davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1902-02-15

as few pennies viii buy token that
most anyone would be pleased todraw
out of an envelope. And 1t is very SEN
sible in the manufacturers to send out
inexpensive valentines, for the little
paper things do not last long, and q
simple background win carry just as
pretty message as solid silver slab.
The idea of sending these express
sions of affection is an inpocent one
and should be encouraged The music
and perfume of life are none too com
mon, and these zephyrs of good will
cannot help making little stir Of hap
pluess. But a valentine is not neces-
sarily confined to a cardboard picture;
other things answer to the same name,
and a very pretty token to be sent at
this time is something from the flor
lists stock. And a pretty way TO bear
out the sentiment Of affection is by
sending towering plant,palm OF fern
something that can be kept ever
green.-Detroit Free Press
Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1902-02-15
ANONYMOUS VALENTINES.
The Charm Of These Gifts Lies In the
Fact That the Sender 10
UnknOwn.

st. Valentine, long the patron saint
of courtship, has come in our day to
belong almost as wholly to children AZ
does our good old friend, st. Nicholas.
The paper lace and tinsel, the gayly
printed loves and doves and roses OF
ready-made valentines make pretty
playthings, and signify suitable exc
change of childish attentions; but they
are quite beneath the dignity OF young
folk old enough to take themselves
seriously IS lovers.
Indeed, the counting quality has
quite vanished from the day. which
used-as readers of scott's "Fair Maid
of Perth" will remember-to be a very
important one to maids and bachelors
of long ago. Most of the customs at
tendant on its old observance have per.
ished also. But the opportunity for an
anonymous gift remains; and whether
It Is to be given to lad or lass, little
or big, whether It is token Of friend.
I ship or an Offering of sentiment, the
custom is a pretty and graceful one,
and q pleasing survival from times
gone by.
Christmas and birthday gifts are,
delightful because we do know the
givers, but the charm Of a valentine
lies in the very fact that we'do not.
1t is interesting to guess, agreeable to
discover, exciting to have the mystery
remain unsolved. There Is also added
satisfaction in the circumstance that
being anonymous, the valentine is the
sincerest and most disinterested OF
tributes, carrying neither an obliga-
ton nor an expectation Of return.
Flowers, or-with reference to the
early traditions of the day-a pair OF
gloves, or a book of lyrics make per-
haps the most suitable gifts for St.
Valentines day, exclusive of the shop
made valentines. An attractive substi-
tute for these can also be found in good
photographs from any of the numer-
GUS Cupids so popular with artists OF
all centuries, from the sculptured
marble grace Of the Cupid Of Praxi-
teies to the rings of dancing loves by
Albani, and the countless flock OF
winged and dimpled babies OF more re.
cent art. 1t is needless to add that
February IA is the budding poets an
nual opportunity, and that no tribute
is quite so fitting as an original one In
verse.
In old days gifts were not only
anonymous, but sent in mysterious
ways. An amusing scene OF famous
drama represents the girlish heroine
receiving valentine from the hero;
It arrives in the middle Of large plum
cake, from which, too excited even to
niBble, she rapturously extracts 1t, and
holds 1t triumphantly up to view. 1t
consists of two large hearts transfixed
by a long. yellow arrow in the center
of a plain sheet Of, foolscap.
If such valentine were sent to-day,
It is probable the cake would be more
appreciated than the contents. and
that the fair recipients digestion
would be affected rather than her
heart.-Youth's Companion.
Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1902-02-15

