davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Amador ledger., 1901-04-05
A Failure In Coopering.

A certain man who was once a
prominent Kentucky politician was
more a demagogue than a statesman
He was, according to Short Stories, in
the habit of boasting that his father
was a cooper in an obscure town in
the state-that he was lone of the
people" and didn't belong to the 'kid
gloved aristocracy."
The generals" great failing being
his fondness for liquor, it will surprise
no one to be told that the more he drank
the more loudly he acclaimed his
political sentiments and the prouder
of being the son of cooper he became.
During political campaign, where his
opponent was the southern orator, Tom
Marshall, he had been unusually noisy
and offensive in his boasting regarding
his obscure origin. In replying, Mar
shall said, looking hard at the general:
yellow citizens, my opponents
father may have been a very good
cooper. don't deny that; but do say,
gentlemen, that he put mighty poor
head into that whisky barrel"
Amador ledger., 1901-04-05
THE LITTLE OLD sPINsr.

Do you see the little spinet standing in the cor
ner there?
Great-grandmother loved to play it when she was
a maiden fair.
sunbeams through the window twinkle, fick'ring
on its yellowed keys,
And we almost hear the tinkle Of the old time
melodies
Great-grandmother gowned in silk, with high
heeled slippers, dainty lace,
Sat there, while smile Of pleasure lighted up
her fair young face;
From without the rose scent fingers, drifting on
the summer breeze,
While she plays with fairy fingers all the old time
melodies
And the little spinet waits her patiently these
long, long years.
TIL its mellow voice is broken harsh, and has the
sound Of tears,
Yet 1t seems the sunbeams straying, fick'ring on
its yellowed keys,
And her fairy fingers playing all the old time
melodiesl
Mary Small Wagner in Optimist.
Amador ledger., 1901-04-05
salt and Horse Rndi.h.

Some people care for nothing but
lemon on raw oysters. but there are
others who desire horse radish. Usual
ly such folk regard the strongest horse
radish as the best, but an experienced
vender Of the condiment poohpoohs
this point of view.
"Why should the strong horse radish
be considered good" says he. "Ir
brings tears to your eyes and lifts the
top Of your head off and makes you
want to sneeze. 1t has no taste what
ever. The mild horse radish, that which
has stood awhile, is the best and pleas
ATTEST always.
There Is nothing so foolish as to
think that the strong, biting kind is
the fresh-that is the reason why 1t is
preferred to the mild sort-for the very
stalest, weakest horse radish can be
made In 20 minutes strong enough to
blow your head off. All you need to
do is to add salt to it. Try this some
time. Just take any old horse radish,
dump In a spoonful of salt and then
notice the difference. don't know
why salt should have such a powerful
effect on the stuff. but no doubt a
chemist could tell you that."-Philadel-
phia Record.
Amador ledger., 1901-04-05
A Serious Ofense.

Not long since an American resident
Of Hamburg had an amusing expert
ence Of the seriousness of German off,
cialdom.
Her pug puppy barked friskily one
evening from his place in the front gar
den at semi-intoxicated custom house
officer who leaned against the palings.
The next morning ponderous docu-
ment was presented to the owner
which ordered in pompous terms that
the dangerous dog should be kept in
the house under a penalty Of sos until
the official veterinarian should pro-
nounce upon his condition.
For ten days poor PIGGY was kept in
the house before the state official found
it convenient to call, and he was then
bravely freed from his durance, as the
inspector found him not suffering from
hydrophobia nor in danger of biting
Philadelphia Press.
Amador ledger., 1901-04-05
Ants That Fight Spiders.

Few more wonderful adaptations are
seen in the whole round of nature
than the webs spiders spin to entrap
the wary ant. They are not high hung,
lacy affairs, caressing every breeze, but
low set, silken tubes stretched in the
grass, the crevices of rock or about
tree roots. Ants of every size creep
heedlessly into them. The spiders eat
them with relish, but occasionally a
very little spider and a very big ant
engage in a duel to the death. If the
spider can bite. the ant can sting, and
does it with right good will. The
spider does not try to get rid of such an
ant as he does of wasp or bee too
strong TO be safely attacked. Such an
Insect, which threatens destruction to
the web, is often cut out of it by the
web builders. The entangling cables
are not loosed but the web rays neatly
shipped in two, first those underneath
and at the very last the highest fla
ment- Often the letting go of such
captive means destruction to half the
nest. But some spiders are wiser than
some people. They know not merely
when they have enough, but when they
have too much. =.
Amador ledger., 1901-04-05
A MAN AND HIS VIOLETS.
The Story of the Vivacious Maid
Who Received the Flowers.

