davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Tupelo journal., 1902-12-26
COAL WILL REMAIN HIGH.
Officials of the Reading Railroad
Co. See No Relief for Hard
Coal Consumers,
DEMAND GREATER THAN PRODUCTION.
There is No Reserve Stock to Draw
On, and This, Coupled with the
Scarcity of Cars, Establishes q
Condition That Can Not be Eff
fectuaIly Relieved.

Philadelphia, Dec. 19.-Offcials Of
the Reading Railroad Co. hold out no
hope for relief in the anthracite coal
stringency this winter, despite the
efforts of the company to mine and
ship to its full capacity. "Under nor
NAL conditions" said one of the Off
Gals, ''the anthracite production is
never equal to the demand during the
winter months, and the Reading and
all the other anthracite companies
have been obliged to draw upon the
stock at various storage points to
help out the demands of the trade.
This year there is not q pound of
coal at any of these storage points,
and the consumers are dependent en-
tirely upon the daily output of the
mines. The big dealers in New En-
gland, who usually have in stock at
this season of the year from $4,000
to 100, 900 tons, are bare of coal and
ing shipped to them by the various
companies. The company shipped
from the mines during the past two
days nearly 1900 cars of coal. This
means a daily production of nearly
10000 tons.
1t is stated that the Pennsylvania
Railroad Co. has 5000 of the Read
ing Co.'S coal ears or it's tracks in
the western part of the state, as well
as 1000 belonging to the Central Rail-
road Co. of New Jersey, and these
are urgently needed in the anthracite
trade. Their non-delivery, it is
claimed, is causing much delay in the
shipment of anthracite to points west
of Harrisburg.
Reading Co. officials decline to dis
cuss the question as to whether
the advance of so cents 8 ton made in
October would hold good during 1908,
but they admit that it would certain
ly rule beyond January 1, 1908, the
date fixed by President Baer for a
reduction to the old rates. An op-
orator who attended the meeting Of
the operators in New York stated
hat the advance would be retained
during all of next year.
The Tupelo journal., 1902-12-26

frequently in a free for all fight in which
fists only were used and after which nc
arrests were made. In those New Yeal
days the "rumshops," as they were called
did a land office business. Whisky was
plentiful and cheap, and the prejudice
against drunkenness was by no means sc
general then as now.
The focal point of interest, however
was the hiring out of negroes for the en-
suing year. Now and then negroes were
offered for public sale, but that practice
was not so common then as in the earlier
part of the century.
Planters neither hired out their slaves
nor did they employ those of other PEG
pie. But those belonging to minor chill
were "chattels" of residents of the towns
and villages were commonly hired OUT
especially if they had been taught trades
or were good cooks or house servants
Many town residents possessed slaves be
yond their home needs, and these were
hired out" to others who might require
their services.
The contract lasted for the calendar
year only. 1t must be renewed annually
if desired by the contracting parties.
Much misconception obtains as to the
disagreeableness and shame of this prac
tlce. Masters had a direct pecuniary in.
terest in their slaves, and it was to their
interest to see to it that these secured
humane employers. As far as it was pos
sible, each slave was permitted to choose
the person for whom he would work
Some there were VINO remained with the
same employers year by year for many
years.
Those that were good servants had nc
difficulty in choosing desirable. EMPLOYERS
Very frequently the master left this mat.
ter entirely in the hands of the slave.
After all, though, there were those who
were unknown and many more who were
practically worthless, and these were
"hired out, at auction to the highest bid.
der. This, also, was commonly the prac'
tice as to .cornfield niggers" and I'm.
skilled laborers generally, of both sexes.
There were pathetic scenes now and
tfen when negroes were sold at public auc.
ton on New Years day. Very rarely it
CHANGED that at such times members Of
the same family were sold to masters
widely separated.
1t should appeal to the common sense
of any man that slaves being valuable
holdings, their owners would neither treat
trem cruelty nor permit them to be abused
by others. Owners of valuable horses uni
formly are kind to them, and horses are
not human.
men met to settle long due debts, to pay
notes and to rent farm lands. Taken al
together, It wa : busy busy day, full
The Tupelo journal., 1902-12-26
Boys Set River on Fire.

