davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Water Valley progress., 1902-08-02
MINERVA'S PLOT.
BY j. A, BALI.IS.

beauty NOOK, criru tne Drake-
man.
Mrs. Martha Livingstone and her
son, Adelbert, alighted from a par
lor car and were met by Abijah An
derson, who ''took city boarders" dur
ing the summer months.
Adelbert Livingstone had just
graduated from Harvard, and had
planned to take good rest before
entering upon business career in
New York city. His mother was an
invalid and could not endure the
noise and excitement in hotels.
The little village was formerly
known as Huckleberry Hollow, and
the beautiful lake beside it as Quog's
pond. But with the rise of the place
as summer resort the village re-
ceived the name of Beauty Nook and
the sheet of water the appellation of
Laurel lake.
Farmer Anderson's only daughter,
Minerva, was at once capti1ated with
Adelbert Livingstone, well educated,
handsome and distinguished in ap-
pearance, as she was inordinately
ambitious, the knowledge that the
young man was rich made her capti-
walton doubly easy.
Minerva had a good figure and
dressed stylishly. She had quick,
energetic mind, and, although ex-
ceedingly affable to people of high
station with whom she desired to in
gratiate herself, was naughty toward
interiors.
Minerva tried to fascinate Adel-
bert, but he was politely Indifferent.
$50 he proposes to treat me as
casual acquaintance" said Minerva
Indignantly to herself one morning
as she stood in her room admiring
herself in the large mirror which fire.
quently did homage to her vanity.
"Well, I'll see about it, my fine sir.
I'm no unsophisticated maid, I'll have
him to understand"
When next she met Adelbert she
smiled most sweetly and endeavored
to engage him in conversation; but
he did not take her bait. He was in
search for bait with which to catch
fish in the lake.
About the middle Of the afternoon
Adelbert returned with long string
of fish, and the one who admired his
skill the most and who most enthu-
siastically complimented him was
Minerva.
"Have you anything to claim your
attention during the remainder of
the day?" was Minerya's stilted ques-
tion.
Nothing in particular" was the
reply.
"Then we would like to have you
go bathing with us it it would be
agreeable to you. Several of the
guests and myself are going to the
lake; we would like to have you go,
too" e.
Thomas Larkins and his wife, Lucy
Wadhams, Daisy Dimple and Benja-
min Winthrop were the other mem
bers of the party.
All were splashing in the water,
laughing and talking, when Minerva
challenged Adelbert to try to catch
her as she swan away from the land
He followed in a perfunctory way,
and she kept well in thelead.
Suddenly she became frightened
and began to founder, having appar-
emily been seized with cramps.
20, dear, what shall / dov' she
gasped. "Save me; Pm drowninglv
She disappeared beneath the sur
Water Valley progress., 1902-08-02
PECULIAR WRITING PAPER.
Missives Written on Ping-Pong Balls
Sent Through the Mails.


Liverpool postmen have recently
been in state bordering on distrac-
ton. Some foolish person in that city
inaugurated new fashion of using
ping-pong balls as post cards. The
balls were stamped, an address writ
ten under the stamp, and the message
scrawled on the rest of the surface
The fashion spread rapidly, and the
pillar boxes became full of these mis-
sives, which, from their shape, gave
the unfortunate postmen and post
office officials an enormous amount Of
trouble. At last the authorities were
forced to intervene, and it is now con-
trary to the regulations to use the lit
tie globules of celluloid for postal
purposes.
Among those idle people who waste
their superfiuous energies in testing
the forbearance Of the postal officials
is Southampton man whose favorite
form of missive used to be a postage
stamp. But as he wrote the address
on the face Of the stamps the authori-
ties decided that they were not bound
to deliver them. 1t was probably the
same person who afterwards posted
complete pack Of playing cards, each
neatly addressed on the back, but
with no message whatever on the col
ored side.
Another very peculiar letter found
in North London pillar box last au-
tumn was green apple, on one side
OF which was cut an address and on
the other the simple but expressive
message: sSour--like YOU"
Bank notes have been employed
as writing paper more than once by
extravagant or foolish persons.
Among the effects of an Exeter miser,
who died about Is years ago, was
found five-pound note, on which the
deceased had written directions as to
the disposal Of his property. At.
Hampstead there lived, until recent
ly, wealthy bachelor Of whom it was
said that he once wrote proposal
Of marriage to lady on the back Of
$50 note, and because it was sent
back without a word of comment by
the recipient refused ever afterward
to have anything to do with the fair
sex.
Writing paper, or, indeed, paper of
any kind, is usually at a premium
among soldiers on active service.
Many very curious substitutes have
arrived from our army in South AT
RIGA. One of the commonest has been
mealie leaves. Mealie" is the South
African name for maize.
After Colenso there was found
grasped in the stiffened hands of a
dead soldier piece Of leather with
dying message scrawled upon it with
q stump Of pencil. 1t was layer of
the sole Of the dead mans boot, which
had probably been loosened with
much marching, and which he had
contrived torip off. Itsafely reached
the poor fellows family in England.
From the Philippines, too, some
curious letters have been received by
the friends of American soldiers
fighting in those islands. One of the
most ingenious was piece Of native
bamboo, about foot long, on which
an address had been carved with a
penknife. The letter was inside the
Water Valley progress., 1902-08-02
Heavens First Law.

