davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Amador ledger., 1902-09-19
Donkeys In Mexico.

There are two classes of donkeys in
MeXico-one with four feet and the
other with two. Each is a kind of
competitor of the other. Sometimes
they are partners. They are both
bearers of burdens and the subjects of
brutality. Everywhere you see the
donkey loaded down with sacks of ore,
baskets of dirt, cans of milk, sacks of
water, and you find his driver very
often loaded in the same way. These
combinations sometimes go two by
two, and sometimes there will be a
band of ten to fifty thus loaded, COM
ing down the mountains with ore,
charcoal or wood, corn or whatever
may be needed in the villages or cities.
1t Is indeed medieval life in middle
and southern Mexico.
Amador ledger., 1902-09-19
The Jellyfsh.

The bay of Naples abounds in me-
dusa or jellyfish, often growing as
large as two feet in diameter and
weighing fifty and sixty pounds. Some
of them shine at night with a greenish
light and are known as 'noctiluca"
might lanternsl by the natives. The
jellyfish sometimes make migrations
in great groups, sometimes so large and
so thick as to impede the navigation
of vessels, like the floating plants in
the Sargasso sea of the tropics. These
shoals of medus@, as they are called
may be so dense that piece of timber
plunged in among them will be held
upright as if stuck in the mud, and
ordinary rowboats cannot force their
way through them. Their migrations
have never been explained. They are
irregular and occur at no particular
season of the year and under no par
ticular influences.
Amador ledger., 1902-09-19
London,s Sewer hunters.

The London sewer hunter before
commencing operations provides him
self with a bullseye lantern, canvas
apron and a pole some seven or eight
feet in length, having an iron attach
ment at one end somewhat in the
shape of hoe. For greater conven-
fence the lantern is invariably fixed to
the right shoulder, so that when walk
ing the light is thrown ahead and
when STOPPING its rays shine directly
to their feet. Thus accoutered they
walk slowly along through the mud,
feeling with their naked feet for any
thing unusual, at the same time rak-
ing the accumulation from the walls
and picking from the crevices any ar
ticle they see.
Nothing is allowed to escape them,
no matter what its value, provided it
is not valueless. Old iron, pieces of
rope, bones, current coin of the realm
and articles of plate and jewelry-all
is good fish which comes to the hunt
er's net.@Chambers' Journal.
Amador ledger., 1902-09-19
THE WHISTLE WAS SILENT.
why His New Set of Teeth Didn't
Help the Blower.


A small town in Posen, near the Sile-
sian frontier, still keeps that relic of
other centuries, the night watchman
who calls the hours. One night-the
London Telegraph tells this remarka
BILE story-one of these watchmen, an
old worthy long in service, failed to
blow his whistle when the clock struck
the hour
The burgomaster summoned the de
lnquent to account for his negligence
After some hesitation he declared that
his last tooth had dropped out and
that he could not hold in his mouth the
official fiat tin whistle.
A council was called, and the subject
was gravely discussed. Finally one
of the members said that he had heard
Of a dentist at Breslau who supplied
artificial teeth. After long debate the
council appropriated money TO send
the aged watchman to Breslau to get a
set of new teeth
In due time the watchman reported
that his teeth had arrived. That night
the burgomaster sat up to hear the re-
suit To his astonishment there was
no whistle at 10, at II or at midnight.
The next morning he summoned the
watchman.
you have got your teeth he said
Indignantly. why do you not whistle
as before?
YES, I've got new set of teeth" re-
piled the old man, "but the doctor told
me to put them in water at night"
Amador ledger., 1902-09-19
sANkRUPTS IN LIVERf.
CesFtoas Laws That Were Once En-
forced In England and Scotland.


At one time in England and Sect
land bankrupts were compelled t&
wear distinctive dress This was =
result of enactments passed at various
times in Scotland from the year 160G
to 1858. The Edinburgh court of ses-
sions specified the dress to be of parti
color, one half yellow and the other
brown, something after the style OF
the dress now worn i'll English prisone
by the worst class of prisoners, those
who have attempted to escape or been
guilty of murderous assaults on Off
GERS. The enactment also provided that
the bankrupt should be exhibited pub
hcly in the market place of his town
for period of two hours and then
sent away, condemned to wear the
dress until such time as he had paid
his debts or some one else had done it
for him.
Although this was a period of laws
which can only be described as fero-
cious, this law was such an outrage on
public sentiment that in 1858 it was so
far repealed that the wearing of the
dress was only compulsory in cases in
which fraud had been proved or, curl
ously enough, if the bankrupt had
been convicted of smuggling. The
same practice was legal, but not gen
orally in force in England down to the
year 1886. The idea was, of course
to warn persons who might have given
credit that the bankrupt was not able
to pay, but popular sentiment soon rec
ogniSed that it was wholly unfair to
impose such excessive penalties on a
man who might have become bank
rupt through no fault of his own, and,
as usual, when the law became contra
ry to public feeling it ceased to be op-
erative
Amador ledger., 1902-09-19
WHERE PAIN MOST HURTS.
Extreme Sensitiveness of the Fifth
md nanfnl Norxoa

