davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-12-12

Its appearance. Next came a villain
Gus looking slung shot, and then
wig. The policemen formed a close
circle around their prisoner, and then
few more pockets were emptied. A
glass cutter was discovered. A mus
tache several shades darker in color than
the wig was found in one corner of one
of the boys pockets. The cause Of
all the blood-thirsty array was next
unearthed. In an inside coat pocket
was found a collection of nickel and
dime novels from which the would-be
desperate planned his campaign. The
book which was apparently the best
read bore the title "Hold-Up Dams Best
Haul, or Old Cap. Golfers Big Mis-
take This was apparently the
guide book TO the young mans intend
ed career.
Miles sat in the cell waiting to be
taken to police court, and every time
an officer passed ne would ask that he
might be allowed to have just one Of
his favorite books. This favor was re-
fused, and the boy had 10 content him
self with a morning paper.
Willie said that he thought he
would give up his idea of going to
Toronto. and see if he could not Sc
cure a place on the local detective force.
He felt that his natural talents ran in
that direction.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-12-12

America, reduced the commerce of Pan
anna TO a mere nothing; and so it re-
manned until the establishment OF the
western steamship lines and the build
ing of the Panama railroad.
Cerro de los BIccaneros (the Hill of
the Buccaneers) is the name by which
one of the SUBMITS overlooking Pana-
ma Is called 10 this day, and doubtless
all dwellers in the city know something
concerning the story OF the destroyers
of the old town. AS the traveller by the
Panama railroad approaches the vest
ern end of the road. his guide book di-
reefs him TO mark well the spot made
memorable by Morgan and his bucca-
neers, and proper respect is paid to the
hill famous in the history of the isthmus.
After Cerro de los Buccaneers has been
duly considered, the attention of the
tourist falls presently on the cathedral
towers, high roofs, and decaying forth
fications of the new Panama, the city
upreared soon after the fall of the old
one. KATHERINE POPE.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-12-12
rx,raorJ,n,rx Run of Hard Luck.

William Cromwell, of Vineland, N.
J.. has had a mountaineering run of
hard luck for the past IL months. A
year ago his wife was operated upon
for appendicitis. Two or three days
after her return from the hospital she
fell down the stairs and has been an
invalid ever since. Then his son Oil
yer, seven years old. was hurt while
crossing a railroad, and while he was
in the hospital a i3-year-old daughter
broke her arm. Later his son Melvin
caught diphtheria and the head of the
house was mangled by a savage dog
Just after he had returned from the
Pasteur institute in Baltimore ten days
ago. Melvin turned up with a broken
collar bone. Now the father is wonder
ing what next.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-12-12

though those early settlers appreciated
that there was a great future in store
for the place, the greatness that even.
tually came was undreamed of. Even
in their widest dreams they had moi
seen resting on their Understanding
beach ships from the north and the
south, and the far-westeTn east, laden
with the wealth of half world, and
in the streets of their sun-beaten city
gold and silver stacked in bricks"
Panama stored treasures from the
mines of Teru, from Mexico, Guatemals
and Honduras, pearls from the islands
spices. precious woods and gums from
western tropical America. and sent this
treasure. under strong guard, to the
town Of CRUCES. on the Chagres river
where barges took 1t to the stately
Spanish ships awaiting on the eastern
coast
Royal favor was early bestowed upor
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-12-12

