davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-29
Eccentric British Magistrate.

Sir Harry Poland, British magis-
trate noted for his brilliancy, is care
less in his dress. Once his family per-
suaded him to go to Poole and order a
fashionably-cut suit. To the chagrin
of the household Sir Harry looked
more outlandish in the new clothes
than in his old ones. His brother-in-
law went to see Poole about it. ct is
not my fault, SIR" the tailor assured
him. Every care was taken, but how
could we fit gentleman who would in
sist upon being measured sitting
DOWN." And the only satisfaction that
could be obtained from Sir Harry Po-
land himself later on was the dry com
ment: well, it's my business, and not
yours. l like to be comfortable. l
spend three parts of my life sitting
down, and prefer to. be measured So"
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-29

rison he simply grinned and hoped
Jim had made no mistake, because he
expected to lay siege to the vacant
heart at once.
By what he considered most adroit
management Blake succeeded in get
ting minute alone with his sweet
heart In the hall before he left, but to
his surprise he found that young wom-
an somewhat coy. The reason for 1t
he discovered few minutes later. AS
they were going down the steps her
sister called him back and handed him
a note and sweet, sphinx-like smile.
What the note said was this:
Dear Jim:
Do you remember once telling me
that woman had no sense of humor,
that she could not understand joke
and would not recognize one If she saw
1T walking down the street? l made
up my mind then to play joke on you
that you would never forget. My poor
old Jim! How tell it for laughing?
You have been Ilaking love all night
to Nell. whom you have never seen
before. Five times you have kissed
her to my certain knowledge-poor me,
who have had to put up with one
meager handshake. want you to be
good friends with my sister, but I
think you have gone little farther
tonight than the conventions demand.
The miniature? Oh, 1 lent it to my Sis
ter for the occasion! hope you will
appreciate the point Of this little joke.
l am quite sure that your friend Mr..
Garrison will see it. Please call to-
morrow at three-and do not make
any mistakes in identity. Good night,
dear old stupid Jim!
Your unkissed sweetheart,
Gladys Harrison,
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-29
Flowers from Penzance.

Imagine whole freight train loaded
with nothing by flowers Such train
recently came rolling into London
from Penzance. The Scilly Islands,
lying to the westward of Lands End,
are the flower gardens of the British
metropolis There is hardly any other
industry on these islands except the
raising of flowers for the London mar
ket. The Gulf stream ''bobs up Sc
renely from below" on the shores Of
the Scillys in it's last expiring effort
and brings to them a faint remem-
brance of the warmth of the tropic
seas from whence it comes, thus maxi
ing the islands of a mild climate,
where flowers bloom in March. The
cargo for this special trainload of flow
ers was brought from the island flower
farms in steamship to Penzance,
where the train was in waiting. The
flowers were in packages and as each
package weighed but few ounces some
idea of the enormous bulk of the cargo
may be gained from the fact that it
weighed twenty-seven tons. The
flowers were picked in the morn
ing and loaded on the ship.
which got them to Penzance in the
early evening. Then the express
freight rushed them to London, and
the next morning they were for sale in
the flower markets of the great city.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-29
BASE BALI. MATTERS.
CURRENT NEWS AND NOTES
OF THE GAME.
new York Has Another New Pitching
! star-WllIe Mills Made a Fine Record
In the New York State League -
Pitcher Mechanics Release.
AN UNnLusH1NG TRUTH.

Pitcher McJames, who was released
last week by Brooklyn, declared that
his 1neffectiveness was due to lack of
condition. He frankly admitted that
litter drawing for almost three months
salary SO large that it tempted him
to temporarily abandon the practice
Of medicine, that he is pounds over
weight and unable to do himself or his
employer justice. This is a confess
sion by McJames that he has not dealt
fairly with his club. He contracted to
give Ebbets, Hanlon & Co. his best
efforts as ball player for stipulated
sum for the season, but when his man
ager finds that he has not kept his
agreement and discharges him, he un-
blushingly says that he was too in
dolent to reduce himself to playing
weight. He must have been conscious
of this when he reported, but he took
money which he did not earn, on every
payday without the least hesitation
and would have remained on the
Brooklyn payroll all season without
conscientious scruples about the kind
of ball that he pitched. The ball play
er who has not the honesty and indus
try to keep himself in condition, does
not deserve to draw dollar from a
ball club. Magnates make a mistake
by keeping on salary lazy fellows who
depend upon their regulations to re-
main in the game. Half the money
wasted on them would develop earnest
and ambitious youngsters. The war
between the National and American
Leagues has made an opportunity for
young players to show their worth and
there is number in the National who
have more than replaced the old-tim-
ers, whom they notwithstanding
News.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-29

