davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-12-04
The Isle of Pines.

The status Of the Isle Of Pines, which
It was understood at the time of the
negotiation Of the treaty Of Paris was
to become a part of the United States,
is brought again to notice by the pres
ence in Washington Of a delegation
from the island to protest against the
further continuance of Cuban sover-
eighty over it, This delegation insists
that there is now practically no gov
eminent on the island, which is nom
inally part Of the province Of Pinar
del Rio, forty miles across the sea
separating it from Cuba. OF the taxes
collected in the island not a dollar,
says the delegation, is spent on it.
There are no schools, no courts, no po-
lice, on the island.
Under the Plat amendment to the
United States senate resolution recog-
nizing the independence of the Cuban
republic the title to the Isle of Pines
was made subject to future adjust
ment by treaty. This was understood
to mean that this country should have
the island. But no treaty has been ne
gotiated regarding the matter, and the
island still remains under Cuban SOW
ereignty, at least nominally. It's i'm
portance to the United States is out Of
all proportion to it's size, it being only
twenty-five miles square. Under GER
tain conditions, however, it might be
Of much strategic value to the United
States. 1t lies due south Of Havana,
about forty miles from the southern
coast Of Cuba, overlooking the steam
ship route to the isthmus. One does
not have to be naval strategist to see
that the value of Porto Rico to the
United States will be doubled by the
possession Of the Isle of Pines.
At all events it is high time that SOW
ereignty and political status Of the is
land were definitely settled by treaty
with the Cuban government, whose in
terest in it appears to be purely SEN
timental, although Cuban pride may
suffer from the alienation of nominally
Cuban soil.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-12-04
ELECTRICITY Versus Steam.

The New York Central Railroad COM
pany has been making some interest
ing tests Of the relallve utility and cost
of steam and electricity for the propul-
sion of suburban trains which demon
strate a marked advantage of the lat
ter over the former.
According to statements printed in
the New York papers, two trains, al
most equal, were used, one driven by
electric motor cars and the other drawn
by the very latest type of steam loco
motive, designed specially for subur-
ban service. The engine had 2,465
square feet of heating surface and two
twenty inch cylinders of twenty-four
inch stroke. The driving wheels were
six coupled feet inches in diameter,
and the engine was supposed to repre-
sent the latest development in the line
Of attaining rapid acceleration.
AS result of the experiments it was
found that at the end of ten seconds
the locomotive with six cars reached a
speed of OF miles per hour, while in the
same time the electric train was max
ing 112 miles per hour. Running with
fewer cars, the engine drawn train
showed q speed of 1853 miles per hour
at the end of twenty seconds, while the
electric train showed 21.2 miles per
hour. In a half minute the speed Of
the steam train was up to 20.8 miles an
hour, while the electric train was max
ing 2S.1 miles an hour in the same
time.
One of the principal reasons why
electricity will continue to supersede
steam for the hauling Of suburban
trains is that it enables the trains to
attain a high rate of speed between
stations which are a short distance
apart. If electricity proves superior
to steam in suburban service, as is
apparent, there would appear to be
possibilities for it's utilization on the
railroads Of the country generally.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-12-04
A MONTE CARLO LEGEND.
The Story the CrOupiers Tell of the
Wandering Jew.

The story the CrOupters Tell OF the
Wandering jew.
All gamblers are superstitious, and
some of their pet superstitions are now
so old as to have acquired the respec
liability of venerable traditions The
croupiers of Monte Carlo have an in
teresting set of traditional supersti-
lions of their own, me of which are
entirely unknown to lie many thou
sands Of visitors who toy with the
tiger" in that gilded court of chance.
The most striking of these Is the
story of the Wandering Jew, which the
croupiers believe as fervently as they
do that the bank will down any "sys-
tenn" that ever was invented. There
is one day. and one day only, in the
year on which the rooms of the casino
at Monte Carlo are closed-that is on
Good Friday. When the rooms are
opened on the following, day, they say,
the first person to enter the Grand
Nouvelle Sale de Jeur' is an old man
of venerable appearance, He wastes
no time; but, walking straight to one
of the tables, he places with the trem-
bling fingers Of extreme old age g
piece of money upon a certain number.
The wheel is turned, the crOupier's ma
sal cry falls upon the ear, announcing
that the number selected by the old
man has won. With bitterly savage
exclamation the aged man SEXES his
winnings, throws them about him and
hurries from the room to disappear, no
one knows where
He is the Wandering Jew, and until
he can lose q bet at Monte Carlo he
must continue his wanderings. Get on
the "blind side" of any of the old crou-
piers of Monte Carlo and they will tell
you this legend. Have they seen him?
Of course they have and are fully per-
suaded that the aged and mysterious
stranger is none other than the man
condemned to perpetual earthly wan
derings nearly 1000 years ago.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-12-04
An Obstacle to Piety.

