davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-11-28

which are ancient ruins or an Identical
character with those of Zimbabye
1t is now agreed that the builders of
the ruins at the latter place were min
ers who worked for King Solomon,
and the conclusion reached is that the
ruins in the Zambezi region are of the
same period and are the remains of
buildings erected for a similar purpose.
In his report Or. Peters referred 10
the old tradition that half days jour
ney from the river Mansoro" is fort
named Masappa and that near this is
the great mountain of Fura, very
rich in gold" DR.. Peters added that
"Fura" was possibly a corruption of
the name "Ophir" 1t was TO find this
mountain that DR.. Peters made his
journey in 1899. He worked on the
theory that the river AIuira is the Man
soro of the old maps.
Describing the ruins, DR.. Peters said:
with feeling of awe l stood in the
midst of these remains of ancient hui
man activity. l discovered toward the
center of the top of the mountain a
ground wall which had undoubtedly
been part of a building, maybe tenn
pie, maybe a storehouse. This wall
had been worked into the natural rock.
The remains of a ground wall along
the edge of the top led me to believe
that second wall formerly ran around
the platform itself. Why the old con-
querors chose this spot for their fort
is easy to see. The river Muira touch
es the bottom of the hill, so water was
handy"
DR.. Peters, the son of a Lutheran
clergyman, was born in Hanover, Sax
ony, about forty-siX years ago. After
graduating from the University of Ber-
lin he spent several years in England
and gained a thorough knowledge of
the history and state of the English
colonies. Returning home, with the
support of Prince Bismarck he formed
the German East African company, of
which he was elected president.
His first visit to the dark continent
was made in 1884, when he led an ex-
petition TO central Africa. opposite
Zanzibar, and hoisted the German flag
in Usagara, Ukami, Ugara and Use
guha. For this he received the first
imperial charter ever given to a colo
NAL enterprise by the German nation.
thus becoming the founder of Ger
man East Africa, of which he was
made governor In 1889 he returned
to Berlin, after some especially advan-
tageous coup, and was the hero of the
hour.
The following year he again went to
Africa, and in 1892 reports found their
way to civilization telling of stories of
infamous conduct on the explorers
part. 1t was alleged that he killed the
natives of the countries through which
he travelled as man might kill beasts.
AS a result Of these charges he was
tried by the German reichstag in 1896.
dismissed from the German service
and ordered to pay the costs of the
prosecution.
The specific charge on which Peters
was tried was lodged by Bishop Tuck
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-11-28
AMATEUR COIN MAKERS
Growth of Iowa Community's
Minting Business.
THE MONEY Is MADE OF ALUMINIUM

Novel Scheme Adopted by Williams
Qa1 Citizens to Expand CircuIa-
tiOn-The Coins Have No Intrinsic
Value, but Can BE Passed For Mer-
chandIse and Drinks.
Tired of hearing of an expanded
currency" and seeing it only in bargain
counter lots, the merchants and farm
ers of Williams, Ia, and its vicinity
have gone into the minting business on
their own account and are turning out
quarters and dimes-which pass cur
rent for anything from u shave to a
thrashing machine. The coins are made
of aluminium, and an individuals
wealth is gagged by his shape, the
Iumpiest person being the richest be-
cause the bulging pockets contain hand
fuls of fat money.
The coins have practically no intrin-
sic Value, but are redeemable at stores
for merchandise and at saloons for
drinks, their value being guaranteed
by the association of merchants au-
thOrizing their issue.
The first coins minted were given out
by merchants as rebates on purchases
ON the same basis that the varicolOred
trading stamps are issued by merchants
in the east and were Fedeemable for
their face value in merchandise. So
many merchants went into the scheme
and the coins became so plentiful that
they began to pass current as freely as
authorized coin, and instead of hoard
ing the aluminium disks for a purchase
at the store from which they were is
sued the people began to make small
purchases with them, pay debts and
use them in poker games. When the
men folks found that they could pur-
chase liquid refreshment with the light
weight coins they ceased to turn them
over to the goOdwife for her to save up
enough TO get Il grand piano or a seal
skin sack and kept them in their pock-
cts as they would loose change.
With the enormous expansion in the
issue of these coins, coupled with the
growth of their general use, pockets are
now being made longer, and the women
find the valise-Iike handbags now af-
fected real blessing when they start
out on a shopping tour. The size of the
contribution boxes in the churches has
been increased, and the only place in
town that won't accept the aluminium
fractional currency is the post office.
Uncle Sam demands money of his own
kind.
At Webster. Ia, the fat money
scheme has also been successfully in
PRODUCED and promises to spread over
the state like plague of locusts. Once
or twice at Webster the coins have been
at a premium. At present it looks as
though the aluminium coins would soon
be the popular medium of exchange for
the entire west.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-11-28
IN The LAND OF OPHIR
How King So1omons Mines are to be Developed
African Explorer Claims RedisCovery.

