davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-02-07
UNCLE BILLY'S
REQUEST
By.
CLARENCE HAYDEN
Copyright, 1901. by
4. s. Richardson.

Uncle Billy Watkins was a well to
do, well liked farmer living at Bebee's
Corners, and for fifteen years he had
driven five miles to town every Sunday
to attend church. For the first ten
years his goodwife accompanied him,
but after her death he took the drive
alone. He was often heard to say that
he wished there was meeting house
at the Corners and that he would con-
tribute literally toward building one,
and at length the day came when he
was asked to make good his word. A
newly ordained preacher sought out
the Corners as his field and as a be-
ginning gathered his flock in an old
blacksmith shop. 1t was with the
greatest confidence that he went to
Uncle Billy for a subscription of cou-
pie hundred dollars, and at first he
seemed likely to get it.
81 am glad to hear the news-mighty
glad" said the farmer in his hearty
way. Eyes, we need a meeting house
here. and 1 hope you will get together
a large congregation. l shall be with
you heart and SOUL"
That sounded encouraging, and the
two hundred seemed assured, when
Uncle Billy continued:
I've been expecting this for years
and sort Of been ready for it More
than ten years ago l made my will, and
in that will 1 left $1,000 to build
meeting house. I'm liable to drop off
any day, and as soon as l go the
money will be ready"
The preacher intimated that build
ing in hand was worth two in the
bush, but Uncle Billy refused to dis
count his last will and testament. The
most he would do was to offer to die
as soon as possible, and with that
they had to be content. There were
some people mean enough to insinuate
that a man of forty-flve who had
never been i'll a day and who could
tuck away food enough for an OK at
each meal had forty years more be-
fore him. They were covered with
confusion, however, and that within
less than six months. One day word
went forth that Uncle Billy's heart
had gone back on him and that he had
only few hours to live. The preacher
was among the first callers, and lying
on his dying bed was the farmer, who
said to him:
Yes, I've got to go, but I'm consoled
to know that you will get your meeting
house. There's money enough to pro-
vide for q stecple and a bell, and l
hope you'll see to it that the seats are
comfortable and the stoves big enough
to warm things up in winter. It's a
heap better way than going around
for subscriptions
There We're many callers for the next
two days, and each one had words of
sympathy and consolation, and it was
after the last individual had gone out
of the house, with tears in his eyes,
that Uncle Billy's heart resumed bust
ness on the old lines and he began to
improve. A week later he was out
hoeing potatoes, and as the preacher
came along the highway the farmer
called to him over the fence:
I'm sorry for you, but 1t amt my
fault. Just hang right on, and you'll
get that meeting house as sure as
coons."
1t was a year before anything else
happened, and the preacher had be-
come discouraged and sought another
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-02-07

CALLED 10 HIM OVER IdE fEANCb.
field. Then Uncle Billy was kicked in
the breast by Il horse, and the hired
man and the country doctor and tin
peddler scattered the news abroad that
he would never live 10 see another sun
rise. The neighbors quickly gathered,
and one look at the victim satisfied
them that his hours We're numbered.
Yes, the sorrel boss kicked me with
both feet to once" whispered the vic
TIM land all the doctors in the state
couldn't save me. You'll get that mon
ey in time to begin building the meet
ing house this fall, and by spring it
will be all ready. | hope you'll see to
it that the front doors open easily, and
don't have too many steps to climb. If
I've ever wronged any of you, | hope
you'll forgive me.
One after another the men and wo-
men came and went with serious faces.
and no matter what they thought as
they walked homeward they did not
discuss the comforts they hoped to cx-
tract from the new meeting house. All
were prepared next morning to hear
that Uncle Billy was no more, but they
were disappointed. He had made a
gain during the night, and to the as
constituent Of everybody, the doctor
included, the gain continued, and in
month he was back at his work. He
could not fail to note, however, that
there was no warmth in his neighbors'
greetings, and he felt called upon to
explain.
"If it was my fault, you might lay it
up agfn me, but 1t amt. l was all
ready to die and let you have that
fifteen hundred for ;he meeting house
but death wouldn't come. 1t will,
though. I've been spared to carry out
some mission, and as soon as that's ac-
complishcd shall keel over for good"
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-02-07
VOL. XLVII--NO s


