davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-06-17
NEW SHORT srehEs


When Mchemet Ali was khclivc Of
Egypt. there were reports OF discon-
tent and disaffection in the Arab quar-.
ter OF Caiio. and one evening a decree
was issued announcing that any ON,
proved 10 have spoken diSioyally Of the
government would be hanecd on thc
spot. u so happened that The British
consul had asked Tor an audience Of the
Viccroy On the Gay following the issue
OF the decree. According to the Gus
tom Of the time the interview was
fixed for very early hour In the morn.
ing. ON riding past the f,Sbckich gnr-
dcns. which were then sort OF No
Mans Land. the consul saw forty
cOriscs hanging in rows by the road
side with label affixed to them stat
Ing that they had spoken evil OF the
government. At the palace the British
representative expressed surprise NJ SO
many persons having been detected in
50 short time. Mchemot AIRS cxplana.
ton was 20 the following eject: Il sent
word last N.ght 20 tie head OF the po-
lice that he must hang forty persons
by dayhrcak this morning and told hin,
20 pick out twoScore OF the biggest
scoundrcls he could think Of i'm the
slums OF Cairo. l dare SAY they had
spoken or would have spoken diSr,.
specially OF the government. If they
did not. they are n good riddancc. and
NJ any rate. we shall hear no more Of
any popular discomfort under ms rule. q"
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-06-17

Victor iiu-o always wrote standin.
at 4 high disk especially constructed
for him. throwing ~ sheet after sheet
as fast Us Dee diicd it t'n Do would Dc
quite showed mp Ga leaves ~ foo'scap
lie often rose in the middle OF the
night TO note down am idea or verso
lie got up Tor the Jay usreuy 90 e.
O'Clock and would devote from six a.
eight hours per diem % Ais work IT,
made hut icw corrections i's poems
being thought out complete in his brain
before he rct pen 90 paper II is won
known fact that he blu'srd in the az
duous task. Of composition while trav
ersing the streets ~ Taris on the top
II an omnibus Whom working out
some great conception. hc would spend
hours in this way.
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-06-17

Even to the odvCuturcis ald down
right sw!ndlcrs who hung alou, hts
court at Cairo and aftcrward pursued
his wandorngs ismail extended q good
naturod. hair cou.emptnous patronage
He liked q re-'le ian better than q fool
once, when hc had formally forbidden
his door 60 a na grant Dacnder. thc man.
who knew his character. got q ladder
and climbed into The viccroy's room. re-
marking. Il have oheyod your highuess
commands anG have crossed your
threshold by the window and not by
the door" The humor ~ the thing %
once appealed 90 lsmaiL and the offend
er was re'nelatod in his favorable
ueum.
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-06-17

Hughes le Roux tells Of convcrsa-
ton with Guy de Maupassant in which
Le RouN narrated the story Of n Kan
sas cattleman whose rcmorse. after de-
frauding cattle buyers 10y selling water
logged cattle In order that he might
get enough money to buy his daughter
piano, was poignant The cattieman
was described by Lo Roux as unable
10 sleep and as going forth at night
into the cold, wet fields to shiver, beat
his breast and pour forth his agony OF
soul Maupassant is said 10 have re-
sponded: fright there IS the difference
between the man Of France and one Of
another race The French peasant. II
he had played such trick upon the
buyers Of his property, would have
been intensely proud Of it,"
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-06-17

The constituent from san Francisco
was telling President Roosevelt about
the extraordinary qualifications pos
sessed 10y himself FOR the job IN the
consular service which hc was seek
ing senator Perkins was smiling
and approving listener
And do you believe the senator here
Will give you his Endorsement for this
place. asked the president
Il haven't a doubt OF IT," the appli.
cant replied Il am quite willing 20
rest my chances on what the senator
may say"
Very well" said the president. turn
inc 20 tho senator.
but ON one condition. the applicant
added. with haste: provided only that
Dee permitted 90 leave this room after
the senator"
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-06-17

man on his feet that he had spun his
yarn To a suitable length IL was
agreed that the major should pan the
co2ttah OF the speaker when lac had
consumed twenty minutes
Quay was the first man 20 feel the
tCs that notified him that ne must shut
up. but the notice startled the ~oiG
man." He turned such look OF sur
prise at the major that he became the
central figure in the hall Then il
dawned upon the senator thar the ma
jor was only carrying cut his duly ap-
pointed task.
An right. major; III quit said the
senator. You know your part all
right" Turning 10 the crowd. the scna-
tor said Good night" and left the stage
without even a word OF apology for the
abruptness Of his conclusion.
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-06-17
PEOPLE or TIE DAY