Order is Heavens first law, but
many a man never thinks Of obeying
it until he is called upon to enact the
star role in a deathbed scene.-C Chi
cago Daily News.
Water Valley progress., 1902-08-02
Have You Noticed This7

1t is mighty hard to keep your
mouth shut when you have nothing
to say.-Atchisol Globe.
Water Valley progress., 1902-08-02


arose, and she threw one arm wildly
about his neck.
"Be cool or you'll drown us both,"
he cried.
Minerva. withdrew her arm from
his neck and began to sink, at the
same time saying: "Only support me
a little, and I'll be all right"
He grasped her left arm, and, .smil-
ing at him as if his mere presence
gave her strength, she consigned her
self to his care with a happy sigh, and
began to paddle somewhat uncertain
ly with her disengaged arm.
She weighed on Adelbert rather
heavily, but with his aid, and with
some help from her free arm, they
began to make progress toward the
shore. Fortunately they had not
far to go before their feet could safe
ly touch bottom.
1t was remarkable how quickly she
seemed to have recovered from the
cramp, and she was able to stand,
holding fast to his hand as they stood
with water up to their necks.
20, %, that painF' she cried in
agony; and Adelbert found it incum-
bent on him to place his arm around
her waist and support her. Then she
Immediately quieted and they began
slowly to wade toward the land.
"How good and brave you are," she
exclaimed, regarding her companion
with look full of admiration and
gratitude.
1T is nothing" he hastily replied,
realizing even at that moment that it
would be awkward to be a hero in the
eyes of girl whose personality was
not pleasing to him.
In the meanwhile Daisy Dimple
and Lucy Wadhams were indulging
in Mysteries and Mrs. Larkins was
pale with fright; but Larkins and
Winthrop recovered their wits and
rushed outand pulled the two adven-
.urers to the shore with trembling
hands.
Minerva collapsed on the beach and
the women threw themselves around
her.
"She is drowned; she is drownedw
moaned Daisy Dimple.
Yes, she is dying!" exclaimed
Lucy Wadhams, and she burst into
tears.
ssNo; I'm still alive" murmured
Minerva, smiling family.
Mrs. Larkins bethought her of a
smelling bottle in the pocket of her
dress hanging in the bathhouse and
quickly getting it applied it to the
nose of the faint girl.
''How good that SMELLS" said
Minerva, drawing a deep breath in
way that showed that her strong
lungs were unharmed.
1T might be more efficacious with
the stopper off, remarked Larkins,
dryly.
Minerva blushed and Mrs. Larkins
looked sheepish.
During the rescue Tom Owlish,
Minerals country beau and winter
escort, stood behind the bathhouse
unobserved and glowered at Adel-
bert Livingstone In the winter
Owlish was in high favor with Miner
va. But in the summer Minerva
tlouted her humble but faithful at
tendant, or treated him with cool
ness that made him miserable
Adelbert was not fool, and he felt
quite certain that Minerva had tried
to dupe him for the purpose Of Turing
him into her tolls as the result of
seemingly romantic adventure, and
he was indignant.
A few days later there was a pic
mic, in which many, both of the regu-
lar inhabitants and the city guests,
participated. The picnic was held in
a grove on Laurel lake.
Minerva and Adelbert were there,
and on account of their recent re-
markable adventure were the center
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-02-16
q TIC OqPc Of CHILDREN 3

