davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-05-17
A FORTUNE TELLER

COriginal.l
whats the matter, young MANI"
"Nothin'."
Eyes. there is You'd better tell me.
Mebbe kin help you"
Billy Stanwood, lusty young fellow
of twenty, was sitting on the top rail
of the fence whiting and looking very
disconsolate. y man came by with n
| jauuty gait humming a tune. He was
in tatters. but his face beamed bright
| ly. 1t was he who addressed young
| StanwoOd.
There amt nothin' the matter with
me-" repeated Billy.
II been Il fortune teller in my time,
when l had better clothes. l kin tell
all about it if you'll let me see your
hand"
Billy got down from the fence and
put out his hand.
Its n GAL" said the tramp.
"Waal, nowr'
"She has light hair an blue eyes"
You're wrong there. Her hair an
eyes are black"
I'VE can't always tell about them
trifiin' matters. She's gal anyway,
| and she won't have you"
That's right. So she won't"
but she loves you all the same"
Got it wrong again She don't"
How do you known
"Waal, we was a-sittin' under tree
back of the barn, an l said, Now,
reckon l hain't good enough fur you
an she said, Reckon you amt, Billy
Then | said. We'll, Nan, I'm a-goin'
home, an l amt a-comin' here no
more. an she said. Reckon you better
come onct in awhile; we been such
good friends l got up fur to go an
walked as fur as the gate when she
called me back. Amt you got nothin
to say before partin'Y What's to be
saidT says /, walkin' back to her.
'Goodby.' she said. 'Goodby.' said /.
'Nothin' else?' she asked. .Nothin' as
I knows Of We'll. then, you might
as well CO. That's ALL"
"Where does she lIveT'
ain the red house yonder."
81 tell you what you do. You go
home an put up a bundle Of clothes
an in just an hour from this time walk
by that red house as if you was goin'
away somewheres."
Billy went TO his home, and the
stranger sauntered off toward the red
house. He passed a girl with bare
arms, her dress pinned back and sun
bonnet covering her face. She was
hanging clothes on line in the yard.
"Could you give me bite?" he asked.
''I amt had nothin' since yesterday"
"Sartin," said the girl. She went into
the house and brought out some bread
and meat, with a cup of milk. The
stranger partook Of the meal, then said:
81 hain't got nothin' fur you, but /
kin tell your fortune
"Kin your
Yes. Let me look at your hand"
Taking the hand, he studied 1T care
fully for awhile. then said:
'"This line means a Teller with gray
eyes an sandy hair. This little hand
line means .desperation-that is, he's in
n peck of trouble. Mebbe he's in loye.
This line says you're goin' to do some
thin you'll regret. 1t looks like the
feller's in love with you. You won't
have him, an he's goin' fur away"
The fortune teller was occasionally
looking up from the girls hand to her
face. in which he could plainly see
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-05-17

| Said the Statesmen to the Fishes:
we have heard your latest call,
Saying that to get your freedom
The expenses will be small;
We are always sympathetic
TO do good we're ever tryin,-
If a doubt of that you harbor
Ask the member from O'Brien!
There's feeling now existing
That for happiness to gain
We must have our duties ended
And be headed for the train.
Speaking of the train reminds us
That like you we'd have the blues
Had the amendment not been tabled
To that bill prepared by Hughes.
1t is now our understanding
That you're strictly in our class,
And through the dam at Bonaparte
You want to travel on a pass.
We're convinced now more than ever,
And for aught that we can see,
No obstruction should you hinder,
For all travel should be free.
We will try to be consistent,
Tho voters our heads jam
And as we did not dam that pass
Wen help you pass the dam!"
The gentleman from O'Brien is
Timothy Donahue. an IriShman from
the Gould sod" and the wit of the
house. The Hughes bill was a bill
to make it a crime for any railroad
to issue passes to members of the
general assembly. state or county Of
ficers or judges of the district or SUI
1rarna cnnr.t amendment was
added making it also apply to min
listers of the gospel or priest in holy
order" and on Il vote to table the
amendment the whole bill died. Don
ahue, as a joke. Immediately intro
duced a bill compelling railroads to
issue passes to all state officers.
Judges and members of the general
assembly.
After the house had passed the
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-05-17

