davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Amador ledger., 1902-07-04
TOADS IN FOLKLORE.
sicilian Superstition COncerning the
Ugly Little Creatures.

The toad has prominent place in
folklore. We find the ugly little crea-
ture distinguished in popular tradition,
and that in its most permanent prov
ince, in local worship and belief The
survival is so strange in itself and so
well fitted to illustrate the primitive
character of fairy mythology that it
may be accorded particular attention.
According to the statements of DR..
&. Pitre, contained in his excellent ac-
count of Sicilian tradition, the faith of
that island still recognizes supernatu-
raj beings known as donne di fuora
QadieS from abroad, also entitled pat
ronesses of the house, who have at
tributes in common with the fairies of
England. Like the latter, during the
nighttime they enter houses, where
they expect to find everything in order.
Among mortals they have their favor
ties and enemies. Fortune is conSid-
cred to result from their kindness,
sickness and poverty from their perse-
cution.
1t is a peculiar feature of their habits
that they visit the domicile not on any
evening indifferently, but only on
Thursday, making their entrance by
the keyhole or by cracks of doors. If
day surprises them before they leave
the cottage. they change into toads and
in this state remain until the following
eve when they are once more at liber-
ty to resume their proper shape Of
beautiful women. During the interval
the>toad is sacred, because it is impos-
sible to be sure that any particular
one may not in reality be the lady of
the house.
Legends abound in which is related
the reward or punishment consequent
upon the good or i'll treatment of q Fri
day toad. On this day, therefore, the
usually unpopular animal is safe from
abuse and secure of attention, more
especially if it chance to belong to a
species possessing particular arrange
ment of the cuticle reminiscent of a
lady's head Of hair. Any person who
occupies himself with folklore becomes
accustomed to remarkable survivals,
yet it does excite astoniShment to find
so perfect an illustration of prehistoric
thought in central Europe Of the twen-
tieth ry.-International Monthly.
Amador ledger., 1902-07-04
Unnecessary Suffering.

How much wretchedness and misery
there is in the world! Do you add to it
or do you try to help those with whom
you come in contact? Every time you
speak, every time you act, you add to
some ones happiness OF misery. On
which side do you throw your inf1u-
ence? Your opportunities may not be
great, but do you ever cause unneces-
sary suffering in world wretched
enough at best? 1t is worth thinking
about. Do you say cruel things when
you might say things that would be
kind? If you have the habit, doesn't it
sometimes occur to you that you should
quit it? The writer of this has been
thoughtless many times, but as he
grows older he tries very hard to avoid
giving unnecessary pain. - Atchison
Globe.
Amador ledger., 1902-07-04
THE TELLTALE THUMB.
Its Marks and Lines and Its Signal
From the Brain.

A tremendous amount Of nonsense
has been written about thumb marks.
1t is claimed that the curious skin con-
flguration on the ball of the thumb is
never the same in any two people and
that it never changes. The first state
ment is correct, and the same thing can
be said of the lines on the palm and
the creases on the bottom of the feet.
But the assertion that the thumb marks
never change throughout life is a de.
cided exaggeration. The alteration may
come from a variety of causes-any-
thing, in fact, that will destroy the
outer layer of skin.
Another modifying cause is the tend
ency of the thumb to develop little
horizontal creases as one grows old.
This is especially true of mechanics and
other working people who use tools,
and eventually the creases will break
up the lines to such an extent that it
is equivalent almost to a rearrange-
ment of the pattern. Specialists in
nerve diseases by an examination of
the thumb can tell if the patient is
affected or likely to be affected by
paralysis, as the thumb signals this
long before it is visible in any other
part of the body. If the danger symp-
toms are evidenced there, an operation
is performed on what is known as the
thumb center" of the brain, and the
disorder is often removed.
No matter how carefully the individ-
mi NAV attamnt to noDcea1 inoiDieOt in
sanity, the thumb will reveal it infal:
libly. 1t is the one sure test. If the
patient in his daily work permits the
thumb to stand at right angle to the
other fingers or to fall listless into the
palm, taking no part in his writing, his
handling of things, his multiform du-
ties, but standing isolated and sulky, it
is an unanswerable confession Of men,
tai disease.-Kansas City Independent.
Amador ledger., 1902-07-04
Fate Wouldn't Supply Funds,

A woman left her husband a short
time ago, giving as a reason for it that
she had consulted an astrologer and
been told by him that it was her des-
tiny to be a great woman, but that in
marrying she had committed a serious
error. AS long as she remained with
her husband she would fail to achieve
the greatness fate intended for her.
She stayed away from home only four
weeks, however.
"I see you doubt the astrologer's in
depreciation of your destiny" said her
sister.
"Not in the least" replied the woman,
"but neither the astrologer or fate pro-
vided the money, and as | had to give
up money or fame l chose to sacrifice
the latter."-New York Press.
Amador ledger., 1902-07-04
MAMMOTH BIRDCAGE.
One of the Little known Attractions
of the National Capital.