An alarm of fire from the big mill
ing district on the banks of the Trim
ity river at Dallas, Tex, close to the
heavy jobbing district, created intense
excitement and called out the entire
fire department. When the fremen
reached the scene it was found that
there was nothing they could do, al
though there was a stream of fire a
mile long. Much oil waste runs from
the Touring mills and other factories
into Trinity river and floats on its
surface. Some mischievous boys, dis
covering that the greasy substance
from oil-burning furnaces would
burn, touched a match to it and liter
ally set the river on fire.
The Tupelo journal., 1902-12-26

wanted to make some himself, when
we were first married, but l vetoed
that. 1 wasn't goin' to have a man
messin' round maxim pies, and l
wasn't goin' to have him eatin' of
'em after they were made. Pies amt
good for him. But l declare l dunno
what does make him act so kind of
spiritless. / told him to-day 1 thought
he'd better make a resolution for the
New Year and stick to it, and see if
it wouldn't put some spunk into
him"
Pretty soon she went home. I
could see she was real kind of trou-
bled. She always did think a good
The Tupelo journal., 1902-12-26
A WEALTHY JEW MENDIcANT.
What the Death of ELI Hyman, q
Jew Beggar at Toronto,
Canada, Revealed.

Toronto, Ont, Dec. 19.-Eli Hyman,
a Jew, who begged for admission to
the general hospital here, on Satur-
day, is dead. An examination of his
clothing resulted in finding scrip
worth $31, 900. Other papers showed
him to be worth probably 100000.
For 20 years he has slept in sheds
and stables. He sold papers and
begged
The Tupelo journal., 1902-12-26
Is Fatal to Cattle.

The fluid being used by the United
| States government in efforts to kill
the hyacinth pest in Florida waters
by spraying it from a boat over the
plant is causing the death of many
cattle on ranges bordering on the wa
ter. Work has been stopped until an
investigation can be made.
The Tupelo journal., 1902-12-26
Plans for the New Year.

Now man resolves to strive anew
And in the coming year win more
OF that which misers fasten to
Than he has yer gained before.
His wife applauds him and sits down
Considering how she will show
A few new didoes to the town
If hubby gets his schemes to go.
Chicago Record-Herald.
The Tupelo journal., 1902-12-26
THE FIRE BURNS LOW.

LIE flTtE bOhNS LOW.
We gather round the fire,
'Tis in the bleak December,
The evening shadows curtain us,
We watch the fading ember;
For the year is growing old, love,
The Wild winds moan and rave;
The night outside is cold. love,
The naked branches wave.
We tell the ear old stories,
We sing the dear old tunes;
The year will soon be seeing
The last of all its moons.
The e a is going fast, love,
o year., so fair and sweet;
IT will DOR be with the past, love,
o year. SO spent, SO fleet.
We sit around the fire,
Swift pales its crimson glow,
The hour is late and lonesome,
The deal hearth fire burns low.
Twelve months, they seem like one
love,
So passes life away,
In battles lost and won, love,
In runes of night and day.
1t is the dear December,
But yet the home is bright,
The flame dies to the ember,
To rise in mornings light.
The year Is near its end, love,
Another year is nigh,
But friend still clings to friend, love,
Howe'er the yearssmay fly. /.
Margaret e. Sangster, in Christian In
telligencer.
The Tupelo journal., 1902-12-26
Wreck in Alabama.

A south-bound passenger train on
the Alabama Great Southern railroad
was derailed on a trestle near
Moundsville, Ala, and the whole train
was piled in a creek. F. c. Coleson.
express messenger, was killed, and
FIVE other trainmen were more or les.
injured.
The Tupelo journal., 1902-12-26
HAYTI'S NEW PRESIDENT.
Gen. Nord Proclaimed President BY
the Haytian Army and Takes
ON of the Palace.

Port-au-Prince, Hayti, Dec. 19.-Gen
Nord having been proclaimed presi-
dent of Hayti by the army, took pos
session of the national palace Thurs
day morning.
The Tupelo journal., 1902-12-26