/ And you're chased with Pike ant
Bass"
Then said the smiling Catfish: Yes
I'm swimming in that class!''
Then the Eel began to grumble
About this new-found preference
well. a big-mouth. said the Mullet
"Often stands instead of sense.''
When the fishway had been finished
And the Meeks had shed their tears
There was the biggest "Fish Conven-
ton
That had been held there for years,
With their loins now firmly girded,
And in each fin u staff,
They prepared to give "Old Bon
aparte"
The Grand RazzleDazzle" laugh.
And as they climbed the road to free
dom
Everybody had to smile,
For the glad fip-fapping of their
tails
Could be heard for half n mile!"
The reference in the fourth stanza
to catfish is to bill which became a
law this, year including catfish with
pike and bass and other protected
fish known as game fish,
NJ. J. Sweeley, of Sioux City, mem
Der of the house of representatives
from Woodbury. county, replied to
Hussey's elegy in the following man
ner through the local newspapers,
where the poetical combat was there
after waged:
Said the Statesman to the Poet:
eve have read your elegy,
Telling how the finny tribe
Have held jamboree
At the stoppage in the river.
'Gainst which their heads they jam,
Making all of them most wicked
BY continually saying dam
We will very gladly help you,
If you'll show an easy way
How TO get the Damned stream open
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-05-17
This Stage Debutante
Is q Willing Prisoner.

Rare loveliness in young woman
hood is apparently a stribingly valu-
able asset in the invent tories of the
atrical managers, whose productions
depend for their success to a large
extent on their possession of good
looking, shapely and graceful girls.
An idea of the exact value of this ell
ement 'theatrically is Indicated TO an
extent in the care some managers
nowadays exercise to retain the eX-
elusive control of the public services
of unusually attractive utility girls
in stage productions.
Seasons ago only the principals of
these productions were dignifed with
contracts. Within the last theatrical
year or so managers have been glad
TO bind themselves to the employment
OF entire season of the unobtrusive
actress accurately and completely de-
scribed in the past as IA mere chorus
girl
\ curious illustration Of the meas
ures to which managers are some
times forced nowadays to retain their
graceful aids in this direction is Of
fered in a contract just entered into
between a widely advertised purveyor
of feminine loneliness in his musical
productions and new beauty whom
he recently discovered.
This agreement has Manager
George w. Lederer as its party of the
first part and Miss Evelyn Florence
as its collateral subject. To the I'M
theatrical mind some of the condi-
tiOns of this contract must appear
absurd.
Manager Lederer discovered Miss
FIorence-the girls nom de theatre,
by the way. her family name being
Evelyn Florence Nesbitt-amOng the
applicants for auxiliary places in his
new production, The Wild Rose" a
Lederer gayety now current at the
Garrick theatre in Philadelphia.
Manager Lederer admits that he was
startled by the Raphael like vision
of Miss Florence when she walked
into his office accompanied by her
mother, about six weeks ago.
After an interview with Mrs. Mes
bitt, during which the manager learn
ed that the mother was as DESTROYS
of the girls adoption of the stage as
was the girl, Mr.. Lederer entered in
to simple agreement to employ the
girl, provided her adaptability during
rehearsaIs confirmed his impressions.
Notwithstanding that the girl had
never before rehearsed for a public
performance or appeared publicly,
the first rehearsal of the ''Nild Rose
auxiIiaries convinced Manager Led
erer that he had "'find." He at once
secured the signatures of the girl
and her mother to a contract giving
him exclusive control of the girls
services for theatrical use for one
year. As rehearsals of this new gay
ETY. went on and the manager discov-
cred that in addition to rare beauty
the girl possessed temperament and a
voice that only required cultivation
to become valuable, he was moved to
the formation of new contract that
should make Miss Florence an asset
for five years instead of one.
After a preamble characteristic of
legal agreements, this rare covenaifr
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-05-17
A Hindoo Superstition.

When visits are exchanged by the
friends of the Hindoo bride and groom
TO complete arrangements for the we'd
ding. great attention is paid to Omens,
which are considered especially potent
then. For instance, if the groom's
messengers should meet eat, a
fox or a serpent they turn back and
seek a more propitious time for the
GRAND. After the brides father has
received the offer he must delay re-
plying until one of the ubiquitous liz
ards in his house has chirped.-Wo-
mans Home Companion.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-05-17
A Hnrd Inv.