Washington, in addition to its other
attractions. possesses the largest bird
cage in the United States, perhaps in
the world. 1t is 110 by 900 feet ground
dimensions and 130 feet high and is
located in the very heart of the city,
at the busiest point in busy section.
1t is. In fact, the court of the post
Office building, and at times it is filed
with sparrows, their twittering filling
the air and lending strange incon.
gruity to the otherwise solemn sur
roundings of the great building.
The birds enter the glass covered
court through the ventilating Stats at
tae north and south ends near the peak
of the roof, and only by accident do
they find their way again to the open
air. At times there are scores of them
flying about within the inclosure; then
few disappear and others enter. Over
the mailroom, on the ground floor,
there is fat, glass covered roof, par
titioned off with planks, and on these
latter are arranged many palms from
the botanical gardens.
Among these the birds disport them
selves as in tropical freedom, and were
food supplied them there is small doubt
that they would engage to remain in
definitely in such comfortable quarters,
for after the first fright at seeming
capture of a new bird the little crea-
lures seem to adapt themselves happily
to their new quarters, and only when
the pangs of hunger attack them do
they make any attempt to find their
way again to the open.-Washingt
Times
Amador ledger., 1902-07-04
He HAD A BIG HEART.
An Old Miner Who Was Mark
TwRin's Ideal Gentleman.


THE finest gentleman 1 ever knew"
said Mark Twain in a chat with re-
porter one day, was an old California
mluer wso could barely write his own
name. He was forty-niner, and he
and his partner had struck it rich in
the early days. The old man had nei-
ther chick nor child, and he had work
ed hard all his life, and when he did
get his money he hardly knew what to
do with it.
He did not try to jump into society
or to push his way with the big fel-
lows there. He continued to live with
the people whom he had associated
with all his life. and many an act of
kindness was done, many wandering
son and father saved, many sorrow
Ing woman's burden lightened and her
home frightened by an unknown dom
or whose identity with the old man
was only known to a few.
ut was different with the partner.
Ee daG a wife and two daughters with
social aspirations, and after a whole
lot of pushing and hauling and showing
they landed In society. The expense
was too much of drain on the hus.
bands purse. and he speculated. with
the inevitable outcome. He lost his en-
tire fortune and then shot himself.
Then it was that the true gentleness of
the old man showed itself. The wild
ow and her daughters had no one to
turn to but him, and he did not disap-
point them. He saved their home for
them when everything else went un-
der the hammer. and he maintained
them in all the regal style to which
they were accustomed, although he
still lived in his old lodgings. He lived
long enough to see both of the girls
well married and the mother carefully
settled for life. Then he died in a
charity hospital in San Francisco. He
had spent every penny he owned on
the family Of his partner."-St Louis
Republic.
Amador ledger., 1902-07-04
playing wagner up.ide Down.

A London paper tells story of Wag-
ner in the days Of his youth and power
ty calling upon Rossini in Paris and
noticing "a little composition" Of his
own on the piano rack. The reply of
Rossini when it was pointed out to him
that the music was upside down was
perhaps hardly up to the best form of
''the polite Frenchman." you see,
found it sounded better that way"
Bill Nye's compliment to Wagner
was in a happier vein. He told the
great composer that he had no doubt
his music was really much better than
it sounded.-London Speaker.
Amador ledger., 1902-07-04
Sweet Sympathy.

Mrs. Youngwed-Yes; Mr.. Youngwed
didn't feel at all well this morning, so
Just made him stay home from the Of
fica
Mrs. Naybor-Indeed! notice all
your carpets are up and your back
sheds painted and
Mrs. Youngwed-Yes; got Mr..
Youngwed to do all that while he was
home today.-Philadelphi Press.
Amador ledger., 1902-07-04
surmountinx a pimcuIty.