NERVOUS.
deal of Lemuel in spite of every
thing.
The mex day was New Years, and
in the afternoon Mehitable came in
again. She didn't have her sewin' as
she generally did, she was a very in
dustrious m She jest set down
and begun twisting the fringe of her
shawl as if she was real nervous. Her
face was puckered up, too. q don't
know what to make of Lemuel," said
she, finally.
why, what's the matter?" said I.
He says he's made a resolution
for the New Year" said she, land
that he's goin' to keep it,"
"Well, what is it?" said L.
81 Dunno" said she.
"Well, if it's a good one you don't
care, do you?" said I, land it couldn't
be anything but a good one if my
brother made it,"
81 dunno what it is" said she.
won't he tell?"
mo, he won't. I can't get a word
out of him about it. He don't act
like himself"
Well, l must say I never saw such
a change as come over Mehitable and
Lemuel after that. He wouldn't tell
what his resolution was, and she
couldn't make him, though she al
most went down on her knees. 1t
began to seem as if she was fairly
changing characters with Lemuel,
though she had a spell of bein' her
self more'n ever at first, tryin' to
force him to tell what the resolu-
ton was. Then she give that up, and
she never asked him where he was
goin', an he could come in my house
an set jest as long as he wanted to,
and she bought him a short-tailed
coat and some store collars and
shirts, and he looked like another
man. He got to stayin' down to the
store nights, an talkin' politics with
the other men real loud. I heard
him myself one night and I couldn't
believe it was LemueI.
Well, Lemuel he never ave in, and
he told till the next New Years
day, when he said he would tell. He'd
said all along hat he'd tell her then.
I'd got most is curious as Mehitable
myself by that time, and New Years
mornin' l run over real early-they
wasn't through breakfast. He was
most through. He was finishing I'D
with a big piece of mince pie, and
he'd made it himself, too. When he'd
swallowed the last m%outhfu1, he
looked up and he laughed, real pleas
ant and sweet, and yet with more
manliness than I'd ever seen in him.
"S'pose you want to know what
that New Years resolution WASP"
said Lemuel.
81 guess I a stand it awhile lon
GER" said Mehitable. Now the time
had come she didn't want to act too
eager, but l showed out jest what I
felt.
"For the land sake, LemueI Bah
bit, what was it?" said I.
Lemuel he laughed again. "Well, it
wasn't much of a%nythin'," he said. in
his gentle drawlin' way. 81 didn't
make no resolution really
"What, Lemuel Babbit!" cried Me-
hitable.
NO." said he; ST couldn't think of
none to make, so / made a resolu-
ton not to tell that I hadn't made
any."-People's Home Journal.
The Tupelo journal., 1902-12-26

tHSEN M3gGl III CdIos ANobody bhouSht
SS5esSAf he'd ever get married at
& all, any more'n my
brothers Reuben and Silas. The
three had lived together and kept
bachelors hall ever since our
mother died. l was married and
away from home long before she
died. l didn't know how they
would get along at first, but
all of the boys had been used to
helpin' ma a good deal, and they
were real handy, and when l asked
if they wasn't goin' to have a house
keeper, they wouldn't hear to 1t.
They said they wasn't goin' to have
no strange woman round in mas
place, nohow. So Silas he took hold
and did the washin' and i%ronin', and
Reuben did the s%weepin', and Lemuel,
he was the youngest, next to me,
did the cookin'. He could cook a din
ner equal to any woman, and his pies
beat mine. My husband said so, and
/ had to give in they did.
Well, they seemed to get on so
nice, and none of EN- had ever seem
ed to think much about the girls, not
even when they was boys, that /
must say l was astonished when
Lemuel he up and got married to Me-
hitable Pierce. She was a little along
in years, toe, rather mere so than
Lemuel, and a dreadful smart piece.
She was good lookin' and had prop
erty, but she was dreadful smart and
up an comm l could never see how
Lemuel got the courage to ask her
to have him, he was always a kind OF
mild spoken little fellow Reuben he
declared he didn't. He vowed that
Mehitable asked him herself. He
said he knew it for a fact, and he
said it with the tears rollin' down
his cheeks. Reuben was the Oldest,
and he'd always been terrible fond
of Lemuel. "That poor boy would
never have got in sech a fix eff that
woman hadn't up an asked him, an
he didn't nave spunk enough to say
no." said Reuben, and he swallered
hard.
Mehitable had a nice house of her
own that her father left her. all fur
nished and everything, so of purse
Lemuel he went to live with her, and
Mehitable's house was pretty near
where / lived, so l could see every
thing hat was goin' n 1t want
very long before I said to Hannah
Morse, my husbands old maid sis
ter that lives with us and teaches
school, that I believed Lemuel was
henpecked, though L hadn't anythin'
against Mehitable.
81 don't see what else anybody that
married Mehitable Pierce would ex-
pect," said Hannah. She spoke real
sharp for her. I've always kind of
wondered if Hannah would have had
Lemuel if he'd asked her. well"
said /, 81 hope poor Lemuel will be
happy. He's always been such a
good, mild, willin' boy that it does
seem a pity for him to be rode over
rough-shod, and have all the will he
ever did have trodden into the dust"
"Well, that is what will happen,
or I'll miss my guess" said Hannah
Morse. For a long while l thought
she was right. 1t was really pitiful
to see Lemuel. He didn't have no
more liberty than a five-year-old boy,
and not SO much. Mehitable wouldn't
let him do this and that, and if there
was anythin' he wanted to do, she
was sot against it, and he'd always
give right in. Many's the time Lem
uel has a ove to my house and
his wife come racin' to the fence and
screamed after him to come home,
The Tupelo journal., 1902-12-26
His Economy.