eyes, it was lovely bunch Of vio-
let's" sighed the girl who received
them, but wish they had never come
to me. You see, it was this way: The
man who sent them is one Of those aw-
fully nice fellows who bore you to
death-the kind you feel so glad to see
talking to some one else, don't you
know" she ended appealingly.
Yes; I've seen the type" sympathet-
ically replied her auditor
well, on my birthday he sent that
lovely bunch Of viOlets-perfect beau
ties they were-with a dear little note
to the effect that he had to go out Of
town, but would be represented by
these little purple clad messengers, so
like my eyes and whose fragrance al
ways reminded him of me. 1 thought
the note rather NICE" she concluded
pensively, land put the flowers in the
parlor on the center table, writing back
that had done so. Why in the world
was 1 so prompt?" she walled.
at was no more than polite"
"Oh, much more! My dear, it is al
ways idiotic to go into details like that.
Well, he did not go out of town, but
was fortunately detained and came
around after all to tell me so. And
those wretched violets'-
Surely they were all right"
81 had loaned them to Annie to wear
to the Blanks dinner. OF course
had to tell him that the heat of the
room was too great, and l had put
them in the iceboX. Just as he was
going and was congratulating myself
on my escape in sailed that miserable
girl, violets and all! If he had only
gone, as he said he would, it would
have been all right. Men are so unre-
liablew-New York Mail and Express.
Amador ledger., 1901-04-05

"Pa," said Johnny, looking up from
his book, what is the meaning Of me
tempsychosisY
A look of confusion suddenly over
spread pas countenance, but it was
only for a moment.
"'Metempsychosis,' Johnny, means
1t means but if 1 should tell you you
would very soon forget the meaning.
Look in the dictionary for it yourself,
and then you will be more likely to re;
member. Information that comes with
out effort seldom fingers in the mem
ory"
Half an hour or so later Johnny
sought the dictionary in the library.
When he got there he found pa with
the dictionary open at "Met." Doubt
less it was merely coincidence, but
Johnny could not help thinking that his
pa was something Of fraud.-Boston
Transcript.
Amador ledger., 1901-04-05
Kruger and the Lobbyist.

Many years ago when President Kru
ger was III England lie was approached
concerning some concession. railway or
otherwise, by business man in Lon
don. The negotiations lasted for some
time. One evening the Londoner who
was staying at the same hotel, having
spent many hours with Mr.. Kruger and
his companion, went to bed much ex-
hausted and feeling he had not got
quite all he wanted. Next morning he
arose at 8 and went along the corridor
to Mr.. Krugers bedroom. To his as
tonishment it was empty and all the
luggage was gone.
'Oh. SIR said the chambermaid,
Mr.. Kruger and his friend left at 6
this morning" Then, with a giggle of
amused Renaissance, the girl added:
"They was queer couple, sir, and no
mistake. When e passed your door,
sir, Mr.. Kruger, e started dancin right
outside your door, sir, 'e and his friend.
They didn't know as any one saw them
unbeknown from the top of the stairs.
Then they went down stairs, sir, fairly
splittin their sides with laughin, though
they didn't say word"
Amador ledger., 1901-04-05
CHOICE MISCELLANY
Photography In Fog.

To speak Of photography in a fog
sounds like a cutting from a comic
paper rather than a serious scientific
fact, but it is a scientific fact none the
less, says the New York Journal, and
the man who is conducting investiga
tons in this peculiar line Of photogra-
ply is the shrewd, energetic ruler of
the German empire.
Quite recently the kaiser has been
steaming about in the Baltic on his
yacht, ostensibly on pleasure bent, but
in reality with far different object.
He was accompanied by two men
whose skill with the camera and
whose knowledge of it's construction
are unequaled, and the result of that
little trip will be the beginning of i'm
portant developments in connection
with the navy and merchant service
of Germany, if not of other countries.
By means of a specially constructed
camera the kaiser's friends succeeded
in obtaining clear and distinct photo
graphs of vessels and Of the coast line
when those objects were a mile off
and both the photographer and the
photographed were enveloped in a
thick fog. This wonderful result was
obtained with an exposure of two sec
onds only.
The necessary complement to the
camera is an apparatus that will en-
able the operator to develop his pic
ture in a few seconds so that it can
be thrown on screen. The perfection
of this apparatus is now engaging the
attention of the two scientific men,
the expenses being paid by the Ger
man government.
Merchant vessels in a fog could take
their bearings in a similar way, and
they would find it more effective than
sirens in preventing collisions.
Amador ledger., 1901-04-05
wood That Cause. sneezine.