beginnin' this time O. year." insisted
Cephas, irritably. "T'he only question
is, what form Of valentine. Telathy,
should you" Cephas leaned forward
with his hands on his knees. and his
voice dropped to ghostly whisper
SHOULD you send one in the form OF
poetry%
Poetry Is some like peppersass,"
unused Te.atha; 'good in its place.
Now. at d fun'ral-"
"Who's talliin' O. fun'ra.s?" put in
Cephas, testify. "Listen now, Telathy,
I'm goin' to read you some poetry"
He rose, and, standing behind the
churn, unfolded sheet of foolscap.
"The name ont" he announced, sis
The Sword of St. Valentine"
Telatha nodded and laid down her
Skinner. to listen. Cephas began de-
claiming with q vigor that made the
mi.kpans vibrate. 1t was rhymed out.
burst Of devotion, feryent, but merci-
fully brief.
II made 1t myself" said Cephas, mod
estly, when he. had finished.
$50 l should jedge," returned TIE.
latha, serene.y resuming her skim
ming.
.Mebbe you don't understand it,"
said Cephas, lofty. "The Teller, you
see, goes and sings song under her
winder to tell her his hearts broke"
III twas l don't b'lieve he'd make al
that noise about it," observed Tela tina,
beginning on another pan. "When
folks hearts break they don't 60 of
with q bang and hit the bystanders,
Cephas."
Cephas was struck by the acuteness
of this criticism. He looked q little
blank.
"Wal, darn It all, Te!athy, she's got
to have valentine" he protested. land
paper ones with flowers on 'em haint
to my notion. There's nothin' original
about EN-"
"Then buy her something nice" said
Telatha, soothIngiy. "She'll under
stand that, II 1t amt poetry"
81 would il only knew what said
Cephas, desponding.y.
Then he frightened up at sudden
thought.
"Why, I'll buy It and bring it round
here tomorrow, SOS you can help me
make up my mind" he said. ut won't
have to be sent fore to-morrer night"
And, looking nightly relieved at this
solution of the difficulty, Cephas de.
parted.
The next day Telatha, taking her
pans down from the shelves at the
usual hour. spied Cephas coming up
the lane. He was floundering through
the deep snow, much encountered with
parcels of all sorts and sizes. Te.atha
looked at him in some surprise as he
ca me in and dumped the bundles in q
heap on the floor. There was an air
of determination about him that was
| rather new.
snow, look here, Te.athy," he began,
opening one of the bundles, "how'd you
think this would do?"
He held up a plaster Of paris -shep-
herd, with startlingly blue eyes and
mouth that either by intention or a
chance stroke of maker was in the
shape of a letter o. He was embracing
the shoulders of chilly-looking shep'
herdess who stood gazing into space
with the .unruflled calmness OF Te-
latha herself.
Saint it good hint?" said Cephas,
Economically.
"Land sake, Cephas," returned the
uninmpressionable lady of the milk
Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1902-02-15

ence," rejoinAS Telatha. f"But guess
she's got pin cushions enough, Cephas."
He opened the last and largest parcel
and flung the folds Of a shimmering
silk across Telatha's shoulder.
"Take care, Cephas, it'll be into the
cream pail" warned Talatha; but her
eyes were shining with admiration OF
the beautiful fabric. Silk dresses were
rare in Eden.
"wal, will that do?" demanded
Cephas.
II should think So" replied Tela-
tina, cautiously, "but I don't know
much about her tastes and notions
She's turrible stylish, Cephas."
"She amt no sich thing" rejoined
Cephas, "but she's goin' to be-"
Telatha thought of Widow Payne's
last hat, and opened her mouth to
argue the matter. But Cephas came
out from behind the churn Withstand.
ling suddenness.
"You're mighty hard to suit. Tela-
thy" he said, grimly. IF you won't
have any of the things, will you have
me?"
He drew himself up superbly.
Telatha was lifting her last pan
from the shelf. She looked across it at
Cephas.
do you mean will I have you If Wild
der Payne won't?"
"Hang It, mol" shouted Cephas. "You
hain't ,goin' to marry me to Wilder
Payne, unless I'm a mind to, air We
It's you I'm askin'. Will you, Telatha
Allen, have me, Cephas Wheeler?"
Ella, yes, Cephas," returned Telatha
beginning to skim the pan, if'youre
sure it's me you want"
Cephas came around the table.
"Put down that skinner, Telatha,'
he said. eve got on my satinet ives
cut. It's ten year sence kissed you
an then I-was so ALFRED mad I didn'
appreciate it as I'd oughter."
"Cephas," said Telatha, pushing him
away to look at him; "you didn't NEAR
It for me when you made up The Sword
of st. Valentine""
Cephas looked abashed. "No,
didn't" he answered, truthfully. 90
was layin' out to send it to Wilder
Payne-like a fool. But last night
went down to her house after left
here, and there she sot in dress tha
reached half across the room, an
fell over tan then I'm blamed II hel
tongue didn't 60 all the evening lik!
that churn dasher, an couldn't get
word in edgeways, an ] sot an though
of you, Telatha, skimming your mill
and holding your tongue like a sensi
BILE woman, and I realized what foo
I'd been. see now, Te.atha, twas thu
thoughts of you that allus come be
tween me and the rest Of the wome'
folks"
I'm glad you didn't mean the poetr!
for me-. Telatha said, placidly, "be
cause 'twould have been such BAT
beginnin'."
"There hain't ne other woman lik
You in the world, Telatha," exclaimed
Cephas. looking at her with burst 0
admira tion.
oval. I guess I'll wash up the mill
pans" said Telatha.-Springfiel'
(Mass) Republican.
Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1902-02-15
Not seeking an Acceptance.

