davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-12
An Incident of the Early sos.

When A. ]. Blethen arrived at Minneapolis
in the eighties and became King OF the OLD
Tribune building, afterwards burned, he was
very much annoyed at the sloWness of the ele-
vator He laid the fault at the door of the
elevator boy and often reasoned with that
young gentleman as to the error of his ways,
but without effect. One day. after a particu-
larry exasperating trip. accompanied by the
elevator boys whistle, Mr. Blethen deter
mined to try a scheme resorted to by Roscoe
Conkling in Washingt on-namely, that of
driving the elevator boy into thinking he
..saw things thus stimulating his nervous
reaction. z4 ss4&Ss .t-syz
Mr., Blethen went out on Nicollet and pur-
chased a strong. clothes line, which he care
fully krotted One end ref this he fastened in
the top story of the building. letting the other
end drop to the sidewalk on Fourth street.
He then walked down and took the elevator
up. When he arrived at the top story, he
flew to the window and, grasping the rope,
let himself down to the street Pedestrians
were much astonished to see his legs and
side hiskers waving frantically in the air
as he came down the rope.
When the elevator came down the boy was
astounded to see Mr.. Blethen waiting to get
on His eyes stood out like Holsters eyes as
he watched him carefully, but he said moth
ing. Arrived at the top story, Mr.. Blethen
again sought the window waved about in
mid-air for a moment and was again
awaiting the elevator when it arrived at the
entry-way on Fourth street.
The elevator boy gave look and never
came back. new man was hired and the
elevator did so much better that the knotted
rope never made it's appearance again from
the Tribune safe It is said to have been
fatally charred in the great fire.
"A J. Russell.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-12
OTHER PEOPLES NOTIONS
Music in Theaters ana Park.

To the Editor of The Journal:
On a recent visit to- your city I spent an
evening with the 'Strollers' at the Metropol-
itan. I noticed that the orchestra was aug
mented, and came in for generous share of
applause. I think am right in saying this
is unusual. AS a class, We country folks
like good music, and it occurred to me that
we have a right to expect something better
in that4line at the Metropolitan than at other
cheaper houses. Would it not be a profitable
investment for the management of this place
of amusement to feature this part of the en-
tertainment and advertise the fact in adjoin-
ing towns? II am not misinformed, the ad-
ditional expense of engaging three or four
extra musicians is nominal compared to the
entertainment and consequent increase of pat
ronage it would inevitably produce:
also see in your columns occasional refer
5ence to the practcability of giving free band
concerts in your various city parks and how
they are to be maintained. i am not going
to draw any comparison between our cities
as Minneapolis would suffer. We have weekly
park, concerts all summer, and they are
strictly gala nights. In fact, they are antici-
spated by rich and poor seven days each week
They are maintained by an appropriation
from the park fund, and have yet to hear OIL
a disgruntled taxpayer Perhaps this sugges-
ton will be valuable to you.
Faribault. March TO- -Musician
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-12
INTERSTATE COMMERCE. LAW