A story told by a western congress
man is about two brothers, Ed and
Jim, who dealt in wool at their home
In Iowa. Jim went to revival meet
ing (unthinkingly, the congressman
says and got religion" In his first
burst Of enthusiasm he told his brother
of how much better he felt since his
conversion and urged Ed to come into
the fold The latter pondered gravely
for a time and then said: "Ain't any
doubt but what religions a good thing,
and I'm glad you've got it, Jim, but ]
guess you better let me alone just
now" he continued refectively. "You
see, Jim, one of us has got to weigh the
wool"
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-12-04

The announcement that the city of
Trenton, N. j., has made traction
company pay $4,000 for franchise
on one street, with the fare limited to
3 cents, is an indication of what can
be done by municipal authorities for
the public benefit if they set about it.
In the instance quoted the exactions
from the traction company may or
may not have been more than the
traffic would stand" but there was no
law compelling the company to accept
the city's terms. 1t is usually to the
advantage of any city to encourage i'm
proved means Of transportation, but
there is a too frequent inclination to
grant valuable franchises for the use
of urban streets and suburban high
ways without adequate compensation
therefor.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-12-04
Growth Of Church Federation.

DR.. Lyman Abbott's paper, the Out
look, notes with satisfaction the growth
in the movement for church federation.
Since the Disciples of Christ pledged
support to it in their national conven-
ton at Omaha in October, a convention
at Lincoln, Neb., says the Outlook, in
which leading men of various denom-
nations took part, has organized a
federation in that state. Similar move
ments are more or less advanced in
Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Missouri,
Kansas and Minnesota. These are
suspicious signs that home missionary
work in those states will show increas-
ing comfy and economy.
The rapid development Of interest in
the federation, through the activity of
DR.. e. B. Sanford as field secretary,
has made it necessary to secure for the
New York state federation, to which
DR.. Sanford has given part of his time,
the service of a secretary who can de-
vote to it his whole time, setting DR..
Sanford free for work throughout the
country. This was agreed to at the
recent annual meeting of the state fed
GRAFTON at Albany, at which a body of
strong and representative ministers and
laymen was present. The chief topics
discussed were "The Possibilities and
Limitations of the Interdenominational
District and Local Councils" and "City
Evangelization, as a work for which
federation is requisite.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-12-04
China That ErONYn.

Learn to laugh. A good laugh is bet
ter than medicine. Learn how to tell
story. A well told story is as welcome
as a sunbeam in a sickroom. Learn to
keep your own troubles to yourself.
The world is too busy to care for your
ills and sorrows.
Learn to stop croaking. II you can
not see any good in the world, keep the
bad to yourself. Learn to hide your
pains and aches under pleasant smiles.
No one cares to hear whether you have
the earache, headache or rheumatism.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-12-04
Must Deliver the Goods.

There is apparent good law and good
common sense in the recently delivered
opinion of the court of appeals of the
state of New York holding that an ex-
press company cannot by an "agree-
ment" printed on the receipt it gives
for goods delivered to it for shipment
limit it's liability to loss within the
state. This is not a new interpreta'
ton Of the law any more than the prin-
ciple upon which it is based is new,
but the manner in which the court
laid it down is new in it's incisive posi-
tiveness
The court says that the express com,
pany is a common carrier for hire;
that when it accepts package for de
livery to a point in a state other than
where the package was received by it
the liability for safe delivery extends
to all points between the point of ship
ment and the point of address of the
package and that no limitation Of that
liability can be made by the printing
of an alleged agreement on the receipt,
a document which the shipper must
accept or go without.
In fact, the court of appeals deli
cately intimates that the proffer of
limited liability receipt is something
on the order of loan enforced by
footpad at the point of his trusty gun
and that, as no title passes to the cash
or the jewelry borrowed in that forcf
BILE manner. so no limitation Of lfabil-
ity can accrue to the express company
which takes a package for shipment
and firmly insists that the shipper
shall take just such form of receipt
and no other as it may see fit to give.
The express company must not only
deliver the goods. the court justly
holds. but accept without demur the
liability which they assumed when the
state gave them the right to operate
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-12-04

AS the result of an official inquiry
instituted by the Hungarian govern
ment with regard to the use of the
typewriter for official documents, it
has been established that such docu-
ments cannot be depended on for more
than eight or ten years, at the end of
which time the characters become in
visible. The orphan courts have there
fore been directed to discontinue the
use of the typewriter for documents
requiring to be kept a long time. Here
is a chance for Improvement in type
writing machines which the manufac-
turers would do well to take into con-
sideration.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-12-04