star twirler on the strong Schenectady
team, which leads in the race in this
league. Mills made remarkable rec
ord with the Schenectady nine this
season before he was gobbled up by
Freedman. He was in the box in
eighteen games and by his fine work
backed up by first-class support, came
out victorious in fifteen of them. Mills
halls from Schenevus, N. Y, and as he
is still young in years has plenty of
time to develop into a pitcher of
league calibre, if he be not already
one. In 1897 he pitched for the crack
Gillian team of Canajoharie, N. Y,
and the following year was on the slab
for the lions, one of the strongest
amateur mines in Central New York.
In 1899 and 1900 he was with Utica,
contributing greatly to the team cap
turing the pennant in the latter year.
This year he was transferred to Sche-
nectady with number of others of the
Utica players and of his work there
reference need only be made to his
record given above. Mills has many
admirers among State league patrons,
who believe he will make good" with
the New Yorks. In his opening game
as a Giant, against St. Louis, that
strong team of hitters only made ten
hits off of him
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-29

allowed Grand Rapids only two safe
hits and no runs, and Buffalo three
hits and two runs. He was reserved
by Kansas City for the season of 1900
but was released in April and then he
signed with the Wilkesbarre team of
the Atlantic League. He played in
eleven games with Wilkesbarre, when
the Atlantic League was disbanded on
June II, and he next signed with the
Denver club Of the Western League
and finished the season in creditable
manner. He participated in twenty
one championship games. He was
credited with the remarkable pitching
feat of allowing Sioux City only two
safe hits and no runs in fifteen inn.
ings. He held Pueblo down to threk
hits and Omaha four. At the close DE-
that season he was sold to- Chicaao
club of the National League, but lakt
spring he was turned over to Mana
ger Tebeau of the Kansas City club Of
the Western League, who transferred
him to the Denver club of the same
league.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-29
THE DREADED BACK DRAFT.
One of the Worst rerlls That Confront

One of the Worst Perlls That Confront
tho Firemen.
Next to a dangerous cellar fire
nothing is more dreaded by the men
than what is known in their own Ian
guage as the back draft" This is a
sudden veering of the flames, usually
caused by the burning away of some
portion of the building that gives the
fire renewed draft and changes it's
course completely. The firemen arrive
and find the whole second or third
floor Of a building in flames. Axes in
hand, they smash open the doors, and
with the hose dash up the stairway.
This is all afire, and the flames are
rolling above like red pail. With
the engine at work and good pressure
on the line, the battle between the two
elements-6re and water-begins.
Inch by inch the men fight their way
up the stairway, now to retreat as the
fire gains upon them, and now to adj
vance as it rolls away for moment.
The encouraging words of the COM
handing officer are heard behind
them urging them on: Nov, get in,
boys! That's it-get in-get in! Make
the next landing! Hit it up boys!"
and all the other words of encourage
ment that he usually gives. They
finally reach the landing. They are
on the floor with the fire. 1t rolls
toward them, an impenetrable wall Of
fire-the deadly back draft! Their
only chance of escape is to throw
themselves upon their faces, in hope
that it may roll over them, or to hurl
themselves down the stairs up which
they have so CALAMITY fought their
way. Better broken leg or arm than
death by roasting, and the water of
fifty engines could never stay the pro-
gress of that awful wave of flame.
Many brave fellow has lost his life
in this manner, and very often all the
members of a company return with
their eyebrows, hair and beard singed
off, bearing evidence that they have
been "ketched," as they express it, by
less terrible form of this deadly
draft.-St. Nicholas.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-29
He Was Clever.