Washington news indicates that there
is not very reassuring prospect for
the amendment of the interstate COM
merce law at this session of congress.
1t would seem so. The activity of the
interstate commerce commission just now
under the existing law is desirable, for it
will reveal, and the commission, no doubt,
designs to reveal by it, the hopelessness
Of accomplishing anything effective in be-
half of the public under that law. The
president favors, it is said, the most
strenuous championship of the equities of
shippers and stands by. his position as
sumed in his message in December, a very
strong one, by the way
OF the bills introduced in congress to
amend the law, those of Senators Nelson
and Elkins and the Corlss bill go most
intelligently into the question of making
the decisions of the commission effective.
The Elkins bill makes provision for pool
ing under the supervision of the govern
ment. This is favored by some railway
arrangements and by some members, OF
the interstate commission, notably the
chairman. On the subject of making the
commissions orders effective there is diff
ference of opinion The El1ins bill pro-
yides for making the orders effective SO
soon as they are judicially approved by
the court, while the commission favors
making them effective SO soon as they
are issued blythe commission. The rail-
road interests are divided on these ques-
lions, some approving 1egalized pooling
under supervision; others wanting the
whole subject '.let alone" and action de-
uance of secret rate cutting. rebates and
other violations Of the law, although this
nefarious business is not strictly profit
able but "goes" because with many man
agements the word is: ANY thing to beat
the other roads" The moral question is
left out. So long as competition is I'M
regulated the country may expect I'M
just Determinations.
The interstate commerce law was
drafted with the intention of encouraging
and promoting competition of the most
active kind, but it concurrently required
hardly consistent with active competition,
and so, unjust determinations became
active under the law In the Trans
Missouri case, four out Of the nine, SUI
preme court judges held that, when there
is judicial declaration made as was the
case then, that public carriers cannot
agree among themselves to maintain
| rates and aid the enforcement Of the in
terstate commerce law, there would be a
direct tendency to breed the preferences
and determinations, to prevent which is
the object of the act Of 1887. This has
been the case, and it is obviously the duty
Of congress to amend the law to make it
conform to the practical requirements OF
the situation by legalizing pooling under
government supervision, requiring the ut
most publicity Of records and making or
ders of the commission enforceable after
review by the circuit courts, allowing
privilege Of appeal to the higher court.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-12

senses returned he was on blue water. Mean
while, as he did not return to his village
home, an alarm was raised, and for the space
of three weeks Caleb figured in the public
press and police reports as mysteriously
missing Then body was found in the
river, Identified as his and shipped home for
burial. q.
Soon after the funeral Arson Davis called
en- the widow and said:
Mary, l don't know whether Caleb ever
| understanding between US that in case he
died l was to step into his shoes -
Il believe he did mention something of the
kind replied the relict.
THAT was kind Of him and saves any fur
Their explanation. | guess you thought almost
as much of me as you did of him, but he
day while I was out of town. Poor Caleb!
We shall miss him and mourn for him. but
at the end of the year We'll be married.
That settled it, The days and weeks and
months went by, and the widow put off her
weeds and Arson bought his wedding suit
The marriage day was set. the friends were
invited and the minister was engaged, and
another twentyfour hours would have made
the Widow Jones Mrs Davis, when in walked
Caleb. He had recovered from his spree and
returned from China.
81 wouldn't have blamed you a Bit" he
said to the astonished wife when he learned
what was about to happen. ''Of course you
thought l was dead, and it was all right for
yous to marry Arson. Ifmight have written
but somehow never got around to it. Sorry
to have made any trouble. 49,.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-12
.Booharon snowshoes.

The Washington papers can't quite under
stand the snowshoe and ski business in which
Representative Eddy and other M!nnesotans
occasionally indulge down here--when condi-
tions are right. Several interesting articles
! have been published for the benefit of the
Washington 'populace, explaining in detail
how to wear snowshoes and skis. and what
lot of fun northwestern people have with
these things every winter. The latest of this
kind was published in the Post on John Boo
bar of St: Cloud. now librarian of the house
library. It says:
House Librarian John ]. Boobar, who, halls
from Duluth Mimi, created something of a
mild sensation couple of weeks ago by
I,snoeshoeing from his place of residence to the
capitol. While other pedestrians wallowed
and slid and plunged amout in the snow,
| Librarian Boobar swiftly gided over the deli
cate crust Of the snow and unstrapped his
,webbed feet at the house entrance while the
other fellows were yet blocks away.
! Mr.. Boobar was followed into the capitol by
quite crowd of the curious, finally dodging
into the chief clerks office, where he was
surrounded and compelled to deliver dis
sertation concerning his particular snow shoes
and lsnowshoeing in. general.
Mr.. Boobar's sliders were something like
| five feet in length by foot in width, and at
| first glance might be mistaken for couple of
tennis rackets.. From Mr.. Roobar's descrip-
ton of the method of locomotion via snow
| shoes, it Is easily apparent that the novice
! should get his experience after dark. The
j initial performances involve so much side
stepping, with direful and headlong results,
| that the crowd Of curious ones whom Mr.
Boobar was heroically endeavoring to en-
/ tighten unanimously voted to stand by their
| arctics.
On the frozen, shores of Lake Superior Mr..
| Boobar's home, the snowshoe and the ski are
1 as common as rubbers in Washington. Many
/, snowshoe clubs, with memberships including
i the foremost ladies and gentlemen in the
! city. exist in Duluth, and during the winter
evenings snowshoe parties are of common oc-
currence. Mr.. Boobar intimates that when
\ you get the hang" of it there Is no finer
/ sport: than hustling a rosy checked Mime
A sofa girl over the crust of the hills upon
i snoWshoes w
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-12
ADJUSTMENTS
Foyer Chat.