Every practical ditcher knows. who has
attempted to grade himself from
stake to stake by water In the bottom
of the ditch, that he will rise toe fast
In those cases where the engineer has
found It necessary to fix grade verg-
ing towards the least fall allowable.
Many drains are put In nowaday with as
small a fall as one inch per 100 feet. A
small fall like this often saves great ex-
pense In digging or II may be that 1t is
not possible to get more. Digging such
bitches by water in the bottom would
be wholly impracticable and II is only
by the help of an experienced engineer
with a good level that successful re-
suits can be assured. He will full cases
the drainage engineer alone is able TO
tell whether system of drainage is pos
sible. He will adjust the grades, mark
the cuts Oh each stake and put the work
in such a shape that the work can be
executed property either with contract
or day labor.
Even in cases where there is plenty OF
fall II will be economy to have a ditch
or system of drains dug with perfectly
uniform grade. Digging beneath the
grade line In places is not only waste
of work but in cases will cause injury
to the successful operation OF the fin
ished drain by causing accumulation of
silt. etc Having the level stakes set
with the cuts given for each place the
problem remaining is to get uniformly
finished bottom from one stake TO the
next The best method of accomplishing
this is TO set up targets at two or better
three stakes on a straight course to be
ditched. The target consists of a YER
tical pole set al the stake alongside the
ditch with horizontal arm movable up
and down the pole and fastened at any
point by thumb screw Fix the hori-
Zontal arms of the targets at a uniform
distance above the established grade
line of the ditch. say six feet Then the
operator with six-foot pole In his
hands can really determine the proper
depth to dig al any point by sighting
along the targets. Suppose at stake No
2 the required cut is &c feet. ST No
| The cut Is 81 feet at No, 10 II is IS feet
then the targets will set above the sur.
I face of the ground at the respective sta
ton named "a feet 2 8 feet and 80 feet
The three targets will then indicate 2
line parallel TO and six feet above the re-
auired bottom OF the ditch.--Gran
Davis, In Royal New Yorker.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-12-12

rien so soon after its discovery by the
whites? You remember when the in
trepid Balboa in 1913 discovered the
wonderful Southern sea (the Pacific
olvan) he made also another discovery
of great Importance. the existence in
the lands along the sea, in the islands
thereof, of rich pearls and gold in guam
titles undreamed of. The story travel
ed to Spain, and with hot haste for
tune seekers Of all classes sought the
shores pf the land where gold and
pearls were so abundant,
1t was in 1919 that Pedrarias, high
born, high-handed Spanish officer, a
man Jealous of Balboa and his discov-
cries, engaged in work that for long
has kept his name alive--the founding
of the city of Panama. Pedrarias had
been sent out by the king as governor
OF Darien. and accompanying him was
the usual band of adventurers and gold
seekers. PedrariaS, lustful of gold
treated the natives most cruelty. exact
ing tribute at any cost. Soon after his
arrival In Darlen he heard a great Ge1i
of place called Panama. and thinking
ii certainly must be gold that made il
so much talked OF sent an expedition
to take possession of the spot.
On reaching il his men found simply
a collection of fishermen's huts-Pana
ma means place where there are pien
ty of ashland were vastly disappoint
ed. But presently the little village at
tracted few Spanish settlers, and "a
length we find on the Pacific seaboart
a European settlement. in the aborig
inal fishing station OF Panama The
germ OF Spanish city, the first on tn,
western side of the American CONT
nent from Patagonia to Alaska" Ant
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-12-12
ADMIRED WIFE'S GIFT.
How Absent-Mindcd Man Gave
Himself Away at an Tnop-
porxune Moment.

The st. Louis Republic tells this de-
licious story of a prosperous business
man who had no time to pick out
wedding gift for his dearest friend. So
his wife went shopping and purchased
a very handsome picture.
"I bought picture, JIM" she said
that evening at dinner. "and sent it up
to George Stones house with our cards.
I wish you could have seen it, for l
know it would just suit you. In fact,
when l picked it out l tried to look at
things through your eyes and choose
such a picture as you would have Sc
lected."
The business man had carried the
worries OF the day home with him, so
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-12-12
On the Plaln.

Henry Clay Trumbuil, speaking of the
mission of the lowly road in the Chris
tian's life and its relative importance in
comparison TO the mountain road. says:
There are times in every life when the
soul stands ON the clear heights, and no
task seems TO be too difficult to the
boundless enthusiasm of the moment.
But what is to be Gone when the soul
has descended into the plains, and the
enthusiasm is gone, and the task re-
mains? Only to go on bravely. trusting
to the ciSerG. vision on the mountain top,
and making faithful performance I'LL the
place of enthusiasm. The mountain
and the plain has each its place in Chris
tan life-the mountain for the clear
vision ahead. he lowiy road along the
plain for the AZ -! performance Of the
tourney"
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-12-12

