davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1902-06-27
Sioux Falls Divorce Colony
ty That Has Brought Prosperity to Merchants Of
the Dakota City.

The Sioux Falls divorce colony is
growing into quite massive proper
tons. It is estimated that at the pres
emit time in the neighborhood of 300
females and males, who have attach
ments to them in the shape of hus-
bands and wives, are either in the
city so%journing or are paying for room
rent here, while enjoying the Injuries
Of the far East, says the Sioux Falls
Journal. Some of the Divorces are
going on the theory that so long as
they pay room rent and claim their
residence as Sioux Falls, they are
exempt from living here during the
seven months necessary to get the
decree of separation from uncongenial
spouse.
There are all grades, kinds, colors
and degrees of Divorces here; from
the kind that are compelled to work
Tor a living in order to make both ends
meet to the %aristocratic German count
and prominent citizens Of New York,
the latter generally preferring TO re-
main in New York to residing here.
Then there is a prominent coach for a
famous football team who is repre-
sented In eastern papers as visiting
occasionally at Sioux Falls to look
after some patients he has there.
Among the male seekers for divorce
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1902-06-27

HEROES OF THE RAIL
sublime Bravery Of Two Western Troinmon Saves a.
PASSENGER Train and MNny Lives.


the deadly peril as the freight car and
engine rounded treacherous curves
with speed undiminished, riding on
one track at times, now apparently go
ing over the side into some canyon.
now rearing and threatening to bound
up the hillside at some sharp change
IN the roadbed. The %serpentine track
wal followed with a fierce determine
ton. Just four seconds before Ana
conda would have been reached the
freight car was Overtaken. Leaping
through the window and climbing
around 10 the pilot, Conductor Blondy
made a hazardous coupling at full
speed. The air brakes were applied.
The runaway was brought to a stop.
The brakeman remained at his post.
The conductor resumed his engine.
The car was taken back up the hill.
Those who sat in the passenger coaches
at Anaconda probably never knew how
near they were to death. The conduc-
tor and brakeman? Well, they knew
yes. but It was a part Of their daily
existence. They recognized a duty,
they had the nerve to perform it, they
had the presence Of mind and the grit
and the Drawn to make 1t a sue
cess.
1t was a thrilling incident. It should
be handed down to posterity as an
example Of what is possible with a
man who is equal to the occasion.
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1902-06-27
mo Vlrtuo of economy.

81 did not expect to get a cent from
you" said a lady who had gone to
ask Of John Murray a contribution for
a benevolent purpose and received
500. you blew out one of the can
dies by which you were writing when
l came in"
1T is by practicing economy that L
save up money with which to do char
table actions" was the reply; zone
candle is enough to talk by"
If we look closely at the lives Of
most philanthropists. and those who
have acquired considerable fortunes,
we shall find that they are now, or
were, in a position to give largely. or
to carry out great enterprises, because
they never lighted, or else they con-
stantly practiced the habit Of blowing
out, waste candles.
The people of Peabody, Mass, tell
many anecdotes of the great philan-
thropist for whom the town was
named, showing that he never burned
two candles when only one was
needed. Extravaganza was TO him a
sin, which he, In the smallest things,
avoided. Lydia Maria Child was new
er appealed to for any worthy object
in vain. Her response was ever
hearty and munihcent for one with
her comparatively small means and
yet she turned envelopes which had
been used, that she might use them
again, and, in every possible instance,
snuffed out the unneeded candle.
Emerson used to relate an anecdote
Of a rich business man who, when ap-
preached for a contribution for char
ity, was found admonishing a clerk
for using whole waters when only
half waters were needed. When he
had finished the a%dmonitiou, he turn
ed to his caller, heard his story, and
subscribed $780, When his visitor ex-
pressed surprise that a man should be
so particular about the expenditure in
waters, the merchant said; 1T Is by
saving half waters, and attending to
such little things, that 1 have now
something to give
Economy Is wealth This proyerh
has been repeated to most Of us until
we are either tired Of 1t or careless OF
It, but It is wcll to remember that a
saying becomes a proverb because Of
its truth and significance. Many a
man has proved that, II economy Is
not actually wealth, 1t is, in myriadi
OF cases, potentially so.
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1902-06-27
plrds Are carele.. nunder..

