davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Van Buren press., 1902-11-22
PERT AND Personal.

Ex-senator Jewett, OF 81, Louis, Ia
u years old. Some one asked him not
long ago how old he thought n man
should be before retiring from bust.
ness. The old gentleman gravely re-
spondcd, 81 don't really think n man
should keep on after he has reached
the age OF 9o,"
Some residents Of Providence, II, l.,
were discussing the weight OF Gov,
Charles Dean klmbNll the other day
and finally began betting about It,
The betting started In barber shop
and eventually pool OF 80 wagcrs was
arranged, Then the governor was np-
pealcd to and he good-n0turodly
stepped on the scales at the state
wcighcr's office, tipping the beam at
1877 pounds 1874 ounces,
Emerson Ethcridgc, who died At
Dresden, Tenn, was one OF the last,
II not the last, Of the wings who sat
In congress, lie was one Of Tennes'
sees most powerful orators 80 years
ago, lie fought "0ld Hickory" long
aud well and stumped the state for
Clay In 1874 He fought for Gen, Toy.
lor In lsis and for Gen. Scott In 1852,
lie was In the Thirty.third congress
as u whig leader, When he died he was
n republican,
George W, PREMIER, a Waterman lv.
Ing In plttsburg, for over 20 years has
had In his possession a coin which ii
said TO be worth $1,000. II Is a Mac.
cabcan piece and was made lao y. c.
The coin was given to him by q French.
man who had picked II up during his
wandsrings over the world. A few
evenings ago footpads attempted TO
"bold up" PREMIER and he believes
they sought TO obtain possession Of
the exceedingly rare coin. Hc has
now put II In q safe place. So far a.
IL known there " but one other like Il
In existence.
The Van Buren press., 1902-11-22
MEN WHO ARE TALKED ABOUT

George r. Stunt, who first discov.
cred iron in northern Minnesota, died
at Duluth in extreme poverty, al.
though his discovery resulted in max
ing millionaires out Of score of other
men.
Gov,-elect Garvin, of Rhode Island is
a graduate of Amherst college and OF
the Harvard medical school Besides,
he served during the civil war as pri-
vate in the Fifty-frst Massachusetts,
regiment.
The German emperor has French
blood in his veins, its source dating
back over 800 years. The kaiser's an.
restor Frederick l. of Prussia, was
the son Of princess descended from
the French admiral Gaspard De Colig-
ny, who died in 1879,
Robert Bacon was as conspicuous at
Harvard little more than 20 years
ago as he is now as the partner of j.
Pierponl Morgan, Handsome Bob Ba-
con" they called him at Cambridge,
lie was llaryard's football captain IN
70 and there never was finer physi.
cal specimen on Ilarvard's II, More
than six feet tall broad.shouldered
and powerful he was the idol Of the
studenn as football player in those
days.
The Paris Journal publishes an ac.
count Of a conyersation in which Sir
Wilfrid Laurier is said to have takel
part, On being asked why Canada did
not incorporate herself with the
United States, the Canadian premier
Ia reported to have replied; 1--WE
should disappear, French Canada
would disappear much more quickly
in that gigantic furnace than in the
flood Of Anglo.SaXou immigration, All
who love the French language ought
to wish us 60 remain Canadians. Be-
sides, there is nothing nowadays to
foreshadow such n change
One Of the most interesting foreign
visitors to Washington just now is j,
\, Tata, of Bombay, India, merchant
prince, manufactures, philanthropist,
scholar and philosopher. Mr.. T0tu is
known in. every great commercial ccn-
ter of the world because Of his vast
business interests, lie is p0rscc by
birth that historic race the members
of which believe In Ioroaster and ore
commonly called fire worshipers, lie
Is pcrsonEs friend Of Mr. Foster, eN.
secretary Of state, by whom he was
entertained at an elaborate dinner the
other evening.
The Van Buren press., 1902-11-22

