davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-03-20

To buy from Sterl & Co. is
to get the best. Try the big
Clothing house fyou have not
already done so. If you have
tried us you are sure to come
back.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-03-20

prices for creamery butter AZ points
named Tor week ending today. Dickinson
county price w cents less than New York
" cents less than Chicagol
KANSAS CrrY--Fancy separator &c, dairy
fancy 2oc.
oHIcAoo--Creamery IS o "a, dairy 10 o
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-03-20

cooner or later one learns the lesson of true economy thai
+e snd from the smallest to the most important an ndl
made our store the avoe trading house in Abilene ana Dcnse
est nce We want everybody to know our store We
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-03-20
THE OLD RELIABLE.
Weather Indications; Fair; Possibly RAIN
STERL'S EDITORIAL COMMENT:

that best the reliability
ndispuab0
Dickinson Besides the high merchandise
We want trade We will
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-01
Presentation Copies.

William E. Walsh, in the Era.
Among the few annoyances of the liter
airy life that prevents it being the most al
together delightful career in the world is
the persistence with which an author is
dunned by friends. and even by the merest
acquaintances, for presentation copies of
the books he produces.
Exactly why he should be made an ex-
ception to the rules that govern all other
vocations [ cannot understand. When a
grocer or a coal dealer or lawyer or a
doctor starts in business, his circle of ac-
quaintances do not swoop down upon him
with requests for free goods or free ad-
vice. Rather he expects them to show
their friendship by becoming customers or
clients. Now, an authors books are his
stock in trade. He depends for his living
upon the royalties he derives from them.
He appreciates the courtesy of those white
blackbrds among his friends who pur-
chase copies out of kindly interest But
he does not solicit their patronage Per-
hans he even feels a little distressed if ne
believes that they tax their pockets
through kindly interest This distress, in
deed Is not a frequent visitant to the auth
oral bosom. Few friends ever invest i'm his
books. Few authors believe that the in
vestment would not leave q large margin of
profit in the hands Of the investors.
IL is a little hard upon an author how
ever. to have the tables completely turned
upon him. 10 find himself called upon 10
tax his own scanty earnings by purchas-
ing his own books from his publishers in
order 10 meet tN exactions OF friends
The public seems to be Obvious 10 the
fact that he does not get his books for
any member Of the public has to pay foI
them.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-01

tails may be supplied from the authors
imagination. In a novel dealing with to-
day the defects are evident TO all, and
every reader may become his own critic.
1t is easy 10 write an historical novel
So 1t is easy to write an historical novel.
Therefore we are TO be deluged with these
handmade productions in order to make
gina ton is 10 be allowed to take the
place of research. and we are asked 10
accord to these slipshod connections the
same reception NE give TO Thackeray 5
Henry EsmOnd" or Prosper Merimee' 5
Charles TX" How do some of our as
pirants who rely on their heaven-born
genius rank with George Eliot who read
four thousand volumes to prepare herself
for writing Daniel Deronda?"
The historical novel is all right in it.
self. The fault lies with those persons who
give the period OF their story a Chautau-
qua course OF reading and dash off the
book with a confidence worthy of a better
cause. A dismal description of the inev-
liable duel or duels-a love story Of the
most conventional pattern, a sickly at
tempt at the vernRcular of the day by the
chosen slang, and We have the recipe FOL
the historical novel from the time of Louis
XIV down to the revolutionary war.
Undoubtedly the profits accruing from
successful authorship form temptation
against which only the true literary con-
science" is proof The aforesaid ease
with which the historical novel may be
written is probably responsible for the
flood of this insipid rubbish. Nevertheless
honesty and sincerity il forms no more ac-
cessble field for the pot boiler than does
the novel dealing with the life and Incl
dents of to-day.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-01