When the sll Ahin..ing Ocr'ns IN
Pennsylvania this faN. says Wash
ington correspondent. Major Alexander
Mcdowell viii Resume the oiucc con.
terred upon him two years ago hy sen.
ator Quay. II is that OF coastau puller.
The duties Of that Office in no way i'm.
terfere with those Of his other posi-
ton. which is that ~ clerk OF the
house Of representatives. The other
Office came into existence at Norris.
town In the fan of 1900. while QUAY
was making his meuora bic canvass
f''r reelection 10 che senate. The colo.
mel realized that the men in his party
were talking too long. 50 he csisnatsd
Mcdowell as the person To notify the
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-06-17

On one occasion at crowded per
tormance al The Royal thoater in sgd
ney. y. ). w. a number Of years ago
a couple Of sailors who had been drink
ing were seated In the gallery One
lost his balance and frr into the stalls
The other Immediately cried. Man
overboardr' and Owed after his com
panion. With the proverbial luck OF
drunken sailors the FIRST escaped with
a broken leg and the second without a
scratch
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-06-17

Emma Nevada, she invited. among 9TH
crs' several Americans. Henry NJ.
Stanley was there. too. fresh from his
African trlumphs. As Nevada stepped
10 the piano the hum OF conversation
about him showed no indication OF
subsiding. The voice OF the hostess
imploring silence was not heard.
stepping 60 the piano. AIRS. stan
nard. rs though 10y accident, fell with
one arm from wrist 10 elbow sQuarely
on the keys OF the piano. The crash
stopped all talk. and the guests looked
on In astonishmcnt.
How awkward OF me-' exclaimed
the hostess sweetlv.
But there was no more talk.
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-06-17

There Il n Difference between IT,
formation and knowledge.

Nnehc Il a difference between Ia
formation and Knowledge.
A sreot many people mistake infor.
nation for knowlc>lgc What u,an
most needs - not that he may lie pos
SsSscd OF an accumulation OF facts. hut
that he may know where 70 look Tor
the facts when he wants them. We an
know the unpleasant individual who Is
continually seeking information. You
show him about your city and he asks
How many miles OF street railway
have you I'm your cityl" What l. The
price of ice here this summer How
many churches ere there hCycT' "fIow
long has that building been standing -
etc. al nauscam. You don't know ana
wonder why ne wants 20. You know
where you can find out. and that is
enough Tor you.
And then there IS that equally lis
Agreeable person who actually seems
10 be- tank Of facts. lie has mos-c In
formation than anything else and d,
lights in asking YOU most extraordinary
questions. When YOU confess your L..
nor0nee. he viii look upon ycu with
pity and eNclaim. What. don't yoa
know and then tell you when you
don't want 90 know az ALL For exam
pie. he is much surprised because YOU
don't know how long the Amazon river
Is. He permits You nay. he Insists
that you should guess. only that ht
may the better humniate YOU His
brain is 50 incumbtrcd With facts that
Il is almost useless. Life Is too short
for man 10 try 10 constitute himself
n library Of universal knowledge when
the reservoirs Of such knowledge arc
ready 10 hand when it is uecded.-Mau
chester Union.
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-06-17
How He secured silence.

Mrs. Arthur Stsnnari. better known
10 the literary world rs John Strange
Winter. who Is president OF the Inter
national Society II Women Journalists
in London. always has some musical
celebrity 60 meet the guests NJ her
weekly afternoon receptions during the
season. One day. ont Of courtesy to
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-06-17

Mr.. President" said Senator Clamp
Of Minnesota, ''the Black Eagle Of Fer
gus Fails during the debate on the
Chinese exclusion bill under the five
minute rule. Il desire to speak on the
amendment to this bill concerning the
status Of Chinese soldiers
Mr.. President" put in Senator Onay.
If the senator from Minnesota will
permit me, ! will say that the amend
ment 10 which he refers was defeated
some minutes ago"
Then, Mr. President" continued
senator Clapp. Il have only TO add that
the senate has missed the greatest
speech Of the session"
And he sat down.
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-06-17

Miss Alice Morton. who has just ere
ated a mild sensation by introducing
into Chicago the new feminine fashion
n carrying cane. is the niece OF Levi
T. Morton. who was formerly vice
president OF the United States. This
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-06-17

Valet - Doctor. don't you find that
master is growing terribly thinf
DoctOr-No harm IN TINT friend. He
was getting too fat lie VIII be much
better in health when he is thinner.
Valet Disappointed Very likely. only
] shan't be able to wear his clothes"
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-06-17
MSS ALICE MonroN

cane, or stick. to use the proper term.
has a crooked head. around which n
silver snake with emerald eyes gently
twines itself Miss Morton belongs 10
the smartest set in New York and is
one Of the most popular girls in Goth
am society.
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-06-17
VIRGINIA CLOTHING HOUSE.