Among its many curious products
South Africa includes the "sneeze
wood" tree, which takes its name from
the fact that one cannot cut it with
saw without sneezing, as the fine dust
has exactly the effect Of snuff. Even
in planning the wood 1t will sometimes
cause sneezing. No insect, worm or
barnacle will touch it. 1t is very bitter
to the taste, and when placed in water
it will sink. The color is light brown
and the grain very close and hard.
For dock work, piers or jetties it is
useful timber. lasting long while un-
der water.
Amador ledger., 1901-04-05
1.-THE FRENCH SHORE"
Where Misery, Squalor, Hunger and
Cold Rule In Newfoundland.


Misery, squalor and wretchedness,
accumulated by an almost ceaseless
struggle with hunger and cold, are the
portion of the inhabitants of the
North Shore" in NeNfoundland.
Their little hamlets are perched in the
riffs in the almost unbroken hills, and
the fierce storms sweep the surface
almost to their doorsteps, while for
seven months of the year their coast
is blockaded with ice and they are cut
off from all communication with the
outside world.
The only industry is codfishing, and
cod is the sole medium of exchange.
The people rarely see money, and bar
ter is the system of trading, a quintal
of cod being the unit of value. The
needs of the fisher folk are only sup
piled by the itinerant trader, his
schooner being laden with provisions,
clothing and fishing appliances. Thus
have these people lived for generations.
They are ignorant, for the means OF
education are noneXistent, the children
being content with what satisfied their
fathers. The common objects Of every
day life are unknown to them. They
have neither horses nor cattle. Only
few of the older folk who have ven
tured south have any knowledge of
these things.
There are no roads and therefore no
vehicles. Travel is by boat during
the summer and over the ice foes dur
ing the rest Of the year. The few let
tiers for the clergy and others who can
read are conveyed to the settlements
by dog teams during the winter, and,
save for the fortnightly visit of the
mailboat during the period of open
navigation, a steamer is never seen
by the residents.
With such marvels as electric tele-
graphs, telephones and electric light
they are of course unfamiliar, and
their standard of intelligence is best
indicated by stating that it is not un-
usual to find justice of the peace who
cannot write his own name.-Chan-
bers' Journal.
Amador ledger., 1901-04-05
Real Nice Bathing.

1t may be doubted if a tub bath in
Jamaica is luxury. The lighthouses
make a brave show in a row of low
brick buildings in the rear of the no.
tells, each little house with big stone
tank for bathtub.
l went out to see the baths on my
first day in Kingston and was surpris-
ed to see sign nailed against the wall
bearing the words:
Gentlemen Are Requested Not to
Use Soap In the Baths.'
why are gentlemen requested not to
use soap in the baths?" l asked the no.
tel clerk, dignified young woman of
dark complexion.
Because it soils the water and makes
1t unpleasant for the next bather," she
said.
"But do your guests all battle in the
same water" l asked
ooh, yes" she replied. "You see, the
tanks are so large and the pipes are
small. 1t takes all night to fill the
tanks, and the water has to last all
day"
Amador ledger., 1901-04-05
A TbouxbtfulIittIew vic

Young Wife-My dear. there is a
gentleman waiting in the other room.
He wants to speak to you.
He-Do you know him?
She-You must forgive me, darling.
but Of late you have been troubled
with a cough. besides. you take SO lit
tie care of yourself. and-oh, If you
only knew how anxious ! am about
you. Suppose were to lose you, love"
(She bursts into sobbing and throws
herself on his breast.)
He-Come, my dear. silly child, do be
calm, do be calm. People don't die
of slight cold. Still. If it will pacify
you, show the doctor in. Who is it?
DR.. Pallot. eh?
Shelf isn't a DOCTOR 1t is-it is
a life insurance agent!
Amador ledger., 1901-04-05
Trafalgar Hats.

The year 1905 was memorable one
as on Oct 81 was fought and gained
the battle of Trafalgar. and then, as
now, fashion complimented heroes by
devising toilets named in their honor.
So Nelson was concentrated by
hattie ''Trafalgar"-and every wo-
man and child adopted the wondrous
structure, which would Guido even
the headgear of the present day. for
these hats were of enormous width
and breadth, something of the size OF
round table, and so loaded with plumes
that the wearers must have looked all
hat.-Gentleman's Magazine.
Amador ledger., 1901-04-05

If female fox (vixen) gets caught
in a steel trap and is discovered by
the male or fox dog, 1t is said he inva-
riably kills her, although l have not
heard it stated that the vixen would
kill the dog fox or another vixen or the
male another male.
If COW becomes impaled on fence
and groans with pain, the whole herd
instantly rush wildly to the spot, fight
and apparently do their best to destroy
her If not beaten Off
A hog confined with others in a pen
breaks out and on being returned to
the pen is at once set upon and bitten
by the others.
Why, with all the instinct animals
possess, is the desire SO strong to in
jure or destroy rather than to help or
rescue?-New York Sun.
Amador ledger., 1901-04-05
Poking Fun at Chicago.