This makes an aggregate increase of
$25, 100000, and it is said that when
other roads fall into line, as they nee
essarily must, the increase will amount
to $5O,OOO,OOO per annum.
All this is gratifying and indicates
on it's face a commendable desire on
the part of the great railway corpora
tons to share more generously than
heretofore the earnings of these prop
critics with the men who do the work
upon them. While it is quite apparent
that many Of the roads have made the
advance unwillingly and as a measure
of self protection against strikes and
other labor troubles. some Of the COM
panies, notably the Pennsylvania, have
doubtless taken this step in recognition
of the fact, as President Cassatt says,
given share in the unexampled pros
perity" of the country and in view Of
the further fact, as President Cassatt
also states, that ''the cost Of living has
increased 20 to % per cent, but wages
have not increased accordingly"
However, the fine edge of altruistic
motive is somewhat blunted by the an
nouncement, quickly following the no
tice of increase in wages, that a gen.
eral advance in freight rates will be
made on all railroads throughout the
country Thus the whole proposition
would seem to be very much in the ma
ture of robbing Peter to pay Paul, and,
though the cost of living of General
Public Peter may be increased there
by, he will not begrudge Railroad En-
ployee Paul his needed raise in wages.
1t is quite possible that it would not
be necessary to make the increase in
freight rates in order to advance the
wages of employees if the large ele-
ment of water were eliminated from
railroad capitalization. 1t might be
possible even to further increase the
wages Of employees and lower instead
of raise the transportation rates if the
railroad companies were required to
pay or promise to pay earnings only
upon the actual cost of construction,
equipment, maintenance and operation
and still return to legitimately invested
capital a handsome dividend.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-12-04

When j. W. Bailey, who is a bach
elor, was nominated for governor of
Kansas, a promise was exacted from
him that he would speedily find him
self wife. Now that he is elected he
has the i'll grace to declare that he
cannot find her in the Sunfower State
and asks permission to look for her
elsewhere. 1t seems apparent that
Mr. Bailey does not aspire to second
term.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-12-04

At any rate the president need not
grieve because he did not shoot bear
in the Mississippi canebrakes. The Mis-
sissippi bear is a pretty NANCY kind
Of bear anyway. He is the sort
that robs hencoops, steals ham from
the colored brothers cabin, and sits
on the top rail of the fence and makes
faces at the hunter. To the pursuer of
big game he is hardly worth bothering
with
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-12-04

1t would appear that scrappfng
attended by a more thrilling activity
than similar events in the United States
senate. They appear to be in the regu-
lar order of business over there, and
nothing is omitted that can possibly
add to the delight of the spectators.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-12-04
ThnunhffuI MIXTURE.

GLOW wondrous is nature" sighed
the dreamy eyed person.
"You betw answered the practical
man. 'eWhy, you know how little love
is lost between the Hibernians and the
Africans, and just look how nature has
arranged things SO as to prevent the
Irish potato from coming in contact
with the blackberry" - Baltimore
american
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-12-04

1t is announced that the directors of
the Standard Oil company have de-
clared a dividend of 10 per cent per
share, payable Dec. Is. This closes
the dividend year, making aggregate
disbursements of 45 per cent, the small
est in two years. The reduction in
dividends is really regrettable, though
possibly Mr.. Rockefeller and his asso-
ciates, by the exercise of strict econo-
my, will be able to keep the wolf from
the door
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-12-04

MAN proposes and woman disposes,"
remarked the young man who gets quo
tations twisted.
"Well," replied the beautiful blond on
the other end Of the sofa, "T'm disposed
to do my part if some man will do his"
Three minutes later she had him
Chicago News
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-12-04

The announcement that King Leo
pold of Belgium. whose wife died
about six weeks ago, is about to be
married again suggests mild wonder
why he has waited so long. If he had
been trif1e more expeditions, he
might have made the funeral baked
meats furnish forth the wedding feast.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-12-04

People go to law about many queer
things, but the record seems to be held
by Jennie Speisser of Newark, n. J.,
who has had her sister jailed for a
paltry dispute about the possession Of
q sofa pillow.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-12-04

The superintendent of the Phila-
delphia public schools says that good
spoilers are born, not made. However,
most of them have to learn more or less
about photography before they can spell
all the words in the spelling book.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-12-04

It is observed that a woman's
screams dispersed a band of White
Caps near Binghamton, n. Y. Truly
this is a striking example of the power
of the female voice divine.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-12-04

News comes from London to the
effect that extraordinary precautions
are being taken to strengthen the forti-
fications of the dear old city. Better
have an eye to building up the COM
mercial ramparts.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-12-04