The tabled mines of King Solomon,
which for centuries have been lost to
mankind. will again be made to deliver
up the riches they are supposed to con-
tain if Dr. Carl Peters, the German
African explorer, is right in his con-
illusions Supported by American cap
ital. Dr. Peters is soon TO lead an eX-
petition of German miners and en-
gineers to Portuguese East Africa, in
the extreme northwest of which terri
tory he claims to have discovered I'M
assailable archaeological proof of the
sources from which King David and
his illuStriouS son Solomon obtained
the stores of gold which were taken to
Jerusalem and used to adOrn the ia
nous temple of the children of Israel.
1t was in 1899 that attention was
first called to the possibility that Ophir
was in the Zambezi region. DR.. Peters
in that year led an expedition up the
river through Portuguese East Africa
to northern RhOdesia, and in a report
of the journey he made known remark
able discoveries which seemed TO prove
that miners who worked for King Solo
mon had established themselves at a
point near the border between British
and Portuguese territory.
DR.. Peters discovered a mountain on
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-11-28
A HEART TO HEART TALK.
BY oUIERPoNT aoRaoN.

Dear Little Boys and Girls-There
isn't anything 1 would rather do than
talk to you except lending money to
the government at a ten million profit
or reorganizing a railroad.
Because, you see, love little children
and want them all to grow up like me
and have enough money to make an
Episcopal bishop or a new senator or
possibly even a new president.
Remember, children, if you can't be
president yourself you can be the next
best thing, which is Me.
Now, wonder if any little boy or
girl can tell me what a syndicate is.
Some one has said that a syndicate is a
body of men entirely surrounded by
money; but, my dearies, that isn't the
answer. In reality a syndicate is
body of money entirely surrounded by
men.
Some day, little ones, you may be a
syndicate all by yourselves. When you
are cable me at my expense, and will
exchange your stock for bonds.
Both of us will make money.
The only party that will lose is the
Public.
Can any bright little boy tell me
what the Public is? No? Well, the
Public is merely a lot of people who
buy worthless stock just to oblige the
syndicate that wants to sell.
The Public is very tender hearted and
wants all the good syndicates to make
all the money they can, so it helps them
out in this way.
Sometimes the Public is sorry for
what it has done and sheds bitter tears.
But I am not sorry, are you? Why
should we be when we can make so
much money to give away to the
churches that really need it?
And now, little boys and girls, want
you all to remember that if you would
be like me you must begin early and
work hard. And not only work your
self hard, but everybody else. That is
the secret of success.
And here's little steel plant for each
one of you. Put it in the ground, and
some day it may grow up and bear
lovely dividends-to cut.-Tom Mason
in Life
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-11-28

and engage IN the practice of law,
Judge Tyner and Barrett had under
consideration, according to the indict-
ments, the cases of some eighty con-
Germs engaged in a bond Investment
business which had been referred to
them by the postmaster general.
Tyner and Barrett, the indictment
states. found that the concerns did a
business involving lotteries and
schemes to defraud and that the mails
should be prohibited to them. Con-
trary to their duty, however, as charg-
ed, they made no such report to the
attorney general. They decided that
the question. of issuing the order should
be kept open until Barrett's retire
ment from Office and that in the mean
time they should create an impression
among the managers of the concerns
that it would be to their advantage to
employ Barrett to represent them be-
fore the department.
James y. Tyner was Il member of
congress from Indiana from 1869 to
1873 and served as postmaster general
in Grants cabinet during the last year
of the Iatter's term, since which time
he has been connected with the depart
ment in various capacities. Judge .Ty-
ner's resignation was called for by ahe
president early last March, but he was
permitted to remain in Office until
April, when he was removed.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-11-28
THE BANKRUPT GIRL.
LOndOn's Latest Victim of the Preva-
lent Extravagant Era.