power plants Tor generating electricity
will be operating at every dam. Per
tinent to this suggestion it is deemed
proper to reprint the following points
which were contained in an article
on river Improvement which was
printed on the auxiliary sheets by the
Little Rock Branch of the A. N. Kel-
logg Newspaper Company, in October,
1898:
Dams constructed for the purpose
of locking boats over shoals may be
said to be so much towards manufac.
tories, as they are available for such
uses and can be so used without detri-
ment to the business of carrying boats
from one level to another, These wa
terpowers will inevitably attract mills
and factories. Cotton mills are COM
ing southwark. Who can foretell the
number Of these plants that would be
planted at the dams on White River?
1t should be considered moreover that
every waterpower lays open the way
lUE IdIllOdu WIN oho VI
the trunk lines now in operation. No
mill which may be established at one
of these locks will be in isolation. In.
deed, it may be said that the way to
give impulse to railroad construction
is to open navigation on the rivers by
a system of locks and dams, FOR every
dam will produce power to generate
electricity to operate car lines, and by
this means every mill site will be
placed in touch with other avenues OF
traffic than the stream upon which it
may be located
Millions Of dollars are invested in
electric generating plants at Niagara
Falls, at the St. Lawrence rapids in
northern New York and other places
that may be cited. The scheme to i'm
prove navigation on White River en-
braces the plan to establish water.
powers and narrow gauge railroads to
radiate from the site Of every dam
to be constructed on the stream. How
the consummation Of this scheme will
awaken the isolated inhabitants of the
hills, dells and valleys of that region,
whose only means Of transportation to
far-away railroad stations at present
is a team of horses or mules? And
what an attractive field for investment
this region will then present to cap
italists and investors, and what life
and activity it will give to enterprises
and industries which the State sadly
needs and will more sadly need in fp.
ture,
The Van Buren press., 1902-11-22
baptist Sunday school work.

Rev. II. II. Street, secretary OF the
Baptist state Sunday school board,
submitted an interesting report at the
state convention held at Conway
During the past year 70 schools were
organized and supplied with Bibles
and literature, and over 200 pupils
belong to the new schools; 26S indi'
viduals and homes were found desti'
tute Of the word Of God, There have
been given away 232 Bibles, testa'
ments and religious books twelve
colportagers have labored in thirteen
associations during the year, They
have worked 1903 days, travelled A.
457 miles, preached 672 sermons, wit
messed 2l5 conversions, baptized fifty,
made forty.nve addresses, visited
2,l2S families, organized nine
churches and distributed bibles, tes'
taments and tracts wherever they
have gone Secretary Street has been
regularly employed since December l
The Van Buren press., 1902-11-22

came twice day, and the question;
"ls they anything for the JcnnersT
came to be familiar sound in thepost
Office, and the clerks listened for it
with much amusement, but the girl.
at the window came to dread It.
She was haunted by the mournful
look that came into his eyes every time
she shook her head, and tried to con-.
sole him one day by saying; "Your
letter will surely come soon; you have
been expecting il so long"
Letter" said, scornfully, 81 never
said wanted letter; want bundle,
and want IL pretty soon, too, I've
been 'spec,ing II long time, and--und
I'm just tired Of you shaking your
head | am" The defiant little voice
ended with something very likca sob,
The girl at the Office window was ac-
customed to hearing complaints from
people larger than Bobby, who wanted
their mail and wanted IL pretty soon,
too; but none Of them had ever affected
her Ms this one did
She came through the door into the
outer Office, and taking Bobbys hand
asked, kindly "llad you written TO
someone 10 send you somethIng2"
Seeing the look Of sympathy on
her face, he told her all about II.
"iou re, IT'S this wnyi Mamma used
to let me write 60 Santa Claus and
tell him what ! wanted u Christmas
time, aud always got something
that WINS when ! was u little frllcr"
(strnightcning back his shouldcrs),
MY tc0chcr has bcN telling me
about the man that runs Thnnksglv.
ing, aud she rend n letter he had In
tho pagers telling the people when
to Thnnksglyc and all that, and |
Nskcd her was he real surc,cnough
man or II he was Just u put.up fob
Ike Santa Claus, She Just laughed
and laughed, and then she showed
me his picture In the paper and he
was man shout no white beard
like Santa's, and she said they call
him guv'nor. He looked 80 kind and
good ont OF his eyes, ! just thought
maybe he would help us little II he
knew how hard up We was this fail,
Mamma can't wash us much as she
used g., and can't help much yet,
No ! wrote letter % the guy'nor one
day when mamma had gone TO the
judge'g 20 help clean house, made
my cn.vlup out Of paper Ike | wrotc
NY letter on; the teacher In the ilrst
voom showed me how, but II didn't
The Van Buren press., 1902-11-22
WHY NANCY BANTED.
Every Time she Looked at Her Mis-.
tress, She wanted to lie
Thin.