Nearly all sea birds are far more
careless in their nesting than their
cousins who live inland. The terms,
the skua, the pufins, the black
throated diver and the guillemot real
ly make no nests at all. The pufins,
however, usually borrow a rabbit bur-
row, and are not particular whether
its original owners have done with it
or not. If they interfere, or even try
to pass, a peck from the pufin's great
parrot-shaped bill is enough to warn
them against trying to experiment
the second time.
The auks are birds of the northern
seas, and are perhaps the finest divers
of all the feathered tribes. Their short
wings look in fact far more like fms
than wings, and unlike gulls, the auks
catch their prey beneath the water.
The auk's selection of a spot to lay
her eggs is very strange. She chooses
a bare, broken ledge Of hard rock,
overhanging the waves. It looks as
though it were a feat to balance eggs
in such a place, and the marvel is that
the first gale does not send them
rolling over the crags. But an auk's
eggs are so shaped as to prevent such
e calamity; they are much larger al
one end than at the other, and so in
stead of rolling straight ahead like
a ball they turn around in a circle
when started and so keep their places
upon the rocks.
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1902-06-27
IHe TRoUBLEs OF ARMLEss MEN

Three Woes That Cause Them n
Greatest Annoyance.
Three ommon incidents of every
day life worry men without arms more
than many of the graver questions OF
existence. In the first place, the arm
less man seldom finds any one who
can put his hat on so that 1t feels COM
Portable, scarcely no n is able to
adjust his glasses, and, lastly, he ex~
periences great difficulty in getting his
shoes laced in such a way that his
nerves are not set going.
They're small things to complain
about" said one armless man. 'but
they worry me mor than ven the fact
that I have no arms. My wife has
made a careful and conscientious study
OF my peculiarities with reference TO
my hat, my glasses. and the lacing Of
my shoes, yet even she does not give
satisfaction, and as for strangers, they
are simply %unbearable.
when my hat Is set on my head IL
never seems to touch the right spot IL
Is either too far down over my eyes
or too far back, OF else, II the posi-
ton happens to be somewhere near
correct, the bat sets too lightly or is
pushed down on to my ears, / always
wear a 'stih hat, 30 I can butt my
head against the wall and adjust my
TOD piece to my own satisfaction.
MY glasses aus me even more
worry than my hat. I've tried al
kinds and styles with the same result
I'm nov wearing o~ld-fashioned spec
tacles, so I can by rubbing the bridge
against the sharp corner Of a door or
the bottom OF q table adjust them at
least half way correctly.
my strangest trouble Is with my
shoes. and they cause me the most
: wDrry because i have not YET been abla
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1902-06-27

From Victor, Col. comes q story or
such a remarkable combination OF
heroism, GOODNESS and judgment that
Il S. a matter of regret that there does
not exist a national board Of award
10 decorate the central figures IN recog-
milton Of their worth as men Of nerve
and grit. At Eclipse, on the Florence
and Cripple Creek Railroad, away up
In the dangerous part Of the moun-
tains. where tracks seem to cling by
ONE miraculous means to the steep.
rugged slopes. a loaded freight car
broke from a train, with Brakemen
Lund on top. He applied the brake,
but the chain broke and down the IN
cline he went at a frightful speed.
yet bravely staying at his post, with
almost certain death ahead. A sub
urban passenger train was due to
leave Anaconda at about the same
time. Conductor Blondy. on an engine.
sped in pursuit OF the runaway car.
AS he passed Eclipse station like a
streak Of lightning he hurled a mes
sage. wrapped around a piece of coal,
through the window to the operator.
Il was caught and flashed to Anacon-
da just in time to stop the passenger
train, and the engine, with the fear
less conductor in the cab. whirled on
In the pursuit Of life and death.
Those who have travelled in the
mountains Of Colorado can imagine
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1902-06-27
eRAND IAPANEsE FLowER PARTY

superb Entertainmont Given at tie
Royal Palace at Toxic.
An English girl who is now in Yoke
hama has sent home An entertaining
account of the chrysanthemum party
given by the empress of Japan in one
Of the Toxic palaces. 1T was a sight,
as you may imagine. The empress
gives two parties each year-one in the
cherry season and the other for the
chrysanthemum. 1 was very much
disappointed in the chrysanthemums,
for l have known far better ones at
home in London, and I expected to see
wonders here in the native land Of the
flower. One bush at least was a mar
vel, for it had 100 blooms on it. The
empress and her suite we're in Euro
pean dress, beautiful brocades, but so
old-fashioned. They looked well
enough when sitting, but were funny
to a degree when they walked. The
empress was In heliotrope, magnificent
brocade, with toque and parasol to
match. Her skirt was too full and
had a pathetic little ruffle around the
edge. Not a single Jap was in native
dress. and those who did not get their
clothes for the party in time were sim
ply raging and stayed It home.
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1902-06-27