Extreme sensitiveness of the Fifth
and Dental Nerves.
Which part of the human body is
the most sensitive to pain?
A sharp definition must be drawn
here between irritation and pain. Irri-
tation is not pain, but only a frequent
cause of it. Thus, crumb lodged in
the larynx near the vocal cords pro-
duced violent irritation and prolonged
coughing, which often results in actual
pain. So, too, fly or speck of dust in
the eye sets up violent irritation and
Inflammation, followed by acute pain.
OF the surface of the body, the finger
tips and the end of the tongue are most
sensitive. For instance, a burn on the
fingers is much more painful than one
on the back would be, while one on the
tongue would be more painful still.
Deep wounds are not painful, as a
rule, save as regards the surface in
jury. OF pains not caused by external
injuries, neuralgia of the fifth nerve,
the one which supplies the skin of the
head and face, is the most intense. 1t
has frequently driven people mad for
the time being, and sufferers have been
known to cut and even burn the flesh
in desperate attempts to relieve it. The
rupture of the branches of the dental
nerve in tooth drawing also causes
agony so intense that it has been stated
that no human being could endure it
for more than two seconds at time
Pearson's Weekly.
Amador ledger., 1902-09-19
The Way of the Frontier.

The way of civilization in a new land
passes comprehension. Its motto seems
to be Ruin first; there is time after
ward to save" Civilization is a good
deal like wild, full blooded boy-it
must first SOW wild oats, waste its pat
rimony, disgrace its antecedents; then
it is ready to begin the serious work
of life. That has been the history of
the range country-swift ruin for thir
ty or forty years, with a resulting
wreck that it will require a century of
hard work, perseverance and self con-
troll to save.-Ray Stannard Baker in
Century.
Amador ledger., 1902-09-19
INFAMY'S SUCCESS.
. Bft of Buccaneer History Connected
With a Havana Theater.


The Tacon theater in Havana. one of
the largest and most famous in the
western hemisphere, was built by an
old reprobate, Marti, who was a no
torious pirate in his day and obtained
immunity for himself by betraying his
comrades into the hands of the Span
ish authorities. One dark and rainy
night Marti slipped by the sentry
guarding the palace in Havana and
entered the apartments of the captain
general, who was writing at a table.
When the governor general raised his
eyes and saw the cloaked figure before
him, he reached for the bell.
stop, your excellency" cried the
stranger. II am here on desperate
enterprise. have come to deliver into
your hands every pirate on the Cuban
coast upon one condition-a pardon for
myself"
"You shall have it," was the answer.
But who are your
81 am Marti, and 1 rely upon the
promise you have given me-"
Preparatory to this interview Marti
had appointed a rendezvous for the
different bands, to which he conducted
the Spanish force, and every pirate
was captured and righteously garroted.
AS for Marti, he was not only par
doned, but was given monopoly of
the sale of fish in Havana, which made
him a rich and thus eminently respected
citizen, who ended his days in the odor
Of sanctity.-Army and Navy Journal.
Amador ledger., 1902-09-19
A HARD HEADED FARMER.
Tia Way fse Held Up n Prince With
P;tc-AfOrIs.


When Edward VII. of England WAS
En- undergraduate at oxford universs-
t., he had an adventure which led
newspaper of that time to describe the
prince as a prisoner. 1t said that
mot very far from Oxford. at a place
called Steeple Barton, there was
farmer named Hedges, a man of much
independence of character commonly
known as Lord Chief Justice Hedges
"On one occasion the prince and his
friends We're out with the South Ok
fordshire hounds, but, meeting with
Indifferent sport, they resolved on rid
ing home across country. This they
did, galloping over the lands of Farm
er Hedges and presently riding into his
farmyard. There they were confront
ed by the farmer himself, armed with
q fork. He closed the gates and in
formed the party bluntly that they
had been trespassing on his ground
and trampling on his young wheat and
that he would not allow one of them to
leave his farmyard until he had paid
a fine of a sovereign for the damage
done
'They whispered that the prince
himself was of the party. Prince or
no prince he replied shortly, I'll have
my money There was little glory to
be had by fighting a resolute farmer
armed with a fork. They therefore
made up their minds to pay, prince and
all When no had tha money in his
pocket, and not till then, Lord Chief
Justice Hedges opened the gates and
let them go"-Philadelphia Times.
Amador ledger., 1902-09-19
The Chinese Wax.