The bcst-natured woman | know
lives In Hn old house in George
town. Sse has laughed at life and
the has grown fat on Oer merriment
--or at least, her enemies call her
fat Personally consider her a
very fine figure OF women, and only
plump enough to be pleasing. Sha
has a colorcd maid, VINO IN also In.
cined to put on flesh, and the mld
maid fasts long ana often 10 pro-
pitiate the god Of waist lines In.
deed, she bas of late starved her
self into u state of actual weakness.
One day her mistress went into tho
kitchen and found her sitting In u
chair the picture Of woe, relates the
Washington Post,
WHATS the matter, NNncy?' de-"
mNnded the mistress.
"Oh, I'm tcclm 40 weak, Miss Mag.
gic," was the reply
"Of course you feel weak" said
Miss Maggie, with some aspcE.y,
''H hVH 'ul 'NoNHh W N''V HV
your strength, Why on earth don't
you be sensible and eat2"
VI don't want TO get fat" said
Nancy mournfully,
"Fatl" Miss Maggie returned.
"Why do you let that worry you2
What difference does IL make II you
do get fat2"
Nancy shook her head dlseon.
Solatcly.
"'Decd, Miss Maggie" said she, "if
] was somewhere else wouldn't bs
bothered, but every time ! looks NJ
you les' emit bear 10 think OF get.
ting fat l jca' can't bring mysel!
10 cut"
The Van Buren press., 1902-11-22
New Roada Incorporated.

Two new railroads were chartered
last week by the state board of rail
way commissioners, as follows. The
Piggott and Northwestern Railroad
Company, to build branch road from
Piggott, on the Cotton Belt road, in
a northwesterly direction to point
IN Clay county, twelve miles distant
on the east bank of Cache river. The
Arkansas, Red River and Paris Rail
road Company; the capital stock Is
$266, 900, divided into 500 shares.
The proposed road shall begin at the
station OF Morris ferry, on the Kansas
City Southern, where 1t crosses Lit
tie river, and thence runs westerly
eight miles to the line between Ar
kansas and Indian Territory; thence
westerly eight miles to Aliens Sid
ing on the Arkansas and Choctaw rail
reed, thence in southwesterly d.
rection to Harris Ferry on Red river,
twenty-five miles, making total of
thirty yeight miles
The Van Buren press., 1902-11-22

the clerks were chatting sociably or
reading the morning papers.
The girl at the general delivery win
dow was startled by the sudden IN
quiry; Say, is they anything for the
Jenners?"
Looking through the window she saw
Il boy, with big, brown eyes, just on
level with the shelf outside.
She took down the package of let
ters remaining in the general delivery
box, looked all through them, then
shook her head, and the boy turned
away with a disappointed look.
In the afternoon, after the crowd had
left the office, he came again and called
up the girl; as they anything for the
Jenners yet"
The girl shook her head, but he was
not convinced. look for Bobby Jen-
ner," he said, "Maybe you didn't look
for that name"
She knew there was no such name in
the package Of letters, but to humor
the little fellow, she looked carefully
through them and answered, kind
ly: "Not yet; perhaps it will come to-
morrow"
In the days that followed the boy
The Van Buren press., 1902-11-22

and big for his age; and, oh, papa,
won't you let us send some things
he didn't ask for?'
The children were all talking at
once.
Hold on" said the governor. 81
haven't said that | would send the
things that he did ask for yet"
His own llobby looked up into his
face and said, grnyely! II think you
won't be good like your picture looks II
you don't"
This speech settled the question, and
la'year'old Winifrcd was appointed
chairman Of the purchasing commit.
tee by the governor who gave her n
bill that sen, them all flying at him,
until he fled down the steps to keep
from being smothered by their raptur.
Gus embraces,
Bobby Jenner and his Thanksgiving
became the topic at breakfast, dinner
and supper, until the governor and
his wife became almost as Interested ns
the children.
Oh, the bargains the purchasing com.
mittee found in the hours after school,
There was soft, warm shawl, two Pat.
terms OF percolc for wrappers, nice
mittcns and oycrcoUt that fitted plump
Robby perfectly, so, OF course, they
would III Bobby Jenncr.
AZ the end Of the week tho commit.
tee agreed that they hod never had
so good u time In their lives before,
The governor came home with nn
important air one night, and, calling
the children around him, told them tho
good news that llobby's father was
gong nome for Thanksgiving,
"dolng homci where has ne been ."
were the cOgcr quest Ions, and the nov,
erhor answered sudlyI "Jenncr mnde
u mistake one time, aud they sent him
AWAY from home for long time, ia
make him sorry for IT,"
'Oh, pnpn, has he been in prison p,'
asked Winlfred, In an awed tone,
Ihe governor nodded, then h, told
lhem how very sorry Jcnner had bccg
Tor the wrong he had done, and ,bcy
were letting him out before his sen.
,cnec was out on account Of his good
oehovlor' lie hod been to see .lenner
ana hod shown lIobby's letter TO him
ana Jcnncr had cried Ike n b,h,
over IT, '"''
when the children showed the nov.
erhor the huge bundle they had ready
10 sehu, he said II would never po
The Van Buren press., 1902-11-22
MEMORIES OF THE DAY.
Thanksgiving should lie More THAI
Day OF Feastina and
Nerrymaking,