the city. and the Fling. in return for y,
wealth gathered by the natives p
him. built tor the natives beaptifu
churches and cathedrals. AS the tow.
grew. the wonder and riches of IL gre
pace. To such an extent that covetous
.yes were cast upon it. covetous hands
iespoiled it, In 1870 il was the largest
md richest city in the new world and
contained 10000 inhabitants 1t was at
his period that those wild rovers. the
buccaneers, were assailed by Spain and
hey retaliated w tn full vengeance The
piratical buccaneers had various lead
,rs. but none that attained such prom
ncnce as one Welshmar, by name.
Henry Morgan. Followed by ,20) men,
English. French and Dutch, Morgan
1870 crossed the isthmus and set his
ACE toward Panama. The band was
aot well provided with food, and al
most started on the journey, but on the
ninth day of the march the freebooters
saw before them the splendors of the
,ity of their search and set up wild
cries OF rejoicing. After a night of
rhe Spanish force. consisting of 400
horse, 2.400 foot and 1000 wild oxen,
came out to meet them. There were
:wo hours of fighting. then Morgan led
mis- men into the beautiful city and
ruthlessly pillaged everywhere A fire
broke out. and though efforts We're
made to extinsuish It, it spread rapidly,
completely finishing the work of de-
struction.
The tragedy caused great grief in
Spain, and the town was ordered re-
built Immediately and fortified very
strongly. The site chosen for the new
town was close to the old one. on lit
tie peninsula at the base of hill. The
rebuilt town became one of SPANS
most powerful strongholds: the walls
we're built of massive granite. from 20
TO 40 feet in heieht and ten feet thick;
at intervals of 200 ana 300 feet strongly
fortified watch towers were placed: a
deep moat divided the city from the
mainland, and three great gates gave
entrance and exit. The cost of all this
was enormous. M. Mcmahon, writing
Of Panama. old and new, tells an anec-
dote relative to the money spend upon
these walls: 1.-The story is told of a
king of Spain. who looking one day
from the window of his palace. shaded
his eyes with his hand A minister re-
marked the action. Il am loohing,' said
the king, for the walls of Panama, for
they cost enough to be seen even from
here. When the Spanish council came
to auditing the accounts for the FORTH
cations. the sarcastic inquiry was
whether the walls of new Panama were
made of silver or gold.
The new Panama. like the old. en-
oyed great prosperity, and up to 1744
was the principal entrepot of trade
on the Pacific coast But at that time.
trade between Europe and western
America began to be carried on around
Cape Horn; and this fact, added to the
decline of the Spanish possessions in
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-12-12
A watch Is Useless. There.

Moscow seems to be a city where no
body knows with any degree of certainty
what time 1t is. Arthur Symons In his
new book on Cities" says that no
two clocks in Moscow agree; even in
the best hotels a clock will solemnly
strike three quarter OF an hour before
its neighbor strikes seven. The confu.
sion is increased by the fashion of stick.
ing up dummy clocks in the streets as
advertisements. The maddening mo.
ment comes when you have to catch a
train in Moscow. The railway time.
tables are worked on St Petersburs
time, which differs by half an hour from
Moscow time. Whenyouaretold that the
St Petersburg express leaves at nine
o'clock, you are in doubt as to whethe,
1t leaves at $50. or 800, by your care
fully adjusted watch.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-12-12

he merely remarked: That's very
NICE" in an absent-minded sort of way.
and let his mind go back to his Office
again.
A week later he and his wife attend
ed George Stones wedding. 1t was a
small affair, and rather informal. The
business man was wandering around in
the room where the gifts were dis
played, looking aimlessly at the cut
glass and silver. when he suddenly
stopped before picture.
''I say, Carrie" he called to his wife
SO that every one near him could hear
Carrie. this is a beautiful picture.
wish we had it in our house. fits q
fine bit of work"
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-12-12
DIME NOVEL YOUTH.
when Arrested an Buffalo, N. u VIII
lies Pockets Were Found TO BE
Full of Weapons.

With a collection OF weapons. dis
yuises, dime novels and other para
,hernalia that would have done credit TO
he most blood-thirsty hero OF yellow
covered fiction, Willie Miles, of Buff
'alo. N. Y, started for Toronto to imi-
ate the heroes of his favorite litera-
ure. The butt of his big revolver was
,rotruding from his hip pocket. and
he next thing that Willie knew he was
ocked up in a cell at the Third pre-
:inct station on the charge of carrying
concealed weapons.
When Desk Sergeant Potter started to
90 through the boys pockets, the
oatrolmen and specials around the
lesk came to the conclusion that they
must have made an important capture.
First, the big .3S caliber revolver made
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-12-12
CONSTRUCTION OF DRAINS.
Most Important Thing In to Get the
Proper Grade Line for Lay
ing the Tile.