he struck Snag. The Philanthropy Bust
ness had been overworked. Every Town
large enough to be indicated on the Map
had a Carnegie Library. He found that
the Orphans were receiving more Care and
Attention than the Children of Club Wom-
en-. About the only Little Ones who got
into the Country in the Summer were the
Homeless Waits. AS for Colleges, they
had multiplied so rapidly that all through
the Middle West it was practically i'm
possible to get Harvest Hands The Poor
Workingman showed no inclination to go
against the Free Reading Room and the
Cheap Lectures on Astronomy. for he had
the Price in his Pocket and preferred to
play Seventy-Seven in some German Place
where they served Hot Lunch.
1t began to look as though the benevo-
lent Millionaire would have to burn his
Money or else leave it to the usual Nephew
who lived on High Balls and Musical Com
edy.
surely there is Suffering somewhere in
this World said the perplexed Million
are. Some one is waiting FOR a Helping
Hand. Now to find him."
He began a careful Study OF Social Con-
ditions and soon discovered that the real
Sufferer the mute and patient Victim
who was getting the Hooks oftener than
any one else, was the Gentleman who wore
the High Collar and carried in his Hip
Pocket a little Work on Etiquette and Good
Behavior.
The poor Reptile whose Wife got up in
the Morning and grabbed the Paper to see
if the Family was mentioned. he was the
hammer Patsy of all Creation and he was
the Boy that was praying for some one to
come along and throw him Lifeline.
BY further Investigation the Mult-Mil-
nonaire was Mortified to learn that here in
this smiling Land of Plenty, where the
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-01
The Notoriety of Literary success.

Annie Matthew Meyer, in the Bookman.
Only the other day a friend of mine
an exceptionally brilliant woman--an-
nounced that she was going to a tea ito
meet" a certain author whose books she
confessed she could not read, and for
whose slender talents she had no respect
whatever. She confessed that it was
pure curiosity" and that alone, which
led her there TO grasp the authors hand,
take a snapshot impression of her gown,
murmur half an epigram and be pushed
on. Now, While l can understand curios-
ity concerning all greatness in whatever
form it presents itself, / confess l am at
a loss to understand this curiosity con-
corning mere mediocrity. 1t is incon-
ceivable, for instance, TO imagine any con-
siderable number of people in large city
hocking to see a painter Of poor portraits,
a pianist who played badly or a singer
who sang falsely. Then, why this tum-
bling over one another to start at writer
whose works the majority present will
cheerfully condemn as trash2 Is it the
think not, for it is within bounds TO say
that the successful dressmaker or the sue
cessful plumber probably has gathered to-
gether a fortune even larger than one
whose rising scale of sales we are forced to
take with our coffee and rolls. Either the
standard of good writing is far behind the
standard of good music or good painting,
or as | have limited before, there is some
notion abroad that the mere pursuance of
the profession of writing lifts one at once
to a special ParnaSsuS.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-01

Cat That Walked by Herself" The author
il is stated has returned to England from
South Africa He Is not in the best Of
health.
DR.. J. A. Houser, Of this city. has re-
ceived through scribners Sons, New York,
an order for copy Of his last book. How
To Be a Beautiful Woman for the Impe-
rial Library. Tokyo, Japan. 1t viii be trans
lated into the Japanese language.
1t can now be stated that Bret Harte has
left enough material to make a new volume
Of CONDENSED Novels" Mr.. Harte wrote
quite number of these parodies. which
have proven very popular. and IL is very
likely that the entire set. which includes
Hall Caine. kipling and DR.. Conan Doyle,
Will be issued in the fall.
Miss Agnes Repplier has gone 10 Europe
for at least a year. She viii travel in
Touraine and Brittany for the summer. and
in the autumn she will go TO Italy and
spend the winter in Rome. Miss Repplier
goes for a holiday rather than for work. but
viii keep up her various series OF essays
which are appearing In different periodicals.
Wonderful magnetic eyes are the orbs
which report says belong TO the Scotch
physician who is the original of Conan
Doyle's Sherlock Holmes" He is good
looking. has a fatherly charm Of manner
a swift. swinging gait and general air OF
protective kindness, and, II is added, he
has been by no means fattered I'm Dr.
Doyle's presentment OF MS hero"
In the Gentleman's Magazine. (Bondon)
there are some "reminiscences Of Thomas
Carlyle en- which IS this story OF the phios-
opher: Carlyle and his wife were stopping
at a Scotch country house. and after they
had gone the coachman. who had done
many things for his comfort, remarked:
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-01
MODERN FABLES BY GEORGE
THE MODERN FABLE
OF THE INA GINARY BENEFACTOR WHO
TOOK A BRAND-NEW TACK.
copyrieht, 1909, by Robert Howard Russell
TOOK A BRAND-NEW TACK.