All over the country families han
gathered to observe and perpetuaa
the annual festival Of Thanksgiving
NO holiday in the year can claim
nobler birthright than this, none h
richer in tender memories Other days
may touch the pride Of race or fan ID,
fires Of patriotism; this speaks Of |
home, the family and the hreside,
Moreover, 81 all the days we cel,'
brate, this alone is distinctiyely Amer
lean, We mark the birthday Of Wash
ington, the anniversary OF the declara'
tion Of independence, the dates d
epoch-making battles; but in this We
are not peculiar. Other countries OBJ
serve the birthdays Of their illustriou
dead and the anniversaries Of great
events in their history, All Christian
nations keep Christmas, But In this
our Thanksgiving, We have day F
culiarly our own,
1t was instituted more than ~
years ago by the fathers who sought
religious liberty on the shores OF Aaf
sachusetts bay, and in spite OF ,empa
tions to turn II into mere occ0slond
feasting and merrym0king II ha'm
ways retained much OF the reveren'
and thankful spirit which called itiop
being, Wherever the aims and achieve
mcnts of the founders OF this NATION
are honored, the day which they w
apart "for Thanksgiving and pra"
is still observed.
We are apt TO think OF the Pilgrim
and puritnns ms stern and loy"
company, OF noble aims, no doubt apu
dauntless courage, but SO given o"'
TO religious thought and obser'auOn
as to have neither time nor toleran"
for the lighter and pleasanter nus%
life. Let us remember, then, tha' ".
holiday, the sweetest and tenoe'"'
occasion In the year, comes down w."
from them; and that Joy and fcsn'0t
and good cheer had with them as'p,y
should have with MS, their sureN Ioas .,.
datlon In the spirit which re'er.p% .",.
acknowledges the Divine Rlfts o' ~. =.
and health and haryests'-lou'''
Companion.
The Van Buren press., 1902-11-22
BRIEF MENTION.

About 1876 tons OF mussel shells are
being shipped into Clarendon each
week.
Jim Chandler, colored was killed by
tho shafting In Trips gin at Arkan'
sas City,
A largo number OF prospectors are
taking up state claims In the vicinity
Of Black Springs,
Earl Swaggerty, young farmer,
was throwa from his horse near Fay
etteville and fatally injured,
Henry Depriest was perhaps fatally
injured In 4 gin at Jacksonville, his
arms and face being badly manglcd
The Northeast Arkansas Teachers
Association will hold their annual
meeting at Mammoth Spring on Jan.
uary !, 2 and 3, 1908.
While squirrel hunting near Lockes.
burg. W, G, Lee was shot In the side
by the accidental discharge Of his gun
aud probably fatally wounded,
A pardon granted to Mike Bean 10
vembcr Q has been recalled, on nc.
count Of Beans conduct, He was con.
victed in johnson county In 1901 OF
grand larceny and sentenced to two
years,
A coal miner named Jack Dartholic
was instantly killed at Prairie Creek
mine No, . near Huntington by a trap
Of runaway cars, which struck him In
the breast,
Complete returns Of the congress
slonal election show that Hon. Joe
T. Robinson, The democratic nominee,
received total vote Of b,237. and his
opponent si7.
CArtcr Lowry met with u fatal acci.
dent while feeding tho odger Of o
planning mill At Warren, q plank being
shot back from the saw and striking
him In the stomach.
The Van Buren press., 1902-11-22