A recent writer has this to say Of
sailors ratiOns: "a sailor has dishes,
and loves them, that are little appreci-
ated ashore. lie likes Fanny Adams
and has great fancy for plum duff
which consists of surt pudding with
raisins i'll it. Vegetables, though they
are in the official harhUr menu. are not
served out to the meSscS every day, but
on certain days some groups of men
get all and the others none, on Sys-
tenn of which Jack quite approves.
The mcsscS whose turn il is to have
vegetables Indulge in pot ness as
1t is styled. perhaps not Inappropriate
ly. The mcSs;es III their turn receive
the Shins. Scrag cids, neck pieces and
other odds ANA ends of the meat ration
some sailors aver that every animal
has at least six shins ana this misCcl-
laneous assortment of remnants is
thrown into pot with as many vcge-
tables as can be got. Tile result is 4
pot mess.
ANY landlubher who desires to try
a real naval dish will have no difficulty
in getting the dish prepared, and if he
eats it Oh Il table with uneven legs
which lun%es up and down he can I'M
agine lie is at sea-
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-02-07
1897 THE SUN 1902
BALTIMORE, MD.
THE PAPER OF THE PEOPLE,
FOR THE PEOPLE AND
WITH THE PEOPLE.
HONEST IN MOTIVE,
FEARLESS IN EXPRESSION,
SOUND IN PRINCIPLE.
BALTIMORE, MD.

While maintaining unimpaircd the high
which it has upheld unfaltcrngly for more
front rank of modern journalism in every fac
tor which enters into the production of q
great newspaper.
Its mechanical equipment is complete and
up-to-date in every respect, and its facilities
and arrangements for the prompt collection
of the news are unsurpassed.
Its special correspondents throughout the
United States, as well as in Europe, China.
South America, the Philippines. Porto RICO,
Cuba and in every other part OF the world
supplement the efforts of the general agencies
by which it is also served, so that it is enabled
to print all the news every day in the week.
Its Washington and New York bureaus are
are among the best in the United States, and
gives THE SUNS readers the earliest informa-
ton upon all important events in the legsla-
tive and financial centers of the country.
THE SUNS market reports and commercial
columns are complete and reliable, and put
the farmer, the merchant and the broker in
Charleston, New York Chicago Philadelphia
and all other important points in the United
States and other countries.
THE SUN is the best type of a newspaper,
morally and intellectually. tits an educator
of the highest character, constantly Stmulat-
ing to noble ideals in individual and national
life, and it gives all the news all the time.
THE SUN is published on Sunday, as well as
every other day in the week.
BY mail THE DAILY SUN, Sc year; includ-
ing THE SUNDAY SUN, 81. THE SUNDAY Sun
alone S1.o0a year. THE WEEKLY SUN, $1.O0
year.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-02-07

The Picking Gazette. speaking of Chi
nese In foreign lands. says:
1--WE dress and speak differently from
foreigners, just as foreigners do who
come to China. But nobody in the
streets calls us Chinese devils The
children in the streets wish to see how
long our cues are. but the police,
seeing them annoy us. scatter them.
When we go into a shop to buy any
thing, we are treated with even more
consideration dian their own people.
We enter their homes. it is the same.
They seek To please us in every way,
show us curioS or play the organ or
piano for us. The writer has been to
France, England. America. Japan,
Spain and South America and stayed
years, and everywhere he was treated
with the same courtesy"
1t is to be feared that some Chinese
laundrymen in this country would not
wholly indorse this view.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-02-07

'At one of the public dinners given
by Ameer Abdur Rahman Khan" says
Mr.. Stephen Wheeler in his story of
the ameer's life, "an excited native
rushed into the midst Of the assembly
and Frustrated himself in front of the
ameer.
"'Sahibr he gasped. The Russians
are coming"
"'From what direction are they visi-
bleP asked the ameer without chang
ing his expression.
"'From yonder hill replied the ma
tive.
"'Climb that tree and watch until
they Gomez was the royal command.
1.-THE native assembled to the topmost
branches and was forced to remain I'M
til he dropped TO the ground"
political upholstcrcrs," whom Addi-
son described as grave persons" may
see in this anecdote evidence of the
ameer's full confidence in Russia's in
tentiCns toward Afghanistan. 1t Is
more probable that 1t was a manifes-
tation of that grim humor which was
of the quaint oriental stripe with
which the arabian Nights" have
made us familiar.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-02-07
An Onportune Gift.