DR.. Guthrie, an authority on milf
tary surgery fifty years ago. was
kindly man, though somewhat brusoue
in manner. Sir Joseph Prayer says:
II was his house surgeon, and we got
on very we'll together. One day. when
we were going through the wards with
a large following of distinguished Wis
itors, foreign surgeons and others, we
stopped by the bedside of an interest
ing case, when Guthrie, found fault
with the dresser for something he had
done. The student ventured to reply
and Guthrie said: 'Idare say you think
you are remarkably clever fellow,
don't your No, sir, said the youth.
earnestly i don't But you are.
though said Guthrie, and passed on,
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-29

rooms. Two specimens, the latter of
the species ''lautinus monstrosus,"
were found in the cellar of resident
OF lrvington. They made their pres
ence known by raising pile of wood.
and threatening to lift the house off
its foundations. They were secured
by William f. Woodward, who sent
one of them to Prof. Sweetser of For
est Grove. and has placed the other on
exhibition. 1t is rather a formidable
looking fungus. the sem being two
inches in diameter and about ten
inches long, while the cap is the
size of an ordinary soup plate and
about three inches in thickness at the
center. Such vegetables must not
be grown under restraint of wood
piles or anything else short of an
Egyptian pyramid, but must be given
space according to their strength,
which is something tremendous.
Portland Oregonian.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-29
Titled
Prisoners

The prisoners of England shelter
many titled and aristocratic. prisoners,
among them begin relatives Of his ma
Jesty, the king, who have suffered ig-
.nominious penalties at the hands OF
the law. Lady Cunning, widow of Sir
Henry Cunning and granddaughter of
the second Lord Churchill, is serving
a term Of several years penal servl-
tude for having forged the name OF her
father to notes on which she raised
money from London discounters and
tradesmen. These forgeries, extended
over number Of years, and were con-
sidered especially objectionable from
the fact that her ladyship was driven
to commit them not from her reduced
circumstances, but from Indebtedness
caused by betting on the races. Mrs.
Osborne, wife of Captain OSBORNE, of
crack cavalry regiment, being in desti-
tute circumstances purloined costly
pearl necklace, which she later sold in
England, and was sentenced to i'm
p'isonment with hard labor. Nor was
any greater judicial leniency shown
w WyueLl6 Mduue, SIduuuduSuLoT VI tuo
Earl of Montalt, who was sentenced to
two years imprisonment with hard la
Dor for obtaining goods under false
pretenses. The Dowager Duchess of
Sutherland, presuming too greatly on
the latitude allowed her rank, de-
stroyed in the presence of the court
document that would have insured
her defeat in a suit she was conduct
ing. For this she was condemned to
six months Imprisonment. The Count
and Countess Leiningen, distant cous-
ms of the King, are neither of them
of great credit to their royal connec-
lions. For his many misdeeds the
count is confined in an English pen
ltentiary, while the countess is serv-
ing time in Vienna Jail as punish
ment for forgery, blackmail and swim
ding. Still greater degradation has
been undergone by the Warehouses of
Donegal, who has time and again been
sent to Jail, generally for brief periods,
following her arrest in London for
drunkenness and disorderly conduct.
Still another connection of the English
royal house, the Countess Waldeck,
is now undergoing punishment for for
gerry and perjury usder circumstances
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-29
SOME ODDS AND ENDS

Underneath the town of Norwich,
which were used for the preparation
of salt even before the Christian era.
Owing to the immense excavations oc-
casioned by the pumping up of this
brine, the main street of the town is
now to be raised four feet. AS recent
ly as 1892 it was raised five feet, and
again the thoroughfare is on a level
with the River Weaver, which runs
close by. The property to be lifted
consists of hotels and large shops, I'M
der which hydraulic jacks are placed,
and as the structures are raised wood
en- wedges are inserted So accurate is
the work done that business is car
ried on as usual during alterations"
and but little Inconvenience is expe-
rienced by the families.
Nearly every little local custom in
England can be traced by the ANTIGUA
rian back almost to prehistoric times.
and in the interesting tradition that
the sunrise must be witnessed on mid
summer day from the vast piles of.
Stonehenge is one of these ancient
customs. 1t may have been habit
with the ancient Britons to do hom-
age to the source of light on this. the
suns greatest day, or the custom may
date back to those red-haired tribes
who came before even the Britons in
the history OF the island. This world
famed monument of antiquity, the or
igin of which forever must remain
mystery to the human mind, is now
Enclosed by high fence of barbAl
wire. To this has to be added the
novelty of a turnstile, through which
persons DESTROYS of inspecting the
stones may pass en- payment of shi.-
ling each.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-29
ARMY AND NAVY NOTES. ,