Alice, who was Eve years old, was
often asked to run errands for her
mother. She went very willingly If
she could pronounce the name Of the
article wanted, but she dreaded the
laughter which greeted her attempts
to pronounce certain words. Vinegar"
was one of the hardest for her. She
never would go for it if she could help
it, but one morning her mother found
it absolutely necessary to send her. On
entering the store she handed the jug
to the clerk and said, "Smell the jug
and give me a quart"-Chicago Chron-
icle
Amador ledger., 1902-07-04
Tho Love of Nature.

A real love Of nature is one of the
most valuable possessions which you
can have, since it will continue to af-
ford you happiness as long as you live.
But in order to have this love you must
get it while you are young-while you
still have leisure to give 1t first place
in your thoughts. Nature must be your
first sweetheart or she will not be your
sweetheart at all.-Woman's Home
Companion.
Amador ledger., 1902-07-04
English as mshs Is snoke.n

William" asked Washington
teacher, "why were you absent from
school this morning"
"Oh, some un stole me coat on me-"
whats that? Stole your coat 'on
your"
''He can't talk" said Williams broth
er James. "He means some un stole
bis coat off 'im."-New York Times.
Amador ledger., 1902-07-04

Ute, nOu1lSn Ine nerves, ana promote
the general physical health.
1.-TWO years ago my daughters health began
60 fall" writes Mrs. Dan Hall, of Brodhead
Green Co., Wis. Everything thai could be
thought of was done to help her but it VS. of no
use. When she began to complain she was
quite stout; weighed I7o-the picture oi good
health, until about the age OF fourteen. I'll N in
six mouths she was so run down her weight was
but i2o. felt could not give her up as she
the only child had. and must say, Doc
tor, that only for your Favorite p-escription,
my daughter would have been in crave to-
day When she had taken on--h.l. bottle the
natural function was establishej / we bought
another one. making oi'lv ;wn TICS in all and
81 completely recover SIS then she is as
W a. c1l be-"
. Cor.r0r Sense Medical Adviser,
IoC5 page aper covers, is sent free
on receipt / one-cent stamps to pay
expense Of mailing only. Address DR..
R. V. Pierce, Buffalo, N. Y.
Amador ledger., 1902-07-04
Queer.

"Life insurance people are queer"
observed the man with the incandes-
cent beard.
"Are theyT asked the man who is
introduced at this point for the pur-
pose of leading up to the next line.
Eyes. First they convince you that
you may die within week in order to
get you to apply for policy, and then
they must convince themselves that
you will live q hundred years before
they will issue it."-Baltimore Ameri-
can.
Amador ledger., 1902-07-04
The Money Not Lost.

Mr.. Lakeside (gloomily)-The book,
keeper has run off with all my money,
and we have to go to the poorhouse.
Mrs. Lakeside-No need of that. my
dear. Well get divorce. and yon
marry the woman who got $4,000 ou
Of you in that breach Of promise suit
and I'll marry the bookkeeper.-New
York Weekly.
Amador ledger., 1902-07-04
The Small RoH,h Plan.

"Willie," she said, eff you eat any
more of those preserves I'll give you a
whipping"
"You wouldn't whip a sick boy,
would you?" he asked pathetically.
"Of course not"
"Then I'll eat enough to make me
sick."-Chicago Post
Amador ledger., 1902-07-04
Didn't Reckon Foreigners.

It was little boy in an American
Sunday school who in reply to his
teachers question, "Who was the first
man% answered, George Washing
ton," and upon being Informed that it
was Adam exclaimed, "Ah, well. if you
are speaking of foreigners, perhaps he
wasW-Stray Stories.
Amador ledger., 1902-07-04
More Than Tragic

you played nothing but tragedies"
said the friend.
''They were worse than tragedies"
answered Mr.. Stormington Barnes as
he stopped figuring his expense ac-
count "They were financial catastro
phes." Star.
Amador ledger., 1902-07-04
A Possible soIntinn

81 believe that house is haunted. The
tenant says he hears some one rapping
on the walls at night"
Maybe its walls are covered with
wrapping paper."-New York Times.
Amador ledger., 1902-07-04

Nothing will look after itself more
carefully and more cautiously and
more successfully than dollar, unless
it be two dollars.-Canfield, ''The Col
lege Student"
Amador ledger., 1902-07-04
Tried IN ExpIain 1t.