"a stream of water at bottom of
ditch is better index for grading ditch
than level" This statement by one
who wrote on drainage matters takes
us back to primitive methods when
guesswork and waste of energy pre-
vailed. To wait for a wet time in order
TO have water TO level by would be to in
vite corresponding disadvantages. To
work In the mud and water with the
sticky earth clinging to the tools is
something to be avoided If possible. AS
TO the grade line made by digging after
water it will be uneven. and. although
1t may do where there is plenty Of fall,
II is not at all to be depended upon when
one Is working within close limits.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-12-12
one WAY of Doing nj.

From Paris comes an amusing Dit OF
information. In order to look ones pref
test it is, of course, essential to have
curl or two on the forehead. 1t has been
found difficult to achieve this when mo-
torilg, but the Parisinne oyercomes the
difficulty with great success by proVio-
ing herself with detachable euris ana
fixing them securely to her hat, whlch
in its turn is held in place by motoring
veil tied under aer chin.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-12-12
Special Land Buyers, Excursions

Will run 70 the new lands of Greer
County, Oklahoma, and ether sections
of the great South west in Nov-m ber
and December. via the Frisco System.
Are you looking for rich and fertile
farming lands III the Southwest which
you can buy for from e.fourth Co one
tenth the cost of lands of the East and
North. They produce as much acre for
acre. Here Ia a cnance 10 better your
condition ard add liberal amount to
your pocket book
For foil particulars and special rail-
road rates apply at once to r. 5. Lemon,
Secretary FRS 20 System Immigration
Bureau, St. Louis. Mo.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-12-12
Probably the Largest.

The large st pillow in the world, per-
haps, is owned by Richard Gird. OF San
Cal. This immense sod
turner stands Is feet high, and weighs
Be. 900 pounC s. 1t runs by steam, is pro-
vided with u 12-inch plowshares. and
Is capable az blowing so acres of land
daily. 1t consumes from one to tx tons
Of coal per day, and usually travels at
the rate of four miles an hour.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-12-12
Wonderful Medicine.

Dr. Bluster-What! The boy is well
already? Well. we'll! A marvellous
cure. indeedi What do you think of my
medicine now. Dame Tackleigh?
Dame cFle!gh--Wonderful, doctor
simple wonderful! told the boy yes
terday that if that medicine didn't cure
him you we're going to fetch different
kind tO-daY.-Tit-Bits
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-12-12
Winter Tourist Excursion Rates Via the

Winter Tourist Excursion Rates Via the
Southern Railway
Beginning with October 10Th. 1903
and CONTINUING until April 30th, 1904,
the Southern Railway will have on sale
excursion tickets TO many points in the
South aud South-we at greatly re-
duced rates. Frequent and convenient
schedules; Through Pullman and Thor
oughfare cars; dlulng car service of the
highest class on all through trains.
For details, apply TO agents,
Q. w. Westbury, D. P. A,
Richmond, Va.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-12-12
TIMELY ORCHARD NOTES.

Currants and blackberries start
growth very early in spring There
fore. fall planting is advisable.
Nut culture holds out possibilities Of
profit in some localities. but the re-
turns are longer coming in than from
fruit trees.
Cover strawberry beds early. Its the
first hard freeze that does the most
damage. Get the mulch on just be-
fore this is expected.
Delaware, Concord and Niagara
trio of grapes hard TO beat Set three
vines of each and add one of Hartford
Prolific, Green Mountain and Brighton
to make an even dozen.
The Ben Davis gets lots of hard
knocks from consumers, but il comes
up as handsome and tasteleSs as ever.
Look out for overplanting and add
some better varieties to your list.
At least a dozen varieties of choice
apples, suited to all seasons and tastes
should be grown for family use by
every considerable land owner. But
for profit, il were better for the grower
to tie himself down to the least num-
Der of winter varieties, all OF which
are found 10 do we'll in his locality.
To set an acre of two-year-old apple
trees. of ordinary quality, $3.50 will
perhaps, cover the expense. Suppose
the cost of trees was double: thai
would be a difference worth consider
/ ing. but if you get trees that will beal
a few more barrels of fruit, it woulC
be a good investment. In no other en-
| terprise is the starting with a goo'
thing SO important-J. w. Adams. il
| Farm and Iovne
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-12-12
Her Wise Papa,

She-Papa says that W men coming to
see me, you must not come in a street
car any more.
He-Really! Does he expect me to
walk all this distance?
She-Of course, not. He says all he
asks is that you will come in a carriage,
hired by the hour.-N. Y. Weekly.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-12-12
An Incubus Removed.