Mems Boys and Children's CLOTHING; Gents
Furnishings, Shoes. Hats Caps Etc
splendid assortment of all and best NOT garment
here that isn't all it should be quality and STYLE all as e
FULLY made as hghcass makers do it, no custom work Is ~
Seamless Overall the invention strong and eorcort
guarantee with every pair patented Feb 1902 Don't FORGET
your 9ld place the Virginia Clothing House. H. FALK Propr
ol4 Nam St Open evenings till o'clock Out Of town orders
promptly attended to. ''''''
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-06-17

-You shouldn't judge a man by the
cigars he gives you" remarked the
philosopher. "Some one may have Civ
en- them to him. Cincinnati CONNER
cial Tribune.
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-06-17
JUST AS EASY.

10 cook uice things as rolling of a LOG
especially when You buy one OF those tin,.
No"N stoves from X. l. STONE. Have
you seen the Dewey Cook Stovcs WI. :,
Is grand. Have YOU seen the Fit i &c
ana Good Luck, Just take y look al them
AIS" take look az the Steel Ranges and
"uf AR Tight Stoves can show Won The
hneSt that are made I will not name any
prices here, hut ] will guarantee TO be
cheaper than any one am born stove
haven got thchusiucss To learn. ,.sr,,ci,li,.
when have been working at IL for * wears.
MY prices will knock the pcrsimmons OF
the trees Many dollar will be saved If
youcail atR- L. STOVES the oldest
stove house IN the city. 2oS Commerce
street
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-06-17

stops the cough and works cff the Cold.
Laxative Bromo-Q uinine Tablets cure
cold in one day. No Cure. no Paw
Price - cents
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-06-17
Attention..
School
Teachers!

The time has arrived for school
vacation and il any Of the teachers in
the nearby counties want to do some
special work during the summer they
VIII learn something of interest to
them by addreSSing
THE FREE LANCE.
fredericksburg, Va.
The Colfax chronicle., 1902-02-08
Expensive Books.

The largest sum of money ever pail
for book was 250,000 francs, an
amount equal to $4,000. This sum was
paid by the German government for
a "Missal" formerly owned by Pope
Leo X, and by him presented to Henry
VIII. of England, along with the parch-
ment which conferred on that monarch
the title of defender of the faith,'' 2
title which has since been borne by
all Saxon rulers. In the time of Charles
ii. the "Missal" was presented to the
ancestors of the famous duke of Ham
ilton. The dukes library of rare and
curious books finally fell into the hands
of Sotherby, Wilkinson & Hodge, Lon
don book auctioneers, who disposed
of the relic to the German govern
mert for the price stated. As slong ago
as 1912 a syndicate of rich Venetian
Jews called upon Pope Julius. ii. and
+ attempted to purchase from him the
celebrated Hebrew Bible" which Is
now kept in the vatican. They made
all kinds of propositions, finally offer
ing its weight in gold. 1t weighs 325
pounds, and would therefore have net
ted Julius omething like 500, 900 had
he consented to sell 1.-THE Bookman
The Colfax chronicle., 1902-02-08

The dodo will bite, the worm will tarn.
At one fashionable boarding house .
young lady who daily ate hash with the
other guests acquired quite reputation for
odd table manners. They we're unique.
She would haul any dish she fancicd up to
her place and eat it; regardless OF the ugly
glances of the others. They might cry OUT
Help. help, help, or help wanted" de-
spairingly, but they never got IT. ONE
stern look Of disapproval on the face Of >
new boarder, swell young man: nr.
Hizhtone," she began, suavely, Il trust
you will pardon my daughters bad man
ners.
bad manners" exclaimed the indignant
dude. why, she hasn't any manners at all! Z
louisville Times.
The Colfax chronicle., 1902-02-08
WAR ON MOSQUITOES.
Recent Reports Show Tint Good Re-
suits Have Bcen Obtained by
Havana Authorities.