Orders fc1 the establishment of
the European station have been issued
by the secretary of the navy, and Rear
Admiral Cromwell has been ordered to
proceed at one to Europe and assume
command of tie station. For the pres
ent his squadron Will consist of the
cruiser Chic go, hagsh1p, and the
cruiser Albar and the gunboat Nash
Vile. The chicago is now the flag
shin of the eouth Atlantic station, but
has receive orders to proceed from
Rio de Ja,4lro, Brazil to Gibraltar
and the Al my and Nashville have al
READY left 'aYlte for Suez, where they
aAIa-t, -rsc We orders from Rear Admi-
raj Cromv7ll. 1t is stated at the navy
department that ssss&at the ae1sr bat
tleships will be ordered to the Euro.
pean station some time in the fall. II
is more than prsbable that either the
Kearsarge or the Alabama will be Sc
lected for this duty The European
station was abandoned in 1898, JUS
previous to the war with
Spain.
II. Phelps Whitmarsh, governor oil
Benguet province, northern Luzon
who has been ordered to Manila tc
submit to an investigation, has had an
adventurous career, according to news
paper biographies, having been a
tramp, silver miner, sheep herder
pearl diver, beach comber, barber and
author. He is the son of an English
clergyman, and was born in Canada
and was travelling over the Philip
pines for a monthly magazine when
he was, though British subject, Sc
lected for Benguet's governor. He is
now accused of using his position to
his personal advantage in acquiring
land and mining rights from the ma
tives
Work on two sections of a target
representing the sides of an iron-clad
warship, to be used for experiments
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-29
English sob,s lem
bers consiSs in
Prison Cell,

that had no ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS No
amount of royal influence could save
her from Jail. Italy has two nony,ct
dukes, chiefs of the famous old IN
Gillian house of villarosa who mnr-
dered in a most cruel mannar o,,ro
infantry lieutenant who was betrothed
70 their sister the Princess Catarina.
me murderer dukes are confined in
the great penitentiary of Maddalena,
near Naples, which also shelters the
Prince Caracciola. sentenced to ten
years hard labor for the murder OF
his wife. This noble prisoner was once
deserted by his beautiful wife. AS an
effectual revenge he poisoned her with
arsenic. In consideration of his prince.
ly name, the murderer escaped with
ten years term. Pennsylvania Grit.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-29
Nomadio New Yorkar..

New orkers move oftener than the
people Of any other large city in the
world. The city directory shows that
on an average 65 per cent of the resi-
dents change their addresses in the
course of year. High rents and the
apartment system Of living are largely
responsible for the many changes, but
real estate agents hold the prevalent
system Of permitting q tenant to oc-
cupy fiat or a house rent free for q
few weeks or more, as an inducementi
to move INTO it, to blame for the
nomadic tendencies Of large proper
ton Of New y orkers. New York Bun.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-29
Natural Tunnel Is a Wonder.

In locating the Virginia and South
western railroad through the Alle-
ghanies from Virginia into Tennessee
advantage was taken of natural tun-
nel which is one of the wonders OF
the world. The distance through this
tunnel is about 1000 feet and so near
ly perfect is the tunnel that only sixty
feet of blasting was necessary. The
region is of limestone formation, as
always where there are extensive
caves. The cliffs at each end of the
tunnel are 400 feet high, and the
scenery in the locality is remarkably
ne.-Indianapolis News.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-29
A Note and a sphinx-Like Smile.