"You look unusually happy, old
man"
81 feel that way We just paid for
my bicycle. and"
Gee whiz! What are you buying a
wheel for? Nobody rides a bicycle"
''Of course not. I'm speaking of the
wheel | bought on installments in
1898. "-Philadelphia Press.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-12-12
bringing Him to Time.

Mrs. Modus-Well. George, you prom
ised me new bonnet
George? Promised you new bon
net? Great Scot? When?
Mrs. Modus-Before you married me
you swore that never should disgrace
rest upon my head through you; and
what DO you call this shabby thing that's
on my head now?-Tit-Bits.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-12-12
Thankful for That.

Gobbler-Y You're a scrawny. idiotie
old goose.
Old Goose-That's why I'm so thank
full every November.-OhioS State Jour
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-12-12
wen. Near Cemeteries.

1t is against Italian law to sink q
we'll within 300 feet of cemetery. II
Australia and France a well is not
permitted within 600 feet of a grave
yard.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-12-12
Plain Ren.ons.

Harry Blanche says she has insuper'
able reasons for remaining single.
Horace--Yes, know what they are.
Harry-Then she has told you?
Horace-No. but have seen her,
Boston Transcript
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-12-12
PANAMA IN HISTORY
First City on the Western Coast of
the American Continent.
ONCE WAS A PLACE OF BEAUTY
II Figured Largely in the Spanish
COnquests i'm America-The New
- and Old City-WOnderful
Public Buildings.

- TX miles northeast of the
!: :: !: !: !: !:
N&Nn present city of Panama once
K09EA stood wonderful old Pana-
NJ ma, whose riches and lowell
W&S ness were the pride OF
.TSS Spain. The houses were
built of fragrant woods. the
interiors richly hung with tapestries
and ornamented with paintings and
sculptures fit for a palace; in the 500
churches there were services of silver
and of gold. frescoes of pearls and 9TH
er costly jewels. Along the wide streets
rich eQuipages passed to and fro. and
in the tropical pleasure gardens richly
dressed men and women gathered for
social diversion. And this in the
sixteenth and seventeenth centuries,
when our own portion of the new world
was as yet at the very rawest stage of
civilization.
Whence this wealth that allowed Of
so much display in the isthmus Of Da-
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-12-12

Husband-Where did you get that
sideboard?
WHEAT auction for 500.
Husband-Awful! could have
bought the same thing for $50
Wife-Well, l wasn't going to lei
that woman across the way outbid me-
Brooklyn Life.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-12-12
wtlIfun.

tried to give my share OF thanks
For my small earthly store
I'd like an opportunity
For giving many more.
WASHINGTON Star.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-12-12

Wife-Wasn't that Mr. Guzzle we
passed? He seemed preoccupied.
Husband-He looked to me what you
might call occupied"
Wife-Occupied? How do you mean?
Husband-Full.--Ph Press.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-12-12

Didn't your old employer recon-
mend your"
"Oh, yes"
Their word should have been
enough"
ut was. They announced me as the
best man they ever turned out"-Cin-
cinanu Commercial Tribune.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-12-12

To California, the South and South
West Via Southern Railway
Low rates excursion ticket one way,
and round trip now on sale Via South
ern Railway 20 California and the South
West. Elegant through service, "DiR-
Ing csErs. -
For details, apply 70 agents.
q. w. Westbury. d. p A.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-12-12
Juvenile DinIomaf.

Mamma-Now, sir, Tor your disobedi-
ence. I'm going to whip you.
Willie-Say, ma, let's compromise this
thing.
Mamma-What?
Whitehall itsquits. and I'll use my
influence with pa to get that bonnet you
want.-Tit-Bits.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-12-12
The Day before Thankseiying.

Parrot Ito turkey not of the
morrow, for no man knoweth what a
day may bring forth.-Detroit Free
Press.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-12-12
One of the joys.

'The brusque way that you refused to
buy Willie a knife cut him deeply" as
serted the mother.
I'm that case" replied the father. he
has the result without having the knife"
Post