.Oh. why should we send Relief ships TO
Martinique when there is so much Misery
right here in our own principal Residence
Streets?" asked the philanthropic Million
aire.
So he founded and endowed Society for
the Relief OF those who are Invited out.
The Purpose or. this glorious Organization
was to prove that Entertainments should
entertain.
AS a first Move. ehe Benefactor invited all
the well-known Citizens to a Formal Din
ner in honor of a Statesman who wore
Medals for talking against Time. All the
Local Orators who were accustomed TO
paying for their Plates by telling the same
Stories that used TO go so well in the Birch
and Backus Days were up at the Head
Table. A feeling Of Sadness seemed 10
brood over the large Assemblage until IL
was discovered that in front OF each Plate
was a Card saying that any one attempting
20 make a Speech would be thrown out on
his Neck. Three or four OF the SPELL
Binders were temporarily stunned, but the
Main Bunch laid their Faces down among
the Cut Flowers and wept for JOY The
Dinner proceeded with tremendous Enthu-
siasm. There were no Dark Clouds on the
Horizon. threatening a Wind-Storm- No
one was wondering how long the Mayor
the Congressman was going 10 Spout. or
whether they had Manuscripts concealed on
their Persons. The Orchestra played Coon
Songs without any interruption from the
Chairman. No one said anything about the
Feast Of Reason and the Flow OF Soul The
Man with the Megaphone Voice cut no Ice
whatsoever. for they had him sewed up.
Every one went home feeling good.
Next day no less than 30 grateful Persons
stopped the Reformer on the Street and
babe him Godspeed in his Noble Work.
The next Thing the Society did was TO
! offer a Cash Bonus TO any one giving a
/ Reception at which there would be no
! standing in Line and shaking Hands. Also
| il offered annual Salaries TO all Celebrities
who refrained from reading long-winded
| Papers to helpless Clubs.
special Fund was set aside for the pur-
| pose of having Children in the Public
Schools taught, by means of Charts, the
! Deadly Effects Of the Lap Supper.
Then the Society offered a Bounty OF -
for the Scalp of any Person guilty Of Am
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-01
Lending Books.


New York Post.
According to one book lover, a vestry-
man, whose library of several thousand
volumes was sold at auction this week in
an uptown book shop, the quintessence of
philanthropy is, indirectly at least, to re-
fuse to lend a book. This sentiment was
duly set forth in this neatly printed motto
of his own making pasted inside each book:
1T is hard to refuse but more to lend.
L never borrow and dislike to loan. Buying
books is profitable and pleasant; and to in
cite friend to the fixed idea of accumulat-
ing a select library is to do the greatest
good in the world In it you are a COM
panion of the great and good of all ages;
therefore, l advise you others l act my
self. viz: Buy but never borrow"
The collection itself was an Indifferent
one in many ways. There were very few
rare volumes or first editions, and no books
in any but commonplace binding. With few
exceptions, any one of them could be dupli-
Gated at a cost of a dollar or two, and
most of them at the sale went for far less.
Yet in each one was placed the motto
which spoke volumes of the spirit of the
man and the spirit in which the collection
made. The mans boast that in all his
life he never lost book is not difficult to
believe.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-01
In THE LITERARY FIELD
A NOVELIST INVEIGHS AGAINST THE
AMIABLE YOUNG GIRL.
Marion CrawfOrd's Remarkable In
dustry-The Current Historical
Novel Easy Writing.