The capture of an eagle in Chicago
recalls attention to that city's vast ex-
2anse. 1t Is rumored that several
large herds Of bison are still at large
in the northern wards, while traces Of
living mammoths and remains of COM
paratively recent dodo's nest have been
reported from the jungles Of the far
south. This spring will probably see
the setting out of several hunting par
ties after ''big game" while a scien-
tific exploring expedition in search of
the traditional mountains of the moon
Is contemplated.-New York Tribune.
Amador ledger., 1901-04-05
A CASE OF LAW.
The Decision That Was Rendered by
a Basuto Solomon.

The Decision That Was Rendered by
Basuto Solomon.
Law Is a complicated thing, and
some Of its decisions seem not to be
founded in equity. Probably most
readers will pass that criticism upon
the case recorded below:
Basutoland, being broken and noun
famous, was until recently the resort
Of lions, leopards and other wild ami
mails. Now, however, the hillsides
which were once the resort of these
savage creatures are the pasture
grounds of tens Of thousands of cattle
Nearly all dangerous animals have
been driven away from Basutoland.
but not long ago leopard appeared
on the outskirts of a village. The
animal soon became as badly frighten-
ed as the villagers and sought safety
in flight.
The next morning the inhabitants
turned out for a hunt One of the
hunters was climbing steep rock
when he suddenly found himself face
to face with the leopard, whose re-
treat was cut off by the rock itself.
Neither the man nor the animal could
escape the encounter.
The dilemma was an awkward one,
for the climber was unarmed Realiz-
ing his danger, he put forth his hands
and in desperation caught hold of the
leopard on each side of its jaw, hold
ing it at arms length and calling for
help. The leopard clawed and tore his
captor, but the man held on till help
arrived, and the beast was speared
Now came a question of law. By
Basuto law the skin belonged to the
chief, who must reward one of three
claimants-either the man who speared
the leopard or the man who held it so
that it was possible to spear it or the
man who, being warned by the bark
ing Of his dog, first discovered the
animal in the village.
The Basuto Solomon decided the
case as follows: The man who speared
it could not have done so but for the
man who held it. and the man who
held it could not have known Of it's
existence if the dog had not first
warned the village; therefore the credit
for the killing belonged to the dog.
whose owner was entitled to the re-
ward.-Youth's Companion.
Amador ledger., 1901-04-05
An Embarrassing Laugh.

During funny turn on the stage at
the Walnut Street theater, Cincinnati,
one night man in the balcony leaned
over the railing convulsed with laugh
ter. During an extraordinary burst Of
hilarity his false teeth flew from his
mouth and fell in the lap Of a lady
who was sitting in the parquet. Those
near looked up and saw the toothless
man waving frantically to the lady to
pick up his teeth. This caused gen.
eral laugh at his expense. The teeth
were returned by an usher.-Exchange
Amador ledger., 1901-04-05
why .sweddine Breakfa.t,v

"In all my experience of wedding
breakfasts" said guest at wedding
81 have never understood why the
feast was called a breakfast and not
luncheon. Now have learned. 1t is
from the custom in the Church of Eng
land, where the bride and bridegroom
always receive the holy communion be
fore the ceremony, receive it fasting
and remain fasting until after the wed
ding. when the meal which is served Is
really a breakfast"-NewY York Times.
Amador ledger., 1901-04-05
Respecting the sabbatb.

One Sunday called at a cottage in
the south Of Midlothian and requested
a measure of milk. which was prompt
ly handed TO me. 1 offered the woman
who attended to my wants few cop
pers, but she CURLY responded, 81
Gamma tax siller on d Sawbathw
Il thanked her. and was turning away
when she whispered: mon, We can
drap the bawbees in that tub wiz the
graith (soap suds) int. I'll get them
DOT the mornp-London Chronicle.
Amador ledger., 1901-04-05
NAPOLEON'S EYE.
One Look From 1t Explained His
Power Over Men.