4 WRITE Parents Corner because
more and more evidence comes to me
daily of the lively interest taken by
fathers in this column. get as many
letters from them as from the moth
ers of growing and grown children.
The keynote Of our talk to-day is sup
piled by 4 father who soothes my spirit by
kindly mention Of the work our depart
ment is trying to do He then goes on to
say:
Your letters reach lots of girls who
have no mothers, and some have moth
ers who do not know how to advise them.
MY age is IS. 1 have a daughter aged
% have taught her at all times to keep
good company, or none; to be honest and
truthful We poor people should keep that
word ringing in young ears. Honesty is
one Of the hest words we can teach our
children, and I can prove what I say TO
be true.
"A business man comes home in the
evening, all tired out He has been in
business for many years. He is getting
old. He doesn't want TO give up his bust
ness. His wife says, Get someone to do
your collecting or help you in your work
He says, I would if I could find a man
that is honest I would pay him well.
But where can find q man or a woman
who is honest% That word Honesty
stares US in the face. c. A. s."
The father who writes thus says Of him
self: 4 am not an educated man, I ask
you TO excuse all mistakes He makes no
mistake in saying that Honesty Is the
word which stares US of this generation
in the face He strikes straight out from
the shoulder in asking, Where can 1 find
a man or woman who is honest?''
A woman Of experience, who is not
given TO strong expressions, shocked. me
when / was younger by saying "AII chill
dren viii lie sometimes. and all will steal
IF tempted" Since then other worldly
wise people have confirmed her words. II
lis not long ago that a mother told me
laughingly of finding her boys pockets
cTammed with nuts he had filehed from a
grocer's counter. have known six '.kIep-
tomaniacs'' who we're women Of high
standing in their respective communities,
and each held her place in decent society,
in spite of her failing.
I'VE have to watch that girl whenever
she comes here" a mother Of boys and
girls said Of a neighbours child. She is
,Hght-fngered. She pockets toys. sugar.
fruit, confectionery, whatever it pieases
{ her TO take"
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-02-16

why do you let her Gomez 1 ejacuiat-
ed. Are you not afraid Of the example,:
"Oh, no; and really I am sorry for the
poor little thing It is a trick that viii
get her into trouble some day"
Another called TO her 1O-year-oId boy, As
he was running off to invite a favorits
playfellow to spend a rainy afternoon with
him: If he should come. Charley, lock
the nursery closet and pocket the key be-
fore he goes up. You know what hap
pened the other day2''
III look out for that!'' the boy threw
back over his shoulder with a knowing
wink.
What had happened" as the mother
then told me, was that the visitor had
taken advantage Of being left alone in the
playFoom to take down from the closet
shelf a savings bank belonging 10 his
friend, to tap it and abstract two dimes
and nickel Charley's older sister, en-
tering as he was pOcketing the coins. had
taken them away from him, promising
not 10 tell his mother II he wouldn't DO lt
again.
Charley took it in good Part conclud-
cd the narrator. He is fond Of Harry
and willing to overlook peccadiloes-
The query arising from the consideIa-
ton Of such incidents-and ! could m-
uply them BY many-is, How much OF .-.'
loose ideas of business honesty and pom
icai morality rife in every city and ever.
country neighborhoOd in our land is o.
to the free-and-easy manner in when W
speak and think Of juvenile thievery
For thievery it is, and the thieI IS =
conscious of wTOngdOing as If he were 90
and had cracked d safe OF embezzied mo u
sands Of his employers dollars
It behOOves those Of US to whom is com
mitted the solemn duty Of training yol2s
immOrtals TO call this sin by the rgN
name. When a girl pockets WnaLet
pleases her. II is not a disease, but We
The kleptOmaniac who pUrlOins what s-7
has no liking or use for may be moTA'-s
irresponsible The child who flches cahaJ
and dolls yields TO a direct Temptation ~
profit BY her playfeilows' losses Sl5
should suffer accOrdingly-nOw, not De le--
10 the retribution which, as she grows
older in sin as in years. will Overtake hs-
on account Of the trick The 'pecca-
dillO" of tapping a friends savings oaAA
merits present, swift and severe punlsh-
ment and consequent disgrace.
The boy or girl pilferer should be taughL
the vileness of the sin by seeing it BRANDED
as abhOrrent and then by being mace u
feel himself or herself unworthy TO assy-
ciate with honest children until the plague
spot has been removed Wholesome oiSo.-
pine OF this sort may hinder the man
from Disgusting stealing under the sIl'0-n
name Of POPULATION il years % coIhs'
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-02-16
40