Mr.. Fatley-Yes; I'm a self made
man.
Professor Studiosis -Er-um-get the
material at a bargain sale?-Chicago
News.
Amador ledger., 1902-07-04

If boy is perfectly healthy and nor
NAL, a quart Of raisins which he is
given to stone will dwindle to half
pint before he is through.-Atchison
Globe.
Amador ledger., 1902-07-04
Forgiving and Forgetting.

woman" said the crusty person,
"may say that she will forgive and for
get, but she will never let you forget
that she forgave."-Baltimore Ameri-
can.
Amador ledger., 1902-07-04

Give what you have. To some It
may be better than you dare to think.
-Longfellow.
Amador ledger., 1902-07-04
Church Notice.

st. Augustine's Mission, room situat-
ed on Court street. Services as follows:
Every 1st and Sd Sunday, services at
II a. m. Every I'd and 4th Sunday,
services at 7:30 p. IN. Sunday school
every Sunday at p. m. The Young
Peoples Society of Spiritual Growth
will meet every Sunday, at $50 p. m
If WILLIAM TUSON, Rector.
Amador ledger., 1902-07-04

ulOlHeT instead OF
seeking her.
This change very
often occurs when
the young girl is
crossing the bor-
der line of woman
hood. She is NOR
bid, nervous, fear.
full, as she enters
upon this new ex-I
perience.
The use of DR..
Pierce's Favorite
Prescription at
such a time will
do more than re-
store the normal
balance of mind
and body. 1t will
establish the wom-
anly function upon
a basis of sound
health, as we'll as
improve the appe-
Amador ledger., 1902-07-04
MOEkess,S Girl

There exists often very beautiful
conpanionship between the mother and
her daughter The intimacy is frank,
free and sympathetic. But some day
the mother feels as if something had
chilled this intimacy. The child is
silent and sad, and seems to shun her
Amador ledger., 1902-07-04
Had q Chance.

hHu q OHHHCes
Mother-Do you think that young
man has saved anything?
Daughter-Undoubtedly, ma. He says
he has never loved before.
Amador ledger., 1902-07-04

consequence Of self abuse and excess produc-
ing the following symptoms: Sallow counte-
head. ringing in the ears, loss of confidence,
dif1dence in approaching strangers, ,palpitation
Of the heart, weakness OF the limbs and back,
loss Of memory, pimples on the face, coughs,
consumption, etc.
DR.. GIBBON has practiced in San Francisco
over 81 years, and those troubled should not
fail to consult him and receive the benefit OF
his great skill and experience. The doctor
cures when others fail. Try him. Cures guar
anteed. Persons cured at home. Charges reas-
enable. Call or write.
DIR. ]. F. GIBBoN, 625 Kearney street, San
Francisco, Cal.
Amador ledger., 1902-07-04

Subscribe for the Ledger. Only $3.50
Amador ledger., 1902-07-04
TO THE UNFORTUNATE
DIR. GIBBON

This old reliable and
themost successful spe-
cialiSt in San Francis
co costilleontinues to cure
all Sexual and Seminal
DiseaSes,su as Ghon-
orrhea, elect. structure,
Syphilis in al its forms
Skin Diseases, Nervous
De bility, Impotency,
Seminal Weakness, and
I.nss of Manhood. Lhe
Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-01-09
Hints About the Horse.

Teach horse what you want him to
do and he will always do it.
Plaster scattered on the stable floor
keeps down bad odors and purilieslthe
air.
Don't put your horses feet in unskill-
ed hands. Good feet are spoiled by bad
shoeing.
Keep your horse feeling good by pro-
per food and care and he will more
than repay you for the little extra time
you give him.
L'eed your horse as near the ground
as possible; when eating low down
more saliva becomes mixed with tho
food, aiding digestion.
Always treat the nervous horse with
kindness, patience, forbearance. and
never make any quick or sudden move
ment or loud talking if it can be avoid
ed
Tie your horse so that he can lie
down comfortably at night. II is a
practice with some grooms to tie n
horse SO he can't lie down. to save
work in cleaning him the next morning.
Don't bring your horse in hot from a
drive if you can help it; if you do, rub
him thoroughly dry. A slow jog or
walk for a short distance before IN
htching will cool him off quicker and
save much work.
Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-01-09
LANDSLIDE CAUSED WRECK.
-Four Lives Lost in an Accident on the Ches.
apeake & Ohio.

Lynchburg, Va, Jan. IA land
slide on the Chesapeake & Ohio
Railroad, near Reusen station, five
miles south of Lynchburg on the
James river branch, yesterday, caused
a wreck in which four men were
killed and several persons injured, but
none of them severely.
Several passengers from the scene
of the wreck say that probably one or
two passengers are buried under the
debris caused 10y the slide, but no
names can be ascertained of any pas
sengers known to be missing. The
train to which the mishap occurred
was known rs No. T. 1t left Lynch
burg behind schedule time, and con-
sisted of an engine, tender, baggage
car and one passenger car, which was
pretty well filled with passengers.
1t is stated that the train had run
into IL rock slide without damage,
and the trainmen and some OF the
passengers had succeeded in pushing
the passenger car back from under
the cliff. They were trying to do the
same for the baggage car when II
second heavy slide came down. A
shout of warming as the second slide
came enabled most of those who were
in danger to escape without injury.
Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-01-09
Told in a Few Liuea.