Power Over Men.
In 1887, while working in London as
a curate to the Rev. Canon Fleming. l
was called in my wears absence to adj
minister religious service to an old
admiral in Eaton square. The admi-
rails name was Eden. After the serv-
ice was over he took my hand and
said: "Shake hands with me, young
man. There are not many alive who
can say what can say. You are talk
ing with a man who has talked to Ma
poleon the Great" "Sir," 1 said, that
is history. May 1 hear more?" The
old admiral then told me that he was
once returning with the feet-I think
from the West Indies. but of that am
not sure-and touched at st. Helena.
The admiral said, 81 am going up to
Longwood to pay my respects to Napo-
leon, and the senior midshipman comes
with me-"
81 was the senior midshipman," said
the old gentleman, ''and so 1 went. We
waited for Napoleon in an outer room,
and you must imagine how eagerly 1
expected his entrance. The door was
thrown open at last, and in he came.
He was short and fat and nothing very
attractive but for his eye. My word,
sir, 1 have never seen anything like it.
After speaking to the admiral he turn
ed to me, and then 1 understood for the
first time in my life what was the
meaning Of the phrase, "A born ruler of
men, 1 had been taught to hate the
French as l hated the devil, but when
Napoleon looked at me there was such
power and majesty in his look that If
he had babe me lie down that he might
walk over me 1 would have done it at
once, English MILDLY though 1 was.
The look on Napoleon's face was the
revelation of the man and the explana-
ton Of his power. He was born to
command"
Such was Admiral Eden's version to
me Of an incident which at 80 years old
or thereabout seemed to him as fresh
as if it had happened only the day be-
fore.-Rev. John Rocker in London
Spectator.
Amador ledger., 1901-04-05
Shopping.

Shopman-This matches your sample
perfectly, madam.
Customer-It certainly does. 1t
couldn't be closer.
Shopman-How many yards do you
wish? a.,
Customr,-Oh, not any yet! You see,
this is the very first shop I've tried
London Fun.
Amador ledger., 1901-04-05
Where the Shoe Punched.

Young Girl (glancing at her pedal ex-
tremities)-Oh. dear! My feet are so
awfully big!
Practical Auntie-But you stand on
them all right, don't you?
Young Girl-Oh, yes, but so do other
folks too.-New York Tribune.
Amador ledger., 1901-04-05

The bank notes issued by the Yes
terbottens Enskilka bank of Sweden
and other private banks must be pre-
sented for payment within one year or
they will be forfeited. Swedish banks
have hitherto issued bank notes as gen.
eral currency, but now law has been
passed which gives the national or
state bank this privilege alone, as is
the case in Denmark
Amador ledger., 1901-04-05
Question of Ownership.

"Need of counsel? Come up and let
me introduce you to my lawyer"
"Your lawyer? Do you own law
yer?"
T-er-well, no, certainly not. He
owns me."-New York Press.
Amador ledger., 1901-04-05
Ready Excuse.

Beggar-Say, boss, won't you help
poor fellow out of job?
Joakley-Gracious! Can't you get out
of it without my help? Pretend you're
sick or Observation-Disclosures Press.
Amador ledger., 1901-04-05

The author of book which has sold
well has adopted a novel scheme for
advertising it. He has had a large
quantity of excellent Egyptian olga
rettes made, and on the wrapper of
each In gold letters is stamped the
name of his book. He has sent pack.
ages of these cigarettes to his friends
with the request that they scatter
them where they will do the most
good
Amador ledger., 1901-04-05

The official flag Of the Pan-Ameri-
can exposition at Buffalo was selected
from 300 designs and is the production
of Miss Adelaide ]. Thorpe. In the
upper corner is single white star on
blue field, typifying North America.
On red field in the opposite corner
nre four stars, representing the South
ern Cross constellation and South
America. The center of the flag Is a
diagonal white bar bearing the golden
eagle of liberty, with green scroll In
it's taions. inscribed. "Pax. 1901"
Amador ledger., 1901-04-05

Even the highest personages in Tur-
key are not exempt from suspicion
Their movements are watched and re-
ported to the palace by an army of
spies who swarm in every quarter.
Amador ledger., 1901-04-05

Autograph LETTERS Of famous men will
be far rarer in the future than now
Great men of today content Themselves
with signing their names, often witt
rubber stamps, to typewrittcn door
ments. and It will be hard to get mr'-
sentiment from typewritten man
scripts.
Amador ledger., 1901-04-05
Where the Guilt Lay.

"You say the play was entirely with
out villain?"
"Yes-that is, If you choose to omit
the author" indianapolis Press.
Amador ledger., 1901-04-05

Street trees. properly planted and
cared for, work remarkable change in
the value Of residential property. Any
one with doubts on this subject should
look into the history of Washington,
Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Buffalo and
other cities where comprehensive
system of street planting has been car
ried into effect.