- Ii YOU kindly let me know
40 Sss5 ~ 7' . s ss.s@@ &:
y" cooking of dried green peas,
with a view to overcoming
their adamsntSGe quality?
Il have tried soaking them in hot and
cold wlter for days and boiling them tOl
hours. and always with poor results. L
have also tried mixins p little baking
soda with then, but this, too, proved I'M
satisfactory.
''As dried green peas are so much
cheaper. and / believe just as nutritious
as the canned peas, you viii greatly
obhge a constant reader if you Will give
me some process by which l can render
them soft and palatsble
IAN ECONOMICAL WIFE"
While I have never used dried meas as
a simple boiled vegetable, I lave made
them into purees, buildings. etc. with sue
cess. EIy plan is 20 put them to- soak
over night in warm water, with a quarter
tesspoouful Of baking soda. The POT con-
tai1ing -hem is set or the side Of inc
range where the water will keep rather
more than olood-warm. This 5 oone
early in the evening. AT bedtime tiiS
water Is drained off and warmer poured
over the peas. with another pincn ol 500 ~
ana ne vessel is left at the back OF the
range all night Lastly, the water is eN
changed for cold. and the now softeneo
meas are left in this until they are put
with IL over the fire 10 boil. salt IS not
added until they are done.
Perhaps some member OF the La
change can suggest better way
You would oblige me greatly by asking
for ~ names and addresses OF places
where they supply lunches TO ONCE anu
working girls at reasonable rates; or
course. l mean private places. as l know
81 MANY restaurants in the business parts
of the city. n >
This. request is one of several I have re-
ceived 10 the same effect II mas often
occurred TO me that girls employed IN o.
fees anc stores would do well to copy the
example of weather. women and have
their private luncheon clubs. n respect
ale r.1atron should be at the head OF
each; the fare should be Such as each
member could hope to fnd in private
house. simple. but of excellent quality \
speciality should be made Of homemade
bread tea, coffee. c.--cOlate and butter
should be the best Of their kind, ana
hroths be always or call. If jddiciously
able to give a bOgl of good broth. sand
witch and a cup OF tea coffee or cocoa,
with. fancy biscuits, for twenty cents.
The annual fee should be moderate, ana
each member have the right TO bring one
guest or more to avail herself Of the
privileges OF the resting place.
,rh-r drawback to the successful opera
ton of similar organiza tons for the bene-
Tit OF suburban shoppers Is the strong ten
dency &c depreciation in general comfort
and fare. after the club Is really in work
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-02-16
The Man Who NEEDLES

saw spotIess reputation discounted
the other day and many rare, amiable
traits OF disposition shrivel rs waste pa
per in the fire under u single sarcastic
utterance Of society woman who had
her own reasons for disliking the person
under discussion. ''Yes?" she said, dubi-
ously, to TIC praise an elderly matron
had given an excellent son and brother
But then. he is such a ladylike person"
The epithet was apt. Not one of us could
deny it. Every woman present, while she
laughed, would have preferred to have
her husband caied a brute.
John takes uSiy risks when he tempts
his hitherto loyal spouse to name him to
her confidential self as "Bettyish," Miss
Nancyish." or a 'Mollycoddle" They
all mean the same thing. As sloveu he
may be forgiven. in consideration of the,
solid manliness back of personal careless
ness. We wink at rusty shoes. and col
lars awry, and .touzled hair. and missing
sleeve links. For the same reason we
condOne crossness, and even a touch Of
sayagery. When he comes home in
temper, he has had a trying day down
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-02-16
4 the nOuSNGcpCRS exchange q
VI -z&@5 -