A traveller getting outside of st. Pc
tersburg discovered when he tried to
re-enter the city that he had left his
passport in the bedroom of his hotel.
The guards refused to let him pass and
refused to send for the passport. "Ac-
cording to you,' said be, ''the only
thing for me to do is TO throw myself
I'm the Neva.'
'No." said the sentry, suicide in
Russia is strictly against the law"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-05-17

Mrs. Hiram Ofen-How long were
you in your last place?
Applicant-Oi was there just month,
ma am.
Mrs. Hiram Offen-A month? What
was the trouble?
Applicant-The trouble was, ma'am.
that was took sick, an Oh couldn't get
away amy sOoner.-Philadelphia Press.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-05-17
A Contrast.

Papa, who is that gentleman over
there on the porch?"
Don't you remember him, my child?
He is the gentleman we met in the
restaurant today who chatted so pleas
antly with us while he waited about
twenty-five minutes for his lunch"
HE doesn't seem very pleasant now.
papa"
"Oh, no. He's at home now. See
him tearing the newspaper into .shreds
and trying to throw his hat through
the door. He is very eapgry because
it has taken his wife a little over four
minutes to get his supper ready."-In-
diauaDOIiS SIM
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-05-17

Pearls remarked the wise guy.
"are emblematic of tears"
Il guess that's right" agreed the
simple mug. MY wife cries because
can't afford to buy her any.-Phila-
delphia Record. !
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-11-30
Good Business Investments

WITH POSITIONS IN GOOD SOUND MANU-
IN THE CITY.
W & co. Ito
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-11-30
MUSICAL.
SIX or GAN BARGAINS

This week at F. G.. Smith. ,el2 Olive ST.: A. Z.
Whitaker. mgr. We have a few organs which We
wish to close cut this week In order to MAKE
room. and We are offering these at extremely low
prices:
one $50 Schcninger 15-stop organ: now.......Ei
One $50 KlmJall I0-stop organ: now.....-...... -
one sl2h Kimbaii S-stop organ: now....-...... s.
One 500 Johnson S-stop organ: now........-... s.
one Nsj fNe-octave Pe.oubet organ: now..---.. y
One s2ro self-piaying organ. with 40 rolls OF :,
We viii allow Won fuil value for any one OF
these. IL exchanged for a piano within q reason
able time. +. u. SMITH. 1912 Olive 81.
A. f. Whitaker. Mgr.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-11-30
MUSICAL.

VERY fine old German violin: cheap. s13
Mnruon a
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-11-30
.uxlxEss o AL

sALOON-worldts Fair lease: doing good busi-
ness. reason for SELL &. sickness: owner COM
PEELED to leave city: cheap for cash: investigate
G 100. Republic.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-11-30
SIS 90 TO $4,000 SAVED

In buying your plano from US. having FORMAL ex-
pense and buying for spot cash d rect from the
best makes sold for cash or time: lowest II.oes:
20 years experience. Kleekamp Bros. Iiano Co,
2301 Park ave.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-11-30
MUSICAL.

800 buys n fine parlor grand piano; latest
style: best make; stool and cover. 1fli n. six
tenth ST.
The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1902-05-23

rlnc electrical discharge. cyclone OF
IRE mud and steam swept down from
the crater over the town and bay
sweeping all before Il and destroying
the heet OF vessels at anchor on the
shore, There the accounts OF mo cat
astrophe so faf obtainable cease
u never can forget the horrid, iiery.
choking whirlwind which enelopod
me" said Mr.. Evans. "Mr. Norris ana
rushed below. We are not badly
burned-not 30 badly as most OF them
when the FIRE came we were going 10
out posts 1--WE are engineers) 10 weigh
anchor and GET out When we came
up we found the ship ahre AFT ana
fought It forward until o'clock when
the suohet came TO our rescue we
were then building a raft"
ben" Benson. the carpenter OF the
Rofaima. said 81 was on deck amid
ships. whom heard an explosion Inc
captain ordered me 10 up anchor.
got the windiass but when the hre
came ! went into the forecastle ana
got my duds. When 1 came out
The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1902-05-23
Onslaught OF tfssiire;and. Poisonous
Gas Overwhelmed Martinique !:

