davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-19
ARnnid Postal serr;ce.

That the postal service of Berlin has
long been the model las yet unattaina-
blel for the rest of Europe is well
known. But it is not equally matter of
common knowledge that the excellence
of the Berlin postal arrangements of
yesterday no longer satisfies the postal
authorities of today. The latest iGno-
walton has been still more frequent
clearing of the letter boxes and more
rapid delivery than ever. The letter
boxes in the principal thoroughfares
are now cleared every 10 minutes dur
ing the busy hours of the day The
rapidity of delivery of letters recently
even resulted in the saving of human
life. A girl determined to commit sui
eide wrote to her parents of her inten--
ton and posted the letter. which was
delivered within an hour of being post
ed. This enabled the father to hurry
off in cab to the spot in the Thiergar-
ten which his daughter had mentioned
as that where her body would be
found. to catch her alive, box her ears
and take her home-Sidney Whitman
in Harper's Magazine.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-19
THE BARGAIN CRAZE.
Men, 1t Is Alleged, Are as Much II
fected as the Women,

Men, 1t Is Alleged, Are as Much In
fected as the Women.
"This perennial joke about the love
of women for bargains wearies me-"
said a bright business woman the other
day. with most presumptuous supe-
riority men charge our sex with an ex-
travagant zeal for bargains, but l see
enough of business men to assure me
that they are just as eager as women
are to get an article at few cents less
than the usual price.
Mr.. A is generally extravagant
in his personal expenditures, but he is
keen after bargains. The other day he
great satisfaction, and his jubilation
had no other foundation than the dis
covery of street stand where sec
onds in lead pencils were sold at 2
cents each.
eff you know a good pencil when
you see it, he explained. you can rum
mage in the pile and pick out 5 and 10
cent pencils at 2 cents each or three
for g.
land that reminds me of another
bargain. You know the 10 cent cigars
smoke? Well, there is little shop
down near the ferry where you can
get them four for a quarter. 1 just
heard of the place and ran down there
at lunchtime and filed my pockets.
Great bargain
"And would you believe it, that man,
whose transactions run into the mil
lions, went on telling my employer of
bargains in clothes, stationery, etc.,
and Mr.. B stopped in the midst of
his estimates on big contract to note
addresses and to tell Mr.. A of bar
gains he had discovered in neckwear
and shoes and household supplies.
"Yet women are said to monopolize
the bargain hunting disease. New
York Press
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-19
The Queen and Jenny Lind.

There is a pretty story told of Queen
Victoria and Jenny Lind which shows
how the modesty of two women, the
queen of England and the queen of
song, caused momentary awkward
ness which the gentle tact of the singer
oyercame.
1t was on night when Jenny Lind
was to sing at Her Majesty's Opera
House that the queen made her first
public appearance after the memorable
Chartist day
For the great artist, too, this was a
first appearance, for it was the begin
ming of her season at place where the
year before she had won unparalleled
fame. 1t happened that the queen en-
tered the royal box at the same mo-
ment that the prima donna stepped up
on the stage. Instantly tumult of ac-
clamation burst forth.
Jenny Lind modestly retired to the
back of the stage. waiting till the DEM
onstration of loyalty to the sovereign
should subside. The queen, refusing to
appropriate to herself that which she
imagined to be intended for the artist,
made no acknowledgment.
At length. when the situation became
embarrassing. Jenny Lind, with ready
tact, ran forward to the footlights and
sang "God Save the Queen" which
was caught up at the end of the solo by
the orchestra, chorus and audience
The queen then came to the front of
her box and bowed, and the opera was
resumed.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-19
A blind Sale

An exchange tells of a novel plan
adopted by an English hostess to Sc
cure funds for a charity in which she
was interested. She gave dance, in
PRODUCING in the cotillon an auction
figure. In this the favors were for sale.
\ table was spread with them, from
which selections were made. After
the choice the purchaser found the
price affixed on the reverse side. This
might be penny or pound. the limit
Of cost, and was set without any regard
10 the apparent value of the article to
which it was attached. The most tri-
ding article perhaps had the topmost
mark, and vice versa, making choice so
Far as price was concerned pure
chance.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-19
Food of Prehistoric Man.