81 suppose SOu will send me valen-
tine next month. as usual" said Miss
Cayenne. V-Htft
"Yes," answered Willie Washington,
who means kindly, Il haven't faxed In
that respect in long time. ] have pro-
posed toyou for great many years,
and hope to have the pleasure of pro.
posing to you for great many years
to come WA shington Star.
Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1902-02-15

VI ShlhhthS AAAN -
Edeu-,hat was the name OF the town
-and as Telatha, in the capacity OF
hired hep, took care of Dea Wright's
dairy, you were always sure OF hnoing
her among the milk pans at that hour
Cephas Wheeler was sure oil II as nc
came p.odding up the lane, lifting ms
feet and setting them down with quite
unnecessary force.
"There's sunthin' on his mind, MUIR
INJURED Telatha, TRANQUILITY, watching
him. "There allus is. It's lucky faint
never anything very heavy, or 'twouid
break down. His mind want built'to
carry much of heft. lmake no doubt
he's comm to ask whether or no he'd
better speak up to the Wilder Payne.
La. what fool ma isl" and Telatha
went composed.y back to her skim
ming.
There had been time when Cephas
Wheeler had asked Telatha the ques-
tion he was evidently intending to put
to the Widow Payne. But that was ten
wears ago, and Telathn could not at
that time leave her father, who was
failing from day to- day. So nothing
had come Of 1t, except that Csphas APP
peared to deduce the conclusion that
since Te.atha had refused him herself,
she was bound to provide for him In
some other way. to which end he had
brought all his affairs to her for ad'
iustment these many years. These at
fairs were mostly of the sentimental
sort, for Cephas was continually get
ting his eye" as he expressed 1t, on
some particular charmer of Eden town
ship. But somehow they all proved I'M
satisfactory on a Closer acquaintance
though more than one had shown de-
cided favor to the village beau, who
owned two farms and house at the
Cross Roads.
This last affair, however, promised
!, to be more serious. Widow Payne was
25. and beauty, and she had money in
the bank. -
Look here, Telathy," began Cephas,
bursting in among. the milk pans and
p.antipe himself on a stool behind the
churi; "rm going to send valentine
81 wanter know. Take the end Of
your comforter ont O. the buttermi.k
Cephas." mildly admonished Telatha
the unmoved; "apd don't glare like
that; you'll sour the cream"
.Telathy, this as serious business,
prote sted yCephas. looking as If he were
roinp to be hanged; AN lwant some
serious aagice. This aip't goin' to be a
common Valentine. Now, 1elathy, il
YOU wanted to send woman q valen
tine that would put it into her mind
that you was ready to offer her your
heart an hand, What kind of one
would Il be?p 9 ASy's& @,s@.a
"You don't need to put it into hel
/. mind; It's there a ready" returned Te
latba, liferai1n "You know what t<
say to her bes.er'n1ldo, cephas!s 7
II tell ye, valentine Is the proper
Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1902-02-15

Jimmp Scraggs-Nay, nay, Pauline,
/ want We ter git outer de fact dat ye
can't trifle any longer wild me affec-
lions. Me last years valentine 70
gave to anoder-see. &
Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1902-02-15
Extreme ProvocatIOn.

"Phwy were yez whippin' yer Moil1e
so har-rud tn nlarnin'?" Hannigan--
"Ah, the young devil SEE + me, seq he,
Poppy seq he, git yer picter TUX, an
I'll sind wan O. thin &c; tn takcher fr
q vallyntine.' Baltimore American.
A study in Proportion.
Eight hundred thousand comic val
entines are made and sod in this co!un-
try evel Y year" tufan - 4
''Is that co? I'm in luck to get only
nine."-Ch.cago Daily Record. 'ba
Encouraging.
The Patient-Can't you help NE, doc.
tor? feel that am going to die.
The Doctor-Yes, ! think I can
Yonkeis Statesman. Elr
Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1902-02-15
PRETTY VALENTINES.
Flowers md Palms Make Pretty and
Acceptable Gifts and Are
Appropriate.