It is several months since the pub
tic has heard anything of particular
interest concerning Havana's war on
the mosquito. Possibly some persons
have imagined that because the sub
ject ceased to figure in news dis
patches this method of preventing
yellow fever had been less successful
than it promised to be. How errone-
Gus such an idea, if it exists really is,
is proved by the contents of the last
report of Maj. w. c. Gorgas, U. S. A.,
chief sanitary officer of Havana. This
report is for the month of October
and shows that whereas this month
has been ordinarily one of the Sc
verest of the year so far as yellow
fever mortality is concerned, this
year there was not single death
from the once much dreaded scourge.
During the last ten years the maxi
mum number of deaths from yellow
fever for the month of October was
in 1896, when a total of 240 was
reached. The minimum was in 1899,
when tht deaths numbered 25. The
average for the month during the ten
years has been 66.27 deaths, and it is
evident, as Maj. Gorgas observes, that
complete exemption of the city from
fatal cases of yellow fever is not the
result of mere chance, says the Troy
Times.
Maj. Gorgas declares with emphasis
that the real reason why the yellow
fever mortality is less is that a re-
lentless war has been waged upon the
mosquitoes that have hitherto trans
mitted the disease from one person
to another. 1t is true that the sani-
tary conditions of the city have been
much improved, but this has contrib
uted only in small degree to the ex-
cellent results. The October figures
alone are cause for congratulation,
but when Maj. Gorgas adds that there
has not been a single death from yell
low fever in the entire city of Havana
since April 1, although the average
for these months had been 362.16, it
is evident that results almost APP
proximating the miraculous have
been secured. 1t must be admitted
that Maj. Gorgas is the best author
ity as to what produced these re-
suits, and his findings should, there
fore, encourage the world to fight
with vigor that the mosquito may be
exterminated.
The Colfax chronicle., 1902-02-08

throat, lungs and bronchial tubes, In
fact. DO matter where located.
Few people rcalize-that most sick
nesses start from colds which develop
into different affections and finally be-
come chronic, settling often on the
lungs and frequently csusing serious
trouble in the pelvic organs, while in
women 1t develops into diseases pecul-
lar to the sex.
From my experience with Peruna l
have found it very eff1cacious to cure
these diseases, and / recomms nj it
l.. S. SMITH, M. d.
DIR. Mary Smith. Winfield, Ind,
writes:
"A weak and sick woman must not
expect to bear we'll children. For over
81 years my efforts have been spent
among sick women especially, and
among all the remedics | have used.
Is the best and safest II Q 3icine to give
a woman suffering fion ovarian
trouble, Inflammation, and profuss
menstruation.
81 would not be doing my duty as
physician did / not advise its use.
know by experience that Peruua curee
sick womep, and / therefore gladly in
dorse it." DIR. MARY SMITH.
If you do not receive prompt and salts
factory res sul.s from the use tf Peruna,
write at once to DIR. Hartman, giving =
full statement OF your case, and ho
will be pleased to give you his valuable
advice gratis.
Address DR.. Hartman. President OF
The Hartman Sanitarium, Columbus, o.
The Colfax chronicle., 1902-02-08

Telephone and telegraph are both
both educators. They have trained and
are training our people to new wsys
of doing business. They have material.
ly changed social life on the fnrm and
in the small town. The people without
them must be out of the game. Here
they began and here they have been
most wonderfully improved. All tho
world comes here to learn the twin
arts. Our methods, our exchnngea,
Offices, our plants. are the model for
the world. and nowhere has there been
such progress as here. A traveller who
had lived for many years in Greece
recently landed in New York. On
reaching his hotel he asked for pie.
Why? Because" he said, Il have just
come from beknighted country that
has neither pies nor telephones."-
Charles Bernard, in Chautauquan.
The Colfax chronicle., 1902-02-08

Oklahoma City has lucky day. tis
the twenty-second day Of the month.
To start with, the territory was thrown
open to settlement on April 22, 1882
On June % of the same year Oklahoma
City was declared the county seat Of
Oklahoma county. On November % tho
last shingle was put on the court
house. On April 22, Just one year after
the settlement, the first mayor Of Okla
homa City took his seat. The move
ment to build the railroad from Sar
pulpa to Oklahoma City was inuugurat-
ed on September 20. 1s93.-St. Louis
Globe-Democrat
The Colfax chronicle., 1902-02-08