Upon examining some skulls dating
back from the stone age Mr.. Charters
White, NJ. R. G. s., noted that several
of the teeth, although quite free from
carries, were thickly coated with tartar.
1t occurred to him that it would be
possible by rough analysis to identify
any particles Of food that might be i'm
bedded in this natural concrete and so
reveal the character of the aliment
partaken of by prehistoric man. Dis
solving the tartar In a weak acid,
residue was left which, under the mi
croscope, was found to consist of corn
husk particles, hairs from the outside
Of the husks, spiral vessels from vege-
tables. particles of starch, the point of
a fish tooth, a conglomeration of oval
cells probably of fruit, the barblets of
down and portions of wool.
In addition to this varied list were
some round red bodies the origin of
which defied detection and many sandy
particles, some relating to quartz and
some to flint. These mineral fragments
were very likely attributable to the
rough stones used in grinding the corn
and would account for the erosion of
the masticating surfaces, which in
many cases was strongly marked. This
inquiry into the food of men who lived
not less than 1000 years ago is a mat
ter Of great archaeological interest
Chambers Journal.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-19
A New Way of Hiring asupe..y

Two athletic youths, with more en-
thusiasm- than money, went recently
to one of the city's cheap theaters to
see a prizefighter then starring and
sparring for % cents admission. The
next day they wore half rueful, half
amused expressions which called for an
explanation.
"Well," admitted one of them, I'VE
had the funniest trick played ON US we
ever struck. We saw the play. and of
course we clapped as hard as we could
at the boxing part. Then one of the
ushers came up and said confdentially
that by paying 10 cents extra we could
go round to the back and see some
more boxing We jumped at the chance
and went round behind the scenes No
sooner had we got there than some one
called out: More supes! More supes for
the street scene! and a man rushed up
and said. You go on and supe for the
scene. and we'll refund your money
We were tickled to death, being hard
up. so on we went. After the scene
there was an awful confusion, and we
were hustled out somehow We tried
to get our money. but they were too
spry for us. We just paid 10 cents
apiece to go around and supe for those
people. New York Tribune.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-19
THE BURGLARS BIBLE.
He Said That He Would Get 1t Back
Again, and He Did

Senator John c. Spooner of Wiscon-
sin when young man was attorney
for two men charged with stealing.
There had been taken from the men a
we'll worn Bible and a small drawer.
On the fly leaf of the Bible was the in
scription, ITO My Darling Boy, From
Mother"
The trial was held the next day, and
the future senator made a brilliant
speech to the jury. Ne exhibited the
Bible and pointed to the inscription,
and without leaving their seats the
jury returned a verdict of Not guilty."
After the trial the young men gave
the lawyer $50.
Boys said Mr.. Spooner as they
were about to separate, 81 am curious
to know why you carry that Bible and
the empty drawer" Then the senator
listened with establishment to the his
tory of his clients.
I'VE are professional safe blowers
and have been for five years. This BIZ
BILE has double cover and opens like
this here the self confessed criminal
plOoSCN q AiuucH spring Ill Tue CQlck
cover and disclosed hollow in which
there lay two steel files and a small
saw, land this old drawer has a secret
bottom, where we keep our tools.'
The future senator confiscated the
Bible and the drawer.
One of the thieves shouted angrily,
We'll get those things back yet, you
mark my wordsw
Several years passed, and then the
incident was brought back to Mr.
Spooner's recollection in the following
manner: One evening he and his family
attended an entertainment, and no one
was left at the house. When they re-
turned at late hour, they found that
the house had been entered by bur-
glars and ransacked, but that nothing
apparently was missing The next
days mail brought letter which read:
Dear sir-Please excuse the way we came in
last night, but the door was locked. We neve,
did think you treated us square by swiping our
outfit, and so we came back after it and found
you were not at home. We always keep or
word. Yours truly, JACK AND JIM.
Saturday Evening Post.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-19