stink GOOD. and I'm afraid IL los' my
Liter out and the guv'nor didn't get
II and It's only one more week 'iii
Thanksgiving" ,.,
His voice trembled, and the gIri
.rrred her head for a moment to give
him n chance to choke back MS tears.
"Wbere did you mail your letter.
she asked.
ue nointed to a tiny crack under
the snclf of the general ueliVery
window. Right here" he said Il
couldn't reach the holes 'ihere the
big folks put their letters
The girl told him to run fiohs
home and be patient, and pulling out
the stamp drawer reached in BEHIND
II and found crumpled paper. III
was Bobby's letter to the guv'nor'
1t dropped out of the envelope INTO
her lap, and she read the pitiful ap-
peal; then taking sheet OF paper
she wrote:
Dear Sir: This importnt letter has
been mlslald in our office, but | hope
II is not too late for you to answer II
before Thanksgiving. Yours very truly
"The Girl at the Office Window
She folded this inside Bobby's let
ter, fastened the corners OF the
brown envelope with mucilage, ad-
dressed it properly, and taking a
stamp from her stamp book put 1t on
the corner. She took out her purse
and counted her scanty savings; then
she put dime in the stamp drawer
ard put a special delivery stamp on
the brown envelope, too.
The governors mail was brought
to him at breakfast time, In the
package was the queer brown enNel-
ope. and the governor opened 1t ilrst
out of curiosity. He read it through
once and smiled He read 1T again
and whistled softly; then the emil
dren called for an explanation, ana
he read aloud:
Dear Guv'nor: I am boy, but am
not afrade of you, for you look good
out of yore eyes. The teacher told me
about you bein' the man that run
Thanksgivin' and | tho't you W u
want all yore pe'ple to have good
time and we ant got emmy turkey or
emmy thing like the teacher read ABOUT
the peple havn', | don't ker mucn
for them things If you ant got ehuH
to go round. but mamma needs ne"
dress offel bad, and shall, she an
got emmy to keep her warm When we
carry the close home, and ! ant got
no ovor cote or mittns; but II you an
got emmy my sise It's all rite, | am
Just past s, but / am tolabul big TO my
ago. | wu'dn't ask for 80 much, pu'
| ant got 10 papa like the other boys.
and | tho't you w'u'd see that we wud
need more help than boys that's go'
papas. | asst mamma onct why | ANT
got no papa and she cried and sed nc
went away when | was baby and
ant got back. Ple'se send these Things
II you got plenty, so we can thankssiVe
TO- Yore friend,
"BOBBY JENNER,
"P. $. ike candy, but | don't even
have emmy"
When the governor had finished
reading the letter he was besieged
by the children: "You will, won
you, papa? You won't disappoint the
little fellow; just think, he knew
you were so good just from seeingyour
picture. Say, let us get the things;
we can fit the oyercoat and mittcns
on our Robby, he's just past eight,
The Van Buren press., 1902-11-22

through the mail. Their ,,,.
ed, for they had talked So cta
Bobby's surprise, when he .ah %uh
his mail, and the girl at tba Atc
gave him the bundle. "'ndo
All at once quick-witted w.
thought of a plan to overcome 'lnll'a
Guilty. ds
"We will have Bobby's fstb..
here for the bundle when he ' =. ''N'
home; he can go to the post M ots' 'arl
wait for Bobby and carry tba ea
home, and won't Bobby's man' YaN
surprised"
This plan met the approval =,
committee and it was settled w
In the meantime Bobby trna
the Office every day, morning ars sN
ing, and asked: "Ain't thev .rae r,'e
for Jenners yet?" His tone ar sNs
couraged, and the girl at the s,rs WV
found it hard work to comto@,, @
She felt bitter resentment toa.
the governor, who had paid no Ss.,'
the little fellows appeal. wy
Thanksgiving morning cams,
ner called early at the povs,'
home, feeling awkward and IN a.,
in his new suit and his freedom wy
The children had fastened \ \.
to the huge bundle; in it was !, ~
key, plump and yellow, packed IN s' ~!
oranges. nuts and candies. Il
The committee shook hands =.
Jenner, wishing him a glad n,,t
giving; they sent messages TO Rail-
and sent Jenner out into the v'y3
with brave heart.
Jcuner took the early train =.
home, and when he reached the ,,, WV
he went straight to the post os,'
Going to the general delivery wipao'
he asked the girl if she was the pe,,,
who had forwarded a letter to A
governor. She answered yes" IN
surprised tone; then he showed h,
the bundle and told her that he ",
Bobby's father.
The girl was delighted with the coo
news. and asked Jenner to wait in,l
the office.
Bobby was later than usual; he cam
with tagging step and a sad In
face, Jenner caught his breath ha,
as he saw his baby, grown so lsrr
Bobby did not ask the usual ques,l@
but looking up into the girls h,
face said; 81 guess it amt no D,
to ask; its too late now, and que
they amt ever going to be anythIl
for the Jenners.'
The girl came out OF the Office, %
lowed by Jenner with the bundle. 81
showed Bobby the address in big |,
ters and said: "You see, the govern
sent you such a big Thanksgiving
had to send man to carry it homsi
you. viii you show him the way
She laughed through her tears at 1
boys glad surprise,
Bobby reached up and took the
mans hand confdingly; not KNOW
who it was, he led the way home a
there was glad Thanksgiving for "T
Jenuers." Ladies' World, NewYo