lent ExtraVagant Era.
A new victim of hard times has been
found, says a London cable dispatch
to the New York Herald. 1t is vari-
ent of the girl question, and, in addition
to the bachelor girl, the matinee girl
and the thousand and one other CLASH
fications there is now the bankrupt
girl. Her sad straits are not directly
due to financial stringency, nor is
bridge specially to blame. She is an
outcome of the increased cost of living
The allowance which was sufficient for
the needs of the unmarried girl Il few
years ago is now declared to be entire
ly inadequate.
One young woman voices the plant
OF herself and her sisterhOod.
Five years ago." she writes, Il had
an allowance from my father of E75
(S375) per annum, and it sufficed. To-
day, after my allowance has been rails
ed to E1O0 $500, since Jan. find I
am behind in my accounts, although
I've not been one whit more eXtrava-
CANT than when my allowance was
smaller"
This letter was put before a woman
who has four daughters, each of whom
has an allowance of E1O0 (S5OO) n year
ut is quite true" she said, that the
expenditure of unmarried girls has
risen. 1t has gone up in proportion
with the demands made upon the
purses of married women. AS their
dress has become more expensive, so,
too, has that of unmarried girls. My
daughters insist upon being turned out
as well as married women, and their
allowances do not suffice. They are in
n constant state of bankruptcy in spite
of their E1OO $500 a year, paid quar-
terly.
q attribute this to club subscrip-
lions, theaters, tips-what woman ever
gave a tip twenty years ago?-country
house visits, gewgaws, luncheon par
ties at west end restaurants and we'd
ding presents"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-11-28
governor ,nckey,s strenuosI1y.

Governor Mickey of Nebraska stood
on stack of wheat at the farm Of the
State Insane asylum at Lincoln the
other morning and tabled bundles for
a thrashing machine so fast that the
feeders were kept busy, says an Oma-
ha dispatch to the Chicago Record Her
aid. The governor was shown over the
field by superintendent Greene. With
out waiting for formalities he climbed
a stack and shed his coat. Then he
seized fork from one of the men and
told him TO go and chase himself. Even
bets were offered that the governor
could not keep the table full, but he
did
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-11-28
LAVISH sPENDER OF MONEY
Woman Travelling on Special Car
Exhibits Remarkable Generosity.

Woman Travelling on Special Car
Exhibits Remarkable Generosity.
Citizens of Muncie, Ind, and en-
ployees of the Big Four railroad were
perpleXed over the actions of Il woman
who passed through Muncie the other
night in a special car attached to the
Big Four train, says an Indianapolis
dispatch. She said she was en- route
from New York, where she lived, to
California to spend the winter. She
gave her name as Miss Williams to
some persons whom she met in the
dining car, but said nothing of herself
further than this.
Miss Williams is the most lavish
spender of money that the employees
of the road ever came in contact with,
and she insisted on paying for many
Of the dishes which she ordered for
others at the table. She soon had the
reputation of being a millionaire, and
she sustained it by tipping the train
men, from conductor to porter, with
sums ranging from So to $25.
AT Muncie she noticed a large num-
Der of persons standing on the plat
form when the supper gong rang, and
she gave the porter a roll of notes and
told him TO have all the people fed
bountifully at her expense.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-11-28
SHIP MAST UNDER ROOF.
Annapolis Students Have Full Spread
of Sails For Indoor Practice.