A Note and q Sphinx-Like Smile.
other one was his betrothed.. He had
seen her look exactly like both of
them. The more he looked at it the
more it seemed to him that the two
pair of dancing eyes in the photograph
challenged him mockingly for an an
swer. Finally he threw it down in
despair.
I'm making mountain out of a
molehill," he assured himself. when
l see the girls I'll know which is
Gladys fast enough. It's just like
Bob to try and worry me about it.
III just fool him this trip
Nevertheless he found himself wip.
ing the drops of perspiration from his
brow at the mere thought of the Dos
sibilities.
He did not find the situation any
more tolerable next day at the depot.
Bob Garrison was on hand, full of
badinage and advice as to the best
way of getting out of it. He seemed
to take it for granted that Blake was
going to make mistake, and by the
time the train drew in Jim had allowed
himself to be badgered into a condi-
ton in which he would hardly have
recognized his own father.
Blake saw vision of loneliness de-
scending the car steps which he recog-
nized at once as Gladys. There could
be no doubt about it, and he went for
ward with radiant face and out
stretched hand. She even wore a
brooch with a miniature set in it on
the belt about her waist which he re-
membered to have seen before. Jim
had always understood that it was not
the proper thing to salute young
woman in a public place, but for this
one occasion he made ansexception. He
was going to show Bob Garrison that
he was not so slow after all. A moment
later he looked up to see a second
Gladys standing beside him with
curious smile on her lips. For just
second doubt crossed his mind, but
then he recollected the miniature and
smiled complacently. Out went his
hand to her in frank brotherly greet
AA6' / ASoCAIAy uo UtCdm0 aware OIL
Garrison lowering in the background
shaking a fist at him, and introduced
him with slight momentary confusion.
After which the party gaily drove
home in cab.
Blake devoted himself to Miss
Gladys with lover-like ardor which
left nothing to be desired. At the
house the young ladies left them for
few minutes while they departed for
their rooms to make change of toilet.
Luckily for Jim the miniature was
still in evidence when they returned,
so that he was sure of his betrothed;
otherwise, even he was forced to con-
fess. there was not a pin to choose be-
tween them. While they had been
absent Jim had taken occasion to make
some remarks about the sure instinct
Of love for finding its mate. He as
spred Garrison that one glance into
the eyes OF his Gladys had set his
doubts at rest entirely, with some more
Of the same kind Of talk. Az for Gar.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-29
A Slight Mistake.
BY WILLIAM M,LEoD RAINE.

BY WILLIAM M'LEOD RAINE.
Copyright. 1901, by Daily Story Pub. Coz
Garrison examined the photograph
long and earnestly. as the ethics of the
situation seemed to require.
They're as pretty as peaches, and
rs like as two peas. 1 congratulate
you on your taste, old man."
I'm glad you like her looks. l
mean her sister for you"
Thanks, awfully. BY the way,
which is the sister? To me they look
as much alike as the two Dromios."
Blake flushed. THE ueuce of it is
tho 7 don't know Gladys from Nell.
Th.. Se twins van know. met Gladys
one summer ii ds Adil ,ndacks. That
! was two years ago, and though we be-
came engaged l haven't seen her
since"
And when did you see the other one
1ast? What's her name-Nell?" asked
Harrison.
II never have seen her. OF course.
- Hsard a great deal about her from
aaXs in IaS sfs::.ero.-. In ono way 1t
the same as knowing her."
fs exactly. No difference at
Jagged Garrison ironically. II
sly like your generosity, Jim.
ISM every man would be so free Of
as ssters-in-law as you are. You
show the proper spirit. Considering
4 the eytent of your acquaintance with
her Sle probably wouldn't thank you
for @sposing of her matrimonially,
though. Girls are a little odd that
waI They like to meet the man they
areeeoing to marry before their friends
ar1 pge the details-at least, that has
bee my experience with American
girN
Ill, you may guy me all you
ple@e Bob, but I'll bet hat you are
runn Rg after her before week is up.
Shell lead you merry chase, too, if
she anything like her sister," re-
p 1asesp line other young man com,
q Robert Garrison examined the
photograph again, and when he hand
ed it bad said dryly:
My frAnd, see your finish. When
chose girlSget off the train you won't
know one fPm the other You'll get
ratified and make a mistake sure as
shooting. Go slow, my son. 1t doesn't
do to be engaged ITO girl and not
recognize her when you see her.
don't know much about the sex, but
think know that much"
Blake scoffed. ooh, I'll know Gladys
when l see her. What do you take
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-29

league company. First on the list of
twirlers comes that young man who
set the baseball world agog by his
marvellous speed and curves, Christie
Matthewson. Up to the beginning of
the present season he was unknown in
baseball circles, but he had only
pitched a few games when his name
was on the lips of we'll nigh every low
er Of the national game in the country.
Taylor, New York state Lacquer, has
also done good work with the New
Yorks, as has Phyle Both of these
are new corners in the league.
An Ex-State Lacquer.
The New York management has re-
Gently added to it's pitching corps an
other New York State Lacquer in the
person of Willie Mills. Mills was the