At least 10000 persons in this coun-
try are victims Of morphine and 10 per
cent Of American physicians are slaves
to opium in some form, according to
a statement adopted by the Medical
News. All recent estimates, the same
authority asserts moreover, indicate
that the use Of morphine not only as
a drug to anay pain, but also as an
intoxicant is daily becoming an in
ereasing evil. A physician recently
said:
"The demand for morphine in the
drug stores is increasing at an alarm
ing rate, Tramc in the drug Is re-
stricted by law, but the law is practi-
cally Intellectual. Any morphine hend
who needs a supply knows how to OBJ
tain It, and does obtain II readily
enough and apparently nj user OF the
drug makes many more.
Before long there Is sure to be a
cry for increased restriction. What is
needed, however, is not so much q new
law. but the stricter enforcement OF
tho present one and vigorous prosecu-
ton Of those who oonnive at the Illicit
traffic in the stun"
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1902-06-27
SAW SEA SERPENT
Captain Of Vessel Arriving at Georgia Port Tells a Remarkable
Story.

A mOnstrous sea serpent, vicious
and awful looking, was the sight that
brought fright to the crew Of the
schooner Samuel B. Hubbard only a
few days ago, says the Atlanta Con
stitution. This vessel, of which Capt.
Mehaffey is master, has just arrived
in port from New York. Her com
mander. who is we'll known to all of
the north Atlantic ports, vouches for
the authenticity of the story, and the
facts are corroborated by his first
mate, MI. Coverdale. Capt. Mehaffey
says:
1T was on the 23d instant, in north
latitude "a degrees Al minutes, and
west longitude &c degrees 10 minutes.
The ship was lying becalmedsabout II
noon, when the chief mate called my
attention to something in the water
just abeam, a quarter of a mile off.
A long, slim object moving from side
to side, and coming toward us with
such great rapidity that it looked like
an old thTesher at work. It very quick
ly worked under our quarter, and in
the clear water we saw the queerest
Ash out. AS it lay quiet within fifteen
feet of the vessel it appeared to be
about thirty feet long by three feet
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1902-06-27
Home Of the Worm.

The worms home is a hole Of loug
halls dug in the ground These halls
are lined with a kind of glue from the
worms body, the glue making the
walls firm so they will not fall in. The
halls are not very deep underground.
and when the weather is cold or dry
the worms dig deeper. In winter
worms plug up the doors Of their
houses, and this is done often by
dragging into it a plant stem that will
fit 1t. They carry into their homes
leaves and stalks to eat, and they
bring out and throw away things
which they do not like. Worms usu-
ally come out of their holes at night
or in wet weather. If they get far
from their homes they cannot find
their way back; then they make a
new hole, Each worm lives alone. In
the evening or early morning, or dur
ing rain, you viii often find worms
with their heads stuck out Of their
doors. They do not come out when
the sun Is shining bright. as the heat
dries worms up very fast and kills
them. Birds know the habits Of worms
aid search for them at sunrise or after
sunset, or while It is raining. A
worm will die in one day In dry air
but will live for weeks under water
Young worms know as well how e
build their houses and carry things il
and out Of them as do old worms.
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1902-06-27
MONkEY N uNITED sTATEs ARMY

"
Twonty-Third Regiment Mascot IN
harmed by Bullets.
Fritz, the mascot Of company H, 23d
regulars, and veteran Of the Philippine
war, is known to the boys of the COM
pany as "comrade,' and to them he Is
away above the average of his kind.
Fritz enjoys the rare distinction Of
being the only one of twelve monkeys
able to stand the long ocean voyage
from Manila. frank J.. Knoffkey is
the owner. and the soldier has never
gone into an engagement since April
IA, 1900, when Fritz was brought into
camp, without the faithful monkey
either on his shoulders or truding
along close by his side. Fritz has been
on every island in the Sulu archipel-
ago, and suffered without a murmur
the long and trying campaign.
When Knoffkky lay wounded on the
field on Cebu island, his comrades in
uniform pressed on, but his comrade
Fritz nestled close to his side and
guarded him through the watches of
the night.
ON the K4slmentR forced march
across Latey island. Fritz divided his
time between walking and riding on
the shoulder Of the men all along the
line. It was on this occasion that he
came near losing his life, at the hands
Of several wild monkeys, because he
had no tail. A monkey loses his social
standing in the Philippines when he is
minus a tail. Fritz escaped from his
indignant relatives only by leaping to
the shoulders of his master.
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1902-06-27