One would be very content to see an en-
barge at once effective and perpetual i'm
posed upon that element of our national
fiction which for want of a better term one
may call the superamiable. says Frank
Norris in the June Critic. With the public
just at present, or at the very least, with
the publishers, amiability on the part of
all the characters of novel is an in
tallible commendation. And this amiability
is almost invariably symbolized and bodied
forth in the person of young girl. Indeed,
may go so far as to say that the figure
Of the amiable young girl throws its shadow
over the whole scope and range Of our lat
ter-day fiction. This fiction is about amiable
young girls; it is addressed to amiable
young girls; and-save the mark!-is writ
ten by amiable young girls. Girls are at
tractive, youth is fine. and amiability is
surely a passport to consideration. But let
US not exploit the trinity beyond the bounds
of reason and endurance. One had fondly
believed that with the passing of the
Amandas, Sophronias and Belindas of the
former generation the ghost had been for
ever laid. Colorless, mindless ''females!"
One chose to believe that when the brains
were out the girl would die but now they
rise WITH IWenty-UOWerS-n lDelT CIOWuS
to push us from our stools. Is Mr.. Charles
Dana Gibson and the tremendous vogue
he started responsible for this? Was it he
who discovered the amiable voting girl-or,
rather, resurrected her from THE Children
of the Abbey" At all events she has in
vaded not only literature but Illustration as
We'll The full-pages and high places in the
magazines are given over now, not to the
sturdy, fortnight. rough-hewn fellows of
five years ago, but to the pretty girls" the
smart young women" with wonderful
frocks and hats; and not a poster is effec-
tive that does not picture the everlasting
amiable in some fresh garb or guise. The
noblest study of mankind is-of course
woman. But one may be permitted to pro-
test against this ceaseless exploiting of
mere amiability. An amiable woman is, in
real life, no doubt thing to be desired.
But in fiction she offers no very interesting
problem. The great heroines of literature
are anything but amiable. 1t is the devia-
ton from the normal that makes for inter
est, and the Characterization of a real
feSh-and-blOod woman, capable of faults
mistakes, even of sins, would not only be a
refreshing contrast to the present unend-
ing file OF well-bred anaemic ladies, but
would offer 10 the novelist an opportunity
! of exercising all that he has of sincerity
| ingenuity, thoughtfulness and worth.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-01
Literary Notes.

It is stated that Ca-lyle's works have a
steady though not great sale in Great Brit
ain. In each of the last three years the
Chapmans have sold, an average, 10000
volumes bearing his name.
In both New York and Chicago the book
dealers report to the various daily news
papers that of the six best selling books
during the week just ended, THE Missis-
sippi Bubble" is in the list.
Announcement is made that in pronounc-
ing the title to Booth Tarkingtons new
story, 1.-The Two Vanrevels' the accent is
to be placed on the last syllable. This title
is the surname of two brothers who figure
prominently in the plot of the story.
Why do dogs abominate cats? Mr.. Kip
ling rises to explain in the first of his three
new animal stories. He calls the tale 1.-The
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-01
About Marion Crawford.

Saturday Evening Post.
Mr.. Crawford always comes to America
late in September or early in. October and
settles down in his Fifth-avenue quarters
until the latter part of January or early
February. For six days in the week he
works in the big room of which 1 have
spoken, at a large desk that stands near
one of the several windows that face Thir-
teenth street. On Sunday he never touches
a pen, but from Monday morning until Sat
urday night he gets at his desk before s
o'clock in the morning and works until
noon. Up to this time he has eaten little or
nothing-a cup of coffee and a roll, or per-
haps a soft-boiled egg. At noon he goes
to a nearby French restaurant for his de-
jeuner. 1t is the real dejeuner, not lunch
con, and constitutes his main meal
1t Is doubtful whether there is any other
living person who can produce quite so
much first-class copy" as Mr.. Crawford.
1t is an ordinary thing for him TO write
five thousand words in day. and he really
writes IT. He tried debating several
Roadway. His copy" is a work of art, but
very unpopular with the printing fraternity.
He writes a beautiful clean, cOpper-plate
hand, and when he starts out his letters are
of very good size and legible type
writing But as he proceeds the letters grow
smaller and smaller, until finally they are
not much larger than a pinhead. Some
conception Of the minuteness of his writing
may be had when it is stated that his copy
will generally run l. $50 words to page.
Mr.. Crawford generally writes a complete
novel of 10000 words or more during his
New York stay. At his Italian home in
Sorrento Mr.. Crawford does comparatively
little work. There he devotes most Of his
time to his four children. two boys and
two girls, none of whom has ever been to
America Mrs. Crawford, who belongs to an
old American family, comes across with her
husband once every two or three years, but
rarely makes a long stay. For working
purposes in Italy Mr.. Crawford some time
ago leased an ancient watch tower on the
Calabrian coast. 1t is two days sail from
Sorrento, but entirely out of the track of
travel The only thing there is TO it Is a
dungeon with a keep above. 1t stands on
a rocky little islet, facing a tiny rock
bound harbOT. The novelist has fitted up
the keep in a scanty fashion, and here he
settles down for weeks at a time, writing
steadily. his chair facing the broad, blue
he is compelled TO live on fish and eggs,
which his sailors secure on the main coast
The sailors are present because Mr.. Craw-
ford always makes the trip his own
yacht. a stanch schooner sixty feet long,
built in America. Mr.. Crawford sailed this
schooner across the Atlantic. He is a mas
ter mariner, holding a captains license,
and always when afloat serves as one of the
regular crew, taking his turn al the
watches.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-01