~. Louis police are engaged in a wal
on the pool rooms.
The United States Supreme Court Mon.
day took recess until Jan. g.
$4,000 fire occurred in the bust.
ness section Of Pawnee, 0. Z.
w. ii. Rogers, railroad man, was kill.
ed by train at Blackwell, o. T.
Bids for a site for a new county court
house at Lawrence, Kan. are asked for.
Topeka, Kan, was Al years old the
other day, and the anniversary was duly
celebrated.
The Postmaster General has ordered
the consolidation of the postoffices a EN-
pire City with Galena office, Kansas.
Roosevelt at San Juan Hill" is to he
the subject of a painting by Vassili Yer
esthagin, Russian painter of battle
scenes.
The Pope will not send a delegation TO
attend the coronation ceremonies of King
Edward VII, az his holiness was not
notified Of the Kings accession to the
throne.
Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-01-09

Apple growers through the C, |
lose annually many trees from they :;
ages of the apple tree borer. There
two species. one of which is known
the flat-headed bOrer and the other tl'
round headed borer. Both are shown
in the accompanying illustration. BY
taking proper precaution many apple
trees could be saved If watched care
fully.
All trees should be closely examined
early in the fall, when the young lar
vac or worms If present, may be de
tected by the discolOration of the bark
which sometimes has hattened ant
dried appearance. EXuding sap an(
the presence of sawdust-like castings
give the clew to their wherea bouts
Whenever such indications are seen
the insects should he dug out with O
knife or other sharp-pOinted instru
ment. Those which have bored deeply
into the wood may be reached by g
sharp stiff wire thrust into the hole
They can also be destroyed by cutting
away the bark at the upper end of the
Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-01-09
THE BORDER ISSUES.
Diplomats Again to Take Up the Alaska
Boundary and Other Questions.

Washington, Jan. Lit is expect
ed that efforts will be renewed before
long for the settlement of the num-
erous controversies which have long
existed between the United States and
Great Britain, growing out OF relations
along the Canadian border, the At
lantic fisheries, warships on the Great
Lakes, the Alaska boundary and
other questions. Heretofore the me-
gotiations designed to secure Il settle
ment OF the matters recited have not
proved effective, largely because OF
the cumbersome machinery of nego-
tiation, and this has led to the belief
that much more could be accomp-
lished by direct negotiations between
Secretary Hay and Lord Pauncefote
on the main points and the subse-
quent assembling of commission
representing the United States, Great
Britain and Canada to give form to
the basis of agreement rendered.
The British author tiles have main
tanned for some time that when the
isthmian canal treaty is once disposed
of there will be renewal OF the
efforts to adjust the Alaska boundary
and other pending questions, the
canal treaty being regarded as one of
the many pending questions. Now
that the British government has
yielded the Clayton-B ulwer treaty
and other points in the isthmian ne
gotiations, it desires to take up some
of the other questions in which it
has important interests involved.
Lord Pauncefote desiresto clear up
all the pending differences and have
"clean slate" before his present
term as ambassador comes to close.
When he came to Washington there
we're four issues between the two gov
ernments. The first of these was
the Behring sea question, which had
reached an acute stage. The diplo-
mats disposed of this question. The
next was over Venezuela, which, like
the seal question, at one time threat
ened war. But the efforts of diplo-
macy were again successful in avert
ing trouble and bringing about a set
Element. The third important issue
was the isthmian canal, which has
been satisfactorily disposed of by the
recent Hay Pauncefote treaty. This
leaves only one issue remaining in
order to bring about ''clean slate, 1"
namely, the border controversy, both
as to Canada and Alaska. The Brit
ish officials link these various bound
AIRY controversies together, as they
are more or less connected.
At present modus vivendi exists
as to the Alaska boundary question,
chiefly for the purpose of avoiding
a clash along the border and holding
each side in check until a final bound
airy has been determined upon. 1t
seems to be conceded on both sides
that the modus cannot be carried on
indefinitely, and that sooner or later
the question of establishing perma-
nent boundary must be settled.