Sarah Bernhardt was once playing at
Marseilles in spectacular play in
which she made her entree accompa.
MED by six Turkish slaves. A line on
the programme announced that these
six Turks would accompany Nine.
Bernhardt, but when the time came for
them to go on one of the youngsters
had disappeared. Sarah n ustered the
five in order and made her entrance
with a grand flourish. The house was
crowded, but not a hand clap greeted
her as she appeared. Then STILL small
voice in the gallery murmured some
thing in an indignant tone. Fifty
voices Immediately took up the strain,
and in ten seconds more the whole
house was shouting the same phrase.
Bernhardt strained every nerve to
catch what they were complaining
about. She knew the phrase began
with "Manque," but the rest of it was
lost in the general hubbub. For a full
minute the tumult continued. Then
Sarah, muttering things below her
breath, rushed like fury down to the
footlights. In the front row the ac-
tress had spotted one man who was not
taking part in the hullabaloo Pointing
at him, the actress exclaimed sternly:
You seem to be the only sensible per-
son in the house. Tell me what on
earth they are kicking up this row
for?"
The man rose, bowed to the actress
and remarked in very bad American
French, Madame, you are shy one
Turk
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-19
CHOICE MISCELLANY
BuraIo Head ON New Money.

Secretary Gage a few days ago re-
quested the Smithsonian officials to ar
range to furnish the bureau of en-
craving and printing with a picture of
the head of a huge bison which is a
central figure in the natural history
hall of the National museum, the OBJ
ject being to use it on the third of a
new series of bank notes that is being
Issued by the department. The 81 note
Of this series, which is the handsomest
from an artistic standpoint ever issued
by the government, has as the central
figure an American eagle. The So note
of the same series has an Indian head,
while the $40 note now being made
will, in addition to other changes, bear
Us central figure the head of an Ameri-
can buffalo
1t was the intention to have one of
our war vessels embellish this note, but
for some reason the subject was chang
ed. The case holding the group of buff
falo from which the photograph was
made is not much smaller than an or
binary tenement house and contains a
herd of five of the finest specimens of
the vanishing bison in existence. The
bull whose head will embellish the $40
note is said by DIR. F. W. True, execu-
tive curator of the National museum.
to be the largest animal ever captured
on the Missouri Yellowstone divide. 1t
weighs at least LOGO pounds. his verti-
cal height at shoulders being six feet.
In making the photograph the huge
glass. which was in two pieces. had to
be removed, and it will be replaced
with as large single plate glass as is
made. This only illustrates the great
care taken by the treasury department
to secure, both in portraiture and fig
ure. the best models to be procured. all
portraits being made from the best
licensees of the subject in existence
Chicago Tribune.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-19
Poor Opera Glasses.

Cheap opera glasses are an abomi-
nation" said an eye specialist recently.
'There is no doubt about this. l have
made a special study of the matter.
Lots of eyes are nearly ruined by them.
find this particularly true of young
girls who go great deal to the theater
and who seem to think they must have
opera glasses. To their way of think
ing an opera glass is an opera glass,
and that's all there is to it. So they
buy cheap ones and then wonder why
they have such headaches.
Unless the very best lenses are used
should advise everybody to taboo op-
era glasses. The farther from the stage
one is the better and more perfect the
glasses should be. Exactly the reverse
of this is actually the case, for the peo-
pie who sit in the rear seats or in the
balcony are usually the ones who have
the poorest glasses. A performance
viewed with the naked eye is much
more satisfactory, to my way of think
ing. An opera glass gives but limit
ed view, and only the one object on
which it is focused is visible. l don't
see why people use even the best of
them. "-Philadelphia Record.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-19

In Russia if girl desires to study
at either of the universities etiquette
requires that she should be married.
Accordingly she goes through the civil
form of marriage with one of the men
students, whom she may never have
seen before and perhaps may never
speak to again.
These marriages are perfectly legal,
and if the contracting parties like each
other they are united for life, but other
wise the marriage is dissolved when
their university course is finished and
both are free to marry again. Sonya
Kovalevski, the celebrated mathema-
tician, went through the civil marriage
ceremony with student whom she
then saw for the first time, but who
eventually became her husband
Home Notes
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-19
Hay LOzenges.