In its war with England and France
in 1S59-60 China was easily conquered
and forced to a humiliating peace.
The Pel1ing Gazette, the official organ
of the government, however, reported
the following concerning that treaty of
peace:
Gas the western barbarians have ad-
mitted their wrongs and humbly So
licited for peace, the emperor in his
infinite goodness has granted their
prayer and, moreover, has made them
a present of a large sum of money Gn-
demnity of war; to enable them to be-
gin an honest life, so that they may
not again be driven to murder and
rapine."
Amador ledger., 1902-09-19
An Old Welsh Custom.

The kindling of bonfires on hills is
the simplest of celebrations at any
time The Druids made four great
fires at their festivals in February,
May August and November Wales
seems to have been a country espe-
cially tenacious of this custom. Each
family used to make its own fire, and
as it was dying out each member
would throw a white stone into it, the
stones being marked for future iden-
tification. Then all said their pray
ers and went to bed, and in the morn
ing they tried to find all the stones
again. If any stone was missing, it
betokened that the owner of it would
die within Il year.
Some superstitions are pretty and
picturesque and attractive; this was
one of the many which were cruel as
well as picturesque. 1t would take but
slight accident to cause a fright that
might be actually dangerous to su-
perstitious person, and 1t would not
be hard for an enemy of such per-
son to cause that fright by stealing
his stone from the fire
Amador ledger., 1902-09-19
Grim Scotch Wit.

The Peoples Friend cites the follow
ing as a sample of characteristic
Scottish wit-keen, grim and caustic::"
A certain parishioner dealt in old
horses, alternating his spells of labor
with heavy sprees. During the pc
riod of depression which followed each
overindulgence John habitually took to
bed and there diligently studied the
family Bible. During one of these fits
of attempted reformation his condition
prompted his wife to call in the Rev.
Mr.. Wallace, the parish minister, who
at the time happened to be passing.
''Oh, Master Wallace, come in and
see our John; he's rale badr'
whats wTang wi him?'
Hes feart to meet his Maker -
said Mrs. John.
Quick as fire came the crushing
reply:
'Humph! Thell'm he need ma be
feart for that; he'll never SEEM"
Amador ledger., 1902-09-19
The worlds Greatest Choir.

Russia boasts of the worlds greatest
choir. 1t is in the cathedral of Alex
ander Nevski in st. Petersburg and is
attached to a convent erected in honor
of the patron saint of Russia. Its mem
bers are all monks chosen from the
best voices in all the Russian monaS-
teries. When a fine singer appears
among the novitiates, he is sent to the
monastery of Alexander Nevski, where
he is trained as carefully as an opera
singer and remains there, doing moth
ing except assisting at the music at
mass in the morning and vespers in the
afternoon until he becomes aged, when
he retires ON a pension. Some of the
voices are of marvellous strength and
sweetness, and it is said that some
members of the choir can shatter
thin glass into fragments by singing
into it, so powerful are the vibrations
of their tones. The monks are all vege-
tarians. They never eat meat. The
rifles of the church forbid them to
shave, and their hair is worn like a
woman's.
Amador ledger., 1902-09-19
A COrrectiOu.

When President Blancos administra-
tion in Venezuela was overturned, that
official, who report said, had accumu-
lated great wealth while in office, went
to Paris. He was strolling in boule-
ward in the French capital when a
passing pedestrian arrested the pace
of his companion and said: "See that
man? He stole $3,000O0O when his
government was overthrown." Quick
as a flash Senior Blanco turned. "Beg
pardon, sir" he said icily. "but it was
S5 600 OOO"
Amador ledger., 1902-09-19
Where Wives Rn,e Husbands.

In the valley of the Barca, in Abys-
sinia, there is community where the
women, without holding meetings or
agitat1ons of any kind, have emanci-
pated themselves. All the women work
. hard, while the men are idle; but, by
way of compensation, the house and all
it contains belong to the wife. At the
least unkind word she turns the hus-
band out at night, in storm or rain, and
he cannot come back until he makes
amends by the gift of COW. The wife
considers it duty to abuse the hus-
band, and if she were weak enough to
show any love for him in life or grief
at his death she would be scorned by
her tribe. The wife, without any rea-
son, may strike her tent and go, taking
with her one-third of the joint posses
siOns. The husband, unless he is trav-
cling, may not live out of his tent, but
his wife may go to her parents for a
year and annyl, for the time, her own
marriage.
Amador ledger., 1902-09-19
Historic trees.