1.-THE Explorers, the operate vaudeville
which is playing at the Metropolitan this
week, has made a great hit and the attend
ance has grown with each performance.
There will be but four more opportunities
to see this meange Of mirth, melody and
beauty
Seats for the engagement Of the Kirke La
1.-The Princess Chic with Maud Lillian Ber-
ri in the title role, will be placed on sale
tomorrow morning. One of the features OF
this pretty and romantic opera conique is
that there are more than twenty lyrics and
ensemble numbers In the three acts. Julian
Edwards is the composer, and offers in this
score the most effective work in his long ana
successful career.
1.-THE Merry Tramps, = as presented by the
original Llliputians at the Bijou this week
is especially attractive for the ladies and
children, and the advance sale Indicates large
audiences at both matinee performances. This
merry musical farce has undergone many
changes since5last seen here, and the perform
ance this season is almost entirely new and
up to date.
The Bijou will offer to its patrons next week
a new melodra1na of New England life enti-
| tied "a Ragged Hero" by Maurice j. Field
ing, who has written "a number of successful
plays. The story is said to be intensely in
teresting and holds the attention of the audi
ence from beginning to end company Of
lsuperior merit and "a complete scenic equip
| ment are promised
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-12
TWO MEN AND A WIDOW !.
By WILSON PARKS

y Il + 8 . - =
Copyright, 1902, ssbyz the. SIS. Mcclure Com
pany.
1t was struggle between Arson Davis and
Caleb Jones as to who should win the love
aud the hand of Mary Doyle There was ri
.yalry, but no Ill feeling. When Caleb won
the prize, Arson slapped him on the back
and said:
IAN right, Caleb, you are the lucky man.
don't believe l was ready to marry just
yet anyhow. I'll wait two or three years and
then marry your widow
That's mighty kind of you, answered
Caleb Il have heart trouble and may not
live Year, and the thought that you'll take
my place will make me die content. !"
Six months after the marriage Caleb Jones
went down to the city on business. He had
never been drunk in his life, but he got
drunk to celebrate this occasion. While in
a befuddled state he was carried aboard of a
+ ship bound for the east, and when his sober
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-12
WHAT Is THE RATIONALE?

1t is difficult to get clear UNDERESTIMATE
ing of the logical or illogical basis, of the
position taken by the Minnesota congress
men in regard to Cuban reciprocity.
Among the elements of argument or ex-
cuse that go to make up this basis we
find floating out from Washington the
following:
Protection for the infant beet root SUI
gar industry.
Opposition to a tariff reduction that
would incidentally benefit the sugar trust
Because the eastern congressman who
oppose the Babcock tariff revision ideas
favor reciprocity with Cuba, and the Gu
ban measure gives an opportunity to "get
even or bring the eastern men up to Mr..
Babcock's proposition.
In so far as our Minnesota delegation
is really effectively lighting the selfish
combinations protected by the tariffs it
is easy to sympathize with its views. 1t
is too true that the eastern members who
are SO pronounced in favor of reciprocity
with Cuba are inclined to oppose any
loIul VI reciprocity &THat touches the mills
of their district.
But after all what has that got to dc
with performing a national duty in the
case of Cuba, a duty that is also good
business policy? It is vain and futile fo1
our congressmen to make so much of the
beet sugar industry It will be able te
take care Of itself after Cuba has bee1
given large measure of reciprocity
AS for the incidental benefits 10 the
sugar trust. better far overlook them i
the Cubans are benefited than to leave
the latter to suffer through fear of help.
ing the former.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-12
GOVERNMENT VS.. MERGER