us your husband going to make
any new resolutions this year,"
asRed the visitor.
81 think not" answered the wom-
IN who had just been reminded that
it would be necessary to economixe;
II am afraid he will have to con-
tent himself with last years, made
over."-Washington Star.
The Tupelo journal., 1902-12-26

Albany, N. Y, Dec. 19.-I. S. Frastr
referee in the affairs of the imperial
council, order of United Friends, has
reported to the supreme court that
he finds the corporation hopelessly
insolvent and recommends its dissolu.
ton.
The Tupelo journal., 1902-12-26
As the Old Year Fades,

No, you needn't call me early, needn't cal.
me, mother dear,
I'll know without your waking me thai It's
the glad New Year,
For every whistle in the town will blow
from IL to 3,
And boys with dad+dinged horns, mother,
will toot a few for me.
Tribune
The Tupelo journal., 1902-12-26
Negroes Sue for Damages.

DISTINGUISHED negroes have filed
suit at Richmond, Va, against the
state officers and the members of the
Virginia constitutional convention for
damages.
The Tupelo journal., 1902-12-26
He uesussd to Testify.

Nose Foley, who refused to testify
before the Vicksburg (Miss.) grand
jury against Sunday law violators,
was fined $50 and sentenced to serve
three weeks in Jail.
The Tupelo journal., 1902-12-26
Death of a Veteran.

Col. Abram Fulkerson, aged 10,
former congressman from the Ninth
Virginia district, died at his home
at Bristol, Tenn. He served with dis
tinction in the confederate army.
The Tupelo journal., 1902-12-26
Bad outlosh for Boyd.

Additional damaging evidence has
been secured against j. B. Boyd, at
Crystal Springs, Miss, who is charged
with having poisoned his wife.
The Tupelo journal., 1902-12-26
paducah minister Indicted.

The Paducah (Ky.) grand jury re-
turned an Indictment against Rev. e.
w. Briggs for malicious cutting with
intent to kill. He stabbed a friend.
The Tupelo journal., 1902-12-26
Economy of Labor.

"He is one of the most resourceful lazy
men | ever knew"
why do you say that?"
Because, instead of writing out his
good resolutions, he cut the page for Jan.
uary l, 1902, from his old diary and pasted
it in under 1909 ."-Chicago Post.
The Tupelo journal., 1902-12-26
Virginia VIII BE There.

The bill to appropriate $4,000 for
a Virginia exhibit at the st. Louis
Worlds fair, which had previously
passed the Virginia house, has passed
the senate.
The Tupelo journal., 1902-12-26
A Genufne Picnic.

Johnny Jones-Did YOU have fun watch
ing the old year out and the new year in?
Willie Boerum-Did l? Say! l watched
my sister and her beau watch the old
year out and the new year in!-Brooklyn
Eagle.
The Tupelo journal., 1902-12-26
The Height OF Delicacy.

Clara-Mabel is so thoughtful about her
Christmas presents.
Belle-In what way, dear?
Clara-Always leaves the price tag on SO
as to save me a trip down town to find
out.-Brooklyn Life
The Tupelo journal., 1902-12-26
American Congress on Tuberculosis

Atlanta, Ca, Dec. 19.-A petition
has been filed here, in the superior
court, asking for a charter for the
incorporation of the American con
gress on tuberculosis.
The Tupelo journal., 1902-12-26
Making Them Comfortable.

Cora-Oh, papa, why have you moved
the sofa out into the middle VT the room?
Papa-I thought you would wan it
there, since you have hung the mistletoe
on the chandelier.-Town Topics.
The Tupelo journal., 1902-12-26
The Cotton Crop.

The long list of cotton estimates
which usually enliven the last days of
November and the early days of De-
cember are about all in, and, as gen
orally happens, the trade is as much
at sea as to what the crop really is as
it was before. The estimates range
from 10000, 900 to 100000, with the
average of what are known as the
trade estimates ranging around H.
900, 900. The government issued an
estimate of 10,417,0o bales actual
production, equivalent to a CONNER
cial crop of all the way from 10,6OO,-
900 up to 11,O0o,O 900 bales, according to
the varying methods of calculation.
The Tupelo journal., 1902-12-26
Holiday Sacrifices.