Perhaps young army officers who are
advised by their superior officers
against early marriages may console
themselves with the thought that they
will not always be young.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-12-04

An Indiana man has been granted
divorce from his wife because she
smokes cigarettes. Now if this rule
were reversed and every woman whose
husband smokes cigarettes sought legal
release from the matrimonial yoke the
divorce courts would have to run over
time
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-12-04

New York's horse show was chiefly
remarkable for the number of women
dressed in white. Here's a chance for
Colonel Henry Watterson to make a
few more remarks about the society
OF the metropolis.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-12-04

Although the alleged ashes of Colum-
bus have been at last placed in spe-
cial mausoleum at Seville, Spain, the
suspicion is not dispelled that the real
ashes Of the great discoverer still re-
pose in Santo Domingo, where they
were first laid.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-12-04

1t is gratifying to read that 1,zO
public schools have just been opened
in Porto Rico with $4,000 future citi-
zens Of the republic in attendance.
This is good American news and
hopeful sign of Porto Rico's desire to
become a peaceful, prosperous and pro-
gressive state of the Union.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-12-04

The statement of the Northern Secu-
rites company that whatever rivalry
previously existed between the North
ern Pacific and the Great Northern
railroads will be continued under the
merger naturally provokes the inquiry,
What were they merged for anyway?
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-12-04

An inconsiderate stockbroker who
committed suicide in London sent
bullet wide and wounded fellow bro
ker. Maybe he mistook the other for
bear. These hunting errors are so
common.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-12-04

The open season for gentlemen who
go hunting before they learn which end
of gun is loaded appears to be now at
its height
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-12-04

Chicago is wondering what would
happen if the teachers of the Fedora
ton of Labor should be called out on
a sympathetic strike.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-12-04

Here comes the ak trust just as we
are about chopping the head of the
Thanksgiving turkey.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-12-04

1t may be a trif1e joyless for time,
but we shall manage to worry along
as a WI Ting Fangless country.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-12-04

The attempt to shoot the king Of Bel
GUM would seem to Indicate that this
Ia the open season for royalty.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-12-04
Porto Rican Election Troubles


Let us not think too severely of the
Porto Ricans or despair of their be-
coming good American citizens because
of an election riot or two. We have
this sort Of thing right here at home
now and then. After a century and
more of self government we good
Americans occasionally attempt to
shoot, cut or maui a candidate into Of
fee. All this is to be condemned, but
it does not necessarily argue total de-
pravity or incapacity for self govern
ment.
The Porto Ricans are on their first
legs as individuals in their own right.
Spain has gone, but the hot sun and
the hot blood remain. They must be
reckoned with in forming a judgment
Of all performances in the island. The
people are not likely to develop into
Quakers or mild eyed philosophers even
under the quieting folds of the stars
and stripes, but we may reasonably
hope that in due time they will become
as orderly citizens as those of any 9th
er section of the republic.
Their rioting over elections or from
any other cause is of course discredit-
able, and the spirit which prompts it
should be frowned upon, but mean
while it is we'll enough to remember
that election disorders are not confined
to Porto Rico. We have yet something
to do in the way of making political
campaigns and elections orderly and
above criticism in some OF our great
cities, like New York, Chicago and
Philadelphia, and indeed in some rural
communities. Better pluck the beam
from our own eye before going toe
fercely after little Porto Rico's mote.
The Departure of WI Ting Fang.
The recall of WI Ting Fang, the
Chinese minister to the United States,
will take from this country the most
interesting diplomatic representative
of the oriental nation that has ever
been accredited to this government.
Few diplomats from abroad have en-
joyed greater personal popularity in
this country than Minister WI, though
he never condescended to weaken his
sturdy Chinese patriotism.
He has, however considered it to be
a part of his diplomatic duty to bring
to the attention of the American peo-
pie the virtues and excellences of his
race. Realizing that these Chinese
people were judged Of by the repre-
sentatives of the lowest social grades
who came to this country as immi-
grants, in former years under contract
as coolies. he tried when he could to
enlighten his western hearers as to the
ethical value of the great religious and
moral teachers of China, on the way
in which Chinese society was built up
and the hopes and aspirations of the
Chinese people.
While perhaps WI Ting Fang took
a somewhat more active interest In
the action of congress on the Chinese
exclusion act than was becoming in a
foreign diplomat, his conduct in all
other respects has been exemplary.
Certainly at the time Of the uprising
of the Boxers it was Minister WI
more than any other man who was in
strumental in obtaining intelligence
upon which the allied governments
could act, and all through that inter-
national episode. which placed him in
particularly embarrassing position,
he bore himself admirably.