Litchfield, Conn, has more historic
trees than any other town in New Eng
land. Among others are two elms
planted by John g. Calhoun, a syca-
more said to be one of the thirteen
planted by Oliver Wolcott, signer Of
the Declaration of Independence, and
named after the thirteen original col
onies; an elm which served as a whip
ping post in colonial days, and a will
low tree which grew from a walking
stick stuck in the ground by Colonel
Talmadge, the American officer who
captured Major Andre, the British SPY.
Amador ledger., 1902-09-19
what Some Names Mean.

The following gives the meaning of
the names of the principal highland
clans in Scotland:
Mcintosh, the son of the First
Mcdonald, the son of Brown Eyes.
McDougall, the son of Black Eyes.
McOnnechy or Duncan. the son of
Brown Head
McGregor, the son of a Greek man.
McCuithbert, the son of the Arch
Druid.
= Mckay, son of the Prophet.
Campbell, Crooked Mouth.
Cameron, Crooked Nose.
Stewart, His Stay or Support.
Amador ledger., 1902-09-19
Siamese Tobacco.

The best tobacco in Siam is grown at
Petchabun. 1t is planted in open fields
near the town after the floods in Sep
tember or October, and. the first CROP
or tips, which is considered the best
quality, is gathered about February
and the last about the beginning of
May. The very best quality cannot be
purchased, as it is reserved for the
special use of the king and sent down
to Bangkok, where it is smoked in the
palace and distributed to the chief Of
ficers of state.
Amador ledger., 1902-09-19
Cemetery Monuments.

What is more sadly comic or incon-
gruous than the imposing medley of
stone and marble in a great cemetery?
The towering columns loom over the
resting places of such small citizens.
The ''dove of peace" alights where it
would never have brooded of its free
will. The guardian angel bends over
the vixen's tomb, while mediocre bits
Of slate denote the graves of many
sanity and gifted pilgrims.-Atlantic.
Amador ledger., 1902-09-19
Unsatisfactory.

You should be little more explicit
in your statements" said the editor to
the new reporter as he glanced over a
batch of copy. Here you say that
the Hon. J. Edward Cashly, who has
been under the care of three physi-
clans during the past ten days, is now
out of danger"
"Well, isn't that plain enoughT que
ried the new pencil pusher.
Certainly not" replied the autocrat
of the sanctum. "How is the uninitiat-
ed reader to know whether the Hon.
J. Edward is on the highroad to re-
covery or dead and out of reach of the
three physicians ?-Chicago News.
Amador ledger., 1902-09-19
A Cannx Contract

A fountain in a public square need
ed painting.
An artist agreed to do it for nothing,
provided he could take as much time
as he pleased for the job and erect
boarding to protect himself from
idle curiosity while at work.
The contract was made on these
terms, but the painter sold the sur
face of the boarding to advertisers, and
nobody knows how long he will be
painting the fountain.-London An
SWers.
Amador ledger., 1902-09-19
A Way of Explaining 1t.

Wife-Why, John, just see what a
stupid blunder the newspaper has
made in its account of our silver we'd
ding! Don't you remember 1 wrote it
out for the reporter that we had spent
together twenty-five years of married
happiness, and the stupid typesetter
has gone and made it twenty-five years
of marred happiness. Isn't it awful?
Husband-Oh, well, dear; don't be
too hard on the poor fellow. Perhaps
he's been married twenty-five years
himself. London Tit-Bits
Amador ledger., 1902-09-19
The Lovers Precaution.

''Do you think you can give my
daughter the surroundings to which
she is accustomed? ?" asked the parent.
"Well," answered the young man, 81
won't guarantee that. You see, Clari-
bel has talked the matter over and says
she's tired of the neighborhood." -
Washington Star.
Amador ledger., 1902-09-19
PrecautiOn.

''Do you think you can give my
daughter the surroundings to which
she is accustomed2" asked the parent.
'Well," answered the young man, 81
won't guarantee that. You see, Clari-
bel has talked the matter over and
says she's tired of the neighborhood."
Washington Star.
Amador ledger., 1902-09-19
His Occupation.