INA for a the times he was here Master
Carlyle never opened neither MS mouth
nor his hand tae me-"
IL seems that Bret Harte's first fame in
England was due TO Tom Hood the young
er who happened 20 run across some
Overland Monthlies containing several OF
Bret Hartes poems some thirty-three years
ago. Hood was so struck with them thar
ne advertised the unknown poet 10 his
friends far and wide. one critic over here
was good enough 10 suggest that Swinburne
may have found the meter for some OF his
Chince" But when he was ambassador here
Col. John Hay said that the lift" was the
other way around. He had the statement
, from Harte himself. The Heather Chinee"
was written four years after Swinburne's
chorus
Like some other successful books. Fast
Lynne failed to find a publisher at once.
Mary Hewitt and Harrison Ainswortn
thought much OF IT," says the London
Chronicle. and il was first offered 20 Nr.
Frederick Chapman. His reader reported
adversely and yet again adversely when
ne was asked 10 go over IL second time.
a thlnA you are making a mistake. Mrs.
w Ood said TO Mr.. Chairman when he de-
cllned the book. L think so. too ne
pied, but we have made IL a rule never 10
publish upon an unfavOrable verdict and
~ Is a rule we have never broken Next
the manuscript OF East Lynne went TO
Messrs. Smith. Elder q Co and later 10
Mr. Richard Bentley who quickly accept
ed H. The book had an enormous gircu-
atlon IN the United States from which Tie
author prohteo not a penny
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-01

ateur Theatricals and a Reward of 500 for
the Body, dead or alive, OF any one propos-
ing a Lady Minstrel Show.
A acknowledgements Brooch wac offered
to every Young Woman who would pledge
herself never to sing anything that she
learned at the Conservatory.
Special Endowments were offered to Col
leges on condition that Graduates should
not be permitted to arise on a Hot Day and
quote from Emerson.
A large Sum was set aside TO secure the
passage of a Law prohibiting the sale OF
Flutes to any one except German en-
ployed in an Orchestra.
Society Leaders were quietly bribed TO
circulate the Report that Party Calls were
no longer fashionable.
A Hall OF Fame was established for
Bridal Couples that refused to take Pres
ents and cut out the Reception at the Home
of her Parents.
Then the Multi Millionaire inaugurated
Grand Movement for the final Emancipa-
tion Of those who wear Dress Clothes lie
worked on the Legislature to set aside
three days in every Week for the private
use of those who want TO do as they
please. without being pulled and hauled.
Any one who broke i'm on these days with
Invitations was liable to Prosecution. the
Penalty being a Fine or Imprisonment, or
both.
BY the time this practical Reformer had
spent a couple Of Millions helping the I'M
fortunate Upper Glasses to throw of the
Shackles. he was the most popular Char
acter in the Country.
His heroic Example induced many weak
and faltering Souls TO swear off on the En-
tertainments that had been slowly but
surely leading them toward the Foolish
House.
After he passed away his Statue was set
up In every Park and his Birthday was OBJ
served in the Public Schools with a Half
Holiday instead Of a Programme OF Reel
tations and Speeches.
Moral: Some People are too Polite to call
for Help.