Hay loZenges are the popular confec-
tionery among army horses in the Phil
ippines and South Africa. The food. or
rather the form of it, is a Yankee in
vention. called into existence by the
circumstance of war in a country lack
ing good roads. Hay put up in the or
binary bale cannot be transported on
horseback. because of it's weight and
bulk. 1t is therefore compressed by
powerful machinery into disks foot
or Is inches in diameter and two inches
thick. The disks are packed into rolls,
like the lozenges the train boys sell
and hung in sings from the horses
back. one on each side. a single ldz;
enge. when broken up and opened outs
makes a meal for horse or mule aIu
will cure him of that hungry feeling As
quickly as mangerful of fresh hay
The compactness of the new bale also
means a great saving in freight. :
Youths Companion.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-19
Why Roads Are Crooked In China.

The Chinese road is private property,
a strip taken from somebody's land.
This is done much against the will of
the owner, since he not only loses the
use of it. but also still has to pay taxes
on it.
One consequence is that it is wide
enough for only one vehicle. and carts
can pass one another only by trespass-
ing on the cultivated land. To prevent
this the farmers dig deep bitches by
the roadside. AS the surface wears
away and the dust blows off it gradu-
ally grows lower, and after awhile it
becomes a drain for the surrounding
fields. A current forms in the rainy
season, which still further hollows it
out, and thus has arisen the proverb
that a road q thousand years old be-
comes river.
Those whose lands are used for roads
naturally prefer to have the roads run
along the edge of their farms instead
of cutting across them, and this ac-
counts for the fact that Chinese roads
are often so crooked that one may
have to go considerable distance to
reach a place that is in reality but a
few miles away. This always interests
the stranger.-Church Eclectic.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-19
Origin of the Yosemite VALLEY

1t is perfectly obvious to those famil-
lar with glacial phenomena that 70
semitic is quite an ordinary and neces.
sary product of glacial erosion under
the conditions prevailing in that local.
ity. The main glacier came down Te-
maya canyon, cutting it to n steep but
fairly uniform grade. Yosemite valley
is but a continuation of that gorge.
The end Of the glacier at the time that
1t was cutting Yosemite extended not
far beyond Fort Monroe. 1t remained
there for a long time and therefore
plowed out the bottom of the valley to
a considerable depth. Branch glaciers
joined the Tenaya glacier when it filled
Yosemite, coming down the valleys of
Yosemite, Little Yosemite, Illilouette
and Bridal Veil and other creeks and
forming hanging valleys at the juno
ton points. The formation of the YER
teal cliffs of the valley may have been
due to undermining and may have been
aided by the cleavage of the rocks On
the recession of the glacier doubtless
the bottom of the valley was occupied
by lake which has since been partial
ly filed by detritus and drained by the
erosion of MERGED river cutting through
the rock wall at the foot of the valley.
National Geographic Magazine.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-19
Cost of a London Fog.

A London fog is an expensive vista
ton. A day of it, counting the day at
eight hours, is estimated to cost any
thing from $4,000 to 100000 in hard
cash. No small proportion of this goes
to the gas and electric light companies,
which have to supply about a third
more power than usual. But there are
also the railways. Fog signaling is
expensive. At Chaplain Junction alone
ESQ has been spent by a single railway
company during days fog in extra
pay to the plate layers. When the red
light cannot be seen at distance of
hundred yards, the plate layers become
fog signalers, and for this they are paid
shilling a day in addition to their
regular wages and fourpence per hour
overtime. providing the overtime does
not run into second shilling.-London
Chronicle.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-19
HARD 10 PURCHASE.
The Peculiar Red Ribbon of the
French Legion of Honor