of Sails For Indoor Practice.
The unique spectacle of full sized
mast, with all the sails, yards. blocks
and ropes exactly as on a full rugged
ship, within four walls and under a
roof is now to be seen at the new
boathouse at the Naval academy in
Annapolis.
1t is stated by those at the Naval
academy who have studied the subject
that it is the only one of the kind in
the world. There is a large mast used
for purposes of instruction in Ger
many, but it is out of doors and there
is small mast in a building at New
port, but it is not nearly the size of
the one at Annapolis.
The mast which has been erected in
the boathouse rs severty-two feet in
height and is exactly like in every
way the mizzenmast of the United
States steamship Chesapeake, which
was especially constructed for the prac-
tice work of the midshipmen.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-11-28

separately" declared the speaker. 1T
is more important to segregate the chill
dren of the public schools than the
men and women Of the universities.
The school boys and girls are leading
different lives, and their thoughts are
different. / do not see much need in
segregating students who have reached
the age of twenty. The boys should
be taught by men if they are to grow
up men. The girls should be taught
by women-married women, mothers
if they are going to be wives and
mothers. If girl is going to be a
schOolma'am let her be taught by
SchooIma'am
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-11-28
The Labor of a watch.

The little balance wheel of a watch
vibrates five times per second. Imag-
inc that this wheel, instead of swing
ing back and forth like a pendulum,
should roll on continuously over a given
surface. Its circumference in a gentle
mans watch of ordinary size is two
and a quarter inches, and it makes a
sweep in each direction of about three
fourths of its circumference. In other
words, it would traverse in one second
distance measuring about eight and
half inches. According to this com
putation, the balance wheel of watch
would travel in year over a distance
of 3,677 miles in round numbers, and
1t would take the little wheel just six
years eight months to circumyolve the
globe by way Of the equator.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-11-28
Nrommsen,s Ahsent ninhedness-

The late celebrated German histo-
rian, Theodor Mommsen, was the most
absent minded of men, says the New
York Press. Once while going from
Berlin to Charlottenberg, half hours
journey, the trolley car in which he
rode went off the track The rest of
the passengers took another car and
went ahead, and the stranded vehicle
was abandoned till help could be
found. Mommsen remained. reading
his book. An hour or two later the
sound of jacks, levers, derricks. etc,
aroused him. Rising from his seat, he
went to the door and with the most
complete unconcern imaginable re-
marked, 81 suppose we have come to
standstilIr'
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-11-28
MUST WE'D TO TEACH.
SchOOIma'ams to BE Barred if Chi
caEo Doctors Ideas Win.

SchooIma'ams to BE Barred if Chi
cagO Doctors Ideas Win.
Teachers should be married and
made to stay married. Boys and girls
between the ages of twelve and TWEEN
ty years should be segregated. The girls
should be taught by women-wives
and mothers; the boys by men-hus-
bands and fathers"
When these reforms are accomplish
ed the public school will be in a fair
way to attain the highest pinnacle of
perfection, the greatest educational and
moral usefulness in the community, ac-
cording to DIR. Bayard Holmes, who
pointed out the evils in the public
school system and prescribed remedies
for them at a recent meeting of the
educational department of the Chicago
Woman's club.
DR.. Holmes took a view of the moth
er's usefulness as schoolteacher oppo-
site to that held by a number of the
school trustees, who have been so often
on the verge of closing the doors of the
schoolhouses to married women, says
the Chicago Tribune.
After making a smile between teach
ing and kissing, in that neither means
anything unless there is a real relation
existing between the parties to it, DIR.
Holmes pleaded for the motherly
schoolteacher. He declared that the
days of usefulness of the spinster
schoolma am are over and that she
should be employed only TO teach girls
intended to become schoolma' ans.
Boys and girls between the ages of
twelve and twenty should be taught
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-11-28
A TERRIBLE INSECT.
Reasons For Handling the Boil Wee
vii with Care.


vii with Care.
A man living near Morrilton, Ark,
has returned to that town from Texas
and brought back a dozen cotton boil
weeviis.
This man is playing with fire, says
the Arkansas Gazette. He might as
we'll have brought back a gelatin tube
full of yellow fever germs from Laredo
The plague of rabbits in Australia
started from a handful of these ami
mails that were imported from another
land
Everybody knows that certain grass
es and weeds that have been brought
into country have spread from an in
significant beginning until they have
permanently established themselves
over Il vast territory.
Our dispatch from MorriltOn says
these boil weevils are in a bottle which
is kept tightly corked, but some of the
insects have been alive for a month.
The dispatch says further that a ''cot-
ton square put into the bottle will be
readily devoured."
But suppose Il female weeYil lays her
eggs in a cotton square and it is then
thrown out. The eggs might develop
into larvae and these into weevils,
which next spring would proceed to in
crease and multiply.
The safest way to show what the boil
weeviI looks like is to use the method
adopted by the Gazette, simply show a
picture of the terrible creature.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-11-28
Rrcakinr a Wisbbone.