A good natured. easy going German
living in Chicago asked his American
wife to pick out some little present for
his sister in the old country. He had
squandcrcd his fortune. says The Rec
ord-Herald. but his sister still had hers
and with careful Teutonic management
had swplled it TO comfortable sum.
The American wife knew nothing Of
her sistcr-in-law, and she appreciated
the limitations of her own finances as
we'll as the difficulty of choosing a gift
for a stranger. But she went to re-
pository for woman's work and dis
covered there dainty. bag of chamois
leather embroidered with wreaths of
forgetmenots and emblazoned with the
one word Money" to indicate its use
as a secret purse to be worn about the
neck in travelling.
1t seemed an innocent little gift. but
Fritz danced with delight when he saw
it. Zach, the very thing" he cried. 81
would not write and ask her-no! But
Money and "forgetmenot,' ach, it is
the most beautiful reminderw
His wife, who had not thought of the
matter in that light. protested and
would fain have withheld the present
but Fritz was firm. 1t was sent &c
Germany at Christmas.
A few weeks later a substantial check
came in acknowledgment. The sister
bad ind cd appreciated the situation.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-02-07
Light Without Sight.

We can perceive" light without the
smallest aid from the rctina. If the
optic nerve is sufficiently excited to
reach the sensorium and create dis
turbance at that center of the brain
where the optic nerve terminates, we
shall then see light and sparks. If,
moreover, the optic nerve is cut or mu-
tilated in any way, we should see n
brilliant fash of light, though without
any sensation of pain. And so it is
with the other nerves. The auditory
nerve has only to be excited, not nee
essarily by sound, so as to reach it's
center the brain, and we shall hear
sound. How many ghosts might not
be destroyed in this wayNChambers
Journal.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-02-07
NarcOse2Sy.

Narcolcnsy Is curious and some
what rare disease, whose most promi-
ncnt symptom is Irresistible attacks of
sleep. These i.iIy come or suddenly at
any time and place. ainI the patient Is
absolutely unable to stay aW;i,.". : he
sleep, however. is usually OF Snort ,lu-
ration, from ten to thirty minutes.
The disease was described #ad nam
ed by Gclincau. Il French physician. in
1880. 1t is thought by some Specialists
to be closely allied to epilepsy. But as
the attacks resemble healthy sleep
the muscles are relaxed, the heart and
respiration are slowed down, tie pa
tent on awakening is refreshed as aft
er an ordinary nap, and there is none
Of the lassitude and sense of eXhauS-
ton which follows the Cpilcptic fit
it is certainly very different in origin
from the latter. Robin and paul Sam
ton have recorded cases which show a
close association between obesity and
the tendency to narcolepsy.
1t seems probable, however, as Dutil
thinks, that its closest ally Is simple
hySteria
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-02-07

The chimney sweeper is the Danish
mascot. You see him in gold or silver,
suspended on Il lady's watch chain, in
stead of the 'lucky pig" or horseshoe,
which is the English symbol of good
luck. He also appears on note paper
and postcards, implying that your cor
respondent wishes you a rise in life.
1t is the old fashioned sweep that is
thus deplcted-he who had actually to
climb the chimney. his implements be-
ing a four foot ladder, short broom
and rope.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-02-07