could scarcely distinguish the sites OF
the large buildings thar had BEEN des-
troyed under the rain OF IRE. lava. mud
and ashes.
The sull smoking volcano lowered
above the ash-covered hills. The ruins
were burning In many places and
frightful odors Of burned flesh allied
the air.
with great difficulty a landing was
affected Not one house was left in
tact. vlscid heaps OF mud, OF brighter
ashes. or piles OF volcanic stones were
seen on every side. Here and there
amid the ruins were heaps OF corpses
almost all the faces were downward
as II theHnhappy victims had rushed
into the streets when the first shock
OF the eatastrophe aroused them. only
to meet a sudden and awful death that
smote them 10 the earth as they ran.
so many piles Of corpses were to be
seen that is Is dfficult to describe any
In particular detail. In one corner
twenty-five bodies OF men. women and
The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1902-05-23

talked with Captain Muggah. Mr.
Scott. the hrst Officer. and others. Thel
had been on the bridge
1.-THE captain was horribly burned.
He had Inhaled flames and wanted to
jump into the sea. tried to mako
him take life preserver The cap
tain. who was undressed, jumped over
board and hung on TO a line for
while. Then he disappeared.
Gus" Llnder. the quartermaster OF
the steamer. who is horribly burned
aud can scarcely talk. confirmed this.
Francisco Angelo. who speaks poor
English. wildly described the onrush
OF the fre. lie says the captain was
a brave man. too brave 10 be burned
TO death Angelo further asserted that
the storm OF Ore lasted not more than
Ave minutes Joseph Beckles. sea-
man. who IN nifty years OF age and 10
30 frightfully burned that he cannot
The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1902-05-23

Louis II. Ayme. Uaitod states con
rul at Guadeloupe. sends the follow
ing cable to the Chicago Tribune from
Fort de France. ISLAND or Martinique.
have Just returned from 81. Pierre.
The desolation OF the ruins OF the city
blasted by the FIRE and sulphurous
fumes from the angry crater OF Mont
pelee can only be inadequately pic
tured. Not half OF the horrors to
be seen there have been told
left the Island OF Guadeloupe In
chartered steamer Saturday night
We approached the site OF the once
fair tropical city soon after o'clock
In the morning
The island with, lts lofty hills was
hidden behind n leaden colored haze
Enormous quantities OF the wredkage
OF large and small ships and houses
strewed the surface OF the sea. Huge
trees and. too often. bodies with nocks
Of sea gulls soaring above and hideous
sharks lighting about them. were float
ing here and there. From behind the
The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1902-05-23

children were mingled In one awful
mass. arms and legs protruding as the
hapless beings Zen In the last strug-
giles OF death. From under one large
stone the arm Of a white woman pro-
truded. Most notable was the utter
silence and the awful. overpowering
stencil from the thousands OF dead.
The fiery stream which so completely
destroyed 81. Pierre must have been
composed Of poisonous gases. which in
SANITY sunocated every one who In
hailed them, and OF other gases burn
ing furiously for nearly all the VIC
tins had their hands covering their
mouths or were in some other attitude
showing that they had sought relief
from suifocation. All the bodies were
carbonized or roasted,
Through the middle OF the old Place
Berlin ran a. tiny stream. the remains
The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1902-05-23

lnicnse heat Curiousiy enough. the
features Of the dead we're generally
calm and reposeful. although in some
cases terrible fright, and agony were
deplcted Grim piles Of bodies were
stacked everywhere showing that
death had stricken them while the
crowds we're vainly seeking escape
from the fiery deiuge. on one spot
a group OF nine children were found
locked 10 each others' arms,
Tho vaults Of the Bank OF Martin
lque, at the head OF what had been the
Rue de, Hospital. were found. intact.
They contained 1000. 900 franco. 1900
OO0l In specie and other securities.
witch were sent here for safe keeping.
me vaults Of the government treas
ury are now being searched in the
hops that large amount OF money
and other valuables deposited by the
principal MERCHANTS Of the city may be
saved. 70
The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1902-05-23