Haven't you any occupation? asked
the woman at the kitchen door after
listening to his tale of woe.
Eyes, ma 'am," replied Tuffold Knutt;
"Im hunter"
"a hunter? OF what?"
Grub, ma'am."-Chicago Tribune.
Amador ledger., 1902-09-19
A Cheerful WHIT,

A laborer applied to the foreman at
some buildings workshop for a job:
"Can yez do anything fur poor fella
at all in the shape ave work."
Foreman-Oi hev nothin' the day.
Cum back agen. There is a drunken
carpenther workin' on the top, and
Dim waitin' livery mint till he falls
and gifts killed.
Amador ledger., 1902-09-19
Not Quite So Painful.

Teacher-What does the word celib-
acy mean?
Class-The state or condition of being
single.
Teacher-Correct. Now, if you want
ed to express the opposite of celibacy,
Or singleness, what word would you
use?
A Bright Pupil-Pleurisy.
Amador ledger., 1902-09-19
A Difference.

Marie-I have an engagement with
Cholly and I don't know how to get
out of it.
Helen-Haven't you any reason for
breaking it?
Marie-Yes, l have a reason-Cholly
Puck.
Amador ledger., 1902-09-19
Enough rs Good as n Feast

What real good does an addition TO a
fortune already sufficient procure? Not
any. Could the great man by having
his fortune increased increase also his
appetites, then precedence might be at
tended with real amusement. - Gold
smith.
Amador ledger., 1902-09-19

If a woman is good and old fash
Toned, she has an uneasy feeling when
inside of any house unless she has an
apron on.-Atchison Globe
Amador ledger., 1902-09-19
Her Engagements.

"Your daughter has had great
many admirers"
"Oh, yes! She puts nearly all her
window curtains on the rods with her
old engagement rings"
Amador ledger., 1902-09-19

Armor plate is now used in the con-
struction Of modern bank vaults. The
material is said to give virtually mob
proof resistance.
Amador ledger., 1902-09-19

Bronx river, New York, derives its
name from joints Bronx, who settled III
that region in 1859.
Amador ledger., 1902-09-19

The Griffon, fhe first sailing vessel
on the great lakes, passed through De.
troit river in 1879,
Amador ledger., 1902-09-19
ONE STEP MORE

Will be fatal to the sleep-walker Will
he draw back or will he take the final,
fatal step? A great many people are in
peril like the sleep-wa1ker. They are
diseased. The disease is progressing
day by day. The time comes when one
more step away from health is fatal.
The man who has suffered from indi-
Amador ledger., 1902-09-19

Right is more beautiful than private
affection and is compatible with uni
versal wisdom.-Emerson.
Amador ledger., 1902-09-19

consequence of self abuse and excess produc-
ing the following symptoms: Sallow counte-
nance dark spots under the eyes, pain in the
head, ringing in the ears, loss of confidence,
diffidence in approaching strangers, ,palpitation
of the heart, weaaness 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., 1902-09-19

geSt1on or gastric trouble
goes some night to a
dinner and returns home
to find he has taken that
last step from health
which can never be tax
en- back.
To neglect the cure
of indigestion or some
other form of stomach
trouble is dangerous. 1t
is also inexcusable. DIR.
Pierce's Golden Medical
Discovery cures diseases
of the stomach and other
organs of digestion and
nutrition. 1t purihes
the blood, stimulates the
liver, cures biliousness,
and eliminates bilious
poisons from the sys-
tenn.
uThe praise I would like
to give your Golden Medical
Discovery l cannot utter in
words or describe with pen,"
writes las B. Ambrose, Esq,
of I7o5 y Mifliu ST., Hunt
Pa. III was taken
Amador ledger., 1902-09-19

with what our physicians said was indigestion.
| doctored with the best around here and found
no relief ] wrote YOU, and you advised me to
use DR. Pierce's Golden Medical Discovery. I
took three bottles and felt good that I
stopped-being cured. I have symptoms OF
gastric trouble or indigestion now"
If you ask your dealer for Golden
Medical Discovery" because you have
confidence in its cures, do not allow
yourself to be switched off to a medicine
claimed to be rjust as good" but which
you did not ask for and of which you
know nothing.
You can get the Peoples Common
Sense Medical Adviser, 1908 pages, pa
per covers, free by sending Al ohe-cent
stamps, to pay expense of mailing only,
Address Dr., r, V, Pierce, Buffalo. n, 7,
Amador ledger., 1902-09-19
TO THE UNFORTUNATE
DIR. GIBBON

This old reliable and
themost successful Spe-
cialisr in San Francis
costillcontinues CO to cure
all Sexual and Seminal
Diseases,su as Ghon-
orrhea, Gleet, Structure,
Syphilis in allits forms
Skin Diseases, Nervous
De bility, Impotency,
Seminal Weakness, and
4ec af Manhood fha