. These practices, however, pre-
vail only in the back districts. Those Bat
talks who have come in contact with the
Dutch are semicivilized. and many of them
can read and write. They have an alphabet
of their own, and write upon palm leaves
instead of paper.
The Battaks are pagans. but I doubt
whether missionaries would be allowed by
the Dutch to go among them. as they think
work disturbs the natives.
Some Of the people are Mohammedans, and
others believe in the three deities-a creator,
a p%reserver and a destroyer. They have
also a touch of Hinduism. They are, on
The whole. mild and peaceable, hosp!table
and very courteous.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-12-15
Young Pepper Plants Are
Set Ont From Cuttings.

I have made some inquiries as to the
pepper business. and CO far as I can learn
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1901-10-05
CRESCENT CITY NOTES.

In riot between negroes at Howard
avenue nd Magnolia street two BY
ISLANDERS were wounded.
The New Orleans ball team, aftea
reorganization, won Al out of DC
games played on the home diamond.
Announcement has been made OF
the personnel of the French Opera fol
the coming season,
The Belt Railroad Commissioners
met in the City Hall and organized.
It is announced that q school would
be established in New Orleans to
teach Hebrew.
The School Board has issued its
official list Of text books.
There was Juvenile stag, the flrst
of a series during the winter, at the
Young Mems Gymnastio Club.
Charles J. Rea, a Chicago detec-
tive, said valuable clues had been
found with reference to the dynamit-
ing Of the British transport NE.
ohanician.
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1901-10-05

Two naval officers, one representing
the government and the other Ad-
miral schley in the court Of inquiry,
were at the signal Office Of the war
department today, searching the rec.
ords for copies Of dispatches that
were exchanged between the feet and
the signal station at Aguedores be.
tween July and July 8, inclusive,
Nothing could be found, and it is sup
posed that as the messages were wig
wagged and communicated to General
Skaters headquarters by telephone,
the signal officer in charge made no
record of them. The officer, Major
Green, has been telegraphed as to
whether or not any records were kept
Of these messages. The messages
sought were those between the flag
ship New York and the shore.
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1901-10-05
SPECIAL TAX ELECTION.

Donaldsonville. An election, at
which only property holders of the
district were permitted to vote, was
held in the Bayou Conway drainage
district on Wednesday to determine
whether q special tax Of Eve mills
on the dollar shall be annually levied
for o term Of FIVE years On the taxable
property of the district to raise funds
for cleaning out Bayou Conway.
There were two polls and fifty-Reven
votes were cast, forty two at Darrow
and fifteen at Leblanc school house.
All were in favor Of the tax, which
Is therefore unanimously carried.
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1901-10-05
WOMAN SHOT FROM AMBUSH.

Alexandria. Emma Bridget, q col
ored woman twenty years Of age, was
killed by unknown parties, who fired
from ambush at Beaver Dam, on Red
river, this parish, Friday night. The
woman, accompanied by her mother
and brother, was returning home
along the public road about mid
night, and it is supposed that the per-
son who fred the shot intended to
kill the woman's brother, but the bull
let missed its intended victim, and
hit the woman as stated. Several ne
groes are suspected Of being impli-
Gated in the affair, but no arrests
have yet been made.
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1901-10-05

We offer One Hundred Dollars Reward for
any Gaze Of Catarrh that cannot be cured by
Halls Catarrh Cure.
FL. CHENEY & Co., Props, Toledo, 0.
We, the undersigned, have known F. J. Che
ney for the last Is years, and believe him per-
fectly honorable in all business transactions
and financially able to carry out any obliga-
ton made by their firm.
WEST & TRUAx, Wholesale Druggists, Toledo,
Ohio.
WALDrNe K1NNAN & MApYIN, Wholesale
Druggists, Toledo Ohio.
Halls Oatarrh Cure Is takeninterna,ly, act
ing directly upon the blood and mucous sur
faces Of the system. Price, Toe. per bottle.
Sold by all Druggists. Testimonials freq.
Halls Family Pills are the best.
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1901-10-05
HORSES DIE OF MENINGITIS.

Port Hudson. number Of horses
have died of peculiar malady lately
IN this neighborhood, and few days
ago q fine mare, belonging to Mr..
John NJ. St. Paul. was affected in the
same manner, and he sent to Baton
Rouge for DR.. Flower, who came up
Friday and pronounced it spinal men
ingitis, caused By a fungus growth
on vegetation,