Nearly 1000 OF the refugees from the
vicinity OF the village OF Le Precheur,
a suburban village. were rescued by the
French cruiser suchet and the cable
repair ship REPRESENTATIVES and were
brought here
As a result OF his inspection. the
commander Of the suchet reports that
creviees and valleys are constantly
forming in the northern portion Of the
island, where the land Is In a state OF
perpetual change. Fortunately. that
part of the country was evacuated In
good time by the inhabitants. who fed
to Fort de France.
Lava continues to stream down tho
mountain side. accompanied by ter
rife thunder and lightning.
The stories OF the survivors added TO
the awful details OF the particularly
narrowing account OF the loss OF the
Briusl steamer Roraimh
@. j Evans OF Montreal and John
q. Norris OF New York. who arc now
at 10 military hospital OF Fort dc
FraIte. say the vessel arrived at 9. As
eigh bells was struck a frightfui ex-
pioson was heard up the mountain,
A coud OF ire. toppllng and roaring
swept with lightning speed down the
mountain side and over the town and
bay The Roralma was nearly suni
and caught FIRE at once. The steamer
Roralma had reached 81. Pierre thai
day With ten passengers, among whom
wer Mrs. Stokes and her three child
rem. and Mrs. II. ]. Ince. They say
they were watching Tx rain OF ashes
when. with a frlghtful roar and ter
The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1902-05-23

volcanic veil came blasts OF hot wind
mingled with others ice cold.
At lie Precheur. Ave miles north OF
st Pierre. men and women frantic
to get away begged for passage on
the little steamer We had room for
none. but managed to pick up twenty
eight half dead men. women and child
rem. who were so badly burned that
they had TO be lifted over the steamers
side. or the twenty-elght. sixteen died
on the boat before we reached Fort
do France. Only three or four OF the
others are likely to live.
The condition Of these unfortunates
is no worse than thousands OF refugees
in the hills about lie Precheur Hun
dreds OF them viii die before relief
can reach them. Thousands need med
ical care. food. clothing, and above all.
water. o'
The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1902-05-23

OF the River Gayave. Great trees,
with roots upward and scorehed by
fire. were strewn in every direction.
Huge blocks and stiil hot stones were
scattered about
The completeness Of the catastrophe
rs evident when II Is stated that. so
far as known at the present time. no
one save a handful Of suryiyoTs,pieked
up from the wrecked vessels IN the
harbor by the French cruiser suchet
escaped Even they are unable to
tell what actually happened, so erazed
are they from the experiences they
passed through It Is certain. however,
The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1902-05-23

AS the steamer felt its way down
the west coast OF the Island we could
see that the whole north end OF the
island was covered with silver gray
coating OF ashes resembling snow. Flu
rious blasts OF fire, ashes and mud
swept over the steamer, but hpally St
Pierre was reached, OF rather the spot
where 81 Pierre stood before that aw-
ful three minutes.
For two miles along the water front
and for a half mile back from shore
To the foothills at the base OF the vol
oano stretched the heaps OF smoking
ruins. Streets there were none. One
The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1902-05-23


live. having inhaled flame. said in weak
tones that he was the last man TO
see the captain. The captain was then
trying to'reach a floating mattress.
From the Italian ship Teresa Lovieo
several men were saved. but they are
in a frightful state. except Jean Louis
Prudent Of 81. Pierre, Although on
deck and unprotected. he was little
burned.
Prudent says there was first an aw-
full noise OF explosion. and then right
away cyclone Of smoke and are, but
such was the poisonous. choking ma
ture OF the smoke that II burned worse
than the nrc. The cyclone Of gas tore
the masts out OF ships. blew others
up, and sunk some Of them. Soon AZ
forwards came a wave OF IRE bigger
than the smoke cloud.
"That cloud" continued Prudent
was bigger, Il seemed. than Thu
mountnin.
THE FIRE burned the city everywherc
al once. Near me I saw only dead
men, but on shore | saw men and
women rushing back and forth for an
hour. They would not run long.
Then came that checking smoke, and
they would drop like dead fiies.
"The explosion. smoke and nre all
came and went in three minutes. but
the city burned for three hours. Then
every house was finished and nothing
alive was left.
Some men from the sinking ships
got to the shore, but they were burned
up there.
The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1902-05-23

AT no time were any earthquakes,
but big stones were ralned down. and
Gre fell like rain for a long time"
In separate part Of the hospital
we're found several persons. saved from
Corbet village, four miles from st.
Pierre.
The village Of Urine. south OF ST.
Pierre. was almost entirely burned and
almost all the inhabitants were killed.
one Of the survivors OF Urine, who will
die, says the sea, boiling hot, Invaded
the land. Six women. whose bodies
are one solid burn. are writing In
another ward OF the hospital Ten
women severely burned from Urine
were brought in and four OF them have
died. II is doubtful II any OF the six
still alive can recover
The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1902-05-23

with money. you would not know
yourself. without money, nobody
would know you.
The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1902-05-23

A woman jumps at o conclusion and
wins; a man hesitates and loses