The peculiar red ribbon which men,
bers of the Legion of Honor of France
are entitled to wear is to be had in
New York al one establishment, which
is naturally sought out by Americans
honored with this decoration. But
they never have the satisfaction of get
ting the .bbOn until the firm that has
the exclusive sale of it has received
official notice that the persons applying
have the right to display it.
Il know it." said one of the clerks
the other day to a would be purchaser
of the ribbon. Il know that you are
member of the legion and have a right
to buy the ribbon, because read your
name in the paper and know who you
are. But we have not received official
notification of your appointment and
you have not your diploma. So could
not sell you any of it.
1--WE had to make this rule first be-
cause the French government required
it of us when we received the agency.
but we also realize the necessity of it.
All kinds of persons who have no right
to this ribbon try TO get hold of it. All
of them pretend when they find that
we sell it only 10 persons entitled to
wear it either that they are members
of the legion or that they are buying it
on behalf of persons who do belong to
the order. The ribbon is not like any
other. and we know that if any of this
ribbon is bought in New York that it
comes from US. For that reason we are
particular to the extent of requiring
documentary proof from every appli-
cant unless we have received official
notificat ton of his right to wear it,
New York Sun.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-19
MICE QUICK TO LEARN.
So Says a Maine Man Who Ffnds
Them Interesting Pets.

Them Interesting Pets.
Out on Forest avenue is a mouse
fancier whose residence, lest he lose
caste with his neighbors, is withheld.
In a pen he has half a dozen or so or
binary field mice.
"They are the most sociable pets l
ever had" he remarked, land any one
OF them will rise to attention as he
hears my step approach the pen
have had these young ones about six
months. They don't live long when
cooped up, and they will come freely
to my hand to eat or drink. Some of
them are so tame that they will climb
to my shoulder and display not the
slightest alarm at being touched. They
haven't acquired so much faith in all
humanity. however, and have refused
to trust any one else so far.
"While mice eat great deal for an
animal so small when food is abun-
dant. they can exist for a surprising
long time with next to nothing. Any
one whose house has been invested
with mice and who had passed weary
weeks when everything that possibly
could serve as food was carefully I'M
der lock and key, finally calling to
service an active ferret, will appreciate
this fact. He is mighty aggressive
and tireless forager after food not
hesitating at walls or similar obstruc-
tions, through which he patiently
gnaws path. AS test of persistence
in this line | hung a basket of food
from the ceiling by a rope and after
weeks fast placed a mouse at hole
in the ceiling above the basket. He
descended some eight feet or more on
slender cord and safely reached his
haven, later climbing up again.
'All of my mice l have taken from
nests about the premises and notice
that they invariably seek shelter be-
low or behind something, never in so
exposed a locality as almost any other
animal would select. For nest pa
per. cloth or any soft material seems
10 satisfy. and the exceeding fineness
with which it is chopped suggests some
mighty artistic work with their teeth"
Portland Express.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1901-04-19
A Modern PoIoniun

"My son." said the fond but wise
parent, you are leaving me to go cut
into the world: | have nothing to give
you but advice. Never tell a lie. If
you wish to put one in circulation, get
it published. A lie cannot live. but it
takes one blamed long time to fade
out of print.
always read your contract. A man
might consider he was getting a sine
cure if he were offered a position pick
ing blossoms off a century plant; but,
you see, he wouldn't have a remunera-
tive occupation if he were paid on
piecework
BE not overcritical. Even the most
ordinary sort of genius can tell when
the other follow is making a fool of
himself.
Remember that the young man, like
the anglers worm, is rather better for
being visibly alive.
BE careful in the choice of your sur
roundings. Environment will do
great deal for a man. For example,
-four and water in china jug is cream
sauce. In pail ON the sidewalk it is
Dillsticker's paste.
Don't forget that there's time for
everything and that everything should
be done in its proper time. Never
hunt for bargains in umbrellas on a
rainy day.
You may make enemies. If you
know who they are, don't mention
them. Silence is golden 1t saves the
money that might otherwise be spent
III defending libel suit. If you don't
know who they are-well, abuse law
ished on concealed enemy is like
charity indiscriminately bestowed; it's
good thing wasted."-,New York
Commercial Advertiser.