The contention set up by the attorney
general of the United States against the,
Northern Securities company and the
railways in the action begun in the
United States circuit court for the dis
trict of Minnesota is convincing
one. The petition is carefully and con-
servatively drawn and covers the whole
ground, whether the merger has as yet
really been effected or not. Yet it does
not hesitate to call% a spade spade. It
leclare that the attempt to turn over
a controlling interest in the stock of the
Northern Pacific railway company to the
Great Northern railway company is a
virtual consolidation of the two rail-
way systems. The defendants will have
a huge task ON their hands successfully to
dispute this contention.
The virtual consolidation" being eff
fected it follows. as the petition says, that
there will be practical pooling Of earn
ings and a monopoly created of the Gin
terstate and foreign commerce formerly
carried on by them as competing" More
over Ju6 pSllIlOu correctly ueCldfeS hudt
once this has been effected as between
these. two parallel northern lines IAN
available method will be presented
whereby through the corporate scheme
described the antitrust act may be cir
cumvented and set at naught and all
transcontinental lines. indeed the entire
railway system Of the country, may be
absorbed, merged and consolidated, thus
placing the public at the absolute mercy
of the holding corporations
The possibilities of the merger idea
could not be put any more emphatically
by the most rabid enemies { of railway
combines than the attorney general has
put it.
He has certainly made out strong
case for the contention that the merger
is in violation of the antitrust law. The
relief prayed for is so sweeping that, II
| the government wins, the merger both as
present or possible agency OF uniting the
two northern transcontinental railways IN
! the same corporate ownership VIII tall
and likewise all similar efforts.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-12
cos1LY BREAD AND MILK

A distinguished senator of the United States
went to Atlantic City a week or so ago for a
few days stay. relates a Washington corre-
spondent. He. took room at one of the
American plan hotels, agreeing to pay So a
day for his meals and room The next morn
ing after he arrived he was seized with an
attack Of rheumatic govt. The doctor he
called told him he must eat nothing but bread
and milk. He stayed at the hotel for Ave
days and ate bread and milk three times a
day, touching nothing on the elaborate menus.
On the sixth day he sent for his bill. This
is the way it came: ITO room and board
five days at IS. $40. To fifteen dishes bread and
milk, at % cents, $40. 'sBut, |" expostulated
the senator, II ate none of the meals You
shouldn't charge me for the bread and milk
The clerk silently pointed to the line, Dishes
not OH the bill of fare are charged extra
and THE senator says he will make it cost
them thousand dollars by the time he has
told all his friends to keep away.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-12
The NonpareiI Man
His Faith Shattered.

IL s 4 d d -
William c., Lloyd of Trenton, N. j., had
heard OF Missouri mules, but had had no
living experience with them. There was a
recalcitrant mule in Trenton, and Mr.. Lloyd,
who had something Of reputation for sym
pathy with dumb creatures, was called in TO
reason with it.. Nobody knows just how it
happened and Mr.. Lloyds ideas are even
hazier than are those of the bystanders. But
many small patches OF skin cut from the per-
sons of his intimate friends have been grown
into his neck. A section of his repaired
skull is made of sterling silver An arti-
ticial roof has been erected over his mouth
A glass eye glares from its socket, and new
eyebrow has been constructed out of some Of
his superfluous scalp. Many broken bones,
including his jaw and two ribs, have knit to-
gether, and a dentist has thrown together
a new set of teeth for him. Mr.. Lloyd has
just sent in his resignation to the Cruelty to
Animals society, but 1T is held by the society
without action pending Mr.. Lloyd's fuller
recovery "a si#i 1871 n s#
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-12