A commercial traveller well known in the
cycle trade on both sides of the Atlantic
odds this to the collection Of jokes on newly
made-happy fathers:
The hero is the manufacturer Of the
wheel which the narrator sells Being com
PEELED to go away on business trip about
the time an interesting domestic event was
expected, he left, orders for the nurse to
wire him results according to the following
formula:
If boy: "Gentleman's safety arrived
If girl: "Lady's safety arrived"
The faffer's state Of mind may be imag
agincd w n, few days later, ne received
. telegram containing the one word: "Ian
dem. Rocky Mountain News.
The Colfax chronicle., 1902-02-08

South Second street. the expenses h
cidental thereto will easily eat up
i've times more than will ever be re-
allied from it's sale, says the Phila-
delphia North American.
In the first place, the treasury de.
partment has an old revenue cutter
in these waters, the Washington.
which did duty as boarding officers'
boat in New York bay until it had
outgrown its usefulness, and Is now
figuring in similar capacity at this
port. When Collector Thomas was
notified that there was business for
the department down the river, he
promptly ordered the Washington
made ready to bring up the clothing
and deputized Boarding Officer Rauch
and two assistants to see that there
was no neglect of ceremonial forms
incidental to the transaction.
The revenue cutter, not being ac-
custoned to long voyages was all
day getting to Chester and back.
She consumes much coal, and burned
UP SOIne i've tOiiS Vi NnCn
Rauch took charge of the effects OF
the dead American he discovered
that they could not possibly be
worth more than $12. In addition tc
the coal, his own salary and that OF
his assistants figure in the odd trip.
The captain of the Vedra was
amazed at the pomp which character.
izad the transfer of the ssbloomin'
bundle of rags" from his vessels hol6
to that of the Washington, and re-
marked that he would be "blarsted'
if he didn't relate the incident in his
own country if he was lucky enough
to return there. Little attention
however, was paid to his remarks by
Mr.. Rauch, who considered him an
extremely ignorant person regarding
treasury department procedure.
1t was late in the evening when the
Washington returned to the city
The bundle of clothing remains to be
appraised yet, and maybe few more
dollars will be tackled on to the grow
ing expense.
The Colfax chronicle., 1902-02-08
LOSE MONEY BY THE TRIP.
1t Cost the Government F27 to Re-
cover from Abroad n $12
Bundle of Clothes.

An American died abroad and a
bundle of clothes belonging to him
was sent by the American consul to
Marcus Hook on the British tank
steamship Vedra. When the latter
arrived one day lately the captain
notified the local customs authorities
to take the property off the vessel.
1t was understood that there was no
claimant for the clothing, and that
after being appraised it was to be
sold at auction in this. city. Seeming
ly it would be very simple matter
to give an inspector 40 cents for a
round-trip ticket to Chester and let
him bring the stuff up with him.
Government red tape, however, in
tervened, and when the bundle was
finally safe in the big building at 1874
The Colfax chronicle., 1902-02-08
pUNGENT PARAGRAPHS.

Uncle--"Yes, Charles; laid thJ
foundation of my fortune by saving
cab fares" Spcndthrift Nephew
didn't know you ever drove one, un-
cle!"-Punch.
Amy-"Jack told me last night he
had given me his heart" Mabel
"Well, it is damaged goods. He told
me last week that had broken it,
London Tit-Bits.
"My hand itches; what is that the
sign off," asked the country editor.
"Oh, guess you're going to get some
kindling wood" replied his wife
Yonkers Statesman.
Something in Name.-"The clever
name that Biggsly adopted has proved
little gold mine." "Yes, it's been a
regular nom de plume for him.
Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Caustic = Minnick ~ sent some
verses to that magazine, but | don't
think the editor read them at ALL
Sinnick-"Ah! they were accepted,
were they ?"-Phiadelphi Press.
The Slow Payer.-Magistrate Ito tn.
Chinaman) )-"What's your complaint
against this young man, John?'
Chinaman-"He's too muchee by-and-
by."-Baltimore Jewish Comment.
From the Automobilist's View
First Chauffeur-"Have any bad luck
during your trip yesterday" Second
Chauffeur-"Oh, / ran over a man, but
don't think hurt the machine any,"
Ohio State Journal,
Scandal Spoiled.-"Did you hear
that Mrs. Uppstreet was separated
from her husband?" "Mercy, no! Tell
me about it," swell, they were down
town shopping together yesterday.
and they got separated in the crowd
Philadelphia Evening Bulletin.