nov nh vsiosai Dsfsoi Dlssomsssa .
Laalnrah


nov ms viaionai Dofsot Disoometsd q
lecturer
~ have faced q thousand audi
ences." said a weli-known lecturer
the other day. and ] have never been
able 20 shake on my nervousness Of
the hrst 10 minutes. Scores and scores
Of times I have wanted to run way
as the moment approached Tor me to
step out and be introduced, and dog
ems and dozens Of times I have had
close escapes from breaking down
after making q fair beginning. The
merest trino win sometimes put a lee
turer clean out.
THE hattest failure I ever made
war in a town in Ohio. / had been
speaking for 10 minutes when a cross
eyed mar came IN and took a front
seat He at once crossed his legs,
folded his arms and looked me full
In the face. I tried not to see him,
but IN spite Of myself I found my
glance wandering in his direction, and
he soon began to irritate me. / got
to wondering If his children were also
cross-eyed-which eye he saw the best
with-why he didn't have them
Strengthened, and I felt myself getting
tangled up. I fought against the in
huence and went on all right for 10.
minutes, and then L noticed that the
cross-eyed man had a pimple on his
nose. ] thought I saw him trying to
look at It, and I just stopped dead stu
in my lecture to watch him. For two
minutes the audience was as silent as
so many dead people, but then they
caught on and began to laugh, and
for another two minutes the hall was
in an uproar.
Il hadn't meant to call attention 20
the mans misfortune, of course, but
his feelings were o at all hurt It
appeared that he had bought a new
neck-tie at a bargain that day, and as
l stood there like a stupid he rose up
and bowed to me and said;
"Thankee, sir. If you want one too
7 can tell you Were they are sold for
II cents apiece, 'and they are the big
gest bargains in Ohiol'
Then we had a hearty laugh all
around, and I found my lost wits and
went ahead again, and l do believe
that was the most enthusiastic audi
ence Of the year.
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1902-06-27

there are some that certainly need to
be Gagged. It would undoubtedly be a
disagreeable experience for them If
they should be riding out in the coun-
try and meet some farmer lad who was
out hunting. The farmer lad would be
justified in thinking he saw some new
species of something and took a shot
at it. Then there are the Divorces,
nearly all of whom are good-looking.
Some are quiet and demure sort of in
%dividuals, and have their brothers 90
with them. while there are others who
are trying to turn the heads of some
of the travelling men and gay members
Of this city, who are apparently sue
ceeding in pretty good shape.
The divorce colony as a whole is a
pretty good thing for the merchants of
this city. They are all money spend
ers, and those who have the coin want
the best going. They are naturally a
restless lot, having nothing in particu-
lar with which to interest themselves
during their s%oiourn here, and are
naturally ready to do anything that
win pass the time, which accounts for
some of them getting regulations for
giddiness.
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1902-06-27
road IN 4 Passion.

In spite Of the precious jewel which
Il wears in its head, the toad has few
friends, although one which Professor
Bell kept as a pet would sit on one Of
his hands while 1t fed out Of the other.
No doubt 1t is an ugly creature. but
it cannot help that. Why, then. should
It also possess a temper? A toad
in a passion is really and truly very
angry indeed. One was once caught IN
a snare that had been laid for birds.
The moment It found itself a prisoner.
It's rage knew no bounds. II struggled
furiously, and snapped at everything
within its reach. Nor does It spare
It's brother toad. but often goes for
it On land or water.
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1902-06-27