ing order. I have in mind one in a large
city that ran we'll for a time making
reputation for itself as a coy, restful
retreat for women wearied with buying.
fitting" or visiting. The annual fee of s.
was cheerfully paid by those who liked
70 leave parcels in the waiting room, to
write letters I'm G quiet corner, TO brush
out the wrinkles of travel from cloth
ing and rest out the tired lines in the
face before attending matinee or Tacep-
ton.
A luncheon of hot mullins, chops. one
vegetable, coffee, tea or chocolate, crack
ers and cheese, with one sweet, was served
to members for forty cents. The cooking
was excellent. the service dainty; the at
mosphere or the whole commended the es-
Enlistment tc all who made trial of il.
1t paid so well that in three years the
price of a luncheon was raised to fifty
cents, and the fare took on the unmis-
taxable restaurant favor, the indescrib-
able and odious tang" each reader will
recall with a qualm. The quiet domes-
ITCHY Of parlors and dining room began
TO look cheap and tawdry. The charm
of our club las ours) had departed. If
q third-rate eating house was what we
wanted, il could be had elsewhere without
going through the form Of an annual fee.
/ am not abiding now TO wOmen's club
select and leisUreiy few are wont TO re-
SORT. What is needed is a substitute for
q home, which shah not De a gruesOme
parody upon the same. 1 am sure that
1 could run such an one, and keep the
homemade flavor in the fare ] am even
more STE that scores of other women
could do the work better than ] could
hope Go do.
do YOU know tested recipe for MAX
ing orange wine?
Il was given some about six years ago
and found il very nice. L was told il was
made from the orange peel. But the
lady could not tell me any more, as she
had bought IL from a market woman, who
made il herself. She said il was splendid
is cases of sickness as a medicine IL has
a pretty, pure color like beer. only. of
course, ii does not foam.
VIOLA
Does any correspondents know OF such a
tonic beverage j shall be glad TO publish
a trustworthy recipe for it If it is sent to
me.
"Will you kindly give a recipe for
cleanser Of some kind for steel enameIed
ware? I have used fine ashes and sand
MIR. G. F."
First cover the ware with salad oil:
rub it in we'll and leave il on for several
hours. Then clean with the old-fashioned
.'rotten-stOne," pulveriZed and wet TO a
paste with vinegar. Coat the ware with
this; let it dry, and polish with soft fan
Bath brick. scraped dne and rubbed in
well, should remove rust and stains
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-02-16
By Marion H arlAn d

listers in day book and ledger every pound
of butter and box of crackers and quart
of vinegar brought into the house, with
the date of purchase.
I knew another (who ceased from his
labors ten years ago. who visited kitchen,
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-02-16
GERMAN sTUFFING FOR TURKEY.
PoTATo DRoP CAKES.

Pare. wash and CRATE six good sized raw
potatoes; press out the water. add three
well-beaten eggs. heaping tablespoonful
of -four with salt TO taste. Beat well, and
drop by the great spoonful in deep, hot
fat Fry 10 a delicate brown.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-02-16
BOSTON BAKED BEANS.
srUFFED sWEET PoTAToEs.

Bake large, smooth potatoes, turning
them over several times that the skins
may not get hard When done, cut in
half lengthwise, with sharp knife; dig
out the insides carefully, without tear
ing the skins. Work what you take out in
a bowl to a soft light paste with cream
and butter. salt and pepper TO taste: fill
the skins with the mixture, set back in
the oven TO brown, and serve hot in the
skins.
They are verv nice
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-02-16
MARION
CURRANT COOKIES.

One cupful of sugar. two scant cupsful
Of -four, four tablespoonful of butter,
two eggs, one scant teaspoonful of baking
powder, one cupful of cleaned currants,
chopped fine. Nutmeg and cinnamon TO
taste.
Rub butter and sugar to a cream; add
spices and the eggs beaten light, then the
-four with which the baking powder has
been sifted twice; lastly the chopped cur
rants. Roll out with quick, light strokes,
cut into shapes and bake in a tOlerably
brisk oven. They are better the second
day after baking than on the first.
BOSTON BAKED BEANS.
Soak one quart of beans over night in
warm-not hot-water. In the morning
scald them until the skin curls on a bean
when you blow upon it. Wash in three
waters. Pack them in pot smaller at the
top than at the sides. Score the skin Of
q pound Of streaked salt pork, and almost
bury it in the beans. Pour over this one
dessertspoonful Of molasses, mixed with
as much vinegar, a good pinch Of pepper
and teaspoonful of mixed mustard.
Cover closely and bake nine hours in a
good oven
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-02-16

pantries and storeroom several times every
week to see that everything was clean
and orderly. He used to smell milk pans,
run a critical finger around the inside Of
kettles and pots and inquire into the des-
tination Of scraps-and all without blush