1T is rather novel to find SO much at
tention devoted to rats in the monthly
reports of the Manila board of health.
But rats have been proved to be instru-
mental in the communication of the bu-
bonic plague, and the authorities regu-
larly examine all the rats caughtrin the
city. Since Sept. the board Of health
has caught 1899 rats, and of these Is, 437
have been examined. On the average he
percentage Of plague rats is 1873.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-12

The United States supreme court has
knocked over the Illinois anti trust law,
and that in it's fall carries down with it
the antitrust laws Of most of the states
that have them. However they were not
of much use. The trust is a national
business enterprise and can only be eff
fectually dealt with by national laws.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-12

The London stock market was naturally
disturbed by the news of the disaster to
the British forces in South Africa, yet
declines in securities were much lighter
than was generally expected would follow.
The English financial world has had to
stand some severe shocks since the Boer
war began, and it has reached that case
hardened stage where an additional jolt
does not throw it into panic.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-12

The interviews with flour men published
in yesterdays Journal Indicate that
featuring industry is strongly in favor Of
reciprocity, and utterly unable to under
stand the attitude Of Minnesota congress-
men who overlook the advantages that
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-12

Congressman Heatwole is talking about
free pulp. We would hear some more of
that talk, Mr.. Heatwole. Mr.. McCleary Is
talking about reducing the tariff on lum-
Der 81. How many say "No" to that
proposition?
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-12
1t is to be hoped that property owners

1t is to be hoped that property owners
will withdraw their objections to the To-
cation of the garbage crematory at tne
East Side pumping station on Hennepln
island. 1t was grave mistake on the
part of the council to locate it away up
towards Anoka in the first place.
garbage crematory is obviously intended
to dispose Of garbage. 1t must be located
at some place where the garbage can be
conveniently and cheaply delivered: the
Hennepin island location seems to be
suitable in every way. a
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-12

! The president is right in refusing to
transfer to other departments of the clas-
sified civil service, without examination,
the surplus clerks Of the census bureau.
There is no doubt that in doing this he
has defeated the purpose of congress,
which was to keep the whole force, large
sly made up Of friends and clients of the
members, on the government pay roll
without regard to their merit.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-12

The Washburn- Crosby company seems
to have made UP it's mind to make "a
practical experiment Of milling Canadian
wheat in bond. The experiment will be
watched with interest by other millers
and by the Canadian farmers who are now
suffering so much on account Of their
lack Of domestic market and the inefti-.
cheney of transportation means.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-12
An oFFIC1AL CALL RETURNEp

Sir Augustus Hemming, the governor OF ia
maica, accompanied by Lady Hemming, will
leave March % for Santiago de Cuba. to re-
pay, with the consent of Mr.. Chamberlain,
the official visit made to Jamaica last Novem-
general Of Cuba ~
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-12
TO PANT TIE QUEEN

Miss Anna West Shaw, st. Louis artist,
has been commissioned to paint Ia portrait
of Queen Alexandra, and will ssoen depart for
London. She is a grandniece of BENJAMIN
West. one Of the leading painters of early
America.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-12

will accrue to this great industry from
reciprocity with Cuba, while their atten-
tion is fixed on the interests Of the beet
root sugar manufacturers. We have no
quarrel with the latter industry, but it is
hard to see why the less should be more
influential with congress than the
greater.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-12
The troubles Of the French coal miners

The troubles of the French coal miners
and the possibility of an extensive strike
some day that will cripple production has
turned attention to the possibility of
America doing more business with
France. France uses 45,OOO,0OO tons of
coal annually. Of which she imports about
100000 tons. America stands a poor
fourth in rates of coal to France, and
England, Belgium and Germany supply the
American coal exporters have been Civ
ing more attention to this matter, how
ever, of late, and would be quick to try
for an increase of business should favor
able opportunity present itself.