If there was a mission, he was long
time in working it out, for seven long
years went by before death stared him
In the face again. Meanwhile stone
quarry taking in three of the farms
had been opened, and a railroad had
spoiled two more. There was no Ion
ger any congregation, and it was at
rare intervals that q circuit rider came
along and held Sunday services in
house or barn.
People had not forgotten Uncle Billy
for not dying years before, but the
idea of meeting house had almost
been forgotten when he got tangled up
with a thrashing machine one day and
came out hash. The remains were
gathered up and placed in a wagon
and taken home, but while the funeral
was being arranged for the said re-
mains returned to life and began to
wonder where they were at. 1t was
emphatically asserted on all sides that
an old man with dozen broken bones
couldn't possibly recover, but after
hanging between life and death for a
week Uncle Billy struck the right road.
1t was six or eight months before he
got out, and he was humpbacked
and bowlegged and full of limps, but
he still lived. No one congratulated
him. He had swindled his neighbors
out of that meeting house again, and
he had Inundated the doctors by re-
fusing to die.
I'm sorry, Of course" he explained
to all who would listen. when gave
fifteen hundred dollars for new meet
ing house, l expected to die within a
year or two, but something has seemed
to prevent it right along. I've been
ready and willing to go, but it don't
happen. They shouldn't lose hope, how
ever. That fifteen hundred is bound to
come if they'll only hang on long
enough. l can't live forever, you
know"
Another five years went by. Bebee's
Corners had now become huge stone
quarry, crisscrossed by railroad tracks,
and one after another the farmers had
sold out and moved away. The only
land left not belonging to the stone
company consisted Of two acres on a
hill to which Uncle Billy held the title
and on which his will directed that the
meeting house should be built after his
death.
Old and battered though he was, he
was looking good fer another five
years when the end came at last. He
was milking COW one evening when
he fell over dead. The doctor didn't
send out the news for twenty-four
hours, but when he did it was authen-
tic and there was no going back on the
returns. Uncle Billy was dead fer n
fact, and it was another fact that he
had left land and money for a meeting
house. His executors had no choice
but to go ahead, and today there
stands on the rocky hill overlooking
the great stone quarry church edifice
which has never been blessed nor dedi-
Gated nor echoed the voice of prayer.
There are half thousand workmen in
the quarry. but if they worship at all 1t
Is at another shrine.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-02-07
Diet and Voice.

A musical writer states that fine yo-
calists are rare in countries where fish
and meat diets prevail and that the
voice dcpreciates as families grow rich
and increase the amount of meat con
sumcd. Naples and Genoa, where much
fish is eaten, give few of Italy's sing
ers, and the sweet voices of Ireland
are found in the country, but not in the
towns. In Norway too much fish is
eaten for the production of singers, but
Sweden is a land of grain and song.
The carnivorous birds croak; grain eat
ing birds sing.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-02-07
Origin of the Sandwich.

During the administration of Lord
Sandwich that nobleman was ut a
gambling house "a very usual thing
with HIM, and in the fascination OF
play had forgotten fatigue and hunger
for more than five-and-twenty hours.
Suddenly feeling faint, though still riv.
eted to the table, he called for anything
that was to be had to eat. The only
available food proved to be piece of
beef and two slices Of bread. Clapping
them together for the sake Of eXpedi.
ency he devOured them ravenously.
The news Of his discovery soon spread,
and waggish papers, giving the newly
invented morsel his name, bequeathed
it to his country as one of the most
importants acts of his administration
Washington Times.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-02-07

"Our church fair was a splendid sue
cess" said young Mrs. TorkinS.
Did you sch lots of things"
Eyes"
"'nything useful?"
"l"S. indeed. Everything was ever
so useful | can't think of ~ single ar
ticlc that couldn't BE- saved up and DO
mated 10 he sold at the next fair
Washington Star.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-02-07

A leading actress. who is notably
well "billed" all over town and coUn-
try. observed to the interviewer: "0f
course | can't get on without billing
and" she added slyly, "a little cooling.
Do | use powder? Why, of course.
What do you think? And, my dear sir,
shall now depend on you-for the
powder-Oh. dear. motor the puff
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-02-07
NOTICE TO CREDITORS.

This is to give notice that the subscri-
Der has obtained from the Register of
Wills of Hartford county, Md, Letters
testamentary upon the estate of
JOHN X. ANDREW.
late of Hartford county, deceased. llper-
sons having claims against said deceased
are hereby notified to exhibit the same
with the legal vouchers thereof,
On or Before the 18th day of July, 1902.
or they may otherwise by law be exclud-
ed from all benefits of said estate. All
persons indebted to said estate are re-
quested to make immediate payment.
Given under my hand and seal this
18th day of January, 1902.
RUTHEENE ANDREW,
ExecutTix.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-02-07