Not much expense is necessary IN
order to procure pretty little missive.
Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1902-02-15

-
IA,. Yet II takes me gent
ly backward
To the gates OF childhood's CLINE;
And catch a glimpse OF Eden
Through the softly falling snow
As read the simple verses
Written in the long ago.
Little faces that Nave vanished.
Little hands we see no more.
Seem to come to us unbdden
From hey ond the misty shore'
And the valentine cherish.
Old. and quaint and torn, you Know
Is to me the sweetest chapter
Found In LIES fair long ago.
You can hardly read the verses
BY the childish fingers traced
Years that have forever vanished
Have the gentle lines erased;
But in memory's beauteous gardens
Still the fiow'rs Of youthtime blow
And / still repeat the verses
Penned-so long-so long ago.
Sunny links there are that bind us
To the fair and stored past.
Though the cruel years would leave I'd
20 the mercy Of the blast;
So the valentine she sert me
Lends 10 life a sacred glow.
And my heart repeats the verses
Written in Its long ago.
Bending DER the crumpled pages
can see vision fair.
And a form from out the shadows
Seems to seek my easy chair;
All! a hand my boyhood cherished
Strikes the chords OF love. and. 10!
Quick my old heart thrills with music
Crowned with thoughts OF long ago.
Ere I fold the yellow pages
Let me once more read her rhyme,
Traced amid a fair cheeks bushes
In the heart of childhood's cline;
There! put away my treasure.
With the bright sun sinking low;
For the valentine cherish
Binds me to the long ago.
IT. c. Harbaugh. in Ohio Farmer.
Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1902-02-15
1Af; ssysee!apof
81. Valentine
10y MABEL .MtRRlu~

OF !: : +: !: s: =: =; 4: +: ::
The Atlanta constitution., 1902-12-22

Secretary of the Interior HitchcOcks
warning against the fraudulent prac-
tices resOrted TO by cattlemen 10 ac-
ouira title to large bodies OF public
land i'm the west is shown to have
been timely and well founded by the
revelations brought to light by the
federal grand jury in session at
Omaha. Nebr Ii would seem that the
frauds complained of have been OF a
wholesale nature. and it is estimated
that within the past year. III Nebraska
alone. .0O0. GOO acres OF the public do
main have been fraudUlently filed upon
for homestead. and other millions Of
acres have Eeen stolen in the same
manner. within a very few years, in
otner plain and mountain states OF the
west
As is well understood ~ people ia
miliar with conditions on the bald
prairies of the west, for some hiteeh
wears past a bitter struggle has been
i'm progress between the settler ana
tho cowman for the undisputed pos
session of the country. The former
wants TO develop his claim agrlcultu-
rally. while tie latter wants the iand
10 remain in its virgin state for tree
pasturage During the latter hall OF
the eighties it looked a. If the home
steader had the better of the contest,
for nearly every quarter section OF the
whilom Great American Desert was
souatted on. and in consequence the
nasture lord had to pull down his barb
wire and hurry his steers OF TO mar
ket But successive years OF drouth
wore the sod shanty settler out. and
gradually the cowman regained pos
session or partial possession. 1hen
began a bitter feud between the IN
domitahle homesteaders who renamed
or continued 10 come in and the herds
man. The claim holder was fenced n
side great pastures and, in some IN
stances. intimidated until he was
forced to abandon his claim. lie cut
the cowman's wire and the cowman S
cattle ate his growing crops. There
were KILN and outrages OF varl-
ous kinds. The cowboy, being pro-
verbal bad man." at length was pret-
~ much master of the situation. me
settlers who stayed could be nan
died"
knowing that they would continue
IN no anpoyed by recurring tides OF
immigration and continuous SEasmo-
die efforts of settlement, the cattle
men set about acquiring title to the
range without paying for it at the land
Office. Their scheme was bold and
shrewd. In addition to thousands oil
claims Icing filed upon by cowboys
paid adventurers and dummies. in
volving perjury without limit. vastly
greater number of widows claim
entries were fraudulently made in the
interest of the land-greedy ranchers.
The Atlanta constitution., 1902-12-22
The Color Line in Labor.