The divining rod is a feature in all
early mythology, especially so among
the Hindoos. AS the forked branch or
a tree it indicated in various parts of
Europe, Asia and Africa where treas
ures were hidden or where water might
be readily found. From the forked
branch of a tree it was but step to
the forked clavicle of bird, and this
bone was soon invested with the power
of securing the qualification of the
wishes of those who in breaking it re-
tanned the forked part, for it was the
fork that was possessed of mystic
power.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-11-28
TroubIe In NIichignn.

Ia war against corsets and fudge is b,
lg waged by the faculty of the univel
ity at Ann .Arbor.-News Item.
Tell me truly what's the rub,
Michigan, my Michigan?
What unfeeling, meddling dub,
Michigan, my Michigan,
Is attempting to butt in
With a lot of pretexts thin?
Do not listen to his chin,
Michigan, my Michigan.
What self constituted Judge,
Michigan, my Michigan
Has declared this war on fudge,
Michigan. my Michigan?
Think of all the poor goods
Going hungry to their bedsl
I can see their bowed down heads,
Michigan, my Michigan!
And the corsets-sakes aIiveI
Michigan, my MichiganI
Why should anybody strive,
Michigan, my Michigan,
To abolish that which grants
Grace to lovely debutantes?
Might as well abolish shoes,
Michigan, my Michigan!
You have won a lasting name,
Michigan, my Michigan,
In the strenuous football game,
Michigan, my Michigan;
Your escutcheon you will smudge
If you carry out this grudge;
Vive la corset and la fudgei
Michigan. my Michigan.
Milwaukee Sentinel.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-11-28
BIRDS SING ON THE WING.
Their Notes Are More Charming
When Warbled During Flight.

Their Notes Are More Charming
When Warbled During Flight.
The songs of all birds gain in beauty
when they are uttered on the wing
They seem to be delivered with more
abandon and greater volume. The wa
ter thrush's first cousin, the oven bird
furnishes a striking example of this.
His ordinary song consists of repe-
tition of the same note, hammered out
with a constant crescendo.
Very effective it is, too, as part OF
the general music of the forest, though
lacking individual attractiveness on
account of the monotony of its itera-
ton. But when the bird rises above
the treetops and descends after the
fashion of the indigo bird to an accom-
paniment of scattered notes he takes
far higher rank as a performer.
Not always, however, does he require
the exhilaration and inspiration of an
aerial toboggan to cause him to aban-
don his plain chant for Il more fiorid
song. have heard him sing the latter
perched on a grapevine not two feet
above the ground. And as if to show
that he did not reserve his superior
powers for special occasions he min
gled it with his plain chant and end
ing with the song and sometimes re-
versing this order.
1 love TO see the oven bird on the
ground. There is such a ludicrOus as
sumption of dignity on his part as he
strides about the stage. never for a
moment forgetting himself so far as to
hop. There is the same even, meas
ured steadiness about his movements
that there is in his chant. 1t is only.
when he launches himself into the eff
fervescing song that he forgets his
staid ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-11-28
TYNER'S LONG SERVICE.
Post Office Official Who Was Recent
Iy Indicted In Washington.

Post Office Official Who Was Recent
Iy Indicted In Washington.
James Noble Tyner, late assistant at
torney general for the post Office de-
partment, who was recently indicted
by the grand jury in Washington for
conspiracy to defraud the government,
has for nearly thirty five years been
prominent in the service of the gov
eminent.
1t is charged in the indictments
against Judge Tyner and Harrison j.
Barrett, the latter being a nephew of
the judge and a former employee Of
his office, that the two men were in
collision to promote the young mans
interests in a pecuniary way.
Some months prior to Jan. 1, 1900,
on which date Barrett was to retire
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-11-28
For An the Lirea

"Say," began the determined looking
man, 81 want good revolver"
''Yes. STR" said the salesman, "a six
shooter?"
"Why-er-you'd better make it
nine shooter. want to use it on a cat
next door. Philadelphia Press.