When Mr.. David Dear, winner of the
queens prize at Bisley, WAS Il law stu
dent, he once attended an "at home"
On the servant asking his name, he re-
piled. David Dear"
The girl hIushcd and said, eyes, yes:
but what is your other name, S.rT'
He assured her he had no other
name, but it was of 10 use. The srlv-
ant knew better and announced him as
"NIr David "
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-02-07

81 don't see what yoh all has to cit
so proud about" said Miss Sadie Cot
tonball.
"Cohse you docsn'." answered Miss
Miami Brown. lie been studyin' de
white folks. What yoh wants to do
is jes' put on de airs yohScf an let de
yuthuh folks do dc gucssin' bout whit
de reason Washington Star
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-02-07
THE
Baltimore Weekly Sun.
The Best Family Newspaper.

ALL THE NEWS OF THE WORLD IN
DEPARTMENT SECOND TO NONE IN THE
COUNTRY; MARKET REPORTS WHICH
ARE RECOGNIZED AUTHORITY; SHORT
STORIES, COMPLETED EACH NUMBER;
AN INTERESTING WOMAN'S COLUMN,
AND A VARIED AND ATTRACTIVE DE
PARTMENT OF HOUSEHOLD INTEREST.
One Dollar year. Inducements % gettcrS-
up of clubs for THE WEEKLY SUN. Both THE
DAILY and WEEKLY Sun mailed free of post
age in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Payments invariably in advance. Address
A. s. ABEL COMPANY,
Publishers and Projectors,
BALTIMORE, MD.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-02-07
Transfers and Attachments.

The County Commissioners of Hartford
County will meet at their office in Bel Air,
on each MONDAY and TUESDAY, during
the month of FEBRUARY, and on the
FIRST MONDAY and TUESDAY only in
the month of MARCH, 1902, for the pur-
pose of making TRANSFERS and
ATTACHMENTS.
All applications for attachments must be
made under oath or affirmation requiring
parties applying to give in to the Com
missioners all property they may possess
of every kind that is assessable and not
to them assessed.
Persons who do no avail themselves of
this notice cannot have any attachments
on their tax bills when presented by the
County Treasurer.
BY order of the Board.
GEORGE J. FINNEY. Clerk.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-02-07

We do not speak the English Ian
guage in the way in which il is spoken
by the people of England. We have
greatly changed, enlarged and perhaps
improved it in our usual progressive
way. The wonder lies in the notion of
Englishmcn that their way of speaking
the language is the only way and that
our way is wrong.-Ncw York World.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-02-07
lie Ass and 1pssllIasacer.
Is Published Epery Friday.
F1NNEY & DASHIELL
TERMS A Year in Advance.

Transient advertisements. One Square
3 insertions or less $3.50 Each subse-
quent insertion 25 cents. Longer adver-
tisements in the same proportion. A
space equal to six lines makes square.
Figure work double price.
Obituaries and Personal Communica-
tons will be inserted at 5 cents per line.
Yearly Advertisements at Special Rates.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-02-07

The Dear Girl am really astoniSh-
ed to hear yen advance the proposi:tnn
that Il child should not be corrected in
the presence of strangers.
The Savage Bachelor-IIe should not
be. hccau&r he should never he in the
presence of strangers; that's why.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-02-07
The Best of Reasons.

"Why do you bring this to mc?"
Numbered the weary editor, thruSting
the manuscript back into the hands of
the poet.
because" replied the bard timidly,
81 have 10 stamp. Boston Post.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-02-07

There is only one way to cure failure
give mp seeking excuses and seek
enthusiastically Evening Post.
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-02-07
NOTICE TO CREDITORS,


This is to give notice that the subscri-
Der has obtained from the Register of
Wills of Hartford county, Md, letters
administration on the estate of
GEORGE w. TRAGO,
late of Hartford county, deceased. All
persons having claims against said de-
ceased are hereby notified to exhibit the
same with the legal vouchers thereof,
On or Before the 27th Day of June, 1902,
or they may otherwise by law be exclud-
ed from all benefits of said estate. All
persons indebted to said estate are re-
quested to make immediate payment.
Given under my hand and seal this 9th
day of December 1901.
WILLIAM ARTHUR TRAGO,
Administrator
The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-02-07

Bessie L was surprised when Mr..
Dashleigh asked me to marry him.
Tessie- Everybody else was.-Ohio
State Journal.