In the course of an address at an
educational meeting in Philadelphia
last week eX-President Cleveland
spoke OF the advances already accom-
plished in the education of the negroes
of the country and the practical bene-
fits of still further equipping them in
the training that will ensure cOmpe-
tency along lines of self-support by
manual labor arts. One of his re-
marks was more than usually signih-
cant. spoken when and where it was
delivered He said he looked for a
day when no man in employing a me
chanic would ask as TO his color, but
only as to the character of his work.
Undoubtedly Mr.. Cleveland had in
his thought the great mass of negroes,
those who reside in the south and
really are the race" In the United
States. But il is strange that man
of such resources as Mr.. Cleveland
the knowledge that came TO him as
twice the president of the nation and
as for a long time one of the trustees
of a great fund in aid OF negro educa-
tion-did not take advantage at that
point of his address to discriminate
between the treatment accorded TO the
negro ldDOrer III lne SOuln anu lHdl
dealt out to him in the busy and phi
lanthrOpic north.
In the south the negro with a trade
who wants 10 work at it finds no diff
Guilty in getting it and no discrimina-
ton practiced agaist him in the valua-
ton of it. The Constitution has often
called attention to the absolute free
dom and facility with which the negro
mechanic obtains employment, steady
and remunerative, in any southern
community. His color is never made
a barrier to his acceptance in the labor
field All over the south such artisans
are working side by side on the same
work with white men by the tens of
thousands, even as we write these
lines. The fact is too notorious to be
dubtable.
1t is not so in the north. The ne
gro's color is his chief disqualification
in that region and only those who are
willing to be the veriest of menials
gen countenance and work. The ne
gro may black boots. but he may not
be house carpenter; he may be a
hostler, but he may not be a brick
mason, stone-cutter or iron-worker.
The Atlanta constitution., 1902-12-22
Cuba's Backbone" Railroad.

The infant republic Cf Cuba seems
to be earnestly proceeding on the max
i'm that God helps those who help
themselves. Thus far the Cubans, as
a new nationality, have put to shame
the confident predictions of a few
months ago that they would make a
sorry out of padding their own gov
ernmental canoe. Not only hav Our
swart brethren of the summer seas ex
hIbited sagacious and self-confident
qualities of local self-government, as
American diplomacy is beginning to
perceive, but the material progress of
the long-ravaged isle has been most
gratifying, and even remarkable. OF
course, outside capital is largely in
strumental in exploiting the practical
ly undeveloped resources of Cuba, but
the Cubans have inspired the conf
dence that was necessary to put cap
ital to work.
One of Cuba's greatest commercial
needs was an east and west railway
connecting Havana with Santiago. For
centuries the two cities have been al,
most as completely separated for pur'
The Atlanta constitution., 1902-12-22

A widow of federal soldier of the
civil war is permitted to prove up"
a homestead without being subject to
the governments requirements o. resi-
dence. obtaining her patent at the end
OF five years. Agents of the cattle
syndicates secured the whole United
States persuading such widows to
make entry upon such lands as best
suited the purposes OF the conSplra-
tors. These widows have signed away
in advance their final proof papers,
for nominal consideration, any sum
being looked upon as windfall. The
cattle companies. of course, will be
the beneficiaries. and if their plan are
not frustrated, they will soon own
vast areas of the public domain for
a song.
While it is true that much of this
land can never be made to grow crops
without irrigation, and the irrigation
of il seems to be tterly impracticable.
there is a right way to acquire title to
it. and the rights Of the American
homesteader must be respected and
protected against public land thieves
of whatever sp~ cies. In former years
the railroads were the greatest Of
tenders against the spirit of the United
States homestead laws. This latest
scheme to appropriate to private own
ership whole townships and counties
of raw prairie land. amounts to ma
tional scandal. and the interior depart
ment of the government must ferret
out the rascals implicated in the in
famous plot if its management would
escape an avalanche of popular cen
sure. The more the gigantic fraud is
uncovered the greater will be the pub
lies indignant wonder.