There never was a land so strange,
Nor yet more nice to see,
Each time you look the people
change;
They couldn't Queerer be.
And oh, the funny things they dol
The way they jump and prancel
Don't let them lay a hand on you
Unless you love to dance.
They dance all night. the funny
things.
They caper and they smile,
They hy-although not all have
wings
They chatter all the while.
To know them is a great delight,
So, children, If you're wise,
You'll pay a visit every night
To the Land Of hut-Your-Eyes.
Chicago Record-Herald.
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1902-06-27

until illness came upon me three years
ago. 1 first noticed it by being irreg-
ular and having very painful and
scanty m~enstruation gradually my
general health failed / could not en-
Joy my meals; 1 became languid and
nervous, with gripping pains frequently
in the groins.
Il advised with our family phys
ician who prescribed without any Inn
provement. One day he said Try
Lydia Pinkham's Remedies I
did, thank God the next month 1 was
better, and it gradually built me up
until in four months 1 was cured. ThiR
is nearly a year ago and / have not,
had a pain or ache since. BONNIE
DELANo, 324s Indiana Ave, Chicago,
m.-s5oO0 forfeit y above testimonial 10 not
genuine.
Trustworthy proof is abundant that
Lydia 70. Pinkham's Vegetable
Compound saves thousands Of
young women from dangers resulting
from organic irr~egularity, suppression
or retention of the menses, ovarian or
womb troubles. Refuse substitutes.
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1902-06-27
{ the Ring.

In order to play this capital game,
the chairs are placed In a circle, just
10 far apart that each person sitting
can easily reach the hand Of another
on either side Of him. On person
stands in the middle Of the circle. A
piece of string with a wedding ring
or a larger ring of brass upon It. is
then tied, OF a sufficient length to
reach all around the circle, so that
each person may catch hold Of it. The
players are then to slide the ring
along the string. passing 1t from one
to the other, and the game is for the
person who stands in the center to
try to catch the ring. When he
catches it, the person with whom he
finds it is to go out into the center.
Forfeits may be added to this game,
If preferred, each person caught with
the ring paying forfeit.
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1902-06-27

There 10 a land you may not know.
Although so close It lies.
I'll tell its name-but whisper low
TITS the Land Of shut-Your-Eyes
To find It? Why, just lie quite still
When dusk begins TO creep,
And close your eyelids with a will
Don't take a single peep.
And first you know youll not be here,
But in a wondrous place,
Where Jabberwocks and PinQuins
queer
VIII smile up in your face.
Where Brownies, Gnomes and fairy
folk,
With Goops and Injins too,
VIII crowd around you thick as
smoke,
And whisper Jokes to yoN.
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1902-06-27

in circumference. A smooth body.
showing no fms but the dorsals, three
of them, one short, one, say, about a
foot long, near the head. Then half
way down the body a long, tail-like fin
about seven feet long and about FIVE
inches wide, and near the tail a small
hind fin. The tail was unlike a fish,
ending at a point, without a fin. The
body was a deep pink color to the
middle, and %darkening to a light brown
at the tail.
"The head was fully three feet long,
the mouth close to the top. The eyes
were large and close to the top of the
head. We had a good look at the fell
low, as he stayed by fully half an
hour. Then the mate got a shotgun
and as the fish lay with half of his
upper body exposed. sent a charge of
small shot in. It evidently hurt him,
for he leaped out of the water half his
length and sounded like a whale. It
came to the surface in a few seconds,
and if it kept up the gait it started
with, the serpent is near the western
coast Of Africa by this time.
The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1902-06-27


Calamity Jane" famous all over
the United States and most Of the
world for her daring deeds as a scout,
frontierswoman. equestrienne and a
sure shot, was in jamestown, N. d..
en- route to Livingston, Mont. on her
return from Pierre, s. d., where she
spent the winter.
She spent a night In Cakes re-
Gently and had quite a time there.
She rather startled the men In one OF
the saloons, and one Of them viii not
soon forget his experience. She was
drinking and called all present up to
the bar. The men thought they were
pretty wise, and they had lots Of fun
with Calamity" They were getting
along nicely when she pulled a couple
OF guns and told them to dance.
you fellows have had your fun
and now IT'S my turn, she said. you
don't know as much as the calves out
pm my Montana ranch"
The boys danced. One man in the
crowd did not dance. He stood around
and laughed over the actions OF the
oma She noticed he did not drink
and ordered him to do so. The COM
mand was made good with the aid Of a
wicked-looking gun The man quick
iy swallowed a glass Of beer
"Put your trust In God. and keen
your powder ry-CromWeil.