Oh, Christmas-tide. thy discipline quite
moves my soul to weep;
We give away such lovely things we maday
yearn to keep.
Chicago Record.
The Tupelo journal., 1902-12-26
Had the Same Effect.

81 hear that Jacks fancee has mad,
him give a New Years promise to STOP
smoking"
"That So? Well, mine has not said a
word about giving up the weed, but ouI
engagement has just the same effect"
"How SOL"
every time l call all the cigars in my
vest pocket manage to get crushed, and,
OF course, l don't smoke them!"-Balti
more Herald.
The Tupelo journal., 1902-12-26

Bradds-"Going to make any new
resolutions this year, Spikes?"
Spikes-'New ones? | should say
not! I've got a lot of old ones I've
never used, by jove!"-Chicago Daily
News.
The Tupelo journal., 1902-12-26
Alabama Minister Killed,

Rev. S. A. Archer, a Baptist min
lister, was killed by Casey Holland.
near Decatur, Ala. The two qua
relied over a load of wood.
The Tupelo journal., 1902-12-26

it was known only as hiring day."
At every county seat in every slave state
it was the yearly custom for people of all
degrees to gather, some as spectators,
others as actors in the events of the day.
By far the greater number collected
prompted solely by idle curiosity.
Upon every corner and at every point
available in the courthouse square sat
negro women with great baskets of zap
pie-jacks" Ia sort of fried apple pie), GIN
eerbread and persimmon beer which they
offered for sale.
During the day men engaged in tests of
agility and strength, which ended not in.
The Tupelo journal., 1902-12-26

Richard Nape, aged SO, of Scranton,
Pa, was struck by a locomotive and
killed at jackson, Miss, while work
ing in the railroad yards.
The Tupelo journal., 1902-12-26
NEW
THE SOUTH n.
FIFTY YEARS AGO
By WILLIAM ROSSER C0BBE.

He first day of January at the
South so years ago presented
scenes that would be strange
indeed if enacted IN this gem
Grafton.
To the negro slaves as well
as to the many white people
The Tupelo journal., 1902-12-26
A Brave Man Sleeps I'm Death.

Gen. George p. Norman, adjutant
general of the United Confederate
Veterans, died in New Orleans, the
other evening, at the age of 81 years
Gen. Norman was on the staff OF
Forest and other notable confeder-
ate leaders during the civil war, and
was commander of Moorman's caval-
nv battalion. He had been adjutant
of the United confederacy since its
inception, and was at work on prep
a~rations for the May reunion when
death claimed him, as he expired at
his desk in his office.
The Tupelo journal., 1902-12-26
Serl0ns Chargcs.

Col. Atkinson and A. +. Love, man.
ayers of Mississippi convict camps,
are alleged to have maltreated pris-
oners under their care.
The Tupelo journal., 1902-12-26
Dreamed of Buried Treasure.

A pot of buried treasure was found
at Waxahachie beneath the roots of
a tree. The finding of the treasure
was the result of a dream of Mrs. AL
exander, a young The
money was IN gold and silver and was
in a fairly good state of preservation.
The exact amount is not known, but
it is said to be several thousand dol
lars. 1t is supposed to have been
buried by an early settler during the
civil war.
The Tupelo journal., 1902-12-26
For immoral Conduct.

The negro Methodist conference at
Columbus, Miss, expelled two minis
tiers for immoral conduct.
The Tupelo journal., 1902-12-26

Y brother Lemuel mar
mi ried Mehitable Pierce
,g when he was quite along
in years. Nobody thought
IN he'd ever get married at
The Savannah morning news., 1902-02-17

ment for the ensuing week ought to
fall back to about last years figures.
but after that it should be lighter
again. Small crop views are gaining
in popularity, and the market will
probably do better. AS to the March
squeeze, it is yet too early for any
thing acute to be developed, 1t would
draw too much cotton.
The grain markets were very quiet
all the week, with fluctuations cover
ing narrow range. The feeling was
mostly firmer, with the closing pretty
well up to top prices. about &c high
er. May wheat, SSsQ7S%c. Corn
gained about the same. There were
no developments of decided character
during the week. but the news gem
orally favored the bulls. Receipts We're
light, and the visible supply showed
a material decrease. Gables were firm,
and there was a larger export in
quiry. Crop news was in the main
fairly good. owing to plenty of snow,
but not unfavorably so. 1t is getting
near the time for crop damage re-
ports, and these will stimulate specu-
lation vigorously. Purchases on the
weak spots will probably pay hand
somely, and the activity may spring
up suddenly any day.
VIM, II, Williams.